TRAVELING WITH EARL

Got your attention now, huh? But you will have to wait a few minutes. Flying is part of traveling and not always fun. But there are a few things I always do to insure a more enjoyable trip. Non-stop is helpful for short, domestic trips, and usually only about $50 more for trips into the Midwest. I prefer window or aisle so I don't get stuck in the middle. And I always bring a book along, even for driving in my car. The thought of getting stuck somewhere with nothing to read is a horror to me. Yes we have our phones, but come on, there is nothing like a real book. Also bringing some healthy snacks that are light and easy to carry, because for some reason I don't have much of an appetite when I fly. Lastly, I pray for safety, of course, but also that I don't have to sit too close to a screaming child. I am sorry. But it's the truth and I am sure I'm not the only one. That reminds me to pack those bright pink, cushy ear plugs every trip.

My trip coming back home on Sunday was uneventful and very comfortable. A little sleeping, I finished the novel I was reading, and watched a wonderful film. The film was Me and Earl and The Dying Girl. It won two awards from the Sundance Film Festival 2015. I won't spoil it for you. But it's so refreshing to see an intelligent film, without unnecessary violence, and one that teaches us about humanity and life.

It's artsy and starts out a little odd, you may need to give it about 20 minutes. It will pull you right in and you will fall in love with the characters. It's sweet, and touching, it will make you feel good, and you will find yourself smiling a lot. It's about friendship, and life, and humanity. The acting is great and it's a film I would like for my library. 

Thank you, good night and God Bless!   Aleta

"My advice to young film-makers is this: don't follow trends start them."  Frank Capra, Movie Director

CONFESSION- I HATE GETTING LOST!

Yes I'm back and feel like a dingbat! The last time I wrote I'm not even sure I let you know I was going to visit my kids, and my grand daughter in the Midwest. Well, now that I'm at the end of the trip, maybe I'll write something.

Confession - I hate getting lost in unfamiliar towns. I bought a good used car to use since I visit often, and the kids can use it as an emergency car. My afternoon was all planned: wrap the few gifts I have, go to Toys R Us, drop off table cloths we borrowed from the church, and grab a sandwich at Jimmy John's. Definitely avoid traffic at all costs. People think Californians drive crazy. They drive fast here too and have no patience. I got honked at twice today. Everything is different - the signs, the streets, and what the heck is a Michigan left? I don't even want to know.

My first mistake was trying to find Jimmy Johns being hungry. Once I got the actual address of the one that probably was the closest, I got comfortable and thought okay, I know where I am. It was only 2 1/2 miles from my location, but then the traffic all of a sudden became horrible. And I decided to forget the sandwich, with this traffic I'll be lucky to get to the church before 5. Turning left was not easy given the congestion and my knowledge of the area was limited.

Twice today I even drove back to my son's house, to start over again, because I kind of know where I am if I start from there. Can you believe it? I am not a dingbat, but I do get nervous in unfamiliar towns and flustered easily. With or without gps. The good news is I did laugh at myself a lot today. But toward the end I got a little down on myself.

With the one errand completed, delivering the tablecloths, I decided to get back to my safety net - my son's house. So now I am driving down Eight Mile, and feeling comfortable one thing is done, the most important errand. When I am unsure of my whereabouts, it is impossible for me to notice my surroundings. Now that I am only a short distance from my destination, I can look around and see the sights. I look to my right and guess what I found??!? A Jimmy Johns sandwich shop!! Thank you very much, I have lost my appetite by now and just want to get back to the house. Thank goodness I can always laugh at myself, and usually do. In fact I always say 'I am my own home entertainment system'.

That was my day today. I love to share a little laughter and thought you would like to hear what's going on in my life. By the way, my kids are all well, and I will be a grand mother again in January. Rosalie my 1 year old grand daughter, is great too. My shoulder is healing slowly, and it's been 7 weeks already since the surgery. The PT and exercises are very helpful.

Thank you, good night and God Bless!    Aleta

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."  Dr. Seuss

"MASTER OF THE PORTRAIT"

I'm back! Please forgive me for taking this long. Sometimes the thoughts and words just don't come. It's been 4 1/2 weeks since my surgery and my sling is off and I am healing. Shoulder surgery takes a long time to heal and improve, and with physical therapy starting this week (Thursday), I will do more healing and improving. My plan is to be a very good patient with my exercises. After all, it's my choice to have only 75% use of my shoulder with some continued pain, forever. Or follow the PT exercises and improve and continue to live a healthy, full life. I choose option  2! Enough of that.

My favorite TV show did it again. Who doesn't like Monty Python? No one doesn't like Monty Python. That is of course a double negative, which equals a positive. John Cleese is that crazy Englishman with the bazaar sense of humor. CBS Sunday Morning did a segment recently on John Cleese, and it was fabulous. He is co-founder of Monty Python. One of his movies, A Fish Called Wanda, is a favorite of mine.

But the segment that stood out for me was on the artist John Singer Sargent. He was known as Master of the Portrait. In college I took Art History and remember it was a huge book, by Jansson I think. It must have been $100.  and that was a lot of money back then. The sad thing is I don't ever remember reading about him. Perhaps that's why I was so thrilled to watch this program. He was born in the mid 1850's, to American parents, in Florence, Italy. He spent his entire childhood growing up in Europe and spoke 5 languages. If I ever get back to New York, I hope to see his paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The paintings they showed were exquisite - vibrant colors, beautiful folds in the fabric on his subjects, the faces! Simply put, his paintings looked like photos they were so gorgeous.

One story they high-lighted was on his painting called Madam X. In 1884 he painted a woman in an evening gown, with one shoulder strap that draped off her shoulder. Very scandalous in 1884, even for Paris. It's hard to imagine Paris, France being offended by a provocative pose. He accentuated her sensuality by letting her evening gown strap fall off of her shoulder. He did however change the painting by putting her strap back on her shoulder.

John Singer Sargent became black-listed for some time. But thank goodness he did not let society dictate what he could and could not paint. Be yourself, who else is better qualified?

Thank you, good night and God Bless!   Aleta

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson,  19th century American writer, theologian and poet