Thursday, May 21, 2020

An evil prank

An evil prank

It was on tour with the Velvet Knights. I’m guessing circa 1975 we were driving east, leaving California in early July. We were crossing a really long desert stretch where we had been putting down water, soda, or anything else we could get. The apparent problem occurred when it was time to return that water to the earth. Well, the bus driver did not want to stop. Mile after mile went by and the bursting feeling just got more intense, we need to stop.  After the driver said no for the umpteenth time, one of the more adventuresome horn players. It had to be a soprano because the baritone and middle horns were not that adventurous. We resorted to using empty Gatorade containers or anything that would seal to tide us over.
For the question of the day we ask, does anyone know what warm apple juice looks like? Yes, you do!!  So this unnamed horn player went up to the driver and said. “If YOU DON’T STOP THE BUS RIGHT NOW IO’M GOING TO DRINK THIS. “He then showed the half-empty container of apple juice and downed it. As we all know, “Perception IS Reality!” The driver immediately became violently ill, stopped the bus and let his projectile vomit escape on the side of the road.  We all piled off the bus, found a safe place to go, and relieved the mounting pressure.  That driver had to be replaced at the next stop.   I was 17 or 18  long ago in a galaxy far away.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Landon Papi and the illustrated man



Landon Papi and the Illustrated man.


A few years ago, I bought a copy of the book for my Grandson Landon. We were to read the stories one at a time and discuss them.  This book was essential to me as it was the 1st a book that I read. It opened worlds up to me and started my love for science fiction. In fact, that was the seed from which my desire for knowledge grew.

            Well that didn't happen. Time and circumstance got between this time of bonding between myself and my eldest Grandson. My goal is to begin the process of developing leadership knowledge and handing down knowledge that I have backed myself into over the years. I cannot lessen the pain of growing up and learning some lessons, I just wanted to make him more equipped than I was when I had my 1st literary experience.  You see Landon today is 11 just like his grandfather when I 1st opened the book and entered that world of wonder and mystery.  My motivation was different. I had no mentor; I had a crush in the form of Janet Sugiyama, the librarian. Now that's a different story for a different day.
            Seeing kids across America are at home. Our family has been providing educational stimulus in the absence of school. for example, Landon is taking Trombone lessons via "Zoom. " This project came up in conversation during our families' bi-weekly phone conversations as they are in Columbus, OH. During this conversation, my Stepdaughter and her mate. Were discussing the boys and the remembrance of this reading project. Originally, he was to read 1 story at a time then discuss it.  I was willing to do that. I got preempted by his mom, and it turned into a 1-page double spaced synopsis of the story "The Veldt" since the book is so old each story in the illustrated man is available in PDF form, so I sent it to them. I reread it last night, and I got much more from it than I ever did as an 11-year-old love-struck child. The themes are abundant, but the one that sticks in my head is. Don't let technology do your job as a parent for you, and being a parent is more important than the things that one can provide.  I will give this brief overview very brief.  The parents of the wealthy variety bought this technologically marvelous house that did everything for them. They could not even cook their own meals. The house did it.  In this home was a room where the thoughts of the children became alive and totally real. This room created an African veldt complete with antelope lions and other animals. The kids loved the place. When the room image, full of the sights, sounds, heat, and smells of Africa, the parents wanted to stop it and were in the process of selling the house against the wishes of their children. That is when it went straight to Hell.
     Well today I I will forward some questions on the text as to what lessons were in that story. Fancy that. I got a writing project out of it. Here is one of the questions.   What could the parents have done to prevent the events of this story from taking place? There is no right or wrong answer, as they are many. Well, time to go to work as its 0645 AM, and my servers are calling time to be the computer guy. When I get the report, I will send the questions back along with the next story from the book.