Happy New Year....2016....Remembrances

I am just so amazed how fast 2016  has gone by. I have had not so great things happen, which you have heard me whine about, but I have had fun times also which I am happy to say I shared with family, friends and my hubby.

The New Year will bring highs and lows as per norm in our own lives and on a global scale. There will be shocks but also the mundane and we can get through all this from watching funny YouTube animal videos. There will also be people we know well from the media who will pass away and I hope it will not be as many as this past year. I am honouring 10 people that I like and could have gone further but I chose the ten below with a film clip that you watch...or not ( although I hope you do) to represent their work. I chose more the move/tv people than some of the great musicians or sports people because I know this area best. I no diddly squat about sports and surprise myself that I know how baseball works.  We have lost some that I won't talk about but mention like Garry Shandling, Michele Morgan, Ken Howard, Gary Marshall, William Schallert, Bernard Fox, Gloria DeHaven and so on.

In memory of some greats, I pay my humble respect...

1. DAVID BOWIE

He is known first as an amazing singer, entertainer but he was so much more..a true advent-Garde artist who kept pushing the boundaries. His final work is true art and I loved watching his videos where one was done in his hospital room. He was also quite good in films and we all remember him whether he was the man in Labyrinth or the androgynous figure from his Ziggy Stardust days. We will never see his style again. I didn't place it here but I would go and check out Lazarus (the video).

2.  ALAN RICKMAN

I fell in lust, hubba-hubba, love with this man when I first saw him in the film, Truly, Madly, Deeply. We all know his as Professor Snape from the Harry Potter series but he already did so much in film and theatre that this was just another huge notch on his resume. He first gained recognition in North America when he played the nut terrorist in Die Hard and then the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham in the dreck flick Robin Hood(starring Kevin Costner). He could play so many characters from these nasties to the romantic( Sense and Sensibility) to comedy (Galaxy Quest). He is someone We will all miss, from his great acting to that wonderful voice.

3. GEORGE KENNEDY

This man often played mean brutes early on in his career but he gain prominence and an Oscar playing a convict in Cool Hand Luke. He would play cops as well  and  other characters who held some position to make changes. He starred in all the Airport films( there were 4 and not to be confused with Airplane) and as the sidekick to Frank Drebin in the Naked Gun series. He made many films, some are great (The Dirty Dozen) and some are horrible ( Bolero) but he was always professional and a genuine nice man.

4. PATTY DUKE

Here is a Young gal who won awards for her amazing performance as the child Helen Keller  and gained prominence playing twins on the Patty Duke Show ( with William Schallert as her dad) only  to disappear from the public for quite some time. She came back with a book called, "Call Me Anna"'  talking about her abusive Guardians and her battle with bi-polar disorder. She was one of the first stars to talk candidly about this disease making it known that it is not something vile but something  we should all understand. She is right since we all know someone who has this disorder or we ourselves, suffer from this. I am blessed that I don't but I know people who have and I consider them very brave.

5. GENE WILDER

This man, with his crazy hair, made us laugh and we found him endearing especially when he fell in love and married Gilda Radner. He was our manic genius who not only could act but wrote/co-wrote some of the best films that make me laugh out loud every time I watch them. We find him fun if not a bit sinister in Willy Wonka (not creepy like Johnny Depp) and his work with Mel Brooks is legendary . He also had a great partner in Richard Pryor and they made 4 fun films together. He is another great star that passed surprisingly and made us feel very sad when we heard the news.

6. ROBERT VAUGHN

Now here is a man that we all recognize  but had no idea that he had such a long career in film and in TV. He was part of the 7 in The Magnificent 7 and won an Oscar nod for The Young Philadelphians but we also know him as Napoleon Solo in the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. He was even in Coronation Street and loved acting. Whether he played someone sympathetic or a bit slimy, he was memorable.

7. FLORENCE HENDERSON

I watch Dancing With The Stars and she was at the finale since she was in the audience for just about every show and was even one of the stars one year. It was a shock, for me, to hear that, the next day, she suffered a heart attack and died. We all thought Mrs. Brady would always live on and we loved her with that show, The Brady Bunch, plus we would often gasp and giggle when we would see her on Politically Incorrect or in a Weird Al video. She was also an accomplished soprano who played Maria Von Trapp  in the Sound of Music as well as other heroines from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical. I know most people think of Carol Brady as I do but I was blown away by her singing in The Song of Norway...not a great movie by any means but loved her voice and the scenery.

8. ZSA ZSA GABOR

Oh Darling, how could I not place her here. I almost didn't since she was more a star for the cameras than a film star but you have to love the Gabor sisters in all the fur, jewels and Hungarian best. She was in some great movies like Gigi  but she also played in films like The Queen From Outer Space. She is more known for her 9 marriages, her love of the camera and slapping a cop. She had an over the top marriage with the great George Sanders (who also married her sister Magda) and she considered him her true love although who knows with her. Before the Kardashians, there were the Gabor sisters and they can't be beat.

9. CARRIE FISHER

Talk about a shock! She is Princess Leia and she should not have died! She was coming home from London to spend time with her family at Christmas when she suffered the severe heart attack dying on the 27th. Now, if all we know her for is for Princess Leia, that would be enough, but this lady had brains! She was born into celebrity since her parents were Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. She had to grow up in the limelight and had to deal with all that comes with it. Unfortunately, she got into drugs but she did clean herself up and found out she was bi-polar. Instead of keeping this secret, she became an advocate, like  Patty Duke, about the disease and was very frank about her life. Although she had an up and down relationship with her mom at times, later, they were each other's rock, I believe, and she was with her mom often in the last few years making sure her mom was ok in the last year. I used the clip above to showcase her wit and intelligence. If you don't watch any of the others, watch this one.

10. DEBBIE REYNOLDS

One day after her daughter (Carrie Fisher) passed away, Debbie suffered a massive stroke while making funeral arrangements for her beloved daughter. The last thing her son heard her say was "I wish I could be with Carrie". How sad for her son to find his mom 15 minutes later, unresponsive, just after losing his sister. It is a bittersweet ending to 2 great people from the same family. Debbie became most prominent from playing the female lead in Singing in the Rain but her star kept rising from there and she played in a variety of roles from the film Tammy and the Bachelor to the Unsinkable Molly Brown which, I had heard her say, years ago, that this was her favourite role. She was also known to have loved Hollywood and its history and bought up many costumes and props when MGM sold many of their memorabilia. Unfortunately, she had to sell off all she collected years later when she filed for bankruptcy. This lady knew her ups and downs but she was a consummate performer who was loved.

Sad notes but I wish to say, we will see more go this coming year but let's hope we all have a happy and healthy New Year!

Thursday Movie Picks-Coming Home

This is the last theme for this year and we are all here to read about it or pick our favourite (or non favourite) for this week. As I'm writing this, thinking of 2 of the films I will use, the 3rd comes on TV! It is an obvious choice but never crossed my mind until I hear the music. I hope everyone had a good Christmas. I was behind and wrapping Christmas Eve which was pathetic but at least it got all done and it was wonderful. Now, the theme this week is about Coming Home and there are many films that can fit this bill but these are my 3. If you wish to know what the others have picked, head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what everyone else has chosen. The The list for next year have already been picked so if you wish to join, just start Next Thursday. By the way Happy New Year!!

1. THE WIZARD OF OZ-1939

This is the movie I am re-watching right now when I should be in bed but I am late in writing this and I am enjoying this movie. I wonder if there is anyone who has not seen this film. It's all about a young girl, named Dorothy, who sings about being over the rainbow and after a tornado, ends up there or so she believes. She kills the wicked witch of the East by accident when Dorothy's house falls on top of  the meanie. Glenda, the good witch, places the Ruby shoes onto Dorothy's feet which just pisses off The Wicked Witch of the West. During Dorothy's trip down the yellow brick road she meets a Scarecrow, a tin man and a cowardly lion who all decide to venture to the Emerald City to meet the great and powerful Oz. Personally, I always thought Glenda was a smarmy bitch, I mean, she could have told her from the get go that she could go home. I mean, after seeing the munchkins, I would have believed without that long trip:)

2. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES-1946

This does not show the war at all but, yet, you experience all the horrors of it through the 3 men who are coming home. We meet them on the plane as they are coming back from the war and all have reservations coming back to their family, their job and resuming their lives as if nothing changed.  One man is a banker with a wonderful family, another was a hero and an officer who returns to a slutty wife and his job as a soda jerk. The third, a true real life war veteran who lost both his hands in the war, is coming home to his family and his fiancée and is wondering how they will have to deal with someone crippled by the war. This is a powerful statement, not only on the war but on how families were affected, PTSD, coming home to jobs that no longer seem fulfilling. This is a powerful film, brilliantly acted and one of the best films dealing with men who have trouble fitting back into society.

3. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES-1987

I am expecting this film to be big this week and with good reason, it's brilliant! Every time I watch this film, it makes me miss John Candy even more. This is so funny, sweet, sentimental and it has heart. Steve Martin plays an uptight advertising man who is trying to get back home to Chicago but due to a major snowfall, his plane is diverted to Wichita with the amiable doofus, John Candy in tow. Somehow, the uptight, neat Neal Page becomes partners with the huge, slobby Del Griffith to get home to Chicago. I can watch this film over and over again and it never fails to make me laugh. The music is brilliantly juxtaposed with some great scenes that can only be seen to be appreciated. There are also many great lines("those aren't pillows!) that leave you laughing and the ending makes you tear up...at least it does for me.

I will be doing a post on Carrie Fisher and her mom, Debbie Reynolds. This is so very sad especially for their loved ones left behind.

Let's hope the New Year will not be as big a year for famous deaths. Regardless, I wish you all a very Happy New Year filled with love, health and happiness.

Thursday Movie Picks-Parties

Christmas is almost here...ready to bring cheer...or at least some beer...I'm rhyming like Pat Hatt, I fear:) OK, feeling giddy and I have not had a drop of anything fun. This week it is all about parties and I am staying away from something icky like "4 Christmasses" and even away from the hilarious, The Hangover (chicken included..what was it about that chicken??-hahahaaa) and went swingin' 60's this week. This Movie Pick theme is the brainchild of Wandering Through the Shelves and I dare ya to join in one day or just venture over to see what the others have picked. Here are my 3...

1. THE PINK PANTHER-1963

This is one of my favourite comedies and it is a tour de force  performance by the great Peter Sellers who stole the show from the star David Niven. Sellers plays Inspector Clouseau who takes his wife to Northern Italy for a ski holiday which is a ruse since he believes the Phantom, a famous jewel thief, will also be there to steal the famous Pink Panther diamond. Clouseau has no clue that his wife is having an affair with the thief and is his fence. The thief's nephew comes to visit and quickly wants in on his Uncle's business. It ends in Rome at a huge masquerade ball where you have gorillas, a Knight and a zebra all chasing one another through the streets. It's priceless entertainment and the music is great with Fran Jeffries, who just recently passed away singing a sexy song called "It had better be tonight".

2. BEACH BLANKET BINGO-1965

Oh, this is Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello playing fun loving kids...who look more like they should have teens of their own, frolicking on the beach having a great time partying, swimming, surfing, dancing and sky-diving. There is a sexy blonde babe, pre-dynasty Linda Evans, a mermaid, Don Rickles, Buster Keaton and the legendary (in his own mind) Eric Von Zipper and his rat pack bike gang. All there films are fun and silly and very g-rated.... too bad they don't get much air play any more.

3. THE PARTY-1968

I need to see some Jacques Tati films because this film seems to be playing homage to this famous French film director. There isn't too much of a plot but Peter Sellers knows how to improvise and create a great under-rated film. He plays an Indian actor who somehow blows up the film set by accident and is fired. By mistake the studio head writes the actor's name down as one of the guests to his wife's party instead of the blacklist. Sellers ends up at the party and he starts mingling with everyone at the party creating one disaster after another where many people end up in the pool, covered in suds while a baby elephant wanders around. To say the home gets destroyed would be an understatement. It is a comedic dream in my book and worth watching.

Feeling Funky Junky

I can't believe I am getting in under the wire, but I am! I have been crazy busy decorating last week and I do a lot of decorating! Last night I finished my final five tags for the 12 tags of Christmas over at the Funkie Junkie site. I really enjoyed making these tags and was very inspired by her creative works. She also has her own Boutique-the Funkie Junkie Boutique which is quite neat and I want to spend tons of money...but I can't:). So, without further ado (is that how to spell that slang..is it slang? I am getting a sick headache), here are my final tags.

WEEK 8

I loved creating this Victorian style tag with an angel (I love angels). I had no stamp for the lamplight so I drew it by hand and cut it out. I stamped and fussy cut the holly leaves and the rose and pieced everything together with some added bling. Head on over the Funkie Junkie to see her original work and others who were inspired.

WEEK 9

I love this tag if i do say so myself:). I used some green distress dies to darken the green tag. I stamped a little Christmas stamp and embossed in gold and also stamped along the edges and stamped that in Egyptian gold for some extra glitter. I used my sizzex for the cutout, added the greeting sticker with a bow and a star. Head over to the Funkie Junkie to see some extra wonderment:)

WEEK 10

I love the Funkie Junkie's tag on this one so I did my best and I think I did ok with this one. I used some very pretty ribbon and laid down some cardstock on top to set my snowflake, filigree thingy and black piece on top. The snowflake and filigree thingy are punches. I took my white pen and added the dots plus the writing on the black pieces.

WEEK 11

Over at The Funkie Junkie, her style is more country and so very pretty, maybe I went more rock and roll:) (Any Donny & Marie fans out there??). I love shiny and glitter (I must have been a magpie in a previous life) so I used some red shiny paper and a gold decal. I used my sizzex for the ornament cut out, placed  the Christmas saying sticker on, added pearls, lace stars and gold stickles.

WEEK 12

The last tag but I think it turned out to be quite pretty even though I was a bit bleary eyed by this point. Over at the Funkie Junkie, her tag is so beautiful so I emulated it as best as I could. I, again, used darker green ink pads and sponged them on with a hint of brown on the edges. I used my evergreen stamp and embossed it with white snow glitter for the background. The bottom part was added and I sponged on some gold and used the Egyptian gold powder for embossing. I stamped the Merry Christmas stamp, added the Noel in letter stickers. I inserted a piece of white card stock to make it look like a letter is in the pouch and added 2 punches of leaves that are also glittered up. A few crystals are the final additions to this final tag!

If there are some spelling/grammar mistakes, please overlook them.

Wandering Through The Shelves-Movies based on Video, Arcade, Board Games

I can't believe it is a little over a week away before Christmas! Now I have been a kettle of glum, waaaaah, and bleccchhhh recently but there is also fun times especially at this time of year. I have a new Doctor, who (or is it whom??) I saw yesterday, and he listened and knows about Ehlers-Danlos and will be sending me to someone who works with pain which is great! We got Mia back..in a nice urn and she is resting on our mantle in the bedroom. The other animals are all doing well even though one of them peed on our Christmas tree that we had out in the veranda for a while. The smell of cat pee is not a Christmas blessing so we had to hose the tree down with some stuff and it smells better now. I took this week off and have been decorating and enjoying the cold weather and the music. So now, on to movies....Wandering Through The Shelves has the theme of board games, arcade games and video games as the theme this week.  I went an easy route this week so, here are my 3....

1.  CLUE-1985

I love this game and played it frequently when I was little. I loved the characters and the whole vibe of the Agatha Christie mystery to it. This film stars the wonderful Tim Curry as a detective sent out to a mansion to investigate a murder. We meet all the suspects from The board game and, of course, hijinks ensues especially with this cast. The big twist is that there are 3 endings and you could see a different ending depending which theatre you went to. The DVD has all 3 endings. It's fun...not the best movie but fun to watch.

2. LARA CROFT-TOMB RAIDER-2001

Angelina is well cast in this frolic which showcases her...talents. I should be nice since she is a good actress, tough, but holy T & A Batman-she just can't help it with that bod! She's after some triangles hidden all over the world, gets mixed up with a good/bad guy, some really bad guys, fights statues that reminded me of the Ray Harryhausen movies, travels the world, makes amends with her dad and wears a dress at the end. Actually, this film is the reason for Jolie to be so involved with saving children. I remember her on the Tonight Show tearing up about the young children she saw in Cambodia and said she needs to do something...she has.

3. LARA CROFT: THE CRADLE OF LIFE-2003

This time sexy kick ass is in some silver suit doing flips with her skidoo in the water. She has been asked by MI6 to find Pandora's Box before the evil guys do. There are many adventures going on and you do roll your eyes more than once but it is an enagaging flick with T &  A kickass saving the day.

What are your 3? Looking forward to Christmas? Enjoying the Christmas season? I'm looking forward to the Battle of the Bands also set today and will be eager to hear the music picked.

Thursday Movie Picks-movies based on Toys

Well, last week I told you about some crap and now I have had a bit more which is why I did not reply to all your beautiful comments which, I have to say, I am humbled and so grateful for all of them. My cousin came on the weekend for a short visit mainly to see his Tante Fiti ( my mom). He saw my mom in the spring and has noticed a decline since then.  She is slumped over more and has no more life in her eyes. You never know, my mom could live another year...or not.  The other sad part is one of our fur babies died, Mia....last Thursday.  She slept with me, ate, and when I came home she greeted me as always. When my hubby went to change around 9pm, he petted her and kissed her and then we watched a movie. After the movie he went upstairs and found her laying on the carpet, peaceful but in she had passed away within an 1 1/2 from when we last saw her. It was very sudden and we are sad to lose a member of our family.

I am doing my best to enjoy the beautiful holidays and I promise to be more sparkly. This week it is all about toys. Head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves  to see what the others have chosen.

1. THE NUTCRACKER-1977

This is the famous ballet by Tschaikovsky that we all know about and is often showcased in many cities at this time of year.. This was a televised production film in Toronto, Canada, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov as the famed nutcracker. Clara is a young girl who receives a Nutcracker from her uncle and then dreams that the Nutcracker comes to life and brings her to a magical kingdom where she sees wondrous things including the fight with the Rat King or Mouse King. This is a TV production but it enchanted me when I was 13 and I would watch it every year it came on TV. Mikhail did get rid of the Sugar Plum Fairy which I think was wrong and the Arabian Dance was excluded due to time constraints (although they did film it and I have seen it since then) but, overall, a beautiful  re-enactment of this timeless story. In case any of you are wondering, yes, I can't help but look at that bulge and I wonder how many male ballet dancers enhanced it with a sock or something.

2. TOY STORY-1995

Who doesn't know this film and the 3 more that came after. I love this movie and will assume it will be everywhere today. An animated film that brought so many toys i grew up with to life. A young boy owns a toy cowboy named Woody who is in charge of all the other toys this boy owns. One day, the boy receives a new toy, Buzz Lightyear, whom he plays with and seems to like more than Woody, much to Woody's dismay. Buzz also seems to be wooing the rest of the toys making Woody even more jealous. Buzz has one problem...he doesn't realize he's a toy. It is an infectious story and that kids and adults enjoy. I love it and I think T. Rex is my favourite in this pack. Who owned a slinky??

3. SANTA CLAUSE 2-2002

This sequel is not as good as the first movie but it fit the bill. Santa has to get married or Christmas will cease to exist. Santa and another elf decide to create a toy replicate of Santa so the real Santa can find his lady love. Little did they know they created Donald Trump..um I mean a megalomaniacal despot... oh, yes Donald Trump:) As Santa goes about finding his wife (not in Thailand or Russia) and seeing to his naughty son, The nutty toy Santa places everyone on the naughty list since he has no real heart. It is up to the real Santa and his elves to take care of Trump and his toy soldiers (his cabinet). I had to have some fun:)

What movies about toys can you come up with?

Thursday Movie Picks-Your Comfort Movie

I'm glad the theme this week is Comfort movie because I need this. Beside my pain, I had a PSW tell me my mom is going downhill and won't last long, my doctor was horribly rude to me that I left the office bawling and my best friend is going through a horrible hell at the moment (no deaths) and I wish I could help her more. My worry for her is large and she is still in denial. Anyway, if you head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves, you will see what the other movie bloggers have chosen for their comfort movie. Here are my 3...

1. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE-1946

Yes, I spoke about this movie before and if any of you don't know the plot, you have been hiding under a rock. George Bailey has reached his crisis point and, through the prayers of all who love him, you find out about his life and how Clarence, his guardian angel, earns his wings. It stars my favourite actor, Jimmy Stewart and this is my favourite film. Regardless what befalls one, we have to remind ourselves how truly wonderful our life is. The above clip....Jimmy Stewart did this in one take.

2. SINGING IN THE RAIN-1952

Love this musical that is so rich, not only in dance and music but in comedy and writing that even my hubby, who dislikes musicals, likes this one. It takes place when silent films become a thing of the past when sound takes over. The over the top characters are truly not that far off and many scenes shows what really did take place (ie-picking up the woman's heartbeat from the mic). Gene Kelly wore the actual outfit from Rudolph Valentino in one scene and they made fun of an early sound picture with John Gilbert. Jean Hagen, as Lena Lamont, almost stole the picture and I think she should have won an Oscar for her role.

3. WHAT'S UP DOC-1972

I think I may have chosen all of these before but...it's good to bend the rules and this is my next comfort movie because it is so hilarious. There are 4 bags (not women but actual bags) owned by 4 different people who all converge in this one Hotel in San Francisco. Needless to say the bags get all mixed up with a brilliant car chase near the end of the film. Barbra Streisand never looked better and the same goes for Ryan O'Neil. It is a brilliant take on the old screwball comedies of the 1930's.

What are your comfort movies?