ALL GOOD THINGS

 Sunset on Christmas Day

Christmas is finally over, but we're still ensconced in the maddening limbo of the holiday season. New Year's Eve is our next hurdle.

I've decided to curtail my complaints, rants, grievances, and general misery - and try to concentrate on all good things. At least for a few minutes. As a hardcore pessimist it won't be easy, but it's my holiday gift to you.

I finally replied to your comments on my previous post. I generally love comments (as long as they're not death threats), but I don't always acknowledge them simply because I'm lazy - and often because I have nothing interesting to contribute.

Christmas Eve was remarkably pleasant and I savored the persistent fog and dreary weather. I ate supper at midnight and watched the 2002 Hallmark movie Silent Night - which was remarkably good. It was based on a true story about a group of American and German soldiers who were unwittingly brought together by fate on Christmas Eve in 1944.
It's available on YouTube, in case anyone cares. 

On Christmas day the fog and rain cleared out and the temperature rose to 65 balmy degrees (that's Fahrenheit, for those of you in Stockholm). The day was marred by four (yes, four) power outages. They were consistently annoying but mercifully brief.

Today - which I'm assuming is Monday - is still unseasonably mild and windy. It's a clean wind here (not tainted with west Texas dirt), and it inspires the treetops to sing as a great haunting chorus.

 This was my back yard in west Texas during a windstorm (no, I am not kidding)

 This is my Tennessee back yard today during a windstorm. I rest my case.

I watched another movie recently, the 2012 German film Ludwig II starring Sabin Tambrea as the ill-fated Bavarian King (directed by Peter Sehr). Despite taking many liberties with historical accuracy, I thought it was a wonderful film. It certainly held my interest for the two and a half hour duration. 

It's difficult to compare this recent film with the 1973 film about Ludwig II directed by Visconti - - both efforts are good in their own right. 

 Sabin Tambrea as King Ludwig II

I've always had a strong penchant for Ludwig II, the "mad" Bavarian king, because in many ways we were alike. I never held the belief that he was insane, but rather feel that he was an extreme eccentric who chose to avoid the harsh realities of life and kingship by escaping into the safe and soothing fantasy of music, art, and literature.

This is the real King Ludwig II

When I was a child, I escaped from the brutal reality of my father's violence and abuse by reading books, writing, and delving into music. This chimerical safe zone of artistic delusion has followed me throughout life.

Two more things: just for the record, I never agreed with the general theory that Ludwig committed suicide. I believe that he was murdered by his (many) enemies.

The 2012 film Ludwig II is available on YouTube, if you want to see it. It's definitely not a movie that will appeal to everyone - and it's in German. Be sure to enable the English subtitles (I can understand German, but the subtitles help immensely).

I never initially intended this post to be a movie review but, hopefully this transgression will be forgiven.

Now I'm off to feed my cats, feed the 'possums, and make dinner (for myself). 

 

I THINK IT'S CHRISTMAS

Christmas is just about over. Now, don't you feel foolish for working your ass off putting up those decorations and emptying your piggy bank buying gifts?

Aw, settle down. I only said that to cause an adverse reaction. It's one of my specialties.

Some blessed Christmas spirit must have pimped my recent post Christmas Music to Treasure, because it got over 250 views in only a few hours (you can find it somewhere on the sidebar).
Heck, usually my blog posts only get about 3 views in 250 years. I don't know why my readership is so low. I'm damn good.
Look carefully and you'll find a bitter hint of sarcasm.

Anyway, whoever the Christmas spirit is, I hope they'll do it again. And again.

My previous Christmas Eve post is long and tediously intricate. Readers don't like that. They don't want to waste precious time pondering. And I don't blame them. But I love to go on a sentimental ramble now and then.

The above photo was taken in my back yard at sunset on Christmas Eve. Just in case you cared. It was a glorious sunset.

So how was your Christmas, Jon?

I thought you'd never ask.
Let's begin with Wednesday night, the 23rd. I laid down on my bed rather early, just to read. Somehow I fell asleep, book in hand. I was sleeping heavily when the ringing telephone literally jolted me out of a dream.

It was an automated call, saying that the county I live in was under a tornado watch. That's nerve-wracking news when you're half-asleep and half-naked (I threw the half-naked part in just to pique your interest).

The wind was already howling outside, so I hurriedly got dressed and exchanged a few texts with my cousin Nancy - - until my cell phone service was lost. That happens quite often way out here in the sticks.

The storms moved in quickly and it was one helluva night, but no serious damage around here.

The foul weather cleared out on Thursday and Christmas Eve was absolutely gorgeous. And unseasonably warm! It was over 70 degrees (Fahrenheit) and stayed nearly that warm all night. A beautiful moon and a strong, eerie wind. 

By dawn on Christmas Day, clouds moved in and storms began rumbling. It rained in a torrential downpour nearly all day.

When I went to bed (on Christmas Eve) I slept in blissful, undisturbed peace - which is rare. Usually my HellChild cat Scruffy runs around the house and periodically jumps on the bed to rudely wake me.
Even my other cat Bosco was absent.

It wasn't until around 10:00 a.m. Christmas morning - when it was pouring rain - that I happened to open the front door. A soaking-wet Scruffy stumbled in. She had been outside all night. I have no clue how she got out. 

The amazing thing is that Bosco (who usually stays all night on my bed) spent the night by the front door - waiting for Scruffy to come in! 

So where was your old cat Scratch, Jon?

Scratch usually stays out of the way and minds her own business.

I know, long cat stories are boring - which might be why my readership is low. I could tell about my erotic encounter with Santa Claus, but I'll save it for my memoir.

I had a peaceful, uneventful, very rainy Christmas. When the rain stopped in late afternoon the hunters came out. I heard nearby gunshots for quite awhile.

It is now about 6:00 in the evening as I'm writing this. Another storm is in progress and it's raining hard again.
I've rounded up the cats and took a head count, just to be safe.

Now I'm going to take a brief nap and then have a very late dinner (I love peaceful midnight meals).

I hope your Christmas was fantastic - - or at least tolerable.

THIS COULD BE CHRISTMAS DAY

Random pine trees in my back yard

on Christmas morning. Some of them are nearly

100 feet tall. 

 



I'm not exactly sure if it is Christmas. It's too quiet, too isolated, too removed from the frenzy of society. And it's too mild. Where's the snow? Where's the ice? There are pine trees and deer in my back yard. Yet, the weather is so agreeable that tiny birds are fluttering gracefully through the foliage as if they've escaped from a scene in an old Disney animated movie.

I love being in this newly-found wilderness. I'm enthralled with my mountaintop environment - - but I was expecting snow on Christmas. Am I asking for too much?

You're talking too much, Jon, as usual. But we're used to it.

My cat Scruffy at the window

wondering where Santa Claus is.

 

 

Yesterday morning (Christmas Eve) the temp was in the 50's and I was in my shirt sleeves (with pants on, of course). I got an emergency call from the moving company and was compelled to go to the bank (I'll spare you the details). The bank closed at noon and I left the house at 11:20. I drove at breakneck speed through dangerous mountain roads and made it to town just in time.

After the bank ordeal, I went grocery shopping (another ordeal). Then I stopped to see my cousin Nancy. A pleasant visit. We had coffee and talked about old times. All the wild adventures we used to have.

By the time I left for home, the temperature dropped and freezing rain began to fall. The narrow mountain road was slick and more harrowing than usual. Why the hell did I sell my pickup truck in Texas? Actually, I need a couple of pack mules and an Indian guide.

And if anyone tells me that it's now properly called a "Native American Guide" I'm gonna bitch-slap you with my muddy boots.

The woods in my back yard.

Frosty and misty on Christmas Eve.

 

So, how was my Christmas Eve?
I'm living in an empty house with three cats and a creepy recliner chair left by the previous owners. It's not exactly Rodeo Drive.

I bought a small TV table to house my laptop and I have one metal folding chair.....which hurts my ass so much that I had to put a pillow on it.

All in all it's not too bad. I'm a masochist. I'm used to roughing it. I stocked up on groceries. I don't plan to venture out to town again until next week.

One minor problem - - I bought a lot of canned goods. It wasn't until I got home that I realized I don't have a can opener. Last night I opened a can of evaporated milk with a screw driver.

Kitchen utensils? I have one small pan, two cups, one plate. My enormous stock of kitchen things are still in storage. Laughing at me.

Prelude to my Christmas dinner:

A plate, a tea mug, two candles

and a tiny Xmas tree. I have the tree on the

countertop so the cats don't devour it.

 

 

I admittedly miss my huge Texas kitchen - with thirty cabinets, two refrigerators, and a big pantry. My kitchen here is tiny - similar to one designed for a Barbie Dream House.
But I'll get used to it. I'm easily adaptable and extremely congenial. Just ask the boys in the band.

Jon, that was crass and completely uncalled for.

Yea, but, as we used to say in journalism - it makes good copy.

So how did I completely stray away from the subject of Christmas Day? My mind trends to wander and I have no control over it. Unless I get a leash.

Hope your Christmas Day was pleasant - - and if it wasn't, I hope you recover from it soon.