Monday, September 30, 2013

a gloomy and dreary Monday

i got up later than i normally do this morning, throwing my entire rhythm off. it's on days like this that i realize how superstitious and crazy i really am at times. oh well.

i went out to feed the cats a little later than normal and noticed some sad shit. when i closed the door to the stall, i noticed one cat slinking in under the other door. not a big deal. then, i noticed that it was my cat Michael Jackson, dragging himself because, apparently, he can no longer use his hind legs. so, i know damn well that cat won't be along much longer. i'll be slightly shocked if i see it come morning.

i had a decent Sunday fantasy football wise. i'm leading in both matches, though it won't be until tonight that i will know if i win both of them or not. fingers are crossed.

as for the Sunday night shows...

Boardwalk Empire was brilliant as usual.

Eastbound and Down looks like it will be hilarious once again. it's the final season, so i hope they pull out all the stops.

Hello Ladies looks like it is going to be really funny and sad at the same time. it hit way too close to home on my own unspectacular dating life.

over to Showtime...

Homeland is one of my favorite shows ever. it doesn't look like this season is going to do anything to change that.

Masters of Sex was the winner for me last night. this show is pretty close to perfect in my eyes. history, which i love, sex, which i love more, some great writing and acting, it will be a show i will definitely look forward to each week.

tonight will be plenty of bouncing between The Voice and Monday Night Raw. i'm sure i will throw in some NFL and baseball as well, though i will probably just follow them online more than anything.

i did happen to catch a little of the Yankees finishing off their season yesterday with a win in 14 innings. they finish the season at 85-77. i found that funny because i believe the over/under number at the beginning of the season for win was 84 1/2. yet another example of why i don't gamble anymore.

if i happen to find myself up at 3 in the morning like i was last night, i figure i will go through some poems and decide where to send some stuff. after having a couple more places decide on what they wanted, i definitely have more poems to choose from now.

that is all. hope this finds you in a better mood than me.

music:

Valerie June - Pushin' Against A Stone
Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Nick Cave & The Black Seeds - Push The Sky Away

"Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition." - Timothy Leary

response from Regardless Of Authority

i heard back from Michael at Regardless Of Authority on my poetry submission from earlier in the month. my poem "under construction again" has been for publication in ROA #3, due out October 1st.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

saved by a wonderful Saturday night

it was a beautiful night of schizophrenic television last night. at any given time i was flipping between the Global Citizen music festival, the Southern Ground Music and Food festival, the New York Yankees, Ohio State, LSU vs. Georgia, and Mexican soccer. later on, toss in Saturday Night Live, ROH. Austin City Limits, and some late night college football. i finally ran out of gas at 3:30 in the morning. and of course, i was back up 4 hours later.

some quick thoughts...

Global Citizen - i really enjoy this music festival. could be timed out a little better with the social messages and the music, but that's only a minor complaint.

Southern Ground - i love the Zac Brown Band and i love that their musical tastes are so varied. that was a wonderful thing to watch.

i was so happy that the Yankees won yesterday and did so with Andy Pettitte pitching a complete game to do it. he now becomes the only pitcher EVER to pitch more than 15 seasons and NEVER have a losing season. that's a nice way to leave the game for good. i highly doubt i will watch any of the game today. though, if i do get a feeling that Mo is playing CF, i will have to check that out.

Ohio State started fast last night against Wisconsin. the defense really halted their running game, which is one of the best in the nation. to me, that was the difference in the game. that and Braxton Miller reminding everyone that he is the most athletic person on the field at any given time. quite the winning streak going on. may it continue for a few more months.

LSU vs. Georgia was one of those shootouts that make me truly appreciate college football. and it also reminds me why i gave up gambling.

Saturday Night Live was great last night. i enjoyed the segments on the new cast members. i am familiar with 2 of them. hopefully the other 4 do something that allows me to remember them. it will be interesting to see which old cast members fill the most reliable spots that had the same guys in it for almost a decade.

the Arcade Fire special after SNL was bizarre, in a good way. i enjoyed it much more than i thought i would.

ROH was the semi-finals from the heavyweight tournament. since i already knew the results and had seen most of the action, i was in and out of it all hour long.

as for tonight, basically between 9 PM and 1 AM i will be between HBO and Showtime. Boardwalk Empire, Eastbound and Down, and Hello Ladies. then the west coast feeds of Homeland and Masters of Sex. i figure mom would appreciate me watching that last one after she goes to bed.

the rest of the day will be on the NFL. both of my fantasy games won't be finished until after the Monday night game. i'm hoping that i have leads in both of them going into tomorrow.

got the results of my fantasy hockey draft. i am pleased as most of the guys drafted i have had before and know their tendencies and whatnot. so now it's simply a matter of handling injuries and winning the waiver wire wars. and i am fully aware that i do so good in these fantasy leagues because i have the time to devote to them. at the same time, you can understand why i get so fucking pissed when i lose.

that's all for me. the trash is picked up and the cats are fed. i figure i will get my ass down in the chair before it starts raining and before i start scrambling to check injury reports. hope everyone is in the middle of a great weekend. and if you're not, have yourself a drink. it always works for me.

music:

Jason Isbell - Southeastern
Kid Rock - Rebel Soul

"I don't care what anybody says about me as long as it isn't true." - Truman Capote

Saturday, September 28, 2013

the bitter taste of mediocrity

when David Moyes got hired at Manchester United, what i truly feared was United becoming Everton. a good club, some wins, some losses, but in the end, average. or how i think of it, mediocre. watching Manchester United lose this morning at home to West Brom (a team that hasn't won at Old Trafford since 1978) was a tad bit disheartening to say the least. Nani and Wayne Rooney were the only players that at least acted like they gave a shit today. i don't even feel like watching them this Wednesday in Champions League play. on the road nonetheless. i know he was Sir Alex's choice and all, but if he doesn't figure this out soon, he will have to be removed before some fan tries to kill him. perhaps Moyes will figure out soon that United fans take this as religion, as life and death. not advocating anything by the way, just stating the obvious.

a thank you to Thom Young for the comment left on my last post. i appreciate it.

i did watch a little of the Yankees game last night. they actually won even though Joba tried his hardest to shit it away. hopefully his ass finds a new team next year. i might watch a little tonight given that it is Andy Pettitte's last career start. i figure Mo might end up pitching in this game as well. hopefully they can get another win.

Ohio State plays Wisconsin tonight in a big game. under the lights at the shoe for the whole country to see. hopefully OSU gets a big win tonight. would go a long way in proving to people they are for real. and i could use the victory beer.

also tonight is the season premiere of Saturday Night Live. as well as ROH. as well as two music festivals i'm interested in watching. so, yet another sunny Saturday that i will spend indoors.

that's all. i'm a bit fucking bitter and pissed off right now. hopefully a good lunch and a long shower helps change my mood a bit. i'm not counting on it.

music:

Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss
Metallica - Garage Inc.

"They call me a sinner, but I am at peace with myself." - Brigitte Bardot

Friday, September 27, 2013

i wept like a baby

i had an uneventful drive to the airport yesterday to pick up my mother and sister, until the airport cop decided he wanted to play tough guy and literally tell me where to park, not really giving a shit i would be cutting off a car to do so. so, just to show what an asshole he was being, i did like he said. the woman i was now blocking in wasn't happy. she looked at me and i pointed to the dickhead and gave her the look of, there's where your anger needs to be. the police in general have always pissed me off.

i tuned into the Yankees game just in time last night to see everything regarding Mo. it was his final game at Yankee Stadium. he entered the game in the 8th to get the final 2 outs, which he did. he got the first 2 outs of the 9th (which lowered his career ERA to the lowest ever for a pitcher with over 1,200 innings pitched). then Andy and Derek came out to take him out of the game. i was doing fine until i watched Mo start to cry while hugging Andy. then i lost it. all the emotions of the last 17 years or so; the championships, the unbelievable moments, the crushing defeats, the parades... just reflecting on watching the greatest closer to ever live and how remarkable his entire career has been. of course, the Yankees lost again last night. not sure what next season holds for the team, but i do know without Mo it will never be the same.

i did watch The Big Bang Theory last night. very funny. one of my guilty pleasures i suppose. i really love how quick the writing is on the show. as a writer, it's that kind of stuff that hooks me.

the rest of the night was spent watching the NFL. at least the defense i started showed up last night. unlike all the other games this season. that gave me a nice start in my NFL.com fantasy league.

i have no clue what i'll be watching tonight. i might just hand the remote over to my mother and go write the night away. or, it could be an evening where i flip between the Smithsonian Channel and Food Network. i always tend to try to learn shit when i'm bored. i never stop trying to learn everything i can about everything there is. not sure my family enjoys it when they end up getting stuck watching some documentary on a topic they couldn't give 2 shits about. i almost care.

big sports weekend and Sunday night shows coming up. should be interesting to see how i map out the 5 shows i want to watch on Sunday night that all air at the same time on 2 different networks. thank god for the west coast feeds.

i caught bits and pieces of the New York Rangers last night. i think they play again tonight though i imagine it's probably going to be blacked out for me. i could tell one thing hasn't changed even with a new coach. they struggle to fucking score goals beyond belief. 41 shots and 0 goals. and people wonder why i get so fucking frustrated at times. my fantasy hockey draft is this weekend as well.

i will most likely be back on this blog sometime between the end of the Manchester United game and before Ohio State plays tomorrow night.

peace and chicken grease.

music:

The Killers - Hot Fuss
Morphine - Like Swimming
Ani DiFranco - Living In Clip

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Peter Drucker

Thursday, September 26, 2013

at least they can't disappoint me any more this season

i didn't watch much of the Yankees last night as i saw they were already losing by the time i turned on the game. then i had the joy of flipping back to the game when Tampa blew the game wide open. so, that's that. for the 2nd time in 19 years, the Yankees won't be in the playoffs. unlike many Yankees fans today, i remember a good portion of the 19 years before this run. this will be a crazy offseason for the team. and if this season is any indication, i expect full blown fucking chaos. i might tune in tonight for a little bit, mostly because it will be the last time Mo is a member of the team in that stadium.

i'm pretty happy that the New York Rangers finally signed Derek Stepan. now, hopefully the team can get going and start the season off good. considering they are on the road for the first 2 weeks or so, they will need every point possible.

The Bridge last night was a bit disappointing. a slow burn that never really went anywhere. teaches me for believing the damn previews. hopefully the finale next week blows me away.

not sure what i'll be watching this evening as it all depends on when i get back from the airport. hopefully it's in time to watch The Big Bang Theory and then some NFL. i've got some guys playing tonight, so i'll probably torture myself and watch.

i did write 3 poems last night. i typed them up earlier today and think they are pretty good. i hope to write a few more before the month ends.

that's pretty much all for now. i'll be sitting here taking a nap waiting for the phone to ring.

be well.

music:

Father John Misty - Fear Fun
Gary Clark Jr. - The Bright Lights EP
Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
Phantogram - Eyelid Movies

"Anxiety is the hand maiden of creativity." - T.S. Eliot

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

a much happier day (so far)

i kind of got back into my ritual of when Manchester United plays a game mid-week. a big breakfast, plenty of music, some mindless internet surfing and then settle down for the game. i thought the team Moyes put out was better than the debacle over the weekend. still would like to see a stronger midfield, but sadly, this team doesn't have those players. Chicharito scores in the second half for the 1-0 win over Liverpool in Capital One Cup play. i will enjoy that victory beer for sure.

the Yankees last night played about as listless as i have seen them all season. so, with their season hanging in the balance, the ball goes to Phil Hughes. that pretty much sums up this season perfectly. any Yankee loss or Cleveland win for the rest of the season and the Yankees are eliminated from playoff contention. hopefully they put this miserable season to bed this evening.

The Voice last night was really good. i heard a couple voices that i think really have a chance to win it all. from what i have seen so far, looks like it will be another great season for the show.

i laughed my ass off last night watching Jimmy Fallon. here is why:

no new Duck Dynasty tonight so i get to watch The Bridge at the normal time. i'm really looking forward to this episode tonight. judging from the preview, it should be a good one.

i didn't get all the guys i wanted in fantasy football. so i'm going to have to do some scrambling here before rosters need to be set by tomorrow.

i'm hoping to do some writing tonight. i want to have a few new poems to choose from to send out some submissions early in October.

that's pretty much all for now. hope this finds everyone in a relaxed position, a cold one in your hand, and the deviant of your choice asking for more.

music:

Metallica - Ride The Lightning
Jeff Buckley - Mystery White Boy: Live '95-'96
The Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen

"The things that have been most valuable to me I did not learn in school." - Will Smith

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

look what one of the cats left me this morning


i believe that used to be a squirrel. now, i'm wondering do i let the insects finish it off or do i get a shovel and throw it in a field? hopefully, come morning, there's nothing left in that spot.

actually went out in public today and made a little money. got some music together and took it to the closest used music place around me. i was hoping for $20 and got $41. needless to say, i'm a happy boy.

i did watch a good portion of The Voice last night. some good ones although i'll never quite understand why any male singer would choose Christina as their coach, unless he's allowing his dick to make the decision. and yes, i'll watch more tonight. and with nothing else on that i have to watch, i won't miss as much. thankfully YouTube had all the performances i only caught pieces of.

Monday Night Raw was pretty good once again. i love the work of CM Punk and Daniel Bryan these days. also, the unexpected return of Cody Rhodes and Goldust was classic. i actually marked out for that. i love when wrestling can still make me feel like a child.

the Yankees return tonight. i imagine i will watch some of it. i highly doubt they can win out like they need to. but, it would be nice to see them beat Tampa and at least fuck up their plans for the playoffs.

i did watch some of the New York Rangers last night. although, once i found out the score i just went to bed. there is no reason to watch a loss in the preseason. none.

i won 1 fantasy football matchup by 40 some points and loss the other by 76!!!!!!!! points. talk about an ass whipping. i haven't been humiliated like that in years. needless to say, most of that team is on waivers this morning. i went 9-7 on my picks for the week. hopefully that is my worst week of the season.

check out http://2leafpress.org/online/a-word-from-the-publisher/ my tight ass actually gave some money to the cause. help if you can or help spread the word.

i believe that is all for today.

music:

Tom Waits - Franks Wild Years
Little Green Cars - Absolute Zero
Guided By Voices - The Bears For Lunch

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." - F. Scott Fitzgerald


Monday, September 23, 2013

after the day of horror

where do i begin? might as well start at the beginning of the horror show that was my Sunday...

when i got the news that RvP was injured and not going to play against City, i was worried. but when i saw the lineup David Moyes put out i was mortified. how the fuck Ashley Young still plays for Manchester United is beyond me. why Kagawa can't get in a game is fucking ridiculous. a 4-1 loss that could have been much worse was fucking embarrassing. got so bad i didn't even bother watching the last 20 minutes or so. hopefully they play much better than that on Wednesday. don't think i can stomach another loss to Liverpool.

the ceremony for Mariano Rivera yesterday was great. had a feel of Old Timers Day and a Hall of Fame ceremony wrapped up into one. it was good to see some old faces and to see Metallica play live at it. after i got back from taking my mother and sister to the airport, it was just in time to see Andy Pettitte get pulled from the game. just in time to see DRob blow it and watch Mo get the final 5 outs. Yankees lose 2-1. fitting for how this fucking season has gone. and then find out today CC is done for the year with yet another damn injury. i have never seen a team get so many fucking injuries in one year in my life. thankfully, the playoffs are now in the not a fucking chance in hell category.

my fantasy football teams stunk yesterday. well, at least one of them did. i was really surprised to see i won my match on NFL.com with still 2 players to go tonight. thank you Drew Brees. as for the other one, i have no fucking chance on that. even with 2 guys going tonight. not a chance.

as for tv last night, Dexter ended pretty much the only way it could end. Ray Donovan had a twist i didn't see coming. Boardwalk Empire was brilliant as always.

got up this morning to a chilly home. kind of weird not hearing mom's country music playing coming down the steps. she usually forgets to turn her alarm off when she is away. had a ton of mail in the po box. i was surprised it all fit. 1 piece for me. got my laundry done today but somehow managed to strain my back doing that. needless to say i'll be laying on ice for the rest of the evening.

tonight will be a night of constant channel flipping. The Voice is back. on at the same time as Monday Night Raw and Monday Night Football.  and then hopefully my back cooperates and i can get my clean laundry back upstairs and put away without having to spend some time in the fetal position.

good times.

i'm hoping to get some music together to go sell tomorrow. not all of this music i take a chance on is a keeper. i might as well make some money back. plus, i need some more experience driving mom's SUV if she actually plans on letting me have it one day. i'm sure that won't happen until she gets close to 300,000 miles on it. sadly, she's much closer to that than you actually may believe.

until tomorrow. be well.

music:

Nine Inch Nails - hesitation marks (Deluxe Edition)
Ana Tijoux - 1977
Black Joe Lewis - Electric Slave

"Love is a piano dropped from a fourth story window, and you were in the wrong place at the wrong time." - Ani DiFranco

my 6 poems in ZYX #65

my poems "just once", "the promise of a better life", "eruption", "press their luck", "complete failures", and "the lonesome tear" all appear in ZYX #65.

others with work in the issue include B.Z. Niditch, James Babbs, Alan Catlin, and many more.

to get the issue, send a couple of bucks to:

ZYX
c/o Arnold Skemer
58-09 205th Street
Bayside, NY 11364

Arnold Skemer's review of Sofisticated White Trash

this review appears in ZYX #65.

SOFISTICATED WHITE TRASH
J.J. Campbell
Interior Noise Press
Austin, TX.
978-0-9816606-8-4
$15.00
2013

A tortured soul out of sync with others, a societal reject knowing unremitting mental torture, a man isolated from humanity and, in a sense, isolated from himself. When he walks down a street he sees a steaming turd on the sidewalk. He stops, considers it and walks right towards it, stomping his foot into it. Depressed though he is, primal urges surge through his body. Endless masturbatory activity is the result. He watches Soul Train reruns to get revved up, even engaging in "convict pussy." But when the ejaculation is spent he returns to the meaninglessness of his existence. Campbell is an honest man much more frank than the usual and in his misanthropy, nihilism and obscene disregard of social propriety, there is something very liberating. He's depressed, disgusted and alienated but his spirit thrives, rife with invective and disruptive power. He doesn't hold anything back. This is strong stuff, not for prissy people. He gets quite disgusting but there is a release in all this. There is a thrill rushing through the mind as one listens to the diatribes. Other poets treat of the underside of life but Campbell's spirit of revolt is imbued with outrageous humor that transcends the vile garbage of living and grants relief.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

quick thoughts on a Sunday morning

i'll be busier than 9 cats covering up shit in a windstorm today, so i thought i would make this quick.

Ohio State won yesterday 76-0. it wasn't really as close as the score suggests.

the Yankees won again !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6-0. Nova with another complete game shutout. they go for the sweep today on the day no Yankees fan ever wanted to see. the day they honor Mariano Rivera and say goodbye and thanks. today will be a flood of nostalgia i imagine.

the food at the sports bar was the hottest i think i have ever been served. we must have hit the place at the exact right time.

Manchester derby day. hopefully the town will be painted red. my eyes will be glued on that for most of the time. sadly, the ceremony for Mo starts during it. I NEED THE ELVIS WALL OF TELEVISIONS!!!!!!!!!!!

ROH was great last night. sadly, i fell asleep before it was over but i already know the outcomes. Steen vs. Strong was excellent, i do remember that.

i will be taking my mother and sister to the airport this afternoon. saves them about $40. puts a little bit of a cramp in my football viewing. but given how my fantasy teams are shaping up today, i will probably need some time away from the television so i don't explode.

my Sunday night viewing is slightly altered this evening. Boardwalk Empire is a given. so is the season finale of Ray Donovan. i have no clue if i'm going to watch the series finale of Dexter or not. i'm sure i will probably view a little bit for sure as i did watch the show for the first 3 seasons, religiously. plus, i suppose i need to know how it ends.

that's all for me. i have breakfast to eat, cats to feed, trash to get out of the house (picked up most of it last night) and bags to load for my mother. i hope everyone has a great day. until tomorrow.

music:

Radiohead - The Bends
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?

"In seeking wisdom thou art wise; in imagining that thou hast attained it - thou art a fool." - Lord Chesterfield



Saturday, September 21, 2013

response from Gutter Eloquence Magazine

i heard back from Jack at Gutter Eloquence Magazine on my poetry submission from August 8th. my poems "random thoughts on the second day of august" and "the chance to just let go" have been accepted for publication in issue #28. the issue should appear online between October 1st and 5th.

at least the rain finally stopped

i believe when i woke up this morning it had just finished raining. i have to believe we got somewhere north of 2 inches. thank god we got the soybeans off before that. no flooding that i have seen so far and the corn still looks good, so... in the grand scheme of things this really just means i'll end up having to mow the grass again.

ended up watching more of the Yankees game last night than i thought i would. CC actually pitched great for the first time in a few months. a 5-1 win on A-Rod's 24th career grand slam. that broke the major league record previously held by Lou Gehrig. i would say congrats but he doesn't deserve it. they play again this afternoon. i might check it out or i might just watch college football and hope they do well. they are still alive with a faint pulse for the playoffs.

Ohio State plays a game this afternoon that i believe most of the game will see the backups playing. so, i might watch some of it as i believe i will be in a sports bar showing it, but i won't be paying close attention to it.

got some good news yesterday regarding injuries on my fantasy football team. that just made my Sunday a little less chaotic. while getting that news last night i realized that the fucking hockey season starts in about a week. so i scrambled to find a fantasy hockey league and set up my draft order. the draft is 2 days before the season i think. that should make it interesting.

i'm looking forward to watching some ROH this evening. i know what happened last night at the ppv. i'm a little surprised at the results but at the same time i am happy. i enjoy the heel Adam Cole more and more each time i get to see it. to see him as the ROH champion should make for some interesting story lines in the future. especially if the "Mount Rushmore of Wrestling" ends up joining forces in ROH as well.

and i will hopefully find some time to sleep today as i know damn well i won't be getting any tomorrow.

hope this finds everyone well. peace and chicken grease.

music:

Foy Vance - Joy of Nothing
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town

"God is cruel. Sometimes he makes you live." - Stephen King

Friday, September 20, 2013

here comes the storm

i heard the rumblings this morning but really didn't pay any attention to it. then i got the email this afternoon. so, probably before i get done with these ramblings, Andy Pettitte will be having his press conference to announce his retirement, again. the kicker is his final start at home will be on the day they are honoring Mariano Rivera. Sunday is going to be a long, emotional, fuck me runnin' kind of day.

the truly sad part of this is with yet another loss last night, the Yankees more or less have about .00000000000000000000000000000000001% chance of making the playoffs now. to see 2 of the greatest postseason pitchers of all time retire and their last games not be in the playoffs pretty much sums up the total disappointment of this Yankee season. almost reminds me of the early 90's and they had too many questions and not enough answers going into the off season.

i didn't watch much last night. just sort of flipped through the channels, avoiding the Yankees game as much as possible.  not exactly sure what i'll be watching tonight either. we are supposed to have some pretty big storms come through here tonight, so i'm not sure if we'll even have power. if we don't, i'll try to break out the flip cam and take some videos. maybe a poetry reading in the dark. who knows.

thanks to those of you who have shared your comments on my latest YouTube video. i really do appreciate it.

mom got the check for the soybeans last night. it was more than i was hoping for, and i was hoping for much more than we got last year. always nice when there's more than 1 number to the left of the comma. sadly, with this rain coming, the corn harvest is going to be pushed back after the 1st of October. the corn still looks good though, so my fingers are crossed that it will still be that way come harvest.

speaking of the harvest, had a good laugh at the coyotes the other night rolling around in the field where the soybeans were, howling at the full moon. they didn't appreciate me turning on the outside lights and scaring the shit out of them.

busier than shit weekend coming up. all the sports, my mother and sister going on another trip (they haven't decided if i'm driving them to the airport or not), i have a ton of laundry to do, add on grocery shopping and getting everything ready for trash day... if i find the time to write anything on this blog i'll surprise myself. or, keep your eyes peeled for a post at 3 in the morning or so.

well, i'm off to go watch a press conference and think back fondly on the glory days.

hope everyone has a great weekend.

music:

Valerie June - Pushin' Against A Stone
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes
Trampled By Turtles - Stars and Satellites
JD McPherson - Signs & Signifiers
Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See

"The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." - Bertrand Russell

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Trent Reznor started a creative fire inside me today

so, i finally got a chance to listen to the new Nine Inch Nails album, hesitation marks, today. holy shit, i was blown away. i got the deluxe edition and am absolutely happy i spent the extra money for it. in my opinion, the best NIN album in years. really blew me away. especially the song All Time Low. that to me ranks up there with most of the iconic NIN songs from my teenage years. so, needless to say, Trent started a little creative fire inside of me. and, the brain got going and below is my latest YouTube video:


one of my favorite poems from my book Sofisticated White Trash. dark and funny. might be my promo video to try to increase sales for the holiday season.

so, as i was watching the Yankees listlessly swing and miss at pitch after pitch last night, i was flipping through the channels. watched much more of the Big Brother finale than i thought i would. i'm ok with Andy winning, though i don't like the fact that they missed the chance to drag these assholes over the coals for the TMZ fires they started all season long. that would have made for great tv.

Duck Dynasty was pretty funny last night. i remember when i had my wisdom teeth pulled. sadly, i woke up in the middle of it. didn't ask to go back under, just enjoyed the pain. i'm a sick one.

flipped back to the Yankees just as they were waking the fuck up in the 8th inning. went from down 3-0 to winning 4-3 out of nowhere. Mo made it interesting in the 9th, but that simply made the victory beer more gratifying than normal. a much needed win. hopefully they can get the series win this evening.

The Bridge last night was excellent. some death, a few more twists, and at least one viewer wondering what the fuck this show has left in the last 2 episodes. truly a brilliant show.

i do have a WR for the Chiefs going tonight, so i guess i'll watch some of the NFL game tonight. tried my best to make some minor fantasy moves today to hopefully make the games closer than they should be.

we actually got some rain and thunder this morning right after i woke up at 6:45 AM. wasn't expecting that at all. glad the a/c is fixed. it's going to be muggy as hell the next few days, so it will come in handy.

if the creative fire keeps burning, i might write some poetry this evening. or, i'll just keep fucking with my LinkedIn account until i like it again.

hope this finds everyone well. hope you enjoy my new video. if you haven't already, BUY THE BOOK.

music:

Crazy Heart Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Deluxe Edition)
Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks (Deluxe Edition)

"Don't keep reaching for the stars because you'll just look like an idiot stretching that way for no reason." - Jimmy Fallon

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

the mid week blahs

so, as i was watching the Yankees lose again last night, 2-0, i thought about what my October will be like without no baseball to give a shit about. it was right about then i flipped over to the NHL Network and watched the Rangers vs. Flyers last night.

sure, it was pre-season hockey, but still. much better than watching millionaires just not give a shit. plus, it's always nice to see the New York Rangers win in Philly anytime of the year. team looked pretty good last night.

didn't get all the players i was trying to get in fantasy football, so this is going to be an even longer week now. it wouldn't shock me if i get blown out in both games. and sadly, i won't really know the final results until late Monday night. fun.

the Big Brother finale is tonight. i can't imagine me watching more than a few minutes here and there. i would love to see Julie Chen let all the racists know they got fired from their real jobs while being on the show this summer. that would be some great television.

i suppose most of my viewing pleasure tonight will be between Duck Dynasty and The Bridge. The Bridge looks like one gripping hour tonight. hopefully it is.

waiting for the heating and air guy to show up. hopefully mom gets home before he arrives so i don't have to deal with it. i tend to have a short fuse when shit fucks up and i know it's not our fault. especially when it's something that wasn't installed properly to begin with. good times.

been listening to a ton of music today. might have a few things to write this evening.

i urge all of you to listen to #71 of the Sam Roberts Show Online, especially if you are a fan of pro wrestling, hip hop, celebrities, or radio in general. it truly is a fascinating podcast. scroll down the right hand side of this blog or go to notsam.com to listen.

that's pretty much all for today. i'll be back tomorrow to begin my bitching about week 3 of the NFL season.

music:

Rhye - Woman
Black Joe Lewis - Electric Slave
Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do
The Black Keys - Magic Potion
Kid Rock - Rebel Soul

"Never put a sock in a toaster." - Eddie Izzard





Tuesday, September 17, 2013

exhale

so, i was sort of trying to go into Manchester United's Champions League game today hopeful that David Moyes would take a good step forward. at first blush, he got the lineup right. and after a 4-2 win over a very tough German side, i'm pleased. it should have been 6-1, but i won't fret about those goals until they are needed. goals from Wayne Rooney (2), Robin van Persie, and Antonio Valencia. probably their best game of the season, minus the normal falling asleep late and giving up a goal near the end of the game. congrats to Wayne Rooney on his 200th goal for Manchester United.

i'll be enjoying the victory beer later this evening while flipping through channels or actually watching the Yankees game. they sit 2 1/2 games out of the second wild card, mostly due to the Texas Rangers putting on one of the all time late season swoons ever seen. the Yankees are up in Toronto. if they don't sweep this series, the playoff hopes basically go bye bye.

Monday Night Raw was pretty damn good last night. from Daniel Bryan getting stripped of the title, to Dusty Rhodes getting knocked out, to the locker room finally growing a set of nuts and saving Daniel Bryan at the end; a really good show. hopefully "creative" has a clear destination for all of these story lines. if not, i fear a huge clusterfuck in the late fall.

i didn't get to watch the New York Rangers last night due to the stupid blackout rules. i don't really pay much attention to the preseason. just like to know which players i should target in the draft.

i went 11-5 last week picking NFL games. that's 23-9 on the season so far. not bad.

i got my choices in for the waiver wire in fantasy football. i'm going to be the underdog in both of the games. not sure if the waiver wire will help or not. i feel like it's going to be a long week.

got my order from amazon.com today. hopefully some new music will keep the creative fire going.

the harvest has started today on the farm. soybeans are coming off today. looks like at least 3 trucks full. if that is correct, that should be a pretty nice payday. not sure when the corn is coming off. i'll try to get some pictures of that when it happens.

that's pretty much it for today. other than the large farm equipment, a pretty quite day. a little breeze, temps in the 70's. add a Manchester United victory and you have as close to a fucking utopia as i'm going to get to.

peace and chicken grease.

music:

M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
Valerie June - Pushin' Against A Stone
Foy Vance - Joy Of Nothing

"Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing." - Ken Kesey

love just got thrown to the floor

my poem "love just got thrown to the floor" was published this morning in the Fox Chase Review Autumn/Winter 2013 edition. you can find the poem by going here:
http://www.foxchasereview.org/13AW/Campbell.html

others with work in the issue include John Dorsey, Adrian Manning, and many more.

Monday, September 16, 2013

a lost weekend

before i get into the misery of the Yankees and my fantasy football teams, here is the link to the Facebook post i talked about the other day.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Svensk-Apache/517054495042402

scroll down a bit and you will find my poem "smoke in peace" and the illustration that goes with it.

i'm running on about 3 hours of sleep, so i'm going to make this quick.

the Yankees got swept. 3 games out of the wildcard. i'm resigned that any wins for the rest of the season will be basically to put another team in the playoffs.

unless A.J. Green has the best night a WR has ever had tonight, i'm going to lose both of my fantasy football games. not happy. fucking injuries.

i didn't watch a second of Big Brother last night.

Boardwalk Empire was brilliant, as always.

The Newsroom caught me by surprise. i did not expect a happy ending. good stuff.

Total Divas was pretty funny, for all the wrong reasons. i did like the preview for the shows in November.

Ray Donovan hit pretty damn close to home. being sexually molested as a child, i understand a little too well the urge to kill and seek revenge, etc. should be an interesting season finale next week.

i might catch a few minutes of the New York Rangers first pre-season game tonight. i do plan on watching Monday Night Raw. i'm happy that Daniel Bryan is the champ again. not sure how long the assholes will leave the title on him. was hoping that CM Punk would be done with the Heyman angle after last night. sadly, he now has to deal with making the fans believe that Ryback can actually wrestle. the words glutton for punishment comes to mind.

i need a shower, a nap, some food, surgery for my bad back, some sunshine and a vehicle that doesn't struggle to get up to 25 m.p.h.

maybe tomorrow i won't be as cranky. i suppose that all depends on what Manchester United does.

be well.

music:

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

"Why do you have to be a nonconformist like everybody else?" - James Thurber

2 poems at Dead Snakes

my poems "save yourself" and "play it cool" were published yesterday at Dead Snakes. you can find the poems by going here: http://deadsnakes.blogspot.com/2013/09/jj-campbell-two-poems.html

Sunday, September 15, 2013

little bursts of energy

allow me to pick back up the strange saga of my life somewhere around the Yankees letting me down yet again.

i have to admit, i might have watched 5 minutes of the Yankees game yesterday. another loss, 5-1. hard to win when you only get 3 damn hits. 3 games out now of a playoff spot. they play tonight on ESPN. i have no clue if i'll choose the game over what i normally watch on Sunday nights.

watched some really great games yesterday. between Barcelona and Real Madrid in soccer and a crazy game between Alabama and Texas A&M, it was a pretty damn entertaining afternoon.

then Ohio State came out like a team i hadn't seen before. 21-0 in the first 5 minutes. they went on to win 52-34, racking up some insane offensive numbers for them. of course, the defense gave up way too much. but, another victory beer i enjoyed.

after that game got over, i sat down to write the 4 poems i needed to write for the artist in Sweden. 15 minutes later i'm emailing them to him. i wake up this morning to the news that he loves them. i believe he might be posting one of them on Facebook or something. if i get a link to it i'll pass it along. i really think we're doing some amazing work together. hopefully the world gets to see it one day.

ROH last night was excellent. always a pleasure any time i get to watch Kevin Steen wrestle. it always reminds me of what i probably would be like if i had went that route in my life.

another long day of the NFL in front of me today. my fantasy teams are in order. i'm favored in both games, so the realist in me knows that something is bound to go wrong.

the usual batch of Sunday night shows on tap. not sure how much of Big Brother i will watch. i pretty much know what's going to happen. Boardwalk Empire is always great. season finale for The Newsroom i believe is tonight. i'm expecting a cliffhanger. Total Divas has their mid-season finale tonight. and there is always Ray Donovan as well. how i fit these shows around the Sunday night football game will be interesting. sounds like someone is going to have to sneak in a few naps today.

alrighty, enough babbling. i have breakfast to eat, cats to feed, trash to pick up and 2 injured players to go worry about. fun.

hope everyone has a great day and a great end to your weekend.

music:

Paul Thorn - What the Hell Is Goin' On?

"Never underestimate the power of jealousy and the power of envy to destroy. Never underestimate that." - Oliver Stone

the third world

my poem "the third world" was published this morning at The Camel Saloon. you can find the poem by going here: http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-third-world.html

Saturday, September 14, 2013

the start of a (hopefully) good weekend

i was up at 6 this morning. amazingly it was 42 degrees outside. i didn't turn on the heat last night, so the house was a comfortable 67. i believe my sister is reading this and saying something along the lines of that being cold as fuck.

Manchester United won this morning 2-0. considering they played the entire second half up a man, i would have liked to seen 4 or 5 goals. but, i'll gladly take the win. RVP and Rooney with the goals. starts off a huge week with Champions League play coming and the huge stage of next weekend against Manchester City.

the Yankees dug themselves a big hole last night. they came out of it and then their depleted bullpen put them right back in it. 8-4 loss on a night where all the teams around them in the standings won. 2 games out now, needing to pass Cleveland and Tampa to make a playoff spot. i'll watch a little of the game this afternoon, probably with one eye closed.

a big day of sports ahead. soccer for the next few hours. a huge (at least the way it has been hyped) game between Texas A&M and Alabama, and Ohio State is on the west coast for a game this evening. all of that, some ROH late tonight and perhaps a little writing and beer drinking in between.

i now need to go feed the cats and see how the young ones survived the cold. i believe we are down to only 1 new kitten now. this is why i refuse to name them until they survive a winter out here.

hope everyone has a good day. i do hope to have some poetry news to pass along tomorrow.

music:

Bassnectar - Freestyle Mixtape

"Don't become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin." - Ivan Pavlov

Friday, September 13, 2013

a cool and cloudy friday

it felt so good to be able to open up the house today and let a cool breeze air it out. i know in a few weeks i won't be able to do that with the upcoming harvest. unless of course, i don't mind a ton of dust and dirt and god knows what else coming in.

the Yankees managed to hold on last night, sort of, and win 6-5. i was flipping between that and the NFL game. i left the Yankee game with 2 outs in the 8th and the Yankees up by 3. i turn back and the score is tied and the bullpen is up warming. needless to say, i was not happy. but to see the winning score come in on a wild pitch was pretty damn funny. sadly, Boston lost last night so the Yankees are still 1 game back in the wildcard. 3 huge games up in Boston this weekend. they MUST find a way to win 2 out of 3 at the very least. if last weekend was any indication, time for an act of god again.

the NFL game last night was bowling shoe ugly. nothing to really write about.

Big Brother went as i feared. i know who won the first part of the final HOH. i'm not rooting for any of them now, so i really don't give a shit who wins it.

the plan is to get to bed at a decent hour tonight as Manchester United plays in the morning. hopefully they can get their shit together and win comfortably.

i got 4 more illustrations in the email today from my favorite artist in Sweden. i hope to find some time to write the poems for those this weekend. i have a nice lull between ManU and when Ohio State plays in the evening. hopefully i'll be writing with a victory beer.

a special thank you to Natascha Hoover for all the positive vibes she's been sending today. hope you have a wonderful weekend my friend.

looks like all my fantasy football shit is in order for the weekend. hopefully i have no injuries pop up out of nowhere. nothing derails the best laid plans like a damn injury.

now it's time for me to go back to YouTube and start finding more obscure shit. i hope everyone has a great weekend. may all your sports teams win, unless you live in Boston and Tampa. may the beverages be cold and refreshing and may the music be something that blows you the fuck away.

music:

Black Sabbath - 13
Shrug - Everything's Blowing Up Roses
Nirvana - Incesticide

"Nothing that you do will ever feel good if you let people convince you that you have no choice." - Fiona Apple


Thursday, September 12, 2013

i woke up this morning to...

RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and it must have poured as the puddles in the lane were pretty deep. not sure how much we got but it was certainly more than we've had in almost a month. i know the crops desperately needed some water. hopefully it didn't come too late.

i really can't believe the Yankees are only 1 game out of a playoff spot after the victory last night, 5-4. yet another come from behind one as well. if they can get the win tonight and Boston finishes off their sweep of Tampa, the Yankees go into Boston tomorrow tied for a playoff spot with something like 15 games to go. given all the injuries and inconsistent play this year, i never honestly thought they would still be in it at this point. hopefully god has money on the game tonight as Phil Hughes is pitching. it will take something biblical to get a good start out of him.

Big Brother last night was ok. i got word of what is going to happen tonight. if it is correct, the last reason i had to watch the show will be evicted tonight. and the show will be down to a final 3 of 2 racists and a crying homosexual from Chicago. hard to imagine i actually keep watching this show.

The Bridge last night did a wonderful job of revealing a few more clues to the puzzle and transitioning to what should be a tension filled episode next week. of course, that would be if the previews are to be believed. still the best show i watch.

Duck Dynasty made me laugh as usual. mindless entertainment.

other than the Yankees and Big Brother tonight, i suppose i'll be watching some football, pro and college. i know my mom will be interested in the NFL game as long as the Jets are close. if it starts being a blowout she won't care. thankfully, i have no fantasy guys going this evening.

i think i have a pinched nerve in my left shoulder. it certainly makes typing fun. let alone masturbating. talk about finding the pleasure in the pain.

hard to believe training camps have opened for the NHL. i'm really interested in seeing how the Rangers react to a new coach, new system, new players, etc. hopefully they get Stepan signed soon and stay injury free for most of the season. i really hope AV is the breath of fresh air for them and this is the year i get to truly enjoy a playoff beard.

i believe that is all for today. i do hope you are enjoying life or the addiction of your choice wherever in the world these words may find you.

music:

Warren Zevon - Genius: The Best Of Warren Zevon
Tom Waits - Closing Time
Tori Amos - The Beekeeper

"I've come from nowhere, and I'm not shy to go back." - Jason Statham

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

dos a cero

i have avoided the tv for most of today. i remember what happened 12 years ago today, don't need to be reminded of it.

i was very happy the Yankees showed some life last night. a come from behind 7-5 win. of course, it wouldn't be the 2013 Yankees without some injuries. 3 more last night. how this team is 2 games out of a playoff spot is beyond me. hopefully they can get another win this evening.

most of my attention last night was on the USA vs. Mexico match. here are the highlights:

it's incredible that it has been the exact same score all 4 times they have played Mexico in Columbus in World Cup Qualifying. hopefully the team stays healthy and can shock the world next year in Brazil.

spent a good portion of this afternoon doing some shopping on amazon.com, using the link at notsam.com to help out this outstanding podcast:

the usual Wednesday night programming is on tap this evening. an eviction on Big Brother to get it down to the final 4. more hilarity on Duck Dynasty. hopefully the Yankee game ends in the 10:30 to 11:00 window. and then it's time for The Bridge. i absolutely can't wait to see what happens this week.

got the players i was targeting in my 2 fantasy football leagues. hopefully i picked the right ones.

yet another day in the 90's here. hopefully this damn heat breaks soon with a nice long rainstorm. i wouldn't mind some fall like temps.

that is all. i hope this finds everyone drunk.

music:

Pink Floyd - The Wall
Brooke Annibale - Silence Worth Breaking
Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO (& other American stories)
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Live from Alabama

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix




Tuesday, September 10, 2013

will it ever rain again?

so today is about 5 degrees hotter than yesterday. and for Sept. 10th to be at 95 degrees, i believe i am somewhere close to hell. the headline in the paper today said the area is close to being back at the drought level. so much for the great harvest i thought we were going to have to rebound from last year.

the Yankees lost last night. i watched a little. but, like the team, i think this season has run out of steam. of course, go on a 10 game winning streak and i will think they are going to the World Series. needless to say, i'll watch a little bit tonight because i've been a fan since 1982. but, much like my youth, i doubt i will have any fun watching them.

had a very frustrating night last night. the fantasy football game i was trailing by 10 i won by 16. the one i had a 33 point lead in i lost by 3.14 points. so, i spent the next 2 hours beating myself up for not playing the TE that got more points and for drafting a RB that did absolutely nothing in week 1. if either of those would have changed not only would i have won, i would have had the most points in the league. of course, come tomorrow i'll be over it as it will be time to focus on week 2.

but to better describe this sickness, i'm currently running on 3 hours of sleep.

most of my attention this evening will be on team USA vs. Mexico in World Cup Qualifying. if the USA wins tonight and gets some help from Honduras, they will clinch a trip to Brazil for the World Cup. i will be in full throat this evening. i need to release some frustration. hopefully that happens this evening.

with it being so damn hot, i've spent most of today inside listening to music. and i managed to get a certain song stuck in my damn head, not that i'm complaining about it...

that's all for today. hope this finds everyone cool.

music:

The Gospel Whiskey Runners - Hold On
The Lighthouse and The Whaler - Pioneers EP
Howlin' Wolf - The Definitive Collection
Various Artists - Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams
Maggie Estep - No More Mister Nice Girl
Ray LaMontagne - Gossip in the Grain

"When we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice." - Saul Bellow




response from The Camel Saloon

i heard back from Russell at The Camel Saloon on my poetry submission from yesterday. my poem "the third world" has been accepted for publication.

Monday, September 9, 2013

i guess the summer heat wants another victim

i went out to get the mail today and was like holy fuck. it had to be damn near 90 at noon. totally was not expecting that. of course, when you spend all weekend watching sports and no news, these types of things are a surprise.

the Yankees won yesterday. i cheated and flipped over a few times during a rare blah moment on the Red Zone channel. when i saw they were bringing in Mo to get 6 outs, i just shook my head. the lack of great pitching right now is what is really killing this team. and then i flipped over right after the Yankees scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th. i believe it was the first time they had won on a wild pitch since 1977.  a big 4-3 win to avoid the sweep. they play tonight in Baltimore. i imagine i will flip over during commercials. just about all of the games for the rest of the season are MUST WIN games.

i did pretty good in fantasy football yesterday. in one league i am up by 33 points. i have 2 guys going tonight and my opponent has 4. if i hold on to that lead, i will be surprised. in the other league i am trailing by 10 points. but i have 3 players going tonight and my opponent is done. i feel pretty confident that i will win that one.

my mom is happy her Jets won while i do hope my sister is getting ready for a long year for her Steelers.

as for the Sunday night shows, i did not watch one second of Big Brother. i did watch the women's tennis final that pushed everything back nearly 50 minutes or so. i never get bored of watching Serena Williams in tight clothing.

Boardwalk Empire was great last night. i have always liked the show. i'm a bit of a history whore.

The Newsroom was awesome as usual. i always wonder how close the chaos really is to the reality of a newsroom on election night. it should be a great season finale next week with how this episode set it up.

Ray Donovan was interesting. a nice little twist that i didn't see coming. the kid being left on the bed was classic. i'm not really sure where the final 2 episodes are going.

Total Divas was the unintentionally funny train wreck that it normally is. after watching these many episodes i truly know that i have been watching wrestling too long to actually "buy" any of this. though, the health stuff truly interests me as the WWE has done a great job in the last few years of letting the fans into the "real" injuries that do happen.

tonight should be an interesting one for me. 2 football games, Monday Night Raw, some baseball and god knows what else all on at the same time. lets just say after my shower here in a bit, i guess i'll be spending the rest of the night in my easy chair.

lastly, i did manage to break out some poetry today. this morning i went through some unpublished poems. this afternoon, i sent 11 out. 3 each to Dead Snakes and The Camel Saloon and 5 to Regardless Of Authority. when i hear back from these places i will pass along the verdicts.

that is all. i need to go get the vacuum and get some cleaning done before i shower. hope this finds everyone well.

music:

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
Paloma Faith - Fall To Grace
The Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band

"Music is the shorthand of emotion." - Leo Tolstoy


Sunday, September 8, 2013

not enough time to even think

with the NFL season back in swing now, i'm going to have a harsh reminder of what the Sunday grind truly is. all the games during the day, all the shows i love at night, hardly any time to think or take a piss between them.

both my fantasy teams are in order. i'm trailing in both games. i wouldn't be shocked if i lost both. fun.

back to yesterday... Ohio State was a little more effective. of course, they lost their starting QB 7 plays into the game. hopefully it's nothing major. they said he could have come back in if it was needed. well, it was needed for my fantasy team, but not for the game. 42-7 win.

thank god, the Yankees game wasn't available to me at all yesterday. when i saw the final score, 13-9, i never bothered to find the highlights. another loss, another injury, further weakening their chance of making the playoffs. the offense is scoring but the pitching has turned into shit. there is 0% chance i will watch the game today.

ROH last night was pretty good. finally saw the pile driver that Bennett put on Whitmer. holy shit, no wonder the match was stopped.

saw some pretty good college football games last night and in the haze of lack of sleep, i checked out some NASCAR as well. i had a good laugh with Jeff Gordon missing the chase by 1 point. good times.

after all of the football games today, my usual Sunday night fare plus the return of Boardwalk Empire. so, between that at 9, The Newsroom at 10, Ray Donovan at 11, and Total Divas at midnight, i guess i'll see the first half hour of the Sunday night football game. or maybe not with Big Brother on at 8. totally could use a damn DVR tonight, that's for sure.

that's all for today. i have trash to pick up, animals to feed, injuries to check on and find some time to eat breakfast as well.

AND wish my sister a happy birthday. i would say her age but i'm certain that might ensure my death. she's 36.

music:

Beck - Sea Change

"I've become a captive of my own ambitions." - Patsy Cline

Saturday, September 7, 2013

you turn your head for a moment and all hell breaks loose

first off, why i was up at 8:30 this morning is beyond me. i figured i drank enough and went to bed late enough that i wouldn't get up to around noon. no luck.

my sister's little get together last night was pretty good. i was really happy that she liked what i got her. i think i really blew her mind with the stuff. the place we went was much better than i thought it would be. the band was pretty cool. just a two man band playing a melody of various songs. my sister has known the guy playing the drum/chair for years now. and the reggae guy singing thought my beard was cool, so i have that going for me. the food was really good. service was great. and it was good seeing some folks i haven't seen in years. reliving all the old high school war stories was funny. that all being said, i'm hoping these trips down memory lane are over for some time.

so when i got back home i hopped on the computer to see what i missed. first off, team USA down in Costa Rica. i was hoping for a draw as they have never won there. and sadly, that continues with a 3-1 drubbing. i'm sort of looking at this as a good thing they were humbled. with the winning streak gone, they now can focus on a must win against Mexico on Tuesday. especially since they are no longer in first place in their group for World Cup qualifying.

then, i look up the Yankees game. a 12-8 loss. ok. then i start finding out what happened. blow a 8-3 lead with 9 outs to go. 2 of the better relievers are injured. a complete fucking disaster. (all goes back to the haircut) Tampa lost again but all the teams near the Yankees won. so, now they have to jump 3 teams to get to that playoff spot. not really sure if i'm going to watch today or not. i'm sure i will give it a passing glance. but, fuck me, talk about horrific timing.

i will be watching Ohio State later today. hopefully they are a bit more sharper than last week. and hopefully give me a good victory beer later on.

other than that and some ROH this evening, i figure most of my day will be flipping between college football games. i know 2 teams i hate are playing this evening.

that's all for today. i suppose i should get my day going finally. hope everyone has a great Saturday or at least a better one than your worst enemy does.

music:

Warren Haynes - Live at Bonnaroo
The Clash - London Calling
The Breeders - Last Splash

"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain




Friday, September 6, 2013

failure

i'll start this off by saying i'm a very superstitious person. way past the point of it being quirky... it's more of a psychosis at times. so, when i got the haircut yesterday in the middle of a Yankee winning streak, it was done to tell myself that little mundane things aren't going to wreck my universe.

so, when the Yankees were down last night, 7-2, i more or less was ripping myself a new asshole. then i turn back and the Yankees are winning 8-7. hope springs. then, of course, Mo blows the save, thanks to a horrible throw from Austin Romine and the Yankees eventually lose the game 9-8 in 10 innings. a big thank you to that blind fat fuck lousy excuse of a fucking umpire Joe West for his blown call in the 10th. nothing like yelling like an insane person for 20 minutes about how you hope a man's family dies of AIDS because the dumb ass can't tell what a check swing strike actually is. thankfully, Tampa lost so the Yankees are still 2 1/2 games out of a playoff spot. but, if a losing streak starts, i undoubtedly will bring it all back to my haircut and how it's all my fault. it's a sickness.

i got the result i wanted on Big Brother last night. both cunts are gone. now, the show won't be as entertaining, but at least there should be a winner who isn't a complete douchebag.

as for the NFL game, i'm very happy i'm not playing against anyone who has Peyton Manning this week. and i would feel really good about last night's game if i would have started the TE from Denver who caught 2 TD's instead of having him sitting on my bench. whoops.

the season finale of Wilfred was the usual cliffhanger that i normally expect. didn't expect a death to go along with it, but i'm certainly interested to see where the show goes now.

in a few hours i will be on my way to Columbus to see my sister and some of her friends. plus, the kid that grew up next to me who is now a college graduate and a young woman. i haven't seen her in years. i should feel pretty damn old tonight.

hopefully i get back in time to catch some of the team USA vs. Costa Rica World Cup Qualifying match. if the USA can pull this one off, next Tuesday against Mexico is going to be really sweet.

no matter what time i get back, there's a decent chance the Yankees vs. Red Sox might still be going on. i almost forgot what those games are like when both teams are "good". slow pitch softball games.

and seeing that the first NFL weekend of the season is coming, i might as well get used to either being in my chair watching the television or on the computer checking stats. fun.

to top off everything today, i spent most of the morning with the shits. you simply can't imagine my joy when i go after i have already taken the medication to stop me from going. and people wonder why i rarely like to be in public.

chalk this up as yet another day where i wonder what the fuck i was thinking by telling the 8 year old me no when it came to suicide. just 4 months to go until the 30th year anniversary of that mistake.

hope everyone has a great weekend. for all my soccer (football) friends around the world, here's hoping your national team does well. for all my gambling buddies, start your betting season slow. trust me, it works. and lastly, for the few of you who read this blog and couldn't give 2 shits about sports, i will try to get some poetry and artsy shit for you in the coming days.

until i come to you tomorrow, hopefully without a hangover...

music:

Deftones - Deftones
The Dirty Guv'nahs - Somewhere Beneath These Southern Skies
Thelonious Monk / John Coltrane - Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
Rage Against The Machine - Renegades

"It is certain that at certain times talent entirely overcomes thought or poetry." - John Singer Sargent

Thursday, September 5, 2013

when a recluse leaves the cave

yeah, yeah, yeah, i know what you're thinking. yet another blog post about shit i did today. here's a quick thought, you could always send me money to write about something else.

so i had big plans today to go get a haircut. might not sound like much, but for a person who hates being out in public 99% of the time, it is. so i shaved this morning and was getting ready to take a shower. of course, i had to shit. and i think i might have shit out the last 3 days of food. this made my shower a little more interesting, to say the least. but, i eventually did make it to the barber shop. now, other than a handful of times in my life, the same guy or myself have cut my hair. luckily, there was no wait and the price was the same as the last time i was in there, roughly 2 years ago. $10.50. i left a $3 tip. not bad for a poor fucker. one thing i did notice while driving around, my truck fucking sucks. i do believe it is nearing death. just in time for winter.

only 1 piece of mail in the po box today. and it wasn't for me. tomorrow i imagine the box will be full.

the Yankees last night got their sweep of the White Sox, 6-5. CC pitched better than he had in a long while, David Robertson played the role of 'let's make this shit interesting', which allowed the hammer of god to get his first four out save in 2 years. up tonight is the first of 4 games against Boston.

which brings me to my big dilemma tonight. Yankees vs. Red Sox. start of the NFL season. double eviction on Big Brother. and the season finale of Wilfred. all on at the same time more or less. these are the nights i'm happy i'm just crazy enough to be able to watch them all on one television.

The Bridge last night was excellent. plenty of tension and just when i thought i could take a breath, a vicious car crash that i didn't see coming. i absolutely can't wait to the episode next week.

Duck Dynasty really made me laugh. i believe the beaver in the kitchen sink really had me howling. mom just looked at me and said, i'm not white trash enough for that. good times.

i only have 1 player playing this evening in the Denver vs. Baltimore NFL opener. sadly, my opponents have a slew of players playing. so, i have no choice but to watch.

4 kittens seems to be down to 3 now as the little gray kitten has been missing the last 2 days. of course, it was the adventurous one, so who knows where the fuck it is. it's been so damn dry around here, i'm just hoping it didn't wander to outside of the barn. it wouldn't last long.

that's all for today. best of luck to all my gambling buddies on the first day of losing way too much money to be able to hide it from your wife. to all my fantasy football competitors, may you all lose to me at some point this season. and lastly, i wasn't joking about the money thing. you know my address. feel free to use it.

music:

The xx - Coexist
Shooter Jennings - Family Man

"Ambition can creep as well as soar." - Edmund Burke

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

funny how a few wins can ease the mind

i figured the Yankees were in for it last night as they were facing a pitcher they have had no success against. being down 4-1 didn't help my mind either. but, a couple of hits and the starter leaves... and the White Sox bullpen starts throwing batting practice. 3 pitchers and 5 runs later and the Yankees are up 6-4. oh yeah, this all happened in the bottom of the 8th. could just be the best win of the season. just 2 games out of a playoff spot. get the sweep tonight and the next four against Boston could be some fun.

Hard Knocks last night was great. i thought the scenes of them pulling the names off of the jerseys show just how cold the NFL truly is. hard to believe the season starts tomorrow. guess i'll spend most of tomorrow getting my fantasy lineups in order.

mowing the grass yesterday went much better than i thought it would. there was a good breeze all day long so it didn't feel hot at all, even though the sun was out the entire time. took me a little longer than normal given all the high grass/weeds i had to cut down. but, no sun poisoning and no extended stays in the bathroom the day after. good times.

the usual Wednesday night viewing is on tap tonight; Big Brother, Duck Dynasty, and The Bridge. i'm really hoping the baseball game is over by the time The Bridge comes on. tonight's episode looks like it will be a classic.

amazingly, my sister's birthday gifts got here early from amazon.com. so, i have spent most of this afternoon getting the rest of her stuff ready. i guess my mother and i are going up there Friday night to see her. a little early birthday bash so to speak. i guess her friend's band is playing. reggae music i do believe. so, it should be an interesting evening.

that's pretty much all for now.

music:

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
Beth Orton - Sugaring Season
AC/DC - Powerage

"I've never seen a monument erected to a pessimist." - Paul Harvey

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

say hello to frustration

so i went to bed last night thinking Manchester United had signed 1 player from Everton and got 1 player on loan from Real Madrid. much to my surprise, the loan never happened because the paperwork was faxed in late. who the fuck in 2013 faxes anything late? this whole transfer window reminded me of how much i miss Sir Alex and David Gill. none of this shit would have gone like this with them in charge. my fear is we now become what Everton always was, a 6th place team just good enough to not be mediocre. hopefully Moyes and Woodward understand that none of this is acceptable. sadly, i don't really know if the Glazers give a shit or not. they simply own the club to write off the debt. hopefully i'll be in a better frame of mind when they play again in 11 days.

Monday Night Raw was interesting. i'm not sure how much more they can kill Daniel Bryan before he has nothing left to give. the Big Show constantly crying has to stop. i am intrigued with the Cody Rhodes angle. with him mentioning his father and the McMahons last night has me thinking that something much larger is in play. and considering that Dusty runs NXT down in Florida, perhaps yet another invasion angle is coming. if that brings up some new talent, i'm fine with it. if it goes to more "Dusty" finishes, count me out. i lived through those days of the NWA and WCW. what i really hope is the CM Punk angle with Heyman ends after this ppv and then Punk joins Daniel Bryan against HHH. then, the possibilities are endless.

after reading that paragraph you'd never know that i've been watching wrestling for 35 years.

the Yankees had a laugher yesterday. Hughes pitched to 5 guys before the rain came. which shows that even mother nature wants David Huff starting over Hughes. the Yankees were leading 1-0 before the rain delay. when the bats got going, i flipped over to the Chicago station so i could listen to their misery. it was great. Yankees win 9-1. hopefully Kuorda pitches well tonight and the Yankees can keep the train moving.

the plan today is to take advantage of the better weather and get the grass cut. parts of it are maybe an inch high and other parts are over a foot high. such fun. hopefully it won't take me all afternoon to do. but, if you happen to email me this afternoon and don't get a reply until later tonight or tomorrow, you now know why.

after a long shower and hopefully with no sun poisoning, i will be watching the season finale of Hard Knocks tonight. should be interesting to see how painful the final cuts were.

with 4 more poems to the pile to send out here soon, i have to rethink my submissions before i send them out now. but that's a task for another day. i have to get gas and get some other shit done so i'll be mowing before 1 this afternoon.

that's all for today. hopefully i'm in a better mood by tomorrow.

music:

Imagine Dragons - Night Visions

"Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever." - Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Monday, September 2, 2013

response from Miracle e-zine

i heard back from Guntaj at Miracle e-zine on my poetry submission from the end of July. my poem "pour the blues" has made it to the final list and has been selected to be published in the seventh issue, due in October. it is also the first print issue of the magazine.

for more info, go to: http://www.facebook.com/Miracle.ezine

end of the silly season

i will be spending a good portion of today waiting to see confirmed news about Manchester United signing someone, ANYONE. one thing i have learned about news in Europe, none of it is true until it actually happens. speculation is passed as fact. personally, that drives me fucking insane.

my shitty Sunday was topped off by the Yankees pissing away a well pitched game by Andy Pettitte. watching a 3-0 lead with 9 outs to go suddenly become a 7-3 deficit and eventual loss was disheartening to say the least. they play the White Sox later today. Phil Hughes is on the mound. i put the over/under on the number of home runs he gives up at 3. i'm not looking forward to this.

Big Brother was just about what i was expecting. i already know who won the POV, so i'm really hoping the double eviction gets out the 2 bitches i can't stand, Amanda and Elissa. i'm pulling for Judd to win it now.

Total Divas was pretty funny. i love how clueless 19 year old women can be at times. nice to see Curt Hawkins get more screen time than he gets on Raw or Smackdown. (he was on for maybe 3 seconds at most).

my fantasy draft for NFL.com went pretty well. it should be another team i will be able to compete with, especially if my waiver wire moves come through. hard to believe that season starts in just a few days.

so, between this morning and last night, i have written 6 new poems. i typed all of them up this morning and i do believe i have a few winners. i think i'll be making some submissions probably early next week.

i believe i have finally figured out the kittens mystery. for almost a month i had not seen a cat nursing the 4 new kittens. but, they still weren't dead, so someone was. so, after the Yankees bullpen became arsonists yesterday, i went out to the barn. and sure enough, i caught my cat Irvine Welsh nursing one of the kittens. so, i'm going to assume that she's the mother. they are now out of the igloo, so i'm going to have to watch my steps when i'm feeding the cats in there. if i step on one of them, i'm pretty sure they will be dead.

seeing that today is a holiday in the USA, i will most likely spend most of the day watching sports and eating bad food. but other than the Yankees game and Monday Night Raw, i really have no clue what i'll be watching. football season has started, so between college and pro, there's a game on pretty much every night.

that's all for today. i have cats to feed, a newspaper to read, and a Yankees team to go bitch about.

peace and chicken grease.

music:

Prodigy - Fat of the Land
Ryan Bingham - Tomorrowland
Phantogram - Nightlife
Van Morrison - His Band and the Street Choir
INXS - The Greatest Hits

"The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way." - Keanu Reeves

Sunday, September 1, 2013

a weekend gone to hell

Saturday was pretty good for me. and then a shitty Sunday morning, and quite frankly, all is lost.

i'll work my way backwards. when i heard the news that Wayne Rooney wasn't going to play today, i had a certain amount of dread. then watching the pitiful first half Manchester United played at Liverpool, that dread was warranted. why the kids aren't been given chances before older players that suck is beyond me. a 1-0 loss is unacceptable when it's now 2 straight games without a goal. i hope to christ i see news by tomorrow evening of some signings (and i suppose they have to be Everton players since it's obvious that Moyes doesn't know how to coach United players) or selling some guys off to give other players a chance. i was angry enough to want to punch holes through walls. i didn't though. i'm pretty sure i'd be the one paying for repairs.

The Yankees got a complete game 3 hit shutout yesterday from Nova and 2 RBI from Cano to win 2-0. better yet, they pass Baltimore in the standings are now just 3 1/2 out of a playoff spot. hopefully they can get the sweep later today.

Ohio State had an awesome start to their game. probably too easy as they basically took the rest of the game off. a 40-20 win that felt much closer than the score.

there were some great college football games last night that i really enjoyed. Georgia and Clemson was definitely one of those. that game pretty much had my attention for all of it.

ROH last night was good. i have to admit i was fighting sleep for most of it. glad to see Adam Cole is now bringing his prick character to ROH. he's a much better heel than face. shouldn't be too long before he is in with the big boys.

i stole a few cat naps along the way yesterday. so i somehow felt refreshed after just 5 hours this morning. that has all changed as now the rest of the day i will be the asshole.

most of the Sunday night shows are off for the Labor Day weekend, so i believe it's just Big Brother and Total Divas this evening. and seeing how there is no way i'll be falling asleep at 11, i do believe i will be writing late tonight. and probably spending my holiday Monday typing them up.

now i'm off to take out the trash and feed the cats and probably scream some expletives to release some stress.

music:

Matthew Perryman Jones - Land of the Living

"Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn't have in your home." - David Frost (April 7, 1939 - August 31, 2013)