(no title)

“Winner” (flash fiction)

January 11, 2025January 12, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry3 Comments

Word Prompt from Sammi Cox – 95 words max

Word – “Winner”

////

I wanted to punch him, right in his stupid face.

But he hovered over me, bastard, daily, smirking, taking the desserts Mom left quizzical black heart notes on.

I finally punched him right in his stupid Mr Johnson face and held my blood cookies right over his stupid head.

Dad made look of dragging me away from the big office “No!!! Be better!!” …

“Mom appreciates you having her back by the way … this is a win”

“His stupid face!”

“But your Mom is VERY beguiling Son … cookie?”

We shared them on the ride home

God Made Trump (yeah, that was in error): A Song Revisit Plus “The Out Loud” Songs

January 11, 2025January 12, 2025by Stephen J FrankenberryLeave a Comment

Only mere days now until the coronation of a new and future King (and a protege too, a right hand millioned, billioned dollar money man). Imagine our luck!? It’s kind of invigorating really in these doldrums of post holiday blues, to be able to re-imagine our democracy in a new non-democratic light, almost like a post-holiday gift found unopened under the leavings of the tree, all glittery left with rich folk (Oh, to be of that billionaire class and toast with pinkies raised and noses thumbed down at our littles and money’s promised and fete’d straight into a pocket future fund of a leader who will show us to a new promised land).

I mean it’s kinda tired right, this democracy thing? It’s run it’s course, at least according to those who write 2025 blueprints of a new age but to, instead, be able to hand the democratic ball off to someone who has our, only our, only our best interests at heart? Of course. How could that not be?

Wow, what an unexpected gift.

These are exciting times

So I thought to revisit something then.

Cheers Kevin MacLeod and thanks for the perfect tune to fit what was in my head.

“Boogie Party” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

AND …

.. OUT LOUD SONGS

Cheap Trick “We Want You To Be We”

Tears For Fears “Minority Rule”

The Fixx “One White Leads To Another”

The Beatles “Baby It’s A Tax Scam”

Elvis Costello “Mock It Up”

Bob Dylan ““Gonna Wanna Rule Somebody”

…

God Made Trump (yeah, that was in error)

So back in ’46 when God took a break

After world at war that had so much at stake

He blinked for second and before he knew what

A Fred had had a son who would think he the one

To lead his people to some new promised land

But a one where democracy could no longer stand

Well God said then I hope this ain’t a mistake

Just wanted take a sec and a little wine break

But future he could see at the hands of Fred’s son

Who’d find ways to rake in some new fresh coin

And adulation

From every sunup

From those just off a turnip truck

He’d think Prez down escalator to ride

A gold idol though behind God he’d try hide

He’d play up charlatans and God speaking Jakes

They’d get in prayer circles hoping then just to fake

His true Christian values that could be on the take

For just the right price

New discipes would buy right?

But then he got sold

On all he was told

And started to believe that God had foretold

That he was the chosen of new myth of old

Reality of course now it be on the run

At Rally’s he’d exclaim oh what such fun

To smite the nonbelievers

Who’d soon be cursed ones

Then God said oh me just what have I done

Can never take a Me damned break no matter the fun

Though that was fine wine worthy even of nuns

I must be on my toes truth it’s under the gun

At the hands of true believers who turn now to song

To praise an orange fraud they think’ll rise like the son

To deliver them a hero in a new paradise

Devoid of immigrants just gotta call ICE

He’d be the caretaker of their righteous white world

Where enemies in fetal poses they would be curled

He’d fight off the Marxists and the fascists to boot

His projections of the enemy would be such a hoot

To call them fascists while he’s making such plans

To make democracy a now also ran

He’d have his true believers seeing future in sight

Whatever he says conservative on the right

Not on the far left where the vermin do land

They need be threatened dead now that’s a good plan

They say he’ll be a guy who could shape and ax

But also wield a sword though that’s quite a task

He was brave in North Korea while stepping a foot

Thankfully no bone spurs de-ferred his look

But he gloried love letters of he and an Un

Such a nice fella who could take a sweet turn

But then he got sold

On all he was told

And started to believe that God had foretold

That he was the chosen of new myth of old

Reality of course now it be on the run

At Rally’s he’d exclaim oh what such fun

To smite the nonbelievers

Who’d soon be cursed ones

Then God he sat back and just shook his head

He’d said look what I’ve wrought in the U.S. of stead

I’ll surely face my wrath for what I’ve let done

And that wrath being mine won’t be as fun

I’d like me as God show discipes the real light

But they’re lost now don’t even realize their plight

That in a den of vipers he’s the head one

Leading all the rest to follow his red forked tongue

He’d offer Eve the Apple saying speaking of tongues

Leave that loser behind I am your one

Like the naked look that you got goin’ on

Now drop the fig leaf and let’s take the plunge

Adam … go away will ya? … busy here

You’re messing with my tiny mojo

No, God ain’t looking

D’ya think he cares?

But then he got sold

On all he was told

And started to believe

That God had foretold

That he was the chosen of new myth of old

And his discipes he continues to mold

They gather at his rally’s put together fan schlock

That God gave us Trump the one who’d care for the flock

A shepherd to mankind they say without jest

And surely damn you libs don’t put us to the test

He speaks of retribution he’s a man of his word

Unless you call him on it then he’ll say that’s absurd

So God sat back in a comfy cloud chair

To look at what was happenin’ down there

And orange idol thinking he was sent by me

Disciples feel the same but just for a fee

That’s when God said I think I’m done

Back to that glass of wine yeah that would be fun

Cause though he knows he dropped the ball in ‘46

He is still all seeing and likes his kicks

Maybe kill the bottle then for even more fun

Don’t know what could happen when God gets drunk

Maybe a something to get him out of his funk

Yo!

Angels?!

Yeah!!

I need another bottle!

And somebody, get me my files on divine retribution

January 20, 2025: Great National Day of Mourning And Other Jan 20th’s Throughout History

January 4, 2025January 8, 2025by Stephen J FrankenberryLeave a Comment

Reference: https://www.onthisday.com/events/january/20 … I took some liberties with your list here you “On This Day” folks, apologies.

Google: Find black veils.

Other search engines: Find black veils (Google threatens other search engines with digital black veils and monopolistic digital rain).

Go Duck Go: What are days synonymous with January 20^th ?

January 20^th… 01-20-Year … 20^th day of January … 1^st month 20^th day … 1-20 …

Seriously, that’s what you you got? different numerations of dates?! Ok, maybe Google threats have a point, plus you are Go Duck Go for Christ’s sake.

Go Duck Go “Hey! I can’t control the asks! And don’t be a dick!”

Baidu: “We own you and all your stuff! See ya on the Moon M’fr’s” … find black veils for just January 20^th … what year? … 2025? … that may be a tough one, almost all sold out.

So then? Other historical January 20^th’s?

(Again, Reference: https://www.onthisday.com/events/january/20 … I did already apologize right?)

1785 Samuel Ellis advertises to sell Oyster Island (Ellis Island), no takers. MAGA cites this as proof that immigration is bad business forgetting their own family histories.

1850 – HMS Investigator headed by Robert McClure leaves England, 1st expedition to make a Northwest passage (though some over ice) … and with twist of lime, gin and a stir, though a cup of tea would be just as nice, we are English after all.

1868 – Florida constitutional convention meets in Tallahassee. They have a books of liberty bonfire.

1920 – The ACLU is founded … 2025 – GOP funds crackpot time travel scheme to rewrite portions of 1920, the whole year if possible, if only to stop the ACLU, says something about Florida and Ron DeSantis and state laws “well, they had books back then” says spokesman for the governor, and “liberties are only what he would decide anyway, they even burned them together in 1868”.

1920 – Dutch 2nd Chamber passes school laws. Liberty Moms rejoice assuming that that meant that schools would only be religious charters and also that they would split the bill with God.

1937 -45°F Boca, California … 2025 – GOP uses this as main argument to sue mother nature 85 years later for global warming nonsense. Senator Jim Inhoffe brings a snowglobe to the floor (ummmm, sir, you wanted a snow BALL, not a snow GLOBE … “but they are so pretty, I mean you just shake them …man! Look at that … and with little people inside … look it’s snowing!! … but, yes, right, snow Ball NOT snow Globe … seriously though … how cute it that?”)

1937 – 1st US Presidential Inauguration day held on Jan 20th, (previously March 4th) Democrats sue history 85 years later for changing shit, “we could have had more time” says one ranking Dem.

1939 – LPGA Titleholders Championship Women’s Golf, Augusta. Patty Berg wins 3rd straight title by 2 strokes ahead of Dorothy Kirby … 2025 – GOP sues history for allowing women to do things, especially golf. “That’s our game!” says a prominent man. “Though don’t tell my wife I said that and my handicap really is -12l!!”

1942 – Nazi officials hold the notorious Wannsee Conference in Berlin to organize the “final solution”. Stephen Miller petitions Congress to make this a national holiday while searching for his SS uniform “And I just had it pressed!”

1943 – Lead, South Dakota, temperature is 52°F, while 1.5 miles away Deadwood records -16°F … 2025 – The House, even with their slim margin, helps pass legislation that proclaims this a tie.

1945 – Franklin D Roosevelt sworn-in for unprecedented 4th term as US President … 2025 – Donald Trump says “See? I told you it was possible” then keels over dead. Coroner/Doctor/Spiritual Advisor/ Pill Pusher says he is still healthy and ready to go, even though he is dead “It’s probablly just indigestion from the quarter pounders, but he is good! still standing! (propped)” says all.

1949 -1st inaugural parade televised, for Harry Truman, watched by 10 million people. Donald Trump claims he had more people at Mara Lago on Tuesday just last week … and you don’t even want to ask about Wednesday … absolutely yuge!

1949 – J. Edgar Hoover gives Shirley Temple a tear gas fountain pen, she puts it into a time capsule to be opened only on January 20^th 2025 with a note that says “For Donald Trump in 2025. Much better than a Sharpee, look close when you write, and I’m just a girl”

1952 – The NBA’s first superstar George Mikan scores a career high 61 points. Trump congratulates Vladimir Putin for scoring 62 points in a game right after 2 holes in one on the same hole, with a putter, in one stroke and right after a double hat trick earlier in the day on the ice. He then has George Mikan’s entire future family thrown in jail, with no visitation rights.

1954 – Rogers Pass, Montana records, twice, temps of -70°F (-57°C) the GOP files another suit against Mother Nature 70 years later.

1958 – KUED TV in Salt Lake City begins broadcasting and immediately becomes a Sinclair affiliate. Some newscasters balk at forced stories and are shot.

1961 – Democrat John F. Kennedy is administered his oath of office. At his inauguration Steve Bannon throws tomatoes and Molotov’s threatening to burn everything down.

1965 – The Byrds record “Mr Tambourine Man”. Suddenly everyone is a musician and Will Ferell adds some cowbell.

1967 – Philadelphia 76ers center Wilt Chamberlain records NBA record for consecutive shots made … GOP, almost 60 years later, says it didn’t really happen because of DEI. Says Jerry West, Larry Bird and Dave Debuscherre did it dozens of times.

1969 – U of Az reports 1st optical id of pulsar (in Crab Nebula) … 2025 – GOP says “What the Hell? We don’t even know what the fuck that means so it didn’t happen … fuckin’ science”.

1969 – Richard M Nixon inaugurated as US president and Frankenberry’s Dad sleeps well … but not for long.

1970 – Super Fight, computer mock championship between Ali & Marciano; Marciano won. White by knockout!!

1971 – Tamla Records releases Marvin Gaye’s single “What’s Going On” about police brutality. GOP threatens to defund black folks and ban them from making records (unless they have a cool hook and you can tap your foot to it) and having any future interactions with police.

1972 – Six oil exporting countries conclude meetings with Western oil companies; an agreement is reached to raise the price of crude. Current and future GOP bank their stock options.

1978 – Columbia Pictures pays $9.5 million for movie rights to “Annie” … all are damned, until the end of days, to live a “hard knock life”.

1981 – Ronald Reagan inaugurated as the 40th President and the “everyguy” feels his lifeblood drained … somebody in their ranks sells the phrase “trickle down” as a new economic voodoo and future agenda with many different iterations to come … 2025 – Dems sue for reparations to middle America. It doesn’t go far, especially with yet another iteration in the offing.

1986 – 1st US federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. White conservatives mourn, while also holding him up as an example come election time, every year, with appropriated quotes trying to appeal to black voters.

1989 – George H. W. Bush inaugurated as 41st US President, Dan Quayle becomes 44th Vice President. America yawns.

1993 – Bill Clinton last president to oversee and foster a positive debt. GOP cries foul and promises to immediately rectify this.

1993 – Maya Angelou is 1st African American and woman to recite a poem at inauguration of a US President – “On the Pulse of Morning” for Bill Clinton. Conservatives don’t know what to do. “What is a poem?” they ask. “And why is she black and saying important, profound sounding things we don’t understand?”

1999 – The China News Service announces new government restrictions on Internet use aimed especially at Internet cafés. “Fucking coffee!” says Chinese govt “and people getting together! Why can’t everyone just smoke a lot cigarettes somewhere else?!”

2001 – George W Bush anointed President by a conservative court with a war profiteer/mongerer at his side, our slow demise and diminished intelligence clearly in the cards now.

2006 – “High School Musical” debuts, starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hugdens; becomes Disney Channel’s most successful TV movie

2009 – Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President becoming the United States’ first African-American president and white America loses their shit.

2015 – Musical “Hamilton” starring Lin-Manuel Miranda and Anthony Ramos premieres at The Public Theater in Lower Manhattan. Ok, got it, but musicals, what the fuck is it with these musicals!?

2017 – Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America and Mike Pence as the 48th Vice President. We go into an orange decline.

2021 – Dan Campbell is named head coach of the Detroit Lions … Ok, yeah, cool for you Dan (aside … hey, who is editing this borrowed shit?!)

2021 – Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States of America, championing the regular guy and gal and Kamala Harris becomes the first female or black or south Asian Vice President while white America loses their shit.

Previous office holder, Donald Trump, is first outgoing president to refuse to attend the inauguration of his successor since 1869 while stomping his feet and crying “Mommy!!” that he was a victim of a rigged election and system.

This regular Joe keeps Democracy and the economy and all semblance of what is right alive and tries to champion all of the other regular Joe’s … the GOP would have none of it while claiming otherwise.

2025 – Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States of America along with J.D. Vance as Vice President after winning a “mandate” to usher in a new oligarchy, and autocracy, and kleptocracy and numerous other “ocracy’s” that do not start with “Dem” however much winning the election by only 1.5 points can be considered a “mandate.”. White supremacists rejoice.

2025 – Elon Musk, a former illegal immigrant becomes King of the World even more so in his own mind but also in reality as money is all that matters anymore while responding to any and all criticism like a 12 year old boy.

We go, again, further into an orange decline.

2025 – there is a blueprint5888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 … sorry, cat … Cricket!!!

And, wait, are those those jackboots I hear?

New Year’s Eve, Stinky Joe and “For the Love of Benji”

December 31, 2024January 3, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry2 Comments

(a silly sort of stream ramble)

Now I don’t know about you all but I didn’t really have anything in mind for this New Year’s Eve, very much unlike New Year’s Eve’s from recent years past where I, at best, have ended up panhandling on a street corner in the morning or busking with no discernable talent or instruments for enough money for a train ticket back upstate and maybe a new pair of pants after a night I can barely remember to, at worst, panhandling on a street corner in the morning or busking with no discernable talent or instruments for enough money after a night I can barely remember for a train ticket back upstate and maybe even a USED pair of pants AND shoes (used or not).

But no, however much I will miss those New Year’s Eve’s that had turned into an annual tradition and time spent with old acquaintances, including Stinky Joe (rest in peace old friend) and the jangly collar of his long dead dog, Stanky John (though I never had the pleasure) and also proved to be a pretty good side hustle, with or without any discernable talent, though the panhandling helped, I decided to go in a totally new direction this year.

Now get this, and I know you’re gonna say “Whoa!! Dude, bring it down a notch there bucko!!!”, but I thought to time my laundry to have the ding of the dryer hit just a few minutes before midnight and then put on clean, fresh, warm jammies for the ball drop (yes I said jammies … don’t judge, it’s a new year … turn corners in your better than thou judgements will ya? plus they were only 7 bucks at Ocean State Job Lot and I LOOOOVE sportin’ a great buy) while sitting in a bed made with clean, fresh and warm sheets and watch another movie eventually with maybe even a cat on a lap, still.

My lord, the wild, crazy of old men.

Though I will surely miss the thought of panhandling on a street corner in the morning or busking with no discernable talent or instruments for enough money for a train ticket back upstate after a night I can barely remember and maybe a new pair of pants as I melt away into the comfort of new, clean, warm jammies and sheets I will at least be able to check a movie or two off of my list, and Jesus, we all could do with checking some off huh?

So many friends recommend so many things where you reply “Yeah, that one is on my list” to at least make them feel like you still share some movie interests and that they have done a good job with their latest recommendation added now to your list until that list is longer than your arm and even a leg combined or maybe even both of both until you just trip and crumble under the weight.

This is just that time.

And yah know, maybe I’ll even watch something in memory of Stinky Joe and Stanky John’s jangly collar. They were always going on about “For the Love of Benji” one that has always been on my list since the mid 70’s.

I told you this shit was long.

Rest in Peace Stinky Joe.

Stinky Joe “You already said that … now have you watched “For the Love of Benji” yet?

Ok, you’re weirding me out now Joe.

Razzy (Raspberry) … for a friend

December 25, 2024January 4, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry4 Comments

Had to say goodbye to Raspberry earlier this week, my sister and my nephews and her cat friends dear family partner of a big ol’ fluffy orange girl (and a my girl too for a too short time).

I’ve said before, many times, our bests of us deserve nothing less than whatever can be said of them and what they’ve meant to and done for us and maybe, what we in turn, did for them …

/////

Matt came downstairs and woke me in my chair in front of the PC. I have gotten to the point of often just sleeping where I sit there. Truthfully, I don’t sleep much anymore anyway, well, not as much as I would like, or as much as I used to, though cats against my chest or under my arm help. I know what I am and what I like and how I like and how I do, and maybe that is just a sign that I am old and as I try to get in as many words as I possibly can before I can’t and then just nod, but still to be there when I snap out of that nod.

I can’t do that prone though, it has to be a sit. Prone? That is for another time, with cliche’d black umbrella’s and tears in the rain and maybe a veil or two, the ones with cloth dots, but Matt told me that Razzy was going to have to go to the vet and probably, no surely, wouldn’t be coming back.

I paused, hard, and made my way upstairs to see her and rub her face, her nose and whisper.

I have them, the words, always in the back of my head, the memories that will flood when comes that time. They are my comfort in this fur finite, that knowing, that I will be prepared (after our wonder of days spent) as all of our furry bests deserve to be remembered and remembered well, as now, as best I can, snapped out of that nod.

She was a puppy 14/15 years ago with Brady and Jackson and Maria and the JG and puppy days, and they ran tall and excitedly barking in a long backyard, with blurry and funny “in action” puppy pics, man those were moments! A blending of two families and their puppies at a house Maria and I bought that we couldn’t afford while still wanting to live a glory day we were told we could. Now I won’t go into the what of what’s but if you are going to lie to me (as we are all still being lied to) at least have it come with dogs and a few too many cats … that I can at least find palatable.

I moved in with my sister back in August, into her finished basement replete with all the jokes that can come with some old single dude with a couple of cats finding himself to be living in his sister’s basement but wow, it just seems so … so regular … so normal … like it never wasn’t, like those days back in ’00 when she and I and my brother, Nick, shared a house for five years on Mead Ave in Beacon, NY with many fur stories then and some still to come and even small human ones too (Hello Jake! No Jake, don’t grab Benny’s tail or scream in his sleeping ear!! Please! You don’t need future scar stories little man!! And then even to a Matt as well) but Razzy became my girlfriend here (much appreciated Raz as actual girlfriends would inevitably prove to be sorely lacking if there were any or even if I cared of such).

Though the treats I offered surely played a part, I’d like to like to think that maybe you just liked me, I mean I’m not an unlikeable fella, for the most part anyway, and Razzy, you seemed to think so which was most, most welcome. And you? You were beyond likeable and loveable ya big ol’ orange lump.

But I know that she had seen her best days, a lot of them and good ones, if you were with my sis that was a given, but those days were on the back end now, and if treats made her happy, then treats it was to be. It was the same with Shoes, my Big Orange at another time. He wasn’t only on the back end then, but he had a diagnosis that came with a clock. Treats? Well treat away we will Shoey!

So we got into a rhythm, Razzy and I, come home, drop my stuff at the top of the stairs after coming in through the garage or toss it down them with hello’s to Bella and Cricket and a “watch your heads girls” (even though Cricket couldn’t hear or see me but she felt it, she always feels it while Bella just sighed “seriously Steve?”) and Razzy lumbered up on awkward, shaky legs to wait … “Steve’s home!” and get some of those treats and snugs to a knee.

And even some Saturday afternoons too, on the back porch just hanging together in this one Summer sun we had together with brush in hand (you were a hair hairy one girlfriend, I even think I brushed enough fur to build another dog) and some words just thrown into and left in the air above a happy, contented friend.

Dammit Razzy, I knew this was coming, as with Shoes, though yours wasn’t quite as finite, you were a roll of the dice age, a whenever, maybe even on a Christmas day.

But, thank you Razzy, you were just what I needed after moving out of the wonderful place I had been at for 6 years, though even 6 years can still find welcomes wore out, a kingdom of fur and feather downstairs below my feet notwithstanding into a roommate situation to try and save some much needed $$ that proved unworkable, so I found myself wanting of family and comfort then instead, especially after 10 plus years by myself and Razzy, you were right there to welcome me home and help me find that my needing was just of big, floppy old orange girls and sisters and nephews and even some extra cats. I hope too that I was able to give you that one added bonus friend on that back end, one that you even bounced with on occasion, with puppy sounding barks and a Razzy grin, forgetting and damning your age.

I think I might just have to try one of them, by the way Razz, those flat jerky treat things, if only to know what the hell you were all so agog about at my leg on my come homes besides the extra love and attention.

Ok, new unwanted normal now.

Fuck.

Love ya Razz.

Christmas Remembered (a furtive bow)

December 25, 2024December 28, 2024by Stephen J Frankenberry8 Comments

For some reason Christmas has seemed to be a bit more of a thing for me this year, I don’t really know why, it never has in the past, even with it being Dad’s birthday.

I mean it’s nothing new, it wasn’t like it suddenly occurred to us, “Holy Cow!!! Beck, Nick, Mom (when you were still here with us in all your Mom “Oh Bloody Hell you three!!” glory way that I so miss did we suddenly realize that Dad was born on Christmas day and after we’ve raised a glass to him every holiday get together for going on almost 30 years now at whatever table we were sitting at?

From a Christmas Kitten new poem prompt response and that really cute Beck, Nick and Steve kitten time in a house shared to new other poem responses to prompts from new friends to that third year reminder of a Christmas cat song, to even remembering that one of my tunes of Stevie and Tommy and Billy was set at Christmas.

But I found myself being myself being all Christmasy for some reason, and that is not per usual.

Anyway, I thought to then to finish it up and put a holiday furtive bow on this Christmas something that was a bit out of the blue and a stream of conscious thing here, however much making some edits along the way could be considered stream of conscious …

Christmas Remembered (a furtive bow)

One more for the season seems right

after revelry was bought in times nigh

again

preps and reps, you got this says coach

in uniform colored practice of reds and greens and sometimes golds

for team

in gifts from under crowns

tall and short

his number is one

the first

with beasts and straw

and tell all draws

from wide and far

to see all seems right

no crows to caw

crow

just yet

to pick, click, pick, click, pick, click, pick apart in pieces

and lay blame

to color this time of maybe’d holiday magic

any shame

even gifts

in how it should

in greens and yellows and talks of kings

I well wish you

you well wish me

but glory or egg

who came more joyful first

does it matter for

I just want a day

to put this all away

Immediately

and though I can’t quite see

from here

I know there is a star I was told of old

to look to

for

that lights us all into some same fold

of stories on Christmas nights told

but who am I to expect

suspect

wants

like taught the best

known

like I sage upon a stage of a new age

all to just go away

I pray

immediately

from pews of glory and stories and songs of old

from pompous robes in colors of reds and greens and golds on altars

with sashes and smoke

and families across pews fold with daughters who had a feather of blonde hair

Oh my, how could anything be that fair

sung high

that told

and I damned myself at the thought of a kiss

I fear I may be old and just tire

of this old now

and stories

I remember that I just want to put away

immediately

A Cardiff Production: working title “Nether Gate”

December 21, 2024January 25, 2025by Stephen J Frankenberry7 Comments

What do you see # 267- 16, December, 2024.

Came across this prompt from Sadje through a friends response to it and I really liked the picture. “What Do You See?”.

So some fun then.

Trysta said no way

Koby said no way

Ellara said nothing but sided with a nod, two

Chunk said no way

“You too Chunk?”

“They’re all smarter than me Tallis”

“But, you’re fearless. You’re our warrior”

“Not now I ain’t”

“C’mon, that’s all a bunch of hog’s and wash and old wives annoying blusters nonsense, and you know it”

No one budged, Chunk even took a step back.

“Well, this is the only way forward. Paarter, what about you?”

Paarter was nosing around the base, holding a finger in the air, tasting the earth, whispering to the winds, leaning on one foot, touching his nose with his left hand’s pointer finger …

“Seriously Paart?”

“What? No this is real this time Tallis. No parlor game. I’m not playin’, this is real”

It was then that Tallis realized that this could indeed be real.

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

“Ok, cut! Nicely done people. That’s a keeper. Take a few and we’ll get back to it …”

Tallis aka Barry “Wow, keeper!? Cardiff never says that. It’s always let’s go again and again and again …”

“Well, small favors, let’s take it … anyone seen the food truck? I need a really large, strong coffee … I still have a head from last night” and Paarta aka Tom strode off in search

“I gotta give him credit for this” said Chunk aka Chunk “this is one of his best set pieces yet. The story may be lacking but shit looks real!”

“It is real” said Ellara, aka Catherine

Barry “What?”

“It is real”

“Ok woo woo lady”

“No, I’m serious”

“Don’t doubt her” said Trysta, aka Penelope, or Penny standing to Catherine’s side, “My girl has worked with Cardiff before, just like Chunk … and you … and Tom … and Robin … and me”

“I know that Penny”

“This isn’t a set piece, Cardiff didn’t build this, we are actually in the Nether Wood. What do you think all the machinations to get us here were all about?”

There was a pause …

“You’re serious Pen?”

“Dead”

Another pause …

“Ok, whatever , I will leave you all to it … (shouting) Hey Tom, hold up. Some strong Coffee sounds great”

Chunk ”Hey, has anyone seen Koby, sorry, Robin, has anyone seen Robin, he was right here …”

“Last I saw he was nosing around this arch”

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

Koby, Robin, hit the ground hard, like he had been dropped from a plane without a parachute, he could barely breathe, the wind knocked out of him hard. He eventually looked up. He wished he hadn’t.

Snow Blower

December 20, 2024December 22, 2024by Stephen J Frankenberry2 Comments

Had a bit of snow in this Albany/Schenectady New York area near the end of the day today. It was hardly a thing, just enough to stick a little to the roads in spots or more in parking lots and on lawns, a light covering, enough to make me break out the brush for a quick once over before I left the station.

On my way home though, on roads that were mostly just wet, there was this one guy in the front of his house, one of the practically elbow to elbow homes, that almost feel like row houses, I pass on some streets in my to and fro’s, clearing the short pathway to his front door with a snow blower, and even his short driveway if he has one, that gift from his father in law a few years back that came with sage advice on how to use and then maintain it along with stories of the “Great Snow of (fill in year long past)” the snow blower that’s been gathering dust, for the most part, in his back yard shed since then.

Now again, when I tell you this snow wasn’t a thing, it wasn’t, actual “things” would scoff at this and belittle it with derisive laughter, I mean this guy’s pathway could just have easily been handled by one of his young kids in a pair of slippers with a broom but “Goddamit!!” I’m sure he thought to himself, “This is my chance! This is fucking snow people!!! I am breaking this M’Fer OUT!!!”

Cheers to you dude.

(ps … if or when we have an actual snow up these here parts he will surely have the last laugh and I will have to try and make friends … I mean, all I got is a broom … and my cat slippers are kinda embarrassing)

Context (a really stupid post)

December 15, 2024December 21, 2024by Stephen J FrankenberryLeave a Comment

Now this is a one trick pony as it wouldn’t be real any longer, always thinking of some funny or stupid response to add to this concept with any people I talk with (and I annoy them all enough already, believe me) if I were to attempt to make this a regular thing. Like how reality TV isn’t really reality if you know you’re being recorded for reality TV.

No, this couldn’t be recurring, though there may come a time where I forget about this idea and revisit it.

But, for now, I am sitting here with a Cricket on a lap, under a keyboard slide and being totally comfortable and absolutely bereft of any ideas so?

Looking for some stupid, then, is all I got.

I’m also thinking you could have some fun yourself with the same idea.

RECENT REPONSES TO TEXTS OR EMAILS OR FACEBOOK POSTS OR INSTAGRAMS I DON’T GET ‘CAUSE I DON’T HAVE AN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT BUT WITH NO CONTEXT

Dawn, really?! Damn! … whodathunk?

/////

(to me) Wizard!

(townspeople)

“WIZARD!!”

“BURN HIM!!!”

“WITCH!! … BURN HER …”

“(no, Bill … it’s Wizard)”

“… oh, right, my bad, Witches were last week … we still get to yell BURN HIM though, like Witches right? That’s my favorite part”

“Oh, of course!!”

“Whooo Hooo!! BURN HIM … HE’S A WIZARD!! BURN HIM!!”

“You go Bill, you’re in fine form today!!”

“Thanks Larry!!

/////

Tractor supply. 40lb bag for eight bucks. Hides the smell well.

/////

Gotcha. My sister’s cat Rikki, aka Chunky Pants, says “morning” (video). Your left foot or your right? I forget.

/////

You don’t look like Tippy Hedren … they might leave you be, Stephen.

/////

“My middle name is noise!!!” Ha!!

/////

(holiday dinner table)

“Aunt Millie, you have outdone yourself with your meat pie this year, you know you really have to give us your recipe …”

“Oh, thank you so much dear but let me cut you off. You know a girl doesn’t divulge her kitchen secrets”

(little Millie) “Hey Aunt Millie”

“Yes honey?”

“How come there’s never any Squirrels around your yard?”

/////

I know, Grayson thought corporate sponsorships may have been the way to monetize his possible celebrity but he loved the cable box and …

/////

I will jave to order a new lockset

There is a key fornthis one

/////

Does the now open refrigerator door come with something to compliment one or the other of said choices? Half a capicola and salami sub from that really cool Italian deli you just discovered for instance, or a salad you didn’t really like but are still holding onto for at least one more day just in case but still pick the cheese out of and what if when opening the door you realize your months old Blue Cheese dressing on the door really needs to go as you haven’t been in the mood for wings in a while, or what if when you open the door, just behind the choices is a glorious grassy field filled with multiple eyed, red furred squirrel looking creatures under three suns from that dimension that Bob told you about at the office (though you know he was probably high … probably … maybe) and what if … my God Man what are you asking of me!!!! … Jesus I don’t know!!! … Oh, fuck it, just go with green!! Wow, you make shit so hard!

/////

(to me) Saphira has the zoomies, you awake? She did that thing again.

/////

Well, see ya at some point maybe and if I do? Don’t take it personally if I talk to you from the end of a 10 foot pole.

/////

Yes, and thanks. We will talk about me being chagrined at another time.

/////

(to me) Omfg … the Hudson Valley is collapsing. Last week … I found Friday in POK closed. Yesterday they closed Newburgh. WTF is going on?!?!

(Aside: this one sort of confused me at the time, POK? Personal Office Klatch? (they can be soooo clique-ee). Pine Outland Cobalt (cobalt spelled wrong) and maybe a Bravo and a Charlie with click clicks and mission seriousness as I couldn’t figure why anyone would want to close Friday, and in Peter’s Outhouse Comedy (comedy spelled wrong) no less?! I mean that’s supposed to be the best day of the week right? And they closed Newburgh? An entire town?!)

/////33333333333333333333333334 … Hold on … Cricket wakes and steps like a calico Godzilla. “I will crush your small keyboard city!!”

/////

You ate the best!!! Thank you!!

/////

Hey quiet!!! Not out loud knucklehead! What did I say about the Universe being a dick!?!? Shit, looking over my shoulder as we speak …

/////

You’ve been trying to reach me?

/////

Cool man, thanks, but I don’t need one.

/////

Shimmy was just what I was looking for (I hate repeating words when you don’t need to which I did with “shuffle”)

/////

Again?! How is that even physically possible?!

/////

Sunday? You know I don’t do Sundays.

/////

Interesting.

/////

What? Seriously? Jim Croce was cool as fuck.

/////

Nope, ain’t going there … hehehehe! Plus that would definitely hurt … like a lot!

/////

(to me) Hahahaha! Omg. You are truly wonderful!!

/////

Dudette, you are too funny, but still can’t wrap the noggin around that one.

/////

Well, there is definitely more but it just gets into the minutia of how boring or not boring I am, depending on perspective I guess, though perspective would probably conclude boring.

Now, will I post something more interesting in the future? Jesus, I hope so, but for now this is what I got. Right Cricket? Any more cat thoughts? … oh, sorry kid … my bad … you’re asleep again now after keyboard cities vanquished … sssshhhhh … hey Kid (whispering) I can’t feel my leg.

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Patrick (Christmas cat song)

December 13, 2024December 14, 2024by Stephen J Frankenberry9 Comments

Well it’s that time of year for this one again, an annual holiday tradition now for me to post it (if a third year running is enough to constitute “tradition”) if for no other reason, than, as a crazy cat lady guy, I just really like it.

Though I did include it recently in a post with a few other tunes, the fun song stories of my hapless friends Stevie and Tommy and Stevie’s not so hapless little brother Billy, this one needs it’s own singular post.

it’s fun, it’s catly and it’s Christmasy.

Nuff said.

It came from a Facebook post of a friend, Linda, a couple of years ago and her cat, Patrick, from a line of hers in that post that said, with him sitting in front of some Christmas pretty decorations, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Patrick”

I went with it and had a blast.

Cheers Linda and to you Patrick, again, you damn good looking Christmas cat.