For Redstone...

[TomInTib]

Yeah, I know, this should probably be in The Lounge (and Mods, feel free to cross-post), but I just cannot go there.

We have a true treasure here, an ascerbic poster who calls himself Redstone.

For those who have never met him, know him.

If you never heard him sing (back in the day), it is your loss.

The nights grow longer, and we get creaky.

But I know that my life has been made different, thanks to my Friend.

Tom

We were just Tramps on the Street... (I am going to take some liberties, here)


A long time ago
No shoes on my feet
I walked ten miles of train track
To hear ol' Redstone sing

His body was worn
But his spirit was free
And he sang every song
Looking right straight at me

Just a tramp on your street
You must understand
You got my soul at your feet
And my heart in your hand

No I don't have to pick
And I don't have to choose
I don't have to win
And I don't have to lose

And if I make any pay
I'll just throw it away
I don't count on tomorrow
I just live for today

Still you opened yourself
And you held me inside
You made a stray dog like me
Feel welcome tonight

Just a tramp on your street
You must understand
You got my soul at your feet
And my heart in your hand

If Billie Joe was here, we would be singing this for Redstone. Con mucho gusto.
Vaya con Dios, mi Amigo.
Tom

[flvegan]

1. Big fan of Redstone checking in.

And no, this is good GD material, IMO.

[Sugar Smack]

2. Redstone means so much to me.

I was hooked on his writing the first post I ever saw by him. And then later by his friendship. He's an original. I love him.

[bicentennial_baby]

3. STEFFI?!?!!!!11!!

:wow:

Where the hell have you been, sister?

:loveya: soooooo fucking much!

-bijou

[Sugar Smack]

6. OMG!!! :D :D :D!!!!!!!

I've been off here for like 3 months because of work & taking care of Dad &, you know, other stuff! I missed the everlovin *shit* out of you!!!:loveya: :loveya: It's so fantastic to see you, my bebe. :hug: :yourock:

[bicentennial_baby]

10. Same here!!!!

:hug:

I'm in the crap tonight, Mom's in the hospital, Dad's in the hospital. Life is...NOT FUN!

But I loves you so. :loveya:

[Redstone]

22. Shoogie! Talk to me, sweetheart; I may have some work for you in the early part

of 2009. I've hired a sales rep, and may not be able to keep up with the volume of work from the new customers he's going to bring me.

(Actually, it looks like I'm going to have TWO sales reps, the one for New England and one for Indiana as well.)

Redstone

[Sugar Smack]

30. !!!!!- I still have your # in my copy of Richard Bachman's book "Thinner"

& I'd LOVE to talk with you this weekend. I would LOVE it. I'm not even as scatterbrained as I was like, 2 months ago. :rofl:

Plus, I miss you.

[Iggo]

4. Yep, Redstone's cool.

And don't be afraid of the Lounge, man. Drop on by whenever you need a break from GD:Palin.

[FedUpWithIt All]

5. Redstone is good people.

:hug: to him.

[blitzen]

7. To Redstone! And to Billie Joe Shaver, too!

Billie Joe is one of my all-time faves. I've been lucky to be able to catch his show at a little club a couple blocks from my house sevearl times over the past few years--and to talk a little music and other things with him. Did he and Redstone used to hang out?

[Redstone]

26. No, I never met Mr Shaver. I was such a small bit in the world of country music in Texas back

in the mid-to-late 1970s that I never registered on anybody's radar (although it turns out that Tom In Tib may have seen me play).

Had fun, though. And would have liked to have traveled in the circles some traveled in (like a certain Duer and a stalwart friend), and to have met some of those Legends. Notwithstanding the fact that my musical abliity (though I'll admit to having a good singing voice even through the years of Parliaments and booze) and even considering how I could play instruments before I lost my hands to the injuries and arthritis, I could NEVER have been more than a weak candle compared to the bonfire, blast-furnace heat of the talent of The Great Ones.

Thanks for the good words.

Redstone

[SeattleGirl]

8. For Redstone, who says so much with so few words.

:toast: :loveya:

[Richard Steele]

9. K&R for Redstone!

[WCGreen]

11. He came to my aid when I needed him...

A good man...

[JeffR]

12. Hell, yes, I'll rec this.

And if I could, I'd rec it twice.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. My dear TomInTib!

What a perfect tribute!

I just love and admire him no end...

It has been my great and good fortune to get to talk to him now and then...

He is just a great light in my life!

One sweet day, I hope to meet him in person...

I know he will genuinely appreciate your wonderful thread...

:hug: for him, and for you...

K&R

[WilliamPitt]

14. He's OK, right?

[gristy]

15. I know little about Redstone except that his posts are always very sharp.

He can express more thought and meaning in one sentence than most of us can in 2 paragraphs.

[mopinko]

16. go redstone.

you are absolutely right, tom.

[Redstone]

17. Well, God damn. I just, well, I, uh...am for once speechless. Except to say

thank you to all of you. The hard times have come to my door, and reading what you all wrote means more to me than any of you will ever know.

Truth.

(Guess I wasn't so speechless after all; my Irish half has the Blarney coded in its DNA, I guess).

You guys are great.

Redstone

[Robb]

20. You're a good egg, man.

Hang in there, the faceless masses here dig your moxy. :hi:

[shadowknows69]

18. Don't always agree with the man

But he's a straight shooter, no doubt about that, and that's something. Respect.

[H2O Man]

19. Redstone

is a good man, and a wonderful contributor on DU. Although he and I have joked about being able to count the times we have agreed on issues (I think we could count the times on two hands, though he will likely insist that one hand would do), I am happy for the privelege of being on the same team as him.

Nominated.

[Redstone]

21. Nah, you're right, it would take both hands. Maybe some toes as well. And thank you.

Redstone

[devilgrrl]

23. Is Redstone okay?

Are you okay?

:hug: just in case.

[Redstone]

27. Yes, right now, for today at least, but in general maybe not so. But hey, I've been walking

this tightrope for many years, and haven't fallen off yet. Well, maybe once or twice or twelve times, but I've always been able to mount up again afterward.

As will I do again.

Thank you so much for asking. I genuinely appreciate it.

Redstone

[Midlodemocrat]

24. I absolutely adore Redstone. He's a true DU treasure.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

25. One Of My All Time Favorite DU'ers. A True Class Act There.

He's a shining example of what DU'ers should aspire to.

Kick for Redstone.

:toast:

[abq e streeter]

28. My 1000th post--was gonna save it for some grand (or grandiose) statement, but...

What the hell.....Redstone is one of the small handful of DUers I've ever exchanged PM's with; I'd written to thank him for his kind words to me about him appreciating my writing and looking forward to reading more...it had been a simple statement of supportive thoughts and wishes in the lounge to someone who was emotionally suffering, just one of many that had sent good vibes that person's way. Having read many posts from Redstone and being a big admirer of his writing, his simple words "you write well" meant more to me than he could imagine. So I dedicate this 1000th post to him and to all us progressives struggling to do our best to live up to our ideals ( I myself fall so short so often its embarrassing if not humiliating) and struggling to do what we can to get our country to live up to its ideals. And to you Tom, one of my first posts was objecting to something you'd written, but I have seen many of your posts since, and while I've disagreed on other occasions too, its quite obvious we share the same ideals too...( I'm also the same guy that was an acquaintance of the late Gary Primich who posted some info after his untimely passing). The tone of this post has me concerned for Redstone's well-being. I hope you're OK , and thanks again for your kind words many months ago. abq e streeter

[Redstone]

31. Appreciated. Well-appreciated, indeed. I feel better this night, thanks to you and

all the other wonderful folks here at DU. What a great place this is.

And yes, TomInTib is a true one of a kind, even though he and I have somewhat parallel life arcs. But in regard to the things I've done, and have had done to me, and have survived and have accomplished, especially in the holy pursuit of music, Tom makes me look like a stone piker. And no false modesty here whatsoever. He's a guy I'm damn proud to be able to count as a friend.

Redstone

[TomInTib]

37. Whoa! Wait just a God-damned minute, now.

I never played your town.

But you played mine.

I haven't forgotten everything, you know.

Prufrock's.

Tom

[Redstone]

44. You suppose they've cleaned the men's room in that place by now?

Redstone

[TomInTib]

46. Only if the joint burned down.

Last time I was in there, I was surprised there weren't mushrooms growing in it.

[Redstone]

47. Argh. And they probably wonder why there are so many puddles on the ground out back.

Redstone

[TomInTib]

35. Oh, he's OK. You can't kill a man who was born to hang.

"Vaya..." doesn't carry bad connotations. It's just something some of us Tejanos say. Pretty much, "Travel alongside God".

I was thinking of Gary, just the other day.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply, I am sure Redstone would appreciate it.

Tom

[Breeze54]

29. I'm shivering....

:kick: & Recommended

Redstone? :yourock:

As do you, TomInTib. :hi:

[TomInTib]

39. Why, thank you, ma'am.

I am sure I speak for Redstone, as well.

Tom

[DainBramaged]

32. Yup, a treasure of DU, there should be a Redstone forum

:thumbsup:

[TomInTib]

38. Hey, DB....

good to see you around.

T.

[DainBramaged]

40. I live, hahahahahahaha

:hi:

[TomInTib]

41. Well...

I suppose you laundered your "List".

And I, for one, am damned glad.

You and I have had too much fun, around here, for that sort of business.

:toast:

Tom

[DainBramaged]

42. erased it, new President, new start.

:toast:

[DU GrovelBot]

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[proud2BlibKansan]

34. Here! Here!

Bravo for 2 of my faves. Tom and Redstone. :toast: :yourock:

[TomInTib]

36. Thank you SweetHeart.

I will assume I can speak for both of us.

And, as far as I am concerned, the feeling is mutual. But I hope you already knew that.
:toast: :pals:

Tom

[shadowknows69]

43. So, mods, why was an identical thread started by me honoring TominTib

Moved to the lounge when this one and countless other tribute threads are allowed in GD. You can move it back anytime you want please. I mean you are supposed to be fair right?

[kentuck]

45. Excellent !

:-)

[Kurovski]

48. Kick!

:kick:

It's too late for me to give Redstone an "R". :-(

[racaulk]

49. Kickety kick

Love Redstone! :loveya: