dual personalities

May 24, 2024

“Ain’t gonna go to hell for anybody”*

by chuckofish

Happy birthday, Bob Dylan! He turns 83 today. We love you and God loves you.

It is time to plan a visit to the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, OK…however, I guess I’ll wait until the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art, which is still closed for construction, reopens. Then it will be Tulsa Time!

In case you need reminding, Sunday is John Wayne’s birthday. He would be 117. If you are in Fort Worth, be sure to sign up for…

I will be home streaming my own John Wayne film festival.

Nobody slams a door like John Wayne.

How will you be celebrating?

P.S. Saturday is the birthday of Ralph Waldo Emerson. I disagree with him about quite a few things, but I agree with this:

Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

–RWE, Collected Poems

Now there’s three aces!

*Bob Dylan

But I ain’t gonna go to hell for anybody
I ain’t gonna go to hell for anybody
I ain’t gonna go to hell for anybody
Not today, not tonight, not tomorrow, no never, no way!

3 Comments
May 23, 2024

Tidying up

by chuckofish

At my granddaughter’s pre-school, they worked on a questionnaire on the last day. In the section “When I grow up”, the 3-4 year olds were asked the question, “What will you do for fun?” Katie answered, “Tidy up.”

I laughed out loud. I’m sure her lovely mother (and probably the pre-school teachers) makes everything fun, à la Mary Poppins, even tidying up, but oh my goodness. She is a girl after my own heart.

I spent the morning tidying up. It is what I do. That and “desk work” as my Aunt Susanne used to say. I have never been one for deep cleaning, but tidying up, yes.

Life is seemingly full of chaos, so tidying up gives us the illusion of some control. We need that illusion. That is why we make our beds in the morning and hang up our clothes. Indeed, studies show that children thrive when there is order, routine and, yes, rules.

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

–1 Corinthians 14:33

So relax. Keep tidying up.

And in weather news…

4 Comments
May 22, 2024

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge

by chuckofish


How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools hate knowledge?
–Proverbs 1: 22

Feeling down? Tired of the news cycle and all the bad news? Severe weather forecasts giving you the blues? Me too.

Well, it’s times like these when I turn to my DVD collection to find something–not necessarily the “best” movies–but one that will cheer me up. You know, like McClintock! (1963), because John Wayne.

Yup. Here are some further suggestions:

  • Hatari (1962) John Wayne and a diverse hipster crew go on safari in Africa. “Hatari” means danger in Swahili, but there’s nothing to worry about in this adventure film.
  • The Professionals (1966) Four American soldiers of fortune head to Mexico to rescue a kidnapped wife, but everything is not what it seems. The Oscar-nominated screenplay is A+.
  • The Court Jester (1956) Singing, dancing, jousting–“A royal treat for the whole family”. A great cast, a great screenplay, and Danny Kaye.
  • Guys and Dolls (1955) Sometimes a musical hits the right spot and this is one of my favorites. Marlon Brando sings!
  • Pillow Talk (1959) A classic rom-com starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day as a playboy songwriter and an interior decorator who share a party line and fall in love. 
  • The Best of Times (1986) Robin Williams and Kurt Russell star as two guys hoping to redeem themselves thirteen years after a disastrous high school football game. We can all relate.
  • The Sting (1973) Newman and Redford in a classic caper film involving a complicated plot by two professional grifters to con a mob boss. 
  • The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming! (1966) Chaos (and hilarity) ensue following the grounding of a Soviet submarine off a small New England island.
  • Hoosiers (1986) One of the best sports films ever tells the story of a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that enters the state championship led by coach Gene Hackman with a spotty past.
  • 21 Jump Street (2012) or 22 Jump Street (2014) Just because. Channing Tatum.

P.S. The boy concurred with these choices and also suggested Roberta, The Awful Truth and Top Hat–all classics from the 1930s, plus Donovan’s Reef (1963) and Kung Fu Panda (2008). What would you suggest?

I hope this helps.

4 Comments
May 21, 2024

“…the great floodgates of the wonder-world swung open…”*

by chuckofish

On this day in 1844 the Missouri and Mississippi rivers reached the most devastating flood stages in history. The Mississippi River swelled to nearly 12 miles wide during the the flood. Crowds gathered on rooftops in St. Louis to watch the houses and trees of Illinoistown (now East St. Louis) being carried away. Steamboats that were still running on the river reported crashing into chimneys and mill machinery hidden below the water’s surface. River pirates took small boats back into the flooded, abandoned towns, looting the upper stories of homes.

The 1844 flood and 1993 flood square off as St. Louis’s “biggest”—the 1844 flood carried 21 percent more water, but the 1993 flood crested more than 8 feet higher. Had the 1993 flood carried the 1844 flood’s volume, it would have almost certainly crested St. Louis’s floodwall (the 1993 flood came within three feet of crest).

To give you an idea, here’s a photo of high water–flooded levee with buildings on one side and boats on the other–at St. Louis during the 1858 flood. (Missouri Historical Society Collections.)

Not until June 28 did the waters begin to recede. By the middle of July the river was back to normal.

After the flood, Congress passed the Swamp Act in 1849 providing land grants to build stronger levees.

“A young man was sitting at home when a terrible rainstorm began. Within hours, the man’s house began to flood, and someone came to his door offering a ride to higher ground. The man declined, saying, ‘God will take care of me.’ A few hours later, as the waters engulfed the first floor of the man’s home, a boat passed by, and the captain offered to take the man to safety. The man declined, saying, ‘God will take care of me.’ A few hours after that, as the man waited on his roof—his entire home flooded—a helicopter flew by, and the pilot offered transportation to dry land. Again the man declined, telling the pilot that God would care for him. Soon thereafter, the waters overcame the man, and as he stood before God in heaven, he protested his fate: ‘You promised that you’d help me so long as I was faithful.’ God replied, ‘I sent you a car, a boat, and a helicopter. Your death is your own fault.’ God helps those who help themselves.”

–J.D. Vance, Hillbilly Elegy

*Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

3 Comments
May 20, 2024

Ultimate lacrosse and more

by chuckofish

After getting up early and going to buy flowers at Trader Joe’s and taking them to church where I arranged them for Sunday services, I went with daughter #1 to watch Lottie play lacrosse…

It was quite hot as you can see!

The young bud found a friend while he cooled off under a tree…

After that early start to the day, I took it easy! I read another D.E. Stevenson book (published in 1957)…

…and enjoyed it very much!

On Sunday I went to the early service so I could go to the bud’s last lacrosse game. We had a good sermon on Titus 3:1-8 and another really good Sunday School class. Then it was back to the lacrosse field to sit in the almost 90-degree heat! The bud (and most of the players) was less than enthused.

Summer in STL is upon us I’m afraid.

Meanwhile Katie and Ida were introduced to Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood–they were spellbound.

I will spare you a rant about Scottie Scheffler and the Louisville PD, but this about says it all. And this is perfect:

Absolutely insane! #freescottie

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

–Horatio G. Spafford, 1873

    Have a good week!

    5 Comments
    May 17, 2024

    Once again, I contain multitudes.

    by chuckofish

    Well, Daughter #1 here. I’ve been off for a few weeks. Work has been crazy for, honestly, the entire year thus far. Today, though, I wrapped up my final project on a long list. Hopefully, we can go a few days without starting a new list. I thought I deserved a large glass of wine at the end of the work day. Mr. Smith wanted one too.

    Sadly, there is no wine on Mr. Smith’s menu. But he did get a Newman’s Own Beef Stick as a treat. Only the best for my pup.

    In other news, as my Mother mentioned, I was sworn in as Chapter Regent this weekend. Not going to lie, I am fulfilling my old lady dreams a little earlier than anticipated, but at the same time, this is the closest I’ll get to being sorority president. I’ll spend the next few weeks studying this book and Robert’s Rules of Order.

    Guys, why am I the coolest person you know?

    Well, the mask I put on before I started drafting this has hardened and I can’t move my face. I’ll leave you with this Peanuts cartoon

    Screenshot

    and this song that has been on rotation the past few weeks. Happy Friday, we made it to another weekend!

    4 Comments
    May 16, 2024

    Be that as it may

    by chuckofish

    The sun came out yesterday! Let the good times roll! However, the din from the cicadas has been so loud as to preclude sitting on the patio or even in the Florida room. I kid you not. When the boy and the little bud came over yesterday afternoon while Lottie was in dance class, they were totally amazed by the number in our yard, covering the ground and on the bushes and in the trees.

    Meanwhile the peonies are blooming in central Illinois…

    Last week you may recall that I recommended watching Tim Challies’ 10-part video tour “Epic”–a journey through Christian history. Since then, I have watched all 10 episodes: 24 countries, 6 continents, 75 flights, 80 museums! I will never travel to all of these countries, so I really appreciated the opportunity to do so–even vicariously and somewhat superficially–with Tim. Each episode is only 25 minutes long. You can do it a few days and it is well worth it.

    Tim ends the last episode with a stop in Kansas City and the Spurgeon Library at the Midwest Baptist Theological Seminary. It’s right around the corner! We should visit!

    (The photo at the top is the boy and daughter #1 at our old house circa 1989.)

    6 Comments
    May 15, 2024

    This and that

    by chuckofish

    This special art project at Katie’s pre-school seems very relevant for the week we are having in flyover country.

    I watched the finale of the Westminster Dog Show last night–4 hours of over-groomed canines. The Westie did not win the terrier group.

    I was not too taken with any of the contenders for Best in Show…

    …and the winner was the crowd favorite (and my least favorite), the miniature French poodle–zut alors! I will refrain from commenting further.

    It was fun to watch all the dogs and their special handlers–one fell flat on his face and caused quite an uproar, but his Welsh Terrier kept his cool.

    And I liked this essay about Holy Ground. “He abides. On this narrow way, His presence makes all the difference, and this holy ground itself sings like a toddler in the backseat: God is with us.”

    Have a good Wednesday. Pet a dog if you get the chance.

    4 Comments
    May 14, 2024

    I see the turning of the page

    by chuckofish

    Welcome to flyover land: cicadas on gone-by Iris. Yuck-o. When you walk outside the cicada din is like something out of a SciFi movie. And we haven’t even reached our peek. I was going to take a picture of our front porch, but it is too gross. Use your imagination. (Here’s a photo from Fox2.)

    The Iris were insane this year, but I have to say, I like the plainer ones. Some of them verge on the vulgar:

    They are the dancehall girls of flowers.

    I am not ungrateful–for weeks we have all been enjoying a really beautiful spring where the grass is green and lush and the flowering trees lovely and fragrant. But there are downsides to May. Cicadas, flash flooding and tornadoes to name a few. But we count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds.

    Indeed, we soldier on and enjoy the the upsides of May. It is a great month for birthdays! No one in my family has a May birthday, but lots of my favorite people do, including the Big Four: Bob Dylan (May 24), Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25), John Wayne (May 26), and Walt Whitman (May 31).

    There are also these guys: Gary Cooper (May 7), Henry Fonda (May 16), James Stewart (May 20), Laurence Olivier (May 22), and Clint Eastwood (May 22).

    So many reasons to throw a party! So plan accordingly.

    After you’ve deadheaded all those iris blooms, take a break and watch an old movie, listen to an old song or read an old poem…

    I love apocalyptic Bob.

    4 Comments
    May 13, 2024

    Ahoy, hoy

    by chuckofish

    Such a busy weekend! Now I will have to recover–and it’s raining again. Well, maybe the cicadas will be washed away (I wish).

    I won an auction for a dresser for daughter #2…

    …so I had to figure out how to pick it up and transport it home. I traded cars with the OM and met daughter #1 at the house on Friday afternoon. We manhandled it into the SUV–we are women, hear us roar!–and made it home where we got it into the garage. Phew! We celebrated by going to happy hour. Later the OM went to Chick-fil-a and brought home dinner. We deserved it.

    I know I sound like a broken record, but it amazes me how no one wants dressers anymore. Is this because everyone has custom closets? (I doubt it.) Or that bedrooms in new-build houses are too small? Anyway, it is possible to find a nice mid-century, made-in-North Carolina, wooden dresser for a song–I paid $40. There may be a few scratches, but nothing that a Tibet Almond Stick won’t fix. Certainly better than anything you can find at IKEA or really anywhere these days.

    On Saturday I got up early and went to daughter #1’s DAR chapter meeting where she was installed as the new Regent…

    …and awards were given to talented high school students…

    (My photos are the worst, but you get the idea.) It was very nice and I am proud of daughter #1 for taking on this big responsibility.

    I went to the early service at church on Sunday so that I could get an early start on the day. Our new young pastor was on fire and gave a really good sermon on Titus 2:11-15. Once again I am inspired to give up irreverent babble and pursue a self-controlled, upright and godly life in the present in-between age. The church was full and the singing was enthusiastic. I was content.

    It was a beautiful day, so in the afternoon daughter #1 drove us to our favorite winery in Jefferson County. We sat in the sun and sipped wine while listening to the musical stylings of a jazz/rock (?) quartet. Listening to live music outside in the fresh air is always fun, even if it does all sound the same.

    Daughter #2 and DN had the same idea…

    The boy and his family watched the bud play lacrosse and then worked in their yard because that’s what daughter #3 wanted and Moms rule on Mother’s Day. I am certainly cool with that. We all had a fun Mother’s Day.

    Earlier in the week daughter #2 went to a Mother’s Day tea at Katie’s pre-school where they went flyover all-out to make their Moms feel special.

    Ya gotta love it!

    P.S. The OM and I also went to a party for a young church friend who is graduating from WashU law school today. He is from Oklahoma and a fine young man. He gives me hope for the future.

    3 Comments