Our walk in the neighborhood turned up evidence that we humans have a sense of caring for one another. An anonymous person or persons left messages of hope throughout the Hamilton Greenbelt. This is the first of two parts since there are too many photos for one post.
We have all been here before. As a reminder, here is the entrance to the Hamilton Greenbelt.
We immediately see the first message.
A lovely little water feature greats you.
Another message by the water feature. Yup, I’ll do that often.
In honor of the benefactors of the greenbelt. Thanks, indeed.
Another shot of my serene thinking place.
A group of rocks nearby.
With a message that may be more general than a specific day. Maybe the Earth has been reborn.
Another group of rocks.
With the answer to all our concerns.
Shine Brite is what we all need to do.
I think we all can use some hugs. Next week we will finish the tour. Thanks for coming along. Have a great week.
It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and here is Linda Hill with this week’s prompt. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “practice/practise.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”
“Its Friday, Lucy.” “It sure is beautiful Little One.” “I agree.”
Well, here we are on a Friday. It seems like it was yesterday (or maybe last year) that it was Friday. The days do take on some kind of similarity. Hmmm, maybe I better check to see if it is Friday. Yeah, it’s Friday for sure.
We got word from the landscaper that the new sod is going to be installed this weekend. If you notice in the photo above, you can see that the lawn is pretty sparse. We were supposed to have the sod replaced a month ago, but due to COVID-19, all construction around here was halted. (including landscaping) That restriction was lifted, and so our project moved forward. Of course, if we get rain, then there will be a delay. You just know it’s going to rain, right?
Our governor is trying to figure out how to open some businesses. As for me, I don’t trust that the virus is anywhere near contained, so I’m going to continue to practice safe living no matter what those guys in government intend to try. I saw a report where a bunch of folks in Michigan were demonstrating at the capital to open the state. They should talk to the Detroit ME, who is still trying to find places to house those who have succumbed to the virus. I think big mistakes are going to be made in this realm.
Today’s JohnKu talks about individual freedom. I hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.
“It’s day thirty.” “It’s Wednesday. You’ll feel better Friday. Little One”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week, we were left in Starbucks while Larry and Andrew were once again dodging lead. In the fit of battle, Andrew asks Larry if he’s okay, and we find out the guy with the shotgun went out the door. The bad news is the guy with the UZI is still there and firing away. Let’s get back so we can see if our pair is okay.
“How do you like that, you dirty copper?”
“Well, you missed. Did anyone ever tell you that you sound like James Cagney?”
“Most of the people I talk to don’t have time to say anything.”
“Ah, a hired killer. I should have known. You do know that you owe me for two 20 oz coffees.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll pay you in hell.”
“My goodness, are you sure you aren’t James Cagney? By the way, I’m asking you to put the UZI down and give yourself up.”
“Cut the chin music and prepare to meet your maker.”
“The movie Angels with Dirty Faces, right?”
“That’s it you’re toa—”
“Sorry, my man, but I just had to put an end to this disturbance. Oh, that is a nasty wound. Andrew, you okay?”
“I am. What about the other guy?”
“We better be careful. Call 9-1-1, and I’ll have a look. You stay down there with eh..I’m sorry I didn’t get your name.”
“Barista, Bob sir.”
“Okay, Bob. You just hang tight there on the floor, and I’ll be right back.”
“Your coffees are still okay if you want them.”
“Maybe later, son. Maybe later.”
“Pass one to me, Bob.”
“Okay, you two stay. I’m going over to the window to have a look. Hmmm.”
“Hmmm, good or hmmm bad?”
“I think the guy took off.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“You make the call?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Don’t get perturbed. With all that coffee discussion, I thought you forgot. Hey, Bob. You can get up.”
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Go somewhere else for that, Bob.”
“I mean, I’ve never seen anyone shot before.”
“I would suggest you sit down and take a few breaths.”
“I mean, right in the eye.”
“That will be fine, Bob. Here give me that coffee and go sit down.”
“I think I hear sirens, Larry.”
“Yeah. Here we go again. I can just bet the ADA will want to see us again.”
“I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure that is a good thing.”
“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”
On April 12, 1954, Bill Haley and the Comets recorded what became the declaration of independence for the new rock and roll style of music. This is the kind of event that we need to visit. If you go, please take the list with you so that we can witness the recording without causing a tear in the time continuum.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Recording of Bill Haley and the Comet’s Rock Around the Clock.
10 If you go, do not light your bic as if you are at a concert. If you do, at best, someone will point out the no-smoking sign. At worst, since Bic lighters weren’t invented until 1972, you might get a few stares. (Also, Leonard the tradition of holding up candles began at Woodstock in August of 1969. The singer Melanie wrote a song titled “Candles in the Rain,” and while she was singing at Woodstock, the hillsides were filled with people and lit candles. It continued from there.)
9 If you go, do not ask Tiny the WWF champ if you can play Tamborine. If you do, At best, Tiny won’t know the word Tamborine. At worst, Tiny, who flunked out of music school and is now a part-time guard will want to play the Tamborine himself. (Don’t worry, Lucian. That flight of stairs that Tiny is going to toss you down has a landing on the first floor. Maybe you can control your descent somehow.)
8 If you go, do not point out that the group is recording the wrong song. If you do, at best, you’ll be ignored. At worst, the producer will offer to help you out by asking, “How did you get in?” (The song that took so many takes is titled “Thirteen Women.” “Rock Around the Clock was recorded in two takes after Thirteen Women was finished. Oh, you never heard of Thirteen Women. You are not alone, Lucius.)
7 If you go, do not complain that the instrumentals are so loud you can’t hear the vocals. If you do, at best, the producer will send you out for coffee. At worst, since there is only enough studio time left for one more take, the Producer will lose his cool. (I would stay out of the way Lukas. The producer is going to do the vocals over and hope for the best. In fact, he is hoping the guy doing the final mix can save the mess somehow. Yes, he has a knife. I think you’d better be quiet now.)
6 If you go, do not ask who is doing the guitar solo. If you do, at best, you’ll be told it’s handled. At worst, the soloist Danny Cedrone is standing right next to you. (Good thing Danny is a nice guy, Lionel. Since he was only paid $31 to riff perhaps the greatest guitar solo he might have been a little grumpier)
5 If you go, do not mention you saw the movie, Blackboard Jungle, and the tune was playing over the opening credits. If you do, at best the band will think you are drunk. At worst, they will wonder what you are smoking and want some. (Rock around the clock did, in fact, play over the opening credits of Blackboard Jungle in the spring of 1955. The movie starred Glen Ford, who was introduced to the song by his 10-year-old son, Peter. Where was the song, Luciano? On the B side of the record Thirteen Women. That’s where.)
4 If you go, do not ask the Decca engineer what he is doing. If you do, at best he’ll tell you to get lost. At worst, he will find you annoying and call the police. (You see, Leif. It is his job to put the instrumentals and vocals together into something that sounds like Rock Around the Clock. He painstakingly spliced together the two recordings. This was something that was not done in that day and age.)
3 If you go, do not make bets with anyone on how many records Rock Around the Clock will sell. If you do, at best, no one will care. At worst, everyone will wonder how you know and how you can prove the number. (Okay, Lennon, Rock Around the Clock sold 25 million copies. Now you tell me how you can show that on the day it was recorded. I think you better just hit the backdoor and forget it.)
2 If you go, don’t ask the band why they are late. If you do, at best, the session will start before you are heard. At worst, your question will be like salt in a wound. (The band got delayed because the ferry they were taking from Philadelphia to New York got stuck on a sandbar. I think I would just stop asking questions Ludwig.)
1 If you go, do not tell Bill Haley that he will be performing at a command performance for Queen Elizabeth. If you do, at best he will think you are joking. At worst, he will wonder what scam you are trying to pull. (So, you let slip the fact that Bill Haley and the Comets played at a command performance in November of 1979, Lenny. I think you should tell Bill you were just kidding.)
It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and here is Linda Hill with this week’s prompt. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “joint.” Use it as a noun, an adjective, or a verb–use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!”
If you would like to enjoy along with the rest of us, visit Linda’s blog, and read how. Here is the link/
“You are right, Little One. I hear Friday at the gate.” “Do we let ’em in?” “Friday is always welcome.”
It is Friday for sure. You can count on me. I looked at the calendar to verify. I just thought about all of the workers who used to go to the workplace. This whole individual isolation thing has given you a shot of what we permanently at home types have been facing for years. Take Friday, for instance. I’m sure it meant some kind of marker that made you feel good to be facing a weekend. Right now, that marker is pretty blurred. Maybe Friday used to be pizza night. Well, no need for that right now. Whatever Friday used to mean, I have faith that sooner or later, it’s meaning will return. Look on the bright side. These days your commute from the bedroom to your workspace is the same even though it’s Friday. On the plus side, you don’t have to sit in traffic looking at someone ahead of you who is towing a boat, obviously heading for a fun weekend on the lake. Yes, there is that.
My WIP (The Eternal Road – The Final Stop) came back from the editor, and I have been working on the synopsis. This requires taking 85,000 plus words and distilling them down to 800. Yeah just shoot me.
I will begin the query process next week. As I’ve said before, I’m not going to take a long time at the query but will give it a shot. The story is very different so who knows.
Today’s JohnKu discusses the idea of nothing ventured nothing gained. I hope you all have a good weekend and that you and your families stay healthy.
