Christmas Movies

I was on a quest to find a snapshot of the scene in “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” where a couple of elves are being tossed around in the wind in a huge snowstorm.  The reason for the quest doesn’t really matter.  I somehow got sidetracked into finding the best Christmas movies –EVER. I searched list after list and found that people who put these lists together are complete idiots.

First of all any person who lists “A Christmas Story” in the top ten has never seen a good movie. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t just come out and say that. But really, that movie, even with its great cast, is not a great movie. It just isn’t. And if you listed it as #1 you really need to see a psychiatrist pronto!

If your list does not include “Desk Set,” with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, just go into your little corner now because you realize you have made an enormous error in judgment and need an extensive time out.

If you have listed “Miracle on 34^th Street,” or “The Grinch who Stole Christmas,” other than the originals or “A Christmas Carol” that was not the 1951 classic. You get coal in you stocking and nothing under the tree.

If you have listed “The Santa Claus” or “National Lampoon’s Christmas” before “Elf” you are doomed to hell.

The ten best Christmas movies ever:

1. A Christmas Carol/Scrooge – 1951

2. Desk Set

3. It’s a Wonderful Life

4. Meet Me in St. Louis 

5. Little Women 1949 & 1994

 ***

The following are of equal value -

6. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas - 1966

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

 ****

7. Miracle on 34^th Street -1947

8. Elf

9. Bad Santa

10. Home Alone

Honorable mention

Love Actually

While You were Sleeping

Thanksgiving movie greats

Nobody’s Fool

Hannah and Her Sisters

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

I know there are more, I just can't think of them right now. 

The Feature

Book Reading and Signing at 
The Erie Book Store
 December 15, 2012
at 1:00 p.m.
Tucumcari & The Perry Square Gospels
Meet the authors
 Geoff Peterson & Megan Collins



The original Book Release and Reading 

of Tucumcari now available on YouTube. 

Thanks to Darryl aka DrDmarc65

 

click cover for video

Geoff's new release

The Perry Square Gospels

click cover for info

Available at your local independent book store and 

Amazon.

Living on the Edge - watching "The Master"

I came to a few realizations today during and after watching the movie, “The Master.” Not sure which I want to go into first so I’ll start with me.

First of all “The Master” is a film starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix.  Hoffman plays a compelling, crazy ass writer that starts his own cult. His followers call him “The Master.”  Phoenix plays a broken WWII crazy ass vet who, at times, falls under his spell. I won’t give any spoilers as to why he could possibly be called “The Master” as well.  Upon leaving the theater my jaws were sore because I’d spent much of the time grinding my teeth. Watching the birthing of a cult, which is the beginning of any mainstream religion, is as disturbing as organized religion itself. What is most troubling to me though is that I realized I have so much in common with not only followers of cults, but the cult leaders themselves.

I am not a "normal" person. I just can't live a "normal” life, not for long anyway. I dread the thought of a 9-5 job, marriage, a white picket fence and bonuses at Christmas. I can't do it, I tried, I really did. I’m only a woman looking for where she fits in. I’ve lived half of a century and still don’t know where that is. It’s not that I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. I’m grown and want nothing to do with that “American Dream”.

On the topic of that other “American Dream," the one where you get anything you want- I’ll let George Carlin fill you in on that one. While it’s a very good point that I completely agree with, it isn’t the one I’m making here.

Who decided that a matchbox house, disposals and Father Knows Best,  are what is normal, acceptable, and virtuous anyway? Who is that elusive “they” that decided that hopping trains and sleeping on park benches was unacceptable, unworthy, despicable and owning a house in the suburbs was the proper, correct, moral and valuable life to lead? Why is there only one way to live? What prick made this rule?

As I’m writing this I realize that for some people they do want that dream and can’t attain it. Others, like me, can attain and have had it but threw it away.

This is more difficult than I realized so I’ll post

More later -

Upcoming Poetry Events

Every Thursday @ 5 pm

Poets Anonymous

An open forum for local poets, attempting talents and those with curiosity and maybe something to get off their chests.

The Erie Book Store

Flagship Café

915 State Street

Erie, PA

Every Friday @ 6 pm

Poetry hosted by Lady D

Open mic

The BayBreeze Lounge

25 East 10^th Street

Erie, PA

Every 2^nd Tuesday @ 7 pm

Second Tuesday Community Writers' Workshop

Mercyhurst College Campus

203 Old Main

Erie, PA

The meetings last about two hours. Short poetry is the most common genre, but any genre is welcome—short stories, short plays, and five-minute excerpts of longer works are often brought to workshop. Please bring enough copies of your work for members to comment upon. We have anywhere from eight to fifteen participants per meeting. There is no commitment from month to month, and the workshop is free and open to the public.

Monday, August 27 @ 7 pm

Erie County Poet Laureate Finalist Reading

Hirt Auditorium in the Blasco Memorial Library

160 E Front St
Erie, PA 16507

Eleven Erie Countians who submitted applications to the County Council Office for the 2012-2013 Erie County Poet Laureate position will be whittled down to four or five finalists based on cumulative scores of their poetry and projects. Those finalists will participate in this reading.

Poets' Hall -the International Fellowship of Poets and Spoken Word Artists

1136 East Lake Road

Erie, PA

Saturday, September 1 @ 8 pm

Book Release

Geoff Peterson and Megan Collins

will read portions of the book Tucumcari and will be available for signing.

Food and Drink – Public Welcome!

All things far away are worthy of meditation, say the authors of Tucumcari, a travel journal tracing the crazy routes backwards from hometowns to westward visions of an alternate life. Presented in essay, poems and four unabashed interviews, public & private demons, as well as decisions made in a family’s past that alter the course of our lives.

Saturday, September 15, 22 & Thursday September 27 @ 8 pm

Is What It Is Featuring Monica Igras

Friday, September, 28 @ 7-9PM

Poetry Open Mic

Sunday, September 16 - Celebrate Everyday Art in Erie @ 2 pm – 3 pm

Poetry Park, E 22 St, between Ash and Reed

Erie, PA

For the Governor's Arts Awards
with a poetry open mic, hosted by Chuck Joy

TUCUMCARI BOOK RELEASE

TUCUMCARI 

Book Release and Signing   September 1, 2012 @ 8:00 p.m.

All things far away are worthy of meditation, say the authors of Tucumcari, a travel journal tracing the crazy routes backwards from hometowns to westward visions of an alternate life. Presented in essay, poems and four unabashed interviews, public & private demons, as well as decisions made in a family’s past that alter the course of our lives.

Geoff Peterson and Megan Collins will read portions of their new book. Books will be available for purchase at a discounted price. 

Food and Drink

Everyone welcome

International Fellowship of Poets and Spoken Word Artists PA Local 1136

1136 East Lake Road

Erie, PA

Tucumcari 

Book Launch at Poets' Hall. 
More info forthcoming. 

Tucumcari

Life has been a roller coaster. I know that’s cliché but, it’s the truth. Maybe instead I should say it’s been a hay ride over beautiful verdant rolling hills and reeking horse dung. I’ve been living on the edge, the edge of family, relationships, Tucumcari, Tucson, Perry Square, Erie and above all           
life.

The book, Tucumcari, written by my partner Geoff Peterson and me, is coming out July, 2012. It reveals more about me than I thought I would ever reveal to anyone, let alone unidentified readers. I’m not used to letting others know so much. I like to be mysterious. I like to think that no one knows where I come from or who I am. But reveal it does.

I think the story of what could have been is the story of a lot of people. The search for what could be, if only, is common to many. The presentation is unique, original and candid.

I hope you find Tucumcari, familiar, funny, difficult, a tale of yourself, but if none of that, at the very least, 
a worthwhile read.  

Lying here beside the radio, listening to Harry Chapin. All those not “Cats in the Cradle.” Not that, that is a bad song. Just way overplayed.

Mr. Tanner is the one that really rocks; it really means something.

Poets' Hall also rocks so keep up on events there.