devilgrrl's Open Salon Blog

Open Call: A Favorite Song by Nina Simone

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:03:28 -0400

I didn't follow Nina Simone's career under after her death in April 2003. One of the first records I bought, once discovering that she was nothing short of genius, was her 1965 release 'I Put A Spell On You'. Brilliant record if you don't already have it.

One song that sticks out from the rest is her rendition of "Il Faut Savoir" by Charles Aznavour.

When feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders, I play this song - it helps getting my chin back up. Hopefully yours too.

Enjoy.

You've got to learn to show a happy face
Although you're full of misery
You mustn't show a trace of sadness
Never look for sympathy

You've got to learn although it's very hard
The way of pocketing your pride
Sometimes face humiliation
While you were burning up inside
Facing reality is often hard to do
When it seems happiness is gone

You've got to learn to hide your tears
And tell your heart life must go on

You've got to learn to leave the table
When love's no longer being served
To show everybody that you're able
To leave without saying a word

You've got to learn to hide your sorrow
And go on living as before
What good is thinking of tomorrow
Who knows what it may have in store

You've got to learn to be much stronger
At times your head must rule your heart

You've got to learn from hard experience
And listen to advice
And sometimes pay the price
And learn to live with a broken heart

Jay Leno Bombs Big Time with Lame Library Joke

Thu, 20 May 2010 21:05:20 -0400

During his opening monologue on May 11th - unfunny, meglomaniacal late night talk-show host Jay Leno felt the need to make light of the budget cuts threatening public libraries in Los Angeles, California.

Leno cracked, "People here in Los Angeles are upset that the mayor's proposed plan to cut the budget of libraries... This could affect as many as nine people."

Actually Jay, make that 17 million people that those cuts could effect. I don't know what his trip is but I think it's obvious that he needs to get out more. Perhaps he should go visit a library and see how many people actually use it.

Here's more from Booktryst

10 Questions - Pilgrim's Open Call

Mon, 17 May 2010 01:05:58 -0400

1. What is your favorite word?

There are several - too many really - but my current favorite is eschew. Don't know why.

2. What is your least favorite word?

C*nt. Because it's a disgusting word. As are those who like to use it on a regular basis.

3. What turns you on?

Hilarity.

4. What turns you off?

The "I got mine" mind-set.

5. What sound or noise do you love?

The cat purring.

6. What sound or noise do you hate?

Helicopters buzzing my neighborhood.

7. What is your favorite curse word?

Motherf*cker

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

A helicopter pilot in Los Angeles, CA.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

A personal assistance in the entertainment industry.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

"So sorry for involving you in someone else's shitty marriage - will you forgive me?"

UK English vs. US English: A personal story

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:11:36 -0500

"I was starting to get sick of the Geezers."

At least that is what I thought he said. That the geezers where getting to him. Which I thought was a bit odd because while I saw that there were senior citizens about, it didn't seem like there were a lot of them - certainly not enough to annoy anyone. Then again, they could have been causing a serious crowd scene at the toilets but I wasn't there, so I didn't know for sure but I was perplexed by his attitude towards the elderly.

He was last person on earth I would have expected this from, he seems like such a pleasant young man. In fact, I could easily imagine him dropping everything to help an old person cross the road - not lose patience with them. Good lord, what is up with that?

I mean really, is this guy not aware that there are three others present that are over the age of 50 - the oldest being age 62? Why, I'm 45 - there are a few of us well into our 40's. We may be technically "middle aged" now but all of us are careening toward our senior years whether we like it or not. Who is this kid anyway? Like he was going to stay 21 for the rest of his life. Alas, the arrogance of youth.

What is he complaining about geezers for anyway? I thought I did good on the trails today for a middle aged broad, and I like to think that I took the most challenging hikes available. I did pass an older couple along the way too but they were very friendly, perhaps I was fortunate in that I ran into the right geezers? Who knows? I decide that it would be better to wait until he had rested up a bit and ask about it then, I was very curious to know what happened.

Was there something I should be concerned about? My parents are now in their early 70's - I wouldn't want them going around inadvertently harshing the mellows of young people now would I? I'll ask if he witnessed any behavioral patterns that these older people displayed but the more I thought of it, the less sense it made. My parents have always have been annoying - how could aging possibily make them worse? There had to be more to this than met the eye - an AARP sit-in that I was unaware of?

Now, I have to remind myself that this kid is from the United Kingdom - England to be exact. Maybe he ran into a bunch of prickly old codgers who went off about the royals, or made rude comments about bangers and mash, or cracked jokes about the overabundance of 'Keep Left' signs on British roadways, or something! Whatever it was, it must of been really irksome.

And on such a beautiful day too! You couldn't have paid for better weather. Nice and sunny with temperatures in the mid-70's. We all hopped off the bus twenty minutes before Old Faithful blew her top with plenty of great places to sit and set up for pictures. Afterward, we hit the trails surrounding the area and what a pleasure. This was my first time ever visiting Yellowstone National Park, I've been wanting to come here since I was a child and now here I was! And did it ever live up to the hype. I hope every US citizen gets the chance to see Old Faithful for real - it is THAT special.

Right, so we had just finished with the Upper Basin and were waiting on the bus outside of Biscuit Basin when another of our travel mates, an English woman in her mid-30's started in about being "geezered out."

Now, this is just getting too weird - okay, I need to know what this is about and now!

Just before I opened my mouth - it dawned on me.

D'oh!

They're not talking about GEEZERS - as in 'old people'.

They're talking about the GEYSERS! - as in hot sulfury gassy bubbly steamy smelly volcanic geysers

They just pronounce the word GEYSER - GEEZER!

Now I get it!

They're sick of all the geysers! Which I could totally relate to - because there were like - a one hundred and fifty million of them! So yeah, I was "geezered out" myself.

Duh!

Well okay then...

Never mind.

From the Memory Hole: Ronald Reagan praises the Taliban!

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:10:55 -0400

Well, isn't that just precious?