Yard Pole, Fox and Crazy Weather

There are plenty of these to pick up again this year

The power company finally replaced our yard light pole, which had been leaning more and more precariously next to our machine shed. A representative showed up several months earlier to tell us the pole we had been complaining about for years was just fine. We grumbled that it was leaning far enough that we were worried it could fall on one of our vehicles. He smiled and said no worries. Then on a cold and windy January day the gnarled, bent and grey pole was replaced with a straight, fresh brown pole.

We have seen a beautiful, multi-colored fox trotting cautiously along the boarder of our acreage lately. It is usually spotted heading for a large brush pile behind our machine shed. Our cat Sammie hides sometimes under the porch, while our dog Dice will bark occasionally in the direction of the pile. Of course, that can happen when the wind blows, as well. Sammie is not only a mouser but has caught two rabbits so far this year.

Despite a few blizzards, this winter has been very dry. February had a warm spell followed by bitter cold, while March suffered a blizzard only to experience a 90 degree day a week later! The tree buds are mostly open now, but not leafing yet, while the grass is trying to green up in spots. Various little shoots are poking up from the thawing ground, while robins test for worms. Spring-cleaning awaits!

Al, Carole and Evadna

Carole Landis
Al Ridste
Evadna Stone

Carole Landis in some ways could be a prototype for Marylin Monroe, who was born later and lived longer than Carole. Both were beautiful, underrated actresses, changed their names, attempted to survive the Hollywood system in place at the time, and died tragic deaths.

While the world knows of Marylin, few remember Carole. The only reason I know of her is because of a distant family tie. My Great Aunt Evadna was married to Carole’s father, Al Ridste. This was after Carole had died, but Uncle Al still carried a photo of her in his wallet and was proud of his daughter.

Over the years Evadna and Al were married they would travel back to Iowa from their California home to visit friends and family. Al was a mechanic, and gifted me as a kid a child size set of hand tools, which I treasured for years. Al complained he could never get a truly cold glass of water, so my dad showed him a trick. He filled a glass with ice then slowly filled it with a trickle of water from the faucet, making sure the water was constantly running over the ice. Once full, he handed the glass to Al, who drank it down and said it was cold, but not as cold as he would have liked. Whenever I have used dads trick the water can be cold enough to hurt my teeth. On a different visit Al ended up with cake slicing duty. Things went well at first, but Al did not wipe the knife off between cuttings, eventually resulting in a giant mess of mangled cake. My dad had offered to help, but Al insisted on doing it himself.

Al was always very kind to me, and he and Evadna were a memorable couple to me as a child. They both seemed very old and loud (as do most people to a kid) and foreign, because I didn’t know them except for their trips to Iowa in the summer when the family welcomed them back. I remember Al being very animated and talkative while Evadna would stand back and observe and smile, watching with her piercing, pale blue eyes. I associated happiness with them because the family always welcomed them back with joy and open arms.

Over the years I have sought out and enjoyed some of the movies Carole Landis appears in, and I have read a few brief biographies of her. She seemed to be very thoughtful and caring, but emotionally vulnerable. She died at age 29 of suicide. Al died as the result of a car accident, and Evadna from Lupis and strokes. All three are buried in California.

Fun With AI

After reading a very eye opening article about AI I figured I had better hurry up and get to learning more about this massivly important invention that sounds like it will soon be sweeping over us all.

So I decided to ask it to write some poetry! Here it is, using Duck.ai:

ME: write some poetry using rugged American place names

DUCK.AI: Rugged American Landscapes in Verse

Lonesome Mountain

In the shadow of Pikes Peak, where the aspens sway,
Resides the echoes of a wild, spirited day.
Cascades of currents carve the granite rock,
At dusk, the sky ignites—time’s unyielding clock.

Heart of Appalachia

Where the Smokies whisper through the fogged embrace,
O’er valleys deep, a soft, haunting place.
Harlan County sings of struggle and pride,
Where ghostly trains rush; history’s tide.

High Desert Dreams

From the windswept plains of Albuquerque’s call,
To Santa Fe sunsets that ignite and enthrall.
The spirit of the Rio Grande flows strong and deep,
In the heart of the desert, where wild dreams leap.

Northern Exposure

Amidst the rugged peaks of Denali’s throne,
The chill of glaciers, nature’s ancient bone.
Juneau stands proud as the sea meets the stone,
In this northern expanse, the wild is alone.

Rust Belt Reverie

In the heart of Detroit, where engines would roar,
Ghosts of the factories, old dreams at the core.
Yet, life pushes forward, a resilient scene,
Where art meets the struggle—something evergreen.

These rugged names echo in hearts that roam free,
In landscapes profound, they craft history’s spree.
Let whispers of America linger and soar,
In the beauty of wildness, forever explore.

ME: did you write that?

DUCK.AI: Yes, I created that poetry with rugged American place names specifically for you. Each piece captures the essence of various landscapes and their unique stories. If you have any particular themes or places in mind, I’d be happy to craft something more tailored!

ME: I like those. Would you write the same type of poem specifically about the American State of Iowa?

Next: AI Iowa poetry

Vintage Ads and Ephemera

Last summer I bought a stack of old magazines from a local tag sale. I decided to scan the contents of whatever interested me and share. I will also include scans of some other stuff I have sitting around.

These ads were seemingly everywhere when one would pick up a magazine or comic book during the mid-20th century. I learned my lesson the one (and only) time I sent off for one of these catalogs. You received advice for your $1, such as “visit an army surplus store”, or “ask if the owners are willing to bargain.” I would imagine most people were too embarrassed at being so gullible to ask for a refund. I remember I was.

Alone

This poem by Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841) has multiple translations. This is the one I like the most.

Alone, I come to the road.
The stony track gleams in the mist:
the calm night listens to God,
and star is speaking to star.

All’s marvelous, grave, in the sky!
Earth sleeps in the radiant blue…
Why such pain then, such weight on the heart?
Do I regret, wait for something new?

I expect no more from this life
and I’ve no regrets for the past.
I look for freedom and peace:
I want rest and oblivion at last…

But not the chill peace of the grave:
I’d like to sleep for all time
so life’s powers slept in my chest,
and it heaved with my gentle breath:

an enchanted voice in my ear
singing, day and night, of love:
and a dark oak to rustle over me,
and bend down from above.

Translated by A. S. Kline

In My Soldiers Heart

Union General Gouverneur Warren (1830-1882)

During the American Civil War the very men Confederates were trying to kill could not help honoring them. On hearing the news that Jackson had been killed at Chancellorsville, Union General Gouverneur Warren wrote, “I rejoice at Stonewall Jackson’s death as a gain to our cause, yet in my soldier’s heart I cannot but see him the best soldier of all this war, and grieve his untimely end.”

Movie Review: War Machine

I enjoy reviews that are short and to the point: Should I watch a movie or not? I lost count of how many films War Machine draws from. It starts with every military basic training movie you might have seen, followed by: Southern Comfort, Deliverance, Predator, War of The Worlds, Independence Day, Transformers, The Alien movies, Jurassic Park, and several others. If you are looking for a fun action/survivalist/sci-fi Saturday night popcorn movie, this one is for you. On Netflix.