i'll tumble for ya, i'll tumble for ya
Hey, we're over here. Renovations to follow. More to come. It's the 10s y'all, time to get with the program.

4.25.2010

i want to see all my friends tonight
And then suddenly the notes and the hands on the skins sweep over you and the strumming and harmony get at you. You were not expecting it. Did not necessarily want it. But there it is, 1989 on the roof of your Charleston Single House or in the fire tower, drunk on bourbon and wax myrtle. It never leaves. They still twist, those thronds. They still twine.

"So wish me luck my friends, good bye."

JTBjr
20:58 link it

4.07.2010

if we took a holiday
Greetings from Staycation 2010....a first for me and something I highly recommed for each and both of you, dear readers. Deets later, as the kids say.

A couple of notes....to BJ, I have no idea how to fix my archives link. Maybe the pending migration to Tumblr will fix that. Maybe not.

Second note, once again I am struck, like a redneck racing a train, at how blest this life is. Really.

Third note, the Universe gives and she takes. Give her what she wants, and when she gets 'round to it, she'll give you what you want. Merci Beaucoup, Dieusse.

JTBjr
22:28 link it

4.03.2010

kate....cindy



What is it about a voice? A voice that you hear by chance at neighbor's, underage and certainly not understanding. Much like her. But the voice keeps ringing in your head, over and over, year after year. You age. So does she. You change. She too. Life passes, friendships form from it, memories are marked by it. You hear it and it still makes you happy. Angry. Excited. Nervous. Longing. But never, ever sad. Then you hear it again and are transposed. Transported. Transformed. Changed.

Thanks Cindy Wilson. Your voice is that.

JTBjr
20:38 link it

4.02.2010

here comes peter cotton tail...

JTBjr
09:57 link it

3.30.2010

girlfriend in a coma
Kinda like this blog, apparently.

I was just informed by one of the "cool kids" that I've GOT to get over to Tumblr. Whatthefuck, no one comes here anymore anyway! And for those of you that do, could you help hold my hand if I move?

JTBjr
16:16 link it

you're my blue sky, you're my sunny day
Lord, it's one of those days. Sunny, 70-degrees and not a cloud anywhere in the sky. I can deal with this. "Totes," as the kids say.

Work has got me crazy busy. I got run over today by the proverbial bus under which I was proverbially thrown. Word of warning: paybacks are a bitch, y'all! Karma is too, in case you haven't heard.

The biggest point of stress that I'm currently taking seriously is whether to ride or hit the gym tonight...Hmmmm.

JTBjr
15:10 link it

3.28.2010

it's the end of the world as we know it, and i feel fine



I can't recall 48 more perfect hours. I made an irrational decision to spend a weekend in Provincetown a few weeks back and, strangely -- or not -- I looked forward to it with great anticipation and joy. The trip did not disappoint.

But not for the obvious reasons. Sure, it was fun. Sure, I had a cocktail or twenty six two. But it snowed on the way out, I wore a jacket the entire time, I didn't sleep well, the Town was pretty much deserted and it certainly did not have on its pretty summer frock. Gray, ugly, naked, wrinkled, paint peeling and wood rotting.

But it was beautiful. Joel drove and we made record time, 2 hours. The sun broke through as we came down the hill at Truro. Lunch at Napi's was surprisingly good. I eavesdropped on a writer seeking advice from her mentor, himself bellied to the bar with his Nantucket reds, white wine and New York Times. Grey Gardens welcomed us in its splendor. Moments later a knock on the door brought Yearrounder friends, anxious to see us after a long winter. Hugs, kisses, "welcome home" greetings. Indeed! Indeed.

At some point on Saturday (not some point, but exactly midway between conversations of death and impending death with dear Matt and my Father, respectively), I realized just how rich and blessed and full and truly amazing my life and, more importantly, this life are. I grasped how precious it is and the saw the layers of complexity peeling back and realized a bit of the impact an individual can have.

I sit here about to cry and recalling the conversations, the sunset, the food, the graciousness, the love and the depth. Yes, the depth. Depth. Depth and Clarity.

And I go on. Unafraid.

JTBjr
22:00 link it

3.25.2010

pass me not, gentle saviour
Oh, and another thing! Let's see, institutionalized pedophilia that's allowed to continue in secret and unabated for decades; permitted by the very man that now heads up that institution (among others)? Hmmmmm....Houston, we have a HUGE problem. And methinks that the Holy See probably does not have a good PR agency. Just a hunch...

JTBjr
13:44 link it

time after time
I'm glad the Health Care Bill finally passed, against the better efforts of Senator Harry Reid and the Republicans. Nancy Pelosi, on the other hand, demonstrated, once again, why she towers over the Dem heap in terms of leadership. A classic Speaker of the House. Well done, Madame.

And these Republicans, finding fault with procedural crap in the wee hours, are kicking and screaming like petulant children all the way to the nightly bath. What's more dangerous, and someone should say it, is that not one of them has said to the nation, "We lost. The bill is law. That's the way things work in America. Time to move on." Meanwhile, Democrat reps are getting bricks through the window and death threats. If you ask me, any blood will be on the hands of Mitch McConnell and John Boehner. It's time to step up to the plate and take your licks like real men. It's called Leadership, folks. see Pelosi

JTBjr
09:28 link it

3.22.2010

alex chilton
An interesting weekend, to say the least. One that was, to paraphrase Ruth Reichl, close to the bone. Here's what happened:

* Friday I spent the afternoon spinning my wheels and exercising gross inefficiency in the kitchen getting ready for the cocktail party I was to host in my parents' honor Saturday. I finally gave up around 7 and went to Brad and Joel's for a drink. Good decision, good times.

* Saturday I was up and at 'em, busting out 15 miles on the mountain bike and generally getting my shit organized. T&A showed up around noon and we lunched on burgers at Moe's and Joe's, did some last minute shopping and napped. Mom helped me in the kitchen, Dad did the cleaning stuff and we were ready at 6. A lovely time was had by all and it was good to catch up with their friends as well as a few of mine.

* Sunday was cold and dreary so we went slow. I made coffee, cooked eggs, bacon, hashed purple potatoes and rustled up some leftover green grapes, local strawberries and blanched asparagus and we had a very nice, leisurely breakfast. The Times got read and we ventured to the Jimmy Carter Library to see the new Museum installation and an exhibition of Howard Baker's excellent photography. I was reminded of the vile political times in which we live by their stark contrast to Carter's principled way of conducting his career and living his life. A propos, I thought, to the raging Health Care debate concurrent on Capital Hill. We ate leftovers for lunch and kept the Brown Family tradition of naps alive with yet another rainy afternoon session. Mine was interrupted by news of a dear friend's favorite teacher's death, the entire Atlanta Fire Department on my street and general thoughts of major life changes. Good times. Dinner at La Tavola was a welcome diversion. Everything was perfect.

Yet another sleepless morning and I drove to work in a snow flurry. Will this winter ever leave?

JTBjr
09:22 link it

3.18.2010

insomnia, no sleep disease
What the fuck? I go to sleep as soon as I shut my eyes but invariably, sometime around 3am, I wake up. Then it's fitfull the rest of the night. Then crazy comes in the room. Then I notice every. single. little. thing. Then the pillows aren't right. Then the sheets aren't right. Then I think about work. Then I don't think about work. Then I ignore the clock. Then I hear the chest of drawers creaking. Then my neighbor calls for her cat. Then I worry about not sleeping.

Then it's 6:30. Geez. Can I just get 7 straight hours? Is that too much to ask??

JTBjr
10:06 link it

3.17.2010

hot child in the city

Hot-Dogopolis from Southern Foodways on Vimeo.

Oh Boy, I remember just moving to Birmingham from Knoxville and in my first job as a legal intern, we ate at Sneaky Pete's about once a week. Damn fine hot dogs!

JTBjr
14:23 link it