Archive for February 2019
Song at the End of the Movie: Joan Baez
February 24, 2019Hollywood Movie Girls: Dusty Springfield
February 24, 2019
“I don’t take the movies seriously, and anyone who does is in for a headache.”
February 24, 2019The rain is heavy at times. It beats against the roof and windows. The wind is getting stronger. The pine trees feel it the most, and their tops bend and sway.
The Hotel d’Bull, the best place to stay in Bolgatanga during my Peace Corps days, had a huge courtyard. I saw a boxing match there once. They erected a ring right in the middle of the courtyard. The boxers had names like Kofi Mohammed Ali and Sugar Ray Atiah. Mostly the boxers just danced around the ring throwing only a few punches, but in one bout a boxer got hit more than a few times. All of a sudden from the corner came a towel thrown into the ring. I always thought throwing in the towel was a metaphor.
The back wall of the courtyard was white so they could show movies. I saw my first Bollywood film on that wall. I don’t remember the name of the film, but I do remember how awful I thought it was, but awful didn’t matter. I stayed for the entire film. Entertainment was a rarity in Bolga. The scene I remember the most was a shower scene. Our hero was lathering and singing. I had no idea what he was singing. The songs had no subtitles.
The most expensive seating for movies was on the roof where a few small round metal tables and chairs were the orchestra seats. The roof overlooked the courtyard. The seats didn’t cost much, maybe 10 or 20 pesewas, so we always sat there. We’d order drinks and some food. The waitress would bring us water and soap in a small bowl so we could wash our hands before dining. I always ordered coke. The Hotel d’Bull was one of the few places where they served cold coke. We’d eat kabobs: some were beef and a couple were liver. They were cooked over charcoal, as was most Ghanaian food, but I figure I can call them barbecued anyway. I didn’t even mind the liver.
My outdoor movie nights remind me of Ghana. We have the best seats, and we’re sitting at a round table. As in Ghana, the movies are sometimes really awful, but we love them. The big differences are I never serve liver, even barbecued liver, and clean hands are up to you.
Rockin’ Bicycle: Fats Domino
February 23, 2019Leonardo’s Bicycle: The Uncle Devil Show
February 23, 2019It’s a Beautiful Day: The Beach Boys
February 23, 2019Pedal Your Blues Away: R. Crumb and his Cheap Suit Serenaders
February 23, 2019
“One of the most important days of my life, was when I learned to ride a bicycle.”
February 23, 2019Today is perfect for the ten year old me. It is cloudy, but warm, sweatshirt or jacket warm. I’d spend the morning munching on my cereal in front of the TV watching the usual Saturday fare. Around noon, I’d haul my bike out of the cellar and hit the road. I’d never have a destination. I just wanted to ride. Sometimes I’d go to the square and look in the store windows. The square was filled with wonderful stores like Woolworth’s, Grants and Kennedy’s biscuits. That store had barrels in front with different cheeses and crackers for sale. I remember a huge circle of cheese. I didn’t know at the time it was cheddar. The only cheese I knew was orange and it came individually wrapped. The square was always busy on Saturday so I’d walk my bike on the sidewalk. Just out of the square was a pet store. I’d always look in there. Once I even bought a chameleon. By late afternoon I’d be hungry and tired so I’d head on home for a bologna sandwich with yellow mustard on squishy white bread.
Peapod came last night. I bought beef bologna but no squishy bread. I also bought Vermont cheddar cheese. My tastes have somewhat matured over time.
On the only cruise I have ever taken, the one through the Panama Canal, one movie night they showed Titanic. I thought that an odd choice for a movie on a boat.
I am going to watch a Grapefruit League spring training baseball game: a Red Sox-Yankees game. I know spring training games don’t mean much, but I’m hungry for baseball, and I can’t wait until opening day on March 29th. As if I needed it, this game will whet my appetite even more for spring and baseball.
Today I’m going to finish the book I’m reading and maybe later I’ll go out and hit a few shops. I’ll have no destination in mind. I’m hoping for serendipity.
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