Another Year End In the Hoosegow

Will my son be able to break me out of prison, riding his giant Disney ant?

Another year end.  Another trip to prison.  Sigh.

One again, I end the year in the hoosegow.  Once again, I set aside my phone and my most valuable possessions, to go alone into a correctional facility.  Armed only with a clipboard, a pencil, and a Dollar Value calculator, I will enter the belly of the beast, and try to tame the wild commissary inventory.

Wish me luck.

Even though it is only as an auditor, it is still kind of scary to go behind those walls, and wonder...am I going to get back out?  Will I pass too close to a prisoner?  How good do I look in orange?

In preparation for my experience, I watched the opening episode of the prison dramedy Orange is the New Black.  The facility looked amazingly like the one I'm going to.  I wonder if many of then are built using the same pattern and architecture.  The most important thing I learned....don't insult the chef.

I will post again when they finally let me out.

I bet you can't wait!

LIghts Out 2013 and Other Monday Musings

Part of a Christmas light show done at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando.  The New York street set was lighted with many colored Christmas lights that would blink on and off to music.  The street even had fake snowflakes drifting down on us.

That was one more picture from our Disney trip of a couple of weeks ago.  We spent our first day at Epcot, and our second day at Hollywood Studios.  It was a very good family day, with the best ride being the Star Wars ride, a ride that we double dipped.

Christmas has been a blast, spending a good chunk of time with my family.  We just stayed here in Blackshear, and enjoyed life around the house.  It was a great Christmas gift, and I really appreciate having the opportunity to have done it.

We had a great Christmas Eve service at our church, a nice service Sunday, and a wonderful vestry get together on Friday night.  I love our church, and I love the openness and tolerance that it represents.  Everyone thinks around here that Christianity is solely represented by the most conservative denominations, and that there is little room for anything else.  That is not true, and I am glad that our church and a few others in this area can offer something different.

Alison and I got out to the movie theater once, and saw The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.  It was a very enjoyable movie (Alison certainly appreciated the appearance of Orlando Bloom as Legolas).  It was obviously the middle of a larger enterprise, ending at an abrupt point, like a an old serial cliffhanger, as they continue to stretch out this one short novel into three almost three hours apiece movies. Given that, thank goodness they are good movies.

We would have seen other movies, but most of the big Christmas movies have not come to Waycross yet.  Saving Mr. Banks, American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall street, August:Osage County, are all no shows so far at our local bijou.

Our one and only bookstore, Read Me Again Bookstore, is closing at the end of the year.  You have two more days to take advantage of bargain sales, and then it will be gone.  I don't know if this area will ever get another bookstore.  Very sad.

I do not look forward to another tax season.  My work is already at a level of surprising intensity, and there is little I can do but work through it.  Such is life.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

God and Sex

It's so simple, really.  He tried to distill it down for us.

Love God.  Love your neighbor.

The rest, as the old Jewish saying goes, is commentary.

Jesus tried to make the law clear and simple for us.  The Pharisees, with their constant restrictions and superstitions, drove him crazy.  They did not take into account that the intent of the law is not meticulous commands, it is about the effect and intent of what you do.

It is the law to obey the Sabbath.

It is not the law to allow harm to come to another in order to preserve the Sabbath.  If someone needs healing and comfort, you do it.  If a sheep needs to be rescued, you do it.

It's not playing cards, or dancing, or gambling that is evil.  It is doing anything to the extent that it harms your relationship with God, your fellow man and your family.  It's not a sin to buy a $1 lottery ticket (how wise of an investment it is, is a separate issue).  It is a sin to take family money meant to feed the family or help others and place it on a bet.

So is sex a sin?

No, of course not.  Sex in and of itself is not a sin.

Sin is the separation of yourself from God, and by doing so, deliberately separating yourself off, and harming your fellow man.  Sin is not a list of do's and don't.  Why, you can play Hearts but not poker.  You have to rotate your crops in a certain way, you have to grow your hair a certain length, you cannot eat shellfish.  All of these things and more are specifically forbidden in the bible.  But they are cultural taboos, not sin taboos.  Jesus freed us from all that.  He gave us the greatest power and gift of all.

He gave us the power to think.

So how do we wade through the dozens of do's and don't that are presented in the bible, some of which contradict each other?  Even marriage itself is defined different ways in the bible.  Multiple wives were all the rage for awhile.  Handmaidens abound.  Jesus advocated leaving your family to follow him.  Paul argued for celibacy because he though the second coming was imminent.

Much of what is in the Bible about sex is about Bedouin culture and male property rights.  How else would you explain handing your daughter over to her rapist?

Although Jesus did not address much about sexuality directly, it is quite clear that he is supportive of the main theme threaded throughout the bible, which becomes much clearer when you focus on the STORY rather than cultural do's and don'ts.  The greatest sins are those of the powerful exploiting the powerless.  No theme or sin is focused more in the bible than on that one.  We turn our back on God when we turn our back on each other.

So when is sex a sin?  When is it evil?  It's not an arbitrary taboo or rule.  It is when it is exploitative, when it is designed to dominate, enslave or hurt someone.  Physical and/or verbal dominance is always wrong.  Pedophilia and bestiality is wrong because of the harm it does to innocents, and because all the power is attributed to one party.

Sexual sin can appear in any relationship, even in marriage between an adult man and woman. Anything that is deliberately destructive to love and mutual respect and equality is wrong.  And it cannot be defined by specific sex acts.

Sex is not wrong when it is consensual, loving and caring.

Being gay is not a sin.  Participating in loving, consensual sexual acts with another adult of the same sex does not make you a sinner.  It makes you gay.

God doesn't make arbitrary rules to torture us.  He wants us to be what we are.  He wants us to be loving and caring, not judgmental and cruel.

With all the pain and injustice in the world, don't we have something better to do than to interfere with loving relationships?  Wouldn't it be a better use of time and Christian energy to reach out to those in genuine need - the poor, the sick, those in emotional pain and turmoil - than to focus on intolerance?

It was easy to say, wasn't it?

Love God.  Love your neighbor.

So easy to say.  So difficult to put into practice.

But we must try, my friend.  We must try.

Accounting for the Rest of Us

Gariton Hollander keyed it in.  His fingers flying across the keyboard, entering data into the system for Gator Paper Mill, the mill owned by Reggie Crowley and family.  It was always a hard slog of poorly described financial transactions, many of which Gariton suspected were personal in nature.  But every time he called Reggie Crowley's financial director to get an explanation, he wound up more confused.  He would take them to Huston Graves Sr., the firm's senior partner, and he would always get some explanation why ballet lessons for the grand-daughter, or pay-per-movies, or trips to Belk's department store, were all natural business expenses.  Gariton had given up for the most part, put some questionable expenses in suspense, and presented them to Houston Sr. all at one time.  Other expenses that he was certain were personal, Gariton was just taking straight to draw.

Gariton had come to work early, after an abbreviated breakfast at the Honey Dew.  He shared a breakfast table with Andy Caldwell, the State Farm agent, and Tony Delco, who worked at his Daddy's furniture store.  Houston Graves Jr.  did not show up for breakfast, usually starting his day with a morning run, and Rondy Strickland was not in town.  In fact, lawyer Rondy Strickland was on a special business trip to Florida on some sort of Compton Park development business.  Business that somehow also involved his wife, Christie Delco Hollander.  It may him a little nervous hat Christie was off with Rondy, who was a bit of a wolf.  Actually, it made him a lot nervous.  But she explained that it was an important trip in relation to the Compton Park project which her Daddy had invested so heavily in, and they needed her marketing sweet to complement Rondy's legal sour.

Gariton heard some shouting coming from Houston Grave Sr.'s office.  Houston Sr.  was in there with Archie Crowley, Reggie Crowley's brother.  Reggie was the richest man in the county, owner of the Gator Paper mill, and Archie was his estranged brother.  They barely spoke to each other.  Archie was excluded from the mill when their father, Kevin Reginald Crowley died, but was still given about the same amount of money and resources as his brother, Reggie.  Archie was a bad businessman, with a cruel streak that did not always serve him well.  He got by now with some broken down rental houses he did little to keep up, a used car lot and a storage rental place.  He was always coming up with schemes that even Houston Graves Sr. could not stomach.  Gariton imagined that might be what was going on now, that Houston Sr. had to crush one of Archie's fouler schemes.

Houston Jr.  came from his morning run, wearing sweats, but still looking like a million dollars.  Tall, thin and athletic, he was the firm's junior partner and son of Houston Graves Sr.  He worked fairly hard at what he did, but did not seem to have the taste for it that his father did.  He stopped by Gariton's office, his breathing still a little intense from his run.

"Good lord!" exclaimed Houston Jr.  "Is that Archie in there with Dad?  He is on fire today, isn't he?"

"I suppose so," Gariton answered. "Maybe Archie wants to rent his storage units by the hour."

Houston laughed.  "It may not be the best time to tell him my news, then."

"What news is that?" Gariton asked.

"Daddy Delco has offered me a job heading the Compton Park development.  He feels like it's to the point where it needs a full time administrator.  And if it succeeds like everyone is hoping, than it might be a real sweet permanent position."

This had Gariton puzzled.  It might seem to an outsider that Gariton was stuck in a dead end job, with no chance for promotion in a firm run by father and son.  But Gariton didn't mind.  It gave him to participate in theatre and read.  He didn't mind accounting,  particularly clients that weren't that well off, but struggling and needed help to organize better and become more efficient with their resources.. But forty to fifty hours a week of it (and a bit more during tax season) was enough.  "That sounds interesting, Houston.  But what about your job here?"

Houston Jr. shrugged it off.  "Oh, Dad knows I'm only here until I can find something I like more.  I really want to create my own businesses and opportunities, and this is a great way to get into all that."

"Okay.  But I thought Compton Park was mired in environmental problems.  I though it was years away from clearing, if ever."

Houston Jr. smiled.  "Oh, we're getting that cleared up, don't worry about that.  That's part of what Rondy and your wife are doing down in Florida, don't cha know?"  Houston Jr. suspected what the other part of what Rondy and Christie were doing, but he kept that to himself.

The door of Houston Sr.'s office came open with a tremendous force, and Archie came out fuming.  "Damn it, Houston!  I trusted you!  I know it was a chance taking my business to the same place my brother craps on, but I though you were always square with me!"

Houston Sr.  trailed him out, hoping to calm Archie down.  "I have always been straight with you, Archie.  You and your brother are separate clients to me, and I don't breach either of your confidences.  That's why I do all of your work personally."  Actually, Gariton knew that wasn't true.  Just like he did the work of Reggie's paper mill, Houston Jr., not Sr., did much of Archie's entry work.  And often even that was given to one of the bookkeepers, Mathilda Evans or Wanda Johnson.  But the client didn't need to know that.

"Really?  A busy man like yourself?  Why, I am truly honored!" said Archie, sneering.  He then whispered in Huston Sr.'s ear, but in such a way that Gariton could still hear.  "Then you better help find a way into that Compton Park gold mine.  I ain't gonna be left out of another big thing in this town."

Houston Sr. nodded solemnly.  "I'll see what I can do, Archie."

"Good.  You do that."  Archie grabbed his jacket and hat and huffed out.  Houston Jr.  started towards his father's office.  "Dad, you can't let that maniac anywhere near the project.  He'll ruin it for sure!"

Houston Sr.  pulled the door of his office shut as his son came in.  "Don't worry, son.  That's the last thing I'm going to let happen."

And Gariton heard no more of that conversation.  He plunged back into the convolutions that were the Gator Paper mill's bookkeeping, and tried to keep his mind off of what could happen if Houston Jr. left.  Instead he thought of Christie, and how wonderful it would be to have her back.  He would fix her favorite meal, Chicken Marsala, and they would have dinner by candlelight.  Maybe later, undress her by the same candlelight.

Something to look forward to.

2013 Final Vote for Book Lover's Hall of Fame

Ripping Good Yarns: Final Vote Book Lover's Hall of Fame

PLEASE VOTE!

The nominations have been made and now I need your input as to this year's Hall of Fame winner, to join previous winner To Kill A Mockingbird.

There were some people who were very helpful in offering nominations for this year's selection.  I am very, very grateful to them.  If your favorite is not in the mix, please be sure to be a part of the nominating process next year.

Books that received nominations from multiple people were given strongest consideration. The nominating overall was somewhat limited so my hand is pretty heavy in it too, I'm afraid.  I also for this year eliminated series that were still ongoing, like George RR Martin's Song of Fire and Ice and Diana Gabaldon's The Outlander Series. 

So please vote for one of the following.  If you wish, you can divide your vote among one or more books, and I will apportion accordingly,  And yes, I know about apples and oranges.  Having done similar contests for several years on Facebook one cannot help but know about apples and oranges.  But that is the nature of the beast..

Please vote from the following nominees:: 

The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling - a highly entertaining series of books, popular with children and adults alike.  How many books do you know of that have young and old lined up at midnight waiting for the moment the book is first on sale?  It is fascinating to watch the characters age and mature, as they have to handle more and more adversity.

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving -  Young Owen Meany hits a foul ball while playing baseball in the summer of 1953 that kills his best friend's mother.  John Irving's Dickensian storytelling at it's best.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - the entire trilogy.  Revolutionized the way I look at books and inspired a great deal of my own writing.  Samwise to me is one of the greatest characters in literature.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery - a young orphan girl grows up on Prince Edward Island.  Despite my lack of affinity for these type of books, I grew to love this character and her adopted father, Matthew, when I did the play version at Flying Dragon.

The Stand by Stephen King - best post-apocalypse story ever.  A great journey that I have reread a few times, it swirls with well-defined characters, exciting events, and a surprisingly spiritual framework.  It's one of those rare books that I never tire of re-reading.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - we may never have had a better writer in America, and this is best book.  A great journey through Americana, the story of Huck and Jim is one for the ages..

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith - coming of age in the big city of New York...

The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells - the best work by the writer who began the genre of modern science fiction.

Catcher In The Rye by J. D. Salinger - a more intense, personal coming of age book..

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - a fabulous story about wealth, class and privilege in the 1920s.

There you have it!  I know!  Many great books and authors missing!  All I can tell you is to be sure to nominate next year.  But this year, to make this work, I really, really, really need your vote.  Please vote here, on Facebook, or in private message.

I intend to keep this open for at least a week, and then on until I get at least ten votes.  You may see this repeated ad nauseum on Facebook, so be prepared!

Let the voting begin!

History of the Trap: July Nightmares Part 7

7

Maybe.

Maybe if Randy Fitch and his camera had survived, we would have a better record.  Maybe.

As it was, only those on the very periphery survived.  Of those 53 who went down, only seven came out alive.  None of them knew what happened, except suddenly the tunnel was collapsing in front of them.  One who was pulled from the wreckage, Nathan Harkin, had his legs crushed, and would spend the rest of his time in the trap on crutches.

It was most likely a dispute over the use of explosives.  Earlier arguments I had overheard, particularly from Tom Bodell's perspective, was that David Yankovich was utterly convinced he knew the exact right place to put the explosives to safely accelerate their tunneling, and Tom Bodell was equally certain that they could not be safely used.  It looked Tom had been right.

Unlike earlier tragedies, this was one that affected virtually everyone, student and faculty alike.  It was particularly devastating to our close knit group, Artie and gang.  Tom Bodell and Jim Kurrash were not abstract figures to us, not somebody we just saw in the hallway.  They were two of our closest friends, buddies we saw every day, talked to every day, shared our lives with.  As long as our stayed intact, we felt we could endure the madness around us.  But now it had gone full center, and the force of it literally dropped us to our knees.

Mr. Jerry Bruchow, one of the teacher supervisors, was miraculously one of the seven survivors.  This was a blessing, considering his importance to us in agriculture, but my father had put him in as one of the teachers in charge of the project.  He had sent Mr. King, the shop teacher, ahead, into the forefront of tunneling progress.  Terence King had the authority to say yay or nay on the use of explosives.  He did not survive.  The other faculty casualty was Mr.  Robert Anderwicz, the drafting teacher.

Two of our most adept shop teachers were gone.  So were our most gifted mechanic, Tom Bodell, and our scientific genius, David Yankovich.  The human tragedy was heavy enough, but we also felt greatly damaged in losing some of our best and brightest in trying to help us find a way out,

Every person we lost was a male.  We were moving to a less exist society, at least in the general world, but it had not penetrated the attitude about a physical mission like the tunnel team.  In my father's and Mr. Bruchow's defense, I don't think there was any female who even asked to be on the team.  Some, like Sue Boschman, would later voice many regrets that they weren't down there, but that was after the tragedy.

The shattering earthquake caused by whatever happened down there, even caused injuries around the school, as students fell, or were hit by falling objects.  One student was even killed, one Jack Kessler, who died in the school auditorium when he fell and hit is head in just the wrong way.  My involvement in that was completely unknown.  No one must have seen me in that area, either coming into the auditorium or leaving.  I still feared further retribution from David Izzner and his associates, but that was not an immediate concern, not while we were trying to deal with such horrible losses.

Artie was everywhere, consoling everyone.  His resolve to see us through was fierce, his caring an almost physical thing.  He and Ginny were especially important to reaching out to Mary Estill, Ginny's young sister and Jim Kurrash's girlfriend.  Lisa reached out to Sue Boschman.  It was everything Lisa and I and Robert Bond could do to prevent from going down into the tunnel.  Mostly I was left alone, and shivered, and cried.  Yes, I cried, Dr. Duncan.  I cried like I hadn't cried since I was a toddler.  Everything came flooding up and out of me, all the horror and insanity of the last few months.  I didn't want my friends to be dead.  I didn't want to be trapped.  I wanted to see my mother again.

Eventually Lisa went back to the makeshift infirmary, and Sue was encompassed by the Estill girls.  Artie came over to me, and put his hand on my shaking shoulder.  "We will get through this, Lance.  We'll remember Tom and Jim and all they did to help us get out.  We'll remember them for the great friends they were.  And we will look out for each other.  No more deaths.  I promise." 

Artie meant it.  He was very sincere.  And he would fight very hard to make it so.  No one can deny how hard he fought for us.  He was a true prince among us, a genuine leader. It would take awhile for people beyond our group to notice that, but eventually they would.  But stopping the bad things from happening?  They seemed inevitable.  Artie couldn't stop them.  My father couldn't stop them.  I couldn't stop them.

Our July nightmares were not over.

The Christmas Light

It is day!

A new and exciting light shines upon the world!

A light of love.

A ray of hope.

A path to forgiveness.

A little child is born.
One whom the grace of God has given us.
To show that the power of love
Is the power of God.

Born in a manger
A king of kings from humble birth
He will bring down earthly rulers
He will show a path to a greater kingdom

A kingdom of heaven
Brought to earth
Through love, hope and charity
Through love of God and man

The wise will visit him
And shower him with gifts
The poor shepherds flock to his side
Because the poor will always be with him

The sinners are welcome
Repentance and forgiveness are possible
The hungry are fed
The naked are clothed
The sick are healed

The rich who gain by exploitation
Who do not love or share or care
Who seek to control by arcane rules
They are turned away empty handed

Rejoice!
The lord has come!
The infant son
Lights the world!

Come!
Open the door!
Let in the light!

LOVE

Christmas Time With the Witty

SILVER BELLS

An incredibly distorted parody

Silver Bells, Instant Wells

It's Christmas time with the witty

Ring-a-ling, ennui takes wing,

Soon it will be Christmas Day

Witty cakewalks

Bitsy ringhawks

Dressed in falconer style

In the error there's 

A fealty to Christmas

Nerds are laughing

Gas is passing

Meeting pile after pile

And on every

Open Mike night you'll hear

Silver Bells, Instant Wells

It's Christmas time with the witty

Ring-a-ling, ennui takes wing,

Soon it will be Christmas Day

Strings of street fights

Even  rem stipes

Blink a bright bread and cream

As the beatniks rush home

With their pleasures

Hear their bones crunch

See their knees bunch

This is Big Red Daddy-O's big scene

And above all 

This hustle you'll here

Silver Bells, Instant Wells

It's Christmas time with the witty

Ring-a-ling, ennui takes wing,

Soon it will be Christmas Day

Around the World in One Day at Epcot

Alison and Benjamin ready to start their Epcot adventure.

Benjamin is proud of his picture with Poseidon. He is a huge fan of the Percy Jackson novels by Rick Riordan, where Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, He does not know yet that my expert photography cut Poseidon's head off.

Benjamin in front of an Epcot Christmas tree with big balls.

Benjamin discovers the anime section of the Japanese store at Epcot.

Benjamin and Alison in Morocco. Well, the Epcot version.

Benjamin confronts a troll in Norway.

The car Benjamin made at Test Trax at Epcot. It was in second for most Eco-efficient cars designed that day.


We spent the day at Disney's Epcot park Thursday, December 19.  We had a wonderful, marvelous time, although it was very expensive.  It is my favorite amusement park.  It reminds me of the World Fairs that used to take place.  I went to the World's Expo in Montreal when I was just 12.  I am glad to help give Benjamin these memories as he turns 13.

Advent Drawing to a Close

Christmas days are near!
Let's prepare to cheer!
Advent reflection is almost through!
Soon we will celebrate anew!

Celebrate the birth of Christ
Revel in the joys of life
He came to us to shine a light
Love God, love you neighbor

The power of love
The gift of tolerance
The hope of generosity
The charity of unconditional acceptance


Love God
Love your neighbor
You do not judge
You just love

Gather your family
Reach out in love and hope
Merry Christmas, family of man!
Happy Holidays to one and all!

Where Were You in 2002? Free Speech Pre Duck Dynasty Style

Where were you starting in 2002 and into 2003?  After the Republicans controlled the Presidency, House and Senate?  Took a permanent choke hold on the state of Georgia?

Where were you when the Dixie Chicks were vilified and dehumanized for speaking out early about the Iraq War?  When their careers were being sidelined, boycotted, removed from the air, sponsors cancelled, death threated?  Where were you "free speechers" then?

Where you were when Michael Moore dared to speak out about the Iraq War at the Oscars?  When he was shunned and vilified, and suddenly it was all right for television commentators to wish him dead?  When it was okay for him to be asked in an on air interview questions like how does it feel to be the most hated man in America?  How does it feel to know that there are people who would be happier if he was just dead?

Where were you when I, yes me, Tom Strait, got into trouble because he had the audacity to state in a public place that he was not going to vote for Kay Godwin in 2002?  To know that there were churches in the area who had to debate whether a Democrat could be a Christian at all?

Where were you in 2012 when my son Benjamin was bullied, threatened, and harassed because he dared to say he was for the re-election of President Obama?

I guess freedom of speech standards are different when it's a homophobic racist with a popular television show.


A & E has to think hard if they want to reward this man, whom they have already given a huge pile of money to, and let anyone think they endorse the vile nonsense that spews from his mouth.  Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty (whose name I didn't even know until today), said things about homosexuality and also about African Americans, that were both offensive and patently untrue.  Calling homosexuality a sin akin to bestiality, and that black people were "happy" pre-Civil rights (you know, before they began to feel all "entitled" and such).

It is  A & E's decision.  It is their network.  We can choose to watch or not.  Boycott whatever we choose as consumers - pro or con.   It is not a freedom of speech issue.  We are not entitled to programs on private company networks and say whatever we feel like.  Just ask Phil Donahue, Bill Maher, Martin Bashir, etc.

Let's say I get a job as Associate Pastor in a church that is very conservative Christian, with what they would call traditional views on homosexuals.  Let's say after getting the job there, I do an interview with the local paper where I state that it is my clear view as a Christian that homosexuality is NOT a sin, and that gay marriage should be allowed.  How long do you think that conservative church would keep me as Associate Pastor?  Heck, I might not even be able to sit in it as a congregant!

Let's not jut boycott Duck Dynasty.  Let's boycott ALL reality TV!  We need to stop being voyeurs into the lives of people just because we want to laugh at them, or feel superior to them, or find some weird connection to their values.  People, The Truman Show was a SATIRE!  Don't you get it?

But that is one of those boycotts that is just too easy for me.  I already don't watch reality TV (except for a couple of realty competitions).  I don't want to see bored housewives get drunk and cat fight with each other.  I don't want to see Honey BooBoo get spoiled, or toddlers get tiaras.  I don't care about a real life version of The Beverly Hillbillies.

Enough is enough.

We stand up to a war that was unjustified and immoral, and are practically run out of the country.  This man speaks homophobic and racist nonsense, and all of a sudden it's a big free speech issue.

I try, really I do.  But sometimes people just don't make it easy.

Intro to The Strait Line 101

Yes. I am aware the most popular bogs are niche themed creatures of habit.

Alison has blogs she goes to that specialize in healthy recopies and post new ones every day.  Some bloggers concentrate on certain occupations, sports team, TV show, celebrity or other special interest. The traffic builds because of the shared interest, and everyone knows what to expect.

I have trouble playing by those rules.  So mine varies too much to build up daily reliability, unless you are one of the small few who just like my writing no matter what it is about.

Nevertheless, there is a certain pattern to my posting, and if you look, particularly at the titles and the labels at the end of stories, you should be able to pick out those things most interesting to you.

The following is a listing of different kinds of posts you could pick from -

Monday Musings

General posts that have multiple topics that are posted on.....Monday!  They are usually a reflection of thoughts and experiences I've had over the weekend, or previous week.  Some blogs are completely journal/diary style entries, and this series comes the closest to that.  There is a lot of stuff about family, theater, things I've seen or read, things about work, random thoughts about politics/sports/religion or whatever comes to mind.  If you know me or my family, these are probably more interesting than if you don't.  But they're there, if you do know me, or are curious.

Ripping Good Yarns

I have a group on Facebook called Ripping Good Yarns, dedicated to enjoyment of melodramatic storytelling, and these posts are an extension of that.  It includes movies, TV, and books, and has posts ranging from reviews and commentaries, discussions of what's coming, and selections for Hall of Fame and or/other awards.  It the part that I do that could stand to use greater participation from readers and fans.  Please post replies and comments either here or on Facebook!

Saturday Political Soap Box

My thoughts and opinions about issues of the day, hopefully spurring debate and conversation.  I have done 81 soap boxes so far!  Hopefully, I at least get credit for perseverance.

Old Pat T Collection

These are my autobiographical stories, reaching back to early childhood.

Stories from a Stony Land

These are writings from the genealogical research done by my father. Ther are really very interesting, and are 95% my father's own words.

History of the Trap

My fictional story detailing being trapped in a high school for ten years, and are based on my own high school experiences.  These can be followed from the beginning by clicking the label at the end of the story chapter you are reading, or by going to the story site Wattpad.

Crowley Stories

Stories set in the fictional Southeast Georgia town that borders the swamp. Crowley.  These are stories that can be read independently.

Pseudo Poetry

I was writing something barely recognizably as poetry on Thursday nights, but the play schedule is over now, and I hope to get back to it.  Be afraid.  Very afraid.

Additionally, there are many stories that highlight and promote community theater, something very near and dear to me.  There are also religious posts, sometimes theological, sometimes just about my church, Grace Episcopal.  There are other random short stories. Sometimes I just caption pictures.  Other themes and posts just destroy any semblance of purpose or reason, and I could go anywhere and post about anything.

Please, though, I encourage you to sort through it, and pick out the parts most interesting to you.  And let me hear from you!  Feedback is greatly appreciated!

Ripping Good Yarns: Book Lover's Hall of Fame 2013

Last year's winner and out first entrant into the Book Lover's Hall of Fame.

I'm going to go ahead and take a chance.

Earlier, I started a Ripping Good Yarns TV Hall of Fame.  The 2012 winner and first entrant into that was M*A*S*H.  The 2013 winner was Seinfeld.

Then I started a Ripping Good Yarns Movie Hall of Fame.  The 2012 winner and first entrant into that was Star Wars.  The 2013 winner was The Wizard of Oz.

Last year I started Ripping good Yarns Book Lover's Hall of Fame.  It did not receive quite the support the first two Hall of Fames did, but it was more popular than I anticipated it being.  Huzzah!

Worthy entries, but the contests have not generate the participation I had hoped for.  Certainly the number of voters that I had did not even match well with the page views on the blog, or the Facebook exposure I gave them.  But I plowed through anyways, because Rome wasn't built in a day, and these things take time to build. 

Nevertheless, this one is risky.  But it's something I want to do, and I do know of a number of book fans who are Strait Line viewers and/or Facebook friends.  So here is the final grand Hall of Fame category - BOOKS.

This opening post represents the beginning of the nomination process.  Please comment below your favorite book or book series.  The top five to ten will be selected for the final vote.

The book should be fiction.  No autobiographies, non-fiction, history, self-help, cookbooks, etc.  But don't over think this.  If it's something you like and you're not sure of it's category, go ahead and nominate it anyways.  I will sort that out.

Some of my own nominations follow: 

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and 1984 by George Orwell - great dystopian novels that I read in high school.  Although neither of these visions became completely true, many elements they brought up are ones where  you can see their influence on modern culture.

Salem's Lot by Stephen King - a vampire story the way it should be done.  I ordered this book to complete a list of five free books to join a book club without really knowing what it was.  I started reading this and could not stop until I was finished.  One of the most sensational, intense reading experiences of my life.  Great writing and vampires with real teeth.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - the entire trilogy.  Revolutionized the way I look at books and inspired a great deal of my own writing.  Samwise to me is one of the greatest characters in literature.

The Game of Thrones by George R R Martin - a complicated but brilliant and accessible tapestry.  Written on a huge canvas, he draws you in with the multitude of vibrant characters and it's dizzying unpredictability.  I dare you to start the first book, get to about page 75, and then stop reading.  You won't be able to do it.  I have not lost this challenge yet.  The only flaw with this series, called The Song of Fire and Ice, is that it is still ongoing, and the author is maddeningly slow in putting out new books.

The Stand by Stephen King - best post-apocalypse story ever.  A great journey that I have reread a few times, it swirls with well-defined characters, exciting events, and a surprisingly spiritual framework.  It's one of those rare books that I never tire of re-reading.

Looking back over this list, I see that these are all 20th century books, and most of which would not be considered classic literature.  I will go back and mull over some more classic literature and recommend some books from that within the next week.

Meanwhile, I encourage your nominations!  It's okay to nominate books that have already been nominated.  In fact, it may be the only way to sort the top group for the actual voting. 

Please nominate by comment here or on Facebook.  I also take private messages, personal conversations, and bribes are welcome (just kidding!).

Let the nominations begin!

(I hope)

Post Scrooge Adjustments and Other Monday Musings

The talented Jody Rollins as Bob Cratchit, as I present my last line as Scrooge.  At least for this season!

My current run as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol is now over.

I must make some post play adjustments.

I have to re-concentrate my efforts on the more financial aspects of my family.  I am certainly not giving up charity and benevolence, but I do have family responsibilities to fulfill.  

I very, very much want to be in The Wizard of Oz that WACT is doing this February, but as it is scheduled in tax season, and as I need to put in so many hours, I find it impossible to do.  

The amount of hours I need to work would interfere with a play, but I can only work so many hours in accounting.  Firstly, if I have not made it clear, I am not a firm partner.  I am just a staff accountant.  They pay me overtime for extra hours (thank goodness), but there is only so many hours that they are going to pay me.  Secondly, and honestly, at my age, there are only so many hours a week that I can concentrate on accounting.  My mental stamina only goes so far.  

The time that I can retire from accounting is very iffy.  Even though my younger sister is retiring in March, and her husband, who is a year older than me, retired two years ago, and I see other friends and family retiring by at least 62, I just don't know when I can do it.  But I have to keep trying, keep hoping.

Another element to that is figuring other ways to make money, ways that are relatively self-employed.  I am a pretty good actor (although often plagued by wardrobe malfunctions) but I have long since given up on making money from that.  I could make some money selling comics and stuff off e-bay, but that is real hit and miss, not to mention a huge pain in the rear.  So that leaves writing.

What that means to y'all is some changes to The Strait Line.  I am re-organizing things to emphasize writings that I could potentially turn into e-books.  Can I make a lot of money that way?  Probably not.  But I have to try.  I just have to try.

I will be suspending Saturday Political Soap Box at least until after tax season.  This is to free up Saturday for writings that could lead to e-books.  Some of these are things that don't generate a lot of page views, but are nevertheless important to me.  This means, hopefully, more History of the Trap, Crowley Stories, Stories From A Stony Land, and autobiographical stories for the old Pat T collection.  Political posts, Ripping good Yarn posts, and general interest stories like this will continue to exist, particularly on weekdays when my time is more limited, but they will be less frequent.

I also need to become more involved with my church.  I have been elected to Vestry, and some of the squabbling that I have seen in other churches has unfortunately come to ours.  We have a great Reverend, many wonderful people at our church, and I am confident we will come out stronger and more united than ever.  But I want to be there to help us through it.

A Christmas Carol was a great joy to be involved with, particularly with Alison and Benjamin involved.  But that is now over.  It is time for Christmas, and then the Great Tax Submarine begins.  Periscope up!

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

On the Meaning of A Christmas Carol: Saturday Political Soap Box 81

I love performing in A Christmas Carol.

When I am fortunate enough to play Scrooge, as an actor I revel in the range of emotions the character goes through, the change from selfish ogre to generous and kind patron to those around him, and as the story implies to assist those around him in what ways he can, AND to assist ALL the children living in ignorance and want ALL around the world.

Regardless of what part I play (Fezziwig seems like a juicy part to me), I still love to be part of the message of this show.  I can't think of a more special and important Christmas message.

Here is the message:  We need to care for each other or we are doomed.

What good does all the money in the world do us, if we have earned it by impoverishing others?  Who are we if we pay our employees whatever little the social and economic system lets us get away with, knowing and not caring that they will not have enough to get by on?

Scrooge learned through the Cratchit family the harsh realities of his disregard and mistreatment of those he employed.  He observed their meager existence, and the vulnerabilities and lack of decent health care Tiny Tim and the family had to endure.  He reformed and began to treat Bob Cratchit as a fellow human being and not just as a cog in his profit-generating wheel.

Scrooge learned through Marley that "mankind was his business".  That if his firm and activities were not contributing to the profit of his firm, but also to the "profit" and welfare of mankind as a whole, then he was accomplishing nothing.

Scrooge learned through the Ghost of Christmas Past all the real human emotion, contact and love he had given up in his worship of the "Mammon" idol.

Scrooge learned through the Ghost of Christmas Present of the joy he was missing, of how the Cratchits loved each other despite their meager resources, how Tiny Tim would suffer because of those limited resources, and how children all over the world were being hurt and left out by an unnecessarily cruel and selfish system.  That the punitive measures that Scrooge supported, the prisons and workhouses, were cruel and horrible hoaxes, that merely punished the poor for being poor.  He needed to do more, and others needed to do more, to relieve the suffering caused by their own greed.

The poor will always be with us, you say?  SO WHAT!!!  Does that mean you would stop the never ending struggle to make the world a better place?  I think not!

Scrooge learned through the Ghost of Christmas Future the effects of his lack of caring would lead to, not just to his lonely and isolated death, but to the death of Tiny Tim, symbolic of all those left vulnerable to a system centered on greed and income inequality.

After his transformation, Scrooge gave to everyone he saw.  He forgave and extended a loan, realizing that there were circumstances that warranted extension.  He gave to children that were fighting.  He even gave to a blind beggar, who, as it turns out can see (only in our play script version - I doubt if this is in the Dickens original version).  Scrooge is so giddy he doesn't even care.  If there is a choice between not giving because he feels he's being taken, or giving without conditions, he'll take that chance.  He sees the man who earlier approached him about the charity to help the poor, people Scrooge does not EVEN know, and he gives generously to it.

Dickens was trying to make a commentary about the system as a whole.  Scrooge is only representative of the worst elements of that system.  Would Scrooge or Dickens support efforts to make the government more caring, generous or supportive?  Of course they would!  You can't change the system without ACTUALLY changing the system!

Dickens wrote in a time when income equality was an ugly, brutal problem.  As it is a growing problem today.  And I pray in some small measure that this play wakes up at least a few people.  To be more generous, kind and caring.  To rethink the focus on the idol money, and on to the value of caring about others, in our actions both on a personal level, and also to mankind as a whole.

It's what Dickens would have wanted.

It's what Jesus would have wanted.

Merry Christmas!

God bless us, EVERYONE!

A Christmas Carol Album!

Myself as Scrooge, and the delightful Sophia Finn  as Tiny Tim coming out for curtain call.  Sophia is just four years old, and is stealing the show with her delightful portrayal.  This old codger is just thrilled to be coming out with her and bask in the glow of her applause.  Sophia's father, Patrick, is also in the show, and is very impressive in the twin roles of Fezziwig and old Joe.

These three caballeros are waiting to greet the audience after the show.  The youngest is my son, Benjamin, doing an exemplary job in FOUR roles, playing a variety of ages and characters.  I am so very proud of him! I am in the middle, looking like I'm trying to hold my head in place.  The dapper gentleman at the end is Mark Williams, playing Charles Dickens.  He does a fantastic job of narration, and setting the tone and mood for this great play.

Our mighty caroler group, revving up a rousing rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen right outside the office of Scrooge & Marley's, just to piss off Scrooge.  Well, that's my theory anyways.  The choir director here is the highly talented Alec Bunkley, a real gem in two roles as Fred, Scrooge's nephew, and Ebenezer, Scrooge in his twenties (before old age shrunk his height).

A fine group of thespians here!  In addition to my son at the end, there is Sophia Choudri, doing a charming turn as Fan; also in front on the right is Breauna Mello, playing the Laundress with aplomb; next to Benjamin is Ty Griffin, very good in a number of roles; Patrick Finn, excellent as Fezziwig and Old Joe; and in the back on the right is Marisa Williams, dressed as the Charwoman - I have rarely seen an actress as wonderfully expressive as her.

A huge motley crew of performers.  You can see that I am missing whatever neckwear I'm supposed to have.  I'm a fairly good actor, but sometimes I think my middle name is "Wardrobe Malfunction".

That's me in the costume I spend most of the play in.  I'm being shown "where to go" by the silent, eerie Ghost of Christmas Future, played with style by Justice Mousa.  Justice is not only a fine actress, but also an excellent singer, whom I had the great pleasure to hear sing at a talent show.

The young actress who has impressed me the most has been Marisa Williams,  In just the last year, she has demonstrated great range in the parts I've seen her play.  Her transformation between characters is truly amazing in this play.  Many don't realize until curtain call that it is the same actress playing both parts.  She has a very bright theatrical future ahead of her!

As of the first posting of this, there are still TWO more opportunities to see this special play, this wonderful gift to this community.  Please be sure to come out and see it, tonight or tomorrow at 8 PM.  Tickets $10.  At the Ritz in downtown Waycross.