Only One Day Left!  

Posted by Benjie in , , ,

Well, I'm back from the Rio Grande. We've been on mission trip with the church. It was a great week doing both construction (on a second story room to a small building) and VBS work at the same location. We got back tired and invigorated.

While I was gone I didn't get a chance to visit Gabbatha and vote for my favorite hair band--so they fell behind. So, today (Van Halen) you can click on over and vote (Van Halen) for the hair band from the eighties (Van Halen) that you think should be crowned (Van Halen) hair band of all time. Be sure to listen to the clips (Van Halen) and vote for the band (Van Halen) you think has the best sound (Van Halen). I would never (Van Halen) try to influence you to vote one way (Van Halen) or the other (Van Halen). I just know that since I can only vote once a day and the polls close at noon tomorrow (Van Halen), AND I didn't have access to my computers (Van Halen) which gave me two votes a day, one band (Van Halen) fell behind the other since they missed out on about 16 votes (Van Halen), that I need about 16 readers to "Jump" right on over and vote for the winning band (Van Halen). I would never try to tell you which (Van Halen) band (Van Halen) that (Van Halen) is (Van Halen).

Thanks for your support. Go here and vote now!

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Surprised by the Bridge  

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Recently I finished a re-read of Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. I was touched, moved, and awed as usual by the great weaving of a tale of friendship, growing up, and creativity. (Read my review of the book here.) I re-read the book in anticipation of renting the new movie that has just been released on DVD.

I must admit that I was a bit skeptical about the movie. After all, the previews prepared viewers for an all-out fantasy on the lines of the recent release of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In reading the book, I was reminded that the focus of the story was on the lives of Jess and Leslie, two fifth-graders (one a shy, boy who hid his talent because of a fear of being labeled a sissy; the other the new-comer whose family has moved out of the city to get away from all the materialism there). The story introduces us to the mystical, magical land of Terabithia, but very rare are the scenes from within the land. So, one can see how previews showing only scenes from the make-believe land would cause me alarm. (Perhaps the people at Disney think that the compelling images that are actually true to the book would not create interest in this highly acclaimed story.)

What I found was that the book had been produced for the screen more than once. I arrived home with Terabithia in tow and sat down with the big bowl of popcorn and a readiness to be overwhelmed. In 1985, PBS produced a made-for-tv version that flashed onto the screen. The script was fairly true to the story with the major exception of Annette O’Toole playing a character that combined the crabby fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Myers, with the beautiful and inspiring music teacher, Miss Edmunds. I’m still unsure how the screenwriters came up with that one. The acting was so poor in this version that even though it seemed to follow the story line fairly well, I was falling asleep. Besides, I was wanting to watch the new Disney version. So . . . back to the video store for a trade.

What I then found was an engaging visual interpretation of Bridge to Terabithia. There were enough alterations that I was inclined to say that the movie was not really based on the book, but enough similarities that I felt I should let it go. The updating from the mid-70s to the early 21st century were handled well, but unnecessary in my opinion. The acting and the presentation were miles above the 1985 attempt at dramatizing the book. All in all, I found a movie that held merits on its own, let alone the connection to the Newbury Medal-winning book. At this point it is time to say, “Read the book, it’s better,” because that is what you’re always supposed to say. However, I believe that the two can co-exist happily this time. I prefer some of the nuances of the book, but was thrilled at the fantasy scenes provided by the movie (yes, the same ones that caused my initial concern about the movie). Where the book alludes to the forays into Terabithia itself, the movie takes you there. The result, you get the best of both worlds.

In today’s case, read the book or watch the movie, you’ll enjoy both. If you have time read the book and watch the movie, you won’t have to substitute either for the other.

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First Step  

Posted by Benjie in


She did it! Caty took her first steps today! And she didn't wait for a week to do it while I was on mission trip to Mexico. No she did it today, and while we were all at the house, too! And when her mother, brother, sister, and I all applauded and shouted for joy, she had to do it over and over again. She was taking steps and performing.

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Freakish Foray into the Furry Facial Fashion Fad  

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Let me start by saying I have nothing against facial hair. I have on occasion even been known to wear a mustache, and at a less cogent time or two I even tried to wear a beard (evidence in the form of pictures will not be posted here). However, I've resisted jumping on the new fad of wearing a goattee--you know that little mustache/beard thing that encircles the mouth of many men these days. That is, until now. This is the perfect beard for me since the whiskers don't come in well on my cheeks.

So, here is a photo of the culprit. What do you think? Does it look as silly here as it does on most men? Should I adopt the moniker "Colonel Sanders" or "Satan"?

What are your thoughts?

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Happy Birthday, America!  

Posted by Benjie


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48 and Counting!  

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Today is a special day. On this day in 1959, my parents—Thomas Preston Potter and Martha Jane Weaver—were united in wedlock. Highlights over the years include 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 37 years in the public school classroom, highs and lows associated with serving the local church as pastor, retirements, and I could go on. My folks have celebrated their anniversary by celebrating the birth of a grandchild, taking a cruise, and this year had a driving vacation that took them all the way to Canada and back.

If I could put into words the reasons I have to be thankful for my parents and their faithfulness to one another it would boil down to example. They have lived an example of what family is to be, what marriage ought to be, what love can be, and what faithfulness to the faith should be. Thanks Mom and Dad. Thanks for the example, thanks for the love, thanks, and thanks again.

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