That Thing I Said About Zlata Labut...

...yeah, let's strike that.

Last week I noted this was a Czech drama set in a ritzy department store in 1939 - 

- when the Germans invaded Czechoslovakia, with lots of potential for tense, historical drama.

Please to file my remarks under "unrealized potential", as this so-called "tense historical drama" quickly devolved into little more than a predictable soap opera.

Anyone who was 20 years old in Czechoslovakia in 1945 when the war ended would be 100 years old today...and most likely pushing up daisies.

While that may not be optimal (depending on your relationship to God in heaven) on the plus side it means they're not in a position to be insulted by this milquetoast characterization of the Nazi's in 1939.

According to "The Golden Swan" they were little more than a mildly annoying irritation...

...rather than the totalitarian terror they actually were in real life for the countries they invaded.

In The Golden Swan, they drop in occasionally wearing black hats - no, really, that's how you know they're bad guys - they scowl a bit, uttering vague threats like "you have one chance to tell the truth".

Yet anyone detained by the Gestapo always returns a few days later none the worse for wear.

No bruises or broken bones, no missing teeth or fingers.

You'd think they would have at least given them an indian rub, a noogey, or maybe even mussed up their hair a little bit.

But no; it's almost like they visited a spa for a few days.

I can imagine this Cloroxed version of their Nazi jailers tenderly running a brush through their hair, straightening their lapels for them, then giving them a friendly pat and saying, "There we go, we want you to look your best for your friends, don't we?"

It's so silly it's little more than fluff.

But I will admit it's well done fluff - beautiful, period correct art deco sets -

- with polished actors who could be successful anywhere -

- the usual set of beautiful people who are also obviously talented.

However, they definitely should have chosen a different historical setting.

Whitewashing the 20th century's worst psychopaths is not a winning formula.

In lighter fare, you'll be happy to know this has been "The Greatest Weekend In All Of Sports", according to "some".

Ever wonder who "some" is?

Me too, but in this case I can almost agree with them.

Started in Augusta, Georgia in 1934 by Bobby Jones - the only man to ever win a "Grand Slam" - the 4 major tournaments - all in the same calendar year - The Masters has risen to prominence through the decades as THE golf tournament of the year.

By invitation only, it features the best of the best and putting on that Green Jacket...

Palmer-Nicklaus ceremony, 1963

...is one of sports' highest honors.

As a devotee of hickory golf, I don't watch these tournaments for "tips and tricks"; what they do on the links is about as relevant to me as Formula 1 racing is to a Sunday drive in the country.

No, I watch to marvel at how much the game has changed from its origins and of course to admire today's athletes for their incredible skill.

Congrats to Rory McIlroy...

...who won this year's 89th Master's Championship on the 1st hole of a playoff with Justin Rose.

And speaking of hickory golf -

Hey, if you didn't want to talk about it, why'd you bring it up?

- my first tee time of the year is on Friday...calling for thundershowers at the moment, so we'll see if it works.

In a perfect world, I'd pick up where I left off last year.

As I'm sure you recall, <my last round> was nothing worse than a bogey, a first for me.

I'll let you know what kind of world we're living in next week.

It's been awhile since I've reported on...

...my diet.

We're approaching 40 days now - the Biblical time of testing - I started at 211, so how have I done?

Well...today I weighed in at 197.4 lbs.

But yesterday...well yesterday I was 196.4.

That lousy extra pound that showed up on the scale today was NOT my fault.

How could I have known eating a chocolate bar, some corn chips and a microwaveable burrito would pack on another pound?

But it is what it is, so I soldier on.

One thing I've started within the last couple of weeks is adding weights to my Walk Fit routine.

I strap the ankle weights on and hold the 5 lb or 10 lb weights as I go through my routine, and that seems to be improving my overall fitness.

It has also ramped up my appetite which is making the scale a little less friendly lately.

Mr. Mirror tells me I have another 5 lbs or so to go.

But hey, who died and left him in charge?

More to come.

Ok, line up by hat size for 23 Skidoo...and yes, I am implying big heads mean big brains:

#4 son and fam enjoyed spring break in the southland where it's warm.  the blue heron who's photobombing the pic was a little too aggressive whenever they caught a fish.

one of my grandson's with a topsail catfish; I suggested they call it a shark instead since it sounds more dangerous.

a freeloading relative feasting on a carrot

chippy with his mouth full

Karen baked some zuchini/cheese toast, then layered on lettuce, turkey, chicken, avocado, onion and tomato for a delicious sandwich.  that's some of the best eating I've ever enjoyed.

forsythia bush in bloom

Lady Baysweep doing her fountain thing

gotta love hockey players, some of the toughest athletes out there.  and congrats to WMU, national hockey champs, winners of the Frozen Four.

They claim 'round these parts we average 2" of snow in April; so far we have zero, and I'm hoping that's the way it stays.

Either way we'll forge ahead, always remembering:

later, mcm fans...

Our Latest Binge...

...Zlata Labut...The Golden Swan.

It's a Czech production from Walter Presents and tells the story of a ritzy department store in Czechoslovakia in 1939.

Those of you who know some history will immediately grasp the significance of that time frame so the setting is rife with dramatic possibilities.

Those of you who do not know <the history> there - well what the heck?

You think the world came into existence the day you were born?

Right...the bad guys showed up and made life miserable for everyone.

Always interesting to watch dramas from other countries, and this one is well done with high production values.

Worth a look.

It is now actually spring, and once in awhile it almost feels like it outside.

Mother Nature is at least making an effort now and then...

...and I'm getting a few more chances to swing my hickories...

...with varying degrees of success.

Since I've officially booked my 1st tee time at the links where I practice my black arts of hickory golfery, I definitely need to get to the driving range soon.

Can't wait!

Watched a pretty good movie this week from 1936:

This was one of those rushed Holllywood productions designed to cash in on a momentous historical achievement.

Go ahead, ask the question.

"What momentous historical achievement was that?"

Well, since you asked, it was Pan Am's amazing effort to create a sky way across the Pacific Ocean, heretofore known as "the place pilots go to die".

But with the jackhammer personality of Juan Trippe, head of Pan Am, driving the fledgling aviation industry to new frontiers, they unveiled the world's biggest airplane:

The technically advanced, totally luxurious Martin M-130 flying boat.

And in November of 1935 they hopscotched their way across the Pacific Ocean in 6 days, from Alameda, CA all the way to Manila, Philippines, with stops at Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island and Guam in between.

It was a truly amazing accomplishment, and the movie China Clipper chronicled the story, taking the usual Hollywood liberties along the way.

This one is worth your time.

Slow news week, so we're rushing ahead with a very abbreviated 23 Skidoo...

a 1912 Model T...I miss my 1923 flivver

yet another great use for the handy man's helper

pretty start to an April morning...

...but a cold one, just 24 degrees

Some encouragement from God's Word as you fight your way through the jungle this week:

later, mcm fans...

Missed A Week...

...just didn't feel up to it.

But I am truly happy for Ryan, of course.

Peace and happiness may have eluded him during his earthly stay, but they're his in abundance now in heaven.

That joyful truth doesn't shield me from personal regrets, however.

I made too many mistakes, left too much undone and unsaid.

By God's grace he's past all that.

Having laid aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, he's now running with perfect patience the race set before him, looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

And I'm by that mournful day on the calendar for another year; that dark demarcation between then and now.

Time to soldier on.

"Official" Spring sprung last week.  Pretty hard to tell, however, as it snowed that day.

Larry sent me this meme, perfectly illustrating spring here in Michigan:

And I heard on a weather report recently there's still more than 40" of snow on the ground in the U.P.

Thankfully around here we're making some progress in the journey from astronomical to actual spring:

Let's have a round of applause for Miss Daffodil!

She even brought some friends with her...

...at least that's what Karen claims.

Had one of our big windows replaced last week.

Some of these are quite old, and when their seal breaks, condensation gets between the panes and gives them that permanent "hey, are you ever going to wash this window?" look.

It was quite the job getting it out and back in, because after 64 years, things are not necessarily "square" anymore.

Add to that some expected wood rot...

...that needed repair / replacement, and it was a bit of a project.

However, Joe from Excel glass, along with my #2 son and #4 grandson, triumphed in the end:

There is actually glass there, you just can't see it anymore, which fact a bird proved by flying into it shortly after it was installed.

Nice job, gents.  Thank you!

Not too much to report on the hickory golf front.

I hate it when you guys do that

But I did commission a watercolor portrait of my pre-1900 clubs, to wit:

Personally I think the artiste did a credible job, so I broke the bank and commissioned another one:

They look so good I'm almost afraid to use them again.

I said "almost".

Is it that time already?

Let's 23 Skidoo, wildlife edition:

they're early this year...they usually show up when we open the pool

just out for an evening stroll

mom's around somewhere

feeding time

the artiste threw this portrait of Chippy in for free

"The Upper Room Discourse" is recorded in the Gospel of John, chapters 13 through 17.

It's where Jesus and his disciples are observing the Passover, the night before His crucifixion, and He teaches them - and us - many truths about Himself and God's plan for us.

Whenever I think of Ryan's untimely passing, I like to consider the words of Jesus in John 14, verses 1 through 3:

    1    Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.

    2    In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.

    3    And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

later, mcm fans...