Joke of the Week

Thanks to Don of New York

Raoul’s 2 cents. July 10, 2026

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

Old Flames. Strange Encounters

Bob was my Math classmate in my freshman year in college in the University of the Philippines. Two years later, I was crossing the street in Washington DC and I see this familiar face headed towards me. I stared at him. He stared at me. Nah! We didn’t kiss or do anything yucky like that but we both stopped in the middle of the street and incredulously, it really was Bob! Of all the places in the world, we both wound up in the same crosswalk. Naturally, we rekindled our friendship. We became best friends. He even married my cousin. Pretty wild, huh?

I don’t think I’ll ever experience that kind of coincidence again — especially now that age has changed people’s faces. Why, I don’t even recognize the face in front of the mirror. Even when old friends send me their photos, most of them are strangers and I can’t even remember where we met. If it ever did happen we’d just stare and wait if anybody remembered anything and then walk away like dogs who bump into each other and smell each other’s butt: “Sniff, sniff! Smells familiar … yup! familiar … smell you later, buddy! Woof!”

PAST LIVES

I recently watched the American-Korean movie “Past Lives.” This Oscar-nominated tale starts in Korea with a boy and a girl who are best friends. Sadly. the girl’s family moves to America and that’s how their friendship ends. Years later, they reconnect and this is where the movie gets interesting because as I was watching the movie, I had flashes of Déjà Vu: “Strange … did I see this movie before? Why is it so familiar?”

The next day, I thumbed through my library of music sheets to play on my guitar and came across one sheet that gave me pause. It was a draft of a song I had heard a long long time ago. I was fresh out of college and sitting at my desk in my first official job as an Art Director for a small guitar company in New York City. Michael Dadap, a well-known Filipino guitarist came to test some guitars. As he played some classical pieces, he said he was working on a Tagalog song about two former sweethearts who bump into each other in the middle of the street. Although unfinished, the song and the story played like a movie and lingered in my head for days … for weeks … months. No wonder Past Lives sounded so familiar.

Over the years, I’ve tried to reach Michael to find out if he ever completed the song but he disappeared from the face of the earth. In time, I decided to finish the song with fresh Tagalog and English lyrics and even tried to sing it with some friends. But somehow, I just couldn’t find the right mix of musical talent to produce the arrangement in my head.

As I held my scribbled song sheet I decided I’d use SUNO AI (the most popular music-composing app) to help me create the soundtrack. It wasn’t easy. SUNO couldn’t understand many of my “prompts” (ie. AI commands). It took me eight versions to get close to what I had in mind. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised how good SUNO was (you should try it) … it even sang Tagalog phrases with the proper accent and intonation. (BTW, if you subscribe to SUNO, you now own the rights to your creation).

Click on the video below to hear the song in YouTube. Turn on the closed caption option for an English translation. Let me know what you think. Someone said it was sentimental and sweet. If you like it, give me a thumbs up and please share the video. I think many people will relate to this.

REALITY CHECK

Romantic as these old encounters may sound, in real life they may result into sticky situations. Back in the days, I was part of a troubadour band and we had some fans. Recently, after singing in front of a crowd, a lady came up to me and she had this big expectant smile. “Remember me?” she said. I stared at her and nothing clicked. Then I saw her face begin to wither. I realized she must have been one of my fans. What was I to do? Tell her the truth that she was an insignificant part of my life? I smiled back and said “Of course I know you. You used to watch us every time we performed, didn’t you?” Her smile came back and, whether she believed me or not, she walked away with hearts floating in the air and holding on to her dignity.

I rarely go to Facebook. I don’t like the way Zuckerberg has access to people’s lives and how he manipulates the algorithms to our subconscious. Did you know that everything you post in social media (even pictures and videos) belong to these social media companies? It’s the price you pay for their free service. More than the spying, FB is a tempting playground because I heard it connected many past relationships which sadly resulted in several broken marriages. Stop playing with fire, kiddo!

I do remember meeting and dating the prettiest woman in the world. Once I met her, I never let her go. Hard to believe that, out of all the people in the world, my wife chose me. And, by the grace of God, we’ve stayed together for four decades.This for me is the most important encounter of all.

TGIF people!

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Quotes of the week

“Can we go back to using Facebook for what it was originally for – looking up exes to see how fat they got?” —  Bill Maher

“Just the way it never rains when you have an umbrella, you’ll never run into people if you look fantastic. But go outside in pajamas, and you’ll run into every ex you have.”— Tim Gunn

“If you don’t leave your past in the past, it will destroy your future. 
Live for what today has to offer, not for that yesterday has taken away.” — Anonymous

“I’ve written songs about things like burning my ex-boyfriend’s pictures… I’ve written songs about the times that I’ve been hurt by love. But then one day I woke up and realized that I had hurt somebody… And so, I wrote this song to tell him I’m sorry”— Taylor Swift

“Sadly enough, the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are left unsaid and never explained.”— Jonathan Harnisch

“If you take the ‘L’ out of LOVER. Its OVER” — Anonymous

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” — Ephesians 5:25

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” —Galatians 5:14

Memes of the Week

Thanks to Bob of Los Angeles

Thanks to Sandy of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Jonathan of New York

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Estella of Manila, Philippines

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:

I hope I got you to smile.
See you next Friday!

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First, a little background. During the late 1800’s, distilleries in the area were abundant. The mountain geography provided secluded protection for hidden stills. Corn was plentiful and easily turned into whiskey – and making moonshine was profitable. And then Prohibition hit! Consensus thinking at the time was that it would inhibit drinking and the making of it. But, of course, that was nonsense. Binge drinking probably got its start during Prohibition.

The demand for illegal alcohol skyrocketed – and the Franklin County bootleggers were more than happy to oblige, developing sophisticated transportation routes to move liquor up and down the East Coast. It famously claimed to produce more illicit liquor than anywhere else in the U.S. during Prohibition, entitling them to the moniker of “Moonshine Capital of the world,” a label they remain proud of to this day. My recent visit to the area reinforced that impression. After all, there’s a museum devoted to the very idea – albeit with a slightly different orientation.

The Moonshine Explosion Museum is devoted to just that – a June 11, 1930 literal explosion of two over-heating Model T Fords that drove into a garage for repair. Why did they explode? Trunks full of illegal liquor also over-heated. Charred remains of the cars are still ensconced in the basement of the original building which was built in 1912, but they weren’t discovered until 2017 during basement renovations – although the story proliferated well before and after.

But despite the museum’s singular name, it also paints a much more complete picture of the still celebrated history of moonshine, which kept many an Appalachian family able to survive. The museum highlights the connection between “white lightning” (AKA Firewater, Hooch) and the community, fostering a sense of resilience and ingenuity – and, oh yes, a massive evasion of the law. Franklin County became known for its high-quality moonshine and the persistence of its moonshiners in resisting authorities.

And apparently, ramifications of that questionable ability exist today. Because many moonshiners modified cars to outrun law enforcement, the culture influenced early stock-car racing, and that tradition helped contribute to the origins of NASCAR. Not entirely sure how I feel about that particular legacy….

But back to bootlegging – and the notorious Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935, the second longest trial in Virginia history. It involved a high-profile legal case involving 23 defendants accused of multiple large-scale moonshine operations. Many were convicted but the illegal operations continued to thrive.

A visit to Twin Creeks distillery underscores the appeal of the original moonshine. For starters, Twin Creeks owner and master distiller, Chris Prillman, is the grandson of Peg Hatcher, one of the kingpins convicted in the Great Moonshine Conspiracy of 1935. That’s one hell of a family legacy! As much as it sounds like an oxymoron, they serve legal moonshine – slightly less high-octane than the mountain variety and government-regulated. It’s the only establishment in the area to do so. And Chris continues to pay tribute to his grandfather by crafting spirits just as he did.

So when I say master distiller, I mean Chris is still making his “bathtub gin” – the colloquial term for stills that are large enough to be utilitarian and small enough to easily hide — at home. Whether he’s still using a bathtub, I don’t know. Back at the distillery, I sampled – okay, guzzled — a coffee moonshine made by a local coffee shop owner who still refuses to divulge his recipe that far and away surpasses any Expresso Martini I’ve ever had.

Flights of “cocktails” adorn the menu. Apparently, fancy cocktails were the norm during Prohibition as bartenders had to get creative in order to mask the taste of poor-quality liquor. Of course, Franklin County probably didn’t have any poor-quality hooch…..

More family legacy is carried on by Twin Creeks’ manager, Kathy, whose father owns three of the original moonshine cars that led to NASCAR, with enhanced power and extra-large trunks designed to transport the profitable product.

According to Steven Ray Tickle, another proud moonshining legacy and star of the surprisingly popular TV show Moonshiners, “People mistakenly think moonshiners just want to break the law, but that’s not true. They just want to carry on a tradition that’s part of the American heritage. They helped found and fund the Declaration of Independence….If you really love your country, you’re gonna have to love moonshine.”

So if you’re thinking that pretty much brings the story of moonshine to the current day, keep reading. On yet another modern-day front, Franklin County’s moonshine era may seem like a relic of Prohibition, but the legal arguments surrounding home distilling are still alive. More than a century after moonshiners in Virginia’s Blue Ridge battled federal liquor laws, the question of who can legally make whiskey — and under what authority the government can stop them — remains unsettled. In an unexpected twist, a debate that once played out on the ridges and hollows of Virginia’s moonshine country – very much still “The Moonshine Capital of the World” — may soon be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. I’ll drink to that!

For more information, visit visitroanokeva.com; mainlymuseums.com; twincreeksdistillery.com.

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As recently as 1990 there was virtually no tourism to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Norway. Located in the Arctic Ocean between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole, Svalbard (“cold edge”) was believed to be discovered by the Vikings in the 12th century. It became a base for many Arctic expeditions, then home to whalers and coal miners. Thanks to companies like Hurtigruten, it is now on the map for the world to see.

My adventure began with a flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen – the largest island in the archipelago. With a population of 1700, Longyearbyen has the distinction of being the most northern city in the world. Once a mining community, it is now a center for science and tourism. Only four land mammals can survive on this barren tundra: the Svalbard reindeer, the Svalbard mouse, the Arctic fox and the polar bear—which has become the symbol of Svalbard. Encounters with this species are rare, but their presence is felt everywhere. They are known to hunt humans on occasion, so people cannot leave settlements without a weapon or armed guide. Accommodations were at the Spitsbergen Hotel, where, like all the area’s hotels and restaurants, you must follow the tradition of removing your shoes before entering. Longyearbyen also offers shopping, galleries and the Svalbard Museum, an essential stop in preparation for the voyage.

The next day we boarded the 115 passenger MS Nordstjernen. The oldest ship in the Coastal fleet, it maintains the authenticity of a real Arctic expedition vessel. The ship has 54 cruise cabins, all with upper/lower berths. Creature comforts include café, lounge and dining room. Most of the adventure, though, was spent on the wooden deck – where no one wants to miss any of the attractions, clearly in view with 24 hours of sunlight in July.

Heading northwest on the coast of Spitsbergen, I experienced breathtaking fjords, calving glaciers, unique animal and plant life, and a midnight sun that refused to set. More than 60 percent of the archipelago consists of national parks, nature reserves, and bird or plant sanctuaries.

A large number of aquatic mammals inhabit the islands, including whales, seals and walruses. It is also a breeding ground for numerous seabirds. I found a remarkable variety of small flowering plants, which use the 24-hour daylight to produce colorful blossoms.

Landings on tenders were conducted by the highly-skilled Spitsbegen Travel guides – a passionate group and walking encyclopedias on all things Svalbard. They also carried rifles and acted as our protectors.

Highlights included a landing at Barentsburg (pop. 500), a Russian mining town and relic from the Soviet era. The group was treated to a Russian and Ukrainian folkloric show, and stopped for a taste of vodka at the settlement’s one hotel.

Magadalenefjorden is where Dutch whalers came to bury their dead in the 17th century. Stone gatherings and wooden coffins still remain, as well as blubber ovens. Ivory Gulls made nosedives on the group’s colorful hats when we got too close to their feeding area. Words of caution: don’t look up!.

Moffen is a flat island and protected reserve, located north of the 80th parallel. Known for its walrus colony, we spotted fifty of the creatures, many larger than two tons. Enroute we saw two polar bears on an iceberg, who seemed as curious to see us as we were to see them.

Calving glaciers was one of the many marvels of a stop at the Monaco Glacier. We did a tender cruise in front of the glacier and witnessed beluga whales swimming before us. Next was a tour of the former mining community of Ny-Alesund (pop 30), now an important research station.

On the voyage back to Longyearbyen, we assembled on the deck for the presentation of certificates for crossing the 80th parallel. There were also certificates for those crazy enough to go ice swimming in the fjords. Yes, I was one of them. If you are a lover of nature and history, this is an adventure of a lifetime with a landscape that is dramatically changing –so my advice is to book your trip now.

• Original article published April, 2017

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Raoul’s 2 cents for July 3, 2026

Challenging the Status Quo

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

I like honest, original, creative films where the director takes the audience to a different world — a matrix world that runs parallel to our reality. Pride and Prejudice is such a movie. To be honest, I never read the book, and I thought it was a chick flick (probably still is). I watched it because it was the movie choice of the women around me. I would have rather watched a blood and guts action movie.

Yeah, yeah, there was pompous dancing with embroidered hairstyles, upper-class British conversations — boring girly stuff. But then a scene of the heroine walking in the meadows came up. The scene lingered for what seemed like an eternity. Why did Joe Wright, the director, waste so much time on that? I realized the sophistication of this director. My antenna went up. He was a master storyteller who used all the tools of movie-making: cinematography, screenplay, music, acting, pacing — this was a celluloid masterpiece. In that subtle scene, the director told me that most civilizations walked at that time. No horses, no cars … people just walked for miles and miles. Only the rich had the luxury of moving to and fro without straining their muscles and perspiring (especially with all those layered clothing). The director was showing us class distinctions. This was the society Jane Austen (the author of the book the movie was based on) was born to in 1775 — a British society composed of the upper class, the lower class, and the middle class who struggled to climb up the social ladder. That was the status quo. Whether you’re born rich or poor you shut up and accept it.

Meanwhile, an Atlantic ocean away, George Washington and patriotic Americans were struggling for independence from England. The English empire believed they had every right to siphon off the wealth of these low life colonials in order for the British elites to continue to languor in early retirement mode. “How dare these Americans complain? We are the mother land. They serve us. Don’t they realize we have our own class struggles at home? Why break the status quo?”

This is why Jefferson’s inclusion of the phrase “inalienable rights” in the Constitution is so profound: Even if others don’t consider you their equal, their opinion cannot stop your right to live as you wish (just don’t step on the other person’s rights as well). Even if they don’t consider you human, in God’s eyes, you are. Can you read this article? Good! You’re human! Can you give me the square root of 741776 divided by 742026 in 3 seconds? Hello! You’re a robot! And sorry — you don’t have inalienable rights.

Disputes are inevitable in even the best societies. I’m currently dealing with parking issues in my neighborhood. I’m the president of the association. And, if you have neighbors, you know the small-scale Constitutional drama that comes with it. We’ve got the hot heads, the Yes Men and the legal experts. I’ve long wanted to withdraw from the responsibility and live a comfortable life and tend to my sheep and grow tilapia (in my dreams) but they keep on pulling me back in. Looky here! I’m George Washington in Bermuda shorts with British Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh corgis. No wonder I can appreciate what George did for us. I guess conflicts follow you everywhere. What I’ve learned is to determine what’s good for everyone, to be fair and consistent. And if they don’t behave — “Off with their heads!” Not.

This coming Independence Day holds more meaning to me now that I’ve watched many of the historical videos with new interest. I admire our heroes. Wish I could say the same about the British. Sorry Jane Austen, but you guys stepped on our inalienable rights.

Go grill those burgers and give a toast to 250 years of independence. Let’s honor those brave (yet imperfect) men who changed the British status quo and started the most ambitious political experiment the world has ever known. In God we trust.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!

Quotes of the week

“British people would die for their right to drink themselves to death.” — John Oliver

“The British are brave people. They can face anything, except lions, their mothers, reality.” — George Mikes

“British people don’t express themselves when they are with someone, at home, in pain. They don’t think it’s elegant.” — Monica Bellucci

“When you’re born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you’re born in America, you get a front row seat.” — George Carlin

“Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn’t block traffic.” — Dan Rather

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” — Romans 8:31

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” — John 10:10

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Memes of the Week

Thanks to Bob of Los Angeles

Thanks to Sandy of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena. CA

Thanks to Jonathan of New York

Thanks to Joel of Alhambra, CA

Thanks to Doug of Boston, MA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Estella of Manila, Philippines

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:

I hope I got you to smile.

SUBSCRIBE to Raoul’s TGIF Joke

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I fondly remember Lake Geneva (Matterhorn Region) when Switzerland Tourism blew into Los Angeles on January, 2017 with the most esteemed guest, Eugene Chaplin. A man of remarkable lineage, he is the fifth child of Oona O’Neill and Sir Charles Spencer “Charlie” Chaplin, the grandson of playwright Eugene O’Neill, the brother of Geraldine Chaplin and father of actress/model Kiera Chaplin.

Eugene Chaplin in Los Angeles. Courtesy Switzerland Tourism

An artist in his own rite, Eugene directed the documentary film Charlie Chaplin: A Family Tribute and created the musical ‘Smile,’ a narration of his father’s life through his music. He’s also a recording engineer, having worked with The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Queen. He was in town to promote Chaplin’s World, the first-ever museum dedicated to the life and work of Charles Chaplin in the filmmaker’s former home in Vevey, Switzerland.

Back Story

In 1952 Charles Chaplin was exiled from the U.S. as a result of the House Un-American Activities Committee’s witch hunts, a disturbing period in U.S. history where Cold War tensions fueled fears of widespread Communist subversion. The committee used various charges of communism, communist sympathies and disloyalty to attack a number of politicians and other individuals, many Hollywood personalities. Chaplin was considered dangerously progressive and amoral. It was also revealed that he had never bothered to become a U.S. citizen. When Chaplin and family were departing for a trip to England, Chaplin was informed that he would have to submit to an interview concerning his political views and moral behavior in order to re-enter the U.S. Rather than fight a pending investigation by Immigration Services, Chaplin decided not to return to Hollywood. The Chaplin family, though, needed a new address in Europe. His half-brother Sydney Chaplin, suggested they visit Switzerland. Chaplin was taken by the peace and quiet of the Lake Geneva region, with its stunning lake and countryside, not to mention the attractive tax laws.

Gardening was one of Chaplin’s passions at Manoir de Ban. Courtesy photo

He purchased the vacant Manoir de Ban, a neoclassical mansion in Corsier-sur-Vevey, a wine-growing region near the banks of Lake Geneva. This is where he chose to live his remaining years with his family, from 1952 until his death in 1977. According to the Chaplin family, his 25-years at Manoir de Ban constituted his “happy years,” where he would walk in the grounds, garden, play with his children and host friends from around the globe. He also spent a large percentage of his time working on the screenplays for his films A King in New York, A Countess from Hong Kong and The Freak (which was never filmed), as well as adding music to his silent films, which he composed at the family piano. There’s a version of the Gold Rush, where he eliminated the title cards of the silent film, speaking all of the parts instead. In1964 in wrote My Autobiography at the Manoir.

Courtesy Chaplin’s World

On April 17, 2016, Chaplin’s former home and expansive grounds were officially open for the whole world to see. Rechristened Chaplin’s World – Manoir de Ban was repurposed and expanded as a museum that showcases Chaplin’s work and life as a family man in Switzerland. The goal was to allow visitors to discover the man behind the movies. The centerpiece of the museum is the three story, richly decorated Manoir, and the newly constructed Studio.

The grand opening at Chaplin’s World. Courtesy Chaplin’s World

A reproduced Winston Churchill pays a visit to Manoir de Ban.
Courtesy Chaplin’s World

In the Manoir, visitors are introduced to the Chaplin family, which has been restaged with a number of its original furnishings, personal items, photographs and family mementos. Each room focuses on a particular period of Chaplin’s personal life, while the dining room pays homage to the family’s everyday routines as well as the many Hollywood celebrities who visited them.

The new interactive studio features the work of Chaplin the artist which commences with a montage of clips from his half-century of writing, directing, producing, scoring and acting in movies. He outdid himself in the 1928 film, The Circus, where he also wrote and sang the title song for a rerelease in 1969. Curiously, he doesn’t mention the film once in his autobiography. The interactive studio is followed by an exhibition of recreated scenes and sets from many of his most famous films, along with wax figures of Chaplin’s famous co-stars.

Courtesy photo

It’s almost like a theme park where guest can enter the iconic cabin from The Gold Rush, while in the middle of a simulated blizzard, sit in the famous barber’s chair from The Great Dictator (where Chaplin played two roles), or negotiating the cogs of the industrial revolution machine from the madcap scene in Modern Times.

A statue of Chaplin graces the shores of Lake Geneva in Vevey.
Courtesy My Switzerland

A stroll in the Manoir’s 10 acres of expansive green grounds is mandatory with the reward of stunning views of the Swiss Alps and Lake Geneva.

Chaplin fans can also enjoy the onsite restaurant, affectionately named The Tramp.

If you decide to spend additional time in the breathtaking Lake Geneva region, The Modern Times Hotel is conveniently located nearby.

The post Eugene Chaplin Introduces Chaplin’s World Museum In Vevey, Switzerland appeared first on Traveling Boy.

1. What are some of the “things” or activities that people do for fun in Wales?

ANSWER: Try ‘coasteering’– it’s great – dressed in wet suites you jump of a cliff (around 30 ft.) into the sea, swim a little, then climb up the cliff to do it all again.

Walking is also great in Wales – with the 870 mile Wales Coast Park, making Wales the only country in the world you can walk around its entire coast.

2. What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Wales?

ANSWER: Did you know that Wales has 641 castles – some of which you can stay in!

© Crown copyright (2013) Visit Wales

3. What has Wales contributed to the world?

ANSWER: Slate – at the end of the 19th century almost all of the slate used for housing came from Wales. The history of slate mining is kept alive by the National Slate Museum in Llanberis. Also, famous poets, entertainers and actors like Dylan Thomas, Dame Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Sir. Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Burton and more!

For further information about Wales, click-on: www.visitwales.com

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The applause was still dying down as 80 year old Joe Willie ‘Pinetop’ Perkins stepped off the stage at the 1993 Long Beach Blues Festival in Southern California. As someone handed him a cold drink he sauntered over and sat down next to me. 80… and he wasn’t even winded. I still gave him a few minutes to settle and replenish his fluids…okay, beer. After shaking a few more hands and joking with friends and admirers, he turned toward me as if to say, alright young man, ask away.

Armed with a manuscript of questions I started with when people first stopped referring to him as Joe Willie Perkins, and began to call him, ‘Pinetop.’

“After I made ‘Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie’ over again (originally recorded by Clarence ‘Pinetop’ Smith) on Sun’s Records back in the 50’s.”

Joe Willie ‘Pinetop’ Perkins at the 1993 Long Beach Blues Festival.
Photo: Yachiyo Mattox

As one of the few surviving early Delta players, I wanted to know what he remembered about growing up on the Paines-Deadman Plantation? He looked surprised. “Paines? (I flicker my papers like a deck of cards) Man, that’s way back there and I can’t hardly think of everything, but I’ll do the best I can with it. Paine’s-Deadman… aw man, I used to live out there. Plowed ‘a mule, picked cotton, pulled corn.“

That the reason you turned to music? “Yea man, I had to do something,’ you know to keep things going. That was way back man, in the 30’s, last part of the 20’s and early 30’s, along in there.”

What do you remember about Honey Island? “Nuthin!” (laughing) “That’s where I was born and my mother and them take me out from there before I know anything about it, you know?”

Do you recall the first time you ever heard the blues? “Oh man, I can’t hardly tell ya’ when that is. It’s been a looong time ago. That’s way back in the 20’s.”

Did you hear it in the fields? “Yea…peoples say, ‘who taught you how to play?’ Nobody! I taught myself. I had a musical talent, I guess.”

There’s really no guessing about this man’s talent. Perkin’s earliest instrument was a piece of wire stretched between two nails tacked on a wall. That one string ‘diddley-bow’ would eventually become a guitar, and a few years later, piano. “I played guitar first, and got in Helena, Arkansas and a one of them ladies done stabbed me in the arm and I can’t play guitar no more. So, that’s the way it went.”

You were just a kid (around 10 or 11) when you first played in a honkeytonk called the Old Barrelhouse? “Yea, that was in Belzoni, Mississippi. Yea, I remember that, that’s where I learned at. Every once in awhile I get on the piano, banging on it and they try to run me out, ‘Boy, get outta’ there! And no sooner it gets cooled down, I go right back on it again, you know? (laughing) The Barrelhouse Club, years ago.”

You seem to have played EVERYWHERE! Country dances, traditional picnics and fish fries; did you ever play in any houses of ill repute? “Well, I played in some houses, don’t know if they were whore houses or not. They might have been. (I swear I see a glint in his eye as he starts laughing) I played in everything. In the Blues Brothers movie and all that stuff…Angel Heart.”

From the beginning you were running with a pretty fast crowd, literally some of the all-time blues greats. Robert Nighthawk, Sonny Boy Williamson, Earl Hooker, Big Joe Williams… “Big Joe Williams? Oh man, I loved that Joe. He never did sing with me none. I love that Joe, man.” Pinetop also knew jazz vocalist, Joe Williams and remembered, “He played with Count Basie a long time. My best memory of Big Joe was he was a good singer, he was really good. I loved the way he sung.”

Tell us a little about your association with Robert Nighthawk? “Oh man, I played with Robert about four years. And what took me from Robert Nighthawk when I was over in Helena, Arkansas…we was advertising Bright Star Flour. Mr Max Moore, Interstate Grocery Man at KFFA, he heard me and told Sonny Boy (Williamson) ‘Looky here man, hey, go over there and get him. I want him to play for me.’ He loved the way I played piano. Dudlow (Robert Taylor) was playing, Mr. 5×5 (not to be confused with Jimmy Rushing) was playing then.”

Perkins played on a number of the most popular live radio broadcasts out of Helena. As mentioned, the Bright Star Flour program with Nighthawk, and of course the most prominent from that time was sponsored by King Biscuit Flour. The show featured numerous stars of the day, like Sonny Boy Williamson, Houston Stackhouse and James ‘Peck’ Curtis. I had heard that Pinetop might even have played for a third program known as, ‘Mothers Best,’ but he told me, “I never did play on Mothers Best, no… uhn..uhn.”

In the late 40’s and early 50’s, Pinetop would once again hit the tour circuit with Robert Nighthawk, eventually ending up in Chicago at the renown ‘708 Club.’ He would also back the legendary slide guitarist in the studio, on some of Nighthawk’s last recordings for Chess. Another friend of Pinetop’s, Willie Dixon produced and played bass on those memorable Nighthawk sessions.

You also ran with Earl Hooker for awhile…. “Earl Hooker? Boy, oh me and him got together years ago. He was 13 years old when we started playing together. And I was young and had nuthin’ of nuthin’! (laughing) That was way back, I was about 20 or something then, and Earl was real young. But he was in bad shape. (Hooker suffered from tuberculosis and died in an Illinois Sanitarium at age 40.) He was sent to the hospital, and every once in awhile he’d come back around and say, ‘I’m well now.’ He wouldn’t be discharged; he’d done slipped out of the hospital. (laughing) The doctor didn’t turn him loose; he’d turn his own self loose. He’d come back, ‘I’m well now!’ And no sooner than he’d get back, they’d send him right back to the hospital. So the last time, Muddy Waters heard me playin’ with him.”

North Hollywood Ca. w/ Hubert Sumlin and Big Daddy Kinsey in the late 1980’s.
Photo:T.E.Mattox

Didn’t you replace Otis Spann in Muddy’s band? “Well, in a way I did. Otis had quit him and I started playin’ in the band with him. That was ’69. 1969, so I played with him up until ’80.”

What was it like playing in Muddy’s band? “Oh, I loved playing in Muddy’s band, man. I loved it ’cause he had the ‘stomp-down’ blues stuff. That’s why I loved it.”

Muddy Waters, (McKinley Morganfield) like Pinetop, had honed his chops on a Southern plantation and both men came of age when blues were ingrained. Where music was expressed and absorbed through feelings and instinct, much more readily than the traditional student/teacher exchange. I’m thinking it was probably where the term ‘old school’ originated. Pinetop is nodding, “Oh, yea. I liked that background, the old background.”

And the blues to Pinetop Perkins… “What are the blues? Man, when you’re lonesome and your good girl quit you, you got the blues so bad you can’t sing ’em, hardly. You got ’em then, boy! And somethin’ happen to you… and you got the blues if you’re livin,’ you know?”

The ladies still give you trouble? (Now you CAN’T miss the twinkle in those 80-year old eyes and Pinetop’s smile exhibits a distinct Cheshire cat-like quality) “Well, I got too old for that. When you get 80 years old they don’t bother you too much.”

I mention that David ‘Honeyboy’ Edwards once told me, he just ‘loves’ the ladies. (Pinetop instantly becomes animated, like a jolt of electricity shot through him.) “I LOVE them, but what am I gonna’ DO with them!?” he hoots. “Nuthin!’ (The backstage area erupts with laughter.) “It’s like a dog runnin’ after an automobile. If it stops he don’t know what to do with it!” (more laughter) “That’s the way it goes.”

You must know Honeyboy… “YEA, I know Honeyboy. He snuck around my MOTHER, years ago!” (the entire backstage disintegrates into pandemonium, stagehands, other performers, journalists….and Pinetop is in his domain.) “MY MOTHER!” he reiterates! “Sure did!”

(As everyone tries to regroup and recover, I daub the tears off my face and smeared paperwork; I ask how is it that some bluesmen, like himself and the ‘honorable’ Mr. Edwards, seem to have such long and productive lives. “Luck’s of the Lord!” Pinetop states matter-of-factly.

At the Palomino – North Hollywood, CA. Pinetop’s humor was legendary.
Photo: Yachiyo Mattox

You take care of yourself? “NO!” (Everyone backstage falls apart again.) And like the master of timing he is…Pinetop waits for it…. “But I do the best I can.”

I comment he looks pretty good and hasn’t changed much since we last talked about four years ago.

“I thought,” he quips, “I looked like Cheetah, you know?” (…and the crowd goes wild.) “I’m about two years older than black pepper.”

You going to keep playing blues? “I’m going to try, if the Lord spares me.”

Pinetop was working on a new solo album at the time of our conversation and still living in Chicago. I was curious if he ever ran into another Delta player that was living in the Windy City; James ‘Snooky’ Pryor? “Man, Yea!” Me and Snooky was in Germany together last month.” Although not a big fan of the travel, Pinetop admitted he did it for the bucks. “I’m trying to make some bread, man; some bean money.”

European audiences really have an appreciation of the blues and especially the originators. “Oh yea, they love it. And they know me. I’ve been all over Europe, all over Australia, and Africa and places.”

Tell me about one of the craziest or wildest clubs you ever played? “The craziest club or bar I ever played in? Well, I didn’t play, but I went to it. That’s Buddy Guy’s place, when he had the Checkerboard Lounge. I come outta’ that place and a man put a pistol in my side and say, ‘hey, get over and let me have your car, man.’ I say, ‘take the car and go ahead.’ He looks at me like I’m a fool or something. And he took me with him.”

He took your car….?? “Yea, and ME too! And we drove all around (Chicago) dropping off …dope or something, I don’t know. And when they finished, my car was empty and they said, ‘Now you can go on home.'”

Pinetop never failed to acknowledge his fans. Photo: Yachiyo Mattox

What can we look forward to from Pinetop Perkins in the future? He looks directly at me, “Well, man what’s never come out…will come up!” ….and his ever present smile, grew wider.

One of Pinetop’s long-time friends, Buddy Guy, told me a wonderful story about his piano playing protégé. “Just before Jimmy Rogers’ died, he (Pinetop) used to play with Jimmy a lot, at my club in Chicago. So I walks in the club before they start playing, and I went to say ‘hi’ to Pinetop and he took his leg and throw’d it up on the bar like this.” (Buddy hoists his leg up near the table) “I say, ‘what’s that for?’ And they had that monitor on his leg (Buddy begins to laugh)…from the police. I say, ‘who did you kill?’ He said, ‘Nobody!’ I say, ‘what’s wrong with you?’ He said, ‘simple drunk, they got me just simple drunk.’ The only time they let him come out at night, is if he was working, they wouldn’t stop him from playing the keyboard. I said, ‘you wasn’t drivin’?’ He said, ‘no, I was just simple drunk, walkin’.’

So then he takes me over there and sits down and said, ‘they told me to stop drinkin’, he say, ‘but Buddy’ and he had this shot of whiskey in his hand. He say, ‘if I stop drinkin…’ now this has been about 15 – 18 years ago. He say, ‘if I stop drinkin’ (Buddy snaps his fingers) …that’s IT!’ I say, ‘DON’T stop drinkin’ then, then keep on drinkin’. And about three or four years before he passed away, they had him at the club again and he came in, they was rolling him out in a wheel chair and it was raining. I say I hadn’t hollered at him, I want to holler at him before he go, and I say, ‘wait a minute ‘Top, I wanna’ say hi before you go.’ He say, ‘I ain’t goin’ nowhere, I’m goin’ outside to smoke.’ And I think he was 93 or something. And I say, ‘if you can smoke at 93, people should stop saying cigarettes are not good for you.’ (laughs)

Early in 2011, the world was Pinetop’s oyster. Although in his 90’s he was still vital, still productive and still doing what he loved the most. He had just been recognized with a ‘best traditional blues album’ Grammy for a recording he’d done with old friend, Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith entitled, ‘Joined at the Hip’. A memorable evening and lasting moment that embraced the man before generations of his friends, fellow musicians and fans. You have to think that the extended applause that night was not only for his music and his remarkable career, but an outpouring of love and respect for a legendary and gentle man. Thanks, ‘Top. Rest in Peace..

The post Joe Willie ‘Pinetop’ Perkins 1913-2011 appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Known as “The Jewel” of San Diego, La Jolla is famous for its unique geography that combines rugged sandstone cliffs, hidden sea caves, and pristine beaches. But besides all of its natural beauty, the town is also home to the 113-year-old Grande Colonial, one of the most historic and charming hotels around. 

My family and I began a recent visit to the Grande Colonial by checking into a gorgeous suite overlooking the ocean and the round hotel pool. The rooms and suites maintain the same classic sophistication as the rest of the Colonial Revival-styled hotel. Each accommodation is outfitted with warm coastal décor, goose-down comforters, and luxury amenities. 

The rooms feature old fashioned windows that open to the sights and sounds of crashing waves just a block away. The windows also provide a perch for friendly seabirds, such as the big white seagull that stopped by our room for some bread crumbs. 

Outside the room, the hallways lead to more history, with a central outdoor balcony on each floor overlooking town, and old fire escape ladders on the side of the building. The story of this landmark began in 1913, when it opened as the Colonial Apartments and Hotel. Designed by architect Richard Requa, the original white, wood-framed structure quickly became a community cornerstone, famous for its pristine ocean-view sun parlor. 

When owner George Bane completed a massive renovation in 1928, the revamped hotel boasted ornate chandeliers, marble fireplaces, and leaded glass windows alongside groundbreaking infrastructure, including the first sprinkler system west of the Mississippi. Notably, the new design integrated a popular local pharmacy run by the father of a young soon-to-be actor named Gregory Peck.

Following World War II, the property earned a reputation as “Little Hollywood.” When local Gregory Peck co-founded the nearby La Jolla Playhouse in 1947, the hotel became the premier home-away-from-home for performing stars like Groucho Marx, Charlton Heston, David Niven, and Dorothy McGuire well into the late 1950s.

Stepping outside the hotel puts you right in the middle of the Village of La Jolla. During our stay, we grabbed burgers and ice cream for lunch at Burger Lounge, and then explored a myriad of interesting boutique shops throughout town. 

After window shopping we headed down to the waterfront. The Grande Colonial sits steps from La Jolla Cove, a spectacular small beach flanked by cliffs. Protected by an ecological preserve, the La Jolla Cove boasts a mild microclimate with comfortable year-round temperatures, making it a haven for swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling. It is also famously home to resident sea lions and harbor seals that love sunning themselves on the rocks. Just nearby, a walk along the seawall at the Children’s Pool offers gorgeous, sweeping views of the Pacific coastline.

After a day at the beach we returned to the Grande Colonial hungry and ready for dinner at NINE-TEN Restaurant, the property’s signature dining spot. Led by nationally recognized Chef Jason Knibb and Pastry Chef Jose Alonzo III, the MICHELIN Guide Distinction destination delivers an evolving California coastal menu rooted in a farm-to-table philosophy. Utilizing fresh products from local providers like Chino Farms, the daily offerings feature fresh seafood arriving from Hawaii and the North Pacific. 

Highlights from our dinner included house-made sourdough country bread; Hamachi sashimi with marinated baby shiitake mushrooms in a scallion vinaigrette; and grilled prime ribeye, with golden thread mushrooms, torpedo onions, mushroom butter, onion flowers, shaved asparagus, and sherry vinaigrette. Other menu standouts include smoked Liberty duck breast, and a Jamaican jerk pork belly served with Swiss chard, plantains, and a spicy jelly. 

Because we were hotel guests we enjoyed a 10% discount on food and beverages at the restaurant.

If you are planning your own escape, the hotel is currently running two notable promotional packages:

• Limited-Time Advance Purchase Offer: Save 15% off best available rates on select dates through July 9th when booking ahead. This deal includes a complimentary waiver of the $45 nightly hospitality service charge, covering your valet parking and added guest amenities.
• Suite Land of Liberty Escape: Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, this package features spacious ocean- or garden-view suites (some equipped with full kitchens and fireplaces). It includes a reduced $25 nightly hospitality charge, a $50 daily dining credit for NINE-TEN or room service, two welcome cocktails, complimentary valet parking, daily fitness club passes, and a self-guided walking tour of the hotel’s rich history. Guests can also enjoy the heated outdoor pool, complimentary beach gear (chairs, umbrellas, towels), and one hour of complimentary electric bicycle rentals to cruise the coastline.

The Grande Colonial Hotel is located at 910 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037. The hotel also offers 5,000 sq-ft of indoor and outdoor event space, in-room dining and spa treatments, concierge-arranged ocean activities; airport shuttles and more. For more information and reservations, call (888) 828-5498 or visit: www.thegrandecolonial.com

The post Elegance and History: A Historic Escape to La Jolla’s Grande Colonial appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Thanks to Wyne of Mandaluyong, Philippines

Raoul’s 2 cents

George

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

He did it again. Tonka, our Corgi did it again! He swallowed something that upset his system. He started throwing up several times during the day until there was just bile coming out. My wife rushed him to the hospital while I waited at home with Tinker, his sister corgi. My wife had to wait there for hours. And, when it was finally our turn, the veterinarian called with all sorts of questions about where Tonka went and what he ate.

Have you ever talked to a Vet before? Do they all talk like Kindergarten teachers? I felt I was in Sesame Street talking to Big Bird.
VET: “Do you really think it’s a good idea to see Tonka inside the back room? When he sees you and you say in English you’ll be coming back, he won’t understand why Mommy is leaving him again.”
ME: “Don’t worry Doctor Doolittle. It’s already too late. Tonka has been a nervous wreck ever since we snatched him from his real Mommy. He’s already a serial killer!”

I tell you, if you are contemplating getting a dog — don’t! Sure, they’re cute and adorable and they elevate your self-confidence to narcissistic levels BUT …

• they need to be fed,
• you need to give them a walk in the middle of your busy day so they can poop and pee,
• their fur and dog smell permeate your once beautiful home,
• veterinarians and pet food manufacturers get richer as you grow poorer,
• Annoying as they can be, you still develop strong emotional attachments
• and the worst part is — THEY DIE!
• 15 years max and — THEY DIE!
• All that dog food and dog toys suddenly useless because — THEY DIE!
• Guess who’s going to be the nervous wreck?

Dog-sitting Tinker was going to take hours so I decided to watch Youtube on TV while I prepared dinner. Somehow, a 3.5 hour documentary of The Boring Life of George Washington popped up. I realized that I didn’t really know that much about US history or Washington. I’ve heard bits and pieces about him like his chopping down the cherry tree and his wooden teeth … but I didn’t grow up in an American Grade School; so I let the video play — and boy was I blown away! No joke. I am so so amazed at President Washington.

I DIDN’T KNOW

• I didn’t know of his insecurities because his father favored George’s half-brother whom he groomed to be among the aristocracy in England.
• I didn’t know he was a successful cartographer, turned real estate mogul, turned farmer, turned international trader, turned local magnate, turned disillusioned entrepreneur, turned revolutionist, turned politician.
• I didn’t know Martha was a widow with 2 kids and that she was uber wealthy. (George was a Gold Digger)
• I didn’t know George was a towering six feet 3 inches tall. Hubba hubba! No wonder Martha fell for him.
• He suffered a few war losses which prompted him to read about war strategies.
• The Continental Army was composed of amateur soldiers who were mostly simple farmers. George had a knack for choosing the best officers to accomplish his vision and shape his ragtag army to battle the most powerful armada in the world.
• There were internal political factions because many were still loyal to the English crown. (So many parallels to today’s politics). His quiet, humble demeanor masked his calculating strategy that won the respect of his peers.
• Finally, he was offered the crown but he refused to be king.

The Youtube AI-generated video used annoying repetitious descriptions and strange painterly AI visuals, but I was captivated. One man probably put this together (the writing, the video editing, etc.) so bravo to his efforts. The video has definitely changed my admiration for George Washington. He deserves all those buildings, streets and schools that are named after him. What a perfect way to prepare me for America’s upcoming 250th Anniversary this July 4th.

I also watched short fun historical YouTube clips about the other heroes of that era produced by Prager University. (Full disclosure: The presentation is apolitical but the writers have a right wing viewpoint). America has much to be proud of thanks to the Judeo-Christian values and sacrifices of our forefathers. They gave everything (some lost everything) in the hopes that our generation will preserve this great political experiment. They gave us all the ingredients … we just need to follow the recipe.

AFTER THOUGHT 1
Of course, I’m aware other countries have their own stories of valor and I’m certainly interested to learn about them. What would be truly interesting is to compare perspectives from both the winning and losing sides — “the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.” I encourage you to watch these videos. It may inspire you to soar like eagles.

AFTER THOUGHT 2
I was never a fan of history until I started reading the Bible. (True story!) It started me pointing at maps and imagining what it would have been like to live in those arid places, to talk to these spiritual legends and to look under the rug for hidden lessons. It made me appreciate the blessings we have and wonder why God put us where we are today.

AFTER THOUGHT 3
Well, I guess there is one good reason to have a dog after all. Tonka forced me to watch a boring history of the great President George Washington.

TGIF people!

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Quotes of the Week

“In America, anyone can become president. That’s the problem.” — George Carlin

“If we must die, we die defending our rights.” — Chief Sitting Bull

“America is a country of inventors, and the greatest of inventors are the newspaper men.” — Alexander Graham Bell

“America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between.” — Oscar Wilde

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” — Abraham Lincoln

“Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.
The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.” — Psalm 37:27-29

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” — Romans 12:19

“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” — Zechariah 7:9

Memes of the Week

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena. CA

Thanks to Jamie of La Habra, Ca

Thanks to Joel of Alhambra, CA

Thanks to Doug of Boston, MA

Thanks to Carlos of San Diego, CA

Thanks to Estella of Manila, Philippines

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:
I hope I got you to smile.

TGIF Joke Archives

SUBSCRIBE to Raoul’s TGIF Joke

The post The Truth About Great Men appeared first on Traveling Boy.

QUESTION:
Is there a secret tunnel in Washington DC?

ANSWER:
Yes—but not in the “giant hidden conspiracy city under Washington, D.C.” sense that internet rumors sometimes suggest.

There are real underground tunnels and subterranean spaces in Washington, D.C., including:

1. White House tunnels (real, but limited)

The White House has secure underground infrastructure, including:

• The Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), a hardened underground command bunker used for emergencies.
• At least a couple of short secure tunnels/escape routes, including one connecting toward the nearby Treasury area and others used for protected movement or evacuation.

These are security/evacuation tunnels, not a sprawling hidden network.

2. Capitol Hill tunnel system (very real and widely used)

Beneath the U.S. Capitol complex is a large, well-documented network of tunnels, including:

• The United States Capitol Subway System, a small private rail system connecting the Capitol with House and Senate office buildings.
• Pedestrian tunnels used daily by staff, lawmakers, and security personnel.
• Utility tunnels for power, steam, and services.

This system is real, active, and heavily used—but not secret.

3. “Secret tunnel network” myths vs reality

There are persistent claims about tunnels connecting places like:

• the White House to the Pentagon and to Camp David

But:

• No credible public evidence supports a continuous, massive underground network across D.C.
• What does exist are separate, purpose-built tunnels (security passages, utility corridors, subway systems, and old infrastructure).

As reporting consistently shows, the truth is closer to “lots of disconnected tunnels for practical reasons” rather than one hidden mega-network.

Bottom line

Yes, there are tunnels in Washington, D.C.—even important ones under the White House and Capitol.
But they’re functional infrastructure and security routes, not a secret underground maze stretching across the city.

The post Is There a Secret Tunnel in Washington DC? appeared first on Traveling Boy.