Chapter 193 ~ Oh. My. God.

Okay, I'll admit it. What. a. week.

Monday I burned my finger. Bad. To the point where I decided it best to hide in my apartment the rest of the day and play nurse. Needless to say I couldn't get to a blog or write to save my life. And I couldn't get to the laundry.

Tuesday store manager Joel had me work on that darn Christmas tree at work. Finally. And yet, of all the days to have done so... In any case I got started fighting the tree lights and garlands at 2 in the afternoon; by the time all was said and done [between fighting the strings and buying the new treetopper and putting the whole damn tree together!], it was 6:30 P.M., almost 7. Manager Daniel and his sister Manager Veronica were very nice to take me home [and probably the proper repentance at it was at the fault of Daniel that I'd burned my finger on Monday!!]. After I got home I got to the laundry [with caution due to the finger], time was spent on the phone with Roboter but not for too long. Particularly due to exhaustion.

Wednesday had me working like a hellhound on Wild Turkey Lunch Rush, finishing up the tree, and no time for pre-Thanksgiving Day feast lunch whatsoever [the managers brought in food for the crew and Joel cooked a turkey in the grill oven]. Got home, got packed, got picked up by the parents, got dinner, and got out of town!!

Thursday was Thanksgiving Day here in America, spent in Hilton Head Island, in South Carolina, with the family and the Grandparents...
Taken in the room where I was staying, looking out the window.


Best wishes from the family!


Off to the beach with the family, which helped to make this the best Thanksgiving day, ever; the weather was, in a word, perfect...


My new pet Tom wanted some shells...












Grandma and Zach found some sand dollars too.




Yesterday, weatherwise it wasn't so great...


Tom wanted another souvenir photo so...


And for this one I did a color effect on the phone camera. Gave it a blueish tint.


Went to the Mall in another part of the Island with Addie and Mom...


You can't see it too well, but that's Saint Luke Episcopal Church across from our little area of the Island known as Shipyard.


Later on I went with Grandma and Addie to an area of the Island known as South Beach. NOT RELATED AT ALL to the overrated South Beach of Miami, Florida...


Grandma even got her two granddaughters some ice cream! Addie went for mint chocolate-chip, I opted for this tasty flavor: brownie-cheesecake. Yummy!!


This morning wasn't too bad, finally stopped raining.


At 9 A.M. this morning we set out for home! I took more pictures along the way and, mind you, it's NOT easy taking pictures with a cameraphone while in a moving van!!

Final shots of South Carolina:








Georgia:




Along the Georgia-Florida Border, our quick stop at a gas station which, with the gas station at this pic, was at $1.67 a gallon!!


Hi Florida, We're Baaaaack!!


Jacksonville, Florida:






A Super-Size can of 7-Up...!


Right around the center of the photo is, yes, a blimp.


This one's for Choirmaster Peter, who lives in Palatka. ^_^


Weight stations are lovin' it...


It's just SOOO good to be home!!


So there you have it, pictures to offer up for my weeklong absence! AND, tomorrow's the First Sunday of Advent, which means Service at 11 A.M. as usual. But wait--what the... OH YEAH! Evensong is at 4 P.M., Choir assembles for practice at 3. So I might get a chance to blog before the Evensong, because after that is the Choir party at Dr. Steeves' place. So this promises to be a very thrilling day tomorrow.

With that, apologies again about my week-long absence, I posted some pics. And here's two songs to crank up the volume to. I still have more of my to-do list to get done before tomorrow as I didn't get 'em done this week [Opacity holiday card exchange anyone?] AND I have dinner in less than two hours! Whew!!

This one's kinda more for Roboter. Uhm, anyone remember when I posted the edited version on the codename ~ TECHNO post some weeks back? Well, this one's the full version, basically. Roboter hun [and everyone for that matter], you have my full permission to crank this track up full blast...
"Who's Your Daddy" [original extended mix] - Benny Benassi


The other track was first heard in brief when I went to the DJ mix set with Benny Loco [Friday 24 May was the concert, Saturday 25 May was the blogpost, Chapter 130 (One By One I'll Knock Ya Out!!) which noted it]. I just finally found the full version of this remix. And to be honest, I'm thinking about making it my Remix of the Week.
"Get Innocuous!" [Soulwax remix] - LCD Soundsystem


And that's about it, the week in a nutshell! Belated Thanksgiving wishes to you and yours, and may God prosper us all as a new Church year begins with Advent I tomorrow.

--oh and yes, this week's Thursday Tradition will be a double-feature: The Sundays and... well... I don't quite know who yet... maybe Depeche Mode or Massive Attack or something...

Until the next round...

~ me

Chapter 192 ~ Another Requiem...

I think I had too much fun on Friday to even realise what needed to be done [by that I mean this blog--sorry I didn't get on her sooner]; Friday night's concert with the Stetson University Symphony Orchestra was just magnificent. Yesterday's picture-taking drama was a bit crazy [kinda hard to explain] but, it went alright. Not exactly the picture I'd want to send to my out-of-town family and friends but, I'm sure I'll think of something for my holiday pic for this year.

Happy Christ the King Sunday to the Christian Church, the final Sunday of the Church Year. Onward to Advent and, God willing, better things to come.

And on that note... well... I regret to inform the Underground that Aunt Sue did pass away. I spoke with Grandma Sharon yesterday and she'd reported to me that Aunt Sue had died on Friday. Grandma will be leaving tomorrow for Indiana for the funeral; tonight meanwhile will be Thanksgiving dinner at her place.

Another death to note--one of my friends and fellow Choir Altos, Bobbie [she gave me a book with positive thoughts to read; i may need to find that book again], her mother Virginia passed away Thursday at the ripe age of 100 years and 2 days old.

The only song I can think of now for the tears is this one. And it's also how I'm going to close this post until the next round. Words are of no use to me at the moment.
"Street Spirit [Fade Out]" - Radiohead

The One-Week-To-Turkey Tradition!

Welcome, Underground Citizens, to another Thursday Tradition post. One week from today exactly it'll be Thanksgiving day and, I do have info concerning that actually. Pay very close attention to the following schedule for the next handful of days:

Tomorrow [Friday 21 November] - The new alto in our Choir, Chrissy, has a concert with the Stetson University Orchestra and, Ani thinks she'd appreciate it if I made an appearance. Sooo... that's where I'll be tomorrow evening. Don't worry, I'll blog up though.
Saturday 22 November - Family holiday picture day. It'll possibly be hectic, but as [Step]Mom's trying to get the main core of the family together--which means my bigger younger brother Robbie better be done with work ASAP!--for this, I'm hoping it'll go alright with not too many problems.
Sunday 23 November - The Celebration of Christ the King. Choir raising the Church roof up a few feet AGAIN; it's also early Thanksgiving Dinner at Grandma Sharon's.
Monday 24 November - Work, possibly blog AND/OR decorate the workplace for Thanksgiving.
Tuesday 25 November - Work, packing up for going out-of-town the next day.
Wednesday 26 November - Work in the A.M. to early P.M., leaving later on for the South Carolina/Georgia border, somewhere along that area, for Thanksgiving. This is also going to be my final post until Sunday 30 November, and the Thursday Tradition will also be moved over to this day in light of the Thanksgiving Holiday the following day.
Thursday 27 November - Happy Thanksgiving Day!!
Friday 28 November - Still out of town...
Saturday 29 November - Returning to Florida. I won't have time to blog as I'll probably be so busy getting adjusted for the next day which will be...
Sunday 30 November - First Sunday of Advent. Also there's an Evensong at 4 in the afternoon so it's back to the Choir Room at 3 for practice. I'll be fairly exhausted by the time it's all over. What a way to end the month of November...

Speaking of Grandma Sharon, I'd received word earlier today via the Prayer Chain I'm involved with that, Grandma Sharon's sister-in-law Auntie Sue has been diagnosed with multiple cancers. And unfortunately the prognosis is not good either. So please--I mean PLEASE--keep my family [and particularly Auntie Sue] in your warm thoughts and prayers.

*whew* That said... the Starian Union Random 20 for today, Thursday 20 November 2008...
Theme: Sisters of Mercy
1] "Marian"
2] "Alice"
3] "I Was Wrong"
4] "Watch"
5] "Flood II"
6] "Nine While Nine"
7] "Train"
8] "Something Fast"
9] "Phantom"
10] "Anaconda"
11] "Valentine"
12] "Walk Away"
13] "Long Train"
14] "Lucretia My Reflection" [Extended Single]
15] "Temple of Love" [1992]
16] "This Corrosion"
17] "Dominion/Mother Russia"
18] "Body Electric"
19] "Burn"
20] "Body and Soul"

The Song of the Week, meanwhile, has NOTHING to do with the SoM...
"Love" - The Sundays


I'm about to put a mix of the Sundays together for next week's roadtrip. The Sundays will be my band of the week for next week's Thursday Tradition which, in the case of next week, will be the Turkey Tradition. The playlist will consist of tracks from their first two albums, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic [from 1990] and Blind [from 1992]. Their third and last album [which was Static and Silence from 1997] wasn't quite so good, so I'm sticking to their essential stuff. Which would be those two albums right there. [By the way, "Here's Where The Story Ends" is from RW+A and "Love" is from Blind so, there ya go.]

*sigh* Well, alrighty. I think I need to take a walk or something. In any case, I'll be around until next Wednesday. Hopefully things will improve with Auntie Sue...

Fingers crossed, until the next round...

~ me

Chapter 191 ~ A Lamentation for the Fallen...

"Death Will Never Conquer" - Coldplay


The funeral Saturday went alright. I can't really say much else other than, the pain's a little greater than I can bear right now.

I could really use a distraction. Until then...

There is a quaint and proper halo,
when the tears can't be cried,
when the pain can't be said enough,
when the hurt isn't worth the words--

a silver lining in the clouds of despair,
in the dark sky of sorrow,
that silver lining being hope,

the assurance of faith in things
greater than the pain.

To the few and many that have passed on,
to leave friends and loved ones behind,
but not without leaving sweet reminders
of the reward for keeping the faith...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

~ Ani's mother ~
~ Rabbit's mother ~
~ Choir Ducky's niece ~
~ Connie's husband ~
~ Corky's husband ~
~ Hester ~
~ Juan's dad ~
~ Jeff's dad ~
~ Taubin's two pet dogs Lulu and Bozo ~
~ Ben's dog [forgot the name--sorry] ~
~ Sissy Too's dad ~
~ Normita's brother ~
~ Sarah's daughter's cousin ~
~ Paul's dad ~
~ Andie's dad ~
~ Tabbsy's uncle ~
~ Shajohnna's aunt ~
~ Elena's father ~
~ Anne's father-in-law ~

"Love" ~ The Sundays *song of the week*


May they and all the souls
of the faithful departed,
by the Mercy of God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
rest in peace,
light perpetual ever shining upon them.

Amen.


I think that, finally, I have begun to move on. Again.

Chapter 190 ~ Chaos. Stop. Breathe. Recover. REPEAT.

Before I get into a proper recap of this week's dilemma, I got a special request for a proper addendum for what I noted originally in Chapter 189 [Between the Goth and the Funeral, Tuesday 11 November]. It ran as such--

One thing more--and kinda saving this for last--Roboter's dad is a veteran. And as today IS Veterans' Day for us American Underground Citizens, I believe a proper moment of salute is in order for those who fought for the sake of our country and the freedom and liberty that we enjoy. So to Roboter's dad, and for those you Veterans who somehow come across this blog, I tip my hat in your direction and thank you for knowing and showing what it took, the sacrifices being made, the courage high when the odds were high enough. Cheers!!

Well, Roboter wanted me to note that, his father, a veteran of the Second World War, is still going strong at age 86. I think there's a quaint sense of pride that Roboter has for his dad, for such a dilemma as such that presented itself, implications and all. I don't know if any of my family members ever served in the military [though I did once see a pic of my Uncle Raul in a sort of military uniform so there is a chance I do have former-military folk in my family]; I may have to ask Grandpa Eddie the next time I see him. In any case, I tip my hat in the direction of Roboter's dad. :-)

Now, that said, I am, at the moment, exhausted--physically [after working AT LEAST 40 hours this week], mentally [given the extra work I needed to get done this week not including preparing for tomorrow], and emotionally [thank you to the stress at work and the thought of tomorrow]. I still have to rework the blue hair dye too, which I'll be doing first thing tomorrow which means that, I might not really get to sleep in that much after all. Not that I sleep in a lot on Saturdays [unless you count sleeping in until 9 A.M.], but still. My only proper soundtrack is the new gothic mix I'm working on, and if that's the only thing that's saving my sanity then... well...

*sigh* I guess there really isn't much else for me to do at this point. Tonight I'll try to numb myself somehow, but I think that'll be to no avail.

I think I've spent hours trying to put into proper words just how I feel about the fact that I'll be attending my fourth funeral this year tomorrow. I just... hell... words fail me. There really isn't much help in trying to find the words at the moment.

I swear, I'll get myself pulled together by Sunday afternoon. Today's not quite a proper day to put words together on such a subject.

EDIT -
P.S. The new playlist is done for the moment.

"The Queen Is Dead" - The Smiths
"American Soviets" [Instrumental Mix] - CCCP
"Fade to Gray" - Visage
"Marian" - Sisters of Mercy
"New York" - Microchip League
"Desperate But Not Serious" - Adam Ant
"Enjoy The Silence" - Depeche Mode
"West End Girls" - Pet Shop Boys
"Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus
"Headhunter" - Front 242
"Join In The Chant" - Nitzer Ebb
"Cuts You Up" - Peter Murphy
"Cities In Dust" - Siouxsie and the Banshees
"Every Day Is Halloween" - Ministry

Well... it didn't turn out too gothic now, did it?

Until the next round...

The Sisters of the Tradition...?

...or, welcome to the special Sisters of Mercy edition of the Thursday Tradition, Underground Citizens. Okay okay, so the title of this week's Thursday Tradition isn't the best or most original but, I've been trying to put this blogpost together for at least a freckin' hour now. And I'll admit, it's not an easy task when I don't have a whole lot of SoM in possession. But currently I have the album First and Last and Always, and a few more of their songs, and if this doesn't delve me further into the gothic side of me then I don't know what band will! [Er, other than the Division, the Cure, the Banshees...]

To start off, a song that I gave some quaint showing-off time a couple of days ago...
"Flood II" [from Floodland, 1987]


All I can say is, this song is the ish...
"Body and Soul" [from the EP Body and Soul, 1984]


If you can handle all bloody 10 minutes of this, crank this grand goth anthem up full blast, Citizens...
"This Corrosion" [from Floodland, 1987]


Now while I'm not entirely fond of this song, hey, it's not that bad. [That's what happens when you try to share a bit of everything in this...]
"Alice" [from the EP Alice, 1983]


Another reason why I love that first album by the SoM.
"Possession" [from First and Last and Always, 1985]


Taking another '87 tune, I don't understand how this tune didn't get much playing time. It's a very good song, honest...
"Lucretia My Reflection" [from Floodland, 1987]


Another early something...
"On The Wire" [from the Walk Away 12", 1984]


Something about this song. Can't put my finger on it.
"Nine While Nine" [from First and Last and Always, 1985]


Kicking up the adrenaline... just a tiny little bit...
"Dominion/Mother Russia" [from Floodland, 1987]


I don't remember what year the original came out, but I definitely like this version better than the original. In any case, the track is class.
"Temple of Love" [1992 remake] [from the compilation Some Girls Wander By Mistake]


For me, I'm sorry, but it's NOT a Sisters of Mercy StarMix without this track. Second only to this week's Song of the Week, it's my favorite SoM tune. It was the tune that introduced me to 'em. I'd heard it so many times while at Indie Bar, but never knew who did that or what the song was. I fcuking love this song.
"More" [from Vision Thing, 1990]


Song of the Week ~ This song's been replaying in my head since Sunday. I now have the album First, Last and Always and, while much of the album if not all is quite the gothique, I haven't really stopped listening to this track...
"Marian" [from First and Last and Always, 1985]


...and there you have it! Yup, between all the hunting and typing and listening to the SoM and catching up... gosh... when did I start putting this together? It's almost 20 after 8 P.M. right now SO... 5:33 P.M.!?

So yes, I spent almost 3 hours on this week's Thursday Tradition. Hopefully it serves the Sisters proud. Or something. I think Roboter will be most humored.

Until the next round...!

Chapter 189 ~ Between the Goth and the Funeral...

For some reason, I seem to have "Marian" by the Sisters of Mercy--yes, the Sisters of Mercy--replaying in my head. After yesterday being exhausting and today just plain irrationally upsetting, I think this might be the proper song of the day. I don't know why... it just, I don't know, it just seems appropriate. Maybe it's the music. Bit in any case, for all I know, it's replaying in my head. That and "Flood II" as well. I think a Sisters of Mercy spotlight might be in order for this week's Thursday Tradition.

Saturday I went to a tea party hosted by my two best friends in the Choir, and it was a quaint four hours of fun, tea and seriously good snacks. And I got to spend time with my two dear pals.

Sunday was the annual Church Fish Fry at the home of the Underhills. [Yes, the family name is Underhill. Don't even start with the jokes!] The Fish Fry was absolute fun, complete with hay rides, horses [thank you trudie for bringing 'em over!], and other surprises. Here are my favorite pics that were taken Sunday afternoon [all of 'em I'd sent to Roboter after I'd taken them, and the album in its entirety with the larger versions will be up tomorrow]...
Lake Daugherty, being the end of the Underhills' backyard!


Homemade vanilla ice cream!!


Trudie with her horse.


A game of badminton.


The boys-vs-girls Tug-o-War... which the girls won, by the way!


Time for a hay ride!!






Returned just in time to catch a pic of Deacon Nana on one of the horses.


And as things dwindled down, all in all a fun time was sure to be had by all.


This week it's all 5 A.M. to 1 P.M., Wednesday evening I have Discipleship class as usual, and Thursday being our favorite day of the week here with the music. But I'll also be busy preparing for what is, unfortunately, my fourth funeral this year. Last Wednesday, Store Manager Joel sent Grill Team member Elena home early so she could help take care of her father, who was very ill.

Sadly, word was received two days afterwards [last Friday] that her father had passed away.

So this Saturday, I'll be joining the funeral-attending team from our Store to be there for Elena at the funeral. I know, I don't really know the deceased, but this is my friend Elena here. She's in her late-20's... maybe early-30's? Still kinda young to lose a father. And I know it's going to be very difficult for me to go through this, but I have to be strong--if anything--for Elena's sake. Sure, I'll be emotionally spent by the time all this is over. Sure, I'm going to get all bent-up and half-past emo. And yes, chances are I'll need a Kleenix. I just don't do funerals very well. Yet I go through 'em anyway, as death is a part of life. But even Saint Paul got it right when he said--and mind you the Choir sang this as our anthem two days ago!!--

If we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also who sleep in Jesus,
will God bring with him.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
~ 1 Thessalonians 4: 14, 18
One thing more--and kinda saving this for last--Roboter's dad is a veteran. And as today IS Veterans' Day for us American Underground Citizens, I believe a proper moment of salute is in order for those who fought for the sake of our country and the freedom and liberty that we enjoy. So to Roboter's dad, and for those you Veterans who somehow come across this blog, I tip my hat in your direction and thank you for knowing and showing what it took, the sacrifices being made, the courage high when the odds were high enough. Cheers!!

In closing, and before I forget, and as a minor little preview for this week's Thursday Tradition, yes. One of the songs I heard on Sunday Night Vinyl [it was a special Sisters of Mercy edition], and probably the Song of the Week if I can't find "Marian"...
"Flood II" - Sisters of Mercy


*sigh* I suppose dinner is in order. I haven't eaten since breakfast, and I'm going to need it after a very long day spent in near-hell. Something to that effect. I can't be so entirely sure at the moment.

Until the next round...

Life, Liberty, and the Thursday Tradition!

Welcome to the post-Election-Day version of the Thursday Tradition! For one, let me just say, quaintly, that Tuesday was nothing short of fantastic! I voted after work and then, after stopping by the Obama HQ in town, accompanied Kit to the polls. But not before having a pic with an Obama look-alike!

The collage of Election Day [also known as my Facebook pic. lol!]
*clicky thumbnail!!*


And on that note, yes, I do believe that it's right about time for our regularly-scheduled whim of the week...

The Starian Union Radio Random 20 for today, Thursday 6 November 2008
1] "Finish Line" - Michael
2] "Thunderstruck" - AC/DC
3] "You Don't Know Me" - Ben Folds featuring Regina Spektor
4] "White Riot" - The Clash
5] "Sub-Culture" - New Order
6] "Little Thoughts" - Bloc Party
7] "Always On The Run" - Lenny Kravitz
8] "She's Lost Control" - Joy Division
9] "Another Morning Stoner" - Trail of Dead
10] "Lost In The Supermarket" - The Clash
11] "$20" - M.I.A.
12] "Setting Sun" - The Chemical Brothers
13] "Who's Your Daddy?" - Benny Benassi
14] "Halo" - Depeche Mode
15] "Every Day Is Halloween" - Ministry
16] "Streets of Philadelphia" - Bruce Springsteen
17] "The Back of Love" - Echo and the Bunnymen
18] "I Want You" - Marvin Gaye
19] "Hip Hop Be Bop" [12" version] - Man Parrish
20] "The Damned Don't Cry" - Visage

*Song of the Week* ~ When I heard this tune earlier this morning I went, OH HELL YEAH!! This is my all-time favorite song by him and, while I'm not quite the biggest fan of his he does have some very good stuff. And this is one of 'em. And it's also a Song of the Week, from the Indie Intelligence files.
"Always On The Run" - Lenny Kravitz


From the Old-School Alternation for the Song of the Week, I heard this tune at work today and sang along to it. It felt very good to hear a song like this at work. Because believe me, that does NOT happen very often, or even at all. Almost as rare as hearing the full 10-minute "Disco Inferno" or [even more rare] "Do You Wanna Dance?" by the Ramones...

I think you get the idea...
"[Don't You] Forget About Me" - Simple Minds


And speaking of... hee hee...
"Disco Inferno" [the full 10-minute version!] - The Trammps


Don't worry--next week it'll get even more random, just y'all watch!!

Until the next round...

Election Eve ~ Chapter 188

"Obama's grandmother just passed. Vaya con Dios."
~ just in from Roboter, 4:47 P.M.

It's rather disheartening when I hear of someone passing away, but it hurts just a bit more when when it happens to someone else. Like in this case, Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic Presidential Candidate. So, today, this post is for her.

Earlier this afternoon I visited the Old Courthouse, now our new Office of Elections, for the first time. For a lack of better words, yeah, it's absolutely amazing.

To view the larger versions and for more info, go here: Quaint Antiquity: The Facebook version.

In the meantime, here are the sized-to-fit-in-this-blog version of the pictures...






























And saving the favorite for last...


And, while I'm still on the theme of Election tomorrow, I don't care who you're voting for. If you're registered to vote and you have already done your early voting, GOOD!! You've made your voice heard! :-)

Now, if you're registered, and have NOT voted, then tomorrow you need to get your ass out there and vote. Because if you don't do so, if you think this government isn't worth your voice, I don't want to hear you bitching about why you don't like the new government in 4 years.

In other words, SHOW UP OR SHUT UP.

In closing, a fairly political song by M.I.A., who I think is made of awesome:
"$20" - M.I.A.


By the way, for those curious, I'm voting for Obama.