Friday, May 31, 2013

losing streaks

anyone that knows me knows just how much i hate losing. i'm the most competitive person i know and quite frankly, it's disgusting. so, knowing the Yankees are in the midst of a 5 game losing streak with the fucking Red Sox coming to town, is driving me nuts.

the Yankees last night once again made the Mets look like a competent baseball team in a 3-1 loss. some of the injured players are supposed to come back tonight. i'm not even sure if that would help this team right now. who knows if they have found rock bottom or not. if they haven't, this has the makings of a long fucking season.

and the other losing streak on my mind is my own. i heard back from Nerve Cowboy today on my poetry submission from back in February. they have decided to pass. this of course is no big deal in the grand scheme of things. but for a poet who tends to over analyze everything... that's 2 major submissions in the past week that have come up blank. not good. but, now i really have some poems to go through and send out soon. my apologies in advance to the editors and publishers that follow this blog.

so, you can imagine the great mood i'm in. thankfully, got a little money in the mail today for Sofisticated White Trash, so that is what i'm focusing on. or at least trying to.

the weather is supposed to get a little hectic here in a bit. scattered thunderstorms today and a 40% chance of a possible tornado tomorrow. just what i need. more shit to drive me more crazy than i already am.

i did watch a good bit of the LeBron James show last night, otherwise known as the Eastern Conference Finals. i laugh at all these fucking idiots who won't take the time to understand that it's much better to enjoy watching one of the best players ever, especially by the time he is done, than constantly shitting on him because he doesn't fit YOUR mold of great. and yes, i know, he won't be Michael Jordan. no one will. but, there will never be another LeBron James either.

just had a knock on the door from Fed Ex. and instantly my mind races to one of my big porn fantasies. of course it was a guy. it never fails. where are all the female drivers who have no more deliveries to make and a dirtier mind than mine?

hope everyone has a great and safe weekend. i'm really hoping i have no damage to report over the weekend here on the farm. but i have this knot in my stomach telling me that i might be way fucking closer to a tornado this weekend than i really want to be. and of course, my sick ass will try to get some pictures or videos if something does happen.

music today:

Howlin' Wolf - The Definitive Collection
Tom Waits - Heartattack And Vine

"Be curious, not judgmental." - Walt Whitman

Thursday, May 30, 2013

the day after

i did my best to get the grass cut yesterday as fast as possible. so, like a dumb ass, i only took 1 water break and got it all done in just about 3 1/2 hours. not the smartest decision i've made and i'm paying for it today. but, it's out of the way.

i was a little surprised to learn that the New York Rangers fired their coach while i was out mowing the grass. surprised as in i thought it would happen much sooner, like the night they got eliminated. none of the names mentioned so far really excite me. i just want them to find the right guy who gives them a chance to win another championship sometime before i die. that's all i'm asking for.

i am completely fucking dumbfounded how the Yankees have made the Mets look like a good baseball team. more shitty pitching and not enough offense. and to give up 9 runs to a team that couldn't score 9 in a week if they tried is totally fucking embarrassing. final game of the series is tonight. i have no clue if i'm going to bother to watch or not.

i did catch a good bit of the team USA soccer friendly against Belgium. until the USA finds better defenders or actually learns how to play better defense, they are NEVER going to be able to compete at the highest level.

and i did watch most of game 7 between Detroit and Chicago. when the ref made a horrible call in the 3rd period to take away a possible winning goal from Chicago, i laughed. at that point i was hoping Detroit would win just to see if the ref would make it out of the city alive. Chicago won in overtime on a goal by a guy (Brent Seabrook) who has been on my fantasy team for years. i'm very happy for him. so the final four in the NHL are the last 4 teams to win the Stanley Cup (first time since 1945). i don't think there could be a bad final with any of the four teams. hopefully, the games are great and have plenty of overtimes.

i did watch that concert for Oklahoma last night. i thought it was pretty good. hopefully they raised plenty of money, seeing that the towns are under a tornado threat again today. crazy.

looks like we'll have a chance at a few inches of rain over the next couple of days. as long as it all doesn't come at once and kill the crops, i'm fine with it. should be a good chance to see how the changes to the drainage here on the farm are actually working. hopefully, they are working. i really don't want to see two years in a row of major crop loss.

if we do get all this rain, it should give me plenty of time to get some writing in. the summer months tend to be when i slack off from it. i'm hoping to change that this year.

that's all for today. i'm off to go find a cold bed and some cold washcloths to help deal with a bit of a sunburn. i guess 110 SPF is only so good. fuck me.

music today:

Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs - God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise
Waking - The Maze
Seven Mary Three - American Standard
Candlebox - Candlebox

"I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me." - Fred Allen

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

a hump day quickie

not much time to do some blogging today, so i figured i would do a quick hitter.

Deadliest Catch last night was great. looks like Jake has to put on his big boy pants. honestly, i would have made the same decision.

the Yankees once again forgot their offense. but, they had a chance to win and then hell froze over. for the first time in his hall of fame career, the hammer of GOD blew a save without getting an out. fucking stunning. the series shifts to Yankee Stadium tonight. not sure if i really give a shit or not.

game 7 between the Sharks and Kings was great. i had the Sharks goalie in my fantasy league, i guess i'll have to change that for the next round.

i did watch a good bit of the Heat and Pacers last night. i always wonder why officials think fans came to see the best player in the world foul out of a game. never makes any sense to me. and it is truly hard to watch a basketball game that has no flow. it sucks.

i was stunned at who got voted off of The Voice last night. Judith and Sarah (both from team Adam) were front runners to win it all. it's rather obvious that team Blake has the upper hand now. Judith was my pick from the beginning, so i really have no clue who is going to win now.

given the unpredictable weather (chance of rain for the next 4 days after today), i have no choice but to mow the grass today. that will be interesting as the temps are supposed to get near 90 today. so, my goal today is to get it done without having a heat stroke. and seeing that my sensitive skin will be covered with long sleeves and sweatpants, i see a few more water breaks happening today.

music today:

Beck - Guero

"You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake." - Bob Hope



Tuesday, May 28, 2013

feeling miserable on a Tuesday

i'm not sure if there is a fresher form of hell than feeling like shit when it starts getting hot outside. pure fucking misery. not exactly sure what's going on with my stomach/body, but i imagine if it keeps up for a few more days, my stubborn ass will call a doctor. i guess.

the Yankees forgot to have their offense show up last night. on top of that the bullpen had a rare shitty night. that all adds up to a 2-1 loss to the lowly Mets. fucking irritating as hell. the Mets have their young phenom going tonight. i'm not sure what to expect. the Yankees could make him look mortal or just lay down in the fetal position like last night again. i'm not looking forward to it.

i did manage a few views of The Voice last night. i have no clue who is going home this evening. honestly, it's a popularity contest from now on. the talent is pretty much even.

Monday Night Raw was pretty good. i'm very pleased that the young talent is getting pushed and brought up. The Wyatt Family will make for interesting television if creative stays out of the way. i downloaded the WWE app on my mother's tablet last night (i'm sure she's going to love that). it made for an interesting experience, especially given my shitty internet.

looks like the Western Conference in the NHL is coming down to two game sevens. game 7 in the playoffs become must see TV. tonight is the Kings vs. Sharks and tomorrow is Red Wings vs. Blackhawks. should make for 2 great games seeing that both teams HATE each other.

i'll try to squeeze a little playoff basketball in this evening. hopefully, Miami is blowing them out again so i won't have to bother.

i will be paying plenty of attention to Deadliest Catch tonight. judging from the previews, my thoughts on this being one of the best shows on television will only get stronger tonight.

did a little shopping on amazon.com today. got my usual strange ass hodgepodge of music. a little blues, a little techno, a little metal, and a little alternative. hopefully enough of a mix to get the creative juices flowing at a much brisker pace.

that's pretty much it for today. i would say i hope i feel better tomorrow, but i stopped believing in miracles long before now.

music today:

Rage Against The Machine - Evil Empire
Tori Amos - Boys For Pele
Zac Brown Band - You Get What You Give

"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes." - Oscar Wilde

Monday, May 27, 2013

Memorial Day on the farm

the weather was amazingly much better than i thought today so i got off my ass and took some pictures. here are 7 of the 38 i took. the rest of them can be seen on my Google+ page.







personally, not feeling much better than i did last night when i spent most of the night on the toilet. not sure if it was food poisoning or impending death. either way, it's not much fun.

i'll be flipping mostly between The Voice and Monday Night Raw this evening. so the Yankees and playoff hockey and basketball will get just glancing views. of course, if the Yankees are whipping the shit out of the Mets, i will watch it like i would a car wreck. hoping for more carnage.

music today:

John Hiatt - The Best Of

"Flowers grow out of dark moments." - Corita Kent

Sunday, May 26, 2013

goodbye to the playoff beard

as i watched the New York Rangers lose last night, all i could think about is how damn long it has been since they have won the Stanley Cup. 1994 seems like forever, especially when i think i was 3 weeks graduated from high school when they won it. 3-1 loss. too many damn injuries to really have a shot. not enough depth and not nearly enough of cashing in on your chances. doesn't help the refs completely missed a 4 minute penalty on Boston as well. oh well. it will be interesting to see what changes are made in the summer.

i did watch the Champions League finale. although the team i wanted to win didn't, it was a great game to watch.

the Yankees had a great come from behind victory yesterday only to lay a fucking turd today. they did win the series, the first time in that dump in Tampa in over 3 years.

Ring Of Honor last night was excellent. i look at all the WWE stars that used to be in ROH and wonder how many of these current ROH stars will make the jump one day. i think a few should already be there.

funny side note on god's wicked sense of humor. after shaving off the playoff beard, i took a shower. the local rock station was playing blocks of songs. and they of course played Aerosmith as i was in the shower. so, now god is rubbing my nose in the Rangers loss to Boston by playing a Boston band. fuck me.

did watch a little Formula 1 this morning and the Indy 500 this afternoon. i'm really happy for Tony Kanaan. that win is long overdue. i imagine i'll watch a little NASCAR this evening to finish off race day.

the weather has been flawless today. it's supposed to rain tonight and most of tomorrow. that figures. it would be impossible to have 3 great days of weather on a holiday weekend.

i hope everyone is having a great weekend. i hope to not be on here for any reason tomorrow. so look for a Tuesday blog about Yankee updates against the fucking Mets, The Voice, Monday Night Raw, maybe a little playoff basketball, some pictures perhaps and who knows what else. of course, the creativity bug could strike and i would have no choice then.

until next time...

music today:

Tom Waits - Small Change

"I am an artist... I am here to live out loud." - Emile Zola

Saturday, May 25, 2013

just how i pictured the weekend would start

went to my favorite sports bar last night, i am now paying for it on the toilet today. lovely.

the Yankees won last night with some good pitching (David Phelps, who of course took a line drive off his forearm, thankfully not broken) and some timely offense to win 9-4. sadly, Curtis Granderson got injured again, this time breaking his pinky finger on his left hand. just 11 fucking days since he came back from a broken right arm. fuck me. they play again tonight against a pitcher they have had little success against. i don't think i'll watch much.

it's a big sports day today. the Champions League final comes up here in a few hours. i'm rooting for Dortmund but i don't feel very confident in that. the New York Rangers play a MUST WIN game 5 not long after the Champions League match is over. then the Yankees game, some other playoff basketball and hockey, and then finish my night off with a little Ring Of Honor.

that is if i don't spend the rest of the day on the toilet.

i hope everyone enjoys the YouTube videos. if you do, pass them along, tell a friend, BUY THE BOOK, tell others to buy the book, etc. etc.

that's all for today. be well and piss someone off you don't like.

music today:

Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
Matthew Mayfield - A Banquet For Ghosts

"Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

untitled grief on a september afternoon

my latest YouTube video


get your copy of Sofisticated White Trash today by going to www.interiornoisepress.com. the book is also available at amazon.com.

Friday, May 24, 2013

not dead yet

i will admit it, the Rangers winning in OT last night caught me completely by surprise. i was very happy that the team finally showed some fight and got some of the breaks to go their way finally. highlights are below:

game 5 is on Saturday. i have no idea if they will win or not, all i know is all the pressure is now on Boston to not have another collapse like a few years ago. if the Rangers can get an early lead, it will get interesting.

the Yankees start a series in that dump in Tampa tonight. it would be nice to get back to winning. the lead in the division is down to 1 game.

i imagine i will bounce between some hockey and basketball as well this evening.

my cat Whitey got a hold of a rabbit this morning. i was astonished when i went out later to see that nothing was left of it. and the bitch still wanted some cat food.

i might take some pictures this weekend, as long as the weather stays pleasant. it's a little cool today, but sunny.

i do hope everyone has a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend. hopefully i won't spend most of it on the computer.

music today:

Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO (& other American stories)
Fun. - Some Nights
Paul Thorn - What The Hell Is Goin' On?

and now a quote from one of my favorites of all time

"I didn't study; I live." - Eric Cantona

response from The Camel Saloon

i heard back from Russell at The Camel Saloon on my poetry submission from 5/22. my poem "the heat of a quarter moon" has been accepted for publication.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

a part of me hopes it ends tonight

as you could probably tell by the 2 new YouTube videos, i had a quick outburst of creativity yesterday. and, i got to fuck around with the windows live movie maker and i'm pretty happy with the results.

the Yankees last night got a rare badly pitched game from Kuroda and lost 6-3. of course, they got the normal injury scare with Kuroda as well, but it looks like he won't miss any time. i've never seen a team get so many fucking injuries in my life. it's past the point of unreal.

the Yankees are off tonight, which means most of my attention will be on the New York Rangers and their let's see if they really give a shit or not game 4 this evening. i might be watching this with one eye closed. there's part of me that hopes they lose tonight so the agony can finally be done with. the other part of me wants them to win just so they won't be swept by a team from Boston. i want to believe they can at least win 1 game in the series. i want to, just don't know if i can.

for those interested, the dirty toilet in my video "stink" has been cleaned.

been a real rainy, dreary day here on the farm. hardly any sunshine at all. and speaking of depressing, i heard back from Presa on my poetry submission from 3/22. they decided to pass. oh well, looks like i've got 5 "new" poems to throw in the mix again.

i did watch a good portion of the Miami Heat game last night. how the fuck you can give LeBron a layup in the closing seconds of overtime is beyond me. i would be rooting for the Pacers if they didn't have David West on their team. there's one guy i wouldn't mind seeing no longer existing on the face of the earth. i haven't liked him since college. he was a prick then and still is now. just richer.

if the Rangers lose tonight, i guess i'll be shaving off the playoff beard and taking a long, long, long shower. i've mentally prepared myself all day long for the possibility of it happening. fuck me.

a big thank you to Frontier Communications for their usually shitty job with my high speed internet. i guess it going out for 40 minutes is no big deal.

until tomorrow, hopefully...

music today:

Grouplove - Never Trust A Happy Song
The Afghan Whigs - Unbreakable (A Retrospective 1990 - 2006)

"Information is not knowledge." - Albert Einstein

stink

another new YouTube video


with that visual, you know you want to hit play.

get your copy of Sofisticated White Trash today at www.interiornoisepress.com, as well as www.amazon.com

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

now i believe

my latest YouTube video


get your copy of Sofisticated White Trash TODAY at www.interiornoisepress.com as well as www.amazon.com

the Wednesday blues

last night is the kind of night all fanatical sports fans dread. here is a snapshot. i finish up a great episode of Deadliest Catch to flip to the Yankees losing on a walk off homer in extra innings, then flip to the New York Rangers giving up the winning goal in the 3rd period with 4 minutes left or so. this all happened in roughly one minute of each other. fuck me running.

i hardly watched any of The Voice last night. i know i got the two sent home correct. i'll try to do a better job next week of actually giving a shit about the results episode.

Deadliest Catch last night was great. the show continues to prove year after year why it is one of the best shows on television.

i was completely disappointed with everyone not named Henrik Lundqvist on the New York Rangers last night. there is no reasonable explanation why they came out last night and got outplayed for nearly all 60 minutes. and to watch one of the best goalies play on his head and then lose is deflating beyond belief. i have no reason to think this playoff beard won't be gone by Thursday night. 2-1 loss to go down 3 games to none. fucking horrific.

the Yankees lost for the first time this season when scoring first last night. i don't know what it is about all the close games against Baltimore. 3-2 loss in 10 innings. hopefully they can win the series tonight.

i woke up this morning bound and determined to get the stink of last night off of me. a little Metallica and sending out some poems hopefully did the trick. i sent out 13 poems, 5 each to ART:Mag (Las Vegas) and Carcinogenic Poetry, and 3 to The Camel Saloon. when i hear back from these places i'll be sure to post the good news (hopefully) here on the blog.

thought for sure it was going to rain this morning. of course, it didn't. i need a good thunderstorm so i can get this video idea out of my head. it might storm this evening. that could get interesting.

if you need a good laugh today, i urge you to check out episode #56 of The Sam Roberts Show Online. you can find it at notsam.com, iTunes, Stitcher, and on the right hand side of this blog if you scroll down far enough. if you watch the show Kitchen Nightmares, i truly believe you might be interested in this episode.

that is all.

music today:

Metallica - ...And Justice For All

"Got to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company." - Mark Twain

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

sometimes reality smacks you right in the face

i was in a pretty good mood last night. the Yankees had a comeback victory, Monday Night Raw was pretty good, The Voice was pretty good as well, and i was halfway through my victory beer when i turned on the news. all the tornado coverage just drained me. so, i got on the computer to check my email and i saw that Ray Manzarek had died.

that brought back a flood of memories of being a teen, either locked in my room or down in the basement, just listening to The Doors for hours upon hours. nothing quite like reality slapping you right in the fucking face and turning that victory beer into one of sorrow.

the Yankees had a very nice 6-4 come from behind victory last night. the kind of victory i really love. piss away a lead, look like you are going to lose, get a big home run to tie it up (Travis Hafner), get great pitching from the bullpen and then win it in extra innings. i love the make up of this team so far. they definitely give off the smell that nothing is going to keep them from getting the job done. and since they are doing it with a bunch of guys no one wanted, that makes each win a little sweeter.

i thought that most of the performances i saw last night on The Voice were pretty solid. if i had to pick the 2 i would send home tonight, i would have to go with the male model from team Usher and Kris Thomas from team Shakira. the only one i really hope i am right on is the male model. he totally sucks. hopefully the teenage girls weren't voting with their libidos again this week.

as for Monday Night Raw, i was really pleased when the "new" Paul Heyman guy was revealed to be Curtis Axel. i was scared they were going to go with blasts from the past that have already seen the top of the mountain. they instead went with a talent they have misused for years now. i'm really looking forward to seeing where that goes. helps that HHH and The Rock both love the guy and want him to succeed. that should help, no doubt. plus, any show where i don't see any John Cena and get The Shield for what seemed like over 30 minutes, i'm all for. i'm interested to see where they are going with the HHH concussion angle that ended the show last night. i'm sure it will tie into the money the company just donated and probably Vince and Stephanie getting more air time, but i don't want to shit all over it just yet.

as for tonight, i could use the Elvis wall of televisions. the Yankees play at 7. the New York Rangers and their absolutely MUST WIN game 3 starts at 7:30. the episode of Deadliest Catch i missed from last week starts at 8, with the new episode at 9, and The Voice comes on at 9. i think the Yankees might get the short stick tonight, all depending on how the Rangers play. if they are shitting all over the ice like the 3rd period of game 2, hello Discovery channel.

to change the mood a bit, check out the interview my friend Sam Roberts did with Huey Lewis. an enjoyable listen, especially if you are old enough to vividly remember the 80's. the interview can be found here: http://www.notsam.com/news/audio-huey-lewis-on-the-sam-roberts-show

i did work on some poems today, figured out where i'll be sending out 13 later this week. most likely tomorrow if i get everything in order. more news on that tomorrow most likely.

not exactly sure what my feelings are about the Yankees and Manchester City joining forces to bring another MLS team to New York City. my favorite baseball team and a soccer team that i wouldn't mind falling off the face of the earth. i guess all those upcoming emails will just get deleted.

that's all for today. hopefully tomorrow i'll be in something resembling a better mood.

music today:

The Doors - The Doors
The Doors - In Concert

"A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it." - John Steinbeck

Monday, May 20, 2013

trying my best to escape the heat

the heat index is supposed to be in the low 90's today. so much for spring. i actually turned on the air conditioning last night when the house was damn near 80 degrees and outside was like 74. hopefully the cats are smart enough to drink the water and enjoy the shade.

the Yankees got rained out yesterday, so that opened up my schedule a bit. they start a series in Baltimore tonight. the rain out allowed them to change around their pitching for the series. hopefully it works.

Manchester United played a very exciting (if you enjoy 10 goals being scored) match yesterday against West Brom. a 5-5 draw. i would have loved the game if a late winner would have come in Fergie time. that would have been a great way to go out. but alas, the greatest manager in the history of sports steps aside. so now the silly season can begin. i will be interested to see who David Moyes targets to be on the team next season. hopefully it's mostly midfielders and defenders. if those spots get better quickly, i don't think Moyes has to worry about letting the fans down anytime soon.

the New York Rangers had their asses handed to them yesterday in a 5-2 loss to go down 2-0 to Boston. how a 2-2 game became me being completely fucking silent by the end of it was miserable to say the least. as much as i hope the MSG crowd gets them going, the cynic in me is winning. game 3 is a MUST WIN game to say the least.

i did enjoy Nurse Jackie and Veep last night. i'm trying to give Family Tree a chance but i found myself watching tornado news instead. not a good sign.

my writing session went pretty good last night. i wrote 5 poems. first time writing in almost a month. i typed them up earlier this afternoon and really believe i have a few gems in the mix now. i will try to get a few submissions out later this week.

judging from the reports i read last night and this morning, i guess i will be paying a little more attention to Monday Night Raw this evening. i'm really happy that The Shield all have titles now. definitely a step in the right direction. now, get a healthy CM Punk back and you'll have my undivided attention.

The Voice is back on tonight. i'm sure my mom will have it on in the other room. so, i will get to work on my hearing tonight. if something excites the ears, i'll flip to it. if not, looks like i'll be watching YouTube in the morning.

i'll spend the rest of my time trying to escape the heat. and it's not even the hell months out here on the farm. i've got floors to sweep, toilets to clean, and a cooling shower to take. i might even figure out what poems are going where. all depends on how long this impending nap lasts.

music today:

Imagine Dragons - Night Visions
The Jesus and Mary Chain - 21 Singles (1984 -1998)
The Twilight Singers - Powder Burns
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

"The more one judges, the less one loves." Honore de Balzac

Sunday, May 19, 2013

the start of a long day

today is going to be a long one for me. shit to do all day long. i've got my 5 hours of sleep. no rest for the wicked.

the Yankees got some great pitching yesterday and rediscovered the home run, winning 7-2. they go for the sweep later today. i'll try to sneak a peek from time to time.

i fell asleep and completely missed the horse race. no triple crown yet again.

i caught most of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony last night. i think Alex Lifeson might have given the best speech i have heard in my life. seek it out on YouTube and enjoy.

Saturday Night Live last night was great. the sendoffs for Bill Hader and Fred Armisen were just about perfect. hell, i even enjoyed the performances by Kanye.

finished up the night with a little ROH. i almost forgot how much i enjoy Steve Corino, especially providing color commentary. plus, watching Kevin Steen and Adam Cole wrestle never gets old.

today marks the final match for Sir Alex Ferguson as the manager of Manchester United. it will be his 1,500th game in charge. remarkable. i really hope the lads play great for him. it wouldn't be right any other way.

right from that is the Yankees game and after a few innings i will be switching over to watch the New York Rangers. this is a damn near must WIN game for them. i don't think they can get down 2-0 to Boston and come back to win it. a split would be just what the doctor ordered. my fingers are crossed.

somewhere i need to fit in the cats, the trash, eating, a nap, and whatever else needs to get done today.

the usual Sunday night shows and then hopefully something more than a few hours of sleep. all depends on how the writing session goes and if there are any late-night phone calls.

hope everyone is doing good. later.

music today:

Beastie Boys - Check Your Head

"There is nothing new in art except talent." - Anton Chekhov

Saturday, May 18, 2013

cats

so after the Yankees won (more on that tomorrow) i decided to get out to the barn before the rain is supposed to come. when i got to the one that houses most of the cats, i heard one crying. i went to go find it. and i did, 2 stalls over from its mother.
so i went back over to the main stall to see what Rita Dove was doing. much to my surprise, she was a bit busy.

so i guess Rita Dove has 3 kittens. good to know.

here is my cat Michael Jackson
and here is one of Whitey, who was being a little more bitchy than usual today, hence no pictures of her kittens
and one final one of Kit Kat being her normal nosy self
welcome to my life on the farm with the cats.

a moment of sunshine

so i go out to feed the cats this morning and i notice the same bird feeder from yesterday is down again. i guess the deer spray doesn't work anymore or there is raccoon defying gravity somewhere on the farm. so i get into the barn and hot damn, my cat Rita Dove's kittens made their first appearance outside of their igloo. both are gray. seeing that John Prine is the only gray cat here, i think i may know who the father is. weather permitting, i may try to get some pictures of them this weekend.

i watched the Yankees rebound nicely last night, helped by a dominant Kuroda (2 hits over 8 innings), to beat Toronto 5-0. it was also nice to see the kids do some damage. hopefully that continues later today.

didn't watch much hockey last night. i don't really care for either team. i will watch today though. always fun to see Detroit vs. Chicago (one of the best games i ever saw in person), especially in the playoffs, especially when it goes right into horse racing. sounds like a good afternoon.

i will definitely get a nap in sometime as i want to be wide awake for Saturday Night Live tonight. could be the final episodes of many cast members. plus, there's always the chance Kanye loses it and goes fucking nuts live on stage. fingers crossed.

the sun is out right now but the humidity is unbearable. i don't want to put the air conditioning on in May, but i'm thinking i might not have a choice in the next few days.

music today:

Shooter Jennings - Family Man
Brett Dennen - Loverboy
A Tribe Called Quest - The Anthology

"A line is a dot that went for a walk." - Paul Klee

Friday, May 17, 2013

sometimes the fog doesn't burn off

i woke up this morning to dense fog, a back that was aching more than usual, and a right ankle that felt like it was kissed by a demon named arthritis. all of which made perfect sense to me given my night last night.

it was the kind of evening every sports fan knows happens from time to time but is always painful nonetheless. where to begin.

watched the New York Yankees lose last night 3-2. they had plenty of chances to tie or win the game but never took advantage of those chances. the kicker to it all was 2 more damn injuries. it's gone beyond the point of ridiculous and laughing instead of crying. they start a series with an improving Blue Jays team tonight. great.

and about 5 minutes after that ended i watched the New York Rangers lose in overtime 3-2. nothing quite like watching the team you have rooted for since you were 6 get absolutely manhandled in OT. and then to watch yet another damn turnover end up in the back of the net, all after your goalie played on his head for most of the game. way to reward him guys. and if i'm this frustrated 18 hours later, you could just imagine me after the game.

needless to say it was a quiet evening after that. checked some email, put on some blues music and went to sleep.

not feeling very creative at the moment so no new YouTube video to promote the book. but, i can still manage to do this:

be sure to get your copy of Sofisticated White Trash today. available at Interior Noise Press as well as Amazon.com. be sure to take advantage of any discount you can get on it. also, if you'd like to buy a autographed copy from ME, feel free to drop me an email and i'm sure we can work something out.

some of the bird feeders were messed with this morning. i figured the deer had to get to the one and most likely squirrels with the others. i put out some critter mix and sprayed some keep away from my fucking feeders spray. hopefully it works.

looks like rain on and off all weekend. that should help with my mood. i know i need to sit down and do some writing. i have plenty to write about (casting an eye over to a certain someone). maybe a long weekend session where i crank out 10 or so is in order. if the creative juices get flowing again, look for a new video. if i can get a thunderstorm to happen at the right time, i've got something in mind.

hope everyone has a great and safe weekend. peace and chicken grease.

music today:

Old Crow Medicine Show - O.C.M.S.
Buddy Guy - Living Proof
Various Artists - Mom + Pop Sampler Vol. 1
Van Halen - 5150

"I write most of my songs when I'm in a bad mood." - Trent Reznor

Thursday, May 16, 2013

after the morning thunderstorms

i woke up this morning and forgot that team USA was playing Russia in the Hockey World Championships. by the time i remembered the game was over. i searched around for the score and then laughed my ass off. USA wins 8-3. Russia's worst loss in the tournament EVER. fucking beautiful. team USA plays Switzerland in the semi-finals next.

caught a damn squirrel on one of the bird feeders and went out to scare it off and pick back up the one i just know the little fucker knocked down. all of this in a damn thunderstorm. fun.

it's with a little sadness but a true sense of the cold reality of living on a farm that i must come to grips with the likely fact my cats Langston Hughes and Neal Cassady are dead. they have been gone for over 5 weeks with no sight of them. i think it's safe to assume. that brings the cat total down to 14. that doesn't include the kittens i know damn well Whitey and Rita Dove have hidden.

but the sadness was temporary as i noticed a little bit of green poking up from the freshly planted fields. good to see the corn coming up. hopefully we have a really strong crop this year. we need it after the insurance season of last year.

i decided to take some pictures as i noticed it had been a little while. plus, i wanted to figure out how to post them to the new Google+ (which i frankly fucking hate). here are my 3 favorites. you can see the other 15 in the May 16, 2013 album on my Google+ page.



the New York Yankees had one of those nights last night. Phil Hughes couldn't get out of the first inning and you just knew it was going to be an erase from your mind as soon as it is over type of game. the Yankees lost 12-2. at least i was smart enough to start former Yankee Raul Ibanez in the game for my fantasy team. 2 home runs and 6 runs batted in. not bad. also, it was nice to see 2 guys make their major league debuts last night. after reading about these kids for years it's good to see if they really are as good as i have heard about. time will tell. hopefully the Yankees win the series by taking the rubber game tonight.

i'm looking forward to the Rangers vs. Bruins game tonight. should be a good one. i'll spend most of the night fixated on that. i'm sure i'll manage to get in the season finale of The Big Bang Theory and probably some other shit in the intermissions. i'd love to see the Rangers win this series in something less than 7 games.

now, i have plenty of dishes to do and hopefully a little nap to take before the games tonight. hope this finds everyone well. still trying to come up with how i'm going to promote the book tomorrow. toying with the idea of a little art video for one of the shorter poems. not sure yet. the Rangers could lose tonight or someone gets injured and i'll just be in a fuck the world mood tomorrow and won't do shit. most of my YouTube videos have been spur of the moment anyway.

i actually got a compliment on them last night which caught me off guard. always nice to know someone is enjoying it. hopefully many silent people are as well.

music today:

Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape
The Crystal Method - Busy Child (MP3 single)
Social Distortion - Bakersfield (MP3 single)
Anthrax - Sound Of White Noise

"I am not a religious person, but I am spiritual. But I don't believe in things like guilt." - Janet Jackson

one night of mistakes

my poem "one night of mistakes" was published this morning at The Camel Saloon. you can find the poem by going here: http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2013/05/one-night-of-mistakes.html


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

say hello to the pain

mowing the grass yesterday was brutal. the grass was way too high in places. the weather was much warmer than they said it would be. and 5 hours of baking in the sun didn't sit too well with me. luckily, expired sunscreen still works just as good so i'm not burnt. just the aches and pains of too much sun when you're fair-skinned and rarely outdoors.

after mowing and a long shower, i sat down to watch the Yankees play. i knew they were in for a long one going against King Felix. but, thankfully, Felix only went 6 and the Yankees came to life. always nice to trail 3-0 and end up winning 4-3. the hammer of god with yet another save. if anyone doubts that Mariano Rivera is one of the greatest pitchers ever, please stop watching baseball.

i did watch most of The Voice last night. thankfully, NBC showed the performances from the previous night in the first hour which really helped me make up my mind on who should be eliminated. needless to say my 2 choices weren't the 2 now gone. i did have 1 right. how Usher's male model is still in the competition is beyond me. i figure this season will come down to if America is in the mood for country (team Blake) or a little of everything (team Adam). Sasha (team Shakira) is probably the only "outsider" that has a chance. hopefully her coach picks the right songs or Sasha picks them for herself.

i was trying to watch Deadliest Catch last night but fell asleep halfway through. when i woke up 10 minutes later i gave up and just went to bed. i think i was out before midnight. and i know i was really tired when i woke up this morning and had no clue that the phone rang at 1:30 in the morning. lord knows i needed the sleep though. i haven't had 6 hours in forever it seems.

i think i'm scrapping my bookstore plans for Sofisticated White Trash. if the book would have been self-published i would have had a much better chance of getting it in some places. looks like the distribution companies have pretty much got the bookstores on lock down for the small guys. so, i'll simply direct as much traffic as i can to Interior Noise Press and hope that some good reviews and word of mouth propel the book down the road.

i figure i will bounce between some sports tonight and probably either some music or some animal shows or some lesser known documentary found while flipping through the channels avoiding commercials. hell, maybe i'll be falling asleep again early. i'm surely getting old now.

music today:

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
Youth Lagoon - Wondrous Bughouse

"If you want to make someone feel emotion, you have to make them let go. Listening to something is an act of surrender." - Brian Eno

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

oh what a night

i might have watched 30 seconds or so of The Voice. and maybe a minute or two of Monday Night Raw (which might continue to happen with no CM Punk) but nearly every damn second of game 7 between the New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals.

the Caps came out on fire but The King stood on his head. and when the Rangers scored their first goal, i felt really damn good. when the second period onslaught came of 2 goals in about 2 minutes and the building was silent, i was beyond proud. and then to see the mass exodus when the Rangers added their 5th goal, i was down right giddy. Henrik Lundqvist became only the 4th goalie in playoff history to post shutouts in game 6 and 7. and the stat that made me really smile, Derick Brassard had more points in the series than Washington's top line combined. next up are the Boston Bruins. first time they have faced each other in 40 years in the playoffs. nothing like some good ole Boston vs. New York hate. highlights from last night are below.

this was also the first time in Rangers history they have won a game 7 on the road in the playoffs.

so after watching the press conferences and highlights and the end of the Memphis vs. Oklahoma City NBA playoff game, i watched the Big C. last night's episode really got to me as it brought back plenty of memories of when we took my stepfather to hospice.

then a quick check of my email and i get an instant message from a friend i hadn't heard from in almost a year. that eventually turned into a phone call that went to 4 am. so why i was up just 4 hours later is still a  fucking mystery to me. i'll be off mowing grass here in a few hours. it's not going to be fun as parts of it is over a foot high.

and of course there's a chance for more rain in a few days. makes me think about the yard i saw in Fort Myers, Florida as a child. concrete painted green. oh how i wish.

music today:

perhaps my 2 favorite songs EVER



"Good luck has its storms." - George Lucas

Monday, May 13, 2013

as ready as i can be

i've spent most of today bouncing between the Yankees doubleheader and trying to find some bookstores that might be interested in carrying my new book.

so in between a lot of hurry up and wait, there was baseball.

the Yankees split their doubleheader in Cleveland, losing game 1 1-0 and winning game 2 7-0. game 1 was really a tip your hat to the other pitcher as he was really dominant. a 4 hit complete game shutout. in game 2, the bats came to life and the Yankee pitching was good. the best thing of all today, no injuries and there wasn't an abundance of pitchers used. i'll take a split like that anytime.

as for the bookstores, i think i have found a few that might carry it. i'm pretty confident that Quimby's in Chicago will. they carried my spoken word tape years ago. other than that, it's basically a toss-up. if anyone has a bookstore in mind, feel free to contact me or leave something in the comment box. or better yet, if you own or work at a bookstore and are interested, contact me at anytime. it appears i don't really sleep anymore.

i'm as ready as i can be for game 7 tonight between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals. i feel good, got a good vibe going, didn't do anything to fuck with the hockey gods, so i feel like i've done my part. now, it's up to the players.

i imagine during intermissions and commercials tonight i will check out some of The Voice and Monday Night Raw. but, i imagine i'll have to catch most of that tomorrow after i get done mowing the grass. it only got up into the 50's today, not exactly grass cutting weather.

hope everyone is good. i'll be sure to update the blog if i get any concrete news on any bookstores carrying my book. in the meantime, hop on over to Interior Noise Press and get your copy of Sofisticated White Trash today like my good friend Steve Burdine did. i swear, the book will actually make you laugh. i GUARANTEE it.

music today:

Warren Haynes - Live at Bonnaroo

"Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." - Margaret Mead

Sunday, May 12, 2013

i love it when a plan comes together

so i woke up this morning feeling a little bit better, not much though. fed the cats, took a shower and managed to not get sick, so i guess the stomach bug had passed.

mom wanted to go to Waffle House for mother's day. not exactly my first choice, but my sister loves it and is paying so i don't have much say in the matter. i didn't eat much, just wanted enough to be able to get me through the day without spending hours on the toilet.

got home in time to see all of the Manchester United match. it was very nice to see them win 2-1 with of all people, Rio getting the game winner. it was like his first fucking goal in i think 5 years. and then to watch Sir Alex speak and celebrate another trophy with the boys, water works on my end. there will never be another. next season will be a weird one to say the least.

that game and post game festivities went right into the Yankee game for me. the Yankees got great pitching the last 2 days and ended up sweeping the Royals. and holy shit, the Yankees are in first by themselves in the AL East. funny how the more things change the more they stay the same.

that game went right into game 6 for the New York Rangers. a gutsy, skin of their teeth 1-0 win over Washington. game 7 is tomorrow night back in the nation's capital. i guess all my Monday shows are going to get the cold shoulder from me. highlights below:


so that made 3 victory beers today. i really don't drink as much as i used to as i can still feel a little headache from the third one, and that was about 4 hours ago.

i need to get some sleep. the Yankees play a doubleheader in Cleveland tomorrow and i really need to get the grass cut as well. decisions, decisions.

i suppose it depends on how my sleeping goes. i really want to have a good vibe going into game 7 tomorrow. i don't want to have any reason to blame myself for a loss. and yes, i'm a weirdo like that.

and for some reason i now have a LinkedIn profile. not that i really plan on using it much.

"The reason I talk to myself is that I'm the only one whose answers I accept." - George Carlin


a purple sky of tomorrow

my poem "a purple sky of tomorrow" was published this morning at The Camel Saloon. you can find the poem by going here: http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-purple-sky-of-tomorrow.html

Saturday, May 11, 2013

welcome to the weak end

so i have spent a good portion of today on the toilet. not sure if it was something i ate, misdoings in a previous life, or the changing of the weather that has me feeling like shit. just how i wanted to spend mother's day weekend.

as my sister and mother were out running around earlier today, i watched the FA Cup final. i did feel a bit better when i watched Wigan upset Manchester City. always nice to watch those fuckers lose.

the New York Rangers lost another heart breaker last night, 2-1 in overtime. i don't know if that result made me physically ill, but i wouldn't doubt if it did. a crushing loss. game 6 tomorrow afternoon. do or die. i have no clue if the team has what it takes to force a game 7. i'd like to think they do. but i don't know.

the Yankees offense came to life last night in a 11-6 win over the Royals. would have liked to seen some better pitching but i'll definitely take the runs. and it would really be nice to sew up another series win with a win later tonight. i'd really like to see Andy Pettitte pitch better tonight or i think the end may be staring him right in the face.

tomorrow will be an emotional one for me. Sir Alex Ferguson's last home match. and the rumor now is that Paul Scholes will announce his retirement (AGAIN) after the match. on top of all that, they finally get the trophy for winning the Premier League. i really hope i'm feeling much better by tomorrow morning. i'll be kicking myself endlessly if i miss anything.

i got the mp3 player i got a few weeks ago finally loaded with some songs. nothing like being the old guy who is a little slow figuring out this technology shit. thank god my sister is a genius when it comes to that shit.

well, my mom and sister brought me back some food from where they ate this afternoon. so far so good with being able to keep it in me. some of the best ribs i've had in a long time.

i plan on watching Saturday Night Live tonight. whether i make it all the way through or not, that's a different story. Kristen Wiig is hosting and i have always enjoyed her. so i think i will make it to the end. and hopefully catch a little ROH as well.

and if none of that happens, i'll be in bed by 10 trying to sweat out whatever demon crawled inside me.

my new YouTube video "what is rain" can be seen on the right hand side of this blog. check it out. would love to know what you think of it. and also, go get yourself a copy of Sofisticated White Trash today. follow the links on the right hand side of the blog and take advantage of the discount while you still can.

music today:

Van Morrison - Moondance
Brandi Carlile - Live at Bear Creek EP
Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO (& other American stories)

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin

Friday, May 10, 2013

a rainy Friday

so i raced home from the post office because i got a video idea racing my head. it was just starting to rain and i have a poem called "what is rain" in my NEW book, Sofisticated White Trash. so i quickly shot it, posted it, but for some fucking reason i can't post it here on my blog. so, if you go to my YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/jjthepoet1) or if you go to my Google+ page, you can find the video there.

i believe my sister is coming down for the Mother's Day weekend. hopefully my sports teams are winning so i don't play the role of asshole as usual.

the Yankees had a rainy 3-1 win yesterday to take the series in Colorado. and holy shit, they are now tied for first place in the AL East. not bad for a team of replacements. they start a series tonight in Kansas City. hopefully the shitty weather doesn't follow them there.

not sure how much of the baseball game i'll watch tonight as the New York Rangers play a fucking HUGE game 5 tonight. the winner tonight basically controls the series. let me just say that i have the vocal chords warmed up and i will be probably pacing or rocking the chair violently at some point.

i did catch a live concert last night of the Zac Brown Band performing at Red Rocks. it ended right before the storms knocked out the satellite feed. i tuned in about 20 minutes late, which i'll try to find online i guess. the concert was awesome. any time i see a country band do songs from Metallica and Led Zeppelin, my ears are definitely interested. and if you can find the encore of them doing songs in glow in the dark skeleton costumes, i highly recommend it.

i'm hearing from more people who have received copies of my book. glad to see the postal service can still do something right. i've lined up a couple of reviews as well. if you'd like to do a review for the book, please email me and we can exchange some info.

i would like to write a few poems this weekend if i find the time. 5 days in a row of rain have got some thoughts floating in my head that eventually will need to find a home.

i hope everyone has a great weekend. i hope any mom that happens to be reading this has a really great weekend.

music today:

Leonard Cohen - The Future

"All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain


Thursday, May 9, 2013

the day after

this blog post is brought to you by episode #54 of The Sam Roberts Show Online. you can find this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and by going to notsam.com. and if you listen to the entire episode you'll understand why i'm in a pretty damn good mood right now.

Manchester United didn't waste any time in hiring David Moyes as their new manager. he starts July 1. seeing that he is the hand picked successor by Sir Alex himself, i totally support this move. hopefully given the much better resources, David will be able to keep the club at its current heights. and i really wouldn't mind if his first major trophies are under United. it should make for an interesting summer to say the least.

the Yankees had a nice 3-2 win last night, albeit with a little umpire help. never thought i'd see Vernon Wells playing third base, but, i never thought i'd see a team with so many damn injuries either. they can get the series win a little later today. in about a half hour actually. i guess i need to type faster.

the New York Rangers had a HUGE win last night, 4-3. series now tied 2-2. back to Washington on Friday. game highlights below:

i did watch all of The Voice last night. i was a little disappointed with Blake keeping the brothers. also, i shouldn't expect much from Usher seeing that he unleashed Bieber on the world, so it makes perfect sense he would keep a male model. team Adam is by far the best team. not sure if that means one of them will win though. Blake has some of the most loyal fans in the world.

i did my best today to be a productive human being. i went to the post office early to mail off 2 books. the trouble with going early is dealing with elderly drivers and all the farm equipment. not exactly the best combination to deal with when you want to get somewhere in a hurry. also have my last load of laundry in the dryer. i even have plans to do some dishes while the Yankee game is on. and with no must see sports with teams on tonight, i might actually check out what normal people watch on a Thursday. at least for 30 minutes or so.

music today:

just this damn song stuck in my head

"Our visions begin with our desires." - Audre Lorde


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

even forever has an expiration date

i had heard the rumors. but, i've been hearing the rumors for the last decade. but these rumors were coming from sources that i have always held in the highest regard. so, i was not shocked at all when i woke up this morning to see that the Sir Alex Ferguson retirement news was made official. a little teary eyed and gutted but not shocked. he's the only manager i have known in all my years of being a Manchester United fan. i feel sorry for whomever has to replace him.

the rain last night has prevented me from mowing today. and seeing that it's supposed to rain on and off for the next 4 days, i might as well get ready to basically cut the grass twice when it gets dry enough to mow.

the Yankees stunk once again last night. 4 damn hits. hard to win anything with only 4 singles. they play again tonight but i doubt i will be watching much of it.

i did catch just about all of The Voice last night. both teams from Shakira and Blake are excellent. this is easily the most talent they have had out of all the seasons so far. the first eliminations are tonight. i know who i want gone, no one from team Adam, no one from team Blake, no one from team Shakira, and everyone but Michelle from team Usher. sadly, it won't work out that way.

the New York Rangers play a HUGE game 4 tonight at home. this is a MUST WIN game, not only to get the series back to 2-2, but to put a little doubt in the heads of Washington. the 6 times they have gone up 2-0 in a series, they have lost 4 of them. i'm all for making it 5. that can happen if they win tonight. i'm hearing Clowe might make his return tonight. god willing.

hope everyone has a great day. mine has been a bit more reflective than i wished.

music today:

Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO (& other American stories)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away

"I tell the players that the bus is moving. This club has to progress. And the bus wouldn't wait for them. I tell them to get on board." - Sir Alex Ferguson


Tuesday, May 7, 2013

musings on a partly cloudy Tuesday

it's amazing what a huge win does for me on the day after. i don't hate people as much. the sun actually comes out. the music sounds better. hopefully the feeling can last for a few days at least.

the New York Rangers had a HUGE 4-3 win last night. nice to see them score some goals, especially from some unlikely sources. also, it was so good to see Marc Staal back in the lineup. hopefully the good momentum will continue to Wednesday and they can tie the series up at 2. here are the highlights from last night:

i did catch a good bit of The Voice last night. the only singer from team Usher that does anything for me is Michelle. as for team Adam, he's got 4 singers that could possibly win it all. i would have to put Judith and Amber a little higher than the other two. hopefully the performances tonight are as good as last night.

Monday Night Raw got the short stick from me as i ended up paying more attention to the Bulls vs. Heat than i thought i would. judging by the internet, it doesn't appear i missed much at all.

i was able to catch the Big C a little earlier than i thought. a really good episode but a little sad as well. doesn't help that my stepfather died from cancer. so many things in the show bring back so many memories. hard to believe it's been 11 years.

the Yankees start a series in Colorado tonight. not many good memories from previous games out there, as they usually turn into softball scores. i'm just hoping none of the pitchers get hurt playing in the national league parks. the last thing this team needs is more fucking injuries.

throw in some Deadliest Catch tonight and the playoffs in the NHL and NBA and i've got another full slate of tv again tonight.

what really sucks is i'm having problems napping in the afternoon. i'm getting too old to run on just a few hours anymore.

toying with a few ideas for some new YouTube videos. if those ideas actually result in something, i'll be sure to post them here as well as my YouTube channel.

if the rain can hold off for the rest of today and tomorrow morning, looks like i'll be pressing my luck and seeing just how quickly i can get the grass cut.

music today:

ZZ Ward - Til The Casket Drops
The Lone Bellow - The Lone Bellow
Old Crow Medicine Show - O.C.M.S.

"Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?" - Groucho Marx

Monday, May 6, 2013

if the clouds ever do break

hopefully, at least i think so, most or all the crops got planted last night before the rain started. it's been a steady drizzle on and off for about 10 hours now. that does wonders for my bad mood and bad back. joy.

mom's mother's day gift came in the mail today. i was fearing it was going to be next Monday with what amazon.com was telling me. i'm pretty sure she won't see this one coming at all.

i spent the majority of last night and this morning fucking around with my YouTube channel. i think i finally have it the way i want it. now, i just need to get cracking on ideas for videos for my book. if anyone does any animation or music and would be interested in doing something, please drop me a line either here on the blog or email me. all my contact info is on the side of the blog. i think i'm going to do something with all the pictures i've been taking... just need to find the right poem in the book for it.

a huge night in just about everything i'm interested in. the New York Rangers play a MUST WIN game 3 tonight at home. that starts at 7:30 pm. the NBA playoffs start back up tonight at 7 pm. the live episodes of The Voice start tonight at 8 pm. as does Monday Night Raw. i've already figured out i'm going to try to catch The Big C on the west coast feed of Showtime at 1 am. thank god the Yankees are off tonight. it's going to be damn near impossible to fit all of this in as it is. now anyone can see why i say i don't watch commercials.

i really did enjoy the Sunday night shows last night. Vice is really start to grow on me.

if i don't beat myself up too bad this evening, i will hopefully have a little more in depth post tomorrow. hopefully describing a Rangers win, a skunk who is gone and no longer eating the cat food, 2 returning cats that have been gone for almost a month (little chance of that happening but why not shoot for the stars) and a truck that has magically started running better.

music today:

Social Distortion - Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine

"Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise." - Sigmund Freud


i will now leave you with a song i heard on the radio a few weeks ago and it is still stuck in my head

Sunday, May 5, 2013

nuclear winter

my poem "nuclear winter" was published in Potters Wheel Anthology Vol. 2.  you can download the issue for FREE by going here:
http://jeremy-benson.com/issues/PWissue3.html

2 days i'll never get back

other than 8 stellar innings pitched by Phil Hughes on Saturday, this weekend has been a complete waste of my life. i'll start with one of the very few positives....

the Yankees won on Saturday, 4-2. they of course followed that up today and lost 5-4. they lose the series and finish the home stand 7-3. and, as always as it seems these days, add another injury to the list. and i know, 7-3 isn't bad, but it's not as good as 8-2 would have looked. and today was a winnable game.

the New York Rangers lost a heart breaker on Saturday in overtime, 1-0. they can't score on the power play to save their lives. and at times they have looked completely lifeless. i hope MSG breathes some life into them on Monday, or this could be a very short playoff run.

Manchester United did show up today against Chelsea. but, since they have nothing to play for, they did exactly that. lost 1-0. a little irritating to see those blue fuckers celebrating at Old Trafford to say the least. it would have been nice to put a wrench into Chelsea finishing in the top 4. oh well.

i enjoyed the parts of Saturday Night Live i was awake for. the same goes for ROH.

i did watch the Kentucky Derby. the horse that i picked to win finished nowhere near the top. the horse that did win was one of the horses i liked, so there's that i guess.

i managed to get the trash out without wrenching my back. i suppose that's a positive.

we did get about 30 seconds of drizzle so far this weekend. thankfully, it looks like all the corn will be planted by tonight.

but since we've had a pretty good mixture of moisture and warm weather, it looks like i'll be mowing the grass long before i wanted to again. i suppose mom will like that for Mother's Day.

i really hope the Sunday night shows on HBO and Showtime lift my mood this evening. or, this could be one of my infamous angry sleeping nights. that usually makes for some interesting poetry. 4 hours of tossing and turning can do that at times. and that will absolutely suck if it happens, knowing there's about a thousand things i want to do on Monday. figures.

oh yeah, happy cinco de who gives a shit.

music today:

Ana Tijoux - La Bala
Tori Amos - Crucify

"What is a poet? An unhappy person who conceals profound anguish in his heart but whose lips are so formed that as sighs and cries pass over them they sound like beautiful music." - Soren Kierkegaard


Saturday, May 4, 2013

a cool beginning

i figured i better do this blog post now instead of waiting until later. i know damn well if the Yankees and Rangers both lose today i'll have absolutely no desire to speak to anyone.

the Yankees bats decided to take the night off last night. i'm not sure if it was due to Oakland pitching or just the usual bad habits and the inability to do the little things because everyone gets up there to hit home runs. and on a night where the bullpen was limited to say the least, you would hope CC would go longer than 6 innings. a big thank you to Adam Warren for pitching those last 3 innings and sparing everyone else. hopefully that leads to better things the next 2 games.

i bounced around last night between the hockey and basketball playoffs. nothing was really dramatic until the San Jose and Vancouver game. i did get a good laugh when the Sharks won in overtime. i'm sure Raffi Torres didn't mind sticking it to his former team.

i laughed so hard at something my sister sent me last night on YouTube that i actually fell out of the chair. literally. hopefully it will have the same effect on you:

it's a rather cool start to the morning. still dry, amazingly enough. looks like most of the rain is going to stay to the south of the farm. that doesn't bode well for the Kentucky Derby later today.

i'll try to watch a new Saturday Night Live tonight. Zach Galifianakis' humor is hit and miss with me most of the time. plus, if the show starts to suck, i'll just flip over to a new episode of ROH. at any rate, it's going to be another late night. throw in that i have dishes to do and i wouldn't mind jotting down a poem or two... as my mother would say when i was a child, busier than nine cats covering up shit in a windstorm.

hope everyone has a great day.

music today:

Tom Waits - Blue Valentine
Foy Vance - NoiseTrade Sampler
The Gospel Whiskey Runners - Hold On

"I have been enlightened. I have fallen into poetry and it has swallowed me up." - Keith Haring

Friday, May 3, 2013

bring on the weekend

after taking a long shower last night, i wasn't too upset with the New York Rangers playoff loss last night. it was more of a well, if you piss away chance after chance, you're supposed to lose. i have no doubt it will be a long series. i would feel even better about that feeling if they win game 2 tomorrow afternoon. time will tell.

the New York Yankees start up a series against Oakland tonight. more injuries to the bullpen in the last few days. this team has more money on the disabled list than i think some baseball teams are worth. it's fucking crazy. hopefully they can continue to keep their head above water long enough for the regulars to come back. when you step back and look at it, this team has no business being only 2 1/2 games behind the best record in baseball.

starting to hear some rumbles that my new book is being received with some words of praise. i'm really happy with how it turned out. be sure to get your copy of Sofisticated White Trash today.

i was really sad to hear of the passing of Jeff Hanneman. arguably, one of the more underrated guitar players of all-time. way too young at 49. below is probably my favorite song he wrote:

i'm looking forward to the Kentucky Derby tomorrow. it always makes me think of when i was really younger and my grandmother would sit with me and tell me about horse racing. i've never placed a bet on the race, though if i had the means to do so, i absolutely would. all i really want to see is a triple crown winner. it hasn't happened since i was 2 years old. and no matter how hard i try, i can't recall shit from 1978. now, 1979 is another thing, as i can recall newscasts and wrestling matches from back then. my memory is absolutely spooky at times. but honestly, more of a curse than a blessing. hence the poetry.

the weather is supposed to take a turn to the rainy side over the weekend. figures, i've got a ton of trash to put out on Sunday. whenever that is the case, there's a 99.9% chance it will be windy as fuck. i was hoping the guy who farms out here was going to get some stuff in the ground during these days it's been in the 70's and 80's. but, i suppose at this rate, i'm going to see the harvest around Thanksgiving this year. or maybe after it.

hope everyone has a great weekend. if you happen to pick up a copy of my book, let me know. and do let me know what you think of it. peace and chicken grease.

music today:

Grant Lee Buffalo - Mighty Joe Moon
Slayer - Reign In Blood
The Lighthouse and The Whaler - Pioneers EP
Octane - Rise Up
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Live From Alabama

"The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it." - Machiavelli


Thursday, May 2, 2013

let the insanity begin

i spent most of yesterday dealing with major computer problems. after looking back, i figure this most likely has to do with Frontier Communications. and if you are somehow unsure of my feelings about Frontier, i'll put it this way; if you ever have a chance to pick between Frontier and getting the plague, choose the plague. absolutely much easier to deal with than the assholes at Frontier.

then, i got an email from my publisher this morning showing me that my copies of my book are waiting for me at the post office and have been for a few days. knowing the general incompetence of employees at the post office, this did not shock at me. long story short, i now have some books in my possession and the endless hustle begins.


and for a little bonus sample, here's my poem "birthdays" from page 43 of Sofisticated White Trash.

if you are interested in a review copy or would rather purchase a copy of the book directly from me, please email me as soon as possible.

the Yankees won the last 2 nights to take the series from Houston. too much of playing down to your competition for my liking. they have the night off tonight, which they probably need giving that the injury bug seems to be spreading now.

tonight starts the playoffs for the New York Rangers. i'm trying to be less of a weirdo this playoff run. i tend to get a little carried away with my superstitions at this time of year. so, no same music or clothes after wins, no same breakfast on every game day; the only thing i'm sticking with is the playoff beard. so, i hope to not shave again until the summer. god willing.

in case you missed it, do checkout the podcast Sam Roberts did with former child star Danny Tamberelli. an absolute laugh riot. definitely not an episode to miss. you can check it out at iTunes, Stitcher, and by going here: http://www.notsam.com/news/srso-podcast-53-danny-tamberelli and if you enjoy the podcast, please spread the word about the Sam Roberts Show Online.

i will try to sneak in a few other things during the hockey intermissions tonight. mostly The Big Bang Theory and some playoff basketball. and i do hope the Rangers win so i'm not up most of the night over analyzing a defeat.

i did a little amazon.com shopping this morning. i hope my mother likes what i'm getting her for mother's day. it should surprise her to say the least. i filled out the rest of my order with some music. so, if you start seeing some names you've never seen before down below, you'll know that i got a little involved in the recommendations part on amazon.com.

that's all for today. i hope i have some good news to report tomorrow.

lastly, those of you who have already talked to me about my book, your copy will be going into the mail tomorrow.

music today:

Beastie Boys - Solid Gold Hits
Lou Reed - Rock N Roll Animal

"A guilty conscience needs to confess. A work of art is a confession." - Albert Camus


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

fools lose control

i heard back from Stephen at Dead Snakes on my poetry submission from the other day. my poem "fools lose control" has been accepted and published this morning. you can find the poem by going here: http://deadsnakes.blogspot.com/2013/05/jj-campbell-poem.html