Sort of time out

If I were to put a title on the photograph, I would call it, "Accoutrements of a Temporary City Boy." The items within it are pretty much self-explanatory, I assume. As for the videos today, the first is from the film, "Don't Come Knocking." It is among my favorites. I love the story and the symbolism behind the song, "Where is Howard?" (I usually watch it in English unless I have had too much brandy !!) Next, at this moment in time, I would declare Michelangelo Merisi -- known as Caravaggio -- to be my favorite painter and Sarah Brightman my favorite female singer in what I would call a classical and semi-classical tradition. Not to mention, I think "Figlio Perduto" is perfection in music and concept. Finally, I have been to the garden of Claude Monet at Giverny in France. That was in 2005, and I was tempted to lie down there and to go to sleep and never to wake up. He is among my favorite painters (third or fourth) -- and, obviously, viewed the world differently than did Caravaggio. (I wonder if the reason I favor them both indicates I have a split personality ??) And, as I mentioned in my last post, the "old Boston" is paramount among rock bands in my mind and Brad Delp was the premier rock singer of his era. I have wanted to include this rendition of Monet/Boston in a post since 2009, but it has been barred from embedding in the past. Is it poetic justice or poetic retribution that I find it available now, five years after I wanted it ?? Whichever, thank you, Donald Solt, for releasing your video. This piece should be shared as widely as possible, in my not so humble opinion.
 
He disappeared himself

Today is the anniversary of my first post on "Sort of San Francisco Fan Club." It appeared five years ago, on January 21, 2009. Implied somewhat by saying "sort of," the title of the blog was a pun, a metaphor, an inside joke.

Actually, this was not my first blog, so the first post here was not my first ever. I had started a blog about a week or ten days earlier which centered on canoeing and similar activities. It continued on for a few posts after "San Francisco" was under way, but that initial blog was over and done with and the posts deleted by the time January ended. I had decided one blog was enough.

For the record, I also have started two other blogs, one of which still exists -- unattended since late 2009 and was by invitation only -- and the other, in which all the posts were deleted after it had been around for two or three months during 2010.

So, what else originating during January has been of consequence to me?

Happy birthday, Mother, January 13 .... who lived a long, good, fortunate life.

Happy birthday, Rory, January 17 .... who never really had the chance to know life.

And, another anniversary for me, January 24 .... Semper Fi, do or die, U.S. Marine Corps.

Anyway .... anyone who has read here recently knows I am bored with winter and bored with myself. It also should be evident that I am more than bored with the drift of American society toward ever increasing decadence. I am more than bored with government leaders whose actions constantly demonstrate they have no respect for law or constitutional rule, and whose approach to governing is an incessant, pathetic barrage of self-serving lies as they struggle to fool and to corrupt the "huddled masses." History today is being written by the winds of political whimsy.

Now then, January 21, 2014 -- the fifth anniversary of the "San Francisco" -- seems like an ideal date to begin a hiatus from it. I will be back when the boredom has run its course or when I feel like I have something I really want to say or when the Red River of the North flows south -- whichever happens first .... see you then.