My friend Kootch has noted that I haven't blogged much lately and asked (somewhat facetiously, I think) if I've been busy.
Yes.
I've no doubt that many of us are busy at this time of year, and I can't tell you how much I look forward to tomorrow -- my last day at my day job!
I go to work in the morning, leave there early to go to One Act Play rehearsals, usually have someone who wants to talk to me (about costumes, or sets, or character, etc), then run home to pick up a child for Cub Scouts or Girl Scouts, or wrestling, or basketball, or I have a board meeting for one of the three boards I sit on, then home to help the kids finish up homework, get them in bed, and it's 9pm and I'm bushed. Usually I fall asleep on the couch watching television, to wake up about 3am when one of my boys has to go to the bathroom.
If I do happen to have an evening without obligation, I try very hard NOT to sit in front of my computer.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Monday, December 05, 2005
Death and the actress.
I received a phone call this morning from the woman who will be doing the costumes for the one act play that I am directing for my local high school. Aside from confirming our meeting for later in the day, she thought I ought to know that the student who is playing "Hermia" in our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream lost her father on Saturday to a self-inflicted gun shot.
I haven't been directing for the high school for long, but I had already learned to expect the unexpected and to be prepared for all kinds of strange situations, but I never imagined I'd have to deal with something like this.
I haven't been directing for the high school for long, but I had already learned to expect the unexpected and to be prepared for all kinds of strange situations, but I never imagined I'd have to deal with something like this.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
A prize for bad sex?
Sure enough, there exists an award for bad sex ... in literature. It's called the ... well, it's called The Bad Sex in Fiction Award. The purpose, it would seem (according to the BBC news), is "to draw attention to the crude, tasteless, often perfunctory use of redundant passages of sexual description in the modern novel, and to discourage it".
You can (and should) read the complete article by clicking here.
My vote would have gone to the author who actually wrote: "Oooh la - jolly well - la!"
You can (and should) read the complete article by clicking here.
My vote would have gone to the author who actually wrote: "Oooh la - jolly well - la!"
Friday, December 02, 2005
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Removing the millstone.
It's not been a secret that I couldn't stand the place where I was putting in time and receiving a paycheck.
About a month ago I gave them notice of my intent to leave the job by the end of the calendar year.
Today they had their first interview, and the notice was sent by email to all staff at my place of employ, that my position was available.
I told my wife that this had been done and she sent me just one word in reply: Congratulations.
About a month ago I gave them notice of my intent to leave the job by the end of the calendar year.
Today they had their first interview, and the notice was sent by email to all staff at my place of employ, that my position was available.
I told my wife that this had been done and she sent me just one word in reply: Congratulations.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Sick boy creativity.
My youngest son spent the day at home yesterday, sick with a sore throat and slight fever. This child doesn't spend a lot of time alone as he has an older brother and sister and a best friend who lives up the street. When he is with his brother he is usually playing whatever the older brother is playing. Likewise, his best friend is much more of a leader, so my son tends to play whatever the friend plays.
Yesterday, I saw the creativity in my child that we don't usually see, because of his nature to follow along. While sick, he asked his mother if he could have any clothes that he could use to cut up. My wife gave him an old shirt and pair of pants. He disappeared for a long time, came back with the clothes in shreds, and some red fabric cut into strips and scotch taped to his body and said, "I was attacked by a bear."
My son in his "I was attacked" pose. I just love the creative spirit!
Monday, November 28, 2005
A strange evening of theatre.
Just over a week ago I went to see a play at a local university. I had intended to write about the play that evening when I came home, but in the time since then I haven't been able to come to any real conclusions as to my own reactions over the play. I've thought about the play quite a bit since seeing it, which would usually indicate that it struck me, somehow, in a positive way, but I don't think that's true. It is this dilemma which has haunted me.
The play was O, Jerusalem, by A.R. Gurney. For those who aren't familiar with Gurney, he is known in the theatre communities as the W.A.S.P. playwright. He is one of the most produced playwrights in America, having achieved some fame with The Dining Room in the 80's and continues his popularity with the oft-produced Love Letters.
A few years back I had the opportunity to stage manage a new Gurney play, The Fourth Wall. In the play, Gurney explores, and breaks, some of the conventions of theatre, such as breaking through the "fourth wall" (he does it figuratively, and literally in the play). In O, Jerusalem, Gurney continues to toy with the theatre traditions. This is conundrum number one.
The pretense is that the actors on stage are actors on a stage performing a newly found work called O, Jerusalem. They break out of scenes some times to explain that they thought the scene went on too long, so they're cutting it here and they explain what the scene went on to do. They do this type of thing with some regularity. And I didn't care for it. And yet...
Part of the problem is that when Gurney tries to get experimental, he's still as whitebread as you can get. He seems to "push the envelope," but never very far. While I didn't care for what he did in the play, I admire that as a writer he is still trying to explore new theatrical conventions. It's the same reason I enjoy Ionesco -- exploring and pushing the theatrical conventions. It's just that Gurney does it so timidly.
Next problem I had was the set. It was beautiful. Elegant. Suggested an Arab setting without going over-board. The open-ness of it lent itself to Gurney's experimenting quite well. But it was hardly used.
In my mind, most of the action, certainly most of the important action, occurred on the stage level, in front of the set. As I think about it, and go back scene by scene, I'm sure that I could see that people entered or crossed among the levels fairly often, but I have this gut reaction that the set was used primarily as a backdrop, rather than a functional set. Is this wrong? I don't know. Certainly it isn't right that I came away conscious of the fact that the set was under-used (in my opinion), but maybe this was a conscious decision on the part of the director (and maybe even playwright)?
Part of Gurney's experiment with style and convention was the use of slides on an upstage backdrop. These did nothing for me. Perhaps the images of the twin towers in New York burning and collapsing are still fresh enough in my own mind that I didn't need them. Perhaps I just think that slides in a theatrical production are just a little cheesy.
The acting was fine. About what you'd expect from a university -- good, but no one outstanding. One female lead did do an exceptional job with her accent and character, and the fact that she was a freshman suggests that she'll see leading roles for a few years. The male lead was fine but I did feel that he actually had trouble swearing. Any curse he uttered seemed very forced and unnatural. I actually wondered how I might have been as a college student and how easily they might roll off my tongue today.
And then there's the story.
The play is about events leading up to the 9/11 disaster, focusing on one foreign affairs secretary. Because Gurney is toying with our perceptions of theatre, I don't know where he is drawing the line between factual information and fiction. Is the entire work fictional? Is it based on any truth (other than that the events of 9/11 did occur)? I don't know. And certainly, since one of the play's endings is set in the future, we know that part is fictional. And what that does is take away any rage we might have felt over the inactions of others. In fact, we are left totally and utterly with nothing. No feelings of sorrow, rage, frustration, fear, anger, happiness, delight... nothing. We leave the play having witnessed something, but not quite sure what.
And this is why I have been thinking about it, but not sure what I'm thinking about.
Is this all part of Gurney's great plan to push the boundaries of theatre conventions ... to make us think about a play, but not think anything specific about it? Or is it a failed piece of story-telling?
I'm inclined to believe the latter (...but I'm not quite sure...).
The play was O, Jerusalem, by A.R. Gurney. For those who aren't familiar with Gurney, he is known in the theatre communities as the W.A.S.P. playwright. He is one of the most produced playwrights in America, having achieved some fame with The Dining Room in the 80's and continues his popularity with the oft-produced Love Letters.
A few years back I had the opportunity to stage manage a new Gurney play, The Fourth Wall. In the play, Gurney explores, and breaks, some of the conventions of theatre, such as breaking through the "fourth wall" (he does it figuratively, and literally in the play). In O, Jerusalem, Gurney continues to toy with the theatre traditions. This is conundrum number one.
The pretense is that the actors on stage are actors on a stage performing a newly found work called O, Jerusalem. They break out of scenes some times to explain that they thought the scene went on too long, so they're cutting it here and they explain what the scene went on to do. They do this type of thing with some regularity. And I didn't care for it. And yet...
Part of the problem is that when Gurney tries to get experimental, he's still as whitebread as you can get. He seems to "push the envelope," but never very far. While I didn't care for what he did in the play, I admire that as a writer he is still trying to explore new theatrical conventions. It's the same reason I enjoy Ionesco -- exploring and pushing the theatrical conventions. It's just that Gurney does it so timidly.
Next problem I had was the set. It was beautiful. Elegant. Suggested an Arab setting without going over-board. The open-ness of it lent itself to Gurney's experimenting quite well. But it was hardly used.
In my mind, most of the action, certainly most of the important action, occurred on the stage level, in front of the set. As I think about it, and go back scene by scene, I'm sure that I could see that people entered or crossed among the levels fairly often, but I have this gut reaction that the set was used primarily as a backdrop, rather than a functional set. Is this wrong? I don't know. Certainly it isn't right that I came away conscious of the fact that the set was under-used (in my opinion), but maybe this was a conscious decision on the part of the director (and maybe even playwright)?
Part of Gurney's experiment with style and convention was the use of slides on an upstage backdrop. These did nothing for me. Perhaps the images of the twin towers in New York burning and collapsing are still fresh enough in my own mind that I didn't need them. Perhaps I just think that slides in a theatrical production are just a little cheesy.
The acting was fine. About what you'd expect from a university -- good, but no one outstanding. One female lead did do an exceptional job with her accent and character, and the fact that she was a freshman suggests that she'll see leading roles for a few years. The male lead was fine but I did feel that he actually had trouble swearing. Any curse he uttered seemed very forced and unnatural. I actually wondered how I might have been as a college student and how easily they might roll off my tongue today.
And then there's the story.
The play is about events leading up to the 9/11 disaster, focusing on one foreign affairs secretary. Because Gurney is toying with our perceptions of theatre, I don't know where he is drawing the line between factual information and fiction. Is the entire work fictional? Is it based on any truth (other than that the events of 9/11 did occur)? I don't know. And certainly, since one of the play's endings is set in the future, we know that part is fictional. And what that does is take away any rage we might have felt over the inactions of others. In fact, we are left totally and utterly with nothing. No feelings of sorrow, rage, frustration, fear, anger, happiness, delight... nothing. We leave the play having witnessed something, but not quite sure what.
And this is why I have been thinking about it, but not sure what I'm thinking about.
Is this all part of Gurney's great plan to push the boundaries of theatre conventions ... to make us think about a play, but not think anything specific about it? Or is it a failed piece of story-telling?
I'm inclined to believe the latter (...but I'm not quite sure...).
Monday, November 14, 2005
I'm here. Not queer. And I'm proud (but I'll never be an essayist)!
Not too long ago I wrote that I've really made a turn in my enjoyment in reading non-fiction. Two of the best books I've read lately are Tyrone Guthrie's A New Theatre, and Malcolm Gadwell's Blink.
And then there are essay collections. What are essay? Seems to me they're pretty much like blog posts except in paper print, usually for a classier magazine or newspaper.
And while it could very well just be my perception of things, it seems that two of the bigger names in personal essay writing are David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs. Both names are mentioned in some of the literary websites, and both have a few books out that are recognizable.
I remember picking up Sedaris's Barrel Fever at a friend's house and after skimming a few entries, getting a chuckle and making a mental note to read more of his work.
But now, having read Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by Sedaris and being nearly finished with Burroughs's Magical Thinking, I've come to the conclusion that I'll never be a successful essayist if, for no other reason, than the fact that I am not gay. Both authors, in these two collections, not only point out their sexuality, but shove it, metaphorically, in the reader's face. And yet, the essays aren't about being gay. Maybe that's why I have a problem with them.
I suppose, if an essay is a little slice of a life experience, and the author happens to be gay, then that essay will contain homosexual elements, and then, obviously, I am not the targeted reader. Silly me. Somehow I thought that big name essayists would be writing in such a way as to have something to say that would impact most readers and not just those with a particular sexual orientiation. Not so, says I.
Sedaris's book doesn't dwell on his sexual preference nearly as much as Burroughs, but after reading the book, I came away picturing Sedaris as whiny, manipulative, argumentative, and bitchy, and I completely disliked the man himself.
What I've come away with so far from the Burroughs book is that he is an insecure, alcoholic, physique-obsessed homosexual. And why would I read his essays? I'm asking myself that same question.
Do people really enjoy reading about the masochistic, self-destructive nature of homosexuals?
And then there are essay collections. What are essay? Seems to me they're pretty much like blog posts except in paper print, usually for a classier magazine or newspaper.
And while it could very well just be my perception of things, it seems that two of the bigger names in personal essay writing are David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs. Both names are mentioned in some of the literary websites, and both have a few books out that are recognizable.
I remember picking up Sedaris's Barrel Fever at a friend's house and after skimming a few entries, getting a chuckle and making a mental note to read more of his work.
But now, having read Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by Sedaris and being nearly finished with Burroughs's Magical Thinking, I've come to the conclusion that I'll never be a successful essayist if, for no other reason, than the fact that I am not gay. Both authors, in these two collections, not only point out their sexuality, but shove it, metaphorically, in the reader's face. And yet, the essays aren't about being gay. Maybe that's why I have a problem with them.
I suppose, if an essay is a little slice of a life experience, and the author happens to be gay, then that essay will contain homosexual elements, and then, obviously, I am not the targeted reader. Silly me. Somehow I thought that big name essayists would be writing in such a way as to have something to say that would impact most readers and not just those with a particular sexual orientiation. Not so, says I.
Sedaris's book doesn't dwell on his sexual preference nearly as much as Burroughs, but after reading the book, I came away picturing Sedaris as whiny, manipulative, argumentative, and bitchy, and I completely disliked the man himself.
What I've come away with so far from the Burroughs book is that he is an insecure, alcoholic, physique-obsessed homosexual. And why would I read his essays? I'm asking myself that same question.
Do people really enjoy reading about the masochistic, self-destructive nature of homosexuals?
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Rural wildlife.
Around midnight last night, I walked through my living room and, as I often do, stopped at the window to peer out at the night.
There, not ten yards from me, though separated by the sheets of glass in the window well, was a doe, feasting on my damned birch tree that continues to struggle to survive.
I took a moment to enjoy the sight of the deer, but then irked at the thought of the cost of replacing the tree, I took to flashing the porch lights and garage lights, and even the inside living room lights, in hopes that it might frighten the deer away. Of course she didn't seem to give a damn about the flashing lights. Probably added to her enjoyment of dinner. "Oh, a light show! *munch munch* This was a good choice! *munch scrunch* Just like they all said, *chew* 'Try the birch at Stix's, it's young and tender and going fast. *munch munch slop* And if he's awake, he'll put on a show."
Then, just as I gave up, the deer stopped, stiffened, and cocked her head warily. Then she bolted. I watched her white tail until it was all that I could see of her as she disappeared into the dark down the street.
And then I saw why she ran. Across the street, wandering through the neighbor's yard, was a large, mangy, hungry-looking coyote.
"Wow," I said, out loud. "I'm glad I didn't go outside to scare off that deer," I thought. Though the truth is, the coyote didn't look like he was in to fighting for his food. He wanted an easy meal ... a lazy cat, a lame dog, stupid squirrel, whatever he didn't have to work for.
Still, the site of the predator took me by surprise, and as I closed the curtains and made ready to go back to bed, I made a mental note, "I have to be sure to tell the kids not to wander around the neighborhood after dark."
There, not ten yards from me, though separated by the sheets of glass in the window well, was a doe, feasting on my damned birch tree that continues to struggle to survive.
I took a moment to enjoy the sight of the deer, but then irked at the thought of the cost of replacing the tree, I took to flashing the porch lights and garage lights, and even the inside living room lights, in hopes that it might frighten the deer away. Of course she didn't seem to give a damn about the flashing lights. Probably added to her enjoyment of dinner. "Oh, a light show! *munch munch* This was a good choice! *munch scrunch* Just like they all said, *chew* 'Try the birch at Stix's, it's young and tender and going fast. *munch munch slop* And if he's awake, he'll put on a show."
Then, just as I gave up, the deer stopped, stiffened, and cocked her head warily. Then she bolted. I watched her white tail until it was all that I could see of her as she disappeared into the dark down the street.
And then I saw why she ran. Across the street, wandering through the neighbor's yard, was a large, mangy, hungry-looking coyote.
"Wow," I said, out loud. "I'm glad I didn't go outside to scare off that deer," I thought. Though the truth is, the coyote didn't look like he was in to fighting for his food. He wanted an easy meal ... a lazy cat, a lame dog, stupid squirrel, whatever he didn't have to work for.
Still, the site of the predator took me by surprise, and as I closed the curtains and made ready to go back to bed, I made a mental note, "I have to be sure to tell the kids not to wander around the neighborhood after dark."
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Whispery haunts.
It is easy to understand the fear and belief in ghosts that hold sway over some people.
Last night I sat bolt upright sometime around 4am when I heard the very distinct whispering..."Dad. ...Daddy?"
This actually is not too unusual and I will usually wake up enough to walk one of my children to the bathroom and then back to bed. And last night, as I sat up I looked around, expecting to see one of my boys standing near the foot of the bed...but no one was there.
Not only were they not there, but they were sound asleep in their own room, which is on a different floor of the house.
What I heard was real. Too real to seem to be part of a dream. Real enough to sound like so many other nights that I truly expected to see a child (my child) near the bed. So what was it?
I'm guessing it was a dream. One of those dreams that does seem real. But I can't remember anything other than the whispered calling for me. The "ghost hunters," I'm sure, would encourage me to believe that the house is haunted.
When I told my wife, she looked a little shocked and said, "Sometimes I wake up at night and I'm sure that I hear someone walking through the house."
Again, this would seem more fodder for the believers that our house is haunted and visited by spirits. And quite frankly, I have an active enough imagination that I might go along with that line of thinking, except for one thing.
Our house is new. Built for us. Never been lived in before. And was built on a piece of property that was prairie land .
The whispers for "Dad" and the nighttime sounds of footsteps might make for good story-telling, but to prove the existence of the spirit world? Nah.
Last night I sat bolt upright sometime around 4am when I heard the very distinct whispering..."Dad. ...Daddy?"
This actually is not too unusual and I will usually wake up enough to walk one of my children to the bathroom and then back to bed. And last night, as I sat up I looked around, expecting to see one of my boys standing near the foot of the bed...but no one was there.
Not only were they not there, but they were sound asleep in their own room, which is on a different floor of the house.
What I heard was real. Too real to seem to be part of a dream. Real enough to sound like so many other nights that I truly expected to see a child (my child) near the bed. So what was it?
I'm guessing it was a dream. One of those dreams that does seem real. But I can't remember anything other than the whispered calling for me. The "ghost hunters," I'm sure, would encourage me to believe that the house is haunted.
When I told my wife, she looked a little shocked and said, "Sometimes I wake up at night and I'm sure that I hear someone walking through the house."
Again, this would seem more fodder for the believers that our house is haunted and visited by spirits. And quite frankly, I have an active enough imagination that I might go along with that line of thinking, except for one thing.
Our house is new. Built for us. Never been lived in before. And was built on a piece of property that was prairie land .
The whispers for "Dad" and the nighttime sounds of footsteps might make for good story-telling, but to prove the existence of the spirit world? Nah.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Thinking of Bunk.
Jim Bunke was alive today, in my thoughts, as I drove from my home to my work.
While driving along the ridge of bluffs, I watched a small, propeller plane circle over Lake Winona, banking sharply, straightening out, and picking up speed, then doing it again. And as I watched, I recalled the time Jim offered to take me up in a plane he often flew.
"Don't eat too much before we go," he warned me. "Sometimes people get sick."
As if to taunt Bunk, I not only ate, I ate a homemade stew -- something that would look no different coming back up as it did when it went down.
Maybe he took it easy on me, maybe he just didn't want to have to clean out the plane, I'll never know for sure, but Bunk did send the plane into a steep dive and a few sharp turns, as if testing my metal and my stomach, but rather than being nervous or frightened, I laughed and whooped. I just loved the feeling of freedom that riding in a small craft plane provided.
We flew down the Mississippi River, then back up over territory that I might now recognize as my current home, but was then as foreign to me as any territory over-seas might have been.
I don't remember coming back, I don't remember driving home. I remember simply feeling good.
This is my best memory of Jim Bunke. I'll never know why he asked me to go flying with him, it was only that one time, but it was an honor to share with him one of his obvious joys -- flying.
And now I've gotten to enjoy the moment twice -- once, when it happened more than twenty years ago, and again today as I relive it through memory recalled.
While driving along the ridge of bluffs, I watched a small, propeller plane circle over Lake Winona, banking sharply, straightening out, and picking up speed, then doing it again. And as I watched, I recalled the time Jim offered to take me up in a plane he often flew.
"Don't eat too much before we go," he warned me. "Sometimes people get sick."
As if to taunt Bunk, I not only ate, I ate a homemade stew -- something that would look no different coming back up as it did when it went down.
Maybe he took it easy on me, maybe he just didn't want to have to clean out the plane, I'll never know for sure, but Bunk did send the plane into a steep dive and a few sharp turns, as if testing my metal and my stomach, but rather than being nervous or frightened, I laughed and whooped. I just loved the feeling of freedom that riding in a small craft plane provided.
We flew down the Mississippi River, then back up over territory that I might now recognize as my current home, but was then as foreign to me as any territory over-seas might have been.
I don't remember coming back, I don't remember driving home. I remember simply feeling good.
This is my best memory of Jim Bunke. I'll never know why he asked me to go flying with him, it was only that one time, but it was an honor to share with him one of his obvious joys -- flying.
And now I've gotten to enjoy the moment twice -- once, when it happened more than twenty years ago, and again today as I relive it through memory recalled.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Happy Birthday, Rebecca
Ten years ago today, my daughter was born in Southern California.
Amazing how fast ten years can go by.
Happy birthday, daughter!
Amazing how fast ten years can go by.
Happy birthday, daughter!
Monday, October 24, 2005
Two days of sub-par theatre.
This was a weekend full of sub-standard theatre.
First was the Prairie Fire Children's Theatre which came to my children's school. Now in general I would say that PFCT is not exactly theatre of the highest calibre, but the production of Peter Pan that they produced was so dreadful that I couldn't really enjoy watching my own children in it. (And of course I went to all three performances.)
Past PFCT performances have at least been lively or entertaining in some way. But this show was really quite afwul.
I got to wrap up my weekend my seeing a university production of the musical Honk! I'd heard about the show but had never seen it nor heard the score. The singing was pretty good, and the dancing lively and appropriate; the production values were incredibly high and the costumes were really exquisite, but the acting was wooden and the direction lacking, to say the least.
I've heard such good things about the show itself, but based on what I saw, I would find it difficult to say that it's a worthy musical.
I've had a difficult time getting enthused about directing the one act play (not that I don't want to, I'm just overwhelmed with other things going on right now) and these two shows did nothing to build theatrical creativity inside of me.
First was the Prairie Fire Children's Theatre which came to my children's school. Now in general I would say that PFCT is not exactly theatre of the highest calibre, but the production of Peter Pan that they produced was so dreadful that I couldn't really enjoy watching my own children in it. (And of course I went to all three performances.)
Past PFCT performances have at least been lively or entertaining in some way. But this show was really quite afwul.
I got to wrap up my weekend my seeing a university production of the musical Honk! I'd heard about the show but had never seen it nor heard the score. The singing was pretty good, and the dancing lively and appropriate; the production values were incredibly high and the costumes were really exquisite, but the acting was wooden and the direction lacking, to say the least.
I've heard such good things about the show itself, but based on what I saw, I would find it difficult to say that it's a worthy musical.
I've had a difficult time getting enthused about directing the one act play (not that I don't want to, I'm just overwhelmed with other things going on right now) and these two shows did nothing to build theatrical creativity inside of me.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Spam jerky?
Just what kind of jerk does one need to be to go out and spam blogs with "comments" which link to various websites?
I've resorted to enabling the "word verification" feature of my comments section. Sorry if it's an inconvenience to any of you non-spammers. Hope it's a source of great frustration to you spammers.
For awhile the spammers would leave their "comments" on the most recent blog, which then required very little effort on my part to go in and delete.
Lately, however, I've been getting notification of comments left by spammers, only to discover that I have to search my archives to find the bogus comment. -- I have over 150 posts here, that can be tiresome to search.
If this doesn't stop the phony comments, then I'll have to change the comments section so only logged-in bloggers can leave a message.
I've resorted to enabling the "word verification" feature of my comments section. Sorry if it's an inconvenience to any of you non-spammers. Hope it's a source of great frustration to you spammers.
For awhile the spammers would leave their "comments" on the most recent blog, which then required very little effort on my part to go in and delete.
Lately, however, I've been getting notification of comments left by spammers, only to discover that I have to search my archives to find the bogus comment. -- I have over 150 posts here, that can be tiresome to search.
If this doesn't stop the phony comments, then I'll have to change the comments section so only logged-in bloggers can leave a message.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Guthrie's ideology.
Having finished Tyrone Guthrie's book, A New Theatre, I am very impressed with his thoughts and reflections on theatre in general.
"Great drama," he writes, "always adds... some philosophical comment or allegorical overtone, not necessarily -- or even frequently -- with a conscious didactic purpose, but always with didactic possibilities."
Twice he defines "drama," both accurate and succinct. "Drama is...the re-creation by actors of a group of persons and a series of events." And, "Drama is the telling of a story in the most vivid possible manner."
And here he seems to put his finger on what is preciselyright...and wrong...with theatre today (the today of forty years ago and still the today of now):
"The theatre exists to entertain. Entertainment can be educative; but it is a regrettable fallacy that a serious theatre must be consciously instructive. The fallacy has been fostered by theatre people, because we have learnt, by bitter experience, that public bodies will give you funds if they can be persuaded that you aim to Educate. But if, more truthfully, you admit that your first aim is to Entertain then you won't get a cent."
This certainly hasn't changed one iota. In fact, as the arts continue to struggle to survive, the "education factor" for each project seems more and more vital. When do we get to play?
Guthrie wraps up his book with this thought:
"The three greatest periods in the history of the theatre -- the Athenian stage of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides; the Elizabethan stage in England which produced Marlowe, Shakespeare, Ben Jonson and half a dozen lesser but significant poets; the French stage of Racine, Corneille and Moliere -- all these could not have happened if the writers, actors and craftsmen had not been fortunate enough to live in an age and place where a highly intelligent, lively and demanding audience had helped to create a theatre which was far more than a commercial business and far more than a frivolous pastime. Neither the artists and craftsmen nor the audience can do this alone. It is a shared process of creation, a fruitful union."
I'm not sure that this has been recognized or acknowledged any better than the way Guthrie puts it in this book. It is certainly food for thought for those of us who look to produce Art. We can only do so much without a cooperative audience.
"Great drama," he writes, "always adds... some philosophical comment or allegorical overtone, not necessarily -- or even frequently -- with a conscious didactic purpose, but always with didactic possibilities."
Twice he defines "drama," both accurate and succinct. "Drama is...the re-creation by actors of a group of persons and a series of events." And, "Drama is the telling of a story in the most vivid possible manner."
And here he seems to put his finger on what is preciselyright...and wrong...with theatre today (the today of forty years ago and still the today of now):
"The theatre exists to entertain. Entertainment can be educative; but it is a regrettable fallacy that a serious theatre must be consciously instructive. The fallacy has been fostered by theatre people, because we have learnt, by bitter experience, that public bodies will give you funds if they can be persuaded that you aim to Educate. But if, more truthfully, you admit that your first aim is to Entertain then you won't get a cent."
This certainly hasn't changed one iota. In fact, as the arts continue to struggle to survive, the "education factor" for each project seems more and more vital. When do we get to play?
Guthrie wraps up his book with this thought:
"The three greatest periods in the history of the theatre -- the Athenian stage of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides; the Elizabethan stage in England which produced Marlowe, Shakespeare, Ben Jonson and half a dozen lesser but significant poets; the French stage of Racine, Corneille and Moliere -- all these could not have happened if the writers, actors and craftsmen had not been fortunate enough to live in an age and place where a highly intelligent, lively and demanding audience had helped to create a theatre which was far more than a commercial business and far more than a frivolous pastime. Neither the artists and craftsmen nor the audience can do this alone. It is a shared process of creation, a fruitful union."
I'm not sure that this has been recognized or acknowledged any better than the way Guthrie puts it in this book. It is certainly food for thought for those of us who look to produce Art. We can only do so much without a cooperative audience.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Guthrie's theatre.
As you can see by the titles of the books that I am currently reading, tops on that list is Tyrone Guthrie's A New Theatre.
First, I'm enjoying the book immensely. I didn't have to get very far in to the book to realize just how little I knew about how and why the Guthrie theatre got its start.
Second, I've found Guthrie's notes about what is wrong in New York theatre of particular interest.
Guthrie bemoans the lack of imagination in the New York theatre community. He fears the death of theatre due to the over-empowerment of the various unions, and he wonders at the fact that any work can get done at all in the cramped city and with the various departments (scenic, lighting, sound, costume) scattered about island Manhattan.
I, and so many others, have said and written the exact same things.
So what does this mean? That theatre in New York is going to hell in a handbasket?
No. I think that if conditions haven't changed in the forty plus years since Tyrone Guthrie wrote about it, they aren't going to change much in the next forty plus years either. Sadly. If I've ever spoken to you about my experiences in New York, then you know that I can't figure out how anyone can possibly make money producing theatre in the Big Apple. My biggest complaint is with the unions, and I actually laughed as I read Guthrie's first chapter and his wonderment at how the unions got so strong. Hire two men to bring on one chair, in a rehearsal, which not only COULD the actors do, but DESIRED to to do. And of course there is the four hour minimum!
What has changed in the world of theatre in the past forty years is the fact that Broadway is no longer the be-all and end-all of American Theatre. It may still have the glitter and charm and it certainly sells itself as the place to see theatre, but the fact is that it is the theatres around the country which are producing the new and exciting works, along with the classics that we might not otherwise get the chance to see.
And this is due, in large part, because of Tyrone Guthrie's vision and plan. Had Guthrie and his partners not only felt the strong desire to get out of New York and then actually worked on finding a new place to produce live theatre, the theatre community would most certainly be decades behind still.
There is a lot more that can still be done, but The Guthrie Theatre is a great foundation on which to build upon.
First, I'm enjoying the book immensely. I didn't have to get very far in to the book to realize just how little I knew about how and why the Guthrie theatre got its start.
Second, I've found Guthrie's notes about what is wrong in New York theatre of particular interest.
Guthrie bemoans the lack of imagination in the New York theatre community. He fears the death of theatre due to the over-empowerment of the various unions, and he wonders at the fact that any work can get done at all in the cramped city and with the various departments (scenic, lighting, sound, costume) scattered about island Manhattan.
I, and so many others, have said and written the exact same things.
So what does this mean? That theatre in New York is going to hell in a handbasket?
No. I think that if conditions haven't changed in the forty plus years since Tyrone Guthrie wrote about it, they aren't going to change much in the next forty plus years either. Sadly. If I've ever spoken to you about my experiences in New York, then you know that I can't figure out how anyone can possibly make money producing theatre in the Big Apple. My biggest complaint is with the unions, and I actually laughed as I read Guthrie's first chapter and his wonderment at how the unions got so strong. Hire two men to bring on one chair, in a rehearsal, which not only COULD the actors do, but DESIRED to to do. And of course there is the four hour minimum!
What has changed in the world of theatre in the past forty years is the fact that Broadway is no longer the be-all and end-all of American Theatre. It may still have the glitter and charm and it certainly sells itself as the place to see theatre, but the fact is that it is the theatres around the country which are producing the new and exciting works, along with the classics that we might not otherwise get the chance to see.
And this is due, in large part, because of Tyrone Guthrie's vision and plan. Had Guthrie and his partners not only felt the strong desire to get out of New York and then actually worked on finding a new place to produce live theatre, the theatre community would most certainly be decades behind still.
There is a lot more that can still be done, but The Guthrie Theatre is a great foundation on which to build upon.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Open Book ... closed
This past Saturday I attended (as a guest) a conference sponsored by the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). The conference was held at Open Book, which, near as I can tell, is the physical plant of the group known as The Loft (an interesting mis-type there almost had me refer to the place as "The Lost").
At first, I had a strong liking for the place. There ought to be more places for people to go to write and read and drink coffee, all within a writer-friendly/encouraging atmosphere. And to make it even more friendly, the building was wireless accessible and I could turn on my laptop anywhere in the building and get internet access.
But the longer I was there the less I enjoyed it.
First, their book shop was not exactly shopper-friendly. Only one small section actually sold books, and the selection was dismal. Mostly for sale were over-pried, hand-made items -- books, prints, posters, calendars, and wanna-be-collectibles were the primary focus. I was interested in picking up a copy of speakeasy, The Loft's magazine. The grumpy clerk/manager didn't realize that she not only didn't have any copies, but she hadn't had any all day (I was there when they opened, and back again to inquire about five hours later). She suggested I go up to The Loft's office, which was right outside where I had been speaking.
I rang the bell outside the door, and no one came. The door was unlocked, so I went in and tapped the desk bell for assistance (as instructed by the sign). Still no one came. I briefly considered pulling the push pin out of the one tacked to the bulletin board, but I couldn't resort to theft even as an act of annoyed defiance.
I left, feeling as though the attitude was one of superior arrogance. "You can come here if you think you belong...and if you meet our standards."
I had considered (even up to the point where I entered the The Loft's office) getting a membership, even though I felt the $60 annual fee rather steep for someone who wasn't likely to make many trips to the area. Now, however, I feel that it is image, status, that defines membership in The Loft, and not usefulness.
At first, I had a strong liking for the place. There ought to be more places for people to go to write and read and drink coffee, all within a writer-friendly/encouraging atmosphere. And to make it even more friendly, the building was wireless accessible and I could turn on my laptop anywhere in the building and get internet access.
But the longer I was there the less I enjoyed it.
First, their book shop was not exactly shopper-friendly. Only one small section actually sold books, and the selection was dismal. Mostly for sale were over-pried, hand-made items -- books, prints, posters, calendars, and wanna-be-collectibles were the primary focus. I was interested in picking up a copy of speakeasy, The Loft's magazine. The grumpy clerk/manager didn't realize that she not only didn't have any copies, but she hadn't had any all day (I was there when they opened, and back again to inquire about five hours later). She suggested I go up to The Loft's office, which was right outside where I had been speaking.
I rang the bell outside the door, and no one came. The door was unlocked, so I went in and tapped the desk bell for assistance (as instructed by the sign). Still no one came. I briefly considered pulling the push pin out of the one tacked to the bulletin board, but I couldn't resort to theft even as an act of annoyed defiance.
I left, feeling as though the attitude was one of superior arrogance. "You can come here if you think you belong...and if you meet our standards."
I had considered (even up to the point where I entered the The Loft's office) getting a membership, even though I felt the $60 annual fee rather steep for someone who wasn't likely to make many trips to the area. Now, however, I feel that it is image, status, that defines membership in The Loft, and not usefulness.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
The year of the Pinter.
Harold Pinter has been in the news quite a bit this past month, primarily because the noted (and noteworthy) playwright turned 75 on October 10. The BBC radio stations that I tune in to had many different features on him, and BBC 3 (or was it 4?) even managed a new radio play written by the master (a play called VOICES).
Now, as if to continue on the Pinter bandwagon, the illustrious Swedes have awarded the Nobel prize for literature to Harold Pinter.
What is most interesting about this is the fact that Pinter has been an out-spoken critic of the American-led war in Iraq. According to a Yahoo news report, Pinter likens the Bush administration to the Nazis.
Interestingly enough, the Nobel peace prize was awarded to Mohamed El Baradei and the I.A.E.A. Mr. Baradei, who, by his very job would be "in the know," was one of the few voices against America's invasion of Iraq on the basis of "weapons of mass destruction." Mr. Baradei reported at that time that he didn't believe Iraq had nuclear capabilities.
Thus, we have two critics of the American war in Iraq being hailed with Nobel prizes. Is the Nobel prize committee trying to send a message?
Congratulations to Harold Pinter. For whatever reason the committee chose him, he is certainly a most deserving honoree.
Now, as if to continue on the Pinter bandwagon, the illustrious Swedes have awarded the Nobel prize for literature to Harold Pinter.
What is most interesting about this is the fact that Pinter has been an out-spoken critic of the American-led war in Iraq. According to a Yahoo news report, Pinter likens the Bush administration to the Nazis.
Interestingly enough, the Nobel peace prize was awarded to Mohamed El Baradei and the I.A.E.A. Mr. Baradei, who, by his very job would be "in the know," was one of the few voices against America's invasion of Iraq on the basis of "weapons of mass destruction." Mr. Baradei reported at that time that he didn't believe Iraq had nuclear capabilities.
Thus, we have two critics of the American war in Iraq being hailed with Nobel prizes. Is the Nobel prize committee trying to send a message?
Congratulations to Harold Pinter. For whatever reason the committee chose him, he is certainly a most deserving honoree.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Scapin and Moliere
I saw Scapin at the local, professional theatre company last night. Some time back I wrote a blog objecting to this play, though I had not yet seen it. I had heard that there was gender reversal of the main roles, and indeed, that was true. It was a bit glaring at times, and over-all I didn't see any reason for it.
Mostly I just thought the play was poorly done.
Commedia dell'arte is not understood much today, and if one is going to attempt it, then they need to do so with full gusto! But they should also research what the period and style mean. It is not slapstick. It is not simply wearing your hair in strange configurations. It is not simply adding a chase scene and a juggling scene, though all of these might indeed be included.
There were gems in the performance. The two fathers were well played and even looked every bit like a masked caricature (though they were not masked).
The costumes were mostly remarkable (though I would expect nothing less from my friend Janis).
And, for me, the highlight was the young lover, Jaycinth. His mere presence was enough to have me chuckle, and when he spoke I was often in stitches. If they could have found a way to have him on stage the entire show, I'm sure I would have left enjoying it much more.
The biggest problem (aside from not really understanding the manner of commedia dell'arte), was the lead character of 'Scapin' himself (or, in this case, HERself).
The play Scapin requires a strong, commanding actor to carry the lead role and to make us mostly forget the trite plot with convenient happenstance. The young lady they had playing the part was not such an actor.
Under the title of the play on the marquee outside the theatre was a sub-title, "or, The Con-Artist." There was absolutely no indication of this characterization in the performance I saw. The young woman played the part as though she were "tough" but not sly or wiley. This had the added negative effect when she was supposed to be afraid of her master. Why was someone "tough" suddenly afraid?
The worst scene of the play was the "beating" sequence, when Scapin tricks her master in to hiding in a bag so she can pummel him with a "stick" (she actually refers to it as a stick, though it certainly resembles a large sausage). In the hands of a proper Scapin, this should be a hilarious routine as we watch a master con artist trick the master in to the bag and assault him as a variety of different characters. Instead, the scene was tedious and boring, and it was obvious that this Scapin was simply performing what she'd been directed to do. Commedia dell'arte is about improvisation! The strong, proper actor should rely on his/her own skills of improvisation and beat the poor, sacked man in a different way each night -- or at the very least, make us believe s/he is doing so.
I was actrually embarassed for this Scapin. She was not funny, and the scene looked cruel and took away any charm that she might have given to the character earlier. (Goose-stepping Germans? Sorry, wrong era. Could have been funny if it came out of the performer naturally, but not as a directed bit.)
And totally miscast was a young actress, Jill Underwood. I have generally felt that she is the best actress they have at this company, but perhaps raucous comedy is not her "thing." There was absolutely no sense of who her character is or was. This is commedia! Stock characters are all the rage! Perhaps this was another instance of the gender reversal not working out as well as hoped.
Obviously I was disappointed in this show. I was thrilled to see a Moliere play on their season list, but I guess if it's Moliere done badly, then better to not do Moliere at all.
(You know, it was Harold Pinter's 75th birthday on Monday [Oct 10] -- why wasn't there one of HIS plays on their season subscription?)
Mostly I just thought the play was poorly done.
Commedia dell'arte is not understood much today, and if one is going to attempt it, then they need to do so with full gusto! But they should also research what the period and style mean. It is not slapstick. It is not simply wearing your hair in strange configurations. It is not simply adding a chase scene and a juggling scene, though all of these might indeed be included.
There were gems in the performance. The two fathers were well played and even looked every bit like a masked caricature (though they were not masked).
The costumes were mostly remarkable (though I would expect nothing less from my friend Janis).
And, for me, the highlight was the young lover, Jaycinth. His mere presence was enough to have me chuckle, and when he spoke I was often in stitches. If they could have found a way to have him on stage the entire show, I'm sure I would have left enjoying it much more.
The biggest problem (aside from not really understanding the manner of commedia dell'arte), was the lead character of 'Scapin' himself (or, in this case, HERself).
The play Scapin requires a strong, commanding actor to carry the lead role and to make us mostly forget the trite plot with convenient happenstance. The young lady they had playing the part was not such an actor.
Under the title of the play on the marquee outside the theatre was a sub-title, "or, The Con-Artist." There was absolutely no indication of this characterization in the performance I saw. The young woman played the part as though she were "tough" but not sly or wiley. This had the added negative effect when she was supposed to be afraid of her master. Why was someone "tough" suddenly afraid?
The worst scene of the play was the "beating" sequence, when Scapin tricks her master in to hiding in a bag so she can pummel him with a "stick" (she actually refers to it as a stick, though it certainly resembles a large sausage). In the hands of a proper Scapin, this should be a hilarious routine as we watch a master con artist trick the master in to the bag and assault him as a variety of different characters. Instead, the scene was tedious and boring, and it was obvious that this Scapin was simply performing what she'd been directed to do. Commedia dell'arte is about improvisation! The strong, proper actor should rely on his/her own skills of improvisation and beat the poor, sacked man in a different way each night -- or at the very least, make us believe s/he is doing so.
I was actrually embarassed for this Scapin. She was not funny, and the scene looked cruel and took away any charm that she might have given to the character earlier. (Goose-stepping Germans? Sorry, wrong era. Could have been funny if it came out of the performer naturally, but not as a directed bit.)
And totally miscast was a young actress, Jill Underwood. I have generally felt that she is the best actress they have at this company, but perhaps raucous comedy is not her "thing." There was absolutely no sense of who her character is or was. This is commedia! Stock characters are all the rage! Perhaps this was another instance of the gender reversal not working out as well as hoped.
Obviously I was disappointed in this show. I was thrilled to see a Moliere play on their season list, but I guess if it's Moliere done badly, then better to not do Moliere at all.
(You know, it was Harold Pinter's 75th birthday on Monday [Oct 10] -- why wasn't there one of HIS plays on their season subscription?)
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Books, books, and more (used) books.
I admit that I've been known to go out of my way just to stop at a used book store. When I lived in Los Angeles, I knew all of the better used book stores well enough that I could usually tell when new titles had been placed on the shelves.
And yet, while a good deal of my book collection consists of books that were purchased used, I've always maintained that the idea of used books was illegal. I often wondered how a used book store was even allowed to set up in the first place? I mean, how can you justify a business in which your entire inventory consists of items are copyrighted works and neither the copyright holder, author, or publisher are not getting their cut?
Well, most people just shrugged their shoulders and didn't give it another thought.
And while I would hate to see my favorite type of stoe be put out of business, I couldn't help but wonder why the mega-conglomo-coporate publishers didn't exert a little muscle.
Well...maybe they are waking up. And part of the reason they are waking up is the increased visibility and ease of ordering used books on-line. You can read an interesting article by clicking here.
My thoughts... music downloading might not have been aggressively prosecuted if it hadn't been flaunted. So, too, with selling used books. You can do something boder-line illegal if you're not making waves about it, but when you are a major on-line retailer (say, Amazon) and you advertise cheaper, used books on the same page as the new releases, then someone is going to notice.
And yet, while a good deal of my book collection consists of books that were purchased used, I've always maintained that the idea of used books was illegal. I often wondered how a used book store was even allowed to set up in the first place? I mean, how can you justify a business in which your entire inventory consists of items are copyrighted works and neither the copyright holder, author, or publisher are not getting their cut?
Well, most people just shrugged their shoulders and didn't give it another thought.
And while I would hate to see my favorite type of stoe be put out of business, I couldn't help but wonder why the mega-conglomo-coporate publishers didn't exert a little muscle.
Well...maybe they are waking up. And part of the reason they are waking up is the increased visibility and ease of ordering used books on-line. You can read an interesting article by clicking here.
My thoughts... music downloading might not have been aggressively prosecuted if it hadn't been flaunted. So, too, with selling used books. You can do something boder-line illegal if you're not making waves about it, but when you are a major on-line retailer (say, Amazon) and you advertise cheaper, used books on the same page as the new releases, then someone is going to notice.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
she's at it again -- revisited
Nearly a month ago I wrote about my sister-in-law, a nurse, who was off to Mississippi to help out in the hurricane-ravaged country.
I've since learned that she (and the other nurse who went with her) has been reprimanded by her boss, had the official reprimand placed in her file, and was told that she could lose her job. It seems that the hospital she works for didn't give her permission to take emergency leave because "it wasn't a personal emergency."
I'm of two minds about this....
If your employer says "no, you may not take off" and you do anyway, then you do so knowing that there may be consequences.
However, while the emergency may not have been personal, it was genuinely an emergency situation and the hospital really should have capitalized on the generosity of their own staff, who used personal time AND money to assist in a much needed situation.
You can read a letter to a small town blog (the letter written by my brother-in-law) here, and a brief article about the situation in the local daily paper here.
Remember to use bugmenot.com if you're asked for a login ID.
I've since learned that she (and the other nurse who went with her) has been reprimanded by her boss, had the official reprimand placed in her file, and was told that she could lose her job. It seems that the hospital she works for didn't give her permission to take emergency leave because "it wasn't a personal emergency."
I'm of two minds about this....
If your employer says "no, you may not take off" and you do anyway, then you do so knowing that there may be consequences.
However, while the emergency may not have been personal, it was genuinely an emergency situation and the hospital really should have capitalized on the generosity of their own staff, who used personal time AND money to assist in a much needed situation.
You can read a letter to a small town blog (the letter written by my brother-in-law) here, and a brief article about the situation in the local daily paper here.
Remember to use bugmenot.com if you're asked for a login ID.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
University theatre.
I sat through a performance of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS last night, at an area university.
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good, either.
The problem, I decided, was that these 18-21 year old students were playing either 14/15 year old or 40+ year olds. In any case, out of their acting range. The two best performances were given by the two who where playing characters closest to their own actual ages.
I realize that our schools can't always put on plays that have characters the same age as the performers, and part of their growing process as artists is stretching themselves, but in this particular case (and perhaps this is the fault of the director [a friend of mine]) the actors were not acting the part, but trying to show us how they thought a character would act.
Hm, that doesn't sound right. Okay, try this...
My biggest problem was with the "dad." Rather than simply delivering the lines as if he believed them, I felt he was trying too hard to deliver the lines the way he thought a 40 year old dad would deliver them. In other words, he wasn't thinking in terms of the character, he was thinking in terms of the audience and how he expected them to look at his character.
Whew. Does any of this make sense?
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good, either.
The problem, I decided, was that these 18-21 year old students were playing either 14/15 year old or 40+ year olds. In any case, out of their acting range. The two best performances were given by the two who where playing characters closest to their own actual ages.
I realize that our schools can't always put on plays that have characters the same age as the performers, and part of their growing process as artists is stretching themselves, but in this particular case (and perhaps this is the fault of the director [a friend of mine]) the actors were not acting the part, but trying to show us how they thought a character would act.
Hm, that doesn't sound right. Okay, try this...
My biggest problem was with the "dad." Rather than simply delivering the lines as if he believed them, I felt he was trying too hard to deliver the lines the way he thought a 40 year old dad would deliver them. In other words, he wasn't thinking in terms of the character, he was thinking in terms of the audience and how he expected them to look at his character.
Whew. Does any of this make sense?
Friday, September 30, 2005
Lost writing.
Is there anything more frustrating than losing something you've written?
I wrote a review for the blog here, of a Harold Pinter play that I saw not too long ago. I began writing the review the night of the play while it was all fresh in my mind. I thought I had clicked "Save as Draft" but it's nowhere around. I must have intended to save it as a draft.
While a part of me wants to put down in to writing some of what I found compelling and disturbing in the Pinter play, another part of me thinks, "Ah, hell. What's the point?"
Only time will tell if I will write down my thoughts about it. Tonight I'm off to another play.
I wrote a review for the blog here, of a Harold Pinter play that I saw not too long ago. I began writing the review the night of the play while it was all fresh in my mind. I thought I had clicked "Save as Draft" but it's nowhere around. I must have intended to save it as a draft.
While a part of me wants to put down in to writing some of what I found compelling and disturbing in the Pinter play, another part of me thinks, "Ah, hell. What's the point?"
Only time will tell if I will write down my thoughts about it. Tonight I'm off to another play.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Books.
Even though I tend to read more than one book at a time, I occassionally run in to the problem where none of the books I'm readig have captured my interest, and then my reading slows down to a crawl. This has been the problem with my current crop of reading material (and hence my earlier post -- how do you choose the books you read).
Actually, the book about the Globetrotters has really taken my interest in the last few days, and I'm certainly I'll be zooming through it soon. It's fascinating history and social studies. While I grew up in the 60's (an erea not yet covered in the book), I was not aware that the Globetrotters were treated like royalty nearly everywhere, except their own country. While they were used as propaganda the world over to show that "negroes" in the United States were not the victims of racial injustice, the truth was that only in the United States were they still not allowed to check in to certain hotels or eat at certain diners. So far a fascinating, truly fascinating book.
The Mike Lupica book, Travel Team, so far has only gone on to prove my theory that you don't need to be a good writer to sell a book and to have the publisher promote it mightily ... you only need to be famous. If you've ever wondered what your creative writing teacher means when s/he says, "Show! Don't tell!" then read this book. It is slow, dry, and so full of "telling" rather than "showing" that I want to slap the editor upside the head and yell, "What were you thinking!?"
Actually, the book about the Globetrotters has really taken my interest in the last few days, and I'm certainly I'll be zooming through it soon. It's fascinating history and social studies. While I grew up in the 60's (an erea not yet covered in the book), I was not aware that the Globetrotters were treated like royalty nearly everywhere, except their own country. While they were used as propaganda the world over to show that "negroes" in the United States were not the victims of racial injustice, the truth was that only in the United States were they still not allowed to check in to certain hotels or eat at certain diners. So far a fascinating, truly fascinating book.
The Mike Lupica book, Travel Team, so far has only gone on to prove my theory that you don't need to be a good writer to sell a book and to have the publisher promote it mightily ... you only need to be famous. If you've ever wondered what your creative writing teacher means when s/he says, "Show! Don't tell!" then read this book. It is slow, dry, and so full of "telling" rather than "showing" that I want to slap the editor upside the head and yell, "What were you thinking!?"
Blogging time.
Upon some great soul-searching, and with my giving notice at my desk job, I've been looking at where my time goes. While not a major portion of my time goes in to blogging, a significant portion of my attention might go there. Having tried to post something new each day for a number of months, I've had to ask myself "why?" The answer was, "to see if I could do it." I believe that I can.
But now I need to focus on other forms of writing. To stop spending time wondering about what to write about next in my daily blog -- hence, it will not likely be a daily blog anymore.
Sometimes I will begin a blog one day but not finish it until the next (currently, my review of Old Times, a Harold Pinter play presented at Viterbo University was begun last night and will likely not be finished until tonight when I return home from work).
Fact is, I blog on more than one site, though this is one of the only ones of mine that is "public" (this and my book review journal).
I'm not signing off, but I did want to explain why there weren't new posts each day as there have been in the past.
But now I need to focus on other forms of writing. To stop spending time wondering about what to write about next in my daily blog -- hence, it will not likely be a daily blog anymore.
Sometimes I will begin a blog one day but not finish it until the next (currently, my review of Old Times, a Harold Pinter play presented at Viterbo University was begun last night and will likely not be finished until tonight when I return home from work).
Fact is, I blog on more than one site, though this is one of the only ones of mine that is "public" (this and my book review journal).
I'm not signing off, but I did want to explain why there weren't new posts each day as there have been in the past.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Notice given.
Ahhhh.
That's a sigh of relief. Relief because I gave my notice at work. It's not a two week notice, as I could have given, but a three month notice (for a variety of reasons, including the very pedestrian idea of getting all that I can out of the company, such as holiday pay).
Still, it's a relief to know that the notice is given and time is soon up for that very small chapter of my life.
That's a sigh of relief. Relief because I gave my notice at work. It's not a two week notice, as I could have given, but a three month notice (for a variety of reasons, including the very pedestrian idea of getting all that I can out of the company, such as holiday pay).
Still, it's a relief to know that the notice is given and time is soon up for that very small chapter of my life.
Friday, September 23, 2005
What's important?
Once in awhile we need to be reminded what's important, as this interview with a terrorist shows. Please watch this short clip. Clicking the black box here will open a new window, which will then download this short, windows media video clip. If your computer doesn't support windows media video... sorry.
What happens to art?
In the wake of hurricane Katrina and the potentially devastating hurricane Rita, what happens to art?
Certainly a person has more on their mind than going to a museum or to see a show in the days after homes have been decimated, but in the larger picture, what happens to art?
Many businesses have been hit hard due to the storms, but I suspect that businesses in the arts, which so often are perched precariously on the threshholds of bankruptcy anyway, will have an exceptionally tough time of it. Who wants to go see Timon of Athens or Medea when there's tragedy all around you? Who wants to listen to the 1812 Overature when the roar of 170 mph winds was more deafening and damagaing than any cannons used in a concert? Who wants to walk through a museum and look at The Scream when it's what we feel like doing ourselves?
What happens to art?
Art struggles. And it thrives.
At some point, people need a break. They need the opportunity to get away from everything terrible. The smart arts administrators will do what they can to cater to this. Let's not forget that entertainment was one of the few successful industries during the depression years.
At the same time, out of this tragedy (tragedies?) artists will create new and hopefully memorable, works. These artists will need to be encouraged and given the opportunity to express themselves.
I can only hope that we will not look at the arts as extravagant or unnecessary, but as vitally important.
Certainly a person has more on their mind than going to a museum or to see a show in the days after homes have been decimated, but in the larger picture, what happens to art?
Many businesses have been hit hard due to the storms, but I suspect that businesses in the arts, which so often are perched precariously on the threshholds of bankruptcy anyway, will have an exceptionally tough time of it. Who wants to go see Timon of Athens or Medea when there's tragedy all around you? Who wants to listen to the 1812 Overature when the roar of 170 mph winds was more deafening and damagaing than any cannons used in a concert? Who wants to walk through a museum and look at The Scream when it's what we feel like doing ourselves?
What happens to art?
Art struggles. And it thrives.
At some point, people need a break. They need the opportunity to get away from everything terrible. The smart arts administrators will do what they can to cater to this. Let's not forget that entertainment was one of the few successful industries during the depression years.
At the same time, out of this tragedy (tragedies?) artists will create new and hopefully memorable, works. These artists will need to be encouraged and given the opportunity to express themselves.
I can only hope that we will not look at the arts as extravagant or unnecessary, but as vitally important.
Monday, September 19, 2005
looking for a few good authors
How do you choose what you read?
Publishers put out so many books these days, and of course there are an awful lot of small press publishers, and I wonder how you find a new author or book to read?
I'm always looking for a new author whose books I can look forward to, but making that initial discovery is often difficult.
I often listen to recommendations by people who's taste in literature I respect. I also tend to scan more than a few on-line 'zines and if an author's work catches my eye I'll search out his/her books (a recent discover for me in this fashion is Steve Almond). I will occassionally pick up a book of collected essays or stories, hoping that one of them will hit me in just the right way. And finally, I will also just scan the bookshelves in the stores and the libraries for something the strikes me as interesting.
I am wondering if any of you out there have any other means of searching out authors/books. Do you have any recommendations? Do you read any magazines/journals that you've found to consistently supply the kind of writing that you like to read?
Publishers put out so many books these days, and of course there are an awful lot of small press publishers, and I wonder how you find a new author or book to read?
I'm always looking for a new author whose books I can look forward to, but making that initial discovery is often difficult.
I often listen to recommendations by people who's taste in literature I respect. I also tend to scan more than a few on-line 'zines and if an author's work catches my eye I'll search out his/her books (a recent discover for me in this fashion is Steve Almond). I will occassionally pick up a book of collected essays or stories, hoping that one of them will hit me in just the right way. And finally, I will also just scan the bookshelves in the stores and the libraries for something the strikes me as interesting.
I am wondering if any of you out there have any other means of searching out authors/books. Do you have any recommendations? Do you read any magazines/journals that you've found to consistently supply the kind of writing that you like to read?
Friday, September 16, 2005
to the moon, Alice!
Read some news yesterday which I found to be rather exciting. NASA is making plans to put people on the moon again, perhaps as early as 2018.
You can check this story out at space.com.
Just last week I rented a DVD from Netflix which incorporated NASA video and television coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing. I watched it with my son. For me, it was a wonderful chance to relive history. I told my son how I remember being called in from outside where I was playing in order to watch the grainy, but accessible, pictures, live, from the moon. How heart-stoppingly exciting it was! And here I was, watching that exact same footage, combined with some color footage taken from Buzz Aldrin's camera inside the lunar module. Wow!
For my son, it was interesting, but history, of course. Even in his short life-time there have been a couple of shuttle launches and other than one disaster, nothing remarkable about them (per the eyes of an 8 year old).
What a wonderful opportunity for him to witness, or even be a part of!, another moon landing.
Let's hope we're all here to see it.
You can check this story out at space.com.
Just last week I rented a DVD from Netflix which incorporated NASA video and television coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing. I watched it with my son. For me, it was a wonderful chance to relive history. I told my son how I remember being called in from outside where I was playing in order to watch the grainy, but accessible, pictures, live, from the moon. How heart-stoppingly exciting it was! And here I was, watching that exact same footage, combined with some color footage taken from Buzz Aldrin's camera inside the lunar module. Wow!
For my son, it was interesting, but history, of course. Even in his short life-time there have been a couple of shuttle launches and other than one disaster, nothing remarkable about them (per the eyes of an 8 year old).
What a wonderful opportunity for him to witness, or even be a part of!, another moon landing.
Let's hope we're all here to see it.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Argus
Something I look forward to each day is reading comedian Argus Hamilton's column. There is almost always something that has me laugh out loud. Yesterday it was the following:
Howard Dean caused a storm Friday by saying President Bush didn't care about the people of New Orleans because they were black. That's just completely untrue. President Bush didn't care about the people of New Orleans because they were French.
You can read Argus Hamilton's column yourself, either in your local newspaper, or on-line at www.argushamilton.com/argus.htm.
Howard Dean caused a storm Friday by saying President Bush didn't care about the people of New Orleans because they were black. That's just completely untrue. President Bush didn't care about the people of New Orleans because they were French.
You can read Argus Hamilton's column yourself, either in your local newspaper, or on-line at www.argushamilton.com/argus.htm.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Taylor duet
Before the final match of the U.S. Open, the match between Agassi and Federer, there was a nifty duet rendition of America, The Beautiful. The duet was sung by Ben Taylor and James Taylor. A pretty cool sound those Taylor boys make!
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
so long
No, I'm not quitting the blog. I'm waving good-bye to my time. Only a week and a half in to school and I already seem to have lost any free time that I once had.
Days like yesterday, and today, remind me that I need to say "no" to many of the volunteering positions I take on.
Days like yesterday, and today, remind me that I need to say "no" to many of the volunteering positions I take on.
Monday, September 12, 2005
fire fighters
Last night's blog reminds me of another old-time radio show which I had never heard of until someone sent me an MP3 CD of the 140 episodes that still exist. The show was called Fire Fighters.
From the mid-to-late 1940's Fire Fighters was both an entertaining as well as informative program. Lots of shows (both radio and television) have focused on police and detective work, but this might well be the only radio show of this kind.
Each episode was only about twelve minutes long, and I admit that it took me a few episodes to get caught up in the story, but once I did, I looked forward to each new episode.
There are some things about the series which were probably pretty standard in the 1940's but which seem rather goofy today, primarily the "gosh golly!" attitude of the youth in the series.
If there's a down-side to the series it would be the fact that it focused on one particular fire fighter -- a fresh out of the academy young Tim Collins, whose father was a former chief of the fire department but who died fighting a fire. By following one person, that young man tended to move around to different departments a lot, and because of his status as Chief Collins' son, he seems to get some special privileges.
That aside, I felt that the series did a great job of "showing" how they fight fires, and even how panic ensues in the event of a major, catastophic fire. One storyline of a major building fire had me thinking of the 9-11 disaster it played so well.
A really excellent series, and one most people have likely never even heard of.
From the mid-to-late 1940's Fire Fighters was both an entertaining as well as informative program. Lots of shows (both radio and television) have focused on police and detective work, but this might well be the only radio show of this kind.
Each episode was only about twelve minutes long, and I admit that it took me a few episodes to get caught up in the story, but once I did, I looked forward to each new episode.
There are some things about the series which were probably pretty standard in the 1940's but which seem rather goofy today, primarily the "gosh golly!" attitude of the youth in the series.
If there's a down-side to the series it would be the fact that it focused on one particular fire fighter -- a fresh out of the academy young Tim Collins, whose father was a former chief of the fire department but who died fighting a fire. By following one person, that young man tended to move around to different departments a lot, and because of his status as Chief Collins' son, he seems to get some special privileges.
That aside, I felt that the series did a great job of "showing" how they fight fires, and even how panic ensues in the event of a major, catastophic fire. One storyline of a major building fire had me thinking of the 9-11 disaster it played so well.
A really excellent series, and one most people have likely never even heard of.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
thinking of Eddie
Thinking of fire-fighter, Ed. Hope the recovery and the nightmares have come to an end.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Project Book Share
Here is information about the "local" groups sponsoring book drives for the hurricane refugees...:
Project Book Share for Children Affected by Hurricane KatrinaPlease donate NEW (preferred) or look like new books for the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Books for babies, wordless picturebooks, children's novels, children's nonfiction and teen books arebeing collected.Twin Cities drop off sites (from September 9th to September 19th)- The Bookcase of Wayzata, 607 East Lake Street, Wayzata, MN- The Loft at Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Mpls, MN- The Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Avenue, St Paul, MN- Incarnation Lutheran Church, 4880 Hodgson Road, Shoreview, MN- Red Wing Book Festival, Anderson Center, noon - 5 Sat 9/10/05 ONLYAdditional drop-off sites outside the Twin Cities and in the southmetro will be posted on the CLN website:www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org. A flyer (8.5x11) and a poster(11x17) as well as book lists for the very young are also availableas reproducible Acrobat PDF file.We've heard stories about the orphaned children, the people who havenothing to do, the tight quarters, the anger and stress. Will bookssolve their situation?No. But we're hearing that many, many people wish they had somethingto read -- it would help to pass the time. As members of the bookcommunity, we know how books can soothe, calm, and change a bad day.Providing books to read may change a life.Although the status of the people coming to Camp Ripley is stilluncertain, the books will go to where they are needed. Thank you inadvance for being so generous.Organizations who have become co-sponsors of Project Book Share are:the Bookcase of Wayzata, Children's Literature Network, the Loft, theMidwest Booksellers Association, the Minnesota Reading Association,
Illustrators and the Silly Sisters.To contribute other items, such as games, books for adults, toys,clothing, food, health items, please visit: http://www.kare11.com/news/katrina/hopeforthecity.aspx
Project Book Share for Children Affected by Hurricane KatrinaPlease donate NEW (preferred) or look like new books for the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Books for babies, wordless picturebooks, children's novels, children's nonfiction and teen books arebeing collected.Twin Cities drop off sites (from September 9th to September 19th)- The Bookcase of Wayzata, 607 East Lake Street, Wayzata, MN- The Loft at Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Mpls, MN- The Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Avenue, St Paul, MN- Incarnation Lutheran Church, 4880 Hodgson Road, Shoreview, MN- Red Wing Book Festival, Anderson Center, noon - 5 Sat 9/10/05 ONLYAdditional drop-off sites outside the Twin Cities and in the southmetro will be posted on the CLN website:www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org. A flyer (8.5x11) and a poster(11x17) as well as book lists for the very young are also availableas reproducible Acrobat PDF file.We've heard stories about the orphaned children, the people who havenothing to do, the tight quarters, the anger and stress. Will bookssolve their situation?No. But we're hearing that many, many people wish they had somethingto read -- it would help to pass the time. As members of the bookcommunity, we know how books can soothe, calm, and change a bad day.Providing books to read may change a life.Although the status of the people coming to Camp Ripley is stilluncertain, the books will go to where they are needed. Thank you inadvance for being so generous.Organizations who have become co-sponsors of Project Book Share are:the Bookcase of Wayzata, Children's Literature Network, the Loft, theMidwest Booksellers Association, the Minnesota Reading Association,
Illustrators and the Silly Sisters.To contribute other items, such as games, books for adults, toys,clothing, food, health items, please visit: http://www.kare11.com/news/katrina/hopeforthecity.aspx
feeble FEMA?
I just can't believe the reports that I continue to read about the lack of relief and how the survivors of the hurricane were treated as they tried desparately to get out of towns and sought water and food.
Will there really be any accurate accounting for all this? Even my friend Oz, who always has a kind word for everyone, writes negatively about the FEMA relief (Winona Boys blog).
If this is the response to an "expected" disaster, how will we come through an unexpected disaster of a grand scale?
I use this theme in a new play I've been working on, though I approach it from a different point of view. As a viewer, I am insensed. As an artist, I am inspired.
Will there really be any accurate accounting for all this? Even my friend Oz, who always has a kind word for everyone, writes negatively about the FEMA relief (Winona Boys blog).
If this is the response to an "expected" disaster, how will we come through an unexpected disaster of a grand scale?
I use this theme in a new play I've been working on, though I approach it from a different point of view. As a viewer, I am insensed. As an artist, I am inspired.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
sick as a dog
I've been sick as a dog. I start a blog but don't finish it until days later.
Will probably work a 10 hour day today then go home, put the kids to bed, and crash.
How does one catch a cold in late summer, anyway?
Will probably work a 10 hour day today then go home, put the kids to bed, and crash.
How does one catch a cold in late summer, anyway?
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
...and nothing to read
There is so much about the Katrina disaster that I can't even begin to comprehend, not the least of which is ... what the hell would I do for 24 hours a day cooped up in the Astrodome?
Apparently I'm not the only one, and I've since heard of two different groups organizing a call for book donations to be distributed to refugees. The first one I heard mentioned was from sci-fi author David Brin's blog davidbrin.blogspot.com. Look for his blog of Septempber 5, 2005. He seems fairly uncertain about it, though it's being organized by another respected name in sci-fi/fantasy, Jennifer Robeson.
The other group organizing a book relief is the Minnesota Society of Children's Book Authors and Illustrators (for which I am their web master). I'm still not certain as to how organized this group is, but I do know that if I were hanging out in the Astrodome, I would probably read just about anything that I could get my hands on and would greatly appreciate some books.
With all that's going on, it seems crazy to think about donating things like books, but once the needs of food, water, and shelter are satisfied, the rest of our needs -- exercise and stimulation for brain and body -- are slow(er) in coming.
Apparently I'm not the only one, and I've since heard of two different groups organizing a call for book donations to be distributed to refugees. The first one I heard mentioned was from sci-fi author David Brin's blog davidbrin.blogspot.com. Look for his blog of Septempber 5, 2005. He seems fairly uncertain about it, though it's being organized by another respected name in sci-fi/fantasy, Jennifer Robeson.
The other group organizing a book relief is the Minnesota Society of Children's Book Authors and Illustrators (for which I am their web master). I'm still not certain as to how organized this group is, but I do know that if I were hanging out in the Astrodome, I would probably read just about anything that I could get my hands on and would greatly appreciate some books.
With all that's going on, it seems crazy to think about donating things like books, but once the needs of food, water, and shelter are satisfied, the rest of our needs -- exercise and stimulation for brain and body -- are slow(er) in coming.
the characters culled from disaster
As a writer, I am absolutely fascinated by the characters I am discovering as I watch the news and read the reports out of the hurricane zone. Who doesn't love the image from CNN of the grizzled old man using a tire as an inner tube and his pulling a vodka bottle up from underneath him?
And from The New Republic (you can read the entire article by clicking here -- don't forget to use bugmenot.com when it asks for a login) comes this paragraph:
As we head out of Beachwood and to our car, we encounter a young man with braces who is wearing bright blue overalls. "Do you have any idea what street this is?" he asks. He tells us he's an insurance adjuster from Oklahoma City and that he can't find the home he's been sent to evaluate. He clutches a piece of paper--a printout of a map from Yahoo.com--and looks in vain for any street signs. We tell him we're not sure where the home he's looking for is but that it's probably gone. He shakes his head. "I know," he says, "but I've got to check." And he walks off into the wreckage.
And from The New Republic (you can read the entire article by clicking here -- don't forget to use bugmenot.com when it asks for a login) comes this paragraph:
As we head out of Beachwood and to our car, we encounter a young man with braces who is wearing bright blue overalls. "Do you have any idea what street this is?" he asks. He tells us he's an insurance adjuster from Oklahoma City and that he can't find the home he's been sent to evaluate. He clutches a piece of paper--a printout of a map from Yahoo.com--and looks in vain for any street signs. We tell him we're not sure where the home he's looking for is but that it's probably gone. He shakes his head. "I know," he says, "but I've got to check." And he walks off into the wreckage.
This is the kind of character that can really make a written work of fiction (or non-fiction, as in the case of this article) stand out. Don't you immediately form a mental picture of this young man, perhaps on his first insurance assignment? And a Yahoo map -- he's internet savvy, he doesn't buy the big atlas or the gas station folding map -- what does this say about him?
It's a great feast of characters.
Candy Matson
I only recently discovered this little gem of an old time radio show -- Candy Matson YUkon 2-8209. There seem to be only 14 (or 15, if you count a remake) surviving episodes of this great lady detective radio series.
Set, and originally produced in San Francisco, Candy Matson is good-looking (so they say), wise-cracking female detective whose best friend is an artisitc photographer by the name of Rembrandt Watson. Her beau (in the later episodes) is city police detective Ray Mallard. The show premiered in in 1949 and ran through 1951.
I was very impressed with the writing in this show. I often laughed and wondered how they could get away with some of their double-entendres back in that era. And while it was never said outright, the character of "Rembrandt Watson" was likely the first "gay" character on the radio. You only have to listen to how the character is written and performed to get that impression -- and of course he is an artist in San Francisco!
Ifthere are any down sides to the program it would be first the organ music which is played as mood music but which I found invasive. i suspect in '49 it was a bit more common to hear an organ during a radio program.
The other negative would be that Candy seemed to be "saved" a few times by the sheer luck of Lt. Mallard being near by with gun in hand.
Since I first listened to this, I've discovered that Candy Matson is generally considered to be the finest of the lady P.I. programs, and though I haven't listened to many, I would agree based on how much I've enjoyed this. I hope that someone uncovers the missing 70+ episodes.
Set, and originally produced in San Francisco, Candy Matson is good-looking (so they say), wise-cracking female detective whose best friend is an artisitc photographer by the name of Rembrandt Watson. Her beau (in the later episodes) is city police detective Ray Mallard. The show premiered in in 1949 and ran through 1951.
I was very impressed with the writing in this show. I often laughed and wondered how they could get away with some of their double-entendres back in that era. And while it was never said outright, the character of "Rembrandt Watson" was likely the first "gay" character on the radio. You only have to listen to how the character is written and performed to get that impression -- and of course he is an artist in San Francisco!
Ifthere are any down sides to the program it would be first the organ music which is played as mood music but which I found invasive. i suspect in '49 it was a bit more common to hear an organ during a radio program.
The other negative would be that Candy seemed to be "saved" a few times by the sheer luck of Lt. Mallard being near by with gun in hand.
Since I first listened to this, I've discovered that Candy Matson is generally considered to be the finest of the lady P.I. programs, and though I haven't listened to many, I would agree based on how much I've enjoyed this. I hope that someone uncovers the missing 70+ episodes.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
radio
There was a time, I'm sure, when the good ol' U.S. of A. was the best a radio broadcasting. Just think back to that golden era of programming when everyone knew about The Lone Ranger, The Shadow, Suspense, etc etc etc.
Unfortunately, we are no longer the best. We've abandoned radio as nothing more than up-to-the-minute news, traffic reports, and incessant music to fill the backgrounds of our lives. But as entertainment in and for itself? Nah. I bet most of you would be hard-pressed to name a radio program that exists for entertaiment purposes other than Prairie Home Companion or Howard Stern.
The British, on the other hand, have kept radio entertainment alive and continue to produce excellent radio entertainment. Did you kow there was a new Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy series? A new Dr. Who series? Were you aware that they produce radio plays nearly every day? Do you even care? Probably not.
I love radio. To me, radio entertainment is almost the purest form of entertainment and requires excellent, careful writing. Perhaps that is why I enjoy listening to the BBC radio stations on the internet. If you're curious, I'd encourage you to check out the BBC at BBC Radio. My favorites are BBC 3, BBC 4, and BBC 7.
I also happen to really enjoy listening to OTR (Old Time Radio) programs. In the days ahead I may discuss some of these shows.
Unfortunately, we are no longer the best. We've abandoned radio as nothing more than up-to-the-minute news, traffic reports, and incessant music to fill the backgrounds of our lives. But as entertainment in and for itself? Nah. I bet most of you would be hard-pressed to name a radio program that exists for entertaiment purposes other than Prairie Home Companion or Howard Stern.
The British, on the other hand, have kept radio entertainment alive and continue to produce excellent radio entertainment. Did you kow there was a new Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy series? A new Dr. Who series? Were you aware that they produce radio plays nearly every day? Do you even care? Probably not.
I love radio. To me, radio entertainment is almost the purest form of entertainment and requires excellent, careful writing. Perhaps that is why I enjoy listening to the BBC radio stations on the internet. If you're curious, I'd encourage you to check out the BBC at BBC Radio. My favorites are BBC 3, BBC 4, and BBC 7.
I also happen to really enjoy listening to OTR (Old Time Radio) programs. In the days ahead I may discuss some of these shows.
Monday, September 05, 2005
she's at it again
My sister-in-law is a nurse at a hospital in upstate New York. In September of 2001 she packed a backback full of emerency gear and worked her way to the front lines of the 9/11 disaster zone. While she doesn't talk much about it, the report from other emergency personnel at the scene is that my sister-in-law was single-handedly responsible for making sure all the firefighters and other excavation people were given proper respiration protection.
Now she's in Mississippi.
She took an unpaid week off of work, flew down at her own expense, but was given permission by FEMA to work "for them" for a week.
Sometimes I wonder why she does this, but as my wife explained, "she became a nurse for a reason, and it's that same reason which drives her to insist on being where she can help."
Now she's in Mississippi.
She took an unpaid week off of work, flew down at her own expense, but was given permission by FEMA to work "for them" for a week.
Sometimes I wonder why she does this, but as my wife explained, "she became a nurse for a reason, and it's that same reason which drives her to insist on being where she can help."
Sunday, September 04, 2005
boardgames
If you think that boardgames are either of the standard, Monopoly, Life, Sorry!, buy-it-at-Wal-Mart-or-Target ilk, or the more complicated Dungeons and Dragons and wargames sort, then you are missing out on a vast world of gaming.
Although there are more and more specialty gaming stores opening all the time, the incredible world of game-playing still seems to be a well-kept secret.
My family really enjoys playing games, and our stock of games is fairly impressive. I discovered a wonderful website, full of unusual games at pretty decent prices. It's funagain.com, and it really is a treasure trove of gaming.
If you are into the deep-thinking, strategy games like chess, try Dvonn or other games in the Gipf project. Enjoy the standard boardgames but want something more? Try the hottest game on the market, Settlers of Catan. Can't find enough people to play? There are plenty of two person games such as Lost Cities, Hera and Zeus, and Odin's Ravens. Want a tile-laying game that's got more strategy involved than dominoes? How about Carcassone?
If you like games but are bored with what you find in your local retail store, check out funagain, or drop me a note here and I'll recommend something for you. There are even great games for kids that you may never have heard of, so put away Hi-Ho Cherry-O and Candyland and get something a little more interesting.
(Yes, I've just played three hours of games, which is what's made me think of this.)
Although there are more and more specialty gaming stores opening all the time, the incredible world of game-playing still seems to be a well-kept secret.
My family really enjoys playing games, and our stock of games is fairly impressive. I discovered a wonderful website, full of unusual games at pretty decent prices. It's funagain.com, and it really is a treasure trove of gaming.
If you are into the deep-thinking, strategy games like chess, try Dvonn or other games in the Gipf project. Enjoy the standard boardgames but want something more? Try the hottest game on the market, Settlers of Catan. Can't find enough people to play? There are plenty of two person games such as Lost Cities, Hera and Zeus, and Odin's Ravens. Want a tile-laying game that's got more strategy involved than dominoes? How about Carcassone?
If you like games but are bored with what you find in your local retail store, check out funagain, or drop me a note here and I'll recommend something for you. There are even great games for kids that you may never have heard of, so put away Hi-Ho Cherry-O and Candyland and get something a little more interesting.
(Yes, I've just played three hours of games, which is what's made me think of this.)
Saturday, September 03, 2005
illness
I've been struck down by a bug -- a virus perhaps. Cold? Flu? I'm not sure. I know only that I'm feeling miserable, but can't sleep and can't retain concentration on anythig for any reasonable amount of time.
Friday, September 02, 2005
is it literature -- again
I'm coming back to this question again about what makes writing "literature" as opposed to just fiction or non-fiction. I read today, an article about Ray Bradbury in the on-line Slate magazine. You can read the article yourself by clicking here.
Basically the article mentions that Ray Bradbury is now accepted as a literary icon, has won numerous awards, has books which are regular readings in school, but some of his best work is still his pulp fiction.
Give the article a read and tell me what you think. And while I've gotten some good suggestions as to what makes a particular written work "literature" or not, I'm still looking for more thoughts.
Basically the article mentions that Ray Bradbury is now accepted as a literary icon, has won numerous awards, has books which are regular readings in school, but some of his best work is still his pulp fiction.
Give the article a read and tell me what you think. And while I've gotten some good suggestions as to what makes a particular written work "literature" or not, I'm still looking for more thoughts.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Katrina
I find that I am completely absorbed by news coming out of the New Orleans area dealing with the aftermath of the terrible hurricane and have not much to say.
I did enjoy the reporter for CNN who was talking to one of the state's governors -- the governor started praising congress for holding a special session to appropriate money for disaster relief. The reporter interupted her to say, "You know, I just saw a body floating down the street and you're here patting other politicians on the back. Can we just talk about how these people are going to get relief instead of thanking other politicians?"
Bravo.
I did enjoy the reporter for CNN who was talking to one of the state's governors -- the governor started praising congress for holding a special session to appropriate money for disaster relief. The reporter interupted her to say, "You know, I just saw a body floating down the street and you're here patting other politicians on the back. Can we just talk about how these people are going to get relief instead of thanking other politicians?"
Bravo.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
comedy (?)
Many considerations went in to our camping vacation plans. One item of consideration was our desire to see an area community theatre performance of RADIO GALS.
RADIO GALS is a musical that I spent a year or more working on, including the recording of the "Original Cast" CD. It was an incredibly fun show and I consider it's author and some of the performers from the show friends of mine.
And so my wife and I were both looking forward to a reunion of sorts with those characters that we lived with for so long.
Did I say it was a community theatre production?
Now I know I've gotten in to a bit of trouble for my contradictory views on community theatre, but if there is a prime example of community theatre done porrly but with lots of heart, that would be this production of RADIO GALS.
I don't care what the show is, or how you want to alter the script, a show has got to be paced in such a way that the audience doesn't lose interest. Perhaps they didn't really understand what they were saying or doing, because the non-scripted parts they seemed to have fun with. The script looked tired in their efforts.
I wasn't expecting Off-Broadway. I wasn't even expecting anything professional, but I was expecting to laugh and to tap my toes to the music. I didn't do much of either.
I'm sure my children are wondering why we ever thought that RADIO GALS was a fun show. You can check out the official home page for RADIO GALS by clicking here.
RADIO GALS is a musical that I spent a year or more working on, including the recording of the "Original Cast" CD. It was an incredibly fun show and I consider it's author and some of the performers from the show friends of mine.
And so my wife and I were both looking forward to a reunion of sorts with those characters that we lived with for so long.
Did I say it was a community theatre production?
Now I know I've gotten in to a bit of trouble for my contradictory views on community theatre, but if there is a prime example of community theatre done porrly but with lots of heart, that would be this production of RADIO GALS.
I don't care what the show is, or how you want to alter the script, a show has got to be paced in such a way that the audience doesn't lose interest. Perhaps they didn't really understand what they were saying or doing, because the non-scripted parts they seemed to have fun with. The script looked tired in their efforts.
I wasn't expecting Off-Broadway. I wasn't even expecting anything professional, but I was expecting to laugh and to tap my toes to the music. I didn't do much of either.
I'm sure my children are wondering why we ever thought that RADIO GALS was a fun show. You can check out the official home page for RADIO GALS by clicking here.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
carv-fest
One of my new hobbies is woodcarving. My grandfather was an excellent wood-carver and for nearly as long as I can remember, I've wanted to carve, too. I still have the pocket jack-knife my grandfather gave me, along with a carving he'd started and he told me to go to work on it. I did, and ruined it completely.
About ten years ago, my wife, knowing of my desire to carve, gave me a set of carving tools. I picked up some wood, some books about carving, and got totally frustrated at my lack of ability.
Finally, about two years ago, a carving class was offered in my new town, and at my wife's encouragement, I signed up for the class. There I learned that my earlier problem was not that I couldn't carve, but that I had dull tools. I enjoyed the class completely, and now carve whenever I get the chance.
In Fairbault, MN is a two-day festival of woodcarving (aptly titled Carv-Fest). Last year was their first year, which I also attended. I took one, two-hour class on Scandinavian flat-plane carving, and actually had my two oldest children signed up for a class on relief carving, which they both enjoyed.
I had a very nice conversation with one of the top carvers in the country, Ivan Whillock, who grew up in Trempealeau, WI and attended Winona State University, graduating with a degree in English.
I didn't spend too much money at the Carv-Fest this year... one new tool, three books, and two pieces of wood -- one just because it looked nice, and one for a project I plan to do for my daughter.
It was a very nice way to wind down the vacation.
About ten years ago, my wife, knowing of my desire to carve, gave me a set of carving tools. I picked up some wood, some books about carving, and got totally frustrated at my lack of ability.
Finally, about two years ago, a carving class was offered in my new town, and at my wife's encouragement, I signed up for the class. There I learned that my earlier problem was not that I couldn't carve, but that I had dull tools. I enjoyed the class completely, and now carve whenever I get the chance.
In Fairbault, MN is a two-day festival of woodcarving (aptly titled Carv-Fest). Last year was their first year, which I also attended. I took one, two-hour class on Scandinavian flat-plane carving, and actually had my two oldest children signed up for a class on relief carving, which they both enjoyed.
I had a very nice conversation with one of the top carvers in the country, Ivan Whillock, who grew up in Trempealeau, WI and attended Winona State University, graduating with a degree in English.
I didn't spend too much money at the Carv-Fest this year... one new tool, three books, and two pieces of wood -- one just because it looked nice, and one for a project I plan to do for my daughter.
It was a very nice way to wind down the vacation.
Monday, August 29, 2005
camping in Itasca
We took the family camping for our vacation. At the suggestion of my daughter, we headed for Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to see where the Mississippi River begins. Here you can see my children walking across the great river (they are pretty much in the middle of the Mississippi River in this photo)...The park is a State Park in Minnesota and is very well maintained and with a wonderful information center that easily held the interest of the kids.
We camped in an old (six year old), Wal-Mart brand tent, which probably saw it's last days in the wilderness. I had encouraged my wife to let me buy a new tent, on sale, before we left, but she insisted this old one was just fine for this trip. However...
Thursday, August 25, we took the kids on a miserable three mile hike. 'Course we didn't know it was going to be miserable at the time. It had rained lightly, almost more of a heavy mist, earlier in the day, and then we started for our hike (we belong to the State Park hiking club -- most parks have a designated hike for club members -- to prove you hiked the path there is a password about half way which you log in your hiking book). We were maybe a third of a mile in when the mosquitos came out and were extremely viscious. We hadn't had any problems with bugs for the first two days there, so we hadn't even thought ahead to the possibility of mosquitos. We kept our sweatshirts on to protect us from bites as much as possible, but the air was extremely humid from the heavy mist and the rain still to come. We did manage to finish the hike and see some interesting things along the way (a loon, not far from us swimming casually in a lake, and a stand of trees that were in the process of being felled by beaver).
As we get in the car to head back to camp, it begins to rain. A light, but steady rain. So, we drive around the different campsites, waiting for the rain to let up. I stop at the ranger station to ask if they know what the forcast is, and they tell me it's a 50% chance of scattered showers (they tell me as I'm getting wet!). Doesn't sound too bad, so we head to the tent. As we get there, the rain is coming down harder, the sky is darker, and lightening is flashing all around us. We are seeing lighting strikes inside the park and some thunder is nearly instantaneous with the lightning it is so close. We check the tent and two sleeping bags are already soaking wet. Our cheap tent is "cabin" style, rather than "dome" and while the rain is supposed to run off, it tends to gather and pool above the open roof, and then run down in to the tent.
We sat in the car and waited to see if the storm was going to let up, but when it didn't, we gathered a few belongings and headed the half-hour to the nearest twon and took a hotel room for the night. Wimps. The next day was sunny and we were able to dry most everything out before packing up (we were scheduled to leave anyway). Neighbors told us it rained like that until about 11pm, so we were glad we didn't stick it out. Rain is okay, but the combination of a leaky tent and the many lightning strikes discouraged our trying to tough it out -- with young children, especially.
We are, however, going to look at tents today!
Sunday, August 28, 2005
vacation endeth
I have returned from a vacation of camping, carving, and comedy (sort of). It is late, I'm tired, and I will write more on all of the above in the coming days.
I hadn't heard about the category "5" hurricane that is poised to be "devastating" as it strikes the New Orleans area tonight. I had caught a bit about it as it raged through Miami, but it was expected to head north and peter out. I am fascinated by the storm's size and strength.
I hadn't heard about the category "5" hurricane that is poised to be "devastating" as it strikes the New Orleans area tonight. I had caught a bit about it as it raged through Miami, but it was expected to head north and peter out. I am fascinated by the storm's size and strength.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Sunday, August 21, 2005
ouch
I played football tonight. Well, I participated. My son is in a flag football league and tonight it was going to be the dads against the flag football coaches -- who are all members of the high school football team. ...The state champion football team.... We dads outnumbered the high school kids by more than 2 to 1, but we were taken to task. We had maybe five dads you were decent enough to play well. Me? I did my job on defense. Took part in two "tackles" (holding on to the high school kid long enough for me or another to rip off the flag), and broke up one short pass behind the line of scrimmage.
Jeez those kids can run fast!
It wasn't a blow out. Dad's scored one touchdown and high schoolers scored two. But...ow...my legs are aching. I'm going to be cramping tonight.
I'm hardly the jock type, so why did I play? For my kid, of course. He wanted to watch dad play, and as we always tell him to do his best and to at least try, how could I do less? There's talk of forming a dad league, but I think I've had all the playing time I need for the next ... oh, say... lifetime!
Where's the nearest dodgeball court?
Jeez those kids can run fast!
It wasn't a blow out. Dad's scored one touchdown and high schoolers scored two. But...ow...my legs are aching. I'm going to be cramping tonight.
I'm hardly the jock type, so why did I play? For my kid, of course. He wanted to watch dad play, and as we always tell him to do his best and to at least try, how could I do less? There's talk of forming a dad league, but I think I've had all the playing time I need for the next ... oh, say... lifetime!
Where's the nearest dodgeball court?
Saturday, August 20, 2005
dodgeball
We'll deviate from literature to dodgeball. I just finished watching "Extreme Dodgeball" on some channel I not only didn't know I had, but couldn't tell you what it is.
I know that the movie helped spur some fascination to this ...ah...sport, but I believe the movie came about because there are indeed dodgeball tournaments for adults.
Who ever would have guessed that the dreaded gym class sport, where the jocks got to whip a ball as hard as they could at the nerds, would become a televised, adult sport. "Extreme" no less!
Certainly this is a sport for the nerds. The jocks are either in pro sports where they can express their jock-ness or way too out of shape. The nerds, still wirey and having grown up learning how to avoid getting hit by that pocked, rubber ball now rule.
The game I watched, between Philadelphia something and the New York "Bling" actually went in to overtime. The best part came after the game when they were interviewing the nerd from the Bling who threw the wicked sidearm to get his last opponent out. "How does it feel, having won this?" he was asked.
"This is freakin' great. Pardon my French," he replied.
I know that the movie helped spur some fascination to this ...ah...sport, but I believe the movie came about because there are indeed dodgeball tournaments for adults.
Who ever would have guessed that the dreaded gym class sport, where the jocks got to whip a ball as hard as they could at the nerds, would become a televised, adult sport. "Extreme" no less!
Certainly this is a sport for the nerds. The jocks are either in pro sports where they can express their jock-ness or way too out of shape. The nerds, still wirey and having grown up learning how to avoid getting hit by that pocked, rubber ball now rule.
The game I watched, between Philadelphia something and the New York "Bling" actually went in to overtime. The best part came after the game when they were interviewing the nerd from the Bling who threw the wicked sidearm to get his last opponent out. "How does it feel, having won this?" he was asked.
"This is freakin' great. Pardon my French," he replied.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Literature? Popular? part ii
I really am curious as to what people are thinking/saying about literature and popular fiction. Can they be the same, or, as Mo suggests, is it "literature" if it can stand the test of time? My question back might be, "Is it 'popular' if it's only read by a few people?" But Mo... stands the test of time for whom? How many people are really interested in reading James Joyce? Bookstores stock and sell 'em, but is it because people want to read him or because they have to for schools? Then, is it the academic world that decides what is literature by what they choose to study?
I've really enjoyed the works I've read by Paul Watkins (as you might notice to the left, I'm reading one of his works now). He's hardly a name many people know (except that he's got the kind of name where people from my neck of the woods might say, "Wasn't he in the class right after ours?"). He's hardly popular, his work probably won't be around in a hundred years (too bad), but I would consider his work "literature." Why? I'm not sure I can put my finger on it, and that's what's got me bugged. Is it because his characters are on a physical, spiritual, and thematic journey that is often metaphor for our own lives whereas the popular authors tend to write about here, now stories that leave little, if any, long-lasting emotional ties?
I've really enjoyed the works I've read by Paul Watkins (as you might notice to the left, I'm reading one of his works now). He's hardly a name many people know (except that he's got the kind of name where people from my neck of the woods might say, "Wasn't he in the class right after ours?"). He's hardly popular, his work probably won't be around in a hundred years (too bad), but I would consider his work "literature." Why? I'm not sure I can put my finger on it, and that's what's got me bugged. Is it because his characters are on a physical, spiritual, and thematic journey that is often metaphor for our own lives whereas the popular authors tend to write about here, now stories that leave little, if any, long-lasting emotional ties?
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Literature? Popular? What's the difference?
So, just what is "literature" anyway? A couple of days ago I wrote about Harry Potter, and Kootch commented, asking the question I was hinting at: If the book is a result of good story-telling, keeping the reader wanting to turn the pages to find out what happens next, why isn't this good literature? Why aren't Pulitzer Prize for Literature given out to John Grisham or Tony Hillerman or Jackie Collins? Their books sell well. People enjoy reading their books. Do you even know who won the Pulitzer for a fiction book in the last three years? They were awarded to: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides [2003], The Known World by Edward P. Jones [2004], and Gilead by Marilynne Robinson [2005]. I don't know about you, but I've never heard of any of these books. So I want to know. Just what is it that makes these better books? Books worthy of being considered "literature"? 'Cause quite frankly, it would seem that to be considered "literature" it would have to be inaccessible to the average reader, both physically and thematically.
Thoughts anyone?
Thoughts anyone?
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
witty is as witty does
I took one of my sons fishing the other day. For me, a chance to spend some one-on-one time with my son. For him, a chance to go fishing.
Although I am the last person in the world to give fishing advice (okay, maybe Kootch is the last), I couldn't help but offer advice to my son while he was trying to snag some sunfish.
"You have to jerk your rod a little, help that hook stick in to the fish's mouth!" In his excitement he would either jerk the hook completely out of the water or just start reeling.
On and on I went, "Jerk the rod. Just a little jerk to the left like that. You need to give it a jerk." (Obviously I only know one bit of advice. I'm sure it's the same bit my dad gave me on the two or three times he took me fishing.)
Finally, after one more bit of advice offering..."Listen, you really have to jerk your pole to snag that fish."
He said, "Okay, Dad. Don't be a jerk. I get it. I just get excited."
I probably should have been mad, but instead I laughed. He looked at me, wondering what was so funny. "'Don't be a jerk'?" I said. "Yeah. get it? 'Jerk' the pole, don't be a jerk?"
Yeah, I got it. But how great to hear this boy who only just turned eight, already able to understand and use puns.
I may not be able to teach this child how to fish, but I can teach him the power and fun of words!
Although I am the last person in the world to give fishing advice (okay, maybe Kootch is the last), I couldn't help but offer advice to my son while he was trying to snag some sunfish.
"You have to jerk your rod a little, help that hook stick in to the fish's mouth!" In his excitement he would either jerk the hook completely out of the water or just start reeling.
On and on I went, "Jerk the rod. Just a little jerk to the left like that. You need to give it a jerk." (Obviously I only know one bit of advice. I'm sure it's the same bit my dad gave me on the two or three times he took me fishing.)
Finally, after one more bit of advice offering..."Listen, you really have to jerk your pole to snag that fish."
He said, "Okay, Dad. Don't be a jerk. I get it. I just get excited."
I probably should have been mad, but instead I laughed. He looked at me, wondering what was so funny. "'Don't be a jerk'?" I said. "Yeah. get it? 'Jerk' the pole, don't be a jerk?"
Yeah, I got it. But how great to hear this boy who only just turned eight, already able to understand and use puns.
I may not be able to teach this child how to fish, but I can teach him the power and fun of words!
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Mr. Potter, if you please
Let's talk about Harry Potter for a minute. I'm about half way through the latest book (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and, like every other writer in the country, I have wondered just what it is about Rowling's series that has made it so popular.
A conference I spoke at in upstate New York a few years back, had noted children's author Bruce Coville as the Keynote Speaker. (Now, I happen to think that Mr. Coville's books are about as good as the genre gets.) His address spoke of the HP phenomenon. What he said about the Potter books is that they have a higher quotient of CTPP than most books. CTPP. That's "Cool Things Per Page." And he's right, you know. Read through a book and you'll see cool things all over the place...stairs that move around, pictures that talk, headless (nearly) ghosts, sports games played on broomsticks, and magicked items galore! And of course, what better way to attract an average young person's attention but throw what seems to be an average young person in to a SCHOOL to learn magic?
I don't think anyone will ever look on these Potter books as great literature, but then few popular writers will ever have their books considered great literature. LeCarre? King? Grisham? Sheldon? Popular authors. And just what is it about popular authors (and I'd certainly include Rowling in that list) that people buy their books by the millions?
The answer, I think, is that they are good story-tellers. They can tell a story in a way that makes you want to turn the page and see what happens next.
I am very conscious of this thought as I am reading HP6. I realize that I want to go on to the next chapter and find out what happens. I want to know how the character is going to get out of the jam s/he is in. I want to know if the relationships are going to be patched up. I want to turn the page or read just one more chapter. This is excellent storytelling.
I liken it to Louis L'Amour. I never thought I'd read a western novel (and enjoy it), but when I read my first Louis L'Amour book, I had the same reaction as I have with Harry Potter. I wanted to turn the page. Louis L'Amour was a good story-teller. Rowling is a good story-teller. Most best-seller list authors are good story-tellers.
In some ways I am enjoying book 6 in the Potter series more than any of the others, and in equal amounts, I am enjoying it less. I can't help but wonder how much of the book is Rowling's writing and how much is what editors think needs to be there to please the hords of fans.
If you've read the Potter books, I'd be curious as to what you think.
A conference I spoke at in upstate New York a few years back, had noted children's author Bruce Coville as the Keynote Speaker. (Now, I happen to think that Mr. Coville's books are about as good as the genre gets.) His address spoke of the HP phenomenon. What he said about the Potter books is that they have a higher quotient of CTPP than most books. CTPP. That's "Cool Things Per Page." And he's right, you know. Read through a book and you'll see cool things all over the place...stairs that move around, pictures that talk, headless (nearly) ghosts, sports games played on broomsticks, and magicked items galore! And of course, what better way to attract an average young person's attention but throw what seems to be an average young person in to a SCHOOL to learn magic?
I don't think anyone will ever look on these Potter books as great literature, but then few popular writers will ever have their books considered great literature. LeCarre? King? Grisham? Sheldon? Popular authors. And just what is it about popular authors (and I'd certainly include Rowling in that list) that people buy their books by the millions?
The answer, I think, is that they are good story-tellers. They can tell a story in a way that makes you want to turn the page and see what happens next.
I am very conscious of this thought as I am reading HP6. I realize that I want to go on to the next chapter and find out what happens. I want to know how the character is going to get out of the jam s/he is in. I want to know if the relationships are going to be patched up. I want to turn the page or read just one more chapter. This is excellent storytelling.
I liken it to Louis L'Amour. I never thought I'd read a western novel (and enjoy it), but when I read my first Louis L'Amour book, I had the same reaction as I have with Harry Potter. I wanted to turn the page. Louis L'Amour was a good story-teller. Rowling is a good story-teller. Most best-seller list authors are good story-tellers.
In some ways I am enjoying book 6 in the Potter series more than any of the others, and in equal amounts, I am enjoying it less. I can't help but wonder how much of the book is Rowling's writing and how much is what editors think needs to be there to please the hords of fans.
If you've read the Potter books, I'd be curious as to what you think.
Monday, August 15, 2005
trod the boards
I love the theatre. Not just seeing a play, or working backstage, but the actual, blueprint-able, physical building, theatre.
I feel more comfortable walking along a dark, empty stage than I do navigating the toy-strewn obstacle course of my family room. I've been known to arrive to a show early (when I was actually working in the theatre) enough so that I could wander around the set, just making it all familiar to myself.
I don't know that I can accurately define what it is about the stage that is so special to me. It's more than the any one sensory reaction. More than all five senses together. It's a spark of magic that I feel in my soul. A spark that I don't get from anything else I've ever experienced.
Today I walked about on the large, empty stage at the university which employs me. It felt good. It felt comfortable. As if it's exactly where I belong. And of course I do. I belong in the theatre some how, some way.
I'm sure that I stood a little taller, spoke a little more confidently, and walked with a swagger that comes from ownership of something most impressive.
It was hours ago, but I can still feel the spark inside of me. Is this why I have been able to go as long as I have without working directly in the theatre? Fifteen minutes walking around a bare stage has given me a boost to last six hours, so has ten years of theatre work allowed me to go on for fifteen years of no theatre work (except for an occasional foray in to the amateur world)?
I wish everyone could experience the natural high I get just from being in a theatre.
I feel more comfortable walking along a dark, empty stage than I do navigating the toy-strewn obstacle course of my family room. I've been known to arrive to a show early (when I was actually working in the theatre) enough so that I could wander around the set, just making it all familiar to myself.
I don't know that I can accurately define what it is about the stage that is so special to me. It's more than the any one sensory reaction. More than all five senses together. It's a spark of magic that I feel in my soul. A spark that I don't get from anything else I've ever experienced.
Today I walked about on the large, empty stage at the university which employs me. It felt good. It felt comfortable. As if it's exactly where I belong. And of course I do. I belong in the theatre some how, some way.
I'm sure that I stood a little taller, spoke a little more confidently, and walked with a swagger that comes from ownership of something most impressive.
It was hours ago, but I can still feel the spark inside of me. Is this why I have been able to go as long as I have without working directly in the theatre? Fifteen minutes walking around a bare stage has given me a boost to last six hours, so has ten years of theatre work allowed me to go on for fifteen years of no theatre work (except for an occasional foray in to the amateur world)?
I wish everyone could experience the natural high I get just from being in a theatre.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
my use of the blog -- no apologies
Something I read in a friend's blog a while back got me to thinking.... He mentioned how the writing of his blog was taking up more time than he wanted; how his blog was a rather carefully crafted, rewritten blog. No wonder I enjoyed reading it so much! And I wondered if most blogs were that way.
It would make sense, I suppose. These are published words, posted where anyone in the world could view them, if desired.
I take a very different view on my blog (in case you couldn't notice).
My blog tends to be straight off the cuff. Sometimes I don't even proofread them.
For me, the purpose of this blog is the challenge to sit down and write every day; to come up with a topic and to follow through on it.
Should I ever come up with anything really worthwhile, I may try to rework it for another source, but truth is, I have another (non-public) blog for those specific kinds of writing.
Sometimes here I'll speak rather rashly (thanks, Mo, for remembering!) and many times I'll make some spelling/grammatical/English-teacher-wince type errors (yeah, thanks Kootch), and I don't mind having them pointed out, but for me, the challenge is in this first draft.
I've only missed a couple of days since I began this, so for me, this little experiment is going pretty well.
It would make sense, I suppose. These are published words, posted where anyone in the world could view them, if desired.
I take a very different view on my blog (in case you couldn't notice).
My blog tends to be straight off the cuff. Sometimes I don't even proofread them.
For me, the purpose of this blog is the challenge to sit down and write every day; to come up with a topic and to follow through on it.
Should I ever come up with anything really worthwhile, I may try to rework it for another source, but truth is, I have another (non-public) blog for those specific kinds of writing.
Sometimes here I'll speak rather rashly (thanks, Mo, for remembering!) and many times I'll make some spelling/grammatical/English-teacher-wince type errors (yeah, thanks Kootch), and I don't mind having them pointed out, but for me, the challenge is in this first draft.
I've only missed a couple of days since I began this, so for me, this little experiment is going pretty well.
Friday, August 12, 2005
why are summers so busy?
Summer is slowly winding away and the wife and I can't help but wonder where the days have gone and how we can possibly fit in all the things we still want to do.
Why does summer seem to go by so quickly? Is it because we hope to accomplish too much? Because the kids are off from school do we plan too many activities? Of course many of us still are working during the summer months and trying to cram in the trips and activities fills up the weekends unrealistically.
I had promised my son that I would take him out fishing more this summer than I did last summer, and yet we've only been out once. We really wanted to get some family camping time in, and yet there are only three and a hlaf weeks left to work that in.
Where does the time go?
Why does summer seem to go by so quickly? Is it because we hope to accomplish too much? Because the kids are off from school do we plan too many activities? Of course many of us still are working during the summer months and trying to cram in the trips and activities fills up the weekends unrealistically.
I had promised my son that I would take him out fishing more this summer than I did last summer, and yet we've only been out once. We really wanted to get some family camping time in, and yet there are only three and a hlaf weeks left to work that in.
Where does the time go?
Thursday, August 11, 2005
great discussion
There's a really good discussion going on from my blog of August 9th. You can read the blog and the comments by clicking here. Please add you own two cents worth!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
make it interesting
In reference to yesterday's post, some people have commented that it's important to find works that will appeal to students, to get them interested.
Certainly we realize that we can't reach everyone, but how do you teachers make the attempt to reach the majority? Do you see the tastes changing over time, or are the quality books from the past still worth reading? I would imagine that books which might be older than your students are unfamiliar to them, but once they get in to the story find that they indeed are still worth reading.
How current do you teachers of high school literature stay on the market? Do you read award winning books each year? Does it even pay to stay current or are you saddled to the past due to textbook and budgetary concerns?
In an era where kids are so reliant on instant gratification (such as posting blogs, sending instant messages, and cell phones), how do you make a book seem interesting? A book, which might require four or five days worth of reading?
I am interested in this because it is the students today who are shaping the way publishing and reading will become in the future.
Certainly we realize that we can't reach everyone, but how do you teachers make the attempt to reach the majority? Do you see the tastes changing over time, or are the quality books from the past still worth reading? I would imagine that books which might be older than your students are unfamiliar to them, but once they get in to the story find that they indeed are still worth reading.
How current do you teachers of high school literature stay on the market? Do you read award winning books each year? Does it even pay to stay current or are you saddled to the past due to textbook and budgetary concerns?
In an era where kids are so reliant on instant gratification (such as posting blogs, sending instant messages, and cell phones), how do you make a book seem interesting? A book, which might require four or five days worth of reading?
I am interested in this because it is the students today who are shaping the way publishing and reading will become in the future.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
textbooks
Okay all you teachers... there was an editorial in Friday's USAToday about the (poor) reading habits of today's teens, the dearth of quality textbooks, and how many teachers are using these lousy textbooks as a crutch for their own teaching. You can read the article yourself by clicking here.
Do you teachers out there agree with the article? How do you get around the issue of over-sized but under underwhelming textbooks?
Many of you that I know who might be reading this are English teachers. What do you think is the biggest reading-killer among high school students? How do you think that interest can be brought back? Surely we can't make every student an avid reader, just as we can't make every student a top-notch athlete. But how do you develop good reading habits among kids who are living in a nano-second world -- everything has to happen immediately?
Do you teachers out there agree with the article? How do you get around the issue of over-sized but under underwhelming textbooks?
Many of you that I know who might be reading this are English teachers. What do you think is the biggest reading-killer among high school students? How do you think that interest can be brought back? Surely we can't make every student an avid reader, just as we can't make every student a top-notch athlete. But how do you develop good reading habits among kids who are living in a nano-second world -- everything has to happen immediately?
welcome back, Discovery!
Although the science and fascination of space flight seems to have waned with the general public (I think the human race in general has developed a larger sense of apathy), I am still easily engrossed by anything "space" related. I've been watching the news regularly for updates on Discovery's mission, and am glad to have them returned to terra firma.
My son has a photograph on his wall of the members of this Discovery flight, autographed by each team member. He's excited by it...got to show it around school last year, but truth is, I think his dad was equally excited by it.
My son has a photograph on his wall of the members of this Discovery flight, autographed by each team member. He's excited by it...got to show it around school last year, but truth is, I think his dad was equally excited by it.
Monday, August 08, 2005
non-fiction
Perhaps it's a result of aging, or maturing, or maybe it's just a natural changing of tastes, but I find that I enjoying reading non-fiction more than I ever have in the past.
I've been thoroughly enjoying The Last River Rat, much to my own surprise. While I do have a certain love of the outdoors, I wondered if the book would speak to me at all. It does!
The book is broken down in very interesting ways. First, the "chapters" are broken down by month, but then each chapter is broken down in to three sections. First is a short segment telling us what each month means to the "river rat" -- a person who lives off the land and among the sloughs and backwaters of the great Mississippi River. Then the middle section (which I have enjoyed the most) in which the author describes an outing he has taken with the "last river rat", and finally, a tale told by the river rat himself.
I definitely get a feel for the land and can picture the encounters described by the author, J. Scott Bestul. It has brought back some delightful memories I've had of my time exploring the woods and fields near my home, as well as reading the books of Sigurd F. Olson -- books that my grandfather had passed down to me and my brother.
Now I have to admit that Scott Bestul is a friend of mine. A good enough friend that our families, and one other, enjoyed a barbeque lunch together yesterday. But I could just as easily not mention the book at all if I didn't enjoy it.
Scott tells me that the BBC recently did a documentary on the subject of the book (Kenny Salwey), and the book is soon coming out in paperback.
I urge you to pick up a copy. It's worth the read.
I've been thoroughly enjoying The Last River Rat, much to my own surprise. While I do have a certain love of the outdoors, I wondered if the book would speak to me at all. It does!
The book is broken down in very interesting ways. First, the "chapters" are broken down by month, but then each chapter is broken down in to three sections. First is a short segment telling us what each month means to the "river rat" -- a person who lives off the land and among the sloughs and backwaters of the great Mississippi River. Then the middle section (which I have enjoyed the most) in which the author describes an outing he has taken with the "last river rat", and finally, a tale told by the river rat himself.
I definitely get a feel for the land and can picture the encounters described by the author, J. Scott Bestul. It has brought back some delightful memories I've had of my time exploring the woods and fields near my home, as well as reading the books of Sigurd F. Olson -- books that my grandfather had passed down to me and my brother.
Now I have to admit that Scott Bestul is a friend of mine. A good enough friend that our families, and one other, enjoyed a barbeque lunch together yesterday. But I could just as easily not mention the book at all if I didn't enjoy it.
Scott tells me that the BBC recently did a documentary on the subject of the book (Kenny Salwey), and the book is soon coming out in paperback.
I urge you to pick up a copy. It's worth the read.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
the denizens of Oz
I first read L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1968. I remember the day well because it was the first real book that I had ever read from cover to cover in one day. I read the book again for the first time since '68 a few weeks ago , to my daughter. Though she's quite an accomplished reader, she still likes to have Dad read out loud to her. Because of her passion for the Harry Potter books, I thought she might like the fantasy world of Oz.
I am reading it again now, to my two boys. And if you glance over there to the left, you will see that Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is on my reading list.
I'm rather enjoying my visit to Baum's Oz.
If you're knowledge of Oz is based on the delightful movie, then you really ought to get acquainted with the very different world that Baum wrote about. And if you're really unfamiliar with L. Frank's world, it might surprise you to learn that he wrote some fourteen books in the Oz series, and more were written by a few other dedicated authors.
Wicked has become popular due to the fabulously successful Broadway musical, and while the book can stand on its own, I'm finding that I appreciate it more because I can see the connections from the characters in the different books.
I will admit that I have not read any of the other books in the Oz series, but I will be adding them to my reading list and you can expect to see some over there on the left soon. Oz is as unique and marvelous a land as Rowling's Hogwarts.
Maguire's Wicked is definitely not for children (there's politics, murder, treachery, intrigue, and sex), but it is so far a pretty good read.
Again, don't assume you know the land of Oz because of an MGM musical. Visit it for yourself.
I am reading it again now, to my two boys. And if you glance over there to the left, you will see that Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is on my reading list.
I'm rather enjoying my visit to Baum's Oz.
If you're knowledge of Oz is based on the delightful movie, then you really ought to get acquainted with the very different world that Baum wrote about. And if you're really unfamiliar with L. Frank's world, it might surprise you to learn that he wrote some fourteen books in the Oz series, and more were written by a few other dedicated authors.
Wicked has become popular due to the fabulously successful Broadway musical, and while the book can stand on its own, I'm finding that I appreciate it more because I can see the connections from the characters in the different books.
I will admit that I have not read any of the other books in the Oz series, but I will be adding them to my reading list and you can expect to see some over there on the left soon. Oz is as unique and marvelous a land as Rowling's Hogwarts.
Maguire's Wicked is definitely not for children (there's politics, murder, treachery, intrigue, and sex), but it is so far a pretty good read.
Again, don't assume you know the land of Oz because of an MGM musical. Visit it for yourself.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
shameless capitalism
By now you've noticed some of the additions to this blog. This is a little test of mine. If I find it annoying or in some other way obnoxious, they will be gone. In the meantime, feel free to use the Google ad search bar at the top, or to click on the ad links to the left. Believe it or not, I get paid for everytime these are used. Payment accrues in small amounts and when my total reaches $50 (about 7 years?) Google will send me a check (provided I have filled out all the proper electronic paper work).
I figured, "Why not?"
Again, this is a test. If these ads are not too intrusive I may put ads on some of my other web sites. Let me know if you find them annoying or if they take away from the site.
I figured, "Why not?"
Again, this is a test. If these ads are not too intrusive I may put ads on some of my other web sites. Let me know if you find them annoying or if they take away from the site.
Friday, August 05, 2005
dichotomy
Caught.
Mo has caught me in my own dichotomy. Sort of.
In the comments to the blog below, Mo has pointed out that I earlier wrote about community theatre in a rather negative view. First of all, I'd like to point out that Mo has only mentioned a portion of my blog of June 24, 2005. Where he left off I went on to write:
Mo has caught me in my own dichotomy. Sort of.
In the comments to the blog below, Mo has pointed out that I earlier wrote about community theatre in a rather negative view. First of all, I'd like to point out that Mo has only mentioned a portion of my blog of June 24, 2005. Where he left off I went on to write:
- So why do we do it? Well...it is live theatre, and if not for the community theatres, sadly, many people would have no other theatre experiences in their lives. The more unfortunate part of community theatre is catering to the audience with the stock of plays which you can predict were either done in the last five years, or will be in the next two seasons. The communty theatre audiences don't want to be enlightened or moved, or made to think. They simply want to be entertained. Just try doing a communty theatre play that has a cuss word and see how many complaints are lodged. I'm about to see RUMORS. ... And truth be told...I'm looking forward to it, because I enjoy going out to the theatre.
What this tells me (and yes, I already knew this about myself) is that I am one of those people that I mention who take a dim view of attending community theatre. I expect it to be "bad art." As I recall, my blog of June 25 was about my surprise at how much I enjoyed the community theatre production I had seen.
I am someone who will go out and see professional, semi-professional, as well as amateur theatre. I do this, in part, because, as I wrote on June 24, "I enjoy going out to the theatre." I don't usually look forward to the community theatre productions I attend, and I usually attend them because I have to. However, I am almost always pleasantly surprised at the quality in the shows I have seen. In fact, the worst play I have ever seen was a semi-professional theatre production of a new work titled, "Dick of Death." (Sad how the worst sticks with me, like a fish-bone lodged in the throat, while I'm hard-pressed right now to name a "best" play I've ever seen.)
But no matter what I expect, or do find, in a community theatre play, the role they play as a provider of art is still vital.
The words Mo has pulled out are a bit harsh. They show me just how much of a snob I am when it comes to theatre. I truly must not have been looking forward to seeing a community theatre play that night, despite the fact that I said I was was. "...not even a step below watching a sitcom"? Ouch.
Community theatre has it's problems. Talent can be one t(hough often it's not as big a problem as people [me] expect). Variety is another. What often makes community theatre undesirable to me is the lack of variety of material that will be put on stage. This is not because the organizers of community theatre want it to be that way, but because they know that their audience base (the people who do see this community theatre as the epitome of art in their community, the people for whom sitcoms are golden) won't shell out the bucks to see something provocative.
Most community theatre organizations recognize the balance -- providing art and entertainment within their audience's tolerance.
I'll do my best not to slam on community theatre again, Mo.
the value of community-based arts
My friend, K, recently wrote inhis blog about seeing a community theatre production and being pleasantly surprised at the talent level.
Too often the term "community theatre" becomes synonymous with "poor quality" or "bad art." This is too bad because the idea often will keep people away simply because they expect it will be bad simply because it's community based.
Not everyone can afford to drive to the nearest sizable city to take in a play or concert or visit an art gallery or museum. In fact the cost of such a trip is often prohibitive to many. It is this very reason that community-based arts programs (whether they be theatre, an art gallery showing, or a local concert) are vitally important.
In an era when we are losing school-based arts programs yearly, the communities have an even more important role to play in offering opportunities to families to be both spectator and/or participants in the arts.
For some, the community theatre might be the only theatre they see in their lives. Would that I could send everyone to New York to get the full Broadway theatre experience, but I can't. I might encourage people to take in a show at a nearby school or touring production, but I know that realistically, most people I know won't go.
Most community-based arts programs are run by people who (whether they can verbalize it or not) recognize the need for art in our lives. Many might only see it as looking for a chance to act or the opportunity to play an instrument, but what they are expressing is the inherent need for art in our lives. How dull would our lives be without art?
Looking back to yesterday, when I visitied the Vesterheim Museum, I was quite taken by the art that decorated nearly everything in the homes of these poor Norwegian families. Everything...EVERYTHING...(from bed posts to steamer trunks to wall-mounted shelves) was either delicately hand-carved, or painted, or both. At times the craftsmanship wasn't any too great, but I was impressed with their obvious need for art -- and their recognition of the need for art.
People today don't recognize this need for art. In part because we are inundated with advertising masquerading as art. Book covers, video covers, cd covers, magazines, junk mail are all often poor substitutes for art.
Some might argue that community theatre is also a poor substitute for professional theatre/art, and yes, I would agree, but isn't experiencing a play live, where actors feed off of the audience response a unique and important aspect of theatre? Do we get that from sitcoms and other television programming? Isn't walking through an art gallery and seeing the actual paintings and sculptures a richer experience than thumbing through a book or magazine? Isn't attending a concert more exciting than listening to a cd or radio? Why did I take my kids to the museum yesterday? Why didn't I just check out a couple of books from the library?
Because the arts are about the here and now. About the personal involvement, even as spectator, to a more enriching experience. Without the community-based arts programs too many people would lose out on the experience.
Too often the term "community theatre" becomes synonymous with "poor quality" or "bad art." This is too bad because the idea often will keep people away simply because they expect it will be bad simply because it's community based.
Not everyone can afford to drive to the nearest sizable city to take in a play or concert or visit an art gallery or museum. In fact the cost of such a trip is often prohibitive to many. It is this very reason that community-based arts programs (whether they be theatre, an art gallery showing, or a local concert) are vitally important.
In an era when we are losing school-based arts programs yearly, the communities have an even more important role to play in offering opportunities to families to be both spectator and/or participants in the arts.
For some, the community theatre might be the only theatre they see in their lives. Would that I could send everyone to New York to get the full Broadway theatre experience, but I can't. I might encourage people to take in a show at a nearby school or touring production, but I know that realistically, most people I know won't go.
Most community-based arts programs are run by people who (whether they can verbalize it or not) recognize the need for art in our lives. Many might only see it as looking for a chance to act or the opportunity to play an instrument, but what they are expressing is the inherent need for art in our lives. How dull would our lives be without art?
Looking back to yesterday, when I visitied the Vesterheim Museum, I was quite taken by the art that decorated nearly everything in the homes of these poor Norwegian families. Everything...EVERYTHING...(from bed posts to steamer trunks to wall-mounted shelves) was either delicately hand-carved, or painted, or both. At times the craftsmanship wasn't any too great, but I was impressed with their obvious need for art -- and their recognition of the need for art.
People today don't recognize this need for art. In part because we are inundated with advertising masquerading as art. Book covers, video covers, cd covers, magazines, junk mail are all often poor substitutes for art.
Some might argue that community theatre is also a poor substitute for professional theatre/art, and yes, I would agree, but isn't experiencing a play live, where actors feed off of the audience response a unique and important aspect of theatre? Do we get that from sitcoms and other television programming? Isn't walking through an art gallery and seeing the actual paintings and sculptures a richer experience than thumbing through a book or magazine? Isn't attending a concert more exciting than listening to a cd or radio? Why did I take my kids to the museum yesterday? Why didn't I just check out a couple of books from the library?
Because the arts are about the here and now. About the personal involvement, even as spectator, to a more enriching experience. Without the community-based arts programs too many people would lose out on the experience.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
the value of heritage
I took the family to the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa today. I was more than pleasantly surprised that not once did any of my three children complain about being there or being bored. ...And it's not largely a "hands-on" type of museum.
I think that in this age of melting pot conglomeration, it is more important than ever that children learn about their heritage. We didn't stop to read every sign or to study each item in depth, but I did attempt to explain the significance of each section. There were four floors inside and many buildings outside to look at.
Not surprisingly, my daughter kept telling me how much she wanted to learn about her Norwegian heritage. She wanted to buy all of the Norwegian-English language books, she wants to learn rosemaling (a Norwegian form of decorative painting), and she wants to loom weave the way she saw many of the woven objects in the museum.
One of my sons wants to wood carve in the Scandinavian style tradition (that my grandfather did).
And whether or n0t the kids will actually get around to doing any of this doesn't really matter. What is important is the excitement they have for these things. Things that are in so many ways unique to their heritage.
Whether we realize it or not, so many of the things we do in our lives are done in ways that have been handed down to us through the many generations. Holidays in particular are rich with family history and tradition.
But we shouldn't only acknowledge our heritage during the special holidays. Because we are who we are, it is important to understand our past and our ancestors. What was so terrible about where they lived that they were willing to pack and move to a foreign land sight unseen? Or...what was it about the potential for greatness in the New Land that tugged at our ancestors' souls?
I know that we don't all have a wonderful heritage museum within driving distance, but surely there are ways to explore our pasts.
I don't want to deny my children any other part of their ancestral descent (primarily Irish and Swedish), but I really am thrilled that they enjoyed this outing as much as they did.
I think that in this age of melting pot conglomeration, it is more important than ever that children learn about their heritage. We didn't stop to read every sign or to study each item in depth, but I did attempt to explain the significance of each section. There were four floors inside and many buildings outside to look at.
Not surprisingly, my daughter kept telling me how much she wanted to learn about her Norwegian heritage. She wanted to buy all of the Norwegian-English language books, she wants to learn rosemaling (a Norwegian form of decorative painting), and she wants to loom weave the way she saw many of the woven objects in the museum.
One of my sons wants to wood carve in the Scandinavian style tradition (that my grandfather did).
And whether or n0t the kids will actually get around to doing any of this doesn't really matter. What is important is the excitement they have for these things. Things that are in so many ways unique to their heritage.
Whether we realize it or not, so many of the things we do in our lives are done in ways that have been handed down to us through the many generations. Holidays in particular are rich with family history and tradition.
But we shouldn't only acknowledge our heritage during the special holidays. Because we are who we are, it is important to understand our past and our ancestors. What was so terrible about where they lived that they were willing to pack and move to a foreign land sight unseen? Or...what was it about the potential for greatness in the New Land that tugged at our ancestors' souls?
I know that we don't all have a wonderful heritage museum within driving distance, but surely there are ways to explore our pasts.
I don't want to deny my children any other part of their ancestral descent (primarily Irish and Swedish), but I really am thrilled that they enjoyed this outing as much as they did.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
lobbying
I had a working lunch today in which I was lobbying for a new position. For those who've read this blog for a bit will note that I've been bored by my position at the dance school. Available at the university (which owns the dance school) is a General Manager of the theatre position.
Part of my trouble is that I am not looking for full time work. My writing has suffered, just working part time. However, I'd certainly be happier running a theatre than I have been answering phones at the dance school.
Of course the university is looking for a full time person, but beyond that, they are looking for the work to get done so that the Dean of the School for the Arts doesn't have to do it another year. He and I have a good working relationship, and I feel certain that something will come of it.
Part of my trouble is that I am not looking for full time work. My writing has suffered, just working part time. However, I'd certainly be happier running a theatre than I have been answering phones at the dance school.
Of course the university is looking for a full time person, but beyond that, they are looking for the work to get done so that the Dean of the School for the Arts doesn't have to do it another year. He and I have a good working relationship, and I feel certain that something will come of it.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
it's the heat!
Had a pretty lousy day today with the kids. It actually started late last night when I caught the boys doing something which they knew was wrong. It continued today with the constant fighting. If it were in my nature to walk away from the family and not look back, today would have been the day that would have done it.
My neighbor and I discussed this over a drink earlier this evening. She's noticed the same thing going on with her two kids, and she says everyone she's talked to have complained about how naughty their kids have been behaving. "It's the heat!" she said. "It's cabin fever. We don't insist that they get outside because it's so blamed hot, but they just go stir crazy being cooped up all day, every day."
Maybe she's right, but I know for sure that the behavior of my kids has made my temperature rise.
My neighbor and I discussed this over a drink earlier this evening. She's noticed the same thing going on with her two kids, and she says everyone she's talked to have complained about how naughty their kids have been behaving. "It's the heat!" she said. "It's cabin fever. We don't insist that they get outside because it's so blamed hot, but they just go stir crazy being cooped up all day, every day."
Maybe she's right, but I know for sure that the behavior of my kids has made my temperature rise.
Monday, August 01, 2005
the jerk
Okay...I didn't really want to write about this, but it's on my mind in a big way.
Last night my son signed up for flag football in our small town. One of the two coaches for this is a friend of ours and I think would be a good coach teacher -- especially for those kids like my son who is not as athletically advanced as many of the others.
The other coach...is a jerk. He reminds me of every jock in high school who treated all non-jocks as a waste of time. His son, of course, is one of the best athletes in his class (who also happens to be in my son's class). There's not a day that goes by that you don't see them (the jerk and his son) tossing some kind of ball around. My first annoyance with them came at some sort of event held in the school gym...lots of people milling about and the jerk having his son run through the crowd of people and then throwing a nerf football the length of the gym to him.
So we go to sign up my son for flag football (and he was reluctant to sign up because he's already feeling that negativity from those who are better at it) and the jerk couldn't hide the disdain in his voice when he said my son's name to the woman writing it down.
I don't know. Maybe I'm reading too much in to it because I already don't like the guy. Maybe the jerk is okay. After all, how bad can a guy be when he spends time with his son? And yet with what little I know of him I feel that if his son isn't the best at each of the sports, he will be disappointed with the boy. That, of course, is not my concern. But what is my concern is how he will treat my son, who he already, apparently thinks very little of.
Last night my son signed up for flag football in our small town. One of the two coaches for this is a friend of ours and I think would be a good coach teacher -- especially for those kids like my son who is not as athletically advanced as many of the others.
The other coach...is a jerk. He reminds me of every jock in high school who treated all non-jocks as a waste of time. His son, of course, is one of the best athletes in his class (who also happens to be in my son's class). There's not a day that goes by that you don't see them (the jerk and his son) tossing some kind of ball around. My first annoyance with them came at some sort of event held in the school gym...lots of people milling about and the jerk having his son run through the crowd of people and then throwing a nerf football the length of the gym to him.
So we go to sign up my son for flag football (and he was reluctant to sign up because he's already feeling that negativity from those who are better at it) and the jerk couldn't hide the disdain in his voice when he said my son's name to the woman writing it down.
I don't know. Maybe I'm reading too much in to it because I already don't like the guy. Maybe the jerk is okay. After all, how bad can a guy be when he spends time with his son? And yet with what little I know of him I feel that if his son isn't the best at each of the sports, he will be disappointed with the boy. That, of course, is not my concern. But what is my concern is how he will treat my son, who he already, apparently thinks very little of.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
