Tuesday, January 29, 2013

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

Healthy but empty
I've been wracking my brain for months, trying to think of something to post in here. And...I just can't seem to think of anything. Which is strange, because it's not like nothing's been going on in the world.

I thought about writing about the Fiscal Cliff. I've been watching a lot of "The West Wing" on Netflix lately and the storylines, though written ten years ago, are amazingly relevant now. I recently watched an episode that featured a venal Speaker of the House blocking President Bartlet's proposed budget at the eleventh hour, and the government shut down for 3 days. I thought about Crying-Man John Boehner and how he's been doing his level best to hold our real-life government hostage every chance he gets.

But I don't know enough about our country's finances to speak intelligently about it, so that idea was out.

I was moved and thrilled as I watched President Obama's Inauguration ceremony. I was taken again at how grateful I am to be alive at this time in U.S. history. It was amazing that our country elected a black President with the middle name Hussein the first time. But a second term? Who'd'a thunk it? A female, Hispanic Associate Supreme Court Justice swore in Vice President Biden and a black man was sworn in for the second time in a row. I was also taken with how much more significant Barack Obama winning a second term was than the first. No matter how bad things seem to have gotten during his first four years, Americans still weren't willing to give up. And, apparently, a majority of Americans found Mitt Romney as creepy as I did (and still do).

But the whole election thing seemed played out, so I didn't try to write a big, flowery post about that.

The senseless massacre in Newtown shook the nation, but it almost seemed like sensationalism to write about that. I mean, what could I offer that (I dare say literally) every American wasn't already thinking and feeling? Could I rail about the gun control laws in this country? I, who recently spent an afternoon at a target range? Nope, can't go there. Safety in our schools? The role of violence on television and in movies on our youth? Nope, because I don't think any of that stuff has anything to do with anything. A nutjob kid finally blew a gasket and opened fire on a building full of innocent people. Period.

So that was a no-go.

Hurricane (neé Super Storm) Sandy? Although it's pretty much reached super-saturation in the news, people in the affected region are still suffering. A friend just recently got her Internet access restored. People are still homeless, still reeling from the loss of life and property. Sandy was actually more acutely fixed on my radar than Katrina, but I still didn't feel like I had anything worthwhile to say about it. I'm deeply saddened for what those people went through and my heart continues to go out to them, but it didn't seem right (or relevant) to try to generate blog hits by spewing a bunch of tired platitudes.

So, another shot...and another miss.

One thing that did get me was the controversy surrounding "Django Unchained". I guess I just continue to be naïve about the public's reaction to certain things. Christy (my girlfriend) and I went to see "Django" and absolutely loved it. We'd seen "The Hobbit" the day before, but "Django" is the one that stuck with us. Not because of it's subject matter, per se, but because it was just a cracking good movie. Spike Lee made a comment about how he had no intention of seeing "Django" because of how blacks and slavery were handled in the film. He went on to say that he wouldn't share an opinion on the film since he hadn't seen it...and then went on to share an opinion about it. I get frustrated when people criticize fiction because of alleged historical inaccuracies. It's entertainment, not education. Dan Brown got slammed for "The Da Vinci Code" and Tarantino's getting slammed for "Django". Let me be clear: I'm no Tarantino fan. I think he's a smug, goofy "wannabe". I put wannabe in quotes because he really isn't a wannabe. He's a be. He's tremendously talented and I've enjoyed every movie he's made. But he always strikes me as that guy who, no matter how successful or famous he gets, will always be on the outside looking in because he's never actually gonna be cool.

Okay. So maybe I had a little on my mind after all.

Still, my brain's not really in it. I started this blog with several things in mind that I wanted to vent about and, by golly, I've checked all those things off of my list. Ordinarily I'd say stay tuned — something will piss me off enough to compel me to write about it. But I think I've been so damn happy lately that that criteria may not be applicable any more. I could write about things that are making me so gleeful, but honestly, it'd be kinda boring. I'm sure I'll come up with something though. Soon.

So, yes, stay tuned...

26 comments:

  1. Glad you're posting again. You did have a few things on your mind. Lucky for us.

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    1. Thanks, @Grey Goose! I think Abe Lincoln said something like, "I try to keep it short. But once I get to writing, I'm too lazy to stop." I think I had a case of that last night. :-P

      Thanks for stopping by.

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  2. Make sure you have enough RAM or perhaps an external HD for when your brain is full! lol ( Enjoyed your post btw )

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    1. A flash drive with plenty of GB or TB will do too @Norene. Easier to pop in and out and carry.

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    2. My pea-brain gets overwhelmed and overloaded really easily, so a little external support would be nice! Glad you liked the post. Follow me! (I know, I know - I'm a blog-whore. :-P)

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  3. Tarantino's movies are too violent for me, but I'm glad you liked it. It's nice to see you posting again.

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    1. Yeah, Tarantino's a bit graphic. But I do like his writing. Not so much the subject matter of his movies but the dialogue. I love snappy, sharp dialogue. The guy still bugs the crap out of me though. lol! And he needs to stay behind the camera!

      Good to see you again, btw.

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    2. I love the dialogue he writes, but he's also great at picking the right actors for the parts and filming scenes in a captivating way. They may be graphic, but you have to admit they're often very riveting.

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    3. Yes, yes, yes! Somehow, from his very first movie (Reservoir Dogs), he's managed to get primo talent for all of his projects. Not sure how he managed that because, y'know, he's not cool.

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  4. This is a cracking good post! I'm sorry. I just like "cracking good" and will now work it into our conversations every chance I get. ;-)

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    1. So I'm gonna know where "cracking good" is gonna be coming from in the foreseeable future. It is a cracking good phrase though, ain't it? ;-)

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  5. love this post and am so glad you shared the thoughts you thought you didn't have :) as for QT, he won me over with rez dogs and pulf\p f. but i thought inglorious basterds was a waste of time and space (except the opening scene which was brilliant) -- django i found disjointed but good.

    ps - i hate spike lee (but i loved brooklyn!)

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  6. dammit that posted me as colorbars an old blog -- let me see if my wordpress blog name is in the pulldown.

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  7. Thanks, @ColorBars/mylensflare! Up til now, Rez Dogs was my fave QT movie. But I think Django just took the top spot. And thank you! I really don't know why Basterds got so much acclaim.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. What's new in your life now? Are you going to share? Wondering that's all.

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  9. You have an interesting blog. I found you through www.booksflutterby.blogspot.com which I believe is your wife-to-be's blog. I recently joined hers and began commenting. I left a message for the two of you. I hope you take it as I meant. I don't know all, but I do know much. I've lived a full life. I've loved a full life. My advice comes from many years of experience. Peace and love to you.

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    1. @Farrah Sengupta: First of all, thank you for visiting my blog after commenting on Christy's. It's always nice when a little cross-pollination occurs. ;-)

      As you deduced, Christy is my brand new fiancée. And we're thrilled! The advice you offered to us on her blog was warm and wise, and most appreciated.

      I also invite you to follow my blog, if you're so inclined. Regardless, it's nice to see you here, @Farrah!

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    2. Thank you, Mr. Steven. You are very kind. I am glad you accepted my words with what I intended. I hope you and your beautiful Christy will read them again. There is something in them you are supposed to hear. They were placed on my heart for you.

      I will be back to visit your blog. Blessings and peace.

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  10. @Steven and @Christy. I envy you two. You're very lucky to have each other and have what you have. I'm happy for you both and hope life brings you all the happiness you could ever hope for and more.

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  11. @Steven you should write about what you and @Christy and I have been corresponding about. That would be a good topic for your blog.

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    1. @Sarah: Holy cow! I didn't even think of that. I've been trying to think of a new topic; what you've been going thru might be the ticket.

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    2. I think you should! It would make me feel like an insider if you did. :)

      I think the topic is interesting and I know there are a lot of other people out there who would think so too. And it sounds like you know women who are like what we've talked about. I won't blow up your blog with comments. :)

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    3. I have a topic that I'm probably going to go with first, then I'll do "you" (so to speak).

      And for the record: you can blow up my blog any time you want. That's what we're here for: to vent, blow up. There's no place else to do it, is there? You can't speak out against your parents or your friends (for the most part), or your co-workers, so a blog is PERFECT.

      Shout out, @Sarah!

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    4. LOL! Be careful what you say! I can blow up a blog pretty good. Ask @Farrah. :)

      I'm looking forward to reading your next topic AND the one I suggested. But mostly the one I suggested.

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