Falling from the Sky

A long time ago on a Friday night my Mum said, "Do you want to watch the Planets of the Apes tonight? I think you'll like it." I watched it. I think it was on ABC. My life has never been the same.

The movie changed my life and the way I would look at both reality and science fiction. Cuz life is a lot like science fiction. Isn't it it?

1. Well, my life sure is.
2. Dr. Zira was trying to prove that man can be domesticated. I'm still not sure.
3. As the film starts, Taylor says, "there's gotta be something out there better than man, There has to be." I used to agree. Now I don't know.
4. Anyway, it's a classic. Very scientific and says a lot about politics, power and religion. Rod Serling co-wrote the script.
   
5. i had a Planet of the Apes coloring book.
6. Damn. I was a geek.
7. Still am, i suppose.

END TRANSMISSION

expectations

Not quite as brutally hot today. Patricia and I went to the Rastro (the open air Sunday market) and had a great time. She's adorable. Very interesting and intelligent. Also impulsive, which I find interesting. What next, who knows?

And then the US team was up 2-0 on Brazil at halftime. Yet they lost 3-2. It was heartbreaking, but the USA exceeded expectations. And my day with Patricia exceeded expectations, so that's a pretty good day.

stop thinking

GOLDEN RULE: don't date women named Patricia. All the women named Patricia here are psychotic.

So what do I do? I have a date with a women named Patricia at 7 tomorrow. Before the soccer game.

Maybe my brain was damaged last month. But she is really fun, cute and works with deaf people, which is good because i'm still having trouble with the left ear. But that may be bad because i've already been there and done that (see: Married to director of Deafness Research Foundation). I don't know what to think anymore. So i just stopped thinking.

Summer (reprise)

What's the best thing about summer in Madrid? Or maybe the only good thing - NO MOSQUITOES. There's no water for the little bastards to breed in. Ha ha!

Sometimes i feel like Madrid is Narnia in reverse. It feels like it's always summer instead of winter.

Next time i move, i'm going to Scandinavia. Somewhere with nice summers And hot blonde woman all taller than me. Woo hoo!

Otherwise it's just life as normal here, which is anything but normal.

USA

Unbelievable, the US National Soccer team upset world ranked #1 Espana, 2-0. They will play in the Confed Cup Final on Sunday vs. Brazil or S. AFrica. You'd have to think it will be Brazil, but you'd also have had to think Spain was written in stone as well. Instead, there will be hell to pay tomorrow here for the Spanish Team. They will be jeered and they will be ostricized, just breeding the pessimism that infected Spain during the Civil War.

Still

• Still hot. Dificil a dormir (Difficult to sleep!)
  
• They are coming to fix and clean the mold out of my closet tomorrow but they only called at 8pm to say they'll be here at 12pm. Joder! Everything is so assbackwards here.
• Well- it'll be a good start for packing to go home.
• American Laura is finally going back to the States for good Jul 1.
• I am literally the last man standing.
• But i did get a call from Bettina, asking me to go to a party on Saturday. She's really nice and a hottie but she sort of blew me off in Feb. But she's a psychologist who takes inventory of head injuries. That could be perfect. Serendipity! And she hadn't even heard i was mugged.
  
• Do I go? I'm not sure. And she speaks like the street sweepers in Aynn Rand's Anthem who don't know the word 'I.' She always says, "We haven't seen you in a long time," in Spanish. Is she a host to a tapeworm? Is there an evil twin trapped inside her? I just don't know what to make of it.
  
• I need a long vacation, USA style.
• The heat is supposed to break a bit on Friday. Here's to hoping!
• And here's to the USA vs. Spain in the semi-finals of the Confed Cup. I don't see how they can win, but they got there in miraculous fashion. Now the bad news- Espana has not conceded a single goal yet! 20:30 Madrid time, 14:30 EDT
  

USA!

Domingo

Mets/Rays

Pelfry blew the lead of course, Rays 4-2. Wright just led off with a double in the 6^th. Sheffield sacs and

The runner goes to 3^rd. Church walks. Pitching change. Tying runs on board.

It's 21:30 so there is a breeze, finally. If it never rained here I would just live outdoors. I saw a guy melt the other day. Right in the middle of the street. It was horrible. He was like a spilled orange Fanta soda. Then he just disappeared down the sewer.

Schneider homers! 5-4 Mets! Top of the 7^th coming up.

The Mets are getting blasted 8-5 and there is a rain delay in NY where it rains every day.

Unbelievably, the USA is beating Egypt 3-0, and Italy is losing to Brazil 3-0 in the Confederation cup. If scores hold, the USA will sneak into the semifinals vs. ESPANA. Joder!!!!

Italy needs a goal to get into the next round. I ate a really hot guindilla pepper and can't feel the tip of my tongue. They are like chili peppers.

The USA is in the semi-finals!
Lunes

Apparently I was a difficult patient in the hospital. But I proclaim, dear bloggee, that the same difficult attitude that allowed me to escape the hospital on several occasions, was the same fortitude that saved my life. There were 3 of them, and after they fractured my skull, i bashed one guy in the face with 20 pounds of cymbals and broke another jerk's arm in three places. So please forgive me for being difficult, but that may just be why i am still alive.

All that said - i can just kind of be a belligerent jerk, so apologies. But i am a product of my circumstance. If my mother or sister ever need someone whacked, they come straight to me. As well they should.

I wouldn't say i'm a good man. Nor would i say i am a bad man. i'm just a man. I'd much rather fuck up some asshole's arm than be dead. It was all instinctual anyway. I'm no extreme fighter. That's the worst i ever hurt anyone in my life. I hope i never have to do it again.

But screw it. I'm alive!

Summer Solstice

• It's officially summer, although we've been melting in Madrid for weeks.
• The gig went well last night. We had over 100 people. It was acoustic, we headlined 3 other bands and it was fun. I also played jembe (bongos) on a set by Juan and his friend, Maria. Many people had not seen me since the hospital weeks ago and were like "You are you again!" It was very cool.
• Mets have and early lead (2-0 over Tampa) and it's roasting out here. Nothing changes. Hope they don't blow another lead.
  
• This is my last full week of work
  

june fades

• Tomorrow is our last gig before summer. 150 folks on the roof of the Vincci Via Hotel. It's acoustic so i will just play tambourine and bongos. Low impact. It will be nice to take a break after this. We have had a lot of gigs for a new band.
  
• It's 85F at 1:00am. Today must have been 95F easy. Roasting alive weather.
• The Mets need a win!
• The Nationals always have the Yankees' number. Who would have thought?
  

checked out

• More heat. It will not end until August now. Call me the Wicked Witch, cuz i am melting! My fan is my life...
  
• Finished my 2nd week of work. One little victory.
• The US got beaten senseless by Brazil today in soccer.
  
• Classes are getting smaller now that is in June. Some of the students have already checked out. That must be nice.
• For the most part, Madrid is continually checked out.
  

More Heat

• I feel old today. The heat takes months off of your life, even when you barbecue bratwurst. Still trying to get back into the groove of things. It's really not fair - you are out of it and life passes you by. The gall! 20:30 and it's 91F.
  
• Spain will advance in the Confederation Cup with a 1-0 victory this afternoon over a tough Iraq team. They will either finish 1st or 2nd in their group.
• Virtually all of my memory is back. This is good. Except I still remember ill conceived TV shows like Joanie Loves Chachi and Sheriff Lobo. That's bad.There is no god!
• Everybody who sees me says i look so much better than a few weeks ago. I have to take their word for it because i was out of it for the first few days there. But i don't doubt it.
  
• Thank you for all the emails, calls and well wishing. It means a ton to me.
• Oh United States! Doth thou truly exist? I shall see in a few weeks time. Or are you just another false memory? Like algebra class. In truth there's no such thing as algebra.
  

LONG

19:22 Martes

Life is long- if you give it away
So stay, don't go- ‘cause I'm fading away
Soul to soul- between you and me
Chain me down- but I am still free
-Byrne/Eno

• It's hot and i am old. Nothing changes.
• Classes are canceled tomorrow. Welcome to summer in Madrid.
• I feel a need to leave. A calling to go somewhere. Problem is, I don't know where.
• Try and avoid a fractured skull if you can. It's not half as cool as it sounds.
• But I am the guy people try to kill, but lives. It is my destiny. And the people who tried to kill me can bite my ass.
  
• But my ass is smaller than ever. All my students tell me, "You lost a lot of weight!" I lost about 9 kilos, which is like 20 pounds.
• It's been a long day, a long month, a long year. A long life.
• But tomorrow is another day, and i have tomorrow off. SO I am going to meet Cara in Lavapies (wash your feet). Hooray!
  

Frippy!

My cat,my buddy, Fripp, is 10 years old today. Where does the time go? I will have him for about a month when i am home this summer.

10 years! Time goes by so fast. It helps that he hasn't really grown since he was 2! In fact, he lost 2 pounds recently (He was always 11 something pounds) but i think that has a lot to do with him always playing with Annie. She is bonkers over him.

it's 17:00 and 90F. It never ends. Well, tonight we go to see the USA play Italy in their first round of the Confederation Cup in South Africa. That'll be a tough one for the US to win. But they were considered the top North American team to make the tourney, so that's something.

The heat goes on.

night time

00:13 Lunes

Finally! A breeze into the sitting room. I have roasted all week, which mans I should be used to it soon. The intense dry hat kicks my ass the first week or so. Plus, I am still out of game shape from my little hospital stay. Friday night, I was out there at midnight and you could still feel the heat from the bricks on the terrace. We are the highest capital in all of Europe at .4039 miles. So we are high and dry.

So different from DC the swamp, which was also hot as hell. At least Madrid sometimes cools off at night as we are more of a desert. Maybe I will sleep tonite! It would be nice to get back to some normalcy. Things have not been normal for over three weeks now. Even still, I am improving. I am just tired. This is normal with injuries like this. I'll be fine in good time.

I am watching Terminator Salvation and it is dark. Very dark. Like many recent films, but these are tough times. But I like the movie so far.

1:05

Hot again. The breeze is gone. Summer in Madrid. It never ends. I just leave until Autumn.

I feel tired and it's night time. It's a miracle.

3:44

I am still awake. Dammit! I did not go out all weekend, but have still have insomnia. At least I don't have an early class tomorrow. The big thing tomorrow is that the USA plays Italy tomorrow night in the Confederation Cup. It should be a bitter rematch of that 1-1 game in the last World Cup when both teams finished with only like 9 men. But I unfortunately, I don't think the US will win. Italy is tough.

INSOMNIAC part 7

17:26 Domingo

• More of the same. Just can't seem to sleep at night. I don't know why. Ask my stupid f*#king brain I guess.
  
• I have only 80 pages left to edit on the first draft of the story, though, so that is one thing very positive to come out of this weekend. I really like it so far. It's so odd to have a story in your head for 2.5 years and then finally read it in print.
  
• I am just tired, body and mind. I finally fell asleep around 7am, and i didn't go out last night. I woke up at 14:30. It's hot again, but only about 88F for a change.
• I am listening to the 1st game of the Confederation Cup, South Afirca vs. Iraq. It's still 0-0 and has been a snore. Tonight is Spain vs. New Zealand. I say Spain wins 2-0. I also say they win the cup.
• 40 pages left to edit. It's the first of many edits, but one little victory is one little victory. Most of it is historically act. Very, actually.

19:10

• First edit done! It only took 2 years and 3 months. Oy!
  
• And i got Mets-Yanks on the web. But Michael Kay, unfortunately too. He is an idiot. Swisher made a great catch but damaged the score board!
• Santana K's Johnny Dumb Ass!

21.31

• How quickly things change. 13-0 Yankees. With Santana on the mound!
• Espana 4 - New Zealand 0. Torres (Ex- Atletico Madrid) had 3 goals in 11 minutes. They are blowing their doors off. Oceania is just a weak futbol zone.
• 5-0 now in th 51st minute. Man
  

late nites

Sabado 23:17

Mets up 2-0 on a homer by Santos.

Fuck. A-Rod just hit a solo shot. The new Yankee stadium is just a launching pad. SO many HR's. It's surprising.

5-1 Mets. Pettitte had a rough game. The Snowman (Nieve means snow in Espanol) is rocking so far.

I'm inside cuz of the lightning. It's still 90F outside. But I have my fan in my room now, so maybe i can sleep tonite!

NIEVE HITS A-ROD! I love it! Go Snowman! I hit Deion Sanders once in NYC. He f*^king deserved it.

And the Mets win it!

Buying New Soul

Listening to ( as i edit the new novel, Buying New Soul)
Chickenfoot
Selling England by the Pound - Genesis
Animal Instincts (Wish you were here live '78 Oakland) - Pink Floyd.

I have an hour before the Mets start and i have edited half the novel so far. That's about 200 pages out of 400. The best part is that i still like it as i read it. And surpise myself with stuff i forgot!

It was 37C today and scorchifying. I have been in the shade on the terrace all day. That's like 99F. Now i remember why i leave very summer. My time is growing shirt here. How short i don't know but i can feel it in my bones. Two and half years is a long time. I'm 41 (I kind of hardly remember turning it)!

MAKE THE HEAT STOP. It's cloudy and getting humid. It's still 91F at 21:32! We will have thunderstorms tonight, quite possibly.

The Mets loss was so horrible last night! I hope for better tonight, but i think the Mets are pitching a guy who just got called up for the injured John Maine. The Mets need a change of karma!

A-Rod vs K-Rod

K-Rod pitching for Los Mets in the bottom of the 9th. A-Rod hits a pop up and Castillo drops it. It would have been the 3rd out, game over. Instead the Bronx Bombers score 2 and win. Agonizing.

I surrender.

The Pens are the first away team in 7 attempts to win a Stanley Cup Final game 7. They beat the Capitals in game 7 of the Conference semi-finals in DC as well. So hockey is saved in Pittsburgh. That and a dollar will net me a quarter.

I need to sleep. It's awfully late.

SOME LIKE IT HOT

Not me!

Livan (rubber arm) Hernandez vs. the Yanks. Two teams who would kill for a win. Viva los Mets!

It's down to 84F on the terrace. Still hotter than hell. It's 1:19am! It appears the new Yankee Stadium is a bonanza for Hr's. Just a little different from Citi Field. Livan just threw a 61mph breaking ball for a strike! The guy's a magician. Many a game i saw him throw for the Nationals, back in the day in the innaugural season.

Why is it still so fucking hot? Screw this. I'm moving to Sweden. Schwing!

INSOMNIAC

Watched the Mets choke again. Watched the Yanks choke too. 9 straight losses to Boston. What a nightmare. Then I could not sleep all night.

So i got out of bed at 8am to read on the deck, and fell asleep. I went back to bed and woke up at 18:30! i am a mess.

Neck hurty, body achy. I made pasta and am on the terrace. It's 21:45 and still 30C! (that's like 90F). Joder. Still light out too. Almost the summer solstice.

SO i guess i will just chill and watch Mets/Yankees, Pitt/Detroit later. Then tomorrow is a bbq for Cara's husband, Aitor (and the Snow Dog!) in the country. I'll need to take a train. If i sleep well and don't hurt too badly, i'll go. Then Domingo kicks of the Confederation Cup in South Africa. The World Cup host has it once every 4 years, one year before the WC. Spain plays at 20:30 versus New Zealand. The USA plays on Lunes at 20:30 vs. Italy. I think Spain will win. I would be happy if the US can win a game.

Nobody

Mets 3-1, bottom of the 5^th. Jamie Moyer pitching for the Phils, who is actually older than me (ha ha!). No work today, so I did some chores and slept on the terrace. Then I went to dinner with Maria. She was very happy I am still alive. Me too! No work til Lunes, so I will try and rest my neck and my skull over the weekend. I still can't seem to sleep at night. But this always happens with concussions. This is my 6^th as far as I can remember. Damn! You'd think I played ice hockey.

But I am alive. And I will continue to get better. This is what's really important.

Yankees are trailing the BoSox 1 – 0 on a HR by Big Papi. I am not a fan of either team, but would rather not see the Yanks swept before the weekend series with the Mets.

Also, I am considering a brain transplant.

Ain't got no body!
-Igor, Young Frankenstein

NO SHELTER FROM THE SUN

ooooch. My head is still with me, unfortunately. My neck is sore too.

It's 13:30 and already 28C. That's fucking hot. It'll reach 32C. Tomorrow will be 37C, which is just plain freaking hot. Think 97F. But today it's clear blue skies with a 9 UV index. I am fortunate to have swarthy skin. And I use sunscreen all the time. My Irish buddy Brian is already pink and it's just mid-June!

The Mets choked and lost in 11 innings to those damn Phillies. It was one they could have won. And they pitched K Rod for 2 innings, so i would think he's on the shelf for tonight. That's not good.

The Yankees look absolutely woeful in Boston. The Red Sox own them this year. That mean the Yanks will be pissed off when they return home to play Los Mets on viernes.

Everyone here is gaga over the NBA Finals because Pau Gasol (Lakers) is Spanish. I could give a rat's ass about the whole thing.

No one here knows what hockey is, let alone cares about the Stanley Cup Finals. I hate both Detroit and Pittsburg, but i hate Pittsburgh more because they eliminate the Capitals every year in the playoffs (6 of the last 7 times).

Today is a holiday for Corpus Christi, but it's the first time they are celebrating it since i've lived here. Everything changes. Nothing changes. Go figure. Just what we need here - another holiday!

Listening to: Machine Head - Deep Purple

dolor

(Annie Greco at her 2nd Bday party in April)


My brain has hurt all day today. Ouch! I am exhausted but still can't sleep. I will sleep late tomorrow if i can. But it's going to be like 95F tomorrow so it will get hot early. Bottom of the 8th. Mets - Phils are tied at 4-4. Come on Amazings! You do not want to be chasing this Phillie team in Sept. I need to cut my head off. Seriously. Mucho dolor (pain). How have i been here in Madrid 2.5 years? How am i 41 years old? How do i survive all these muggings and beatings?

There are just too many questions i don't have the answers to. My head is heavy. I need to put it down.

4-4. Top of the 10th. This game will never end. And i will be here.

Fractured Skull

It just keeps getting better. Mum reminded me, via email, that in addition to my concussion i had a fractured skull! O joy, O Rapture! It's almost like she's more proud, the more of a beating i took. Fuck that! I would much rather there not be an attempt on my life every decade than be considered a tough guy.

Does it make a difference that it's a fractured skull? I don't know. It certainly doesn't make me feel any better. I'll have to ask doctor Gomez. He'll probably be like, Holy Shit. You're still alive! The surprises never end.

Is the US government trying to kill me? That was one of the reasons i came to Europe. But out here? Outside a bar after a gig? Although it seems CIA, because i should have been easy enough to kill. Unarmed and unaware.


All i remember is fighting them off and the distant memory of hearing bones break as i defended myself. I think i broke one dude's arm. Word to the wise; if you are ever attacked and alone, and there's no chance for debate; FIGHT TO KILL. It just may have saved my life.

Then i burst into the bar and some friends said, you're bleeding! Then they called the ambulance and i don't recall the rest.

Why i seem to refuse to die, i don't know. Am i here for some special purpose? That seems highly fucking unlikely.

Why i am so resilient and believe that anything is attainable if you are willing to pay the price? I think that when your father leaves you when you are 4 because he is a chicken shit about how sick you might be and doesn't want to deal, you either fold up your tent or become a bad ass. I'm not sure i succeeded, but i chose the second option. Maybe this is another reason i feel so comfortable alone even though i am an extrovert. You have a lot of time to think when you are a sick little kid who misses a lot of school. Ironic, but lucky, that i am so healthy in my 40's.

AN ORDINARY GUY

People are always amazed to find out that 3 times in the past thirty years Doctors on different continents have told me; you're incredible. You could have died.

I never know how to answer when people say; wow! What the hell are you?

What am i?

Last time i checked, i was just an ordinary guy. Not normal, but ordinary.

The doctors always ask how much i exercise. I do walk a lot and play drums and kayak frequently when i am actually near water.

What do you eat?
People. The younger, the more tender.

What do you drink?
Liquids.

My friend Patricia called me a superhero for surviving this last encounter.
Don't you have to use your powers for good to be a superhero.

No work til Lunes!!!!! Happy Corpus Crispy Everbody!

PHUCK U!

Mets beat the Phillies 6-5 to be to 2 gams out of 1st place! The Penguins forced game 7 for Viernes versus Detroit. Yet another reason to loathe Pittsburgh. My neck hurts. My head hurts. I think i am dying. It's the price i pay for being unkillable.

look into the eye of the storm
look out for the force without form
look in. look out, look around
-RUSH

Tomorrow is June 11th. We would have been married 15 years. Oy! I am happy to be longer married. It just didn;t work. Love is not always enough. As a matter of fact, it rarely is. So I walk the earth alone now that David Carradine is dead. I wander the earth alone. And i like it.

the Eyes of Insomnia

-Santana and Happ are pitching their asses off. The Mets have a tough week with the Phils now and the Yanks in the Bronx come the weekend. That's just murder. Shennanigans! I shout at the schedule makers. I will be watching the games on the terazza. Early June is gorgeous here, but the 30C days are coming. Heaven help us.

The Pens won't get by The Dead Things tonight. Detroit will lift their 2nd cup in a row.

Santana just got his 1st strikeout. Boo yeah! He git through the 2nd innings with ten pitches. That is bad ass. Baseball is so beautiful.

Let's go Mets!

had to phone someone so I picked on you
Hey, that's far out so you heard him too!
Switch on the TV
we may pick him up on channel two

Look out your window I can see his light
If we can sparkle he may land tonight
Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright
-David Bowie

Short list of people who need to die violently soon;

• Miley Cyrus
• Billie Ray Syphillus
• Budd Selig
• The Crazy Iranian leader with the tiny schlong
• All pigeons
  

draft

i am watching the Nats take Strasburg # 1 in the Baseball 1st Year Player Draft. Out East in NJ it's 6pm.

Harold Reynolds is a tool. A moron. He is so stupid it is shocking.

Even still, i am the Prime Mover in Europe. I can watch everything Mets at 1am. Stanley Cup Final Game 6 at 2am. Sleep on the weekend.

Jueves is a holiday for Corpus Christi. This is the first time they are celebrating it since i landed in 2007. I went to Corpus Christi Grammar School. It was across the street from my house.

Everything comes full circle. I am exhausted. The 5km of walking a day is killing me. But i have not been sleeping. One more day, then the weekend.

And i have been utterly overwhelmed by all the well wishes i have recieved. Flabberghasted. From all over Europe. From all over the USA. Thank you all! I even received an email from Uranus! Oo la la!

Thanks to Mum and Mel for coming all the way out to see me.

Budd (Slugg) Selig is undead. Some one please slash his head off and pike his heart with a silver stake! And then pee on him, the jackass.

Basic temperamental filters on our eyes
Alter our perceptions
Lenses polarize

Alternating currents force a show of hands
Rational responses force a change of plans

Anything can happen.
-RUSH

June

Nice and cool for June - about 21C or 72F. The heat will arrive tomorrow. Lawdy, 33C is too damn hot for man or beast.

The walking to work has killed me the past two days, but my left calf (high hat calf) is finally loosening up. I forgot how badly injured muscles hurt. And i am utterly ecxhausted and am drinking aqua by the litre. The more i live, the more i die. So it goes.

Mum and the Sleestack should almost be back in good old Newark by now. The cycle is completed. It was sweet if them to come visit. And i finally have keys to my house!

Every ten years

....some assholes try to kill me. But i am still here. So fuck them. I could have died but i didn't.

Bite my shiny metal ass -Bender, Futurama

It just physically hurt to walk to work today. Mum and Mel decided they are leaving tomorrow morn, which is for the best. I am still hurtung and way busy with work. Not really in the best shape to show people around. I will be home on July 13th, in time for the Rage.

I am fluid and yet static. I am here and there. I live. I breathe. I am.

Happy Birthday Kevin T!

The Yanks are tied 3-3 with the Rays. I hate Michael Kay. He bores me until i want to vomit, just so i feel something!

alive

From a point on the compass
To magnetic north
The point of the needle moving back and forth

From the point of entry
Until the candle is burned
The point of departure is not to return
-Rush

i am out of the hospital. i was there for two weeks with a concussion. My neck is very sore. It seems some crackheads hit me over the head with something as i was loading the car with the drums. The medicos then took me to the hospital in an ambulance. I remember nothing. Thankfully.

Mum and Mel are here and i start back to work today. I'm still pretty beat up- but apparently walking 35km a week and playing drums once or twice a week keeps me in good shape. In the end, i should be fine. I finally got back into my flat last night after 3 weeks because my roomate made me new keys but was too stupid to check that they worked.