So, I have been really busy now that I am back at "work". I have less time to generate posts, but I have been writing a lot in my journal and working on a few larger projects, pieces, as of late.
I wish I could quit my day job and focus on the work at hand, but that is a luxury beyond my grasp. At any rate, I am now better at managing my time, finding time to read and write in albeit shorter spurts, but they are indeed productive spurts!
I have been working on a piece that is along the lines of a social commentary, yet not quite as prolific as Sartre, I should say! I had a note I came across and wondered if I worked it into a character's persona I could express some thoughts in a creative manner. So, as a exercise of sorts, I began to develop a few characters for this piece and have been pleasantly surprised. The beginning to the story is coming along nicely; much better than I had anticipated. I am not sure the complexities of the characters is there yet, or if they will get where they are in my head, but I is a great start!
Busy, busy, busy. Now if my stupid wrist would stop hurting long enough to let me sleep, that would be terrific! Oy!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
James Joyce
I have been on a fiction streak lately and bought James Joyce's "Dubliners" since I will need it this fall anyway. I am not sure what I think, exactly, however while the stories are good they seem to end too abruptly; there isn't really an ending.
After reading the first few stories I have to admit I was rather annoyed. James Joyce, a classical master of literature, who...
That's how I felt! It just seemed to stop in mid flow. Or is that the way he meant it? As I think about it, no story ever really ends anyway. Was James just merely capturing a snapshot of a story? Possible. And if that is the case, then it is genius. If that is not the case, then I want my money back and would be hard pressed to read more of his work!
However, there must be something more since he he so revered in the world of literature, so I am sure I will give him more looks in the future. However, is writing is great and I do find it very enjoyable to read; except his endings....
After reading the first few stories I have to admit I was rather annoyed. James Joyce, a classical master of literature, who...
That's how I felt! It just seemed to stop in mid flow. Or is that the way he meant it? As I think about it, no story ever really ends anyway. Was James just merely capturing a snapshot of a story? Possible. And if that is the case, then it is genius. If that is not the case, then I want my money back and would be hard pressed to read more of his work!
However, there must be something more since he he so revered in the world of literature, so I am sure I will give him more looks in the future. However, is writing is great and I do find it very enjoyable to read; except his endings....
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Cool Hand Luke
As I scroll through the massive amounts of movies I can watch on my PC thanks to Netflix, I have seen several movies I have heard about or saw as a child and think I should really watch them since they are virtually free. I think for me to pay $9 a month is like back in the day when I used to pay $3 for a cup at a house party -the house always lost money thanks to my large liver. I find Netflix to be a similar situation, just without the detrimental health issues associated with addiction.
Anyway, after watching the 1951 version of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" Sunday evening, I came across the 1967 classic "Cool Hand Luke" with Paul Newman, George Kennedy and a slew of then no-names, such as Dennis Hopper and Harry Dean Stanton.
I remember bits and pieces of this film from my childhood, mostly the intrigue of road gangs and the care free attitude of the lead character, Luke. However, I must admit, I remembered very little, and perhaps understood even less than I thought as a young lad.
While this is supposed to be a prison film, and I am sure this is more indicative of the time period, I felt a bit as though it was a federal prison - fairly lax. After working in residential treatment centers with emotionally handicapped adolescents, I dealt with fifteen years olds who were more dangerous than the men in the film! But, I tried to remind myself this was thirty years prior to my experiences, so my clients were in a sense social descendants of these "bad boys" in the film.
That being said, it was a good film. The plot wasn't the strongest, but the performances were great. As the film starts off with Luke (Paul Newman) using a pipe cutter to cut the heads off of parking meters, while intoxicated, of course. We then quickly arrive in a prison camp, where we get a brief insight into Luke's past, as well as his character. Calm, cool, ready with an answer or cynical remark, he is one who seems to go with the flow no matter the situation. And the rest of the movie plays out in that manner; well, with the exception of his "breaking" scene. I still think he didn't, but that is up for debate.
While this is not a film for all, it is a great film, well done and quite honestly well worth the two quick hours.
Anyway, after watching the 1951 version of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" Sunday evening, I came across the 1967 classic "Cool Hand Luke" with Paul Newman, George Kennedy and a slew of then no-names, such as Dennis Hopper and Harry Dean Stanton.
I remember bits and pieces of this film from my childhood, mostly the intrigue of road gangs and the care free attitude of the lead character, Luke. However, I must admit, I remembered very little, and perhaps understood even less than I thought as a young lad.
While this is supposed to be a prison film, and I am sure this is more indicative of the time period, I felt a bit as though it was a federal prison - fairly lax. After working in residential treatment centers with emotionally handicapped adolescents, I dealt with fifteen years olds who were more dangerous than the men in the film! But, I tried to remind myself this was thirty years prior to my experiences, so my clients were in a sense social descendants of these "bad boys" in the film.
That being said, it was a good film. The plot wasn't the strongest, but the performances were great. As the film starts off with Luke (Paul Newman) using a pipe cutter to cut the heads off of parking meters, while intoxicated, of course. We then quickly arrive in a prison camp, where we get a brief insight into Luke's past, as well as his character. Calm, cool, ready with an answer or cynical remark, he is one who seems to go with the flow no matter the situation. And the rest of the movie plays out in that manner; well, with the exception of his "breaking" scene. I still think he didn't, but that is up for debate.
While this is not a film for all, it is a great film, well done and quite honestly well worth the two quick hours.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Miss Marple
Over the past several weeks, I have found myself looking forward to eight o'clock on Sunday evenings. I have discovered on PBS the presentation of the BBC's Masterpiece Theater and the rather entertaining Miss Marple series.
I have always enjoyed British television more than American for one reason or another; perhaps the accents make them seem more intelligent or simply the British seem more artsy, regardless if that is true or not! This is not something new for me as i grew up on broadcast television and PBS and am not of the belief that Monty Python is the best of British television. No, I have enjoyed shows like Ballykissangel, Monarch of the Glen, Are You Being Served, Benny Hill, as well as many productions like Emma, Anne of Green Gables, Shakespeare and the like.
As you can see, I tend to have a favorable view of BBC productions, but not all are good, either. So when I see there is something coming on from the BBC I am always willing to give it a go and am usually not disappointed.
As is the case with Mrs. Marples. My wife was awake to watch the first few bits tonight and asked what Mrs. Marples was. Oddly, I told her it was similar to Murder, She Wrote, but in my opinion, better.
Sure they both have an old lady solving murders, but the cleaver thing I like about Miss Marples is how each crime has some sort of personal involvement for her. Be it an acquaintance or former servant, she has a vested interest in the crime. And yes, there are those cryptic moments when she seems as though she is suffering from the onset of dementia, or perhaps she enjoys solving the riddle of the murder a little too much, but she is presented in such a manner it doesn't seem far fetched. Miss Marples is perhaps aware and as insightful as many of of us wish to be, but also willing to do her part and help where she can.
Simply watch for your self and see. I am fairly confident you will not be disappointed, and I think you will find her much more enjoyable than Angela Lansbury, indeed!
Then again, is that hard to do?
I have always enjoyed British television more than American for one reason or another; perhaps the accents make them seem more intelligent or simply the British seem more artsy, regardless if that is true or not! This is not something new for me as i grew up on broadcast television and PBS and am not of the belief that Monty Python is the best of British television. No, I have enjoyed shows like Ballykissangel, Monarch of the Glen, Are You Being Served, Benny Hill, as well as many productions like Emma, Anne of Green Gables, Shakespeare and the like.
As you can see, I tend to have a favorable view of BBC productions, but not all are good, either. So when I see there is something coming on from the BBC I am always willing to give it a go and am usually not disappointed.
As is the case with Mrs. Marples. My wife was awake to watch the first few bits tonight and asked what Mrs. Marples was. Oddly, I told her it was similar to Murder, She Wrote, but in my opinion, better.
Sure they both have an old lady solving murders, but the cleaver thing I like about Miss Marples is how each crime has some sort of personal involvement for her. Be it an acquaintance or former servant, she has a vested interest in the crime. And yes, there are those cryptic moments when she seems as though she is suffering from the onset of dementia, or perhaps she enjoys solving the riddle of the murder a little too much, but she is presented in such a manner it doesn't seem far fetched. Miss Marples is perhaps aware and as insightful as many of of us wish to be, but also willing to do her part and help where she can.
Simply watch for your self and see. I am fairly confident you will not be disappointed, and I think you will find her much more enjoyable than Angela Lansbury, indeed!
Then again, is that hard to do?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Adventures Ahead
After signing up for my workshop in this year's Iowa Summer Writing Festival, I also enrolled in a Advanced Fiction Writing course for this fall. I am pretty excited for the upcoming adventures; the writing, the reading and the interaction with other writers face to face! Sure, I wondered if I need this, if I am ready for this or if it is a lateral move. I don't know where I am at as a writer, but perhaps afterwords I will know a little bit more.
For both adventures I will be working with instructors from the Iowa Writer's Workshop. I grew up in Iowa City and have heard all my life about the program, the writers and the international prestige it carries. So, needless to say, while I am very excited, I am also a bit nervous to be jumping into such a talented group! It will be a great experience to talk with people different levels of skill, talent and various experiences in the writing market.
While I will walk in with no published work, I am hoping the workshop in July will push me to enter into at least one contest. I keep having a recurring vision of myself with a life jacket on almost each time I begin to think about these adventures; I am not sure if I will stay afloat, perhaps? Maybe. I don't plan on sinking; I may struggle a bit, but I will fight to keep my head above water as I'll have the experience to learn many things.
This has been a great year of turning it up a notch, taking steps towards a dream. I don't know what will come of it all, and part of me doesn't really care; the journey is incredible. I am enjoying the moments as they are, not looking too far ahead, and I am anticipating surprising myself. This week I was chatting with my brother who turned forty this year (two years my elder), and we both agreed that if this was my "midlife crisis" it was indeed the most grand midlife crisis! (I don't feel old or at midlife, but take it as you may!)
I must admit I am not exactly sure what will arise or result from the rest of this year's writing adventures, but I know a lot will be learned and they will be experiences I will accept for the good and the not so good. I started down this path twenty years ago, and unfortunately I didn't follow my heart. I am just glad I realized my mistake relatively quickly and have time to correct my path.
For both adventures I will be working with instructors from the Iowa Writer's Workshop. I grew up in Iowa City and have heard all my life about the program, the writers and the international prestige it carries. So, needless to say, while I am very excited, I am also a bit nervous to be jumping into such a talented group! It will be a great experience to talk with people different levels of skill, talent and various experiences in the writing market.
While I will walk in with no published work, I am hoping the workshop in July will push me to enter into at least one contest. I keep having a recurring vision of myself with a life jacket on almost each time I begin to think about these adventures; I am not sure if I will stay afloat, perhaps? Maybe. I don't plan on sinking; I may struggle a bit, but I will fight to keep my head above water as I'll have the experience to learn many things.
This has been a great year of turning it up a notch, taking steps towards a dream. I don't know what will come of it all, and part of me doesn't really care; the journey is incredible. I am enjoying the moments as they are, not looking too far ahead, and I am anticipating surprising myself. This week I was chatting with my brother who turned forty this year (two years my elder), and we both agreed that if this was my "midlife crisis" it was indeed the most grand midlife crisis! (I don't feel old or at midlife, but take it as you may!)
I must admit I am not exactly sure what will arise or result from the rest of this year's writing adventures, but I know a lot will be learned and they will be experiences I will accept for the good and the not so good. I started down this path twenty years ago, and unfortunately I didn't follow my heart. I am just glad I realized my mistake relatively quickly and have time to correct my path.
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