#380

I'm envious of Michael. He plays an instrument and plays it well. The cello. Every time I hear it, his playing sounds more fluid, versatile, crisp. I don't know how to describe music. But I know his confidence as a musician grows every year. Because confidence comes from hard work, practice, getting shit done (in your chosen craft). Amen. Michael's orchestra had a concert a couple Saturdays ago and it was fantastic.

I watch Modern Family with the kids. If you're unfamiliar – because you live on Mars? – Modern Family is a TV show on Earth. It's loaded with goodness, but it isn't light on adult-y stuff either. The characters are vivid, various, and hilarious. And they're uniquely expressive and vulnerable in cutaway scenes where the characters talk directly to the camera; they talk to you, the audience; they open up, explain. They confess. They overshare. Naturally, I love it. Ferris Bueller talked to the camera too, and everyone loves Ferris... the sportos, motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wasteoids, dweebies, dickheads. Ferris was my favorite movie as a teenager. Ferris Bueller's Day Off released in 1986. It isn't super-clean either. But it's pretty great.

Ed Rooney, School Principal: What is so dangerous about a character like Ferris Bueller is he gives good kids bad ideas. Last thing I need at this point in my career is 1,500 Ferris Bueller disciples running around these halls. He jeopardizes my ability to effectively govern this student body.
Grace, School Secretary: He makes you look like an ass, is what he does, Ed.
E: Thank you, Grace, but I think you're wrong.
G: Oh, he's very popular, Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wasteoids, dweebies, dickheads, they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.
E: That is why I need to show these kids that the example he sets is a first-class ticket to nowhere!
G: Oh, Ed, you sounded like Dirty Harry just then.
E: Really? Thanks, Grace.

Jeannie Bueller: In a nutshell, I hate my brother.... 
Druggie at the Police Station: You ought to spend a little more time dealing with yourself, a little less time worrying about what your brother does. That's just an opinion.
J: What are you, a psychiatrist?
D: No.
J: Then why don't you keep your opinions to yourself.
D: There's somebody you should talk to.
J: If you say Ferris Bueller, you lose a testicle. 
D: Oh, you know him?

Ferris Bueller: Never had one lesson!

Ferris Bueller: This is the part where Cameron goes Berserk.

By the way, there's a reason I mentioned Modern Family. Last night during the show, Megan said, "Dad, you are Phil Dunfy." Phil was having an especially bad episode. I was like, really? I felt insulted. Then I felt complimented. Then insulted, then complimented, then offended again. It's probably, exactly, how Phil would respond in a similar situation. Megan watched me process her comment. I was silent but I was reacting – happy, hurt, happy, hurt – and Meg read me and smiled. Busted. Phil is goofy but he's caring, creative, energetic, generally optimistic, and he tries hard to bond with people, especially his kids. Sometimes he's an idiot. Most of the time he's juvenile. Okay. Ouch. Oh well. Someone at work told me I was Phil Dunfy, also. Been called worse. Thank you for the compliment.

I'm closing in on #400. I intend to get there. Maybe then I'll stop. But why can't I always write? Even if I'm a scuffling minor-leaguer. Or little-leaguer. It's fun. Thanks for reading.