AliasUndercover's Xanga

Remember The Nativity!

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:38:07 GMT

Sometimes you know something and then suddenly you don't know nothin. The center does not hold. When everything falls apart, sometimes you and I seek a familiar song or tale to find comfort. At this wonderful time of year I may turn to a great story like Frosty The Snowman or Elf. Alas, today those good stories afford me no solace. The Little Drummer Boy can bring tears to my eyes most times, but today it leaves me cold.
So I put away those silly made-up children's stories and turn to Real Legend. In the past, the story of Bevo The Orange Tipped Longhorn ALWAYS makes me feel better. How can it not bring you cheer when you remember that night the dusty West Texas wind almost stopped Christmas? Remember when Bevo with his glowing horns and Cowboy Santa followed the Lone Star all the way to the Alamo that fateful eve so long ago?

Bevo got Cowboy Santa to the Alamo just in time to kneel at the manger! What real Texan wouldn't swell with pride and joy upon remembering those good tidings? I dunno...It's usually surefire...but today?

Maybe I'm trying to trick it up too much and I should stick with the dawn of redeeming grace? Yeah. That's what I'll do. All other ground your boot heel hits is sinking sand, pardna. Here's Texas' own Sixpence None The Richer doing a beautiful version of Silent Night. Idn't the 6/8tyness awesome? Idn't Leigh Nash's voice angelic? Idn't the descant transcendant? Plus which I triple love this video of it. It helps me feel a little better, anyway...

Here's a zanger audio of it, too, just in case.

Love you!

AU~out

Game Face

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:48:05 GMT

The Man is beating me daily, but he ain't winning! Tirelessly I strive EVERY. DAY. to provide without thought of personal reward. 100% success, brethren. 100%. River to my people, I am. A deep, flowing river.

Quickly we approach my favorite time of the year. Last night was chutney prep and mushrooms for a company lunch today. Soon it will be chutney, homemade rolls and giblet gravy prep for my people. And then we all get to give thanks and visit and argue and not argue and ignore elephants right there in the room with us and decorate for that yuletide and find the center and initiate world peace and start thinking about presents. I love this time of year. Whose with me? Are you with me like this warrior? Bring it on!

AU~out

R.I.P. K.o.P.

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:29:37 GMT

If you asked me to rank my favorite musicians/performers off the top of my head, it would be a long time before I got down to Michael Jackson. I’ve always placed him in the “kinda like” category. Nevertheless, based on all I’ve read and heard about the movie, This Is It, I was looking forward to seeing it. Everything fell into place and we got to see it yesterday with Marcus and Ashley.

I highly recommend seeing this movie on the big screen in a theater with great sound. I think this is the best concert movie that I have ever seen (even though there really never was a concert L). And I have seen, in the theater, Woodstock, Gimme Shelter, The Song Remains the Same, Yessongs and many others. This was amazing, even in comparison to those great films.

As I watched MJ work so earnestly and so hard, I kept thinking about Judy Garland. She was a performer that was just mind-boggling to watch in action. No matter the quality of the song, when Judy performed it, she SOLD it. She took every bit of emotion available in a song and wrung it out like a sponge. Jackson performed a song in much the same way. It was impressive to witness what a complex working knowledge he had of music in general and each song in particular, how clearly he envisioned what he wanted, and how graciously he insisted on achieving his vision.

Of course, I also thought of Judy Garland because she was a consummate performer with a wreck of a personal life who sought refuge and relief in medication until it killed her. Sad and sad. Is that kind of personal unhappiness required for great art? Sometimes it seems so. Perhaps, in spite of my extensive charm, incredible good-looks and remarkable talent, I’m just too doggone happy to ever be great. Alas, a burden I shall have to keep.

The thing that struck me most as I watched this excellent film was a remarkably self-centered sorrow. I am almost angry that I am not going to be given the opportunity to witness this spectacular concert. I am also sorry for the other musicians and dancers that were so excited to be involved in the show. Some had dreamed of this opportunity since they were children. In spite of the (sometimes overwhelming) sorrow, the movie is still a beautiful and thrilling experience. The Way You Make Me Feel, Human Nature, Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Black & White, Man In The Mirror – each song was going to be a visual and audio performance masterpiece. I haven’t seen anyone like Madonna or Brittney Spears, but I’ve read about the incredible number of costume changes, etc. in their shows. For this show, the stage, costumes, props, and effects were going to be remarkably complex and different as well as uniquely suited to each song he was going to perform. What a show that wooda been! So. You should go see this movie, since we can’t go to the concert.

Love all y’all!

AU~out

USS New York

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:16:43 GMT

Mostly, I'm a peacenik. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and I embraced that part of the hippie message. Doan wan no war, man. I have a temper, but have been able to not let it control me by the grace of God (my kids could tell you some stories but I'm getting better in my advancing years). I come from a long line of preachers and/or farmers. Very few soldiers. I think I'm the direct descendant of a soldier in the War of 1812. I know I'm a direct descendant of a soldier in the Battle of San Jacinto that won Texas her independence - one Henry Harrison "Hawk" Witherspoon cool name for a soldier/wagon driver.

Mostly, I want us as a nation to pursue peace, not at the expense of justice, but at the expense of most everything else.

Mostly, I trust whoever is President to make those tough calls for us and I don't envy that job...

Point is, I'm all about peace and love and such and not so much about bombs and guns and flak jackets. But when I saw these pics of the USS New York, I was very proud and moved. I can't think of a better way to use 7½ tons of steel salvaged from the terrorist-destroyed World Trade Center than this fierce weapon of war. God bless all the ships at sea and God bless those that decide how we use them and God bless America.

The Sniper told me about the launching so I looked it up on the World Wide Internetz.

Ain't this a cool sight?

AU~out

Pet peeves, sloppy wet kisses, and regret maintenance

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:41:24 GMT

At some point today or tomorrow SHE <== is going to say it. Like the back of my hand, I know this. She is extremely capable and kinda amazing really. Nothing that we do here is difficult per se, but there are so many steps to take and she knows them all! I’m not talking about 4 or 5 steps either. She’s probably responsible for 50 different processes and each process has 50 different steps and she remembers them all! I couldn’t be happier for her presence on our team here. But. At some point, while she’s explaining some complex series of steps, she’s going to say, “We usually blah blah blah but in all reality we need to blah blah blah.” And then I’m going to choke back an unmanly scream. It’s just a pet peeve of mine (are there ever just peeves or are there only pet ones?). Whenever she says, “…in all reality…” I want to mention to her that reality either is or is not. There can’t be some or few reality so how can there be all? Yeesh!

I know exactly what you’re thinking, btw. You’re thinking, “Hey there Oak Cliff, you need to simmer down!” And, of course, you’re right. I also need to simmer down when we consider him <==. Truthfully…in all reality *grits teeth*…he is a fine upstanding person. Loyal, conscientious, reliable, among many other qualities. Thank goodness I don’t have a sister to test this on, but if I had a sister and she wanted to date him, I would say, “Well. You could do worse.” High praise indeed, from me, about a man. I just have one slight little tiny pet peeve with him too – EVERY SINGLE WORD HE SAYS (!).

So. The problem is likely not with either of these two noble citizens. Alas. I must look at the man in the mirror – Thou art the man, Oak Cliff! The problem is that, in spite of my head turning good looks, discreet charm, and erudite compassion, I am an introvert at heart and I want everyone to just shut the heck up. My kingdom for a moment’s silence!! *wails*

Whenever I start getting all on edge like this, the best thing is to put on my head phones and seek solace in music’s golden tongue. Today, I double-clicked on “How He Loves” and scarce three notes, ere Music’s golden tongue flatter’d to tears this aged man and poor. Truly with this song, I have to be careful when I listen to it because I am Always Going To Cry. Every time. Kim Walker (that’s her singing) has a basement to her voice like Karen Carpenter. She’s this slight, tiny thing with a voice like a waltzing valkyrie. And yet, there’s something about the timbre of her voice in this song that touches me like nothing else. Possibly because it is a live performance…maybe she’s tired by this time in her concert…or maybe the song is just too low for her to begin with. I dunno. But there’s something about the fragility in her voice that goes so well with the words she’s singing. At the same time since she’s singing from the basement, there is a Real Power in her that also fits with the words.

So when I’m exhausting myself maintaining my pet peeves and otherwise thinking disagreeable thoughts, there’s nothing like How He Loves to turn me around. My favorite line goes:

So Heaven meets Earth like a sloppy wet kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don’t
Have
Time to maintain these regrets
When I think about
The way
He loves us

Have you ever heard anything like that? Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss? Uncomfortable imagery to some maybe, but not to me - I love it. It fits perfectly in a waltz and in a song about how He loves us. Kim Walker seems to love it too. She means every word she says in this song it seems (I also get choked up when she says "...brace yourself!" for some reason...I don't know why). So I'll keep my headphones on until the bad voices stop and I'll try not to cry too much and get some work done all at the same time. Are there any songs that affect you like this?

Here it is on youtube and also on xanga audio if you prefer:

AU~brace yourself!

Jedi's Return!

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:04:33 GMT

We knew in our hearts that salvation was nigh. We knew that soon, all would be right in the world. We knew it but allowed ourselves to be distracted by (what appeared to be) "facts". However The Resolute, The Faithful, The Constant Ones -- we could ne'er loose hope.

Wasn't he just the thing yesterday? Yes. Yes he was. With seconds left in the half, did you see how he evaded every single Falcon while he was in the pocket for 15 minutes, until Crayton was open? Did you see? Did you see? So it felt like the Return of the Jedi (sans ewoks ). Let us recast this movie today and see who would best play each part.

Darth Vader? I don't know exactly who, but he is obviously a Redskin.

The Sith Lord (or whoever that is)? Dono Van McNabb

The Death Star? Will play itself

The Jedi? Romo and Miles Austin (their names be adored) of course!

Isn't the world a better place? *sighs contentedly*

AU~out

What gho saround cahm saround

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:08:54 GMT

I had a good friend from Uruguay and, in time-honored male-bonding fashion; we would spend our time belittling each other’s origins – I would poke fun at his country and he would call me a redneck. Reality had little to do with our attacks on one another; but it was all good-spirited fun.

One fine result of this beautiful bonding experience is the way I say particular phrase. My Uruguayan friend, Fernando, spoke as you would expect, with a thick Spanish accent. Not Mexican, but Spanish. Very European sounding. Kinda elegant. Anyway, the word “goes” sounded a little chopped or something, but it was very distinct. The nearest thing I can come up with is that he said it the same way you might say “ghost”, but without the “t” on the end. So, when (as was quite often the case) my witty belittling of his country or indeed, his whole continent of origin was particularly scathing or biting, and he had already exhausted his repertoire (consisting entirely of calling me a redneck) his only response was the thinly veiled and mysterious threat, “What gho saround cahm saround, my friend.”

So that’s what’s running through my head these days, “What goes around, comes around” but in Fernando’s delightful accent. I’m not really sure how this phrase came into being, but it basically means, you reap what you sow, I guess.

The DMN paper had two opposing editorials yesterday. Star Jones thinks that Al Sharpton’s successful opposition to Rush Limbaugh being apart of the group that would own the St. Louis Rams is an outrage and anti-American and anti-Conservative and a vicious, petty, cheap blow from the Left against The Right – a mean-spirited attack on Free Speech. Eugene Robinson thinks that Al Sharpton’s actions are a great example of the Free Market at work.

Rush Limbaugh is quoted thus, “This is not about the NFL, it's not about the St. Louis Rams, it's not about me, this is about the ongoing effort by the left in this country, wherever you find them, in the media, the Democrat Party, or wherever, to destroy conservatism, to prevent the mainstreaming of anyone who is prominent as a conservative. Therefore, this is about the future of the United States of America and what kind of country we're going to have."

I see it a little different from others I’ve read. First, let me explain that there was a time in my life when I listened to Rush every day pretty faithfully. I was a traveling salesman from 1992 through 1998 and I often found myself driving on the highways of the Great State and even Oklahoma in the afternoons. Almost without fail I could pick up Rush’s daily broadcast no matter where I was traveling so I was happy to have some continuity.

Rush is a very effective and persuasive communicator so I was not unaffected by 12 or more hours of this conservative indoctrination every week. It certainly reaffirmed my decisions in the 90’s and 00’s to vote conservative. For years I was persuaded by him, but eventually I began to hear him as mean-spirited and as filled with rhetoric as the Media he daily lambasted. You can read his overblown since of self in the quote above.

It does amaze me in that quote that Rush cannot acknowledge his own culpability in Sharpton’s (et al) actions. I haven’t listened to Rush in 10 or more years, but I never ever heard a single kind word he had to say about Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. Every time either one of those preachers took up a cause, Rush would cry louder than anyone else about the egregious and terrible sin of Reverse Racism or simply claim that these two were motivated only by a desire to remain in the public eye.

I, at least have been long affected by his analysis of Al Sharpton. Every time I see Sharpton, the only thing I see is Media Whore. I automatically discount or turn a deaf ear to just about anything Sharpton says. This prejudice was fixed in my mind by Rush Limbaugh, and like all prejudice, once fixed it is hard to shake. So it is funny to me that when Sharpton successfully blocks Limbaugh's plans, Rush blames it on The Left.

I got news for you, Rush – This ain't a vast triple-secret Left Wing conspiracy. The Left is not personified by Al Sharpton. Justified or not, you've made a career of belittling Sharpton and so when he saw his chance he blocked you from buying the Rams. It may be petty and personal but it is also a clear case of, as my friend Fernando would tell you, What gho saround cahm saround, my friend.

AU~out

noble Nobel

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:00:44 GMT

In 1991, Kevin Costner won Best Director for Dances With Wolves over, also nominated, Martin Scorsese for Goodfellas. Hindsight shows us that the Academy was clearly wrong that year. DwW is a fine movie but it pales in comparison to Goodfellas. At IMDB, Goodfellas is 15^th on the top 250 Best Pictures of all time ever, and poor DwW ain’t even on the list. I also recall in 1998 when NotAppearingInTheTop250 Shakespeare In Love won Best Picture over #52, Saving Private Ryan.

Comparing Best Picture Oscar Winners to the IMDB Top 250 is the weak sauce though. The two lists aren’t really comparable. One involves experienced industry participants judging the quality of the winner (in comparison to the other nominees), and the other is not much more than a popularity contest.

The two examples I led off with, are noticeable because of the disparity between the nominee and the actual winner. Most years, whether I agree with the Academy’s choice or not, there’s not much room for outrage because most of the nominees are comparably worthy. Also, it is sophistry to compare one year’s winner to another’s. The Godfather is a much, much better movie than Around The World In 80 Days but the truth is – those movies weren’t in competition with each other. AtWi80D won Best Picture in a weak year for Best Pictures.

Like the Oscars, Noble Prizes are awards given from a group of which I am not a member. The most subjective award they give is the Peace Prize. It might be the most subjective award given by anyone for anything. Once you read about Norman Borlaug, every Nobel Peace Prize winner there ever was pales in comparison. But you only get one Nobel Peace Prize for saving the lives of millions. That would make the awarding process much easier though…”Let’s see…anyone save a billion people from starving this year? No? OK this year’s award goes to Borlaug again.”

I hope I’m making my point. The Scared Angry Right are seemingly outraged at Obama’s Peace Prize…some on the Left are too. *aside* One good thing that came from the blowhards’ rants against Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize – Bill Hader as James Carville on Weekend Update [link], “Rush Limbaugh, now how does a fellow like that have fans? Hey! You want to listen to this drug addict? Don't worry, he mean and fat! How are you going to call him Rush? That's a terrible name for a slow fat man, Seth. only place he's rushing to is Quiznos…asking ‘bout free double meat and waving ‘round some coupon he made on a home computer. He should win the Nobel Piece of Pie.” */aside* Here’s an interesting factoid, possibly to become an AliasUndercover Axiom® – No one who has ever ranted about the unworthiness of a Nobel Peace Prize winner has ever done anything worthy enough to win a Nobel Peace Prize. So take a hint, ye naysayers, stop pulling specks out of the President’s eye and start cleaning up your own act. Better yet, stand for peace.

You and I should be peacemakers. Someone once said, I think, them peacemakers shall be blessed and honored. I ain’t no farmer, but I’m also pretty sure if I sow in peace then I reap in righteousness. I’ve never lived in a country before that was run by a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. I don’t think that’s going to work out poorly for me. Congratulations, President Obama!

AU~out

I really can't imagine what them Delta women think of me...

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:27:57 GMT

Been stuck in 1972 for a long time. If youda asked me for a great year I know '72 wouldn't of popped out first but, well, it was a great year for things I like. Film? How bout The Godfather, Deliverance, What's Up Doc?, Jeremiah Johnson, uh, Blacula... Good stuff. Music? ELPs Trilogy, Led Zepplin IV (November '71 technically but come on) and from Yes we have Fragile AND Close To The Edge (CttE closes the case, btw). My 12th birthday was unremarkable by comparison.

Wonder what's happening this year that someone'll marvel at in 37 years? Hard to say. Somehow I don't think it'll be Couples Retreat or Year One. Maybe it'll be Rosanne Cash's The List? I'll have to purchase the CD and listen to it before I know. I haven't really heard it yet...sounds like it'll be good.

What brings up all this remarkable remberance is that guy in the cube behind me. I. Just. Can't. Stand. His. Voice. And he's training people today! In his cube! Somebody shoot me... So instead of listening to him or doing something funner than that like plunging hot needles in my eyes, I've upped the ante and I'm listening to Ramblin Man over and over. That's making it a great day. Did you know that Ramblin Man was the Allman Brother's first and ONLY Top Ten hit? Amazing. Anyway, it's had so much radio play since '72 I woulda thunk I'd be tired of it by now. Maybe youda thunk so too, but that's why you come to AliasUndercover®, so he can splain why some things are really great.

So here's why Ramblin Man is so great:

1)It's really just a list of absurd claims as bold as they are unverifiable - the mark of all great Southern works of art. Herewith shall I enumerate them:
        i) I was born a ramblin man
        ii) my father was a gambler down in Georgia
        iii)he wound up on the wrong end of a gun
        iv) I was born in the back seat of a greyhound bus rollin down highway 41
        v) they're always having a good time down on the bayou
        vi) them delta women think the world of me

2)Written and sung by Dickey Betts. Nuff said.

3)It was based on a Hank Williams song. Totally different from the Hank Williams song, but based on it. That's cool.

4)The song is a prayer. Some people pray for healing or just to give thanks. Some want a pony. Dickey just wants to let the Lord know that he was born a ramblin man. We don't judge another's prayer!

5)It is a 2:39 song stuffed into 4:48. Love it when that happens.

When you listen to this song again (courtesy of Zanger Audio!!!111!!!), notice how the song is really over at 2:39 and then it does a kind of "Outro" and repeats 4 measures over and over. And then, at 3:00 it repeats those 4 measures over and over and over and over but that's when Dickey's awesome, awesome, triple awesome solo starts and really just takes us to a different place. It doesn't change keys, or even chord progression, it just ain't a simple country song no more. It soareth! Good, good, good.

That's all this week. Love all y'all!

AU~out

Peter Peter’s best present was a party he weren't invited to!

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:51:41 GMT

I was never a fan of the Christmas Letter (though I’m sure the ones you send are fascinating!). I’m talking about those letters which read “It’s been a wondrous year for The Hinklefrauwgs. Our youngest just won the Nobel Peace Prize and our eldest invented the French Language. It’s totally amazing we even have the time to write you this letter detailing our fabulous accomplishments!”

However (you knew that was coming), something happened last week concerning my own children and I just can’t keep quiet about it. So you have to endure Christmas in September @ the Household d’Undercover. Last week was my youngest child’s 21^st birthday. We’re empty nesters in all ways now. The Tribu d’Undercover is All Adult. That was inevitable, but what I didn’t expect was the party my youngest threw for herself last week.

The funny thing is that even though I wasn’t invited to the party, I’ve never been happier or prouder. Katelyn arranged for her siblings and their SOs to meet for dinner and then an evening of playing pool. I know how difficult it is to get all 5 kids + SOs together for anything. It warms my heart no end that Katy was able to accomplish this and that her siblings et al were so willing to accommodate her for her birthday.

Our kids never did anything to deserve being raised in a broken home and blended family. No kid deserves a step-father. Sometimes the worry and shame and guilt and doubt I carry around about what my kids have gone through (still go through) is a heavy paralyzing millstone around my neck. But then I hear about KT’s party and how much fun they all had and how Katelyn thought it was her best party ever and I think, maybe all things really do “work together for good”. God is awesome and He has given me an awesome family in spite of myself.

Thanks for reading, love all y’all!

AU~out