"Spanning Jordan's swelling tide"

Sorry, I've been away for a while - I hope to rectify that in another month after I finish processing the rest of the stuff in my garage, which still needs to go into storage.

Today is Mother's Day, and it also marks the 56th anniversary of my Daddy "spanning Jordan's swelling tide" into Heaven.  The phrase comes from his favorite hymn, "Life is Like a Mountain Railway."  My mother told me about it yesterday.  I almost choked up reading the lyrics because he not only lived the song, but he died the song as well, going from his train car into Glory. 

Here's the last stanza and refrain:

Spanning Jordan's swelling tide;
You behold the Union Depot
Into which your train will glide;
There you'll meet the Sup'rintendent,
God the Father, God the Son,
With the hearty, joyous plaudit,
"Weary pilgrim, welcome home."

Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach the blissful shore,
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

More details can be found here with accompanying links (although the character portrait info is no longer viewable).

And someone has done a nice write-up on the hymn here.

Short and sweet...just getting my writing feet wet again...

TARZAN and the Lost Empire (#12) - Edgar Rice Burroughs REDO

 

Two weeks ago, my Tarzan post got flagged for violating Blogger's community guidelines.  I still have no clue as to what triggered it or what the issue appeared to be, despite submitting it for review again (with no follow-up communication).  I originally took out a comment about a font style I didn't like.  And I've just now reduced the book quotes even though the novel is in the public domain.  Anyway, I'm trying again.  Here's hoping it works...because it greatly suppressed my meager, but highly valued page views.

I finished this novel a week ago, and it was another long read, taking just over a month.  However, it wasn't due to disinterest.  Quite the contrary, in fact, I was actually savoring it amidst the busyness of everyday life.  Often, reading a single chapter before bed.

TARZAN and the Lost Empire (#12) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

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One Hulk Clapping - from Fantastic Four #12 to Infernal Hulk #1

Originally on sale 1962-12-11

This week, while on a slightly more than a day trip to Richmond with my youngest daughter, I had the opportunity to finally re-read The Fantastic Four #12 (this time in the foil facsimile edition*).  An outstanding issue by all accounts, but I want to focus on what may be the first instance of the Hulk-Clap...and what it has become today.

*Marvel published the first 12 issues of the FF in this format over the last 12 months in honor of the new movie from last summer.

Let's jump right to a blow-up of the three-panel clap:

The Martian Chronicles Miniseries (1980)

 

Yesterday, I finished watching The Martian Chronicles, a miniseries in three parts that originally aired in late January 1980, less than a month before the original Miracle on Ice.  I was reminded of the series when I was looking up episodes where Roddy McDowell appeared in Fantasy Island (or as Mr. Rourke would say it, "Faan-Ta-see EYE-land").  A search that was prompted by the shock realization that Roku wasn't streaming all the episodes of the series. (They were missing episode 4 from season 1, and had switched the order of 3 and 5.  Their order for UFO was really jumbled a few years ago.)  I realized I had watched some of this when I was 9, but I doubt I got past the first episode back then.  Compared to Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (still in its superior first season) or even Galatica 1980, which premiered the hour before (with flying motorcycles!), The Martian Chronicles had little of the Sci-Fi space action that I was accustomed to since seeing Star Wars a mere three years prior (with The Empire Strikes Back only 4 months away).  Instead, it was atmospheric, philosophical, thought-provoking, and methodical (a bit slow at times) - it's like a mash-up of The Twilight Zone and Space:1999 (first season).  Anyway, I definitely appreciated it more as an adult than as a kid.  Although each viewing left an impression on me.

Imponderable Prompts - Which TV Show from the 70s is Your Favorite? - Part 2

Today, I've "got some 'splanin' to do". Specifically, the process I embarked on the other day to answer the imponderable prompt concerning my favorite TV show from the 70s.  

The aforementioned spreadsheet is still a work in progress somewhat (because I'm a perpetual tweaker [and it's fun]), but it's good enough to start populating some of the fields.  Let's look behind the curtain and delve into the intent behind the design. If you thought my response to my friend's query was overkill, wait to you see the other things I'm compelled to consider...

Imponderable Prompts - Which TV Show from the 70s is Your Favorite? - Part 1

Last night, my friend, John, asked me this question:

I was thinking about TV shows from the 70's lately ... which would be your favorite?

To which I quickly replied:

 A more refined prompt is required...and more time to comply with the request. ; )

Seriously, that's such a loaded question!  Sure, some favorites quickly sprang to mind, but to commit them down as favorites, or even to pick one as "my most favorite" is near impossible.  We've got to have some defined parameters first:  

Having been born in 1970, I've got the whole decade to consider.  And a lot of shows from the 60s were rerun in the 70s, when I first saw them. (Lost in Space) Do I include those for contention?  What about shows that originated in the 60s, but were still running in the 70s? (Dark Shadows) Or ones that started in the 70s that I might have still enjoyed in the 80s? (I'm looking at you, David Banner.) Are we talking childhood favorites, or ones that I discovered later in life?  Do I divide by genre (sitcom, drama, or adventure...)?  What about Saturday morning versus Daytime versus Primetime? Do I include British shows like Doctor Who or The Tomorrow People, etc.?

Whew, this is going to be tough, but a fun challenge nonetheless...