: In Search of Lost Times
So Lisa & I were watching SNL last weekend and it turned out to be a re-run. The opening skit was about the Chinese spy balloon – it was pretty good (although we are so desperate for laughs that we have likely lowered our standards). We then said to each other – “Hey, when was that?” We were both stumped. Was it just the other month? Was it last fall? Last summer?
The news has been so crazy these day – it seems like every week there is some new crazy/random thing coming out of nowhere – war, climate change, shootings, etc, etc, etc. New craziness drives out older craziness.
Maybe it is related to being retired, but my sense of time has become a bit muddled. In one of his dark comic novels, Slaughterhouse 5, Kurt Vonnegut imagines that we live in a “block universe” (AKA eternalism). In a block universe there is no such thing as time – the past, present, and future all “exist” – and the passage of time is an illusion because our frail human minds can only perceive one slice of time (at a time). In Slaughterhouse 5, Vonnegut adds the wrinkle that we can sort of travel back & forth in time – we can choose what moments of our lives we want to experience (mostly the enjoyable ones).
While Slaughterhouse 5 is fiction, this notion is not entirely without some foundation. I find that random (and sometimes very vivid) memories of my life flit across my mind without warning – stuff from childhood, high school, college, something that happened at work 25 years ago. Why do certain memories have significance 50 years later? Beats me, but it keeps me entertained.
Oh that Chinese balloon things? It was shot down Feb 4th this year – but if you had told me it was a year ago I would have believed you.
Meanwhile, here are some news worthy events this month – I hope you can keep these straight in your mind – I can.
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Friday May 5, 8:00PM-11:30ish
Better Off Dead at Shillelagh Club
648 Prospect Ave, West Orange, NJ (973) 509-1134
The Shillelagh Club is billing this Friday as Cinco de Mayo night, so it’s sort of an ethnic mashup – but in a good way. In spite of its obvious origins as an Irish social club, the Shillelagh Club welcomes everyone – and they feature mostly local rock and/or blues bands. They serve top notch bar food – I don’t know if they will have a special Mexican themed menu, but you can always rely on their burgers & fries. One of these years I’ll have to check out their Haggis Night.
http://www.betteroffdead.com
https://shillelaghclub.com/
Friday May 12, 7:00PM-9:00
Better Off Dead at Ruthie’s BBQ
64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair, NJ (973) 509-1134
According to my iPhone Weather App it’s supposed to be sunny and in the 70s next Friday – so hopefully we’ll be playing outside on the world famous Ruthie’s Veranda. If bad weather, we squeeze inside. Either way it’s always a great time. Remember to BYO.
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/
Tuesday May 16th, 8:00PM -12:00AM
Better Off Dead at Great Notch Inn,
400 US-46, Woodland Park, NJ 07424(973) 256-7742
Vroom, vroom, vroom go the Harleys. “The Notch” has been sitting there on Route 46 for as long as I can recall. In one of those memories that pop up I recall sitting in the back seat of my parent’s 55 Ford driving by the Notch – and my mother says in an ominous voice “That’s where the motorcycle hoodlums go” Cue the ominous music. If you’ve ever seen The Wild Ones with Marlon Brando you’ll know what I’m talking about. Anyway, you’ll still see a scattering of bikes in the parking lot – which opens up another question. Is there a word for a group of motorcyclists? Somehow group does not seem to fit and gang has implications. A coven of motorcyclists? A covey? A pod? Inquiring minds want to know.
http://www.betteroffdead.com
https://www.facebook.com/Great-Notch-Inn-45741843010/