sars-cov-2 theme song: i'm bad, i'm nationwide

It's no wonder that ZZ Top song keeps ricocheting off the bones in my head.

When I last checked on the progress of the mayhem wreaked by it, the USA had 68,901,964 people who had been infected by the coronavirus and 877,958 people who contracted COVID from that infection and died.

That was on January 18th, less than two weeks ago.

Tonight, the USA has 76,222,215 people who have been infected and the total dead stands at 910,014 people.

That's an increase of more than seven million more infections in less than two weeks.

Think of it as more than 500,000 people contracting the virus per day.

There's also an increase of more than 22,000 people who have died from the coronavirus in less than two weeks.

Less than... two... weeks.

And how many of the good people of Georgia have been vaccinated?

Only about 54%.

Pitiful.

My nephew Michael is among that number refusing that preventative measure.

He had texted early last week about he and I getting together, as he still had Christmas gifts for me.

We were to meet on Friday, but I didn't hear a time from him.

Yesterday, he texted to see if it would be okay for him and the twins to come by.

I texted back, "Sure, as long as no one has sniffles or a fever."

I told him I would be home all day, but that I had an important phone call at 4 PM.

He and the girls arrived just after 3 PM.

(smile!)

We exchanged gifts, with him giving me their gifts to me first, wrapped in "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" paper.

My favorite!

I received a 2-CD set of The Beatles' "Let It Be", plus a gorgeous book of their poetry!

That would be song lyrics, which are merely poems with music!

(smile!)

The girls each received two LEGO sets, one for their 7th birthday (back in October) and one for Christmas.

I gave Alyssa a girlie set with tulips and purple vase, as well as the Polar Express train.

To Leila I gave a flashy race car and a Christmas tree that could spin around.

I also gave them a tour of the house, as they kept sneaking out of the living room and seemed fascinated by the three closed doors off the hall.

So, I opened each, revealing an empty and unheated and very cold "dance room", a mostly empty and unheated and very cold Ocean Room, and my bedroom (which, at one time, had been their room).

Then Michael had them come and sit in the living room and each choose one of their new LEGO kits to put together.

That's when the mental difference between the two girls became obvious.

I had already noticed the physical difference.

Since I last saw them, Leila has sprouted and is distinctly taller and bigger than her sister.

That was a definite change.

But when it came to taking on a new challenge, such as building a structure never before attempted, they had decidedly different approaches.

Alyssa selected the vase with the two tulips and little bee, a kit I had been sure she would like.

(She's the more girlie of the two, after all!)

Leila chose her Christmas gift, the pretty little tree with its tiers of branches.

I found it amusing that they both chose the plant-based kits to build first!

My train of thought seems to have jumped the track; guess I better get it back!

(smile!)

So, as I was saying, when it came to the construction of the tree, Leila kept deferring to her dad, wanting him to help, wanting him to show her how so she could mimic his actions.

Not Alyssa.

She quietly knuckled down to studying the pictorial instructions herself, not asking for help, not pouting and requesting that someone else do it...

she figured it out for herself.

Even more, she thought carefully and made several attempts before she ever asked her dad for a moment of aid.

And she had such a fine sense of accomplishment when she had that first tulip assembled!

There she is, placing its stalk into the vase - well done!

Then she built the second flower, even faster than the first.

What about Leila's tree?

Well, she had skipped a step and omitted a row of branches... but she didn't seem to care enough about it to take it apart and do it correctly.

Maybe she'll try again at home.

Soon enough, it was almost 4 PM.

Out they went!

I had already told them I had a call to place to Mister Willie, so I shooed them out...

then I sprayed Seventh Generation Lavender-scented disinfectant all over the living room.

All over the couch, all over the table, all over the love seat, all over the floor.

I also sprayed it in the kitchen, by the stove and refrigerator, where the girls had been "hiding" from me.

I also shed my "Mary's Hug" poncho and changed my sweater.

Then I called Willie on Gloria's phone and we talked for about thirty minutes.

(smile!)

Then I sprayed the items in the living room and kitchen again.

This morning, I sprayed those places a third time.

As I told my first niece, I have not sat in the living room since.

I think it may be safe to do so tomorrow.

I hope so.

The couch is certainly more comfortable than the dining room chair.

(smile!)

And I'll keep track of the passage of time until after Wednesday.

I know I'll be safe after that.

almost like trick or treating!

Just what might I mean by that?

Oh, c'mon, think about it a second.

What happens when you're out on Halloween?

Let me tell you!

You're dressed up, going from house to house, gathering into your little bright bag whatever kinds of treats that are being handed out, that's what happens!

The little old lady in the brick house might be handing out freshly made brownies, whereas the young couple in the little two-story is serving up Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, while the math teacher in the house with blue shutters is giving away little metric rulers.

Catch my drift?

Now, I'm not going to say that I was dressed up or in a costume, but I certainly did visit some pretty different venues and received some pretty amazing delights!

And all in the course of one week.

The first was a week ago Saturday.

"An Evening With SAAM" was to have been live, a joint venture between Savannah VOICE and the Savannah African American Museum, a precursor for Black Heritage Month.

Instead, due to COVID at the Milnes' home, the event was still live, but served up via VIMEO.

That was fortunate for me!

I'm so glad I was able to 'be' there for it!

This is one of the scenes from the home of Maria (far left) and Sherrill, shared with Chad Sonka and Sarah Zoe Budnik, all exposed to the pandemic virus, all sequestered together, all still singing opera!

Now, switch focus to downtown for a night at the museum.

That's a warrior princess astride that horse in the window!

What an incredible tale was woven from the thin gossamer of evening air to tell of this strong-willed woman who insisted that her father allow her to wed for love, not political benefit...

ah, yes, to wed for love!

And so she had, marrying the man who made her heart sing, bearing him a son who became the ruler of Burkina Faso.

And I had thought to myself: Fliss, Nerdfighter of Kiva, knows a little something about that African country!
(smile!)

The second batch of goodies was courtesy of AARP's Movies For Grownups, on Eventbrite.

Thanks, Sandy, for the word up about "Being The Ricardos"!

The movie had a moment that had me in tears, when Desi had helped Lucy save face with the Commie issue, but all she saw was another instance of his philandering.

How heartbreaking!

But the panel discussion at the end was certainly the star of the Thursday night event.

 

The third treat, on LIVENow tonight, had both a live concert as well as a film - how about that?

Unlike the other two events, it would have cost me $15, but I was able to be part of the "ONEUS 1st ever livestream", as well as the "Behind The Scenes" video of the K-Pop group, for free, courtesy of the xfinity rewards program, Diamond level.

Woot woot!

The photo was taken during the video portion, with the boys riffing on what they would do if each could switch

identities with one of the other members - very funny stuff, mostly with the switched fellow having to buy dinner for the rest of them!

This photo was taken during "Luna", their favorite song, and, apparently, the favorite song of their fans.

I can certainly understand why - combining artistic fan dancing and luminous set pieces, "Luna" was my favorite, too, even though I can't speak Korean.

That said, my absolute favorite part of the ninety-minute performance was after the six young men had introduced themselves.

That's when they sat on tall stools, in front of two video screens, and shared pictures and memories from their childhoods.

English subtitles allowed me to share those sweet stories, as well as the joshing from the band mates about their haircuts or favorite toys - what a fabulous way to allow their fans, plus strangers like me, to know them a little better!

That makes this a very nice Halloween type of outing, with my little bucket filled to the brim, with some favorite delights, as well as a few tasty morsels I've never yet tried!

(smile!)

cheap sunglasses on a dusty hill

Hey, Remember that I mentioned a day or so ago about finding out that Jim Steinman died?

"Yeah, seems that was on some website that tracks such things for musicians. That's where you saw two of Elvis's buddies, Ronnie Tutt and Bob Moore, but that was no surprise. DMX and Tawny Kitaen were, though."

Both of those took themselves out, having drug-induced heart attacks.

"But not Bunny Wailer; he had a stroke at 73. And Les McKeown had a heart attack, too, and he was just 65. Then there were those dead of cancer: Chick Corea, who was here in Savannah for one of the SMF events a few years back; Michael Stanley, lung cancer at 72; and B.J. Thomas, also claimed by lung cancer, but the "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" singer was close to 80 when he passed."

Yeah, not like my middle brother. He just missed getting to 59 years old. His ex, my outlaw Melinda, just had her 60th last week.

"Yep, she did."

Yes, and because of this pandemic, we didn't have a big celebration. She had a COVID encounter two weeks ago, but it seems to have just been a glancing blow. What a miracle! She has emphysema, has had it for about ten years.

"She really was very fortunate!"

Agreed. Anyway, back to that list of dead musicians... Dusty Hill was on it.

"Well, that's one-third of ZZ Top gone, then. He was pretty old, though, wasn't he? I kow he was the oldest one in the band."

Hahahaha! That was sorta kinda an inside joke for those three fellows! They were all born in 1949, with Joe Michael (aka "Dusty") in May, Frank Beard in June, and Billy Gibbons in December. That made him the "youngest" of the trio. They were all 21 - just 21 years old! - when they formed the band and had their first album in 1971.

"So they've been together half a century?!"

So they had, until July of last year. No cause of death was given, but the bass player had a bad case of bursitis, so pain medication may have been a contributing factor. He had just turned 72 when he died.

"I have to wonder how the other two are holding up. Fifty years is a long time to be a band of brothers and suddenly have one gone."

Well, Dusty had already picked out a replacement to fill his spot on stage. They played The Rialto at the end of last year. I know this because I came upon that one when I was searching out a specific tune.

"So, you're just going to leave me hanging, much like the laundry on this line?"

Don't you get it? As soon as I saw this on Danny Beam's fb page last weekend, the line "and my gold tooth displayed" popped into my head and I laughed out loud!

"You're saying ZZ Top had a song with that phrase? That sounds more like a rapper lyric."

Yeah, it does, but get this: that song came out on their album "Degüello", in 1979, the year they were all going to turn 30 years old. Seriously! Those Texas rock'n'roll guys, approaching their third decade of life, were popping out words like that long before any slick young rappers did! The rest of the verse is pretty jammin', too. In fact, here's the video of them doing it in concert in 1982. As for this image, I like it so much that it's my fb profile pic now. I finally had to clue folks in to the source of the reference I made.

"I can see you're on a roll, so I'll continue to be patient until you share that with me."

Okay, just a few more secs, I promise! First, though, I want to tell you about when I saw them here in Savannah, at the Civic Center. That was February 4, 2000, and I think it was to promote their 30-year anniversary album, "XXX". My ticket from that long-ago concert has been upcycled as a magnet on my refrigerator ever since.

"Very nice! Hard to believe they were the opening act on that bill."

The boys from the Lone Star State were the main attraction for me!

"Do you remember anything about it?"

Oh, you bet! I'd never seen them in concert before and they absolutely did not disappoint! Even the stage presence was super-cool, featuring a set designed to look like a boombox radio, only, instead of solid speakers, there was a backlit speaker mesh with silhouettes of girls dancing behind them! Pretty classy and perfectly in keeping with their bawdy sense of humor! I just loved it!

"Hahahaha! So, rather like the DoomBox on "That's My Jam", but with dancing women where Jimmy Fallon has the contestants?"

Exactly! Maybe that hearkening back to the big radios is part of the draw for me with show.

"I wouldn't be at all surprised."

And guess what else? About the 2000 concert, I mean. I found the setlist!!! Well, the site actually cautioned that it might not be quite right, but should be close to that used for that album tour. It sure looks right to me! It even has the song that's been playing on my mental jukebox for almost a week now... "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide".

"Okay, I'm starting to see why folks might have missed what you were talking about with that 'gold tooth displayed' reference. I don't recall that song getting much airplay."

Hey, it did in my head... it did in my head.

*****

 I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide

Well I was rollin' down the road in some cold blue steel
I had a blues man on the back, and a beautician at the wheel
We going downtown in the middle of the night
We laughing and I'm jokin' and we feelin' alright

Oh I'm bad,
I'm nationwide
Yes I'm bad,
I'm nationwide

Easin' down the highway in a new Cadillac
I had a fine fox in front, I had three more in the back
They sportin' short dresses, wearin' spike-heel shoes
They smokin' Lucky Strikes, and wearing nylons too

'Cause we bad,
we nationwide
Yeah, we bad,
we nationwide

Well I was movin' down the road in my V8 Ford
I had a shine on my boots, I had my sideburns lowered
With my New York brim and my gold tooth displayed
Nobody give me trouble 'cause they know I got it made

I'm bad,
I'm nationwide
Well I'm bad,
bad,
bad,
bad,
bad,
I'm nationwide

rx7: meat loaf aday

As I recall, this was the only song Jim Steinman ever wrote that glorified baseball.

Not the game itself - oh, no.

He was taken with the game-play terms that served double duty as sexual innuendo.

I don't know just when those descriptors first were used in that fashion, but I know I grew up knowing the metaphors related to progress on a date.

First base - stealing kisses, maybe even with a bit of tongue action!

Second base - ah, yeah, coppin' a feel and getting under a bra!

Third base - up on top of the mons Venus, aka mounting the mound!

Home - going all the way in for the score!

(smile!)

The year was 1977.

I was 19 years old, in the Navy, on The Pill, and away from home and the responsibility of helping Mama with my three brothers - you better believe I cut loose!

Plus, I was surrounded by men while learning my trade in electronics maintenance!

Life was good...

not that it isn't good, now, even with a pandemic still carryin' on...

but I was young and surrounded by other young people...

all of us glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife...

right?

Damn straight!

(smile!)

Without further ado, here's "Paradise By The Dashboard Light", with Meat Loaf as "him", Ellen Foley as "her", and the baseball play-by-play done by none other than Phil Rizzuto, former shortstop cum sports announcer for forty years for the New York Yankees. 

 

*****

Paradise By The Dashboard Light

him:
I remember every little thing
As if it happened only yesterday
Parking by the lake
And there was not another car in sight
And I never had a girl
Looking any better than you did
And all the kids at school
They were wishing they were me that night
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!

both:
Thought it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light

her:
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
'Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed

both:
Ain't no doubt about it
Baby got to go and shout it
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed

him:
'Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed

Baby doncha hear my heart
You got it drowning out the radio
I've been waiting so long
For you to come along and have some fun
And I gotta let you know
No, you're never gonna regret it
So open up your eyes
I got a big surprise
It'll feel all right
Well I wanna make your motor run

And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!

both:
Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light

him:
Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Paradise by the dashboard light

both:
You got to do what you can
And let Mother Nature do the rest
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
'Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely -

him:
We're gonna go all the way tonight
We're gonna go all the way
And tonight's the night...
We're gonna go all the way tonight
We're gonna go all the way
And tonight's the night...

baseball announcer:
OK, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker going here,
Two down, nobody on, no score, bottom of the ninth,
There's the windup, and there it is, a line shot up the middle,
Look at him go.
This boy can really fly!
He's rounding first and really turning it on now,
he's not letting up at all, he's gonna try for second;
the ball is bobbled out in center, and here comes the throw,
and what a throw!
He's gonna slide in head first, here he comes, he's out!
No, wait, safe - safe at second base, this kid
really makes things happen out there.
Batter steps up to the plate, here's the pitch -
he's going, and what a jump he's got.
He's trying for third, here's the throw, it's in the dirt -
safe at third!
Holy cow, stolen base!
He's taking a pretty big lead out there,
almost daring him to try and pick him off.
The pitcher glances over, winds up, and it's bunted,
bunted down the third base line, the suicide squeeze is on!
Here he comes, squeeze play, it's gonna be close.
Here's the throw, here's the play at the plate -
holy cow, I think he's gonna make it!

her:
Stop right there!
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
Do you love me!?
Will you love me forever!?
Do you need me!?
Will you never leave me!?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life!?
Will you take me away, will you make me your wife!?
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me!?
Will you love me forever!?

him:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
I'll give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
I'll give you an answer in the morning

her:
I gotta know right now!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away, will you make me your wife?
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further
Do you love me?
And will you love me forever?

What's it gonna be, boy -
come on,
I can wait all night.
What's it gonna be, boy -
yes, or no.
What's it gonna be, boy -
yes -
or -
no?

him:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
I'll give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it

her:
I gotta know right now!
Will you love me?
Will you love me forever?

him:
Let me sleep on it

her:
Will you love me forever!

him:
I couldn't take it any longer
Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me
Like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god and on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!

him:

So now I'm praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
'Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
I'm praying for the end of time
It's all that I can do
Praying for the end of time,
So I can end my time with you!

It was long ago and it was far away
And it was so much better that it is today

her:
It never felt so good
It never felt so right
And we were glowing like
A metal on the edge of a knife
 

*****

One last note:

not once does she say anything about her loving him...

not once,

nor does she say anything about even liking him...

not once;

she just makes demands that he "love her forever" and marry her.

How wacky is that?

Tit for tat, I say!

(smile!)

rx6: meat loaf aday

After yesterday's reference to Paradise, I had intended to go for that song as today's prescription.

Funny how things turn out when you do a little sidestep and sashay into an unexpected rabbit hole.

For example, I had not expected to see Vegas-style burlesque on the "Let's Make A Deal" tonight... but, that's what I saw.

Tiffany has experience as a show girl, so this little fan dance was to "entertain America" while Wayne was waiting for a contestant to fetch an item.

Many thanks, y'all!

(smile!)

That was just the push I needed to settle on the aforementioned tune as the final song, and to push forward one of my favorites into this penultimate slot.

Try to bear in mind that I sometimes lose track of which songs make it onto the radio and which languish on the flip side.

If I love it, then it's automatically a hit, whether anyone else in the world is aware of its existence or not.

(smile!)

So it is with "Dance In My Pants".

I've loved this song ever since I first heard it on "Bad For Good", back in 1981.

Honestly, it could be the theme song of my life!

After all, I already have two proposed titles for autobiographies; a theme song is in order!

So, as with "Lost Boys And Golden Girls", I was sure Meat Loaf would have the track on one of his albums.

No, he did not.

For real?

Meat Loaf never, ever recorded the song onto an album...
but he did like to do it in concert, including it in his sets from the mid-1980's forward.
I even found a video of him performing it and dancing in a Meat Loaf sandwich, with Elaine and Amy Goff as the bread.

Definitely fun!

What was also hilarious was him decked out as a pirate, complete with eye patch and a hook for a hand, and speaking lines from the oldie, "Dancing In The Street" - that had me laughing out loud!

(smile!)

I also found the 1981 video that Jim Steinman had made to publicize the song, most likely to be shown on the newly created Music Television (now just called MTV) channel.

I doubt I would have seen it until after I got out of the Navy.

That channel was not part of the AFRTS service in Okinawa; then, for the fifteen months at my last duty station in San Diego, I did not own a television.

And what are my thoughts on the video?

I love it!!!

How could I not?

The lyricist with the theatrical background had crafted a burlesque peep show, starring Karla DeVito as Little Bo Peep, with lots of innuendo flying in all directions!

It's as if he made it especially for me!

(smile!)

And that's how I found out that he was dead, too.

Someone had mentioned his death in the video comments.

Jim Steinman had died on April 19th, 2021, at 73 years old, of aspiration pneumonia.

Damn.

My inattention to the news had caused me to miss that.

So my loss adjustment posts for the singer also serve to reflect the skill of the songwriter and how well they played off each other...

and their half-century of friendship.
Wow.

*****

Dance In My Pants

her:

Hey! Listen now it's coming so close
I'll let the rhythm surround me,
I'm getting itchy and
I'm ready to move,
I'm mighty glad that you found me.
There’s a drummer going at it,
Way down in the core of my soul,
There’s no escaping the music,
And I’m psyching up my feet
And they’re telling me
we’re ready to roll.

There are times when I can fight it
but now's the time I want to give in
Sooner or later
we'll get around to the love
But now's the time to shake it
Oh Baby let the party begin
Baby let the party begin

When I woke up this morning and I looked out my window
I could see the sky was cloudy and gray
There was a chill in the air and a pain in my heart
And the thunder it was coming my way
Oh, it was looking pretty bad and I was so alone
And there wasn't any place to go
But now I'm out of the blue,
I know what I got to do
And something in me's starting to grow
I can feel it in me starting to grow...
grow...
grow...
grow!

I got dance in my pants,
Every time I feel the power
in a radio wave,
I turn it up all the way!
I got dance in my pants,
Every time I see the glory of a good-looking face
Well I just got to say,
"Hey now, don't you worry baby,
everything'll be fine
We got nothing but the best
and we got nothing but time
And there'll always be a time
when they'll be waiting in line
To be dancing, dancing...
You don't say nothing all week,
you're getting ready for
Dancing, dancing,
And now your body really knows how to speak,
you're getting ready for
Dancing, dancing,
You don't say nothing all week,
you're getting ready for
Dancing, dancing,
Now your body really knows how to speak,
you're getting ready,
Come on,
take a chance,
You got a whole lotta style
and a load of romance
And me, me, me...
I got dance in my pants...
I got dance in my pants...
I got dance in my pants...

him:
I’m a lover not a dancer,
I'm a lover not a dancer
Don’t want to be on my feet when I can be on my back,
Don’t want to be on the floor when I can be in the sack,
I’m a lover not a dancer,
I'm a lover not a dancer
I'm just a little bit tired if you know what I mean
Don't want to be in a crowd when I can be in a dream
I'm a lover not a dancer
Baby
Baby let me prove it to you
Baby let me prove it to you

her:
Well,
We can rock it really hard or we can roll it really slow,
We can lift it really high or we can dip it really low,
We can hold it in tight or we can let it all out,
Or we can work up a sweat and really stomp it and shout.
Let me pull you so close and then we'll break away fast,
We'll be the best on the floor we got the cool and the flash,
We'll make a dangerous turn but we'll come out of it fine,
I know the best of the moves we'll get them right every time.

him:
I'm a lover not a dancer
I'm a lover not a dancer
Don't want to be on my feet when I can be on my back
Don't want to be on the floor when I can be in the sack
I'm a lover not a dancer
I'm a lover not a dancer
I'm just a little bit tired if you know what I mean
Don't want to be in a crowd when I can be in a dream
I'm a lover not a dancer, Baby
Baby let me prove it to you
Baby let me prove it to you

him:
I don't care what you say
Ain't nothing going to get me out on that floor

her:
Oh baby,
you know there may be some moves
that you haven't even seen yet

him:
No way, Jose!

her:
Well, I got a new step for you-
Made it up all by myself.
I bet you never tried this before!

him:
Oh, jeez!

her:
Come on!

him:
Oh, jeez!

her:
Come on!

him:
Oh, jeez!

her:
Now that you know how it's done,
it's only a matter of practice.

him:
Well, I could sure use some of that practice.

her:
Now that you know how it's done,
it's only a matter of practice.

him:
Well, I could sure use some of that practice....

both:
Grow...

grow...
grow, grow, grow, grow, grow....
I got dance in my pants!
Every time I feel the power in a radio wave
I turn it up all the way!
I got dance in my pants!
Every time I see the glory of a good-looking face
Well I just got to say:
Hey now,
don't you worry, baby,
everything'll be fine
We got nothing but the best
and we got nothing but time,
And there'll always be a time
when they'll be waiting in line
To be dancing, dancing...
You don't say nothing all week,
you're getting ready for
Dancing, dancing,
And then your body really knows how to speak,
you're getting ready for
Dancing, dancing,
You don't say nothing all week,
you're getting ready for
Dancing, dancing,
Now your body really knows how to speak,
you're getting ready,
Come on, take a chance
You got a whole lotta style
and a load of romance
And me, me, me...
I got dance in my pants...
I got dance in my pants...
I got dance in my pants!

her:
I'll crank it up all the way
They'll never get me to stop.
I gotta stay in motion
'til the moment that I finally
drop.
When they decide
that I'm gone
I know they're gonna try
to put me to rest,
but I won't be afraid
Because I know,
I know, there's dance
after death.

both:
Oooh, I know there's dance
after death!

both:
I don’t ever wanna be rescued,
And I don’t ever wanna be saved,
I got a feeling that I’m gonna
be alive forever,
Dancing on the edge of a grave.
Dancing on the edge of a grave.

I don’t ever wanna be rescued,
And I don’t ever wanna be saved,
I got a feeling that I’m gonna
be alive forever,
Dancing on the edge of a grave.
Dancing on the edge of a
dancing on the edge of a
dancing on the edge of a grave!

rx5: meat loaf aday

Somewhere in the ether world is someone with far, far, too much time on their hands.

(Yes, I just referenced a 1981 song by Styx, on their "Paradise Theater" album. That may lead to an incorrect assumption concerning the song I'll be highlighting this day from Meat Loaf's large repertoire. Kindly look more closely at the images above; those are the lyrics of interest on this Tuesday.)

My dear Rogue posted the above meme on his fb page a few days ago.

I was not only impressed at the time the meme designer took to input all that data, but also at the collection of artworks amassed to drive the lyrics home.

I recognize some of the paintings, but could not give their names, nor those of the painters.

Still, I know enough to wonder what coincidences had to fall into place - i.e., what worlds had to collide - that a person trained in classical art, of such an age to have felt a kinship with "Bat Out Of Hell" when it came out 45 years ago, would be moved enough by Meat Loaf's death to have composed this homage.

Well done, whoever you are, and thanks, Joe, for sharing the meme.

Thanks also to Elvis Presley and his song, "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You", without which Jim Steinman would have never written this one.

*****

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

Baby we can talk all night

but that ain't getting us nowhere

I told you everything I possibly can

There's nothing left inside of here

And maybe you can cry all night

But that'll never change the way that I feel

The snow is really piling up outside

I wish you wouldn't make me leave here

I poured it on and I poured it out

I tried to show you just how much I care

I'm tired of words 

and I'm too hoarse to shout

But you've been cold 

to me so long

I'm crying icicles instead of tears

And all I can do

is keep on telling you

I want you

I need you

But - there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you

Now don't be sad

(don't be sad)

'Cause two out of three ain't bad

Now don't be sad

'Cause two out of three ain't bad

You'll never find your gold on a sandy beach

You'll never drill for oil on a city street

I know you're looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks

But there ain't no Coupe de Ville 

hiding at the bottom 

of a Cracker Jack box

I can't lie

I can't tell you that I'm something that I'm not

no matter how I try

I'll never be able

to give you something

something that I just haven't got

There's only one girl that I will ever love

and that was

so many years

ago

And though I know I'll never get her 

out of my heart

She never loved me back

Oooh I know

I remember how she left me on a stormy night

She kissed me and got out of our bed

And though I pleaded

and I begged her

not to walk out that door

She packed her bags and turned right away

 

And she kept on telling me

She kept on telling me

She kept on

telling

me

I want you

I need you

But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you

Now don't be sad

(don't be sad)

'Cause two out of three ain't bad

I want you

I need you

But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you

Now don't be sad

(don't be sad)

'Cause two out of three ain't bad

Don't be sad

'Cause two out of three ain't bad

 

Baby we can talk all night

but that ain't getting us nowhere 

rx4: meat loaf aday

After a weekend at home, I had promised myself a trip out of the house today.

As it's a Monday and most everyone else will be at work, I have free reign at the stores and cinemas.

First stop was at the Publix on Wilmington Island.

Major score!

Not only did they again have the Kraft Fat-free Shredded Cheddar that I love (and that the stores in town have not had for over a month), but they also 'rewarded' me five bucks!

I used that discount on a sushi tray and headed out to Greenwich.

Where better to enjoy a quiet meal?

See my luncheon atop the family headstone?

I usually sit there for these repasts, but it was far too chilly to be in the shade today, so I sat across the aisle on a marble slab that had been soaking up sun for a while.

I then spent about twenty minutes picking up shredded flowers that must have been caught by the mowers.

I had noticed the mess on my last visit and had a plastic bag to collect the trash.

Mama definitely approved!

Next time, I'll have to bring some flowers or something for the two vases.

I then went to visit Jean Marie.

April 22nd will make five years since she took her life.

How can I remember that date so well?

It was the day after her 31st birthday.

This sunny afternoon, I cleared off the dragonfly paver that I'd brought to mark her spot.

Casting about for something bright to help her stand out, I spotted this bunch of pink azaleas in flowers discarded by another visitor to this area of Bonaventure.

What a lovely spring addition they make, don't they?

As they are 'permanent' flowers, I won't even need to be concerned about watering them.

(smile)
I was off to the cinema then, to catch "The Rising Tiger", one of two new movies this week.

And what caught my attention as I got out my car?

A bright, copper messenger, dated 2014.

Right place, right time.

That was good to see.

(smile)

During these continuing days of pandemic, I feel more and more that I'm all revved up with no place to go.

That's why, on these occasions when I do leave home, I make sure to take care of several errands on each trip - it makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something.

Jim Steinman wrote a song about that feeling, and, of course, Meat Loaf sang it.

It's on the first side of "Bat Out Of Hell" and is one of my favorites, one that I've even ventured to do a few times in karaoke.

I sure do miss that activity.

*****

All Revved Up With No Place To Go

I was nothing but a lonely boy
looking for something new
You were nothing but a lonely girl
But you were something
something like a dream come true

I was a varsity tackle
and a hell of a block
When I played my guitar
I made the canyons rock -
but -
Every Saturday night
I felt the fever grow
You know what it's like
All revved up with no place to go
You know what it's like
All revved up with no place to go

In the middle of a steaming night
I'm tossing in my sleep
And in the middle of a red-eyed dream
I see you coming
coming on to give it to me

I was out on the prowl
down to the edge of the track
And like a son of a jackal
I'm the leader of the pack -
but -
Every Saturday night
I felt the fever grow
You know what it's like
All revved up with no place to go
You know what it's like
All revved up with no place to go

Oh, Baby, I'm a hunter
in the dark of the night
I've been stalking you and tracking you down
Cruising up and down the main drag
all night long
We could be standing at the top of the world
instead of sinking further down in the mud
You and me
round about midnight
You and me
round about midnight
Someone's got to draw first
Draw first
Someone's got to draw first blood
Someone's got to draw first blood
Oooh I got to draw first blood
Oooh I got to draw first blood

I was out on the prowl
down to the edge of the track
And like a son of a jackal
I'm the leader of the pack -
but -
Every Saturday night
I felt the fever grow
You know what it's like
All revved up with no place to go
You know what it's like
All revved up with no place to go

I was nothing but a lonely all-American boy
looking out for something to do
And you were nothing but a lonely all-American girl
but you were something like a dream come true
I was a varsity tackle and a hell of a block
When I played my guitar I made the canyons rock
but every Saturday night I felt the fever grow
All revved up with no place to go

All revved up with no place to go

All revved up with no place to go

All revved up with no place to go

All revved up with no place to go

rx3: meat loaf aday

I refer to these seven-day outlooks as weather songs, mostly to amuse myself.

No me gusta esta cancion.

Friday and Saturday were particularly low and no good, and today has not been much of an improvement, though tomorrow promises a high of 60 F.

We'll see.

These cold days make me long for the heat of summer, which many complain about.

Hey, I'll take the frying pan over the refrigerator any day, and twice on Sunday.

(smile) 

So, it must be time for another dose of Meat Loaf to warm my tootsies!

This is one he performed at the Oglethorpe Speedway, here in Savannah, at a benefit concert for those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Very appropriate tune, as the lyrics will attest.

*****

Out Of The Frying Pan (And Into The Fire)

It's only two o'clock

the temperature's beginning to soar

And all around the city

you see the walking wounded and the living dead

And it's never been this hot and I've never been this bored

and breathing is just no fun anymore

Then I saw you like a summer dream

And you're the answer to every prayer that I ever said

I saw you like a summer dream

And you're the answer to every prayer that I ever said

 

You can feel the pulse of the pavement 

racing like a runaway forse

The subways are sizzling

and the skin of the street is gleaming with sweat

I've seen you sitting on the steps outside

And you were looking so restless and reckless and lost

I think it's time for you to come inside

And I'll be waiting here

with something that you'll never forget

I think it's time for you to come inside

And I'll be waiting here

with something that you'll never forget

 

Come on! Come on!

And there'll be no turning back

You were only killing time and it can kill you right back

Come on! Come on!

It's time to burn up the fuse

You've got nothing to do and even less to lose

You've got nothing to do and even less to lose

 

So wander down the ancient hallway

Taking the stairs only one at a time

Follow the sound of my heartbeat now

I'm in the room at the top,

you're at the end of the line

Open the door and lay down on the bed

The sun is just a ball of desire

 

And I wanna take you out of the frying pan

(and into the fire)

Out of the frying pan

(and into the fire)

Out of the frying pan

(and into the fire)

 

And into the fire! fire! fire!

And into the fire! fire! fire!

And into the fire! fire! fire!

And into the fire!

 

(then repeat all of above)

rx2: meat loaf aday

No, this isn't Meat Loaf, or even meatloaf, whether made by my own hand or fashioned by someone else's.

That's the last two slices of Margherita Pizza - first baked on Wednesday, when I forced it to become three meals instead of the one big meal I usually do with it.

So, that first meal was a breakfast, the one on Friday was a late lunch, and this final serving is to break my fast after 11 hours of sleep.

(Yes, that number is correct; I've had much insomnia this week.)

As for the cantaloupe, what's shown is the last of that, too, and quite probably the last of the melon craving I've had since my trip to Florida.

Hey, I'm just glad to see these leftovers have finally made it out of the fridge!

I've made another batch of pinto beans from dried and the room is definitely needed.

What's on my agenda on this freezing day?

Well, I am certainly not going outside.

I made the mistake of bouncing onto fb to update my profile pic and found even more family and friends with COVID.

No, thanks, I can entertain me just fine.

Besides listening to music, catching up on the latest "Smithsonian" magazine, and bummin' 'round on this beach, there's the video world, courtesy of Comcast.

Of course, any movies to be watched will have to appear for free on television.

No worries, there, as I have plenty available, even with my limited basic subscription.

(smile)

Speaking of music, for today I've selected a song that first appeared on my radar in 1981, while I was in Okinawa.

Jim Steinman had released "Bad For Good" and I'd snapped it up at the commissary.

The songs had been written for Meat Loaf to sing, but his throat was not cooperative at the time, so the writer had taken it upon himself to take it on.

Now, I must say that I love that album, and love the lyrics on the songs, but Jim doesn't have the requisite three-octave range to really do them justice... but I just about wore the grooves off that record anyway.

(smile!)

Now, fast forward a dozen years to 1993: "Bat Out Of Hell: Return To Hell" was released, a sweet-16 followup to the first collaboration between the man with the golden pen and the man with the golden voice.

Fortunately for me, I finally was able to hear some of those "Bad For Good" tunes in the style for which they'd been written!

One of those favorites is "Lost Boys And Golden Girls"... and here it is.

This is how it sounded on the Steinman album; and this is performed by Meat Loaf.

I like both, for different reasons.

(smile)

 

*****

Lost Boys And Golden Girls

Lost boys and golden girls
Down on the corner and all around the world
Lost boys (boys)
and golden girls (girls)
Down on the corner and all around
all around the world

It doesn't matter where they're going
Or wherever they've been
'Cause they got one thing in common
it's true
They'll never let a night like tonight go to waste
and let me tell you something
Neither will you (neither will you)
Neither will you

We gotta be fast
We were born out of time
Born out of time
and alone
And we'll never be as young as we are
right now
Running away
and running for home
Running
for
home

It doesn't matter where they're going
Or wherever they've been
'Cause they got one thing in common
it's true
They'll never let a night like tonight go to waste
and let me tell you something
Neither will you
Neither will you
Neither will you

Lost boys and golden girls
Down on the corner and all around the world
Lost boys (boys)
and golden girls (girls)
Down on the corner and all around
all around the world

rx: meat loaf aday

I was so proud of myself this morning.

Even though the high was forecast to only be in the mid-40's, I got out of bed AND LEFT MY WARM(ISH) HOUSE to get into my cold car.

Sure, I was bundled up, wearing a classy-looking sweater top, jeans, and thick socks.

I had even figured out how to wear the infinity-scarf that Cathy of CA gave me...

see the Periodic Table?

(smile!) 

And what was the impetus for me to forsake my warm bed and to be out in the cold?

Why , oh, why, when I despise that particular type of weather most of all?

That's because I had my second (of a series of six) lesson with the nutritionist at the Savannah VA.

Today, the four of us students at the Healthy Cooking Kitchen class were told about various foods to use as the breakfast meal.

Elizabeth Corley had told us last week (which was about snacks) that she would be serving Avocado Toast for us!

I've heard of it, but had never had it.

And, guess what?

It isn't just avocado on bread!

Boiled egg, a few bits of avocado, and a dollop of salsa, too.

It was really quite tasty, though I doubt I'll be buying an avocado any time soon.

Besides being pricey, they're difficult to cut.

So... what else is of note?

(Hmm... maybe that's a musical pun to lighten the mood... it can stay.)

Marvin (Michael) Lee Aday is dead.

The rock and roll station was talking about it on my way to the VA Center.

Apparently he died last night, with his wife by his side.

I can only hope he got his wish that the event would occur while he slept.

He was 74 years old, which makes him a contemporary of my friend Carolyn.

October will make nine years since I saw him perform, from less than 100 feet away, while in Las Vegas for my birthday55 celebration.

Attending the concert wasn't a planned event for me.

I had not even known he was in town until I was in Nevada.

However, the ticket to his show was gratis from Diamond Resorts, just for me spending sixty minutes with their sales crew - I mean, "owner update" staff - at Polo Towers.

(They gave me VISA gift cards, too, that fueled the rest of my stay that fall break.)

I'm so very fortunate to have that experience in my memory!

Even at 66 years old, the man was a powerhouse...

Wow.

Even all these years later, I can still see him pouncing along on the stage, giving every song every inch of his 6-foot frame...

Wow.

What a dream come true for me...

and totally serendipitous.

i thank You, God.

Now, here are the lyrics to one of the songs he sang to me that night.

Yes, I said "to me", just as Tom Jones did with "Sex Bomb" in 2007.

From my main man, it was "You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth", one of my favorites on "Bat Out Of Hell".

Fun fact: Jim Steinman was writing a Peter Pan musical, which morphed into that album.

Todd Rundgren financed it, as none of the record companies had balls enough to do so.

It took four years before it was released into the world in 1977.

Meat Loaf was thirty years old.

Just for the record, yes, I would have offered my throat to the wolf with the red roses.

(smile)

*****

You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)

(spoken word, no music)

him: On a hot summer night, would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?
her: Will he offer me his mouth?
him: Yes.
her: Will he offer me his teeth?
him: Yes.
her: Will he offer me his jaws?
him: Yes.
her: Will he offer me his hunger?
him: Yes.
her: Again. Will he offer me his hunger?
him: YES.
her: And will he starve without me?
him: YES.
her: And does he love me?
him: Yes.
her: Yes.
him: On a hot summer night, would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?
her: Yes.
him: I bet you say that to all the boys.

(end of spoken word, music begins)

It was a hot summer night
and the beach was burning
There was fog crawling over the sand
When I listen to your heart
I hear the whole world turning
I see the shooting stars
falling through your trembling hands

You were licking your lips
and your lipstick shining
I was dying just to ask for a taste
We were lying together
in a silver lining
By the light of the moon
You know there's not another moment
Not another moment
Not another moment to waste

You hold me so close
that my knees grow weak
But my soul is flying
high above the ground

I'm trying to speak
but no matter what I do
I just can't seem
to make any sound

And then you took the words right out of my mouth
Oh - it must have been
when you were kissing me
You took the words right out of my mouth
and I swear it's true
I was just about to say I love you
(love you)
And then you took the words right out of my mouth
Oh - it must have been
when you were kissing me
You took the words right out of my mouth
and I swear it's true
I was just about to say I love you
(love you)

Now my body is shaking
like a wave on the water
And I guess that I'm beginning to grin
Oooh, we're finally alone
and we can do what we want to
The night is young
And no one's gonna know where
no one's gonna know where
No one's gonna know where you've been

You were licking your lips
and your lipstick shining
I was dying just to ask for a taste
We were lying together
in a silver lining
By the light of the moon
You know there's not another moment to waste

And then you took the words right out of my mouth
Oh - it must have been
when you were kissing me
You took the words right out of my mouth
and I swear it's true
I was just about to say I love you
(love you)

Then you took the words right out of my mouth
(must have been while you were kissing me)

Then you took the words right out of my mouth
(must have been while you were kissing me)

Then you took the words right out of my mouth
(must have been while you were kissing me)

Then you took the words right out of my mouth
(must have been while you were kissing me)

Then you took the words right out of my mouth
(must have been while you were kissing me)

Whoa, you took the words right out of my mouth
(must have been while you were kissing me)

Whoa, you took the words right out of my mouth
(must have been while you were kissing me)

You took the words right out of my mouth

(clap clap)
Oh - it must have been
when you were kissing me

(clap clap)
You took the words right out of my mouth

(clap clap)
Oh - it must have been
when you were kissing me

(clap clap)
You took the words right out of my mouth

(clap clap)
Oh - it must have been
when you were kissing me

and the beat goes on and on and on and

"Well that's an oldie but a goldie!"

 

Yeah, but that Sonny and Cher song just popped into my head while I was listening to Mayor Johnson's weekly update.

You know, it being Tuesday and all. 

This photo is actually from last week, when the Chief of Police was addressing the increase in gun violence.

 

"I thought you weren't doing that anymore, that it was out of your groove thing."

 

Forewarned is forearmed, right? 

I had expected an upturn in COVID cases after the holiday season, and the people hereabouts have been more than willing to comply, it would seem. 

 

"So, just how bad is it? Shouldn't it be on the down side now?"

 

On the contrary, it's rising even more.

This new strain, being called the omicron version, spreads as easily as the common cold.

Seriously.

Within three days of exposure to this rendition of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the patient is under the influence of the Coronavirus Infectious Disease, which the media refers to as COVID because they try to ignore the science.

I actually need to thank Paul for making me more aware of the change.

During our talk, he'd mentioned Dr. Fauci's Thanksgiving news about what the nation needed to expect from the new strain of virus.

It boiled down to the rate of infection was doubling every 2.5 days.

Doubling... every two and half days.

Paul had done the math and determined that the pandemic would have run its course by the end of January; i.e., infected everyone not taking precautions, at which point they would either be dead or would recover.

I had cautioned him about that, making sure he understood that would definitely be the case in places with large populations, but not in small towns and rural areas.

Those small towns would lag far behind the trend, as they have for these two years.

 

"Yes, but when it does spread to them, it'll take over their entire population."

 

That it will.

Savannah is just a medium-sized town.

What the Mayor said this week is daunting.

He said that at the end of December, our community transmission rate was 500 - and he reminded us that a rate of 100 led to the reinstatement of the mask mandate.

Currently, the community transmission rate is more than 2700.

That's not a typographical error.

Here's the important point.

On December 30, 2021, the CTR was FIVE TIMES GREATER than the minimum threshold set for activating extra health precautions. 

Now, a mere three weeks later, the CTR is more than FIVE TIMES GREATER than it was, which means the transmission rate is more than TWENTY-FIVE TIMES GREATER than the minimum threshold.

No wonder my first niece was infected, and then her mom, and then her girls and her man... and they are still working to get rid of it.

No wonder the school in Hinesville where she works and where her girls go is closed for the week - for the week! - while a professional team comes in to eradicate the virus.

No wonder I found on fb this weekend that at least eight of my contacts there have the virus, or have had it within the past few days and are trying to recover.

That includes Chris Adams, Joe Guy, Daniel Torres, Mark Ediss, Jason Congdon, Tyler Williams, Lynn Lee... just incredible.

 

"Wow. Glad to know they haven't been to the hospital."

 

Honestly, I don't know that for a fact.

I do know they are home now.

Let me give you some numbers from worldometers.com about COVID in the USA.

Back in early November 2021, which was the last time I'd checked, there were 46,986,842 confirmed cases of people infected, with the death total at 768,661.

In shorthand, that means almost 50 million people total infected with the disease and almost 3/4 million that had died from COVID, indicating that 1.6% of those infected died.

Now, two and a half months later, the total number of infected people in this country has climbed to 68,901,964 and deaths stand at 877,958; that indicates a slight decrease (to 1.3%) in the percentage of infected people who have died from COVID.

Yet, the number of infected people (21,915,122) is almost 50% higher over this short span of time.

Yes, the omicron variant is definitely more easily spread... but maybe is not as virulent.

"Not necessarily so. A lot of vaccinated folks are getting this new strain, but, thanks to the shots, they're having mild cases and recovering quickly. A lot of them are of the over-50 age, too, so having the vaccine definitely helped them survive, as well as keeping them off respirators in the hospital."

 

Yes, there are a lot of factors to be considered.

And, since I don't know how well folks are following the science, I've been abstaining from attending large gatherings.

By large, I mean more than ten people.

Seriously.

Last Saturday, I had invitations to two gatherings, but I declined for both.

Both were going to have people that I have not seen in at least two years - seriously - and I could not justify the risk.

Both were going to be food events, with everyone gathered around a table; I've measured, and those tables are only about four feet wide.

Four feet is not enough space for my six-foot alligator, not to mention the space needed for the rest of the congregation of those reptiles that travel by my side.

Same holds true as regards attendance at Asbury Memorial Church.

I have not physically been there since November.

That was a special communion and I was absolutely uncomfortable with the crowd level.

It didn't help that the pews were so full that I could not find a safe seat, even though the usher kept trying to push me to do so.

It didn't help that when I took a seat in the lobby, Hai Dang was there and was his usual, unwelcoming, self, eventually leaving rather than sit in that area with me.

Seriously.

So, now I try to check in on youTube for the live service.

That one wasn't hitting it for me this past Sunday, so I'd tuned in to the one from the week before, when Ernie Lee had spoken on behalf of the Health and Safety Committee.

That five minutes was well worth it!

It isn't that he said anything new.

The rules for safety (keep 6 feet distant from others, wash your hands, wear your mask, get vaccinated) have not changed; the choir needed to be hear him preach that gospel.

Much appreciated, Ernie!

"Yeah, he's a real asset to AMC."

 

Indeed, and he has been for years.

Anyway, I need to move along.

I'm to do 4th quarter payroll and December sales tax with Smitty and must get a shower beforehand.

 

"And what's with this shirt?"

 

I was clearing a closet and there it was!

What a blast from the past, right?

When I found it, I checked to see if Zach would like it, but he declined.

Smitty, on the other hand, jumped at the chance to have it.

So, it's his lucky day!

Later!

(smile!)