What I’m Reading: The Green Mile

There are few movies that I will watch again, and again… by choice.  There are several animated movies that seem to play on a continuous loop in our house.  I am fond of most all of Pixar’s offerings.  Lately, I’ve really enjoyed Despicable Me.  My tolerance for anything princess is thinly veiled.  Anyway, tangents aside, Stephen King’s “The Green Mile” is a movie that I can come back to like a good book.  However, I’ve never read it. 

Perhaps I’ve forgotten one, but the only of Stephen King’s screenplays that were worth a crap are, “The Shawshank Redemption,” and “The Green Mile.”  I suppose “Hearts in Atlantis” was a fair movie, I haven't read it.

The only significant difference from the book, and movie is the chronology jumps around more in the book.  Aside from that, they are nearly identical (so far).

As usual, Kind develops his characters slowly, but thoroughly; like them or not.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m listening to the audiobook.  Frank Muller is the narrator/performer.  I’ve always liked his renditions of Stephen King’s work, especially “The Gunslinger,” and “The Drawing of the Three” in his magnum opus the “Dark Tower” series.  On a side note, if you’re not aware, check out Frank Muller’s story here; it’s tragic.

Having said that, Muller’s performance is tiring in “The Green Mile, though not distracting.  I plan on enjoying the book.

What I’m Reading: Preface

In the last four years, which I refer to as my “dumbing down,” I have only read a handful of books.  On the other hand, I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks.  My biggest excuse for this literary laziness is simple: the kid.  If I were to crack a book in her presence, she would immediately declare ownership of it, rip it from my grasp, and begin shredding the pages.  Furthermore, when she was small, I mean tiny-small, I would lay down next to her to get her to sleep.  This was for both napping, and bedtime.  I began to listen to audiobooks to entertain myself, often in the dark.

Anyway, it just stuck.  I listen to books any chance I get: cleaning, driving, shopping and working out.  On a side note, I could never understand how someone could read on a treadmill, or stair climber.  That’s a complete mystery to me. 

Also, when I share the stuff I’m “reading,” I am not interested in offering you, dear reader, an insightful, critical literary analysis.  Like I said, I’m getting dumber.  I will share where I meet the author in the work; how I feel about it.  Feel free to post your impressions also, agree or not.

Lastly, this is a really easy blogging topic I can babble on about without much forethought.  I’ll write about books I’ve finished, and probably television and movies also.

Next up: Stephen King’s The Green Mile

Another 100 things (Prelude)

I originally posted “Almost 100 Things About Me” sometime in 2005.  Ok, I really don’t remember when I posted it. But I do know it was several blogs ago.  The page has traveled with me like furniture.  When I set up a new blog, I post it like putting the couch in the corner of the living room. 

I think it’s getting time for a new couch, don’t you dear reader?  My life has changed quite a bit since the original version.  I was reading through the current version last night, and there were several entries that I no longer identify with. 

There is no way I’m going to be able to bang out the list in it’s entirety.  I’m thinking about writing the list from scratch; i.e. not using for current one for a prompt. 

So… what do you think?  Lists by categories?  An annotated list?  Prompts by you, dear reader?

Also, I’m planning on a shorter list for my little pal. 

As usual, I encourage comments.  Please comment here, rather than on FB.  let’s make the lurkers come to us.

Things A Daughter should Learn

Some time ago, I asked my friends of Facebook what ten things your father taught you.  The response was impressive.  On further thought, it was clear that both the question, and most of the responses were gender biased.  Who’s to say which parent will teach their kid how to change the oil in the car, or the subtle tricks of baking.  The important thing is how to equip our little girl to succeed.

So here’s the list as I got it. My comments are in [brackets].  Please excuse the duplicates.

• How to separate nice guys from pricks.
• How to negotiate for a raise, or when buying a car.
• Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey
• How to say NO and mean it.
• Floss every night.
• Learn how to write well.
• How to throw a ball, and how to throw a punch.
• How to make grilled cheese in the toaster, how to make scrambled eggs and how to read. how to drive stick shift, to change a tire on my bike.
• My dad used to say never throw the first punch. But if someone hits you, hit back. I think he meant use your fists. I have related his advice more to everyday things. No fists.
• Ride a Bike. Finances. Saving. Standing Up for yourself. How to drive. Mow the Lawn. BBQ. Humility. Patience. Family First. Tie your shoes. Health. How to swim. How to get along with others.
• How to do a basic tune up on the car; oil change, tire change, spark plugs... It's helpful to know the basics even when that's not what you're dealing with, knowing what a spark plug is & where it goes will get you far w/a mechanic who's trying to take you.
• ‎1. Financial responsibility: balancing your checkbook, paying your credit cards on time, etc. 2. There are no gender roles: Growing up, seeing my dad in the kitchen or sewing dresses for me and my sister really shaped my view on the world at large.
• How to hit the breaking ball. (Go ahead, laugh but, it's a free college education) [I don’t know how to hit a breaking ball… or throw one.]
• Always have money with you.Always be alert in your surroundings.
  You are never alone, your parents are always there for you no matter what the situation.
• Use your own mind, don't walk into this house & blame anything on anyone else. Followed by : Be independent and pay your own way, that way you are never indebted to anyone else or reliant upon them & that gives you freedom.
• Choose something you LOVE to do as a profession because you will be spending most of your adult life working at it, & if you don't love it you will be miserable. Also remember that most adults change professions 3 times in their lifetimes.
• Only use credit cards for emergencies. If you can't afford to pay cash for it, you can't afford it. And know your percentage rates. Pay cash as much as possible and barter down the price in exchange for paying in cash.
• Waste not, want not. ( he was a depression baby).
• Always carry your trash out, the planet doesn't clean itself up after you.
• Always carry enough $$ to make a phone call & get a cab home.
• Always carry your own roll of toilet paper. And DON'T CHASE THE BOYS -- LET THE BOYS CHASE YOU.
• How to break an attacker's nose, change a tire, look people dead in the face and smile, be kind but firm, throw a football, not get walked on by people bigger than you, love to read, write and discuss intelligently, to love and understand modern art and poetry and film.
• Double every 11 and never surrender. [Blackjack reference?]
• Shoot a gun, how to drive almost any vehicle (important in the teenage years cause you never know what may happen), how to balance a check book, but the biggest lesson I learned from my dad and it has proven successful in life for ALL purposes... If your early your on time, if your on time your late and dont ever show up late!!! this rule helped me catch boyfriends cheating, get promoted faster in most jobs and always got the best parking spots!
• Charge a car battery. Start a fire (in the fireplace, preferably).
• Whittle a shiv. [!]
• Say what you mean. Keep your word.
• Your best investment is in yourself (that and buying a house).
• Carry jumper cables and know how to use them.
• How to talk books, film and politics. How to tell a joke.
• How to drive a manual transmission, throw a ball and not 'look like a girl.'
• And for the love of God - stay off the pole!
• Pee standing up. [I’ll let the girls handle that one.]
• Don't put metal in the microwave.
• Don't marry anyone who doesn't treat you as well as your daddy does.
• How to deliver an effective swift kick to the balls (only in an emergency, of course - you define emergency).
• Jedi mind tricks. [Out of my skillset.]
• Landmark your way back to the truck so you don't get lost in the great outdoors (amazing how much this helped me while traveling in other countries).  If you do get lost stay in one place because until the rescuers find you because if you keep moving & they're moving they won't find you...and keep moving so you don't freeze to death. don't every play w. a rattlesnake, either leave it alone or kill it because it will strike the next person who comes along without warning. get back on that horse and ride if you fall off because if you don't get back on & ride again immediately you won't ever ride again due to fear.
  

Kicking the Tires

Clearly, this is my first blog post in many years.  Im not sure how I want to proceed with this.  If you are reading this, I have given you the URL, and you are welcome to  suvscribe and comment.  Strike that.  Encouraged to comment.  Is required too much?