An Irishman goes into the confessional box after years of being away
from the Church. He is amazed to find a fully equipped bar with
Guinness on tap. On the other wall is a dazzling array of the finest
cigars and chocolates in the world.

When the priest comes in, the Irishman excitedly begins..."Father,
forgive me, for it's been a very long time since I've been to
confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much
more inviting than it used to be."

The priest replies, "Get out. You're on my side."

A discussion after the joyful noise that was Friday's Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show let to a friend asking me what does it for me? Why do I keep coming back? Why I have I seen upteen many shows? Still beaming like an idiot from the 3 hours we just witnesses, part dance party, part political convention, part tent revival, part depraved abandoned, part baptism, all I could say was"All of that." Early on in the show, Bruce promised our feet might hurt, our backs might shake, and you might still grin about it. One of my favorite television characters once said about great oratory "can lift whole houses off the ground." I feel the same about performance of all kinds, but especially about Mr. Springsteen.

He delivered again.

It's always great to hear songs you've always loved when they are performed with such conviction. The 19,000 voice singalong for "Thunder Road" is still in my head two days later, but the new songs and additional musicians that came to bring them alive were equally essential. I was a little worried about that after not really liking the Bruce record. I remember watching one of the televised Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies some years ago and the Mamas and the Papas were being inducted. They had so lost a step that 8 singers were needed to help back them up. Springsteen and the E Street Band don't need the help. The horn section, extra singers, percussion added to the fact that something new was being said, and despite it all "the rich guitar player being given a pass" was still a man of the people. And this people was still all too eager to be a part of something larger than himself. Collectively, we've all be at it awhile, and it was nice that the folks on stage haven't lost a step.

There were a few presents for us long time kooli-aid drinkers: "Point Blank" appeared and the last time I heard it live was in 1980 at the Aud, "Rendezvous", which has only be heard on my Ipod and "Mountain of Love", which might have been on the first bootleg I ever purchased. It was fun to see young fans enjoying the new material and the mix of other songs was pleasing to this old pro. Apparently, we nearly got an "E Street Shuffle" according to a set list making the rounds. But, it's all good. It's embarrassing to want so much from music (as the man himself once noted), but when you get "it" there are no words to adequately describe that happy, buzzing sensation of your soul getting a musical feast. And to be a part of a 19,000 voice strong chorus on "10th ave Freezeout" just seals the deal.

Back to my friend's question, it's the music and the way it's performed that gets you, gives your soul a stern talking to, and takes you to places you can't give directions back from and a night on E Street is a sure a bet as you can get.

You got an irish guy and an italian guy sitting at the bar. After a few drinks, a predictable argument occurs. “You’re so stupid.” “No, you’re so stupid,” ” No, you’re so stupid, I bet you probably don’t know when Easter is.” Money get placed on the bar, bartender comes over and the pressure is on. Gent steadies himself, stands up, takes a swig, clears his throat and announces “Easter! is when Jesus Christ, rises from the dead…..rolls away the stone….and, if he sees his shadow….”

Never have I had a monday like I had this past monday. For a couple of years, a colleague of mine and I have had this mostly joking list of the stuff they don't teach you in Marketing/Public Relations/Journalism school.

Gorillagate makes it on to the list.

In case you were under a rock, the male gorilla got out of his cage on Monday. He never strayed more than a few feet away from there, but it was my first instance of being truly scared at work.

One of my reoccuring nightmares here is if an animal got out, then what and since Monday, my mental remote control has being going pretty much nonstop.

As soon as it was clear what was going on, we were dispatched to move people, zoo guests, away and in my place, be the police contact guy. So, I was just outside the gorilla house, keeping anybody who wasn't armed from going in and watching the doors.

Let me tell you, when the ruff lemurs are perturbed, they make a helluva noise, scared the shit out of me. I turned away for a second and they did it again, which caused a coworker to run back to our building. Afraid of what I didn't see, I did too. (Somewhere, there is footage of that embarrassment.)

Thankfully, it ended about as well as something like that could have, and I can remember the inanities of doing laps in my car around Delaware Park driving my boss so she could do live tv with each of the tv stations with a laugh, but it's not everyday Swat comes to call.

It's okay to be a little scared at work, just never thought I actually would be.

I found myself in a ready to smack people mood lately. My lovely eldest daughter has managed to own this year so far and it is really great. One of the jobs she has secured is at Vasillis Express across from Mr. Pizza. She has a couple of crappy shifts and one of those ended at midnight last week. I came over to give her a ride home, but didn't go in, to not get in the way.

Didn't stop four knuckleheads from getting in the way though. In previous weeks, she has come out in tears because the boss had a fit over them turning the open light off at before his perception of midnight had arrived. We've all had nuts supervisors so all I can or should do is listen. But I sat in my car in quiet amazement as these four jamokes were oblivious to the line cook and my daughter sweeping up, closing down stoves, taking in signs, shutting display case lights off. One actually left and returned??

After a long day of fun, the fact that it was 12:25 when they finally stood up quelled the urge to go in smack all four of them upside the head.

I stayed put and listened as my child came out a few minutes later weaving a rather impressive tapestry of obscenities. As she doesn't have the deepest of voices, I couldn't help it, a dumb smirk was sneaking across my face.

It is possible to laugh at !2:45 on a Thursday morning.