rock and roll musings by Tim Byrnes

The Sixties Are Over: The Ballad of Maura Culhane

     In the  last three weeks my senior cat Camille has disappeared, I found my alleycat Grumpy's body in the dumpster, having been hit by a car and deposited there by a thoughtful neighbor and my 88 year old Aunt Maura passed away. Maura Culhane lived all but the last 15 years of her life in the environs of New York City, a single woman negotiating the early morning streets alone. She came away hard w/what we liberals condesceningly call the 'just the way it was at the time' racism.

     God bless her she still called 'em niggers to the day she died. She was a tough old uncompromising bird who really didn't like much of anything and could suck the air out of a room at will.  Cynical as the day is long and bitter, oh my god  was she bitter.

     She spent the last 15 years of her life in front of various trelevisions, essentially waiting to die. So I can  see from the above paragraph that I am JUST like this woman, so I obviously have a lot of introspection due (that phrase was so awkward because I refuse to say 'soul searching'. I'm such a pussy.)


    And I  certainly can't read THIS at the funeral!
    Or could I!

     Going on radio silence for awhile. Take it away, Jim.
tb

Posted by: timbyrnes at 16:56 | link | comments (22)

Comments:

#1  30 October 2008 - 17:12

 

She, like you, most likely knew that she was the way she was -- some people are just like that. And of course everyone else knew it too. I think it should be read her funeral - it is true.

Truely, I hope people do not stand up at my funeral and say all nicey, nice things about me. I can be a bitch, a liar, and a cheat....that is reality....

That being said, we all have our good sides -- that is what birthdays are for -- to celebrate life when one is alive, not lying in a box or having ashes scattered here and there...so hug those that you love, tell them some good things, and when they are dead say the bad ((jk)) :-O

22apples4ever

#2  31 October 2008 - 02:46

 

"God bless her..."

Remember Archie Bunker's look at his son-in-law after he said "I thank God I'm an athiest"? ;-)

Anyhow, hey, I'm really sorry about your aunt. Thanks for the description, as biographies always help me to take a sober look at areas for improvement in my own life. Prayers for her soul, as well as for you and your close and distant relatives involved.

Jim

Anonymous

#3  31 October 2008 - 17:20

 

Tim here.

Thank you both for yr kind words. Of course it wouldn't be my life if it weren't fucked up, but now my job's only giving me 3 hours off for the funeral (my boss has to take her kids to the dentist and the married couple that make up the rest of our staff have to go to the airport. Actually the husband has to drive the wife to the airport.) In any event, their not immediately rescheduling to give me the day off, which isn't much to expect, I think, so I'm probably gonna tell 'em to fuck off and quit. On the bright side I'll have more time to arghue w/Jim and write about useless rock and roll bands!

Call me a dramaqueen, but I'm feeling personally insulted and, as usual, will make the decision that will screw me up the most.

Punk rock lives!
tb

Anonymous

#4  31 October 2008 - 18:21

 

Boss' can be that way - no understanding and no space for life - it is all about their business and their jobs....

I am sorry that you will be unable to fully take time for this loss, maybe you could hook up with cousins and other family members for a dinner later -- after work?

Take care....and do not make any hasty decisions...

22apples4ever

#5  11 November 2008 - 13:47

 

By the way.. condolences, Tim.

That generation had reasons to be bitter. God bless them, indeed.

larryl

#6  17 December 2008 - 21:04

 

Tim here. Sorry I've been away. Been sick since the funeral. Flu to Strep to Pnuemonia to Sinusitis to just plain crappy. Viva Obama! Didn't quit work, actually handled situation mostly like an adult. Feeling slightly better now, just exhausted. Will write more coherently soon massive Killers piece.


Honest.
Love to all and Happy Kwaanza etc.
again, honest.
tim

Anonymous

#7  17 December 2008 - 21:49

 

Yo tim: Glad to hear y'r doing better. T-minus 4 months on TE-RE. :D

burninglight

#8  26 December 2008 - 06:58

 

"Viva Obama!"

Yeah, death to the unborn, just like you wanted. Oh, that's right, you only wanted someone to have the RIGHT to kill their child, but you're not actually for it yourself.

So, here we have Obama the fulfillment of MLK's dream, except for all of those unborn babies under his feet that he keeps stepping on.

Put another, "Viva Obama" like Hell. The guy's a psycho and so are his deranged supporters.

You're a big boy now, Tim; you can figure this stuff out. You just don't care.

Jim

Anonymous

#9  27 December 2008 - 22:46

 

"Well, Carl said he left this board and stopped all communication with me in order to have intellegent conversation with people like Jim. I thought he was kidding... " - Dorf April 30, 2008

Bwahahahahahahaha! I love it, I love it, I love it!

At least I kept my end of the bargain. :-D Heh heh heh.

Jim

Anonymous

#10  27 December 2008 - 22:47

 

"Carl confuses me." - Cylon and Garfunkel April 30, 2008

Anonymous

#11  27 December 2008 - 22:48

 

"one day he stopped posting here and talking to me on Dork's board. I made a joke about it and gave him the benefit of the doubt and he went off on me. All I can assume is that when I called him inconsistent on gambling and posted a G.K. Chesterton quote to make my point it was the last straw. I'm sure he has his side of the story and could explain better why he's mad at me because all I can do is speculate. He wouldn't talk to me about it and just accused me of 'doing it again' when I tried to find out why he was mad. There were no PMs or anything. It was like we were friends one day and the next day I didn't exist. I've been scratching my head for months now" - Dorf, April 30, 2008.

Anonymous

#12  27 December 2008 - 22:58

 

I'm just listing those as a warning to be on your toes, Tim.

As long as Carl's positioned as the Richie Cunningham adviser type, he'll always be fine. But as soon as he gets put in the student chair, he'll all of a sudden start saying 'well I was starting to get fed up with Tim anyways, I really need a break from him.'

The more you stay in contact with him, the more it will annoy you that he doesn't address some questions or items you'd like to talk about, and then it will become a sore point with you. And then as soon as you show tht it's buggin you, he'll slam the door on you, as though he was only doing you a favor to talk to you in the first place.

My advice if you want to keep your friendship with him going, is just keep it to music, and nod and say "uh huh" a lot.

Some time, look at the way Laster kisses up to him and seeks his approval and agreement all the time.

That's how Carl like it; keep everyone at arm's length and only act as advisor.

Jim

Anonymous

#13  28 December 2008 - 15:44

 

Tim,

Just keep it to the old days and music with Carl, that should be the safety zone. And you can talk about any problems you feel you're having too, because then he's in the position of wise man/counselor.

But man, if you ever have some honest valid points or concrens that make him feel intimidated about his status quo, you'll become his enemy and he'll play just as disingenuous as any other Pharisee or crooked politician that compromised principles to protect their selfish interests.

One reason you might not have to have too much concern about it is that there is not much intimidating about your beliefs. With all respect, your beliefs pretty much defeat themselves as soon as they come out of your mouth. ( "The truth is that nobody can be confident to say that they know the truth about anything." KABOOM!!!!! )

Jim

Anonymous

#14  28 December 2008 - 15:47

 

"The religions are going to blow eachother to smitherenes". KABOOM!!! It's only been 60 plus years since the a-bomb, and people of good will in all religions are still working together against the Hitlers and terrorist types.

Jim

Anonymous

#15  28 December 2008 - 15:49

 

"Your religions is a fairy tale."

KABOOOM!!!!! All kinds of historical proof for the life, teaching, miracles, and ressurection of Christ, moreso than for George Washington.

Jim

Anonymous

#16  28 December 2008 - 15:55

 

"Your religion is man-made."

KABOOM!!!!!!!

The incarnation, the burning bush, etc.

Jim

Anonymous

#17  28 December 2008 - 15:57

 

"You're an idiot!"

KABOOM!!!!

I have two degrees and I welcome challenges to my belief

Jim

Anonymous

#18  28 December 2008 - 15:58

 

"You're a bully!"

KABOOM!!!

Nope. Just ain't going to be pushed around by any.

Jim

Anonymous

#19  29 December 2008 - 03:55

 

"...All I can assume is that when I called him inconsistent on gambling and posted a G.K. Chesterton quote to make my point it was the last straw. I'm sure he has his side of the story and could explain better why he's mad at me because all I can do is speculate...." - Dorf

No need to speculate on anything Dorf. When you corner Carl, it is the first AND last straw with him.

Jim

Anonymous

#20  29 December 2008 - 17:01

 

Vindicatioooooon; sweet sweet vindication! :-D

Carl puts himself and everyone else through all of that, just so that he can continue to settle for less than the best for himself, his family and future grandchilren. Makes no sense.

I like to think of the brave ancestors that went before me that kept the roots of the family religion solid, not the rock and roll addicts who settled for a hacked-away-at shrink-to-fit version of what God handed down to us.

Jim

Anonymous

#21  02 January 2009 - 01:58

 

" godwho doesnt need a 4th character, words, and tunes"

I've been meaning to comment for a while on this statement of Carl's interests on his blog name thingy.

It's pretty obvious that the
"godwho doesnt need a 4th character" statement is a slam at my attempts for him to play it straight.

But let's step back here and think about this.

He's accusing me of acting like I am God towards him.

And what was I doing to warrant that accusation?

Asking him to give some straight answers to some straight questions about denominations and The Bible.

So, isn't it kind of childish of him? Like a child who doesn;t want his parent to tell them what to do, when they know the parent is right?

Isn't that kind of a scared angry little child way of addressing things?

Just trying to help out, not trying to insult. The beginning of a new year is a good time for us all to reflect on areas where we can improve.

Jim

Anonymous

#22  16 January 2009 - 16:31

 

Yo Byrnes!

Been trying to email you, with no
success. Give me a call when you can.

Hawbah Noights!

Rick

Anonymous

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