Nightly Reflections – Tuesday, June 19th, 2018

Ok.  We got it.  You can turn off the rain now, Mother Nature.  And perhaps open the skies to sunshine!!!  Although, I appreciate not having air conditioning on today.  That’s been nice.  Check out tonight’s pic.  Look what the multiple days of rain has done to my plant!  I know, I know…it’ll return to it’s normal posture, but still!

Woke up this morning a little after four to the beautiful dulcet tones of Willy trying to release yet another hairball.  Geeeeeez!  Can’t he at least do it when I’m awake?  I tore off my C PAP mask and flew out of bed, thinking I could maybe still catch him before it happened and toss him on to the bathroom tile floor, but no such luck.  Right outside my bedroom door.  The ONLY good thing was he did it on this little mat I have between the hallway and the den.  There was another little spot not too far from that on the carpet that I had to clean, but the greater part of it was on the mat.  I took it to the laundry room garbage can and it rolled right off the mat.  Then, I crawled back into bed after checking on Willy to make sure he was ok, but I couldn’t fall asleep for at least an hour.  I was NOT happy.  I eventually did, but c’mon!  Do this in daylight hours, Willy!

Another Maid Day has come and gone.  This trip was a little less enjoyable.  My normal cleaner came in and she’s awesome on every level.  She had with her, however, a newbie who’s been with the company for a week.  She also is just a week out of high school.  She’s a grad.  Nice enough young lady, but maybe not really ready to dig in to “labor.”  As my regular was instructing her what to do while she would be in the bathroom working, she told her assistant to go along the walls and dust the corners and the seam where ceiling meets wall.  Any paintings on the wall needed dusting and the desk, end table and  other items needed the swifter treatment.  Well, I was in there as she was doing what she was told, but the problem was she was not doing it very well.  The dusting of the ceiling area barely happened.  My writing desk was wet in the middle but she moved nothing to clean the entire top of the desk.  And so on and so forth.  My regular came out of the bathroom, asking me if her assistant had dusted because she was already vacuuming the den and bedroom.  I told her, “If you want to call it that.”  She anticipated an answer like that, so she asked her to redo everything and to do it thoroughly.  She did it in a very nice manner and all was well, but Gyod, I hate being the bad guy having to say my money isn’t buying the package I normally get.  When it was all said and done, I felt better about the total job, but with my regular in charge, I know she’ll take care of my home as she and I have great relationship over the months.  They were here by 11 and outta here by one, so it wasn’t bad.

Realizing my time is short on getting next week’s column written by Sunday night due to the notion that my life ramps up with each passing day this week, I headed over to Barnes and Noble with my laptop to tackle my Fourth of July column.  And I got it done in their coffee area, and I didn’t even buy a book!  Not for lack of trying, however 😛  It feels great to have the next column written and submitted already on a Tuesday.  Now I can relax about that.  The column in this week’s paper is Part One of a 2-part column.  When this week is over and my life slows down, I’ll be writing Part two to appear in two weeks.  If I think ahead on these topics and this responsibility, it makes it easier on me in the long run.  Pure and simple.  😛

After Barnes and Noble, it was nearly three and I had yet to eat lunch, so being a Tuesday, I merely stopped at Applebee’s in Eagan on my way home and had the Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad.  Yum.  Had my Stephen King book with me so got a couple chapters read waiting for the arrival of the food.  There was a couple in a booth who didn’t seem too happy about their steaks.  Middle-aged couple, at best.  The manager was kissing *** to accommodate them, but I kept getting the idea this was not as it seemed and they were doing a little food scam, hoping for a free meal.  I don’t know how it ended as to a bill, but I know they got a second meal.  Strangely, much of their steaks were already consumed.  Hmmmm…..

Tonight was Happy Tuesday Night.  America’s Got Talent. The tears flowed in the first hour tonight.  He wasn’t a golden buzzer, but what a sweetheart of a young boy.  And his backstory was a heart-tugger.  He chose the song to sing based on the fact he gets lonely because he has no siblings and this specific song would help him get past the lonely feelings.  The song hits me in the heart each and every time anyhow, but this kid really got to me.  Here’s the link.  Treat yourself.

Aside from that, it’s Wednesday already tomorrow.  The writers’ group meets tomorrow afternoon.  And then next week, the same group heads to King’s for dinner and then will go across the street to watch a baseball game.  Should be fun.  Can’t believe it’s the same night Big Brother returns with their debut episode, but I’ll survive.  And hoping you do too until at least tomorrow night when we’ll check back in to see wassup 🙂  In the meantime, think sun, please.  Thank you.

G’Night!

Nightly Reflections – Monday, June 18th, 2018

The heat is gone!  The humidity remains, but beggars can’t be choosers.  Now, if we could see some sunshine again, that’d be nice too.

How was the first day of your work week?  You realize we’ve passed the midway point of June already?  I just got a phone call from a politician’s campaign, asking me to march in the Eagan parade in the morning of the 4th, and the Apple Valley parade in the afternoon.  I’m not sure how they got my phone number, but I have a suspicion.  The nice thing about caller ID is if it’s just a number, I’ve stopped answering.  Nine times out of ten, it’s a telemarketing system.  So, I have stopped answering.  I figure if it’s a real person with a real need, they’ll leave a message.  And sure enough, that’s what they did.  I guess they didn’t know I’ll be the one announcing them in the afternoon for the AV parade.  And they’ll not ever know.  lol

I received a text this morning, from a friend, indicating it was BOGO at Abdullah Candies.  Not having a friggin’ clue what BOGO was, I had to ask for clarification.  “Buy One, Get One” on their imperfects.  Yum.  I had just finished yesterday the last chocolates I had bought from them the beginning of June.  So, when I was all showered and ready to head out, bring back the garbage dumpster into the garage, and head out to face the world, I made Abdallah’s one of my stops.  I’ve not known them to do a sale like this, but there was a lot of imperfects made.  What caught my eye?  The Dark Chocolate Cashew Alligators.  And then, I could pick another candy from a specified area on their shelves.  So, I went with the Milk Chocolate Cashew Alligators.  And I have to laugh.  Cuz I remember older aunts and uncles when I was just a boy doing this.  I allow myself one alligator a day.  Dear God, I could eat the whole bag, but I only let myself have one at some point.  My “treat.”  I remember the older people in my life doing that.  And now…I’m them!  lol

It was the routine doc visit once again today.  Drove to Cannon Falls, as normal.  My appointment was for 3:45.  Did not want it that late nor did I want it on Monday, but I had little choice this time around.  So, I made sure to get there a little early in case there was a chance I could keep from being there til 5.  Again, if my doc has been there all day, he’s such a social guy that he falls behind as the day moves along.  I can’t complain because we do it too.  It’s just how he is and his personality invites you into being social with him.  I’m tellin’ ya, I love this man.  I never thought I’d find a second doctor who could put me at such ease being in his presence.  And that’s not bad, considering I’m a bit of a hypochondriac.  Well, he wasn’t too late in getting in to me.  I was pleased to point out that the blood pressure this time was the best it’s been in months, not that it’s been bad, but it’s always on the line. Today, not so much 🙂

In any case, aside from the normal reason I visit him every six weeks or so, I had a new one today. We’ve talked about this in the past but it’s been more painful recently.  My left hand, in the area beneath the base of my thumb.  I explained what it felt like.  He squeezed different areas til I yiped, and then said he’d give me my shot of cortisone.  I hate needles, but as needles go, it wasn’t too bad.  He said in a week’s time, the issue should be gone.  I hope he’s correct.  He also taught me what “trigger finger” was.  Cuz I have one on my right hand.  That, in time, may need the needle too, but for now, it’s fine. My finger locks up and it’s kinda funny each time, but it snaps out of it in seconds.  Kinda weird though.

I admit tonight’s pic might be one of my dumber pics, but for the lack of a pic idea, I thought What the hell.  I’ll show them the area that got the injection.  There ya are!  lol

Tuesday to follow.  Maid day.  I’m second on her list. I hate being second on her list.  She may not show up til noon then, and it locks me into my home right in the middle of the day and I sorta hate that.  However, once again, it’s outta my hands.  So, I’ll have to sit and wait.  But, it’ll also give me additional time to pick up before she gets here.  lol

One final comment.  Cuz it’s bothering the hell outta me.  I’ve gone to this world before, but I try with great ferocity to stay out of it; however, I’m making a statement tonight.  On my way home from Cannon Falls, I was listening to MSNBC.  They had just received the audio from the kids and babies in “custody” or “lock-up” or whatever the hell this administration is calling it.  As I listened, I felt more and more pain.  I couldn’t keep the tears from coming.  What’s happening is so wrong.  This can not be the answer.  And don’t tell me ******can’t do something about it.  I no longer know who we are any more.  Not when we’re doing this to kids.  I finally had to stop listening.  It’s just too upsetting.  The whole world is watching now.  I’m wondering when Pope Francis steps in because of his affinity for children.

Ok.  I’m done.  Have a good Tuesday.  We’ll see ya in 24.  Or, maybe we won’t, eh?

G’Night!

Nightly Reflections – Sunday, June 17th, 2018

I have been thinking about last night much of this day.  When something really cool happens to a person, it tends to linger and slowly dissipate like rogue ember from a bonfire.  I still claim last night was one of my most enjoyable nights ever.  Which is an appropriate way to begin what promises to be a most enjoyable week.

However, if this heat doesn’t let up, there will be nothing enjoyable about it at all.  June 17th.  with two solid months of summer ahead.  This could get ugly.

BUT, we know this heat is moving along tomorrow.  I see it could return in the long-range forecast, but we’ll take one day at a time.  Squeak in some rain tonight and then clouds tomorrow before sunshine on Tuesday.  Works for me.

Well, I did what I’d been avoiding since Wednesday.  I revised my column.  I changed the perspective from third person to first person.  She’s right.  It’s easier to follow and understand.  And it simply reads better.  I kept third person in the intro until ending that paragraph, revealing the third person “he” I was referring to was “me.”  It was a tad tedious but it’s done and in the hands of my editor at the paper.  NOW, I have to get busy writing the next column as my first pair of eyes is heading out on vacation on Wednesday and I really rely on her for honest input on the draft.  I’ve proven her valuableness in this last column as her suggestion to change perspective was spot on.  I would feel just a tad shaky if I didn’t have that first set of eyes.  After all, it will be in a newspaper.  I want to make it something people can and want to read.

And when I started to think about this next column to be written and when it will be published, I realized the date would be the 27th., the final column BEFORE the 4th of July.  Yup.  Already.  So, that will be my focus as I have about 48 hours to write that column.  Yippee skippee.  Who doesn’t like a good challenge?

Aside from the heat of the day and a Brewers loss, there was an upside to my afternoon.  Andre, the one who illustrated our three books, reached out a week or two ago.  He wanted to simply reconnect over coffee, so today was that day.  We met at the Rosemount Caribou (more of a day for a smoothie than coffee), and spent a couple of hours catching up.  He’s coming up on the first year anniversary of his first day of work.  He’s being promoted, he said, in two weeks.  He likes his job and his apartment.  He’s drawing every day for the same reason I write every day.  We had a nice time reconnecting.  When we were leaving, a young couple who had come in with their two young daughters were also leaving.  I recognized both parents right away because…you guessed it…they were former students.  I introduced Andre to them and of course, said he was the illustrator of our three books.  “You wrote three books?”  I am still so shell-shocked to hear that.  Not that I’m arrogant about this, but this community is only so big and we’ve had great support over five years and to even bring the topic up with people, I feel like I’m beating a dead horse, but it never fails.  I continue to meet people who live in Rosemount and never knew we did the stories.  So, I showed them the three as I keep signed copies in my car all the time.  Yes.  I’m smart 🙂  I didn’t expect them to buy them out of my car like I’m dealing drugs, but I told them they are always at Rosemount Floral.  The wife was very excited about the three, so I suspect they will, at some point, pick them up.

Speaking of which, the Class of 1988 is having their reunion on the final Saturday of Leprechaun Days’ Week.  I’ve offered a free set to the class to give away as part of their “Buy your tickets early” campaign.  I was invited to attend the reunion and to set up a table, advertising the books with order forms.  The individual from the class, a young lady I had the pleasure of knowing for her four years at RHS, also didn’t know about them, but I get that.  She’s out of state.  So, perhaps we’ll be selling a few books that night.  Won’t hurt to try.  🙂

The rest of my Sunday was a no-brainer.  Enjoyed that heavy rain that came through.  I don’t have to water my geraniums on the patio tomorrow, that’s for sure.  Not much in the way of lightning or thunder, but the wind and water certainly existed.  Looks like we could get more in the next few hours.  I took out the garbage and the heat we’ve been experiencing was certainly lessening.  The air was not so “heavy.”

And with that wonderful note of weather, I will leave you to preparing for your Monday mindset.  Ahhhh….Sunday nights and Monday mornings.  Nothin like ’em, eh?  Eh, Andy? 😛  Have a good Monday, all!

G’Night!

 

Nightly Reflections – Saturday, June 16th, 2018

For ninety minutes tonight, it was 1967 to 1978 once again.  And it was simply marvelous.  This will be one of those nights I shall remember for the rest of my life.  My buddy, who was responsible for getting us the tickets before Christmas, and I attended the Evening With Carol Burnett at the Orpheum Theater on Hennepin.  And as you can see by the marquis in the picture, the show was sold out.  Is it any surprise?  Last night’s show the same.

Someone said tonight from the balcony in the question/answer section, “You’re an institution, Carol.”  And truly, she is.  And the generation who loved her as kids were there to say thank you tonight with their applause and their laughter.  And there was plenty of both to spread throughout the ninety minutes.

The evening began with dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.  My friend had a dish that he loved and having sampled a bit of it, I’d have to say it was damn tasty.  An Asian dish.  I had chicken fettuccini and mine was good also.  The intention was to sit on their wonderful patio, but screw that I told my friend.  We’re sitting inside.  Damn, it was hot today again.  Stifling so.

From there, the ticket master wove his way downtown in an unusual fashion.  You might know that on weekends, 35 is closed.  So, getting there and back took a little creativity and a little experience.  Thus, he drove 😛

Having arrived to the ramp, we parked ourselves and headed to the theater.  Earlier in the day, I learned from one of my younger brothers that our oldest brother was in town with his wife as they were visiting their son and his wife and their two kids in Eden Prairie.  It’s not unusual for my brother to be in the neighborhood and not make a peep, but this time, the youngest spilled the beans.  And ironically, they were in town not just to see their grandchildren but my nephew had bought his parents tickets for Carol tonight too.  Once my buddy and I got situated in the wonderfully tiny seats of the Ordway in the wonderfully tight rows, I called my brother.  No answer.  I left a message.  “Peace be with you.”

At 7:30, the lights dropped, the screen on the stage came to live, and a montage of Tarzan calls from Carol throughout the years began.  And that’s how this evening began.  Eventually, the Tarzan calls became other mini-clips of her shows that ultimately led into Carol herself coming on to stage to a standing ovation.  Hell.  That was good enough for me.  We were in the freakin’ theater with Carol Burnett!  Once we sat, she began to talk briefly about her love for Harvey Korman and his love affair with Tim Conway.  That led into the incredibly famous video of the dentist and his patient.  And with every clip that ran tonight that provoked laughter, it was like the crowd of maybe a couple thousand were seeing the clips for the first time in their lives.  The roar of laughter was awesome.  To sit there and laugh out loud so hard at a skit that I’ve seen time and time again over the course of many years…well, that’s pure magic.

Once the video finished, the questions began.  No plants.  Carol was definitive about that.  She was always prepared to take her chances with whatever came.  And trust me, some of these folks with their questions couldn’t have been plants because some of these people took five minutes to get to the flippin’ question after sharing their bio with the audience.  “I watched the show with my grandmother for years and then when I became an adult, … ” You wouldn’t believe the way some people were marketing their life story before asking Carol the question, but one could get past those ego trips.  I continued to think, She’s there!  Right there!  On that stage!  And I’m right here!  It was so fun.

I forgot to share with you that as people were filing in to their seats, I was SO hoping I got a person who hated food next to me.  I hate the seats at the Orpheum.  Well, coincidentally, an RHS grad showed up with his mother.  He was a 2009 grad.  His mother got him the tickets for Christmas.  He loves Carol Burnett.  And he was fully aware of all the stars in the clips throughout the show.  I was impressed.

Carol would come out, stand, talk, answer, and then set up another set of videos from the shows.  She told one story about she and Julie Andrews and Lady Bird Johnson that was classic Burnett.  A story that happened to them as citizens, not celebrities.  And about ten minutes after the story was shared, during one woman’s question (another person who went on and on), her final comment was, “Happy Pride to you and Julie Andrews.”  You had to be there and to have heard the story, but take my word for it.  This patron got a huge response of laughter and applause from her closing statement.

IN the final fifteen minutes or so, a chair was brought out on to stage, a table with a beautiful spread of white mums and a water bottle for Carol.  She answered a few more questions before leading into her final clip, the clip that ran in the final moments of her CBS show in 1978.  And as she’s singing her theme song in the video clip, tonight’s Carol joined in with the final words…”That’s why I’m glad we had this time together, ‘Cause it makes me feel like I belong.  Seems we just got started and before you know it Comes the time we have to say, ‘So long.’ ”  And it was then when the lights came up, as they had been most of the night minus the video clips, and people were told to shoot all the pics they wanted.

It was a helluva memorable night.  Nothing else I can tell you about it that will sell that statement any better than I’ve done.  I can only hope your night was a smidge as wonderful.  I’ll have pleasant thoughts to fall asleep by tonight.

G’Night!

Nightly Reflections – Friday, June 15th, 2018

I sure hope all summer isn’t this hot.  With it only being the 15th of June, it worries me.  Another weekend with Excessive Heat Warnings.  The heat is stifling.  I remember a time when it didn’t really bother me all that much, but that ain’t now!

Hoping you had a good Friday.  Mine was without incident, so that’s as much as a retired guy can ask for, eh?  Started the day on the patio with Stephen King and a cup of coffee.  Willy was sleeping in the recliner in the den, so he could see me.  I think that’s all he wants sometimes.  AND, this was the FIRST time I walked out of the den onto the patio with him sitting right there.  I sorta figured he’d stay put and show no real desire to head out.  He had been sleeping in the recliner when I walked in and he looked like he was going nowhere any time soon.  I think if he sees me walk out in front of him more often, he’ll be no more interested in going out than he is when I come in from the garage and he’s waiting for me by the door.  In all the years he’s been with me, he looks curious about the garage, but my money says if I were to pick him up and walk him to the door, he’d fight me to get free of my hold on him and he’d tear to the other part of the house.  That’s Willy!

Speaking of the King novel I’m reading, The Outsider, I’m through the first hundred pages and I’m liking it a lot.  It has more of an old King feel to it versus the Mr. Mercedes style stories he wrote.  It’s the first book I am really overly anxious to read each day.  Haven’t latched on to a book like that in a long time.  King used to have that effect on my when I first began reading him in the mid 70s.  So, it’s fun to reconnect with him on that level.

Oh, and another thing about the patio this morning.  Yes, the air, as my grandmother used to say, was very heavy, but the strong breeze blowing as I sat in the shade really was awesome.  The only thing NOT awesome about it was the street work they were doing.  Loud. Just friggin’ loud!  And a lot of the dust was being blown my way thanks to the wind.  I finally went in, but I had a decent amount of time out there.  I love my patio.  I think using it in October will be awesome.

I wrote the column yesterday.  And then I sent it to my toughest critic.  And normally she responds with little-to-nothing to add or change.  This time, however, a major curveball.  Aside from a couple minor grammatical adjustments, there was one big issue that she suggested I consider.  If you understand, in a nutshell, it’s not writing the 2-part column in third person.  I thought it was a clever idea.  Her point, however, did what it was intended to do.  It made me think and I know she’s right.  Part two would be even harder for me to write in third person and to achieve the desired effect I’d be going for, so… I stayed away from it today but tomorrow, I need to attack it again.  Hoping it is not as major a task as my mind is telling me it will be.  Tedious, more than anything.

Tomorrow.  Tomorrow is the big day!  Been waiting six months for tomorrow!  Why? you ask.  Well, here’s why.  Orpheum Theater.  7:30.  Carol Burnett.  Jealous?  I thought so 🙂  My casino buddy bought tickets for me in December.  So he and I will be heading to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory on France a couple of hours beforehand, my treat, and then we’ll head into Mpls to see a woman I grew up with and have idolized all my life.  The fact she’s still performing at her age is incredible.  There was a FB post of the stage.  One chair.  One table with a planter of flowers and a water bottle on it.  And she’ll simply talk to us and I’m sure answer audience questions.  How kick butt will that be?  I can’t wait to write about it once it’s over tomorrow night.  I’m pretty sure my sister is ENVIOUS!  🙂

A stormy few days ahead and hot.  Hope you can get things done that you need to get done.  It’s too bad for the graduation parties that will be taking place.  I actually plan to go to one myself if the weather isn’t stupid.  We’ll see.  In any case, have a good start to your weekend.  Back here late tomorrow night with news from Carol 🙂  So freakin’ excited!

G’Night!

The Weekly Column – “Happy Father’s Day!”

The View From My Room – Year Six– #41

            A month ago, Mom got this space for Mother’s Day. It seems only right Dad gets it this week. Once again, my disclaimer is I speak only for myself here.  I have four brothers and one sister who could give you their perspective, but this is aboutmyrelationship with Dad.  Makes sense. So, without further adieu, I’d like you to meet my pop!

My relationship with Dad was different than the one I had with Mom.  I suspect that is not unusual for many males.  Since Mom and Dad were two distinctively different people, it also makes sense our relationships would be different.  When I describe Dad to people, I begin with, “He was the hardest working man I knew.”  I think my siblings would agree that we saw more of Mom in the course of a day than we did Dad.  Dad would get up at 5:00 or so in the morning, and he’d be on his way to work by 6:00. There’d be days he’d drive and days when he’d walk.  I don’t know why he walked, unless the car was in the shop or something because we had two cars but Mom often walked to work too.  Living in a smaller town, walking to work was not unusual.

Dad worked at a place called Metalfab. a metal fabrication factory.  He was primarily a welder and tank tester.  Our father was as handy a man as any person I’ve ever known.  The reason we’d see Mom more than Dad in the course of a day is once home from work, he’d spend a lot of time in the garage working on projects, or he’d be outside working on our property.  He once built a brick fireplace outside, so we could grill.  It was quite the creation. I had no appreciation for his abilities when I was younger, but I have come to recognize that Dad was a skilled man.  Far more than his sons!

There were times I’d stop at Metalfab to see Dad just for fun.  I always knew where to find him unless he was on break.  Sometimes I went down there for money and other times I was sent there for a reason that superseded my needs.  But I always got a kick out of stopping in and seeing him in his work environment.  I remember feeling bad for him on hot summer days because there was no relief for those guys in the factory.  Sweat would be dripping from his forehead, but he never complained.

Dad was nota touchy-feely guy at all.  He grew up on a farm, as did Mom.  Dad’s father was an alcoholic.  His mother, however, was as sweet a little old lady as you’d ever want to know.  As I grew into adulthood, I’d hear horrifying stories from my older siblings regarding Dad’s days as a boy in his home. I don’t ever remember Dad hugging me. I guess I’d have to say I didn’t hug him either, but I figured it would be met with, “You ok?”  The only time I recall Dad showing his soft side was the day we went to the funeral home early to see our mother’s body in the casket so we could deal with our emotions before the doors opened to the public. As I approached the casket, I lost all emotional control and wept fiercely.  Dad walked me over to a couch, sat me down and put his arm around me, trying to console me as best he could.  I was 28 years old.  I’ll never forget that.

As a youngster, I could have been missing from the house for two weeks, and Dad wouldn’t have noticed.  If I had been five minutes late for curfew, Mom would be waiting to pounce when I walked in the door.  That’s how they parented.  Dad was a hard man.  Mom was more genteel.  Dad, however, loved his fun.  He had four sisters and two brothers, one of whom died long before our family began. He and his siblings were a tough bunch too.  Most lived well into their 70s and were fierce smokers.  Dad’s final preference was his pipe.  When that side of the family gathered, fun was first on the menu, as opposed to mom’s side of the family which was much more low-key. Dad’s side enjoyed their beverages. At weddings and other family events, there was no shortage of laughter and hijinks.  And Dad loved to dance.  He was maybe 5’9” and thin as a rail.  He was smooth on the dance floor.  Watching Dad have fun was simply an enjoyable time for all in attendance. Some of my favorite times with him were when I’d impersonate Foster Brooks per Dad’s wishes; then Dad would repeat my impersonation.  Dear God, it was funny.

We said goodbye to Dad in July of 2000.  He was 77.  We never questioned his love for us.  He just showed it differently, and I think my five siblings would agree. His spirit and zest for life is alive and well in all his kids. At times, perhaps, too much. Yikes! Happy Father’s Day memories to you all!

Nightly Reflections – Wednesday, June 13th, 2018

Well, I am never ceased to be amazed at who might be reading this every night.  Despite writing the longest Reflection ever last night, I had the most people pop in to read it in weeks.  And I don’t understand how that works.  lol   Here’s what I’m talking about…

I get that the topic I explored last night is beyond important.  However, people had no clue what they’d be reading when they came to my blog.  And I often think that maybe the picture catches the attention of people and brings them to my blog site, but last night’s picture was about as docile a pic with two DVDs and one book as pics get.  So, no clue what brought more last night, but I’m grateful you did.  And I appreciate the comments people left after reading.  An ongoing discussion of the topic has to occur.  It has to happen in the home most of all.  Schools need to foster it.  Churches need to deal with it.  Young people’s organizations and any sporting teams need to address it.  I think more and more, it’s difficult to find a person who hasn’t been touched, in some way, by a personal loss due to suicide.  I hope the chatter continues.

Have you seen the weekend forecast?  We’re goin’ back to hot, Africa hot!  I try to keep the air off as long as I can in the course of a day, but I think it might be a period of days where the air will be on continuously.  Oh well.  Glad to have the air to cool things off.

It was social security deposit day.  I still giggle when I think about the fact I’m receiving a social security check monthly.  Happy as hell to be alive to do so, but I think it’s still funny.  I, of course, immediately think of our grandmother who lived with us and always looked forward to the day she’d receive her check in the mail.  Now, it’s all about automatic deposit.  Maybe not as exciting waiting for the mailman.  But still just as nice     🙂

Dinner tonight was special.  One of my former grads from 2013.  He’s been at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire these past many years.  Highly involved in the music program there and also an active role in the Rhythm City Rhythm drum corps for Minnesota.  We hadn’t taken time to connect with each other since last summer, I think.  So it was nice to touch base once again as his summer is busy and difficult to steal away time from his passion.  And, of course, where was dinner?  He loves this place as much as I do and he suggested it, so back off!  😛  Italian Pie Shoppe!  Yay!  This guy was a favorite from day one he entered my Honors Nine class.  We remained close all four years and I’m grateful he still chooses to keep me in his world, which I learned tonight (though I was pretty certain anyhow) was busier than ever.  It was good to see him again.  Unless you’ve taught, you don’t know the joy of seeing your students years later as successful adults.  It’s heartwarming, to say the least.

Brewers played an incredibly hard pitched game today.  Kept the Cubs to six hits and second day of shutout baseball.  And against the Cubs, it’s no easy feat.  These two teams almost guarantee the fans in either park a series that parallels no other every time they meet.  The games are normally tight and exciting.  Though the runs were kept to one for the Crew, the pitching was exciting to watch.  Well pitched games are a wonder to watch. I know many people find baseball boring, but not me.  It’s the one sport where you can socialize with the ones with you while keeping one eye on the game.  Soon, I’ll be there to witness my first game of the season.  And I.  Am.  Pumped!

I’ll spare you excess verbiage tonight.  I’ll simply remind you that tomorrow night is once again column night.  And, in honor of Sunday’s holiday and out of equal time for the other parent, this week’s column introduces you to our father and my relationship with him.  I’ll tell you this much…it was a different relationship with Dad than I had with Mom.  Tune in tomorrow night and see for yourself.

See ya Friday night, at which time the 24 hour clock will be ticking on…well, I guess you just have to come back and find out 🙂

G’Night!

Nightly Reflections – Tuesday, June 12th, 2018

WARNING:  This is long.  Longest yet.  Sorry, but I needed to think aloud on my blog site.

Good evening.  I just finished watching my weekly two hours of happiness.  And before I forget her name, check out Courtney Hadwin via Google.  Will likely take a bit before tonight’s performance is posted, but when you find it, watch it. At the time I’m writing this, it has yet to be posted.  I forget how young she is, but she’s young.  I don’t know if they’ll show the backstory on the video like they did on the show, but essentially you have a girl who is extremely shy and yet loves to sing.  Her dad is with her at the audition.  What comes out of this little meek thing has got to be seen to be believed.  Howie gave her the golden buzzer and one again, deservedly so.  She goes straight to the live shows later this summer.  A.  Maze.  Ing.

Next item:  It was a DVD/Book Tuesday again 🙂  Happy time.  Tonight’s pic shows you what my purchases were.  I told you last night about the book.  The fifth and final Gideon Crew story.  It’s just 300 pages.  Looks like a quick read.  Then, I had forgotten that yet another release of Peter Pan was slated for today.  I bought these movies when they first came out in VHS.  Then I bought the first DVD release.  And I bought the next one because they had something to offer the first didn’t.  I think this is the third one, and I bought it only because I’ve used my previous copy more times than I can tell you.  Finally, I was more than excited to have a copy of Love, Simon. I told you how wonderful this film was this spring when I saw it one afternoon.  Now I own it.

The rest of tonight’s Reflection is stream of consciousness, which is not really different from any other night, but I’m about to attempt an exploration into something I probably shouldn’t.  You might disagree or get upset or think I’m far off the mark, but oh well.  It’s not my intent.

After last week’s double celebrity suicide, I saw numerous postings about this, that and the other thing on FB regarding the topic and posts by people reaching out to anyone who could read their post that they were always available to listen if people were feeling bad and considering hurting themselves.  Then, a former student of mine with whom I have had the pleasure of bantering with in the past year, sent me a post from CNN regarding the suicide rates increasing more than 25% since 1999 according to the CDC.  Then he sent me another posting titled “The Complete History of Social Media: Then and Now.”  Let me quote for you something that struck him and strikes me too.  “The first recognizable social media sit, Six Degrees, was created in 1997.  It enabled users to upload a profile and make friends with other users.  In 1999, the first blogging sites became popular, creating a social media sensation that’s still popular today.”  Then he asked me a one-word question…”Coincidence?”  I’d say probably not.

Then, Bill Murray was cited for having an opinion…”Social media is training us to compare our lives, instead of appreciating everything we are.  No wonder why everyone is always depressed.”  He makes good sense.  How many people post events in their lives about their families and their kids and eating here and vacationing there, usually displaying happy faces?  Is it any wonder that people who don’t have this life see all this and want it?  And might it cause them to evaluate their success in life based on other people’s posts?  What about the kids?  They’re struggling every day with self-esteem and self-concept, trying to find a place to belong.  I’m not sure social media is a healthy place for them if they don’t know how to compartmentalize it all.  And I don’t know if kids are emotionally mature enough to handle it all.

I’ve said since retiring that I’ve realized that every person I come across, the person in the car next to me, the movie ticket taker and all the rest, they all have their own “stuff” they’re dealing with.  No matter what we see on the outside, God only knows what they have to face in their own world.  All the happiness we see on Facebook makes sense.  Would people post about an alcoholic spouse?  About their kid who stole something from the Holiday gas station?  About the infidelity within their own home?  I once knew someone who believed the grass is always greener.  And I think many of us have learned it’s not.  No matter what, I’ve learned the grass is pretty green right where I am.  I’m happy for all I see with all the posts where people are celebrating themselves or others within their circle.  But what don’t we see and know?  “Everyone has their cross to bear,” my mother used to say.  I have come to realize that.  It’s easy to forget, but remembering it makes for a more compassionate place to exist.

The reason this is at the forefront of my thoughts tonight is because I got word today that yet another person has taken their life this week.  He was an RHS grad.  I never taught him because he graduated in my first couple of years, but I taught his sister who I was much closer to in her four years there.  My heart aches for her and her family.  I know nothing more than he chose to end his time here on earth.  And it makes me sad for all of them, as well as a life not fully lived.

I realize there’s much more to suicide than social media’s effects, but to ignore social media as a contributing factor and the information about the increase in suicide numbers coinciding with the onset of social media…you simply must look at it more closely.  Parents are screwed when it comes to the cell phone.  They’ll never be able to say NO.  Kids are going to have social media.  So, it’s up to parenting to teach kids to keep it all in perspective.  And another one of my former students and I spoke today after the word of the alumni, and he said he told his daughter that she needs to think the next time she posts on her FB page when she’s on a beach or with her friends having a good time.  He simply told her she may be contributing to someone else’s unhappiness with their own life.  To ignore all of this is asking for trouble it seems to me.  And I needed to think about it out loud tonight.  This got long enough where most probably didn’t even get this far.  But if you did, perhaps the question I leave you with is what can you do about it to make sure you or your family and friends are safe each day.  It’s a sucky topic but to ignore it is to turn your back on it.  We can’t do that any longer.  Thanks Andy for bringing this topic to the surface for me.

One other thing…I posted this video on my on FB this weekend when I came across it.  Not sure how many saw it, but those who did, left a reaction and many shared it themselves.  It’s not a happy video but a powerful one.  The one to watch is entitled, “Moby and the Void Pacific Choir – Are You Lost In The World Like Me?”

http://www.stevecutts.com/animation.html

Sorry this went long.  Hope your day was a good one.  See you back here at the end of Humpday 🙂  The Brewers are beating the Cubs in the seventh, 4-0.  Yea!

G’Night!

Nightly Reflections – Monday, June 11th, 2018

I know this much…this week will end far more exciting than it has begun.  What a no-nuthin’ day.  The weather couldn’t make up its mind what to do.  As one of my friends said, the radar had rains coming straight at us and then, by the time they reached Pilot Knob Road, they dissipated.  And I had no direction today, so a big yawn for this day.  and yet, let’s see how I can muster 600+ words about nuthin’.  🙂

Willy hates cloudy days.  Or he loves them.  He hasn’t exactly said which, but on these kinds of days, he hits the chair and I throw the blanket over it and he’s under there for at least three hours.  Actually, that works just fine for me 🙂

I started working on the column for next week.  And last night, I decided it was going to be the first of two parts.  I know I am going to write about the Resident Assistant (RA) reunion in a couple of weeks after it’s happened, so I figured I’d never really enough time to fill the readers in on why a group of 18 guys who worked together in a dorm 38 years ago would want to support the idea of a reunion.  So the first part will be all about the various personalities and some of the various hijinks that went on between us all.  I will even bring in a certain campus police officer who became part of our “family” of fun.  That will actually be in the paper the weekend it’s happening.  Unfortunately, I can’t do back-to-back columns for parts one and two simply because of my due dates for the submission and the actual weekend of the event.  It maybe bothers me more than anyone else, but it is what it is.  So, as I see it, this week’s topic is Father’s Day.  Next week’s, the reunion part one.  The week after the July 4th column and the week after, the reunion part two.  At least I know my topics through the first week of July 🙂  Yay!

Going back to last night’s Tony Awards, I thought it was a lot of fun.  Of course I enjoyed seeing all the various performances.  Bernadette Peters has to be doing botox, but if she is, she’s the first person to do it where she doesn’t look like Batman’s arch nemesis, the Joker.  She looks incredible.  She was always one of my favorites.  So much fun.  The kids from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School performing was damn special.  The faces on the folks in the crowd said it all about how anyone might be feeling during their song.  I thought Andrew Garfield’s acceptance speech to begin the awards was remarkable.  The theme of acceptance and diversity rang loud and clear last night.  And then, of course, there was Robert De Niro’s moment prior to introducing Bruce Springsteen.  I get that he lacked class and was feeding into a population that thrives on his delivery choice.  However, I also get the anger that another population in this country is trying to control. After the debacle this weekend at the summit, I am sure it was the final straw for many people, and apparently for de Niro.  De Niro has been an outspoken opponent to “He who must not be named.”  Even though none of us knew at the time what he said because of the censors, soon enough, thanks to social media, articles were popping up as to the words he spoke.  All in all, it was not a boring show.

I have to say I was happy all weekend that I had finally cut up the cantaloupe and the watermelon cuz I reaped the benefits throughout the two days.  The idea of buying another of each and cutting them again this week, however, does NOTHING for me!  Tomorrow needs to be some grocery shopping day.  We shall see what I walk away with.  I DO know that Barnes and Noble has yet another book hitting the stands tomorrow I will be buying.  It’s from the writing team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  Their books are smart, well written, and always guaranteed to please the mystery reader.  They started a series about seven years ago.  I read the first three.  A fourth came out that I bought but never got around to reading, more so because I didn’t know it was a Gideon Crew story.  The main character has about a year to live we’re told in book one.  Well, since I missed reading book four, I can’t read book 5 til I’ve consumed #4.  Book #4, by the way, is tonight’s pic.  And tomorrow’s book is #5 and the final in the series, so it’s obvious as to how it ends.  Guess my reading plan changed a bit after I finish the one I’m nearly done with now.  Way too many books.  Way too many!

I satisfied a craving today.  I ran to Panda Express for lunch.  Walnut shrimp and teriyaki chicken.  I don’t do it often, but it’s always a tasty meal when I do it 🙂

Brewers against the Cubs tonight.  Finally back in Milwaukee! That’s the excitement happening at the Brooks Palace.  Willy will be out for most of it.  He’s not a baseball fan   😛  Hope Monday treated you well.  Hope Tuesday treats you better.  Til then 🙂

G’Night!

Nightly Reflections – Sunday, June 10th, 2018

It’s “Roll-Out-The-Garbage-And-Recycle-Bins” night once again.  Which means tomorrow is Monday once again.  And Andy D., you’ll be smiling to know that tomorrow looks to be wet.  Your moment has finally arrived.  Congratulations 😛

Today was a bit productive.  Multiple loads of laundry, which included the bed sheets.  Even the mattress cover.  And when I have clean sheets to look forward to, it makes going to bed all the more pleasant.  After one night, of course, the thrill is over.  Ha.  But, we still have Sunday night 🙂  I am waiting for Willsters to go into his evening slumber.  Then I can sneak away and make my bed.  Otherwise I’m fighting his presence on the mattress while I’m trying to make it.  And speaking of the little irritant, the shoestring game has become a daily occurrence.  He will NOT let me tie my shoes without fighting him for the strings.  I sit down in the recliner, open the tennis shoes so I can slip my foot inside them, and as I place them on the floor with the strings dangling over the sides, he’s at it.  And if he’s focused on the right shoe, then I’m trying to put on the left; however, he then shifts his focus.  Honest to God, I’m yelling at him and giggling cuz I’m handling him in such a way that any other time, he’d bite me, but as I’m trying to shove him away, he’s totally oblivious to my defense.  Instead, he’s got a lace in his mouth, getting it all wet for me to handle.  This really goes on every day now.  It’s freakin’ loony!

I finally cleaned up the column and sent it to the boss who gave it her stamp of approval, so I sent it off to the editor.  Since I did a column for Mom on Mother’s Day, I figured I should do one for Dad too, so I did.  Two totally different columns because they were two totally different relationships.  I’m hoping people enjoy it and that it makes them think of their connection to their dad if their dad is no longer of this earth.  I’m hoping I did right by him, but two pieces of feedback from two people who get to see it early said I did, so I feel good about it.

Last night, I changed my plans to watch a movie or two, but rather I watched something else.  American Made just wasn’t working for me.  And since I can’t remember if I mentioned the following at all this week, I may be repeating myself, but I’m 62.  Take it into consideration before criticizing 🙂  My money is on the notion that I at least mentioned it.  In any case, the series of novels that came from J. K. Rowling after Harry Potter was done was a series focusing on a private detective whose name was Cormoran Strike.  She wrote three novels and the fourth is theoretically coming out this year yet.  She writes the books under the pen name of Robert Galbraith.  The first novel was entitled The Cuckoo Is Calling.  The folks at the BBC made a mini-series out of it.  They sold the rights to Cinemax.  And so far, the first two episodes have aired.  And it’s good.  It’s very good.  All of that to just tell you it’s good.  I could never have told you what the plot of the novel was, but as the story unfolds in the series, I am remembering bits and pieces.  If you have Cinemax, give it your attention.  It’s a good mystery.  You can usually trust the BBC people.

Tonight is Tony Awards Night.  I just started watching them in the last couple of years.  Stupid I didn’t do it earlier.  I love the performances so that’s where I’m heading now.  To the couch for some Broadway!  Hope you had a good Sunday and may your work week kick off on a positive note, despite the rain.  Over…and…out!

G’Night!