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Welcome back, my friends, to the "Battle" that never ends.
We're so glad you could attend. Come inside! Come inside!
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This is 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB') where you listen to different recordings and vote for the one you like best. A new Battle gets posted on the 1st of each month and on the 7th, I place my own vote, tally 'em all up and announce the winner.
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Friend? Foe? Stranger? No matter, ALL are welcome. So pull up a chair, pour yourself 24 oz. of DOG BITE High Gravity Lager (or the poison of your choice) and turn it up to Eleven!
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[NOTE: Links to the first year of 'BOTB' (#1 - #24) can be found at the very bottom of this page.]

Sunday, March 27, 2016

A JOYFUL EASTER TO YOU AND YOURN (Or, CHOCOLATE BUNNIES TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!)

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Seriously, a Happy Easter to everyone of ya! Rejoice, for He has risen! And I hope you got the chocolate bunny you asked Santa for. [Don't worry, this is not blasphemy. This blog bit has the Jesus Christ seal of approval. Or did you not know that Jesus has a sense of humor, even on a glorious day such as this?]


It's been a part of my tradition since I was a child - a tradition started by Pa & Ma - to eat a chocolate bunny on Easter Sunday. (Proper etiquette dictates that you ALWAYS start with the ears and eat down to the big ol' floppy feet.) Of course I always make sure to buy my chocolate bunny before Easter Sunday because I refuse to conduct any commerce on this Holy Day. And that applies to Christmas also.

One year (1983?) I was in New York City on Easter Sunday. It took me FOREVER to find a chocolate bunny. And when I did, the guy wanted some outrageous price for it. I paid the price. Jesus paid "THE Price", but I paid "the price".

This year I bought me a "Whacky Wabbit"...

 
I want to share a couple songs and a photograph with y'all today. After which we will resume our regularly scheduled programming.

Let's start with "The Queen Of Gospel", shall we? Here's Mahalia Jackson singing 'My God Is Real (Yes, God Is Real)' - and you'd better believe He is, too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGxFE6rqNpg


Now here's a short song that I dedicate to my brother Napoleon (Nappy) whom I love. (John Wayne! John Wayne!) There's a little "inside joke" here but only Nappy can get it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ99JChlobA


One of the most unusual and beautiful Gospel albums I've ever heard is 'LIVING WATER: The Surfer's Mass' by The Malibooz (including Walter Egan of 'Magnet And Steel' fame). You can hear the entire inspired album at YouTube by clicking HERE.

Alright, would anybody here like to see me, D-FensDogG, when I was just a little puppy? Thanks to my dear friend Nitro Wilbury Babskiddo who photographed this old photograph for me, I am able to post it on this Easter Sunday.

You are about to see my #1 all-time favorite photograph of my family. This was taken on March 29, 1964 in front of our house at 8551 Jennrich Avenue in Westminster (Orange County), California. We're all dressed up for church on Easter Sunday. [Sadly, my parents couldn't keep up with the payments and we lost that house. It broke my Ma's heart.]

This was the first photograph ever taken of the entire family, all 5 of us - my Ma, Pa, Sister Bonehead (who was just an infant), me (looking like I've been contemplating the meaning of life and didn't like what I found), and the crowning thing that really elevates this photograph to "Classic" status is my brother... just Nappy being Nappy! (Only God remembers what Nappy was pissed about that time.)




Let me leave you with something that sincerely inspires me every time I hear it:

Listen to the voice of Greer Garson when she quotes Jesus in saying "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." It gives me chills every time and really makes me want to be pure in heart!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZvjPCcHI4g


Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

And, yes, He did! It was the greatest comeback in history!

Have a joyful Easter, all y'all!

~ Stephen T. McCarthy
 

25 comments:

  1. Have a joyful and holy Easter, Sephen T. McCarthy!

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    1. Why thank you, POP TART. (I mustn't call you "Evil" on a day like today.)

      And I hope it's a lovely day of peace and chocolate bunnies for you.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Loyal American Underground'

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  2. A lovely Easter post. A Joyful Day. I hope and pray that you most thoroughly enjoy the gifts of today in this life AND the next.

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    1. Thanks, FAE. And thanks again for making the family photo possible.

      ~ D-FensDogG

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  3. ~ D-FensDogG, truly lovely post for a most special day. I loved the way you incorporated the birth, death, and resurrection. I'm practically reduced to tears. Thank you, and Happy Easter, (smile).

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    1. Glad you liked it, Dear DIXIE POLKA. A joyful Resurrection Day to you, too!

      I figure if I toss EVERYTHING in there, including Santa and Chocolate Bunnies, maybe "this world" won't take offense that I just told it to "get right with God" and "accept your Salvation through 'THE PRICE' Yeshua paid".

      You know me, I figure a spoon full of sugar helps the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious go down.

      ~ D-FensDogG

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  4. I love the pic. Your dad is wearing solid, you wear checks, your mom has a sort of diamond pattern going on, Bonehead wearing white (really????), and Nappy - in a portent of things to come - wearing STRIPES.

    So... was this taken in your backyard?

    Happy Easter, McBrother. JW.

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    1. McBROTHER SIXGUN ~
      No, sir, I am the one in stripes (with the very serious expression and fists clenched, ready to fight the world).

      The Crybaby in checks is Nappy.

      However, your "portent of things to come" still applies because, you know, there was that little episode in Mexico...

      Happy Easter to you also, SixBro!

      ~ D-FensDogG

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    2. POSTSCRIPT:
      SIX, I forgot to answer your question... No, this was in the front yard. You can do a Google search with that address and see what it looks like now.

      It actually looks pretty nice! The last time Nappy and I drove by the house (sheesh! circa 1999?) the place looked really rundown, as did the rest of the neighborhood. It was sad to see. But this more recent Google Image photo indicates that a better class of people moved in. I'm really glad to see that!

      ~ D-FensDogG

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    3. I was confused by your mentioning that "Only God remembers what Nappy was pissed about that time." I thought you were older, but in this photo YOU look pissed (as in MAD), and Nappy looks like a "pouhr wittle baby." (Don't hit me Nappy!! Back off!)

      Because of your "pissed" statement, I assumed that he was you and you was he. He he.

      Like Lee, I went out and got some bunnies 1/2 off AFTER Easter. I am a cheapskate, and have few traditions or rituals other than beating the system.

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    4. Yeah, I knew that's what had happened - that you'd interpreted my description incorrectly.

      Well, beating the system is a damned good tradition!

      I don't have a wife anymore, so now I beat the system, too. (Come 'n' get me, Feminazis!)

      ~ D-FensDogG

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  5. This was a great year....I was born that year(June 2nd). I love that picture because it looks like you are ready to smack someone down a la Burt Lancaster. Your brother is crying which Iam certain he wishes this picture could go somewhere hidden. Mahalia is great! I would always eat the bunny from The head down....poor Easter bunny gets no respect.


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    1. BIRGIT ~
      Ha! "Burt Lancaster"? I'LL TAKE IT!!

      Yeah, 1964 was a good year. There were a lotta good years back then. I dunno wha' hoppened.

      Nappy was always cryin' about something. Ha!-Ha! I'll never forget the time he missed going on vacation with us because he started in with his crap right outta the driveway. My Pa drove him straight to our Grandparents house and dropped him off. (I'm literally laughing-out-loud as I type this. ONLY Nappy!)

      I'm happy to report, however, that although Nappy was a newt, he "got better".

      You know, I seriously think that anyone who would eat a Chocolate Bunny from the feet up should just be imprisoned for life. No good could come from a person THAT anti-social!

      ~ D-FensDogG

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  6. You looked better in a suit at 4 years old than I have at any given point in my life, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that.

    Hope you had a great Easter, man!

    ~6B

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    1. Brother, I can't stand suits! Feel like I'm suffocating every time I stuff myself into a suit.

      For work, I'm required to wear a tie. Granted it's a clip-on tie (so no one can strangle me with it), but I still hate having a noose around my neck full-time.

      ~ D-FensDogG

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  7. You are tooo funny! I love it when you share info about your childhood and other stages in your life...and especially when there are pictures, too! Your family looks so cute...like the typical 50s or early 60s household. One thing, though...I feel bad about this year's chocolate bunny. It says "Solid Milk Chocolate Flavored."...Hmmm, I think you should find a REAL chocolate bunny and buy it. You deserve the real thing! And by tomorrow, the price will be probably 50% cheaper! Happy Easter to you, my friend!

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    1. BROWN-EYED BECKY-O! ~
      Glad you liked this! Yeah, we were the standard "Nuclear Family"... except we had a "Nappy".

      Don't feel bad, M'Dear. I got more chocolate bunnies, and one of 'em MUST be real chocolate, I'm sure!

      ~ D-FensDogG

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  8. I have some Easter photos from when I was about four years old. I'm sobbing in them. I didn't want my mother to take my picture, but she insisted. What was the point of photographing a sobbing child? I wish you a blessed Easter.

    I won't participate in BOTB during April, but I'll be back in May.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. BIG CHIEF JANIE ~
      Were you afraid the camera was going to steal your spirit?

      Well, have a peaceful April and we'll look forward to your return in May. (I'm just going to leave the links to your blog up in case you change your mind on, say, April 15th.)

      Catch ya again in May.

      ~ D-FensDogG

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  9. Happy Easter I hope you enjoyed the bunny!

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    1. Thank you, SIR MIKE!
      I'm sure I enjoyed it more than the bunny did.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Loyal American Underground'

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  10. I didn't have any Easter candy yesterday, but if I see any on sale this week maybe I'll pick some up. We had a quiet day with church in the morning and sleep in the afternoon--truly a day of rest.

    It's difficult to tell, but the house in the photo looks very similar to the house in San Diego we lived in from 1959 to 1963. Is the windowed portion visible in the photo a garage? That's what we had with the living portion to the rear of that garage. Is your old house still standing? I've gone by my old house in recent decades and it still looks pretty much the same except the current owners keep their yard up better.

    Happy After-Easter

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. LEE ~
      That style of house seemed to be pretty common in the Southern California area back then, late '50s to early and mid-'60s. Years later, in checking out my old neighborhoods, I found many houses that were just variations on that style.

      Yeah, the house is still standing. You can do a Google image search with that address and see how it looks today.

      No, that is the kitchen window showing in the photo. It was from that window that my Ma once watched me fight with 3 neighborhood boys (one at a time). She said she was all set to run outside and break up the fighting but she never did because I was winning all the bouts.

      Ha!-Ha! And that gives you more insight into the ways of my family.
      [:o)

      ~ D-FensDogG

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  11. So late in getting here (again). BTW, I read your BoTB results shortly after you posted them, but didn't comment. I can't remember why now. Irrelevant really.

    I'm not particularly attached to Easter candy. Once upon a time I really liked the Cadbury Eggs. My mom likes the bigger, gooey ones. I always liked the small ones that were pastel colored with a hard shell and chocolate inside. But, even those... haven't any in quite a while.

    I love the picture of your family. Maybe you were ready to clobber Nappy for crying so much and prolonging the agony of standing in the driveway for the picture. You look so much like your dad in this picture. With him standing directly above you, the resemblance is very obvious.

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    1. ROBIN ~
      I thought the same thing, that I look A LOT like my Pa in that picture. I'm sort of a "Mini-Pa".

      I also got his cleft chin and his goofy sense of humor. And there are certain little mannerisms I sometimes do that are so much like my Pa that I feel I'm almost channeling him from the big beyond.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Loyal American Underground'

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