* * * * * Notes on an overheard conversation while sitting in a booth at a restaurant eating lunch on Christmas Eve “While I was cleaning the house, I was harmonizing with Lilly Nelson—” “Who? Lilly Nelson?” “Who do you think I mentioned?” “Lilly Nelson.” “Do you think I said Lilly Nelson?” “That's what I heard—Lilly Nelson.” “So who is Lilly Nelson?” “That's what I asked you—who is Lilly Nelson?” “Who do you think it is?” “I don't know. It could very well be a singer I've never heard of. You never heard of Front 242 [1], or Siouxsie and the Banshees [2].” “Do you think I might have said Willy Nelson?” “For all I know, she could have been the daughter of Ricky Nelson [3]. Like Kelly Osbourne.” “Who?” “Kelly Osbourne [4]. Daughter of Ozzy Osbourne [5], eater of bats [6].” “But I didn't say Lilly Nelson.” “But she could be a singer!” “…” “Let's see … I'm looking up Lilly Nelson.” “Is this tunnel vision a programmer thing? You can't think outside the box realize I said ‘Willy Nelson?’” “Tunnel vision? I'm the one willing to conceed she's a singer.” “Must control … fist of death … [7]” “Ah! She's an actress [8]!” “But not a singer.” “That's not out of the question. Eddie Murphy [9]. William Shatner [10]. Bruce Willis. They all had ‘singing’ careers.” “Bruce Willis?” “Bruce Willis. The Return of Bruno [11], 1987.” “Why do you know that?” “The same reason why I know Leonard Nimoy had a hit in the 60s [12].” “But what does that have to do with Lilly Nelson? She's an actress, not a singer.” “Because being an actress doesn't preclude a singing career.” “If she has a singing career, I'm checking out of this universe.” [1] http://www.front242.com/ [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siouxsie_and_the_Banshees [3] http://www.ricknelson.com/ [4] http://www.kellyosbourne.com/ [5] http://www.ozzy.com/ [6] http://www.complex.com/music/2012/05/the-40-most-ratchet-music-rumors/ozzy-osbourne-bit-bat [7] http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2001-07-15/ [8] http://www.lillynelsonactress.com/ [9] https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0033XCP4K/conmanlaborat-20 [10] https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B005HMUPYW/conmanlaborat-20 [11] https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000DWTE/conmanlaborat-20 [12] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04 Email Sean Conner at sean@conman.org .