Sunday, March 18, 2012

March - Spring 2012



WISDOM OF THE SAGES

Episode III

MARCH – SPRING 2012


Hello People of the World;


Thankfulness.


Because we are conditioned so, people normally give thanks in the month of November, because of the Thanksgiving Holiday, never mind what else happened then in the history of Indigenous peoples. However, to sort of shake things up and to put off the cranky-insouciant mood for a bit, I thought I would include several items talking about what I am thankful for, for this month’s edition.


Right off the bat, I am thankful for you, dear Reader, that follows this stupid little blog and as much as I make fun of you for doing so, I do appreciate the readership. On that note….


Let’s get started, shall we?


1:[ First item of the month: I am thankful for…. New Shoes. As most people know, I don’t buy new clothes very often, nor do I have any kind of fashion sense other than what is comfortable. But during the winter of 2010-11 I had worn out most of my shoes and was relegated to wearing my squeaky combat boots. Then, I found myself downtown during the post-Christmas shopping phase when I happened upon a nice pair of Converse oxford shoes at a great price. A bit more than a week later, my little sister sent me a pair of work boots just as the Blizzard-a-geddon hit and destroyed the entire planet (to hear some people tell it.) and man, did they ever come in handy.


So, recently, I noted how worn those two pairs of shoes had become. (Over a year later.) Also, that I have a doofus-y, duck walk that wears out my shoe soles differently than a normal human being’s. The left side toe wears out completely, for some reason. So, this past week I went shoe shopping. Not a thing for a big, manly-man such as myself to admit. But I went to the Famous Shoe Place and my Bonnie talked me into another pair of Converse oxfords, which are my favorite shoe type. Then a week after that I bought a pair of low top something or others that I quite like the look of and to keep me from wearing out either pair.


So, new shoes are what I am thankful for….



2:[ Why do people driving SUV’s or really fancy cars, never look happy? Seriously, look at them when they pass you by….



3:[ More MOVIE TIME ADVENTURES:


+ So, what did you think of the Academy Awards this year? Pretty boring. It seemed like a nostalgic rehashing of past shows, especially with the now-boring Billy Crystal hosting. I was not surprised that “The Artist” had won. In fact, I went home early without watching the Top Five awards. I am happy “Rango” won for Best Animated. Surely, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” should have one. Andy Serkis and all…. Michelle Willaims was robbed for nostalgia’s sake and I am happy Hugo was not named Best Picture. All in all, yawn….


+ So, my buddy Mike and myself sojourned to the Evanston Century Cinema 18 to catch a digital projection of a restored “The Godfather”, re-released in honor of its fortieth anniversary. It was a great as usual. It is funny that this, this is a movie. You know? A movie that has a sense of drama, violence, humor, tenderness and all the contradictory things humans feel. We don’t make movies like this anymore. We clamp on to zeitgeists and roll out mediocrity yearly. I mean, comic book movies? Seriously? When Scorsese starts making 3D Kids Movies, you know we lost a great age of movie making that we will never go back to. Everything else becomes something we judge cruelly to assuage our cinematic art egos, assuage our need to see boobies and blood, or something we can buy a Rifftrax for later…. Films for grown-ups are dead and relegated to the small “Artsy” film houses where cinema-knowledge egos waft as thickly as the patchouli and a jammed-packed screening of “The Godfather” is proof of this, sadly. Still, it is a damn good movie and I enjoyed it very much seeing it on the big screen….


+ But, if Natives can get it together and pull their heads out of their safety zones, Native American Cinema might get its footing in the mainstream. I just have seen one of the best Native-produced movies, ever. “On the Ice” is, according to its Kickstarter page: the first feature-length fiction film made in Alaska by an Iñupiaq writer/director with an entirely Inuit cast. This film was written and directed by Andrew Okpeaha MacLean, an independent artist who is one of the first of many cinematic voices from a part of the world that has been profoundly under- or misrepresented in film. “On the Ice” is about two teenaged boys who have grown up in the Alaskan environment and is a testament to their survival in such a landscape. When on a hunting trip one of their friends does not come back, it becomes a suspense-filled story as one of the teen’s father works to uncover the truth of what happened out there. It is easily to best Native-produced film I’ve seen this year. It was also cool to see Native teens ACTING like Native teens instead of espousing colonial tragedy…. I highly recommend anyone to go see this….


+ The whole world seems to agree about the first image of Johnny Depp as Tonto in the new “The Lone Ranger” movie…. Why not a real Native American playing the part? It is kind of cool to read all the comments sections on this and see that seems to be the general consensus. That’s is pretty cool. Unfortunately, Depp brings in the money and no matter how many people, especially Native people will grumble, they will go and see the movie BECAUSE of Johnny Depp…. Really….


+ Shhh, don’t tell anyone that I actually snuck in a viewing of “A Separation” during this crazy week…. It was really good and worthy of the Best Foreign Picture. It is totally NOT completely about the woman seen in the entire PR for the film. It is both suspenseful in its story and eye opening to the day-to-day life of Iranians….



4:[ I am thankful for: My Mom and Dad and My Brothers and Sisters. The family I was born into was a great collection of influential individuals and as the youngest boy, while I was alone, I was never lonely. Some of my best friends were my sisters and brothers first. I was one of those kids that wept if I was away from home at a friend’s house for too long. The sheer knowledge and fun and drama and insanity they shared and share with me to form me into the person typing this ‘blog is overwhelming and I am deeply grateful for that and for having them in my life still….


Readers of this blog know the influence my mom and dad have had on me. Their nurturing and guidance and their words and actions shaped me into the person I am and even more so, they influence the person I want to be. They continue to be the shining examples of parenthood, manhood, womanhood, of integrity and character in my life and my ideals and goals. I am grateful for the family I was born to….



5:[ Ah yes, settle in Readers for more of:


Adventures at the Coffee Shop!


+ Why is it that older white guys still think they have “game” when it comes to talking to the college coed that is barista-ing…? In almost every coffee shop I go into, if there is a cute coed manning the register, the older dudes will always hold up the line acting like they got the game to bed the young lady. You know the types…. Wedding rings or not, they will not cease in trying to impress the young lady….


+ This is how dumb I am; I recently discovered that the Starbucks nook at the B&N my Bonnie and I frequent serves Iced Green Tea…. In this weather of late, a cool drink is a good idea but since I am swearing off coffee after 4:30Pm, I was thrill to find that they have this drink….



6:[ I am thankful for: My Bonnie and my Sam and my Char…. I am so thankful to have them in my life, even after our divorce. They keep me grounded and focused on the day-to-day of living in this great adventure we call life. Bonnie is honest and true to me. Sam makes me proud every day with her accomplishments and from time to time I still see the sweetie underneath the teen exterior. And Char, Char is Awesome. There is no other way to put that. I recently bought her a guitar. She was so cool about it, she did all the research and pricing and what she found was a pretty good deal that I had to buy one for myself. She taught me a couple of chords and is showing me chord progressions. She teaches me. That's pretty cool. For all the great things in my life, she is one of the best. I am privileged to simply know her….


I am so thankful for El Trio….



7:[ And now Wisdom of the Sages presents:


An Ever-growing List of Things That MUST Stop!


+ You know? Strutting out into the street to your car door like a gangsta doesn’t mean that some day someone isn’t going to see you and accidentally hit you…. Sheeeit.


+ On the train the other day I overheard a women add at the end of her sentence “Yeah, believe it”, and watching an exercise video for my workout heard the instructor say that after demonstrating an exercise. It is simply tacked on as a non sequitur to any sentence. So, let’s stop that before it goes further…. Yeah, believe that…. Sorry, you can’t make be believe sh*t, dude….


+ So, AT&T keeps sending me these letters that state that after looking at my records and seeing what a loyal customer I have been to have stayed with them for many years, that they are privileged, PRIVILEGED (!), to offer me a new bundle of services that I do not need that cost more than I am being charged now! You know how they should reward longtime customers? By lowering their rates…. Those letters need to stop….


+ I have noticed Yahoo never keeps my selected “Science” and “Technology” news on my front page. I wonder why. Every time I navigate away and come back to the Yahoo front page, the Science and Technology sections, that I purposely selected, are gone. It keeps dumping sports and politics on it instead. I don’t care for Sports or Politics, I’m sorry. I want news on Science and Technology, why would you negate my choice? Stop that!



8:[ Speaking of being thankful: So, I was invited to a party last month (I know, right?) and I definitely had fun (I even cut a rug, if you believe that. There were witnesses. And by “cutting a rug” I do mean dance…. I know, right?), but it reminded my of how grateful and thankful I am for the people I can call my friends and the people that make up my family for knowing me and letting me be who I am.


At the party, I became my usual taciturn self, sitting there not engaging with anyone and I was reminded of how much I really, really dislike talking about myself. Parties are the worse when it comes to forced interaction with strangers you will probably never meet again. Look, if I ever had to meet a woman for a date or make new friends, I would fail miserably because I would hate talking about me.


Mainly, because, at this party I had to do it over and over to all the people I did not know. Which were just about all but one and a half people. When I did talk to someone new, what I said felt phony and made up. It really did and I just could not get comfortable enough to make chitchat. And, at a party, if there is one thing that everyone likes to do, it is explaining what they do and who they are, making chitchat.


Do not take this for humbleness or humility. I just hate crowds. I dislike the rising din of idle talking. “It’s loud on my ears” to quote my Charlotte. I get claustrophobic when I am among a crowd of people. I do not know when this began. It had nothing to do with my decision to be introverted. But I did suffer mild claustrophobia after getting my wisdom teeth pulled while under anesthesia that I couldn’t be in closed in buildings for a few months after. Which I am told is a normal reaction to anesthesia. But, I don’t know. I am normally not a social person and that is all I can attribute my taciturn attitudes. Which is why I make a terrible party guest. (And apparently, an even worse dancer….) I hate talking about myself because I sound like a phony; that I am making up the things I am doing, working on, have accomplished.


Still, I have noticed that every 7 to 10 minutes, the din of conversation would die down making the space nearly silent. Have you ever noticed that? I found that pretty fascinating and would listen for that whenever I am in a crowded situation. And it does happen, a lot. Even as someplace as huge as Soldier Field during the wait for the U2 360 concert to begin. It has become a game I play whenever I find myself in a room with scads of people.


Anyways, I don’t think I will ever date again, (Sheesh, not ‘again’, more like ‘ever’….) because I hate how I sound when I talk about myself…. When I go out with my buddies there are long stretches where nothing is said, and I get the feeling that makes them uncomfortable. But they tolerate it; tolerate me. And I am thankful that I have friends and a lady in my life that allows me to be a quiet, sullen bastard.


That’s all I’m saying….



9:[ From the “This Just In” Department: So, I got a guitar, finally. Yep, after years of threatening to get one, Charlotte finally was able to get me off my chair and order one. (See Item above) It is nothing expensive, just something to begin learning on. Now, I strum for half an hour every day using the chords Char taught me and gearing up to go through the lesson book I bought years ago as an incentive. Yeah, everything will be different once I’m a famous musician….



10:[ Last Item of the Month: I figured that writing about being thankful not during Thanksgiving would be something nice in place of my usual snottiness. But do not mistake this for some sort of humbleness or humility. It’s all ego. Hell, writing a blog is egotistical. Everything we do is out of ego.


In the end, it is all about ego. From the wars we start, the politics we follow, the people we interact with, comes from this instinctual need to always be right. “My religion is the right one”, “My political views are the right ones”, “I support these people because they are the right ones…,” and so on.


These are nothing but shields to protect our egos from fallibility, plain and simple. It is all ego and nonsense and prevents us from truly helping one another.


I cannot remember which Asian, eastern philosophy that espouses letting go of the ego to function rationally in the world. That seems like a good idea if we ever can admit to our egoism. Also, how egotistical to point out how everything we do is tied to our ego. Look at me! I am the one pointing this out! Yay, me!


See what I mean?



That will do it for this month.


I hope that this finds you well and grateful for the good things in your life and aware of the bad. Feel free to comment, contradict and/or correct any of the items in this and every month’s edition. I apologize for the lateness of this but I have been really busy with nonsense and it should not excuse a late blog….


Until Next Time, “I try to show the schemers how pathetic their attempts to control everything really are.”





© 2012 Ernest M. Whiteman III