Careful What You Wish For!

Afternoon Folks,

Well, we got it, and are still getting it, snow that is . . . started with a few flurries yesterday, nothing to shout about . . . but, this morning about 5:30 it started in earnest and has not stopped all day. According to NOAA it is supposed to snow all night with accumulation up to around 23." Not only that but it is supposed to snow off and on all week long.

Somewhat interesting is the fact that the Flagstaff Nordic Center had their big sale on Saturday. I went out to pick-up my prepaid season pass and take my XC skis in to get "tuned-up" (1/2 price). Now, it looks like they will be opening up on Thursday. That is great news. Hope my skis are ready!

Other plans and appointments might need to be put on hold or changed. My annual physical was scheduled for tomorrow at the VA clinic but it is 10 miles down the highway and it may not be possible to get there. Daughter Tasha wanted a ride down to Prescott on Saturday. That may not happen if the interstate is at all "iffy." That would also sabotage my plans to visit my friend John, who is getting cancer treatments down in Phoenix . But . . . there is the positive aspect, XC skiing.

Tasha and I went to see Brothers with performances by Toby MacGuire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhall (sp). It is an excellent movie, especially in terms of the acting, but a real "downer." So, as I usually say for this type of movie, "it is not for everyone." Do not expect it to be "uplifting." As Natasha said, "I really liked it, but do not ever want to see it again!"

Later . . .

Finally, A Bit of Real Snow, But Not Enough!

A Good Morning from Snowy Flagstaff,

I just returned from an early morning icy drive to the Flagstaff airport where I dropped off my son-in-law Jason. He is headed to Texas on a job that will keep him occupied for the next three weeks and pay the rent. Daughter Natasha is not all that happy to see him go but in these economic times you have to do something to make a living.

We got about two inches of snow overnight, which is the first "real" snow of the season. There were a couple of days earlier in the month where we had some flurries but nothing much came out of it. My hope this first small snow is a harbinger of a good season for getting out on the boards for a bit of vigorous exercise.

It looks like the holidays have kicked into overdrive now. We had a nice Thanksgiving here at my condo. I made a ham and Tasha did gravy and stuffing to go with the baked yams and broccoli (and punkin pie for desert of course). We spent the rest of the afternoon watching one of my favorite holiday movies, Home for the Holidays, with Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr, Ann Bancroft, et al. It is the hilarious depiction of a pretty dysfunctional family coming together for Thanksgiving. It is the only movie I know of that deals specifically with this holiday.

As for other movies . . . I saw The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock the other day and liked it. As I have said in the past about movies like this, it is not a great movie but is very entertaining. Bullock does one of her better jobs acting the role of a southern mother who takes in a basically homeless large black boy who most people have written off. It is the true story of Michael Oher who plays football for the Baltimore Ravens now. I recommend this movie. It is the story of the relationships and football is only peripheral.

Hope everyone had as good a Thanksgiving as I did (without being at the Hammond's, or other friends, my usual the past few years). It was good to spend it with my daughter Natasha and her husband, a first for us.

Now we can begin the rush to Christmas . . . and so it goes!

Almost Thanksgiving!

Buenos Dias from Flagstaff (thought I'd give things a bit of an international flair),


Not much going on here in Flag for me. I am gearing up for a nice little Thanksgiving meal here at my condo with daughter Natasha and son-in-law Jason. I am foregoing my traditional, at least for the last few years, holiday meal with my friends the Hammond's in Prescott. In all probability I would not have been welcome this year after deflating their "windbag" conservative friend last year. However, I will miss being with them.


I cannot remember how long it has been since I spent this holiday in San Diego with family. When Natasha was younger she and I would go over for Thanksgiving. Mostly, that had to do with the arrangements involved in the divorce where her mother had her for Christmas. But as I remember those were good times. At any rate I am looking forward to putting together our little meal for my youngest and her husband. It has been a long time since she and I have had Thanksgiving together.


Speaking of Thanksgiving, the historical event that commemorates it is pretty much a mythology of American culture. After the long hard winter the Pilgrims, a fanatical religious group thrown out of England, invited the Native-Americans to a feast, or so the story goes . . . Isn't it incredible to think that this was the beginning of nearly the end of Native culture in North America. Granted that may be a bit of an over statement, but think about it. In a bit over 200 years the Euro-Americans destroyed most of the indigenous population of what is now the USA. Not much to give thanks for from those that have survived. Guess they have their revenge in the Casinos.


My friend and mentor, John Haynes at 75 has been diagnosed with cancer. So far all we know is that he will have to undergo some chemo, and possible radiation treatments. He started with a back ailment and loss of feeling in one leg. In the exploration of this by the Docs at "Barrows" in Phoenix they found a spot on his lung. We do not know the prognosis, but the "C" word always brings with it great apprehension. My fingers are crossed for him. It has been a truly difficult last few months.



As for movies . . . Went to the much anticipated 2012 and was again disappointed. My guilty pleasure or weakness in films is the disaster genre. I have always been a "sucker" for them, the best of which in recent memory (in my opinion) was The Day After Tomorrow. Despite the great CGI effects 2012 just misses it. The small interwoven stories seem trite for the most part, and the 2 hours, 38 minutes make it way too long. The only thing I can say for it, besides the CGI, is that I did not look at my watch during the film, which is usually an indication of boredom. It is kind of like being on a roller coaster (not one of my favs), you are excited while it is happening but kind of ill when it's over.


Happy Thanksgiving!

Where is winter?

Mornin' Folks,

So (know I shouldn't start a sentence with that) . . . many people here are happy that we have not gotten "real" winter weather yet. Afterall, it is still FALL. But it is ridiculously warm here, in the 60s to low 70s daytime, but sometimes in the 30s at night. A week and a half ago we had a trace of snow. Granted that was the earliest I'd seen the white stuff here. So (yet again) I sit languishing here in Flag waiting for winter. But, if you have to "languish" somewhere Flagstaff is a nice place to be. I love living in the mountains.


I did a quick trip to Prescott on Thursday to take daughter Natasha to her mother's for a sojourn down to Tucson to see her "Grammie." It was a nice drive down but everything is so dry here in northern AZ. There was prescribed burn on the low mountains east of Prescott Valley and couldn't help but think how much of a tinder box the whole area seemed to be. I had intended on spending the night with my friends the Hammonds but felt a little out of sorts and decided to flee back north. Due to a snafu with my social secuirty for November this short foray out of Flag will probably be the only one I do until after the first of the year.


Watched some "Yahoos" here out with their placards against national health insurance. It never ceases to amaze me how stupid people are . . . don't they know a national health plan is the only way costs will go down for medical treatment. It is the insurance and drug companies that are making all the money. It is just like the Wall St. folks and banks who put us in the financial fix that we are in. Cannot some of you people that have it so good think of others for once. And you seniors ( I am one of you) can you not worry so much about your Medicare and think about the greater good. They are not going to take away your coverage. Get a brain people, and don't buy all the bullshit put out there by the right wing pimps for the insurance companies!



Movies: I had looked forward to seeing Men Who Stare at Goats and did yesterday when it opened here. I have to say I was somewhat disappointed. Although it is funny in parts overall I would not give it more than two stars. Clooney and McGregor are pretty good together and Kevin Spacey, for the featured role he plays, isn't bad, but the film does not hold together well. Jeff Bridges basically channels his Lebowski role. What with the disappointing Amelia last week I am not optimistic about films being released right now. For the most part there is a lot Vampire bull-shit and cartoon/computer generated crap where actors are made to look like they have been botoxed. I did see previews of a new international "thriller" with Matt Damon that shows some promise. Since I will be here for both Thanksgiving and Christmas I hope that the usual holiday releases are at least watchable.


Ciao!

Early, Early, Early . . .

Good Early Morning from Flagstaff!


My "off again, on again" fight with sleep is on again. I have no trouble getting to that state, actually drop off pretty nearly as soon as my head hits the pillow. But it seems my body wants me awake early, sometimes at 1 or 2 am for an hour or so. Most of the time I can get back to sleep. At any rate it makes for a "Zombie like" next day.


It is difficult to believe that October is almost over. Months and years seem to be whizzing by. When you are young you cannot wait to get to the next stage in life, in fact you "chomp at the bit" to be older so you can do this and that. At this point, for me, that seems like a long time ago. I cannot remember the last time "I couldn't wait" to get to the next age so I could drive, or drink legally, etc., maybe it was social security. Isn't it interesting how our priorities change.


So . . . apparently, we are suppose to get our first snow this week in Flagstaff. Unlike many of the folks here, I cannot wait. This would be the earliest I can remember since moving here. Of course that's if it really happens. Oft times weather here in the mountains of AZ is not what is predicted. Be-that-as-it-may, It will not be enough to take out the XC skis but I hope it portends a good snow winter for the aforementioned skiing.


Not much else has been going on with me. I haven't had much in the way of visitors to the new condo. My friend Marc came up and spent one night on his way to a motorcycle rally in Cedar City, Utah. Now that I have spare a room thought I might get a couple more "overnighters" but no such luck. At least it is there if someone "drops in" on me.


Movies of late have been just as bad as ever. I thought maybe it was just what Flag had to offer but looked online and there is a dearth of good films out now. The only place I might be able to see some decent Independent films would be in Scottsdale and I do not have the funds for a trip down to the valley. Whip It, a small film about a young woman's attempt to find her own identity by getting involved in roller derby was not bad. Ellen Page of Juno fame played the lead. it was a nice little movie. Law Abiding Citizen with Jamie Fox and Gerard Butler was definitely not worth it. That's about all I have to report in this regard. Lets hope the coming "holiday" releases give us a couple of gems. That would be my hope (and wish) for November.



Stay warm . . . even though it is fall and there are some beautiful displays of color, winter is a close step behind.


Ciao

Longtime No Communication . . .

I have no excuses for not writing down my thoughts of late. I did go to San Diego County for a few days last month as mentioned in the last blog. It was an OK trip but something seemed a bit off for me. I cannot put my finger on it. The weather was hot. My family were all preoccupied and I felt as if I were a "fifth wheel." My sister Norma welcomed me as always and was gracious to let me stay with her while she was in the middle of moving. I got to see my grandsons engage in their atheletic endeavors but their family is so full of their own commitments that there is scarcely time for an "outsider," as Dad/"Gramps" seems to be. I long for that feeling of excitement we felt when my grandpa use to come from out of town to visit. Although, I do seem to recollect that my Mom was not always keen to see her father.


Shortly after my return from that trip another death occurred in what seems like a long line of them recently. My friend Charles died two weeks ago. He is the one mentioned in the most previous blog. He had said that the doctors had given him 2 weeks to 2 months. He made it to exactly one month from that prognosis. It is a sad thing when one dies so young. 67 is realtively young! We will miss him at afternoon group curmudgeon's gatherings at Barnes & Noble.


In addition, last week my Uncle Johnny in Lousiana died. He is my mother's only sister's husband. Although I had never really met him he was married to someone we were very close to during the early period of my life. He was in his mid-80s. I mourn his loss, especially how that loss may affect my Aunt Roby.


There has not been much in the way of positive "news" to convey here. But it seems to be my "half empty" view of life anyway, maybe even all the way "empty." Both my daughters refer to me as Eeyore, but I plug along. However, I am ready for some good news should, by chance, that occur in the near future.


As for films of late . . . there is not much positive in that either. The Informant with Matt Damon may be the best of the lot, Extract was not too bad. Surrogate with Bruce Willis was the usual bloody action thriller, entertaining on some level but not all that good. I went to see a much anticipated comedy starring Ricky Gervais, The Invention of Lying, but it was so bad I walked out and went into Moore's new rant on Capitalism, which was actually pretty good, even though his standard "doc" mode. I succumbed to Vince Vaughn's Couple's Retreat this last Friday and found it somewhat ammusing but another "dud." To say the least movie fare has not been worth the money I spent, and that is in short supply since buying the Condo.


And so it goes . . .


Adios Amigos y Amigas

Early Morning Meanderings

Good Morning Whomever is still out there,

Summer is almost officially over . . . I know Labor Day tends to mark it for most folks, but the actual celestial date is the 22nd of September. In the past few years my early autumn had been spent in the Tetons where the changing colors are quite extraordinary. Here in Flagstaff I see the beginnings of fall in our aspens. This year I will get to experience the colors of Flagstaff.



Before the full onset of those autumnal colors here, I am headed out to northern San Diego County for a trip to see my family. I am departing tomorrow for Prescott then on to southern Cal the following day. Since returning from my Wyoming visit at the end of July I have spent the last month and a half here. What with getting into my new condo and all that entailed, it would have been difficult to leave. A lot of that difficulty centered around a lack of funds after all that was required (and some things not so required) to get into my new situation. However, I am enjoying my new accommodations.



Last week one of my "cronies" here in Flagstaff came into Barnes & Noble, my afternoon office/reading room, and told us he has terminal lung cancer. This was a "shocker" for my other friend Ed and myself. Charles is only 67 years old and has been given only a couple of months to live. He has always been a big bull of a man who seemed rather healthy. He built his own road bicycle and I would see him riding everywhere on it throughout the first part of this summer.
He hasn't smoked in 30 years. Needless to say this gives us all pause to think about the vagaries of life. It has been a summer of death, and now it seems to be moving into the fall.



At any rate, I need to get out of town for awhile.


Movies have continued to "suck" for the most part this summer. Since last I wrote I have seen one really bad one, All About Steve, one good one, 500 Days of Summer, and a so, so thriller whose main positive aspect was that it starred Kate Beckensale, Whiteout. Still I rank the worst of the summer as Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan's film reviewed a few weeks ago. It is probably tied with Land of the Lost for the bottom of the list. Sandra Bullock is batting just under .500 with her Proposal, earlier in summer and the really awfull aforementioned Steve film. In late spring the first of the "summer" films hit the screens. The best of these was the new Star Trek film, after that the drop off began. Angels and Demons was somewhat of a disappointment. A French film that I happened on, Summer House was excellent, but I saw that in San Diego. There were numerous others too average to mention.



Well . . . that's about it from here. Have a great Autumnal Equinox!


Happy Trails!