Happy 38th B-day, Brett.

As my friend, Jim Sickels would say, "you're doin' pretty good out there, ya old dog". And here are few more accolades on your birthday, Brett:

* Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre was named the United States Sports Academy’s Male Athlete of the Month for September. The Academy’s Athlete of the Month is selected by a national voting committee comprised of former athletes, media, sports organizations and governing bodies. The United States Sports Academy is an independent, non-profit, accredited, special mission sports institute designed to serve the nation and the world with programs in instruction, research and service. The role of the Academy, “America’s Sports University” in higher education, is to prepare men and women fin the profession of sports.

* Also, in Washington, DC, by voice vote Tuesday, the House passed a resolution honoring Green Bay Packers' quarterback Brett Favre for his charitable works and for setting the National Football League's record for career touchdown passes. "Today, the United States House of Representatives offers this praise to Brett Favre, to his family, to the Green Bay Packers and to the people of Wisconsin, who together own the most storied team in professional sports," said Rep. Steve Kagen, an Appleton Democrat whose district includes Lambeau Field.

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Origami No. 6

'I wrote all the time. Everywhere. When I wasn't writing, I was thinking about it or continuing to 'write' in my head. . . . I wasn't very good company. At that time, a major critic commented that I wrote 'disposable plays,' and in some sense he was probably right. But nothing mattered to me then except to get the stuff down on paper...' - Sam Shepard

The overwhelming majority of writers I talk to or have seen quoted describe writing as a lonely, solitary life and, as a playwright, I must echo those sentiments. Much of what we write ends up on a pile - unread and unappreciated; a pile that grows with every stroke of the pen or punch of the keyboard, accumulating dust with age. We write about what interests us and what is perhaps uninteresting to others. We write because the passion we realize from writing is unattainable anywhere else. We write because we will die if we do not. And when we are applauded by friends and colleagues for what we have written, the result is, at best, the affirmation that inevitably sends us back to our typewriter to continue on in that solitary, lonely life that a writer can never escape.

That's why it's advantageous to have other interests besides writing. Like porn.
- Jeffrey James Ircink

Origami is sort of my catchword for a featured blog entry that highlights my original writings - could be an excerpt from one of my plays, a poem, a song, a rant, a rave, a cursing, etc. Origami is the art of folding paper (the word is of Japanese origin). So, within the folds of this particular blog feature you may find something really beautiful, meaningful or poignant.

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Tatterdemalion, Etcetera.

Weekly Wanderings Just North of Bertram.

This is an actual post from my friend, Pete's blog. He's a long distance runner and triathlete. We used to work together as creative writers for the in-house advertising agency at Parson's Technology, a computer software company in Marion, Iowa. Founder and former owner, Bob Parsons, now runs GoDaddy.com, a leader in the domain name industry, where Pete's currently working in Iowa.

Anyway, Pete tracks his workouts via his blog - and often posts pictures he takes while on these workouts. Take my word for it - Pete's photography is exceptional - and he's using a worn, beaten, taped up digital camera. Some of the best scenic shots I've seen. And yes...I am jealous. Check out Pete's photos at Tatterdemalion:

http://teamfun.blogspot.com/

The following post was dated August 26, 2007. I was struck by its poignance. I hope you will be as well:

Photo: Recovery ride, 7:00 a.m., 65 degrees, Linn County, Iowa
Weekly activity log:
Swim: 5,300 yds (ytd 232,800 yds.)
Bike: 87 miles (ytd 3,660 mi.)
Run: 24 miles (ytd 947 mi.)

Whether training for Ironman or cycling for fitness, I have a favorite ride. It’s not a workout of epic proportion – just 35 miles in length – but it gets me away from town on quiet, smooth back roads where, depending on the season, I can smell the tall corn, pedal through snowfall or see the shadows of red-wing blackbirds swooping toward my helmet. The terrain is challenging, though hardly impossible, while the landscape is spectacular in a Field-of-Dreams sort of way.

At the route’s furthest point sits a quaint Iowa farm…white house, red barn, small creek, big trees and a tall, pristine church steeple in the distance…in a word, idyllic. It’s easy to see why someone would want to live there. Real-world problems are far beyond the last tassel of corn and news from the outside world comes only when the television is turned on, which isn’t often. As long as there is sunshine and occasional rain, the crops continue to grow and day turns into night into another day.

Inside that farmhouse lives a husband, a wife and two sons. More often than not when I pass, one of them is tending to a garden, herding goats or breaking a sweat over work I can’t begin to imagine. While I spend most days at a computer keyboard, they spend theirs getting the richest black soil beneath their fingernails. They’re always happy to wave, knowing that the little slice of paradise is theirs to keep, all day, every day, while I simply pass through for a minute or two.

As I began my taper for a trip to Lake Placid, New York and Ironman USA, I heard through our small-town grapevine that the father on that farmstead, a rock of a man, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given a very dire prognosis. Riding by that house I realized that soon his wife might have no husband and his children no father. By the time I returned from New York, there could be one less smile and one less wave from beyond the barbed-wire fence.

His wife recently said, “I am allowing myself two days of pouting and sulking and then I will suck it up and get on with it. ”My God, Ironman is tough, but that mother is a thousand times tougher. Ironman runs the gamut of emotions, but that family of four, along with all their friends and relatives are feeling so many more. Ironman leaves me asking many things, but life asks us much bigger questions with far more complicated answers.

I find true inspiration in and around me every time I compete in Ironman. Yes, we’re all doing something tough, incredible and inspiring. But inspiration, tears, incredible joy and sadness are found in so many other places, including a quaint little farm on my favorite cycling loop near Lafayette, Iowa.

(Postscript: On July 22, I finished Ironman USA… as the farmer prepared for a round of chemotherapy and continued his own much more difficult fight.)

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"Here Lies Three Americans"

In the September 20, 1943 issue of LIFE magazine, the editors published a photograph taken on a New Guinea beach in the South Pacific, ten months earlier. It was the first image of dead American servicemen that American civilians had been allowed to see in the twenty-one months since Pearl Harbor. Here's an excerpt from that article (I searched the Web but couldn't find it in its entirety:

Here lie three Americans. What shall we say of them? Shall we say that this is a fine thing, that they should give their lives for their country? Why print this picture anyway of three American boys, dead on an alien shore? The reason is that words are never enough. The eye sees. The mind knows. The heart feels. But the words do not exist to make us see, or know, or feel what it is like, what actually happens. . .And so here it is. This is the reality that lies behind the names that come to rest at last on monuments in the leafy squares of busy American towns. The camera doesn’t show America and yet here on the beach is America, three parts of a hundred and thirty million parts, three fragments of that life we call American life: three units of freedom. So that it is not just these boys who have fallen here, it is freedom that has fallen. It is our task to cause it to rise again.

This story ran during Episode 2 of Ken Burns' The War (PBS). Watch it if you have the opportunity. It struck me so because of the fighting - and dying - our servicemen and women are engaged in overseas in Iraq. We all have our opinion of this current war - of all wars. But one thing needs to be said - Hate war, but love the American soldier.

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Quote from Brett Favre.

"All I wanted to do in the 2nd half was throw the damn ball down the field once in awhile, to one of my WR's or at the very least, when I have to hand the ball off, get a RB that knows how to cut back against the grain and out into the open field instead of plowing into the backs of our O-Linemen every time for little or no gain."

QB Brett Favre - On the 2nd half game plan provided by his head coach against the Chicago Bears last weekend

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When Autoerotic Asphyxiation goes awry. / 4-1

Autoerotic asphyxiation is the practice of intentionally reducing the amount of oxygen to the brain during sexual stimulation in order to heighten the received pleasure from orgasm. This act of depriving oneself or another of oxygen in order to achieve orgasm is classified officially in the United States as Hypoxyphilia, according to the American Psychiatric Association. This act can be done alone or with a partner, but autoerotic often means when a sex partner is exluded. Deaths often occur when the loss of consciousness caused by partial asphyxia leads to loss of control over the means of strangulation, resulting in continued asphyxia and death. Victims are often found to have rigged some sort of "rescue mechanism" which has not worked in the way they anticipated as they lost consciousness.

It can lead to an unexpected, quick death.

In a longabout way, this is what the Green Bay Packers did to themselves last night, losing to the Chicago Bears 27-20 at Lambeau Field. I won't get into the details of the game or I may choke on my own vomit. But one minute they're smiling - confident, and then ziiiiiiipppp! - it's over...and you lost. Quite unexpectedly.

The saving grace (if there is any here and I'm the type of guy who looks at the glass as being half-full) is that I had to shave my 4-0 beard off (it's hot in CA right now) and the Packers are still 4-1. The Redskins are coming in to Lambeau next week and we had better figure out a way to stop giving the ball up or we're in a heap of trouble.

Next Week: Washington Redskins (3-1) @ Green Bay Packers (4-1)

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"The United States now sleeps under a Soviet moon." Sputnik-1

"Glory to the Soviet Science!" 1957 Author unknown

That was Nikita Khrushchyov - the leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. 50 years ago on October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite into geocentric orbit of the Earth, thus ending the Sputnik Race between USSR and the USA.

This especially hurt the USA - during the Cold War Soviet science was always portrayed as inferior and undeveloped, and the launch proved quite the opposite. Also this was a direct threat to the U.S. security as there was a soviet object flying over the American territory beyond our reach. But this was a purely physiological threat as Sputnik-1 carried only radio transmitters on board. It was a 585mm diameter sphere, made of 2mm polished aluminum alloy, so that the glitter could be observed from the ground. It had four antennas between 2.4 and 2.9 meters, which were transmitting recurring radio-signal. Sputnik was about the size of a basketball. It weighed only 83 kg (183 pounds). The frequency was deliberately chosen so that radio hams around the world could pick it up – resulting in stronger reaction. Each of its elliptical orbits around the Earth took about 96 minutes

Listen to the signal record here: http://www.jamsat.or.jp/sounds/sputnik.10s.wav

The picture above is of Laika, the dog that was sent up in Sputnik-II, a month later. The satellite was never meant to be retrieveable, so Laika died about 7 hours or so into the mission - heat exhaustion and stress. The Russian people were never told of this until 1998, when one of the scientists on the mission stated that it was a terrible thing to do to the dog. Laika became a hero in Soviet Russia. I'm sure Laika was really happy about that.

Here's a picture for the ages. That's me on the right and my brother, Jason on the floor. Apollo 10 was flown in May 1969. This is at Highland View in Greendale, WI where I attended 1st grade. First grade for me was in 1970 when I was 6. So the Apollo model had to be left over from the class before me. See Charlie Brown and Snoopy at the top left - mascots for the entire Apollo mission. 1970 was the year of Apollo 13.

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Origami No. 5

Definition of a "kill-joy": A person who spoils the joy or pleasure of others; spoilsport. A dispiriting person. In other words - my office co-worker, K.R.

So I come in to work this morning, buy a dozen donuts. Then I get on the company-wide page and announce there's donuts in the kitchen and play the NASA wake-up call for the space shuttle astronauts who died in 2003 - "Good Day Sunshine" by The Beatles, with a brief introduction by one of the astronauts.

Everyone thinks it's cool. Except this one employee. She comes to the lobby and, with this look on her face like she just found out her identity was stolen, she says, "It's too early."

Kiss my ass, lady. She's like that all the time. Too cool for everyone else. Kiss my white ass.

I think she had a donut too.

Origami is sort of my catchword for a featured blog entry that highlights my original writings - could be an excerpt from one of my plays, a poem, a song, a rant, a rave, a cursing, etc. Origami is the art of folding paper (the word is of Japanese origin). So, within the folds of this particular blog feature you may find something really beautiful, meaningful or poignant.

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Brett Favre Named NFC Offensive Player of Week 4 by the NFL & FEDEX Air Player of the Week!

Two honors this week.

Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers was named the NFC Offensive Player of Week 4 for games played the fourth week of the 2007 season (September 30-October 1), the NFL announced Wednesday. AND he was named FedEx Air Player of the Week for the same time period This is his 2nd win and 3rd nomination in 4 weeks in both categories.

I know I keep saying this but that's pretty good for an old, slow QB who's past his prime and only hurting his 4-0 team, ain't it? Not only did Brett surpass Dan Marino's all-time TD record of 420 with 422 TDs, but he led the league in passing this week (which is an odd thing to rank QBs by - so, you pass for 500 yards but lose the game and you're ranked as the #1 QB for that week?) GB won the game, by the way, and we're 4-0. Brett set 2 other records during the Viking game - passing attempts (surpassing Marino) and he moved up to 2nd all-time consecutive starts for any position. And congrats on the TD record, Brett!

You gotta watch this video. Here's Brett wired during the historic game against the Vikings - it's good, especially when he's talking to Aaron Rogers (his heir apparent) on the bench:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d802f0aa6

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Goodbye, Mattie

Mattie, my friend Amy's dog, passed on to doggie heaven last week. I knew Mattie - a good dog. Could jump like a sonofabitch. 'Course, that's what Jack Russells do...jump. I understand the sadness people feel when their pets die. Never did before until my brother Jason got Molly a few years back. Molly's still around - I just meant now that I've become attached to her I understand the loss people feel towards an animal. So many of my friends have dogs - Tom, Jim S., Jim K., Justyna, Nick - a ton of them.

Grrrrrrrrrr...ruff, ruff. Mattie. Ruff, ruff.

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Heard Somewhere in the Metrodome...

"Like the way I play and the way I react it was spontaneous - there was really no speech...the only thing I asked was can we have practice early tomorrow (Monday) and meetings so I could try and go huntin' tomorrow afternoon".

- Brett Favre, when asked what was said to his teammates in the lockeroom after the game. Deerhunting season is open - Favre's an avid bow and gun hunter, as are myself, my brother, my father and other family members. So we get a kick outta comments like this.

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ESPN Soundtracks with Brett Favre

Classic sound bytes from the all-time TD leader. Watch it - it's fun. And turn it up - there's one bit up dialouge between Favre and then QB coach Andy Reid (coach of the Eagles) that you have to listen for (when Brett's talking about something Cajun he ate).

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Heard from Terry Bradshaw, "He's (Favre) the best there ever was..."

"Hey folks, I'm not kidding around. I really meant it when I said that Brett Favre is the best quarterback I've ever seen play. I will say it again. I have documented it. I put it on the cover of a book. He's the best there ever was and that covers everybody."

Terry's said this before and he seems even more emphatic about it this time. For the entire article, click here: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7283620

This, coming from a 4-Time Super Bowl Champ with Pittsburgh Steelers, means a lot. Incidently, Steve Mariucci (former 49er/Lions head coach and former QB coach at GB) said the same thing - and stressed the "entire package" that Favre brings to the table. I will say most "experts" don't ever single out one guy - Bradshaw and Mariucci are both respected in their fields and both were confident about their choice.

I'll stay outta of this conversation - one, me being a Packer fan, and two, I understand how subjective conversations can be about, "who's the best QB ever?". Why don't you take a look at my very first blog post - March 24 - A Little Catching Up...last paragraph where I talk about Brett. I can tell you this: old, new, dead, living - I'll take Favre anyday over anyone else. Period.

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Favre Sets 3 Records - Most QB TDs in NFL History - 422 / 4-0

Brett Favre hoisting Greg Jennings after Jennings caught "the record" TD pass.

In thrilling style, the Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings at Minnesota and Brett set the all-time NFL record for most QB touchdowns at 422, surpassing Dan Marino's record of 420. Check out the pass (which turned out to be an audible) and highlights from the game: >http://www.packers.com/multimedia/video/recent/

Go to Week 4 highlights - Packers at Vikings.

Favre also became 1st in all-time pass attempts - also held by Dan Marino; he moved into 2nd place for all-time consecutive starts for any position in the game (passing a former Viking player), and this was his 50th game with 300+ passing yards. If you've lost track, Favre is 1st in TDs, games won, pass completions, pass attempts and consecutive starts (by a QB) in NFL history. But most importantly, the Pack won the game.

Next Week: Chicago Bears (1-3) @ Green Bay Packers (4-0)

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Dear Mom & Dad...

...Jason and I want our own baby sister.

At least that's what my dreams tell me. My best friends in CA - Donovan and Maria - had their first baby, Grac "ie", at the end of June (see July 1 post) and I've had two dreams about having a baby sister. Either two dreams in one night or over two successive nights. Whatever - the dream woke me up this morning, which is why I'm at the computer (that or I'm nervous about the Packers at Minnesota today).

So - here's a snap of Gracie, with Maria. Isn't she cute? (Maria, too.) Now, maybe the reason I've been dreaming about a baby sister is because I've been spending a lot of time at Donovan and Maria's house on Sundays - they have the NFL Ticket and I've been watching the Packer games there. And I don't wanna break tradition for fear of breaking the Green Bay's 3-0 winning streak - even though one of the games was on national TV here in CA. Anyway, I've been playing with Gracie and holding her and walking her to sleep (carrying her in this sling backpack thingy which I'm guessing has a very "fetal" feeling for Gracie). I love playing with her, making all those stupid baby sounds adults make while trying to get her to laugh and smile (which I do, thank you). And I love to smell her baby head - that should be bottled and sold as an accord. The smell of her head - not the baby.

How this figures in my dream I'm not sure. All I know is I've dreamt holding "our sister" and showing her off to my parents and Jason. I'm sure Jim and Dee are more than thrilled this wish can never come true as they are beyond ye olde child-bearing years. But now I'm sad. What would her name be, Jason? Jennifer? That was one name my mother chose had one of us been a girl. Thank God for dreams...and for Gracie McCann-Glover.

I will love her like my own "sister". Now go get Jas & I a beer, Jennifer - the Packer game starts in five minutes. Babys. Cute but SO slow.

(Zzzzzzzzz. Sh-h. Donovan - asleep during his Denver Bronco game. Poor D. ( I'm referring to Donovan.)

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(9) Wisconsin Edges Michigan State / 5-0

37-34 in a offense show-down at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Whew! Too close, Badgers. Way too close.

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On MSNBC: Which NFL team has the best fans?

As of this posting on Friday afternoon, we - the Green Bay Packers - are leading this poll, with 73%, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8.7% and the Seattle Seahawks at 2.7%. THE PACK IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!

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Packers Favre, Barnett Honored by FEDEX and GMC

Brett Favre was named the FEDEX Air Player of the Week for his performance last week as the Pack beat the San Diego Chargers, 31-24. That's two nominations in a row - in three weeks - this being his first win. Guess he let the world down that first week when we beat Philly. According to Allen Barras of The New York Sun, Green Bay won that game "...in spite of Brett Favre". See more on what this clownshoe had to say about Brett and the Pack in the post below, People I Hate. Also, Nick Barnett, was chosen as GMC's Defensive Player of the Week - Barnett made a key interception against San Diego to seal their fate. The accolades just keep a'comin'. Way to go, boys!

Go to Week 2 - Packers v. Chargers
http://www.packers.com/multimedia/video/recent/

Also, Favre and Donald Driver (receiver) were both nominated for NFC Offensive Players of the Week by the NFL and Nick Barnett was nominated for NFC Defensive Player of the Week by the NFL.

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"Mariaaa. I just kissed a girl named Mariaaa!"

West Side Story movie poster.

My favorite musical of all-time...West Side Story. (Fingersnaps.) "Snap, snap, snap, snap, de da da da daaaaa, de da de da de daaaaa, snap, snap, snap, snap."

West Side Story opened on Broadway 50 years ago today. Geezuz. Almost forgot this little tid-bit. Thank you, NPR.

I sang "Officer Krupke" in a musical review back in 1994. Loved it. Love the movie - that jazz dancing is my favorite of all the dances. Jets. Sharks. That jazzy sound of the early 60's, Bernstein, Laurents, Sondheim...I get chills thinking about it. I wanna do the musical! I wanna jump around on stage and sing those gorgeous songs and feel what Riff and Maria and Tony and Bernardo and the Jets and Sharks were feeling.

Is it too late to play the malt shop owner, perhaps? The movie came out in 1961 and was a huge success - the most nominated for it's time - 12 nominations, was it? And it won 11.

The original Broadway playbill.

George Chakiris won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Bernardo, leader of the P.R. Sharks.

I'll let you go online and explore the story, the movie, the stage version and the songs - "Maria", "Somewhere", "Cool", the Jet Song - listen to them. Buy the soundtrack. This is a musical that changed musical theater forever. It's theme is as relevant today as it was 50 years ago.

And remember: "When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way from your first cigarette 'til your last dying day!" Cool. Be-bop!

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"This Grinds My Beans!"

That's a quote from a radio character we used to have at WKLH in Milwaukee (I worked there in radio sales for two years). Known as Mr. Angry, he'd come on the air and bitch about anything and everything (he was actually the head of an ad shop in town).

The last thing I want is all my posts to be football related. But it is football season so you'll just have to bear with me. The problem I have with all sports is the media - if they're not bugging Brett Favre about when he's retiring - they're asking stupid questions or making stupid comments. I cringe when commentators - ESPN, FOX, NFL Network, local, online, wherever - give me their opinions which are based on the dumbest criteria or give me their predictions. Hey, I never predict the Pack is gonna win a game - I say I "hope" or "their chances are good" or "they're favored". These anal-ists, as I like to refer to them as, look like dipshits when they're wrong and, of course, then they can always change they're previous opinion based on the current state of affairs with a sports organization so they always seem to look like they're right and knowledgeable when really they don't know any more than you or I.

Now you already know from a previous post that I hate The New York Sun columnist Allen Bare-ass (Barras - see People I Hate post below) - here's two more examples of what I'm talking about. And keep in mind, I understand we're only three games into the season and things can change, but just read the following:

Adam Schein from ESPN (I like to call him Dick Shine) wrote an article before the season about Favre and the Pack. I chewed his ass out in an email - below are excerpts from that article.

"The Packers should still think long and hard about letting him (Favre) go."

"My response remains the same: the Packers need to seriously consider making this move and get the wheels in motion to put the Favre era — no matter how successful it was — in the past."

"Let's be honest — Favre is well along the downside of his career. His decision-making and knack for forcing the ball into double or triple coverage has hurt Green Bay. Last year he tossed 18 picks against 18 touchdowns. That's not good. That's after throwing 29 picks in 2005."

"Is he a top 10 quarterback in 2007? Absolutely not."

"Green Bay spent a first-round pick on Aaron Rodgers. Maybe it's time to see what he has."

"But let's be very honest again here for a second — the Packers aren't making the playoffs with Favre either. Not with their defense and running game. In fact, I'm sure the fine folks in the Green Bay offices have to be asking themselves a similar question. Let Favre go play for the Dolphins or Jaguars. Find out what you have in Rodgers. Get a quarterback into the lineup who won't be constantly questioning the talent around him. Favre will always be a Packer legend, but the best thing for the sanity and upward movement of the Packers for the rest of this decade is to let him go now."

Here's another joker - Bill Simmons from ESPN:

16. Green Bay Packers - Old quarterbacks are like old strippers, old rappers and older bottles of white wine - with the exception of Don Strock and that's really it, they get dramatically worse with age. Most people think Brett Favre is just about washed-up; actually, he is washed up. According to Pro Football Prospectus, Green Bay led the league in overthrown passes last season. In 2005 and 2006, Favre turned the ball over 64 times. Heading into Week 14 last season, the Packers were 4-8 and lost to four teams with good defenses (the Bears, Pats, Eagles and Jets) by a combined 130-19 margin. What else do you need to know?

(Note: I feel bad for the underrated Packers defense, which has a chance to be really good this season. I also feel bad for the good people of Wisconsin. In the span of seven months, they could watch the Brew Crew blow its division to the hated Cubs, followed by the greatest QB in Packers history potentially embarrassing himself in his final season, and then Chairman Yi playing 20-25 minutes per game -- guaranteed by Herb Kohl to the Chinese government, as reported by Ric Bucher!!!!! -- and single-handedly killing the Bucks' playoff hopes. The only silver lining is they'll be covered in mustard and cheese sauce the entire time. Could we send an extra shipment of EKG machines to Wisconsin please? And make it a rush order. Thanks.)

Believe me, these aren't the only two door knobs who all but figured Favre for dead and are now recanting their previous bile. Now, Dick Shine is praising the Pack. He said he won't take back the things he said because at the time they were true of the status of the team and Favre (which is bullshit as well). And I just heard Simmons admit on ESPN Radio that Favre's doing well and that he thought he was finished. AND he said he didn't notice Favre doing anything different really than he has in the past (in reference to talk that Favre is playing a more controlled game this season). That's because Favre hasn't changed you assholes! It's the people around him that have. ARGHHH! I'm not even gonna get into this rant. Give me serenity, Lord. Granted...things could turn around and these anal-ists would come off sounding like they knew it all along. And as I said earlier, we're just three games into the season. Why don't these idiots just shut up? Why do we need all these morons dissecting our games for us? Why can't we just watch them and then they can report on the outcomes of the games? Simple enough, isn't it? I wouldn't miss them and I'd be perfectly happy not writing retorts like this in my blog. And who edits the dung these guy write? Aren't they accountable for anything or do they have carte blanche to write whatever they feel? I mean, opinion's one thing. Fine. I have an opinion and you have an opinion. Why are these clown shoes (to borrow a phrase from my cousin, Scott Schmidt) in a seat of authority, disseminating whatever bile spills from their mouths on any given day?

Here's my take on Favre and the Green Bay Packers - this coming from a Wisconsin native and GB fan: I don't know what's gonna happen with my Packers. They look good thus far at 3-0 with no running game. Our starting RB will be entering the mix shortly and that Emmanuel dude we got from the Vikings last year will be playing as well - think he's a receiver. Favre is rated in the top 6 of QBs in most categories. He's been nominated twice for FEDEX Air Player of the Week, chosen by the NFL as the Offensive Player of the week for Week #2 and other players like Crosby (kicker), Wynn (rookie back) and Barnett (defensive back?) have all been recognized in the last three weeks of play, and Coach McCarthy was chosen Coach of the Week by the NFL for Week #2 as well.

Favre is playing well and having a good time and most anal-ists are noticing this and agreeing. In some power rankings where we were 25, or 26 - we're now 5 or 7. I don't know - but I feel something magical is happening and my gut is usually right.

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Origami No. 4

Here's a snippet from a short play I'm writing called, Reveille! - about two Virginian women in 1862. Reveille! will be one of three short plays in an erotic trilogy called, AMOR NO FLUXO(PRONOUNCED “FLooSHA”), or LOVE IN FLUX.

AMANDA
Oh go on. You’re just jealous ‘cause Godey’s Ladies Book didn’t ask you to submit a story, that’s all.

DOWD
I think it’s wonderful Godey’s ran an ad and invited all its readers to send in a story – not just you.

AMANDA
How would you know? You never read Godey’s so how would you know the first thing about it?

DOWD
Godey’s Ladies Book is a prissy piece of trash for passin’ time and nothing more. Why, any soul in his right mind would pay good money for the paper it’s printed on just so as he – or she – could have something fittin’ to use in the washroom. And I am not referring to washing one’s hands either.

AMANDA
Well that’s peculiar talk coming from a lady. I don’t recall the last time such vulgarity was spoken in our home.
(Beat)
I say Godey’s is not a luxury but a necessity. With its helpful hints and its patterns and needle-work and instructions in housekeeping – why we save twice the price we pay for it in less than a year.

DOWD
Anything I’d write would put to shame 99% of the garbage in that rag – if I had the time.

AMANDA
Then why don’t you write your own story and submit it?

DOWD
The world is an unhappy place, Amanda. My demeanor would have to be on a higher plain for me to even consider the task of sitting down to write.

AMANDA
Well if the world were in a better place, what would you write about then?
(Beat)
Oh, come on. Don’t be a sour puss. Tell me.

DOWD
(Reflecting.)
I suppose I’d write about living here in the valley – before the war...when even the faintest breeze blows in the smell of sassafras blossoms from a mile away and the mockingbirds swoop down on anyone who gets close to their nest – which they do without reservation ‘cause everyone knows you’re never to kill a mockingbird and they know it, too. I’d write about how that dog of yours slouches around so much so you’d think he were dead, except for when he scratches the fleas off his back and nips at the honey bees flying about his head.
(Beat)
Or the farm – I’d write about the farm, and how you’re scared of feeding the chickens –

AMANDA
I am not!

DOWD
You are too. And how one day you proposed we eat the Rhode Island Red and Plymouth Rock chickens as they most certainly were Yankee-bred and would do irreparable harm to a Southerner’s palate. I’d tell of midnight walks along 4 ¼ Mile Road, lit up by the slightest sliver of a moon - like a postcard...where you can hear the rippling and splashing of Little Mountain Run in the dark as she snakes down and around through the Shenandoah Valley, and the horned owl joins the bullfrog and the crickets in a symphony that only God could compose. Or the lonesome whistle of the Blue Ridge Railway...clickety-clackety - reminding me there’s a world to explore beyond this valley. I’d write how exhausted I am after drinkin’ it all in and how I’m able to get a full night’s sleep and wake up refreshed, ready to experience it all over again.
(Beat)
Not like now...where the only smells in the valley are of death and the only sounds are the pangs of innocent folk suffering because of some men’s war. Not like now when I worry that soldiers might steal off with the horses in the middle of the night or that I might awaken to a rifle barrel stuck in my gut - or worse. Where the roads and city streets are filled with blue troops and gray troops – depending on who's in control at the time - marching off to fight and the incessant grumblings of war by townspeople who have nothing else to talk about ‘cause there is nothing else to talk about.
(Beat)
I smell sassafras occasionally. And I’m not saying the crickets have stopped chirping or Ollie stopped shooing bees all together. But it’s - everything I cherish about this place has been smothered by war. The trains bring men into town to fight one another. The air is filled with smoke and fire. The Yankees’ blockade stopped Little Mountain Run from rippling and splashing. People I know have died or moved away. The...the ecstasy I once felt here is gone – replaced with chaos and fear. I used to enjoy the rain – a steady, long, slow rain. It washed the earth clean and made everything smell reborn...new – like fresh laundry that’s come in outta the sun and the wind. The only rain that falls now brings with it the smell of death and the streets run with the blood of young men who are lost forever. And I’m afraid that everything will change and I will forget what it was like.
(Sheepishly.)
I didn’t mean to go and on.
(Beat)
That’s what I’d write about. The way things used to be. Our reality is the war - what joy would there be in writing about that?

AMANDA
Well I’m fairly certain that’s not the slant Godey’s is aspiring it’s readers to write about – all the blood and guts and such. I, for one, choose to concentrate on the positive aspects of the day. War or no war.

DOWD
You be optimistic for both of us. Maybe something good will come of it.

AMANDA
Godey’s Ladies Book publishing my story would be a positive start, I’d say.
(Beat)
Sounds like a storybook – all that, fluff you were talking about. You came up with all that on your own?

DOWD
It wasn’t difficult. I’ve lived it all my life.

AMANDA
(Beat)
“Sassafras blossoms”. I like that. May I use it in my narration? For Godey’s?

DOWD
Not too much fluff for you, I hope.

AMANDA
Well...

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Say Cheese!!!!!!!!!!!! Pack Unplug Chargers / 3-0

And Brett tied Dan Marino's record for most QB wins. One more TD to break it. Nice job, offensive line, receivers, backs and defense. Poor ole Brett. I feel for him - you know, 'cause he's old and hurtin' and worthless and is holding the team back, etcetera, etcetera.

Next Week: GB @ Minnesota

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I'm nervous...

...about the Packer game today. Please, God...let GB kick the shit out of San Diego so we can go 3-0. Please?

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#9 Wisconsin Badgers 4-0

My Wisconsin Badgers beat Iowa Saturday night to go 4-0 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten. They're sure not getting any respect from the pollsters - or other fans - as they've dropped twice in the polls despite winning. Probably 'cause they didn't blow out their opponents like they were expected to. Oh well...come bowl-bid time, we'll see who earns respect and who sits home for the holidays. GO BIG RED!

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McCarthy named Coach of the Week

Mike McCarthy, head coach of the Green Bay Packers, was named Coach of the Week by the NFL. Has the Pack at 2-0, first time since 2001. Pack at home tomorrow against the San Diego Chargers, who are 1-1 (were 14-2 last year). Favre needs 4 TDs to surpass Dan Marino for the most TDs in the history of the NFL. Odds are he won't get 4 TDs tomorrow (that's a lot). Would really love him to get the record at home.

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Favre Named NFC Offensive Player of Week 2 by the NFL

Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for games played the second week of the 2007 season (September 16-17), the NFL announced Wednesday.

Sooooo...perhaps the league took into consideration that Favre surpassed Elway as the winningest QB of all time - though Brett did play an excellent game. We'll take it. Pretty good for an "old man" who's "passed" his prime, is hurting his team for personal records and who should've retired 2, 3 or 4 years ago.

By the way, our rookie kicker, Mason Crosby, won the same honors as Special Teams player last week for his game winning field goal to beat the Eagles.

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National "Talk Like A Pirate Day".

Today. ARGHHHHHHHHHH!! Go ahead, Matey.

Try it - it's fun.

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The Tooth Fairy is Dead.

I killed her.

That's what I told the little boy (I live with a co-worker and her son) this morning as he regaled me about finding $5 under his pillow. His first baby tooth finally fell out. I said I heard what I thought was a dragonfly in the house in the middle of the night so I picked up one of those oversized, plastic bats and whacked the shit out of "the dragonfly". Ooops...nope - it was a tooth fairy. Cute too.

Sorry.

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Favre Becomes Winningest QB / 2-0

Brett Favre looked more like the QB he IS - with 3 TD's and an ass-whooping of the New York Giants yesterday at NY AND beating out John Elway as the QB with the most wins ever. The Packers also looked more like the team they are capable of playing like. Nice job, boys.

For highlights, here's the link: http://www.packers.com/multimedia/video/recent/
Go to Week 2 highlights.

Oh - and Eli Manning WAS the starter. Hey, Eli...what did your daddy and brother tell you about your team's piss-poor performance at home when you called them crying on the phone? Bitch.

Next Week: Chargers @ GB

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People I Hate.

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

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Pissed.

Best word to describe it. And the "irritated" kind of pissed - not the "drunk" one.

I entered two shorts in this play competition (see June 25 post on Short & Sweet) and neither of them made the 2nd cut to 196 (60 are eventually chosen and performed). With the evaluation system they were using I was confident "Pass the Salt, Please." would've made it. Huh. God damn Aussies. Oh well....I HATE YOU ALL. AUSSIES. KIWIS. EVERYONE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! GO AWAYYYYYYYYY!

Both plays are still being considered for Short & Sweet/Sydney in February 2008. Bastards.

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"It was ugly, but it was a win." / 1-0

That being the consensus of the Green Bay win over Philly last Sunday. Come on offensive line - we know you can do it.

There was video of a great busted play that turned into a 22-yard gain for Favre and DeShawn Wynn, but they took that clip off and there's just game highlights.

Next week: GB @ Giants

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Chicago's "Wishing You Were Here".

I love the group Chicago and I love this song. But my favorite group, The Beach Boys, backs the band up with harmonies. Give'er a listen. http://youtube.com/watch?v=djor2UgVMto
Beautiful song. Listen to the words...definately rings true with me.

Sleepless hours and dreamless nights and far aways
Ooo ooo ooo, wishing you were here
Heaven knows and lord it shows when Im away
Ooo ooo ooo, wishing you were here
Same old show in a different town on another time
Ooo ooo ooo, wishing you were here
Even though youre far away, youre on my mind
Ooo ooo ooo, wishing you were here

And Id like to change my life, and you know I would
Just to be with you tonight, baby, if I could
But Ive got my job to do, and I do it well,
So I guess thats how it is.
Ooo ooo ooo, wishing you were here
Ooo ooo ooo, wishing you were here

On the road its a heavy load, but Ill get by
Ooo ooo ooo, wishing you were here
Pay the price, make a sacrifice, and still Ill try
Ooo ooo ooo, wishing you were here

I always try and have a point when I post. My point here is it's The Beach Boys. It's Chicago. It's harmonies. Can there be any more of a point?

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F-A-V-R-E.

© Copyright 2007 Janis Mertin

(I originally posted this on September 7 at 4:44 - real time. Get it?)

The Ironman - is back.

* On the verge of breaking all the remaining top QB records in the NFL (they're all a lock, except perhaps total yards passing and the yards he needs for the record he got last year).
* Back for his 17th year in the NFL - 16th year with the Green Bay Packers.
* Hasn't missed a START since the 1992 season. 237 consecutive starts (257 with playoffs). Only 6 times has a back-up been called in to complete a game due to a Favre injury.
* 202 QB's have started for teams since Favre's debut as a Packer. 202!
* The ONLY 3-time MVP ever in the NFL (consecutive awards, mind you).
* 1 Super Bowl title
* 2 NFC titles
* 6 division crowns
* 3 NFC Championships
* 10 playoff berths
* 12 winning seasons (of the 15)
* 8 Pro Bowl selections

"Huck Finn" is ready to lead his young team to the playoffs this year.
#4 is ready to kick some ass.

Ain't he always?

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Milwaukee Art Museum featured on cover of Design Within Reach catalog

Introduced in 1994 by designer Jesus Gasca, the Globus Chair has become a classic – according to the copy I read. I just thought it was cool that the Milwaukee Art Museum was featured on the cover. If you’re ever in my hometown, check it out. I have yet to do so.

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Death of Diana

Ten years ago today Princess Diana passed away. It happened while I was still living in Cedar Rapids and I was out celebrating my birthday (8/29) with friends. Like the rest of the world we were shocked as we watched the news bulletins. And a few days later I stayed up all night and watch the funeral live on the telly.

I cried. For some reason I was really affected by this tragedy - like so many other people across the world were. Maybe it was because of the circumstances of her death or the children she left behind or the fact that she was so young and beautiful.

Still sad.

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"Pass the Salt, Please." HUGE Success at Drake's

My 10-minute "dirty" play, "Pass the Salt, Please.", bowed to rave reviews at the grand re-opening this past Saturday of Drake's Erotica Emporium - a 35-year-old porn shop "institution" on Melrose in West Hollywood. My cast had to hold up their dialogue numerous times (8) to wait for laughter to die down and I received a number of inquiries for future productions. Stephen Allen Carver - my director - did a fabulous job, and my actors, Dave and Linda Parke, were perfection. For more information about this play, go to http://www.playsofjeffreyjamesircink.blogspot.com/

As I always say, live theater is meant to be seen in person, but I'll be receiving a DVD of the production courtesy of Dave Parke, Jr.

The cast and director in rehearsals. L. to R. Linda Parke, Dave Parke, Stephen Allen Carver.

Taking a break.

My cast and director.

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Happy Birthday...To Me.

Yep - that it is. What do I want, you ask? Not much really. Birthdays aren't that big of a deal for me anymore. The one thing I really want - above all else - seems to be out of my grasp (for now anyways) so...so I thought, 'how about my own wall'. The Jeff Wall. Jeff's Wall. There you go. I've got everything I need now. I don't want anything more.

Alright. I blew the candles out. You can go. Oh - I'll have an update on my play, "Pass the Salt, Please." (huge success) and I'll post something about this past weekend. Remind me if I forget. Be back in a microburst.

Gotta go watch my wall.

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The poem, "Late Lament", by drummer Graeme Edge, of The Moody Blues.

Breath deep The gathering gloom
Watch lights fade From every room
Bedsitter people Look back and lament
Another day's useless Energy spent
Impassioned lovers Wrestle as one
Lonely man cries for love And has none
New mother picks up And suckles her son
Senior citizens Wish they were young

Cold hearted orb That rules the night
Removes the colours From our sight
Red is gray and Yellow white
But we decide Which is right
And Which is an Illusion

From the song, "Nights in White Satin" (1967), sung by The Moody Blues. Music by Justin Hayward. All the Ircink's are big Moody Blues fans. I get an email blurp every so often from the band's website reminding of upcoming events. Just got one and started thinking about the band I really listened to more the The Beach Boys at first (it was The Beatles initially). When my brother and I were very young, my father - who was a musician but not playing anymore - would make us lie down in front of the stereo (those big all-in-one systems from the 1970's) with headsets on and listen to the album, Days of Future Passed, which featured this song. It was a long album for two little kids to listen to - especially that type of music - and we'd get up 'cause we'd had enough and my father would yell, 'Hey, dickheads (which he still calls us) - you're not done. It's a concept album - you have to listen to it from start to finish.' Which it was (he was a musician).

We've seen "The Moodies" a few times. Awesome concerts. Here's the link for Graeme Edge performing Late Lament during a concert: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RjxSdnydaGU, and here's the entire song (sans poetry break) from the late 60's: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9muzyOd4Lh8

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1935-1977

It was 30 years ago today that the world lost The King. I'm a huge Elvis fan. So is my Uncle Fran. 50's , 60's or 70's Elvis. Movie Elvis. Army Elvis. Comeback Elvis. Vegas Elvis. Thin or Heavier. It doesn't matter. Whether you appreciated him or not, he influenced popular culture, influenced other musicians and singers and is as much of an icon now as he was when he was alive.

Here's a few links to enjoy. This first one is a trailer for the '68 Comeback Special: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0sQhc5XbBhE, and the next is Elvis singin' a funny tune with clips of him in the background: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RUr-YO0d8To and the last one is stills from my favorite Elvis movie, Blue Hawaii: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ATkeoBqSeGE&feature=related. Oh wait, one more. This is for my Uncle Fran - the song, "Slicin' Sand" from Blue Hawaii: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4F1YJF226Tw&mode=related&search=. And another one of my favorite Elvis movies, the trailer for Girl Happy, co-starring one of my favorite wahini's, Shelley Fabares (by the way, the only actress to co-star with The King in three movies): http://youtube.com/watch?v=q0eckrMHIGk

I could go on and on - but I'll stop here. OK - last one...the "laughing version" of Elvis singing, "Are You Lonesome Tonite?": http://youtube.com/watch?v=anzKcrHC-6s&mode=related&search=. Alright...I'm done.

Among the many awards and honors bestowed on Elvis, there's one he was particularly proud of, given to him by The Jaycees (the largest service organization in the world). Elvis was named 'One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation' by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1971. Elvis' filmed acceptance speech has always been a favorite of mine, as is this excerpt from the speech:

"...When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream I ever dreamed, has come true a hundred times...I'd like to say that I learned very early in life that 'Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain't got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song.' So I keep singing a song..." - Elvis Presley, Jaycees acceptance speech (January 16th, 1971).

Funny - he was the same age as I am now. I look at what he had accomplished in his life and then I look at myself. But...he was The King, baby, you know? I miss him. Long live The King.

PS. My cousin Rob turns 43 today. Happy Birthday, Rob.

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Minnie Driver Packs'em In At Hotel Cafe in Hollywood

I think she was looking at me.

Just got back from Ms. Driver's thoroughly enjoying show at Hotel Cafe (see my June 13 post - Women Celebs I Love #1). Wonderful, wonderful singer, Minnie is. That raspy, Brit voice did her well as she soulfully glided through her set of original songs - many of them from her new CD, Seastories (which I'm buying). It was the 2nd show of her tour - she'll be in Santa Barbara tomorrow evening, then on to Oregon, Washington State, New York, among other venues. Unbeknowst to most, she's been singing since she was a child. With well-thought lyrics that we can all relate to, I definately want to see her again. And she plays the gui-tar, too.

There are a few tables up front but unless you arrive early for dinner, you have to stand. This is why I don't go to venues like Hotel Cafe. Nothing wrong with Hotel Cafe - it's intimate enough (maybe 200 people), but I parked my ass (feet) right where all the idiots with restless leg syndrome walk back and forth to go to the bar and out for a smoke. Irritating.

Don't forget to catch this London Critics Circle Film award winner and Oscar and Emmy nominated actress on the 2nd season of F/X's The Riches this fall.

Did I mention that I think she saw me? Yeh - I think she did.

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BREAKING NEWS! Los Angeles premiere of Award-Winning play, "PASS THE SALT, PLEASE."

My 10-minute play, "Pass the Salt, Please.", chosen BEST OF SHOW at UNcover: An Art Exhibition with An Erotic Vibe, Cedar Rapids, IA, will have its LA premiere at the grand re-opening of Drake's Erotica Emporium on Melrose in West Hollywood on Saturday, August 25th. Drake's is celebrating 35 years in business as one of the city's preeminent adult stores and this party will be one to "fit the bill". The event will feature performance artists, adult industry actors and my play, along with food and beverages and yet-to-be-announced schtuff.

The premise of the play is this: what would happen if the dinner conversation of a married couple in their mid to late 50’s resembled the script pages of a scene in a pornographic film? As a man and woman catch up on the day’s events, their banter morphs from “ho-hum” to “whoop-eee!” – without missing a “bite”. The scene reflects the state of sex in the America of the feminine mystique, as viewed by feminist Betty Friedan (see...my plays does have a point!).

OK. So Drake's is a porn shop - sorry, "emporium". But it's the quintessential venue for "Pass the Salt, Please.", quite frankly. And it's LA, where the adult industry is equivalent to that pink elephant in the room no one talks about (but generates more money than the mainstream movie industry). If I can expose a few hundred "sordid" types to a bit of culture at the expense of my play being performed at a porn shop, so be it.

(FYI: I was in attendance for the two-evening art exhibition in March of this year and the audience - around 400 people representing every walk of life - went berserk. Pretty amazing for such a conservative city as Cedar Rapids. Featured were paintings, photos, performance pieces and other art pieces representative of 13 states, Norway and Russia.)

The other reason I'm excited about the Drake's event is because my friend, Dave Parke and his wife, Linda, will be starring in the play. David and I were in Blood Brothers together, along with Stephen Michael Carver, who will be directing this piece. What a nice little reunion. Festivities kick off at noon with celebrity signings, music, food, drinks, raffles, and giveaways and the performances begin at 8 pm. I was told if you wanna see my play - be there at 8. Call Drake's Erotica Emporium on Melrose in West Hollywood for more information.

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Happy Birthday, Mom!

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Anybody Got Any Morton's?

Glasgow terror suspect dies from burns

LONDON - A man who suffered severe burns on over 90% of his body after allegedly crashing an explosives-laden Jeep into Glasgow Airport died in a hospital on Thursday, Strathclyde police said Thursday. Kafeel Ahmed, 27, had been in the hospital for a month with critical burns from the alleged attack on June 30, which followed a day after two failed car bombings in London. The other man in the car, Iraqi doctor Bilal Abdullah, has been charged with conspiring to set off explosions.

When it rains it pours. I hope the bastard suffered.

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Robin Hood and the Men of Greenwood

Classic illustration by N.C. Wyeth. 1917.

Up at the crack of dawn this morning, I was paging through a Milwaukee newspaper sent to me by my friend, Janis, while drinking Alterra Coffee (sent to me also by Janis) and I came across an illustration of a pirate. The first picture that popped into my head was this illustration by the renowned American artist and illustrator, N.C. Wyeth. It's one of my favorites - I have the poster in storage I'll someday frame. Wyeth is known for his children's book illustrations - among them Robinson Crusoe, Last of the Mohicans, Treasure Island and Robin Hood. I've always loved the legend of Robin Hood and, as I come from a family of bowhunters, Mr. Hood shares a special place in all our hearts.

If you're as interested in RH as I am, go to http://www.boldoutlaw.com/robpics/
for everything you ever wanted to know about England's favorite "outlaw".

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New Link to Plays

Look for this new link - situated on top of the right panel - that'll take you to Plays of Jeffrey James Ircink. You'll have access to a synopsis, setting, character breakdown, author notes and a 20-page dialogue sample of each play. Just click on READ MORE and a second window will open for that particular play.

Still working out a few little bugs here and there, but this is a good thing.

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The Biggest Little Play Festival in the World

Short & Sweet in Melbourne, Australia, showcases bite-sized dramatic treats – each less than 10 minutes. Over 200 new plays are premiered at festivals in Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore annually. The Sydney season alone features 90 main stage theatre productions (one week run), 50 wildcards and 10 music theatre pieces. It's anticipated that 1400+ scripts will be submitted from around the world – the bulk of them from Australia and New Zealand.

I submitted two 10-minute plays – "PASS THE SALT, PLEASE." is a dinner conversation between a married couple in their 50’s which resembles the script pages of a scene in a pornographic film. It won BEST OF SHOW honors at UNcover: An Art Exhibition with an Erotic Vibe, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 2007. The other new play is 4 1/2 MINUTES (give or take) TO CLIMAX, a drama about three couples attending a Christian swingers convention who are trapped in a janitor's closet by a gun-wielding religious fanatic.

This is my first year submitting to Short & Sweet – they offer over $20,000 in total prize monies and only a small percentage of their submissions come for the U.S. You Aussies and Kiwis will rue the day you met Jeffrey James Ircink. Wish me luck.

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Goodbye, De Cotter.

Ed Cotter's wife, De, passed away this past weekend in Torrance, CA. They were/are both heavily involved as director/producer at the Westchester Playhouse, near the airport in Los Angeles. Ed directed me in two separate productions of Blood Brothers (he won an Emmy for Editing while working on Happy Days). De was one of the sweetest ladies I know - really...always had a smile on her face. And she was a great theater producer.

Her memorial was a wonderful celebration of her life and I reconnected with a number of my Blood Brother actors/friends. As a matter of fact, two of the actors are interested in performing in "Pass the Salt, Please." and we're looking at a venue in Hollywood for a future production. Funny how the passing of a loved one brings people together. Why do we wait until such a moment to rekindle friendships and loves?

Let's see, I connected with a playwright acquaintance who now lives in Birmingham, England - Jaz Davison. She now has in her possession several of my plays she plans to read; I found out one of the BB cast members moved to Hawaii - Rob Duvall; another cast member is opening his own theater in the Valley - August, and finally, a director/actor from the Westchester Playhouse suffered a similar eye injury as me (Gail) and we talked and held each other and assured each other that everything will be OK.

That's it. Isn't that enough? Thank you, De. You will be missed.

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Aldo Luongo, "The Hawk" & 100th Posting on PASSION = TRUTH!

Yes, yes, thank you. Not that you've been keeping track but 'tis a milestone. Just need to figure out how to get PASSION = TRUTH out to more people. It's already been perused in over 20 countries and all over the U.S. and it's been a fun process. So I thought long and hard about the subject matter of my 100th post. And it's an interesting story.

The artist Aldo Luongo was born in Argentina to Italian parents. http://www.aldoluongo.com/ The character you see here is Luongo's, "The Hawk" - a character spun from the memory of his father and Luongo’s discovery of his future self.

According to the wine dude at Artiste, one of the wineries we visited last month in Santa Barbara, Aldo aged his father many years to come up with "Hawk". There are 14 paintings in this series - Hawk shooting billiards; Hawk sitting on a park bench; Hawk cooking and playing cards. You get the picture. Here's the catch: these vignettes of Hawk are representative of the last 15 minutes of his life. You see, he's just been told he has 15 minutes to live and he is caught on canvas doing the things he loves to do most before he dies.

Pretty cool concept. The portrait of Hawk here was commissioned for Artiste Winery and appears as a label on select wines.

So, a toast...to Hawk - and all of you. Thanks for hanging around these last few months. I hope you've enjoyed what you've read and seen as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you.

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A Stroll Through the Venice Canals

I first toured the Venice Canals about a year ago when I spent a weekend in Venice. It only took me 8 years to find the little buggers. I swear - I can't tell you how many times I've searched them out only to come up empty-handed. So I went out today to snap some photos - it was a Beach Boy-esqe, gorgeous California day. The Venice Boardwalk was packed - you could tell by the line of traffic down Washington Boulevard waiting to get to the beach. Idiots. So I stayed far away from that whole mess (the canals are only 3 blocks from the beach) and aside from the few other folk touring the canals - maybe 20-30 people in all - it was wonderfully quiet and I was alone.

This is my favorite of all the homes on the canals. I've noticed it several times, but actually got to meet the owner today. Nice guy. I love this hideaway as it reminds me of Wisconsin and the Northwoods. Maybe that's the reason the owner was so nice (and he was grilling). As a matter of fact, I met four owners this day - 3 were nice and one must have been a mute because when I said hi they (2 people) ignored me (oh they heard me alright!). See two more views below.

So that's the Venice Canals in a nutshell. Nice. It was already 3:15 and the beach traffic had not let up. Idiots. I had about 30 minutes left on the meter so I hightailed it over to the Baja Cantina, sat outside in the sun and had me a Corona and a smoke. Then back home to crying children (not mine - I don't have any). Goodbye canals. Goodbye tranquility. Goodbye little black and white, herder dog. I SHALL return.

© Copyright 2007. All photos by Jeffrey James Ircink

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