Talking with Tim

I still remember buying the vinyl release of The Rainmakers back in the mid-1980s.

So find find out they had a website gave me hope that the band was still together. Sadly they split up in the late 1990s, but they still maintain a website, which includes lyrics, videos and audio clips.

My favorite song of theirs is Let My People Go-Go, which features the following great lyrics:

Jesus went out for a walk with his mother
The scribes and the pharisees plotting hugger-mugger
They locked him up and they threw away the key
He said why’s everybody always picking on me?

I did not put you here to suffer
I did not put you here to whine
I put you here to love one another
And to get out and have a good time

Let my people go-go-go
Let my people go-go-go
Let my people go-go-go
Let my people go

Those lyrics take me back to a fun time earlier in my life.

I once wrote a column called Stream of Babbling. Periodically I may try a new version of it. Like now.

My fiancée called me this afternoon after safely arriving on her California business trip. I’ve only been to California once in my life (got there thanks to her) and she called to tell me she wished I was there. I agreed–noted my regret that it just was not possible (she’s there, busy with work; I’m in Atlanta with family and work commitments) and as I made the list, she said: “No, I wish you were here because the rental car has satellite radio and I know you would just love that.”

I had to scream in mock jealousy for a moment, and then realized: “Wow, this woman knows me better than I know myself… “

Indiana Jones and Blood: Apparently the business of blood drives is getting to be good money or something. I normally donate to the Red Cross, but for the past year or so, certain medicines I’ve been on has prevented me from donating. Well my church had a blood drive today–and in an effort to recruit people, the blood drive folks (one of Red Cross’ competitors) had staff dressed up as Indiana Jones. This bewildered my son (and honestly myself) to no end. If I was wanting to donate blood and I had to be standing in line waiting to donate (which happens quite often when I donate at a drive), I know I would be saying: “How about getting those two out of the costumes and into the information gathering section–speed up this process?” Finally from a marketing standpoint–I’m left wondering a variation of what my son asked me: “Why is Indiana Jones working a blood drive?” Oh well. As long as people are helped, it’s a good thing.

This will keep me busy for awhile. I just discovered 1980s classic video playlists at VH1 Classic. In addition to the music videos, they have also archived MTV interviews with the 1980s artists. The Elvis Costello playlist alone is mouth watering. Everyday I Write the Book… nuts they don’t have The Only Flame in Town… but they do have Veronica…God, the poignancy on that last one and Costello’s anecdote at the end is bittersweet. On that note, I must go.