Last night I visited with my friends Tom and Judy Cook. Tom is a semi- retired physician in his early 70s. Now that he is semi- retired, he only works 4 days a week practicing medicine, volunteers 40 hours a week, and sits on a medical board. He still hunts, fishes, jogs, works on his 500 acre farm raising and harvesting an acre of flowers, taps 800 trees a year to make maple syrup, cuts 100 cords of wood a year, plants 2000 trees a year, makes cider, reads, sells antiques with his wife,
mows his own lawn, shovels his driveway, spends plenty of time with his grandchildren.
In Tom’s spare time he writes his memoirs. He said they are for his grandchildren only and not to be published. He wants them to know who he is. How lucky are those grandchildren!!!
Tom began writing 25 years ago. A few years ago, wife Judy had all his drafts printed and bound as a surprise gift to Tom. He continues to write.
One of his recent short stories is about a purposeful life. Tom was raised on a farm and trained to be busy at all times; to work and contribute to your family and your community. He remembers how good it felt to try to please your mother and your father by accomplishing tasks around the house and the farm. He knows the satisfaction that results from hard work and being a contributing member to family and society. He is not comfortable doing nothing.
Tom says in today’s life (2010), people are no longer taught how to be responsible for their own actions and how to entertain themselves. They are too dependant on sitting around the computer all day, texting, socializing, watching TV and having a good time but they do not know how to depend on themselves or how to be a contributing member of society. They are also missing the joys of and satisfaction of working hard and reaping the rewards of creating a better life.
In Tom’s days as a child, children were to be seen and not heard. They were to keep their ears and eyes open and learn from the adults.
I agree with Tom. Today far too many people are looking for the government to do everything for them or they are using illegal drugs to escape from life. Children have parents who want to be their “friends”
rather than a real “parent” which means to be an honorable, respected, civilized, trustworthy role model.
People don’t understand why they are not really happy. When you are spoiled, things cannot always go your way; therefore, you will always be irritable at some point. The real answer is to depend on yourself, work hard, be respectful to self and others and enjoy the fruits of your own labor. No one can give you confidence or common sense; it is a by-product that comes from being an honest, trustworthy person who knows how to be a hard working, respectful, civilized law-abiding citizen. Confidence and common sense comes from your own actions not from others.
For their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Tom wrote a story about his wife Judy. What better gift could a wife have than to know how her husband feels about her and their life together for 50 years and to have it in writing? No I didn’t get to read this story……..…it is for the grandchildren. But I do know Judy liked it.
Today, Tom and Judy both gave me permission to use their names.
They also gave me the book to read:
“Stories for My Children & Grandchildren.” by Tom Cook.
I hope one day this will be a published book and you, my
readers, will also be able to read it. We so desperately need
great role models for our young people and. unfortunately,
our politicians and athletes need some good role models too.
I invite you to read our book: “A Year of Good Manners” by
Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk. It will give you a purposeful life
and the reasons to do so. It is easy to hold yourself to a higher
standard when you know how.
Place: Dream Big Dreams,
Hosts: Jim and Jan Polk, (
Margery Sinclair (
Attendees: Linda and Larry Raasch (
IL), Lynn and Duane Chanay (
Elaine and Dave Schuckers (
College
(
Virginia Spencer (
Q&A after
the screening via Speaker Phone from
Writer,
Producer, Director: Justin Eugene Evans
Category:
Drama/Feature/War
Writers: Justin
Eugene Evans and Catherine Doughty
Cast: James Cromwell as Howard Simons
Michael
Scovotti as CIA Agent Robert Harper
Michael
Wincott as Mr. Greenglass
Ross Marquand
as KGB Agent Nikolai Dzerzhinsky
Jan Polk and
Margery Sinclair are great friends and business partners.
As average
movie-goers outside of the filming industry, our group was privileged
to learn
about the behind he scenes activities from Margery and some of Justin’s
ground breaking
tips on how to come in on budget when
making a movie.
Some
interesting information about the movie:
They had over 10,000 applicants
for this
movie including some well know actors.
Justin acquired his set, an
abandoned
prison in
before he even began writing the story line.
He and his
partner wrote each scene as they sat in each location of the prison.
This allowed
them to know exactly how to write the scene and know at the time
if it would
work or not thereby eliminating a lot of expensive retakes. They could actually
see how the
actors would enter, interact, and exit.
Justin
reserved the abandoned prison for 8 weeks knowing it would take 6 weeks to
shoot
the film
allowing for one week set up and one week take down. He stated major motion
picture
houses would reserve such a space for 3 months in order to produce one day of
shooting.
Justin and
his team explored the prison for many months before filming began.
They
discovered all the intricate, secret workings of a prison because one of
his staff
discovered a locked door and picked the lock.
Margery
Sinclair was involved with the project from beginning to
end. She was on set during the filming. One scene shows puddles on the
floor…….Margery
made those puddles! Even though the
prison was
old, and
abandoned, some scenes required being aged even more. Splashed
coffee on the
walls did the trick. When coffee dries,
it looks like rust.
Margery said all the
fake blood tasted like mint. Apparently,
fake blood comes
in many
flavors from bubble gum to peppermint. A
lot of the splattered blood
was added by
computer graphics. The background of
added
computer graphic. The movie is so well
made, these items are not
readily apparent
to average movie goers.
All the foul
language was not in the script but added by the actors.
Keeping in mind this is a movie about CIA, KGB, Guns,
War, Secrets,
Treason,
etc. Justin Eugene Evans says “This is
not a sweet, tender, movie.”
One of the
things I, Jan Polk, especially liked about “
is “Nikolai’s”
humorous handling of the foul language and stating
that “only
American’s use such bad language all the time and it
is
disrespectful.” Right on. We need to be reminded of this more
often than we
are and it didn’t hurt the movie in the least, in fact, I think
it helped.
Margery said
all the buzz at the festivals was everyone wanted to know
where Justin
found a Russian who could speak such good English.
In actuality,
Margery’s Russian friend read the entire script
in English
using her Russian accent. This was given to Ross. Ross
also took
Russian
lessons on his own without being asked to do so. Initiative always pays off.
I think Director Justin Eugene Evans has discovered a
great new actor in
Ross Marquand
and look forward to watching his career as well as
Justin’s.
One more
interesting fact about the premier…and it has nothing to do with
the
movie. The Q&A was via speaker phone
and was hard to understand.
One of the
guests, Dave Schuckers, suggested we put the phone in a deep
ceramic bowl
(that had been used for popcorn).
Amazingly, the transmission
became very
audible and easy to understand. Who
knew? Thanks, Dave!
I invite you to visit the website of the San Diego Film
Festival 2009 to see
a clip of “A Lonely Place For Dying” by Writer/Director Justin Eugene Evans
and Executive
Producer Margery Sinclair.
We wish much
success to Justin Eugene Evans and to my favorite
“Russian”
Ross Marquand.
Margery Sinclair, in addition to being Executive Producer of
A Lonely Place for
Dying, is also author and co-publisher of “A Year of Good Manners”
by Margery
Sinclair and Jan Polk. $27.95 available for purchase at
www.ayearofgoodmanners.com and www.margerysinclair.com and www.janpolk.com
I thought
Margery should have had a copy of “A Year of Good Manners”
laying around
in one of the scenes or in the credits.
She and Justin
said it was
set in 1972 and they wanted to stay true to the set.
I say this is
where “artist’s license” comes in. I
also think this is where
we, as the
public, can have an impact. Write the
various producers/directors of
movies and
tell them you would like to see a copy of
“A Year of Good
Manners”
inconspicuously placed in their movies, credits or outtakes.
Jan Polk’s
Great American Flower Collection (GAFC) floral images in
“A Year of
Good Manners” carries a symbolic message
to treat
yourself with respect. Margery
Sinclair’s words tell you how to
treat others
with respect and the reasons why.
Please let us
know what you think.
One last
interesting tidbit: During production, as an April fool’s day joke,
Margery
Sinclair changed one letter in the title and rewrote the script to be
entirely
opposite of the film “
Place
Can you change
just one
letter and have an entirely new title?
An honorable person who will not
lie, cheat, or steal.
A civilized person who shows
consideration and respect
to him/herself and all other people.
If your valentine is all pretty packaging even
with plenty of money
but none of the above core values of a civilized society, you won’t
be happy for very long. Remember, pretty fades! You can live
with honor, love, respect, and
kindness for a long, long time.
A perfect gift for your valentine would be
for YOU to read
“A Year of Good Manners” by Margery
Sinclair and Jan Polk,
available for purchase for $27.95 at
a bird” as they advertise on their cover.
“Snowbirds collaborate for exhibition in Foley” by Brian
Kelly, PNJ Writer and Photographer is a
three page article in Vol 26,
Issue 4 Feb 12-25, 2010, Pages 5, 6, and 7.
We also are listed on the front page as *Artist Profile: The Three Impressionists of L.A. We invite you to read
the entire article on
www.thepelicanonline.com
The Three Impressionists of L.A. are Jan Polk (www.janpolk.com), Barbara Grey,
and Joanne B. Hall (www.joannebhall.com).
If you know our work or have seen our current February show
“Alabama Connections” at
we invite you to go to the Pensacola
News Journal website, read our article, and leave a comment about our show:
You still have time to see the show. It is up till February 27, 2010 at
Foley Al. 36535 Hours: M-F 10-4; Sat 11-2 p.m.
Read our bios at: www.foleyartcenter.com under featured
artists.
Jan Polk, Barbara Grey, and Joanne B. Hall would have
understood why
no one would come out on such an unpleasant evening. The Three
Impressionists were delighted to be greeted by 40 friends
and new
acquaintances who ventured out to see their show “Alabama
Connections”
at the
I would like to thank
all my
to
get to the show. You
are dear friends and I appreciate your support.
Jan
Jan Polk, Barbara Grey, and Joanne B. Hall are the featured artists for the month of February, 2010,
in the main gallery at Foley Performing Arts Association.
We invite you to come meet the artists tonight, February 4 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Jan Polk will also autograph
copies of “A Year of Good Manners” by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk, $27.95
Our show “Alabama Connections”
features over 60 original, fine art, plein air (in the open air) oil paintings from Baldwin County and Beyond.
You may have seen
the three artists out painting on locations throughout lower Alabama. Most recently they have been to the historic
Swift-Coles home from the mid 1880s and Safe Harbor Seafood as well as Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore, AL.
Note cards by the artists will also be available.
The show is at the Foley Art Center,116 W. Laurel Street, Foley, AL. 36535
Hours: M-F 10 - 4 p.m. Sat 11 - 2 p.m.
You will be delighted to see this show.
Artist bios are on the Foley Art Center Website.
Please let us know how you liked the show.
Another cyber bullying case ends in a child
taking her own life. Why? Kids, in fact we all,
adults as well, seem to know how to be mean.
It must be a gene for self-preservation. That doesn’t
excuse the behavior or make it ok.
In a civilized society, however, we must be TAUGHT how
to get along, respect each other, and work together for
the good of the whole society.
Nothing says we have to like each other. If you are
a Christian, we are commanded to love one another
but that still doesn’t say you have to like them.
It is a parent’s civic duty to teach civilized behavior to
their child.
It is a child’s civic duty to learn civilized behavior.
A child’s life is not all fun and games with no responsibilities.
A child’s job is to learn how to become an adult in training
for adulthood with the ability to control their own life after
the age of 21. As a parent you must model this behavior for your
child. All adults are role models for children. There are
always consequences for any behavior. Sometimes good,
sometimes bad, but always consequences.
An honorable, civilized person who is willing to work
hard, should be highly regarded. Instead, in today’s
world the emphasis appears to be placed on good looks,
how sexy you are, and what money can buy. The media
never conveys the consequences of these actions. There are
still consequences for all actions.
We need to get back to the core values of our society,
the values that made America the greatest and strongest
nation on earth. No one gave us this title, we earned it and we
worked hard for it and we fought for it. We The
(Honorable) People and our Elected Government
Officials worked together for the good of all
free people.
Who is responsible for bullying? A child over the age
of 12 is old enough to be responsible for their own
actions. They are old enough to know right from
wrong. There should be some personal consequences
for their actions…good or bad.
The parent of an underaged bully are also responsible. The trouble
is the bully usually learns the behavior from ones
own parent. All adults over the age of 18 have a civic duty
to behave in a civilized manner and to protect children.
Children over the age of 18 have a civic duty to learn civilized
behavior on their own if they were not fortunate enough to have
parents teach them this information.
It amazes me how many people refuse to believe how powerful
respect and manners, the core values of our society, are. Respect
and manners are not just for the hoity toity. They are for everyone
of every economic level in our society. They are the first tools that
should be learned by everyone. We all want to be treated
with respect. It is our common bond. When you know what is
expected of you and why, it becomes much easier to disregard the
taunts of bullies. It is easier to not give the bully any credence.
All civilized people should come to the aid of a fellow citizen who
is being bullied. Just stand behind a bullied person to let the bullies
know they are out of line.
And why dose everyone think there are no rules on the internet just
because it is a new medium? If it is has anything to do with another
human being, all rules of civilized behavior are to be expected to be used.
They apply equally to children, men and women.
We all have a civic duty to behave in an honorable, civilized, law abiding
manner.
The information in our book “A Year of Good Manners” by Margery Sinclair
and Jan Polk, $27.95, gives you all the information you need to develop into
an honorable, self-confident, likeable person with common sense. This book
will help you develop skills that will set you apart from the immoral, untrained,
and uncivilized. These are the most basic skills needed to navigate your family,
school, social and business lives.
The government cannot do it for you. You must be take responsibility for your own
life and for your children. It is easy to hold yourself to a higher standard when you
know how and why. In addition, Margery Sinclair says “Good Mannners are Good
Business.”
If you need a gift for a special teacher, we recommend giving a copy of
“A Year of Good Manners.” Teachers can never have too many copies.
They will have them to give to children who need special guidance.
One thing that makes one feel better is to know someone respects you and
wants to help you
I am not writing about bullying to sell books. I am writing to offer a solution
to a bullying problem.. The government cannot do this for us or it would have
been done years ago. Bullying is a people problem with a people solution.
Teachers are closest to bullying in schools. Parents are the next closest.
On their salaries, teachers cannot afford to buy this book for every child that
needs it. Please help them out.
Buy one book for yourself and one book for a teacher.
If you are being bullied, please read this book.
www.ayearofgoodmanners.com $27.95 purchase your copy here