Neat, Please

As a cure for worrying, work is better than whiskey.
—     Ralph Waldo Emerson
[Which (somehow) reminds me of the Willie Nelson lyrics:
“There’s an ol’ doctor who told me
That I better start slowin’ it down.
But there’s more old drunks
Than there are old doctor’s
So I guess I better have another round.”
From his song:  “I Gotta Get Drunk”    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2021	Someone Should Tell Senator Joe Manchin
	One Of The Things We Need
2020	Boxing Day 2020
	Fractal Branches
	Advice For Sons, Too
2019	Almost Soulful Pleasure
2018	Cursive In The News
2017	Coffee Crunch
2016	Preparation
2015	Scarcely Asked
2014	They Resemble Us
2013	Both
2012	That’s Success!
2011	Losing At Dominoes
2010	1,001

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When A Voice Can Make You Cry

Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Favorite Line(s):
Love is like a dyin’ ember
Only memories remain
Through the ages I’ll remember
Blue eyes cryin’ in the rain
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On This Day In:
2021	Why We Protect The First Amendment
	When A Voice Can Make You Cry
	The March Continues…
2020	#45: And State Prison Waits When You Leave Office
	I Keep Getting Up
	Difficult To Relax
2019	Looking For A Republican With A Profile In Courage
2018	Hammers, Bells And Songs
2017	My Friends
2016	In Need Of Some Work
2015	Elections Have Consequences
2014	An Ear Of Happy Accidents
2013	Powerful Substitute
2012	Heroes Restored
2011	As You Should

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Thinking Of You

You Were Always On My Mind
Favorite Line(s):
If I made you feel
Second best
Girl, I’m sorry
I was blind
But you were always on my mind
You were always on
My mind
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On This Day In:
2022	Widening The Moat
2021	Core Strength
	Thinking Of You
2020	Rising Danger
	210 Day Health / Weight Update (Apr 2020)
2019	Never Let ‘Em See You Sweat
2018	Just Two?
2017	Living Without Love
	Good News!
2016	At This Moment
2015	Still Dreaming
2014	Good Wins
2013	Before
2012	Look To This Day
2011	One View Of Man

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Will The Senate Convict An Insurrectionist?

One In A Row
Favorite Line(s):
And if you can look into my eyes
One time without telling lies
Well that makes one in a row
One in a row, one in a row
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On This Day In:
2022	A Clear View Of #45
2021	Not Here, Not Again
	Will The Senate Convict An Insurrectionist?
2020	Senate Perfidy
2019	Contributing To Congress
	Yellow Signs Of Spring
2018	But Take Heart
	Poetic Marker
2017	The Few, The Many, The Most
2016	To My Brother
2015	For Junior
	A Roman Rome
2014	Hmmm
2013	What’s A Motto With You?
2012	Worthy Companions
2011	Bourne Again
	Which Ten Are You In?

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We’re Aging With Time

Yesterday’s Wine
Favorite Line(s):
Miracles appear in the strangest of places
Fancy meeting you here
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On This Day In:
2020	Where #45 Is Leading The Republican Party
2019	Your Own Blog Posts
	The Man With A Code
2018	Choose Goodness
2017	Developing Translations
2016	Think Like A Hero
2015	Reductionism
2014	Gravitation, n.
2013	Ups And Downs
2012	Nerd Heard – And Good-Bye
	Your Continuum
2011	Career Tips (Part 2)

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Another Night’s Dread

Hello Walls
Favorite Line(s):
Well look here,
is that a teardrop
in the corner
of your pane?
Now don’t you
try to tell me
that’s it’s rain.
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On This Day In:
2021	Every Today
	Millions Disappear
2020	Walking
	Another Night’s Dread
2019	Nowadays It Is Called Trumpism
2018	A Reluctant Joiner
	#IncompetentDonald: On The Road To Ruin
2017	He Says, It Says
2016	Marriage Advice
2015	To James (and ‘Tasha)
2014	Ssshhush, You Are Not Alone
2013	So I Chose Living…
2012	For However Short A Time…
2011	Take A Deep Breath And Continue (Or Not)
2010	Tootsie-Roll Day

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Should We Take Another Reading?

Me And Paul
Favorite Line(s):
It’s been rough and rocky travelin’,
But I’m finally standin’ upright on the ground.
After takin’ several readings,
I’m surprised to find my mind’s still fairly sound.
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On This Day In:
2021	Republican Big Lies On The Internet
	What Did They Say?
2020	We Are All Fish
	Should We Take Another Reading?
2019	A Dynamic And Adaptable System
2018	Speak Your Mind
2017	And I Thought It Was Just Me Getting Old
2016	One For Whole
2015	A Good Present
2014	And Your Point Is?
2013	Our Never-Ending Task
	Furloughed
2012	More Mature Than I Thought
2011	Outlaw’s Music
	Can Do!

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Not As Often As I Used To

I Gotta Get Drunk
Favorite Lines:
There’s a lot of doctors that tell me
That I’d better start to slowin’ it down
But there’s more old drunks
Than there are old doctors
So I guess we’d better have another round
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On This Day In:
2019	Four Buffett’s
2018	Change Happens
	Day 13: Ginger / Mint Relief
2017	Still Removing Bricks
2016	Namaste
2015	Still Learning
2014	Dark Processes
2013	To The Last Link
2012	Slept In Again
2011	Home Again, Naturally
2009	Thoughts after a long day of OT…

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Happy Valentine’s Day – 2017!!

[Happy Valentine’s Day, Hil!!  You are always on my mind…
All my love, Always, Your Kev XXX 00 X]
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On This Day In:
2022	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2022!!
2021	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2021!!
	Our Love’s No Mystery
	Backyard Narcissus
2020	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2020!!
2019	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2019!!
2018	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2018!!
2017	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2017!!
2016	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2016!!
2015	To My Special Lady
2014	Awakening
2013	Drowsy In Comfort
2012	Happy Valentine’s Day
2011	Own Your Bible

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Less Can Be More

Today I was browsing around on YouTube, just listening to this and that, and I found a song by someone I think is an under-appreciated artist:  Glen Campbell and the song is “Less Of Me“.
Despite the fact that Glenn Campbell has had a phenomenal career spanning decades (50+ years!) with multiple hits (70 albums), I think he took a little flak for being in the transition period (when country was Nashville and fading) during the ascendancy of Rock / Disco and Rhythm and Blues (aka “Soul”) – in other words – Pop music.  It didn’t help his street cred that he had a variety show on TV.  In the background, Glen Campbell was a terrific musician and song writer who cut his teeth playing as a “session” musician.  Basically, he played a lot of background music for other artists.
Glen Campbell has retired now for health reasons.  I compare him to Willie Nelson (in country music), Bob Dylan (folk / pop music) and a hand full of others whose careers have spanned 50 years, we may never see his like again…
As always, enjoy the words / lyrics, go listen to the song on your favorite music provider and then go listen to some live music.  Support the Arts!  While you’re on my Poems page, feel free to check out some of my poems, some of my favorite poems and speeches (by others) and the lyrics of other songs I like.  Quite a few of them are older songs, some are funny, some are sad, some just remind me of past friends or earlier days.  Enjoy!!
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On This Day In:
2022	Traveling Faster Than ‘c’
2021	Maybe “Creation” Wasn’t That Difficult After All
	C’est Chic
2020	#45: Time Is Ticking Away
	#45 Claims COVID-19 Defeated To Open The Economy
2019	Belief Buffet
2018	Change Is Law
2017	A Dog Day Of Summer
2016	Chances Are
2015	Truer Spoken
2014	Not Quite There Yet (Either)
	Many Colors
2013	Distance, n.
	Less Can Be More
2012	Rise Up!
	The Gift
2011	Artful Courage
2010	A Handful of Lessons…

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And In My Prayers

The passing of Neil Armstrong today reminded me of another great American who I recently read hasn’t been doing too well lately:  Willie Nelson.
I was never much of a “country” music fan until I got to Germany while I was serving in the Army.  My roommate was from Dallas, Texas and had been a DJ while working his way through college.  Anyway, he liked lots of different types of music, but was particularly fond of country and was a big fan of Willie’s.  Many is the night we sat around listening to Willie, drinking and playing cards.
Although my roommate was a “typically” obnoxious Texan about most things, he did manage to pass on to me a deep appreciation for country music and I’ll always be grateful for that.
Anyway, here’s the lyrics to one of my favorite Willie Nelson songs:  “Always On My Mind“.  I think all hard-working family men will be able to appreciate the words and the spirit of the song.  And hopefully, a bunch of you long suffering wives will too…
As always, enjoy the lyrics and then go listen to Willie sing it.  It’s been covered by loads of others, so take your pick of your favorite…
And, Willie, get well soon.  You’re in our thoughts and prayers.
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Outlaw’s Music

One of the great American treasures of music is Willie Nelson.  Way back when I was in the Army I fell in love with his songs and song lyrics.  Today I’m including one of his classics on my Poems page.  The song is titled:  “Me And Paul“.  It’s the story of hard times for a free spirit in the Country Music genre.
Although, I’ve “interpreted” the lyrics, this is one song you can’t “feel” just from reading the words.  You really have to go listen to it.  Highly recommended!!
The song is from his “Wanted! Outlaws” album, which is really a group /compilation album of Willie performing with Jessi Colter, Tompall Glaser and Waylon Jennings.  This was the first country music album to go platinum and it’s said that after this album, Nashville’s total domination of country music ended.  I guess the key word in that is “total”, as I still feel Nashville is pretty dominant.  This is the second song from this album to get added to my Poems page.  The first was “Put Another Log On The Fire” – another equally great life ‘n laughter song.
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On This Day In:
2021	Republican Big Lies On The Internet
	What Did They Say?
2020	We Are All Fish
	Should We Take Another Reading?
2019	A Dynamic And Adaptable System
2018	Speak Your Mind
2017	And I Thought It Was Just Me Getting Old
2016	One For Whole
2015	A Good Present
2014	And Your Point Is?
2013	Our Never-Ending Task
	Furloughed
2012	More Mature Than I Thought
2011	Outlaw’s Music
	Can Do!

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Living Legends (Willie Nelson) and the Gettysburg Address

When I was very young, I loved country music.  As I grew older, I discovered R&B and Rock.  My tastes grew to include most of the music we generally remember from the 60’s thru to today – ballads, show-tunes (musicals), Pop, Disco, and folk music.  Some artists transcend the trends of today and become – for me, anyway – kind of living legends.  Part of that comes from individual songs or albums being great and part of it comes from longevity and the sheer magnitude and volume of work they have created…
To me, one of the greatest song writers of all time is Willie Nelson.  Yes, he’s been writing (and performing) since the 50’s.  Yes, he’s put out a Godzillion number of albums.  Yes, he’s managed to crossover (on occasion) to mainstream and not so mainstream.  Yes, he’s had more million seller singles than I have fingers and toes.  But, he also means something more…
I’m not sure how to define what “more” is, but I  see it in more than 20 years of “FarmAid” concerts, I see it in the hole in the front of Willie’s guitar, I see it (and hear it) in the lyrics of his songs.  One of my favorites is “Hello Walls“.   If you can measure “true” poetry – whatever that is – by how it plays on your ears as well as your heart, consider the lines:  “Is that a teardrop in the corner of your pane?  Don’t try to tell me that it’s rain.” as the singer talks to a window.  I imagine the window thinks:  “Is that a raindrop in the center of your pain?  Don’t try to tell me that it’s not.”  (Yes, I know my rhyme isn’t as good as his!  He’s Willie Nelson, not me.)
Anyway, the play on sounds (pane vs. pain) has always seemed brilliant to me and I would love the lyrics if for nothing else than this one verse.
My second addition to the poetry page is not a poem at all.  It’s actually a speech.  The Gettysburg Address is probably one of, if not the most famous speech in American history.  I’ve taken some liberties with Mr. Lincoln’s prose and reformatted it as if it were a poem.  When I read the Gettysburg Address, this is the way I imagine it being said.
The more I read about American history and the Civil War, the more I read about Lincoln and think about true leadership, the more I come to understand the meaning of giving “the last full measure of devotion” in order “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.  I pray for those in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan and throughout the world.
I pray our President will see the folly of continuing pointless wars and that he will bring our sons and daughters home!
In the meantime, we all need to agree to disagree.  We need to remember you can disagree with someone without hating them for their views.  We need to work hard for the side we honestly support as being the best for all Americans (not just us as individuals), and we need to VOTE and encourage others to vote!  Vote in November and vote in 2012!!
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