MOVIES

On Christmas day I saw "Into The Woods." And as my Granddaughter said, "Of all the movies I've ever seen, this is one of them." If you are into musicals, good movie. I'm not. Then My wife and I saw "Imitation Game." Good, good movie. Breaking of the German code but more. Personalities and ignorance. Movie strikes a blow for Human (Gay) Rights through history. See it. Then watched another one, PRIDE. Gays support of the "miners" during the Thatcher era. Reminded me a lot of my Dad who lived his life based on a simple credo, "do the right thing." My Mom's brothers were notorious bootleggers. My dad refused to allow them to be involved with us. And, he was expelled from the Klu Klux Klan for associating with blacks. DO THE RIGHT THING. 

DISILLUSIONED WITH HOME

All he has seen in Iraq is somewhat "holier" than gluttonous, fat, oversexed, over consuming, materialistic home where we're too lazy to see our own faults.  A Chaplain, from the article in the NY Times, "Human Costs of the Forever Wars."

CHAIRMAN

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dempsey, is much to be admired, relatively speaking; at least he is not like publicity hound Paetreus, screwing around literally while he was supposedly directing a war. 

But, posturing the  troops to return to Iraq is about so much bullshit. He may have empathy and I am sure he does but he ain't suffering the same as soldiers. He visits Afghanistan or Iraq, he is living in the lap of luxury. Servants/ aides catering to his every need. But, all that bullshit aside, the very idea that we are back in Iraq is sickening, based on what we are doing. 

What ticks me off almost more than anything, is that nobody officially admits we f..ked up as we always do, millions of dollars, thousands of lives and nothing. Nobody appears to even be accountable. Now, we are back in Iraq, opening the door, possibly to ground troops. What the f..k!! 

Joe Cocker

Just downloaded a couple of Joe Cocker's songs that I have always loved, "Up Where We Belong and A Little Help From My Friends." I love these Vietnam era songs. Joe, of course, is lucky he lived to 70, based on how he abused his body: alcohol, drugs, smoking. I often wonder about it, these highly talented types often follow the same abusive ways. God bless Joe on his journey wherever he may be. 

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PANIC

Recently I was involved in a too cpmplicated situation to tell. It had to do with an animal rescue and a neighbor who paniced, thinking her precious cat was gone. She loves that cat. With not a small bit of relief, we located the animal.  But, the paniced owner lreminded me of an experience in Nam, which most things do. We were approaching this little ville. In Vietnam, a ville could be two or three huts or two dozen; thatched roofs, peasants, the whole nine yards. We were about two clicks away. We could see the huts. This was a Free Fire Zone which basically meant that any living/breathing person could be killed because they weren't suppose to be there. I never paid any attention to the powers that be about FFZs (free fire zones); these poor people were leaving their homes.

This was Christmas Eve and we were moving into our position for the Christmas truce. A truce at Christmas? Seemed a little weird. It did happen during WWl in 1924 but this is 1968. We were about at the forst hut when we heard the most gosh awful sound. As we got closer, we recognized it not as thought, crying but actual wailing. A slight 30ish Vietnamese woman wailed, she wailed. It was a sound that I had never heard. It was as though her very insides were being dissipated to the waftling air. Her sadness and despair permeated every fiber of her being as well as ours. What we came to speculate as we saw the cradled body of the lifeless youngster in her arms; killed by an American air strike. We were stopped in our tracks, touched in such a way that we would never recover. 

EXPERIENCES

If you are open to experiences, no telling what can happen? Once when I was taking my daughter's car to her, totally across the country, ECU, (East Carolina; Greenville, NC) we had this gigantic snowstorm in Kingman AZ. I pulled into a motel. Got the last room. Shared it with a mother and adult daughter and two teenagers. We had the best time, pizza, war stories. I hated to see the snow end. For years we kept up with each other. 

COUPLE ON A ROADTRIP OF EXPERIENCES

KISSING/MEMORIES

Who in this world would think that several old men (most in their seventies one in 80s) would want to talk about kissing. Most of us had read the article about kissing in the NY Times Magazine. It was about famous kissing. Stardom kissing, memorable kissing. We laughed. My favorite celebrity kiss was Adrien Brody and Hallie Barry. Now that was a kiss. 

Somebody said, don't you guys know, "all great love making begins with kissing."  We go for that. Then someone told a "war story" about his first kiss. He was about fourteen and had his eyes on this girl and was planning to sneak a kiss when she beat him to it. It was great. Instinctively, he knew that kissing was a wonderful thing. His mom constantly was kissing he and his brother. The reason he remembers so distinctly about this first kiss is a sad time; his mom was very sick and soon thereafter died. And, his dad, unable to care for he and his brother had placed them in a Catholic orphanage. This prompted another of the GFs (Girlfriends, name my wife gave us) to hop in. He was about seventeen. This may not have been his first kiss but the most memorable. He finds out there is a party at a friend's house. This was "in the day" before floating parties or social media. So this was a big deal. He shows up and maybe 10 or so there. He spots a girl that he doesn't know. They start talking. They kiss and somehow end up in the closet. They must have been in there an hour. All they did was kiss. The next day his lips were so sore he could hardly move 'em. He could hardly believe it. We laugh. Next came a story of not the first kiss but the best one he could remember. It led to other stuff that he wants to keep to himself. He was in the Army in Korea. After a movie, he and several GIs were sitting outside at the Snack Bar. In typical Army fashion, nobody paid any any attention to ethnicity. This gorgeous African American sat across from him. She was a Lieutenant in 2ID (Second Infantry Division). He was a lowly private. They were all in civilian clothes. She had gorgeous lips. She was definitely flirting with him. He thought he'd risk it. "Could I kiss you?" he said. She didn't say a word but leaned toward him. It was one of those five second experiences that seemed like eternity. Her lips were soft and utterly delicious. She departed the area and he never saw her again but it was not for a lack of trying. It was like she disappeared from the face of the earth. A couple of the GFs accused him of making it up. On more than one occasion, it had been suggested that he never let the truth interfere with a good story. 

This is a good one, as the story goes, I am about thirteen. My friend, not sure if she can be called a girlfriend: we were just great buds and had been to the movies. We are walking toward her house and we detour through the park. We stop. I know it is kiss time. I do it. I press my lips hard into hers. It was like Gary Grant did it. She takes a deep breath. "Oh no, I have done this wrong," I am thinking. She says, "that was terrible." I want to sink into the ground. My first kiss and I have f..ked it up. She touches me on the lips. She is older, afterall. She says, "Kissing is very important and I want to teach you," pausing, she said,  "you open your mouth slightly and you press your lips lightly on the lips of the other person." She put her fingers on my lips and kind of pursed them and then she gave me a little peck on the lips as if saying. "Relax, we can do this. Let's practice." We did for about ten times until she pronounced that I had mastered it. THANKS FOR THESE GREAT MEMORIES. 

AN EVENING OUT

This is one of those stories that you "had to be there." JUST HAD TO BE THERE. My wife and I were invited to a friend's house who wanted to have a Mexican theme party. This came about because of the illness of one of the "gym rats." (term of endearment). For about a half dozen years about a half dozen of them met regularly at the gym--in addition to working out, they talked about politics, finances, trips and traveling. They shared it all. I was never apart of it nor did I want to be. 

I have an in inate problem, let's call it a flaw. I don't like to be around people whom I consider "route step." I will not elaborate. But, here is the story. We are invited to this party with the Mexican theme. Wear something, related to the theme, as our bud, who is ill, normally would be in Mexico. Thus the theme. He is ill and can't make his trip. Provide a little of Mexico here. 

We have nothing. Our neighbor who is Hispanic brings a picture. Gorgeous, picture of sexy couple tangoing. As close as we can get. Reminds me of Al Pichino in the movie, "Scent of a Woman" and the tango of the movie. 

I haul the picture out of our pad, in the rain, to the car and then across the GG Bridge.  Still in the rain up to their apartment. We walk in with this picture. It is "HO hum." I place the large, heavy picture in a stragtegic spot. We have dinner, chat, the evening ends. I get the picture, haul it back to the car, across the GG Bridge to our apartment, lug it inside. See what I mean. You had to be there. Sigh. LOL. 

WRONG MESSAGE

THE PREZ HAS IT RIGHT

Sony pictures cancels movie, "The Interview." What the f..k kind of message does this send. Some despot tells us what to do. He wins. They won. Sony pictures should be ashamed. Anybody who looks at the movie a millisecond will know it is a spoof. 

This is something I want to asked: you mean those despotic MFers have better hackers than us? 

REMEMBERING

Yesterday Terry Gross, the best interviewer on TV I think, Interviewed Timothy  Spall. I had never heard of him. Most will because of his Harry Potter association. Toward the end of the show, Spall mentioned a good friend who just died. Instead of passing over it, Terry jumped in and asked him about his relationship to his friend. He told about it and then he said, "I want to dedicate this interview to him." It was so sweet and moving. I am going to pick up this practice. Thank you. 

I dedicate my comments here to all those vets I saw at VA yesterday. Most of them were older, probably Korea/Vietnam. Unfortunately, many are self medicating, overweight and some looking like "a deer caught in the headlights." I dedicate this blog posting to them. Regardless, thank you for your service. 

STILL ALICE

Good movie and reminded me of another Alice. She was the librarian when I was a young Captain in Wurzburg, Germany. I was just back from Vietnam and so screwed up. This was before the big push on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Her kindness was overwhelming, not only for me but all soldiers. This is the anniversary of her death. Thank you Alice. I wish I had been more on top of my life. 

THE POLICE

We have got to end this cycle where cops use deadly force as a first resort and then get off scott free. Cops are citizens too and they need to be held accountable in courts of law. The message we're sending now to cops is do whatever you want and you won't go to jail; heck, we won't even take your badge. If we don't turn this thing around we'll end up like some third rate South American country. 

Guess they're tearing up Berkley. No surprise there and good for them. We have got to end this 

Totally agree with you. Always amazes me that cops can't, if they have too, shoot a thug, thief, or whoever in the arm, leg; why chest or head. But, totally agree, cops have to get a different mentality.

Don't know what to say about some place like Oakland/Berzerkley (use to call them this during Vietnam). Destroying property, etc. and, don't know in terms of police recruitment. We want to get away from all white but not sure of pool of African Americans.  Just heard of some survey: 80% of whites support cops. Forgot low percentage of blacks that support them. Of course, I don't know: as Meg (daughter who is a Doc) says, "Dad, want a study, I'll get you one on anything." 

San Fran hasn't had much of a problem. Don't know where the large Hispanic community says. Traditionally, they don't care all that much for each other. I think, I fall on the side of "problem that can't be solved." Like immigration, income inequity. We have to keep trying but not in our lifetime. 

MY DAD

 It is hard to describe my dad. He was about six feet or so. Always wore overalls. He chewed tobacco. Thin "apple," not literal the apple taste,  I don't think. It was a brand name. Get this, he never spit but swallowed the tobacco juice. Just thinking of it makes me nauseous. I never chewed or smoked or my brothers. My dad's thought. I am not letting you start this nasty habit. And, we were tobacco farmers. Go figure. 

There are so many stories I could tell about my dad, it is hard to single out one. One thing I do know, he kept my Mom exasperated seemingly constantly. She would cry, scream, anything at him. He never raised his voice. More likely than not, he would grab me or one of my brothers or several if we were standing around and say, "let's take a ride." The worse he ever said about my mother was, "you know how she is." She would calm down and then not speak to him for days, sometimes weeks. What was so remarkable, he kept talking to her like everything was fine. He had the greatest laugh that was often presence. His best saying was, "you might as well laugh as cry." He practiced it. 

Dad had a heart that literally was as big as the outdoors. He practiced the Augustinian principle and didn't even know it. Saint Augustine said some like, "you cannot help everyone but when you are confronted with one in need, if you can, you are obligated to help." Example, once Dad picked up a hitch hiker who stayed with us for several years until he joined the Navy. Get this: after he retired he came back and moved in beside us. 

 

A memorable experience was my brother, George. He really wasn't my brother but he lived with us all my life. My dad got him from the Orphanage. He was to help us work during the tobacco season. We would pay the orphanage his wages. When Dad was readying to take him back, he ran away. The conditions at the Orphanage were awful Dad said. Kids sleeping on a cold floor. Never enough to eat, raggedy clothes. "This is something out of a Charles Dickins novel," he said. Noway is George going back. The orphanage tried to get him. My mom said "take him back." My dad refused. They had an awful fight. Mom entered her silent mode. The superintendent of the Orphanage came. No. She threatened. They send some strong armed type to physically snatch him. Dad was big into peace but suddenly, he was a different person. He loaded his shotgun and put it by the door.  

What brought the episode to a peaceable  close, however, was not my dad but my Uncle, a notorious bootlegger. He showed up out of the blue and talked to the man from the Orphanage who promptly departed the scene. George never left. We called him our brother. 

A while back, several of my brothers were recalling the incident when my older brother Raz laughed and said, "Did you ever know what Uncle Craven said to the man from the Orphanage?" We didn't. He said, "My brother is determined the boy is not going back. I will pay you a reasonable amount for him." The man said, "No,  I want the boy." Uncle Craven to him. I will kill you then. The man left and George lived with us from that time on. 

HOSTAGE RESCUE

This is a hard call. I am going to go for it around comments of Rick Steves, travel writer. Over the years, I've watched his programs on Europe. Now he has expanded to the Mid East. Good programs but he was lamenting the idea that many "Mericans" are saying, "have a good trip as opposed to Bon Voyage." In other words, we are choosing to stay home because we don't want to go to the Mideast or Mexico or anywhere that we might become hostage bait. 

I've been to most places in the world and based on what is happening on the planet, I think we are in a spot where staying home is a legitimate option. The loss of an American hostage in Yemen is tragic even if he no doubt knew the danger. We are dealing with ruthless terrorists who have no interest in any value system that opposes their fanatical ideology even if they don't understand it. So, why should we put ourselves in danger. GOOD QUESTION. 

WHY DON'T YOU TELL US HOW YOU REALLY FEEL?

Its so very pathetic that negative, sensationalism type press has taken over the airways, fanning the fires of hate and distrust and disgust I might add.  WW

BREAKFAST WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS REVISITED

We have had a request by a certain person to resign from the GFs? As we know the by-laws require that such a request be submitted to the membership committee who in turn will petition each member privately to ascertain the degree of affectation. Being offended by cussing, talking about various anatomical female parts  are not grounds for resigning.  

ALL OF THE ABOVE IS TONGUE IN CHEEK. We have no organization. We are simply a bunch of old guys sitting around bullshitting about God, Man and the Universe, i.e, talking about nothing. We are a reality show. Very seldom does anybody pay any attention to any comments. Nobody gives a rat's "arsh" as my Dad would say. The only ones under scrutiny who show up for breakfast are "Martians" who might be in "Merica" illegally. 

COMMO AMONG BUDDIES

Right, but few things are more important than talking to you Brother. Besides, there are a couple of topics I'd really like to get your opinion on. wr

Same here, brother. Let's make appointment. I'll call you about 1300 Monday, my time. Just a few of our potential topics. (1) Ferguson, (2) guy in NY who was chocked. (3) Over a million drug addicts in Afghanistan, (4) on almost on all aspects, worst war in Syria in the last 100 years. Dozens of groups fighting. (5) Refugees most potential starving. (6) Turkey refusing to get overly involved. Already spend millions. (6) Africa constantly killing and kidnapping. Mugabe in Zimbabwe, 91, will never die, pushing his young wife to be his successor. (7) Government shutdown. (8) Immigration. No deporting. All of us are immigrants. (9) Sexual Assaults-- Should I go on. The best thing and only thing I can do is cuss, F..K. 

Chokehold

Damn, if I could possibly know what to say about the policeman that was not charged in New York. Never been much of an Al Sharpton fan. Probably racist on my part. I use to say about Jesse Jackson and later Al, get a few cameras out there and they'll show. I am sorry I said those things. Al said something like, as the Policeman is choking the guy, "eleven times, where is your humanity?" And, all of this over the guy selling bootleg cigarettes. You have got to be kidding me. F..K. 

Bernard Baruch

http://mobile.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/bernardbar169232.html

Let us not deceive ourselves; we must elect world peace or world destruction.

Bernard Baruch

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/bernardbar169232.html#o7lxms8aQelmWlo6.99

ADJUNCTS

A PBS story recently had to do with Adjunct Professors. I know something about adjuncts as I've been one. I moonlighted for years adjuncting.  Pay depended upon the number of students. I took it serious: graded papers, stayed after classes in case any wanted to talk. Once I figured I was making about $1 an hour. 

As my mom would say, the way Universities treat adjuncts is scandalous. In the 70s, 80% of college teachers were on the tenure tract. Today, half are adjuncts/part timers. Guess what a busy Adjunct makes? $20,000 a year. Schools give out all this bullshit about they have no choice, have to keep tuition down. Do these f..kers think we just fell off the turnip truck. They have plenty for non academic things like sports. 

I've felt so strongly about the issue that in my latest novel, Fire Mission, the protagonist, Bernie Perterson, takes up their cause and all of the high octane BS of our University educational system.