The poppy is an uncomplicated creature. It has one color. It is not parasitic or solitary. It grows simply, and in groups, like schoolchildren.
But its symbolism is rich, with a magnitude that has spanned many countries, and many centuries. For such a little flower it carries meanings that are vast and weary; that are eternal and quiet in the earth.
In Greece and Rome the poppy meant sleep and death - worlds beneath the cold eyelid. Opium was extruded from its seeds and sleepy breaths colored ancient dens and palaces. Poppies decorated the tombstones of their dead, welcoming the lengthy sleep. In Persian literature, the poppy is called the eternal flower - for emotions unrelenting and without end; for loyalty without limit.
The poppy fields in The Wizard of Oz were billowing and fearsome, promising an everlasting sleep. In Egypt opium was daubed on the neck and wrists like a hypnotic perfume.
It wasn't until 1915 that the significance of the little red flower passed into Europe as well, when the ground was already red. Towards the end of the year a poem was published - a trifle sentimental, a little maudlin, as most affairs of the heart are - and its beginning is familiar:
"In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row...
The fragrant drops of blood growing amongst the white purity must have been a shocking sight to the soldier; in a poem it might be less awful but no less meaningful. The poppy had become a part of their spoiled landscape.
"That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below
1915 was a terrible year. Gallipoli - Ypres - Nueve Chapelle - Loos - The Battles of the Isonzo...the poppies must have shuddered in the stinging breeze.
"We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields
When the war was over, and the hardness and the bitternress had set in, the poppy had adopted another symbol - the four blasted years that had called the Edwardians in from their play, that had rubbed the gilt off the lily. Its brave, bloody image was burnt on the dying soldier's eyes.
On Veteran's Dan/Remembrance Day the popppy is worn, sewn into wreaths, displayed in houses (Aubrey does this): it is still held high.
"Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields"
before he became a caricature in Meet the parents and Meet the parents II, Robert DeNiro was actually very funny in the 'comedic thriller' Midnight Run. (NOTE: how do you know you are old? old old? when a movie you watched when first release is touted as a classic. teh ouch. if Midnight Run were a college students it'd be finally drinking legally)
whatever a 'comedic thriller' is supposed to be, this movie was it. cant' think of any other movie that qualifies.
and to think it almost became a-for-sure-train-wreck. check it
"one of the studio (Paramount) proposals for the role of Jonathan Mardukas was Robin Williams*, who agreed to audition <shudders> meanwhile, the director, Martin Brest, had auditioned and cast Charles Grodin in the role, which lead Paramount to drop out of the production and sell the rights to Universal."
* Robin Williams! ack, ack, ack.
besides being a 'comedic thriller' Midnight Run is also a 'buddy movie', a 'road movie', and others. it is also hilarious.
trailer
did you catch the bit about "fistophobia"? here's the entire exchange:
Jack Walsh: I can't keep you cuffed on a
commercial flight, and I gotta check my gun with my luggage, but you fuck with
me once and I'm gonna break your neck.
Jonathan Mardukas: I can't fly.
Jack Walsh: What?
Jonathan Mardukas: You heard me, I can't fly.
Jack Walsh: No, no, no. You're going to have
to do better than that, pal.
Jonathan Mardukas: No, I don't have to do better than
that, because it's the truth, I can't fly: I suffer from aviaphobia.
Jack Walsh: What does that mean?
Jonathan Mardukas: It means I can't fly. I also
suffer from acrophobia and claustrophobia.
Jack Walsh: I'll tell you what: if you don't
cooperate, you're gonna suffer from "fistophobia".
Mardukas must be faking, right? good thing Walsh saw right through that.
- 12:48 twitpic.com/p0usy - Staring @ me.. Tempting me! Ugh!! #
- 16:10 hey @NKOTB i got the first 20 messages you sent, you're blowin up my phone. i get it, house of blues. yup. #
- 16:13 I'm off to Job # 2 now. Oh the joys. #
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What's the longest you've ever waited in line?
this question is kinda dumb. although i'd assume it was at six flags one time or another. or maybe at universal studios for the mummy ride (which is amazing, by the way).
I was off over the weekend dogsitting, and when I came into the office this afternoon, I found out they'd let another of the engineers go this morning.
I'm not an engineer, and technically I'm not even in this division, but I'm getting nervous anyway...
Wow, its been a few days, huh?
I suppose that's just fine and dandy as I never promised I would write daily, at least I didn't promise it to you guys. I only promised myself that I would try to write more often if for nothing else than to try to keep my sanity. So here I am. Hi! *waving*
At times, these things are likely boring to you, but I need to keep track of them and I like to look back at my blog down the road to see what was going on back in the day. :-)
With their fifth consecutive win, the Pittsburgh Steelers take the Denver Broncos....and stuff them mile high. Great game. Thank you, gentlemen.
The countdown continues. It's a mere 16 days until my first 5K. I already did my registration and everything. I just have to pick up my packet in a couple of weeks. I am hoping against all hope that Ida will be long gone tomorrow morning. She caused a little havoc yesterday morning as I TRIED to run. But, when the wind is blowing at about 15mph with gusts up to 30, it's a little tough.
Next on the agenda is vacation! I can't believe there are only 45 more days! We have most of the big stuff handled like flights, house, and equipment so now we only have lessons, food choices and the ever-important spa day for scheduling. I picked up some sweet Under Armour that I really hope does a good job. I hate being all bulky on the mountain!
Holy smokes, shortly after vacation finishes, 36 days to be exact, is graduation! It took me a while, but I'm proud to say I'm finally getting that paper. The question becomes what will I do with this elusive piece of paper and will it mean anything to anyone of importance? These answers and many more on the next episode of Soap.
Do you think that's enough to
worry about? You're right, it probably is, but I'm not being me if I'm
not overloading my plate with things to do. As such, the short list of
the rest of it is below. The first bullet deserves its own paragraph or
entire post, but that's for a later date.
- Hi, wedding. I
guess you're not gonna plan yourself although I have thankfully little
to do to plan you. But every time I think about it, I remember
something else. Aargh.
- Group fitness instructor training - Yes, I ordered all your stuff today. I hope to be certified by the end of January. That's certified, not certifiable, which I already am.
- Social networking - It's more than just talking to you guys! :-D And I told my chiro that I'd see what I could do for him. Is it weird that I would only be able to do the whole social networking thing for someone I know/something I believe in?
- Business plan - So I've got this idea. I just need to gather materials, put in some labor, create a website, register a domain name. OMG I have a lot of crap to do! As I'm getting closer with this idea, I'll share. I promise.
Putrid:
-I'm homesick again.
-We haven't found anyone to take the room in our house yet, and Aimee accidentally told potential roommates to be here at 7. I'll only get home at 7 if I can leave at 6 on the dot, which never happens.
Pleasant:
-I have tomorrow off!
-Conversations with The Quebecois.
-I had a long phone conversation on Sunday with my old roommate from Hometown. She broke up with the guy she was seriously dating when we lived together, too. We're going to get together when I'm there in December.
-I'm going to be getting some more responsibilities at work in an area that I'm really interested in. I'm trying to make the best of my life in the City even though this is not where I want to be.
here they are.
the good:
- latin dance workout party tonight.
- toshi reagon show this weekend
- yoga training this weekend
- moroccan oil - seriously, i generally don't fall into the product trap when i go to the salon, but she used this stuff on my hair and it was great. so i bought some. it's just called moroccan oil. you know how your hair may be a little crunchy after you dye it? i got my hair done saturday and usually for about a week it's a little dry - it's already returned to it's luscious soft self after three days. it works as a leave in conditioner, detangler and heat protector. it's also supposed to take half the time to dry your hair, but i haven't really experienced that. i recommend you buy it. a little bottle is like $15, but it lasts about 3 months. i think it's worth it.
- going to a renew and restore yoga class on thursday
- getting used to being single
- my stress level has gone down a lot and i've gotten much more sleep with the apartment to myself. things are clean and tidy, and i'm not waiting for someone to come home at all hours of the night.
the bad:
- i'm single. i do dreadfully miss not having someone to snuggle with. and i do miss matt.
- that's probably it for the bad stuff though, so i can't really complain.
- oh, i suppose i'm a little bummed about the weather getting cold and it being dark when i leave work, but whatever, i have a cute winter coat that i've been missing.
amber, liz and liz's sister, stephanie, are coming over to do a latin dance workout video and eat chinese tonight. it should be a riot. i'm looking forward to getting in some quality girl time.
side note:
on saturday i'm volunteering with the (best) radio station (88Nine Radio Milwaukee) at the Toshi Reagon show (if you don't know who she is, YouTube her...she's an amazing blues/soul singer [although she looks like a man so don't get confused])...the odd thing is that the radio station DJ that i'm working with is matt's stepbrother's girlfriend, we've never met but she knows matt and i only know who she is because matt mentioned she worked there. i don't think i will be able to keep myself from mentioning it. i'm working this show with her and than there's an after party. after a few drinks i'm sure we'll be talking about it.
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