Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day! It's so beautiful I cannot figure out exactly in what way I am going to be out in the sunshine and warmth. I'll get out there somehow right after I finish this blog. Yesterday was an in the car in traffic kind of day, and I didn't get back home until dark. I just want to hug this summer weather to me and give it a great big kiss.
I'm feeling the fall creeping up, and I want to enjoy the longer days while we have them, and the sockless season. I do so hate to wear socks.
I believe a nice walk is in order, and while I'm walking, I can search for birthday cards and presents for several friends. What a good idea!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Old Age Day by Day August 6, 2012
One of my friends lent me the movie "The Vow". Her point was that Channing Tatum was worth staring at for two hours. Yes, even at our advanced age, we act like schoolgirl idiots at times. She was right. He's pretty cute, though McAdams' dimples got to me after a while. My husband watched the whole thing with me and opined that Tatum could act, but McAdams was wrong for the role. See? Too much dimples. Now, in one week I've seen three great films at the theaters, and one very interesting one at home: "Platinum Blonde", with Jean Harlow, Loretta Young, and this guy Paul Williams, who was terrific in it but died four days later of a burst appendix. I think it's time to get back to reading, as there can't be that many films waiting to dazzle me this week. My run of luck is bound to run out.
I'm reading a very strange but capivating book by Cheryl Staiyed, "Dear Sugar". She's an online advice blogger, and these are some of her letters and responses. It's absolutely riveting, and her advice is transcendantly beautiful and profound. So I'm shoring up all this advice, at my age, and loving every minute of it. Maybe the issues are not of current interest to me, but they take me back to various stages of my life, and I end up reflecting on the path my life has taken. Have I been true to myself? I get to see when I was and wasn't and affirm the absolute necessity of listening to my heart. I'll hate when this book ends.
I'm reading a very strange but capivating book by Cheryl Staiyed, "Dear Sugar". She's an online advice blogger, and these are some of her letters and responses. It's absolutely riveting, and her advice is transcendantly beautiful and profound. So I'm shoring up all this advice, at my age, and loving every minute of it. Maybe the issues are not of current interest to me, but they take me back to various stages of my life, and I end up reflecting on the path my life has taken. Have I been true to myself? I get to see when I was and wasn't and affirm the absolute necessity of listening to my heart. I'll hate when this book ends.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Old Age Day by Day August 5, 2012
Today I saw the third great film for this week "Ai WeiWei I'm so sorry" a documentary about his life, art and dissident activism. What an extraordinary man, and his art and courage are amazing. I fear for his life, but hope that his visibility will keep the Chinese government from detaining him again. We should all watch out for him and protect him as much as we can.
Before the film, I sat and then listened to a dharma talk by Anam Thubten. This talk was deeply profound and transparently clear, about awareness as the pathless path to liberation. As usual, I was touched and inspired. I'm so lucky to have two teachers who are so wise and helpful.
Tomorrow is a new day of the new week, and I hope to make it a good one. I'll be with my younger daughter in the afternoon. I look forward to that.
Before the film, I sat and then listened to a dharma talk by Anam Thubten. This talk was deeply profound and transparently clear, about awareness as the pathless path to liberation. As usual, I was touched and inspired. I'm so lucky to have two teachers who are so wise and helpful.
Tomorrow is a new day of the new week, and I hope to make it a good one. I'll be with my younger daughter in the afternoon. I look forward to that.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Old Age Day by Day August 4, 2012
Wow! I saw an amazing film last night - "Beasts of the Southern Wild". It is impossible to explain, as it is part allegory, part magic realism, and part political. It made my hair stand on end. The acting by the two leads is extraordinary, one of them a six year old girl. She and the man who plays her dad are dazzling, and neither ever acted before. The imagry is powerful, and the subject - these marginal people on the absolute fringe of society at the levees in Louisiana, is important and transcends time and place. It's a terrific film.
I received news from my friend that her brother is dying, and my heart is full with her upcoming loss. He is a funny, sweet guy, and he's handled his dying so beautifully, so tenderly, that it has affected all of us with his model. Now it is the end, and friends surround him, and his sister will soon be there. Her parents are long dead, and now she will be the only survivor, for a while of her nuclear family. Luckily, she has two daughters, and three grandchildren, and she knows full well life goes on, but it must be strange and disorienting. I'll be praying for them all.
I received news from my friend that her brother is dying, and my heart is full with her upcoming loss. He is a funny, sweet guy, and he's handled his dying so beautifully, so tenderly, that it has affected all of us with his model. Now it is the end, and friends surround him, and his sister will soon be there. Her parents are long dead, and now she will be the only survivor, for a while of her nuclear family. Luckily, she has two daughters, and three grandchildren, and she knows full well life goes on, but it must be strange and disorienting. I'll be praying for them all.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Old Age Day by Day August 3, 2012
Today is a double girlfriend day. I'm having lunch with one and movie and dinner with another. Sweet! as my son would say. Both of these friends also have their birthdays next week, but we aren't celebrating that yet. I don't want to get ahead of the wagon. The movie we are seeing tonight is "Beast of the Southern Wild" and Sunday, with yet another friend, we're going to the AiWeiWei documentary. So - three independent quality films in one week (I saw Crazy Wisdom Tuesday) - my cup runneth over. Two are documentaries, which seem to be really great these days.
And in between, I'm reading a great mystery and have two other interesting books lined up right behind. Harry Dolan is a terrific writer, and I just bought "Dear Sugar" about an online advice columnist in Portland, Oregon, that looks fascinating. I heard her interviewed on NPR yesterday, and after that one a mystery set in India. An embarassment of riches, for sure.
And in between, I'm reading a great mystery and have two other interesting books lined up right behind. Harry Dolan is a terrific writer, and I just bought "Dear Sugar" about an online advice columnist in Portland, Oregon, that looks fascinating. I heard her interviewed on NPR yesterday, and after that one a mystery set in India. An embarassment of riches, for sure.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Old Age Day by Day August 2, 2012
I am avoiding the Olympics like the plague. Several decades ago, one last "Up Close and Personal" feature did me in. All the jingoism and nationalism and sloppy smaltz just put the last nail in the coffin. Yes, one picks up some info without any effort, but I, like Rhett Butler, don't really give a damn. And I resent the baseball news being moved over or below. But it's only temporary. And without watching any TV I am insulated from the more inane coverage. I just have to wait it out and it will be gone, disappeared.
On a happier note, they have nourished, cleaned up and released a bunch of brown pelicans back into the skies. They still don't know what happened - where they poisoned by bad fish? But I love those birds and their Olympian efforts to remain a part of nature I can applaud with genuine hope and joy. In fact, isn't that a gold metal around that one up there? For bravery and trust of the very species whose actions are doing them in? Yes, I think, it could be...
On a happier note, they have nourished, cleaned up and released a bunch of brown pelicans back into the skies. They still don't know what happened - where they poisoned by bad fish? But I love those birds and their Olympian efforts to remain a part of nature I can applaud with genuine hope and joy. In fact, isn't that a gold metal around that one up there? For bravery and trust of the very species whose actions are doing them in? Yes, I think, it could be...
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Old Age Day by Day August 1, 2012
Oh, dear. The baseball game was quite dismal. Our team played badly, and was beaten by a wide margin. The highlight was the popcorn chicken. Perhaps my husband and I had better stay at home for good luck. We only bring the bad when we are there in person. I'll have to content myself with reading about it in the newspaper.
I finished a very good mystery yesterday called Very Bad Men. I'm going to search for his other book - Hogan is his name. It was intricately plotted and fascinating, with vivid characters and locales. It's mainly set in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Now I'm reading a mystery set in India. Very different.
I'm going to see 'The Life and Times of Chogyam Trungpa" today. I'm curious about it and it's a couple of blocks away from me. I met him many years ago when I was in grad school, as the whole Naropa crew used to come to readings at the university, and were famous for eating all the food and drinking all the wine. I thought they were bizarre at the time, but now I kind of wish I'd gone to Naropa and at least heard some of the dharma talks. I just did not have a good first impression. Drunks are not my cup of tea. But I enjoy his writings, and he must have been quite a complex person.
I finished a very good mystery yesterday called Very Bad Men. I'm going to search for his other book - Hogan is his name. It was intricately plotted and fascinating, with vivid characters and locales. It's mainly set in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Now I'm reading a mystery set in India. Very different.
I'm going to see 'The Life and Times of Chogyam Trungpa" today. I'm curious about it and it's a couple of blocks away from me. I met him many years ago when I was in grad school, as the whole Naropa crew used to come to readings at the university, and were famous for eating all the food and drinking all the wine. I thought they were bizarre at the time, but now I kind of wish I'd gone to Naropa and at least heard some of the dharma talks. I just did not have a good first impression. Drunks are not my cup of tea. But I enjoy his writings, and he must have been quite a complex person.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)