Sept. 30, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

We saw a charming little movie last night. It was a 1934 romance called STINGAREE, with Irene Dunne and Richard Dix, set in Australia in the 1870s. Dix is a dashing highwayman who hears servant-girl Dunne sing and kidnaps her to convince her to have faith in her voice. So he brings her back to a house where a great music impresario is visiting and makes everyone listen to her sing. The impresario is, of course, impressed, but during his getaway Stingaree is shot and captured. He sends Dunne a note in a music box telling her he did this so she could develop her voice and to go off to Europe with the impresario. She does but years later decides she has to return to Australia because she’s still in love with Stingaree, who meanwhile has escaped prison. She sings in the Melbourne opera house and Stingaree appears, disguised as the governor-general. The police chase after him, shooting, and she goers to her boudoir, where she finds a note on her dresser telling her to send her maid away. She does and Stingaree appears on the balcony. As the police beat on the door he jumps down with her to his white horse and they ride away into the night, accompanied by his loyal sidekick, Andy Devine. Simple, romantic, and sweet. A nice palliative to TV blood and gore.

 

Take care.

 

Love,

 

M

Sept. 29, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

The latest poll shows Vitter will have a hard time of it in the governor’s race. I was surprised John Bel Edwards did so well. Looks like Lt. Gov. Dardenne is way back. I saw the 60 Minutes interview with Putin. So warm and cuddly. Makes you want to hug him—just the guy next door, right? The guy next door who snuck in and stole your wallet.

 

Take care.

 

Love,

 

 

M

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 28, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

 

How amazing that the Postal Service says my house doesn’t exist! You ought to get your stamp back.

 

Thanks for reminding me about how your ex left the University.  I’m not sure I’d ever heard it all—I just thought it was over his objection to defense contracts. I don’t know whether to say “poor fellow” or that I’m glad it worked out for him! Not every man gets a well-off woman to tend to his needs so he doesn’t have to work.

 

I have to go to the eye doctor today for a routine check-up. I think my distance vision is a little worse than before. Of course, it will mean driving back in the rain with my blinders on.

 

I’m glad you’re enjoying the manuscript. No living soul has ever seen it before. It’s weird, fantastical, and just ran where it wanted. It fits no genre that I know of.

 

I’m trying to get all my manuscripts in order so that after I’m wafted away to the land of 73 virgins the folks left can at least see what my “ouvre” consists of. In sum, I’d have to say what I’ve produced may entertain some people. I guess that’s enough.

 

Well, to work, to work. Take care. DO TAKE CARE.

 

Love,

 

 

M

 

 

 

Sept. 25, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

 

Well, now I know why poor old Boehner had tears in his eyes as he stood behind the Pope yesterday. I don’t blame him for quitting—It was like trying to herd cats. Maybe he’ll enter a monastery.

 

Did I mention how sad I was at Yogi Berra’s passing? I had a picture of him (along with one of Stan Musial) on my wall when I was about 12. Both were consistently good players—not flashy, but dependable. And really nice guys. Not just respected, but beloved. Well, it probably had something to do with powers of concentration. Like the Yog said, “Ninety percent of everything you do is half mental.” I often feel half-mental.

 

So much for now. Things uneventful here.

 

Love,

 

M

 

 

Sept. 24, 2015

Dear Hildie:

Well, I got the date right this time. Anyway, the Jeep is overheating again. Car Talk says Jeeps are junk, which may be right, but they’re fun to drive—when they run.

You didn’t discourage me about the novel. Hey, everything could stand a good rewrite. And I’m perfectly truthful when I said I wrote it just because I had to, not with any eye toward publication.

How many times has your mother been married? I’m sure you told me and I forgot. Boy, what a paper-driven society we have—though now it’s being taken over by the tyranny of passwords. Who can remember all the damned things? I had all mine on a list—and lost it.

I see Justices Scalia, Alito, and Thomas boycotted their pope’s address to Congress. What a complete lack of class. I always suspected Scalia was just another Mussolini. I just can’t fathom such utter disrespect for the leader of their own church. Maybe Scalia wants to be pope himself. Or maybe those three want to be the Trinity. With Scalia, it’s always “my way or no way.”

Enough for now.

Take care.

Love,

M

Well, I got the date right this time. Anyway, the Jeep is overheating again. Car Talk says Jeeps are junk, which may be right, but they’re fun to drive—when they run.

You didn’t discourage me about the novel. Hey, everything could stand a good rewrite. And I’m perfectly truthful when I said I wrote it just because I had to, not with any eye toward publication.

How many times has your mother been married? I’m sure you told me and I forgot. Boy, what a paper-driven society we have—though now it’s being taken over by the tyranny of passwords. Who can remember all the damned things? I had all mine on a list—and lost it.

Sept. 24, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

 

I see we’ve lost one of America’s great philosophers–Yogi Berra. He could turn a phrase like no one else who’s ever lived: His wife says her favorite was “He must’ve made that movie before he died.” I’ll miss his wisdom.

 

I have a business lunch today. Have to remember to keep my portion down. And no beer. Even if it’s the first day of Fall. But it’s so hot I have a touch of asthma.

 

Everything else very dull. Business seems to have come to a grinding halt with the oil glut.

 

I hope you’re surviving all right. Take care.

 

Love,

 

M

Sept. 22, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

 

I see poor old Carson is back-pedaling from his stupid remark about not wanting a Muslim to be able to be president. Why didn’t he just say, “I don’t want ANY radical person as president, whatever religion or non-religion”? The US is the only so-called enlightened country where religion is so important politically. It makes us look like idiots. And Jindal says a Muslim is okay if he takes the presidential oath with his hand on the Bible! Whose Bible? Which version?

 

We drove to New Orleans last night to hear Chris Vella lecture on George Washington Carver. I had no idea he was such a thoroughly decent, even “saintly” man, or that Booker T. Washington, his mentor, was such a rotter. I guess I’ll have to read her book now! She’s a great writer, an excellent researcher, and a tireless promoter. The latter is something I lack but she can’t afford to lack it, as this is her livelihood. She really makes the lecture circuit.

 

Please, keep well and take care.

 

Love,

 

M

Sept. 21, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

 

Well, no need to feel honored by my sending you CRIMES. I JUST WANT TO ENTERTAIN  YOU (Remember the song? “Let me entertain you…”). The thing should serve SOME purpose. Since I decided to rewrite the other, why send it? Let me see if I like the rewrite better than the original.

 

Halfway committed to drive to No this evening for a book signing by our friend Chris Vella, who wrote a biography of George Washington Carver. I’d love to see her. She’s a very talented historian.

 

God, things are dead here. I wish we’d get another project.

 

Take care.

 

Love,

 

M

 

 

 

 

Sept. 18, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

 

Actually, CRIMES OF ARTEMUS KEEL is just one of a number of manuscripts from the last 10 years or so that I have lined up like planes on the runway at JFK. They all are (almost) ready but with no place to go. So I figure if I can amuse or entertain someone (like yourself) with them, then they’re at least doing some good.

I’ve been going over a lot of past material lately, with archaeology work sort of in a trough, cleaning them up, etc.

I can publish all this on Kindle but it’s so damned much trouble to advertise—You have to hook up to Facebook and “friend” people you never heard of, and you get all these queries, most of which are spam.

Ah! A client just emailed about a survey—In Tennessee. Which means I have to refer it off to a Tenn archaeologist (No money there).

 

Take care.

 

Love,

 

M

Sept 17, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

 

CRIMES OF ARTEMUS KEEL is not the story I rewrote—This is entirely different. And YES, you’re absolutely right about the descriptions! I am descriptively challenged and wish I could put in more environment—I get so carried away by the story I forget. But your point is quite valid!

Well, more blah-blah by the Republican candidates last night. But the good thing is Jindal is still at the Kiddie Table. As someone said, he’s trying hard to make sure that if a Republican gets in, he gets a cabinet post. One of the commentators yesterday likened him to a “yapping Chihuahua.”

I have to go get my blood test now, and take MM to her cardiologist for a checkup. But I’m going through a lot of old things I wrote (from 2001 on) and trying to polish them up.

 

Take care.

Love,

 

M