Alex Stojsic's PA (Pretty Awesome)

I think the first time I met Alex, we were in the middle of the desert, dancing our asses off at my first rave.  I was introduced to him and Venus through my friend James Henry who some of you may know from Tower Records.  I remember thinking, Now I know two long-hairs who like EDM! 

I soon learned that both Alex and Venus shared my passion for music, and over the years I’ve had the pleasure of their company not only at raves and concerts, but in my home for barbeques and parties. I always loved when Alex would make his delicious homemade Cevapcici, and I’ll never forget when James and he made it in my kitchen. I walked in and saw that they had molded Meatwad out of the ground meat mixture!

Alex is also one of the reasons my Laborless Day Party became an annual event.  I wanted to have bands play in my backyard for the party, but I didn’t have a PA system.  Alex kindly offered to lend me his.  Thus a yearly tradition was born.

And that PA has been an absolute godsend ever since.  Over the last decade plus, more than a half dozen bands have benefitted from it.  Whether it’s practicing in my garage or playing live somewhere that has no sound system, it’s been perfect - portable but powerful.  That’s not to mention all the cash it’s saved my bandmates and me which would’ve otherwise been spent on renting rehearsal space.  And as a drummer, being able to have band practice without loading my drums in and out is the absolute ideal.

In short, that PA has improved my life immensely. 

And that’s all because of Alex’s generosity.  He didn’t want money for it, and anytime I offered to give it back, he’d decline.  He told me he was just happy that someone was using it.

Thank you, Alex, for the gift that keeps on giving.  Long may it continue to rock in your name, reminding me of your kind and magnanimous spirit. 

Rest in Power

XMAS 2020

9:09 pm, 25th of December, 2020 ~ Post Festivities Reflections

I’d say that’s about as good as it can get during a global pandemic.

Exhausting in the best possible way - 

Family fun, food, festive drinks,

A delicious dinner of ham and homemade Cantilone,

Napping with the NBA on TV- 

Lakers giving us fans want we really want for Christmas.

Not a bad way to end a now going-on 14-hour celebration.

7am was certainly not an unreasonable time to begin.

Actually, it was foreseeable, as Mel totally called it,

But any lethargy felt was quickly dispelled by Tilly

Tearing into her stocking and Santa booty.

The race track and walkie talkies - immediate favorites -

Will definitely make the trek to the Babbas later,

But not before one of the race cars gets tangled in Tilly's hair.

Last year’s big present and recent Toy du Jour, the scooter,

Won’t even make it out of the trunk of the car today.

No helmet necessary for any Zooming we’ll be doing later

When the full, 4-family clan gathers online

To exchange holiday cheer and battle for Kahoot glory.

First time in over a decade we’re “together” on Christmas day,

Grandpa notes, a significant silver lining.

By the time Tilly opens the Babbas’ gifts, she's overloaded.

Despite her massive spoils, she still wants a toy garbage truck.

“Tilly may not know it yet, but the best gift is the hugs,”

Brian comments on a FB picture of her embracing the Babbas.

I couldn’t agree more. 

Amidst the epic devastation this year has wrought,

We’re so incredibly lucky for these lovely moments together.


Merry Everything, Everybody!!

Happy Juneteenth

Privilege is learning about racism through books, movies, and music instead of experiencing it your whole life.

My Response to a Conservative Friend Who Said Black Wall Street and The Tulsa Race Massacre Don't Matter Because They Happened a Long Time Ago

Maybe you and I were too busy throwing tidbits in class to remember, but when were we taught about Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre?

Despite your feelings about my motive, that’s the reason I posted this - BWS was something I’d heard about from artists like Prince and Miles Davis but never knew too much about, so I thought others might find it as fascinating (and infuriatingly sad) as I did.

I guess you didn’t feel the same way.

Actually, as an educator and life-long learner, I’m surprised every day by the knowledge I acquire when I open my mind and heart to listen to others whose experiences differ from mine, especially people of color who have suffered for centuries (and continue to suffer) a brutal, racist legacy in a country ironically founded on the principle that “all men (sic) are created equal.”

But since it’s graduation season, and I’m tired from the years of leading you to the water while you stubbornly refuse to drink, I’ll leave you with one last attempt to appeal to your better angels before I block you from your obsessive, Pavlovian instinct to comment on everything I post.

You purport to only deal in “facts and logic,” so here’s a fact we’ve discussed before: racism is not the same as bigotry or prejudice.

Despite your feelings about it, racism is not a two-way street. It flows in one direction - from the dominant culture to marginalized cultures. Your attempts to call my (or MLK’s) words “racist” reek of ignorance. Maybe if we lived in Wakanda you could say that, otherwise, to put it kindly, you’re just being purposely obtuse.

Also, again for you (and others that have found this hard to grasp): the BLM movement (and Kapernick’s peaceful protests that you also thought were “disrespectful”) are about police brutality against POC.

That’s the simple fact. Your feelings about what they should focus on are irrelevant.

Trying to “throw more tidbits around the classroom” and change the subject from police brutality to abortion or inner city violence is not only illogical, it’s a convenient, if not unempathetic way to rationalize the horrible treatment - indeed unjustifyible deaths - of POC by the police in this country.

Besides, for two decades I’ve taught the hard working, kind, loving families in marginalized communities. What have you done besides use them as a deflective talking point?

So as you graduate today, I leave you with one final quote that I hope will inspire you to listen to, reflect on, and learn from POC: “Ignorance is not saying, ‘I don’t know.’ Ignorance is saying, ‘I don’t want to know.’”

Good luck, old friend. I truly wish you the best.

Sonnet 76 In Which W.S. Writes About Cannabis

Why is my verse so barren of new pride,
So far from variation or quick change?
Why with the time do I not glance aside
To new-found methods, and to compounds strange?
Why write I still all one, ever the same,
And keep invention in a noted weed,
That every word doth almost tell my name,
Showing their birth, and where they did proceed?
O! know sweet love I always write of you,
And you and love are still my argument;
So all my best is dressing old words new,
Spending again what is already spent:
For as the sun is daily new and old,
So is my love still telling what is told.

Happy 4/20!!

Panther Heart Live

I can't believe this was almost 8 years ago...
but the Legend of the Dire Wolf began a few years before that.

The Chosen One?

               

Could American Evangelicals Spot the Antichrist?  

Here Are the Biblical Predictions

SPOILER ALERT: Contrary to what you may have heard, THIS Evangelical says the Bible does NOT prophesy an Antichrist born of a broken home becoming President (and, due to his AA roots, literally embodying our American ideal that ALL men are created equal), nor do the Scriptures foresee an Antichrist as a faithful father of two (birthed by his ONLY betrothed), and the Good Book CERTAINLY does not predict an Antichrist having the AUDACITY to defile and disgrace the highest office in the land by... (wait for it)...

WEARING A TAN SUIT ONCE!

Triumphant Thingz Tour

After 25 sleepless hours on a plane, train, and automobile, I’m finally home safe after The Thingz Tour de France. I’d say it was a success. Three different people said I reminded them of Bun E. Carlos on drums!! 🏆🥁😎

I Gotta Fever...

Cowbell almost didn’t make it pasture security at CDG. A nice lady had me manure out of line as she steered me toward the secondary stable. I wasn’t Hereford long, so I didn’t have a cow. I leather open my bag, and she dung through it, revealing the burdensome bell. She looked udderly perplexed, and though I was tempted to milk it, I was Jersey wouldn’t find it funny. For a second I thought she had a beef with me taking it on board since she’d obviously heifer seen one before, but thankfully she gave me no bull and let me moooove along. Praise the bovine! 😅😂😜

Summer 2019 Tour

"Why People Who Marry Teachers End Up the Happiest"

Hmmm... 😉

Those Who Can...

Teacher Appreciation

I’m loving all the awesome handmade cards my students gave me for Teacher Appreciation Week today! 

As you can see, one student clearly still needs some help learning how to punctuate compound sentences correctly lol!!

EyeOS

After months of wondering how/why my ancient iPhone 5s had magically become too small to read, I finally did what I’ve seen “old people” do and put my glasses on my head. Suddenly it all became so clear - the depressing realization that my 46 yo eyes need an upgrade as much as my phone lol!

Kids Rule Everything Around Me

I know ODB said that Wu-Tang is for the children, but did they ever have a show like Muppet Babies because I just had a dream about a cartoon with the whole clan called Wu-Babies?

Wild Wild West

"No people are uninteresting," especially the middle-aged Uber driver who proceeded to tell me her life story on the way to the airport yesterday, including how she realized she had to leave her hometown of NYC and move to Arizona 27 years ago when she almost punched a lady with whom she was sharing an elevator, and concluded her stem-winder by telling me she was packing heat because Big Pharma had put a hit out on her. 😳

The Thingz Play Tiki Oasis

The Thingz at the Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale, AZ, 4/12/19

Bamboo Club Opening Soiree

The Thingz at the Bamboo Club, Long Beach, CA, March 8, 2019

Naughty or Nice?

Me:  Anybody know what claustrophobia means?
Student:  When you're afraid of Santa!

Take Care of Yourselves, Loves

"Sadness seems to clump.
Its seems I go for a while without much, and then a big clump of it all happens at once.
And sometimes it comes for no reason and leaves just as mysteriously.
Often I cant even identify where it comes from or why.
Other times it comes in waves of sad occurrences.
Sometimes sad things happen but they dont seem to get me.
Sometimes everyday problems hit like I had never had them before.
But the feeling of being trapped, no escape, no relief. I am so glad I dont have to deal with it all the time like so many do.
I know a lot of people that are sad now, and they have good reason to be, I hope they endure and find some peace and relief.
My sadness is like an unwanted visitor who drops in unannounced, but doesnt stay long, and that is something I can be thankful about.
But I fear that sadness that comes and unpacks and repaints the walls and leaves its dishes in my sink and rearranges the furniture and squats in the spare bedroom and won't move out even when I tell it I am calling the police.
I fear the sadness that lies in bed snoring and driving away the sleep, or puts its ice cold feet on me under the covers, or won't shut up and let me escape into the peace of unconsciousness.
For all who are sad, depressed, feeling hopeless and in distress, I know it doesnt help, but I feel for you. And for those who battle these things on a daily basis because of things you cannot control in your bodies or your lives, the little sadnesses I have endured have made me appreciate the strength you must have to go on.
xo" - J. Paul Stevens