Wait for it.

Wait for it.....

Toomer's Oaks, last chance

The last day to roll the Toomer's Corner oak trees is today. Auburn A Day. It is really a day to celebrate a tradition in my town. I am no sports fan. I used to be, and Auburn U. Tigers was not my team. I have adopted them by default, by seeing happy people who like them everyday. They don't talk college football much here at the library where I work. When they do, it is not to taunt (as I remember before) but to enjoy. It was a surprising aspect of moving to Auburn. One would think that damnable rivalry would get worse around here, it didn't... it faded off more than a bit.

I know I have written about this before. Maybe I am just writing to say that this is still true. I moved here to find my political views in acceptance, or in toleration, by the general public. I noticed that a town with a lot of college students  has a collective mind that was more open than was true in Montgomery, AL, my birthplace, the heart of old Dixie.

These were very positive things in my life. I really cannot stress that enough. I see the importance of community. I thought I did in Montgomery, I was wrong. This is perhaps something that some people grow up in. I grew up with a background war of racism seeping through the most formative moments of my childhood. A war that continues to this day. The community as an inclusive whole in Montgomery, AL, was virtually nonexistent. There was my family and when they slowly drifted away there was less family... and community took a double hit in my life.

When I started having job problems because of this same war zone quality, I lit out, when I could extract myself. I went back and visited a few times.. now it is like Montgomery is on another continent, 50 minutes away.

The poisoning of the Toomer's Corner oak trees here was really a shot at my new life from my old. Community has been strong in healing the mess, but I took it personally. How dare they come into my new home as guests and do that.

But, a day after Boston celebrates their community standing up to a week from hell, Auburn too, celebrates how we have overcome our smaller less consequential tragedy.

(Oddly, as I watched the recent news coverage and saw the furtive figures walking caught by the security cams it was eerily reminiscent of our second set of tree haters, the two that set afire the already dying poisoned trees.)

my Zune set list

Nice job, Zune! :)

The Way I Am

If you were falling, then I would catch you.

You need a light, I'd find a match.

Cause I love the way you say good morning.

And you take me the way I am.

If you are chilly, here take my sweater.

Your head is aching, I'll make it better.

Cause I love the way you call me baby.

And you take me the way I am.

I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair.

Sew on patches to all you tear.

Cause I love you more than I could ever promise.

And you take me the way I am.

You take me the way I am.

You take me the way I am.

I'm So Tired
I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No, no, no.

I'm so tired, I don't know what to do
I'm so tired, my mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you but I know what you would do

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired, I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid get.

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

Give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

Embryo
All this love, is all I am
a ball is all I am
I'm so new compared to you
and I am very small

Warm glow, moon gloom
always need a little more room
waiting here seems like years
Never seen the light of day

All around I hear strange sounds
come gurgling round my ears
red glow light and darkened night
I feel my dawn is near

Warm glow, moon gloom
always need a little more room
waiting here seems like years
I will see the sunshine show

Turn turn turn...

Joni Mitchell - BBC 1970

Joni Mitchell from the same year as the James Taylor concert I posted earlier, also produced by BBC. I would just love to have seen performances like this in person where the audience isn't acting like a bunch of preteens on holiday. :) But sadly, those days are over. Someday, as an old guy, I would just like to go to a concert where I could sit through the concert. Well, a concert of someone who is a good musician. :)

 

 

 

 

Stuck on Vintage Paperbacks. :)

 

Well, give me time, and my strange path of aimlessness may well bring me around to the music exposition that I promised. :)   One thing nice about a blog no one reads, promises are made to virtually no one. :)

Tiny Little Dots

more gifs

Cat and Fruit Ninja

 

And:

 

 

 

1950's Van Gough