Utah Phillips: Feb. 28 Homeward Bound

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Feb. 28 Homeward Bound

The noon time med swap went without a hitch. Nicholas my step brother is going to drive me to Reno so I can take the train home. If the train runs on time it's an eleven hour trip back to Utah.
It may seem like a long time when I could fly home in an hour or so but to be honest I need some down time to decompress. Dad is doing well, everyone has been very considerate in giving him some space so we could figure things out over the last few days. I wouldn't consider things normal, but this new stage of dads life is definitely manageable. I get the feeling in talking to the doctors that not many people have this kind of pump setup for long term injection. These pumps are mostly used to administer antibiotics continuously for a few months so there is not a lot of data on long term use. We are not worried, forging new territory is nothing new for Utah.
I'll write tomorrow from home .
Thanks
Duncan

5 comments:

Anonymous said...: Good luck Utah.
Everyone wishes you well from here in Salt Lake City, UT

See you soon Dunc.

Matt; February 28, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Diane Smith said...: Thanks for all your updates Duncan. Happy travels. (Never fly when you can take the train!)

Good luck with the recovery, Utah!

Diane Smith, Montana; February 28, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Anonymous said...: Safe trip, Duncan! It was good to see you here in SF, albeit under such circumstances. Maybe we'll have to have that beer in Salt Lake some fine day? I may be rolling through this summer...

In any case, your dad has been lucky to have you there...I think you've kept alot of minds at ease. Have a great trip home!

Ben; February 29, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Anonymous said...: This is a very belated comment, but I just wanted to let Utah and Joanna know we are thinking about them and wish them the very best.

They mean a lot to both of us.

Your Hospitality House friends,
(And yes, we're still together!)

--David & Becky, San Mateo; February 29, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Stuart Broad said...: Nice poost thanks for sharing; January 27, 2024 at 9:46 PM

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The Two Bums

This is a poem from George Milburn's book, The Hobo's Hornbook. You can also find it in a lot of old I. W. W. pamphlets and literature. It sums up a great deal of what I feel. It talks about the bum on the rod and the burn on the plush, which is just a simple way of saying that the kind of system we live in now demands that there be a poor people, demands that there be people out of work so that there will always be people willing to work for any wage.
Sure, a lot of railroad burns are parasites, but, like the poem says, they're just fleas who get an occasional bite, and you look at what those parasites at the top are chewing off. I know that there's a lot of talk these days about the welfare Cadillac; middle class people talking about those welfare gobblers down on the bottom who are afraid to do an honest day's work, and they're all driving big Cadillacs. And you hear over and over again, "Nobody ought to get something for nothing. " I've got to agree. You've got to work to eat.
I look at a factory. I see that everybody associated with that factory puts something in and they take something out. The workers put in their sweat and their skill, and they take out wages. The salesmen put in their skill and ability, and they take out commissions. The managers and foremen and people in the offices put in theirs, and take out salaries. But there's one group of people who take out more than they put in, and that more is called profit. I can't think of any other way to define it. That's a bunch of people who are getting something they didn't work for, and it's a whole lot.
If we're really concerned about people getting just what they earn, if we're really concerned about people not getting something that they didn't put in time and sweat for, let's start with the major offenders, and get rid of them. Then we'll gradually work our way down to the petty chiselers. It just makes sense.

The bum on the rod is hunted down
As the enemy of mankind;
The other is driven around to his club
And feted, wined and dined.

And they who curse the bum on the rods
As the essence of all that is bad
Will greet the other with a winning smile
And extend him the hand so glad.

The bum on the rods is a social flea
Who gets an occasional bite;
The bum on the plush is a social leech,
Blood-sucking day and night.

The bum on the rods is a load so light
That his weight we scarcely feel,
But it takes the labor of dozens of men
To furnish the other a meal.

As long as you sanction the bum on the plush,
The other will always be there,
But rid yourself of the bum on the plush
And the other will disappear.

Then make an intelligent, organized kick,
Get rid of the weights that crush;
Don't worry about the bum on the rods,
Get rid of the bum on the plush!

Internet Archive

I have started to develop an internet archive on my web page. It will be a collection of pictures, concert flyers and posters, concert audio and video, in short everything that I have collected during the last few years of traveling with dad. My hope is that it may one day become a central place for the world wide community to have access to an ever growing archive of Utah Phillips. I would like to encourage folks to add to the archive as well. You can either send things via e-mail ( friendsofutah@yahoo.com) or to my home address. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank You
Duncan Phillips
1392 e. 5935 s.
SLC, UT. 84121