Complex Numbers

May Day

Ever have one of those years?

You know, one in which, well, not everything but a lot of things go somehow... askew?

Big things don't bug me so much. They show up, I mow them down. Oh, I can kvetch about them with the best of them, but really - you just deal.

It's the goddamn little stuff.

So, okay, I'm going to break with tradition (you know, my own bitter, cynical tradition) and list some of the things that are going right so I can remember that, you know, I don't really have things all that bad.

- (Let's get the cheesiest one over with) I have a wonderful wife who puts up with my bellyaching about my backaching.
- (another cheesy one) I have some pretty cool friends, online and off.
- I've lost a shitload of weight. As of this morning, compared to my maximum measured weight, I have lost 44 pounds. the first 25 took me about a year of ups and downs. The last 19 is since February. I won't tell you how many more I still have to lose; I'll save that for my next whine tasting party.
- Even with the real estate market depressed, I'm still in business, and we're not lacking any necessities - or even, really, too many luxuries. No yacht, but what the hell.
- Last night, I saw Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in concert, here in my hometown. Wow. I mean, just. Wow.
- I did not have to deal with finding arrangements for my aunts at my dad's funeral this past Monday.
- Said funeral took place during a very brief pause in torrential rains. It just quit raining when it was time for the funeral, and then it was pouring again as we drove away.

Okay, that's enough with the positive stuff for now. Next time, I'll be back to either being a cynical whiner, or posting stuff I think is funny.

Oh, yes, and today is May Day. This is not the origin of the distress call; that comes from some unpronouncable French word. But aren't all French words unpronounceable? What's wrong with SOS, for cripes sake? Do the French pronounce it with a lisp? Anyway, no, May Day is, depending on your perspective, a) just another day; b) A day to celebrate the commie pinko Labor Movement; or c) Beltane, a spring fertility and planting festival.

Beltane, an ancient Pagan celebration, was in some countries Christianized into a day celebrating the Virgin Mary, who for all intents and purposes (but don't tell any Christians I said this) is the female incarnation of Deity.

I got a picture of you in my locket
I keep it close to my heart
A light shining in my breast
Leading me through the dark
Seven days, seven candles
In my window light your way
Your favorite record's on the turntable
I drop the needle and pray
Band's countin' out midnight
Floor's rumblin' loud
Singer's callin' up daylight
And waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd

Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, turn it up

Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Tell me how do we get this thing started
Meet me at Mary's place...
-Bruce