Cheat Day…

I like to put something up here as often as I can, but, as I’ve said recently, I’m more likely to take my time on a piece now rather than throw it out there in a hurry. I’ve got something in the works, but it’s taking a lot of thought. I don’t want to shortchange the subject matter, so I’m taking my time.

But I still want to fill a day with something. I find that if I just get to writing, something comes of it, but still, it’s 7:30 PM right now, and I’m a morning person. Anything that I free-flow right now is going to be less than a great effort.

Back in the days of “I’m going to blog something every day for a year,” there were days I just put up something to which I was listening, or something I was reading. I suppose if you looked at all those “cheat days” as a whole, you might learn something about me. Thinking about it myself, I can see certain patterns. Is my life really that one-tracked and dull? Well, not really…I suppose (although that statement itself is a bit lukewarm). I mean, I’m sure I could ramble for awhile. I could talk about the book I’m reading (The Goldfinch, at the recommendation of my niece) and the pattern (the meter?) of the author’s writing (generally: two short, chopped, descriptive phrases followed by a flowing conclusion (I’ll have to dig up a few examples sometime)) — and how I’d like to emulate that at times as she does so naturally. I mean, Pulitzer Prize and all; you’d probably conclude that it’s a damn good book (and it most certainly is).

But yeah, that would be rambling. Nothing wrong with that, I guess.

I could also say that I’m working on a haiku about leaf blowers in autumn. I’ve written haiku before on a lark. ‘Haiku as a joke. Nothing serious really. Just three lines of junk.’ I know good haiku. It’s exquisite — and that’s high praise from me, because I normally think the word “exquisite” is pretentious.

However, there is a purpose in my writing tonight — it’s that I’ve listened to Pink Floyd’s album Animals several times over the past few days. It’s a decent soundtrack to whatever I’m doing (including writing this right now). Many would consider their album The Wall as their most triumphant — their absolute greatest piece of work. But, as an album…as a real piece of work that’s filled with power and message, Animals is the one that should hold the position of honor. Yeah, it was panned by critics in some circles, and maybe even not liked that much by members of the band itself, but as a work of art, it’s powerful. Gilmour’s guitar work is epic and certainly among his best. Waters’s lyrics are incredible. The entire album just demands to be cranked up with a great set of headphones so that one can hear every note — and every chirp, bleat, and bark.

Who knows. Maybe it’s my familiarity with it all that has me excited about it. Knowing what’s coming, but liking it anyway. Perhaps that’s really the test of great music. I don’t know. Listen (if not here, wherever or however you can — I’m in Korea, so I can’t tell whether what I’m posting below is blocked elsewhere). If anything, listen especially for the wide range of what Gilmour is doing on the guitar. Enjoy it in its entirety. The whole thing tells a story. Figure it out if you don’t know already…