A place where I post unscripted, unedited, soulless rants of a insomniac madman
Here’s my response to Cee’s FOTD challenge.
I missed most of the flower season this year. So, I decided to see if I could create a decent looking one. I can’t wait for next season. Until then, I will see what I can imagine.
My submission for Hugh’s Views & News blog, Wordless Wednesday post.
I looked up my name once; you know, our obsession with googling ourselves. Perhaps we find the things we have forgotten about to be nifty. More likely, we find things that we wish we could forget about. You know, like a video of a drunken you dancing ungracefully to Rod Stewart’s Do Ya Think I’m Sexy or perhaps a blog post about a soulful rendition, though sung off-key, and is remarkably similar to an experience you’ve done. Yes, the names are withheld, but there couldn’t be two jackasses commenting the same during the period.
As far as the origin of my name, I don’t have a clue. I suppose I could spin a yarn about a maiden by a brook reading a book while a doe gently drank from the brook or something. Yeah, I got nothing …
I’ve watched thousands of hours of video content throughout my lifetime, so it would be difficult to compile a list of my favorite movies. If I’m honest, the list changes from time to time. I get into moods where I watch a particular genre until I run out of movies. So, I will list a few movies that stand out.
The first five films on my list feature the legend of Sidney Poitier, and I’m a definite fan of the legend. My personal favorite is The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn. It wasn’t one of his many masterpieces, but its message is refreshing.
These next five aren’t in any order, but I enjoy them each time I watch them. I don’t have a particular reason; I just like them.
These are some of the films that come to mind immediately. I’m sure if I thought about them a little longer, I could come up with a proper list and reasons for each film.
Here are some honorable mentions:
Well, here is my list. Perhaps you have seen some of these and enjoyed them. There are maybe some you want to check out.
As I dived deeper into AI, I finally figured out how to compose a realistic AI macro photograph. Tell me what you think. Next month, I should be able to pick up my camera and take some shots.
This prompt is too rich to answer with a quick response. As fiction writer, this prompt opens the possibility of all kinds of nifty stuff. I have to make a decision whether or not to make life better or worse. Perhaps, I could make myself charming with a wonderful sense of humor. Perhaps, I could be dashing or something. Whichever way … STAY TUNED
How would you improve your community?
All I knew about flowers was that you gave them to a girl you were sweet on. So, when I met my future wife, I had much to learn. Now, I had no idea that I was going to marry her at the time, but strangest things, right? I spent a great deal of time in her flower garden while we were dating. I don’t know the names of flowers, but I know how deep to plant them or whether they grow in the sun or the shade. As well as how much to water them. You may be wondering what this story has to do with improving my community. Let me explain.
Throughout our marriage, my wife and I planted numerous gardens, indoor and outdoor. The indoor gardens were a challenge, but we pulled it off. Our last garden was our biggest and most challenging garden. In this garden, we planted both vegetables and flowers. Typically, we did either one or the other. However, that’s not what made this garden special. What made this garden stand out was its effect on the neighborhood.
We lived in the shady part of town and there all kinds of madness going on 24 hours a day. The people were decent enough, but no one seemed to care about anything outside their world. We were no different. It was about surviving our circumstances best way we could. My wife’s had begun to progress and one day she said she wanted a garden. I looked at her like she had finally lost her mind. There really wasn’t any place to put the garden she described. She didn’t let it go
Our backyard was nearly completely asphalt, so one morning I stood out there looking at it wondering how we were going to pull this off. I grabbed my pickaxe and went to work. It took me a week to clear the area by hand. It didn’t occur to me to rent a tiller. I just swinging that pickaxe. I tilled the soul with a rack then planted a flower right in the middle of the clearing. I went inside and took a nap in my chair. My wife woke me up and took me to the back and it started.
Over the next few weeks, I had the whole filled with flowers. Here is the interesting part, we went around town and asked people if we could get piece of their flowers. I was surprised when nearly everyone said yes. We did this every year for three years. There were a few ladies who would set aside seedlings for my wife. Others called her when they got something new. I shook my head at this, but would get into the truck and pick stuff up. My wife even nurseries on her rolodex. They’d call each year and donate a plant or two.
One night, one of my dogs alerted me to activity outside. I noticed that a few of the neighborhood yahoos were sitting in the garden. Immediately, I was ready to kick off the property. However, something strange happened. Some trash had blown in the garden, and I watched them get up and clear it up. They kept our garden free of trash. My wife passed and I moved, but for three years they maintained the garden. I received phone calls from my wife’s flower network wondering if I was going to keep things going. I declined and they understood.
Sometimes the littlest things mean so much. I guess that’s what happens when you marry the woman in the house with the pretty flowers.
Most days, I’m content and peaceful, neither positive or negative. However, this prompt maybe think of this skit.
I don’t do dinner parties, so the prompt doesn’t apply. However, I’ll play along for the sake of something. I’m unsure what, but I’ll play anyway.
If, I do mean if I were to consider hosting a dinner party, it would have to be for some special people. So, since we are in fantasy land, I would invite some of my favorite authors. The guest list is featured below.
So, the guest list are some of my favorite authors. You probably have noticed that all of them are deceased except for one. They said they wanted a guest list. Nobody said I had to play fair
Most people I meet think my favorite genre of music is rock and roll. Based on the music I play on this blog, those reading this may be inclined to agree with that assessment. The truth is there is entirely too much music out there to be narrowed down or pigeonholed.
However, there are a few genres in which I have a soft spot: jazz, Blues, and old-school R&B. These are the music I grew up listening to. My first concert was a jazz concert. My Madre dragged me to see George Benson. I can’t remember the show, but I’ve spent my life listening to his music. The jazz record I remember listening to was Ramsey Lewis’s Sun Goddess. I didn’t know it was jazz, but I still loved it.
Madre also played Motown, the Philly sound, and other R&B artists, such as Billy Paul, Barry White, and Teddy Pendergrass. My Mother also introduced me to rock and roll. She played Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Linda Ronstadt, and others. So, it would seem that I was destined to be eclectic with my music choices.
My submission for Hugh’s Views & News blog, Wordless Wednesday post.
There are many types of food that provide me comfort, but there is nothing like a good ole fashioned ice cream sandwich. That’s all I got to say about that.
When I was young, I was taught about altruism. I watched my MiMi practice this principle consistently. So, discussing random acts of kindness I’ve done is against my code. However, I can’t deny the power of random acts of kindness. They can shape one’s day or have lasting effects throughout an entire lifetime. I will discuss a few ideas I have watched emerge over the years that complement my code.
In 2000, a film called Pay It Forward was released. It was a delightful little film that I enjoyed immensely. In short, the film discusses the principle that if someone does you a kindness, you pay that kindness forward to another person. I still hear people uttering the Pay It Forward mantra. I love it. What I love about it is the fact nothing is expected in return. This makes the act altruistic in nature.
While dealing with my late wife’s health issues, I ran into a family who believed in a concept called God Winks. I had never heard of this concept and immediately dismissed it as hokum. Yet, one of the elders of the family sat down and explained the idea to me. Then, I realized it wasn’t hokum. We all have experienced seemingly unexplained acts of kindness throughout our lives, and this family called them God Winks. I still smile when I remember that conversation.
Lastly, in my studies, I came across a gentleman named Alan Watts. He had a concept I found rather refreshing that fit my code. This concept was called Clear as the Morning. Basically, the concept goes like this: When you wake up in the morning, envision your ideal morning, and whatever happens that day will be easier to handle. I have used this principle since I discovered it.
I think it’s essential to establish a routine as a writer. Many of the greats discuss this technique in several books about writing. The post below offers some tips.
Usually, I would discuss my backpack and its contents. However, as they say, I will be short and sweet today. The most important thing I carry is my integrity. Possessing come and go, but your integrity can be forever.
I like to keep you folks guessing about what I’m feature each night. This one is even a surprise to me. I was watching a TV show and heard this song. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. So, here is a little country …
We are switching gears again on LNG. I’m playing another from my 80s playlist. XTC is one of those bands that creeps up on you when you listen to the album. The most popular song from their Skylarking album is Dear God. However, I’ve always enjoyed this track.
Have a listen…
I eat a lot of chicken and fish. So, I would like to learn several recipes to expand my palette. However, I do enjoy making anything that requires the use of an oven. However, I’ve been known to make some rather delightful applesauce. I can’t quite recall how that happened. I mean, I don’t remember any passed down recipes or anything, but I like applesauce, so I kind of figured out how to make it. I took it to my office on several occasions and it seemed to disappear. I’ve had similar experiences with my baked salmon.
Initially, I figured some knucklehead was throwing away my lunch. One day, I slipped out of my office and caught the thieves. Some of the ladies from another department were feasting on my lunch. When I confronted them, they simply responded by telling me that I should have brought more. So, in response, I got a lunchbox and used ice packs. Their response was that I was being mean and that I should share.
I also make some decent cakes. Well, at least my grandson seems to destroy each one I make. I took some into the office as a test, along with a blend of coffee I make at home, and before the break, it was gone. Now, several disasters occurred over the years before I perfected a few items. You know, a couple of them even suggested I open a restaurant. My response…
“I’m bringing in any more food! Nice try, hero.”
My friend Glyn commented about Ronnie James Dio’s vocal prowess during his time with Rainbow. I always forget about his time with Rainbow. Perhaps it’s because when I think about the band, I remember the tracks, All Night Long from the Down to Earth album (1979) with Graham Bonnet on vocals and Stone Cold from the Straight Between the Eyes album (1983) with Joe Lynn Turner lending with vocals.
Ironically, my favorite Rainbow track is done by Ronnie James Dio.
Here’s that track …
I’ve spent ridiculous amounts of money on this supposedly fine cuisine. More times than not, I’ve been severely disappointed with the outcome. I took my late wife to a fancy steakhouse that she had going on about for months. In the hope of some sanity, I took her to the restaurant. She made me get dressed up and everything.
The restaurant’s atmosphere was majestic, but the food was mediocre. My wife put on a smile as she ate her dinner. I wanted to ask for a refund, but I sat there with her, watching her enjoy her meal. After she finished, we sat and chatted a bit, enjoying the atmosphere. When we returned home, she went to the refrigerator and pulled out some ground beef. She stood there in her fancy dress cooking the ground beef.
She toasted a couple of buns with butter and garlic, then sat down at the table with her famous cheeseburgers for the both of us.
She took a bite of her burger and sighed, “That place was sure nice, but the food was horrible.”
I laughed as I ate my burger.
“We spent all that money and ended up eating cheeseburgers to get filled.”, she mused while smoking a cigarette.
“Yeah, but you’re sure wearing that dress,” I said deadpan. She chuckled and smiled mischievously.
The fancy restaurant wasn’t worth it, but sitting in our kitchen and spending time together was.
I’ve been trying to work on a fantasy story, so sketch time. Here are few renderings.
One of history’s most well-known rock & roll songs is Back in Black by AC/DC. Like many, I’ve jammed to that song and many others from that legendary album. When I started writing this post, I had decided on a song that I wanted to discuss, but I realized it wasn’t on this album. However, it fits a future post. The Back in Black features several other tracks besides the title track that cement it into Rock and Roll history as one the best albums.
My favorite track on that album is a little number called Shake a Leg. I can’t really explain it. Even now, I can hear Brian Johnson wailing,
“Idle juvenile on the street, on the street
Kickin’ everything with his feet, with his feet
Fightin’ on the wrong side of the law, of the law, yeah
Don’t kick, don’t fight, don’t sleep at night and shake a legShake a leg
Shake a leg
Shake it again”
Perhaps it spoke to my restless soul. I can’t be sure, but I love that song …
Here it is …
We need to reset a bit tonight. I need to play a little something the Madre would love—the kind of thing that made her tap her feet and sway to the groove. The Madre turned me on to Otis Redding. Nah, she didn’t sit me down and tell me this is what music really sounds like and all that, but she played it in the house, which meant it was good.
Otis Redding …
My submission for Hugh’s Views & News blog, Wordless Wednesday post.
One of the most popular albums of my youth was Dio’s Hold Diver. The best-known tracks from that album were Holy Diver and Rainbows in the Dark. The track Holy Diver has been covered more times than I can count. Some of the covers are rather interesting, but I still prefer the original. My nephew says I’m stubborn that way. I chuckle every time I think about it because he’s probably right.
Ronnie James Dio sang with Black Sabbath for a while, so many of my friends felt the necessity to discuss who the better singer was, Ozzy or Ronnie James. As that topic could be addressed adequately over a keg of beer, they tried until they were summoned by the porcelain god, Ralph. However, a buddy dubbed me a cassette of Holy Diver, and I listened.
As the album plays over my Sennheisers as I write this post, I find myself singing along with the track Invisible. It has always been my favorite track from the Holy Diver album. So, here it is …
I’ve always thought this album cover was righteous.
I’ve had a few conversations about the previous LNG, so I decided to continue that groove. So, this week, I will feature tracks from my childhood. I mean, the stuff that might not have been as popular with my friends but holds a special place with me. Tonight, we will feature the Canadian band Rush. Most of my friends were huge fans of Tom Sawyer and played endlessly. They’d hush conversations when it came on the radio and turn it up. You dare not utter a word turning Neil Peart’s drum solo. However, I always preferred Limelight. So, here’s Limelight by Rush.
I’ve been immersed in the world of Generative AI and have found myself simultaneously frustrated and enchanted. Typically, for Macro Monday, I use an actual photo, but this week, I thought I would present one of the things I’ve been working on. Quickly, I discovered the lack of macro work in my AI portfolio—oops. So, I found this cute image I created for something I can’t remember. It felt like when one comes across a photo on the card that you don’t remember taking.
I’m impressed by the amount of intricate detail in this creation, which was created about a month ago. I didn’t have a handle on prompt engineering at the time, so if I were to try to reverse engineer this creation, my approach would be different. I probably wouldn’t get the same image, but there are some things I would add and a few things I’d remove.
Feel free to express your candid thoughts about this creation or the use of AI in digital art. I love hearing opinions about stuff.
As Jazz week concludes on LNG, we are featuring Jazz Legend Miles Davis, whose career spanned over 4 decades. Here is one of my favorites.
Tonight on LNG, we’re featuring another classic. In 1942, Dizzy Gillespie recorded the timeless track “A Night in Tunisia.” Here we have that with the Jazz Legend Charlie Parker on saxophone. Enjoy!
Jazz week continues with a little Dave Brubeck. It was one of the first jazz tracks I heard in my musical discovery.
I’ve been working on a clan of female warriors for the story I’m writing. So, I decided to visualize a series of drawings of possible images. I’ve always been an admirer of the samurai, so I started with that clan of warriors.
My submission for Hugh’s Views & News blog, Wordless Wednesday post.
We are continuing the jazz groove tonight on LNG with a classic featuring two music legends. One of my favorite collaborations. Ladies and gentlemen, Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers.
As a bonus, here is an exciting cover of the classic. I enjoy their interpretation of the classic. Let’s give it a listen, shall we?
My dear friend is obsessed with two things; Elvis and Chihuahua’s. I can’t say I understand either one, but its her thing. So the other night, I decided to do a series of images featuring her little buddies.
So, did you know there are long-haired chihuahua’s? I didn’t until she started explainging the difference. Then, I remember these were the type she has.
Yesterday, before the sky opened up and unleashed all kinds of nastiness, it was a beautiful serene day. Though, it was a little on the hot, I pulled out my phone and took a few shots. It felt good.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
— Maya Angelou
I remember my mother saying, “Boy, you’re in your own little world … ain’t you?” She said this with an amused and proud expression. Later, I learned my mother had been an artist in her youth, and I guess she remembered what it was like to be on another plane of existence. Other than life, I believe passing on her creative mojo was one of the greatest she gave me. Thanks, Mom!
Lately, I’ve been enthralled with the world of artificial intelligence, specifically image generation. Somehow, this artistic expression has woken up something I considered a thing of the past. I sketched long ago, and I started telling stories. I remember using my Big Chief notebook and filling it with random drawings. My teachers would scold me because I had no paper to do my lesson. After all, I had drawn all over them. However, the teacher called my mother and suggested she get a sketchbook. Mom brought me a Mead unruled pad, and the rest was history.
It seemed like everyone was an artist in those days. We tried everything; crayons, colored pencils, watercolors, etc. You named it, and we tried it. Quickly, I discovered I didn’t have a knack for anything color. So, I stuck to sketching. I listened to the accolades my friend’s parents would bestow on their creations. My Mom would simply shrug and go back to what she was doing. It may seem like she wasn’t interested in what I was doing, but that wasn’t the case. I never had to ask for a new pad or notebook. My supplies never seemed to run out. Even when I started stories, there was always plenty of paper and writing instruments.
It seems so long ago, yet I still return to this plane after a good session. Ever since my wife passed, my episodes have gotten worse. No mystery sandwich appeared on my desk, flickering lights letting me know it was time for bed, or my favorite, the warm blanket I nestled under while falling asleep in my chair, scribbling my latest stint into madness. However, I try my best to return in a reasonable amount of time.
Perhaps in enough time to post a story, picture, or photo. Who knows? Because most of the time, I’m in my own world.
It might be Jazz week …
We are switching grooves yet again…
Why not?
Back in the 90’s, one of my soldiers was playing this band in my office. At the time I had a hard rule “No Unauthorized Tunage.” He wasn’t expecting me, so I allow him to explain himself. There were words, but I didn’t hear them. I walked out of the office and checked on the team in the another location.
We went on training mission and he started playing this group while we were traveling. I’ve been hooked every since.
Here’s Pennywise …
My submission for Hugh’s Views & News blog, Wordless Wednesday post.
I can’t explain why does song caught my attention, but it did. I used to listen to it on road trips on Spotify, but it was removed from my playlist. However, YouTube has saved the day
Here is a interesting little number I ran into some time ago. I liked the sound.
Good Afternoon, I opened with this line this morning
“I watched the dawn burn away the night.”
I asked my cat what she thought of that line.
This was her response …
Everyone’s a damn critic. I shook my head, and of course, she was unaffected.
Really? I asked
Her response
You a little sh**! My muse had decided to take the form of my cat. My actual cat, Sophie, looks at me as if I have finally lost my mind.
Well, I do write the Memoirs of Madness…
Lately, we have changed the pace on LNG and we will continue exploring tracks within the different genres. Tonight,, we’ll featuring the music of David Gray.
Memoirs of Madness 