All Together Now...

Sir Paul, July 19 2013 Safeco Field, Seattle

I'm not worthy.

This is when I know what a hack writer I am: I am afraid to define the truth, or unable to capture a moment in time.

Months ago, CD Rogue acquired tickets for Paul McCartney's concert. We spent the grocery budget on them, which was fine. Who needs food when Sir Paul is coming to town? We asked cubs if they wanted to go too, but they declined. I wonder if they will ever regret not going to see one of the last, and seminal, remaining Beatles? I am actually starting to get a little teary thinking about it. But it was their choice, and though they are both musicians themselves, a night without parental supervision was more alluring. For the record, I was born the month and year the Fab Four came to the States. Forever and anon, UK: thank you. Thank you with all my heart. Now you all know how old I am, but after seeing 71-year-old Paul take the stage for three and a half hours and go non-stop, three encores, and return to his young wife, well, damn: there is something to this clean rock lifestyle after all! The couple next to us and we laughed because we looked around and wondered who all those old people in the audience were?

He did all the great ones, and some new ones, too. I came back from the ladies' room to find CDR, eyes red, from a tribute to John: the clear message: tell those we love them before it's too late. Do it. Now. Don't leave the words unsaid. To come back to a grown man in tears --powerful stuff.

So: Just as I love and cherish the people in my real life, to my blogger and play friends, I love you too.

He sang all my favorites--Paperback Writer, he did a tribute to George by singing Something, starting off the piece using a Gibson ukulele George had given him, and during one of the encores Yesterday. He had the audience singing like an English pub to Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, and All Together Now.

It was truly, thoroughly epic.

CD Rogue turned to me at one point and said I should watch the Sound City documentary.

And--then--

Paul brought out Dave Grohl and the remaining members of Nirvana on stage.

Now for those of you who may be unfamiliar with Nirvana: the late, great Kurt Cobain, heroic Dave Grohl, lanky Krist Novoselic, friendly Paul Smear, well, it's okay. When Nirvana hit the world, I was living on the east coast at the time and thought: Oh...there's...what's....yes.

My reaction to Dave Grohl, Who Would Marry Me If He Knew Me

However I'm not turning this into a Beatlemanirvania fest anymore than I have, cause I need to say this: many moments last night I wish I could have somehow shared this experience with my Azerothian friends. I wish I could have told you how courageous I know many of you are, how hard you work, how much you do for your loved ones and families. Those songs are for you, they are for all of us. I love my time in Azeroth with you, but oddly enough, the things I wish and pray for you aren't in Azeroth: they are in the real world. If in any way, I have brought a smile to your face, or helped you think about something in a new way, then my work is done. Sorry to get so soppy, but damn, one doesn't meet rock royalty every day. The majesty's a pretty nice girl, and I want to tell her that I love her a lot but I gotta get a belly full of wine...

Oh, he sang this too:

Click.

Some things to note: I say the word "money" at the beginning, as in, "I would bet money." Also, at the end of the video is a tall, blonde security officer. He thought CD Rogue was partaking of mage's herbs and told him emphatically "NO." Efffing fascist. The smell of herbs wafting through the air was all around us: why he singled out CD is annoying as hell. 

Footnote:
Driving home CD said he was saddened by the absences of John, George, and Kurt Cobain, and wished he could replace guns with guitars. (I wish I could replace cancer and illness with guitars, too). I asked him "If everyone had a guitar instead of a gun, what would the ranchers do to shoot rattlesnakes and coyotes? Without skipping a beat, he said: "El Kabong."

Burns, burns, burns...

Dear readers and friends, and friends who are readers, you probably have figured out that my human self, as much as I want to, cannot reside in Azeroth 24/7. We all have other interests, and this is healthy. One piece of advice I take from the opening splash-screens is "Get outside of Azeroth." Reading bits of news this morning, I cannot believe I almost missed this:

Ring of Fire Eclipse

National Geographic

This is so cool, that I'm even posting during a break at work. It's a good thing, because if my brain wasn't engaged right now in writing, I would go face-first into my instant mocha and drown a coffee-death, I am that tired (and weepy--hate when that happens). It was a long day for our stalwart Miss Matty's human self, and yet--managed to keep a smile, lipstick, and warm disposition on.

Now--I mentioned I was weepy. When I get this exhausted, and yet have many a mile to go before I sleep, and promises to keep, there is nothing to be done for it. The front part of my brain/frontal lobe aches, my eyes feel puffy and full of toxins, and those toxins need to be cleansed - hence the tears. This morning I tried to check in with the Draenei girls, and repeatedly got kicked off of the server. I guess they were trying to tell me to bugger off and kept hitting their own snooze alarms. Smart girls. I am jealous.

So, the big swirly vortex of my favorite bloggers is the new blogger thingy.
Check out Tome's, Navi's, JD's, et.al. And if I have any credibility at all, my old post on it, too, before there was an initiative.

Now, in the process of writing this, my work laptop has gone all wonky, so I am going to hit the publish button soon. There are more instant coffee packets, so--till next time. Once in a while--my only advice this morning--look up.

Too sad: Hurt/Johnny Cash
Too obvious: Ring of Fire
Just right: I walk the line...

Help Mr. Wizard!

Once in a job interview I was accused of being "flip and irreverent." I thought I was being charming and engaging, but to each his own. I am not trying to be flip, or charming, actually, but need to share this moment.

Last night, very, very late, around 1AM, I had to go pick someone up. Nothing bad, all good, but these are promises I have made, and had miles to go before I could sleep. I was feeling a bit surreal, just a touch, and put on NPR, and fortunately, the good British voices of the BBC were soothing. There was a story about the devastating impact of the Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake from a year ago, and a government/religious official (Bishop Victoria Matthews) was relaying the terrible decision that they did not plan on rebuilding this monument in its original form.

And then...there was a wizard.

Yes. New Zealand has a wizard. I should say, a Wizard.

Well, why am I surprised? They have hobbits, bats, and Peter Jacksons, too.

Now this is where you are going to think I am being flip, and again, I am not.  I am sad. The last major earthquake here in the Seattle area really only further damaged the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which was already in disrepair and an infrastructural eyesore. I am not comparing the cathedral to a Seattle highway.I can't imagine what it would be like if the Space Needle fell, or even the Smith Tower. The Smith Tower is a feature on the Seattle Underground Tour as one of the highest buildings west of the Mississippi back in the day. What strikes me as major irony is that the Smith Tower, of typewriter fame, paved the way for other big tech companies, Microsoft of course immediately comes to mind.

(Please remember: this is around 2AM now when I was formulating these thoughts, forgive me.)

Straight up: the U.S. has many wonderful things. But we do not have a Wizard spokesman.

And the cathedral needs to be rebuilt. There is the technology that can rebuild it to withstand more earthquakes, because as those of us know in the Ring of Fire, and no, not the Johnny Cash song, but a true geological zone of bumps, shocks, and jarring land movements, earthquakes are inevitable.

Anyway, if you're interested, here is a link: http://www.christchurchcathedral.co.nz/Rebuild

There are strange things afoot, ladies and gentlemen, and yes, some of them happen at two in the morning.

If the Space Needle falls, I'll be asking for help, too, 'cause we are short wizards around these parts. Wars between Bishops and Wizards exist, and for that, it is a remarkable world indeed.

For Xak:

Recommendation: go to The Writer's Almanac and listen to Garrison Keillor reading this. Also, Happy Birthday, Ira Glass! 

Post Hoc

by Jennifer Maier

It happened because he looked a gift horse in the mouth.
It happened because he couldn't get that monkey off his back.
It happened because she didn't chew 22 times before swallowing.
What was she thinking, letting him walk home alone from the bus stop?
What was he thinking, standing up in the boat like that?
Once she signed those papers the die was cast.
She should have waited an hour before going in; everyone knows
salami and seawater don't mix.
He should have checked his parachute a seventh time;
you can never be too careful.
Why didn't she declare her true feelings?
Why didn't she play hard to get? She could be out at some
nice restaurant right now instead of in church, praying
for the strength to let him go.
It all started with that tattoo.
It all started with her decision to order the chicken salad.
Why was he so picky?
Why wasn't she more discriminating?
He should have read the writing on the wall; listened
to the still small voice, had a lick of sense. But how could he when he
was blinded by passion? Deaf to warnings? Really dumb?
Why, why, in God's name, did he run with scissors?
If only they'd asked Jesus for help.
If only they'd asked their friends for help.
If only they'd ignored the advice of others and held fast
to their own convictions, they might all be here, now,
with us, instead of six feet under; instead of trying to adopt
that foreign baby, instead of warming that barstool
at the Road Not Taken Eatery and Lounge, wondering how it might all
have been different, if only they had done
the right thing.

"Post Hoc" by Jennifer Maier, from Dark Alphabet. © Southern Illinois University Press, 2006. Reprinted with permission. (buy now)

Eff it, Dude, Let's Go Bowling.

Went to the one in San Francisco a few years' back, and can seldom think of a better time:

http://www.lebowskifest.com/UpcomingFests/LebowskiFestMilwaukeeJune2223/tabid/242/Default.aspx

I know, I know. This has no relevance to WoW. None whatsoever. 

But since Blizzard won't treat us to Blizzcon, we'll just have to find something else to do, I guess.