I heard from a dear old friend recently(no, not old age-wise, old in like, we've been friends for 6 years old), and he asked me if I were still writing, as in poems. Maybe he misses them? Or was it just idle chit-chat? Not sure, and if it was just a case of the idles, that's alright, too, but that question got me to thinking about how it has been a long time since I have felt the desire, need , urgency to create something. I mean, compared to my previous writing habits, I have been stone cold and far from inspired for what seems like ages. Could it be that in the infancy of my writings, the words spilt forth like water let loose from an errant hole in a stony dam because they were so long held back, and the newness of it all was exciting and it spurred me forth to create with abandon, regardless of the finished product? Do I think too much/worry too much now of how this word sounds with that one, do I try to hard to be understood, or the opposite, try to be too oblique? Do I rack my brain wondering why I rack my brain about not being able to rattle off witticisms and what not, and THAT is thr root cause of my Sahara spell?? Who the f@**@ knows! MAYBE, just MAYBE I should stop worrying about the quality of what hits the screen from the clunky taps of my fingers, and just...write, huh? I'm sure my muse will return, IF and only IF I employ the above. So screw it- here's what populated my brain today, take it or leave it, WHATEVER! =)

I have thinking of a list of singers/performers out today that, imho, really suck; I mean, to the point that when I hear their song come on, I CRINGE and WINCE until the blasted song comes to a not too soon enough end. Just change the station, you say, or simply shut off the radio and stop whining? No can do- the offending crap I make reference to plays on the Muzak systems in the stores that I service for my job. I have no control over the situation. So shy of talking too myself loud enough to drown out the Muzak, I am forced to listen. Here is what has been causing some major ear-bleeds as of late:

anything by John MAYER. UUGGHHH!! Can the guy sing above a whisper? Can he sing anything that is remotely interesting? His voice makes my throat hurt! I know that he is probably more interested in the demographic that lies somewhere between the Hoodsies and the mid- 30's crowd, as is evidenced by his video for that awful song called, I think it was Daughters. Want a good laugh? Watch this one; I mean, if he tried to contort his full, girly lips into anymore of a ~kiss me aren't I pretty~pout, he would have squeezed those suckers clear off of his face! It really is too funny, in a highly annoying sorta way.
That song by Dido(Dido??) about 'going down with this ship'. I hear this about 6 times a day, which is wayyyyyyyyyyyy too much. The words to the song are really okay, but Dido's (what the hell is a Dido??) voice is weak, which pretty much kills the beauty of anything she may sing. Like fingers on a chalkboard, this one.
Jessica Simpson's rendition of 'Take my Breath Away'. I do NOT see why she is acclaimed as such a great singer; half the time, she sounds like she is on the throne, straining! Awful Awful, Awful! That gruesome straining affect is really evident on that 'Angel' song. Perhaps she DOES have a really good voice, but until she gets out of her own way, the world will never know. And really, that's not such a bad thing, is it?
anything by Avril Lavigne. Maybe if she stopped pissing and moaning about how hurt she has been made to feel in the past by seemingly indifferent and cruel guys , then maybe one or two would stick around, if she'd LET them and treat her right? Every song of hers sounds like a damn feminazi anthem. Blech!!!
Sheryl Crow. Good songwriter, and can't deny her talent, but her voice is way too whiny for me. I wouln't mind if they played 'Steve McQueen'; that song is cool, and in it, she has no opportunity to whine. But no- the powers that be at these stores have decided that they like to hear 'Soak up the Sun' a bazillion times. Please.
And lastly, there is a song that is sung by a man( if you can call him that) where he cries and carries-on about his gal either not loving him, or not noticing him or whatever... I imagine it is supposed to appeal to all of the members of the fairer, more emotional set, but if my guy started going on like this guy does, I'd have to slap him upside the head like Cher in Moonstruck and tell him to 'Snap out of it'!! You'll know the song when you hear it( it's a staple at Stop and Shop's everywhere); it screams WUSS!! loud and clear.