The Daily (W) Rite
Wk 4
Thursday, August 22, 2o13
The first day in the last week of August. That means autumn and winter are not too far away. Because we've had a rather mild Oklahoma summer this year, lots of folk are predicting a very COLD winter. Pessimists! I'd rather believe that a mild summer means a MILDER winter than usual, hope I'm right. I don't take well to winter . . . however, my writing tends to like bad weather (rain, snow, ice). Bad cold weather seems to inspire me. We'll see if my writing gets any better as the world begins to slow down. I don't know why, but I am not inspired by summer so much. I haven't really figured out how to use a summer day as a metaphor. Something to work on towards before the summer's all gone. Maybe I'll work on an "end of summer" poem tonight.
Friday, August 23, 2o13
I sometimes try not to be political. Never works. Like all Americans I DO have my political point of view. This theater owner somewhere in the South decided that to protest Jane Fonda's being in
The Butler that he wouldn't show the movie. He had involvement in Vietnam. Folks he trained were killed. And of course, Jane Fonda was a war protester who went to North Vietnam, of course, lots of American Vets hated Fonda for it . . . still hate her for it. The movie owner is one of those guys who consider Jane a "traitor" to her country. So, he decided NOT to show the movie that she is currently in. My friend David posted the article on Facebook. http://newsok.com/article/3875211
And here is my response to the article:
"When I got back from Viet Nam, I went to my mother's house to stay for awhile. I was getting ready to watch Ali fight on TV. Just as the fight started mom came in and turned off the TV. I said, "Hey, what are you doing?" She told me I couldn't watch Ali fight in "her house" because I went to Vietnam and HE didn't. "Well, I said, "Thanks, Mom. But I really want to see Ali fight." And she turned the TV back on, but wouldn't sit down and watch the fight with me. If we do believe in this whole freedom of speech thing, this idea of protesting when you think something's wrong with this country, how do we say that people who protest what they truly believe are wrong for doing so? I don't agree with the way people think of Jane Fonda. I think of her as fighting the Vietnam War . . . but in a different way than a lot of us did. However, I support theatre owner who in good conscious protests what he believes to be an American wrong. Good for him."
And . . . again . . . of course this caused a bit of a hubity-bub from all kinds of anti-war folks and others calling me this and that. One particular Vietnam Vet had some choice words for me. I replied to him in a "civil" manner . . . but did get the point across that he needed to "shut up." No, I didn't say, "shut up" or "Shut the FUCK up" but I did nicely suggest that his tone was "trollish." And that ended THAT conversation. It's hard to talk politics without getting emotional about it. I try not to sound angry when I'm talking a point. I try to explain my ideas with "passion" but not in a negative way. I would prefer that others do the same.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Friday,
Spent a wonderful evening with my friend David. We went out to the Midsummer Nights' Art Fair at Lion's Park in Norman. Not a lot going on at the fair, a couple of stages set up for live music, lots of tents for individual artists' paintings, drawings, sculptures. One guy had a booth full of tie-dye t-shirts. I had to laugh at that one 'cause all that David wears are tie-dye Ts. I asked him if he was going to purchase is fall wardrobe. Don't think he got the joke. One booth had a sort of "petting zoo." Well, there was a snake and a hedge hog. I didn't see anything else. The whole place was made-up of mostly old hippies and their families. Well, not all of them were old. But they seem to be mostly artsy types, middle class, you know? They had some bands too that were pretty good. Norman has a lot of local "players' that ain't shabby. One guitar player David knew. he said the kid was nationally known . . . would give Clapton a run for it. Hmmm, I listened with a critical ear . . . and yeah, the kid had some fingers on him . . . but better than Clapton? I'll leave that for the history books to sort out. But we did have a good time. Didn't last long, though. I
know. Old guys. As soon as the back starts to ache, art needs to sit on the park bench. I got home around 9 PM.
Saturday,
Guess what? I rolled out of bed at 9 AM Saturday morning! Yeah, I know, astonishing since I usually don't get up until noon . . . or later! Bu I was up drinking coffee by 9:30, brushing the teeth, a little bit of a shave at 10:30 and me and the bike were out the door on the way to the movies by 11 AM! Actually, would have been a little later IF the modem for my computer hadn't crashed. But it did, and I took it as a sign to get the hell out of the house.
I stopped to mail some bills off at the OU post office and then started peddling away across campus, down Main St. to NW 12th, over the bridge . . . and there it was, the Spotlight 14 Theater. To be honest I hadn't decided which movie to go to before I got there. I was thinking about Kick Ass 2 or Earth's End . . . but the reviews on both from Facebook friends had been pretty bad. I don't normally listen to what others say about movies . . . I usually LIKE movies my friends hate. Yet, I decided to go see this flick titled The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. I had read the book . . . well, okay HALF the book. It's a YA read and I tried to read it because I liked the Hunger Games series a lot. It was REALLY a poor read no really! I did like the storyline, though. So, I decided to watch it and. . . I loved the acting but HATED the 19th century Melodrama dialogue that even these young, very good actors couldn't overcome. I know, the movie and the book were not written for me. Yet, somehow I'm not sure even 21st century kids would enjoy this clunker. I think it was written more for 13 year old girls . . . from the 19th century. However, it WAS better than Twilight!
Laidback day. Sunday. And I did just that. Didn't even read the Bible though I said I would. Sorry, God. Maybe I'll read a bit tomorrow before I start getting busy with my life. Oh, yeah. I decided to get my "creative" life up and running starting tomorrow. I got two "old projects" I want to jump start. I mentioned before that I had a play script, a man in morning, that I want t type onto a flash-drive. All I have right now is a hard copy. AND I got an extended poem I started back around 2o11 that I want to clean up and finish. I got a sample of it I'll post. So, I made up my mind to start working on those to projects tomorrow. here's a bit of Monster Man And Moon Girl:
Monster Man & Moon Girl
The first day in the last week of August. That means autumn and winter are not too far away. Because we've had a rather mild Oklahoma summer this year, lots of folk are predicting a very COLD winter. Pessimists! I'd rather believe that a mild summer means a MILDER winter than usual, hope I'm right. I don't take well to winter . . . however, my writing tends to like bad weather (rain, snow, ice). Bad cold weather seems to inspire me. We'll see if my writing gets any better as the world begins to slow down. I don't know why, but I am not inspired by summer so much. I haven't really figured out how to use a summer day as a metaphor. Something to work on towards before the summer's all gone. Maybe I'll work on an "end of summer" poem tonight.
Friday, August 23, 2o13
I sometimes try not to be political. Never works. Like all Americans I DO have my political point of view. This theater owner somewhere in the South decided that to protest Jane Fonda's being in
The Butler that he wouldn't show the movie. He had involvement in Vietnam. Folks he trained were killed. And of course, Jane Fonda was a war protester who went to North Vietnam, of course, lots of American Vets hated Fonda for it . . . still hate her for it. The movie owner is one of those guys who consider Jane a "traitor" to her country. So, he decided NOT to show the movie that she is currently in. My friend David posted the article on Facebook. http://newsok.com/article/3875211
And here is my response to the article:
"When I got back from Viet Nam, I went to my mother's house to stay for awhile. I was getting ready to watch Ali fight on TV. Just as the fight started mom came in and turned off the TV. I said, "Hey, what are you doing?" She told me I couldn't watch Ali fight in "her house" because I went to Vietnam and HE didn't. "Well, I said, "Thanks, Mom. But I really want to see Ali fight." And she turned the TV back on, but wouldn't sit down and watch the fight with me. If we do believe in this whole freedom of speech thing, this idea of protesting when you think something's wrong with this country, how do we say that people who protest what they truly believe are wrong for doing so? I don't agree with the way people think of Jane Fonda. I think of her as fighting the Vietnam War . . . but in a different way than a lot of us did. However, I support theatre owner who in good conscious protests what he believes to be an American wrong. Good for him."
And . . . again . . . of course this caused a bit of a hubity-bub from all kinds of anti-war folks and others calling me this and that. One particular Vietnam Vet had some choice words for me. I replied to him in a "civil" manner . . . but did get the point across that he needed to "shut up." No, I didn't say, "shut up" or "Shut the FUCK up" but I did nicely suggest that his tone was "trollish." And that ended THAT conversation. It's hard to talk politics without getting emotional about it. I try not to sound angry when I'm talking a point. I try to explain my ideas with "passion" but not in a negative way. I would prefer that others do the same.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Spent a wonderful evening with my friend David. We went out to the Midsummer Nights' Art Fair at Lion's Park in Norman. Not a lot going on at the fair, a couple of stages set up for live music, lots of tents for individual artists' paintings, drawings, sculptures. One guy had a booth full of tie-dye t-shirts. I had to laugh at that one 'cause all that David wears are tie-dye Ts. I asked him if he was going to purchase is fall wardrobe. Don't think he got the joke. One booth had a sort of "petting zoo." Well, there was a snake and a hedge hog. I didn't see anything else. The whole place was made-up of mostly old hippies and their families. Well, not all of them were old. But they seem to be mostly artsy types, middle class, you know? They had some bands too that were pretty good. Norman has a lot of local "players' that ain't shabby. One guitar player David knew. he said the kid was nationally known . . . would give Clapton a run for it. Hmmm, I listened with a critical ear . . . and yeah, the kid had some fingers on him . . . but better than Clapton? I'll leave that for the history books to sort out. But we did have a good time. Didn't last long, though. I
Saturday,
Guess what? I rolled out of bed at 9 AM Saturday morning! Yeah, I know, astonishing since I usually don't get up until noon . . . or later! Bu I was up drinking coffee by 9:30, brushing the teeth, a little bit of a shave at 10:30 and me and the bike were out the door on the way to the movies by 11 AM! Actually, would have been a little later IF the modem for my computer hadn't crashed. But it did, and I took it as a sign to get the hell out of the house.
I stopped to mail some bills off at the OU post office and then started peddling away across campus, down Main St. to NW 12th, over the bridge . . . and there it was, the Spotlight 14 Theater. To be honest I hadn't decided which movie to go to before I got there. I was thinking about Kick Ass 2 or Earth's End . . . but the reviews on both from Facebook friends had been pretty bad. I don't normally listen to what others say about movies . . . I usually LIKE movies my friends hate. Yet, I decided to go see this flick titled The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. I had read the book . . . well, okay HALF the book. It's a YA read and I tried to read it because I liked the Hunger Games series a lot. It was REALLY a poor read no really! I did like the storyline, though. So, I decided to watch it and. . . I loved the acting but HATED the 19th century Melodrama dialogue that even these young, very good actors couldn't overcome. I know, the movie and the book were not written for me. Yet, somehow I'm not sure even 21st century kids would enjoy this clunker. I think it was written more for 13 year old girls . . . from the 19th century. However, it WAS better than Twilight!
Laidback day. Sunday. And I did just that. Didn't even read the Bible though I said I would. Sorry, God. Maybe I'll read a bit tomorrow before I start getting busy with my life. Oh, yeah. I decided to get my "creative" life up and running starting tomorrow. I got two "old projects" I want to jump start. I mentioned before that I had a play script, a man in morning, that I want t type onto a flash-drive. All I have right now is a hard copy. AND I got an extended poem I started back around 2o11 that I want to clean up and finish. I got a sample of it I'll post. So, I made up my mind to start working on those to projects tomorrow. here's a bit of Monster Man And Moon Girl:
Monster Man & Moon Girl
III
There were lots of stories about the monster that lived up
in the Puente Hills. Some said a kid got murdered up there
years back by some hobo guy passing through. Cut the kid’s
throat with an old Boy Scout knife and threw him
into the ravine right below the Plateau. Cops found
the body about a week later, but it was a mess, all eaten
up by dogs and crows and stuff. The kid’s old man got so
upset
seeing his son all chewed up like that, that he went
home and shot himself. The story says that the old man’s
ghost now haunts them hills around the Plateau looking
for kids to kill just like his son got killed.
The night I heard that story I had the worst dream.
I was lost running around in the Puente Hills in my pajamas.
There was all these shadows growling at me so
I started running. I got so far up in those hills I couldn’t
see anything except trees... big oak trees. And right
behind one of them was that kid’s dad, all moldy looking
with large yellow teeth and razor sharp claws.
I ran, man, did I run! But the Monster Man
was way faster, He knocked me down and jump on top
of me. “Now you’re
gonna die!” He howled. And I
screamed, I screamed my head off...
“What the hell is
going on in here?” I opened
my eyes and the lights where on in my bedroom
and my dad was standing at the foot of my bed.
I told him the whole story about the “Monster Man,”
and his dead son, and it chasing me through the woods.
Dad stared at me for a long time then said,
“Son, are you out of
your fucking mind? Go to sleep.”
He shut off the light and went back to bed.
I learned a lot of things from my dad.
One of those things was how to cuss good.
Tuesday, August 27, 2o13
I didn't get around to writing on the blog yesterday because I was busy . . . writing! Yep, up early and spent 3 hours on the script. I don't know if it's a waste of time. I mean the original manuscript was written back in 1990. that was 23 years ago, damn. It's had a few stage readings but never could get anyone interested in a full blown production. No one was interested back then, why do I think they will be now? I guess it means something to me. It's a story I really want to tell. BUT . . . not sure that anyone wants to hear it.
Also started on rewrites on the long poem yesterday. Didn't get to far with it. Mostly, I just reread some of it, and I decided what I want to do. I'm stalling a bit, I guess. But it's going to take MAJOR rewrites, and I'm not ready to get that deep into it right yet. But I will.
My friend Rick Lockett is coming over to watch a movie tomorrow night. We haven't seen each other in a while. Little bit of a argument between the two of us, but we are "making up" and continuing our friendship. Anyway, I probably need to clean the house up a bit if I'm having company tomorrow. Early to bed tonight.
Wednesday, August 28, 2o13
Worked a bit on the revisions. Taking most of the day to think about the march on Washington and the greatest American speech written in the 20th century. It 's a day for reflection, thought and action. I'm not sure I'll see Dr. King's dream come true in my life time. But I hope that we Americans will get it through our thick minds that, "All men are created equal." As individuals Americans we have an obligation to work toward the dream without any certainty that we will see it fulfilled. But that's what life is all about anyway, isn't it? Struggling to do that which is right and honorable in the eyes of the Constitution and the eye of God. So, the fight continues.
Friday, August 3o, 2o13,
My ex-roommate came over last night and we had pizza and watched DJango Unchained. Rick pretends to be a QT hater. I know better. It was nice to sit around with Rick. We lived together for a year or two back in the 90's. He was a student when I was doing Adjunct for OU Drama. He was a good roommate . . . well, other than he liked and play ABBA all the time. I hate ABBA. We stopped the movie a couple of times to go outside and smoke. Yeah, I started smoking again about two days ago. Don't worry, quitting again. Sometimes I just miss it. I loved to smoke. But these days my lungs don't care for it at all. Oh they do for about two cigarettes or three but after that they are ready for me to quit again. I always wanted to try those new electric cigarettes . . . HELL! the EC seems harder to run than my computer. So, I'll stick with nicotine gum.
Game Day weekends start tomorrow. Seems to soon. Norman Town gonna be filled with football fans. Hard to get out and around even on my mountain bike during game days. Cars parked all over the place . . . just a huge river of fans (drunk and sober) walking around, tailgating, singing Boomer Sooner. But The town proper needs the "tourists" to survive. An old superstition: If a business don't make a shit load of money on Game Day, They'll be closed by New Years. And that's pretty true . . . NOT a superstition at all.
I'm gonna take a break and read some poet from Ireland or somewhere that just died. Suppose to be a great poet, though. So, I'm off to check him out.
Tuesday, August 27, 2o13
Also started on rewrites on the long poem yesterday. Didn't get to far with it. Mostly, I just reread some of it, and I decided what I want to do. I'm stalling a bit, I guess. But it's going to take MAJOR rewrites, and I'm not ready to get that deep into it right yet. But I will.
My friend Rick Lockett is coming over to watch a movie tomorrow night. We haven't seen each other in a while. Little bit of a argument between the two of us, but we are "making up" and continuing our friendship. Anyway, I probably need to clean the house up a bit if I'm having company tomorrow. Early to bed tonight.
Wednesday, August 28, 2o13
Friday, August 3o, 2o13,
My ex-roommate came over last night and we had pizza and watched DJango Unchained. Rick pretends to be a QT hater. I know better. It was nice to sit around with Rick. We lived together for a year or two back in the 90's. He was a student when I was doing Adjunct for OU Drama. He was a good roommate . . . well, other than he liked and play ABBA all the time. I hate ABBA. We stopped the movie a couple of times to go outside and smoke. Yeah, I started smoking again about two days ago. Don't worry, quitting again. Sometimes I just miss it. I loved to smoke. But these days my lungs don't care for it at all. Oh they do for about two cigarettes or three but after that they are ready for me to quit again. I always wanted to try those new electric cigarettes . . . HELL! the EC seems harder to run than my computer. So, I'll stick with nicotine gum.Game Day weekends start tomorrow. Seems to soon. Norman Town gonna be filled with football fans. Hard to get out and around even on my mountain bike during game days. Cars parked all over the place . . . just a huge river of fans (drunk and sober) walking around, tailgating, singing Boomer Sooner. But The town proper needs the "tourists" to survive. An old superstition: If a business don't make a shit load of money on Game Day, They'll be closed by New Years. And that's pretty true . . . NOT a superstition at all.
I'm gonna take a break and read some poet from Ireland or somewhere that just died. Suppose to be a great poet, though. So, I'm off to check him out.
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