I heard about this movie in a variety of places. My news magazine, my brother, all recommended it. On the strength of those I added that to our Netflix queue. I have never read a complete review but accepted it on the word of mouth of people I respect.
"The Lives Of Others" is a German film about life on the other side of the Berlin wall. It is in German with subtitles. It has always been my contention that you watch a movie like you read a book but this movie I HAD to read. It was a powerful portrayal of life behind the iron curtain. I was struck by its honesty from the very first moments. I found that I was glued to the screen. I had to read the dialogue. It was just a very powerful story about life in a communist society.
I was moved by the story of the playwright, his friends, and his actress girlfriend; the workings behind the reasons for the state police to bug his apartment; and the cold, lifeless, police officer in charge of the surveillance. I cannot say too much of the story beyond this because I do not want to give it away but this movie has some amazing scenes. Some brutally honest scenes that make you ask yourself how would you react if these were your neighbors, if this was your town, your friends. I think we need to ask ourselves this occasionally. What price do we pay for our freedom? What price would we pay to get it back.
I was moved to tears several times. It has some beautiful portrayals. I recommend that everyone to rent it.
Very powerful stuff. Rent it.
David.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
oil
I started this blog about six months ago and I made a commitment to myself that I would try not to be too political. I can't keep that promise any longer. I have to say something about certain current issues in the US.
We all know oil prices have gone up and when oil goes up so does gasoline for our automobiles. So in the US we have been looking for cheaper, better alternatives. Bio fuels. From corn oil and other sources. We are using more of our crops for the lucrative bio fuel market. Then the US gets criticized for not exporting enough food to starving countries.
The real food crisis has been traced to the rising middle class around the world. With the growing economy millions more people have prospered to become more affluent in a global economy. This new middle class opulence has seen a consumption of more food in China and India. More demand there. Less exports for anywhere else.
It is interesting how the US is to blame for a lot of things. And we get criticized for acting in our own self interests.
Sometimes it just gets really annoying. I mean why can't world governments produce enough foods for there own people? I know self determining governments should function in their citizens best interests. Don't get me wrong. I know some of these answers. And I know it is just a lot easier to find an easy scapegoat.
Update: Apparently Opec thinks that oil should be priced about $60 to $120 a barrel. So who is raising the price. Some investors looking for a profit at the expense of the consumers. Amazing.
David.
We all know oil prices have gone up and when oil goes up so does gasoline for our automobiles. So in the US we have been looking for cheaper, better alternatives. Bio fuels. From corn oil and other sources. We are using more of our crops for the lucrative bio fuel market. Then the US gets criticized for not exporting enough food to starving countries.
The real food crisis has been traced to the rising middle class around the world. With the growing economy millions more people have prospered to become more affluent in a global economy. This new middle class opulence has seen a consumption of more food in China and India. More demand there. Less exports for anywhere else.
It is interesting how the US is to blame for a lot of things. And we get criticized for acting in our own self interests.
Sometimes it just gets really annoying. I mean why can't world governments produce enough foods for there own people? I know self determining governments should function in their citizens best interests. Don't get me wrong. I know some of these answers. And I know it is just a lot easier to find an easy scapegoat.
Update: Apparently Opec thinks that oil should be priced about $60 to $120 a barrel. So who is raising the price. Some investors looking for a profit at the expense of the consumers. Amazing.
David.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Baseball
I have been meaning to write this for several years now. I have wanted to tell let people know how much enjoyment I have received from baseball over the last twenty-five years that I have been a baseball fan. I fell away from the game of my youth when I was a teenager – too many other things going on and I lived in a town with out a professional team. And now, I find myself falling away again. I became a fan in 1980 after a friend started explaining the nuances of the game to me. I was hooked.
I became “Mr. Baseball” to my family (two brothers, four sisters) and I made them all baseball fans too. But I better get to the point. I was such a baseball fan that after my wife became pregnant, I held the baseball encyclopedia up on the dinner table and let it fall open so that I could randomly pick a baseball name for our first child. I pointed to the page with my eyes closed. I was astonished when my finger pointed to a player named “Buster Maynard”. It was so cool that my first child would have such a great baseball name. Well, my wife, being the more practical person in this marriage, vetoed my choice of names, for which I’ll bet my daughter is eternally grateful. But that name, that player has stuck in my family's folklore for eighteen years.
In my younger, more frivolous years, I listened to interviews and radio shows. I read articles, I watched all the games I could. I heard all sorts of baseball stories, great little pieces of Americana. I loved the spirit of it all. Hearing about the humanity of the players and all the baseball greats.
It must have been the mid-1990’s that I heard my first “Buster Maynard” story. I was listening to the great sportswriter, Phil Collier, before a game and he told a story of Buster Maynard. It seems that as a young journeyman player on his way up in the minor leagues he was admired by this certain 11 year old kid. That kid was so impressed that he asked Mr. Maynard for his autograph. Mr. Collier relayed that the esteemed Mr. Maynard was tired after a game and told the kid to get lost.
Years later, the story goes, when Mr. Maynard was on his way down in his career, he was facing a pitcher in the minor leagues. The pitcher brushed Buster back with several pitches and it was very clear that the pitcher had it in for him. After the game Maynard went up to the pitcher and asked him why he was so tough on him. It was then that the pitcher said he was the kid that didn’t get that autograph seven or eight years earlier. Mr. Collier mentioned that the pitcher that night in the mid 1950's was none other than Tommy Lasorda, the famous Los Angeles Dodger's Manager.
I have cherished that story ever since. As a fan of southern California baseball, I used to root against the Dodger's all the time. But I was sad when Tommy Lasorda retired. He truly was, and still is, a great Ambassador for Baseball.
I have always been impressed by the scope of Lasorda's career. I was impressed with his skill as the Dodger’s manager. I was extremely impressed by his comments as Manager of the Olympic Baseball Team. What he said was that it transcended the city teams, the professional teams. Because the players and coaches represented the whole country and everyone at that time became baseball fans rooting for the one team.
Tommy Lasorda has given me great pleasure as a baseball fan. But have to state that for a long time I was a San Diego Padres fan. I have been since I moved here in 1980. Sorry. But you have given baseball fans everywhere something to be proud of – the fact that we are Baseball fans. I have no motive for writing this other than to say thanks for all the great memories that I received from baseball. I am at heart a true baseball fan.
But I stated earlier that I have fallen away from baseball. The drugs and steroids scandals have really turned me off. I remember a fallen player, a once great competitor, whose skills waned a bit. He was out of baseball and died of a drug over dose. (I actually remember quite a few players that this happened to). I also remember owners and managers giving quotes to newspapers stating that they knew this one particular player was using drugs but they were winning, so...
So, I have weened myself off of baseball. It makes it easier now that my team is in last place. But I still miss the great ones, and I miss their stories. If the game changes, I may be back. Until then, I wish them all well.
David
I became “Mr. Baseball” to my family (two brothers, four sisters) and I made them all baseball fans too. But I better get to the point. I was such a baseball fan that after my wife became pregnant, I held the baseball encyclopedia up on the dinner table and let it fall open so that I could randomly pick a baseball name for our first child. I pointed to the page with my eyes closed. I was astonished when my finger pointed to a player named “Buster Maynard”. It was so cool that my first child would have such a great baseball name. Well, my wife, being the more practical person in this marriage, vetoed my choice of names, for which I’ll bet my daughter is eternally grateful. But that name, that player has stuck in my family's folklore for eighteen years.
In my younger, more frivolous years, I listened to interviews and radio shows. I read articles, I watched all the games I could. I heard all sorts of baseball stories, great little pieces of Americana. I loved the spirit of it all. Hearing about the humanity of the players and all the baseball greats.
It must have been the mid-1990’s that I heard my first “Buster Maynard” story. I was listening to the great sportswriter, Phil Collier, before a game and he told a story of Buster Maynard. It seems that as a young journeyman player on his way up in the minor leagues he was admired by this certain 11 year old kid. That kid was so impressed that he asked Mr. Maynard for his autograph. Mr. Collier relayed that the esteemed Mr. Maynard was tired after a game and told the kid to get lost.
Years later, the story goes, when Mr. Maynard was on his way down in his career, he was facing a pitcher in the minor leagues. The pitcher brushed Buster back with several pitches and it was very clear that the pitcher had it in for him. After the game Maynard went up to the pitcher and asked him why he was so tough on him. It was then that the pitcher said he was the kid that didn’t get that autograph seven or eight years earlier. Mr. Collier mentioned that the pitcher that night in the mid 1950's was none other than Tommy Lasorda, the famous Los Angeles Dodger's Manager.
I have cherished that story ever since. As a fan of southern California baseball, I used to root against the Dodger's all the time. But I was sad when Tommy Lasorda retired. He truly was, and still is, a great Ambassador for Baseball.
I have always been impressed by the scope of Lasorda's career. I was impressed with his skill as the Dodger’s manager. I was extremely impressed by his comments as Manager of the Olympic Baseball Team. What he said was that it transcended the city teams, the professional teams. Because the players and coaches represented the whole country and everyone at that time became baseball fans rooting for the one team.
Tommy Lasorda has given me great pleasure as a baseball fan. But have to state that for a long time I was a San Diego Padres fan. I have been since I moved here in 1980. Sorry. But you have given baseball fans everywhere something to be proud of – the fact that we are Baseball fans. I have no motive for writing this other than to say thanks for all the great memories that I received from baseball. I am at heart a true baseball fan.
But I stated earlier that I have fallen away from baseball. The drugs and steroids scandals have really turned me off. I remember a fallen player, a once great competitor, whose skills waned a bit. He was out of baseball and died of a drug over dose. (I actually remember quite a few players that this happened to). I also remember owners and managers giving quotes to newspapers stating that they knew this one particular player was using drugs but they were winning, so...
So, I have weened myself off of baseball. It makes it easier now that my team is in last place. But I still miss the great ones, and I miss their stories. If the game changes, I may be back. Until then, I wish them all well.
David
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Two Poems
Water
A young lady, dressed in tight, black sweats and a pink sport's bra, out jogging on a warm spring day in southern California. The water-starved area doesn’t stop people from having our well manicured lawns. We are so conscious of our water needs that sometimes we even water the parched sidewalk. And when this young lady comes to that point in her jog she stops to enjoy the spray. She raises her face to the shower and refreshes her beautiful smile.
Spirit
A young girl, on a tour in France, wandering the cemeteries in Normandy. She stops and pauses by an unmarked headstone. An unknown soldier. She puts her hand to her lips and kisses her fingers. She places the kiss on the headstone.
A lost soul wandering the universe feels uplifted. The joy of remembrance has touched his spirit. He finds comfort and peace.
A young lady, dressed in tight, black sweats and a pink sport's bra, out jogging on a warm spring day in southern California. The water-starved area doesn’t stop people from having our well manicured lawns. We are so conscious of our water needs that sometimes we even water the parched sidewalk. And when this young lady comes to that point in her jog she stops to enjoy the spray. She raises her face to the shower and refreshes her beautiful smile.
Spirit
A young girl, on a tour in France, wandering the cemeteries in Normandy. She stops and pauses by an unmarked headstone. An unknown soldier. She puts her hand to her lips and kisses her fingers. She places the kiss on the headstone.
A lost soul wandering the universe feels uplifted. The joy of remembrance has touched his spirit. He finds comfort and peace.
Friday, May 2, 2008
M&M’s
On a newly paved private road, a bag of M&M’s was spilled. A beautiful array of colors on a black background. The hot spring sun beat down on the road and the candies melted, not in mouth or hand. Cars came by and flattened the melted candies. A beautiful mosaic of dots of magnificent colors, like stars on a midnight sky. What a tragedy for chocolate.
D. Normand, 2008
D. Normand, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Coincidences (2)
Ever since I was twenty I have been thinking about coincidences. There have been many in my life and it continues to amaze me. One significant one occurred just today. It was interesting, at least to me.
I do a lot of research on the internet. I stumbled across an interesting website last night. I am reading Stephen Ambrose's book on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, "Undaunted Courage". (Yes, those of you who stop by regularly, I am still reading it. It is an easy read but I can only find a few minutes here and there to read it.)
I am reading this book and it raises the subject of human migration patterns. Well, it raises the question in my mind. So I started thinking about it. I typed in the words "human migration" on Yahoo and it gave me a lot of choices. One of them led me to a website, http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/. I was impressed with the information that could be found there.
I am an old anthropology major - for two semesters - so this website gave me a lot to study. Some of the things that I found were the discovery or ancient art. The cave paintings in Cosquer and Chavert in France were incredible. But the real interesting artwork was the giraffe carvings of Niger. I was amazed. I read the articles and nowhere could I find any indications as to when these figures were carved. I was really quite fascinated by it. I thought a great deal about it. I knew that my friend at work would really enjoy this artwork. She is a very talented artist and I share discoveries with her all the time. I was thinking about her while I was reading and looking at this website. I knew she would love it.
I was further amazed this morning when I was at work. This artist friend of mine shows up in a blouse of giraffe print. How could she have known that I was thinking about her? Could I have placed these thoughts in her head telepathically? Or was it just a coincidence? I may never know. But it was pretty amazing that I turned around and saw her blouse of giraffe patterns. Pretty cool. Just made me stop in my tracks. Who is running this universe anyway? What great plans You have or what a great sense of humor You have.
While thinking about this, and its flirtation with the paranormal, I was reminded of my grandmother. She was a neat lady who sometimes would say things that just seemed so strange. I remember one day that she was at our house, she must have been in her 80's and she was just sitting in the living room watching the days activities. I remember my younger sister, she must have been 18 or 19 (maybe 20) at the time, had a friend over. I think I said hi to the friend as my sister and her went through the living room and into the backyard. My grandmother looked at me and said that that girl was the girl I would marry. I laughed and thought she was joking.
My grandmother died about four years later. And three years after that? I married that girl. So all of you out there...listen to your grandmothers.
Thanks for putting up with my ramblings today. It was just kind of fun to think about "coincidences" or the great "plans" that someone has for our lives. Keep thinking and wondering.
David.
I do a lot of research on the internet. I stumbled across an interesting website last night. I am reading Stephen Ambrose's book on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, "Undaunted Courage". (Yes, those of you who stop by regularly, I am still reading it. It is an easy read but I can only find a few minutes here and there to read it.)
I am reading this book and it raises the subject of human migration patterns. Well, it raises the question in my mind. So I started thinking about it. I typed in the words "human migration" on Yahoo and it gave me a lot of choices. One of them led me to a website, http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/. I was impressed with the information that could be found there.
I am an old anthropology major - for two semesters - so this website gave me a lot to study. Some of the things that I found were the discovery or ancient art. The cave paintings in Cosquer and Chavert in France were incredible. But the real interesting artwork was the giraffe carvings of Niger. I was amazed. I read the articles and nowhere could I find any indications as to when these figures were carved. I was really quite fascinated by it. I thought a great deal about it. I knew that my friend at work would really enjoy this artwork. She is a very talented artist and I share discoveries with her all the time. I was thinking about her while I was reading and looking at this website. I knew she would love it.
I was further amazed this morning when I was at work. This artist friend of mine shows up in a blouse of giraffe print. How could she have known that I was thinking about her? Could I have placed these thoughts in her head telepathically? Or was it just a coincidence? I may never know. But it was pretty amazing that I turned around and saw her blouse of giraffe patterns. Pretty cool. Just made me stop in my tracks. Who is running this universe anyway? What great plans You have or what a great sense of humor You have.
While thinking about this, and its flirtation with the paranormal, I was reminded of my grandmother. She was a neat lady who sometimes would say things that just seemed so strange. I remember one day that she was at our house, she must have been in her 80's and she was just sitting in the living room watching the days activities. I remember my younger sister, she must have been 18 or 19 (maybe 20) at the time, had a friend over. I think I said hi to the friend as my sister and her went through the living room and into the backyard. My grandmother looked at me and said that that girl was the girl I would marry. I laughed and thought she was joking.
My grandmother died about four years later. And three years after that? I married that girl. So all of you out there...listen to your grandmothers.
Thanks for putting up with my ramblings today. It was just kind of fun to think about "coincidences" or the great "plans" that someone has for our lives. Keep thinking and wondering.
David.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
I am the product...
I am the product of all who I have ever met.
I am the product of green vegetables, beets, and corn,
of hamburgers and hot dogs, Mother's Sunday roast, and Dad's vegetable soup,
I am the product of friends kept and friends that slipped away.
I am the product of books and teachers that I have known,
of girls that I have loved,
of girls who loved me back and
of those that haven't.
I am the product of enemies and adversaries,
of strangers,
of smiles and disdainful looks.
I am the product of molecules and atoms
of the breath that you exhale,
of the words that you have spoken.
I am the product of all that I remember.
C. 2008, D. Normand
I wrote this at a recent writer's conference that I attended.
Europe
On the day that my son and I left for spring training my daughter caught her flight to Dublin. I tracked her progress on the air tracker before I left the office but the rest of the flight, being international, I could not track. I drove to Arizona knowing only that she was somewhere over the Atlantic ocean. That was fine. I left her in God's hands. She was given the opportunity to travel to Europe to see some of the art work that she had studied in High School. It was a great opportunity. We were in Phoenix when she arrived in Dublin. I was worried sick about her.
My daughter informed us in October/November last year that her school (art history class) was planning a trip to Europe. More specifically Dublin, Wales, London, Paris and Normandy. We checked out the itinerary and saw the places that she would visit and we decided that since she was such a good student that we would send her. Her aunts and uncles donated several stacks of Euro's (bought late 2007 when the exchange rate was better). And, of course, mom and dad pitched in a few bucks (not to mention the ticket itself). She was all set to go. We made sure she would take plenty of pictures. She had a good digital camera with several memory cards and batteries.
I am glad she went. She called us three times. Once when she was having dinner in Dublin; Once when she was having a snack at the Eiffel Tower in Paris; and once when her connecting flight home got canceled and she had to spend the night in Dallas, Texas. Each phone call was essentially to let us know that she was OK, having fun, and couldn't talk long. These were the extent of the details that we received while she was gone on her ten day trip. We did receive a nice post card. We knew that we would have heard had anything gone wrong. We hoped she was enjoying her time.
The day came that we were to pick her up at the airport. Her flight arrived at 5:30 PM. My son and I picked her mother up at work and we all drove to the airport to pick her up. She arrived on time (albeit 24 hours late-- aircraft inspections and maintenance problems) and we asked her what she wanted to do for dinner. She wanted STEAK. We gathered her stuff and went to a local steak house for dinner. She read her trip journal to us on the way to the restaurant. She is such an excellent writer that I hope she captures these reflections and publishes them. Great stuff.
At dinner she handed out souvenirs. I got a CD of Irish music (which I love) and some pamphlets. I have four great interests in life - folk music, food, history and poetry. She also brought me two cookbooks - one from Wales and one from Normandy. She is such a great kid. She also told me that she took some pictures for me. Rodin's Thinker (which he originally called the Poet) was one. I could not wait to see that one.
We kind of glanced at the photos on the little photo screen on the camera. We got an idea that they would be great viewed on the television at home. We had planned a party for her. But that would wait till next week. I had to leave town on the weekend.
After dinner we went home. As we turned the corner to our house, my daughter asked where the other car was. My wife and I looked at each other and just groaned. I hate picking her up at work because we always forget her car somewhere. Yes, it has happened before. This time was not so bad. The other times we had left it farther away. So we dropped my daughter and son off at home and drove back to my wife's office for her car. A fitting end to a crazy week.
Two days after my daughter's arrival home I was finally able to get a look at the "Thinker" sculpture. This was the picture that my daughter took for me. I was looking over her shoulder as she was queuing it up on the computer. When it finally loaded she told me that she was looking through the window of the tour bus when they happened upon it. There it was! I was staring at the backside of the Thinker. Well, at least she was thinking about me. And she knew that I would like to see that piece of art. She is such a sweet kid.
My daughter informed us in October/November last year that her school (art history class) was planning a trip to Europe. More specifically Dublin, Wales, London, Paris and Normandy. We checked out the itinerary and saw the places that she would visit and we decided that since she was such a good student that we would send her. Her aunts and uncles donated several stacks of Euro's (bought late 2007 when the exchange rate was better). And, of course, mom and dad pitched in a few bucks (not to mention the ticket itself). She was all set to go. We made sure she would take plenty of pictures. She had a good digital camera with several memory cards and batteries.
I am glad she went. She called us three times. Once when she was having dinner in Dublin; Once when she was having a snack at the Eiffel Tower in Paris; and once when her connecting flight home got canceled and she had to spend the night in Dallas, Texas. Each phone call was essentially to let us know that she was OK, having fun, and couldn't talk long. These were the extent of the details that we received while she was gone on her ten day trip. We did receive a nice post card. We knew that we would have heard had anything gone wrong. We hoped she was enjoying her time.
The day came that we were to pick her up at the airport. Her flight arrived at 5:30 PM. My son and I picked her mother up at work and we all drove to the airport to pick her up. She arrived on time (albeit 24 hours late-- aircraft inspections and maintenance problems) and we asked her what she wanted to do for dinner. She wanted STEAK. We gathered her stuff and went to a local steak house for dinner. She read her trip journal to us on the way to the restaurant. She is such an excellent writer that I hope she captures these reflections and publishes them. Great stuff.
At dinner she handed out souvenirs. I got a CD of Irish music (which I love) and some pamphlets. I have four great interests in life - folk music, food, history and poetry. She also brought me two cookbooks - one from Wales and one from Normandy. She is such a great kid. She also told me that she took some pictures for me. Rodin's Thinker (which he originally called the Poet) was one. I could not wait to see that one.
We kind of glanced at the photos on the little photo screen on the camera. We got an idea that they would be great viewed on the television at home. We had planned a party for her. But that would wait till next week. I had to leave town on the weekend.
After dinner we went home. As we turned the corner to our house, my daughter asked where the other car was. My wife and I looked at each other and just groaned. I hate picking her up at work because we always forget her car somewhere. Yes, it has happened before. This time was not so bad. The other times we had left it farther away. So we dropped my daughter and son off at home and drove back to my wife's office for her car. A fitting end to a crazy week.
Two days after my daughter's arrival home I was finally able to get a look at the "Thinker" sculpture. This was the picture that my daughter took for me. I was looking over her shoulder as she was queuing it up on the computer. When it finally loaded she told me that she was looking through the window of the tour bus when they happened upon it. There it was! I was staring at the backside of the Thinker. Well, at least she was thinking about me. And she knew that I would like to see that piece of art. She is such a sweet kid.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Spring Training, 2008
Well, here we are at the beginning of a new baseball season. April, 2008 already. I suppose then that it is time to post the post I was going to put here about Spring Training. I am a little behind. Lots of things going on this year. I am just now getting around to it.
My son loves baseball. He was a pretty good player these past 7 years in Little League. But he was always playing. This year he graduated from Little League so he wasn't playing this season. I thought this would be a great opportunity to take him out to Arizona to see some pre-season baseball.
My son is growing into a nice young man and I really hadn't spent a lot of time with him. I thought this would be a great opportunity to talk. This would be a four hour car trip. He only has 72 songs on his iPOD and I think he got bored with them because he played for me his favorites and then he turned it off and after a while we just talked.
We talked about his friends, his school and, of course, the road.
"Dad, how do they know it is 300 miles to Phoenix?" I did my best. I explained that someone came out with a big tape measure and actually walked the entire distance and recorded the distance...No. I told him that it was developed when they surveyed for the roads. Each road has a given distance. They know what the distance is between certain points. They made lots of studies and that is how they know. (I didn't want to get into satellite imagery and triangulations.)
At about 9pm and an hour or two away from our destination the talked turned to religion. Lord Almighty, my prayers have been answered.
I always wanted my kids to make their own decisions. I was there to guide them as best I could and hope that they made the right decisions for themselves. My son made me proud just by talking about the things that we did. From our discussion I discovered that my son has a decent head on his shoulders.
We had a great trip. We arrived at the hotel and went right to bed. We were both tired.
The next day we went to the sports complex to watch our favorite team practice. I had bought him a baseball for autographs. I didn't want him fighting with the eight year olds for baseballs. He was able to see several minor leaguers practicing with the big boys.
The park was nice. The field was ok. The game was uneventful (our team lost.) But the weekend was a success. We both had a lot of fun just walking around, just being together. I had a terrific time. I hope he did too.
My son loves baseball. He was a pretty good player these past 7 years in Little League. But he was always playing. This year he graduated from Little League so he wasn't playing this season. I thought this would be a great opportunity to take him out to Arizona to see some pre-season baseball.
My son is growing into a nice young man and I really hadn't spent a lot of time with him. I thought this would be a great opportunity to talk. This would be a four hour car trip. He only has 72 songs on his iPOD and I think he got bored with them because he played for me his favorites and then he turned it off and after a while we just talked.
We talked about his friends, his school and, of course, the road.
"Dad, how do they know it is 300 miles to Phoenix?" I did my best. I explained that someone came out with a big tape measure and actually walked the entire distance and recorded the distance...No. I told him that it was developed when they surveyed for the roads. Each road has a given distance. They know what the distance is between certain points. They made lots of studies and that is how they know. (I didn't want to get into satellite imagery and triangulations.)
At about 9pm and an hour or two away from our destination the talked turned to religion. Lord Almighty, my prayers have been answered.
I always wanted my kids to make their own decisions. I was there to guide them as best I could and hope that they made the right decisions for themselves. My son made me proud just by talking about the things that we did. From our discussion I discovered that my son has a decent head on his shoulders.
We had a great trip. We arrived at the hotel and went right to bed. We were both tired.
The next day we went to the sports complex to watch our favorite team practice. I had bought him a baseball for autographs. I didn't want him fighting with the eight year olds for baseballs. He was able to see several minor leaguers practicing with the big boys.
The park was nice. The field was ok. The game was uneventful (our team lost.) But the weekend was a success. We both had a lot of fun just walking around, just being together. I had a terrific time. I hope he did too.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Coincidences
Our anniversary is on February 27th. I mention that because of Steinbeck's birthday and because of another coincidence. I started my current job 11 years ago on March 24th. I found out several months later when I looked at my boss's service award that he started on March 24 also (albeit 22 years prior to me). Well, on Wednesday, February 27th I happened to be in my boss's office when his phone rang. He answered and told his wife "happy anniversary". After he was off the phone I remarked that it was also my anniversary. It was just amazing that we shared two anniversarys. What are the odds on that?
I just had to share that. No other coincidences here. Yet. Take care all.
David.
I just had to share that. No other coincidences here. Yet. Take care all.
David.
Anniversary
I know it has been some time since I posted. I have been busy. I had a big party to plan. My wife and I just celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary. I knew I would spend the rest of my life with her but for some reason this milestone meant a lot to me. I wanted to do something special for her. So, I arranged a surprise party. I started planning way back in the summer of 2007. You see my wife is the sweetest lady anyone could ever hope to know. She is just a very kind person. And I wanted to give her something special. She deserves it. I know she wanted jewelry (I'm not done yet) but that will have to wait. Maybe next week.
We were married on John Steinbeck's birthday. No, he wasn't invited. He was long dead when we got married. We did go to his house on our honeymoon. It only seemed fitting. But for our anniversary I knew I would have the party on the Saturday before our day. I had invited the entire wedding party and all of her family and all of mine. I knew that those from out of town might find it difficult to travel, but this town is our hometown and I thought that maybe some might schedule their trip "home" during this weekend. That thought proved in error. No one from out of town made it. It was just too difficult. But those that were in town sure made up for it.
I ordered food and I bought a cake. I had sodas, water and beer. I got everything over to the venue the night before. My wife did not have a clue. I sent my daughter down to the restaurant to pick up the food. She drives a pickup truck so she would have to borrow my wife's SUV. She made up a story about needing the car so that she could take her brother and her best friend to the mall. They just wanted to hang out. My wife got all choked talking about this. "Isn't that sweet?" she said. "She knows she is going to school away from us next fall and so she wants to spend time with her brother. She is such a good kid. What a kind heart." I didn't have the heart to tell her that they really don't get along that well and that my daughter needed the car for the food.
I had every thing planned. One of my wife's bridesmaids who we hadn't really talked to in years, offered to make party favors. Other offered all kinds of help. My parents offered their back yard. I had everyone arrive early on that Saturday. My wife and I got home about noon. The kids had already left. I told her we were going to go out to lunch. I was looking for all sorts of chores to keep me busy until 1PM. My sister called with an excuse to get us over to my parents house. Worked like a charm.
I told my wife that I needed to stop by to help my sister. I coerced her into the backyard because the housecleaner just mopped the floor. When we turned the corner of the house everyone yelled "Surprise". It was classic. My wife had this incredible surprised look on her face. Priceless. It made my day. I told her of the plans that I had. I had invited the entire wedding party and I wanted to do something special for her. She started to cry a couple of times. It was worth it for me. She is a beautiful lady and deserves all the happiness in the world.
I just wanted to share a little bit about that. It was a great time. She got to see most of her bridesmaids. I think she enjoyed it.
Thanks for reading.
David.
We were married on John Steinbeck's birthday. No, he wasn't invited. He was long dead when we got married. We did go to his house on our honeymoon. It only seemed fitting. But for our anniversary I knew I would have the party on the Saturday before our day. I had invited the entire wedding party and all of her family and all of mine. I knew that those from out of town might find it difficult to travel, but this town is our hometown and I thought that maybe some might schedule their trip "home" during this weekend. That thought proved in error. No one from out of town made it. It was just too difficult. But those that were in town sure made up for it.
I ordered food and I bought a cake. I had sodas, water and beer. I got everything over to the venue the night before. My wife did not have a clue. I sent my daughter down to the restaurant to pick up the food. She drives a pickup truck so she would have to borrow my wife's SUV. She made up a story about needing the car so that she could take her brother and her best friend to the mall. They just wanted to hang out. My wife got all choked talking about this. "Isn't that sweet?" she said. "She knows she is going to school away from us next fall and so she wants to spend time with her brother. She is such a good kid. What a kind heart." I didn't have the heart to tell her that they really don't get along that well and that my daughter needed the car for the food.
I had every thing planned. One of my wife's bridesmaids who we hadn't really talked to in years, offered to make party favors. Other offered all kinds of help. My parents offered their back yard. I had everyone arrive early on that Saturday. My wife and I got home about noon. The kids had already left. I told her we were going to go out to lunch. I was looking for all sorts of chores to keep me busy until 1PM. My sister called with an excuse to get us over to my parents house. Worked like a charm.
I told my wife that I needed to stop by to help my sister. I coerced her into the backyard because the housecleaner just mopped the floor. When we turned the corner of the house everyone yelled "Surprise". It was classic. My wife had this incredible surprised look on her face. Priceless. It made my day. I told her of the plans that I had. I had invited the entire wedding party and I wanted to do something special for her. She started to cry a couple of times. It was worth it for me. She is a beautiful lady and deserves all the happiness in the world.
I just wanted to share a little bit about that. It was a great time. She got to see most of her bridesmaids. I think she enjoyed it.
Thanks for reading.
David.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Things found in my file drawers
Cosmo (http://regularlatte.blogspot.com/) asked what else I found on my desk or in my filing cabinet filled with newspaper clippings. When I first went electronic I tried to digitize some of the longer articles, but I gave up. It seemed like so much work. Now I know it is easier to just drag the article to the appropriate directory on my hard drive. But Cosmo is right, do we ever get back to them? Only when cleaning. I rarely clean up my hard drive. Some of these articles I really intend to get back to.
I remember I had a 7 or 8 line obituary taped to my monitor. I looked at it everyday. I didn't know the person but it caught my eye. This lady died at the age of 94. The significant item in her obit was that she worked as a waitress in the same restaurant for over 50 years. I used to work as a chef and spent 14 years in that career. In those 14 years I worked for 8 different employers. It amazed me that someone could stay in one place for all that time.
Another article that sticks out is the one about the saloon in, I believe it was Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. There was a gentlemen who frequented this saloon. He died with no heirs. He left his small fortune to be spent each year on his birthday or the anniversary of his death so that he would buy a drink to anyone in the bar. And on that day the patrons would all toast him. This showed me the sense of community and friendship that can exist in this world.
There are so many other articles that are in there. I really should compile them into some kind of collection. The knowledge in there, the humanity, the love would be something to read. Some day, when I get back to cleaning out my papers, maybe I shall.
Thanks Cosmo for asking that question. I know there are other interesting things in there.
I remember I had a 7 or 8 line obituary taped to my monitor. I looked at it everyday. I didn't know the person but it caught my eye. This lady died at the age of 94. The significant item in her obit was that she worked as a waitress in the same restaurant for over 50 years. I used to work as a chef and spent 14 years in that career. In those 14 years I worked for 8 different employers. It amazed me that someone could stay in one place for all that time.
Another article that sticks out is the one about the saloon in, I believe it was Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. There was a gentlemen who frequented this saloon. He died with no heirs. He left his small fortune to be spent each year on his birthday or the anniversary of his death so that he would buy a drink to anyone in the bar. And on that day the patrons would all toast him. This showed me the sense of community and friendship that can exist in this world.
There are so many other articles that are in there. I really should compile them into some kind of collection. The knowledge in there, the humanity, the love would be something to read. Some day, when I get back to cleaning out my papers, maybe I shall.
Thanks Cosmo for asking that question. I know there are other interesting things in there.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
How we got here....
I was going through my desk tonight and I found an old Ann Landers column that I clipped from the newspaper. Some lady wrote in that she was depressed about the world situation. Not the world only but her own neighborhood and town, as well. This lady had heard the grandson of Mahatma Ghandhi speak and she remembered his grandfather’s words about the causes of violence.
I thought it was very profound. I wonder if you do too.
Let’s think about these causes……
Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without Morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principles.
Seems plausible to me. And maybe I have some guilt that goes with it. No, not guilt, but maybe the knowledge of participation.
I thought it was very profound. I wonder if you do too.
Let’s think about these causes……
Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without Morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principles.
Seems plausible to me. And maybe I have some guilt that goes with it. No, not guilt, but maybe the knowledge of participation.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Tagged
I just got tagged. Initially I was leary about what that entailed but as I read about it I realize that the most difficult task is finding 5 other people to tag. Since I am relatively new at this, it looks as though I may be tagging 5 strangers. That will make friends. I shall be very selective. Thanks Cosmo (http://regularlatte.blogspot.com/).
Here are the requests of the tag:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five other people.
Here is my tag:
Prologue: I am reading a book called "Undaunted Courage" by the highly esteemed American Historian, Stephen E. Ambrose. Ambrose taught at the University of New Orleans (where I began my college education). He died in 2002.
"Undaunted Courage" is about the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 -1806 in which two American explorers led a party of a couple of dozen men across the American continent to the Pacific ocean and back. This exploration was initiated by Thomas Jefferson shortly after he directed the purchase of Louisiana from the French in 1803. This is a fascinating book about the planning and execution of this exploration. In 2006 I was able to take my family to Montana and retrace some of the steps that Lewis and Clark may have taken on that journey. It was truly a great experience for me too. Note that on page 123 of the book the expedition is still in the planning stages.
Tag:
"Most of the trade goods came from across the ocean, then crossed the continent to reach St. Louis. From that central point, the goods fanned out via individual traders to the farthest reaches of the frontier. And the pirogues and keelboats that carried the trade goods to the Indians brought back stacks and stacks of beautiful furs that brought king's ransoms in Europe."
Whew! That wasn't so bad. I love history. I read a children's book about the Lewis and Clark expedition when I was a kid. I am thoroughly enjoying Ambrose's book.
Thanks again Cosmos. I shall have to get back to you on who I tag.
Here are the requests of the tag:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five other people.
Here is my tag:
Prologue: I am reading a book called "Undaunted Courage" by the highly esteemed American Historian, Stephen E. Ambrose. Ambrose taught at the University of New Orleans (where I began my college education). He died in 2002.
"Undaunted Courage" is about the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 -1806 in which two American explorers led a party of a couple of dozen men across the American continent to the Pacific ocean and back. This exploration was initiated by Thomas Jefferson shortly after he directed the purchase of Louisiana from the French in 1803. This is a fascinating book about the planning and execution of this exploration. In 2006 I was able to take my family to Montana and retrace some of the steps that Lewis and Clark may have taken on that journey. It was truly a great experience for me too. Note that on page 123 of the book the expedition is still in the planning stages.
Tag:
"Most of the trade goods came from across the ocean, then crossed the continent to reach St. Louis. From that central point, the goods fanned out via individual traders to the farthest reaches of the frontier. And the pirogues and keelboats that carried the trade goods to the Indians brought back stacks and stacks of beautiful furs that brought king's ransoms in Europe."
Whew! That wasn't so bad. I love history. I read a children's book about the Lewis and Clark expedition when I was a kid. I am thoroughly enjoying Ambrose's book.
Thanks again Cosmos. I shall have to get back to you on who I tag.
Notes
I haven't written for some time. A combination of things. Work, boredom and just a lack of brain stimulation. I tried to get some scientific discussion going with that bubble and snow thing but I haven't heard any as of yet. I think people are being overly scientific on it and really setting the thing up. Just kidding.
My wife, my daughter and I watched a good movie this evening. We saw "The Namesake". Very well done. Good story, good acting. We all enjoyed it very much. It kind of reminded me of an old friend that i haven't spoken to in a few years. We used to talk but not much any more. I lost his number. I really must try to find him.
I know I said I was working on an essay, and I do plan to post it, but I got sidetracked and I have been jotting down notes for other projects -- making no progress whatsoever. Such is the state of my thoughts. Too many irons in the fire. I just need to learn to focus.
Thanks. That is all for tonight. It is after 1AM and I am tired. Good night.
D.
My wife, my daughter and I watched a good movie this evening. We saw "The Namesake". Very well done. Good story, good acting. We all enjoyed it very much. It kind of reminded me of an old friend that i haven't spoken to in a few years. We used to talk but not much any more. I lost his number. I really must try to find him.
I know I said I was working on an essay, and I do plan to post it, but I got sidetracked and I have been jotting down notes for other projects -- making no progress whatsoever. Such is the state of my thoughts. Too many irons in the fire. I just need to learn to focus.
Thanks. That is all for tonight. It is after 1AM and I am tired. Good night.
D.
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