Mind Your Ps and Qs, Son
I’ve been writing Ps & Qs for twenty years, first for the Valley Journal and now for the Sopris Sun. As you may know, Ps & Qs refers to pints & quarts, the measurements of drink used in local pubs back in the day. Aptly named, my column really began in Claddaugh Irish Pub where I would sit with my friends, waxing philosophic on any and every topic to come up…
Ontology is the branch of philosophy that studies existence, being, becoming, and reality. In other words, what it is to be a human living among other humans, gaining life experience. My take is that life is hard, and it should be. Comparable to a video game, each level contains more difficulty and/or obstacles, and sure, you can play it safe and stay at a level that you’ve already mastered, but what’s the point of that?
I am not a fan of conventionality or predictability. I much prefer magic and spontaneity. In life I seek out new people, new places, and I try to generate positive esprit in all my endeavors. And whenever I find myself in the midst of an existential crisis, I recall the words of Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter on SNL, “Just remember you’re a living organism on this planet and you’re very safe… Relax, stay inside, and listen to some music, okay? Do you have any Allman Brothers?”
I believe humor to be the elixir for what ails us in this life.
Please enjoy these ontological observations and mind your Ps & Qs!
Jeanie Bueller rides again
The weird thing is that we all used to agree on who the bad guy was. Whether it was a quintessential hero’s journey, (Luke and Leia in Star Wars) or a stranger comes to town looking for odd jobs and good trouble, (Sylvester Stallone in First Blood) or a combination of the two, (Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse) there was always a greedy landlord/sheriff/ruler of the Darkside waiting for a fight…
Irish democracy, making the federal government impotent
Especially if the progressive states stop subsidizing them. The southeastern states will feel more like a developing country: good food and crazy weather with an unpredictable political climate and piss-poor medical care.
Continue The Observation Irish democracy, making the federal government impotent
Coincidence and doll parts on Twining Flats Rd.
My own childhood was a little more Little House on the Prairie. There was a Jill Epstein who lived on Twining Flats Road, the same road where I lived during my doll-torture phase. She was arrested and hung herself with an extension cord in Pitkin County Jail.
Continue The Observation Coincidence and doll parts on Twining Flats Rd.
Time flies
Sincerely, thank you all for proofing my myriad rants without stifling my voice. It must’ve felt a bit like being a bronc rider, just trying to stay on for 8 seconds.