This (above) video cracked me up. It’s the zombie puckishness in my soul to love this vid. Don’t hate me for it.

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My Memorial Day Weekend started Thursday, which is OK because I stopped the holiday Monday and isolated, taking the day off.

Thursday, I went up to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art rooftop to celebrate the retirement of my long-time and much-beloved friend Lynne X. I caught a camera shot of Lynne and the redoubtable Oz together on the roof seemingly having the same good time I was having. There were lots of other friends there and I think we all enjoyed the warm weather and good time.

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On Saturday night, I went to the Plaza District to hear a couple of my favorite local bands play. First up (not really, the bands started at 5 p.m. and I didn’t arrive until about 730 or 800 p.m.) was my absolutely favorite local band, The Non. If you get a chance to see or buy their CDs, you must do so. They are really great. Their music is instrumental in the main and the lack of vocals makes you focus on the musicianship of these young men and it is nothing short of phenomenal. I highly recommend them, as you can tell.

While I was there, I caught one of Oklahoma City’s premiere photogs taking pictures of the bands, J.D. Merryweather. J.D. has recently branched out to other work and his focus these days is on his craft beer brewery, COOP Aleworks. After 50 years of this part of the country belonging to 3.2 Coors, COOP beers are now dominating this market and in no small measure due to the tireless work of J.D. COOP now sponsors the band that closed out the night, Pretty Black Chains. Here’s a phone pic of Dan, the drummer, watching The Non.

Pretty Black Chains closed out the night at Warpaintrags, the host of the evening and they really brought the rumpus. The lead singer reminds one of Jagger when he was still so very young, Dan’s beat is reliable and driving, the bass lines are brilliant and the lead guitar is manic. All just as rock ‘n’ roll should be.

This was the release party for their CD “Awakening”, they played the whole CD and did an encore of some of their new stuff. Everyone had such a great time that a senior citizen like me had the dubious duty of telling a rather overweight and tipsy young woman who couldn’t walk on her wedge shoes that she wasn’t old enough to ride this ride. A copy of the CD was provided when you paid the cover, so I’ve got the CD if you want to listen to it before you buy it and I think you’ll be sure to want to buy it because it’s just that good. It’s in my car stereo right now.

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Sunday was Paseo Festival for me and it was one hot s.o.b. and that shortened my visit a good bit. Just about the first people I saw that I knew were Mr. and Mrs. Randy Marks and they were both in good health and spirits. I don’t care if she is married to one of the nation’s best sculptors, I’ll always love Sharon because she’s just the bestest ever. I didn’t linger long, though, because I was in a hurry to see the Rexall Rangers, fronted by my long time friend, Howard Brady, on the South Stage. Very different music from The Non and Pretty Black Chains, but I’m always moved by Howard’s original and deeply soulful music. It speaks to deep waters in my guts. I’m not the only one because there was a pretty good crowd.

I have no idea why, but there was a guy dressed as an astronaut in the crowd and I have no idea why he was dressed this way or what he was advertising, but I’m willing to bet the farm that the helmet was hotter than Hades. I always like going to the Paseo festival. It’s a part of every year in OKC I look forward to (Dear Ms. Smith, please forgive me the preposition at the end of that sentence.) As long time columnist and former Daily Oklahoman women’s editor Joan Gilmore remarked to me, the Paseo Festival these days is what the Spring Arts Festival was 20 years ago when there was a more intimate, neighborly feel and a real person could afford the art.

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Today is Memorial Day. We honor those who served and gave their all in combat. About 6,000 men and women have give their lives in war in Iraq and Afghanistan during the past 10 years. I pray for an early end to those endless wars.

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I watched this movie again last night and once again I was stunned by how good this Ed Harris directed and starred film really is. Of course, the way alcohol dominated and destroyed his personal life was a hard-hitting reminder to me personally about how drinking was horrible for me. That’s not the lesson I took from the film this time. The lesson I took this time is this: Paint a new way. Get paint on your shoes. Get paint on your pants. Get paint on your shirt. Get paint on your hands. Get paint on your face. Get paint on the floor. Get paint on the walls and ceilings. Drip the paint. Splash the paint. Pour the paint. Welcome the accident as intentional. Letting go of absolute control = Genius.

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P.S. to 340 a.m.: I don’t judge you by your looks. I like you for who you are and what you do. Any asshole, male or female, who is judging your looks is not someone you want in your life in the first place. Let that shit go and play the hand you are dealt, it’s a winner.