On a more enjoyable note,
I've Been Tagged!
The 7 things meme
Padre Mickey done tagged me!
1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies
Hmm. That would be All Creatures Great and Small. I've bought (used) and given away several copies of it. It's one of my all-time favorites.
2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music
Schubert's "Ave Maria." It's so full of the longing for the divine; it reaches straight into my soul, and takes me so close to the divine, as I listen.
3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue
There are two that come to mind, both with the name Africa in them. Out of Africa, which I've seen a number of times, yet, if it comes on TV, I find myself sitting and watching again. The other is The African Queen. Another great story, with two of my favorite actors: Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.
Like Kate, I adored Bogie.4. Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief
The aforesaid Humphrey Bogart (whom I've adored since I first saw him) and Katharine Hepburn. Also, Kevin Spacey, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks, to name a few more. I obviously have trouble limiting my choices.
5. Name a work of art you’d like to live with
Hmmm... so difficult to choose. Some great works of art are great on museum walls, but difficult to live with. I guess I'd pick one of the impressionist or post-impressionist paintings -- maybe Degas' "Dance Instructor." I have a copy of Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" -- maybe "Starry Night" to go with it. Maybe Rodin's sculpture "The Thinker."
6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life
I read To Kill A Mockingbird as an adolescent, after having spent a couple of years in South Alabama, where white people still held their breath while passing a "colored" person on the street. I had picked up some of those attitudes, but that book started a shift in me. Then, I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in high school. Oh, my. On a more intellectual level, and also read in high school, Brave New World and 1984 shocked me into what is my now firm anti-FASCIST stand and reluctance to give up any right to Big Brother. (George W. Bush certainly augmented and cemented that attitude.)
7. Name a punch line that always makes you laugh
I'm not sure it's a punchline, but Jack Benny putting his hand to his face and saying, "Well." Benny is another one I saw on TV from the time I was a little child, and I adored him. Still do.
OK. I tag Jim at Today's Gospel Insights, Lisa at My Manner of Life and Brother Causticus at titusoneten! (I can't wait to see which books and movies he casts his gimlet gaze upon!) And KJ, ninh and Mimi, who post at MadPriest's all the time. Drat that Padre Mickey -- he already tagged MadPriest.
Update 9:58 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19
I've heard back from Jim at Today's Gospel Insights. His musings are too good to be left in the comments section:
Well, OK. Jim says
1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies: The Way of the Wolf, by Martin Bell
2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music: "Once in Royal David's City," performed by the Cambridge Choir.
3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue: The Caine Mutiny, once again a Bogey flick. I have met too many Queegs in my life, and enjoy rolling the marbles down their speaking pipes!
4. Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief: Bogey! Who knew? [I suspected, Pat says]
5. Name a work of art you’d like to live with: Michaelangelo -- Anything
6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life: Thomas Wolfe's You Can't Go Home Again. You can't.
7. "Come on, Dad, you promised you'd play fair!" (Jesus to God on the first hole)
Jim's answer to No. 7 made me spew Diet Coke all over my keyboard.
Update 3:15 p.m. 01-20-07
Both Lisa and Brother Causticus have posted great entries. Grandmére Mimi, are you out there?
Update 11:38 p.m. 01-24-07
Our friend KJ chimes in with his 7 Things Meme:
KJ said...
I have completed my homework.
1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies
"Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?" by Letha Scazoni and Virginia Mollenkott. This book was given to me prior to coming out and I found it very helpful in making the seemingly complex very, very simple. As I have become an evangelical gay boy magnet, I find many opportunities to share this book.
2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music
J.S. Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, 2nd movement. Few baroque pieces communicate passion the way that movement does, IMO.
3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue
October Sky. I think that the theme of father and son with so much in common, yet worlds apart, both loved, faults and all, by wife and mother, is ageless.
4. Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief
Denzel Washington and Jodi Foster. I'd pay to watch and listen to the two of them read the phone book.
5. Name a work of art you’d like to live with
I own it. It was painted by a friend of mine. It's a Western Washington pastoral scene, milk cows and all. It hangs on the wall next to my desk where I can look at it as opposed to the parking lot out the window.
6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life
"The Keys of the Kingdom" by AJ Cronin. I first read this book when I was in high school and it challenged many of the stereotypes I had about priests, and the Catholic faith.
7. Name a punch line that always makes you laugh
"Run away! Run away!" which I guess isn't really a punch line as much as a recurring funny line in a movie of infamy and damn good advice.
KJ, I don't know the movie you're referring to in #7. ?? (I don't get out a whole lot) I remember Keys of the Kingdom - terrific.
Thanks!
I suspect Grandmere Mimi is going to be busy trying to figure out her new blog for a little bit. We may have to wait a while for her "7 Things."
15 comments:
Brother Causticus breaks with his usual practice of remaining silent on the blogs of others to greet his sister in Christ St. Pat and thank her for including him in the amusing little fol de rol of "Seven Things".
http://www.titusoneten.blogspot.com
Good grief, Pat! I faced easier questions on my MA comps! But your challenge is received and accepted. I'll give this some thought, and try to respond this weekend over on my site.
Of course, now that Brother Causticus has posted his responses, I am already swimming in a sea of inadequacy.
Brother Causticus has the same effect on me Lisa. I wish I were half as witty. Instead, I feel like a half-wit.
His posting is hilarious. Everyone better take a look.
Well, OK. Jim says
1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies: The Way of the Wolf, by Martin Bell
2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music: "Once in Royal David's City," performed by the Cambridge Choir.
3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue: The Caine Mutiny, once again a Bogey flick. I have met too many Queegs in my life, and enjoy rolling the marbles down their speaking pipes!
4. Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief: Bogey! Who knew?
5. Name a work of art you’d like to live with: Michaelangelo -- Anything
6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life: Thomas Wolfe's You Can't Go Home Again. You can't.
7. "Come on, Dad, you promised you'd play fair!" (Jesus to God on the first hole)
I just want to thank you for the Mary Magdelene of Bollywood photo on the upper right.
Exactly where is this grotto?
The French say, of course, it's in the South of France.
I heard it's in South Miami Beach.
All right, Pat. Mission accomplished.
I have completed my homework.
1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies
"Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?" by Letha Scazoni and Virginia Mollenkott. This book was given to me prior to coming out and I found it very helpful in making the seemingly complex very, very simple. As I have become an evangelical gay boy magnet, I find many opportunities to share this book.
2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music
J.S. Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, 2nd movement. Few baroque pieces communicate passion the way that movement does, IMO.
3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue
October Sky. I think that the theme of father and son with so much in common, yet worlds apart, both loved, faults and all, by wife and mother, is ageless.
4. Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief
Denzel Washington and Jodi Foster. I'd pay to watch and listen to the two of them read the phone book.
5. Name a work of art you’d like to live with
I own it. It was painted by a friend of mine. It's a Western Washington pastoral scene, milk cows and all. It hangs on the wall next to my desk where I can look at it as opposed to the parking lot out the window.
6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life
"The Keys of the Kingdom" by AJ Cronin. I first read this book when I was in high school and it challenged many of the stereotypes I had about priests, and the Catholic faith.
7. Name a punch line that always makes you laugh
"Run away! Run away!" which I guess isn't really a punch line as much as a recurring funny line in a movie of infamy and damn good advice.
As I have become an evangelical gay boy magnet, I find many opportunities to share this book.
KJ, do you mean there are gay evangelical boys?
Has anyone told the Evangelicals?
KJ speaks of Monty Python's The Holy Grail, another movie I can watch over and over again.
Besides the line quoted by KJ, my other favorite lines are:
"You're mother is a hamster, and I fart in your general direction!"
Also, "She turned you into a Newt?"
"Well, I guht be'uh"
The quote is "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries! I fart in your general direction!"
"Some day, my lad, all this will be yours!" "Wot the curtains?"
I stand corrected Jim!
Oh, I remember now. It's been ages since I've seen that movie. I love Monty Python, (Life of Brian was great, too) and I'll watch their old TV shows, anytime I can find them.
"Huge tracts of land!"
Yes, Pat, the evangelicals get the memo each time one of their own is led to be fully authentic -- much like pebbles in a pond.
Growing up, I truly believed I was the only Christian with a same-gendered sexual orientation. I kid you not! Subsequently, my thoughts are never far from those trapped behind walls of misinformation and belief systems irrelevant to the Gospel.
That is just one reason that I strive to present a loving response to those who fear and misrepresent us no matter how horrible the attack. When closeted, I was never moved to thought or action by strident attacks that simply categorized and stereotyped all that I knew. However, discovering loving, Christian community that affirmed me for exactly who I was, that was a different matter entirely and could not be easily dismissed.
I'm so glad you found that community, KJ. Living in isolation is awful. Hugs coming at ya.
It's much easier to be angry than to present a loving response. That's Christ working through you.
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