Happy Birthday

to my favourite
Hippie kicker,
clauderainsrm!

Nerves

The books are out for delivery today. I've already written out what I'm going to write in each book. I'm put off that morriganwind and booraven22 went and bought copies 'cos they were on my list of recipients. Oh well, boo on them. I'm particularly nervous about sending a copy to Barry. What on Earth is he going to think? That I'm a whacko? That I'm a cloaked genius? That I have serious Shriekback issues? I don't know. But this is my bit of bravery to send him a copy. After all the inspiration he's given me, he deserves a signed copy of the book that features our demonic brainchild.

I just wish they'd get here already. Hurry up UPS! WTF?

What if...

I'm as jumpy as a virgin at a prison rodeo. I'm being bombarded with "what ifs."

What if...

• The books get lost en route to Uncle Michael's house


• The books are damaged in transit


• The books arrive and they look horrible (despite Stacy and Amy's beautiful work)


• The books aren't delivered today despite their being out for delivery


• I get the wrong books


• I mess up signing the books thanks to my shaky hands


• I write the wrong name in the wrong book


• I don't have enough books and have to get more


• I open the book box, have a heart attack and die right there

So that's how my day is going. How's about you?

That Music Meme, Part 1

I've decided to do another monthly meme, this one coming from theafaye. So here goes.

Day 1: Your favourite song

This isn't the best version, but it's the only version of the song available online. If I could learn to record songs onto You Tube, I'd change that immediately. I think I'll just transcribe what Barry Andrews said about this song first, then write a little bit about it myself.

"This - if I may make so bold - little gem was only previously released on the Y Records Xmas album, which may not have found the Total Market Penetration it doubtless deserved, so here it comes again. Inspired partly by the novel Riddley Walker (Shriekback required reading) and also by an Acid experience in a forest in which Vivienne Kent and myself experienced being predators of a blood-thirsty, lupine/vampirish kind, and, from the top of a tree contemplated a cosy little family out for a stroll with a view to slaughter and dismemberment (their only possible use). Ah, great days - and they still haven't found the bones (joke)." ~~ Barry Andrews

The moment I heard this song, I was hooked. The beat is the most unusual percussion I'd ever heard. I found out it was Carl Marsh's idea to take garden sticks and beat them on the rims of congo drums. How brilliant is that? When I found out what the song was about, I was fairly alarmed, but I can't help but adore this song. It was written by Barry Andrews obviously, and has garnered a lot of attention since it's humble beginnings on a Christmas album of all things. Of all my writing, I'd have to say that this is the song that drives my work. If I can learn to put the original track up, I will. In the meantime, watch what the musicians are doing as they're being subtly guided by Barry Andrews. They're building a Cone of Power on stage and most probably in the audience as well. To create such magickal power with such an already powerful song is both bold and careless in a way, but Barry Andrews was careless and calculating in those days, so we can't blame him too much. We can only be drawn into the tribal madness of "Despite Dense Weed.' As requested by theafaye, here are the lyrics to "Despite Dense Weed."

We had no breakfast, we made no attempt at Chivalry
We hadn’t-yet-explored all of the avenues of ecstasy
We strode into the brambles with a predatory calm
Those days seem awkward- when we think about them now
The fork, the gristle and the pulse, the parts of me I like the most
My shivers when the fire goes out
The principles of hungry mouths
The balance here is delicate and is easily disturbed
All that keeps the dark back is a following of words

Glue on the hand-holds now flakes off the old iron now
Brew up a thick one now-shining a light in now
Shape like a heart’s shape now, shapes like the branches now
We dream the next dream now, take up the slack wire
now.

At the moment of the taking our excitement is the same
We understand the danger of the fanning of the flame
Desire the heart before it cools, affect the shame to look away:
Our confusion is a cousin of the panic of the prey

Shape like a heart's shape now, shapes like the branches now
We dream the next dream now, take up the slack wire now
Breath clouds the cold glass now-chalk on the shinbone now
Stuck to the driver now Arms through the arm-holes now

We hold the Life in one hand as the one who bakes the bread
(The erection at the hanging and the tearing off of heads)
Stand elated at the burning – all our murders look the same
We are the thought and the display, the explanation and the side-effect

Breath clouds the cold glass now-chalk on the shinbone now
Stuck to the driver now Arms through the arm-holes now
Glue on the hand-holds now flakes off the old iron now
Brew up a thick one now-shining a light in now.

( the rest of the meme, so you'll know what's coming )

Poop on a Stick

UPS hasn't delivered the books yet. I'm freaked out. I'm having flashbacks to when I worked and had to talk the company out of the shithole of trouble because UPS dropped the ball. What if they delivered to the wrong location or refused to leave the package because Uncle Michael can't make it to the door? I keep refreshing the UPS page to see what's going on with the package and all I get is "in transit." I want "delivered." I'd have so much relief and be happy to finally hold the books in my hands. Today was supposed to be the day. UPS, don't screw it up. Please.

EEEEEEEEEEE

I got 'em I got 'em! They're beautiful! Everyone involved in making this a reality really outdid themselves. I am so happy. Now...It's time to do some signing. SQUEE!