My Blog is Helpful, Happier Times

 I have been so down thinking over and over about the situation with Marilyn and Debbie.  How they can think the way they do is just so unbelievable to me that it makes me feel really bad.  But last night I felt energetic enough to get back to my job of putting pix on my blogs from books I am getting rid of.

And surprisingly as I read some posts of my experiences and what I gained from them and what other people thanked me for and wrote to me I felt really inspired to overcome these negative feelings and just be thankful for so many other things.  I do not need to be around Marilyn, she lives in her own little world and I have very different activities in my life.  She just repeats pat phrases and really does not know what she is talking about and it is more interesting to talk to others anyway and I am busy with my projects anyway.  I believe she knows the truth and just will not overthink what Debbie tells her and I might say something unkind and no need for that.

Carole had to go in yesterday because her blood pressure was over 200 and they have had a hard time gettihng it down.  This morning she has done several tests so anxious to hear how she comes out.

I just found a podcast that is made just for me.  For curious people and I have already learned alot of very interesting things.  For instance there is now in place a hotline for mental health.  Instead of calling the police who do not have the skills and just put more negativism on whatever problem there is, you can call 988 and get professionals to talk to and try to help with talk and resources.  We are to spread the word.

I was having such leg aches just above my knees but I finally decided that I have been watching so much tv while not feeling well and the rocking chair I sit in does not have any pillows to heighten it and so it is too low and as I get up and down a lot the pressure is on my legs in that very spot every time I get up.  Need to let Sadie have the rocker and sit some other way!!!

I also learned why I probably do not gain weight from my eating, I definitely do intermittent fasting just because my body wants to and it helps.

Call Me Curious is the new podcast I am listening to.  There is another one I liked earlier which was also a lot of facts about curious things but I cannot find the title yet.

This is a good memory of a happier time and I loved the way my house looked inside at Christmas.  I will never have that again.  My eye that always irritates me looks bad in this picture way back then in 2012 or so.

Notes of Thanks

I was looking for info on the Hurricane Katrina and found this note.  It is always a joy to find something that reminds you that you have done some good in the world.

 

Getting Ready for Another Move

 I have two piles of books and pictures of about 10 years and many Christmas pix that I need to add to my blogs before I go to live in Carlsbad with Linda and Gary.  It will take a lot of time but I am not moving until the end of October.  I will not have room for all these books!

I am trying to get rid of all my big furniture now so I will have time to do that.  Jenny and her daughter came over last week and took a lot of my things and they are advertising some of them on Marketplace.  Molly is getting my desk this next week and Norma and Brian are getting my Ethan Allen bookcases and TV and table and probably TV.  Norma was especially excited to find my hummingbird feeder as hers just broke and I have it in the thrift store pile, they also took some others items so have less in that pile to go.

They came today for all the things I am sending up to the cabin with Carole's ok.  She is the last sister still using the cabin.  I sent 4 bear lamps, Brians picture of Dad fishing in a stream, Richard's picture he bought to remind me of Montana of the horse, and pix of James while hiking with John, John as surfer who also had a love for and spent a lot of time at the cabin, and pix book of the cabin pictures on Montana years book.  Also send my red winter jacket and pea coat for cold days up there.

Hamilton

I just finished the most fascinating book "Hamilton" by Lin-Manuel Miranda.  This was not the history book but this book is all about the making of the musical which is currently on Broadway.  

Such a talented young man to be able to write this and pull such experts in to make history come alive in such a fascinating way.


Someone has paid for the school children in the area to see it so the teacher's have done amazing preparation in the classrooms, what a great learning experience as well as entertaining experience.


I also downloaded the music and words.  When I had first read about it I could not understand how a musical be made from the material but it really works and since I will never see it, I am sure, I am enjoying it all the same.  I can actually understand the words and on You Tube you can see and hear excerpts as well as Google lots of the images.  The costumes represent the historical time and from the neck up it is modern time.

It is actually quite moving.  I cried through "Stay Alive" and "It's Quiet Uptown"--reminding me of John and then "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells your Story?:" reminding me of Richard.  Very emotional.


It is a really amazing musical...


Now I am waiting for the audio book of Hamilton by Ron Chernov to become available on my San Diego Library to Go.   Miranda makes it sound most interesting to read!!

The Beach Boys

What an enjoyable day today.  It was a "The Beach Boys" marathon on AxsTV and I loved all the music.  What talented boys, so sad for a lot of the things they went through but I loved the music.  So many times this past year I have been watching a musical show on TV and had to turn it off because there was just jumping around noise and not music to me.  Is there any beautiful music being written today?  I wonder.

I am so in awe of people who understand music, it is so complicated to me.  I was just thinking (again) how lacking in any real skills or talent I am.  But I so appreciate those who can make beautiful, meaningful music and I love hearing their stories.  It just seems that those of us who are not talented have a much easier life without all the stress, demons, and pain that artists seem to have.

Carly Simon

This past week I have enjoyed listening to "Boys in Trees" the memoir of Carly Simon.  I have also gone into Google and YouTube to learn more and listen to her music and interviews.  It has been most interesting.

She has written over 50 diaries and began this practice at a young age so her memories that she wrote have to be what she felt and saw at that time.  She is a very sensitive and interesting writer and I really have so much more appreciation for her music and singing voice and things she wrote about.   Very large vocabulary which she worked at and very expressive...


She had a habit of writing down interesting phrases or comments that she heard and later worked them into her music.  I remember so many of her songs very well but did not remember that she was married to James Taylor for over 10 years...that was most interesting.  I also was surprised about the "Mockingbird" song she and James sang together in the 70s as I sang a longer version of it to my babies in the 60s!!!


The fact that she had so many insecurities though she appeared outgoing was a revelation and endeared her to her fans though that is the reason she did not do much touring.  I did not know she had written music and sung for movies, did a musical, wrote children's books and that she could sit and play the piano while singing, without any music, of course.  Exceptionally talented.  When I saw her sing with Taylor Swift I could see they were built a lot alike.  Both have very long legs.  Carly is 70 and lives with a Dr. for the last 10 years, 13 years her junior, in the home she and James Taylor created on Martha's Vineyard and raised their two children in.  He has not spoken to her for the last 40 years...but she spoke very lovingly of him.  She was married to one other man later which she appeared to be happy with.


I don't think her music will every really die...and she was the singer of "Wee Hours in the Morning" one of my favorite songs in "Sleepless in Seattle".  I did not realize that.


She admitted that Warren Beatty is the subject of her second verse  of "You're So Vain" but has not disclosed except to close friends who the other two are.

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? don't you?

You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive
Well you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me
I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? don't you? don't you?

I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and...
You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? don't you?

Well I hear you went up to Saratoga and your horse naturally won
Then you flew your Lear Jet up to Nova Scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Well you're where you should be all the time
And when you're not you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife of a close friend, and...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? don't you? don't you?

Michael Jackson

The other night I watched a documentary on Michael Jackson and I had to download his song from his first album in 1979 (I think) "She's Out of My Life".  It is a gorgeous song.  I love to play it over and over.  He has an amazing voice.  It was the next year he did "Thriller".  Why do we destroy some of our greatest talent?  So sad.

She's Out Of My Life
Michael Jackson
She's Out Of My Life
She's Out Of My Life
And I Don't Know Whether To Laugh Or Cry
I Don't Know Whether To Live Or Die
And It Cuts Like A Knife
She's Out Of My Life
It's Out Of My Hands
It's Out Of My Hands
To Think For Two Years She Was Here
And I Took Her For Granted I Was So Cavalier
Now The Way That It Stands
She's Out Of My Hands
So I've Learned That Love's Not Possession
And I've Learned That Love Won't Wait
Now I've Learned That Love Needs Expression
But I Learned Too Late
She's Out Of My Life
She's Out Of My Life
Damned Indecision And Cursed Pride
Kept My Love For Her Locked Deep Inside
And It Cuts Like A Knife
She's Out Of My Life

Thanksgiving Time

Well, it is that time of year again--the saddest time of the year.  It was 18 years ago that Richard died the day before Thanksgiving in Susanville.  We had come to spend the holiday with Maria's family.

My brother David says he feels the same way  as my brother Dick also died at Thanksgiving time and Jeanne's husband died in early November also.  Thanksgiving, a time for remembrance.

 It really hit me this last Sunday as we were singing the first hymn, it was a song I was not familiar with but the music was by Alexander Schreiner, the great organ player and author.  It was "Thy Spirit, Lord, Has Stirred Our Souls".  For some reason it brought tears to my eyes and made me think of those sad Thanksgivings.  I should learn to play it on the organ, it is so beautiful.


Over the years the holidays have just not been the same without Richard in my life. Every year I have to decide, should I decorate for Christmas or not???  Seems I always feel alone, no matter where I am.  The Hardys were thinking about coming up this year for Thanksgiving but I really think it would be better for them to come up when it is warm and there is more to do.  It has been in the 20's the last few nights, the coldest we have had so far and I understand there have been some broken pipes. Thank heaven Matt called and he is coming for Thanksgiving and maybe he will bring a friend, I hope so.


My neighbors were up because some gutter workers found their front door open.  The raccoons had gotten in and made a terrible mess in the kitchen.  It is unbelievable to me as well as to him that he had left the door open.  I have watched them as they close up the house and they are so meticulous.   He is getting older, no doubt.


This month there were so many birthdays.  Kate's was the end of October and then Ryan, Jimmy, Mitch and Maria all had birthdays in November.  I just send the E Cards anymore.


I finally got a speaker for my tablet.  It makes it so much easier when I am doing work and don't have to be so near to hear.  Of course, I have my big speakers I got in Guam but I use them on my computer, I just got one of those little round ones like Linda showed me.


I am listening to the life of Billy Crystal.  He is really an unpretentious nice guy.   So far one of the funniest chapters I thought was his lamenting about how much more fun the Christian holidays were than the Jewish--with Christmas trees and presents and Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs, etc. and the Jewish holidays are all about fasting and asking forgiveness, etc.  It was so funny and I have never heard any Jewish person talk about it like that.

Books, Books, Books

Since the beginning of summer I have read or listened to 22 books!!!  I tend to read certain authors over and over:  Lee Child and the Jack Reacher books.  Anita Shreve,( I have read all of her books), Nora Roberts, Dean Koontz, John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks (Read all of  his), Harlan Coben, Joyce Carole Oates, Maeve Binchy and others I can't think of just now.

New authors I like are Gillian Flynn, J. Courtney Sullivan, Kate Atkinson, Lisa Gardner.

I also read some autobiographies: Maya Angelou, Tom Bergeron, Carolyn Jessop and an interesting one of a man growing up in the Glendive area.

The problem is that I do not remember anything about the book once I am finished.  I just read "Gone Girl" for the second time because I wanted to read it before I saw the movie and I could not remember anything at all from my first read last year.

I borrow most of my books online from the San Diego County Library through 'Library To Go' and have 10 on hold at all times so I always have books on my Kindle and my Samsung Tablet.  I find I often listen most of the night and miss part of the books when I occasionally doze off but it is a great way to fill sleepless nights without using your eyes.

It is nice to be able to just read a book all day long if you want...too bad time for reading comes at a time when your eyes get tired easily...thus the audio books are so wonderful.

Mark Twain

Last night I watched the second half of the life of Mark Twain.  He was one  writer who made good money on his writings and on his lectures.  His wife had also inherited an amazingly beautiful home in Hartford, Connecticut and his wife had decorated it lovingly.  They had three daughters and lived very happily in the that lovely place.

At a time when $500 a month was considered good income, they were spending $30,000 a year just to run the house with the servants (many) and costs of a home.  I am not sure if that included their lavish entertaining habits.

But Mark Twain didn't want to write for a living anymore and so he invested in different inventions-$25,000 here and there and none of them were successful. One observation was that his artistic brain did not have the caution of a good businessman and he was not questioning the things he should, much too reckless.

Eventually they had to declare bankruptcy, shut the house and travel around the world giving lectures to make money.  He was able to pay everyone back but their life was never the same.

It reminded me of the talk I heard at James' college graduation that warned them of what happens so often...a person graduates, gets a great career, and then loses because of letting other people manage or invest their money.  Anyway a lecture on how important is to learn to protect your earnings and be wise in all things.

I can say Amen to all of this.  Anyway the two part series on Mark Twain was on PBS--so worth watching.

 Last night I watched about the sculpturing of the Mt. Rushmore president heads, that was a story I did not know.  So interesting to find out how it all came about, and how long it took and at what a cost.  One thing that impressed me most was the beautiful skin that the one daughter had, who was reporting.  Reminded me of the complexion of my lady dermatologist--perfect and flawless with not a blemish.  Now that to me is really amazing!!!

When Reality Dashes Hope

I have made three trips to get fish tacos at the Locker Room.  I love them.  I was also suspicious that they were the culprit causing my gluten attacks.  I have not outruled everything else but them. So it must be the batter on the fish??? or the tortilla????  Which.  Can I have them grill the fish and still love it and not have any gluten???  Next week I talk to the owner and see what I can find out...so sad.

It is Memorial Day Saturday and I did not go to the Crafts Fairs or Garage Sales--I stayed home and finished a book.  What do I like about Nora Roberts books--her detail in her big books for one.  I can visualize effortlessly where I am and who I am seeing, the views, homes, excellent!!! without getting boring.  I love her woman protagonist--it is always someone I would like to be like with multi talents and courage.  I like her man protagonist--it is usually someone I could also fall in love with. And sex, well, no one can do sex like Nora Roberts. I have a friend who always felt that part could be eliminated, I always thought that was some of the best of her writing and why she is such a popular writer with women.

When I started reading her books when we lived in Pacific Beach I did not like that so often she had her women heroine swearing which I do not like in women at all, even though it is very common among the worldly women--she has cooled that in her later years.  They are tough but not so vulgar. Anyway the book was "Northern Lights" about a policeman and she made Alaska seem like a place we would all like to live.

I am almost finished with the series "Little Men".  I never read the book by Louisa Mae Alcott but I thought her strong woman Jo was a little too headstrong.  Seems she is apologizing in every story line at the end.  But they are well done--enjoyable series--26 episodes.

Yesterday I bought some good gluten free hamburger buns from Holiday and the cashier was surprised I was buying Miller hotdogs but hamburger buns.  I told her they do not have hot dog buns but you just cut the hotdogs in half and half again so they fit very well into a round bun.  Yummy good fare for the Memorial Day weekend with pineapple cabbage slaw on the side.

Weather is glorious, up to 80--flower pots happy, no wind, neighbors on both sides up for the weekend.  Jeff on the right reminded me they have been up here 10 years now!!  I reminded him I could not get any satellite reception until they built their house and had the trees cut down.  They are here alone for the weekend with no family.  Neighbors on the right spend their time at the beach--still have not raked their front yard in all the years I have been here!!!!  Cal Fire told me they would be fined...I wonder.

Books and Yardwork--Good for the Soul and Body!

So what do you do when all your work is done, you are tired of the tv, etc, and you are feeling nostalgic and lonely.  You get a book, of course!!!

The Missionary Ladies called and said they could not make it to dinner so yea, I will miss them, but anytime I don't have to cook a dinner it is a great day.  So I headed for the library first, to find a book I could not get on Library to Go.  It was not in but she ordered me a copy from Greenville.   I found four other books. (Sometimes you just have to have a good book in your hands--especially a romantic book when you are lonely) and then headed for the Locker Room for a supper of Fish Tacos!!  I can't get enough of them.  I have had five now and will get a free one when it gets to 11.  In chatting with the owner I found out more about these former San Diegans.  (Unfortunately I found out I get a gluten reaction from the tacos.)

Four couples came together to run the restaurant and a church.  Yes, they have been to Master's Commission (get training for the ministry) and are now a part of the ministry over at the Assembly of God church.  It did not work out the way it was originally planned and at least one couple went back to Oregon but there are five families at the church she said.  In reading about the church I find they are part of 66 million around the globe so no need to feel totally sorry for them on their own.  From the website I would say they have lots of support.  I was impressed.  I have enjoyed talking to three of the family members now and hope it all works out for them here because they are surely nice and I do love their restaurant.  Some day I will try something else besides the tacos, oh yes, I have had the fries and they are wonderful, too!

So I get home and immediately launch into "Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend"  by Robert James Waller, the author of "The Bridges of Madison County".  By four hours later I had finished it, and yes, I do like his writing and I see he has other published novels as well, good, more to read.  Then I read something about him on the internet and I see he had a real life experience very much like in his books and he and his wife of 35 years divorced and he married a younger woman who had been working for them...wonder if one of his books is about that.  Very interesting, learning about the authors whose books you like to read.

My yard is clean and watered and ready for Memorial Day! The flag is flying beautifully in the breeze.  I have flowers growing in my pots and even planted some seeds--will see how it all looks as the summer goes on.  I love that I kept my house and have to work in the yard, it is the only exercise I get and so good for me and I am so good for it.  Looks beautiful!

Gone Girl

I can't believe I did not write a post about this book "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn but I can't find one. It was one of the most suspenseful books I have ever read and I noted her down as a new author I want to follow.

Today I heard on the news what a best seller it has been and they are now making a movie of it!!! Gillian Flynn had lost her job in 2008 and decided to write--four years later, boom, what a success!!! I can't remember the details of the book but I don't think I will read it again before the movie--evidently the ending will be a little different.

She was asked how she could write such a dark movie about marriage when she appears to have a very happy one and has a little boy also.  She said she had to be careful to never write just after they had had a fight...but it is all her imagination what she writes in the book.

Hula Plus is A Plus and Matt and Mitch are My Heroes

The other day I asked Mitch why I needed Hulu Plus as one of my Roku Channels.  He said he had just read that they had added a lot of the old black and white Classic movies.  He knew I had been looking for some on Netflix and could not find them.

Sunday I had been talking to my sister Marilyn who had her 83rd birthday that day.  We were giving each other advice on how to live our remaining years and she left me with the admonition to just "do what you want to" so Monday after cleaning my little house I sat down for an afternoon of the "Classics"  on Hula Plus.

I have a list from somewhere of Classics to see before you die so that is the list I am using.  But first I was fascinated by an Ingrid Bergman film called "Stromboli".  Loving anything that Ingrid Bergman was in and not remembering ever seeing it (I hadn't, it was a foreign film) it was my first to watch. She was a left over prisoner in a refugee camp after WWII and was proposed to by a Greek prisoner who had a home to go back to.  He described the island in the Mediterranean as a desirable place and since he was a handsome young man and she did not have family left to go back to, she was married and left with him.

Feeling somewhat sad and lonely myself after Mitch and Matt left and I was alone for the first time in a few months it was a great film to cry to.  The town on the island was called Stromboli and it was town which was destroyed by a huge volcano at the top of the island every once and while and there was hard lava all over with little green vegetation and the homes were cracked and barren.  There was little furniture in his home. Anyway with her emoting and feeling rejected as a foreigner and he being a young jealous husband who believed in beating a wife who smiled at anyone else, etc, etc, etc it was a movie of tears...but I enjoyed feeling her emotions.

Then I found "Tokyo Story" on my list.  This was the story of an older couple who goes back to rebuilt Tokyo to visit their married children.  Since I had just been to San Diego to visit my married children this was a great movie to relate to.  As you can imagine their married children are all very busy with their jobs and family and having the parents is more a burden than a joy.  It really tells the story of just how it is--they love their parents but they do not have the time for them and the parents feel slighted and go home early. However, it is nothing that they talk about.  In fact they do not have so much in common to even converse anymore.

There were many excellent views voiced "your children grow away from you gradually"  "a married daughter is like a stranger"  "it is hard to lose a child, but it is not easy to get along with the living either".  The timing of watching the movie could not have been better for me.  I had just moved on to another film when Maria called and we had an excellent discussion about it all.  As she said you can't take these things personally it is just the way it is...we all adore you but everyone has so much that they are involved in, it is hard to do it all--or something like that.  Anyway excellent movie and I enjoyed the conversation with Maria very much.  I needed that.

The last movie I watched was not a Classic but a new one that had been added and it was excellent as well.  "33 Postcards" is about a Chinese orphan who is sponsored by a young man from Australia for 10 years from age 6 to 16.  They have corresponded faithfully and she has grown to love the life he depicted in Australia.  When she goes to Australia to perform in a children's choir she looks for him and finds he has been in prison for 10 years and was not living the life he depicted at all.  It is a very beautiful film about innocence and love and crime and prison life and the unfairness of life and how far love can go in helping each other survive and thrive.

Hula Plus I will keep while I watch more of the classics...and others.  Isn't it great that I have so much time to just do what I want every day.  Today I get my hair cut and will take Sadie for a long walk.  It will be in the high sixties and seventies all week!!!  Spring is here...for now and thanks to Mitch and Matt my yard is beautiful and ready to enjoy.

When Matt came to pick up Mitch and saw the ninety plus bags of yard waste he said we needed to get rid of it and was the waste dump open?  It was till noon!!!  Matt is very decisive and they immediately cleaned out Matt's nice big Suburban and I drove to town for some cash.  The waste dump is just three plus miles down the road but it took four loads and lots of effort and mess and their precious time.  I am so appreciative of Matt and Mitch to do this for me.  I would have had to put the bags out for the garbage dump at $2 a bag and it would have taken almost a year!!!  If only I had a truck!!  Anyway I cannot give enough praise to Matt and Mitch for all their effort and Mitch had cleaned up the yard so beautifully while he was here.  Matt reminded me just  before he left that he is only two hours away and if I needed anything to call!!!  Nice to know when I am all alone up here, thanks Matt.

Twin Sisters

For some reason all my Netflix recommended films right now are foreign, mostly WWII vintage. "Twin Sisters" is exceptional.   The German girl twins are separated at the death of their parents when they are about 7 and live very different lives because of the homes they are sent to.  However, because of WWII their lives intertwine several times.  It is very sad, romantic, and a reminder of how much one's upbringing determines their destiny.

The following review was given in Rotten Tomatoes.

Dutch family-oriented filmmaker Ben Sombogaart directs De Tweeling (Twin Sisters), based on the best-selling novel by Tessa de Loo. Using black-and-white and color film stocks to establish the interwoven time periods, the story concerns twin sisters who grow up during WWII. In 1926, orphans Lotte and Anna are separated and forbidden to contact each other. Lotte is taken in by a wealthy Dutch couple to recover from tuberculosis and Anna is sent to work on a farm in Germany under the aegis of her uncle. Each woman becomes romantically involved with a different suitor; when the war breaks out, both sisters lose their men. The socioeconomic differences between their experiences drive them to opposite sides of the battlefront once war breaks out. Years later, they reencounter each other again and face the difficult prospect of a long-delayed reconciliation. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

New Baby and Shirley Temple

Hopefully I will get up to see the new baby this week and more pictures will come.  New babies are the most exciting thing that happens to us in our lives I think.  They are so perfect in every way and such a joy to hold and behold.   I am so happy for the Masseys.  Still haven't heard the new name, guess they are getting acquainted with her so they can pick a name that fits her. 

I was named after a movie star but Janet is not a popular name anymore, I never really liked my name.  I would often pronounce it with a French flair as in Ja- nay with a long a sound.  Myrna always called me Janney.  In college I changed it to Jan and that is what my old boyfriend Bill still calls me.  But it is difficult to choose the right name.  John and Linda came easy--Linda was a teenage girlfriend of a neighbor and she was so pretty and I loved the name and the song called "Linda".  John's middle name was my grandfather and I just liked the name Eric.  With Maria it was harder, we had chosen a different name and then a friend of mine had a baby and used that name!!! 

But Maria was popular in the movies and I later found it was a name we had in our Swedish heritage also, still it took longer to name her.  But wow, look at all the songs about Maria.  James was easy, too, even though there were other James Hardy's I just liked the name and his middle name is after Richard's brother Scott who had passed away and a name I liked also--but he was always Jimmy and John was Johnny for many years and the Las Vegas cousins still call him that.  My father called Linda, Linda Poo, for some reason, not Linda Sue. And Sue was a popular name in the movies at that time, too.  Interesting how movies stars can make or break a name.

Today I didn't do any of the things I planned to do but I did watch a couple of films about Shirley Temple.   The first was a movie made in around 2001 I believe.  I don't remember ever hearing about it so maybe it was on TV and not in the theaters.  It was not that good because as talented as the little girl playing Shirley was she could not duplicate the magic that was Shirley.  It was also obvious how gifted Shirley was at such a young age and what a really adorable child she was.  Another clip I watched compared Shirley's scenes to child stars who played her later in movies about her and there was just no doubt she could not be duplicated in any way.

Then I found "Shirley Temple, America's Little Darling" and it was excellent.  Child stars who worked alongside her and other movie stars and movie leaders at the time talked about her and why she was so unique.  She could not be duplicated and there has never been any other like her.  I was happy to find out what a positive influence her mother was and how strong she was in protecting her in every way.  Several expressed how different she was from every other child stars in that she was just Shirley being Shirley and not acting.  Her mother had been a dancer and really taught her a lot about dancing and her mother went over her lines with her every night and the next day Shirley would know everyone's lines.  She did not realize that she was not living like other children, it was all just natural and enjoyable to her what she was doing. President Roosevelt said how wonderful it was that for 15 cents we could go to the movies and smile and laugh and find joy when life was so hard and sad during the long depression.  She was very protected though because she was money to so many.  She saved the studio who was nearly bankrupt and was a bigger draw than all the popular adult stars at the time.  They were lucky to get into a movie with her so they could be successful.

The Davis family from around the corner had come over Saturday so the children could meet Sadie and ask to walk her and then the two twins sat and talked to me and I showed them some clips of Shirley and that is what got me to thinking about her today.

A Day of TV

I finished the French series of "Count of Monte Cristo" today and I think they did a great job of being authentic to the book.  Now I understand yet another version is being made in Hollywood.  I am interested to know who will be the "Count".  I liked how at the end he is trying to forgive instead of just seek revenge and is that really how the book ended?  I can't remember, I better read it again.

I also watched "In the Land of Blood and Honey" which I missed first time around.  I have to believe that Angelina is one smart cookie.  I know she took a lot of criticism but I think she did a great job of presenting the way things probably were and yet showed the warmth and evilness of both sides. What atrocities in the world, though...man at his worst.

I may not finish 'Casual Vacancy'--I am not really enjoying all the unpleasantness of so many people. It is a rather jaded look at people or is it reality????

I also prepared for the days of rain expected and did a run to Walmart.  Five days of rain and snow in the mountains is expected.  We may go home to snow after all.

Later I watched "Remembrance" a based on true story about a Polish guy and a Jewish girl who escaped from a Nazi camp and then later became separated.  She was pregnant and he did not know it.  They each thought the other died only to discover 30 years later they are both alive.  The movie ends with them about to meet so your imagination can run wild.  Does she leave her husband and stay with him?  Can they even converse or care about each other?  Did she tell her daughter who the real father was--did the daughter get to meet him?  I am sure there is more to the story...

Kindle and Tablet

I can see that 2014 will be filled with reading and listening.  I mostly use the San Diego County Library To Go because they remember my passwords, check out books for two weeks, lend 10 books at a time and let me put lots of books on hold.  But I also have accounts at Plumas and Lassen and I can change them to two week loans also.

I generally have several books on my Kindle to read and lately have read two of J. Courtney Sullivan and listened to the other one on my Tablet.  Great new author!  I also have enjoyed several this year of Louanne Rice and her latest one "Last Kiss" was a great mystery as well as love story.  I like to listen to the audio ones on my Samsung tablet and do all the ebooks on my Kindle.  I look online for great new books to look for and get reviews on favorite authors.  The good ones have to be put on hold but since I always have several to read this is not a problem to wait.

The one problem with listening late at night is I tend to fall asleep before my timer goes off and then I have to find where I left off the next day.  Fortunately with the Overdrive system this is not hard.

I keep trying to convince people to use Library to Go but most people will not listen or stubbornly insist they need the book in their hand or the actual library experience--they don't know how great it is, I swear.

It is so nice to not have to go to the library.  I occasionally buy one from Amazon as well which I had to do with one of Sullivans as I could not find it in the libraries.  Thankfully I had gift money left from Maria for just that amount.

Books, the story of my old age.  The problem is I forget what I have read and often read the same one twice because I don't remember the ending anyway.   Bad memory can be such a good thing sometimes.

On to 2014 and the joy of reading (and listening).

"Ice Cream, Ice Cream, We All Scream for Ice Cream"

Is what we used to sing when I was a child.

So what is it about a "deal" that makes me go crazy.  Yesterday the dentist put in my new crown just before lunch.  He had to numb me because it was so far below the gum line.  Anyway he told me to have a 'soft' lunch and I immediately thought of strawberry ice cream and was near the Peninsula Market. 

I expected to pay close to $6 for a half gallon just because they are usually higher than everyone else but maybe that is just in the summer when the tourists are here because...  All the Dreyers ice cream was on sale for $3.69 a half gallon for the whole month of December.  That is cheap, I better buy more than one!  I did, and I have eaten a whole half gallon of strawberry all ready.  I mean I have gone crazy and when Melissa and Matt get here I will send them for their favorites.  Ice cream is just not something I have been buying much this year and suddenly it is the most important thing I can think of...foodwise.  Strange.

I finished the book about Barbara Walters and now one about Betty White.  They certainly live full lives at their age, it inspires me to get with it and stop acting like such an old fuddy duddy...now what is there that I want to do...that is the next question.  And what choices are there?  Hmm.

One thing Betty White said is that she never lets herself gain more than one or two pounds before she takes it off.  She said it is easy to eat a little less and take it off if you do it right away.  If you let it get away from you then it becomes a big problem... so she weighs every morning and acts accordingly.  How very wise.  And I eat a half gallon of ice cream...

So it was bad enough that my Christmas tree was out on the deck--then the neighbor's dog was in town and had to pee on it, how depressing.  I better get out the Lucille Ball version of "Mame".  Her version of "We Need a Little Christmas" always cheers me up so much.  I love my little "movie room" for my old vhs movies.  I just get comfy on the twin bed and put the fur throw over me and watch away.   Of course, Sadie thinks the fur throw is hers and she comes to make a claim.

I watched "Funny Girl" and "Funny Lady" and read why they were so different from reality.  The husband of the daughter of Fanny Brice produced the movie and the family of the ex-husband 'Arnstein' did not want certain things said about him.  Yes, it was far from the truth.  'Baby Snooks' was one of my favorite radio programs when I was a child.  Barbara Streisand was marvelous in those movies.  I appreciate how she knows exactly what makes her look good and sees that her clothes and make-up are always perfect for her. 

It was interesting to hear from Barbara Walters how much more interested the people are in celebrities than leaders, etc--it is the people that drives what they put on TV after all so we get a lot of trivia rather than really important information.

Life's Little Peskies

So I haven't had a live Christmas tree in my house since the children left home and I totally forgot how allergic I am!!!  Plus Dr. Nelson used to put cortisone shots in my nose twice a year to dull the affects of allergies.  Wow, all day long I am sniffing, sneezing and blowing my nose and my eyes are watering.  We may have to put the tree on the back deck!

This morning it was 25!!!  But the sun shines all day long.  Sadie does not like going outside even with her coat.  Might be just as well.  Supposedly there is a flea plague going on with the critters outside!

We have finally finished the turkey and Sadie will not be happy about that.  Tonight I found the perfect supper--fresh made Butternut Squash Soup and Perky Popovers--perfect timing.

Just finished a very enjoyable book, now I will have to get the first one that J. Courtney Sullivan wrote.  I don't know how old she is but she surely has insight into family relationships and doings.  It is not like reading a book but being there.  These new authors are all so good I have read this year.  It is called "Maine" and it has been a big seller all ready.  I just happened to get the audio book on my Tablet from the San Diego County Library, they let me have 10 books out at a time!!!  Reading about John Lennon next and I have a new Lisa Gardner thriller if that proves boring--I have read about John Lennon before... Good they are all audio since my eyes are hurting, life little peskies, indeed.

PS Dec 5--Last night I could stand it no more, I was so miserable with my red eyes, sneezing and blowing my nose till it hurt, at 9:30 PM I got up and quickly took off the ornaments and carried the tree to the back deck where it now sits with its lights still hunkered in.  If I can find an extension cord I will look at my lighted tree from the inside to out!!!  Wow, what a lesson to learn again after all these years.