Youtube hit for "Dentones"

Be careful what you fish for on Youtube. Instead of the expected video short of those mild-mannered chappies from North Texas, I reeled in this whopper.

At least it made me laugh!

Portland biking. Not a rant. Really.

Should you wish to experience the bike ride that Bil and I took from Buckman across the river to the Brewers' Dinner, well, here it is.

At about 1:00 or so, the route diverges slightly. The video here skirts along the left side of the park where the festival was held, whereas we skirted its right-hand side along the Willamette River.

Snowing

(A song from 1992. Oddly enough, the impetus for writing this song was my recollection of an old, hand-written songlist from Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd that included a song called "Snowing"--of which I think there is no recording and of which, sadly, I have been unable to learn anything more. In the Spring of 1992 I decided to write a song called "Snowing" just to fill that gap for myself.)

"Snowing"

Greta do you want me? Tell me this
and I will be your faithful lover-
a face like yours could launch a thousand ships in me

I was in the wings when the world began-
never thought to darken heaven's door,
when the angels took their sides, I smiled and I walked away

it's snowing
it's snowing

I remember days in Eden's bliss,
and I knew Eve like no other
but I never felt like this till my eyes fell on you

so grace me with your smile, grace me with your touch,
grace me with your body if its not too much-
I'd spend an age chained to a rock
for just one night with you

it's snowing
it's snowing

bridge
Blessed, chill December afternoon-
surprised by joy, by joy again,
one word and my soul would be renewed
and let the world come flooding in

Greta do you want me? Tell me this
and I will be your faithful lover-
a face like yours could launch a thousand ships in me

I was in the wings when the world began-
never thought to darken heaven's door,
when the angels took their sides, I smiled and I walked away

it's snowing
it's snowing

Strange Day Today

(a song from about 1992)

out in back
cracked white columns stand
like sad old men in the Georgia sun

cat-quick
an open door
unseen I'm easing, stealing over the garden wall

and through an open window
an old victrola's strains
come drifing down in to the yard
through the noontime summer haze

and in an upstairs bedroom
unmindful of my gaze
she takes a long, hard drag on a cigarette
and a across the bed she lays

and I heard her say
"what a strange day today"
then I thought I might have heard her say
"what a strange day today,
all the pieces-- they're all here
but it's just not quite the same"
then I heard her say
"what a strange day today"

clamp down
snicker snack
like a vorpal blade like a big bear trap
on my mortal soul

how now
these second thoughts
these deepest fears
these darkest doubts crowd around my soul
all around my soul

the first time that I saw you
I was knocked right off my feet
you gave me five good reasons to believe
and six to turn and flee

now all around the border
the twisted wire gleams
like the long, cold blade of a bayonet
in a gun-freak magazine

and I heard her say
"what a strange day today"
then I thought I might have heard her say
"what a strange day today,
all the pieces-- they're all here
but it's just not quite the same"
then I heard her say
"what a strange day today"

The Tribe

I happened upon this smart little film quite by accident this evening. It is very well done and a pleasure to watch for its brilliant craftsmanship alone, though the topic (identity in the modern world-- specifically Jewish identity) is also very interesting and is rendered all the more so by the film maker's use of dry humor and clever visual puns juxtaposed with rather more serious material. It is long but well worth the time.