Day 60, March 1: Not Quite Crying

Movies That Bring

Tears to My Eyes

It doesn't matter how many times I see these movies, I get tears in my eyes near the end when a certain part plays out. It's good for men to shed tears once in a while, isn't it? That's what they say, anyway. So I'm not ashamed or embarrassed by it.

1. "Ghost:" As with many of these, this film ranks in my all-time Top 20. I love its spiritualness, its love between the main characters and Whoopi Goldberg. Tears come when Demi Moore is working the clay and the song "Unchained Melody" plays. They come again at the end. (Twice in one movie!)

2. "Field of Dreams:" Toward the end, when Kevin Costner says in an almost choked voice, "Hey, Dad, do you want to have a catch?"

I'm done. Tears time, every time.

3. "Babe:" Geez, I like Arnold Ziffel from "Green Acres" and I cry over a pig. But when his proud owner is showing off his sheep dog winner and says, "That'll do pig, that'll do," I shed tears. (I love pork, too!)

4. "Toy Story I, II or III:" Man these are sentimental stories, especially for a parent. The last one - just thinking about it now is bringing tears - was just an awesome ending to sum up the series.

5. "Heaven Can Wait:" Another great spiritual film, it also has humor and sports. I nearly cry when Jack Warden is left bewildered in the lockerroom then shed tears when Beatty tells Christie in the dark, "There's nothing to worry about." It's heavenly.

6. "Shane:" That odd little boy, with the cross eyes ... when he yells, "Come back Shane. Shaaaane, come back. Mother wants you to come back. Shaaaaane." Geez, I wish he'd a went back

so I wouldn't tear-up every time.

7. "Rudy:" What guy doesn't at least hold back tears he should be spilling when Rudy is carried off the field?

8. "Hoosiers:" What guy doesn't at least hold back tears he should be spilling when Hickory wins the title?

9. "Somewhere In Time:" One of the greatest love stories ever, you can feel it in your gut the way Christopher Reeve loves Jane Seymour. The ending is so great, it brings tears.

10. "It Could Happen to You:" A minor film in Nicolas Cage's career, but the true story is so inspiring and sweet, I get tears wishing there could be more true stories like it.

Day 59, Feb. 28: Who Am I?

My Notable Disguises

and Aliases

I dedicate this 59th blog to my friend, Al, since he suggested the topic. (And he's almost 59 - oops, sorry, Al, more like a young 55) It's just one of his many suggested topics, one of which could eventually inspire me to do My All-Time Favorite Appendages. We'll see.)

1. The Little Old Lady: This voice and personality were very popular with my youngest son and several of my nieces and nephews years ago. I love to make kids laugh.

2. Oily: Probably the one I dislike the most, but still look back on it with nostalgia. My friend Mark gave me this nickname as a sophomore when I came to high school one day with what HE thought was oily hair. The name stuck for years, even after I started balding.

3. Tabby: Like many pet owners, I talk for my pet cat Tabby.

And, he's usually a smart-aleck.

4. The Bush Master: I made myself the leader of our punk rock band called The Bushmen. Only the drummer knew how to play his instrument. We pounded ours and kind of screamed. I played violin.

5. Husband: For years I've been a pretty selfish, overgrown boy disguised as a husband. But I'm slowing growing up
and maybe it won't be a disguise forever.

6. A homeplate umpire: I wore the mask and became quite confident calling balls and strikes - for kids age 10-and-younger.

7. Swenny: My Idaho Falls friend Danimal called me this and I became his accomplice to some pretty crazy nights in a Mormon town.

8. The Recovering Widower: I definitely had to put on some masks that first year to hide the tears and sorrows.

Nobody likes a pitiful widower.

9. The Bouncer: If I have enough to drink and the music is just right ... I'll get out the dance floor and bounce -

with or without a partner.

10. Carl Yastrzemski: I was the Red Sox star outfielder as a 10-year-old throwing a tennis ball up against the house and causing the Fenway Park crowd to howl over the great running catches I'd make.

Day 58, Feb. 27: Nip It!

Favorite Situation Comedy

"Secondary" Characters

The Andy Griffith Show is such a favorite of mine, I could probably include 5-6 on this list. But I'll spread it out a little because I like so many.

1. Floyd the Barber, The Andy Griffith Show: He's just so funny and lovable. I especially liked him in the episode where he and Barney are held hostage by three female prison escapees.

2. Arnold Ziffel, Green Acres: Maybe this says something about my tastes, but this pig was hilarious. 

3. Hymie, Get Smart: From a pig to a robot.
The perfect "deadpan" comedy character.

4. Jethrine, The Beverly Hillbillies: OK, by now you can see I like strange characters. I know someone who honestly believes this part was NOT played by Max Baer Jr.

5. Eddie Haskell, Leave it to Beaver: What an instigating,
two-faced, mean ... genius.

6. Uncle Arthur, Bewitched: Paul Lynde turned this character
into a standup comedian.

7. Uncle Fester, The Addams Family: Strangest among
a strange family.

8. Newman, Seinfeld: An "out-there" character who epitomized
quality over quantity.

9. Gomer Pyle, The Andy Griffith Show: Aw shucks, how could you not love and laugh with Gomer?

10. Hank Kimball, Green Acres: The buy could talk your ear off.
Glad I don't know him personally.

Day 57, Feb. 26: A Strike

Random Memories

from Bowling

Not sure why I thought about my bowling past this morning, but I did. And I've had some wonderful - and some strange - memories.

1. Learning the curve: My Aunt Mary (my mom's sister) was a very good bowler and taught me a 5-step approach, holding the ball up and after releasing, extending my hand out as if to off a handshake.

2. Getting some ink: Our Stoughton youth league took a bus to the state tournament in Fond du Lac and a huge bowling alley. I rolled well above my average and, with my handicap,
got my name in the Wis. State Journal.

3. My dad's F-bomb: I was about 14 and was at the Badger Bowl during my dad's regular league night. Not the greatest bowler, he missed a single pin, turned around and said the f-word. It's the only time I remember him saying it (I guess when I was 3, he said it at home and I repeated it, so he quit saying it)

4. She beat me: Dating an athletic girl in high school, we went bowling and she outscored me. I can't remember if I tried my hardest or not - probably.

5. Cruising the Square: It was common for teens to drive to Madison and drive around and around the Square. While checking out chicks one night, we almost had a carful until I blurted out "Would you like to go bowling?" Not a ladies man, I was serious. They sped off.

6. The nose-picker: A group of us newspaper types in Idaho Falls went bowling one night. One reporter had a horrible habit of picking his nose with his pinky, as he talked.
Some memories you wish you didn't keep.

7. Dubuque mixed league: Jane and I joined a league at Riverside. I ended up getting the high game and high average - frustrating the secretary who had pretty much figured he'd win both easily.

8. Dubuque men's league I: A group of sports reporters joined a league at Creslanes. Craig, a novice, fired his first ball into the gutter and onto an adjoining lane, causing our aging sports editor to almost choke on his beer while laughing.

9. Third-hand smoke: Coming home from that men's league, I brought my heavy second-hand smoke into the bedroom, causing some serious third-hand smoke to Jane.

10. Dubuque men's league II: Coming out of retirement last year with a stubby middle finger following my mower accident, I still managed to average 175 - using a 12-pound orange house ball!
My bowling socks from Kris inspired me :-)

Day 56, Feb. 25: Have a Handful of Blanks

My Favorite Cartoon Characters

(Before they became prime time)

Most of these have stood the test of time. That is, they're as enjoyable as an adult as they were as a child (sometimes moreso). I'm not including contemporary ones like The Simpsons, Family Guy and Beavis & Butthead. My cartoons were not on primetime (though the Flintstones are generally considered the first primetime cartoon show)

1. (tie) Bugs Bunny & Daffy Duck: Unbelievably creative, with perfect timing. Funniest moment: Bugs is host of a TV show. Daffy is sent out on the first day of duck season. He gets shot up, comes back to the show looking horrible. "Don't worry Daffy," Bugs says, "they always use blanks." Daffy spits out a bunch of bullets. "Blanks," he says, "have a handful of blanks."

2. Droopy: A poodle with a droopy face, his deadpan delivery under even the worst of circumstances foiled his enemies

and made me laugh until I cried.

3. Foghorn Leghorn: What a hoot! The Southern gentleman just couldn't quite pull off the stunts that seemed so possible.

I especially liked his egghead nephew.

4. Johnny Quest: One of the only action cartoons I enjoyed. His friend Hadji and the dog Bandit were great characters, too. I haven't seen an episode in probably 30 years.

5. The Flintstones: The characters were neat, but the Stone Age gadgets and prehistoric animals who were vacuum cleaners
or mowers were even more interesting.

6. The Jetsons: The future version of No. 5 and almost as interesting. Loved Astro the dog - "Rought O!"

7. The Road Runner: I honestly didn't like this too much as a kid - the coyote never won. The humor grew on me as I got older.

8. Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids: A real trailblazer, it gave us a view of the inner city. I especially liked Mushmouth and Fat Albert Jackson.

9. The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show: Not especially enamored with the namesakes, they had other eclectic characters -

like Mr. Peabody and Aesop's Fables.

10. Davey & Goliath: Not really an animated cartoon, this Sunday morning claymation show was quite memorable. Again, the dog Goliath, was cool with his drawl-like speech. "Awwww, Davey."

Honorable mention characters: Underdog, Elmer Fudd,
the Tasmanian Devil, Tweety Bird, Tennessee Tuxedo

and Huckleberry Hound.

Day 55, Feb. 24: Bottoms Up

Whoa! Sorry to Scare You Like That

My favorite drinks

1. It's Got To Be Milk: I drink as much of it now as I did in grade school. I've gone from whole milk as a kid, 2% as a teen, 1% with Jane, skim with Kris and now organic skim with Kris.

(That's "cream" on my lip, btw)

2. Mountain Dew: From healthy to junk. I don't drink coffee, so a Dew in the morning - no earlier than 8:20 - gets me going

(to the bathroom a lot more, too, in recent years :-(

3. Bottle of Corona beer: With lime in it, if available.

4. Orange juice: It goes perfectly with my peanut butter toast in the morning or with vodka - not in the a.m., unless after midnight.

5. Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet: I love sharing one with Kris or my mother-in-law Joan (if either have two, they giggle)

6. Flavored martinis: I forget all of the names, but I usually like raspberry, cranberry or lemon types.

7. Bottle of Blue Moon beer: With orange in it, if available (even tho I teased my friend Jon the first time I saw him drinking one.)

This is Kris' favorite beer.

8. My "mixture": This MUST include orange juice and any or all of the following: cherry juice, grape juice, apple juice, cranberry juice.

No alcohol! I often made these for the boys and me.

9. Coke: I don't care what my sister Ann says,

it's not as sweet at Pepsi!

10. Long Island Ice Tea: My sister-in-law, Julie, got me into these. They'd be higher, but they go down so well,

I usually get a headache later.

Day 54, Feb. 23: '80s Music

My Top Twenty

Rock and Pop

The 1980s wasn't my favorite decade of music, but it was definitely better than the 1990s. Here are my favorites, broken into two divisions.

Rock songs

"Crazy Train," Ozzy Osbourne

"Don't Stop Believin," Journey

"Dude (Looks Like a Lady)," Aerosmith

"867-5309/Jenny," Tommy Tutone

"One Thing Leads to Another," The Fixx

"Pride and Joy," Stevie Ray Vaughn

"Simply Irresistible," Robert Palmer

"Sweet Dreams." The Eurythmics

"Urgent," Foreigner

"What I Like About You," The Romantics

Pop songs

"Every Breathe You Take," The Police

"Human Nature," Michael Jackson

"I Want to Get Next to You," Rose Royce

"Leather and Lace," Stevie Nicks & Don Henley

"Misunderstanding," Genesis

"Nikita," Elton John

"Sailing," Christopher Cross

"Trouble," Lindsey Buckingham

"Waiting on a Friend," The Rolling Stones

"Winning," Santana