From the Desk of…
I figured pushing the Selects by a day wouldn’t hurt anybody. I don’t want you to think I forgot you, however.
I revisited this piece from last year about how one Indigenous woman observes Thanksgiving. I think it’s an interesting read, if nothing else. I don’t wish people a “happy Thanksgiving” because it feels like clapping for the national anthem or saying “happy Memorial Day” to me. Both of those examples suck because I don’t care about either of those things, but I similarly don’t care for the feel-good mythologizing of early settlers. I do like, however, the idea of taking time towards the end of the year for reflection and appreciation. Whether that comes in the form of Thanksgiving is immaterial to me, and that’s why I simply try to tell people to enjoy the break… if they get one.
In news you can use, High Street will be closed to cars next Saturday. At least, part of High Street, the part between Russell and 2nd where they’re having Holiday Hop from 11 AM to 8 PM. I’d never encourage people to go to the Short North, but… I do think it’s pretty slick to start shutting it down to traffic. I think they should do that more often. Hell, maybe forever. Maybe the car brain fever that grips the city is breaking. Maybe that’s a vain hope.
I’ll do a Rep. Forhan breakdown next week. No one wants to read that today. What an interesting time though.
The Brain Dump
had a dream last night that my living room was flooding from the ceiling and starting to collapse and it was really stressful because it was ruining my computer and John Carpenter was coming over that day
making fudge and watching The Big Lebowski
having three glasses of wine and getting misty-eyed thinking about John Candy at the supermarket
do any wealthy dowagers need a friend or companion. just asking
if the algorithm is so smart, why doesn't Spotify know that if I type the letter "a" then I want to listen to nothing less than one of the greatest live albums of all time, Daft Punk's Alive from 2007
Hey, that “roads drivers can’t speed on” one from last week came true!
At the Movies
Tomorrow… the deluge. The Christmas Challenge 2023 will begin.
Duck Soup (1933), dir. Leo McCarey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️
I'VE NEVER LOGGED THIS ON HERE?? THIS MOVIE MAKES ME MAD WITH HOW FUNNY IT IS. I THINK ABOUT JOKES FROM THIS MOVIE AND GET FRUSTRATED AT MY OWN SHORTCOMINGS. IF I EVER HAD A BIT A MODICUM AS CLEVER AS A BIT IN THIS MOVIE, IT WOULD BE THE FUNNIEST THING I EVER DID. WATCHING THIS MOVIE FEELS LIKE CATCHING A GLIMPSE OF A HIGHER REALITY AND GOD WEARS A GREASEPAINT MUSTACHE.
The Last Unicorn (1982), dirs. Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️
wym i haven't logged this either. this movie raised me. this is a foundational me movie. i think about getting tattoos of this movie. sometimes. i played ttrpg characters based on this movie. my writing was influenced by this movie (well, and the book there). this movie goes so hard.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), dir. Jake Kasdan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️
"And then in the end
It's family and friends
Loving yourself
But not only yourself"
"Beautiful Ride" is a top candidate for songs to play at the end of my funeral service. That, or maybe the immortal genius of the Bay City Rollers...
The challenge this year is only, like, 33% more difficult. By the numbers. Spiritually… the road may be difficult. But I have got to cut down on my trophy budget. Maybe this year will be trinkets. If you have no idea what I’m on about, reach out to me. Sooner rather than later, for your sake.
One Picture
how times have changed…
In closing,
As is my tradition, I’ll be watching Planes, Trains & Automobiles around 6 PM today. I’ll leave you with this monologue from Del Griffith, the traveling salesman played inimitably by John Candy: “You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I'm an easy target. Yeah, you're right, I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you... but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me; I'm not changing. I like... I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. 'Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get.”
Until next time, enjoy the break, if you get one. After all, you deserve a break today. Count your blessings while you have them, and take joy in any victories you’ve gathered, no matter how small.
"8 tracks / cataracts" sounds like an abandoned lyric from "We Didn't Start the Fire."