Consider Anthony Edwards

For younger readers, Anthony Edwards may only be known from ER reruns, and maybe as one of the detectives in the film Zodiac. But for those around my age and older, we know him as one of the iconic sidemen of the 80's. He played second fiddle in two of the defining movies of the decade, and Hollywood history is better for it.

I'd like to start with his role as Nick Bradshaw in Top Gun. Don't remember a Nick Bradshaw? Perhaps not, but I know you remember Goose. There is no movie, nay, no story without Goose. Maverick would have been kicked out of the Navy long before being offered Top Gun were it not for Goose keeping him in check. Yes, Goose participated in the antics, but he never let them get out of control. Whether taking Polaroids of MiG pilots or demonstrating "the finger," Goose knew how to straddle the line without crossing it. Goose was a family man who loved life and son, and always considered them when making decisions. Goose died tragically. He died a death that seemed avoidable had it not been for what appeared to be faulty American military equipment. Maverick was never the same after his death, and neither were we. After all, he was the man who reminded us all Goose is spelled with two o's.

Two years earlier, Edwards' star began its ascent with his role as Gilbert Lowell in Revenge of the Nerds. Up till then, his career was bit parts in movies and some television work. Though Louis Skolnick was the natural leader of the group, Gilbert was a man who stayed true to himself. After all, it was Gilbert who marched down to the homecoming pep rally and demanded his voice be heard. The football team tried to silence Gilbert by tossing him in a fountain, but he would not be denied his right to defend himself and the rest of the Tri-Lambs.

Gilbert's a nerd, and he's pretty proud of it.

A nerd though he may have been, let's remember Gilbert was the first in the house to score a girlfriend, and through Judy and her connection to the Omega Mu's, Lambda Lambda Lambda was able to pull off a stellar party and cement their charter. Gilbert's importance was reinforced when he was nominated by the Tri-Lambs to be president of the Greek Council, and in Revenge of the Nerds II when he appeared to Louis in a vision Jedi-style.

Anthony Edwards played giants among men in two of the most iconic roles in 1980's cinema. We sang with Goose at the piano in Top Gun, and we stood with Gilbert when he challenged the Alpha Beta's in Revenge of the Nerds. It is my hope the younger readers of the blog will take a moment to consider Anthony Edwards. And the older ones, to reconsider him.

Cookie Logic

I honestly cannot think of a cookie I don't like. And if there is one, I haven't come across it yet. There are definitely some I enjoy less than others, but if you put some cookies in front of me, chances are I'll partake. Big or small, soft or hard, chewy or crunchy, me likes cookies.

One of the curious things about cookies is they are difficult to qualify, they cannot be put in a box (actually they can be, but more and more I find they are packaged in bags. Girl Scout cookies - they come in boxes). Are they a dessert, or are they a snack? I think most of us would agree they are a combination of both. They're versatile. What sets cookies apart from other desserts and really elevates them to the summit of Olympus is their portability. Given you're not trekking around with a giant Mrs. Fields cookie, they can easily be placed in a bag(!) and toted around town, around the world, around the solar system. Seriously, who is going to shove a piece of cake or a slice of pie in their pocket? Maybe someone looking for a good time, but probably not too many.

Cookies build bridges and encourage goodwill. How? Simple, people can share cookies. Think about it: you're sitting on the bus and the person next to you whips out that slice of strawberry rhubarb pie he's had crammed in his pocket. Chances are, you're going to politely decline the piece he tears off for you. Now consider this, dude sits down with a bag of Milanos and notices you eyeing them. Understanding the divine nature of sharing food, he offers you one. Tell me you don't get down. Of course you do. Boom, your life just got a little better. Maybe you now have a story to tell about how grandma and grandpa met. Or maybe your bus ride just became a bit more bearable.

Cookies are magical.

Not in a Merlin or Harry Potter way, but in a there's a goddamn Muppet named for them sort of way. Jim Henson was on to something when he dreamed up Monsieur Cookie. Think of the charmed life Cookie Monster leads. His only existential crisis centers around when and where he is going to score his next sweet morsel of baked goodness.

We can all learn something from Cookie.

Prologue

I call it The Hokey Pokey because it's what it's all about.

I would also like to encourage you to put your whole self in and shake it all about.

The fact I have even written this much is a huge step forward for me, and I am happy you are here to participate - not in the writing of course, I did that earlier, but in the stepping. I apologize if the prose is clunky, but I am a bit out of practice. That is the main reason for embarking on this endeavor - I need to write.

Many of you have probably never read anything I have written, and that saddens me. Please don't feel bad, I blame myself. I really haven't written anything of any substance since I graduated college. I cannot promise everything I write in this forum will be substantive, but I hope this proves to be a gateway.

I am going to publish a new post no later than Monday of every week. There are no rules that are going to govern my posts. I'm sure a lot of them will simply be my thoughts and observances on various subjects, but I know there will also be fiction. Probably not entire stories every time, but plenty beginnings, middles, and endings.

This initial post is to welcome you on this magic carpet ride, and to encourage you to participate by posting comments. And once it gets going, I encourage you to share this with people you think will enjoy it. Thanks for coming and remember, this is what it's all about.

PG