Thursday, July 31, 2014

deadline day

today was trade deadline day in major league baseball. i was hoping the Yankees were going to do something that i could say, that's going to make a difference. sadly, like most of this season, i'm disappointed. the one trade with the Red Sox was basically trash for trash. the other trade with Arizona was a once useful utility player for some young power. needless to say, i don't care for either trade. they basically made their bench a smidge better, but not enough to make the playoffs or to probably finish more than a few games over .500. hard to believe that 2 of the greatest players in the history of the franchise (Rivera, Jeter) and both of their final seasons were a big pile of shit.

that being said, there were some HUGE deals today. i was a little shocked at the names that got traded. the biggest surprise was that most of the deals were major league players for major league players, not a ton of prospects were moved this year.

thankfully, after the Yankees lost last night, 3-2, to lose the series against the WORST team in baseball, they don't play tonight. i won't miss them. they play tomorrow night in Boston.

i did write 3 poems last night, while listening to The Chemical Brothers. typically, they are 3 sad poems. the last one was really sad, which is saying something for some of the depressing shit i have written over the years. i really like all 3. July was a surprisingly fruitful month for me with over 20 poems written. that's a high number for me in the summer. i'll probably send these 3 out with my next round of submissions in August.

Big Brother was pretty good last night. should be pretty funny to watch Amber go home tonight. SoundClash last night was so much better than last week. a great mix of Ed Sheeran, Sia, and Grouplove. they did a cover of a Beyonce song at the end of the night that was really good. hopefully that is the kind of show this will be each week. Wilfred was great again last night. the ending caught me off guard, but was funny as hell. The Bridge was great once again. i like how this season has a slow burn feel to it. looks like it will really pick up next week.

after Big Brother tonight, i'll be watching Married and You're the Worst on FX.

just got finished watching part 1 and 2 of the "Freeway" Rick Ross interview on The Jim Norton Show on vice.com. i highly recommend you check this interview.

my last load of laundry is in the dryer. after i get those clothes folded i have toilets to clean and trash to take out. good times.

looks like this might be the last dry day for the next week or so. just what i need, more misery for my back.

had a chat with the muse last night. i can't imagine the drama and bullshit she's going through right now. hopefully, it all works out for her in the end.

that's all for me for now. hopefully your day has been better than mine.

be well. be creative. be cool. be quick to send me cash. be sure to only fuck the ones that cough.

peace and chicken grease my enemies...

music:

Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers - Little Too Late
FIDLAR - Cheap Beer
The Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday
Josh Thompson - Way Out Here
Sneaker Pimps - 6 Underground

"I busted a mirror and got seven years bad luck, but my lawyer thinks he can get me five." - Steven Wright

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

amazing what a long shower can do...

the weather can't seem to make a decision today. it's been sunny, then stormy, then sunny again. all the while, it hasn't made it to 80 degrees. fucking bizarre for the end of July.

i took a really long shower this afternoon. i was trying to work out some pain in my back and just take a good 20 minutes to reflect on my shitty life and what to do next. the back pain has subsided. the shitty life? not so much.

i did get a somewhat hopeful email from my artist friend in Sweden. that brightened my day a bit.

Manchester United won last night on penalty kicks, 5-3. they outplayed Inter Milan for most of the game. i was hoping they would have scored in regulation, but that didn't happen. they next play Real Madrid on Saturday up at The Big House. there is supposed to be more than 100,000 there to see it. i was hoping to be one of those people, but it's hard to get tickets with no money and when they sell out in 30 seconds.

the Yankees won a fucking crazy game last night, 12-11. when i first started watching, they were losing 4-1. that soon became a 10-4 lead. then, the tired relievers came in. 10-4 quickly becomes 10-8. the Yankees get 2 back to make 12-8. the closer had a three run lead in the bottom of the ninth and needed every bit of that lead. when the Rangers best player flied out with the bases loaded and only trailing by 1 run, i realized why my family has a history of ulcers. fucking christ. that victory beer should have been a fifth of something stronger than strong.

Deadliest Catch was pretty good last night. Tyrant was really good last night. a nice little twist at the end that should make for an interesting episode next week.

tonight is another busy night on the television. the Yankees play in Texas, the day before the trade deadline. Big Brother has a new episode. this should be a fun one. SoundClash is also new tonight. i think these bands tonight will be a better mix. Wilfred should be another great episode. and finally, The Bridge is a show that i absolutely refuse to miss.

and then after all that, i'm planning to get on vice.com and watch the new episode of The Jim Norton Show.

talked to my friend in California today. she sounds so much better than she did on the weekend. at least it sounds like she is recovering well from her major concussion.

if i have the energy tonight, i'm hoping to have another writing session. i want to put on some techno music from the 90's on and see what i come up with. ah, the drug days of my 20's.

that's all for today kids. hope this finds everyone well. until we meet again...

peace and chicken grease...

music:

The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight
Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels
Tricky - Aftermath
Dr. Dog - Shadow People
Jeremy Pinnell - The Way Country Sounds
Rancid - Ruby Soho
The Stone Roses - Love Spreads

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it." - Henry Ford

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

it's a good thing i don't own a gun

so i mentioned yesterday in this blog that i needed to make some money this week. sure enough, in a case of shitting all over my plans, i tried to start my truck today and nothing happened. my frustration level at this point is so fucking high, it's probably a very good thing i don't own a gun.

heard from my artist friend in Sweden, Janne Karlsson, about 2 other places that have decided to pass on our collaboration. some lucky publisher is going to say yes and be thrilled with what they get. and if that doesn't happen, we're going to put it out ourselves and just say fuck the world.

in that spirit, i sent 3 poems out today to The Poetry Jar. got an email from a friend saying they were looking for some poetry submissions. i urge all my poetry friends to check them out.

the Yankees lost again last night, 4-2. Jeter did pass Yaz for 7th on the hit list. but, that's 3 losses in a row. and at the absolute wrong time. they play again tonight. hopefully they get their shit together against the WORST team in baseball.

Monday Night Raw was pretty good last night. the show opened and closed with 2 really hot matches. that's a good way to make the 3 hours go by quickly.

tonight is going to be a busy one for me. Manchester United plays Inter Milan. the Yankees are playing at roughly the same time. and during both of those games Deadliest Catch and Tyrant will be on. i could use the Elvis wall of televisions tonight.

i actually opened up the house today as it barely made it to 70 degrees. at least i understand now why we have some portions of the corn that are over 7 feet high.

not sure if i'm going to get the truck fixed or not. i can't see dumping more money into a vehicle that is 22 years old. but, ultimately it will be up to my mother.

i need to call my friend in California today to see how she is doing. hopefully much better than when we talked on the weekend.

i watched some documentary on Tom Petty last night that was much more entertaining than i thought it was going to be. hence, one of my musical selections today.

that's all for today. hope everyone is doing well. i'll be on here sometime tomorrow between loads of laundry.

peace and chicken grease my enemies...

music:

Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Valerie June - Pushin' Against A Stone
Foy Vance - Joy of Nothing

"Have a mind that's open to everything, get attached to nothing." - Gary Busey

a tuesday afternoon in july

my poem "a tuesday afternoon in july" has been published at The Camel Saloon. you can find the poem by going here: http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-tuesday-afternoon-in-july.html

Monday, July 28, 2014

one long dragging day...

it feels like i have been in a fog this entire day. of course, it is a Monday. another cool day in July. just fucking weird.

i just got back in from getting some water in town. all i could think about while driving is i really need a nap. not good.

the Yankees lost yesterday, 5-4. i honestly didn't watch much of the game as i was watching the Hall of Fame inductions. the Yankees play again tonight in Texas. i doubt i watch much of that either.

i did manage to watch all my usual Sunday night shows. of course, it took me forever as i fell asleep at the wrong time last night. thank you YouTube.

Big Brother was good. Ray Donovan was pretty good. The Strain was great as usual. Last Week Tonight was fucking hilarious as usual. Masters of Sex was better than usual.

tonight i'll be watching Monday Night Raw. i figure most of this episode is going to involve John Cena, so maybe i'll get my sleeping in then.

i need to change all the filters down in the basement/cellar. i want to do my laundry tomorrow, might as well have the cleanest water possible to do it with.

my body has been aching all day. i suppose my arthritis is getting worse. or, it could be the health problems of a good friend weighing me down. hello my good friend alcohol. it has been too long.

i need to make some money this week. not sure how that's going to happen, but it has to. get ready to strap in for one fucking weird week. there will be no set time for this blog this week. so don't be surprised if i'm posting something in the middle of the night.

made almost $0.80 today doing online surveys. i'm oh so close to being rich.

i did get an email from a friend last night about a place looking for some poems. so, i think i will be sending another batch out before the end of the month. plus, i should have a new poem published tomorrow morning. not sure how deep this depression would actually get if i wasn't getting published. i definitely know i don't want to see just how deep it could get.

that's all for me today. hopefully a night of good sleep and i'll be in a better mood tomorrow. but, as it has been for most of my life, don't get your hopes up.

be well. be cool. be creative. be thankful. be eager to send me cash. or panties.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Deluxe Edition)
Outkast - Stankonia

"I write with experiences in mind, but I don't write about them, I write out of them." - John Ashbery

Sunday, July 27, 2014

and then the rains came...

my back tensed up in the morning yesterday, so i knew rain was on the way. sadly, the rain didn't get here until late at night. talk about a day of agony. and now i'm going to unload it on all 3 of you who read this. my apologies.

the Yankees lost yesterday, 6-4. they reverted back to the mistake filled first half of the season. a tad bit frustrating as they lost a chance to move up in the division as well. they will play this afternoon, needing a win to win the series and finish the homestand on a good note.

i figure i might check out some of the Baseball Hall of Fame inductions today. mostly, i want to see Joe Torre. the former Yankees manager certainly brought me tremendous joy in the late 90's.

Manchester United beat Roma, 3-2. they really only played a good 15 minutes. Wayne Rooney scored 2 goals and had an assist during those 15 minutes. LvG changed all but 2 players at halftime. the second half was mostly United hanging on for dear life. but, i'll gladly take a win. plus, it gives LvG plenty to bitch about and teachable moments for the squad to learn from. they next play on Tuesday against Inter Milan.

i did enjoy most of the UFC on FOX last night. with storms in the area, the local broadcast kept cutting in. the only reason i was pissed is none of the storms were actually local. they were mostly in areas that don't even watch FOX. but, at least i got to see the main event without any interruptions.

today is trash day at the farm. i figure i will do most of that once i get done with this. i have no idea when i'm taking the trash down to the road. i guess i need to check when it is going to storm today.

ROH was really good last night. if you love tag team wrestling, i highly recommend this episode.

another busy night of television is in store for me tonight. Big Brother, Ray Donovan, The Strain, Last Week Tonight, and Masters of Sex. and with any luck, i'll be able to get to bed before 2 in the morning.

i need to get the dishes done today as well. that will be fun with my body in pain. good times.

that's all for me today. i need to get my ass going. hope everyone is well. hopefully your Saturday night wasn't spent praying to the porcelain gods.

be well. be creative. be eager to send me cash. be cool.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Shovels & Rope - Swimmin' Time Primer
The Jezabels - Dark Storm EP
Royal Blood - Out of the Black EP
Martha Wainwright - Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole EP
Kiesza - Hideaway EP

"God watches over drunks and third baseman." - Leo Durocher

response from The Camel Saloon

i heard back from Russell at The Camel Saloon on my poetry submission from yesterday. my poem "a tuesday afternoon in july" has been accepted for publication. look for it this upcoming Tuesday morning.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

naked fools

my poem "naked fools" has been published at Dead Snakes. you can find the poem by going here: http://deadsnakes.blogspot.com/2014/07/jj-campbell-poem_26.html

a busy morning

i got something resembling 5 hours of sleep last night. i haven't got my usual, you were out in the sun too long asshole, shits yet, so i have that to look forward to later today. i did manage to get the grass cut in a little under 4 hours. so, maybe i wasn't out in it too long. the clouds are getting dark right now. i made sure to get the cats fed before it rains.

i did type up the 5 poems i wrote yesterday waiting for my mother to get out of her MRI. i really like these. i will send them out in my next batch of submissions.

this morning i sent out 17 poems. 2 to BoySlut and 3 each to Jellyfish Whispers, Pink Litter, Dead Snakes, The Camel Saloon, and Pyrokinection. when i hear back from these places, i will pass along the verdicts.

today is my father's birthday. i wasn't sure i should submit some poems today, given the horrific nature of this date. but, i figured i would roll the dice.

the Yankees came from behind again last night to win 6-4. amazingly, that is their 17th straight win at home against Toronto. they will hopefully extend that streak later this afternoon.

also today, Manchester United takes on Roma. that should be a good test for the new system the boys are playing. i'll be curious to see who LvG plays today.

tonight, i believe the UFC is on FOX. plus, ROH has a new episode. also, i think there is some boxing on. so, looks like it will be a night of combat sports.

i did watch the new episode of Treehouse Masters last night. if i EVER get some fuck you money in my life, i'm getting one of these tricked out treehouses. they are fucking amazing.

i did manage to finally catch up with all i missed on YouTube on Thursday and Friday. i think i'm getting too old to keep up with the digital age. i can just imagine how distracted i would be if i actually had a smartphone. not sure how much longer i can keep fighting that.

so far, i'm holding strong.

wow, my back just tightened up. there is definitely rain on the way.

well, with that, i'm cutting this short.

mom has been mentioning that we might go to the Celtic Festival later today. if that does happen, i'll be sure to take along a camera.

hope this finds everyone well. i do hope you enjoy your weekend. only fuck the ones that cough.

be creative. be amazing. be easy. be easy again. and again. and again...

peace and chicken grease...

music:

The Zombies - Time of the Season
Deftones - Minerva
Neon Indian - Mind, Drips
Bryan Ferry - Slave to Love
Paolo Nutini - Iron Sky

"Beauty is worse than wine, it intoxicates both the holder and beholder." - Aldous Huxley

Friday, July 25, 2014

short and sweet

this is going to be a quick one today. been up since the crack of dawn since i had to drive mom to get her MRI done today. we just got back home from breakfast at Waffle House. and i've got cats to feed and grass to get mowed before it is supposed to rain tonight. good times.

it took mom forever to get her MRI done. i was sitting in the waiting room for over 2 hours. but, i was able to get 5 poems written. i'll type those up late tonight most likely.

speaking of poems, i believe i have 17 i will be sending out tomorrow to a few places. i'm guessing i'll do that in the morning.

the Yankees won yesterday, 4-2. another series win. they have now won 6 out of 7 to start the second half of the season. they start a huge series at home tonight against Toronto.

Big Brother went as i hoped it would last night. Married was a little better than last week. You're the Worst was great once again.

tonight i'll be flipping between baseball and god knows what else.

i'll try to get back on here tomorrow before some day baseball and before Manchester United plays Roma in Denver. that will be a decent test for them.

hope everyone has a great weekend.

be well. be creative. be...

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers - Little Too Late
Lucinda Williams - Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings
Conor Oberst - Cape Canaveral
Shovels & Rope - Who's Gonna Raise These Babies

"Whenever I can afford to do something, I do it." - Thurston Moore

Thursday, July 24, 2014

i really could use a nice long nap

i prbably didn't get to sleep until 3 in the morning. and sure enough, 6:30 AM and i'm coming down the stairs, wide awake. thankfully, the Yankees play a day game today, so i should have something to fall asleep to.

first off, i want to highly recommend to everyone Part 1 and Part 2 of The Jim Norton Show on VICE. you can find the show here: http://www.vice.com/the-jim-norton-show he interviews Dana White and Mike Tyson. if you have a sense of humor and don't mind some colorful language, this is a show for you. both parts are about 30 minutes and they absolutely fly by. truly well worth your time.

i changed up my plans last night and decided to watch all of the Manchester United game. thank god i did. Louis van Gaal changed the formation for the first time i can ever remember. i don't think i have ever seen United play with only 3 defenders. they won the game 7-0. what i was most happy about was how Ander Herrera played. he looked like the midfielder this team has needed for a decade now. of course, i don't want to get ahead of myself, but that was a fantastic debut. if this is what the team will play like under LvG, the glory days aren't that far away.

Big Brother was good last night. tonight should be Brittany leaving the house. Wilfred was great once again. i LOVE how this final season is going. The Bridge last night was great as usual. SoundClash was a mixed bag for me. i like the concept. i liked the final segment, when they brought elements of all 3 bands together to perform a song. what i didn't care for was most of the show. not a good flow at all. what i hope is the episodes will get better as the bands involved get better. of course, as i explained to my mother, this generation of people will be remembered for the acceptance of mediocrity. there were so many great bands in the 90's that didn't make it, but today would be stars simply because there are so many people that simply like everything. it boggles my mind. of course, these are the same people i'm trying to get to buy my poetry. so, i'm not going to shit on them too bad.

tonight i will be also watching Married and You're the Worst.

i listened to the newest podcast from Sam Roberts this morning. another one that i highly recommend. you can find it on iTunes, Stitcher, notsam.com, or on the right hand side of this blog.

the rain finally has passed through here. it is supposed to be rather nice today. all i really want is for it to dry out so i can mow grass tomorrow. plus, it would be nice if the humidity stays away for the next 2 days at least.

i realized around 10 or so last night that neither one of us went into town yesterday to get the mail. apathy is starting to sprout once again. i'm sure the box will be full today.

the Yankees won a rain shortened game last night, 2-1. once it started to rain and the grounds crew had problems with the tarp, i figured they would call the game. of course, it took nearly 2 hours for them to do that. best thing was that the bullpen wasn't used at all. they needed a night off for sure.

that's all for me today. i think i will probably break out the poems later this afternoon and decide where i'm going to send some work to. other than that, i'm hoping to take a nap.

be well. be creative. be cool. be quick to send me money. be ready to laugh at yourself.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Jamestown Revival - California (Cast Iron Soul)
The Chemical Brothers - One Too Many Mornings
Rival Sons - Electric Man

"All human wisdom is summed up in two words; wait and hope." - Alexandre Dumas


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

aches and pains

i woke up sometime around 6 or so this morning, completely in pain. i knew it must have just rained. i didn't even bother to try to move. i probably stayed in the same spot for 30 minutes or so, just hoping to fall back asleep. no such luck.

i can tell you that the pain hasn't let up today at all. fucking cold fronts.

i found out last night that the mother of the guy who farms out here died on Monday. it didn't come as a surprise to anyone as her health has been failing for years. we're hoping to sell the farm to this guy, so i have no clue what this does to those plans. my condolences to the family.

the Yankees won last night, 2-1 in 14 innings. mind you, there wasn't any runs scored until the 13th inning. if there ever was a game i would have preferred to shoot myself in the head rather than watch, this was it. the guy they traded for earlier in the day got the winning hit. not a bad debut. of course, when he struck out with his first at bat, i looked at mom and said he fits right in. they face one of the best pitchers in the league tonight. i'm not expecting much.

Deadliest Catch and Tyrant were both really good last night.

tonight is going to be crazy for me. a new episode of Big Brother is on. then, i want to check out this new music show on VH1. i think it's called SoundClash. then, it's off to FXX to see Wilfred. and then it gets tricky. The Bridge will be on FX at the same time that Manchester United is playing the LA Galaxy on Fox Sports 1. The Bridge is so damn good that i'm thinking i will just watch that and catch the second half of the United game. i'll have to have the trigger finger ready for the commercial breaks.

had another afternoon on iTunes today. my musical tastes are getting bizarre.

i did type up the 5 poems i wrote yesterday late last night/this morning. i like a few of them. i'll try to get some shit sent out before the month is over. i would say later this week, but after this rain, i get the feeling i'm going to be mowing grass for the next few days.

had a long talk with the muse late last night. i feel bad for her. she's in a pretty shitty situation. she hasn't asked for my help yet, even though we both know i would somehow try to help her with my broke ass. hopefully i won't have to.

that's all for me today. i need to get on YouTube and see what i missed this afternoon while i was trying to sleep in my chair. it was more of experiencing bitter agony while trying to find music that would take my mind someplace else. i suppose it is time to start doing drugs again.

be well my enemies.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Ryan Bingham - Bluebird (Live)
Tom Waits - I Don't Wanna Grow Up
John Prine - Let's Talk Dirty In Hawaiian
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Hit 'Em Up Style
Lovelife - Nova

"My soul is in good shape." - Philip Seymour Hoffman

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

my day with people

i was hoping to get some sleep last night, but apparently i'm not allowed to get more than 5 hours at any given time. so, my atrocious bags under my eyes were going to be on display for the world. mom had a hearing test today and we needed to go to the store. plus, since she's still having headaches, i would be driving. oh lovely.

mid 90's today with the heat index. not a day for impatience.

we got to the hearing test on time. i made sure to bring along a pen and paper. i was able to get 5 poems done before she was done. i'll type those up later tonight. then, a trip to the sports bar for lunch. i only had 1 beer, being the responsible driver i am. then, to the store. we walked around for awhile in there. i did a little people watching, but most of them were old couples or single men (creeps like me most likely). i did see a beautiful black woman that was nearly falling out of her dress. of course, she was with a guy, so those glances were quick. i'm sure i'll have a few poems about that later on in the week.

on the way back home we had to stop off at the post office. the post office is right across from the fire station. so, just my luck, the ambulance was pulling out as i was pulling up to the post office. i got over to the side, but, since this is my life, the fucking driver never saw me and came within an inch of turning right into me. it took nearly every ounce of my soul not to jump out and try to start a fight. fucking idiot. there's bound to be poems about that as well.

in case you can't tell, people annoy the living shit out of me.

this series of events will most likely repeat on Friday when i take mom to get her MRI done. good times.

the Yankees lost last night to the shitty Texas Rangers, 4-2. of course, when you commit 5 fucking errors in a game, you should lose. they made a trade today to get a third baseman finally. hopefully it will help as it is the guy the GM has been after for years now. they play again tonight, in a few minutes. i need to type faster.

Monday Night Raw was really good last night. always love a good arrest angle. Stephanie played that up nicely. plus, a night without John Cena is always a good thing. the promo to end the show by Paul Heyman was brilliant.

tonight i'll also be watching Deadliest Catch and Tyrant.

saw a bluebird in the backyard today. they are pretty rare for around here. hopefully i'll get a picture of it one of these days.

i did manage to shave and shower today before i went out into public. i figure that was the least i could do. plus, anytime i shave, my goatee looks twice as long. i always love that. i love it even more knowing that others don't. that's the beauty of being an asshole.

that's all for me today folks. i'll be sure to pass on my thoughts of the poems tomorrow as i do plan on typing those up late tonight.

be well. be creative. be cool.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

AC/DC - Rock 'N' Roll Train
Suicidal Tendencies - You Can't Bring Me Down
Grouplove - Ways To Go
Grace Potter - I Shall Be Released (Live)
The Killers - When You Were Young
Yellowman - Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt
Bruce Springsteen - I'm On Fire

"Style is whatever you want to do, if you can do it with confidence." - George Clinton

Monday, July 21, 2014

a lost turkey

every blue moon or so, we will have some wild turkeys show up at the farm. so when i was coming back from the post office and saw one out by the road, i didn't think anything of it. but, when i saw that same one up by the house a few hours later, alone and looking lost, i did wonder what the fuck is going on. hopefully it will get into the woods and find the others, or at the very least, get out of this heat. it's near 90 degrees today. no air moving at all. one of those days where you are wearing a coat of sweat within seconds. at least i'm not stoned today. i would have been convinced that turkey was coming for me.

the Yankees got the sweep yesterday, 3-2. they won in the bottom of the 9th on a botched pop up. that was about the only exciting part of the game. it was literally like watching paint dry. they take on Texas tonight. hopefully they can keep winning.

the Sunday night shows were good last night. Big Brother made me laugh. Ray Donovan was pretty good. The Strain was excellent once again. Last Week Tonight was fucking brilliant. and finally, Masters of Sex was pretty good as well. i was able to get all the shows watched and was in bed a little after 1 AM. of course, i was back up a little before 7 AM. the bags under my eyes are atrocious. i'm sure i'll get some good sleep sometime before i die.

i will be watching Monday Night Raw tonight. hopefully, it will be better than the baseball game. usually the shows after a PPV are. there are some surprises rumored for tonight.

i had to put air in my tires today. figures. this kind of shit only happens when it is hot as hell or snowing like there is no tomorrow. and since i don't park in one of the barns...

mom is starting to feel a little better. i'm still worried about her, but she has some tests planned for this week. looks like i will be playing chauffeur once again.

if i get a wild hair up my ass during my insomnia tonight, i may try my hand at some more "art". either that, see if i have any poems left rattling around this brain.

that is all for today folks. please return your seats to their upright position. enjoy the rest of your day and please, come again.

be well. be creative. be cool in this heat.

peace and chicken grease my enemies...

music:

Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses - Roadhouse Sun
Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See
Of Monsters And Men - My Head Is An Animal

"Never go on trips with anyone you do not love." - Ernest Hemingway

Sunday, July 20, 2014

what am i doing awake at this hour

i'm starting to write this at 9:45 AM on a Sunday morning. no big deal most of you might think, but not to this fucker who didn't go to sleep until 5 AM. good times.

got an offer to cut off my goatee last night for a picture of this black woman's ass. it was a very tempting offer, but i said no. i believe it was one of those that my imagination is more powerful and i don't want a picture to ruin it. besides, i do plan on seeing her ass sometime before i die.

i wrote 6 poems last night. typed them up last night as well. i believe i may have a few winners in that batch. i also came up with a few different logos for this blog. i'll try sometime in the next week or so to get some pictures of them and post them here to see what all 2 or 3 of you who read this think.

while i was writing those poems last night, it dawned on me that this was the weekend of my 20 year high school reunion. of course, i suppose i was not supposed to know that info, as i was never invited to the festivities. i doubt i missed anything.

the Yankees won yesterday, 7-1. some great pitching, timely hitting, and taking advantage of some mistakes. hopefully that is how they play the entire second half. they go for the sweep today.

ROH was good last night. the tag team of War Machine is one to keep your eyes on. those guys will be stars before too long.

hopefully i will get a nap sometime today as i have a crazy night of television ahead for me. Big Brother, Ray Donovan, Masters of Sex, Last Week Tonight, and finally, The Strain. i have no idea how long i'll be up to catch all of them as a few overlap with each other. i do think i have mom convinced that whenever the fuck we do move, we're getting a DVR.

speaking of mom, she hit her head last night while getting into her SUV. i fear she may have another concussion as she has been nauseous and complaining of a headache. doesn't help that her left ear is still bothering her, even after the surgery. i'm doing my best to keep relatively quiet and stay out of her way.

the dense fog has finally lifted from this morning. i need to get my ass in gear as i have plenty of shit to do this morning. i imagine the animals would like some food and i need to pickup the trash. might surprise my mother with some breakfast, although i have no fucking clue what she would like to eat.

and now, the final update on the potential vacation. it has now become a stay-cation, as mom has decided she's going to use that week off to clean the house and get rid of some shit so we don't have to do it while trying to move. so, i know what i'll be doing the first week of August. looks like the poor will be wearing some new clothes come this fall.

enough of my rambling. i do hope everyone is having a great weekend.

be well. be creative. be a good drinker and a better lover. be sure she's not a cop first.

music:

Tinsley Ellis - Kiss of Death
Joanne Shaw Taylor - Blackest Day
The Ragged Jubilee - Can't Stop Loving You
Muddy Waters - Champagne & Reefer (Live)
Joe Bonamassa - Midnight Blues (Live)
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Learn How To Love
Mike Mattison - Midnight In Harlem

"My methodology is not knowing what I'm doing and making that work for me." - Stone Gossard

Saturday, July 19, 2014

and here comes the fog...

i was up a little later than normal last night. that's the problem with being a sports fan and living in the eastern time zone. you find yourself up at 2 in the morning after watching sports on the west coast. at least the game was a good one.

the Yankees won last night, 4-3. seemed like every time i turned back to the game, the Yankees made another error. glad they won though. i needed a victory beer. they play again this afternoon.

mom and i got to talking about the possible vacation and whatnot, and the conversation shifted to what do we do with the cats if we go away for a week? that ringed in my head as, well, i'd love to take you with me but someone has to feed the cats, get the mail, paper, etc... so, i've got the gut feeling that if we do go away, it will be a series of day trips and nothing more. i can't wait until we move and get rid of these little fuckers.

there's a thick fog rolling in right now. just how i want to spend my Saturday.

as i was avoiding the Yankees game last night, i was flipping between the Food Network and various shows on Hitler. welcome to my usual Friday night. can't imagine why i'm still single.

i did see that Manchester United has made it to the USA. i would love to see them on this tour. sadly, i'd have to give up just about every penny i have to see them. hopefully, i'll be able to find the games on television or YouTube.

since the baseball will be over before the evening comes, i'm really hoping to get some artistic shit done today. i need to bust out another logo idea and i'd like to get a few poems down on the page. hopefully i get all that done before a new episode of ROH comes on late tonight.

that's all for me. everyone go back to your cartoons. until i grace you with my presence once again...

be well. be creative. be a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. and then remind people you cause cancer.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Shooter Jennings - The Gunslinger
Jeremy Pinnell - The Way Country Sounds
Drive-By Truckers - Grand Canyon
Social Distortion - Bakersfield
Turnpike Troubadours - Gin, Smoke, Lies
JJ Grey & Mofro - This River

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle

Friday, July 18, 2014

cranky

so i woke up in the middle of the night. i checked the clock and it said 4 AM. fuck that was the first thing i said. i went back to sleep and woke up again around 8 AM. i was hoping to see my mother out this morning, as she had to drive to Cincy for a meeting and hates to make that drive. (she called and made it fine and on time). i had a bill i had to pay so i figured after the post office, i would get some breakfast. and since this is my life, 20 minutes later i was on the toilet shitting out, what felt like, a month of food. enjoy that visual. needless to say, i've been a little cranky ever since.

i did watch Big Brother last night. was happy to see Devin leave. i laughed at how the producers made the dummies watching think there was a chance of it not happening. poor souls. now the fun can begin.

i also watched the new comedies on FX last night. Married was pretty good. had a few funny lines. also, Jenny Slate is in it, who i adore, mostly because she looks like a crush i had in high school. the other show, You're the Worst, was fucking awesome. perfectly written, crass, with enough sex to keep any pervert interested. i HIGHLY recommend it.

tonight, the baseball season starts back up. the Yankees are at home against the Reds. the two teams of my youth battling it out. hopefully, i'll find something better to watch.

mom casually mentioned last night that she's thinking of going on vacation the first week of August. what really surprised me is she wants me to go along. i don't think i have been on a vacation in almost 20 years. i'd love to just get in the car and start driving and wherever we end up is cool. but, i also know that is not how my mother operates. so i spent a good portion of today checking out festivals and whatnot for possible things to do that week. i'll keep all 2 or 3 of you that read this updated on what might happen that week. i do have a couple of cameras now, so i'll get some pictures.

i had to clean the bamboo floors today. that was long overdue.

looks like the rain clouds are moving in right now. great. that should make my back feel wonderful.

that's all for me. i do hope everyone has a great weekend. if anyone has any vacation ideas, feel free to send them to me.

be well. be creative. be the asshole that likes the rain and doesn't need an umbrella.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Rival Sons - Electric Man
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
Radiohead - Creep (Live)
Pantera - I'm Broken
XTC - Dear God

"Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance on it." - Hunter S. Thompson

Thursday, July 17, 2014

slow news day

so i was watching the news this afternoon about the plane crash in the Ukraine. i fell asleep. i woke up to Israel starting a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. except in my mind, it was the same event. so i'm flipping through the channels thinking WW3 is starting. i eventually took a shower to make sure i was really awake.

mom made some really good turkey burgers for lunch. i think she may have sprinkled on some extra tryptophan on them. at least that's what i'm going with for the long nap this afternoon.

i watched Big Brother last night, just to really see how Donny beat Devin in the POV competition. that made me laugh out loud. so, thankfully, Devin will be evicted tonight and i can go back to enjoying the show.

other than Big Brother tonight, i'm going to try the new comedies on FX, Married and You're the Worst. hopefully the previews didn't have all the good parts. i love some good crass humor.

Wilfred was really good last night. i love how they are doing this final season.

The Bridge was creepy as fuck last night. just when i think that show can't get any better, it proves me wrong.

since i'm not a big fan of golf, there really isn't much sports going on today. thankfully, that will change in the next week or so.

amazingly, the humidity held off for another day here. so, the windows are still open.

my mom and sister went in on some hockey tickets for the Columbus Blue Jackets. i think they did a quarter season. all i know is i get to see my beloved New York Rangers twice next season. it's always fun to wear the enemy colors into a building. of course, when the Rangers aren't playing, i'll just be a fan for those games.

i heard a Todd Snider song on the radio yesterday as i was scrubbing the toilets. thankfully, i found the full, uncensored song on iTunes this morning. i've been playing the shit out of it today.

that's pretty much all for me today. hopefully this finds everyone well. and hopefully no one reading this had anyone on that plane today.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Todd Snider - The Story of & The Devil's Backbone Tavern
Ashley Monroe - Weed Instead of Roses
Ryan Bingham - Until I'm One with You
Dr. Dog - Shadow People
Thieves Like Us - Drugs In My Body
Barbarian Overlords - The Harvester
Wussy - Teenage Wasteland
Sturgill Simpson - Turtles All the Way Down

"Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight." - Phyllis Diller

rest in peace and thank you for unknowingly teaching me some guitar...
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-lion-in-johnny-winter-a-tribute-to-the-guitar-icon-20140717

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

one yawn after another

this has been a day where i should be napping. yet, here i am typing. i should be stretching my back out, yet here i am typing, with the windows open and me yawning. i won't be silly enough to promise that what you read past this point won't just be a pile of shit. nicely manicured, but still shit.

the American League won the all star game last night, 5-3. Jeter went 2 for 2. i thought the ovations he got last night were pretty classy. i thought it was a rather fitting nod by MLB to give the MVP to Mike Trout. the obvious passing of the torch.

Deadliest Catch was pretty interesting last night. it was the Super Bowl episode. and since most of those guys live up there, they are huge Seahawks fans. 

Tyrant was really good as well last night. i like how they are slowly revealing the backstory of the main characters. that should really provide some drama as the series goes on.

tonight will be Big Brother, Wilfred, and The Bridge. i'm looking forward to all 3.

if i truly get bored i might turn on ESPN, but the chances are extremely slim.

mom and i went to a different store yesterday than usual. we had to get some filters for down in the cellar. ah, farm life. not many people were in the place. but, i think i might have a poem or two, mostly at how damn expensive baseball cards are now. $3 for a pack. fuck me. i can remember getting a whole box (36 packs) for under $10. fuck, i feel old.

while in the store my left leg and back started to hurt. there really isn't a way to stretch out a leg or back and not look like a silly motherfucker while doing it. i did my best to play it off, but i got a few looks. thankfully there were no mothers clutching their children a little closer. i don't mind being labeled a pervert by a stranger, but a pedophile is way too far. as a victim of abuse, that is one damn line i'll never fucking cross. you might imagine where the poems are going to go now.

i think summer is supposed to reappear tomorrow. so, these windows will be closing here soon. get the air back on before i forget and the house gets up to 80 or so.

that's all for me today. i'm off to go read all the Manchester United rumors. nothing like a good laugh before dinner.

be well. be creative. be a better listener. be willing to use your tongue more.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks (Deluxe Edition)
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

"Aren't we all striving to be overpaid for what we do?" - Will Ferrell

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

my 3 poems at Dead Snakes

my poems "the evil smile", "someone out there surely must love me", and "can't find the remote" have been published at Dead Snakes. you can find the poems here:
http://deadsnakes.blogspot.com/2014/07/jj-campbell-three-poems.html

and summer takes a break

it's crazy to think it's July 15th and i'm able to turn the AC off and just open up the windows in the house and truly be comfortable. it's supposed to be like this for the next 3 days. hopefully this break of the summer heat produces some great sleeping weather at night.

mom got her lab results today. nothing really jumped out, so now a trip to a neurologist is the next stop. my fear is that her problems have something to do with the un-diagnosed concussion she had last year. i suppose only time will tell.

i might have watched 10 minutes or so of the home run derby last night. other than the balls that nearly left the stadium, i was bored. i figure it will be the same with the all star game tonight. i'll try to watch the introductions and probably Jeter's first at bat and whatnot, but other than that, no chance i watch the whole game. none.

Monday Night Raw was pretty good last night. they did a decent job of setting up the next pay per view, coming this Sunday. i did get a good laugh when the crowd booed at the Sting announcement. i don't think he's going to hit the ring for another huge run at the age of 52 or so. too bad these kids will only know him for being in a video game.

on the docket for tonight is Deadliest Catch and Tyrant. both of these shows are in the MUST SEE category for me now.

as soon as i get this done, i'll be heading to the store with mom. so, maybe i'll have a grocery store poem or two to write up later tonight. that's the joy of being one observant mother fucker. i see shit in public settings that "normal" people simply don't even bother to think to look for. i'm finding that these little public excursions are slowly getting me more comfortable around people. emphasis on the slowly part.

had a weird afternoon on iTunes. my 90's brain must have sprung a leak today as i was searching for some obscure shit. and i found it. you should see what i'm talking about in the music section below.

so, now the question is what wrestling t-shirt do i wear to the store?

hope this finds everyone well. now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

take it easy. and then take it again.

music:

Lords of Acid - Pussy
Bruce Springsteen - 57 Channels (And Nothin' On)
John Prine - Jesus the Missing Years
Brett Dennen - Queen of the Westside
Kiesza - What Is Love
The Stone Roses - Love Spreads

"To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence." - Mark Twain

Monday, July 14, 2014

ignoring the pain

yesterday was the first day in a long time that i was tempted to start mixing pain pills and alcohol again. my body ached all fucking day long with all the rain and humidity. miserable isn't a strong enough word. but, as usual with my life, i just ignored it. that doesn't make it go away, but my brain usually wins most wars.

Germany won the World Cup 1-0 over Argentina. the first half was really good. the second half bored me to death. i must have fallen asleep 3 different times. i was awake for extra time. the Germany goal basically came out of nowhere. i thought for sure Argentina was going to get it to penalty kicks. but, hats off to Germany. they were easily the best team in the tournament.

the Yankees lost last night, 3-1, in a rain-shortened affair. i might have watched 3 minutes of the 4 1/2 innings they played. they sit at .500 at the all star break, 5 games out of first place. with so much of the starting rotation on the disabled list, i will be fucking shocked if this team makes the playoffs.

the all star festivities kick off tonight with the home run derby and whatever other shit they do for it. needless to say, i won't be watching. i might watch some of the actual game tomorrow, mostly for the Derek Jeter tributes, etc, but that would be it.

the Sunday night shows were pretty good. Big Brother had a few laughs. Ray Donovan was good. reminded me that i really could use a Spanish woman in my life right about now. Masters of Sex was good. Last Week Tonight was fucking hilarious. The Strain was creepy as fuck. definitely will have to keep that show in the rotation.

as for tonight, basically it will be Monday Night Raw and probably a nap.

got some words swimming up around my head. i'll probably have some poems try to bust out here soon, most likely right as i start washing the dishes. i've been a lazy ass, so i have a big stack to get to.

looks like we have one more night of storms to get through and then it will be unseasonably cool once again. i know one thing, all this rain has done wonders for the corn. hopefully, we will have a great harvest this year. i wouldn't mind, if it is going to be our last, to go out with a bang.

that's all for me today. hope this finds everyone well.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Wussy - Teenage Wasteland
Gov't Mule - War Pigs (Live)
JJ Grey & Mofro - Tupelo Honey
Grouplove - Ways To Go
Trixie Whitley - Breathe You In My Dreams (Live)

"An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision." - James Whistler

Sunday, July 13, 2014

avoiding the air that you wear

i know when i wake up at 8 in the morning and it is already 80 degrees outside, i'm going to be miserable the second i go outside. and since today is also trash day, i get to spend even more time outside. the only good thing about that, as with every trash day it seems, there is a chance it will storm. so i will probably wait for that to happen. not sure the cats will like that, but they don't have a vote on the matter.

today is the World Cup final. i think i'm going to go with Germany even though i would love to see the chaos of Argentina winning in Brazil. that's about as close as you can get to guaranteed violence. but, i only get a victory beer if Germany wins, so... the Netherlands beat Brazil 3-0 yesterday in the third place game. i loved that for the last 10 minutes of the game, anytime Brazil touched the ball, they got booed by their own fans... overall, this has been a pretty damn good World Cup. not sure what it is going to be like in Russia in four years. i know the time difference is going to be kicking my ass.

the Yankees got some great pitching from Shane Greene yesterday and won 3-0. not bad for only your second start in the majors. hopefully, they have found something in this kid. they finish off the first half of the season tonight on ESPN. i doubt i will watch much of it as my Sunday night is already filled as it is. but, the all star break couldn't come at a better time. they need the days off to regroup and get their shit together.

ROH last night was really good. it featured mostly matches that involved wrestlers from New Japan. always fun to see those guys perform.

i believe my viewing schedule tonight goes Big Brother, Ray Donovan, Masters of Sex, Last Week Tonight, and then i'm hoping to catch The Strain on FX. not sure if i'm going to like it or not, but the previews have sucked me in. as usual, another late night.

i found some printable stencils last night that i liked so my artsy fartsy ass will be coming up with some more shit here soon. i'm thinking along the lines of t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. of course, if i knew how to use computers better... hell, i sit here too long each day as it is.

well, i need to pick up the trash and get the cats fed. and i'd like to get that done before the World Cup Final starts. hopefully mother nature has that rain coming soon.

hope this finds everyone well. hope your weekend was great. or at least better than the fuckers you hate.

be well. be creative. be insert your dirty thought here

peace and chicken grease...

music:

The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post
Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels
Old Crow Medicine Show - Down Home Girl
Drivin' N' Cryin' - Straight to Hell
Young the Giant - My Body
Deftones - Minerva

"You know you're getting old when all the names in your black book have M.D. after them." - Harrison Ford

Saturday, July 12, 2014

the long summer nights

when i woke up at 10 this morning, nearly 3 hours later than i usually do, i wasn't more refreshed or energetic. it was sort of like that groggy feeling when you get too much sleep. i was up pretty late fucking around with trying some charcoal art. no luck there but i think i may have come up with a logo for this blog. one of these days i'll actually post it on here and see what everyone thinks. i like it, so the important part is covered.

when i heard the LeBron news yesterday, i was a little surprised. when i read his essay on si.com about returning, it really hit home. here is a link to it:
http://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/11/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers

as an Ohio kid that played basketball in this state, it really hit home. now, i got nowhere near to the level LeBron has reached, but still. i get what it is to be from this state, to be tied to it, to know the hardship and the level of despair that destroys each damn day. as one asshole on tv put it, this was a letter to other Ohioans. he was right. so, as much as i loved the heel turn LeBron took 4 years ago, i suppose it is time to fly the old colors again and go back to being a babyface. now, if he does end up bringing Cleveland a title for the first time in over half a century, he'll do more than just be a king. he will have stepped into the deity level of sports. as for that, i'll believe it when i see it.

another piece of my childhood is dead. http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/07/r-i-p-tommy-ramone-drummer-of-the-ramones/

the Yankees got out to yet another lead last night. and once again, were incapable of making it bigger. and once again, blew that lead. and once again, lost in extra innings, 3-2. it's a tough pill to swallow when you see guys that shouldn't be even in the majors shutting down guys making millions of dollars. they play again this afternoon. i'm going to do my best to avoid it.

mostly because it is on at the same time as the World Cup 3rd place game between Netherlands and Brazil. i really hope both teams just say fuck it and put on an offensive display for the ages. that would be fun to watch.

also tonight, i'll hopefully be up late enough to watch another episode of ROH.

i guess i should get out to feed the cats before they get too pissed that it's later than normal. it's bad enough that they treat the entire fucking farm as their litter box.

maybe if i get a wild hair up my ass, i'll take some more photos outside. if i do that, i'll be sure to get the possible new logo for this blog as well.

hope this finds everyone well. remember to pour one for Tommy Ramone.

be well. be creative. be generous and send me some money. be thoughtful and buy a book. be excited about life and go fuck someone, with their permission of course.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

The Ramones - Ramones Mania
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Grace Potter - I Shall Be Released
Gary Jules - Mad World

"This world is but a canvas to our imagination." - Henry David Thoreau

Friday, July 11, 2014

getting old

i've had this damn Lucinda Williams song stuck in my head for months it seemed like. the problem was,  i always thought the song was done by Heartless Bastards. so yesterday, i finally figured this mystery out and got the song on iTunes. not sure why yesterday was the first day i decided to use the internet to figure out this question in my head, but oh well.

mom had a doctor's appointment this morning. she didn't want me to go along, so i didn't. she's been having problems remembering shit, and given the history of dementia and alzheimer's with her parents, i believe both of us want to catch anything as soon as possible. of course, the beauty is it could be a number of other things as well. but, i'm a worse case scenario type of guy. so, i'll have my mind elsewhere while she's waiting on the results of the blood tests and the appointment for a neurological exam. good times.

the Yankees were leading last night 3-0 when the news of the partial ligament tear for Tanaka came down. and just like that, they were trailing 9-3 and the game was over. it felt like the season was as well. that makes 80% of the starting rotation is now on the disabled list. hard to win games let alone contend in the division with those kind of injuries. they play tonight in Baltimore, who happens to be in first place in the division. i'm sure they have the hammer out to put the nails in the coffin tonight. i'd like to see the team show some fight, but even that is probably not enough. it's going to be a long rest of the season.

i did watch Big Brother last night. i'm very happy that Zach stayed in the house. the new HOHs aren't going after him. both of them want to get rid of Devin this week. hopefully, that will happen.

other than baseball tonight, not sure what i'm going to watch. mom got me a charcoal art set, so i guess i might play around with that a little. i'm trying to come up with logos for this blog, for my book, etc., for t-shirts, mugs, mousepads, anything i could possibly sell. i need to start making some money. especially given the fact that the farm is going to go away soon and who knows if i'm going to live with my mother still or not. trust me, i'm not exactly hoping i get to live in my 1992 Ford Ranger.

well, after the last few days, i know that all the cats are alive. Boomer made it back up from the wood lot. and amazingly, my cat Alfred had two kittens recently. saw her nursing them today. so, that makes it that Batman, Robin, and Alfred all got pregnant. where is a damn villain when you need one?

that's all for me today kids. i hope everyone has a great weekend.

be well. be creative. be loud. be the prince of mischief. be the first one to order a round with a stranger's credit card.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Lucinda Williams - Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings
Jeremy Pinnell - The Way Country Sounds
Drive-By Truckers - Grand Canyon
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

"Genius is more often found in a cracked pot than in a whole one." - E.B. White

Thursday, July 10, 2014

as the world turns

yesterday was one of those days that seemed like it was never going to end. from the soccer, to the baseball, to the bad news, to the rumors, to a late night phone call, to arthritic pain at 4 in the morning. just another time when i nod my head to the 8 year old me, that wanted to die so bad that he started to come up with a plan. hindsight, you cruel heavenly goddess of guilt.

i went to the store with my mother yesterday as she needed to get some shit and i needed beer. it was a pretty quick trip, not much drama. way too many young ladies smiling at me. either my fly was down or someone thought i should be in jail. we got back home just in time for the World Cup game.

Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalty kicks, 4-2. such a different game from the day before. i felt bad for the one defender for the Dutch who had the first pk stopped. he played so good in the game, handcuffing Messi for the entire game, to only be remembered for that fuck up. CRUEL. this sets up a World Cup Final of Germany vs. Argentina. i had Argentina losing in my original prediction, so i will stay with that. Germany will be looking to become the first European team to win in South America. the 3rd place game takes place the day before the final. that could and should be wildly entertaining if both teams just say fuck it and play nothing but offense. Brazil vs. Netherlands. of course, no matter how good it might be, no one will ever remember it. in all sports, it's the finals or failure.

the Yankees got horrible news yesterday with Tanaka going on the disabled list with elbow pain. NOT GOOD. then, Carlos Beltran broke his face in 2 spots in a freak batting practice accident. i'm starting to believe this fucking team is cursed. this was all before they even played the game. as for the game, their new starting pitcher started a little leaky, not helped at all by the defense, but soon settled down. Tex made up for his error with 2 home runs. the game went into extra innings. eventually, in the 14th inning, Ellsbury hit a home run that proved to be the winning margin. 5-4. just about everyone that could pitch for the Yankees did. hopefully the starter tonight goes deep into the game.

i was a little upset that CBS didn't show the fireworks from the POV meeting on Big Brother last night. i suppose that will happen tonight, but it will be heavily edited, as most of the show seems to be. i'm hoping Zach stays, as that will piss off Devin. and the sooner they can get that asshole out of the house, the happier i will be. i'll be interested to see who the next two HOHs are. hopefully two people that actually know how to play the game.

Wilfred last night was a great mind fuck. i totally love where this final season is going.

The Bridge last night was just as bloody as i remember the first season being. looks like another great season is on the way.

we had a bird fly into the bay window this morning. it hit the window so damn hard it sounded like a bomb going off. it was a pretty big bird as well. 20 minutes later i checked and it was gone. so, either it flew away or the cats got to it. anything is possible out here on the farm.

i suppose i should get out there and feed those dumb animals before too much of the day gets away from me. i also want to get to the bank today and make a feeble deposit. the joys of being poor, when putting $20 into your checking account is a good day.

i had a weird feeling this morning, musically, so my purchases from iTunes certainly reflect that. you'll see that below.

also, got a flexible ruler at the store yesterday that will come in handy for some upcoming art projects. i'm hoping to brush off some of those skills i learned in high school. good thing my brain remembers all this shit.

looks like the weather should be close to nice for the next few days. hopefully i'll be able to enjoy it.

that's all for me my enemies. not sure when i'll be on here tomorrow. that creative itch needs to be scratched once again, so who knows.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Yelawolf - Honey Brown
Kiesza - Hideaway EP
Daniel Avery - Drone Logic

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust


Wednesday, July 9, 2014

a hot steamy mess

the internet has been running slow this morning. mom said she saw plenty of Frontier Communications trucks out and about yesterday. i'm fearing those fucking idiots fucked something up again. i suppose time will tell.

Germany's destruction of Brazil would have made those crazy ass generals in world war two proud. 7-1. 5 goals in the first 29 minutes. first time Brazil lost a non-friendly game on home soil since 1975. which means that was the first home loss of an important game for Brazil in my life. i'm still stunned with how easy Germany picked them apart and just ruthlessly took them behind the barn and pulled the trigger. and to think Brazil still has to play the third place game. they better win that one, or that country may never forgive those players. and i would have to imagine Germany is now the favorite to win the World Cup. i tell you one thing, i look at the USA loss to Germany 1-0 in a whole different light this morning.

today Argentina takes on the Netherlands. i have Argentina moving on, but that doesn't mean anything. hopefully it will be a more competitive game than yesterday. probably comes down to how well the Dutch can shackle Messi. if they allow him time and space, Argentina will be one step closer to rubbing the World Cup title in crying Brazilian faces.

the Yankees lost last night, 5-3. the offense did its normal disappearing act after the first couple of innings. and Tanaka could not find his fastball for anything. a few of them ended up in the seats. he might be hitting that mid summer wall most rookies hit. the guy they traded for is pitching tonight. hopefully he does well.

Deadliest Catch was really good last night. i love when they show some pranks. Tyrant was good as well.

had a banana bread beer out of England last night. not nearly as bad as i thought it was going to be. tasted a little like banana pudding with plenty of alcohol. and didn't produce a hot steamy mess shortly afterwards, so that's a plus.

tonight will be a busy night for me. a new episode of Big Brother. this might be the craziest cast ever. The Bridge comes back tonight. i'm beyond excited for that. and another new episode of Wilfred. the dilemma is Wilfred and The Bridge come on at the same time. another night where i really could use a DVR.

this rainy weather isn't helping my arthritis. today is supposed to be sunny and hot, which always leads to storms. i figure by the afternoon i'll be miserable.

not much damage from the storms yesterday. just some limbs down. it must have been scary enough though, as 13 of the 14 cats were in the barn when i went out to feed them. mom believes she saw the other one down in the front. no clue when that dumb ass will make it back up to the barn.

that's pretty much all for me. enjoy the game today if you happen to be watching it. maybe my lazy ass will do some artwork today. i've got an idea floating around in my head that i'd like to get down on paper. but, as with most of my art, i'll end up hating it. so it goes.

be well. be creative. be an afternoon drunk. be charming. be aloof. be the neighbor that doesn't give a shit anymore.

peace and chicken grease my enemies.

music:

Steve Earle - Colorado Girl
Grant Lee Buffalo - Fuzzy
Cee Lo Green - Fuck You

"A fanatic is a nut who has something to believe in." - Dean Koontz


Tuesday, July 8, 2014

where does the time go

yesterday was one of those days you can only believe by living through them. thank god i'm a writer. so much shit to write about. to make it quick...

mom wanted to get out of the house so i had her drive me to the record store to sell some of my music. while in the store i come across a guy with an eye patch, a black kid trying to sell a broken video game system for drug money, and a staff of hipsters that were all thinking of other shit. i didn't make as much as i wanted, but i was happy to get rid of shit i don't listen to anymore. then, mom wanted to get something to eat, an early dinner of sorts. considering it was around 4:30 in the afternoon i now know what i have to look forward to if i dare live past 50. while in the place, it starts to rain. and rain. and rain some more. after waiting for nearly 30 minutes, we both decided fuck it, we're not going to melt. racing to the car was great until i realized the parking lot was starting to flood. thank god i had some decent shoes on. after we made it out of there we headed back home. after a long night of television and some more alcohol, i get an instant message from the muse. needless to say, 20 minutes later i'm on the phone until 4 in the morning with a woman slowly dying (figuratively) in some wicked heat. i haven't written those poems yet, but that will happen.

during my television time last night, i did write two more poems. both about the events of the afternoon. i typed up those 2 and my one from yesterday this morning. i LOVE these three poems. i can't wait to send these out.

Monday Night Raw was pretty good last night. letting the younger generation shine is paying off for them. plus, it's never a bad show in Montreal. the best sign for me is that it didn't feel like it was 3 hours long.

the Yankees won last night 5-3. had a rookie make his first major league start. he went 6 innings, only giving up 2 runs. hopefully, he stays up. their rookie phenom in the bullpen got his first ever save. all in all, a good evening. they play again tonight in Cleveland.

also tonight is Deadliest Catch and Tyrant. i'm looking forward to both of those.

the World Cup starts back up today. Germany vs. Brazil. not much more needs to be said. i'm going to be very interested to see how Brazil plays without Neymar. i wouldn't be shocked if this one goes into extra time. i have Brazil advancing. of course, i made that pick long before the injuries started to happen. i honestly don't know who is going to win this match. i just hope to be entertained by it.

i'm hoping the rain is over for the day. we had some wicked storms move through this morning. thankfully, i slept through most of them.

i guess i should get out there and see if we had any damage or see how many cats ran away. it's always fun when they run up into the front woods and then can't figure out how to make it back up to the barns. 3 weeks later they eventually show up, malnourished beyond belief. i have to keep reminding myself they aren't the sharpest tool in the box.

hope this finds everyone well. hope you enjoy the game today. and if you aren't enjoying the beauty of the World Cup, i don't think i really want to know you. unless you have money and love my writing. if that is the case, you are forgiven.

peace and chicken grease my enemies...

music:

Paolo Nutini - Iron Sky
The Black Angels - Evil Things
Morphine - You Look Like Rain
Cocorosie - Werewolf
St. Vincent - Digital Witness

"You may delay, but time will not." - Benjamin Franklin

Monday, July 7, 2014

and here comes the rain

i actually got something resembling 6 hours of sleep last night. so, i'm somewhat refreshed. my apologies.

there's thunder in the air here, so i'm going to try to type fast.

the Yankees got off to a great start yesterday and then hung on for dear life, winning 9-7. they were up by 9 after 4 innings. they did take the series though. and made a good trade (at least i hope) and got rid of one of the useless old guys. hopefully more of that is on the way. they are up in Cleveland tonight.

i was so happy for Juan Pablo Montoya yesterday. i haven't been able to see him win often over the last decade or so. so the win at Pocono was very nice to see. he totally deserved it.

the tennis match was pretty good yesterday and i got a little nap watching some golf and soccer. not a bad lazy Sunday at all.

Big Brother made me laugh last night. not because of actual content but more creative editing by CBS. the show happens one way in reality and another in each episode. it's humorous how many people don't really know the difference.

The Leftovers was another weird mess last night. i'm still not sure if i really want to invest my time in it. next Sunday will be the true test with all the Showtime shows coming back on. i imagine if i remember to make an effort to find it next week...

also coming back this week is The Bridge. i can't wait for Wednesday.

no World Cup games today, so i'm going to try to get over to the used music store and sell off some music. hopefully make a little money.

i did compose a poem while i was sitting on the toilet this morning. i haven't typed it up, but i think it has all the makings of a classic.

well, i need to get out there and feed the cats before it really starts storming.

hope this finds everyone well. yes, i know it's Monday, get over it.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Street Sweeper Social Club - The New Fuck You
Young the Giant - My Body
Paloma Faith - Never Teat Us Apart
Deftones - Minerva
Hank Williams III - Cecil Brown
Mayer Hawthorne - The Walk

"Friends and good manners will carry you where money won't go." - Margaret Walker

Sunday, July 6, 2014

the end of a lazy weekend

i was fucking around on iTunes last night, just trying to find some music i might have missed. and then i stumbled on some Martha Wainwright that i hadn't heard before. needless to say, i've been playing that EP to death since last night.

and when i get on the singer/songwriter kick, there will be some poems coming.

the Yankees lost yesterday. in true 2014 Yankee fashion, they lost 2-1 on a throwing error in the bottom of the 11th. just when i think this team is turning the corner they revert back like the chickenshits they are. they finish the series in Minnesota today. i couldn't care less what happens at this point.

the World Cup games were pretty damn good yesterday. Argentina beat Belgium 1-0. first time Argentina has made the semifinals in 24 years. the Netherlands beat Costa Rica on penalty kicks, 4-3. i was thinking Louis van Gaal was nuts for changing goalies right before the end of the game. turns out, the man is a fucking genius. i can't wait until he takes over at Manchester United.

that sets up a final four in the World Cup of Brazil vs. Germany and Netherlands vs. Argentina. four of the biggest and best teams in the world. should be great.

i watched another great episode of ROH last night. would love to see that company take the next step and start to really challenge the WWE.

if the tennis match is still going when i get done with this, i imagine i'll watch some of that as i'm picking up the trash. it's started to rain here, so i'll take my damn time. also, the rained out NASCAR race from yesterday starts soon. i imagine i'll watch some of that as well.

tonight will be a new episode of Big Brother and a new episode of The Leftovers.

had some damn good BBQ from this local food truck yesterday. holy shit it was good. i'm a sucker for some good brisket.

i geeked out when i saw Pink Floyd is putting out a new album. that was a pleasant way to start my day.

that's all for me today kids. i better get started on my "chores" before the weather gets too damn bad. hope everyone has a great end of the weekend.

be well. be creative. be a beacon of hope in the land of darkness. and then be the dirty fucker that likes to play evil games.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Grace Potter - I Shall Be Released
My Morning Jacket - Suspicious Minds (Live)
Martha Wainwright - Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole EP

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." - Dalai Lama

here's a couple of photos i took yesterday


Saturday, July 5, 2014

the last pleasant day for god knows how long

the comfortable weather here has one more day and then summer returns with the god awful humidity and fucking heat. hopefully i'll just nap all day long with the windows open. now i know that won't happen, but a guy can dream right? oh, i can't. my bad.

i was disappointed with the World Cup games yesterday. the games weren't that exciting until the last 10 minutes or so. i understand that the stakes are higher and teams are playing a little closer to the vest. but who the fuck waits until there's only a few minutes left to throw caution to the wind? oh that's right, France does. Germany beats France 1-0. Brazil beat Colombia 2-1 in a brutal game. way too many fouls for the number of cards given. i give Brazil credit for beating the shit out of James Rodriguez. big ups to him for taking it and still scoring. but the Brazil win comes at a cost. their best defender will miss the semifinal (yellow card accumulation) and their best player (Neymar) will miss the rest of the World Cup with a broken vertebra. ouch. i don't like their chances of winning it all without him. they next play Germany on July 8th.

today Costa Rica takes on the Netherlands and Argentina plays Belgium. i have the Netherlands and Argentina moving on. hopefully the games today are better than yesterday.

our internet was out for nearly 9 hours yesterday. fucking Frontier Communications. and what i really loved was when we finally got through to them, they had no fucking clue what happened, but it was affecting 100,000 customers. it constantly amazes me how INEPT that fucking company is.

thankfully, i had less than 100 emails to go through when i was able to get back on at 10:30 last night.

the Yankees won again yesterday, 6-5. they scored all their runs in the first two innings and then held on for the win. two in a row, holy shit. they play again this afternoon. hopefully they can actually get a winning streak going. they are in the right city for it.

i was a little stunned with the Cubs and A's trade last night. personally, i think the A's got the 2 best pitchers on the market. i have no fucking clue where the Yankees go for pitching help now.

since i couldn't get online last night, i flipped between the Food Network, some pro wrestling, and the 4th of July concert The Roots do in Philly every year. i think i would have been better off just going to bed.

i did put a little extra rum in my Coke last night, so i slept pretty damn good. of course, most of that was in my chair and not in my bed. i feel like i'm in my fucking 60's. death can't be too far away.

that's the only way i drink any soft drinks by the way, with alcohol.

that's pretty much all for me today. hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

take it easy. and then take it again.

music:

Pulp - Common People (Full Length Version)
Banks - Goddess
The Killers - When You Were Young
Thieves Like Us - Drugs In My Body
Kitten - Why I Wait
Pistol Annies - Hell On Heels
The Black Crowes - Oh Josephine

"There is scarcely anything that drags a person down like debt." - P. T. Barnum

Friday, July 4, 2014

be careful, you'll blow off your hand...

i've never been much of a fireworks guy. once i entered my teens, anytime the fireworks started, it was the time to go sneak off and do drugs, drink, or make out. i suppose the 38 year old pervert inside of me misses those days the most. not that there was a ton of making out going on. but the drugs, man the drugs...

holy shit, the Yankees won last night, 7-4. Tanaka was not at his best but the offense woke up for a night. they called up a kid from the minors (well, not really a kid, spent 8 years down there) who homered in his second at bat. Beltran hit a huge 3 run homer. and thankfully, Phil Hughes went back to being the same shitty Phil Hughes that used to pitch for the Yankees. they play again this afternoon. maybe they will remember what a winning streak is.

i am looking forward to the World Cup games today. Germany plays France and Brazil takes on Colombia. i have Germany and Brazil advancing, even though i would not be shocked if that doesn't happen. i expect two really good games today.

i don't really have anything planned for tonight, so i imagine i'll find something on tv to watch. and then maybe a creative outburst at some point.

Joey did get eliminated from Big Brother last night. might be one of the worst players EVER. the new HOH's are Amber and Devin. there goes my hope of Devin leaving the house this week. and i don't think the other pussies in his alliance have the guts to even figure out a way to back door him this week. not sure why people play the game this way. of course, i don't even bother to try out for the show, so i'm one to talk.

was kind of stunned when i got that poem published this morning. wasn't expecting that at all. i still find it amazing at how much the internet has changed the life of a poet. never when i started dreaming of getting published in my teens did i ever think it could possibly happen within a day.

i had some pizza last night for dinner. i think there was just enough of grease in it that i have flushed everything but my soul down the toilet this morning. try shaking that visual out of your head today.

hope everyone has a great holiday. for everyone else outside of this country, hope you enjoy the World Cup games.

be well. be creative. be safe. be worried about that extra hot dog.

peace and chicken, ribs, brisket, turkey, hot dog, sausage and pork chop grease...

music:

Bruce Springsteen - Born In The U.S.A.
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
The Zombies - Time of the Season
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
The Band of Heathens - Look at Miss Ohio
The Pretty Reckless - Heaven Knows

"If you can go through life without experiencing pain you probably haven't been born yet." - Neil Simon

the exhaust fumes of hate

my poem "the exhaust fumes of hate" has been published at The Camel Saloon. this was part of my submission yesterday. talk about timing. you can find the poem here:
http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-exhaust-fumes-of-hate.html

Thursday, July 3, 2014

here comes the fireworks

i don't ever recall a July 3rd in my life that i haven't had the air conditioner on. i came down this morning and was able to open up the house. and better yet, leave it open all damn day long. the humidity is gone, replaced with a cool breeze. probably the last time this will ever happen in my life, so i might as well enjoy it.

i sent off 6 poems today to Dead Snakes and The Camel Saloon. when i hear back from them, i will pass along the verdicts.

the Yankees lost yet again yesterday, 6-3. sadly, they are still only 4 1/2 games out of first place. the whole damn division fucking sucks this year. they play tonight in Minnesota. Tanaka is pitching, so at least they will have a chance to win.

i did watch Big Brother and Wilfred last night. i mostly knew what was going to happen on Big Brother as i follow a couple of blogs that document the daily ins and outs. Wilfred had me laughing as always last night. hopefully they will go out with a bang this final season.

tonight, i'll be watching the live episode of Big Brother. sadly, Joey will be voted out tonight. she reminds me of my girlfriend when i was 23. almost a dead ringer for her. hopefully, Devin will be the next one out. completely useless. i'll be interested in how they will decide the 2 HOH's tonight.

i also watched that tree house show last night. fuck, i wish i had $86,000 to blow on a tree house. that's some serious fuck you money.

i'm gearing up for the cats to panic with the fireworks coming. it's usually not that bad out here in the sticks but the assholes next door like to drink. so, i fully expect an explosion around 2 in the morning or so.

i took advantage of the good weather and filled up all the bird feeders today. that should be enough food for the entire holiday weekend.

that's pretty much all for me today. i will be on here early tomorrow before the World Cup games.

hope this finds everyone well. if you happen to be traveling for the 4th of July, be safe. enjoy your trip. and fight the urge to leave one of the kids behind.

be well my enemies. back to your regularly scheduled programming.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Live from Alabama
Ashley Monroe - Like A Rose
St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Half The City

"A first sign of the beginning of understanding is the wish to die." - Franz Kafka

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

absolutely gutted

i woke up this morning, as did the sun. sometimes as a sports fan, you're not always sure that will always happen.

i'm still absolutely gutted from the USA loss to Belgium yesterday, 2-1. all three goals came in extra time. that was after the USA had a chance to steal the game with maybe 30 seconds left. i can't imagine Wondo not thinking about that chance for the rest of his life. hats off to Tim Howard for playing the best game i have seen a goalkeeper play in my life. but, 16 saves is way too many if you want to actually win a game. let alone if you want to advance in the World Cup. the one bright aspect of the game yesterday is the youth on the squad will only get better. and maybe that will all happen in the next 4 years. some true poetic justice would be the USA sniffing a World Cup title in Russia. not that i will ever expect that to happen, but one may dream.

Argentina won 1-0 in extra time over Switzerland. just 2 minutes from penalty kicks.

that sets up the quarterfinals of the World Cup, starting on Friday. Germany vs. France and Brazil vs. Colombia. talk about two juicy games. on Saturday will be Costa Rica vs. Netherlands and Argentina vs. Belgium. all 8 group winners advanced. and given all the drama so far, i expect plenty more to come.

not sure what i'm going to do with no games for the next few days. i suppose the dishes and the toilets are first up.

the Yankees wasted some great starting pitching last night, losing 2-1. they play a day game today, looking to avoid the sweep. quite frankly, this team is hard to fucking watch anymore.

it was appropriate last night that as soon as the USA game ended, the skies opened up here. and it poured. even mother nature was hurt. it did set up for an amazing sunset last night. i actually got some decent shots of it. here's my favorite:
you can see the other shots in the slide show on the right hand side of this blog.

the New York Rangers made a ton of small, value signings yesterday. they did sign Dan Boyle, who went to college with my sister. now there's a mind fuck. he wanted to be in New York and took less money to do so. the only unrestricted free agent of their own they signed was Dominic Moore. i'm fine with that as the other guys all got deals they weren't going to get with the Rangers. now, they just need to get their restricted free agents signed and hope the kids are ready to fill some holes on the team. my fingers are crossed that they didn't fuck all this up.

Deadliest Catch was pretty good last night. Tyrant was good as well.

tonight will be some Big Brother and Wilfred. and then some writing or a very long shower. i figure i will do all the shit around the house while i'm avoiding the Yankee game.

my morning shit produced some blood this morning. that's always a lovely conversation for a 38 year old male to have with his mother. let the poems begin...

that's pretty much all for me today. i'll probably be back on here tomorrow afternoon. i might do a little poetry work before then, getting that itch to send out some poems again.

be well my enemies. be bold. be creative. be accepting. be easy, but not a whore.

peace and chicken grease...

music:

Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Live at Luther College

"Normalcy is not interesting." - Lindsay Lohan

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

the silly season

as a sports fan, July 1st is a day that brings new hope, a renewed faith, a true belief that better days are ahead. free agency in the NBA and NHL begin today. this July 1st is a tad more stressful than usual. with the New York Rangers coming off of a trip to the Stanley Cup Final and nearly half of their team is a free agent of some kind, i'm nervous and excited to see what they will do. as a Sacramento Kings fan, i understand that today isn't a day the Kings participate in. maybe one day.

but most of my attention today will be on the USA vs. Belgium. a game that i do believe the USA can win. a game that i hope they will win. this is their best chance to advance to the quarterfinals since 2002. needless to say, i will be completely glued to that game this afternoon. so don't bother to contact me in those 2 hours.

also today Argentina plays Switzerland. a game that i have Argentina advancing, but i wouldn't be shocked if the Swiss make it interesting.

yesterday was another crazy day at the World Cup. France beat Nigeria 2-0 in a game that was much closer than that score. Germany beat Algeria 2-1 in a game that saw all three goals come in extra time. that was a game that i think Germany played with France in mind. they will have to play better if they want to advance again.

that makes me 6 for 6 in my picks. hopefully i end up today 8 for 8.

the Yankees got a home run in the bottom of the 9th to hold off the inevitable for a few innings, ultimately losing 4-3 in 12 innings. this team basically spent 450 million to be one game worse than they were after 81 games last year. this losing is slowly but surely getting to me.

Monday Night Raw was pretty damn good last night. Chris Jericho returned to get beat down by The Wyatt Family. i can't fucking wait to see the battles on the mic between Bray Wyatt and Y2J. those have the chance to be CLASSIC. with AJ Lee coming back last night as well, that gives me a small hope that her husband, CM Punk, may come back as well. overall, a pretty good 3 plus hours.

after i spend all day checking NHL rumors and reports and watching soccer, i will be watching Deadliest Catch and Tyrant tonight. both of those shows are on my favorite list at the moment.

i got an empty SASE in the mail yesterday. i have no fucking clue what was in it, if anything at all was in it. the publisher i believe it may have come from told me last night that it wasn't from him. so, i'm basically at a dead end on this mystery. if anyone reading this knows what i'm talking about, send me an email. my fear is that there were poems and/or an acceptance or rejection note in it. if i somehow find time today, i may dig a little deeper in my records.

that's all for me today. to my fellow Americans, may you enjoy watching the game. and since it doesn't start until 4 in the afternoon, please blow off fucking work a couple hours early. you have my permission.

to everyone else in the world, be creative, be cool, be a guiding light of mischief...

peace and chicken grease...

music:

AC/DC - Rock 'N' Roll Train
John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band - On the Dark Side
Buffalo Killers - The Path Before Me
Portugal. The Man - Purple, Yellow, Red and Blue
Grouplove - Let Me In

"Losing is not in my vocabulary." - Ruud van Nistelrooy