Hey, Mom! The Explanation.

Here's the permanent dedicated link to my first Hey, Mom! post and the explanation of the feature it contains.

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #1234 (SoD #2503) - Christmas 2021



Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #1234 (SoD #2503) - Christmas 2021

Hi Mom,

This one is a bit of a HODGE PODGE without being, officially, a HODGE PODGE. This entry is just a collection of... stuff... Because, CHRISTMAS. Just the kind of thing you liked best, Mom. Potpourri. Show and tell.

By the way, it occurs to me that, maybe, I may have published more HEY MOM posts this week than all year...

No, not true.

I have published twelve HEY MOM posts up to Wednesday's 2500th post and yesterday's Christmas Eve post of collected reprints.

I am especially proud of this one: (I now have both shots and the booster): 

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #1221 (SoD #2213) - Vaccinated - #ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs #vaccinetruthadvocate #vaccinated #COVID19Pandemic #COVID19 #covidvacccine

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #1221 (SoD #2213) - Vaccinated - #ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs #vaccinetruthadvocate #vaccinated #COVID19Pandemic #COVID19 #covidvacccine

Hi Mom,

I got my Covid-19 vaccine today.

Wish you were here.


#ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs #vaccinetruthadvocate #vaccinated #COVID19Pandemic #COVID19 #covidvacccine


LOW POWER MODE: I sometimes put the blog in what I call LOW POWER MODE. If you see this note, the blog is operating like a sleeping computer, maintaining static memory, but making no new computations. If I am in low power mode, it's because I do not have time to do much that's inventive, original, or even substantive on the blog. This means I am posting straight shares, limited content posts, reprints, often something qualifying for the THAT ONE THING category and other easy to make posts to keep me daily. That's the deal. Thanks for reading.

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- Days ago = 2213 days ago
- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2103.10 - 10:10

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Today is indeed a beautiful day.

Time for some music! Not about Christmas but in French, which is just as good!


Aug 12, 2021



PomplamooseMusic

Véronique Sanson is such a fantastic songwriter. Her melodies and piano arrangements are so smart and playful. I think the closest thing we have to her in the English-speaking world is Carole King. This one is called “Chanson sur ma drôle de vie” which loosely translates as “Song about my odd life.” It’s on our album “Impossible à Prononcer” which just came out TODAYYYY!!!! Here’s where you can go listen with a glass of wine and/or wheel of cheese:

A cover of Véronique Sanson's "Chanson sur ma drôle de vie" by Pomplamoose.

MUSICIAN CREDITS
Lead Vocals: Nataly Dawn
Rhodes: Jack Conte
Alto Saxophone: John Tegmeyer
Piano/Organ: Ross Garren
Drums: Ben Rose
Electric Guitar: John Schroeder
Electric Bass: Eliana Athayde
Trumpet: Erik Miron
Background Vocals: Sarah Dugas

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Have you noticed that when people speak or sing French their mouths work in a more sensual way, a different way than in English? Is this just me or is this a thing?


AND NOW.......... A bunch of recent images. Whatever is in the folder for Christmas and all that. yup.

WITH COMMENTARY.

First, reality time. BE GRATEFUL:



Next, Sveta Bilyalova- Your killer waits in the elevator...

Not exactly Christmasey, but a great fucking photo.



Monday's BOOK HAUL from Powell's during our annual Christmas shopping and lunch at Jake's Famous Seafood (since 1892).

Yes, I already owned BACKLASH, but it did not make the trip west. I think it's in my storage locker in Michigan. I doubt I got rid of it.

Thank you Joe Biden for reminding me that I did not have any Seamus Heaney, AND the collected poems book did not have the "Cure at Troy" passage you quote so often.

Actually, I have never read Ghost Story. And each year when I re-read On Writing by Stephen King, he mentions it as one of the best and scariest. Also, read his Danse Macabre this year, and he wrote even more about it in that one.

I want to read Ted Chiang both because he's well regarded and he's local (lives in Seattle).

And then, continuing my studies in things Vietnamese, The Sympathizer, also a Pultizer winner... so...

Oh.
Just bought a copy of The Three-Body Problem, which I have on my Kindle, but that just never feels like REAL READING.



TRUTH....


From Bill Sienkwicz:


YES!!!



New favorite artist Belen Ortega:




From BITCH MEDIA:


One of my favorite images of all time...


Good cover that I found recently.


This, Anne Rice, and now Joan Didion... GREAT AUTHORS ALL...


And this...




Just in case the text in the embed is too dark to read:





You may be challenged to parse this image, but we have  A LOT of snow coming.

Out here, it usually only snows up above 1500 feet or even 2500 and up only.

Last year, at sea level, we didn't have snow until FEBRUARY and then one "blizzard," when I had to take Ellory to the emergency vet with a self-inflicted and made worse wound on her leg. They do almost no plowing out here and do not salt the highways. It was a fucking mess.

Still I drove about 20 miles south on the highway to take her to the vet. Then I wanted breakfast. Everything was closed because pandemic and a "blizzard." They do not know "blizzard" out here.

Read more here: Tuesday, February 23, 2021

A Sense of Doubt blog post #2198 - Ellory and the Cone



And now, a GIF: (okay, three actually...)





This is my mantra for the new year, Mom.

Faith telling Buffy that she'll steer her around the curves and laughing.

It's not hard as Faith reminds us with her laughter.

I am not going to reprint this whole post (linked below), but I am going to share a few items.

Thursday, December 24, 2020

A Sense of Doubt blog post #2137 - CHRISTMAS EVE 2020 - Reprint and PORTLAND 2020

It was always a tradition in my house to open one gift on Christmas Eve, and it was always a big ol' box of comics to keep me busy when I woke at like 2-3 a.m. and had to do something as I couldn't wake my parents until 5:30 a.m.

Here's my sister and I reading some of those comics:

Me and Lori reading comics 1976


Last year's big ol' box...










I think it's worth noting the Jack Kirby Black Panther comic and the issue of Howard the Duck in the picture above.

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #170 - Box of comics on Christmas Eve

me and Lori, reading
8-9-1971

Hi Mom,

You remember everything I am about to write, Mom, of course, but for those who read the blog who did not know us growing up, I want to share about our family tradition of a box of comics for Christmas Eve.

Every year, you would wrap presents early, Mom, giving us at least a week (and sometimes more) to shake and ponder the contents of the many packages under the Christmas tree in eager anticipation of that magical December morning.

Christmas 1972

Given my buggy intensity leading up to Christmas, and later Lori's, you would let each of us open one gift on Christmas Eve, which was always a box of comic books. In your estimation, this was the ideal gift, as I would sleep at best from bed time to about 3 a.m. at which point I would wake and need something to do. And so, I would have a box of comic books to read. I wish I had a picture of some of these boxes of comic books or of me reading stacks of comics on Christmas Eve. The picture up top of me and Lori shows comics on the floor nearby, though we are not actively reading them, we had been. But the picture is from November (or before) and not Christmas Eve. But I have some other neat pictures that I will share.

You had a good idea with the box of comics, Mom. Between this tradition, reading to me at bed time, buying little books and comics for me at eat grocery trip, and later my allowance based on the cost of two comic books (a quarter = two 12 cent comics and a penny for tax), I grew up to become a great lover of comic books, which are still (often) magical and beautiful to me.

Thank you, Mom. You changed my life. You instilled in me a great love for comic books.

Christmas 1976
Unwrapping with Mom

 In the above picture, we have begun to go through our stockings from Santa Claus. Mom, you liked order, and so we had bowls to collect our candy and fruit. The large apples and oranges were a Christmas tradition, always one of each in our stocking. As you can see near my side, I have two apples -- a red one and a green one -- and an orange. Mom is helping Lori fill her bowl with the items in her stocking.

Christmas 1976


Taking pictures following the celebration (usually over a week or more later) was also a Christmas tradition. Here's that same Christmas. I am posing with the presents I received. You can see Pong, the first computer video game, in the lower left corner, Mom. And if you look closely, the comics from that Christmas Eve box are spread out from left to right just behind Pong and all along the front of the display. I am holding a magical illusion with three silks that I cannot remember the name of.

With Tim Travis Jan 1976

 Here's a picture of me from January of 1976 (so about 12 months before the Christmas pictured above), probably celebrating my birthday with my friend Tim Travis, assessing my comic book collection. This picture was taken in the spare room in the basement where I could entertain friends and practice my magic. Note that stacks of games behind us. Also, note an issue of Warlock at the far upper left end of the pile. Full circle? I received a shirt with Warlock's picture for Christmas this year in 2015.

My Birthday 1974

Another traditional pose shot following my 1974 birthday (I am 12; Lori is four). All the gifts are mine except the tutu and ballerina case on the far right. That was a gift for Lori, revealing another tradition as we would always receive one present at the other child's birthday so not to feel left out.
Notice the display of comics along the top of that couch. The issue of the Flash that I am holding in the previous picture with Tim is on the far right end of the couch in this picture. Also, in another full circle moment, I received a Morbius t-shirt for Christmas this year (2015), commemorating the comic book seen directly above the Marie Osmond Paper Roses record album.

I think the grouping of presents here is very interesting. There's a ventriloquist dummy that catches your eye, dead center. To the left, there's a watch and its case. Above that, a narrated comic book record album of Batman. A huge '70s mod card. Some books. To the right of the dummy, the aforementioned Marie Osmond album, Lone Ranger and Tonto and some Batman diorama. Above my head, a boxer from the Big Jim collection, Captain America, and Tarzan.

Have someone give you a kiss, and tell you that I love you.

Talk to you tomorrow, Mom.

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- Days ago = 172 days ago
- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 1512.24 - 10:10

Comic books on display - 1976




A Sense of Doubt blog post #1771 - "White Christmas" - The Drifters - THAT ONE THING  - Christmas Eve 2019

The Drifters were one of the most important doo-wop and R&B bands in history.

According to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame: "Through turmoil and changes, the (original) Drifters managed to set musical trends and give the public 13 chart hits, most of which are legendary recordings today."[4] Matching that feat, subsequent formations of the Drifters recorded 13 Billboard Hot 100 top 30 chart hits. The 1950s and 60s incarnations of the group were also a force on the US R&B charts, notching six number one R&B hits: "Money Honey" (1953), "Honey Love" (1954), "Adorable" (1955), "There Goes My Baby" (1959), "Save The Last Dance For Me" (1960) and "Under The Boardwalk" (1964).

This is the THAT ONE THING for Christmas Eve by the greatest crooner crew of all time.


 
Here's CHRISTMAS EVE posts from previous years:

2018

A Sense of Doubt blog post #1403 - Christmas Mix for Musical Monday for 1812.24
2017

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #902 - And again Ellory Queen
2016

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #536 - Tower Christmas at L&N Beard's 2016
2015

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #170 - Box of comics on Christmas Eve

2014

No post

2013 - T-shirts blog

T-shirt #278 - Three Wise Men? Be Serious






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Mom, I missing you a lot more this year for some reason. I started crying when I was decorating the Christmas tree and all the ornaments you bought for me and wanted me to have and keep for just this purpose every year.

I wish you were here.

You would love it out here.

Thank you for everything, Mom.

Christmas is still special because you taught me how to keep it and honor it.

I am proud of the gifts I gave loved ones this year.

Okay... that's good enough. Back to relaxing and reading and eating cinnamon rolls.

Merry Christmas everyone!

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Reflect and connect.

Have someone give you a kiss, and tell you that I love you, Mom.

I miss you so very much, Mom.

Talk to you soon, Mom.

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- Days ago = 2367 days ago

- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2112.25 - 10:10

NEW (written 1708.27 and 1907.04) NOTE on time: I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of your death, Mom, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of your death, Mom. I know this only matters to me, and to you, Mom. Dropped "Talk to you tomorrow, Mom" in the sign off on 1907.04. Should have done it sooner as this feature is no longer daily.

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