Northern Noise

Dennis Hopper died today. I don't know that I can say he was one of my favorite actors, but his appearances in movies were always memorable, and his movies have been some of the ones that most affected me. I think the first movie in which I really noticed Dennis Hopper was Rumble Fish , which was based upon an S.E. Hinton novella. He played an alcoholic father, both damaged and damaging to his sons. Hinton's stories are always hard-hitting with me, and this story is one of the first times I thought about the fate of characters who are too smart, or too perceptive, or see too clearly. Of course, the first big time Hopper movie that made an impact was Apocalypse Now . I saw this movie on cable late one night when I was all alone at my parents' house in Kenai. I'd been to a year or two of college at that point and was really struggling with who I was and where/what I wanted to become. The movie is so powerful in so many ways, but Hopper's photojournalist character...

So we're going on a family camping trip and, since the 15 year old is part of the family and still living at home, we're making her go with us. I haven't seen anyone this surly in quite a while. One aspect of her response was to pack her bags for her upcoming trip to Georgia in two weeks. I think it's her way of reassuring herself that she'll be escaping us and Alaska soon. Another aspect of her response is to be snarly and nasty; six hours in the truck together tomorrow should be interesting. Tonight we're all packed and ready to go. Tomorrow, the adventure begins! This will be our first camping trip with the puppy, so that should add to the chaos. The boy is as wound up as can be, so that will help the irritation factor as well. Add in the fact that the father always gets stressed out from the final packing and double checking to make sure we haven't forgotten anything, and it's a recipe for fun. Luckily for us all I know we'll forget someth...

Last Christmas, my mom sent my kids a dvd with shorts from Our Gang and The Little Rascals. All in black and white, and most of them silent using captions, they show a bunch of kids having fun and playing. Although made around 1928 (they went to sound in 1929) these crazy antics still make my kids laugh out loud. I think it's proof that real comedy is timeless. What I think is cool about the Little Rascals is that the group of kids includes black and white children, as well as both girls and boys. I also like the fact that these poor children are constantly coming into conflict with "the man." The kids are genuine and accepting (they even fight to save their dog from the evil dog catcher who wants to kill it, even though they have the money to spring it from the hooskow) and they come into conflict with uncaring adults and rich, snobby kids. While it's true that the kids tend to fit into common stereotypes (the fat kid, the bully, the pretty blond) the stereotype...

Our oldest came home from the dorms yesterday. Her dad went to fetch her and came back with a truckload of stuff. I don't know how she fit it all in that small room on campus! So she started to sort stuff, and I'll help her sort & pack more this evening so she can put what she doesn't need into the shed for the summer. Hannah is getting to spend her summer in our studio cabin. It's not very big, and doesn't have running water, but it has a nice little space with a tv, fridge & microwave. It used to be her room but when she went off to school we moved our stuff in and turned it into an office/guest space. So although she doesn't have tons of space to put out personal knick knacks, it's pretty darn cool & comfortable. In fact, it's way nicer than some of the places I lived when I was younger. I spent several summers living in an old camp trailer in my aunt & uncle's backyard. I don't remember for sure, but I think the only be...

I've been talking to my teens about summer jobs. Although they both have one job, I'm perplexed that they're not doing more to seek employment which would provide them more money. Overall, their attitudes towards work are very different than mine were growing up. Part of this is due to the fact they travel with their mom in the summer, so that's kept them from working over the years. Part of this is that they aren't really willing to do anything "yucky" or "boring" even when it comes to payment. It's a very different view than I had growing up. My first "real job" was working for the City of Kenai as a trash picker upper. I was probably 12 or 13 at the time. An older teenager piled a bunch of us in the back of a pickup truck, drove us out to the edges of town, and dropped us off with bags. We walked back towards town, cleaning as we went. I probably made minimum wage (about $3.50 an hour at the time, I think) and it was dirty w...

My 15 year old daughter was reprimanding me yesterday about "the look." According to her "the neurosynapsis between [my] brain and [my] face are disconnected." She decided this yesterday after she was telling me about the jewelry selling business and how it's a male dominated field. I had never thought much about the jewelry selling business and was listening to her and pondering when she exclaimed " Why don't you believe me??!! Why are you giving me that look!!??" Now I hadn't realized I was giving any specific look, and I certainly wasn't trying to look like I didn't believe her, so I asked calmly, " What look? " "The Look! " she said, " the look that you give when you're mad or something." "So is it an 'I don't belive you' look or is it an 'I'm mad' look?" I was seriously trying to clarify this look thing, as it produced quite a reaction in the girl. "It...

“Poet’s Work,” Lorine Niedecker Grandfather advised me: Learn a trade I learned to sit at desk and condense No layoff from this condensery I learned about a new (to me) poet today. Lorine Niedecker. A "poet of place but not a regional poet" as her themes were universal. I like the complexity of idea in simple lines. What horror to awake at night and in the dimness see the light. Time is white mosquitoes bite I've spent my life on nothing. The thought that stings. How are you, Nothing, sitting around with Something's wife. Buzz and burn is all I learn I've spent my life on nothing. I've pillowed and padded, pale and puffing lifting household stuffing— carpets, dishes benches, fishes I've spent my life in nothing. Wilderness You are the man You are my other country and I find it hard going You are the prickly pear You are the sudden violent storm the torrent to raise the river to float the wounded doe Poems by Lo...

Jim Croce sings a song called "The Ball of Kerrymuir." It's a bit off color, but pretty funny. In fact, in my younger years, I was known to serenade folks with it if I had a bit too much of the juice. It starts off with this verse: Four and twenty virgins Went down to Inverness And when the ball was over There were four and twenty less I think this introduction pretty much sets the tone of the rest of the song. Each verse describe another party-goer and the trials, tribulations, and tricks performed during the ball of Kerrymuir. The one about the magician is brilliant, and hilarious. My husband and I are Jim Croce fans, and always have been, and usually have music playing at our house. I like Croce's versions of "Roller Derby Queen" and Bob prefers the more romantic ones like "Operator." So often we'll stick in Croce's Greatest Hits as we're hanging out. When our oldest daughter was about 4 she loved that we played music becau...

Today was what I consider a scary news day. Already bummed out by the situation in Arizona, I find out the state of Oklahoma passed legislation (HB 2656) that allows doctors to lie to parents about the health of their unborn children. Cnn.com reports that, “Under this new law, a doctor may withhold information, mislead or even blatantly lie to a pregnant woman and her partner about the health of their baby if the doctor so much as thinks that fetal test results would cause a woman to consider abortion.” Wrong and disturbing in so very many ways. Now, I find out that some folks are wanting to call the Tea Party the “next Civil Rights movement.” I’m flabbergasted by this claim on so many levels. But, being the open minded individual I am, I decided to do some research on this claim. I’m always willing to be educated. Here’s a little of what I’ve found. Both are indeed grass roots movements. The civil rights movement grew out of individual action and organizational beliefs that...