Cinema

Dear Popcorn & Junior Mints,

You know how I am always talking about how manipulative films are?  How you are led into a dark room and then blasted with enormous imagery and deafening sound and made to feel things by the movies?  Well, that's one reason I don't often tell you what I think you should see at the movies.  It's a powerful medium, and a huge responsibility.

And so I take my chances, I take the risk of harming, boring, or insulting you, and suggest that you watch this wonderful film made by Isabella Rossellini.  Since I am in such a loose mood, I also suggest you see this wonderful film, Woman at War.

When it is all over, and you have come home to your quiet house and your packet of candy is empty, I hope you will remember some of the important things from these two films:

Making so you can know. 
Umbrellas can be offered. 
The world is beautiful.
Singing is required.

A bloom that is able to leap tall buldings in a single bound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

jumping jehoshaphat

Dear Jumping,

I remember when I first tried to lift both skates off the ground at once, a tiny jump, on my 40th birthday.  I was way beyond reasonably pleased with myself for doing it, because I was so afraid of it.  I have been hopping here and there ever since, and thinking, "gee, sure is slow going, getting good at jumping." 

I love to watch people roller skate almost as much as I love to skate.  I always believe that if I watch it enough it will assimilate into my feet.  Some of my favorite skating clips I have watched over and over.  This one has absolutely revolutionized jumping for me. 

The film is made by a skater known as Dirty Deborah Harry and she also speaks about critiquing one's form and efforts.  What she says about negative self-talk is mighty important, and I was so happy to be invited to begin to stop thinking about myself as not brave enough.  Sometimes, though, when you decide to stop being something or another, you have a little trouble choosing what you will be instead.  There's a little void there and it seems to need filling.  My top choices to be, instead of fearful, are plucky, valorous, spunky, spirited, and dashing.  The idea here is that if I fill in the space that fearful leaves with one of these other adjectives, I won't end up with something that sneaks in, something like foolish, rash, or rock-stupid.




All of the Dirty School of Skate videos are very good; if you aren't already watching them, I hope you will try them.

Good tools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Working Hard,

I have mentioned these knives to you before, I think, but I wanted to remind you about them.  It's an absolute wonder that such nice tools are available to us.  You can get one of these handmade knives for about $250.  While you are shopping, consider one of these beautiful leather objects, too.

With these nice tools you get a lot of the hand of the craftsperson, some of their spirit.  These things are made with oodles of attention and great fondness for the materials and methods.  There is a lot of feeling packed into an item you will hold nearly everyday.  You can't go wrong with a handmade tool.

The fellows who make these knives and these leather goods are just as nice a people as you have ever met, to boot.

Nothing but flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

300

Three hundred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safe as Houses.

Dear Concerted,

Here is the song for today, and it's long been a favorite of mine.  Try another version, too.