02.22.07
Posted in Short Stories at 10:30 pm by brmeyer
I wanted to make an honest attempt at writing a short, creative story. I call this one “An Unspoken Burden”. It historically based.
He could not move. Would not move. The glaring, penetrating sun was sitting high in the sky, shielding his view of the open space before him. Small droplets of sweat beaded on his forehead as the rays became brighter and the day rose to its peak. The moisture seeping through his clothing was an annoyance. He had not had a bath in weeks. Would not have one for many more. His tall form sat slightly back on an old wooden rail fence. Probably built years ago by an enterprising farmer to outline the lay of his land. It did not matter to him. Not much mattered now. Thoughts were racing through his head as quickly as the shrill sounds of death slammed into the ground in front of him. He pondered the conversation with the old man. It cannot be taken. Will not be taken today.
His mind turned to a colder day in the latter December. He thought of the long, protective stone wall sitting atop of the heights. Perched atop his horse Hero, he saw the masses of blue littering the ground on the slope. Protruding from the dark color were speckles of green. Four-leaf clovers that the Irish carried for luck. He could not help but feel protected that day. The ground was perfect. Not so for the poor souls below. The spectacular sight had faded as the day wore on. They had come at him that day with full fury. He had boasted that he could end it all on that day. Stubborn. Confident. The end was near, or so he had wished. The old man had warned that day of the tragedy of it all. Did not want him to get caught up in the glory of it. There was none. Never was. When day turned to night, he remembered what the old man had said. But the brightly colored glowing lights had amazed them all. Both sides. The Aurora Borealis. Fearful lights that never beckon. Kings and heroes had departed, and God showed them the light. They had joined him now.
The light swirled. Transformed into the illumination of the present. He regained his thoughts. Shielding the sunlight with his hand, he turned to look up the slope. A small grouping of trees caught his eye. He could see blue again but not much else. Thought back to the previous winter. No. I’m not on the crest this time. Notes had been passed back and forth for an hour. He read the scribbling. Didn’t want to but had to. The old man had been firm. He never said it, but it was made convincingly clear. It must end. He had the responsibility. Irritation and confidence gave way to the depressing thought of how it must end. Some will surely come streaming back. They will gaze at him for answers, but he will have none. He was loyal and steadfast. Would do what he was told. Had always done that. Worried what Maria would think had he done otherwise.
The bulldog came back. His thoughts could not dwell on her now. Not on the children. He had lost much already. Would sacrifice more of himself before it was all over. He had never been very religious. The tragedy was too much. The alcohol and evening card games stopped. He thought of them alone. Fending for themselves while he was away. No. It is for them. Or is it? He never gave much thought to it. Loyalties to family and community trumped all else. Whatever beliefs he had, they did not matter much now. Ideas and controversies were to be settled here. Today. Causes were unimportant to him. He acted now as if he were in a mechanized state. All the talk was gone. The image of her was gone, only if temporarily. He turned his head slightly, saw the gold braids flushed against the butternut linen. So many thoughts. He had saw his friend lying on the crude table the prior evening. Not even a table. A makeshift place to lay. The red liquid of life dripped down his arm. Dazed. Rambled words. Broken. It did not end. Maybe this day.
He looked again across the ground. Had heard the deep noise of the hooves hitting the ground. More news. Perhaps it had worked. Maybe he had cleared them out. He could smell the French perfume as another old friend walked closer to him. He had always liked the man. So full of energy. His ringlets of hair were nicely oiled. Well-groomed. The friend was eager. Heard the words. Nothing more could be done. The lines of blue coated the landscape a mile away. They had not gone. Quickly the thoughts turned back to December. His experience of that day had foreshadowed the results of this afternoon. It would not work. Could not. His old friend had pressed him. He was ready. The lines of gray were in perfect order. It was hard to do. He would be responsible for it all.
Replayed it all in his mind. Knew what would happen. His muscles tightened more. The movement was gone. The sounds and shrieks around him faded away. Felt a bit of moisture on the corner of his face. Maybe a tear. He looked down. Thought of how he would have to explain it to his children. How do I explain all of this? How can I convince them that all of this, this day, was necessary. His head dropped heavily. The old friend moved closer. He felt his gentle grasp on his arm. It could not wait another second. Listened as his friend’s voice echoed in his ear. Shall he go in? Shall he end it? Maybe he could still stop it. What would the old man say? No. They had come too far. Made too much progress the past two days. I must do what I’m told.
He tried to open his lips. Tried to voice something but couldn’t. The muscles had become solid. Not afraid for himself. That feeling had gone away long ago. Thought of all the sadness that would come from a few simple words from his mouth. They would affect so many. Households destroyed. Reminded him again of the children, of the scarlet fever. He made another attempt. Could not summon his energy. Did not want to let the call go out from his voice. Thought of the old man again. Do what you have to do. His mind went blank. It all overwhelmed him. He struggled briefly. Slowly moved his head up and down, nodding to his old friend.
James Longstreet had ordered Pickett’s Charge.
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02.21.07
Posted in General at 7:47 pm by brmeyer
It was just not meant to happen. Jess and I had been eagerly planning our Valentine’s Day for more than a week. What was supposed to entail a nice dinner and some time together transformed into just an ordinary day of the week. Snow began falling on February 13 and continued into Valentine’s Day. The storm dumped about seven inches of snow on Pittsburgh over the course of the two days. Snow was not the issue though. Ice coated the sidewalks, roads, and power lines all across the city on Tuesday evening. I am not fortunate enough to work for a company that would cancel the work in such treacherous conditions so after working from home on Tuesday, I braved the weather with my dad who was kind enough to drive me into work on Wednesday. It was quite hazardous. I suppose it could have been much worse as motorists were stranded for twenty hours on I-78 in eastern Pennsylvania. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed. Jess and I were forced to cancel our plans. I was very happy, however, that the company that she works for realized the seriousness of the outside conditions and allowed her to remain safely at home by canceling work. Work is not more important than your health. I’m glad some people still recognize that.
Jess and I postponed our Valentine’s Day celebration until this past Saturday, and still, we could not escape the weather. I took her to a restaurant called Mantini’s Wood Fired which is located on Carson Street in the South Side. The place is very easy to miss as it located among a row of houses. The menu was limited, and Jess felt it was too expensive. I agree, but I do like to spoil her and myself from time to time. She ordered a delicious-looking salad and two sides while I had a New York Strip steak. It was quite a piece of meat, and I was stuffed by the time I was done. We were satisfied with the meal but both felt it was indeed a bit much for what we got in return. When we departed, it was again snowing outside. There was only a dusting of the white stuff, but it was enough to make the roads treacherous. We quickly hurried home and stopped at GetGo in Lawrenceville to get some excellent French Vanilla cappucchino.
After an excellent dinner, Jess and I exchanged some gifts. I bought for her a new Fossil watch and the Sonic Mega Collection Plus game for XBox. She definitely loved that, but she hasn’t given me a chance to play yet! She made for me an awesome basket filled with chocolate, chocolate covered Oreo cookies, the movie Flags of Our Fathers on DVD, and a very special photo album with pictures from our first year spent together. The last gift is definitely the most important to me. She spent a lot of time putting together the pictures along with words explaining what we were doing. It is very special. We toasted with a glass of champagne and ended the night. Though we didn’t get to spend time together on the actual holiday, our Saturday is proof that Valentine’s Day can be claimed any time you spend with your special someone. A holiday is not needed to show him or her respect and adoration. That should be done every day.
I wish I could say that the weekend ended without a hitch. While heading home from Jess’s on Sunday night, I drove my car into a huge pothole on Chartiers Avenue while attempting to avoid another hole. The tire began to go flat, and luckily, I was very close to home. My dad and I took a look at the wheel and determined that I bent the rim. It was a nasty pothole for sure. I’m now waiting for a wheel rim to be sent to me from Michigan. In the meantime, I’m driving the old red 1996 Plymouth Breeze that carried me on so many trips to and from Gettysburg College. That car has more than served its purpose, but I’m thankful to borrow it from my parents so that I can get to and from work each day. I hope that the wheel rim arrives this week so that I can get it put back on my car this weekend. I had anticipated that Punxsutawney Phil was right and that spring would come early this year. However, the combination of snow and ice interfered with my plans and ultimately cost me a wheel. But I am happy to have had a very special Valentine this year.
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02.10.07
Posted in General at 3:07 pm by brmeyer
Another long week has drawn to a close. While work has become more hellish and near unbearable, I often find myself counting down the hours just to reach the weekend. I have chattered on about the immaturity of some people I work with in the past, but it seems to reach new crescendos every week. I admit that I’m not a thick-skinned person. I am sometimes overly sensitive to the things that people say to me or the events going on around me. Things that I cannot do much about - such as Governor Ed Rendell’s plan to raise the sales tax another percentage point - do not bother me as much as those daily activities that I feel I can improve. I will continue to state that I enjoy my job and the work that I do, but I often feel that the environment is detrimental to my health. People tend to make arguments just to create a fuss over things that really should not be issues. It’s a form of showboating to allow themselves to rise to prominence and gain the attention of others when the spotlight has not fallen on them. I suppose it is human nature. I can handle criticism, but there is a way to present that information to effectively reinforce morale while aiding another to improve some technique or way of thinking. Constructive criticism is always desired. Some of the colleagues I work with present their criticism in such a way that I know their suggestions are correct and that they want me to do things better. It doesn’t become a show of power, and I am more than appreciative of that. I try always to be respectful of those who do harshly criticize me for it doesn’t make much sense to make an ordeal out of it. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so in such a critical and often very hostile environment.
On a lighter note, I have continued to enjoy my time with Jess and am thankful that that apsect of my life is improving. I see her on the weekend and make an effort to see her during the week as well. Last Saturday, we went to The Church Brew Works on Liberty Avenue in Lawrenceville for dinner with Jess’s friends Nate and Julie. The Church Brew Works is actually an old church that was converted into a restaurant and bar. I hope it isn’t sacrlegious to go there! Anyhow, It was a good time. We had a southwestern style pizza that is quite spicy. But the highlight of the meal was a caramel appletini that I had. It tasted extremely good. It was very sweet and I could hardly taste the alcohol in it. We later went to Nate and Julie’s place to play Nintendo Wii. I hadn’t looked forward to the introduction of this console, but it was fun. You actually have to physically move your body to play some of the games. It brings a different perspective to playing video games. Now I definitely want one! I need to practice so that I can beat Jess at bowling!
Jess and I also got to hang out on Thursday, and we went to this small Italian restaurant called Piccolo Forno on Butler Street in Lawrenceville. Not being an avid fan of Italian food, I was a bit hesitant to go there. However, we wanted to try something new. We both came away pleased with the quality and taste of the food. We both had salads and paninis. It wasn’t too pricey considering how excellent it tasted! It was a quiet, fun way to nearly end the work week. As always, I’m looking forward to seeing Jess again tonight and am happy that we will get to spend our first Valentine’s Day together next Wednesday. Though my week was tough, she is a constant reminder of the things that are more important in life, and I’m sure glad she is a part of it.
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02.04.07
Posted in Movies at 8:07 pm by brmeyer
Letters from Iwo Jima
IMDB
Year: 2007
Writer: Iris Yamashita and Paul Haggis
Director: Clint Eastwood
Length: 140 min.
Category: War
Media: Film
Rating from : R (Restricted)
Jess and I spent last Saturday evening - the 27th of January - in Bridgeville to view the film Letters from Iwo Jima. Though directed by an American director, Clint Eastwood, the dialogue is entirely in Japanese with English subtitles. It is possible that that is the reason the movie is showing in only two theatres in Pittsburgh. Despite rave reviews from across the nation, it is doubtful that many would have the patience to read the subtitles and attempt to view the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese unless they have some special interest in World War II or the battle itself.
The movie, a companion to the recent movie Flags of Our Fathers which showed the American perspective of the Battle of Iwo Jima, focuses on several common Japanese soldiers and their trials and tribulations from being selected to join the army to avoiding certain death on the island of Iwo Jima. The centerpiece of the story is General Tadamichi Kuribayashi who was personally selected by the Prime Minister of Japan to lead the defense of the island. Having spent a great deal of time in America prior to the war, he gained a respect for the American people and opposed the war itself. He is, however, aware that Iwo Jima will eventually fall to the Americans and attempts to be a stern yet sympathetic commander to soldiers whom he knows are expected to die for the honor of their Emperor. He orders his men to fight to the death but does not encourage seppuku, which is suicide by a soldier to prevent capture by the enemy. The movie depicts at least one instance of seppuku in which soldiers isolated on Mount Suribachi detonate grenades in their torsos similar to the tradition of the samurai who would stab themselves in the stomach to protect their honor. The film minimizes the amount of gore and is light in comparison to Saving Private Ryan.
The true value of the movie comes from the presentation of the Japanese perspective itself. Despite being burdened with the expectation of dying with honor for their country, many of the soldiers clearly want to survive and see their loved ones again. But the principles of their culture will not allow them to do so without sacrificing respect at home. The flashbacks to the soldiers’ lives prior to the war are less distracting and less annoying than in Flags of Our Fathers and provide the realization to the viewer that war is truly hell and that no one really wants to participate. In the end, the battle is fought by the Japanese for honor but is fruitless. America would defeat Japan in less than six months and begin a half-century of alliance and healing.
Five stars for presenting a touching, realistic view of the battle from a new cultural perspective. Eastwood proves again he is an excellent director as he is a legendary actor.
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02.02.07
Posted in General at 10:31 pm by brmeyer
It’s Groundhog Day! Given that it was very cold today and that the city of Pittsburgh got a minor accumulation of snow, it is amazing to me that Punxsutawney Phil - the legendary season prognosticator in the form of a groundhog - did not see his shadow today. That means that spring will come early this year! It was quite a mild start to the winter. Immediately after Christmas when I spent a few days with Jess, coats were not really needed as temperatures climbed to over 60 degrees. Many scientists have blamed it on global warming. However, it’s hard to say that is for certain as temperatures will dip into the single digits this weekend. I sure hope that Phil is right! Of the 112 predictions on record since 1886, the rodent forecaster has predicted an early spring only 14 times, or about 13% of the time.
Phil’s official forecast as read 2/2/07 at 7:28 a.m. at Gobbler’s Knob
(Courtesy: The Official Site of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club)
El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.
Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.
On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?
On Gobbler’s Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way.
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