On our way back from visiting my parents last weekend, (e:Uncutsaniflush) and i were listening to Alan Cross' The Ongoing History Of New Music on 102.1 The Edge.

The subject was outsider music (WIKIPEDIA - Outsider music) and i was ever so grateful to be making the hour drive when this show was on. It was a highly entertaining episode. Since then, there have been a few songs i haven't been able to get out of my head.

And now, as i type this, i am listening to Philosophy of the World by the Shaggs (WIKIPEDIA - The Shaggs) (thanks to (e:Uncutsaniflush) for downloading it!) and i am loving it so much. How could i not love the atonal enthusiasm!?! How could i not love a song called "My Pal Foot Foot"? I can't! Since the song was inspired by a pet cat, if i ever again have a pet cat, i now want to name him or her Foot Foot.

I am also very much interested in hearing more Wesley Willis(WIKIPEDIA - Wesley Willis), an interest i am not sure (e:Uncutsaniflush) shares.. at least not as much. Sadly, the only sample of his music was a song about Dave Grohl (ok, so shoot me, i think the Foo Fighters suck).. one in which we originally thought was about some chick named April. Aaaappppriiiillll... Daaaaaavvveee Grohhhllll.. You can hear the similarites, can't you?

Since i can't have a usersound at this time, i leave you with lyrics..

My Pal Foot Foot

My pal's name is Foot Foot (Foot Foot)
He always likes to roam
My pal's name is Foot Foot (Foot Foot)
I never find him home

I go to his house
Knock at his door
People come out and say
Foot Foot don't live here no more

My pal Foot Foot (Foot Foot)
Always likes to roam
My pal Foot Foot (Foot Foot)
Now he has no home

Where will Foot Foot go
What will Foot Foot do
Oh, Foot Foot
I wish I could find you

I've looked here, I've looked there
I've looked everywhere
Oh, Foot Foot
Why can't I find you?

Foot Foot, where can you be?
Foot Foot, why won't you answer me?
Foot Foot, Oh Foot Foot
Wherever you are
I want you to come home with me

I don't have time to roam
I have things to do
I have to go home
Oh, Foot Foot, where are you?

If Foot Foot didn't like to roam so well
He would still have a place to dwell
Foot Foot, please answer me
I know where you are
You're behind that tree

Foot Foot, please come to me
Foot Foot, now that you're here
Won't you come home
Foot Foot, promise me this
That you will never again roam

Today, at the Boulevard Mall, something horrible happened to me. Here i am, blissfully unaware, thinking i am a moderately hip kinda chick... ok, a complete geek, but not totally out of touch. Then, some kid handing out samples... he... oh, i can barely say it. This isn't the south in which this dreaded word is part of the daily vernacular. He called me "ma'am". I've been "Ma'am'ed"!!!

Have ya ever had a mental image of something that is just a wee bit wacky?

Whenever we drive by the Ford Buffalo Stamping Plant, i have this well formed mental image: a huge room jam-packed full of buffalos, barely any room between them, backs still and unmoving, while their feet slam the ground below, up and down without any sense of rhythm, but a definate sense of purpose.

No, i am not off any meds....

Oh damn. Can't fall asleep because of this cough. How annoying is that?

Speaking of annoying... most times, noises and beeps and clicks and shit like that on computers don't interest me. I got used to the boing boing of the chat here, and the sounds that used to end abruptly when logging on or off. But, i tend to disable sounds. However, i am tres annoyed with flash right now. They don't want me to hear usersounds on (e:strip). Bastards!

Physically

As i have mentioned a few times before, i quit smoking. I smoked for almost 25 years. The hacking cough i got used to. The smell of smoke in my clothes and hair were normal for me. Both my parents smoke, and my mom started smoking when she was pregnant with me. So, in an odd sorta way, i kinda feel like i have always been a smoker. Just over a year ago is when i quit.

About 8 weeks ago, i got a cold. I really was hoping that my lungs were clear enough that it wouldn't sit in my chest weeks after the cold was gone. That was not to be. My dentist mentioned to me (when he was trying to work in my mouth and i couldn't keep a cough in any longer) that it may take up to 5 years for all this shit to clear out of my lungs. What fun...

This weekend, (e:Uncutsaniflush) and i were visiting my parents. Both my mom and my dad still smoke. They do their best to keep the air clear(ish) for us when we are there but the smoke sucking ashtray isn't quite enough.

Since we got back last night, my cough is like a smoker's again, and my lungs feel so heavy. Oh, how i hope it won't be like this every time i visit them!

Emotionally

I also hope that some day, very soon, my parents will both find the energy to be happy. I love them both so much, and think that they are both good people, but they both seem so unhappy.

This weekend, in particular, my dad seemed so... hmm... difficult, i guess is the best way to describe it. I felt like any discussion i had with him had to have a billion qualifications around it. No, dad, i don't think Uncle Cam is an asshole; i think he is basicly a good guy that can't seem to get his shit together. I merely use him as an example of predictable behavior patterns. And my dad became defensive of his youngest brother.

My mom was more chipper this weekend than my dad, but i can still feel the tension from an arguement they had a week or so ago. My mom wants to get rid of a very nice outfit she got one fun weekend in Toronto with a friend because of this argument. ANd if her side of the story is even half right, then i don't blame her one bit.

Sadly, i find both myself and (e:Uncutsaniflush) being sucked into the drama that is the life of my unhappily married parents. He and i, if we chose to, could sit and analyze all the drama for hours. Sometimes, it is so tempting to, since we both so want to find a solution for them. It pains me greatly to know that no one can help them but them. I am so sad for them...