Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my cherished Chiclets®! How are you? Ready for another plunge into Wisconsin’s winter wonderland? As of this writing, the National Weather Service is calling for a little snow tonight, but 5 to 11 inches tomorrow. Of course, then it’s supposed to get very windy, and then very cold. They say the lake will probably bless us with more snow than those to the west. Well, you don’t live here if you expect tropical breezes in January. I know that some people take frigid dips in lakes for various good causes on New Year’s Day, but I suspect that most of them will be warmly dressed and behind snow blowers or putting their backs to shovels over the next couple of days.

Of course, our tremendous and ecstatic Packers won the game against Arizona. Just like they will this Sunday. Same time, same channel. 1st string, 2nd string, whatever, it doesn’t matter; the Green and Gold will leave the Cardinals in tatters. Look for an exceptionally exciting second half this week, my friends. A little bird told me that special things will happen.

There were no epiphanies or profanities amongst this week’s communiqués.

I’ve been in a bit of a funk since the holidays ended. This always happens. All that hoopla and fuss and stress leading up to the holidays, and then afterwards, the bleak prospect of months more of winter. One of my favorite remedies for winter depression is old comedy movies. Most of you don’t know this, but I’m a Marx Brothers fan. Those silly men and their crazy antics keep me giggling and guffawing. I highly recommend a comedy to combat the blues. You can borrow films from the Racine Public Library for free. You can’t get a better deal than that.

In honor of my comic heroes, I’m going to spotlight a few of their films. First is the famous contract scene from A Night at the Opera:



Next is the renowned mirror sequence from Duck Soup:



Finally, the password scene from Horse Feathers:



Thank you my dear, dear friends for reading my blog. If you have the winter blues, I hope that the Marx Brothers, or someone else, can brighten your day for awhile. You know, that is what we literally need at this time of year: day brightening. We’re fortunate to be alive in an era when so many technological advances exist to protect and distract us from the elements. Or are we?

Please forward your last will and testament to: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Don’t forget Downtown Racine Carves Its Niche this Saturday, January 9, 10 am to 3 pm, featuring ice carvers and their sculptures at various locations in beautiful downtown Racine. At 3 pm, the sculptures will be judged by the glamorous and sophisticated Teresa Dickert, wife of Racine's notorious Mayor John Dickert.

Bundle up for the days ahead, my Irregulars. Take time to take care of yourselves. Read a book. Catch a movie. Watch a play. Swordfish!

5 comments:

kkdither said...

My funk comes before and during the holidays. The commercialism just kills me and the false idols seem to be harder and harder to accept each year.

How has it become that we have to prove our love with the perfect gifts? The more you spend, the more you love? Do we really need all this stuff? The retailers and goods suppliers are shameless in how they take advantage of people.

I'm hoping I'm on the road to defunkification.... whew! Madame, My wish for you is a cleansing comedy marathon.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Ms. kk. I own two collections of Marx Bros movies, so I'm set.

Anonymous said...

KK keep you chin up. The best is out there. You just have to see it for its worth. Right before Christmas, I was up a UW Stevens Point helping my son move out (no he didn't flunk out he transferred to Marquette). While waiting by the car for him to clear his room, I saw a mother and her daughter moving stuff in.(I can never figure out why girls bring 3/4 more stuff than the can fit in a dorm room). Anyhow, they were struggling trying to get as much in one armful as possible. So I went up, picked up a armful of items my self, and stuffed them in my truck and took off....No just kidding. I carrying them into the dorm lobby. I figured that was enough to get them in the door so to speak. The somewhat surprised "Thank you" I got from them in retrospect, was the best Christmas present I gave this year.

kkdither said...

Thanks logjam. I needed to hear that story.

Beejay said...

kk, I received a call from one of my older brothers a couple days after Christmas. I had sent him a picture I had matted and framed.

The picture was of my dad who died over 35 years ago with a partridge he had just shot.(Sorry, no pear tree)

My brother always hunted with his dad. The rest of the frame contained two of my Dad's hunting licenses (my brother collects old hunting licenses). One was for bird/small game and the other for deer.

I couldn't believe how moved he was by this gift. He told me that this is what Christmas is about, family and good memories. Told me where and when the pix was taken, etc. I felt so good...he made my Christmas a little happier...and we both remembered my Dad fondly during that conversation. It was good.