Jeff Lubeck

The Range of the Experience

Today the temperature reached a high of 90.9 degrees fahrenheit at our cabin in Stanley, Idaho. That is fairly warm. The temperature when Linda, I, and the Border Collies left the cabin for our 6 mile hike at 7AM was 35.1 degrees fahrenheit. Today was a Double-Dandy. My buddy Doug Proctor met me upon on our return and he and I repeated the trip. When Doug and I returned the temperature was 87 degrees.

However lets be clear, the 55 degree change in temperature from low-to-high on this day is pretty common in Stanley, Idaho. Given that it is mostly sunny and low in humidity in this region, I love the change. So the good news is that if any of us fall over dead on these hikes – we will not be perspiring.

For 2020 the lowest recorded temperature at the cabin has been -27 degrees, with the highest being +93 degrees. The difference of 120 degrees is common in any year. The lowest recorded I have experienced at the cabin is -31 degrees and highest 97 degrees.

However, it is the 2nd of August and one respite is viewing the wildflowers. Not only do I get to experience the wildflowers on these hikes – I get to experience them in my yard throughout the year.

So, the wildflowers on this post are situated less than two feet from from the cabin deck on August 2nd, 2020.

RIP Wilford Brimley

Richard Farnsworth (left) and Wilford Brimley in The Natural (1984).

Wilford Brimley (WB) was, or so I am told – the same guy in real life as he was on set or in film as the character he played. Brimley 85 years-young died Saturday.

WB’s obituary is [here].

Brimley was as good as it gets when it comes to acting. WB would tell you his success as an actor had nothing to do with his acting ability “cause I can’t act.”

Because I was not a viewer of the T.V. series The Waltons – I had never seen Brimley act prior to the film The China Syndrome. Brimley was superb and effectively stole the ending scene in a film laced with Academy Award Winners.

However, WB caught me by storm in his role as Wells the Acting Attorney General in Absence of Malice. Again, in a scene with multiple Academy Award Winners, WB commands attention like no other.

Then came The Natural and WB’s role as Pop Fisher… I need say no more.

Rest in Peace Wilford Brimley.

RIP ODH

Olivia de Havilland (ODH) has past away at the age of 104 years-young.

ODH’s obituary is here.

ODH and her performance in The Heiress changed how I perceived and followed commercial film. ODH and The Heiress (1949) captured my heart and fragile emotion like no other on my first viewing of the film in 1978. It gave me a means to follow, single out, and celebrate all of the aspects that make the art-form so rewarding to me as a viewer.

The Heiress won four Academy Awards and was nominated for eight. ODH won the AA for Best Actress. The Heiress could\should have won for all eight.

ODH was brilliant in this film as she plays a looked over Dowager who ends up playing everyone for their shortsighted weaknesses.

The Heiress is as good and relevant today as it was when it was made – 50+ years earlier. Oh the staging, the costumes, the storyline, the actors, and the music.

I am listening to Aaron Copland’s score as I write. Just not much better!

Jeff’s Worthless Trivia and Other Thoughts…

Washington Square was written by Henry James in 1880 as a short novel. While popular it has been noted James did not like the work. I read the book in the early 1980’s after seeing the film. Washington Square was created and staged as The Heiress for Broadway in 1947 and won two Tony Awards. The movie is based on the stage play.

The Range of the Experience

RIP Wilford Brimley

RIP ODH

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