Sunday Stealing

Do You Like?

1. Do you like your handwriting? Yes. I have very pretty handwriting. My teachers done good with me!

 
2. Do you like roller coasters? Very much.

3. Do you like scary movies? I like suspense and thrills. I don't like gore.

4. Do you like shopping? Well, this could be a scene from my life:

 

5. Do you like to talk on the phone? Yes, I am very comfortable with it. I certainly prefer it to (ugh) texting.

6. Do you sleep with the lights on or off? I always keep a light on.

7. Do you use headphones or earphones? Headphones. Ear buds creep me out.

 
8. Do you have tattoos?  Do you want any? No and no. I'm not being judgey here. I just don't want anyone shooting me up with ink. BTW, I wonder how many "I won't have that covid vaccine because I don't know what's in it!" folks are tattooed?

 
9. Do you wear glasses? Yes.

10. What is your strangest talent? Without looking it up, I can recall Elizabeth Taylor's full name: Dame Elizabeth Rosamond Taylor Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher Burton (Burton) Warner Fortensky. What? You think this is a useless talent? Well, I'll have you know I won a bar trivia contest with this. Drinks for me and all my friends!

11. Have you ever been in the hospital? Of course.

12. What color mostly dominates your wardrobe? Blue.

 
13. What’s your most expensive piece of clothing? I don't know that we can consider these wardrobe items, but I don't scrimp when I buy a wallet or an umbrella.

14. Have you ever had braces? Yes.

 
15. Have you ever been on TV? 30 years ago, when Bill Clinton won the Presidency, I was one of the campaign workers shown at his Chicago headquarters. My mom was so proud. I ALMOST was on TV last month during the TCM Classic Film Festival. A TCM team approached me with their camera and microphone to get my "festival experience." I pretended to be on the phone. I think it's funny because Betty from my movie group was also there and she spent the entire four days trying to be photographed for TCM's promotional materials. If I'd gotten onscreen, I don't think she'd ever forgive me.

 

Trying to keep parallel lines parallel

I admit I'm having trouble keeping my plots straight. First I began a thriller: The Marriage Lie. It's about a woman who learns distressing things about the man she was shared her life with and was sure she loved ... after his death. It's my second book by Kimberly Belle, and it's wonderfully suspenseful. 

Then I started bingeing on The Flight Attendant. In Season One, Kaley Cuoco is a flight attendant who parties a bit too hearty during a layover in Bangkok and can't recall how she ended up in bed with a dead guy. She unwisely decides that the only way to clear her name is to solve the murder herself. 

The book and movie were very different in tone, but both involved mysterious deaths from anything but natural causes, and both have plenty of intrigue and secrets. And I found myself confusing elements of the two stories.

How do you deal with this? Do you try to alternate genres so this can't happen? What's your secret?

Check out other Sunday Salon participants here.

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Your Mother Should Know (1967)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's featured artists, The Beatles, invite us to get up and dance to a song that was a hit before your mother was born. Do you enjoy the oldies? How old must a song be before you consider it "old?" I'm not a good one to ask because my sense of time is getting more warped. For example, when I hear Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," I can remember being happy when it came on at the health club and enjoying working out to it. I'd swear that was six years ago. It was 2008. That means a song I think of as contemporary is really 14 years old!

2) Paul McCartney knew bandmate John Lennon's mom, Julia, and credits her with introducing him to the ukulele. Do you recall any of your childhood friends' mothers with fondness? I recall Judy's mom with great fondness. I spent some of the darkest days of my unhappy teen years at Judy's. Her mom was always welcoming, always understanding. I especially struggled when my icky grandmother died. It was confusing and infuriating to be expected by my own family to continuously express a grief I didn't feel. Her mom understood. She told me her sewing room was mine whenever I wanted it. Just come on over. Close the door if I wanted peace and quiet with my thoughts. She said she'd always knock first (in her own home!) and bring me a meal from time to time. I only recall taking her up on it once, but it was an enormously sensitive gesture. She is in my prayers on Mother's Day.

 
3) Paul's own mother, Mary, tried to instill in her son a sense of pride in his appearance and saw to it he always left the house in a clean, ironed shirt. Paul says that, to this day, when he smells fresh laundry, he thinks of his mum. Is there a scent or sound that reminds you of someone you love who is no longer with us? This song reminds me of my favorite uncle. I recall how he'd turn up the car radio as soon as he heard those first chords, and how the album cover always looked out from the front of his LP rack. He was not a country music guy -- not at all! -- and this was his only Glen Campbell album. Yet this song meant a lot to him. Was it the sound? Did it remind him of some girl? He's been gone more than a decade and I'm often surprised by how much I still miss him. I wish I'd asked about this song. That's the lesson here: ask the people you love about their lives when you still can!

 

 

 

4) George Harrison was the only member of the band to have any formal musical training. His mother, Louise, supported her son's musical ambitions and made sure he got guitar lessons. Did you take music classes as a child? Nope.

5) Ringo Starr was a sickly and often hospitalized little boy. His mother, Elsie, took a job as a barmaid so she could work at night, leaving her days free during visiting hours. When were you most recently in a hospital? Were you an admitted patient, there for an outpatient procedure, or visiting someone? My mammogram last summer.

6) Mother Winters always gave our own Crazy Sam peppermint tea to calm her stomach. Do you have any tried-and-true home remedies to share? Not for me, but for my cats. Canned pumpkin is good for kitty constipation. It has to PURE, no added sugar or cinnamon or anything like that. Check with your vet before you add it to your cat's diet. I am happy to report it's made Connie's life happier.

 

In her happy place, a box with crinkly paper

7) Sam's mother always tips 15% in restaurants. Sam has worked in food service and is more judgmental, tipping between 10% and 25%, depending on the quality of the service. What's your tipping policy? In restaurants, I tip 15% for average service, more for better service. I also always tip $2 or $3 every time I take a rideshare or have groceries delivered. I read that more than half of Uber riders never tip! My nephew worked for Instacart over Christmas break from college and reported that wealthy people seldom tipped. Shame on them!

 
8) Sam's mother still gets the Sunday paper because of the sales fliers. She makes separate lists for each store, picking up grocery and household items where she knows they are on sale. Sam thinks her mother's strategy is a waste of time and gas and prefers one-stop shopping (even better, online one-stop shopping). Are you more like mother or daughter? I'll make a special trip to CVS if I received one of those 30% off coupons in the mail, but other than that, I shop where I shop.

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almonds? I prefer almonds, thank you.

In lieu of baseball ...

Neither the Cubs nor the Yankees have played this past two days! Travel days, spring showers ... whatever. NO BASEBALL makes me sad. 

So here's this. My favorite most Cub baseball player Anthony Rizzo used his night off to go to the Rangers game with two of his Yankee teammates. When they showed up on the Madison Square Garden jumbotron, the crowd called on them to chug their beers. Rizz won.

Thursday Thirteen #256

Thirteen tips for buying luggage. When I flew a couple weeks ago, I noticed something new on the airport luggage carousels: not all bags are soft-sided and black. I used to casually wonder how many people accidentally walk off with the wrong bag because so many are so similar. No more! Since bags are more innovative, and since travelers are clearly updating their luggage wardrobes, I thought I'd share these tips in time for travel season.

1. Soft-sided, fabric cases are the most popular because they are lighter in weight. That makes them easier to load in the trunk of the car (whether you're on a road trip or just off the airport) or stow between trips in the top shelf of your closet.

2. They are usually made of nylon. Before you buy, check to be sure it's "parachute material," or ripstop nylon, because it's less susceptible to snags and tears.

3. If you're a traveler who likes to bring back souvenirs, you may prefer a soft-sided bag because it has greater flexibility. This could be important if you're coming back with more than you left with, and you often squeeze an extra item or two into your bag.

4. Hard-sided suitcases are more durable, but also heavier, than soft-sided. They're designed to help keep the contents safe.

5. They don't have the "give" of a soft-sided bag. They hold what they hold. No squeezing any extras in or over stuffing.

6. Taking a cruise? Your cruise line likely would prefer you pack a hard-sided bag. These suitcases are easier to stack in the ship's belly.

7. Some travelers prefer two-wheeled bags because the casters are often recessed so they won't break off.

8. I'm not one of those travelers. I like 4-wheeled bags because the wheels spin 360º, while the two-wheelers seem to only spin front and back.

9. New bags are prettier, but don't just be dazzled by appearance. A curved bag may look more sleek and modern, but a suitcase with squared edges offers more space for your stuff.

10. You can get a "smart" bag, with GPS tags to help you locate your bag if it's lost.

11. More and more bags (including backpacks) come with USB ports so you can charge your phone wherever you are.

12. Since suitcases can represent an investment, you can now buy a PVC cover to protect your luggage during transit. (Maybe this is worth it, but I'm not sold.)

13. Black is still the most prevalent color, but deep reds -- like burgundy and black cherry -- are gaining for soft-sided suitcases. Icy blues and grays seem to be getting more popular with hard-sided bags. 

Happy trails!

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here.  

1. What are you currently reading? Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and The Marriage of the Century by Sam Kashner and Nancy Shoenberger. It's not often that non-fiction offers 500+ pages of delicious escape, but this one does. There's sex and sin, jewels and yachts, addiction and Oscars. And love. Scrape away the excess -- and these two defined wretched excess -- and you have a love story.

This is a reread, and I can't wait to dive back into all the excitement and glamour.

2. What did you just finish reading? Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena. Fred Merton was a self-made multimillionaire. His diamond-studded wife, Sheila, created a home and family for him that looked ideal. From the outside. What went on inside the Merton home looked less like Norman Rockwell and more like Salvador Dali. When Fred and Sheila are found brutally murdered, the police focus on the family. What they uncover is shocking.

Wowwowwow. This thriller will keep you on the end of your seat to the very last page. Even after the killer is revealed, there's another twist to come. Really, stay with it to end.

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

 

 

Leave it to Lisa

Snarkypants posted just the Facebook message I needed to see, when I needed to see it.  

 

I have been waking up every morning, worried about Henry and Reg. I go to sleep every night, worried about Henry and Reg. Things are very bad in Key West. They didn't have to get this bad, but they are.

To bring you up to date, my friend Henry had too much wine one night back in 2018 and when he came to an intersection, pedaled right into a van. He was not wearing a helmet. He shattered his ankle and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was airlifted to Miami, where he was in a coma. When he awoke, he was a terrible patient (which is not unusual after TBI). He denied he had a brain injury and fought to get home to Key West. Reg, his husband who loves him, believed that home was where he should be. That familiar surroundings and their friends and their dogs would help.

It's obvious now that he should have stayed in Miami. Key West doesn't have the facilities to treat him. He needed therapy -- both occupational and cognitive. He needed a caregiver. Reg, though loving, is untrained in this skill.

Over the past 3 1/2 years, Henry has lost his job at the library and is now unemployable. He is isolated and becoming more vague by the moment. The man who used to call me at all hours and keep me on the line forever doesn't even answer his phone anymore. He stares at the Kardashians and drinks wine. Sometimes he neglects to bathe and eat. Recently he forgot where the microwave was.

Reg shares all this with his more than 500 (!) Facebook friends. That this is a gross betrayal of Henry's trust is clear to me and I've told Reg this. I've even offered to set up a blog for him. He doesn't pursue it. He is hooked on the "likes" and sympathy he gets from Facebook. "You're a saint." "I don't know how you have put up with it ("it" being my dear friend Henry!) as long as you have." On and on.

Here's what these Facebook friends don't know:

1) Henry hasn't had a full neurological work up since 2019. Oh, Reg has reasons. They can't afford it. Their insurance lapsed. It's hard to get to Miami and the only neurologist in Key West won't return calls ... Well, with my nagging and the help of Patrick (wonderful Patrick, a friend of theirs from Maine), they now have Obamacare. After discussing this with my own shrink -- see Lisa's post above -- I suggested they have their GP call the neurologist. Doctors always return other doctors' calls. Reg just doesn't have "that kind of time." So Henry has been taking medications that may not be right for his current condition for more than two years!

2) Neither Henry nor Reg is in therapy. They both need it. Desperately. Henry to deal with his anger issues. He is isolated and sad and when he doesn't understand the world around him, he lashes out. Reg needs to learn to cope with this new reality. Yet Reg will not ask for help. Patrick suspects it has to do with Reg's adolescent sexual abuse and his drinking. I have sympathy for him not wanting to delve deep into those topics (though I think he would be better for it). But there are exigent issues at hand. They have insurance, they should use it and be in therapy. It's as though Reg doesn't want to relinquish his control, or his martyrdom.

3) Reg won't talk to Henry's minister. As a gay man, Reg understandably has an in issue with organized religion. Fine. But since the accident, Henry has gotten a great deal of comfort and solace from a non-denominational Christian church in Key West. Translating the reading to Spanish is the highlight of his week. His minister is a hero of his. Now Henry doesn't want the minister to know how much he's suffering, so he puts the best possible face on his condition. But Reg is missing a major opportunity here. He should call the minister and ask for his help. Henry could get volunteer tasks around the church and feel like he's making a contribution among people who will make allowances for his condition. Reg refuses. I KNOW the minister would be happy to help because tending to the flock is what ministers do! Again, it's as though Reg doesn't want to relinquish his control, or his martyrdom.

4) Both Henry and Reg drink way too much. Vodka for Reg. Wine for Henry. Key West is a party town. I get how hard it is to be dry there. But we're not talking social drinking. When I'm down there, I'll have one with lunch and one with dinner. They leave me in the dust. Liquor does not help their situation.

Voila! This coming week, Henry is seeing finally a neurologist. Because he is now too much for Reg to handle. I am angry. When Reg bitches and moans on Facebook, "I don't know what to do ..." I want to scream, "DO WHAT I'VE BEEN ADVISING YOU TO DO!" We did not have to get to this point. With proper care, the right meds, and the support of his congregation, Henry might not be the zombie who drinks and stares at reality TV all day.

I'm trying to be loving. I'm trying to be forgiving. I am not succeeding. Yes, the accident in 2018 was Henry's fault. Yes, since then, Henry can be impossible.

But all the decisions since 2018 have been Reg's. And they have been wrong. And they have been selfish. And they have been damaging.

The enormity of this pain -- for Henry, for Reg, and for those of us who love them -- is an unnecessary waste.

I have learned from my own Christian faith that everyone deserves my compassion. I have learned from my own therapy that I have a right to my fury over this situation. What I need help with is reconciling my own helplessness.

 

Sunday Salon

This weekend, I'm thinking about new vs redo. I just got back from the TCM Film Festival in Hollywood. Sponsored by Turner Classic Movies, it give us classic films fans a chance to enjoy old movies on the big screen. I loved it. Loved. It. This was my second festival, and I'm already planning to go next year. But it's expensive, and won't leave me much in my travel budget for other trips in 2023.

At the Festival, I chose 11 movies. Four were new to me, 7 were rewatches. In preparation for my trip, I reread Furious Love, the story of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the Hollywood-est couple ever. 

On HBO Max, I recently binged on The West Wing. I loved that show, and realized that while I remember the characters and their personalities very well, plot details were lost to time so I was quite engaged. But here's the thing: there are almost a gazillion shows I haven't yet seen.

So that's my dilemma: Do I luxuriate in enjoying old favorites -- be they movies, books, TV shows or destinations -- or do I try new things?

How do you deal with this? Do you reach for the new experience or do you long to return to a favorite? Or have you decided that new vs. redo doesn't matter as long as you enjoy your choice?

Check out other Sunday Salon participants here.

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: As Time Goes By (1958)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song begins with, "You must remember this." Do you often write things down to help you remember? I regularly write my grocery list on a piece of paper, slip it into my jeans, and forget about it until I find it when I go through my pockets in the laundry room. I'm just hopeless.

 

2) The lyrics tell us that moonlight and love songs are never out of date. Tell us about something else that seems timeless. Pearls and a black dress.

3) Originally written in 1931, "As Time Goes By" is best known as the love theme from the 1942 film, Casablanca. According to the American Film Institute, there's only one song from a movie soundtrack that's more expressly identified with the film: "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz. What song reminds you of your favorite movie? I just saw The Sting at the TCM Classic Film Festival, and so this has been going through my head.

 

 

4) This version is from The George Sanders Touch, an LP recorded by an Oscar-winning character actor. There is scant evidence that it sold well. Tell us about something you thought was a good idea at the time, but looking back, would have done differently. About 12 years ago, my friend Barb offered me a job at her agency. I didn't take it because I was worried about the impact it would have on our relationship. (She would have been my boss.) It's hard to know for certain, but I'm pretty sure I'd be better off financially today if I'd made that move. Plus, she moved away and we drifted apart anyway. Oh well, la de dah. What's done can't be undone.

 

5) This album was really something of a consolation prize for George. He worked with a vocal coach, hoping to win the romantic lead in the film version of South Pacific, but alas, the role went to a younger man. He had fun making this record instead. Have you recently taken lemons and made lemonade? I think it's cool that George got to reap the benefit of his singing lessons, even if he didn't get the part in South Pacific. (I never really liked that musical anyway.) I try to make lemonade out of lemons all the time at work. Clients (or, more precisely, my client's lawyers) make changes to our work and it would be easy to get discouraged. But I take those revisions and often find that, with imagination, the work can still be good. Different, but effective. 

6) He usually played suave but unsympathetic characters. That's why he gave his autobiography the self-aware title, Memoirs of a Professional Cad. What would you call your life story? Either "The Thing of It Is" or "Frankly ...", because those are two phrases I use often.

 

7) The night he won his Oscar, George Sanders accepted the statuette, bowed deeply and then, safely behind the curtain and away from cameras, surprised onlookers by crying. Have you ever cried tears of joy? Cried? No. I've choked up and come close, though. The Cubs World Series, seeing my niece's happiness on her wedding day ...

8) George Sanders wed perennial talk show guest and occasional actress Zsa Zsa Gabor in 1949. Sixteen years after their divorce, he married Zsa Zsa's less famous but also glamorous sister, Magda. After a month, George and Magda thought better of it and had the union annulled. Sam thinks this is one of the oddest romantic tales she's ever stumbled upon while researching Saturday 9. Have you ever known anyone who divorced one sibling and then married another? (Hallmark movies don't count.) No. The George Sanders/Gabor sister saga was wild. Especially because he was 65 when he married Magda, old enough to know better!

9) Random question: You're in a line of 25 people at the post office. How many of those other 24 are more patient at waiting than you are? As long as I've got headphones or a book, I'm pretty patient.

 

At the Movies -- Day Four

 

The last day started early with old friends, Nick and Nora Charles and After the Thin Man (1936). I love this series. I smiled the entire time.

 

Then I leaned against the bar at The Roosevelt with Will, listening to Piper Laurie. She's been acting for (gulp!) 70 years and has earned three Oscar nominations. She had great stories about Tyrone Power, Paul Newman, Dana Andrews ... Most of all, I liked how unpretentious she was. She seemed genuinely amused that she's best known for "dirty pillows," her most memorable line as the dangerously nutty mother in Carrie.

Seeing The Sting (1973) on the BIG screen was great fun. Newman and Redford are simply the coolest guys ever. I don't know if you have noticed, but they are also not unattractive.

The screenwriter, David Ward, was in attendance. Dear Lord, what a script! He talked about his research, talking to confidence men. They don't take your money, he said, they are too elegant for that. Instead, they persuade you to give it to them.

Tony Bill and Michael Philips, the producers, were there, too. Tony Bill cracked me up because he STILL isn't happy with the casting. Newman and Redford just weren't who he had in mind. Gondorf should be older and Hooker should be younger. Peter Boyle and Jeff Bridges would have been "better." Really? REALLY? 10 Oscar nominations, 8 wins (including Best Picture). I don't think "better" is possible!

I ended the Festival with the 30th anniversary showing of A League of Their Own (1992). I'd never seen this movie. In the summer of 1992, I was working very hard on Bill Clinton's Presidential campaign and just didn't have time for movies. Also, I hate, loathe, despise, and abominate Madonna.

But this year, following both the Yankees and the Cubs, I realize that I not only love my team, I love baseball. I love the sounds. I love the history. It was thrilling to see my beloved Wrigley Field on the big screen. Tom Hanks is very good at playing a very flawed man. But baseball is really the star of this film, and I luxuriated in it.

Waiting in line, I met a man who is a tour guide at Wrigley Field! I asked him if he's noticed a dip in fan enthusiasm since last August's trading of Bryzzo and he says yes, without a doubt. More complaints about that than about this past spring's lockout. He also has met Anthony Rizzo's entire family and told me how indiscreet Rizz' dad could be when talking to fans. It must be hard to be thrust into reflected celebrity like that.

So TCMFF 2022 is in the books. Can you tell I'm already looking forward to 2023? 

At the Movies -- Day Three

 

Saturday was my day for tough decisions. At the TCM Film Festival, we have access to five movies on five different screens at any time, plus interviews and book signings. Usually what I wanted to see what clear cut. My choice were not always those of my Chicago film-going buddies (Will and Karen), but that's fine. I was very comfortable going my own way and chatting with people I knew from the 2019 Festival or new folks I met in line.

But Saturday! Saturday I wanted to be in two or three places at once and that just isn't possible -- not even in the magic world of Hollywood!

My day started early. I had to skip the free breakfast and leave the hotel at 8:00 to make sure I got my "queue card" (guaranteed seat) for the 9:00 movie. But which one? The Return of the Secaucus 7? This low-budget 1980 film influenced a spate of Baby Boomer/coming of age flicks (most notably The Big Chill). Or The Third Man? This 1949 classic is considered one of those essentials everyone should see, but I somehow haven't.

I went to The Third Man, and my world was rocked. It really is that good. A down-on-his-luck American author travels to Vienna to work with his lifelong friend, Harry, only to learn Harry just died.  He's shocked, at loose ends, with no money and nothing to do and tries to figure out what happened to his friend. What he learns is dark and disturbing and very moody and twisted. Everything about this movie is strangely beautiful, from the zither music to chases through bombed-out post-war Vienna. And the writing! The baddest of the bad guys justifies his filthy actions by saying, "In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.” 

I will never be able to look at a cuckoo clock again.

The experience was enhanced by the intro. The "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller and director/cinematographer Ernest Dickerson explained how this movie was made and what sets it apart. I learned a lot. I also found myself talking baseball with a pair of women from Cleveland. I mentioned Anthony Rizzo -- as is my wont -- and they certainly know him. He made the last out in the classic 2016 World Series against Cleveland! 

Usually I wouldn't miss a chance to see To Kill a Mockingbird, but Saturday I skipped it. Because The Last of Sheila (1973) was being shown at the same time. It isn't a great movie. But boy, it's fun. The only screenplay ever credited to Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins, it's funny and smart and filled with pretty people. If you love reading mysteries, you'll love this movie, I promise you.

The film's star, Richard Benjamin, discussed the movie afterward and I'm happy to report he enjoyed making it as much as I enjoy watching it. Also, Edie Bricusse -- onscreen for about a minute as the luckless Sheila of the title -- was there, too.

Everyone from my movie group went to see Baby Face (1933), a pre-code that has a sterling reputation even though I found it more smutty than shocking. So I went my own way and had lunch with Trudy. I met her at the 2019 fest and we've become Facebook friends. I was touched that she expressed her sympathies over my little man, Reynaldo. Very kind of her.

Then came my biggest decision of the festival: the 1949 Little Women with Beth herself, Margaret O'Brien, introducing it, or Heaven Can Wait, with Warren Beatty in attendance? Or Blue Hawaii, where Elvis sings "Can't Help Falling In Love?" I do love Elvis movies and would enjoy seeing one with an audience ready to praise the King, not bury him.

Margaret O'Brien cancelled, which made it a little easier. I went with Warren. Because of Warren. I've always been a fan, he's 85 now, and when will I ever get to see him again?

Photo from showbiz411.com

I still wish I'd been able to see Elvis, though. Sigh ...

At the Movies -- Day Two

 

The TCM Classic Film Festival began at 9:00 AM, but I admit, I was still in bed. When I finally rolled down to the lobby for my free continental breakfast -- newly reinstated after covid! -- the crowd was finishing their bagels. I recognized a familiar voice. KAREN! She and I have been spending one night a week together for over a year with our Zoom movie meetups, but we have never met! Here we were, 2000 miles from home, and we were finally able to hug. She was there with her charming 20-something daughter, who snapped pictures. Bob, a rabid Beatle fan who also belongs to our movie group, was there, too. After all the video contact, it was good to finally see one another 3-D.

My first movie of the day was at 10:30. The Group (1966). I saw it on TV when I was a teenager and to be honest, I didn't understand it. Based on Mary McCarthy's very adult best-seller, it follows 8 co-eds into their lives after graduation. There was adultery and abortion and breast vs. bottle and careers and date rape and lesbianism and dependent, aging parents. What was ground-breaking and artistic in 1966 seems overwrought and overstuffed now. Still, I'm glad I saw it. Candice Bergen at 20 years old was so beautiful it's ridiculous. She also wasn't very good. We know from Murphy Brown that comedy is her forte, and there are precious few laughs in The Group.

The film was introduced by actress Diane Baker. She compared The Group to her own film, The Best of Everything, and said this one was better. I disagree. The Best of Everything was great, soapy fun while The Group was heavy going.

Then it was time for more Doris. Will, Guy and I saw The Pajama Game (1957).

Another new-to-me movie, another movie that isn't shown very often. We were completely charmed. I also liked the message. As TCM host Eddie Muller pointed out in his introduction, there aren't many musicals focused on the importance of labor unions.

From there it was off to the BIG theater. The Chinese Theater. 916 seats. The perfect place to see the restored print of Giant. This was, after all, the theater were it originally premiered in 1956, where Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson left their hand/footprints in the forecourt.

I love this movie. Always have. Now I remember it especially fondly because my late mother loved it. I was also excited to see Steven Spielberg in person. He was one of the moving forces behind the restoration of this film. He spoke of it in terms of film making (dissolves and long shots) and story telling (racial tensions and feminism).

It's also a great popcorn movie. Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor were both still in their 20s and both staggeringly beautiful. They're as gorgeous as the panoramic shots of wide open spaces.

At the Movies -- Day One

 

The TCM Classic Film Festival is all about our shared love of movies, preserving them and seeing them on the big screen. And so these posts are going to be devoted to the movies. 

Thursday was a half day, starting in the evening. I had my choice of six movies to start, and I decided on The Jewel Robbery, a seldom-seen 1932 heist film starring William Powell. I took my sweet time getting my ticket. My Festival pass guaranteed me pre-paid entry, but I had to get my "queue card" to get a seat. This was being held in the tiniest theater (just 177 seats) and since I was too busy wandering around the area where the TCL theaters are, I missed getting in.

Snapped this myself Thursday @ the mall

So instead I went with Judy. Garland, of course. 2022 is her centennial and it seemed fitting to celebrate her. I'd never seen The Harvey Girls (1946) but I know one of the songs, "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe."

It was being held at one of the bigger theaters (448 seats) so it was easier to get in. It was the first time this week I heard my name called from across a crowded theater. It was Will, the moderator of our local Chicago movie group, and his old friend, Guy. Will and Guy were good friends in the long-ago 1980s, and though they live in different cities (Guy is based out of Philadelphia) the TCM Film Festival is their chance to reconnect. Because these old buds haven't seen each other for 3 years, I didn't expect them to invite me to sit with them. "C'mon!" Will called, retracting the stanchion belt to let me in, "Cuts!"

A film historian (sorry, I can't recall her name) introduced the film and put it in context for us. Filming took five months instead of the scheduled three, and much of the overages had to do with Garland not showing up for work, lending to her reputation for being "difficult." What's forgotten now is the amount of pressure "JG" (as she was known at MGM) was under. As this movie was being made, Judy was finalizing her divorce from David Rose, got pregnant with Liza, planned her wedding to Vincente Minnelli, and she twisted her ankle in a scene where she slides down a hill. In addition to filming the movie she was recording the soundtrack album. She was stressed and tired. It's amazing none of this showed in her almost relentlessly upbeat performance.

Then I was off to Lover Come Back (1961). Will and Guy wanted to see the Preston Sturges film on another screen (I know how Will loves Sturges), but not me. I was in the mood for a rom-com set in the advertising world. Like Garland, Doris Day was born in 1922, so I wanted to observe her 100th bday. Also, I find Rock Hudson completely charming.

Alicia Malone, one of TCM's on-air hosts, introduced the film with a Doris Day trivia contest. It was fun, of course, and reminded me I was surrounded by fellow movie nerds.

I was back in the room around midnight. Considering I was still on Chicago time, I was tired. Happy, but tired.

Feeling Welcome

The signs up and down Hollywood Blvd. made us TCM Film Festival-goers feel like we were the main event.

Because of covid, there was no festival in 2020 or 2021, so it was great to back together again. Members of my movie group -- Will, Betty and Karen -- were there. I also ran into people I met in 2019 and have kept up with on Facebook. So even though I was traveling alone, I ran into friendly faces everywhere I turned. It was a wonderful feeling.

I felt rather beat up emotionally when I got on the plane. Henry and Reg have hit a very rough patch, and I don't know anything down there in Key West will get better while they refuse to help themselves. Work has been quite confusing and tense. I had a tooth pulled, and I was worried about the antibiotics and their impact on my gut (turns out I should have, but more on that later). 

So being in Hollywood, first seeing Aaron and then hearing, "Hey, Gal!" throughout the hotel or whenever I was in line for a movie was a balm to my soul.

Thursday Thirteen #255

 A disgusting Thursday Thirteen. Since covid, I've taken note of sneezes and coughs I would have ignored before. Which is why I have assembled 13 facts about phlegm.

1. Phlegm is made of water, salt, bacteria and other debris that your lungs decided they didn't want.

2. It has an important job to do. Phlegm traps harmful things that you breathe in, like pollution.

3. The consistency of your phlegm doesn't really doesn't reveal as much about the cause as the color.

4. Clear phlegm means ... nothing. It's normal. Your body is just whisking the bad stuff away.

5. Yellow phlegm means your body is fighting off an infection. The color is from white blood cells.

6. Green phlegm is creepy, but it's not so bad. Your body is just working a little harder to fight off the infection.

7. Pink or red indicates there's blood in the phlegm. A lot of sneezing or coughing -- especially in dry air -- could lead to broken blood vessels. If it goes on for more than a day, the blood in your phlegm could be from something more serious and you should call your doctor.

8. I've never seen brown phlegm, and I'm glad, because it means more serious bleeding. Perhaps in the lungs. Call the doctor.

9. Black phlegm? It's bad. It's a sign of a fungal infection in your lungs. When you call the doctor, it's a good bet they'll want to see you.

10. Breathing dry air can irritate your airways, so if phlegm is a recurring problem for you (or if it creeps you out), you might want to invest in a cool-mist humidifier.

11. Breathing cool air helps your respiratory system, and so does drinking warm liquids. Decaffeinated tea is your best bet.

12. It's not an old wives' tale: chicken soup really does help.

13. Doctors are still recommending one of the oldest remedies in the book: gargling with salt water.

I hope this helped you better understand that icky stuff.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

My dinner with Aaron

Wednesday was my free day in Hollywood. First I checked into The Hollywood Celebrity Hotel. It was charming. Quirky and, perhaps, in need of an upgrade. But safe, affordable, original and dedicated to providing good service. There's something nice about staying in an independent hotel, not a chain.

Then I had dinner with Aaron. My former boss. The best boss I ever had. He made me feel valued and heard. He moved to Los Angeles before Thanksgiving and working EST hours was just too hard so he left our agency in January. I've missed him dreadfully. Even more, I wanted to thank him.

Three of us -- Aaron, his girlfriend and me -- had dinner at an Italian restaurant near the Celebrity. I am pleased to report all is very well. He loves Los Angeles and even more, he loves his girlfriend. They were so cute, holding hands and gazing. He's very proud of her career, which is why they relocated to LA. He's also starting a new job in May. 

It was wonderful to see him again! Then back to my hotel. Right outside my door were movie posters featuring two of my favorite actresses: Kate and Marilyn. How did they know? And in the middle wre exotic plants. I was happy.

More to come!

God, I love baseball

I've been away from blogging for a while, but not from baseball. Anthony Rizzo had a career game yesterday, three home runs.

This cost me $15. I've pledged $5/home run to The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, to help families dealing with pediatric cancer. 

I am still a Cub fan, of course. But the team disrespected Rizz and he deserves all good things in the Bronx. I hope he's enjoying this new chapter of his life. He represents the best in baseball, and baseball is the best of us.