Author's posts
Jan 11 2008
writing in the raw: if life’s a game, then let’s play it
What I’m talkin’ about is a game.
A game that can’t be won, only played.
from the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance
Jan 10 2008
Pony Party: Cary Grant
How do I talk about Cary Grant without using all the expected words… suave, sophisticated, sexy, charming, dapper, handsome, dimple-in-chin, tall, great in a suit, great voice/cadence/rhythm, great walk. And fucking funny. A vaudevillian heart more than a heart throb… he could fall, tumble, crash into things, drop things, and act like a nerd. His confused was both endearing and comical. He had a darkness as well. It always took me by surprise; it was incredibly intriguing.
But you knew he smelled good. If your nose could only find its way to his neck and nestle right below his ear. You knew he could kiss… every time I saw him, it was easy to imagine kissing him. But not just serious kissing. Flirty kissing. Laughing kissing. Eyes wide open kissing.
And… He was one of the best actors I’ve ever seen.
Do you think I had a thing for Cary Grant? And I don’t care if he was gay or bi. No bearing on how I felt, well, still feel. And you want to know something even funnier? ej is a little Cary Grant-like. Not in looks. But the nerd part for sure and he’s funny and charming. Mostly, it’s those Grantesque “everything that can go wrong will go wrong” moments. Like going into an American supermarket and asking for chocolate bars. the guy told him they didn’t have any. of course, he eventually found them and then, in true ej style, his voice pitched as he complained that not only were there chocolate bars, but there was a whole aisle of them… it’s hard for him to accept that sometimes, people don’t understand his accent.
I got to see Cary Grant once. He was going around the country, sitting on stages small and large, and answering people’s questions. “An Evening with Cary Grant” I think he called. When I saw him (he was 82 then), Liz Smith introduced him. And guess what? I was the first one he pointed to in the audience to ask a question.
Here’s the way I remember it…
“Mr. Grant… Cary. I just wanna hear you say my name.” And the audience erupted with laughter… he smiled, put his hands over his eyes to cut the spot lights to look at me.
“What’s your name?”
Fighting the swoon… i said p… pfiore8. And he said, “Hello pfiore8. How are you this evening?”
One of my best ever moments…
Jan 09 2008
test for left
Her grave is set near her family’s home, adjacent to a large grove of coconut palms, beside the backwater of a peaceful lagoon east of Hoi An. She died far away, in childbirth, bringing twin girls into the world in the high plateau country of Dac Lac Province. One of her newborn daughters died. One survived. It was not a good time in that part of the world. It was 1978. She was 31 years old.
Her grave is set near her family’s home, adjacent to a large grove of coconut palms, beside the backwater of a peaceful lagoon east of Hoi An. She died far away, in childbirth, bringing twin girls into the world in the high plateau country of Dac Lac Province. One of her newborn daughters died. One survived. It was not a good time in that part of the world. It was 1978. She was 31 years old.
Jan 09 2008
Among the Ruins of American Democracy
I think I will say this as often as is possible.
Our government is broken. We will not be able to deal with issues, from Iraq to health care or from ecological to economic collapse, until we (all of us) restore Constitutional order, balance of power and, most importantly, accountability and consequences in Washington.
I hold these truths to be socially and politically evident…
Jan 08 2008
it’s not weakness; the Dems are ashamed
It hit me out of the blue. The Democrats in Congress aren’t afraid of looking weak as the majority. They are ashamed for having been weak in the minority. Investigating BushCo and shining the light of day on this most corrupt of administrations exposes a Democratic minority without principles or courage. They are ashamed because their lack of action is one of the major factors in the world being as it is today.
Jan 05 2008
Pony Party: hey, you should be reading
Lithium Cola’s essay, The Perlocutionary Force of Obama’s “Moment” Speech
don’t rec the pony…
and oh god, i know i’m late, i’m late… really late
sorry all. i’ve been packing, listening to music, and getting sentimental over the little objects that remind me of yesterday…
but it’s hustle and bustle now… and really, LC’s essay is fabulous.
mwaaaaaaaaaaaa to all of you… and remember, be excellent to each (as much as is heavenly possible)
Jan 04 2008
writing in the raw: it’s one fucking thing
It’s not about a class war. Or Iraq. Or terrorism. It’s not even healthcare or New Orleans or the next Katrina-like disaster. It’s not collapsing bridges or trapped miners. Not abortion or gay marriage, civil rights or liberties. Tax cuts for the rich and what’s left in the treasury going to Halliburton? No, not that either. Predatory lending and sub prime markets crashing? Loss of income? Fear of job loss? Loss of worker safety protections? No no no no no no no….
It’s simply this: Our governmental infrastructure is broken… it’s dysfunctional. Further, the government of the United States of America has turned its back on its citizens. Hey. I have a novel idea. How about stopping those causing the dysfunction? Yeah. Like an intervention called IMPEACHMENT. We must demand Congress does its job and uphold the Constitution. Restore our freedoms and Constitutional rights damn it! Start with, first and foremost, enforcing separation of church and state and creating an earthquake-proof secular government. Then let’s get rid of thought crimes straight away. And torture and spying on US Citizens.
Because really, I’m thinking a government that condones spying on its citizens and dismantling due process as it outsources military, education, medicare et al is a government of men and women not interested in health care or education or the military. They are interested in controlling us and giving all those private contracts to their buddies. Cha Ching. We need our equilibrium back. We need to restore our country by rebuilding our governmental infrastructure. Forget 2008. If we want health care and collapsing bridges repaired, then we have to find people to send to Congress who will start the hard work of restoring the functionality of the United States government.
Jan 03 2008
do me a fucking favor…
… and stop worrying about who’s voting for whom in Iowa.
and who gives one shit about Nancy Pelosi and what she thinks. or why she does what she does.
you know what to worry about? who you’re voting for. your vote. and that you stop allowing the mainstream media (MSM) from agitating you into thinking that somehow Iowa will define the presidential race. or that new hampshire will.
vote. write in. do what ever you can to stop the power of those few telling the rest of us what the future will be.
Jan 03 2008
Pony Party: The Caught Baseball
Once there was a boy who lived in the Hudson Valley. He was 10 years old and his name was Drake Brady. He was the biggest New York Strikes fan. He knew everyone’s name on the team and even had season tickets every year. Drake loved every game he went to. Except one thing and one thing only – he never caught a baseball. This might not seem like a big deal to you, but it was to Drake. Every time his mom would ask did you catch a baseball, of course Drake would say no not today in an angry voice.
