rajafacesbothways

The Ultimate Distraction

"Writing is the process of finding something to distract you from writing, and of all of the helpful distractions--adultery, alcohol, acedia, all of which aided our writing fathers--none can equal the Internet."

Adam Gopnik, author, New Yorker columnist

(I'll drink to that. After I check my e-mails, answer my e-mails, read the Washington Post cartoons, Google some facts, check out several blogs, read the New York Times, add to Netflixs, check financials, I'm going to begin writing that book.)

Still Hunkered In

The town road crew came through last night and removed snow clogging parking on Main Street--in time for the fresh snow that is now falling. Just getting to the bank on the corner was not easy yesterday, maneuvering over heaps of iced snow. However many areas are in much worse shape.

Having finished making Valentines, my project today is to go to Favas for a batch of Frickles, then watch Wall-E and The Rape of Europa.
Wonder what the rich people will be doing?

Winter Storm Fallout

The snow, sleet, ice and cold poured in as predicted, resulting in falling tree limbs, blocked roads and no electricity here. The Norse Horse was reduced to a pile of snow-covered ice, mired in and surrounded by piles of snow, much of it kicked off by the snow plows. And I awoke to plummeting temperatures and no electricity. Finding a rich old golfer in Florida offered a fleeting flash of appeal--very, very, fleeting!

Actually, the day turned out to be fun. My neighbor on the other side of the brick wall came to my rescue-- he heats with a wood burning stove, so it was toasty warm. A camping stove was pulled out to make coffee and heat chili for lunch. After 10 hours the electricity came on--lucky since some must wait days for its restoration.

I decided to tackle  breaking up the ice covering my car--beating it with a broom handle. Five people offered aid, two handsome men shoveled me out, the Norse Horse started immediately and I was able to get it off the street. Later Galvins was opened so beer and a Philly cheese sandwich completed what could have been a dingy day into a successful adventure.

I often get lectured that I need to move closer to family for support. (by people my age who live close to family, of course). Living in a small town community makes everyone family. Nice.

 

Political Side Shows

In this winter of our discontent there is one performance that provides cheap entertainment--the unbelievable Blogojevich TV blitz performance. Looking like a cartoon character, the guy has balls of steel and makes Family Guy look brilliant.

Of course the media sucks it up; he'll probably get a book contract. Right now he appears on more TV than President Obama. As politicians go, he's now a harmless embarrassment for Illinois.

Kentucky can't throw stones, however.
A sheriff running again in a small KY town was jailed on a murder charge--only released to go to church on Sundays. Unable to campaign, he lost the election. I heard him interviewed on TV:

"Do you think the fact you were in jail hurt your chance to get re-elected?"
The man paused. "Well-- Ah don't think it heped me none."

January Doldrums

The Norse Horse is a snow-covered lump, schools are closed so dance is canceled. A sleety, snowy, icy front is moving in so I may be forced to skip film class tomorrow. Television is seeping with sad tales of good people losing jobs, homes, and retirement and of horrors in the violative Mideast. And I'm bundled up to my eyeballs; with the huge vacant space beneath, my heating costs have doubled--kind of like living in a cardboard box.

So what to do? Get out a box of old art materials and make Valentines--a solution a group of artist friends used to do in Chicago in the dregs of winter. Watch a couple of old films and catch up on some reading. February is just around the corner. Whew!

Lolita Longings

I saw in the New York Times that number 56, right end for the championship Cleveland Browns in the late 40s and 50s, Dante Lavelli, had died. Sigh. Despite the age difference between us, he was my first love. His nickname was "glue fingers"; he was big screen handsome and I saved  every scrap of information  about him, on and off the field. I was crushed when he married a woman named "Joy" (their marriage lasted 61 years). I think I was 13, he was 25, the age gap would have been a problem, but nothing seemed unsurmountable.

Of course marriage was out of the question--not a problem. To be "awakened" by that famous football player would have sufficed. I did meet him once when I was in my 30's. He was still handsome and charming but the thrill was gone for me.

Hmmm. I wonder if that point I was the one that looked good to him?!

Ready For My Close Up, Mr. DeMille

Back to University of KY for another semester and another class--"Representations of Intimacy in U.S. Cinema."
Mostly we will be viewing films but will also read a range of theories on intimacy. The areas address interpretations in film of "The Couple", "Marriage Circle", "Liberated Love", and "The Wedding". We'll be  considering the extent cinema shapes and reflects the ideology of love in society. And how financial investments (homes, rings, getaways, weddings) are tied to the subject. Love is definitely an expensive habit!

We've started out with The Thin Man (1934) and Swing Time (1936) movies where couples share a happy synergy and marriage is shown as fun. Yesterday we compared It Happened One Night with The Graduate.

Any class that requires viewing old movies and discussing them gets A+ in my book.

Luncheon, Inaugual Style

Here's the luncheon duplicated from the inaugural menu, prepared from scratch and enjoyed at a lovely table setting while watching the swearing in of President Obama.

First Course:  Seafood stew of scallops, shrimp, lobster and fresh fish
Main Course:  Cherry chutney with herb seasoned Cornish hens (replaced the duck breast)
                      wild rice
                      winter vegetables of asparagus, baby carrots, tiny Brussels sprouts
                      molasses whipped sweet potatoes
                      brioche
Dessert:          Cinnamon Apple Sponge Cake with sweet creme glaze
                       tiny scoop of ice cream, drizzled with caramel

My contribution was a bottle of good Napa Valley wine.
 Given to me by a George Bush Republican!

Bye Bye Boomers

Hooray! Finally the end of the Baby Boomer Presidents!

After sixteen years of narcissism, another era of leadership begins. And for this generation that I helped to teach and raise I have much praise and hope. There never was a President from my generation--floating somewhere between the 2 Bush presidents--it seems to be more a collection of assistants not leaders.

And I'm thrilled we have a black family in the White House---a long reach from the segregation during my youth. Typical of old movies, a black man comes in to clean up the mess left by a white man. Talk about pressure!

I'm celebrating with a couple of friends who are duplicating the luncheon being served to President Obama. Beats standing in the cold of the National Mall.

Blah-Blah-Blog

Good grief! I just noticed I have done over 1000 posts to this site--1004 to be exact.

Has RAJA  enriched, entertained or enthralled any lives out there? Probably not. Genius is seldom recognized in its own lifetime.......

But that won't keep me from trying.