Politicians and Perception

    My rant this week is about is about the way we view politicians in this country.(Sorry, kids, if this is too heavy a subject, but, it topped the list of things that aggravated me this week so it's what I'm going with.)
    A lot of the right wing newscasts this week have wasted a lot of air time complaining about Obama doing the student loan thing on Jimmy Fallon. They also wasted a lot of oxygen on Hilary Clinton taking time out to have a couple of beers and shake her booty during her visit to Colombia. (Probably the tamest thing that went on in Colombia that week).
    They said this is not the sort of behavior that our nations leaders should exhibit. Of course, they failed to mention Mitt Romney's appearance on Letterman doing the Top 10 list, or, going way back, to Nixon's appearance on Laugh In in the late 60's. This, however, is not really surprising. It's only reprehensible to them when it's something the Democrat's do. Fair and balanced, kids, fair and balanced.
    That said, I don't have a problem with conservative beliefs. Some of them I agree with, some I don't. The same thing goes with liberal beliefs. What gets my goat is the attempted polarization that some in the media seek to inflict, on both sides of the spectrum.
    Life is way too complicated to deal with in this manner. Politics are way too complicated to deal with in this manner. Anyone that tells you any different is either a fool or has a perverse agenda.
   Now, it doesn't bother me in the least to see The President on Jimmy Fallon. It doesn't bother me at all to see Hillary Clinton have a beer and a turn on the dance floor. I thought Romney was a good sport on Letterman (a bit stiff, perhaps, but he's not an actor)(Dutch would have nailed it!) It shows they are...........wait for it............HUMAN!
    That is what I look for in a politician, actual red American blood, with a sense of humor, an ability to be self-deprecating, an imagination, an ability to walk a way from the job for a minute, have fun and blow off steam. You can't be effective in any high pressure job without the ability to decompress and unwind.
   Unfortunately, I think, the people who are best suited for politics are the ones who wouldn't dare get involved. The media (on both sides) crank the glare of the spotlight up so much that hardly anyone can stand up to its glow. So, hardly anyone of substance (with more than a little common sense) dares offer themselves up for it.
    So (most of the time) we are left with idealogues and extremists. People so committed to their own inanity that compromise is impossible. People who seek to impose their own version of reality on everyone instead of approaching problems with an open mind. It is this arrogance of will that permeates national politics today. It is this mentality that creates contention and conflict instead of searching for solutions. These people want to win not compromise. So this is the mess we are left with.
   Congress has been hovering at a 9% approval rate for this very reason and until our perceptions of who we support for these offices change, until we do our own research and demand answers, not allowing ourselves to be influenced by the perceptions of corporate media (who have a very vested interest in the outcome) we will continue to sputter down this same dismal route.
 
 

 
 
 

Un-reality

  OK Folks, my rant for this week is about reality. Yes, you read correctly...Reality. Reality T.V. and real reality.
   Let's ease into this with a look at reality T.V.
   I hate reality T.V. Specifically, the shows that award cash and prizes. You know the ones. I can't name them for legal reasons but we've all seen them. People prostituting themselves to be herded together on tropical islands or locked away in a house to behave like immature, scheming, bastards, lying and crying on national T.V. for cash and prizes. The bigger the bastards the better the ratings. Expensive advertising budgets spent wagering on moral ineptitude and vacuous personality.
   That is bad enough, but then there are far MORE people that are addicted to these shows. Yep, real reality. People that actually plan their weeks and program their DVR's to keep them up on the latest hi-jinks of these sad people. Perhaps, it is a character flaw of some kind on my part but I just cannot comprehend the desire to watch people behave in this manner. Having raised children, I understand and expect this behavior FROM CHILDREN but I have no desire to watch adults behaving in this manner. I find it disgusting. I don't care how much money is at stake.
   The next batch of reality shows I loathe are the deadliest ones. Should be description enough. My problem with these shows, though, lie solely on the audience. These shows portray men and women doing their best to earn a living doing a thankless and dangerous job. I will admit some people watch these shows admiring the bravery and were withal these people portray but I'm afraid far more people are attracted to them waiting for someone to die. The same reason they watch car races, daredevils, and bog down traffic at an automobile accident, hoping to catch a glimpse of gore.
   Perhaps, the mystery of our own mortality binds us to this morbid fascination as the face of death will eventually be our own. Or perhaps, we have not moved far as a species from the spectacle of death played out in the Roman arenas of antiquity. I just hope we're not backsliding into a more vicious state.

Random Synaptic Flatulence

Back at the blog!!

   This is my first post in over a month and according to Robert Brewer (his name is NOT Bob), I should be ashamed of my silly self. In doing research for the creation of my artists platform, I discovered his blog and have found some solid advise on how to do this. One of the things he stresses is that my blog should be consistent. Once every other day or once a week, on time, every time, onward into infinity.
   Now the next thing, to get followers, I need to engage in social media i.e. Facebook and Twitter and comment on things and invite friends to read my blog. This little experiment with my friends on Facebook has failed miserably (except for two good friends-and God bless both of you!!) My random musings just haven't cut the mustard. I don't really know what people were expecting to see but it obviously wasn't what was there.
   So, WTF do I do?
   I joined Twitter at the urging of Mr. Brewer and started following literary types, musicians, my favorite comedians, etc. It's only been a couple of weeks so I'm going to say the jury is still out. I did manage to attract two followers that first week. A indie music producer in Canada (shout out to B-Ry) and a German winemaker. That's right, kiddies, a German winemaker?!? I don't know how. I don't know why. Perhaps my unique sense of humor tickles the Teutonic funny bone. I don't know, but I'm grateful to have them, (now if I can talk them into sending me a sampler we'll be in business!!!)
   So, now my next task is to get this blog on track. Which would be just fan-freakin-tastic if I had any crazy  inkling on what to do with it.
   Posting poetry isn't getting it. Talking about my journey as a writer isn't getting it (but, hell, I'm going to post this anyway) I tried to get some friends (musicians and poets) to share this space and post whatever they were doing. Nobody bit. I then tried to get a photographer friend to send me stuff to help give her a forum. (Not that it's much of a forum). But she wasn't digging it, either.
   Now what?
   I know no one wants to listen to me complain, (like now). But I am at a genuine loss. I thought about reviewing my daily grind, but that's part of what bores the hell out of me about Facebook. I mean really, I could give a shit less about what you're fixing for dinner. I'm certainly glad that you're able to afford to eat but I don't need the details.
   That said, no, I can't pinpoint the exact moment when I got to be a grouchy old bastard, though, I think it was more of a gradual evolution than a paradigm shift.
   But along this route I think I may have actually found my niche....bitching! I mean, hell, Andy Rooney ended his long and storied career closing out the 60 minutes broadcast with one of his rants. If I didn't watch any of the rest of the broadcast I tried to tune in and see what he was on about.....So.....
    Maybe that can be the gig for this blog. My rants and raves for the week!! The more I think about it the more I like it. Even if no one reads the damn thing, I'll feel better. I think my wife and kids might like the fact that I have a place to vent without having to bend their ear.
   This just might be a win-win.
   It won't distract or take away from my novels or poetry and can double as a great writing exercise as I try to put a well written spin on whatever is stuck in my craw.
   I really think this might have some legs, folks. It's worth a shot!
   Stay tuned..........................................

Writers Block

  Right now, I'm trying to work my way through a terrible case of writers block. I am in the middle of re-writing my first book "Sierra Court Blues" and was zipping through it at a decent pace. I've made a lot of changes to this second draft trying to tighten the story arc and better develop my characters. All was going really well until I got to Chapter 8. With chapter 8 I've hit the wall.
   I know the story. I lived the story. But somehow in my attempt to lay it all out in a "fashionable" literary style and move the story from A to B, I'm stuck.
  Part of my problem springs from being intensely aware of my craft. I know what this chapter needs to accomplish. I know where it is going and how it needs to get there. But for the past two weeks, I've stared at it more than I've added to it. The awareness of all these elements has stopped me dead in my tracks.
  All of my training tells me not to stop, not to fall prey to my current lack of direction. Writer's write, even when they're not inspired. It's a job like any other. You have to go at it even when your not feeling it. And right now, folks, I'm not feeling it.
  But it's only the book I'm having trouble with. I am also working on a really long poem and that's going well. I work on my poetry during breaks from the book. It keeps me writing and offers a diversion.
  Right now, though, I'm completely diverted.
  I want to get this book done! It took me 5 years to write the first draft. Of course there were big swipes of time in that five years where I didn't work on it as much as I would have liked but I never gave up on it. It's a story I need to tell!
  I started on the re-write last September. In six months, I've crafted a really tight story, above and way beyond the first draft. But now it's kicking my ass.
 So I'm asking, should I walk away from it for awhile to gain perspective? Or should I get back in the ring with it and fight it out?

Poetry Reading at the Winery-The review

   The poetry reading at the Bardwell Winery Saturday night went really, really well. The place was packed! The small party room at the winery was filled past capacity with our poets, their families and guests. It was great to meet the writers from the New Richmond and Williamsburg groups and hear their words in an intimate setting. There are some very talented people writing here in Southwest Ohio and I was thrilled to be able to help put this together.
   I was especially proud of the teen-agers that read from my group, Jake, Kassandra, and Jasmine. All three of them were really nervous before they went on but they presented themselves wonderfully. Each of them possess a depth of talent that goes beyond their years. It is heartwarming to see that poetry hasn't been lost on the next generation.
  Each of our poets presented a unique voice and style, proving that it is still possible to breath new life into the various forms of verse. It's like I told Jake, Kassi and Jasmine in one of our poetry workshops, "the best way to approach poetry is to read. Study the masters, learn the styles, learn the forms, decipher the Greek. Then after you done the work and are familiar with all of the elements and permutations, ignore it all and do whatever the hell you want!"
  And on that note, I felt a special kinship with the poets there from my generation. I could feel a commonality in the tone and timbre of their work, a kind of shared vision in our presentation that points toward an academic rebellion. Our work was as much about intimacy as image and I found it fascinating that this vision in our works came about in isolation. It seemed my cozy corner of Generation X was pretty much all on the same page!
   But that doesn't steal a bit of steam from the Baby Boomers present. The ladies from the Williamsburg and New Richmond groups came out swinging! Their work was highly polished, taut and very insightful. Their heart echoed through all of their work and their humor and exuberance were absolutely contagious. I had great conversations with a couple of them after the reading. They were just a joy to be around. I was glad to have met all of them.
   We all agreed that we had to put together another reading in the very near future. I think the sense of community I was striving for has finally found its impetus. I can't wait to see where it leads.


  Our Poets;
  Lisa Brandstetter
  Amy Cunningham
  Martina Davis
  Jim Eggers
  Donna Falen
  Jasmine Fields
  Nan McKay
  Arlene Nichting
  Lawrence Parlier
  Jake Stone
  Kassandra Vernon
  Becky Weaver
  Kathleen Wilson

I thank all of you for a very special night!!!

  

Poetry, Wine and Whimsy

   This Saturday (Feb. 18th) my writing group is putting on its first poetry/literary reading at The Bardwell winery in Mt. Orab, OH. We've invited poets and writers from all over southwest Ohio and were suprised by the response. It seems there is a wealth of talented writers right here in our back yard.
   Part of the reason for putting on the reading was to forge a sense of community among the writers in our area. Writing can be a lonely endeavor, sitting at the keyboard, attempting to preserve a piece of your intellect, of your experiences, imagination and soul in cohesive patterns of print, hoping it will strike a familiar chord in the minds of others. Obsessing over every sentence, in every scene, on every page, always wondering if your really making any sense at all.
  So we gather in groups seeking fellowship and legitimacy, reading and critiquing each others works as we endeadeavor to learn and grow. In the best groups, deep bonds are formed as the search for clarity, intellect, skill and beauty become the common aim. My group is like that, and I consider myself lucky.
  When the idea of the reading came about we decided early on that it couldn't be just about us. We were eager to hear new voices and share in new ideas. We decided to seek out our fellow writers and invite them to join us and give voice to their work. We wanted to share with the community the diversity of talented writers that they likely did not know surrounded them.
   We wanted to expand the sense of fellowship we have to all of the writers and writer's groups that are thriving in our little corner of the world to create a sense of community capable of pushing us all to greater heights of talent and skill and to cultivate an audience eager for our creations.
   And, at very least, as a great and grand excuse to get together over a few bottles of wine and have some fun!!
   We hope to see you there.


                                            Poetry Night At The Bardwell Winery
                                             hosted by Gayle and Randy Weddell
                                                            720 N. Main St.
                                                            Mt. Orab, OH
                                                    Sat. February 18th, 2012
                                                       Reading starts @ 7pm

The Small Voice

                                                   



                                           

                                                 


                                                 The small voice takes over
                                                  In the quiet season of sleep

                                                 Pale desires project necessity
                                                          And intention

                                                       In these calm ebbs
                                                            The force
                                                        The spark of life
                                            Makes itself known to the dreamer

                                                When eyes open to morning
                                                              However
                                                        Awareness scatters
                                                     To the mind’s recesses
                                                          To lie obscure
                                                      
                                                        Beyond language
                                                                 And
                                                            Explanation