North

I stopped by the old high school this week. Looks exactly the same.  

 

The Old House

Drove by the house where I grew up. Looks almost exactly the same. Haven’t lived here in 33 years. But it still looks like home. 

Horses

 I saw horses at a McDonalds in Tulsa. Oklahoma the other day. What? 

The City at Night

 

Travelin’

 I’m traveling today and my cat wanted to come along. 

Last Day of School and Whataburger

 

Empty

 There’s no more Coca-Cola in my glass. 

American Graffiti Redux

It had probably been 30 years since I had last seen American Graffiti. After seeing it mentioned in yet another story about George Lucas I decided to give it a revisit. It is indeed an enchanting movie. 

Last time I saw it I was in high school and I think I was not in the right place to enjoy it. I remember thinking it was okay...nothing special. There were a couple of things that hindered my appreciation. One, I couldn't get past seeing Ron Howard and Cindy Williams and the Drive-in as a precursor to Happy Days. Happy Days was definitely inspired by American Graffiti but they should be viewed as separate entities. Also, I wasn't at the right age to appreciate nostalgia. 

I also saw how Dazed and Confused was inspired by this movie. They are very similar in their vibe. 

Like Dazed and Confused, this is a good movie to watch at the end of the school year. Our school year ends tomorrow. Even though Graffiti takes place at the end of summer, it still has that feel of an endless summer night before reality soon hits. 

The framing of the soundtrack is fantastic. The acting performances are great. I really like Richard Dreyfus in this movie. The Wolfman Jack scene is poignant. The cars. I really enjoyed watching this in my middle age. 

It's another reminder that many of the problems teens face today have been with us for generations. Yes, social media and gender issues etc are fairly new and modern concerns. But overall, teens have been teens with the same problems every decade. 

Now I got to go watch Dazed and Confused again.

Double

Nice double rainbow this morning. 

Loungin’

So this random cat spent Saturday afternoon on our porch. Never saw her before or since. Just a nice place to rest during her travels I guess. 

Star Wars Drive-In

Last night was a good night to watch Star Wars in the backyard.

 

Relaxin’

 

Sun and Blue

 Blue and the high school on a sunny day. 

Eyes

 

Once again, I think my in-laws’s cat wishes me harm. 

Turtle Island

This was one of the Gary Snyder works I purchased last summer at City Lights bookstore in San Francisco. I took my time going through it. Finally finished today. I found the poetry meditative. Today was a crazy day. And it was nice to end the evening reading some Gary Snyder.

Crazy Tacos

 

Taco Loco food truck for Teacher Appreciation Week. 

Point of View

 

Time to go

 They were impatient to go home Friday. 

Moanin’

Last Jazz concert of the year the other night. You know it will be good when they start the concert with a Charles Mingus tune (Moanin’)  

 

In the Way

 When you come to bed and you find your way blocked. 

Too Many

 

To those who say "it's not a gun problem, it's a mental health problem" I ask this...

Do other nations not have mental health issues? 

Are we the only nation on earth with mental health issues?

Surely not.

So what's the difference between us and other nations when it comes to mass shootings?

I think the chart above makes it pretty clear. And that chart is from 2018 and the gap has only widened.

We have too many guns per capita. Way too many guns. And they're easier to get. Way easier to get. 

It's pretty obvious.

Brookhaven

My son signed up for a woodwind ensemble class at Brookhaven College this past semester. Last night they had their end of year concert. He played in both a quartet and saxophone choir. The music was very moving.

 

Eyeballed

After I had spread some new mulch on the landscaping I sat down to relax a bit. This guy joined me for awhile. Just sat and stared at me for awhile Maybe I was in his place. He does look nonplussed.

 

Another Reminder…

 

Banquet

 

Was honored last week to be invited to the Top Ten Percent Banquet. Liam’s a good dude who will go far. 

Fiesta

Last week, my daughter and I went to my wife's elementary school to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Always a fun even but what I really go for are the tamales! 

 

Museum of Rain

This is a very short novella. I'm not even sure it reaches novella length. But it was very poignant. I found it a relaxing read. Anything by Dave Eggers is a good read.

Lunch

Ugh. Can't recommend this. I understand its historical significance. But the book grossed me out. Profane and needlessly so. Ugh. I do understand why some might appreciate the poetical nature of the writing. I'm not befuddled by its popularity...unlike Ulysses or Infinite Jest.

It's just not for me.

Arts Fest

Last Saturday my daughter and I went to an arts festival in the old downtown area a few blocks from our house. It was a beautiful day for art, food trucks and live music.

 

War and Peace Progress Update

 

Based on some figuring this morning it looks like that at this current pace (one chapter a day) I should be done with War and Peace around mid January, 2024.

Yeesh 

Happy May Day