The Annekenstein Monster

I just emailed the following to Peter at The Buzz, and thought I’d post it here as well:

Hi Peter, and all those associated with The Buzz.

I imagine that you’ve likely received some flak from people in regards to Michael Oliver’s “negative” review of The Twelfth Night in your latest edition.

I just wanted to let you know that I was so very happy to read this review. Not because of its content specifically regarding that production, but because of its honesty, criticism (both good and bad) and straightforwardness.

As someone who’s been involved in the PEI theatre scene for a number of years, I am well aware of our island’s unwritten rule of ‘flattering reviews only, please’, and have been the recipient of my fair share. And however nice it is to read such kind words, it somehow begins to ring false or less genuine. They are akin to the mandatory standing ovation at the end of all productions at the Confederation Centre. They become meaningless. And while nobody involved in a production likes to read reviews that are critical of the production, or of their performance in the same, critical reviews are nonetheless valuable in that they can help us (performers and audience) from accepting complacency. Reviews that are only positive and, seemingly, written by friends or associates of the production, give us all something of a The Emperor Has No Clothes syndrome.

So, again, thanks for publishing the refreshing review.

CB is 9, almost 10. I’m at the point now where I’m having some difficulty in choosing movies to watch with him. He’s at an age now where ‘kids’ movies are getting blase, and he’s more often interested in more grown-up films, but I’m not really sure what he should be watching. For instance, I’ve been on a horror/thriller/suspense kick lately and I don’t know what movies are appropriate for him to see. Just as a ‘for instance’, Is “Halloween” going to scare him – overly -, I wonder. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen it, so I can’t recall specifics of scenes, only the general mood. He’s probably ready for “Jaws”. I’m pretty certain that The Exorcist is too intense for him now. I have no idea how he’d react to something like Evil Dead 2.
I don’t worry about him getting scared (that’s the point of such movies), or seeing boobies and such (those are also the points of such movies). In fact, I don’t have near the problem in having him see sexual scenarios (to a point, of course) as I do having him see horrific images or scenes. I don’t want to rush him into movies I want him to see, only to have him start having sleepless nights and such.
On a related note, my favourite movie is “Lonesome Dove”. I own the DVD and watch it at least once a year. I just recently watched it with CB, his first viewing. He really enjoyed it. He was somewhat confused as to what a whore is, and why would someone want to ask one for a poke. He didn’t seem too impressed with my explanation.

Check this out. I love the live-matrix effects.

Six feet high and rising

Listen to “Folsum Prison Blues” (or “San Quentin”) and “Cry Cry Cry” and “Delia’s Gone” and “Sam Hall” and to your own favourites

Watch the video for “Hurt”

Feel good

The most common topic of the day is September 11, 2001. There are those who choose to commemorate it in large size, those who choose private reflection, and those who have become somewhat jaded about the whole thing.

Me, I choose to turn down the noise of the world, and listen to Bruce Springsteen’s “My City of Ruins” once and let that be that.

Peace. Even if it sounds corny.

I don’t trust dentists. For no particularly valid reason, I place dentists below mechanics when it comes to expecting that they’re fleecing the customer with seemingly unnecessary expenditures. Preventative medicine I believe in, but don’t necessarily follow. Preventative dentistry, however, I see as the dentist’s cash-cow and I stubbornly refuse to fall prey to their serious-sounding predictions of potential gloomy-gums and dental-disasters years down the road. I also refuse to follow, like cattle, their demands of yearly check-ups. I think that once every couple of years is probably enough.

I say this, not because of any recent or upcoming visit to the dentist. Only because I have a tooth that, lately, is sensitive to temperature changes.

Don’t trust these teeth-pirates!!

On the corner of Queen and Water is a sign that says “Take a walk down Water Street” and it points in the direction of Great George.

Shouldn’t it say “Take a walk up Water Street”?

Now, I haven’t studied this to the point that perhaps I should have, but in a purely geographical sense, one would be walking *up* the street if one were to follow the pointing-arrow advice of the sign. However (and this is the part of the study in which I am perhaps failing), I wonder if the house-numbering in that direction goes in a downward direction, and therefore “Take a walk down Water Street” would be correct enough.

One thing I do know – I won’t sleep tonight.

Leastlink
I told you. Didn’t I tell you? That Eastlink goob who took my NFL Sunday Ticket subscription screwed up. Pre-game time today, I turn to the appropriate channels, nothing on except the “call this number to subscribe” image. I call for Customer Service and, of course, it being Sunday, there’s no answer. I call for repair and talk to a very nice and helpful guy who tells me it’s not showing as being part of my service. I explain that the doofus told me I was connected and ready to go. After some investigating, he figures out how to get me connected, then tells me I’ll be billed in three easy installments. But, I say, doofus already took my credit card info and confirmed that I paid for the whole service upfront. Nice Guy politely and professionally informs me that he, being in the repair department, cannot check that out, but asks if I could call back the service department tomorrow to confirm the status. The Sunday Ticket now showing up on my TV, I happily agree and thank him for his quick and courteous service.

Bad news, though. Dolphins lose to what is supposedly the worst team in the NFL.
Sigh.

The Big Election
At another site, someone asked what the difference between a conservative and liberal is. I replied that a liberal is the guy who will buy beer for everyone at the table. A conservative will buy buy beer only for his friends. Both will leave the bar without paying the tab. Someone else then posted that the NDP is the guy who orders beer for everyone in the bar, but expects the bar owner to pay for it.
In other election news, CB asked me who I was going to vote for, Wayne Collins or Gordon MacKay. I said I haven’t decided yet, but who did CB think I should vote for. He said Wayne Collins would be the better candidate. Why? Because there’s a Wayne and there’s a Colin on Whose Line Is It Anyway. WLIIA is his favourite ‘non-cartoon’ show.
Me, I’m waiting to see what kind of beer they’re offering.

Not So Smooth Cycle
Speaking of Smooth Cycle, here’s the story so far: I’ve heard nothing but great things about the service and staff at Smooth Cycle, and in fact, have had excellent service there in the past. Which just adds to the frustration of this particular episode.
Two weeks ago, the chain on CB’s bike broke. K took it to Smooth Cycle to get repaired. She was told to come back in a coupla days. A coupla days later, she goes back, is given the bill for the service, pays it. The bike is rolled out. No chain on it. Apparently it wasn’t fixed, as the chain had to be ordered. Come back on Tuesday. She does and is told that there were problems getting the chain. Because of the Labour Day weekend, the order for the chain had been cancelled. Huh? Don’t you mean ‘delayed’? No, cancelled. Huh? Anyway, the chain’ll be in soon, come back on Thursday. Give them an extra day and I come in today, Friday. Bike on hook, no chain. I do notice a cobweb on it, though. Chain’ll probably be here later today. “So, I’ll come in tomorrow to pick it up?” Only one guy working on Saturday. “But he’ll be working on my bike, right?” Hard to say, could I come back on Monday? The guy sees and hears my disappointment and frustration as I go on to explain the absurdity of two weeks to change a chain. He gives me a quarter-hearted “Sorry ’bout that.” as I walk out.