and the walls came tumbling, tumbling, d o w n

If you had the misfortune of living on the East side of this wall, this is the view you had. Numbered blocks of reinforced concrete, each one 4 feet wide and 12 feet high and weighing a ton. Numbered gray rectangles, keeping you away from family, friends, freedom.
But on the side facing those in West Berlin?
Colorful graffiti, painted quickly during the night, graced the wall, enlivening the view.
On these four panels, two kings ruled on the four tons of concrete.

On the left, a bright, colorful, smiling king promised freedom for all.

The pale, blind king on the right shared only sadness, neglect, and enslavement with his subjects.






Thanks to Robert Hefner, collector of historical monuments, this portion of the Berlin Wall was salvaged. He bought it as a reminder of "the power of personal freedom". After twenty-eight years of separation, the structure was dismantled on November 9, 1989, by the very people it had once imprisoned. Personal freedom, in action!
The graffiti artist credited with daring to paint the panels, Dennis Kaun, certainly exercised his personal freedom, too.
Now, the panels reside, for the next year or so, at the University of Virginia, an institution founded by the father of the American concept of personal freedom, Thomas Jefferson.
How very befitting.
I found out yesterday about its presence on the grounds. I resolved to take a breather from my chemistry fraternity conclave to seek it out. I had already seen the Rotunda, the brains/library of the original campus designed by Mr. Jefferson. I had also viewed the Chapel, once not realizing what it was, as I walked the grounds to meet others for libations after the meetings.
Today, sore feet and all, I was determined to get as close as I could to this piece of history, this symbol of man's struggle against those who would subjugate others.
And so I did.
How very glad I am that I came to Virginia.

how to apply lipstick video

This marks four years since the first niece and I took a trip to Columbia, South Carolina.
It was a simple overnight trip.
She had "won", on the radio, a guaranteed audition slot for the television show, "The Biggest Loser". I really didin't think she would make it, as she is not nearly heavy enough for that show. But she was really looking forward to the chance to win $250,000 if she were to be the winner. Oh, yeah!
I had traveled up with her, partly to spend time with her, partly for moral support, partly because her mom couldn't go.
This morning, we woke and had breakfast. Then, what a treat!!! A real Hindu wedding procession right outside, on the street!! With horses and fancy garb and cool music!!!
Yeah, seems that might have been a good omen, right?
Nope.
Turns out the interviewers thought she wasn't heavy enough, either.
Ah, well... we still had a nice trip together!
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What's that?
I had said there would be a video?
Well, it isn't really a video, just a series of three pictures. I've had them on my phone ever since then. As I proceed from one to the other, quickly clicking back and forth, it's just like having a mini-film of her applying lipstick!
It is!
Yes, I am easily entertained.
With my 7-year-old, flip-style, cell phone.
(smile!)
Here is the "video"!

make my, make my, make my day

OH superhero Fliss, if you could see just how quickly reading your blog post turned me from practical getting ready to go run errands Rachel to a squishy happy sniffling smiling Rachel!
I am so happy to hear from you and I can't wait to read the rest of your blog when I get home tonight!
Thank you so much for your energy, your continued support, your belief in the wonderful.
That is the impression I get from you; that you are willing against the odds to live on the belief that something wonderful is about to happen.
It's a quality I rarely see and it always leaves a trail of, well, stardust.
So I suppose, thanks for being what you are.
See I got all sappy...hahaha I needed that!
talk soon, Sun, rain, oceans....Rachel Strickland 4:22pm Jul 30 2014

Wow... I think she gets me.
Anticipating delight.
Now I'm all sappy...
Thank you, Rachel.

the light at the end of the tunnel

No, it's not an oncoming train!
Nuvi has taken me on the scenic route to cousin Michelle's, this time sending me onto a long bridge and into a convex tunnel. I'm so glad it was during the day!

well, i can't chain him, can i

"I brought you into this world and I can take you out."
Uttered by Bill Cosby, the line is hilarious! After all, he's recounting a conversation with his son, probably teen-aged, during a moment of extreme boorishness on the son's part. However, we all know it would be a cold day in July before he would ever ACT on that threat. That means, of course, that the boy's life is safe in his father's hands. Right? As long as he's in the Northern hemisphere, that is.
Now, consider a case of a parolee, just released from prison. In the movie, we're not told why he was incarcerated; that's not the point. Suffice it to say that's he's been gone at least two decades and the small boy he left on the other side of the bars is now a grown man.
But... in the father's mind, the mental image of his son is frozen at that young age, that preschool innocence shining from his face. The picture of the boy is front and center in the dad's memories. Time stood still for that aspect of the man's life.
Now, consider that the very day the father is released on parole, he is informed that his son is dead, killed while burgling an occupied home. Moreover, on the day of his release, the son is being buried. The father never actually sees the son's body, so the mental image he carries is preserved, carrying over into a need for vengeance against the homeowner who killed the son.
Things get complicated, though. The father becomes aware that the man buried was not his little boy, but some random guy. His son, his all grown up son, has mob affiliations and has been whisked into witness protection until his testimony against the mobsters.
The father wants to see his son, wants to have a new image of the boy who grew up without him. Only this image is nightmare fuel. The man he sees is a serial killer of young girls, a brutal animal who is the star of many snuff films.
And the father makes a hard decision, but the right one. The son must be put down, as he cannot be chained.
Great story.
If you get a chance, see "Cold In July". The ending is exactly right.

hate, anger, regret, they're not just members of a girl group I once signed

Let's play a game!
Match the quote to the correct movie!
These are all movies that are part of my Summer Kid Film Festival a n d they were all NEW TO ME!!!
Trust me, that's quite a feat. I see a LOT of movies.
And I see almost all of the films aimed at the under-10 crowd.
So, are you ready?
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Here are the three contenders!

1) On Tuesday, at the Regal, it was "Walking With Dinosaurs".
2) On Wednesday, at the Regal again, I saw "Turbo".
3) Today, at the Carmike, I had "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked".
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Here are the quotes I pulled from the movies.

A) "Hate, anger, regret, they're not just members of a girl group I once signed."

B) "Look at his little baby hands! He's so cute!"

C) "It isn't the size of the dreamer, it's the size of the dream!"

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Time's up!
The correct answers are: 1) B, 2) C, 3) A.
That first quote was when Ian (the former record agent, clad in a pelican suit) is talking to Dave (manager of the chipmunks), near the end of the film.
The second was uttered by Alex, the alexornis, pointing out a feature of the gorgosaurus to Ricky, the recalcitrant teenager.
That last quote? Spoken by the racer, Guy Gagne, to Turbo the garden snail and Guy's numero uno fan, at a press conference prior to the Indy 500 - just before the idol dashes Theo's hopes at a private chat.
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My favorite aspects of these features of the Summer Kid Film Festival?
In "Walking With Dinosaurs", the realistic feel of the movie was a definite draw! I didn't feel like I was watching an animated film, but more of a special on an educational channel on tv. Every time a new dinosaur appeared onscreen, we were given their scientific name, the common name, and the food preferences (omnivore, for example). Nice! I liked that and so did the many kids with me!
"Turbo" had a lot of fun moments, but several serious ones, too. After all, this is a story that deals with two pairs of brothers: Theo/Turbo and his more grounded brother Chet as well as the creative Tito and his talented taco chef brother, Angelo. The moment that most resonated for me was between the two snails, though. The day before the big race, Chet asks "What will you do if you wake up tomorrow and your powers are gone?"
Turbo's reply was priceless.
"Then I will have to make the most of today."
Right?
You know that snail was speaking my language!
As for the Chipmunks, their squeaky voices can be a bit irritating, which is most assuredly why I had not yet seen this one. But the allure was too great to complete a trio of unknowns this week!!!
So, I went. And you know what? I had fun! I liked that the shipwrecked Zoe not only had her own Wilson, but also Spalding, Callaway, and Dunlop! I like that Simon learned to let his freak flag fly! And, hearing "Born This Way" sung by animals - hahaha!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lawn to mow and clothes to wash and a myriad of other grown-up chores...
Later!!!

strong enough to be used by a man, but gentle enough for a woman

An attractive young woman on a flight from Ireland asked the Priest beside her, 'Father, may I ask a favor?'

'Of course child. What may I do for you?'

'Well, I bought my mother an expensive hair dryer for her birthday. It is unopened but well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through customs for me? Hide it under your Robes perhaps?'

'I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you, I will not lie.'

'With your honest face, Father, no one will question you.'

When they got to Customs, she let the priest go first. The official asked, 'Father, do you have anything to declare?'

'From the top of my head down to my waist I have nothing to declare.'

The official thought this answer strange, so asked, ' And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?'

'I have a marvelous instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused.'

Roaring with laughter, the official said, 'Go ahead, Father. Next please!'