Author: jeff ludlum

I'm a commercial / supply chain guy and a writer. I'm a fan of the "outside", a philanthropist, and life-long globalist. I'm a husband & father, brother & son, and native from the southland of the San Francisco Bay Area. My Twitter Number? 26,433,902.

Lyrics Post: “One Week”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, HappyLeave a comment

“One Week” by the Barenaked Ladies

Those whacky Canadians, that’s what I thought when I first heard this song. Then I thought, AWESOME. And I still think that’s the case all these years later.

“It’s been one week since you looked at me

Cocked your head to the side and said, “I’m angry”

Five days since you laughed at me saying

“Get back together come back and save me”

Three days since the living room

I realized it’s all my fault, but couldn’t tell you

Yesterday you’d forgiven me

But it’ll still be two days ’til I say I’m sorry

Hold it now and watch the hoodwink

As I make you stop, think

You’ll think you’re looking at Aquaman

I summon fish to the dish, although I like the Chalet Swiss

I like the sushi

‘Cause it’s never touched a frying pan

Hot like wasabi when I bust rhymes

Big like LeAnn Rimes

Because I’m all about value

Bert Kaempfert’s got the mad hits

You try to match wits, you try to hold me but I bust through

Gonna make a break and take a fake

I’d like a stinking aching shake

I like vanilla, it’s the finest of the flavours

Gotta see the show, ’cause then you’ll know

That vertigo is gonna grow

‘Cause it’s so dangerous

You’ll have to sign a waiver

How can I help it if I think you’re funny when you’re mad

Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad

I’m the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral

Can’t understand what I mean?

Well, you soon will

I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve

I have a history of taking off my shirt

It’s been one week since you looked at me

Threw your arms in the air

And said, “You’re crazy”

Five days since you tackled me

I’ve still got the rug burns on both my knees

It’s been three days since the afternoon

You realized it’s not my fault

Not a moment too soon

Yesterday you’d forgiven me

And now I sit back and wait ’til you say you’re sorry

Chickity China the Chinese chicken

You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin’

Watchin’ X-Files with no lights on

We’re dans la maison

I hope the Smoking Man’s in this one

Like Harrison Ford I’m getting frantic

Like Sting I’m tantric

Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy

Like Kurosawa I make mad films

Okay, I don’t make films

But if I did they’d have a Samurai

Gonna get a set a’ better clubs

Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs

Just so my irons aren’t always flying off the back-swing

Gotta get in tune with Sailor Moon

‘Cause that cartoon has got the boom anime babes

That make me think the wrong thing

How can I help it if I think you’re funny when you’re mad

Tryin’ hard not to smile though I feel bad

I’m the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral

Can’t understand what I mean?

You soon will

I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve

I have a history of losing my shirt

It’s been one week since you looked at me

Dropped your arms to your sides

And said, “I’m sorry.”

Five days since I laughed at you and said

“You just did just what I thought you were gonna do”

Three days since the living room

We realized we’re both to blame

But what could we do?

Yesterday you just smiled at me

Cause it’ll still be two days ’til we say we’re sorry

It’ll still be two days ’til we say we’re sorry

It’ll still be two days ’til we say “Wasabi”

Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie

Be Like Mom

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, family, Happy, parentingLeave a comment

Be like mom, bump along bump along. On this day along while ago, my momma came into the world, don’t you know. She’s still around, I’m happy to say, today today is her, birth-day.

I think about my life, I think about hers, I think about all, the lessons I’ve learned. She taught me a lot, still teaching me today, so I want to celebrate her, in every little way.

She’s had some challenges throughout her days, a lot like other folks, one quite severe, but it’s taught her quite a lot, how to persevere.

Through it all, my mom has rolled along. Not able to stroll any more all the same, she finds her way, passive so, every day. Seems she’s always willing to smile, though it might take a while, she finds the bright side, the good there is, wants to share it with others, share it with my kids.

So thankful, so thankful for my momma that’s true, so I say in grand voice, Happy Birthday to you!

Another Quick Riff: Play is GOOD

On By jeff ludlumIn art, AttitudeLeave a comment

“Play is good, play is good. Turn it around, flip it upside down, don’t you wear no frown, maybe be a clown, for once, or twice, or again and again, once or twice, and bring a friend.

Bring a friend to play, make it the day, you go down real deep on the simple joy of play. Don’t need a lot, not much at all, don’t need no screen, almost nothing at all. To have more fun and play and play, just get outta, outta, outta your own way.

And play and play and play again, let me just say that this is the way, to have some fun and laugh today, play is good, hooray hooray!

Four Minute Flip, Revised.

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, mental healthLeave a comment

“What you got what you got, four minutes to flip. Not much time, but just enough time, to let it flow, to make a little blip.

Just four min so don’t you know, scribble it down and let it go. Just a few words on the page for Monday, share the love, be the love, ready to go.

That’s word, that’s GOOD, make it so, so make it so.”

Silly little riff from late last night, as sleep was falling heavy on me after along couple of days. And the thought occurred to me, for all the topics and content I share on this blog, maybe a few days break from that pattern, maybe a few posts just writing fun, freestyle verse, that’d be a good idea. At least it’ll be fun for me, and hopefully some of you will enjoy the randomness too. Humor, Play, Fun, GOOD.

So that’s what’s up this week. Still Half Full, All GOOD, would you like some more, like some more, yes I would, yes I would.

TASTY.

The Day After

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, leadership, ServiceLeave a comment

The day after big events tends to be an experience unto itself. No different for our DeAnza Lions Charity Crab Feed.

Up late the night before, leaving the hall close to Midnight, it’s up the next morning to gather and clean all the pots and pans and mats and such.

The fellowship continues this second day. We gather at one of our members’ house to power wash and reorganize and reload. Only a handful show up. It’s a lot of work.

Four hours later, we’re done. Our storage space looks revamped; better organized; refreshed.

I grab a ride home with one of the guys after returning the box truck. We agree it was a successful event; we’ll see what the numbers say. One thing for sure:

All for the greater good. All to serve others.

The Lion Motto rings true: We Serve.

Finding Ways to Serve

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, leadership, organizations, ServiceLeave a comment

The event gathers some 500 people to eat crab, enjoy music and fellowship too. It’s a great event.

On Saturday, the Eighth of February, the Lions club I belong to has it’s 24th Charity Crab Feed, to raise money for our club’s charity work.

It also takes a BUNCH of hours to produce. Some 30-40 people volunteer their time that day/evening to put the event on — and a smaller leader group puts in tens of hours prior planning, making arrangements, etc. for the actual event day.

It all comes down to service: how can we Lions raise money for the charity work that needs support; how can we engage our community to for awareness; what can we do to serve those in need and make it enjoyable along the way.

This Charity Crab Feed does the job. My gratitude and admiration to my fellow Lions who started this project nearly a quarter century ago, ten years before I became a Lion. My gratitude to those who support the event. My gratitude to all our Lions and Friends of Lions who do the work to make it happen.

Anatomy of a Crab Feed follows, images from the prep, from the day, from the clean-up.

LIONS. WE SERVE.

Ramp UP

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, Happy, Insight, mental healthLeave a comment

Ramp Up

It’s a feeling that starts early, if you’re lucky.

It’s a sense of anticipation, a particular urgency and readiness to take action.

It’s something that spurs you forward, to handle the situation, rise to the moment, do what’s necessary.

If you’re lucky, it starts early, in life, and in the moment too.

Get ready for school.

Get ready for a game.

Get ready for work.

Run further than you did last time. More reps than you did before.

Get ready to handle a particular extra task (or tasks!) after a full day at work.

More to do.

Ramp up. Ramp up.

Don’t be dissuaded. You can do it. Catch your breath. Center, and again, have at it.

RAMP UP.