Vita dell'Isola della Roccia

C'mon Baby, Light My Flowers

2010-07-23T05:30:00.001-05:00

No time to wallow in the mire, I got too much work to do (demolition and construction and, anything else I can) while the girls are out of town.

Why flowers?

Because, (a) these are what Marcel and I walked by after the car we were driving stopped working while we were in the middle of a busy day, (b) their friggin' beautiful wildness and, (c) a subtle reminder for me to stop and smell'em (no matter how much car problems can crap up a perfectly wonderful day).

Stop and smell The Mike Flowers Pops while you're here. I know you'll enjoy 'em!

•••

Light My Fire
(Buy: The Mike Flowers Pops: A Groovy Place)

Somebody's Been Watching Too Much Glee

2010-06-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's So Easy Being Green

2010-06-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

At least, Sushi makes it look easy.

•••

Grazing In The Grass
(Buy: Friends Of Distinction: Grazin')

Pretty Green
(Buy: Mark Ronson (featuring Santigold): Version)

NEXT TIME: EN LA GRAN HABITACIÓN VERDE!

Sometimes, It Takes Someone Else To Remind You Of That Which You Already Know

2010-06-13T05:00:00.002-05:00

Where else are you going to find yourself enjoying the words of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse? Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to look.

And, this time, that reminder came via The Grand Poobah at Junior Society.

"There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination
Living there, you’ll be free
If you truly wish to be."

A Post To Put My Amateur Parenthood Enthusiasms® (And, Other Such Syndromes) Into Some Kind of Perspective

2010-05-07T05:00:00.008-05:00

"Hey, get her away from those bricks! Is that a granite block over there? Do you hear a bee? Is Sushi allergic, because I sure am! For the love of Uncle Peat, get her back in the house!"

Okay, okay! Maybe I'm over-reacting just a little bit, but ...

I know, not only have I been slacking in the post department as of late but, I've been a little soft around the edges of those posts, as well. I don't know what to say, it all happened so quickly. I seemed to have little or no control of the situation but, I honestly think I'm recovering now. (In all honestly, I'm not being honest but, at 4:45 in the morning, I seem to have found a bit of time to sit and type out — in my plodding, keyboard stylings — a post or two.)

I could possibly blame the softened edges on my Amateur Parenthood Enthusiasms® (Hey, it's legit! I read all about APE® Syndrome in one of my previous posts and, as you all well know, if I wrote it, it must be true. As a matter of fact, I believe that that is now my new motto!) I believe it was Gandhi that said "Oooh, raising babies just makes me want to stop all my fighting"? Well, word to Mahatma. I know exactly how he felt.

Or, is the problem more with my Amateur Parenthood Over-Protectionisms®? (As you can tell from the caption above and, YES!, also a real thing, as I have just written about it in the previous sentence.)

"Hey! Is that open framing? Exposed lathe and plaster? Is that an electrical cord hanging down to some random outlet? Don't you ever put your child in a REAL hat?!"

However, also highly suspect, is my total lack of ability to put all the organizational pieces of my home/life/mind back together after the Holidaze Chimbley Incident of '09 (Yes, that is also a real thing and, I REALLY promise to throw out more on that in a future SideWise Timeshift. That's right folks, I'm talking about time travel! Oh, yeah, that's comin' too. If LOST can do it, so can I; at least to fill in the blanks of a, so far, lackluster posting history for 2010.).

Well, as those of you that have stopped by here to read anything before know, I CAN go on (AND, WILL in the future) and on on the littlest (and, lamest) topics but, I am putting on the brakes on this rant right now (for today).

No, my friend, all I came here for today was to share this remarkable, little trailer for the movie BABIES". (I'm sure, at a theater no where near me but hopefully, near you.)

Now, I'm not all that sure that — even with a sweet, new wonder of a child of my own — the entire movie is something that I could sit through and enjoy but, believe me when I tell you — and, you should because, again, I just wrote it — the 2 minutes and 26 seconds that you spend watching the trailer, will help you (as it did me) shake those Amateur Parenthood Over-Protectionisms® and, bring a smile to your face.

OH, YEAH, and, as if you need me to tell you to do anything else, click on the "Full Screen" toggle to watch this. It's clear as your television and, for some dog-forsaken reason, this template cuts off half of all the clips I post here. (And, it's SO BIG on your screen, you'll want to reach out and hug one of these babies!)

THAT'S ALL, NOW WATCH!

Well, my friend, if that didn't make you smile, you are a cold, heartless bastard and, well, I won't continue because, I know you loved it.

Now, let's have a hug!

NEXT TIME: LET'S SO DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!

•••

Baby Love Child
(Buy: Pizzicato Five: Made In USA)

The Perpetual Self, or "What Would Saul Alinsky Do?"
(Buy: Sufjan Stevens: The Avalanche)

I DailyLove® An Evening Ferry Ride In The Puffy-Clouded Month Of May

2010-05-03T23:00:00.003-05:00

•••

Mr. Blue Sky
(Buy: Electric Light Orchestra: Out of the Blue [Original Recording Remastered])

NEXT TIME: DREAM A LITTLE DREAM ON ME®

Is It Too Soon?

2010-05-01T06:00:00.004-05:00

Because if it's not, I have a thing or two to say. (Which, by my continuation of writing this entry, means I don't think it is.)

“We are very lucky,” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said at a 2:15 a.m. press conference. (Hey, it was 2 in the friggin' morning, whatta' you want, an 'I Think I Was Having A Dream' quality speech?) Photograph Credit: Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times

THING 1:

Does Mayor Mike tie his own bow tie at 2 in the morning or is that just a sweet lookin' clip-on?

THING 2:

Are all immediate public statements purposely staged to look like a SNL skit-to-be?

THING 3:

Thank Jevus for people that don't know how to make a friggin' bomb.

•••

Love Is The Message
(Buy: MSFB: T.S.O.P.)

I DailyLove® A Walk Around The Block

2010-03-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

And, so now does Sushi!

That's right, my friends, she walks! (She likes to dance, too, but more on that in a future installment.)

Now, if I can keep myself from the uncontrollable urge to dive in front of her every time she looks like she's going to fall headfirst to the freshly exposed gravel and sand covered pavement, we'll all enjoy our Spring-like perambulations.

p.s. Man, baby growth and development is astounding! ( Sure, that's a major understatement and a rookie observation but, hey, I'm a newbie at this so back off and let me wallow in A&W (Awe & Wonder) of my Amateur Parenthood Enthusiasms®.)

•••

Walk Don't Run
(Buy: Kazumi Watanabe: Mobo I)

I DailyLove® A Random Sunset (In The Morning)

2010-01-13T05:55:00.005-05:00

I'm just waiting for my clothes to dry and Sushi to wake up before the day starts.

I DailyLove® a random November '09 sunset from the ferry ride home (not indicative of anything other than the fact that it was the first picture up on iPhoto this morning).

Enjoy your day!

Now, If I Can Just Teach My Baby A Jimmy Flip

2010-01-02T17:00:00.014-05:00

When she's not walking (Yes, our baby took her first steps on January 1!) Sushi loves to bounce. And, when she bounces, her Daddy loves to sing. And, this is what he sings:

Even if you can't bring in Food or Drink (or, what is that, a Rabbit?) they're still genius! Now, excuse me, while I touch the sky.

Bouncy, Bouncy, Ohh, such a good time.
Bouncy, Bouncy, Shoes all in a line.
Bouncy, Bouncy, Everybody somersault,
Somersault, summertime,
Everybody sing along!
Bouncy, Bouncy, Ohh, such a good time.
Bouncy, Bouncy, White socks slipping down.
Bouncy, Bouncy, stilettos are a No-no!
Bouncy, Bouncy, Ohh! Bouncy, Bouncy, Ohh!
Every time I bounce, I feel I touch the sky!

I barely do it the justice it deserves but, I'm practicing.

Until then, I'll just let Vince and Howard (The Mighty Boosh) sing it like it deserves to be sung — with feeling.

And, remember, stilettos are a No-no!

•••

As an aside, I need a new look. Maybe over the next day (it's now been 5 months since I last wrote this) or so (or, 10), I'll reformat this thing. But, until then, read it and reap (the wholesome goodness that is this blog).

Happy Rockin' Nivea Year!

2010-01-01T05:00:00.010-05:00

Now, who was that that sponsored our Rockin' New Year's Eve Extravaganza again? And, really, is that Dick Clark frenchin' on national television, again?

Don't worry, people. 2010 (and, the future decade) will supply us with an endless parade of people (and has-been celebrity types) willing to shill a product for cash (or a stupid floppy hat).

However, this is the look to be sporting in Times Square for the 2011
festivities.

Sushi sez: "Really! Get a friggin' room, dc! Sure, I'm just the baby here, but even I have some boundaries!"

Get yours now, before it's too late! (Disclaimer: My daughter is in no way a shill. This is entirely her Dad's doing. Any proceeds may be forwarded to him directly. He, apparently, is a shill.)

•

Ding Dong, Ding Dong
(Buy: George Harrison: Dark Horse)

Feed The World (Don't You Know It Was Christmas Or, Something Like That)

2009-12-31T11:59:00.006-05:00

Yea, I will not be denied my long standing hatred of all the forced joviality of the holiday season. But, let me now profess my extreme enjoyment that a) it is now over and done and that, b) I had this nugget by Bob Dylan (by way of Brave Combo, by way of Lorne Greene, by way of Mitch Miller) to carry me through.

By Jove, all office parties (and, decades) should end so easily!

See ya' next year!

Yea, ye of little faith in my abilities to return to the blog. I might even make a resolution to stay on top of this thing in 2010 (that is, if writing more times than the 3 — as I did last year — constitutes 'staying on top' of this thing. I think I can do it. Or, not. Time will surely tell.

•

Go ahead, download the sweet, holiday goodness (in chronological order)!

Must Be Santa
(Buy: Mitch Miller and the Gang: Holiday Sing-Along with Mitch Miller)

Must Be Santa
(Buy: Lorne Greene (with the Jimmy Joyce Children’s Choir): Must Be Santa, RCA Victor, 45)

Must Be Santa
(Buy: Bob Dylan: Christmas In The Heart)*

*Oh, yeah, and buy Bob's holiday album. Feeding America will receive all of Dylan's royalties from sales in the USA, while two further charities, the United Nations' World Food Programme and Crisis in the UK, will receive royalties from overseas sales.

Dylan said: "That the problem of hunger is ultimately solvable means we must each do what we can to help feed those who are suffering and support efforts to find long-term solutions. I'm honoured to partner with the World Food Programme and Crisis in their fight against hunger and homelessness."

Not only will you be able to say (without lying) "Yeah, I got that Bob Dylan Christmas album", you'll also be able to say, "Yeah, that was me that helped feed some people." And, really, wouldn't you just like to feel a little better about yourself in the coming year? I know I would (like you to feel a little better about yourself).

Feeding America
World Food Programme
Crisis

I'm Back!

2009-08-26T21:13:00.011-05:00

Now, with EXTRA TOOTH!

•••

Well, only one at the moment, but they're comin' out, I can feel it!

•••

I'm Coming Out
(Buy: Diana Ross (She loves you) : Diana)

Supermagic
(Buy: Mos Def : The Ecstatic)

You're Most Digestable My Friend. Delicious Too, From End To End

2009-03-09T22:18:00.009-05:00

"Bananas are a solid food that doctors now include in baby's diet.
And, since they are so good for baby, I think we all should try it.

Si, Si, Si, Si!"

Indeed!

I Love My Baby, And My Baby Loves Me

2009-01-29T05:00:00.004-05:00

Daddy's (and Mommy's) Little Girl

•••

Okay, there is very little excuse for coming back from a two and a half month writing drought without any explanation. (And, let's not even acknowledge my total lack of reaction to the homophobic Election Day voting of California, Arizona, and Florida — but more on those later.) But, first, on a lighter note ...

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my 8-week old, very little (but growing like that little goldfish in A Fish Out Of Water) and always beautiful, Sushi.

Now, I make no promises that I have a future of consistent postings once again but, I believe my baby may have turned a "give Mommy and Daddy some of their lives back, maybe I'll sleep through the night" corner. (Of course, now having said that, I'm going to get my arse kicked tonight.)

•••

I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)
(Buy: Stevie Wonder : Talking Book)

All I Do
(Buy: Stevie Wonder : Hotter Than July)

My Baby
(Buy: Ken Nordine (and The Fred Katz Group) : Word Jazz)

Set My Peeple Free

2008-11-05T05:30:00.002-05:00

California steps it up for the food class, as well.

No, I'm not here to try to persuade you to put down that pork chop, or throw a Tofurky® (Honestly, I think I just like the idea of Tofurky® only because it makes me feel a bit dirty every time I utter the phrase.) into the middle of your time-honored Thanksgiving traditions, which, much like the days of yore, probably involve a healthy dose of televised "Sports!" (Tibby Boom Boom, if you're out there — that one was for you. We miss you. Your rooms waiting anytime you need it. But, more on that at a later date.)

Nice job Cali and, of course, Wayne Pacelle, and The Humane Society of America.

Now, lay off the meat a bit, eh?

But, I sure do like them fried potaters with a Maine, free range, graveyard turkey!

•••

Don't Fence Me In : David Byrne
(Buy: Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute To Cole Porter)

Or, buy anything else that supports The Red Hot Organization.

NEXT TIME: I'M STACKIN' WOOD, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. (NO, REALLY, IT'S LITERALLY JUST ABOUT WOOD — AND STACKIN' IT.)

Hey, C.C., Shouldn't Today Be A Holiday — As Opposed To Columbus Day, Or Some Other Such Shite?

2008-11-04T09:00:00.002-05:00

Cousin Jeff, rockin' the vote — back in the day — as you should today. (If you're into it.)

I apologize for the image re-post but, once again, I am hoping that the great civil spirit that got my cousin Jeff elected (Oh, so many years ago) inspires all of you to let your proverbial freak flag fly, and get out your Election Day ya-ya's.

Really folks, if you do nothing else today (which, I believe, should be a national holiday to allow everybody this affects, which, I believe, is everybody to) get your arse up and out to the voting booths. And please, drag along all of your friends and family. Tell them that if they don't vote, they don't get to bitch about what happens next (and if something really bad happens, it's entirely their fault).

Now go Vote, for someone good for a change! (Yeah, yeah!)

•••

Vote Black President (Yeah, Yeah) : Kokolo
(Buy: Love International)

Chocolate City : Mavis Staples
(Buy: A Piece of the Action [IMPORT] [SOUNDTRACK])

Chocolate City : Parliament
(Buy: Funked Up : The Very Best of Parliament)

Two For A Penny (R.I.P.)

2008-10-03T23:00:00.001-05:00

Heaven

"Everyone is trying, to get to the bar.
The name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven.
The band in Heaven plays my favorite song.
They play it once again, they play it all night long.

Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.

There is a party, everyone is there.
Everyone will leave at exactly the same time.
Its hard to imagine that nothing at all
could be so exciting, and so much fun.

Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.

When this kiss is over it will start again.
It will not be any different, it will be exactly the same.
It's hard to imagine that nothing at all
could be so exciting, could be so much fun.

Heaven is a place where nothing every happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing every happens."

Thank You for Sending Me an Angel

Rest In Peace, Penny.

My Baloney Has A First Name, It's J-E-S-U-S (Or, Oh, No, You Didn't!)

2008-09-30T07:00:00.005-05:00

As I've mentioned before (and, I will mention again — often — no doubt), I DailyLove® my morning commute. And, really, with a start like this, can you blame me?

The Vinalhaven morning calm after the, well, sweet, wet, calm hurricane.

But, five minutes into my beautiful Monday morning excursion, I am surprisingly approached by one of the ferry employees.

"Did you here the latest?" she (or, he — I'm not divulging names or sexes here, folks — I'm just telling a story), says, out of the blue.

I am intrigued. I love "the latest." (In reality, "the latest" has often — and not without any doings of myself — evaded me. Because, really, "the latest" is more times than not, not.) But, it is early, and I am caught off guard. (Note to self: Be more on guard earlier in the morning.)

"No," I respond with as little enthusiasm as possible, hoping that my lack thereof is sensed by my sunrise interloper.

"Jesus was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a governor." (Note to reader: Pilate actually was the Prefect of the Roman Judaea province. Pretty much, a governor, but without any serious power. That is, of course, barring that whole Jesus fiasco.)

"What?" I reply, knowing instead that I should have just said "Good one", and let it go at that.

She/he repeats their new found political "zinger".

"Wow. That's a good one. It's kind of like that whole Obama being a community leader and Sarah Palin being a governor," I acknowledge. "But, I didn't the liberals went in for that kind of thing, but apparently, they're closet Catholics. Do you think Obama can actually walk on water, or Sarah Palin ever had anyone crucified?" I ask.

"What?" she/he asks, puzzled either by my question, or my new found interest in her story. So, I explain.

"You know, those two had some serious history. Are you telling me that I should consider that an analogy to today's political climate?"

"What?" she/he responds, a bit perplexed. "No, I just thought is was funny."

"Yeah," reply, "I guess. If you find that kind of political mumbo-jumbo funny."

"Yeah," she/he says, walking up the stairs without looking back.

I am alone on the deck, at last.

Thank you, Jevus.

•••

Sidebar: I also heard someone say that they "have seen far too many 'Muslim' slips from Obama. I still think he's in the closet waiting to come out? I would prefer 4 more years to that prospect."

What?! Really? People think (or, maybe more to the point, don't think) before they say things like that?

Why don't you amateurs leave the heavy lifting to the professionals. (Example? Yikes!)

To paraphrase Margo Channing, "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride!"

•••

How's about a little Jesus music?

Jesus Is Just Alright : Reverend Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Choir
(Buy: 50 Blessed Years)

Jesus Walking on the Water : Violent Femmes
(Buy: Add It Up (1981-1993))

Peace Be With You.

Vinalheaven®

2008-09-27T09:00:00.006-05:00

A little DailyLove® never hurt anybody. (Really, it never, ever, has!)

•••

I was asked this (Friday) morning if I ever got tired of riding the boat from The Rock to the mainland (and back) everyday. I answered that, "If I thought about it that way, I'd never get on the boat again."

That evening on the ride home — with George McCrae playing on my iPod (Yeah, don't even ask why that's on there — aside from the fact that it effin' rocks — in the groovy, swingin' 70's 'diggin' the scene' type of way) — synchronicity presented to me a more concise answer.

I DailyLove® this ride.

•••

Rock Your Baby : George McCrae
(Buy: Soul Train Super Hits)

Snap It, Pal!

2008-09-06T13:00:00.003-05:00

Mushi and friend — Ahhh, the lazy daze of Summer.

But, alas, all things must come to an end.

Sure, I've made no mention of my extended absence from this "laborious thing that sometimes mentions DailyLove®" and, you know what, I'm not gonna'.

I have, however missed this thing.

I miss the rush to get something together before midnight, trying to beat the clock until another day goes by without getting anything written. I miss trying to decipher my handwritten notes from the ferry, trying to transcribe the morning memories of fragments of Overheard Boat Talk® into some semblance of readable something or other. But, most of all dear reader(s — depending on the day), I've missed you. So, I'm back. And, what better way to return to the "wide world of webness" then with a little thing I like to call Nature®.

•••

Sooooo, yesterday, my bosses' wife comes running into the office with a shoe box.

"Hey, look at these! They were crawling out of a hole right near our mailbox!"

"They need water!" I say, thinking, they need water.

"I just picked them up out of the street," she says. "They were crossing the street (heading for the pond near their house) and one of them got run over." (Can I hear an "Amen!")

"What are you doing with them?" I ask, thinking, they need water.

"I just wanted to bring them in to show you. I thought you'd dig it." (And, it's true, I do dig it.)

"Those are great!" I say, still thinking they need water but, "Wait right there, I'm going to get the camera!" And, I snap off some pictures as the babies try to pig-pile their way to freedom.

Ahhhh, Nature! (You can check out some pictures from an exodus which took place last year, and a more natural return to the wild at My Maine Backyard Treasures. Really, do it, it's really sweet!)

"They need water," I say again (You know what I'm thinking).

"I'm going," the turtle saver says.

I watch as she heads out the door and down the street with a box full of endangered species on their way to freedom. I smile, thinking, they really need water.

"We should have kept one," says another woman in the office.

"If people think that nature is their friend, then they sure don't need an enemy." — Kurt Vonnegut

Of course, in about 10 or 12 good years (and no run-ins with a tire of a car) these little beauties will be two feet bigger and terrorizing the local pond in which your children swim. (Remember kids — Don't touch that murky bottom!)

Mama (or Daddy, I can't tell from here) Macrochelys temminckii — who I believe got a pretty bad rap in Daikaijû Gamera (although, only until he saved Kenny) — lookin' super bad! Read more scientific information about them here (If you can read Japanese).

But, for now, we can regale in their cuteness — their little, snappy ways — hoping that one day, one of these prepubescent Macrochelys (Which, by the way, are listed by the IUCN as a threatened species, and as of June 14, 2006 was afforded international protection by being listed as a CITES III species) will return to the scene to deposit another clutch of "road warriors" to our little town. (Or, at least, the "Big Mama" that dropped these kids off will be back next year.)

Until then, as V. S. Naipaul (and, I had no idea who this was until I looked it up), once said (and hopefully only once, because, really, it's not that deep of a thought, you know), "The world is always in movement."

So, with that, I'll let our little friends entertain you with some ""I swear, I will bite your finger if you come any closer, Mushi!" movement.

"And, by the way, WE NEED WATER!"

I hear you load and clear. Enjoy some Turtles!

•••

You Showed Me
Happy Together
(Buy: The Turtles: Happy Together: The Very Best of the Turtles [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED])

School's Back In Session!

2008-09-03T23:00:00.001-05:00

So remember kids, if you ever need some guidance, go talk to your counselor. He or she, probably knows what's going down.

I'm just sayin'.

I Ain't Got Time For Bloggin', Man! I'm Out On The Street! (Sesame Street, That Is)

2008-07-16T13:00:00.002-05:00

Enjoy this while it's still on the ole "www", because I don't think it will be here long. (But, I could be wrong. Or, not.) But, don't fret, you can catch it televised (on August 11) as Ms. Leslie (Feist) takes it to the Street's first episode of the 39th season. (That's right, you are old.)

Enjoy it (with your tots, or all by yourself)!

Turning Off The Lights And Taking The Groove Line

2008-06-21T06:21:00.000-05:00

Corporate Safety Blanket No. 1 : Douglas Coupland (This has nothing to do with anything, but I love the subtle detailing of this blanket.)

After an 18 year courtship, friends of ours are finally having a pig roast (Eeeks! And,oh, yeah, a wedding), so I'll be out of touch for a couple of days (like, hey, I haven't been out of touch for just about the whole year so far).

Enjoy your weekend, and Douglas Coupland.

•••

POSTCARD NUMBER TWO:
POWER FAILURE

I really wonder whether all memories are the same or if some are "more important" than others. Like many people my age, I was exposed to extreme amounts of well-produced, high-quality information and entertainment from birth onward. The other day I saw a Shake n' Bake TV commercial, one that I had not seen in twenty years, and in a flash, the whole commercial came back to me, as though I had just seen it five minutes ago. So I guess my head is stuffed with an almost-endless series of corporation-sponsored consumer tableaux of various lengths. These "other" commercialized memories are all in my head, somewhere, and this is indeed something worth considering.

What would it be like to have never had these commercialized images in my head? What if I had grown up in the past or in a nonmedia culture? Would I still be "me"? Would my "personality" be different?

I think the unspoken agreement between us as a culture is that we're not supposed to consider the commercialized memories in our head as real, that real life consists of time spent away from TVs, magazines and theaters. But soon the planet will be entirely populated by people who have only known a world with TVs and computers. When this point arrives, will we still continue with pre-TV notions of identity? Probably not. Time continues on: Instead of buying blue Chairman Mao outfits, we shop at the Gap. Same thing. Everybody travels everywhere. "place" is a joke.

And here's something we've all noticed: During power failures we sing songs, but the moment the electricity returns, we atomize.

I am choosing to live my live in a permanent power failure. I look at the screens and glossy pages and don't let them become memories.

When I meet people, I imagine them in a world of darkness. The only lights that count are the sun, candles, the fireplace and the light inside of you, and if I seem strange to you at times, it's only because I'm switching off the power, trying to help us both, trying to see you and me as the people we really are.

From Polaroids from the Dead, Copyright © 1996 by Douglas Coupland

•••

But, I'll be back again (probably even sooner then I think).

•••

Oh, yeah, it's Summer, too. So, enjoy the Heatwave!

The Groove Line
(Buy: Heatwave: Central Heating)

Read 'Em And Reap (The Escapist Benefits, That Is)

2008-06-16T23:16:00.002-05:00

Happy Bloomsday!

No, this isn't Leopold Bloom. It's just some Senator from Dublin with a bunch of girls in bloomers.

Yeah, I have no idea what that whole thing is about, other than some reference to Leopold Bloom, the main character of James Joyce's Ulysses, a book that — I can say without too much embarrassment — I somehow avoided, or otherwise, just didn't have to read in the last (hand over mouth mumble, mumble, mumble) years but, bought today with the conviction to finally remedy this situation. Apparently, as the name suggests, the title alludes to the hero of Homer's Odyssey (said title name) and, as you will see in the list below, I tackled that epic poem this Winter (But, if you're so inclined to pick up some Homie this Summer, I totally recommend The Iliad instead), I figured it was just time to buckle down (Who the hell says things such as that?) and jump on the J.J.'s epic bandwagon. So, ...

No, this is not Leopold Bloom either. It's Marilyn Monroe, you hayseeds! Jeez! But, she's lookin' good as she hits Ulysses on her Summer reads, back in the day (before those Kennedy arseholes made the scene, of course).

I've said it before, and I'll say it again — as somebody on the ferry once said, "A lot of people likes to read a book." And, I'm one of those peoples. (I am also one of those people who is always looking for an easy filler for a dry blogging spell.) So, if you're one too (a reader, that is, or, an enjoyer of somebody else's list of books, as I am), here's the (very late, but better late then never) 2nd Annual 'Mushi's Mid-Winter's (now quickly approaching Summer's) Day Dreaming, While On A Ferry Day Reading List.' Enjoy 'em, like I have (if you so choose).

DISCLAIMER: If you decide to pick any of these up, and don't like them, I don't want to hear about it.

So, here goes.

Homeland: Sam Lipsyte

Zoology: Ben Dolnick

Bigfoot: I Not Dead: Graham Roumieu

The Iliad: Homer

The Odyssey: Homer

An Iliad: Alessandro Baricco

Sharp Teeth: Toby Barlow

Rant: Chuck Palahniuk

Song of the Earth: Hugh Nissenson

Revenge of the Lawn: Richard Brautigan

Polaroids from the Dead: Douglas Coupland

Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture: Douglas Coupland

The Devil and Miss Prym: Paulo Coelho

Stardust: Neil Gaiman

American Gods: Neil Gaiman

This is the Way the World Ends: James Morrow

Blameless in Abaddon: James Morrow

Outside the Dog Museum: Jonathan Carroll

Burning Patience: Antonio Skármeta

Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players: Stefan Fatsis

Ecotopia: The Notebooks and Reports of William Weston: Ernest Callenbach

Cradle to Cradle: William McDonough & Michael Braungart

Rapture: David Sosnowski

And, just because I recommend this book to everyone (every time the mention of books comes up), I'll mention it here again (And, after you read it, you should do the same). Read:

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Jean-Dominique Bauby

And, as I said last time, if you've read any of these, and are led onto any other reading goodness out there that you think I'd like — please — drop me a note. Really, I'll read anything!

•••

The Book of Right-On
(Buy: Joanna Newsom: The Milk-Eyed Mender)

The Book of Right-On
(Buy: Nomo: New Tones)