Haines His Way
Archives => Archive 1 => Topic started by: bk on March 05, 2004, 12:02:50 AM
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Well, you've read the notes, you've understood their deep philosophical meaning, especially the part about the schism and the chasm. "The Schism and The Chasm" - wasn't that a film starring Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison? Let's have loads of lovely Friday postings, shall we?
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I just finished watching Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, which I realize isn't a new film, but I'm fond of it. I had the printed commentary by Michael Okuda turned on, which was fun. Der Brucer and I got the six original films in their "collector's edition" versions, boxed set, so I'll be happily Okuda-ing for a little while.
Buster and Bonnie are happily asleep on my bed, having played and played all day and into the night. Except for the occasional chewed shoe or pillow, they're a good pair of dogs.
Time for a late-nite snack.
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Well, unbeknownst to me, none other than Mr. Bruce Kimmel was on my VCR tonight. The lovely wife and I decided to revisit some old tapes of SCTV that I had tape years ago when I had a satellite system called ON tv. The quality was wretched as even with this so-called system I still had ghosts and shadows, but the content was, as always, hilarious( SCTV should be ripe for complete season DVDs). But right in between episodes some strange show came on with a JAMES BOND parody opening to a John Barry/Bond pastiche song called HEARTBREAKER very funny, then a cast scroll started and we saw the name Bruce Kimmel. It turns out this was something called 4 Likely Stories...skits and vignettes and parodies...a funny one with Howard Hesseman as a shlock-meister director of grade-D drive-in movies getting a serious retrospective from French television...And there was also a promo for the BARRY! concert -- a take-off on Barry Manilow called Barry! The Coming Out Concert. And who should be playing Mr. Manilow in a blonde curly wig and powder blue tux, but our own Mr. Kimmel. Very funny. And though I believe Mr. Guy Haines may have dubbed Mr. Kimmel's singing voice, Mr. Kimmel wrote all the hilarious spoof songs (maybe even the entire spoof promo) with titles like AT THE RAMROD. At the end credit scrawl, I also noticed that Mr. Kimmel also wrote the wonderful Bond/Barry song at the opening of the show. We laughed and were impressed.
On the DVD will probably either be the Burton/Gielgud Hamlet (the famous Electronovision!...will only be showed once!) which I have seen before and remember as being one of the best Hamlets I have ever seen for clarity of verse-speaking. Or I might opt for the Olivier version of a Long Day's Journey Into Night.
Does anyone remember William Redfield's wonderful journal (as a series of letters) about being in the Burton/Gielgud Hamlet, LETTERS TO AN ACTOR? One of the best show biz books about the acting process/acting profession ever...and lots of raconteurish tales as well.
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DVD Watching: Select episodes from the first four seasons of Babylon 5
And I wanted to share this with all you wonderful dear readers. I received an email today from someone from Argentina who came across my Bruce Kimmel tribute site at www.brucekimmel.com (http://www.brucekimmel.com) and wanted to get in touch with Bruce. I directed him to this site and put him in contact with Bruce. So keep all that wonderful karma (I really believe in this) spewing forth from you because you never know who you might touch and all that good Karma might come back to you as well.
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Dear BK, I too loved SCHOOL OF ROCK, and I want to put a plug in here for those amazingly talented children who actually played their own instruments. The pianist and guitarist are really excellent, and I think this reality shows real awareness from the production team. I could get on my soapbox, too, and yell about the decline of overall musical education in schools but that might lead to a discussion of more political anger, like no funding in education for the arts with lots of money going to sports, so I'll stop there.
A confession: I didn't post yesterday since I stink at anagrams and spent most of the day trying to decipher Eva Marie Saint. I prefer Benjamin Kritzer's freeform connect-the-dots (a hint). And I can transpose to any key at the tickle of an ivory, but I cannot control the letters in an anagram. There are 13 letters in her name, but I kept coming up with words totalling 15 letters. So, any day you force an anagram on me, I'm calling in sick.
In the DVD: Connie Francis and WHERE THE BOYS ARE
CD: Classical today: Dvorak piano quiintets, Borodin string quartets (the source for KISMET's "And This Is My Beloved" and "Baubles Bangles And Beads"), Schubert's "Trout Quintet" and Saint-Saens" "Carnival of the Animals" and other chamber music.
VCR: Nothing this weekend. I have a show to finish.
DR Charles Pogue, LETTERS FROM AN ACTOR was in print (and may still be) all during the 80s when I worked at Drama Book Shop. I read it right after it was published and still think it an amazing book.
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Happy Friday! So many lovely night time posts to read!
Feel better GABE! Good positive vibes to Rachel so that she can set the wheel spinning!
JMK I love that picture of the Gibbons house!
DRelmoore3003 - I hope you enjoy the commentary on WHERE THE BOYS ARE by Paula Prentiss as much as I did. It is just the kind of commentary I love....someone or ones involved in the film sit and talk while they watch it....
DVD Player - Hammer Double Feature "The 4-Sided Triangle" and "X the Unknown" - both interesting, 1950's British sci-fi - if only the men weren't so - homely.
CD Player - Babalu Music, Musical Moments from "I Love Lucy"......'Waters of the Minnetonka'...."Co-ome he-re...."
"Ahhh-ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....uh-uh!"
VCR - Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie!
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Oh! Electronovision - was the Carol Lynley version of HARLOW ever released in any home media format?
I am saving our Allison Hayes picture of the week for tomorrow, March 6, which would have been her 74th birthday!! ;D
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Work CD:
The new Jamie de Roy and Friends (Volume 5). All the songs are about animals. Paige Price does Little Lamb, Emily Skinner sings The Puppy Song, a group called Zaz does When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along (a Benjamin Kritzer reference), Kerry Butler does Lion Tamer and so on. I like it a lot.
Dionne Warwick sings the Bacharach & David Songbook
OBC of Follies
OBC of Mack and Mabel
We are in the midst of some small home improvement projects (and I've been in a previously mentioned theatre-going frenzy) so we don't have much in the VCR. Two's Company was not on this week and it won't be on for another 3 weeks since Channel 21 in Long Island is in the midst of a 4 week fundraiser. We do have Angels in America to watch but otherwise, it's slim pickens for the video unless we rent something or go to the library and borrow something.
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DR BEN - if it's Slim Pickens, I suggest BLAZING SADDLES (Somebody's gonna have to go back for a shit load of nickels!) or DR STRANGELOVE (I told you guys to quit messin' around on the radio).
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JRand, LOL. I won't even go back and correct the misspelling. I didn't notice it until you mentioned it.
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I am up at this ungodly hour because Gabe started crying at 3:30 a.m., and for some reason if I am awakened between 3 and 4 in the morning, I cannot get back to sleep. Is that genetic? Let's say it is.
Here's a kind of funny photo I got in the mail yesterday. Read the caption for insight into the genesis of American method acting. Why didn't they do exercises like that when I was studying acting? ::)
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Jose, it's 8:22am! What are you doing up at this hour??? Oh, that's right, you have to go play at auditions. Hope it's not too many versions of (insert tired old audition song here).
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Good Morning!
Slept well last night - I was more wiped out after yesterday's auditions than I thought I was, I guess. *I also think the down-filled duvet/comforters had something to do with that. :)
Media Check: Hmmm... Children of Eden OCR - And I also found out yesterday that I'll be heading up to NYC next Thursday for rehearsals! ;D
OK - I'm rushing since I need to start getting ready for the 240-ish auditions today...
See you at dinner!
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Jose, it's 8:22am! What are you doing up at this hour??? Oh, that's right, you have to go play at auditions. Hope it's not too many versions of (insert tired old audition song here).
BINGO! (See above post.)
;)
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VHS: This week's Enterprise season finale, which is another goldurn cliff-hanger, but it pretty much telegraphed how it will be resolved, since the humanoid Xindi are ready to break with the reptilian Xindi on major destroy-the-human-race-before-they-destroy-us issues.
This, of course, is due to Captain Archer's pursuasive diplomacy. "With so little to be sure of," he sang, "come on and play wiz me. Simple as A B C." The humanoid Xindi are in Group A, and the reptilians in Group One.
CD Player: Betty Hutton, Satins and Spurs. I saw it at Borders and I just had to have it. I mean, it lifts and separates.
DR Elmore: I will take pity on you.
EVA MARIE SAINT =
MEATIER AVIANS
MARINES AVIATE
VARIATE INSEAM
ANIMATE VARIES
ANEMIA VERITAS
ANAEMIA RIVETS
A VANITIES MARE
REANIMATE VISA
VISIT MEAN AREA
TRIM AVIAN ASEA
RAVE MANIA SITE
SAME VINE TIARA
VAIN TEARS, AMIE!
ARISE, VAIN MEAT!
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Zaz? Who's in this Zaz? I may know some of 'em.
Welcome back to the Talk Zone (that's an anagram).
Early in the posting day, but it seems like names keep getting dropped of theatres where my shows premiered. The Christmas Bride played at The William Redfield Theatre. The theatre still exists but has been renamed for somebody less famous (!). All I can say is, They Couldn't Compare To You, Bill. Area 51 was at The Sanford Meisner Theatre, across from Chelsea Piers, which had absolutely nothing to do with Sanford Meisner. I just heard that Tony Lizzul, the chatty fellow who ran the place, died this week. I'll never forget his confidence that an audience member in a wheelchair could be lifted up the stairs. Tony was a thin fellow . . . did he think he could enlist the cast?
CDs: Hey Love (the revue of songs by Mary Rodgers), some Big Band era compilation, and James Naughton - an actor who can be heard saying the word "erections" on TV. (Yes, that kind.)
DVD: Saturday Night Fever
VCR: A Thousand Clowns (my favorite play, filmed with much of the Broadway cast)
Jose, if you play Cy Coleman's When In Rome (I Do as the Romans Do), tell me how it goes. (I coached it.)
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What IS Sanford Meisner doing with his right hand?
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Zaz members are (as listed in the CD booklet)
Vocalists: David Arthur Bachrach, Maryanne Murray, Lynn Wilson, Mark Wolff
Piano: Rod Housen; Bass: Maryanne McSweeney
Arrangement: Elise Bretton; Drums/Percussion: Rex Benincasa; Electric Guitar: Kevin Kuhn; Saxophone: Dave DePalma; Violin: Bob Mastro
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Evidently a Justin Timberlake, if you catch my drift.
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LOL....call the FCC!
DRBEN I almost forgot THE COWBOYS! ::)
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CD - Julie Wilson (& Friends) in London - a collection of recordings from the early 50s that are now Public Domain in England
DVD - Some of the newly released MGM classics like Great Ziegfeld, Grand Hotel, Goodbye Mr. Chips & two versions of Gaslight (this was brought to you by the letter G).
VHS - Nothing at the moment
Cassette - I've just started listening to the set of 40 Jack Benny Programs. The first episode was the first show he ever hosted in 1932. Practically none of the Benny characteristics were in place yet. Of interest to readers of this here site is that the female singer was Ethel Shuttea (not sure of spelling), later the original "Broadway Baby" in FOLLIES.
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DR Elmore3003 - in going over the many days of posts I missed while on the road, I savored your your kind praise of my book! Thanks for reading it. Nuthin' a writer enjoys more than to have some appreciative someone actually spend the time and read the book!
So, gang, thanks to BK's injudicious mention of it, I wend my way westward, thinking only of a frozen U-No Bar. Oy. Have a swell day, catch ya when I can. p
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Happy Good morning to everyone! :D
VCR: FLOWING GOLD starring Pat O'Brien (who I always enjoy), John Garfield and some chick called Frances Farmer, whoever that is.
Also taped a couple of Jean Harlow movies and one Clara Bow movie which I will try to watch this weekend.
CD: Nothing much but some more of those Bollywood CDs. I have just 2 left that I have not listened to, out of the 30 that I won on Ebay.
DVD: Rented THE GURU last night at DR JRand's suggestion and will likely try to watch that this evening!
This afternoon will be going to the movies with my buddy Mark to see STARSKY AND HUTCH. The reviews I have read are positive so I am expecting it should be lots of fun!
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Directed by BK oft-mentioned Alfred E. Green! FF's most frequent director (I don't think she ever chased him around the set with a flyswatter, which may have something to do with it).
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LOL JMK...yes MBARNUM you will enjoy FG with FF... And I think you will really like THE GURU. Report please at the end of viewing.
I agree DRPENNYO - I am now thinking of the U-NO ice cream bar and wondering if anyone ever ate a U-NO while playing a game of Uno?
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DR MBarnum, our local reviewer called STARSKY AND HUTCH the best gay comedy "never" made. Can't wait to read your opinion of it.
I'm going tonight to Gay Bingo. Done once a month as a fund raiser for RAIN (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network), it brings out hundreds of people for a hilarious evening and a very worthwhile cause. Looking forward to it. Tonight's theme: Fairy-Tale Bingo.
ELECTRONOVISION! Hadn't thought about it in years, but to my knowledge, the only three productions were HAMLET, HARLOW (Carol Lynley version), and STOP THE WORLD I WANT TO GET OFF. Were there any others?
STOP THE WORLD was issued on home video, but I've only run across HARLOW once many years ago on some local station chopped up and unwatchable. I never saw it for sale, but that doesn't mean it wasn't. According to Leonard Maltin's book, HARLOW has not been released on home video.
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Media Check:
CD - ERNEST IN LOVE (OCR)
laserdisc - NELL (the DVD is coming out soon, and I wanted to see if I liked it enough to re-purchase)
DVD - ANGEL - Season 1 (disc 4) followed by THE DAMNED.
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In case you missed my heartfelt thank you's posted late last night, DRs... Thank you, thank you, thank you (that's THREE thank you's) for all the lovely birthday greetings! If you care to look, a more detailed thank you is posted late yesterday. Otherwise, I hope this will do. And have I mentioned?...Thank you!
FS Pogue - Yes, William Redfield's book is one THE best. I saw the Burton Hamlet at the O'Keefe Center in Toronto when it first opened. Went with my mother and sat way in the back of the balcony -- but it was still thrilling. Saw John Gielgud sitting in the lobby at intermission and la Liz was in the audience.
As you like this sort of thing, if it's of interest, I could lend you EVERY INCH A LEAR, which is a rehearsal journal of the 1979 Stratford production of Lear, starring Peter Ustinov. It's written by Maurice Good, an Irish actor with whom I worked at the Shaw Festival in Caesar and Cleopatra.
A side note: I made (and won) a somewhat juvenile and wholly unprofessional bet regarding something I would do to Mr. Good during a performance. He was playing Apollodorus and I was either Charmian or Iras, can't recall (I alternated the roles). In one scene I was lounging beside him in my diaphanous gown as he lay on some sort of Roman chaise in his shortie tunic. Now I have to add that we'd been running and touring for a long time and we (the company, that is) were bored out of our minds. One of the actors bet me that I wouldn't have the guts to reach under Maurice's tunic - I'm talking right under, folks, if you get the picture - as he was mid-speech in a rather complex dialogue scene with Caesar. The second part of the bet was whether he would or would not lose a beat in his dialogue. Well, natch, I reached under (he and his wife and I were friends, so it was fine, just fine to do such a scandalous thing) ...and Mr. Good, the ultimate pro, did not miss a beat. Although the look he gave me was priceless. I was a bad girl back then. Now I'm good. Very very good. Almost angelic. Really.
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JMK - Hope Gabe is doing well today.
More good vibes his way.
And Rachel thanks you all, DRs, for the Wheel of Fortune vibes sent her way.
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Yes DRPANNI, sometimes the audience doesn't even know it is missing the BEST show!
Thanks for the Electronovision info, MATTH - and that was my general knowledge as well. Now and then a VHS copy shows up on EBAY, but I think it is taped from television and bidding gets very steep! ;D Have fun at BINGO!
Of course, Judy Garland was originally cast as Jean's mother opposite Carol Lynley, but dropped out - and Ginger Rogers was afforded her final feature film role!
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Well, Dear Readers, today I found out that my aunt (to whom I am very close...I just visited them at Christmas, and even lived with my aunt and uncle for a couple of years in my late teens) has ovarian cancer.
This comes on top of a couple of other recent, extremely negative, developments in my life. So basically, this post is nothing but a shameless plea for good vibes, well wishes, whatever you have to give to me at this time because I am feeling really, really, really low and just generally not at all happy with this thing called life.
Just want to add that I hope, as everyone else has already mentioned, that Gabe quickly recovers from his accident of yesterday.
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[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]EXCELLENT VIBES TO LULU[/move]
(who brings so much to this site)
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I am looking forward to EXPRESSO BONGO now its way to me. A couple of people write at epinions.com that in the original version, Laurence Harvey's character had three songs that are not included.
Mr BK you mentioned yesterday that you liked the movie, do you know if this is the case - are some songs missing? I know the movie was based on a musical or musical play, so maybe Harvey's character sang the songs in the stage version and they weren't used in the film.... I have NEVER seen either version, but certainly look forward to Harvey's performance and that of favorite CLIFF RICHARD as Bongo Herbert!
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[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]JJJJJJJJ[/move]
On their way DRLULU!!!
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Lulu, let me reciprocate the vibes I received yesterday:
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If I remember correctly, several songs from the play are dropped in favor of new ones for Mr. Richard, but I can't swear to that. It does have a few numbers and they're very good.
Pogue: The Likely Stories show was a great mad place to be. That show served as the directorial debuts of Danny de Vito and Rob Reiner. In fact, David Wechter and myself were the only ones who had done movies and directed before. My "thing" on the show became these little "coming attraction" things and I loved doing them. In addition to the Bond parody (which I only wrote), I wrote and directed the Barry thing, an "adult" soap opera parody called The Lays of Our Lives (which featured Gerritt Graham, Deborah Lee Scott, and Timothy Carey as a gynocologist!), a film parody of Tess (with Miss Scott and Mr. Graham), a "young comics" night at the Improv, featuring a six-year-old, Elephant! a "Broadway on Cable" version of The Elephant Man (YEARS before The Tall Guy) and my favorite of them all, a Leone parody called A Fistful of Boots, with me as Clint, and Timothy Carey as the bad guy. Unfortunately, they ran out of time and money on the latter and it was never aired. I have it on Betamax and should have it transfered to DVD.
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And for Lulu, the best Hainsies/Kimlets vibes and xylophones, which I am here to tell you are potent.
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Work CD:
The new Jamie de Roy and Friends (Volume 5). All the songs are about animals. Paige Price does Little Lamb, Emily Skinner sings The Puppy Song, a group called Zaz does When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along
So, I DO know Zaz: Lynne, David & Maryanne. Good for them for getting on an album.
Good vibes, Lulu. I've never attempt this before...
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Thanks for the BONGO INFO, MR BK.
And yes you must have those productions transferred to DVD. Did that series ever have a singing Pirate segment?
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No singing pirate that I recall.
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DR LULU - The best of GOOD VIBES to you!
And although this may seem empty and fatuous to you right now when you're feeling low, let me tell you -- speaking as someone who's been to the lowest of low places -- it DOES get better. It can even get great again. Hang in there. You have friends at HHW who care about you and send splendiferous and potent vibes your way. I suppose right about now I could burst into a chorus of.... The sun will come out Tooooo-mor-row...
But I won't. And it will.
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Thanks MR BK - once again I have confused my television programming.
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Some of you who are fans of 50s sci-fi, tell me your impressions of IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE. I'm not sure I've ever seen it, but with all the reviews I've read saying it's a precursor to ALIEN and given my love of things like THEM and TARANTULA, I felt I had to buy a used copy of it ($8).
Impressions anyone?
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It is a lot of fun. Not brilliant, but fun.
I've just put up a longer version of my School of Rock thoughts over at The DVD Place (http://dvds.allaccessworld.com). I do wish more of you who love DVDs and films and TV would mosey on over there and start threads and post to existing threads. It's the only way we'll be popular with the populace.
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To our lovely Lulu
~~~~~~~~~~~~Best possible vibes~~~~~~~~~
repeated a hundred times
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Best thoughts to Gabe and Lulu and the people in their lives.
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Impressions anyone?
"I got a million of 'em! Hah-cha-cha-cha!"
"Coochy-coochy!"
"Here's lookin' at you, kid."
"Damn you! Damn you all to hell!"
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Interesting that Ginger replaced Judy in HARLOW; she did the same thing in BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY.
Hugh Jackman will be back as Tony host this year, which means BOY FROM OZ will get a song even if it is not nominated as "Best Musical".
Why I hate the Musician's Union: When Jerome Robbins's sister's death delayed the opening of the FIDDLER Revisal by an hour the musicians demanded an hour's overtime! The producers claim they won't pay it. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. At least the Stagehands Union refused to go along with this.
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DRJAY - Just read a very positive review in the LA Times of a movie which sounds right up your esoteric alley: DOWN WITH LOVE, a Hungarian film - basically a one character tour de force. Sounds extremely interesting. If you see it, please post a full report.
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DRJAY - Just read a very positive review in the LA Times of a movie which sounds right up your esoteric alley: DOWN WITH LOVE, a Hungarian film - basically a one character tour de force. Sounds extremely interesting. If you see it, please post a full report.
Thanks for the tip, DR P/A. I saw that the review was in today's paper, but I have not yet read it.
By the way (BTW in internet lingo), I do believe you mean Down By Love. Down With Love was the fekachteh Rock Hudson/Doris Day parody (or was it supposed to be an hommage?) with Renee Zellwegger and Ewan McGregor that ran earlier last year that should have been nominated for best costume, best production design and best set decoration awards at the Oscars but was not.
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Re: coochy coochy. One of the most unintentionally hilarious things I ever saw on Merv Griffin (who was a master of the unintentionally hilarious) was one day when he insisted that Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77 perform a song with Charo. This was at the height of Sergio's "I am now an important and deadly serious jazz artist" phase (shortly after the release of his way ahead of its time collection of Afro-Brasilian and Ioruba chants "Primal Roots"). Charo sat on a stool and strummed one chord repeatedly on a guitar (even as whatever song they were doing--which thankfully has been permanently blocked from my memory--kept changing chords) as Sergio and company looked extremely pained and hostile. It was a moment.
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Does anything change when I reach 200 posts? Let's see, shall we?
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DR MATTH - click here to read my Epinion of IT! THE TERROR BEYOND SPACE!
http://www.epinions.com/content_41611267716
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MBarnum, if you're thinking about ordering Kritzerland from this here site, I'd do so. I'm down to my last three copies.
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Many good and happy healing vibes to JMK's Gabe and to DR Lulu!
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]:) :D ;D 8) ::) :D :D ;D :D :) [/move]
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What?
Not ONE COMMENT AT ALL about last night's Celebrity Survivor "surprise"?
Sue Hawk accusing Richard Hatch of "sexually violating" her during a competition!!!
Richard was voted off last week and Sue (tough, gruff trucker Sue) went into hysterics when Jeff Probst tried to suss out what had happened.
Sue left, much to the joy of pained, but relieved teammates.
Wow! And according to Ruben, Sue had said, "I'm going to sue that ____ for $10 million!"
I'm thinking she didn't feel so much violated as she felt disrespected by Richard whom she believes "She" handed the million-dollar prize in the first "Survivor."
Naked Richard had, apparently, been avoiding other players but got "in your face" with Sue and rubbed against her.
It took a day or so, but the more she thought about it the madder and more distraught she became.
Hell....I would have thrown a hissy fit right then and there if it had been me Richard rubbed against!
(Not making light of it...just stating fact).
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Ack! The Broadway tour of Chicago begins next week and so I am scrambling around to get tickets for myself and George!!! I had seen ads for it on TV for months but I didn't know until today that it starred Mr. Tom Wopat!!! So now I want to go!! Wish me luck!
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Re: Survivor
I had a feeling that Sue was going to walk off the show when I saw it was 8:35pm and they had not done the reward challenge. I had heard rumors a while back that another Survivor (other than Jenna M) would walk out. So it made sense.
Both Sue Hawk and Richard Hatch were on the Early Show today (together). She seemed to have calmed down a lot. They were able to sit beside each other nicely.
Apparently when Richard tells the story, his tribe told him to undress for that challenge to distract the opposing team. And when he saw Sue coming towards him during that challenge, he couldn't understand why she chose to take the pole he was on. Since Kathy was behind them, I don't think he thought he had any choice, but to pass Sue. He even said he was like, "why is sue coming towards me?" He was sort of upset with her.
Sue said that she is not suing over this.
She also said that Jeff (Probst) told her team that they had to go down the pole Richard was on (Richard didn't know this at the time).
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Good afternoon hainsies and kimlets!
It's raining here in a pretty steady downpour. The only problem is that it's also just a few degrees above freezing, so the rain is mighty cold.
I found out a couple of weeks that the head-honchos at the place where I work have given the most recently hired office assistant her notice due to her overall bad attitude and lack of useful skills. They have told her that it is because the organization can't afford her - which is a complete and utter lie. Now the woman is trying to negotiate a method where she comes in fewer hours whereby we might be able to continue to work with her and save money. It's pretty desperate and is generally not fun. :(
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Good vibes to Gabe!!! JMK, I think it's time to rent all the best and baddest movies around a feed the kid ice cream until he can no longer move (not to mention have any notice of his injury). When in doubt, turn to sugar and sedentary couch potato-ing. ;)
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More vibes to Lulu. After working at a support community for people living with cancer the advice I can give you is this: the most important thing is to be there for your aunt when she wants you to be and not there when she doesn't. Make sure she gets out and about when she feels up to it because isolation, which sadly often comes with illness, is the worst possible treatment.
I'm off to class and then to the McGill Savoy Society's 40th Anniversary Presentation of Pirates of Penzance! Woohoo, Yippee!
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Yes, DR Jay, the title is Down BY Love. And what the hell does that mean? These Hungarians and their fractured English!
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For those of you who were fans of the late Lynn Thigpen, I just found out that she was nominated for a daytime Emmy as Luna in BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE. What a fitting postumous tribute this is. I hope she wins.
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I brought us to page 3. Hooray!
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DRMBARNUM does Tom Wopat play Roxie or Velma?
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Bruce, you worked with Timothy Carey? I've heard he was an absolute, eccentric madman. Is this true? I remember fondly his brilliant performance in PATHS OF GLORY. Danny DeVito's directing piece was in the show I have on tape. The Hesseman piece was directed by Peter Bonerz. I'd love to see the other episodes. I wish the quality wasn't so god-awful on the one I have.
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I was at the Los Angeles Opera last night, Dear Readers, to see/hear a new production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Robert Wilson (he of Einstein on the Beach fame) directed and also handled the design and lighting design. This production is based on one he did about ten years ago for the Bastille Opera in Paris.
L.A. Opera clearly took what they thought was a safe bet on this show. They added six or seven non-subscription performances to the usual eight performance subscription run, and have been widely advertising it, figuring, I am sure, that Mr. Wilson's imprint on this very popular opera will bring in the crowds.
Mr. Wilson's trademark minimalism was at the heart of this production. The sets were stripped to Zen-like simplicity. Most of the stage floor was devoted to raked pebbles, much as you might find in a Zen garden. There was a small square of bamboo floor that represented a house, and a polished stone curved walkway. In Acts II and III (which were performed without a break) a bamboo sort of boardwalk was added. Painterly lighting effects were projected on a screen that filled the back of the stage.
The direction was to produce an affect as minimal as the sets. The singer/actors, when they moved, did so deliberately, and used stylized postures and gestures. The costumes were stylized, too, and bordered on a sci-fi look for all except Butterfly, whose gowns (white in Act I, black in Acts II and III) suggested the simplest elements of kimono form.
I'm game for novel approaches to standard stage fare, and I have seen how simple stage movement, counterpointed with emotional music, can create a wonderful effect. For this production, I might be willing to forgive how Mr. Wilson ignored specific references in the libretto (i.e., to rooms in the house, its sliding screens, glasses of whiskey and--critically--a sword, all of which were nowhere to be seen, or even Butterfly asking Suzuki to bring her son to her, when he is standing all of five feet away.) What I cannot forgive, however, is how Mr. Wilson's approach simply drained this Madama Butterfly of its emotional power. Madama Butterfly is based on a Belasco play, for heaven's sake. Instead of heart-wrenching emotional display, what we got last night was icy affectation.
All might have been saved by the musical elements of this show, but, alas, that was not to be. Kent Nagano, who is usually a brilliant conductor, conducted what must be the slowest Butterfly I have ever heard, perhaps to mirror the pace of the movement on the stage. L.A. Opera triple cast the Butterfly and double cast the Pinkerton, Sharpless and Suzuki, in each case with people I've never heard of. Amongst the cast last night, the strongest singer (and actor, for that matter) was Greg Fedderly in the role of........Goro. The principals were adequate, at best.
My advice to the L.A. Opera: next time, consider shifting some of that production and advertising budget into the budget for vocal talent. Put capable singer/actors (big-named or not) into your productions and trust me, the people will come.
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Many thanks to my well-wishers.
Panni, what you wrote is not the least bit empty and fatuous; quite the opposite. I know what you say is true, and they are comforting words.
Emily, your advice is excellent; unfortunately, my aunt lives 1500 miles away, so my ability to follow your advice will be somewhat limited. All I can do is call, write, and perhaps wangle an occasional visit here and there. I already expressed to her that she should not hesitate to let us know if and when there is anything we can do, any way we can be of help. At this distance, however, my words rang false even to my ears, no matter how well-meant they were.
Again, thanks to everyone. You're really great people. :)
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In my VCR: a blank tape to tape tonight's episode of "Life With Bonnie"
In my DVD player: nothing
In my CD player at work: the new recording to Sherry! and after that, the "Broadway Premiere Recording" of Amour with the wonderful Melissa Erico and Malcolm Gets.
VHS: This week's Enterprise season finale, which is another goldurn cliff-hanger, but it pretty much telegraphed how it will be resolved, since the humanoid Xindi are ready to break with the reptilian Xindi on major destroy-the-human-race-before-they-destroy-us issues.
WFO, this week's episode was not the season finale. There won't be another original episode until mid-April, but the season doesn't ends until May...at least according to startrek.com (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/ENT/episodes/index.html?season=3). They still haven't finished the story.
And TD, check your mail in a few days!!
~~~~ Best Vibes to Lulu!! ~~~~
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DRJAY - thanks for BUTTERFLY review. It seemed like a good idea somehow gone astray. The design sounds intriguing nonetheless!
But a BUTTERFLY that doesn't satisfy musically....well....it is my favorite opera and I don't stay long if it's not being well done....it's too painful.
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The main reason I wasn't around last night was that I saw a local high school production of Children of Eden that the daughter of a friend was in. It was very minimalistic but effective. For the animals in both acts, they used flags with animals painted on them instead of costumes. I thought that it worked quited well, except that in the second act, they didn't have pairs of animal flags, just all different kinds.
Tonight I will see a high school production of Into the Woods that the daughter of another friend is in. So I'll be out and about again.
As for anagrams, it's quite fun reading them after someone (or something) has made them up, but me trying to make them up just makes my head hurt...so I don't try to do it very often. ::)
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DRMBARNUM does Tom Wopat play Roxie or Velma?
LOL! I don't know JRand53, but if I can get backstage to meet him you I will do my best to find out!!
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:o
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...So basically, this post is nothing but a shameless plea for good vibes, well wishes, whatever you have to give to me...
There's nothing shameless about such a plea, Lulu. Good vibes to both your aunt and yourself.
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I'm waiting for a high school production of "The Faculty: The Musical"
If only the authors would get off their buttcheeks and turn it into a musical.
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Lulu, best of vibes to you and your family.
I have always sent cards and continued to send them during the ups as well as the down times of a long term illness. Sometimes it is all you can do when someone close to you is far away.
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DRMBARNUM does Tom Wopat play Roxie or Velma?
Which of the two roles has the costume with the fishnet stockings?
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Media check:
DVD: "A Night With Secret Garden"
CD 1. "Blue Train" John D Loudermilk
2."The EP Collection" Freddy Cannon
3. "The Very Best of" Damita Jo
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elmore3003 you missed the cheat link yesterday, courtesy of WFO. http://www.wordsmith.org/anagram/
JMK is Gabe feeling better today?
CD is being temperamental today. :P
DVD MAMBO ITALIANO
TIVO JUDAS
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Tomovoz I stumbled upon the group, The Secret Garden by accident. I had worn out my tape of the musical, SECRET GARDEN when I happened to see a CD titled, SONGS OF THE SECRET GARDEN. Rushing, I grabbed the CD, purchased it and brought it home. You can imagine my surprise when I listened to my new purchase. ??? This was several years ago and I still haven’t replaced my tape-one of these days.
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DR Jane. I have three of their Cds. I thought Jose was the only person in the States who had heard of them. They are touring here in the next few weeks. They won the Eurovision song contest (an ABBA reference!) the year "Riverdance" was born. ""Rivedance was about 10 minutes long and was the enteretainment provided by host city Dublin.
Secret Garden's song was the Norwegian entry. (MBarnum will be familiar with the Icelandic entries for the festival).
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Tomovoz once I got over my shock of what I had purchased I found I enjoyed the music. I purchased the CD in Ashland. I suspect their music is fairly popular here. I will have to investigate now. :)
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Good afternoon all
Lulu - Many good vibes to you. I do hope things get better for you...
Media check - not much of anything at the moment. I'm currently on a watching cable/listening to car radio kick, for some reason. However, I did throw in FINDING NEMO after the oscars, so that's still in my DVD player.
speaking of which...
Question for anyone who's seen FNDING NEMO - Does anyone else see a similarity between the Marlin/Dory relationship and that of Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby? I'm thinking specifically of the "you mean you don't like me anymore?" scene. Ellen seems to be channeling Kate during that bit. Or maybe i'ts just me? Anyone agree?
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Timothy Carey was certifiable, but I liked him. He had a loony assistant fellow with few teeth who followed him everywhere.
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I believe starting next week, STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE moves to 9 p.m. WEdnesday night on UPN. The network is going to try it in that time period for awhile to see if it can do better than trying to butt heads with SMALLVILLE at 8.
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Thanks for pointing me to your review, DR JRand. I enjoyed reading it. Pretty much what I expected and looking forward to seeing it.
The inner child in me will undoubtedly never die and thus loves movies like this.
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For those in the LA area - listen up, DRJay - the Grammy-winning Takacs String Quartet is playing at the Schoenberg Hall, UCLA on Saturday and Sunday. The complete Beethoven quartet cycle over three two evening performances. They're marvelous! Go see them if you have a chance.
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For those in the LA area - listen up, DRJay - the Grammy-winning Takacs String Quartet is playing at the Schoenberg Hall, UCLA on Saturday and Sunday. The complete Beethoven quartet cycle over three two evening performances. They're marvelous! Go see them if you have a chance.
Dear Reader Panni has appointed herself the keeper of my cultural engagement calendar. ;)
I will have to miss the quartet, though. Tomorrow evening I will be seeing a new play called Wonder of the World, which is playing at the West Coast Ensemble. And on Sunday, I head down to the County of Orange for a big-hat lunch with my Mom, followed by a performance of Candide at Opera Pacific.
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...And on Sunday, I head down to the County of Orange for a big-hat lunch with my Mom...
"I'd like the Fedora, with a little Cloche on the side, please!"
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Sunday, I head down to the County of Orange for a big-hat lunch with my Mom
Does anybody...
still eat...
a hat?
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I am making some luncheon now, then I shall try to write a few more pages.
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Meanwhile, there's this story, which gives new meaning to the phrase "having a senior moment!" (http://polkonline.com/stories/030304/loc_fight001.shtml)
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Der Brucer has the new speakers set up, along with the disc player and amp. He's giving it a test with Raiders of the Lost Ark. Marty had been snoozing on my bed, but raised his head to give a most dignified scowl when the sound of gunfire errupted from the living room. The speakers seem to be doing a good job.
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[move=up,scroll,6,transparent,100%][size=20]Page Four Dance![/size][/move]
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The verdicts are in, and all I can say is...
[size=12][move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]FREE MARTHA!!![/move][/size]
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The verdicts are in, and all I can say is...
[size=12][move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]FREE MARTHA!!![/move][/size]
anagrammed =
HEAR ME FART
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LOL
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anagrammed =
HEAR ME FART
ROTFLMAO!!!
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I have been watching the new Criterion Olivier Richard III and just noticed a funny gaffe--at about 11 minutes before the end of the film, shortly after the battle of Bosworth has gotten underway, there is a nice big white delivery truck speeding down the road in the distance. I have decided the truck is speeding because it is a Horse Delivery for Richard and the driver knows he's late. :)
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anagrammed =
HEAR ME FART
Ah yes, HHW retains its reputation as the qua non salon of intellectual discourse.
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Obviously she's not going to do twenty years and obviously she'll appeal and obviously the trial will cost hundreds of thousands more. It's her first offense - slap her around and be done with it. What is particularly frustrating is that murderers and rapists and thieves who steal from people who can't afford it get off on technicalities or on the whim of a jury. People like William F. Orr's beloved get to do jail time, but these other people who deserve to be put away forever, walk free.
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Lulu - I definitely understand the geographic distance that separates you from your aunt. The attached link is to the Gilda's Club website. I had the wonderful opportunity to work there as both a staff member and volunteer at the Montreal branch and saw how much it can help. If your aunt lives anywhere near one of the many locations, I strongly suggest she check it out (and you too of course, because as a close family member, you too are going through this disease in some way).
www.gildasclub.org (http://www.gildasclub.org)
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Emily Gilda’s Club is far more cheerful than most cancer sites. I enjoyed entering it.
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Lulu - I know that ovarian cancer has a reputation as a fast-moving disease. But my next-door neighbor has been living with it for a number of years. And my mother was diagnosed with it when she was 69 and lived another five years, enjoying herself, even traveling, for quite a bit of that time. So, I don't know how far along in the disease your aunt is, but things may not be quite as dire as they seemed when you first found out about the diagnosis.
Again, I know nothing of her particular circumstances, but am offering up what I do know from experience.
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WFO, this week's episode was not the season finale. There won't be another original episode until mid-April, but the season doesn't ends until May...at least according to startrek.com (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/ENT/episodes/index.html?season=3). They still haven't finished the story.
DR Jed: Thanks for the info. It's so hard to tell what constitutes a "season" of a series any more, since they always break them up into little pieces with reruns. Presumably because production values prevent them from turning out episodes at anything like one per week any more.
Good to know that Captain Archer will be romance-romancing along for a while more, allbeit not naked from the waist down. But then again, the only musical I've seen him in was Ta Da!--anyone remember that one?
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DR Jay, enjoy the CANDIDE; it's directed by my friend Jeffrey Lentz, a wonderful tenor, and conducted by John de Main, who was the musical director for the BABES IN TOYLAND I adapted for ther Houston Grand Opera. Maestro de Main is the best conductor of PORGY AND BESS, and a wonderful musician. I hope you have a great time.
The discussion of MADAMA BUTTERFLY reminds me of the film with Richard Troxell, which I saw on DVD last week. Beautiful film! Some strange touches, though, and I thought the film showed signs of influence from MISS SAIGON, not vice versa.
DR Lulu, I send kind thoughts to your ailing relative.
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DR Jed: Thanks for the info.
You're welcome...but you mean "George," don't you? ;)
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Say, where in tarnation IS everyone? I'm done writing for the day, and I've eaten a hamburger (sans bun) and a sweet potato (allowable once a week).
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USA Today is taking a poll regarding President Bush's proposed Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage. Please vote and forward this to others.
The URL is:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-24-gay-marriage-survey.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-24-gay-marriage-survey.htm)
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No one has anything to say? Tonight I watch American Splendor. What are all of you doing tonight? For example, tonight I watch American Splendor.
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Tonight I'm going to see a local high school production of Into the Woods. I'll leave fairly soon so that I can get something to eat before the show. I'm quite hungry right now, actually...but the show doesn't start until 7:30 and the high school is only about 10 minutes away. After that, I'll come home and watch the tape of "Life With Bonnie" that I set up to tape. After that, who knows? That's what I'm doing tonight.
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Good evening all.
TCB said:
Re:ANAGRAMS - NEW
« Reply #129 on: Yesterday at 08:31:59pm »
Danise, my dear, are you okay? Usually yours posts are jam-packed with delightful stories, but you suddenly seem so quiet. Is everything okay? If not, please let us know what we can do to help.
I can’t thank you enough for your kind words, TCB. I just wasn’t myself for a few days due to many reasons, large and small. Funny how things seem to pile up and hit you all at one time Anyway, it’s over for the most part now.
Well, here we are, March 5th. I started the diet on February 2nd and have lost 13 pound! Yay! Only 2 pound away from being half way there.
My work computer came up with “An unexpected error has occurred.” Which prompted me to ask our tech guy if there ever is an ”expected” error. I’m mean it’s sooo annoying when it’s unexpected. If you expected it, at least you could plan for it. Am I right? He said he’d look into the problem. Frankly, I’m not very hopeful. He has yet to answer any of my other questions though he promised to look into them as well. Sigh.
Getting an answer–now THAT would be unexpected. :D
I’ve finished about half of “Dragon Heart” and am really enjoying it. It has all of my favorite story elements. Dragons, swords, knights and a little sorcery to boot–how could I help but love it?
Speaking of which, does anyone here remember the movie, The Sword and the Sorcerer? I wish I could see it again. I remember it was fun but I think I’ve seen so many of this type of movie that I’m getting my plots mixed up.
The local Ren Fest starts this weekend. I look forward to it every year. It was moved from Largo (which is over thirty miles away from where I live) to Tampa. No more having to cross one of those thrice cursed bridges to get to it! Yay! I haven’t decided which week end I’ll go yet. It depends on if/when a friend of mine wants to go. Strange fellow. I never hear from him all year long, then come Ren Fest time, he calls and says, “So, when are we going?” Stranger still we work in the same building. I’ve said we should do lunch more than once but he never seems to want to go. I don't get it.
Best vibes to Lulu and Gabe . Prayers for your Aunt, Lulu and well wishes, too.
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You're welcome...but you mean "George," don't you? ;)
Of course, I meant Jeorge, not Ged. Uh... And it's so confusing when they spell in French because J is zhi, not jay, and G is zhay, not gee. Gee, I'm sorry I got your name wrong, Jay. You can call me Lizha with a zhi.
Anyway, instead of ranting about all the misery in my life this evening, I realize that I have been receiving more than my fair share of good vibes from this here site and the lovely people aboard her, so it might be better to give back a little:
FOR DEAR READERSON GABE:
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FOR DEAR READERDAUGHTER RACHEL:
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FOR DEAR READER LULU:
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And for anyone else in need:
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What are all of you doing tonight? For example, tonight I watch American Splendor.
For example I will finish cleaning my tiny house, eat a Snow White chocolate cupcake, do some writing, catch up on my bills and read my birthday-gifted Natalie Wood book which I started last night. And I may do some knitting. A busy night in the City of Studio.
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Oh my.....what a strange movie EXPRESSO BONGO...and the girl in the scene MR BK mentioned yesterday is one of the funniest things I have ever SEEN! There is a split screen argument between Laurence Harvey and Sylvia Syms that made me laugh...and Cliff Richard is one weird looking wag!
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And thank you again for all the good vibes for Rachel.
She's very upset tonight. A friend of mine in Boulder told me that a 21-year old friend of her daughter's had hanged himself. She said she thought Rachel might know him. It turns out that not only did she know him, but they had been friends in high school and first year college. She had lost contact with him in the past year, but remembers him as an extremely upbeat person. She asked me how things can change so much in a year. How do you answer a question like that?
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Danise, I do remember THE SWORD & THE SORCERER with Lee Horsely and the lovely Kathleen Beller (what ever happened to her?)...and George Maharis, of all people. I quite enjoyed it's pulpy feel and it also had a very nice score. Glad you're enjoying DRAGONHEART thus far.
Speaking of which, a trip to Amoeba got me a previously viewed (I guess that's polite for "used") DVD of DRAGONHEART (I've already got one...new...but you rarely see it anymore. It's apparently currently out-of-print), as well as a copy of my film DOA. I also got a copy of NOTTING HILL, which the lovely wife has never seen and another box set of the Ely Landau Film Theatre stuff...with IN CELEBRATION, DELICATE BALANCE, THREE SISTERS, HOMECOMING, and MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH. I expect will be watching one of those or NOTTING HILL tonight. Also got a new Brook Benton album called "Songs I Love To Sing"...mostly recognizable standards.
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Me, I hope Martha gets a long stretch at the Big House!
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Beller is, I believe, still married to Thomas Dolby and a mum, but not acting anymore as far as I know. I had dinner with her and her then hubby a few times (the one before Thomas Dolby - maybe I'm wrong about Dolby - maybe it's someone like him) - she's very nice, with a rather wicked sense of humor. She once asked me why I didn't like cats (the animal, not the musical) and I did my standard "cats suck baby's breath" remark. I cannot print her response but it was rather shocking and hilarious at the same time.
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Me, I hope Martha gets a long stretch at the Big House!
Dang! And neither Ida Lupino nor Susan Hayward available to play the doyenne of home environment refinement when they do the movie of her experience behind bars.
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Once more, good vibes to Rachael. :(
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...You can call me Lizha with a zhi...
Sounds to me like Lizha's denturhz are coming loosch again.
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Another thought:
As if (I love sentences that begin with "As if." Don't you?) Hmm, that parenthetic apostrophe seems to have broken the flow. I'll start over:
As if K-Mart didn't already have a big enough barrel full of problems, now they've got stores plastered with the image of a convicted criminal.
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Sounds to me like Lizha's denturhz are coming loosch again.
Or scheesch schanneling Sean Connery.
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Yes, it's Thomas Dolby Kathleen is married to - three children. Her ex was the actor Michael Hoit.
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. She once asked me why I didn't like cats (the animal, not the musical) and I did my standard "cats suck baby's breath" remark. I cannot print her response but it was rather shocking and hilarious at the same time.
You deserved whatever she said. I wish I had been there. ;D
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It wasn't directed at me - it was just an off-the-cuff remark that was hilarious in its raunchiness.
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Gay Bingo was a load of fun. $8000+ raised for a good cause, and lots of campy laughs, skits, and general R-rated naughty (but not nasty) fun. I didn't get close to a bingo, but met some nice people. Looking forward to the next one in April.
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Hello all. Very tired. Long day. Long week. Not that the day and/or week were bad, just long.
Anyway, media check...
DVD - threw in one of the The West Wing Season One discs again the other day
VCR - empty
CDs - Paul Simon "Graceland"; She Loves Me OBC; Blood, Sweat, & Tears: Greatest Hits; Mandy Patinkin "Experiment"
Good vibes to one and all, all and one!
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We have had a fabulous dinner.
Well, a good dinner.
It was OK.
Roast pork, which ended up a wee bit dry. Baked potatoes and broccoli florets.
Trying to plan ahead for dinner later over the weekend, we picked up some Brussels sprouts, which leaves me to dig around and find out how to pair them with roasted chestnuts. It's supposed to be a classic combo, but I've never had them served together and haven't the faintest idea as to how to cook them.
And there's bad news: our grocery store of choice doesn't have dried chiles of any kind. They have chili powder, but that's not the same thing. Hopefully I'll be able to find someplace nearby that has dried chiles, so I can make chili the way it should be made.
I like to soak the chiles and then puree and strain them before adding them to the seared meat, preferably chuck, cubed not ground. Let's face it, how authentic is ground meat in chili? Do you think the Cookies at their chuckwagons had time to waste grinding that meat? Of course not! They used real meat, cubed and simmered in a good broth until it was tender. Ground beef wasn't brought into the picture until Depression-era housewives were trying to make their families good meals on a highly restricted budget, and ground meat was cheaper than chuck or most other cuts.
It was the Depression-era housewife that introduced beans as part of the dish, rather than something served with the chili. Again, it was a sensible thing for them to do, a way of extending the meal in a healthy way while holding down the budget. Adding pasta was another tactic (hello, chili-mac!), and so was adding canned tomatoes.
Me, I think Depression-era chili deserves a hero's congratulations, but I like my chili the old Texan way. Like I say, I like to start with a good slab of chuck, and dice it into 1-inch cubes, or maybe a little smaller. Frankly, I like to mix chuck and pork together, starting with some slab bacon or salt pork, diced and rendered down in the Dutch oven. Toss the chuck and pork butt in some seasoned flour, and sear the meat in the rendered fat. (Dieters can skip the rendering part.) Add in the pureed chiles, some extra hot chili powder (if possible, from a single type of chile; it's less likely to have been cut with other spices), some cumin and oregano, diced yellow onions, some bell peppers that I've diced up, some minced garlic and minced jalapenos, some unsweetened powdered cocoa, add in some beef stock and beer (the darker the better), and just let it all simmer away over low heat for a few hours.
Yes, you heard that right. Cocoa. It tames the chiles, and adds a really interesting background note. Very yum.
When it's all tender and smells exactly right, it's almost dinner time. At this point I like to add maybe a tablespoon of corn meal, which thickens up the broth and adds another interesting flavor. The beans (red kidney or black beans) can be served on the side, and toppings like cheddar, sour cream, green onions, oyster crackers...
Am I making everyone hungry yet?
And, for all you Atkins people, follow this general recipe and simply don't add the questionable stuff that would be upping the carbs or overdoing the fats, you've got yourself and your fellow Atkinsers something to feast upon! Yeah, this is more about method than actual proportions; you're all smart, you can figure out what to do.
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Well, folks, maybe I have a different take on Martha than others. I never liked the lady. I never liked her show. I thought she had the personality of a conger eel. But when the story hit, and the media started to hound her and trumpet her wheeling and dealing like she had stolen millions--while the thieves at Enron seem to be finding all possible ways to slip through the cracks of the justice system--then I started rooting for Martha. Oh yes, I wanted Martha to get off, because she seems to have been thrown to the lions for the crowd's entertainment. I haven't followed the story closely, so I can't give you an opinion on her guilt or innocence, but it just seems like too many in the country had a vendetta against her from the get-go.
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And thank you again for all the good vibes for Rachel.
She's very upset tonight. A friend of mine in Boulder told me that a 21-year old friend of her daughter's had hanged himself....She asked me how things can change so much in a year. How do you answer a question like that?
Ouch. There are no easy answers, Anna.
I've come across research before this that indicated that some people, particularly men, go through a change in their brain chemistry during those years, which can cause a catastrophic depression so sudden that the person involved doesn't understand what is happening, or that help can be found. No, I don't have a handle on where I found that research, but it is out there.
Tell Rachel that I wish I was there for her, to give her a hug and listen to her, to help her through this. It really does take a live person, at times like this. I send her vibes, and hope she can find someone trained as a counselor. She need not be alone while she works through this tragedy.
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Gay Bingo was a load of fun....
Ah, yes! I think I mentioned der Brucer and I attending the Valentine's Day Bingo Party here in Rehoboth Beach. They really are great fundraisers, good ways to meet new people, and so retro that they're progressive! Glad you had a good time!
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Sorry, Jane, but I tend to agree with bk about cats. I don't trust them. There's a cat who lives in the yard/pool area of the guest house in which I live. It has no home other than this yard. I feed it every day - because even cats have to eat, right? Well, each time I put her dish down she takes a swipe at me -- claws out. I now pull down my sleeves as I feed the beast.
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Der Brucer has just brought me a very thin slice of cheesecake. Marty is sitting on my bed, watching me and drooling. How am I supposed to explain to him that doggies aren't supposed to like cheesecake?
(Of course, this is the same fellow that decided to clean der Brucer's plate a couple of nights ago when there was a puddle of A-1 sauce that needed to be cleaned up. Slurpslurpslurpslurpslu...YIPE! You'd have thought he'd singed his eyebrows!)
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SWW - Thank you for your wise and very loving words. I'll pass them on to Rachel.
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DR JED: a music mix for my tastes indeed.
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Now, now, Panni and Bk, if you come across the right cat you would soon become a great lover of them! My Freddy (and my previous cat Buford) were both very loveable and even the cat dislikers that I know succumbed to their charms!
Currently my niece and her fiance are living at my sister and brother-in-laws home for a short time while they get situated in Salem. My nieces two cats are living there as well. My sister and brother-in-law have never liked cats at all...but both have totally fallen in love with these two kitties! It was a total shock to me!
But there are those cats who are not terribly friendly, and they are what most people think of when they think of cats, unfortunately!
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And DR Panni, I am so sorry to hear of your daughters school pal. That is so sad. I guess sometimes you can never know what is going through a persons mind or what they may be dealing with.
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WFO - I agree with you about Martha. I can think of quite a few people, starting with the Vice-President (of the U.S.), who deserve jail time for less than honest business dealings more than she does.
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My previous sentence is too convoluted to actually make sense. But I'm tired and I'm sure you all know what I mean.
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Denizens come out of your dens. I'm trying to slog my way through American Splendor but I'm not loving it, I must say.
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Sorry, Jane, but I tend to agree with bk about cats. I don't trust them. There's a cat who lives in the yard/pool area of the guest house in which I live. It has no home other than this yard. I feed it every day - because even cats have to eat, right? Well, each time I put her dish down she takes a swipe at me -- claws out. I now pull down my sleeves as I feed the beast.
One day with my cuddly Bogie and you would feel differently. It's nice you feed the ungrateful cat. I have met very few cats I couldn't tame but they do exist. We had a rather fiesty cat that was the first to reach crying babies to check on them, and if I got mad at the children when they were young she sat in front of them. She even sat in front of the 80 pound dog when I got mad at the dog. :D
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p.s I have never been attacked by a cat, unlike numerous dogs I had close encounters with.
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American Splendor was the toast of the indie-lovers crowd last year. I walked in wanting to like this film based on what I had heard, but found it a struggle. Certainly, the cross cutting and interaction between the real people being depicted and the actors depicting them was fun, and the merging of the graphics and comic book typeface with the movie proper was clever, too. But the characters were soooo unappealing, I never engaged with the film. I suppose I can see why its screenplay got nominated for so many awards. Hope Davis was up for best actress, believe it or not, at the Golden Globes. Well, maybe her fright wig and outsized eyeglasses were.
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I rather enjoyed AMERICAN SPLENDOR. Could be that it caught me just at the right moment. I think I was in the middle of doing a very linear script when I went to see it. It was such a pleasure to get away from
"A leads to B leads to C and now let's explain it all"... That I found the film a refreshing relief. It's possible that if I saw it today I wouldn't like it, but it's possible I would. I do know that I do NOT want to see it again, so I guess we'll never find out.
My poor doggie has been inexplicably sick tonight, Right now he's sleeping on my bed. Whenever I go near him he cuddles right into me, looking at me with that "Help me feel better" look. Breaks my heart. I think I'll get into bed and cuddle up with him for a while. If I don't come back, good-night. If I do, see you later!
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Good Evening!
Whew! Another 250 auditionees today! -And most of them sang too! Another good day of people, and the companies seem to be finding people to cast.
DR Noel - I do remember playing "When in Rome" - but I don't remember specifics... which means it went well. I only seem to remember the bad ones and the train wrecks. ;)
OH! After I had posted this morning, I was chatting with a friend in NYC, and it seems that he may spending this summer out of the city... And since I had been toying with finally making the move up... And since I've been having roomie issues... And since my lease is up in April anyway.... We'll talk when I'm up there next week, and we'll see what happens... But, I'm very excited about having an apartment in Chelsea - even if just for a few months - and basically for the cost of utilities! :) Again, we'll see what happens.
Well, one more batch of 250 people tomorrow, so...
Goodnight.
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Denizens, wherefore art thou?
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This denizen is falling asleep. I'm watching Bonnie dreaming away, twiching her paws and almost barking. She's got the right idea. Only I sound funny when I bark.
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We haz been deserted by the denizens.
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This denizen is here! Tired, and still in stage makeup, but here! Tonight's show was simply wonderful. The house was sold out, the audience was warm and receptive to all jokes big and small, and everyone in the cast did a superb job. Now I'm tired and ready for some sleep