Casino Alert!
(c) David Volk

Although winter has not yet set in, I feel like Punxsutawney Phil sticking my head out of my home just long enough to see whether or not my shadow is visible, then retreating for six more long weeks of winter.

There have been wondrous developments since I last ranted, but I can’t go into most of them right now as I simply don’t have the time. And besides it’s a bit nippy sitting out here writing on my porch just now.

One development I can discuss is the latest news from the casino front.

Although I don’t have time to track what’s in and what’s out like I did in my college days, I have found one true measure of celebrity whose time has passed: the casino circuit. Just a step up from the county fair circuit and much more prevalent, it’s filled with has-beens and never-weres. Survivor. Styx. And (although it kills me to say it,) Little River Band.

And now Kenny Loggins.

Yep, the man who brought you “Brighter Days” “Return to Pooh Corner,” “Footloose” and “This Is It” is now crooning his tunes to inattentive slot machine junkies who need a break from the hard work of pulling the arms on nickel, dime, quarter and dollar machines.

Lord only knows where his former partner, Messina, is. Probably hanging out with Art Garfunkel and Ed McMahon at the Home for Spurned Former Sidekicks.

It would be enough to darken my heartlight, whatever that is. Don’t worry about Kenny, though, he’s been telling the casino crowds “I’m All Right” and I believe him.

I wish I had more time but “you’d be surprised, there’s so much to be done, count all the bees in the hive, chase all the clouds from the sky”…and all that other stuff.

From a man who’s Angry Eyes put him in the Danger Zone when he feels he really should Keep The Fire and Celebrate Me Home all the way back to Pooh Corner. Oh, Hell, This Is It—

David G(oin’ to San Diego) Volk