Farewell Dear Friend

Today, I was informed of the passing of my dear friend Lee Hazelwood. It wasn't a terrible shock actually. As a matter of fact on saturday I was thinking to myself that Lee would pass very soon. Little did I know that he would die that day. There is too little and too much I could say about the man, his music and his mustasche. So I guess I will leave it at that. For more of my thoughts on Lee, consult my earlier posts. He will be missed. His music will forever be ours.

Townes Van Zandt

Well, I'm back in business...for awhile anyhow. And, I just wanted to talk about how much I love Townes Van Zandt!
There's a new documentary about him called Be Here To Love Me, playing at the Clinton St. Theater. It's been held over for the past 3 weeks which is good for me because I keep missing it, but I plan to see it tomorrow. I really don't know much about his life, except that he came from a wealthy Texas family and was being groomed to be Governor of the state, but he decided instead to be a genius alcoholic folksinger. He made the right decision. He died in January 1 (the same day as Hank Williams)1997 at the age of 52 as Townes had predicted, like a deck of cards.
His music reminds me of a cross between Hank Williams and a quiet Lou Reed, though later on his voice would deepen to a growl sounding more like Tom Waits would after a series of strokes. But, he still sounded terrific. His songs are lovely, elegiac and often heartbreaking, and have been covered countless times. I feel part of the strength of his music is his powerful simplicity, making his songs universally timeless. Townes most famous song would be Pancho and Lefty, and would be a hit for Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. For those new to his music I think I would recommend his third album called Townes Van Zandt, it's a great showcase for his great talent, and really easy to listen to.
Anyhow, I hope the film is good, it has gotten some really great reviews. I'll tell you what I think after I see it. In any case I totally recommend his music, it's wonderful.

It's Dead Bitch!

So my computer has died. I shall miss it, and the piece of my life that has temporarily died beside it. I will bury them both with a dead dog at their feet. I am using the laptop at the salon for right now, but I hope to be back on my feet shortly.
Love,
What's left of Derek

Well it has been awhile since I last caught up with you. This past month, I've taken more of an interest in catching up on my reading, and it has been a nice change. I'm totally that person that goes to Powell's and buys four books knowing damn well that I will only read one of them before I'm distracted and begin something else. Well as a sort of unspoken resolution I am turning my attentions to those pleasures found on the written page, instead of a projected screen.

I just right now finished reading Lonesome Dove, and feeling somewhat destroyed. Being a person who is prone to getting swept away with a good story I feel this is becoming almost silly habit, but I really wouldn't have it any other way. Having followed the characters in the story for over 850 pages, I feel I could continue reading for at least another 850 more.

Lonesome Dove is an epic of the highest order. It is somewhat like a cross between Gone with the Wind and Lord of the Rings. But the thing that is amazing about this book is that each of the characters (and there are a ton of them) is given such care and thought, that it feels like a much more intimate story. I find that I really can't write about this book and do it any justice. My words are ultimately too cheap. All I can do is to urge you to read this book, even if you think you could give a shit about western literature, believe me it transcends any simple genre classification. Simply put, it's Wonderful! Read It!

Johnny doesn't live here anymore.

Yes folks, that's right. Johnny Ristick (my own personal Gladys Kravitz) is no longer listening eagerly at our shared walls, or peeking out of his door when I walk past apartment 209. I would like to say that I will miss the personality he brought to the Rena Villa, but I cannot, because he was gettin' on my nerves. But I do find this to be a moment of great significance. The last time I changed unwanted neighbors, I traded a man named Reno, with a woman named Cabo, both of which were nasty locations I'll never visit, and my newest four letter words. I'm sure if this is to be a pattern Johnny's replacement will be a crazy lady named Frankie Lipstick. I'll try to be kind, but I hate her already.

Maupassant mon amour

Yesterday, I was sitting at work and thinking about how I need to get a start on my Holiday shopping. While making lists of imaginary items I plan to gift to people, I decided that I should head to Powells to pick up a few of these items on my lunch break. Once at Powells I discovered that every item I'd hoped to pick up for other people were not on the shelves. I was quick to find something for myself, and decided that I would again procrastinate on my gift shopping. What I found was quite a winner. The Penguin Classics, Guy De Maupassant 'A Parisian Affair and Other Stories'. My main inspiration for this purchase, like most of my purchases, was film influenced. I knew that John Ford's Stagecoach, had been greatly influenced by the Maupassant short story 'Boule de Suif', and was anxious to read it. Actually Ford was offered the job of directing a French production of 'Boule de Suif' in the late sixties, but that fell through due in part, to his failing health.

Anyhow, these stories are great! They are as melodramatic, and sex filled as the latest issue of IN TOUCH, and just as easy to read (though I did use the foot notes to clarify some of the more obscure references). I just love reading about old timey Hookers. They are always so charming and spirited, not at all like the tired old tramps you see these days. The best thing is that most of these stories are so short, you could read them on the can if you were so inclined-though not recomended. I highly recommend picking up a copy. This gets the Mummy's Pajamas book of the Month award.

Something New

So I recently realized that after drinking a ton of wine and beer on an empty stomach, Groucho can get very blotto. In such situations, he may say and do things that an intoxicated person would not do, unless they are also drunk. Groucho was both. He might jokingly ask some gentleman why his mustache is on their dick, only to be shocked when it is actually found there. He then may have a lot explaining to do, in such a situation, particularly if the man's girlfriend is a duck. After desiring Laughter, Gaiety, and Hot Cha-Cha, it is undecided if he got them. It is also undecided if he got the clap. Results shall be posted once they are in.