Karaoke, Occupy Pittsburgh And Snow

February 11, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

I’m writing this at the bar in Del’s on Friday (yesterday) around 9:00 PM, a karaoke night.  Outside snow is falling but not sticking to the ground.

When I walked in I got to say a few words to Marianne, one of the owners.  She doesn’t think karaoke on Wednesday nights is going to make it.  I agreed.

Already there are several people at the bar.  I have a good feeling about tonight.

*****

Occupy Pittsburgh

Image via Wikipedia

I’m writing this part of the post in my apartment on Saturday morning.  Snow is constantly falling outside.

Last night karaoke at Del’s was a blast.  The place was packed out and the crowd was in to it.  There were a lot of good singers, too.  I had a good time.

*****

The stand-off between Occupy Pittsburgh and the city ended peacefully Wednesday.

*****

Well, I’ll be back at Del’s today around 4:00 to see my peeps (Rick and Di who are baby boomers) and then I’ll be at Sonny’s Tavern to check out some of the local music scene.

Elliott Sussman will be opening for The Beagle Brothers.

*****

Read.  Study.  Write.

*****

If you would like to submit a short story to this publication the Submissions tab is at the top of the page.

*****

The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine about creative writing and sexuality.

Related articles
Posted in Life In Pittsburgh. Tags: , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Sonny’s Tavern: Checking Out The Pittsburgh Music Scene

February 10, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30 PM The Beagle Brothers and Elliott Sussman will be playing at Sonny’s Tavern in Bloomfield (Little Italy) and the Old Soldier will be there.  Sonny’s Tavern is about a five-minute walk from my apartment.  Sussman is a solo act and he will be opening for The Beagle Brothers.  Sussman recently signed a record deal.

Since I’ve been hanging out at Sonny’s Tavern I’ve met several members of the band and I’ve met Elliott and I’m looking forward to seeing both acts perform.

*****

Tonight it’s karaoke at Del’s Bar and Italian Restaurant, which is about a fifteen-minute walk from my apartment.  I want to start taking a bus back from Del’s on Friday nights because I usually leave after midnight and I don’t like walking home that late at night.

I think I’ll perform Purple Rain by Prince and Send Me An Angel by Real Life.

*****

Cover of "Purple Rain"

Cover of Purple Rain

When I checked my stats page this morning I found out that this blog had gotten 2,001 hits so far this month.  6,000 hits for the month of February is a real possibility.

*****

Read.  Study.  Write.

*****

The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine about creative writing and sexuality.

Related articles
Posted in Life In Pittsburgh. Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Keeping It Fresh: No Such Thing by John Mayer

February 8, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The Old Soldier has been on duty since 6:OO AM.  How’s everyone doing?  The city is getting a light dusting of snow and the high will only be around 34 degrees.  There is karaoke tonight at Del’s and the Old Soldier is building up his courage to try a totally new song: No Such Thing by John Mayer.

Now I know from the get go that I am not going to do well singing this song.  I don’t know the words and have never done it before in public.  But we’re talking karaoke here my friends.

If you do as much karaoke as I do you find out that there are two kinds of karaoke singers.  The ones who sing the same three or four songs year after year and the ones who try different songs.

I prefer to be in the second group.

*****

English: John Mayer at the Mile High Music Fes...

Image via Wikipedia

And since this is a blog, trying something different on your blog is a good thing, too.  A good blog has to have a focus; but every once in a while you want to give your readers something unexpected.

*****

The reason the Old Soldier is such a fan of karaoke is because he is a frustrated lead singer.  I took my experience as a lead singer and made a story out of it.

The story is from the archives and is included in the article “Writing About Rock ‘N’ Roll”.  The article will have a limited run on the Front Page starting today.  Be sure to check it out.

*****

Read.  Study.  Write.

*****

The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine about writing and sexuality.

Related articles
Posted in Blogging. Tags: , , , , , , . Comments Off

Occupy Wall Street: Can A Leaderless Movement Succeed?

February 4, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Members and admirers of the Occupy Movement are proud of the fact that the movement is an affiliation of individuals, a true democracy at work.  The occupiers are proud that there are no leaders; or, that anyone at any time can be a leader.

I am definitely one of the 99%.  I am an admirer and a supporter of the movement.  This news magazine sympathetically covers the movement.  The Old Soldier recently purchased a book about the movement, the price of the book going to the movement.

But for the life of me I cannot imagine the occupiers succeeding without identifiable leaders or without some sort of leadership structure.  Imagine India without Gandhi or the Civil Rights Movement without the Rev. Martin Luther King.

*****

I wrote this post as I sat at the bar in Del’s waiting for karaoke to begin.  Getting out of my apartment and bringing my small pocket notebook and two ink pens with me seems to free me up.

The ideas are flowing.

*****

English: Occupy Montreal on Saturday, October ...

Image via Wikipedia

I’m writing this part of the post in my apartment on Saturday morning.

Last night karaoke at Del’s rocked.  The place was packed out.  Everyone had a good time.  The Old Soldier got to sing People Get Ready by Rod Stewart, My Prerogative by Bobby Brown and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2.

******

Read.  Study.  Write.

*****

Snow is falling.

*****

The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine about writing and sexuality.

Posted in Commentaries. Tags: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

The Life: A Strange Night

February 2, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

I’m writing this in my small pocket notebook as I sit at the bar in Del’s Wednesday night.  It’s 8:40 PM.  Karaoke begins at 9:30 PM.  It feels strange to be here in the middle of the week.

No one knows if karaoke at Del’s on a Wednesday night will work.  Del’s has had karaoke on Friday night for around 15 years.  I’ll be here this Friday night.  Karaoke is my key to a better social life.  I meet women of all ages.  For me, karaoke is performance art.  I’m really good.  No one believes I’m 65.  I’m a freak.  65-year-old men are not supposed to have that powerful of a voice or sing that well and move that well.

I shaved my head and face and I have my black bandana in the inside pocket of my black leather jacket and I’ve been doing my breathing and stretching exercises during the week.

I’m ready.

*****

English: Karaoke stub icon

Image via Wikipedia

I’m writing this in my apartment Thursday morning.  Karaoke last night at Del’s was a bust.  No one showed up.  I left around 11:30 PM and walked to Sonny’s Tavern which is closer to my apartment.  Sonny’s Tavern was packed.  No karaoke.  Just a DJ playing music and running a contest of some kind.  A young crowd.  A young woman sitting at the bar next to me had a tattoo down her right arm.  The young female bartender had tattoos on her arms and chest.

I had one beer and then walked the three blocks to my apartment.

Related articles
Posted in Life In Pittsburgh. Tags: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Blogging: 5,830 Hits For January 2012

February 1, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The numbers for January 2012 are in.  This blog got 5,830 hits last month.  The Old Soldier knows that the big boys and girls of blogging get 10 times and even 100 times that number of hits every month; but 5,830 hits a month for a little niche blog like this one is pretty good.  If the readership of this blog increases by just 100 hits every month, the Old Soldier will be a happy man.

*****

Tonight is karaoke night at Del’s in Bloomfield.  I plan to be there.  Monday I phoned my younger brother who lives in an assistant living facility and yesterday I phoned the Matriarch.  So much for the personal life of this flash fiction writer.

*****

Only Hits

Image via Wikipedia

The Old Soldier is excited about the year 2012.  The PFF Gazette will cover items that I hope will be of interest to my readers.  There will be items of interest to senior citizens, bloggers, writers, the 99% and men and women who appreciate the publication’s approach to sexuality.

I have said this before and I will say it here again.  This publication is definitely not for everyone.  But it may be just right for you.

Read.  Study.  Write.

*****

The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine of writing and sexuality.

Related articles
Posted in Blogging. Tags: , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Publication In The PFF Gazette Is A Good Start

January 26, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Aspiring writers, the Old Soldier has your back.  As of this morning the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette has gotten 4,747 hits for the month of January.  Not bad for a little niche blog about flash fiction.

As the Old Soldier ponders how to increase the readership of this news magazine even more, he wants to make this publication the showpiece for the work of aspiring writers.

I publish poems, non-fiction and fiction by aspiring and veteran writers.  So, take your shot.  Submit something.  At the top of the page are three tabs: Anything Goes is for non-fiction, Send Poetry is for poetry and Submissions is for fiction.

Good luck.  I’m rooting for you.

*****

Fiction S-Z (a sequel)

Image by Mrs Logic via Flickr

It’s early afternoon here in Pittsburgh.  The Old Soldier is getting a late start.  I was out and about last night.  Del’s had karaoke last night.  It’s something new.  And of course there is regular karaoke on Friday night.  The Old Soldier’s social life is improving.  Karaoke allows the Old Soldier to shine. 

Now that I have financial stability, retirement feels pretty good.  The older I get the bolder I get.  I sure am talking a lot about myself in this post; but it has been years since the Old Soldier was this happy.

So, please forgive me.

The high today in Pittsburgh will be 47 with scattered rain.

*****

Tell all your friends about this magazine of serious writing and brazen sexuality.

Read.  Study.  Write.

Related articles
Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Crock Pot Cooking: Turkey Wings And Other Observations

January 21, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Some Of My Old Amateur Photography

It’s around 3:00 PM.  Soon I will leave and walk to Del’s to see my peeps, Rick and Di.  Jonny Del, one of the owners of Del’s, told me something interesting last night.  Del’s is going to start having karaoke on Wednesday nights, too.  Karaoke at Del’s Wednesdays and Fridays, it’s time for the Old Soldier to shine.

The question becomes, how can I use my karaoke persona (Jim Morrison) to promote the PFF Gazette?

*****

Hello hello hello, all my brother and sister bloggers, readers, writers and Flash Fiction Fanatics.  I guess you’re tired of reading about the Old Soldier eating lima beans and ham hocks.  Well, I’m tired of eating them.  There is only one cup of beans and ham left.  So, today I put two big turkey wings in the crock pot.  I usually tear off the skin, but I’ll do that after the wings are done.  It’s easier.  Then I’ll debone the meat.

I just put a cup of water into the pot.  Nothing more.  I’ll season the meat when it’s deboned and done.

*****

Read.  Study.  Write.

Related articles
Posted in Crock Pot Cooking. Tags: , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Stuffing Dollar Bills Down Haely’s Cleavage

January 21, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

I jotted this in my notebook last night.

It’s around 9:30 PM.  I sit at the bar at Sonny’s Tavern.  The young, sexy Haely (I hope I spelled her name right.  I told her I was going to blog about her, to check out the magazine on Monday.) is behind the bar.  In real life she is a pharmacy intern.  On Friday nights she’s the hot bartender at Sonny’s.  Just jeans and a long-sleeve jersey, showing some nice cleavage.  And she wears glasses, too.  She’s in her twenties.  You got to love it.

Well, I don’t know if Joannie the DJ is going to have karaoke.  If she does I’ll sing It’s My Life by The Animals because I know the lyrics.  The monitor forces you to turn your back on the audience and you never want to do that.

But the real action is at Del’s.

*****

I’m at Del’s now.  It is snowing outside.  We are supposed to get three inches of snow and three inches of ice in the next few hours.  Del’s is dead.  It’s 10:30 PM.

I got up and did It’s My Life by The Animals, but that is not the important thing.

I asked the DJ how much the cordless mike cost, because I throw it around pretty good, hand to hand and up in the air.  The Old Soldier told you he was a performance artist, not jus a karaoke singer.

The DJ told me that when the salesman was pitching the karaoke system, he ran over the mike with a car.

I have been released.

*****

I wrote this around 11:00 AM Saturday morning.

So, the weather killed karaoke at Del’s but not business at Sonny’s Tavern.  I left Del’s and walked back to Sonny’s.  Sonny’s was packed.  A young crowd.  I got a seat at the bar.  And there was Haely, slinging booze.

There is a strong lesbian element at Sonny’s.  I mention this in passing.  The first time I saw women stuffing dollar bills down Haely’s cleavage I thought it was hot.  The Old Soldier thought this was a great way to give Haely a tip.

So, last night, for the second time, I stuffed a couple of dollar bills down Haely’s cleavage.  Two fingers can only tell you so much.  But the girl is full and firm.

Related articles

Posted in Commentaries. Tags: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment »

Count Down To Karaoke And Other Observations

January 20, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The Old Soldier is sitting at his workstation, eating a small bowl of lima beans and ham hocks, sipping beer as he contemplates the mysteries of life.  Being a flash fiction writer is not the glamorous life some people think it is; but I love it.

There’s not much going on right now.  It’s around 9:30 AM.  The high will only be 29 and overcast.  There is snow on the ground.  Thank goodness there is no wind.  I have a load of laundry in a washing machine downstairs in the laundry room.

*****

Del’s has moved the start of karaoke back to 10:30 PM.  People show up so late; but I don’t have a car and I usually miss the bus, ending up walking the eight blocks back to my apartment at 1:00 AM in the morning.

I have to find a solution to this problem.

*****

English: Courtney Hall Laundry Room, Westfield...

Image via Wikipedia

So far this month the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette has gotten over 3,600 hits.  It is averaging 180 hits every day.  Still, I need to figure out a way to get at least 200 hits every day.  The Front Page is an excellent example of “serious writing and brazen sexuality” and it brings in a lot of hits.  The Front Page usually has ten posts stuck to it and then there are usually 15 more posts that are in constant movement from the Front Page to the archives.

The posts stuck to the Front Page are meant to be controversial if not down right outrageous.  The rotating posts are usually more mundane, but are still meant to be informative and, or entertaining.

*****

My strategy to recruit writers from The Big Idea Bookstore, which is around five blocks from my apartment, is not working.  I bought two booklets of this one writer of erotica that cost me $10, but I can’t get in touch with her.  The contact information in the booklets is useless.  I have to rethink my marketing strategy.

*****

Well, it’s time to do my breathing and stretching exercises and then I’ll take a hot shower and dress and see what the rest of the day has in store for us.

Read.  Study.  Write. 

Related articles
Posted in Commentaries. Tags: , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Karaoke As Theater: Don’t Make This Mistake

January 19, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette
English: Karaoke stub icon

Image via Wikipedia

The Old Soldier takes karaoke very seriously, to the point that he considers himself a performance artist.

As good as I think I am I never get on that mike and scold the audience for not paying attention, for laughing and talking and eating and drinking and acting like I’m not there.

I have seen some pretty good karaoke singers get upset and scold the audience for not paying attention.

Sometimes, no matter how good you are, the audience may not be into what you’re doing.  And if you scold them for not paying attention to you, you come off as self-important and angry.

Just perform your song, smile and hope that your next selection will go over better.

Related articles
Posted in Commentaries. Tags: , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

35 Cent Wings, Rent Rebates For Seniors And More

January 16, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The Old Soldier has drawn up a new plan of attack to get a rent rebate.  Citizens who are at least 65 years old are eligible for a rent rebate in the State of Pennsylvania.  The Old Soldier tried to get a form to apply for the rebate from the nearest Senior Citizens Center last week but when he arrived at the address the building was being torn down.

Plan B: I found out about another Senior Citizens Center which is a few blocks beyond the old center.  It is also a few blocks beyond Del’s Bar and Italian Restaurant in Bloomfield (Little Italy).  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Del’s has a wings special.  And tomorrow the high will be around 47 with the possibility of scattered showers.

Tomorrow seems to be a good time to take a nice long walk, have some wings and to get the form that I need for a rent rebate, too.

****

Seeds of Lima beans during a seed quality insp...

Image via Wikipedia

The Old Soldier had a good weekend.  He sung karaoke at Sonny’s Tavern and Del’s.  He cooked up a crock pot of lima beans and ham hocks and he published the flash fiction story “Waiting On The Riverbank” by Susan Dale.

 

You can’t beat that with a stick!

Keep reading and keep writing that flash fiction and send me something.  This is the Old Soldier reporting from Pittsburgh near the main campus of the University of Pittsburgh.

Related articles
Posted in Blogging. Tags: , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Serious Writing And Brazen Sexuality For Your Reading Pleasure

January 13, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

This is the Old Soldier reporting from Pittsburgh.  The high will be 29, cloudy all day.  But don’t you worry.  The Gazette is here to keep you entertained with its unique mixture of serious writing and brazen sexuality.  If I’m lying I’m crying. 

You bet the Old Soldier is in good spirits.  Tonight is karaoke night.  I’ll be stopping at Sonny’s Tavern and then on to Del’s.  It’s around noon and the snow is swirling outside.  The winter blogging campaign has officially begun.

*****

I did make it to the public library yesterday.  I did not renew my book on the life of Otto von Bismark.  I’m not a politician/diplomat; but I did renew my book on Hunter S. Thompson.  I am a writer/reporter.  And for me to move this magazine to the next level I need to learn all I can from the original gonzo journalist.

*****

The photo included in this post is one that I got off the internet of Brianna Frost Hogan who has her own site as a webcam stripping, who makes a living from it and who also happens to be my niece.  Small world. 

When I first found out about her online career, I thought to myself, if she can use sex as a marketing tool why can’t I?  And the rest is history.

*****

Of course, her site is about sex, period.  She has moved on from just stripping and pole dancing naked, to masturbation and fellatio.  But my site is about a lot more than just sex.  It’s about blogging, writing, flash fiction, news, life and sex.  It’s about serious writing and brazen sexuality.

Are you still unconvinced that a discerning reader can find serious writing and brazen sexuality in the same flash fiction short story?  Go to the Front Page of this magazine and read, “Fiction: The $2,000 Payday”.

I rest my case.

Related articles
Posted in Commentaries. Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

House Of The Rising Sun: Off To Sonny’s Tavern

December 26, 2011 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette
The House of the Rising Sun

Image via Wikipedia

Well, the Old Soldier has money in his pockets (Christmas gifts from the family) and you know what that means: hanging out at the bars.  It’s what a lot of lonely old men do.

My Social Security check should be deposited in my account on Wednesday; which means karaoke this weekend.

Sonny’s Tavern will have karaoke this Friday; and last night I stopped in at Sonny’s and Melissa (the bartender) told me that one of the most played songs on the jukebox was House of the Rising Sun by The Animals.

So, the Old Soldier will practice his Eric Burton imitation this week.

But the real karaoke action this Friday will be at Del’s Bar and Italian Restaurant.  So, after I hit Sonny’s this Friday I’ll head on up to Del’s to do Here I Go Again by Whitesnake, Wind of Change by Scorpions and I’ll play the rest by ear.

Now I’m going to get this post up and walk to Sonny’s and try to come up with more content for my little magazine.

Read.  Study.  Write.

Related articles
Posted in Commentaries. Tags: , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

The Unthinkable: A Family Get Together

December 22, 2011 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette
The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Image via Wikipedia

Tomorrow my brother Lloyd is driving down with the Matriarch and the three of us are going to pick up T. from the assistant living facility and the four of us are going to lunch, Lloyd’s treat.  I don’t get my Social Security, military pension and Giant Eagle checks until next week.  No karaoke tomorrow.

But I’m in excellent spirits.  The readership of the magazine keeps growing and I finally have some financial stability.

It’s as if that now since I don’t have to worry about paying my bills, I can look outward and invest energy in inter-acting more with other people.  It seems that I have a lot more energy.  I can publish the magazine, go to karaoke and have plenty left for spending time with my mother and two brothers.  That’s the way it should be.

As long as I was worried about paying my bills, something like tomorrow’s family get together would have been very painful for me, nearly unthinkable.

Now I’m really looking forward to it.  I’m not as fragile.  At the age of 65, I’m getting stronger.

Isn’t it strange how money or the lack of money can affect your state of mind?  There has to be a short story here somewhere.  Money: F. Scott Fitzgerald knew what he was writing about.

Related articles
Posted in Blogging, Commentaries. Tags: , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »
« Older posts
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 844 other followers