Sometimes When You Play With Fire You Get Burned

One of my favorite songs that I sing is called "Mack The Knife" which has been performed by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra. Darin's recording was probably the rendition that made the song famous. The interesting part about this song was something I learned today from reading my own journal. Part of the lyrics are as follows:

Ahhhh, Jenny Diver, ho, Sukey Tawdry
Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Oh the line forms on the right babe
Now that Macky's back in town.....

In every entry, I always include This Date In History because it's informative and interesting. As it so happens, in 1928, The Threepenny Opera premiered in Berlin and its star was Lotte Lenya. So many times I have sang this song, yet I never knew who Lotte Lenya was.

As it turns out, Lotte lenya was married to composer Kurt Weill, who wrote the song for her. Lotte Lenya sang the song in the musical. Other characters in the play included Macheath (Mackie Messor or Mack the knife), Jenny Diver and Lucy Brown. You can read more at the following link: The Threepenny Opera

On a different note, you may not be aware of the fact that in almost every journal entry I make, there are blatant and cryptic hellos to different people. Additionally, I often add a date in history that either never occurred or doesn't exist. It's just my little way of amusing myself and hopefully amuse the readers who pick up on it. So beware my little sleuths, one never knows if the written word has an ulterior motive or meaning.

My Friday trek to AREA 51 was a blast and I ran into several friends at happy hour. I met with my friend Hector and other denizens of AREA 51 including my pals Red Truck Man, Keith, Ginny, Dr. Saca Muela the dentist and a new friend, Dana. After happy hour, I went to Hector and Lourdes' house and we had drinks and laughed the night away. I made it home rather earlier sometime near 1:00 a.m.

This Date In History: 1867; Stricken by paralysis, poet Charles Baudelaire dies in Paris at the age of 46. 1888; The body of Mary Ann (or Polly) Nichols, the first of Jack the Ripper’s five “canonical” victims, is found in Whitechapel, London.

1928; Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera), a musical collaboration between dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill, starring Lotte Lenya, premieres in Berlin. 1962; Trinidad and Tobago gains its independence from Britain. 1997; Diana, Princess of Wales, is kiled in a car crash in Paris.

Picture Of The Day: I've seen fire and I've seen rain, to quote a lyric from the James Taylor song. It rarely rains in AREA 51 but there's always a chance of fire depending on the time of night. Nevertheless, I've gotten pretty good at playing with fire without getting burned, though I must admit that I've had my moustache and eyebrows singed once or twice.

There always seems to be that certain someone that makes one take a chance on playing with fire and I like to sit near the nearest fire extinguisher, just in case. As for today's pictures, I sure you've guessed that fire is the theme. My choice for picture of the day however is the lovely alien woman in the water. As Feliciano sang it, "Come on baby light my fire."

Birthdays: My pal, Pat, from across the pond. Happy Birthday Pat 19XX, Théophile Gautier, French poet, critic, and novelist 1811, Hermann von Helmholtz, German scientist 1821, Maria Montessori, Italian educator and doctor 1870, Dubose Heyward, American writer 1885, William Saroyan, American writer 1908, Itzhak Perlman, Israeli-American violinist 1945, Van Morrison, rock singer and songwriter 1945.

Printable Things I Never Told You: 1) I've tried many times, but I just can't make fried chicken like my mother and father used to make. 2) There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves. 3) There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman...neither works. 4) According to today's child protection laws, most of the parents in my neighborhood would have been serving time. Then again, if these laws had been in effect in those days, a lot of their sons and daughters would be serving time today. 5) I saw an interesting thought the other day and I like it. It suggests that you write the words "In God We Trust" on the reverse side of all envelopes that you mail, including bills. Let's see if the government can find a way to legislate and stop that.....and that's five !

The AREA51 Retirement Home Bar and Grill: An eighty-year-old man is sitting on a park bench, sobbing, when a young woman walks by and asks him what's wrong. Through his tears the old man answers,"I'm in love with a twenty-five-year-old woman." The young woman asks, "What's wrong with that?" Between his sobs, he answers, "You don't understand. Every morning before she goes to work, we make love. In the evening, she comes home and we make love again, and then she makes my favorite meal."

He breaks down, no longer able to speak. The young woman puts her arm around him. "I don't understand. It sounds like you have the perfect relationship. Why are you crying?"The old man answers, "I forgot where I live."

That pesky little pop-up squirrel may have gotten too close to the fire.....

The Hits Just Keep On Coming:

A Texas cowboy and his bride ask the hotel desk clerk for a room, telling him they just got married that morning. The clerk says, "Congratulations!" Looking at the cowboy, he asks, "Would you like the bridal then?" The cowboy says, "Naw, thanks, I reckon I'll just hold her by the ears 'til she gets the hang of it."

Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona, when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride. With a word or two of thanks, she got in the car.

After resuming the journey and a bit of small talk, the Navajo woman noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sally. "What's in the bag?" asked the old woman. Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, "It's a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband." The Navajo woman was silent for a moment, and then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder said, "Good trade."

A minister was seated next to a cowboy on a flight to Texas. After the plane was airborne, drink orders were taken. The cowboy asked for a whiskey and soda, which was brought and placed before him. The flight attendant then asked the minister if he would like a drink. He replied in disgust, "I'd rather be savagely raped by brazen whores than let liquor touch my lips." The cowboy then handed his drink back to the attendant and said, "Me too. I didn't know we had a choice."

In the early 20th Century, Thomas Edison was spreading the word about electricity. Once, while vacationing out West, he stopped at the Sioux reservation. Edison was shocked to learn that there was no indoor plumbing, and that he would have to use an outhouse. In fact, he was told, the Sioux had to use the outhouse regardless of the weather. To help the Sioux, Edison installed lights in the outhouse. With this kind act, he became the first person....to wire a head for a reservation!

That's it for today my little cowpokes. Remember, never kick a cow chip on a hot day. More on Wednesday.

Stay Tuned !