Saw "Taking the Hill" at church tonight

http://www.takingthehillthefilm.com/

At my church, we have quite a few members of the military (along with families), veterans and retirees among our congregation.  Our pastor grew up in a military household, and has a heart for the troops.

Each year, around Memorial Day, we hold some sort of observance to recognize those who served as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.

Tonight, we saw the film listed above - "Taking the Hill".  It's about four men who served together as Marines in Vietnam.  The point of the movie depicts how God's grace has helped each of these veterans put their lives back together.

I won't spoil it here, but if/when you have a moment, take the time and click on the link.  It's a powerful story.

My novel - First update

I'm back.  Been out and about, and will fill in those details in a post soon.

However, I also want to use this space to provide updates on a novel I've drafted.  I don't want to go into a lot of detail here, but I will post progress reports in this space.

I am teaching myself to edit this thing.  Got out my red pen and everything.  It's gonna be fun.

For a useful resource, I bought a copy of Writer's Market "Guide to Getting Published", from the editors of Writer's Digest.  This resource is quite helpful, and the insight I've gained has been an encouragement.

Old dude watching old movies - #1, "The Enchanted Cottage"

I'm a big fan of Turner Classic Movies.  Some of the movies from the 1930s-1950s are an interesting view into life in this country at that time.  I really get a kick out of the World War II-era flicks.  The dialogue was sharp and witty, the guys were dapper in suits and fedoras, and the ladies were feminine and sharp-tongued.

From time to time, I will mention movies I like.  Some are well-known, while others may not have the same widespread appeal but are enjoyable nonetheless.

Last week, I recorded "The Enchanted Cottage", released in 1945.  Robert Young and Dorothy McGuire were the leads.  The picture is set around the time of World War II. It was a remake of a previous silent movie released in 1924.

You can go to the Internet Movie Database or Wikipedia to see all the details.

[Spoiler]  There are a few scenes that caught my attention.  One in particular was when Laura (McGuire) was working at a wartime "canteen", where troops soon to ship out wanted a last bit of dancing and dining with local girls.  Laura was in the kitchen doing dishes when the lady who hosted the canteen insisted Laura go out and mingle with the soldiers, sailors and marines present.  Being a rather homely girl, Laura reluctantly went out into the ballroom area.  At that moment, men and women were pairing off to dance.  To Laura's dismay, one by one several guys took a look at her and either went in another direction or (in one case) bent over and pretended to tie his shoe instead of approaching her for a dance or a chat.  The look on her face as she held back tears while grabbing her coat and hat to leave the canteen was heartbreaking.

The ending was an uplifting one, that showed how true love can change the way one looks at life.  True love isn't based on outer appearance.  I found this picture a pleasant surprise.

What's on my iPod - "Lonely Boy"

This is intended to be an irregular series that touches on songs I hear, know and like (and maybe some I don't like so much).  There's over 1200 songs on my iPod on as of now (not to brag - just stating a fact).  Between that and SiriusXM, I get a chance to indulge my musical tastes whenever I want.

My tastes go from oldies, doo-wop, soul and R&B, "country AND western", gospel, 80s New Wave, disco (yeah, I said it), bits of metal and hip-hop.  So, when I post a SotD, you might find anything in this space.

From time to time, I will mention a song that caught my attention that day, compelled me to sing along, or simply brought a smile to my face when it came on.  This isn't meant as a scholarly deconstruction of the lyrics, arrangement, etc.  More so, this is just to share how it struck me or maybe how it became associated with a certain time or mood in my life.

Today - "Lonely Boy" by Andrew Gold.  It was a popular song during my senior year in high school (fall of '77).  It was performed by the same guy who was later known for the song "Thank You for Being a Friend", popularized by the sitcom "Golden Girls".

I have always loved the musicianship and arrangement.  According to Wikipedia, Kenny Edwards (who worked with Gold in the band Bryndle) played bass guitar on the track.  In addition, Linda Ronstadt sang backing vocals.  The roster of players on this track are a list of first-rate musicians, and their work shows in the polish of this track.

The percussion really drives a sense of poignancy with the lyrics.  The guitar and electric piano hearken the best of southern California 70s studio-craft pop music.

I know some folks who say the lyrics appear self-absorbed. For me, I miss the days of the confessional story-song.  In a way, it almost feels like a precursor to today's Twitter/Facebook environment.

Yeah, it is also one of those songs that make me wanna drive fast on the interstate.  But, given my recent history with traffic court, I have to learn to enjoy this song while driving at a slower speed.