Month: September 2005

I’ve been watching some of the coverage of Hurricane Rita’s approach to the Gulf Coast, regrettably, and I just hate these “news” people more and more, moment by moment. They’re talking about the potential for damage and the areas likely to be hit hardest, and they’re salivating — they’re freakin’ DROOLING over the sensational, spectacular, irresistible ghastliness of it all.

At one point, the morning anchor on CNN — a particularly distasteful individual for both her lack of skill and her absence of tact — was presenting an animated graphic that illustrated the potential flooding of the Port Arthur area. They cut to the graphic and she provided voiceover while we watched the simulated inundation of a large community. When they cut back to her, she was actually smiling at how cool and amazing that simulation technology was. And the mediocrity and complete lack of restraint just continues.

And now this bus explodes on the highway in Houston, so we get to see THAT footage over and over and over and over and over and over. Have a little respect, Wolf et al — people died, okay?

And the “Situation Room”? What the hell is up with that?

I give up.

…it will not come again.

This is a quote which is engraved on a sundial that I pass every day on my walk. I had walked past this sundial for a couple weeks before ever noticing that there was something engraved on it. The little proverb is terribly appropriate for me, and now I glance at it every time I go by, just sort of making sure it’s still there or something. I tried to look it up in order to learn who wrote it, but haven’t had any luck so far.

The other day I paused in my walk to actually go closer to the sundial and get a better look; it turns out there’s a different pithy little phrase on each of the four sides of the sundial, but I didn’t like any of them as much as I like the one that I saw originally. I realize it’s quite similar to “carpe diem,” but somehow the heightened urgency of “seize the flying hour” versus “seize the day” makes a stronger impression on me.

We gotta use our time to our best advantage every hour, every day, people. Every single moment is a gift. Maudlin and unoriginal, sure, but there it is.

Seize the flying hour; it will not come again.

Just heard that Bob Denver, aka Gilligan of “Gilligan’s Island” (not to mention Maynard G. Krebs of “Dobie Gillis”), passed away at age 70 on 9/2/05.

For better or worse, I had a very TV-centric childhood. Gilligan and the rest of the castaways were a big part of that. “Star Trek” was big too, probably a bigger deal to me than “Gilligan’s Island,” but still, the time I spent watching that show and wondering if they would EVER get off that freakin’ island must total hundreds of hours. A shameful admission, but there it is.

It’s not that I even really laughed at the show. Hell, they had a laugh track — they did the laughing for you. I can still hear that laugh track and that eerily distinct male guffaw that would pop up repeatedly during a show. You could hear it on “Mr. Ed” too. Oh my…don’t get me started.

Anyway, godspeed to Bob Denver.