Oct. 2, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

 

Boy, things are dull here. Biggest issue was how to use the special key to get the locking gas cap off the Jeep (Worst mistake I made lately; AutoZone didn’t have a non-locking one and original got lost by someone here when they filled up). I couldn’t get it off to gas up and a guy came up at Albertson’s on Essen x Perkins begging for $ because he just got out of the hospital for depression (had his papers and hospital bracelet) and he couldn’t get it off. I gave him a couple of bucks anyway. Now only one of us is depressed. So I ordered a non-locking one. Ever notice how everything in our society is aimed at keeping you out—packages of crackers, medicine bottles, toys, etc., etc.? Now gas caps. Jesus. Makes you want to be a Thoreau and live in the woods.  Oh, I forgot—You already do.

 

Today when I leave I shall call the lab crew “Churlish bate-breeding scullions.” That’s what I got by randomly opening my book of Shakespearean insults. Always makes them giggle.

 

It’s so nice and cool this morning—Makes you want to get out there and swing a scythe. But I’m allergic to scythes, due to the symbolism. Just like Haag said in 1987 when we drove up to the Raffman site and somebody said, “Look, a cemetery.” He said, “That’s the last thing I want to see.”

 

I have a solution to all the campus and school shootings: Set aside a part of each campus a small area you label O.K. CORRAL. Then let anybody with an ax to grind and/or any armed students and/or teachers go there and shoot the place up.

 

GREEN IS FOR DANGER just arrived. I look forward to watching it.

 

Take care,

 

Love,

M

October 1, 2015

 

Dear Hildie:

 

Happy October!  Nice weather to get all the current flowing, even from run-down batteries!

 

I was trying to combine into one computer file and print out for posterity (!) a copy of a manuscript from 2004. And lo! What do I discover? Chapter 38 is missing! I had to re-read it and figure out what was missing from it and now—since I can’t find the original print-out—I’ll have to write a Chapter 38, simply because I can’t stand unfinished stuff. I want to print out all this stuff because who knows when there’ll be the next revolution in computers and all the old discs will be useless? Or, worse, when some cosmic ray will delete all the magnetic storage from hard drives and thumb drives.

 

The Halloween firms have been at a low point invention-wise for the past few years—All about zombies and stuff that doesn’t excite me. I wish they’d get more creative. I may not add anything this year.

 

I had a weird dream the other night that we’d found some skullcaps (calvaria) eroding out of a mound on Avery Island. I was told by someone they looked human but someone else said they were too thick and were Australopithecine.  I wasn’t supposed to let out news of this, but I decided to consult old Dr. Haag, anyway. But then I couldn’t find the skull cap I’d taken to show him until I realized it was in a manila envelope I was carrying. I showed it to him and he was impressed. I realized this would be quite a revolution in paleoarchaeology, to have australopithecines from Avery Island, Louisiana!

 

Well, the administration has made a mess of things in Syria. I’m almost with your friend, the Syrian on this—Assad is a brute but so are all the others. It’s a complete mess. I’m surprised she was able to go back there.

 

Take care.

Love,

M

 

 

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