Que the music...

{ Frank Sinatra -- Strangers In The Night }


Eau Claire, WI.

So... with Thanksgiving just a week away, that can only mean one thing.... shopping! Wait... its got to mean another thing.... cooking! Dammit... It means I end up in Eau Claire for two days. Yeah, thats what it means.

It means... I get crammed into a 30 year old aircraft, shuttled like a cow at IBP into a dank facility, surrounded by blue shirted corporate cheerleaders for 2 days. It, by default, means I stand in front of vendors telling them about their products more than they can tell me about them, for hours at a time, until midnight. Thats when we are finally allowed to sleep, in a hotel, across town, with a stranger. Yes Frankie, "love was just a glance away." Then, after clutching my asshole in fear all night, I'm run out of bed, in the dark, before 5am, to go right back to the compound, fetch my allotted single donut, to start it all over again... and when its decided... when the peace has been brokered. We're herded on to school buses again, and like hostages we're driven to the tarmac and escorted on to waiting planes. And only when I see Eau Claire from the air, do I know thats its ended. Another year in the books. I have survived.

In other news... I picked up the new Eagles cd... Long Road Out of Eden. On several levels I'm perplexed about it. First, that they decided to do a new album. Second, that they have decided there will be nothing after this one. Third, that they eventually always end up doing what they say they won't do. Fourth, how country this has returned for them. In all honesty, they started as a country music backer band for Linda Ronstadt. Yes, they did, check it out for yourself. But when I say that they were going to play the Country Music Awards this year, I thought "why." Now, I know. Don't get me wrong, there are some stand out songs on here, that are decidedly not country... and that would blend in well with one of those mid 70's albums.... but its a lot of country [ahem] inspired parts.--- more so than I was expecting. Obviously Joe Walsh didn't get to write a lot of this. But its good. Not great. Not best ever. Not even the Eagles best. But its good. The fifth thing that bugs me about it, [thought I was done?] is the release. Its a Walmart only!!! They have restricted the rights to them for one year before they let other retailers distribute it out. Plus, its also only available as a double cd set. The good part is, it was only 12 bucks. The bad part is, I know this isn't going to be the actual release... too many tracks, different tracks, and the obvious second disc is really making me think this. But. Do get it if you are a fan, or just never realized how many Eagles songs you like.

-----That time is past, And all its aching joys are now no more, And all its dizzy raptures. Not for this Faint I, nor mourn nor murmur, other gifts Have followed; for such loss, I would believe, Abundant recompence.---
Wodsworths' 'Tintern Abbey'




A Sad Farewell.... Dearest RonRon.



Im serious here people... I have great sadness in my heart today, knowing we have but only a few short weeks to hold with our Dearest Councilmen Ron Van Fossen. RonRon, as we've come to call him, is nothing short of the nuts de squirrel turd that has become the current incarnation of the Davenport City Council. Together, with brethren; such as Keith Meyer [who wanders the streets at night, and picks fights with kids at skate parks, he sues the City ; he represents when he jeopardizes its development, and of course... sings racially inappropriate songs at Council meetings to our more ethnic Councilmen]; Jamie "gets my son hired at the city, to end up with him fired over assault charges" Howard, Bob "No Pizza, but brings home the DUI-Y" McGivern, so to say this group is disfunctional is to say that Daffy Duck, isn't quite looney tunes enough to run with Fud, Bugs and the crew. Its down right comical. Shameful. But fucking comical. This is the Council that wants to fire the city administrator, then fully supports him, then doesn't, [whom of course, elected to give himself some pay hikes, creates a healthy work environment with some good sexual harrasment ], created a new fee taxing you for the amount of property you have that collects rain water, for putting up those nice speed trap cameras to make money for the city, and gave us the bridge to nothing. [Or is it just a target?, or just THE place to get your sex on with a 13 year old?] So what, its also the town where the county attorney gets his law license yanked. And who takes a civil case against his own office, in a case he helped prosecute. But does any of that matter without THE Man?

But without RonRon, this is nothing. Where do we even start? He is arguably, most famous for being arrested, held in county jail cell yards from where his seat sits empty at a council meeting, or his prior arrest where he comes after his estranged wife, a member of the City of Davenport DUI club, stumps his own case from substance abuse facilities, or for knowing a thing or two about sexual harassment himself, or who knows when to drop to a knee and take a heart attack to avoid court dates, or can just plain be in contempt of court. RonRon can represent with the best of them. But now, his term is going to expire... and barring any gruesome murders, flagrant shows of genitals to school girls, or gay-governor type flips; it is very possible we have heard the best of RonRon. And really, that rap sheet runs like a greatest hits cd. That shit just doesn't stop. Off the hook yo'! RonRon4Real. RonRon runnin' over yo ass.


Damn I'm going to miss you RonRon. So let me pour out my 40 in your honor, you sir, are the Original G.



-----// out