the pod bay door

:: Haven’t been in much of a writing mood lately. This is a long weekend in Alberta. I saw Ripley’s Game last night, on DVD. Directed by Liliana Cavani with a score by Ennio Morricone, it is an overlooked gem of a movie from 2002, starring John Malkovich as Tom Ripley, the character created by Patricia Highsmith, and featured in four movies to date. It’s a very good movie, and I have no idea why it didn’t receive a wide general release in North America. What a shame.

:: The Stanley Kubrick Exhibition is on in Berlin. Wish I could attend. I’ve e-mailed to ask about purchasing the catalogue. Available for viewing now, in pdf, is Matthew Modine’s Full Metal Diary, written while filming Full Metal Jacket. Included are a number of his photographs from the set.

Upcoming this weekend is the folk music festival. My brother Chris, and friends Tony and his daughter Claire, will be staying at my place while they attend the festival. Chris is also volunteering. Expect little if any blogging this year week. I am otherwise uninspired these days.

:: I drove into Winnipeg this afternoon, from Langenburg SK. The 4-hour trip took me through a storm system that alternated between a few drops of rain and a steady downpour. Driving at times was hazardous.

:: I begin a road trip today, driving to Langenburg SK, and then to Winnipeg tomorrow. Talk to you soon.

:: A day later. Thanks to all for the many birthday wishes I received, by comment, e-mail, card, in person, phone. It’s nice to have good friends and family who care.

I am getting ready for another trip. On Thursday I drive to Winnipeg for six days, then fly to St John’s on July 7 for the Big Wedding. I’ve never been to The Rock, and am looking forward to visiting a new province, and meeting new people. I’ll be playing guitar and – yes – singing at the wedding. Afterwards, I’ll hang out in the Avalon Peninsula for three days, with friends/colleagues, Kenton and Susan, before returning to Winnipeg on July 13th, and visiting there for a few more days. I know now that I’ll need a vacation when this trip is over. 😉

Meanwhile, check out this video of the classic 70’s tune, Afternoon Delight, as sung by Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, David Koechner, and Paul Rudd, from the movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. It’s hilarious. Wonder whatever happened to the members of the Starland Vocal Band. I used to have a crush on one of the singers, Margot Chapman. Bill Danoff, who founded the band, has a web site, and he’s written some well known tunes, including Take Me Home, Country Roads.

:: It’s early in the morning, June 28, 2004. I was born on June 28, 1953, at 1:05 am, Central Time, in Winnipeg. I don’t know if daylight savings time was in effect that year. No matter. I celebrate my 51st birthday today. It’s also the day of our federal election, in which Canadians will, most likely, elect a minority government.

Whatever. 51. And I still feel like a kid. Happy Birthday to me! 🙂

:: Today is Father’s Day, and I just finished chatting on the phone with my Dad for about 35 minutes. My Dad was born in Winnipeg on Sept 12, 1926, and worked very hard for 31 years to put food on the table for Mom and us kids when we were growing up in St Boniface, Manitoba, in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He is 77 years old, and still doing quite well. He is an artist and a photographer, and spend a lot of time online, learning about the computer and the Internet. He also drives cars to Minnesota and North Dakota on a regular basis for a local Winnipeg company. Like my Mom, he has a thirst for learning new things, never content to sit quietly and watch the world pass him by. With my Mom, he is an inspiration, and a hero to me. I am very fortunate that my parents are both alive this late in life, and as well, to be so active and relatively healthy. Check out my Dad’s paintings if you haven’t seen them yet, and he does do commissions!

To my friends who are fathers, I wish you a Happy Father’s Day as well. This would include fellow webloggers Tony, Steve, Robert, and Derryl. And while I’m not a father, I received a wonderful and heartfelt e-Father’s Day card from this beautiful little girl in Lethbridge, Tigana, who is Robert’s daughter. I am also thinking of my foster child in Togo today, Welalo, and my e-mentee at Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bradley. I have no children of my own, but I have many who are very special to me, and I consider myself blessed and fortunate because of that.