Yesterday I firmed up an arrangement with a local high school specializing in the arts whereby I will be coaching three acting students preparing to audition for summer stock work. The auditions are scheduled for the spring.
I have worked with this school before. A common problem I find in public and private schools where drama is a featured subject is the lack of understanding about acting in general. The approach is about Affecting a posture, attitude or emotion and learning how to connect the dots throughout a play or, in this case, a monologue.
I trained as a classical actor. I work from the outside in or the inside out, depending on the rol and the time I have to prepare for performance. But what I always do is work from the inner core, ask why this and why that in terms of what my character is doing. This seems to be a foreign concept in the typical drama class I have participated in as an artist-in-residence. It's frustrating because the foundation these aspiring actors are getting doesn't do them any good. Of course, maybe that's why I was hired to come and assist these students select and prepare monologues. I start this assignment the beginning of next year.
One thing I hope to have is a chance to get more involved in the secondary school programs teaching acting as a craft and also as a life skill for those who are not planning to go near a stage outside of class. The technique is the same: reach inside and figure out how and why a character behaves the way she does or thinks the way he does. You do that as a professional actor and in the real world you do that in personal and professional relationships in order to strengthen your communication and understanding of those around you.
Whatever the challenge, it's always refreshing to get around such young, unspoiled energy and talk to them about craft and see how they progress with newly acquired skills. It's so very rewarding when you are able to throw out the gunk and replace it with a solid foundation for working and thinking as an actor.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Erasing bad memories a good thing? Possible?
I read a report today that a pill is in development which may be able to erase bad memories in the human brain. I'm simplifying the statement here, of course, but the concept is fascinating. Even if the recall were erased, unresolved issues, resentment and anger all stemming from memories of a bad situation rest in our very bones. Even if you managed to put a bad memory out of your immediate conscious, it has burrowed itself into your soul. How do you erase that? And, even if you could, should you?
A bad situation doesn't necessarily have nothing to offer. We don't see it at the time. The old saying what doesn't kill makes you stronger is certainly true. Adversity tests our mettle. Life isn't about avoiding obstacles and unhappiness but learning how to cope and make your way down the path in a way that makes you most happy. I don't think it is possibly to completely eradicate from the body a bad memory.
I often wonder why I have certain recurring dreams. I have had them for years.
One of the recurring dreams stems from a declaration my mother made back when the Gulf War was going on. She was fearful that my brother Chris would be drafted. She told him (and me) that if Chris were drafted to serve in the conflict, she would move heaven and hell to see that he got immediate and safe transport to Canada to live. "I will not let my son risk his life in a politician's war," she told us. That's how she viewed that conflict and how she views the current conflictin Iraq as well. For some reason, I keep dreaming that Chris was drafted and Mom (and Dad) hurriedly moved him north across the border. Then I couldn't find them. I wake up with a start and wonder if the dream was real. It seems fresh each time I have it.
I wonder if having this recurring dream will create an artificial bad memory? I wasn't particularly worried when Mom told Chris she would pay his way to Canada to avoid being drafted. It's not as if Canada were on some other planet. So I am at a loss as to why I have this dream and it's always upsetting because I can't find my family when I go look for them.
Does some bad memory that I don't recall but is buried in my bone marrow somewhere cause me to have this recurring dream?
A bad situation doesn't necessarily have nothing to offer. We don't see it at the time. The old saying what doesn't kill makes you stronger is certainly true. Adversity tests our mettle. Life isn't about avoiding obstacles and unhappiness but learning how to cope and make your way down the path in a way that makes you most happy. I don't think it is possibly to completely eradicate from the body a bad memory.
I often wonder why I have certain recurring dreams. I have had them for years.
One of the recurring dreams stems from a declaration my mother made back when the Gulf War was going on. She was fearful that my brother Chris would be drafted. She told him (and me) that if Chris were drafted to serve in the conflict, she would move heaven and hell to see that he got immediate and safe transport to Canada to live. "I will not let my son risk his life in a politician's war," she told us. That's how she viewed that conflict and how she views the current conflictin Iraq as well. For some reason, I keep dreaming that Chris was drafted and Mom (and Dad) hurriedly moved him north across the border. Then I couldn't find them. I wake up with a start and wonder if the dream was real. It seems fresh each time I have it.
I wonder if having this recurring dream will create an artificial bad memory? I wasn't particularly worried when Mom told Chris she would pay his way to Canada to avoid being drafted. It's not as if Canada were on some other planet. So I am at a loss as to why I have this dream and it's always upsetting because I can't find my family when I go look for them.
Does some bad memory that I don't recall but is buried in my bone marrow somewhere cause me to have this recurring dream?
Sunday, November 26, 2006
The Joy of Holiday Shopping
For the past few years, I have done the majority of my Christmas shopping online. One of the things I disliked about living in New York City and the holidays in general is the constant swarm of people everywhere. My patience for waiting in lines and trying to negotiate my way around a store, sidewalk or street is below zero. By the end of the journey I'm wild with irritation and ready to give Santa the finger.
So I don't do all that anymore. I shop online.
I used to not give gift certificates as gifts because I was told it implied that you couldn't be bothered shopping for a gift for that individual. I don't believe that to be true. I love receiving gift certificates to Best Buy, Circuit City, Pier Imports and other favorite stores because I almost always have a plan to purchase something there in the near future. So I'm careful about whom I give certificates or gift cards to in the event they feel slighted by the lack of a more personal touch. Maybe if I give the certificate and simultaneously hug the individual that might be enough to add the personal touch.
Or maybe not.
Fortunately too, I have family and friends who do not believe that gifts have to be given/received on Christmas Day itself to mean anything. The holiday season starts in late November and goes through the New Year. I like it like that.
I like it even better that I have high speed internet and can do my shopping while sitting in my pajamas.
Where is my gift card to the fish store?
So I don't do all that anymore. I shop online.
I used to not give gift certificates as gifts because I was told it implied that you couldn't be bothered shopping for a gift for that individual. I don't believe that to be true. I love receiving gift certificates to Best Buy, Circuit City, Pier Imports and other favorite stores because I almost always have a plan to purchase something there in the near future. So I'm careful about whom I give certificates or gift cards to in the event they feel slighted by the lack of a more personal touch. Maybe if I give the certificate and simultaneously hug the individual that might be enough to add the personal touch.
Or maybe not.
Fortunately too, I have family and friends who do not believe that gifts have to be given/received on Christmas Day itself to mean anything. The holiday season starts in late November and goes through the New Year. I like it like that.
I like it even better that I have high speed internet and can do my shopping while sitting in my pajamas.
Where is my gift card to the fish store?
Friday, November 24, 2006
Carroll O'Connor
For about five years, I enjoyed an email correspondence with actor Carroll O'Connor. I met him on an Irish history group of all places. He set up his own political discussion forum (he was very much to the left politically) around 1996 and today it is still going strong in spite of his passing in 2001. I am one of the moderators. A member of the O'Connor family emailed me to say that Mrs. O'Connor (Nancy, Carroll's widow) took a nasty fall and was pretty much isolated now. She is, I believe, around 80 and obviously when you take a bad fall as she did, you don't recover from it. I asked the O'Connor family if sending cards and letters wishing her well and wishing her a happy birthday on December 13th would be appropriate. The answer came back: YES!
So if you are/were a fan of Carroll O'Connor's, please take a moment and send this lady a note. It can be very lonely when you are sick and not able to get around anymore. Thanks. The information is below. If you want to come on the site and talk politics and other current events, please come visit at http://www.network54.com/Forum/79406/
So if you are/were a fan of Carroll O'Connor's, please take a moment and send this lady a note. It can be very lonely when you are sick and not able to get around anymore. Thanks. The information is below. If you want to come on the site and talk politics and other current events, please come visit at http://www.network54.com/Forum/79406/
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Thursday, November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!
I had dinner over at my mom's earlier today with mom, my brother, Chris, and Kay. It was nice having a smaller get together this time. The food and dessert were delicious, as always. Mom tried a few new things with the stuffing and turkey. We played some cards afterwards.
We were supposed to have a noreaster. We had a lot of rain and some wind but nothing like what was expected. The phone lines got messed up a bit with the high winds and there was flooding. I slept for most of the day.
The best news is that I have sealed a deal to produce DVDs and CDs in a project that I will announce in detail later. I'm very excited about it.
This evening I will amuse myself sitting in front of the fire and watching the Forensic Files marathon.
We were supposed to have a noreaster. We had a lot of rain and some wind but nothing like what was expected. The phone lines got messed up a bit with the high winds and there was flooding. I slept for most of the day.
The best news is that I have sealed a deal to produce DVDs and CDs in a project that I will announce in detail later. I'm very excited about it.
This evening I will amuse myself sitting in front of the fire and watching the Forensic Files marathon.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
An incident goes unnoticed . .
Still in recovery.
Today I sneezed so hard I blew my freckles off.
Ever try to recover freckles when it's windy out?
It ain't easy.
Today I sneezed so hard I blew my freckles off.
Ever try to recover freckles when it's windy out?
It ain't easy.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Bullshit, Inc.
The latest member is comedian Michael Richards who lost his cool while being heckled during his set. The hecklers were black. Richards cut lose with racial epithets and now, predictably, the day after we get an apology. Ok, but he then goes on to say that he is not a "bigot" and that's what's "so insane" about all this.
Enough already. If you are a bigot at least stand up and say so. Have the balls to stand behind your miscontrued perceptions about members of a race other than your own.
I have had arguments with black people, Asian people, gay people and a host of others whose difference from me was evident. I never once, even in the state of extreme pissiness (and I can get very pissy in a full-tilt boogie rage) did I ever call them a name relating to their race or sexual orientation. Not once. It was easy not to do because the thought never occurred to me.
If you lash out easily with such words on your tongue, you've thought about it plenty.
Michael Richards is full of shit. And he can't even be a man about it.
Enough already. If you are a bigot at least stand up and say so. Have the balls to stand behind your miscontrued perceptions about members of a race other than your own.
I have had arguments with black people, Asian people, gay people and a host of others whose difference from me was evident. I never once, even in the state of extreme pissiness (and I can get very pissy in a full-tilt boogie rage) did I ever call them a name relating to their race or sexual orientation. Not once. It was easy not to do because the thought never occurred to me.
If you lash out easily with such words on your tongue, you've thought about it plenty.
Michael Richards is full of shit. And he can't even be a man about it.
Can your pneumonia walk?
Mine can. It has all over my body. "Walking" pneumonia its called. It can level your ass very quickly.
I am a recent victim and have spent most of the past week sleeping in my effort to dislodge the relentless grip this thing has had on me. My lungs are inflamed. It hurts to cough which is rather often. It hurts to sit up for too long. It hurts to be.
Many of the worst symptoms have started to take flight to go torture someone else but I still feel like an overused punching bag. Back to bed I go after drinking a nice cold glass of orange juice (not from concentrate).
That's why the blog has been lacking for awhile.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Mumsy Scores With Folks
I wrote a few days ago about my mother's job loss and what appeared to be the end of the only real hobby she has: travelling. It would also mark the end of doing something she loves. Five days a week this 74 year old, arthritic woman who takes meds that make her tired, puts in an eight hour day.
That has not gone unappreciated or unnoticed. Mom has since found out that a couple of the big whigs are pitching for her to find a job at one of the companies to whom her work is being outsourced. This company has hired other laid off employees of Mom's current company. Phone calls have been made, informal meetings held and Mom has been told for the time being to sit back and wait for results. I am very happy for her.
It's been a day of scoring information for me as well. I purchased a book written by poet and lecturer Amy Holman on MFA Creative Writing programs throughout the world and found several that would suit my needs. I'm quite excited about this. Part of me still wants to get that MFA in Theater but the reality is I would need a rich husband or generous boyfriend or a way to take that MFA without having to work. That MFA requires either being in rehearsal for a play or being in a play constantly. Days and evenings. Weekends. All plays all the time.
So we'll just have to see where all of this leaves us.
That has not gone unappreciated or unnoticed. Mom has since found out that a couple of the big whigs are pitching for her to find a job at one of the companies to whom her work is being outsourced. This company has hired other laid off employees of Mom's current company. Phone calls have been made, informal meetings held and Mom has been told for the time being to sit back and wait for results. I am very happy for her.
It's been a day of scoring information for me as well. I purchased a book written by poet and lecturer Amy Holman on MFA Creative Writing programs throughout the world and found several that would suit my needs. I'm quite excited about this. Part of me still wants to get that MFA in Theater but the reality is I would need a rich husband or generous boyfriend or a way to take that MFA without having to work. That MFA requires either being in rehearsal for a play or being in a play constantly. Days and evenings. Weekends. All plays all the time.
So we'll just have to see where all of this leaves us.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Knuckleheads . . . you are being paged . . .
Time to go, ho ho ho
And the first to go as a result of the bruising republicans took on election was Knucklehead No. 2 of the Bush administration. The obstinate, arrogant "we will stay the course" Rumsfeld is history. Just post-9/11 and declarations from him that the insurgents were "on the run," here we are some 1700 American deaths later apparently still watching the insurgents run and getting our people killed in the process.
What's wrong with this picture?
Well, there's only one thing missing now. My reaction.
Dems The Breaks - Cowboys on the Way Out
It's absolutely delicious.
Finally, finally enough people have let it sink in that our current presidential administration has lied to us about the reasons we went into Iraq. Baby Bush wanted to finish what Daddy could not. Well-respected military leaders have faulted the war. We went into Iraq with no other plan but to ride horses with both pistols drawn shooting at hellish figures.
No doubt Saddam Hussein is a hellish figure. If he were the only evil existence I would have less problem with taking him down but our government does business on a daily basis with countries whose leaders are no better. But we don't invade their country. It is not in our best interest to do so.
It is, however, our best interest to set up shop in the great oil fields. Oil is there. Weapons of mass destruction are not there YET that is supposedly why we went into Iraq in the first place.
But then the denseness of Bush should surprise no one. This is a man governing the great state of Texas and allowing record-setting number of executions. Texas remains one of the states with a very high murder rate so obviously the idea of deterring people from murder hasn't worked. Punishment? Revenge? Okay. Be honest about it at least. Punishment and revenge is what drives this president. There were scores to settle from the Gulf War.
The bottom line is that our government cannot find a 6 foot Osma bin Laden, on kidney dialysis (how many electric sockets can there be in Afghanastan?) and covered with a sheet.
Invading a country perceived to be connected with bin Laden and run by evil people is the next best step and keeps people from asking questions unless they want to be branded as a traitor for asking questions.
We are still in Iraq and there is not one shred of evidence weapons of mass destruction are anywhere in that country.
What did our men and women die for?
A legacy in the making? A legacy to be hoped for? What??
It's clear that Americans are fed up with the cowboys and want to send them packing. They are an embarrassment.
Finally, finally enough people have let it sink in that our current presidential administration has lied to us about the reasons we went into Iraq. Baby Bush wanted to finish what Daddy could not. Well-respected military leaders have faulted the war. We went into Iraq with no other plan but to ride horses with both pistols drawn shooting at hellish figures.
No doubt Saddam Hussein is a hellish figure. If he were the only evil existence I would have less problem with taking him down but our government does business on a daily basis with countries whose leaders are no better. But we don't invade their country. It is not in our best interest to do so.
It is, however, our best interest to set up shop in the great oil fields. Oil is there. Weapons of mass destruction are not there YET that is supposedly why we went into Iraq in the first place.
But then the denseness of Bush should surprise no one. This is a man governing the great state of Texas and allowing record-setting number of executions. Texas remains one of the states with a very high murder rate so obviously the idea of deterring people from murder hasn't worked. Punishment? Revenge? Okay. Be honest about it at least. Punishment and revenge is what drives this president. There were scores to settle from the Gulf War.
The bottom line is that our government cannot find a 6 foot Osma bin Laden, on kidney dialysis (how many electric sockets can there be in Afghanastan?) and covered with a sheet.
Invading a country perceived to be connected with bin Laden and run by evil people is the next best step and keeps people from asking questions unless they want to be branded as a traitor for asking questions.
We are still in Iraq and there is not one shred of evidence weapons of mass destruction are anywhere in that country.
What did our men and women die for?
A legacy in the making? A legacy to be hoped for? What??
It's clear that Americans are fed up with the cowboys and want to send them packing. They are an embarrassment.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Reality Check
My 74 year old mother retired from a very large chemical company a decade ago but continued to work for them as a contractor. The pay was very good in exchange for her specialist type job which is inventory and reconciling invoices and troubleshooting problems concerning shipments and warehouses. This additional income has enabled my mother to go on nice vacations every year, usually Europe, and fulfill her lifelong dream of travelling. She wants to do it while she still feels good and is relatively free of aches, pains and illness.
Yesterday, Mom's entire department (including contractors) were told that their jobs will be gone come the 3rd quarter (June of 2007). The company is outsourcing the customer service department (which she is associated with) to another country - India, I think. The projected move is believed to be a disaster in the making.
My mother's idea of a disaster right now is believing her extra income allowing her trips and other excursions is gone. Will she be able to find a temp job elsewhere that pays as well as this one? The agency that handles Mom's association with the company told her that customer service positions are always in demand and there are never enough candidates to fill the position. However, the kind of positions they are talking about are, Mom believes, the ones that pay between $9-13 dollars an hour. That's a lot, lot less than what Mom made. I have told Mom she can do compile information on her own about companies in the area and their "traffic" to see if there are opportunities to hire herself out there at a higher rate than the agency might get.
There is also the possibility that someone Mom knows and has worked with at this company will find a place for her.
Mom is nowhere ready to give up working. She loves what she does and she loves the income that affords her travelling expenses. Mom's biggest dream is to go to China. Basic flights to the Orient start at $1400 round trip but if you want to still have feeling in your legs after the 21-24 hour flight, you want to upgrade and have more comfortable accomodations. That probably runs $2500 for a roundtrip ticket. The very nice seats go for $5,000 at least.
In spite of all the possibilities, Mom can't feel anything but sadness right now which is understandable. She has strong ties to the company - spanning over three decades - friends there and it's difficult for her to think about that not being a part of her everyday life anymore. So many of her friends who still work at the company and those who retired showed up for my father's funeral and she was very touched by that. These co-workers have meant a lot to her.
Mom is very aware of how lucky she has been. She went back into the workforce after my brother and I were in school. Well-read, knowledgeable about current affairs and quick-witted, it was not a surprise that she got high marks from all her supervisors over the years. The return to work made it possible for her to now enjoy money she didn't have before. She certainly didn't have any of it growing up - just the bare essentials. There are plenty of people worse off than my mother.
But she asks for little. The one thing she loves to do is travel. She does not pour money into much else. The one thing she loves to do and finally has been able to do might be out of her reach and that's a depressing thought. Day after day in spite of having arthritis and taking medication that makes her tired, Mom puts in an 8 hour day, five days a week. She enjoys the work, as I said earlier, but knowing there would be grand things to see on a splendid vacation was a big motivator. I only hope for her sake that other opportunities came to be. She was laid off once before years ago and was picked back up in another department within a week of her departure. Let's hope for that again.
Mom does know that company's reach out to older workers (as in over 65) for their reliability and experience. This would be, of course, as a contractor. She is hoping this will really happen. Right now, the bad news is still fresh and the fear of not knowing what is going to happen is hard to shake off.
And today very important elections are being held. Can anyone of them influence the millionaires who run companies to not take away jobs from loyal workers and outsource them to other countries? Can we afford to have immigrants come into this country when we cannot even keep jobs for loyal native workers? These are questions to ask. They are hard to answer. Everyone has the right to pursue a dream and a better way to live.
My mother deserves a chance to live out the golden years as she wishes and remain active, chasing after nice vacations or whatever pleases her. What can any of these politicians do for folks like my mother? I grew up in a middle class home but my parents still did without little extras for themselves to ensure my brother and I had advantages they did not. This included college. They insisted we go to college and I'm glad they did. But in doing so, they could not afford to go on many fun trips and do the occasional expensive thing.
Now my mother sees her continued opportunities slipping away with fickle company decisions who make the workers pay through the nose for the bigger, more disasterious mistakes they made causing the company's management to scramble to cut out this and that to find solvency.
And it doesn't matter who gets in the way or what dreams are killed in the process.
Yesterday, Mom's entire department (including contractors) were told that their jobs will be gone come the 3rd quarter (June of 2007). The company is outsourcing the customer service department (which she is associated with) to another country - India, I think. The projected move is believed to be a disaster in the making.
My mother's idea of a disaster right now is believing her extra income allowing her trips and other excursions is gone. Will she be able to find a temp job elsewhere that pays as well as this one? The agency that handles Mom's association with the company told her that customer service positions are always in demand and there are never enough candidates to fill the position. However, the kind of positions they are talking about are, Mom believes, the ones that pay between $9-13 dollars an hour. That's a lot, lot less than what Mom made. I have told Mom she can do compile information on her own about companies in the area and their "traffic" to see if there are opportunities to hire herself out there at a higher rate than the agency might get.
There is also the possibility that someone Mom knows and has worked with at this company will find a place for her.
Mom is nowhere ready to give up working. She loves what she does and she loves the income that affords her travelling expenses. Mom's biggest dream is to go to China. Basic flights to the Orient start at $1400 round trip but if you want to still have feeling in your legs after the 21-24 hour flight, you want to upgrade and have more comfortable accomodations. That probably runs $2500 for a roundtrip ticket. The very nice seats go for $5,000 at least.
In spite of all the possibilities, Mom can't feel anything but sadness right now which is understandable. She has strong ties to the company - spanning over three decades - friends there and it's difficult for her to think about that not being a part of her everyday life anymore. So many of her friends who still work at the company and those who retired showed up for my father's funeral and she was very touched by that. These co-workers have meant a lot to her.
Mom is very aware of how lucky she has been. She went back into the workforce after my brother and I were in school. Well-read, knowledgeable about current affairs and quick-witted, it was not a surprise that she got high marks from all her supervisors over the years. The return to work made it possible for her to now enjoy money she didn't have before. She certainly didn't have any of it growing up - just the bare essentials. There are plenty of people worse off than my mother.
But she asks for little. The one thing she loves to do is travel. She does not pour money into much else. The one thing she loves to do and finally has been able to do might be out of her reach and that's a depressing thought. Day after day in spite of having arthritis and taking medication that makes her tired, Mom puts in an 8 hour day, five days a week. She enjoys the work, as I said earlier, but knowing there would be grand things to see on a splendid vacation was a big motivator. I only hope for her sake that other opportunities came to be. She was laid off once before years ago and was picked back up in another department within a week of her departure. Let's hope for that again.
Mom does know that company's reach out to older workers (as in over 65) for their reliability and experience. This would be, of course, as a contractor. She is hoping this will really happen. Right now, the bad news is still fresh and the fear of not knowing what is going to happen is hard to shake off.
And today very important elections are being held. Can anyone of them influence the millionaires who run companies to not take away jobs from loyal workers and outsource them to other countries? Can we afford to have immigrants come into this country when we cannot even keep jobs for loyal native workers? These are questions to ask. They are hard to answer. Everyone has the right to pursue a dream and a better way to live.
My mother deserves a chance to live out the golden years as she wishes and remain active, chasing after nice vacations or whatever pleases her. What can any of these politicians do for folks like my mother? I grew up in a middle class home but my parents still did without little extras for themselves to ensure my brother and I had advantages they did not. This included college. They insisted we go to college and I'm glad they did. But in doing so, they could not afford to go on many fun trips and do the occasional expensive thing.
Now my mother sees her continued opportunities slipping away with fickle company decisions who make the workers pay through the nose for the bigger, more disasterious mistakes they made causing the company's management to scramble to cut out this and that to find solvency.
And it doesn't matter who gets in the way or what dreams are killed in the process.
Monday, November 06, 2006
A Blessed Event
My two dwarf hamsters had a litter of 5 pups 11 days ago. Man, can they squeak! They are on the verge of opening their eyes.
To the left you can see Ma and Pa Russian dwarf hamster. They are cute, inquisitive little things.
When the babies were born, this is what they look like.
I know, I know. A few people reading this will only see "rodents" rather than the new life of some very cute critters.
Well, you are cruel and heartless. You probably smell bad too.
This little guy had his eyes open but must be a little camera shy. He closed them again.
C'mon, admit it. You want one.
Friday, November 03, 2006
That Man Looks Like God!
When I was a little girl and going to church every Sunday, I tried to imagine what God looked like. What does a being who has always been around look like?
One day it came to me through the TV set.
God's face was the same as that of Johnny Cash. My attraction and fascination with men with dark, brooding looks started before I know what a hormone was, let alone did. But Johnny Cash's face and haunting voice captured my imagination. Wouldn't God be the brooding type? Aren't brooders and those of intense feeling dark looking? Intense?
Yes, of course.
One afternoon I went grocery shopping with my mother at the ACME and in the small record isle (vinyl records, kiddies) was a Johnny Cash album called San Quentin. All the record albums I had up to that point were educational or whimsical in nature. This would be my first important record purchase, that is if Mom would buy it for me. To my surprise, she did.
Music is said to capture the feeling of a soul that words cannot express. There is something about Johnny Cash's voice that represents feelings of mine. I've never heard anything else like it. I'm sorry that I never had a chance to see him in concert.
But that face. That craggy, weary face reflected my own view of what God looks like. Of course now as an adult my view is different - God doesn't have a face or gender - but Cash's influence on how I think a soul or spirit would sound in audible hasn't changed.
Even though the Man in Black is gone from this earth, he still has a lot of power over his fans and admirers including me.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Horrors
I love Halloween. Next to Christmas it is my favorite holiday. Two holidays deeply rooted in the Druid tradition.
One of the biggest perks for me in the weeks leading up to Halloween is the marathon of horror movies AMC runs. This year, the offering was less enticing in the past and the movies I didn't like tended to re-run several times throughout the day. The electic nature of past film choices was not reflected this go-round.
I do not mind a little blood and gore in my movies but nearly 2 hours of non-stop slashing from Jason or Michael Myers is more than I can stand. That's not very interesting. It's scary for a time but wears thin quickly. I had hoped the version of Dracula starring Jack Palance would be aired as I have not seen that in awhile but that didn't happen. They managed to air Plan 9 From Outer Space which is certainly a hoot but hardly satisfying the need for a good scare.
The best time I had with the Halloween movies was with the comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. It is one of my very favorite films. The interaction between the legendary comedians and the supernatural collective of Dracula, the Wolfman and Frankenstein's monster makes the time fly for the viewer.
The Exorcist remains, in my mind, the scariest film of all time and I was pleased to see that aired along with The Blair Witch Project. The BWT is an excellent example of how a limited budget combined with fantastic talent can make the Hollywood blockbusters appear to be standing still.
I still have more movies to watch so I can clear off my DVR. I am no where near done yet.
One of the biggest perks for me in the weeks leading up to Halloween is the marathon of horror movies AMC runs. This year, the offering was less enticing in the past and the movies I didn't like tended to re-run several times throughout the day. The electic nature of past film choices was not reflected this go-round.
I do not mind a little blood and gore in my movies but nearly 2 hours of non-stop slashing from Jason or Michael Myers is more than I can stand. That's not very interesting. It's scary for a time but wears thin quickly. I had hoped the version of Dracula starring Jack Palance would be aired as I have not seen that in awhile but that didn't happen. They managed to air Plan 9 From Outer Space which is certainly a hoot but hardly satisfying the need for a good scare.
The best time I had with the Halloween movies was with the comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. It is one of my very favorite films. The interaction between the legendary comedians and the supernatural collective of Dracula, the Wolfman and Frankenstein's monster makes the time fly for the viewer.
The Exorcist remains, in my mind, the scariest film of all time and I was pleased to see that aired along with The Blair Witch Project. The BWT is an excellent example of how a limited budget combined with fantastic talent can make the Hollywood blockbusters appear to be standing still.
I still have more movies to watch so I can clear off my DVR. I am no where near done yet.
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