Writer's Block

Not really writer's block. Once I get going I can usually knock something out in fairly short order. I just haven't had anything to say lately. Even with that in mind, I still feel a need to come up with something. Not out of any sense of obligation to my readers. I suspect most of them don't care in the least if I update this blog every four weeks or every 4 months. Or ever. This is about me. I have been in a bit of a creative slump lately, mostly of my own doing. I can blame the weather, or say it's because I've been busy with other things, or that I've lost my muse. All of those things are true but it comes down to the fact that, every once in a while, I just need to write some things down. Especially things that have been on my mind. Like, for example - Chubby Checker.
I have a vague memory of the first music that really got to me. Two songs come to mind. One is "Please Please Me" by the Beatles and the other is "Kansas City" by Chubby Checker. Chubby was famous for starting the Twist dance craze back in the sixties. He made an entire career out of it....The Twist, Let's Twist Again, Mr. Twister, Twist It Up, Twistin' USA...you get the picture. I have a lot of Beatles music but no Chubby Checker. As a result of some online investigation I discovered that his version of the song Kansas City appears on only one album.  Recent searches in record store bins and crate digging in a few thrift shops have turned up nothing. I probably could buy a stereo re-release on Amazon or find a scratched and scuffed up version on ebay, but I'm looking for the real thing. A mono original version of the album titled "Chubby Checker In Person." That's the one with Kansas City on it. How exciting it would be if I was flipping through the C's one of these days and found it tucked right in there between The Chantels and Sam Cooke! So the search continues. More than a search. It is now a quest.

Politics has also been on my mind. I try not to think about it too much, but it's nearly impossible to avoid. All I will say is that I wish people wouldn't get so angry and hateful. Screaming, irrational or outrageous arguments and violence aren't going to change anything. They will only make things worse, and make you look foolish. Want to changes things? Vote. And encourage others to vote. My mantra for some time now has been "throw the bums out!" I believe we need nearly a 100% turnover of our elected officials. Most have been there way too long and are too dishonest about why they are there and about their true intentions. One thing is for sure - November 6th is going to be a very interesting day.

And now, since I usually include photos in my blog posts, here is a random picture of a bathtub with plastic pink Flamingos around it -

 

I don't really have anything else to top that, so it's probably a good time to end this edition of What's Your Road? Oh...if you come across that Chubby Checker record somewhere in the wild, call me. I can probably come right over. 

Roger O'Dea     10/11/2018