July | 2014 | dual personalities

July 19, 2014

Here’s to the first twenty-five

by chuckofish

Yes, folks, this week my DH and I celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. A quarter of a century ago, on the 22nd of July, we gathered a few people together in sunny (and uncharacteristically hot) Titchfield, UK (home of my intended) and tied the not.

See the happy couple…

…so much younger, thinner, and care-free. Sigh. My sister kindly allowed me to wear the beautiful dress that my mother made for her wedding. It meant a lot to me ~~that I could fit into it~~ to wear it.

pardon the pics, they didn't reproduce too well

the flower girl doesn’t look too thrilled, but then she had just sat through a long C of E service

My wonderful aunt Donna, brother, and dual personality, together with her OM and (then only) two adorable children, flew all the way to England for the occasion. They were incredibly helpful and supportive, not to mention lots of fun.

It was a beautiful wedding and (despite the bad photo reproduction here) the colors were gorgeous!

the original is in focus and belongs in a bridal magazine

My soeur was a perfect matron of honor!

also belongs in a magazine

We had a grand time, albeit since it was a wedding, inevitable crises caused extra stress. My soon to be step-father-in-law’s father passed away just a day or so before the wedding and my sis lived in fear of chickenpox. My niece, the lovely flower girl, still bore the scars from a recent attack and the incubation period predicted that her little brother would come down with the disease just in time for the flight home.

Does this child look like he’s coming down with chickenpox?

But it all worked out in the end. After all, incipient chickenpox looks a lot like mosquito bites, right?

How long ago and far away it was — but a great day to remember. Happy (almost) Anniversary, my DH. And here’s to the next quarter century!

4 Comments

July 18, 2014

Darn, darn, darn, darny-darn! or What was I thinking?

by chuckofish

So we watched The Lego Movie (2014) the other night. One of my nephews reviewed it here back when it came out in February–you can read all about the plot etc. there. He thought it was “perfect” and I will not dispute that. I just think I am getting too old for this kind of movie. There were too many distracting cameos–I spent a lot of mental energy trying to hear whose voice was who–and too much whiz bang action.

I mean I get what the movie is about. We had lots of Lego when my children were growing up and we were not the kind of parents who insisted on keeping the sets whole and “glued,” as it were, together. We got that it’s about the child being creative and making its own world, usually after the Lego world has been mastered. I’m glad they made that clear in the movie. And I like that they made a point of using Lego-friendly language, i.e darn, dang and oh my g.o.s.h. Isn’t it ironic, however, that it has a PG rating for “cartoon violence” and tense situations?

Anyway, it poked fun at the right things: terrible, mind-numbing theme songs, vulgar one-joke TV shows that are not funny, sports bars, and people who are known for just one thing. It is nice to know that there are still people (in Hollywood especially) who understand that our culture is all about being banal while asserting that everyone is “special.”

I think it is sad, however, that no one can make a movie this good for adults. Or is it that the adults, including the makers of this movie, don’t really want to be grown ups? They just want to be kids forever, making childish inside jokes about imaginary people and super heroes. When was the last time you saw a “new” movie about real people–not make-believe James Bond or Captain America people?

You haven’t, right? I thought so.

Yeah, I know, I’m turning into an old coot. Well, so be it.

Just for laughs I looked at a list on IMDB.com of the “Top 100 Movies of the Decade 2000-2010”. I found six movies that I liked: Gladiator (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), Road to Perdition (2002), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Crash (2004), and The Hurt Locker (2008). I only own one of those movies–Road to Perdition. So I guess that’s my movie pick for this Friday!

I will refrain from making a joke about the title.

7 Comments

July 17, 2014

Happy birthday to some real yankee doodle dandies

by chuckofish

Today is the OM’s birthday so let’s all sing a rousing chorus of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”!

Gee, this is real keen!

And here’s a special rendition of “Shine On August Moon” just for you:

It should be noted that July 17 is also the birthday of the great James Cagney (July 17, 1899 – March 30, 1986). I must say I was not a fan of his as a child/young adult. He is an acquired taste, but I have grown to appreciate him over the years. For years he was type-cast as a gangster, but he won an Oscar for playing a song-and-dance man in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). He is sensational in White Heat (1949) as the devoted son and psychopathic killer. It was his portrayal of Lon Chaney in Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) that made me an admirer.

I remember watching this melodramatic movie with the boy when he was a small child. He was quite struck by the story and I think he actually wept during the scene when Lon’s young son Creighton is taken away from him. It prompted me to take a deeper look at Cagney who is indeed impressive in the film.

He was also quite a hoofer and his distinctive dance style was admired by the likes of Barishnikov, who was actually a pall bearer at his funeral. Check it out here–he’s like a marionette!

By the way, Ronald Reagan (U.S. President at the time) gave the eulogy at his funeral. Now that’s impressive.

So hats off to the OM and to James Cagney–let’s toast them both tonight!

Bonus picture for a Thursday Throwback: Our brother and one dual personality salute the flag in a festive mood in 1980. (My apologies for the ink stain on our poor brother’s face.)

8 Comments

July 16, 2014

What are you reading?

by chuckofish

Once again I found myself casting about for something to read over the weekend. I picked Susan Cheever’s memoir of her father John Cheever (May 27, 1912 – June 18, 1982) from the bookshelf. I received it as a Christmas present in 1984.

So I have been reading Home Before Dark again and enjoying it very much. Old John Cheever, the “influential twentieth century fiction writer affectionately known as ‘the Chekhov of the suburbs,'” is such a familiar type of dude to me–the waspy, literate Yankee gentleman who is also a terrible alcoholic.

I mean look at him in his shetland sweater. He was even a practicing Episcopalian who said grace before every meal! So familiar. Like my own pater, he made to age 70, but just barely.

It’s true that this “brilliant chronicler of American suburbia” led a tortured double life filled with sexual guilt, self-loathing and immense quantities of booze. Unfortunately his bad behavior went way beyond drinking too much. But I really think Susan Cheever could have stopped after writing her first memoir. Did she need to write another? Cheever’s son Ben has edited a collection of his letters. And they sold his journals in an auction. He has been turned inside out. Does anyone deserve this?

Anyway, I bought a used copy of The Stories of John Cheever and I will re-acquaint myself with his writing, which is what we should remember old Cheever for, right? I will resist reading Blake Baily’s 700-page Cheever: A Life which chronicles every sordid detail and secret of his life. Enough already.

An aged man is but a paltry thing, a tattered coat upon a stick, unless he sees the bright plumage of the bird called courage–Cardinalis virginius, in this case–and oh how his heart leapt.

–John Cheever, Oh What a Paradise it Seems

3 Comments

July 15, 2014

Some Thoreau on Tuesday

by chuckofish

Saw Perez Blood in his frock,–a stuttering, sure, unpretending man, who does not speak without thinking, does not guess. When I reflected how different he was from his neighbors, Conant, Mason, Hodgman, I saw that it was not so much outwardly, but that I saw an inner form. We do, indeed, see through and through each other, through the veil of the body, and see the real form and character in spite of the garment. Any coarseness or tenderness is seen and felt under whatever garb. How nakedly men appear to us! for the spiritual assists the natural eye.

–Journal, 1851

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July 14, 2014

“To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”*

by chuckofish

I had a busy week that flew by and then a quiet weekend filled with my usual musings and meanderings.

I read the second lesson on Sunday–one of Paul’s attempts at logically explaining the unexplainable in Romans 8. How I do love him. The associate rector praised my reading as I left the sanctuary after the service and when I demurred, he clasped my hand and said, “Oh, no, no. You are a superstar! When you read you give the words meaning…” I blush to remember. But I must say I was pleased. No one else calls me a superstar!

On the way out I caught up with a man who I have been trying to get in touch with and asked him if he would take part in a course we are offering this fall at our flyover institute. He is the former head of a global architectural firm based in our flyover city. He said yes. I was on a roll!

I decided to go back to an estate sale I had gone to on Saturday to see if a few things were still there. They were not, but I bought three art books for a dollar each. Score.

On the flora and fauna front, my hibiscus, which I planted from seeds (harvested from a friend’s garden) last year, has bloomed!

See the bee hard at work in there?

It really is the little things that make us happy, right? Someone saying “good job!” or someone saying “Yes!” or a flower blooming.

I hope this week is full of more positive reinforcement. We musn’t forget to hand out those positive vibes when we are in a position to do so. Say “Yes!” at least once this week.

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”

–Walt Whitman

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July 12, 2014

Summer, but not ‘on the beach’

by chuckofish

Just think. Last Saturday I was enjoying the unparalleled company of my siblings and their spouses. As my dual personality noted, we explored the lake with our brother

we hiked

we shot, talked, antiqued, laughed (a lot, these silly sisters), and enjoyed nature

It was a perfect visit. Let’s do it again soon!

Although not quite as fun and stimulating as my siblings’ company, being home has it’s advantages, too; namely, in addition to my adorable Tim, books and TV/DVDs. This week we were astounded (and thrilled) by Germany’s 7-1 drubbing of Brazil, though we couldn’t help feeling sorry for the Brazilian fans.

so, so unhappy!

Now that the World Cup is winding down (3rd place game today and final tomorrow), I have a lot more reading time. At the moment I’m re-reading Neville Shute’s A Town Like Alice about an English woman’s experience as a prisoner of the Japanese in Malaya during WWII and her life after the war. It’s a very good (and romantic) read and I highly recommend it. First published in 1950, it has been made into a film (1956) starring Virginia Mckenna and Peter Finch

One of Peter Finch’s first movies

and a 1981 mini-series with Bryan Brown, Helen Morse and Gordon Cameron Jackson.

Bryan Brown was a big thing in the early 80s, but I think Peter Finch is cuter

I remember watching the 1981 series with our mother and really enjoying it. You can find both versions in full on youtube or, for a better picture, you can watch the 1956 film at Amazon for $2.99. So if you don’t have plans with fun people this weekend, grab A Town Like Alice and start reading or watching.

However, if you are feeling particularly brave and/or masochistic, you can always go for Shute’s gripping, but extremely depressing, nuclear apocalypse novel, On the Beach, which was made into an excellent film starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins, and Fred Astaire in 1959.

It’s a great movie, but I don’t recommend it for a happy summer viewing experience. Wait until the depths of winter when you need reminding that there are worse things than ice and snow. I would avoid the Armand Assante, Rachel Ward film from 2000, although it does have a 7.1 rating on IMDB (the mind reels).

Whatever you do, have a great weekend!

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July 11, 2014

“Today’s temperature’s gonna rise up over 100 degrees, so there’s a Jheri curl alert! That’s right, Jheri curl alert.”*

by chuckofish

It is worth living long enough to outlast whatever sense of grievance you may acquire. Another reason why you must be careful of your health.

(Marilynne Robinson, Gilead)

Summer has never been my favorite season. In our flyover state it is HOT and growing up we did not have air conditioning. Yes, you read that correctly.

I was one of those ~~weird~~ kids who actually liked school. And as we did not belong to a country club and I was not sent away to camp, I was bored a lot during the summer. I did not have a friend in the neighborhood. So I read a lot. I watched way too much TV. I went to the grocery store with my mother. A big day was when we went to the movies. Sometimes friends of my parents would give us their box seat tickets to the baseball game. You get the picture. It was a long three months.

Anyway, I have come to appreciate the summer and its slower pace. It helps that we live in an air-conditioned house now. That makes a big difference.

I enjoy all the goings on in my yard. From the day lilies

to the pumpkins

to the critters.

I did not take this photo of a mini-bear, but they are everywhere. There’s a whole chipmunk village underneath our yard.

I appreciate the longer days. For instance yesterday, the boy came by my office at the end of the day and together we trekked down to the new auction house which has replaced the one that was so conveniently located across the street from my office for many years. (Much to my chagrin, some shady dealings forced this 150-plus-year old business to close.) The new auction house has set up in an old church designed by one of our city’s most famous architects and we went down to check out the preview of the inaugural auction which will be this Saturday.

It was great to do that and get home before dark! Summer has its upside.

I tried to think of a good summer movie for my Friday movie pick, but nothing really came to mind. Jaws (1975)? The Parent Trap (1964)? Dirty Dancing (1987)? American Graffiti (1973)? Gotta say, I’m just not in the mood.

Any ideas?

* Do The Right Thing (1989)

11 Comments

July 10, 2014

Throwback Thursday

by chuckofish

Here’s a summery-at-the-beach photo of three little ladies circa 1917–cousins, all named Catherine after their grandmother Catherine Rand Carnahan, after whom I am also named.

The oldest (top) is my grandmother Catherine Carnahan. The girl in the middle is her cousin, Catherine Carnahan. The baby is Catherine’s niece, Catherine Bays (daughter of her sister, Anna Carnaghan Bays).

I’m just saying…it’s a nice tradition.

5 Comments

July 9, 2014

“Though many brave unwritten tales were simply told in vapour trails”*

by chuckofish

Let’s take a moment to remember that the Battle of Britain began on July 10, 1940 as Nazi forces attacked shipping convoys in the English Channel. It was the first major assault by the Luftwaffe. Although heavily outnumbered, the British fighter pilots put up a fierce fight and succeeded in driving off the attackers.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Window for Rolls-Royce, dedicated in 1947 in the Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey

“Spitfire” window was created to honour all members of RAF Fighter Command. It’s located at the former RAF Bentley Priory, headquarters of Fighter Command during the Second World War

“Spitfire” window created to honor all members of RAF Fighter Command. It’s located at the former RAF Bentley Priory, headquarters of Fighter Command during the Second World War.

Battle of Britain Memorial in Kent, England

A section of the Battle of Britain Monument in London, England

I might have to dust off my copy of The Battle of Britain (1969), an “historical reenactment of the air war in the early days of World War Two for control of the skies over Britain as the new Luftwaffe and the Royal Air Force determine whether or not an invasion can take place.”

Directed by Guy Hamilton, there is a lot of aerial action by Spitfires and it boasts a who’s who of British actors, including Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Ian McShane, Laurence Olivier, Michael Redgrave, Kenneth More, Ralph Richardson, and on and on.

If I had not just recently seen Spitfire–The First of Few (1942) starring Leslie Howard and David Niven, I would certainly watch it.

Leslie Howard is great as aircraft designer R.J. Mitchell and, as usual, he is doing his best to support the war effort in the best way he can.

It goes without saying that I will toast those few brave flyers who fought so valiantly to save so many. Will you join me?

* Lines from “Our Wall” by Flight Lieutenant William Walker, 616 Squadron, inscribed on a plaque next to the memorial wall in Kent.

5 Comments

Month: July, 2014

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