Day: April 24, 2022

Sadje’s Sunday Poser — Literally or Figuratively

Fandango8 Comments

When I first saw Sadje’s Sunday Poser, I took the question quite literally, where “how far” was referring to distance.

After graduating from college and returning from active duty in the army, I was living in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC and working for a company in the city. Many of the employees of the company also lived in the suburbs. Some, like me, in Maryland, and others in the Northern Virginia suburbs.

I was single back then and a lot of cute young girls worked at this company. And for some reason, a number of them seemed to be attracted to me. However, working in DC and living in Maryland, I made the conscious decision to not get involved with any of those nubile young ladies who lived in Northern Virginia. All other things being equal, I labeled them to be “geographically undesirable.” Hence, traveling across the Potomac River into Northern Virginia was, in terms of love, a bridge too far.

But then I reread Sadje’s question and realized that she might be posing that question figuratively, as in is there anything I wouldn’t do for a loved one. To that question, I will quote a line from Meat Loaf’s song:

I would do anything for love
But I won't do that
No I won't do that

Web of Deceit

Fandango10 Comments

“That conniving son of a bitch,” Detective Ron Hayden said. “But with this warrant and what we found, I think we’ve got this SOB securely ensconced by his own web of deceit.”

“Don’t go around tooting your horn quite yet, Ron,” his partner, Detective Fred Morrisey warned. “I think we’ve caught the right scent, but we need to make sure we have an airtight case against this bastard. He’s managed to escape our grip several times already and I don’t want to lose this opportunity to put this guy away for good. So let’s not pop that bottle of fizzy champagne quite yet, okay!”

“I think you’re being overly cautious, Fred,” Hayden said, “But you’re the boss.”

“Maybe I am, but I can’t let this scoundrel slip through my fingers yet again,” Morrisey said.

Written for these daily prompts: My Vivid Blog (conniving), The Daily Spur (warrant), E.M’s Random Word Prompt (ensconced), Ragtag Daily Prompt (horn), Fandango’s (scent), and Word of the Day Challenge (fizzy).

E.M.’s Sunday Ramble Prompt — Happy Days

Fandango11 Comments

It’s time once again for E.M. Kingston’s The Sunday Ramble. Her prompt is based upon a certain topic about which she asks five questions. We are invited to ramble on about that topic however we wish. Today’s topic is “Sunday, Monday, Happy Days.”

1. What is at least one thing that makes you happy today?

It’s still relatively early on Sunday where I am, but it’s a beautiful, sunny day and it’s supposed to reach the mid-seventies, so I’m planning on going for a bicycle ride on my ebike, and that makes me happy.

2. What is one thing that happened last week that made you feel positive and happy?

Let’s see. There was nothing specific about this past week that comes to mind, but I am getting more acclimated to my hearing aids, which I got about three weeks ago, so that makes me happy. No, I’m not happy that I need hearing aids, just that I’m getting used to them.

3. What is your positive personal mantra? (Mantra means “a statement or slogan repeated frequently” via Oxford Dictionary.)

I suppose it’s “whatever floats your boat,” which essentially means, “you do you and I’ll do me.” That is the way I live my life and the way I wish everyone else would.

4. What is the nicest act you secretly did for someone?

The word “secretly” makes this a tough one. Maybe it was when I surprised my wife with a trip to Hawaii for one of our anniversaries about a decade ago.

5. What is one hobby you would like to try?

Right now my only “hobby” is blogging. I might like to try painting, but I don’t think I have the patience or skills (i.e., artistic eye) to make it worthwhile investment of my time and effort.

Bonus Question: What is your go-to song to belt out in the shower?

I hate to disappoint, but I rarely sing in the shower. Instead, I do my best thinking when the hot, steamy water is falling on my body.

Who Won The Week — 04/24/22

Fandango11 Comments

The idea behind Who Won the Week is to give you the opportunity to select who (or what) you think “won” this past week. Your selection can be anyone or anything — politicians, celebrities, athletes, authors, bloggers, your friends or family members, books, movies, TV shows, businesses, organizations, whatever.

This week’s Who Won the Week Winner is, well, I don’t know yet. I’m hoping that by the end of the day, it’s going to be France’s current president, Emmanuel Macron.

Today there is a presidential runoff election in France that will have wide repercussions for Europe’s (and the world’s) future. Centrist President Macron is considered the front-runner, but he is fighting a tough challenge from far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

A Macron victory in this vote would make him the first French president in 20 years to win a second term. But should Le Pen, who has close ties to Vladimir Putin, win, she would immediately represent a severe danger to both the European Union and NATO. France is the EU’s second-largest economy, its sole nuclear power, and its only permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

So we’ll see later today, after the voting closes in France, if my who won the week winner. Emmanuel Macron, has won re-election. Or if the Trumpesque Marine Le Pen is about to blow up France and possibly the rest of Europe.

If you want to participate, write your own post designating who you think won the week and why you think they deserve your nod. Then link back to this post and tag you post with FWWTW.

What about you? Who (or what) do you think won the week?

Song Lyric Sunday — Love Hurts

Fandango16 Comments

For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams is going with Anxiety, Delight, Emotions, Pain, Pride, and Relief, as suggested by Di of pensitivity101. I decided to go with the song “Love Hurts.”

“Love Hurts” was written and composed by American songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. First recorded by the Everly Brothers. The song was introduced in December 1960 as an album track on A Date with The Everly Brothers, but was never released as a single. The first hit version of the song was by Roy Orbison in May 1961. It was the B-side to “Running Scared.” The most well known cover of the song was the 1974 international hit version by Scottish hard rock band Nazareth. Their rendition was the only one to become a hit single in the United States, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1976. In 1975, English singer Jim Capaldi’s cover hit the top 5 in the UK. The song has been recorded by over 100 different artists across all genres.

I honestly don’t remember the Everly Brothers version, which has a bit of a country & western sound to it. But as a big Roy Orbison fan when I was in high school, that’s the version of the song I’m most familiar with. Nazareth’s take is more of a gravely rock version, while Capaldi’s was more pop. I’m posting the Everly Brothers’, Orbison’s, Nazareth’s, and Capaldi’s versions and you be the judge.

“Love Hurts” warns that being in a relationship isn’t only about “happiness, blissfullness, togetherness.” The song advises that love also scars, wounds and mars. And “love is like a stove, it burns you when its hot.” So anyone who wants to make love last had better be strong enough to confront the inevitable painful episodes that love can bring, as well as enjoy the good and better times. The song lyrics seem to be written from the perspective of someone who has tried and failed to find any lasting love that is trustworthy and true.

Here are the lyrics to “Love Hurts.”

Love hurts
Love scars
Love wounds and marks
Any heart not tough or strong enough
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud, it holds a lot of rain
Love hurts
Ooh love hurts

I'm young
I know
But even so
I know a thing or two, I learned from you
I really learned a lot, really learned a lot
Love is like a stove, it burns you when it's hot
Love hurts
Ooh love hurts

Some fools think
Of happiness, blissfulness, togetherness
Some fools fool themselves, I guess
They're not foolin' me
I know it isn't true I know it isn't true
Love is just a lie made to make you blue
Love hurts
Ooh love hurts
Ooh love hurts

I know it isn't true
I know it isn't true
Love is just a lie made to make you blue
Love hurts
Ooh love hurts
Ooh, love hurts, ooh