It is winter and we're on our way to a memorial for my grandfather. The church is small and quiet, but in the front is a balcony that hold yardlong white candles that must be lit by standing on a ladder. I look around and notice some faces from different walks of life; some of which never had anything to do with grandpa. I am quite surprised to see some of the people. They don't normally go to church. I turn my eyes again on the strangely lit front of the church, and on the candles that tower high up there in the front. It must be so difficult to light them.

On the way out we merge with people who are evacuating from several planes who have crashed. Most survived but are walking in a quiet and traumatized manner. They are directed to a place where they are identified and screened before they can move on.

While awake...

Prelude

Students: Children, children,
Future, future.
Milhouse: Are you ready for the...
Students: ...children, whoa whoa whoa!
Lisa: The future is a...
Students: ...coming, hey hey hey!
Children, children,
Future, future
...
Students: Children, children,
Children are the future!
Kids!

The Simpsons Archive

Feature

Going out on a Friday to see Idlewild was not such a bad idea. Icing on the cup cake was to see the oh so handsome David Duchovny. But many audience members probably went home with a sore neck due to serious staring. I think he might have lost weight since I last saw him walk over my yoga mat.

Finnish politics tends to be frustrating to follow what with all those Russian planes violating Finnish air space and all. Instead read this piece about a former minister in Finland. I always thought he was sort of handsome in that impossible way. Perhaps Colin Firth could play him in the movie version...

The End

Homer: [voice on cassette, singing]
I work hard for the money
So hard for the money
Oh, I something, something money,
Come on give me lots of honey.

The Simpsons Archive

While awake...

The very first time I ever flew anywhere I landed on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The island was covered in clouds and the landing strip was notoriously difficult and short with an added bonus of being nestled in a valley and thus creating turbulent and demanding landings. I learned all this after landing but now appreciate and understand why my fellow passengers so gladly drank up the last hour before landing. I also saw the wisdom in using a seatbelt - even the crew made a point of strapping themselves in very tightly so that the belt cut into the stomach and left a nice flap hanging out. I watched the grey fog swish past my window while a feeling of exhilaration and joy worked itself into a mild nervousness - but land met us and I was finally there.

Many years later and for many reasons flying has become an ordeal. I listen to the sound of the engines, register every movement I deem unusual, and worry about the nature of my fellow passengers.

Eventually I will have to fly to the other side of the world.