November 6, 2003

“All the words of love seem cruel and crass/When you’re tough and transparent as armored glass.” – E.C.

Those are some good words. Elvis Costello was thirty when he wrote them. He was just burned by Mrs. Todd Rundgren. E.C. was so pissed off about their break up that he decided to write an album about it. “Blood and Chocolate”. As great as the above lines are, they are not even close to the most bitter on an album that is completely loaded with bitterness. I think that “It’s in your eyes/Uncomplicated” would win the battle of meanest sentiment ever expressed on a record – taken in context. “Blood and Chocolate” was the last great album made by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It is one of my favorites in a discography filled with classics. Even considering “Poor Napoleon” (a very bad song), the album still rocks. I remember sitting in the record room of the Reveler house listening to this album for the first time with Tommy Fox. I was going through my any record made before I was born had to be shit phase. "Blood and Chocolate" was recorded in 1986. I was already in high school. All the great albums were already made. I remember Tommy was sitting in the light blue rocking recliner with his legs crossed. I remember we were listening to this album at top volume. It was sunny in the middle of the day. I may or may not have been blowing leaves. It hit me.

I am thankful that I have had many rock and roll moments throughout my life. I sometimes wish for emotions that are as raw and real to me as my interpretations of emotions through rock and roll. I could never write “Blood and Chocolate”. I have never been hurt that bad. I wonder if Elvis Costello is a great artist because he never has been either.

The great thing about “Blood and Chocolate” is that every song could be re-titled “Fuck You, Bitch”.

“I Hope You’re Happy Now”.

posted by Thea at 9:46 PM

November 5, 2003

Yesterday, I think I didn’t rinse my face off in the shower after washing it. It stung all morning at work and I had to rinse it off many times in the break room sink. Today, it is dry and stingy. There is a possibility that I am losing my mind. Who gets out of the shower covered in soap?

I walked into the building that I work in this morning and immediately sunk into a bad mood. What I am doing going to work every day? Why I am living among the nerds? Could office life be any less cool? I totally felt a pit in my stomach. Work was causing it. The thing that was bothering me most today was the fact going to work normally does not bother me too much. I am not in agony at work and I think that I should be. That is a problem or at least it was today.

I continued listening to September 2001 radio shows today. They are not getting much better and if I don’t find something good while listening to the rest of 09/17/01 tomorrow, I am giving up this project again. Maybe I should pick another month or have Thea do it.

I am listening to the Cavaliers lose on the radio. It is my favorite thing to do - ever. Just think if the Cavaliers ever make it happen. I think I would die from happiness. I really love basketball. It is my favorite sport. You see, there is this little orange ball that bounces up and down on the television and I like to watch it. It’s the start of the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers are down by a dozen. It is going to be another long season. And that’s how I like it.

Goodnight Lakewood, OH. I would congratulate you for shooting yourself in the foot on the whole West End mall thing but I won’t. If more than half of the people in a city don’t want to do something, then you can’t do it. But my question is this: what’s Plan B again? If I can buy a house in Bay Village, OH and spend less money in taxes than I would in Lakewood, OH, why wouldn’t I? I don’t like more crime or more litter. If I had kids, why would I pay more taxes and have to send my kids to Lakewood City Schools? Why? Hopefully, Lakewood, OH, you can see the problem.

posted by Thea at 9:42 PM

November 4, 2003

What a beautiful night. Laurie and I just went for a long walk. Walking west on Lake Avenue, we saw a huge shooting star. Guess what I wished for. No, come on, guess.

I am working mad overtime this week because I need the money for the holidays and I am taking next Monday off for WCSB’s Radiothon and I don’t want to lose any vacation time so I have to work like crazy every day this pay period except for Sunday and Monday. I you want to get in touch with me, I will be at work.

As promised, I started making some new best of clips for this Monday’s Radiothon broadcast. I am listening to September 2001. Not a good month for radio comedy. Not a good month for anything, really. The Labor Day 2001 show was the worst show that we ever did. I was in a bad mood from painting my house and Thea was yawning every two seconds. Not funny. Not funny at all. The highlights were Junkyard Todd’s e-mail saying that I was wasting time with heavy metal music and stale comedy bits and Dr. Salami’s “Thea’s Labor Day Telethon for Screens” e-mail. I stopped making best-of CDs after listening to this show over a year ago and I remember why I quit. This show was awful. Well, I made it through it today and I am on to September 10, 2001. I am going to bet you that the month of September 2001, in the world of radio comedy, will not be remembered as a funny one.

The Assholier Than Thou Good Times Happy Friends Monday Morning Radio Show Starring Baby Fea (yea) is sponsoring a benefit show at the Beachland Tavern on December 12, 2003. Yes, It is my 32nd birthday (fuck). So far, The Dreadful Yawns and Andrej Cuturic/Joel Kaufman (ex-revelers alone/together) are booked. Will there be more to come? You bet your fucking ass there will be.

posted by Thea at 9:10 PM

November 2, 2003

The choices are BLOG right now or go to bed before 9:00 p.m.

Talk to you tomorrow on the Assholier than Thou Good Times Happy Friends Monday Morning Radio Show Starring Baby Fea (yea).

posted by Thea at 8:42 PM