02 May 2020 - Plague Journal Day 51

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

You know what bothers me? You know what drives me crazy?
Am I the only one who's embarrassed by these "stand up to cancer" commercials?
I mean, addressing a non-personal "opponent" as evil and a bad guy and we're all standing up to you? Good grief, it just sounds so stupid.
"Hey, Gravity; just because you're strong doesn't mean you're always going to be able to hold us down! We're a team! We're Team Floating-Away-From-The-Planet, and we will defeat your evil tractor beams!"

Well, now that I have that off my chest, how about something to celebrate?

Today is National Play Your Ukulele Day! (I'm happy to recall that the ukulele was the official instrument of the Vinyl Café - one of the finest radio programmes ever presented by CBC Radio.)

Not only that - today is also Astronomy Day! (Don't let the stars get in your eyes!)

Here's your challenge: I want to hear a ukulele cover of Pink Floyd's Astronomy Domine.
Go! (#PinkFloydUkulele)


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

01 May 2020 - Plague Journal Day 50

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

What a great day! Not only is it Friday, but it's also International Tuba Day!
While you're not likely to be able to visit in person for quite some time, you should be planning a visit to Okemos, Michigan once the governor allows people to see one another again.
"Why Okemos?" I hear you ask.
"Simple," I am quick to reply. "That's the home of Travelers Club International Restaurant & Tuba Museum.

In addition to those large-embouchure festivities, today is also No Pants Day (which doesn't seen nearly as daring in this video-chat environment as it was on the subway in past years).
Granted, it's not technically a tuba (although there is some controversy around that contention), but if you wear your Sousaphone low enough, you can probably get away with the no pants day celebration.

Speaking of tubas and sousaphones, you probably know I'm a bluegrass musician and fan.

Let's let Milan Miller keep us all safe in these crazy times.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

30 April 2020 - Plague Journal Day 49

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?


Apparently lots of folks are concerned about the state of their coiffures. One supposes the closure of hair salons is the main (mane? ha!) source of this angst - that and the fact that today is Hairstyle Appreciation Day.
In what is, no doubt, a pure coincidence, today is also International Jazz Day.
Perhaps, then, today is the day to raname these COVID-Dos or Quarantine Coiffs. How about calleng them "free improvisations" rather than bad hair days. Now don't you feel better?

I can't find the original source, but I remember watching Ellis Marsalis talk about the art of improvisation on some TV show or other. His basic point was: If you make a mistake, just keep going until you get to where you meant to be. That's improvising.

Here's a Fabulous Bonus for Today -
It's Poem in Your Pocket Day.
I've composed a lovely haiku to enhance and encourage your celebration:

Write a poem for
Poem in your pocket day
You can sit on it

If you do write a poem today, why not post it? Tag it with these:
#GrandTeutonPoetryChallenge or #PlagueJournal49

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

29 April 2020 - Plague Journal Day 48

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Since today is both International Dance Day and World Stationery Day, you probably expected me to suggest that you all dance in place. You know something like how Shermy danced in the Charlie Brown Christmas special. (You know, that other kid's dance - the one with the nearly-shaved head - is eerily similar to an infamous dance known as the Geyer Get-Down, but I'm fairly certain - and relieved - that there seems to be no video evidence of that bit of choreography.)
As I said, you likely expected that suggestion from me, but I noticed that it's stationEry, not sationAry and rejected that as a poorly thought out pun.

Instead, let's celebrate the glory that was Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood in a video that - to my mind, at least - is right up there with the Old Greg clip I shared back on 21 April 2020 - Plague Journal Day 40.
Thus - here for your viewing and marveling pleasure is Some Velvet Morning.

You're welcome.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

28 April 2020 - Plague Journal Day 47

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?


Here's a wonderful celebration: it's Great Poetry Reading Day!
Now, for most of us there's just not enough time to read or recite the Iliad, the Odyssey, or the Aeneid today.
Sure, we might be able to fit Gilgamesh in, but in the adventurous spirit of Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton, who believed that "all civilisation derives from Egypt," I will be reading Ishmael Reed's classic, I Am a Cowboy in the Boat of Ra.
As you might imagine, this was one of my most popular poetry readings at parties in my University days. I'm not so sure how this would go over now, but, until there are parties again, I've no way to find out.

What we can find out is how many of you are willing to post a video or audio clip of yourself reading your favorite poem. Please post with the hashtags #PlagueJournal47 and/or #GrandTeutonPoetryChallenge - your posts and tags will be most appreciated.


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

27 April 2020 - Plague Journal Day 46

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today we remember Samuel F.B. Morse. Yes, it's Morse Code Day STOP

Adding to the festivities, today is also one of my favorite celebrations: National Tell a Story Day.

Since today is also Babe Ruth Day, National Prime Rib Day, and National Devil Dog Day, I've crafted this brief tale for you:

--- -. -.-. . / ..- .--. --- -. / .- / - .. -- . --..-- / -... .- -... . / .-. ..- - .... / .... .- -.. / .- / -.. .- - . / .-- .. - .... / .-.. .. - - .-.. . / -.. . -... -... .. . .-.-.- / - .... . -.-- / .... .- -.. / .--. .-. .. -- . / .-. .. -... / ..-. --- .-. / -.. .. -. -. . .-. --..-- / .- -. -.. / ..-. --- .-. / -.. . ... ... . .-. - / - .... . -.-- / .... .- -.. / .- / -.. --- --.. . -. / -.. . ...- .. .-.. / -.. --- --. ... .-.-.- / .-.. .. - - .-.. . / -.. . -... -... .. . / ... .-.. .- .--. .--. . -.. / - .... . / -... .- -- -... .. -. --- .-.-.- / - .... . / . -. -..


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

26 April 2020 - Plague Journal Day 45

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Well, here's another Sunday without meeting together for worship. Virtual services are all well and good, but we need the fellowship of other believers, not just the experience of a hymn, a message, and a prayer on a screen.
Of course we have had the luxury of "attending" five or six worship services today. At least no one has outlawed online worship yet.


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.