Was Lincoln Sexy?

I've seen Doris Kearns Goodwin, who wrote Teams of Rivals:  The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, being interviewed a couple of times.  On each occasion she said, "Yes, Lincoln was sexy."

After seeing Steven Spielberg's movie Lincoln, and, if by sexy, she means funny, warm, intelligent, loving, kind and tall, then I agree.  I was a little leery about seeing Lincoln because the length exceeds my two hour limit - but I hardly noticed.

Here's what struck me about the movie.  The vulnerability of President Lincoln both in his availability (he just walked out in the open with the folks) and in his determination to do what he thought was right - even though he was strongly opposed by the Democrats, and leaders in his on Republican Party. (For instance, they wanted to punish the South.  He refused.)

So how did he manage to win the Civil War AND pass the 13th amendment (freeing the slaves) at approximately the same time?  He did it by good natured persuasion and compromise.

This is at once a great and vast movie and a small, dialogue driven movie.  I thought I knew about President Lincoln but I learned a lot.   I learned about the man and I learned about his relationship with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.  And his children. And his country.

John Stewart on The Daily Show suggested that this year's Academy Award just be reworked into the image of Daniel Day-Lewis, who plays Lincoln.  And be done with it.

I tend to agree.


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Superman, Welcome to My World

In yesterdays', Parade Magazine journalist Connie Schultz tells us that Clark Kent has quit the Daily Planet (again.)  But, apparently, this time he's going to be a blogger.

This saddens me, not as a blogger, but as an avid reader of newspapers.  I can understand that Clark is tired of having his stuff edited down to written sound bites.  As Schultz says, reporters have become stenographers.

I know they must feel that way sometimes but I love reading gutsy syndicated columnists Leonard Pitts and Eugene Robinson on the left, as well as Kathleen Parker and Cal Thomas on the right.  They make me a better person.

So, despite the title above, I agree with Schultz when she says, Superman....we're short on heroes these days.  We don't want you to be like the rest of us.

And I say the same thing to the four syndicated columnists I mentioned above.  Also to my local favorites, Scott Maxwell and Beth Kassab.

Hang in there with the newspaper for as long as you can.  We're all enriched and protected by you - whether we know it or not.


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Frankenstein Turkey

I roasted a big turkey, with all the trimmings, every year for 34 years.  Then I stopped.  Haven't roasted one since and don't see it happening in my future, although I wouldn't rule anything out.

But I don't think it's a hard thing to do.  The instructions are right on the wrapping.  The turkey even has a little button in its belly that pops out when it's done.

I think folks have taken something pretty simple and invented ways to make it complicated.  We have barbecued turkey and deep fried turkey and Turducken (a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey.)  What's the point?

This morning I was listening to NPR folks discussing Julia Child's Thanksgiving Turkey.  She insisted that the turkey had to be cut apart, separating the backbone and then all dark meat from the white meat.  And then, after it's roasted, reassembling it.

Can you imagine wrestling a 20 pound raw turkey into all those pieces?  I can't.

It's sort of like Frankenstein.  You could (maybe) assemble a guy from a bunch of parts - but, again, what's the point?

Have a wonderful day tomorrow - Thanksgiving - and count at least ten blessings before you eat your turkey.


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The Resurrection of the Body

This past Sunday my minister, Gary finished up the series called "The Need for the Creed."  For several weeks the ministers have dealt with The Apostles Creed.  Line by line.

Over the centuries folks tended to mingle (and mangle) different beliefs so every few hundred years creeds were written to let everybody know that "this is what Christians believe."  Period.

OK, here's my confession.  For several years I refused to say the second to the last line in the Apostles Creed.  "The resurrection of the body" just didn't make sense to me.  What body?  This body?  No, thanks!

In a post On October 13th titled "Near Death Experience" I quoted Harvard neurosurgeon  Dr. Eben Alexander in his new book "Heaven is Real" saying that our bodies inhibit our human consciousness rather than enhancing it.

British anthropologist, Chris Stringer has written a new book called "Lone Survivors - How We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth."  He's saying that there were several kinds of humans in the beginning but, somewhere along the line, Homo sapiens won out - although we do have a little Neanderthal in us.

That explains some of our behaviors but confuses the "resurrection of the body" issue.

A few years ago I resumed saying the entire Apostles Creed.  I decided that, once again, I was thinking too small and that the resurrection of the body had a broader meaning - possibly broader than I could comprehend in this lifetime.

And this is what I heard Gary say on Sunday morning.   Resurrection of the body?  Yes!  But, please, not this one.


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Who's Channing Tatum?

We all know that People Magazine has announced their annual - and much sought after - "Sexiest Man Alive" award.  I was not too excited because I don't know who Channing Tatum is.

Used to be that I was so happy for the recipient because I knew the actors - and how much it meant to them.  Like Harrison Ford, Richard Gere and Sean Connery.

And who can forget a couple of years ago when Matt Damon won.George Clooney and Ben Affect both let us know how he'd campaigned for it night and day.

Seriously, if they're going to pick the sexiest man alive, at least make it somebody I know.  And, by the way, how do they know this person is the sexiest?  What are their criteria?

My favorite People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive was Mark Harmon ('86).  We all know that he's the son of Heisman Trophy winner and coach, Tom Harmon.  Mark's sister, Kristin, was married to Ricky Nelson.  And a bunch of other famous people are in his family.  Mr. Harmon is Hollywood royalty.

Mark's had a long and fairly distinguished acting career.  And his dad would be so proud to know that "Sexiest Man Alive" award helped.

He's coming up on ten years doing NCIS.  And, at 60 years old, he's still sexy.

Who is Channing Tatum?

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I'm Not Seceding

It used to be that, right before a national election, folks would threaten to leave the country if their candidate didn't win.  Now we have a new twist.  Thousands of folks have petitioned to have their states secede from the union.  Six secession petitions have reached the threshold of 25,000 signatures.  Of course, Florida is one of those.  Following is my thoughtful response:

I'm neither seceding nor leaving. - No matter who we elect as governor of my state or president of the United States, I'm not going anywhere.  Always, the morning after the election, no matter who wins, I begin to think about how I can help them succeed.  (Not me secede.) Because that's what we need - for government to succeed.

I'm not changing churches. - If one or all of the ministers I'm crazy about should pick up and leave, or they continue to set the A/C at 52 degrees in the sanctuary, or they don't sing my favorite hymns - I'm not leaving - And, in fact, I'll continue to let them know how much I care for them.  And, although in my mind the United Methodist denomination occasionally makes some bonehead decisions, I'm always gonna be a Methodist.

I'm not leaving Dave.  OK, this seems like a no-brainer since he's practically perfect.  But what about when he gets old and has to use a Hoveround or falls in love with one of the Kardashians?  Too bad, Kim.  - I'm not going anywhere.

I'll always be there for my kids. - I love all of them like crazy but sometimes they seriously get on my nerves or cause me to lose a night's sleep. But there is absolutely nothing they could do to make me change. Same goes for grand kids and many of my friends.  Feelings are not as fierce but the commitment is there.

Along with the petitions to secede, the government received one for the president to "do the Hokey Pokey" on national television.  That one was most likely a joke.  But it wouldn't hurt all of us to, like Snoopy, do a little dance of joy once in a while.


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We're a Mess

I've written a couple of times over the years about our (Florida's) inability to vote properly.  We all remember how we held up the election between Bush and Gore for several weeks.

This time I was excited because we heard for weeks prior to the current presidential election that those who live in the "I-4 Corridor" would decide this election.  I live less than a mile from I-4.  I'm in the corridor.

Oh boy, knowing that I, personally, was responsible for the election, I was nervous as I filled out my absentee ballot - all FOUR PAGES of it - and carefully mailed it the proper way.

But, as it turns out, my vote didn't count.  At all!  None of the I-4 Corridor votes counted.  Four days after the election we Floridians still had not gotten our vote counting  act together.  John King's map showed red states and blue states and then Florida hanging down there all yellow.  (Like the "hanging chads" from the past botched election.)

Embarrassing.  We contributed nothing, nada, butkus to the national election.  We were impotent.  How sad.

My personal apologies to both candidates and their spouses who broke their necks getting here over and over again.  You never knew when you were going to look up and see Ann or Michelle.  Dave and I were in a restaurant a couple of weeks ago.  Sitting next to us were state troopers all decked out in their best.  When we engaged them in conversation one of them told us they'd just rushed President Obama on to a plane so that he could deal with Hurricane Sandy.  Then he told us that, two days prior, they'd rushed Governor Romney onto his plane.  They all seemed proud.

I hope these Florida State Troopers still think that what they did, to get the candidates in and out quickly and safely, was important because it was.  But not as important as it should have been.


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Dave's Surprise

This past Thursday Dave had a special birthday.  Several people worked hard to make it a very special three day surprise celebration. It worked.  Dave was clueless.

Here is one of the surprises.  There's a new restaurant on Park Avenue in Winter Park called Prato.  Dave loved walking by each week as it was coming together.  He loves the interior architecture.  So I decided we would have lunch there last Thursday.  Dave was aware of this.  But what he didn't know was that his daughter would fly in from Chicago to have lunch with us.

Of course you never know exactly when the plane will arrive so there was much texting back and forth.  Finally I received the text "Landed!"  Time for us to head to Prato.

The day before I had stopped into Prato and clued in the staff.  They were excited.

When Dave and I arrived the hostess sent us all the way to the back.  Dave said, "What's back here."  I said, "Turn around."  And there, scrunched down in a booth, was his beautiful daughter.

What a moment!  Couldn't have been better.  But it was just the beginning.

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Flight

It's not spoiling anything for you to tell you that, in the new movie "Flight," Denzel Washington plays an alcoholic, drug addicted airline pilot.

This movie is gritty.  The sexual images and sexual language, not to mention the drug scenes, are pervasive.  So, would I recommend it for older teens?  Absolutely.  This movie, to me, is not about an airplane crash.  Although that part of it is intense and on the edge of your seat scary.

 It's about addiction.  It's clearly about self destruction.  And....my favorite movie theme...redemption.

We talked a good bit afterwards about whether or not it was realistic that the pilot could have accomplished the miracle  of landing the plane if he'd been sober.  My take is no, he couldn't.  But that doesn't mean that he didn't have a much greater chance of killing everybody on board every other flight he piloted drunk.

Makes me grateful for my neighbor who randomly blood tests professionals.  For instance, he has, just prior to take off, boarded a plane and blood tested the pilot and crew.

So, you pilots out there, thank you for not ever trying the stunt the Denzel Washington character pulled in the movie "Flight."


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All Saints Day

Yesterday was the time on the Liturgical calendar when we remember our loved ones who've died.  What a moving service.  As you may remember, my Oldie, Harry Welch died in 2011, so his picture was on the big screen in the sanctuary, along with 25 other church members who've died within the year.  His laughing face made me all at once very sad and very happy.  

We have a columbarium (memorial garden) at the church.  My husband, Ken, is interred there.  Harry and Ken were great friends.  Later, Harry and Dave became great friends.  Well, after that initial meeting where Harry threatened Dave's life.  

If you don't take care of this woman, I have friends in Chicago!

Incidentally, Harry later learned that Dave has way more friends in Chicago than Harry did.  

When Harry made his arrangement to be interred in the columbarium, he was asked where he'd like his niche to be. 

On top of Ken Crossman, says Harry.

Harry had a great sense of humor, was very generous and very bossy.  And he usually got his way. 

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Cruel Shoes

in 1977, long before the current extreme platform high heel craze, Steve Martin wrote a short story called "Cruel Shoes."  It was about a certain form of self inflicted torture and was hilarious.

In the story a young woman wants to be shown the "cruel shoes."  The clerk tries to talk her out of it, tells her they're not fit for humans, but she's undeterred.  She wants those shoes.  She puts them on, and, with her mangled feet bleeding, she crawls to the mirror and says, "I'll take them."

Sex and the City put Jimmy Choos on the map.  Women are now in full torture mode.  Why?  Medical folks tell us that they cause back, ankle, knee, muscle and tissue damage.

British women are now wearing the highest heels.  Here's a little chart for you if you want to fly over to make some purchases, or just watch the women walk around.

A couple of years ago my book club read a serious book about Japanese foot binding.  Little girls went through the hideous ritual of having all of their toes broken and then folded back.  Why?  Because it made them more attractive to men.  We all thought this was totally disgusting, all the while some of us (not me) were wearing stilettos.

You may look at this beautiful woman and fantasize about what she's thinking.  I KNOW what she's thinking!

I need an Advil or an epidural!


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"The Sandcastle Girls" is Not a Beach Read

...we shot our heretical need
to see the horror of the past 
through a wide-angled lens
             Peter Balakain (but quoted from "The Sandcastle Girls" by Chris Bohjanian)

Eat your green beans.  Think of the starving Armenians.
            My Grandma

What do all of these names, Kardasian, Balakain, Bohjanian, have in common?  They all end in ian and that means they are most likely Armenian.

My book club's pick for this month is "The Sandcastle Girls."  I must tell you that I'd never heard of it.  Sounded like a fun book.  Maybe a beach read.

I picked it up from the library a couple of days ago and since then I've been searching the Internet, looking at the big map in the garage and talking with smart folks who know something about Armenia because this book is opening up my mind and my heart to a part of history I haven't really known much about.

It's not a beach read.  It's about the Armenian Genocide, when Turkey (around 1915, back when it was the Ottoman Empire) tried to wipe out all of the Armenians.

Like other genocides, it wasn't just the the killing.  There was the torture, rape and starvation that came before death. Initially, thousands of men were killed outright but the women and children endured worse.

"Sandcastle Girls" is a love story and an historical novel.  Early on, Elizabeth, a missionary from America, has arrived in Aleppo with her father to try to be of help.  Soon she sees a group of about 125 starving, naked women being marched through the center of town:  The guards beat the women and when they fall they yank them back up by their hair.  

From the little bit of additional research I've done, this seems like an accurate description of what was happening.

There are accounts in the book about how, at that time in history,  photography was very difficult and therefore, documentation was difficult.  This is sad because there are still those people today who say the Armenian Genocide never happened.

Can't help but think about how, now, almost everything that happens in the world is documented in real time.

I'm halfway through Chris Bohjalian's book, "The Sandcastle Girls."  It's going to take a while to finish because it keeps driving me to more research.

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