Ufo's, Thor's hammer & me.

 I love the off beat. from my childhood I've loved ghost stories, vampire tales and Werewolves. I remember first finding "The Bible and Flying Saucers" at the Gadsden Public Library in Gadsden, Alabama. When I wasn't searching the stacks for horror novels. I was looking for paranormal and UFO related books. 

I found UFO Twitter (Now X) and thought "wow. Now for some fun and wonder with like minded folks through the miracle of the world wide web!"  But alas. Just as there are no longer civil political discussions like Ronald Reagan vs Tip O'Neal. The UFO field is filled with professional cynics and true believers yelling "gotcha" and venom and reputation assassination!  There was a UFO book club but it didn't last long. Still YouTube is my friend. I still enjoy the wonder of a night sky and think "what if?"  So here's my blog for UFO Sunday Afternoon!

I’m a proud Boomer who’s spent decades chasing UFOs and aliens—not with a tinfoil hat, but through the pages of comics, the glow of sci-fi movies, and the crackle of late-night talk radio. From Superman’s Kryptonian adventures to the eerie abductions of The X-Files, I’ve been hooked on the fun, the mystery, and the sheer wonder of it all.

 Growing up with DC’s offbeat comics. Superman from the planet Krypton to Marvels The Mighty Thor! Those colorful pages were my first taste of the extraterrestrial, making aliens feel as epic as my favorite superheroes. Watching old reruns of black&white movies like Earth vs The Flying Saucers. As a teenager & young adult in the 70's UFOs were getting serious. Close Encounters of the Third Kind hit theaters in 1977, and I was floored. Those glowing ships and that five-note melody felt like Superman landing on Earth, full of awe and possibility. 

 It wasn’t just a movie—it was a comic book epic, minus the capes.Around then, I discovered Whitley Strieber’s Communion and Jacques Vallée’s Passport to Magonia. Strieber’s tale of gray aliens visiting his bedroom was spooky, half-expecting a tap at my window. Vallée’s idea that aliens might be mythic tricksters, like Loki in Thor’s tales, blew my mind. It's still the best treatment I've heard.  These books added depth to my ufo love, blending the wonder of Close Encounters with the mystery of my old comics.

 Mulder and Scully chasing abductions and conspiracies ‘Jose Chung’s From Outer Space’ with it's quirky humor is classic. It was the perfect mix of comics, sci-fi, and mystery.Then there was Art Bell’s Coast to Coast AM. I’d listen in my car or bedroom  radio crackling under a starry sky. Art’s voice, weaving tales of Area 51 and abductees, was like a sci-fi radio play. I remember hearing Strieber talk about Communion or the 1997 Area 51 caller hoax. Fun stuff. Those nights felt like The X-Files meets Thor’s cosmic quests, keeping me up wondering if a saucer was overhead.

 I’m still a UFO fanboy. Modern shows like Ancient Aliens are fun, but nothing beats my classics. I’ll re-watch Close Encounters on Prime Video marveling at its comic-book wonder, or scroll through an e book version of Strieber and Vallée on my Fire Tablet.  their ideas as wild as ever. The Pentagon’s UFO videos and TikTok alien memes keep the buzz alive, but for me, it’s about nostalgia—the same rush I got from comics, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, or Art Bell’s voice. I’m not waiting for disclosure; I’m just enjoying the ride, grinning like a kid who thinks Superman might spot a saucer.

Losing my religion and finding Easter!

I've been thinking a lot about death and hope lately.

Resurrection. How does someone who Was born and raised In the church. In the bible belt in Alabama. Become a liberal Jesus follower Instead of a conservative Christian.

And I'm not gonna argue about 
The MAGA movement Trump nonsense. Or the identity politics of the far left.  The Jesus that I remember And the teacher that I follow is the one that said The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. And I've Seriously come to take That means every creature on Earth. Every star in heaven.

Is a reflection of the Divine.

I personally. Feel like that. Loving your neighbor as yourself means. That you accept the right Of the existence Of people that you don't have to agree with.

But that you can understand that they're on their own Journey. When President Trump  got elected this second time.

I saw a Bishop. Stand up in a church. Maybe it's because she was lesbian. Maybe it's because she's a liberal. I don't know, but. I heard her speak. In a loving voice to power. And I was impressed. And she looked at our newly elected King at least he seems to be in some people's eyes. Sorry for the sarcasm.

And she said Mr President people are afraid. Have mercy! Have mercy! And I thought that's what Jesus would say regardless. That's what John the Baptist would say. And had his head cut off for saying it. Speaking to power the way power didn't want to hear it, have mercy. How is that
blasphemous or disrespectful? That was Christ speaking to the Pharisees. That was John speaking to Herod

and yet the pompous powers that be And the supporters of power started yelling. Heretic. She should be ashamed. Left-Wing Looney. 

 Have mercy On those. You have power over, they're afraid. Have mercy on them. Show them love. That that offended? People that I had. Been raised to look up to. The same church that had spoken of the worth of the poor and downtrodden were now offended. Have Mercy!

Born Again, Christians. It offended people because she didn't support Trump. And because those people she was talking about were gay or illegals? Different. I remember an old episode of All in the Family. Archie was on one of his rants. And at the end of his rant.

He said. Something, and it's not an exact quote, but something like. It offends God. And Edith looked at him and said very softly, then let God handle it.

I was taught to love not To rail and scream and judge. 

Resurrection, my resurrection. My faith and my beliefs have been battered. And thrown aside and trampled. My dogma got ran over a long time ago. I don't do Creeds, and I don't do Thou shalts and shalt nots. 

In my heart of hearts. I still Acknowledge the divinity and the wisdom of the one who said Love your neighbors yourself! And love the Lord, thy God, above all things. 

and in my experience all things are in the Lord, thy God. I know that. So I don't. I don't do fire and brimstone. I don't do physical bodies coming up out of Tombs.

I don't do literal interpretation of ancient parables and language I have no ability to parse every word of. There's a lot of stuff I don't do anymore. It's funny but my grasp of resurrection is similar to Paul's. What's sewn is physical. What's raised is spiritual. 

I still follow him. I still look to him. And I still see. The wisdom. And the love of God. And love for the poor and The Afflicted as he did and for the down cast.

When I first started to work
in the 80s for Etowah County. Late 80s. I got a job With the county as a tax appraiser. And I was scared every day because. I have messed up so much in my youth and I wanted to finally Get it right. Not quit a job because I was angry or lazy or scared.

Just get it right this time. And I did. But there was a man who was. Because I was listening to Christian radio. Who was always yelling the skies falling. The sky is falling buy gold buy gold. The sky is falling. Jesus is coming God's angry and buy gold your stuff and hunker down.

That man probably meant well. He passed away some years later. As we all do. But he probably meant well. But what a fear-mongering Unnecessary Dogma. And This young man. Wasted nights and days of unrest that weren't necessary so you can have your fear if you want it. You can keep it.

 I was thinking the other day. I think it's because Now that I'm in my 60s? In my late 60s.I've had heart surgery. I don't hear as well as I used to. I don't move as fast as I used to. And I don't take the little things. As seriously as I used to.

I don't care. Whether somebody thinks I look presentable or not. The way I used to
and I feel the fragility Of this body.I use a CPAP machine to breathe at night.

Not too long ago. It wasn't a near-death experience, because as far as I know. I wasn't dying. But found myself in a place of Pure white light. It was brighter than the Sun. It was so peaceful. And didn't hurt my eyes at all
And I knew in that light. Was everything and everyone that ever was, is and will be. The light is the light of God's presence. And the reality Of everything and everybody, and every creature. I knew was in that light

And it helps me sometime now. As I walk through this world. Because I mess up a lot. I screw-up relationships. I can think of a couple I've screwed up in my life that I wish I could go back and redo, but I know. They're in that light. Nothing's dead.

So, that's. My story for Resurrection Sunday. When it comes I won't be in church. I won't be wearing Easter frocks and I won't be reciting any creeds. But if you're there. And the Leader Says he is risen, and you answer. He has risen indeed. I agree.

Peace!

Happy Easter! 

Songs,poems and life

   I happened to come across two posts that I shared this week. One was a begrudging acknowledgment that the Ukraine war might not be as black and white as the Biden folks tried to claim. The other was a horrible abuse of power and false imprisonment perpetuated by the Trump administration. As a US citizen I can tell you that these days you risk losing friends and family and being branded whichever political view you claim. I personally don't do politics anymore mainly because of that. Everyone has a reason to justify  their hatred and it gets nasty. So to cleanse my mind of Donnie and Joe, JD and Bernie and all the rest I go to my love of music, comedy and the paranormal. 

With that being said I wanted to do a blog on song's that have influenced me or made me think. Now music doesn't always have to make me think for me to enjoy it. From my youthful stoned enjoyment of KISS to my drunken partying to Hank Jr. singing "Family tradition." a song is often just a good beat a loud guitar or a memory of teenage angst. Nothing especially deep. But some songs stay with me because of lyrics or the story they tell. They may or may not be my favorite. Because with songs and me it depends on my mood and time and place. So I really can't say that any one song is my favorite.

I'm also a little odd because there are times when I really don't want to hear music at all. I love to get quiet and as an introvert I can tell you that there is a difference between privacy which I enjoy and loneliness which I certainly don't enjoy.

But these are some songs that tell a story. That paint such a vivid picture that I see the scenes both of the songs and my own life that they evoke. So, this is a hate free zone. No politics, religion or hate speech. 

1. Willin by Lowell George. This was covered in the seventies by Linda Ronstadt and her cover has always stayed with me. These lyrics and her heartfelt  belting out of this song captivated me in my youth. Warped by the rain. driven by the snow. Drunk and dirty but don't you know that I'm still. Willin. It causes me to remember my mispent youth. When I would wake up after a night of crazziness and even of having suffered some abuse in a bar or an argument and still I was standing. The weed, whites and wine part just paints a picture of a long night and an early morning hangover. No, I'm not saying those are good things. Drunk, Stoned and stupid is no way to go through life. I'm just saying it paints a picture.And in my youth I could feel these lyrincs. 

2. I'm so lonesome I could cry. Hank Williams. My mother loved country music I grew up with a step dad who played the guitar and a mother who sang country music constantly. I didn't love country music. I rebelled against it. But, it still stuck As a matter of fact when arthritis isn't acting up and you hand me a six string I can play almost any song from that era From Hank to George to Merle to Loretta to Patsy Cline. But I'm so lonesome I could cry is easily the best and most vivid story song ever written. At least I think so. Just this verse alone "The silence of a falling star lights up a purple sky. And as I wonder where you are. I'm so lonesome I could cry." Or this "I"m never seen a night so long. and time goes crawling by. The moon just went behind the clouds to hide it's face and cry. And this one reminds me of a night in Altoona, Alabama back in my youth in the country."Hear that lonesome wipporwill. He sounds too blue to fly. The midnight train is whining low. I"m so lonesome I could cry."  Maybe it's because I'm Southern or maybe it's just the imagery of a lonely night. But it sticks man. 

3. Midnight Train to Georgia. Gladys Knight.

Ah Gladys Knight.Hearing her belt out this song is perfection,. "Said he's going back to find. What's left of his world.: "The world he left behind. Not so long ago." Gotta say that the thought of gong back is something we all think about and rarely if ever can do. But this man is tired. Been through enough. Wants to get back home. This woman has got to be with him. So, she's getting on that train too. I always said I wanted this song played at my funeral. For some reason this always filled me with hope. Even though I might find my body old and failing one day. I'm gonna get on that train and get back home. To where I can be who I really am. Maybe I"m reading it wrong. But art is always a personal thing in the end. so maybe I can't be wrong. 

4. When you are Old. W.B. Yeats. 

This of course isn't a song. It's a poem. Now I"m not a poem person. But this one has always spoken to me. I first heard it even though it's an old poem in the 1980's during a "New Twilight Zone" episode titled "Her Pilgrim Soul." It involed technology and research and reincarnation. The poem was read at the end and it was always spiritual for me. Some say it isn't uplifting. That it's about loss. but I don't think so. I  think it's about optimism and the passage of time which really doesn't effect love or the soul. So I'm going to type out the full poem here. It's a short one. And it's my absolute favorite.

"When you are old and grey and full of sleep, and nodding by the fire,take down this book and slowly read, and dream of the soft look your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace, and loved your beauty with love false or true.But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you. Ad loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars ,murmur a little sadly, how love fled and paced upon the mountains overhead. And hid his face among a crowd of stars...W.B. Yeats

Now I admit that sounds sad. But I always thought the face (soul) is eternal and will be revealed in all it's glory as will the face of the pilgrim soul once we are beyond the stars. Beyond this temporary world.

Welp with that I'm done with this one. It wasn't quite what I was expecting to write about today. I'm really not in a melancholy mood. But, it's always a release for me to write things down. If you read all my blabbering I thank you.

Peace!

Prayer & coffee ☕

 Coffee & Prayer from an exile

I have a life long friend who told me he never has prayed much. It got me thinking about myself. Looking at my upcoming 68th trip around the sun i realized that i have always prayed. It's certainly changed over a lifetime. From a childhood raised “in the church” as we say in the South. To a more mature evangelical and then a more progressive faith. And finally to a “religion is stupid” meditative everything is one type of faith. I'm a more “Autobiography of a Yogi” type person than an “Acts” of the apostles type these days. But at 67 years old i find my focus i is just not there to sit in meditation. So a quiet walk and earnest prayer either in my own head or softly out loud works best for me. I just hope the people i see assume i'm on my phone via Bluetooth. If that doesn't work i can always play the “ eccentric old man card.”

I think about the folks who laugh about thoughts & prayers. Even the bible says something about the pointless prattle of saying “be clothed & well fed.” Instead of taking action.

Still prayer centers me. I no longer think there's an angry old man getting his blood pressure up everytime i look at a woman or say a cuss word. But I still feel heard and valued.

A few years ago i had an experience between meditation, sleep & coming up out of a hypnogogic state. I was in a place of pure white light. Brighter than the sun but soothing and no harshness. I was in the light and i was of the light. Everything that ever was, is or will be is in the light. My ancestors, family and all that is were in the light.

It is another sign along the journey for me. I don't try and define God,Goddess,Source. I know that i’m a being of light. I know we all come from that light and i don't think religion,atheism, or anything else matters. Except to the extent you find it helpful.

The coffee was good this morning. So was the prayer 🙏 ✌️

Aliens or gathering of Angels

 A gathering of angels appeared above my head. They sang to me this song of hope and this is what they said...Styx

As i grow older i become less inhibited about letting my freak flag fly.

I was talking to a friend not long ago about UFO's and other mysteries. I mentioned that i have always been fascinated by accounts of alien abduction and lights in the sky. She had a personal reason for not being comfortable with UFO stories and i respect that. 

I said if a UFO landed i'd run up to it and take off. My friend was horrified at the thought. But i was thinking.

I've grown old. I've had heart surgery and i'm developing some twinges in my hands and legs. I'm well into my 60's. I'd take my chances on one awesome adventure at this stage in life 

"I thought that they were angels. Much to my surprise. We climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies....Styx"

It's funny because i'm not a bolts and nuts science fiction fan. I remember not being able to keep my eyes open during the movie "Alien" it was so slow and dark when it started.

But thinking of craft from another dimension. Of worlds and wonders beyond the same old,same old is fun.

"Hey Mr Spaceman. Would you take me along. I won't do anything wrong. Would you take me along for a ride...The Byrds

I follow the thread on UFO'S on X formerly known as UFO Twitter. I innocently thought it would be full of starry eyed folks like me discussing how awesome the universe is. 

But it's full of people worrying about demons, false government conspiracy and debunkers who act like any wonder or hope about the universe has to be squashed immediately in the name of rationality and their own view of what constitutes science.

I just want to walk out under the stars and put an old Art Bell Coast to Coast radio show on in the background and star watch and wonder. Did i just see that star move?

Peace!

While going down the rabbit hole of UFO'S and aliens and maybe time traveling humans. After all what if the Grays and Nordics and other alien species are our own future humans trying to prevent an apocalypse?

Well anyway while thinking of stuff i ran across an old Brownsville Station song called the Martian Boogie.

I'm too lazy to write out the lyrics but if you do a little youtube,google research it's not hard to find. 

One line mentions some martian cigarettes. Maybe it's the rock and roll and memories of youthful nights of my misspent youth in a haze of beer and wacky terbacky followed by a run out to Walnut Grove Alabama on 278 to get a greasy burger basket at Scruggs Truck Stop. 

The 70's were a little bit more unenlightened about driving while under the influence.  But the song lyrics took me back.

After all old men like to think of long ago blonde haired women in halter tops and dark haired women at the bar. how cold the beer tasted and the warm smell of colitas rising up through the air. It's all harmless memories as long as you remember being drunk and stoned is no way to go through life. 

But every once in awhile i forget the arthritis in my hands and grab my guitar. 

Then i travel back somewhere between rural Etowah County and Gadsden. The stars are bright and the moon is full and i swear if they ain't serious those aliens better not land. Cause I'm climbing aboard! 

"Come sail away, come sail away. Come and sail away with me...Styx"

Rock&Roll

 

So. I hear the world as we know it is ending Tuesday unless he or she gets elected! I hear life as we know it will be forever changed. Well as an old boomer my life has already changed. So send in the clowns.

That doesn't make sense? Well neither does rooting for a politician. 

When i was young i would sometimes have trouble falling asleep. So i'd choose major league baseball all star teams position by position until i fell asleep. 

I later in life started meditating and if you google Yoga Nidra i highly recommend it for getting to sleep. 

But i also like to think of stuff i enjoy and am thankful for whenever the world seems unstable. 

You have to be a certain age (old as dirt) to remember. But back in the day we had rock stations that would play complete albums at night. I was thinking of that today.

Birmingham, Alabama had one that was written up in Rolling Stone Magazine. Back before google, tic tock and Facebook magazines were a big thing and when it came to rock there was none bigger than Rolling Stone!

I can still hear the DJ late at night talking about the albums calling them restaurant menu style:

Tonight we have some Skynard followed up by some Zeppelin with a little Sabbath. Later we're serving up some Queen and some Heart. Then we're going deep into some Floyd and following up with Rondstat and a little Wet Willie. 

It was a great time to be young and to be into music. So i'm going to list some of my favorite albums. I wish i could hear that B-ham "pilot of the Airwaves" counting them down one more time. 

1. One of These Nights...Eagles

Why i love it: the last great classic Eagles album. They were leaving some of the early 70's California sound behind and heading towards Hotel California. This one has Randy Meiesner and Bernie Leadon still blending perfect harmony. Don Felder solidifying the changes that were coming. My favorite album from my favorite band.

2. Rumors...Fleetwood Mac.

Why i love it: Stevie Nicks bet ya saw that one coming. But also Christine Mcvee and her piano doing "For You " along with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie putting their marks on the band. Fleetwood Mac was a really Good deeper and more serious British band. But the addition of the 2 Americans and the more energetic pop sound lit a fire.

3. Queen...News of the World.

Why i love it: Freddie Mercury. Wow! He is in full throated talent which this album. He does a piano solo called "Melancholy Blues" that is unforgettable.

4. Styx...The Grand Illusion 

Why i love it: This album has one of my all time favorites "Come Sail Away."

There are also songs i remember loving and certain places and people i associate with them. 

"Day after Day"...Bad Company 

Why i love it: a middle school gym and a childhood friend that i suddenly realized was a good looking girl. 

Slow Ride...Foghat

Why i love it: A hot Southern night, beer and a certain blond haired crush.

Witchy Woman...Eagles

Why i love it: did i mention blond haired women and Pony Miller's?

Sunday Morning Coming Down...Johnny Cash

Why i love it: Way back before the internet and satellite TV and Walmart. Sunday hit different. And if you were a young man who had imbibed a few too many on Saturday night. Sunday could be a long dry soul searching day.

Honorable Mention: Steve Miller Band "Fly like an Eagle." I once traded this 8 track after partying to much for the legendary piece of crap "Frampton Comes Alive " Talk about buyers remorse the next day. People shouldn't take advantage of young men who stupidly drink themselves silly. Another good reason to stay sober.

Albums and artists i hate. 

1. Frampton Comes Alive...Did i ever mention i hate this album?

2. Bruce Springsteen...Dear Bruce,

I hear you're a pretty good dude. It's not personal. It's just that your music makes me want to lose my hearing until you shut up! You're the most depressing artist i've ever come across. You should go on a long slow lifetime cruise to China.

PS: please take Peter Frampton with you. 

Peace!

Relationship in Autumn

 I found a leaf in the yard today.So, I looked at this Leaf. Thinking about, How fast life has gone. And I'm walking out. By my car that needs some work. In a body that probably needs some work. And there's this orange leaf. Turned by the Fall. And it's beautiful. I look at it  the reddish orange colors blending with black.

It's got holes in it. It's tattered. It's brittle. But it's still beautiful.

That's kind of what old age is feeling like to me.

A little shaky 

A little more fragile. But sometime when the light hits just right. The colors hit just right. It's still beautiful. Life is a gift. I think it's part of a long journey. I've come to feel, there's nothing but being And we get in these vehicles, these bodies. And we travel through a lifetime.

And the one thing that I have found, That I have held on to is relationship. I think that's all. That's what it's about. Relationship. And sometimes you find somebody from your tribe. You just light up. Sometimes you see somebody or you, miss somebody, you haven't seen for a long time.

The very Consciousness that Produces that leaf. The source of life. Doesn't die when the leaf does.

And that leaf, maybe produces and mingles with more life as it deteriorates Into the ground. I don't know. I'm not a Philosopher.

And I'm not a theologian.

But that's just one of the things I have found on my journey. I've seen a lot of beautiful People. Even people I didn't know were beautiful at the time. They're beautiful in my memory. And there's part of me that Because I do feel strongly life is an eternal journey see it all as a Continuum.

Sometimes I can't wait to drop This body I inhabit. Get to the next phase. But if you put a gun to my head right now, I'd beg for my life, this life

But if you said, what's it all about, That would be my answer. Relationship.

I've blown so many and was oblivious to even more. I lived with my head up my butt most of my life. But now in the Fall with Winter coming. I like to think about the Spring. When the leaves will be green again and relationships thought lost will prove to be found. 

I don't much follow religious dogma these days. But i follow the hope that all religions at their best point towards. The healing and finding relationships and the journey home.