talking with a young friend he mentioned his disappointment 

she asked what was bothering him

I was talking with an friend from the old neighbourhood shes been strugglingcaring for her mother the rest of the family has refused to help even if only to take their mother for a week so she could have a break  Shes givenup capitulated

   Capitulated.

                     What does that mean?

Resigned Surrendered

                         As I said  givenup  Afraid her family saw her coming an when she stepped in they hustled out  She thought theyd have her back  Yah  Stabbed her in the back  Told her She your problem now   They washed their hands

That’s terrible.

It is

    Its amazing wha familys can do  I often joke tha family an dysfunction are synonymous

she groaned

There yago  you groaned

The way you said . it didn’t sound like you were joking.  You were being facetious.

   No  Sarcastic

                  Sarcasm is wasted on the thick   Youre not thick

the quiet sounded like she wanted to smile  but withdrewheld back

You can smile baby  Youre not thick

                                       If you were Id let you know  As a matter of fact ifya were we woudnt be talkin

I have better things to do

she cleared her throat

                         Are you teasing me?

No

     I genuinely like yougenuinely  enjoy our conversations

Ohgood, thank you.

                        I like you too.

since that conversation a week earlier  on the telephone  sitting before his computer on-line he had readhad heard commentators use capitulation capitulated capitulating not the three timesthings happen in threes  but every day a couplethree times a day  asif saying itplacing it in the ether it had spread pollenated   flourished

having a beer with a buddy

                               Youre familiar with the term capitulation

I am.

When was the last time you used it.

    I couldn’t tell yathough for the most part not readily part of my vocabulary. Why?

he related what transpired the week prior

So what are you saying?

I don know

               If I were suspiciousan Im not  Id think my place was bugged or some fuckin listenin algorithm decided it liked the word an disseminated it

Sounds suspiciously scifi.

The best scifi is speculative

Then, fantasy?

Not keen on itnot the fantastic

Ohstop!

           Most of the shit out of your mouth is fantastic

       

 2142,  Thursday,  18  1. 24

1409,  Reggaefriday,  17  1. 24

Led Zeppelin  No Quarter  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vG_mTt6hCs 

I think Im gonna see if I can break into the black market

What do you mean? Drugs?

Yah

        Marijuana shoud never have be scheduled by the government with heroin It was is on par with alcoholalthough while meeting many a mean drunk I cant say I ever met a mean stoner

                                                                           Cant sell maryjane Legalised  An I like wha theyve done with the product  he scratched his cheek just beneath his eye with his thumbnail

So ah . . what are you proposing?

Thinkin of going into the market with mifepristone Cant have these whitefuck males females dicktate to women wha belongs only between them and their physicians their families shoud they chose

You really think the Cour . .

. . I don put a damn thing pastem Theyre either the Real McCoy or believe theyre indebted an political operatives

Being unelected helps  Lifetime appointments help

Yah  Push comes to shove Ill push

2332,  day-between-2-Ts,  17  1. 24

1341,  Thursday,  25  1. 24

Steppenwolf  Pusher  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv6PY1BQLBE

made him sick

                           https://www.axios.com/2024/01/24/rape-pregnancy-abortion-ban-states

Southern states banned abortion states

                                           where theres rape no exceptions why woud any selfrespecting white man desirous that the white birth rate go up go to Disneyworld for a good time please excuse him for all the unnamed amusement parks and places Southerners flock

berserk America

testy America

               Land of the Free  Home of the Brave   Yah not so much

a land of Fear

   land of Fear of the Other

a socialmediated cellphone America millions

                                                who are unwilling to find the facts an evidence an learn for themselves 

led around by their nose

1523,  day-between-2-Ts,  24  1. 24

1225,  Thursday,  25  1. 24

. . . No thank you.

Awcome on, its free eats. It’s crab.  Come.

No thanks

You don’t like crab?

I like it fine

             If youd please extend my thanks for the invite It was very thoughtful

They’re going to be disappointed.

Stop woudya

                 Their whole gang is going to be there  Correct

Yes.

Theyll be fine be jimdandy

Man, you really ought to come out, enjoy the night, food, company.

   Wha have I told you about tha

Oh. You’re going to pull your introvert card.

Shucks Ya remember

                         But better yet  whaelse have I told you

What?  What more is there?

Performance

Perfor . . what? What are you talking about?

Really  Again

                   About me socialising

You’re a gas, entertaining as hell, you're very socia . .

. . An its exhausting Its performance performative   Im done performing Im not singing for my supper excuseme  for a free supper

                It aint

I don’t get it.

No yawoudnt youre a freakin social butterfly  

                                                  Youre also an extrovert an don tell me you don buy into labels  Youre terribly unlike your Aquarius sign while I shriek Aries

Bullshit he sighed

                       They’re bullshit.

Theyre not  Like anything ya have to be receptivekeep an open mind

I have an open mind . .

. . For wha appeals to you

That’s not true.

Knock yourself out

                        Im not singin for my supper

1647,  Monday,  22  1. 24

1142,  Thursday,  25  1. 24

The Mamas & Papas  Sing for Your Supper  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZrdkm_7IEE

I gotta tell ya tha photo of the cardinal against the cold an snow you shared with me on-line was awesome  How you get your shots blows me away.

Well thank you. Lotsa patience.

                                    And bait.

Bait I love it   Its a necessary ingredientfixture to catch prey  winged finned fourlegged  twolegged 

Twolegged?

Yes

       Thank you so much  I was really tickled I havent seen a cardinal since I left Illinois  an only in Illinois  When we were kids I remember there used to be a lot around  Year round too yah

When we were kids yes, I’d agree.

                                        Do you know what they say said about a Winter Cardinal?

I do not

It’s an Old World concept.

I cant imagine anything boutme strikes you as Old World

                                                               Religious

Yes.

Obviously Christian

Yes.

he could hear her wrinkle her nose Youre dying to say arent you

Not dying.

Not dying

             Although you believe its import is worthwhile

It’s import. How you talk.

                                You say the oddest things.

Comon Tryin to offerya a fig leafsome credence tha Ill be able to tolerate Religion asya know wes donsee eye to eye

I am willing to listen

If you’re willing.

I say wha I mean

You do. Yes. Brutally.

                          Awright.

The cardinal’s red plumage has spiritual significance. In Christian symbolis . .

. . Id prefer symbology   silence   Pardon me excuse my interruption

                                                                           Symbolism

   Yes. Symbolism.

                      The red is reminiscent of Christ’s blood. It symbolizes sacrifice, and redemption. The winter cardinal’s presence is interpreted as a divine messenger, carrying blessings and spiritual guidance.

Love, hope, and joy are ever-present.

A good message for believers

   Yes.

Anhere I thought it was just a beautiful bird Beautifully crimson against the white snow and cold  It makes me I think of fire flames of winged finned fourlegged twolegged passion 

1716,  Reggaefriday,  19  1. 24

2210,  day-between-2-Ts,  24  1. 24

https://oldworldchristmas.com/blogs/the-yule-blog/the-winter-cardinal-symbolism-and-significance-in-christmas-celebrations#:~:text=Symbolism%20of%20the%20Winter%20Cardinal&text=Its%20vibrant%20red%20feathers%20are,joy%20during%20the%20holiday%20season.

What the hell?

Were they honking at you

she glanced leftright I wasn’t doing anything.  checked her mirrors sharply

                                                                               Couldn’t have been me. I don’t even see who might have honked.

Goddamn horns

she laughed You’ve never really don’t care for them, I can remember Mom scolding you for not honking.

Then youll remember the times I had to stay her hand while driving when she went to hit it

                                                                                                Wha a pip

Oh definitely Mom. I remember her giving us kids rides to school, it seemed like every other day she’d hit the horn, sometimes, embarrassingly, lean on it.

She coud be impatient

Yes. But you were always so patient.

Ahno  No

           Yashoud have known me before you were born My patience actually had to grow to offset Maws impatient

I suppose . . that would have been necessary.

Yathink

        Jesus   Either getting behind the wheel or imbibing brown liquor made her someone else  Id ask she woudnt say    Never had any idea

But usually when we went somewhere as a family you drove.

Yes  Your memorys correct

And at night.

Always at night She had lousy nightvision

I have lousy nightvision.

Thas on Mom

Maybe that’s why she was an angry driver, her driving limited.

As I said no idea

                     A honks an accusation Though better than tossing a brick out the window

That’s it that was always your threat, heave a brick at someone.

Yah yah

          Reminds me of First World War biplanes shooting at each other with pistol

No. Really?

Yes

     Greatgrampa knocked one out of the sky with a watercooled machine gun from a church tower in France

Something else.

                    Heave a brick. You’re hilarious.

1345,  Monday,  22  1. 24

1314,  day-between-2-Ts,  24  1. 24

Anfield  Places We’ve Never Been  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAOsTlTFOg8

https://www.artwarefineart.com/gallery/air-ace-shooting-his-pistol-cockpit-his-bi-plane

dwelt caused a welt on his brain  a sharpslapOUCH

                                                        Tha hurt

Whas tha about

Yakiddin me

               When was the last time we heard someone say write dwelt

Me  Not in recent memory

   Let us think

Ive beatya to it

No

     You an we think differently

How Were cookin with the same pots an pans same utensils cutlery seasonings spices

Not really  not same proportions unseenthumbs on the scale

                                                                You  Lookin in over our shoulders

No small task

No

     We purposefully crowd together to crowd out your eyes We know youre lookin

Ill concede

             I am a voyeur

You are

         But so are we   We compel you

Like  The power of Christ compels you

No

     Hilarious

Thankya  Always a hankerin got it tucked in my back pocket to pull outPlay

You do

         We also recognise tha   So

Yes   So

Not in recent memory Was a big deal in the nineteenth century

                                                                      Tidhar played it

He did

         Hes a fascinating writer

Otherwise you woudnt read him

I woudnt

Surrealism autowriting cut-ups kicked it off for ya

You remember

Some of us Not all of us

                           Some were late to the game

Game   Me

Yes Yes

          Kinda like ridin a rollercoaster without seatbelts

You remember tha too

Yes Coney Island   When it was in disrepair

It was

But to be fair yadid goad the operator

Come on

            Aint it like me to goad virtually everyone

It is

     We try hard to be your goadherder but fail considerably more than were successful

I appreciate your diligence

                             Occasional victories keepya coming back

We adore challenges  Keepem comin

Will do

his mariachi dwelt in the marledmire coilsanfissures of his brain

1410,  2sday,  23  1. 24

1547,  2sday,  23  1. 24

he laid him rightup behind the 8ball

a near impossible shot on his

told him

           Youre absolutely scratchin  absolute riled him    absolute incensed him

absolutely why he did it

got into his head

                   which was a bleeding shame

people shouldnt be able get into others heads

   no one could get into his

ignoring people was his super power

could flip it OFF an ON like a welloiled welltoiled switch

half to begin with were missing

                                      MEN

useless to him

of the remaining half morethanhalf fell away too

slimpickins remained to be obscured

                                        dialeddown anaway

A WAY

         his way

an 8ball was riding on the game

                                     cocaine

boy had a big mouth

should have kept his trap shut in the pool hall

a disinteresttrusted party held his fivehunredcash held maroons 8ball

                                                                              clowny never saw him comin

sat in a boothhis back to the tables

                                      watched

in the mirror above the bar

                             called

playin angles

he scratched

tough way to lose

let himself down

                     Thank you for the game

took his cash the 8ball

                                Now  whadafuck he thought  he didnt like cocaine

Whawha  wha to do

   hed think of something

                               eventually

eventually

1643,  Reggaefriday,  12  1. 24

1234,  2sday,  23  1. 24

Vonnboyd  Hyyer  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTXZX60pxiA

This is how I do it 

                                   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAGRgCepK-s 

preachesreaches outround to those who have ears

                                                           Listen

he couldnt boast his best score

it hadnt happened yet

                            hed know it 

how to do it

feel it

        while it was happenin 

YA KNOW

              Ya just know

feel it in every fibre

in the seams of his soul

                            if he had one

could feel it GO

               GO baby GO tearin it up

secondplace not in sight

not even a sensation

so far ahead

leader

without followers

   alone

              allalone

This is how ey do it

2139,  Monday,  22  1. 24

1139,  2sday,  23  1. 24

Bucky  Calling Your Name  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1njEMfrBEZ8

. . . an she wore a really tight skirt I had to wonder how she got it on

   She have the assets to pull it off?

Clever

I have my moments.

Yes  Ohbrother did she

How tight’s tight?

You tryin to imagine

I am.

          I imagining tight . imagining . weel, imagining her asserting her assets.

Chinyour chin A bit of drool

exaggerating he wiped it with his sleeve

                                          So tell me.

Awright Ill put it this way

                               If she satknees together the hem of her skirt could slice off fingers slit wrists

   That’s visual.

Lemme tellya

She sounds lethal.

Deadly

0909,  2sday,  23  1. 24

The Power Station  Some Like It Hot  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw1t7OCESUw

Trumpvirus

              no fucking way hed let it go

the former couldnt call him a man

                                   owned it

onemilliononehunredthousandninetythreeanfortytwo Americans 1,193,042 are dead today

when he last checked 7January  onemilliononehunredninetyoneansixtyfive 1,191,065 had died

a difference of onethousandninehunredseventyseven 1,977 or onehunredthirtytwo deaths 132 a day

former could care less

   the former could care less

                                 he was still around  kicking

waking every morning he checked his newsfeeds

                                                   Nope  the clown was still around

1618,  Monday,  22  1. 24

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

he liked raw gumption

was like big dumplings in homemade chicken soup or dumplings on the side with freshcreamery butter freshground peppercorns

was like chunky potato soupskins left on like heavy beefstew like heavy chili and buttered cornbread like tiered vegetable cheese lasagna

                              gumption

heavy in his belly

stout

        bold initiative

on-line dating

                he queried five words that describe you in descending order

hed give the site a month

not once

           gumption

he dropped it

he was invited by a friend to see a movie with a group of his friends hed be odd man out

they had a bite at Cajun restaurant first

in line standing behind a couple they were having a disagreement that they entered the restaurant with he told her Will then, buy your own dinner.   I didn’t bring any money.   Too bad, huh?

he gently thumped her shoulder with the back of his hand

she turned

Gotya covered

Thank you. she turned back to her boyfriendhe had also turned to face them He’s got me, he’s got my dinner.

   And you . . . you can go to hell.                                                                                             

overhearing her he thought Girls got gumption

she turned to him again

                          Why I’ve put up with his shit this long . . well . my father taught me gumption, and I’ll be damned why I didn’t go to it sooner.

Relationships demand compromise

Tell him that.

he sidestepped her to face him directly  Relationships demand compromise

he replied You don’t know me, you don’t know us; I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your sorry advice to yourself.

   he turned his back on him

her shoulders formed a thruline between them

soft tears glazed her eyes

she kept them

                  clearing her throat I’m sorry.

No sorrys please

No. I’m sorry because I’ve developed an appetite.

Im happy to help

Helping me more than you know.

Thas thanks enough

   How the hell did I misplace my gumption?

he smiled

she smiled bigger such a joy   delicious dimples  she lightedup

                                                                     Doesnt matter Found it now

Sunday afternoon,  21  1. 24

1237,  Monday,  22  1. 24

The Tokens  The Lion Sleeps Tonight  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQlByoPdG6c