random

             he has a habit of using both sides of a piece of paper before he recycles it

he respects trees

no life should be abused  wasted

the printerprinted side was a submission a resume for work

                                                                 got the job

on the reverse side he handwrote Eisenhower:

                                                  “Should any political party attempt to abolish Social Security and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again our political history . . . there is truly a tiny splinter group (likely John Birch Society), of course, that believes that you can do these things . . . (but) their number is negligible and they are stupid.”

then in 1953 he says:

                        “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket (drone) fired signifies , in the final sense, a theft from those who are hunger and are not fed,those who are cold and are not clothed.”

   I Like Ike 

former an sickofanatic MAGgoAts can croak

1204,  Thursday – Natl Velociraptor Awareness Day among other Natl Days,  18  4. 13

1714,  Monday,  26  2. 24

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/eisenhower/

I was thinkin Lets play a little game

he sighed Are you setting me up?

No no Just occurred to me

                               I think youll be successfulI know youll be successful

You’re setting me up.

A little faith woudya

You have faith in me?

On occasion

              This  Definitely

   there was a tinge of remorse Awright

Youll be fine

              Ready

Yeahsure.  Ready.

Tim ScottMr. Bojangles Mike Pence  Mike Johnson . .

. . Republicans.

Yes yes  lemme continue  Id like you to hone your answer

Okay.

Steve Garvey Ronna Romney McDaniel  Her tentative replacement March Eight Michael Whatleylove his name  Tell him What to do an hell fall over himself to do it

   Enablers.

Sickophants haha

You spelled it S I C K.

I did

      Gettin warmer

Aw come on, I’ve guessed twice, haven’t humiliated . .

BINGO

he blinked Bingo?

BINGO

          Their tolerance for humiliation

Thanks for playin

                       See  Didnt set you up

1622,  Reggaefriday,  23  2. 24

1201,  Monday,  26  2. 24

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band  Mr Bojangles  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKm_EgDI_-E

Permission structure Wha the hells thawho buys into tha in his voice he heard his incredulity

It’s permission given.

Whos askin why ask  Wheres the initiative

                                                 Sounds more like fixin a scapegoat  They told me wha to do so I did it

That’s not it.

No

     Inform me

It offers a counterpart, say a fellow team membe . .

. . Theres the hole in the theory Who needs a teammate

   You kidding?

No

     But excuse me I interrupted   Please

It offers a counterpart smartly they waved team member  a rational justification as he said he heard scapegoat  to change their opinions saw him clench his jaw  mind  distracted him  . . . to change their opinion without feeling like they have to compromise themselves . .

. . Their values

   Yes. Or their pride.

The permission structure, a way out, allows people to be open to different perspectives, changes, they might otherwise reject . .

. . Neglect

             Because ohmy  they have permission

Im not hearing right or wrong in your equation

                                                 Seems this permission flows in one direction  Shit flows downhill

Tell me you see the hierarchy

                                Pattin the dog on the head

Try an pat me Id bite

I wouldnt ask permission

Id use initiative be held accountable Right or wrong

                                                         Been right more often  Hence developed cred

No Mother May I

   I . . I ah . disagree.

Yes of course you do Ya didnt have to say

                                               Caught your expression   Your tell

1015,  Saturday,  24  2. 24

1109,  Monday,  26  2. 24

Eagles  Hotel California  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BciS5krYL80

his frame of mind was colouredblushedbruised  influenced by what entered what senses were pluckedtickledplayed

  informed

he read in Bruens The Guards

                                 “In reality, time doesn’t pass. We pass.”

a real sourball to suck on

pucker takes a while to pass

                                relax  slip from his face

he gave mirrors a wide berth  refused to suffer their prying eyes   be penetrated

                                                                                     YOU OUGHT TO SEE THIS.

No thanks  Ive got a good imagination

   he was fragile

knew it

           this was that time of the year

he knew he was susceptiblebut  come on

                                             an obscure passagepage onehunredsixtythree

three weeks earlier

three weeks later

wouldnt have breezed him

   however now

he could feel his skin peel

his heart   

              weep

his steps halt

                his footing  improbable   surly

  “In reality . . . we pass.”

1430ish,  Sunday,  25  2. 24

2025,  Sunday

. . . is that pity or empathy?

Is there a difference

   There is. I don’t want your pit . .

. . My feeling of sorrow compassion  for your suffering your misfortunes

                                                                               None  Figure youve earned them

Empathy My ability to understand to share your feelings

                                                             None   Keep your tinglies to yourself

My compassion is hard won Sometimes   I think it doesnt exist

   You think you’re coldblooded?

I like black humour sarcasm satire I like noir hardboiled

                                                              Those don stand on pretty shoulders

Yah  Coldblooded

                    Commonsensed

Im a firm believer in accountability Knowingly preferred though unknowingly too crosses the line

                                                                                                       Tough

Innocence dies every day

                            Fair  Unfair 

Coud wish it woudnt be

But thad be wishing

                        I don believe in tha either

2306,  Thursday,  22  2. 24

1244,  Sunday,  25  2. 24

began Mare of Easttown on MAX

                                   enjoyed Kate Winslet followed her project to project

she didnt let him down  Ever

a character an unwed teen mother talking to her baby son . . . that you can love someone so much is scary.

                                                                                                                    a sob caught in his throathad to stop the programme  had to gather himself 

he made a lousy job of it

too close to home

   for the rest of his life she would remain close

                                                   a day didnt pass that he didnt think of her

somedays hed wake shed be kneeling on the foot of his bed

in his eyes when he opened them

                                     sometimes waking him   misty  hypnopompic

he expected nothing less

   he expected shed see him over the Finish Line 

2121,  Saturday,  24  2. 24

1218,  Sunday,  25  2. 24

he saw no ash on Valentines Day

                                   talking with a buddy  You were outanabout were uptown  I was walking an reading around here   Did you see any ash on Valentines Day

Ash?

        What are you talking about?

Valentines Day was also Ash Wednesday beginning of Lent

Oh. I didn’t realize that.

Didnt realise 

I’m not religious.

As a boy you went to church with your parentsyah

   Yes.

Until how old

Until I graduated high school.

So  From a boy to graduating high school off to college you went to church Sunday

My Mom . .

. . Stay on point

                 Church  Sunday mornings

Yes.

Thank you

             Don plead ignorance Youre familiar

What of it?

I know you were rollinround town Do you remember seeing any ash on foreheads I didnt see one ashed soul 

I can’t say I did either.

                          Why are you bringing it up now? Valentine’s long gone.

I was talking with a friend a woman she made other plans didnt see her boyfriend He was miffed  She told him it didnt strike her that their relationship needed to celebrate the date  He didnt try to make any plans for themhadnt looked ahead  She told him she had no intentions of sitting around on her hands

Do they have a good relationship?

As good as relationships go

                             As I told her  most couples celebrate Valentines Day because theyre gonna get laid

Jesus Christ.

   Jesus Bets

What?

Theyre bets  Don implore Jesus

   Whatever, man.

Day damn near broke my heart

Which?  Valentine’s or Ash Wednesday.

Ass Wednesday

                 I love ass   No ass for me

Jesus . . .   he withheld Christ  was rarely a quick study

                                                          Don’t know what to say.

I do

What’s that?

   You didnt either

2043,  Thursday,  22  2. 24

1132,  Sunday,  25  2. 24

Why waste a minute being timid

                                         Right

he liked it

a long freakin phonaesthetic

                              HA  though not a prosthesis

pro thesis

            pro threetits Awa  he believed

                                              but

digging deeper he found that the three-breasted goddess a War goddess  was East Indian Meenakshi

                                                                                                             he was going to stick with Auwa looks a bit like three breasts  eh

he thought so

   he wasnt timid

once his stuttering quit as a young boy he was balls to the wallwoudnt shutup

                                                                                     evidently

he had lots to say

                        lots

timid

      wasnt elemental

if he had his druthers it wouldnt have been elemental to anyone

                                                                      Open your mouth  Say

SAY

      to his dismay he was learning too late too few people actually said what they meant

   waste a minute being timid

                                   Fuck you Hobbitman

2100,  day-between-2-Ts,  21  2. 24

2050,  Saturday,  24  2. 24

dried off he walked in towel over his shoulders through the sliding glass door from the pool where he did laps

the invitefriend called explained he was having a pool party

                                                                 yet 

he had been the only one who went in

therefore

           unimpededuninterrupted laps

he sidestepped a couple heading out

                                       recognised them  nodded

he didnt introduce himselfwouldnt

                                    he feuded with the husband in the local newspapers opinion page understood the husband played off his name asif that held water  he was fourth generation wealthy family real estate land developer    nepotism

he had no respect for either him or his aberrent opinions

he supported all his opinions with fact evidence  receipts

clown just spewed talking points

                                   but he was wellknown  wealthy

inside he looked around

                            nope

not a soul hed entertain

wrapped the towel around his waist put on his tshirt   poured himself a whisky  grabbed a beer from the glassfaced beverage frig behind the bar   took a seat in a corner where he could overhear the inebriated gathering

                                                                                                              he arrived late

he had no intention of catchingup

they were flinging crap carelessly about

                                             they agreed   appeasement

he shifted in his seat

was getting fuckin antsy

   Sit still Youll win no battles here

                                       These are ardent believers    Whydya come

I didnt know friend would be entertained these lummoxes

Airs

     Has to maintain airs  hes third generation

He is

       Youre correct   Why invite me

Youre a friend

he nodded

Coolin your jets

Im tryin

I can leave you alonelet you be

   I  I believe so

Awright  Im around in case

                                voice inside him disconnected    mariachi

whisky gone half a beer  hed leave when he was finished

he remained sitting listening to the horseshit

they seemed titillated by appeasement

                                           though none of them had skin in the game

people who did wouldnt countenance appeasement

he agreed with them

   You want to say

                       I felt your angst

I do

Then tell me

You know

I do  But air it quietly

                        Youve no friends here     Appeasement

Awright

          Actually its pronounced  he said it softly   PissonmeImeant

   Thereya go

                  Better

Yah

Finish your beer lets get out of here

he muttered Bottoms up

                           set the glass and bottle on the bar left without saying goodbye to his host

2034,  Thursday,  22  2. 24

1249,  Saturday,  24  2. 24

Like my father, your grandfather used to say, policeman and priests should never die.

Tha woudnt work Think of a Chicago cops pension

                                                      Thad go bust   Do priests have pensions

Why we talkinbout this

   You brought up my father.

Yes  I bring Grampa up because you rarely talk about him or Gramma   or Uncle Don

What’s to bring up?

Memories

            Theyre gone  You must have memories good memories

I don’t like to think of them.

Really

No.  I don’t like to think of them.

   Heartache because theyre not here

Son, please, there he goes hes rarely Joe typically son I do not like to think about the past. It’s gone. There’s nothing to be done.

Im not talkin done

                       Im talkin remembering  I think you like to think that Ill think of youtalk of you

You will, but that’s you. Ya got an iron beartrap for a brain, snaps shut, nothing escap . . 

. . Unless it gnaws its leg off

Yes. Grim.  But that.

                         Your mother was like that.

Until she wasnt

Yes.  Until she couldn’t.

Yes  Youre correct

                       Excuse me

Son, you obviously enjoy remembering. I don’t. 

                                                   I think of things ahead of me, not behind me.  I go forward.

I go forward

You do.

         And I often wonder what will happen when the time comes that you can’t carry everything you have forward.

I think you know

I don’t.

Ill die

       I aint no cop or priest

1510,  day-between-2-Ts,  21  2. 24

1214,  Reggaefriday,  23  2. 24

Blood, Sweat & Tears  And When I Die  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ELQyfJ-yk

Wha did you say was incredulous he started laughing ribaldly before she could answer

over him  You heard me.

she said something

saw her mouthher lips move

he couldnt hear her over himself

                                  barked Wha I cant cant  cant hear you   pointed to his ears

she slapped her arms across her chest

began tapping her foot

                         which only exacerbated his laughter

her visage streaked  tears in his eyes

                                                       WOOO

Are you quite done?

he wiped his tears with his sleeve

                                     Christ  I havent laughed tha hard in a long time

You heard me.

Oh  I did

           Just couldnt believe it came out of you a chuckle began in his throat   I wonder if youd say it again see if Im laughed out

Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare.

he stuffed the chuckle

                          Coudya say it again  he was earnest

I said I called him a dirty booger.

a chortle  she killed it with an evil eye

                                          Lemme try cleared his throat   You dirty booger

Huh

       Its more fun to hear than sayterribly  terribly hilarious coming out of your mouth

Thanks. When I go into comedy I’ll use it.

                                             I wanted to call him a prick, but I imagine he’s called a prick all the time. His little entourage erupted in laughter.  Just . . like . . . you.

Well babe Its not something you hear often let alone coming from an adult let alone coming from a woman

   Ansuch a goodlookin woman

sweetly  Thank you

1449,  day-between-2-Ts,  21  2. 24

1046,  Reggaefriday,  23  2. 24

Jethro Tull  Locomotive Breath  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP627X1JBow

Bill Linda Maggie contemporaries  had different opinions of their old man than he

                                                                                         he cautioned them

thought itd be obvious

maybe if he hit them in the head with a brick

Hes your father I make his mud

                                    Your old mans cool

Think not.   Is your father cool? You said he’s dad’s age. 

BINGO

         My father isnt a friend

was rural Montana  circa Eighty

                                   Ravalli County  not twothousand people

very different now

he hadnt been there since ‘02

he called Ralph

                  their old man

Bills nowheresville for years

Linda Spokane  had five husbands before she was 40

Maggie’s in Boise.

                      Occasionally. Ralph said  he and his wife saw the girls

not ten minutes into conversation Ralph began talking shit about the younger generations  miscreants about Missoula  the homelessness there   Bozeman the homelessness there

                                                                  . . . worthless human beings.

Whas their incentive

   What do you mean?

Well Ralph I cant saycant imagine you can wha their circumstances were are  their upbringing was

                                                                                                  An I believe if someoneanyone has been stripped of hope  are hopelessness  they got nothing to lose

Hopelessness  Homelessness

I believe something to think about  consider

   I've not.

Often traipses across my brain

                                 Which isnt to say I am correct  I try to punch holes in it the concept the rationale  It don move  Stands like an archery target

Give it a thought

I hear you.

            I hear you.

So Im coming through Montana in April  Id like to stop ansee you an Marilyn

Yes. We’d love to see you. We’re homebodies. Gimme a call a couple of weeks out.

Awright

         Then again in a week to remind you  Then again in route

Yeah. See. I knew you were a sharp kid. 

1412,  day-between-2-Ts,  21  2. 24

0958,  Reggaefriday,  23  2. 24

C, S, N & Y  Our House  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKYjUn-SBcg