Saturday, May 05, 2007



My comments on the documentary, "My Flesh and Blood."



Ok, we all have problems, but this group is exceptional. Susan Tom is an interesting character. What moves someone to adopt 12 special needs kids when others have fall apart with one? Children without legs, having mental challanges and terminal illness are her brood of choice. I found the documentary to be immobilizing. All those thoughts on the suffering of mankind are brought back only to retreat bludgeoned to their place of safety. Suffering of this kind can only be understood by its victims. Empathy is only an intellectual enterprise here and yet the heart breaks.
In his life, Joe displayed the reality we must all face. His lashing out and fear are what we will all know. I salute him and know it will be the same for most of us.
Pragmatic and soulful is this adoptive mother. She most certainly has the love of her children. It doesn't matter what others think or feel, only so far as it affects her livelyhood and the level of medical care for her loved ones. Wrapping one's arms around a stranger in such selfish and selfless love is her daily fare. All love given to others is based on selfishness. There is a balance between the giving and the taking.
It's hard to watch but easy on the eyes. It must be seen.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

"Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops." Slaughterhouse Five

"Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand." Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut is dead. He fell and suffered brain injurys some weeks ago. He was 84. I have read numerous books by this fellow. His tales are wierd and convoluted. The combination is breathtaking and I need to read more. Seldom has a mind so convincingly produced genius. Like all others of his calibur, he is not universally accepted as the genius he is.

How can I forget "Ice-9"? The Dresden firebombing is as real as any moment in the day today. Kurt was there by accident and if there is anything learned from his novels, it is that all events are accidents. Hocus Pocus and Welcome to the Monkey House were both great adventures.

I salute you Kurt. Sleep well.

So it goes.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

The Garden of 2007. In an effort to continue the attempt to be more pro-life and pro clean... I decided to plant a garden. I'm hoping that the green growth will inspire more life oriented attitudes. Here you see the evolution of the garden from the cleanup of the ground to plant in, to the progress of the little plants we have installed.

First there was mowing followed by sifting some of the big rocks and gravel out of the soil. This area had gravel on it in years past. It took a while to rake and clear it, but it is done and we are on the way to a viable garden.

Steer manure has been the traditional fertilizer that we have used over the years. This was no exception. It was spread and then tilled in. Afterwards we planted the various vegetables bought at nurserys. These are Honeydew mellons.


Next to the Honeydews are the rows of corn to be. In front of the place there are tomato plants. Three to be exact, two Beef steak and one French Beef steak I believe. We started with manure there too.

The ground was ready to plant. Eventually the section looked like this. I have more to put on but not the time. Must go. Will do later.

Monday, March 26, 2007

The Last Mimzy was a kids movie. The special effects were done as well as any blockbuster film for the summer. To say the least they were integral to the plot
of the movie considering it was a SciFi effort. The child actors were proficient, the girl having the greater screen presence. Her eyes were electric. The boy looked like a Henry Thomas, of E.T. fame, clone.

The one actor who shined above all others was Kathryn Hahn. I've not seen her work elsewhere but would like to. I'll do some IMDB searching to find out her body of work. Kathryn held me transfixed in every one of her scenes. She was in awe of her surroundings just as the character should be. It was her efforts that sold the magical scenes of kids doing extraordinary things. She gets my vote for best in show.

The movie is more for kids than anyone else. I reccomend you DVD rental this one. Its not anything more than a nice fantasy for those able to suspend their disbelief. I liked it. I needed the break.

Friday, March 23, 2007






One thing you can say about my mom, she knew how to have a good time.




My motives for cleaning this property as I did are being questioned. I had expected that. That's just fine with me, I heard my Mom say thank you for what I did, that's what I did it for. Not for a pat on the back from my father who cannot see anything but threat from the slightest kindness.

Sadly, he thinks I don't love or care for him. It's not possible to make it known. A suspiscious mind is never satisfied with the truth.
FIRST: I want to thank my fine family for increasing the number of readers of my blog from two to at least four, maybe five.

In the last two weeks I've made an effort to keep my resolve to do what is in my power to make things more inviting hereabouts. A lot was done. All it takes is someone to take the initiative, and a little guilt, to motivate others. The good weather and a working chain saw helped!
Trees were trimmed and garbage taken to the dumps. A great change took place in the appearance of the grounds hereabouts. The result is a more relaxed feeling and a much better looking environ. It is such a change that most have suffered a shock at the disparity from what was, to what is.

I know that Mom would have been thrilled. I think we all feel that way. (Forgive me if some feel I speak for them in saying that, I fear I am too bold.)
This is a sight that hasn't been seen for over twenty years. Now that the huge
trailer belonging to my aunt is out of the way and the junk that was under it has been taken to the dumps or rearanged, the place looks more like it did in the 1980's when we moved here.


Three truck and trailer loads were taken to the dumps to accomplish this cleanup. It took me over an hour each time to unload it by myself. I expected to do it by myself so I wasn't surprised as I was watched with suspicious eyes. It doesn't matter, I have the satisfaction of knowing I got the ball rolling and did what I could. Talk is cheap. Action breeds action. We had some action around here this month and it was very beneficial.

I don't know that there is much more that can be done. Incedental things can be cleaned up here and there and I will make myself available. Beyond that, you faithful readers will have to guess at what comes next! You could always read into it and make shit up if you need to.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Here is a movie that was, for me, engrossing. I was taken under the spell of the story and its layerd unfolding. Hugh Jackman has become a true movie star in this film.

Nothing is more frustrating than to read reviews of a film that totally misrepresent it. They speak of this as a time travel film. Such idiocy is hard to comprehend. Where do they get that? It's one long allegory.


I won't spoil it. It isn't about time travel, we'll leave it at that. I would highly reccomend it to all.

Friday, March 09, 2007

I'm attempting to make my living space a little more user friendly. The trash I am surrounded with on all sides is a little draining. It is ugly and discloses a disheveled state of mind. It is the sad dumping ground of the unfinished project. Worse than that it is the land of the NEVER begun project. All the great deals and all the big plans are talk and no action. I want things to be more inviting and not so anti-life oriented.

There are often things you cannot fight, among them are the authority over you when it is unreasonable. I accept that and will not stress over it too much if possible. Now I need to just pull back and see things for what they are and not what I want them to be, unless of course it is within my power.