Monday, April 13, 2009

Hello! Welcome To My Place! Let's Go Someplace Else!




As you know by now, I am a great admirer of the late Fred Rogers. I've gone into great detail, in the past, concerning that admiration, so no need to do so again today. I mention my admiration, though, as preface to a general displeasure voiced by my niece, Alyssa, when she was perhaps 7-years-old.

Alyssa said that Mister Rogers seemed nice, but as soon as you got to his place, and felt comfortable being there, he wanted you to go someplace else with him, and she found this to be exceedingly rude, especially since you had no choice but to go wherever he wished to take you. It might have been a visit to a museum, or to a friend of his who played a musical instrument, or to find out what was happening in The Neighborhood Of Make-Believe, but it was always someplace else. She rather liked his house and, no matter how nice the someplace else might turn out to be, she felt it was bad manners to expect your guest to accompany you there when she had just made herself at home.

She was right, of course, and now I find myself doing the same to you.

Some of you are aware of the fact that I've begun another blog. It is called The Talkback Button and I am writing it for my place of business, Marketing Messages. You may also be aware that it is a family-friendly sort of blog, unlike here where you've encountered the random "fuck" or "son of a bitch" for no particular reason other than the fact that it refreshes my spirit to say them every once in a while.

(In that regard, I am reminded of the late George Carlin. After hearing his recording FM & AM, I rushed out to buy another of his records. Little did I know that all of his previous work had been obscenity-free. While amusing, it was not something that touched my soul. His transformation was from safe to threatening, while mine appears to be going in the reverse direction. I fear his evolution provided a much more satisfying result than mine will, but I suppose I shouldn't prejudice you unduly concerning my new work, so forget I said anything between these parentheses.)

(In a further digression, I find it especially disheartening that most of my heroes have kicked the bucket. Not just Rogers and Carlin, but also Vonnegut, Twain [he kicked before my birth, but still...] and almost every comedy team worth caring about, not to mention three-quarters of The Ramones. Those of my heroes who remain among the living are, for the most part, in a state of artistic decrepitude, revisiting their past glories and pretending that they're something new, bright, and shiny. Iggy Pop would be a prime example. Ah, well. I am not without that same fault, as some of you were no doubt thinking.)

Enough of this jibber-jabber. If you wish further reading material, please go to The Talkback Button. If, like niece Alyssa, you'd rather stay in the place where you were invited to in the first place, you're welcome to stick around here and make yourself comfortable. I ask only that you not leave any wet towels on the floor if you take a bath. I'll be back on Wednesday, so please change the sheets if you have any intimate company.


22 comments:

Buck said...

Ah... most of my pop heroes have gone on to their rewards, as well. But I have a few left (Lyle Lovett and Nick Lidstrom come to mind) who are still doing good work. As for the others? Well, they're mostly as old as me. It sucks to grow old but it beats the alternative, as it's said.

Jazz said...

I find it especially disheartening that most of my heroes have kicked the bucket.

That my friend is because we're getting old..

Janet said...

Alyssa has a point but it never occurred to me as a kid. I was ALWAYS happy to go anywhere with Mr. Rogers. And I'll follow you, too, obscenity-free or otherwise.
I miss Carlin and Paul Newman every time I, er, the kids watch "Cars."

endangered coffee said...

R.I.P. Ron Asheton, King of the fuzzed-out wah-wah peddle.

Suldog said...

Holy shit, EC, I didn't know he was dead until you posted the comment. Glad I know, but saddened by the news.

My "Iggy" comment in this post was mostly spurred via listening to a CD of a Stooges reunion (which I enjoyed, but it is still mostly just a rehash of past glory.)

Rosaria Williams said...

You pick heroes as you find them. Fortunately, their works can still be appreciated years after they have gone from the scene.

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Oh, delightful post! I'm off to visit your other blogs! And to complete my "bucket list"...No time like the present, I say...everyone seems to be pealing off...so I'd better hurry ...LOL! Happy Monday to you! ~Janine

Cath said...

Eeewwwwwwwwwwww!

That's my Suldog. Disgusting to the end. :)

Chris said...

Just to clarify, Jim, you're still keeping this site up, correct? No disrespect intended, but I don't think I could handle the Sanitized Suldog. It would be like non-alcoholic beer. Sure, it's KINDA the same, but how am I ever gonna get shit-faced on it?

Anyway, regarding the dead guys, my dad and I had a similar conversation. We were watching a ballgame, and I mentioned that I'm feeling older all the time, all my favorite ballplayers are now managers. Dad (predictably) said, "Yeah, well, all my favorites are dead." Kinda slammed things into perspective for me.

SweetPeaSurry said...

Woot ... big party while Suldog's gone!!! Bring on the KEGS, the Effity Ef's and the foodstuffs!!

Enjoy!

Unknown said...

Well you can take comfort in the fact that while Iggy might be trying to reinvent himself his actual age is definitely showing on that face of his.

I always fold my towels, its all about the OCD.

Suldog said...

Have no fear. I will be hawking the same old bullshit at this stand for as long as my aged and crumbling fingers can type.

A Woman Of No Importance said...

To quote the divine Ms Nicks - Still with us, thankfully, while la Janis is sadly not, "I'd go anywhere, anywhere (Suldog is)
Ask me and I'm there because I care..."

And ~I promise never to leave towels on the floor of your squeaky clean space, Sir!

Jeni said...

Ain't it the truth though about the "heros" now being dead -John Lennon, Johnnie Cash, George Carlin, Richard Pryor -among my favs that come to mind right now. Lots and lots of others too though cause I've got about 15 years worth of extra years behind me than you do to have heros for or from, ya know. Sucks to get older and not have those old standards around to entertain us any more.

Melinda said...

Hi Sully,
Sorry for not responding till now - I'm on a bit of a hiatus from my blog right now. Everything is okay, just ended up taking an unplanned couple of months away from it.

Anyway - still enjoying yours very much - I hope you and YOUR WIFE had a wonderful Easter.

cheers :)

i beati said...

both thank you I'm with you - some trailblazers are gone and i feel i lived in a special special time with Carlin etc..the early tv greats Carson, Benny , Parr etc.yipes not much coming up..

Anonymous said...

If I started listing my heroes who have gone to wherever I would get repetitive strain injury.Chet, Parker, Ella, Diana,The Duke, The Count,Dorsey,Frank, Sammy,Artie,Anita,Sarah,Mel,Louis, Earl,Fats,Luciano,and so on and so on.
Off to read your alter ego.

Michelle H. said...

Oh, MLGF. Whether crotchety here with your blather, or friendly saint over at the other blog, I'll always find entertainment wherever you may blog!

Keep those aged and crumbling fingers well moisturized!

'Tis true about any great hero. We take them for granted when they are alive, and wish they never died long after they are dead.

Reasons said...

So we're all here and you're gone? Does your WIFE know about this? I am blonde Suldog and therefore confused. I will leave everything neat and tidy and follow you around like a faithful blogger. Will you be back? Is there a key under the mat?

Hilary said...

You have the most clever nieces.. first Avaroo and now Alyssa. What a couple of little bright spots.

david mcmahon said...

Another blog, Jim? Mate, where do you find the time? !!!

skywind said...

Oh, your blog is great. I love it.
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