You can just hear Garth Brooks singing "Thunder Rolls."
IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT one fine Saturday in spring, 1994. Lenny, my partner at the time, and I had tickets to see Depeche Mode at the World Music Center - an outdoor amphitheater near Tinley Park. The seating area was covered but there were no walls; the venue's perimeter was open to air. Surrounding the seats was a large, U-shaped "grassy knoll," where the cheap seats sat on blankets - and watched the performance from under the stars. Everybody was drunk/stoned. Both Lenny & I had polished off four *Big Gulps* of beer by the time the opening act had finished singing (not counting what we'd already drank while getting ready at home). In the time between the opener ending their set and Depeche Mode taking the stage a violent thunderstorm appeared and hit the entire area with torrents of rain. The grassy knoll was abandoned, and everyone ran for shelter in the restrooms. But the wind was also pelting the audience with rain, so staff appeared everywhere selling plastic ponchos; Lenny & I bought two. Many people left the theater (freeing up their seats), so Lenny & I moved as close to the stage as we could. Depeche Mode did their best to sing trough the tornadic activity, but the storm was winning. The band had started to play "Personal Jesus" when Lenny & I realized we both had to piss - badly. The bathrooms were a no-go; they were filled with grassy knoll survivors. With no other restrooms in sight, we made the decision to just pee where we were; we were *guys* after all, and the ponchos were knee-length - plenty of cover. When we urinated, two entire bladders emptied their floodgates onto the pavement together - a pavement I should mention, that sloped downward. The girls in front of us were first to scream. Their shoes were so wet, they had taken them off - and their cold bare feet were surprised by hot urine. The people in the next few rows were far less forgiving, and we could hear their disgust over the song lyrics. (I think someone threw a Coke at us.) Lenny & I tried to join the outrage, but as there was no one in the row behind, we couldn't blame a patsy. I think we left about halfway through the set, and that we couldn't stop laughing in the car. Best ... concert ... ever.
Me, Radar, and James (our British friend). Speaking of pissing in places one shouldn't, I can't remember the last time I went to Touche. I miss the bar, but I'm too broke to go. I keep in contact with friends through text, but it's not the same as getting dressed up and hanging out with everybody. I had to give Alexander his eviction notice, so I'm short for this month's bills. I got fired from the Dispensary - I accidentally gave away free pot, twice - so, I'm back to looking for another job. The good news is that Radar's moving back in full time, and he'll start bringing stuff over as soon as the room is vacated/cleaned. It will be nice having him back. I miss our late-night bonding talks. Radar & I are proof that people who are polar-opposite in politics can coexist in peace & harmony. Radar is a bleeding heart Liberal, and I'm a Rush Limbaugh Conservative. We have such opposing views, you'd think that we'd get into fist fights - but we don't. Actually, living in Chicago means that 90% of my friends are Liberal, but we all still find ways to get along. It helps that Dane is in my corner (he's also a Conservative), and the conversations between the three are always interesting, even when we discuss politics. We often segue into philosophy when talking about both Democrat & Republican issues. Those are my favorite topics, the nights spent on the porch drinking/smoking grass, philosophizing about our changing world - and what our roles will be in the New World Order, once space travel/quantum computers become a normal, everyday thing. And that time is coming, sooner than we realize.
Aging, like a fine wine. "REACH OUT AND TOUCH ME" marks the opening of Personal Jesus, one of my favorite Depeche Mode songs. It was popular in my 20s, a staple of every goth kid's cassette deck, and a period piece that defined the late 80s/early 90s music scene. Depeche Mode was one of my favorite bands at the time, and I've seen them several times over the years. I love concerts. Especially from the bands I grew up with, all of whom seem to be performing in casinos at this point in their careers. Sure, it's a little disheartening to see my favorite groups in small venues, but they all seem to be having fun in the end of their journeys - so I guess it's okay. Assuming they're not touring because they need the money, I imagine how much fun 80s/90s groups must be having traveling the country in their senior years. I'm reminded of Trump in the way he's traversing the world during his second term. He's having so much fun. You can see it in every news clip that features him. I wonder if he's really going to use the 747 the Saudis gifted him as the new Air Force One - and if the answer is yes, will it get a red, white, and blue paint job first? I love how the Democrats are fuming over the Saudi's gift. Trump's whole middle eastern trip is a firm "fuck you" to the Liberals, and I'm especially fond of Donald's impromptu press conferences that he gives aboard his plane. It's moments like these where our President truly *shines*, speaking off the cuff while making deals on the world stage. Unlike his predecessor, Trump commands respect - and this whole mid eastern tour would have never happened had Kamala won the election. Make no mistake, Donald is playing a long chess game, and his actions are being watched closely by China, Russia, and most importantly, Israel. It wouldn't surprise me if Trump invites both Putin & Xi to the United States for a conference of the superpowers. I hope that if a summit does happen, Donald hosts it at one of his many luxury properties (like he tried to do in his first term). Can you just imagine world leaders joining Trump in a friendly round of golf, where global politics are discussed on the Mar-a-Lago putting green? Stranger things have happened.
By the way, have you noticed how disheveled Chuck Schumer looks lately? His ties are often crooked, his hair is sometimes mussed, and he doesn't always button his jacket when speaking on camera. Like Pelosi, Schumer is showing his age, not quite as bad as Joe, but definitely noticeable in his recent news conferences. All of the congressional Democrats are "showing their age," especially the younger ones. I'm reminded of something that Rush said: Unless you have Conservative parents, most young people - with skulls full of mush - start off as Liberals ... then grow Conservative as they get older. There's truth in that. From kindergarten to college, young people are indoctrinated with "social justice," rather than love of country. I haven't seen many stories about what the current administration is doing to purge WOKE policies from the education system, but I'm sure that Trump has his team working on it. These next four years are going to be a whirlwind of reversing Liberal policies and rebuilding our economy, military, and most importantly, our *reputation*. We're the strongest superpower on the globe, and it's time we start behaving like it.
By the way, have you noticed how disheveled Chuck Schumer looks lately? His ties are often crooked, his hair is sometimes mussed, and he doesn't always button his jacket when speaking on camera. Like Pelosi, Schumer is showing his age, not quite as bad as Joe, but definitely noticeable in his recent news conferences. All of the congressional Democrats are "showing their age," especially the younger ones. I'm reminded of something that Rush said: Unless you have Conservative parents, most young people - with skulls full of mush - start off as Liberals ... then grow Conservative as they get older. There's truth in that. From kindergarten to college, young people are indoctrinated with "social justice," rather than love of country. I haven't seen many stories about what the current administration is doing to purge WOKE policies from the education system, but I'm sure that Trump has his team working on it. These next four years are going to be a whirlwind of reversing Liberal policies and rebuilding our economy, military, and most importantly, our *reputation*. We're the strongest superpower on the globe, and it's time we start behaving like it.
The many faces of the Trump administration. IS THERE ANYONE LEFT AT THE FOX NEWS NETWORK? It seems like Trump has raided the channel for staffing, and half of my favorite anchors have joined his administration. Pete Hegseth - formally of Fox & Friends Weekends - is Secretary of Defense. Dan Bongino - a regular contributor - is Deputy Director of the FBI. Sean Duffy is the Secretary of Transportation. Tammy Bruce is now the State Department spokeswoman. Sean Hannity is still with the network, but as his recent assignment involved traveling with Donald to the Arab states proves, he clearly has the ear of the President (like Game of Thrones' "The Hand of the King"). Add to that, Judge Jeanine Pirro has been tapped for the interim US Attorney for Washing DC, and I'm surprised I don't see Fox News postings when I look for jobs on Indeed. It's not like the channel isn't full of qualified anchors/commentators to fill their place, but I'm just complaining; I miss the familiar faces. But the *bigger picture* is that the network is genuinely trusted to cover the Trump administration without bias - which is why Fox News is first in the news channel ratings. I've actually had to cancel cable; I can't afford it right now. I've been listening to podcasts to fill in the news void, and I've grown fond of Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, Theo Von, and my favorite, Tim Dillon. Podcasts remind me of the old Art Bell show on Coast to Coast AM radio. Art's program went on through the night, and when he had guests, he had plenty of time to give in-depth interviews, with no real time limit. (I believe his show was 4 hours long.) Podcasts seem to be the "new media," and the popular ones have better ratings than cable news channels. I love podcasts because I can listen to them anytime, and I often enjoy them (instead of music) when I take my daily walks. I remember when Trump appeared on many of my favorite podcasts, before the election. I recall the Theo Von interview in particular; Trump barely discussed politics - and spent most of his time discussing addiction, depression, and the strength required to overcome life's challenges. Theo's interview revealed Donald's "reflective" side, and it humanized him in a way that I haven't seen elsewhere - particularly on the Liberal news channels. The media is evolving quickly, and podcasts are a (growing) force to be reckoned with.
There's a soft side of Trump that we can't see through his public bluster, but it's definitely there, working behind the scenes. Donald treats people with kindness, especially those in the working class. The first time I noticed this was late in his first term; Kim Kardashian had come to the White House and pleaded for the release of three women who were wrongfully imprisoned. Bill Maher also experienced this side of Trump during his own recent visit to the White House. Maher was surprised at a softer side of Donald that the public doesn't see. I have a friend in LA that I've mentioned in this blog before. He works in the television industry, and he met Donald Trump in the years before he ran for President. Trump went out of his way to introduce himself to my friend - as well as everyone in the office. My friend went on to tell a story about a *deep dive* being done on Donald's old Apprentice show, looking for a "hot mike moment," like the "locker room talk" that was recorded on a bus - a story that came out in his first term. But after all the Apprentice footage was reviewed, not a single example was found of Trump behaving badly - because he doesn't do it. Sure, Donald swears on occasion, but who doesn't? I sometimes swear like a trucker in my own life, but in the end I usually mean well. I'm sure the same can be said about Trump, and that's a side I hope we see more of in the months to come.
There's a soft side of Trump that we can't see through his public bluster, but it's definitely there, working behind the scenes. Donald treats people with kindness, especially those in the working class. The first time I noticed this was late in his first term; Kim Kardashian had come to the White House and pleaded for the release of three women who were wrongfully imprisoned. Bill Maher also experienced this side of Trump during his own recent visit to the White House. Maher was surprised at a softer side of Donald that the public doesn't see. I have a friend in LA that I've mentioned in this blog before. He works in the television industry, and he met Donald Trump in the years before he ran for President. Trump went out of his way to introduce himself to my friend - as well as everyone in the office. My friend went on to tell a story about a *deep dive* being done on Donald's old Apprentice show, looking for a "hot mike moment," like the "locker room talk" that was recorded on a bus - a story that came out in his first term. But after all the Apprentice footage was reviewed, not a single example was found of Trump behaving badly - because he doesn't do it. Sure, Donald swears on occasion, but who doesn't? I sometimes swear like a trucker in my own life, but in the end I usually mean well. I'm sure the same can be said about Trump, and that's a side I hope we see more of in the months to come.
"It was a VERY dark & stormy night..." ON THE WRITING FRONT, I've had to stop sending cartoon queries; I'm broke, and what little money I have goes towards bills. I've also entered my manuscript in two different writing contests, but the winners won't be announced until the fall - so, I have to wait. I'm excited to have a professional read my work, and the early review (of one of my submissions) was solid. I'm at the point where I've asked every friend, family member, and coworker to read earlier drafts of the book - and I have no one left willing to read the final draft. I get crazy when I write. Many chapters in When People Go Away were written in a "mania," and I have no recollection of *finishing* the novel's final chapter. My good friend Amanda (a professor up for a Nobel Prize in physics - seriously!) is one of the few people who's read the final draft, and she's excited for me. I don't want to jinx myself by sharing her comments, but like my book's review, her words have been encouraging. Writing is a very lonely pursuit, and having others read my stuff doesn't happen very often. Over the past two months, I've contacted over twenty agents (with my cartoon query), but no one's bitten yet. For the last few years, I've queried agents the traditional way, but my project was lost in the hundreds of query letters agencies receive every day. I've decided that I'll continue my cartoon queries for the rest of the year ... after which, I'll look into self publishing. I self-published my first two novels, and I know what mistakes *not* to make; if I do self-publish again, I'll invest in as many of the publisher's services as I can. I also know how I'm going to market it, starting with Facebook advertising. I'll also look into hiring a book promoter, as that seems to be the trend that many self-published authors seem to be following these days. Again it comes down to money; the more cash you have, the better the finished product.
"Reach out and touch me!" GOING BACK TO DEPECHE MODE, the last time I saw them was in 1999, at the old Rosemount Horizon arena (now the Allstate Arena). The place was packed. The crowd was screaming so loud, it was hard to hear the music. The concert ended with "Personal Jesus," followed by an encore of "Just Can't Get Enough." The venue was just the right size to host the band with a near sold-out crowd, and Depeche Mode gave a solid show. I'll totally see them again the next time they come to Chicago, and I'll buy the best seats I can. Watching the group travel in their later years reminds me of Donald Trump's second term. He knows "this is it," and that it's his last chance to change the direction of the country. We are at a turning point of history, with the dawn of commercial space travel & quantum computing, and Trump understands how important this time is for the United States. I hate to sound like a broken record, but humanity is on the cusp of understanding its place in the universe, and we don't have time to waste on policies founded in "political correctness."
It's time to get off the couch, America - and to go to work - with the same work ethic that our parents had. Once WOKE policies are purged from our school's curriculums, we can get back to education without Liberal indoctrination. It's time for the nation to embrace Conservative ideas, and Republican-led legislation that encourages family values.
It's the only way we'll reach our potential.💫
- Sir Dave
It's time to get off the couch, America - and to go to work - with the same work ethic that our parents had. Once WOKE policies are purged from our school's curriculums, we can get back to education without Liberal indoctrination. It's time for the nation to embrace Conservative ideas, and Republican-led legislation that encourages family values.
It's the only way we'll reach our potential.💫
- Sir Dave