And the voice was that of the late, great Warren Zevon. It wasn't on the radio, though; it was on my iPod as I ran north on Seminary Street toward Walmart for some shopping on this blustery morning. Of course, it wasn't yet blustery at that stage of the run. Later...
I came to my appreciation of the musical genius of Warren Zevon late in life, maybe 20 years ago or so. My sophomore year in high school, senior drummers Howard Flint and Doug Leedke said I resembled Zeve. I had no idea who they were talking about. (I know, and I am ashamed of my former ignorance.) Sure, I'd heard "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Werewolves of London" and thought they were cool tunes. But I didn't know the artist. I lacked the round glasses (too bad, I would have at least looked much cooler) but I had the flippy hair. In retrospect I take the comparison as a compliment.
I came to my appreciation of the musical genius of Warren Zevon late in life, maybe 20 years ago or so. My sophomore year in high school, senior drummers Howard Flint and Doug Leedke said I resembled Zeve. I had no idea who they were talking about. (I know, and I am ashamed of my former ignorance.) Sure, I'd heard "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Werewolves of London" and thought they were cool tunes. But I didn't know the artist. I lacked the round glasses (too bad, I would have at least looked much cooler) but I had the flippy hair. In retrospect I take the comparison as a compliment.
I've made up for my ignorance in the years since high school, broadening my musical taste beyond The Beatles, The Stones and '80s Top 40. I delved into jazz for a period coinciding with the Ken Burns PBS series on the ultimate American art form. I devoted hours, days, months to nothing but Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Buddy Guy sent me on a blues journey that didn't venture far from his polka-dot guitar. From my rock-solid foundation in The Beatles I explored Ravi Shankar -- calming, meditative sounds my daughters interpreted as simply "annoying."
My music snob buddy Kent (you know how I mean that, Krank) turned me on to amazing singer songwriter James McMurtry and a wealth of other artists. He also nurtured my budding interest in Zeve. Together we mourned after cancer claimed him in 2003. And together we praise his genius, his dark humor and his musical legacy.
I imagine Zeve could have turned out some pretty funny songs about the strange things I find: a Victoria's Secret bra (36D) frozen to the pavement in a hospital parking lot, a denim crop top (size 3X), the box for a sex toy, countless gloves, tools, several wheel covers, a bag of frozen Little Smokies and, today, a ballplayer's lunch.
Entering Knox Square Drive at Seminary Square shopping center (home of Walmart Supercenter, Menards and more!) I noticed a large pile of trash at the base of a junction box or whatever it is by the traffic signal on the northeast corner. Such a mess was worthy of a photo, just to show how inconsiderate some folks are, so I stopped. I determined to return after my shopping stop at Walmart to gather the trash and find a Dumpster. I did that, but part of the pile was neatly contained in a zip-closure plastic bag. I gathered the real refuse -- a couple of Subway drink cups, a couple water bottles, a mostly empty bottle of Powerade -- and headed for the Dumpster behind Buffalo Wild Wings.
My music snob buddy Kent (you know how I mean that, Krank) turned me on to amazing singer songwriter James McMurtry and a wealth of other artists. He also nurtured my budding interest in Zeve. Together we mourned after cancer claimed him in 2003. And together we praise his genius, his dark humor and his musical legacy.
I imagine Zeve could have turned out some pretty funny songs about the strange things I find: a Victoria's Secret bra (36D) frozen to the pavement in a hospital parking lot, a denim crop top (size 3X), the box for a sex toy, countless gloves, tools, several wheel covers, a bag of frozen Little Smokies and, today, a ballplayer's lunch.
Entering Knox Square Drive at Seminary Square shopping center (home of Walmart Supercenter, Menards and more!) I noticed a large pile of trash at the base of a junction box or whatever it is by the traffic signal on the northeast corner. Such a mess was worthy of a photo, just to show how inconsiderate some folks are, so I stopped. I determined to return after my shopping stop at Walmart to gather the trash and find a Dumpster. I did that, but part of the pile was neatly contained in a zip-closure plastic bag. I gathered the real refuse -- a couple of Subway drink cups, a couple water bottles, a mostly empty bottle of Powerade -- and headed for the Dumpster behind Buffalo Wild Wings.
Conveniently, the garbage hauler was there and the normally locked doors to the trash bins were open. I deposited the garbage, with an assist from the truck driver (my hands were full so he kindly opened the Dumpster lid). Back to the Ziploc goodies! Apparently some kid, presumably in the area for this weekend's baseball tourney, decided Subway was enough and ditched the lunch Mom packed. Oh, he ate part of it -- one of the freezer pops, a chewy granola bar -- but the bulk remained. And hey, unlike the frozen Little Smokies, this stuff isn't two years past its expiration date!
Today's Stats
Temp: 77 degrees F
Distance: 5.25 miles
Weekly Total: 13.45
Treasure: 1 lunch, partial (Coca-Cola, Mt. Dew, raisins, peanut butter crackers, drink mix, Powerade, freezer pops, wet wipes); 1 black flip-flop; 12 cans.
Today's Stats
Temp: 77 degrees F
Distance: 5.25 miles
Weekly Total: 13.45
Treasure: 1 lunch, partial (Coca-Cola, Mt. Dew, raisins, peanut butter crackers, drink mix, Powerade, freezer pops, wet wipes); 1 black flip-flop; 12 cans.
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| Bonus goodies. While biking about town Thursday I found two shirts on Henderson Street and a 12mm socket. The gray shirt is by Nike, some sort of moisture-wicking material. |
iPod Playlist (shuffle)
A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
The Blue Side of Lonesome - John Prine and Mac Wiseman
Hejira - Joni Mitchell
Ramble On - Led Zeppelin
Mohammed's Radio (live) - Warren Zevon
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
(The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Feather - The Alan Parsons Project
Walk This Way - Aerosmith
New York, New York - Ryan Adams
Lightning Crashes - Live
Taming the Tiger - Joni Mitchell
Be Here to Love Me - Norah Jones
She Goes Down - Billy Squier
A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
The Blue Side of Lonesome - John Prine and Mac Wiseman
Hejira - Joni Mitchell
Ramble On - Led Zeppelin
Mohammed's Radio (live) - Warren Zevon
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
(The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Feather - The Alan Parsons Project
Walk This Way - Aerosmith
New York, New York - Ryan Adams
Lightning Crashes - Live
Taming the Tiger - Joni Mitchell
Be Here to Love Me - Norah Jones
She Goes Down - Billy Squier
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