Cuplog

There is nothing quite like seeing the yellows, oranges, and reds of the autumn foliage against a brilliant, deep blue, cloudless sky. It is one of my favorite things in life. So today, I stood in my back yard with a cup of my favorite blend of coffee in one hand and a cigar in the other to gaze in appreciation at the perfect day.

For the first time in my life, I actively participated in a political campaign. For the first time in my life, a candidate for whom I had any enthusiasm won a presidential election. I had honestly come to believe that I might never live to see that day. For the first time in my life, I am experiencing post-election euphoria.

I did not attend any victory celebrations last night, but I am celebrating now, quietly, by writing these words. As luck would have it, I just found a pouch of one of my favorite blends of pipe tobacco (Peaches & Cream), which I had forgotten I still had, and I’m smoking a bowl of it now. With this smoke, I send a prayer of thanks to the Great Spirit for this beautiful day.

Here are two views from my yard today:

Autumn Flower

Autumn Bud

That is all.

I am:

[ ] not sure
[X] somewhat sure
[ ] sure
[ ] very very very sure

that I will be participating in National Novel Writing Month this year, which starts in… two days. Are you with me? Well, are you?

After watching the first episode of the third season of Heroes, I can state with confidence that I needn’t watch more. I can erase that viewing obligation from my schedule. I can also state that I do not need to watch Boston Legal this season. I am despairing enough from politics without any help from David E. Kelley. That leaves just two shows on my active viewing list, presuming they return: Reaper and The Middleman. Well, it leaves three if I include Samantha Who?, but I still need to watch all of the first season before I can watch the second (if it is renewed).

[Edit: I watched the second episode of this season's Boston Legal since someone recorded it for me, so I guess I'll stick with the show for now.]

I am excited about the first season of Lexx being released for the first time in the States in a complete box set (as far as I know), and the release of Quark, the science fiction sitcom created by Buck Henry, for the first time ever on DVD. They will comprise my October DVD purchase. (My September purchase was Space Ghost Coast to Coast Volumes 1-3 and The Brak Show Volumes 1-2.)

I am not at all happy about the DVD release of My Three Sons, which I was looking forward to buying. As mentioned on the back of the packaging, the program has been edited and the music changed. I’ll not launch a rant here at this time, but suffice it to say that I will never purchase a television show on DVD or any other format if it has been bastardized in any way. The customers who buy old television shows on DVD want to see those shows as they remember them. Period.

Thanks to Fox, I’ll never buy any television show on DVD ever again unless the entire series has been released. Fox decided not to release any seasons of The Bob Newhart Show or The Mary Tyler Moore Show after the first four. I don’t care what the rationale is, if one starts something, one ought to finish it. “Poor” sales are no excuse, because some customers decide to wait until the entire series is available as a set. They have been trained to have that expectation. Too often they purchase each volume as it is released only to discover that a “deluxe mega-set” of the complete series is released later, frequently at a lower price. Is this not an incentive for fans to wait?

On a happier note, I was very pleased to discover that The Tournament, the CBC television series mockumentary about a kids’ hockey team (and their parents) is available on DVD — the complete series in one set. Go Farqueson Funeral Home Warriors!

The Detroit Puppet Theater and Puppet Center has announced its 2008-2009 season. I’d like to see a few…

Last week, I missed a rare opportunity to see a professional puppeteer give a free performance at the Toledo Zoo as part of a four-day arts event that included performances by the Toledo Symphony, the Toledo Opera, and the Toledo Ballet. My schedule just wouldn’t permit it. It’s very important to me to see as many professional puppet shows as possible in order to learn more about the craft, derive inspiration, and support puppetry in general. I just need to learn about it farther in advance.

In June, I missed my chance to attend an international puppet festival in Nashville. It was not because I wasn’t aware of it early enough, but because I had some serious car trouble that also prevented me from attending a convention for which I had already registered. Next year I intend to see both, if my car’s health allows it. I need better luck.

I recall that there is a puppet theatre and museum in Detroit, Michigan, so maybe I’ll be able to see a puppet show before the end of summer. (Detroit Puppet Theater and Puppet Center is the place… and I just noticed that I missed a series of performances by a few days. Make that the entire 2007-2008 performance season… by a few days. The very last performance was August the 16th. I’m just not lucky.)

Well, I actually caught The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian at the local dollar cinema and was suitably entertained. I do wish I had a cell phone silencer, though, for those idiots who lack the common sense to turn theirs off when they are attending a movie, play, concert, lecture, wedding, funeral, etc.

In other news: Gargoyle Gang Defeated Again by Giant Robot!

I saw Get Smart and Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D this week. Get Smart was funny and enjoyable, but I couldn’t help thinking it could have been just a little better. Journey to the…3D was acceptable although unexceptional for what it was. (In other words, just about any Ray Harryhausen or Hammer adventure film is more entertaining, but it wasn’t bad.)

In my latest cinema-going update, Hellboy II: The Golden Army and Mongol are both very good summer movies. See them whilst they are still on the big screen. I ought to write something on each of them, but I’m not sure I’ll find the time before they are gone.

As for the Joker movie masked as a Batman movie, I plan to miss it and no amount of hype-mongering bluster or whining can change my mind.

There is a good chance I’ll see Get Smart today.

Here is another update of things I have been watching, renting, buying, and reading.

I saw Indiana Jones and the Something About a Crystal Skull. I thought there was a possibility it might be almost as good as the first movie, but it really amounts to Indiana Jones: The Theme Park: The Movie. Not exactly my cup of tea. On the other hand, it had Cate Blanchett, so it wasn’t a total loss.

I recently read Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death by Deborah Blum. It was an engaging read that made me regret it wasn’t twice as long. I’ll need to write more on this later.

Recent movie rentals: Aelita, Queen of Mars (1924), My Best Girl (1927), The Good Fairy (1935), Hercules in the Haunted World (1961), Samurai Rebellion [Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu] (1967), Kill! [Kiru] (1968), Red Lion [Akage] (1969), A Very Long Engagement [Un long dimanche de fiançailles] (2004). (The best of the above are My Best Girl, The Good Fairy, and Kill!.)

Other movies recently seen (thanks to the public library): Werewolves of London (1935), Bullitt (1968), Hard Times (1975).

Currently, I am reading Goldfinger by Ian Fleming, and I am about to watch episodes 6 and 7 of John Adams.

Movies I want to see immediately: Mongol and Get Smart.

Movies I missed: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (oh, well).

Be seeing you…

;-)
:-?