Author: Stephen J Frankenberry

Around a year ago I started writing new lyrics and then singing out some tunes with the help of karaoke versions of them, Beatles tunes to be specific, with a Trump theme.

No reason on the choice of the Beatles really, it just began that way when I started singing in my head new lyrics for “I Am The Walrus” and then continued. Or it could be that maybe I’m just really comfortable with the Beatles, my dear old friends and could kind of “sing” them a bit easier courtesy of my familiarity.

Eventually, though, after I built that first tune I realized I wasn’t done yet, I had found an outlet for my anger and frustration with living in a Trump world. So I wrote new lyrics for and built another Beatles song, and then another and another and then I thought, well how about enough for an album?

So, a year later, that’s what I’ve done, an even dozen tunes with the lyrics included of course as with any album worth its salt. They are the most important part after all. My opus … hehehe.

“The Orange Album” — an attempt at sanity in this fucked up place we live in now courtesy of the Orange Devil.

Just me wording at windmills … with a Beatles tune in my heart.

Cheers all,

 

Orange Quarantine

(posted 05-11-19)

In the land that we call home

Lives a man who was born to be

A simple con, liar and cheat

Living in an orange quarantine

But in this land he would conceive

A man-boy King of him he would be crowned

And to the law he’d not be bound

In his new found Orange Quarantine

 

We all live in an Orange Quarantine

Trading truth for beans, an Orange Quarantine

We all live in an Orange Quarantine

The lies come with a sheen in an Orange Quarantine

 

Blind loyal friends all love the ride

Cheerfully they chide Democracy

A prop-a-gandist band does play

 

We all live in an Orange Quarantine

Where truth is rarely seen in this Orange Quarantine

We all live in an Orange Quarantine

Trump’s pockets full of green, in an Orange Quarantine

 

(Full speed backward, full speed back stupid USA

Blindly so it is general

Look the other way for me… drop the law if you please

Will do general. General?)

 

As we live a life unease

All the rich of us (all the rich of us)

Has what they need (has what they need)

To the rest (to the rest)

Shoulder your part (shoulder your part)

In this Trickle Down (in this trickle down)

Quarantine (quarantine…HA HA!)

 

We all live in an Orange Quarantine

Where ignorance is King in this Orange Quarantine

We all live in an Orange Quarantine

Of woe we’ll surely sing in an Orange Quarantine

We all live in an Orange Quarantine

Bizarro is the norm in this Orange Quarantine

We all live in an Orange Quarantine

Where scary does take form in an Orange Quarantine

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Baby General’s Golden Black Heart’s Band / Sky’s Purple When You’ve Got Blind Friends

(posted 06-30-19)

It was two plus years ago today

That baby general came to have his say

In a propagandist fascist style

With his lies he’d go the extra mile

He’d hammer them unto the red

IQ’s regressing in his stead

Baby general’s golden black heart’s band

 

We’re baby general’s golden black heart’s band

We play you all ya need to know

Baby general’s golden black heart’s klan

The torches are only for show

Baby general’s corrupt

Baby general’s morally

Baby general’s bankrupt black heart’s band

 

There’s nothing to be seen here

Just back room in the know

There’s such important work be done

Now won’t you all just pray with us

We love it when you’re dumb

 

We don’t want you to be in the know

But we make you feel you’re in the show

Keep you happy swimming in the glow

Helps suck you in the undertow

Now let us to present to you

The sad and lonely Orange years

Baby general’s golden black heart’s band

 

Trump D’s victim’s tears…

 

What would you say if I sang you a lie

So obvious you can’t deny?

But you take it and then get to singin’ along

Cause reality it don’t apply

 

Oh, the sky’s purple when you’ve got blind friends

Mmm it’s any color when the truth gets bent

Mmm the sky’s orange is the new message sent

 

What would you say if I filled you with hate

Gave you an enemy you could detest

Locked them away less than human they’re caged

As you lend deaf ear to mankind’s rage

 

Oh, the sky’s black to go along with blue

Mmm your hu-manity now shares that hue

Mmm your sold souls invent a diff-er-ent view

 

Could you think you need saving?

That will surely come bust

Do you need to get praying?

But only to an orange need’s lust

 

Where will we be when sad histr’y holds true

(do you re-alize that there’s a cost?)

It’s measured in lives deemed be less than they be

(can you jus-tify the ones we toss?)

 

Oh you get by when smallish minds stay small

Mmm to think more’s an order way too tall

Ooohh there’s no longer a sure one for all

 

Do you feel the enemy’s breath

(when it’s their last just at our door-step)

Does it feel sad empowerin’

(to de-value them as he has pled)

 

Oh you get by when it’s a think of group

Mmm it’s much eas’r in an ignorance troupe

Mmm you ‘splain why but only in a vacuum

Yes you get by

Believin’ nationalist lies

You’re just a means to his end

Aaaahhhh

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Lie Together

(posted 01-13-19)

Here come ol’ Or’nge top

He come slinkin’ up lie-like

He once boo boo footfall

He fake holy roller

He got lies his base refuse to hear

he prop-a-gandize until he’s a bug in their ear

 

She wear no truth shine

podium barker mob moll

she got indignation at a press corp’s truth call

She say, I tell you, you list-en me

You best be buy my bullshit or it aint comin’ free

 

Lie together

After me

Hucksterbee

 

State News corruption

it’s Fox stories or nothin’

They laud faulty numbers

fact check pause they’ll mock ya

we got base who just believe decree

you’re just an en-emy until you see what we see

 

Lie together

Naturally

Trumpy D

 

Right!

 

We tell you our thing

It’s a pretty unreal thing

and we muddy the waters

this swamp’s got no filter

T say one plus one is billions to me

it’s magic math that the base just adores to believe

 

Lie together

enda days

Trumpy D

 

Oh…

 

Lie Together

Yeah

Cry together

Yeah

Blame together

Yeah

Truth whatever

Yeah

Strife together

Yeah!

Divide together

Yeah!!

White forever

Yeah!!!

 

aaaaahhhhh.…

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

When He’s Man-Boy Czar

(posted 04-22-19)

When he gets even bolder flush with a flair
Oppressor soon bar none
Will you still apologize tell Dems to calm
As au-tocracy gets dropped like a bomb

When he ignores the rule of the law
And conjures William Barr
Will you still mock us for thinking he dang’rous
When he’s man-Boy Czar

(ooooh ooooh oooh oooh oooh oooh oooh oooh oooh )

His thumb you’re under too
(aaaahhh aaaahhh aaahhh aaahhh aaahhh aaahhh aaahhh aaahhh)
But Reds if you’d sprout some spine
To Checks and B’s we could be true

She comes in real handy jus-tifying the lies
When open does his mouth
She can spin a story dis-in-genuous
On Sunday rounds to State Tv press
Digging at real news pro-moting their fake
What Czar could ask for more
Stoking the fires, protecting the liar
Hucksterbee shoots and scores

Every day we’re treated to the latest power grab found corruption is his worst of fears
But Reds will not be brave
(aaaaa aaaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa)
Willed lapdogs at his knee, Lindsey, Mitch and Dev

Looking for postcards sent from the ledge, any sane view of point
A Country wanting just sur-vive this despot play
America sincerely, wishing away
And hoping Or’nge crazy doesn’t take form
Democracy at the fore

Will we still still be, can we save hist’ry
From the man-Boy Czar

Whoo!

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Tricking The Whole

(posted 06-16-19)

I’m tricking the whole to new reign of a King

To keep their minds from wondering

What the truth knows

I’m filling the gaps marking all that I say

With prop-a-ganda being way

To sell truth now

 

And it’s really heady matter for elites I lie

For a fake press I lie

The haters cry

But see my dog base blinding there who loyally lap at my feet

Never finding truth crumbs on the floor

 

I’m painting bona fide in a red white and blue

My fingers make confusing swirls

Till you let go

Oooh Oooh Oooh Ahh Ahh

(succumb you will in time)

Hey Hey Hey….Hey

 

And hey batter batter batter

Swing and miss my man, can’t hit this pitch you can’t

Not this big spin

I’m on the mound base is the crowd

They pay no mind they are fact free

See how they’re wowed by my huge back door curve

 

I never take time to study the things that were important yesterday

They don’t matter now

Oooh Oooh Oooh Ahh Ahh

Hey Hey

I’m tricking the whole to new reign of a King

It gets my mind to wandering ’bout new royals Ohhhh

Who we could own owwwwnnn

 

I’m tricking the whole to new reign of a King

My mind is always floundering

In a dark hole…in a dark whole

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Shill Barr Be, Hack Barr Are

(posted 04-21-19)

William is new AG in this U.S. place
Bought and paid give Trumpy D a hand
Wrote a little White House pre-pared sum-mary
That he then touted as some truth throughout the land

Shill Barr be, hack Barr are, Trump goes on
BLAH BLAH BLAH!!
Blah Blah Trump lies they live on
Hack Barr be, shill Barr are, Trump feels strong
BLAH BLAH BLAH!!
Blah Blah Trump lies they live on

William takes a seat at a new congress store
Serenades a unilater’l will
To decide the findings of Mueller’s report
He echoes Trump words as he then begins to shill

Shill Barr be, hack Barr are, Trump goes on
BLAH BLAH BLAH!!
Blah Blah Trump lies they live on
Hack Barr be, shill Barr are, Trump feels strong
BLAH BLAH BLAH!!
Blah Blah Trump lies they live on

In a couple of years Trump has built a great de-vide
G-OP grunts blindly at his side
along for cruelest of rides

HA HA HA HA

Happy ever soon an autocrat’s new place
William lends the orange rule of law
The rest of us just watch as shit then hits our face
A narr-a-tive about this prez’s lawless place

Shill Barr be, hack Barr are, Trump goes on
BLAH BLAH BLAH!!
Blah Blah Trump lies they live on
Hack Barr be, shill Barr are, Trump feels strong
BLAH BLAH BLAH!!
Blah Blah Trump lies they live on

In a couple more years Trump tries play the game for long
Ju-dicial law in the partisan hand
Of William DOJ strong

HA HA HA HA

Democratic now not in this U.S. land
William lends the Orange office space
Redactions and conspiracies then take their place
And in the long run we are now sure less than great

Shill Barr be, hack Barr are, Trump goes on
BLAH BLAH BLAH!!
La la Trump lies they live on
Hack Barr be, shill Barr are, Trump feels strong
BLAH BLAH BLAH!!
La la Trump lies they live on

And if you want for ruin
Sing tune of William Barr

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Being For The Benefit Of All That’s White (and a #MoscowMitch song)

(posted 08-03-19)

For the benefit of all that’s white

We’ll revisit Nuremberg tonight

So gather round

Fox pundits they will gladly share

Masking bias they no long-ger care

Cage the brown

And four congresswomen we’ll chant send back

Accusing them of being on attack

In this way Trumpy D he poisons the well

 

The ignorance of this Trump D

Rallies at a furious speed to gather base

The Tucker’s Hannitys are there

Fox and Friends as well don’t care, lets bring the hate

His lapdogs blindly follow suit

Justi-fy his words or just hit mute

And of course Mitch’s ele-phant dances the worst

………………………………..

The white takes hold at half past black

Un-American the tried true tack

Let’s send them back

He’ll propagate a fantasy, new histry’s order

On favorite stage, he’s got a knack

It’s 2 plus years of prep-a-ration

To induce separation of this Klan

And tonight Trumpy D he’ll go for the kill

………………………………..

(For the benefit of all that’s white

Mitch blocked a bill to try and right

Our voting plight

The Russians he invites back in

Others please come join the din

Truth take flight

A complicit GOP it plans to benefit

Renewed elector’l hack

Free-dom suffers elephant’s wrath

A planned whackety whackety whackety whackety whaaack

Their treason’s always on the attack

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Bitter Orange Pill

(posted 12-27-19)

They hope and they pray

Repub’s on a hill

Their pockets won’t be exposed while for the Orange they shill

They know how he smugly owns them

Corruption his favorite tool

He gloats with the dumbest bluster

 

But the bitter orange pill

Is so hard going down

While the words out his head

See the world burning down

 

He get’s have his say

Trump truth now the way

The man of the lies by thousands de-clares them to be prayed

And nobody stands up to him

They are all just way too afraid

But they lap at his golden excess

 

And the bitter orange pill

Tastes like King going down

And support they exclaim

Has a hollow desp’rate sound

————-

And they cultishly blind protect him

As they do what they have to do

To proving this tin-pot’s new world

 

But the bitter orange pill

Is a cancer going down

With no cure to be found

‘cept Dante circles goin’ round

 

ooooohhhhh ooooohhhhh ooooohhhhh ooooohhhhh ooooohhhhh 

Dante’s circle round and round and round and round

 

He blusters aloud his comfort

This menagerie of fools

Lending him delusions

 

But the bitter orange pill

It’s so hard going down

And the words out his head

Democracy’s it’s burning down

ooooohhhhh ooooohhhhh ooooohhhhh ooooohhhhh ooooohhhhh 

dante circles round and round and round.…

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I Am The Con Man

(posted 12-24-18)

I am me as I love me and you are me
And we love me together
See how we plumb we’re pigs for the dumb
See dollars run
I’m genius

Sitting on a tax cut
Waiting for some yen to fly
Corporate stock big buy back, stupid farmer loyals
Man you’re all bunch of rubes
You let your Trump grow long

I am the Charlatan
You are the simpletons
I am the Con Man
Goo goo ga-rube

Mr Mrs Congress sitting
Pretty always at my beck and call
See how they buy with a gleam in their eye
See how they buy
My buuuuuulllshit….
They’re buuuuuuying….they’re buuuuuying…I’m lyyyyyyyyyyying!

Yellow ting-ed dollars
Making me a buck or three
Trumpy props’ll bring it home, tradeymarks’ll get it done
Boy I am a wealthy man
I sold the White House down

I am the Charlatan
You are the simpletons
I am the Con Man
Goo goo ga-rube

…Sitting in a rose-ed garden
Waiting chance to lie
And if the lie don’t play
I’ll own my fake by keeping up a perfect face…

I am the Charlatan
You are the simpletons
I am the Con Man
Goo goo ga-rube goo goo goo ga-rube

No one tells me what to do it’s just the base that’s thinking that I’m true
See them form a mob call enemies a slob
See how they cry
For vengeance

No one checking numbers, they take me at my less than word
Money out of pocket, suck it up they musty
Man they are so dumb believe that this is something good

I am the Charlatan
You are the simpletons
I am the Con Man
Goo goo ga-rube goo goo ga-rube, goo goo ga-rube ga goo goo ga-rube ga goo

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Gettin’ Redder

(posted 08-18-19)

We’re gettin’ redder all the time

Democracy used to be cool (now it’s so passe)

It followed a true set of rules (they’re now so cliche)

Set by the father’s

Who took time to bother

Independence their then new crown jewel-ewll

 

I’m afraid where we sit we’re getting redder

As the GOP toes the line (thinking only purse)

Following trump cues to the letter

We’re getting redder

And Mitch won’t decline

 

We once were a free and proud land

But with despots we surely now stand

Trump tries to re-write while dimming the light

A constitution that’s not up to braa-aaand

 

I’m ‘fraid to admit we’re getting deader

a little deader in the mind (in the soul it’s worse)

I’m scared to admit it won’t get better

it won’t get better ‘less we de-cline

 

Getting so much redder all the time

We’re getting redder all the time

redder deader redder

For true elections we will pine

Values in a shredder

 

We once found a way to escape tyranny to keep us apart from cruel Kings and their word

But now we return and with trump words we’ll burn

Histry’s coming back vengeful full turn

 

We’ve got to escape now from the redder

Before it drowns us in the lies (yes it can get much worse)

We’ve got to stand up and to remember

When it was better and we were fine

 

We’ve got to get less redder there’s no time

Can we keep the red at bay-ay (stand up an be count-ed)

Push the auotcrat away-ay (grab hope make it swa-aay)

Can we get less redder while there’s time

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Trump D In The Lie With Zirconia

(posted 03-24-19)

Picture yourself in a swamp where truth quivers
With Orange tinged lies and white chocolate tries
A Senate adores you, you gloat in the glory
Of lapdog and sycophant cries

Cult like adornments white lettered on red
Witlessly cover their heads
Cast for the dumbest with blind in their eyes
And you’ve won

Trump D in the Lie with Zirconia
Trump D in the Lie with Zirconia
Trump D in the Lie with Zirconia
Ahhhhhhhhh….

Trump dumb dumb down to a negative measure
Where marshmallow people cry victim’s sad sighs
Backwards they go at behest of their master
Where white anger’s dumb it does rise

News outlets try all while ducking their heads
From Orange shouts looking for blood
But still Nielsen calls with their 30 coins pay
And they’re done

Trump D in the Lie he’s not heaven sent
Trump D in the Lie Sarah go get bent
Trump D’s GOP’s on a Hell descent
Ahhhhhhhhh….

Picture a sad orange cream sickle nightmare
Where real is accused of being the lie
Actual lies are then trotted state news style
A Fox truth democracy dies

Trump D in the Lie he’s not heaven sent
Trump D in the Lie Sarah go get bent
Trump D’s GOP’s on a Hell descent
Ahhhhhhhhh….

Trump D in the Lie with gold’s foolish

Trump D in the Lie with 49’ers
Trump D in the Lie with alchemy
Ahhhhhhhhh….

 

Trump D in the Lie with Zirconia
Trump D in the Lie with Zirconia
Trump D in the Lie with Zirconia
Ahhhhhhhhh…

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A Stay In The Strife

(posted 06-02-19)

I read the news today, oh boy

Trump’s crooked law set to investigate

Distraction’s cries of being spied

Future des-pot just has to laugh

Conclusion’s writ it’s not a draft

 

William Low Barr is his new star

Recusal not this time full owned AG

Case outcome’s all-ready been made

For roses garden stage

A victim propaganda play to usher base a brand new day

 

I read a story just to-day

About religious right their prayers have scored

To force the mass to live their way

Back-wards by the good book

Blindness the new look

They love to dummmmmb yooooou downnnnnnn

……….

(It’s rock paper scissors, what do you choose sir?

Rock of course

But paper covers you

Then I’ll be paper

But scissors cuts you

Well I’ll be scissors then

But rock breaks you

Well how can I win?

You can’t really…it’s a check check check

Well that’s not fair…to me…there has to be a win

There are wins, but only temporary sir

Well can I be all three checks?

That’s not how it works sir

Don’t tell me about how things work)

………

Woke up, feeling of dread

Dragged democracy across my head

Found a few old tales in parchment notes

And looking up the founder’s they did spoke

Found they liked a scene of checks

Keep Kings out of our new stead

But treason’s elephant it’s got a brand new game

Dem-ocracy?…it’s merely now mundane

aaaaaaaaaaahhhhh

……….

(You see, it’s all about changing the rules son

But changing them isn’t fair sir

There is no fair

But you just said, to you, the game wasn’t fair

It wasn’t to me then, but I discovered it was rigged and I couldn’t win

It wasn’t rigged sir

Whatever, this is a new fair…my fair

Okay sir but….?

No buts…and everyone I talk to agrees)

……….

So there’s the news today, oh boy

Fake called it is the tried true orange ploy

To gather base who pay no mind

To what real truth may find

It’s daily King con-firmed they’ll buy always the any of his lies

Trump loves to dummmmmb yooooou downnnnnnn

……….

(I’m sorry sir, it’s been decided, you can’t change the rules

Really? Who said that?

Rock, paper or scissors?

Ok, I’ll play along…again…rock

Sorry, but parchment wins

Good luck with that son. It’s just tired old words on paper written by a bunch of tired old men.

Can I borrow those scissors…and a sharpee?)

 

Now I’m sure we all know Facebook and the “memories” that it throws at us every now and then. The latest Facebook memory to come my way, about a week ago, caught me off guard but it was definitely one that was worth the share while it brought a tear or three. It was a comfy pic of my great friend of 16 years, Benny (and Shoes’s best bud for 6 of them … another tale/tail) sitting on the stove at the old house. Yes, I know Maria Greco “can ya please get him OFF the stove Stephen”

On Benny’s final night, and on the way back from Flannery’s in New Windsor, I asked JG, Maria’s son, who was only 11 at the time but bravely accompanied me knowing I could use a bit of support, I asked him to guess how many different physical addresses Benny and I had lived at in our 16 years together. He couldn’t guess. 15 I told him, and in 8 of those 16 years he was an outside cat before losing a fight with a car but then winning the subsequent surgery.

He stuck with me through all 15 changes, even ones of irresponsible roomates who left second story windows screenless that Benny could fall out of before being found (I have no idea how long after, could have been hours, hiding and fearfully farting underneath a bush) by his best pal, me, almost as if he knew I would be there eventually, so he just hid scared and he waited. It was actually those fearful farts that led me to him. Smart scared gassy cat.

No, he was quite the faithful and always heart held sidekick and was with me longer than any other. I was gonna read what I wrote for him back in November of 2011 but I was at work when that “memory” popped up, not really the place to get all welled up especially when explaining it would take a cat’s lifetime. 

I left that welling for when I got home. Facebook? You’re a pain in the dick. But sometimes you have your moments. The reminder was nice … in a way.

Miss ya Ben.

Ya know my mother has always said “Stephen, you can hold your breath ’til you’re blue … don’t touch that … Bloody Hell … are you sure she’s a real redhead? What, you haven’t checked yet? … I’ll brain ya … I know she broke your heart but I want my couch back … If only your father could see … It only hurts when you what? … if you’re going to be a pathetically single cat dude (she doesn’t say dude though it would probably sound pretty cool with her English accent) and disappoint me with a lack of extra grandkids at least make sure those cats of yours have a little bit of personality.”

Gotcha covered there Ma.

Thanks for the mug Pesky.

After a couple of week’s past posting of a something I came across from 13 years ago, to my fave Dire Straits tune, something I came about accidentally in some old files travels, I left it open for a revisit. Thus …

(it adds to follow along with the lyrics if I do say so)

To the tune of “Industrial Disease”

Trumpian Design

 

There’s warning light’s a flashin’ for a Trumpian reprieve

There was some election riggin’, with some Russians up a sleeve

But Dem’s they did some diggin’ to more meddlin’ goin’ round

And now they’re out to make sure that the walls they come down

 

There’s a meeting in the Congress they’re talkin’ of impeach

One side says yes let’s do it, to the other it’s a reach

But the other side’s brought nothing but debunked conspiracies

Goodness me could this be a Trumpian Disease?

 

The President feels justified in talking to the folks

Refusin’ to be quieted and sayin’ it’s no joke

His phone call it was perfect, no ulterior design

He wasn’t tryin’ get help for this new election time

 

But there’s panic for the Elephant’s these Donkeys all are nuts

The oft repeated tired spin will tell you what is what

That the problem that persists with the Dems all of the time

Is them fighting against great leader’s Trumpian Design

 

State news pundits sure are down with perpetuating lies

Even Moscow Tucker claims he’d be Ok with Russian ties

Of rooting them to victory if that need be the case

Or condemning ol’ Ukraine to help trump D who’s his ace

And Trumpy’s lackey lapdogs are now picking up the pace

Of lies needed protect him ‘fore the Senate do they race

Where they’re better able set the Circus Trump he so inclines

To make a victim’s case and prove his Trumpian Design

 

Now William The Low Barr declared

There’s no crimes to be seen here, he’s the President ya know

He’s above law, never fear

Now he hired me to be his hatchet gun and yes man shill

To protect from prosecution while I drink this orange swill

 

So I openly investigate investigators then

Prove wacky 4 chan theories of disloyal deep state men

So I can come back with a pre-determined breaking news release

That will prove out the correctness of a Trumpian Disease

 

Now we go down Washington DC where they’re in the muck

Of a swamp that ain’t been drained just deeper & run amok

With all his jailhouse friends most found under a bus

But there’s still some who are waitin’ to hear a pardon’s fuss

 

While his blood bound GOP who he’s got upon their knees

Say yes sir, no sir, of course sir, anything that you please

We’ll protect you oh great leader from the dreaded Dem blue sleaze

We’ll throw up smoke & mirrors for you on your Trump Trapeze

 

They’ll point out they’re the enemy to keep folks mute & blind

That they should be a’feared of Dems & all those of their kind

That they speak of socialism & the evils of the trees

But you’re the God chose new Messiah heaven gave ya keys

 

Meanwhile God just throws his hands exasperation real

He can’t believe what is unfolding just what is the deal

A party selling country out while building a lie shrine

To their new Monarch’s Trumpian Design

 

Yeh, that’s it … a Trumpian Design … Hey producer guy? Yeh, you … can we get the sound of ya know of tanks and a flyover here or somethin’? … the sound of boots too, tall ones, really hard heels … boots doin’ some marchin’ … well crowd noise, good idea … get some crowd noise …  big crowd noise though, ‘kay? … then, maybe throw in some of the best words from some of the best speeches … by any President … ever … this is gonna be great …

So I’m debating.

Dinner tonight, the usual one. Cricket the Blind (and even Mimi the Quirky to a lesser degree while Bella has no interest) sharing it with me … Cricket especially fond of wings. And though she may be blind she has a clock that always knows exactly when whatever I’m cooking is done in the convection oven. She’ll walk her little blind circles in the kitchen with the occasional stop, sit and meowed wail, it’s a thing of hers, but just before that 20 minutes or so cooking time is up she’ll slowly make her zig-zaggy way to the bed where I always eat with the tube. Tonight it was the latest episode of “The Rookie” with Nathan Fillion, love that guy and season two is so good, and much improved over season one.

The debate though? It’s this. Is this adorable, my dinner company, as my beloved Shoes used to be as well or is it surely just another crazy single cat dude warning sign? Hmmmm. Interesting.

Hold on, Cricket’s picking up the conversation we started just before dinner … Oops, well that might have just sealed the debate.

Another Thanksgiving passed.

Time.

Thanksgiving has never really been anything more than a marker for me, a telling of the season and a day off, but I appreciate the sentiment. I have a lot to be thankful for.

Mom had an always welcome Thanksgiving spot with Aunt Lib and the godsend that is our family, my Sis and the boys had their place with her guy Buck and his daughter, and with a Raspberry in tow I’m sure, the sweetest of Golden’s you’ll ever come to pet, my brother worked another holiday, as he always does, hardest working guy I’ve ever known, never turning down that extra day, his solo similar to mine, just with a way more fruitful paycheck, while I begged out of the get together just a step step step down the stairs with Celie and her gang. No one needed to hang with my sweatspanted, unshowered ass at a nicely set dining room table anyway, believe me.

Though it was a great meal missed, Celie is pretty damn good at that cooking thing, I have no qualms opting for quiet instead, whenever I can these days, even at the cost of a good meal or, well, for any reason really, some of which I just invent anticipating this quiet, me and Bella and the Unintentionals. Celie and said gang understand me at this point I think, two years in now, which is something not all of us have and is the nicest of feelings. But I do do a part around here which helps the understanding and adds to that nicest of feelings.

I was also able to justify the not my family together Thanksgiving with the thought of the get together eventually at Christmas. That one I’m definitely looking forward to.

I sat and wrote, mostly words just for myself, while I did the aforementioned quiet sitting. I wrote open ended things that I promised myself I’d return to, some of which are shit, well, most of which are shit actually but still with a few nuggets of promise and I edited past things after realizing with a fresh look that they needed to be edited (“Jesus dude, how did you miss that” or “what the hell were you thinkin’?”) even if they are so far down the scroll of my blog posts that no one will ever notice. I fed cats (always the Friskies turkey and cheese at this time of year) and I kicked back with the comfort of the fooded scents and happy warm noise, drifting their way up from below my feet, of family … along with the sounds of the extended one of dogs and cats … and a bird.

I am the luckiest of guys in this regard and it’s the perfect happy medium. A wonderful family within arm’s reach, a looked forward to hello and genuine conversation in the mornings and the evenings with a good friend, a boatload of welcoming fur but all with a retreat, just up the steps, that is mine, mine alone. Does that sound maybe a bit selfish? Sure. Do I care? Not really.

There’s a lot of stuff I could complain about though it would be too easy and it would diminish what I have to do so. No. I’m a lucky guy. Period.

(by the way, I can edit that “period” right? … ya know, just in case. In the future?)

Cheers all, as always.

If you’re still here, living and breathing, disagreeing and hugging, agreeing and fighting, calling your mom or your dad or your sister or your brother, thanking a friend for being just that, loving your better half and your kid (s), standing on soapboxes shouting at the world or hoping that someone else soapboxes for you while you cheer loudly then you’re doing just exactly what you need to be doing today.

Be thankful for that, as the alternative is, well … It’s pretty simple shit.

And feed the cats.

Happy Thanksgiving all.

 

Though I may be something of an intentional curmudgeon these days (a nicer way to say to self that I can be something of an intentional dick) there is always at least one thing that reminds us of just what we’re in this for.

Connections.

And not of the family type which are, at least I hope for you, a happy given or of the networking type which are usually nothing more than disingenuous ass kissings and glad jobs. No, it’s about connections, those that you make throughout your life that mean something more.

 

So last night, while searching for something completely unrelated in my mess of really haphazard and unorganized folders (if only my shit at home were as in shape as that at work) I came across this from 13 years ago, something that I had forgotten about.

It was at the time that a good friend of mine Chris Reno Pellegrino and I were doing a morning show and right around when “Intelligent Design” hit the news cycle in the way of court stories I think. I thought at the time, well, Dire Straits and “Industrial Disease” seems to fit the bill.

This has it’s warts, believe me, as my production skills were severely limited back then and it took me quite a few takes but, still, revisiting it has brought me a fond remembrance of those times and a smile. Who’s to argue with something that can do that these days?

Well, I transcribed the lyrics (in case of a revisit) and added a couple of images to build a video so I could post it. It is my favorite Dire Straits tune and real toe tapper by the way (seriously, it really is…tapping a toe or two right now as a matter of fact). I also think this still has it’s moments 13 years later.

Lyrics included so you can toe tap along with the imagined bouncing ball…

//////////////////////////

There’s warning lights a flashin’ for Darwinian reprieve
Somebody got a Bible got some Kansans up their sleeve
Their story’s in the paper there’s anger in the town
Somebody blew the whistle and the walls they came down

Theres a meetin’ in the courtroom they’re talkin’ origin
There’s teachers in the same room gotta get a win
Somebody brought that Bible and in the lord they signed
Goodness me could this be intelligent design

The President feels justified in talkin’ to the folks
Refusin’ to be quieted and sayin’ it’s no joke
Adam was Republican and Eve he said was mine
Part of god’s plan in our intelligent design

Now there’s panic in the hallways the Constitution’s nuts
Jesus was intended to show just what is what
But problems do persist in this nation that is mine
Of calling creationism intelligent design

Evangelists are down knew exactly who they bought
A President who’s blinded by his double talk
Of keeping Constitution in it’s rightful place
Of having judges judge by just what’s on it’s face
On Administration Fox TV they pray for a new court
That will take the opinion right on anything of the sort
Of religious nuts who insist theres a point to Jesus signs
And idealogues who invent words that mean … intelligent … design?

Now Doctor Darwin he declared
I’m not surprised to see you here you’re revisiting the scopes
No monkeys be taught here?
I don’t know how you came to teach the Bible as your prime
But worst of all my zealot you’ve got intelligent design

He wrote them a prescription that said here’s Church and State
I’d like for you to realize this and take that off your plate
Come back here when you see that’s it’s not the place or time
To be forcing us to teach your intelligent design

Now I go down to Dover PA where they’re in the muck
Of too many board members that wanted kids be stuck
And some of them said we’re brainwashed
Just mad it’s not by them
But theres some protest realists they’re singin’ a protest song
They say the zealots want a school that keeps the ministries
They wanna have a school that keeps kids on their knees
They wanna have a school that stops the dreaded Darwinese
They wanna have a school that says my god is right you’ll see
They’re pointin out the enemy to keep ya mute and blind
Those Darwinists are evil, and all those of their kind
They speak of evolution and a real rich family tree
But they miss all of the pandas … well can’t ya see it’s me?

Meanwhile Jesus says I think I know just what is due
All you nutjobs in my name you need to get a clue
The new name you made up to lend some viability
Intelligent design?

Aww, Christ, you’re killin’ me

(this place didn’t have a name, but it does now, at least for me)

They’re all special of course. All of our fur that mean so much to us, that provide us so much comfort. Fur that remind us of our human and give us reason to come home. There are obviously people reasons as well (though don’t flatter yourselves, the recommendations you may come with are often vastly inflated) but sometimes there is fur that just transcends.

Sweets came about this place motherless along with Toons, tiny little fox pups that Celie took in as she always does with any that need a place to be saved from the not to be saved.

Sweets? The name? I thought of Sweet, a favorite 70’s band and their biggest of hits that I played endlessly on 45 to my mom’s sure headache back then, the obvious “Fox On The Run”, obvious to me at least, though I guess I’m dating myself there. Celie added the “S”. Perfect.

Toons? He had something of an oversized cartoon looking noggin when he was small and he had/has issues that were best left to cartoon. There was also another added “S”, Toon to Toons. His issues led him to his spot with an occasional parade of puppy pals up the hill. He couldn’t be allowed to fend for himself but still, he found a place to lord.

Sweets though, could fend for herself … until she couldn’t.

She could grab this hill and own it. And she did.

There was a magic with Sweets, a happy innocence, an almost romantic thing (for those that may allow) that gave you insight to what could be just minus the conversation, a watching her from my kitchen window as she waited, on so many mornings, sitting in the sun around the backyard pool, or hangin’ with her cow buds, for the release of her friends out the back kitchen door from the confines of a night’s sleep for a bit of play.  A waiting then skittery screaching laughter as she ran with the gang. That magic, innocent, romantic thing. A Sweets never been seen before run the hill kind of thing.

After Celie’s bottle feeding of her and her adopted brother she eventually came to be part of the house, Toons as well, though his was more a small corner.

But Sweets ran around her corner and through the gamut of cats and dogs in the house, underneath a Bella the Bird, a speedy, check check arm’s length run around the kitchen on a daily basis into the living room and then into the sun room until she discovered the sun room’s cat door.

There was a come and go for a little bit and then there was a hill.

Her hill.

I never knew where she was on this hill, except on those mornings. I just know that she was Sweets and this was hers. I always imagined her, like my found stray Grayson in his time before I convinced him to come inside, sitting on some high spot surveying her lands, her holdings.

For just the pure romance of the thought maybe they’ll tell stories of you Sweets, those that come about this hill in the future knowing only of legend, only a simple sign “SWEETS HILL” tacked and hanging  askew on a decrepit old house, like some scene out of a cliche’d post Armageddon flick, legends of a pretty, sleek fox who ran with cows and horses and dogs and cats, who skittered and fox giggled with utter abandon around these holdings letting all that came to pass know that it was hers.

Maybe.

A bubble.

A bubble of time where things didn’t change and she was just Sweets, for the longest of stretch, a glorious time it seems now. Sweets who was there waiting on these mornings to run with her friends, while also waiting for a handful of breakfast. An everyday where Celie and I would note her yes or no comings and goings and wonder of her happy and also note with concern if she missed a comings.

A bubble.

You missed a comings Sweets, inside this bubble.

Bubbles burst as I held you in my arms, both of us broken, the first and only time you let me touch you.

Dammit. God dammit.

Sweets, you were a wonder. A magic. An innocent.

Mornings will never be quite the same on your hill.