Category: ramblings Page 4 of 6

conflict – are we in?

On January 9, 2020

I was recently told I avoid conflict. My reply? Yes. Perhaps it’s just easier than hashing things out or maybe the conflict monster will get you by saying “conflict” 3 times while turning counterclockwise in front of a mirror. Not being superstitious rules out one of the thoughts above. But which one?

Is there any doubt that given a choice most would walk away or run in the other direction? Me myself and I argue all the time. Like now fer instance. But how can you really argue with yourself? You already know what the other persona is going to say and do.

Living a conflict free life is pretty tough almost anywhere in the world. In Krazyfornia, just about impossible. What kinds of conflict are there? Well, let’s play “name that conflict” for a moment here.

Person vs Person

Person vs Supernatual

Person vs Self

Person vs Machine

My favorite is person vs self. More on that in PART II of conlict…

mushroom hiking

By carl jasper

On January 5, 2020

In all posts, ramblings

Just a few more pics of shrooms from my favorite hiking spot in Newhall. Most are starting to die off again. No rain for a couple of weeks. There were quite a few I didn’t take photos of. I’m going to wait until at least there’s a few days of rain. The only mushrooms I know for sure are the Witches Butter and the False Turkey Tails.

messiah

By carl jasper

On January 4, 2020

In all posts, movie reviews, ramblings

Guilty pleasures. Yep, binge watching series on netflix or amazon prime etc. While there are some series I can only wonder who green lighted them, others are pretty good. And once in awhile, really good. Like, fer example: The Kominsky Method. Amazing series with Michael Douglas teaching young aspiring actors how to get into character. There are wonderful supporting actors and a surprising guest visit by his costar Kathleen Turner, in Romancing the Stone, who plays his ex-wife on the show. The dialog between them is priceless regarding their daughter who helps run the actors studio business.

Lost in Space, the reboot by netflix is also a gem. The casting is wonderful and spot-on. While the second season story is harder to get into, all is done with such precision and care, it’s still a joy to watch. The Witcher another one. See my earlier post of the same name.

And then along comes a surprise. Something from left field. Or right field if you prefer. A show that has me glued to the start button on my roku to advance to the next episode.

Messiah.

Basic premise: A man out of nowhere seemingly, begins leading people who think he’s an agent of god. Some of course, believe him to be a false prophet, others think he’s the real deal. I’m halfway through the show and from all the clues that have been shown, still have no idea whether he’s a fake or the messiah. The sub plots can be distracting at times, although they tie together eventually. My suggestion? Take a chance and watch it. In my book, it’s a welcome change to some of the crap netflix has been making of late.

And if you don’t like it, leave me a comment explaining why. I would love to hear other viewpoints.

Unless they disagree with mine, This is my blog, after all. (smile)

mind knots

By carl jasper

On January 2, 2020

In all posts, ramblings

OK. So what are mind knots? What do you think they are? Is this some clever play on words or could there be some deep meaning involved here? I would like to think the latter. As usual, I joke to hide my true feelings, about life, love, and the pursuit of a good hair day. When the time comes, which might be soon, I may open up completely. Meaning, the knots of my mind will untangle. But just how did they get that way in the first place?

During childhood, we all go through a stage of self. Of wonder. Puzzlement. Self, being the most ignored stage of all. Why? Because there’s only so much of each person to go around. I have been reminded of that since getting my new puppy, er, I mean terror. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a joy to watch as she gazes into the sky as a flock of birds flies by on some mysterious journey. But it’s terror to find the new roll of paper towels I just opened, shredded on the kitchen floor among other items. Paying attention to her continuously is not an option.

During the early years of self-exploration using the most prominent role models we can find, our parents, we start storing this information in our ever expanding brains. Hungry for all the tasty data morsels and experiences we can round up.

And yet, like most, our parents included, tend to send mixed signals to our developing minds. Like: you can touch this, but not this unless you first do this. Which is way more than our tiny growing data banks of information can decipher most of the time. The contradictions can be very frustrating as well.

Like: go outside and play.

Which seems very innocent until the next day when you are outside playing at the same time as the day before, and then you get scolded for being outside playing. Thus begins the first mind knot. And like top forty hits, they keep coming. Authority knots, peer knots, science knots, relationship knots – among others, continue to be stored in the deep recesses of your subconscious.

Is there a simple way to untangle these knots without breaking the decades of knowledge stored within the walls of your psyche? These contradictions can be so devastating to personal growth that nothing around you has value in your life. I get to the point where I want to stop the world and get off. Not as in ceasing to exist. I’m only using that as a metaphor. With all the mind knots I have inside, I find that using humor is a great way to unravel the knots and keep new ones from forming in the first place.

1 – Today at the bank, an old lady asked me to check her balance – so I pushed her over.

2 – My boss told me to have a good day.. so I went home.

3 – My friend says to me: “What rhymes with orange” I said: “No it doesn’t”

4 – My wife accused me of being immature. I told her to get out of my fort.

5 – Two cows are standing in a field. One cow says “Did you hear about that outbreak of mad cow disease? It makes cows go completely insane!”. The other cow replies “Good thing I’m a helicopter”.

And when I stop laughing and reality comes crashing back into my thoughts, it begins again. The Mind Knot Cycle.

More on this subject in the weeks to come…

love this post

By carl jasper

On January 1, 2020

In all posts, loves, ramblings

We will open the book, It’s pages are blank,

We are going to put words in them ourselves,

The book is called Opportunity and it’s best

chapter…?

New Years Day.

episode II – the witcher redeemed

By carl jasper

On December 29, 2019

In all posts, movie reviews, ramblings

This morning while making a breakfast of sourdough toast, curcumin, avocado and sauerkraut piled high on top, I thought now is a good time to continue watching the witcher on Netflix. I’m so glad I did. Episode II reeled me into a magical and emotional landscape that was unexpected. Although there was the typical political nod when a Baird is singing in a tavern about a potion that causes abortion – which makes me think that either the writers dislike the right so much they had to say something -be it so small, or the producers said “you know what would be great? Let’s stick it to the right…”

The thing is – no one cares. Not the right or the left. Or the middle. Which is how I like it. Being entertained when I watch a story unfold is why I enjoy a show/book/play etc. And this, the second episode sucked me into a world unlike any other. I am in LOVE. Notice the capitals? With Yennefer. She is the deformed and somewhat ugly (again, I didn’t think she was ugly for a moment) adopted child that discovers she has some latent magical powers. When a witch is led to her by her unintended use of magic, she begins training in some of the mystic arts.

Why am I in LOVE? A little history, please. OK, since you asked…(smile)

As I was growing up in beautiful North Hollywood, Ca, I always felt like an outcast. You see, I had this Huge space between my teeth with a capital “H”. Bigger than David Lettermans of right bashing fame. I once had a girl I was dancing with in a nightclub ask me directly – “do you have any friends that have good teeth?” I felt ugly. So I became something else while growing up, that my fellow classmates would use to displace my ugliness. I excelled at science and most teachings presented during my elementary years. I ran for president of service club and won! Sometimes I think it’s because the other kids felt sorry for the little boy with the facial deformity.

Whatever the reason, I instantly identified with Yennefer. I found her quite stunning and beautiful. Because of her struggles to understand and cope with her physical attributes. This begs the question: did the makeup artists do a good job at creating a homely, undesirable and unattractive woman? Not really. But I understood on a deeper level, having considered myself undesirable as a youth. My unattractiveness followed me like a plague all though my teens, even though I had dated some of the most sought after girls in Junior High and High School. It’s taken me almost 50 plus years to begin to overcome my unnecessary and misguided thoughts of desirability.

As the episode comes to a close, I am once again reminded of the political musings of the writers. As the witcher and the Baird are traveling on a desert road after being captured and released by the elves instead of killed by them, the Baird gleefully composes a tune, misstating all the facts, making the witcher the hero – defeating the elves against all odds to become victorious in battle. The witcher says “that’s not how it happened…where’s your newfound respect?”

The Baird replied, “Respect doesn’t make history”

the witcher

By carl jasper

On December 27, 2019

In all posts, movie reviews, ramblings

(the Witcher is a tv series on Netflix now)

Decades ago, when I was around 10 or so, there was a very loud smack around the corner from my house. I was playing outside at the time, my sobriquet was “professor”, an apt nickname chosen to reflect my scholarly pursuits of the day.

I ran around the corner to see a vehicle wrapped around a tree. There were body parts scattered about, some hanging from a thread of skin and others dangling in the summer breeze. Blood was everywhere. This was my first time in the presence of death and dismemberment.

I was not affected by the gruesome scene played out with such dire consequences. In hindsight, I realize that blood and guts don’t affect me much. Not in a Dexter way (see TV series of the same name) but in a reality way. People were screaming and crying and the sound of sirens was off in the distance, getting ever closer.

I stayed until help arrived. While I was doing nothing to help, being only 10 years old, I now understand that just being there was giving the injured something to hold onto, no matter how small. When the medical technicians began their administrations, one told me to go home and let my parents know what I had seen. I took half of the advice. I went home. I said nothing. It was my secret.

This brings us to the title of this post. Witchers are beasts and monster hunters, that develop almost supernatural powers to battle and rid the world of these beasts. And the show starts with an absolute explosion of an opening! A Witcher is fighting a monster while a gentle deer ponders the outcome. The Witcher defeats the monster but not before the deer is fatally injured becoming the Witchers dinner that evening.

Some tense moments follow in a tavern. We are introduced to various characters, furthering the plot and backstory. This is where my real life story above and the make believe one of the Witcher (what? you thought the Witcher is real? Really?) blend together.

For some reason, there always seems to be a major battle between kingdoms portrayed during the early centuries of sword and sorcery. And like all battles, bloody beyond belief. How many ways can you decapitate a soldier? How many ways can you gut a person or shoot an arrow through the head? Quite a lot it seems. With limbs flying in every direction, heads rolling left and right, guts spilling on the battlefield, I was overwhelmed. What happened to the young boy that was barely phased seeing real life blood and guts unfold in front of his very eyes?

That boy understood the difference. In the Witcher, which I will continue watching for now, the battles are some producers or writers idea of what people, want to watch. I find it very hard to accept that people love seeing battles where mutilation is the norm, surviving – the oddity.

I believe the writers and producers could have made a much classier show, intelligent and witty, without devoting so much time to the myriad of ways a person can be killed. Hopefully, there will be no more battles since the entire cast has pretty much been wasted and sliced beyond recognition. I find some of the characters intriguing, others not so much. Fortunately, I started on the 4th episode. If I had started on the first, I would no longer be watching this series.

I hear a voice that sounds like mine, coming from a tavern, in some castles keep, next to an amazing and beautiful scrolling countryside…

“Barkeeper! Another brew… and one for my friend…”

mushroom adventures!

By carl jasper

On December 26, 2019

In all posts, ramblings

You’re probably wondering if I’ve been sniffing paint again. And you would be right. In some alternate universe on the infinite plain of possibilities, I am. Sadly, or smartly, I’m not doing that on this plain of existence.

Instead I went hiking today with my my BMP. Which stands for Belgium Monster Puppy. I am always wondering if one morning I will wake up without any arms or legs from the very sharp piranha like teeth she has. One really good thing about her though, my adopted cat Mookie no longer comes into my room at night and pushes me with her paw for attention. Small favors, huh?

Looks fairly innocent? This was right after she ate two older hikers coming down the mountain. Makes, ya think, right?

I always love hiking after a recent rain. Mushrooms start springing up like wild flowers, almost everywhere! Of course I snapped a few pics for a quick post here.

Christmas Eve, part II

By carl jasper

On December 25, 2019

In all posts, loves, ramblings

RECAP:

But something was amiss. Where was the ghost of disappointment past? Don’t these things always happen in threes?

In addition, the air was brisk and cold, icicles began forming with each and every step that was taken. Where was the ghost of disappointment past? Helping some other souls? On vacation in Bora Bora? Or something less sinister like out to dinner with other ghosts eating ghost food. Although that also raises the question as to what constitutes ghost food and is it even healthy?

And then there was a total moment of utter clarity. Perhaps there was to be no disappointment ghost of the past. In fact, as I looked around me, the company I had, the brightly colored homes bursting with various Christmas light shows and cheer, a moment shared, a meal planned, the first few episodes of “Lost in Space” season II enjoyed under a toasty blanket. Just perhaps there wasn’t to be a ghost of disappointment past. Perhaps not even a small ghost. And then (smile), I completely figured it out.

It was Because we had the three “L’s”. And when the 3-L’s appear , ghosts simply cease to exist.

Life, Love and Laughter.

Christmas Eve

By carl jasper

On December 25, 2019

In all posts, loves, ramblings

I started writing this post as a blow by blow account of the evening. After reading the first few paragraphs over a few times, I realized the direction of the post had taken a wrong turn. Was the evening great? You betcha. And yet there is always another story to tell when recounting an evenings events. A story that involves not only the physical aspects, but also the emotional ones as well. Add some supernatural phenomena and you have all the makings of a classic.

Our story begins at 6pm exactly. The rain, which had been expected, had bypassed the valley, leaving scattered and lonely clouds to show the storms passing. The air very frosty, so I practiced saying “I see dead people” over and over because it was so cool! The plan was to walk the northridge mall and people watch as they were buying last minute gifts. Alas, this was not to be. The mall had closed for xmas eve at 6pm sharp. It was then we encountered the first supernatural event of the evening. The ghost of disappointment present. (cue eerie chains rattling and spooky sounds)

“You cannot roam the pathways of the mall this eve. Closed we be while others grieve.” the ghost of disappointment present said eerily.

“OK, ” we replied. “Do you have any other suggestions Mr. ghost of disappointment present?

“Thank you for asking! I was a tour guide before passing into the spirit world. It feels good to share some ideas every now and then. How about going to Target or Walmart? There should be quite a few last minute shoppers there” The GDP said.

This time, however, we were not going to be denied! We consulted with the ghost of disappointment future “google” before heading to either one.

Target was open, google said! Yay! Happily, we headed over the hill to the closest Target. Arriving, we noticed throngs of people bustling about, purchasing last minute gifts before heading off somewhere, somewhere important they had to be. But something was amiss. Where was the ghost of disappointment past? Don’t these things always happen in threes?

Stay tuned for part two, too tired for now to continue…