Better Things

All the best to all of you for 2012. And better things.










Here's wishing you the bluest sky,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow.
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses to
Follow all the doubt and sadness.
I know that better things are on the way.

Here's hoping all the days ahead
Won't be as bitter as the ones behind you.
Be an optimist instead,
And somehow happiness will find you.
Forget what happened yesterday,
I know that better things are on the way.

It's really good to see you rocking out
And having fun,
Living like you just begun.
Accept your life and what it brings.
I hope tomorrow you'll find better things.
I know tomorrow you'll find better things.

Here's wishing you the bluest sky,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow.
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses to
Follow all the drudge and sadness.
I know that better things are on the way.

I know you've got a lot of good things happening up ahead.
The past is gone it's all been said.
So here's to what the future brings,
I know tomorrow you'll find better things.
I know tomorrow you'll find better things.

Better Things

Hoping that the New Year brings you BETTER THINGS!

These Important Years (Husker Du)

Well, you get up every morning
And you see, it's still the same
All the floors and all the walls
And all the rest remains
Nothing changes fast enough
The hurry, worry days
It makes you want to give it up
And drift into a haze

Revelations seems to be another way
To make the days go faster anyways

We're all exchanging pleasantries
No matter how we feel
And no one knows the difference
'Cause it all seems so unreal
You'd better grab a hold of something
Simple but it's true
If you don't stop to smell the roses now
They might end up on you

Expectations only mean you really think you know
What's coming next, and you don't

Yearbooks with their autographs
From friends you might have had
These are your important years
You'd better make them last
Falling in and out of love just like...
These are your important years, your life

Once you've seen the light, you finally
Realize it might end up all right
It might end up all right now

Better Things

To all of you, my dearest wish for the New Year...

BETTER THINGS!

No Peace In The Valley

Hit another number on time's odometer this weekend. Possessed by a feeling of relief more than anything else these days. I still have a job (yes, we had yet another bloodbath at the veal pen last week), health, family, etc.

Challenging days ahead for sure.... apparently, the biggest growth market in psychiatry is in the spouses and children of working folk. The anxiety level has escalated to epidemic proportions with kids worrying that mom or dad will be out of a job.

Something is gonna give at work... too many suits walking around being shown the environs. Are we for sale? Who isn't? So we sit and hope the scythe is whetted at another site.

Good times. Good times.

How can I explain to those that weren't there

Of the days and the nights and the trouble we'd share

An old man's tale's at the end of the bar

I shoulda finished before I made it this far

Toonage:

Buzzcocks - Everybody's Happy Nowadays

P.I.L. - Happy

Tom Waits - Frank's Wild Years

The Kinks - Get Back In Line

From the sublime to the ridiculous

I think we all need to feel good today.

This is so beautiful and hopeful, I wanted to share:

Ray Davies with the Crouch End Festival Chorus: Shangri-La (live 10-28-07)

Apparently it's the first time ever performed live.

And from the sublime to the ridiculous; I don't know why, but every time I see this video I start to laugh. I think it had to do with how "earnest" Springsteen and Bono seem. Yeah, I know it was anti-apartheid, but it just seems so dated and cheesy.

It might also be because I still get shit from my pals about if I am going to play Sun City since I usually am wearing a "Little Steven style Schmatta" on my head.

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Now playing: Hitchcock, Robyn & The Egyptians - Listening to the Higsons
via FoxyTunes

Don't be surprised if a crack in the ice...

... appears under your feet.

and Good-Morning, Smithers-Jones,,,


At some point, the realization comes that maybe there's something better. Loyalty is great, and as they take turns shoveling the dirt onto your box the pretty words are spoken. But who's the sucker? You are, of course. Because you always give more than you get. And you're always a line item on an entry pad. And don't forget it. The orchestra on the Titanic didn't get any extra props for going down with the ship, did they?

The struggle continues, but maybe the weight pulling you down gets a little (or a lot) lighter somewhere else. Sure, you lose all that built up good will and credibility. But sometimes the long run has a more attractive finish line.

One thing is for sure, sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel ISN'T a train coming at you. Sometimes, it's a better way out.

So, do I feel lucky, Punk?

Do I?


Toonage:
The Kinks - Rats
Fleshtones - I've Gotta Change My Life
Hot Water Music - Clampdown (Clash cover)
Bad Religion - You've Got A Chance



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Now playing: Dead Kennedys - Life Sentence
via FoxyTunes

A VD Post

Just when I think you're out of my head
I hear a song that you sang or see a book that you read.

And I think about my loves, well, I've had a few
Well, I'm sorry that I hurt them, did I hurt you too?

I would break down at your feet and beg forgiveness, plead with you
But I know that it's too late, and now there's nothing I can do

You know the pain, that's in my heart,
it just shows, I'm not very smart.

And if I don't see ya, in a long, long while
I'll try to find you, left of the dial

Toonage:
The Kinks - No More Looking Back
Social Distortion - I Was Wrong
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry (demo)
Black Flag - Louie Louie
Replacements - Left Of The Dial (live Beacon Theater - NYC)



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Now playing: Ramones - The KKK Took My Baby Away
via FoxyTunes

Plenty Of Nothing

In the throes of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, the Dow jumped up over 900 points today. What's it all mean? I have no idea. I don't even look at my 401K since I can't touch it anyway until I'm too old to get any enjoyment out of it!
I am no economics expert, but here in NYC, the restaurants are emptier than Sarah Palin's soul and there seem to be less turista's too. A friend of mine in the service industry says that her bar was pretty barren this weekend.

There are definite signs of massive corporate lay-offs in the next few weeks (just in time for the holidays, Ebenezer).

I guess it was a really good time for me to stop drinking! Those $6 pints sure add up.

We're not recovering from this anytime soon, fellow travelers.



Toonage:
The Kinks - Get Back In Line
The Damned - Lovely Money
Led Zeppelin - Money (live 1980)
Grateful Dead - Money Money (studio outtake)
Nirvana - The Money Will Roll Right In




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Now playing: AC/DC - Money Talks
via FoxyTunes

OMG WTF Etc

Feel like opening up a vein and, well, Bleedin' Out. A serious case of ennui as of late. Pressures of the job and worries about the economy are really doing a job on my psyche.

And it's affecting my desire for the rawk.

Blew off free tix for these guys, these guys, these guys and this guy, all in the past week. Yeah, I wouldn't see at least one of them without an ample supply of free booze (which was actually going to happen in skybox suites). But I just haven't had the head lately for anything but heavy duty PUNK RAWK.

However, I get to wake up at 3:30 am tomorrow and take my daughter (Princess Nomad) to see this chick perform a 7 am show. Yeah, 3:30 am. For teen pop. I'll be the guy in the Ramones shirt and the perpetual scowl.

So, basically, my life as I knew it is over.

Time to hit the bar...

Toonage:

Descendents - When I Get Old

The Kinks - I'm In Disgrace

Against Me! - Thrash Unreal

Redd Kross - Heaven Only Knows

Sonny And Cher - The Beat Goes On

Perception vs Reality?

Closer than close

you see yourself

A mirrored image

of what you wanted to be.

As each day goes by

a little more

You can't remember

what it was you wanted anyway.

Private Hell... The Jam



The other day, it was past quittin' time at work, and as I was headin' out for a nite of hijinks, I had changed out of my corporate asshole attire and into my preferred mode of dress (ie: Punk Rock T Shirt and Jeans). One of the women who report to me (whom I have about 15 years or so on), did a double take. When queried, she told me that it was strange for her to see me in anything but corp-asshole threads. Since I am pretty loose at work (or so I thought) and I am always cranking r and r toonage out of my veal pen, this assessment disturbed me.

I've been with my present captors for over a decade, when I started here, I was a ponytailed, drunken, fuck-up. As I slimed my way up the corporate ladder, I always figgered I kept my mojo. Sure I have a position of power, responsibility and even greater aggravation. But aren't I the same idiot that stage dived at Minor Threat shows? Didn't I just get tossed out of a club a couple of weeks back?

As I look around at the influx of new worker bees, I realize that I am "THE MAN", the guy that people who see me around think is "Mr. Uptight Corporate Douchebag".

Most of the people I converse with at the job are the higher level people...and that's not even on work related topics for the most part. Even on the day to day sports bullshit, it's the big boys I tend to socialize with.

Is this a function of rank? Or is it because of common age? At a company event last year at a bar, I sat down next to some of the lumpen proles and they looked at me like I was their creepy old dad!

Meanwhile, there is little doubt to me that my post 9-5 life is as irresponsible and whacked out as their's.

I have a tie on as I type this (J. Garcia), a button down shirt (covering a Pete's Wicked Beer T) and Slacks (that are actually threadbare at the cuffs). My shoes have holes in them. Playin' on my iTunes is the Breeders' new album.

But, it's painfully apparent that on the outside, I am a ghost.

I was always an asshole, now I am a corporate asshole.

How the fuck did this happen?

Toonage:

Grateful Dead - Big Boss Man (live from Birth of The Dead)
The Kinks - Mr. Big Man
The Descendents - When I Get Old
The Jam - Private Hell (live 1980)
Cracker - Teen Angst

Better Things

Here's wishing you the bluest sky,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow.
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses to
Follow all the doubt and sadness.
I know that better things are on the way.

Here's hoping all the days ahead
Won't be as bitter as the ones behind you.
Be an optimist instead,
And somehow happiness will find you.
Forget what happened yesterday,
I know that better things are on the way.

It's really good to see you rocking out
And having fun,
Living like you just begun.
Accept your life and what it brings.
I hope tomorrow you'll find better things.
I know tomorrow you'll find better things.

Here's wishing you the bluest sky,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow.
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses to
Follow all the drudge and sadness.
I know that better things are on the way.

I know you've got a lot of good things happening up ahead.
The past is gone it's all been said.
So here's to what the future brings,
I know tomorrow you'll find better things.
I know tomorrow you'll find better things.

Toonage:
Fountains Of Wayne - Better Things (Kinks cover)
Husker Du - Everything Falls Apart

Satan and/or Santa Loves You

My best wishes to you all as you ejaculate your money in an orgy of consumption. Here's my gift to you...

Toonage:

South Park - The Lonely Jew On Christmas
Showcase Showdown - Merry Christmas, I Fucked Your Snowman
The Vandals -My First X-Mas (As A Woman)
Basement Five - Last White Christmas
Peter And The Test Tube Babies - I'm Getting Pissed For Christmas
The Clap - Christmas In A Bodybag
The Kinks - Father Christmas
Fear - Fuck Christmas
The Sonics - Don't Believe In Christmas
Crucial Youth - Christmas Time For The Skins
Ramones - Merry Christmas, I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight
The Who - Christmas (Demo)
The Vandals - Grandpa's Last Christmas

Download it all by clicking here!

Minnie's A Widow

In the arts of life man invents nothing;
but in the arts of death he outdoes Nature herself,
and produces by chemistry and machinery
all the slaughter of plague, pestilence, and famine”
...George Bernard Shaw

Living in the burbs means that every now and then I gotta deal with pests. And I am not referring to the local republikkkan arseholes who are always looking to sign me up to their ranks.

Whether it’s ants in the spring or spiders in the fall, my area is a pestal wonderland. And than there’s these primordial monsters that showed up en masse and freaked us all out.

With the autumn comes the migration of field mice towards in-door sanctuary. A couple of years back, we had a rude introduction to this phenomenon and it took about a month to rid ourselves of em.

Last year, we only had a few, but apparently our cat must have dined on one and ended up with Toxoplasmosis, which has permanently farked up his nervous system and cost us some big time medical bills.

So, last week, when I spied a mouse scampering in the basement, I went to war. I spread glue traps all over the area and lo and behold, the little bastard was caught within a couple of days.

Of course, the disposal question than arises.

Well, Mickey was still alive (the glue board traps em, but doesn’t kill em). A small shoebox over the trap and a firmly placed boot took care of any potential slow death issues.

A word of warning to any of Mickey’s relatives: there are many more traps laid out for your visit.

To battle we go!

Toonage:
Mouse & The Traps – A Public Execution
The Kinks – Rats
Naked Raygun – Rat Patrol
Black Sabbath – Rat Salad
Circle Jerks – Trapped
The Cramps - Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill!