I Heart Tim Gunn

I don't intend for this blog to be a chronicle of podcasts I've recently enjoyed, but I listened to Tim Gunn's interview on "Fresh Air" last night and was reminded that he is the best.  I've been watching his "Project Runway" spinoff "Under the Gunn" and the competing mentors format on the new program has me really missing Tim's mentoring on PR.  Yes, I would prefer more Tim Gunn on his eponymous show.  Even though Mr. Gunn would most likely be baffled by the way I dress myself (I couldn't say "fashion choices" without using ironic quotes), I like him a whole lot.  He doesn't own a sweatshirt or a pair of sweatpants and I would like to spend the rest of my life in those garments.  We could have a real Felix and Oscar thing going if each of us didn't prefer living alone.

I was unaware of some of the serious struggles Tim Gunn has endured and now I find him to be inspirational in addition to being delightful. 

The Von Erich Brothers

After listening to "The Big Payback" episode of the Snap Judgment podcast yesterday, I spent a chunk of my snow day afternoon reading about the Von Erich brothers.  I had never heard of the family before and I am not particularly interested in wrestling, but I found their story fascinating and could not stop reading articles about them and tributes to them.  My father is one of six brothers, so reading about the untimely passing of one Von Erich brother after another was quite unsettling.  A combination of addiction and depression decimated the family.  Only the second son, Kevin, is alive today.  I fell into a similar wormhole a few weeks ago when I came across a brief mention of the Hemingways, and started reading about the legacy of suicide in that family. 

I especially enjoyed the "Six Brothers" article in the Texas Monthly.  The following passage about the suicide of fifth son Mike was haunting.  There are varying accounts of how third son David died in 1984, with the family stating he died of natural causes and other wrestlers claiming he was found with a bottle of the sleeping pill Placidyl in his hand.  (Chris, mentioned below, is the sixth son.)

In April 1987 [Mike] was picked up for driving under the influence once more, and he was carrying a bottle of pills. When he was released the next morning, he left a note in his apartment apologizing for embarrassing the family and drove out to a spot on Lake Dallas where he’d played as a kid. He climbed into a sleeping bag and took enough Placidyl to ensure he’d never wake up. But to the last minute he still looked out for Chris. In his note he insisted that Chris inherit his scuba gear, and in one of the swim fins, Mike had left a bag of Placidyl for Chris to take when he was ready to get out. 

It is unquestionably tragic for one family to endure so much loss.  Here is the family's website, which contains additional photos and family bios:

http://www.vonerich.com

Don't Rest Your Head

Since I was a toddler, I have had a reoccurring dream about people breaking into my house with the intention of murdering me.  For decades the dream culminated with me panicking in the basement of the house I grew up in while armed men burst through the doors.  I moved out of my childhood home 16 years ago, and my subconscious has just gotten around to processing that information.  I've been going through a period of increased nightmare frequency and this past week I dreamed of a home invasion in my actual 2014 home.  Since I don't currently have a basement, I was hiding in my bathtub (trying to keep my dim-witted cats safe and quiet) when a man with a gun walked in and I woke up.  Having these dreams night after night is affecting my sleep and my parents have offered helpful suggestions in how to manage this problem.

My mum has recommended I start seeing a psychiatrist.  Can't really argue with that.

My dad's advice?  "Walmaht sleeping pills."  (He may deny his pronunciation of Walmart, but this is my blog.  Also, he asked me who the heck "Paulina Pork-ah-doke-ah" was last night when a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit special was on TV.  The Porizkova aside has nothing to do with this post, really, but I find it amusing.)

While everyone who has ever come into contact with me can agree that I would benefit from therapy, I am liking the simplicity of this. . . at least until I can convince Julie Andrews to sing me to sleep each night.  I am confident that her lullabies would ward off nightmares, unlike my mum's famous lullabies, which still haunt my dreams.

Reading Rainbow

Half way through 2013, I decided to keep a list of books I had read.  Since the list is mostly composed of books borrowed from the library, I haven't been able to pass many of them on to my usual chain of fellow readers that includes my dad, my nana, and a couple of my uncles.  Too bad, because a few of these books were phenomenal. (The books in bold were my favorites of the bunch.  And The Mountains Echoed was my favorite of all twenty.)

Approximately June - December 2013

Where’d You Go, Bernadette - Semple, Maria

The Fault in Our Stars - Green, John

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand - Simonson, Helen

Lone Wolf - Picoult, Jodi

Run - Patchett, Ann

The Honey Thief - Graver, Elizabeth

Divergent - Roth, Veronica

Insurgent - Roth, Veronica

The Spectacular Now - Tharp, Tim

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children - Riggs, Ransom

Gone Girl - Flynn, Gillian

Tell the Wolves I’m Home - Brunt, Carol Rifka

The Interestings - Wolitzer, Meg

Beautiful Ruins - Walter, Jess

Last Orders - Swift, Graham

The Dive from Clausen’s Pier - Packer, Ann

I Feel Bad About My Neck -Ephron, Nora

And the Mountains Echoed - Hosseini, Khaled

2014

The Death of Vishnu - Suri, Manil

The Big Over Easy - Fforde, Jasper

Four of the books on my 2013 list (The Fault in Our Stars, Divergent, Insurgent, and The Spectacular Now) are being made into movies starring Shailene Woodley, while Ansel Elgort and Miles Teller will be featured in three.  What can I say-- I'm a sucker for young adult material even though I aged out of that demographic a very long time ago.  I actually found Veronica Roth's series to be pretty weak.  I read the first book during my summer vacation at the lake and was satisfied to not continue with the series.  Then the very day I returned to work, Insurgent was a "featured book" on a library shelf I walk past to get to my office.  I felt compelled to read that, though I haven't sought out the third and final installment yet.  I heard Allegiant is a disappointing conclusion, but as soon as it shows up in my small work library, I'll probably give it a whirl.  

Philip Seymour Hoffman - RIP

Didn't realize how much PSH meant to me until I did a bit more research on him after learning of his death today.  PSH played an eclectic character, Brandt, in one of my favorite movies of all-time, "The Big Lebowski".

He dominated "Boogie Nights", which I just watched less than a week ago, randomly.

After some more research, I'd say my favorite quotes/acting by him was in "Along Came Polly" as Ben Stiller's buddy.  His bball scene makes me laugh my nuts off:

He is also a star of the new "Hunger Games" movie, which I haven't seen.  I've read all of the books, but bummed I haven't seen the new one and also will miss him in the movies going forward.

From a selfish perspective, not just one of the best actors of all-time, but the only guy who makes me feel/look young:

29 in Twister?  Wow.

Carrying the Cheeser

The Dude started posting only sporadically when he rejoined Facebook and took his solid-gold material to that platform.  His Facebook presence was short lived, as he packed up shop last spring.  He last posted on this site in February 2013, leaving the world clamoring for his insights for a full year now.  I've done a weak job posting, but am making an effort to get back into the habit.  Must I carry this sibling blog, myself?  It is a tragic proposal-- kind of like trying to sit through Newsies if it featured David Jacobs without Jack "Cowboy" Kelly.

*Edited to add that this is our 200th post.  Come back, Dude!

Room With A View

Several months ago I moved into an office with a large window.  After eleven years of toiling away under fluorescent lights,  I now have sunlight!  The upgrade inspired me to decorate this office more than I have decorated any previous work space.  Here are a few of the items that have transformed my off white box of an office into an off white box with a little character.

1)  Yankee Candle Home Sweet Home Premium Reed Diffuser
I'm incorporating all the senses, folks.  Visitors frequently remark about the lovely scent of my office.  Yesterday I was told, "It smells amazing in here. . . like chai tea."  I had eaten a big bowl of B&M baked beans for lunch.  You do the math.  (I had actually eaten a Smart Ones meal but it contained stanky broccoli, so the reed diffuser is still pretty impressive.)

2)  My work jams-- movie scores.  Since college, I have only listened to instrumental music while working.  A few favorites are John Williams' E.T. score, James Horner's Legends of the Fall score, and Danny Elfman's Edward Scissorhands score.

3)  Sickly bamboo shoots in two vases.  Inherited from my predecessor.

4)  Two small elephant figurines, one that belonged to my great-grandfather and one that was a gift from my boss, and a small moose figurine from my mum.

5)  Friday Night Lights magnet from my friend K.  Because Coach Taylor and the Dillon Panthers are the best.

6)  Dozens of photos of my friends and family.  A large framed collage, two small collages of every single family member's face, a personalized wall calendar, and various other snapshots. 

7)  A lovely framed photo of Buttermilk Falls from my friend L, who lives in Ithaca.

8)  Garth Williams illustrations from Charlotte's Web.  Because I love the book, the illustrations, and the author's connection to Maine.

9)  Barbara Cooney illustration from Miss Rumphius.  The author/illustrator was another Mainer.  Miss Rumphius is a super cool red haired lady who makes the world a more beautiful place with her trusty cat by her side.  What's not to like?

10)  "Trees with Red Leaves and Barn" print.  The colors in this large framed print are spectacular and I appreciate the New England-y vibe.

11) Canvas of my cats courtesy of my 2013 Secret Santa/Mum and her special helper/my photographer cousin M.

Coming soon:  A couple of air plants to hang in my window.