Sitting in Books-a-Million cafe, drinking decaf, writing in my notebook on Monday night, I was trying to put into words a concept about what it means to have money in this world, how people with money live in a different world from the rest of us without actually realizing it, and this is what the man at the next table says to his son, who has been up to this point talking about places he'd like to visit and sports he'd like to play:
"Sometimes it's good just to have some time to do nothing," the man says. "You want to go to Rio? I'm good with that. Rio's cool."
... and I wrote down what he said. And I wondered if the universe was telling me that it agreed with me in general, though it had no intention of helping me do anything about it.
But as I said before: I drink decaf now. I have few illusions.
----
Also Monday was when I decided to force myself back into the 366 Days project, having skipped more than a month of entries. You can find a link at right to my initial 200 + days of effort, which finally died after being moved to a less user-friendly site. There are some pretty decent tales there, I think, though you'll have to dig to find them. I suggest, if you check it out, to go to the last page and work your way forward along the timeline. I hope you will.
Tomorrow, I'll bring you a story. Tonight, I have spent my time getting a $50 HP Pavilion running that Debra picked up in a yard sale. I'm writing this online with it right now. It works great.
Peace.
-----
T-minus 43 in the 366 Days recovery program
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Birthday Haiku
Fewer days ahead
Than behind him now, he thinks.
Fewer nights remain.
Brilliant ideas lie
Still just out of reach, he thinks.
Or fade with his brain.
-----
(c) 2009 by Tony Simmons
T-minus-44 in the 366 Days recovery program
-----
Today's Pick: Booster Gold: 52 Pickup
Never a huge fan of Booster Gold, I liked his appearances on the various JLA cartoons better than his comedy routines in DC comics. But then Booster's best bud Blue Beetle was murdered and Booster got a little more serious. Now he's traveling the fractured post-Infinity Crisis multiverse to set right problems in the time stream, and he plans to change history by saving Beetle's life. The book is written with humor and pathos by Geoff Johns, and ably illustrated by Dan Jurgens, and I'll be looking for Volume 2 soon.
Today's Word: Adieu, as in farewell, so long, good bye. And here's why:
Very sad to see Heather closing shop. I will write more about this and provide more of our video interview for this weekend's paper. If you live in the area, you should go see the final show, "Narratives," and buy some of her gear (Tshirts, art books, etc) or even some of the art, which she has also discounted. Check her web site for more info.
Peace.
Than behind him now, he thinks.
Fewer nights remain.
Brilliant ideas lie
Still just out of reach, he thinks.
Or fade with his brain.
-----
(c) 2009 by Tony Simmons
T-minus-44 in the 366 Days recovery program
-----
Today's Pick: Booster Gold: 52 Pickup
Never a huge fan of Booster Gold, I liked his appearances on the various JLA cartoons better than his comedy routines in DC comics. But then Booster's best bud Blue Beetle was murdered and Booster got a little more serious. Now he's traveling the fractured post-Infinity Crisis multiverse to set right problems in the time stream, and he plans to change history by saving Beetle's life. The book is written with humor and pathos by Geoff Johns, and ably illustrated by Dan Jurgens, and I'll be looking for Volume 2 soon.
Today's Word: Adieu, as in farewell, so long, good bye. And here's why:
Very sad to see Heather closing shop. I will write more about this and provide more of our video interview for this weekend's paper. If you live in the area, you should go see the final show, "Narratives," and buy some of her gear (Tshirts, art books, etc) or even some of the art, which she has also discounted. Check her web site for more info.
Peace.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Actually, because Carlotta ...
Actually, because Carlotta died eating fried goat, her insurers justifiably (keep laughing) made no orders post quietus regarding substantial transactions, ultimately verified, which explains your zen.
-----
(c) 2009 By Tony Simmons
"T Minus 45" in the 366 Days recovery program
(Edited 6/10/09 to correct countdown number)
-----
(c) 2009 By Tony Simmons
"T Minus 45" in the 366 Days recovery program
(Edited 6/10/09 to correct countdown number)
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
The Look
He looks up from his newspaper and, two tables away, she looks up from her magazine. He smiles and nods, friendly, perhaps embarrassed that she might have thought he was staring, and starts to look back down.
She does not.
He pauses. His eyes meet hers again and they … look.
Her face is relaxed, eyes open. Not blank, so much as receptive. Aware.
His hands open on the table, neck inclines, chin forward. His eyes are steady, seeing only her face.
Her fingers spread against her magazine, head tilts to the left, earring dangles.
He sits up straighter, lips part.
She leans back, blinks. Smiles with her eyes, lips together. A question in her eyebrows.
He smiles back without grinning. An answer.
She grins, white teeth and red lips in golden morning sun.
He takes a breath, about to speak. Leans forward, toes down.
Her eyes widen. Lips part. Feet flat. She wants to hear him.
“Number 12?” comes the call from the barista.
He glances at his ticket. She glances at hers.
But it’s my order. I must walk between them when I go to claim it, and both of them appear flustered as they first look toward me, realize they have been observed, then look away again. I can feel their eyes on me as I pass.
Moments later, drink in hand, I head for the door, and they are reading again, or pretending to. I do not look back, preferring to imagine that they will look up after the door closes behind me, see each other once more and, having no one there this time to break the spell, speak.
But I drink decaf these days. I have few illusions.
-----
(c) 2009 by Tony Simmons
"T Minus 46" in the 366 Days recovery program
(Edited 6/10/09 to correct spacing and also countdown number)
She does not.
He pauses. His eyes meet hers again and they … look.
Her face is relaxed, eyes open. Not blank, so much as receptive. Aware.
His hands open on the table, neck inclines, chin forward. His eyes are steady, seeing only her face.
Her fingers spread against her magazine, head tilts to the left, earring dangles.
He sits up straighter, lips part.
She leans back, blinks. Smiles with her eyes, lips together. A question in her eyebrows.
He smiles back without grinning. An answer.
She grins, white teeth and red lips in golden morning sun.
He takes a breath, about to speak. Leans forward, toes down.
Her eyes widen. Lips part. Feet flat. She wants to hear him.
“Number 12?” comes the call from the barista.
He glances at his ticket. She glances at hers.
But it’s my order. I must walk between them when I go to claim it, and both of them appear flustered as they first look toward me, realize they have been observed, then look away again. I can feel their eyes on me as I pass.
Moments later, drink in hand, I head for the door, and they are reading again, or pretending to. I do not look back, preferring to imagine that they will look up after the door closes behind me, see each other once more and, having no one there this time to break the spell, speak.
But I drink decaf these days. I have few illusions.
-----
(c) 2009 by Tony Simmons
"T Minus 46" in the 366 Days recovery program
(Edited 6/10/09 to correct spacing and also countdown number)
Monday, June 08, 2009
Black Snake Moan Day
... not that this has anything to do with that movie, other than, you know, it's Monday, and you ought to see that movie. Get it? "Moan" day? Of course you do.
That, and I've been moaning for a week or more about how sick I am. I'm probably even more tired of it than you are. Feeling better today, but can't shake the cough. Anyway, that's the biggest reason I haven't been posting, as I've been taking nighttime medicine and going to sleep early.
Bringing you up to speed on recent developments: Last Thursday, I started guitar lessons with Billy Rader. My left fingertips are now sore and developing callouses, as I've been practicing every evening. Friday night, we went to Friday Fest downtown to hear Nathan and Ashley perform at the Rabbit Hole. Saturday was an errands-and-odd-jobs day, and Sunday was beach day followed by some yard work.
And tonight I did some outdoor work, practiced guitar, went to Books-a-Million and wrote in my journal, and decided I would complete the spirit of my aborted 366 Days project by writing every day here through my birthday. Not just these entries, but fiction/poetry/whatever. Starting tomorrow, as I've already taken my nighttime meds and gotten sleepy-headed.
Till then, here's a pick:
Today's Word: Moan.
Peace.
That, and I've been moaning for a week or more about how sick I am. I'm probably even more tired of it than you are. Feeling better today, but can't shake the cough. Anyway, that's the biggest reason I haven't been posting, as I've been taking nighttime medicine and going to sleep early.
Bringing you up to speed on recent developments: Last Thursday, I started guitar lessons with Billy Rader. My left fingertips are now sore and developing callouses, as I've been practicing every evening. Friday night, we went to Friday Fest downtown to hear Nathan and Ashley perform at the Rabbit Hole. Saturday was an errands-and-odd-jobs day, and Sunday was beach day followed by some yard work.
And tonight I did some outdoor work, practiced guitar, went to Books-a-Million and wrote in my journal, and decided I would complete the spirit of my aborted 366 Days project by writing every day here through my birthday. Not just these entries, but fiction/poetry/whatever. Starting tomorrow, as I've already taken my nighttime meds and gotten sleepy-headed.
Till then, here's a pick:
Today's Word: Moan.
Peace.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Soon Day: Shape of Posts to Come
Just a short note. Spent Saturday and Sunday with my Mom in town. Took her to the beach this morning and she and I went to see Star trek this afternoon. Saturday and again tonight, we watched the Lost in Austen series (Deb, Jes and we two), as I scanned a hundred old photos of and by (or collected by) my grandfather Joseph Walter Massey Sr., including photos of Amelia Earhart's plane on her first attempt to circumnavigate the globe, after it pancaked on the tarmac at the Pearl Harbor navy base. Here's a look:
I'll post a link to all these pics tomorrow, after I create a photo bucket for them.
Peace.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Through Day: Where the Future Begins
WARNING: HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!
A long time ago, in a lifetime far, far away ...
I have memories of watching Star Trek on TV in a little woodframe house in Century, Florida. Not specific episodes, although I seem to recall watching this one from behind a pillow or a couch cushion. Mom would sometimes pop Jiffy Pop, and we'd watch Trek and then Wild Wild West on Friday nights. Later (in those dark years when no local channel showed Trek in afternoon reruns), when we were on vacation trips I'd search the local channels for Trek and sometimes give up a chance to hit the hotel swimming pool just to catch another showing of whatever they were playing that day. I remember watching this episode in a motel in Georgia or possibly South Carolina in the early 1970s. (I think that one chick may have kick-started puberty for me. If you hit the link, then you know the one.)
So forgive me if the original crew is "mine." My friend S. Brady claims the Next Gen crew. Loves that show, he does, and rightfully so. Some very good TV therein. Says he's only seen one or two of the original crew episodes all the way through. I forgive him his lack of culture, and I offer up all this preamble just for context.
Because, I have to say, these new actors in the new Trek movie do a heckuva job bringing the old characters to life in a new way, and yet remain very true to the essence of the originals. Karl Urban is channeling DeForest Kelley, not doing an impersonation, just hitting all the right notes. And Chris Pine does not ever look or sound like William Shatner, but he has the swagger and the determination of Kirk down pat. All the others, too. Every one of them, with the possible exception of Simon Pegg, whose Scotty is just a little too Shawn of the Dead sometimes.
Yes, there are glaring logic, continuity and science problems with this new film, and no, there's not much of a deep philosophical core to it. It doesn't preach about race relations or protest war or explore the concept of God, which is what the original crew did on a regular basis. But it does reintroduce a whole new generation to these iconic heroes, gives them great character moments, allows them to grow. It thrills with action and adventure presented like no Trek before it (and this is coming from someone who liked ST2 the best). It creates a sense of peril, which has been missing from the movies (despite ST2, or perhaps because of it) as anything can happen to these people: Time has been altered, and no one (cough - Spock's mom - cough) is safe from the ravages of a compelling storyline.
I give Star Trek my highest recommendation. Uber fans like me will appreciate all the references to the past exploits and previous incarnations of the franchise. Casual viewers may find a new favorite summer popcorn flick. And even those who never thought they'd like a Trek movie will be surprised by this.
It is a reboot, and a prequel and a sequel all rolled together. It's a coming-of-age story and a revenge story and a hero's journey and a tale of friendship and sacrifice. It's funny, and exciting and touching -- sometimes all in the same scene. In other films, trying to accomplish so many things at once would be overwhelming to the director and leave audiences either confused or irritate. In this case, it works, and I think because no matter what else is happening, the focus remains on the characters. That's what made the original show survive so long: not just the optimistic view of the future and the imaginative plots, but the people we rode into space alongside. Particularly the lead trio of heart, mind and hand (that's a reference to this movie, in case you haven't seen it), exploring what it means to be a good person and to do remarkable things to make the universe a better place.
And 40 years from now, some new hotshot director will assemble a new cast to reboot Star Trek once again into whatever media people are enjoying in that era. Because the universe is infinite, and there are at least that many stories to be told about these characters, as they are reborn or reincarnated into new (if somehow strangely familiar) settings.
I'd love to be around to see it happen.
Peace and long life.
A long time ago, in a lifetime far, far away ...
I have memories of watching Star Trek on TV in a little woodframe house in Century, Florida. Not specific episodes, although I seem to recall watching this one from behind a pillow or a couch cushion. Mom would sometimes pop Jiffy Pop, and we'd watch Trek and then Wild Wild West on Friday nights. Later (in those dark years when no local channel showed Trek in afternoon reruns), when we were on vacation trips I'd search the local channels for Trek and sometimes give up a chance to hit the hotel swimming pool just to catch another showing of whatever they were playing that day. I remember watching this episode in a motel in Georgia or possibly South Carolina in the early 1970s. (I think that one chick may have kick-started puberty for me. If you hit the link, then you know the one.)
So forgive me if the original crew is "mine." My friend S. Brady claims the Next Gen crew. Loves that show, he does, and rightfully so. Some very good TV therein. Says he's only seen one or two of the original crew episodes all the way through. I forgive him his lack of culture, and I offer up all this preamble just for context.
Because, I have to say, these new actors in the new Trek movie do a heckuva job bringing the old characters to life in a new way, and yet remain very true to the essence of the originals. Karl Urban is channeling DeForest Kelley, not doing an impersonation, just hitting all the right notes. And Chris Pine does not ever look or sound like William Shatner, but he has the swagger and the determination of Kirk down pat. All the others, too. Every one of them, with the possible exception of Simon Pegg, whose Scotty is just a little too Shawn of the Dead sometimes.
Yes, there are glaring logic, continuity and science problems with this new film, and no, there's not much of a deep philosophical core to it. It doesn't preach about race relations or protest war or explore the concept of God, which is what the original crew did on a regular basis. But it does reintroduce a whole new generation to these iconic heroes, gives them great character moments, allows them to grow. It thrills with action and adventure presented like no Trek before it (and this is coming from someone who liked ST2 the best). It creates a sense of peril, which has been missing from the movies (despite ST2, or perhaps because of it) as anything can happen to these people: Time has been altered, and no one (cough - Spock's mom - cough) is safe from the ravages of a compelling storyline.
I give Star Trek my highest recommendation. Uber fans like me will appreciate all the references to the past exploits and previous incarnations of the franchise. Casual viewers may find a new favorite summer popcorn flick. And even those who never thought they'd like a Trek movie will be surprised by this.
It is a reboot, and a prequel and a sequel all rolled together. It's a coming-of-age story and a revenge story and a hero's journey and a tale of friendship and sacrifice. It's funny, and exciting and touching -- sometimes all in the same scene. In other films, trying to accomplish so many things at once would be overwhelming to the director and leave audiences either confused or irritate. In this case, it works, and I think because no matter what else is happening, the focus remains on the characters. That's what made the original show survive so long: not just the optimistic view of the future and the imaginative plots, but the people we rode into space alongside. Particularly the lead trio of heart, mind and hand (that's a reference to this movie, in case you haven't seen it), exploring what it means to be a good person and to do remarkable things to make the universe a better place.
And 40 years from now, some new hotshot director will assemble a new cast to reboot Star Trek once again into whatever media people are enjoying in that era. Because the universe is infinite, and there are at least that many stories to be told about these characters, as they are reborn or reincarnated into new (if somehow strangely familiar) settings.
I'd love to be around to see it happen.
Peace and long life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)