The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Four calling birdsr /> Three french hens Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love sent to me
10 lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love sent to me
11 pipers piping
10 lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love sent to me
12 drummers drumming
11 pipers piping
10 lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

Based on a traditional carol by Frederic Austin

Were I born black I would be James Baldwin. He is the only black man to whom I was able to relate from the first day I encountered him. We are two of the same kind of person.

We both are well read in our own areas.

We both are unapologetic in your face critical thinkers. Critical thinking pretty much departed from the educational system with the leftist libtard indoctrination that the conservatives allowed to transpire starting in the past who knows when.

You can't get away with that mess when it comes to me. James Baldwin wasn't one to surrender to any consensus if he thought it to be incorrect thinking either.

We both have been known to tell others where to get off in no uncertain terms. My personal experience surrounds understanding for I believe Covey who said it is not enough to understand, but one must also be understood.

James Arthur Baldwin was born August 2, 1924 and he passed this earth December 1, 1987. He was a novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and oh yes, activist from Hell if you crossed him.

He wrote citified fictional accounts, things about his black heritage, and of course that gay stuff that homosexuals indulge. There was nothing in the way of gay with me so we were not of the same persuasion in areas of intimacy.

His literary career and that accompanying public persona spanned primarily 1947 through 1985. It is my personal belief that his health began to decline and he retired to privacy and those relationship issues with his interests in that area and his close friends such as Maya Angelou who cried long and hard at his passing while speaking of him and what he meant to her.

His work generally crossed the interpersoinal issues of the day: racial, sexual, and class distinctions and oh I did love to see him get riled and make his personal views known to any ideological adversary before him and there were many.

One of my favorite works of his was the Academy Award–nominated documentary film derived from his unfinished manuscript entitled "I Am Not Your Negro".

It's pretty much how I feel about work and the people there right now. Some people have no concept of their own stupidity and overbearing imposition into the lives of others. My preconceived notions never impose on other people who are continually imparting their taint and favor seeking idea stealing lying asses onto the world.

On December 1, 1987 James Baldwin passed this earthly existence from stomach cancer in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France. He is interred at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, near New York City

He was provided hospice care by a close friend Fred Nall Hollis who saw him through his transition. He too was quite tearful in speaking of Baldwin posthumously.

James Baldwin was immersed in the civil rights movement and followed those leaders who were his contemporary civil rights proponents such as Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. It is striking to my memory how each of them were murdered to silence them.

Despite our vast differences which are many and varied, James Baldwin and I are the same person in different skins and with different accompanying attitudes. Sure, his personal proclivities and orientation are far different from me but like him, I too am not your negro.
 

I remember first seeing Billy Idol back in the old LA days in the extremely early 1980s in Tower Records.

There was a cutout of this obviously 80s decked out new wave glam punk fellow with platinum blond hair and a mech look with chain and heavy decorations made from what appeared to be stainless steel.

The music being played had those tough overtones consistent with the image.

I thought to my self this will never last.

However, it seems that William Michael Albert Broad, aka Billy Idol did indeed last and is still playing gigs to this day.

There have been a number of his songs that are included in my collection and I owe my appreciation of his music in general to my best old ex-friend Darrell who had insight into the subtleties of musical style. His stage name it seems is derived from a choolteacher's desribing him as "idle". His career has been a smattering of singing songwriting performance music, and acting.

He's just a few months younger than I am and has sold a lot of records. He had a hiatus in the 1990s then came back on the performance scene by releasing new music. Who knows, may sell many more recordings before it's all over.

Today is his birthday. Happy birthday to you !
 

I remember Waffle House. It was a favorite spot of both my late father and my late best friend. We would frequent the place for coffee and a spot of lunch or supper pretty much once or twice a week back in the day when we caroused around Red Bank and other places in the vicinity.

So it was a natural option when I awoke one day hungry and needing sustinance. I went to the Waffle House on Sunset BL over by Lexington County Hospital where Chris Drive butts into US 378.

When I sat down I noticed the table was filthy. All of the windows had large round patches of grease or Jheri curl or some other horrible substance and this beginning was merely the prodrome to a bigger disease infecting Waffle House.

The waiter took my order. I pretty much ordered the standard from my last visit so many years ago:

a double pork chop plate
3 eggs over easy
coffee

Well, the order I was served was a pork chop plate. No double was served. The coffee was somewhat old tasting. The employees lounging around were disgusting and the enviornment was a scuz hole of the highest order.

I ate at my meal, paid my bill, and got the hell out of there never to return to Waffle House anywhere. Their corporate office has no standards anymore. Avoid the place like the plague if you value atmosphere and cleanliness.

If all you want is a couple of lazy greasy black cows sitting around and inept wait staff complete with totally incorrect order with your filth ... be sure to return. I'm sure they will be happy to accommodate you.

This is what we have to look forward to with the Biden administration.