Destruction!

 

Isn't she a cutie?! I thought I would start off with a nice picture because this isn't a nice post.  Where we live, it's an older neighbourhood with some nice people and some...not. our next door neighbours are not very nice. The neighbour, next to them, had 2 cats and the cats would lay on the driveway that they both share. Well, she came out to find her cat dead..she had been run over by our lovely neighbours. Who claimed they didn't see it but never apologized. ..that who they are.

In September, my hubby had an altercation with him and she taped the whole thing and sent it to the cops. The cops came and my hubby  he started it but apologized to them. The cops understood and could clearly see that they provoked him. The cops spoke to them and told them that they were wrong as well. They were not happy. 

In October, a bi-law officer came to our home and told my hubby that the beautiful ivy covered fence we have is to high and too close to the sidewalk. Hubby told him how he constructed it. The officer complained about the evergreen beside the house which had been there since I bought it back in 1999.  I contacted a lawyer who said that they can enforce it even when our fence has been up for over a decade.  Then...nothing...until last week. We got a letter telling us that the entire fence must go immediately! The pond hubby was making must be gated or covered back up with dirt. The tree must go. When I spoke to the bi-law officer he told me the whole fence must go because it was with chicken wire which is a Hazard even though you could not even feel anything since the ivy was so thick from it. He said the other trees could stay and he didn't care about the pond. That was a contradiction from what he wrote. Anyways, hubby was already out and filled up the pond that he dug so well and to such precision.  The bi-law officer told us we have 1 week or we would be fined $250 per day plus interest. We hired someone and I will now show pictures before and after.  Just so you know, my hubbybought 20 small ivy plants and from that this fence grew. He nurtured it, feeding the ivy through the fence and took great care on it. We had fireflies, praying mantises etc.. and the birds loved it.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

It looks horrible.  I am scared that the bit my hubby asked to keep up will have to come down because of the chicken wire. That bi-law officer told hubby that it can stay...I pray that will be the case. It looks horrible but I hope they don't expect it nice because we can't do this. One thing the bi-law officer let slip is that he said" she made the complaint."  My hubby is gutted, depressed, angry and giving up. I got sick and hope I get better soon. People are cruel, petty and jealous. Some love to be mean and get a satisfaction when they stick it to others. I have been dealing with this my whole life so this does not surprise me nor get me down. I just think, we will grow again and it will be better. The neighbours can go to hell. My big concern is my hubby. I hope he does not give up...I won't let him. 

Dinner, Maybe?

 

Soon it will be the American Thanksgiving and all of us are thinking about....Christmas and that Turkey dinner or whatever you have. I thought of movies that talk about dinner, are having dinner or are trying to get home for that dinner( oh, yeah, and family). So I am choosing 3 films that gather around this table and here are my 3...

1. DINNER AT EIGHT-1933

This is a jammed pack movie filled with many subplot and intrigues with an A1 cast which culminates at a dinner party hosted by the effervescent Billie Burke( Glenda from The Wizard of Oz). She is beyond dizzy and only cares about her dinner party. Their daughter is having an affair with the doctor and the silent screen star has his own demons, played well by John Barrymore who knew his demons. You have Marie Dressler, who gives THE best double take ever, as well as Wallace Beery and Jean Harlow who almost steals the picture. It's quite a good precode film.

2. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES-1987

I love this movie and can recite so many pieces from this (" Those aren't pillows!). I love the scene above which is just hilarious and you couldn't have a better match than Steve Martin and the late, great John Candy. They are trying to get back home for Thanksgiving but just about every thing bad happens to them. It's a gem!

3. AUGUST, OSAGE COUNTY- 2013

This is not a feel good movie. You have the dad who dies bringing in all the daughters to come back home.  They really don’t want to be there because their mother is a caustic, alcoholic bitch, played by Meryl Streep in a role I don’t mind her in. Julia Roberts plays the oldest daughter with a major chip on her shoulder and you understand why when you meet Mommie dearest. The problem is she has inherited her mom’s acid tongue and, frankly, she reminds me of my brother’s 2nd ex wife. I don’t ever recall her or Julia smiling ( in this movie..my brother’s ex never smiled). I think Julia deserved more accolades for this role but it’s probably because this role is unlikeable. Julia's marriage is disintegrating due to nastiness. Her sisters have other issues. I would like to see this film again because of all the subplots and issues. It culminates during a dinner where everything seems to come out. It’s well acted and a great cast and worth a look.

What Dinner movies can you think of? 

Oh..so the answer to yesterday’s Oscar song is…yup, “Three Coins In The Fountain” won, “Count Your Blessings” was nominated and “Snow, Snow, Snow” got nothing.

Which Song Won The Oscar-1954

 

Honestly, I thought I did this year already but I couldn’t find it but I do believe I mentioned it in who should have won version for my Thursday Movie Picks. Over at Monday Music Moves Me, it’s all about winter themed songs and there are quite a few from my visits to other bloggers in this fun endeavour. So, let’s see if you can pick which won the Oscar, which was nominated, and which got nadda!

1. SNOW, SNOW, SNOW SUNG BY BING, ROSEMARY, DANNY AND TRUDY! POOR VERA-ELLEN

This is a really nice song by Irving Berlin from the film, “White Christmas”. You have Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen thinking about beautiful, snowy Vermont and they start singing about snow. I love how they create a snowy scene using a white napkin. Vera-Ellen was an amazing dancer but she could not sing worth beans, so Trudy Stevens was the singer. This is a Christmas Standard film although this song is about…snow.

2.  COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS SUNG BY BING CROSBY AND ROSEMARY CLOONEY

In White Christmas, when the foursome finally arrive in Vermont, they are having a heatwave! The place where the gals are to perform is owned by the boys’ former army commander who sank all his savings into the Inn. The boys, now famous entertainers, decide to put on a show( without Mickey Rooney) to help their former commander. While doing so, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen play matchmakers to Der Bingle and Rosemary Clooney( yup, George Clooney’s aunt). When Bing can’t sleep and neither can Rosemary, they end up in the main area of the Inn and Bing sings this sweet song which is all about trying to fall asleep. It’s really a nice song but I would never hear this song while drinking …buttermilk. Yuck

3. THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN SUNG BY FRANK SINATRA

This song comes from the hit movie of the same name that had an all star cast..well, semi all star cast because it has the wretched Maggie McNamara  who just rubs me the wrong way..I just watch to slap her. 3 women live in Rome and all 3 fall in love with  different men…one is wealthy and acerbic played so well by Clifton Webb, another falls for a poor man and the irritating Maggie falls for a Prince. My favourite story is the Clifton Webb and Dorothy McGuire romance with Dorothy playing a drunken scene with great finesse. This song, written by Jules Styne with Lyrics by Sammy Cahn, became a big hit back in the day but it is not my favourite. I actually dislike the way the music drops down when singing the first few bars. I just…don’t like it. 

Ok, there you have it…can you guess which one won, which was nominated and which was forgotten?

Who Should Have Won The Best Actor Oscar -2019

 

In 2019, you had some unusual films like Parasite ( ughh) and The Lighthouse along with many standard films that were talked about. Now, I can only go by the films I have seen so I can’t say how Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson were in the critical darling, “The Lighthouse” but I bet they were good. Willem Dafoe needs to win an Oscar and should have for “Shadow of the Vampire” but that’s for another day. This year was all about Joaquin Phoenix, who, I think, is just on the other side of nuts. Let’s see if you agree or choose another actor.

1. JOKER

This film stars Joaquin Phoenix as the troubled creep who dreams about being a famous comedian but he’s a clown for kids’ parties, from what I remember. You see his mental deterioration take hold while he becomes  famous for his misdeeds. Phoenix won the Oscar for this role and I was praying he wouldn’t because I found him insufferable and really wanted to slap him upside the head. At no point did I think I was watching this character, like I did when Heath Ledger played this character in the 2nd Batman film with Christian Bale. I was watching him act and I had a hard time watching this movie because  it was an over-hyped flick. I never would have given him the Oscar.

2. THE MARRIAGE STORY

Adam Driver and Scarlett Johannson play a married couple going through a major change in their marriage and you don’t really know if this marriage will work. It’s a realistic look at a marriage at the crossroads and you buy into it. Both leads act this out well and you are invested in their lives. I found Adam’s acting superb and much, much better than Juaquin’s over the top creep show. If you haven’t seen this film, you should check it out.

3. ROCKETMAN

Taron Egerton deserved the Oscar this year and he was not even nominated which many considered an oversight and I agree. Taron portrays Elton John and you just fall for the whole way Taron acts out Sir Elton. I always felt I was watching Elton John not Taron portraying Elton. This is a good biopic from the early times when Elton was trying to make a name for himself to when he is a huge musician. Loved the music, obviously, but this film could not have been done without Taron’s  acting prowess. He should have been nominated and he would have been my choice by far. He rules the entire film and it was a crime that he got snubbed by Oscar but he is  in good company since Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr and Alfred Hitchcock never won.

So…do you agree or would you choose someone else?

For My Dad

 

Since we gave prayers and honours to the veterans this past Monday, November 11th, I thought I would showcase 3 songs my dad liked during the war years. My dad was part of the Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry Regiment complete with kilt! He went over to the British in 1943 and finally saw battle in 1944. I know he was part of the liberation of Holland, fought in the Rhine and, near the end of the war, was part of the battle of the Reischwald Forest. He was a scout, with 2 others, to get an idea where the enemy were. When the 2 others were cut down, my dad got shot in the chest and then another bullet hit his magazin with the bullets popping every which way. He tore off the magazin with his shirt and dropped to the ground. He crawled backwards to his group because he didn’t want to get shot by his own men! He told the ambulance men to take others as he wasn’t too bad but when the doctor saw hi , he was shocked that he was not one of the first to go in the ambulance as the bullet was close to his heart. The drs could not get the whole bullet out because it was too close to his heart so they left part of it in. Over the years it moved towards his shoulder and, every once in a while, his shoulder would give him issues. He died with that bullet still in him. 

My dad loved the big bands and he loved the 2 singers from that era so I am joining in with the Monday Music Moves Me and here are my 3…

1. WE’LL MEET AGAIN DUET WITH DAME VERA LYNN AND KATHERINE JENKINS-2020

I love Katherine Jenkins, who had the chance to meet and become friends with Dame Vera Lynn before Lynn died in 2020 at the age of 103. They created a duet of Dame Vera’s famous recording of this song that was a big hit back in 40s because, well, listen to the words…

2. SING, SING, SING BY BENNY GOODMAN ORCHESTRA-1937

This came out before the war but became a big hit during it when all the guys swung their gals all over the place. Apparently, my Uncle Ambrose and his wife, Auntie Irene could really cut a rug to this song. The drum solo was by Gene Krupa which my dad always said we were related to. I’d love to find this out one day.

3. ILL BE SEEING YOU SUNG BY KATE SMITH -1959

My dad loved this gal with the huge voice who was known as the  First Lady of Radio and  the Songbird of the South.  She had a very large body but her head was so small to me, yeah, no reason for saying it except, I had to. I agreed with my dad and thought her voice was great. She deserves to be better known today because she was so well loved especially during the war years.

What songs did your parents love?

Thursday Film Picks-Prisoner of War

 

Remembrance Day, the 11th month of the 11th day of the 11th hour is very special to me as is to many Canadians because it is to honour the men and women who fought in the wars. Canadians came into their own during World War 1 defeating the Germans at Vimy Ridge when the British could not. I thought I would choose films that took place in prisoner of war camps  and there are many! I chose these 3…

1. LE GRANDE ILLUSION-1937

I love this French film that takes place in a Prisoner of war camp in some German castle during World War 1. You have the elite, French officer, played by Pierre Fresnay with the workman, played by the great Jean Gabin who are transferred to this high security fortress run by the Erich Von Stroheim who becomes friends with Fresnay. Of course, the prisoners must find a way to escape. It’s an excellent film, superbly directed by Jean Renoir, yes, the son of the famous painter, Auguste Renoir. It’s as much a character study as an adventure and war film that also brings up the class struggle. It is worth seeing.

2.  THREE CAME HOME-1950

This is one of my favourite films that is not well known but should be. It stars Claudette Colbert as the famous writer, Agnes Newton Keith, who lives on the island of Borneo with her husband and young son. When the Japanese take charge of the island, they imprison the people but separate the men from the women and their children. We see how brutal the Japanese guards are to the prisoners making it very difficult to maintain morale when you are dealing in some wretched conditions. This is based on a true story on the writings of Agnes Keith who endured torture, starvation and so much more while interred in a camp with her son. Sessue Hayakawa is, once again, brilliant as the commander of the camp just like he did in, “The Bridge on the River Kwai.”

3. STALAG 17-1953

If you want to know where Hogan’s Heroes come from, watch this film. It takes place in a World War 2 camp with a bevy of male stars who all work together to make a great film. William Holden is the bitter, sarcastic prisoner who is not well liked by the men but he is tolerated. You meet some of the other guys including Robert Strauss and Harvey Lembeck who play the comic foils in this film. Robert Strauss nabbed an Oscar nomination for the role of a sex starved best friend to Harvey Lembeck whom we know from the many Avalon and Funicello surfer films where he played the head leader of an inept motorcycle gang. Getting back to this film, we see how the men turn against Holden think he is a rat fink which is not the case but, who is? It’s a good movie that makes you wonder who is the traitor.

So, what prisoner of war movies can you think o?

Songs About Your Country/ National Pride

 

I am avoiding my sick pit of a stomach that a person I never, ever liked, may be President again.  He’s a vile, nasty human being which I saw, many, many years ago before he was on The Apprentice. Shaking my head from this sad state, I am looking at Canada and am scared that Pierre Poilievre could win which would be sad because he is all for wanting to privatize our wonderful healthcare that is free to all people! We can just show our card and get treated costing us  nothing. Do we pay more in taxes? Sure, but I would take that and have my free health care over having to pay money each time I see a doctor or go to the hospital.  I’m proud to be a Canadian because we have accomplished so much and became a true nation during World War 1. We have made headway in music, science, film…you name it, plus we even burned down the White House! Lol. Ok, here are my picks and hope you enjoy…

1. BRINGING BUDDY HOME SUNG BY JOHN MCDERMOTT-2009

We came into our own as a nation during the First World War showing our metal during the battle at Vimy Ridge in 1917. John McDermott is a Canadian icon who truly loves the soldier and what we stand for. He sings this so beautifully.

2. I HOPE THEY REMEMBER ME SUNG BY VIC MACINA-2020

You can’t be any prouder, as a Canadian, than to honour this hero, Terry Fox. Terry was 18 when he was diagnosed with cancer and lost his leg to it, but this just lit the fire in this young man to raise awareness to Cancer by running across Canada starting in Newfoundland to little notice but this changed. He gained major notice running with one artificial leg a marathon each day. By the time he came to Ontario, the nation was enthralled by this 22 yr old man with a humble heart who wanted cancer eradicated. Before long, people were running with him and he was raising thousands of dollars but, before he could leave Ontario, he had to stop because the cancer spread and he died a month before his 23rd birthday on June 28, 1981. I remember crying when I heard he died and I wasn’t the only one. From the moment he had to stop, Canadians across the land started the Terry Fox run to raise awareness for Cancer and to honour this heroic man cut down too young.

3. IM A LUMBERJACK SUNG BY MONTY PYTHON-1975

Oh, I had to go a fun way as we all need something to laugh at today. What better way to laugh than with the gret Monty Python who made a lot of fun of the Canadian Lumberjack. My dad was a lumberman and I’m not sure if he would have found this funny but, I did and think this is just perfect.

One last thing….

Star of the Month-Claude Rains

 

BORN: November 10, 1889

DEATH: May 30, 1967

AGED: 77 years

DIED FROM: abdominal hemorrhage from cirrhosis of the liver brought on by acute alcoholism 

REAL NAME: William Claude Rains

MARRIED: 6 times! Isabel Jeans( famous actress on to her own), Marie Hemingway, Beatrix Thomson, France’s Propper, Agi Jambor, Rosemary Schrode ( her death)

AFFAIRS: one place I read said Bette Davis but I highly doubt that

CHILDREN: 1 daughter

OSCAR NOMINATIONS: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939), Casablanca(1943), Mr. Skeffington (1944), Notorious (1946)

OSCAR WINS: not one time!!!

TALENT: aside from acting, he loved to farm and owned one which was his refuge

KNOWN FOR: His mellifluous voice which could be sinister and soothing. His piercing eyes. 

Claude Rains is one of my favourite actors who has appeared in many great films that are too numerous to mention here but are so good that, even a poor film, is better just for Claude Rains being in it. That he never won an Oscar, is a crime but he is in  good company with Cary Grant, Thelma Ritter, Rosalind Russell, and Barbara Stanwyck also in this club. His dad was an actor and his son wanted to be one from early on. He had a thick Cockney accent and a speech impediment but that didn’t stop him although WW1 did delay his fame. rains was at Vimy when he was injured in a gas attack losing 90% of his right eye and it affected his vocal chords. After the war, he met Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the founder of RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts) who discovered Claude and could see the potential but not before paying for elocution lessons to have Claude lose the Cockney accent and the speech impediment. Claude Rains was so good that he became a teacher at RADA and had Sir John Gielgud and Charles Laughton as his students. 

When Claude Rains moved to the States, his voice was heard and was perfect for the role as the Invisible Man and became famous. From that moment, Rains appeared in many great films ( and some not so great ones) gaining a reputation as a stellar actor. He not only learned his own lines but he learned the who script! Many enjoyed working with him like Bette Davis who counted him as her favourite actor. He was not tall at all but he had unusual good looks which seemed to attract many a female and he married 6 of them with 5 ending in divorce. He was not known for playing around or being mean but seemed to pick the wrong type..at least a couple of times. 2 of his wives had affairs on him and the one, Frances Propper, had a daughter with him. When she was a tween, Frances came to her and told she was leaving her dad and to come with her but her daughter refused. 

In the Late 40s and 50s, he owned a farm that he thoroughly enjoyed working on and had a knack for. It was his refuge. He was known for his wit and elegant style. He played Prince John as a gay man and revelled in it, apparently, because it got away from the censors. I don’t know why he drank so much but would love to read his biography and learn more about this man. I will end this with what Rains wanted, and got, on his headstone, “All things once, are things forever, Soul, once living, lives forever.”

FILMS( My Favs…too hard)

1. Casablanca-1943

2. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington-1939

3. Caesar and Cleopatra-1945

4. Here Comes Mr. Jordan-1941

5. Notorious-1946

6. Now, Voyager-1942

7. The Invisible Man-1933

8. The Adventures of Robin Hood-1938

9. They Made Me A Criminal-1939

10. Phantom of the Opera-1943

11. The Wolf Man-1941

There are so many more that I have yet to see but you can add to these, of course.

Thursday Film Picks

 

Happy Halloween! I'm working today and late so my home is dark. I hate that but my hubby hates Halloween which I don't get. I'm going to share a couple of pictures when I was young and loving going out for candy. I thought it's a devilish night so I went with devils in films and here are my 3...

1. THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER- 1941

I need to see this film again because I have not seen this since I was a kid and I loved it. Basically, this man is down on his luck when the devil appears and promises him fortune without worry as long as he has his soul. What to do, what to do….of course he sells his soul and soon, the man’s luck changes and he becomes lucky and wealthy. This changes the man and not for the better, but when he meets Webster, a lawyer and senator, played so well by Edward Arnold, who defends him against the jury made up by the devil. This plot I have seen enacted in quite a few tv shows over the years. This is such an engaging film and makes one think how many people have sold their souls to get ahead.

2. CABIN IN THE SKY-1943

This is another film I need to see again because it is quite a good film and one with an all black cast directed by white, Vincent Minelli ( dad of Liza Minelli, mom being Judy Garland). Arthur Freed and Minelli both sought input from the black elders and spoke with the NAACP to make sure they did not  use racial stereotypes or be rude to the black people who were in the film or watched the film. It stars Eddie Rochester Anderson( from Jack Benny fame) as a gambler who ends up dying but is given a 2nd chance to redeem his soul and be let into Heaven. At first, he does well, working hard and paying more attention to his wife, Ethel Waters but, the devil, played so well by Rex Ingram, decides to tempt Eddie..in come Lena Horne. Lena is beautiful, an amazing singer and a gifted actress who lures Eddie away from his wife and down the hedonistic road of sin. What will happen?? Well, the devil seems very pleased with himself and is happy when Rochester succumbs to the hedonistic way of life. It’s a fun film with some wonderful acting and singing especially by, not only Lena Horne, but by Ethel Waters.

3. BEDAZZLED- 1967

This is a hilarious film that stars the comedy duo of Dudley Moore and Peter Cook who were big in the 60s for their comedy act and movies including this one. Dudley Moore works in a ho-hum diner who wishes he had enough nerve to tell this waitress how much he loves her but he can’t. He decides to kill himself when in enters the devil played so wickedly funny by Peter Cook. Cook grants Moore 7 wishes, along with the 7 Deadly sins, brought along for good luck. Moore can tell Cook his wishes and, if he has to leave, he has to blow a raspberry as he says” Julie Andrews” . Every time Moore thinks he has the devil  beat and Moore can enjoy his great love, the devil one ups him often with hilarious results. You have a funny cameo with Raquel Welch who plays, of course, Lust. This is the much better film to the remake that stars Elizabeth Hurley as the devil.

Which delish films can you think of? I’m working late so no kids this year but do you live in a busy area? 

When you went out for Halloween, what was your favourite costume? Here are a few of me in costume, of course.

I'm a witch with my brother, a Mexican Bandito. I'm also Luly Munster and Puss in Boots, with our neighbour, John, Dracula and my brother, who looks like an opium addled Confucius. I still have the witch hate and cape, Lily' cape but not Puss's costume. My mom created the outfits. 

One last song because I love it...

Happy Halloween!

Scary, Scary…

 

Our Kaspar ( no, not Hitler), is wondering when our little kitty will buzz off so he can come and sleep by us. To him, our Lexi is his horror and Lexi just wants to play and bug the hell out of him. I can’t believe that, tomorrow, is Halloween and, to be honest, I wish I could still go Trick O’ Treating because I loved going out all dressed up and knocking on doors waiting for candy and chocolate. In my day, we got regular size chocolate bars which were bigger than the ones sold today. We also got tons of those awful toffee candy, that Halloween candy cones and tons of peanuts. I will join freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me  and will do a spooky theme.  hope you enjoy my song choices…

1. THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC SUNG BY JUDY GARLAND-1942

This is a great song by Harold Arlen(music) and Johnny Mercer(Lyrics) who wrote this with Judy Garland  in mind. Many stars sang it like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Marilyn Monroe but I went with Judy since she was their inspiration.

2. CROSSROAD BLUES PLAYED BY RY COODA AND TERRY EVANS

This is a song written and sung by Robert Johnson about a man who sells his soul to the devil. This version comes from the 1986 film, “Crossroads” starring Ralph Macchio as a kid with a gift who meets up with an elderly, black man and finds out about the legend of Robert Johnson and how he sold his soul to the devil but is it just a legend? This is a great version of this  piece of music which I think is in keeping with the spooky theme I went for.

3. THE BRIDES FROM BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA-1992

I love this soundtrack from the film, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” written by Wojciech Kilar and chose this theme when Dracula’s Brides are introduced in the film in a very erotic scene, might I add. I love this movie and the soundtrack is excellent.

What spooky songs can you think of?

A Few Cards...

 

CCAYR- Snowman

Inkspirational-  Which Season to Choose: The Winter Season

Simon Says- Christmas 

Mr. Snowman came out to play which I stamped in black and coloured it up with Gamsol pencils. I sponged on some distress inks in blues along the edges and glued itbon a glitter cardstock. I stamped the saying in versamark and used this Embossing powder that remains tacky so I can place the shiny stuff on top and it glues in place. I added the crystals and the snowflakes.

The Flower Challenge- Stencil It

Tic, Tac, Toe- tttc259 I chose Leaf, Frame, Embellishment

Addicted to Stamps- Any Occasion 

I missed the flower challenge, I missed but I am able to include this in the Tic, Tac Toe challenge. I used these pigment colours that are in jars and I applied it with the sponge applicator over top the Stencil that comes in 3 parts. I decided to use tombow markers to define the edges of the flower. I glued it onto the glitter cardstock and framed it with pear Embellishments. 

Christmas Card Throwdown Recycling 

Little Red Wagon-Emboss It.

Last week, this same challenge had Brown for the colour challenge. I took a few scrap pieces I have( ok, I have a ton) and created this card. I had a small piece with snowflakes on it and incorporated it onto the card. I embossed the background with stars and highlighted the stars with a distress chalk ink. I stamped the trees in white and embossed in a white glitter. I put all the pieces together and made this card.

Circus Time

 

Lee, from Tossing It Out, will enjoy( I hope), my theme this week since he use to be in a circus, from what I understand and was a pretty good juggler. I can only juggle my budget but I’m always amazed at what people can juggle and how much. It’s quite entertaining to watch along with the trapeze artists and even the good ole clowns. There are many films involving the circus including “ The Greatest Show On Earth” which should never…I mean, never have won Best Picture since it was up with “High Noon” and The Quiet Man” and “Singing In The Rain”. I didn’t choose this most obvious choice but went with 3 other movies and none are horror films….

1.  TRAPEZE-1956

This film stars Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina with her 2 Lollas…sorry..I couldn’t help myself..Gina Lollabrigida as members of a circus who work on the trapeze. Burt, who used to work as an acrobat in a circus before he drifted into acting plays a former trapeze artist who did 3 somersaults in the air, or something like that, before becoming injured and now trains people like up and comer Stony Curtis. In comes Gina who will do anything to become famous and who slithers up to Tony but Burt knows what kind of woman she is. Can you say love triangle? It’s quite glitzy and the costumes are great along with the tension on the high wire. It’s a fun movie and Lollo’s amazing figure makes my mouth drop never mind all the men. 

2. BERSERK! -1967

Joan Crawford owns this old circus keeping it going in any way possible. She loves the the man of ceremonies showcasing her legs every chance she can get with her hair wound up so tight that she doesn’t need a facelift. She is having an affair with a hunky, younger man who is a bit loose for brains and when there are killings on the circus grounds and business gets better, she is loving it. Is she the one killing people for her business?  Who knows but people are dying in the most gruesome ways( poor Diana Dors). I was expecting this film to be bad but I was pleasantly surprised. It won’t win any awards but it’s a fun film to sit back and watch with some popcorn.

3. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN-2017

I really like this film for the story, the songs and Hugh Jackman who portrays P. T. Barnum the way you wish he would have been. Except for P. T. Starting a circus, making it a huge moneymaker and a fire, most is fictional. Tom Thumb did really exist and was the smallest man, at that time who, along with other “Freaks” ( Love the 1932 film called Freaks) appear at Barnum’s circus. Barnum felt it was perfectly fine to have the freak show combined with the circus and really knew how to put on a show. The music is great as is the writing, acting and direction. I love the singing and am glad we have, so far, one film showcasing Jackman’s talent. A worthy film!

Which films can you think of?

Music I Dont Listen To

 

For some reason my Lexi loves to sleep by our Harley's butt. Maybe there's more warmth there. This week, over at Curious as A Cathy for the Monday Music Moves Me post, it's about Music that I don't normally listen to and I have chosen 3 songs representing the genre.

1. BABY GOT BACK BY SOR MIX ALOT-1992

I can't stand rap and consider most of it just dreck. There are very few rap songs that I don't mind but most are blecchh to me. This is one song that's just stupid, insulting but catchy. I'd never own this song but I could listen to this over M & M ( yes I know, but I can't help myself). 

2. STAYS IN MEXICO SUNG BY TOBY KEITH-2004

I don't care for country music except Johnny Cash and the more rock sided country like "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" but the true twang of country with Conway Twitty and Minnie Pearl..ughh, just give me a gun. Now, that being said, I didn't mind Toby Keith because he brought humor into his music and music videos. This song and the video I found hilarious especially when you take a close look at the guy's family picture. It's a shame he died this year..too young.

3. DROP KICK ME JESUS THROUGH THE GOALPOSTS OF LIFE SUNG BY BOBBY BARE-1976

Twang country mixed with Jesus save me songs.... kill me now.

Ok, some may hate that my last one but each to their own. Some love the religious songs that you hear on the rip off..er..evangelists shows and good for you but I can't hear these...I'd rather listen to fingers on a black board. 

Which songs or genres do you dislike or never listen to?

Thursday Film Picks: Houses

 

It’s October, we Canucks just celebrated Thanksgiving. I’m patiently waiting for the leaves to turn fabulous colours and Halloween will soon be here. I thought of the many homes that were stars of the film and it was so hard to choose only 3 so, since Halloween is around the corner, I went the spooky route.

By the way…the answers to yesterday’s  Oscar music fest is..”Say You Say Me” won the Oscar, “Miss CELIE’S Blues” was nominated and “Rhythm of the Night” got nadda! 

Here are my 3…

1. REBECCA-1940

Joan Fontaine ( I truly dislike this pretentious actress as she reminded me of a former colleague I had to work with. I read Joan’s autobiography which resulted in my dislike for her) plays a meek gal who is the companion for an elderly woman when she meets Laurence Olivier who sweeps her off her feet. They marry and he brings her to Manderley, this huge mansion near the ocean. When I saw this mansion and the huge fireplace inside it, I wanted to live there. Well, poor Joan meets the huge staff and, then, she meets Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers who makes the word “intimidating” sound like an understatement. She is the head maid and the loyal friend to Rebecca, Olivier’s first wife, who died under mysterious circumstances. Mrs. Danvers makes it her mission to drive port Joannie insane. Her new husband seems to be cold and aloof and his friends don’t seem to be of much help. This is a gothic romance/mystery/ almost horror film with this beautiful mansion at the core. It is well acted especially by Judith Anderson( the Vulcan High priestess in Star Trek 3) and very well directed by Alfred Hitchcock, of course.

2.  PSYCHO-1960

If you have not seen this film…you’ve been living under a rock…lol. It is a justly famous film by Alfred Hitchcock who had to use his TV crew to get this film done. We have heard about the shower scene, justly famous( chocolate syrup was used to simulate blood) and we know Anthony Perkins has mommy issues but we forget that Vera Miles, a favourite of Hitchcock( even though he couldn’t forgive her getting pregnant when he wanted to have her star in one of his films..I think it was “North by Northwest” but I’m going by my fractured memory..please correct me if I am wrong), played the sister of the ill fated Janet Leigh and square-jawed John Gavin was Janet’s love. John is the reason poor Janet( Marion Crane…Hitch had a thing for birds) stole the money( the McGuffin) which set the whole thing in motion. When Marion arrives at the run down motel, it seems dwarfed by the square box of the house at the top of a hill where mother resides with Norman. Most of the time, only the front facade of a home or business was built for a film but this home was built with all the walls and the roof and it is still standing! Nothing is inside it but it stands at the top of the hill and tourists can visit where Norman loses his mind. This is a brilliant film that caused quite the stir when it came out. Love the music and the camerawork.  If you haven’t seen it, you need to see it,

3. THE HAUNTING-1963

To me, this is the home to beat because it seems to be alive screwing with the minds of the people who are staying there. An anthropologist with a keen interest in psychic phenomena brings 2 women who seem to have an innate psychic ability. One is an unstable woman who wants to escape her sister’s clutches and feels a kinship to the home and the other is a cynical woman who can sense things. Along for the ride is the cynical owner of the home played by Russ Tamblyn known for his athletic dancing in films like “West Side Story.” This home has cold spots, sounds, footsteps, doors moving, which is quite scary and the feeling the home does not want them to leave. The cinematography is brilliant and the writing is excellent. Forget the horrible remake with Liam Neeson, stick with this one but I will give a shout out to the TV mini series that was on HBO or Netflix or whatever, I got this series for Christmas. It’s well done although the ending  was just ok for me but it is eerie. I still love this film. 

Which homes seem to take centre stage for you, in films?

Who Won the Oscar-1985

 

Over at Monday Music Moves Me, I have seen and listened to quite a few 80s songs so I decided to chose a year from the 80s and went with 1985. Let’s see if you will get who won the Oscar, who was nominated and which song got nadda…

1. SAY YOU, SAY ME BY LIONEL RITCHIE

Say You, Say Me…say Goodbye. This was the heyday for Lionel Ritchie who had several hits in the 80s and this one came from that blechh film, “White Knights”  starring Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov. I was so looking forward to the dancing but the camerawork forgot all about what Fred Astaire said, “show the whole body not just the feet” and would show their faces and just their feet, go slow mo when dancing off some table…ughhh. 

2. RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT SUNG BY DEBARGE

This song was written by Diane Warren for the film” The Last Dragon and became a big hit for this musical group. This is a movie I have not seen and doubt I will since it’s about Martial Arts with a young man, who adores Bruce Lee and wishes to become a master and glow..yes, glow. I do like Kung Fu and I do like the amazing work that Jet Li does and Jackie Chan but this just sounded like Ralph Machio would pop up somewhere. I don’t mind this song though.

3. MISS CELIE’S BLUES SUNG BY TATA VEGA

This is an excellent film by Steven Spielberg tht put Whoopi Goldberg on the map as a young girl, brutalized by her no good husband who is awakened to who she is as a person by Margaret Avery. Margaret Avery appears to be singing but she was dubbed by Tata. I guess Marni Nixon wasn’t available ( she was the go to gal in the 50s and 60s who dubbed many stars of the day). Oh, a gal, named Oprah Winfrey made her big screen debut in this film and did a great job getting an Oscar Nod in the process.

So, which one do you think won, which was nominated and which just got a carrot stick? 

Who Should Have Won The Oscar-1956

 

Best Actor had a variety of roles this year with James Dean, Rock Hudson and Laurence Olivier all in the Oscar Pot. I believe one man should have won for 1956, but wasn't even nominated and here we go..

1. JOHN WAYNE IN THE SEARCHERS

Despite people either loving him(that's me) or hating him, he deserved to win the Oscar as the Indian hating former soldier who is on the hunt to find his niece(played by Natalue Wood). The gentle looks Ethan( Wayne) gives to his sister in law, speaks volumes. When he sees his brother's home on fire, he knows they are dead and his first thought is of his sister in law. When he sees her dead, his brother and their son and the 2 girls taken, hate takes over. A posse is put together and along with the adopted son of John Wayne's brother, who was not home when they were ambushed, they take off after the girls. The posse gives up but not Wayne or the Native American son, played by Jeffrey Hunter, who drive on for 5 long years. This film is directed by John Ford and you can tell by the look of the film with Monument Valley taking center stage. You have Ford's stock company of actors Wayne, Ward Bond, Harry Carey Jnr., Patrick Wayne and the wonderful Hank Worden who all have great characters. Wayne is amazing as Ethan, a troubled man moving towards his goal of finding Scar and killing him. His rage is his mission and you are scared once he finds his niece since she has been raised by the Commanche. Will he kill or save her. It’s a must see western.

2. YUL BRYNNER IN THE KING AND I

I was lucky enough to see Yul Brynner in the 1980 production of The King and I in Toronto. It was so much fun to see him in his iconic role. He played this role, on Broadway, with Gertrude Lawrence before taking it to film. He is excellent as the king and he has a great rapport with Deborah Kerr as the governess who is to teach the English ways to all his children and his wives. They are at odds but grew to have great respect for one another. It's a lush musical by Rogers and Hammerstein with great costumes and the music is sublime. He did win the Oscar and I'm not upset that he won but it should have gone to John Wayne.

3. KIRK DOUGLAS IN LUST FOR LIFE

Kirk Douglas was born to play Vincent Van Gogh and this is a great film that Kirk eats up the screen every moment he is on film. Douglas plays the tortured soul of this Famous Dutch painter who had trouble hanging on to any friend which included Paul Gauguin, played by Anthony Quinn in his Oscar Winning role for Best Supporting actor, who just can’t deal with Van Gogh. This is quite a good movie based on Van Gogh and Douglas really showed this artist in all his bravado plus he looks like him to boot! It is worth checking out. 

Do you agree with me or do you feel someone else deserved the win?

My Favourite Rock Band

 

The Moody Blues… one of the great bands to come out of the 1960s that captured so much intelligence and artistry especially in the phenomenal album, “Days Of Future Passed”. I have many of their albums but could get a few more. I didn’t go with my other favourite, “ABBA” because they are not a band as much as a group in my way of thinking but I do love them. I am joining Monday Music Moves Me which is all about your favourite band or songs.  So here we go…

1. NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN-1967

Might as well start with their most famous and iconic song that we all know so well. I love everything about it including the poem at the beginning of the album and this one, at the end. I love how they used the London Symphony throughout the whole album culminating in this great composition.

2. ISN’T LIFE STRANGE-1972

This song is from the album, “Seventh Sojourn” which includes one of my all time favourites, “For My Lady” which I posted here a couple of times. This just makes me think how strange life can be no matter what age or time we are in. This song resonates today as it did back in the day no matter what is going on in the world or in your own life. I love it,

3. I’M JUST A SINGER IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND-1973

This is just a fun song written as an answer to many who thought the Moody Blues were some philosophical gurus when they just wanted to write music. This was put on a 45 on the A side with “For My Lady” on the B side ( one of my all time favourites). This is, of course, from “Seventh Sojourn” as well.

I could go on and on but I shall leave it with these 3. What band or songs are your favs?

Leo McCarey

 

Who the hell is Leo McCarey? Well, he is a famous director who was most prolific in the 30s and 40s ending in the early 60s. His most famous movies are “Going My Way” that stars Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald and “An Affair To Remember” with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. I am choosing 3 films that are just as fun. There are a few movies I still need to see like “The Awful Truth” starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne but I am choosing films, that I love, directed by this man born on this date back in 1898.

1. RUGGLES OF RED GAP-1935

I had to choose this very famous scene when the English Butler, played by Charles Laughton, recites the Gettysburg Address and that brought Laughton to tears. In fact, this is Laughton’s favourite as well as Leo McCarey’s. The hick husband and wife from the States, are in England and the man is playing cards. A dumb English lord or whatever, has no more money so he bets his butler and, yup, the hicks win and off the 3 go back home. Well, Charles sticks out like a sore thumb but teaches something to the people in that small town and they teach Charles not to feel so haughty. It’s funny, sweet, and poignant.

2. LOVE AFFAIR1939

This is a second film version of this popular story about 2 people who meet on a cruise ship, fall in love and promise to meet up on top of the Empire State Building only for tragedy to strike. He remade this  film with Grant and Kerr that got a lot of free time when it was shown on the movie, “Sleepless in Seattle”. This is a gem with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne in the roles of the star crossed lovers. It is also filmed with humour, tragedy, and sentimentality and that’s fine by me. Both Boyer and Dunne called this their favourite film.

3. THE BELLS OF ST. MARY’S-1945

This is a sequel to the wonderful, “Going My Way” following Father O’Malley, played by Bing Crosby,  who must try and save this school run by nuns, headed by the exceptional Ingrid Bergman. They may not see eye to eye but they learn to have a great respect for each other. It’s very fun to watch and see these 2  people spar in more ways than one. When can you see a nun teach a kid to box? I love the prank Crosby and Bergman played on the priest who was overseeing the film. When Crosby is leaving the school, he and Bergman passionately kiss. I bet that priest almost had a coronary…lol.

Have you seen any of his movies? If so, which one?

Dance Like It’s the 1980s

 

So, Harley wanted a hug from Pappa and Pappa wanted his jewels left unscathed( that did not happen). They do love each other even though Harley gulped down my hubby’s chicken leg and thigh in one second. Harley didn’t even chew it…it was just gone! Now, over at Monday Music Moves Me, it is freebie time and I have been thinking about my party days in the 80s when I was in University. It was a lot of fun to put it mildly. I could dance, nonstop, for hours. So here I am remembering the times of many a year ago….

1. RELAX BY FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD-1984

This is one fun song that I danced to at the University pub, University dances and several bars downtown and we all were in top form for dancing around this time of the year. I always thought this guy’s voice was quite good. Dancing was so much fun especially at Gord’s, a famous dance club often with skin heads. Funny anecdote, my first time there, I’m sitting with my friends, Peter, Ron and Darren when this horrible music comes on and these skinheads start running around in circles pushing one another. One of the morons ends up on me and I get angry, tell him to F off and push him off. My friends looked at me, mouths agape, telling me I shouldn’t have done that. I had no idea why and only found out later that one is not supposed to push these skinheads because they are jerks. I just thought they were idiots and didn’t like that they fell onto me…idiots.

2. COME ON EILEEN BY DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS-1982

This is such a famous song that it’s considered one of the all time best from this decade and beyond. I would place it way down the list when one thinks of the bands from the 60s and 70s, but it is a lot of fun and was always played throughout the 80s. 

3. I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL BY JOAN JETT  AND THE BLACKHEARTS-1981

This is more of a rock song than the songs we think of from the 1980s but it’s a good one with Joan Jett singing her heart out. In 1982, I travelled to Austria to represent my family for my grandparents’ wedding anniversary of 60 years. My cousin, Gita, decided to take me out with fellow cousin Bettina and her fiancé  who drove an Astin Martin. I was lucky to sit in the front seat while he drove, very, very fast, on the Autobahn. We ended up at a disco which was the first time I ever saw people waltz to rock songs! This man asked Bettina to dance and she said no but, feeling sorry for me( I wish she hadn’t), told him to take me up to dance…this song was playing and he, reluctantly, agreed. During the whole song, he would slowly go down on one knee and point in one direction and then in another. He was a freak!! I tried to dance on my own trying to show that I am not with this nut. Fun times but it is one for the books.

What songs did you dance to when in University, college or just out on a Saturday, Friday, Thursday….lol

October Star of the Month-Linda Darnell

 

BIRTH: October 16, 1923

DEATH: April 10, 1965

AGED: 41 years

DIED FROM: Fire in home, burned 90% of her body. Not sure of the cause of the fire although cigarettes may be the likely culprit but not sure if it was Linda or her friend.

REAL NAME: Monetta Eloyse Darnell

MARRIED: 3 Times

AFFAIRS: Howard Hughes, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Italian actor Giuseppe Amato, Vic Orstti. Dated Mickey Rooney, Jackie Cooper, George Montgomery, Kay Keyser, Eddie Albert..etc, etc, etc., 

CHILDREN: 1 adopted daughter

NICKNAME: Filmdom’s Most Eligible Bachelorette.

TALENT: she loved to paint and draw

KNOWN FOR: her exquisite beauty

I am taking a major risk…why? This is, I believe, Joel’s favourite actress and I hope I do this amazing gal justice since she is not well known which is sad. If Joel has anything more to add, please let me know in your comment. This is a gal that I always wanted to know more about even when I was a kid because she was not only strikingly beautiful, but she seemed intelligent and and full of spunk. She deserved a lot more than what she was given, partly, I believe, due to Darryl F. Zanuck, head of 20th Century Fox, who lusted after her but whom she rejected. You can see that he made sure she just didn’t get the parts she deserved due to the creep but most of them were creeps who had power and the almighty casting couch. She grew up one of 5 kids whom her mom saw stars in front of her beautiful girl and decided to capitalize on her daughter’s beauty lying about her age, mind you, I don’t think Linda minded at the time but she was only 13! When they headed to Hollywood and Hollywood found out about her young age, they actually told her to go home until she was of age! When she returned, still young, in my humble opinion, she starred in films from the get go with people believing she was much older than her 16/17 yrs. Her mom had a bad reputation for being a bully on set and nasty, with Linda, finally, kicking her out of her life. Linda actually loved painting, travelling and didn’t care much about the whole scene and had few Hollywood friends except for Ann Miller.

 She did have bad taste in men, with her first husband introducing her to alcohol which led her to a downward spiral of alcoholism and her so-called love of her life, Joseph L Mankiewicz using her for 6 years before dropping her to stay with his wife calling her a nice gal but with terrifying personal problems. She did deal with depression and even a couple of suicide attempts while trying to get sober. She was staying with her former secretary and friend, when, in the middle of the night, she awoke to fire in the home. She got her friend’s daughter and friend to the 2nd storey window and they jumped but fearing  the fall, she tried to find a different way out. She was burned over 90% of her body and died a day later. What a horrible way to go for someone who deserved an Oscar nod, if not the Oscar for A Letter to 3 Wives and who just wanted to be loved.

FILMS

1.  A Letter To Three Wives-1949

2. My Darling Clementine-1946

3. Blood and Sand-1941

4. Fallen Angel- 1945

5. Unfaithfully Yours-1948

6. Night Without Sleep-1952

7. Forever Amber-1947

8. Hangover Square-1945

9. Star Dust-1939

10. The Mark Of Zorro-1940

I haven’t seen many of her films so, after, Blood and Sand, I chose movies that I would want to see in order, mind you there are other films I want to see not even listed. Which are your favourite films of hers? Have you seen any?