Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
Floof Stevens (floofinition) – Floofish singer/songwriter who broke out as a headline show in 1966.
In use: “Floof Stevens bitterly resented it when a human took up the stage name, Cat Stevens, claiming that the latter was stealing Floof Stevens’ material and confusing others about Floof Stevens’ identity. As Floof was a cat, no human lawyer would take up his case.”
Ah, pressure! The pressure on the healthcare system, the pressure on the global economy, the pressure on the governments and the parties, the pressure on the people.
Reading about all the events happening yesterday, the U.S. government’s coronavirus forecasts, and the political sniping, I kept thinking about pressure. Several major retailers say they have a few months of liquidity; they may not survive. People have been furloughed. Sales have plunged. Newly unemployed people are facing the first of the month and the pressure to pay bills when they don’t have much money.
That our ‘healthy economy’ in the U.S. was a facade has been pointed out for decades. Food insecurity was growing. More people were working in consumer oriented service industries. More were depending on tips. The gig economy was rising, and so was wealth inequality.
Pressure.
Billy Joel (such a talented dude) summed up in his song, “Pressure” (1982).
T. Floof (floofinition) – Pioneering Floofish glam flock (floof rock) band formed in 1967.
In use: “One of T. Floof’s best known songs is “Break A Bong (Get It On)”, which reached number one in the Floof K.”
Birds were outside. (Yeah, where else would you expect them to be, amiright?)
I spied on them, flying around (and monitored the cats as they chittered and stared).
Out of that came memories of a Facebook post. Back in the last century, they were saying flying cars could be coming soon. Instead, we’re hoarding toilet paper and sneaking out of the house.
Out of that came a wish, time for me to fly. Songs hovered above the stream, ready to jump in. “Big Ol’ Jet Airliner”. “Learning to Fly”. “I’d Fly Away”. “Time for Me to Fly”.
But Lenny took it with his hit, “Fly Away” (1998).
Joan Jett & the Floofhearts (floofinition) – Hard flock (floof rock) band founded in 1979.
In use: “Joan Jett & the Floofhearts broke out in a major way with the album Floof Reputation, which had several songs that received heavy play on Floof TV.”
Going into week three of isolation, I start thinking about changing things up.
My wife’s Y-exercise group have done some adjusting. Using Zoom, they’ve now reverted to their Monday-Wednesday-Friday exercise routine, although one hour later than usual. My beer group is considering the same thing. Having a beer with others, via Zoom, and having a chat about the news, checking up on one another, might be the change I need.
Overall, I am slooowly adjusting. I miss my long walks and solitude, and my coffee/writing routine. My wife noticed, “I don’t think I’ve seen you writing.”
“Well, I tried but there were too many interruptions. Cats…you…my brain, the net, the coronavirus.” She made arrangements to give me some ‘me’ time for a few hours in the office. That enabled some writing.
Other than that, it’s been reading, cleaning, and playing ‘puter games. Too much of the reading has been drawn toward coronavirus news. I’ve made it a habit (or a compulsion) to check on different states and countries, along with the overall sit, several damn times a day.
So, a change would do me good. That thought introduced the Sheryl Crow song, “A Change Would Do You Good” (1997).
I’ve been thinking ’bout catching a train
Leave my phone machine by the radar range
Hello it’s me, I’m not at home
If you’d like to reach me, leave me alone
A change would do you good
A change would do you good
Hello, it’s me, I’m not at home
If you’d like to reach me, leave me alone
h/t to AZLyrics.com
Beastie Floofs (floofinition) – An American hip floop/alt-flock group from New Floof City, formed in 1976, known for their aggressive, confrontational style.
In use: “With songs like “Floofbotage”, “Hey Floofies,” and “Interflooflactic” earned them entry into the Flock and Roll Hall of Fame”
Back with an old Kinks favorite. It popped into my head as I saw myself in the mirror as I began shaving.
Hello you, hello me, hello people we used to be
Isn’t it strange, we never change
We’ve been through it all yet we’re still the same
And I know it’s a miracle, we still go, and for all we know
We might still have a way to go
h/t to Genius.com
This 1978 song was about the changes the Kinks were going through so far as lineup, but tells in parallel about a man influenced by their music. Each, in a way, is going through a rock and roll fantasy, from coping with being musicians making the music, to fans listening to the music and taking solace.
In writing, we always talk about how characters change. Yet, how many times have we experienced people in our lives and realized that they haven’t changed, and probably never will?
As we’re going through this global pandemic, I wonder what changes are being wrought, and how many will last? We already see that some people aren’t changing, and won’t change.
We might still have a way to go before we know.
Today is Saturday, March 28, 2020, day fifteen of our self-isolation (yeah, we jumped on it early).
I realized this morning that I didn’t see anyone’s face except my wife (with exceptions via technology). This isolation and watchfulness brought an old song up into the mental music stream this morning. Part of it were lines brought up by news of people who refused to follow guidance.
All along the watchtower
Princes kept the view
While all the women came and went
Barefoot servants too
Outside, in the distance
A wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching
The wind began to howl
Here’s the Jimi Hendrix Experience covering Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” (1968).
