tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69343215069818039942024-03-18T03:47:52.897-06:00Confessions of a Middle-Aged AdolescentYou can make me grow old, you can't make me grow up.Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.comBlogger1142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-82454543081368232682024-03-17T22:12:00.000-06:002024-03-17T22:12:11.546-06:00Numanoids, et al<p> It has been my best March ever in terms of live music. Today we saw the U of A Concert Band show "<a href="https://www.winspearcentre.com/tickets/events/other/2024/the-old-sod/" target="_blank">The Old Sod</a>" (featuring Rhondda, the daughter of our dear friends Shari and Dave, on flute) at the Winspear, wherein I learned that Dutch composer John deMeij wrote a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._1_The_Lord_of_the_Rings" target="_blank">Lord of the Rings-themed symphony</a>.</p><p>Last week Audrey and I saw Alan Doyle (formerly of Great Big Sea) who is an exuberant and charismatic performer, and also deeply enjoyed the banter and dark yet often funny ballads from his opener, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxxi57jQWUM" target="_blank">Adam Baldwin</a>.</p><p>The week before that, the Rare Hipster was nice enough to take me along to Midway Music Hall to see '90s industrial music legends Ministry along with Front Line Assembly and Gary Numan, and I was a little surprised that the act I enjoyed the most was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Numan" target="_blank">Gary Numan</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_ug92ixKXVgEkhA-2CdaqCQaR00cIivOwsVqek_9Pe-3NGMDlrt4Fhshrvr2IlcV55tNSBEsOejZME4F2jPvAT_2NsOdHCmdhch0YvCNppLZ9GSj4zmVVDowHFWaQfd1OL-3oAra8xt1SZEOO_5U541UhzPqIh5ORxg-o8q9EULEM56Qz2oZpzlVfOKH/s1859/IMG_20240306_201932408~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1813" data-original-width="1859" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_ug92ixKXVgEkhA-2CdaqCQaR00cIivOwsVqek_9Pe-3NGMDlrt4Fhshrvr2IlcV55tNSBEsOejZME4F2jPvAT_2NsOdHCmdhch0YvCNppLZ9GSj4zmVVDowHFWaQfd1OL-3oAra8xt1SZEOO_5U541UhzPqIh5ORxg-o8q9EULEM56Qz2oZpzlVfOKH/w400-h390/IMG_20240306_201932408~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I mean, of course as a fan of new wave and electronic music I love "Cars", his signature tune, as well as a couple others from his early days and time in Tubeway Army like "Are Friends Electric" and "Down In the Park." I had come across his 2017 album "Savage (Songs for a Broken World)" and liked a couple of tracks from it, but since the show Mar 6, I have been streaming a fair bit of his material.</div></div><p>I was unsure how what I thought of as Numan's electro-pop sound would fit in with the hard-edge music of FLA and Ministry, but the man is nothing if not adaptable. He came out rocking <i>hard</i>, with the synth tones still present but masked a bit by a mix that really gave center stage to his two guitarists. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wymr7xEvHLOMvh78VHHVreIExqtubU-JEjUtiMPwmcVTtJBOSUltkjbnYFZ0nQOlTSI9VC5rtVS9qcODDXM0vTys0PsZAu_U3z753E1cdM2PkvYqRlWGu1kcSi96hyqeszk2HgABrKrxObgfHKAayjMkIKPrA85GQislJ2S2UQxBpu9vcm3WgosAU6Pn/s4000/IMG_20240306_201930085_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wymr7xEvHLOMvh78VHHVreIExqtubU-JEjUtiMPwmcVTtJBOSUltkjbnYFZ0nQOlTSI9VC5rtVS9qcODDXM0vTys0PsZAu_U3z753E1cdM2PkvYqRlWGu1kcSi96hyqeszk2HgABrKrxObgfHKAayjMkIKPrA85GQislJ2S2UQxBpu9vcm3WgosAU6Pn/w400-h300/IMG_20240306_201930085_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It was kind of a short set for a man with <i>21</i> solo albums to his name (that is a new album almost every two years on average!), favouring tracks from his last few releases (Savage in particular) but still making room to fit a guitar-forward "Cars" into the middle for an appreciative crowd.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxGKokzc68k151v0UPROHjtkawAs55Ts7tyo2W_XxVEzooGGoB320QCeFJ1ckT9m5icPbgoATlRa6dKToVTwA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>When the album featuring that track, "The Pleasure Principle" came out in 1979, most critics piled on pretty relentlessly, mocking the synth tones he pushed through guitar effects pedals, calling his music pretentious and inhuman. He was even accused of taking jobs away from "proper" musicians.</p><p>Obviously he hung in there, and today he is not only recognized as a pioneer in electronic music, but maintaining a cult following for his recent releases, which feature not only catchy hooks and powerful, dramatic rhythms but also soulful and insightful lyrics.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHomCiPFknY" target="_blank">My Name is Ruin</a> (probably my current fave)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lHomCiPFknY" width="320" youtube-src-id="lHomCiPFknY"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My name is ruin, my name is vengeance</i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My name is no-one, and no-one is calling</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My name is ruin, my name is heartbreak</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My name is lonely, my sorrows a darkness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My name is ruin, my name is evil</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My name's a war song, I'll sing you a new war</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My name is ruin, my name is broken</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My name is shameless, I'll tear your world open</i></div></i><p><a href="And when the sun fell down And when the moon failed to rise And when the world came apart Where were you? Were you with me? When my light burns out And when my fire is cold And when my breath is the wind Where will you be / I will find you Dear God?" target="_blank">When the World Comes Apart</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P5E6RTDA7oc" width="320" youtube-src-id="P5E6RTDA7oc"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />And when the sun fell down</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And when the moon failed to rise</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And when the world came apart</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Where were you? Were you with me?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>When my light burns out</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And when my fire is cold</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And when my breath is the wind</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Where will you be / I will find you</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dear God?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c89ZzMUdNIM" target="_blank">The End of Things (Live)</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c89ZzMUdNIM" width="320" youtube-src-id="c89ZzMUdNIM"></iframe></div><br /><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Everything I work for</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Everything I long for is always just too far</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Everything I hope for never comes to me</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Everything I bleed for burns a scar on me</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Everything I fight for leaves a bitter taste</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Everything I cry for laughs into my face</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Everything I scream for barely knows my name</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Everything I'd die for will die just the same</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>In here</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>With me</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dude has led an interesting life (flying aerobatics, racing formula cars) and I am glad he is still putting out music, and that I had the opportunity to see him perform live. All 91 minutes of his 2018 concert film <a href="https://youtu.be/WYHkKGpOXqE?si=Ng34yLQQXykLNpyM" target="_blank">Live at Brixton Academy</a> can be streamed on YouTube and I have watched it twice now, but I will leap at a chance to hear him in person again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdTP58til8YFWd7CjOvW5hwv-fhKqOUBl3qQnWzv-1gfGoU4JekO53JkjGC_gL1P6BmtO64IVee9cT0irTNh_yWGq8T45mIPvXFX-5-ty73t1oXPc_Pn9CBjRPoYi8IZblwBme-Z4ISSxHvsZoAa4VigqQFArJQfp4iqRf3qAxnKtmbIq3nUiLTtjXGjl/s4000/IMG_20240306_203824597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdTP58til8YFWd7CjOvW5hwv-fhKqOUBl3qQnWzv-1gfGoU4JekO53JkjGC_gL1P6BmtO64IVee9cT0irTNh_yWGq8T45mIPvXFX-5-ty73t1oXPc_Pn9CBjRPoYi8IZblwBme-Z4ISSxHvsZoAa4VigqQFArJQfp4iqRf3qAxnKtmbIq3nUiLTtjXGjl/w400-h225/IMG_20240306_203824597.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-40973457180067523752024-03-11T10:43:00.008-06:002024-03-17T22:16:42.817-06:00Oscars 2024 - Never Kenough<p>In retrospect, cramming the Oscars, a Risk game that ran late and a Beer Fest into the same weekend that the clocks sprang forward was probably ill-advised.</p><p>The telecast even started an hour earlier, making it challenging to get the 8+ pounds of roasted pork to the potluck table before Jimmy Kimmel started his opening monologue (5 minutes late, as it turns out!). I think Kimmelo is a great host, a bit sharper in tone than Billy Crystal, but smart, funny, appreciative and willing to poke. His acknowledgment that the people who snubbed Greta Gerwig's director nomination for Barbie were in the room that evening was a great example, while his description of Robert Downey Jr's 'highest career moment' felt offside to many. </p><p>In my mind, acknowledging RDJ's troubled past, chequered with substance abuse, arrests and rehab stints, was a great reminder of how far this actor has come - this was his third nomination, after all, and his win later on was a great validation for everyone at the time who said, "this guy is amazing and will go places...if he can get his act together." After all, Downey made sure to thank his wife Susan, and described himself at the start of their relationship as a snarling rescue animal that she loved into life.</p><p>It was a night for great speeches actually, with acknowledgements of the ongoing tragedies in Gaza and Ukraine and the importance of musical education, but also personal moments like RDJ's and Da'Vine Joy Randolph's. There are still some laundry lists of thanks, but many people took the time to say something genuinely appreciative or meaningful.</p><p>Snubs notwithstanding, I was generally happy with the awards themselves.<br /><br />Oppenheimer winning Best Picture felt appropriate and Christopher Nolan finally garnering the Best Director award was a real treat which I hope gives him even more latitude in his future projects than he has had in the past. Poor Things, a movie I described as an R-rated Edward Scissorhands and which I enjoyed far more than I expected, took not only the costumes and production design gongs but a surprising Best Actress Oscar for Emma Stone.<br /><br />And Barbie, which was hampered right out of the gate with snubs for Director, Best Actress, and Best Picture, and which really deserved more recognition for being such a bold and frankly educational film, at least won Best Original Song for Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” But Ryan Gosling’s amazing and electrifying performance of “<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/ryan-gosling-im-just-ken-performance-2024-oscars-1234983025/" target="_blank">I’m Just Ken</a>” set a new high-water mark for performances of a musical nominee, starting the song from his seat in a hot pink tuxedo and cowboy before leading the cameraman onstage and joining five dozen dancers, co-writer and guitarist Mark Ronson, four of his fellow Kens from the film, Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen. After returning to the audience and handing the mic to his cast and crewmates to sing a verse or two, Gosling got the entire auditorium on its feet to belt out the chorus, with indoor fireworks capping off the entire thing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNgXQbH4QDQbLPQ4txurDRsHKb1drts6AMoRldsSAWA7mSEwPGCOmMyZKydYa_U-W5RdIHzbg_ZjmxJuyLIpCHEGGTz0bfxilZ8iqGnuooCfDXZ5LO0PGt45_lmCLQuChB5DEi460O1PixM1SeMO9OQha_BIYVnMpwg5M7eDOyuUeGf-2ZzSlxqWw2hg4/s1480/KenOscarss.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1480" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNgXQbH4QDQbLPQ4txurDRsHKb1drts6AMoRldsSAWA7mSEwPGCOmMyZKydYa_U-W5RdIHzbg_ZjmxJuyLIpCHEGGTz0bfxilZ8iqGnuooCfDXZ5LO0PGt45_lmCLQuChB5DEi460O1PixM1SeMO9OQha_BIYVnMpwg5M7eDOyuUeGf-2ZzSlxqWw2hg4/w400-h225/KenOscarss.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>In household entertainments, The Rare Hipster both ‘lost’ March of the Dead with 7 or 8 drinks taken (5 for me, and his last one was a bit dubious due to a huge slate of names appearing at the end) but won with 15 correct guesses for awards! My nephew Mark won the raffle for a free night at the movies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jbWpyNe-By-fsxSNA8WTkYVBKDUlAVz_hd0nqcpndfwGrf-_Fda2NUuuu202aiLms2itwmemA5Yz9QQ13zdlnLxSKvlv3sOwsJVNmN1pByCNGRXvAJzfxgG8AeZ8r6hfvROyLuKND3nTK3XPRvJXmziKmBFUKIwPTuqTcoSWnmbtfhS6BiPD1oKaxQxJ/s4000/IMG_20240310_202750601_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jbWpyNe-By-fsxSNA8WTkYVBKDUlAVz_hd0nqcpndfwGrf-_Fda2NUuuu202aiLms2itwmemA5Yz9QQ13zdlnLxSKvlv3sOwsJVNmN1pByCNGRXvAJzfxgG8AeZ8r6hfvROyLuKND3nTK3XPRvJXmziKmBFUKIwPTuqTcoSWnmbtfhS6BiPD1oKaxQxJ/w400-h300/IMG_20240310_202750601_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutrqT6rJCK1pWRw-ftqM04FrTJFeaEA60Hm4jinsgQ_3OFqhMreCxH5R3jgkoksUuF3X3oiO-tzQ-C6GJhyphenhyphenJbqV94SSHa4CPEs49Swjb4Tz1NrNSIP0lvgaTl43vb-063YrLiiwkS1JPY9hPzyfLL0j1F4pmH9IvWndGeWhefh1pOVylF0IoTHljj5CU4/s4000/IMG_20240310_203630893_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutrqT6rJCK1pWRw-ftqM04FrTJFeaEA60Hm4jinsgQ_3OFqhMreCxH5R3jgkoksUuF3X3oiO-tzQ-C6GJhyphenhyphenJbqV94SSHa4CPEs49Swjb4Tz1NrNSIP0lvgaTl43vb-063YrLiiwkS1JPY9hPzyfLL0j1F4pmH9IvWndGeWhefh1pOVylF0IoTHljj5CU4/w300-h400/IMG_20240310_203630893_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>And with the earlier start, most people were on their way back home before 9 pm! But the rest of us stayed on to chat and go to bed late, which is why this blog post came in late – apologies!</p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-32490526369997965702024-03-03T17:45:00.002-07:002024-03-08T09:14:06.483-07:00Balancing Act(s) - Dune Part Two, Reviewed<p><i>(Spoiler-free, I think? I mean, this book is pretty old...)</i><br /><br />Movie adaptations of literary classics (and I certainly include Frank Herbert's 1965 masterpiece <i>Dune </i>in that category) are a decidedly tricky business for everyone involved, from the producers trying to replicate success from one medium to another, to writers choosing what parts of the canon to keep, remove or change; directors and production designers trying to re-depict vistas, characters and technology on the screen; and fans of the original material <i>and</i> previous adaptations holding their breath to see how the latest interpretation has turned out - to their eyes, at least.</p><p>Director and co-writer Denis Villeneuve's 2021 <i>Dune</i> adapted the first half or so of the novel, and was acclaimed by many critics and fans (<a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2021/10/sand-ships-and-sounds-dune-reviewed.html" target="_blank">myself </a>included) despite being viewed as an unfinished work. It is hard to believe that such an epic depiction of family, politics, betrayal and war serves primarily to set the stage for an even <i>more</i> titanic tale of clashing cultures, revenge, prophecy, propaganda and planetary deliverance, and which is ten minutes longer to boot.</p><p>So does Villeneuve deliver the goods with his conclusion, <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15239678/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt" target="_blank">Dune Part Two</a></i>? Does he stick the landing? Well, yes and no.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyjL8i21r5rcPNaEz8pOjoRd7ZVbNFiVcJIjuUESYl3NaVJg4OltbPFPacghaVsICILR9gGjlPPvbWh1Jc-dr9KaqYTEmQByAGxAszl4CZaGVvJYCzi69NwmpFUTZ4HxWlCUKU4EsGl-HJf8OQRJwXqkgdfZa3s67GClSBdg-TQm5QyXJ9PUhmcR2TxwE/s873/Dune%202%20poster.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyjL8i21r5rcPNaEz8pOjoRd7ZVbNFiVcJIjuUESYl3NaVJg4OltbPFPacghaVsICILR9gGjlPPvbWh1Jc-dr9KaqYTEmQByAGxAszl4CZaGVvJYCzi69NwmpFUTZ4HxWlCUKU4EsGl-HJf8OQRJwXqkgdfZa3s67GClSBdg-TQm5QyXJ9PUhmcR2TxwE/w275-h400/Dune%202%20poster.png" width="275" /></a></div><p>It is a marvelous adaptation in the truest sense of the word; one artist rearranging elements of another's work to create a new version in a different medium. The broad strokes remain largely unchanged, depicting the struggles of Paul Atreides (Timotheé Chalamet) and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) as they look for succor amongst the hardened and suspicious desert Fremen. Paul strives to balance his compulsion to avenge his murdered father with his desire to avoid a galactic holy war in his name.</p><p>Meanwhile, Fremen leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem) believes more and more in the possibility that young Paul is the <i>mahdi</i>, the deliverer promised by prophecy but also contrived by the manipulations of the Bene Gesserit religious order. Jessica leans into this belief (and the possibility that Paul is also fulfilling the BG prophecy of the <i>kwisatz haderach</i>) while Paul actively avoids it, and his eventual Fremen love interest Chani (Zendaya) openly disputes it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJdwg-LyBVmojMbZ74UtPhWG0RJ1e_tsS7Abi8K86o5aAvKjc_t4MfoZZZuKKPnRiE0vu2vfdXiEO77SzngXYdu4T26PzZFO5JIhkP_ZxYxtea7AV3Jh6I9D1BQf2rEfl3dilAnmx8F1Wr-WIj6lczI0usrcZ7lqFsc13rCZfm445v255y955yXjWIRKn/s300/Dune%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJdwg-LyBVmojMbZ74UtPhWG0RJ1e_tsS7Abi8K86o5aAvKjc_t4MfoZZZuKKPnRiE0vu2vfdXiEO77SzngXYdu4T26PzZFO5JIhkP_ZxYxtea7AV3Jh6I9D1BQf2rEfl3dilAnmx8F1Wr-WIj6lczI0usrcZ7lqFsc13rCZfm445v255y955yXjWIRKn/w400-h224/Dune%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It's been a while since I read the novel but I don't recall the external tension being this pronounced, with so many disbelievers among the Fremen of Sietch Tabr, with the underground shelters of the southern hemisphere being depicted as more fundamentalist ("[Stilgar] is from the south. Could you not hear his accent?" made me laugh.) And Chani's perspective and resistance to manipulation is a welcome addition, giving her character far more depth than in the novel.</p><p>In fact, all the female characters enjoy more nuance and agency in this movie than in the novel; Chani, Jessica, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), and even Paul's sister (Anya Taylor-Joy) who, unlike the book, remains both unborn and unnamed by the end of this version. </p><p>Villeneuve has his work cut out for him, balancing the agendas for not only all these characters but more, as well as the various factions they represent. But he not only does so with a clarity the 1984 film and 2000 mini-series don't match, he still finds appropriate moments for action scenes that blend brilliant spectacle and scale with plot momentum and character dynamism. The first Fremen attack on a Harkonnen spice harvester is a feast for the senses, with drama and a real sense of consequence.</p><p>He also continues to display a singular and masterful visionary eye, depicting the introductory gladiator battle of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (a hairless and nearly unrecognizably cruel Austin Butler) not just in black and white (in order to differentiate the sands of the Harkonnen homeworld of Giedi Prime from those of Arrakis), but in <i><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/dune-2-shooting-arena-fight-scene-infrared-1235927682/" target="_blank">infra-red</a></i>, under a black sun. Amazing!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuuKW0eF24PzpR7jGRF6j6Ms337HoYMbxaA6wprGh4BC3dCmYy1kkuDqommVucj8p8Ew75H0ySXyOpYHGylxA2dkfYBw-ACxLts3-Y82_gDOQAOajYvBbDKJlIOxVsIJOGaAjgytYU8dIjl5e8RzV5Zub9YYerDg5FWYgtwfNAuOtpTq4SP_5xyRdAXCC/s736/Dune4b.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="736" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuuKW0eF24PzpR7jGRF6j6Ms337HoYMbxaA6wprGh4BC3dCmYy1kkuDqommVucj8p8Ew75H0ySXyOpYHGylxA2dkfYBw-ACxLts3-Y82_gDOQAOajYvBbDKJlIOxVsIJOGaAjgytYU8dIjl5e8RzV5Zub9YYerDg5FWYgtwfNAuOtpTq4SP_5xyRdAXCC/w400-h204/Dune4b.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><i>Dune Part Two</i> is a great story with wonderful performances by an amazing cast, but it would almost be worth seeing in IMAX even with the sound off just for the amazing visuals. And not just the cinematography by Greig Fraser (<i>The Batman, Rogue One</i>) either, although his sunsets, desert vistas and transitions between Paul's visions are at times breathtaking. The costumes and production design are artful and ambitious in a way that far too few films, even science-fiction, are too timid to attempt.</p><p>Fans of previous adaptations (including Jodorowsky's unmade version) may see nods and homages to them in this film as well; I saw traces of H.R. Giger in the cityscapes of Harkonnen-occupied Arrakeen and the costumes and architecture of Giedi Prime, and David Lynch's art deco flourishes elsewhere.<br /></p><p>And the sound! IMAX increases the bass and resonance as much as the screen size, bringing even more impact to the distorted vocals of the Spacers Guild (presumably?), unfamiliar languages, the thud of descending harvesters and the roar of cresting sandworms. </p><p>I am thrilled beyond words at the notion that more of Herbert's lexicon (Fedaykin, crysknife; Bene Gesserit, etc.) will be getting an even larger footprint in popular culture. What future filmmakers are seeing this film, glimpsing this unique world, and becoming inspired to create their own works in the future?</p><p>Now, there will inevitably be those who will say that Villeneuve and his co-writer Jon Spaihts took liberties with the canon and that they were excessive or unneeded, but I will not be one of them. Every departure seemed to make for a better movie in my regard, a film that felt expansive and epic yet personal and tightly spooled despite being the better part of three hours long (2:46). So why can't I be more fulsome in my assessment of Part Two? </p><p>For much the same reason I can't say <i>The Empire Strikes Back</i> is a better film than <i>Star Wars</i>. Without giving too much away, despite ending the movie at virtually the same point as the novel, the sense of resolution is muted, and the movie wisely avoids the temptation to tie a triumphal ribbon around the whole affair. Instead, arrows are pointed to the future, a natural point to pause (but not really finish) the story is reached, and Villeneuve, clearly a fan of the novel's sequels, has already committed to a third film incorporating Herbert's sequel <i>Dune Messiah</i>. </p><p>A sequel has not yet been greenlit by Warner Bros., but this is not surprising; <i>Part Two</i> was not confirmed until 4 days after the release of <i>Dune, </i>so perhaps the same will hold true for the next film? I certainly hope so and will buy a ticket (in IMAX again) as soon as I am able.</p><p>In the meantime, though, how can you judge whether or not someone has stuck the landing when they are so evidently eager and unfinished? </p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-83539335808823990472024-02-25T21:55:00.003-07:002024-02-25T21:55:55.366-07:00Can Persistence Overcome Resistance?<p> I love Alberta. The place, anyways. And yes, most of the people too. But there is a constituency I am finding harder and harder to abide; the ones who reside at the intersection of stupid and hateful.</p><p>The town council of Westlock AB voted unanimously to paint a crosswalk in rainbow colours for Pride. There were those who spoke out against it, but there was also a lot of outspoken support, and at the end of the day, the council felt it important to signal their inclusion for everyone and support for marginalized sexual minorities. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg07r3OVXSExYMCPQigPMlxnTaqbWUljPj-D3hnC7uG8QdpigWdCVmXZ9gegO_wJbl8eZeWGe02W2rbYI-hUB9cL2V87MFDxF8mcfCiK3xaTfn86ZF5AV0_kvwIqjvRFqPQtSwrVakDFDJfVqDNeDwH27Ch1xZIkiMukK5n6F60FQ0qFWgh7jd_YYHuR7P/s1024/Pride-crosswalk-Westlock-1024x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg07r3OVXSExYMCPQigPMlxnTaqbWUljPj-D3hnC7uG8QdpigWdCVmXZ9gegO_wJbl8eZeWGe02W2rbYI-hUB9cL2V87MFDxF8mcfCiK3xaTfn86ZF5AV0_kvwIqjvRFqPQtSwrVakDFDJfVqDNeDwH27Ch1xZIkiMukK5n6F60FQ0qFWgh7jd_YYHuR7P/w400-h225/Pride-crosswalk-Westlock-1024x576.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Rather than express their displeasure in the next municipal election, a concerned citizens group (aided by GoFundMe money from <i>who </i>knows where), requested a plebiscite requiring "neutrality" for all town sites and resources, prohibiting flags or other public displays for any "political, social, or religious movements or commercial entities." Please note this would not only ban Pride flags but remove any chance to honour things like St. Patrick's Day, the Metis Nation of Alberta, Knights of Columbus, Scouts and Guides, the Hudson's Bay Company, etc.</p><p>The vote was held earlier this week and by Thursday it turned out a) only a third of eligible voters showed up and b) the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/westlock-alta-to-get-rid-of-rainbow-crosswalk-after-town-votes-on-neutrality-bylaw-1.7120498" target="_blank">neutrality side won by precisely two dozen votes (50.9%)</a>.</p><p>I mean, bad enough that small-minded jackasses take it upon themselves to spill black paint or do burnouts on these crosswalks across the province, but for a group of people so upset at acknowledging 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in their own community that they would lobby for painting over a rainbow crosswalk and highlight to the world how intolerant their community wants to be is equally disheartening and stultifying. And knowing those regressive imbeciles at Take Back Alberta had a hand in it is not comforting either.</p><p>I believe this (re) post by Dr. Kristopher Wells, Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual & Gender Minority Youth at MacEwan University, sums up the shortsighted idiocy of this play:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfm9o-bjDlsB7MxvleSUJPAHRWIdVh5V3cQFOQvFVuj7v7i5qk4hxiZVgCVd0dMJu6jPwb1zCbzKpqBw-jDXSDPFo2aEespWLBojLB_ZJA9sW-0PzApQpKTBOKpOMCQyqCzbcIKmFjUHZETxoW7V577gNMd8Vkd9MA8jGAzVJbne7OHT6cx_12nXloGYw6/s689/ltr%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfm9o-bjDlsB7MxvleSUJPAHRWIdVh5V3cQFOQvFVuj7v7i5qk4hxiZVgCVd0dMJu6jPwb1zCbzKpqBw-jDXSDPFo2aEespWLBojLB_ZJA9sW-0PzApQpKTBOKpOMCQyqCzbcIKmFjUHZETxoW7V577gNMd8Vkd9MA8jGAzVJbne7OHT6cx_12nXloGYw6/s320/ltr%201.png" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8Q9rUhG5dgyYNrXq8twH1Q95ITd__lT_Y_-psQsLuPVWQd_mxE1DciDo1FCLArzGfaIudPC0p5XopgQi2BOYY7ASUwBUM7XMe12rKqIe87eBDbsxoejrF7HJ5TBn3CaeHb-vxz_wqPXv0TqOrD0WAUKm8suTjs6QCDPZYnt-9yajs7Wvr9MXEmwc1Vsm/s695/Ltr2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8Q9rUhG5dgyYNrXq8twH1Q95ITd__lT_Y_-psQsLuPVWQd_mxE1DciDo1FCLArzGfaIudPC0p5XopgQi2BOYY7ASUwBUM7XMe12rKqIe87eBDbsxoejrF7HJ5TBn3CaeHb-vxz_wqPXv0TqOrD0WAUKm8suTjs6QCDPZYnt-9yajs7Wvr9MXEmwc1Vsm/s320/Ltr2.png" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl78uo7G6uujYNhdU7EaTMKlCUCfMQYAg45uovmtZHUVUH8hoywVNOSXi_D8byZHZ6QH-tMAUfb8VxrpPPmodauc46-U77fTt9FdTlxwisL-ja7MCKgrREZSi4rznimxN8EiM_7djgFVKe1xhphwUaspwXXGS6Ja2EBOMQt55m3ThYNIDLk33BSQVqzJe/s1451/ltr%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1451" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl78uo7G6uujYNhdU7EaTMKlCUCfMQYAg45uovmtZHUVUH8hoywVNOSXi_D8byZHZ6QH-tMAUfb8VxrpPPmodauc46-U77fTt9FdTlxwisL-ja7MCKgrREZSi4rznimxN8EiM_7djgFVKe1xhphwUaspwXXGS6Ja2EBOMQt55m3ThYNIDLk33BSQVqzJe/w297-h177/ltr%203.png" width="297" /></a></div><div><br /></div>But unlike some folks, I still believe in democracy and agree that the will of the people (in this, case, the will of the one-third of eligible voters who took part), must be heeded. <div><br /></div><div>I am glad to hear council is already looking for other ways in which to support this particular community, but laughed out loud when I <a href="https://twitter.com/KristopherWells/status/1761165684577587238?s=20" target="_blank">read about this retort</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGIWEWviSFZzvOsOjyebt3q90rt4cyf60C7pWFC48KyMAJxVddRKSO7OK6YNdIgIrDDcDKcqQfhYXERXDGHvT-77AR4PIMWlNQBhiPSMsH2eJmeeuaPGS1RN2S_vqZyQDlFhCBDimnQHp7v88xAz7_WcpU_jL1tCSu2O7vjxhv7Ufv7Q5dk5M94vQk42k/s674/Screenshot%202024-02-25%20212308.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="594" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGIWEWviSFZzvOsOjyebt3q90rt4cyf60C7pWFC48KyMAJxVddRKSO7OK6YNdIgIrDDcDKcqQfhYXERXDGHvT-77AR4PIMWlNQBhiPSMsH2eJmeeuaPGS1RN2S_vqZyQDlFhCBDimnQHp7v88xAz7_WcpU_jL1tCSu2O7vjxhv7Ufv7Q5dk5M94vQk42k/w353-h400/Screenshot%202024-02-25%20212308.png" width="353" /></a></div><br /><div>In the end, I think yes, love and support will eventually wear down ignorance and bigotry.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just wish there wasn't so much of it to overcome, especially in a province with so much to love about it.<br /><p><br /></p></div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-61230134960657608752024-02-19T22:37:00.001-07:002024-02-19T22:37:27.173-07:00The Great Bookshelf Cull of '24<p>In the novel <i>Buckaroo Banzai</i>, the Great Man eulogizes a fellow Hong Kong Cavalier by saying of him, "he loved and slew, he made music and made merry, and never owned more than he could carry on his horse."</p><p>Despite the other differences, I feel people comparing us after I pass will not remark on my lack of kills so much as they will point out my tendency to hang onto things.</p><p>Not to a hoarding level - at least, not from my perspective, and I can't help but feel Audrey would not leave such behaviour unchallenged, but yes, there is an enticing, nearly sultry overlap between preparedness and sentimentality that can be quite debilitating, it turns out. Particularly when it comes to books.</p><p>Friends of ours are moving, and watching them go through the process of shedding decades of potentially or suddenly unnecessary accumulations has prompted Audrey and I to examine our own situation. And in a historically rare and fortunate alignment of time and motivation, we determined that on this Family Day long weekend, we would at last pare down our collection of books.</p><p>The stacks in question were six bookshelves of various sizes, qualities and provenance. Many of the books residing on these shelves were perpetually obscured, either by an additional row of books in front of them, or stacks of other items like compact discs. Some shelves bowed like the shoulders of Atlas under their burden, and Audrey believed the left-hand lower cupboard door had become a load-bearing element, but it turned out to just have been stuck. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewyaSXwpvbMT0z2phEPR1W-22O435Eil74be0QwN6QbsPL-gS4fZd5HBGZ1fuzyAVgIRSZd2MVKrEJcVAKoad2KiTak6jCWx3uLoQ7A9ozunUjWEWYwbyL3qyVP64imyW1g9q7AauuQ1T_ab5JWHr_lGaSPyV0-osb-x6DKlxYEA0jtN1PKcp8YGFc_cj/s4000/IMG_20240219_111307728_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewyaSXwpvbMT0z2phEPR1W-22O435Eil74be0QwN6QbsPL-gS4fZd5HBGZ1fuzyAVgIRSZd2MVKrEJcVAKoad2KiTak6jCWx3uLoQ7A9ozunUjWEWYwbyL3qyVP64imyW1g9q7AauuQ1T_ab5JWHr_lGaSPyV0-osb-x6DKlxYEA0jtN1PKcp8YGFc_cj/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_111307728_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1_eFR0i78M09bVyrI-nMMejpjlIoYFJEfaHgyu5tWKzF_Hm7nWOOy44kPonQ1DQgZDSBh75cS1wC1nyigIfsSKala8zCuhrxXTBRZewZ47Dz21js1-vgvBOiqIOi6uhygfWwvOwXqJ3jElMXrg9eIFSH-j1gFMYHGBUKMOalByiGnSLwN6C0ZgnG1pvR/s4000/IMG_20240219_111336744_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1_eFR0i78M09bVyrI-nMMejpjlIoYFJEfaHgyu5tWKzF_Hm7nWOOy44kPonQ1DQgZDSBh75cS1wC1nyigIfsSKala8zCuhrxXTBRZewZ47Dz21js1-vgvBOiqIOi6uhygfWwvOwXqJ3jElMXrg9eIFSH-j1gFMYHGBUKMOalByiGnSLwN6C0ZgnG1pvR/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_111336744_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkcqYtBp_fI0-EDDBPU6YGVHcFSpH9Z0psCUHJvJyCAhrAV2GNYBu6XAXacQe0QNoOpzmzWIpna_sfanBRca_PahJeoqbOogWl7fHvQZmbkriYHPRBEgicLyPwv1UGKB6dV9lRH-L1Ec8B4mOVpx39HnNQOpFAU1BIwPE0aR_a_iPBcTnjcQORphatyJx/s4000/IMG_20240219_111351654_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkcqYtBp_fI0-EDDBPU6YGVHcFSpH9Z0psCUHJvJyCAhrAV2GNYBu6XAXacQe0QNoOpzmzWIpna_sfanBRca_PahJeoqbOogWl7fHvQZmbkriYHPRBEgicLyPwv1UGKB6dV9lRH-L1Ec8B4mOVpx39HnNQOpFAU1BIwPE0aR_a_iPBcTnjcQORphatyJx/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_111351654_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjY7h4MO3gDd5je5z20-5wvRSM30eh7Kh78kBz13PTF96Fl7v7uyFpt7b2TC8Xz2Zl76-h1PfUVF6WBOa7NjALPncWHaPGPz895SmbsfuOjurWa9fkPuMoSBoLkqTHGvZ_hrioEOA9vOcJUkh-2Yu1uk_SysQjMiHYGBeIMbotWaZDbvabHLvVflC9omRR/s4000/IMG_20240219_111448630_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjY7h4MO3gDd5je5z20-5wvRSM30eh7Kh78kBz13PTF96Fl7v7uyFpt7b2TC8Xz2Zl76-h1PfUVF6WBOa7NjALPncWHaPGPz895SmbsfuOjurWa9fkPuMoSBoLkqTHGvZ_hrioEOA9vOcJUkh-2Yu1uk_SysQjMiHYGBeIMbotWaZDbvabHLvVflC9omRR/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_111448630_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />The gap in the second shelf from the bottom was recently vacated when, in anticipation of this weekend's endeavour, I asked my friends if anyone wanted my collection of Inferno! magazine, the first publication from Games Workshop's publishing arm, Black Library. Now I have the satisfaction of knowing all 44 issues are going to a good home, where they will be appreciated.<br /><p>A few items were likewise rehoused, but the vast majority of them made their way to the Goodwill donation centre, including my Latin textbook from university. I also recycled the cheat sheet I used to help memorise tenses and declensions and the like - by which I mean, I memorized the sheet itself and painstakingly wrote it out before every major exam; such was my challenge with rote memorization.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8arkbCZQu4bWUz3rI6XYgfQZwIhD-qSvmW96hz-1qoolClTIPoqK3A3tYot-AZa4dMXzwLZjTrkSz6VG9CpLhhD24WDl-2rqr72EcU2yRFSJLD0rGptRWZ-M2gBlvzIUIsGx04GA24C7yyISUWmJrDz-oFZ116ZLGDCiySybr0bvo7GLlIvABNrdRxMW/s4000/IMG_20240219_130641516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8arkbCZQu4bWUz3rI6XYgfQZwIhD-qSvmW96hz-1qoolClTIPoqK3A3tYot-AZa4dMXzwLZjTrkSz6VG9CpLhhD24WDl-2rqr72EcU2yRFSJLD0rGptRWZ-M2gBlvzIUIsGx04GA24C7yyISUWmJrDz-oFZ116ZLGDCiySybr0bvo7GLlIvABNrdRxMW/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_130641516.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOaLT-yvOcYm9Wn8q5TwI7ZvktEsaXi6QFSBpiYVvGtfzqsxTkJjrQykdB1AnmnFZlfXC4bsk2OEsMtaBBSk98FBNd_V0Fa71O-QMQRi0ERg1fXHFqUzEGcgHE_r8SxHQPMHPUjOwy8syUdFdfVcQHYsJLOPYZQ3Xdq6NVjqF9O9dFaLbhCRnHELI33hk/s4000/IMG_20240219_130622465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOaLT-yvOcYm9Wn8q5TwI7ZvktEsaXi6QFSBpiYVvGtfzqsxTkJjrQykdB1AnmnFZlfXC4bsk2OEsMtaBBSk98FBNd_V0Fa71O-QMQRi0ERg1fXHFqUzEGcgHE_r8SxHQPMHPUjOwy8syUdFdfVcQHYsJLOPYZQ3Xdq6NVjqF9O9dFaLbhCRnHELI33hk/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_130622465.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>That textbook and reference has accompanied me from Augustana in Camrose to two apartments in Edmonton, across the country to Toronto and back to Edmonton; it felt almost a shame to part ways after all that time together! But part we did, and from many other reference works as well. My rubric had a pinch of Marie Kondo's joy-bringing to it, but focusing on what Wikipedia or other websites could do just as well as these often out-of-date dead tree editions allowed me to be particularly ruthless with the non-fiction items.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before too long, the downstairs table was carrying a significant number of volumes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECLchLkk4ajwtVS7hEbZPOUr6ZUN_UZF8S27DmtwS5lk7wSXPhFpqpJneiaZ-miQvW2N5Wdmvbtl7K38gyjAEPOdJgvpfl4AyaQexUKgTh1TdzIQvM1ykUsfuJc0ncTAFKgCLCZNaXmkmk0l4j8JT-yJnjiF-OiNUX-5OsDU9RmRoSXkW47scKi7h4o8h/s4000/IMG_20240219_131837273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECLchLkk4ajwtVS7hEbZPOUr6ZUN_UZF8S27DmtwS5lk7wSXPhFpqpJneiaZ-miQvW2N5Wdmvbtl7K38gyjAEPOdJgvpfl4AyaQexUKgTh1TdzIQvM1ykUsfuJc0ncTAFKgCLCZNaXmkmk0l4j8JT-yJnjiF-OiNUX-5OsDU9RmRoSXkW47scKi7h4o8h/w400-h300/IMG_20240219_131837273.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>So much so that we exhausted our supply of boxes, so we took the half-dozen or so that we had filled over to Goodwill, and resupplied at the liquor store on our way home - with more boxes, that is.<div><br /></div><div>Being forced to audit one's accumulations can be a trial, and a blow to nostalgia to be sure, but it is rewarding for all that. It is a chance to encounter one's former self, as when I encountered two books I had ordered from Scholastic probably in elementary in Willow Park. I elected to let go of my sole Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators book, but maintained my copy of Lester Del Rey's <i>Tunnel Through Time</i>, recalling an early bonding experience with someone thirty years ago who I am still privileged to call my friend.</div><div><br /></div><div>I came across my very stylish invitation to the 2005 GW Veterans' Dinner, where the company would fly employees and their partners to the U.K. to receive their 10 year plaques and a leather jacket.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz-spuTe48Vhri89dVxgJHoJaXicMR0Y-AspmqQCa_oqRFL2qtcydqlwFUEXgW02WAx_wb9Nlo8QqC2pkpu8VqZsa2lS8fU6fQC0IYR2ywUopGUWR302hOXvXkhWmPqkcEqH7kk0UCAodSWpDebAQWM0zPvESC5iFNLNtOvAq9OS2hTATDhCQEWizVcdn/s4000/IMG_20240219_120805528_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz-spuTe48Vhri89dVxgJHoJaXicMR0Y-AspmqQCa_oqRFL2qtcydqlwFUEXgW02WAx_wb9Nlo8QqC2pkpu8VqZsa2lS8fU6fQC0IYR2ywUopGUWR302hOXvXkhWmPqkcEqH7kk0UCAodSWpDebAQWM0zPvESC5iFNLNtOvAq9OS2hTATDhCQEWizVcdn/w400-h300/IMG_20240219_120805528_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Glory asked if I missed it, the culture and all, and it's true; there are times when I really do. But on the other hand, my current workplace has a number of people who share my dedication to doing good work, even if the subject matter isn't quite as entertaining as Space Marines and toy goblins. And to be honest, I have probably saved myself a great deal of clutter just by not working for a maker of fabulous toys and games.</div><div><br /></div><div>From that same trip, I found what I believe was a napkin from the cafeteria at the Tower of London (?) that obviously I held on to because of a certain similarity in names:<br /><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TRRAicGeLvso6viE9lIFtBW6TFGpJvAdj49wdCOwj0optElamxYPMrU2OEKKotwJ82yVysobSI0Fn5nvTXvxgZeG8idRQFwGouDhB7g8hqbfIao6ZtNTZ8Is5O95TS8xQ2J4luq_z5sTLmNH4v49a-PJYxs6N2unWm-l0uV8kOiiHSvhaWTVHhKnYvF4/s2989/IMG_20240219_122403817~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2989" data-original-width="2557" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TRRAicGeLvso6viE9lIFtBW6TFGpJvAdj49wdCOwj0optElamxYPMrU2OEKKotwJ82yVysobSI0Fn5nvTXvxgZeG8idRQFwGouDhB7g8hqbfIao6ZtNTZ8Is5O95TS8xQ2J4luq_z5sTLmNH4v49a-PJYxs6N2unWm-l0uV8kOiiHSvhaWTVHhKnYvF4/w343-h400/IMG_20240219_122403817~2.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><br /><div>And on one shelf, this exquisite (if tarnished) box which should be on its way to Toronto to join its namesake before too long:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77xoSx4OlAGgAvjDtKG2CZsozMuvx73W1m9ZZz6xh-R13rTlgYS6zwi2O3EPUyM4G6w29IDGvj-K74LgU6mexnN0wInYzLT07_cBQ7TSyKyOBOH5sSmc2L47w-tJCXALuHkIUA0Xa0iHEv1QUpW9-4wEKHfFiPPrFSPox55a1mkMi3ka9B1Xqrf6PLmM-/s4000/IMG_20240219_121154979_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77xoSx4OlAGgAvjDtKG2CZsozMuvx73W1m9ZZz6xh-R13rTlgYS6zwi2O3EPUyM4G6w29IDGvj-K74LgU6mexnN0wInYzLT07_cBQ7TSyKyOBOH5sSmc2L47w-tJCXALuHkIUA0Xa0iHEv1QUpW9-4wEKHfFiPPrFSPox55a1mkMi3ka9B1Xqrf6PLmM-/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_121154979_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-au-7G0ZCw2iaeqJpFrJyB8WNi_sHoC1UKaWv4CWwKEQeeGEJWelQqV8fbe6El4p1mG2o2ZzR-RdSMANGQvpKfeV-sIj_YyOA2jg-hzfvWwYVG_kzjXqLoMnZuEaTvp2CBSdOOC8KwtVMi5c5l_UnySN9369uLhNvu3q_EnX3UoP1Zfuc4THJ5mMNWuJ/s4000/IMG_20240219_121200978_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-au-7G0ZCw2iaeqJpFrJyB8WNi_sHoC1UKaWv4CWwKEQeeGEJWelQqV8fbe6El4p1mG2o2ZzR-RdSMANGQvpKfeV-sIj_YyOA2jg-hzfvWwYVG_kzjXqLoMnZuEaTvp2CBSdOOC8KwtVMi5c5l_UnySN9369uLhNvu3q_EnX3UoP1Zfuc4THJ5mMNWuJ/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_121200978_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Moments of reverie slowed us down but never fully overtook us. By the end of the afternoon, we had whittled enough away to get rid of the smallest bookshelf entirely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU6yyEnlJNasHgf1zU9OyJq4c4hVV2_YFg_098yxZZPp5mwLVmxPbvC8IZLg8IXrLz7FPaPeCmxskoI6ikNJoe67s0IVzBJQIgCWtkrH9WhTcjtXjmRsszhjQXkIuUbPdAIHPWOmpBiEPp8oHqzNjMGQ7pgzV_jVkLeRAdJ9-aScDwl3K8tbp2iOQzfXJ/s4000/IMG_20240219_171313301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU6yyEnlJNasHgf1zU9OyJq4c4hVV2_YFg_098yxZZPp5mwLVmxPbvC8IZLg8IXrLz7FPaPeCmxskoI6ikNJoe67s0IVzBJQIgCWtkrH9WhTcjtXjmRsszhjQXkIuUbPdAIHPWOmpBiEPp8oHqzNjMGQ7pgzV_jVkLeRAdJ9-aScDwl3K8tbp2iOQzfXJ/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_171313301.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnI8lyiQ42UnTlujTBVoN_bMRL03a45vlnRNXWbXTJKZHOOjEEVxOmkMHPfNkkNOA5bHZNUMD_nDmS3ZLgM8crwiIBk_Z2Rq1jqzbEVBTgkBowzx9lZYC1tcvopar1eTZtiElVXo4aWgVVL-tnkYdL8RsPsFm15m11aThEzE2XX4yi7vnlgKMWDTRaKc3e/s4000/IMG_20240219_171145526_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnI8lyiQ42UnTlujTBVoN_bMRL03a45vlnRNXWbXTJKZHOOjEEVxOmkMHPfNkkNOA5bHZNUMD_nDmS3ZLgM8crwiIBk_Z2Rq1jqzbEVBTgkBowzx9lZYC1tcvopar1eTZtiElVXo4aWgVVL-tnkYdL8RsPsFm15m11aThEzE2XX4yi7vnlgKMWDTRaKc3e/w300-h400/IMG_20240219_171145526_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>In addition to being smaller and tidier, things are a bit more organized now, and there is still room for a handful more volumes. This was an afternoon well spent!</div><div><br /></div><div>But wait - why is Audrey gazing over at the shelves full of boardgames?</div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-76834009153128418532024-02-11T18:39:00.003-07:002024-02-11T18:39:51.773-07:00A Great Achievement in Stupid Movies - Argylle, Reviewed<p>Years ago, I was with someone when they watched their first Bond movie. It was in the living room at our old place, and we were watching <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113189/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Goldeneye</a></i>, I believe because a new Bond with Pierce Brosnan was on the way and our guest confessed that they had never, ever actually watched one. </p><p>So we tear into the cold open with its derring-do, wisecracking action, laser watches, et cetera, but when Bond chases a runaway aircraft off the edge of a cliff, skydives into it, and wrestles control away from the Russian pilot, soaring away to the strains of Tina Turner's theme song, they rolled their eyes and snickered, "oh, brother."</p><p>I paused the film and said, "Look, everyone has their own threshold for this kind of stuff, but if that stunt tears you out of your suspension of disbelief or whatever, we may as well stop it here and put in something else, because, in the words of B.T.O., 'you ain't seen nothin' yet'."</p><p>They apologized (which I explained was unnecessary), we resumed the film, and although it was not entirely their cup of tea, they enjoyed the remainder and said they could definitely see the appeal. They just had no idea what they were getting themselves into, and the recalibration seemed to have helped.</p><p>Watching Matthew Vaughn's <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15009428/?ref_=tttrv_ov" target="_blank">Argylle </a></i>today in a theater empty but for the two of us, I turned to Audrey at one point and said, "I didn't expect this flick to be too serious, but it has slid way past silly and is wading speedily into stupid territory."</p><p>She gave me that look that I know means, "...and?"<br /><br />"And I am <i>here</i> for it," I replied.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXauUnw7IWlwoisFl1ITbC4jVkNpdZYLrpylgxsRbxLxuOHtu8c3GB7rLC_jwYyeW2VeHiOzjIJcnFAzhSs4dlpcOBOKbTKjI1-ULN1HjPoe3eBEywoqLjntFPn_PxxJ3itxteqrR3PHXfX17unO72KehtaVwZ8wn7p4D-gkbWmcBQE7VGHMAC6qA4Mrq/s400/s-l400%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="324" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXauUnw7IWlwoisFl1ITbC4jVkNpdZYLrpylgxsRbxLxuOHtu8c3GB7rLC_jwYyeW2VeHiOzjIJcnFAzhSs4dlpcOBOKbTKjI1-ULN1HjPoe3eBEywoqLjntFPn_PxxJ3itxteqrR3PHXfX17unO72KehtaVwZ8wn7p4D-gkbWmcBQE7VGHMAC6qA4Mrq/w324-h400/s-l400%20(1).jpg" width="324" /></a></div><p>You probably don't need me to tell you the premise of <i>Argylle </i>is ludicrous, even by the standards of a big-budget, international spy film. Anxious, cat-loving Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), author of a series of highly successful espionage novels starring her creation Agent Argylle (dramatized by Henry Cavill), has her life turned upside down when a real-life secret agent (Sam Rockwell) tells Elly that her fiction has overlapped with real-life operations in such a way that a rogue agency is now trying to capture her to get a jump on what will happen next.</p><p>I mean, right away you should know we are further away from the John Le Carré milieu here and way closer to Austin Powers, right? But because this is Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, Kingsmen), the action scenes are both brutal and beautiful, lethal and funny, particularly when Elly's rescuer Aidan asks her to crush the skulls of the adversaries he intends to lay out on the path of their escape.</p><p>"What? I-I can't do that!" Elly protests.</p><p>"No, no, it's easy," Aidan assures her, "the human skull is shockingly brittle."</p><p>Anyhow, despite or possibly because of its silliness, Audrey and I had a good time at Argylle. It is uneven in places, particularly where it feels like Vaughn is trying to bring in some dark humor from Kingsmen but having trouble squeezing into the confining PG-13 box the movie required. In fact, he mentioned in an interview that he didn't find it difficult so much as puzzling - head shots are R-rated but chest shots are PG-13?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswxzXibeVCl3T7w2a9LdC_XdJcBrQPOk3x9czWE9NyPQ9PWG-c0bDBOiuVPKCUffrjU-SU_F-GtbwObpwt_bGI7iRE3U2-FX7lZkbY84KLBGP9XPrQWfvi8CjN-89DPRwBkv6z98WWo8ECgi83-qbNaBm5xqVD5CAgXmXkhHsqBXfh-vZzQIEK0ZTm7sN/s960/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswxzXibeVCl3T7w2a9LdC_XdJcBrQPOk3x9czWE9NyPQ9PWG-c0bDBOiuVPKCUffrjU-SU_F-GtbwObpwt_bGI7iRE3U2-FX7lZkbY84KLBGP9XPrQWfvi8CjN-89DPRwBkv6z98WWo8ECgi83-qbNaBm5xqVD5CAgXmXkhHsqBXfh-vZzQIEK0ZTm7sN/w400-h225/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Bryce Dallas Howard does a great job portraying a nervous person adapting to terrifying circumstances, but Sam Rockwell is a delight, as always; making you laugh and feel relieved but then adding enough ambivalence to make you wonder if trusting him is the right thing to do.</p><p>The book scenes with Henry Cavill are intentionally outlandish with a few too many CG-driven stunts (not my fave) and oodles of style, and let me tell you, for a gorgeous pop star, Dua Lipa looks tremendously comfortable firing a submachine gun from the back of a motorcycle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5gdxTTDEp2zX1YIykoe9RtCLaeR2PePfG46moEzBUaJDLVPRl_cmGVmgecFRzvpHzWQX9ZGXld9n4_j2zu-kAacRFmJMVbsOFwvF6Ex1Bg0lrtAwYmFxTVxEkFJ5ZmY1JThUCiaMliaSq0KhZv-FtNQqF7tDwMd15Xo1jqQGhJHq2m6GgiKi7jMCiuGy/s1400/b2f5f84a-argylle_photo_0101-copy-1400x486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1400" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5gdxTTDEp2zX1YIykoe9RtCLaeR2PePfG46moEzBUaJDLVPRl_cmGVmgecFRzvpHzWQX9ZGXld9n4_j2zu-kAacRFmJMVbsOFwvF6Ex1Bg0lrtAwYmFxTVxEkFJ5ZmY1JThUCiaMliaSq0KhZv-FtNQqF7tDwMd15Xo1jqQGhJHq2m6GgiKi7jMCiuGy/w400-h139/b2f5f84a-argylle_photo_0101-copy-1400x486.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>For what it's worth, I believe the plot has enough internal consistency to get you over the finish line without too many "oh, <i>brothers</i>", but make no mistake, this is a story where, in the end, they are kind of relying on dumb to get the job done. </p><p>In fact, I will tell you what: I hate when people tell movie-goers to turn their brains off and just enjoy themselves, but you are far more likely to enjoy yourself at this movie if you a) don't bring any cynics along with you and, b) periodically ask yourself, as I did, if perhaps this was originally intended to be an animated feature.</p><p>If you enjoyed the Kingsmen movies at all (particularly the second one), you can likely have a good time at <i>Argylle</i>. This goes double if you are smart enough to recognize when stupid works, but not everyone does, which I wonder is perhaps why it is struggling in the theaters.</p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-28826077603719029192024-02-04T22:22:00.004-07:002024-02-05T12:57:34.922-07:00The Grill - The Latest in a Series of Very Dad-like EventsI've wanted to replace our aging propane grill for some time now, and this weekend I finally did it. But it wasn't easy.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtIpXLYOgUxt3suZM0G7dEaUesPZmIIqCgKjs911cju6z1J_XUN76KHAiPR3qFd8uUub32kWjtiTALO3qRpSNNo0wq6NKSGyUBVDA6SpJBEEhMTA-mQAV1eiktlQL9H6KJ0Yr3sgEDMDNZxozBdsMujwPdfzBTRZ0xUFakfUXMk633s1ZwURndSmKzTfZ/s4000/IMG_20240203_131354545_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtIpXLYOgUxt3suZM0G7dEaUesPZmIIqCgKjs911cju6z1J_XUN76KHAiPR3qFd8uUub32kWjtiTALO3qRpSNNo0wq6NKSGyUBVDA6SpJBEEhMTA-mQAV1eiktlQL9H6KJ0Yr3sgEDMDNZxozBdsMujwPdfzBTRZ0xUFakfUXMk633s1ZwURndSmKzTfZ/w300-h400/IMG_20240203_131354545_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>First of all, I needed to convince Audrey of the worth and validity of an upgrade to a wood-burning smoker/grill, followed by a rudimentary cost-benefit analysis. The arrival of the Traeger roadshow to nearby Costcos in the same month we got our cashback coupon from our Costco credit card was indeed fortuitously timed.</div><div><br /></div><div>It took a bit of scouring but I did manage to find the Alberta roadshow schedule online, but misread it and took a wasted trip to the East Edmonton warehouse earlier in the week. I then accepted I would have to wait until they came to that store on Feb 6, but when I checked on Friday, the event had been canceled.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rather than waiting until the end of February in Sherwood, I drove out to Leduc after supper on Friday. I made my way to the improvised booth that had been set up, but was saddened to see nothing at the price point I was looking for. The two grills at my end of the scale (including a portable model) felt a bit too small.</div><div><br /></div><div>Luckily Brent, the Traeger rep returned as I was preparing to leave, and suggested the one model might suit me well, as he owned the same model, the Mesa. He pulled out his phone and showed me a picture of his easily enclosing an 18 lb brisket, another with three large steaks and a half dozen ears of corn, and a third with an entire three-pack of Costco chickens sitting comfortably on the cooking surface. When he threw in the cover for free, I quickly consulted Audrey, got the greenlight and departed Costco with my largest single box ever in the back of the Flex.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The next day I deployed a new blade in the old box cutter and started the unpacking process. I quickly discovered there was almost as much cardboard as metal inside the packaging, most of which serviced as baffles to prevent damage from jostling during shipping. One nice touch though, is that they print a cute cabin on the inside of the box so kids can play in it, so we will put that aside until Robin's next visit. (Although the compulsion to colour it is almost overwhelming...)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKtL-mIZuPBvXZ4UEqA7lNlTMu6YOUA_qkhFMUtwueW7w2OjiFayIO6I92QhcRg-2rhMH0diDWs1xmnURZE42uht7SLCgNDvct3N__PDzn9qC3XoMbe9PGEtD-yPisDjC-hnxmacwVSAjJTEve-c0HR4DdazhWrDq1mobt3AYdsL3SKh0MsmaGBg5jLgV/s4000/IMG_20240203_112612231_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKtL-mIZuPBvXZ4UEqA7lNlTMu6YOUA_qkhFMUtwueW7w2OjiFayIO6I92QhcRg-2rhMH0diDWs1xmnURZE42uht7SLCgNDvct3N__PDzn9qC3XoMbe9PGEtD-yPisDjC-hnxmacwVSAjJTEve-c0HR4DdazhWrDq1mobt3AYdsL3SKh0MsmaGBg5jLgV/w400-h300/IMG_20240203_112612231_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Traeger does a great job with packaging their tools and with their assembly instructions, although the Ikea-style pictographs really made me question the need for printing it in multiple languages...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRluS5W85rAZYXR3eur43UNJSeynBT36WBj4BRyKElFI70Ge2nKMuKgJ9bMMubFRRixKehxzKRpd93_lbBbmyqHun0F3ckjB8Tyorrqas8oiFgxyD-pZ4HURvqqnZa2Y4H2wtTGfnazez0ve7BU8dDNcJqT0vMFGDAfEMTuM9UqjM5u9bKdPQfAE1_aGL/s4000/IMG_20240203_113618852_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRluS5W85rAZYXR3eur43UNJSeynBT36WBj4BRyKElFI70Ge2nKMuKgJ9bMMubFRRixKehxzKRpd93_lbBbmyqHun0F3ckjB8Tyorrqas8oiFgxyD-pZ4HURvqqnZa2Y4H2wtTGfnazez0ve7BU8dDNcJqT0vMFGDAfEMTuM9UqjM5u9bKdPQfAE1_aGL/w400-h300/IMG_20240203_113618852_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Despite my misguided focus, which almost resulted in my attaching a handle to the <i>interior </i>of the barbecue (oy!), I managed to get the whole rig put together by myself and got ready to prime the augur (a motorized screw that delivers wood pellets to the heat source, or firepot) and season the grill with a brief high-temperature run - and here I began to encounter challenges.</div><div><br /></div><div>First, Audrey requested the chimney be moved further away from the house; fair enough; I placed the new and old grills facing each other beside the step, making sure they were both 18" from any combustibles.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkJiE3nNifCiQ7sQoXlI0k9JJmnsqz8keV44TvU6CZLGWvxZPpeRKuBWSgLzYySLcDb0BJ-0yeoeoL2RnJVWPOIwHJHF05lVokPWn09OME_4uDyk8VWZwAksn2un7enKgBBF_wEagOpuNrGOQjxXG_EqRYuAFqDErpNEVTcDxWyh5dDUQVjcpcbPLzQ3x/s3197/IMG_20240203_133019935_HDR~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2310" data-original-width="3197" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkJiE3nNifCiQ7sQoXlI0k9JJmnsqz8keV44TvU6CZLGWvxZPpeRKuBWSgLzYySLcDb0BJ-0yeoeoL2RnJVWPOIwHJHF05lVokPWn09OME_4uDyk8VWZwAksn2un7enKgBBF_wEagOpuNrGOQjxXG_EqRYuAFqDErpNEVTcDxWyh5dDUQVjcpcbPLzQ3x/w400-h289/IMG_20240203_133019935_HDR~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Grillbase Alpha</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I then removed all the innards from the barbecue (heat diffuser, drip tray for grease, and the grills themselves), loaded the hopper with applewood pellets and followed the instructions for priming and seasoning. The augur turned so slowly at first I didn't even realize it was moving, but soon enough pellets began to drop into the firepot. I turned the switch off and then back on, and turned the heat up to 450 as instructed, and was rewarded a couple minutes later with the sight of fragrant white smoke puffing out the stack on the side.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxrsSOc5W7E3h_YMYByQ5PVxJavLgkjZcqR9qbIV0i77S5lKSL9MK6uRD8npiXpwupss9FBSjbzTohmDdhSaA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div>This would need to continue for a half-hour or so, so I went back inside, but emerged a few moments later to a lack of smoke and a cryptic "HEr" message on the thermometer display. A quick online lookup revealed this to be a high-temperature error, and opening the lid revealed a small bonfire not only in the firepot but the end of the augur channel as well.<div><br /></div><div>I switched everything off, blew out the flame and went inside to do more research while everything cooled. Fearing at first that I might have a faulty temperature controller or something, I eventually found a set of instructions on the Traeger that differed from those in my manual. This set added a step where you replaced the grills, drip tray and diffuser I had removed, which made sense to me since they felt tacky to the touch and undoubtedly had some sort of solvent or other compound that needed removal via heat. </div><div><br /></div><div>The second priming proceeded uneventfully, so I will say Trager makes a great product but their documentation and website could use some work. Oh, and yeah, that ended up being a <i>lot </i>of cardboard when I was done too. But now that my Trager was food-ready, I had still more work to do.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5j8kQnP0nsY-Md4T9VP21vzEwrwVp3JZ-5MOleCMIExBLzuWetrOQ_2dlk7dfUC4P0dZDD1TUuaquKI9GWLzqPy8d9RFOQmkc9p3bukpuorvz47cHBlpbPQJl4lux-dM_-KsaoN9M5ARj4xQH1xuPq_rGOaXTVixvD1ikgS2QX37nNTJxyfaHCFzL8sT/s4000/IMG_20240203_150954646_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5j8kQnP0nsY-Md4T9VP21vzEwrwVp3JZ-5MOleCMIExBLzuWetrOQ_2dlk7dfUC4P0dZDD1TUuaquKI9GWLzqPy8d9RFOQmkc9p3bukpuorvz47cHBlpbPQJl4lux-dM_-KsaoN9M5ARj4xQH1xuPq_rGOaXTVixvD1ikgS2QX37nNTJxyfaHCFzL8sT/w300-h400/IMG_20240203_150954646_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I raced out to the nearby Peavey Mart to grab some liners for the grease bucket that hangs off the end of the grill, but they had no welding blankets, which were suggested to me as an insulator against the cold. Next stop was to Costco for the three-pack of chicken so I would actually have something to cook the next night, and finally off to Princess Auto to grab the welding blanket and a steel pail for collecting ashes in.</div><div><br /></div><div>Returning home, I froze one of the chickens and prepared a brine for the other two, using a mix of kosher and smoked salt, plus brown sugar. The next day, I rinsed the birds, lightly salted them, and added rosemary, smoked paprika, and fresh ground pepper, then put them on the preheated grill at 225 to smoke for an hour. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBDYGLbCs8ETFp1OWKetB8iX_OESt06q4JfOnjJBMJ0HKPyu6UhwC3zbQaF8GkmOzIwYIpOVVdE5xepLrvqtl0H0w1DKjK0LQfmPJ_KHrAXDYg7R6Fz4L97I4B44SjZMhnAXYtqxUVltIaLO0brmYAarIN0996OmN960g44smL_nNk9ebdP1Jylq3r4F1/s4000/IMG_20240204_181414386_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBDYGLbCs8ETFp1OWKetB8iX_OESt06q4JfOnjJBMJ0HKPyu6UhwC3zbQaF8GkmOzIwYIpOVVdE5xepLrvqtl0H0w1DKjK0LQfmPJ_KHrAXDYg7R6Fz4L97I4B44SjZMhnAXYtqxUVltIaLO0brmYAarIN0996OmN960g44smL_nNk9ebdP1Jylq3r4F1/s320/IMG_20240204_181414386_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Traeger is meant to function using smoky, indirect heat with the door closed as much as possible, a real switch-up from my constant minding, flipping, and avoiding cold spots and flare-ups on the propane grill. Putting the welding blanket over top of it in order to regulate the temperature and potentially conserve fuel was a real aid to this. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is a port in the side so you can insert the included meat probe that displays on the grill's thermometer, but I subbed in my faithful wireless model so I could keep tabs on the temp while remaining indoors.</div><div><br /></div><div>After an hour, I added an aluminum tray of little potatoes tossed in olive oil and a seasoning mix called El Chupacabra I had brought home from Texas, then turned the heat up to 375 to crisp up the skin on the chickens.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was around 10 below and breezy during most of my first cook, but about 70 minutes later, the thermometer chirped that the chickens had reached 165 degrees, so I went out and brought all the food inside. If nothing else, it certainly all <i>looked </i>appetizing!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuoV2um34UPjZJJKdB9PYKrNnP4xZH1rESFypbcQ_-TNL1L_ACy-dY3heNXiIqW8HcCQiJon6WW25l8ZRWAEi2WZr84npoD87a-y9doEAY7-m3kUaE19U68-QcPDVdbD6P1df6utlB79SPPbY4i7Nnv40CRFY2EWJ4BanW9T_ajVdvOxdEPNXoaD57olj/s3105/IMG_20240204_181651847~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2303" data-original-width="3105" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuoV2um34UPjZJJKdB9PYKrNnP4xZH1rESFypbcQ_-TNL1L_ACy-dY3heNXiIqW8HcCQiJon6WW25l8ZRWAEi2WZr84npoD87a-y9doEAY7-m3kUaE19U68-QcPDVdbD6P1df6utlB79SPPbY4i7Nnv40CRFY2EWJ4BanW9T_ajVdvOxdEPNXoaD57olj/w400-h296/IMG_20240204_181651847~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Audrey and Glory were returning from High River and it was tedious going thanks to the snow along most of the way, so the dinner waited in the oven for about 45 minutes until they arrived. Meanwhile, I cooked the potatoes for another 5 minutes in the microwave, since being uncovered, they were still crunchier than I wanted.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon after the family got home, we carved into the chicken, which was a smidgen on the pink side, but which Brent had warned me about and assured me was still safe. We ate with gusto, and although the potatoes were a bit of a letdown (lesson learned - get them covered!), the brining and smoking had provided us with moist, flavourful chicken.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELWJFbgqugJxlYR7i9xpt5Jq8IO2HOg3tDRo6PMeFXgCCVe7MqMHJhQr3mkbcctWBFDb3q52ffaJNYpLf3zpuvSB4-ZWTf-OW8o7VpZzPW2slX5_qWnb_4VoHMa1zH8snTlJQdcYz2OCv_YwAjw6QwSrBywsSw1MaDGjF4Ks8e8WdrHjhE4vm5ymSSupt/s4000/IMG_20240204_182038099_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELWJFbgqugJxlYR7i9xpt5Jq8IO2HOg3tDRo6PMeFXgCCVe7MqMHJhQr3mkbcctWBFDb3q52ffaJNYpLf3zpuvSB4-ZWTf-OW8o7VpZzPW2slX5_qWnb_4VoHMa1zH8snTlJQdcYz2OCv_YwAjw6QwSrBywsSw1MaDGjF4Ks8e8WdrHjhE4vm5ymSSupt/w400-h300/IMG_20240204_182038099_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So! First meal completed within 48 hours of purchase, and I was very pleased with both how it turned out and how easy it was to prepare. With the grill itself managing the temperature and the flow of wood to the fire, the Traeger is largely a 'set it and forget it' affair, which is right up my alley, frankly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps next time I will forgo the brining in favour of a saltier rub, or try our beloved beer can chicken instead. I am perusing recipes online at the Traeger site and elsewhere, and bookmarking furiously. <a href="https://www.traeger.com/recipes/cincinnati-chili" target="_blank">Cincinnati chili?</a> Never heard of it, looks interesting. Ribs? Obviously needs to happen at some point. Brisket? Hmm, maybe in the summer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wait a minute -there's a cocktail section? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqvdJm1I8GtIZ3zNCNzAYRevEWe7CRfouuamcHrP2RtPD7StAhx9Mi9JePFOI8DAQWrgQ3mlIsfau31MKQ0IHGFcLptjQBQGzdoV-bm1Yxsz29PV3cO1verZer_HQSl7AriLTaBORJ_x7F7O-VXhW-2EL5bo-cvUmgTRPks_q4qxS3KmXCZ6_D_JZqaLK/s625/006c259106d5d1beabae3f6364a332c9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="625" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqvdJm1I8GtIZ3zNCNzAYRevEWe7CRfouuamcHrP2RtPD7StAhx9Mi9JePFOI8DAQWrgQ3mlIsfau31MKQ0IHGFcLptjQBQGzdoV-bm1Yxsz29PV3cO1verZer_HQSl7AriLTaBORJ_x7F7O-VXhW-2EL5bo-cvUmgTRPks_q4qxS3KmXCZ6_D_JZqaLK/w400-h239/006c259106d5d1beabae3f6364a332c9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-71505374883711205282024-01-28T21:22:00.000-07:002024-01-28T21:22:10.738-07:00Dog, Gone<p>First of all, Canéla is fine, sorry,- it's the <i>other </i>dog, <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2023/12/gone-to-dogs-skyes-arrival.html" target="_blank">Skye</a>, who has gone.</p><p>Yes, after three months with us, she has gone to live with Fenya and Bobby in Toronto. It was impractical to send her out there before Christmas, since the two of them would be joining us in Texas, and in Edmonton before that, and her cargo flight Jan 13 was canceled due to extreme cold here and snowy conditions at YYZ.</p><p>The nice people at WetJet Cargo called me at 9:30 the night before to let me know, and gave me the opportunity to re-book her right away, which was appreciated. </p><p>Skye's kennel was already prepped, with a rubber-bottomed bathmat in the bottom, her bed atop that and the single toy permitted, a squeaky, crinkly, purple bat, already ensconced. Rather than give her a water bottle for the flight, the vet suggested we preload the little mongrel with moisture by soaking her food with water in the days prior to travelling.</p><p>Thanks in part to the bitter cold we had experienced and a generally laissez-faire attitude to policing her own defecations, Skye had pretty much abandoned pooping outside during her last week with us, which made the upcoming departure as much a relief as it was a sad parting. Most incredibly, Skye had no tells whatsoever indicating she might or already had pooped somewhere in the house, and my best indicator was embarrassed behaviour by Canéla. Skye remained a creature with no discernible shame throughout her time with us.</p><p>Still, having said that, it was a bittersweet goodbye at the house when I loaded her and her kennel into the Corolla and took her to the Swissport building at EIA (which, btw, ignore the Google Maps directions that suggest you drive past Guardhouse One and onto the tarmac in order to enter).</p><p>I knew I was in the right place because the lady ahead of me in line had a 10-week-old puppy named Riley who was also flying to TO on his own. While her kennel was being weighed, I tried to get her to drink a little or at least go pee, but she was just too distracted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFblDIT3_EVBSU0oa7Ait5HYuwkbVioiXywoJXSqS1gqVz9LpkAJnDmEoYIAzKhsiGIBJWlOAutJUH-doZCf9ILAwG30wotTym9fqNFIuRW0b0dZLniLpeJ87KAeDyvCPJEBI4oymMcPFA6uBLbfSiB67CrXKQjsiv0gvKPUrMJAKHNJXp-ZuNUVv7bAw/s4000/IMG_20240120_102706588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFblDIT3_EVBSU0oa7Ait5HYuwkbVioiXywoJXSqS1gqVz9LpkAJnDmEoYIAzKhsiGIBJWlOAutJUH-doZCf9ILAwG30wotTym9fqNFIuRW0b0dZLniLpeJ87KAeDyvCPJEBI4oymMcPFA6uBLbfSiB67CrXKQjsiv0gvKPUrMJAKHNJXp-ZuNUVv7bAw/w300-h400/IMG_20240120_102706588.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>And no, she was none too eager to go into the kennel on the scale the first time, but the second time she lay down and was quiet, at least initially.</p><p>I let the TO crew know she was going to be leaving shortly, and returned home, checking her progress periodically on FlightAware.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGscnQHsHAMljP1_qpPh33n0h2LtBgmONI2pinYkimrluFLJQBQW_4IhPIukKzxmkypDTEeQh45QEeNEOfzFd2xxOtBwhjyi-O3OtqQHEATpGt-mj7Jt1YPNVpcPk9mAo7VN0QmiyQLh7U0N-ntNNkLMOmuhjfXlI8nyhzXuOIylDCCAX-0kiKfC1W1Gv/s1344/Screenshot%202024-01-28%20203350.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1344" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGscnQHsHAMljP1_qpPh33n0h2LtBgmONI2pinYkimrluFLJQBQW_4IhPIukKzxmkypDTEeQh45QEeNEOfzFd2xxOtBwhjyi-O3OtqQHEATpGt-mj7Jt1YPNVpcPk9mAo7VN0QmiyQLh7U0N-ntNNkLMOmuhjfXlI8nyhzXuOIylDCCAX-0kiKfC1W1Gv/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-28%20203350.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>And that night, Fenya and Bobby made their way to Canada's busiest airport (actually a warehouse at Pearson, not one of the terminals), and before too long, they spotted Skye's kennel.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9ZdRlimBl0K1kfDvNYI7_4n6E3oJj2kzSts7PGmo68furyob55sgNzZRnzS2xqCNhS3_LNvSI9zbjmSUTv6wxp59sV1gNfAQgEt6HYvus4i-etzpn9Wl1IvZS48A3mA57_U8dugxDr4NBjo_Cqz6fiUifkWRQPJpFAf9ZxdrcwG5OyJJogs_nxTDIUdN/s907/IMG_20240128_204817_050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="683" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9ZdRlimBl0K1kfDvNYI7_4n6E3oJj2kzSts7PGmo68furyob55sgNzZRnzS2xqCNhS3_LNvSI9zbjmSUTv6wxp59sV1gNfAQgEt6HYvus4i-etzpn9Wl1IvZS48A3mA57_U8dugxDr4NBjo_Cqz6fiUifkWRQPJpFAf9ZxdrcwG5OyJJogs_nxTDIUdN/w301-h400/IMG_20240128_204817_050.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V51OOFreeHvm-tSoea3TsrGXno1M6lyN87jmTqHlxiWdRHFptoagEGlVtGDxl-P8yhJJY72bGp9trU3zTKTOKWLDwSqqyu6ZhAVz3cI2HsdXoAGDrAc_sU_jBvPDw8qWupLjBmGCIojo5M_UCpX_pJSQyXg3xqEcQU6LkcerFD6E1h0a_a8nwCGdRs7w/s1020/Skye%20YYZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V51OOFreeHvm-tSoea3TsrGXno1M6lyN87jmTqHlxiWdRHFptoagEGlVtGDxl-P8yhJJY72bGp9trU3zTKTOKWLDwSqqyu6ZhAVz3cI2HsdXoAGDrAc_sU_jBvPDw8qWupLjBmGCIojo5M_UCpX_pJSQyXg3xqEcQU6LkcerFD6E1h0a_a8nwCGdRs7w/w301-h400/Skye%20YYZ.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p>Not long after that, they presented their paperwork, collected the kennel and let her out for the first time in around six hours. Amazingly the kennel was dry, and having slept in their bed a few times before Christmas, Skye was eager to see them, and showed no signs of trauma from her experience. </p><p>And now Skye is a big city dog! Living with Fenya and Bobby in their apartment near Cabbagetown, and we got to see her chilling with them on the futon during online D&D Friday night.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKNM6gEuc1IkBOB8q1BRKG1-fu9NF1WPk7v7xcW-yb0iJ_XKxVoueJxA6yz8yD4lxEsk8sqKEQO7uka18NnAXOIKub5enDd9HzPC6OYJTYHpJs8qykBffT44oBLINjT9efBm1lqPcEN2LGyOpnKM48-BFGLUwiM0bbNc-9haQP27Dw-KIYkf_33h3yILr/s1020/IMG_20240128_204724_856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKNM6gEuc1IkBOB8q1BRKG1-fu9NF1WPk7v7xcW-yb0iJ_XKxVoueJxA6yz8yD4lxEsk8sqKEQO7uka18NnAXOIKub5enDd9HzPC6OYJTYHpJs8qykBffT44oBLINjT9efBm1lqPcEN2LGyOpnKM48-BFGLUwiM0bbNc-9haQP27Dw-KIYkf_33h3yILr/w301-h400/IMG_20240128_204724_856.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHK3aP8N-_jb85PouCUWxwmkiPG1C5VuuHhKp_vbLKUeh4yiVpy1cRC3_rHiSdqI1Uwtn4rRKdWfFIaCKZIdJ_STiZBWi2Q9pzHtdeT_wngOU6qZnp20h9bULOUR3GD3OK6R02pGNJCQSn_O_D25o2G712RebCMc6pyTtulGqpSJAZp66nTfhkCPdmy1u/s1020/IMG_20240128_204738_519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHK3aP8N-_jb85PouCUWxwmkiPG1C5VuuHhKp_vbLKUeh4yiVpy1cRC3_rHiSdqI1Uwtn4rRKdWfFIaCKZIdJ_STiZBWi2Q9pzHtdeT_wngOU6qZnp20h9bULOUR3GD3OK6R02pGNJCQSn_O_D25o2G712RebCMc6pyTtulGqpSJAZp66nTfhkCPdmy1u/w301-h400/IMG_20240128_204738_519.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAXmUeEcvCwb2eg9ti04Or6BGDUOwVi1Z5vPorUUpZg8cwdZSXoiTUND_rSzj2VH372dD20TqaKNdgqPOE2ndPqq847Kn4ZotVaEW-CjTaixa4c2ym9Jma51drT6K2R_OPT1lRSbLyjzNzxRmeWVxKz5_89e8yP1e5im0LKFEHCSHiFhJDu843M8YJioX/s1020/IMG_20240128_204754_701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAXmUeEcvCwb2eg9ti04Or6BGDUOwVi1Z5vPorUUpZg8cwdZSXoiTUND_rSzj2VH372dD20TqaKNdgqPOE2ndPqq847Kn4ZotVaEW-CjTaixa4c2ym9Jma51drT6K2R_OPT1lRSbLyjzNzxRmeWVxKz5_89e8yP1e5im0LKFEHCSHiFhJDu843M8YJioX/w301-h400/IMG_20240128_204754_701.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p>I think Canéla was mystified as to her disappearance for a few days and maybe even a little mopey, but seems to be whatever passes for her normal self now.</p><p>Truth be told, while I am glad Skye is in her new forever home with people who love her and who don't have carpet, I do miss those rare bits of zoomies, that quaint and raspy smoker's bark or hers, and the chance to have double dog cuddles in the recliner on cold winter days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Y85jDwhHmZnVoRNelxw3k5aArO33sGBvWDJFNjsMHXgE-owDtNAVscnk1lLsb0Y2Omf0aeN60rdhk94AyiUmBj8J2NZ3fl_gaw_fRX0ovzt6EGOpXLZQA1JQsR5YiwPagPNmy0i4xcPWKE-bVG2NRGzaMmuj63sm9CFDnSCqGfp0Db8TjY61xyLrATHg/s4000/IMG_20231125_204621773_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Y85jDwhHmZnVoRNelxw3k5aArO33sGBvWDJFNjsMHXgE-owDtNAVscnk1lLsb0Y2Omf0aeN60rdhk94AyiUmBj8J2NZ3fl_gaw_fRX0ovzt6EGOpXLZQA1JQsR5YiwPagPNmy0i4xcPWKE-bVG2NRGzaMmuj63sm9CFDnSCqGfp0Db8TjY61xyLrATHg/w400-h300/IMG_20231125_204621773_HDR~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKJMzMNA9ESQfm_pNx5xtU5jO6pcjgTF-xEVJzHSaJPp2D8ZsYKCxThHuLRcKHODWgJzGJFYMFPGrYfgAmiqYzIKiHoSiRl0gYzVM_tjoIKQmbLNo7yxjlpCN1PG4udrKScnwcOqOUfyVzj6wqc-mqwd5FltYWlGyxllwwEDM-9h-cySRZFiDUt0DW1b2/s2889/IMG_20240113_151329545_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2889" data-original-width="2818" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKJMzMNA9ESQfm_pNx5xtU5jO6pcjgTF-xEVJzHSaJPp2D8ZsYKCxThHuLRcKHODWgJzGJFYMFPGrYfgAmiqYzIKiHoSiRl0gYzVM_tjoIKQmbLNo7yxjlpCN1PG4udrKScnwcOqOUfyVzj6wqc-mqwd5FltYWlGyxllwwEDM-9h-cySRZFiDUt0DW1b2/w390-h400/IMG_20240113_151329545_HDR~2.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cZIXlnMVopvmw-2S7gDy3wiargh7xIyqcv3eFjjKGkcmFgqDrUX3KDyq-1TiDBRfkIdaApdD1h03TX-TSopoQf7Lj7sMQo6pOgMHsd0giqFp8Px1EXPJ-AGoKzeFrwhXDEKr2Qk5eXzwidGBvSGyRPJGW9fN28CMIpP0h7PZd-B3CEr9R4nvJjO1LSju/s824/IMG_20240114_170449099~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="694" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cZIXlnMVopvmw-2S7gDy3wiargh7xIyqcv3eFjjKGkcmFgqDrUX3KDyq-1TiDBRfkIdaApdD1h03TX-TSopoQf7Lj7sMQo6pOgMHsd0giqFp8Px1EXPJ-AGoKzeFrwhXDEKr2Qk5eXzwidGBvSGyRPJGW9fN28CMIpP0h7PZd-B3CEr9R4nvJjO1LSju/w338-h400/IMG_20240114_170449099~2.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8JZyKAfPDXhcBGGg-42wKoWnVZTiy9HGoXwNlefDqIjytw52pA6mU646jxe3GbmozhneDuHno_TXjlKBTTZmtvkOQ_hyQxJIQ-vAquvAXI9OsEdBJYbLh3H7wcTp5k5VCcPV7cQcIru48Y_IYfAd1Fdcvl7X1TeHt7pJ34XzciYOmWr_wXQeaohelQwX/s4000/IMG_20240119_100528900_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8JZyKAfPDXhcBGGg-42wKoWnVZTiy9HGoXwNlefDqIjytw52pA6mU646jxe3GbmozhneDuHno_TXjlKBTTZmtvkOQ_hyQxJIQ-vAquvAXI9OsEdBJYbLh3H7wcTp5k5VCcPV7cQcIru48Y_IYfAd1Fdcvl7X1TeHt7pJ34XzciYOmWr_wXQeaohelQwX/w300-h400/IMG_20240119_100528900_HDR~2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>But on the other hand, Audrey and I will get to visit her in March, so there is always that to look forward to.</p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-36712871979089661322024-01-21T20:28:00.003-07:002024-01-21T20:28:46.606-07:00Few Reservations - Echo, Reviewed<p>While culture warriors line up to decry the latest Marvel series, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13966962/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank"><i>Echo</i></a>, on Disney+ as more woke nonsense or whatever, Audrey and I enjoyed finishing off its five-episode run last night.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l-AcuFs2RWoG2J__W5vMvDMhnPlgKNHfg4Psk3qwHodP-4_-N1iUyI-FK7fWTz-QTapSIzAjXvizFUeShXyZn-1Z1NuCHRl2_ltPs8T79qTQMo4_L9tPwKv8428Nf8N2LtuAVIuDLqGq96YryefQiv7WxJZLTMSRim7DeWHYA6J23hE4vkab7RuFUZTA/s2500/echo_teaser_digital_ka_v4_lg_93bc3b27.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1688" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l-AcuFs2RWoG2J__W5vMvDMhnPlgKNHfg4Psk3qwHodP-4_-N1iUyI-FK7fWTz-QTapSIzAjXvizFUeShXyZn-1Z1NuCHRl2_ltPs8T79qTQMo4_L9tPwKv8428Nf8N2LtuAVIuDLqGq96YryefQiv7WxJZLTMSRim7DeWHYA6J23hE4vkab7RuFUZTA/w270-h400/echo_teaser_digital_ka_v4_lg_93bc3b27.jpeg" width="270" /></a></div><p>I am barely familiar with the comics background of the main character, Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), so the fact that her background and power suite differ from the source material is a non-issue with me. Having watched Hawkeye, however, I know the character is a former villain doing a face-turn and is a legit badass.</p><p>And I think a lot of the badassery comes from the actress herself, who, like Maya, is both deaf and an amputee with a prosthetic lower leg. This doesn't make any of her many fight scenes any less impressive, but the showrunners don't pinwheel from fight to fight. The bulk of the drama involves Maya's return to her former hometown in Oklahoma and her reluctant interactions with her estranged family and childhood friends. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5sdEBPQKPp3Nd3DJL3n6WyZQKpIFADghkeyP6ZTbXuoiXuCHWkV5xSXh0Gng6aJFBV8wRUg_EsalPU4frc1rJKWKxiYfervpyMcsYkaWTSqCe_iKufKBC0Wk8CG1K68mNo_e4ZOrFwEh-c7dVaJsNqCF57ZyKKvvVEmlCQdSAibNNA2XuZc6kjccESZN/s2880/echo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5sdEBPQKPp3Nd3DJL3n6WyZQKpIFADghkeyP6ZTbXuoiXuCHWkV5xSXh0Gng6aJFBV8wRUg_EsalPU4frc1rJKWKxiYfervpyMcsYkaWTSqCe_iKufKBC0Wk8CG1K68mNo_e4ZOrFwEh-c7dVaJsNqCF57ZyKKvvVEmlCQdSAibNNA2XuZc6kjccESZN/w400-h225/echo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Having Tantoo Cardinal and Graham Greene appear as her separated grandparents was a real treat, as was seeing nearly a half-dozen actors from Reservation Dogs (including Dallas "Willaim Knifeman" Goldtooth). The Choctaw history and mythology that make up a big part of the story are well-presented, and a pre-Columbian game of lacrosse captures both the athleticism and desperation of a sport designed to replace battles.</p><p>The real draw for this program for me, however, is the return of Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, better known as the Kingpin. The tension he brings to almost every exchange, and ability to transition so naturally from measured control to elemental rage makes him as captivating to watch now as when he was the heavy on Netflix's Daredevil.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwIfaii0Ow4_FjHzjL0Bq62M9ESTFsPy_DIR9RP10SuJeTzE-9NULEhzB8mHWfvPT8HNmJXrCPbuvGU-t751zMgeMrvzwn_3XOUTl7pLWW4BoUndOacfw0tA3elARuyhOink1jk96cn0buEr3BkmzdiJ9_lM9cmk4rZcGBpyqhr0rpE-QZzJYoFmCaBUP/s1200/marvel_mcu_vincent_donofrio_kingpin_actor_echo_.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwIfaii0Ow4_FjHzjL0Bq62M9ESTFsPy_DIR9RP10SuJeTzE-9NULEhzB8mHWfvPT8HNmJXrCPbuvGU-t751zMgeMrvzwn_3XOUTl7pLWW4BoUndOacfw0tA3elARuyhOink1jk96cn0buEr3BkmzdiJ9_lM9cmk4rZcGBpyqhr0rpE-QZzJYoFmCaBUP/w400-h225/marvel_mcu_vincent_donofrio_kingpin_actor_echo_.0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>For my money, there hasn't been a real Marvel knockout on streaming for me since <i>WandaVision</i>, and <i>Echo </i>doesn't quite reach that level, even if the new PG-13 rating adds significantly more edge to the fight scenes. But as a family and crime drama set in the MCU, it brings a lot to the table, and at five tidy episodes, it makes sure not to overstay its welcome.</p><p><i>Echo </i>is a good romp filled with interesting characters who are not just pulled from the Central Casting pool and who all fit well under the street-level focus of this corner of the MCU, even if that street is in small-town Oklahoma. And if some people believe that a comic book show led by a deaf, physically disabled Native American female is anything but a cool thing, well, let them miss out, I guess. </p><p>The rest of you, be sure to hang around for the post credits scene that may hint at happenings in <i>Daredevil: Born Again</i>!</p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-43700886889716931372024-01-14T17:18:00.003-07:002024-01-15T09:45:08.073-07:00Just How Cold Was it?<p>Like most Canadians, I am predisposed to discussing the weather at length pretty much anytime it diverts from the expected. With this weekend's temperatures dropping to new records held for five decades, it seems a reasonable topic for blogging. I mean, I wrote about the same issue <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2022/12/cold-weather-comeback.html" target="_blank">two years ago</a>, but it was even colder this past weekend.</p><p>So just how cold was it? Cold enough to make the record books, for one thing. It dropped to -45.9°C Friday night, breaking the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-cold-record-environment-canada-1.7083387" target="_blank">previous record low</a> from 1969 (!) of -39.4°. The mercury hasn't risen above -20° since Tuesday night but Tuesday's forecast has it going all the way up to -16°, making BBQing at least a possibility again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSsYkI2819FaVL-OIFGYaF9ZGmpnoWvw3zjAbzWGVMtQgfVEld_KyzgdZLMKX76e6_rZHMEcHaxYFQtfj72nZces9SOwUleq-Nsd0_gkHcfvOnoG-t4Jy_nEZCabjs8B3m6P9jXmjnhhgS6-Kuc81OTHXkO2unTziRdzqbf9DZaXKJkc8prvPhDwWe7pe/s992/cold%20graph.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="992" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSsYkI2819FaVL-OIFGYaF9ZGmpnoWvw3zjAbzWGVMtQgfVEld_KyzgdZLMKX76e6_rZHMEcHaxYFQtfj72nZces9SOwUleq-Nsd0_gkHcfvOnoG-t4Jy_nEZCabjs8B3m6P9jXmjnhhgS6-Kuc81OTHXkO2unTziRdzqbf9DZaXKJkc8prvPhDwWe7pe/w400-h170/cold%20graph.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Saturday night it was cold enough to warrant a province-wide alert from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency on everyone's cellphones, warning about the possibility of rolling blackouts if the draw on our grid was not diminished.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0TEcYkWGF2RW1eIq2Qrr5MTNnxKNTnKfLgqJKA89Wfov7G89TujLwM61acV9s_y6YGpuXi9GJAY83_FwfrjI1bxu1bI6EG1dFYbFBijnmQyjgvuI5FgQmJIRnF5hBqgTFAffWQOHOEcaQ3gx3y0oL3zsYnkn-w3Cgi7sAsgynaY1EL8Q7AN6lLI49D18/s605/screenshot-2024-01-13-191310-605x575.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="605" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0TEcYkWGF2RW1eIq2Qrr5MTNnxKNTnKfLgqJKA89Wfov7G89TujLwM61acV9s_y6YGpuXi9GJAY83_FwfrjI1bxu1bI6EG1dFYbFBijnmQyjgvuI5FgQmJIRnF5hBqgTFAffWQOHOEcaQ3gx3y0oL3zsYnkn-w3Cgi7sAsgynaY1EL8Q7AN6lLI49D18/w400-h380/screenshot-2024-01-13-191310-605x575.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We quickly turned off unnecessary lights in the house and unplugged both vehicles as they weren't needed the next morning (even in-person church had been canceled!). Amazingly, it seems like many other people followed suit, with a <a href="https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/every-megawatt-matters-albertans-respond-quickly-to-emergency-alert-after-electricity-grid-alert-issued-1.6725426" target="_blank">200MW reduction in power usage within minutes</a> of the alert coming at 6:44 pm. Honestly, it seems like I get far too few opportunities to be proud of my fellow Albertans, but this was really well done!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1U_vuap5Wn-R7gOJBTS3xgsYXkj2hWj9-WqUBY9WpyUWksIg9ak1s_8Xs-N99f1iqRzByja-hR-S4QebsHYBYhqYPrYVcKo_JmPBYhliGL0jgi2ur-0t3cXVSceLdpe5rN_stFRd680reEe1225NOgRKnBJAFek9V_FN8ETmJTkanDY3xRSmnic6r_2N/s521/graph.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="521" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1U_vuap5Wn-R7gOJBTS3xgsYXkj2hWj9-WqUBY9WpyUWksIg9ak1s_8Xs-N99f1iqRzByja-hR-S4QebsHYBYhqYPrYVcKo_JmPBYhliGL0jgi2ur-0t3cXVSceLdpe5rN_stFRd680reEe1225NOgRKnBJAFek9V_FN8ETmJTkanDY3xRSmnic6r_2N/w400-h293/graph.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>UPDATE: Although there are also some <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@steve_boots/video/7323916326626479366?_r=1&_t=8j1nbPCxFPp" target="_blank">very good questions</a> about why more individuals than businesses contributed to this success, and how shutting down a couple of natural gas power plants may have helped cause the shortage (as well as a spike in electricity prices).<br /><br />It is also so cold that the cargo flight intended to whisk Skye from Edmonton to Toronto yesterday was canceled Friday night due to extreme cold at YEG, and extreme snow (and thundersnow!) at YYZ. WestJet cancelled 191 flights across the country this weekend, so this was not altogether surprising.</p><p>Getting either dog outside in this weather is a real endeavour, I kept them out with me while cleaning up the yard from their earlier outings, before the snow concealed them until spring. They were initially happy to hop in and out of the garage to escape the wind, but were barking to be left in before too long, Canéla actually standing on two feet to keep one front and one back paw off the frozen cement.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_3hUbMBNATQ5G1E3IX0WOdieUYfV-qmTRJyLrXnvELrsJiWY6AfJnk_WufW9mQxMe2CWvgE8lW8pMqhx3uZF8QU5Z3d8DXLH3gKsjrW2T4hNVPXH1XpORP-za7tC46esl0uflghr9rHYEYNeuTdcWtpq4pvWEm9sZcgCKOcmOYV-sbOdp9hN7bQZ6a_n/s824/IMG_20240114_170449099~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="694" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_3hUbMBNATQ5G1E3IX0WOdieUYfV-qmTRJyLrXnvELrsJiWY6AfJnk_WufW9mQxMe2CWvgE8lW8pMqhx3uZF8QU5Z3d8DXLH3gKsjrW2T4hNVPXH1XpORP-za7tC46esl0uflghr9rHYEYNeuTdcWtpq4pvWEm9sZcgCKOcmOYV-sbOdp9hN7bQZ6a_n/w338-h400/IMG_20240114_170449099~2.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><p>Despite the aching in my toes (picked the wrong boots, dang it!), I took some time to refill the backyard birdfeeder. When I checked it less than three hours later, it was already half-empty.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1x5dRXNFuTg9CJZIMn71zLpDWildqbdqwgxJoKaRyCEpzzp0v2ANK5e-lCRupcF3wmoDpj80wVcc8nDxv6Htook6UkrUU6QzhKlP3tO9Pl5e8k_B0MlprjI-UFAhb_e9V9b5BSbUsXoc7RNDWK6Y1FkWu4T7lYUrS7LuX5dWvnBZLK7Ebt4Z4P52XPuB/s4000/IMG_20240113_152005030_HDR~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1x5dRXNFuTg9CJZIMn71zLpDWildqbdqwgxJoKaRyCEpzzp0v2ANK5e-lCRupcF3wmoDpj80wVcc8nDxv6Htook6UkrUU6QzhKlP3tO9Pl5e8k_B0MlprjI-UFAhb_e9V9b5BSbUsXoc7RNDWK6Y1FkWu4T7lYUrS7LuX5dWvnBZLK7Ebt4Z4P52XPuB/w300-h400/IMG_20240113_152005030_HDR~2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>At least I don't have to work outside like Glory's BFF on the farm!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNH3x0rFx_QgDGTZBqVcTfxkxkQ57EAlksalQCLOriB8WoEljw7O-qod4rsy8Qkt1g0rqCbwpsQSDH9JVgFxLon2q7JxZh5kxf7n46TdciPXEv8IzGOFNvkE-5o6QCukOx0iJ_ZjlcZHEjaMnmygfgF8v2ncIAkjHjHxu4z6jXub0SYLGfRS2u_ZG33Sf/s824/IMG_2275.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="618" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNH3x0rFx_QgDGTZBqVcTfxkxkQ57EAlksalQCLOriB8WoEljw7O-qod4rsy8Qkt1g0rqCbwpsQSDH9JVgFxLon2q7JxZh5kxf7n46TdciPXEv8IzGOFNvkE-5o6QCukOx0iJ_ZjlcZHEjaMnmygfgF8v2ncIAkjHjHxu4z6jXub0SYLGfRS2u_ZG33Sf/w300-h400/IMG_2275.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p>Today we tried to take advantage of the low temperatures to defrost our freezer, which my bargain hunting has filled to capacity with a variety of meat, frozen dinners and pizzas. Food insecurity is not a thing here, unless there is an extended power outage. Working together, the three of us had the freezer emptied and into a half-dozen boxes in the garage in under half an hour - which gave me time to refill the front birdfeeder.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3POI4nMPIHuqh6YXI3-4OqG-dylpbChnJV1vjFiDBI09SKxyioxg0XfSZCs0SJI440YMVwghKv43raNPuwRAeKHTTlpJcpi1Msi3mt8Dkp2R_Q5AL_OcSh2qKwW4x5CAa0MWTLSk5pfG2BXzjTTDpRYFZBOCOcumPtwA28yurMT6_FHmSPawSGhTgRRw2/s1099/IMG_20240114_170623622-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1099" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3POI4nMPIHuqh6YXI3-4OqG-dylpbChnJV1vjFiDBI09SKxyioxg0XfSZCs0SJI440YMVwghKv43raNPuwRAeKHTTlpJcpi1Msi3mt8Dkp2R_Q5AL_OcSh2qKwW4x5CAa0MWTLSk5pfG2BXzjTTDpRYFZBOCOcumPtwA28yurMT6_FHmSPawSGhTgRRw2/w400-h300/IMG_20240114_170623622-EDIT.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>All in all, it was a good weekend filled with gratitude for having a warm home to be inside, friends over for gaming in the evening, and dogs looking for afternoon sunbeams to lounge in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NnavOYkDrJjvB9thbRvh6mfbYHhcnqIwTDpbVk-k-Eu48Kai6wpYrgtxaRkzJZm8ACMZFMKtuYRo6LIa0CANkCtj0eEZcXpHR0o5TnWqaRrDX4AVYDW3j1_8rgLNtlgadt1S-jRDw4Xr3jGp2p4JsXp2zCP8OuA34DdFuWwdwDrvHi-2OoDWVrX0cv0l/s2889/IMG_20240113_151329545_HDR~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2889" data-original-width="2818" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NnavOYkDrJjvB9thbRvh6mfbYHhcnqIwTDpbVk-k-Eu48Kai6wpYrgtxaRkzJZm8ACMZFMKtuYRo6LIa0CANkCtj0eEZcXpHR0o5TnWqaRrDX4AVYDW3j1_8rgLNtlgadt1S-jRDw4Xr3jGp2p4JsXp2zCP8OuA34DdFuWwdwDrvHi-2OoDWVrX0cv0l/w390-h400/IMG_20240113_151329545_HDR~2.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><p>And I do not begrudge winter for being cold - this is Edmonton, after all, North America's northernmost urban region of 1 million plus. And I would love more snow to help replenish the water table in the spring after the dryest November in a century, frankly. </p><p>But if the temps could hang around the negative teens for a little while before heading towards the spring thaw (and <u>not</u> go back to freezing, if you please!), I would be even more grateful!</p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-79182963394470175742024-01-07T21:21:00.006-07:002024-01-14T17:56:08.839-07:00The Rest of TXmas 2023<p>Looking back from New Year's (which felt very topical and timely when I <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2024/01/happy-hou-year.html" target="_blank">wrote about it at the time</a>), it occurs to me I should jot down some of the Texas experiences we had prior to that celebration.</p><p>Things got off to a delightful (if early) start when our flights to Houston on Christmas Day were completely hitchless. This may seem a mundane thing to celebrate, but I am a very wary and anxious traveler, particularly when border crossings are involved. There had been drama already when one booking site's autocomplete had mussed up a traveler's name and escaped my notice until after the tickets had been paid for, and then more when my vacation was almost denied due to a blackout imposed 6 weeks before departure, 12 weeks after I had purchased non-refundable tickets and 11 months after I had submitted my vacation request. </p><p>So very little sleep was had on Christmas Eve, and it had nothin' to do with Santa. But all's well that ends well, and we landed in Houston late Monday afternoon, and Tara and Jerry arrived in short order to whisk us away to their lovely home outside the beltway.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeFs7HqK1wC6_4rpEAsYOgZw2QRivmZoAzuHcyastqptbqOJ3Buo4bAmJmQWIsaYXb96kCOI44ICMdTk4f0QaEK2Hq12Gm62FLOcwE_1OOL6u8V3db1ujeNe4oUig8bBEV6VMXACIB4-mERNJJY0P8LQ-P0ysV88L54llLhj1TNEnPhTG3Or7R-v7ELjT/s4032/IMG_1725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeFs7HqK1wC6_4rpEAsYOgZw2QRivmZoAzuHcyastqptbqOJ3Buo4bAmJmQWIsaYXb96kCOI44ICMdTk4f0QaEK2Hq12Gm62FLOcwE_1OOL6u8V3db1ujeNe4oUig8bBEV6VMXACIB4-mERNJJY0P8LQ-P0ysV88L54llLhj1TNEnPhTG3Or7R-v7ELjT/w400-h300/IMG_1725.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It was close to 6 pm when we left IAH and I was kind of hoping we would hit up an awesome Texas Whataburger on our way home, but true-to-form, Tara had already prepped an immense charcuterie table for us, which we enjoyed on their patio.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1OPV60U9CcowUBZzs6QaMDF1lrLY3w1hIDHER0wGVyT0P_gHECVCOXmQXEx2WGiZuygMe0Z8njbSIsqD3z0Tft5KSm3YYet05eEA5insNuFE716NbXQ7e9rFLwEoZq3sKW_zt_zYJDdQPmckw0CIq5sABtgMpmTkCW69IIi0qV9DLLaeLCtsCIXUdlP1/s2304/IMG_20231225_191258731_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2304" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1OPV60U9CcowUBZzs6QaMDF1lrLY3w1hIDHER0wGVyT0P_gHECVCOXmQXEx2WGiZuygMe0Z8njbSIsqD3z0Tft5KSm3YYet05eEA5insNuFE716NbXQ7e9rFLwEoZq3sKW_zt_zYJDdQPmckw0CIq5sABtgMpmTkCW69IIi0qV9DLLaeLCtsCIXUdlP1/w400-h300/IMG_20231225_191258731_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The thick red liquid in our glasses is a remarkably weird beverage - a fruited imperial sour beer called <a href="https://untappd.com/b/ingenious-brewing-company-fruit-madness-elf-s-blood/4110368/photos" target="_blank">Elf's Blood</a>, from the local Ingenious Brewery. What makes it weird? Well, let's start with the fact that it is the very first beer that my ale-hating wife has finished a glass of. We can move on to the fact that despite rocking an impressive 9% abv, it tastes like a tart fruit smoothie, but Elf's Blood earns its weirdness appellation primarily because it looks like Dracula should be sucking it out of an IV bag. I desperately wanted to bring some back, but having an unpasteurized live beer in my luggage for 14 hours felt like a terrible idea.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CbGhj2dPB19uvMq5FwsDRzFWA199OpUm3l867whYXZA5H2LaEXp-nGo3JbzlN7tjsTxq-ODktIyX7RmT8RVi_2iTg4XxRM1Ad2YQb8cBA5vpih2VltdFloG9o292yGDXeSuW-LZ94CYNo77nlMgcLoXD16_49kWY6CZwRmBjLbftHlM9lW1waU560-qO/s4000/IMG_20231226_110747588_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CbGhj2dPB19uvMq5FwsDRzFWA199OpUm3l867whYXZA5H2LaEXp-nGo3JbzlN7tjsTxq-ODktIyX7RmT8RVi_2iTg4XxRM1Ad2YQb8cBA5vpih2VltdFloG9o292yGDXeSuW-LZ94CYNo77nlMgcLoXD16_49kWY6CZwRmBjLbftHlM9lW1waU560-qO/s320/IMG_20231226_110747588_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We gathered to open presents the next morning and discovered that Tara had purchased Xmas pajamas for everyone (as well as rainbow blanket scarves) so we could start TXmas Day off properly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08vD3XybFn18yzBXDaa4S2DEoipCZ3RgR4-dVxr6tU3jUjpKIYDfhjZPhLndsAlXkmkE71wyYV4CvA2mV5WhIvR5EdT_-0BhtEzMGR21F2qx1-jMszs2vq5UxHCRB_9v5ipKIUXipL2YnRFcJFzSrreRuBhAtpZWwwVfkA6BXf3EqNvgS94cP-zgz6CYf/s4032/IMG_1750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08vD3XybFn18yzBXDaa4S2DEoipCZ3RgR4-dVxr6tU3jUjpKIYDfhjZPhLndsAlXkmkE71wyYV4CvA2mV5WhIvR5EdT_-0BhtEzMGR21F2qx1-jMszs2vq5UxHCRB_9v5ipKIUXipL2YnRFcJFzSrreRuBhAtpZWwwVfkA6BXf3EqNvgS94cP-zgz6CYf/w300-h400/IMG_1750.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>All the gifts were thoughtful and well-received, but the real treat was everyone coming together to help prepare the immense and tasty Christmas dinner menu. Peeling, pushing, crock potting and barbecueing all coalesced into a feed that Audrey and I were still eating leftovers from when we left nine days later.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0q0n0UqgqXKlL87C1Zuqy_JY8s4b12iNVq1zi2A5xgMd1OrIF595sWORDoNqfc4dRUHEEvRR1TQijL5UoWGA-bDMoDnVu-1Cc1AMgZkDp11-2FT_Hq3ghhuk6qONp2G_E8N6QKzSgnDoAjbxC7Shit2z98fw_HcSiSE-XYEWr4Kf7zcYwej3CQ_Q_QBR/s4032/IMG_1758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0q0n0UqgqXKlL87C1Zuqy_JY8s4b12iNVq1zi2A5xgMd1OrIF595sWORDoNqfc4dRUHEEvRR1TQijL5UoWGA-bDMoDnVu-1Cc1AMgZkDp11-2FT_Hq3ghhuk6qONp2G_E8N6QKzSgnDoAjbxC7Shit2z98fw_HcSiSE-XYEWr4Kf7zcYwej3CQ_Q_QBR/w300-h400/IMG_1758.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3hV74vxVwneFL8FUbukyNroEwBiYc2LEShUEsTIIZszvv4j7D0wajVUgPMCOy72PNSfw0sWqyWGLRROrduKfy5tD0hVNCU5IetcLXFnyxfKMs76cVpLAzXQTU7WAZVvW_9QCNyqCMZMCsZse7K6aJ1nGxu2G52dcNGNpeRe3opY6UFRpKS73ZtG2Il57/s824/IMG_1765.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="618" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3hV74vxVwneFL8FUbukyNroEwBiYc2LEShUEsTIIZszvv4j7D0wajVUgPMCOy72PNSfw0sWqyWGLRROrduKfy5tD0hVNCU5IetcLXFnyxfKMs76cVpLAzXQTU7WAZVvW_9QCNyqCMZMCsZse7K6aJ1nGxu2G52dcNGNpeRe3opY6UFRpKS73ZtG2Il57/s320/IMG_1765.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwwfXO0ZOWrh4pxiduzHh-RO4VLS_6AzkIk2m3Bbw9Y6fm2rrqzo-x8IJc-89dWAip20slf078ok-eoK_b01B6OOvi1r5D8d2WGGvuu-b7LBbkFhyBiFU__ZHHZKUNQh6obr38rzVb2GvUCjGP4077WDaMbeeSjTGvbIDCHwMu1gMWuxBy_dm96LtNOVG/s574/dinner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="552" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwwfXO0ZOWrh4pxiduzHh-RO4VLS_6AzkIk2m3Bbw9Y6fm2rrqzo-x8IJc-89dWAip20slf078ok-eoK_b01B6OOvi1r5D8d2WGGvuu-b7LBbkFhyBiFU__ZHHZKUNQh6obr38rzVb2GvUCjGP4077WDaMbeeSjTGvbIDCHwMu1gMWuxBy_dm96LtNOVG/w385-h400/dinner.png" width="385" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Much of the rest of our time in Texas is a blur of eating, relaxing, conversing, sitting by the fire table or lounging in the hot tub. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N8GeOr2Dos1cBqBp18f7ZmU_tIgfZHwUdQV1R8ZfmIDTg-TKm4_BBwK2pdAA-olwveiMIgUGr_5NLW2GREmrbnNRApODw9V9Oj5LuW5NVBhYRiHb1eBBqfPDTUna7m88zcGE0ELhEzruJ6iX-ccPAOGe3zzkQbBEHkaMTl3zVX6sok4z07o0VrHNfHmg/s4032/IMG_1792.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N8GeOr2Dos1cBqBp18f7ZmU_tIgfZHwUdQV1R8ZfmIDTg-TKm4_BBwK2pdAA-olwveiMIgUGr_5NLW2GREmrbnNRApODw9V9Oj5LuW5NVBhYRiHb1eBBqfPDTUna7m88zcGE0ELhEzruJ6iX-ccPAOGe3zzkQbBEHkaMTl3zVX6sok4z07o0VrHNfHmg/w400-h300/IMG_1792.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMofZLsgYp2NGn_IZ-p2cRiLHgw7wtbCtGdj4B-FoASzuENMLJWdlD2x3nXntVAP59X5S76X5IOvZjz8-uyG-99L5YZ7HbcuDTFO6W0sGbx7wycl65csFUh_I8Wh6-snbTACX0a3wwM3yLov0XKK16KffArCJMhNIcoQtGGOWLof75t_HbNbC1znrnmJsZ/s3648/PXL_20231226_183236264.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMofZLsgYp2NGn_IZ-p2cRiLHgw7wtbCtGdj4B-FoASzuENMLJWdlD2x3nXntVAP59X5S76X5IOvZjz8-uyG-99L5YZ7HbcuDTFO6W0sGbx7wycl65csFUh_I8Wh6-snbTACX0a3wwM3yLov0XKK16KffArCJMhNIcoQtGGOWLof75t_HbNbC1znrnmJsZ/w400-h300/PXL_20231226_183236264.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp3liQj6eT5uhkgVZwJo7vdetLtTEKxdG4B9ihXiHuHcKQOkJJpnSGkpTQlo0qjX1jTnbQbnepah9tjTLeZhqItXvxBZg0y47RQLjRYYknoYtW06NwWPhmWC-8oqCEA6b6Jkl4SmoS6G-3iH0oEw3ROufT-4q_Xu0JAqrufCbZhoocIrDJT65kgrS7PrQ/s824/IMG_1796.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="618" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp3liQj6eT5uhkgVZwJo7vdetLtTEKxdG4B9ihXiHuHcKQOkJJpnSGkpTQlo0qjX1jTnbQbnepah9tjTLeZhqItXvxBZg0y47RQLjRYYknoYtW06NwWPhmWC-8oqCEA6b6Jkl4SmoS6G-3iH0oEw3ROufT-4q_Xu0JAqrufCbZhoocIrDJT65kgrS7PrQ/w300-h400/IMG_1796.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Or quiet time catching up on reading, both leisure...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wLxx2sx-PbTrrBuJNXJ0oy84eVq77Tru3osft1sxcUXG7hZGvWgZmH4rKWieRHo3P841oZNPIwqz9kpIVLbhhnwQR9oNz30TDeuqNI4MSWk3xr0O2yBKtCp_yaEB7CLMBYvhlTW9bg3kZ9eh4BFM7Q7gNMGasga57YErN6rxcCk0s4YjR-fD_4Osf3yv/s2069/IMG_20231227_102727973_HDR~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1940" data-original-width="2069" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wLxx2sx-PbTrrBuJNXJ0oy84eVq77Tru3osft1sxcUXG7hZGvWgZmH4rKWieRHo3P841oZNPIwqz9kpIVLbhhnwQR9oNz30TDeuqNI4MSWk3xr0O2yBKtCp_yaEB7CLMBYvhlTW9bg3kZ9eh4BFM7Q7gNMGasga57YErN6rxcCk0s4YjR-fD_4Osf3yv/w400-h375/IMG_20231227_102727973_HDR~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>...and professional.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFIN2en3ub0UvQVBg2sXKAEEBNv5ViNHLwJoP64beUwmP3pBsXCr7IdX4LCY0kZ8Y8go7Yc3q0tddxFCQNnKxKdJfSolmNcQEQ3cX3QXzHLdkOcwB36hNLWO2IFk4JHO1IqIL2iNIL41QrP7IIOJ3Ajkaj_5k3Pb6LCS_0L0cs0V6C6QcyO4GOHTO-nDa/s4624/20231229_100822.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2084" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFIN2en3ub0UvQVBg2sXKAEEBNv5ViNHLwJoP64beUwmP3pBsXCr7IdX4LCY0kZ8Y8go7Yc3q0tddxFCQNnKxKdJfSolmNcQEQ3cX3QXzHLdkOcwB36hNLWO2IFk4JHO1IqIL2iNIL41QrP7IIOJ3Ajkaj_5k3Pb6LCS_0L0cs0V6C6QcyO4GOHTO-nDa/w180-h400/20231229_100822.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and no small amount of drinking, including the excellent Goose Island Bourbon County stouts Jerry always procures as part of his Black Friday pilgrimage. They were excellent, as usual, and Jerry was delighted to see that Bobby was just as much a fan of them as he and I are.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiBuTNAQVaJELDUuaIs3VDLHR5M6C8fEfu6oBM3tf3JvYhkPo7JIIiQwyAByFAu-jKO9egLNm4KshIdb-V7IYeZZ5MoMXyETG6yL61WgAvK_2ATxFKMGj7nfYK8OJMum5f4MrQ2xR2bXdIZzSpaPImd9V40_kV0RU37yfuZRlPuy8QFIcBA8kQwT10cR5/s4000/IMG_20231226_213300409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiBuTNAQVaJELDUuaIs3VDLHR5M6C8fEfu6oBM3tf3JvYhkPo7JIIiQwyAByFAu-jKO9egLNm4KshIdb-V7IYeZZ5MoMXyETG6yL61WgAvK_2ATxFKMGj7nfYK8OJMum5f4MrQ2xR2bXdIZzSpaPImd9V40_kV0RU37yfuZRlPuy8QFIcBA8kQwT10cR5/w400-h300/IMG_20231226_213300409.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><p><br /></p><p>And spectacular dinners out abounded; from seafood at BLVD in Galveston:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHOpHKvVzoCtq_DrUJQUkkNLkOn1c5hyxWVgNCvcqoAvF_ZliLlzqsJpzqn6tEYlXRexmMA1L6ByHcD2xpukdAzqcIJpQDIGQ53G5xyxwMATcsjG9Qp4nnY4B6vp1Py9JzHKpf24-M8lgc7_-uUnNoW7Ij5oaKrc8-CpotrUFnjCo3YTLCo2wFfL7tyAz/s4032/IMG_1850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHOpHKvVzoCtq_DrUJQUkkNLkOn1c5hyxWVgNCvcqoAvF_ZliLlzqsJpzqn6tEYlXRexmMA1L6ByHcD2xpukdAzqcIJpQDIGQ53G5xyxwMATcsjG9Qp4nnY4B6vp1Py9JzHKpf24-M8lgc7_-uUnNoW7Ij5oaKrc8-CpotrUFnjCo3YTLCo2wFfL7tyAz/w300-h400/IMG_1850.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmeNERmIUIm6Vt2TCnKAMnYsLN9IhJNrlCKAZVkOftMDTArX5hyhPq8N2yk0xGxVqCaOGRPbPs22KQWz7l4l9dRhKmHYEqWM1bGXuH9IAFFxgt_tRVPVdNglyVsAOv2KcdsmWqO6HJ5uM9tz1MDnrheW1nlDZ0KvXo0NLkIkujwXk7NcL9cJftFGcNHpi/s1408/IMG_20231228_184759796.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1408" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmeNERmIUIm6Vt2TCnKAMnYsLN9IhJNrlCKAZVkOftMDTArX5hyhPq8N2yk0xGxVqCaOGRPbPs22KQWz7l4l9dRhKmHYEqWM1bGXuH9IAFFxgt_tRVPVdNglyVsAOv2KcdsmWqO6HJ5uM9tz1MDnrheW1nlDZ0KvXo0NLkIkujwXk7NcL9cJftFGcNHpi/w400-h306/IMG_20231228_184759796.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>To excellent Mexican fare at nearby Don Ramon's:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAqzyDYc5Ao-4GdoPb4pVUqFd1f5dcku90fMBhJ3B1yqZWNYYtD3evjXxwrUDjTR5vRMzp69UU7zPFcXv1Keh7HPKeG0OG1JDr5AZ73G_3fo2WaLn6Q_oinbeV9RdoBrENLBssmJFgdfQbP5MSyU7X9TiqE5AIV_vE8fJfi9ctz1lcR0l3i3b36jSbdAk/s4032/IMG_1869.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAqzyDYc5Ao-4GdoPb4pVUqFd1f5dcku90fMBhJ3B1yqZWNYYtD3evjXxwrUDjTR5vRMzp69UU7zPFcXv1Keh7HPKeG0OG1JDr5AZ73G_3fo2WaLn6Q_oinbeV9RdoBrENLBssmJFgdfQbP5MSyU7X9TiqE5AIV_vE8fJfi9ctz1lcR0l3i3b36jSbdAk/w400-h300/IMG_1869.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>And of course, our semi-elegant night out at McGonigel's Mucky Duck to ring in the Irish New Year:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyOBRaAz5XHPKgZPP9lc7Y3EY79lkZb5EinTLzdsmWbJoHGr2G5Wb6ex3Sx-egDz-MXyYyCYEJakWqJWISRbsaOrySQUJX_Lpm30vNXaA6upuUM47AfpCj5cWYCumwnxsvlkSrkmGb4b1y_JuWh8t5cwl1X8h7L9vaqpXOwTDxi8GvySrpxQ9n2nRaf7H/s4032/IMG_1990.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyOBRaAz5XHPKgZPP9lc7Y3EY79lkZb5EinTLzdsmWbJoHGr2G5Wb6ex3Sx-egDz-MXyYyCYEJakWqJWISRbsaOrySQUJX_Lpm30vNXaA6upuUM47AfpCj5cWYCumwnxsvlkSrkmGb4b1y_JuWh8t5cwl1X8h7L9vaqpXOwTDxi8GvySrpxQ9n2nRaf7H/w300-h400/IMG_1990.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Introducing Bobby to the Johnson Space Centre and Buc-ee's in the same <strike>day</strike> [CORRECTION: Buc-ee's was actually after Galveston!] trip was almost overwhelming - so much scale!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQLBhyKV4_h5UWQ0ZHkB8IzAlPcY3_vhGojT6m6UYgWkra697o5IZao8Fbj8QKA2Uht2tRXA9KgTZElrbigKBVhuWGV3La1wh8f3q1gt1asLLjccmufkXOg6r8jq52fAFZDPOWx2u2_lus035Wzq_pjrEoF9yUZAnUwe0gUQR6xqoDBOajtLjURmlohq-/s4000/IMG_20231230_120509127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQLBhyKV4_h5UWQ0ZHkB8IzAlPcY3_vhGojT6m6UYgWkra697o5IZao8Fbj8QKA2Uht2tRXA9KgTZElrbigKBVhuWGV3La1wh8f3q1gt1asLLjccmufkXOg6r8jq52fAFZDPOWx2u2_lus035Wzq_pjrEoF9yUZAnUwe0gUQR6xqoDBOajtLjURmlohq-/w300-h400/IMG_20231230_120509127.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyITO3nhfjVmhQZauV84MfNdH7ZCL18NnI371DFf45V9Xt9FuGeTB__JwNxI5wFvA0VUp9LK23uQ8X7vWZerfD0DqJsq6cPdV5KzaU7UgH-1Ermt6Xac5TVLbfmvJwWvtr8l7sQRhlom9XfQcBrrfV0ifYTmUHZACAq_zN4oRC2vf0pveeyJCYCHkwuKAw/s3008/IMG_20231230_123301123~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2246" data-original-width="3008" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyITO3nhfjVmhQZauV84MfNdH7ZCL18NnI371DFf45V9Xt9FuGeTB__JwNxI5wFvA0VUp9LK23uQ8X7vWZerfD0DqJsq6cPdV5KzaU7UgH-1Ermt6Xac5TVLbfmvJwWvtr8l7sQRhlom9XfQcBrrfV0ifYTmUHZACAq_zN4oRC2vf0pveeyJCYCHkwuKAw/w400-h299/IMG_20231230_123301123~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3D8MEbtWioENTGa_PfC4rBrlo1FI3KiSENWC0P55YuSvUeFNZXK17qC-jcmJQuqc4XNduHM-YQzyDdc6l-HVbnRIEQqxZ0z-7HiaLLuPcUWsfeDTn8EXsR18jvoJI7qtTmOFRdyczgQMySSVF4e6eHvJXi0WwAWx1DEWtmPmDsb_9kBIODbYcfC39UON/s4000/IMG_20231228_192427187_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3D8MEbtWioENTGa_PfC4rBrlo1FI3KiSENWC0P55YuSvUeFNZXK17qC-jcmJQuqc4XNduHM-YQzyDdc6l-HVbnRIEQqxZ0z-7HiaLLuPcUWsfeDTn8EXsR18jvoJI7qtTmOFRdyczgQMySSVF4e6eHvJXi0WwAWx1DEWtmPmDsb_9kBIODbYcfC39UON/w300-h400/IMG_20231228_192427187_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6whFofrsixOwmwxqOi-vZsoRlRwj2WHLk0RxNlcHj5hrtePUF6xt9JQ2UaB2d2H1vP_vwt_W4s1db3t3yiUsyKa0FXiulcIejniF6c2wE7W2-1NTDZLacXG04ygjAN_qfxivhOisLakMzOHNmYPsgdsvKFMBlJe5nszUVs4mY9SOd_TE2fvqMWg_UMyK/s4000/IMG_20231228_221724320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6whFofrsixOwmwxqOi-vZsoRlRwj2WHLk0RxNlcHj5hrtePUF6xt9JQ2UaB2d2H1vP_vwt_W4s1db3t3yiUsyKa0FXiulcIejniF6c2wE7W2-1NTDZLacXG04ygjAN_qfxivhOisLakMzOHNmYPsgdsvKFMBlJe5nszUVs4mY9SOd_TE2fvqMWg_UMyK/w400-h300/IMG_20231228_221724320.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>But all good things must come to an end, with Fenya and Bobby returning to Toronto and Glory heading back to Edmonton Jan 2, with Audrey and I getting home late on Jan 4.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56M_Vo91S38O0i2q18M7uquO-7H4IvlQZXHjBnuP8csJcNN6heWu7rIAMj5r1aSjdp6pTu2HVuUtU5ORG0wiNsS7nkTSFt1iZD-1jjvFMJTkFVhF2iwKgWVLrBfR19B4rN4_J6rHFR2I4-8072RyfHwxO-fEqKLtLW-bTMtKMjQg2V1DBFiAKvNv5g1uF/s4000/IMG_20240104_225218343_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56M_Vo91S38O0i2q18M7uquO-7H4IvlQZXHjBnuP8csJcNN6heWu7rIAMj5r1aSjdp6pTu2HVuUtU5ORG0wiNsS7nkTSFt1iZD-1jjvFMJTkFVhF2iwKgWVLrBfR19B4rN4_J6rHFR2I4-8072RyfHwxO-fEqKLtLW-bTMtKMjQg2V1DBFiAKvNv5g1uF/w300-h400/IMG_20240104_225218343_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f_IY31aobETWdwAeb-TW5GeQEwZ7vXg1HLaZtpaobkHtwT4O8h_kuguih5f_WoLRCNz3lZ4e3OrV3hFCxzG6Cqufp0ccZ_ywdYaSZ11b_4I9ddlOUPwcHhXT3FWzD3H5Yfb6GA-B5f6bRK7q3sVJEuahsaEiNB47w9r3bx8w2NemBK9VDZYGof_ssr1c/s4000/IMG_20240104_225447649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f_IY31aobETWdwAeb-TW5GeQEwZ7vXg1HLaZtpaobkHtwT4O8h_kuguih5f_WoLRCNz3lZ4e3OrV3hFCxzG6Cqufp0ccZ_ywdYaSZ11b_4I9ddlOUPwcHhXT3FWzD3H5Yfb6GA-B5f6bRK7q3sVJEuahsaEiNB47w9r3bx8w2NemBK9VDZYGof_ssr1c/w400-h300/IMG_20240104_225447649.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><p>My depression this weekend had very little to do with the return of cold weather to Edmonton and a precipitous drop in both stout and margarita intake. But looking back over these photos tonight and in the future will be a great reminder of a wonderful family time. </p></div></div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-42211863870347376092024-01-01T22:16:00.002-07:002024-01-01T22:16:30.324-07:00Happy Hou Year!<p>All five of us (including Fenya and Bobby!) have been with Tara and Jerry in Houston since Dec 25, and having a wonderful family holiday together in an experience we are calling “TXmas.”</p><p>We’ve been shopping (<a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2022/10/buc-ees-texas-sized-pit-stop.html?m=1" target="_blank">Buc-ee</a>’s!), travelled to Galveston to touch the Gulf of Mexico and have taken Bobby to Johnson Space Centre, but some of the best times have been just hanging around their lovely home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT74Oih1zcrA633kM7xChAds_ZYVfjc6LLoWZ49ycG8oXzmLP8o_qQwBASjGlXB2jH_2_ZBKEmTbn63ZKJECtCTLO-7dbs8TkPpZG9v1SFojPaukTzhMk8RwNVMpTMb6cdx8uvxaSfqDqugieh1m3IEDZ-L5BlAuz4KA68DgIUmLnREpw10I3H4B6etdy/s4000/IMG_20231228_153313004_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT74Oih1zcrA633kM7xChAds_ZYVfjc6LLoWZ49ycG8oXzmLP8o_qQwBASjGlXB2jH_2_ZBKEmTbn63ZKJECtCTLO-7dbs8TkPpZG9v1SFojPaukTzhMk8RwNVMpTMb6cdx8uvxaSfqDqugieh1m3IEDZ-L5BlAuz4KA68DgIUmLnREpw10I3H4B6etdy/s320/IMG_20231228_153313004_HDR~2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeI_OA8t6VspVPAdSX5wNYyXRt3Q0qSD4WPvXDNspTwCjE5cC346xOcEwIW3QVsLUtJGXdep89UaD8Hi9McrkWNqLAVyU64zfTpdQrUXGuqJknowdDhvP7Ia28K_Y2AGfTw2QMM-wYwSKEdexncY7_5bj7jvKxZb67y-hGT62ieQyDqOVk6mv53mf2po3/s1408/IMG_20231228_184759796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1408" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeI_OA8t6VspVPAdSX5wNYyXRt3Q0qSD4WPvXDNspTwCjE5cC346xOcEwIW3QVsLUtJGXdep89UaD8Hi9McrkWNqLAVyU64zfTpdQrUXGuqJknowdDhvP7Ia28K_Y2AGfTw2QMM-wYwSKEdexncY7_5bj7jvKxZb67y-hGT62ieQyDqOVk6mv53mf2po3/s320/IMG_20231228_184759796.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HFAFRjbp00VFvPLP7VLmKVX1zM2OiOKhJbRNuIO9hU01U-t42yoIgKM6PpFwym_bVLBAwA9aBp6y4jKf8kPA2fQPq80omtBw69bIBmWLElliJOH_sPRXroBCQoQLfGsDyVqnXSGkO-emXet37BnAnzCRxaQeNzcs_-ZMh27tJo9_tDH2j73btvLpJ03w/s4000/IMG_20231230_155359070_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HFAFRjbp00VFvPLP7VLmKVX1zM2OiOKhJbRNuIO9hU01U-t42yoIgKM6PpFwym_bVLBAwA9aBp6y4jKf8kPA2fQPq80omtBw69bIBmWLElliJOH_sPRXroBCQoQLfGsDyVqnXSGkO-emXet37BnAnzCRxaQeNzcs_-ZMh27tJo9_tDH2j73btvLpJ03w/s320/IMG_20231230_155359070_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Last night was New Year’s Eve, so we went to McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, a listening room and bar with a wonderful kitchen for live music to ring in the new year…in Irish time (i.e. GMT, 6 hours early), so we were done by 6:30!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX97p9tqfR4xGmXrEjvgPJB7H-D-ZSfP1W0aY-icWSOV3QDCMBq5Bnpisw9mb5rYirlb-sSOXbZ2oXRjSk_63DvN-W25CFEn6PrSLWVl4qV_SYN4_Y0OkGveRBRH4LbtV5ColdLAfz7Obm34k0YtcXhimG5Rq-q80mwuukJ8DR3kh65avOIoqLS81Y3f9/s4032/IMG_2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX97p9tqfR4xGmXrEjvgPJB7H-D-ZSfP1W0aY-icWSOV3QDCMBq5Bnpisw9mb5rYirlb-sSOXbZ2oXRjSk_63DvN-W25CFEn6PrSLWVl4qV_SYN4_Y0OkGveRBRH4LbtV5ColdLAfz7Obm34k0YtcXhimG5Rq-q80mwuukJ8DR3kh65avOIoqLS81Y3f9/s320/IMG_2003.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsPhruw4TsSSmi9TZlKfseQQ2ec80mNgZf02Aai1GDeteRFt76vZzMp9TRTXyzt2xnCBT90AMDQ0qdexlgVU37y6TV0uTBmm-VPsLIUNCUapYu_dLW7-kqhyn_hc5iAcBcnIZoumkHkimCOzjCZ3HEpnJu7GBPPhezqas1rUDt4C5z-gegz86-rWulI62/s4032/IMG_1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsPhruw4TsSSmi9TZlKfseQQ2ec80mNgZf02Aai1GDeteRFt76vZzMp9TRTXyzt2xnCBT90AMDQ0qdexlgVU37y6TV0uTBmm-VPsLIUNCUapYu_dLW7-kqhyn_hc5iAcBcnIZoumkHkimCOzjCZ3HEpnJu7GBPPhezqas1rUDt4C5z-gegz86-rWulI62/s320/IMG_1972.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWm87vfUGDKL2-Nj5euUtvyL3BM0CFERGnFVClPRJhy0fIj2Rr3_-4W9ypDwJfy3Y8ZOpHOHtsBjAIM3CpuoFRH3RwdpdKUZpZqSmtEs0V8O7Ln08rSVC48GaOLU3LM1oE7dbKTywW4M-Hj14olSFToyCVv1BOIUzID9PeE3v_LBjW8UzLmNnOizso7MK/s4032/IMG_1973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWm87vfUGDKL2-Nj5euUtvyL3BM0CFERGnFVClPRJhy0fIj2Rr3_-4W9ypDwJfy3Y8ZOpHOHtsBjAIM3CpuoFRH3RwdpdKUZpZqSmtEs0V8O7Ln08rSVC48GaOLU3LM1oE7dbKTywW4M-Hj14olSFToyCVv1BOIUzID9PeE3v_LBjW8UzLmNnOizso7MK/s320/IMG_1973.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hoaeXd0uxLTubfc3LwZMLOo5J7GswaRHLORegv7xtMrUpTnweKspqASISo6BdgPCCXRT9IScrz2bO5DaCiMREbYKNrUg3_64audxASz7mo7fqXPhXg7HSuHzpfqsh6bwOkwR4GmmkMGDVzvrESX5c3zKdlzGaMyq199-U_kw8KvaGZP4-3AUECB9b8_X/s4032/IMG_1976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hoaeXd0uxLTubfc3LwZMLOo5J7GswaRHLORegv7xtMrUpTnweKspqASISo6BdgPCCXRT9IScrz2bO5DaCiMREbYKNrUg3_64audxASz7mo7fqXPhXg7HSuHzpfqsh6bwOkwR4GmmkMGDVzvrESX5c3zKdlzGaMyq199-U_kw8KvaGZP4-3AUECB9b8_X/s320/IMG_1976.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXFI5vobLHuMPxj4JOwU0Fb0xer0rP3ZBJ8B-RyBPbbmLcdC9j1qnkHqNqB8NagYjXC0d0XFS9hTp1IX3SwPWLO5exRddGMKOPH58v4VG6cPqMpzqVDXK1GcMP-cxTapaAKF4AX-FNUzsNL56Y0dKEiBdImPTIDZL0kX47HBA37_o0wWedwjqmFlCU4Ij/s4032/IMG_1978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXFI5vobLHuMPxj4JOwU0Fb0xer0rP3ZBJ8B-RyBPbbmLcdC9j1qnkHqNqB8NagYjXC0d0XFS9hTp1IX3SwPWLO5exRddGMKOPH58v4VG6cPqMpzqVDXK1GcMP-cxTapaAKF4AX-FNUzsNL56Y0dKEiBdImPTIDZL0kX47HBA37_o0wWedwjqmFlCU4Ij/s320/IMG_1978.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS5u95IgtGe1rt9yIB0njcvmX1fpa9qqOyyx4AwDmab0xAOPyKIzcEgBwACUMgoWmU_cjkAEcwZqTA3jEGsJqnJ7UMqF0CFrBm6WhBcCt7-19Hjmil60Dru5-JXTyodoe9PGFUHIFzhmJgeiY9-94UuJhDbToWJULGBXYqDvz_Uj03Cy6tAPmlvzPKvzM/s4000/IMG_20231231_164353535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS5u95IgtGe1rt9yIB0njcvmX1fpa9qqOyyx4AwDmab0xAOPyKIzcEgBwACUMgoWmU_cjkAEcwZqTA3jEGsJqnJ7UMqF0CFrBm6WhBcCt7-19Hjmil60Dru5-JXTyodoe9PGFUHIFzhmJgeiY9-94UuJhDbToWJULGBXYqDvz_Uj03Cy6tAPmlvzPKvzM/s320/IMG_20231231_164353535.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We had a wonderful time, then came back for time in the hot tub, a visit from their neighbours, a chance to sample an astonishing Goose Island stout (Angel’s Envy) that Jerry generously provided, and then some fireworks.</p><p>We ended up ringing the new year in via five time zones: Ireland, Newfoundland, Toronto, Houston, and Edmonton. And we did the Newfoundland one with an impressive barrage of fireworks (early and before the majority of drinking)!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0pIPKmNce5Z814mVkNY6CaEVXFXt0842FISPcRplpGCpnc91an2b56GjIemjV_aJMfITxGhlQRQu_wSNOWND4kz6h9Om33X0s97mPyjif57HZgkPw-Vyx2_XGGRcCw4WuhJWOMDsNaMT1et63y8jjfVyZ1ziLRj2ZWplXrRxFEc44swUHU0M3mv-BXdA/s4000/IMG_20231231_191542591_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0pIPKmNce5Z814mVkNY6CaEVXFXt0842FISPcRplpGCpnc91an2b56GjIemjV_aJMfITxGhlQRQu_wSNOWND4kz6h9Om33X0s97mPyjif57HZgkPw-Vyx2_XGGRcCw4WuhJWOMDsNaMT1et63y8jjfVyZ1ziLRj2ZWplXrRxFEc44swUHU0M3mv-BXdA/s320/IMG_20231231_191542591_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzQU-khVt0iqN9J0zXK2w62eIaKiamV2-BZQqGmm_P6tsPb8X9CUPijtNs6HCAjCmSU3HuLRPdNUucKEBDGig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>It made for a late night and today has been blessedly languid, but now we are counting down our last moments together, as the kids fly home tomorrow to Toronto and Edmonton. A big chunk of the afternoon was spent watching the Eras Tour, which btw, is a spectacular watch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFA0Fq5vI_GqDeBGDEm3zf_eJW4uvCk5EEA2SCFDvXzDCDicdDG__5UWXWbSu5CBssAiRGNHWNAOWMiIau0dwCBXWtD-7CZ3b2wTnjLIcTBg_aX32BpcmDxvtbgDuei3lqZHzgixnyB2CYF8eobQmPMVWPsj7IGjPd6m2i-jctEcov8zGQihGfBImDf37/s3022/IMG_20240101_130943145~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2032" data-original-width="3022" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFA0Fq5vI_GqDeBGDEm3zf_eJW4uvCk5EEA2SCFDvXzDCDicdDG__5UWXWbSu5CBssAiRGNHWNAOWMiIau0dwCBXWtD-7CZ3b2wTnjLIcTBg_aX32BpcmDxvtbgDuei3lqZHzgixnyB2CYF8eobQmPMVWPsj7IGjPd6m2i-jctEcov8zGQihGfBImDf37/s320/IMG_20240101_130943145~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And I know future gatherings and holidays will certainly come, but TXmas and NYE 2024 will be hard to top. Even if the next one <i>does</i> include a glow-in-the-dark T-shirt.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gPetNaBUZVOK6za1UBiScxY0RMDqtk2GHvnluHJSyJXWpIhhx9WEmEp-gdOKLMdC18_g3PKoRQX3vwA1wJqOvWjR5u1K5xe6W-Higm6RVes7fFiWIllj4B82y8KuKOQv99GAGvNhAVFBndg-2CoYFZNNPAyBNrtPy3v1nTHu34OWdktbOdT65ntGc6ZF/s4032/IMG_2025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gPetNaBUZVOK6za1UBiScxY0RMDqtk2GHvnluHJSyJXWpIhhx9WEmEp-gdOKLMdC18_g3PKoRQX3vwA1wJqOvWjR5u1K5xe6W-Higm6RVes7fFiWIllj4B82y8KuKOQv99GAGvNhAVFBndg-2CoYFZNNPAyBNrtPy3v1nTHu34OWdktbOdT65ntGc6ZF/s320/IMG_2025.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdbu4ANnt7ruB1MTJkWU523__QtG7jrvVIncjxvPG-n2lrNimGfJniOJ3BfAhIZhkXmv4I83R204k3XBvHn-rLOfP1rM9GmmlyEUBjCfS_zeKJJjuMeRVrtwjueGoq23VjPy6KT9RRtFdgLVu1rWMAh0eIOsFFy8OX9Fqy0gi-FsoCRNo9ZfSJdIs6X_P/s4032/IMG_2026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdbu4ANnt7ruB1MTJkWU523__QtG7jrvVIncjxvPG-n2lrNimGfJniOJ3BfAhIZhkXmv4I83R204k3XBvHn-rLOfP1rM9GmmlyEUBjCfS_zeKJJjuMeRVrtwjueGoq23VjPy6KT9RRtFdgLVu1rWMAh0eIOsFFy8OX9Fqy0gi-FsoCRNo9ZfSJdIs6X_P/s320/IMG_2026.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKEVruBOmxVK9Umlsw3fz1x3DIi32hshZHl34Gmc-SvmugNWnDfofm7haALPMa-WvKZRZH6MgwHF62kcYmMCXEZ7gCQMBsnQi2hUcm4qu9BN2iBu6caqbUQFAGdtG8W0F5QuG7UN8ng3Ilk27H0s7wAvaBpVg2RMGx_jCHDE3i2y1VTuyfpOyZDpGcTpq/s4032/IMG_2030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKEVruBOmxVK9Umlsw3fz1x3DIi32hshZHl34Gmc-SvmugNWnDfofm7haALPMa-WvKZRZH6MgwHF62kcYmMCXEZ7gCQMBsnQi2hUcm4qu9BN2iBu6caqbUQFAGdtG8W0F5QuG7UN8ng3Ilk27H0s7wAvaBpVg2RMGx_jCHDE3i2y1VTuyfpOyZDpGcTpq/s320/IMG_2030.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-4237372933596984312023-12-24T12:00:00.003-07:002023-12-24T12:00:00.135-07:00Concrete Nativity<p>It was our church's children's pageant last Sunday, but instead of staging yet another play, they elected to do something different. </p><p>Everyone was seated at tables instead of in rows, and each table had a different nativity set on it. As the children read the various scriptures of the Christmas narrative, we were all encouraged to pick up a different nativity figurine from our table and provide dialogue when prompted. For example, when the person at the front read, "soon after the baby was born, Joseph said...", since I was holding the Joseph figure, I responded to my tablemates, "Actually he kind of <i>does </i>look like me, doesn't he?"</p><p>It was a fun and engaging service, and in addition to being highly interactive, it prompted us all to look at the oh-so-familiar Christ story from a different perspective, and I think some of that is due to the outrageous variety of nativity sets in play. There were realistic ones and cartoon ones, modern ones and classic ones, some from other cultures, an abstract one, and even a Peanuts nativity with Charlie Brown as Joseph and Lucy as Mary.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqY5G0tL61Ktkpebp8b3Edsuwk6TJP7XRiwh8gLPuolq7771X5q4nUn1VyQDtkZqDc-ixphgHyZByHXptAiab1koF7ITYKZQtAqBYVF7vX3YwdcnhMM_Y4-4c86WJrRoFbT1_3UOZSDEyUREcOfPg3e2qQjkW1XMWuVH8IIf57_eUXHMDfNVHVV_rCQSy/s1000/nativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1000" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqY5G0tL61Ktkpebp8b3Edsuwk6TJP7XRiwh8gLPuolq7771X5q4nUn1VyQDtkZqDc-ixphgHyZByHXptAiab1koF7ITYKZQtAqBYVF7vX3YwdcnhMM_Y4-4c86WJrRoFbT1_3UOZSDEyUREcOfPg3e2qQjkW1XMWuVH8IIf57_eUXHMDfNVHVV_rCQSy/w400-h246/nativity.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Like Shakespeare, people have transposed Biblical stories into other settings since forever, and looking at the panoply of creches and characters around the tables, I started to daydream about a modern North American setting for a story about the birth of Christ (and I know, I am hardly the first to do so!).</p><p>It doesn't translate too well in terms of a nativity set, but I can't shake the image of a concrete parking garage in a medium-sized hotel with a "No Vacancy" sign visible outside. The interior is bleak and grimy but not filthy, barren and desolate but heated.</p><p>When picturing Mary, I don't necessarily see a frightened girl in her early teens, as being with child at 14 or 15 was hardly out of place in first-century Palestine. I imagine someone young nonetheless, presumably questioning their own mental health having no father present, and only visions and dreams giving any indication as to his true identity. Maybe they've left university or college to deliver a baby under exceptionally trying circumstances. </p><p>Which brings us to Joseph - does a modern retelling require a husband? I have had two friends conceive children without a partner because the pull of motherhood was that strong to them. Original Mary would have died without Joseph's willingness to take her in, and modern-day Mary can certainly use the support. Maybe our Joseph is her father or step-father, someone who thought he was done with raising children, but whose love for his daughter prompts him to step in and help once more.</p><p>And amidst all this, I picture three unhoused people with animals (a one-eyed dog, a mangy cat carried in a pocket, a tame rate perched on a shoulder) to replace the shepherds, who would not have looked like cute children with tea towel headdresses. Shepherds were perennial outsiders who spent most of the year sleeping oustide with their flock, keeping them from straying and protecting them from wolves. They would not have spent any time at all worrying about their clothes or hair, and would have appeared and smelled distressing to 'civilized' folk even then. How reassuring would it even be to have such rough folk assure Mary that 'sky people' or extraterrestrials had told them about her special baby, and thus paying their respects?</p><p>But there would also be renowned scientists staying at a convention at the same hotel. Drawn to the garage by an inexplicable phenomenon, they could assure Mary that the previous visitors were correct; her newborn child is both special and expected. What gifts might they bring - a warm jacket, an expensive watch, a synthetic diamond used in a demonstration?</p><p>The nativity is a difficult story to reimagine with modern sensibilities, when God no longer guides us with pillars of fire in the desert or burning bushes, nor corrects us with floods or plagues. A woman claiming to be impregnated by God was nearly stoned then, and would almost certainly be institutionalized now. The interactions and conversations are hard to reinterpret in a time where everyone must maintain some degree of both skepticism and cynicism.</p><p>But when I close my eyes, it is stunningly easy to picture the tableau; a gritty and dim cement enclosure, a rough shelter containing a radiant mother, a concerned father figure, wanderers, wise men, and of course, a miraculous baby, as all babies are.</p><p>Merry Christmas!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-glVwSshXSbXI1MWMs3HTOfOmqPx6jOj3PKC-yL5H4-AFFBMuVl0_XHnMQHHjYN3V-xiupMz4R3vbSN_J3hIU-y0t37vh6BmaJw9T3lTfSRiNHna_WwqTcU5GB0O8zSId-5MFMxn08LyN_9YCvwhyphenhyphencVUxGIFKSjbyyWFH4RPopgnDWA2OUEOlXmXhZ3P/s655/5a02ce795b34262443bb27f4f9e85526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="655" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-glVwSshXSbXI1MWMs3HTOfOmqPx6jOj3PKC-yL5H4-AFFBMuVl0_XHnMQHHjYN3V-xiupMz4R3vbSN_J3hIU-y0t37vh6BmaJw9T3lTfSRiNHna_WwqTcU5GB0O8zSId-5MFMxn08LyN_9YCvwhyphenhyphencVUxGIFKSjbyyWFH4RPopgnDWA2OUEOlXmXhZ3P/w400-h320/5a02ce795b34262443bb27f4f9e85526.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Yet another interpretation)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-43574383813014337752023-12-17T22:36:00.000-07:002023-12-17T22:36:29.686-07:00Little Man Writ Large - Napoleon, Reviewed<p>Sir Ridley Scott's <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13287846/?ref_=tttrv_ov" target="_blank">Napoleon </a></i>was a movie I had really hoped to see in IMAX, but with the whole household suffering from colds at the time it was released, it was just not to be. Today, a month later, Audrey and I finally got to see it, and since our anniversary is on Tuesday, we splurged on VIP seats.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj8ubj7egQnraz0WEmjEXPVwm23U09nePpCgU4586dZdtQKzRgS6a_WV7RYg4ZwntlmlS4kgzDSEya9GBK5HadIUyf01ZnX-PX_jGEtnrFG9cAon3zUXyNh_Y0YP6ICm0H4lbKZC61R0er60I2eyK9N8_NV1EZRyCxLSbeP7ay-_hmJM1b19oanDWsmBM/s758/Screenshot%202023-12-17%20214937.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj8ubj7egQnraz0WEmjEXPVwm23U09nePpCgU4586dZdtQKzRgS6a_WV7RYg4ZwntlmlS4kgzDSEya9GBK5HadIUyf01ZnX-PX_jGEtnrFG9cAon3zUXyNh_Y0YP6ICm0H4lbKZC61R0er60I2eyK9N8_NV1EZRyCxLSbeP7ay-_hmJM1b19oanDWsmBM/w270-h400/Screenshot%202023-12-17%20214937.png" width="270" /></a></div><p></p><p>I highly suggest VIP for this film but really all movies over two-and-a-half hours. That's not to say <i>Napoleon feels </i>long; Napoleon Bonaparte's life was eventful enough that you are never left dangling for an excessive amount of time before there is some more political intrigue, or another battle or another development in his relationship with Josephine.</p><p>And this relationship is really the hinge of the movie almost every time it is away from the battlefield. Now, I like history, but know very little about post-revolutionary France and everything I know about the Napoleonic wars comes from the books and shows about Richard Sharpe. Which, to be fair, has tremendous content about the period, but very little about Napoleon himself.</p><p>Joaquin Phoenix does an excellent job portraying a man at once confident of his abilities yet insecure about his place in the world. His infatuation and dedication to Josephine (Vanessa Kirby) is both understandable and inexplicable, sometimes within the same scene.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCth0ixYgPVwoO8MTrfH460wAT5bRAuZtz3NX02UX0IW_jL1IeCIM8d6Bt7AcaW-cQ2cdO4bvxURzmC3m9MTiVYZmO48lluk8jk4I7LgZiGK1P6WSK8dC8mCB7_9lcBFOY33WHi4FVD7TUCs7GCztKJTn784gaN-8xCqCBkAIvPLIbx-9yMqsP1mArDsJ/s2310/TELEMMGLPICT000344717578_17005900843840_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqwC_q6O_WKvh9zLQtPEcugF4wkYUgpVyxKTMloSimqgQ.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="2310" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCth0ixYgPVwoO8MTrfH460wAT5bRAuZtz3NX02UX0IW_jL1IeCIM8d6Bt7AcaW-cQ2cdO4bvxURzmC3m9MTiVYZmO48lluk8jk4I7LgZiGK1P6WSK8dC8mCB7_9lcBFOY33WHi4FVD7TUCs7GCztKJTn784gaN-8xCqCBkAIvPLIbx-9yMqsP1mArDsJ/w400-h250/TELEMMGLPICT000344717578_17005900843840_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqwC_q6O_WKvh9zLQtPEcugF4wkYUgpVyxKTMloSimqgQ.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Kirby's performance is mercurial, and takes Josephine from a widowed aristocrat to the Empress of France, but the story is forced to focus on her marital indiscretions and inability to produce an heir. </p><p>It is all handled very well, and the sets and costumes are sumptuous, but the scale of the battle scenes are what made the movie a standout for me, particularly Austerlitz and Waterloo. I am certain CGI must have been used, not once could I point out any poorly rendered bits or uncanny valleys. There are no impossible establishing shots, or cameras following cannonballs or mortar shells into the shocked faces of their targets. </p><p>Whether watching from above as shells shatter the ice around fleeing infantry, or circling a British square with hapless French cavalry, the exquisite balance between order and chaos that Sir Ridley is known for keeps you transfixed. It is nothing short of amazing that he filmed this entire epic in 61 days, but with him using 11 cameras simultaneously for each battle, maybe more credit should be given to his lead editor, Claire Simpson.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5shOKOOmc3wpC0NSVI-cmkrxAm9EGb-7UCbOvp2ZGmW8bRIdw0DlvDBWXiPhWkJ27RnpUkd8iK_NOME5-PZC7IseRWnxqXzA1x2GqXJgnUbzQpqGWX7IeLPyJa0Y6FNY46bDwXCdP5h-RFIx8fz1jaKNEp4CEpLee72mWvtrv2CAwL_OzXsI6AqpVDyY2/s600/21xp-napoleon-03-mwvc-articleLarge.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5shOKOOmc3wpC0NSVI-cmkrxAm9EGb-7UCbOvp2ZGmW8bRIdw0DlvDBWXiPhWkJ27RnpUkd8iK_NOME5-PZC7IseRWnxqXzA1x2GqXJgnUbzQpqGWX7IeLPyJa0Y6FNY46bDwXCdP5h-RFIx8fz1jaKNEp4CEpLee72mWvtrv2CAwL_OzXsI6AqpVDyY2/w400-h268/21xp-napoleon-03-mwvc-articleLarge.webp" width="400" /></a></div><p>Sadly, as much as I want Scott to win a Best Director Oscar one of these days, I don't think <i>Napoleon </i>is the film to give it to him. Maybe it is the lack of surprises, maybe Joaquin channeling "Old Boney's" egocentrism makes him too difficult to relate to, but there was just not enough of an emotional connection to the story to engage me the way, say, <i>Black Hawk Down</i> did. Maybe he will have better luck with <i>Gladiator 2</i> next year?</p><p>At any rate, there is still a lot to like for history and movie buffs alike - the sets, costumes, hair, and such are amazing, and the battle sequences even more so. But at 2:38, make sure to choose a comfortable seat.</p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-7696135275467215722023-12-10T20:56:00.001-07:002023-12-10T20:56:25.802-07:00The Cup of Cheer<p>Years ago, decades actually, I stumbled across a collection of slow cooker recipes in a Cerlox-bound book at Costco (or maybe even Price Club from when we lived in Etobicoke). It was curated by Good Housekeeping and because I am an intrinsically lazy person who loves hot meals, it seemed like a good investment. 20+ years later, it still gets regular looks in, particularly for the Hot Buttered Apple Rum on page 23.</p><p>Now, I am not a particularly ambitious person in the kitchen, especially if you go back a decade or two, but this warm punch recipe had very few ingredients in it and all of them were easy to find. Honestly, the toughest part was the cheesecloth, which I think I found at either Safeway or possibly The Bay, so, yeah - not too difficult.</p><p>We have a coffee butler kind of thing that holds an entire batch (nearly 2 L) and keeps it hot for hours and have kept this recipe on hand for potlucks, sledding parties, winter open houses and sometimes just 'cause.</p><p>You can make it with or without adding rum, and most times we do, although either way I recommend maybe using a bit less brown sugar than they suggest, and most people who have had it really, really express a lot of appreciation for it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5eVSpwkPzw5UuWkHHFfEenX46I3zcbY7Oybm5BEYEU8eG62vDFVd0M9ASBs10p_51DQNzWDI0hT-j4P-62jYfpz_GF0Nh_Cl3QytOIqckHFggTFZ7tokQaWqmMYrAxhRt7cVeSD3b39d8a774nA5ZbNBIo16YBERotrCODFmCZSYv182HZSUoZ5vMLuE/s2931/IMG_20231210_195813947~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2931" data-original-width="1906" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5eVSpwkPzw5UuWkHHFfEenX46I3zcbY7Oybm5BEYEU8eG62vDFVd0M9ASBs10p_51DQNzWDI0hT-j4P-62jYfpz_GF0Nh_Cl3QytOIqckHFggTFZ7tokQaWqmMYrAxhRt7cVeSD3b39d8a774nA5ZbNBIo16YBERotrCODFmCZSYv182HZSUoZ5vMLuE/s320/IMG_20231210_195813947~2.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>My favourite way to serve it is in the Irish coffee glasses Audrey got me as an anniversary present many years ago, with a wee pat of butter floated on top (seriously, it adds tremendous taste and texture to the whole thing). I put some in the crock pot this morning before leaving for church and shared a glass with my sister when she came for supper. And for me, sharing that drink with her? That is when it really, really started to feel like Christmas is coming.</p><p>I don't know what it is about hot boozy beverages that put me in mind of the holidays, and family gatherings and suchlike. Dad always loved finishing up meals out with a cup of coffee and a wee glass of Drambuie or something similar. and both Tara and I inherited our mother's love of Irish coffees and the infinite copycats and similar drinks. But I remember serving a glass to someone who was a little unsure what to expect, and having taken a big sip once it had cooled, beamed at me while bringing their shoulders closer to their ears and proclaiming, "it's like drinking a hug."</p><p>There are more of you reading this that I would like to hug than I am reasonably going to encounter in the next little while, so, if you are so inclined, I invite you to make a batch of Hot Buttered Apple Rum, and think warmly of our household when you drink, preferably on a frosty day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmjp2CJ__5SK_j5WNiyL-wv9U7BtsZDA0sDDBpiBIqjNaYZtvS-2sTcasjw3S6Sd1slWzocRP9rVtQVmDGwxP5MoUdPo85OCo8_cRQNR51ebWD0s76ImMeQonmPfL_4key2Pg1wWwfREMdVQ2THU6MXJSsOlQpg0lZK_QIaA-QCKVhRizyywWN66CprUC/s2543/IMG_20231210_195837689_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="2543" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmjp2CJ__5SK_j5WNiyL-wv9U7BtsZDA0sDDBpiBIqjNaYZtvS-2sTcasjw3S6Sd1slWzocRP9rVtQVmDGwxP5MoUdPo85OCo8_cRQNR51ebWD0s76ImMeQonmPfL_4key2Pg1wWwfREMdVQ2THU6MXJSsOlQpg0lZK_QIaA-QCKVhRizyywWN66CprUC/w400-h388/IMG_20231210_195837689_HDR~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVucYLmCg2F9B8heIXRTXxYeXbcvKST63e_Kl1gjirHHzJ94bpY9xq5WVSZsiUH4JwVEq8JcnD3wSL-u8ZWC4AosQaHhSvCthv2ONehH5VdhHdtPjQkoNa2fkXCTKS7QERLabEYUvz7dFWEmA6NJ0NSg5zv5PZOVeESBX-VahbTEV6ssvafx_KHMGQUdW/s1454/IMG_20231210_195846045_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1454" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVucYLmCg2F9B8heIXRTXxYeXbcvKST63e_Kl1gjirHHzJ94bpY9xq5WVSZsiUH4JwVEq8JcnD3wSL-u8ZWC4AosQaHhSvCthv2ONehH5VdhHdtPjQkoNa2fkXCTKS7QERLabEYUvz7dFWEmA6NJ0NSg5zv5PZOVeESBX-VahbTEV6ssvafx_KHMGQUdW/w400-h276/IMG_20231210_195846045_HDR~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-10804050740575480212023-12-03T20:40:00.003-07:002023-12-03T20:40:22.488-07:00Gone to the Dogs: Skye's Arrival<p> For almost a month and a half now we have been a two-dog household. </p><p>Skye's owner had a situation that made keeping her untenable, and she had heard how well Canéla had done with us since adopting her in 2021 and hoped we would be able to re-house her. </p><p>Truth be told, we are okay being a one-dog home, but with Fenya and Bobby recently moving to a pet-friendly building in Toronto, there was an opportunity here to get this 16 lb allegedly Havanese mutt into a nice situation in another province.</p><p>After some false starts and an apparently heartbreaking departure from her other home, Skye (yes, same as the one in Paw Patrol) joined us on October 24. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkm1rlBJsVqKT4OaXuVnicBO5pGxr2xG1OA7R6LUbAhEy3l-ngV38dQSIzmfiM6R1JRK_px-QDGdMIHQZDrOJ0NtsKjUeJP8O2wlu0sH_4JklwTBQWl_8A-Y6sZAwD_xIvS6mB6envbkGi7ibK-SUJtqpNczx06Cnj29KeCRYP4DeusXrIZVAHzuOp33p/s1909/IMG_20231023_212545586_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1909" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkm1rlBJsVqKT4OaXuVnicBO5pGxr2xG1OA7R6LUbAhEy3l-ngV38dQSIzmfiM6R1JRK_px-QDGdMIHQZDrOJ0NtsKjUeJP8O2wlu0sH_4JklwTBQWl_8A-Y6sZAwD_xIvS6mB6envbkGi7ibK-SUJtqpNczx06Cnj29KeCRYP4DeusXrIZVAHzuOp33p/w400-h351/IMG_20231023_212545586_HDR~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtFj-gzxSpdGTN2k7Dpngdo2E90HBYTFmnHRXyizzvOye2Uwdj-ZbQJ-FwaSo27C2mKP7R-ZMBqAyj0DQk4jya3VOFAJPmh1s4wi37upEVDgJ7O_qjxhiozXXGQ1Xl_sFKns9N7Wfi2YbA98udcWQTDBVqfBlYNfbGXUqqcTRPjHIymTn8PFXmZR-q9i6/s2273/IMG_20231024_204406605_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2273" data-original-width="1866" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtFj-gzxSpdGTN2k7Dpngdo2E90HBYTFmnHRXyizzvOye2Uwdj-ZbQJ-FwaSo27C2mKP7R-ZMBqAyj0DQk4jya3VOFAJPmh1s4wi37upEVDgJ7O_qjxhiozXXGQ1Xl_sFKns9N7Wfi2YbA98udcWQTDBVqfBlYNfbGXUqqcTRPjHIymTn8PFXmZR-q9i6/w329-h400/IMG_20231024_204406605_HDR~2.jpg" width="329" /></a></div><p>She is a sweetie, but knowing she was an impulse purchase from the pet store in West Edmonton Mall that closed down suddenly years ago may go some way to explaining not only the cryptic nature of her breed (as she looks almost nothing like a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havanese_dog" target="_blank">Havanese</a> and probably has as much Cuban blood as I do) but also some of her various neuroses.</p><p>Oh yes, she is a cute one, but not without issues.</p><p>For openers, she has a distaste for being alone that borders on psychosis, snuffing under closed doors until becoming borderline hypoxic, and scratching relentlessly at the kitchen door when we were trying to limit her travels to linoleum while we assessed her housetraining.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQ4TIOcJ0MlCCYj9EByDmZFJa_ByR0oKi2qxRax7J-M0r_QTBmYrlicUvoMyIfwx2G-OJwWLB8SygPcv-zuCil00wns2wF4lsAEGlRTOHsr8vZ4JjHr2SrB42_JQE2zmdlrMMc1mejiG6PlCdgnioUlmQ4lf0jj0murnaiCtOprsJ1xppXfAsIjh3n7XO/s4000/IMG_20231101_120704013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQ4TIOcJ0MlCCYj9EByDmZFJa_ByR0oKi2qxRax7J-M0r_QTBmYrlicUvoMyIfwx2G-OJwWLB8SygPcv-zuCil00wns2wF4lsAEGlRTOHsr8vZ4JjHr2SrB42_JQE2zmdlrMMc1mejiG6PlCdgnioUlmQ4lf0jj0murnaiCtOprsJ1xppXfAsIjh3n7XO/w400-h300/IMG_20231101_120704013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>She also did not let the fact that she is less than 15 pounds stop her from tearing down a metal baby gate we had set up for the same purpose.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBtlIJ4Y4pNG7K9RhMUXvqEjs6GJHhPT0jSo5KGuKpeZa0rap3IRcjYetV_i5cy4St93k1Iiyup3N483TnnWGSC_nXSDJcAbvHzdu06LvvrMU9v4ZlxwolDvWKeysWIHBQA9tnv9zMU76EvOl-rfea_MVNhaHA4WH6AmhHYbEkw7jKTNbKMnpE_6cRQgk/s4000/IMG_20231026_184125943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBtlIJ4Y4pNG7K9RhMUXvqEjs6GJHhPT0jSo5KGuKpeZa0rap3IRcjYetV_i5cy4St93k1Iiyup3N483TnnWGSC_nXSDJcAbvHzdu06LvvrMU9v4ZlxwolDvWKeysWIHBQA9tnv9zMU76EvOl-rfea_MVNhaHA4WH6AmhHYbEkw7jKTNbKMnpE_6cRQgk/w400-h300/IMG_20231026_184125943.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Her parkour skills make containment difficult as well - she is fully capable of jumping onto Glory's bed which is actually an inch higher than the kitchen table. But while we have never seen her go directly from the floor to the table, she has traversed the living room floor to the love seat to the recliner back and over the room divider onto the kitchen table several times now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ig1qCCbsh_fgg-rk-REQpBTJOWfTfCA3V4RTl90uyKV5Fsav3qexJlGQVjUi9zUOSZ6K1e2nQBIk9JmTR2bvP3mYllYOeGbkl9xMRLGaqwlIsJKzF7eEfH2XBqiZ0bd6_jgitKY6uBfgiDWd3r5QlDoN0xWJlEUbsMOSgGQxVMHaMIst1Fgot5SD_Fyi/s4000/IMG_20231103_174146856_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ig1qCCbsh_fgg-rk-REQpBTJOWfTfCA3V4RTl90uyKV5Fsav3qexJlGQVjUi9zUOSZ6K1e2nQBIk9JmTR2bvP3mYllYOeGbkl9xMRLGaqwlIsJKzF7eEfH2XBqiZ0bd6_jgitKY6uBfgiDWd3r5QlDoN0xWJlEUbsMOSgGQxVMHaMIst1Fgot5SD_Fyi/w300-h400/IMG_20231103_174146856_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvvCtZbMjaEJ4RsjobVtgg0AJbSKBwDXsedtV_B6IwvoIDU8crXB47GAsX1pKXXeZyuq4OMd55xI_RoLvXtJb6FS6trmHsxT-TQ-XPeg5BxrhqGHO7Ad_VR-CjOTwjX08AKEq6YZOCd01Q87mzfAUU_1NFWOfMc8t6usJEOCryOLPSLhorQt25Kb4htyf/s2138/IMG_20231106_151731317_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1873" data-original-width="2138" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvvCtZbMjaEJ4RsjobVtgg0AJbSKBwDXsedtV_B6IwvoIDU8crXB47GAsX1pKXXeZyuq4OMd55xI_RoLvXtJb6FS6trmHsxT-TQ-XPeg5BxrhqGHO7Ad_VR-CjOTwjX08AKEq6YZOCd01Q87mzfAUU_1NFWOfMc8t6usJEOCryOLPSLhorQt25Kb4htyf/w400-h350/IMG_20231106_151731317_HDR~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Housetraining-wise, while we were told she was pee-pad trained, the two times she has used the ones set out here in the past 40-odd days can probably be dismissed as random chance, and she has been known to drop onto them for a nap as well, so...</p><p>But the worst experience came the day after her arrival; perhaps an hour after Glory suggested putting a pool noodle or something under the wooden gate in the back yard, Skye got out, presumably under said gate, which I had suggested was physically impossible.</p><p>This prompted a frantic, hour-long search for her by Audrey and I, first on foot, then in two separate vehicles, catching and then losing sight of her in the neighbourhood and being told by a lovely lady who drove over from Griesbach to help catch her that she saw Skye on Castledowns Road.</p><p>The feeling of helplessness and anguish, coupled with the thought of telling Fenya and Bobby that we had lost their new pet before they even met her threw my guts into turmoil. By chance, I saw others chasing her in a residential area nearly 2 km from our home and roared down the street to cut her off. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLamlHvQ5EdpzBLTjwZDL1shgGUVg5zNrJ3r9BV6r7gT2mGZ_192vfwMt0VKNpz9-XbFlG4DhJA_DUz4nyAkjhlV8bJJTyfdaTI_bMgEfp41t0pOV64BsqL_n2NJQV6vGpjtzyVwO_Hh29lGYyAMoT1eqk3-K2GnriL5zny2Z2aU-RgtsKyRnlwKQrTR_/s863/chase%20map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="863" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLamlHvQ5EdpzBLTjwZDL1shgGUVg5zNrJ3r9BV6r7gT2mGZ_192vfwMt0VKNpz9-XbFlG4DhJA_DUz4nyAkjhlV8bJJTyfdaTI_bMgEfp41t0pOV64BsqL_n2NJQV6vGpjtzyVwO_Hh29lGYyAMoT1eqk3-K2GnriL5zny2Z2aU-RgtsKyRnlwKQrTR_/w400-h335/chase%20map.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue icon in upper right is our place, red pin is where I found her</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It still took another ten minutes to actually catch her, with her dodging and outrunning four of us. Once I picked her up though, she snuggled closely into my neck, which prompted an "aww" from one of the pursuers and a comment of, "guess we know who the dad is" from another.</p><p>This prompted an hour of securing the yard with a wooden board on the gate and krazy karpets threaded between the iron fence railings before I collapsed in an exhausted but relieved heap.</p><p>It is tough not to feel some sense of rejection when this happens, but it really is natural; Skye had not been with us even 24 hours when this happened, and naturally there would be a compulsion to return to the former home. But since then things have adjusted pretty well around here for the most part.</p><p>We have abandoned attempts to have her sleep in the kennel as she would scratch at the gate and bark for up to two hours before finally falling asleep. Since none of us seem to be allergic, it has just been easier to let her sleep in our bed, which is only really a challenge when Canéla jostles with her for space or is surprised by Skye in the night. This dog has a deep-seated need to be as close to humans as possible (preferably Audrey, who now routinely leads a parade of dogs around the house like a Disney princess).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuoRNb5P7EwZq6CyLFdPBMgxKFwqF2Fh4rwpyXHVgk94jzK0aAHfHQrOzBqBpV62yB_OMqVS89evTeEMxOhveavtaBL_nhIL-WXmrltbob4vIpuN5wn_N9IXrFGH32P_TwMdNKnn5t88XzhyphenhyphensRF0t7HlfWqlWjZxV51GE6iBLquNnfw_g-Nq-eamQdcrr/s2304/IMG_20231111_082910364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2304" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuoRNb5P7EwZq6CyLFdPBMgxKFwqF2Fh4rwpyXHVgk94jzK0aAHfHQrOzBqBpV62yB_OMqVS89evTeEMxOhveavtaBL_nhIL-WXmrltbob4vIpuN5wn_N9IXrFGH32P_TwMdNKnn5t88XzhyphenhyphensRF0t7HlfWqlWjZxV51GE6iBLquNnfw_g-Nq-eamQdcrr/w400-h300/IMG_20231111_082910364.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVpIa5j9DyRl9T1zHeS627-BKcsIdBp9Kf5XsTkocCcS89qNgd69_SiOG_AlAA7laBEna12-Dfp3OR9ShBZJN7W9CmtiZl1MkF5PQdnb2J64Jgjdu0Cbo_3B321-CJLS2ZnYCyxOKJzoYyyGXfcyQ6hPoONwsNL2T1L55_6nuriSrjzD3ZYW6mPTM8Zv3/s4000/IMG_20231125_204621773_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVpIa5j9DyRl9T1zHeS627-BKcsIdBp9Kf5XsTkocCcS89qNgd69_SiOG_AlAA7laBEna12-Dfp3OR9ShBZJN7W9CmtiZl1MkF5PQdnb2J64Jgjdu0Cbo_3B321-CJLS2ZnYCyxOKJzoYyyGXfcyQ6hPoONwsNL2T1L55_6nuriSrjzD3ZYW6mPTM8Zv3/w400-h300/IMG_20231125_204621773_HDR~2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikkIDyKVLrMAcOVVeXcaYis_87DuvD20kaYtqaAIwreD-6suobuDetQOXGNGw0flyBLhskgFLFwPaLPLOAJQWxXpt2SbEFcnUb6HSOw7cVnBuO1Uu8m-VHF2qmUMso9-0gKPP7LPzdgtc5z1NsQPiN_zQvdTAn31oaXJ7iwbbEdqt6EURQaWFXhZZIuq2/s1280/IMG_5771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikkIDyKVLrMAcOVVeXcaYis_87DuvD20kaYtqaAIwreD-6suobuDetQOXGNGw0flyBLhskgFLFwPaLPLOAJQWxXpt2SbEFcnUb6HSOw7cVnBuO1Uu8m-VHF2qmUMso9-0gKPP7LPzdgtc5z1NsQPiN_zQvdTAn31oaXJ7iwbbEdqt6EURQaWFXhZZIuq2/w300-h400/IMG_5771.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Canéla, meanwhile, has done a very decent job adjusting to having another dog in the house, although she clearly wants Skye to engage in more play with her (but maybe she doesn't know how? many of her behaviours are more cat-like, frankly). There are some small traces of jealousy and maybe even pouting on Canéla's part, but on the whole, she has been gentle and accommodating with her new roommate. Skye has only recently begun playing with the various dog toys we have around, but that may have been a physical issue as well. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExuAbh-JHKyFTEolCppTDDMxxdcjgHOrQoi-eALjqoX1dxIqpfDgVT4W12Fa2vFM2muyIIGT1jamEV9HmQlwVL0Lo3ZjW1Gtyu19lkjhBT1fHGGljhcuxv7CItObF-hGPwt-mIusIsYKxAzk3k-Z9lGJBpsFlu3BsxhTVgHX7LwyOI6lxmzEpPG6vfKQj/s4000/IMG_20231027_211231529_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExuAbh-JHKyFTEolCppTDDMxxdcjgHOrQoi-eALjqoX1dxIqpfDgVT4W12Fa2vFM2muyIIGT1jamEV9HmQlwVL0Lo3ZjW1Gtyu19lkjhBT1fHGGljhcuxv7CItObF-hGPwt-mIusIsYKxAzk3k-Z9lGJBpsFlu3BsxhTVgHX7LwyOI6lxmzEpPG6vfKQj/w300-h400/IMG_20231027_211231529_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiitBqlIn30Gd9AulVtppvh30t6P1a46P37p_6VsUHJskSD6-38QmTPq0PEu4Ouv-l5FimuIw2SllAzHSI9TdbLtdojZaNvIAZ2ZrhiKpJNJY_7DatcNiAE2pX4c9mvVHghUsWMCPXne60okpQw3Vxd4lVABxhtzcC-udX8hJzsbPQcAZU5JWg7KVjmRue/s2304/IMG_20231105_150742802_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2304" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiitBqlIn30Gd9AulVtppvh30t6P1a46P37p_6VsUHJskSD6-38QmTPq0PEu4Ouv-l5FimuIw2SllAzHSI9TdbLtdojZaNvIAZ2ZrhiKpJNJY_7DatcNiAE2pX4c9mvVHghUsWMCPXne60okpQw3Vxd4lVABxhtzcC-udX8hJzsbPQcAZU5JWg7KVjmRue/w400-h300/IMG_20231105_150742802_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OdnR8ZIFTfD0fauHcztr3SneYP2AIAufJGh9f-UEYTSAH4IIhR_FTlIBmBNAlxBYE4vt99mLwQhyGTb4Vyp7WLf7sgxXs97xAwsMusgDW1Mw0g4aq5OTfZqMAhIslyh8r_rMx05lNWK7UjDQOpyjYNxdjbA6TgRCgxE2Wc2JW682fbaQVl0UkjufytWd/s2962/IMG_20231129_090002490_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2962" data-original-width="2693" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OdnR8ZIFTfD0fauHcztr3SneYP2AIAufJGh9f-UEYTSAH4IIhR_FTlIBmBNAlxBYE4vt99mLwQhyGTb4Vyp7WLf7sgxXs97xAwsMusgDW1Mw0g4aq5OTfZqMAhIslyh8r_rMx05lNWK7UjDQOpyjYNxdjbA6TgRCgxE2Wc2JW682fbaQVl0UkjufytWd/w364-h400/IMG_20231129_090002490_HDR~2.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>It turns out that Skye's diet was almost exclusively boiled chicken, and this meant her teeth were neither getting scraped by kibble or biscuits nor cleaned at the vet. As a result, we recently discovered the poor thing has an abscessed molar that is infected and needs to be removed, along with 7-9 other teeth. The vet we took her to says she may not have chewed on the infected side of her mouth for 6 months to a year but is now gamely eating kibble mixed with soft food (to make sure she gets enough eaten with her antibiotics). </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite all her neuroses, Skye is not a complainer, so who knows how much this discomfort might be impacting her behaviour? I never saw her pick up a toy until after starting on antibiotics. Maybe we haven't even met the real dog yet, who is already established as being a bit of a character.</div><div><br /></div><div>The original plan was for Fenya and Bobby to take Skye back with them in November, as they came to Edmonton for his Master's convocation (congrats again Bobby!), but they have had no luck finding anyone who could keep her over the Christmas holidays while we are all in Texas together. Currently, it looks like Skye will stay with us before and after Christmas, and hopefully, Bobby's family can take her in while we are away.</div><div><br /></div><div>But even if that doesn't work out, I am confident we can find someone to house her for ten days or so; she is pretty undeniably cute, after all. Who wouldn't want to assist a helpless dog with a smile like this?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81xVRXZGdZTvu6I4KSNTeAd-DPmKASQ7qC5ehJ2tFO9dKesHLDXEA6WGw9L8oMXaRKukOAjkR8SGf6_4OjYMpXjqvtwpC3_hbwzEzY9SKs8KECi6U0E9_U_iH_U4x_LjnF6xEIPCuqiE65UATFQQ5C095vrtRTcxPpiBiIoTOr8xoWsI3dewnHTbHf4re/s4000/IMG_20231024_205923723_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81xVRXZGdZTvu6I4KSNTeAd-DPmKASQ7qC5ehJ2tFO9dKesHLDXEA6WGw9L8oMXaRKukOAjkR8SGf6_4OjYMpXjqvtwpC3_hbwzEzY9SKs8KECi6U0E9_U_iH_U4x_LjnF6xEIPCuqiE65UATFQQ5C095vrtRTcxPpiBiIoTOr8xoWsI3dewnHTbHf4re/w400-h300/IMG_20231024_205923723_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-77420163105119948132023-11-26T23:55:00.005-07:002023-11-26T23:55:46.494-07:00Not Bond, But Not Bad - 007: Road To A Million, Reviewed<p>Honestly, the premise sounds pretty cringey: take 9 pairs of ordinary people, and put them in contrived but legitimately challenging situations, hunting for questions in a variety of exotic locales akin to a James Bond movie, all while an unseen antagonist leads them and taunts them by phone and taped messages from (presumably) some sort of lair, all in pursuit of one million pounds. There is very little reason for this to work, but for our money, it really did.</p><p>We are all home sick with dreadful colds this weekend, so last night the three of us powered through the last three episodes of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19049680/" target="_blank">007: Road To a Million</a> on Amazon Prime. I am not really a fan of reality TV, but I am a fan of the Bond films, and since this show was actually co-produced by EON Productions, I hoped it would be a worthwhile view.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPz2-QnKOwY1Mg1onJX5-q1NCnhIHy1F31w4bPJAM3tNZiazSD20etRKvO4IG4LdVbirQJ4tCRs5YPdilY-WYGHaQOXVQzzrUcimB7gbCAZUD1IFFAIlkEF4eEo56agoD1HObte30A1xtJgfQy78kq2RcVdi_MSxMGErh0JQ7JZDlg37uwjhdjdS3Cmpz/s1481/MV5BNmQwYmViMzgtMjMxMy00ZTE5LTk3YWYtZDM0Y2QyNDIzZWU1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQwMDg0Ng@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPz2-QnKOwY1Mg1onJX5-q1NCnhIHy1F31w4bPJAM3tNZiazSD20etRKvO4IG4LdVbirQJ4tCRs5YPdilY-WYGHaQOXVQzzrUcimB7gbCAZUD1IFFAIlkEF4eEo56agoD1HObte30A1xtJgfQy78kq2RcVdi_MSxMGErh0JQ7JZDlg37uwjhdjdS3Cmpz/w270-h400/MV5BNmQwYmViMzgtMjMxMy00ZTE5LTk3YWYtZDM0Y2QyNDIzZWU1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQwMDg0Ng@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><p>Smartly, they removed the competitive aspect right away, and none of the nine teams ever meet (although I might have liked to see them comparing notes once all was said and done). And all nine pairs of Brits seemed like decent and likable folks - no strong overbearing personalities, no manufactured drama, no smack talk. </p><p>No doubt there will be folks who find the tremendous support and encouragement offered by these teams to be dull or saccharine. But one of the best moments for me was when one pair finds out they have to traverse between a group of restrained but ferocious-sounding dogs in a darkened warehouse to reach their objective, and you discover one of them is dog-phobic. The matter-of-fact way the other tells his best friend, "Right, hand on my shoulder, you follow me, yeah? If I turn and run, you follow," and they carry-on was a stand-out moment for me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofm76RMmTJ2IZZ6hkdrFP00k9S7P-oPELqf9PtJ2v8Cd-79oInrEYp2rt_65fGgFtcGQVVcSX44HNMyS7ycMtSc7K5Ralnq4zJNwVkDmPE_jDiZVpMgJ0s2wEEBOAlCFNQ2OGRmuuL5zMoYjhcnEGzIgGxIUosEOSp1cMvY3Z-Zp3M1NrBxDGyNoYcQht/s1000/007-5-ed89744.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofm76RMmTJ2IZZ6hkdrFP00k9S7P-oPELqf9PtJ2v8Cd-79oInrEYp2rt_65fGgFtcGQVVcSX44HNMyS7ycMtSc7K5Ralnq4zJNwVkDmPE_jDiZVpMgJ0s2wEEBOAlCFNQ2OGRmuuL5zMoYjhcnEGzIgGxIUosEOSp1cMvY3Z-Zp3M1NrBxDGyNoYcQht/w400-h266/007-5-ed89744.webp" width="400" /></a></div><p>The general knowledge-type questions they have to answer (in a high-tech briefcase with a video-display and labeled smoke grenades to reveal the correct answer) are not the most challenging, because the challenge is often in finding the case to begin with. In the first episode, it involves marching for hours across the Scottish highlands before entering waist-deep water to retrieve it. In almost every case, the contestants talk about the role fatigue plays in their deduction, half the suspense comes from watching people talk themselves out of what may well be the correct answer.</p><p>So yes, the challenge is there, but what makes it Bond? Three things, in my estimation:</p><p>THE LOCALES - From the Scottish Highlands to Chile's Atacama Desert to St. Mark's Square in Venice, the settings are always amazing. There are no car chases and few explosions but the backdrops (like an enormous solar farm, a Formula 1 raceway and a pass through the Swiss Alps) look like they would be right at home for Bond set-piece. Much of the filming of the contestants is hand-held of course, but the amazing aerial shots and panoramic views mark this every bit an EON Production.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDaO1Vg5WIKoQ4zMQUqSiNM8TVwNeZa2ZHnVc9o3SolnBq5AtJ7CiKtcmCFekUGTdbgycwfCp9gGvOcLshbFJNcj3uDN-bwZo4TQTgQaDJGOFvEpdpr1hFLgxq8KKWIVo1r5sX7Lx2uu1zlJJsvSZ2xDOjgZT_D6EmWNASVvX_TDwOff1gnDdR6p1Pbec/s500/MV5BNDU0Y2M1MzgtMDdhYi00OGQyLTg1N2ItNTY2ZDVhOWVmYzM0XkEyXkFqcGdeQVRoaXJkUGFydHlJbmdlc3Rpb25Xb3JrZmxvdw@@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDaO1Vg5WIKoQ4zMQUqSiNM8TVwNeZa2ZHnVc9o3SolnBq5AtJ7CiKtcmCFekUGTdbgycwfCp9gGvOcLshbFJNcj3uDN-bwZo4TQTgQaDJGOFvEpdpr1hFLgxq8KKWIVo1r5sX7Lx2uu1zlJJsvSZ2xDOjgZT_D6EmWNASVvX_TDwOff1gnDdR6p1Pbec/w400-h225/MV5BNDU0Y2M1MzgtMDdhYi00OGQyLTg1N2ItNTY2ZDVhOWVmYzM0XkEyXkFqcGdeQVRoaXJkUGFydHlJbmdlc3Rpb25Xb3JrZmxvdw@@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>THE MUSIC - The showrunners make full use of the Bond soundtracks here, from the remixed 007 theme in the titles to Hans Zimmer's "Square Escape" that closes out each episode. Every new locale is treated to an appropriate bit of score and they make great use of some familiar Bond songs too, playing "We Have All The Time In The World" to console one couple who failed to complete a challenge in time.</p><p>THE VOICE - Brian Cox as the mysterious "Controller" is really in his element here, doling out clues, clucking his tongue as he strikes a line through a team's name, and welcoming the players over a hidden P.A. system in later episodes. Apparently, he thought he was signing on for an actual Bond film, but he is either having the time of his life playing a villain to the hilt ("That's a lot of money...are you sure that's the right answer?") or treating this as his audition for the real thing. Either way, we viewers are the winners.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8mPBV9q_eyPdqLNQJOZFMlFdKkxd9didnZ-7dzFRwoS8rDxiAxw5OqfsEw7sung25edSpeXpPv5_dqaml0eAncfDZrz4OuFB7-Z3Ns3TL04qhuzR0_jYDk3l5IGhW0eutxVNph1nDr6QjmAjESuGgE9MUzeBwh3nIr6UkNluqkBvfJHDANR-7NPVSJgC/s463/Cox.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="463" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8mPBV9q_eyPdqLNQJOZFMlFdKkxd9didnZ-7dzFRwoS8rDxiAxw5OqfsEw7sung25edSpeXpPv5_dqaml0eAncfDZrz4OuFB7-Z3Ns3TL04qhuzR0_jYDk3l5IGhW0eutxVNph1nDr6QjmAjESuGgE9MUzeBwh3nIr6UkNluqkBvfJHDANR-7NPVSJgC/w400-h221/Cox.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Best of all, the Bond references are by and large subtle ones - no garish voice-over or subtitles telling you which move was shot where, just an appearance of a classic setting or the occasional classic vehicle. The whole presentation is much more about the style than direct callbacks.</p><p>And my compliments to the casters; I would have liked to see any of these teams go the distance, but some flame out tragically early while others go quite a bit further on. Watching them overcome their challenges is a real treat, and a welcome bit of positivity for a TV genre that doesn't seem to appreciate that a lot.</p><p>I won't say it scratches the Bond itch <i>per se</i>, but with a new movie still years away, it salves it a bit, and has a few genuine surprises along the way.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SGqPScEVD58" width="320" youtube-src-id="SGqPScEVD58"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGqPScEVD58" target="_blank">Official Trailer</a></div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-48315496319447761302023-11-19T22:06:00.002-07:002023-11-19T22:06:45.317-07:00Boon Companions<p>Five of the six of us playing in my Masks of Nyarlathotep campaign got together last night for the first time in a long time; work demands kept the other away, tragically.</p><p>It turns out that a few of us had very rough weeks leading up to Saturday. I found out that a co-worker and friend from Games Workshop had passed away suddenly at 49. Another friend discovered he has a six-week window to move his aging mother to a different facility due to nursing changes where she is. And a third discovered a long-time friend had been diagnosed with prostate cancer which had metastasized into their lymph nodes, and did not have long to live.</p><p>Now, we are not the kind of group that ever worries about ticking enough boxes on the societal manliness checklist, but some of those stereotypes exist for a reason. One of them is "men are reluctant to talk about how they feel," and sometimes, maybe even a lot of times, that applies to us. We do not typically indulge in a lot of gnashing of teeth and rending of garments and the like, but last night, we all felt compelled to unburden ourselves a little.</p><p>We talked about how ill-equipped we feel in dealing with peer mortality. About the guilt and shame of finding an unsent email wishing a departed friend a happy birthday. Looking at the challenges our aging parents face (or that we face on their behalf) and wondering what it will be like for us. As one of us opined, "the time of gathering on the regular for weddings is largely past us now; gathering for funerals is probably more likely."</p><p>One of us had brought a luxurious bottle of whiskey (thank you!), saying that it, like us, was Very Rare, and improving with age, as we hope to. And the three of us who partake of liquor did so, several times, toasting the importance of friends, present, absent, and departed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutg26k7SwCr9ZdgjjQWnozJBmrt_ocIChyphenhyphen69te3Of4X1QKJ91Lr3-MaxOjbhdHII_Rnzz-pTaltGvNjfMiwL1ggHVNX37wPWC_ciSt5L87wNxrDkSaNGF73z-WyNX-Nf_qSa3A9vnHBWXs5WJRn0oQryKtAzp5jsNZD2-eMrNdnY5NczTgAOsmEsByQR0/s688/406689_midleton-very-rare-irish-whiskey-750ml.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutg26k7SwCr9ZdgjjQWnozJBmrt_ocIChyphenhyphen69te3Of4X1QKJ91Lr3-MaxOjbhdHII_Rnzz-pTaltGvNjfMiwL1ggHVNX37wPWC_ciSt5L87wNxrDkSaNGF73z-WyNX-Nf_qSa3A9vnHBWXs5WJRn0oQryKtAzp5jsNZD2-eMrNdnY5NczTgAOsmEsByQR0/s320/406689_midleton-very-rare-irish-whiskey-750ml.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p>The term boon companion refers to a close friend one enjoys spending time with. Boon derives from the French "bon" which in turn comes to us from the Latin "bonus," all of which means "good", but originally refers to drinking companions. I have long supported the wisdom of "<i>in vino veritas</i>" so this makes all the sense in the world to me, and if it is offputting at all to our teetotalling brethren, they give no indication of it.</p><p>So we drank, and we remembered and we lamented and we encouraged each other that we are all doing the best that we can. Eventually, our group of real friends got back to the business of using dice and imagination and fake newspaper articles from the mid-1920s to tell a collective story about a group of imaginary friends trying to avenge a dead colleague by combatting the death cults who had assassinated him. And it was good. Maybe even great.</p><p>Yes, I suppose it is kind of silly thing for a group of grown-ass men to do, but we don't care. It scratches a lot of itches like our need for creativity, imagination, deductive reasoning, and tactical thinking. But most importantly, it puts us in the same space, with an opportunity to share food and drink as well as fun, and to simply relate to one another as humans who care for each other, but who may not always find that easy to articulate. </p><p>Earlier this same, terrible week, I had read on CNN about "<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/29/health/men-friendships-wellness/index.html" target="_blank">why most men don't have enough close friends</a>." The challenges of finding people you can relate to in a fast-paced and ever-changing world, and how this turns out to be critical for our long-term survival. <br /><br /></p><blockquote><i>“What (men) are at risk of losing is this sense of not being alone in the world or not being alone in their experience,” Sileo said. Research has shown “disclosure of emotional distress improved (men’s) emotional well-being, increased feelings of being understood and resulted in less reported <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/24/health/lonely-adults-gallup-poll-wellness/index.html">loneliness</a>,” he added.</i></blockquote><p>Some of those Saturday night conversations were not easy, but in the end, I can't help but feel we fought off something even more dangerous than the Cult of the Bloody Tongue, and perhaps more insidious than the Brotherhood of the Black Pharoah.</p><p>If you are reading this, there is a very good chance that I already or at least would likely call you a friend. And if we have not been in contact for longer than you might like, I am sorry for that, and hope that we reconnect before too long.</p><p>But for the friends in my most immediate circles, the ones I see around the gaming table or at church or on my monitor as we explore the jungles of Chult from three different time zones, I hope I have made it clear how much I appreciate our relationship, and how grateful I am for our friendship.</p><p>May none of our friends ever have to speculate as to whether or not they are valued- please know that you are.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt3KCRJP14sq2844Tv2yXZ-nykSgjvZXB0BKHU_KkBsvMQ6iKhMEJdho_Na2z8RNjKom6uJI9oGW8s5j7AHcNJqqJummMI00UrthyphenhyphenEkVkyrGUPWRlujWuWrk-toTJfZSJG-2MfUilN5lEG5eKy3HL5ElRotS6DWfZGJGQ8Z7IsX08RX1YPRDODw2ARBmh/s1236/IMG_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1236" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt3KCRJP14sq2844Tv2yXZ-nykSgjvZXB0BKHU_KkBsvMQ6iKhMEJdho_Na2z8RNjKom6uJI9oGW8s5j7AHcNJqqJummMI00UrthyphenhyphenEkVkyrGUPWRlujWuWrk-toTJfZSJG-2MfUilN5lEG5eKy3HL5ElRotS6DWfZGJGQ8Z7IsX08RX1YPRDODw2ARBmh/w400-h266/IMG_2900.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-63282027778401885662023-11-13T17:04:00.002-07:002023-11-13T17:05:00.034-07:00Trio and Error? - The Marvels, Reviewed<p>As the weekend winds up, it has become clear that the MCU's latest venture, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10676048/?ref_=hm_inth_tt_i_1" target="_blank">The Marvels</a>, has not been a commercial success. I guess an ad hoc team featuring an underappreciated and possibly underutilized film character as well as two who made their debuts on Disney+ streaming shows just didn't have the draw that people were looking for?</p><p>Everywhere you look, people are ringing alarm bells on behalf of Marvel Studios. A recent Variety article entitled "<a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/features/marvel-jonathan-majors-problem-the-marvels-reshoots-kang-1235774940/" target="_blank">Crisis At Marvel</a><a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/features/marvel-jonathan-majors-problem-the-marvels-reshoots-kang-1235774940/" target="_blank"></a>" outlined a number of concerns including lackluster responses to many of the recent Disney+ shows, visual FX challenges, and the possibility of recasting or pivoting away from their current Big Bad, Kang the Conqueror due to possible criminal charges against actor Jonathon Majors. And Stephen King, despite not being a fan of the MCU, <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/news/stephen-king-defends-marvels-box-office-flop-fanboys-gloating-1235789605/" target="_blank">called out the gloating </a>of many at <i>The Marvels'</i> box office collapse.</p><p>But you know what? Fans of comic book movies are pretty likely to have a good time at this film.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTdHLO-332BdXcRnrG59XNF3mSupkxKsN0_lNJ9qlvF6b1btTEY6jFgA38NKbrgfq61Ma7o4ZxzBaevS9eBJ2aiO_1EZ64IytpwfG1tte8KvDgRgNx4aF36_FEtWSbR2TgxQQFbT1yR2zw-TPeFUFG7ak7P_yG3iGtSyNZFWVq8qq_JYypITyBUgNHJD8/s2500/Marvels%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1688" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTdHLO-332BdXcRnrG59XNF3mSupkxKsN0_lNJ9qlvF6b1btTEY6jFgA38NKbrgfq61Ma7o4ZxzBaevS9eBJ2aiO_1EZ64IytpwfG1tte8KvDgRgNx4aF36_FEtWSbR2TgxQQFbT1yR2zw-TPeFUFG7ak7P_yG3iGtSyNZFWVq8qq_JYypITyBUgNHJD8/w270-h400/Marvels%20poster.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><p>That is not to say I don't have problems with this movie; to be honest, I didn't really start enjoying it until maybe a third of the way into it, and both the plot and the villain left me pretty cold. </p><p>Thankfully Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel was there to carry me through until I realized that the villain and plot were secondary to the actual story, which was about three female characters coming to grips with their powers, roles and legacy (all while the 'quantum entanglement' of their powers have them swapping places from across the universe.</p><p>Vellani is just straight-up adorable, and her precociousness, combined with her character's fangirly exuberance, is a perfect antidote to cynicism. When Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) asks Khan how many chapters of Captain Marvel fanfic she is getting from one memorable interaction on an alien planet, the look of pure rapture on Vellani's face is not even acting, as far as I can determine. </p><p>Rambeau is still getting used to the powers she gained in WandaVision (and I loved how they glazed over her origin story as "you got your powers walking through a witch hex?") and is not really interested in heroics or even having a code name - but has unsettled business with her Auntie Carol from <i>Captain Marvel</i>.</p><p>Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), on the other hand, has added another nickname to her repertoire as the alien Kree now call her "the Annihilator." This eventually makes sense in context, but the fallout from the Kree civil war might have had more significance to us if a) we had heard about it before this movie and b) Captain Marvel's significant actions in precipitating this event weren't revealed to us solely through an underwhelming flashback. </p><p>Once the three principals get together though, the film really started to click for me. Khan's apprehension and excitement about meeting her namesake, Rambeau's resentment at reuniting with Danvers, combined with Captain Marvel's own compulsion to clean up the mess she feels responsible for as the Annihilator makes for a decent game of rock, paper, scissors, hero, artifact.</p><p>Zawe Ashton as Kree Accuser Dar-Benn is not given a whole lot to do. She is primarily there as a plot focus - a talking MacGuffin and resolute heavy - which feels like a real missed opportunity. And I don't think they even use her cool title even once in the film or do any sort of callback to Lee Pace's Ronan from <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i>.</p><p>On the plus side, for me at least, they lean into the comic book weirdness, bringing Khan's delightful family (along with Carol's not-cat, Goose) up to Nick Fury's S.A.B.R.E. space station from <i>Secret Invasion</i>. And this is before introducing an alien culture who communicate through song and who may have inadvertently cemented Captain Marvel as the newest Disney princess...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EgqfMe2n9cKtPkh4MD5EDFh01gcBaQCURb7x1E5HeMSkjtF2OuKM41NYh_Xer2CBeyAXQ8TM7-8QdKw5c-K3Q00B0ClkI606RLZ3Q5e0CjoHSpO6M7dpNxDI0bdVoCa3WabHos9pM96-sQsMcpgIqV96ADy4jxZLEJz2RXX0xdb0-TAekxi2fv7bwztc/s1280/marvels%20cast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EgqfMe2n9cKtPkh4MD5EDFh01gcBaQCURb7x1E5HeMSkjtF2OuKM41NYh_Xer2CBeyAXQ8TM7-8QdKw5c-K3Q00B0ClkI606RLZ3Q5e0CjoHSpO6M7dpNxDI0bdVoCa3WabHos9pM96-sQsMcpgIqV96ADy4jxZLEJz2RXX0xdb0-TAekxi2fv7bwztc/w400-h225/marvels%20cast.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>In the end, despite its imperfections, you have a perfectly reasonable and moderately entertaining little film that not only carries the MCU flag forward a little bit (or more? stay for the mid-credits scene!) but also gives us our first superhero flick with three female leads, two of which are persons of colour and one of whom represents Hollywood's first Muslim superhero. And it isn't like you need to be a feminist or woke or whatever to have a good time at this movie, but maybe being open-minded helps?`</p><p>So in some ways, the barely concealed glee manifested by many of the same trolls who review-bombed <i>Captain Marvel</i> and are bellyaching about the lack of white male representation in these films (give me strength...) because this film is underperforming is not so much surprising as it is disappointing.</p><p>The sad truth is though, as the Variety article suggests, on top of needing to use less-recognizable heroes than the lunchbox stalwarts of <i>The Avengers</i>, Marvel has also put quantity over quality since the end of Phase Three, and people are beginning to notice. Some of this was a pivot to online entertainment during the pandemic lockdowns, but as a result, the MCU is building on a less sturdy foundation now, and the moviegoing public can be fickle.</p><p>Superhero fatigue is not a concept that resonates with me personally - as long as Marvel keeps faithfully adapting or even homaging the source material that I am a fan of, I am likely to keep showing up. Which I suppose kind of undermines the credibility of my MCU reviews a bit...but whatever. Reasonable people can agree to disagree.</p><p>The MCU can't really be all things to all people, and the bigoted mouth-breathers trying to chalk up an 'I told you so' can go pound sand as far as I am concerned. </p><p>I saw <i>The Marvels</i> with seven other people ranging in age from eight to 50+, and we all had a wonderful time. Most of us agreed that the movie was at its best when it pushed the plot and villain to the back burner and focused on our trio of heroines, and for the first time in a while, I am also excited about what Marvel Studios are trying to build to, despite the challenges they face.</p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-90329750311651105432023-11-05T21:27:00.005-07:002023-11-05T21:27:51.454-07:00Neon Style and Surprising Substance - Unicorn by Gunship, ReviewedIt’s funny - when I was a teen in the 1980s, watching people evoke the ‘50s and ‘60s in their clothes and music, I remember wondering aloud if people in the future would do the same for the decade we were in at the time.<br /><br />“I doubt it,” my friend Dave gamely assured me. “It’s just too conservative a period; there’s not much to latch onto.”<br /><br />Maybe he was right about the quantity, but the 80s resonance did indeed persist. My daughters in their twenties are fully conversant in bands of the period, it showed up a surprising amount in last year's TV hit “The Last of Us”, and there is a whole <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2019/03/that-synth-you-like-is-going-to-come.html" target="_blank">musical subgenre</a> dedicated solely to the electronica of the time which is <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2021/02/surprising-functions-of-synthwaves.html" target="_blank">still going strong</a>.<br /><br />One of the seminal bands of this synthwave movement, Gunship, recently released their third full-length album, <i>Unicorn</i>, and since their excellent previous release <i>Dark All Day</i> was one of the few releases I have bought on CD in the past few years, I was anxious to give it a listen.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVINrJaLFkBa8Rn_5o6BysQx4k7ocfRPji_JX9_UDbKN3N4-JI_Qg6a803_teNokr-hJUs9Uhd29XQORvpoaF6JHfC2nyj8V7HZdGpZCXDKamXAS_xh8m4B4mwJJAqUY3bNmQhpiN9Fgc-9fy7cvkijUOgNO-zyzzh32C4PV45zOTuNHbsnjS0zDep3qI/s700/Unicorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVINrJaLFkBa8Rn_5o6BysQx4k7ocfRPji_JX9_UDbKN3N4-JI_Qg6a803_teNokr-hJUs9Uhd29XQORvpoaF6JHfC2nyj8V7HZdGpZCXDKamXAS_xh8m4B4mwJJAqUY3bNmQhpiN9Fgc-9fy7cvkijUOgNO-zyzzh32C4PV45zOTuNHbsnjS0zDep3qI/w400-h400/Unicorn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />A half-dozen or so videos were released before the album came out, and although all were catchy, none of them grabbed me the way that “Art3mis & Parzival”, “When You Grow Up, Your Heart Dies”, and the title track did from <i>Dark All Day</i>. Even the first couple listens of the album left me thinking, “well, it’s no DAD, but new Gunship is always good.”<br /><br />Repeated listens, however, have given this collection time to really grow on me, and if you are a fan of synthwave or any danceable keyboard music at all, I can wholeheartedly recommend Unicorn. And Gunship even pushes the envelope a little bit on this record, venturing out into broader EDM territory, as well as some metal-sounding and even pop-like tracks. Rest assured, your 808 tones and drums full of gated reverb are all still here though.<div><br /></div><div>This variety is very credibly supported by a solid stable of collaborators, including Gavin Rossdale of Bush, Carpenter Brut, Lights, Health and the inimitable Tim Capello, the jacked sax man from The Lost Boys who plays "I Still Believe." In fact, Tim gets to wail on four different tracks (!) so if you are not a saxophone fan, proceed with caution, I guess?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l_ulVpYs6vg" width="320" youtube-src-id="l_ulVpYs6vg"></iframe></div><br /><div><div>Unicorn, an album whose tagline is "Imagination is a weapon," scratches a lot of itches for me. A lot of it is upbeat, high-tempo stuff like "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE2UM7dzZlw" target="_blank">Blood for the Blood God</a>" (40K fans, represent!) that makes a great soundtrack for getting stuff done. Other tracks are more dramatic and powerful, like "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUJuwNxNUWQ" target="_blank">Ghost</a>" or my current favourite, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ew1tsek108" target="_blank">Tech Noir 2</a>", which features legendary director and synth afficionado John Carpenter (!!) reprising his role as intro narrator from the original "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nC5TBv3sfU" target="_blank">Tech Noir,</a>" but updated now with some post-apocalyptic optimism.<br /><i><blockquote>I'm recording this because the survivors no longer envy the dead<br />The final war is over<br />Its architects forever entombed in melted glass and steel<br />I watched the efforts of our species dance away on the radioactive wind<br />Civilisation retreated by millennia<br />All of human history wrought to dust<br />Our cities, now scorched black mausoleums serve as a reminder<br />There can be no victory in war<br />Birth is the answer to the question of our mortality<br />With resolute defiance we choose to grasp at the delicate thread of life<br />My son, the gift of survival is yours<br />Please, may you never submit<br />There will be more...</blockquote></i></div><div>Cinematic and TV references abound in Gunship tracks, another treat for yours truly. "All roads paved with crushed-up skulls" should bring anyone who's seen it back to the opening of 1984's <i>Terminator</i>. I know "It is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven," is a quote from Paradise Lost, but I also know most of us nerds first heard it on Star Trek. And cueing in Tim Capello's first sax solo on the album right after the lyrics "surrounded now but no surrender/ the odds against the betting man/ beyond the odds but I still believe" on "Monster in Paradise" is cheeky and perfect and I will never not love it. Even their logo looks inspired by the old Golan Globus logo from so many VHS viewings.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Cyberpunk overtones abound as well, as the '80s vision of the future lives on as depicted in "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-GeNUuyi94" target="_blank">Taste Like Venom</a>" as well as in the Edgerunners Netflix series and video games. Speaking of video games, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcEVvIwpel0" target="_blank">DooM Dance</a>" (with its significant capitalization) talks about "raising hell" while "Empress of the Damned" includes a reference to "the cake is a lie" in a song where the chorus testifies "I can't be killed with conventional weaponry."<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W4_wNaqF0uU" width="320" youtube-src-id="W4_wNaqF0uU"></iframe></div><br /><div>And just to make sure my enjoyment is not solely nostalgia-driven, I calibrated with Glory, after she came through the kitchen while I had the album blaring and said, sadly, "I wish clubs played music like this." She thinks it is a great album, particularly for this time of year, with multiple candidates for various Halloween or spooky season playlists. The darkness and adventurous violence are offset by brilliantly positive nuggets like "don't cry because it's over/ smile because it was" ("Run Like Hell").</div><div><br /></div><div>Just like cyberpunk depicts a sci-fi future through an extremely 80s lens (presumably both mirrored <i>and </i>louvered), Gunship's strength is club music that probably hasn't been played in too many clubs, tragically. (If I am wrong, I am begging you to let Glory and I know!). And while there probably aren't too many raves in my future, I hope the band follows through on their plans to start touring and playing their music live. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkKA05q6a0jFsFUx-QQOjl6nB_nZ6emLXylCJAz96PrO6-TUGXkMuf-xmOID_gZG9cedMiklilJTvzoC0G9ULY4m0BIXplEvJ9UldX6Imu9iHAjqEDU5wnrwhSWR4TMv1jjNJN0d9P-Te33Ryk_dVNoY7s8xB4j7hj-nOoL8jv-ff8qHK0S6ttwBWZGVT/s640/gunship.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkKA05q6a0jFsFUx-QQOjl6nB_nZ6emLXylCJAz96PrO6-TUGXkMuf-xmOID_gZG9cedMiklilJTvzoC0G9ULY4m0BIXplEvJ9UldX6Imu9iHAjqEDU5wnrwhSWR4TMv1jjNJN0d9P-Te33Ryk_dVNoY7s8xB4j7hj-nOoL8jv-ff8qHK0S6ttwBWZGVT/w400-h266/gunship.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, anyone interested in a semi-nostalgic look at a future that never came from an '80s that never was should give <i>Unicorn </i>a listen - there is a lot to like.</div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-38027192616022609902023-10-29T19:53:00.001-06:002023-10-29T19:53:08.874-06:00Maximum Miniatures?<p>In many ways, it is the greatest of ironies; when I began playing Dungeons & Dragons in junior high, very few of us had miniatures that looked anything like our characters, and we often used nickels and pennies or green army men to depict the various enemies. </p><p>Having collected miniatures for RPGs and wargaming for four decades, I now have a tremendous assortment to draw on. Despite being a player or GM in four different campaigns, however, almost all of the playing I do is online, and the one I play in person (Call of Cthulhu) works far better as a 'theater of the mind' experience.</p><p>But when a newer player on one of my online D&D campaigns talked about seeing a friend play with a tacklebox full of miniatures and jokingly suggested we needed to "step up our game", I couldn't resist having a little fun and saying, "oh, hey, yeah - a tackle box with trays are a neat idea - i have been using these little transparent boxes from Amazon so it is easier to find stuff..."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5hux3bsgJB_WZOy2_yZnIaUtjHYZVWVBBi4iuuRVMrI8_UpM6xETLAyLwuGxyLK5vfwkZg-XJoq4DsObq0I6k4XaayzZCpkgWXdFSNIKt-QYbU6PxWiYNDfEPK7Njj8NZcOMxcxQrDcW9iGQ2Km6R9Vp_7sZ1dSKvCrBNZJ4_itSjDzZAODdUnAvzBtl/s4000/IMG_20230306_191611468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5hux3bsgJB_WZOy2_yZnIaUtjHYZVWVBBi4iuuRVMrI8_UpM6xETLAyLwuGxyLK5vfwkZg-XJoq4DsObq0I6k4XaayzZCpkgWXdFSNIKt-QYbU6PxWiYNDfEPK7Njj8NZcOMxcxQrDcW9iGQ2Km6R9Vp_7sZ1dSKvCrBNZJ4_itSjDzZAODdUnAvzBtl/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_191611468.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo5gmXGU_j3a2_qoDjHVD8_Dbi2NSJNiOJ7OLeO9byXB_-5dfn2VPT9Ssnds8WHDJAgzVhqJrGsLGZY5Hy2m7KiFnj9WR2q8Wuayr5xfu27tam3sbSaMpUIaYQM1eMIw7_iLdUeq-H5a4gXWotyH9X90En3KyTe_k09gymwsJsg6bF1lrPfCaeL15sJG1/s4000/IMG_20230306_191621919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo5gmXGU_j3a2_qoDjHVD8_Dbi2NSJNiOJ7OLeO9byXB_-5dfn2VPT9Ssnds8WHDJAgzVhqJrGsLGZY5Hy2m7KiFnj9WR2q8Wuayr5xfu27tam3sbSaMpUIaYQM1eMIw7_iLdUeq-H5a4gXWotyH9X90En3KyTe_k09gymwsJsg6bF1lrPfCaeL15sJG1/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_191621919.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KBhDjPLD_epjVN3cFDPwZTGePWANiB58_ADjA3gPbpqRc5P__x90k9cUa8JJShGsRLsfLAxyRHcFySaGvyCPum71dwTTHnA_wIA-UakurPQdrdCtasZkeCS77tHlH8M7b9zGF3rngoaPfr6NUHnGKmLoinbvUtwCicmgqR5sfbf3MGxT2Ll5hDj2yn9U/s4000/IMG_20230306_191643525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KBhDjPLD_epjVN3cFDPwZTGePWANiB58_ADjA3gPbpqRc5P__x90k9cUa8JJShGsRLsfLAxyRHcFySaGvyCPum71dwTTHnA_wIA-UakurPQdrdCtasZkeCS77tHlH8M7b9zGF3rngoaPfr6NUHnGKmLoinbvUtwCicmgqR5sfbf3MGxT2Ll5hDj2yn9U/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_191643525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSgW6bhnB3t7K0vR82phEH5VeoHxiZ6l7qLaoo2PrnopIn1BoicdwcnSmHwxP8VO7G8SoDb0lJglsUN_STf4ctCGdzKkCvVxQgFqYATnvLLBLSfGbJnhEtONRyFO7hyphenhyphenx3O3QqKnYtNS8wBrhG3DKScbba4PYjCG1o2uhi8djiWVqI0ervysik7g7bvQ1D/s4000/IMG_20230306_191812135_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSgW6bhnB3t7K0vR82phEH5VeoHxiZ6l7qLaoo2PrnopIn1BoicdwcnSmHwxP8VO7G8SoDb0lJglsUN_STf4ctCGdzKkCvVxQgFqYATnvLLBLSfGbJnhEtONRyFO7hyphenhyphenx3O3QqKnYtNS8wBrhG3DKScbba4PYjCG1o2uhi8djiWVqI0ervysik7g7bvQ1D/w300-h400/IMG_20230306_191812135_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>"But of course that doesn't hold the large (and mostly prepainted stuff), so I just keep that in this ugly printer paper box:"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk5NuvrkG5hN92NH7SbICxomLVJdvt1iIVNxAiLvIC16ynllgRKDQpk1dToTw2ps0eu2K1-WdHTtqPOuQGdq0-guBSD0ysXa3scYtlugmql-S-irg27zlzhdRpoylXgt9yMMERWF1cWh7rSujFXpOdgq4HnDj17iv2F8IvRJWaoi0s0x-LOfCOB0Hmehf/s4000/IMG_20230306_191746268_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk5NuvrkG5hN92NH7SbICxomLVJdvt1iIVNxAiLvIC16ynllgRKDQpk1dToTw2ps0eu2K1-WdHTtqPOuQGdq0-guBSD0ysXa3scYtlugmql-S-irg27zlzhdRpoylXgt9yMMERWF1cWh7rSujFXpOdgq4HnDj17iv2F8IvRJWaoi0s0x-LOfCOB0Hmehf/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_191746268_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>"And my metal figs, some of which I have had since I was thirteen, aren't much to look at but I can't bear to part with them either! So I still keep them in this figure case with foam trays:"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBe7qvRjZRFg2jEfycMrh9q3MyzLMwJKiHE4X7BgEz-GGJT8HL8qM7xCSSPN__tYVZ4KSwhpOTBx-I6J6394QGbtD1h3nkFPdgdihzH0JhyphenhyphenPQ7gnegWi2x-qBsmWtQLmGgcldP7nu-MUhpwmrSSkI_hf9GuJzR6nCovloWxXm4E2HC8NnOhoCOlhW9j0F/s4000/IMG_20230306_191833821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBe7qvRjZRFg2jEfycMrh9q3MyzLMwJKiHE4X7BgEz-GGJT8HL8qM7xCSSPN__tYVZ4KSwhpOTBx-I6J6394QGbtD1h3nkFPdgdihzH0JhyphenhyphenPQ7gnegWi2x-qBsmWtQLmGgcldP7nu-MUhpwmrSSkI_hf9GuJzR6nCovloWxXm4E2HC8NnOhoCOlhW9j0F/w300-h400/IMG_20230306_191833821.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SWpniaN4PbskpBicAqjma9yim_AOAGzs1ShXtQXXvGHi2w-yqQGi8A69ntzNbJMTBLYCum6k-WO1RFZt9jfWiJljC0f-9CNcVJku_iKflb94KheXSM9ZECgsSDgDcFvQI7XfP9OZ8pLBDA-QMO-xVHk_dVi5Cz6dXtM_gaZaopr7YTCle_43OHJffDcl/s4000/IMG_20230306_191847973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SWpniaN4PbskpBicAqjma9yim_AOAGzs1ShXtQXXvGHi2w-yqQGi8A69ntzNbJMTBLYCum6k-WO1RFZt9jfWiJljC0f-9CNcVJku_iKflb94KheXSM9ZECgsSDgDcFvQI7XfP9OZ8pLBDA-QMO-xVHk_dVi5Cz6dXtM_gaZaopr7YTCle_43OHJffDcl/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_191847973.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxD_w1ja_gWPrPfhqoxy4-eBADKuU9pIf0mjGBTk-qPIfHd1NKmsoxSZT3jcryge_x1vXzK4BU6G9xJXUqLWaeRtY6WrQV97aSfBErCI4oqa1DKpC9nhPm1Jeheg71egyQ5NEDcqHN4cxTkLS4K0yIe6vaXN39if37aFJHc-ATXhw7f_vWz53cXcBSidYY/s4000/IMG_20230306_191857611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxD_w1ja_gWPrPfhqoxy4-eBADKuU9pIf0mjGBTk-qPIfHd1NKmsoxSZT3jcryge_x1vXzK4BU6G9xJXUqLWaeRtY6WrQV97aSfBErCI4oqa1DKpC9nhPm1Jeheg71egyQ5NEDcqHN4cxTkLS4K0yIe6vaXN39if37aFJHc-ATXhw7f_vWz53cXcBSidYY/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_191857611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Qz_vdYDCZk6uHSWHj4XJxcNucKi2tP59pk3dyFhNJS4SkO70m2ugVutkMED4TQrrKQ3vUL7oxvxrCc9KOKoL5hDF4N-2Dn60mFN0YJBiam-eRozTJ9OjoqPHKsiNolLd-6ZDGaN9PD2niSN1ma2JGonNC1xfbW5i4H6rUoQQEXIqgN11IIY1XnbM2G0O/s4000/IMG_20230306_191911645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Qz_vdYDCZk6uHSWHj4XJxcNucKi2tP59pk3dyFhNJS4SkO70m2ugVutkMED4TQrrKQ3vUL7oxvxrCc9KOKoL5hDF4N-2Dn60mFN0YJBiam-eRozTJ9OjoqPHKsiNolLd-6ZDGaN9PD2niSN1ma2JGonNC1xfbW5i4H6rUoQQEXIqgN11IIY1XnbM2G0O/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_191911645.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkEmmZZt4MbeFNfgZLuM4R9ksBusu6GY7WOIRCLfQ8zvoBqDtZQ-v8uuHtxeFbpOacELGGZkmzkHmm0KS6QtC7ogG91lnlzSEJFo8mwrXGL_-hTNuQ8V9cd4UoZ1ULwGxKOhSaVl6x9_xGtZzoIkbJBdrytN_uEwH39eXE_CFI94iOO5rNeV4Hb0s717C/s4000/IMG_20230306_191931996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkEmmZZt4MbeFNfgZLuM4R9ksBusu6GY7WOIRCLfQ8zvoBqDtZQ-v8uuHtxeFbpOacELGGZkmzkHmm0KS6QtC7ogG91lnlzSEJFo8mwrXGL_-hTNuQ8V9cd4UoZ1ULwGxKOhSaVl6x9_xGtZzoIkbJBdrytN_uEwH39eXE_CFI94iOO5rNeV4Hb0s717C/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_191931996.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>"Then I had a few extra foam trays I keep in this old Warhammer Fortress box:"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d5WxFHiZhH7cwGoiMCpTbBiI8VcEEcGzY1L0qrQrw-Bk1CAmsEsPVgL9lmfqIo88JJsscmUrnZJ8nV-_6lvWQ14UZgJKjBSaEf4yvZyWS4HuZy7-pLzD3LZNc2zw2pSsFrCYFG9Q5WC0vFESH0yXCu46eLwYwZVSSCejfset64XN54KA7HXybIqXWKLR/s4000/IMG_20230306_192126444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d5WxFHiZhH7cwGoiMCpTbBiI8VcEEcGzY1L0qrQrw-Bk1CAmsEsPVgL9lmfqIo88JJsscmUrnZJ8nV-_6lvWQ14UZgJKjBSaEf4yvZyWS4HuZy7-pLzD3LZNc2zw2pSsFrCYFG9Q5WC0vFESH0yXCu46eLwYwZVSSCejfset64XN54KA7HXybIqXWKLR/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192126444.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV3T3yAL8Sz9F77uffLTMQGvENCJBAqujL094RFGMwf-EcVOmvKcIEjFLt9MDUAVXoayusbk9_oNo9aqDtf3YeoPTMClzZJFPCRhFS7XN9R_er5asWBP_nmEijI4EV14i8A-6kzzoeF8iWrI7-EaUX674ns79SrnHKu0fUbuAj-fAbcxu9Fg7gFOCWrZf/s4000/IMG_20230306_192138804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV3T3yAL8Sz9F77uffLTMQGvENCJBAqujL094RFGMwf-EcVOmvKcIEjFLt9MDUAVXoayusbk9_oNo9aqDtf3YeoPTMClzZJFPCRhFS7XN9R_er5asWBP_nmEijI4EV14i8A-6kzzoeF8iWrI7-EaUX674ns79SrnHKu0fUbuAj-fAbcxu9Fg7gFOCWrZf/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192138804.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyHIktYRJEYBM4lcVfoctBE3btJe53tDPpVM-70hW0xJ_D_P5ulcL26PjLv26rqH5EbWb-7MVJX645FHPDKN4-gQud9rw8aHeAkXOq7vt9y-glYS0w5eSn2Dh_BrW7G68UNdI4i-iz5ih6c1oucSup7G2m30WVXEjjuKV79HtyY-P2lL_JBsR3k9mFR_F/s4000/IMG_20230306_192149802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyHIktYRJEYBM4lcVfoctBE3btJe53tDPpVM-70hW0xJ_D_P5ulcL26PjLv26rqH5EbWb-7MVJX645FHPDKN4-gQud9rw8aHeAkXOq7vt9y-glYS0w5eSn2Dh_BrW7G68UNdI4i-iz5ih6c1oucSup7G2m30WVXEjjuKV79HtyY-P2lL_JBsR3k9mFR_F/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192149802.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNhi-NwvwDfJXD58drAUcq6TFOuXdOimnA3lHFH6TNlgTmnRyrBKLqgnKANfrDUiv0A3Qzy-yPh5r11WkWhf9vcUCBN8qRle1ExUtBibFzzQ6slCrtHyqi4WfJeelh5GTm0So84d0o-OrBDevGGq-g83eZohE542UQloLxqxV-R3YnROpBzz3y6dcEhEM/s4000/IMG_20230306_192226330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNhi-NwvwDfJXD58drAUcq6TFOuXdOimnA3lHFH6TNlgTmnRyrBKLqgnKANfrDUiv0A3Qzy-yPh5r11WkWhf9vcUCBN8qRle1ExUtBibFzzQ6slCrtHyqi4WfJeelh5GTm0So84d0o-OrBDevGGq-g83eZohE542UQloLxqxV-R3YnROpBzz3y6dcEhEM/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192226330.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKx3-fiA0S5j3tDB8_vxIcZ8IC1m4adoubmm9aByJl07eSPh2O1GZmqwyhaZDuMSllmjohG0P3kY6dr4nYYLDUS5aaBPGvGWMTV4qB27gcEYTnGrsxPB7CtM8AijqRIb9BeeCbCIF1agQvdwKN-lEq4XNIVVVgYkalZG_o_tNNEDJYOL8CQ68zLlyy3dO/s4000/IMG_20230306_192100454_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKx3-fiA0S5j3tDB8_vxIcZ8IC1m4adoubmm9aByJl07eSPh2O1GZmqwyhaZDuMSllmjohG0P3kY6dr4nYYLDUS5aaBPGvGWMTV4qB27gcEYTnGrsxPB7CtM8AijqRIb9BeeCbCIF1agQvdwKN-lEq4XNIVVVgYkalZG_o_tNNEDJYOL8CQ68zLlyy3dO/w300-h400/IMG_20230306_192100454_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>"...except for this one tray that doesn't fit and mostly holds unpainted stuff (oh, and 4 figs printed in colour from a Kickstarter adventure based on a metal album called The Red Opera!)"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALi857ZHvKDVIsWNlitc49zU8NDzryq7l9KVEJ3tnJXO-xdN4ILYnWZtRRgSdBS_vFMIi6p4Bboa4AWCBnmPE46tysYzR3tZScOVJKy1lAWapTYqOpaKW28p-im6B_zOPzR2pFDfqyS1nwS4SnXh-aUhiaJgokqztxXMzK1K03bUVqJA4bC44KBuLHrMD/s4000/IMG_20230306_192333987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALi857ZHvKDVIsWNlitc49zU8NDzryq7l9KVEJ3tnJXO-xdN4ILYnWZtRRgSdBS_vFMIi6p4Bboa4AWCBnmPE46tysYzR3tZScOVJKy1lAWapTYqOpaKW28p-im6B_zOPzR2pFDfqyS1nwS4SnXh-aUhiaJgokqztxXMzK1K03bUVqJA4bC44KBuLHrMD/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192333987.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>"Oh yeah, and this box that holds all the ninja and samurai figures I used to work into nearly every campaign I played in high school..."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCFWpnU6zkiTlr5q8TVF7UbRSWAaeQniFAjX4WLVhLYZvBdQgG-76OLDxTg4QEkjYNJl6JTbxOwWymUyvUwer0jgw4aoClxj1nVjcQtk-L6fATvQrqDgHL1Rs1cUmRKxkO4DUI6S3URRePMgk74p0PwRoq2nn1SQnnqi121L3YPPiMFCU4zX3ovcAZnWU/s4000/IMG_20230306_192413767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCFWpnU6zkiTlr5q8TVF7UbRSWAaeQniFAjX4WLVhLYZvBdQgG-76OLDxTg4QEkjYNJl6JTbxOwWymUyvUwer0jgw4aoClxj1nVjcQtk-L6fATvQrqDgHL1Rs1cUmRKxkO4DUI6S3URRePMgk74p0PwRoq2nn1SQnnqi121L3YPPiMFCU4zX3ovcAZnWU/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192413767.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kRvmoyjFj3HzqhemfICUBzRgAplbiVbdOqwbvyQqTAvPjtOvg8jdhfFLhM3lYsIekjDm9nBe8xNLbLxpdsdAycga3ZBhLs1W4u2kiNfJ7DamFL5VyuZ0yiaXzzTpFp2vKkrbTj66XTSrKPymkg9KzLhP8gfLAbm_SYM2hYFHUsQQqJthr5p_GHrKgesg/s4000/IMG_20230306_192423557_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kRvmoyjFj3HzqhemfICUBzRgAplbiVbdOqwbvyQqTAvPjtOvg8jdhfFLhM3lYsIekjDm9nBe8xNLbLxpdsdAycga3ZBhLs1W4u2kiNfJ7DamFL5VyuZ0yiaXzzTpFp2vKkrbTj66XTSrKPymkg9KzLhP8gfLAbm_SYM2hYFHUsQQqJthr5p_GHrKgesg/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192423557_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>"But that's about it, really...- oh, wait, the figure cabinet has two shelves of D&D stuff in it..."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PTUxseAOrJLyy1C13kOXuYxMoNkolLKNFsilUQE261wHuiPEbXiF5IWK2kBJLFGCekbBisxP-LysCpj7b41I_TwvLF3iAJQwh0ek7tCcj6CtUsB8J225epJwJd7A83l0v5QcLwOcyZx6HabefPDuzPu5nzDG_9dzs91rVJLLuonCybhUJ72fom2pNTVS/s4000/IMG_20230306_192656948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PTUxseAOrJLyy1C13kOXuYxMoNkolLKNFsilUQE261wHuiPEbXiF5IWK2kBJLFGCekbBisxP-LysCpj7b41I_TwvLF3iAJQwh0ek7tCcj6CtUsB8J225epJwJd7A83l0v5QcLwOcyZx6HabefPDuzPu5nzDG_9dzs91rVJLLuonCybhUJ72fom2pNTVS/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192656948.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6XZ3bjkLgSSPLbBbe7-pq1dmc_IJL1eBC9My_6IFEqWfBYpcasbThEyNpTHx8hRF0Tlbvy-d25xOZjYTHlr5dixWaSpv8JvZoodNTEhhrQ9QsNpS-EyBL9wmC5sbR0r9MErsrX1JPUwbXdSM8a5eMXIAFmkcn95pu3SZS0bVe7-ojKPBBTQPtM_f4TOC/s4000/IMG_20230306_192730092_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6XZ3bjkLgSSPLbBbe7-pq1dmc_IJL1eBC9My_6IFEqWfBYpcasbThEyNpTHx8hRF0Tlbvy-d25xOZjYTHlr5dixWaSpv8JvZoodNTEhhrQ9QsNpS-EyBL9wmC5sbR0r9MErsrX1JPUwbXdSM8a5eMXIAFmkcn95pu3SZS0bVe7-ojKPBBTQPtM_f4TOC/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192730092_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>"And this Lord of the Rings and Warhammer stuff would probably work in a pinch too, actually..."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ3nptCs-ecWre3uKZQZG3No6-FtTR60Hbhu9mGzOfWOdU4xI3T1aK4NnD0HNiA8m1SuV5rRkwJ_u0OwHt7n8HO6K35CTdG98b-OaraMClSU5WoZJiZ4YM3NT050lqVYps8lIbCU5KALfQ7DpaUel27Byfy8gKvcwTI3Vgh0di3FGD2EKzUtj0ql2Ph58/s4000/IMG_20230306_192808705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ3nptCs-ecWre3uKZQZG3No6-FtTR60Hbhu9mGzOfWOdU4xI3T1aK4NnD0HNiA8m1SuV5rRkwJ_u0OwHt7n8HO6K35CTdG98b-OaraMClSU5WoZJiZ4YM3NT050lqVYps8lIbCU5KALfQ7DpaUel27Byfy8gKvcwTI3Vgh0di3FGD2EKzUtj0ql2Ph58/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192808705.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh1Rq0vd2QMTA0nzAunzP8ByNRoFsTbLgqXrxzTrp_edixUPLqlOrW-N_KMpKLB2_frSIJTEhFJqFmuqoMMXSTjv6VDevhFLHnOjEmm5wOU12SbKlIv4Gw2l-7HUDcRFwxp5UpvrnocwYtdEkBMQVrHdbmexSL-308EwE_H5egGmbENEDLBF_sxaHGfSI/s4000/IMG_20230306_192740068_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh1Rq0vd2QMTA0nzAunzP8ByNRoFsTbLgqXrxzTrp_edixUPLqlOrW-N_KMpKLB2_frSIJTEhFJqFmuqoMMXSTjv6VDevhFLHnOjEmm5wOU12SbKlIv4Gw2l-7HUDcRFwxp5UpvrnocwYtdEkBMQVrHdbmexSL-308EwE_H5egGmbENEDLBF_sxaHGfSI/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_192740068_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>At this point, another player mentioned a Kickstarter that is (allegedly) coming in at some point, and is actually a followup to this assortment of miniatures:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIS4f6vx37YBMBU3AumXQTm06MYRM9eeAnxBPLm1H_9t3tnrrUQDzSynILQXoP-3PuUa9_euSOk4PL2g9U1lAtzcLnsY877RPK7cV5Mt-n6fQcwaY3t7LheVBzXtngXl3n0OgtpErWBQvsMYVIAhCFxjUTmPWjEvgIAyS06-3rSyMUbjeD8V9h-6eL9zd/s4000/IMG_20230306_193118273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIS4f6vx37YBMBU3AumXQTm06MYRM9eeAnxBPLm1H_9t3tnrrUQDzSynILQXoP-3PuUa9_euSOk4PL2g9U1lAtzcLnsY877RPK7cV5Mt-n6fQcwaY3t7LheVBzXtngXl3n0OgtpErWBQvsMYVIAhCFxjUTmPWjEvgIAyS06-3rSyMUbjeD8V9h-6eL9zd/w300-h400/IMG_20230306_193118273.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ6_Ys-UBzHRcZjlNxh3VoheDPGE1wIRPSjsby68DCS6wgjb4Nx4v008Bg6GmetmVskCp3F9-AIoCGwCMwYCkarw0Z8EGCQX-vCR5hIFsfpYREJDezcw6hX1iUuvxALU0anSQ_I3A8zhuzEihoOaEj-CnVlaY2U2Q4s0Arr846NSzi03NFAaVd_5K3x1q/s4000/IMG_20230306_193203807_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ6_Ys-UBzHRcZjlNxh3VoheDPGE1wIRPSjsby68DCS6wgjb4Nx4v008Bg6GmetmVskCp3F9-AIoCGwCMwYCkarw0Z8EGCQX-vCR5hIFsfpYREJDezcw6hX1iUuvxALU0anSQ_I3A8zhuzEihoOaEj-CnVlaY2U2Q4s0Arr846NSzi03NFAaVd_5K3x1q/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_193203807_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1Dfd43qX_4kc3zPj8bCRnj5HC3_TXjE1nO3dKvDhJdwNYeZ9yNWSu8D5ikayqqi6sxcwN5g1zchVtq2dARCNWlXkCMKPRFMHwOde9IM0f_D4HPCeZqUL4pEw1bpJ1_M4qMW3dmep9Ir40pR5-00xHbnvdV9g7kgSTeln6Bk37EAyg_oZfmEKg4TweLU4/s4000/IMG_20230306_193250298_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1Dfd43qX_4kc3zPj8bCRnj5HC3_TXjE1nO3dKvDhJdwNYeZ9yNWSu8D5ikayqqi6sxcwN5g1zchVtq2dARCNWlXkCMKPRFMHwOde9IM0f_D4HPCeZqUL4pEw1bpJ1_M4qMW3dmep9Ir40pR5-00xHbnvdV9g7kgSTeln6Bk37EAyg_oZfmEKg4TweLU4/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_193250298_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zsOggoX3-YMfUecuxNejdSuYDRuBRODCOuJt3Ud-8AQuFcfWv7mgBJrOeRzhFqeIs-xdiGZH-5DygbFZSoUusN6BKSRVNNiCZQazgaqJkE2RSak_gSJ_5UhH529InyIJOYM_BrQ4c6sST49Ic3QCruGt7sUbCqDlDIh5T6hiN94A2W8QiRv19yi53-da/s4000/IMG_20230306_193308071_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zsOggoX3-YMfUecuxNejdSuYDRuBRODCOuJt3Ud-8AQuFcfWv7mgBJrOeRzhFqeIs-xdiGZH-5DygbFZSoUusN6BKSRVNNiCZQazgaqJkE2RSak_gSJ_5UhH529InyIJOYM_BrQ4c6sST49Ic3QCruGt7sUbCqDlDIh5T6hiN94A2W8QiRv19yi53-da/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_193308071_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS10BsfU4KFokor7ga4ojcNqL-A7vHAx9NXTLaI17hIlj8s78p-xA3aPmlEIRL5JIjoPjnHncJHpleDmrM4eU7ihcFoj1YhtVpcofMfMQuCHrxFkq-e_Ego2BUau8T-troPX-DPSbveligBFF27L52KSdMce9EW6Voja9q1z7YgP0CHmrGegowm3ubJefl/s4000/IMG_20230306_193318938_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS10BsfU4KFokor7ga4ojcNqL-A7vHAx9NXTLaI17hIlj8s78p-xA3aPmlEIRL5JIjoPjnHncJHpleDmrM4eU7ihcFoj1YhtVpcofMfMQuCHrxFkq-e_Ego2BUau8T-troPX-DPSbveligBFF27L52KSdMce9EW6Voja9q1z7YgP0CHmrGegowm3ubJefl/w400-h300/IMG_20230306_193318938_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>And as far as miniatures for D&D or other fantasy games go, that is <i>really </i>about it.</p><p>But let's not get started about all the wargaming armies, spaceships and Old West models lying around here!</p><p>And let's not talk about the biggest model either, because despite my experience with <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2022/10/building-and-painting-tiamat-queen-of.html" target="_blank">building Tiamat</a>, she is not even in the running after Pete set Great Cthulhu on his tabletop a couple weeks back...<br /><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrTAMRwh8vhtRMPVCYJRFy9wjk8IlqptmvB-rFVhwUOodce1OgV_c1KO8SpWDtyMuFPWxT4a-qeqEyjJpxgNfOzI8zDyznPi12dPsda6oeM7dxow29zZh4HpxFT2D5rrrdg8MPV_IkZf9jcBs3pPn_gnPWVMMJwYHkvEyGga0r07SraHAjYEZnTyenNqx/s1440/IMG_20231020_235235_350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrTAMRwh8vhtRMPVCYJRFy9wjk8IlqptmvB-rFVhwUOodce1OgV_c1KO8SpWDtyMuFPWxT4a-qeqEyjJpxgNfOzI8zDyznPi12dPsda6oeM7dxow29zZh4HpxFT2D5rrrdg8MPV_IkZf9jcBs3pPn_gnPWVMMJwYHkvEyGga0r07SraHAjYEZnTyenNqx/w400-h300/IMG_20231020_235235_350.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgzhjKJw_GvNXMe6RtaYBboPzUYRnp1tJp7YICMPO3EdOkRZWJTh-xqcjnsyM9ke8BsPK8upOlc0YRIbf_gm_BdqQN4GiSicYQrURYPSaMJkKwhb790jIpa0rq4xXGRH-mNiKqvLwbYfSj7uoeLslzyrjSHyPARYAM_16mSYmupLzcmDdMHYYWHM9-pPw/s1440/IMG_20231020_235235_147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgzhjKJw_GvNXMe6RtaYBboPzUYRnp1tJp7YICMPO3EdOkRZWJTh-xqcjnsyM9ke8BsPK8upOlc0YRIbf_gm_BdqQN4GiSicYQrURYPSaMJkKwhb790jIpa0rq4xXGRH-mNiKqvLwbYfSj7uoeLslzyrjSHyPARYAM_16mSYmupLzcmDdMHYYWHM9-pPw/w400-h300/IMG_20231020_235235_147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn9IIRHCKmJsUSxYqFQqk9UVxYs5jue2dt995-oGQknOHUnRuEtuFDQTBSeJiOo6KBzklhSX7hD9gGlP-HFP-VehnthRst_DXSmkvmgm0AiWQSuNILUI7UNbMrOBC7F_QR4e1EVOm8tqKhtwA_RYTFf4Q3TpMsogxVPaimE5vPvbiCWrsZch3T2Al6lPA/s1440/IMG_20231020_235235_063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn9IIRHCKmJsUSxYqFQqk9UVxYs5jue2dt995-oGQknOHUnRuEtuFDQTBSeJiOo6KBzklhSX7hD9gGlP-HFP-VehnthRst_DXSmkvmgm0AiWQSuNILUI7UNbMrOBC7F_QR4e1EVOm8tqKhtwA_RYTFf4Q3TpMsogxVPaimE5vPvbiCWrsZch3T2Al6lPA/w400-h300/IMG_20231020_235235_063.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-82826038659485133412023-10-22T21:24:00.001-06:002023-10-22T21:27:35.496-06:00Pulpitations: Look Both Ways<p><i>(Today I delivered a sermon on the occasion of our ninth anniversary as an Affirming Ministry. I will be honest, I was pretty angry when preparing this sermon, and you can hear it in my voice several times if you watch the video <a href="https://vimeo.com/event/627219" target="_blank">here</a> (password is S A U C o n g r e e n (remove spaces), sermon begins at 33:35). But despite the twists and turns the reflection took, I was both chagrined and satisfied with the results. The scriptures referenced are included at the end.)</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4thgaUzqYhqoFGS_e1rjgGOKki6w3rZYtSkaoaf25UlSNJZeqZ_mu9ubWumZesB_USB5xsmtGqlVyPMnH7ifjpqh69Re6Ww7id6wknsxeYT3vcBot4Qpofi2rjPvYyIJpq0Fn6UFT8Nn278Oh8Yew4rjDynUbCfgp_y1aciKdpmXT5zKzClJTC_vqgXu/s4000/IMG_20231022_094054746_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4thgaUzqYhqoFGS_e1rjgGOKki6w3rZYtSkaoaf25UlSNJZeqZ_mu9ubWumZesB_USB5xsmtGqlVyPMnH7ifjpqh69Re6Ww7id6wknsxeYT3vcBot4Qpofi2rjPvYyIJpq0Fn6UFT8Nn278Oh8Yew4rjDynUbCfgp_y1aciKdpmXT5zKzClJTC_vqgXu/w400-h300/IMG_20231022_094054746_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Look Both Ways</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is our ninth anniversary of becoming an Affirming Ministry! We did this through the guidance of and assistance from Affirm United.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is why today’s choir anthem, “Umojo Tunaimba (United We Stand)” or United We Sing, felt like such an appropriate choice. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Coincidentally, it is also United Nations Sunday, because October 24, 1945 is the date the charter of the United Nations was signed.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gosh, I have to say, it doesn’t feel like we live in a united nation at the moment - but to be fair, have we ever?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over its history, Canada has probably spent more time divided than unified, if we are being honest about it: east versus west, French versus English, Leafs versus Habs (et al) and now a lot of left versus right.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And somehow, trying to advance the cause of equality, respect and inclusion for our 2SLGBTQIA+ family has gotten dragged into that last one. Which I have to admit, I find hard to understand. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do folks believe that no gay people want lower taxes? That no trans people desire smaller government? That there isn’t a 2-spirited person out there somewhere who thinks commerce is overregulated? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But whatever the reason, some people have found it advantageous to just draw an enormous line through everything with big “US and “THEM” signs on either side. And as a result of this, it feels sometimes like society in general has lost some ground in obtaining and maintaining that progress .</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The congregation of St. Albert United Church voted to sanctify same-sex marriages in 2009 following months of deliberative dialogue to ensure all perspectives were being heard. In 2012 we began the educational and reflective elements needed to become an Affirming Ministry and in 2014 we voted to become one by a significant majority. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But it is worth noting that it is was not unanimous, and that is fine. Reasonable can agree to disagree.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the whole time we were moving forward, it felt like there was much less, and much less organized opposition to our stance. Drag storytime protests and similar expressions of hostility are happening across North America, but let’s focus locally for a moment.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In St. Albert this June, two people left anti-2SLGBTQIA+ literature scattered around two playgrounds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Playgrounds - let that marinate a bit.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That same month, a red F-350 was captured on video doing a burnout on this city’s Pride crosswalk, a distressingly common trend in this province.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The city I grew up in, Leduc, had a crank show up at their council meeting from the Freedumb Convoy (that’s freedom with a “b”, by the way) and rant about government chemicals changing people’s genders against their will while his wife complained that some colours in the progress pride flag, like the one we have, condone necrophilia and bestiality - which, you probably don’t need to be told, is completely false. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And most recently, there was a ‘Million Person March’ across the nation alleging to support parent’s rights, but was in fact a hate march protesting schools that include SOGI or sexual orientation and gender identity teaching in their curriculum.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m sorry, but this stuff gets me all kinds of riled up, to the point where later on in this reflection I am going to use a naughty word, so I will apologize in advance, and want you to have adequate time to prepare. Buckle up, everyone.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That march made me the angriest of all, for a couple reasons. First by trying to wrap hatred and intolerance under the banner of “protect our kids!” After all, what kind of scumbag doesn’t want to protect kids? How much support did these people gain by this misdirection? How much opposition did they prevent?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEAOvfMvarpLVDrGwDBHH3wLCPFzNU2weQ4BS2MI4pq0H8y8kq5p6MSYRvOS7Sxt73iiW80LSh-iBLIjy0xaZXEVyA4REgPzYccuMJZVCAy77K-8U-bbjACnR149rhp9MI8jt-BBLqcl8VxkG_gY_-wNyPJxyAzNQHQ7sSF1ZwU9oIojyznTUQ8sxEAri/s829/b%20pic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="669" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEAOvfMvarpLVDrGwDBHH3wLCPFzNU2weQ4BS2MI4pq0H8y8kq5p6MSYRvOS7Sxt73iiW80LSh-iBLIjy0xaZXEVyA4REgPzYccuMJZVCAy77K-8U-bbjACnR149rhp9MI8jt-BBLqcl8VxkG_gY_-wNyPJxyAzNQHQ7sSF1ZwU9oIojyznTUQ8sxEAri/w323-h400/b%20pic.png" width="323" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While this March was preparing, our church sign read, “We love and support our trans kids & everyone else!” I posted a picture of it on my Instagram, along with my concerns about the million person march. I was delighted to get a call from someone saying they never would have known this group’s real motivation, and might have tacitly approved of the march if I hadn’t done that.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This person ended up driving past marchers in a community close to the Saskatchewan border, and they wondered, “how many of the children that got dragged out to this event or just witnessing it are going to be afraid to share who they are in the future?” How many lesbian or gay teens will keep that closet door firmly closed? How many trans children will fear telling their parents how they feel, and may not even be able to discuss their gender identity or chosen pronouns with adults at school?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you understand what a powerful motivator fear is? And how those march organizers and the anonymous leaflet droppers and the people who picket drag storytime at libraries, that is exactly what they want? They want sexual minorities and the people who support them to be afraid. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To be quiet.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To mind their place.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And that infuriates me.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It angers me as a citizen. It angers me as a person with gay and bi and queer people in my life. And it angers me as a person of faith.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But let’s start with applying just a smidgen of logic to one of these circumstances: the SOGI curriculum. I wish I could tell the marchers that this curriculum is not designed to “teach” or “indoctrinate” or “groom” (ooh, that one gets my goat) anyone. And if you try to suggest otherwise to a teacher, they are likely to laugh in your face. A teacher from Philadelphia tweeted “I'm a Leftist public school teacher and if I could Indoctrinate your children they would wear deodorant and stay off their phone during class.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">SOGI is no more likely to change your child’s orientation or identity than learning French is going to make them into a separatist, or studying the Russian Revolution will make them vote Marxist. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Teachers are trying to prepare children for the diversity of the world they </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">actually</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> live in. No 14-year-old should be shocked at discovering that a kid in their algebra class has two moms or two dads. Or upset because past pictures of a boy in yearbook club used to identify as a girl. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And as far as parental rights go, no one is stopping you from presenting an opposing paradigm at home. You want to teach your kid that Covid vaccines let satellites track you or that the earth is flat, it is not like anyone can stop you, sadly.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, the most haunting image from that entire terrifying March was that sweet-faced kid, six, maybe seven years old, coming to the mic at the alleged million-person march in Calgary to say “I'd like to say that the gays are psychopaths and we're not psychopaths." And getting applauded for it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And going on to say, "The gays, they are disgusting!"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To even more cheers. And I am enraged.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because that kid’s family has successfully taught a child to hate. A child looking for the fish of wisdom was given instead the snake of bigotry. What a loss!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And thinking of that situation, and the crosswalks, and the lady in California who was shot to death because of the Pride flag she flew in her shop window, my anger increases at this wrong-headed judgementalism. And I know deep, deep in my heart that this is not the world God wants for us, for anyone, and I turn to the scriptures to back me up.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Which, by the way, may well be the very worst thing you can do.)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But I do it anyways, and I have that “a-ha” moment looking at Matthew chapter 7: “‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” That’s right, how dare those folks be so judgey!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And, “‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them underfoot and turn and maul you.” And I think to myself, ‘that’s right - there is no arguing with those people!’ It’s like my dad used to say, “Son, don’t was time arguing with an idiot - they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But as I reflect on that passage, a strange insight occurs to me: what am I, at this moment, if not the judgiest one of all?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I read Matthew again, but this time, different parts stand out for me, like “Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I am not going to lie - I came away a bit shamed. How foolish of me! How selfish and short-sighted! If you apply the teaching of Jesus without compassion, you stand in direct opposition to his ethos! I forgot that childhood lesson that when you point a finger at someone else, three are pointing back at you.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn’t consider other perspectives - I failed to look both ways.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But even in the cold light of this revelation, my anger remained unabated. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I struggled to take another look, and ask myself, where is all their anger coming from?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The same place mine comes from - fear.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And what is generating their fear? It could be a lot of things: the fear of change, fear of ‘the other’, fear of appearing ignorant, fear of the unknown. But a lot of that fear comes from straight-up misinformation. Some of the people saying the vilest, wrongest things are doing so because of “the mushroom effect” (and here comes the bad word, by the way): they are being kept in the dark and fed a steady diet of bullshit.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And uniting against </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is a toughie in this age of “alternative facts”! But there is ground to be gained in speaking the truth - softly, but firmly, asserting what is correct, and fact-based and unassailable.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For example, just before Pride observances in Poland, someone on social media posted that the army would be creating “LGBTQ units.” This was, of course, untrue, but gave outraged people a chance to vet about how gay people should be burned at the stake. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In France, a false report that the Arc de Triomphe had been turned into a rainbow art installation went viral and generated similar slurs and calls for execution.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here in Canada, supporting initiatives like SOGI in schools is likely to get you called a ‘groomer’ by indignant but misguided folks who feel children are being endangered when they aren’t.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And you won’t get very far just telling the people making these claims that they are wrong; after all, very few people have ever changed their minds from being yelled at. But you can engage some critical thinking. You can ask them if this is what they know, what they believe, or what they have been told. When it is the latter, you can simply say, “I don’t think that is actually true.” or “I think someone made that up. That seems really unlikely.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Find that common ground! The alleged Million Person March got traction because almost everyone recognizes that children are the future and need to be protected. But they don’t need to be protected against ideas so much as against hatred. In the end, we should all of us want to protect children. So ask; “what is it you want to protect them from?” Or “what is your endgame here? Do you think being gay should be illegal again? Surely you don’t agree with persecuting people because of their differences, do you?”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And when they say parent’s rights are being trampled, you can say, “Can’t children of any age learn about different people in an age-appropraite way?” or, “how does it harm children to learn that some of their classmates might have two mothers instead of a mum and dad?”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And when they say that our 2SLGBTQIA+ family are an affront to God or not worthy of God’s love, we can quietly affirm that “I was taught that God loves all the people they created.” And that we believe God has made them as perfect as the rest of us, like in the psalm we heard:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For it was you who formed my inward parts;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you knit me together in my mother’s womb.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Wonderful are your works;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that I know very well.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My frame was not hidden from you,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">when I was being made in secret,</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I guess I am asking them, do you think God makes mistakes? Do you believe every person who identifies as queer or gay or transexual is some error God made, even as many of these same folks assert to feeling God’s healing presence in their life, and that is </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">despite</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> the concerted efforts of other people of faith who want them to feel dirty, substandard and excluded!? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Would you tell God, to their face, that they were wrong to do this? Or is it more reasonable to accept that maybe you need a little more time to adjust to some new ideas?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What are your kids going to do in the workforce when they have a coworker who is two-spirited? Or a boss with a same-sex partner? When one of their friends reveals that their child is trans? Will they turn away help from a lesbian paramedic or just curse them under their breath?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes combatting misinformation isn’t all that hard. Last week, some colleagues in my Teams chat at work were discussing violence at their children’s schools, and one claimed the decrease in civility is because parents are too busy teaching ‘sex stuff’ instead of addressing bullying. And I know from experience that ‘sex stuff’ is too often a dog-whistle referring to things like SOGI.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather than refute their point though, I simply posted, “gonna say that both those things are important,” and a gay colleague immediately chimed in with how, in one of the altercations described, some education could have gone a long way to preventing it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am not naive enough to think this person changed their mind, but they heard another perspective and most importantly, they know that more than one person challenged their assertion. I only wish their kids had heard it too!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And it will not always be easy like that - you do not want to engage angry people when they are hotted up. You do not want them to feel threatened. You will want to proceed cautiously around those you love and respect with differing opinions. But asking them to clarify their position when they are acting reasonable can provide some insights.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So much bad info comes from social media. In a perfect world there would be more moderation and supervision of online comments, but the multi-billionaire owners of the various platforms spreading disinformation and misinformation have shown little to no inclination to keeping it in check.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So that leaves us. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The teachings of Jesus and the scriptures that guide him all encourage us to seek and speak the truth. He asks us to love one another, and to turn the other cheek. And of course reasonable people can agree to disagree. But in the end, we can’t turn our back on those people with other perspectives and let them become more entrenched.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And we don’t have to win, we just have to not give up! Don’t judge, but don’t budge either! Reach people where they are at, and remember to look both ways! Don’t yield any ground to untruths! Speak up in favour of justice and compassion! Say something!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When we say “unite”, we should not mean uniting </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">against </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">folks - we need to unite </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">with</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> people! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who knows - maybe we can become a united nation after all. I pray that with God’s help we get there, however long it takes.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsH4ooiUG9CfU987N4UKPvQm1OuPXKY15Z8alTMg_0syEOuwsHmMNjqbsbFPtW6HkrDA3d02hKoe1rkJgFI5ornDntVM1wpH4leRe4K77pNo6Vz2UhQWAyXFDt57I17id5GcfXWGC3vKV1zWplw_t_qYRzkv_mIc48e_megfiCVA8J4htPTOTOXs5Bj8m/s757/a%20pic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="757" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsH4ooiUG9CfU987N4UKPvQm1OuPXKY15Z8alTMg_0syEOuwsHmMNjqbsbFPtW6HkrDA3d02hKoe1rkJgFI5ornDntVM1wpH4leRe4K77pNo6Vz2UhQWAyXFDt57I17id5GcfXWGC3vKV1zWplw_t_qYRzkv_mIc48e_megfiCVA8J4htPTOTOXs5Bj8m/w400-h268/a%20pic.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</span></div></span><p></p><br /><b><br />Psalm 139, 1-6, 13-18<br /><br />The Inescapable God<br /></b><br />O Lord, you have searched me and known me.<br /><br />You know when I sit down and when I rise up;<br /><br /> you discern my thoughts from far away.<br /><br />You search out my path and my lying down,<br /><br /> and are acquainted with all my ways.<br /><br />Even before a word is on my tongue,<br /><br /> O Lord, you know it completely.<br /><br />You hem me in, behind and before,<br /><br /> and lay your hand upon me.<br /><br />Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;<br /><br /> it is so high that I cannot attain it.<br /><br /><br /><br />For it was you who formed my inward parts;<br /><br /> you knit me together in my mother’s womb.<br /><br />I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.<br /><br /> Wonderful are your works;<br /><br />that I know very well.<br /><br /> My frame was not hidden from you,<br /><br />when I was being made in secret,<br /><br /> intricately woven in the depths of the earth.<br /><br />Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.<br /><br />In your book were written<br /><br /> all the days that were formed for me,<br /><br /> when none of them as yet existed.<br /><br />How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!<br /><br /> How vast is the sum of them!<br /><br />I try to count them—they are more than the sand;<br /><br /> I come to the end—I am still with you.<br /><br /><br /><br />In our Gospel reading, we hear Jesus cautioning us on rushing to judgement, as well as sound advice on how to find answers. These are familiar lessons, and yet, how often do we need to be reminded of them before putting them into practice?<br /><br /><b>Matthew 7:1-12 - Judging Others</b><br /><br />‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.<br /><br />‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.<br /><br />‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!<br /><br />‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.'Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-61249291298700097202023-10-15T17:59:00.002-06:002023-10-15T17:59:12.268-06:00Ol' Timey Western Actor (And Then Some!)<p>I like to have a TV show or something similar playing while I paint, and I have been getting enough painting in of late that I have finished the final 3-4 seasons of Brooklyn 99 (uneven, but stuck the landing I'd say) and ended up throwing on some old westerns.</p><p>Because my back is to the television, I elevate my iPad and watch them on there - well, maybe watch is too strong a word. My visual focus is typically the model I am painting, and to make matters worse, I need to wear a magnifying visor in order to be comfortable painting just about anything these days. But I can look up and get the sense of scene easily enough before returning to my work, and catch longer bits when I am switching my colours, cleaning my brush or just stretching a bit.</p><p>I believe I have mentioned my affection for John Ford's <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040369/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_fort%2520apache" target="_blank">Fort Apache</a></i> (1948) before, particularly its excellent <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/dndnext/comments/dk9k77/opinions_on_dungeon_of_the_mad_mage_no_spoilers/" target="_blank">sergeants</a>, and enjoyed it greatly again before rolling almost immediately to the second movie in Ford's "Cavalry Trilogy", <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040369/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_fort%2520apache" target="_blank">She Wore a Yellow Ribbon</a> </i>(1949). It is an even more solid film in some ways than its predecessor, and certainly in its early use of vibrant Technicolor for depicting the landscapes the director was so fond of.</p><p>John Wayne, usually content to be a movie star, impressed Ford with his acting ability as Capt. Nathan Cutting Brittles, a character 20 years older than the Duke himself, and was quoted as saying "nobody told me the big son of a bitch could act!" Victor McLaglen steals most of the scenes he is in (as usual), but it is Ben Johnson as Sgt. Tyree who stood out the most for me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdQnQvSobaGuCi7kU5ah8PgjMLh7_i80l6s8q0HLb91RDgyxeQOAdqSKlLhzFp6Uj-NE0ZMSpDb-Xy-JRWRyzcKwylYNVdixrSMk29wJpODWtTp0apCsWUkyGCNvfTr6xaTS5CPF5cBFis0fIoawEi7ZTZAOpJl9jTkJlhmFNjnKMzZMlB39h2iu3rjO5/s1059/Screenshot%202023-10-15%20172551.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1059" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdQnQvSobaGuCi7kU5ah8PgjMLh7_i80l6s8q0HLb91RDgyxeQOAdqSKlLhzFp6Uj-NE0ZMSpDb-Xy-JRWRyzcKwylYNVdixrSMk29wJpODWtTp0apCsWUkyGCNvfTr6xaTS5CPF5cBFis0fIoawEi7ZTZAOpJl9jTkJlhmFNjnKMzZMlB39h2iu3rjO5/w400-h328/Screenshot%202023-10-15%20172551.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Playing an NCO who was once a Confederate officer, several of Tyree's lines jumped out at me, amplified by Johnson's laconic drawl, whether informing a superior officer that a topic was ""not my department, sir," or:</p><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000078/?ref_=ttqu_qu"></a><blockquote><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000078/?ref_=ttqu_qu">Captain Nathan Brittles</a>: I don't know where you got your brains, Sergeant - God must have given you that pair of eyes. They're Arapahos, alright. Headin' the same way we are. Now why would they be movin' on Sudrow's Wells, Sergeant? Answer me that.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424565/?ref_=ttqu_qu">Sgt. Tyree</a>: My mother didn't raise any sons to be makin' guesses in front of Yankee captains.</blockquote></i><p>Looking up Ben Johnson on IMDb and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Johnson_(actor)" target="_blank">Wikipedia </a>explained the horsemanship displayed in several of his scenes; in addition to having been a stuntman and rider prior to taking speaking parts, he took a break from acting four years after this film and won a world rodeo championship in team roping! </p><p>Johnson went on to start in his own Ford western a year after his cavalry turn in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043117/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Wagon Master</a> (1950). A typical oater in most respects, but typically well done by one of the giants of the genre, Johnson (and another actor from <i>Yellow Ribbon</i>, Harry Carey Jr.) play a pair of nomadic horse-sellers who take the job guiding a wagon train of Mormons led by Ward Bond, across the desert to where they plan to establish a new settlement. Of course there are outlaws, challenging terrain and even Navajos to be dealt with along the way. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppOLV6qdiE4m8mqZABPiF_m3xBqI9szccjOoUFjJ-15wHhIZwn5dR1dyS5ZILAlUM-2gZAiyPdnZNCzYwFvBPgtOWxulb-0we_42NT2XIxDbG4jn_XLJwN64j_U0hp9SoHi99A_7jNPaLA7nhVrTQHseJbwHbGh7r8xMf7xprFY3UqXt_wPC6S_UGbbk0/s612/deddcac5-86f9-4cce-92db-ccb1068c90b4_1.2748df5e53c520dd49a877c6b656492f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppOLV6qdiE4m8mqZABPiF_m3xBqI9szccjOoUFjJ-15wHhIZwn5dR1dyS5ZILAlUM-2gZAiyPdnZNCzYwFvBPgtOWxulb-0we_42NT2XIxDbG4jn_XLJwN64j_U0hp9SoHi99A_7jNPaLA7nhVrTQHseJbwHbGh7r8xMf7xprFY3UqXt_wPC6S_UGbbk0/w400-h400/deddcac5-86f9-4cce-92db-ccb1068c90b4_1.2748df5e53c520dd49a877c6b656492f.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Now, the late 1940s was hardly a time of rampant enlightenment in America, particularly regarding indigenous peoples' depiction, and especially in Hollywood, but for my two cents, Ford and his writers do a pretty decent job treating the various tribes his characters encounter with a modicum of respect. In <i>Fort Apache</i>, Henry Fonda's disparaging Col. Thursby is told by John Wayne, "Sir, if you saw them, they weren't Apache," and in <i>Wagon Master</i>, there is this exchange:</p><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424565/?ref_=ttqu_qu" style="font-style: italic;"></a><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424565/?ref_=ttqu_qu">Travis Blue</a>: [of the indians] Near as I can figure out, he don't seem to like white men.<br /><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001013/?ref_=ttqu_qu">Sandy</a>: Yeah, he say's we're all thieves.<br /><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000955/?ref_=ttqu_qu">Elder Wiggs</a>: Smarter then he looks!<br />[Sandy speaks Navajo, evidently translating what Elder Wiggs had just said]<br /><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000955/?ref_=ttqu_qu">Elder Wiggs</a>: Don't tell him that, you fool! Tell him we're Mormans!<br />[the Navajos speak in their native touge, mutterring "Mormany" repeatedly]<br /><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000955/?ref_=ttqu_qu">Elder Wiggs</a>: What'd he say?<br /><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001013/?ref_=ttqu_qu">Sandy</a>: Say's the Mormans are his brothers. Say's they ain't big thieves like most white men. Just little thieves.<br /><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000955/?ref_=ttqu_qu">Elder Wiggs</a>: Right complimentery, ain't he?</blockquote><p>At any rate, Johnson is given sufficient room in the feature to show off his charm, good looks, dry humor, and tremendous horsemanship, and worked again with Ford on Rio Grande to cap off the Cavalry Trilogy<i>. </i>But after standing up to the browbeating director, Ford didn't pick him for another role for over a decade. </p><p>Thankfully other directors like Sam Peckinpah liked what they saw, and ended up casting Johnson in films like <i>Shane, The Wild Bunch, One-Eyed Jacks, </i>and <i>Oklahoma</i>. And not all westerns either - he won an Oscar for his part in <i>The Last Picture Show</i> which I have yet to see. But a World Champion Rodeo buckle, star on the Walk of Fame, and an Oscar make for a pretty impressive c.v. if you ask me!</p><p>I also have yet to see <i>Rio Grande,</i> the only one not streaming on Prime Video, and am looking forward to rounding out that trilogy, as well as seeing what other old gems I can unearth from there, and what other fascinating performers I might yet turn up.</p>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-55305279377790378612023-10-09T21:23:00.010-06:002023-10-10T09:59:25.958-06:00"You find yourselves in a tavern...again..." - D&D&D Night<p>A couple weeks back, Totty posted a seemingly innocuous announcement from Facebook into our Discord chat. It was from <a href="https://www.polyrhythmbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Polyrhythm Brewing</a>, a microbrewery close to the habitats of one of our number that many of us have become quite fond of: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNan3tFTSPpJORM_Z1tWkKPd3YPqC0p4kyOKVlXoljl1woFrvGJR2HpY-71rN82_UaK3tGZ4u7LPHLa-G8jecv-Wosm9uubVrczXZolp0ctZCkyxN790cDuBPSwEDYAS6TsdimC9LSJErDGriahQw6s8XprSI5eLEKjYRur6Z08SI3OQHj_zJwBD27cUys/s526/380227879_330865602787209_4067639968443936324_n.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNan3tFTSPpJORM_Z1tWkKPd3YPqC0p4kyOKVlXoljl1woFrvGJR2HpY-71rN82_UaK3tGZ4u7LPHLa-G8jecv-Wosm9uubVrczXZolp0ctZCkyxN790cDuBPSwEDYAS6TsdimC9LSJErDGriahQw6s8XprSI5eLEKjYRur6Z08SI3OQHj_zJwBD27cUys/w320-h320/380227879_330865602787209_4067639968443936324_n.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="background-color: #2b2d31; color: #dbdee1; font-family: Consolas, "Andale Mono WT", "Andale Mono", "Lucida Console", "Lucida Sans Typewriter", "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Bitstream Vera Sans Mono", "Liberation Mono", "Nimbus Mono L", Monaco, "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: 14px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">🎶How years ago in days of old
When magic filled the air🎶
⚔️Calling all adventurers⚔️The best quests start in a tavern, so come on down to the taproom October 5 @6pm for some DnD action.
We'll be offering free popcorn for all groups playing DnD, and we'll of course have our Thursday $5 Wit special as well.
DMs get bonus drink discount as well! We'll have one session for anyone interested in a one shot, but seating is limited so first come, first served!
So bring your best pals and favourite dice out to the taproom.
Cheers!
</span>It took surprisingly little convincing to get a half-dozen of us to actually commit to this, and knowing I had some short adventures, I volunteered to be Dungeon Master (DM) as well.<br /><p>And then I thought, heck, I might as well roll up the characters on Roll20 since they support printed character sheets now.<br /><br />And when trying to choose races and classes, I thought, hey, this is a great opportunity to paint some of my many, many unpainted adventurer models!<br /><br />And among the grey multitudes, in my long-delayed but often appreciated selection from Blacklist Miniatures were many, many adventurers representing the less stature-oriented peoples of the Players Handbook, including a fairly tough-looking halfling monk and a dwarf wizard in a pose highly reminiscent of the Street Fighter video games...<br /><br />And thus all my friends' character options were under five feet tall.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywhF12B5oT9raGEYAKLirlJixXCHhjf2DJ_fi-dVRxSUsun0unkpSlz-s2mD6I_a7SDtTMM5Oq0VlFqtXNCcXWYBMvqUUmNCnfuaiid-991vD9Ih3rXSnFIO34JetMr7V9eI0ndTb2-SPTktZMsafJDI0A8DphgxEk1r3mdEcR2gWeUcv9ZjLzFTSfU-8/s1347/IMG_20230927_233715762_HDR~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1347" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywhF12B5oT9raGEYAKLirlJixXCHhjf2DJ_fi-dVRxSUsun0unkpSlz-s2mD6I_a7SDtTMM5Oq0VlFqtXNCcXWYBMvqUUmNCnfuaiid-991vD9Ih3rXSnFIO34JetMr7V9eI0ndTb2-SPTktZMsafJDI0A8DphgxEk1r3mdEcR2gWeUcv9ZjLzFTSfU-8/w400-h193/IMG_20230927_233715762_HDR~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jebbedo Glintcassel, Wenryn Flintshadow, Beryl Hawthorne, Balthazar Smeltriver and Daxil Boldhammer</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>I offered an Inspiration point (free re-roll) to anyone who could come up with a relevant name by consensus with the rest of the group, and with a little prodding from Totty and an accompanying poll, <b>The Half Pints</b> arose as the name of choice (although Five By Five was also in the running, and I myself enjoyed Vertically Challengers quite a bit).<div><br /></div><div>We sent Pete in early to grab a spot, thinking there could be a crowd, but we needn't have worried; there was only one other person there with books, and only one person came to sit with them over the evening, and they either chatted or perhaps rolled up characters, I am unsure. </div><div><br /></div><div>This sat well with me, not just because it made it a little quieter and easier to hear my own players, but in all honesty, I was a little apprehensive about playing D&D in a public place for the first time in my life.</div><div><br /></div><div>That probably sounds a little weird from someone who is not only a proudly self-labeled nerd but also experienced in public speaking and who used to host Mega Battles at the Games Workshops stores he managed on a regular basis. But role-playing games have always felt more... personal. They are a bit theatrical and are at their best when the participants feel comfortable enough to let a few of their inhibitions go.</div><div><br /></div><div>And not too deep inside this hefty middle-aged bloke is an insecure adolescent hoping that no one notices the comic books and Monster Manual inside his bookbag. I was fully aware of his presence, but still, a bit surprised at his proximity.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vTKmAvYVawkEhd6rwpbP4mYlqR8_XpppHR539ywke3f8s9G5Ufx2le_jfsn6CyOIHsYyenaYwG5t4wnRdmMYc1XbQWXKyVQwdHBtudGeXUBihlIAFbC6YxaRGbz2ndZJ7ctDpRRY0YKXGlzKm9dwM8jZU4pc1Boi7M1AL5ah3vysbQ6QmFuq8FX9pBKD/s846/Screenshot_20230926-131803-991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="829" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vTKmAvYVawkEhd6rwpbP4mYlqR8_XpppHR539ywke3f8s9G5Ufx2le_jfsn6CyOIHsYyenaYwG5t4wnRdmMYc1XbQWXKyVQwdHBtudGeXUBihlIAFbC6YxaRGbz2ndZJ7ctDpRRY0YKXGlzKm9dwM8jZU4pc1Boi7M1AL5ah3vysbQ6QmFuq8FX9pBKD/s320/Screenshot_20230926-131803-991.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div>Anyhow, I was set up for success to be sure: I had recently purchased a very cool DM's bag so I could easily carry all my books, dice, miniatures, and other accouterments. I was well prepared with a very fun-looking adventure called "Wild Sheep Chase" that had come very highly recommended, and most importantly of all, I had a wonderful group of stout-hearted fellows with me, fully committed to having a good time with some make-believe and some dice.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd2e13AFkmfIaO0NJdHPz37OBM8YABe3KGjHZGI5qz4ZIHFXbz1pEK1c1v_RRppe_HX2uWSPeOT2Kjn9nkWyZOYmKy6D0qf3JqPzRbGWJsxWhNWt745PBu6hEtSLEXTHqbkNwswubgGtD5qq3DfdrMER-LifJYpAUKUYhyphenhyphenPtPMPhxcbuBQLHBOAENwUKU/s4000/IMG_20231005_191346554_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd2e13AFkmfIaO0NJdHPz37OBM8YABe3KGjHZGI5qz4ZIHFXbz1pEK1c1v_RRppe_HX2uWSPeOT2Kjn9nkWyZOYmKy6D0qf3JqPzRbGWJsxWhNWt745PBu6hEtSLEXTHqbkNwswubgGtD5qq3DfdrMER-LifJYpAUKUYhyphenhyphenPtPMPhxcbuBQLHBOAENwUKU/w400-h300/IMG_20231005_191346554_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>(And the half-priced drinks for DMs didn't hurt either, I will have you know.)</div><div><br /></div><div>We ordered some sandwiches and some drinks and got underway about 6:30, learning only later that the taproom closed at 9 pm and last call was at 8:15! Thankfully the lovely staff were very accommodating and let us stay until half-past wrapping up our adventure.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Jnky9b3_0S-btToNuMx9Ym_lJGaQ5pSKFSniOvL-A5FhfBnl1qjyWZAYc_MHx52A1UNoNNIi6u8XzT6kUxEtOjLf5-x9sEyaB0d_KBPzZL8MWkhTOaOwvGvBcEo9QKcXoxqCHUGDvdjb2V9A20dlmOKWi0gzKnzn5jadnlbXnLoAb3hhYsKD40W5msqL/s4000/IMG_20231005_192155095_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Jnky9b3_0S-btToNuMx9Ym_lJGaQ5pSKFSniOvL-A5FhfBnl1qjyWZAYc_MHx52A1UNoNNIi6u8XzT6kUxEtOjLf5-x9sEyaB0d_KBPzZL8MWkhTOaOwvGvBcEo9QKcXoxqCHUGDvdjb2V9A20dlmOKWi0gzKnzn5jadnlbXnLoAb3hhYsKD40W5msqL/w400-h300/IMG_20231005_192155095_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>It was a great time wrapped around a silly tale about an arrogant wizard turned into a sheep by his thieving apprentice, and kicked off with a fight in a pub (natch!) as a half-orc thug and the apprentice's guards (polymorphed into wolves and an enormous bear) tried to bring back the escaped wizard.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-uWVGbhCw4UODYdw3_oJJahcg5Dntdlqy-WqctW6MZBJK5_NAig8lfC8nJ3sjGjWbo6SyLMC83wJhTTn2NxyJ4r_EN29fugO1xd23iJdV_5kcMQ4FLLt4Ivf28DaLtiWXc1oKn1SaoTalIz8WuDKgOD2ZB-xWs_3vuhB5z0bGVu988BSj3GAAZPvGBb2/s4032/71824903598__F56609BA-BEBA-458C-88E9-931D2D83E559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-uWVGbhCw4UODYdw3_oJJahcg5Dntdlqy-WqctW6MZBJK5_NAig8lfC8nJ3sjGjWbo6SyLMC83wJhTTn2NxyJ4r_EN29fugO1xd23iJdV_5kcMQ4FLLt4Ivf28DaLtiWXc1oKn1SaoTalIz8WuDKgOD2ZB-xWs_3vuhB5z0bGVu988BSj3GAAZPvGBb2/w400-h300/71824903598__F56609BA-BEBA-458C-88E9-931D2D83E559.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br />Despite the close confines of the tavern and the collateral damage spells like fireball would have caused, the Half Pints did manage to best the half-orc and the bear, and prevent the wolves from dragging the sheep out the door - if only just.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbV3t-SJRXaqNxxuSpt2zVmfEITMRerY5-ol-4ChVD7_CfoVFezbvj_fjIS7myca2EnxgHu6JBe9xtji-7CYAcFMTLoe74X8OJWsyraxaymlZzUsicYmRxtapA8I7BrAWChVp-xtdHuPmdM2jzVNY9epYuuz6QydNXaq1V6aqV-grM3IW2PddSq_kwhJ5/s4080/PXL_20231006_015710726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbV3t-SJRXaqNxxuSpt2zVmfEITMRerY5-ol-4ChVD7_CfoVFezbvj_fjIS7myca2EnxgHu6JBe9xtji-7CYAcFMTLoe74X8OJWsyraxaymlZzUsicYmRxtapA8I7BrAWChVp-xtdHuPmdM2jzVNY9epYuuz6QydNXaq1V6aqV-grM3IW2PddSq_kwhJ5/w400-h301/PXL_20231006_015710726.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The wizard/sheep then led the party to his own absconded tower, where they quickly made short work of the guards polymorphed into apes, but while fighting another bear, the apprentice Noke burst out of the tower riding a fearsome polymorphed creation - a dragon he had created out of the nearest thing available - his bed! (Tragically we were not able to obtain a miniature for this in time for play, but rest assured, <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4165341" target="_blank">there is one</a>!)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QOR65g98bRULHLsSM2hEBy47jdSeQxBc-5WiHh3P2DB__GLWUgxxYfFNzh-0ZBJCNRybErUICoUpV4m82zLB_uW4gj-mTwLqiH3O6mzsN75Tk83Oz1ijatNszCDRoAaW1gWwl7KNImxB32PaSgo_gdToRjsih8LYLAQe5fbmBiAc_bUG4a06JxX1znEd/s1024/large_display_IMG_2699.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QOR65g98bRULHLsSM2hEBy47jdSeQxBc-5WiHh3P2DB__GLWUgxxYfFNzh-0ZBJCNRybErUICoUpV4m82zLB_uW4gj-mTwLqiH3O6mzsN75Tk83Oz1ijatNszCDRoAaW1gWwl7KNImxB32PaSgo_gdToRjsih8LYLAQe5fbmBiAc_bUG4a06JxX1znEd/s320/large_display_IMG_2699.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The fight was a pretty decent one, but in retrospect, five 5th-level characters might have been a bit strong for this opposition, even if not played by a smart team that loves tactical thinking, but the real crescendo came when Sean, playing not one, but <i>two </i>unfamiliar roles (rogue and spellcaster as an Arcane Trickster), asked if he could use Mage Hand to snatch away the polymorph wand that had transfigured the wizard (and which I was going to turn on the players next turn).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Sure," I said, "it will be an opposed sleight-of-hand roll..." as Sean rolled one of his ice-cream-looking dice:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OGXQambL3GxCQFt4UjfTTci0JLclsBZSI_QpqL3FulD-iCVr31kJzf8eCTu9QqwXdpjmnhX8B61oAcE3V_1u9ah753zolC3yWZNjWhyptYLbEAJGwSE_oZyb5aEhzBx6Ve3sySZaxSRwhTE-kVIPKpp_VaPDD-tKqaGRmWNZUea3UnpUW-jK98Yj3zsp/s241/Screenshot%202023-10-09%20201734.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="241" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OGXQambL3GxCQFt4UjfTTci0JLclsBZSI_QpqL3FulD-iCVr31kJzf8eCTu9QqwXdpjmnhX8B61oAcE3V_1u9ah753zolC3yWZNjWhyptYLbEAJGwSE_oZyb5aEhzBx6Ve3sySZaxSRwhTE-kVIPKpp_VaPDD-tKqaGRmWNZUea3UnpUW-jK98Yj3zsp/s1600/Screenshot%202023-10-09%20201734.png" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div>And that roll produced a mighty and fearless cheer if ever you'd heard one.</div><div><br /></div><div>It did not take long after that to dispatch both the traitorous apprentice and the ersatz dragon he rode, and afterward they were able to successfully use the wand to transform the wizard back to his original form. And he was grateful to be sure but explained he might have overstated his ability to enchant items for the party in exchange for their services. If they could perhaps leave the items in question while he conducted more research...</div><div><br /></div><div>We cleaned up pretty quickly after and thanked Jason, our server for giving us the extra time to finish up. After the others had left and I waited for my ride (again, half-price drinks for the DM!), we chatted about gaming, and how he hoped a bit more promotion might get more people out when they do D&D&D again.</div><div><br /></div><div>He asked how often we played, and how we knew each other. I talked about some of the campaigns we'd played in, and about how many of us get together once a year for <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2010/05/gaming-guinness-in-general.html" target="_blank">Gaming & Guinness</a>, and showed him my <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2017/05/g-xii-races-chases-fights-escapes-and.html" target="_blank">challenge coin</a> and explained how it works and how everyone there was expected to have theirs on their person. </div><div><br /></div><div>I talked about how all of us have made fellowship and gaming a big part of our lives for over a decade and a half, and how grateful I was for this strange opportunity to get together in a public space with these fellows.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jason nodded, and said, "a friend group like that, it doesn't just happen - you have to make time and space for it, right?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Abso-friggin'-lutely.<br /><br />And thanks again to Jason and the folks at Polyrhythm for making it happen - hope to see more of you there next time around!</div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934321506981803994.post-65514422321142694532023-10-01T20:30:00.001-06:002023-10-01T20:30:11.176-06:00Return to the Cold Hot Place<p>Camping is a strange kind of vacation: more work, more cooking, less comfort than a hotel and you can return home more tired than when you left, but it has been a treat for our household for years, especially when the weather turns cool.</p><p>Miette Hot Springs near Jasper has always been one of our favourite mountain spots, but who wants to bathe in a 39° C pool when it is already 27° outside?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMP2huLvQZkOfXsEdVlmlvJgTJZcupirwjncOoVwpputQOvG7Sm9veNWBreRB2NvwNug3HZQ3oVLSQxK40HhvrW10BKpN3OsN_E44eI3pUY95HouofBcEZNhIIU77EwM6Dcbsy9psNzvhk2i1kCyDwSEUJRGlLy6WMTYZSIuV-kI7tehAHvD1TGsh0hgZT/s987/Roche%20miette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="987" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMP2huLvQZkOfXsEdVlmlvJgTJZcupirwjncOoVwpputQOvG7Sm9veNWBreRB2NvwNug3HZQ3oVLSQxK40HhvrW10BKpN3OsN_E44eI3pUY95HouofBcEZNhIIU77EwM6Dcbsy9psNzvhk2i1kCyDwSEUJRGlLy6WMTYZSIuV-kI7tehAHvD1TGsh0hgZT/w400-h313/Roche%20miette.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roche Miette, on the way to Jasper<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Six years ago in 2017, Glory and I made our <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2017/10/mountain-madness-for-two.html" target="_blank">first trek to Miette</a> after snowfall. Audrey joined us in 2018, but Frankentrailer <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2018/09/frankentrailers-final-trip.html" target="_blank">gave up the ghost</a> during set-up, so camping was off that year. </p><p>Fenya and Glory and I <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2019/10/cold-hands-warm-hearts.html" target="_blank">returned to Miette</a> in Bride of Frankentrailer in 2019, but Covid closed the pool for two years after that (although Glory and I still <a href="https://growoldnotup.blogspot.com/2021/09/happily-camping-damply.html" target="_blank">camped in 2021</a> because she missed the mountains) and a mudslide destroyed the road earlier this year, so we thought that was that.</p><p>But an interview overheard by chance on the CBC revealed that Miette would indeed open in 2023 for its shortest season ever: Labour Day weekend to Thanksgiving Monday. Unable to wait until 2024, we resolved to go, and let Audrey have her first cool-weather camping experience.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDujO84RPqJstQGAOCg27OP8Si-M9A5q0_EUsqpPxj1_Ookpr_J_-V16DOmWL1OmchQSUb6B3ouJcx1vOzbo1n84yUf0BizD-fJygM2gQIkLdWbY_xIgxswzpbRU3fd5_DIZTv3V6LNpj90aH6i3wtssCxoot7ZBI3yziD8lW0fThRfRoaGcjo6v09MmF-/s888/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDujO84RPqJstQGAOCg27OP8Si-M9A5q0_EUsqpPxj1_Ookpr_J_-V16DOmWL1OmchQSUb6B3ouJcx1vOzbo1n84yUf0BizD-fJygM2gQIkLdWbY_xIgxswzpbRU3fd5_DIZTv3V6LNpj90aH6i3wtssCxoot7ZBI3yziD8lW0fThRfRoaGcjo6v09MmF-/w225-h400/IMG_0473.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><p>Did I say cool? Cold might be more appropriate. It dropped to freezing our first night and went to -3° the next, but we sustained ourselves in numerous ways. A hot breakfast, for one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyJVxTxV-bBYJmNN1bH5mfPNtyGoOS5Cfv70-mUKVJ9ltpBQ-wU4tSHSBdOSDdQlgyTc4GEixWZaz7mumr2tRc_iL4TyrjyPeNmKOkz2KSaZ1S4f_SjtzvNJh3G-2Yg4lIjEpO_1I2T85hlH-NvkB8ekV1jE9mhEjokWzO31VFaYSFP1FPuLinLlbWb0n/s1184/bacon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyJVxTxV-bBYJmNN1bH5mfPNtyGoOS5Cfv70-mUKVJ9ltpBQ-wU4tSHSBdOSDdQlgyTc4GEixWZaz7mumr2tRc_iL4TyrjyPeNmKOkz2KSaZ1S4f_SjtzvNJh3G-2Yg4lIjEpO_1I2T85hlH-NvkB8ekV1jE9mhEjokWzO31VFaYSFP1FPuLinLlbWb0n/w400-h300/bacon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv9As4CmNkYz4tjg9u-okX4NTk8TfdJ3S6MXKTBImqIpbwY-x_-YQsZZkPrd6SqMoRvavMmiykcpt5Cee65pMoGl5mIzjCUGyp-b5phF5svw7AxOmHteN3a4mFlYhfEURTkXdQc7PyseA7GsSAKTzgWpQ0MSReKcwHB9ONMyrB2XAh8I6BezrWXJtsJeE/s1184/IMG_20230930_113056253_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv9As4CmNkYz4tjg9u-okX4NTk8TfdJ3S6MXKTBImqIpbwY-x_-YQsZZkPrd6SqMoRvavMmiykcpt5Cee65pMoGl5mIzjCUGyp-b5phF5svw7AxOmHteN3a4mFlYhfEURTkXdQc7PyseA7GsSAKTzgWpQ0MSReKcwHB9ONMyrB2XAh8I6BezrWXJtsJeE/w400-h300/IMG_20230930_113056253_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>A hot spring for another. They are working reduced hours and a reduced capacity as well as a shortened season, so even though we arrived right at opening time (2 pm) it was still more than half an hour before we got in. But this wonderful place has always been worth the drive so what is a 30-minute wait? After a four-year hiatus, the 60 min soak was completely justified.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV6fWzZF9yvHgMyRDxIhO6IgjVQgG2Wy31J2kI71xQlLogUpuTpfozSS5jzxy51KsIw3b8qnicku0v-pZYVnbX7oTt0xUj7_uaHglulMtz_q8bMPPDVB_edJjIZRmjPZg2iUy0mPBi7H0gvnrGT_4j69eVUbhGw3dyZJpJGSkwSVgMmiEpLMr2uyOTZba/s836/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="836" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV6fWzZF9yvHgMyRDxIhO6IgjVQgG2Wy31J2kI71xQlLogUpuTpfozSS5jzxy51KsIw3b8qnicku0v-pZYVnbX7oTt0xUj7_uaHglulMtz_q8bMPPDVB_edJjIZRmjPZg2iUy0mPBi7H0gvnrGT_4j69eVUbhGw3dyZJpJGSkwSVgMmiEpLMr2uyOTZba/w400-h300/IMG_0488.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Even the refreshing cold plunge was invigorating (after a fashion). Mostly just grateful I didn't seize a piston and need to get airlifted out or something.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwHt3p8n5rk-AnErmWUrIFUQJLfPMGuBKRWssBTkBCOesjwGnhU8inAebsxivWugMckf5BLsM7DtCaVqOguRw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>We saw numerous elk close to town (keep your distance y'all, the rut is on!) and a sole bighorn on our way to Miette from Wapiti campground, but on our way back we got a close look at a black bear munching on foliage in the ditch on Miette Road:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMacG9jw-4dXCKQbY_2UeqP4kmPv44D3bqbQj5SFKZzb4ybcVN6HCkxCcNj638f9rRpQiGjtPZCZSzwLtAcyWFIvXuud4MwROK6svsPAwcnbzaIkUxks3H4hY3WjOVKGqhVgT_jzuf1HFAiHvJq1zXjWvSqNXhEj5DXzY6MwVTLQ3x69bXm9vapmAg1AJs/s4032/IMG_0527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMacG9jw-4dXCKQbY_2UeqP4kmPv44D3bqbQj5SFKZzb4ybcVN6HCkxCcNj638f9rRpQiGjtPZCZSzwLtAcyWFIvXuud4MwROK6svsPAwcnbzaIkUxks3H4hY3WjOVKGqhVgT_jzuf1HFAiHvJq1zXjWvSqNXhEj5DXzY6MwVTLQ3x69bXm9vapmAg1AJs/w300-h400/IMG_0527.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSefl9pCsA38utoKwYRw0mA9Exw7YpDxRAROYD2PuHcnt1xAViNlSL9bMpY6Tp23wbYpIHenbcoOXTNI-VJwuGxITb8kiLkFCQLINlcRP4sjUIJkR-jan19Xnek-O1tJJ41MX4gR6fTOvyw30AX-R24PGeHVMs_jYy2NZ1n23AeAh6tBBUr-VSgbmrMMjV/s836/IMG_0530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="627" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSefl9pCsA38utoKwYRw0mA9Exw7YpDxRAROYD2PuHcnt1xAViNlSL9bMpY6Tp23wbYpIHenbcoOXTNI-VJwuGxITb8kiLkFCQLINlcRP4sjUIJkR-jan19Xnek-O1tJJ41MX4gR6fTOvyw30AX-R24PGeHVMs_jYy2NZ1n23AeAh6tBBUr-VSgbmrMMjV/w300-h400/IMG_0530.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy8-vb9SpxgE3vaoB1ajjCoNcS5_mTAAYscvQff8U9C1RL6mShYAdqW3uhZfZujTaxsKv9iLyljPN7n-hQ-ow' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>Even more amazing, it turned out the traffic slowing down where Connaught Drive intersects with the Yellowhead was due to an enormous grizzly lounging by the roadside, the closest I have ever been to one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3F1rbpN0o6NX6qgNvYHeUS9DjnTjlB23PktSHrHEQKYhr6h7i1m5WqsizA30WB3LUtenlGw9XnTGNyeYUAjfPFyggLpMj_YnjS2b-C0pJDoXsEQp3WpX6LEKNT47Bglh16t2JXfk10ici7ma-oGvWkgnawQSC6L5Ah9XMKiOv4E93MKkwR3nNcXah7zQS/s1642/IMG_0575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="1244" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3F1rbpN0o6NX6qgNvYHeUS9DjnTjlB23PktSHrHEQKYhr6h7i1m5WqsizA30WB3LUtenlGw9XnTGNyeYUAjfPFyggLpMj_YnjS2b-C0pJDoXsEQp3WpX6LEKNT47Bglh16t2JXfk10ici7ma-oGvWkgnawQSC6L5Ah9XMKiOv4E93MKkwR3nNcXah7zQS/w303-h400/IMG_0575.JPG" width="303" /></a></div><p>And even though the second night was cold, our time outside eating hot Tuna Helper (it's true, everything tastes better when you are cold and hungry!) was aided by the roaring campfire Audrey and Glory had set up while I cooked. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qAelIiENuldl7bI0iH5eMQ9m8Z95W3-G3vOZ74LFex38bG8lI-QZFDwem62LIfk8sRxyd_NdEdiACe1GADKyjXYdX0cLu1qyHerOkFhgwf88eL25LrjQrMBYqC8qTuvsh4_-FXhGLgAsTb82pzJe0wLziuNLyqt-1fD0qS8XfHEpV9QM9ukGgpwXSqzS/s888/IMG_0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="666" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qAelIiENuldl7bI0iH5eMQ9m8Z95W3-G3vOZ74LFex38bG8lI-QZFDwem62LIfk8sRxyd_NdEdiACe1GADKyjXYdX0cLu1qyHerOkFhgwf88eL25LrjQrMBYqC8qTuvsh4_-FXhGLgAsTb82pzJe0wLziuNLyqt-1fD0qS8XfHEpV9QM9ukGgpwXSqzS/w300-h400/IMG_0599.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p>And the little space heater in the Bride managed to keep the chill off long enough for the sleeping bags to warm up and keep us cozy til morning - barring the occasional late-night visit to the washroom, of course.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVS6gavnkugQR8c1BuLm_kO2gHrvFc-r706BTiewjzQytX3ajrwMjZ5b6cZRLN93uO_uT-OK-M_pKlZq4l_LahvC62mbglrZxI-fKzrNoc66TJ0qLHVsLvtsxqLjMcp5pAU6lhAnTenhVNy94EPDJDc1WP3AjObabz2uP69wwZvx1shRub7388TCSqRTXJ/s987/wapiti%20site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="987" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVS6gavnkugQR8c1BuLm_kO2gHrvFc-r706BTiewjzQytX3ajrwMjZ5b6cZRLN93uO_uT-OK-M_pKlZq4l_LahvC62mbglrZxI-fKzrNoc66TJ0qLHVsLvtsxqLjMcp5pAU6lhAnTenhVNy94EPDJDc1WP3AjObabz2uP69wwZvx1shRub7388TCSqRTXJ/w400-h300/wapiti%20site.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Stephen Fitzpatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com0