Using Music For Time Travel

It’s funny – When it comes to music, hearing a new tune can stimulate your synoptic pathways in a positive manner. But hearing a song from your past can transport you into the person you was long ago. In my case, I’m a 47 year old Computer Repairman and hearing a song from my past that I don’t think I’ve heard since 1978 triggered a flashback and I suddenly felt what it was like to be that person again. In my case, it was a song that was linked to a girl, Donna Romack, from Marshall Michigan. Anyway, Donna was my first real, serious relationship – she was gorgeous in every way and I don’t know what led us together but I ended up screwing it up, as many young men do in life. I was an impulsive loudmouth who needed time to evolve into the intellectual I consider myself to be. Anyway, the song, Falling by LeBlanc & Carr, 1978, instantly took me back as if it was yesterday…..but then it was gone.  I still remember her, but when I listened to that song, I remembered loving her. And that made me both sad that I let her slip away, but glad to have that experience I can look back on. All of us that have been here know that each time you love someone, it’s different, and you just get stronger and stronger until you can handle more in life. Does it get easier? Maybe we just get better at making it better – RAMBLING ALERT – Anyway, I suggest you grab some music from your youth era, listen to it, maybe you’ll go back in time like I did and remember who you used to be.

Today I’m Batman and Albion is my Gotham

Yesterday was just an ordinary day, nothing special happened until a bat flew into my bedroom. Because of a childhood incident I had a phobia against bats – I was petrified by them, unable to even look at one. It became public knowledge that exposure was the best and only real way to conquer phobias, the things that terrify all of us beyond any visible reason. Exposure worked for me before when I had agoraphobia which is the fear of crowds and large groups of people. Because of exposure I am no longer distressed by crowds or large groups of people. I move about my fellow Albionites without concern of others (but I’m still cautious).

So the bat flew in, my lovely wife dives under the covers and falls onto the floor – I am surprised at first and I too jump under the blanket, just for a second. Then I said Wait a minute – I’m not letting any flying rodent run me out of my home! Fear is my enemy! By then my wife was outside yelling that it was near the window – I swing my stick at it about 5 times, missing all but the last swing which sent it behind my bed where it buried itself beneath my ethernet, telephone and cable wires which run behind my bed. It made itself so small I could barely see it until I shined a light that way. It was just a tiny thing – barely 3 inches tall, its wings tucked underneath itself to make itself as small of a target as possible. “Kill it, Kill it, Kill it,” said the wife and kids behind me – But I couldn’t do it. All it was trying to do is get back outside, and the way it was shrieking I think it was just as scared of us as we were of it. I couldn’t kill it for that. I placed a plastic cup over the creature, trapping it inside. I walked down the block near open sky and I released it. It flew away, hopefully far away. I called out “Today I am Batman and Albion is my Gotham! I conquered my fear and I did it without killing! And my wife replies, “Great, you can have Alfred make dinner.”

Great Quote From Gene Roddenberry

“If this is your God, he’s not very impressive. He has so many psychological problems; he’s so insecure. He demands worship every seven days. He goes out and creates faulty Humans and then blames them for his own mistakes. He’s a pretty poor excuse for a Supreme Being.” —Gene Roddenberry

Ace and the Jaguars Kick Ass in Albion Michigan

I viewed and listened to all the musical talent in Albion downtown today and in my opinion, Ace and the Jaguars were the best. These guys have been playing for years and if you’re looking for a new act that’s energetic and different, these guys are it. If I could collect a small finders fee that’ll be enough for me.

Unhappy Albion Residents Speak Their Minds to City Council

Tuesday, May 5, 2008, Albion Michigan. City residents packed into the tiny Albion City Council chamber this evening to protest the city’s plans to force residents to use one company to haul their trash away. Right now the residents have about 4 choices of companies that serve our town, which is now under ten thousand people. For some reason this item was left off of the meeting agenda, and the city manager Mike Herman stated that leaving the item off the agenda was an accident, however, I have a source from the city government that stated it would be left off because the council didn’t want the entire town to come down and object to their plan.

One by one, citizens came up to the podium at address the council’s plan and not one of them had anything to say about it that was positive, even when Mayor Will Wheaton asked if anyone had anything positive to say. Resident Rick Tibbs stated that he recycled everything he could and had no need to pay a company to pick up his trash. Under this proposal, city residents would all have to use one company, and the bill for the services would be placed on the tax/water bill. Residents are concerned about losing rights, the freedom to choose who to do business with and the higher water bills that will be the result. A few residents spoke of a desire to elect new council members if the current ones are unwilling to realistically represent their constituents.

And I was hoping for free internet someday.

The council stated that they were interested in a cheaper rate and that all the information was not yet in. Over the course of the next month the council will have more information to pass onto the worried city residents who are already angry over a recent hike on property taxes to pay for sidewalk repair.

If anyone would like a video DVD of the meeting, email me at kc8emh@yahoo.com. I only ask a small fee of $5 to cover the cost of copying.