vs is a book person
i am a movie person
last night west side story was on during my card game
i said that was one of the best movies ever made’
my son tells me i have said that once before
what movies rank for you?
Validation!
You’ve all heard my theory of the presidency. Anyone who wants to be president is automatically disqualified by that desire. Imagine my surprise when I found out that a former president was of the same opinion, so much so that he wasn’t even a candidate at the 1880 convention that nominated him.
The book I’m currently reading has this quote:
“I have so long and so often seen the evil effects of the presidential fever upon my associates and friends that I am determined that it shall not seize me. In almost every case, it impairs if it does not destroy, the usefulness of its victim.”
James Garfield
Who would YOU like to find out agrees with you?
Lego Ore Boat
Look at that massive block carrying masses of taconite. Efficient. Cost effective. Where is the curved grace of a classic ore boat?
Industry once designed for aesthetics as well as purpose.
Can a photographer discover poise and rhythm in industry today?
Wait until you see the Lego bank under construction near me (future blog).
What floats your boat this week?
A Case of the Giggles
Today’s post is written by Jacque.
Last week I was visited by a case of the giggles. The giggle incident was almost worthy of the Mary Tyler Moore episode in which she gets the giggles at Chuckles the Clown’s funeral. Several friends were horrified.
When Lou and I arrived home from Arizona February 2, it was abundantly clear that while we were away, the mice did play in three drawers of the kitchen. Immediately I cleared out the drawers, then washed everything in them. Lou set the traps. These mice were wily! It took 2 weeks to catch the first one in the knife drawer, a pink, sleek, healthy specimen which had apparently thrived in its makeshift home.
However, there was still evidence of mouse life appearing in the empty drawers. Lou reset the traps. Nothing happened for several days, then one morning the bait was gone yet the trap was not sprung. Then last Saturday I opened the plastic lid drawer to check the trap line to find the trap vanished, the drawer strewn with mouse blood and droppings. An event had occurred. The picture of the scene is what you see above.
I started to giggle and could not stop. Giggling, I called to Lou to come look, then he started laughing. Still giggling, we searched all the places we could access that might hold a mouse attached to a trap. Nothing.
That evening I hosted my Open Studio Group and Potluck—a group of artists that gathers once a month to work together on projects, laugh, and entertain each other. I told my mouse story, giggling hysterically. They were horrified.
“I can’t believe you are laughing!” one of them said.
“I know. I can’t help it.” I replied lamely, still giggling. “I am like Mary Tyler Moore at the funeral of Chuckles the Clown. It’s gruesome, not that funny, and hysterical.”
What gives you the giggles?
Exceptional Taste
Today’s post is written by Occasional Caroline.
I’m not the least bit exceptional, except, possibly for being exceptionally ordinary. I’m overweight, but so are 26.1% of Minnesota adults; nothing unique about that. I’m short; common trait. I’ve been married to the same man for nearly 48 years; I guess that stat is fairly unique, but at this stage, it’s pretty mundane from the inside looking out. I have children and grandchildren who are the lights of my life, but to you, they would seem pleasant, though not exceptional. I can’t sing or play any instruments. I have no artistic talent. I am a world-class “appreciator of the talents of others,” a worthy, but not particularly notable trait. My only somewhat out-of-the-ordinary characteristic is that I have rather eclectic taste in “stuff.” Many people (including my beloved children) find my taste and predilections “interesting,” but they certainly don’t covet any of my stuff or aspire to acquire similar stuff of their own. I am extraordinarily fond of some of my possessions, in particular one that is no longer with me — the late, great upside-down Christmas tree, that I lamented in a reply to tim’s “what is your signature” post two weeks ago. Here are a few of my favorite things.
Do you have a quirkiest object?
Wise Words
Today’s post is from tim
I sent a blog into Sherrilee and it got lost and rather than being able to find it due to my computer breaking and not having access to those files I thought about responding and in responding it Dondonde me that the punchline is that when I type stuff up it’s just kind of a quick off-the-cuff flowing commentary on what’s going on in my brain at the moment have you been able to tell…
The book that we’re reading in BBC nightingale starts out with a great first line not just memorable like they call me Ishmael but a great first line says something to the effect of marriage teaches you what you want to be an award teaches you what you are I hope to have memorable quotes that I can pass on as a legacy when I’m gone
something more than the fact that I miss spell the word form
every time every time every time
friend of mine just commented on the fact that her dad died and how difficult that was and it occurred to me that my dad left me with the number of sayings that I treasure and while I may not be the mark twain or Albert Einstein to be quoted by the world it would be nice to be remembered with a couple of meaningful sayings to pass on
are used to “Dr. Wayne Dyer from your Aronian zones and his quotation of the Declaration of Independence…”All experience has shown that mankind is more disposed to suffer-while evils are sufferable -than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”
that’s a true statement but those Declaration of Independence guys got a little wordy didn’t they?
what’s your favorite meaningful saying
Dove Lotion #Pine?
Today’s post comes from Occasional Caroline.
For the last few days I’ve been listening to the 50s station on Sirius radio in the car. It keeps me safely cocooned from unprepared-for onslaughts of anything related to Trumpelstiltskin.
Today I realized that I’ve mis-heard the lyrics to Love Potion #9 all these years. I always thought he “took his troubles down to Madame RUE, you know, that gypsy with the GOLD TATTOO.” WRONG! He went to Madame RUTH, the gypsy with the GOLD CAPPED TOOTH! Clear as can be.
Is satellite radio that much better? Is my hearing improving in my old age? Have I achieved a zen-like state where the clutter of the everyday is swept away and only crystal clarity exists? Am I the only one whose been singing along wrong for decades?
This makes me question every song I’ve ever heard; who knows what other misconceptions I’m living under?
Have you ever mis-heard lyrics?
Unseasonable
I’m a cynic about weather – I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop – but Sunday I threw caution to the wind. A friend and I walked from her house to Black Coffee & Waffle where I had the best waffle ever.
Strawberries, blueberries, bananas, granola, almond butter and whipped cream. No syrup needed. Then we went over to the Conservatory and saw the beautiful reds, purples and pinks of the Sunken Garden. And my jacket? Left it in the car!
What’s on your agenda for unseasonable weather?
The Not-So-Frozen River Film Fest
This was the weekend of Winona’s Frozen River Film Festival and Thursday eve we attended our first of many events: a cluster of short films, each between 4 and 15 minutes, about a given topic – like The Journey Set, Adventure Set, Expanding Frontier Shorts, Our Surroundings Shorts, Characters Set.
There were also longer films and speakers on myriad topics and at various venues – including Ed’s No Name Bar, the MN Conservatory of Arts, Public Library – but the majority will be held on Winona State’s campus. (Next year I’ll get this posted earlier in case anyone wants to make the trip!) I won’t see every film I’d like to because of volunteer shifts, but volunteering gets us free passes to most films and events.
Unfortunately, with temps in the 50s here this weekend, a couple of outdoor “side events” were cancelled (think ice skating on Lake Winona). On the other hand, the Fat Tire Bike Ride through Aghaming Park (island in the Mississippi that holds the boathouse community), was good to go.
Thursday night’s collection of eight films was called The People Set. I watched, i.e., “Edges”, about a 90-year-old woman still doing fancy moves on ice skates; “Throw” about a thrower who used his skill with a yo-yo to pull him out of gang violence; and the love and tolerance of a family whose young child, “Pink Boy”, is drawn only to feminine things. It was an evening of rich experience, and I traveled to many places and in several people’s lives in a short interval.
What person can you think of who is worthy of being ensconced in a short film?
Birch Eulogy
Disappearing from the North Shore: the white birch. Sad.
Viewing Superior through their white frame, their white paper catching the lake light. In the winter, as one with the ice.
Hearing the wind rustle their leaves above our backyard fires.
They framed our yard and my soul.
What frames your visions?
Trail Baboon 