Tag: traditions

Monday’s Theme Music

Spread the alarm. Monday has breached the walls. Save yerselves.

Dawn came in a bit before seven. Sunrise came after the way was cleared, arriving to clear blue skies at 7:42 this morning. The temperature has sprinted up to 45 degrees F and will go all the way to 62 F. The Cedar Creek fire is now in its third month but it’s 68% contained. We don’t smell the fire in our sector any longer but I’m sure others are still enduring it, and I feel for them. Sunset will be at 6:06 PM, so set your alarms. It’ll be October’s last.

We used to go trick or treating after dark when I was a child. In fact, that was one of Mom’s stipulations for when we could begin: “It’s not even dark yet.” These days, darkness is an enemy of the event. Most trick or treating is done in more controlled environments. Schools, stores, and malls have joined the Halloween proceedings. We didn’t buy any treats this year. We’ve bought in the past and generally ate it ourselves in the nights after the goblins and monsters’ cries have faded into November. So we don’t do that no more. Kind of miss it but also, c’est le vie.

After reading emails and the mail last night, The Neurons started playing “Money (That’s What I Want)” by The Flying Lizards (1979). Totally understandable. Almost every entity sending emails and missives in my direction are asking for money. Subscribe to this or that. Buy more of this. Get a new one of that, and replace that other. You need more! Donate to me — we need money to stay free. So, yeah, no surprise that Der Neurons brought up “Money (That’s What I Want)”. Les Neurons could have gone multiple directions with this. Could’ve just fired up Pink Floyd’s song, “Money.” “Money (That’s What I Want)” has been released as a Motown hit, a moneymaker by the Beatles, a cover by the Stones, and, of course, The Flying Lizards.

The Flying Lizards’ rendition is a twist against the others, throwing out a simple tune with a bald, straightforward delivery: “Give me money. That’s what I want.” They’re not truly singing it, just deadpan presenting it. That’s why it works so well for all these money requests that inundate my existence. Take Pfizer, for example. They were heroes, one of several, coming up with COVID-19 vaccines. Now they want money so shots will be over one hundred dollars each. Don’t worry, insurance will cover it. No insurance? Oh, no, that’s not good. But Prizer is a corporation. They exist to make money, right?

BTW, has anyone done a new cover of this song recently? Seems like it’s overdue.

Well, you know the routine. Holds even for Mondays, even on October’s final effort. Stay positive, test neggy, etc. Coffee is in the morning’s collection plate. I’m gonna help meself to some. That’s what I want.

Have a good one. Here’s the tune. Cheers

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Thursday’s Wandering Thought

He and his friends met for beers and conversation. As they raised glasses and clinked them against one another, he said, “I just learned that the reason people originally clinked glasses like that was because the sound was supposed to drive evil spirits away.”

“Really?” Another asked.

“Yes, apparently the Gods didn’t like people to have fun outside of celebrations of Gods, and would send evil spirits and demons or minions or something after them to stop them from having fun.”

“Huh,” several said.

“Yes,” he continued, “and I just learned that when I made it up.”

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Winter Solstice

Don’t know about you guys, but we’re excited in our household. Tomorrow is winter solstice for those of us living north of the equator. It’s something we celebrate in our household, we like the idea of welcoming the sun back, and the longer periods of daylight that are to come, but it’s also a meditative experience. My wife and I generally observe it privately, practicing habits and traditions discovered while attending other winter solstice celebrations. Stole them, you could say. You could say that, but I never would.

My wife mentioned our practices to others, which generated some excitement. People urged her to host a Winter Solstice dinner at our house. She, after debate and thought, capitulated. A few friends are coming over. It’s a potluck sort of affair. We’re serving some cheeses, breads, crackers and fruit as appetizers. Others will bring additional fare. My wife is making several soups, which will be served with more bread. It looks like her lentil soup and cheesy tortellini soup is on the menu. Wine will be available, along with spiced apple cider, with a shot of brandy in it, if you desire. Dessert is a bûche de Noël, purchased at a local store. I hope it lives up to its appearance, because it looks delicious.

Afterward, we’ll write wishes and hopes on small slips of paper, and colorful ribbons will be used to tie them to the Yule log. Then we’ll go to the fire pit in the backyard, set the Yule log with our wishes and hopes on fire, and reflect on life as we watch the log burn. Maybe we’ll sing “Stonehenge,” by Spinal Tap.

The weather often adds interest. Some years, it’s snowed on us as we’ve lit our log. Other years, gusting winds worried us. Tomorrow is forecast to be about twenty-eight F when we’re out there lighting the log, but rain and snow are not expected.

Should be a good time. Hope you have a good one, too. Happy winter solstice!

Doesn’t really roll off the tongue, does it?

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