"Extraordinary Heroes On A Hot Day"
But fortunately, we were at the movie theater, watching THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. Okay, the league consists of seven, one a gentlewoman. Well, she's not so gentle when she's biting into the necks of villains. But imagine, delicious feasts and saving the world at the same time! Peta Wilson makes a glamorous vampire.
Only half-vampire, the sun's ray do not bother her. But she does have the ability to transform into a swarm of bats. Things do not need to be logical in this movie.
''What am I? It's complicated,'' explains handsome Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend) with a smirk. He DOES play the immortal well, as Lestat's 'bad boy' characteristics resurface again. However, there's a difference in this movie.
This movie, too, is complicated. If the viewer doesn't keep her eye glued to the screen, she will miss important info. Even so, some things just rush by too fast to be really sure what happened.
But it's a wonderful diversion on a hot Sunday afternoon (or any other time). Who knew the still sexy Sean Connery, (playing Alan Quartermain), is seventy two years old! When we got home and learned the electricity had been off for over an hour, I was glad to have missed the worst of it.
After I settled in to soak in the tub for an indefinite period, I soon heard the happy whirr of our air conditioning unit coming back into action.
"Extraordinary Jerk On A Hot Day"
What gives with people like this? Why do they enjoy being so destructive? But I really shouldn't waste my time trying to analysis people like that. They're just JERKS.
Meanwhile, today was even hotter than yesterday. The official weather site lists only a high of 115F (46.1C). But the electronic banner at the fair grounds said 119F as I drove by it after leaving work. You may not believe me, but it really did.
"Stupidity Is Painful"
The following poem needs a prelude of explanation. Basically, I had another identity behind which I visited various discussion groups. One day, I discovered this identity had been rendered null, and I was informed my account was deactivated because I'd broken the terms of service the discussion group host site, YAHOO, has established. But they won't tell me exactly what I did wrong. It creates an aura of paranoia, and I am left to wondering, with a fearful fester of possibility growing.
What most likely happened is someone had reported me for behavior on some individual discussion group they found unacceptible. Some arenas which claim to be bastions of free thought, may not really be such. It is more the case of, ''If you think LIKE US, you're free to join us.''
And it could be just quite possible that I annoyed the hell out of someone, who felt no compulsion to be merciful as he forcibly ejected me, not only from his particular arena, but from all such arenas in which he might encounter me.
On the other hand, I could also be paranoid, and it's all just a glitch of their system. But in hindsight, I DO see how my actions could have been irritating. A bit of fair warning might have been nice, however. The assumption that one should know better may be assuming too much.
However, in the future, I will be much more cautious about where and how I assert my opinion and make sure it is really welcome.
Now with the preamble out of the way, I'll began the poetic ramble.
|
At the edge of 'now' and 'then', I stand, looking at the abyss I did not create. Or did I create it? The wormed destruction lies there, and I observe the mess. What to believe? What to take away? In all this, I could be master, if in taking away, I could learn. So what do I learn? At the moment I burn, the heat from someone's anger burns like 140 degree heat. I should turn 180 degrees and go the other way. Green lush forests lie also in my mind. I need to go there, where 'the air is nice', and I can find my own space. But really, it is all my space, my world, but the continent of destruction is not so pretty. Here now is the willing, here now is what can TRANSFORM the suffering into knowledge and wisdom. He who sought to burn may unwittingly have his action turned if from it I learn. This all lies with my will. I can cry, or I can grow stronger. I can even do both. But the time for cursing is over. I must now rebuild new havens of thought. from this I will learn. Each moment is a 'now'. forget the 'then', and start over. May my eyes be open to know wisdom. May I bring the wisdom into action. This is the 'now', the only arena in which action can be taken. Leave the regretting behind, it is all in the 180 degree turn. This is the 'now' and I claim it.
|
July 16, 2003
"Angry"
So herewith is my expression of ANGER:
Angry!
Playful!
Depp, definitely dark and handsome . . .
along with Orlando Bloom, who also rescues the fair maiden . . .
I've not seen a movie that roused me like this one since The Princess Bride, for it too has a similar comic heroism. And I wouldn't exclude Gladiator, though its heroism is not light and playful. Julia and I sat through all the credits, which is worth the viewer's time as there's a cute comic bit at the end. I was not surprised to learn the talented Hans Zimmer, who did the inspiring soundtrack for Gladiator, also did the soundtrack for this movie.
Laura would have been stomping-her-feet-happy to see this movie. As it is, I swear I felt her spirit there, if only carried on the shoulders of our memories. She'd have loved the sword scenes. Were they better than the ones in Princess Bride? Possibly not, but they were thrilling none the less, done with real people not digitally enhanced or using wires. Yes, they were done the 'old-fashioned' way.
This is a movie I want to see again, and certainly will.
"Pride Of The Clean Latrine"
|
It is inner abandonment that leads men to the highest truth.
Henry Suso (1295 - 1366) |
They fit not well, neither the necessary shoes nor the path. Possibly this is no secret to you, my dear readers. Ah, greater 'conventionality' and I probably would have greater popularity. But I must be true to me.
I want to abandon nothing of my inner life, my inner consciousness. Yes, that's called, in HISSING terms by some, pure EGO. But this is me, this is my path.
Were I to find myself in a monastary, this site's Meditation of the Week informs me I'd likely be consigned to LATRINE DUTY, the task reserved for the most prideful.
''The latrine duty for YOU, Joan, now and forever!'' Aiiiii-i-i-i-i! Ah well, I'd take PRIDE in clean toilets, then. I'm stubborn, that way. I find pride itself can be a great motivator. Our accomplishments, whatever they are, can be a source of pride, which will spur us to more accomplishment.
So that is something I can take with me, in my inner world.
Ah well, YOU, dear reader, follow the path which best suits you, abandon only that which you truly do not desire, and have some fun along the way.
"I've Gotta Be Me"
''I've gotta be me . . .''
I've got to be who I am, you should, well, there's no law saying YOU must, except those you write yourself, you should be who you are.
|
This above all: to thine ownself be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Shakespeare, Hamlet
|
Continuing with the quoting, I found this at a favorite place.
| "Though a journal may be many things - a treasury, a storehouse, a jewelry box, a laboratory, a drafting board, a collector's cabinet, a snapshot album, a history, a travelogue..., a letter to oneself - it has some definable characteristics. It is a record, an entry-book, kept regularly, though not necessarily daily.... Some (entries) will be nearly illegible, written in the dark in the middle of the night.... Not only is it a record for oneself, but of oneself. Every memorable journal, any successful journal, is honest. Nothing sham, phony, false...." (Dorothy Lambert from Ken Macrorie's book, Writing to be Read ) |
'' Every memorable journal, any successful journal, is honest. Nothing sham, phony, false....'' I have tried to do that as best I'm able, but timidity has prevented me from a fuller revelation at times.
I now have TWO journals going. This one here will continue to deal with the daily and personal. The other is devoted to my spiritual/metaphysical/philosophical thoughts. Yes, these are exceedlingly unconventional and even unpopular thoughts. For the most part, those thoughts will remain there, but as they are wont to do, they inform all of my other thoughts and actions. Yes, there will be bleed-through.
But perhaps the radical nature of my thoughts is no surprise to you. If you've been patient and faithful readers, you've seen the gradual evolution of my thoughts to a 'darker' and 'wilder' side.
One cousin was particularily alarmed when 'Charlie' and his introductory poem made the scene:
|
|
Hunger for truth, let it drive you wild. Lost child in the Garden, which flower blooms for you? Scent intoxicating, liberating, these are the night-blooming flowers. Thus, few see them. Keep awake.
|
''That man is a 'demon of lust','' she told me. Another reader, a sincere Christian who struggles honestly, presenting a bare and open spirituality on his pages, possibly found he could no longer link to me, as he'd done for many months. Anyway, the link disappeared, and I understand.
But I must be honest. I can no more present a false face of conformity. Besides, the mask kept falling off, and the real me peeked out to scare people. I don't want to scare people. I say quietly, ''This is what I am. The seeds which led to this evolution have been ever present within me. If you do not like it, if you shudder and turn away, I understand. But my every communication will turn false, my words turn hollow and empty if I present as otherwise.''
So quietly, I shed the mask. I hope you stay around. I suspect this here journal won't change all that much, other than the subtle and not so subtle ways it already has. I thank you for staying around as long as you have.
"Light And Dark"
