Soul Men

Hey Gang, My Dad and I went to see “Soul Men” rated R with Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac.  Can you digg it??  The MUSIC was great!  Soul Men was a fictitious story about a 1960 Soul Band starting out in Memphis as children, and later growing up into a great band with Great Sounds, Good Dance Steps and lots of Soul.  After playing together for 30 years, they went their own ways.  Many years later, they got together again to sing for an associates funeral.  The picture takes us on a ride across the country from Los Angeles to The Apollo Theater in Chicago.  The movie is packed with all kinds of good actors like Issac Hayes, Sean Hayes and Jennifer Coolidge to name a few.  As far as I can tell, it seems that both Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac sang their own musical parts.  It was very entertaining. 

I do have to admit that the first half of the picture kind of dragged a bit.  But the second half more than made up for that, with great music and the story line picked up it’s pace a good deal with plenty of cops, bad-assed black folk and the coming together of two old friends who in the beginning hated each other (This was the best part).  When the movie ended you truly felt like dancing in the theater. 

The Reelz Channel gave this movie a 5 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes gave this movie a 44%; I’d like to give the movie a little higher rating, however, I did almost walk out in the beginning as the movie was moving a little slow.  But I am so glad I stuck it out.  The ending was worth it.  I’m going to give this movie 5 out of 10 stars.  I would have probably enjoyed the jokes a lot more if I wasn’t with my Dad.  I was worried, he wouldn’t get the jokes or think them crude.  This is definately a movie that would appeal to the intoxicated or buzzed.  It was a good movie to see with my Dad as he related to a lot of the manly men jokes, the old men jokes, and just the good olde boys jokes in general.  Go see Soul Men, and enjoy a good laugh out loud.

Oh, and the reason I decided to see this movie in the first place was because I wanted to honor the memory of Bernie Mac, a great comedian who passed away this year.  Bernie’s death was unexpected and too soon, as he was only 50 years young.  Bernie never really got the tribute he deserve while he was alive, but knowing Bernie, that’s exactly how he’d want it.   Three cheers Benie Mac, you deserve it.

Movie Day

Hi!  Saw a few movies today.  First I saw “An American Carol” by Dave Zucker which I have no comment about.  I hardly knew what to think about that movie.  I’ll need to see it again before I say anything.  Then I went to see “Eagle Eye” with Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan.  And I must say, this was a good movie.  How do I describe it??  I believe it would fall under the category of Techno Thriller.  The story has been told before.  It was fun and exciting to watch.  Definitely a four out of five stars.  Especially when you figure out who the culprit was in the movie.  Don’t worry, I’m not giving it away.  The most impressive part was my Dad (with Alzheimer’s) was able to follow the movie.  Which is saying quite a lot.  I kept checking Dad through out the movie and he was truly engaged.  If he had not been, we would have left and saw a different film. 

Note:  to my regular readers.  Our latest challenge was in discovering what caused Dad’s blood sugar to spike, was His walking pneumonia.  Now that he’s on the mend.  His blood sugar is much more stable.  Additionally, his doctor instructed us to check his blood sugar in the evening and give him a slow acting insulin at that time as well.  This seems to help quite a bit.  Dad has been holding his own quite a bit more lately.  And those of you who care for people with Alzheimer’s know it is quite a feat for someone with Alzheimer’s to be able to follow a fast action movie. 

Lastly, I also watched “The Brave One” with Jodie Foster on HBO tonight (I know, I’m a movie hound). 

I’m also reading a really good book right now “Edgar Sawtelle” by Dave W. Roblewski.  Just so you know, I do other things than watch good movies. 

” The Brave One” with Jodie Foster was truly intense.  And I would say it’s definitely five out of five stars.  Through out the movie, you find yourself rooting for the vigilante, hoping she gets her guy.  There is a lot of violence in the movie.  The movie is portrayed in New York City. 

Most of all in watching the movie, if you’re someone like me, you wonder how people are able to tolerate the violence in the world today.  The Brave One portrays the world as a dark and dangerous place.  Jodie Foster does an excellent job with her character, and so does Terrence Howard, the detective in the story.

Day four

Dad is starting to relax into his new home at the hospital.  Unfortunately for him, he’ll be returning home tomorrow.  The good news is that he is recovering from pneumonia and that the so called mass that the Doctors feared was a tumor was indeed pneumonia. 

And you can tell from Dad’s face that he’s feeling better too. 

Per Dad’s usual, Dad spent a good part of the Day arguing with me about why he couldn’t just leave the hospital and go home.  Lucky me, the hospital has pay per view movies.  So I used my credit card to order Dad some of his favorite Harry Potter movies.  It’s amazing, he really enjoys those movies and they quiet him right down.  He relaxed the rest of the day.

Alone again, naturally

Now looking back over the years
It’s one of those days where it’s gray outside and it’s raining most of the day.  Dad, DBL and DS went out to breakfast.  I needed my space and stayed in.  Later DBL and DS sister started to reclaim the lawn and made a run to the gym.  Dad was cranky.  I made him lunch and he wasn’t happy with it.  So I offered to take him to see a movie. 

And whatever else that appears
I looked up the top movie this week and it was “Tropic Thunder”.  It was rated R so I thought Dad might enjoy the movie.  We headed out to the Movie theater at the local Shopping Mall.  And wouldn’t you know that it started raining in torrents.  We couldn’t see the road for the rain.  No reason to panic as we were just blocks from the theater.  I turned on my hazards and drove carefully.   The rest of the traffic behaved in the same manner. 

I remember I cried when my father died
Well we arrived at the Theater and I dropped Dad off at the front door.  I begged him to wait for me there and to not wander off.  Usually, he is pretty good about this.  I quickly found a parking space and headed towards the movies.  We purchased the tickets to “Tropic Thunder” and entered the Theater. 

Never wishing to hide the tears
With a movie and a Alzheimer’s Disorder (AD) patient, the primary concern is that a movie might be more confusing than enjoyable.  And I had my concerns that the movie would be too confusing for Dad.  We endured the movie for five (5) or ten (10) minutes and both of us wanted to leave the movie.  Why:  The best way I can explain it is this…Sophomoric humor.  Some things cannot be looked at in the light of comedy without disrespecting some one who deeply deserves our respect for their wounds of war.  I’ve never been able to understand it, nor do I hope to. 

And at sixty-five years old
We left the movie and headed to another show down the aisle, “House Bunny”.  Yes, we’ve seen it before, but to Dad, it would be like the first time.  And since I know he liked it, it was a sure thing.  And Dad did enjoy the movie the second time round.  He laughed at all the raunchy jokes. 

My mother, God rest her soul,
Why is that??  How can someone who forgets where his bedroom is, or how to turn on the lights; know when to laugh at raunchy jokes??  All’s I can gander is that it is a universal thing?  I’m think one of the last faculties that my Dad will lose is what he feels for the opposite sex.  I dunno, I could be wrong. 

Couldn’t understand why the only man
One of my greatest fears is that my Dad will start to think that I’m his former wife Mary Anne.  People say I look a lot like her.  And it’s a well known phenomenon that this kind of thing does happen.  I asked my therapist what I should do to prevent this and she says to keep reminding Dad, who I am.  And so I do this.  But I have my doubts that my therapist really has the end-all solution.  If I head due West all of a sudden with no good bye, you’ll know why…It’s not that I don’t love my Dad, but we all have to draw the line somewhere. 

She had ever loved had been taken
I was just in the kitchen warming-up some left overs for dinner, when I heard Dad’s cell phone ring.  I called out, “Dad answer your phone.”  Dad called back, “which button do I push?”  I call back, “Dad bring me your phone and I’ll show you.”  Dad brings me his TV remote and his land line phone.  Now, let remind you this is not a stupid man.  I’ve noticed that Dad’s memory is slipping somewhat more lately.  When Dad brought me the TV remote, I asked him where his cell phone was.  He didn’t know.  I said, check your pockets.  And he found his cell phone.  I did an immediate call back to my DS #2 in Washington State.  Dad was thrilled to hear from her. 

Leaving her to start with a heart so badly broken
This latest loss of memory really scares me.  I’ve had hospice patients with AD who have lost the ability to speak.  And I wonder how far off Dad is from this stage.  That will be a tough cross to bear.  For Dad and for us. 

Despite encouragement from me
I’ve been meaning to pick up the book “Kitchen Table Wisdom” by Rachel Naomi Remen M.D.  I’ve heard it speaks to the caretaker caring for the person locked inside a body that is unresponsive.  And teaches that there is still a living soul within.   I really want to read this book I think I can learn something from it.

No words were ever spoken
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally

Many Thanks to Gilbert O’Sullivan for the use of his lyrics.

Saturday, in the Park

I think it was the fourth of July
Well, another Saturday.  We started off with a champion’s breakfast at a local diner.  We were all ready to spend the day cleaning, mowing, etc.  Brody and DBL were off to mow right after breakfast.  DS had a pet sitting assignment.  And Dad and I were home.  We were keeping taps on the Tropical depression that was in our back yard.  Earlier we watched many boat owners ride their boats inland as we waited at the bridge for them to pass. 

People dancing, people laughing
All the dogs found their way into my room for fear of a storm.  Maggie hid in my closet.  Hanna trembling leaned on my legs as I worked on my blogs (I was working on making all my post name neutral for the adults in my stories.), Kaitlyn kept trying to chase Cleo out from under my bed.  When a heavy down pour started I called the troops and told them rain was on it’s way.  DBL and Brody hid out in a garage.  DS had her truck. 

A man selling ice cream
All in all the day was uneventful.  Dad even found his way into my room to say he was board.  We watched an HBO movie together “Las Banditas”.  Very entertaining.  The dogs didn’t leave my room until everyone returned home later that afternoon.  Maggie has hip displasia, and needed help to get out of my closet. 

Singing Italian songs
Brody and DBL returned like Champions.  They had conquered the world of growing grass once again.  You know in Florida this is a bigger accomplishment than usual.  In Florida, we’re only days away from becoming a jungle again.  Mother nature hasn’t lost the battle here against human domination.  In Florida, it takes constant attention for continuous reclamation of your lawns. 

Can you dig it, Yes I can
Later in the day, after taking a break we all went to dinner at a local English Pub.  Dad and Brody enjoyed their shepherd’s pie and the rest of us had white fish and chips.  Very good in all.  I bid you all a good day!!

And I’ve been waiting such a long time for Saturday. 

Thanks to Chicago for the use of their Lyrics.

Mamma MIA!

Here I go again.  My, My How can I resist you? 

Dad and I spent the morning cleaning the bedrooms, changing sheets, laundry, etc.  When we were done about 1 pm, we went to see the movie Mamma Mia!  and we really enjoyed it.  The entire audience clapped at the end.  Dad said he liked it!  I was surprised because most of the movies I take him to, he doesn’t like. 

Growing up in my house was a musical affair.  All of us kids played at least two instruments, and we loved Musicals.  We usually memorized all the songs from a musical and sang them together all the time.  Friends would be shocked when they mentioned a song from a broadway hit and we would all break into song, singing it in 4 part harmony ad nauseum.  I think that’s one of the reasons I enjoyed the movie so much.  Pure musical splendor.  Especially if you enjoy the songs from ABBA.  Really good! 

Any while, Dad and I did some shopping after the movie.  And arrived home.  Dad started asking me about a house he purchased in Lombard and if anyone was making a payment on the mortgage there?  I gave Dad a blank look and said, I don’t know anything about the mortgage.  Dad started going through all the drawers in his room looking for the mortgage all the while becoming more irritable. 

I was concerned and gave DS a call.  Even though she was on vacation, she was really available and I told her about Dad’s behavior.  We went down Dad’s list of medications and we realized that I forgot to give Dad his insulin for Diabetes.  DS said that was probably causing the behavior problems.  So I checked his blood sugar and gave Dad the appropriate amount of insulin.  Dad seemed to feel better after that.  Although when chatting with DS on the phone, instead of telling her about a mortgage in Lombard, IL; he said he was selling a cat in Lombard, IL (??).   We watched TV together for a while until it was time to go to bed.  Goodnight.