Soul Thumping

Mah Na Mah Na: The Generation X Theme Song - Captain Kangaroo and the Muppets

Hurray, the song is my head and even an exorcism won't make it leave.  When the new Muppet movie came out a few weeks ago, Poseidon and I and our pals went to see it and we had amazing fun!  Nearly every member of the audience was a Gen Xer, and very few children (except for the woman who thought is was appropriate to bring an infant into a movie theater).  We laughed and sang as we spent an hour and some change with our old furry friends, the Muppets.  My favorite part?  The obligatory singing of the Mah Na Mah Na song of course!

I ransacked my brain (and didn't clean up afterwards) to remember where I first heard the Mah Na Mah Na song, and I don't think it was the Muppet Show on television, I believe, though I could be wrong, I heard in on Captain Kangaroo TV show.  I vaguely remember some round balls that "danced" or flung themselves around to the beat of the Mah Na Mah Na song.  It seems as though it was a semi-regular skit on Captain Kangaroo.

I tried to find a clip of the Captain Kangaroo version on Youtube, but no success.  If anyone finds a clip of the Mah Na Mah Na à la the Captain, please let me know, will ya?

Now I'm swimming in a great warm wave of nostalgia thinking about the Captain Kangaroo show.  He brought us so many memorable characters (Mr. Moose, Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Green Jeans).  The Captain also brought us Simon in the land of chalk drawings (I'm humming those lyrics now in my head...not out loud), Grandfather clock, ping pong balls!  I'm so excited I can only do this:

 

 

And this:

 

 

--Fortuitous Observer

Things I Found Aesthetically Pleasing Today - Day 2 Bombadil Illustration on the Independent Weekly

The Independent Weekly, a weekly entertainment guide for the Triangle area (Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham) in North Carolina did a cover story on one of favorite local bands, Bombadil.  They have just released a new awesome CD!  I'm not reviewing the CD (though I will be at the CD release show at Cat's Cradle on Saturday), I just love the illustration on the cover of Indy Week by Andy Perez.  It gets my vote for "Things I Found Aesthetically Pleasing Today."  Thank you Andy!

--Fortuitous Observer

Well You Know My Name is Simon...Remember this Gen Xers?

Calling all Gen Xers out there!  Remember this little jewel as seen on Captain Kangaroo?  I LOVED this segment on Captain Kangaroo.  I wanted to be Simon, and draw my own world (seriously, I did, though I haven't brought that up with my therapist yet...should I?)  I remember eating my bowl of Sugar Corn Pops, in my pajamas, parked in front the television, humming along..."Well you know my name is Simon..."  I posted the lyrics below:

SIMON IN THE LAND OF CHALK DRAWINGS
Theme song from the segment on Captain Kangaroo Show (that Generation X Saturday morning staple)

Well you know my name is Simon,
and the things I draw come true,
Oh the pictures take me, take me over,
Climb the ladder with you.

Well you know my name is Simon,
and the things I draw come true,
Oh the pictures take me, take me over,
Climb the ladder with you.

Enjoy Generation X.  Go draw yourselves a wonderful day!

--Fortuitous Observer

Me and Some Phishies...Smells Like Old Times

I may be 41, but I'm reliving my twenties and thirties this summer.  How?  Well, because Poseidon and I have tickets to see Phish tomorrow night (we paid a great deal of money per ticket I might add...I considered selling my eggs to pay for the tickets, but at 41, I don't think I'll get much for them).  I've traveled to quite a few Phish shows in my day, including all the way to Europe for the summer 1997 European tour.

I was very sad when the "broke up" though I knew it would not be permanent.  That is just what happens when iconic groups feel they can branch out to try their hands at solo careers and be just as successful, but of course, that doesn't happen, and they get back together for some reunion shows, etc.  I'm not complaining or criticizing.  I'm a big Phish Phan, so I'm fine with them needing to make some money and putting together a tour.

I've already pulled out one of my most hippie chick dresses (I actually wore this dress to a Phish show in Camden, NJ, and I can still fit into it!) and I'm so ready to relive my 20's:  barefoot, hippie dress, drinking some great beer, watching the kids stare at the grass for the entire show because they've scored some acid and took too many tabs, buying homemade grilled cheese sandwiches from the dirty dread-headed kids who bring their hot plates and their bags of Wonder Bread and American cheese singles and peddle their creations in the parking lot, swaying like a tree to those awesome summer jams, etc.

I can't wait, really.  If Dr. Seuss were still alive I would email him and ask him to rewrite a classic for all those Phish Phans out there:  "One Phish, Two Phish, Red Phish, Blue Phish."

--Fortuitous "hippie chick" Observer

PSA: Keep Your Kids in the Car...Much Agita on Channel Z

Agita.  One of my favorite words and I experience it a great deal (anxiety; agitation).  I know I bring it on myself, and yet, I'm addicted to the anxiety, no matter how annoying.  It is quite pathetic, but here I am.  People always tell me to relax, get a hobby, mediate.  I would love to do all of those things you crazy little fools.

Today, to sum up the agita and the noise in my head, I'm borrowing lyrics from one of my favorite bands, The B-52s, "Gettin' nothin' but static on channel Z."  I'll file this one under the "My Neurosis" category.

Oh, and this is a bulletin, call it a PSA if you will...I have to stop at the grocery store tonight on the way home, so everyone who has a brat kid who thinks its acceptable (I'm sure it's because they were taught to do what they want and boundaries don't exist) to pick his/her nose and wipe it on the produce, keep them in the car with the windows rolled up (come on, it's cold outside) or I may have to show them an uncomfortable way to eat an avocado...'k?

--Fortuitous Observer

If I Had Only to Worry About a Radio Station...

One night while Poseidon and I were driving back from somewhere, we were listening to the local classical station and he was giving me some background on this particular station.  A few years ago, some people were up in arms when a rivaling classical station went off the air.  There was a big to-do because now there was only this classical station and the station seemed to cater to the "blue collar" classical station listeners because they only played well-known pieces, nothing avant garde.  This of course upset the ruling class in the area because they would not dare bring themselves to listen to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."  That "pop" piece is for "commoners." 

This story annoyed me.  At the time I was going through a great deal of personal stress, with having been unemployed for the better part of the year and worrying everyday whether or not I would lose my new house, my sanity, and if I would have to start pilfering the neighbors' garbage cans on Monday nights (Tuesday morning is trash day in my neighborhood) in order to eat.  I'm a bit of a music snob myself.  I don't like "pop" or "rock" stations much, preferring college stations playing indie and non-mainstream stuff, but that's my preference.  I'm not going to throw a fit if another pop music station comes on the air.  The majority of people listening to radio prefer those stations.

Of course things are better now, I'm employed and I've been able to go to Kroger for my groceries instead of fighting my neighbor's dog for his scraps during the middle of the night, but I'm still annoyed by this story.  If the only thing in my life I had to stress about was a radio station, how wonderful would life be?  The existing station plays classical music that some listeners, who aren't particularly educated in every nuance of classical music, but have listened to a little of it, can enjoy (thus having expanded their horizons).  I think that is awesome.  How great it must be to be a member of the "ruling class" in this area, since their lives are so obviously stress-free that they can devote their time to worrying about the lower classes enjoying a bit of Bach.  Let them eat cake.

--Your humble servant, Fortuitous Observer

Amazing Grace & the CLEP Exam

This isn't my usual funny, sarcastic blog (I know, I know, I'm sorry for trying to get serious for once).  This is something that happened to me that is a total mystery, something so profound yet confounding that it is difficult to explain it, but I'll try (of course).

My father passed away from esophageal cancer on August 11, 2004.  I went to the wake and the funeral and I was miserable at both.  I didn't like seeing my father in a casket with entirely too much makeup on, and the pink lipstick was over the top!  At the funeral, my cousin Toni sang "Amazing Grace" which was one of my dad's favorite songs, and he always loved her voice.

A few months after the funeral I was trying to finish a degree and I wanted to "test" out of some classes, which means I take the CLEP examination for the course, and if I already know enough about the topic, and pass the test, I don't have to take the classes, etc.  So, I had scheduled a CLEP exam at a small college in Philadelphia, where I was living at the time, called Manor College.  I didn't even know where Manor College was, but I followed the directions.  My exam was scheduled on a Saturday at noon.

I gave myself plenty of time to get there, but due to road construction (imagine that, road construction in Philadelphia).  I had to take several detours around this construction (or "destruction" in Philadelphia...not to go off on a tangent, but due to the unions in Philadelphia, things get finished at a slower, relaxed pass because that means, well, more money), and I was hopelessly lost.  I was frantic.  I drove up and down streets, looking for the school.  If one is scheduled for an exam and more than 5 minutes late, they won't let you in!  I was in a panic, tears streaming down my face.  I had the radio on, and out of nowhere, "Amazing Grace"  started playing.  I was stunned.  I hadn't heard this song since my father's funeral, and the radio station I had on, a college station, wasn't in the habit of playing gospel music.

As I listened to the song, tears still streaming, I began to calm down, and an almost peacefulness took over.  I took a deep breath, and I looked up, and directly in front of me was Manor College.

I made the exam on the dot, and passed.  Thanks Dad.

--Fortuitous Observer

Just What Makes That Little Squirrel...

September 1, 2009.  I have my windows open on this beautiful Carolina morning.  I'm confused, however, because it should be humid and in the upper 80's at 10am.  I'm a sun bunny, and I don't mind heat and yes, even a little humidity, but I have to admit I'm digging this morning, and so is that pesky little squirrel who keeps trying to get into my anti-squirrel bird feeder (of course I had to snap a pic).

I have to hand it to him, he is a trooper.  He doesn't give up.  I'm going to learn from him today.  I had a not so great day yesterday.  Being unemployed for 6 months can sometimes sneak up on me, even though I try to stay active and upbeat, the mean blues (or according to Holly Golightly, the mean reds) creep up on me unexpectedly from time to time.  Having suffered from chronic depression most of my life, I am still sometimes overwhelmed when it hits.  One would think by now I would be used to it, but no (though I am medicated!!!!  Yeah for meds).

Anyway, getting back to the squirrel.  He doesn't give up.  He is out there everyday, rain or shine, trying to claw his way through the metal wiring on the bird feeder.  He doesn't care that it was made specifically to keep rodents like him from stealing seed rightfully belonging to birds.  He will not hear that.  Nay, he will have those sunflowers!

Remember Laverne and Shirely?  When Shirely would be feeling down, or not wanting to go along with one of Laverne's schemes, Laverne would sing the song "High Hopes" to her, you know the one about the little ant thinking he can move a rubber tree plant?  The squirrel reminded me of that, so that will be the song stuck in my head ALL DAY LONG.  I found this version on youtube today, so everybody sing!!

--Fortuitous Observer

Sometimes a Girl Has Just Gotta Cry

The world is so upside down.  I've known that for a while as it's been almost 5 months now since I was laid off from a great job.  A year ago I was living in downtown Nashville, having probably one of the best years of my life, job-wise and health-wise, and I decided to take a chance and by my first house, back in the Raleigh-Durham, NC area.  I got a great deal on my house and I was looking forward to gardening, painting, remodeling, etc.  Excited about doing things that new homeowners do.

Then it happened, the swinging corporate axe came down heavy on my company, and over 3000 of us were let go.  I immediately got an interview with another company and I thought I was going to be ok.  Turns out, the company I had the interview with instituted a hiring freeze and my final interview was scrapped "until further notice" which means "So sorry, we are now worried about our jobs."

It's ok, surely something will come along.  Everyone who reads my blog knows I've said I plan to be positive and remain optimistic about this situation, but sometimes a girl has just gotta cry.  I think I'm there now, sniffle, sniffle.

I'm not saying it is a bad thing.  It's good to cry.  I've realized that if I keep a positive attitude during this unemployment situation, it makes me feel ok, but then sometimes it hits like a sledge hammer to the nose and I just need to turn on the water works and release some of the anxiety that I try to hide.  Sometimes a girl has just gotta cry!

I've taken this opportunity to examine what it is that I really want to do, or not do.  I'm trying to get back in shape, where I was a year ago, and I'm keeping in mind that I might need to actually "change" and take a different road.  OK, enough of my sobbing.

Things could be so much worse right now.  For instance:

• my cat could decide that vomiting once a day just isn't enough
• my right calf could be an inch larger than my left one instead of just 1/4 of an inch
• the guy stalking my neighbor could be stalking me
• my parents could have stayed longer than 2 nights
• I could be going once a week for electric shock treatments (ok, that might actually not be a bad thing)

For those of you following along, we are now at Brady Bunch song #8, "Time to Change."  I hope everyone enjoys the 4th of July weekend!

--Fortuitous Observer

Walking Contradictions

Have you ever met someone who claims to be a fan of a person, place, organization, cause, group, etc. that appears to be in direct contradiction to who the someone really is?  Let me clarify my question so you know where I'm coming from.  This may be considered a rant, I'm not sure.

Yesterday while out running a few errands (the errands I can afford to run are dwindling, as my employment status continues to be that of "un") I pulled up behind a car at a red light.  The first thing I noticed about the car was the "Free Tibet" sticker on the right side of the bumper.  I thought, cool, someone who cares about the rights of Tibetans and wants to join the fight to end the unfair Chinese occupation of Tibet.  My eyes then shifted to the left side of the bumper.  What the hell?  There, in juxtaposition of the Tibet sticker is a McCain/Palin sticker!  Who is this person driving this car?  Do you know what the Free Tibet organization is?  Apparently not, or you wouldn't be touting your loyalty to the political group in our country who doesn't have one activist bone in their collective bodies.  Ugh!

At this point I was irritated and wanted to pull this person to the side of the road, smack a picture of the Dalai Lama to their forehead and drive off (I didn't, I just wanted to).  This scene reminded me of a young woman I used to work with who claimed to be gay and tried very hard to portray herself as some hip  nouveau flower child, but she had Bush/Cheney stickers in her office cubicle!  Was she really gay or did she just want to try to shock people?  If so, why in the world would she be showing support for Bush and Cheney?  Or, maybe she was gay and she wanted to shock people (like me) with the Bush/Cheney sticker as a joke?  I might believe the latter, except that she did in fact work for the Bush campaign.  Ugh!

Of course, the car I saw yesterday isn't the first time I've seen walking (or in this case, driving) contradictions.  I've seen more than one soccer mom's mini van plastered with the cute little Grateful Dead dancing teddy bears (though they aren't really dancing) on one side and a GOP sticker (any one will do) on the other side.  Do these moms know who the Grateful Dead were?  Do you know what they stood for?  The Grateful Dead was a band that used and promoted the use of drugs, including marijuana and LSD (I'm not knocking them.  I enjoy the Dead).  The cute little teddy bear design is the artwork that appeared on the History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice) album.   If you are one of those folks, I'm not trying to offend you, honest.  I'm just letting you know about your faux pas so you can go take the stickers off of your vehicles.  Hopefully you can see that your bears and GOP stickers are in gross opposition of one another.  Ugh!

--Fortuitous Observer