Monday, January 08, 2007

In which we shake our collective fist at Monday, January 8th

If you're like me, this is the first Monday you've worked in weeks. There was that whole day-after Christmas Monday, which is a de facto holiday (and Boxing Day, in places that aren't America) and there was New Year's Day last Monday, which, in addition to being one of the better U2 songs is also the only holiday on record dedicated to a national hangover recovery. I always thought that was thoughtful.

Now consider the fact that Martin Luther King day is celebrated next Monday and, hopefully, you'll be getting that off. (By the way, if you're not getting to spend MLK day in bed, bring your CEO the Dukes of Hazard Criterion Collection. You will get a raise.) So that makes this the only lonely working Monday in the span of four weeks. I, for one, am too lazy to stand for this. I should be on my couch watching Tombstone again, goddammit. I'm your Huckleberry. All that.

But you've got to work sometimes. And going to work requires early rising. And getting up early allowed me to learn that Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today. So, in other words, going to work just made me very, very sad. Talk about "the day the music died."

However, I did learn why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland, a place hitherto famous for bad Chinese food and bigoted gas station attendants. Apparently, Alan Freed, a DJ at WJW Radio in Cleveland not only popularized the term "Rock and Roll" but also helped stage what is considered the first rock show of all time, headlined by the imminently forgettable Paul Williams (and the Hucklebucklers) and Tiny Grimes, who sounds like one of the spam names we compiled yesterday. Anyway, the fire department shut down the show, one song into Paul Williams's set, fearing the over-capacity crowd would start an early '50s riot, which, as I understand it, involves men in hats smoking pipes furiously.

To sum up: it seems Cleveland was actually a really fine choice for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Especially since rock and roll was once thought synonymous with the downfall of modern society in the same way Cleveland is now. Everything's coming full circle. It's enough to give you goosebumps.

Oh, and because it must be said: Thanks to everyone who stopped in and contributed a few wonderful monikers to our list o' spam names yesterday. I think something special was accomplished here. Womanhood P. Marzipan agrees. I'd like to throw a special "Holy Shit" to Matt, whose list was something like 200 names long and included, among others, Reassessments F. Squeler and Hitch J. Polysyllable.

16 comments:

Sabrina said...

I wish it was my 1st day back to work. Don't you have the easy job!
I've just snuck out of a presentation to check up on your blog. I was also trying hard to wake up from this sleeper. I fear snoring loudly in a room full of people trying to learn.
After catching myself doing to head jerking thing I decided to get out of there and get some air! I better get back....help!

Tombstone is one of my favorite weekend lazy movies.


Cleveland, never been there.

Chris Walker said...

What happened to announcing the winner of the contest? Did I miss it or have you guys not said who won yet?

Sabrina said...

I haven't seen a winner yet? You're killing me guys......

Dong...Dong....Where is Grandpa's Automobile????

birdmonster said...

You're both right. Contest winners tomorrow. And by tomorrow, I mean Tuesday. We're building one of those lotto-ball things they use for Bingo & the NBA Draft Lottery. It takes time

Sabrina said...

So there's going to be more than 1? winner(s).
I'm all for better odds!

Don't bother building, just go to your nearest Veterans Hall or Senior Center and ask to borrow one?

SOL's view said...

Cleveland? Never been there. MLK day? Never been there either. I'm in Oz f'rchrissakes. And it's not the first Monday back to work for me either. But we do have Australia Day. That's the next big one.

So, it's Tuesday here. Where is the winner???

birdmonster said...

Sabrina: As per your suggestion, I've robbed the Old Folks Home. See you in hell.

SOL's View: Australia Day? That sounds fantastic. I hope koalas figure prominently. And yes, I realize that exposes my ignorance. But you have koalas and I feel that's important

Sabrina said...

You're on your own with that one. See... I said borrow, not rob. Geez! Stealing from the elderly.. tsk tsk..
I'll put in a good word for you though.

SOL's view said...

Koalas? Yep, you betcha. But only on the barbie.... no, wait, that's kangaroo.... That's right, we eat our National Emblems....

I'm with Sabrina. Stealing from the elderly. Huh. Just wait till they knock you down with the zimmer frame or lay about you with the brolly, you young whippersnapper..... =) One of my life goals. To be laying into some young thing with my brolly...

elvette said...

sol: what does one do to celebrate Australia Day?

No more no more yanky my wanky, no more new style american girlfriend, dong-er need food.

birdmonster said...

SOL: Let it be known: I'm trying to work "brolly" into my rainy day vernacular. Early results: unfavorable. I am, of course, undaunted.

Sabrina: Fine. You didn't suggest it but you gave me the idea. It counts for 20%.

Elvette: You have confused me in a way I was unaware I could be confused. Dong-er indeed.

Sabrina said...

How can you possibly be confused about the Dong-er? How?

U Beat Up My Face!
U Grabbed my Nuts.

SOL's view said...

Elvette: Celebrating Australia Day. Let's see, apart from it being a good excuse for chucking 'a shrimp on the barbie' and excess alcohol, we usually introduce a touch of the serious with citizenship ceremonies and fireworks. And generally tell ourselves how great we are. And throw in the odd protest for Aboriginal land rights and you pretty much have it. Oh, and sit around listening to radio station JJJ play hottest 100 for 2006 - as voted by listeners - while drinking.

BM: Goodonya mate. Although it could truly be a word for all seasons. No? Would you believe a word for all uses of umbrella?

birdmonster said...

Hmm. Australia Day sounds exactly like the Fourth of July, really. You got your fireworks, your drinking, your drinking-fireworks, your trips to the hospital after blowing off three fingers. Yep. Sounds like a damn fine time.

birdmonster said...

Sabrina: Have no idea. Chalk it up to miserable sleep. And the fact that I may or may not still be confused.

SOL's view said...

Yep, was going to add that it was much like 4th July. But we don't get the trip to the hospital for blowing off fingers - fireworks illegal here. Unless you be a licensed powder monkey. 4th July sounds sooooo much more interesting.