dual personalities

Tag: Friday

November 7, 2025

How’s it goin’?

by chuckofish

It’s Friday again–can you believe it?

Daughter #1 and I are heading up to the prairie again on Saturday so that we can go to church with daughter #2. She and the girls are officially joining along with other new members. I’m really looking forward to this and attending what Ida refers to as, the “Hallelujah Church”. I am so thankful they have found a church where the Word of God is its foundation. Hallelujah, indeed.

Today we remember Steve McQueen who died on this day in 1980. You will recall that Steve met with Billy Graham a few days prior to his death. The year before he had gotten to know pilot Sammy Mason when he was teaching Steve to fly. He noticed something authentic and genuine about the pilot and his close-knit family. Mason was able to explain that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ had made the difference in his life. Steve started showing up at Mason’s church, the Ventura Missionary Baptist Church, which he eventually joined, and reading scripture with the pastor and Mason. Eleven months later He was diagnosed with cancer. Hearing that Billy Graham was in California, he reached out to the evangelist for a possible meeting. Graham spent some time with Steve and drove with him to the airport before being flown to a hospital in Mexico. Steve shared his story with Graham. Having misplaced his Bible, Graham inscribed his own Bible and gave it to Steve before they prayed together. Four days later, Steve was found with Billy’s Bible cradled on his chest. He had died in his sleep. Praise the Lord.

It is the season when we are especially tuned into thankfulness and this article talks about prioritizing gratitude, especially in today’s culture. “A life of gratitude is especially difficult in a culture such as ours that exalts the proud, despises humility, and enthrones self as the highest authority. In a world consumed by indifference and lack of appreciation, Christians can engage in a moment-by-moment protest of thankfulness. Persistent gratitude will set us apart from the world, making us salty to a self-indulgent culture (Matt. 5:13).”

Happy Friday! Happy weekend!

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May 27, 2016

TGIF

by chuckofish

Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 9.51.40 PM

It has been a busy week which included the annual meeting of our flyover institute and other stress-inducing business, so I am ready for a relaxing three-day weekend!

How about you?

(Photo from Simpsonscentral instagram)

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February 27, 2015

Friday movie pick(s)

by chuckofish

Ah, Friday! How sweet it is.

It being Lent, I think I will haul out one of my favorite lenten movies—The Robe (1953) with Richard Burton. In recent years, I have gone to my DVD shelf to find it and come away confused and empty-handed. You know–you think you have a movie, but you don’t. So thinking ahead, I bought a new copy recently. I am all set for some Cinemascope wonderfulness.

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Earlier in the week I watched the movie St. Vincent (2014) starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts. It is the story  of a little boy whose parents have just separated, forcing  him and his mother to move. He finds an unlikely friend and after-school babysitter in the misanthropic, bawdy, alcoholic war veteran who lives next door.

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I wan’t expecting much, but as often happens in that case, I enjoyed it. The TV ads always pushed it as a comedy, and it is funny, but it is more of a drama with comedic moments. Melissa McCarthy  is subdued and not over-the-top. The child who plays the boy is very good, and as you know, that can make or break a film.

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Anyway, I liked it and it would be appropriate lenten viewing since it asks the question, “Who is a saint?”

If neither of these choices appeals to you, you could choose a film starring Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968), whose birthday is today.

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Tone was a cousin of one of my father’s best friends and so he was always on my radar, although he is a rather stiff, old-fashioned kind of actor. He usually plays the debonaire, less sexy, but stalwart other guy, who sometimes manages to get the girl if the lead is a real schmo.

He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and he starred with the best of them, including Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper. He was even married to Joan Crawford!

Recently I watched Suzy (1936)–a WWI drama–with Cary Grant and Jean Harlow. Mostly I was impressed with Harlow.

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She steals the show.

Anyway, have a good weekend. Keep warm. We’re supposed to get more snow and wintry mix, etc. Whatever.

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February 20, 2015

This and that

by chuckofish

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So hey, there’s only a week of February left! March is in sight! Spring is on the horizon, right?

I only ask because I have been shivering in my office all week, reduced to wearing a wool shawl around my shoulders because it is so freakin’ cold! Here’s the local weather report:

Some areas are seeing temperatures below zero this morning. Snow flurries are on the way for tonight, plus freezing rain this weekend.

But at least we don’t live in Niagra Falls, NY where the famous falls have frozen. Zut alors!

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Moving right along…Today is the birthday of Ansel Easton Adams (February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984), American photographer and environmentalist.

The Tetons and the Snake River

The Tetons and the Snake River

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Winter storm in Yosemite Valley 1942

Ansel Adams in Yosemite 1942

Ansel Adams in Yosemite 1942

It is also the anniversary of the death of the great Broadway star John Raitt (January 29, 1917 – February 20, 2005). In his honor, I suggest you watch this show-stoppin’ scene from The Pajama Game (1957) where he and Doris Day sing with gusto and precision one of the hardest darn songs to sing ever written!

Aren’t they great? This always reminds me of the episode in season 5 of Angel when Lorne (of the Deathwok Clan) has to listen to every staff member at Wolfram & Hart sing a song so that he can tell if they are hiding something. One girl sings “There Once Was a Man” and it is pretty funny. I guess you had to be there…

On the Episcopal Church front, we remember Frederick Douglass on the liturgical calendar today, the anniversary of his death in 1895.

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Almighty God, whose truth makes us free: We bless your Name for the witness of Frederick Douglass, whose impassioned and reasonable speech moved the hearts of a president and a people to a deeper obedience to Christ. Strengthen us also to be outspoken on behalf of those in captivity and tribulation, continuing in the Word of Jesus Christ our Liberator; who with you and the Holy Spirit dwells in glory everlasting. Amen.

We are grateful for the lives of Ansel Adams, John Raitt and Frederick Douglass and for their contributions to our American culture. And we are grateful that the coach stopped by for dinner!

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He moved some big boxes for me. Wasn’t that nice? And it’s Friday! Have a great weekend. Stay warm!

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