From time to time someone asks me (as, no doubt, they ask other writers) why I do it. Why, specifically, I write fiction as opposed to nonfiction. It really is hard to explain to those who seem tone-deaf to what we call Art. Sometimes it’s hard to explain to yourself. The short answer for me is that I love it. I love creating stories and weird stuff and making up plots, because I always loved stories. (When I was a kid, I’d watch movies in which a group of people are thrust into a really cool adventure and at some point one of them would talk about wanting to just go home and having everything return to normal. …
Month: November 2008
The Curmudgeon Speaks
The curmudgeon in repose observes the feckless maunderings of the primates in their dispeptic self-justifications. Christmas is coming. You can see it, feel it, sense it. Not only in the more pleasant garnishments appearing too early (and hopefully) in stores and streets, but in the renewed efforts of those who can’t get past their own distorted misapprehensions and so fling the feces of their discontent at the crowds.
A couple years ago I received one these from an anonymous source. It purports to be a letter from Ben Stein, based on a broadcast he did one Sunday on CBS. From the page you’ll see that it was added to, taken out of context, and corrupted. …
Rio Bravo
I had to go to Wal-Mart this past weekend. I know, I know, big box store, destructive of small town America, yadda-yadda. I hate them, but once a year we do a Wal-Mart run for all kinds of stuff that, frankly, just ain’t as cheap anywhere else—toilet paper, vitamins, tissue paper, day-to-day Stuff.
Usually I go with Donna. This time she was in Iowa and I did it solo.
Since I was there anyway, I browsed the big stack of remainder DVDs they always have and I went a little bonkers. I bought the first season of the original Robin Hood with Richard Greene. …
So It Begins
This is a charming little story.
Priest dumps all over his parishioners.
Now, I was never a Catholic, but I once considered marrying a Catholic girl and went through some of the obligatory classes at her church. We got to the part about promising to raise the children Catholic and I said no, that wouldn’t happen, and he (the priest) said then we couldn’t be married in the church and I said fine, then we’d continue living in sin and there wouldn’t be any children.
Kind of brought the whole relationship to a screeching halt, if you take my meaning. Probably the best thing for everyone concerned.…
Quotes
A few of these seem particularly poignant given current events.
…They say Mitterand has 100 lovers. One has AIDS but he doesn’t know which one. Bushg has 100 bodyguards. One is a terrorist, but he doesn’t know which one. Gorbachev has 100 economic advisers. One is smart, but he doesn’t know which one.          Mikhail Gorbachev, 1990
I’m Vanilli because Milli is in the White House. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ted Kennedy at a Christmas PArt, dressed as Milli Vanilli,1990
I believed in [Jim] Morrison’s incantation. Break on through.Â
Maybe We Will
I did not stay up for the speeches. I waited. I just now watched Obama’s acceptance speech.
Not a victory speech. An acceptance speech. There is a difference. He hasn’t really won anything. Yet.
I cannot remember the last time I felt a tingle run through me at the words of someone with a vision. I always listen with a salt shaker at hand. But my word, I felt it this time. I am cautious, but just maybe we will see something new.
To all those who have already declared themselves ready to oppose Obama and all he stands for, to the Limbaughs, the Ingrahams, and the Hannitys: you are small souls, stunted in imagination, and cynical in disposition. …
The Morning After
I didn’t sleep well last night. I do not usually watch the election night circus. Generally, I have an attitude of “It will be what it turns out to be” and either read a book or do some work, going to bed early. Last night I started watching, though.
I would never have believed how anxious I’d become over this. I really did harbor the sinking fear that McCain, somehow, would win. That the majority of my fellow citizens would actually vote another Republican into the White House, with all that such a move implied.
I couldn’t stand it. I saw that early lead, flipped from station to station, watched the South started rolling over for the Republicans once more, and just couldn’t stand to watch. …
A Few Thoughts On Election Day
This morning we got up at four so we had time to drink coffee, wake up, and get to the polls early. I thought the lines would be long and neither of us have patience for standing around waiting.
Our poll is within easy walking distance. Often, in local elections, we take Coffey, and she can get all enthused and friendly greeting people coming and going. Not this morning. We arrived at St. John’s Catholic Church and entered the basement of the school. Six others had beaten us there and they all sat on a pew outside the actual cafeteria space where the voting machines were still being set up and adjusted.…