Tossing Salt Presents:
Flashback: Thirty Days of Dougie (2013)
Day 9: The Triple Threat: Questions, Willie, Waylon & Me, & Candles
DougMaynard.com

Way back in 2013, only eight years ago but it seems like a lifetime, I did one of many “Days of Dougie” blog series. But the thing is, I didn’t have this site yet and did them on my Facebook in the “Notes” section. And now that they’re showing up in my memories on Facebook, I think it’s time to share them one more time. So here you go. For the next thirty days or so, along with the current and new stuff I post on the site, we have some flashbacks as well. You’re welcome. Now, as I once heard said in the movie “Young Guns”, “Regulators, let’s move out!”. It was something to that effect anyhow. Let’s do this.

Thirty Days of Dougie – Part 9: The Triple Threat

Okay, I kind of cheezed-out with those last couple of posts, didn’t I? This whole “Thirty Days” experiment is about toning up my writing skills, going into uncharted territories, and spreading the magic and love that is the world I live in. And I simply decided to cut and paste a survey from almost 3 1/2 years ago. And then follow it up with another survey? Oy vey! How very slacko can a person be? 

 So we’re going to try this again. I’m going to reach into the magic box and see what comes up. But I’m going to add a new variation to the routine and draw three words from the hundreds stuck in there. And from those three, I’ll pick the one I want to write about. That way, I have a little more control over what my topic will be and you won’t have to sit through quite as many of the “blah blah blah” writings. More chances of getting something funny or actually interesting, for both of us to enjoy. So let’s reach into the box and see what we end up.

The three topics are “Questions”, “Willie, Waylon and Me”, and “Candles”… 

 This is actually a hard choice because I can think of several ways to go with all of those topics and none of them are actually boring to me. Okay, I do admit that “candles” doesn’t leave too much to the imagination, but the other two… Yay! So which one should I pick? Hmmmm? I pick… all three.

Yeppers, we’ll just keep it short on each one, but still tackle all three topics of (dis)interest. It’s a Triple-Threat Thursday. Let’s do this…

Thirty Days of Dougie – Part 9: The Triple Threat

January 10, 2013

 Before I get started on this, I need to send a big shout-out to the InFamous K-Mak, who turns a big 22 today. Happy Birthday, Sir! Hope you have an awesome and wonderful day of epic proportions. Tonight, we gonna par-tay so be ready… Woo-hoo!!

And now, let’s get to stepping and moving on…

 1) Candles: I like candles. I love the smell of a candle burning in the room, especially if it’s vanilla or cinnamon flavored. It just makes the whole room smell right and it’s just so relaxing and calming. And jst watching the flame flicker at the end of the wick. Very nice indeed. I’ve noticed something too about candles. They’re the perfect gift for almost anyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re man, woman, transexual, black, white, indian, old, young, etc. I’ve never found anyone who doesn’t like to occasionally turn down the lights, light up a candle, and just chill. They have that effect on people. They definitely have that effect on me. I just like ’em and love to burn ’em. They’re cool and that’s the bottom line because I just said so! 

Next…

2) Waylon, Willie and Me: Two of the greatest talents in music and myself. “What do we have in common?”, you ask? Well, we’re all the idols of millions and we’re all creative and inspiring and awesome. And we’re all “outlaws” in our own way, they being in the world of music and entertainment and myself being in the world of “internet wrestling journalism”, whatever that is… lol. 

Yeah, I’m stretching it big time, aren’t I? But in all honesty, both of these gentlemen have been really big time influences in my life for so many years, ever since I was ten years old. Way back in the mid-seventies, while everyone else was getting into the whole disco craze or else listening to Led Zeppelin, Skynard, Rod Stewart, Elton John, etc, I was discovering the awesomeness that was (and is) country music. Not that old fogey crappy stuff that was generic and all sounded alike (like in the sixties and early seventies… and now too), but the new, rough-edged rock-a-billy sound by these new “Outlaw” characters. Forget about the big band sound and trying to be pretty… these folks were chain smokin, women lovin, hell raisin’ real rebels who did their own thing, ruffled every feather, and made music that sounds as fresh and awesome today as it did forty years ago.

Willie had already established himself as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, writing such epics as “Hello Walls” for Faron Young and “Crazy” for Pasty Cline, among others, but he was being told that he’d never make it as a singer. That he was too odd and unconventional. And Waylon? He was clean-cut, straight-laced, and making records that were selling, but he wasn’t happy. Waylon was never one that could be told what to do or how to do it. He had to be able to do things his own way and cut loose and it was the early seventies where he and Willie and a few others decided that it was their way or nothing. A fight with the Nashville powers-that-be was on the horizon and luckily for all of us, especially that young kid in Raleigh, who was just preparing for a big move to Maxton and then Laurinburg, the right people won.

I listened to Willie and Waylon do their thing. I discovered Alice Cooper as well about this time by “borrowing” my older sister’s albums. And let the others have their Rolling Stones or Aerosmith or disco. I found what I liked, what inspired me, and what reached my soul, and damn it all, life was forever good after that. Others have come and gone as my “favorites”, but for forever and a day, Waylon will always be one of my “Big 6”. That will never change.

Willie is a favorite as well, but my love for the InFamous “Red Headed Stranger” has waned a bit over the years. I think he sold out a few times, sacrificing his integrity and whoring himself out for commercial success. He’s still an iconic song-writer (one of the best ever) and a great entertainer, but it just seems as if Willie isn’t really Willie anymore. I’m not sure how to explain it, but he’s just not the same. 

Waylon though, up until the day he died, never compromised. He didn’t like award shows so he didn’t go, no matter how many honors or awards were thrown in his direction. He would say what he thinks and if you didn’t agree tough crap! He was defiant and real to the end… no quarter given or asked for. And the music stayed true and magic and strong. It was never about being commercial or making the executives happy. It was all just about being true to himself, putting out the best music he could do, and being Waylon. His son Shooter and wife Jessi Colter (a true iconic legend in her own right) carry on the tradition now and continue to make music that may not ever get any radio airplay or sell a million copies, but it’s raw, honest, and true to who they are and what they represent, just like Waylon would want and expect them to be.

Waylon had his issues. He was not politically correct. He was a drug addict and didn’t always play well with others. But he was straight up. He was real. And he did and does mean quite a bit to me. The music is beyond compare. So was the man. Rest in Peace Waylon and know that you were a major influence and inspiration for this man many, many times. Thank you!

And finally…

3) Questions: Sometimes, out of the blue, I get asked questions. These come from friends, associates, people who have read my stuff and want to know more, and complete strangers who are just being nosy as heck. I guess that’s what happens sometimes when you’re a semi-public figure. I’ve been posting my stuff all over the internet for over ten years now and though I’m not any kind of celebrity or what-not, I do have a slightly infamous name out there. So what I’m going to do now is just take a few minutes and answer some of the most unusual questions I’ve been asked over the years. Sounds like fun, right? I wish I still had the names of the people who asked me these things, but in some cases, it was long ago and just stayed stuck in my head for all this time and in other cases, I want to protect the identities of the not-so-innocent. I’m just doing a couple of my favorites.

“How can you be gay and be a Republican?”… 

This one was asked of me many times over the past year and I’ve always given the same answer. My being gay doesn’t have a thing to do with my politics. Maybe it should and it is nice when one of our so-called “leaders” agrees with me on the social issues, but it’s not the most important thing. My political choices are about who I feel can do the best job overall to protect and build our country, rebuild our economy, make the United States strong and the most powerful nation in the world as it should be, and who truly has my best interests so far as my job, the bills I pay, my standard of living, etc, are concerned. And more often than not, it’s NOT the Democrats. As I said in a survey thingy I posted yesterday, I’m socially liberal, but I lean to the right on economic and most other issues. Less government is better government and that means the Republicans more often than not. It’s just that simple. There are liars and hypocrites and two-faced bastards on both sides of the fence. That’s for sure. And there are some positives on both sides of the fence. That’s the truth too. And when I weigh the pros and cons of each party and look at the big picture, I go where I think is best. And just because I’m gay has not a thing to do with that.

“Are you really as moody as you come across in your writing?”… 

Absolutely! Hell, I’m probably worse. I can edit and reign in myself on most of my writings and try not to get too far out there most of the time. But I can go from happy to pissed off to borderline suicidal to peeing myself from laughing so hard in the course of a minute. I have tried to get counseling for my mood-swings and craziness, but all they did was prescribe Prozac and some other pills to help with anxiety. I don’t want pills – I want to be me so that didn’t last very long. The Prozac killed my creative fires and that just can’t be allowed to happen. So I just use meditation now and just suck it up when things aren’t quite right. And so far, it’s working pretty well. I’ll never be a cookie-cutter “normal” person – I have issues and I know it. I just choose to try and focus past the bad stuff now and use the rest in the most positive ways I can. Whatever works, right? And it does!

“Are you really a sexy beast?”… 

DAMN SKIPPY!! And it’s not just looks and personality either. I’ve got skills too! ‘Nuff said!

And you know what? That’s enough for today. I’ve got people to do and places to see… Wait, that doesn’t sound right. That should be “places to go and people to see”… Yeah, that sounds better although the first would be more fun… lol. So another “30DD” is in the books. Back tomorrow (if partying with K-Mak and K-Dawg doesn’t kill me first!) Have a great day. Party on Wayne! Party on Garth! And I’m gone.

Ubuntu!