The Hollow Men » Nostalgia

“It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all…”

Ned — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:12:32 +0000

She was defiantly independent, unbelievably loyal, tender with our kids, and territorial. She was living proof that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, as she got smarter and smarter the longer she lived, learning to communicate what she wanted more and more efficiently. She hated getting wet. She protected Eliot and Sara from a raging pitbull, and I slept sitting up with her when she couldn’t lie down from the pain of the injuries she had sustained in the fight. When I came home from the vet after learning that she had advanced lymphoma, my family was gone and she licked the tears from my face. The night before last, she couldn’t climb the stairs to go out at night to go to the bathroom, and I carried her up. Later that night, I found she had climbed the stairs to my bedroom to be beside me during a storm. She was a fighter and stubborn, and one of my best friends. Dogs are a marvel. And I miss her very much.

Agnes September 1999 – July 2011

No Horizon: Loggerheads

Ned — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:03:01 +0000

Here’s the first in a series dedicated to the BP spill. This image was created with ink, oil, and water (and Photoshop). The initial splotch was created, incidentally, in a sketchbook given to me by Toby.

Recurring Themes

Ned — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:04:59 +0000

Last night I came home late. Sara informed me the kids were asleep. When I went to kiss them goodnight, Eliot was missing from his bed. I found him in our bed with the reading lamp on and this in his hands.

Something to Look Forward To…

Ned — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:26:50 +0000

None of it feels better than seeing Ian McKellan appear in Gandalf’s seat again.

The trifecta is complete

Tobias — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:50:11 +0000

If you haven’t watched these, I highly recommend. It leans a little crasser than my sense of humor usually does, but in this case I think it’s deserved.

Click on the bearded one to view:

May your Christmas Spirit rival…

Tobias — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:23:46 +0000

…Darth’s:

Merry Christmas to all of my Hollow Souls!

Funny…

Ned — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 16:28:57 +0000

in a sick sort of way… “May the Force be with you”.

Our childhood as fodder for new culture

Tobias — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:41:11 +0000

Bask in the brilliance:

Elvis Ate America

Pete — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:28:22 +0000

"Overman would be proud," I mumbled to myself after hearing the second Elvis song in a row at 8:05 yesterday morning.

Yup, he would be ecstatic that if there was one thing carried over from my high school education, that I could recall Elvis Presley’s birthday with minimal prompting would be it. So I thought about Elvis, quite a bit, in fact. He was hard to escape yesterday, his music on the agency’s sound system all day. I think I may have been growing a bouffant hairdo during this barrage on my sanity.

I also found myself considering Michael Jackson and the similarities between the two. The wealth, the development of alternative realities, the loss of their essence, before dying, in unforeseen, unrespectable drug-induced manners. Ah, the drugs, a symptom I think of the whole loss of reality bit. A way to be in outer space, isolated, and not have to come back down.

I saw a really great PBS program this week- 6 hours of "This Emotional Life", with the net result being: Human Relationships Are THE Most Important variable in mental health and well-being. Elvis and MJ lost this. Their wealth and fame separated themselves out. They became obsessed with themselves, building their realities, suspicious of the intentions of others, partially out of real concerns. Other people want what wealthy people have.

Then a chilling thought occurred to me. Elvis and MJ are a pair of the most recognizable symbols of America to the world. Nay, it is worse, they are icons because they represent America to the world. America is the wealthy, build our own reality rock star whose fame keeps us from being truly aware of the rest of the worlds problems. this has partially been fed by the world’s grandiose view of us.

But now, I really hope at some point soon we develop a grounding, a reconnection, before we end up dried up and deceased of our own over-consumption. The analogy really goes deeper, because there are so many countries/companies willing to continue to to give us our prescription and illicit drugs as long as they can be hangers-on. These were my thoughts on Elvis Presley’s Birthday.

I heard someone say he would have been seventy-five this week.

Resolution Music Thursday

Tobias — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:27:00 +0000

This year, one of my resolutions is to be faithful in contributing to Music Thursday. Like most resolutions, I hope this one isn’t fashioned to be broken.

I’ve been listening to this song by Imogen Heap like crazy for the past couple of weeks. I thought I’d share. On the deluxe version of the album, I really like the instrumental version. It doesn’t have the emotional tenor of the vocal version, but it really converys a mood to me. For some reason this song really makes me think of being in England and living in the 80’s. At the same time. It’s kind of a strange sensation — this song causes two deeply nostalgic periods of my life to overlap that I never would have thought compatible.

I’ll let you listen now….

01 | First Train Home
02 | First Train Home (Instrumental)

A Decade in the Making

Tobias — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:21:23 +0000

Good 2010 to all of my fellow Hollow Souls.

I’ve been in a particularly reflective mood in this New Year, and I want to explore some of those reflective moments with the rest of you, if possible. It’s been a decade since the calendar flipped over to the year 2000, a lot of fears never materialized in flipping over and a lot of fears we never realized we should have materialized in the haze of the past ten years. The more I ponder it, the more I realize we’ve seen a lot.

Over the next couple of weeks, I’d like to post some conversation starters in the articles and have people contribute to the main idea with thoughts of their own.

For this one…I’d like to hear from you all about the things that have happened in the last ten years that have been memorable. They can be significant or trivial, just something worth noting.

Ten years ago, I felt like I had been in Kansas City for ages. Nursing a broken heart made things go unbearably slow, even though I had only been here about ten months. I actually remember wondering on New Year’s Day of 2000 where I would be in 2010, if I’d even be alive to be cognizant of it. Happy to say, I am.

What happened for you in this decade in the making?

Thanksgiving

Shotts — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:35:44 +0000

Oh the long tradition. Much regret we are not gathering together. Many good wishes and gratitude to all of you on this Thanksgiving. A lot to be thankful for this year. A raised glass to you.

Protected: So much (for) gratitude….

Tobias — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:03:21 +0000

Lindsborg Ice Storm

Pete — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:48:48 +0000

Holidays

Shotts — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:31:05 +0000

The holidays are upon us. I hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving next week, wherever you will be. Jen and I will be in the Pacific Northwest from Tuesday through Sunday. So here’s wishing you a good feast to you and yours, from there.

As it happens, I have a fairly grand holiday break set up for myself this year, due to the fact that my class ends the week of December 10, I’m three days a week at Graywolf, and I have saved up vacation days all year, apparently. I will more or less be off of a regular work schedule from December 13 to January 7.

I’m hoping that might mean I can come to Kansas for a few days somewhere in there–either before Christmas or sometime after. I will certainly be in Minnesota roughly December 23-26 for family gatherings here. I thought I would see when others of you might be around the McPherson area during the holidays, to see if I can match my schedule to yours, as it would be great to see you all, in addition to my parents, grandparents, and extended family.

I need to get my air fare set as soon as possible, so let me know what your plans may be. And of course, it’s always interesting to know what all of you are doing for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s…

Thirty-Three

Shotts — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:45:19 +0000

I have been contemplating this place and time in life–being 33. It is an interesting but hard to define stage. I have particularly been trying to explore the concept of the Jesus Year, as Jesus was supposedly 33 for the bulk of his ministry, betrayal, and death. The concept is that by the age of 33, you should have done something big–perhaps not have saved us all from sin and hell, mind you, but something large in terms of a contribution. Do we die a metaphorical death in this year? And if so, what is on the other side? What does it mean to contribute something, and something big or important, by this age? I’ve been trying to think through this a bit, and write about it in some way as a project.

What does the Jesus Year hold for you, and what do you make of this idea generally, and in terms of your own lives?

For me, I’m interested in finding larger struggles beyond myself, and maybe that’s ultimately what one can do that lives up to, in part, the example of Jesus. And yet. Here, this year, I’ve been given everything–a good life, companionship, good work, and even a more flexible schedule so that I can teach this fall (something I’ve wanted for a long time) and so that I can write (something I’ve always wanted). Why does this still seem like it falls short? Why are my struggles still primarily with myself? Is this part of the experience of being 33, as a sort of crossroads year? A year in which I know many of my peers are far more successful in terms of what the culture says is successful? Why is it that I still can’t eat right, exercise right, balance my life? Maybe the Jesus Year is the year we are supposed to compare ourselves to Jesus, yes, but really what we do is compare ourselves to everyone else?

But more generally, does this stage of life have any common or universal traits among the culture at large? Are most people already married? already married and divorced? having children? getting higher promotions? running for office? changing jobs? moving? taking up some cause?

I thought you would all be interested in this, seeing as, for a little while longer, at least, we’re all 33, our high school and college classmates are, most of them, 33, and I suspect several of our friends, cousins, and others around us are 33. And we haven’t had a larger question posed lately, so it seems like a good time. Any thoughts?

Two for 2008

Tobias — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:42:38 +0000

It seems like there’s been a sad chain of obituaries on the blog lately. I’m a little hesitant in the midst of those to post something so frivolous, but it’s an exciting frivolous. At least, I can’t help but get a little giddy about these two news items today.

Click the links below to visit Tob’s excitement:

http://www.indianajones.com/site/index.html
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/ironman/

How’s the Weather?

Ned — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:41:14 +0000

Today in Eau Claire is cool and sunny. One of the first tastes of fall coming on. Eliot had his last day of pre-school soccer camp today (we lost one to zero, though most of the kids didn’t know who won and who lost or what team they were on or which direction to kick the ball)and when he finished his game we log rolled all the way down a huge green hill and then raced to the parking lot, dizzy. I used to do similar activities with friends at KCAI. It’s better than being drunk. I have never felt more happy about nearly puking. There is something about this weather that makes me feel more alive and hopeful than any other kind of weather, even more than spring, I think. Of course, I’m sure we’ll have some more hot days, but what a beauty this is. YYYYAAAAWWWWPPPP!!!!

The Ivory Tower

Shotts — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:41:29 +0000

I’m writing this post from my new office at Macalester College. It feels right now rather incredible to be here, even just for one semester, teaching one class. And it’s exciting and a little daunting to have an office in the department and the building where I used to take classes myself, meet with professors and advisers, and generally skulk. It’s a little like Hagrid finally getting his chance to teach at Hogwarts.

So I’m busy on my Thursdays and Fridays away from Graywolf–preparing my syllabus, creating assignments, and fretting in positive ways about the fall semester. I’m sort of giddy to be back on a campus, right across from the library and chapel, and around some of the bustle that’s already starting to take place. My class doesn’t start until September 10, so luckily I have some time yet. It will be a great experiment to be back in the classroom again, and I’m feeling like it’s a great time to return to it. And with just a one-class appointment, it’s not a huge loss if it all doesn’t go perfectly–so in it’s way, it’s nice to have some pressure off.

Meanwhile, I’m trying to get some writing in and some freelance editing to try to make up some of my reduced salary. This seems like a much healthier schedule for me, and I’m finding myself happier even than I thought I’d be at taking a step back from Graywolf. Here’s to good things ahead.

Indiana Jones IV

Ned — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:07:31 +0000

(Click for a much larger photo)

I would just like to announce to all of you that Indiana Jones is officially underway with Speilberg at the helm and Ford, Connery, and Cate Blanchett along for the ride.

Video after the break.

Oh, and…first.

Video

Tob-sequitur

Tobias — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:30:45 +0000

I declare this the king of Goldberg machines: http://baynhamtyers.com/contraptionII.html

Cocaine + Corn=
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=54522&in_page_id=2

Our childhood dreams are a reality: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/4217989.html

The little red spot: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_article_id=452130&in_page_id=1965

J.E.’s next clock: http://technabob.com/blog/2007/06/18/modern-flip-clock-updates-an-old-standard/

The new Transformers movie is already obsolete: http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/more_than_meets_the_eye

Nature already had it figured out: http://www.sycamorefan.com/fan/feature/features.html

YouTube Friday — The Hollow Men

J.E. — Fri, 25 May 2007 17:41:47 +0000

So here I am at the McPherson Public Library buzzing on coffee from the Main St. Deli. Now seems like an appropriate time to post Marlon Brando reading “The Hollow Men.” Enjoy if you dare.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKuA3iee4-c[/youtube]

Public Service Announcement!

Tobias — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 04:57:49 +0000

I meant to post these before all of your New Year festivities. I fear by forgetting, I’ve done everyone a terrible wrong. I’m surprised they don’t make these articles mandatory reading in schools now-a-days. I posted them here, because you need to know!

Click on the thumbnails to read the full version.

Seriously, I didn’t realize things like this still existed…but when we visited Steph’s grandparents a couple of weeks ago, I found these in their local version of the “Mac Shopper.” Thoughts, reactions, guesses?

2006

Shotts — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 06:54:16 +0000

The last couple of days, I’ve been repairing a hole in our dining room ceiling, sanding, priming, and painting. Meanwhile, I’ve had on Minnesota Public Radio and occasionally CNN. Everything is abuzz with list of “The Top _________ of 2006″ (fill in the blank with “celebrities,” “movies,” “songs,” “albums,” “newsmakers,” and so on). Most of these, I have taken some issue with–either because I find the selections mundane or because I realize I haven’t digested enough of the music, film, and general culture of the year.

But, this leads me to ask: any “tops” of 2006 you’d like to share and comment on here?

Here are a few, from me:

Top novel: Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson (actually out in the U.S. from Graywolf Press in 2007).

Top poetry collection: Averno by Louise Gluck

Top movie: The Prestige

Top documentary: An Inconvenient Truth

Top song: “Hamburg Song” by Keane

Top political event: Democrats regaining Congress in November elections. Rumsfeld “resigns” shortly thereafter.

Top global events: Lack of global resolve over Darfur, Sudan. Continued unavailability of clean water to millions.

Top Minnesota event: The state sends first Islamic member of Congress to Washington in November election.

Top celebrity: Bono

2007

Shotts — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 06:16:18 +0000

And now, looking ahead, it must be asked: what do you foresee in 2007? This can either be predictions of important events or people, or it could take the form of personal New Years resolutions. It’s always such a reflective time. I’m reminded that the month of January comes from Janus, the Roman god of endings and beginnings, with a face looking backward and a face looking forward.

So, looking ahead now, here are a few thoughts and resolutions from me.

In 2007, I expect:

to see Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, and Rudy Guliani in the spotlight for the Presidential elections of 2008, as they all announce their candidacies. (I’m already surprised to see John Edwards announce his candidacy, and so early.)
a withdrawl plan from Iraq.
peacekeeping efforts deployed to Darfur, through a renewed United Nations.
the biggest seller in books, by far, to be the new and final Harry Potter.
the biggest movie, in terms of blockbuster status, to be the new Harry Potter movie.
to be exhausted by Harry Potter by this time next year.
additional evidence for global warming.
one of us to announce a child on the way.

Some of my personal resolutions include:

to eat vegetarian as much as possible, with only occasional fish when eating out.
to eat less, eat more healthy foods, drink less alcohol, and drink more water daily.
to exercise at the Y at least 12 times each month.
to post and comment regularly on the Hollow Men site, including a weekly literary/poetry feature.
to work to organize our house better.
to begin more sustained writing.
to be in better touch with family and friends.

–Shotts