my home in okinawa, once upon a time

This was the entrance to Torii Station, the US Army post that offered one of its buildings to bunk us sailors.

In fact, if I'm not mistaken, that large three-story building to the left of the gate was the one I lived in for two years.

This restaurant was one of two that were right across the street from Torii Station.

This one was the Royal.

I always like it for the sushi, as its where I first experienced that food.

I went to the Azuma for Katsu Donburi.

Good times!

This photograph is an overhead shot of the elephant cage at the top of the hill.

Whoever took it must have had a buddy with a helicopter, as this predates drones.

Well... then again, it was shot in the mid-1970's so perhaps he did have a remote-controlled device, like a model plane.

And see this space?

This was the place inside that windowless, cinder block building where I spent the vast majority of my time.

Here, in the mat shop, was everything needed to keep the reel-to-reel recorders spinning, the teletypes printing, the monitors showing images, and the Intel and RCA computers providing the controls and information.

Pretty cool.

Thanks, David Gramann, for sharing these.

Now, I'm off to a special screening at AMC, another Fathom event in less than a week's time.

How appropriate that I had plenty of reward bucks to offset the cost of "Facing The Laughter: Minnie Pearl" - she would get a kick out of that.

See that price tag hanging off that straw hat?

That's her, the eternal and instantly recognizable "country girl" on "Hee Haw" and at the Grand Ole Opry!

I grew up with her bits of rural humor and time-worn jokes that she made sound fresh and bright.

I wonder what Fathom has in store for me this time?

(smile!)

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!

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

penny for my marvel

That's me, in 1981, sitting in my barracks room at Torii Station, wearing my t-shirt from boot camp, festooned with balloons which proclaimed that "Life is a Breece!"
That pun was based on my boot camp commander down in Orlando.
This picture of me, at 23 years of age, taken by Rick Putt, is one of my favorites.
I'm happy and hopeful and confident and I knew I was loved as I was!
(smile)


That feeling of the world being open for exploration and adventure, and me being just the person to do so, was absolutely magical.
Join A.C.T.O.R. (the theatre group) and be their biggest fan?
Yep, you know I'm your girl!
Jump up on the bar with my best friend Lizz and dance to Pat Benatar?
You know I will, even with my boots on!
Sing along to every song on the jukebox, getting Beau and others to join in?
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" while I "Whip It"!
Go down to Kadena and hang out at Club Pianissimo and the strip clubs with Mikey?
Oh, man, that was soooo much fun!
Stay up all night during a typhoon, drinking beer and playing pool by flashlight?
You betcha! Gotta drink 'em while they're cold!
Check out the sushi and Mongolian grill with Ralph and Jim and everybody?
Sounds like a lip-smacking thing to do, y'all!
I even went by myself to Hong Kong and to Taiwan.
Sure, they were USO-sponsored trips, but I was still solo.
That meant that when I found the woman from Okinawa who ran the tea shop in Taipei, and her brother invited me to go see "The Gods Must Be Crazy" with him, I went. He even took me to see some beautiful gardens there! I still have the jade ring he gave me.
(smile!)

All of those fond memories and feelings came rushing back to me in the darkened cinema tonight.
The movie was set in 1995, but fly-girl Carol Danvers was searching through her jumbled-up memories for clues to her identity.
There she was, singing karaoke! Playing pool and flirting with the fly-guys! Dancing with her best friend!
That's when I had the odd realization that I was watching myself in BigD.

No, I am definitely not saying I am Captain Marvel,
or that I ever was.
I'm just saying that Brie Larson has made her so realistic that I can see myself in that character.
See those hips on that almost-30 body, and those full thighs and fuller breasts?
Those are features of a maturing woman, not a girl.
Moreover, those are the features of a woman proud
of her curves, at peace with her body.
In the movie, the music is from the 1990's, and I could certainly see "Carol" eagerly moving out onto a dance floor for "Just A Girl"or "I'm Only Happy When It Rains" (two of my favorites).
Thank you, Stan Lee for so much, and thank you Roy Thomas for this character.
This 21st film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows that we've all come a long way, thanks to y'all's help.

Thank you, Mama and Daddy, too, for continuing
to bless me with your love and guidance.
Pennies from heaven, shimmering with a bright
gleam as they suddenly appear in my path...
right place, right time...
and exactly what i needed, when i needed it...
reminding me that i am still loved.