Icewind's Ramblings

There is a funny scene in the Tom Cruise movie, “RiskyBusiness”  where Tom Cruise has his father’s Porsche 928 out for a drive with his “girlfriend” and sinks it in Lake Michigan.   I had an incident Thursday where I felt much the same way as I realized I was not where I thought I was and ended up falling through the ice on an ATV with a passenger, with me.   Well sort of the same way as T.C. minus the girlfriend and the Porsche. It’s quite funny now writing about it but in the darkness, cold, and blizzard conditions it was not.   I would not rank it in the ‘deadly serious’ category as no one was in real danger (or seemed to be) but gives me another reminder that the arctic can be deadly if not prepared or ready for anything. Here’s what happened starting the night before the early morning incident. It was nighttime in Kipnuk Alaska, the coffee pot was almost empty and the conversation between several of us was pretty well finished.   I had arrived earlier...

Everywhere you go . . . even to the mall. And where better to remember shopping than my favorite movie, Christmas Vacation’s shopping scene with Mary. Enjoy! Did a small bit of shopping today and the parking lots were a mess.   Everyone seemed to lose the Christmas spirit as there were many hands and fingers pointed at people trying to find or maneuver for those few shopping spaces. Not fun so glad to be home without all of the chaos of the malls or stores. Ice

It is sad to see so many child stars fall by the wayside. Over the years tragedy or misfortune has struck many of our favorite television child actors.  Oddly often times many if not all cast members find themselves in trouble or have abuse issues whether it is with alcohol or drugs.  Dana Plato died in 1999 and Gary Coleman died last week.  Of the three children on that show Todd Bridges is still around having his own troubles with cocaine addiction and altercations with his former dealer and a tenant which lead to legal troubles. One Day at a Time, Family Affair, Eight is Enough, and Family Ties all had kids who either died before maturity or old age or ran afoul and spent time behind bars . . . sadly not what their bright futures seemed as we watched week after week on the boob tube. Then we have the pathetic case of Lindsey Lohan who in the re-make of The Parent Trap looked so promising as an actress with a star on the rise . . . only to sink into depths of who ...

Have you seen this yet? Ray Stevens . . . still going strong after so many years. You Betcha! Ice

I was a late comer to start watching the television series Lost but once I started it has been a nonstop joy ride.  The show has a huge cast that is driven with multilayered characters and storylines.  It has been entertaining and fascinating watching the different aspects come into play and focus. The pilot episode introduced us to the main group and in later episodes through flashbacks their stories and dramas unfold before us.  It seems every one of the survivors of the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 is indeed “Lost” in their lives.  Over the seasons we watch as each face their particular problem and the metamorphosis that transpires. Terry O’Quinn is one of the main forces on Lost and over the years he has appeared in some of my favorite shows, NCIS, JAG, The West Wing, Alias, Star Trek TNG as well as many movies.  He is always a joy to watch as his characters have varied widely.  On NCIS in the episode called “Enigma” he played a Marine Colonel suf...

Will Rogers Remembered I had meant to post this back in August to commemorate the anniversary of the plane crash which killed Will Rogers and Wiley Post, who was known as one of the best pilots in America .  He gained fame by being the first pilot to fly solo around the world. After Mark Twain died, America found another great humorist, raconteur, story-teller, who tickled the nation’s funny-bone and pricked the collective social conscience at the same time.  Will Rogers made people laugh, think about our social interactions and his musings gave us much to think about. Post asked Rogers to come along on a tour of the great unknown land of Alaska , where Post was trying to map routes for mail planes to Russia .  Ever adventurous, Rogers agreed — he could file his newspaper columns from Alaska by radio and telephone.  On August 15, 1935, their airplane crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska , killing them both. One quote by Rogers has always struck me . ....

I ended up going out of town last week and did not queue this one up to post while I was away so I wanted to get this one out now. My generation is slowly dying off. This has been another hard week to watch or read the news as almost everyday this past week someone from my generation has died.  This summer has seen many deaths from the ‘baby boomer’ generation. It may have come after a bout of cancer, a heart attack, or just a passing of those who brought music, laughter, or a great movie or television role.  It is a constant reminder that life is precious and to not miss out on living it while you can for you never know what changes may come in the future. To some old friends who brought much to this world, we will miss you and your ability to make us laugh, sing, or be absorbed in the drama on the screen before us. Patrick Swayze Henry Gibson Mary Travers This summer could come to be known as the summer when baby boomers began to turn to the obituary...

I first saw the movie The Bucket List while I was on vacation last year in Cancun . I had taken my Netflix movie with me on the plane to watch but instead watched it while everyone slept. There were several things that struck me while watching as both Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman did an ample job developing their characters. Sean Hayes was also good as Edward’s (Nicholson) long suffering assistant. Toward the end of the movie while Carter (Freeman) is back in the hospital after the globe trotting duo had spent several months doing things and striking items off of their “Bucket List” (as in things to do before one kicks the proverbial bucket) I was drawn to a passage by Morgan Freeman. Carter tells Edward this: "My pastor always says our lives are streams flowing into the same river towards whatever heaven lies in the mist beyond the falls. Find the joy in your life, Edward. My dear friend, close your eyes and let the waters take you home [heaven?...

This guy is an idiot! I have not been a big fan of his over the last couple of years after seeing a disappointing remake of an old western “3:10 to Yuma ”. “The Prestige” was another one that while entertaining left me wondering why I spent the time at that movie a totally different reaction than I had enjoying another called, “The Illusionist”. I don't usually criticize anyone but this guy is just a jerk. When I have seen him in interviews he always seems so serious and very standoffish and apparently he's not a joy to work with either. When the director of photography Shane Hurlbut of the upcoming movie T erminator Salvation crossed the set within Bales sight line he ended up getting cussed out with 36 F- Bombs during the 4 minute tirade. The incident took place in July on the set at Kirkland Air Force Base in New Mexico , days before Bale would face assault allegations from his mother and sister in London . Charges were never filed b...

Well after months and months it’s over . . . the ‘change’ is in the air and a night full of celebration is over. I am reminded of a line in one of the best movies about political campaigning, “What do we do now?” Solidly the best movie about a political campaign and the rigors of the campaign trail The Candidate , the charming, unapologetically liberal Robert Redford vehicle from 1972. I was considering writing a post on the ways in which the movie predicted this modern campaign but I was busy and like many of us never got to it. See for yourself . . . The question that ends the segment is the question that ends the movie, and it’s the question that’s before our nation today: What now? When Obama was announced last night even an hour before the polling places closed in Alaska , it was Obama and now his party will finally have to come up with an answer. To its credit, the film doesn’t attempt to provide one and we were left with the promise of John ...

Paul Newman died yesterday at 83, thanks for the work in so many great movies . . . The racing over the years . . . and the countless charity you have given to so many. You will be missed. "Sometimes nothing can be a pretty cool hand." RIP & God speed. Ice