Things I Have Learned

Blogging, cervical vertigo & zanaflex don't mix. Certainly not with Spanish red wine. Something had to give and that something was blogging.

This has been an edition of "Things I Have Learned."

Thank you.

-AF

I'm Here

Went to Boston for mom-in-law's 87th B-Day. What a great lady.

Was going to blog today but woke up with a great fictional story idea that had to be put to paper - gotta love those trazodone dreams.

Belated thanks to VastLeft for the plug. Now if only the Correntians would grant me the power to comment at their site.

-AF

Don't Bury Me 'Cuz I'm Not Dead Yet

I just feel like death. Back with a post on the evils of Auto-tune in a few hours.

Stay tuned...

-AF

Sick of It All

Sick. Sick. Sick. Been under the weather for the past few days. I'll get back to blogging tomorrow with some belated Grammy & early Obama stuff. 'Til then, NYHC heroes Sick of It All rip thru "Stepdown."

-AF

A Belated Happy Holidays & All That

Sporadic blogging ahead. I'm taking some time off for personal reasons.

-AF

Fun With Seizures

*
Stupid Brain!

I'm resuming my sometimes pithy, occasionally witty, frequently profane tirades & random ramblings for your dancing and dining pleasure. I first went up to Boston to give my mom a hand ten days ago. Something weird happened up there. Really weird.

You needn't have watched House, ER, Grey's Anatomy et al to know seizures are freaky. Well, they're really freaky for the seizee. Had a series of at least four seizures eleven days ago - that was, how shall I say, waytoofuckinginteresting for my tastes. This in spite of the 3 powerful seizure meds I'm more grateful than ever to be currently taking. Probably why I was conscious for most of my "experience." Thankfully, I was lying down at the time.

I've had innumerable seizures. Innumerable because when you have a seizure, it typically affects your memory. I wasn't even evaluated for seizures for the longest time because no one, including myself, had any idea that I was having them.

Except for the mildest imaginable seizure back in June (My crack neurologist told me that it an anomaly & not to worry about it), I've never been conscious during a seizure. I was barely conscious then. It woke me ever so briefly and I fell back asleep.

Didn't really suss out what had happened until later that day. The slightly bitten tip of my tongue clinched it. That and the feeling that I had been hit with a brick without the pain of actually being hit with a brick. That's what a mild seizure is all about.

I'm going in NYC's Beth Israel next month for a 24-hour neuro-monitoring.

The experiment continues.

-AF
*This is not my brain. This head is not nearly big enough and there's no way my eyes would ever look that weird. Ever. Unfortunately, my neurologist currently has my brain scans. Next time, eh?

For Both Of You Who Have Asked

Back up in Boston where my mother's eye surgery went well. Her modem blew up so no internet until now.

Good times.

-AF

Catching Up Is Hard To Do

Having limited computer access for a week made me realize how odd it is that I get the vast majority of my news from three sources: the internet, The Daily Show and Keith Olbermann. It was weird with them all basically off last week. Not bad weird. Just weird.

Now if I can only get Firefox to work properly again.

-AF

Much Like Our Fine Country, I'm Sick & I'm Crabby

So there!

-AF
----------------
Now playing: Hollywood Brats - Sick On You
via FoxyTunes

I'm Back

I was in Boston taking care of my sick mother-in-law with only a dial-up connection and an uncooperative MacBook. No blogging for me.

-AF

In Case You Hadn't Noticed

I went AWOL for most of the summer. I was pretty far out of pocket for most of that time but the truth is more complicated.

In early June, I learned that a literal lifelong friend has end-stage cancer. I was in shock then and am still. Now I can't say that we were super-close but she has always been exceedingly generous and kind to my entire family. This person has been one of the few constants in my life. I'm also taking this so hard because I lost another such constant three years ago in a horrific car accident.

As you can imagine, my heart and mind just weren't in writing. But I've since accepted that there's nothing I can do. I have to hope for the best and get on with my life. You're never far from my thoughts, B. Godspeed.

-AF

Yeah. I know.

I haven't blogged in over two months. But I still love you. Really I do. Do you still love me?
Huh? I'm waiting...

xoxo,

-AF

Life From A Window

I took a break from blogging due to poor physical and mental health. I'm more or less back. Thanks for your patience.

Great news! After a year unemployed and/or seriously underemployed, Mrs. Forester actually found a job in her chosen field! I feel blessed to be married to such a remarkable woman.

-AF

Ugh.

Both I and my computer have been sick much of the week. An interesting post soon come re: a local Iraq vet and his struggle to get proper healtcare.

Stay tuned.

-AF

Traveling Music

There's no better traveling music than The Singing Ranger, Nova Scotia's own Hank Snow.

No posting till Sunday. I'm headed to a wedding this weekend. It's a good 350+ mile drive.

-AF

On The Road

I'll try to post whenever possible. In the meantime, there's always music.

I tend to get hung up on specific songs. Really hung up on certain songs. Sometimes it's for days or weeks. Sometimes it's for decades. "Temptation" is one of my "decades" tunes. I recently ran across my original 7" while going through my old vinyl.

I had quite the Love/Hate relationship with New Order. Love their music. Absolutely hated their live show. I had a serious case of bias based on my initial experience.

My first, and nearly last, New Order "concert" was the infamous August 2, 1985 gig at Boston's Opera House. It the band came on-stage over an hour late. New Order played 10 mostly obscure songs* -- not just refusing requests shouted out between songs but also taunting the audience too i.e. "We're not gonna play that one". Bernard went so far as to blow his nose into his mic repeatedly during "Everything's Gone Green."

The sound was awful. The "hits" nearly unrecognizable. No "Love Vigilantes." No "Your Silent Face." No "Dreams Never End." No "Confusion." No "Temptation." No encores. The band couldn't have cared less.

I left as the crowd began their riot. In '85, $18 was an exorbitant price to pay for such abuse. A decade later I worked with a surprisingly charming Peter Hook who was genuinely ashamed and appalled when reminded of this incident. (Apparently the New Order Opera House show had interrupted a bit of a band drug binge). In my experience, Hooky's shows with Monaco were professional affairs. A few nights bordered on the sublime.

A stellar studio group and consummate singles act, New Order should be forgiven for their past on-stage sins. (I know I would line up for a reunion gig). "Temptation" was their first great A-side. This "Temptation" has New Order live at the Beeb's Radio One.

Nice shorts Barney!

AF

*New Order Opera House Boston, MA-- August 2, 1985 set list:
The Perfect Kiss
Sooner Than You Think
Everything's Gone Green
Subculture
As It Is When It Was (obscurity with a version available on Retro)
Leave Me Alone
Thieves Like Us
Weirdo (early pre-Brotherhood version)
Face Up
Age Of Consent
Blue Monday

Returning From A Journey*

Short trip. Got back late last night. More words soon come.

-AF



*Specimen tune circa 1983. They were the Bat Cave house band.

Touch Me I'm Still Sick

Still not feeling too perky.

However, I am extremely impressed that the assembled Italians know every word to this classic slice of Mudhoney. Italians are so cool.

Let there be rock!

AF

Touch Me I'm Sick

I've been sick hence no new posts. Some interesting topics on tap so stay tuned...




Merry Christmas, a belated Happy Hanukkah, a kick ass Kwanzaa, a super Solstice or whatever it is you do.

Cheers,

AF

Have Love...

Will Travel.
On the Road. More tonite.

AF