David Ian's Home

Calvin for president - funny/sad how the many faces of children works in this election year...

Such a commentary on this bizarre election year that the exaggerated faces of children - portrayed perfectly in this selection from Calvin and Hobbes - seems to work for the GOP front runner...

Or is it just Donald Trump?  Hasn't he just perfected the antics that have been on display for a long time now by many others - used to effectively influence opinions and sway voters on a wide range of issues that have dominated the "conversation" in the public sphere...

 

Who needs to deliberate, why bother working for full understanding of complex and important matters, when the tactics of the playground have emerged to "trump" all else?

An atmosphere filled with magic - all very real - special meetings all around the ancient tavern in the midst of the winter storm…

…rocked and rolled by the swirl of elements outside, transfixed by the magi circulating within, our loves revel…

 

“What is about settings like this - a haze or heightened senses - what makes everything seem so alive?”

 

“I’m not sure my love - there certainly are a lot of sensory things going on - but there are at other times, as well - I think it is you and me in our moment - it begins with that.”

 

“Indeed, my love - not everyone here may feel exactly the same - many may be oblivious - although with the fragrance of this cabin, the crackling of the fire, the twinkling of the candles, the pounding of wind and snow against the walls - it must have some effect.”

 

“True - but look at those crazies in the political debate on that tv in the corner - look at all of the people there, cheering and roaring at the stupid expressions - they are oblivious - the people here have different reactions.”

 

“Look at those kids over in that corner, near the tv - they get it - they are giggling and laughing at the funny antics…”

 

“Their inner child is already out!”

 

“I think they are just reacting to what they see and the childish behavior of grownups - it entertains them.”

 

“There is a different atmosphere here - this cabin, this get-away place - look us, we see so much…”

 

“Indeed - we detect a whole lot more - there is a haze in this ancient room - of smoke from the fire, but also our own - of a flood of voices and touches…”

 

“Very spiritual - we can understand now how people have believed in ghosts, spirits, shades - the air is definitely alive - we hear, we know what others are thinking…”

 

“…even that begins with you and me - we can try to be quiet, but our minds are full of voices - picture the spirits at play in this room - don’t speak - we know each other’s thoughts…

 

… Puffers, Wavers, Clown - they laugh at the laughter in the corner - a blast of wind shakes the cabin, drawing up the flames…

 

… Mother Nature, Old Man Winter, Fire & Fury - This, Now, Here is what matters - Fright & Worry & Alarm - Look around, feel their moods - Seize this moment - They are with us loves - These two, those children, our beloved sprights, we are joined - this precious emergence…

 

“Whew, my love - so many touches - like musical notes riding on the wind - not sure of the origin - some are ours - some, not so much…”

Of obsessive ugliness for its own sake… #eldapa

… and the political success at luring the “Trash Niche…”

 

It’s interesting to see the various reactions to “the Donald’s” obsessive bashing of Megyn Kelly.  Not a fan of Fox News here at all, but it shouldn’t matter - this kind of ugliness transcends the dividing lines.

 

In fact, so many lines are crossed repeatedly that the inner el voice just has to be speaking to most of us - on all sides of any aisle.

 

We all have Megyn’s in our lives, and well as Trumps - all those beautiful people genuinely following an elevated path in life - and all those uglies doing the opposite.

 

The uglies tend to win out day-to-day for variety of reasons - many, when confronted with them will give way to them, others attempt to tune them out to avoid the noise and disruption.  Occasionally some turn and strike back - the trick always is that in the time it take to compose and deliver one well thought out and articulated response, the uglies can fire off a whole host of new nano bits of their nonsense.  

 

Another note on this - in the latest attack, he was just retweeting trash at night - nothing more than a very, very low level activity aimed at keeping his name in the news, keeping him viral - this is what he is good at, a master; and the various “news” engines eat it up, and a steadfast segment of the population loves it…

 

…the Trash Niche… #eldapa

Getting our Derby on - pulling out the sacred glasses......

......First - having fun displaying our collection of souvenir glasses as we prep for today's "Run for the Roses".

In separate years we have attended each of the Triple Crown races, and have brought home and carefully saved the decorative glasses in which the signature beverages are served.

Here they are all on display, along with a delightful assortment of swizzle sticks from untold sources.

Finally full Julep raised as the horses go to post.

Crazy good for the first Saturday in May.

Getting our Derby on - having fun displaying our collection of souvenir glasses as we prep for today's "Run for the Roses"......

 

In separate years we have attended each of the Triple Crown races - as well as a delightful assortment of swizzle sticks from untold sources.

Crazy good for the first Saturday in May.

Crazy soccer - loving 0-0 & devouring chicken & Belgiun waffles.....

Maybe it is just a matter of finally being corrupted, but this year's World Cup has been so exciting - and not just because the USA did well.

Used to have a friend from Italy, and he used to so on and on about the beauty - and passion - of the game.

This year it has sunk in. It is still very American to want to tinker with the game as we do with our other sports. It's our way and we are good at improving things, but somehow, during this World Cup, many of us are "getting" what the rest of the world has long known.

Some years ago, when the tournament was here in the US, we went to a knockout round game, Spain v Switzerland. What struct us then, being there in person, was the great spectacle of it all.

A truly grand and marvelous game - regardless of who wins and whether anyone ever scores at all - it is amazing to have that as a backdrop to this party of crazy fans all decorated and painted up to dance and sing, and also cheer for their team.

That all much on display this year in Brazil. Maybe it's the setting in sensuous Rio and all the other tropical venues. Maybe it's high character of our American team - truly gutsy and heroic - that has called attention to that quality of effort on the other teams.

Character & passion - in a carnival atmosphere - no wonder it just seemed necessary to devour some Belgiun waffles (with chicken - totally delicious btw) in a mad attempt to help our boys,
if only in spirit, during their game today!

Boston Strong - what could bring home the separate paths of our world more than this week leading up to the 118th running of the Boston Marathon – especially for those who participated in the 117th!

It was an unreal experience of critical points all thrown together – a myriad of feelings, many opposites, all in play at the same time – the most extreme and fundamental aspects of humanity played out in ultra close proximity of minutes and yards a year ago.

 

For those in the way of the explosions – their worlds shattered – ultimate harshness…… and all the thoughts and emotions that go with it.

 

For those who escaped – thank god – for those prevented from finishing, something to stay mostly quite about for a year – but now, finally, an opportunity to do it all again – and cross that finish line.

 

Extremes of our worlds - way beyond good and back - played out daily on the broad stage - brought back in clear and sharp focus as the lead-up to this year's Boston Marathon builds. 

 

And projecting from that to all of those who are always undertaking awesome endeavors for goodness sake – the timing of the bombings targeted many charity runners and their loved ones, on a mission to both “Run Boston” and give back in meaningful ways at the same time – this is the week for all of them to emerge and shine.

 

All the training, all the anxiety, all the pain and planning - - - - nothing at all compared to those who were hurt - - - but severe none-the-less – now accomplished twice, mostly, two years running – in quest of crossing the cherished finish line once!!!!

 

Boston Strong!!

Oscars: we have succeeded in our mission to see all best pics – whew!

Talk about an imbalance in the sphere - the “conversation” that is the exchange of thoughts and ideas and action – it couldn’t be more diverse:

At one extreme are the ugliest worries and poison and exchanges about the politics of things like Crimea, so-called freedoms (to hate and discriminate?!), bullying and terrorism in all their forms, and on and on in that vein in the seemingly “normal” news cycle…….

…… At another, is all the hype about the Academy Awards and who will, and should win each the awards.

My wife and I are movie lovers, and we make a special effort each year to pay attention to the Oscars and all of the preliminaries to it.

As probably one of the few who have seen all nine best picture nominees, an observation:  there is a lot that is potentially depressing about both extremes, depending on how you view things, and this is likely an expression of the times.

We embark on this crazy/fun mission each year to try to see all of the movies that are nominated for Best Picture.  It’s a little expensive, and certainly a great diversion. 

It’s a nice mission to get us through an unending winter like this!

When there were only five movies nominated in past years, we had a decent chance of succeeding.  Since the Academy has expanded the number of nominated pictures, this is the first year that we managed to see all of them. (Nine this year – but we only paid theatre prices for four – but that’s another story!)

We are very unsophisticated movie critics.  We go with very base-level observations.  “Which one did you like the most?  Which ones do you want to see again?  Given how the Academy actually chooses, which will win?” goes “our conversation”.

I loved “Her”, probably because it was the most bizarre – I would love to see it again, and it has zero chance of winning.  We both really liked “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Gravity”, would like to see both again, and both probably have a good chance of winning. 

Beyond that would be a full movie review – but what stood out big for us was the darkness throughout the group and our very lively discussion about how that reflects our times.

If you look for hope and bright spots, you really had to look for it in many of these movies – as with the news cycle.  Many eventually delivered on that – sometimes it was a small victory, or more of a vindication of all the persistence through of the ugliness of the stories.

Given a little elevated spirit – or actually a whole lot of that, and plenty of weaving together of the noble work that goes with it – plus a huge about of hope and temperament and steadfastness, maybe we can make such progress in the “real” sphere of activity.

Enough – no authority at all here – but I do believe that collectively our thoughts and awareness can have shared value.

Nice time in the coffee shop this morning.

Arrived early to meet my clients at the dunkin donuts, a quiet time on a Saturday morning.  In the corner, a cluster of fine gentlemen, several individuals at separate tables, but packed in tight, enjoying coffees and papers and a lively chat.

 

I spied an open small table in their midst, asked “ok if I join you guys?”

 

A warm round of armed waves and “sures” welcomed me in. 

 

How nice, taken in like a longtime friend to their Saturday morning gabfest – not some wild outpouring of great manly speeches, but rather the soft and subdued discussion of “gentlemen”. 

 

Reminded me so much of countless times like this with my Dad – he would have fit right in.

 

We covered the wide world of news and sports in our little coffee & donut corner.  Not idle, mindless chat - no sir – but, thoughtful, knowledgeable and nuanced conversation, with a friendly banter of opinions. 

 

We shared reasoned ideas on a range of subjects:  the Eagles & Phillies, Obamacare, real estate, wives, children, grandchildren – with not a trace of the chest thumping, arm waving rage and outrage of the 24 hour cycle.

 

Very comforting, I must say, just sipping our coffees, sharing the moment.

 

People always amaze if you look for it.  Quite interesting what one finds at a random coffee shop on a quiet Saturday morning.

All consumed at the Y

I love the late morning, mid-week groupings of people at the Y. Sometimes, like today, I work early in my home office, then hit the Y on the way into the "real" office. It's really interesting to feel the comradery of the diverse gatherings:

One of my favorite is the area for the little children - fully on display in their "pen" as the rest of us go to and fro.

They are consumed in their own play and earnest conversations, watched carefully by the young adult minders. There are always a few parents and grandparents settled nearby on benches, just taking that all in.

The rush hour'ers are long gone, but the the fitness area is full of moms busy toning their beautiful bods on a needed break from the kids, a good group of "entrepreneurs" doing much the same during a break from our business, and of course the "oldies" (not me of course - defined here by relativity: those at least ten years older!) - love them - so jolly, so social. They get in quick workouts, link up with friends, then re-gather around tables in the coffee area.

All the while and all around on flat screen tv's, the zealots of the 24 hour news cycle rant, rage and analyze about the burning issues - while us, the gym zealots, the zealots of healthy living, we absorb all of that, or totally ignore it, at our leisure and pleasure.

There is always plenty of that available, with which we will surely re-engage when ready!!