First, don’t forget the free Halloween flash fiction at Jack Wallen — Dark Twisty Fiction. One will be mine.
#4 Daughter, the amazing Sara Marian, was driving and I was trying to take pictures while encouraging her to NOT slow down and NOT lean out of my way while I snapped shots. She’s a quality daughter.
So I have more cockamamie pictures this week.
Arches!
Craftsman! Also: arch, keystone, copings, and li’l roof over the side door.
Nice door with sidelights, nice brickwork and window detail, bonus garage door, but I was TRYING to get the white house next door. Dig that chimney topper!
Thursday doors is under the direction of Dan Antion, photographer extraordinaire and critter daddy. Visit his site, enjoy his wonderful photographs, follow his directions, and enter a world of doors.
A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: The wrong house by mistake.
MA
Dan Antion
October 7, 2021 at 10:13amI love the house where you were trying to get the other door. I’ll take your word for the fact that you were not drinking – sorry, that you weren’t drunk. These are fun doors and I like the presentation.
Marian Allen
October 7, 2021 at 10:44amI had a lot of shots that didn’t turn out because I was snapping and shouting, “Don’t slow down!” Anyone would have thought she was driving a getaway car.
Michael Hodges
October 7, 2021 at 10:14amWriting prompt/romp from me to you: The wrong house on purpose.
Marian Allen
October 7, 2021 at 10:44amLOL!
Anonymous
October 7, 2021 at 10:17amBecause of your prompt (the wrong house, by accident), I wish to share with you one of the most ridiculous, beautiful movies of all time: Ironiya Sud’by, ili S Legkim Parom (Russian film – A Twist of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath).
If subtitles are not a problem for you, or long movies, I highly recommend this exquisite gem. There are some cultural items in it, and should you decide to watch it (truly, a feel-good movie in the heartwarming way Amelie is such a movie), I would be delighted to share a few notes up front so more stuff makes sense.
Marian Allen
October 7, 2021 at 10:45amI don’t know who you are, Anonymous (obvs), but I like the suggestion. I’ll look it up!
Marian Allen
October 7, 2021 at 10:48amIs it a film or a mini-series?
Marian Allen
October 7, 2021 at 10:53amGot it! Found parts one and two on YouTube. Thank you so much for the suggestion!
Michael Hodges
October 7, 2021 at 12:39pmMarian, the comments on the Russian movie were from me. I thought the thing saved my information, but it never seems to without making a full account.
Marian Allen
October 7, 2021 at 1:16pmOh, I’m so sorry! No wonder I have a limited number of comments. Please walk me through what you’re required to do before you can leave a comment. Maybe there’s a setting I can change.
Michael Hodges
October 8, 2021 at 6:55amMarian, the important things to know about the movie (don’t know if/when you might watch it) are these:
After WWII, so many Russian men were killed that well into the 70s (when this film was made) there were about 7 women for every man in Russia. Women were willing to put up with a lot just for the sake of having a man at all in their lives.
Russian cities were devastated, many of them almost completely destroyed; and with the Soviet in power, they were rebuilt efficiently, with a general plan. Streets were laid out with the same names, the same numbers, the same building types, just to “get it done.”
Material goods were lacking in variety under both the devastated country’s aftermath and the new post-war Soviet’s designation of what was necessary versus what was desirable. Furniture was available, in 4-5 practical (and often quite dull) styles. Anything personal was VERY much a personal touch, not available in quantity, usually quite small.
The importance of this is that WHEN the man is heavily intoxicated, and WHEN he says his address to the cabbie in another city ā this address exists in this other city. The likelihood of a key working in the door is POSSIBLE if not probable, and the likelihood of the furniture being nearly identical (let alone identically arranged in an identically-designed apartment) is absolutely, absolutely, absolutely a very real possibility.
For us, Christmas precedes New Year; and while New Year for us is carried out in parties or gatherings of friends, in Russia New Year is the big night, carried out at home with family. This is VERY important in Russian culture, or at least used to be (I haven’t bothered with it in 25 years).
This movie is QUITE LONG, and there are other cultural notes, little things (pit’ nado men’she… men’she nado pit’… nado men’she pit’… pit’ men’she nado) that are quite funny within the language. ALL of these translate as “I need to drink less” and because of Russian grammar can be stated in any order.
For him to be outside trying to keep warm and chanting this to himself is funny and odd, because ON THE STREET Russians can be stoic, austere, even severe. Doing anything at that time to “act the fool” would be horrible conduct out in the open where someone might see you. It’s also hilarious because every single time someone shouts at him while he’s drunk, that’s what they shout at him: “You need to drink less!”
This is especially funny for this fellow because he is a WONDERFUL (if unexciting) little guy who honestly doesn’t enjoy strong drink (a great rarity), whose friends got him drunk, albeit with the best of social intentions, just this once, and look what happens to him! Yet when he states several times that no, he doesn’t like to drink, no one really believes him since post WWII nearly all men bordered on abject alcoholism. Saying he doesn’t drink is like saying “Sure, and neither do fishes.” He very nearly is a wee hobbit of a character.
Pretty much all Russian homes possess musical instruments. This is simply understood, as well as everybody being able to play some. It’s vastly more unusual for someone to NOT be able to play a bit.
And with that, the stage is set for the wrong house, quite by accident.
It really is quite a beautiful story, very silly, very human. The producer, Eldar Ryazanov, was known for popular, emotional films about the things that just might happen to people.during the Soviet era.
Another wonderful film, perhaps dark-seeming by Western standards but really very lovely, is Moskva Slezam Ne Verit’ (Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears) by a different bloke, Menshev, I believe. If you enjoy Ironiya Sud’by, you will likely enjoy the other. And if not, sue me: I’m a sucker for a good love story.
Marian Allen
October 8, 2021 at 10:27amI’m really looking forward to seeing it!
RAAckerman@Cerebrations.biz
October 7, 2021 at 8:28pmBrick houses, wooden doors
circadianreflections
October 8, 2021 at 1:02pmI love the brick, and that second house is lovely!
Prior...
October 11, 2021 at 10:32amHahah – the best part about door photos like this (with some ice house details too) is the memory of being with caught 4!
I have some older posts of mine that bring me back to the days I took the photos when my mother and I were out and about!
So I think there is an energy that status with photos and I hope this one has that lingering impact of you and daughter 4
šŖ+šÆāāļø=š
Marian Allen
October 11, 2021 at 10:46amEverything is special with loved ones. Of all the four girls, #4 is most like me and my late mother, so we sort of speak the same language.
Prior...
October 11, 2021 at 11:43amOh that is even more fun – and love the phrase about not being drunk – hahaha