July Junque

Last day of June, and I've been rather lazy with my blog. Yesterday as I sat on the patio, I looked up and snapped this picture. I decided I would try to snap a daily photo and post it as July Junque.  The "que" classes up the word "junk".  I shall still post some movie reviews and whatever strikes me.

 Or we can just poke into a corner and see what pops out.

Sixty Years

Front row center at last week's family reunion - Joyce and LD Faries - married sixty years today.

two crazy kids

starry-eyed in ‘54

up and said “I do”

we don’t care if we’re poor 

rich in love

they forged ahead

raised a family

broke some bread 

years flew by

America went to the moon

LD & Joyce said

“p’shaw we are OVER  the moon” 

sixty years as a couple

brought laughter, tears, and joy

together they built memories

what’s the secret? Don’t be coy 

through good times and bad

look around, the answer is here

faith, trust, and commitment

family, friends, and good cheer 

you gotta laugh and forgive

root for Cowboys, for sure

the key for Joyce & LD

is a love that is pure

 

let’s celebrate the 60 years

reflect on the magic for goodness sake

we should all be in awe

now let’s eat some cake

 

Happy 60^th Anniversary

Movie Review Madness: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green has been a young adult fiction phenomenon. The movie version starring Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster and Ansel Elgort as Gus is a worthy film. It’s sharp, sad, plucky, gutsy, and the key to these teens’ lives is to not just be oblivion. They want to matter and they don’t want their cancer to define them. Yes, these kids have cancer. No, that’s not the point of the movie. The point is ultimately teen love, heart, and sheer living with every fiber.  

Shailene Woodley continues her streak of tremendous acting. She’s so smart and so real – her Hazel is snarky, wise, and a passionate girl who has lung issues that can kill her. Gus – so wise, full of soul, and yes, he’s darn cute – has a bone cancer that took his leg. But he’s strong and sees the glow of Hazel. My review is gushy because this is such a great movie. Lots of laugh out loud lines and moments. Even during some tough breathing times for Hazel, she’s spunky. That’s the key. While her mother (played by a very good Laura Dern) tells Hazel to make friends, it’s only out of concern. The mom wants Hazel to be sorta “normal”, and embraces Gus. He infuses Hazel with energy and indeed some normalcy.  

Hazel and Gus are obsessed with a book by a Peter Van Houten called The Imperial Affliction. It’s like a defining cancer fiction story. Gus uses his “make a wish” to take Hazel and her mother to the Netherlands to meet Van Houten. He (played by Willem Dafoe) is a total jerk, but that’s rather key to the movie. It strengthens the kids’ relationship and also defines the issue of living with cancer. They also visit the Anne Frank home and that’s very powerful as Hazel lugs her oxygen up a zillion teeny steps. 

All in all, the movie is a faithful rendition of the book. Bring tissues. I won’t say more about the plot. The Fault in Our Stars has depth, great acting, and lessons that don’t pound you over the head, but should be embraced.  See the movie, sniffle a bit, and then enjoy life, breathe deep, run, love, and avoid oblivion.

Summer: Sultry or Sulky and Soccer

First day of summer and it's sultry in Texas. We should be mid-90s today and humid.

The chance of sulky was very high this morning. I ran to Kohl's to check out their swimsuit sale. I realized this week that a few of the suits I had were revealing far more than necessary. I swim a lot and the pool just does its wear and tear. But I have to be in the right frame of mind to undergo the agony of trying on swimsuits. The potential for shrieking in the change room was very high. However - success. I found two suits that were modest, promised a "slimming effect", and they weren't hideous. Whew!

Today, June 21st, my mother would have been 82. She passed at age 60. I commented in an email to my father that it's hard to picture how she'd look, etc if she had lived. I figure she'd be even tinier, with her very neat wavy hair a silver white color. My father agreed that it's difficult to project - she's frozen in time for us.

She liked football - American. Not soccer football. World Cup is huge and I read a bit, but haven't watched it. Ray turns it on but tends to move on - he said he can't stand "the flopping about for fake injuries" and the "run here, run here, run pass, run pass, run pass and nothing seems to happen."

Guys I work with were commenting too - "Hey, it's a round ball. Every kid can kick it along. At least American football takes a funny bounce. Could be more interesting if they used a bowling ball." Ouch.

No respect, World Cup fans. No respect from we self-absorbed non-fans. Sorry

So, it's Sangria Saturday. Waiting on some friends to come for a pool float and visit. Snacks and sangria in flamingo glasses.

Summertime and the living is easy..........in my new swimsuit (I'm going with the black one today)

Wordless Wednesday, Torrid Thursday, and Fried Friday

Almost officially summer, but our Texas thermometer is pushing 100. Whew! The crepe myrtle is in full glory, the flamingo signals summer fun, and the moss rose brightens my day.

 Give me the splendid silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling - Walt Whitman  1865

Old Walt obviously did not sit and fry on my Texas patio.

Monday Motives

It was a bit of a morose Monday -  everyone was grouchy at work for no apparent reason. (then again, it was Monday - that is reason enough).

 I'm lacking inspiration in the blog department. I decided to open my Quotationary book and look to some quotes on motive. That could jump start some writing this week.

Give me virtuous actions, and I will not quibble ....about the motives - Lord Chesterfield  1748

Never ascribe to an opponent motives meaner than your own - J.M. Barrie 1922

Love draws me one way, and glory the other - Cervantes 1615

here's a goodie
A man always has two reasons for the things he does - a good one and the real one - J.P. Morgan

And of course, Oscar Wilde is the finale
Had it been merely vanity that had made him do his one good deed? Or the desire for a new sensation?....Or that passion to act a part that sometimes makes us do things finer than we are ourselves?   1891

One Day University

Need a break from the everyday? Like to learn new things but don’t want to commit to a full semester of classes? Want some enrichment without tests? Then One Day University is for you. I attended a session in early May and came home excited about new and old ideas. Various sessions expanded on today’s issues and offered a new dimension to current events. The professors were eager to teach to a full house (over 100 people in the ballroom. Most folks were age forty and up.  Comfy chairs provided at tables, along with a notebook and pen). In one hour they gave a mini-lecture on a subject and allowed time for some Q&A. There was no political agenda, and plenty of humor. Plus a very tasty lunch for purchase. Conversation and new friends were a bonus.  

Each session flew by, and as I left I’d chat with newfound friends. One lady came in for the weekend and took advantage of the Hyatt’s special rate of $99. She said, “I emerge from my Louisiana swampland and treat myself to some learning.” She was a hoot. This was her third year to attend.  

This was the May schedule:

Session 1    A. China, Russia, and India: the Rise of the Rest  Stephen Kotkin/Princeton University

                Or B.   The Future of Healthcare – Michael Sparer/Columbia University

 

Session 2:  A. Global Economy – Paul Bracken/Yale University  or B.  Abraham Lincoln: Fact from Fiction – Louis Masur/ Rutgers University 

Session 3:  A. Psychology of Money – Jeff Hancock/Cornell University or B. Darwin: What he Got Right and Wrong-Susan Lindee/ Univ. of PA 

Session 4:  A. Four Books Every Book Lover Should Read – Joseph Luzzi/Bard College  or B.  What we Know About the Universe- David Helfand/Columbia University 

Session 5:  A. Four Films That Changed America – Marc Lapadula/Yale University or  B. How to Listen to and Appreciate Great Music – Michael Alec Rose/ Vanderbilt University 

Whew – Tough choices but I went with  A, A, A, A, and finally B which was the best class of all. Professor Rose contrasted Beethoven, Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, and tied it up with some Disco tunes.  

So consider attending One Day University in the fall. Make a weekend out of it.   Saturday, September 20, 2014  9:30 am  - 4:30 pm in the Arts District – Winspear Opera House and Dallas City Performance Hall.  Details at www.onedayu.com      Upcoming subjects include Brain Science, Foreign Affairs, Machiavelli (History), Gershwin, Intuition Psychology, and more.  

“I am still learning”   Michelangelo 

Enjoy!