Monday, July 25, 2011

One Day it Happened



In week 17, or as I am wont to say, Stardate 2011.17, the river rose and knocked out my water heater, but not my furnace. I was a lucky cat in more ways than one. One of the ways (let me count the ways, as Shakespeare would say) that fortune smiled on me was that I still had hot water in the cabin to take showers. No sweat!

Boiling water to do dishes was a pain (here I have to admit that I didn’t do them everyday), but they can pile up until nature forces your hand.

So today we do the reversal. Hot water in the main house, but no water in the cabin.

Not total victory, but today has me grinning from ear to ear!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

It Happened One Night


In 1934, It Happened One Night was filmed starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. I chanced upon the movie late one night, years ago on television. The last half was all I was able to see, but it stayed in my mind since that time. The writers for this movie did a fantastic job of telling their story around the strict censorship of the time. In fact, they

did so well writing between the lines, that the challenge of censorship raised the movie to a new level. The two stars woke up in a haystack and the dialogue that followed was so funny that it stayed with me years.

I was fortunate enough to review the movie last week on a dvd. The humorous scenes, that were the core of the movie, were totally removed. The writing finesse that happened one night was clipped during the day, when censorship casts but a light shadow.


Saturday, July 09, 2011

Calligraphy Day One

Yesterday, I pulled the plug on my cable tv, phone, and internet. The ladies at Charter never batted an eye for I am a regular guy and they know the routine. Upon returning home from the neighboring town, I quickly retrieved my new calligraphy kit, along with some parchment paper that I was quite anxious to use.

The next phase of my plan was to begin practicing the desired art by writing my daughters each a letter on this ancient paper. Right then and there, the plan fell apart. I couldn't figure out how to load the ink into this mighty fine pen! To save face, I took my fountain pen and attempted slow writing. I mailed the letters with the full knowledge that I have a lot to learn.


Thursday, July 07, 2011

Summer Rhythm

For weeks, it has been too close to call, but that has changed utterly! One solid week of temperatures over sixty compel me to shout out, summer is here! Want more proof ?
The tourists from the flatlands of lower Michigan have arrived, bringing with them their alternate sense of rhythm. The roadways now have the appearance of a game of lightning chess, as motorists scurry for favorable positions.
These changes are my cue it's time to learn calligraphy.


Saturday, July 02, 2011

Time & Place

The potlatch ceremony has been spontaneous in our family for years. This year marks a change.
Situation and Terrain are set for week 40 in Alabama. No straight jacket here with these liberal parameters.
The following song may appear to be a discordant element or stitched on as an after thought, but that isn't the case. Instead, it is random carried to a particular place and time where all chance is partly accident. In short, it just seemed the right time to listen.

Lawn Mow Lightning

Worked overtime cutting my lawn today. I really don't know why it made me think of trains and flowers. Perhaps it was because I procrastinated so long, and idle thoughts have a way of over riding practical considerations.