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WEEK 543: The Struggle; the Week That Was; 2025 Playlist

ireneallison12

The Struggle

I normally begin writing a weekly wrap with nothing in mind. I start hitting keys and wait for something to pop into my head, which usually happens by the end of the second sentence. As a general method it might be lacking, but for me it works out. But, alas, tonight, I am as empty as a campaign promise. I should have been at “go” two sentences back, yet I’m still a flatliner; but that’s all right, I thrive on pressure.

It is 2:48 AM local time. The night is sweaty like a sweaty night, and I now know that the simile machine is out of order as well.


Alfie

I suppose I could get fancy and create a dazzling metaphor. But since I lack metaphoric power that puts me on the spot. I often freeze when I find myself on the spot, when it becomes painfully obvious that I lied about thriving on pressure two paragraphs ago. In fact I break pretty easily, so I avoid pressure.

Wait!

My ruins shall not topple tonight! I have something to write about! Alfie the Feral Cat has had the most drastic change of personality since the great makeover of one Mister E. Scrooge of London in late December 1848 or ‘49. I can now pet Alfie and scratch under his chin. This is after four years of hissing and claw smacking and general abuse I have suffered on a nightly basis.

Feral Cats shouldn’t be like that. I have never previously met one who domesticized. My lead Feral Cat, Andy, has been around me twice as long as Alfie and I know better than to try to touch him. So, never before have I seen such a dramatic transformation. At first I thought I had again confused him with his twin Darby, but no, it is Alfie, right down to the fading spot of white paint on his nose (the building was recently painted).

Alfie has been hanging around until a bit past dawn, which isn’t unusual because he is still in love with a Calico in a window I call Garbo. The other day I went out to feed him (for the third time, Calico watching requires calories) and he actually rubbed sweetly against my ankles. I thought that was strange, perhaps a mistake; so, after setting the plate, I bravely patted the top of his head, with my hand set on a quick escape should it all go wrong. He reacted positively. I petted him again and again, and he even allowed for chin scratching.

I went in and googled Cats and the effects of the sun on their species. I thought that maybe the summer had gotten to him–you know, maybe high UV exposure had poached his brain. Later, convinced that it had been a mirage, I again hesitantly patted him lightly on the head; this time he began to purr. As he ate, I wondered what had happened. Aifie, though I love him, is, well, a little son of a bitch. Or had been since I met him in 2021, when he was a skinny young fella of maybe nine months. I considered googling “Do spirits visit Cats in their dreams?” and thought better of it.

For now.

Then I remembered something. A new neighbor upstairs, a young woman who looks like Cathrine Zeta Jones, circa 1997 (but she is very nice, so I have forgiven her for the combined impudence of appearance and youth), spoke to me about “the friendly Kitty” she’d met in the courtyard. That didn’t sound like anyone I knew, but when she described him she described Alfie (everyone notices the paint spot).

Maybe she’s a Witch. Could be. I like Wiccans because they watch out for Cats. Maybe the Witch enchanted Alfie; I will have to find a way to cleverly insert that question into our next conversation.

My research will continue on this oddest of Feline personality makeovers; stay tuned for updates.

Ha! There, I have done it! Once again I’ve skated by like a person skating by, regardless of the simile machine still being down. Now I can escape into the Week That Was.

The Week That Was

Lately I’ve taken to including the previous Sunday special in my wraps. This week it was done by me. Take a look at James Thurber sometime, if you never have, he was an original.

The Week That Was began with another fine visit from Adam Kluger, one of our most published writers and artists. It all goes dark is another one of his fantastically natural pieces that holds your interest. No special effect, no wild twists, just fine writing.

Tuesday brought Heir by Sam Graveney. The desire for human contact between parents and children is usually difficult. Always seems that one wants it more than the other and there’s this strange thing in which a son will forgive an enemy before his father. That sort of paradox is found in Sam’s story about a wig-maker, and it works beautifully.

The Dog Who Could Draw by Stephen J. Kimber is another fascinating oddity. This shouldn’t have worked for us on the surface. From his description the artist is a Dog as in woof woof. And he also speaks good English when necessary. No mistake. No fantasy. But it does work because he is a symbol for all artists and performers who catch hell for wanting change, yet still, in some way, wanting the same applause. Further proof of exceptions to the rule and the true meaning of exceptional.

There’s genuine sadness and suffering to be found in Thursday’s At the Barn in Winter by Michael Barrington. Why this should work and ninety-nine others with similar stripes do not is unexplainable, save for a few technical reasons that fail to get to the soul of the thing. And having that mystery ever lingering is a good thing.

And yesterday T.A. Young closed the week with The Natural Man. There is something wonderfully reassuring to know that there are people still on the road, searching, finding, going and searching some more. It is fitting we close the door with this one because it is also a guide for fighting boredom, although it suggests loneliness as well.

Please take a look if you have yet to; please leave a comment when you do. You never know how much you can make another person’s day a little brighter via a touch of kindness

Playlist

Today is our fourth annual What’s On Your Playlist day. Est. 2021. Right now there stands the possibility that I have already done this during the crash and thud of the year, regardless it is a new list anyway. The following are the most recent ten songs played by my Unsteady Jukebox. It is a desirable list because no thinking was required to form it. The songs on my list are at least thirty to sixty years old. But I find them to be timeless. Audience participation is highly encouraged; no need for ten unless you are happy to do so.

  • Ashes to Ashes-David Bowie
  • I Need You-Beatles
  • Solsbury Hill-Peter Gabriel
  • As Tears Go By-Marianne Faithful
  • One of Us-Joan Osborn
  • Stay-Lisa Loeb
  • The Future Leonard Cohen
  • Operator-Jim Croce
  • The Hurricane-Bob Dylan
  • Diamonds and Rust-Joan Baez (which is about number nine)

This song was coming up after Joan:

Leila

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Published by ireneallison12

29 thoughts on “WEEK 543: The Struggle; the Week That Was; 2025 Playlist”

  1. Good post and recap of stories. It’s fun  to see a writer successfully work through a touch of writer’s block.  Something is unusual with the feral cat. Alfie, what’s it all about? Recent songs for me include a live version of The Letter by Joe Cocker with Leon Russell, Come Together by the Beatles, On the Road Again by Canned Heat. 

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  2. Our stray cats and the rabbit have disappeared

    Old man list

    Maybe Tomorrow & I Wonder If I Care As Much Everlys

    I’m Looking For Someone To Love & Tell Me How Buddy Holly

    A Stranger In My Home Town & Feel So Bad Elvis

    The Fat Man & Valley Of Tears Fats Domino

    Slipping And Sliding & Heebie Jeebies Little Richard

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  4. Leila

    Alfie is the image of an extremely handsome, feral friend of mine I call warrenbeatie. He also wears a tuxedo. He never would let me pet him. When I moved away from the house I rented, I continued to drive by to feed mr.beatie for several months. (Why the lower-case letters? I have no idea.) I never saw him again, but the next day, the food would always be gone. Former neighbors tell me I was feeding an ugly, old possum all along. I said, “Yeah, I know.” Why do have to always be right? Anyway, good luck warrenbeatie or Mr. Possum — whoever has been the beneficiary.

    (It wouldn’t hurt you guys to share.)

    The Ronettes! Great post! — gerry

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    1. Hi Gerry
      That was very good of you to go back and feed warren. Alas it seems goodwill to others is hard to accomplish. I often have to beg off Raccoons with bread just to let the boys eat. And I have had more than one Possum sneak by. Unbelieveably, there is this one nocturnal Seagull who steals food too.
      Nature is a rough business.

      Thanks again!
      Leila

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      1. Right you are, Leila. The evolutionary tree isn’t doing so well, is it? I’ve been trying to climb down since boyhood. No luck so far. — gerry

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  5. Hi Leila,

    Thanks for making this effort – I always enjoy your weekend briefs.

    I raised a feral cat (for 20 years) that wasn’t mine and had been passed from several owners for one reason or another. She never learned to purr but cackled like a chicken – she spent her early kittenhood in a back yard with chickens. And she did eventually become lovable after several years – I had never lived with a cat, but now I know I’m a witch and therefore – can transform and relate to cats –  we vied for the best sun spots during the winter months and hid in the attic when people came to visit.

    The Ronettes song reminded me of the Shangri-Las,  “I can never go home any more”. That period in music can really be gut wrenching.

    my best,

    Maria

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    1. Hello Maria

      Thank you for you comment! 20 years is remarkable for a feral, but it does happen. My other outdoor fellow, Andy, has been coming around every night since late 2016. No idea how old he is, but he must be ten.
      I have special affection for the girl groups prior to the Brit invasion Shirells, Shangri-lahs, Dixie Cups, Angels…such great voices and songs!
      Thank you
      Leila

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      1. Ah Leila, I guess she wasn’t feral in the end anymore. After years of sleeping under cars, on the canal waterside banks, on balconies and rooftops she would sneak into the attic on freezing nights. When I moved I left her with the ex -but then she got hurt and I took her to my apartment where she spent most time on the balcony and roof – and in old age just hunkered down inside. We were surprised too when we calculated the years, 21 plus it seemed! When we had to put her down she was as light as a feather as if her bones had vanished…

        my best, Maria

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  6. Leila, donkeys years ago, I was living by ‘the fish sheds’ (small fish processing plants) in Aberdeen. Unsurprisingly, there was a wee tribe of feral cats round about. Only one of them proved tameable, an elderly tom, called ‘Gandalf’ (well, it was 1970) and he had the most extraordinary purr – loud and metallic, like a motorbike.

    My pick; ‘Stand by me – John Lennon

    bw mick

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    1. Hello Mick

      It does seem that Ferals do often have at least loose associations with others. Alfie and Andy are a long way from being pals but they will eat side by side. Andy is defintely the Alpha there, he chooses the plate he wants and Alfie obeys. There are a couple others who occasionally come by, but they understand the pecking order.

      Thank you (I think Gandalf still holds up as a name!)

      Leila

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  7. Well rescued and then very well done and yes, the only answer is that you have a bewitched cat. What fun. Diamonds and Rust is a great ending to the list. Thanks for this – dd

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  8. Hello Diane

    He must be bewitched because his sunny disposition (well, for a Cat) continues.

    The list is a rare good run of songs played by my Amazon Music “station.” Usually the station is lacking, plays stuff I am way too familar with or obscure new things that have no business coming on, most likely touted stuff. But sometimes even AI is on the ball.

    Thank you!

    Leila

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  9. Leila and Irene
    That’s totally cool that Alfie transformed himself into a nice guy due to the influence of two BEAUTIFUL GOOD WITCHES! My guess is no one else could have accomplished this feat with him. Awesome picture too, by the way!
    Great playlist too! Three of these songs I’ve never heard of, and a few more I haven’t heard in a long time. A couple others I have memorized, including the one by Ms. Baez. She is amazing. Beyond beautiful, beyond great, in looks, in spirit, and in everything else.
    Here are ten songs I’ve been rocking out to lately:
    “No One Changes.” Conor Oberst.
    “Lua.” Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst.
    “Dylan Thomas.” Better Oblivion Community Center (which = Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers).
    “Too Late to Fixate.” Conor Oberst.
    “Next of Kin.” Conor Oberst. (Get ready to weep hard.)
    “If the Brakeman Turns My Way.” Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst.
    “We Are Nowhere and It’s Now.” Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst.
    “You All Loved Him Once.” Conor Oberst.
    “Tachycardia.” Conor Oberst.
    “First Day of My Life.” Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst. (Again, tears, but now happy ones.)
    Oberst, born in 1980 and from Nebraska, is the closest thing we have to a new Bob Dylan; except for Bonnie “Prince” Billy (Will Oldham), born in 1970 and from Kentucky. In their best work as songwriters and singers, both of them really do touch the hem of Dylan’s gown (sorry Bob, not saying you’re a cross-dresser, even though Cate Blanchett played you in “I’m Not There;” it was meant as a compliment).
    DWB

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    1. Hi Dale

      These reply sections often suggest good artists to check out. Thus will be the case of Conor Oberst, of whom I have been disgracefully ignorant.

      Witchery aside, Alfie is not to be completely trusted, simply because he will always be a Cat.

      Thanks again for all you do!
      Leila

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  10. Hi Leila,

    I understand the idea of ‘Whit the fuck am I going to write!! If I’m lucky something has tweaked my interest throughout the week and I make a mental note but the crux of the posting is a mystery. I just sit down and hope for the best!!! I remember an interview with the brilliant Mr Billy Connolly. He stated that when he started a tour, he panicked as he wondered, as he stood in the wings, on what the fuck he was going to say. Now that is a fucking talent!! We have two or three days, to delete and think – He gave himself no time to face a live audience!!!!

    Alfie looks like a fine fiend. Maybe a bit of the Van Goghs mystique with the paint. I think all ferals can be associated with some type of artist. Oor wee two have a clip off their ears so another Van Gogh reference. (This is done in Saudi so they are known to be spayed and therefore not slaughtered!!)

    We have had the pleasure of two ferals which visited us in our own house. ‘Wee Cunt’ was just young when, sadly one day, I lifted him off the road. We stayed on a very busy round-a-bout and the wee soul didn’t make it across one day. Don’t think a few of the drivers were happy as I walked between them to pick him up. Their horn blowing was met with a ‘Don’t even fucking start me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’ (I was just out a shower with a vest T-Shirt and a pair of purple joggies on…And it was a freezing cauld November night! It was a bastard to bury the wee soul!!)

    I buried him beside three Guinea Pigs and a Rabbit.

    The other we called ‘Jimmy The Bag’ – He looked like ‘Bagpuss’ and made a sound like Jimmy Stewart. Don’t know what happened to him. But we fed him for years.

    It has taken us three years before we have been able to pick up our adopted ‘Wee Fiend.’

    I love how we get used to, shall we say, cat’s eccentricities and then they decide to fuck with us and change!!!!!!

    The only witches I know are my mither and some mad person who has written the worst book in the world!!!!

    Don’t know what this means in my notes????? Yep! Saying what you didn’t, does!!

    The clip makes me think on the murdering weird producer with weirder wig but cracking sound!!! In the eighties there were two groups who emulated the big sound, ‘The Icicle Works’ and the ‘Too Rye Ay’ album by ‘Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ was as much a wall of sound as Slade’s Album!!

    How coincidental!! I decided to put on my playlist and mark them down as I typed this – Exactly ten!!!

    If You Want Blood – ACDC

    Leave A Tender Moment Alone – Billy Joel

    I Want To Be Sedated – The Ramones

    Orf: Carmen Burina (Don’t know if that is title and artist or what, just know I like the music.

    Black Dog – Led Zeppelin

    If You Want Blood – Billy Eilish

    Sister Of Mercy – Thompson Twins

    The Flower Duet – Kathryn Jenkins (I’m getting planted to this…Well burnt!!)

    Vedrai Verai – Jack Savoretti

    Under The Moon Of Love – Showaddywaddy

    (And whilst I was typing this list – Romeo – Mr Big and I Love To Boogie – T.Rex!!)

    HAH!! Even you not knowing what you were going to write has caused much thought!!!!!!!!!!

    Brilliant as always!!

    Hugh

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  11. Hello Hugh

    Phil Spector always had weird hair didn’t he? According to Ronnie he got real strange after marriage and the gun thing was already a problem. We also clip a tiny bit off ears of fixed ferals around here. Some groups round them up fix em and let them go loose.

    Love your playlist. Although ACDC has always been great, I’m still partial to Bon Scott. That Ramones song is a classic and I think the first one by them I ever heard, about fifty years ago!

    And I know you know the old, “What am I going to write” feeling, but we always make it!

    Thank You!!!

    Leila

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  12. Your ruins most certainly did not topple, Leila! Supremely enjoyable read. Just what no doctor had the good sense to order. Quite frankly am agog at the sheer abundance of your (& Dale’s) output. Some of the songs you list completely unknown to me – easy remedy for that of course. I’ll add my own timeless ten: Dylan’s DIGNITY / Patti Smith’s version of Dylan’s CHANGING OF THE GUARDS / Bowie’s version of SORROW / Cohen’s DEMOCRACY / Piaf’s MILORD / George Ezra’s PARADISE / Tom Waits: COLD WATER / The Doors: WINTERTIME LOVE / Cerys Matthews: ARGLWYDD DYMA FI / Presley’s first leap: THAT’S ALRIGHT MAMA.

    Geraint

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    1. Hello Geraint

      Those are fine songs. It caused me to place Patti Smith on my Uneasy Jukebox because I hadn’t heard anything from her except Because the Night for a long long time.

      Thank you!

      Leila

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  14. Dear Leila,

    Thank you for publishing “The Natural Man” and for your kindness. So happy to be here in this citadel of fine writing. – T.A. Young

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