A Walk In The Sun

Florida
Summer 1950

Maceo Parker: Fun In The Sun (Buy It!)

Aft on the Poop Deck, and Walkin' All About

Rockland Harbor
The Foggy Summer of '06

Aft on the poop deck, and walkin' all about,
There's the second mate, so steady and so stout.
What he's a-thinkin', he knows not himself,
We're wishin' he would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.

Strike the bell, second mate, let us go below,
Look you well to windward you can see it's going to blow!
Look at the glass, you can see that it has fell,
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell!

Down on the main deck, workin' at the pumps,
There's the starboard watch, just a-longin' for their bunks.
Lookin' off to windward, they see a great swell,
They're wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.

Aft at the wheel, poor Andersen stands,
Clutchin' at the spokes with his cold, mittened hands.
Lookin' at the compass head the course is true and well,
He's wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.

For'ard at the fo'cs'le head, keepin' sharp lookout,
There's Johnny standin', a-ready for to shout,
The lights are burnin' bright, sir, everything is well,
We're wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.

Aft on the quarterdeck, our gallant captain stands,
Lookin' at the sea with a spyglass in his hand.
What he's a-thinkin', we all know very well,
He's thinkin' more of short'nin' sail than--strike the bell.

-Traditional

Dan Zanes: Strike The Bell (Buy It!)

C'mon Down the County Fair

New Jersey Amusement Park
Summer 1964 (Or thereabouts).

Masters of Reality: Tilt-A-Whirl (Buy It!)

So, You Got My Back and Everything, Right?

Another Italian Connection: My Father's Side
Summer. Some time ago.

I don't know who these two are, but they make me happy.

The White Stripes: We're Going To Be Friends (Buy It!)

Hypmotized!

Little Carl Jones
Sometime in the Early 90's

The Flaming Lips: Are You A Hypnotist? (Buy It!)

The Spuddy System

The Spud Drive-In Theater, Teton Valley, Idaho
Summer 1987

Belle and Sebastian: Meat and Potatos (Buy It!)

Syd Barrett, R.I.P.

Pooles Hill Cemetery, The Rock
January 2006

Roger Keith 'Syd' Barrett, January 6, 1946 to July 7, 2006.

Syd Barrett: Baby Lemonade (Buy It!)
Syd Barrett: Wouldn't You Miss Me? (Buy It!)

Western Brook Pond

N49 36 45 W57 31 53
Late August, 2001

Western Brook Pond, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland.

The Long Range Mountains, the northernmost extent of the Appalachians, contain numerous glacially-carved fjords. One of the most spectacular is Western Brook Pond. A 16 km lake, with a depth of 165m, Western Brook Pond is home to Atlantic Salmon, Brook Trout and Arctic Char, as well as an unusual colony of cliff nesting gulls. The Western Brook Pond Boat Tour takes you right into the spectacular, glacier-carved, land-locked fjord, as waterfalls cascade from 2000 feet above, turning to mist before reaching the pond.

Tutti Nella Famiglia

The Italian Connection: My Father's Side
April 1957

In 1974-77, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, O Rei do Futebol (Pelé), came to play ball with the New York Cosmos. Not really knowing much about the game, but loving to read about and watching great atheletes, my father took us to see him play. I remember it being packed, and not knowing what I was watching (being raised on baseball), but it was exciting. Most of all, I remember the chant of 'COSMO'S! COSMO'S!' ringing so loudly through the stadium everytime they took control of the ball.

What does it have to do with a photograph of cousins and uncles and aunts I have never met? Nothing, except this...

FORZA AZZURRI will rule supreme as the 2006 World Cup Champions by days end (or I will eat my words). But mark my words, either will happen.

Lucious Jackson: Pele Merengue (Buy It!)

I Don't Want to 'Groan' Up!

Fourth of July Parade, The Rock
Date: July 4, 2006

During the parade a wonderful woman dressed like an elf, proclaims to all 'Be an Elf to Yourself!', runs through the streets telling everybody to, "Just be silly! Act silly today! Be silly!", which of course (at least for me), has the exacting opposite effect.

I love this picture, because even though her message is of love and happiness, a still moment in profile makes this 'little elf' look scary and sinister (but apparently from the reaction of the crowd behind her, they love it!).

"In this world, we all have to deal with negative people (also known as trolls) and situations while juggling all of our responsibilities in our personal and professional lives. We need survival skills and the one that rises above all others is the ability to laugh and find the humorous side of life. The trick is to learn how to take yourself lightly while taking your work seriously. In other words, find the ELF in yoursELF. Just because we’re grown-ups doesn’t mean that we have to be “groan-ups” and become terminally serious! We can choose how we face the future…, burdened with negativity or soaring with an “attitude of altitude”. Laughter heals, empowers and rejuvenates. It allows us to put things into proper perspective. Laughter doesn’t always make everything better for us but it sure makes us better for everything! Come and begin the conference with laughter, music and fun….it will put more “smileage” into your day. (Arghhh!)

From a description of the lecture 'Laughter is a Fundamental Part of the Future' presented by Linda Henley-Smith, self-proclaimed 'Laugh Lady'.

David Byrne: Rei Momo: Independence Day (Buy It!)
David Byrne: Rei Momo: Dirty Old Town (Buy It!)

'Paging Mr. Herman!'

'Mr. Herman, you have a telephone call at the front desk!'



Signed 'Fun' Club Photograph
Date: 1988

If you needed any reason other then the check-in desk scene from 'Pee Wee's Big Adventure' to want to join the Pee Wee Herman Fun Club, then you probably didn't like PW any way. In which case, you can not be trusted.

Bottom Line:
There has never been a more intellectually insane children's program on television since the demise of Mr. Herman. And this, with the Paul Frank® sellout monkey and, forcefully, over-the-top characters, already sucks. Maybe the kids will start loving them when they start getting them with their Crappy Meals®.

Pee Wee Herman: Pee Wee's Playhouse (Buy It!)
Talking Heads: Puzzlin' Evidence (Buy It!)

Get It While You Can

The Rock's Co-Op Gas Pump
July 2, 2006

Gasoline on The Rock kills. One pump, no competition. Aside from the outrageous overcharging, if figured into the state's average costs, it would most likely tip it up about 5 more cents. I think it may be time to try a new alternative.

Janis Joplin: Get It While You Can (Buy It!)

The Rock Garden

In the Garden on The Rock
July 1, 2006

The rains have finally ended, giving way to the sun and happiness. (And later in the day, more rain. Then more sun. Then more rain. And finally, night).

Astrud Gilberto & Antonio Carlos Jobim: Agua De Beber (Buy It!)