Verbatim dialogue during viewing of "Help!" with older daughter:
"Who's that on top of the car?"
"I believe that's John."
(a few moments pass)
"Oops, that's not John -- it's George."
"Is there really a difference?"
Oct. 23
Folly of kids' favorite radio station, which seldom if ever notes performers' names. Thanks to office colleague, I learn that I have actually listened to Hanson ("MMMMMBop") and DIDN'T KNOW IT.
Oct. 22
Sports Illustrated notes that Patriots kicker Adam Vinitieri's great-great,etc. grandfather was in Custer's regimental band during his ill-fated trek west, but was left behind at base camp before Little Big Horn. *Sigh* Not _another_ "Star Trek" premise...
Oct. 21
Book completed: "Our Father's Lies," by Andrew Taylor -- seems the epitome of a "veddy English" mystery, i.e., restrained, civil and military. The last chapter skews all that. Still all a very contained work.
Oct. 16
Joke That Has Now Been Driven Inexorably Into The Ground: Washington, DC, and Promise Keepers.
Oct. 15
Scottish woman goes to bed with headache, wakes up speaking with a South African accent. Doctors say she had minor stroke and is suffering from foreign accent syndrome; only 12 previous cases ever reported. Question arises: What is likelihood of going to
bed with bland middle-class American accent and waking up sounding like Bernard Cribbins?
Oct. 13
The Old Gray Matter, It Ain't What It Used To Be: After excursion to area playground, discover I've left my nice flannel shirt behind. Upon returning to retrieve it, discover the vest I left the _previous_ day. At the same picnic table.
Oct. 12
Viewing: "Bugsy" -- Good enough film, but raises question: Just how long has it been since Warren Beatty starred in a movie set in contemporary times?
Oct. 10
Dad. He would've been 67 today.
Oct. 8
Books completed:
*"The Fifties," by David Halberstam -- engrossing and detailed, of course, but ultimately not as satisfying as his others, especially with what seemed a very abrupt ending. Curiously, it doesn't seem to have been edited particulary well, and again I don't find the index particularly helpful.
*"The Ice Storm," by Rick Moody -- interesting and unsentimental approach to nostalgia, trying not only for the accoutrements of the early '70s but to plumb the zeitgeist to almost uncomfortable depths. It's the kids who, in a sad way, are the most interesting and accessible characters.
Sept. 30
Local police blotter item notes officer's encounter with male engaged in, er, watering without benefit of a bathroom. Item goes on to say that "the suspect and his accomplice" were hauled off for evaluation. Under the circumstances, I'd have thought it difficult for one to leave without the other.
Sept. 27-28
"Dads and Daughters," part 2, with side trip to nearby Native American museum. Stellar performance by YD as inventor's robot. Successful launch of former soda bottle turned rocket. Viscerally exciting game of "Predators and Prey" -- all the more stimulating when you're at the bottom of the food chain. I could get used to this.
Sept. 23
Book completed: "Dewey Defeats Truman," by Thomas Mallon -- disappointing, somehow, certainly after "Henry and Clara." Too busy, overall, with the myriad plot lines -- resolutions of which were not always particular satisfying; such as the romantic triangle -- and the expository sociopolitical dialogue just felt more forced and affected this time out. Still, you do appreciate the background research he put into it.
Sept. 20-21
Weekend in New Hampshire, including overnight at Girl Scout camp as part of "Dads and Daughters" program.
*Wonder how many fathers suddenly had to learn how to part their daughters' hair, or tie braids?
*Maybe it's just the packs I belonged to, but as far as I'm concerned Brownies/Girl Scouts have it all over Cub Scouts. They have the smores and nifty campfire songs; all we got was rituals-of-manhood games and big kerchiefs.
*Stopover at Old Shaker Village in Canterbury proves enlightening. Shakers, it seems, were traditionally devoted to inventing, adopting or improving on technology and other resources to make life efficient (and clean), and to live in such a way as to Not Be Annoyed. Except for the celibacy, it sounded tempting.
Sept. 17
Possible "Seinfeld" material from Real Life:
*Female postal employee is discharged because her stride is not long enough, and allegedly does not enable her to deliver mail at
sufficiently quick pace.
*Supposed recent near-physical confrontation between Yankee owner George Steinbrenner and large, formerly gout-ridden pitcher David Wells (Latter hits Costanza, forced to become butler?)
Sept. 15
SpamMail received from site with name of "cyberamish." Virtual beards and barn-raisings, too?
Sept. 13
Relaxing weekend in old homestead brings startling revelation: my former elementary school has been closed, presumably for good, and is supposedly to be converted for business purposes. Scrawled sign on front door informs public of move to "Hudson Middle School." Classrooms are empty of desks, chairs, maps, presidential portraits. But in main hallway, an upright piano is visible, as is a "Claverack -- No. 1 in Reading!" sign over stairwell. Four years of life...
Sept. 10
Recent events:
*NY Legislature enacts law imposing same penalties for hit-and-run accidents involving cats as well as dogs.
*Mattel Corp. submits complaint over "Barbie Girl," criticizing song's sexual suggestiveness.
*Candidate for Greater Boston community political office accused of exposing himself to youngsters at his door claims he was merely wearing "flesh-colored" shorts -- and poses for photo in local newspaper to prove it.
Sept. 8
Aha! Two new Junie B. Jones books added to family library. Cursory Internet search, however, finds scant reference to her and Barbara Park, and certainly no Web sites. Do I feel a a sudden urge to be a site administrator coming on? Best revelation (so far): Junie's stuffed elephant is named "Phillip Johnny Bob."
Sept. 4
School resumes, and all are (mostly) joyful and enthusiastic: Oldest daughter (now insisting on being referred to as "Kay") actually
heard to remark "Does there _have_ to be a weekend?"
Aug. 31
Death of Princess Diana fostering talk of "backlash" against tabloid and mainstream media for constant invasion of public figures' lives. Dismaying prospect ahead for talk shows, special edition TV-zines, et al, tackling that subject -- mostly sound and fury.
Aug. 30
Viewings:
*"Junior" -- promising premise, but follow-through somehow lacking; at the end of the day, a rather conventional, stereotypical view of pregnancy. Ivan Reitman seemed to feel all he had to do was get Arnie preggers and that would be enough.
*"Blume in Love" -- were there any two actors more sorry to see the '70s end than George Segal and Susan Anspach? Rather a dysfunctional '90s-type plot resolution, though.
Aug. 29
Ten years! Ten years of marvelous matrimony. Celebration, unfortunately, is postponed due to poor spouse's nasty virus (which also knocks OD for a loop). Well, it's the thought, etc...
