Gus

Anyone remember this movie? My brother and I were disciples of this classic tale. Ah, memories.

Four Chords

Photo inspiration

This photo made me think of a theological debate I had when I was six or seven. A neighbor kid at my grandpa's cottage used to come over and we'd swing. We were like pen pals without the pens. We'd see each other once or twice a year. I don't think I even knew his name. One time he told me that Battle Ram (from HeMan) could take God. I told him he was wrong. He didn't relent. I told him I had to go and left. He probably kept swinging. He said he did nearly every day with or without permission. My mixed-up, rebel pen pal.


In grade school I was in love with a girl named Maxie. I carved B + M in my friend Matt's tree. Matt's dad saw it that week while mowing the lawn. He yelled at Matt for carving into their tree with his friend Brad. Matt then yelled at me for carving our initials into his tree because his dad got, "totally pissed." I didn't tell him who the M was really for. It was nice sharing the conviction with a buddy. Sorry, Matt. And sorry if your dad thought we were gay.



This image jogged a memory of my dad taking us to get ice cream. It was the magic hour in late summer. A perfect ending to an ordinarily perfect day. I sat in the back seat with my friend and his sister enjoying our frozen trophies. I looked over to see that my friends didn't know how to eat ice cream. Their parents were born in another country where ice cream must not be a part of growing up. It was melting down their hands, moving towards their elbows like a sugary glacier. I looked at my dad in the rear view. We were both shocked and struggled to find the words to prevent a sticky disaster. I remembered being surprised that they were so bad at ice creaming. I wonder if they were equally surprised by how fondly I talked of such a messy treat earlier in the day.


This photo made me wonder what the dogs are saying to each other.

"I'M GOING TO THE PARK!!!"

"ALRIGHT! Quit yelling."

or

"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE ANYMORE!"

"I'm Matt Flowers. Stop being so dramatic."

Ray Ray

Saw Mr. Lamontagne at the Taft Theater on Saturday. He was outstanding. So much voice/soul/passion comes out of this small, bearded, meek man. "Three More Days" is one of my favorite songs of his. I think it'd be a great Easter/Resurrection song. Take a look/listen. Your life will be better with more Ray in it. I speak from personal experience.

What I want to be when I grow up...

The Real Karate Kid

This is for you, Brenty.

Tastes

The past few days I've seen a handful of examples of just how different people's tastes are. Some people love anything meringue but hate jello pudding pops and will expound on their atrocities. Some folks live for NASCAR but would rather die than watch horses make left turns. Some folks hang on Larry King's every word while others would rather choke themselves with suspenders. Some like Gilly while others like Jim Belushi situational comedies.

Here's what I'm thinking this morning. I need to do a better job respecting other people's tastes. Sometimes I feel the need to point out that I think their tastes are wrong. Or argue. Or make fun. And maybe there's a time and place for that friendly banter. But sometimes I can take it too far with little jokes that are meant to be "good fun" but end up being hurtful or insulting. Like yesterday when I made a "friendly" jab at a friend for a matter of taste. It served no purpose. I was just being negative and I had to spend the morning apologizing for being a jerk. That's stupid. And pointless. The reality is you can't really change someone's tastes. Nor should you want to. It's like hoping to turn the ocean yellow by peeing in it.

So what I'm saying is I'm going to try and stop peeing on you. I'm going to still haggle with you (especially you, Fuller) over taste-related issues. But I want to come at it from a place of respect. I don't want to be the consummate voice of negativity. Nobody likes that voice. It's like a loud, wet blanket. It all goes back to what we learned in kindergarten doesn't it? If you don't have anything nice to say....

Humanity at its peak

Hands down, this is THE most inspiring moment in the history of the world.

A Gift Rap to the world

Gillyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy #2

Steve and have talked at great lengths about ole' Gilly and we both agree that it might be the greatest sketch ever created on SNL.