Sunday, July 02, 2006

Recent happenings... and a Frisbee "Sixteen Games" parody of Sixteen Tons

To all those who were wondering what I've been up to, or why I have not posted the promised update of my Alaskan adventures, allow me to offer an explanation. My grandmother from Germany has been visiting us for the last two weeks, so I have been spending much of my time with her. She also bought me a beautiful Washburn guitar, which I have been dutifully learning to play (a couple hours a day) for the last three or four weeks. I now know about ten songs for which I can decently do guitar chord backing (for singing), including Hebrew, Russian, and English music. I am very much in love with the instrument! When my family and my grandmother went to visit the beautiful Eklutna Lake, I took the guitar with me and spent a good 2-3 hours serenading my grandmother, my dogs, and the plentiful mosquitoes.


(click on picture for larger view)


Also, as yet another ode to Frisbee, I recently composed a Frisbee parody based on Johnny Cash's "Sixteen Tons". The parody is called "Sixteen Games", and bears a remarkable likeness to the reality of my summer Frisbee. There has definitely been a time this summer when I played Frisbee for AT LEAST sixteen days straight, if not more. As for diving on rocks, being sore, and etc, that goes without saying... See lyrics below:


Sixteen Games -- Parody by Michael Zlatkovsky

Some people say a man is made outa mud
A Frisbee player's made outa muscle 'n blood.
Muscle an' blood an' skin an' bone
And a mind that sharp, and a back that's strong.

You play sixteen games, an' whaddya get?
Another day sorer an' more drenched in sweat.
The devil won't tempt me, he thinks that I'm lame --
I sold my soul to the Ultimate Game.

If my backhand's coming, ya better step aside:
A lotta men didn't -- a lotta man died.
One hand of iron, the other of steel,
If the right one won't block you then the left one will.

You play sixteen games, an' whaddya get?
Another day sorer an' more drenched in sweat.
The devil won't tempt me, he thinks that I'm lame --
I sold my soul to the Ultimate Game.

I competed one evening in the drizzling rain
Played till my fingers were too numb to feel pain.
Dove in a puddle, dove on a rock,
Ain't no person gonna tell me that Frisbee's a joke.

You play sixteen games, an' whaddya get?
Another day sorer an' more drenched in sweat.
The devil won't tempt me, he thinks that I'm lame --
I sold my soul to the Ultimate Game.

In the heat of the battle I'll be trampled upon;
I might fall and miss, but the game will go on.
This game is my life, an' my life I will risk --
If I die, may I reincarnate as a disk!

You play sixteen games, an' whaddya get?
Another day sorer an' more drenched in sweat.
The devil won't tempt me, he thinks that I'm lame --
I sold my soul to the Ultimate Game.



(click on picture for larger view)


For the record, feel free to comment on this -- or any other -- of my blog posts. I'd love to hear back from you!

9 comments:

Dom said...

you are an amazing individual. I must say that i am rather jealous of you with your multifaceted talents. I tried to learn guitar a few years back and never had the determination to practice. Keep on learning, my friend. Are you bringing your washburn to school with you? (you should.) I recognize your feeling when you invited everyone to comment on your blog. I feel the same way about my blog. No one leaves comments for me. (hint, hint.) a-hem. see you in august!
p.s. do i really need to prove i am a human every time i want to comment on your blog? do you really think you are going to get that much spam?

Dom said...

and another thing. Do you really need to approve my comments before they can appear? These restrictions make it less alluring to post...
j.k.
dom

Dom said...

remind me why you allow corporations to litter your blog with distasteful advertisements? What did they promise you?

Anonymous said...

Lovely song. The joy I felt in reading it just erased the bad week I had. By the way, how is the Half Blood Prince?

Anonymous said...

Rather Clever...

Anonymous said...

I love the parody! And three cheers for learning guitar- and after you've mastered that you can move onto the igil or the tro or the gusla or some other more practical instrument.

Anonymous said...

Whoops, I think I just emailed you by mistake instead of leaving a comment...

Anyway, that song is awesome! You should record it. ^_^

Unknown said...

i really like the original, sixteen tons, and i applaud you for this

Unknown said...

I really like the original sixteen tons, i applaud your rework