walking into the room where buddy had an eightfoot pool table foldedup gametables stacks of puzzlespulled up short  saw that he hung old family photographs artwork  onein particular  a framed poster threw him  was unlike buddy

he walked in behind him shortly thereafter carrying a tray bottles of beer tumblers of whiskey ceramic bowls containing mixed nuts pretzels

                                         motioning to the walls  This is crazy nice

Thank you. I found most of them in the boys’ closets hadn’t seen them in years. I thought they'd make the room more homey.

You achieved that

                    

                         The poster  Garth Brooks

Yes.

 

You a fan

I’m not, my wife was.

she died fifteen years earlier

Im a bit surprised its not under glass as the other pieces aresave  of course

                                                                                 The paintings

No. She wanted a frame to keep it flat.

                                             Actually . . I’m very happy she didsee the upper right?

looked saw a dull purplish stain of something splashed  beyond it samecoloured speckles

The boys were gone. New Year’s Eve. I was feeling frisky goosed her she jumped tossed her wine over her shoulder.      remembering   seeing

                                                    We daubed away what we could.

Then I started daubing her.

   Daubing

Good. Using your imagination.

                                

                                      Daubed.

 

We look at a lot of our lives through glass, television screens, phone screens.

                                                                                   Easy to lose perspective . . lack . . . scale.

I see

          If Garth were under glass  yamight not have that present memor . .

. . Yes.   Yes.

                     Every time I look at it since finding, hanging it . . .  he trailed off

Youre able to relish  again

 

   Relish.

               Perfect word for it.

handing him a tumbler he held up his  Na Zdrowie.

Heres mud in your eye

0730,  Monday,  24  3. 25

1008,  Thursday,  27  3. 25

Make America Great Again

                                  Or

AKA  Let Third World Children Die  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/gavi-does-much-more-than-save-the-lives-of-children/

American measles  https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html

Lubbock Texas  https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/26/texas-measles-public-health-funding-cut/#:~:text=Since%20January%2C%20Lubbock%20hospitals%20have,who%20died%20on%20Feb%2026.&text=This%20site%20is%20protected%20by,and%20Terms%20of%20Service%20apply

                                  Or

“We’ve hit (Houthi) headquarters,” Waltz told US media  https://truthout.org/articles/democrat-leaked-messages-show-waltz-admitting-to-war-crime-in-yemen-strike/

                                  Or

Climate change threat  https://www.the-independent.com/climate-change/climate-change-america-global-threat-b2722106.html

                                  Or

https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/weather-climate

                                  Or

                                        fuck America

2031,  Wednesday,  26  3. 25

   couldnt possibly have heard that right

                                                      Ears havin your way with me again

aint enough his eyes fuck with him

tagteamed by his senses

   they acted like they didnt hear him  played mute

                                                           he got it

he liked to play dumb too

that only worked with people who didnt know him

knowing him wasnt to love him   

   Ozempic

whenever he viewed YouTube pharmaceutical ads bombarded interruptedfuckininterrupted programs he watched

           what he thought he heard was a voiceover that recommended Ozempic to  avoid  death

that was a salespitch of All-Time

                                   TAKE Ozempic  AVOID Death

he might have to look into that

Ears

   they still werent listening

hed have to drill down

   drilling   found

                      perhaps what he hardlyheard didnt pay attention to advertisement forced on him  “When you stop using Ozempic, all the drug mechanisms mechanisms?  cogs cranks gears grates at work . . . protection will stop. Your medical conditions may worsen . . . Your risk of death . . . may increase.”

   thats terrifying

at onset of taking Ozempic he hoped those words were trottedouthollered in ones face by a raucous band of NBA cheerleaders POM POMs et al

                                        but then   maybe

to have to endure a raucous bouncingboundingunbridled band of NBA cheerleaders might be worth taking the drug

   maybe

to be fair  a male perspective             

2157,  Monday,  24  3. 25

1347,  Wednesday,  26  3. 25

https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/what-happens-when-you-stop-taking-ozempic-3575107/

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/video/tv/top-10-hottest-nba-cheerleaders-squads/vi-AA1qsU5s

he was going to give Jackie a ride home his teenaged daughters friend

                                                                             that was the deal

her parents could drop her off but she needed a lift home

there were three pools at the apartment complex

done deal

            a day in the sun spent swimming playing jacuzziing cold drinks cold fruit

left them to their own devices  told them to head home thirtyforty minutes so they could shower before dinner

        finished prepping potato salad was barbecuing hamburgers sausage hot dogs sweetbreads

Jackie

was a pistol

             playing Marco Polo  couplethree of the times he was It caught hergrabbed her boob  accidentally  inadvertently   she squealed with laughterpeeled out of her throat out her wideopen grinning mouth

Would you quit Jackie? his daughters cried

                                               She’s doing that on purpose, Dad.

No shit

          Jackie  Cheap thrills

ever the smart aleck

                      You callin’ me cheap?

Woudnt knowI  woudnt know

                                 shed been playful for as long as theyd known her  although her abundant blooming upped the ante

                            shed become a classic tease

her parents his friends were going to have their hands full

 

We better get a move on Jackie

Is it time . . already?

Time

Alright.

           Lemme collect my things.

she gathered magazines towels girlie stuff into a large beach bag

I'm ready.

            wore flipflops cutoff bluejeans oversized tshirt

Awright grrls  gonna get this show on the road  have the dishes done by the time I get back please

Yes Dad.

going out front he kicked off his flipflops stoopingpicked them up

                                                                     a long lawn ran before the front of twostoreys of apartments down to the parking lot the carports ran in front of his car

it felt good

Do you always walk in the grass?

Most of the time

she kicked off hers bagged them walked beside him

almost to the parking lot she said Shoot. I forgot something. handing him her bag I’ll be right back stay right here.

Ill meet you at the car

No please, stay right here.  sounded earnest

Awright

         Step it up

I will I will, thank you.

                        she ran up the grass strip went rightdisappearing behind blooming roseplants into the entryway beyond

not twentyseconds later she he thought Great  Got the lead out came into viewsomething in her hand  laughing  ran on a deadbead at him

                           her breasts movedswayed two playful pups at each other  jiggled juggled tumbled ransmack into him they went down

she laughed riotously

getting to a knee You oka . .

. . I am. poppedup off her ass onto her feetdropped her bra in the grass

Youre crazy

   Yawanna to see crazy? grabbedboth handsthe hem of her tshirttook the step to himyanked it upsacked his headpummeled his face

                              he saw Shit  he saw

almost took an eye out

0800,  Monday,  24  3. 25

1159,  Wednesday,  26  3. 25

https://www.thekitchn.com/what-are-sweetbreads-and-why-you-should-try-them-meat-basics-208248

I know you know no don gimme tha look

                                           he said it in an even tone  sternly   not harsh

bomber huge orange tabby looked over at him  paw at the windowscreen

No

with a single nail he plucked it like a harpstring

NO

       I know you know

   bomber retracted his nailremoved his paw from the screen

Thank ya big boy

                    I knew you knew

 

he shared that episode with the librarian when she remarked at the scratchscabs on his thighs she was on her knees shelving books

                            My cats  Sometimes they knead  enthusiastically

Enthusiastically?

Got cats

I have fish.

Goldfish in a bowl

                     Tha sounded like sushi

she chuckled

               It did, no, I have an aquarium.

Fresh or saltwater

Fresh. I haven’t time to maintain the kind of saltwater aquariums I’d like.

Plural

Yes.

So for the time being

Yes. They’re good companions.

                                  They and my books.

Preaching to the choir

she went to stand he held out his hand she took it

                                                      Thank you.

Youre welcome

Some of those scratches are awfully long.

Those were suddenabrupt startled leaps from my lap

                                                          Cant take the heat stay out of the kitchen

0847,  Monday,  24  3. 25

1023,  Wednesday,  26  3. 25

Ted Nugent  Cat Scratch Fever  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I47floRRAFs

weighed

down

by

death

 

he didnt work at that

                       just came to him

if thoughtful  it could have screamed at the top of its lungsDUCK

   but didnt

death doesnt give you that

                                 Yasay something

   she said Say something?

You didnt say anything

What did you think I'd say?

   Perhaps   Duck

Duck?

   Duck  duck  duck  duck  duckcirclin the playground circle

                                                                    Duck duck    GOOSErun like the blazes

Not to be confused with Goose goose  fingers slickgooey

                                                           Tha kind of goose

   I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.

A heads up

Heads up?

Yah

   Yeah?     Elaborate?

Woudnt think Id need to

So   No duck

   None.

Okay

           Okay

Were good

Are we?

 

DUCK

weighed

down

by

death

0916,  Monday,  24  3. 25

2001,  Tuesday,  25  3. 25

Moliere or Teffi

                       Seventeeth Century    Moliere came first

Teffi  born 1872

                  get this

gave herself the name Teffi

                                 maybe   because

Nadezhda Alexandrovna Lokvitskaya was her given name

got to have a sense of humour to endure that

   they said

               Life is a tragedy to those who feel and a comedy to those who think. & Life inside a joke is more tragic than funny.

Hendrix sings Dylans All Along the Watchtower  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaYynY

   There are many here among us/Who feel that life is but a joke

Take your pick

Life tickled him most of the time

1430,  Saturday,  22  3. 25

1255,  Tuesday,  25  3. 25

https://www.goalcast.com/moliere-quotes/

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jan/14/teffi-life-of-letters-and-laughter-edythe-haber-review

he couldnt let it go

                       Mebbe you coud help me remember this

he amused her

                 Is this something of yours . . which would be difficulthard . or someone else’s?

Someone elses  Yevgeny Zamyatin

Oh.  I believe I’m familiar with that name.

We

YES.

Youre correct ya remembere . .

. . You made me read it when you finished.

I  made you

she tipped here head like a little bird

                                       Made.   Told me you wouldn’t go down on me until I read it.

Cant deny tha

I was incentivising you

                           It worked

Read it in two days.

You did

          Then nearly tore my ears off 

Can’t deny that.

they laughedthey were so fuckin funny

 

I’m happy to help.

Thank you

As best I can.

We can remind each other  two heads are better than one

Sixtynine.

   Oh no you didant

I did.  You’re rubbing off on me.

Ill rub one off on you

Big talker.

After

   After?

Then let’s get on with it.

Thas my grrl

Whas germane   Empty  an light

                                           Sounds blissfulhuh

she closed her eyes  felt it

                                 Yes.   Blissful.

Its from We

Oh.  That’ll help.

Thaswha I thought

D-fivehundredthree and the free-spirited woman . I-threehundredthirty.

Yes

Go on.

“. . . now I am healthy: I am completely and totally healthy. I’m smiling: I can’t help smiling: a splinter has been removed from my head and now it is empty and light.”

Empty and light.   We can remember this.

   I thought so too

 

wolfishly  I’ll help rub.

1450,  Saturday,  22  3. 25

1205,  Tuesday,  25  3. 25

Hey man found a challenger to Wittgensteins whereof thereof

Dammit.   I’ve no idea why I can’t keep that saying in my head. Again.

I got an idea

               Wanna hear

   Do I have a choice?

Not if you want to hear the challenger

Then I have no choice.

See how smart you can be

                             Yacant keep the maxim in mind because you believe  evenifits an opinion  you have a right to express it

No fact

           Just opinion

Tha ya also believe has to be heard

 

   For instance.

Vasectomy

 

 

You gonna say?

You got an opinion  Ive had one

                                  Whereof one cannot speak thereof one must be silent

Silent

No opinion

Yawanna spit go ahead

                                Doesnt look like it tastes good

I disagree.

Keep it to yourselfdisagree with yourself Ive no interest in hearing

                                                                             DRUMROLL brrrrruumm  the challenger

All set

he was miffed

   All set

What?

Latin first Ubi nihil vales ibi nihil vells

                                                  Yawanna try it

You want to hear my opinion?

Yah

Nihil means no.

                    Something no . . . and . something . . no.

Yah an

 

Thas your opinion

Would you just say itquit poking the bear?

Bear

Mightyhigh opinion of yourself thasaid

                                          Wherein you have no power therein neither should you will

But you will

Cuz yacant help yourself

   Credit Arnold I don know how to say it so Ill spell it  G  E  U  L  I  N  C  X

                                                                                      Sam Beckett was a fan

his expression said it all

Irish novelist playwright poet

after 3PMishmash,  Sunday,  23  3. 25

1055,  Tuesday,  25  3. 25

Flemish philosopher  Arnold Geulincx  https://iep.utm.edu/geulincx/

Samuel Beckett  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXSmXNvS3VY 

a rap at the door stilled their cross words

                                               a muted Housekeeping. through it

One moment please

                      taking a breathsuppressing his anger  If youre ready to go for breakfast Ill let housekeeping in

Breakfast? she glared  You might have ruined my appetit . .

. . Have a Bloody Mary then

Just one more moment please

Youre ready

grabbing her purse hanging off the deskchair As ready as I’ll ever be.

he stepped aside as she rushed the dooropened it inward

                                                              sidestepping the housekeeper she managed a smile a Good morning

Good morning, ma’am. the housekeeper said to her hustling form padding down the carpeted hallway

she was unexcelled at swinging through moods

                                                   he on the otherhand wasnt  he grimacedgrit his teethran both his hands over his face as if washing itrubbed his closed eyes with his fingersthey finished at his temples

opened his eyes

                  the housekeeper stoodframed in the doorway

Good morning glanced at her breasther name stitched there  Wanda

Sir. Good morning.  she was stout looked Eastern European  a block of a woman

                                                                                     If I may?

May he thought before he said it outloud  May

                                                   What

The madam.

Madam

           The mad damn  woman

a smile curled on her lips

                            Mad damn.   I have not thought that before.

he smiled  Ive had lots of practice

                                       Yes  You may

she stepped inside the roomwalked up to him patted his shoulder with what he thought was compassion  he could be wrong

            Without fear . . . there can be no control.

1843,  Sunday,  23  3. 25

1005,  Tuesday,  25  3. 25

      Im  he smiledshe knew   Im anally  aligned nice play on words  inclined

Moanastic  

             she played

M  O  A  N  A  S  T  I  C  he spelled

she laughed  breathtakindimples

                                   Look at you . . . ahead of me.

I have my moments

 

   You make my bum sore.

Any complaints yashoudve said 

gently shook her head curly tresses accordionedbobbed No.   None.

                                                                 Not at all.

Who knew?

We don really know until we try

0006,  Tuesday,  25  3. 25

0901,  Tuesday