a few clowns short

Bucket

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:45:44 +0000

Bucket List

I don’t like the idea of a bucket list. I thought about this when I woke up this morning.

Maybe the concept of a bucket is not bad. The idea of a to-do list before kicking the bucket just seems problematic. Other than the stupid answer "start it today", at what age should we start listing these things? Why place the very dead deadline to this? Does checking off an item mean you can’t repeat that item? Does a to-do-list imply a schedule? Death is not scheduled.

I don’t have a bucket list. Considering time and unknown opportunities, I would rather instead think of a life bucket. My life bucket idea includes events, moments, and memories associated with feelings. You might travel to experience these feelings or you might not.

Experiencing new moments of good feelings are things I to add to my life bucket. But I’m not trying to compete with anyone or any timeline.

The best is having someone to share in filling up your life bucket and being able to add to their life bucket.

Pondering important things reminds my Sheryl Crow’s lyrics: “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.”

Here's another Sheryl Crow song, "Still the Good Old Days".

a bucket of shells

Also, I enjoy sharing my thoughts on my blog. Posting my thoughts keeps memories in my life bucket.

Blowin' in the wind

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:57:00 +0000

Thoughtful words set to music can send a message people remember.

How many violent ICE attacks on our streets before we vote for change?

I hope the answer blows into the voting booth this fall.

What I want for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:19:00 +0000

Well I have my two front teeth but they are chipped. No my Christmas list is not about my looks. People's health and well-being is always on the list. Wishing you a Merry Christmas must include your physical and mental health for you to be merry. Oh, the Christmas holiday has been the tradition in my life BUT my wish of joy goes out to all no matter tradition you celebrate.

I don't really have a Christmas list as in a written down ordered list. Given the insane executive branch of our off-the-rails government, my wish to the universe is to give America a break from our reality star president and the awful people on his cabinet.

The commander of destruction offers this terrible picture of our White House this season.

White House picture copied from WTOP

Even worst are his attacks both physical and verbal around the world. My complaints are too long for a post here.

I'll leave it for now and try to find joy in celebrating. Wishing you the best in finding that joy.

more words more thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 02:54:00 +0000

In the future when AI controls the world will we still need to write down our thoughts?

It moose be done

I'm not using AI to write a post. However, I might steal some words from lyrics that I find have meaning.

for example - "I don't know when that road turned into the road I'm on." (thanks Jackson Brown)

Actually I'm thankful to be on a road and not stuck in a ditch spinning my wheels. I even have a traveling companion now so life is good. I thought I might write something about aging but I forgot what it was. Oh aging.

"Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now" (thanks Bob Dylan)

Isn't it odd, that when I was young I wanted to act older. Now that I'm older I try to act younger. My mind thinks young but my joints tell me otherwise.

"I don't need you to worry for me, 'cause I'm alright."

(thanks Billy Joel)

But I'm running behind.

round numbers

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Sat, 24 May 2025 15:35:00 +0000

You know the numbers with big round zeros on the end, such as 70, 80, or even 100. I've had 7 of the decade numbers go by. Overall, this makes me feel fortunate.

2000? It wasn't the end of world. Maybe just the start of it's downfall?

We all learn to count in base 10, or decimal. Many of you might know there are other useful numbering systems. Hexadecimal is base 16. Hex numbers are used in computer code because it is easier to write long strings of 1's and 0's. The 10 in hex is 16 in decimal. What if counted our years in hex?

Using the hexadecimal system, I don't think I would ever reach 70 hex (112 decimal). I hope to reach 50 hex which is 80 decimal. However our minds would adjust to the this system. Before long 50 hex would feel and be consider really old.

Are you still with me?

Did you make it pass the nerdy math talk?

Recently, I found a Dire Straits song titled "Why Worry". The lyrical parts are shorter than the instrumental parts.

My favorite phrase from the song:

Why worry?

There should be laughter after pain

There should be sunshine after rain

These things have always been the same

So why worry now?

Life is strange, dreams are stranger.

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 17:16:00 +0000

You don't need to live long before you realize life is strange. Good people die and bad people live.

As you cruise along a smooth highway an idiot flies around you and cuts you off. Too many clowns for just one circus.

However, our dreams are even stranger and often scary. I woke up today angry from a nightmare (is 'nightmare' the right word for a frustrating nonsensical dream?).

your destination appears far and difficult

Years ago I combined bits of my dreams with my imagination and created a nightmare. Here's the post of it: "free nightmare for the taking".

let's get philosophical

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:12:00 +0000

Getting physical, as Olivia Newton-John sang, will get you moving. Thinking, discussing philosophical ideas might move your mind. Both can make you sleepy in the end.

I've heard it. I've seen it on a t-shirt. Life is a journey.

Notice that "journey" has "our" inside it. Most of my journey was an "our" journey. My "our" group changed over the years. I believe their impact on me still remains even though we went different ways or their journey ended.

My universe (don't we all get a personal universe that we can share?) has given me a second chance to join another drifter off to see the world. This new sharing of the journey has been refreshing and exciting. At the moment (many greats moments lately) it seems we're after the same rainbow's end. (yeah I was listening to "Moon River")

Ok, I know I can talk too long. Going too deep in explaining my logic. Yeah, not everyone (anyone?) cares about my logic.

SHUT UP AND DANCE WITH ME.

=====

Some older notes left over from when I started this post:

Cicadas are (were) here. (oh I took so long to finish this post that most all of them have left - thank God)

cicada on a stick

What a life - live underground for 17 years, pop out get wings to fly, party, mate and then die.

From the song - “Suicide is Painless”

...
A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'

(go ask a cicada!)

what a fool believes

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:17:00 +0000

Feeling a bit of a fool lately. Those that have followed this blog know that I enjoy interpreting lyrics. Often an old song from my past will offer new meaning in my present. Other times it's just life memories of when I first listened to the song. Some of you have commented on how this new meaning/connection of an old song has happened to you.

What's up, What's down

Remember the Dobbie Brothers hit song "What A Fool Believes"?

Here's the first few lines:

He came from somewhere back in her long ago
The sentimental fool don't see
Tryin' hard to recreate
What had yet to be created once in her life
She musters a smile for his nostalgic tale
Never coming near what he wanted to say
Only to realize it never really was

Yeah you can't recreate something that was never created.

weird ad for me

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:46:00 +0000

I'm in CCC (Curious Confused Clown) mode right now.

Didn't give them permission to use my name

As I was ~~trolling~~ scrolling through FB the other day, an ad video clip came up that I found funny. I watched it but didn't understand why their algorithm would selected me as a potential buyer. Their ad matching failed with me. I decided I needed to share the ad but not buy the product.

Have you heard of "tactical pants". I have not.

Being a senior I don't need tactical pants. Maybe strategical pants. Comfortable pants that could remind me about my daily stuff and prevent falling down. The ad shows many of features of these pants. Hopefully, the ad clip will play here.

No pants will help me kick my leg up. Pants helping put my shoes on quicker would be nice. I don't need to tow a car with my pants. HOWEVER it would offer a great reason to take your pants off if you were offering assistance to stranded lady on the side of the road. (is that tactical or strategical??)

How many rings of performers does your circus have now?

December rhymes with September

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 04:19:00 +0000

"Do you remember
The 21st night of September?
...."
OR
"Do you remember
The 25th night of December?
...."

Earth, Wind & Fire changed their hit "September" for a Christmas album.

September or December? Maybe the important word for me is remember. My memory of this last September doesn't rhyme with my December. My sad September brings me dreary December.

I had both cheers and tears for Christmas.

I did have support from the family so it was not too bad but still very different. Should I expect it to always be different? I think so. But different can still allow for joy.

Back to that Earth Wind & Fire song, someone thought they could make a Halloween version by using October.

New Post - that's what the button said

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Yeah clicking on the "New Post" just opens up a blank post. The hard part is coming up with something to write in it.

I learned another bit of slang the other day from my grandkids. Dap up (or dapping) is a stylized gesture of greeting with your hands. It's a few moves past a fist bump. All the kids do it but not this old man with some arthritis in his fingers.

top of head in the morning

I heard moping is not a good coping strategy.

Better than moping I found my interest in lyrics provides a good distraction. Lately I find myself studying the lyrics to old favorite songs. Using Spotify or just looking up lyrics is quick and simple today.

I thought the title for the Cowsill's song used in my post today was "I Love the Flower Girl" but it's not. The real title is "The Rain, the Park & Other Things". (not very catchy IMHO)

Was she reality or just a dream to me?(I love the flower girl)Her love showed me the way to find a sunny day(Sunny day, sunny day)

Was she reality or just a dream to me?

Since the flower girl disappears when the sun breaks through, I say the song is about a dream. There are many songs about dreams. The song didn't get pass number 2 on the charts. The number 1 spot at the time was "Daydream Believer". In my extensive research (at least an hour) I discovered the rain sound at the beginning of the song was a recording of bacon sizzling (I might dream about that tonight)

(Thank you for reading my post. Check back for another post from Lisleman's think tank and psychic center. (oh honestly it's not much of a tank. More like a saucer dish which might dry up over winter.)

My abbreviation CCC

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 21:01:00 +0000

Abbreviation can be abbreviated as abbr. Ok, so much language trivia. On to the post.

I'm searching for a sign

but I should get out more

On a my walk today, I talked to a squirrel

This says it all.

Oh yeah the abbr.

CCC stands for Curious Confused Clown.

It's been a strange month so far.

Two lines from "Goin' Back":

"...

But thinking young and growing older is no sin

And I can play the game of life to win

..."

Unanswered questions

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 02:17:00 +0000

Not all questions are as consequential as say, “what’s the meaning of life?”. I have sometimes pondered that serious question. The result was either an incomplete answer or a headache.

More often a question forms as my mind drifts along while listening to songs.

Here’s a recent example:
Which woman was that witchy woman the Eagles sang about?

She probably made her appearance during the witching hour.

I just want an answer

I have more. (a reason to keep reading)

Why can't more public restrooms be little temples?

The public restrooms mentioned in the sign above were worth the visit. They were functional and stylish which is a much needed approach to improve public restrooms.

😕

Next question to ponder.

I remember listening to this song back in the 60's. Even though we had no idea what the words meant we listen over and over. It had a catchy tune and some whistling. It was number 1 on the charts for a few weeks.

Can songs in foreign languages still become hits in countries having very few listeners that understand that language today? Do remember this song?

👴

I enjoy listening to the song “Save The Last Dance For Me” but the guy is either over-confident about his relationship or wants to test his girl’s willpower to temptation. Since I never impressed dance partners with a great show of my dancing ability, I knew my last dance would be compared to her other dancer partners that night. My question is why bring the competition of others to your relationship?

However that said, this clip of Bruce Springsteen dancing with his mom shows how the song can make sense. A very sweet video that’s worth watching.

Oh my darling

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 20:10:00 +0000

Bits of lyrical advice

It seems many of the lyrics of the classic rock songs have more meaning/messages than most lyrics today. This idea of mine is certainly biased. Accurate or not, that idea created the reason for this post.

Best case you might pick up some useful thoughts here. At least, I hope you are prompted to leave a comment.

So in no particular arrangement here are lines/phrases from my favorite lyrics: (oh with the extensive search capabilities on the web I’m sure you can find the song related to these lyrics)

Crossing a tree bridge

But it’s all right now, in fact it’s a gas
But it’s all right, I’m jumping Jack Flash

Wild thing, you make my heart sing,
you make everything groovy.

Oh, and she never gives out,
she never gives in,
she just changes her mind.

Remember what the dormouse said,
feed your head.

You can’t always get what you want,
but if you try sometime, you’ll find
you get what you need.

You can check out any time you like,
but you can never leave.

The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast

It’s not having what you want,
It’s wanting what you’ve got.

Some days I feel alright,
Some days I can’t wait until it’s night,
Some days you gotta face that light.

Don’t surround yourself with yourself.

Wildflowers don’t care where they grow.

A weema weh, a weema weh…
(ok just a catchy sound)

And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
‘Til touchdown brings me ‘round again to find
I’m not the man they think I’m at home.

You know you ain’t get younger
Your pain and your hunger are drivin’ you home
And freedom, oh freedom
Well that’s just some people talking
Your prison is walking through this world all alone

We go to a party and everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady that's walking around with me
And then she asks me "Do you feel all right?"
And I’ll say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight"

----------------

I’ll change this one for my blog:
You can check out any time you like,
but you can leave a comment.

A different morning

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 13:32:00 +0000

Morning has broken. Unlike the many mornings of this year.

When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

I admit that mind trick has worked for me a few times. Seems lately it doesn’t work quite as well. Maybe I’ve become allergic to whiskers on kittens. No not really, the reason is my caregiver duty has ended. My wife's spirit has left her body. Here’s her obituary if you would like to learn more about this wonderful lady.

Here's a couple of songs that I find calming.

Gimme some coolin

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 02:26:00 +0000

Please read carefully as my words have changed. (I aspire to select thoughtful words.)

Hey

Well, my temperature's rising, and my feet on the floor
Crazy people knocking 'cause they're wanting some more
Let me in, baby, I don't know what you got
But you better take it easy, this place is hot

Gimme some coolin

cold snow coolin

July 2023 - record setting heat especially for wide areas of the southwest US. Now, I must point out that I do not live in the southwest. This national heat wave story must of been on my mind when I listening to an old favorite song, "Gimme Some Lovin" by the Spence Davis Group. Just change one word in the lyrics to "coolin" and maybe it could bring a bit of attention to our climate crisis.

While I'm just a blogger who enjoys lyrics of mostly classic rock, I hope we work harder to change our ways and invent new methods to mitigate the many effects of our climate crisis.

This recent heat dome missed where I live this past month. Other effects did come to the area. Flooding, and wildfire smoke have caused problems.

Better take it easy 'cos the place is on fire
Been a hard day and I don't know what to do

As I age, I’m thinking of changing the ‘B’ on my Bucket List to an ‘F’. What do you think?

drift zone

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 03:21:00 +0000

While I was out wandering (drifting?) the internet a few days ago, I stumbled onto ~~amazing~~ ~~stories~~ some odd stuff to post.

"As we drift into the zone"

"Drift" and "zone" combine in my head to mean that moment you unconsciously slide into automatic thinking/creating. The drift into the zone line comes from the lyrics of "Island In The Sun" by Weezer. The song was in a list of relaxing songs I was listening to.

If you do an image search for "drifting" you'll see plenty of race cars going sideways with tires billowing smoke.

This type of racing reminds me more of the ridiculous fantasy car commercials of today than the auto racing I watched growing up. I guess the drivers get into the zone while sliding down the track sidewise. I wondered if that many car buyers let their fantasy decide their purchase.

Drifting over to news stories on the internet (pardon the burning tire smell), I learned entrepreneur, Joseph Pedott, died at the age of 91 recently. Mr. Pedott's company made a fortune selling chia pets.

Chia pet research lead to a chia pet car. I didn't get into the chia zone but I found the video by the creator of a chia car very interesting. She probably got into some type of zone while creating her chia car.

I'm zoned out for now and will soon drift to sleep. Later.

a family promo

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 01:14:00 +0000

I have some ideas for my next post but different events took precedence over those ideas. The ideas wait.

While I wait on those ideas, today I learned our daughter-rabbit-owner has a new side gig. Actually her two rabbits have the side gig but they would only eat any revenue so don't show them the money.

Meet Polar and Nordy at work

Eating plays a decisive role in her latest idea. Daughter-rabbit-owner feeds Polar and Nordy a rich diet of premium hay, herbal blends, and pellets. This produces a waste product that should not go to waste.

Daughter-rabbit-owner is now selling Polar's and Nordy's manure (scat, berries, poop, whatever) as a cold fertilizer for your garden.

Please check out her website called Polar & Nordy Bunny Berries.

Thank you.

About 25 or 6 to 4

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Thu, 25 May 2023 23:04:00 +0000

It was about 25 or 6 to 4 when it happened.

the break of day - oh is that when the day breaks you?

I’m searching for something to say for this post.

Flashing lights against the sky, oh the police!

Giving up, I close my eyes, my attempt to sleep again.

I never could sit cross-legged on the hardwood floor.

I find myself staring blindly into space. My back hurts.

Don’t splash my face. Be nice.

Wondering how much I can fake.

Feeling like I ought to sleep

Spinning room is sinking deep

Searching for something to say

Waiting for the words of my post.

That’s all I have to say about 25 or 6 to 4. How about you?

Simple

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Fri, 05 May 2023 18:20:00 +0000

As much as we wish, life is not simple for humans.

Enjoying a view

I guess a creature needs the ability to contemplate their life to realize it is complicated.

While at the stoplight, I listened to Willie sing this today. The lyrics touched my emotions.

whoa-oh

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 21:39:00 +0000

I've got troubles, whoa-oh.

I've got worries, whoa-oh.

I need to find that feeling down in my shoes. Maybe I should take off my slippers and put on some shoes. Then I might be able to walk away my blues.

I need to move out of this.

No good being a hot head about it.

Comfort food?

Easier to stay in bed but shouldn't.

Don’t give a hoot

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:50:00 +0000

I don’t give a hoot.

I should say, I rarely give a hoot. I’m not the rowdy type. During my teens and twenties, I gave a hoot more often. I tried to be careful not to get the boot.

I suspect the slang word, hoot, has been dropped into the slang bin. Language constantly morphs.

A good comedian often creates a hoot of a character. Lily Tomlin created the hoot, Ernestine, the telephone operator.

In the end all we have is words. Words to share. Words to remember.

FYI, I’ve disclaimed my disclaimer so no need to present it here. Really, I don’t give a hoot. But if you do, the comment box is open.

sound memories

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 20:25:00 +0000

Just a short post about my recent memory of a sound.

With your mind's eye think about the following sounds.

not pleasant

common sound

shocking sound

Now that I have you thinking of sounds and the possible memories they evoke, I need to give you a little background for this post.

Years ago we decided to add a voice activated gadget to our kitchen. I posted about this gadget made by Google called Home Mini. (here's a link to the that post)

I listen to music to relax or just travel to some imaginary place. If I'm cleaning some dishes (ok, it's not a task I'm at all eager to do) I often have our gadget play some music.

Also, one of our adult kids have given me access to their Spotify account. I enjoy Spotify (odd name for it IMHO).

Just one more background item. Days before Christmas, I heard the sound of water running coming from our basement. Unless the washing machine was being run this sound needed further investigating quickly. Also our washing machine is much quieter than what I heard.

Our hot water heater sprung a leak and we sprung into action after a bit of confusion. The end result was having a new water heater as a house Christmas present. BTW, Santa doesn't include installation.

My memory of rushing water disturbed me when I heard it in "so-called relaxation" music. There's a relaxation album on Spotify that is agitating to me.

I know people react differently to the same sound. Listening to rushing water might be relaxing, but not for me.

Oh here's a relaxing song IMHO.

Endings

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 21:24:00 +0000

Ending of the week, weekend. Ending of the year, year end. Unless you are in a business meeting, “year end” does not come up often in conversation. Instead, we say new year and focus on the hope for the new year. I like “new year” vs. “year end”, but the transition is the same moment in time.

Do we get conditioned by books and movies to expect happy endings? Those are other people’s stories not your own. I say, most people have hope and if you have hope then you might expect a happy ending to your own story.

Over the hill - what hill? There are many obstacles faced in life. It seems that obstacles that were minor annoyances in my past appear as insurmountable now. Dealing with frequent changes has become a bigger problem. Is my final stage (stage? phase? no stage needed to act) not meeting my expectations?

The world changed and I changed but not in sync with those world changes.

I’m stealing the following line from the Jim Croce song, “Age” for advice about hills and climbing.

I’ll be careful while
I’m climbin’ ‘cause it
hurts a lot to drop

I’ll dig up some hope for next year. I’m reminded of the saying, “if I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.”

Love and Mercy

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Lisleman) — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 19:19:00 +0000

When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

I admit that mind trick has worked for me a few times. Seems lately it doesn’t work quite as well. Maybe I’ve become allergic to whiskers on kittens.

No post here for all of November? My time last month for the most part was occupied in sharing joyful activities. My wife and I both got sick at the end of the month. No fun for about a week.

I shared good food and time with family.

We traveled to warm place for awhile

Recently as I was exploring songs on spotify I came across a Brian Wilson song from the 1980’s titled “Love and Mercy”. As I looked up more about the song I discovered that the title was used for the Brian Wilson biopic (2014). That film tells how Brian struggled under his crazy controlling psychotherapist. Finding love saved him eventually. If you haven’t seen the film, it is well worth you time.

I found this beautiful cover of the song. Libera performed for Brian at the Kennedy Center Honors (2007).

Love and mercy that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

~~~~~~~~~~

When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember to post on my blog
And then I don't feel so bad