jump starting Christmas

As most of my family can tell you, I am not a big fan of trimming the tree. I can't stand it actually. I do put on a good show for the little ones. Gina asked me a few weeks ago what would it take to have a nice Christmas this year. I said, "let's forget the tree". I also mentioned how I would love to leave town and go to Bowling Green, KY for Christmas. I know that won't happen for sure. I don't think Gina and the girls would care for spending Christmas in a Holiday Inn Express.

So yesterday we assembled the tree. It's a nice looking tree. Now that it's up, I look at it and dread having to put it away come January. I can't explain why I feel that way about it. Gina, Kelsey, and Katie went upstairs and made some hot chocolate and cookies. Kelsey had a blast.

After the girls went to bed, Gina and I stayed downstairs and watched Christmas in Connecticut (1945). I don't recall ever seeing it before. We picked it up in the five dollar bin at WalMart a few days ago. It is a pleasant romp of a movie. I am not a big Barbara Stanwyck fan, but I've always enjoyed Dennis Morgan. I especially liked Dennis Morgan whenever he teamed up with Jack Carson.

This is a pretty good movie. Gina seemed a little hesitant about me spending the money on this movie, but she ended up really liking it. To my pleasant surprise, there is also two reel 1946 Academy Award winning short subject that's also part of the DVD's special features called 'A Star In The Night'. This little Christmas drama was Don Siegel's debut film. It's well worth watching.

After Gina went on to bed, I watched Robert Rodriguez's 'Planet Terror' by the warm Christmas tree light. Nothing says Merry Christmas like killing zombies.

Keaggy Interview

Master and the Musician...I appreciate Keagy's comments about 'being somebody'.

jive turkey

Today was an unusual Thanksgiving. Usually there's lots of music. Family members get together to share a meal, bring their instruments, sing and talk. I nearly didn't bring my guitar, but Gina insisted that I take it. I ended up leaving it in the car. It's been a crazy week and I was in another zone today. It was a pleasant Thanksgiving, different from all preceding Thanksgivings.

The food was out of this world but I didn't fill my plate, nor did I stuff myself sick. I did however graze through out the evening. I sampled most of everything through out the evening, but never felt stuffed. No one pulled out their instruments. Everyone seemed to just want to talk and be together.

I didn't get to talk to everyone there. I did move around a good bit and listen in on some conversations and enjoyed a few intimate conversations of my own. Today was like tuning in and out of channels on the radio - wandering the dial - taking a little in here and there. Mine is a big family. Everyone is caught up in their own world and challenges.

Like I said, it was all different, but pleasant. I wouldn't wish it any different. I could have easily have stayed home and slept the day away. I am glad that I didn't. I am in a weird little mood today.

little time lately

My mind hasn't really been on blogging as of recent. Last few weeks I had my head buried in books. I was very relieved to have passed the exam last Saturday. I am glad to have it all behind me. I am now a nationally certified massage therapist. I am waiting for my license from the Alabama Board of Massage &Therapy to come my way. The board meets on the 30th and I should be good to go by the end of the year - probably sooner.

I was hoping that this week would be a little rest after the stress and test...not so. Sunday, immediately upon returning to Gadsden, I fell down an entire flight of stairs while looking at an old building on Broad Street. Gina and I are always on the lookout for a location for OTG - a place of our own. I didn't break anything during the fall, but I knew that I would feel it the next day. It's Wednesday night and I am still feeling it - especially my tailbone.

Sore or not - Gina was determined that I do some deep cleaning at the house. Monday I found myself on my hands and knees cleaning the carpet at the house. Don't let those machine rentals fool you - it's not an easy task. You still have to shift furniture around if you're going to do the job right. You still have to get down on your hand and knees to get rid of all those hundreds of stains. Machines are great - but there's no solution so far that can replace elbow grease. Cleaning the carpet took up the better part of two days. Poor Katie, I pulled her into the task and she worked very hard. I appreciated her positive attitude during the entire ordeal. She's a good kid.

Today was a little lighter. I did some cooking for Thanksgiving and some light house cleaning. I am still achy from the fall and from the floor work. I am still in the state of disbelief that I no longer have to study-study-study. I am on the other side of it now.

I haven't been to the office much these past few weeks. I haven't been around a computer as much. I feel as if my wheels are still off the ground. I am glad that I don't have to be studying, that's for sure. I feel as if I am in limbo.

the big one

I had to get out of the house for a little while tonight. I decided to come down to the office and piddle a bit. Gina has allowed me to stay at home this week so I can study study study. I'm heading down to Birmingham this weekend to take the national exam to become certified as a massage therapist. I am doing my best to re-familiarize myself with material I started studying over a year ago. This test will cover a lot of ground and I have an overwhelming amount of information to go over. This exam is the final hurtle. Do keep me in your prayers. I need peace and focus. I'll be taking the test this Saturday. The test will begin at eleven and I've got three hours to take it - pass or fail. Keep me covered.

USS LST-312 Gela, Sicily

USS LST-312 at right, approaching the beach with her ramp up and USS LST-344 left, along with numerous LCVPs from transports anchored offshore, beached while landing troops and equipment at Gela, Sicily, 10 June 1943.
US National Archives photo # III-SC 181046, Box 181, a US Army Signal Corps. photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.

This photo and information was found at http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160312.htm.

technical difficulties

For some strange reason beyond my control, my Boomerville blog isn't working quite the way it should. I have still been posting to it but the updates might not be showing up at your blogspot they way they ought.

Pearl Harbor

Months before 9/ll, the movie Pearl Harbor was released. I saw it at that time and was a little disappointed with it. I ran across of DVD of it recently and watched it again. I was still unimpressed.

The attack and the effects were breathtaking, yet fictitious characters, the love story took up most of the movie. I pulled the above image together because Pearl Harbor reminded me of the movie Titanic. In Pearl Harbor, they should have just as well have had hired on Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet for love interest part. Instead of the Titanic, they could have embraced each other on the bow of the Arizona.

Is it just me, or is Ben Affleck in every movie that was made?

I don't mind having fictitious characters in a movie - but there is enough of a real story to tell when it comes to Pearl Harbor. The love story, the idiocy of having the two old friends fighting over the same girl, just lacked imagination.

Directors I guess must have felt that they had to chic-a-fy the bombing of Pearl Harbor in order to get women into the theaters.

Hollywood usually does a great job at screwing up the depiction of a real event that had an abundance of real heroes. It wasn't Rafe and Danny that made their way to their planes to shoot down the attacking Japanese aircraft on December 7. In real life, it was two guys by the name of Kenneth Taylor and George Welch. Having two fictitious characters manning those planes is a disservice to those two very real gallant men.

At least that's the way I feel about it.

I feel the same way about the movie Titanic. This movie was a blockbuster hit, but I don't see it as memorable. The love story was okay, but it consumed most of the film. There was so much more to tell about the sinking of that ship. There were real people on that boat - and the fictitious characters overshadowed the real people, out-shined real heroes in that story. Both the movies Pearl Harbor and Titanic the same flaw. The special effects and details were incredible, but the real people who died in or survived those tragic events were only given supporting parts in these Hollywood productions. Both movies are worth watching once, but not worth revisiting.

i don't know why

I haven't been posting as much as of late. I don't know why that is. I enjoy writing, sharing with you the random thoughts and memories that run through my mind. It's probably because I've been so preoccupied with life.

The big test isn't too far away. I finally confirmed a time to take the National Certification Board that will make me licensed massage therapist. It's the last hurtle. I look forward to getting it behind me, but dread the test itself. I've got to make plenty of time to study, refresh my mind, learn stuff I have yet to learn. Egad!

Test date is set of Saturday, November 21, 2009. I hope you all keep me in your prayers. I look forward to becoming a therapist. I look forward to getting on with this area of my life.

Gina and I traveled to Atlanta the weekend before last to attend a lymphedema conference. Gina and I had a great weekend together. We've been so busy with life as of late that we haven't had a lot of time together. We enjoyed the weekend, even though we spent most of the time listening to lectures and garment vendors.

I've been asked to do some stand-up at Moonsong this Saturday night - the 7th. I don't have a routine. I'm planning on telling a lot of stories - stories that Gina's heard a thousand times. Maybe it's a good thing that she's out of town this weekend. She'll be back in Atlanta for a lymphedema round-table. Ron Greer had been wanting me to do some stand-up. He arranged it with Danny Moon for Saturday evening. I don't know what it will turn out like. I am going to have some fun - stir up some laughter.