Space Needle at sunrise
(Space Needle)
Fountain from overlook.
(Father & Son Fountain)
Foggy Duet
by Rob Wynne
(TTTO: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Frank Loesser)
I really can’t stay
(But baby, there’s fog outside)
I’ve got to go away
(But baby, there’s fog outside)
This evening has been
(We should lock ourselves in)
So very nice
(I wish you would take my advice)
My mother will start to worry
(The visibility’s blurry)
And father will be pacing the floor
(Listen to the night creatures roar)
So I really should scurry
(They really seem to be in a fury)
But maybe half a drink more
(You grab a gun and I’ll bar the door)
The neighbours might think
(Baby, it’s mad out there)
Say, what’s in this drink?
(No hope to be had out there)
I wish I knew how
(Eyes shine in the darkness now)
To break this spell
(Sure, I wish I knew that as well)
I ought to say no, no, no, sir
(Fetch that gun from my holster)
At least I’m going to say that I tried
(In the morning, you’re sure to have died)
I really can’t stay
(No, baby, don’t go out)
Ah, but there’s fog outside (Baby, there’s fog outside)
I simply must go
(But baby, there’s fog outside)
The answer is no
(But baby, there’s fog outside)
This welcome has been
(It’s lucky that you dropped in)
So very warm
(Look out the window at that swarm)
My sister will be suspicious
(Those creatures probably think you’re delicious)
My brother will be at the door
(Eldritch creatures dripping with gore)
My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious
(I’m reasonably sure they’re malicious)
Well, maybe just a cigarette more
(That will kill you slower, I’m sure)
I’ve got to get home
(But you’ll catch your death out there)
Say, lend me your comb
(You’ll draw your last breath out there)
You’ve really been grand
(Need to take a stand)
But don’t you see?
(It’s best if you stay here with me)
There’s bound to be talk tomorrow
(There might not even be a tomorrow)
At least there will be plenty implied
(If everyone else hasn’t died)
I really can’t stay
(But I’ve got serious doubts)
Ah, but there’s fog outside (Baby, there’s fog outside)
Because, surely, Night Vale Community Radio plays seasonal music for the holidays.
Just a bit of snow overnight. Feel like a kid today!
(Metro Bus Stop #2180)
The Tacos of Shame
by Rob Wynne
TTTO: “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” (16th century English carol)
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I think I might die
Alone In my car
at the Office Bazaar
I ate six whole tacos
Now I think I might die
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I think I might die
My throat it now burns
My stomach it churns
I ate six whole tacos
Now I think I might die
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I think I might die
I’ve just me to blame
For my terrible shame
I ate six whole tacos
Now I think I might die
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I think I might die
I wish I’d not had those tacos
I think I might die
This is a bit of an inside joke for the Frogpants/Tadpool community. I don’t think it requires a ton of context to understand what happened in this simple cautionary tale, though. Merry Christmas, Mr. Johnson.
Since this week’s Friday Five Digest is a day late, You get a bonus! Here’s six items just in time for the holiday season, including my annual repost of Tris McCall’s Christmas Abstract.
(This is a repost from an entry I made 10 years ago, because it’s a fun topic to revisit periodically, and a good way to discover new music.)
Music is a constant in my life. It’s a rare day that I go through without listening to or making music in one form or another.
And it occurred to me on the way back from lunch with kitanzi this afternoon, as I cranked up a particular song, that there are some tunes that just never fail to make me happy.
Here are five of those songs, in no particular order:
Love Shack, B-52s
Sledgehammer, Peter Gabriel
Every Day I Write The Book, Elvis Costello
Got To Get You Into My Life, The Beatles
Linus and Lucy, Vince Guaraldi Trio
What are some songs that always leave you more cheerful than before? That make you dance in your seat? When you’re down, what music do you turn to to pick yourself up? What songs make you instinctively reach for the volume control to crank it up?
Share in comments. 
Another grab bag of interesting stories and art from around the net.
The Doctors When they Were Young
A few months ago, we had a member of the group I hang out with on Facebook leave the group because he wanted to avoid spoilers1 for Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. Since the latter show just ended its half-season and is going on hiatus, he rejoined the group and announced he had returned. I replied “Welcome back!” and then, as I reflexively do whenever I say those two words, appended “Your dreams were your ticket out.” It’s just a thing I do.
Somehow, the juxtaposition of the theme from Welcome Back, Kotter and Breaking Bad stayed in my head, and a few minutes later I posted this:
For your consideration:
A 1970s era remake of “Breaking Bad” starring Gabe Kaplan and Ron Palillo.
One commenter noted that Ron Palillo sadly passed away not too long ago; I was aware of that, but somehow it was much funnier to me that our Jesse substitute was Horshack rather than any of the other Sweathogs.23 And, really, it might have ended there, but my friend Joey chimed in “With a theme by John Sebastian”.
At first, I tried to imagine how Sebastian might render Dave Porter’s brilliant Breaking Bad theme, but then I realised I was coming at it backwards. The following just wrote itself:
Breaking Bad
Your cancer was just an excuse
Breaking Bad
You always wanted to slip the noose
Well your dreams never were what you’d hoped they’d be
Now you’re out on the res in an old RV
Who’d have thought they’d come true
(Who’d have thought they’d come true)
Crystalised in ice blue
(Crystalised in ice blue)
Well, he’ll prob’ly wind up dead
‘Cause he’s in over his head
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, Breaking Bad, Breaking Bad
I really haven’t a clue what to do with this idea, but it’s continuing to entertain me.
The longruning debate over when its okay to post spoilers into an open space continues to weary me, since, as I’ve posted about multiple times, it’s largely a question of manners. ↩
I later decided that Vinnie and Epstein would be Badger and Skinny Pete, respectively. Mr. Woodman is Gus Fring. Not sure there’s a good analogue in this scenario for Freddie. ↩
ETA: No, Boom-boom Washington is Skinny Pete. Vinnie is Combo. That works better. ↩
And three glasses, please…
(Safeway)