Actual quote "Plantation Life- Now we come to one of the happiest ways of life in Alabama before the War Between the States."

https://www.al.com/opinion/2015/05/.....s_childre.html

Dear God....even for pre-civil rights era Alabama, that is pretty egregious. I thank God the land of my mother's ancestors has, for the most part, come to its senses since.

So, I'm tastefully borrowing this from  Orangetabby106, who in turn borrowed it from  SkyeBluePhoenix. It would seem a chain has been started! I've got a number of things I like, so I wonder how much trouble I'll have narrowing it down. But what I like in my music is emotion balanced with power. I like it to truly mean something. Like Sarah, I don't usually go for metal music, or rap. (Nothing against rap, I just don't know too much about it.) For some I'll use genre, but others I'll do by band.

Grunge
1. Corduroy by Pearl Jam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S73ypK3As8I

2. Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbBbFH9fAg

3. Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs8y3kneqrs

Indian

I say Indian as opposed to Bollywood because I don't know as many compared to Sarah, but I still have a number I love.
1. Teri Hai Zameen, from The Burning Train.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SkMRX-iwx8
Translation- http://dhenwalkunal.blogspot.com/20.....anslation.html

2. Jishuu Daaken Tomai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAbvN4w8TIk
I've actually sung this one before! We have a large community of Bangladeshis in my parish, and this one is a popular choice for our Thanksgiving festival.

3. Glory of Dusk- Raga Puriya Kalyan.
If sunsets made sounds, this is what they would sound like. Its 38 minutes long, but its worth hearing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhuzYxmaPlc

4. Punjabi Dhun, by Ustad Vilayat Khan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UyLYgzW94w

Smashing Pumpkins
I have loved these guys since I was 15, and there are only a few songs of these I don't like. The Smashing Pumpkins are an alt-rock band who have been performing since 1992, and they've aged pretty well! Its not easy to limit it to just a few, but these are my top 3.
1. Cherub Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbrfXDFuzu0

2.1979
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aeETEoNfOg

3. Behold the Nightmare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejt2IfvF8hc

4. Mayonnaise. This one reminds me of my mother. She had a rather difficult life as a teenager, and this song makes me think of her finding freedom in having me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbu_K41efvY

The Beatles

1. While my Guitar Gently Weeps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI8P6ZSHSvE

2. Across the Universe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90M60PzmxEE

3. Free as a Bird
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODIvONHPqpk

4. Dear Prudence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQA59IkCF5I

Religious Of the Catholic variety. I sing in my parish choir as a tenor, so I've heard a number of good songs in that genre, both contemporary and traditional.

1. Eye Has Not Seen by Marty Haugen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRyOS0nZr7s

2. Though the Mountains May Fall by Dan Schutte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyHgASO2yUE

3. Be Thou My Vision, Audrey Assad version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Optrm7lF16s

4. Hymn of the Cherubim by Tchaikovsky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPlK5HwFxcw

5. We Praise Thee by Pavel Chesnokov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CphYX3TfS04

Miscellaneous
1. On a Clear Day from Kiki's Delivery Service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CphYX3TfS04

2. The Path of Wind from My Neighbor Totoro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9OZ2dtQ2B4

3. Hey Let'sGo from My Neighbor Totoro. Arrgh! I was looking for this one from where Mei is sleeping on Totoro's belly, but I couldn't find it. So I went with the next best thing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouZDn_5KAaM

4. Echoes by Pink Floyd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_PI1_6qFec

So yeah, my tastes are pretty mellow.

On the one hand, I love the idea of not having to worry about how I'm gonna pay my bills this month. I love helping people learn, and I love helping people find the answer to a difficult question.

But I'm reeeeealy not sure how much I want to go back to being snarled at as part of my daily routine. Or having bosses I don't 100% trust. Or about having to kick out drunkards before 11 a.m.

I hope something better comes along.

I think we could use this, considering the horrid things that have been happening lately.

https://youtu.be/cAe1lVDbLf0

I will always adore the Smashing Pumpkins.

https://youtu.be/Rp0h1oSjtg8

When I become a Dad, you know I'm gonna be the kind of parent who always showers their kid with embarrasingly gushy praise! And I will enjoy every moment of it too,- stinky diapers and late nights will not phase me in the slightest.

I awake and see the sky out my window.
Somewhere I hear singing.
And I sigh, feeling as if my soul
has become like the song of the bird
giving melodies no one seems to care for anymore.

A lot of librarians are schoolteachers, including my Mom. Who knows? Maybe it'll improve my job prospects. It makes sense to have something else to fall back on, right?

I love this song. It reminds me of more hopeful times.

https://youtu.be/s8XP9b-O_0U

I imagine Anthony (Angela's Daddy) as the type of goofball dad who cheers too loudly for his favorite sports team on the TV. But he also loves being a dad, loves playing with his kids, and pampering Katrina.

Everything bad that can happen has so far.

My cat has died.

My job despises me.

My father's health slowly decays.

My church is staffed by traitors and cowards.

Recently a terrible sickness has taken everything away from me, piece by piece.

I've had to watch horrible things happen to the people I care about.

And yet I have not broken. I wonder why?

And that worries me. I don't want to live in a country where I could potentially get in trouble just for stepping out of my own house. Where I need walk everywhere to avoid detection.

Jesus, Lord, God of Mercy, an end to the plague, please.

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give Your angels and saints charge over those who sleep.

Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ.

Rest Your weary ones.

Bless Your dying ones.

Soothe Your suffering ones.

Pity Your afflicted ones.

Shield Your joyous ones, and all for Your love's sake. Amen.

I've already done everything I've always wanted to do in the span of two weeks. I dunno what I'm gonna do, man. I can't go back to the days where I was sitting on my butt waiting for something good to happen to me. I just can't!

Montgomery County Public Library is closed for business until April 24th at the earliest. This is on top of having already been closed for two weeks now owing to the COVID stupidity. Sigh....Awesome. Just Awesome. I'm sure my bills will sit back, relax, and cut me a break, right?

In the meantime, I'm looking to see about driving for Uber. Wish me luck.

No more DDoS!

To take a leaf from Sarah, here are some updates from my end.

Dad has proven well so far. I hope it stays that way for a very long time. We're still not quite sure what ailment strikes his lungs, so we need to take the time to see a radiologist. This has proven more problematic than you might expect; both times I've taken him now, the CAT scanner has broken before we even got there. Its proven rather annoying.

Later next month, I'll be taking Amtrak from Washington D.C to South Bend, Indiana. My friend Chris from my seminary days lives there, and we still talk to each other a lot. We make it a point to see each other at least once a year. I do look forward to the train trip- you get some lovely views of the Appalachains on the Capitol Limited. This time, I'm paying for a private room, like with a bed and everything. (For the return journey.) I hope it'll be comfortable.

Also, I'll be travelling with Chris and his buddies to Portugal this summer! We're going to be doing a sort of pilgrimage on foot, called the Via. We'll be hiking from Lisbon to Juan de Compostela in Spain. I'm looking forward to that; I haven't done any major hiking journeys since India in 2012. I'm wondering whether to do Iberia or Air Canada for the flight.

He went to the doctor yesterday. We thought he had a lethal disease called pulminary fibrosis. He doesn't.

Instead he has scar tissue in his lungs acting out. (He used to be a cigarette smoker; he quit shortly after my sister was born.) And he's not cancerous; we already checked.

All should be well for now, but he's going to have a CAT scan next week to make sure everything's okay.

Charles sat in his armchair, reading his book. The kids were in bed, fast asleep, and Charles was thinking about what to do at work tomorrow. It was his turn to do storytime, and he wasn't sure which book to go for. Should he go with 'Llama Llama Misses Mama' or 'Ruthie and the Not-So-Very Busy Day'? Either was fine for an audience of preschoolers, but which would entertain them the more?
Suddenly, a little small voice said "Dad?"
Charles looked to his left. There was Mika the Panda, looking a little worried! What was he doing out of bed?
"Heya Bud! Everything okay?"
Mika relaxed a little. He liked it when his Dad called him "bud". "I thought...well...its really dark out there, and maybe you felt scared." Mika said.
"Oh yeah? What's there to be scared of, son?" said Charles.
"You know...monsters and ghosts and other mean, yucky things! I'm not scared of them! I'm big! But I thought... maybe..."
Charles shifted forward a little. "Yeah?"
"Maybe you need someone to keep you safe. You know, in case you feel scared," Mika said, quietly.
Charles smiled. "Awwww! Thanks, buddy! I guess I was a little bit scared. But I'm glad I have someone big and brave like you to look after me, Mika! I feel so much better!"
Mika smiled in relief! He walked over to his Papa, and climbed onto the couch. He leaned against his dad's side, and closed his eyes.
Charles smiled, wrapping his free arm around his son, snuggling him gently. He went back to reading his book, feeling all was well.

My dad may or may not have a lethal lung disease. I'd very much appreciate any prayers you can give.

Dear God.....why is it everything bad that can happen to me seems determined to?

Tiger has died. He was 15 or so. He passed away in his sleep last night. I am in sorrow to hear of his passing, but I am grateful it was of natural causes at a ripe old age. I will always remember him fondly for his affection, and for his lovely eyes and smile. May the Lord welcome him into heaven until we are reunited.

Went to the doctor today. She said I have gastrointestitis- basically medicalese for a minor stomach virus. She thinks the best thing to do is let it run its course. I think the worst of it is over- I haven't had anything serious happen to me since this morning. And I got a day off from work when I needed it, so not all is lost.

I ate something that was off two days ago-pretty sure it was the Chipotle burrito- and now I'm still having sulfur burps and diarrhea. (Sorry if overshare.) And this morning I threw up, though that may have been because of the wine. But I only had two glasses. Either way, today I think I should see a doctor. Wish me luck.

The truth is, my cat is really sick. Bleeding from both nostrils type sick. My Dad was the one who did the search. He's not going to put him down. He...well, I don't like saying it like this, but he was seeing what options there were.

I like to think my cat will get better. I like to think today was a bad day and he just needs to sleep it off. We're fine for now.

Today I had someone experience a medical emergency. They think it was diabetic shock, but I'm 98% sure he was just drunk and not reacting well. He was homeless, and he did smell that way. Anyway, this woman who was sitting next to him, I guess out of panic, starts trying to lecture me on what to do while I'm talking to 911. I tell her to shut up. She won't stop threatening to sue me, even after the ambulance comes.

I drive home on the highway. I almost rear-end this guy at 45 mph because he gets the brilliant idea to switch lanes without signalling, and he was going considerably slower than me! I had to brake really hard. Not only did I scream, but I breathed heavily for ages after.

Also, someone in my family is conspiring to kill my cat. I know this because they left their laptop open and one of the items on the history was 'putting a cat down yourself' and 'animal shelters near me.'

I'm scared. And angry. Why do things like this keep happening to me?