Exploding Head Music

Quote of the day -- Michael Ondaatje:  floating barracuda in the brain

As my regular reader will know, i, for the sins of my previous life, make my living as a cook.

My restaurant, as do most beaneries nowadays, has a satellite muzak feed, and sometimes ours is tuned to the 50's pop music channel.  One of the most dire decades in the history of popular music (IMFFHO).  Some of it i like, i confess -- Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, i can listen to those dudes all night.  But they didn't rule the decade.  Instead it was utter horrors like Bobby Vinton, Frankie Avalon, Jimmy Clanton, Neil Sedaka (oh, egregious Neil!) (possibly the smarmiest singer in the history of western civilisation) and, on the distaff side, Annette Funicello, Shelley Fabares, Tami Yuro....

Do you remember the Tim Burton film "Mars Attacks!"?  When the Martians hear the music of Slim Whitman, their heads explode.  I know the feeling!

GTG and listen to some Hendrix now -- ah, the sixties and seventies -- now that's what i call music!

September 11

I have no words to describe how i feel today, and i can't even begin to imagine what Americans are going through, on this anniversary of that nightmare.  It makes me wish i had a god to comfort me, but i haven't.

I have heavy drinking instead, it numbs the pain.

My Day Off

Quotation of the day: Alan Coren -- I wonder sometimes if manufacturers of foolproof items keep a fool or two on their payroll to test things.

I've discovered the secret to having a great day off.  I only get one a week and i have, in the past, made all of these huge plans for it, and am then disappointed when i wind up sitting in front of the computer all day and accomplishing nothing.


So now, i've stopped planning to do anything, and i'm brilliant at it.  Well, it's hereditary.  When my dear old Dad (r.i.p.) retired, he would often say that he'd finally found something he was good at: doing nothing.


Now if only i could find someone who would pay me to stay home....

Why Don't....

Why don't supermarkets enforce the 1 - 8 items, cash only rule at the express checkout? Woman in front of me tonight must have had twenty items and paid with a debit card. I had one item. Grrr. I was in a hurry and she was doing my crust in. Did i mention that she had a squalling baby with her?  And she was fat.  I won't be "friending" her on Facebook, i assure you.

Oh, and in response to all of the none of my readers who have asked for a more recent photograph of me, here's one:

The Psychology Of Smoking

Quotation of the day --Tom Waits: We're all gonna be just dirt in the ground

I'm a smoker. Not proud of it, wish i'd never started and there's a 60% chance that i'll die of lung cancer. But it's difficult to quit if you're not determined, and self-discipline has never been my strong point. Nicotine being one of the most physically-addictive substances known. But let's examine the psychology. The mind moves in mysterious ways (its wonders to perform).

When i'm sitting at home, with my butt parked in front of the computer (as it usually is), i'll have one going constantly.  But at work, i start at stupid o'clock in the morning and usually have my first harry rag (oh, sorry, "harry rag" is Cockney for "cigarette") at around 10 a.m.  I don't even start to think about lighting up until maybe 9.45.

When i'm at the boozer, i never go out for a smoke until i've put myself on the outside of my first pint.  I don't even think about a smoke until pint #2 arrives.  And when i'm on the train to Toronto -- a two-hour trip, smoking forbidden -- thoughts of a ciggie don't even enter my mind until the CN Tower comes in to view through the window.  Oh, look, there it is now.

Right well, time for a smoke

Kelsey's II

And so, after a rough work week -- my work week is Wednesday -- Monday -- i staggered into Kelsey's at around 3:30 on Monday afternoon, looking for a friendly face and sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name (and they're always glad you came).

Now, you have to remember:  Kelsey's is a really expensive spot.  My beer (to which i am devoted) costs about $1.25 more there, than it does anywhere else in town.  But that's okay, if i just wanted to drink economically, i'd drink at home, or brew my own, or drink chrome cleaner or something.  No, i go there because (as i may have mentioned) i like the people who work there.

Werrlll... it was a bit of a disappointment, as the barmaid was someone i'd never seen before.  She was very good, but not a familiar face. It was all right.  It was fine, i just sat there and read my book ("Mortal Causes" by Ian Rankin, if you must know), but i'd been hoping to see some of my favourites, Nicole, Ashley & Maggie.

And just as i was leaving (after my customary two pints) ... Nicole, Ashley & Maggie arrived for the evening shift

Kelsey's

Quotation Of The Day -- Bruce Chatwin:  We watched them go off to bed. They were two people made in heaven for each other.  They had been hopelessly in love since the day they met, yet had gradually crept into their shells, glancing away, deliberately, in despair, as if it were too good, never to be, until suddenly the reticence and anguish had melted and what should have been, long ago, now was.

Nothing whatsoever to do with me and Astrid, that quotation.  Oh, no, of course not .

Anyway.  Anyway.  Anyone who reads me regularly will know that my favourite pub in this god-forsaken town is Kelsey's. (www.kelseys.ca). It aspires to be a sports bar and that as you may realise is anathema to me; but i go there because i like the people who work there.

I have, on my flickr page, a series of photos taken from Kelsey's smoking section  -- i.e., outside their front door -- at various times of the year.  Have a look at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34806425@N02/sets/72157619393471020/

Here's the most recent: