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 |  I've maxed out. Closed this blog. |
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This is a way of making myself write something coherent and grammatically correct almost every day. I'm opinionated and need an outlet. I'm also prone to flights of fancy. Thanks for stopping by. |
| I have a friend in his 70's who said he comes from a long line of crazy. He started listing briefly the weird uncles and other relatives who starred in the story of his childhood. He turned out okay, so it must not have impeded his development much. The truth is that probably most of us have a little crazy in our backgrounds. If you look at your extended family, you could probably come up with a black sheep of some sort. Some families are so full of crazy relatives that they're actually proud of them. They used to go on the Jerry Springer show. Now they go on Doctor Phil. You might have to look at second cousins or your parents' second cousins, but they're out there. People just do a really good job of keeping secrets or covering things up, sometimes. My grandmother's family had such an experience. This was before talk shows or reality TV, so they felt ashamed of a situation. My grandmother's cousin started out west with her family in the early 1900's. She got TB and died in Illinois. Her husband turned to alcohol and farmed out the children to various relatives and strangers. The one who went with a stranger went out west, but was a slave to the woman who promised to care for him as a son. She beat him, and refused to let him go to school. So at age 14, he ran away to his mother's sister in Oregon. Later he rejoined his father in Washington State. In Washington, the father got into a poker game. When he thought he was being cheated, he shot him. He went to jail for murder. (A cowboy tale almost 20 years after cowboys faded away). He went to jail and died there. I've seen the records. Well, my grandmother's family was so ashamed. Too many people knew about it in their area, back East. So they packed up 14 kids and moved 3 hours away at today's speed limit, where no one knew them. They always spoke of it in hushed tones if at all. She was very young when they moved. All her life, she believed the killer was one of her much older brothers, and the runaway was a middle brother who did disappear after age 20. And that's what she told her children. It wasn't until I did the research on the family, proved the records, and found her brothers names in the census, that we learned differently. Grandma will never know the truth. My dad was quite upset, and couldn't believe his mother had not told him the truth. But it shows how badly secrets can turn uglier. These days I think people would just try to live it down. It's too easy to track down ugly facts. But I've got an ex-sister-in-law you could write a book about. |
| Summer TV stinks doesn't it? You either watch reruns of shows you didn't see the first time around, opt for an old Jeanette McDonald movie, or turn it off and find something else to do. The problem is that most other things involve energy or thinking. The purpose of the boob tube is to vegetate in front of it. So I'm left with finishing a boring book, cleaning out the refrigerator, or sorting through more clothes to go to Good Will. My mind obviously isn't engaging. I lost a pair of earplugs today without even using them. I can't seem to compose the business letters that I really need to finish. That brings me to energy. My nose is runny and my eyes are dry. I'm sneezing more than usual, so I'm a little low on energy. I pulled a muscle in my leg while mowing grass two days ago, and I swear it's hurting more as the day wears on. My IBS is acting up for two days in a row. So, no, I don't want to do the closets or dresser drawers any more. I don't want (or can't) bend over to clean the bottom of the refrigerator. I know I need exercise and wanted to go to the park. But between the stomach thing and the leg making me hobble in public, I chose to stay close to home. Maybe it's just the heat wave here. I hope it's just a temporary thing I'm going through. I have no creativity in me. I'll muddle through. Maybe my mind will come back, even if the body doesn't. |
| I was reminded recently of a guy with whom I once worked. He was outspoken and politically incorrect. He would make remarks just to get reactions from people. He and I were such opposites. We joked about writing an advice column together. I think it could have worked, but he admitted he wasn't disciplined enough to do it on a regular basis. He would always take the obnoxious, in your face response. It came to him naturally. It amazed me how he could rattle off the worst possible answer so quickly, but it always made us laugh out loud. After he had let someone have it, and given him "what-for", I'd say, "No, don't listen to him." Then I'd have a gentler response. I can't come up with an answer every time or immediately. But I do know how to validate a sincere person and show concern for their concerns. I try to practice the Golden Rule and consider all sides. Of course, the listener doesn't always want to hear all sides. Sometimes the best advice is just to guide someone in making a decision, but not express any preference. Our co-workers thought the column would be a good idea for us, but we all knew people would tune in for the politically incorrect, outrageous responses. Not everyone can give good advice. Not everybody can appreciate good advice. Just look at any social media. Someone expresses a real problem or concern, but they get other people's rants in return or get chastised for having feelings. I could probably make up some Jim-type answers for a column, but I'm just not very good at that sarcastic, mean stuff. I still think we could have been a hit. |
| Most of our "downtown" roads have bike lanes added in. That means in some areas, merchants had to give up parking spaces for their customers. But the county roads are another story. Many roads are winding, on hilly terrain, and have overgrown vegetation on the sides. The lack of a decent shoulder makes it difficult for pedestrians, who can jump into the grass or ditch without a wreck. These county roads were not designed for bicyclists. The road from my subdivision is a good example. When there is a biker on the road, traffic must slow and follow for miles, because the curves in the road are too frequent to allow visibility of oncoming traffic. No one observes the speed limit which varies from 35 to 55, so a biker could be seriously injured. At the end closest to the main highway, there are turning lanes, a middle lane, and sidewalks around the apartments that allow more room. There is currently a petition to ban bike riding from certain busy roads, unless there is a tournament with adequate warning, road blockage, and security monitors. Outrage breaks out over everything, so there is much grumbling about this. Bicyclists claim that if it's public everyone should have free unlimited use of it. Others say only people buying gas pay for the roads. I say safety is the most important factor. Why don't bicyclists want to be safe? Build more bike lanes. Use the myriad mountain bike trails around this city. Bike in the rural subdivisions (they are full of hills and curves, but less traffic). If the bike is your primary transportation, then take a bus or drive to the commuter lots and switch to a bike where you will be safer. Whatever conclusion we reach, bikers need to be more considerate of drivers. Nobody wants to kill or maim you. |
| Well, ten hours of Texas history and a little legend thrown in and I am now a little enlightened. Did we study this in high school, and it just went out of my head? What I like the best was the pictures and a little write up of each character at the end. If they had shown that at the beginning, or presented in some history book, it would have been boring. But having seen the characters in action, the viewer felt some involvement in their outcomes. Ray Liotta had the biggest, most obvious character development, as he turned from war crazed single warrior of revenge to a man with a soul. After an epiphany, Bill got a hair cut and was cleaned up physically and spiritually. We finally hear his story and see him become a man of peace. He was pretty gruesome and scary before the first 3 and a half episodes. There's not really a happy ending. Life and history go on.But the Texas Rangers ride off to be a part of it, being firmly established by then. I will do some research and further reading. It's a good series. If you haven't seen it, catch it the next time around. |
| I really like the music of Eric Church. He's a country singer, song-writer with a definite twang. I didn't know who he was until I went to the Grand Ol' Opry 3 years ago. He was performing. I thought it was bad luck that the only night we could go some unheard of singer would be the big performer of the night. But it turned out he made me a fan. He didn't use a band that night. He just played acoustic guitar with a microphone. Of course, he wore his big hat. He's only recently been photographed without it. He looks like the boy next door without it. His mini concert was wonderful. He one song that hadn't been released yet. That country boy voice left a big impression. Since then, I've heard him on the radio a lot. I've been impressed with his family themes, traditional values, and the influence of religion he weaves in. Don't get me wrong, he's not a religious singer. He praises "the Hag" (Merle Haggard) and drinking. But when I listen to the words, you get the feeling that he's writing about real life, about working class people. This year I bought an album of his for my I-pod. I listen as I go walking. One outstanding song is about being glad he's not what he almost was. It reminds me of Garth Brooks' "Unanswered Prayers". In this song, he tells how life throws curve balls at us and we change our strategies. An injury took him away from a football career and scholarship. Other things took him out of wrong relationships and wrong jobs. Now he's loving his life as a musician. Another song I enjoy from that album is "A Long Line of Sinners Like Me". Every verse is so clever. While it's meant to be a little funny, a religious person would have to agree there is some truth to it, even from an evangelical point of view. His music is peppy enough to keep my walking at a good speed. His words are profound enough to make me think. He's a poet and a good musician. |
| I learned some new things today about big game trophies. I went to an older friend's house, which I knew was in a very nice neighborhood. She's been widowed several times, and I knew from the sound of her rental properties, etc., that she is very "secure". Today she mentioned a safari to Africa. She bought a piece of artwork from a struggling young African artist which is displayed in her living room. Today he is indeed a well-known international sculptor, and the work is worth a lot more. I thought that was nice that she had been on safari once. Turns out that "husband number one", the father of her children, liked safaris, so they went frequently. He had s special wing added to their rather large house just to hold his trophies. Another person present had seen these: a lion, moose heads, tiger, etc. I can't remember them all, but they were legion. She doesn't have them now. She gave some away. She sold some. Something I never would have thought of, the upkeep on these "preserved" carcasses is quite extensive. You have to apply Vaseline to the eyes to keep the lashes from falling out. You have to do things to their noses and ears. It just sounded gross. You have to groom dead, stuffed animals! I don't know how husband number two lived with all these things.(She's been widowed twice.) The art work and all the nature pictures are quite nice. She has a beautiful house and garden. But the animals. I think I'd rather have fake ones, if any. |
| Falling short of anything original to say, I want to talk about a black and white movie I saw. The Gangster is a film noir about crime. (Duh.) It stars Barry Sullivan, Harry Morgan, Belita, Joan Lorring, and a very young, slim Shelley Winters. I'm a big Barry Sullivan fan, mostly because of The Tall Man, a TV series he did with Clu Gulager back in the early 1960's. He also appeared in a lot of westerns over the next decade or so. Apart from westerns, I don't know much about his work. So he's the primary reason I watched this movie. The film was shot in 1947, so he would have been about 35. He had a convincing scar on his face, but he was still very good looking. And tall! Belita (real name) was a tall blond with a soft alto voice. She had a hard-to-spell last name, so she didn't use it professionally. Joan Lorring played the young, innocent cashier who knew what the criminals were doing. She quit, but told Shubunker (Sullivan) what she thought of him. She served as the voice of conscience, the harsh, critical voice of right and wrong. The young Harry Morgan was astounding. Who knew he could do that? So unlike Dragnet and M,A,S,H,, this role let a whole different person come out. Shelley's role was minor and came towards the end. She was such a new actor that she wasn't even credited. The camera work was excellent. Being in black and white, the contrasts were wonderful. The shadows played well into the story line, since we were expected to be a little afraid of what would happen next. When a storm comes up suddenly and empties the streets, the effects were great. Barry Sullivan did a stellar job. I felt sympathy for his character, even though he was cynical and a criminal (they didn't actually show him committing crimes). He smiled at his girlfriend so sincerely that I wanted things to work for them. I wanted Joan Lorring to show him some kindness. Alas, it was a dark film. It had a dark ending. Justice prevailed. Things were set right, at least temporarily, once again.Still, I just wished it could have gone differently. Made in 1947, but it still speaks to me. |
| We're having a heat wave! We're expecting record breaking highs. I don't know how today turned out statistically. I watered all the plants on the back porch, and the tomatoes in pots in the back yard. My dad will hose down the garden in a few days. I pulled weeds by the back door and the elephant ears and under the deck. I didn't have a heat stroke or turn red. So it must not have been too bad. I guess we don't usually have these kind of temperatures until July or August. But at least I know summer is here unofficially. I ate a sandwich on the back deck at lunch time, just to be summery. We have outdoor tables and chairs, but it's always so windy, that we seldom serve company outdoors. But my dad likes to shuck corn out there. He also peels cantaloupe and watermelon on the table on Sundays. I go out while he's napping in the chair to pick up the bowls of fruit, the knife and the cutting board. When he wakes he bags the trash. This year we're growing some kind of purple plant that grew from bird seed spilled on the ground. He transplanted some of it into pots. They're healthy plants with no blooms. We'll see if anything develops. I pulled the vines out of those today, too. We have a big weed by the side patio. We thought it looked nice, so we left it. Two weeks have gone by, and it's tripled in size. It's about 3 feet tall now, just as wide, with big well shaped leaves. We keep asking visitors to identify it for us. I'm just hoping it's not something out of The Little Shop of Horrors. |
| I was at dinner last week with friends. One couple is retired. She is getting confused somewhat. She knows every word to every Broadway musical song, and she still has a pleasant voice and carries a tune well. But some days she doesn't know which purse is hers, or where she left her coat. One day I was a little upset like several others when she suddenly didn't know the man with her. She told him he wasn't her husband. People wanted to help and reassure her, but she didn't want them staring at her. After a few hours, everyone addressed him by name and she left with him to go home. He is so patient with her. He looks rather thin and frail himself. He's always polite and friendly. She is nice, too, actually, just frightened sometimes. At dinner the other night, she was doing okay. I watched the two of them having conversation just among themselves. The smiles on their faces made me think they were on a date, not having known each other long. I realized she's not a burden to him. He loves her. They are still tender with each other. They still show interest in what the other says, unlike so many other established married couples. What I saw in them, despite the burden they bear, is a long burning flame that troubles can't extinguish. They still have that sparkle in their eyes. They are very fortunate to have each other. I know it's hard for him. But the joy of being with someone with whom you've spent decades must make it bearable. I;m certain that he would not have it any other way. |
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