Well Jesus, dear reader, as if there wasn’t enough for us to worry about…now there are reports that murder hornets from Asia have arrived on our shores.  According to the Times, this wretched pestilence must be stopped in the next few months or else it is here to stay.
Apparently these goddamn things get up to 2 inches long and as of this week were found for the first time in the United States, specifically in the state of Washington.
Fun fact: in Japan the hornets kill up to 50 people a year according to the New York Times.  Yeah. And that’s not all: murder hornets can wipe out entire bee colonies within hours their stingers are long enough to penetrate puncture be keeping suits also according to the times.
The Times went on to say that the hornet has a distinctive look with eyes that are “teardrop shaped like Spiderman, with orange and black stripes that extend down its body like a tiger.”
Murder hornets, dear reader! Murder hornets! Jesus! What are we going to expect to deal with next?
These evil things have shown up in Bellingham, Washington. I’ve spent time in Bellingham, Washington: it’s an amazing place, with amazing people. Why should they have to deal with the murder hornets? Who dumped murder hornets in Bellingham?  This is outrageous.
N.P.: “Ain’t No Way” – Robin Loxley, Jay Hawke

All commercials have become the same  (even more the same than they might have been before): open with dramatically slow but vaguely hopeful piano music, then a voice over: “in these _______ [trying, uncertain, difficult, unprecedented, et cetera] times, it’s important to remember _______ [“the most important thing…is family,” “we need each other…” “everybody is worried, everybody is scared,” et cetera]. 
Which is fine.  Whatever.  But what really bugs me is the inevitable conclusion of these ads. I do wish corporate entities would stop telling me that we are “in this together“. Look, you were in this, and I am in this, but that does not mean that we are in this together. Save it.  Anybody continually insisting that “we’re in this together” is likely someone getting ready to ask for toilet paper.  

N.P.: “The Still” – Esoterica

I was listening to a recent recording of Queen with Adam Lambert on the vocals. I know that this has been going on for a while now, this whole Queen and Amber Adam Lambert thing. And I haven’t really developed an opinion about it. On the one hand, part of me thinks Queen should have ended officially once Freddie Mercury died. But I don’t think the remaining members of Queen are in any way attempting to replace Freddie Mercury: they know that is impossible. And they aren’t recording new music as Queen, thank Christ.  I think that maybe Brian May And Roger Taylor want to continue to perform live as Queen playing Queen music, the music that they helped write and create. And I think to do that they had to have somebody singing lead vocals. And for that purpose Adam Lambert is fine. He can hit the notes.  Into everyone’s credit, they are billing them selves as “Queen + Adam Lambert.”
I ask myself, “Would I go to see this ensemble perform live?” and I absolutely would, just to see Brian May and Roger Taylor play. I did get to see Brian play live when he opened for Guns’n’Roses on the Use Your Illusions tour. And it was amazing.  Being able to say that I have seen Brian may play his solos from both We Will Rock You and Bohemian Rhapsody makes my aorta wiggle.
 
I can understand Brian May’s and Roger Taylor’s perspective. It is reasonable.  But I can also understand John Deacon’s perspective: John Deacon let it be known that he is retired with a capital R. He is done with Queen, he is done performing live, and he is done with music. Which, good for him.  He was wildly successful as a founding member of one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and then he was finished.  I can respect that.  I can also respect Brian and Roger wanting to continue to play live.  And I can respect Adam Lambert for taking the gig: if you’re a singer, and the surviving members of Queen call and ask you to be the new front man, you don’t say no.  
But it doesn’t work for me, the Queen + Adam Lambert thing.  They sound great, but it’s just not the same, and I want the same.

Tomorrow is Saturday, which of course means Whiskey, Wings, and Writing.  I’d invite you over, dear reader, but, you know…quarantine and all that.  But I shall cheers you as I sit down to do battle with the literary gods.  You shall be cheersed.

N.P.: “Radical” – AWOLNATION

It is truly impressive to see how many of my fellow Americans have become both medical experts as well as constitutional scholars in just a few short weeks.  I feel like such an underachiever.  I’ve just been wasting my time sitting here writing amazing books.
Anyway, the writing is going well.  The word count is up.  As is the whiskey consumption.  Coincidence?  I think so.

N.P.: “Mama, I’m Coming Home” – Ozzy Osbourne

Kind of a flat-line of a day, dear reader.  Nothing great happened, not terrible happened.  Wrote some stuff, watched some stuff, and leftovers.  Of course it was Wednesday, and nothing great ever happens on Wednesdays.
I did get a chance to rewatch “6 Days to Air – the Making of South Park” which I found very inspirational.  Maybe “motivational” is more accurate.  Anyway, I highly recommend.
Still loving the lock-down.  Seriously, I was kind of designed for this.  It’s weird, I know.  Anyway, I hope all is well with you.

N.P.: “The Sundown” – Ennio Morricone

I’m finally starting to use dictation with much more regularity than I have been.  Doing so gives me roughly 3 times the number of words I get typing or handwriting.  And other than minor editing due to mistakes caused by shortcomings with the software, I don’t have to change much, and I use the vast majority of it.  There are a couple of things I need to perfect, and a few kinks I need to work out, but I’m going to be using dictation a lot more.
Also, it’s hotter than hell.  It is April.  We are not amused.

N.P.: “Aurora surrealis” – Tid

Jayson Gallaway

April 27, 2020

There is cause for celebration, dear reader: the state of California has canceled its insipid State Fair. I cannot begin to describe the happiness this announcement brings me. I would drink deeply in honor of this development had I not run out of desk whiskey Saturday afternoon.  Now they simply need to ban the sale of fireworks and cancel Fourth of July celebrations and this will be one of the the best summers evar.

N.P.: “Pacific Coast Highway in the Movies” – AWOLNATION, Weezer

Today wasn’t quite as lazy as yesterday, but I won’t be receiving any productivity awards for today, either.  I got a little writing done.  Didn’t even start any of the projects I thought I might start today.  I have higher hopes for tomorrow.

N.P.: “Midnight Moonlight” – The Firm

Ludicrously lazy day, dear reader.  I’m embarrassed to even tell you about it.  Might have gone too hard on the Whiskey whilst I was making the wings.  Alas.  Occupational hazard.  Didn’t write shit.  But there’s still hope for today: I’m not particularly tired.  I am also out of whiskey.

N.P.: “# W W C” – The Main Squeeze

As the nights are getting shorter, I’m starting to value the darkness more.  [And I ain’t even tryin’ to be goth, yo.]
Anyway.
Weird day.  The heat is pissing me off.  Got a couple of ideas for writing, but I just opened files for them to be worked on at a later date.  Maybe tomorrow, after Whiskey & Wings.

N.P.: “Don’t It Make Ya Feel” – Headpins