Harvey Pekar has left earth.

His was a voice from the working class, those of us who put in the unglamorous, forty hour weeks to pay the bills. This VA file clerk possessed what is to me the most enviable of talents, the ability to tell the stories within. His honest perspective is what I'll miss. I met him once at a book signing and for a so called misanthrope, I found him really likable, enjoyable actually.  What was clear to me both from meeting him and reading his work was that Harvey Pekar was an authentic person and there is no higher compliment.

Gertie

I met Gertie when she was only a few weeks old. She looked like a cartoon. She was the cutest puppy with a giant head, a roly-poly body and tiny, lil legs. When she'd try to drink out of her water bowl she would topple over.  We will all miss you Gertie.

My favorite Dennis Hopper film will always be Night Tide.

Eric Rohmer

How we adore his films.

Bye Bye Soupy

Little Tragedies

Last April, when I received my six little chicks in a Blue Bell Ice Cream container, each one popped out in their own special way. Ducky was named Ducky because she immediately put her feet in the water dish and opened her beak and peeped and looked around as if saying,"Hey everybody, look at me!" and splashed around. I loved all from the start but Ducky stood out as a special chickie. She greeted everyone who came into my yard, She let Karen pick her up and hug her, she cooed on my lap, Ducky was my favorite, she had a lot of personality.

The weather changed but it was too late, the heat had already taken it's toll. Last week I had a nightmare and it was that this had happened. For a week I have been extra vigilant with them and trying to prepare myself. When it comes to my pets, it seems the news of their exit in announced in a dream the week before. This happened with Ollie and Sammy and this time I knew better than to shrug it off as just a bad dream or thought, though I still hoped it would be. I knew it would be Ducky and I knew it would hurt. Anytime you fall in love with a little creature, it's a tiny tragedy looming in your future but I can never stop myself.

My childhood is dying off

My mom watched him every night and so I remember him well on the small black and white set that sat on a wire stand on wheels.

Flowers for Frank

"I hope it is true that a man can die and yet not only live in others but give them life, and not only life, but that great consciousness of life."

~Jack Kerouac