Month: September 2001 (Page 3 of 7)

Continuing the cartoon theme from yesterday, I used to think that if I could have just one superpower, it would be to fly. I often have flying dreams – not leaning forward like Superman, just jumping up vertically and sailing through the air. Sort of like Crouching Tiger, only less graceful. I often just jump up and land on the top of a building, that sort of thing.

Well, recently I’ve wanted to exchange flying for the ability to stop time. I would love to stop the clock for about two weeks, and just enjoy the days being frozen for a while. That may seem ludicrous coming from someone without a regular job, someone who doesn’t have to punch any sort of time clock. But the last couple of weeks have made me want to just slow down, to stop everything from hurtling forward at such a relentless pace. Know what I mean?

Had an interesting conversation the other day on AIM with Suey about cartoons and cartoon characters. I had picked Daffy Duck as my AIM icon image, since I sort of identify with him – he’s always trying too hard, and he’s often frustrated by it. I love Bugs and want to be like him, but I’m just not him – I’m more Daffy. I could never be as cool and collected and in control as Bugs. The same in the Pooh universe: I so want to be Tigger, but I’m not – I’m Eeyore. Which cartoon characters do you most identify with?

Another joke:
“The Producers is about a guy who produces a show that really stinks. I’ve been doing that for 20 years. Where’s my Tony?”
-David Letterman
(stolen from David Yoder’s fan page)

If you’re looking for a laugh (and who isn’t), Kate has a very funny account of her “trek into the bowels of consumerism,” aka The Mall. It’s on Sunday’s entry – no permalinks on Kate’s site yet.

Watching David Letterman last night was quite an experience, both personal and as pop culture. If you didn’t see it, you really missed something. Here was this incredibly funny and cynical man, fighting back tears, talking to the audience from behind his desk about the bravery of the rescue workers and how New York is the greatest city in the world. I’m glad he’s back on the air, and his humanity displayed so openly and eloquently is worth more than a thousand shots of American flags waving in the breeze.

Another non-PC thought in my head this morning
I don’t believe there is such a thing as evil. There is hatred, and insanity, and fanaticism, and greed, and violence, and a host of other human failings. But evil? That lets us off the hook too much. Evil comes from some mythical force outside ourselves. The real problems come from within us – including blind rage and craving for revenge. I’m probably going to get flamed for saying this, especially now, but I don’t care. Words mean things.

One curious thing I noticed on Tuesday was that the shopping networks, along with several other non-news channels like HGTV and The Food Network shut down their broadcasting for at least 24 hours. I definitely understand how ludicrous it would be to watch someone hawking Marie Osmond dolls while giant skyscrapers are falling down. But at least for the tape-based channels like The Food Network, seems to me that people maybe could have used a little respite from the other channels from time to time. I know I could have.

Mother and child
Since the response to old photos I’ve posted in the past has been so positive, I thought I would try one today. This is my favorite image of my grandmother, who we called Didi. She’s holding, well, no one seems to know which, so I’ll say my mother. I would have cropped it closer for the web, but I love the composition of this one. Beautiful, isn’t it?

For reasons that I don’t understand, I started to sing “If I Only Had a Brain” from The Wizard of Oz yesterday. Not remembering most of the words, I looked it up on the net (of course). When I read over it, I thought it was eerily appropriate for the times, and also for how I’ve been feeling lately. So here it is.

If I Only Had a Brain
I could while away the hours,
Conferrin’ with the flowers
Consultin’ with the rain.
And my head I’d be scratchin’ while
My thoughts were busy hatchin’
If I only had a brain.
I’d unravel every riddle
For any individ’le,
In trouble or in pain.

With the thoughts you’ll be thinkin’
You could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain.

Oh, I could tell you why
The ocean’s near the shore.
I could think of things I never thunk before.
And then I’d sit, and think some more.
I would not be just a nothin’
My head all full of stuffin’
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry,
Life would be a ding-a-derry,
If I only had a brain.

Gosh, it would be awful pleas’n
To reason out the reason
For things I can’t explain.
Then perhaps I’ll deserve ya
And be even worthy of ya
If I only had a brain!

Wow. When words fail, there are always pictures.
(thanks to Melissa for pointing this one out)