**

"Only God Knows Why" by Kid Rock

"I've been sittin' here, trying to find myself,
I get behind myself, I need to rewind myself

Looking for the payback, listen for the playback
They say that every man, bleeds just like me

And i feel like number one, but yet I'm last in line
I watch my younger son, and it helps to pass the time

I take too many pills, it helps to ease the pain,
I made a couple dollar bills, but still I feel the same

Everybody knows my name, they say it way out loud
A lot of folks fuck with me, it's hard to hang out in crowds

I guess that's the price you pay, to be some big shot like i am
Out stretched hands and one night stands, still i can't find love

And when your walls come tumbling down ... I will always be around

People don't know, about the things I say and do
They don't understand, about the shit that I've been through,

It's been so long, since I've been home
I've been gone, I've been gone for way too long

Maybe i forgot, all the things I miss
Oh somehow I know, there's more to life than this,

I said it too many times, and i still stand firm
You get what you put in, and people get what they deserve,

Still I ain't seen mine, no I ain't seen mine
I've been giving just ain't been gettin', I've been walking that there line

So I think I'll keep walking, with my head held high
I'll keep moving on, and only God knows why

Only God... only God
Only God knows why
Only God... knows ... why, why, why
Only God knows why

Take me to the river
hey
Take me to the river

Sometimes? Music just says it so much better than I could.

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Cajun Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas
An' all t'ru de house
Dey don't a t'ing pass
Not even a mouse
De chirren been nezzle
Good snug on de flo'
An' Mamm pass de pepper
T'ru de crack on de do'.

Den Mama in de fireplace
Done roas' up de ham
Stir up de gumbo
An' make bake de yam.
Den out on de by-you
Dey got such a clatter
Make soun' link old Boudreau
Done fall off his ladder.

Continue reading "The Night Before ... I gua-ron-tee ..." »

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 2:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

The Cajun Twelve Days Of Christmas

On dem first day of Christmas, my true love she gave to me:
A crawfish in a fig tree.

On dem second day of Christmas, my true love she gave to me:
Two voodoo dolls
And a crawfish in a fig tree.

On dem third day of Christmas my true love she gave to me:
Three stuffed shrimp,
Two voodoo dolls,
And a crawfish in a fig tree.

** Notes: a pirogue (pronounced pee-roh) is a flat-bottomed canoe; fleur de lis is the flower of the french kings and the New Orleans Saints football symbol; cypress knees are the roots of a cypress tree that sticks out of the water; poules d'eau (pronounced pool-doh) is chicken or hen of the water (a duck); pousse café (pronounced poose kaffay) is coffee with a bit of alcohol in it; and Cajuns are the French Acadians that live in southern Louisiana.

Continue reading "12 Days, Cajun Style ..." »

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 1:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

"Suddenly, as rare things will, it vanished ..."
--- Robert Browning

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Louisiana sunset

Beautiful Day
by U2

The heart is a bloom Shoots up through the stony ground There's no room No space to rent in this town

You're out of luck
And the reason that you had to care
The traffic is stuck
And you're not moving anywhere

You thought you'd found a friend
To take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand
In return for grace

It's a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away

You're on the road
But you've got no destination
You're in the mud
In the maze of her imagination

You love this town
Even if that doesn't ring true
You've been all over
And it's been all over you

It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
Beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
Was a beautiful day

Can you say "manic/depressive" boys and girls? How about "Bi-polar?" I knew you could! I'm so proud. **sniff**

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 5:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

What do you say when its over?
I don't know if I should say anything at all
One day were rollin in the clover
Next thing you know we take the fall
Still, I think about the years since I first met you
And the way it might have been without you here
And I don't know if words from me can still upset you
But Ive just gotta make this memory stand clear
I know I'm leavin here a better man
For knowin you this way
Things I couldn't do before, now I think I can
And I'm leavin here a better man
I guess I always knew I couldn't hold you
But Id never be the one to set you free
Just like some old nursery rhyme your mama told you
You still believe in some old meant-to-be
I know I'm leavin here a better man
For knowin you this way
Things I couldn't do before, now I think I can
And I'm leavin here a better man

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 7:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dreams
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.

If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after a night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 7:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

edit: God, I hope I'm not jinxing myself by telling ya'll this, but I just found out that I made it through the first cut for the job I applied for. That doesn't mean I'm gonna get it ... just that I'm qualified and being considered for it. I would appreciate any good thoughts/vibes/voodoo chants/animal sacrifices or other supplications to the gods/goddesses you could offer on my behalf. Thanks ya'll. Here's hoping for good news!
Just a few things. I weighed myself the other day and have lost another 10 pounds. I am down to 190. Now that may sound like "So What!" but it's a pretty big deal for me. I haven't weighed less than 200 pounds since I got out of Army basic training back in 1982. So with this new weight loss, I decided I needed to see about getting some new jeans. I headed to Wally-Mart and tried on a few pair of Levis. I walked in wearing jeans with a 38 waist. The jeans I fit into were size 30! I couldn't fucking believe it ya'll! I knew I was getting thin but dayumn! I think I will buy a pair of 32's however. They fit well and I wouldn't wanna be responsible for the lawsuits that would eventually come after women driving the highways got wet, got distracted and caused a huge pileup after seeing my tight little ass! (ok, it's not really tight or little, but it's littler and tighter than it used to be! WOOT!)
Second, we heard all summer about the price of gas being high and staying high for ever. You couldn't turn on the radio or TV without hearing something about it. Today gas in the Bayou State is at $2.21 per gallon. Where are all the fucking news reports about that? I mean Jesus! That's news! And some Texas friends tell me it's $2.05 over there! (thanks for rubbing it in asshat! Yeah I mean you!) Can it possibly go under $2.00 soon? Time will tell.
Third, I got the dress code changed at work today all by my lonesome! I went out and covered a deployment ceremony for a unit heading to Iraq today and I wore *gasp* jeans to work! OH THE HUMANITY! They weren't ragged or dirty. They were Calvin fucking Kliens for gods sake and I wore a collared, button up shirt with it. Long story short? We aren't allowed to wear jeans to work anymore and it's all my fault. Yeah I'm real popular with the guys and gals at work right now. Fucking rule making fucktards are out to ruin my life. It's prolly cuz I look so damned good. Did I mention that I've lost 41 pounds now? Cuz I have.
Fourth, It was 59 degrees when I woke up this morning and the high was only in the low 80s today with clear, blue skies and tons of mild sunshine. Is it perverse to get a hard on and stain my jeans because of the weather? I think not!
Finally, I told you guys about this song a while ago and posted the lyrics. Here it is if you wanna give it a listen. I don't really play Musical Monday but it kinda fits my mood today. Enjoy ...

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 5:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

Sorry I haven't been around since Tuesday. I know you missed me but the week just got nucking futz at work. i hope to do a lot of blogging this weekend and catch up with everybody. Until then here's a bit of one of my current favorite singles. I't by Little Big Town. It's called "Bring it on Home" and It's just kinda the way I feel right now. Have a great weekend all!

When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
When the weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me

Baby, let me be your safe harbor
Don't let the water come
And carry you away

When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
When the weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me

C'mon home baby. I'll take care of it.

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Sometimes you're the spider and sometimes you are the bug. Hope you get to be the spider this week ya'll!

And just because I'm in this kinda mood, I'll share with you my favorite song. It's "Bring on the Rain'" by Jo Dee Messina and Tim McGraw. I heard it again yesterday and it sent chills up my spine ... and I mean the good kind of chills. Yeah it's kind of a downer but the haunting beauty of the performance can bring me to tears every time.
edit: Now that I think about it, this song really isn't a downer, it's a song of resilience, of strength of character in the face of adversity ... a song of hope. And don't we all need a little hope these days? I know I do.

Another day has almost come and gone
Can’t imagine what else could wrong
Sometimes I’d like to hide away somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war

('cause) Tomorrow’s another day
And I am not afraid
So bring on the rain
Tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain.

Finally, so you don't think it's all doom and gloom ... the gratuitous shot which is a lot more representative of my mood today. You see, I have a friend and I thank the Goddess for her everyday. This is how she makes me feel.

Here's to a great week everyone. Can I get an "AMEN!" from the choir? Amen!

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

A child feels a stirring,
emotions rush to the surface.
Fire soon courses through his veins,
beauty is everywhere.
It has always surrounded him but, his mind was
blinded to the joy of the softer sex.
That day he awakes and sees clearly,
for perhaps the first time,
the joys that await him.

Adolescence passes, manhood arrives.
Those feelings fall to the side
replaced by responsibilities, children, a partner
life continues as the beast hibernates
lulled by the pace of life.
The beast sleeps peacefully
for the most part.
Tossing fitfully, turning dreaming and snorting occasionally
but his repose continues.

Then one day, the boy turned man
becomes a boy again. Fire sears his heart once more.
The beast wakens after feeling the heat of passion
not experienced in years, almost foreign.
The man, realizing the beast is starving, attempts to satisfy that hunger
The beast, grizzled, bearded, nails grown long
takes over. He is alive and it is good!
The beast has grown impatient, only thinking of self
and in so doing, claws cut, his beard wraps and clings tightly. Suffocating

Confusion, pain, given and recieved,
the beast is uncontrollable, thinking only of self.
The man cries out "NO!"
but too late. Damage is done, unforgivable pain is meted out.
The man battles the beast and chains him
but those wounds still bleed and hearts break.
Regrets are felt, forgiveness is sought but too late, he fears
The beast is finally controlled and the man belatedly, sorrowfully
Awakens

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom ..."
Anais Nin

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

The Beatles
Rubber Soul

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more
In my life-- I love you more

**edit: For those who may think so, this post is not aimed at anyone in particular. This song has just been running through my head all day. I don't think anyone wrote a better love song than Lennon and McCartney at their peak. I love it and just wanted to share it with you. TG**

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

OK people its Friday. Over at Susie's she does something called Flash Fiction Friday 55. The concept? In exactly 55 words, write a story with a decipherable plot and at least one main character. I have been playing for a while and have come to enjoy it immensely. Here is mine for the day .......

The lines on his face look a bit deeper than they did yesterday. He stares at the mirror. "Is that another gray hair?" he asks. There is no denying the fact. He is old. Oh, by societal standards he is still young but his bones don't feel it. Today his oldest son graduates High School.

go ahead and give it a try. Lets see what you've got. Leave yours in my comments or post in on your own blog ... whatever, just get to writing. Have a great weekend everybody. I have a graduation party to go to. Laters.

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I have a bit of writer's block today so I decided I'd share one of my favorite poetic epics with you. It is by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and is called 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.' It is the story, told by an old seaman to a guest at a wedding, of a ship that runs through an ice storm and just when all is thought to be lost, a lucky sign appears. Unfortunately someone on the ship diodn't believe in good luck charms or was just plain whacked out ... with dire consequences. I hope you enjoy. Part two will come tomorrow

It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
`By thy long beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me ?

The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide,
And I am next of kin ;
The guests are met, the feast is set :
May'st hear the merry din.'

He holds him with his skinny hand,
`There was a ship,' quoth he.
`Hold off ! unhand me, grey-beard loon !'
Eftsoons his hand dropt he.

He holds him with his glittering eye--
The Wedding-Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years' child :
The Mariner hath his will.

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone :
He cannot choose but hear ;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.

`The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,
Merrily did we drop
Below the kirk, below the hill,
Below the lighthouse top.

The Sun came up upon the left,
Out of the sea came he !
And he shone bright, and on the right
Went down into the sea.

Higher and higher every day,
Till over the mast at noon--'
The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast,
For he heard the loud bassoon.

The bride hath paced into the hall,
Red as a rose is she ;
Nodding their heads before her goes
The merry minstrelsy.

The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast,
Yet he cannot choose but hear ;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.

`And now the STORM-BLAST came, and he
Was tyrannous and strong :
He struck with his o'ertaking wings,
And chased us south along.

With sloping masts and dipping prow,
As who pursued with yell and blow
Still treads the shadow of his foe,
And forward bends his head,
The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast,
The southward aye we fled.

And now there came both mist and snow,
And it grew wondrous cold :
And ice, mast-high, came floating by,
As green as emerald.

And through the drifts the snowy clifts
Did send a dismal sheen :
Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken--
The ice was all between.

The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around :
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound !

At length did cross an Albatross,
Thorough the fog it came ;
As if it had been a Christian soul,
We hailed it in God's name.

It ate the food it ne'er had eat,
And round and round it flew.
The ice did split with a thunder-fit ;
The helmsman steered us through !

And a good south wind sprung up behind ;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariner's hollo !

In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine ;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.'

`God save thee, ancient Mariner !
From the fiends, that plague thee thus !--
Why look'st thou so ?'--With my cross-bow
I shot the ALBATROSS.

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)