Dan Antion

Name That Tune – SoCS

Broad Brook Brewery – Lucid Dreams Milkshake
Modelo on the left. Lucid Dreams on the right

It’s a mostly sunny / partly cloudy Saturday, but it’s not raining, and not raining is a new thing this week. In honor of no rain, David and I are going to take it easy and drink to the dry skies. While we’re here, I’ll see if we can take care of Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt.

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘a song from your childhood.’ Think of a song from your childhood and just write. Have fun!”

If we were having a beer, Cheryl would have a surprise for me.

“I thought you guys might want to sit on the patio, today.”

“Cheryl, you know us better than that.”

“That’s true, David, you always do seem to prefer the bar.”

“No sun glare, no rain, not cars, and, if we were out there on a day like this, no Cheryl.”

“What was I thinking. I do like this better. David, can I get you your usual?”

“Yes. John Howell’s Bourbon, a snifter of seltzer and a glass of ice.”

“What about me, Cheryl?”

“I have a surprise for you, Dan. I don’t think you’re going to like it, but you have to try it.”

“Uh oh, Dan. Sounds like something your mother would have said.”

“You’re right, David. And, if I’m not mistaken, the playlist has slipped back to the sixties. That’s one of my mother’s favorite songs.”

“Who is that singing?”

“Carol Burnett. I still remember that album. Carol Burnett Remembers.”

“Remembers what?”

“How they Stopped the Show.”

“Here’s your bourbon, David complete with a couple cherries. Dan, here’s what you need to try—it’s an IPA, and I know you don’t care for IPAs, but…”

“Hmmm, that’s actually nice for an IPA. It’s got a little tropical vibe going for it. What’s it called?”

“Lucid Dreams Milkshake. It’s from Broad Brook Brewery, right up the road.”

“Lucid Dreams? The underlying basis of the books in my series. I guess I need to say something good about it. I’ll follow this with a Modelo, but this is pretty good.”

“So, Dan. How they stopped the show? What show? The Carol Burnett Show?”

“All the shows, David. This song is from ‘Babes in Arms,’ the Rodgers and Hart musical in nineteen thirty-seven.”

“Is she that old? Did she sing it in the musical?”

“Maybe but no. But she sings it better than anyone.”

“David, I know you won’t ask, but who else sang it, Dan?”

“Cheryl! Don’t encourage him.”

“I want to know.”

“That’s why we have the Internet. Asking Dan is like flying a kite in a thunderstorm—he’s going to go everywhere.”

“Let me be succinct. Ella Fitzgerald sang it, Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, The Lennon Sisters, Eydie Gormé, and…”

“Dan. Let me make this easier on me. Who didn’t sing it. Better yet, why do you prefer the Carol Burnett version? I mean, Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald are pretty hard to beat.”

“Nobody says ‘by gum’ like Carol Burnett. Those others almost trip over that line, like it’s a phrase they wouldn’t be caught dead saying.”

“I can see that. So was the whole album from ‘Babes in Arms?’ Was it a soundtrack?”

“No. My mom loved listening to soundtracks from musicals, but this was a collection of show tunes.”

“What…”

“Cheryl !!!!”

“What, David?”

“You’re going to ask him what other songs. Seriously, try the Internet.”

“’The Trolley Song’ is on there. So is ‘Ten Cents a Dance’ and ‘Blow Gabriel Blow’ and ‘Sing You Sinners’ – and…”

“That’s OK, Dan. I get the idea.”

“You have to admit, she sings it well.”

“I have to admit that, but only because, if I don’t, you’ll have Cheryl play all the other versions.”

“You know, David, I think that’s a feature. I could ask.”

“You know, Cheryl, we could still move to the patio.”

Here you go River!
Starling in the park. Actually, in the “unimproved” field near the park. The park is too clean
Smokey in the field
Beauty of Moscow lilacs. Almost in full bloom
Wildflowers in the field near the park. These don’t grow in the park
The leaves aren’t thick enough to hid him
She’s hard to see, but Old Glory is in there
First Lily of the Valley
Rhododendron working up to a bloom
I can still see the trestle
This crow has been flying around our back yard lately
Beauty of Moscow and regular lilacs
Beauty of Moscow lilacs
Sammy and one of the younger Smokeys
I walk under this maple tree every day
That same tree


If you like magical realism with suspense, action and a bit of family sarcasm, you will enjoy these books:

Knuckleheads
The Evil You Choose
When Evil Chooses You

Series page on Amazon

My profile page (and books) on Lulu

All available on Kindle Unlimited!

74 comments

  1. Hi Dan …don’t the independent brewerys give their beers daft names? Lucid Dreams Milkshake …really ? But as yous a perfect link to your amazing book trilogy which I reckomend to everyone!
    I looked up Carol Burnett I instantly recognised her voice! …not sure how but I did .
    Loved the photos today especially the Lilly of the Valley, my Dad’s favourite flower 💜

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  3. Thank you for all the Beauty of Moscow images! That made my day! Well, along with the snark, of course. The whole thing about the old songs was a great vehicle for the snark, and I enjoyed it all. Snark puts me in a good mood! The trestle so far refuses to be hidden, and I like that too!

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    • You have to be able to laugh, and to recognize your quirks. I do tend to take a long way around a story, but those albums, playing on a Saturday morning, are a fond memory. And nobody could sing “by gum” like Carol Burnett. I’ll be sharing pictures of the Beauty of Moscow blossoms until they fade. They are my favorite.

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  5. I love the rhododendron shot. When I lived in Connecticut, my yard was filled with them, and I was always excited to see them bloom. I liked the name of the IPA. Of course, I haven’t met an IPA that I didn’t like. Looks like spring is forming up nicely. Like you, I always enjoyed Carol’s work. Thanks for the memories today.

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    • My pleasure, John. I’m not a fan of IPAs, but they are immensely popular up here. The rhododendrons are all in a small patch together, yet the bloom at different times. I kinda like it being spread out. I couldn’t resist asking the bartender to take a picture of the tap handle. The brewer isn’t far from here. I might take a tour. I hope you have a nice weekend.

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  6. Dan, did you watch the Carol Burnett special on TV? It was fabulous and the show reminded me exactly how funny she and her cohorts were, but also how well she could sing. Carol is such a remarkable talent!

    I’m not a fan of IPA’s either, but I have actually tasted one or two variations (one was a tangerine IPA from a microbrewery in Oshkosh) that I could drink. I love that they called the beer “Lucid Dreams Milkshake.” It’s like it was named after your novels!

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  11. A new challenge for hopping around the hops in a lucid dream. It’ll be difficult to maintain conscious awareness during a dream tasting different beers and dancing with Carol Burnett to a one note samba. Going out to the patio and doing it flat on a table could change it to two notes but that could Bflat with Mario Lanza coming in with the troops singing the “Drink” song. Might be difficult to concentrate and if it rains… tap dancing to “Dancing in the Rain”. Muddled choreography often leads to losing lucidity and falling into an ordinary dream.

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  12. Carol Burnett was so talented but I like the fact that she let the other people on her show shine equally.
    The Lennon Sisters–every week on Lawrence Welk, which was a staple on TV at my house.
    I have never been a beer fan so I’ll leave the IPA for you, and just enjoy the music. Happy weekend, Dan!

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  13. Gotta love the names these breweries give their beers! We think of Carol Burnett, the comedienne, and forget she has a set of pipes on her!
    My rhododendrons are still being stingy with their blooms…

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  14. What an unexpected topic, Dan. Carol Burnett is such a brilliant, extraordinary woman. She’s one of the few celebrities that I truly admire. (And how lucky to get to wear so many of Bob Mackie’s wonderful clothes!) Cheers to Carol and to you. Hugs.

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  16. Carol Burnett will never be equaled. Watched her special. She doesn’t look 90! Loved everyone on her show. They seemed to genuinely have fun and cracked each other up on stage. Yes, Carol had a fabulous set of pipes. How privileged I was to enjoy her for all those years.

    The Beauty of Moscow Lilacs, Lily of the Valley and the Rhododendron are just beautiful. You have a bounty of blooms this year Dan.

    Funny that you showed the hawk today. We rarely see one here, yet today there were two of them dining with all the other birds that make themselves comfortable in our garden.

    Even all those tree limbs can’t hide Old Glory!

    Enjoy this wonderful weekend of great weather!
    Ginger

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    • Thanks Ginger. I saw that special, she doesn’t look 90. Her show was amazing. They really did look they were having fun.

      Spring is treating us to a nice slow show this year.

      I hope you’re having a nice easy weekend.

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    • I heard that song so many times, Pam. I’ll never forget that. I’ve even criticized programmers who worked for me that always offered the same approach to every problem as being Johnny One Note 🙂

      Spring is certainly giving us a good show.

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  23. Okay, Dan, I would LOVE to try that beer. It should feature in one of your books. 😉While I had never heard about Carol’s album, I have to day as a child we never ever missed her show on Saturday night and I used to secretly wish she were my second mom! 🫢My Mama loved her too. Iy was the one time we were allowed to stay up past 9 pm to watch her show. MyDad loved Tim and Harvey, by gum!

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    • I’m not a fan of IPAs, Cheryl, but that’s a very cool name. I remember the Carol Burnett Show. I don’t think we ever missed an episode. I think the lucid dreams books have run their course with this last one, so I think I’ll miss the chance to include it.

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  24. Birds and flowers. What could be better? I admit this made me laugh: “That’s why we have the Internet. Asking Dan is like flying a kite in a thunderstorm—he’s going to go everywhere.” 🤣🤣🤣

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  25. Your last line was perfect! I still have my collection of Rogers and Hammerstein albums (oh, I love show tunes), but do not know Carol Burnett’s album. I dearly loved her TV show! The toilet paper episode comes to mind. What a great memory for you, Dan.

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  27. I love musicals and show tunes. I have several albums and showtune tracks but none of Carol Burnett’s. I may have to remedy that.
    It’s really leafing out nicely there. We’re in the flowering stage here, and little green leaves are on our Maple tree. We’re so happy it survived the winter as it’s still young.

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    • We had a couple plants that didn’t survive the mild winter we had. I think they might have woken up when it was extremely warm in February, right before it dipped below zero for a few days.

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  30. You drinking IPA! Cheers to how it fits with your book series too. I agree, Carol sings that song so well. I enjoyed your photos this week – so many beautiful signs of spring. I bet the lilacs smell wonderful! The flag looks spectacular against the green leaves. I hope you have a great week, Dan!

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