Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
Salflooftations (floofinition) – greetings exchanged by people and animals upon seeing and recognizing one another.
In use: “When he returned home each day, he’d open the door and find the ginger tabby and yellow lab in the living room, close to one another, but not touching. He’d say as salflooftations, “Hey, guys, I’m home. Obvious, right?” The dog would chuff, “Wou,” and the cat answer, “Chyew.” They’d then get up, stretch, and meander over to sniff him for the news.”
Today’s song, “It’s Only Rock n’ Roll (But I Like It)” came out in 1974. I consider this song part of the theme music for my eighteenth year of life. I graduated high school, turned eighteen years old, and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1974. I think the song celebrates my attitude toward rock and roll; it’s just music, but —
I use the song for references, to celebrate, and to time-travel through memories as surely as Marcel Proust’s madeleines. I know it’s only rock and roll, and not significant in many universal schemes (although there’s a potential story, there, isn’t there, about how rock and roll changes things?), but I like it.
The song’s opening, too, offers exasperated questioning about the past and new expectations.
If I could stick my pen in my heart
And spill it all over the stage
Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya
Would you think the boy is strange? Ain’t he strange?
I’ve found that opening question appropriate for my life. What will it take to satisfy the bosses, lovers, friends, family, and gods? Each employs a different measuring system. The tricks are to find what works, what annoys them and causes me enough pain to avoid doing it again, and then monitor it all for changes – ’cause change is, like, you know, probable. Beyond all that shit, it’s a great song to sing to my stream as I walk or drive on my lonesome.
Malafloof (floofinition) – an impudently bold or saucy animal, especially housepets.
In use: “The puppy was but four pounds and arrived as a shy, withdrawn animal. Within three days, he’d found his energy, emerging as a malafloof who entertained himself by going after the cats and other dogs. The cats educated him with a few quick hisses and smacks, but the dogs indulged him, especially Whitney, who seemed amused.”
Today is all ’bout looking ahead. We were discussing different things while drinking beers the other night. The conversations invited nostalgia into my streams. I’d been in the military for twenty years. Being in the military with a mission and purpose was much different than this semi-kind of life of writing. After that came some startups and then more than a decade at IBM.
There was a gap in mil service though. I got out after four years, bought a restaurant, was running it while going to college, and then got mighty sick. Broke and weary, I went back into the military. My break in service was almost one year. It was a tumultuous twelve months.
1979 was when I went back in. This song, “Don’t Look Back” by Boston, was out. Back in a barracks at Brooks AFB in Texas, waiting for my wife to join me, this song struck me hard. Don’t look back.
I look back often. It’s mostly in context to remember where I’ve been and helped me adjust my course and remind myself where I’m going. It’s uncharted lands. Walking the next day after I had my conversations and bursts of nostalgia, I reckoned there are different ways of looking back. Looking back is fine as long as you don’t shove yourself into reverse and try to get back there by driving via your mirrors. The mirrors of nostalgia only show a few items.
Of course, the filters of the futures let’s us see even less. That’s why the future is more fun; there’s far less known and much greater potential to be shaped.
Finals week ended on a Thursday.
We’d finished Game of Thrones last month (and I’m still going through withdrawal). June found us beginning and ending Good Omens. We also completed the second season of The OA, the final season of Sneaky Pete, the only season of Happy, and the latest available season of The Orville. The night before last, I finished The Expanse and we watched the last episode of season two of Barry. (I read that HBO has renewed it for a third season). Last night, I watched the final Bad Blood (is it over?). Tonight, we watched the final episode of The Colony. They’ve announced that it’s cancelled.
I thought Good Omens was well done. I thought Michael McKean stood out. Tennant and Sheen did the impressive jobs that I always expect of us. Good Omens certainly entertained us, especially after a Wanda Sykes comedy special, Not Normal, warmed us up for the final episode.
All that’s left now is to wait for something else to catch our interest. In the meantime, plenty of books remain to be read. First, I think I’ll play a game on the computer.
You watching anything interesting?
curled and tucked, they lie
paws to hands and fur to skin
slumbering in bliss
Octfloofberfest (floofinition) – 1. Annual observance, usually held in October, to celebrate animals, especially housepets. 2. Any celebration done in recognition of, or association with, eight animals.
In use: “After adding a rescue Pittie and introducing her to the rest of the floofmagerie, they held an Octfloofberfest in honor of their eight pets. Treats for everyone!”
Michael Seidel, writer 