Category: Notes to Readers

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A special place in our hearts for Veterans

Lately, I have been bombarded from all sides with stories and issues for and about our veterans. Have you ever had one of those experiences where something just keeps coming up and you wonder why? Like God keeps kicking you in the butt, and you keep turning around to see what it was? And, you go kicking and screaming, digging in your heels trying to avoid it?

That’s what’s been happening to me lately. I told this story to a new acquaintance recently, someone who works with veterans.

Maybe we should call it synchronicity.

Today, I watched a documentary film, sent to me by this new friend, who is also one of the producers. This film is still moving through my mind and I am processing it. Oh, it’s not a hard film to understand. It’s just one powerful movie. Here’s what I wrote to him.

Bill, I watched your documentary this afternoon on my computer with a set of headphones on. I expected something very moving. I did not expect powerful. I had to pause a couple of times to collect myself. I think the scene that really got to me was Bob telling his story about Vietnam and then he ended … “I came home without a scratch.” Many of us, many of our veterans, our warriors have come home without visible scratches, but carry deep emotional wounds that very few will ever know.

I am going to write about this, perhaps a review, which means I will want to call and talk with you more—an interview.

I will be in touch.–Brent

I plan to follow up on this, and write a review, because if you get a chance to see this movie, this documentary film about warriors returning home, you must go see it.

I’m not giving away any details right now. I’ll be in touch.

Brent

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Finally, a little motorcycle time

The weather in the Midwest has been terrible for motorcycling. A few have ventured out. Today, I managed to get a little seat time taking a break from what else … writing an article about motorcycling.

One of my favorite local roads:

V-Strom-on-Zoar-Rd_27May11

Tomorrow … more of the same.

See you on the highway.

Brent

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A new writing space

There have been two areas in the house where I work, at the kitchen table and downstairs in the cave, where the desktop and all the printers are located. Both of these locations inhibit work, in my opinion. The kitchen area is too close to the refrigerator and there is a TV. The downstairs office has no natural light. It also tends to get a little cluttered.

The obvious solution is to install a desk in the den. We had looked at desks at quite a few furniture and office stores, but found nothing we could both agree on. But a recent trip to Ikea produced a simple inexpensive solution.

Writers-den

It’s a modular desk, and I also bought the little bookshelf in the corner to help tie the room together. Clean and simple. I hung a couple of pieces of my art on the wall—something from my days as the official photographer for the South Bend Silver Hawks. Total cost of desk and small bookcase—$134.

This post, is the first production at the new desk, and there will be more writing from here. The natural light is terrific. It’s a good space. Now, if I can just keep this space from gathering clutter with piles of papers and camera bags.

See you on the highway.

Brent