I’ve not had a Sunday Morning Music feature in a couple months. Just lost track of it. But Katie Herzig was in town and I got to see her at the Doug Fir and all of us remembered that she was one of America’s greatest singer/songwriters, and then following Matthew Perryman Jones on twitter reminded me of this song they sing together that has been a favorite for a year or so now. Actually, one of my all-time favorite music memories was hearing Matthew at a small, impromptu concert up in Canada. A group of folks had gotten together and there were some artists there and they did a little concert. Matthew sang Emmy Lou Harris’ “The Pearl” and Katie was there too and sang “Wish You Well” We all stopped breathing and if you go back to that place you’ll find our bodies, I’m sure. Matthew is hitting the road now and if you’ve not seen him, please do. He’s a wonderful concert. And Katie and crew are better than any movie I can think of. So, this morning, enjoy Katie and Matthew, together: KATIE HERZIG & MATTHEW PERRYMAN JONES “WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUN” (LIVE) from SITUATION [...]
When I graduated high school, I’d not read a single book. If I didn’t graduate last in my class, I was certainly close. In fact, one teacher protested I shouldn’t graduate at all, and it was only a coup from counselors that got me out of high school. It wasn’t until I attended a rather academic camp in Colorado that I started reading. The camp aimed to prepare kids for college, and as such emphasized reading books, lots and lots of books. They must have said a thousand times that readers are leaders. I believed them. I started reading that summer (I was probably 18) and I kept reading, book after book for the next fifteen years. These days, I’m embarrassed to say, I read less than I have since then. I may tackle thirty books each year. I read blogs and articles on the internet, and I watch too much television. I write some sort of article or blog entry almost every day, which is a terrific discipline for a writer, but I’ve slacked off on reading. That said, though, if it’s true leaders are readers, than it’s easier than ever to be a leader. In fact, if you’ll [...]
Today I got to show Don around the ICU. I am feeling much better. Right now I’m the only dog being watched in intensive care. It turns out 90% of dogs who get salmon poisoning die within 14 days, and Don and the docs didn’t figure out the problem till day 13. I came pretty close. Yesterday Don held me in his arms and even said goodbye. We sat on the floor in a little room and I slobberd on him and it hurt to breathe. It was nice to have him there. There is so much noise in the hospital that I don’t feel safe, so when Don comes, I feel like I can sleep. To be honest, the doctors weren’t as worried as Don. They all knew I would pull through but all Don saw was thirteen days of decline. I don’t blame him for being upset. I’d be hurting if I knew he was going to die, too. I’d tell you I was afraid of dying, but I wasn’t. In my cage in the ICU, I can see all the critical patients that come in. Their cries are very scary. I do get scared at the thought [...]
So I’ve been in the hospital lately. I didn’t feel well so I stopped eating. I had a temperature. After a few days, Don brought me into the hospital. The doctors couldn’t find out what was wrong for another two days, but then found out I got poisoning from a fish. I ate something when I was playing in the water and it made bacteria explode in my belly. I had an IV and a cone and the whole bit. Don had to spoon feed me baby food and I hated it. Finally they put a tube down my throat to get me to eat. I should let Don tell you because he’s more dramatic about this stuff. Being sick hasn’t taught me anything, honestly. It hasn’t taught me anything other than I don’t like being sick. But I did learn something in the hospital. It all happened on Sunday, when our normal clinic was closed. We had to go to the ER at Dove Lewis. Sunday is their busy day, and we were sitting in the lobby with the other pet owners and sick pets. It was all the basic stuff, itchy skin or throwing up. Nothing to worry [...]
In movies, the bad guy has to display he is the bad guy through actions. It won’t do to have a subtitle come on the screen that says “this is the bad guy.” A cliche, yet effective methodology is to have the bad guy belittle somebody who is weaker, poorer of less fortunate. A bad guy will belittle a servant, a waiter, a spouse or child. The reason screenwriters write these scenes is because, eventually, the bad guy is going to get killed, and they can’t let anybody in the audience feel sorry for them when this happens. They have to establish how bad the bad guy really is. In real life, the bad guy doesn’t always get killed off, but that doesn’t change the fact we don’t like him. And ultimately, bad guys get what they deserve. They end up alone, or worse, surrounded and yet lonely. They may take advantage of people but the world doesn’t run on money or fame, it runs on love, and when you take advantage of people, you end up without love. The other problem with real life is it’s hard to tell whether or not you are the bad guy. We all [...]
