The top is the growingly infamous portrait of the Bill Huckabee's, formerly of ARKANSAS. The bottom is from the Christmas card I received from the Martin O'Malley's presently of MARYLAND.
It's hard to know where to begin, so I won't....
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Recent Pole Results
This from the liberal/progressive website "Daily Kos" which shows a shockingly large lead for John Edwards; and religates Clinton to a 4th place standing....
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Our Latest American Hero #108
Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Gabel, 30, of Crowley, La.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy; died Dec. 12 at Forward Operating Base Curry, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Cpl. Joshua C. Blaney.
“Poignant Eulogy Presages Hero’s Death”
Staff Sergeant Michael J. Gabel was killed in action by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan on December 12, 2007. Gabel, a 30 year old native of Baton Rouge, LA was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.
His brother David Gabel said Michael had planned to re-enlist next year so he could continue to serve in Afghanistan, a country that he loved.
“My brother believed in Afghanistan,” David Gabel said. “He really wanted to see schools, jobs, and opportunities brought to the country. It was his third tour in Afghanistan, and the job there was unfinished.”
Scarcely a month before his own death, Staff Sgt. Gabel had delivered the eulogy for one of three fellow Sky Soldiers, friends all who were killed in Kunar Provence.
Summarizing his feelings, he said: “I will not be bitter. I will not shed any tears of sorrow. I’m proud to have known such a good man and a warrior to the bitter end.”
“Poignant Eulogy Presages Hero’s Death”
Staff Sergeant Michael J. Gabel was killed in action by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan on December 12, 2007. Gabel, a 30 year old native of Baton Rouge, LA was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.
His brother David Gabel said Michael had planned to re-enlist next year so he could continue to serve in Afghanistan, a country that he loved.
“My brother believed in Afghanistan,” David Gabel said. “He really wanted to see schools, jobs, and opportunities brought to the country. It was his third tour in Afghanistan, and the job there was unfinished.”
Scarcely a month before his own death, Staff Sgt. Gabel had delivered the eulogy for one of three fellow Sky Soldiers, friends all who were killed in Kunar Provence.
Summarizing his feelings, he said: “I will not be bitter. I will not shed any tears of sorrow. I’m proud to have known such a good man and a warrior to the bitter end.”
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Random Quote #81
"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world."
~ Nelson Mandela
1918 -
~ Nelson Mandela
1918 -
Sunday Funnies #11
...with a point. This public service ad from the Deutscher Olympischer SportBund reminds us all: "If you don't move, you get fat."
An over-simplification of sorts, but basically a sound concept!
An over-simplification of sorts, but basically a sound concept!
Something Told The Wild Geese
This is the view from the door of my sunroom looking into my backyard. I took it on Thanksgiving Day this year. Now the leaves are all gone and tonight the earlier sleet has been replaced by a steady nearly freezing rain. Makes this photo, with it's ominous sky, seem downright "cozy."
Here's a poem from my childhood; a poem that my school's children will be singing in concert this coming Monday evening (tomorrow).
SOMETHING TOLD THE WILD GEESE
Something told the wild geese
It was time to go.
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered,—“Snow.”
Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned,—“Frost.”
All the sagging orchards
steamed with amber spice,
But each wild brest stiffened
At remembered ice.
Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly,—
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.
~ Rachel Field, 1894 - 1942
Here's a poem from my childhood; a poem that my school's children will be singing in concert this coming Monday evening (tomorrow).
SOMETHING TOLD THE WILD GEESE
Something told the wild geese
It was time to go.
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered,—“Snow.”
Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned,—“Frost.”
All the sagging orchards
steamed with amber spice,
But each wild brest stiffened
At remembered ice.
Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly,—
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.
~ Rachel Field, 1894 - 1942
Saturday, December 15, 2007
What I'm Watching #119
Just finished the second (and I think, final -- Wha wha wha.......) season of the MTV/LOGO channel show Noah's Arc. It grows on you. And dammit, it ended with a cliff hanger never to be resolved....
It's still fun TV in the tradition of "90210" and "OC"; only twist, it's black men...mmm, black GAY men, this time.
Bravo, gentlemen!
It's still fun TV in the tradition of "90210" and "OC"; only twist, it's black men...mmm, black GAY men, this time.
Bravo, gentlemen!
An Unexpected Gift
I have lived here in Takoma Park for just over 13 years. For a few of those year one of my neighbors was a man named Paul. You'll be hardpressed to meet a nicer guy. Paul's day job involves taxidermy and making models for the museums of the Smithsonian Institution. If you visit D.C. and go the Natural History Museum the re-installed Elephant that will greet you upon your arrival's Paul's work, The horses straining to pull the mail coach up the wooden bridge at the National Postal Museum adjacent to Union Station are also Paul's.
So it's really not surprising that in his free time he's a sculptor of animals in bronze. What was a surprise is that, years after moving to his new home in rural Montgomery County with his artist wife, he should send me one of works as a gift. It's a little bronze of a juvinile penguin. I wish the picture did it more justice.
We've share a card since his departure and I've occasionally sent he and his wife a poem on an art postcard. A lesson in how acquaintances become NSA friends, perhaps.
You can find more of his work at
www.rhymerstudio.com
So it's really not surprising that in his free time he's a sculptor of animals in bronze. What was a surprise is that, years after moving to his new home in rural Montgomery County with his artist wife, he should send me one of works as a gift. It's a little bronze of a juvinile penguin. I wish the picture did it more justice.
We've share a card since his departure and I've occasionally sent he and his wife a poem on an art postcard. A lesson in how acquaintances become NSA friends, perhaps.
You can find more of his work at
www.rhymerstudio.com
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Random Quote #80
"Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand."
~ Woody Allen, 1935 -
~ Woody Allen, 1935 -
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sunday, December 09, 2007
What I'm Watching #118
Is a curious little ensemble piece called "A Very Serious Person". The cover of the DVD declares that you'll experience the talents of Charles Busch "as you've never seen him." And I thought, duh, I've never even heard of the guy before!--and then I did a little online research. Which really didn't help to establish him in my mind. He's written a couple of screen plays, acted in a couple of movies, did a guest spot on "Frazier", and played Nat in 16 episodes of "Oz," but I don't get HBO and prisons scare me.
In this flick he plays a gay Danish nurse who enters into the world of a dying, eccentric matriarch and her gender fem leaning 14 year old grandson. The old lady (Polly Bergen) leaves her penthouse apartment in NYC for a final summer with her orphaned gay-spirited grandson somewhere in a family home in suburbia -- the details are not spelled out. Enter the aloof gay nurse, a crumudgeonly house keeper, and a folksy local beautician and her campy male assistant...shake well, let stand for 95 minutes and you've got this movie. In the process of the film you'll experience some laughs, some fights, a seizer or two, a little sex, a swimming lesson, and, of course, a death.
As a movie, it felt like a story better adapted to the stage, but I don't have any evidence to suggest that it ever was. 1.5 stars for heart...a little one, but a heart none-the-less.
The real find on the DVD is the short "Personal Assistant" also written and directed by Herr Busch for Showtime and starring Kathy Lee Gifford! It was truly a stitch. I guess it's better that little gems like these end up as a bonus on some DVD....
In this flick he plays a gay Danish nurse who enters into the world of a dying, eccentric matriarch and her gender fem leaning 14 year old grandson. The old lady (Polly Bergen) leaves her penthouse apartment in NYC for a final summer with her orphaned gay-spirited grandson somewhere in a family home in suburbia -- the details are not spelled out. Enter the aloof gay nurse, a crumudgeonly house keeper, and a folksy local beautician and her campy male assistant...shake well, let stand for 95 minutes and you've got this movie. In the process of the film you'll experience some laughs, some fights, a seizer or two, a little sex, a swimming lesson, and, of course, a death.
As a movie, it felt like a story better adapted to the stage, but I don't have any evidence to suggest that it ever was. 1.5 stars for heart...a little one, but a heart none-the-less.
The real find on the DVD is the short "Personal Assistant" also written and directed by Herr Busch for Showtime and starring Kathy Lee Gifford! It was truly a stitch. I guess it's better that little gems like these end up as a bonus on some DVD....
Sunday Funnies #10
From my beloved New Yorker:
"You know, statistically speaking, at least one of these gingerbread men is gay."
"You know, statistically speaking, at least one of these gingerbread men is gay."
Saturday, December 08, 2007
What I'm Listening To #32
Since the tragedy of 9/11, Bruce has been on a creative Blow-Out. His first two subsequent CD's "The Rising" and "Devils & Dust" were utterly amazing tours de force for this quintessent American artist.
"Magic" is his latest offering. It's good. It's not amazing. Three isn't always a charm. But no one loves everything about anything, so let us hope as Bruce continues to evolve and create on his life's journey that the next CD will be more reflective, innovative and touching!
"Magic" is his latest offering. It's good. It's not amazing. Three isn't always a charm. But no one loves everything about anything, so let us hope as Bruce continues to evolve and create on his life's journey that the next CD will be more reflective, innovative and touching!
Friday, December 07, 2007
What I'm Watching #117
"Naked Boys Singing" is the completely GAY "A Chorus Line"! It's a smattering of stories that express a variety of aspects of male gay nudity/sexuality.
What gay man can't relate to the song, "Fight The Urge" about the perils of shower taking during high school gym classes? Or delight to the celebration of masturbation in "Jack's Song"? In sights into Judaism are found in "The Bliss Of The Briss"; while "The Naked Maid" opens a window on the world of nude domesticity. And no number is more tender or poignant than "Window to Window" -- the story of a gay voyeuristic love affair.
And yet I think my favorite was the catty, sexy number, "Perky Little Porn Star" with it's redondable lyric:
"When you're background is suburban,
sex can be a bit perturbin',
and the subject of your penis is taboo.
It really is a thrill though,
to monkey with a dildo,
and let the world watch you while you screw!"
In need of a real let your pants....er, hair down, relaxing sing along experience? By all means, "Naked Boys Singing" fills the bill!
What gay man can't relate to the song, "Fight The Urge" about the perils of shower taking during high school gym classes? Or delight to the celebration of masturbation in "Jack's Song"? In sights into Judaism are found in "The Bliss Of The Briss"; while "The Naked Maid" opens a window on the world of nude domesticity. And no number is more tender or poignant than "Window to Window" -- the story of a gay voyeuristic love affair.
And yet I think my favorite was the catty, sexy number, "Perky Little Porn Star" with it's redondable lyric:
"When you're background is suburban,
sex can be a bit perturbin',
and the subject of your penis is taboo.
It really is a thrill though,
to monkey with a dildo,
and let the world watch you while you screw!"
In need of a real let your pants....er, hair down, relaxing sing along experience? By all means, "Naked Boys Singing" fills the bill!
Poetry Is Electric
Ever read something that simply jolts you? Takes your breath away. Knocks the wind out of you with it's profundity?
The experience can be addicting. And this pretty much explains the heart and soul of my love affair with poetry.
Here's a kick-ass poem that looks at life and declares, 'I ain't seen nothing yet!'
WHEN DEATH COMES
When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse
to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;
when death comes
like the measle-pox;
when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?
And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,
and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and a singular,
and each name a comfortable music in the mouth,
tending, as all music does, toward silence,
and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.
When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
and full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.
~ Mary Oliver
1935 -
Go forth and buy her books. Poets need to eat, too!
The experience can be addicting. And this pretty much explains the heart and soul of my love affair with poetry.
Here's a kick-ass poem that looks at life and declares, 'I ain't seen nothing yet!'
WHEN DEATH COMES
When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse
to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;
when death comes
like the measle-pox;
when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?
And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,
and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and a singular,
and each name a comfortable music in the mouth,
tending, as all music does, toward silence,
and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.
When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
and full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.
~ Mary Oliver
1935 -
Go forth and buy her books. Poets need to eat, too!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....."
"D.C., we have SNOW!"
And we do. The 1 to 3 inch forecast in the DC area turned into 4 inches here in Takoma Park. The 2 to 4 inch warning for north of the district became 6 inches for Frederick, Maryland.
And on Wednesday, my morning commute from TP to Gaithersburg more than tripled from a 40-50 minute average to 160 minutes: leaving my home at 6:50 AM, I arrived at school at 9:30~! A school in serious "classroom coverage" mode as other teachers had yet to arrive....
I grew up in Michigan where 4 inches of snow is no more serious than a moderately foggy morning; but Maryland on the cusp of DC is just too full of people who have too little experience with such weather from which to respond in a sensible manner. Therefore, chaos always ensues. It's not massive, in fact, it's very limited. But it only takes a dozen well placed traffic accidents to immobilize 500,000 people! -- Isn't that a scary thought?
And then there's this picture from the day after: My home draped in the first snow of the season -- so serene.
And we do. The 1 to 3 inch forecast in the DC area turned into 4 inches here in Takoma Park. The 2 to 4 inch warning for north of the district became 6 inches for Frederick, Maryland.
And on Wednesday, my morning commute from TP to Gaithersburg more than tripled from a 40-50 minute average to 160 minutes: leaving my home at 6:50 AM, I arrived at school at 9:30~! A school in serious "classroom coverage" mode as other teachers had yet to arrive....
I grew up in Michigan where 4 inches of snow is no more serious than a moderately foggy morning; but Maryland on the cusp of DC is just too full of people who have too little experience with such weather from which to respond in a sensible manner. Therefore, chaos always ensues. It's not massive, in fact, it's very limited. But it only takes a dozen well placed traffic accidents to immobilize 500,000 people! -- Isn't that a scary thought?
And then there's this picture from the day after: My home draped in the first snow of the season -- so serene.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
November Casualties
Another good month in the trend downward. November's casualties were the same as October's. And no one will be more thankful than me when the casualties hit zero!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
O Tanenbaum!
Once, during couples’ therapy, back in the day of coupledom!, I was told by our therapist that I didn't need anyone. That being in relationship with others was not essential to my psychological make-up or mental health – and when he offered that opinion, I didn't know what to say. 'Cause on some profound level I understood that he was right.
And yet I'm no recluse by any stretch of the imagination. My work alone keeps me front and center in the lives of dozens of adults and hundreds of children; all of whom I try to care for, nurture, support. I've come to realize that my "me time" is like the time your hybrid automobile spends in the garage plugged into the wall recharging its batteries. Without that, it ain’t gonna take you anywhere.
And in the same way "me time" also entails some amount of ritual: Things that I do to create for myself a sense of meaning that is both nostalgic and immensely comforting – things that recharge my batteries. Some of them were things that I integrated with a new gusto in my life when I was living blissfully unaware of the personal extravagance of coupledom, and none of those things was more intentional or precious than Christmas with all of the accoutrement therein to be found.
Therefore, it was only natural that initially the season was a casualty to the end of that relationship; but slowly it has worked its way back into the pantheon of "me time" rituals.
Which kind of explains why this weekend began with the fashioning of wreaths and ended with the trimming of the tree. A tree, that like the one of my childhood, has a toy train set running beneath it -- my Lego’s replace my father's Lionel. And, yes, it's a poor substitute no matter how you slice it! (My estranged sister inherited the Lionel; and since she’s a breeder with a child, I acquiesced with a willing heart.)
This image suggests, and I will confirm, that my home feels warm and comfy with this pagan monument to the season of Grace forming a centerpiece in my living room. My personal rituals continue in a restorative way, and my neighbors tell me how beautiful it looks to them. That’s an extravagant bonus, a mon avis.
And since I ain't prosecuting a war on anything -- Merry Christmas.
And yet I'm no recluse by any stretch of the imagination. My work alone keeps me front and center in the lives of dozens of adults and hundreds of children; all of whom I try to care for, nurture, support. I've come to realize that my "me time" is like the time your hybrid automobile spends in the garage plugged into the wall recharging its batteries. Without that, it ain’t gonna take you anywhere.
And in the same way "me time" also entails some amount of ritual: Things that I do to create for myself a sense of meaning that is both nostalgic and immensely comforting – things that recharge my batteries. Some of them were things that I integrated with a new gusto in my life when I was living blissfully unaware of the personal extravagance of coupledom, and none of those things was more intentional or precious than Christmas with all of the accoutrement therein to be found.
Therefore, it was only natural that initially the season was a casualty to the end of that relationship; but slowly it has worked its way back into the pantheon of "me time" rituals.
Which kind of explains why this weekend began with the fashioning of wreaths and ended with the trimming of the tree. A tree, that like the one of my childhood, has a toy train set running beneath it -- my Lego’s replace my father's Lionel. And, yes, it's a poor substitute no matter how you slice it! (My estranged sister inherited the Lionel; and since she’s a breeder with a child, I acquiesced with a willing heart.)
This image suggests, and I will confirm, that my home feels warm and comfy with this pagan monument to the season of Grace forming a centerpiece in my living room. My personal rituals continue in a restorative way, and my neighbors tell me how beautiful it looks to them. That’s an extravagant bonus, a mon avis.
And since I ain't prosecuting a war on anything -- Merry Christmas.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Our Latest American Hero #107
Army Sgt. 1st Class John J. Tobiason, 42, of Bloomington [Hayfield], Minn., died Nov. 28 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered from an incident that is currently under investigation. He was assigned to the 847th Adjutant General Battalion, 89th Regional Readiness Command, Wichita, Kan.
"Hayfield Soldier Was Deeply Private, Affectionate, Loyal"
HAYFIELD -- The public might have grown weary of the war in Iraq, but Sgt. 1st Class John J. Tobiason never tired, never wavered in his belief that what he and his country were doing was the right thing.
That sense of certitude shines through in letters he wrote to his American Legion friends back in Hayfield. In one, he contemplated the possibility of his own death.
"I love my country, and I know that if I was to die for it, it would've been an honor dying for something so precious as freedom is for all of us," Tobiason wrote in a letter that appeared in the Hayfield paper five months before his death in Baghdad.
Details about how he died remained sketchy Friday. His sister, Nancy Mitchell of Mantorville, said that Tobiason was in a "safe zone" when the incident happened. He reportedly stepped outside of a tent when shots were fired.
Tobiason, 42, was a private man who enjoyed solitary pursuits. He loved fishing and had a room set aside in his two-story house for playing his drums on his own.
Like a lot of private people, Tobiason, 42, was not necessarily an easy guy to get know. But once you did, that same sense of loyalty he had for country and freedom extended to you. You entered his zone, became part of his family, and often found yourself wrapped in one of his affectionate hugs, friends say.
"He always had a smile on his face, and he knew what freedom cost. And the sad thing about it, he gave it all," said Bruce Tiegen, a retired real-estate agent and Vietnam veteran.
What defined him was his attitude toward service and country. He had served in Desert Storm in the early 1990s. When he moved to Hayfield, he made the local American Legion Post his second home, working in the kitchen, bartending and helping in whatever capacity he could to fix up the place.
His death comes less than a month after the unveiling of a new veterans memorial in downtown Hayfield. Tobiason was among the more than 320 veterans whose names were etched into the memorial. And Friday, his paver stood out, bracketed by two bouquets of flowers laid by the family.
The news of his death cast a pall over this community of 1,400. Many heard the news for the first time during a gathering of bingo at the legion hall, all but destroying the sense of festivity.
At Uncle Mony's Restaurant, waitress Kathy DeMaria remembered Tobiason as the "one of the nicest, friendliest kids I've ever known." The last time she saw him, Tobiason was about to return to Iraq after a 30-day leave.
"When he came in and gave me a hug and (said) goodbye, I said, 'Now, you come back.' And he said, 'I hope so.'" DeMaria said.
"Hayfield Soldier Was Deeply Private, Affectionate, Loyal"
HAYFIELD -- The public might have grown weary of the war in Iraq, but Sgt. 1st Class John J. Tobiason never tired, never wavered in his belief that what he and his country were doing was the right thing.
That sense of certitude shines through in letters he wrote to his American Legion friends back in Hayfield. In one, he contemplated the possibility of his own death.
"I love my country, and I know that if I was to die for it, it would've been an honor dying for something so precious as freedom is for all of us," Tobiason wrote in a letter that appeared in the Hayfield paper five months before his death in Baghdad.
Details about how he died remained sketchy Friday. His sister, Nancy Mitchell of Mantorville, said that Tobiason was in a "safe zone" when the incident happened. He reportedly stepped outside of a tent when shots were fired.
Tobiason, 42, was a private man who enjoyed solitary pursuits. He loved fishing and had a room set aside in his two-story house for playing his drums on his own.
Like a lot of private people, Tobiason, 42, was not necessarily an easy guy to get know. But once you did, that same sense of loyalty he had for country and freedom extended to you. You entered his zone, became part of his family, and often found yourself wrapped in one of his affectionate hugs, friends say.
"He always had a smile on his face, and he knew what freedom cost. And the sad thing about it, he gave it all," said Bruce Tiegen, a retired real-estate agent and Vietnam veteran.
What defined him was his attitude toward service and country. He had served in Desert Storm in the early 1990s. When he moved to Hayfield, he made the local American Legion Post his second home, working in the kitchen, bartending and helping in whatever capacity he could to fix up the place.
His death comes less than a month after the unveiling of a new veterans memorial in downtown Hayfield. Tobiason was among the more than 320 veterans whose names were etched into the memorial. And Friday, his paver stood out, bracketed by two bouquets of flowers laid by the family.
The news of his death cast a pall over this community of 1,400. Many heard the news for the first time during a gathering of bingo at the legion hall, all but destroying the sense of festivity.
At Uncle Mony's Restaurant, waitress Kathy DeMaria remembered Tobiason as the "one of the nicest, friendliest kids I've ever known." The last time she saw him, Tobiason was about to return to Iraq after a 30-day leave.
"When he came in and gave me a hug and (said) goodbye, I said, 'Now, you come back.' And he said, 'I hope so.'" DeMaria said.
Petal Skull
I know, Halloween is over! But "Poetry" magazine has this image on its December cover, and I found it so macabre and yet beautiful that I wanted to share it.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Season's Greetings
With my green and coral color theme on the house, the traditional red ribboned wreath wasn't going to work. And you can't find orange decorations! So it's gold with a flare -- in this case, a peacock! It's not that clear in the photo, but it sits above the ribbon and it's tail feathers flow across the top of the wreath.
And the best part of a live wreath on the door is the way every time you return home and open the storm door you're greeted with the aroma of pine. Mmmmm.... That's a real Holiday smell.
And the best part of a live wreath on the door is the way every time you return home and open the storm door you're greeted with the aroma of pine. Mmmmm.... That's a real Holiday smell.
I Told You....
Wrestling is gay.
Should the caption read:
Heading?
Let's play hide the gerbil?
Who turned out the lights?
Whatever...it's gay.
Should the caption read:
Heading?
Let's play hide the gerbil?
Who turned out the lights?
Whatever...it's gay.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Art I'm Seeing #22
Also at the National Gallery of Art is an exhibition of works by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851). He's a superstar in art. Utterly amazing and revolutionary. Early works depict grand landscapes and seascapes like this image of Switzerland's St. Gottlieb's pass. The subject is one of Europe’s most amazing and profound locations. The work my quintessential early favorite.
And from here Turner moves more and more toward the abstract, the impressionistic -- always with light in the apex of the composition. As an unremarkable artist I am in love with light, but like so many artists my love is based on what light does in the context of objects. Turner loves light for the way it crowns a hyper-impression of objects. To the point of leaving objects unrecognizable at first glance, but light profoundly present. You see this in watercolors like the one of many of his sketches of the burning of Parliament.
Dead after 76 years of life in 1851, you can see how 100 years later, abstract expressionists picked up the mantel. How many of us have a genius 100 years ahead of our lives? Go see it, if you can.
And from here Turner moves more and more toward the abstract, the impressionistic -- always with light in the apex of the composition. As an unremarkable artist I am in love with light, but like so many artists my love is based on what light does in the context of objects. Turner loves light for the way it crowns a hyper-impression of objects. To the point of leaving objects unrecognizable at first glance, but light profoundly present. You see this in watercolors like the one of many of his sketches of the burning of Parliament.
Dead after 76 years of life in 1851, you can see how 100 years later, abstract expressionists picked up the mantel. How many of us have a genius 100 years ahead of our lives? Go see it, if you can.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Our Latest American Hero #106
Army Sgt. Steven C. Ganczewski, 22, of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 16, in Balad, Iraq, of wounds sustained from a combat-related incident.
"Army Ranger, 22, Killed In Iraq"
Military service was the path Sgt. Steven C. Ganczewski chose early in life, and his determination never wavered, even when his grades at Niagara Falls High School would have easily gained him admission to a good college.
“He got a lot of [resistance] from guidance counselors when he said he was joining the Army,” said his father, Mark. “They didn’t understand why someone with his potential would join the Army.”
Ganczewski wanted to be an Army Ranger, and it was in that role that he died. The Pentagon announced Sunday that the 22- year-old husband and father was killed during combat operations Friday in Balad, Iraq, making him the 32nd member of the military from Western New York killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We’re very proud of what he did, very proud of what he accomplished,” said Mark Ganczewski. Added his wife, Maria, “He was successful at whatever he did. He had a good head.”
“We knew pretty much right away that [the military] was what he wanted to do,” said high school friend A.J. Gelose. “He always had that drive. That was his dream.”
When he was 15 or 16, he attended a rescue course sponsored by the Civil Air Patrol. That, his father said, is when the military dream narrowed to the dream of being an Army Ranger. That also was about the time of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Mark Ganczewski remembers his son watching the coverage and saying, “Dad, we have to stop these people.”
At Niagara Falls High, Steve Ganczewski played football and ran track. At home, he shared his father’s love for classic rock, NASCAR, the Bills and the Sabres.
When it came time to leave high school, Maria Ganczewski said she really did not want her older son to join, “but that’s what he wanted to do.”
Mark Ganczewski said his son understood the risk. “He said, ‘Dad, what am I supposed to do, take something safe?’ ”
In the Army, Steven Ganczewski served several tours of duty overseas. While stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., he met Rachel, also in the Army. They married a year ago in October, and Steven adopted Rachel’s 2- year-old daughter, Makayla.
The couple purchased a house in Columbus, Ga., and Maria said her son worked diligently to make it a home for his new family.
“He made a house for his dogs outside,” she said. Inside, he was partial to the family iguana, Leroy.
“They were just here in September,” Mark Ganczewski said, adding that his son told him he was more confident than ever that he had chosen the right path.
“He loved [being a soldier],” his father said. “He said, ‘This is what I want to do.’ He thought he was making a difference there.”
Aside from his parents, his wife and his daughter, Steven Ganczewski also is survived by his brother, Christopher, a senior at Niagara Falls High School who just interviewed for admission to the Air Force Academy.
"Army Ranger, 22, Killed In Iraq"
Military service was the path Sgt. Steven C. Ganczewski chose early in life, and his determination never wavered, even when his grades at Niagara Falls High School would have easily gained him admission to a good college.
“He got a lot of [resistance] from guidance counselors when he said he was joining the Army,” said his father, Mark. “They didn’t understand why someone with his potential would join the Army.”
Ganczewski wanted to be an Army Ranger, and it was in that role that he died. The Pentagon announced Sunday that the 22- year-old husband and father was killed during combat operations Friday in Balad, Iraq, making him the 32nd member of the military from Western New York killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We’re very proud of what he did, very proud of what he accomplished,” said Mark Ganczewski. Added his wife, Maria, “He was successful at whatever he did. He had a good head.”
“We knew pretty much right away that [the military] was what he wanted to do,” said high school friend A.J. Gelose. “He always had that drive. That was his dream.”
When he was 15 or 16, he attended a rescue course sponsored by the Civil Air Patrol. That, his father said, is when the military dream narrowed to the dream of being an Army Ranger. That also was about the time of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Mark Ganczewski remembers his son watching the coverage and saying, “Dad, we have to stop these people.”
At Niagara Falls High, Steve Ganczewski played football and ran track. At home, he shared his father’s love for classic rock, NASCAR, the Bills and the Sabres.
When it came time to leave high school, Maria Ganczewski said she really did not want her older son to join, “but that’s what he wanted to do.”
Mark Ganczewski said his son understood the risk. “He said, ‘Dad, what am I supposed to do, take something safe?’ ”
In the Army, Steven Ganczewski served several tours of duty overseas. While stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., he met Rachel, also in the Army. They married a year ago in October, and Steven adopted Rachel’s 2- year-old daughter, Makayla.
The couple purchased a house in Columbus, Ga., and Maria said her son worked diligently to make it a home for his new family.
“He made a house for his dogs outside,” she said. Inside, he was partial to the family iguana, Leroy.
“They were just here in September,” Mark Ganczewski said, adding that his son told him he was more confident than ever that he had chosen the right path.
“He loved [being a soldier],” his father said. “He said, ‘This is what I want to do.’ He thought he was making a difference there.”
Aside from his parents, his wife and his daughter, Steven Ganczewski also is survived by his brother, Christopher, a senior at Niagara Falls High School who just interviewed for admission to the Air Force Academy.
2008 Senate Race Up-Date
With Trent Lott's cynical announcement today that he will retire before the end of the year, the control of the Senate in 2008 continues to tilt like a Tsunami toward the Democrats. Dear old Trent, defrocked one time Republican leader of the senate, has to leave before 2008, or he'll be prohibited from earning millions of dollars as a capitol hill lobbyist for TWO WHOLE YEARS! under new legislation enacted by the Democrats.
His departure brings to 6 the Republican members of the senate calling it quits and leaving open seats for 2008. Of the 6, 5 are vulnerable to Democratic pick-ups. Of the remaining 15 Republican seats, another 6 are vulnerable. Which equals eleven likely turn-overs and a majority for the Senate in the Democratic camp not seen in my lifetime. Talk about your swinging pendulum!
On the Democratic side, only 3 seats have been identified as "at risk" and with the growing tide of change, they are less and less likely to be in play.
The DEMOCRATIC PICK-UPS:
Super likely to switch are Oregon, Minnesota, & New Hampshire; very likely are Nebraska, Alaska, and Virginia. Vulnerable are Maine, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Idaho.
The DEMOCRATIC WEAK LINKS:
Seats that have been weak for the Dems are Montana, South Dakota, and Louisiana.
Max Baucus of Montana has long been a rather do nothing member of the Senate; but in his favor are two wildly popular Montana Democrats: Junior Senator John Testor, and Governor Brian Switzer.
Tim Johnson of South Dakota scared us all with his recent stroke and Republicans drooled over the chance to run in that state for an open seat; however, Tim is back. His illness is taboo. The populous of the state recently defeated a draconian anti-abortion law to the chagrin of the Republican right, and the Dems have a very popular federal representative in the wings to run for the senate should, God forbid, the need arise. It's a safe seat.
Mary Landreau of Louisiana may wish to thank her junior senate partner, David Vitters, for her up-coming win. No matter how precarious Democratic fortunes are in Louisiana, at least she's not a hypocrite who likes to wear diapers while have kinky sex with Bourbon Street prostitutes! I know, not a ringing endorsement, but we are talking about Louisiana.
My prediction. The 112th Senate will be made up of 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, 1 Independent, and 1 Independent Democrat (who will either switch to the Republican party within a month or resign).
His departure brings to 6 the Republican members of the senate calling it quits and leaving open seats for 2008. Of the 6, 5 are vulnerable to Democratic pick-ups. Of the remaining 15 Republican seats, another 6 are vulnerable. Which equals eleven likely turn-overs and a majority for the Senate in the Democratic camp not seen in my lifetime. Talk about your swinging pendulum!
On the Democratic side, only 3 seats have been identified as "at risk" and with the growing tide of change, they are less and less likely to be in play.
The DEMOCRATIC PICK-UPS:
Super likely to switch are Oregon, Minnesota, & New Hampshire; very likely are Nebraska, Alaska, and Virginia. Vulnerable are Maine, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Idaho.
The DEMOCRATIC WEAK LINKS:
Seats that have been weak for the Dems are Montana, South Dakota, and Louisiana.
Max Baucus of Montana has long been a rather do nothing member of the Senate; but in his favor are two wildly popular Montana Democrats: Junior Senator John Testor, and Governor Brian Switzer.
Tim Johnson of South Dakota scared us all with his recent stroke and Republicans drooled over the chance to run in that state for an open seat; however, Tim is back. His illness is taboo. The populous of the state recently defeated a draconian anti-abortion law to the chagrin of the Republican right, and the Dems have a very popular federal representative in the wings to run for the senate should, God forbid, the need arise. It's a safe seat.
Mary Landreau of Louisiana may wish to thank her junior senate partner, David Vitters, for her up-coming win. No matter how precarious Democratic fortunes are in Louisiana, at least she's not a hypocrite who likes to wear diapers while have kinky sex with Bourbon Street prostitutes! I know, not a ringing endorsement, but we are talking about Louisiana.
My prediction. The 112th Senate will be made up of 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, 1 Independent, and 1 Independent Democrat (who will either switch to the Republican party within a month or resign).
Art I'm Seeing #21
There's a lovely little retrospective of Robert Rauschenberg at the National Gallery of Art. It's just five rooms of the guy who was photo-shop before there were personal computers. His work is lush and often beautiful, thought provoking....a nice way to spend an hour on an autumn afternoon. It's there in the basement of the West Building until the end of March.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Random Quote #79
"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
~ Pablo Picasso, 1881 - 1973
~ Pablo Picasso, 1881 - 1973
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Sunroom Etc....
Now that the swing is up the painting continues on the sunroom. I have decided upon a red, white and blue scheme which picks up the colors in the floor tiles. And which ought to keep me busy for most of the winter....
My Thanksgiving indulgence (and it was a modest one) was to purchase a hanging ceiling lamp for over the swing to use for reading and a 3 tiered magazine rack that I afixed to the wall behind the swing, both from IKEA.
I'm ready for snow days! And reading again. At present two novels: "Farewell To The Sea" by Cuban Reinaldo Arenas, and "The Man-eater Of Magudi" by Indian writer R. K. Narayan. Both are rather dense narratives. They are like TV shows that I watch for an hour and then switch the channel on. It's an ADD thing, I'm sure....
My Thanksgiving indulgence (and it was a modest one) was to purchase a hanging ceiling lamp for over the swing to use for reading and a 3 tiered magazine rack that I afixed to the wall behind the swing, both from IKEA.
I'm ready for snow days! And reading again. At present two novels: "Farewell To The Sea" by Cuban Reinaldo Arenas, and "The Man-eater Of Magudi" by Indian writer R. K. Narayan. Both are rather dense narratives. They are like TV shows that I watch for an hour and then switch the channel on. It's an ADD thing, I'm sure....
Saturday Musings
After spending a little time prepping my backyard gardens for winter (and it’s colder today than I thought it was gonna be!), I retreat inside and have been adding images to my database of U.S. soldiers killed in the War on Terrorism. I have collected photos now of over 3,200 of the estimated 3,875 killed in Iraq and have a total surpassing 4,000 face shots of the brave American military members killed in all of the theatres of this War (i.e. Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, the Philippines, etc.)
From time to time the search leads me to moments of revelation, moments that lead me to more profound feelings. While adding images to my archive of soldiers from Massachusetts, I happened upon this quote in an article about Marine Lance Cpl. Edward M. Gavin of Malden:
“During her husband's funeral, Melissa Garvin recalled her wedding day when she caught Edward M. Garvin wearing his favorite green shorts, singing to himself in the mirror, "Going to the chapel and I'm going to get married." "I strongly believe he is with us today," she said. If he could say something, "he'd say something silly to make us laugh," she said. "That's what he would have wanted." Garvin, 19, of Malden, Mass., was killed in combat Oct. 4 in Anbar province.”
Can you get the image of this vibrant young couple on the eve of their nuptials in your mind's eye...in your heart? Sweet young people about to join in the act of holy matrimony, a covenant of blessings to one another, to their families, to their community…OUR “community”.
And, again I wondered about our “enemy”. Don’t they fall in love? Don’t they sing silly songs on the eves of their weddings? Don’t they desire to live in a world in which they can bless their love, bless their loved ones, and die in peace at a ripe old age?
Is there not a way, on this our fragile island-home that we call earth, to meet our enemies with tears of fear and tears of joy so that they no longer represent more to us in our understanding than “the other.”? When will we strip the artifice of nationality, of religiosity, of gender, and sexual expression, of all that separates us from one another away and wage a war of unity whose goal is a peace based on our reverence for one another, for community, for the holiness of life?
From time to time the search leads me to moments of revelation, moments that lead me to more profound feelings. While adding images to my archive of soldiers from Massachusetts, I happened upon this quote in an article about Marine Lance Cpl. Edward M. Gavin of Malden:
“During her husband's funeral, Melissa Garvin recalled her wedding day when she caught Edward M. Garvin wearing his favorite green shorts, singing to himself in the mirror, "Going to the chapel and I'm going to get married." "I strongly believe he is with us today," she said. If he could say something, "he'd say something silly to make us laugh," she said. "That's what he would have wanted." Garvin, 19, of Malden, Mass., was killed in combat Oct. 4 in Anbar province.”
Can you get the image of this vibrant young couple on the eve of their nuptials in your mind's eye...in your heart? Sweet young people about to join in the act of holy matrimony, a covenant of blessings to one another, to their families, to their community…OUR “community”.
And, again I wondered about our “enemy”. Don’t they fall in love? Don’t they sing silly songs on the eves of their weddings? Don’t they desire to live in a world in which they can bless their love, bless their loved ones, and die in peace at a ripe old age?
Is there not a way, on this our fragile island-home that we call earth, to meet our enemies with tears of fear and tears of joy so that they no longer represent more to us in our understanding than “the other.”? When will we strip the artifice of nationality, of religiosity, of gender, and sexual expression, of all that separates us from one another away and wage a war of unity whose goal is a peace based on our reverence for one another, for community, for the holiness of life?
Friday, November 23, 2007
Friday Funny
Is that a banana..... Oh, no -- wait, this isn't my joke. It's one sent to me by my Colorado cousin, who also just sent me some hard personal news. And then he sends a joke? Go figure. Hope I always respond to fate as generously.
From J.H. in Denver:
Many times when I am troubled or confused, I find comfort in sitting in my backyard and having a beer along with a quiet conversation with Jesus.
This happened to me again after a particularly difficult day. I said, "Jesus, why do I work so hard?"
And I heard the reply: "Men find many ways to demonstrate the love they have for their family. You work hard to have a peaceful, beautiful place for your friends and family to gather."
I said: "I thought that money was the root of all evil."
And the reply was: "No, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Money is a tool; it can be used for good or bad."
I was starting to feel better, but I still had that one burning question, so I asked it. "Jesus", I said, "What is the meaning of life? Why am I here?"
He replied: "That is a question many men ask. The answer is in your heart and is different for everyone. I would love to chat with you some more, Señor, but for now, I have to go finish your lawn."
From J.H. in Denver:
Many times when I am troubled or confused, I find comfort in sitting in my backyard and having a beer along with a quiet conversation with Jesus.
This happened to me again after a particularly difficult day. I said, "Jesus, why do I work so hard?"
And I heard the reply: "Men find many ways to demonstrate the love they have for their family. You work hard to have a peaceful, beautiful place for your friends and family to gather."
I said: "I thought that money was the root of all evil."
And the reply was: "No, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Money is a tool; it can be used for good or bad."
I was starting to feel better, but I still had that one burning question, so I asked it. "Jesus", I said, "What is the meaning of life? Why am I here?"
He replied: "That is a question many men ask. The answer is in your heart and is different for everyone. I would love to chat with you some more, Señor, but for now, I have to go finish your lawn."
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thanksgiving 2007 a la Baghdad
Shortly before sunset, a series of rockets or mortars crashed into the Green Zone, sending up plumes of smoke into the sky as the sounds of the detonations reverberated through the center of the city.
The attack, the biggest against the Green Zone in weeks, occurred as many Americans were marking the Thanksgiving holiday. Loudspeakers in the Green Zone warned people to "duck and cover" and to stay away from windows.
Maj. Brad Leighton, a U.S. spokesman, said there were no fatalities but some people were wounded. He refused to give numbers or nationalities.
FOR THE RECORD -- And this is freedom from what?
The attack, the biggest against the Green Zone in weeks, occurred as many Americans were marking the Thanksgiving holiday. Loudspeakers in the Green Zone warned people to "duck and cover" and to stay away from windows.
Maj. Brad Leighton, a U.S. spokesman, said there were no fatalities but some people were wounded. He refused to give numbers or nationalities.
FOR THE RECORD -- And this is freedom from what?
Thanksgiving Nirvana
A day in flux. I spent the morning blowing a million mostly yellow maple leaves into a huge pile on the curb. 77 was a new record high for this date in DC. My curious neighbor, C., came over and I invited her into my sunroom to see the finished product. She was taken by my reproduction Buddha statue and roled her eyes when comparing it to the one her husband had purchased from China. He shared it with me one day while taking me on a tour of his backyard gardens, and so I know that it's cost is like it's weight -- A TON.
In the early part of the 20th century, an obscure (at the time) German poet also took a moment from his busy day to contemplate the Buddha. Enjoy!
BUDDHA IN GLORY
Center of all centers, core of cores
almond self-enclosed and growing sweet
all this universe, to the furthest stars
and beyond them, is your flesh, your fruit.
Now you feel how nothing clings to you;
your vast shell reaches into endless space,
and there the rich, thick fluids rise and flow.
Illuminated in your infinite peace,
a billion stars go spinning through the night,
blazing high above your head.
But in you is the presence that
will be, when all the stars are dead.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
1875 - 1926
In the early part of the 20th century, an obscure (at the time) German poet also took a moment from his busy day to contemplate the Buddha. Enjoy!
BUDDHA IN GLORY
Center of all centers, core of cores
almond self-enclosed and growing sweet
all this universe, to the furthest stars
and beyond them, is your flesh, your fruit.
Now you feel how nothing clings to you;
your vast shell reaches into endless space,
and there the rich, thick fluids rise and flow.
Illuminated in your infinite peace,
a billion stars go spinning through the night,
blazing high above your head.
But in you is the presence that
will be, when all the stars are dead.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
1875 - 1926
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
And I am thankful for.....
1) My health: It's good in a world of other possibilities! I have a doctor who's known me since 1994. A man who's become more than a physician; he's also a friend. [And since I just found out that a dear cousin has been told that he only has 3 months to live (when will doctors STOP playing "god"?), health has suddenly taken on a new awareness in my life.]
2) My friends: many and diverse over the years, and in some ways few and precious. Each a gem whatever their longevity and carat!
3) My home: a gift....a sanctuary.
4) My nation: How could I have ever become me any place else?
1) My health: It's good in a world of other possibilities! I have a doctor who's known me since 1994. A man who's become more than a physician; he's also a friend. [And since I just found out that a dear cousin has been told that he only has 3 months to live (when will doctors STOP playing "god"?), health has suddenly taken on a new awareness in my life.]
2) My friends: many and diverse over the years, and in some ways few and precious. Each a gem whatever their longevity and carat!
3) My home: a gift....a sanctuary.
4) My nation: How could I have ever become me any place else?
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Priceless Photo!
Is his expression based on where his opponent's head is "locked," or did he just get caught spanking the boy?! Whatever, wrestling is so GAY!
And here's a story to support the premise.... I had a dear friend in college who actually married my best friend from high school after I introduced them...paint me "cupid". She is absolutely one of the most extroverted and fun-loving people I have ever known.
One day we were at a local mall in Central Kentucky and we ran into a friend of her younger brother. He hadn't seen him in years and so engaged my friend in conversation as to where he was in his life, and then he went into a veritable homage to their friendship and rivalry as wrestlers on opposing teams. He said things like, "He was the best wrestler. He was so quick, and I just couldn't get out of his grip. He was both firm and gentle with me, a real pro! I almost enjoyed being pinned....."
The joke was that this testosterone emoting young man was praising her GAY brother. We didn't have the heart nor even felt that it was our place to connect the dots.
And here's a story to support the premise.... I had a dear friend in college who actually married my best friend from high school after I introduced them...paint me "cupid". She is absolutely one of the most extroverted and fun-loving people I have ever known.
One day we were at a local mall in Central Kentucky and we ran into a friend of her younger brother. He hadn't seen him in years and so engaged my friend in conversation as to where he was in his life, and then he went into a veritable homage to their friendship and rivalry as wrestlers on opposing teams. He said things like, "He was the best wrestler. He was so quick, and I just couldn't get out of his grip. He was both firm and gentle with me, a real pro! I almost enjoyed being pinned....."
The joke was that this testosterone emoting young man was praising her GAY brother. We didn't have the heart nor even felt that it was our place to connect the dots.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
This Old House #15
Having established the pathway, the work for spring now enters a critical phase. I need to remove all of the surrounding ground cover and plant the dozens of bulbs ...
The photos from next spring ought to be amazing!
The photos from next spring ought to be amazing!
This Old House #14
Took advantage of the relatively nice autumn day to lay in the path to the back entrance to the sunroom. And did it right.
Dug out the path, established the stepping stones, lined it with thick plastic: And THEN laid down the edging, the stepping stones, and the pebble filler in between. It's really a classic case of better planning = a more perfect result.
Dug out the path, established the stepping stones, lined it with thick plastic: And THEN laid down the edging, the stepping stones, and the pebble filler in between. It's really a classic case of better planning = a more perfect result.
Friday, November 16, 2007
What I'm Watching #116
Dear boys, dear me! Where to begin with "Dear Boys"?
It's a Dutch film made in 1980. it's called a "gay classic"; and frankly, I don't bother to consider any film made after 1965 as a classic anything! So the only Gay classic in my book is "The Wizard of Oz!"
One description says that the story is "outrageous". And that works for me. It's a completely fucked-up story with bizaar characters who behave in inexplicable ways for reasons that are never articulated. There's a splash of stereo-typical archetypes; but even they make no sense. It's a film made on hasheesh. And that's the only reasonable explanation for it. It's as odd and esoteric as a turn of the century Russian film by Tarkovsky, or a work by the Italian film maker, Pasolini.
Honestly, ZERO stars.....
It's a Dutch film made in 1980. it's called a "gay classic"; and frankly, I don't bother to consider any film made after 1965 as a classic anything! So the only Gay classic in my book is "The Wizard of Oz!"
One description says that the story is "outrageous". And that works for me. It's a completely fucked-up story with bizaar characters who behave in inexplicable ways for reasons that are never articulated. There's a splash of stereo-typical archetypes; but even they make no sense. It's a film made on hasheesh. And that's the only reasonable explanation for it. It's as odd and esoteric as a turn of the century Russian film by Tarkovsky, or a work by the Italian film maker, Pasolini.
Honestly, ZERO stars.....
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
What I'm Watching #115
"Close to Leo" is the English title given to this French film. The better translation of the original a mon avis is "All About Leo" (Tout Countre Leo), but be that as it may, it's a film that really struggles for a focus.
Do we follow the story of Leo? At 21, the eldest of 4 sons in a family that is compassionate and accepting of his homosexuality. A family that even accepts his discovery of his HIV + status.
OR do we focus our attention on 12 year old Marcel, the youngest. Who is kept in the dark as to Leo's condition, but who knows and festers a strong resentment over his exclusion.
In the end Marcel persists in his knowledge; and Leo persues a self-destructive and successful trajectory that makes absolutely no sense given his loving family (and the generous public healthcare system in France!).....
This is a touching, emotive, and confusing film -- you know, it's French!
Do we follow the story of Leo? At 21, the eldest of 4 sons in a family that is compassionate and accepting of his homosexuality. A family that even accepts his discovery of his HIV + status.
OR do we focus our attention on 12 year old Marcel, the youngest. Who is kept in the dark as to Leo's condition, but who knows and festers a strong resentment over his exclusion.
In the end Marcel persists in his knowledge; and Leo persues a self-destructive and successful trajectory that makes absolutely no sense given his loving family (and the generous public healthcare system in France!).....
This is a touching, emotive, and confusing film -- you know, it's French!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Sunroom Interior 01
While the work continues on finishing the interior of the sunroom, my plants have begun the process of acclimating themselves to this winter haven.
C. has figured out the best way to hang the porch swing and promises to come by one day this week to complete the work.
Looking forward to relaxing amidst the flora in the full view of winter...
C. has figured out the best way to hang the porch swing and promises to come by one day this week to complete the work.
Looking forward to relaxing amidst the flora in the full view of winter...
Friday, November 09, 2007
Our Latest American Hero #105
Army Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis, 34, of Anchorage, Alaska; assigned to the 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Nov. 5 in Tal Al-Dahab, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her Humvee during combat operations.
"Alaskan Among Fort Drum Soldiers Killed In Iraq"
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Staff Sgt. Carletta Davis’s mother said her daughter seemed to sense something might go wrong this time when she was deployed again to Iraq.
Before she deployed, “She visited people she didn’t normally visit, I think because she knew something,” said Lavada Napier.
Davis, 34, who grew up in Anchorage, was one of two Alaskans killed Nov. 5 when a roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee in Tal Al-Dahab, Iraq.
Davis, who graduated as Carletta Ward from East High School in 1991, joined the Army in 1994. She hoped to become a physician’s assistant when her military career ended, her mother said in a telephone interview from her home in Fairbanks.
As a flight medic, Davis spent much of her adult life in harm’s way. Besides the deployments to Iraq, she served six months in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1996-97 and a year in South Korea in 2002.
“It was hard, but she said ‘Hey, I’ve gotta do it,’ ” said Davis’ mother. “She didn’t never worry. She just didn’t like the fact she was going for a third time.”
Napier and her daughter spent six weeks together after Davis returned from her second Iraq tour in 2004-05.
“I said, ‘Tell me how that was.’ She says, ‘Mama, the children over there are like grown people. They’re doing things that adults would be doing. When one of them gets injured, they don’t even show pain on their face. They just hold the limb that has been severed.’
“She says it’s like the Twilight Zone. It’s like looking at a movie. Your emotions are so paralyzed once you see so much death. You just try to rescue who you can in the equipment you are in. She said that was the most hurtful thing — so many people needing help.”
"Alaskan Among Fort Drum Soldiers Killed In Iraq"
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Staff Sgt. Carletta Davis’s mother said her daughter seemed to sense something might go wrong this time when she was deployed again to Iraq.
Before she deployed, “She visited people she didn’t normally visit, I think because she knew something,” said Lavada Napier.
Davis, 34, who grew up in Anchorage, was one of two Alaskans killed Nov. 5 when a roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee in Tal Al-Dahab, Iraq.
Davis, who graduated as Carletta Ward from East High School in 1991, joined the Army in 1994. She hoped to become a physician’s assistant when her military career ended, her mother said in a telephone interview from her home in Fairbanks.
As a flight medic, Davis spent much of her adult life in harm’s way. Besides the deployments to Iraq, she served six months in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1996-97 and a year in South Korea in 2002.
“It was hard, but she said ‘Hey, I’ve gotta do it,’ ” said Davis’ mother. “She didn’t never worry. She just didn’t like the fact she was going for a third time.”
Napier and her daughter spent six weeks together after Davis returned from her second Iraq tour in 2004-05.
“I said, ‘Tell me how that was.’ She says, ‘Mama, the children over there are like grown people. They’re doing things that adults would be doing. When one of them gets injured, they don’t even show pain on their face. They just hold the limb that has been severed.’
“She says it’s like the Twilight Zone. It’s like looking at a movie. Your emotions are so paralyzed once you see so much death. You just try to rescue who you can in the equipment you are in. She said that was the most hurtful thing — so many people needing help.”
Sunday, November 04, 2007
What I'm Watching #114
Is a wonderful movie about a man who is trapped by his own sweetness in a sexual identity conundrum. It's punctuated by much witty reparté! And a storyline that overrules the mediocre production values. (a par with a film like "slutty summer")
Also, as a gay man who once fell in love with a straight man; and who has now forged a tender friendship with that man of 25 years, I can relate to the angst in this film all the way around.
Worth the time, especially on an evening when a little distraction is appreciated.
Also, as a gay man who once fell in love with a straight man; and who has now forged a tender friendship with that man of 25 years, I can relate to the angst in this film all the way around.
Worth the time, especially on an evening when a little distraction is appreciated.
This Old House #13
Ta-Dum!
The exterior of the Sun Room is finally done! The ornamentation painted in greens and corals looks really nice (too bad the sun glare made part of it look white--strange).
The interior is still a work in progress, but I'm almost done with sealing the floor with a glossy finish. And I've been painting the door to the livingroom, but still have about two coats to go. The palate will be red, white, and blue. The red favors a burgundy wine/brick tone, and the two shades of blue will draw from the blue tiles in the floor. The trim will be in a semi-gloss white, meant to reflect light and hopefully allow the room to look larger....
C. plans to return one day this week to mount the swing and collect the rest of his tools.
The exterior of the Sun Room is finally done! The ornamentation painted in greens and corals looks really nice (too bad the sun glare made part of it look white--strange).
The interior is still a work in progress, but I'm almost done with sealing the floor with a glossy finish. And I've been painting the door to the livingroom, but still have about two coats to go. The palate will be red, white, and blue. The red favors a burgundy wine/brick tone, and the two shades of blue will draw from the blue tiles in the floor. The trim will be in a semi-gloss white, meant to reflect light and hopefully allow the room to look larger....
C. plans to return one day this week to mount the swing and collect the rest of his tools.
This Old House #12
Here is the back of the new Sun Room. The steps lead to a series of stone slabs that lead to an arcing sidewalk. I'm planning to redesign the entire space into a new garden featuring field stones and over a hundred bulbs of Tulips, Daffodils, Narcissus, Muscari, and Hyacinths in various shades of cream, yellow, purple, maroon and white.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
What I'm Listening To #31
"eastmountainsouth" is Kat Maslich and Peter Adams. This CD was their debut tome back in 2003, and as far as I can tell it's a one hit wonder.
An amazing duet whose music resonnates deeply with me. I love to crank the volume and match pitch with either of them. It creates a vibration within my chest that's nearly orgasmic in it's elative qualities.
Packed with songs; nay, stories, sung in a way that grabs your heart and blesses your soul. From a stunning rendition of the traditional folk tune "Hard Times" as it's first track to the beneficent tidings found in "Mark's Song," there is such a rich tapestry of music in this one work of art. I can't imagine why these two gifted artists aren't super stars!
An amazing duet whose music resonnates deeply with me. I love to crank the volume and match pitch with either of them. It creates a vibration within my chest that's nearly orgasmic in it's elative qualities.
Packed with songs; nay, stories, sung in a way that grabs your heart and blesses your soul. From a stunning rendition of the traditional folk tune "Hard Times" as it's first track to the beneficent tidings found in "Mark's Song," there is such a rich tapestry of music in this one work of art. I can't imagine why these two gifted artists aren't super stars!
October Casualty Statistics
The trend is looking much better. We've clearly entered into a period of relative calm in Iraq. Things are heating up in Afghanistan, but the cumulative effect is still a dramatic decrease in casualties of American soldiers for the month of October.
October's History of Military Casualties:
2003 - 44
2004 - 64
2005 - 96
2006 - 110
2007 - 49
Over time October has defined itself as one of the deadliest months, which makes this October's statistics all the more dramatic and welcome. Let us hope and pray that more than just a lull in the conflict, we are witness to a shift in the trend of violence and destruction.
October's History of Military Casualties:
2003 - 44
2004 - 64
2005 - 96
2006 - 110
2007 - 49
Over time October has defined itself as one of the deadliest months, which makes this October's statistics all the more dramatic and welcome. Let us hope and pray that more than just a lull in the conflict, we are witness to a shift in the trend of violence and destruction.
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