It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and Linda Hill already left the prompt on the front porch. At first, I didn’t know what the envelop contained, so I soaked it in disinfectant. Here it is. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “opt.” Use it as a word or find a word with “opt” in it and base your post on that. Have fun!”
“Hey. That’s the one I thought no one would think of.”
“Shows how delusional you are. It’s the first thing I thought of.”
“Now I have to think up another.”
“That’s your option.”
“You did it again. That was my next.”
“I guess you will have to optimize your thinking.”
“You are torturing me, aren’t you.”
“You need to be an optimist. Your dark side is not very attractive.”
“Okay, I want you to stop talking and let me think.”
“Sure. I’ll adopt the mannerisms of a mime.”
“When?”
“Just as soon as we are finished with the shoptalk.”
“We are done.”
“M.”
“What? Where did you get that chalkboard. Oh, I see. You are going to communicate by writing. Yes, I will read what you write out loud. You are welcome. Oh, sorry. ‘Thank you.’ Yes, you are welcome. Now what? ‘You have to admit this optical way is still good.‘ That’s it. I quit.”
“Hold on Little One. I think it is here somewhere.” “What is it?” “Friday.”
Well, it is Friday and a nice milestone in the week’s travails. As I write this, I still don’t know who has won the election at the presidential level. Before I make any comment,let me be clear. Whoever wins should receive the support of our entire country.
I have been appalled by some of the vicious personal attacks written by fellow bloggers. There is one blogger out there who calls those who vote for other than her candidate A-holes. Unfortunately, the followers of that blog provided supporting words for that outrageous statement. Why is it outrageous? Anytime Americans are denigrated for voting for their choice, one more piece of freedom is threatened. Instead of A-hole, what if this person called those choosing the other candidate ‘traitors?’
We need to think about how we handle disagreement in this country. Do we continue to shout it down or listen and respond? Anyone out there who has written a slanderous statement about either candidate or their supporters should be ashamed of themselves. It is now time to knock it off and get back to being a decent society again.
Today’s John Ku talks about the freedom to choose. I hope you all have a great weekend.
“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem, anything, really, even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”
This week marks the 508th anniversary of the opening of the Sistine Chapel to the public in 1512. Michelangelo, the greatest artist of the Italian Renaissance, was commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508. After four years of hard work, the chapel was opened to the public. Certainly, we want to go there and see what that first day was like. Let’s not forget to take the list of things not to do so, heaven forbid, we do not make an error that causes a tear in the time continuum. Everyone, grab a list and jump in the Olds, and we’ll be off.
James’s Olds from Eternal Road.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Opening of the Sistine Chapel in 1512
10 If you go, do not let Pope Julius II hear you call the building the cistern chapel. If you do, at best, he will think your Italian is horrible. At worst, he will take a ruler to your knuckles for such a faux pas. (The chapel was named after Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it between 1473 and 1481. It looks like Julius thinks you need more punishment, Meinrad. He’s heading your way with two big burley cardinals. We are not talking birds here.)
9 If you go, do not tell Tiny, the WWF champ, that he is blocking your view of the ceiling. If you do, at best, Tiny will think you are talking to someone else. At worst, Tiny will be offended that you had the nerve to tell him he is in the way. (You see, Meir, when Tiny gets offended and has skipped several court-ordered sessions at Narcissists Are Us, there’s trouble. He won’t blame himself for being in the way. He blames you for saying anything. Look like he is ready to practice his new body slam move. Guess who is the slamee?)
7 If you go, do not ask Michelangelo for his autograph. If you do, at best, he’ll pretend not to hear you. At worst, he will be forced to ask the guard to escort you out. (Michelangelo, who also sculpted David and The Pieta, only signed one work: the Pieta. Looks like the guards are coming for you, Melanthius. Maybe next time you’ll not ask.)
6 If you go, do not suggest that the skin tones on God’s arm need some attention. If you do, at best, Michelangelo will think you are kidding. At worse, after concentrating on God’s arm for a month, Michelango has reached his limit. (Don’t look now, Melbourne, but I think Michelangelo is arranging for you to go up and paint whatever you want. Oh, my mistake. He just wants to paint you. Not in a good way either)
5 If you go, do not ask Michelangelo about the cupid statue he carved for sale to Cardinal Raffaele Riario early in his career. If you do, at best, he will ignore you. At worst, he will think you are trying to blackmail him. (As the story goes, Melbyrne, Michelangelo carved a cupid and then made it to look older and sold it to the Cardinal as an antique. The Cardinal caught wind of the scam and demanded his money back. Of course, he was impressed with Michelangelo’s work and invited him to a meeting in Rome. Michelangelo eventually won a commission to carve the Pieta.)
4 If you go, do not mention that Michelangelo’s David is deteriorating faster than other marble statues of his day. If you do, at best, he will think you are joking since Davis is only eight years old. At worst, he will wonder where you got your information and want to have you arrested as a witch. (You should have kept your mouth shut, Meldrick. Not too many people know Michelangelo carved David out of a block of 40-year-old marble rejected by other artists, and he found it discarded. Here come the guys with the handcuffs. I think I would leave quickly.)
3 If you go, do not ask Pope Julius II for a review of Michelangelo’s work. If you do, at best, he’ll give you a “no comment.” At worst, you have to sit for some time listening to all the grievances. (The problem was, Melville Julius II had definite ideas of what he wanted Michelangelo to paint. Michelangelo had other ideas and demanded that he get his way. Julius II capitulated but was not happy. He may ask you to do the ceiling over. My advice. Don’t.)
2 If you go, do not ask Michelangelo if it was hard to paint on his back. If you do, at best, he will laugh at you. At worst, he will get out the drawings of the scaffold he built and take you through hours of engineering fine points. (Originally, X and an architect was hired to build the scaffold. He came up with an unworkable design, and the matter came before Julius II. He told Michelangelo to build what he thought he needed. The scaffold that Michelangelo built allowed for painting standing up. Wake up, Melvyn. Michelangelo is finished explaining.)
1 If you go, do not ask Michelangelo if he would like to do it all over again. If you do, at best, he will walk away. At worst, he will detail all that was accomplished and tell you to get lost (When complete, Melelaus the ceiling had over 300 figures of biblical characters. The area was over 130 feet (40 m) long by 43 feet (13 m) wide. This meant Michelangelo painted over 5000 square feet of space. I don’t think he wants to do it again even if you loan him your phone with Spotify)
This was the weekend that we moved daughter into her new house. With all the work I did not have time to do an adequate job of a Top Ten Post. This post ran on October 29th, 2018. I hope if you missed it you will enjoy it. For those who have seen this one, next week will be better. Also, I’m over at Story Empire today talking about burnout. Here is the LINK
***
This post continues the Top Ten Things Not to Do with history as a backdrop. Harvard College, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, is founded in Cambridge, Mass on this day in 1636.
The Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Founding of Harvard College in 1636.
10 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not suggest a celebration with a kegger party. If you do, at best the kegger store will be closed. At worst, the administration will create a rule against keggers. (Congratulations, Fyodor. You are the first student at the college to be put on probation.)
9 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not pledge a fraternity where Tiny the WWF champ is a member. If you do, at best Tiny will flunk out before you get there. At worst, Tiny who was just criticized by the dean for necessary hazing had ordered you to bend over. (Let’s hope the dean lecture has not made Tiny even angrier, Frederick. Is that paddle as big as it looks?)
8 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not organize a demonstration protesting the dorm food. If you do, at best no one will join you. At worst, the college put you in charge of food procurement. (Looks like your fellow students are getting tired of squirrel stew, Falcon. I think I would try to raise a few vegetables if I were you.)
7 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not cut class on the first warm day. If you do, at best you can get notes from the nerd, At worst, your professor will pull a pop quiz that is 20% of the term grade. (No amount of begging is going to help, Fallon. I would go to the infirmary and see if you can con someone into an excuse.)
6 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not try to organize a football team. If you do, at best no one will know what you are talking about. At worst, you’ll find some players who are ready to play but can’t see a ball. (Looks like you will have to make one, Fraser. Try to get it a little rounder okay. That thing looks like a fat sausage.)
5 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not go outside wearing that Yale sweatshirt. If you do, at best no one will notice since Yale was founded in 1701. At worst, someone will take offense thinking Yale is an acronym for Young American Liquor Enterprise. (You have to understand the Puritan Ethic is still pretty strong, Fiorello. The time in the stocks will go fast. Think positive.)
4 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not fail to return your library book on time. If you do, at best the fine is only 1p a week. At worst, a press-gang will come looking for you. (It would have been easier to return the book, Ferril. Now you won’t get back to the College until your sea duty is over. Five years will go pretty quickly.)
3 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not try to organize the first co-ed dance. If you do, at best your fellow students will just laugh. At worst the administration will pass a rule prohibiting co-ed dancing. (Good luck finding a co-ed, Fabrice. The first sex-blind admissions were not until 1977. Oh, and you need to serve time on the dunking chair due to the rule violation. I hope those hold your breath contests come in handy.)
2 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not park your horse in the faculty parking lot. If you do, at best no one will need the space. At worst, professor Curmudgeon will alert campus security to shoot you on sight. (Never thought taking a tenured professor’s parking place was that big of a deal, huh Faddei. Those musket balls look like they would hurt.)
1 If you are at the founding of Harvard, do not buy your books ahead of time at the used bookstore. If you do, at best you might save money. At worst, the professor will change the course text with no notice. (Well, looks like your used books will make an excellent fire starter, Fadil. Better luck next term)
“Twiggy. You still after that Squirrel?” “I figured Friday would be a good time to catch it.” “I can see that plan is going well.”
Another Friday is here and that means the weekend is a mere eight hours away. Oh happy day.
This week has been quite busy with odds and ends. I have begun thinking about the sequal to Eternal Road and have a couple of plot points in mind. You have to woder about what kind of circumstance could possibly bring two souls who are happily spending their eternal time as they envisioned, together again? You have to believe it would be something major. Well it is. Before I spill the whole story let me just say, “Workin on it.”
Halloween is sneaking up on us for sure. If you have followed the Views of the Neighborhood you know we have been taking tours and looking at Halloween decorations. Well this week is the last look since Halloween is on a Saturday and by Sunday when Views is posted it will be old news.
Reviews for Eternal Road continue to arrive. I’m so grateful for them and loved that the fact that all of the readers enjoyed the book. This makes the job of an author so rewarding and certainly makes me feel good.
The 99¢ price on Kindle ends on November 1st here is a link if you want to take a look.
The Guggenheim Museum under construction in 1958 with James’s 1956 Oldsmobile out front proving we were there.
This week marks the 61st anniversary of the opening of the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 1959. You know we all have to go there to be part of that historic event. We need to take a list of things ‘not to do’ to prevent any accidental tear in the time continuum. So hop aboard the 1956 Oldsmobile, and let’s go.
The Olds from Eternal Road. A few days left at 99¢on Amazon. Click the car to go there. Come right back though.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Opening of the Guggenheim Museum in 1959.
10 If you go with us, do not make jokes about the appearance of the building. If you do, at best, everyone will be too busy to hear from you. At worst, you’ll make a joke overheard by James Johnson Sweeney, the museum’s director. (Mr. Sweeney takes great exception to your joke, Meinrad. He now wants to give you the whole history of the building and its architect Frank Loyd Wright. This is going to be a long day.)
9 If you go with us, do not ignore Tiny’s directions, the WWF champ who has been appointed a temporary guard for the Chagall exhibit. If you do, at best, Tiny will be busy with other guests. At worst, Tiny will assume you do not recognize his authority. (After all, Meir, he told you to stand behind the white tape, and clearly, your foot is two inches over. Tiny has missed the last month of his court-ordered anger management sessions. I know that hold hurts, but I don’t think your head will pop like a melon. I must say your face is sure red.)
8 If you go with us, do not complain about the layout of the museum. If you do, at best, everyone is too busy looking at the art. At worse, Sweeny will be standing behind you. ( If it helps, Melenthius, before the museum opened, 21 artists signed a letter complaining about how the walls and niches were designed and protested displaying their work there. Of course, Sweeney ignored them just like he is ignoring you. Well, except for the big burly guard helping you to the exit.)
7 If you go with us, don’t complain about the 50¢ entrance fee. If you do, at best, the box office personnel will be busy. At worst, you’ll be told to come back on Saturday when the museum entrance is free. (The 50¢ seems like a bargain, Melbourne, even if 50¢ in 1959 would be a little over $4.50 today. It may surprise you to know the fee today is $25.00 for admission for an adult. Saturday is still free from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M.)
6 If you go with us, do not try to push to the head of the line. If you do, at best, you’ll get lost. At worst, since several folks have been in line for a while, you’ll meet some short tempers. (On opening day, Melbyrne 3000 people showed up. You better believe some of them will not take kindly to your attempt to jump ahead of them.)
5 If you go with us and don’t like the building, do not facetiously ask James Johnson Sweeney if Frank Loyd Wright did any architectural drawings. If you do, at best, he will be busy dealing with the crowd. At worst, he will advise you that indeed Frank Loyd Wright did over 700 drawings. (I think Sweeney has about had it with you, Meldrick. I see him with two huge guys motioning toward you and drawing his thumb across his throat. Not a sign we like to see.)
4 If you go with us, do not ask for directions to the restaurant. If you do, at best, the person you ask will probably be confused. At worst, you will tip off the fact that you are not from this time zone. (You almost blew it, Melville. The restaurant in the Guggenheim did not open until 1975. No harm is done. The person directed you to the restaurant down the street.)
3 If you go with us, do not take bets about the distance of the walk from the ground floor to the top of the display space. If you do, at best, people will think you are joking. At worst, someone will take the bet. (The person taking the bet, Melvyn, is the guy who cleans the gallery. He correctly identified the distance as 1,416 feet. Hope you don’t intend to write a check to cover your debt.)
2 If you go with us, do not touch any of the paintings. If you do, at best, no one will see you. At worst, you will be seen by the biggest guard. (Everyone knows you don’t touch the paintings, Menelaus. I know it is irresistible sometimes, but after all, unless you want to pay $24 million or so, no touch.)
1 If you go with us, Do not ask to meet the benefactor Solomon R. Guggenheim. If you do, at best, you’ll get a blank stare. At worst, you’ll ask a Guggenheim family member. (You have to be the biggest clod; Mercer. Solomon passed away ten years before the Museum opened. Although it was his dream, he didn’t live to see it come to reality. Go sit in the corner.)
Welcome to the third edition of the neighborhood tour of Halloween decorations. Today we have hickory smoked ham, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and pecan sticky buns. The drink today is Veuve Clicquot champagne served in Baccarat flutes. I have also been asked what kind of accommodations are on the bus. We have leather reclining chairs, personal entertainment centers, a full kitchen, a full bar, A Bose Soundsystem, 300 G internet, WiFi, and restroom facilities. The bus is equipped with air suspension and can run on multi-fuel as well as full electric.
Hop aboard. We also have ZZ Top playing for our enjoyment.
Here we are with a couple of pirates. Looks like the one is getting ready to do something.
Here we have an elaborate display. Spiders on the house and Tombstones in the yard. (Not to mention the string of skulls on the wall.)
A couple of friendly ghouls.
Several things that are scattered in the yard. That big skull to the left is my favorite.
Nothing like a big orange spider and big web to welcome visitors.
More tombstones and an assortment of ghosts with a purple spider on the mailbox.
A dancing ring of ghosts and a masked ex Wal-Mart greeter.
Here are a few keep out signs. (They must know me)
A big pile of who knows what.
So that’s what it is. (Um, not sure I know any more than I did.)
That is our tour for today. I hope you enjoyed it. Stay and have some more champagne and listen to the music. I hope you have a great week.
