dual personalities

How was your weekend? The OM and I had an adventure–a roadtrip on Saturday over to Fulton in the rolling green hills of central Missouri to visit the Winston Churchill Memorial on the campus of Westminster College.

You will recall that in 1946 it was at Westminster College that Winston Churchill delivered one of the most significant speeches of his long and illustrious career–the “Iron Curtain” speech. In the 1960s Westminster College set out to mark what would be the 20th anniversary of Churchill’s visit. After due consideration of traditional modes of commemoration, Westminster College settled on the rather more ambitious notion of moving a Christopher Wren designed Church from London. This Church, St. Mary the Virgin Aldermanbury, had stood in London since 1677 when it replaced an earlier structure that had sat on the same site since the 12th century until it was destroyed in the great fire of 1666. This magnificent building, badly damaged during the London Blitz, was moved stone by stone to Westminster’s campus and rebuilt to Wren’s original specifications.

What an incredible undertaking! I had not been there since 1969 when it was dedicated. It is breathtaking.

It is a popular venue for weddings, as you can imagine, and there was one about to take place when we ducked in, so this postcard view will have to suffice. It is my favorite type of church, reflecting the puritan branch of the Anglican church. I love those clear glass windows and brass chandeliers and the Ten Commandments behind the altar.

A needlepoint kneeler in the museum downstairs

The National Churchill Museum which opened in 2006 is downstairs under the church. I was quite impressed.

ANC III would have approved of these toy soldiers.

Indeed, ANC would have liked the museum as it illustrates the life and career of W.C.

Iron Curtain Speech sculpture

Anyway, it is well-worth the trip to Fulton which is a nice college town, not unlike Greencastle, Indiana which we visited many times over the years when daughter #1 was a student at DePauw University. I like college towns and am always up for visiting one.

Sunday was All Saints Sunday and we had three baptisms in church. All three children, who ranged in age from infant to toddler, wailed for dear life. (Bill Baker who baptized daughter #1 and the boy always said that that was the devil leaving the child and not to worry.) Well, I always enjoy renouncing “Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God”, including “the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God”--especially a few days before an election.

Don’t forget to vote tomorrow!

10 Comments

November 2, 2014

Merry Men of the Green Wood

by chuckofish

We’ve always been big fans of Robin Hood in this house. When the boys were little, he loomed even larger than Ninja Turtles or Power Rangers, at least most of the time. With Errol Flynn’s perfect film “The Adventures of Robin Hood” to view over and over

and a poster of N.C. Wyeth’s Robin hung over a bed

how could they not want to be Robin Hood? Is anyone cooler? When boy #2 was three years old, he chose to be Robin Hood for Halloween. A good friend made the cap, which was beyond my meager sewing talents, but I made the brown jerkin. Here is Robin at the SLU playgroup with his best friend, who was dressed as a railwayman (albeit it’s hard to tell in this picture). Note that back in the day it was okay to carry weapons: Robin has both a bow and sword.

In fact, the little tikes paraded through the SLU corridors, even interrupting classes to get candy. Famously, our little Robin Hood went into his father’s class and shot the teacher (aka Dad). Ah, such innocent times. They’d probably arrest the child now. Be that as it may, some things never change. Here is the same tike all grown up, but still dressing as his favorite for a Halloween party.

Alas, Robin’s mother is a bad photographer, so the picture is very blurry, but you get the idea.

As Howard Pyle wrote in his Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, “So passed the seasons then, so they pass now, and so they will pass in time to come, while we come and go like leaves of the tree that fall and are soon forgotten.”

May the rest of your weekend be merry!

2 Comments

November 1, 2014

Best job I ever had*

by chuckofish

While my dual personality got into the spirit of Halloween (pun intended), I watched a completely unrelated movie. Well, actually, last night I tried to watch “The Woman in Black” on Netflix, but it was too scary so I switched to something else. Anyway, surprise, surprise! I went to see Brad Pitt’s “Fury” — and — drum roll — really liked it.

Brad, grim and exhausted

Okay, I did have a few complaints. Shall we get those out of the way first? When the film starts, a tank team, headed by Mr. Pitt, pulls into camp and unloads the corpse of one of its members, who just got killed in battle. There’s a similar scene in “12 o’clock High” only in that movie they don’t show the clean up in the plane afterwards. Logan Lerman, who looks like a 14 year old choir boy (and a very cute one, I might add), is the new replacement, but he’s freaked out and can’t kill because he was “trained to be a typist”. Brad then forces him to shoot a German prisoner in cold blood. So, NO, that doesn’t fly, especially since it’s 1945. I mean, what kid growing up during WWII would ever say the things that Lerman says — out loud in front of veterans? And, of course, “the cure” is ridiculous, too. But once we get past that, the movie is really quite good.

“Pretty soon, killing Germans will not make you feel sick!”

What was good about it? Despite all the hype about the ultra-violence, this film was actually very restrained. The director lets one or two icky shots cue the viewer in to the realities of war so that he does not have to bathe us in blood for the whole movie. The action scenes are extremely well done, often dark, and not overly gory (unless I’m just jaded). And there’s NO SHAKY CAM! Nor does the the movie really fall prey to the usual cliches; however, it does capture soldiers’ fatigue, filth (which is not overdone), anger, despair, and grim resignation.

Interacting with German civilians — so tricky

There are real characters, who develop or reveal themselves, AND some of them believe in God (gasp). In fact, toward the end of the movie, Shia LaBeouf’s character says, “Here’s a Bible verse I think about sometimes. Many times. It goes: ‘And I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Whom shall I send and who will go for Us? And I said: Here am I , send me!'” Under the circumstances, it’s particularly effective. Anyway, much to my surprise, I give this movie two thumbs up. The direction and music were great and the performances excellent.

Stay tuned for a special Sunday post, if I can get the technology working: Merry Melville of the Green Wood (then and now). In the meantime, have a great Saturday!

*line from “Fury”

5 Comments

October 31, 2014

“We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!”*

by chuckofish

I am certainly not a fan of horror films. I have never understood the human desire to be scared, whether it be at the movies or at the amusement park on a roller coaster. These are thrills I do not seek. Call me dull, whatever.

However, I do have a few suggestions for Halloween-y movies to watch tonight. If you are like me, you turn off the lights and pretend you are not home and spend the evening watching a movie. Call me dull, whatever.

1. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

In this romantic story set in the early 1900s, young widow Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) moves to the seaside English village of Whitecliff despite the fierce disapproval of her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. She falls in love with and rents Gull Cottage, where she takes up residence with her young daughter Anna and her devoted maid Martha. On the first night, she is visited by the ghostly apparition of the former owner, a roguish sea captain named Daniel Gregg (Rex Harrison), who “allows” her to stay. Eventually they write a book together which saves her from financial disaster. I say this a lot I know, but truly, they do not make movies like this anymore: low-key, touching and, yes, romantic. I watched this movie recently and it made me cry.

2. Signs (2002)

Signs is my favorite film in the M. Night Shyamalan oeuvre. Written and directed by the brilliant Shyamalan, it was scary the first time I saw it, but not so much now. However, it is worth watching over and over, because it is also a great movie about an Episcopal priest who has lost his faith. Yes, there is a lot more to this movie than extraterrestrials! By the end of the movie (spoiler alert!) the hero/minister has found his faith again and donned his collar, having saved his family from extraterrestrials in the bargain. Mel Gibson (not a favorite of mine) is really good in this movie, as are Joaquin Phoenix and, as the children, Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin. I saw this movie recently and it made me cry.

3. and 4. Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989)

In the first Ghostbuster movie misfit parapsychologists Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Raymond Stantz (Dan Ackroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) lose their jobs at Columbia University and establish a paranormal extermination/investigation service known as “Ghostbusters”. They go on to save New York City. In the sequel (which unlike most sequels, is pretty darn good) they save NYC again and all is once again well in the world. Also I should note that these movies are funny without being overly vulgar. There is a funny joke about a guy being “Dick-less”, but it is pretty restrained by today’s standards.

Venkman: Or you can accept the fact that this city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.

Mayor: What do you mean,”biblical”?

Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath-of-God type stuff!

Venkman: Exactly.

Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the sky! Rivers and seas boiling!

Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes!

Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!

Venkman: Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats, living together! Mass hysteria!

Mayor: Enough, I get the point! And what if you’re wrong?

Venkman: If we’re wrong, then nothing happens! We go to jail; peacefully, quietly. We’ll enjoy it! But if we’re right, and we can stop this thing… Lenny, you will have saved the lives of millions of registered voters.

Please Note: This movie will not make you cry, unless you laugh ’til you cry.

Do you have any suggestions? Young Frankenstein (1973)? The Addams Family (1991)? What will you be watching? Personally, I may hunker down and binge-watch Angel, Season One.

Don’t judge me.

If you are not in the Halloween mood at all, you could choose to celebrate the birthday of the late, great John Candy (October 31, 1950 – March 4, 1994), who is a particular favorite of mine, by watching one of his movies.

Recently I was channel surfing and found Uncle Buck (1989) which I watched for awhile. I laughed so hard I was literally (literally) weeping during one scene where Candy goes into the empty Men’s Room at an elementary school and finds a wall of mini urinals. The man was a comic genius. I should note that the OM watched this scene with the great stone face, never breaking so much as a smile. He was not amused. What can I say? To each his own.

*Bill Murray in Ghostbusters

9 Comments

October 30, 2014

“Everything passes, only the truth remains.”*

by chuckofish

According to some sources, Fyodor Dostoyevsky was born on this day in 1821.

Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and philosopher, Dostoyevsky was also, Malcolm Muggeridge wrote, “a God-possessed man if ever there was one, as is clear in everything he wrote and in every character he created.”

“What’s mystery? Everything’s mystery, my friend, everything is God’s mystery. There’s mystery in every tree, in every blade of grass. When a little bird sings or all those many, many stars shine in the sky at night–it’s all mystery, the same one. But the greatest mystery is what awaits man’s soul in the world beyond, and that’s the truth, my boy….

…No, my friend, you’ve got me wrong; I’ve always respected science since I was a boy and, although I can’t understand it myself, that’s all right: science may be beyond my ken, but it is within the ken of other men. And it’s best that way because then everyone has what comes to him, and not everyone is made to understand science…”

–Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Adolescent

Fyodor and I are on the same page.

I have read Crime and Punishment and a wonderful book of excerpts edited by the Bruderhof, The Gospel in Dostoyevsky. I think it is time for me to tackle The Brothers Karamazov this winter. I have read parts, but never the whole thing.

So a toast to the great Dostoyevsky! Поехали! (Let’s get started!)

* Father Zossima in The Brothers Karamazov

6 Comments

October 29, 2014

Way back when Wednesday: Steve McQueen comes to St. Louis

by chuckofish

Spoiler alert! Crime does not pay!

The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery is a 1959 heist film shot in black and white. The film stars a 28-year old Steve McQueen as a college dropout hired to be the getaway driver in a bank robbery. The film is based on a 1953 bank robbery attempt of Southwest Bank in St. Louis.

It was filmed on location in south St. Louis in 1959 and for anyone who grew up here, it is a fascinating movie, which captures a moment in time, that is gone, gone, gone.

I watched it one Friday afternoon at work–“previewing” it for a film course at school–and my assistant (who is from South St. Louis) and I had so much fun pointing out landmarks–

Planning the heist in Tower Grove Park

Tower Grove Park! Magnolia Avenue! The Southtown Famous Barr!

Love those St. Louis names!

We wondered where the bar was where Steve goes and drinks a Budweiser.

No need for a concealed carry permit in the good old days!

Well, it’s a small world really.

You want to know how small? The film was directed by Charles Guggenheim, who was a neighbor of ours on Westgate Avenue for awhile back in the 1960s before he got famous and won three Oscars for documentary films. His daughter Gracie was a friend of my dual personality. (Actually I don’t think my sister liked Gracie too much, but they got invited to the same birthday parties.) Be that as it may, the point is that there really are/were six degrees of separation between me and old Steve McQueen.

Anyway, Guggenheim’s switch to documentaries was a good move on his part. This movie is not very good, despite Steve’s ~~best efforts~~ trying really hard. Who knew he would become such a star? No one who saw this movie. (Don’t worry, I thought he was terrific!) But I do recommend it to anyone from St. Louis. It is a hoot and a half. You can find the entire film on YouTube.

8 Comments

October 28, 2014

“In silence the three of them looked at the sunset and thought about God.”*

by chuckofish

This is one of the trees in my front yard. These last few days of Indian Summer have really reminded me of Maxfield Parrish paintings–especially the light at the end of the day when the setting sun reflects so beautifully off of the orange leaves.

Know what I mean?

If you haven’t noticed, be sure to look this evening.

*Maude Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib

4 Comments

October 27, 2014

“Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise”*

by chuckofish

We experienced a lovely Indian summer weekend here in flyover country. It reached 82 degrees on Saturday!

I went straight home on Friday and parked on the patio.

It was lovely.

Unfortunately I had made plans to attend a women’s retreat (“Soul Sisters–Saints Alive!”) on Saturday at church–whatever possessed me?–and this caused me to spend several hours inside with a bunch of old church ladies. It wasn’t so bad, but I did rush outside at the end of it…to enjoy the sunshine.

I cleaned up the Florida Room at home and moved all the plants inside. The patio furniture will go inside soon and we will be closed up for the winter. Sigh.

But for a few more days, we’ll enjoy the summer-like weather. Sounds like a good excuse to go to Ted Drewe’s for a concrete-for-lunch!

Which is what the OM and I did on Sunday.

Have a great week!

*Hymn #707, Frances Ridley Havergal

4 Comments

October 25, 2014

“We couldn’t even hear you in the night.”

by chuckofish

“No one could. No one lives any nearer than town. No one else will come any nearer than that.”

Since it’s nearly Halloween, I thought a post about Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, one of my favorite books, would be appropriate. I always thought that she must have had a particular house in mind, so I looked around to see what fit the bill in North Bennington, Vermont, where she lived with her literary critic husband and four children. I give you the Park-McCullough house, built in 1865.

“No Human eye can isolate the unhappy coincidence of line and place which suggests evil in the face of a house, and yet somehow a maniac juxtaposition, a badly turned angle, some chance meeting of roof and sky, turned Hill House into a place of despair, more frightening because the face of Hill House seemed awake, with a watchfulness from the blank windows and a touch of glee in the eyebrow of a cornice.”

And the inside isn’t much better.

“I am like a small creature swallowed whole by a monster, she thought, and the monster feels my tiny little movements inside.”

“Perhaps someone had once hoped to lighten the air of the blue room in Hill House with a dainty wallpaper, not seeing how such a hope would evaporate in Hill House, leaving only the faintest hint of its existence, like an almost inaudible echo of sobbing far away…”

And of course, we can’t forget the wonderfully evocative beginning (and end) of the book:

“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.”

So, if you are looking for something suitably creepy to read for Halloween, pick up the truly wonderful Haunting of Hill House. If you don’t have time for the book, try the 1963 film version (avoid the 1999 remake like the plague), starring Julie Harris and Claire Bloom. Here’s one of the most spine tingling scenes:

Note: to be fair, the Park-McCullough house is a lovely spot where people go to get married and enjoy the Vermont countryside. But I do think it probably inspired Shirley Jackson, who had an amazing ability to see the dark underbelly of even the most scenic and wholesome places and people. The source of the first three pictures is http://www.dailygazette.com/photos/galleries/2008/jun/29/0629_parkmculloughpix/809/. The last one I got on google image.

Have a spooky weekend!

5 Comments

October 24, 2014

“Baby sister, I was born game and I intend to go out that way.”*

by chuckofish

Since I asked the trivia question yesterday, for which True Grit (1969) is the answer, I will suggest it as my Friday movie pick.

It has been a long time since I read the book by Charles Portis, but I remember that this film is a remarkably close adaption of it, which makes for a really good and authentic movie. The story revolves around Mattie Ross who is bent on avenging the death of her father and bringing to justice his killer, Tom Cheney. She hires U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn to go after him and insists on accompanying him on the trail. They are joined by a Texas Ranger, La Boeuf, as they head into the Indian Territory.

John Wayne, of course, is great in his Academy Award-winning role of Cogburn. Glen Campbell isn’t bad as La Boeuf and Kim Darby as Mattie Ross has grown on me. If you can ignore her ridiculous modern hairdo, she is really pretty good. She is not supposed to be endearing or even particularly likeable–but she does have true grit and lots of it. Robert Duvall and the rest of the supporting players are also terrific. It is interesting to see Dennis Hopper in one of his last roles before he went the Easy Rider hippie/drug route. [Side note: Hopper always credited John Wayne with saving his career when, after seven years of no one hiring him, Wayne gave him a job in The Sons of Katie Elder (1965). (I could do a whole blogpost about actors whose careers were resurrected/saved by John Wayne.)]

True Grit was beautifully shot on location, mainly in Ouray County, Colorado, which is right next door to my ancestral Hinsdale County–so I am partial to the gorgeous San Juan scenery. The courthouse scene was filmed in the Ouray County Courthouse.

Unfortunately, I have watched the movie fairly recently, so I really should watch the new version tonight, but as I make it a rule never to watch re-makes of John Wayne films, I am unable to do so. This is a good rule. Therefore, I will try to get my hands on the sequel to True Grit—Rooster Cogburn (1975) which co-starred Katharine Hepburn in a sort of western version of The African Queen.

Although not the classic its predecessor is, it is a good and highly enjoyable movie. You can tell that the two great stars were simpatico and liked each other a lot.

So that’s my plan.

Have a great weekend!

*Rooster Cogburn in True Grit

6 Comments

dual personalities

November 3, 2014

Here in Missouri

by chuckofish

November 2, 2014

Merry Men of the Green Wood

by chuckofish

November 1, 2014

Best job I ever had*

by chuckofish

October 31, 2014

“We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!”*

by chuckofish

October 30, 2014

“Everything passes, only the truth remains.”*

by chuckofish

October 29, 2014

Way back when Wednesday: Steve McQueen comes to St. Louis

by chuckofish

October 28, 2014

“In silence the three of them looked at the sunset and thought about God.”*

by chuckofish

October 27, 2014

“Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise”*

by chuckofish

October 25, 2014

“We couldn’t even hear you in the night.”

by chuckofish

October 24, 2014

“Baby sister, I was born game and I intend to go out that way.”*

by chuckofish