Category: Orphans

Talking about being out of touch. Was somebody talking about being out of touch? Yes. I was. Okay, then by all means go ahead.

Sometimes, those pieces of your life which become vestiges just seem to completely disappear until one day, you open your door, or answer your phone or look at the e-mail you’ve been deleting — for years it seems without reading it — everything comes back. Maybe not just as you expected it. In  fact, the “retro life” hardly ever returns in any shape or form as you expected it or even like it for that matter. There are bold exceptions. I don’t know if this is one of them but it is what it is and it ain’t bad.

For however long I have been receiving e-mails from “Skyrocket, the Band.” Maybe one time I glanced at it. It didn’t seem like a big deal. So I gave it the “ol’ heavy hand” or “the monster finger” or deleted it was what I am trying to say.

Today I get an e-mail from “Trish Murphy Office.” That I recognized. Trish Murphy is very photogenic and a great singer. I open up the message and it says “Free — Outdoors and Early” and its an e-mail ad from Skyrocket. I then see Trish’s photogenic face and stuff and realize that the band is one that includes Trish and her musical brother, Darin. They are playing a gig at Discovery Green on Thursday afternoon in Houston. I would go because I have to be at the airport in Houston the next day. But I might not go because I have to be at the airport in Houston the next day. You know what I mean? No? Heck, I might just go and spend the night in Houston. It sounds like fun. Disovery Green is a 12-acre eco-friendly conservancy park in dowtown Houston.

Anyway, Skyrocket is a cover band that does 70s and 80s hits. They’ve got an extensive list here along with clips on each and every song. As their About page points out, all of the members of the band are recording artists in their own right. They won the 2007 South By Southwest “Best Cover Band” award and was named  in 2006 by the Austin Chronicle as “The Best Reason to Pawn Your Karaoke Machine.” But what have you done lately? Sorry, I always ask that. No offense.

Of course, they’d be worth checking out just because I have a crush on Trish Murphy. Not really, but here is all about her:

“Austin’s queen of musical cooking. Has written for Pat Green and performed alongside Bonnie Raitt and Kathy Valentine. Recently starred in a Chevy commercial. The camera loves her.”

I know mine certainly did (camera). Actually, it was my friend, Ross’ camera. No matter. I was using it. If I show up Thursday for Skyrocket’s performance, please don’t have the cops arrest me for stalking, Trish. I’m only kidding. Just a fan. After all, the camera loves her. As for the picture above, this was from one of my earliest posts, back when I was first unemployed but was not yet drawing a check. I could probably use a picture from their e-mail or Web site since this would certainly pass the smell Fair Use test. But it’s best to say, I took it. I was there. The camera really does love her, you know.

Skyrocket
Thursday, May 10
6:30 p.m. — 9 p.m.
Discovery Green
1500 McKinney St.
Houston, Texas
Free, all ages welcome

Here is what one can expect out of the Republican members of the Senate during confirmation hearings for newest Supreme Court pick Elena Kagan: “No.”

Just say no. The words of Nancy Reagan are once again popular among the GOP crowd except this time it doesn’t have to do with drugs. No. No means no. No means everything. The Republicans will vote no against everything the Democrats do. Somehow, that seems quite foolish not to mention petulant.

No matter that the Senate confirmed Kagan last year by a vote of  61-31 as President Obama’s pick for solicitor general. So what happened between then? Nothing that anyone can think of but many GOP members of Senate will drag Kagan through the mud.

She is liberal, liberal, liberal, the Republicans will say. Kagan is an alteh moid — Jewish spinster lady — although doubtfully any senator would be foolish enough to call her that. Well, we shall see.  But that doesn’t keep the interest groups pressuring their Republican senators, who still will likely do nothing to keep Kagan from being confirmed, from using her past to smear her. Never married at 50, huh? You know what that means! Limbaugh will probably call her something short of a “dyke.”

To be fair, I remember some of the same discussion upon the GOP pick of retired Justice David Souter, who turned out to be a disappointment to the Republicans.  Not surprising though, the whisper campaign against Souter appeared as to be as much from the right as from the Democrats.

The confirmation hearings will be pure politics. That’s all that it has been for years now. Not just for Clarence Thomas, an electronic lynching. But if you think things are bad now, just think how gruesome the political carnage will be if Obama gets to replace one of the right-wing members of the court. Oh my, my. I don’t know whether to hope for it or to  hope it doesn’t happen.

It is vacation time for the next 11 days. Kind of. It seems I can’t go a vacation period without having to interact with Dell or Verizon. This time I will be interacting with a Verizon store so they can properly install my wireless broadband program. It seems it wasn’t loaded up right the first time.

I spend so much time going in and out of Verizon stores, you’d think I’d get my own parking place. Perhaps a little placard like a disabled driver. I’m not making fun. I do technically qualify as disabled, just not where I can get a parking sticker. Maybe when I have to be dragged out of my truck and inside a place.

Next week I have some actual freelance work to do. I know, I know, vacation. But then I get to take what I consider a vacation. As I mentioned here before I am flying to El Paso to see an old friend for about four days, five days. You have to be a really good friend to put up with a visitor that long. But these people are the best. Also, it feels good to be writing for money again, even if it is a local welcome folks type.

Sorry I can’t write something better than mundane. Maybe later. I was thinking about writing a post  about Hale-Bopp, the Great Comet of 1997. Maybe 96. I know it was pretty great in 97. But maybe and later, as I and I alone, said.

Greece is the word.

No. I am not talking the musical “Grease,” heavens no. I am talking the country over that-a-way.

The debt-ridden southern European country, a spark away from a burn with rioting and assorted strife as we speak, was at least partially responsible for some of the nearly 1,000-point nose dive in the stock market today. Or, as CBS News has just reported, someone may have pushed the wrong button.

Ooops!

Now companies such as Proctor and Gamble, and Citigroup are asking: “Was it one of our idiots who wrecked the market for awhile this afternoon?” Apparently, the market ended up 300-some-odd points down, depending on who you want to believe.

Trouble in Greece could really be trouble with a capital “T,” which of course, rhymes with P and that stands for pool. That is if you are in need of loving you a little “Music Man.”

Me, I was walking across my office this morning and tripped on nothing, landing on my hands and knees. I’m not sure why. It may have something to do with diabetes, with my diabetic shoes, what the f**k.  Yes, that’s a statement and not a question. But I am about to start loading my new Nautica wallet. I said “Nautica” like it meant something. I’m sure it does to someone. I just needed a wallet as my old one was about to disintegrate.

What a wonderful world it would be … if everyone had a great wallet, whatever you fancy.

A new Republican talking point being circulated hadn’t gotten a lot of traction until today when it caused White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to blow a gasket.

Gibbs, during a White House news briefing, once again took Fox News to task over an interview. This time  former FEMA director Mike “Heckuva Job Brownie” Brown was the star. Brown had appeared on the network’s commentary program hosted by Neil Cavuto. During the interview Brown said the White House was purposely letting the oil spill get bigger in order to renege on an Obama promise to expand offshore drilling.

Rush Limbaugh had in the last few days questioned the timing of the explosion, saying the Senate was about to reach a compromise on an energy bill that included the offshore drilling. The blowhard radio commentator and de facto head of the Republican party said  “They,” supposedly meaning the Obama administration, were sending “SWAT teams” to the Gulf:

“So, since they’re sending SWAT teams down there, folks, since they’re sending SWAT teams to inspect the other rigs, what better way to head off more oil drilling, nuclear plants, than by blowing up a rig? I’m just noting the timing here.”

Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino also made sure the morning crew got the Republican marching orders to spread unsubstantiated and libelous rumors. Perino appeared on “Fox and Friends” the alleged “fair and balanced” network’s excuse of a morning show. Perino wondered aloud if what happened with the explosion and resulting oil spill was deliberate. This, Perino said after claiming that she “was not trying to spread a conspiracy theory.” Nooooo. Of course not, just delivering the party’s line. That would be, of course, the new and empowered lie du jour , now gaining some importance now that Gibbs decided to call out Fox after its White House correspondent asked a question at the presser this morning.

You know what Gibbs, heaven’s knows I have a temper and so do millions, but you get the big bucks to ignore such egregious bullshit. Everyone knows the drill when it comes to Republican talking points:  Ignore them. Brush them off your shoulder like the little flakes of dandruff who are delivering such ignorant propaganda.

What about it Gibbs? Why not just shake your head and say “F***ing idiots,” and go about your business.