Grandma Tebay's view

Hello everyone. I'm trying to complete "Water for Elephants" before moving on. I invite everyone who read the book to blog. ....I interviewed Mom today , in a similar manner as I did Dottie. Coaxing a response to the questions, but not answering the question for her. Her answer to the characters she selected for the movie version are: Jacob, the main character, she selected Tom Hanks..Marlena...Jennifer Anniston...and August..I"m impressed..she selected the suave and daring..Johnny Depp. Pretty good huh! The second question was much more difficult for her. ...When looking into the Jacobs mirror, at 90 years old, what does she see....Well, most of her answers ended up towards the physical portion of the question....for a woman who in the past put up with a abusive alcoholic..work at picking grapes, travelodge maid, potato processing plant, road guard at elementary school, teacher's aid, and lastly and most important, a full time mother of five kids...I understand and respect her responses. Physically..she has some problems, especially the arthritis..now affecting her shoulders as well as her knees. I didn't even try...to convince her that she really is in great shape for 88 years old. Especially..when I know most of us won't come close to living that long. Second question...Mom really didn't relate to the idea her spirit is either young or old or somewhere inbetween.. She just doesn't relate on that level. She did indicate...that she sees herself as someone similar to her mother, who she admires..greatly. A gentle woman, with the amazing ability to mother lots of kids., partner with a hard working husband, and still stand on principal...even if she was a woman of those days. Her story...a salesman..or such...was selling material that dissed the Catholic Church. Her mother promptly..told the salesman to get the hell out of my house. Don't stir the irish Catholic. I fully enjoyed my visit. She truly has lived a extraordinary life...see ya Craig

Connecicut connection

I have to relay this interview. I had Ewee and Tyler for dinner the other nite, wee mows my lawn for me. I invited Dottie. We had a fine dinner together and great consversation. I posed the second question on the blog to Dottie. She has heard the whole story of the "Water for Elephants" from me. Her response to question #2 was precious. Here is an 87 year old woman, can't see the food on her plate, with seriouis dementia, telling me her opinion of herself looking into the Jacob's mirror. Her response, I"M STILL A DOVER ROAD GIRL! She goes on to say...her gang..Dick Royal, Pat Price, Dick Virgie, Joyce O'connel, Anne Murray, Freddie Coriel, and Dot. ( Thats good for a person with dementia) She ,being the leader of the Dover Road Gang. They played baseball in the streets forever. She said the neighbor woman, who 's daughter didn't want to be included, always called the police when , the gang, played ball in the streets. The same policeman would arrive and whisper to the kids, stop playing in the streets until after I leave: then commence playing in the streets. She indicated things changed when the boys wanted to play a kissing game. YaHoo. At this point she said her attitude changed, she wanted the boys to be the leader. WOW...what hormones won't do . In conclusion..she is a woman I admire for her POSITIVE spirit. Her mirror says she's still got it at 87. Craig.

"Water for Elephants" finale.

O.K. it's time. I believe everyone has read it ..that going to. I enjoyed it..read it twice. I think for our closing thoughts this time we could do something different. Question 1.- If you were casting the movie, who would be your selections to play: Jacob/Marlena/August/Walter-Kinko/Big Al/Camel/. Question number 2 I found in the back of the book. Quote..Looking at himself in the mirror, the old Jacob tries "to see beyond the sagging flesh." But he claims, "Its's no good....I can't find myself anymore. When did I stop being me? How would you answer this question for yourself? I know this is going to be challenging for the young folks..not so much for someone such as I. Have fun. See you back here in awhile.Craig.

craigs spring pics.

Just a few pictures taken over the last couple of months. I made two trips to Seattle/Tacoma for doctor visits. Stayed with Jennifer and Rick for a portion and some with Sam and Megan. Got a chance to see Andrew and his friend Will while I was there. Andrew spent most of his time studying. I think it was crunch time, before his graduation. He graduates in mid May this year. The best place to hangout, if you wanted to see Andrew, was in the vicinity of the refrigerator. I always enjoy my time there..and my epidural worked this time. WhoHoo! Brother Sam and I and Sam/Megan and Tyler got invited to Pam and Jeff's home for Easter brunch. It was nice to see them again..and the food was great. Thanks again. It was nice trip visiting and reducing my pain. I did get Fox News withdrawal syndrome while I was there. Whew..thats tough. Here are my pics.PICs Andrew and Will/Sam playing basketball with a Tibetan refugee/Goofing off/Deb's new puppy..Lucy/Husky mania/final four indoor participation/Redbreasted Nuthatch. Enjoy Craig.

new book "Water for Elephants"

Hello again. This is a re-post. I tried to delete one picture and deleted the whole blog. Thats whats so good about growing old..even though I've deleted a single picture in the past..it doesn't mean I'll remember how to do it in the future! Yikes! Larry has a new hobby. He started with the intention putting a train set he has had for some time around the ceiling of his newly refinished office. Now he has "Lionel Fever". I remember him telling me that Crowley was incouraging him to add details to the setup, but he said he didn't have the time or inkling to go further. Yeah right! He now has added authentic built train tressles, water tower, station with lights, snow tunnel, outhouse and more. Bill Crowley assembled the rock formation that looks real. Is there a "Lionel Doctor" in town. I've added some pictures I enjoy. Lastly, the book I have chosen I read this summer. It's a winner..I know you will enjoy it. I am here and now inviting all of the family who has not read with us to join in...this is a good one. Craig.

Cjt's crib

January 29th... the very first annual Cjts birthday cribbage tournament was held. Originally, the tournament was seeded for 12 players. Kerri and Anthony had to cancel because Eric was extremely sick. We ended up with 8 and had a lot of fun. The cast of characters included: Larry, Sam, Erin and Tyler, Craig, Sean Tate, Dennis Hart(a golfing friend) and Dottie. She played some good cribbage and added a lot of humor to the evening. The tournament started with singles..Larry blew thru the competition and claimed the title. Erin had a lot of early success in the singles, slowed at the end. We played two doubles sectionals. Larry and Sam drew the number cubes to become partners. I had a sinking feeling when that occured. Yet, the
doubles competitors rose to the occasion. Lots of competitive crib. Larry and Sam won the round. After redrawing partners..yuk..yuk.. and much more competitive games Erin and Sean won. NOW..the winners of rounds 1 and 2 played for the championship. Sam/Larry vs Erin/Sean. It didn't last long. The game lasted four hands and Larry/Sam pegged out without counting there hands. The first deal L/S pegged early on pairs and15's...when the count got to 25 Sean played an ace...26,..Sam and ace..27 for two...Erin an ace.28 for six...Larry and ace..29 for twelve...go,go,go, Larry a deuce ..31 for two. They counted and pegged almost 50 points in the first hand. It didn't let up.. they ended up DOUBLE skunking Wee and Sean. Bragging rights have been established. Next year I will try to include more family. Family..friends..good food..and spirited crib...a great night.Craig

Blood Meridian finale...whoo hoo

Never read a Cormac McCarthy book or saw one of his films. Tyler T. was adamant..this is a great book. Well..it is written with a style that is engaging, and different than Ive ever read. Mc book is a wealth of dictionary lookups..so many that if you wrote down every word you didn't understand .then most of your time would have been spent on looking up words. Mc combined Texas history with fiction. This was interesting. I guess there really was a judge with the Glanton gang in Texas history. Most of the historical lookups I found were in the Spanish conversion of English. As far as the plot ...I was struct...no I was stuck in the old story mantra..good versus evil. I expected the Kid to eventually show some sort of moral value that most of the human race buys in to. I was waiting for the kid" to come thru for me...he almost did in one scene...but he didn't. The Judge was true to his character, he was evil til the end..and beyond. The Kid is following him to Hell. True descriptive evil. I followed this book by watching,"No country for old men", yikes this author truly knows how to describe evil. His character Anton Chigurh was a convincing character. Like the Judge in the Glanton gang, he epitomizes (sp) evil. Chigurh has the moral universe his own...and he's convinced and convincing it is right. A sociopath probably. I'm sure he will be heading very very very south in the end. Woody Harrelsons acting is some of best since Brando. A five minute seen where he is sitting in a chair facing Chigurh should have won him an Oscar!!..in my opinion. I have a new poem I'd like to share. Can't find an attachment function...won't cut and paste..I"m.....see ya.Craig