Right Here, Right Now

WARNING; Rant ahead. You might want to skip the beginning of this one if you are overwhelmed or easily offended…but I’ve gotta get it out. My emotions have overcome me to the point I am angry. I need to shift my attitude but in order to shift I’ve first  gotta rant.

Disgust.
Disgust  is what I’ve felt since the news of the point blank shooting of 20 year old Duarte Wright by a police officer. Pulled over and shot point blank for simply driving while black. Another police murder during the trial of George Floyd’s murderer cop is underway with both crimes taking place in the same region of Minnesota.
I am no longer sorry to say that I feel that most of the police departments in this country are full of racist cowards. The whole system may possibly need to be dismantled in order to reorganize, purge and start over. Week after week more cowardly racist asshole police officers just fucking harass and often simply murder people of color.
I used to think the police were the good guys. After this past year I now know many of them are as crooked as that asshole who just left the white house. Many of them are crooked, racist, violent, cowardly liars.

So now that I’ve gotten a rant off my chest and graphically told you how I feel, I need to see how I can move on.

I can move on by focusing first on what I can do right here, right now.

What is important to me? What do I value?

I value love, respect, understanding, acceptance, diversity and kindness. How can I get more of these beautiful treasures? I can start by giving these things to the world right now and right where I am.

I can call a friend and say “I love you”. I can tell an associate at work that I value their knowledge and respect their input. I can take a moment to listen to and understand someone else who needs an ear. I can accept that the anxious person wanting to force their way into my lane of traffic may be stressed and possibly late to pick up their child by graciously letting them in front of me. I can seek to experience  a diverse and different point of view that might open my eyes to seeing things from another angle or culture. I can say a kind word to the overworked mother who’s checking out my groceries at the store while saying her name from her name tag and looking into her eyes.

I can say to you my reader thank you. Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for letting me rant. Thank you for understanding that I get overwhelmed. Thank you for letting me have an opinion. Thank you for allowing me to come to a better place by realizing that while I can’t change what happened in Minneapolis, I can change the world right here, right now simply by spreading the good things I value. By spreading good, one by one good things spread further. With each good deed the world gets better one moment, one person, one smile at a time.

I can also share beauty, art and music. This is an all time favorite that never fails to bring a smile to my face. Oh, and by the way…I love you, I love you for being right here, right now.

Stephanie Mills – I Never Knew Love Like This Before – 1980

R U Lucky?

It’s almost finale time over at Ru Paul’s Drag Race and the competition is fierce!This top four is chock full of charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent.

Season 13 has been a bit of a love fest with the queens bonding at a level I don’t believe I have witnessed before. Given that it was set and filmed in the height of Covid isolation when most of the entertainment industry and the world was shut down, it’s definitely offered a different experience for them to come together and develop relationships at a deeper more intimate level.

I truly see the star quality in each of the final four, and am supportive of each of them winning. However only one can win so I am going to go out on my limb and say that I’ve decided I’m on team Symone. She was my first instinctual attraction for the crown upon her first appearance, she has proved herself and thus I’ll stick by her side.

Ru Paul ft. Symone, Gottmik, Kandy Muse & Rosé – Lucky – 2021 – Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 13

You can’t always get what you want

But if you try sometime,

you might find,

you get what you need.

The Rolling Stones – You Can’t Always Get What You Want – Live in London 1968

Stunning.

Fast Car

Thirty three years ago today Tracy Chapman released this simple yet complex tune. In 4 minutes it tells the story of a lifetime and reveals the life changes of choices combined with actions.

It truly is a work of art that came during a seemingly simple yet very complex part of my life where some decisions combined with actions not only changed my life toward the better, but most likely saved it.

Thank you Tracy for sharing this with us. It is an important tune in my life’s soundtrack.  My heart fills with joy and my being with serenity every time I hear it.

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car- April 6, 1988

If you find this blog post and find that you are currently in an abusive or violent relationship and feel you are trapped there is no safe way out, I am here to tell you that from my own experience there is, even when it doesn’t seem like it. There is a safe way out and it may save your life. Tell someone, ask for help, make choices and act. Action is your lifeline but do it discreetly. Be careful and aware of your safety. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800.799.SAFE (7233) or online at https://www.thehotline.org/

 

How’s Fearsome?

A treasured reader asked us through the comments the other day how we were doing post surgery. I appreciate his concern and appreciate even more his gentle nudge to open myself up and express myself more. I’m grateful to be part of a blogging community that is just that…community, a community that cares.

We are doing well. Fearsome survived uncut and unscathed. I got both scoped and cut.

The surgeon cut in order to open the top of the shoulder large enough to remove the rather large cyst that had developed on top of my right AC Joint. He then scoped into the AC joint and removed the end of my clavicle in order to clean out the arthritis that had caused the cyst to develop and then took a look at my bicep tendon as well as my rotator cuff. Both the rotator cuff and bicep tendon were in good shape so I got away with just a cyst removal and the clavicle clean up.

Pain has been tolerable and I am doing well as long as I don’t really do anything. So do nothing right now is the key I have discovered. Stitches come out this Thursday and I’ll be able to finally shower. Physical therapy will begin April 15th.

So during my do nothing time I sleep and I watch films. I also indulge in YouTube clips and just found this one. I’m not a religious man but I do enjoy a well performed gospel tune. Oh honey… is this performance fabulous. It’s truly a work of art that moved me to tears. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Leslie Jordan featuring Chris & Morgane Stapleton – Farther Along – 2021

Opening Day 2021!

It’s finally here after a partial season lost to empty stadiums, opening day 2021 at Petco Park in fabulous sunny San Diego California.

Fearsome and I are elated even though we will not be in attendance. We have opening day tickets, as we are season ticket holders and California is allowing 20% attendance at this stage of the pandemic, but due to my surgery the better half and our seat mate Greg will be attending. Fearsome and I will watch from home. Soon enough we will get to go.

Until then, Go Padres!

John Fogerty – Centerfield – 1985

Manila never disappoints

I love when my day starts with a brand new Manila Luzon video and today was one of those fabulous days!

Manila Luzon – Inspire Me – 2021

I was kind of running late this morning, but when I saw this had just dropped into my YouTube feed I threw all caution to the wind and just clicked play. Manila didn’t let me down.

Fabulous fabulousness.

Irish Celebration

Although I’ve posted this one some Saint Paddy’s Day a few years ago, we will post it again as Fearsome rather lines it.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Irish Celebration – 2011

Have fun, share peace, spread happiness and have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I’ll say this before the day gets started

Real Patriots don’t storm their own Capitol.

Period.

Make love, make music, make community, make peace …not war.

U2 – Where The Streets Have No Name – 1987 – Live in Downtown Los Angeles

Pop Six Squish Na-ah Cicero Lip-Schitz

My ear worm Friday, yours today!

Cell Block Tango – Chicago (film version) – 2002

You’re welcome.

Teenage Heartthrob

To say that I had a crush on KC when I was a pubescent boy into my teen years  is an understatement. To this day he still makes me swoon, then and even now.
I’ll just leave this fabulous throw back to 1977 right here.

KC & The Sunshine Band – Keep It Coming Love – Performance 1977

His goal was to create carefree fun music to uplift. He achieved his goal and then some. For that I am grateful.

Dolly

It’s no secret that Dolly Parton is one of my heroes. My life is blessed to have shared our planet during her life.
The simple beauty of this early appearance with her two sisters is divine. Stick around as her mother and grandfather are in the audience.

Dolly Parton – Break My Mind – Porter Wagoner Show

Proud Mary Keep on Rollin’

President Biden has hit the road and he’s a rollin’.
Let’s keep the steam pumpin with not one, not two but three wonderful versions of a Fearsome favorite, Proud Mary.

Broken Peach – Proud Mary – 2017

Tina Turner – Proud Mary – 2009 (49 years after she first charted a tune in 1960 and 38 years after she & Ike made their cover of this tune famous, she is 70 years old in this performance.)

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary – 1969

Keep on rollin’ Joe. You are doing a good man’s work and we support you.

Appropriate

Emotional doesn’t even start to describe my feelings. My feelings are appropriate.

I think I’ll just let myself feel the emotions as these tears of joy still stream down my cheeks as they have off and on all day today.

Filled with hope I tuck myself into bed tonight, for tomorrow will finally arrive when I awake.

It’s been a long cold lonely winter. Thank all of you for sticking with me through it, I couldn’t have done it without you.

The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun – 1969

A Weight is Lifting

I awake this morning filled with hope. A hope that has me shedding tears of joy. A joy that comes as a weight that has been hard to bear is being lifted. I’m finding it hard to express the depth of this hope.

The hope that I feel comes from my belief that inherently humankind is actually kind at it’s heart. While I recognize the faults, folly and imperfections of us, I see that kindness, love and understanding prevail over time.

I believe in sharing, promoting and focusing on the good. I believe this because I value that you get what you focus on the most.

There is a lightness to my shoulders this morning. There is an easier feeling than what I’ve felt in the past 4 years. My angst is receding. A feeling of relief, calm and serenity is coming over me.

There’s a kind of Hush – Herman’s Hermits – 1967

This tune is one I enjoyed as a child. It’s a tune that takes me to a simpler place. It brings me joy today.

Peace.

We Reap What We Sow

This is a monumental week for me as a liberal left leaning democrat. I must remember to be careful, careful of my expectations. Utopia cannot happen at once but must be built. Patience and an open mind will benefit me as we move forward.

I am ready to lay this burden of angst down and lift my wings and fly. However I will remember that I do reap what I sow.

Annie Lennox – Little Bird – 1992

Because I need a break this morning

The news cycle is important to keep up with. However for my mental health I must take a break for diversion, fun and some eye candy.

Broken Peach is my answer this morning.

Broken Peach – Take On Me – 2021

Leaders

Well it’s 2021. We are still here.
There is a light at the end of this here tunnel and on this here blog thingy we hope to inspire in the coming year. It is time we got back to our roots, took stock of what we have and commenced to grow into what we wish to become.

Fearsome is still growing, I desire to follow his lead.

John Lennon has always been a leader who inspires me, so I’m handing it to him to kick us off on this very New Year’s Day 2021.

John Lennon / The Plastic Ono Band – Instant Karma! ( We All Shine On ) – 1970

What are you doing New Year’s Eve?

Ella is simply perfection.
Therefore I’m going to let her serenade in my 2021. Relaxing at home with my better half and my pups, that’s what I’m doing this New Years Eve.

Fearsome and I wish all of you happiness, health, joy, prosperity, love and magic in the year 2021.

Ella Fitzgerald – What Are You Doing New Years Eve – 1960

Peace.

 

 

Don’t aim for the finish line

Aim past it!

Keeping with our friends Stephen & Rab, The Kilted Coaches, Fearsome and I have some attitude adjustment to do in order to keep us on track. Today we are reminded that in order to achieve our goals, we need to aim beyond them.

Now that Fearsome is at belly button, his next goal is belt buckle. Therefore he’s aiming for mid fly.

My next fitness goal is to regain the strength and muscle I’ve lost in the isolation and closed gym of the pandemic, so I am in my garage setting up my new home gym and am going to aim for 10lbs beyond my last lifting best, but will safely start lifting far below that and aim to gain slowly to 10 lbs beyond. My next financial goal is to pay 70% of the cost of my new Cybertruck in cash January of 2022, so I’m going to aim for paying 100% cash!

Let’s get this party started!