Screw Covid-19! This is America!!

Listening to Crap Music on Day 5 of the COVID-19 Lockdown

How am I coping? Well I work from home, so I am doing that. That being said, for some reason I starting playing music today that I don't normally like to listen to. The first of the bunch was Van Halen III - you know...the one with Gary Cherone as lead singer. Am I sick? I almost was when I got to the end and listened to the song How Many Say I that Eddie Van Halen sings. Jesus. I still remember really trying to actually like this record when it came out as I always considered myself a "ride or die" Van Halen fan. I did end up liking maybe 3 songs, but they aren't great: Without You, One I Want, and Fire in the Hole.  The rest? Dumpster fire.

The red-headed step-child of the VH catalog

Knowing what I know now and have read about over the years, this album is an even bigger disappointment to me now than it was then. This was when the VH brothers really started to screw over bassist Michael Anthony (arguably the heart and soul of his band), and was more or less the end of his tenure. People have said that this was essentially an Eddie Van Halen solo record with hired gun musicians, and it might be true.  Anthony supposedly only played on 3 of the album's tracks while Ed did the rest. What Mikey did end up playing was very dictated by Ed. Just sad all across the board. As everyone knows the Cherone experiment only lasted one album, however there is allegedly material from a 2nd album they were working on. As bad as Van Halen III was, I'd still be curious to hear that music if they ever let it out of the VH 5150 vault.

Second up on the crap music list:  Motley Crue's album New Tattoo. This one came out during the years when various members were in and out of the group. For this one, Tommy Lee was no longer a member and was replaced by Randy Castillo of Ozzy Osbourne fame. This album is often at the bottom of Motley fans' favorite albums, mainly because the songs are without-a-doubt cheesy and lyrically lame. The lead single, Hell on High Heels is enjoyable enough, but just corny.  The albums's two ballads, New Tattoo and Hollywood Ending are bad, but for me - a guilty listening pleasure. Vince's voice is not made for Hollywood Ending's note changes, therefore it's so bad it's good.  The one true good song on the album is called Fake. It is a nice shot at all the record executives from all the past years for making a gazillion dollars off of Motley Crue. They kept the band coked up and so drunk that they almost killed them just to keep the money machine going. At least that's how they tell it. I'm sure Vince, Nikki, Tommy, and Mick didn't conduct any self destructive behavior on their own at all.

Well that's all I have time for today.  I will be sure to update you with the additional crap I listen to in the coming days.  What else am I going to do?

TOP TEN THINGS NOT TO DO DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

I don't want anyone to say I wasn't helpful today... so I am going to provide you with a list of things NOT TO DO during the Coronavirus pandemic. While it is truly not THAT helpful, it is providing a dose of humor and snark we all need right now.... because that's what I do.

TOP TEN THINGS NOT TO DO DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

10. Get a friend dress up in a hazmat suit, and run into Target yelling 
      "which way did he go?" and then grab you and drag you out screaming

 9. Playing Ding-Dong-Ditch while licking all the doorknobs throughout the neighborhood

 8. Listen to Donald Trump

 7. Get all hot and sweaty like you have a fever, and then show up at the Old Folks 
     Home asking to see Grandma and Grandpa

 6. Four Words: Topless dance party kegger

 5. Finally host that Pampered Chef Party that your annoying friend Karen 
     has been hassling you to have

 4. Running though Walmart and insisting everyone give you a high-five

 3. Challenging others to wrestling matches over toilet paper

 2. Paint yourself orange, insist things are great and that there are no problems

 1. Drink all the Busch Light and not offer to buy more

Monday Morning Stories With Mookie - Episode 158

The Time The COVID-19 Virus Shut Down Everything

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, and I figured now was as good as any. I pretty much have time, much like everyone else since everything is SHUT DOWN.  Well, not everything. Enough to definitely make life uncomfortable though.

Some people are going out of their minds because they can't see anyone, go anywhere, and have to work from home.  I'm like "Bitch, I've been training for this for years.  This is nothing."  I'm a full-time work from home guy, so not much has changed other than my wife and kids are now home all day every day. It's nice that they are home, but I feel bad because they are doing activities and projects in the house, and I'm down in the basement working. A. I feel left out; B. I feel like I will be in trouble for not helping even though I'm working; and C. I don't want to work, but have to.  Working sucks.

However, I am thankful I can work because there are A LOT of people who want to work, but have been told to go home because their businesses can't be open. That's the sad part out of all this.  People are going to suffer needlessly because they can't work, therefore they can't afford to feed their families and pay bills. People are going to get sick, but can't afford to go to the doctor. Even if they could, they probably can't because other dummies with minor things are taking up vital services others may really need. Many kids who go to school and eat the only meal they probably get every day can't even do that.  A lot of places are stepping up and providing lunches for kids, which is really cool, but you know the kids that REALLY need it probably aren't getting it. A lot of places will even deliver things if they can. I hope people can and do utilize that.

Then there is our fine government agencies. Most state and local levels are on top of it as best they can, and should be thanked for their front line efforts. Our Federal level and our fearless gaslighting leader, Donald Trump are an entirely different story. Normally I don't like to get political on my blog here, but Sweet Baby Jesus....Donald Trump is the stupidest ass-bag one could ever be.  I can't even with this guy. He has been and is by far the biggest obstacle to anything productive or helpful in this matter (or anything really), and should really not be listened to in this time of emergency. That's pretty sad. This isn't even a Republican/Democrat/Never-Trumper/political bias statement at all.  This is just a stupid blog guy saying someone in a place of authority is being very stupid and reckless when all they are thinking about is their ego and pocketbook. Somehow he has conned people into believing his hype, and at this point it is downright dangerous.

So yeah...I'm rambling and this post is disjointed at best and probably lost it's point. What is my point today? I don't know. I guess my point is I hope everyone can stay safe, stay away from others as much as possible, and take care of their mental health. Being a shut-in is not for everyone.  Find ways to communicate with others when you can.  That is probably why I felt like writing this to begin with....to feel like I'm talking to someone.  Yeah I know it might be read by two people...but whatever. Thanks for reading.

We'll get through this.

Karen Is The Worst