Is this Rodney?
Yes.
Hi, this is Derrick at Game Night Games. Looks like those games you ordered finally came in.
It’s not that unusual, right? Maybe, in our age of “The Amazon of Everything” it’s unusual for someone to actually pre-order a game from a physical game store. But, I’m a big fan of supporting local businesses. And I like talking to someone and having them find exactly what I need.
Game stores, like everyone else have had to adapt to COVID. But, Utah is a very popular location for board games. We have two or three times as many games stores per capita than somewhere like Sacramento does.
And none of those stores carry my preferred line of games, Star Trek Attack Wing. The game has a passionate but small niche following. It has been in decline for years. Finally, none of the local gamestores had it. The only way to get the game was ordering it.
A quick note about Star Trek Attack Wing, it’s a game format. It has dozens of ships, hundreds of characters and upgrades. It’s based on Star Trek, but it’s really a tabletop game played with tiny plastic ships.
The manufacture, WizKids, decided to attempt to reboot the game for solo play. They announced Star Trek Alliance a couple of years ago. Naturally, I went to my FLGS (friendly local game store) and pre-ordered two copies. I always order two copies of each new STAW product that comes out. Fortunately, I have kids who enjoy Attack Wing also.
And then, like the rest of the STAW players in the world, I waited.
At first I waited a a couple months. Then we had more months of waiting. And more. And more.
After a year, I wondered if I should just tell my flgs that I wanted my money back. I decided to let it ride. Hoping that WizKids would eventually release the game.
Eventually they did, of course. A year and a half later.
My flgs called to let me know when WizKids started getting serious about the dates.
Rodney, we’re calling to let you know that WizKids expects to be shipping Alliance next month.
Really?
Yeah, funny thing, we’ve updated our ordering system since you originally ordered this. We had to just write a note as a reminder you’d already paid.
So, this week I made the trip up to Salt Lake City from my home in Pleasant Grove. I had to dodge the snow storms. But, it was great to finally get to be walking back into a game store, Game Night Games of Salt Lake City.
Of course, we were all wearing masks. It’s the nature of the world we live in. As I came through the doors, Derrick looked up from behind the plexiglass that was shielding the desk.
Welcome to Game Night Games. How can I . . .Hey! Alliance, guy!
I hadn’t been in that store for over a year and a half. And I walked in wearing a mask. And Derrick picked me out before I even spoke a word. And Derrick was absolutely genuine.
I collected my long awaited game and told him I wanted to pre-order copies of the next STAW updates taht were scheduled to be released by WizKids. A Cardassian expansion pack and a Vulcan expansion pack. Of course, I wanted two copies of each.
Well, they’re $29.99. And we’ll give you the 15% discount since we don’t carry it in the store. We’ll call you when it comes in. . .Hopefully sooner than 18 months.
Tomorrow one of my sons and I will start playing the Star Trek Alliance campaign game.
But, I can say if you are in the Salt Lake City area and you need games, boardgames, Role Playing Games, dice games, you should absolutely give Derrick at Game Night Games a call. Oh, and they can even get you a copy of Star Trek Alliance with a 15% discount. . .But, they’ll have to order it for you.
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
Twitter (@rodneymbliss)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/rbliss)
LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com/in/rbliss)
or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
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“You’re not special for reading The Great Gatsby. We all went to high school.
Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.
Okie dokie. Let’s tone it down. I was just making a joke.
So was I. That’s the first line of the book.
What? I didn’t read the book”
– Internet conversation
I’m pretty sure I read The Great Gatsby in high school. Ms Thomas was a really good English teacher. I had her for Freshman Honors English and later as a Junior for AP English. She probably introduced me to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece. However, I don’t remember it.
Everyone has heard of The Great Gatsby. The book was written in 1924. It’s been made into countless movies. Okay, you could probably count them. IMDB lists 5 versions including the 2013 version starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
If you are like me, you probably don’t remember the story. I remembered there was something about lots of parties. That was my recollection prior to rereading it.
At 178 pages, it’s a short book, but a rich and complex story. Not remembering anything from the story, it made the reveals in the book more striking. I was at times disgusted, surprised and saddened. The Great Gatsby is a tragedy. It’s not quite Shakespearian in that not everyone dies in the end. But, enough die to put a somber ending on what to that point had been a morality tale. The book is 100 years old, but in case, like me, you don’t remember the story and decide to reread it, I’ll keep my review spoiler-free.
What I Liked
I loved the characters. Even Gatsby who honestly is not a particulary admirable character pulled me in. I wanted to be his friend. I wanted to stand by him with Nick when his so called friends all deserted him. I also like the reference to the 1919 White Sox scandal where a group of gamblers conspired with ball players to throw the 1919 World Series. At the time Fitzgerald was writing his story, the Black Sox scandal was only a few years old. He made one of the gamblers a key player. As a baseball geek, I enjoyed it.
I also liked the way Fitzgerald moved us easily between East and West Egg and the ash lands. And ultimately the people in each of the areas were not all that different.
What I Didn’t
At times I got lost. Fitzgerald’s transitions were at times abrupt. I found myself going back and rereading a previous paragragh. For example, when we find out Gatsby’s real name, it took me several paragraphs to figure out that Gatz and Gatsby were the same man.
The story didn’t go the way I wanted it to. The guy I thought should get the girl didn’t get the girl. Fitzgerald’s story was much stronger and better than mine. But, it was with real sadness that I read parts of the story.
One glaring incongruity concerned the character Meyer Wolfsheim, is a Jew and the gambler who threw the World Series. At one point we find out his company is named “The Swastika Holding Company.” That name, especially for a business owned by a Jew would not be noteworthy in 1925. Obviously today, the idea of a Jew naming his company after the symbol of the Nazi Reich is unthinkable.
What It Means To You
There’s a reason that The Great Gatsby is still being read 100 years after it was written. It’s an enjoyable book and one that won’t bog you down reading through it on a Sunday afternoon. It’s an absolutely brilliant book and a gripping story.
My Rating
4 out of 4 stars
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
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LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com/in/rbliss)
or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
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I would not have read this book on my own. In fact, if it wasn’t for my lovely wife’s suggestion, I wouldn’t have read it. Wired For Love, by Stan Tatkin has the subtitle,
“How Understanding Your Partner’s Brain and Attachment Style Can Help You Defuse Conflict and Build a Secure Relationship”
And that’s where Tatkin spends most of his text. The book is designed as a workbook for couples to improve their relationship by better understanding how each other thinks.
Tatkin spends the first part of the book explaining the brain. The various parts and what each part is for. While reading the first part it was hard to get a grip on what point Tatkin was making. It becomes clear in the latter part of the book as he explains the central theme and how different types of people interact.
Tatkin divides people into three groups: anchors, islands and waves. Each has a different way of looking at the world, and more importantly a different way of interacting with it. He pretty much dismisses Anchors. The book isn’t really for Anchors. Anchors are those who are well grounded and a support to those around them.
His attention instead is focused on the Islands and the Waves. Islands are those who build up walls around their emotions. You know who they are. And if you are one, you probably know that too.
Waves on the other hand are like yo-yo’s. They are by turns close (sometimes too close) and distant.
Tatkin explores the relationship between the three types and offers practical advice on how Waves and Islands can become closer to Anchors. He pretty much admits that Anchors don’t really need any help. (I’m not an Anchor, but I married one.)
What I Liked
Tatkin’s prose is clear and easy to understand. He clearly spells out the challenges along with the background needed to have a successful relationship. And the text is aimed at both someone reading it on their own, as I did, or a couple reading it together. His examples, draw from the entire spectrum of relationships; young, old, married, gay, straight. Even if you are an Anchor, his explanations and especially his insight into how people think, is valuable.
What I Didn’t
I’m sure Tatkin understands much more about the brain than I ever will. I’m not sure I needed to understand the in depth functions of the brain to be a better partner to my lovely wife. At times I struggled to find relevance. I wasn’t doing the exercises as I went through. I was simply reading. The text at times felt like a fill-in-the-blank workbook.
What It Means To You
Anyone who is in a relationship will benefit from this book. It will be most beneficial if both you and your partner read it. But, even if you just want to be a better you, this book can help with that. Perhaps you will faili to see yourself as an Anchor, Island or Wave. But, I think most will resonate with at least one or a part of one.
My Recommendation
3 out of 4 stars
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
Twitter (@rodneymbliss)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/rbliss)
LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com/in/rbliss)
or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
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I’m what you would probably call nerd, a square or a goody two shoes.
Don’t drink, don’t smoke, what do you do?
Don’t drink, don’t smoke, what do you do?
Subltle innuendos follow
There must be something inside
– Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant
I don’t do drugs
I don’t smoke
I don’t drink
I don’t even drink coffee
Part of the reason is religious. My church has a health code. Another part of the reason is health related. Everyone knows that illegal drugs (or perscription drugs that aren’t perscribed for you) are bad for you. There’s no question.
Everyone also agrees that cigerettes are bad for you. Even people who smoke understand that it’s not healthy.
Plenty of people drink without any ill affects. Of course, some drink to excess. Or, they drink and get behind the wheel of a car. But, there are plenty that see nothing wrong with an occasional beer or glass of wine.
Even more people think coffee is acceptable. Most people who choose to not drink coffee find they don’t like the taste, or they don’t like the way it makes them feel. Caffeine affects people in different ways.
In my church, it’s considered a sin to partake of any of the above. Not everyone is as pious. People sin in different ways. Everyone has their own temptations. As you might imagine there’s also a strong social pressure to follow the rules.
Members of my congregation might have issues with me if they saw me coming out of a bar. Even if I didn’t drink.
I once had to buy beer. It was the first and only time I’d ever bought beer. To be clear, buying it is not a sin. Consuming it is. It still felt weird.
I asked a friend a question,
Suppose someone, who was not a member of our church asked you to buy them come coffee? Would you do it?
Yeah, I suppose.
What if they wanted you to buy them some beer?
I’m not sure I could do that.
How about cigerettes?
Definitely not.
Marijuana?
Not a chance.
All those things are legal where I live. And all those things are considered a sin by my church. And yet, I would be more comfortable helpting people with some of them than others.
I tried to think of why. If both coffee and cigerettes are considered sins, why would I be willing to buy my non-church member friend one but not the other?
I was working with a group of cabinetmakers in Olympia, Washington. I was a recent returned missionary for my church. I was also low man on the totem pole. My job at the shop was to sweep, and burn the scraps in our burn lot, and run errands.
It was Friday and we’d just finished a big job. We were going to head out to a local park after work.
Rodney, we’re finishing up here. Why don’t you go get the beer and we’ll meet you at the park.
Ah. . .
It’s fine, I’ll give you some money from petty cash. Just save your receipt.
What kind do you want me to buy?
And that’s how I ended up at a 7-11 buying a 24 pack of Budweiser. I definitely felt odd. I don’t even think I got carded. Would I have felt okay buying them coffee? Sure. Cigerettes? I’m honestly not sure.
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
Twitter (@rodneymbliss)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/rbliss)
LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com/in/rbliss)
or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
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Ever notice that some people manage to discuss politics without getting angry? Even if they are talking to someone they disagree with. Even if it’s a contentious subject?
Some people seem to be able to remain calm even in the middle of high stakes emotionally charged conversations. I’m one of those people. I enjoy those types of discussions. I’ve always found it fascinating to try to figure out why people believe the things they do. I believe that people’s are smart and typically make rational decisions. I like to hear why people believe differently than I do. Because I think that I’m smart and make rational decisions.
I have opinions on most things. I have a political persuasion. And I’ve followed politics for a very long time. So, what’s the secret to have a nice polite political discussion?
One or both participants must speak the other person’s language.
I’m not talking about speaking English. But, speaking a language that is understood by those you are debating.
Suppose I said, “No one is coming for your guns”? What position do I have on the gun debate?
Suppose I said, “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people”? What position do I have on the gun debate?
“Boys shouldn’t compete in girls sports”
“Trans girls are girls”
“The imaginary man in the sky doesn’t exist”
“No matter the question, Jesus is the answer.”
“Libtards”
“ReTHUGlicans”
“The election was stolen”
“Trump is guilty of treason.”
You can tell instantly which side of an issue I come down on if I make sone of those statements. And if you want to hold a worthwhile discussion on those topics (LGBTQ+, Guns, Religion, Trump) you have to first decide that you don’t care about being right.
If you want to know why those who disagree with you think the way they do, you need to start off from their position, not yours. You have to speak their language. Now, the phrases I’ve used above are pretty pejorative, judging. You don’t have to adopt the pejorative language, but you do need to abandon it and adopt a neutral position.
I was involved in a facebook discussion about trans athletes in sports. You probably have an opinion on it. I certainly do. I also have close friends who are transsexual and who are gay. I respect them and certainly don’t want to see them discriminated against. I also understand that biological males and biological females have different physiology. And pound for pound biological males are stronger.
There were already people in the discussion and it was going about the way you would expect. One side insisting that boys shouldn’t compete in girls sports and the other side saying that trans girls are girls.
What about cases where cis girls have lost high profile events to trans girls?
I’m not sure if that was my exact question, but it was something like that. “Cis” just means that you present yourself as the same gender as your birth gender. It’s not at all an insult. It’s simply a description. A way to distinguish “normal” people from trans people. Except that if you decide that anyone not trans is normal, you are again using pejorative language.
Maybe it’s the years I spent working with the deaf community. Deaf people, are not hearing-impaired. That implies that they are someone inferior. One of my best friends said,
Do I look IMPAIRED to you?
No, he did not. He was deaf. Are the people who are not deaf normal? No, that would imply deaf people are someone abnormal. People who are not deaf are hearing.
I learned to use inclusive language, not because it was politically correct, but because I didn’t want to keep offending my friends.
When I adopt the language of those I disagree with, I’m not gaslighting. I’m not playing devil’s advocate. I’m not kowtowing to political correctness. I’m simply speaking in a way that doesn’t needlessly offend those with whom I want to speak.
Now, if both people in a discussion try to speak each other’s language, or at least speak a neutral language then, and only then can real change happen.
I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons. I once found myself on an anti-Mormon website. I think a friend had insisted that if I’d just read it, I’d agree with his point. Whatever the reason, the site was pretty typical. It described Joe Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, as a failed treasure hunter, who had searched for Captain Kid’s treasure. I reached out to the site’s creator.
BTW, the pirate’s name was spelled Captain Kidd with two “d’s.” I noticed you had spelled it with a single d. You might want to change that.
The site author responded.
Wow. This is the first time I have ever changed anything on my site because a Mormon asked me to correct it. Would you be interested in having a longer discussion?
Not really. We won’t change each other’s minds. You’ll quote the first few verses of the Gospel of John to me and I’ll quote Jesus’ baptism to you and we’ll both still believe what we believe about the nature of the Godhead.
It didn’t matter to me if he spelled the name of Captain Kidd correctly or not. But, because I was willing to “speak his language” (Referring to Joseph Smith as “Joe” is a typical anti-Mormon derision) we were able to have a conversation.
My given name is Rodney. But, I didn’t start using it regularly until I left college and started in business. My high school friends and my family call me Rod. People I’ve met since college call me Rodney.
Occasionally someone will attempt to create a feeling of familiarity by calling me Rod instead of Rodney. Note, I never give them permission to do this. Typically it’s someone trying to sell me something. What he doesn’t realize is that one way to ENSURE I don’t buy what he’s selling is to use a name I didn’t give him.
Do you prefer to go by Rod or Rodney?
My friends call me Rod. You can call me Rodney.
It always gets a laugh. But, it’s funny because it’s true. And yes, if I ask you to call me Rod, it means were friends.
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
Twitter (@rodneymbliss)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/rbliss)
LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com/in/rbliss)
or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
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2020 was a Rat. Seriously, in the Chinese Zodiac it was the year of the Rat. That’s not as bad as you might think, but it seems like it should be.
Today is Chinese New Year. It’s the Year of the Ox. The Chinese New Year is typically the second new moon after the Winter solstice. It’s not exactly then. But mostly. And that’s today.
We celebrate Chinese New Year. My son was born in China. Another son’s birth father was from China. So, it’s cultural for us. We make a traditional American Chinese meal. Orange Chicken is not a native Chinese dish. We add rice, mixed vegetables, egg rolls, and home canned grape juice.
And we had family over. Not a big crowd. Probably bigger than Dr Fauci would like. Me, my lovely wife, eight of our kids, one son-in-law, and three grandbabies. We had plenty of food.
The table was covered in a red table cloth. We had a a traditional Chinese treasure ship as our center piece.
Each child got a red envelope with money in it. Not a lot. Just a token amount really. It’s for luck.
We each took turns figuring out which Chinese zodiac sign we were born under. I’m a Dragon. We had monkeys, rabbits, and rats.
The thing is, the Rat is a desirable zodiac sign. In fact, Chinese hospitals report an increase in birth rates during the year of the rat. Rats are known for acute observation, positive attitude and flexible mind.
I’m a Dragon. Dragons are know for leadership, knowledge, power and capability. Dragons are also ambitious and driven to realize their dreams. Apparently we are also adventurous.
I have two sons born in 2000. One was born in January the other in April. Year 2000 was the year of the Dragon. But, only one sone is a dragon, the one born in April. Remember I said today is the New Year? So, if you are born prior to the start of the new year, you are part of the previous year. So, the son born in January was a Rabbit. (The animal from the year before, 1999.)
The Zodiac is a fun tradition. It’s one that we’ll continue. And eventually my grandchildren will get the red envelopes from Grammy and Poppa.
And here’s to hoping that the Year of the Ox will help us all forget the Year of the Rat.
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
Twitter (@rodneymbliss)
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LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com/in/rbliss)
or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
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He was one of my oldest friends. He was old when I was young. He was deaf and I was hearing. He and his family lived about two blocks away from my parents. I was assigned to be his companion while we visited some families in the church.
He died today.
I don’t know how old he is. We met when I was 16. His daughter was ten, I think. I guess he might have been 35 when we met forty years ago. So, maybe he was 75 when he died.
Some people come into our lives and seem to fill a hole that we never knew we had. Leon was like that. It’s not like he was a father figure. I had a couple of those. And it’s not exactly that he was a friend. . .at least not in the beginning. Instead I think he was my first adult acquaintance. We became friends. But, friends like adults are friends.
Because he taught me sign language I ended up going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaching people using Sign Language. I got pretty good at it too. And I made some lifelong friends because of it. Because of him.
He died in Ogden, Utah. That’s only about 90 minutes up the freeway. I didn’t realize he’d moved to Utah. I thought he was still in Washington. I could feel bad that I never got to visit with him here. But, somehow I don’t. I can’t. He is and was a memory. A happy memory. One of the important people in my life. The important memories in my life.
Who knows with COVID if we’ll get to attend a funeral. My sister died a few months ago and funerals are hard with COVID. If possible, of course, I’ll go. But, even if I don’t, I’ll remember. He’ll always be a part of what made me who I am. The good parts.
Rest In Peace, Leon Curtis.
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
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or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
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Classrooms will never be the same. My kids grew up knowing the internet has always been a thing. The same for cell phones. My grandkids are growing up knowing that online classes have always been a thing.
I remember the birth of the commercial internet. I also remember the birth of cell phones. I learned to adapt and embrace them both. We’re watching the true birth of online classes.
The internet really started as ARPANET (Advanced Research Project Agency Network) in 1969. I was alive (barely) in 1969, but honestly I don’t remember it. I didn’t notice.
The first cell phone was used on April 3, 1973. At that point I was somewhat older than when the the internet was born, but only slightly.
Online courses really began in 1989 with the University of Phoenix. Yeah, I remember that one.
The point is that the beginning of a thing isn’t always the beginning of the thing.
I spent many years as a corporate trainer. I delivered training, I also created training. My training was classroom based training. I’m biased. I like classroom training. Online training, especially some of the early iterations of it, were really boring. However, with high speed internet and truly interactive classes, the situation has changed.
Cell phones are not as clear as land lines. But, cell phones are “good enough.” And have been good enough for a long time. And that was the real tipping point. When cell phones got “good enough.”
Online classroom learning isn’t as good as in person classes. The interaction between the trainer or the teacher and the class has many more chances to play out in person. As a trainer, you can see people’s expressions, but you can also see their body language. You can catch the casual asides that they offer each other. We’ve spent millions of years learning to interact with people in person. We’ve learned to figure out if someone was a friend or foe. We can read clues. Is this person going to hit me or hug me?
We don’t have all those clues online. We can hear people’s voice, of course. If they have their camera on, you can read their facial expressions, and their body language, from the waste up. But, considering the number of people who’ve been caught not wearing pants while on video calls, we clearly miss a lot during an online class.
I’m taking a writing class online. We meet once a week online. The instructor, Dave Wolverton, has taught this course at universities. But, he’s also prepared his course for an online audience. That means he has a PowerPoint, and we use the chat feature to ask questions. And we can also break in and ask questions during the lecture, but generally we talk among ourselves (via chat) and wait for the end.
We had a strange issue today. Dave started the Zoom meeting on time. The students all joined. Some of us had video and some just had a blank profile pic showing. Dave had a problem though. His computer was having technical issues. His video was working fine, but the PowerPoint wouldn’t load.
I seem to be having a problem getting my mouse to move
Have you tried loading task manager?
Try rebooting?
Do you want one of us to take control?
The class was full of suggestions. Some were more potentially helpful than others. My background is in IT. No one asked me for any suggestions, so I didn’t offer any. (I’ve been in IT for a long time.)
As Dave struggled to get his computer to respond, I thought about the times when I was teaching a class and something went wrong. It happens to all trainers. I’ve had to stall at times. And with a classroom full of people, it works. There are interactive exercises you can do. You can deliver material without the slides. You can write on the board.
Our online class didn’t have that option. I think Dave was considering whether to cancel the class. When we meet only once a week it is a pretty major change to cancel a class.
I remember being in a class at BYU. The professor announced that the following week we would be cancelling classes. The young students around me cheered. I raised my hand,
Why are we cancelling?
I have to be out of town.
Couldn’t we have someone substitute for you?
Are you saying you want to hold class?
Well, we’re paying to be here and learn this.
My classmates were not as excited as I was about holding class. And ultimately the professor decided we would cancel.
Everyone in Dave’s class had paid to be there. And we weren’t getting university credit. We were doing it because we wanted to learn how to be better writers.
Ultimately Dave got his issues resolved and we held class normally. It wasn’t even a huge delay.
I realized just how different life is now. Well, different for me. To my grandkids, this will be how it’s always been.
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
Twitter (@rodneymbliss)
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LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com/in/rbliss)
or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
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Call me Ismael
It’s perhaps the most famous opening line in all of literature. It ranks right up there with
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Moby Dick is considered one of the greatest works ever written. I read it.
I disagree.
I know how presumptuous that sounds. And I’ll never be an English professor. And I’m willing to admit, maybe I just don’t get it. Maybe, it is brilliant and I’m the one that isn’t.
Herman Melville is a brilliant writer. And that certainly shows in Moby Dick. His characters are complex and consistently interesting. The plot, has a wonderful pace that takes the reader on a wild rides and also leaves us at times stuck in the doldrums with the crew of the Pequod.
And the final conflict is everything you would expect. The great white whale and the man who has single-mindedly chased it around the world to wage literal hand-to-hand. . .well, hand-to-fin battle with it.
So, why do I think it’s overrated?
Melville is so interested in telling us how much he knows about whales that he spends way too much time telling us how much he knows about whales. The book is 822 pages long. Other than the bible and War and Peace, it’s the longest book I’ve ever read.
I actually own two copies of Moby Dick. The unabridged version and a “Junior Classics for Young Readers” version that comes in at an economical 178 pages.
After wading through Melville’s masterpiece, I went back and read the Junior Classics version. The story was there in both. Even some of the famous lines; from it’s opening line to Ahab’s iconic final curse.
Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; form hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee. Sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool! and since neither can be mine, let me then tow to pieces, while still chasing thee, though tied to thee, thou damned whale! Thus, I give up the spear!
What the Junior Classics version doesn’t include is pages and pages and chapters and chapters on the different types of whales, whaling equipment, history of whales in literature and art. In other words, the boring parts that add nothing to the story.
What I Liked
I loved the story. The last 200 pages of the book are gripping. Literally a page turner. And while written in 1851, it gives us a great contemporary view of what life was like 170 years ago on a whaling ship. The characters are alive. I grieved for poor Starbuck. The First Mate was doomed by his very devoted nature to die the most tragic of all the deaths. And if you haven’t read the book, literally everybody dies. Everyone except Ismael who is left to tell the tale. I cared about all of them. And knowing what awaited them at the hands of the whale, but more accurately at the hands of Ahab’s madness evoked real emotion.
What I Didn’t
As I already mentioned, the book was much too long. This was actually the second time I tried to read it. The first time I couldn’t get past the chapter on various whale species. Also, at times, Melville switches from novel style to almost a screenwriter style where he lists the name of a character followed by their dialogue. After hundreds of pages it was jarring to suddenly be thrown into a different writing style.
What It Means To You
Billions of people have lived and died without reading or even hearing about Moby Dick. You’ll survive just fine if you never read Moby Dick. There are some excellent movies. In fact, while reading this I watched a three part mini-series starting Patrick Stewart as Ahab. It was excellent and tells the exciting story without bogging down with the 170 year old Wikipedia entries. Honestly? I can’t recommend it.
My Rating
2 out of 4 stars
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
Twitter (@rodneymbliss)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/rbliss)
LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com/in/rbliss)
or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
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I’m reading a book that describes people as one of three types: anchors, waves and islands. It’s a relationship book. (I’ll probably review it once I finish.) Even before the author explained the characteristics of each type, I knew I was an island.
. . .I’ve built walls, a fortress deep and mighty that none may penetrate
I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain
It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain
I am a rock, I am an island
. . .
– “I am a Rock” Bobby Goldsboro
We had an old Bobby Goldsboro record when I was a kid. I played this song over and over. Yup. I was an island.
I was fortunate enough to marry an anchor.
But, I have thought about that teenage boy building those emotional walls. There are things that tie me to my anchor, of course. But, there are also plenty of things that tie me to my history.
Why do some things mean so much to me? Not everything. For example, I drive a 1996 Toyota Carolla with 280,000 miles. And while the year says it’s a classic, the car doesn’t live up to the nostalgia. It has manaul windows, manual transmission and several spots where the air is showing through the fenders.
But, certain things are precious to me. For example, one of my prized possessions is this pocket watch.
It’s about 125 years old. I don’t know if it’s particularly valuable. But, it is to me. It belong to my great grandfather, Paul Graff. It came to me when my uncle passed away. He left it to his kids, my cousins. But, they knew how much it meant to me and insisted I take it.
I also have other pocket watches.
The watches are from right to left; mine, my grandfather Bliss’s, my father’s with grandfather Graff’s watch fob, another one of mine, and my sons. (The stop watch is not really part of the set.) The display board was built for me by my talented daughter. It’s designed to both hang on the wall or stand on a desk.
This display sits in a place of honor in my office.
The uncle who had the watch and I were close. He introduced me to Masonry. (The ancient organization, not the art of building things out of stone.) When I became a Mason he gave me a ring to signify I was a Master Mason.
His name was Ted Graff, although we called him Tandy. I spoke at his funeral.
The daughter who made the watch board really was a talented woodworker. She made me this tabletop desktop clock.
She also painted the blue picture behind the clock. (About 10 years before she made the clock in high school woodshop.)
My office is filled with artwork created by my kids. My oldest daughter painted this picture for me one Father’s Day.
The girls we adopted from Columbia created this art work for us,
It’s a house with a tile roof and a tile door and some very colorful windows.
I also have a picture that my father painted.
My father took up painting late in life. He only painted for a couple years. When he abandoned the hobby he insisted everything be thrown away. It’s his own fault that he didn’t go to the dump himself. My family insists that I got the best one.
My father’s father was never a painter. He was a junk man, among other things. He used to paint his tools orange. That way when he worked with someone at the end of the job there was never any questions about whose tools were whose.
When he passed away they came to me. I think of him every time I use them. I also inherited a couple of his pocket knives.
He kept it very sharp.
It’s probably obvious to you know what those things have in common. Those, “Rodney’s Most Important Things.” They have family connections. It’s not that they are old, it’s that they belonged to my people. These are things that my fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers held, owned and cared about. And, they are things that my children held, owned and cared about and gave me to me.
These are my connection to my past and my future. They are the things that connect that island to the rest of society. I’m also building my own connections.
I make things for children. My largest presents are footlockers. I’ve made one for each child.
I also build toys for my grandkids.
My father in law made these for my two oldest girls. I used his pattern and built copies for my own grandkids.
This wall has pictures of my lovely wife and my families.
In the lower left is great-grandfather Paul Graff (the one who owned the old watch.) At the bottom is his son, Julius and my grandmother. Above their picture are my parents. Above my parents is a picture of my mother’s grandparents. Directly under the clock is my lovely wife’s family. And to the right are her parents. We intend to continue adding pictures as we find them in genealogy searches.
On the same wall to the left we have more pictures.
These are our kids.We used to update the pictures every year, but only the last two are still in school. Now, updates happen when kids get married.
Again, connections. Back to our ancestors and down to my children, grandchildren and future great grandkids and beyond.
I like being an island. At times it’s comforting to hide behind my walls, safe within my fortress. But, when I’m honest about I’m not nearly as isolated as I pretend to me. My world is filled with connections, pictures, objects and memories that make it clear that I’m deeply connected.
Stay safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
Follow him on
Twitter (@rodneymbliss)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/rbliss)
LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com/in/rbliss)
or email him at rbliss at msn dot com(c) 2021 Rodney M Bliss, all rights reserved
