Favorite Songs About Rain Part Two

A few months ago I was feeling nostalgic and listing all of the songs about rain that I liked, and that is an awesome list, but I was urged to add a few more songs to the list and instead of using the same post, I started a new list of songs that reminded one of my friends about what they love about the rain.  Water in and of itself has a quality of power to it, no matter if it is a river, a lake, an ocean or the rain, water can touch the soul.  Enjoy the list of favorite songs about rain Part Two, Music is a passion of mine, it fills up many of my memories and I believe it is the language of the soul.

 

A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall  – Bob Dylan

When it comes to rain it sometimes falls easy and delightful, providing a cool respite from the heat. Yet there are other times when the rain falls hard. Usually, when you are hurting on the inside, it’s a hard rain that is gonna fall. For these occasions, there is this song by Bob Dylan, just for you.  And the first of our favorite songs about rain part two.

Singing in The Rain- Gene Kelley

This song should have definitely been on the first list, I mean who hasn’t been so happy in love that they tap danced down the street?  Happens to me once a month.  But seriously, I challenge you to listen to this song and not sing along and tap your feet as you listen to the words.  It’s fantastic, makes you want to learn to tap dance and buy an umbrella all at once.

Songs About Rain   -Gary Allen

How can you have a list like this without this song? I don’t think you can so here it is. A song about all the songs about rain that affect all of us so deeply.  All of the songs mentioned in this song are on my list so kudos to Gary Allen.   This song projects the feeling we all have when some things haven’t gone our way, sometimes it is just better to embrace the rain and all that comes with it, because if you don’t experience the rain you will never appreciate the sunshine when it comes, whether it is literal or metaphorical. Bring on the rain and we’ll get through it and move on!

Here Comes the Rain Again- Eurythmics

This belongs on any rain song list for two reasons. One, it relays a feeling that we have all felt, using rain as a symbol of love.  Being covered and immersed in the flow. Secondly, the personal memories surrounding this song, take me back to a simpler time when I was a much younger man. Either way this song makes the rain more bearable.

 

It Will Rain  – Bruno Mars

This is a song that is not in my normal genre of music, but being urged to listen I can see why it would go on the list, the thoughts about losing the one that you love and the hurt that will result from that.  Being a person that is not approved of by your significant other’s family is not a new thing.  It is a tale as old as any.  Even though I have never been a big Bruno Mars Fan, I like this song.

November Rain- Guns ‘N’ Roses

“When I look into your eyes, I can see a love restrained, but darlin’ when I hold you, don’t you know I feel the same.  Nothing lasts forever and we both know hearts can change. And it’s hard to hold a candle in the cold November rain.”  Classic words by a classic band that makes you remember what it was like in the past and maybe in the present today. Either way, a great song about rain.

https://youtu.be/SQ4a0vW0Y1o

Rainy Days and Mondays- The Carpenters

Much like David Spade and Chris Farley in Tommy Boy, when you hear a song by the Carpenters, most will say that it is stupid or a bad song, but really inside you can sing along with the whole song, and that is the case with Rainy Days and Mondays because they do always get me down. It deserves to be on the list. Sing along quietly to yourself, nobody is going to judge you.

Every Storm Runs Outta Rain- Gary Allen

When the rain is falling so hard that you can’t see the positives in the world, it is important to remember that all things will pass in time. Each storm we face will eventually disperse and there will be a new beginning waiting for you there.  In all things there is always hope and hope will bring a new day, a new start and the chance that life will be great once again.

I Love a Rainy Night- Eddie Rabbit

When I was in middle school, many years ago, this song was popular and I felt then as I do now, I love a rainy night.  The sounds of rain are soothing on the roof or falling on the grass outside the window brings with them a possibility of great things in the future. That is why it puts a smile on my face every time.

Clearly I could go on all day but just like the rain, all things must come to an end and that is where we are at with this list of songs about rain Part 2.  Enjoy your rain and realize that it is a part of the cycle of things and it will bring your life new growth.  Here is one last rain song for you. We have all seen Fire and Rain because that is life.

 

Rules For All Writers

After doing so much writing the past few weeks, I saw this and wanted to share it with the world.

Rules for All Writers

  • Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
  • Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
  • And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.
  • It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
  • Avoid clichés like the plague. (They’re old hat.)
  • Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
  • Be more or less specific.
  • Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
  • Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
  • No sentence fragments.
  • Contractions aren’t necessary and shouldn’t be used.
  • Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
  • Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
  • One should NEVER generalize.
  • Comparisons are as bad as clichés.
  • Don’t use no double negatives.
  • Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
  • One-word sentences? Eliminate.
  • Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
  • The passive voice is to be ignored.
  • Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.
  • Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
  • DO NOT use exclamation points and all caps to emphasize!!!
  • Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
  • Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.
  • Use the apostrophe in it’s proper place and omit it when its not needed.
  • Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”
  • If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
  • Puns are for children, not groan readers.
  • Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
  • Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
  • Who needs rhetorical questions?
  • Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
  • The passive voice should never be used.
  • Do not put statements in the negative form.
  • Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
  • A writer must not shift your point of view.
  • Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
  • Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
  • If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
  • Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
  • Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
  • Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
  • Always pick on the correct idiom.
  • The adverb always follows the verb.
  • Be careful to use the rite homonym.
  • Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

Trip To The Homeland Woods Hole

Woods Hole the Hilton Homeland

The Hilton Homeland South

Often times some of the most interesting things happen to you in every day life.  There is no planning involved really, they just seem to happen, like water flowing down a slide, events take shape and it is like they were meant to be.  I had one of those things happen to me recently.  My long time friend and business associate Mike Martin asked me to go with him to Massachusetts to procure a more reliable and consistent supply of interesting sea creatures for the Touch Tanks for Kids Program.  I agreed before I knew where we were going, when he told me to the Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole.  That was somewhat of a coincidence.  My family had roots in that town and I had heard about Woods Hole my entire life but had never been there.  I sensed that an adventure I hadn’t looked  for was on the way.

I told my father where I was going and he told some of the things he could remember, about my Great Grandfather’s/Uncle’s shop, how he used to go there almost every summer when he was a kid.  I heard about all of the streets that were named after my Grandfather, (Leslie), my great uncles, (Sumner, Glendon) and that there was even a Hilton Avenue.  He tried to show me on Google maps where these places were but it was hard to get perspective when you have never been to a place before.


Heading For Woods Hole

So off we went from Jefferson, Maine to Woods Hole, Massachusetts.  It was about four and a half hours each way so this was going to be a long day.  We left at 5:45 am, I don’t mind the early hours, it is a good feeling to be out on the road, before most people are even awake.  You feel like you are getting a great jump start on the rest of the world.  It’s quiet and this time of year still dark.  And for a little while, the moon is your only companion on  the soon to be busy roads.  The traffic increased with the daylight, and the world around us sprung to life, as we headed towards our destination of Woods Hole.

Oscar Hilton Family of Woods Hole
Front Row: My Great Grandparents Martha and Oscar Hilton, back row from l to r: Uncle Glendon, Uncle Sumner and My Grandfather Leslie Hilton

I have been told that I am easy to talk to, but when I go on trips like this with Mike Martin I realize how rare our friendship is.  First of all we first met in kindergarten in 1971 and we have been friends for forty years.  Still, ten hours riding in a car, cannot begin to find us lost for words.  We talked about all subject that you can imagine.  Some old, some new but we have never run out of things to say.  It is pretty remarkable.  So one of the many topics we discussed while heading down there was my heritage and connection to the area.  I told him some of the things my relatives had told me over the years.  How my Great Grandparents, Oscar and Martha Hilton, moved to Woods Hole to seek their fortune sometime in the very early 1900’s.  And they lived there,  their whole lives and had a family, with three surviving sons, Glendon, Sumner and Leslie.  And that somewhere in Woods Hole there were even streets named after each, and a street named after my Father, James.  Mike didn’t quite believe my story as I told it, but I told him what I remembered about each person.   How my Grandfather, Leslie, was one of the best people I had ever known.  He was outgoing, funny and one of the most admired people I have ever met.  Sumner was his older brother, who used to come to visit my Grandparents every summer with his lovely wife, Vera.  I remember, they would roll into my grandparents with their camper in tow.  One of the first things that Auntie Vera would do was get out a bag of marshmellows and start distributing them to all of the kids.  Why marshmallows?  I still am not sure why, but she and we always made a production out of getting those marshmallows. She would give us, “one in each hand!”,  I thought the world of Auntie Vera and still do, and it only took a couple of marshmallows to win me over for life.  I am sure my siblings felt the same way.  Sumner and Vera lived in Woods Hole during the warm season and in Florida in the winter.   Glendon, I honestly can not remember at all.  I don’t remember ever meeting him, although my parents both assure me that I did meet him at least once.  I am not sure what demons he faced in life, but I know he wasn’t as close with his brothers as Sumner and Leslie were.  He was the oldest son and I think he lived most of his life in the Woods Hole area. I know he had kids and they lived there too.  My father also described the shop that my family used to operate in downtown Woods Hole it had huge double doors and he said that today it was some kind of boutique.  With directions like that how could I go wrong.


Taking Care of Business

horseshoe Crabs
Holy Horseshoe Crabs!

First we had to take care of business, we found our way, after a few missteps to the Oceanagraphic Place that distributes the sea life we needed.  It was in downtown Woods Hole so I knew we were heading into the homeland, it was exciting to look at buildings that had clearly been there for many years and were buildings that the people of my past walked by, shopped in and visited friends in, years before I was born.  We were able to take a tour of the sea life distribution facility  to see how they store sea life.  It is a giant room which reminded me of a green house, but instead of flowers growing in soil, there were rows of blue plastic bins, with water circulating in from on top and out from down bottom.  Inside each bin was a particular species of sea life, from tiny little crabs to big giant spider looking crabs.  All of the sea life you could ever want was crawling, swimming or slithering around there.   The business was concluded quickly because it was clear that this relationship would be a mutually beneficial one for them and for us.  We even placed our first order, took care of business and then we explored the town of Woods Hole.  We walked up the street in search of my ancestral shop.

Finding The Family Shop in Woods Hole

hanging out at Leslie Street
My Grandfather's Street!

We had only traveled about a hundred feet up the street when I saw a building that fit the description.  It was white with huge double doors on the front, was this it? It was some kind of shop, I was not sure what a boutique was, but this looked like one to me.  I went in and introduced myself to the very friendly person behind the counter, I told her my mission, and she asked me my name, and when I said Hilton, she immediately said, Sumner?  That was a start, I was definitely in the right place.  She proceeded to tell me about all she knew about the building since it had been out of the Hilton Family.   She was wonderful and I felt a connection, clearly the floor was the same boards that by Great Grandfather, Grandfather and relatives had walked across daily for years in the past.  After a bit we continued the tour of the town and met some delightful people, which is always the best part of going to new places.  I learned as much as I could about the local activities as I could, we grabbed a bite to eat at a neat little sandwich shop called Pie In The Sky Bakery.  They serve breakfast sandwiches all day and that was perfect for me.  While we were there meeting interesting people, I started to ask if anyone had an idea of how to get to Sumner Street.  After some great effort by the staff there, a nice lady gave us perfect directions on how to get there.

We left the shop and I looked around the town, it was definitely a tourist trap in the summer, and I felt a little fortunate that it was December and there weren’t hundreds of  people trying to force their way down those tiny, narrow roads.  As it was you could have walked down the middle of the road and barely had your stroll  interrupted by an oncoming vehicle.  It really gave me an opportunity to look at the buildings and imagine what life was like there in the past lives of my ancestors, as they lived their lives and built their dreams.


The Streets Of My Family

Sumner Street
Sumner Street!

It was time to head for home, but we had one more thing to do, we had to find the Hilton Streets.  With the help of our friends from the sandwich shop we went right there, and the first street we came to was Leslie Street, I wasn’t sure what I felt, but I knew that I wanted to capture this moment.  Even though my Grandfather passed away 18 years ago, here was a street that was bearing his name, I got my picture taken underneath the sign.  It was probably just my imagination but I felt a connection to my Grandfather that I hadn’t felt in a long time.  I remembered things about him that I had forgotten, and suddenly missed him and wondered what he would think of all of the changes that had occurred over that past 18 years.  It was a tremendous experience.  Then we moved down Leslie Street which brought us to Sumner Street.  I followed the same routine and thought of the great man that was as much a part of my families past as anybody.  I thought about the laughter that I can remember whenever they would visit, and of course, I thought of marshmallows.  With that on my mind I laughed out loud.  Next we went to the end of Sumner Street, and found James Street.  Mike knew my father and was flabbergasted at this point and admitted that he hadn’t really believed my story about the streets but the proof was right in front of him.  We took pictures of the signs at each end of James Street,  my thoughts went to my father who must have had such great summers visiting with family in Woods Hole.  I thought about how happy he would be that I was there, and how much he would like the picture.  Next we came to Glendon Street and we were on our way to take pictures of that sign when we saw the sign for Hilton Avenue.  Obviously this was a must, as I grabbed that sign pole I could almost feel my Great Grandparents one of whom died before I was born and the other I barely knew.  But standing there at Hilton Avenue, I understood a young couple from Maine who moved to Woods Hole to make their fortune and they succeeded. They must feel a special pride in seeing what all of their descendants have done.  Finally there was Glendon Street and like I said, I really didn’t know him at all, but found my thoughts going out to him just the same, and I felt connected to someone that I had never even really thought of before. I wondered about his family, and who they were and where they were.  I realized that I didn’t even know who his children, grandchildren and descendants were.


Home Again

James Street Woods Hole
My Dad's Street

Now it was time to leave the homeland and head back to Maine.  On the ride home we talked of many things and as usual it was an entertaining time.  When we got back I told my Father all about my trip around Woods Hole. We looked at Google Maps and I showed him where we went and he told me about his memories.  I showed him the pictures of me at each of the signs.   It wasn’t until later when I had my thoughts to myself when I put the days events into perspective.  There was an entire part of me that I really had never been in touch with before and it was now coming out, and connecting me to those Hiltons of my past.  Yes often times, the most interesting things happen to you in every day life.

Great Christmas Shows and Movies

The Christmas Shows and Movies of My Youth

Classic Christmas Scene
Merry Christmas

Whenever it gets to this time of year, there are many things that allow me to think pleasant thoughts about the Christmas season.  Sometimes a gentle snow fall, or the sight of a well planned out display of lights, or the memory of past kindness that I have experienced.  The thing that really makes the spirit of Christmas rise to the forefront of my soul are the Christmas shows and movies I remember from my youth.  Even though I have seen them all at least 45 times, every time I see them they move my heart a little.  Especially today, with everyone wanting more stuff, and more commercialization, it is hard to remember that at the core of this holiday is the thoughts of love and caring.  To me, even though I experienced the religious aspect of Christmas, it still seems to mean more than that to me.  The idea that hearts can change, love can come, miracles can happen are the real feelings behind the holiday.  Even if you were a strict practicing Christian it would be hard to argue that the teachings of Jesus, attempted to provide all of these very things.  So I wanted to compile a list of  Christmas shows and Christmas movies that I think are a must for this season.


It’s a Wonderful Life-

Its a wonderful life classic Christmas movie
George Bailey, The Richest Man In Town

This classic movie has all of the charm and hope that you want in a Christmas Movie.  George Bailey doesn’t appreciate what he has, and is continually looking outside of Bedford Falls to look for happiness.  When he finds out , with his guardian angel, Clarence, what would have happened to everyone without him.  And none of it was good.  The moral is appreciate what you have, and what you’ve experienced,  you are the only one who could have. It’s easy to relate to a character who realizes in the end that he is the richest man in town.   I hate to admit this but if I allow myself to feel emotional at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life, it will lead to a few unabashed tears.  This movie is guaranteed to put you in the mood.



Santa Clause Is Coming To Town    

Santa Claus is Coming To Town Christmas Classic
A Great Song Too!

This was always my favorite of the claymation specials of my childhood. The story of Santa Claus, well I believe every word of this one.  He comes from the North Pole, he was an orphan raised by elves, and a toy maker to boot.  He had a pet penguin, and was hunted by the Burger Meister, Meister Burger.  This was kind of a twisted story when you think about them burning all of the children’s toys in the town square.  Something autocratic about all of that.  And the fact that there was an evil warlock tooling about, there seems to be a plethora of opportunities for nightmares and childhood trauma here, but in the end, we get Santa and Jessica becomes Mrs. Clause and we all got presents and lived happily ever after.  I think the fact that I look at it with the warmth that I do shows that they got it right.


A Christmas Carol-

A Christmas Carol Christmas Classic
The Latest Version?

The great thing about this movie is that it has been made so many times and in so many ways that you are bound to be able to find one that will tickle your fancy.  From the classic black and white film, to a musical, to Bill Murray performing Scrooged, to the Muppet Christmas Carol, it doesn’t matter which one you like you will still get the feeling of hope, rebirth and change the story brings with it.  Here’s why, no matter how nice a person you may be, there is a part of each of us that is just like Ebenezer Scrooge, tired of Christmas and everything to do with it.  We all build walls around us, but they just aren’t as visible as those built by Scrooge.  We all have regrets, whether it’s working to much or caring too little, or letting love slip away.  The great part of the story is that profound change can come to everyone’s life, quickly and with power.  When you see the change in Scrooge, you can recognize that just a little bit of yourself has changed as well.  The idea that if you have faith, all things from Tiny Tim’s sickness to the ills of society will fade away into an unhappy memory.  “God bless us, every one.”



2>A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

charlie brown and snoopy
charlie brown and snoopy

This classic was made in 1965 which is a year before I was born.  So by the time I was aware, it was already a classic.  People were already complaining that they didn’t feel like they were supposed to feel.  It was one of the must watch events for the season.  I remember my very creative teachers, dressing us up as Peanuts characters for the annual Christmas Show at school. (I was Linus)  The story for Charlie Brown gets more real every year.  What is the real meaning of Christmas.  Linus gives the key speech about what Christmas is all about.  The great thing about this timeless classic, is that they talked about how commercial Christmas had become back then, what would they think today in this “I’ve gotta have everything and I gotta have it right now, world!”  All I can tell poor old Charlie Brown is that it hasn’t gotten much better.  People seem to be more superficial and greedier than ever.  The hope is that even though many people act this way, perhaps their hearts will change and grasp that it’s all about peace on earth, goodwill toward men.  Also it would be remiss not to mention that every crappy Christmas Tree in the world is now known as a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree, thanks Charlie Brown, you’re not such a blockhead after all.



A Christmas Story

A christmas story
You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!

This 1983 classic has been a favorite of many, I think because of the iconic Christmas messages it sends.  We all to some degree remember our fathers a little like Ralphie’s Dad in this movie.  But mostly it captures what I remember I liked about Christmas as a kid.  I don’t think I ever wanted a Red Rider BB Gun or not, but I am sure that I had the same kind of all encompassing dreams about receiving some sports related gifts.  There are a hundred little moments in this movie that can be directly transported to my own youth as a kid growing up in Greenville, Maine.  From Randy being so bundled up in winter clothes that he can’t put his arms down, falls over and can’t get up off of the ground, to sticking your tongue to a flag pole in cold weather.  Yes I believe I had seen that done in person, on more than one occasion.  I am happy to report that I was not foolish enough to try it myself.  Like all kids we had to face up to bully’s, with yellow eyes.  You were either a bully, a toadie or one of the nameless rabble of victims.  Until Ralphie snaps and kicks the ever lovin’ crap out of Scott Farkus, we all wish that we had the courage to kick the snot out of our own Scott Farkus’.  Again all classic moments, from having Santa kick him down the slide to shooting your eye out with the BB gun you have lusted after for so long.  I triple dog dare you not to watch and like this Christmas Classic.  

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Stink, Stank, Stunk

This Dr. Seuss classic from 1966 has stood the test of time, it has been a staple of Christmas my entire life and it really tells a story that I think a lot of people feel, that the real meaning of Christmas is often overlooked by all of the material goods we have.   The Grinch hates Christmas because of all of the noise that comes from people being happy.  He sees the material gifts as the culprit and figures that if he steals every present, then he will in effect stop Christmas from coming.   In the end of course he realizes that Christmas is more than presents, which many, many people could stand to realize today.   “He puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. Maybe Christmas, he thought… doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps… means a little bit more!”  When you analyze a lot of the material from the Grinch it is pretty funny stuff, I mean in the song they say, “You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch / Your heart’s an empty hole / Your brain is full of spiders, you have garlic in your soul / Mr. Grinch / I wouldn’t touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole.”   And of course: “Your soul is an appalling dump-heap, overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots!”  There is not a lot of gray area here, The Grinch is a bad person who doesn’t do much good.  He represents all of those out there that do not like Christmas for whatever reason.  Many people feel exactly as the Grinch does that it is all a marketing maze of foolish greed, and if you took all of that away you would be left with nothing. I think that the truth is that inside all of us, somewhere, sometimes very deep inside where no one sees, there is a belief that the spirit of Christmas is just a little more.  That we can be the best that we are to all people, at least on this day.  That our own individual material needs are not as important as being kind to someone else.  That the act of giving is more than a requirement, it is a choice that spreads throughout all of the people involved.  I think at some point in life everyone has felt their heart grow three sizes after doing something kind for someone else. If you haven’t you should give it a try.  It’s more powerful than any marketing campaign and will create a need to do it more and more.  So look for the Grinchs in your life and try to do something nice for them.  They will more that likely surprise you with their own human capacity to give back.

Christmas Vacation

Christmas Vacation
That’s an RV Clark

National Lampoon’s classic tale about Clark Griswald and his quest for the classic family Christmas that he remembered from his youth.  The problem is that his family came and got in the way.  From the ginormous Christmas tree, to the super light display on his house, Clark is acting like every person who remembers Christmas fondly and wants to share that feeling with his own kids and everybody else for that matter.  Bring in all the drama from no Christmas bonus to his cousin’s RV parked in the driveway.  All Clark wants is an old fashioned family Christmas.   Christmas with the Griswalds has become a staple of holiday entertainment because it is funny and connects adults with their past.  Following are some quotes from the movie:

Clark: Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?
Eddie: Naw, I’m doing just fine, Clark.


Ellen: What are you looking at?
Clark: Oh, the silent majesty of a winter’s morn… the clean, cool chill of the holiday air… an asshole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer…
[Eddie, in the driveway, is draining the RV’s toilet]
Eddie: Shitter was full.
Clark: Ah, yeah. You checked our shitters, honey?
Ellen: Clark, please. He doesn’t know any better.
Clark: He oughta know it’s illegal. That’s a storm sewer. If it fills with gas, I pity the person who lights a match within ten yards of it.


Clark: We’re kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols.
Audrey: We’re not coming all the way out here just to get one of those stupid ties with Santa Clauses on it are we?
Clark: No, I have one of those at home.


Eddie: You surprised to see us, Clark?
Clark: Oh, Eddie… If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am now.

There is no wonder that people have been enjoying this one since it’s release in 1989.  It’s a good laugh anytime the Christmas Season is getting you down.  To quote Clark: “Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We’re all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We’re gonna press on, and we’re gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he’s gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse. “

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Ready Santa

One of the best of the claymation contributions to Christmas that was released in 1964.  Not only does this story tell you about Rudolph, but it also tells you that it’s OK to be different and that everybody, no matter what their flaws are unique, contributing members of the world.  From Rudolph’s “deformity”, To the Island of Misfit Toys, where trains with square wheels wait for Santa to connect them with a child that loves them.  The  scary part of the movie is the Abominable Snowman, who apparently being left to his druthers, likes to eat reindeer.  A scary dude for children who are really small to deal with.  But in the end even he has a purpose, putting the star on the Christmas Tree without the use of a ladder.  Great characters here, Yukon Cornelius, Herbie the Dentist, all misfits that run away looking for the place in the world where they fit in. Realizing that the place where they fit in is where they started out from.  It also teaches people not to pick on someone just because they are different, because that difference makes them unique and valuable.  Conformity stinks and you shouldn’t be bound by that, be yourself and your talent will shine through.  A classic that you should watch every year.  Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, my friends! Burl Ives says so. 

More Coming Soon!

Channeling My Inner Seth Benner

Seth Benner, Lincoln Academy Class of 1985
Musical Genius-1985

Yesterday I was fooling around with technology, specifically by looking at Spotify on Facebook.  I didn’t have any clue what it was or why I would want to use it.  So I invested the thirty minutes it took to install, investigate and experiment.  What I found was an interesting system of music sharing, you can listen to any song you can think of instantly.  It was amazing, and it allows you to make play lists which is something I really hadn’t done since I was under the legal drinking age.   It brought back some incredible memories but most specifically it reminded me of my old friend Seth Benner, and it got me thinking about someone I haven’t seen since 1987.


Seth and I went to high school together our senior year at Lincoln Academy.  He came from Lake Region, which I didn’t have any idea about.  My first impression of him was, “Wow, it must suck  to be going bald before you get out of high school.”  We were on the same soccer team together in the fall and started to get to know each other, but we weren’t anything but acquaintances until I heard him listening to Dire Straits.  It was anthe obscure song, Lady Writer that I was sure only I liked, or had even ever heard of.  Once we started talking about music, I found that he was even more fanatical about music than I was.

What A Cassette Tape Looks like
For those who don't know, this is what a cassette tape looks like.

It wasn’t long before he was telling me about his ever growing record collection.  Yes, I said record collection, he kept them in old milk crates and had hundreds, if not thousands of albums, from all kinds of artists.  It was amazing, like going to the Smithsonian of high school music.  As we got to know each other,  Seth shared some of his cassette tapes(yes  cassette tapes, it was a long time ago)  he made of compilations.  They were pretty good, and a great idea.  I started to make lists of songs that were particularly connected to an event or a person in my life.  I would give the lists obscure titles that would remind me what they were about, and others could try to guess.  I would give Seth a list with a blank cassette tape and just like clockwork, (sort of) Seth would come back with the completed tape.  It was so cool to be able to think about an event, put all of the music that reminded me of it on a tape to listen to later.

Lincoln Academy Baseball Jon Hilton 1985
Rippin' it with The Eagles In Playoffs 1985. Put me in coach, I'm ready to play!

What ever happened to Seth, I don’t know.  After high school he went to school to be a DJ, (a good choice), and the summer after our first year of college, he came and lived in South Portland with me and my roommates, we had scored a building free of charge for the summer, there was plenty of room, and Seth got a job working the overnight shift at a local station.  I remember all of us staying up all night, partying and listening to Seth’s show, calling in and requesting whatever songs, a bunch of alcohol impaired college kids wanted to listen to.  All through this time, I still was making tapes to listen to.  Then I eventually transferred schools to Farmington, Maine, which is just like it sounds.

After I transferred, time did it’s dance on all of those relationships, some lasted awhile, but eventually life pushed new people into the places where old ones used to be, and the old ones become a part of the woven fabric of my past, but are also major part of who I am today.  As I sat at my computer and made a list that I could then play virtually instantaneously, I wondered what Seth could do with this technology.  Wherever he is I hope that he is listening to good music and enjoying life.  Below are two lists I made today, one is for this story, with explanations why.  One is another list from the past, only I know who and what it signifies.  No matter what it was a lot of fun channeling my inner Seth Benner.

***You can listen to this playlist on Spotify, if we are friends on Facebook.  If we are not friends on Facebook, then we should be.

Fielding Percentage- the list of songs, inspired by knowing Seth Benner.  I call it fielding percentage because all I ever heard from Seth from the time he arrived at LA until baseball season started was that he led the Triple C, (whatever the hell that was) in fielding percentage in 1984.

John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band- On The Dark Side- I remember that we sang this song on the way back from Fryburg Academy after kicking their butts in soccer.  #8 over #1.  Great thrill.  Of course we followed that up by getting shellacked by Mt. View in the semi-finals. Who wants to remember that, my last game.  Also on the list because I liked the song and it reminds me about one of the greatest lines from the movie, Eddie and the Cruisers, “Words and Music.” It kind of goes with the theme of this,  Tender Years.


Reelin’ In The Years and Any Major Dude Will Tell You- by Steely Dan, because he talked about how great they were non-stop, so they must have been.

Lady Writer and Money For Nothing- Dire Straits- The song that told me Seth Benner was a good guy, and one that described what I did for work during college.

Ripple- Grateful Dead  and A Touch of Gray- From the summer of  ’86- That’s for me, I haven’t seen Seth in awhile but I am sure that he has hair problems.

Centerfield- by John Fogerty, which was not only about baseball but was popular when we made an unlikely tournament run to the Western Maine Baseball Finals, with one pitcher and a lot of excitement.  Put me in coach, I’m ready to play.

“Lovely to See You” , “Never Comes the Day”– by the Moody Blues– I think we all went to see them at the Ball Park in Old Orchard Beach.  I say think, because that was a long time ago and I wasn’t very well behaved, so I’m sticking with I think.

The following songs are related in my memory to the death of Paul Chase, spring of our senior year, I will never forget how tragic that was, I was there that night. One of the last people to see him alive.

Bridge Over Troubled Water By Simon and Garfunkel, You’ve got a friend by James Taylor, The Long and Winding Road the Beatles, Things Can Only Get Better– Howard Jones

One Burbon, One Scotch and One Beer-George Thorogood- Although only 18, and had a receeding hairline, it wasn’t all bad because, he was able to look a lot older, so he could almost always buy beer.  Times were different then,  thanks Seth for all the enjoyment. 

Wave Babies-Honeymoon Suite- Besides being by one of the greatest bands you have never heard of, Seth made a stupid movie when he was at broadcasting school about zombies, the end credits played Wave Babies, definitely the best part of the film.


Under Cover of the Night- The Rolling Stones–  When we lived in South Portland, We would plan trips home, and sometimes we would head out after Seth got off work at 1 am or so,  I have no idea why, although I am sure there was a reason, and we would stop at the Wiscasset Diner which was conveniently open 24 hours, and every time we stopped there we would meet interesting people.

Thick as a Brick, Skating Away and Living in the Past (appropriate for this) by Jethro Tull- (The band not the agriculturalist)  Seth really got me interested in Jethro tull.

Into the Mystic- Van Morrison-It reminds me of the sounds of South Portland.  When that foghorn blows……….

 Mary Jane’s Last Dance- Tom Petty – In a Burger King, under the influence of something, I was really hungry, Seth says, “So you gonna get a Big Mack?”  So that sounds pretty freakin’ good to me, so I ask for a Big Mac, but ………we were in Burger King, needless to say there were no Big Macs to be had, I looked at Seth and I couldn’t stop laughing, the poor person behind the counter was very annoyed with me, but what could I do?

Musta Got Lost- J Geils Band- I have no idea why I haven’t seen Seth for all these years.

 

 

Thanksgiving Stuff

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Jonathan Hilton
Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a truly American Holiday that we ccelebrate on the fourth Thursday in November every year.  It has been an official holiday in the United States since 1863, when Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday.   Even though the Civil War was still raging, Lincoln believed that people should take this one day and be thankful.

It quickly carved out it’s place with all of the other major holidays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, The Fourth of July, Labor Day and Christmas.

The First Thanksgiving

First Thanksgiving

Anyone who went to virtually any school in this country knows that Thanksgiving began, all be it unofficially, with the Pilgrims.  Here is a brief account that tells the tail.  The First Thanksgiving was a way for the earliest settlers to the New World, to give thanks to God for guiding them safely across the ocean.  The year was 1621, and it was a harvest celebration as well.  The feast was attended by both European Settlers and Native Americans, and was an early display of cooperation, that unfortunately did not set the tone for the rest of the colonization of America.  Historic Native Americans, Squanto and Massasoit attended this celebration. This was continued in later years, first as an impromptu religious observance, and later as a civil tradition, until Lincoln made it an official holiday.

Thanksgiving On the Roads

The American Automobile Association (AAA) estimated that 42.2 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2010.

Thanksgiving Table Statistics

Thanksgiving Turkey
Delicious Thanksgiving Turkey

The U.S. Census Bureau states that Minnesota is the state that produces the most turkeys in America.  It is estimated that they will provide about 46.5 million turkeys in 2011.  There will be about 248 million turkeys raised in the U.S. this year, with Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Virginia and Indiana accounting for the majority of the birds.

The National Turkey Federation, (yes, there is one.) estimates that about 1/5th of all turkeys consumed in the United States in a given year are eaten at Thanksgiving.

Those wizards at the National Turkey Federation, conducted a survey in which they learned that almost 88 % of Americans proudly claimed they eat turkey at Thanksgiving.  They went on to inform us that the average turkey weighs 15 lbs. Which by their very strict calculations means Americans consume an approximate total of 690 Million pounds of Turkey!  No wonder our country has an obesity problem.

When it comes to cranberries the United States doesn’t shy away from consumption.  Our most ardent cranberry producing states, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington produce 750 million pounds of cranberries for production in 2011.

We can’t leave pumpkins out to the mix here.  Illinois, California, Pennsylvania and New York are the main pumpkin producing states, it was estimated that last year they produced 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins for our Thanksgiving Day feast.

 

The sweet potato is most plentifully produced in North Carolina, which grew 972 million pounds of the popular Thanksgiving side dish vegetable in 2010. Other sweet potato powerhouses included California and Mississippi, and the top producing states together generated over 2.4 billion pounds of the tubers.

Pumpkin Pie biggest
Biggest Pumpkin Pie

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measured just over 12 feet long. It was baked on October 8, 2005 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio, and included 900 pounds of pumpkin, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs, 300 pounds of sugar, 3.5 pounds of salt, 7 pounds of cinnamon, 2 pounds of pumpkin spice and 250 pounds of crust.

Thanksgiving Across the United States

Football has always been a tradition on Thanksgiving and the Detroit Lions have been featured since 1934 with the short World War II break from 139-1945, but they played every Thanksgiving since then.  The first televised Lions Thanksgiving game was broadcast in 1956, and we all relax and watch all zonked out on turkey every year.   The Dallas Cowboys are the other traditional Turkey Day Team, that grace our air waves.  It is only appropriate that America’s Team should play on America’s Holiday.  How grateful can we be for that?

 

Thanksgiving Parades and Football

Originally known as Macy’s Christmas Parade—to signify the launch of the Christmas shopping season—the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in New York City in 1924. It was launched by Macy’s employees and featured animals from the Central Park Zoo. Today, some 3 million people attend the annual parade and another 44 million watch it on television.

Tony Sarg, a children’s book illustrator and puppeteer, designed the first giant hot air balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1927. He later created the elaborate mechanically animated window displays that grace the façade of the New York store from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Snoopy has appeared as a giant balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade more times than any other character in history. As the Flying Ace, Snoopy made his sixth appearance in the 2006 parade.

The first time the Detroit Lions played football on Thanksgiving Day was in 1934, when they hosted the Chicago Bears at the University of Detroit stadium, in front of 26,000 fans. The NBC radio network broadcast the game on 94 stations across the country–the first national Thanksgiving football broadcast. Since that time, the Lions have played a game every Thanksgiving (except between 1939 and 1944); in 1956, fans watched the game on television for the first time.

The Thanksgiving Song by Adam Sandler

Happy Halloween

Halloween Jack o Lantern
Boo!

When I was a kid growing up in a small town in Maine, Halloween was one of the best times of the year.  There were some community events, but for the most part, the fun was in the collection of candy.  Living in a small town, we knew everybody, and it would be my father’s job to drive us around and point us in the right direction.  As very young kids, we kind of needed the guidance, and as we progressed and got older we needed, rather we wanted less and less of the guidance.  We would go from house to house, and I know it was something we take for granted now, because we weren’t worried about getting abducted, or poisoned, like it seems you have to be today.  It was just fun.  We learned the tricks of trick or treating from the older kids, who quickly taught us that a pillow case holds a lot more candy than the plastic bags our parents wanted us to use.  We also learned that what kind of costume you wore really didn’t matter.  I can remember as a very young person, always wanting one of those store made costumes, that had the half mask made of plastic.  I do not remember all of the costumes that I wore, but I remember that as I grew, my costumes became more homemade and it was a lot more fun and memorable.  I know that one year I went as a football player, and it was probably the best costume ever.  As an adult I find sports costumes are the easiest and least embarrassing ones to wear.  But I digress.

Happy Halloween and Smashing pumpkins
Spooktacular!

The purpose of this story is to share my favorite Halloween things, because although the holiday itself is safely a part of our culture and heritage, there are many people who would do away with it, due to religious reasons.  It never ceases to frustrate me, to hear people claim that Halloween promotes the devil, and witchcraft and you better watch out for your soul.  I think that those people ought to watch out for their soul all the time, because if Halloween can turn your kids towards the devil, or make them a witch, you need a better religion.

The fact is that the holiday is about candy, being scared, costumes and candy again, and that is it.  Anyone who puts any more thought into it is just looking for trouble.   Halloween should be fun and should supply happy memories that will last a lifetime.  I know it did for me.  I can remember the feeling of running, literally to the next house to see what we would get.  I recall looking at my stash of candy and thinking that it would probably last until Christmas and then being amazed that it was always gone in a week or two.  I am sure that dentists love Halloween.  I remember carving pumpkins and trying to get the teeth just right, I am not sure that I ever did but I remember I loved doing it.  I remember going to watch scary movies at the school, and learning about Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Werewolf.  One of my favorite movies of that genre was The Creature From the Black Lagoon, I have no idea why, but I was borderline obsessed with that one.

Smashed Pumpkins in the Road On HalloweenDid I ever participate in mischief on Halloween?  Well the answer would be yes I did.  Nothing too destructive, because deep down I would feel too guilty to do anything really bad. One of  my earliest transgressions occurred when I was in the sixth grade, my friend Mike Martin and I had gotten a full pillow case each of candy, and we were pretty proud of ourselves.  It was still early when we got back to my house.  We had always heard about smashing pumpkins, and wanted to try it.  Now the art of smashing pumpkins was that you would sneak up to someone’s house and swipe their carved pumpkins off of their porch and then in the near by road, throw them as high in the air as you could and watch them smash on the pavement.  We carried out our mission all up and down our street.  We were not very smart kids, because it really didn’t take very long for people to figure out who was destroying their precious pumpkins on the pavement of Maple Street. Although I know that it was wrong, back then it was the most heart pumping adrenalin thing I had ever done.  Even the other day, I was traveling around with Mike when we came upon a very nice pumpkin display in front of a house.  He looked at me and said, “You can probably snatch one of those before anyone would see you.”, I laughed because it was so far fetched for us now at forty five years old to revert to pumpkin stealing. I think he would have done it if I didn’t stop him.

The Moosehead Haunted House

Haunted House in Greenville, Junction Maine
Today it is a museum, in the 1970's it was a run down haunted house, with real ghosts in it. I think they still live there today.

In Greenville Junction there was a house across the street which was then and still is haunted.  How do I know this?  I saw the ghosts that inhabit that place many years ago.  Today it is the home of the Moosehead Historical Society, and they are too proper to tell anyone about the ghosts that wander through that house and museum.  They are there, though and kids in town would do well to stay away from that house on Halloween, because it is on that night that the ghosts are most active.

Classic TV Series From the 70’s and 80’s

Television from the 70’s and 80’s

There are few things that I enjoy as much as nostalgia from my youth.  Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s there are literally thousands of cultural icons, I can look to and truly appreciate as part of my experience of life.   Here are some of the examples, mostly from the classic TV shows we watched and talked about at school the next day.

Happy Days

Happy Days 70s Television
Cast Of Happy Days

Tuesday nights at 8, this was a must see for all kids in the 70’s.  We all wanted to be as cool as the Fonz, but were usually as awkward as Richie Cunningham.  Set in the midwestern city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the series revolves around teenager Richie Cunningham(Ron Howard) and his family: his father, Howard (Tom Bosley), who owns a hardware store; mother Marion (Marion Ross); younger sister Joanie (Erin Moran); and high school dropout, biker and suave ladies man Arthur “Fonzie or The Fonz” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler), who would eventually become the Cunninghams’ upstairs tenant. The earlier episodes revolve around Richie and his friends, Warren “Potsie” Weber (Anson Williams),Ralph Malph (Donny Most) with Fonzarelli as a secondary character. As the series progressed, Fonzarelli proved to be a favorite with viewers and soon more story lines were written to reflect his growing popularity. Fonzie befriends Richie and the Cunningham family, and when ‘Richie’ (Ron Howard) left the series following his character’s

The Fonz, 70s tv
The Fonz

wedding to his long-time college sweetheart, Winkler’s Fonzie became the central figure of the show. In later seasons, other characters were introduced including Fonzie’s young cousin, Charles “Chachi” Arcola(Scott Baio), who (finally) became a love interest for Joanie Cunningham after Joanie initially resisted his charms.

Sha Na Na TV Show

Sha Na Na 70s tvSha Na Na hosted the Sha Na Na syndicated variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981. It was among the most watched programs in syndication during its run.The show was produced by Pierre Cossette and originally distributed by LBS Communications.

The show featured the group performing hits from the 1950s and 1960s, along with comedy skits. The “tough guys” road act from their original road shows was adapted for TV and the group moved to a comedy and self-deprecating routine. The mainstay continued to be the 1950s song and dance routines. The show opened in a typical concert scene, and then moved through various street and ice cream parlor scenes where they and their guests performed several songs. That was followed by a comedy-oriented song (“Alley Oop”, “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah”) and closed with a slow song, again in their concert format.

 

Among the supporting members featured in the series were Avery Schreiber, Kenneth Mars and Phillp Roth (all of them in the first season); Pamela Myers and actress Jane Dulo (who played the crabby Lady in the Window, who watched over the street scenes from the window of her apartment with undisguised disdain) (Both throughout the show’s run), June Gable and Soupy Sales (Seasons 2 to 4); Michael Sklar (Season 2); and Karen Hartman (Season 4).

Guests included Jan & Dean, Fabian, Chubby Checker, the Ramones, Ethel Merman, Frank Gorshin, Billy Crystal, Danny and the Juniors, and others

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman Sha Na Na
Jon "Bowzer" Bauman

The members of Sha Na Na during the TV series were Jon ‘Bowzer’ Bauman (vocals), Lennie Baker (sax), Johnny Contardo (vocals), Frederick ‘Dennis’ Greene (vocals), ‘Dirty Dan’ McBride (guitar) (left after third season), John ‘Jocko’ Marcellino (drums), Dave ‘Chico’ Ryan (bass), ‘Screamin’ Scott Simon’ (piano), Scott ‘Santini’ Powell (vocals), Donald ‘Donny’ York (vocals). Each was introduced only by his nickname or his first name in a voice-over by Myers at the beginning of each show.

Schoolhouse Rock!

Schoolhouse-Rock 70s tv An American series of animated musical educational short films that aired during the Saturday morning children’s programming on the U.S. television network ABC. The topics covered included grammar, science, economics, history, mathematics, and civics. The series’ original run lasted from 1973 to 1985, and was later revived with both old and new episodes airing from 1993 to 1999.  What better way to learn about Adverbs, counting, the Constitution, conjunctions or America?

 

 

The Six Million Dollar Man

The Six Million Dollar Man 70s tvThe Six Million Dollar Man was an American television series about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for the OSI (which was usually referred to as the Office of Scientific Intelligence, the Office of Scientific Investigation or the Office of Strategic Intelligence. The show was based on the novel Cyborg by Martin Caidin, and during pre-production, that was the proposed title of the series. It aired on the ABC network as a regular series from 1974 to 1978, following three television movies aired in 1973. The title role of Steve Austin was played by Lee Majors, who subsequently became a pop culture icon of the 1970s. A spin-off of the show was produced, The Bionic Woman, as well as several television movies featuring both eponymous characters.  

“Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive.” Richard Anderson, in character as Oscar Goldman, then intones off-camera, “Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world’s first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better…stronger…faster.”

WKRP In Cincinnati

 WKRP In Cincinnati 80s tvWKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI (AM) in Atlanta. The ensemble cast consisted of Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Tim Reid, Jan Smithers, Richard Sanders andFrank Bonner.

WKRP premiered September 18, 1978, on the CBS television network and aired for four seasons and 88 episodes (90 in syndication) through September 20, 1982. During the third and fourth seasons, CBS repeatedly moved the show around its schedule, contributing to its eventual cancellation.

When WKRP went into syndication, it became an unexpected blockbuster. For the next decade, it was one of the most popular sitcoms in syndication, outperforming many much bigger prime time hits, including all the other MTM Enterprises sitcoms.

Baby, if you’ve ever wondered, Wondered whatever became of me,
I’m living on the air in Cincinnati, Cincinnati, WKRP.
Got kind of tired packing and unpacking,
Town to town and up and down the dial
Maybe you and me were never meant to be,
But baby think of me once in awhile.
I’m at WKRP in Cincinnati.

The Love Boat

the love boat cast, 80s TVThe sitcom was usually set aboard a cruise liner called the Pacific Princess, whose passengers and crew had romantic and funny adventures every week. Other ships used were twin sister Island Princess, the Stella Solaris (for a Mediterranean cruise), Pearl of Scandinavia (for a Chinese cruise), the Royal Viking Sky (for European cruises) and the Royal Princess and Sun Princess (for Caribbean cruises). In 1981 P&O Cruises’ MV Sea Princess was also used for a special feature length episode called ‘Julie’s Wedding’, set in and around Australia, and guesting Lloyd Bridges, Katherine Helmond, Harry Morgan, Patrick Duffy and Anthony Andrews, among others.

Series stars MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, and Ted Lange are the only cast members to appear in every episode of the regular series, including the last three 2 hour made-for-TV movies, and stayed throughout the entire run. MacLeod was not the captain in the first two TV movies, however.

The long-running TV series was finally canceled in 1986, because of low ratings. After the show’s cancellation, the show became immensely-popular in reruns, both in syndication and on TV Land.

Love, exciting and new. Come Aboard. We’re expecting you. Love, life’s sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.   Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone, Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.   Love won’t hurt anymore
It’s an open smile on a friendly shore.
Yes LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! (hey-ah!)
Love Boat soon will be making another run.   The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure, Your mind on a new romance.

Love won’t hurt anymore.  It’s an open smile on a friendly shore.
It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! It’s
LOOOOOOOOOOOVE!      It’s the Love Boat-ah! It’s the Love Boat-ah!

 

Boston Legal An Unexpected Treat

Watch Boston Legal, You won’t Regret It

Watch Boston LegalLike so many things in life I missed Boston Legal when it was on TV the first time.  Thanks to Netflix and my own obsessive compulsive tendencies, I started watching this series from the beginning and I have to say that it has become an unexpected treat.  The show evolves characters faster than you can say Denny Crane,  but the staples of the show have remained the same.  William Shatner as the clueless, Denny Crane, who is experiencing the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s but doesn’t want to admit it so he thinks he has “Mad Cow” disease.  James Spader as the individual thinking, sometimes despicable always likable Allen Shore .  He handled more issues than Oprah and did it in a much more interesting way.  Candice Bergen as the powerful, Shirley Schmidt, and Rene Auberjonois as the “bad guy” in the office, were all pretty much staples that allowed the show to get off on the right foot.  The rest of the characters changed from time to time, as the creators searched for the collection that made the most sense.

However, it is the continual insertion of new blood and characters that allowed Boston Legal to continually evolve and stay interesting to me.  Along with the ability to face down every conceivable social issue to face our society in the first decade of the 21st Century.  I will list some of my favorites later.  At the time of this writing I have finished three seasons of Boston Legal so please don’t spoil it for my by telling me what happens, but so far I have loved them all, they are funny, deal with issues, and provide great entertainment.

My favorite character on Boston Legal is Allen Shore, played by James Spader.  Spader has brought a character to life that is thoughtful, callous, caring, cold, and one great lawyer.  For three seasons he has only lost one court case and that was against his protege’ Jerry Espenson.  They will break character and show their humor as well.  They let you peek behind the curtain just enough to make it funny, and still keep you entertained. My favorite example of this was in season three when Jerry was trying to convince Shirley to let him come back to Crane, Poole and Schmidt.  “It makes me so happy that I hear a song in my head.”  Shirley convinces him that she wants to hear what that sounds like, and he blurts out the theme song along with the beginning of the show.  Maybe I was not really paying attention but I was surprised and it made me laugh out loud when I watched it!  There are not many things that make me do that so I know that this was exceedingly well done.  (watch below)

We’re Flamingos!

Boston Legal flamingos
We're Flamingos Denny!

The Friendship between Denny Crane and Allen Shore is the glue that holds the show together.  They are two polar opposites politically, and at different points of their life, but the writers of BL do a great job of making this friendship believable and human.  One of the most enjoyable parts of the show.  They have deep talks, share their feelings, have sleep overs, where they make smores.  It is all pretty funny, and if you are older then you understand that friendship doesn’t come around all of the time.  I think everyone in their 40’s or older could use a confidant to share their “stuff” with.  It’s enjoyable  to watch.  If you doubt their dedication to each other, they would tell you that they are flamingos, from the first season when they dressed up as two flamingos for Halloween. Priceless.  

We Got Issues

The creators and writers of Boston Legal have rarely wasted time letting their feelings be known about a whole host of social issues that face our country I have put together a short list of the ones that I remember from the first three seasons. Again I just finished season three last night so season four and five are coming up.  The list of issues:

Racism in a production of Annie, sexual harassment, rich stealing for no reason, slumlords, transvestite Santa Clause, drug companies, matricide, creationism, FDA Drug approval, same sex relationships, anti red meat, of course Mad Cow disease, police brutality, censorship, the death penalty, murder, antisemitism, anti-war in Iraq, anti-war in Afghanistan, anti-war in Vietnam, basically anti-war, anti-gun, pro- gun, conservatism, liberalism,  Halloween, night terrors, plastic surgery, word salad, vigilantism, credit card debt, taxation, cancer treatments, Asperger’s, privacy rights, topless protests, smiling, emergency birth control, euthanasia, smoking, erotica, elder abuse, video game addiction, candy companies, racism, guns, Global Gag Rule, the paparazzi, prescription drug parties,  buying body parts, intimacy problems, online dating, cross dressing, dwarfism, cannibalism, Scientology, freedom of religion, white supremacists, Hurricane Katrina, no fly lists, animal testing, homosexuality, memory drugs, smuggling fat, U.F.O’s, Israeli Politics, The Secret,  pornographic dolls sold to children, HIV, Guantanamo Bay, illegal immigration and patricide. Whew that is the short list, and I am sure you could come up with a few more.

John Adams, The Unappreciated President

John Adams Second President of the United States
John Adams

When you look at the history of the United States, there are many of our Presidents that we easily bring to mind, Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Kennedy, etc.  There  are many that you don’t know anything about off hand, and in most cases that is a good thing.  In the case of John Adams it seems that history has done a great disservice to this great American Patriot who should be considered more for Mt. Rushmore than others, but he is, by many, almost forgotten.  John Adams was the second president of the United States, he was one of the original members of the Continental Congress and one of those responsible for the writing and acceptance of the Declaration of Independence.

What intrigues me about this man is that he clearly continued to evolve long after his time as a public servant ran out.  Many of his thoughts and feelings which have been preserved, show a man that has not only a grasp of what the world is about, but what a person needs to do to live a satisfied life while you are in it.

Clearly there are regrets that he has from his past.  Time spent away from his family, being too narrow minded and focusing on trivial things.  Worrying about what others thought of him, and how history would treat him, worried him quite a bit.  This is a fault all too common with all of us, but a colossal waste of time.

Quick Facts about John Adams

abigail adams
Abigail Adams

*Born: October 30, 1735    – In Braintree, Mass.

*Education: Graduated from Harvard   Occupation: Lawyer 

*President from 1797-1801  Died: July 4, 1826

* Married to Abigail Smith, children John Quincy, Susanna, Charles, and Thomas.

*Delegate to the First Continental Congress

*Elected Commissioner to France

*Elected The First Vice President of the United States

*Elected The Second President of the United States

*First President to Live in the White House In Washington, D.C.

John Adams Second President of the United States*John Adams represented Boston in the Colonial Legislature.   He led the resistance against British policies in America.  When the First Continental Congress was organized in 1774, Adams served on it representing Massachusetts, and was one of the first to suggest independence as a course of action.  Adams served in the Second Continental Congress as wee and was a key figure in forming the Continental Army and played an important role in adopting the Declaration of Independence, and was one of the patriots who signed the document. 

 

Quotes of John Adams:

“Happiness, whether in despotism or democracy, whether in slavery or liberty, can never be found without virtue”

“Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.”

“Grief drives men into habits of serious reflection, sharpens the understanding, and softens the heart”

“Fear is the foundation of most governments.”

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of the facts and evidence”

“Democracy… while it lasts is more bloody than either [aristocracy or monarchy]. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.”

“The people have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefensible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge – I mean of the character and conduct of their rulers”

John Adams Second President of the United States“This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it”

“In politics the middle way is none at all.”

“Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people.”

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

“If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind, whom should we serve?”

“The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution.”

“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence”

The government of the United States is not in any sense founded upon the Christian religion”

“That the desires of the majority of the people are often for injustice and inhumanity against the minority, is demonstrated by every page of the history of the whole world”

“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.”

“The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.”

“A democracy is as really a republic as on oak a tree, or a temple a building”

“There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.”

“Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.”

“It is wrong to admit into the Constitution the idea that there can be property in man”

“Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty.”

“There is no such thing as human wisdom; all is the providence of God”

“Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics”

“The happiness of society is the end of government.”

“The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people’s hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice”

“Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion… in private self-defense.”

“I cannot conceive such a Being could make such a Species as the human, merely to live and die on this earth”

“Politics are the divine science, after all”

“The universal object and idol of men of letters is reputation”

“The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing”

“Because power corrupts, society’s demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.

“I am persuaded there is among the mass of our people a fund of wisdom, integrity, and humanity which will preserve their happiness in a tolerable measure”

Personal Growth, Self Improvement, Positive Thinking