I Will Never Not Take The Time Again

2 Jan

Those who have been reading this blog for a while may remember the post about my conversation with Curly Putman, the legendary songwriter who penned “Green, Green Grass of Home” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” A few months ago, he passed away, and I reposted it. Instead of reposting, I should have written the following.

Curly Putman’s death hit me hard. I spent the night of his death mourning like he was a close member of my family, which should be strange because I only had one conversation with him. However, I knew why I was hurting.

At the end of our conversation, I told him that I wanted to come to his home and talk more. I wanted to ask questions about his career and about how he wrote great songs. He said that he would love that and to drop by anytime. I never did.

I could say that life got in the way. I could say that I was busy. I could say that there was a lot going on. In truth, I just never took the time to go.take-time

When Curly Putman died, it was like being punched in the gut because I knew that I had let him down. He expected me to visit with him, and it did not happen. He wondered when I was coming by, and it never happened.

I attended his funeral because, in my mind, I felt that it was a way to make it up to him. As I watched his friends and family, I knew that they were truly hurting. They lost someone who they loved and who loved them. My pain was insignificant, and I knew that it was time for me to get over it.

Tonight, we visited my parents, and my mom said that she had seen Mrs. Putman in town. They talked for a while, and Mrs. Putman said that her husband was looking forward to my visit. However, that visit never happened.

My heart sank because it solidified what I was feeling a few months ago. I let him down, and I can never make it up.

The only thing I can do is never let it happen again. Take time to visit. Do not let time go by without taking the effort to make someone’s day. Do not waste time. Get out there and do what needs to be done.

Never again let someone down and only realize it when it is too late to do something about it.

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The John Russell Effect

27 Dec

The other day, I visited my parents and found my dad watching the Western Channel. He always watches that channel, and I am usually familiar with whatever is on. After all, me and my brother were raised watching old Westerns. However, I had never seen what he was watching this time.

It was a television show called Cheyenne that stars Clint Walker. Some of you Western aficionados probably know it. As I watched it, my mind focused on the actor playing the bad guy. With his features and his voice, I knew that I had seen him, and I had a feeling where. Despite my dad jumping on me for looking at my phone, I did a quick search.

The actor in question was John Russell, and I knew him from Rio Bravo. In that movie, he plays Nathan Burdette, the local land baron who goes up against John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan. Obviously, he loses in the end.john-russell

That discovery was not surprising. However, it was surprising to learn that John Russell was in another of my favorite movies, The Outlaw Josey Wales. In that one, he makes a brief appearance as Bloody Bill Anderson.

Wait, there is more. He also plays the bad guy in Pale Rider and appeared in Honky Tonk Man, which was partially filmed in Nashville. Of course, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider and Honky Tonk Man have something in common other than John Russell. They also star Clint Eastwood. Apparently, they were buddies.

I thought that I had seen John Russell in one movie. As it turns out, he has shown up in several places. Heck, he just got shot on my television screen as I typed this. The mysterious stranger got him in Pale Rider before disappearing into the distance. Coincidence? I am not so sure. It could be the John Russell Effect.

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Things That Are Better Than Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse

18 Dec

This weekend, we belatedly celebrated my birthday by getting a hotel room in Nashville and going out to dinner. The city has become a great food destination. Local chefs and chefs from around the nation are opening great restaurants in Nashville. We have been to several, but a new one is always opening. In other words, if you like food, then Nashville is the place to be.

This time, we decided to go to Jeff Ruby’s, an upscale steakhouse based in Cincinnati. We do not usually go for steakhouse chains. Our tastes usually run toward something more trendy and creative. However, a lot of people told us that it is a great place. I am sure that they love it. We did not.jeff-rubys

The decor is circus-like. When I think of upscale steakhouses, I think of something more refined. Maybe some wood. Maybe some lower ceilings. Maybe something more classy.

When I think of upscale steakhouses, I also think of steak. The steaks at Ruth’s Chris are awesome. The steak at Kayne Prime, a locally owned establishment, are awesome. The steak at Morton’s are awesome. The steaks at Jeff Ruby’s are nowhere near awesome. While they are tender, they are doused in salt and other flavorings. A great steak does not need all of that.

When I think of upscale steakhouses, I think of great side dishes. Every chain has great au gratin potatoes. Jeff Ruby’s potatoes are not that great. The bread is good if you do not use the truffle butter.

Anyway, we were not impressed with Jeff Ruby’s. They throw a lot of food on your plate. I suppose that is why some people like it. Quantity over quality. I am a bigger fan of quality. Give me something with a great combination of flavors, and I am happy. There are a ton of restaurants in Nashville that provide that, and we should have dined at one of them.

Hopefully, you can tell that our experience was not great, and we should have known by the name of the place. When I am going to say Jeff Ruby’s, my mind wants me to say Jack Ruby. I wonder if anyone thought about that before they named the restaurant.

Jeff Ruby’s was not good, but I do not want this to be an entirely negative post. There are some great “ruby” things out there.

Ruby Slippers

Ruby Falls

“Ruby” by The Osbourne Brothers

“Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition

“Goodbye Ruby Tuesday” by The Rolling Stones

Ruby Tuesday’s Salad Bar

Ruby Dee

I can promise you that all of those things are better that Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse

 

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Movie Wisdom – Bernard Fox Edition

16 Dec

Bernard Fox passed away. Most people probably remember him as Dr. Bombay on Bewitched, but I have always been a fan of The Andy Griffith Show. That is where he played Malcolm Merriweather, the Englishman who showed up on a few episodes to take care of the Taylor family.bernard-fox

He appeared in a ton of great television shows, but he also appeared in some great movies. In honor of Bernard Fox, here is some words of wisdom that can be found in his movies.

By the way, can you find the similar trait of two of the movies.

From A Night to Remember

People first, things second.

From The Longest Day

Anything mechanical, give it a good bashing.

From Big Jake

You shouldn’t butt into things that aren’t your business.

You know what the problem with money is? Somebody’s always trying to take it from you.

From The Rescuers

Faith is a bluebird, we see from far. It’s for real and as sure as the first evening star, you can’t touch it, or buy it, or wrap it up tight, but it’s there just the same, making things turn out right.

From Titanic

Our choices are never easy.

From The Mummy

No harm ever came from reading a book.

 

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Two and a Half Christmas Trees

15 Dec

Last night, we strung the lights on our Christmas Tree. Wait, I should say that we strung the lights on our third Christmas Tree. There is a Christmas Tree in my stepdaughter’s room and another Christmas Tree in a back room. The Christmas Tree that is half completed can be seen from the road, which means that it bookends the house along with the one in my stepdaughter’s room. It also means that we have two and a half completed Christmas Trees.img_2189

The unfinished Christmas Tree is a live tree. Well, it is as alive as a cut tree can be. My wife decided that she wanted a live tree because we have not had one in a few years. Of course, we have not had one in a few years because the last live tree kept falling over. I will never forget the night that we were sitting by the fireplace, and I noticed movement. I jumped up in time to catch the fully decorated tree before it hit the ground. As I held it, my wife crawled underneath to stabilize it.

As I said, I never forgot. However, my wife must have because she wanted another live tree. She also wanted to flock the tree. I must admit that it is pretty, but I cannot shake the feeling that fake snow on a live tree is kind of weird.

I never thought I would have three Christmas Trees at one time. During my single life, I went years without one. One year, a friend bought a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and gave it to me as a joke. It is basically a stick with one red ball for a Christmas ornament. I used to set it on the counter. I guess I could put it up and have four Christmas Trees. Other people may not count it, but I do. It was my Christmas Tree for several years.

At times, I think Christmas decorations are a pain. Put them up. Take them down. However, I would rather have my current life with three Christmas Trees than my old life with no Christmas Trees. Actually, my old life with one Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.

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From Hong Kong to Wall Street With Some College in Between

12 Dec

This has been a great weekend in the history of our family. My nephew graduated from the University of Tennessee. I have sat through many graduations, but this was by far the best. The arena was full of people ready to watch their people walk across the stage, and there he was sitting on the front row.

He graduated from the Honors College with a double major in Finance and Chemistry. He did all of that and graduated Magna Cum Laude. That was definitely a first for our family.img_2183

On top of all that, he had some great experiences. During one semester, he studied in Hong Kong and spent a lot of that time traveling around Asia. He went from the temples of Angkor Wat to the casinos of Singapore. He also spent a summer as an intern on Wall Street. As if that was not enough, he worked as an intern at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where his name was included in an article published in a prestigious scientific journal.

I could not be more proud of him if he was my own. He had a great college experience, and I know it is just the first step toward great things to come.

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Movie Wisdom – Yaphet Kotto Edition

29 Nov

Yaphet Kotto is an actor in several movies that I like. Some of them are Westerns. Some of them are Action. Some of them are from the Blaxploitation genre. Through them all, Yaphet Kotto always makes an impression.

With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to see what wisdom we can find from the movies of Yaphet Kotto.yaphet-kotto

From 4 for Texas

A secret whispered in a coffee house is as confidential as a headline in a newspaper.

A man who’d try to con you when he has a gun held on him can’t be all bad.

You really need only a little patience and self-discipline.

From 5 Card Stud

A man don’t work, he ain’t respectable.

The funeral is for the living.

From Live and Let Die

Names is for tombstones.

From Friday Foster

You treat a person like a person.

From Brubaker

You can’t reform the system if you’re not in it.

From The Star Chamber

It turns out that right and wrong count.

From The Running Man

Don’t touch that dial!

 

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Birthdays Are For Doing Things You Like

25 Nov

To the left of the title is a circle that says November 25. That date happens to be my birthday. Every year, I have tried to put together a post on my birthday that chronicles some of the important things that have happened on that date. Here is a good example.

On November 25, 1975, Suriname gained its independence from the Netherlands.

However, this post is not about things that have happened on November 25. In fact, I do not know what it is about. I only know that typing on November 25 has become a tradition.

I could include a photograph. I think I will pick this one.image-43

Does anyone know where that is?

I did not pick that one because of some great connection to my birthday. I picked it because I like it. That could be what birthdays are all about. Those are days when people should be able to do things that they like.

I like a lot of stuff, but, most importantly, I like my life. That is why tomorrow will be spent doing regular things. Every day is a great day, and my birthday should be no different.

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The Lair of the White Worm and the Night Stalkers

24 Nov

It is a time to write. Alas, what is there to write about? I only know that it feels like a time to write. In other words, it feels right to write.

Last night, I was reminded that there is an awesome movie called The Lair of the White Worm. It came out in 1989 and was a big hit with my running crew. It starred Hugh Grant and Amanda Donohoe. She was a lot better at her role than he was at his. We watched it a lot of times, but I just found out that it is based on a work of Bram Stoker. I am sure he would be proud of what they did with it.

Here is a funny story. I was dating a young lady and asked if she wanted to watch The Lair of the White Worm. She thought I said Larry the White Worm and assumed it was a porn movie. That was a disastrous moment.

We went to Jamaica a few weeks ago. There is a post about it running through my mind, but I do not have it completely worked out in my mind. I need to write it before it goes stale. Anyway, I mention it because it is a good excuse to use this photograph. img_2134

Last week, I was fortunate enough to tour Fort Campbell, the military base that sits on the Tennessee and Kentucky border. It is home to the 101st Airborne, the unit from which Jimi Hendrix washed out. It is also home to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also known as the Night Stalkers. I made a video of their water training facility. Unfortunately, I cannot upload that video. However, I can offer this photograph.img_2144

Hey, that it two photographs of swimming pools. One is for fun. The other one is definitely not for fun.

The room is turned into a small hurricane, and that mock helicopter is dropped into the water. The people inside have to get out. It was an intense thing to watch.

Oh yeah, Fort Campbell is named for William Bowen Campbell who lived in our little town of Lebanon.

Who was William Bowen Campbell? He was the 14th governor of Tennessee and was the state’s last governor from the Whig Party. He is buried in Lebanon’s Cedar Grove Cemetery.

I need to write more, but I fingers have stopped. My mind is at a roadblock created by more serious musings. When I am ready to bring those to the screen, I will let everyone know.

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Movie Wisdom – Hugh Ross Edition

21 Nov

I just watched the ending of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It has been years since I watched the entire thing, but I can remember the first time I watched the entire thing. It was at the theater, and the man behind me fell asleep. He also snored.

That says something about the movie. It is not a shoot ’em up Western. It is a work of art based on the interactions of Robert Ford and Jesse James.

This is not a review of the movie. It is about trivia. The narrator is my favorite part of the movie. His voice sets the tone, and he fills in some missing pieces. Heck, I am a big narrator fan. I like movies with narrators, and I like watching documentaries because they have narrators. I have always wanted to be a narrator. I wonder how people get into the line of work.

Anyway, Hugh Ross narrates The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Now, here is the trivia on top of the trivia. Ross plays the trainer in For Love of the Game, the movie where a retiring Kevin Costner pitches a perfect game. When he makes the decision to retire, he hands an autographed baseball to Ross. You know what it says?

Tell them I’m through, “for love of the game”, Billy Chapel

Wait, did I spoil the ending? I apologize.

Anyway, Hugh Ross, the all-knowing narrator in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, was the first one to learn that Billy Chapel was going to retire. He also had a role in Costner’s Wyatt Earp.

To honor Hugh Ross, here is some wisdom from a few of his movies.hugh-ross

From Wyatt Earp

I think the secret old Mr. Death is holding is that it’s better for some of us over on the other side.

Nothing counts so much as blood. The rest are just strangers.

From For Love of the Game

A lot of little bottles makes a big bottle.

If you give something your all it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, as long as you’ve risked everything put everything out there.

From The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

You can hide things in vocabulary.

 

 

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