So I follow a blog called A View From The Third Floor run by Elliptical Man and he is conducting challenges for each month. January is to do something new. Now as I pondered this exciting adventure thinking what could I do, visit a new place near where I live or a new recipe, my dear friend called me and he decided to venture off to Borneo! I told him never to ask me what is new with me ever again...hahahaaaa. He actually sent me a mini film of his trip into the jungle on a small boat and some beautiful pictures of tropical flowers. I can't wait to hear if he saw any orangutans ( not that ugly orange one living in the white house who is slinging his own doo-doo everywhere-imagine the clean up!)
What did I do that is new? I changed doctors and saw a new doctor and met with him this past Wednesday! Now you might think, "Whoah, this is so exciting it is making my heart pitter patter...NOT", but it is exciting to me and I am cautiously optimistic. and hopeful. I have been dealing with pain for 30 years with no doctor truly believing in my pain and condition. Over the years the pain has become worse and it is in every single joint, even my jaw. There is not one day that I don't have this and I know many of you truly know what that feels like. One Doctor did inform me that I have Ehlers-Danlos and from many visits to doctors who told me I'm just depressed to others who just say I shouldn't be in this much pain, let's just say...after 30 years one gets a little discouraged. My last Doctor, who I have been with for close to 30 yrs was angry with me for having to ask for tylenol 3 every 28 days because he would only give me 40 pills and then said "You've gained weight" and made a noise like I expanded into a giant water balloon, is now history. He used to be good otherwise I would not have stayed with him, but he always had an issue with my being in pain and giving out medication plus I think he is losing his marbles.
So this new doctor told me most doctors don't like dealing with patients who have pain because it can't be diagnosed properly. He will be sending me to a doctor in Toronto who specializes with Ehlers-Danlos and he also understood that I am not an addict! There was one day, about 3 years ago when I was in Home Depot and I had hardly 0 pain...0!!! I felt so happy and had no desire for a tylenol 3. I took in that moment because I knew it would change but this was such a happy memory...it really was and it confirmed, to me, that I am not addicted to tylenol but am dependant on it which is a difference. If you ever have had a toothache, think of that ache in every joint and that is about what I have never mind dislocating a joint here and there.
So, to make a long story..long, he has given me 100 tylenol to last for 2 weeks plus I am on a new drug, Gabapentin. It is an anti seizure drug but often given to people with chronic pain. Now it says weight gain, which I am not happy about but this is a trial. My new doctor said one will see if this works and what the Dr will say in Toronto plus he is sending me to a Dr in Hamilton/Dundas area who specifically deals with people in pain and welcomes these people with chronic pain. My new Doctor said he IS listening to me and feels I probably do have Ehlers-Danlos because he has a good friend who also has it as well as her daughter. (E-D can't be found in a blood test or DNA test)
This past month, with the weather being damp and not as cold as it should have been has done a number on me which is why you have not seen any postings of my cards...I just can't make any but I am hoping soon I will feel better....maybe this weekend. I am crossing my fingers that I am being heard and that my pain will be managed better...and I hope I don't turn into Blimp O Birgie.
Yes! There is something new in town and that is TV! Once a month we will be talking about TV shows and since I have not seen many new ones, I will be going to older ones and doing my best not to pick fantasy or super heroes. This means I am choosing something more ..out there:) I thought of many shows but the ones below are close to my heart. If you wish to know what the other gals and guys chose, head on over to the brain child of this series, Wandering Through The Shelves, and check it out.
1. STAR TREK-THE ORIGINAL 1966-1969
I mean, come on! How can anyone not chose this great, great series whether it is the original or The Next Generation which I love, even more, I think. It has spawned Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise never mind all the movies. Talk about a series that made it into the stratosphere. Gene Roddenberry had a tough time selling it to the executroids until he sold it as a wagon train in the Stars (Westerns were all the rage back then). You have Kirk, the bad ass captain who always breaks the prime directive and kisses all the girls. Spock, the wannabe unemotional Vulcan who is the science officer and Kirk's right hand man and Bones, Dr. McCoy, who never trusts the transporter, or Spock but is right beside Kirk as well. You have Sulu, Uhura and Chekhov all very surprising for the day since one is Japanese, one is African American and Chekhov is Russian! This is during the Cold War, equal rights and general chaos of the 1960's. I love the episodes, City on the Edge of Forever, Balance of Terror and, of course, The Trouble with Tribbles but there are many others that are great from this first series. Which episode is your favourite?
2. LOST IN SPACE-1965-1968
We go from great to hokey but I love this show from its wobbly sets to that fun robot. This family with the space pilot, a stowaway and a robot all board a spaceship but something happens and they become lost. Now they must find their way home. Dr. Smith, the stowaway, is actually someone who sabotaged the ship creating the events that follow. He is befriended by the boy, played by Billy Mumy. His sister is played by Angela Cartwright who played one the daughters in The Sound of Music and the oldest is the love interest to Pilot. It's schlocky but so much fun and after an hour spent on the school bus, I would come in the door, put my stuff down and turn on the tv to watch this(and Gilligan's Island).
3. SPACE 1999-1975-1977
Oh, this was a show I would watch on the weekend on the old channel 29 when you had to have an extra knob on the tv to switch it to the UTV...if I remember correctly... if I don't, please correct me. Anyway this starred Martin Landau and Barbara Bain who, with fellow scientists, live on the moon when the moon is knocked off its orbit, due to nuclear waste gathered on the other side of the moon that blows up, and goes hurtling into space. Now they are trying to get back to earth somehow. During their adventures, they can go to different planets and meet different life forms including a vixen who can change into animals or anything else she decides to be. This was my foray into British TV since I never cared for Dr. Who( sorry to all their fans). It was fun to watch and had many guest stars from Joan Collins to many who ended up in Star Wars. I almost picked Blake 7 and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
What Sci-Fi TV shows can you think of that you like or liked when you were a kid?
I chose the theme this week to honour some of the people who passed away last year (thank you Wandering:)). This is a difficult one to do because how can one choose just 3.....not me:) now I already gave a salute to some of the greats who passed away last year which you can view here. I am choosing not to go with Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds as they must be saying, up in heaven, enough already! I do love them but I am going with these 3. If you want to see what the others have chosen head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves. So here are my 3 plus an additional 2:)
1. ALAN RICKMAN IN BLOW DRY-2001
I love ....LOVE this man especially his voice, his intelligence, his looks. I cried a river when I heard of his passing. Ok I didn't, but, man, was I saddened to hear of his death. He will always be Professor Snape from the Harry Potter series and the evil guy in Die Hard but I chose this British film that I just love. He plays a hair stylist who enters an absurd contest to win for best hairstyle. He is up against the mean but very funny Bill Nighy and must also deal with his ex wife and her new partner. It is a funny and touching movie with the wonkiest hair styles one will ever see. Other films to see him in would be Sense and Sensibility, Dogma, Galaxy Quest, Love Actually and Eye In The Sky.
2. GEORGE KENNEDY IN THE EIGER SANCTION-1975
He could play someone a bit nasty but he was the best as the lovable but tough sidekick who can bat up someone with just a stare but is just one big softie. In this film...he's not really a softie but still a great sidekick to Clint Eastwood's anti hero. Clint Eastwood play a retired assassin/art history prof/mountain climber blackmailed into going back into his assassin mode. This leads him to mountain climbing and he needs to get back into shape which brings George Kennedy to the scene as the man who can help him. He is his old friend and buddy and they work together to successfully do the job. I do enjoy this film quite a bit and if you want to see more films with George check out Cool Hand Luke, The Dirty Dozen, The Airport films, Earthquake, and the Naked Gun films.
3. GENE WILDER IN BLAZING SADDLES-1974
This film was given as one of the reasons that the Western took a nosedive. I don't know about this but it is nuts since it is a Mel Brooks film. Cleavon Little is made sheriff of a small town which is just a ruse since the evil guy, played by the great Harvey Korman, wants to destroy the town for a railroad. The townsfolk don't take well to the new sheriff since he is...African American. Everyone underestimates the new sheriff who has one ally....the Cisco Kid played with boozy delight by Gene Wilder. This is one crazy film that I love and laugh every time. Gene Wilder was great in this film and cemented his relationship and friendship with Mel Brooks. Gene was also great in Young Frankenstein, The Producers, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Silver Streak.
Plus 2 more....
4. GLORIA DEHAVEN IN SUMMERSTOCK-1950
Most people will probably not know who she is which is why I chose her because she was quite the star in her day even if she was mainly second lead to the bigger stars like Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. In Summer Stock she plays the actress sister to Judy who is trying to keep her farm afloat. Gloria brings the acting troupe along including her boyfriend Gene Kelly. You know the troupe will save the farm and sing a song or 5. Gloria is not at all happy with what is going on between her sister and her guy but thems the breaks! You can see the lovely Gloria in Summer Holiday, Scene of the Crime, 3 Little Words and Out To Sea as well. It's hard to find a scene with just her in it, ditto for below...
5. MICHELE MORGAN IN PASSAGE TO MARSEILLES-1944
This Grande Dame of the French Cinema was the first woman to win an award at first Cannes Film Festival and is considered an icon in cinema around the world. How sad that, in North America, no one knows her. When she escaped the Nazis, she briefly tried a Hollywood career but moved back to her home when the war was over. I wish I would see some of her great French works but the only one I saw, and that was many years ago, was this American film done with Humphrey Bogart. In fact she was almost going to play Ilse in Casablanca but they went with Ingrid Bergman instead. Funny, most of the actors from Casablanca appear in this film. It has a flashback within a flashback within a flashback. It tells the story of a man, wrongly accused of a crime and sent to Devil's Island, escapes with 4 other men. They are picked up by a freighter and end up fighting for the Free French. Ms. Morgan play's Bogie's wife. I remember enjoying this film and found it patriotic but can't recall more...I need to see it again. Ms. Morgan was also in Remorques, Higher and Higher, The Fallen idol and Les Grande Manoeuvres. Maybe I should have downloaded just a tribute to her??
The second week of January and the awards season is just beginning. We just had the Golden Globes where there was a lot of sparkles which I love but also such low cuts in front that I was really hoping for some flash. I am sick of fake boobs coming out of barely there dresses that, if it was shown in 3D, we would be ducking. This brings me to this week's theme ...The Fashion World which is big time stuff for Hollywoodland.(or should I say Hollyweed:)) I am savings The Devil Wears Prada for another time but do expect it to be popular this week. Head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what everyone else has picked. Onward to my 3....
COVERGIRL-1944
This is a wonderful musical that, not only showcases Rita Hayworth's dazzling beauty, but her excellent dancing. Gene Kelly, as Danny McGuire( check out Xanadu) owns a Brooklyn club with Hayworth as his girlfriend and Phil Silvers as his beat friend. Hayworth has the chance to leave the nightclub scene and become the new Covergirl and fashion icon but this would mean leaving her boyfriend...what will she do?? Hayworth plays 2 roles, that of the girlfriend and her grandmother from the 1890's flashback. This also has an amazing dance by Gene Kelly where he is dancing with his conscience in an amazing trick photography but needed to be perfect since Gene Kelly was technically dancing with himself.
2. FUNNY FACE-1957
Yup, another musical but I just love them so...so there:) This stars the great Audrey Hepburn as a bookish young woman, with an amazing face, who is reluctantly caught up as the new fashion face for their magazine etc... She is "found" by the famed photographer, Dick Avery, played by the equally great and debonair Fred Astaire (based on real life photographer Richard Avedon) who whisks her off along with the magazine editor (The great Kay Thompson) to Paris to become a famous model. Dancing ensues, we see great fashion and of course there is romance between Hepburn and Astaire(much to Astaire's chagrin since he was much older). It is s'wonderful and delightful.
3. THE EYES OF LAURA MARS-1978
OK so not a great trailer for this film but still gives just enough. Laura mars, played by Faye Dunaway, is a fashion photographer who suddenly can see through the eyes of a serial killer. She contacts the police and Tommy Lee Jones plays the cop who recognizes that the scenes closely resemble that of her fashion photographs. Soon people she works with as well as friends become victims and she, herself, is being stalked. I enjoyed this film even though it is not a great one by any means, I thought it was tense and freaky....and nope, not a musical:)
So, We are already on January 10th and people have been asking me if I have made any New Year's resolutions which I have not and will not because it bugs me, that's why. Hell, I am still chowing down on all the goodies from Christmas. If I want to make a resolution, I may do this on February 2nd or March 11th because I can:)
I have taken down almost all the Christmas decorations except for my Santa's which will be done tonight. I have watched some movies already, the most recent being Road To Morocco which I enjoyed (I love all those road pictures). I can't wait to see La-La land and Rogue One in the theatre.
I have been thinking of what new thing I could do in January that I have not done before...a new recipe, something new I have not done with my cards, go somewhere new like a museum or some attraction and then my dear friend, V.J., called from Vancouver. He was thinking the same thing so he's going to Borneo and hike in the tropical forests and stay in hostels. He leaves this Sunday and will be gone for 2 weeks there and then heads off to Thailand to spend time with his boy toy, um, I mean partner(VJ is 51 and his partner is 25) for 2 more weeks before heading home. Remember, I am thinking about a new recipe....if I could I would have gone through the phone to just slap him because...well, just because:) He then had the nerve to ask me what's new and what plans do I have this year. I'll be happy to find a new top for under $10! I tell ya, I am one exciting gal.
I do have goals-organize pictures, make scrapbooks, play board games with friends, plus some others but we shall see. I may also belong to the Johnny LaRue school of exercise, you know, open fridge, bend down, pick up beer, close fridge.
Actually, I am really happy for VJ and want to see plenty of pictures and I hope he gets to see orangutans who have the right body colour and hair style compared to the one entering the Oval office. Now for some fun..
What am I wearing?....Clothes and 40lbs of fat
Favourite Colour? Blue of course, Blue Skies are a calling. Hey, Think of some songs with Blue in the title and I will give each a listen.
My Spirit Animal? Wolf (Were you expecting the duck-billed platypus??)
Favourite Movie? Oh please, you should know (Jimmy Stewart is the star)
Loves?...Animals, Film, books, talking, TV, walking, pictures, glitter, art, creating cards, music, seducing men, wearing spandex, eating worms...did you read this far??:)
Sorry for being long winded but I felt like blabbing like an idiot. Oh, I did watch the Golden Globes and they were great...
Yes, she's gorgeous but how many looked at her face first? There were many globes out there that night....
A new year and another round of films to entertain or bore you:) There are many films that take place in the court room but many are not thrillers so I tried to stay on this thriller genre. So you pick 3 films that corresponds to the theme each week and you can find that list over at the host, Wandering Through The Shelves. I dare ya to join:) Here are my 3....
1. WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION-1957
I love this film and find it brilliant in its style creating suspense and humour resulting in a tense courtroom drama that makes you think twice and thrice. It stars the great Charles Laughton as the lawyer who is defending a young man, played by Tyrone Power in one of his best roles. Marlene Dietrich plays his wife who does not seem to love her husband that much. This film keeps you guessing especially where Laughton's character hides his cigars.
2. AND JUSTICE FOR ALL-1979
I saw this film many years ago and need to revisit this. We all know Al Pacino's rant( "you're out of order, you're out of order, we're all out of order!) but this film really digs into the judicial system and the people who are convicted and the others who are freed mainly due to technicalities. We also know that nothing has changed in 40 years. A gripping film that makes you think.
3. THE VERDICT-1982
This is another film that left me cold with how cruel the system can be, yet there is a ray of hope. Paul Newman plays an alcoholic, once promising attorney who now chases ambulances. He takes a case he thinks will be simple but turns out to be anything but and finds, within himself, the reason he became a lawyer in the first place. He is up against major lawyers headed by the great James Mason and you are left wondering if anything will work and that justice will be served.
What films spring to your mind? I didn't choose To Kill a Mockingbird which is amazing but it don't consider it a thriller. I almost picked Runaway Jury...almost:)
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!
