haines his way

09/30/2003:
"SKIMMING THE LAST OF SEPTEMBER"

Well, dear readers, here we are on the last day of September. My Jeepers Creepers CDs arrived yesterday and I must say it’s quite a handsome package. Richard Valley tells me that orders are shipping and all of you who preordered should have theirs very soon. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Today I am meeting up with Guy Haines who will be recording vocals for most of the Kritzerland CD. When we finish today there will be two songs left to do and we’re hoping to do them within the next two weeks and then get this fershluganah CD out to those who bought their copy of Kritzerland here at haineshisway.com. I’m determined that we will do the Kritzer Time CD way in advance so that I have them in hand to ship with the book come next April (or perhaps sooner, I haven’t worked out the exact publication date yet). I am not printing up a huge quantity of Kritzerland CDs – I’m basically printing up enough to cover the orders I’ve had, so if you haven’t ordered the book and are intending to, the next couple of weeks would probably be a good time.
Last night I watched Mr. Howard Hawks’ version of Scarface, which is quite a good little film, featuring quite a good performance from Mr. Paul Muni. It’s interesting to note how much Oliver Stone kept from the original. This DVD is only available as part of the gift box set, the big black case version which is quite spiffy if I do say so myself which I do. I also began watching the divoonly strang Macao, a film sort-of directed by Josef von Sternberg (his footage is umistakable). Mr. von Sternberg apparently got along with no one and was replaced by Mr. Nicholas Ray. It’s short, it’s got great things in it and how can you fail when you’ve got Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, William Bendix, Thomas Gomez and Gloria Grahame. You can’t. Especially when Miss Russell croons One for my Baby. There are also a couple of Jule Styne songs hovering around.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because soon I must go to record those pesky vocals.

Remember, there’s a new entry to Juliana’s Journal and there’s a fun new radio show up, so check them out. Someone asked if our Unseemly Live Chats will go back to alternating between Sundays and Mondays. Why not? So, our next chat will be next Monday. I’ll remind you.
Certain dear readers have admitted that they occasionally skim part of these here notes. So, I’m going to skim part of this paragraph, hence you’ll be able to skim it, too. We must all skim together, in my opinion (IMO, in Internet lingo). So, even though there are words to be read in this here paragraph, please skim them. When properly skimmed this paragraph should read like this: Certain occasionally skim it properly.
There, we have had our first official skimmed paragraph and I, for one, enjoyed skimming it very much. Ted Chapin’s new book on Follies comes out today and I’m going to try to pick up a copy this morning if any bookstores around me actually have the thing. I like Mr. Chapin very much and I’m sure his book will make fun and excellent reading.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must record vocals, I must proof, I must buy a book and above all I must skim. Today’s topic of discussion: Since I see very few new motion pictures, let’s have a report on the ones you’ve seen most recently. Tell us which you recommend and which we should stay away from. In short, the good, the bad, and the ugly of your recent movie visits. Now, let’s have loads of lovely posts on this loaded lovely last day of September.

Replies: 139 Unseemly Comments

HAH! TCB - I beat you to first post!
Posted by Emily @ 09/30/2003 08:47 AM PST

*first post dance*
(Twice in a row!?! This is fabulous!)
Posted by Emily @ 09/30/2003 08:48 AM PST

THE TAILS OF BONNIE AND CLYDE, Chapter V.
A Reminder: If you have missed chapters of these tails, the Unseemly Archive is available 24 hours a day to help you remedy the unseemly situation. Thank-you.
The first thing I was aware of on Thursday morning was a paw pushing solidly down on my bladder. This was followed by a cold, damp nose sniffing my still closed eyes, and a tongue washing my right ear. “Good morning, Clyde,” I managed as a greeting when I was able to figure out who was my alarm clock for the day. Clyde and Bonnie had spent the night outside, since der Brucer and I hadn’t yet figured out any other way to keep Bonnie and Marty from mating while we slept. That our two guests were now back inside meant that der Brucer must have let Marty and Mikey outside. I obviously wasn’t going to get to sleep in.
Der Brucer had come to one decision during the night, and that was that Bonnie needed a diaper. “Right now, her biggest problem is Marty. She won’t be safe unless she’s wearing a chastity belt, which is what a diaper should do. That, and a diaper will keep any, um, seepage from…seeping.” I flashed back to the animated sex education films I had seen during my days at John Muir Junior High, in particular the time the boy’s sex-ed class had “accidentally” seen the film made for girls. To this day, that film has provided me with the bulk of my knowledge of female anatomy. It also explains why I usually associate such matters with cute bunnies and fauns. Der Brucer’s solution to our problem made sense, and we had other shopping planned already, so a little before noon we made sure that our regular threesome were back inside and that our two guests were back outside, and hopped into our car. There were errands to be run.
“I was checking on line,” der Brucer told me while he drove, “and apparently female dogs can have their first heat when they’re as young as six months. They usually go through mood swings, getting temperamental, testy, anxious, that sort of thing.”
“So there’s an actual reason for the word ‘bitch’ having those connotations, it’s not just men being nasty to women,” I concluded. Der Brucer grunted his agreement. The description certainly fit Bonnie’s behavior from that morning. She had snapped at Marty several times, and at Clyde as well. She had also tried to mount Mikey, which made no sense at all, although Mikey had loved getting the attention. Fortunately, she was leaving Kelsey alone.
The pet supply store had a variety of canine diapers available. It was as if we had stepped into a branch of Frederick’s of Doggywood. Some had plastic linings. Some were 100% cotton. Some had frilly stuff around the hole where the dog’s tail could stick through. Most also came with sanitary pads “for the Dog in Season,” which made me think of dogs going up and down a runway, modeling the new season’s fashions. There was one style that I honestly couldn’t figure out how to hook together, and reminded me more of a harness that a guy could wear to a gay leather bar than a protective garment. All had Velcro closures, which really is the miracle fastener of the age.
We settled on a model that was simple cotton, with pads, that looked a lot like the topless bathing suits Rudy Gernreich designed in the ‘60s. It looked like it would be comfortable and do the job required, which was all we needed, but something in the design of this and the other diapers bothered me. “What is Bonnie supposed to do if she has to pee? I mean, we can’t count on being there to help her take it off every time. She wouldn’t even know how to ask us for help. And I can’t imagine she’d like running around in a wet diaper. And if we rinse out the diaper and throw it into the drier, that’s a half hour or so that she’s uncovered again, which leaves us back where we started.”
Der Brucer hesitated for a moment. “We’d better get two.”
Posted by S. Woody White @ 09/30/2003 08:57 AM PST

Now for something that's not be gloating and dancing... (although it is soooo much fun!)
I am going to use mini post-chapter-headers so that all of you can skim my notes as you feel fit to. :)
Introduction
Good morning to all DRs and BK!
Computer Update:
My computer from Dell is somewhere in transit over or on (do they fly it or train it?) your fine country. All you Yankee Hainsies and Kimlets (or is that Giblets?) wave to my computer as it passes by, please!
It will be here sometime between tomorrow and friday. Today I go to WalMart to buy a desk to put my new 'puter on.
I swear - I think I know what it's like to prepare a nursery for a new baby now :)
The big question that remains is whether the console will be the old school white/beige or sleek and sexy black. Hmmm... I'm pushing for black, but my white cd burner (which I'm transfering to the new tower) will look awfully out of place on it. Can you paint a cd burner so that it will match? ;)
Work/Poutine Update:
I got home from work yesterday at 11:45pm after leaving for school at 7:00 am. I have no life. I think I should schedule a nervous breakdown sometime around next week.
If it's any consolation my boss once again took pity on me and bought me a poutine from the hotdogerie across the street. It was yummy - although I think the job is getting REALLY bad for my health.
The Question of the Day:
The last movie that I saw in theatres was 9'11''01 aka THE SEPTEMBER 11TH MOVIE. It was fairly interesting in sections and downright awful in others. The last clip is the WORST possible finale to the movie possible. Sean Penn did an okay job as did the director from Burkina Faso.
The Israeli clip was simply a woman television reporter yelling for 9 minutes straight about how she needed to film a suicide bombing in Jerusalem but wasn't getting airtime because of the American attacks. She got so annoying that any possible message hidden away in it was lost.
There's that then. I'll check in later :)
Posted by Emily @ 09/30/2003 08:59 AM PST

For those who missed this morning's late posts to yesterday's notes...
Sarah -
Thank you for the compliment yesterday. It's DRs like you that keep me posting as opposed to several other DRs who seem to take offense with almost everything I say.
* * * * *
Regarding today's topic, we rarely go to new movies. 99% of what Hollywood is making just doesn't appeal to us. The last "Hollywood" film we saw was CHICAGO and the three or four films we have seen since were either foreign or indys. When I go to a theatre and see a poster for a remake of "Cheaper By The Dozen" with Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt in the roles imortalized by Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, then I know Hollywood is not making films for me.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/30/2003 09:01 AM PST

Oh my....I had to go back and read the notes I skimmed to make sure I didn't miss anything. Or is that what "skimming' means. I don't know. I will have to go back.
Turn back, turn back, oh, time, in your flight.
There. Nope I didn't miss a thing.
I don't go to many movies. I love the movies, but I hate the audiences that attend them. This is of course a general statement because I myself am that audience, but I don't hate myself because I try to behave myself in the movie house.
ANYWAY...last movie I saw was SEABISCUIT, which I must recommend because it is about horses and I love horses, it has Tobey McGuire in it and he was very good...everyone was very good in fact. The music was very good. Before that CHICAGO which has been discussed muchly around here, but I enjoyed it on the big screen.
I also saw THE MIGHTY WIND which I liked as well. Not as much as BEST IN SHOW, but it was okay...with some very funny moments.
I am going to take my life into my hands and go out this weekend to see UNDER THE TUSCANY SUN because I love Italy and I love Diane Lane....
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 09:01 AM PST

I found out this morning I have been laid off from my job. Boo, hiss. But thanks to DR Sarah I am enjoying Sutton Foster singing "On My Own" and it is cheering me up..
The best motion picture I have seen recently (maybe all year) is Lost in Translation, with the superb Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson. I loved the characters, the performances, and the riffing on how bizarre Japanese culture can be. I highly recommend it.
I also had a chance to attend a screening of Duplex, which I thought was dreadful. It's not worth the price of admission, though Harvey Fierstein is funny as always in his brief role.
DR Jason, you guessed my age correctly - I am indeed 26.
Posted by LC @ 09/30/2003 09:04 AM PST

Oh no, WEL - I hadn't seen that poster...oh no, oh no!
Why? Even now, when one mentions FATHER OF THE BRIDE we hear, oh,yes the Steve Martin movie. NO NO NO...the Spencer Tracy movie.
And now...and now...CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN...oh yes, the Steve Martin movie.
I am going to be sick.
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 09:05 AM PST

Emily, have you ever considered "therapy"? : )
I know I'm glad to see that BK is getting out of his house today.
Anyone notice that while he was sitting at home proofing all day (like so much yeast), he was also very bitch....errr...ummm...testy (yes, that's it, "testy") about the number of posts and how much time elapsed between them.
We did hit the 137-post mark, which is a-m-a-z-i-n-g given the slow start.
I ordered my "Jeepers Creepers" CD yesterday, so my Monday was somewhat redeemed.
(It's tough following part V of the "Tails of Bonnie and Clyde," but whatchagonnado???)
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/30/2003 09:08 AM PST

Jrand52 asked yesterday:
Jennifer - are you watching THEY HATED IT - Trading Spaces this evening?
Well of course! Actually I just watched the last 5 minutes of each show (since I'd already seen them). I wish they always showed reactions. The show would be even better!
I will say this though, they sort of misrepresented the "I hated it" episodes. Really it was just a 3 minute chat at the end of the show. The commercials made it seem like it would be more. But I knew better!
The one I don't get is that stupid "brown woman". That room Laurie designed was beautiful. It was amazing. And for that woman to be so obnoxious. I just couldn't believe it. Hmmm, if she didn't end up changing the room, then she must not have hated it that much! Although if she really hated brown, maybe Laurie and the home owners could have gone and changed the paint to a different color. I think the room could have worked with another color.
Next sunday is Trading Spaces $100, 000 (where they have that much money instead of $1000). I cannot wait for that one!
Posted by Jennifer @ 09/30/2003 09:08 AM PST

Jrand53, I also saw Under the Tuscan Sun and thought the best thing about the movie was Diane Lane. And the fantastic scenery. :)
Emily, I agree with you about the September 11 movie. I thought the segments from France, Burkina Faso, England, and Mexico (I hope I got all those right) were the best and most affecting.
Posted by LC @ 09/30/2003 09:09 AM PST

Bruce - you just joined the 700 club!
That's right.. this is notes # 700
woohoo Let's party!
Posted by Craig @ 09/30/2003 09:19 AM PST

Thought I'd chime in, since I've been kind of quiet around here lately.
I'm not a "pet" person, so I didn't have much to contribute to yesterday's discussion. I come by my dislike of pets honestly, though. When I was growing up, there was never a shortage of cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils *insert your own joke here*, fish, rabbits, etc. After twenty years of living in such a zoo, I craved a life free from such madness. When I got married, my wife and I agreed "no pets". Well, that lasted about two months. I could see that she missed her two Siamese cats from home, so we went out and bought one of our own. We still have her. Her name is Kimba, as in "the white lion". NOT Simba, as in "the lion king". She will be twelve next month.
For those of you doing the math at home...yes, our 12th wedding anniversary was last month. Belated cards, flowers and gifts will still be accepted. ;-)
Went out on Saturday night and caught a local production of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. Cute show, with a quite talented cast. I had gone out with three of my best male friends and we all joked that our "boys night out" was spent watching a children's musical. We're such a bunch of hooligans! ;-)
May be seeing a local production of ROCKY HORROR SHOW this weekend. Their marketing makes the show look pretty good. I'll post my thoughts, if I see it.
Later this month, I will be seeing THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, and hopefully meeting the lovely Juliana. I'm looking forward to it.
re: today's topic....I don't like to go to the movie "theatre" (cineplex is a more appropriate term, since there are very few movie houses that resemble theatres anymore). I find that the noxious fumes of the food being served - particularly the odour of the *ahem* "butter" on the popcorn - literally makes me nauseous. I prefer to rent films on DVD. That way, not only can I skip the previews if I wish, I can enjoy the film in the comfort of my own home, with the company of my choosing, and even have the added bonus features to peruse.
With all of that said, I can't remember the last movie I rented that I really enjoyed. Maybe "The Hours"? "Far From Heaven"? "The Importance of Being Earnest"?
Posted by Dave @ 09/30/2003 09:22 AM PST

Thanks SWW for the latest chapter on Bonnie and Clyde, although I got a little worried when you started to explain about the frilly stuff around the hole. Too much information!
BK -- I am glad you brought up the subject of Guy Haines. I have been meaning to ask you: What is your opinion of Guy Haines, the man and the artist?
Latest movie? I hate to say it, but I very rarely go to a theater to see a film. In fact, I have only gone to see a movie twice in the past ten years. I seem to have developed a relatively mild case (so far) of agoraphophia. Which is not to be confused with angora-phobia (which is a fear of Ed Wood). Fortunately, it, so far, hasn't affected me when I am onstage acting.
Posted by TCB @ 09/30/2003 09:28 AM PST

Isn't it cute? Emily is "nesting"...
I think I will beat Sarah to the punch with today's "compliment of the day", which I think should go to Sarah herself.
Sarah never fails to bring a smile to my face as I read her posts. Her youthful enthusiasm is contagious, and she never misses an opportunity to lift the spirits of others. She makes me wish I was sixteen again. ;-)
Swish on , girl!
Posted by Dave @ 09/30/2003 09:29 AM PST

DR SWW: I am enjoying your tale of Bonnie and Clyde and looking forward to future chapter(s.) Some years ago my then-partner and I adopted a dog from the Long Beach shelter. It's a long story, but he was an adorable buff (as in color, not muscles) cocker spaniel puppy with only one eye. We called him Winky. The ex got him in the settlement, and I kept the our other two cockers, who are black. The elder is Roller (AKC name is High Roller) and the younger is his offspring. We call him Blackjack.
DR LC: Now you join the ranks of the unemployed who are regulars at HHW.com. (Namely me!)
Posted by Jay @ 09/30/2003 09:33 AM PST

Post #700! This is a big occassion indeed *starts boogeying down*
Happy belated anniversary to you and your wife, Dave!
Sorry to hear about your job, LC! I'm sure something else will come your way soon!
BK--I too really want to read the new Follies book! See, I actually read the notes, hehe!
The last movie I saw in an actual theatre was Underworld, which I don't really recommend. It wasn't too bad for a film of that genre, but I only really went because my friends dragged me. I would much rather have seen something like Under the Tuscan Sun, Thirteen, Anything Else (a bad Woody Allen is better than no Woody Allen), or Lost in Translation, which sounds freakin' incredible.
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 09:33 AM PST

Yes, SWW - getting two is the answer, or using disposables, as I am sure you have discovered.
Thanks for the TUSCANY report, LC, for the TUSCAN report. I will go see it.... Diane Lane AND Italy. The only better combination was Troy and Suzanne and Italy in ROME ADVENTURE! And that has been a...ahem...few years ago! OMG...41 years ago!!!
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 09:34 AM PST

TCB--you nearly made me spit out my Gatorade with that Angora-phobe comment, haha!
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 09:35 AM PST

Oh, oh! Question for DRs! Has anyone ever been to Italy?? I've never been out of the country even, so I'd love to hear about the travel experiences of others!
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 09:36 AM PST

Three cheers for the super sweet Sarah and her compliment of the day!
Three more cheers to DR Reader (even lurkers are Dear to us at HHW) Jeffrey Bledsoe for making my day oh so fabulous.
I came home yestereve at the aforementioned unGodly hour to find a package from uber dear Jeff on my doorstep containing... drumroll please...
1) a tape of Broadway on Broadway
2) a cd containing JRB's music from Urban Cowboy
Do you KNOW how incredibly happy I was to get new JRB to add to my collection?!?
MAYA, SARAH AND LAURA II - you guys are definitely going to get this added to your JRB canon packages!!!
Yippee!!!!
NEW JRB DANCE
*DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE YODEL DANCE*
I never thought that listening to country music would make me so happy!!!!
But now I have a meeting with the Students' Society to attend so I will be e & t for the rest of the afternoon.
Excuse me while I go nest ;)
Posted by Emily @ 09/30/2003 09:40 AM PST

Come north Maya!
Who needs Italy when you have Faux-France at your fingertips?
(I should quit the gun control thing and move on to the Quebec Tourism Board)
:)
Posted by Emily @ 09/30/2003 09:42 AM PST

Jrand -- I am glad that you enjoyed Troy and Suzanne in Rome Adventure. Dear Suzanne never had one nice thing to say about her ex, while he was still alive.
By the way, Jrand, I loved that photo you posted from Scrooge. I have started looking through my photos from shows that I have done for ones that I can post.
Posted by TCB @ 09/30/2003 09:45 AM PST

TCB - isn't that sad? They were such a good couple in ROME ADVENTURE - and the Max Steiner score...and the scenery...well...that's entertainment. I only hope they don't remake it with Steve Martin!
Glad you you like the pic. Would love to see some more performance pics from DR's! Easy link by putting the url in the "homepage" (optional) cell!!
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 09:52 AM PST

I second the long-married DR Dave's comments: Swish on, girl!
On the topic of the day: I guess I'm in the minority here in that I enjoy going to see movies in the theatre. It's true, I don't enjoy the commercials that some chains run before the show, but I like seeing the trailers for upcoming films, I like seeing the feature up on a big screen with high quality sound, and, perhaps most of all, I enjoy seeing movies surrounded by an audience. A comedy is always funnier when there's laughter around you, and tear jerkers are always better when you hear the sound of sniffling from around the theatre.
Living in Pasadena, I am blessed with not one, but two "art house" multiplexes very close by. One features first run independent and foreign films and often hosts mini-festivals of one sort or another. The other features the same kinds of films following their inital release. (Is "second run" a proper term?)
I also have a commercial cineplex just a stone's throw from my house, and the neat thing there is that one of the theatres at the complex has an enormous (60 foot, I think) screen, which is great for seeing things like LotR and Seabiscuit and such.
Regarding films I've seen recently, I filed brief comments on both MAMBO ITALIANO and TAKING SIDES, which can be found in the archives. I concur with DR LC's thumbs up on LOST IN TRANSLATION. The leads provide very subtle performances in a film that succeeds in evoking the queasiness that comes with being lost (figuratively speaking) in unfamiliar territory. In very understated fashion, the film explores the emotional intimacy that can occur between two strangers in such a situation, and is richly complex.
Posted by Jay @ 09/30/2003 09:52 AM PST

DR Jennifer - I was taken in...but only watched one. Designer Laurie was defending her room. And her team had told her that the lady didn't like brown - but she pushed ahead. I don't like Laurie - or Doug or Kia....or Hildy... BLEH! The rest of them are okay. At least they aren't outrageous.
Mr BK you must watch the TRADING SPACES DVD so you can report your reactions.
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 09:55 AM PST

Above post should read A MIGHTY WIND...not THE MIGHTY WIND. I think someone corrected me that almost a year ago!
Commercials??!!! Did anyone else notice (I am sure you did) that there were 8, count them 8, promos on the SLEEPING BEAUTY Special Edition disk. They should give us a discount for watching their commercials! Disney is the worst for promos NOT Previews! Promos for coming soon to DVD and (my most-hated phrase) the INSTANT CLASSIC!!!
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 10:00 AM PST

I third the Swish On to Swishy Sarah!
LOL, Emily! Je voudrais aller au Québec, mais je n'ai pas d'argent! One of these days, when I do have the money, I plan to travel all over the world, and I will be sure to pay a visit to you in Faux-France! BTW, thanks for adding Urban Cowboy!
Jrand--I didn't notice all the Disney promos on the Sleeping Beauty DVD...then again, I only watched some of the extras so now I feel like I didn't miss much!
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 10:05 AM PST

I, like so many others, rarely go to new movies. They are not made for the likes of me. There are certainly small indies and art house films that I might like but they seem to get lost in the roar of promotion for Hollywood dreck. That being said, the last movie I (we, Ant and I) saw was Finding Nemo. We went on Ant's birthday. I took the day off work and we went to the Central Park Zoo, had lunch, walked around midtown and then came back downtown, had dinner in the diner (a Big Band reference) and saw the movie late enough that the theatre was not filled with noisy kids nor was it filled with many adults. Not quite a private showing, but almost.
Posted by Ben @ 09/30/2003 10:21 AM PST

Sarah: Now that you've outed Jeffrey Bledsoe as a lurker, his cover is blown.
Jeffrey: We don't bite.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/30/2003 10:27 AM PST

Movies in the theatres now that I like and recommend:
SEABISCUIT...Good performances by all.
OPEN RANGE...Good old-fashioned western with a great gun battle at the end.
Posted by Charles Pogue @ 09/30/2003 10:43 AM PST

Jrand---
As soon as the commercials start hit "Menu" on your remote and you can put a stop to them.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/30/2003 10:51 AM PST

Those dirty rat's ass cretins at that other board are at it again, dear readers. They can't let it alone. We made a decision not to post there anymore in terms of letting people know there were updates. We did this for several reasons, most of which you can figure out. Well, these rat's ass cretins can't have THAT, can they? That would just spoil their fun and would not give them the attention they so crave. So, one of them starts a thread all by himself (funny they still read something they so abhor) and then the usual suspects show up to ridicule. In the current entry (which is a MONTH old - she promises to get more current right away) she actually said she was going through some personal stuff - this had to do with some friends of hers who were having a difficult time. The rat's ass cretins, however, come on and say it's because she probably found out that people in her company were "laughing" at her. Puhleeze. I've talked to people in her company, I've talked to people connected with the tour and the Broadway production and no one I've talked to is the least bit bothered by her journal and they most certainly aren't "laughing" at her. These creatures are pathetic, even more pathetic than usual. Anyone wants to go over there and give them what they deserve, be my guest.
Posted by bk @ 09/30/2003 11:29 AM PST

Don't feed the animals!!
Posted by Zookeeper @ 09/30/2003 11:37 AM PST

Yes, I know, WEL. My point is that they are there at ALL!
This is an expensive product, $29.95 SRP (I think), and we are treated to all of this STUFF!! I used to think only the "for rent" editions were equipped with it, now I know differently.
I will skip it, and have, but it is a pain!
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 11:40 AM PST

Maya - have "been to the boot" not once but twice - first in 1991 on our honeymoon, again in 1999 with our then 7 year old son.
First trip actually began in Zurich, where we picked up our Fiat 500 and drove East across the border, through Milan (only LaScala was closed!) and the Lake Como region to Venice, where we stayed for 3 days. Then it was down through Rome to Positano, Amalfi, back North through Portofino and Fierenze and back to Zurich.
Trip two with Kyle began in Rome, then headed North to Venice (again) before we took the all night train South to Sicily, where we stayed for a week.
So many stories from both trips - how we met another honeymooning couple hitchhiking to Amalfi, only to find they were renting a flat not even 100m from our hotel room. Then the stay in Sicily on trip #2 where we broke the new porcelain sink in our recently refurbished room, opening a bottle of wine on our last night there.
Great people, great food, would go back to Venice anytime.
Posted by Phil @ 09/30/2003 11:49 AM PST

Believe me, I understand "don't feed the animals" and I know they get off on the attention and that there is no winning with these rat's ass cretins. That's why I don't respond there. BUT, there occasionally are times when silence is not always the best route. I mean, we made the effort to not post about her journal there, and still they don't stop, they must behave like the childish pathetic creatures they are. Oh, well, I'm through with my rant. The next step will be pulling the journal, which surprisingly is probably NOT what they want as it will take away their ability to be jerks (I'm sure they'll find something else to be jerks about). If what they did today gets back to Juliana, and if it bothers her in any way, then I'm pulling the journal. They can win because her feelings are more important to me than the journal or its popularity.
Posted by bk @ 09/30/2003 11:55 AM PST

If we were forced to watch the ads on the DVD before the movie like we are in a theatre(paid ads and ads for movies which usually look so bad we wouldn't see them anyway), I'd be upset too. But when all you need to do on a DVD is press one button I don't let them bother me.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/30/2003 11:55 AM PST

As much as I enjoy the journal...and surely Juliana is aware of their antics...if it is bothering her, do what you have to do Mr BK!
It has been my limited experience over there, if you defend something or disagree you immediately become grist for the mill and your opinions and family connections are questioned to the nth degree. Not worth it.
What is important is Juliana. It's too bad that some jealous bonbons can't let the rest of us enjoy it.
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 12:01 PM PST

You're a better man than I am, WEL. And more forgiving, as well.
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 12:02 PM PST

Well, the webmaster has spoken over there and locked the thread. That is the only way to win with the creatures - to tell them that if they post the same old crap their posts will be removed or the threads will be locked. These same five or six jerks brought down the broadway.com board. The webmaster of the other site won't allow that. The only control we have over this sort of thing is to ban and/or remove posts. A big thank you to Rob for protecting the integrity of his site.
Posted by bk @ 09/30/2003 12:07 PM PST

8-D Rob!
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 12:17 PM PST

I have never read any of the posts by the cretins that are referred to, but I cannot understand what anyone would have against Juliana's Journal! Doesn't make sense to me.
It is fun to read of her experiences working on something that she so enjoys. Why, oh why do people have to bring negativity to something so positive!
Ok, done venting.
Posted by MBarnum @ 09/30/2003 12:22 PM PST

Mr BK, does Jane Russell sing "26 Miles to San Berdoo" in the movie Macao
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 12:51 PM PST

Maya - i have been to Ireland, England, and Canada.
But I have never been to Italy except in my dreams. X-D
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 12:58 PM PST

Jrand53 wrote:
DR Jennifer - I was taken in...but only watched one.
Well I knew what they were going to do. But the comments were actually very interesting.
Designer Laurie was defending her room. And her team had told her that the lady didn't like brown - but she pushed ahead. I don't like Laurie - or Doug or Kia....or Hildy... BLEH! The rest of them are okay. At least they aren't outrageous.
Wow, you really don't like Laurie? Do you mean you don't care for her or her designs? Other than Vern, she is by far my favorite. I love her elegant chic designs. She does such wonderful work. I always love what she does.
And in her defense. She did not know until she got there that the woman did not like brown. She would never do a design to hurt the home owners. There are some designer who don't care (the new obnoxious guy Rick was on one of the episodes last night and he said he was thrilled when the home owners hated his room - to me that is just mean). But Laurie isn't like that.
First off her room was taupe, not brown. And second it was too late. Although if I had been her, I would have run out to the store to change paint colors.
I don't really care for Kia or Edward. But I love Hildy and Doug. They are crazy. While I only love their stuff half the time (and think the rest is bad). I still love them!
Mr BK you must watch the TRADING SPACES DVD so you can report your reactions.
Yes I really want to hear about the extras!! Tell us.
Posted by Jennifer @ 09/30/2003 01:08 PM PST

BKL What I would love to see is that "Zola" entity UNMASKED and called to account for his/her assertions that the company was laughing behind her back and all the other crap he spewed about her having committed professional suicide.
Who IS this entity and what credibility does really have?
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/30/2003 01:13 PM PST

Jason, thanks.
Danise, your dogs sound cute.
Jose, my trips to LA never seem as interesting as yours has been. Maybe I need to go as a tourist.
William F. Orr, I never thought of Socrates that way-I like it. In fact, I enjoy your postings. Please don't stop.
S.Woody White, once again I'm LOL. Actually, I have laughed and smiled quite a bit reading todays posts-can't name them all.
LC, so sorry about your job. Good luck finding something better.
Posted by Jane @ 09/30/2003 01:15 PM PST

DR Jennifer - Laurie does some nice rooms - but she is SO lazy!!
And she negates all of her good ideas by first saying...you won't like this, I know...or trying to fend of criticism by criticizing herself before anyone else does. She is better than a LOT of them, and at least her ideas are practical. I think personally her Southern Belle helpless personality gets on my LAST nerve.
And in the long run....taupe IS a shade of brown, isn't it? To men it is, anyway.
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 01:17 PM PST

Maya -- I have been to South America (Chile, Argentina, Columiba, Uruguay, The Falkland Islands); Asia (Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan); Canada; Costa Rica; Mexico; and two countries in Europe (Denmark, Great Britain) but never made it to Italy.
I did eat a pizza once.
Posted by TCB @ 09/30/2003 01:20 PM PST

I have been errant and truant (::lowers head in shame), but I am here now. First I offer my condolences to DR Jane. Also, welcome to DRs Danise and LC (which are also my initials). I'm sorry to hear about your job, LC, and I hope everything works out soon! Lastly, thank you to DR Emily for the additions. :)
In re the topic of the day, the last movie I saw in a movie theater was Freaky Friday. I enjoyed it.
Posted by Laura II @ 09/30/2003 01:22 PM PST

I must also say that I will most likely be errant and truant this weekend (from Thursday to Sunday) as I will be visiting the College of William and Mary.
Posted by Laura II @ 09/30/2003 01:25 PM PST

Oh! DR SWW: I LOVE the Adventures of Bonnie and Clyde! So cute!
Posted by Laura II @ 09/30/2003 01:31 PM PST

One question: Where in tarnation IS Michael Shayne? Hasn't he been errant and truant for some days?
Posted by bk @ 09/30/2003 01:39 PM PST

Maya: I lived in Italy 9 1/2 years. I was in Vicenza, Italy, from 1973-1975, and I was in Naples, Italy from 1975-1977.
I lived in Naples again from 1987 to 1992.
During my years there, I saw much of the country, making several trips to Rome,Florence and Venice, especially. I have also done the Amalfi coast.
If there's something in particular you want to know about, let me know.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/30/2003 01:47 PM PST

Hello there, DR's, I have just returned from a long and c-c-c-cold day at school. They've fixed the air conditioning inside the school itself, but there are classes in trailers outside (they're renovating the school, it's about 40 years old, and some classrooms have been knocked down), and the trailers only have AC, no heat. So I shivered my way through 2 classes today.
BUT, I have A's and B's in EVERY one of my classes, so I am happy as a hippo. (I actually don't know if hippos are happy, but it started with H :)
And we have a nice number of very diverse posts today, it provided for some fine reading.
DR Ron: It wasn't I who unmasked Lurker Jeffery, that was Emily :)
Big thanks for DR's Dave, Emily, Jay, and Maya for the nice things you said about me, it made me smile :) And you're welcome, WEL!
The last movie I saw was at my surprise party, we went and saw Pirates of the Caribbean, which I loved. I actually saw it twice! It's a predictable storyline, and I actually went into the theater thinking "This is going to be a dumb Disney pirate movie.", but it turned out to be very entertaining. Johnny Depp did a great job.
I'll do compliment of the day later on, I'm still thinking about it right now and I have a few other things going on that are taking up some...thought.
Oh and rats ass cretins can kiss MY ass.
Posted by Sarah @ 09/30/2003 01:49 PM PST

I too saw the preview for Cheaper by the Dozen-it definitely doesn't look anything like the original. Lost in Translation is the next movie I want to see. I did mention we just saw Second Hand Lions and recommend it. It is "a feel good movie". Haley Joel Osment certainly matched the talents of Michael Caine and Robert Duvall. Before that we saw Matchstick Men. I didn't expect to like it, but did find it enjoyable enough. Keith likes Sundays to be movie day. We usually go to the small local theater. The seats aren't great but they do make good popcorn. For movies like Lord of the Rings we go to Tinsel Town in Medford for the stadium seating. I won't eat their popcorn. We would have seen the re-release of The Good, Bad and Ugly but it didn't come to Ashland. We have it on order from Netflex. First we watched A Fistfull of Dollars, then For A Few More Dollars which wasn't very good. The dubbing in these movies makes me want to laugh at times, still I'm enjoying them.
Posted by Jane @ 09/30/2003 01:57 PM PST

Very odd about my moviegoing habits. I reviewed films free-lance for 25 years, and saw many movies in theaters each month to do the job. I finally decided that enough was enough in 1999. Since then, I can almost count the movies I've seen in theaters on both hands. I almost never go out to a movie now. The last one was CHICAGO in January. I just much prefer the comfort of my own home theater where picture and sound are at my descretion. I don't really ever see that changing now.
Posted by Matt H. @ 09/30/2003 01:58 PM PST

I've never been to Me.
Posted by Priscilla Queen of the Desert @ 09/30/2003 02:07 PM PST

Welcome back Laura II and thank you.
Posted by Jane @ 09/30/2003 02:19 PM PST

Thanks DRs Jane, Maya, and Laura II (you have very nice initials!). I get unemployment for a few months, so I'm not going to worry just yet.
I went to Italy when I was 12 years old, so I have very vague memories of it. We went to Rome, Florence, and Venice. I had never been to Europe before, and was impressed by how old all the buildings were, the breathtaking art, and how it felt to be in places with history dating back thousands of years. The food, of course, was wonderful.
Posted by LC @ 09/30/2003 02:26 PM PST

Come ON guys! NO LULLS! Must you be told every day?
Older brother is being a loser again, and on top of having the evil witch girlfriend, he's pulling the "I'm 18, stop bossing me around, I can make my own rules" attitude, and is mad, because my parents are responding with "We're paying your phone bill, your car payments, and your college, I'm pretty sure WE make the rules.", which of course is setting off a household war, so I shall be here at the computer until further notice :)
I know you'll say something like "That's what you say now.", but I will NEVER act like that towards my parents if they're supporting me. He looks like the biggest -insert your own curse here- ever when he acts like that.
Do you ever regret the way you may have treated your parents?
Posted by Sarah @ 09/30/2003 03:19 PM PST

Just awoke from a delicious nap. I really need to stop taking them. They are such a luxury--and I wonder why I'm up til 3 sometimes.
Phil, TCB, Jrand, Ron and LC--thanks for telling me about your travel/Italy experiences! I really did enjoy reading about them. Ron, you wanted to know if I had any other questions. Have you ever squished grapes in a wine press, hehe? ;)
I'm just so disgusted to hear about what those jerks did today, and saddened to hear that BK might have to pull the journal. But I agree that Juliana's feelings are the most important thing, and if it has to be done, I think we all would understand. I also commend Rob at the other site for taking their vile poison off the board.
Sarah--congrats about having all those good grades! :) I only hope I can follow suit with mine!
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 03:19 PM PST

Yeah, that reminds me Sarah, how can you possibly know what your grades are yet? You have only been in school about two weeks, and half that time you were under hurricane alert.
Posted by TCB @ 09/30/2003 03:24 PM PST

Movies in the past year:LOTR(TT),
"Finding Nemo", "A Mighty Wind", "Chicago" and "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets". Enjoyed them all.
With TCB's posts from before I started thinking about phobias and their official names: I used to get my students to make up some eg "QWERTYPHOBIA" for fear of typing classes.
I wonder what fear of Bears is TCB. Maybe "YOGIPHOBIA"
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/30/2003 03:30 PM PST

TCB: I started school August 25th...It's halfway through the quarter, they give out interims as "checkups". So if the kids who thought they'd S+C through their classes are now failing, they have 4 and a half more weeks to bring their grades up.
Posted by Sarah @ 09/30/2003 03:32 PM PST

A Tasmanian young lady is to marry the Prince Of Denmark. (Probably not big news in some places). Tasmania is known to the rest of Australia as "The Apple Isle" as apples were the major product for many years. The press now will be calling the soon to be Princess, "Apple Danish". Thought you all needed to know that.
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/30/2003 03:42 PM PST

Maya: No, I never did a Lucy dance. They don't do things like that any more.
: )
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/30/2003 04:00 PM PST

Hiya, Maya... I have the same exact problem. Took a 3 hour nap this afternoon, I believe. When I'm napping, you just can't wake me up. I ignored multiple calls from my best friends just to get some more sleep.
Sarah, I'm glad to hear you are doing well in school! Our progress report grades went in today. I have an A in every one of my classes* thus far! A huge accomplishment for me... never before had a 4.0 in high school.
*I don't have an A in my 8th period, Food and Nutrition 1. In fact, I probably don't have a B or a C. But I'm getting out of the class in the next week or two... it doesn't count, because I just haven't been trying :-)
I just have not been to the movies lately. Can't remember the last thing I saw. I did, however, see THE BOY FROM OZ on Sunday! I'm not going to post a review or make any comments since it is still in previews, but if anyone else has seen it and wants to chat about it, drop me a line.
Posted by Paulie @ 09/30/2003 04:36 PM PST

I'm home from "work." I was nearly in a fist-fight today, dear readers. I so desperately wanted to punch this hateful girl in her hateful neck with an open fist, but I didn't. I make it a point never to hit people--even boys, though she most certainly deserved to be punched in the neck with an open fist. She really pushed my buttons to the point that I was on the verge of losing my composure, which I make a point of NEVER doing in public, so I really had to take a few deep, cleansing breaths and regain my senses. I won't go into what she did and said, but suffice it so say that she made me really, really angry. This is the same girl that pushed me around earlier this year, thinking she was my boss, which she isn't. Instead of lashing out and yelling and screaming or (God forbid) scratching her hateful eyes out, I spoke with the head of HR and asked him for advice and aide, which he gave. So, he knows how I feel and I got my work done...and, reluctantly, hers as well...and she went home early, which was fine with me.
I hope all of you Dear Readers understand how many of my buttons she must have pushed to make me angry to the point of potential violence. I'm a VERY passive person, but one can only take so much before one snaps. I'm quite myself again, and I will not be punching anyone in the neck today...open-fisted or otherwise.
LC...I'm sorry to hear about your job. I lost my second (better paying) job just two weeks ago, and my poor father has been unemployed since June. I should have started my job at the Met last night, but...it didn't work out. :-\ I hope you find something soon. And tell us more about yourself! Inquiring minds want to know...
Recently I saw the English film "Dirty Pretty Things" starring "Amelie's" Audrey Tautou. It was quite good...very European. I enjoyed it. And after that I saw "Lost in Translation," which was one of the best films I've seen in a long, long time. It was funny, it was sad...I laughed, I cried, I would have bought the T-shirt. GO SEE IT! Now I want to see "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Cold Creek Manor."
BK: In honor of Kritzerland, I rented "North By Northwest" for this evening's viewing enjoyment. I've never seen it. Can you believe that?
Posted by Jason @ 09/30/2003 04:48 PM PST

North by Northwest is still, to this day, one of the finest motion picture entertainments ever.
Jason, I totally understand about buttons being pushed and your reaction to same.
I had a lovely time with Mr. Grant Geissman and Mr. Guy Haines - more on that tomorrow, but we will soon be finished and I'll be able to get these CDs out.
Posted by bk @ 09/30/2003 04:53 PM PST

The last two movies that I saw (not at home) were "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Bend It Like Beckham." BILB was was just released today on DVD and VHS. Both movies had Keira Knightley and Parminder K. Nagra (who starred in BILB) joined "ER" last week.
Jay, I also enjoy going to and watching movies at a cinema near me (almost a Song and Dance reference). It's just big and a lot of movies are meant to be seen that way. With really good special effects, one can forgive a lame plot or script because the point of the movie is to see it on a big screen...which is fine with me...usually.
Jrand, Disney also has the "Masterpiece Collection". And no, not all of them are "masterpieces", no matter what Disney wants to call them.
As far as the unseemly comments on the other board(s), I have not read them. I read and thoroughly enjoy Juliana’s Journal, here on HHW. Anyone who doesn't can either not read them (and that doesn't seem to be an option for them, though) or they can KISS JULIANA'S ASS!! (IMHO, "in my humble opinion" in Internet lingo.)
Posted by George @ 09/30/2003 05:10 PM PST

Sorry hear about the lost job(s). I can only say that I have had limited (operative word there) success using a service called Monster.com. One time I filled out a form a company had on that site for a techie job that I did not have the skills for. To my great surprise, I got a call from that company who were very impressed that I knew how to access the internet and even attempt to fill out the form. They knew I wasn’t right for the job I applied for but had other openings. After speaking with them at great length, it turned out they were on the opposite side of town so I had to turn them down. I am NOT into driving. Always swore if I could park the car, I would and I did when I got my current job. There’s an express bus that picks up at the end of my street.
Jane, thanks for comments on my babies. They are a pair. I think I can say I’ve grown up with just about every type of animal. Horses, ponies, cows, a sheep, a goat, pigs, dogs, cats, birds (all kinds), gerbils, a rat, a mouse, hamsters, turtles, to name but a few. I loved them all and miss them very much.
I must have missed something on the other board–I never look or post while I’m at work, even though I can get on the internet. That’s why you only see me on line early in the morning before I go to work or in the evening when I come home.
Those of you who remember me from Broadway.com know I would always blow a fuse when someone got picked on. I think that sets me off more than anything else. Fun is fun but mean is totally different. I can’t sit by if someone is being torn apart.
I’ve promised Rob faithfully I would do my best not to fight anymore. I confess, I sometimes forget and my temper gets the best of me. Knowing that Rob is a GREAT webmaster and will handle whatever the problem is in a fair manner does help.
Sorry for the long post.
D
Posted by Danise @ 09/30/2003 05:11 PM PST

Let's have an evening filled with posts, shall we? I'm wearing a sondheim.com t-shirt and jeans and am about to run to the liquor store to get something sweet to eat. Your turn.
Posted by bk @ 09/30/2003 05:13 PM PST

You're getting something sweet to eat at the liquor store?? Hmm...I'm about to have a can of Chef Boyardee and enjoy a little Hitchcock.
Posted by Jason @ 09/30/2003 05:14 PM PST

Juliana's Journal is so delightful. Bruce, please let her know how much we all enjoy it and never have negative thoughts about her or the journal. I can't imagine her cast mates not liking it when she only has the nicest of things to say about them.
Posted by Jane @ 09/30/2003 05:16 PM PST

Oh, she knows and appreciates all of you here. And she really does get much fan mail every day. The other crap she hears about and it's wearying after awhile, but I have a suspicion that it's over there now that the webmaster has taken a hard line. I'm sure the cabal is busy doing their "thing" at their underground website - that's where they belong. They all find themselves vastly amusing (they're not) and love to just pat each other on the back over how clever they are (they're not). They deserve each other and karma will, I assure you, bite them in their ample behinds.
Posted by bk @ 09/30/2003 05:28 PM PST

"Dirty Pretty Things"- forgot to mention that one. Yes, it was a wonderful movie.
Sarah and Paulie-good going on those grades. You should be proud of yourselves.
Sarah, I'm sure you won't act like your brother when you are his age. He has just shown you how not to behave. Can't say I regret the way I teated my parents. Overall I was a good kid.
Posted by Jane @ 09/30/2003 05:30 PM PST

Jason: You were wise to refrain from striking. No matter what, the "hitter" is always wrong, and the "hittee," as hateful a human being as he/she/it may be is in the right (and may even be compensated).
Forgive me for my ignorance, but I don't have a clue what an "open-handed fist" is. I've always operated under the idea that if the hand is open, it's a slap if there's contact with a palm. The more violent version of a slap is a backhand.
A fist -- to me -- is fingers curled and thumb tucked away.
'Splain it to me, please!
: )
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/30/2003 05:42 PM PST

OK!
The Compliment of the Day goes to Craig! Craig is the kind of person who can always make you laugh. Every one of his posts are informative, yet not weighed-down, happy, but not immature, etc. Even being 17 years older than me, we've always gotten along very well, whether it be in IM, chat, or here at HHW. He's a very cool and dedicated person, and so we should all give him a big high five. Ready, set, *High five to Craig*!
Posted by Sarah @ 09/30/2003 05:43 PM PST

Awwww *blush* Now you've revealed my age. What am I to do? ;)
Thanks Sarah. I appreciate the kudos. I also appreciate Quaker Oats cereal bars and various other sundried products.
Ba dum dum!
I am off to do a photo op of Ms. Delta Burke who is making her official Broadway Debut in TMM tonight. Ciao for now..
Posted by Craig @ 09/30/2003 05:46 PM PST

I have a random story from yesterday. I was walking to work on this path near my house, and I was chewing gum. All of a sudden, something flew into my mouth. I knew it wasn't a gnat as it was too big. Anyway, I spit it out, looked down, and saw it was...a bee! It didn't sting me, thank God, but I still shrieked and became extremely jumpy.
Posted by Laura II @ 09/30/2003 05:52 PM PST

At this moment, I am wearing a pink tanktop, the famous purple swishy shorts, and a bright yellow towel in my hair :)
I want to second the thoughts on how much we love Juliana's Journal here. I know I have friends reading it, who are now getting interested in musical theater, because they think what she does is awesome. The effect something that small has had on the internet is awesome, and the rat's ass cretins are most definetly in a minority. Even my English teacher is reading it now! I think that's something to be proud of. :)
Posted by Sarah @ 09/30/2003 05:59 PM PST

Maybe we should all go to our local liquor stores and seek out the sweet treats.
I didn't know there would be any, but perhaps BK is onto something!!!!!!!
I guess it depends upon the "class" of the liquor store. BK's probably has French and Swiss chocolates.
I'm going to cook red snapper for my supper. Ten minutes at F 400. I'll likely have some fried taters...and some fresh maters, besides!
I've also got a slab of ham steak I'm gonna toss in my pressure cooker tomorrow ev'nin' with a mess of black-eyed peas. Y'all ain't et til ya've had black-eyed peas cooked with a slab o' ham!
Makes my mouth water just typin' 'bout it!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/30/2003 06:14 PM PST

Ah - Jason - in keeping your composure you came out the winner!
NORTH BY NORTHWEST is such a wonderful entertainment - with a cast of names and faces. I will be anxiously awaiting your written opinion. Eva Marie Saint, Cary Grant, and James Mason - and the master. The score is also perfect!
The settings are beautifully crafted and photographed...yes you are in for a treat!
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 06:17 PM PST

I talked myself into it - I am reaching for the NbyNW DVD as I type!
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 06:20 PM PST

Just got back from tutoring! I am wearing black jeans and a gray shirt with little black flowers on it.
Paulie--way to go on the grades! *High five* I know...I'm lame, lol. ;)
I think I can say that I'm a pretty good daughter to my parents, although there are certainly times where I could have been a better one. Like not procrastinating for 2 days when my mom asks me to put my laundry away or clean my room. And you want to hear the funny thing??? She's down here now watching Frasier and just after I finished typing that last sentence, without even having seen it, she asked me again to put my laundry away! So maybe I should do that soon so my mom (who's not always a nag and is in fact quite fun to be around) will be able to watch Frasier without my laundry basket on her mind, haha!
BTW, BK...she says hi to you!
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 06:20 PM PST

I'm wearing a T-shirt from the Roundabout's production of FOLLIES.
About those annyoing FORCED ADS on dvds, the Disney ones don't bother me at all - - at least they give you the OPTION to press the menu key and bypassing them, BUT, along comes a beautiful edition of BABE (my favorite talking animal movie) on which there is no way whatsoever (that I have found with my player) to skip past the FIVE FRICKIN' FORGETTABLE TRAILERS!!! Thanks so much, Universal! NOT! ! !
Oops, I'm also wearing black cotton boxer briefs.
Posted by td @ 09/30/2003 06:49 PM PST

Maya,
Did your mom laugh as hard as I did watching Frasier tonight? The old writers are back, and the dialogue seems much sharper than it was last year.
Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/30/2003 06:51 PM PST

Hi to her, too. We are very close now and I'm thinkin' with some concerted effort we will make 100 posts.
Posted by bk @ 09/30/2003 06:53 PM PST

Hello!
Just got back from Montreal, Canada where I was visiting my family for the New Year.
Happy New Year (belatedly) to all DR who are practitioners of the Jewish faith.
Catching up now from the missed days
9/25/03
And All That Jazz
Ella Fitzgerald and all of the composer songbooks she recorded. Favorite cut: Mack the Knife from Live in Berlin. She forgets the lyrics and improvises.
John Pizzarelli is great! I have many of his albums and he is married to Jessica Molaskey who is also a great singer. I also like Dick De Graff who I once saw at the Montreal Jazz Festival and had a chance to meet him afterwards. Other people mentioned The Manhattan Transfer and Oscar Peterson who are also fab. I am sure there are others to that I have failed to mention.
9/265/03
Peggy Lee and DVDs
Well since I was in Montreal and I wasn’t there to watch DVDs I don’t have a lot to talk about. But we did see the DVD of The Man Who Came to Dinner. My father and I watched it together and we enjoyed it immensely. I watched part of the Producers and damn if that movie is still funny, but can see why Zero Mostel never really had a film career.
9/276/03
I wish today was tomorrow
Today was not a good one. We were at lunch and my mother was not feeling well so we took her to the emergency room. (She was having chest pains.) Spent most of the day in the emergency with my mother as she slept or in the waiting room of the hospital. Luckily it was not a heart attack or anything serious. She was allowed to go home at midnight. So I didn’t read today until tomorrow.
9/28/03
Sunday After the Miracle
Read the Bonnie and Clyde Saga from Saturday and read the continuation today. My favorite comedies.
That is sooooooooo hard.
Some Like It Hot has to be my number one choice. I also The Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Kenton and I also liked The Court Jester, Auntie Mame, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. What’s Up Doc. The most recent comedy has to be Sordid Lives. I have even made the Sordid Lives Tuna Casserole. I also have a soft place for The Carry On .........series which I believe were never big in the USA, but because they were British we got them in Canada and of course there were all the offshoots like the On The Buses ....series and Up the......series.
Ah Scrooge the musical....What Albert Finney lacked in singing voice we gained one of the best interpretations of Scrooge
9/29/03
And DR MattH said
Before I found the internet, I was involved in an alternate modem universe called Fidonet. It was strictly text based, and for years I moderated two boards there: one about movies called (big surprise) FILM and the other about theater called GREASEPAINT. Made lots of nice friends, some of whom like DR Michael Shayne I'm still friendly with.
Ah yes I remember that! And believe it or not Matt and I have never met in person. We have been emailing all these years. After I left Fidonet I went onto AOL. I finally left AOL when my local cable provider had DSL. I like it so much better.
And TODAY
Enjoyed the film (surprise surprise) Pirates of the Caribbean. I think Johnny Depp gave a great performance. I really think he is such an under rated actor. He was great in Benny and Joon, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and others. So I recommend this film
Posted by Mike @ 09/30/2003 07:02 PM PST

TD--awww, I was hoping for just the Follies T-shirt. ;)
BTW, what did you think about the Roundabout production? I personally liked it, but then again it was my first Follies, so I had nothing to compare it with. I know just about everyone else thought it was a disappointment.
Dan--She was laughing non-stop. I was watching it too on and off and the part where Kelsey Grammar was dancing cheek to cheek with Patrick Stewart was too priceless!
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 07:02 PM PST

Oh I forgot. On my way home from the airport I went to Best Buy to get Scrooge and they didn't have it. Major let down. I was looking froward to watching it tonight.
Posted by Mike @ 09/30/2003 07:04 PM PST

So its on to 100.....
.....and the rat's ass cretins on the site not to be named can KISS MY ASS!
Posted by Phil @ 09/30/2003 07:09 PM PST

I would like to mention because I am sure that DR Matt wil not but he is doing a regional production of TITANIC. He plays Ismay and he is fabulous in it.
Posted by Mike @ 09/30/2003 07:10 PM PST

So I have to make up for sometime. Anyone planning to go to the Chiller convention in NYC at the end of October. DR Susan Gordon will be there. I know that DR Tony will be going and if things don't get too crazy I plan to meet up with him and go too. I also will try and catch the Broadway production of Cabaret which closes the following weekend after 5 years!
Posted by Mike @ 09/30/2003 07:13 PM PST

People have been mentioning North By Northwest which reminds me that is was shot in VISTAVISION which is taller than it is wider I believe. So how is enhance for wide screen TV. Can anyone explain?
Posted by Mike @ 09/30/2003 07:20 PM PST

Jrand wrote:
DR Jennifer - Laurie does some nice rooms - but she is SO lazy!!
I don't see that at all. What do you mean by lazy? Her designs are so elegant and classy. And she always makes sure she spends every penny of her budget. IMO, her designs are absolutely beautiful ... almost uniformly. To me she tries so hard. I don't see her as lazy at all. She thinks out all her designs. And she's so appreciative when Ty or Amy Wynn do something exceptional.
And she negates all of her good ideas by first saying...you won't like this, I know...or trying to fend of criticism by criticizing herself before anyone else does. She is better than a LOT of them, and at least her ideas are practical. I think personally her Southern Belle helpless personality gets on my LAST nerve.
I love her sweetness. To me she seems like a lovely person.
And in the long run....taupe IS a shade of brown, isn't it? To men it is, anyway
Well I guess. But often when people say they hate brown, they mean a darker brown, not a beige. I agree she should have tried to switch colors. But it's not easy. She shows up with a design not knowing the woman hated brown. It's very hard to change ideas, once she's already there. I think that woman was being unreasonable punching her friend. There are many things that the friend could fight for. But the home owners must realize that paint color is one of the hardest things to change. If the designer shows up with a certain color, they don't really have time to change it. Plus all their fabrics match it!
And to DR Sarah: I love the compliment of the day. Please keep it up.
Posted by Jennifer @ 09/30/2003 07:21 PM PST

99! PPPUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!!!
Posted by George @ 09/30/2003 07:22 PM PST

GOOAAALLLL!
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 07:23 PM PST

Sorry...my dad watches soccer matches on Unavision too much, hehe.
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 07:24 PM PST

Glad to see 100!!!! I tried to help push towards that goal.
Posted by Mike @ 09/30/2003 07:24 PM PST

Jennifer: Thanks! I'm glad you like it! And FYI to everyone, I will eventually get to all of you, but there are more than it seems, I'm making a list :)
Posted by Sarah @ 09/30/2003 07:26 PM PST

Mike, glad your mother was able to go home. Hope she is fully recovered now. Happy New Year.
Posted by Jane @ 09/30/2003 07:26 PM PST

Well, I must say that watching tonight's episode of FRASER, I actually DID laugh out loud, very loudly, on several occasions. It's nice to have Keenan back as a writer there; has anyone else read his fabulous novels?
CHILLER, as DR Michael knows, I fully intend to get to. . .there are some extenuating family circumstances which could prevent my going, but, as of right now, I'm there. There is also a great circumstance happening at work that week, we are closing down for five days for renovations, so, I would be able to spend a little more than just a weekend in the neighborhood.
Micke, hopefully, you will find SCROOGE soon. . .
Posted by td @ 09/30/2003 07:54 PM PST

hi Mike!
Okay Jennifer, okay, I surrender, dear. LOL. I will accept your estimation of Laurie. But my favorite she will never be. I hope she realizes what a champion she has in you. You should get on the message board!
I couldn't find SCROOGE either - but will check this weekend at BEST BUY.
The black bars on a 36" non widescreen television in VistaVision are smaller at the top and bottom than CinemaScope, but not sure how it would work for an enhanced widescreen tv. The instructions with my DVD player look very complicated! The DVD box does proclaim "enhanced for widescreen tvs" - so it must work someway!
Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/30/2003 08:12 PM PST

I very much enjoyed "North By Northwest." What intrigue! What excitement! But, really...someone should have told Ms. Eva Marie Saint that it is never a good idea to climb around on a national monument wearing heels.
Posted by Jason @ 09/30/2003 08:42 PM PST

Ron Pulliam: My reference to punching with an open fist comes from an episode of Will & Grace.
ROSARIO (Karen's maid, referring to Grace): She should be punched in the neck.
KAREN (Offended): Hey, hey!
ROSARIO: With an open fist...?
KAREN: That's my girl!
THEY laugh.
Posted by Jason @ 09/30/2003 08:58 PM PST

For those who remember me, I haven't died, just gone to Writers' Purgatory. I've been putting in very LONG days and nights on a script which I've almost finished -- that is, I've almost finished the First Draft for me. Then I revise, then it goes to the producers, then they give me their notes, then I respond to that, then it finally goes to the Network - who will have their copious notes for the Second Draft. I'm exhausted just writing that! But it's so nice to see the blank pages magically filling up. Plus - I've been trying to find a place to live in LA - which is hard to do from Colorado. In fact, I'm at this very moment waiting to hear if I got a place I wanted, which I've actually never seen but had friends check out. - Will find out tomorrow or perhaps even tonight. It would be a relief to know where I'm going and when I'm going. Aside from getting ready to move, writing a script and trying to navigate life day to day, ain't much going on.
As to the movie question posed in the Notes, I've taken some Movie Breaks in the past week just to get away from the characters running around in my head. A Movie Break means. 1. Suddenly decide to get out of the house/office or go crazy. 2. Check the paper to see what's on in the next hour that you want to see. 3. Jump in the car and drive to the movie (Feed dog first, if it's near his suppertime.) 4. Go into cinema and make sure you sit in a corner so that you don't run into people you know who will want to talk to you - which you are not prepared to do - Plus you look like a fugitive from the chain computer. 5. Watch the movie. 6. Jump in the car and rush home. 7. Resume writing.
Sooo, I try to makes sure that I pick movies which will be enjoyable so that I get back to my writing refreshed and with something to live up to.
Recently I've seen: LOST IN TRANSLATION. Enjoyed it! Sweet and sad (and funny). Loved the spaciousness of it. The kind of screenwriting I'm doing right now has very definite rules (8 acts, etc.) - so it was great to luxuriate in a movie which seems formless (but really isn't). Then I saw AMERICAN SPLENDOR - which I loved. Terrific film with no pretty people. How un-Hollywood is that? 3. Then I saw MATCHSTICK MEN which is an old-fashioned (in the good sense) plot driven film with some terrific characters. And BTW some great Sinatra, Darrin, Percy Faith, etc., on the soundtrack.
That's my report. Somebody please acknowledge this LONG post. The last few (infrequent) posts I've put on this here best site on the internet have been thoroughly ignored. So somebody say hi, okay?
Posted by Panni @ 09/30/2003 08:59 PM PST

Jason, LOL - the first time I watched North by Northwest, which I also enjoyed, my mother said the same thing about the heels. Sorry to hear about your family's job woes - hope something turns up for both you and your dad soon.
I too think it's just as well that you didn't hit that woman. It is unfortunate that it's not always possible to avoid those the least deserving of our time.
I don't know what else to say about myself. What would you like to know? I do have a question, though - are there ever H/K get-togethers in real life? I read about a H/K dinner in California the other day and was wondering if there were ever East Coast equivalents.
Posted by LC @ 09/30/2003 09:00 PM PST

I suppose I just answered my own question with that phrasing - I should've just asked if there were East Coast meet ups. It's late and I am tired..
Posted by LC @ 09/30/2003 09:08 PM PST

"The black bars on a 36" non widescreen television in VistaVision are smaller at the top and bottom than CinemaScope, but not sure how it would work for an enhanced widescreen tv. The instructions with my DVD player look very complicated! The DVD box does proclaim "enhanced for widescreen tvs" - so it must work someway! "
Vistavision will fill up a widescreen TV with no black bars showing if it's "enhanced for widescreen TVs." If the DVD isn't enhanced, the bars will be there but smaller than non-enhanced Cinemascope bars. Of course, most widescreen TV have settings for stretching the picture artifically to fill in those bars, but I think it diffuses the picture, and I don't normally use them.
Posted by Matt H. @ 09/30/2003 09:10 PM PST

There are many H/K get togethers, mainly in NYC or LA. NOT that I've ever been to one because I can't drive up to NYC yet. Legally, anyway.
If they're in NYC, they're usually at Joe Allens, and in LA, Musso and Frank, I do believe.
6 months until I can get my liscence, and then I shall finally meet some of you fine people :)
I "went to bed" about a half hour ago and then got completely distracted. So now I shall actually do it.
Posted by Sarah @ 09/30/2003 09:12 PM PST

LC...tell us generic stuff about yourself. We know your age, but we don't know your sex, your name (unless its Elsie, and then I'll feel like a complete boob), what it is that you do when you're actually employed (I'm an singer/actor in theory...), where you're from originally, that sort of thing... We want all the details! And when I say we, I of course mean ME. :-)
Perhaps we should have a roll call in the next couple of days...?
And, yes...we have Hainsie/Kimlet get-togethers in real life. They're quite fun and VERY tasty. Oh, how I long for a sirloin with red wine and garlic butter on top, cooked medium well with homemade fries from Joe Allen. :-P
Right now I'm listening to DREAMGIRLS: The Concert. I do so love the Act Two opening. I'm wearing my blue fleece robe from Gap and a pair of white crew cut socks.
Posted by Jason @ 09/30/2003 09:21 PM PST

I love Joe Allen's! Perhaps one time I'll be able to make a H/K get together there. Oh and Sawah, you'd want to drive in NYC? Craaaaaazy!
Posted by Laura II @ 09/30/2003 09:21 PM PST

Der Brucer and I haven't been going out to see many films this summer. The only one I remember seeing was Finding Nemo.
Posted by S. Woody White @ 09/30/2003 09:24 PM PST

DR Panni--Welcome back from Purgatory. We've missed you.
DR Paulie--So? Nu? We were expecting full details of your adventures on Friday night and Saturday.
Posted by Jay @ 09/30/2003 09:26 PM PST

On a widescreen TV North by Northwest will fill the screen. VistaVision had a variable aspect ratio - it could be shown anywhere from 1:66 to 2.0, but it was usually shown in theaters in 1:85. Widescreen TVs are app. 1:76.
Posted by bk @ 09/30/2003 09:35 PM PST

Well, I think I should probably get to doing my homework right now. I've procrastinated long enough!
WB, Panni!
Goodnight, everyone!
Posted by Maya @ 09/30/2003 09:36 PM PST

Whenever I see "Paulie," I think of "Purlie." Don't ask. :) I'm tired, I guess.
Posted by Laura II @ 09/30/2003 09:36 PM PST

Jason - my name is Leslie, which is close enough to Elsie, and I've been going by my initials in an attempt to avoid being googled by unseemly interlopers from my past internet lives. I'm sure you're all aware of how a post to a message board or mailing list can be preserved online for all eternity, which is not always a good thing if you're trying to avoid nosy people. Ah well.
I am in fact female, and my former job (as of today) was in book sales, whjch was fine but not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Now that I will be having some free time, I am going to try my hand at fiction writing - I tried this when I graduated from college but didn't have the focus/motivation to keep at it. I may also try to get an internship in film sound, which I have always thought sounded (npi, or no pun intended in internet lingo) fascinating. I'm sure there are DRs who are much more familiar with this field than I am..
I am originally from sunny Hawaii, which is about as different as one gets from New York. I love to travel and will be going on two vacations before the end of the year, and I'm really thankful now that I bought the tickets before I got laid off. ;)
Lastly, I have never been to Joe Allen's, but that food sounds delicious.
Posted by LC @ 09/30/2003 09:38 PM PST

Panni -- I am so glad to see you posting again. I miss reading your insights. Actually, this is the first time I have been able to get online at home in almost a month (I know, Tom from Oz, it doesn't seem that long).
Mike - Nice to see you posting again, too. Everyone needs to keep us all informed when they are going to be away for any length of time, so that we don't worry.
Posted by TCB @ 09/30/2003 09:47 PM PST

Have you been away TCB? Good to know your computer is working. Is it fixed or replaced? Good to have another Pacific coaster posting regularly again. We only have a very large pond between us. I crossed it once on a ship (no not a Sailing Ship)and it was really a mill pond. I guess I then realised why it was called "Pacific". Quite a contrast to the wildness of the other big pond.
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/30/2003 10:00 PM PST

I just got word that I have a final audition callback for Fagin in Oliver on Friday night. I need to arrive prepared to do Reviewing the Situation. Hopefully, I can manage to pull the words out of my rear end in that amount of time.
Posted by TCB @ 09/30/2003 10:02 PM PST

I don't want to think about your situation being reviewed if that is where you keep your words TCB. That is picking a pocket or two too many.
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/30/2003 10:04 PM PST

Tom from Oz -- So you crossed the pond once? I wasn't aware that the Titanic was ever in the Pacific.
Posted by TCB @ 09/30/2003 10:12 PM PST

Thanks for the Welcomes Back TCB and Maya. "I'm Reviewing the Situation" is so much fun to do, TCB! I used perform it alone in my room in front of a mirror way back in Theatre School just for the heck of it. (I was - still am - the wrong sex for the part.) Saw Clive Revill as Fagin on Broadway centuries ago. Okay, to bed so I can start writing again really early in the morn.
Posted by Panni @ 09/30/2003 10:26 PM PST

OOps, I just noticed a WB from Jay I failed to acknowledge. NOW to bed.
Posted by Panni @ 09/30/2003 10:31 PM PST

Welcome back Panni! I read EVERY WORD (and even Şõмĕ §ŵēĺļ Š¥ΜßØŁŜ -- I hope everyone can read those) and I'm sure that everyone else does to. Not everyone comments on everything, but I'm sure that we all read (or at least skim) most of what's posted.
Earlier today (actually, just a couple of hours ago) I got Bette Midler's brand new CD, Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook, produced by Barry Manilow! He sings "On a Slow Boat to China" (I love this song) with Bette and Linda Ronstadt sings "Sisters" with her. They all sound really good. I've just finished listening to it and the CD is great! The only thing that I don't like about it is that it's too darn short. There are 11 tracks but the whole CD is only 31 minutes long! That's it! Fortunately I got it at Costco, so I paid less than $13 for it, otherwise I'd be a lot more disappointed.
Posted by George @ 09/30/2003 10:45 PM PST

Wedding hysteria has reached such a pitch, I honestly don't have time to read the notes and comments. Today I gave my lecture on the entire history of musical theatre, illustrated with songs, in two hours. The class was enthusiastic, but, as soon as they left, another set of students came in and I then had to give the same lecture. Four hours of talking and singing. And I didn't use notes. The Black Crook, Trial By Jury - the whole thing, right up to my jokes about Side Show and Les Miserables. Very exhausting. I also got my hair cut at the usual place, so now the request for good barbers in New York is revoked. I can't find one, but I don't need one.
Sent the score to the choir. The musical director got his yesterday. My song at the Donnell went over very well, and it was quite the star-studded event. I had to dash out after singing, though, because I had to play for the Second City school at 7. That's right: I did a 6 o'clock show AND a 7 o'clock show tonight, and got home in time to deal with some of the latest wedding crises.
We tried so desparately to get a wheelchair-accessible theatre for Our Wedding. We failed. I was very sad that we were forced to settle for a theatre with steps. The least these relatives could do is not complain to us now. Sheesh!
Posted by Noel @ 09/30/2003 10:50 PM PST

Hi Panni!
So now we know about VistaVision and widescreen tvs!
Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 03:31 AM PST

Laura: I can do it :)...If push comes to shove, I'll force Drew to take me, if he's still living with us.
Welcome back Panni! I was just thinking today "Where is she? Her work must be really busy."
And a big Welcome to DR Mike too :)
Off to...enjoy...another day of school. Hope YOU all have nice days!
Posted by Sarah @ 10/01/2003 04:32 AM PST

Panni,
Good to hear from you again. I too work at home, and take a routine break at 5:30 to watch Mary Tyler Moore (while preparing vegetables for dinner; think of the time I save, a Pajama Game reference). I mention this fact because MTM is now followed by King of Kensington reruns, which I'm enjoying immensely. Such gentle humor. It holds up very, very well.
Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 10/01/2003 05:28 AM PST

Thanks for the WB's George, Sarah and Dan-in-Toronto! I have to go back into hibernation for the day and write, but I'll check in tonight. And Dan-in-TO, you've made my day. It's wonderful to know that something I did in what now seems like a previous lifetime is still bringing laughter and enjoyment - and actually holds up. And what a kick to think that it follows MTM - a show I still idolize. When I used to do "Guest Lectures" in various places on writng sitcoms, I would always show MTM's "Chuckles Bites the Dust" episode as THE perfect half hour. "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants."
Posted by Panni @ 10/01/2003 06:17 AM PST

Feliz octobre, everyone! I've already had quite the full day...I got up VERY early (8:45...and believe me, that's VERY early for me. I'm usually just now getting up...) and got my hair cut. Its VERY short. In fact, I can't remember when its been this short, but it feels great, so I'm happy. I also paid a visit to the local hardware store and picked up a few mouse traps. They have been baited and set, and now we wait for the dreaded "SNAP!" I'm not looking forward to the disposal of said mouse or, God forbid, mice, but it must be done.
On the way back from the hardware store, I got a lovely breakfast at McDonalds...a sausage biscuit with egg, hashbrown, and Coke. Yes, Dear Readers, I'm starting my day with a big ole dose of caffeine. Now I'm sitting here, writing to you and watching the Maury Povich show in stunned disbelief. In the last fifteen minutes I've seen four women who cheated on their boyfriends/husbands and confessed that their babies may be someone else's...a 90-year old man who strips (that was TRULY disturbing)...a 10-year old boy who beats his mother and steals from her and a 110-pound man who is married to a 350-pound exotic dancer. Do these people really exist? Of course they do...and from the sounds of it, they all come from Kentucky or Tennessee! I'm so proud. :-\
Well, its about time for me to skee-daddle off to MTI. Tonight I may be going to a movie with some friends...including my friend, Megan, who is featured on Donald Feltham's new radio show, singing "I Live and Breathe" from MOBY DICK: The Musical!. She's been out of town since May, and she gets in today around 4:00, so hopefully we'll get to see her.
BK: I'm so glad Benjamin found Paul. Everyone needs a good friend! And I truly laugh out loud every time I read the word "dinkle." Ha!
Posted by Jason @ 10/01/2003 07:46 AM PST

BK... BK... wherefore art thou BK?
Posted by Emily - who's waiting for her new notes @ 10/01/2003 08:53 AM PST

137 and counting.....
Posted by Phil @ 10/01/2003 09:00 AM PST

It's noon EST!
BK is sleeping in...
Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 09:03 AM PST

Censorship is good.
Posted by The Ministry of Defense @ 10/01/2003 09:07 AM PST

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