Grumble Weed: 11/07/09

"Rooted" may be a better choice of words. What you see above is the top of an actual fence post that used to sit on my property.

The photograph above represents what I eventually came to see whenever I paid it a visit. So I brought it to life with my camera and some computer software simply as an exercise in creativity.

I can only attest for the 23 years I have lived here but local historians believe it's a good bet this post was probably placed in the ground over a hundred years ago. The general consensus is that it was set where it shouldn't of been; just outside my property line.

So last spring when the city of Alpine was reassessing it's property the location of my errant post was duly noted.

When I took down the fence [by demand] this post was so stubborn I had to pull it out with a tow chain hitched to the chassis of my truck. Apparently it was placed in the ground when it was still alive and as a result of an apparent "last gasp" effort, it sprouted roots. Seriously, a fence post with actual roots.

My wife has labeled me as a know-it-all (and as she is one herself she must certainly be correct). Know it or not it's her rhetoric reference to the the fact that my opinions are rooted in 62 years of experience. The fence post story illustrates the fact that right or wrong, in the end, even the most established and rooted of "whatever" can be dislodged with proper persuasion. So please feel free to attempt to dislodge any of my opinions that follow if deemed necessary.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

I need more ZZ Top...

An interview with Billy Gibbons followed by a classic stage performance by the band.

If you're interested, this performance is even better. It's a little more polished of an act; smacks of perhaps, Las Vegas. NBC won't allow the embed code to be posted on YouTube so I can only provide the link.

ZZ Top has got to be one of the most original acts ever; unmatched by anyone and definitely the most bodacious 3 man rock band on the planet.

And then there's the following performance. It's over 8 minutes long and was back when the boys were young and very energetic. They hadn't pegged the act yet. Billy even looks a little Amish.

- Larry

An all too common wound...

I was five and you were six.

We rode on horses made of sticks.

You wore black and I wore white.

You would always win the fight.

Bang, bang you shot me down.

Bang, bang I hit the ground.

Bang, bang that awful sound.

Bang, bang… my baby shot me down.

Seasons came and changed the time.

When I grew up I called you mine.

You would always laugh and say,

Remember when we used to play?

Bang, bang I shot you down.

Bang, bang you hit the ground.

Bang, bang that awful sound.

Bang, bang… I used to shoot you down.

Music played and people sang.

Just for me the church bells rang.

Now you're gone I don't know why.

And to this day sometimes I cry.

You didn't even say goodbye,

You didn't take the time to lie…

Bang, bang.

Bang, bang you shot me down.

Bang, bang I hit the ground.

Bang, bang that awful sound.

Bang, bang… my baby shot me down.

- Some great lyrics written by Nancy Sinatra (modified from the original to be non-gender specific).