The Day It All Changed

In theory, Mercury is no longer Retrograde, and that entry is more than two decades old. Re-reading it, cleaning it up for posterity? The bit about pulling out a phone cord from the wall, brought a great pause in my thinking. I checked the date, a February show in Corpus Christi, 2001, along the Texas Gulf Coast, the Devil’s Elbow.

I have fond coastal memories, decades spent up and down the highway, and from that, time spent fishing, working, playing, and beaches. Lots of beaches. Funny stories, too.

However, the span of less than 25 years, I’ve gone from a laptop with a set of cords, power, phone jack, and wired internet access to a phone that handles more than that old laptop ever could.

The Day It All Changed

There’s a compounding piece, as well, and it was an answer to a trivia question when I asked about something slightly arcane, and the first response was an immediate, “Yeah, I just popped the question into a search engine, and there you have it.”¹

I quit the trivia questions after that, the impossible to translate with a computer Latin² sig file is about all I’ve got left.

“Google doesn’t know everything.”³

Rising cynicism, interconnected worlds, and the more you know? Doesn’t make us any smarter. It was back, then though, that was when the world changed.

I did run trivia questions, more as a way to entertain myself, and that’s long since been supplanted by other outlets.

That does mark, around the time, changes on the horizon, as foretold by the oracle.

I used to carry phone wires to connect through dial-up.

These days? Even AOL doesn’t have dial-up.

The Day It All Changed

Oracular Astrology | astrofish.net/travel

1. “And Bob’s your uncle.” ↩
2. As explicated here. ↩
3. As defined here ↩

D-Backs at the Rangers

I’ll never understand, and I wasn’t around for any of the negotiations, so I don’t know anything about it. But there’s two baseball stadiums, purpose-built, one covered and one open-air. Right next to each other. Shared parking. Matter of fact, hot tip, park in the Choctaw Resort and Casino Stadium parking, as it has much easier exit strategies. Longer walk, but worth the extra 100 yards or so. “Arlington Stadium,” to some.

As far as stadiums go, I prefer, so far, the Oakland A’s spring training facility in Mesa, AZ (Phoenix area), the Dodgers and White Sox training arena in Peoria (Phoenix again), and Wrigley Field. Go Cubbies?

The Rangers’ new stadium, while quite nice, air-conditioned, and all, it’s kind of bland. Even Houston has that Minute-Maid train. Reminds me of the Orange Blossom special, and that reminds of Arizona, being in school and driving on Indian School Road, middle of the early spring, top down, the orange groves blooming. That heady, sweet orange blossom aroma is powerful, rather intoxicating.

It was a lopsided game, what makes baseball fun. I wanted to see at least one Arizona home run. Got it. D-Backs led most of the game, Rangers tying it up at the bottom of the ninth inning, and then a walk-off hit in the tenth.

What makes baseball exciting, even dramatic.

D-Backs at the Rangers

Hotdog at the ballgame

the Portable Mercury Retrograde

astrofish.net/travel

August 12 in Austin at the Rock Shop

NB: Bill King’s Brake-O

August 12 in Austin at the Rock Shop

There are three ways to see me: one, read this week’s horoscopes. Two, book online for a phone reading. Three? See me at Nature’s Treasures in Austin, 11-4 on Tuesday afternoon (advanced booking is suggested).

Two Meat Tuesday thought

The other evening, two items popped through the news feeds. One was the death of the great Flaco Jimenez, the local luminary who was a superstar on the accordion, bringing conjunto, Tex-Mex, and other sounds into the mainstream limelight.

I saw him play, once, at Billy-Bob’s in Ft. Worth, with the Texas Tornados, a sort-of super-group, Doug Sahm, Freddie Fender, Augie Meyers, the aforementioned Flaco Jimenez, and others.

Pretty much the same, rag-tag group of musician that made the original “Austin Sound” what it was. Is. Is not. Was?

When I saw them, roughly 35 years distant, he would’ve been around 50 years old. Road years, musician years, rockstar lifestyle took a toll, back then, he looked old. What I recall though, most clearly, young females removing moist undergarments and throwing them at his feet, on the stage.

Guitar players are faded memories, second fiddle to the guy with the squeezebox.

The German polka and waltzes, laced in a local style, music for the world.

Two Meat Tuesday thoughts

Red Dye #2, or number 44, or whatever it is? The principal coloring agent used in the local delicacy called “Big Red?” It’s a carbonated beverage, and alluded to in the title of a favorite book, Big Red Tequila. Personally, I find the beverage overly-sweet, with a bubble-gum-like flavor. However, I am fascinated with how it became a local industry, and I was always amused that people not from around here are mystified with the beverage itself. Caffeine, sugars, carbonated water, coloring, plus some secret spices?

I don’t think I’ve eaten at Tommy’s Restaurants more than once or twice, no real reason, but I adore the logo and slogan, Big Red and Barbacoa everyday, and I used to see that splashed all over town.

The owner of Tommy’s was questioned what would happen, and the beverage manufacturer, declined comments at the time. I’m sure an adequate work-around will be found.

I do like barbacoa, but I find it too rich to eat that often. A barbacoa taco or two, chased with a Big Red, though that must be a delightful repast.

Two Meat Tuesday thoughts

The original premise, established via an Austin Tuesday special, to take to items and explore a little more in depth than usual.

With the passing of one local icon, really a world leader in music, both a pioneer and acknowledged savant? That sets the stage.

Then how will we move forward with different colored Big Red?

Individually, I doubt each change would be that big of deal. Apparently the grandfather of Texas music has been ill, and given current conditions, it was not unexpected.

But too much change?

astrofish.net/travel

Lear Quote

“Ay, every inch a king!
When I do stare, see how the subject quakes.
I pardon that man’s life. What was thy cause?
Adultery?
Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery?”

Lear, King of Britain

Shakespeare’s King Lear (IV.vi)

Lear Quote before…

My job is to disturb the humorless, and humor the disturbed.

incomplete thoughts

25:28 “Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Excerpt From Matthew
The King James Bible, Complete

August 9 at Nature’s Treasures

At the Rock Shop inn Austin, the new location’s grand opening party. Check with me if you want readings, updates, and a quick look ahead.

August 9 at Nature’s Treasures

Natures’s Treasures

11055 N Interstate Hwy 35
Austin, TX 78753
Phone: 512.472.5015

12PM – 4PM, appointments encouraged. E-mail.

Grand (re) Opening

“It’s really him,” at the rock shop in Austin.

Discounts are available.

August 9 at Nature’s Treasures

Sparkliest

Use the code, “sparkle faerie” at the check out — for applicable discounts.

Price Selection Won’t Be Beat!

Vincit Qui Primum Gerit

“First to arrive gets the best deal.” (Source.)

astrofish.net/travel

#Austin

Blue Mountain Rose

Previously, I’ve collected novels that feature Shakespeare, in performance or in scholarship, part of the plot, something, previously, I’ve collected those as hardbacks. As of late, though, finances and shelf space, I’m back to my old trailer-park mindset and I gather up only pieces that are important on more than one level. I have a handful of Shakespeare textbooks, scholarship, fiction and reference.

While it was from a sales slip, the usual marketing crap, “One of the best novels this month,” Blue Mountain Rose is set in a summer performance of a Shakespeare play. While only in ancillary format, I’ve been backstage, and around the summer stock of theatre for many years.

That feels familiar.

Blue Mountain Rose

The story is built around the staging of Hamlet, and having a good player for the titular role, and then the improbable fictions of portent game, “Who’s on first?”

As much as it is intertwined with the staging of Hamlet, as Fabian in 12 Night might comically comment?

“If this were play’d upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.” (III.iv.69)

Fun book. Rom-Com with a Shakespeare staging.

Blue Mountain Rose

The Bookman’s Tale
Hag-Seed
Vinegar Girl
The Gap of Time
Mona Acts Out
This is Shakespeare

Every Tom, Dick & Harry

“Excellent instinct. A lot of first dates—and I’m not saying this was a date—begin with a pissed-off guy railing about his old girlfriend. For me, that’s a dealbreaker.” Page 39.

Not my first rodeo — San Angelo, TX — famous for Miss Hatties.

Not the only story.

“Like on television, I thought; like a soap-opera slap that instantly brings the hysterical ex-wife back to her senses.” Page 149.

Not been my experience. All, strictly second-hand, calm reassurance.

I have multiple sources for literary adventures. While I love independent bookstores, the behemoth Barnes and Noble is closest for me. Then there’s online, client recommendations, and finally, several mailing lists. I tend to hold onto an email long enough to get a recommendation, then I’ll try and get that from the library. Certain books, though, I’ll make the effort to hunt down a real copy, and a few authors, I collect the first editions.

Every Tom, Dick & Harry was a publisher’s recommendation, from a sales newsletter, and the copy I read was a library version. Billed as a rom-com, that was a little off-putting, but wordplay, characterization, and family dynamics, along with subtle twists? Engaging in a manner. Stayed up late to finish it. Found it enjoyable, as it was outside my comfort zone.

Every Tom, Dick & Harry