Movies

I thoroughly enjoyed watching 'My First Mister' (2001) the other night. Here's a short synopsis: link. It's a good story with strong leads played by Leelee Sobieski and Albert Brooks. The supporting cast includes Carol Kane and John Goodman. Give it half an hour and it will draw you in. Oh, loved the soundtrack, too.

Tonight I tried watching the third of the films I'd been loaned - 'Cinema Paradiso' - which earned an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. I gave it 45 minutes and wasn't even vaguely interested in the characters or story. I find the production values of European films to be very different to Hollywood standards - a sweeping generalization, I know. In this film I found the direction and acting awful, cinematography and editing poor and the sound recording bad. With a review like that I'll just bet you're anxious to run out and rent it - not!!

A Quicky For Now......

Being Tuesday I didn't have to be here at work until a little later but I still had my work out of the way in no time flat. I've been all round the web but haven't got around to my regular reads as yet. Soon..... well, later on anyway.

After a couple of high pressure, cold, clear skies days it has socked in again and is snowing steadily. The forecast is calling for a few inches of the white stuff, then a period of freezing rain, and switching back for more snow. It ought to be an interesting ride home come morning. C'est la vie.

There was a music group that formed back in '68, I believe in California, called Rhinoceros. It was the first of the super groups drawing it's members from a few different name bands including Iron Butterfly and the Mothers of Invention. Their first album, self titled, knocked a lot of people on their butts with it's blend of rock, R&B, blues and ballads. Woo-Hoo, I just found a website for them!! Turns out some of the members eventually settled in the Toronto area and are still playing. A little more searching ought to turn up some future gigs. In case you're interested here is a link: http://www.rhinoceros-group.com/index.html

Last night I watched a movie - 'Girl Interrupted' (1999) with Winona Ryder playing the lead. Angelina Jolie won a best supporting actor Oscar for her work. Good film; thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the counsellors I work with is a real film buff and this is one of three he loaned me. In a few minutes I'm going to watch 'My First Mister' (2001) which is directed by Christine Lahti. The other one is 'Cinema Paradiso' which I think is an Italian production and which Ken says is his favourite film of all time. High praise.... hope it's to my taste. Ciao.

Randomness

This is going to be a catch-all post covering some recent stuff.

At tonights meeting I got the full lowdown on how those DVDs made it here to my work. My director friend Cindy also happens to be in recovery and was to pass the discs on to my coworker at last Saturday nights meeting. He left without them so Cindy and my 87 year old girlfriend Audrey decided to have an adventure and deliver them here. Without knowing exactly where they were going they eventually found the residence and presented themselves at the front door. They dropped the discs but not before being invited in for sandwiches and a cup of tea. Wish I'd been here for that - 2 women in a men's treatment facility along about 10 at night sitting yacking with a bunch of drunks and addicts in recovery.

Despite how little face time we've had lately Lynda and I have had some good times and conversations. I admitted to her last night that I've been smoking occasionally and she seemed to appreciate my honesty. Took the news well and asked a few direct questions about how long I intended to keep it up and how I was to go about quitting again. Hmmm.... good questions.... not sure about the answer though.

Had a phone conversation with my daughter Sarah on Christmas night out in Vancouver. She had called Lynda earlier in the evening to say she was having a dismal day after a run in with her sister-in-law and had removed herself from the situation. By the time I called her, her man and Zeph had returned home and things were running smooth again.

Due to the plunge in oil prices we're seeing some major relief at the pumps. Last summer we hit a high in the mid $1.30's per litre; tonight on the way to work I saw some stations at $.64 per litre. Incredible!!

On the heels of that series of snowstorms we have milder temps over the freezing point and today it rained heavily all day. With the thaw has come dense fog - pea-souper stuff lying close to the ground. Rivers on the rise - load the kids in the boat. At least we don't have to shovel this, T.G.

Particularly during my work weeks on nights I try to post here on a daily basis and most times that isn't a problem. Things haven't been that busy on the work front lately... to say the least. Last night though I simply wasn't in the mood to sit here and write anything. No tidbits of news, no opinions to share, no books or music to talk about. Neutral mood and more than a little bored not wanting to be here. I wound up watching an old favourite feelgood movie - 'Babe'. (yes, the one about the piglet) Even with that hiatus I was chafing at the bit to be on my way at 6. ** Actually, now that I recall, I was feeling 'seizure-ish'. Had a premonition that I may have one; weird visual shifts, hallucinations of odours. Never came about though. (For anyone new here - mine aren't of a serious variety; more discomfort than anything.) **

I was sitting here a couple of hours ago when out of nowhere a guy I don't know stuck his head into the office and said 'Hello'. Startled, I got up from the desk to say hi and shake his hand. He told me he had gone through treatment here 8 or 10 years ago and was in town for a party when he decided to stop by. We do encourage our program graduates to return to the centre but typically that invitation is for during business hours. Preferably clean and sober. This guy wasn't, smelling strongly of liquor. He maintained alcohol isn't a problem for him and that he is still clean of coke after all this time. Well, good for him and all that but I'd say his drinking impaired his judgment tonight.

When I'm done here I think I'll watch a DVD that I've owned for quite awhile but have never watched. 'Stevie Ray Vaughn - Live at the El Mocambo'. (recorded here in Toronto back in 1983, released in 1991) If there was ever a case of a talent being cut down way too soon this is it. Tragic loss, this one.

Time for a bite to eat and then the movie. Ciao.

** Here's a link to Stevie covering a couple of Hendrix tunes - Little Wing and Third Stone From the Sun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAG-kX_IlUw

The DVD was recorded the year of Stevie's first record release and features all the material from his first album with Double Trouble. Stevie died in a helicopter crash following a concert on August 27, 1990 at the age of 45. In 2003 Rolling Stone ranked him #7 on their top 100 guitarist list.

The Big 'Aaaahhhhh!!!'

Whew!! It's over for another year.... one more Christmas behind us.

Interesting day..... not entirely as I would have liked it but, all said and done, it was alright. The only two downsides to it were being forced to spend time listening to the toxic spoutings of stepson #2 and consequently having to bite my tongue in my own house (#!*&%$, ouch!); and being scheduled to work tonight. C'est la vie.....

Once I was up for the day (but still very much waking up) I was tapdancing about the kitchen alternately trying to help Lynda where I could and also staying so much as possible out of her way. Dinner turned out great and right on time. Good job Lynnie!! Driving to work I was feeling the effects of a very full belly - chuck full of turkey, potatoes, dressing, veggies, cheesecake and apple crisp. Lynda and I were so busy we didn't even have a chance to exchange gifts. I left for work a bit early to avoid #2 and any possible confrontation and escorted our clients to an outside meeting. (Yes, A.A. operates 365 days a year.) Good meeting - one of our weekend counsellors happened to have been asked to speak and did a good job relating his story.

Things here at work are REALLY quiet; the clients are safe and secure being here; the phonelines are still. In years past it hasn't always been so; some upset and agony through the holidays. Looks like it may be time to choose another movie to watch. Last night it was the first of the 'Bourne' series - a good solid action film. Did I mention I've picked up another series of day shifts next week? Don't think so. Thankfully these land at the end of the week so I'll have the chance to reset my body clock and rest up to recharge the old batteries. I'm feeling all of my 54 years and then some.... due for a little break. (thanks again for your kind invitation Kel - if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.)

In relation to this blog's name - Constant Change - and the upcoming New Year - and my involvement in A.A...... I haven't made new years resolutions for a number of years now because my program is one of ongoing change. This does however provide an opportunity to review my inventory, track change and progress, and try to spot any deficiencies or defects of character that need further work. I got sober when I was 48 so I may be all grown up and almost perfect if I live until I'm 96. It's important to have a plan..... lol.

For New Years Eve I've asked Lynda if she'd like to attend a city sponsored alcohol-free event at our new GM Centre. It includes an evening of free skating (something I haven't done since I was a teen), an early music performance for the kiddies, and a later one for the adults leading into the big countdown. As chance would have it the headliner is a guy who ushered in a very drunken new year for me about 25 years ago. David Wilcox - worth doing a search for - a veteran blues-rock guitarist.

Scanning the blogs earlier I see some celebrated early, some on the day and some chose to opt out and not celebrate at all. Wherever you land in that range I hope your day was a good one whether in company or alone.

What's New??

Well, my work week began on Sunday night and each morning the drive home has been a harrowing, white-knuckle experience. Black as pitch on mostly rural roads; roads so covered in snow that I couldn't make out where the centre line or shoulder were; spots so icy it was like skating; aggressive drivers who have no respect for the laws of physics. Arrggghhh!!! Man! Weather! You name it; we've had it. Driving rain, sleet, freezing rain, lots of snow, fog..... the whole shebang. When I got up this afternoon there was rare and glorious sunshine so, in my tracks, a t-shirt, slippers and my robe I sat with a coffee and basked on the steps outside our kitchen door and enjoyed the rays. Beautiful!

Just outside a moment ago checking out the almost full moon and noticed Jupiter and Venus are slowly trackinng further apart in the southern sky.

Here at work the guys have been quiet this week - a good, focused group intent on recovery - and no one in crisis or with other serious health concerns. It makes my job a lot easier. It has also allowed me time to watch a couple of movies - something I rarely do on the job, perhaps 4 or 5 times a year.

I posted about having rented a particular one and Amuirin from Stop & Wander directed me to a post about it she recalled having seen written by Quoin Monkey over at red Ravine. 'It' being, 'I'm Not There', the Dylan biopic. After having watched the movie I headed to red Ravine to check out the post and it made it a fuller experience for me getting other perspective on what I'd seen. Of the 6 portrayals I was most impressed by Cate Blanchett's performance - we're talking Oscar caliber acting here. Definitely not to all tastes but I would likely watch it again (to see what I missed the first time in this multi-layered production). Thanks to Quoin Monkey for a great post and to all her commenters as well - see QM's post here: http://redravine.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/im-not-there-the-6-faces-of-dylan/

When I dropped those movies back at the store I grabbed one that Amuirin had referred to months ago; I recognized the image on the cover and recalled the name - 'The Visitor'. This one wouldn't likely have a wide audience but I really enjoyed it. It's a good story, a good character and plot driven film , well told in a linear fashion. A half hour is spent laying the foundation where you're wondering where this is going.... and it draws you in, pulls you along and succeeds in making you care about the outcome. I won't give any clue to the ending but I left it at home tonight for Lynda to watch. She called and left a message on my cell during our meeting tonight - 'I liked it but you know I don't like movies that end like that. Damn it, why would you recommend I watch it?' Well, I recommend you search it out and watch it, too. And thanks Am for the heads up.

A couple of shout-outs for significant milestones hit by blog buddies. Robin of Bountiful Healing hit the 'Big 5-0' last weekend. Kel from Xfacta and her hubby Mr X celebrated 20 years of wedded bliss yesterday. And over at Stop and Wander, Amuirin's daughter 'S' turned 11 years old!! Happy times!! Congrats all around.

Of the music I borrowed from the library I've listened to just two of them so far. Just finished Leonard Cohen's '10 New Songs' (2001) and enjoyed it. I'll need to have another go with the lyric sheet in front of me to fully appreciate it. The other is a CBC Records recording titled 'African Guitar Summit' (2006) which is simply great; nimbly flying fingers up and down the fretboards. A completely different approach to guitar playing than Western artists. Love it!! More info here: http://www.africanguitarsummit.com/home.shtml

Th-th-th-that's all folks.

Bad Blogger

Yep... that's me. I've been awol for a few days. See, in the past when bad news has been laid on the door step I've had a bad tendency to get wound up in it and promptly spew whatever it is here. I am improving somewhat...... in that I'm learning to let the initial shock of it wash over and through me before letting loose.

Despite taking some positive steps to get our various houses in order, life just keeps on happening and the happenings aren't of the 'good' variety. The latest blow happened Friday afternoon and Lynda had called me from work to clue me in on what was up. By the end of the conversation she was breaking up crying into the phone and I was sitting stunned and shaken.

Afterward while rummaging in the fridge looking for something to eat I noticed that once again we had no wine in the house. Like good husbands everywhere I jumped in the car to go get her some. Didn't miss my cue this time..... so, when she got home I poured her a glass and we talked out how we're going to handle this situation. Pick ourselves up and continue to muddle through as best we can - we have no choice really.

On a more positive note - We took the day Saturday to drive up to Lynda's mother's place for a long overdue visit. Driving was bad on the way there because of a snow storm but getting home was no problem. We had a few hours with her Mom and also had a visit with a couple of her brothers.

I haven't had a chance to get into the music and reading from the library but I rented a few movies and we watched a couple of them. 'Gone Baby Gone' was a decent story, well acted and produced. Not for the faint of heart though - there's a fair bit of violence and bad language. The other was the Coen brothers 'No Country For Old Men'. Maybe I need to watch it again but although I liked parts of it, it didn't sustain interest or hang together very well overall. Really don't understand how it earned a 'best picture' Oscar. The final 15 minutes had both Lynda and I going, 'WTF?!?' Tomorrow night I might watch the third one - 'I'm Not There' - 6 actors portrayals that provide a biopic of Bob Dylan. (I'm definitely on a Dylan kick, aren't I?)

The last 36 hours has seen a huge arctic air mass pushing in from the north and west bringing sharply colder temps. Tonight it's down to about -15C so I'm layered up like crazy and still having a hard time shaking the chill. Thankfully there is no wind to add a windchill factor to the equation. C'mon April!!!!!