Jim Flanigan Looks at the World
Turning the Mundane into Fundane Since 2015
We’re getting a puppy. Ready? 1 … 2 … 3 … awwwww.
It is a standard poodle. I wanted a sub-standard poodle since I thought that would be less expensive, but I lost that battle.
Anyway, now comes the battle over the name.
My wife sang an original song lyric that immediately stuck in my head. It wasn’t anything earth-shaking, but it sure was a catchy melody. I started singing it, over and over, looking for the next line to come to me. I’m always writing songs, most of which I never finish, but I do like to explore new song lyrics to see where they go.
My daughter and I were on the move and we hopped into the car. I continued singing. I don’t sing well, and I was struggling with finding the next line. I thought it would be cool to get my daughter involved. I asked my daughter what she thought the second line should be. She had the perfect answer.
I never expected to win. Oh sure, there were wild thoughts of maybe being a semi-finalist, or at least getting some positive feedback of some sort. Instead, I leave the competition without so much as even a participant medal.
I did try, dammit! In case you have forgotten (or have tried to forget), here’s what I tried …
I am always surprised at the direction life can take a person. Who knew that I would be needing a rap name for when I accept the Grammy for best rap song of 2018? Allow me to explain …
At one time I was so excited about sharing my favorite song from my favorite musical artists every Saturday. Then reality set in as I debuted with my Rolling Stones edition that was greeted by my readers with a huge yawn and one “like.” Thanks Trev. I figured I could forge ahead and force feed this feature to my readers weekly until they reluctantly read and even more reluctantly click the “like” icon. That reminds me, don’t forget there will be a new Mite Be Funny cartoon this Sunday morning like every Sunday.
But my first My Fave Faves was tough to write and even tougher was choosing a favorite song. This was hard work, and when the going gets tough, I take a hiatus. But before I do, I will fulfill my contractual obligation and reveal my favorite Weezer song which is …
Continue reading “My Fave Faves – Truncated Weezer Edition and Hiatus”
I’m trying not to have a cow, but am struggling. Since this issue has to do with Steely Dan, I threw into the Bart Simpsonish title the Black Cow reference to their great song of the same name. I know, really clever. Another day, another clever title. But I am upset about what I see advertised for Steely Dan this summer …
Well, here we go with a new weekly feature nobody requested, my favorite song from favorite musical artists. I’m eager to get started, but wonder if I will make it all the way through this year with a weekly post. I’m almost through a full year doing weekly mite-based cartoons, so I guess anything is possible. So without further ado, I offer you my favorite Rolling Stones song …
Continue reading “My Fave Faves #1 – Rolling Stones Edition”
I want to give all my readers a short break from splitting their sides after reading another hilarious, but likely plagiarized blog post from me. This post is new and it’s very special.
The 2017 Jim Flanigan Looks at the World Follower of the Year (or JFLATWFOTY for short) just released this important new song about the recent Las Vegas massacre called “58.” Listen. Read. Enjoy. Contemplate. Act.
Welcome to a new feature this year on Jim Flanigan Looks at the World. I love music, so I asked myself why I wasn’t writing more about music. I didn’t get a reply since I wasn’t speaking to myself at the time, but I didn’t wait until I was speaking to myself again after having make-up sex with myself. I moved forward with this bold concept. Each week I plan to reveal my favorite song from my favorite musical artists, and along the way provide some insight as to why that song is my favorite. It may not be the best song ever done by the artist profiled according to critics, or the best-selling song, but the song I like the best. You are welcome to disagree and offer your own fave song. There is no wrong answer (is what I always wanted to hear my teachers say, but never did).
Some weeks this may be easy. For example …
I finished decorating (my face) for Christmas this year.
WARNING: If you are a sensitive blog reader, you probably are not reading this blog, so go ahead and click to Continue Reading in order to see the graphic pic on the next page.
I recently saw the UK band Squeeze in concert at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, one of many classic older concert venues in one of the greatest cities in the world. You can always tell it’s a classy place when they spell theater as theatre. Oh, so classy.
When people ask me who I saw in concert at the Vic, rather than Squeeze, I always add “UK band” as a preface to Squeeze. That way, even though they may have no idea who Squeeze is, they know it is a UK band which always sounds a lot hipper and adds some instant credibility.
Truth be told, the concert was about 10 days ago. I know, I know, concert reviews are expected immediately after the show. But why? It’s not like my review would have convinced you to buy a ticket for their next show date in Michigan. So get over it and if you must, pretend I saw them last night. Now, on to the review.
I see that even a local Alabama newspaper like the Times Daily in Florence, Alabama is covering the Roy Moore sex scandal with this headline story that I swear is real …
I saw the news that Fats Domino just passed away at age 89. Although he was a fine musician, I’m not a huge fan and don’t have a lot emotionally invested in his passing, but I am encouraged. There’s a guy nicknamed “Fats” that made it to 89 years old. There’s hope for a long life for me! Fat guys rule!
I have a Bucket List of things I would like to do before I check out of life as I live it today and enter what I expect to be a phase of my life with an emphasis on people wiping drool from my chin. One of the items on my Bucket List was to have one of my songs performed by professional musicians. That magic happened last night …
I’m not a overly religious guy. I belong to a church, but really don’t trust any church that would have me as a member. Props to Groucho for that joke. And I am not too picky about what church I attend. You can label me more spiritual than religious. I see God everywhere and nowhere, if that makes any sense. The one place I see God nowhere these days is …
We don’t get out much. 5 kids here if I haven’t mentioned it before. We always thought the older kids would take care of the younger kids and my wife and I would continue to have an active social life. That never worked out too well. When my oldest daughter (child #1) took care of kids 3 & 4, my youngest son (child #3) would routinely reduce her to tears. My middle daughter (child #4) is all grown up and would gladly watch our 9 year old daughter (child #5), but oops, she’s off to college, sorry. And so we rely on babysitters, which is not only expensive, but these days it is difficult to find a teen around here that isn’t busy on the weekends with an active social life that dwarfs ours. It can be an expensive chore to find a babysitter.
But this was a concert opportunity not to be missed. Seeing this concert would make my 2017 concert season complete. I knew I would never forgive myself if I didn’t take this opportunity to see …
Sit back, take a break, and enjoy the latest tune from our musical collaboration (some say “supergroup”) called Sunsets Rising. It’s a song called “I Don’t Know Where The Sunset Goes,” and I wrote it during one of my frequent trips between Chicago and St Louis while watching the sun set. Not much else to do on that drive, although I am dying to stop at …
I should revise that title to “Once again, my family saved me from appearing to be a big, pathetic loser.” I don’t want to underestimate my ability to actually be a big, pathetic loser, but at least last night I did not appear to be one thanks to my family.
I had planned to see another concert last night.
Continue reading “Once again, my family saved me from being a big, pathetic loser”
No, this post is not about a serious subject like sexual assault. It’s another concert review. I attended the Yestival last night.
Am I a Yesticle if I attended the Yestival? I don’t know about a “full festival experience” per the pic, because I didn’t see much of the concert behind the 6 foot high privacy fence.
Jim Flanigan Looks at the World 