A Travelin’ Music homage to trusty Ol’ Blue
Until this week, I could brag that I was still on my first wife and my first car.
Not any longer. I’m keeping my girl as long as she’ll have me, but we’ve officially parted ways with the 1980 Toyota Corolla — “Old Blue” — that we bought new off the lot more than 30 years ago. Over the years, it had become part of the family, part of the landscape in which we lived. Our two daughters — both off on lives of their own by now — expressed shock and disbelief at the announcement. And when my wife posted the news on Facebook, the responses varied from surprise to melancholy:
“Omg you still had that car!!?!! Whoa!!”
“Ohhh, not the Little Engine That Could! I remember it well…in fact, can’t imagine you without it.”
“WOW! The car I learned how to drive standard with in Oregon. Even Mai is getting teary eyed now and she never sat in it.”
“Jay looks a little sad in that photo, if you ask me. I always liked the beautiful blue color of that car, and I remember the joy of driving it one time when you let me borrow it to go out on a story when my car was in the shop. I understand your sentimentality. Mary cried when we sold our blue van that our kids grew up with and that took us on many a vacation.”
The car has seen a lot of road, some of it rough and some of it smooth, just like the rest of us. And while the air conditioner’s busted, the radio doesn’t work, the headlight switch is fickle and it’s got some dings in it, the engine is sound and she’s got a lot of miles still in her.
They just won’t come with me driving it. She ended up in good hands, sold to a college-student friend in need of transportation who’s willing to give her the care she needs. I’m sure we’ll still see her from time to time, and smile when we do.
So of course, all of that’s just a long-winded way of saying that tonight’s theme is … car songs!
– Jay Bookman
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357 comments Add your comment
Soothsayer
July 22nd, 2011
10:51 pm
Thulsa: I’m more than shall we say “acquainted” with Johnny’s. It’s just that where I live, it is, shall we say, “counterproductive” to drive home unless you are dead-straight sober.
Thulsa Doom
July 22nd, 2011
10:54 pm
Brocephus,
Yeah you and me can be just like Alabama and AU at times- the 2 brothers that don’t always get along. But that’s cool. In the end us Alabama boys still gotta stick together some too. Since you’re from the same area you’re probably like me in that you make it a point to let people know the Commodores are from right up the street in Tuskegee. That’s what got me started into some of the funk of the 70s. Good pick on the James Brown. Makes me wanna scream Hu. Or Ahhhk, or whatever gutteral sounds emanted from the man.
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
10:54 pm
Boogie man?!!?
Whatever you do then, don’t let go!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR6SKLE8nZM
Soothsayer
July 22nd, 2011
10:55 pm
Well, now, I know Bruno is sort of a “firebrand” while RW is more cerebral. But there’s no reason you guys should be enemies. Especially since you’re on the “same team” and all.
1811/0311
July 22nd, 2011
10:56 pm
Jay:
Those two photos at the top don’t match. Don’t you need some hair color? I just need hair.
Soothsayer
July 22nd, 2011
10:57 pm
Thulsa: let me know, we can all ride down to Johnny’s in your limo! LOL!
josef
July 22nd, 2011
10:57 pm
matti
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
10:58 pm
Doom
I don’t even think James knew what he was sayin’ at times. I never got to meet any of the Commodores, but my grandmother used to talk about them all the time because of some of the girls they dated. I don’t think they ever dated any family, but from the stories I heard, they were not too far off.
1811/0311
July 22nd, 2011
11:00 pm
Well, I never thought I would see this come to pass in my lifetime but then I never expected to have an “unknown” president either:
Headline: “Obama Certifies End to Military’s Gay Ban on September 20th”
A couple of comments:
1) It wasn’t a gay ban ……. or an adulterer ban …… or even a farm boy I like sheep ban ……… it was just keep it to yourself.
2) Our military won’t disintegrate ………….. but it will never again be as good as it could be especially once this really hits the infantry ranks.
3) “Do Ass, Do Tail” ……………. let ‘er rip (no pun intended).
Soothsayer
July 22nd, 2011
11:00 pm
“Those two photos at the top don’t match. Don’t you need some hair color? I just need hair.”
Fortunately, I don’t need either. Even at my age I still have a full head of hair and believe or not MOST of it is still the same color! Whether or not you become bald (for men) is passed from your Mother. If your Mother’s Father is bald, usually you will be.
JamVet
July 22nd, 2011
11:01 pm
Mattie, everybody needs some Klymaxx. (Enormous sh*teating grin.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glhdcJ7K3XM
Thulsa Doom
July 22nd, 2011
11:02 pm
Sooth,
I’ll tell you what. Johnny’s is one of them places that you never plan. It just happens. But next time I’m down there or planning on going down there I’ll let you know on this board. And if you ever see a 40ish athletic black guy with an athletic and bigger white guy same age in that bar with 2 smoking hotties then you’ll know its me- the white guy. The black guy is my best friend in ATL and my workout partner at the gym. He’s an awesome wing man and I don’t know what it is but he’s just got that charisma that just reels in the women of every stripe. He would be the one that all the women seem to gravitate to. The 2 smoking hotties are just friends of ours. They serve as wing men and if we go to Johnny’s we always take them. There is nothing in the world better than 2 girls that are 10s that are wing men. I’ll introduce you to them. Both are just crazy party girls but fun and down to earth at the same time. You just can’t be intimidated by their superhotness.
josef
July 22nd, 2011
11:04 pm
hate to run, but
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndChcyOAEcs
Thulsa Doom
July 22nd, 2011
11:06 pm
Sooth,
I’m too cheap to rent a limo but funny you should say that. My buddy that I was talking about won a free 4 hour limo trip to be used this year and he hasn’t used it yet. I gotta talk to his ass about that.
Soothsayer
July 22nd, 2011
11:07 pm
All right! I know that I’m going to labeled as a crass commercialist for posting this but, JUST DAMN! If this ain’t what it is, I don’t know what “it” is!
JamVet
July 22nd, 2011
11:08 pm
Or there is this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkT8W6u81Ks
Thulsa Doom
July 22nd, 2011
11:10 pm
Brosephus,
I don’t even think James knew what he was sayin’ at times.- Bro
Hell I don’t think he did either. But dang if he didn’t sound good just utttering whatever the hell he was saying. He could have been saying nonsensical crazy uncle rants and it still sounded good.
I don’t have any commodore stories. Matter of fact I never even met anyone who said they knew them- kind of in violation of the law of 6 degrees of separation. I wonder how many kids in Montgomery today even know about the dores? White or black it can’t be many.
Soothsayer
July 22nd, 2011
11:12 pm
It’s settled then. We’re all gonna meet at Johnny’s! Thulsa and his friend with muscles where most of us don’t even have places and me, with places that likely won’t ever see muscles!
Bruno
July 22nd, 2011
11:14 pm
Sooth–If you care to check with any of the long term bloggers here, RW has a long history of demeaning other people along with his sidekick @@. AmVet witnessed it up close and personal when I first came to the Bookman blog. The last straw for me came last year when I was unemployed for a few months. While everyone else was wishing me the best, RW went out of his way to predict that I would crash and burn within a month after I finally landed a good job. Anonymous blog or not, that’s about as low as a person can go. As for his claims that he has made efforts to bury the hatchet, all you need to do is pick out any random night and read the dialogue to see who generally keeps the feud going. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a POS who will never have my respect.
ol' blue to jay
July 22nd, 2011
11:15 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGVFK8VNGss
moonbat betty
July 22nd, 2011
11:20 pm
No one will probably know this one, but it is funny:
hooptie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkvq-20sC0U
Soothsayer
July 22nd, 2011
11:21 pm
Bruno: FUHGETTABOUTIT! RW skewers me regularly on this blog! I’m used to it! Besides I have a very thick skin! I don’t give a flying rat’s rump roast what anyone on this blog says about me and neither should you! Put it your rear view mirror!
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
11:22 pm
Doom
About the only kids that I can think about would be those in the band. If there’s any kids who will know that kinda music, it will be the band group. I was peeking at some vids on youtube and thinking back to those days myself. Until I got sick, I was part of the drumline at ASU. I think I could strap on a drum and still stick through most of the cadences now.
On James, there’s one performance that he sings “I got you now” and it sounds like part of the song. I heard an interview where somebody in the band was saying that James was letting a band member know he heard him mess up, and that there was a fine coming for it. I can’t remember where I heard that interview, but I couldn’t help but laugh when they played the clip, because you’d never know without the band members explaining what was happening.
Bet you didn’t know Beyonce’s roots were from Alabama either, did ya? She’s actually a 2nd cousin on my dad’s side. I’m not too close with many of that family, but her dad’s from Gadsden.
Message from Matti
July 22nd, 2011
11:23 pm
JamVet, I’ll let you guess which one of those two move me… Heh.
moonbat betty, Great car song! Haha!
Soothsayer
July 22nd, 2011
11:24 pm
BTW, Bruno, back in the 90 – 91 era I was unemployed for 1 1/2 years. I met and dated more women during that period that at any other time of my life! Can’t explain it!
BADA BING
July 22nd, 2011
11:25 pm
I guess it is better that Jay sold Ol Blue instead of shooting it like Ol Yeller.
Thulsa Doom
July 22nd, 2011
11:25 pm
Sooth,
Just as soon as we can arrange a hellraising night together I’ll let ya know. And our 2 female wing men? – if you meet them you will not be disappointed. One of them is perfection, an absolute 10 in every way. The other is just a hottie but not on the superhottie scale. Problem is I must just be getting old. Tonight I just went to dinner, came home, and am about to hit the showers and bed. Just tired and its unusual for me to stay home.
One other thing that you have to check out. Live after 5 on the 3rd or maybe its the 4th Thursday ever month in downtown Roswell. Its off the chain. They block off the small historic district of Roswell and have a huge block party type deal with vendors selling their arts and crafts. Freaking smoking hot women everywhere. Last year I went once, met a girl there and my buddy got accosted by no less than 3 women in 2 hours. And I mean they were ON his azz. They just had it yesterday so look and see if its the 3rd or 4th Thursday and then get yo azz down there.
Anyway I’m out. Ya’ll have a great evening.
Dave R.
July 22nd, 2011
11:26 pm
What does it say about the mental state of the Bookmaniacs when a half dozen or more of us think that pocket pool is being played by our host in that picture?
Nothing good, I’m sure.
Bruno
July 22nd, 2011
11:26 pm
No problem, Sooth. This one goes out to you, buddy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ira3LoZiTWc
Bruno
July 22nd, 2011
11:27 pm
Brosephus–11:26 is for you too ^^^^^
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
11:27 pm
BETTY!!!!! You went off on that one. My first ride was a 1977 Ford LTD II 2-door Coupe. That Mix-A-Lot song was my theme music…
Thulsa Doom
July 22nd, 2011
11:30 pm
Brocephus,
I didn’t know that about Beyonce. Interesting. I’m not a fan of her music but she is one beautiful, glamorous woman. The Alabamian I’m most proud of is Condie Rice. She is from Bham as you well know. And I’ll never forget when she brought the prime minister of England to the Bama- UT game in 05. It was an awesome game and what a great venue for her to pick to show him a little something about American and especially Alabama’s version of football. And on top of that it was an intense defensive battle that bama pulled out in dramatic fashion at the very end. Roll Tide!
Good night. Yall have a good weekend.
Soothsayer
July 22nd, 2011
11:30 pm
Thulsa, I’m all over that Roswell scene. I can’t remember the name of that little “hole-in-the-wall” club that was SO HAPPENING! Help me out! I know right where it is but I can’t think of the name of it!
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
11:33 pm
Bruno
That made me think of this one here. Don’t know if you’ve seen it yet, but I caught a clip from the BBC on these guys….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLF46JKkCNg
I may have to rethink my outlook on Pakistanis after listening to them. These guys are playing music that they’ve never heard before, and they are killing it!!!
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
11:34 pm
Later Doom!!!
1811/0311
July 22nd, 2011
11:35 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUDtFdnn9oQ
moonbat betty
July 22nd, 2011
11:37 pm
Sweet ride Brocephus.
I hope you had a some bass booming in that huge trunk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaeNelsAOGo
Bruno
July 22nd, 2011
11:38 pm
Enjoying that Paki groove, Brosephus.
Arizona still up 4-3. Start working up a good appetite!!
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
11:40 pm
Betty
I had 4 12″ subs packed in the trunk. I actually lost a tag because of the vibrations. Those were the days.
Bruno
July 22nd, 2011
11:42 pm
Oops, down 5-4.
Mickey D’s okay with you??
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
11:43 pm
Betty
Not to mention it had a 351 Windsor under the hood as well.
Bruno
Those guys are good. Some of their other stuff has female vocals. I don’t know the language, but they sound great.
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
Mickey D’s okay with you??
They got that new mango smoothie.
Bruno
July 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
They got that new mango smoothie.
I was enjoying the Mango Fruitista from Taco Bell until I made the mistake of going on line to read what the ingredients were. No real fruit used it said.
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
Time for me to call it a night. Gotta leave with my new theme music courtesy of moonbat betty. I’ve played this song over and over since you posted this last week…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhnUgAaea4M
Catch y’all later!!!!
Brosephus
July 22nd, 2011
11:51 pm
Fruit drink with no fruit?? We’re really f**ked when they start serving us water with no real water used inside.
Bruno
July 22nd, 2011
11:57 pm
moonbat betty, I guess it’s just me and you. A really fun FNM tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsAaLNMtb1A
JamVet
July 22nd, 2011
11:58 pm
Well, it’s been hot and it’s time to cool it down some…
For Hillbilly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdQJiGhmKDA
moonbat betty
July 23rd, 2011
12:04 am
Bro – 11:50 that’s hilarious. That song got stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
Good evening to all.
It’s time to take a cruise around the block:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH7naIW6ALk&feature=fvwrel
Peace
Bruno
July 23rd, 2011
12:24 am
Take it ez, Brother Am:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-umqM9R8cnI
Uncle Jed
July 23rd, 2011
12:59 am
I usually don’t play with you guys on Friday nights and just popped in for a minute and am now back out. About the photo: Neither one makes the other look any better
Here is one of my favorite “car” songs (pay close attention to the lyrics and enjoy) G’night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpCJ9KEOgdo
Normal
July 23rd, 2011
7:30 am
ood morning all y’all…a couple of “car” songs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U0nvjiHHf4
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE-AcC53OYY
Normal
July 23rd, 2011
7:31 am
Goodness…I seem to have lost my Gee!
RW-(the original)
July 23rd, 2011
9:36 am
The last straw for me came last year when I was unemployed for a few months. While everyone else was wishing me the best, RW went out of his way to predict that I would crash and burn within a month after I finally landed a good job.
That lie again? geez…anybody that was around remembers the day after day, week after week tearful goodbyes. I predicted, with pinpoint accuracy, that this guy would be back to full time blogging here within a month or so. As Ned Ryerson would say in Groundhog Day, was I right or was I right?
However if it was taken as a prediction that you would up and quit another job for no reason and I somehow motivated you to stick with it you really should just thank me.
You’re welcome.
As to the challenge to other bloggers I find it laughable. I probably don’t make 20 comments a week anymore so it seems pretty pointless to have anyone scour a random thread to find the unseen, unheard voices that bounce around between the ears of a delusional blogger.
Dick Twang
July 24th, 2011
11:33 pm
Old Blue Car (c)1992-2011 by the Dick Twang Band (SOCAN,ASCAP,BMI)http://www.youtube.com/user/dikhed72#p/a/u/0/fCYDBcxNFi8
Bill Orvis White
July 27th, 2011
7:14 am
Figures you had this feminist enviro-whacko car as long as you did. It’s a perfect match with you, Liberal Jay: an intown urban intellectual socialist Marxist muckraking secular journo. You’re an endangered species just like that whimpy Jap car.
Amen,
Bill
getalife
July 28th, 2011
11:08 am
Corporate media and leaders are starting to talk about uncertainty in the markets.
I started talk about it from the start.
Now the gop establishment will toss the tea party under the bus like McCain did..
Good times.
getalife
July 28th, 2011
11:13 am
How about the hidden tax charged by the airlines that they pocketed.
Where is the tea party?
Frauds.