Wednesday - 2008-0409-2230 - Rain - Crimson Storm; James Dean; Being Inactive; Income Tax; Social Security; Camille; "More Old Jewish Comedians"

Rain - Crimson Storm Larger Image

James Dean Larger Image

This is another image by Carol Jessen Limited Edition Giclee Prints, who is very much a mass market painter. I actually saw one of her paintings in WalMart. At least she's not Thomas Kinkade.

I very much like this impressionistic, oblique view of umbrellas floating through the rain. I'm puzzled by the perspective. The two figures in the background are fairly obvious. The three umbrellas in the foreground appear to be much closer to the ground. One option is that the viewer is positioned almost directly overhead. Another is that there are unseen steps with people at different levels.

Or maybe the effect is deliberately vague thus invoking different viewpoints.

I'm backtracking to see if additional images have surfaced for the pensive guys section. And I surprisingly came across a large number of images of James Dean that I'd never seen before. So many if fact that it almost seems like he was constantly being followed by someone with a camera.

This image in particular is unusually striking. I have no idea of the source or context. From what I've read, his acting style was very personal. . He was most likely dyslexic, at a time when the word most likely did not exist. For that reason, he was never able to read scripts. Without his glasses, he could only see a few feet in any direction; beyond that, everything was a blur. I think he made the characters he played very vulnerable and emotionally fragile; something unheard of for a male performer. He never did a performance the same way.

You either understood what he was trying to do as director Nicholas Ray did in "Rebel Without a Cause." Or you totally misread it as director George Stevens did with "Giant."

My fascination with Dean is obvious. I think in a way that he and Montgomery Cliff created a pattern for all modern performers.

I've done a great job of not doing anything for the last few weeks. The upper respiratory bug is taking forever to go away. If I do something semi-strenuous, I'm exhausted. Whenever I wake up, I feel as if I'd had a low-grade fever. And I have absolutely no desire to do even the most mundane chore.

I finished my income tax report the other day. I was almost certain that I would owe something, But I don't. In fact, I'm actually getting a refund.

A couple of months ago, I received a notice from Social Security saying I might be entitled to money that was owed to mother. Of course, there was nothing that explained why or how this happened. I sent off the reply, and a few days ago discovered a deposit of $53 from SS in my checking account.

This is another in a series of funds owed to mother that are now being directed to me. There was a refund from the hospital. A couple of insurance checks that I vaguely remember. Now this. And I think I'm leaving our a couple of other transactions. But why has all this taken two years???

Camille is very slowly becoming acquainted with the household. She loves to lay in my arms while I watch TV and be petted. I love that yawn that cats do when they wake up. She is by far the most affectionate of the brood. Alas, Tiger, Tiger is still being difficult.

In the March 31, 2008, issue of "The New Yorker," one of the articles in the "Talk of the Town" section is about a gathering for "More Old Jewish Comedians." A couple of jokes from the section:

[In reference to the participants] "They're so old, their drivers licenses include the covered wagon."

"Forrest Tucker and Milton Berle argued about the size of Berle's legendary appendage and arranged to have an exhibition in their bathrobes. Berle said he would take out only enough to win."

"A woman who went to a palm reader and heard, 'Your husband will die a violent death.' The woman asks, "Will I be acquitted?' "

(In Wednesday - 2008-0409-2230 / Out - 2008-0410-0100) This entry was written in a single setting.

Pax! Erin go braugh! Je accuse...