All in All it was all just a brick in the wall

Hi, all.

I typed a lengthy post yesterday to say hi and tell you about me but when it posted, it was posted twice, so I went to delete what I thought was one of them and when I did, both were gone. Eh, c'est la vie.

Anyway, my name is Tammy. I'm 42 and have loved Floyd since my teens. Hubby and I went to see Roger Waters in concert a few years back in Pittsburgh but angrily walked out about 1/2 way thru along with a lot of others, when he couldn't keep his politics out of his music. It was unnecessary and he was downright vicious, saying terrible things about our candidate (though I do agree with him when he sings "Mother should I trust the government and shakes his head "no"). No, I won't tell you what happened because I'm not here to start a political war and I won't tell you my party either. I just wish he could have kept the two separate. We had paid big bucks for our tickets and up until the point where he did what he did, his concert was beyond belief. He was just incredible. We were so saddened (and angry) when we left. I suppose if we had been stoned, it might not have mattered as much. LOL. Anyway, I don't put up with such nonsense. But again, let me reiterate that he was fantastic and his background singers were just great as well as the music. I did make a crack to my husband that Waters looks constipated when he sings and Hubby said he always looks that way when he sings. His voice is as good as ever.

My fav album is The Wall. One of my favorite non-Wall songs is Wish You Were Here but I used to have to ban myself from listening to it when Hubby was in the Navy and out to sea (submarines). I told myself I'd never go see Waters again but if they ever do a Wall tour, I'll be there. That has to be one of the best albums ever written. I've probably smoked pot 3 times in my life. One of the 3 times, I watched the Wall and that's when I understood it. That's one of the tricks to really "getting" the movie. Another is having gone thru some similar life time experiences.

I've read some of the interpretations of the Wall here and sort of have my own. Having suffered major depression a good chunk of my life, when that album came out, it was a lifesaver for me. I listened to it over and over and over until I had it memorized and understood what he meant for most of the song. He was building a wall around himself, each brick representing something or someone who had hurt him. That way, he was safe inside his coccoon and nobody could hurt him. Sure, emotionally you get shut off that way but you also cannot get hurt anymore. So, I built my own little wall. I stopped getting hurt. I excelled at work. My apartment remained spotless. I didn't so much as speed. I just obeyed the rules and when told to be some place, I was there 10 minutes early. Eventually, a man I had met and dated 5 years earlier (also a huge Floyd fan) walked back into my life and we started dating. For the first time in a long time, I let my wall down and became vulnerable, felt feelings I had not felt in a very long time. We married 9 months later. I had to keep that wall handy because I had to leave my family to move away and he was always going to sea and coming back. Eventually, I just let the wall disappear.

We've been married 18 years now, no human children but 2 beautiful black pugs, Bumper and Maggie, ages 8 and 6. We had a rescuse we had to put down a few months ago and I can't bring myself to get another one yet. You see - I'm in the process of rebuilding my wall. Toby's dying was devastating for me, kinda the straw that broke the camel's back. The infertility for 14 years was the first. The emergency hysterectomy was another. Being away from family and alone most of the time in a strange state was another. Becoming an alcoholic was another (been sober long time now and it does NOT bother me to hear about folks drinking - have at it. I'm not ashamed to admit it and I'm here if anyone ever needs to ask me a question). It's just been one long string of events and it's frightening to see myself put that wall back up again while I find myself desperately trying to claw away at the part I've already built.

On what probably won't be a brighter note - I've been a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan (since 1975 - fell in love with the purple uniforms, their scrambling quarterback, the Purple People Eaters, Ahmad Rashad, Chuck Foreman, Matt Blair, Jeff Siemon, and a coach with beautiful blue eyes). That team has hurt me more than anyone in my life but I come back for more. They were great all season this year, and now are playing like a train wreck.

Um, let's see - I work full time from home doing medical transcription. I love getting up 10 minutes before work, putting on my bathrobe, grabbing my coffee and logging in. I've done transcription for around 7 years but have done other things in the medical field too - 10 years of billing and 3 years of medical assisting.

I live in Ohio. I'm an avid reader, mostly fiction - murder mysteries. Lisa Gardner and Jeffery Deaver are the best. I also love true crime but usually will only read Ann Rule. She is the best in the business. Love true crime shows like 48 Hours Hard Evidence, Forensic Files, Dateline, etc.

I have a concealed carry license and a Glock 40 that loves to rub my hip raw. I practice as much as possible and want to get into competitive (IDPA) shooting.

Well, that's about all for now.

Take care!

See you around the board. Shine on all you crazy diamonds!

Tammy

Welcome Tammy. It is really refreshing to have someone post a lengthy introduction to the site, and I hope you continue to keep posting. We need more people to post and hopefully this will revitalise what was once a rather vibrant website. Sadly it doesn't seem to shine in the way that it once did. However you will find that we are a friendly bunch and many of the site users have a wealth on knowledge on all things Floydian. If you expereience any difficulties just holler, and one of the modertors ( I think there are 6?) will help you out. Bags of hugs

Axe Victim

Welcome to the machine Tammy. And as Eddy said this site needs some new blood for the New year. Enjoy and don't feel bad about being a Vikes fan I'm an Eagle's fan I feel your pain.

Hello Tammy and thanks very much for taking the time to share your story with us all.

Personally, I feel that Roger's live show is meant to be entertainment first and foremost. Yes, his politics sometimes seep into the music, but if that is what he feels most strongly about, then why not express those emotions the best way he knows — with words and song? Waters is fond of saying that "you paint what you see", and if he feels vicious animosity towards certain people then of course he will write about it and perform that work in public as an outlet for his feelings. I don't see why this form of expression is out of order for an artist like him.

I know of many artists who have clawed their way back to life from the throes of addiction, and through their art express how that period of their lives affected them. It may be uncomfortable to watch or listen to sometimes, because it rings true to life — so too with Roger's political songs. There is of course a thin line between preachiness and true self-expression; however, that is a poor defense of the argument that politics and music must NEVER meet.

If John Lennon was still alive today, I wouldn't walk out of his concert if he played a few songs dealing with political issues. Would you?

IMO Bono pisses me off more than the rest. I didn't walk out on Roger because I still liked the show. He will always let you whats on his mind. That doesn't mean i gotta agree with him. Hearing "Sheep" and Set the controls" plus dark Side made the show worth it. The last show I walked out on was Starship & Air Supply. the tickets were free so we went. I also walked out on Dylan one time cause he was so bad you couldn't even tell what song was playing until it was half over. I saw Dylan another time and he was great i guess that was a bad night.

Thanks, Axe. I remember Stephen King once being accused of having diarrhea of the word processor and I seem to have the same problem. LOl! Of course, I've typed all my life, so I can type fast.

Floyd is my music of choice when I walk the dogs in the bitter cold weather. I sing along, usually harmonizing, and it truly helps me forget that it's six degrees out there. Groan.

Sucks, doesn't it? I have to root against your team because the stupid Vikings have blown 3 out of the last 4 games and now, in order to get a 1st week bye, they need to win and have the Eagles lose.

I have to tell you, being a huge dog lover (used to have 3 pugs, had to have the rescue put down in September), I was furious for the Eagles signed Vick. I've had a faithful relationship with the Vikings since 1975 and would have abandoned them if they had signed that dog slayer. I would have resumed my relationship once he was gone. I'll bet there are a lot of mixed emotins from Eagles fans. I had a custom made shirt that says "Michael Vick is a dog killer". If they let Donte Stallworth back in, I'll have something made up for him. Next will be Plax. If the rest of us had been caught doing the stuff these players do, the outcome would be way different. I cut off my Sunday Ticket and will only watch Vikings games in retaliation, because Goodell doesn't have a problem letting thugs back ino the league.

How has McNabb's healh been this year? It scares the crap out of me to even think about facing you guys in the playoffs.

Feel free to stop by anytime, but especialy if we end up in the playoffs at www.kansasviking.com It's where most Vikings fans when after leaving alt.sports.footbll.mn-vikings. We have a lot of fun with Packer trolls now because they're grinding their teeth over Favre wearing purple.

Lately, the team has just collectively played bad Missed tackles on special teams, dropped footballs. Peteron's fumbling problem rearing it's ugly head again and in all the chaos, Favre is becoming erratic again.

Even though I have to hope for an Eagles loss tomorrow, good luck. Let's just hope the Crimeboyz don't go anywhere!

Take care!

Tammy

I understand your point. It wasn't his lyrics that offended me. It was the pink pig and other balloons he started floating around the stage that said __________ sucks and other really nasty thiings. I think it's fine to incorporate your passions and feelings into your music but don't do the balloon crap.

I knew Bono was outspoken but didn't know Waters would do it. We saw Metallica twice and loved both concerts. Didn't Dylan do some pretty heavy drugs?

I would have loved to see Hendrix and Zeppelin in concert but I was way too young.

I remember Roger's pig had "Impeach Bush Now" written on it at most shows; that was probably the most notable/contentious thing on the balloons that I can think of. Pretty minor, considering the previous president had just been impeached also.