Blazers Rally to Nip Hawks

My son's Blazer team came back from a 10-4 deficit going into the fourth quarter to win 12-10. Trying to write to describe the excitement of that final six minutes just wouldn't do it justice. Just know that he (and I) are in euphoria right now.

It's a great place to be.

Changing Your Major

College students do it all the time. One day their lives are headed this way, and the next they change their major and take off down an entirely different career path. A life-changing decision. BOOM, done.

But what about 38-year-olds, who aren't in college. Can they do the same thing? Can you invest in education, interviewing, job experience... have kids, accumulate mortgages, find your rut, and then just decide to switch paths?

I'm not talking about the waitress, who becomes an actress. She was always an actress just waiting tables. I mean the accountant who decides to pursue a passion or a dream and becomes a fireman or a river guide.

Can it be done? Is it really possible? What about the money? the security? the funny looks?

And what does it take? Just guts? More education? Winning the lottery? or a spiritual conversion?

I think I know of a couple of folks who became missionaries, but that doesn't seem to be nearly as simple as many might think. And what if that's not your bent?

Bruce Wilkinson, who's pretty well known for writing NY Times bestseller, The Prayer of Jabez, also wrote another book called The Dream Giver. It's a parable of sorts and addresses this topic to some satisfaction. His book describes many of the obstacles one encounters when they determine to pursue their dream. This includes what he calls "Border Bullies" (naysayers or folks who have something to lose if you make the move to change your life and try to stop or dissuade you), the wasteland, and giants.

This aspect of his book rings true to me. And some of his characters fall by the wayside and never make it. But in the end, his protagonist makes it. And here's where I'm not so sure.

In the Realm, you can be anything you want. But in real life, does it quickly become too late?

What do you think?

And don't give me platitudes or defeatism (depending on whether you're a glass half-full/empty-type of person) or anecdotes about your friend's neighbor's dog's cousin. I need some real first-hand successes.

Bruce Wilkinson

Which End of the Spear?

This past Monday, I received a churchwide e-mail distribution from a minister at the church I attend encouraging our membership to patronize the local cinema to see the movie about Christian missionaries (martyrs) to the Auca Indians (now called the Waodani) in Ecuador, South America called End of the Spear. I'm an "out-of-the-loop" kind of guy, so it was really the first I had heard of the movie. Then, looking over the Blogsphere, it seems some controversy had arisen because one of the lead actors in the movie is homosexual, and more, a gay activist.

Here's a review: from a Christian site, Common Grounds Online. Here, Catherine Claire gives the movie a positive review, and I enjoy many of the points she makes. And speaking of points, she gets extra for mentioning Narcissus and the reflecting pool (which was my actual first post on this blog, here), as well as mentioning Jean Valjean from Les Miserables and Edmund Dantes from yet another of my classic favorites, Count of Monte Cristo.

To be fair, movies.com also has their critics and fan reviews of End of the Spear, and the results were underwhelming there.

Going back to the controversy, probably one I'd be well-advised to stay away from (but I have all kinds of difficulty following my own better judgment), I tend to agree with The Internet Monk in his piece/rant (the comments are worth reading as well) on whether it matters if gay actors play in Christian movies. Which is not much of a surprise. I generally agree with Michael Spencer on about 85-90% of everything he says. Maybe more. And I hat tip him, and the Boars Head Tavern, for every link on this post save the movies.com and my own post on Narcissus. I understand the concern many Christians have regarding giving gay activists a platform to discuss Christianity and homosexuality side-by-side when a homosexual is hired to play a lead in a "Christian" movie. It's been touched on at other sites where people are going into way more depth than I desire, but the lead actor in Chariots of Fire was openly gay, and of course, Ian McKellen, Gandalf from LOTR, is likewise a gay activist. Maybe people don't classify those as "Christian" movies, and it is a stretch, but it's impossible for me to completely say they're unrelated to the faith. In the end, I agree with Imonk on the issue. My answer is: So what? If the Gospel is being proclaimed, so the heck what? Plus, I enjoy Michael's rhetorical -- or not-so-rhetorical -- question at the end of his piece:

Why not find a homosexual in your community, and offer to go see Brokeback Mountain with him/her, and invite him/her to see End of the Spear- starring well known homosexual activist Chad Allen- with you?

I want the heart of Jesus, I really do. But questions like this let me know that I'm still so far from it. Well, it's not just questions like this, but I'm living a life, too, and that in and of itself does a pretty good job of letting me know as well. And I'd bet a lot of American Christians would have a huge problem with not only doing what the question asks but with the premise of the question itself. Which to me is a shame. But I digress...

Bottom line, right now, is that this is a rental for me. Anytime movies.com comes out and the critics blast a movie with a D-, I've got to be a little wary. Sometimes, I even need to be careful about what I rent. I mean, I made the mistake of renting Left Behind many, many moons ago, and I'm still regretting that.

End of the Spear

Odd, That

So Ken just threw himself out there with Something From Nothing. Ironically enough, I had something similar I wanted to post. Not one that's often given to verse -- love to read it, just not gifted at writing it -- I had the last two lines of this jingling around in my mind for a while. Ergo, I decided to VERY QUICKLY (get used to my disclaimers, BTW) throw a few lines in front of my last two and see what comes out. Maybe, someone can help this out OR just tell me to stick to writing my novels and short stories. I'll keep working on this a while as long as I see some hope for the little critter - but here's my first shot. Working title is: GIVE

Dawn, the infant's breath, passes done too soon.
Morning, laughter of a child, breaks the silence of a room.
Spring lilacs bloom and open wide in educated bliss,
Grasping for sun and mountain peaks in hopes not to miss.
Ebon summer nights, running free, stealing sips from life's sweet nectar,
Building castles in the sand, racing down life's rapid river.
Late Summers' eves and Autumn leaves peel back the days gone by,
For winds that blow and soon do show the cracking of the hide.
Cool night chill then ushers in the purging bearded snow,
and Winter's eve leaves heart to grieve for everything it knows.

I passed you by, I passed you by,
I flew the course a forever taker.
My hands stayed white, from morn till night,
NowI fly to see my Maker.

For time owns a man and one day shall lay him in his grave,
Then, all he holds for the life he's lived is simply what he gave.

Poetry

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

What are some of your favorite first lines of books? Since I mainly read kid's fiction/YA, the one's I'll list will be from there. Here's a few I think are GRRRRRRR-EAT!!!

1) All children, except one, grow up. -- Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie

2) There once was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb and he almost deserved it. -- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis

3) We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck. -- Feed, M.T. Anderson

4) 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. -- A Visit from Saint Nicholas, C. Clement Moore

5) It was a pleasure to burn. -- Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury

6) Call me Ishmael. -- Moby Dick, Herman Melville

7) "Where's Pa going with that axe?" -- Charlotte's Web, E.B. White

If more come, I'll add them. What are some of your favorites?

Writing

To Whom It May Concern

Due to extreme hue and cry, and general outrage, expressed by many of our kind citizens and friends, the post formerly known as "Poopy-doopy" was retitled "Yet Another Bill Mallonee Post That Reveals Personal and Potentially Damaging Information About Me" and then forever deleted from the annals of The Realm of Possibility, perhaps permanently.

I regret any harm that this post may have caused you, your loved ones, or small, gentle forest creatures. In order to ensure that posts like "Yet Another Bill Mallonee Post That Reveals Personal and Potentially Damaging Information About Me" never again threaten the pleasurable reading freedoms that we enjoy here in this fair burgh, the Council to Ensure No Silly Or Repulsive Stuff Happens In Possibility, Realm of has been established.

This council of three will be comprised of Rich Pearce, Chair; our Top Commenter, currently Scot; and infrequent, but nonetheless important, poster, Anonymous. In conjunction with our perpetual Parliamentarian, which also happens to be the dual-hatted Scot, the council will assume responsibility for reviewing the content of all posts prior to their publication on this blog site. They will also endeavor with all due diligence to remove all:
a)silly words, specifically hyphenated words ending in "-doopy"
b)uses of any euphemism for buttocks besides derriere
c)parentheticals
d)reference to any calendar year between 1965 and 1970
e)instances of the term "taking someone... across the border"
f)demands for a dental plan

In addition, the council will attempt, where possible, to increase the educational content about our esteemed founder Mr. Pearce, his children, and perhaps on occasion, his mother.

Rest assured that your concerns have been heard.

I thank you for your honest feedback, your continued patronage, and your understanding in this matter.

Something from Nothing

I haven't shared this with very many folks, but here's a little something that had a major influence in Rich and I becoming writing collaborators. Maybe it will have some meaning for you today.

A man and a woman,
and there was no love.
No chance of survival,
but you're up above.

A woman lay barren,
no hope of a child.
Full of nothing but sadness,
then you give a smile.

Something from nothing,
no future, no past.
And then, in an instant,
divine hope at last.

A void that existed,
you filled with a plan.
From dust of the earth,
you built up a man.

A dry field lies cracking,
to farmers' disdain.
No food in the garden,
then you send the rain.

Something from nothing,
no night, and no day.
You speak, and there's sunrise,
but that's just your way.

We try to explain you
with science and math.
But what we forget is
that you lay the path.

My life had no meaning,
I wandered alone.
Then you entered my heart
and made it a home.

Something from nothing,
no future, no past.
And then, in an instant,
divine hope at last.

Something from nothing,
no future, no past.
And then, in an instant,
divine hope at last.

Poetry

More, More, More on Twenty-Four

Slate mag has an interview with a chief writer on the show "24," which I first plugged here. The headline reads:

The Worst Day Ever: A 24 writer talks about torture, terrorism, and fudging "real time."

Interesting read.

And speaking of "24," if you're doing something else on Monday nights besides watching the show, you now have my sympathy and pity.

[Of course, if you're feeding the poor, doing an emergency surgery, finishing your novel's deadline, or a whole host of other more important things than watching TV, then can I have your sympathy and pity?]

24

Literarily Speaking

For those of you who have tried any one of these or for those of you who think you may some day try (or even just anyone who reads - which opens it up to everyone), which type of fictional story/writing do you think is or would be the most difficult to write well:

1) Novel
2) Novella
3) Short stories (myths/fables/etc. included)
4) Play
5) Screen play
6) Poetry
7) Other (please name)

For me, poetry is the hardest to write well. Of course, I've never tried a screen play, and any of the plays I wrote were all for classes growing up. Still, plays were easier than poetry for me.

Remember, not just to write and finish but to write WELL. You can just answer with the type (or even with a number 1-6, for if it's 7, then you need to tell us which unlisted type), or as always here in The Realm, you can expound. Also, if it makes a difference in the age you're writing for, let us know that, too.

Writing

Lost

Preface: Like Circus, which we previously posted here, this narrative sample was written for a project to teach middle schoolers different styles of writing (narrative, descriptive, expository, etc.). Obviously, thinking outside the box was required. We were to, in 500 words or less, answer the tag line: "Tell about a time when you were lost."
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Young man, I’m going to have to ask you to remove your bathtub from the calendula officinalis."

Now that’s not a request that you hear everyday, but I responded with as much eloquence as I could muster. "Huh?"

"The marigolds. You must extract yourself and your tub from our garden – immediately! And PLEASE put on some clothes, or I shall be forced to call security."

I’m not sure whether it was the smell of the marigolds or the recognition that only a few fragile soap bubbles stood between my nakedness and the Ladies Auxiliary Horticulture Society, but I began to realize that something had gone terribly wrong.

"What in heaven’s name are you doing here anyway?"

I wanted to say, "Taking a bath, what does it look like I’m doing?" But instead, I settled for a quivering lip and the equally witty, "I think I’m lost".

It was probably more draft than genius that caused the quiver, but the ladies couldn’t resist it, and their tone shifted. "Poor darling! Perhaps we can help. Tell us what happened."

"Well," I stammered. "I don’t know. I’d just rinsed the shampoo out of my hair, and when I opened my eyes, here I sat, tub and all."

Turning away, they huddled together whispering and peeking back at me. Things seemed to be going nowhere, and my hands were getting all pruny, when a gruff-looking gardener wielding some shears stepped out from behind a topiary.

"What shampoo were you using?" he demanded in a husky voice. I suddenly felt defensive. What difference could this have possibly made? "C’mon, c’mon, which one?" I reluctantly plucked the bottle from the edge of the tub and handed it to him.

He wiped the damp, sticky bottle with his shirtsleeve and examined the label front and back. "Yep, just as I thought," he said after a few uneasy moments. "Why were you using this?"

"I just wanted to thoroughly clean and condition my hair without unnecessary build-up or unsightly flakes," I blurted. "Is that so wrong?"

"Is this your mother’s shampoo?"

I hesitated, but then decided to come clean. "Maybe. What makes you say that?"

"Because it’s called Exotic Garden Escape, and it smells like lilacs."

Busted. "Well you see, mine was all gone and… and…"

"Oh, stop whimpering, this is a no-tears shampoo. We just need to get you out of these flowers and back home."

"But how?"

"Very simple. You gotta actually follow the instructions on the back of the bottle."

If possible, I felt even more ridiculous as I reclaimed the shampoo from the earthy man and read its label. "Lather, Rinse, Repeat."

"You see, in your haste, you not only used an advanced formula product that you weren’t ready for, but you also overlooked the most important step in proper hair care. We’re gonna be able to get you home this time kid, but your carelessness has already done serious damage to your hair and some beautiful marigolds. In the future, please bathe responsibly."

Lost