esrosedotblog

ADOLESCENCE

Today's gayish film was André Techine's

Les Roseaux Sauvages / Wild Reeds (1994)

Sexual awakenings among a group of four young adults aimed mostly in the wrong directions, where no individual gets who s/he wants but manages to make a good friend and learn some important lessons. Ageless.

What is different here is that everything, including the gay kid, who is the one we are rooting for, gets out unscathed. More or less.La ronde.

The story is also against the backdrop of Algeria. Something that is still going on some 20-30 years later. And more.

A great job by this director in the beautiful countryside.

I included it here because of its gay theme which was treated very well for the time. But the French have never had the US odd attitude toward sexuality in general never mind the gay flavor.

I saw it before and it rated a 3 out of Netflix5.

But I did want to see it again so it was a false three. It should have been a 5 because I remembered it enough to go find it.

The DVD is titled.

Labels: gay films

NOSTALGIA PIECE

Today's gay film is a film made out of a play

Jeffrey (1995)

Because we were there it still rings some bells but so much has changed that while Paul Rudnick's good humor still works, the drama falls flat in today's environment. Things have moved so quickly.

Does anyone with HIV die? Yes. But today it is more a surprise than a plague with no relief.

We saw the play nearly 20 years ago in a small theater in Boston. The star, Jeffrey, was a friend's boyfriend. Quite a special experience that.

It is still funny if the story is a bit quaint. The issue of negative men dating positive men is still a bit of an issue. Less drama though as so much is now known.

Back then a 4, now a 3 out of Netflix5.

Labels: gay films

MERCHANTS

The mattress experience also presented a new world of department store buying.

Macy's.

It is a peerless service machine. Nice people. Good prices. Extreme followup, emails, guarantees. Even the delivery men were handsome! And we had the mattress less than 24 hours after we bought it.

I used to work for the Federated and Allied chains of big name stores. They did not own the stores per se but had an interest and provided services.

It was a place of desperate politics and backward management. A lot were family owned or the equivalent with second and third generation management.

The work was not difficult, the people were nice, but they were a slow motion train wreck and not getting any better.

I quit on them as a customer.

But this is a new thing. It is no wonder that Macy's came out on top.

In this case, at least, big is better. Obviously it is well managed.

But more, they are true merchants. When I worked for the stores, the merchants were king and then they were not.

The numbers guys came in. The big box guys came in. The first in first out inventory came in. The just on time delivery.

The link between the people who bought the stuff and the customer was lost.

Sure, there were some dumb parts to the old merchant system. The liberal returns policy and so on.

But you go to the boxes or any of the other new retail places and there is no merchandising at the consumer level. It is all take it or leave it. Not Macy's.

I will go back.

Labels: business, culture, management, shopping

LYING DOWN II

The mattress got delivered this morning and I was on it taking a nap within the first hour.

It works fine. And looks great.

A realization occurred to me today. An insight that had almost passed by me.

We went into a big Macy's yesterday, two men, and went to the mattress department where we both got on six beds (three models, each or "plush") and then did it again and then went back and forth. One of us on. Two of us on. The other off. A great saleswoman following us around bantering. Other salespeople going past asking if they could help us.

Not one blink about the gay angle. None. And if there had been, while we would have continued as if it had not, we would know it in a nano-second. We have spent our lives learning when we are getting the homo reaction.

Now, the department store is not the most hetero place. We have long worked in that field and own much of the many of the management positions but that means nothing. In fact, some of the gayest places, owned and operated are the most closeted and homophobic.

But there we were doing our thing. Let me tell you that twenty years ago we would not have done it this way. One would go pick out the one he wanted and then the other would go in and consider the field work. One might pay up.

Actually we wouldn't be doing that as we have been extremely out for a long time. But we wouldn't be doing with quite the elan. We would have had an eye out for some kind of trouble.

Ten years ago, a couple might go together but not heedlessly romp around on the beds together.

We have come a looooooong way.

It is funny. There was a guy there alone checking things out. He didn't even want to bring his lady wife with him. And I bet they would not have gone onto the bed at the same time and cuddle up. We did.

Labels: culture, gay liberation, gay life

FANTASMAGORIA

Today's gay favorite film was Todd Haynes

The Velvet Goldmine (1998)

A post modern musical! Featuring the music of the David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust period.

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale and Toni Collette.

A swirl of songs, some real, some original. A framework like Citizen Kane. Bisexual romping. A surrealist story that feels like a high. They tell you to turn the sound up as high as it goes. High.

McGregor is a power house as an American rival to the glam rock Rhys-Meyers.

Hard to know where you are in it. Intentionally so.

And respects the audience.

I know nothing about glam rock really but it didn't seem to matter.

I saw it once long ago and did't much like it, but this time I was more engaged and enjoyed myself more. I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5. It was a NYTimes Critics' Pick.

Labels: gay film

PERRY GIGGLE

Straight off the press.

“Every barrel of oil that comes out of those sands in Canada is a barrel of oil that we don’t have to buy from a foreign source,” Mr. Perry said in Clarinda, earning a loud round of enthusiastic applause.

I can't imagine why the Republicans aren't rallying around this guy. He's perfect for them........Hunter at Daily Kos.

Labels: Republican primary, republican whack jobs

TAKE IT LYING DOWN

Today's "movie" was a 90 minute trip to Macy's in Palm Desert to make the final decision on a new mattress.

Our "old" mattress is 16 year's old. 6 years over the guarantee.

John had prepped for it. Our options were narrowed by the fact that we have a bed with wood slots. Our old bed was slatted too. European beds.

So we came down to just a few options. No inner spring needed.

Simmons Beauty Rest. Separate coils. We took the just a but softer than firm.

Ten year guarantee. We looked at a 20 year warranty bed which was pretty nice but I will be 95 when it runs out.

We are beginning to hit things which we don't need so much because we will be dead. Or, in the case of a bed, probably in need of an oldster model. Adjustable with straps to tie me down. Two of them. The adjustable don't come in king size. California King.

I don't know but it was almost a thousand dollars more for the 20 year.

We had a nice low pressure saleslady. The pressure was there but nicely applied. You could feel it but her sales skills were all soft landing. It was mattresses after all.

And we get it tomorrow. A small opening in the schedule and we took it. First thing in the morning.

This all started because we thought Booker was straining a bit to jump up on the old one. But we have only lost two inches for him,

Do you remember when we wouldn't let him get up there? Poor Franklin. He was a no big bed dog. But he never wanted to go in it so he didn't.

We also bought a warranty which protects against water damage. There is a cover applied when we get the bed which is impervious. Not plastic. You can pour a pitcher of water on it and it won't go in.

I just hate shopping. And of course Macy's is in a huge mall and of course there were thousands of people there, it being the holiday week. School is out and everyone else. But the bed department was very peaceful. Only one other guy.

John had done footwork so we didn't have to spend a long time. But we did lie down on everything and spend time on the firm versus the plush. Not a lot of difference but you could feel it. We got the plush. I thought of my old chiropractor and told John that the red alert bell must be going off in her office right now. But she is in Cambridge MA and can't touch me.

ASS.ENTION

UPDATE

This has been pulled. I am sorry you can't see it.

During the Hallelujah Chorus, costumed choristers face de' Lawd all fancy and nice in white and as the Hallelues commence, they start to hoist him up by a harness strap device. We know this because, as he rises, he begins to revolve and we see his back and ass strapped into the gear.

Aware of this and also uncomfortable, faux jesus tries to adjust his undergarments which are now creeping into his ass crack which, of course, makes him revolve even more. For some reason he is just in his underdrawers. I guess they had the poor bastard hanging on a cross in jesus garb and now we are all getting the rear view with gestures.

It was impossible to watch this without getting the hysterics. At least for me. But I am a cruel sonofabitch and love to see people, especially the pious put in an embarrassing spot. Call me sacrilegious.

Labels: fun

BLOGGING BLACK HOLE

I don't seem to be able to get back to the blogging what with the holiday and all.

Distracted.

Or a block.

We had a good weekend. Nothing to report.

Small stuff.

Now the holiday seems to be extending itself. Nothing to do but everything to do.

To break the tedium we are going tomorrow to buy a new mattress.

John did recon and, as it turns out, there are only two mattresses, good ones, that work on a wood slat bed as we have. California king. Which narrows it down further.

I imagine there will be something to blog about there.

It is also a fallow week for political stuff. Vacations.

Flatline.

Take a break yourself.

Labels: blogging

COMPENDIUM

Today's favorite gay film was

The Celluloid Closet (1995)

This documentary was based on Vito Russo's book of the same name. It shows the history of gay film through clips and narration.

One of Edison's first sound movie demonstrations shows a violinist and two guys from the workshop dancing together. And they are serious.

The film shows the early openly gay scenes, the evolution of the movie sissy, the turning to gay villains, the requisite gay death and so on. As society changed, Hollywood, always behind, changed as well.

The film cannot show us the expansion of gay film to include very high concept films with gay heroes and the climate if acceptance that has grown up since 1995. But some of the more negative shit still remains. Now, we have organizations who catch and point out the nasty stuff but it still appears just as the faggot epithet exists in an otherwise evolving culture.

Worth seeing even if outdated. It is time for a CC II.

A 3 out of Netfix5.

Labels: gay films

THIRD WHEEL

Today's gay film was

Redwoods (2009)

There is nothing about this story that is gay. Except the great actors. It is a conventional grand affair in the middle of a marriage film. They have been making these for years for "the straights".

Which is not a criticism. I rather enjoyed seeing this story done with men with the straight woman sidekicks having all advice and concerns and all. There is an approving sibling, "enjoy yourself", who is also male.

The film is located in, well, the redwoods of Californian around the Russian River. A gay resort.

The home town hero is an accountant in a presently joyless marriage and the lone rider from out of town is a free spirit. No spoilers here. You will have to see it for yourself.

I did like that the melodrama is practically non-existent and that the solutions arrived at are good for everyone.

I have seen this before when it came out. It is one of the pretty good movies churned out for a gay audience from TLA. Low budget but not in a noticeable way and very well done.

We are a niche! Our own films! Next thing you know all of us we will be able to serve in the military and even get married.

Would a straight person enjoy this movie? Well, yes. But the love scenes have no tits.

I will give this one a 3 out of Netflix5. Had it not been on the best list I would not have rented it again.

Labels: gay films

MOM

Today's gay film was one we enjoyed before:

Le Fil / The String (2009)

Sadly this wonderful little gay film went straight (!) to DVD. At least we get to see it here.

A son returns to be with his recently widowed mother in Tunis. He is an architect. He falls in love with the handy man who his mom has hired. Conveniently, the handyman has had the same reaction. They fall in love. Mom does not like it. They resolve it with some good serious plot. It is deeply satisfying in a fairy tale kind of way.

The string is the mother's possessiveness towards the son and his willingness to let her manipulate him. From time to time in the story we see the string that he has wound around himself. The snipping of the string is a great moment.

I enjoyed this a lot and seeing it again was as delicious as the first time.

It doesn't hurt that everyone is very good looking but not that good looking.

And we have the "mature" Claudia Cardinale as mom. She is terrific.

Labels: gay films

SANTA

There must be some old holiday juice in me yet.

I am tuned to NORAD to follow the Norad Santa fly around the world. I have done this forever. There are a lot of improvements to this site but it is still the same old idea. It gets most exciting when he gets close to our door. WE are gong to bed early.

NORAD Santa 2011

Labels: holidays

12/24-74

It has been a busy time but not much because of the holidays.

Tuesday was my very last MIT interview. I got on request after the 10th which is the last day they can do it. She said she had it ready but never hit the send key. But, late is late.

My last interview was not the best but it is not the worst. Done. They are not there to entertain me.

Then there is a haze in which I saw a movie and something else, meetings with some friends, and a LOT of letter writing. A lot of pelple back east sending greetings more personal than a card.

Yesterday, everything ground to a halt for John's birthday. And shopping and house cleaning.

A friend of his and the partner invited us for afternoon tea. Plug in here all the usual foot dragging and wishing it would snow or something. But I got the idea to make it a stop on the afternoon dog walk and so that is what we did.

It was really a tea party. I have never ever been to one. Don't like the stuff. So I asked for a diet Coke.

That was sort of a downer for them I suppose. But I really didn't want the tea. There were small sandwiches. Cucumber. Smoked salmon. And then the biggest fucking carrot cake you ever saw for his birthday cake.

I felt a little pre-empted here in that we were going to have a turkey dinner and a small cake at home less than three hours later.

More awkward stuff. All mine, they were doing fine. It was said that carrot was a cake I liked. Well, sort of. I didn't have any. So far 0 for 3.

I made the exit I had planned although the timing was off a bit. I planned to tell them Booker had to go poop and, true to the party, he went out back and did it right as I was announcing our exit. Pre-empted again.

But I marched right through that and left anyway. My other exit plan was that I had to cook dinner. Which is sort of true in a warmup the frozen turkey kind of way.

I think it all ended up OK. It was good that I went without whining. No one noticed that they were having a tea party and I was not.

And it was over rather quickly. An easy half hour.

I think that the holiday is finally de-sentimentalized for us. It is the Eve. We may go look at lights which gets old in less than half an hour.

Tomorrow: Stollen. That is it. I am roasting a three rib standing rib and making over roast potatoes. That is it. No mince pie. We never ate more than a small wedge of it.

Oh! The 74 part of the title. Our probable temperature all next week. Very nice. And there is some show out the back window up there 12,000 feet on San Gorgonio. Most of the other snow spots are bare.

That is it from here. Have a good (de-sentimentalized) holiday yourself.

Ahhhh. Quiet.

Labels: holiday

AMIS

Todays gay fest film is by Zabou Breitman.

L'homme de sa vie / The Man of My Life (2006)

This unconventional film shows the forces of love as they play across the growing friendship or two men, one straight, one gay and their families.

Close neighbors on vacation in the country, running together, spending long evening bull sessions, the men bond in a unique way that causes some serious problems for the married and the gay man.

This is a lovely gentle film with beautiful photography and a unique structure and editing. Magnificently played.

I liked it very much and could see so much from my own life in it. And not just the gay parts.

This is a 5 We never heard of it before.

Labels: gay films

THREESOME

Today's gayfest film was Ang Lee's

The Wedding Banquet (1993)

Gay films often use the farce template in which a gay couple is about to be visited by out of town parents, who haven't a clue they are gay. The gay guys decide to hide who they are.

How they do this and how they resolve it is the story of the film. We will probably see five more films that have this premise.

Ang Lee chose to use a different approach. He has toughened it up from farce to a serious multiple culture clash. But a funny clash.

Lee never wavers in staying on track and keeping all the circumstances in working order.

The wedding banquet in question is a great piece of major league comedy.

Everything eventually falls into place as expected but the real deal in this film are the terrific performances of all the cast. One pleasure is that the stereotypes, all of them, Asian, gay and so on are dispensed with and, while it is a unique set of issues, they are all very human ones.

This was Lee's first American film and was rather successful. The beginning of a long list of great films here.

We saw it before and it got a five the first time which means it is still a five out of Netflix5.

Labels: gay films

DARKEST MOMENT

Today at some time I can't figure out from the Universal Time (let me look on the converter).

YIKES

It was last night

21:20:00 Wednesday December 21, 2011 in America/Los_Angeles.

Anyway.

Here is woman made version of Stonehenge from APOD.

Explanation: Today the Sun stands still at 05:30 UT. Halting its steady march toward southern declinations and begining its annual journey north, the event is known as a solstice. In the northern hemisphere December's solstice marks the astronomical start of winter. And if you're in the Great Basin Desert outside of Lucin, Utah, USA, near solstice dates you can watch the Sun rise and set through Sun Tunnels. A monumental earthwork by artist Nancy Holt, the Sun Tunnels are constructed of four 9 foot diameter cast concrete pipes each 18 feet long. The tunnels are arranged in a wide X to achieve the solstitial sunset and sunrise alignments. In this dramatic snapshot through a Sun Tunnel the Sun is just on the horizon. The cold, cloudy sunset was near the 2010 winter solstice. During daylight hours, holes in the sides of the pipes project spots of sunlight on their interior walls, forming a map of the principal stars in the constellations Draco, Perseus, Columba, and Capricorn. Fans of planet earthworks and celestial landart should note that the Sun Tunnels are about 150 miles by car from Robert Smithson's (Holt's late husband) Spiral Jetty.

Labels: APOD, seasons

BIG GAY HISTORIC DAY

Labels: gay military, gay rights

POLYMORPHOUS

With a nod to the bi, lesbian and straight "communities" (where are those communities anyway), the Top Fifty Favorite Gay Films (TFFGF) begins with Gregg Araki's

Kaboom (2010)

starring Thomas Dekker and Haley Bennett.

This is a wild ride combo college comedy, sex farce, horror flick, apocalyptic thriller and more.

The funny thing is that Araki is able to do this mix and keep things moving so rapidly you can't be bored or even confused.

I am very fond of Araki's films and this is the latest, not in the poll on which this run of films is based. I pulled it out of the bin and it ended up right up front.

Great!!

There will be other Araki films in the fest.

I would give it a 4 out of Netflix5 as I would gladly see it again.

Labels: best films, gay films

BIZZZZ BIZZY NO BLOGGING

A long meeting this morning, a plethora of phone calls and difficult MIT interview writeup took up most of the day.

And shopping at the grocery.

More tomorrow and the beginning of the gay favorite gay film film festival. About 75 gay themed films, not one of them pornographic. Maybe silly or superficial but not dirty.

They originated with a survey of the 50 most popular gay themed films among gay people.

As time went on, I added films not on the list which I knew to be favorites of the two gay men in this house. Enough to win a coveted place on the best list.

Labels: films, gay culture

THE LAST PICTURE SHOW

I grew up with various socialist despots. The cults of personality. North Korea is the last one.

Father and son and now what?

For now, mass hysteria.

Some of these images are amazing. More in one place than I have ever seen before.

Labels: dictatorships

MIT TWICE

This is new.

M.I.T. Expands Its Free Online Courses

This is a big deal.

The Institute has been offering on line course materials for quite awhile.

OpenCourseWare.

Over 100,000,000 people (astounding) have used it. Free.

Now they are adding or adopting a new platform which will provide for lab work, sharing with others and a certificate at the end. Not a degree.

There are two parallel developments. The courses and the platform are both in development and will grow along with the "student body".

No one else, as far as I know, is doing this. The closest thing is the Stamford High School program which is a closed system and offers a degree. It is also paid for. I have interviewed two kids who are graduating from the program. The key thing in MIT and the high school program is the interaction between students face to face on line and, in the Stamford case, even field trip options to promote student interaction.

MIT released the status of "early admits" today. There are three possible outcomes to the early admit program: admission, not admitted, and deferral or back into the pool.

In my area there were no "admits". There were some "not admits", none of mine who were interviewed were in that category. All of the kids I interviewed, were deferred

Deferral is weird. They go into the pool of applicants who will apply before the end of 2011. A week and a half. It is said that they have the same odds as those kids.

The thing is that they have already not been admitted. They point out that it is a more discriminatory decision and only the best of the best are admitted as early admits. But something doesn't ring true about the odds here. I didn't do that well with statistics when I was there but I think that deferral mostly means the deferral of the "not admitted" decision. If anyone can explain all this early admit thing to me I would be happy to listen. But I wouldn't try to do it.

I think that a deferral IS with prejudice even if it is only statistical. I would cut and run to my second choice of school. Most of the kids I have talked to applied for early action at all the schools they applied to.

Labels: MIT

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

The party last night did me in.

It wasn't very successful for me I am afraid.

The first three people I met, including one of the hosts greeted me with "I didn't think you would come" without John.

Not, "Oh, We didn't expect to see you, how nice that you came."

Then some people needed to go over how the guy we sold to is an asshole and his dogs keep barking and all of that. I offered to buy the house back.

A few, more familiar to me as I dog walked, didn't really know who I was.

I can't say that I blame them. I have never been one to seek to make an indelible social impression. It doesn't help that I always left this particular party after about half an hour.

I also have to admit there were a few people I didn't remember either.

I think we have passed the sell-by date of our Mesa neighborhood relationships. Some also were gone and not likely to reappear in our lives. Moved, not attending these functions themselves or, this year, dead.

I do not blame. I accept the situation.

Then today, an interview which was a really nice one. Again, toward the end of the line (only one more kid Tuesday), I am having "good luck".

This guy was different in a nice way. He is a genuine jock, rare among MIT prospects.

He is also a long time volunteer worker with Mexican victims of the Mexicali earthquake two years ago.

I have had a couple of others. The government did little or nothing for poor people. These kids are doing the job and even after two years are still helping reconstruct.

He also works with deported Mexican workers who had no plans to be picked up one day and sent to Mexicali (people in our part of the desert, this side of the mountains).

One problem is that the people deported are not all Mexican but nationalities from all over Central and South America. They will be serially exported from each country until they get to their own. Very sad.

So he is good kid and has a great personality.

I was sorry when the interview ended. I often am.

Then there are about two hours to write it up. And then other stuff as I am the only Dad on site today and tomorrow morning.

It is 650 and I am done done.

Labels: gay life, MIT, Party

FESTIVE

John is in San Jose this weekend visiting his friends. Booker and I are at home.

But, tonight is the annual holiday party at Tom and Dan's.

Usually we go together and I slip out when I can't stand it anymore. About 20-30 monutes.

John stays and I go later and pick him up.

It is partly, the part I like, old neighbors who we left a year and a half ago.

So, I will go alone. I thought about not going but not going is a no go. I really would like a few minutes, only, with some of the people who are likely to be there. And I won't have to cook or microwave for myself.

So, off to the party.

Labels: holidays

FAMILY AFFAIR

Today's film was Mike Leigh's

Another Year (2010)

A NYTimes Critics' Choice.

A mid life couple with a great marriage live their lives with their son and others who they help get through difficulties that they have not seen for themselves. Because they have sad "yes" to life and their ability to be even tough love friends to others close to them, they grow in their own lives.

The acting is wonderful. I would always go to see a Jim Broadbent film or a Mike Leigh film. So. Both treats in one gem of a movie.

The central character in this film is the friend who has missed out on happiness. The progression of her life during the year, or rather the regression is difficult to watch as nothing can be done for her in the end.

The ensemble acting is wonderful. Some tears will be shed, laughs will bubble and you will get to participate in the bittersweet experience of being another friend of these people.

I will want to see this again. A Mike Leigh fest. That makes this a 5 out of Netflix5.

Labels: films

THE HITCH

I am sorry for his death and suffering but I cannot say that will join the gang of admirers mourning Christopher Hitchens. I feel like Kevin Drum only more so.

The Other Christopher Hitchens

I thought he was a mean motherfucker and covered most of his vitriolic attacks, always attacks, with a kind of word magic that, in its misdirection from logic, made him compelling but, somehow, loathsome.

I read his "not god" book and felt a bit like finding some christians and getting together with them as a kind of antidote to the nastiness of his message.

I know a lot of people loved to watch the show but it was a grisly kind of take down including a lot of eye gouging and kicks to the balls. Entertaining to some but not to me.

I hear that he was a great friend to many but I never picked up on any of that.

And he would not give a shit what I thought.

When I heard of his death I fantasized what it would be like if he ended up, over there, a kind of heaven, the kind that he found so foolish to believe. I suppose he would launch an attack on the angelic band. Or something. But I would not want to watch it.

He made no attempt to hide his alcoholism which is a good thing as far as it goes. I have met some really mean drunks and I stay away from them.

Labels: culture

HEDGING YOUR BETS

It is a little buggy but if you stay with it, you will be rewarded.

Labels: fun, holidays

REALITY

Today's film was

The Stunt Man (2008)

with Peter O'Toole, Steve Ralisback! and Barbara Hershey

We saw this when it came out and a while ago I decided that it was time to see it again. I had remembered certain scenes for all those years.

It is a movie about a movie making.

The focus is an on-the-lam war veteran who finds himself on a film set and gets signed up by the director as a stunt man. He falls in love with the star of the film. And away we go.

That is it.

All the rest of the movie is made up by the relationship between the director and the two lovers. And the making of the film. And the stunts that the guys do. And some flip flops in the story line.

All suspenseful fun.

Railsback is great! And O'Toole plays O'Toole.

I have seen it twice now and that makes it a five out of Netflixfive.

Labels: films

BACK IN BUSINESS

I guess you can tell that my new DVD player arrived and ran today's film flawlessly. Yay!!

Labels: computer, films

BOTTOM FEEDERS

Today's film was the Argentinian drama

Carancho (2010)

which means vultures.

A crooked ex-lawyer who works accident insurance scams for a crime syndicate meets an addict doctor who works the ambulance shifts. Attraction leads to, well, a lot of shit which eventually flies back at them.

Starring are Ricardo Darin, who I have seen many times, and Martina Gusman, ditto, as Argentina has a thriving film industry with many prizes and world wide exports. These two perform an deadly dance together. Trouble ensues as each try to mend their ways.

There is a lot of violence in this film and it is still thoroughly riveting.

I would not mind seeing it again. A 4 out of Netflix5.

Labels: films

SHORN

We have about 50 jacaranda trees in our condo complex. About one tree for three condos.

That is a lot of jacaranda.

They have been pruning them and finally reached our little pocket of the neighborhood.

It is a pretty radical operation. every branch is cut off the large trunk which heads at about ten feet or so.

Since the tree grows from this "branch head" and produces upright branches, the trees need to be dead headed from time to time and allowed to grow back otherwise the vigor will go into the large number of branches with less of the beautiful flowers.

I do not know if we will get flowering on the new branches this year.

Until we do, there will be a large stump out there in front.

Oddly, the bare trunks are not bad looking. They have a certain rough grace to them.

Incidentally, if you want a jacaranda in your yard, think twice. The blooms are gorgeous and have a lovely smell on the tree but on the ground the blooms become sort of mushy and almost impossible to clean up.

On concrete, they leave a purple dye.

The best place for a jacaranda is across the street on your neighbor's yard where you can see it in its blossomy glory and never do a lick of work cleaning up after it.

Labels: gardening

FACE OFF

I have blogged about my aversion to "facebook", small f.

I knew I was not alone.

The Facebook Resisters

My heart is warmed by this article as many people, young and old, have resigned from the thing or have never considered "joining".

In my own case, it is highly predictable that I would not want to be part of it.

I am an introvert. I never wanted to be in a fraternity, (as my business partner Alex once explained my counter-dependent behavior). I am not interested in social groups on the ground, face to face, let alone electronic.

When friends gush about their experiences on FB, I am inclined to shudder.

I also don't trust it. I don't believe for a minute any of the assurances that they are keeping stuff private. I think they are selling or will sell everything they get.

Moreover, I am offended by any social pressure to sign up. There I am talking "live" with someone and they are saying I should be available on Facebook. What? This face to face isn't enjoyable? OK? Fulfilling?

And you can't get out of it without some major computer gymnastics. John had an account for his book and shut his membership down entirely. Too many lost relatives and friends or people he didn't know at all. Not a book sold.

He says it took over an hour with an expert computer whiz to do the job. Then he had to deal with followup messages which had to be confirmed.

This is just the kind of shit I anticipate from a "social network".

I never joined and never will.

I will not go on and on but this is surely what my old friend Norman back east, used to call "the wreckage of America". The loss of social cohesion under the guise of social enhancement. Alienation. Anomie.

Labels: internet

RICKED

Full screen a must and you will probably have to view it a couple of times. But it is worth it.

Labels: republican whack jobs

SHOOTING FROM THE LIP

Labels: republican whack jobs

TAKE A POWDER

We had some heavy rain yesterday, mostly on the mountains and, since it is also cold, a lot of that rain came down as snow. There is now a ten foot pack in many places. Dry powder.

the view from down here is extraordinary. We have not had a lot of snow the last few years and now we are back on track.

The best and deepest is to the north on and about Mount San Gorgonio.

Less to the west in Mt. San Jacinto. Where we would go to see some of it.

But not today. You have to have chains in Idyllwild. Otherwise your auto will be impounded,

This is probably the last remarkable time for the snow. It will last now through March at least.

One year we hiked to snow on Jacinto in May. At the very tippy top you could crawl to the top and not have to scramble over the big boulders. Then, slide down on your ass.

Actually we are exposed to more snow here than we ever were back east. The only difference is that, here, it is optional.

Labels: desert, weather

STOP GO STOP GO AND SO ON

Labels: films

NONES

Here we are at one of the "religious" (or not) times of the year asking the same questions about God. And religion. And politics in religion and religion in politics. The alleged "war" on christmas which, it is interesting to note, is no longer the subject of public discussion. Here is what stimulated my thinking today. We have been down this road before.

Americans and God

The writer enters the perilous waters of religion versus god. In which he conflates religion and spirituality. I guess that is what he calls "god".

A "none" is someone who does not have a religion. I would qualify for that.

But I would have to say that I do believe in a personal Higher Power who is with me every day. This minute, now.

Wow. More confusion. If god is religion then I don't have a god but if religion is just a way of seeing god then maybe that will do. But I still don't have one.

I do agree with him that the almost complete integration of church and state has roiled the waters to such an extent that we must start over again.

Actually, I think that is going on already and has been for a very long time. Faith is fungible. It exists outside organization. It is portable. I had it when I was a little kid and, actually, I still have the same faith. He just hasn't tried that other road.

I sounds as though he got sick, got scared and went to church and he got something that was alien to him and didn't help him out of his what? Depression? Fear? Worry" Alienation?

Shit, I could have shown him dozens of places he could have gone. Unorganized, often pagan, practices and procedures and even communities that would pull him up and out to a higher plane.

A church is, more often than not, the last place you can deal with these things. There are exceptions but they are hard to find or spot.

Why? Because you have to also sign up with a system or belief and pay some money and join something and relate to an interpreter of the religion and, as he points out, probably sign up for some political philosophy or other.

So complex when meditation is only a step away. So simple.

Anyway, even if you don't believe in Mary and Joseph and the little baby Jesus and the rest of it, it is worth thinking about. God. The universe. How to find a serene happy life, All that.

I like the idea of finding a new Steve Jobs to start a new religion. Steve Jobs already had done that. Read the book. Did it make him a nicer guy? I think so. He had it inside himself where the higher power lives for everybody.

Others may differ. That's is the point! Otherwise it is more politics.

Labels: spiritual life

THE LAST PICTURE SHOW

Well, that is a little dramatic. Only a short blackout.

For the last week or two my DVD drive in the computer has been turning down a much too high percentage of DVD's. This has actually been happening a long time. Maybe rejecting, continuously, 1 out of 20 discs. Sometimes it has been apparent that it had some reason to do this. A big scratch or a chafe mark on the disc.

But now, there is no way there can be damage and so I finally tested two rejects in John's computer and his machine swallowed each without a gulp.

Mine makes a small grinding noise.

So I have ordered an outboard DVD drive which will give my machine the equivalent of a transplant.

A Samsung USB 2.0 External Optical Drive SE-S084D/TSBS (Gloss Black)

It powers off the machine. Wow. I have three USB ports available plus one in a hub. All checks out.

It will arrive later in the week. I couldn't bring myself to pay the extra one or two day delivery. I will get by. In the meantime, a viewing vacation.

Labels: computer, films

NATURE

Sometimes, occasionally, we get to see a miracle of nature.

Of course I live in a beautiful place. The mountain(s), the desert, all that. And I am in awe.

But today, just in a small pocket of time, we were granted a look into something other, a world we don't really understand. Nature in the raw.

We went on our Sunday threesome walk today. The standard one that ends, on its third leg, with a walk through a huge golf course. Hardly natural but still very nice.

As we turned the corner we saw geese. Then more geese, and after that a lot of geese. They covered the links from one end to the other.

Some were at rest. Others strutted along looking for what? In the grass. Bugs maybe.

Still others seemed to be talking with one another in small groups.

Clearly these were the wild geese. On their way for the winter. And they stopped here overnight or longer for a rest and a feed.

The few that live on the courses here do not have the wild duck charisma. A wave of energy passed over these guys. Beautiful.

And then, all that I knew about geese and their flight began to cross my mind. As though they were telling their story, a hard one, and I was listening. Some of what I heard I had never heard or felt before. A visceral knowledge.

John and I talked a bit about whether they know where they are.

I know that they do.

Not in the "I am here in Palm Springs having a great time, wish you were here" sense. But more that they are grounded where they are supposed to be right now and when it is time, they will know that they are to lift off for the next place and they will know where they are in that place. Just as they are supposed to.

I don't mean to make a big thing out of this but it is, in its own way, an awesome thing that they just know. A great wisdom.

And that this wisdom is in the flock. No one bird knows the whole thing but collectively they are of a mind that has transversed centuries of their coming and going.

If I can sit with that and ponder for just a little while that this world takes care of itself. Their world, my world. All I need to do is be where I am and then I will know where I am to go next. Others of me will tell me. It will arise within my self.

And so on.

Infinity approaches.

Well, enough of that. Back to normal life! (rim shot and out).

Labels: nature

INTERVIEW DAY

We are coming down to the wire with the MIT applicant interviews.

I had one today and two more next weekend. Then that is it for the year.

I won't get any more requests because the gate closed on the tenth.

Meanwhile, I am glad to be finishing up.

It is always a surprise. Who will it be? What will be their story?

Today's interview was very good. I am getting end loaded with the better ones. Sorry to be so judgmental but it is difficult to work with a kid who really doesn't know how to work it. Passive. Or misinformed about the purpose of what we are doing.

I was surprised to learn today that Harvard does not do interviews in Riverside County. One has to go to San Diego. Quite a drive.

Actually, today's interviewee had to drive here from Imperial which is right over the Border. Two hours to PS. SD would be three.

But it is worth it, right? And I don't have to do it.

I cover a huge swath of real estate. Eastern Riverside and all of Imperial County. I could be bragging about the size but the fact is that almost all of that is open desert and mountains.

Oh. The photo is from my dorm, the Senior House. No seniors, actually. Decorated for Christmas way back when. Or, it could be, last week. It is still there as a dorm and looks exactly the same. The interiors were redone in the last few years.

Yes that is a tire swing in front. MIT.

Labels: MIT

TYRANTS EXPLAINED

Here is the key or explanation of the NYTimes villain films. See below.

Vamps Crooks and Killers - slide show.

We thought that the villains were from classic films but no.

We thought Napoleon but didn't know the film. It is Captain Bligh. A film. MOTB.

I thought that one of them was Carrie, the one with the fire. No. it is about the siren. I don't really get it.

The invisible man is a movie and so is Bonny of Bonny and Clyde. And so on. Some are just generic villains. We thought J Edgar Hoover and it is just, well a big "just", Wall Street.

So, a hash and not nearly as clever as we wanted to make it. And in that realm not very good.

But in the realm of great little film gems, they are quite good whether you understand the deal or not. The vignettes are very well produced and fun to watch.

And fuck them, the Brad Pitt guy is Eraserhead for sure. This is the main confuser of the premise. The sound track is Eraserhead and so are the mannerisms.

Actually, now that I think about it, I am sorry I put the thing up in the first place.

Labels: not fun

TAYLOR MADE

Today's film is an old favorite.

Paul Taylor: Dance Maker (1999)

This is the best dance-doc I have ever encountered.

Taylor is a genius with a life experience that makes his choreography surge with life.

In this general profile, we see Taylor build a ballet out of air. And a few dancers. And some historical footage that helps tell about the heart and soul of his work by showing not telling. Too much.

There are no words to capture the visuals. They must be seen. The opening scenes are from the side of the stage as dancers pop out of the curtains and into the dance then out again, desperately breathless.

we get a taste of dance on the road. The sound goes off at one point. Eeeek.

Very well made. Very good. A five out of Netflixfive.

Labels: films

VILLANY

This is wonderful. I didn't know who everyone was either the actors or the villains but I loved everything and when they hit something or someone I knew, it was a delicious moment.

Touch of Evil

I knew the first one. Brad Pitt and Eraserhead.

Labels: films

RICK THE DICK

Labels: republican whack jobs

WRITTEN OUT

I have spent most of the day responding to long emails. I let the IN box get ahead of me.

I like writing. The blog takes up a good percentage of my writing activity and I also have several friends with whom I exchange long "letters". These are people who I have been in touch for a very long time.

So I try to keep it up. And sometimes, if I am also writing reports on MIT applicants, writing an extensive diary for my Program work and doing the blog, I have been getting writ out.

The MIT gig is over at the end of December, same with my diary work. So I am seeing the end of the tunnel. I think that it is light out there.

In the meantime, the regular stuff, blog and email, are going begging some days. Sorry. I will be back on track soon.

Labels: blogging

HERO

Harry Morgan made 96 and left the world with a lot of people happy that he could stay so long with us.

Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter on ‘M*A*S*H,’ Dies at 96

Pneumonia. The old man's (and woman's) friend.

I first remember the voice and then caught onto the twinkly eyes. I believe that, more than most, he projected himself through the character in indirect ways. Always humor and cynicism and, eventually, affection were his stock and trade.

I think that first sight was on a cowboy movie or tv show. He didn't look all that cowboy really. He would play the town's mayor, often humorously and subtly evil, or maybe the storekeeper who got some backbone and saved the day. Maybe he would be the ranch owner but I don't think that role suited him. He didn't really look like a confirmed cattle trader.

Then there was the second incarnation of Dragnet he filled the unfillable shoes of Ben Alexander who had been Jack Webb's partner in the first go around.

Most memorable in M.A.S.H. Perfect.

I always looked for him. He was always there.

God, I hope that he was as nice in real life as I thought he was in the movies. And if not, I will pretend that he was. And happy with his life as one of the all time best character actors.

Labels: heroes

HAIR TODAY GONE TOMORROW

I just had my hair cut. Actually, I went to a salon with a guy who styles hair. But he didn't style mine. It looks the same.

I haven't been to a stylist in maybe twenty years. Sometime, somewhere in Boston, long ago. And far away.

I have gone to barbers who have simulated being stylists by washing my hair before the haircut.

I have been getting along with alternating between a pony tail (passé and too bald for it now), a buzz cut, number two metal or outgrown its long welcome and thence to buzz again.

This is what you have to do to avoid a "new haircut" look. Go to a stylist. All scissors. Done dry, washed afterward, a little product and away I go.

Once I got there it wasn't hard to do actually. I know the stylist pretty well. I think maybe he was waiting for me to turn it over to him.

I feel good. It smells good. And while I was not planning to get any product I think that I am going to get the shampoo and conditioner.

See? Hooked. It is how it works.

This was my movie for the day.

Labels: hair

MORE

While the whiners are still saying that "he" didn't/doesn't do enough for "the gays" take a look at this.

Unprecedented use of foreign aid to support gay rights around the world.

White House will use foreign aid to advance gay rights. Hillary Clinton makes historic speech

There is tremendous leverage here to not only strike at the considerable homophobia in the third world and even in Russia.

I also think that this has blowback to the US. It elevates gay rights to the domain of the State Department. There has to be a trickle down message here.

Thanks to Hillary Clinton who has been a consistent partisan for gay freedom.

Labels: Administration Obama, gay liberation, gay rights

LESS GRITTY

Today's film was the Coen Brothers'

True Grit (2010)

This is a "pretty good" movie and I was expecting a great movie.

I see a few reasons. One is that this is a Spielberg production and every thing he touches has the corners and rough edges rounded and smoothed.

Second, it is a remake. I don't watch remakes. I love Jeff Bridges but I don't want to be thinking about John Wayne while I am watching him.

Third, the story is iconic and they should either twisted its tits off or gone to a literal by the numbers story line and make shocking and distorted characters. Work the direction. The art. All of it to make it different. They did play with the stilted supposedly 19th century syntax. Not different enough. Not Coen like.

So I had to be satisfied with what I got and I was and I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5.

Labels: films

PERESTROIKA / GLASNOST

What is not known is why Russia folded its tents and the US/Reagan set up "star wars".

Today's film is the espionage story under the surface.

Farewell (2009)

A KGB Colonel works with a lowly, amateur French attache to send top secret documents back to the West to show how much the Russians knew about the US defenses (everything) in an attempt to defang the Russian monolith.

Sounds heavy and it is but Christian Canon has made a film about a friendship and how it evolves under these high pressure conditions. Great performances from all and sundry.

The photography is first rate and the background activity of Russian life is rendered in gorgeous colors the bely the nasty underpinnings. Some great, inventive photography. Sometimes requiring a rewind and a second look to see how they did "that".

Toward the end, a first class chase and thriller as the schemes fall apart on all sides. The people become central as they really have been throughout the story.

I would not mind seeing this again. A 4 out of Netflix5.

Labels: films

GROWING UP

Today's film was

Flickan / The Girl (2009)

This sweet fable is a lovely evocation of a young girl's learning how to be her own young girl. Well, 10 going on 11.

Even I could identify with this pastoral locale where a girl left alone, no adults finds her self in small experiences.

The story itself is a bit of a stretch from the reality standpoint but that is not what this is about.

Fables should be fab-ulous and while there is some hurt and difficulty here, learning to live on your own and being allowed to draw one's own conclusions is a rare gift these days what with parents hovering over kids, the helicopter generation.

The cinematography and the real talent of Blanca Engstom, the girl, are very satisfying. No innocent, this girl answers many questions and, through the process of identification, so do we.

Yeh, it was like that!

I will give this a strong 3 out of Netflix5.

Labels: films

SKIP

No postings yesterday. I had an MIT interview which took up a lot of time and energy. A very special young man who may be the best of the year or more.

ANNIVERSARY updated 110311

Today is the EIGHTH anniversary of esrose.blog.

Eight years.

For some reason the first five days are not in the archive.

No matter, they weren't very interesting. I was feeling my way.

I had a photo journal before that but I had quit taking pictures. Hard to have a photo journal if one isn't working it.

Then, the software I had been using crashed and somehow the backup didn't work and so I said "fuck it" and retired from the scene.

But I liked the idea of writing a journal without my own pictures and so I tried out blogger. And the rest is history.

At first, I promoted the blog and put the web address on every email I sent.

It was only later that I allowed comments and found out that there were a lot of people I never met responding. Some weird ones, one note harangues. But, for the most part interesting.

This was a surprise to me. I didn't know that people had software that told them where their particular hobby horses might be riding on line.

At some point I quit promoting it and now, there are a few friends who read it, more than I would think. I assume my family looks in as they talk to me about stuff. There are probably 30 or so irregular regulars.

Maybe I should ask everyone who reads it to make a comment and then I would know. I mostly write out of my own interest. Occasionally, I write pieces for someone who I know is in the crowd thinking that they will be interested. Maybe even with the knowledge that they might get a little pissed off.

The Facebook Sonnet* that I put up here some time ago rattled a few cages. I think that one guy may have left over it. Are you still there?

I suppose that some of the staples of the blog interest some people and not others.

I cannot believe that everyone who reads this looks forward to the movie reviews. But some do. Some make suggestions! Many of my Asian films are from people who see many more than I do.

There are a couple of people who do not like Obama. Good.

They even write back occasionally.

Some of the personal stuff is more for family although anyone can read it.

The main thing is that I get to read it. Surprising myelf. And if it is interesting to others so much the better.

Of course I do not put everything in the blog. I only sketchily include stuff about family or friends. Mostly things that have been sent to me.

I don't talk much about my husband. Although he claims that he reads some things for the first time in the blog. Never discussed one on one.

I don't say much about my involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous. Not that there is anything wrong with doing it. Anonymity is only to be protected in the area of media. Press, radio, television and internet for the public. Mine is a closed system.

But I still keep it out of here pretty much.

For the last year I have been journaling my way through the Twelve Steps for the nth time and that has taken quite a bit of my writing energy. Maybe that has shown here. I will be done the end of this month with that.

But the thing is more that AA is a spiritual program of recovery and mostly depends on contact with other alcoholics. Not everyone who reads here is in that class. A few are and they are totally capable of reading between the lines.

But everything else is pretty much fair game.

It is strange but true that some very very close friends do not want to read the blog. I think that they sneak a peek every now and again but I think that, for them, it distorts the relationship. I get that and approve totally. They get long emails or one on ones instead.

What does it do for me? It is somehow liberating. To be open about being gay. To be clearer about my political beliefs. To tell my personal story from time to time. Cunnerman (hill billy) makes good, goes out in the world and finds some things to do that he never, ever thought could happen. And much of it stuff that I didn't even know I wanted or could do or have.

Every once in awhile, I get tired of it and think about stopping. This is quite prevalent on the web. I recently just lost a long term site that I read. Just like that. Gone. Done. One or two have left the site up but have retired from the scene. When that happens it feels bad to me. I know that a lot of what is on the net is not real but enough of it comes through as honest and interesting stuff that it is a BIG DEAL. Someone is out there who I like to read and so am I. Out there.

When and if I leave I will say a "long goodbye" unless I end before the blog and then maybe a family member will be kind enough to let people know that the blog is over by default.

OK. On with ths show.

* from the New Yorker.

Labels: blog, blogging

NEWT THE SNOOT

This comes via Jonathan Bernstein, who gleefully passes along the following quotes:

“Winning the presidency is all about discipline, focus, and organization,” said one Republican Insider, “none of which are strong suits for Gingrich.”

“With Newt, we go to bed every night thinking that tomorrow might be the day he implodes,” said another Republican. “Not good for our confidence — or fundraising.”

A third Republican stated plainly, “Gingrich is not stable enough emotionally to be the nominee — let alone, the president.”

“Bigfoot dressed as a circus clown would have a better chance of beating President Obama than Newt Gingrich, a similarly farcical character,” quipped a Republican.

“Come on,” sighed another GOP Insider, “the White House is probably giving money to Gingrich as we speak.”

I guess Newt still has a wee bit of confidence building to do. But he's a master of language as a key mechanism of control, so I'm sure he's up to the job.

Labels: Republican primary

STICKER SHOCK

I think that I wrote that we had several OBAMA 2012 bumper stickers removed from the Volvo's back door. I had stuck them half way to avoid scraping at a later date. Too easy to rip off.

So we bit the bullet and put the entire glued surface on the car. Tight.

Today I notice that there are a number of nicks and scratches around the corners of the sticker. Not the car.

What is up with this?

I have never ever encountered actual vandalism or any kind of physical retaliation for a sign or a bumper sticker.

It is pretty nasty out there.

I know that this is not a really really big deal but it is a sign of the times.

Am I intimidated by this? Fuck NO.

I suppose there is some chance that some bastard is going to mar the door.

Anonymous vandalism.

In the meantime, loud and clear. OBAMA 2012!!!

Labels: Re-election of Barack Obama

JINGLED DAY

The boys put up the LED icicles today.

One turns out to be one of the flashy ones, at least three programs as I could count them.

So much for my arch assessment of the carnival glow of the house down the street, although our glow in three flashes and cascades of light are more tasteful.

I think. We are waiting for dark to see how they look. There is always the plug to pull.

Also today my favorite card holder in the shape of a abstract nordic deer that looks more like a swan.

We got our first card yesterday. They beat us.

No other holiday developments although I see John getting more stuff out of the storage.

I have had some hassle as I used the wrong checkbook to pay out some big money. The big money should have been written on a different account.

A quick run to the bank quickly took care of that problem and they did not bounce the check. Fortunately the one that came up short was a check from me to me at the other account. I could explain this but the fact is there is no explanation than, as John reminds me, we are getting OLD.

Shit.

But most days are good and a little more self monitoring is called for. Slowing down. Easy does it.

It has been busy for two weeks and I am tired. One more interview tomorrow and then I expect a longish break between events.

It didn't help that I got "the people's" cold. Everyone we know has had, is having or, it seems, will have it.

This is what happens when you hang out with a crowd that hugs and kisses more than is healthy for them.

But that is a small downside, one cold a year, for the hugs and kisses.

Is it news that gay people tend to kiss and hug a lot? Men and women.

My belief is that we generally lacked enough of the right kind of physical contact through our adolescence and are still catching up. Or, having caught up, we like to hug and kiss and do it as much as possible.

I kiss men in the gym and in the supermarket and don't think much about it anymore. I can sense when the other won't be comfortable and pull back a bit but that is not very common.

Of course, I can kiss lesbians as often and wherever I want and no one will wink an eye. Strange world, eh. All that shit on the surface. It is like La Bachman said yesterday. Gay people can marry as long as it is with the opposite sex. Well, of course! That is exactly what she has done with Marcus!

Labels: finance, gay life, holidays

HOLIDAY CHEER DRIBBLING IN

I may be grinching it in some respects, my retirement from the annual card racket, but some things remain.

John assembled the Advent Calendar, a countdown kind of thing which has a tree and an ornament a day thing to attach on. To?

I like this because it is funny and daily. Not a big bang thing. More of a dribble of easy holiday sentiment and nostalgia.

We have always had one of these starting with the kids in my first family. Maybe I had one when I was a kid. I don't remember that.

Actually it is not much of a kids' tradition. Kids want it all, all at once. The idea of an ornament a day on a tree is too creepy. Dribbling. Like water torture.

It is perfect for the elderly because it does dribble. Draws the thing out. All at once stuff is scary to a senior. What if I fall? And so on.

Tomorrow, John will supervise a young couple who helps us out from time to time. They will be putting up the LED icicles we had up in the front clerestory windows and, in addition install the same thing on the back clerestory. I was against all this but have lost my vote when the guys volunteered to do the high work, my main argument. My only point against now is the garishness of it.

I was undone on this one when we had another couple in the hot tub with us and they went on and on about how they liked our icicles.

Their house is lighted from end to end and in the middle. Actually looking very good. "The gays" know how to do tasteful. Even tasteful garishness.

There is a guy up the street who has put in a light show. Not gay. It is cheesy and blaringly bad. One of those timed computerized things that do sequential displays. Snowflakes. To the side, Mary, Joseph and a white smear baby on cardboard. A lit "tree" shape thrown on a bush.

The lights in this complex aren't too bad really. Mostly quiet. Our icicles, at least, do not flash.

I will probably not grinch it up too much more. I don't do much of the work. Just hang an advent ornament on the tree every day. There are two ornaments a day, actually. We cycled our old ones into the new setup. One apiece. No more arguments about whose turn it is.

Labels: holidays