Saturday, October 31, 2009

Give the Devil his Due




Some Christians believe that today is Satan's birthday.  Actually, nobody knows when Old Scratch was born, but there is a 1 in 365 chance that it was on October 31.  So I am willing to celebrate it today.

Satan is a complicated character: adversary, light-bringer, composite of older repressed gods.

What actor would turn down a chance to play the Devil?  Have you seen the original Bedazzled with Peter Cook playing George Spiggot, Prince of Darkness?  (I didn't see the remake, so I don't know if it was any good.  Anyway, I don't think you should remake good movies.  Remake bad movies and do a better job.)  He buys Dudley Moore's soul, then puts him through a series of hilarious mishaps.  So if you haven't seen it, get it now and spend this evening watching it.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Another Swell Sunday Breakfast at the Friendly Toast

Sue and a full-size Barbie waiting for a table.  Sue has brought a gift for Dave.  What could it be?

It's a spider made of pumpernickel bread!

 

We get a table in a back corner.

 

Ready to eat.
After the meal.

 

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Saturday, October 17, 2009

The Invincible Vincent

Here is the invincible Vincent.  He was invincible for 2 reasons: first, nobody could call him Vince, just Vincent; second, his name means conquering.   Why Vincent Price?  Because for a long time I've been wondering:  if there is an invincible, why isn't there a vincible?  Well, finally I looked in my dictionary, and guess what?  There is a vincible. People just don't seem to use it.
So the Invincible Vincent is here to remind you to use vincible whenever you are speaking of somebody or something that is conquerable.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Night Photos Not so Great

The Circus was in town, but I had problems getting pictures to come out.

I think things that don't move are easier, like this spooky doorman.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Oh, Canada.

Since today is Thanksgiving in Canada, I'd like to honor George Johnston, a Canadian poet I love. If he's still alive, he's about 96. Following are a couple of my favorites:

NOCTAMBULE
Mr. Murple's got a dog that's long
And underslung and sort of pointed wrong;
When daylight fades and evening lights come out
He takes him round the neighbor lawns about
To ease himself and leak against the trees,
The which he does in drops and by degrees
Leaving his hoarded fluid only where
Three-legged ceremonious hairy care
Has been before and made a solemn sign.
Mythology, inscrutable, canine,
Makes his noctambulation eloquent
And gives a power of meaning to his scent
That all who come and sniff and add thereto
And scratch the turf, may know they have to do
With Mr. Murple's underslung long dog,
His mark, his manifesto and his log.


EATING FISH
Here is how I eat a fish
--Boiled, baked or fried--
Separate him in the dish,
Put his bones aside.

Lemon juice and chive enough
Just to give him grace,
Make of his peculiar stuff
My peculiar race.

Through the Travelers' Hotel
From the sizzling pan
Comes the ancient fishy smell
Permeating man.

May he be a cannier chap
Altered into me,
Eye the squirming hook, and trap,
Choose the squirming sea.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

I Went to Quebec City



...and now I'm back. Still pictures forthcoming.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Julie & Dave & Cliff & Stan



I framed these photos with a Photoshop add-on I got for Christmas.