dual personalities

Month: March, 2015

March 5, 2015

“You should not confuse your career with your life.”*

by chuckofish

office

Today’s PSA:

“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.”
–Martin Luther

Have a good Thursday and stay focused.

*Dave Barry

7 Comments
March 4, 2015

Dear March–Come in

by chuckofish

John William Inchbold (1830--1888)

Dear March — Come in —
How glad I am —
I hoped for you before —

Put down your Hat —
You must have walked —
How out of Breath you are —
Dear March, Come right up the stairs with me —
I have so much to tell —

I got your Letter, and the Birds —
The Maples never knew that you were coming — till I called
I declare — how Red their Faces grew —
But March, forgive me — and
All those Hills you left for me to Hue —
There was no Purple suitable —
You took it all with you —

Who knocks? That April.
Lock the Door —
I will not be pursued —
He stayed away a Year to call
When I am occupied —
But trifles look so trivial
As soon as you have come

That Blame is just as dear as Praise
And Praise as mere as Blame —

(Emily Dickinson)

The painting is “A Study, In March”  by John William Inchbold (1830–1888)

3 Comments
March 3, 2015

“A solar eclipse. The cosmic ballet goes on.”*

by chuckofish

So I feel that I should mention that Leonard Nimoy died. He was 83.

Clearly the man did not take himself too seriously. This is always a good thing.

Although I was never a particularly big fan of Nimoy or Mr. Spock for that matter, it is nevertheless sad to see another familiar star pass away.

I suggest we all watch the “Marge vs. the Monorail” episode of The Simpsons (season 4, episode 12) tonight.

The-Simpsons-Marge-vs-the-monorail-0

It is a classic, one of the Top 5 best episodes, and stars the late great Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanely, as well as Leonard Nimoy. It was written by Conan O’Brien.

And, of course, don’t forget to raise a toast to our favorite Vulcan. Live long and prosper.

*Leonard Nimoy in “Marge vs. the Monorail”

2 Comments
March 2, 2015

Holier than thou

by chuckofish

duck

Well, I do feel a bit holier than thou, having gone to church on Sunday when over 300 (mostly small) churches in the area were closed. However, First Presbyterian and Kirkwood Baptist, two large churches which are only a block or two away from Grace, were also closed. And why you ask? Because it snowed on Saturday! But only 6-7 inches! The streets were plowed! I got down my driveway in my little car no problem.

When did this happen? This fear of snow and the weather in general? When did Americans become such sheep huddled together in fear of a big bad weather front coming through? When did church become just another activity that could be canceled at will?

Well, about 40 hardy souls gathered at our church (and 18 at the 8 a.m. service!), including all the acolytes, all the lay readers and half the ushers! The Sunday School held classes. I say high fives all around for these intrepid Episcopalians!

grace-episcopal-churc03

I must say, it was kind of creepy listening to the snow slide loudly off our big ‘ol roof during the service.

I shoveled off the front walk when I got home and part of the driveway and then the OM hired some teenagers with a snow-blower to clear the driveway, so we are all set now.

I watched some of Ken Burns’ The Civil War in anticipation of my trip in a couple of weeks to see daughter #2. We are road-tripping up to Gettysburg to see the National Military Park. I am also re-reading Long Remember by Mackinlay Kantor, which you will recall is a novel about the battle from the viewpoint of the people who lived in the town. It is really good. I will probably also watch Gettysburg (1993) based on the Michael Schaara novel The Killer Angels. I always thought it was pretty good, except for Martin Sheen as Gen. Robert E. Lee. Jeff Daniels, who plays my hero Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, makes up for Sheen.

Speaking of Chamberlains, did you watch Josh Duhamel’s new show Battle Creek last night? He plays a detective named Milt Chamberlain. (And BTW, the actor who played Dewey Crowe on Justified has a small part.)

Have a good Monday!

8 Comments