A Moonshooters Diary

Last night, I was watching an all-time favorite TV program of mine, Dancing With the Stars. Why? Because even though I might seem like Scarecrow Klutz, underneath this 'not-so-suave' exterior resides Mr. Dancing Fool. But I knew from past experience,a lot of practice went into their routine to make it look so effortless. And Florence Henderson, who is the same age category as me, looked like she was having a blast. I was amazed at her agility and ability...to still have fun! While sitting having my coffee I had an 'aha' moment! I love to dance, I have a whole 1st floor apartment that I can convert to my 'dance studio' and the only thing that's missing (since Sleeping Beauty took her 'Siesta') is a partner. So I figured that if I hired Miss Fearless Dustcloth, we could then squeeze a lot of practice time in and still have a life! Kill two birds with one stone. (That's an expression I use, 'cause I don't kill birds.) Now all we needed to d...

Yesterday I did something I'd never done before. I was an 'extra' in a movie. A Mafia movie no less. That surprised the heck out of me. I'm more Wizard of Oz/ Peter Pan kinda guy... but I'm learning to be Mr. Versatility. A friend of mine was shooting an Independent movie called Holyland The Movie and needed extras for a picnic scene. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I've been wanting to check out the Ponte Club because Sylvia is a Ponte, I love to see what goes on 'behind the scene' of movie making, and since I'm retired...I have the time. So I gave it careful thought (about 35 seconds worth) and decided to volunteer my 'ignorance' to the project. I hauled my 'body along for a prop. The shoot was going to be at the Ponte Club at 11am yesterday, on Farmwood Rd. which is on the other side of town. Since I have no car, I thought I'd grab a bus as far as I could and grunt the rest of the uphill mile. :( Lately anything that...

What are the odds that a 72 year old guy would be listening to 'soft rock' on his laptop while doing his 'house-elf stuff' around the house? What are the odds that the words to one song in particular would jump out and grab his attention while he was two rooms away? What are the odds that he would stop and look up the song on YouTube and find this video right off the bat? What are the odds that he would watch the video from beginning to end and get a 'message' from God knows where? Which is my point exactly...that's where 'miracles' come from...but they work wonders! I'm having more fun just being who I am the trying to be who I'm not ...or who someone else thinks 'I should be.' It's never worked for me. That 'old guy' sure knows what it's like to 'need a miracle' and just like all else in his life, they show up 'on time and in a way that is most unexpected' most of the time. I've stopped w...

This is one of my favorite Albanian songs about a mother and daughter singing to each other. It's a high energy song...at least it boosts my energy and makes me smile. I don't understand the words 'cause I'm not Albanian...but the smiles, music, singing and crowds, I do. I look at all the different cultures and how they celebrate using music. The crowds gather and they sing and dance and clap. It's the wonderful way I look at my world. I don't have to understand the words to know that underneath it all...we are the same. Outwardly...not so much. Hmmm. I wonder exactly how many different ways are there to celebrate and how many different languages are there? Ah! I don't care...I just am happy to see happy people. That's what being 'human' is all about, I guess.

"Hook" is one of the movies I missed in my 'hustling and bustling' through life and caught on TV the other night. Hmmm. Maybe I didn't 'miss it' after all...it caught up with me at just the time that I could appreciate and enjoy it! Peter Pan has always been one of the favorite characters that I grew up with (or didn't grow up with?) But come to think of it...the kid inside is just as alive and well as ever...and 'taking me to places the adult Me never imagined existed. "Never say 'never'" is the motto in Neverland. It's a place where Impossible doesn't exist...except to 'adults' who have forgotten what 'fun' is all about. When in Adultland...do as the adults do. But when the 'imagination' kicks in...there's no stopping. That's what living in the best of 'both' worlds is about. Knowing that both exist...and knowing when to 'fly'. Even in Neverland, there is drama ...

While I was sitting drinking my coffee, I looked back (hey, I've got a lot of looking experience under my belt) I thought of all the pleasure I got out of 'reading'. I've got my Mom to thank for that. She taught me the alphabet and 'how play with words' before I started kindergarten. I've been hooked on 'words' ever since. Then I was reading the paper about training sessions for Literacy Volunteers. It got me thinking (like I need help with that one), how many people in this world not only know the 'joy' of reading but can't even decipher words that pop up in every day life? How would it impact their life? How would they know what wonders were in the dictionary? Or how to fill out an application for a job? Some, I would imagine would think there was 'something wrong' with themselves if they couldn't do it. And worse yet...what would people think of them if they didn't know how and were afraid to admit it? Street s...

I was sitting thinkin' about 'growing up' in Cleveland. I lived ten minutes via Lakeshore Blvd from the old Cleveland Stadium, went to a high school that had one of the best football teams in town, and can recall my 'game attendance' in my entire 72 years on one hand. Football -0 : Baseball 2. It wasn't that I wasn't interested...it's just I was bizee doing other 'stuff' and got slightly underexposed to 'sports'. I can remember wearing out my library card, riding roller coasters a few blocks from where I lived, spending time at my uncle's boathouse during the summer, working, roller skating...but I never had time to 'watch a game'. I've never seen a football game from beginning to end in my life. I took the two buses when I was 11 to the Cleveland Museum of Art for the 'free art lessons' they offered in the summer program and I learned the basics of painting. I used to have to carry my birth certificate with ...

"Is he nuts?" That's a question that I can only 'imagine' that a couple people may be asking...if they pay attention to me at all. I 'imagine' that the only polite thing to do would be to answer it. But if it's my 'imagination' that's wondering...cool. Then I'm safe. Pheeew! This kid still has all his 'marbles' at age 72 and plays with them...frequently. As far as playing with a 'full deck'...I got one of those too! I figure as long as I have 'today' to work with, I'll have fun playing with whatever hand is dealt to me. Since I used to deal in a casino, I know their 'rules'...kinda. But if I play The Game of Life by mine, and use Faith as my 'ace in the hole', I can't lose. Now that I've retired, I've got xtra hours in my 168 week and can only use them 24 hours at a time, I'll have more time to relax and choose different 'what I choose to do' priorities. I...