Tossing Salt Presents:
A Day of Dougie:
A Charlie Brown Christmas, Woodstock, and Start Again
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

Well, it’s 2:00 in the morning and I’m waiting for some clothes to dry so I’ll have something clean to wear to a doctor’s appointment in the morning. I’d rather be sleeping. I’ve already written an edition of the Ultimate X Q&A, as well as an edition of the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. So what else should I do? Go watch a movie? Work on one of my many in-progress Fan Fiction stories? Sit and fantasize about two amazing guys I’ve been chillaxing with over the past few days. Write a rap song? There are so many options, but I think I’ll go with Plan D. And what is Plan D? It’s time to get random and write a Day of Dougie.

So what is a “Day of Dougie”, you ask. I take the infamous Magic Bag, which holds nearly a thousand slips of paper, each containing a word, phrase, name, or something else, and reach within. I pull out three slips of paper and whatever that slip says, that’s what I write about. No warnings, no preparation, and no time to plan or prepare. It’s just here’s the topic and go. Sometimes, it can be entertaining. Sometimes, the mind goes blank and it sucks. But it’s always something. And now you know, so without any further delays, it’s time for a Day of Dougie. Let’s roll.

And the topics for today are: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Woodstock, and Start Again. Now that we have the topics, let’s see if I can do anything with them. And away we go.

Charlie Brown Christmas…

A Charles Shultz classic with Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, Linus, and the entire Peanuts Gang talking about Christmas. Charlie Brown has the blues and can’t understand the true meaning of Christmas. Luckily, Linus is there to explain what the reason for the season is. And we get a Happy Ending. It’s a great story and cartoon and one of my must-see television shows every year. And it reminds me of a story.

Way back in my early 20s, I lived in a nice trailer over in Glen Acres. Christmas was coming and I needed a tree. Rather than get one from the usual places, I went out into the woods and cut myself down a tree. Did I say tree? It was essentially a big branch from a pine tree that looked almost identical to the Christmas tree from the Charlie Brown cartoon. I set it up and decorated it with lights, tinsel, and a few ornaments I had gotten from Mom’s house. And it rocked! No presents because I was poor, broke, lived alone, and it was just me and my cat, Stinky. But it was special to me and Stinky liked it as well. He liked climbing to the top and trying to pull the tree down while attacking the angel perched on the top. Good times!

Woodstock…

Two things come to mind when I say Woodstock. The first is Snoopy’s bird companion from the Charlie Brown cartoons and comics. He was so damn cool. And the other is the huge Music Festival in 1969 in Woodstock, New York. It became one of the biggest musical events in U.S. history and was so good, they tried to go it again in 1999. How’d that go? Not too good. It’s been twenty-five years since that last attempt. Maybe they should do it again and see how it goes. I’m sure Beyonce would be available. And yes, that was sarcasm.

I don’t know much about the original Woodstock, but I do know this piece of trivia. I don’t know why I know it, but I remember hearing it somewhere many years ago and I went online and verified it. Sha Na Na was the second to the last group to perform at Woodstock and close the show. I’m not sure who the closing act was, but Sha Na Na, with their fifties revival act, was the next to last. And there you go.

Start Again…

It’s what I have to do every time I try to relax for a moment and accomplish anything while here at the house. Just as soon as I get into the zone and start to relax to get something accomplished, and it doesn’t matter what time of day or night it is, something or someone will interrupt me and break my train of thought. And then I have to start again. And people wonder why I stay hidden away in my room so much. I love my family and I love my pets, but damn, they all get on my nerves so much. I truly despise and hate this house sometimes. I need a private hideaway or sanctuary. Hell, maybe I just need a damn drink. sighs

And I guess that’s all for now. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. If you have any suggestions for future blogs, let me know. Nothing is off-limits. And with that, let’s wrap it up. I think (hope) my clothes are dry now. Take care and be well, my friends. Have a great day and be sure to make every day a Day of Dougie. I’ll see you in the Wal-Mart dressing room.

Ubuntu!