This is a tribute to those who served and died in the wars.
America!
Bruce Springsteen: Summer of 69
I wasn’t in favor of war in my youth, but the draft still existed, and, guess who got drafted. Vietnam was pretty hot then (late sixties), so to avoid that I managed to crash my younger brother’s motorcycle and subsequently failed my induction physical. They gave me a temporary deferment so that I could heal. Being the genius that I am, I joined the Navy Reserves thinking that surely that would keep me out of Vietnam. Sitting in San Diego after my basic training, waiting for my orders, I heard my name called.
“Naval Support Activity – Saigon” was not on my list of preferred duty stations. There’s a reason why servicemen refer to that duty station list as a “dream sheet”. After my pre-Vietnam indoctrination at Coronado Island, my Dad (God bless you, Dad) said goodbye to me at Travis Air Force Base. His words were, “Keep your head down, son”, very good advice. It was going to be a long flight to Tan Son Nhut airport in Saigon, so I bought a paperback in the airport bookstore, The First Circle by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Not the best choice of a book when you’re going off to war. I didn’t read beyond the first chapter.
Who Should We Honor Today?
According to Google (who else), Memorial Day originally honored those who died in the Civil War but now honors those who have died in any war.
Feel free to look at my December 3, 2017 blog about Vietnam. I included a brief Vietnam movie in that blog that illustrates what it was like in THAT war zone, what a Swift Boat looks like, etc. The wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other wars had their casualties, and those service people deserve to be honored today.
I served on a barracks ship that supported Swift Boats (“brown-water Navy”). My role was as a noncombatant, but the people we supported were combatants. They came and went; literally, i.e we frequently lost boat crews. A boat would go out on a mission and become a casualty. I never became close friends with the “Swifties” because the opportunity wasn’t there – maybe as a familiar face, someone standing in a chow line, or gearing up to go out on another mission. They were only acquaintances, but some of them paid the ultimate price. OK, we could digress into whether or not the Vietnam War was worth it. Considering all the lives lost, on both sides, it wasn’t. And, some of the casualties were draftees, not enlisted soldiers and sailors. They didn’t volunteer, but they still served. Good or bad, wars happen.
I’m going to end with a quote, actually it’s a bumper sticker that I saw on a neighbor’s car.
“Except For Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism, And Communism, WAR Has Never Solved Anything.”
In Journalism school we used to have great fun with headlines, coming up with humorous or nonsensical word plays that would get the reader’s attention. In this case, “too many words” refers to something a relative posted in Facebook with that heading. I’m pretty sure what he meant was that writers/authors/reporters/etc. need to get to the point. So, depending on how long this part of my post is, I may comment more on wordiness as a sidebar.
First Some Definitions
Open-mindedness: “Receptive to arguments or ideas” (Merriam-Webster)
Bigotry: “Obstinate or intolerant devotion to one’s own opinions and prejudices” (Merriam-Webster)
Examples of bigotry in a sentence: “A deeply ingrained bigotry prevented her from even considering the counterarguments.”
Why Am I Venting?
Prompted by some Facebook sessions a few weeks ago in which I made the mistake of getting embroiled in a political discussion, I decided to vent in this post.
If I had taken my own advice – “don’t discuss politics using social media” – I wouldn’t have participated in the Facebook sessions that upset me. I say that because for me social media is the wrong platform for exchanging that kind of information. I.e., if someone comments in a news feed that so and so did this or something happened that supports their point of view, I want to be able to ask that person, “What’s your source for that information” or “Why do you believe that’s true?”
“You’re entitled to your own opinions, but you’re not entitled to your own facts.” Daniel Levitin
Anyway, back to my “embroiled political discussion”. Before the dust had settled on the Facebook exchanges that lasted several days, yours truly had been thoroughly thrashed and labelled with some very unkind labels (nothing obscene, but much undeserved labels).
For a bit more grist for this mill, check out this Imprimis piece by Amy Wax. You can read all of it if you want, but at least scroll down to the paragraph that begins, “It is well documented that American universities today, more than ever before”. Read that paragraph and the two paragraphs that follow it.
As you may know, Imprimis is a right-biased source. If that bothers you, just forget all that (bias business) for a minute and read the damn article. Amy Wax provides some thought-provoking ideas.
Here’s some music to listen to as you read and a quote to think about:
Antonio Vivaldi: Four Seasons (Spring)
“Truth and lies were irrelevant, what mattered was what people believed.” (A quote from LethalAgent, a novel by Vince Flynn that I just finished reading)
What’s My Point?
Shouldn’t I be allowed to contradict someone, to express my own opinions and try to ferret out the truth without being lambasted for my own beliefs? And, yes, if I hear a convincing and accurate argument that disagrees with mine, I’m willing to say, OK, you’re right, and I’m wrong.
If you missed this part in the Imprimis piece by Amy Wax, here it is again:
“What those of us in academia should certainly not do is engage in unreasoned speech: hurling slurs and epithets, name-calling, vilification, and mindless labeling. Likewise we should not reject the views of others without providing reasoned arguments. Yet these once common standards of practice have been violated repeatedly at my own and at other academic institutions in recent years—and we increasingly see this trend in society as well.”
Sorry, no pictures this time, but for sure I’ll add pictures in my next blog. I’m done venting (feels great!), thanks for reading and listening. I’ll save the “wordiness” sidebar for another post.
The Who: Tommy’s Holiday Camp (from Tommy, the rock opera)
If you follow my blog and have been patiently waiting for “Part IV – Spiritual”, here it is. I should know better than to attempt multi-part blogs, which seem to take forever to finish. The one I did on Crystal City, inspired by a gym friend who grew up there, took four months to complete. I hope you read Crystal City, it’s an interesting example of humanity gone amuck.
Be sure to read to the end of this post.
The Creative Process Can Be Painful
Starting with a blank page, it’s a challenging process – normally, I have my draft notes (in my green notebook), other sources of information at my fingertips, including blog notes in my daily journal. Sometimes I imagine myself as Michael Keaton in “The Paper” typing away on his keyboard or in a much older classic film about writing a novel or a news story using a manual typewriter, and the writer is frustrated because he’s been sitting for an hour and has only a part of a sentence on the page and a wastebasket full of crumpled paper. Anyway, let’s get back on track.
“Spiritual” Means What?
Looking at its history and literal meaning, according to Merriam-Webster, as an adjective “spiritual” means:
Of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit
Of or relating to sacred matters
Ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal
Concerned with religious values
Related or joined in spirit
Historically, first used in the 14th century – source Middle English, from Anglo-French and Late Latin; Anglo-French espirital, spiritual, from Late Latin spiritue alis, from Latin, of breathing, of wind, from spiritus
I like the “breathing” connotation, as in “inspiration” or “respiration”, i.e. spiritual as in an active state.
As befits this series, how does spiritual fit into the scheme of things? I ask myself, “Am I spiritual”? I think we all are spiritual to some degree, but not necessarily in a religious sense.
OK, I’ve decided this piece won’t progress beyond the “draft” stage, something I realized many weeks ago, that “Spiritual” was going to be a real challenge. I’m going to conclude with a story or two, pictures of course and probably some music.
Inspiration
One of the stories I really liked is about a woman who overcame a serious physical ailment and moved on with her life in a very positive way. The article was in the March-April 2020 Daily Word, a Unity publication.
Odds & Ends: about Relaxing
I wanted to include a link to another article with some ideas about relaxing, especially important during the Covid-19 situation. This article was also in the March-April 2020 Daily Word, a Unity publication.
OK, this segment is a bit divergent from the main topic, but in my opinion it speaks of our need for spirituality in our lives, whether it be religious or another form.
“Great spirit, grant that I might not criticize my neighbor until I’ve walked a mile in his moccasins.” (traditional American Indian prayer)
The quote reminds me of my time in scouting when I was growing up (in my first childhood) in Texas. I belonged to a boy scout troop in my hometown. One part of our regular troop meeting, for some of us, was the Caddo Lodge. We had our own special meeting room, members of the lodge had to go through a rigorous all-night initiation, and on special occasions we would perform traditional Indian dance ceremonies. The quote above was similar to the ending prayer for our meetings. Kind of makes you think doesn’t it, at least it reminds me of my New Year’s resolution to “not be so judgemental”.
The Caddo Lodge was not a unique organization, given the existence of well-established groups like the Order of the Arrow, which is still in existence. I belonged to the OA too when I was in scouting. If you’re interested, check out the link for more background.
Canned Heat: Let’s Work Together (Let’s Sick Together)
Coldplay: God Put a Smile on Your Face (Album: A Rush of Blood to the Head)
Crosby, Still, Nash & Young: Helplessly Hoping
Eagles: Love Will Keep Us Alive (Album: Hell Freezes Over)
Chicago: Wake Up Sunshine (Album: Chicago II)
Bottom Line
For me, as a Bible-reading believer and as a person who finds his own inspiration and guidance in the word of God, I wanted to end with these verses and underscore what I’ve been saying in this blog.
Galatians 5:22-24 (NIV Bible): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
In the pool area of my gym, the quote below is in huge letters superimposed over the picture of a swimmer looking directly at you with a knowing look in her eyes and saying:
“Before you can accomplish something, you must expect it of yourself.”
Maybe that’s the ticket for making New Year’s resolutions and actually keeping them. As I noticed a couple of days ago, the gym where I work out was very busy. As they say, the traffic will subside when people lose the motivation that prompted their “resolution list” and they stop coming to the gym on a regular basis.
If you read this blog, you know that I’m a big believer in fitness – all kinds, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It’s challenging, but really worth it in the long run. My goal this time is to throw some ideas your way, just to plant some good thoughts about what to expect of yourself this year.
After you see Woody’s list, you might want to check out the Open Culture web site offerings.
A Humorous Sidebar: Humorous Words
Not to distract you from our main goal, pondering our 2020 resolutions, this humorous Reader’s Digest item was too good not to share. Ignore the ads and enjoy!
A More Serious Item
I watched a program on public TV about N. Scott Momaday, the other night and found his ideas very thought-provoking. Here’s a quote from the program “The Man Made of Words”:
“Most of us have developed an attitude of indifference towards the land. We Americans must come to the moral comprehension of the earth and air. We must live according to the principle of a land ethic. The alternative is that we shall not live at all.”
By the way, he won a Pulitzer Prize for his book, House Made of Dawn. I haven’t read it, but I plan to.
I can’t say that I’m an environmentalist, but I try to be aware of the small role I can play. The part of the country where I live just outlawed the use of plastic grocery bags. If you forget to bring your tote bags, you can buy paper bags for a nickel when you check out. At my house we recycle. Maybe it’s too little too late to undo the damage and save the earth, but you have to try. OK, so you can add that resolution to your list, “don’t forget your tote bag”.
One More “Preachy” Item
A parting shot before I wrap this up. I was watching a program about Tuscany the other night – why is it that public TV seems to be the only thing worth my time these days? Anyway, it was interesting, partly because it looks so beautiful, and I would like to go there.
By the way, the TV program is “Rick Steves Europe”, really well-produced show that provides travel information and history. In this segment they talked about the local history and culture and how it affects the citizens (or vice versa). They were in Siena, Italy, where they practice something called “passiegata”. This is a daily evening ritual where the locals walk around in the streets, visiting with friends, eating, and just relaxing. Notice I said walking, that’s right, no cars. One more comment in the Tuscany piece:
“A community ruled by a just government enjoys peace, prosperity, and is great place to raise your kids.”
FYI: Imprimis
I haven’t read all of these Imprimis publications, but I’ve read enough of them to raise my awareness level of important issues in our society and to make me want to learn more. This is the main link to the web site, you can pick and choose the specific publications of interest to you.
More Music and Pictures
The bridge pictures are NOT metaphorical, nah, of course not, too obvious. The clouds, well, you can draw your own conclusions. Bottom line is, I just like taking pictures, and sometimes they are symbolic. The music, yeah, kind of obvious, but I really like the movie.
In my last blog posted at the end of 2018 I suggested that you might want to figure out your purpose in life, “What is the Meaning of Life”. Given that it’s already February, maybe it will give you a leg up if I reveal my “purpose”. If you need an inspiration for your own, go back and read my previous blog. In that post I also included a link to David Allan’s article in Reader’s Digest, some good ideas there.
Plant a Garden of Positive Thoughts
That’s it, that’s my purpose. Okay, I’m a goody two shoes (I should Google the origin of that label), but here are two reasons why I chose that as my purpose. First, it was something I read, another is that I’m looking forward to spring (do not like winter), and another reason (I guess that makes three) is that my significant other is a master gardener. I get involved in plenty of planting projects. If you think about it, the act of planting in itself is a positive thing, a cause of growth, either a vegetable from a seed or (metaphorically) growth that occurs when someone you helped reaps the benefits – kind of a “you too” benefit instead of a “me too” benefit.
Here’s a quick Bible quote: “No foul language should come from your mouth but only what is good for building up someone in need”. (Ephesians 4:29, paraphrased)
Huey Lewis and the News: The Power of Love
My Mission Statement
Several years ago I lost my job as a contract technical writer for the U.S. Forest Service. I’d been there over three years, but the federal government was cutting back on agency budgets. I think Obama was president. I don’t blame him, things happen.
Anyway, I went back into the job market. At some point I decided, given the lack of technical writer jobs being offered to me, I should try a career change. I went back to school and earned a certificate in non-profit development at a university in Portland. In one of the courses I learned the importance of a mission statement for any organization that was serious about achieving its goals. The following is my mission statement:
“My mission as a blogger is to educate and enlighten as many people as possible with a positive spin on the factual information that I provide for my readers.”
I know, given all the negative information that’s available in our world – fake news, incomplete news, inaccurate news, and politically biased news – it’s a challenge to ferret out the “real stuff” that is happening all around us.
Think Good Thoughts
I remember (from my hippie days in Houston) meeting a “gypsy” who lived in a very cool, highly-tricked out 1950s vintage Chevy pickup truck. I wish I had a picture of it. The body was bright red with a cab-over balcony big enough for one, an amazing living space with “rooms” partitioned with artsy curtains, including a small kitchen. He parked the truck in a vacant lot. If you walked up the steps at the rear of the truck, you could see a sign over the doorway that read “Think Good Thoughts”. Obviously that message stuck with me all these 40 plus years.
What’s Next?
I’ve been thinking about immigration issues a lot in the last year, and I want to present some things for you to think about. I’ll do that next time, now I must get my beauty rest so I can watch the “stupor bowl” tomorrow – actually I’m only interested in the beer commercials for a few laughs.
However, to whet your interest in my upcoming immigration topic, here’s a link to a piece written by Brett P. Reistad, National Commander of the American Legion.
I watched a program on public TV the other day about Vortex I, a documentary about a 1970 event, really interesting and historic as it relates to the state of Oregon. I may have to do a follow-up blog about the Portland vs Austin question.
Thanks to Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society for the Vortex I web write-up.
It Is Still 2018?
Yes, as I put pen to paper (actually fingers to keyboard) drafting this post, probably my last post for the year, there is only a full day left in 2018 before the big ball drops in Times Square. No, I won’t be there, but I have a runner friend who lives in Oregon but really likes New York.
The first and only time I was in New York occurred when I was a teenager. I was with my oldest sister and her husband, and it was Christmas time. We did a lot of “tourist stuff”, went to Rockefeller Center with the big tree and the ice skaters. We also went to a supper club in mid-town Manhattan where Joan Rivers was performing. She was pregnant, and I thought her jokes were pregnant. Anyway, for a boy who had grown up in small-town Texas, New York was an amazing experience – from a town of less than 8,000 to New York City, walking down 5th Avenue where people were packed in practically elbow to elbow. The subway and Greenwich Village were fun too.
Was 2018 a Good Year for You?
For me, now winding down 2018. I can say that it has been a good year, possibly a great year, but I’m ready to move on to new challenges. When you get “older and wiser”, you tend to get philosophical (and more forgetful) about life. Hopefully, no matter what your age, if you look back and reflect on 2018, you will smile and say that it has been a hoot or an adventure or whatever, and you will look forward to 2019. There are two quotes, a Nelson Demille quote at the top of that page and a Hunter S. Thompson quote at the bottom in my Favorite Quotes post. In my opinion, those two quotes say it all.
What is the Meaning of Life?
If you are at all interested in the meaning of life or the purpose of life I’m suggesting that you read another Reader’s Digest article, to start you off on the right foot for 2019.
The excellent article, Maintain Your Purpose in Life, was written by David G. Allan.
If you’re old enough, you may remember that screensaver from many years ago, a weird red and green cartoon character, mouth open and tongue hanging out (captioned the “meaning of life”) that flitted around the computer screen daring you to click it with your mouse, and of course it always evaded you. Regardless of the implication suggested by the screensaver creator that it isn’t possible to figure it out, read Allan’s article and give it some thought, about your own purpose in life. For him it’s a yearly exercise, and he says that his answer changes over time. Don’t overthink it – the year he got engaged, Allan’s answer to the question was “Love”.
He also points out that this isn’t a theoretical exercise, you should turn your answer into action. If your answer is “love”, then you should love more.
Bottom line, there is no right answer, only what’s right for you at any given time. He talks about how studies have shown that people who have a specific purpose in life and can articulate it, live longer. He suggests that if you take the time to think about it and answer the question, it will in effect add meaning to your life.
Allan quotes some of the answers from famous people.
“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” (Albert Einstein)
“The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.” (Leo Tolstoy)
“There is only the meaning we each give to our life, an individual meaning, an individual plot, like an individual novel, a book for each person.” (Anais Nin)
What’s Ahead – Foreshadowing my Blog for 2019
Stuff about good people and what they do. If you read my November blog, I included a link to Reader’s Digest stories. Every November Reader’s Digest publishes their America’s Nicest Places issue. A couple of other interesting links for you:
Vietnam, my experiences and my observations about the war.
More about “Is Portland, Oregon weirder than Austin, Texas?”
Mindfulness, a continuation of my blog topic. A subject that keeps popping up in the media.
The Big Leap, a book by Gay Hendricks – I included the link in a November post, just boring “self-improvement” stuff. Kind of like meditation, it may require some effort on your part to realize the positive results.
Music and Pictures
Vivaldi, The Four Seasons (Winter)
Vivaldi, The Four Seasons (Spring)
Vivaldi, The Four Seasons (Summer)
Vivaldi, The Four Seasons (Autumn)
Some Parting Shots
I’ve mentioned my Daily Word readings – just a couple of recent ones to pass along that I thought were noteworthy.
December 29, 2018, “Love: It is my nature to extend love.”
“I recognize that forgiveness is easier than condemnation because forgiveness reflects the truth of who I am. God is perfect love and therefore so am I.”
A companion Bible verse, Ephesians 4:26: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
December 30, 2018: “Power: I am a spiritual being, bestowed with great power.”
“I align my thoughts with my highest good, envisioning health, abundance, love, and success.”
If you have been reading The Big Leap, the last sentence should remind you of Hendrick’s “universal success mantra” that he discusses in the book.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” Marcus Aurelius
Books: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks (not an easy read but a good “self-improvement” book if you’re willing to make the effort, link to audible.com).
I really like Marcus Aurelius quotes, so here’s another one that Hendricks includes in his book toward the end of it. Keep in mind that Marcus Aurelius was a soldier who lived in first century Rome.
“I am part of the whole, all of which is governed by nature. I am intimately related to all of the parts which are of the same kind as myself. If I remember these two things, I cannot be discontented with anything that arises out of the whole because I am connected to the whole.” Marcus Aurelius
“There are times in our lives when we realize that our past is precisely what it is, we cannot change it, but we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that we can change the future.” Eleanor Brown (from a Criminal Minds episode)
With the Eleanor Brown quote in mind, let’s dive in to the rest of this November blog.
Other Thoughts – Boomer or Not, Imprimis
It’s fun to reflect to get a different perspective. Obviously, since I’m older, I suppose I’m a “baby boomer”, but I’m right on the cusp. Tom Brokaw called another pre-WWII group “the greatest generation” (he wrote a book by that title). For “millennials”, it would be a shorter time period to reflect on their lives. They also would not be able to remember a time when you didn’t have to lock things – house, car, bike, etc. I was talking to someone at the gym about that, growing up in a time when that was true, at least in a small town like the one where I grew up. You walk out the front door leaving it unlocked and spend the whole day out, no worries. Not drawing conclusions on society in general, but obviously things are different in the 21st century.
As you already know if you read my blog, I’m an Imprimis fan. You might want to check out their publications online or better yet, get on their mailing list for a free printed copy of each publication. For example, here’s a different take on how things used to be, the piece that Amy Wax did for the Imprimis January 2018 publication, “Are We Free to Discuss America’s Real of Problems”. Pay special attention to the first 10 or 12 paragraphs, where she contrasts contemporary American society with our society between the end of World War II and the mid-1960s. You can draw your own conclusions, but I strongly recommend reading the last three paragraphs, especially the one that starts with “Disliking, avoiding, and shunning people who don’t share our politics is not good for our country.”
Back to November 2018 – A Few Snippets
You’ll notice the details that I’m able to remember from the entire month of November – admittedly, I do a daily journal, so it’s not all from memory.
On November 1, I tested some Nike shoes (testing gives me Nike Employee Store privileges, which saves me money on running shoes). November 1 is also my beautiful daughter’s birthday. In my family it’s a tradition to take the birthday honoree out to eat at a restaurant of their choosing. We celebrated her birthday on November 3 at the Old Spaghetti Factory, a great place for adults and kids, with good food and reasonable prices.
The rest of that first week of November, was our normal routine – for my wife, volunteer work at a local senior center, Bible study, pitching in with the grandkids, and cooking for our Monday night family dinner at our house. For me, it was gym workouts, running, and my running club had a banquet to reward volunteers who participated in 2018 events. Actually, on November 6 we went to SoCal to visit relatives. You may have seen my “On the Road, SoCal, November 2018” entry. Just a brief diversion from my November snippets to share my reactions to the SoCal trip.
What Did I Learn in SoCal?
Did I learn anything, or was it just another vacation trip, five days in the sun (no complaints), hanging out with friends and relatives, and total relaxation in a very nice setting. About learning, the question is rhetorical, we always learn things. On this trip I learned on a higher level:
People are tough and resilient. While we were there, the mass shooting at Thousand Oaks happened, and the Woolsey fire in SoCal and the fire in northern California, all happened in that week.
Most people (not all) are friendly and approachable, willing to share things about themselves. There were many people in the hotel who had evacuated their homes.
Most people will help others who are in a bind, sometimes going out of their way to help. There were hundreds of fire-fighting professionals from Oregon and Washington who volunteered two weeks of their time to help fight the fires and to help people in need. Another example, an Oregon man loaded up his business truck with food and supplies and drove to California.
More examples of people helping people, check out these Readers Digest stories – I was especially impressed with “Life Moves Yoga in Killeen, Texas”.
Relationships with people close to you are worth preserving but may require extra effort.
Back to November 2018 – A Few Snippets (continued)
On November 10, we returned to Portland, unpacked and did our laundry. It was good to be back.
On November 11, Veterans Day, I went to a local event honoring Vietnam veterans. It was a large turnout with people from other wars too. There were speeches and socializing, vets meeting other vets, and we received pins honoring our service. Just remember, not everyone who served had a choice, but that doesn’t matter, they served.
Interesting side-note – my Daily Word affirmation for that Sunday was “I am free through the freedom of Spirit.” The Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 3:17, for that day was: “. . . where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
On November 15, one of our grandsons did a sleepover. We walked the dogs and hung out.
On November 17, I continued my annual battle of the leaves (we have lots of trees) for disposal. My daughter hosted an early Thanksgiving dinner at her house, which gave us all a chance to overeat. The food was delicious.
On November 20, we made a decision on which Medicare supplement insurance to go with, after weeks of researching and thinking about. More leaf accumulation, up to about 50 bags now. Met with my running club in the evening to run on the track at a local school, windy and cold but dry.
Thanksgiving Day, November 22, I ran a 5K race and won my age group, which felt really good. I ran my fastest 5K time of the year. We had already celebrated our Thanksgiving dinner.
On November 24, we got invited over to my brother-in-law’s house for another Thanksgiving dinner, very well prepared and delicious. I overate again.
On November 25, I hauled 54 bags of leaves over to a disposal site, multiple trips in my truck. Done for this year thank goodness.
The rest of the month, we played Top Golf a few times, and did the rest of our normal routine.
“Oscar Wilde: ‘Do you mind if I smoke?’ Sarah Bernhardt: ‘I don’t care if you burn.'” Sarah Bernhardt
Vitamin String Quartet: The Vitamin String Quartet Tribute to the Who – Tommy
What’s Up, Rufous Blog? (Blog of the Week: March 23, 2018)
What happened to the Rufous blog you may have asked – actually I did do a post on February 23, my birthday – but my so-called “blog of the week” has been more of a “blog of the month”. OK, multi-tasking doesn’t always work (some experts say that “single-tasking” is actually more efficient). Multi-tasking only works if you don’t forget to do the higher priority items on your list, which in my case is blogging.
Blogger’s note: The following quote is not totally in context with my topic, but it struck a chord with me so I wanted to include it.
Quote from Life in Oregon, February-March 2018:
“Think about how the conversation in America, in Oregon, would change if each of us assumed the best of the person who disagrees with us. Together, let’s think about and interact with people on the other side of the issues as if they are potential allies, not enemies.” (ORTL president Harmony Daws, January 14, 2018, Oregon Right to Life annual Roe v. Wade Memorial and March in Portland, Oregon)
Politics or TV?
Did I tell you about John le Carre’, who writes his books out in longhand, then gives the manuscripts to his wife who types and edits them. He’s 86 and just published a new novel. A would-be writer could get inspired by David Cornwell (his real name). I also write out my content longhand in my bright green composition book before transferring it to the blog. Always, I’ll have several blog ideas going, like something political (always a challenge to be “correct”) or like today I have a blog about TV. Maybe I’ll include some “politics” too in this blog (spoiler alert). :}
The X-Files – The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat
I was never a big fan in the past, but the new season 11 caught my attention, in particular episode 4, which I found very interesting on many levels. If you’ve watched it, you may have noticed that the stars (in my opinion), David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, have aged fairly well. OK, enough small talk, here’s my rehash of episode 4. Kudos to the producer and writer, Chris Carter, Darin Morgan, staff writers Brad Follmer and Benjamin Van Allen, and (wait for it) David Duchovny. Episode 4 has some humorous moments, maybe satirical/tongue-in-cheek is a better description, compared to the paranormal or whatever you normally expect from X-files – like a more recent episode with the drones spying on and pursuing Fox and Scully.
OK, having mentioned the producer and writers I think I’m OK legally in quoting the dialog (yes, I paused the TV and wrote it down). If you’re a fan and missed it, you should watch episode 4.
As Long as the Truth Gets Out
Continuing . . . take this scene, about 44 minutes into the episode, Mulder and another character named “Mr. They” are in this wonderful sculpture garden with all these statues. Mulder is having a conversation with Mr. They.
Mulder: “As long as the truth gets out.”
Mr. They: “They don’t really care if the truth gets out because the public no longer knows what’s meant by the truth.”
Mulder: “What do you mean?”
Mr. They: “Well, I mean, no one can tell the difference anymore between what’s real and what’s fake.”
Oh, ouch, OK, is anyone picking up on the political angle here? I have no idea what Chris Carter and his staff of creative people were trying to accomplish with episode 4, but it’s kind of fun to speculate, eh.
Mulder: “There’s still an objective truth, an objective reality.”
(Transition to main story line)
Mr. They: “So what? I mean, you take this Mandela effect.”
Mr. They (quotes George Orwell): “He who controls the past controls the future.” (More quotes later)
Mr. They: “Well, believe what you want to believe, that’s what everybody does now anyway.” (Slight break in the dialog)
Mr. They: “All you really need is a laptop.”
Mulder: So that’s what this has been all about, the spread of online disinformation.”
Mr. They: “Maybe?”
Mr. They: “You know, our current president said something truly profound.” He said, “Nobody knows for sure.”
Mulder: “What was he referring to?”
Mr. They: “Does it matter?”
The previous scene lasts only about two minutes and ends with a great shot of Mulder standing in front of a statue with its arms outstretched, as if to say, what’s going on.
The scene shifts to a parking garage, with Mulder and Scully talking to another character, Reggie, who says, “We found the truth that’s out there.”
Rather than risk spoiling the rest of the episode, I highly recommend you watch episode 4 just to see the ending.
The Red Mustang
The next scene shows Mulder, Scully, and Reggie driving down the road in a red Mustang convertible and then the final scene . . .
Tip: Google “x-files season 11” to get more reviews and analysis.
Definition/primer on innuendo:
Veiled or equivocal reflection on character or reputation.
The use of such allusions resorting to innuendo.
Example:
His reputation has been damaged by innuendo.
One or Two (or Three) More Quotes
Voltaire: “To hold a pen is to be at war.”
Voltaire: “What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other’s folly – that is the first law of nature.”
John 8:32: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NIV Bible)
Next Up: “The X-Files 2018 (Part II)”. Just a hint, expect some content based on my favorite Imprimis readings. No surprise there. Feel free to peruse the Imprimis issues.
Definition of “Imprimis”: In the first place —used to introduce a list of items or consideration.
Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Summer (Presto)
What can I say, on this Christmas Eve, 2017, to edify and perhaps entertain you. First, I’ll update you on my week in wintry Oregon, then move on to the “edifying” part.
The Recap for the Week
Did I say “wintry”? Which reminds me, I hate it when she’s right all the time (well, most of the time). My spouse called it (before the weatherman) at least two weeks ago, “The conditions are right, and we’ll have snow by Christmas.” And we did, on Christmas Eve.
And the rest of the week . . . Christmas preparations, some indoor golf on Tuesday, a couple of short runs for me in the cold, visits from the grandkids, and the wife came down with a cold. So, some plusses and some minuses for this past week.
The Edifying Part
It’s late, so I’ll wrap it up with some thoughts and affirmations from my Daily Word readings (see my note below). It’s good to slow down, to stop, and to reflect. I’ll include the accompanying Bible reference in parentheses for each of these daily affirmations. Look them up if you like.
Note: You can go to dailyword.com to get a copy if you’re interested.
Coldplay: God Put a Smile on Your Face
Joy: I expand my joy as I share my blessings with others. (Isaiah 55:12)
Healing: I am an ever-renewing expression of Infinite Life. (Luke 9:2)
Giving: I freely express my giving heart. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Receiving: I prepare to receive as I give without an expectation of return. (Luke 8:15)
Strength: In stillness, I renew my strength. (1 Chronicles 16:11)
Celebrate: I celebrate the glory of God with all that I am and in everything that I do! (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Silent Night: I find peace and love in the Silence. (Isaiah 30:15)
Christmas Eve: I am ready to give birth to new expressions of Spirit as I release limitations. (Luke 2:14)
Christmas: I welcome the rebirth of Christmas spirit into my heart today. (Luke 1:14)
For the answer, go back to my Crystal City, Part I blog to refresh your memory about journalism. Basically, rather than start out with some of the more routine things that happened this past week, I wanted to start with my morning meditation thoughts from this morning, which I thought were well-worth passing along, although the thoughts didn’t actually happen last week. Doesn’t matter really, try to be flexible. :}
As part of my morning routine, as I mentioned last week, I try to spend some time reading – I read different things, always the Bible, and some other things, just to get my day started on the right foot (or the left). Often, I’ll just open my Bible at a random location. This morning was in the book of Psalms, Psalm 15 to be exact. I recommend reading the Bible even if you aren’t “religious” (whatever that means), partly because of the way it was written, especially the Psalms, which are poems, songs of praise, or thankfulness verses, and they show a wide variety of emotions and feelings. My Bible is the New International Version. I quote part of Psalm 15, just a bit to get you started, then you can read all of it, it’s only five verses long.
Psalm 15 (part of it)
Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose life is blameless and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
who lends his money
without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
Actually, I got carried away, that’s all of Psalm 5.
Journal Recap
Just a few high points from my journal for the past week, that’s all.
My son-in-law came over to help install a new kitchen faucet after the other one stopped working. Actually, I don’t claim to have mechanical abilities sufficient for such a task, so I watched, and he installed the faucet. It would have taken me three times as long. Water is an amazing commodity in our daily lives, try washing your dishes in the shower.
My wife and I played golf at Killarney Golf Course. It was chilly, but dry, and the greens were as hard as a rock from the cold weather we’ve had. She won (again). We’ve recently started playing golf at a place called Top Golf, which is undercover and has food and drink, not a regular golf course, but still a lot of fun and at least it’s dry and warm.
Lots of soup and salads this week, fortunately I’m married to a creative cook, who creates wonderful soups that are especially good during the cold months. Otherwise, I did my usual routine going to the gym and running, but less distance this time of year. On Saturday we did a sleepover at my daughter’s house so she and her hubby could have a weekend night at the beach while we stayed with the kids. Lots of walks in their new neighborhood, with and without the dogs, just exploring to find the best places to go.
Closing in on Christmas, so maybe my next BOTW will be about Christmas. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas in advance.
blazinbernie
Looking for a Rufous 