Solitude

 Severed joy bleeds into red rivers of somber emotions and unfriendlness. Welcome to mass society. The black winter Sky's amisdst the western shores of the globe provide warmth and comfort to my restless soul. Mark Izzy Schurr

Comedy Christmas Reviewed

 "Warning, It's Dirty," is a funny take on infidelity and a Christmas laugh fest from TVs, "Two and a Half Men."

 Uncle Charlie coaches his 15-year-old nephew Jake on how juggle two women and Jake is apprehensive about seeing another girl when his girlfriend is out of town. 

Charlie asks Jake if his life is supposed to stop when his girlfriend is not around, and Jake replies, that's the deal we made.

It's Christmas eve during this episode and even Jake's grandmother encourages Jake to get some out of town strange before his girlfriend returns. Alan, Charlie's brother and Jake's father is against him trying to cheat on his girlfriend, and says relationships are built on mutual trust and respect, and Charlie says to grow up, relationships are built on diamond earrings and viagra Charlie said.

Lucille Ball was not a natural red-head, I'll tell you how I know, but warning, it's dirty Rob Reiner said. The late writer / filmmaker, Reiner adds flair to this classic Christmas episode of "Two and a Half Men." Three and a half stars easy for this Christmas episode.

Mark Izzy Schurr    

Art of Nature III

 The infinite doors of perception amidst the ocean shores fuel's my fascinations. The art of nature is my one true friend that guides me through the colossal chaos of life. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

Picture via Schurr Shot, December 10, Jenner coastline.  

Another Modern Moron Movie Review

The late Canadian comedian John Candy may not have been in a class by himself, but roll-call was short.  

Candy portrays shower curtain ring salesman, Del Griffith, and when he’s asked in the movie how he is doing, Griffith replies; “I’m still a million dollars short of being a millionaire.”

I laugh every time I hear Candy say that line in this holiday classic, and I’m laughing as I type this right now.

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is one of more than 16 Christmas movies I watch every year immediately after Thanksgiving, and this is one of five films I watch multiple times till Christmas day.

Steve Martin is a stressed-out advertising executive who invertedly winds up traveling with Candy from New York to Chicago. Candy is goofy and good hearted while Martin is serious and overly orderly.

John Candy, 1987 

Writer, productor and director John Hughes crafted this comedy, and as advertised, this flick is funny. I laugh out loud every time I view several scenes year after year, and tonight was no different.

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is sentimental without being sappy and displays why John Candy was a viable comedian in the 1980s. Four stars easy for this holiday comedy.

Mark Izzy Schurr

 

Night Nature

 

Dim memories of shared laughter reside amidst the dark shores of sanity. Once again, lady night has caressed me with her black embrace.

Mark Izzy Schurr

Mind Journeys II

 

The mystic powers of unfettered minds sweep into our subconscious sensations while the celestial currents of time preserve cosmic harmony and balance.

Mark Izzy Schurr

Picture via Schurr Shot in Oregon about 50 miles west of Eugune. 

Skill and Lunacy Weaved Well Together

 

If she became queen of Wonderland, she promised herself she wouldn’t become steeped in madness. She refused to be like the rest, who relished the fall of the axe and the rush of red blood from the beheadings of questionable criminals.

Dinah’s father was the king of Wonderland, and she was the cities princess, which caused her emotional pain each time an innocent head rolled off the chopping block for the towns people and their children to witness. Winding tendrils of guilt entered Dinah’s mind.

Colleen Oakes wrote a tantalizing tale of Lewis Carroll’s 1865 “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Many moons ago, and by sheer chance, I acquired book two of this trilogy at the dollar store and read it first. As soon I finished reading “Blood of Wonderland,” I immediately purchased “Queen of Hearts” and “War of the Cards” and none of the books disappointed.

 

Oakes has a great writing style, and the vast array of characters was a bit much at times, but she neatly weaved the story together and she wittingly detailed romance with medieval war violence.

The plot is simple yet complex, and it’s not predictable. By the middle of the second book, “Blood of Wonderland,” I assumed Dinah would become queen of Wonderland, and the man she loved and romanced, Wardley would be her husband and King. Even thinking I had the ending pegged before starting the last book, “War of the Cards,” the characters and the tale seized my senses along with Oakes writing prowess.

Three and half stars is my rating for this fascinating trilogy of Wonderland, and I’m not much of a fan for fantasy books, but I really dug the writing style of Colleen Oakes.

Mark Izzy Schurr