BOGGLES THE MIND

The Way Things Are, Cliches and All! 3.2.09

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:37:22 GMT

From: Quote of the Day
"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." – Virginia Satir

Okay, so we've made a mess of it...

The bottom line, when all is said and done, is this: the material goods we'll have won or lost won't matter. How we handled it all is what will be remembered. Did we pull together and roll up our sleeves with the pro-active, go-get-'em determination that has always made America great, or did we merely survive? Did we crumble and whine our way through the hard times, or did we stand tall, take ownership of our misdeeds, flex our shoulders, crack our collective knuckles, and straighten it out?

This is the example, the legacy, the history! The make-it-or-break-it we are preparing to leave our children.

Rather than stumble around in the dark while we wait for someone else to shine the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, I suggest we become the light shinning from within the tunnel! I mean, why wait until the end for illumination; that's hindsight! It's also bullshit! We know where we are, and we know how we got here!. Who better, then, to know (and show) the way out! Let's pick up the lemons we've dropped and make thirst-quenching lemonade worth savoring.

Let's embrace this adventure with utter disregard for its inconvenience! Let's rub our hands together and ride it like the roller coaster it is! We'll come out of it stronger and closer as a nation than we'd ever imagined we could! More importantly, we'll present our children and their children's children with a sense of pride that will empower them to soar at levels we cannot now fathom!

CM
Remembering childhood friends, twins, Guy & Bruce Kennedy...

GABRIEL BYRNE: TVs SWEET TREAT!

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:48:02 GMT

Okay, I admit it. I've been watching TV. I have become completely hooked on HBO's new half hour drama, In Treatment.

I'll be writing my thoughts on the show as it progresses, but, today, I'm just making note of how delighted I am to see Gabriel Byrne again!

I first saw him a few years ago in NYC. He was appearing in Eugene O'Neill's A Moon for the Misbegotten, and I was utterly mesmerized by his performance. Since then, I miss no opportunity to see him. A fan? Me? Well, glory be, I guess I am. ... and I dare suggest you will be, too, once you experience his work.

It was the spring of two-thousand. I obtained tickets to the (sold out) play which was onstage at the Walter Kerr Theater, one of the medium sized houses. Eugene O'Neill happens to be one of my favorite playwrights, and the idea of seeing the exquisite Ray Dotrice in the role of Phil Hogan made it an irresistible must-see. (Now that I think of it, I'm fairly certain Mr. Dotrice won the Tony for this portrayal in the Best Actor in a Featured Role category).

It was the first time I ever saw Gabriel Byrne. He was the brave soul who took on the challenging role of James Tyrone, Jr. and I had no idea what to expect where he was concerned. Not terribly ambitious about learning, I checked briefly online, and read that he was an Irish Actor. Saints preserve us! Being the Anglophile that I am, this pleased me immensely, and enough said. (As it happens, I am also fairly certain that Mr. Byrne was nominated for a Tony for this part, but I do not believe he took the statue home...)

Cherry Jones, another under appreciated, superbly brilliant actress rounded out the cast as Josie Hogan. This put me over the moon. I was desperate for the days to pass until I would see it!
~
Sitting in the theater, in my center section aisle seat in the tenth row, I checked my watch repeatedly as the auditorium filled to capacity. Finally, the lights lowered and the audience hushed as the curtain began to move. I held my breath...

There is no way for this writer to separate one performance, that Sunday afternoon, from the other. Each acted and reacted to the other in perfect harmony, if you'll forgive me the cliche: like an impeccably rehearsed symphony.

Gabriel Byrne stood out for me because I had never seen him before and, forgive me again, I can be an awful snob when it comes to live theater. He took hold of that character and transported me and, I think, everyone else to the 1940s. It was not just O'Neill's words that took us away; Byrne's body language, his very demeanor, was of a time gone by. What a lovely, magical partnership!

Byrne's obvious love of the material shone through. So many actors simply say lines and move about the stage, gesturing as instructed, and they get rave reviews for doing it. I have been guilty, too, of this kind of acceptance - and as long as I am entertained, this is all right with me... uh, most of the time. It's a given, our Mr. Byrne could have gotten away with offering much less than he did. Fortunately for his audience, however, it would not have been enough for him! He didn't perform Tyrone; he channeled him. There was no definitive line between the here and now and the once upon a time. The assemblage around me disappeared, and I was taken into the story, the proverbial fly on the wall of a real happening.

I want to share about the one jarring moment, that afternoon, that sealed my bond as a fan of this man's work and talent. It was near the play's conclusion. Gabriel Byrne was in the midst of the emotional third act monologue where James Tyrone speaks loving words of confession and apology, revealing the depth of his personhood to Josie Hagen. It is a heart wrenchingly serious time in the play which has, up to this point, been peppered with O'Neill's perfectly placed moments of comedic hilarity.

One of the male audience members, up front and to the actors' right, (my left), made it abundantly clear that he had no knowledge of the story and no realization of the depth of what was happening. He misunderstood the character's intent and let loose a startling guffaw at the precise moment when the actor was escorting the audience to the story's emotional crescendo. The outburst seemed extremely loud, but that may have been because the theater was silent, except for Byrne's voice. My heart sank for the actor as the explosive disturbance caused every head in the audience to turn. I wondered how he would be able to maintain his momentum and, indeed, the integrity of the scene. Feeling generous, I decided no matter how he chose to handle it, my admiration for his performance would remain intact.

To my astonishment, Mr. Byrne did not need my forgiveness. His hold on the character, the time and space, and the audience never faltered. Without any sign on his face or in his cadence that he heard the young man's misguided outburst, he skillfully ushered us along on our journey to the story's conclusion and kept us unscathed.

To this day, I remember that moment, and I don't know how he did it. I have seen things like this happen to other performers and felt just as heartsick for them as I did for Mr. Byrne. Some chose to step out of character and acknowledge the evil-doer, with humor or admonishment; others hesitate, regroup, and start the scene from a previous point. One actor actually forgot the next few lines and took a moment to re-compose himself, but he had lost his focus and the character - and the scene fell flat. All these reactions were understandable. Things happen in live theater, and I feel it would be unjust to hold the actors accountable. (It's a certainty I could not do it.)

I simply do not believe the talent and presence of mind Gabriel Byrne exhibited that afternoon comes along every day. The point I mean to make is: even though I was affected emotionally in that I was so relieved and happy for Byrne because he was not yanked out of character, he continued with such impeccable timing and grace that my exuberance was shelved. It did not come through until after I had thoroughly experienced the emotion and sensitivity O'Neill intended.

Cherry Jones as Josie Hagen comforts Jim Tyrone played by Gabriel Byrne
Eugene O'Neill's A Moon for the Misbegotten

It was very personal. I shudder just thinking about it, and I know my words fail miserably to express how amazing it was! An unforgettable gift to experience first hand! Someday, I hope to thank him for his love of the material, his selfless generosity to his audience, and his desire - or was it determination - to share both with us that day.

~
Recently, I saw the play again... with Kevin Spacey in the role of James Tyrone, Jr. Normally, I cannot be objective where Spacey is concerned, because he is one of my favorite actors. In this case, however, I have to confess, he could not inhabit the person of Tyrone for me. It belongs forever to someone else.

I'm thinking In Treatment may turn out to be treatment for me!

There. Now that I have that out of my system, I'll move on to discussing the show:
Uh, I like it. *chortle* It satisfies some seedy sense of voyeurism I never knew I had in me...

More later.

CM
PHOTO CREDITS:
Cherry Jones and Gabriel Byrne in Eugene O'Neill's A Moon for the Misbegotten

Walter Kerr Theater; Spring, 2,000
Photo courtesy: NY Times

Christopher Plummer!

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:20:42 GMT

A little whine?

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:58:48 GMT

Well, I am delighted to have won the photo of Sir Ian McKellen that he so graciously autographed for the ebay auction for Breast Cancer Research. The only trouble is that the auction ended on the 8th and as of today (the 16th), I still do not have the photograph. Given that I am in New Jersey and the photo is in Manhattan, less than 45 minutes away, this doesn't sit well with me.

Now, this is a worthy cause and the idea of obtaining such an autograph, even though it will be indirect, is a bit of a thrill for me. No denial there. I chose this way to contribute because the autograph was the draw. Even though it will be a treasure to me, I will not display it because the photograph is not flattering to him. I think too much of him to do that.

The thing is, I would have contributed or donated anyway. So the issue is not the money. The issue is that this type of thing, this failure to follow through gives all potential contributors pause. Unfortunately, that is as it should be.

Well, perhaps I am jumping the proverbial gun. One can only hope.

In the meanwhile, I have contacted the young woman involved. She has not responded. Today, sadly, I will contact ebay...

I'll keep you posted.

Carol (Desperately hoping a re-write or a retraction will be necessary.)

OT: Need some help

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:51:11 GMT

Normally, I would not do this sort of thing, and certainly not here on my LJ. However, in this case, I'm taking the chance you'll all understand because it is for a worthy cause...

A self confessed, lovingly dedicated fan of Sir Ian McKellen, I am understandably excited to be the high bidder for this autographed photo of him holding the Breast Cancer Bear. Yes, it is an ebay auction. I know, I know... but please hear me out. The proceeds are going to B/C Research. Unfortunately, the price is stagnating at a disappointing 86 dollars (American).

Anyone interested in this auction click on the link. We all know somebody who has been affected by this dreadful disease. Contribute more than lip service to Breast Cancer Research and you could end up with a whimsical autographed pic of Ian McKellen for your trouble.

If bidding isn't for you, maybe you could help to spread the word?

Thanks for reading me,
CM

Another MEME: 36 LINES

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:52:29 GMT

I'd love it if my whole flist would answer these -- even folks who don't usually do memes. Guys too! It's fun stuff to know about people you're friends with.

Nicked from: seansdestiny
YOU'RE ON MY FRIENDS LIST, I WANNA KNOW YOU...I want to know 36 things about you. I don't care if we never talk, never liked each other, or if we already know everything about each other. Short and sweet is fine...You're on my list, so I want to know you better! Come on, let's have some fun with this. BE HONEST!

Copy and answer in comments, then repost in your own LJ so others can answer.

1.) Can you cook?

2.) What was your dream growing up?

3.) What talent do you wish you had?

4.) If I bought you a drink what would it be?

5.) Favorite vegetable?

6.) What was the last book you read?

7.) What zodiac sign are you ?

8.) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings?

9.) Worst Habit?

10.) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?

11.) What is your favorite sport?

12.) Negative or Optimistic attitude?

13.) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?

14.) Worst thing to ever happen to you?

15.) Tell me one weird fact about you

16.) Do you have any pets?

17.) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?

18.) What was your first impression of me?

19.) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?

20.) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?

21.) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?

22.) What color eyes do you have?

23.) Ever been arrested?

24.) Bottle or Draft?

25.) If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it?

26.) Would you date me?

27.) Where 's your favorite place to hang out?

28.) Do you believe in ghosts?

29.) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

30.) Do you swear a lot?

31.) Biggest pet peeve?

32.) In one word, how would you describe yourself?

33.) Do you believe in/appreciate romance?

34.) If you could spend 12 hours with me and ask/do anything you like, what would it be?

35) Do you believe in God?

36.) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same?

86 THINKS THAT MAKE ME TICK!

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:11:20 GMT

I saw this challenge on a blog:
Write between 75 and 100 things that make you who you are. The idea is not mine, but the list is.

1. I am ridiculously organized.
2. I love good books.
3. I love visiting and making memories of new places.
4. I love helping.
5. I love children.
6. I am still hopelessly in love with my high school sweetheart.
7. I'm convinced I have several very interesting, fun people living inside my head!
8. I love the way I feel after I have forced myself to exercise.
9. I love the ocean.
10. Rivers frighten me.
11. I love to travel.
12. From the first moment I saw him, I cry inexplicably at the sight of Ian McKellen.
13. I have been told that Ian McKellen was profoundly significant to me in another life.
14. I am a firm believer in "favorites" and "bests."
15. I am naturally ambidextrous.
16. I am an old hippie.
17. I am terrified of being homeless.
18. Having a clean house is very important to me.
19. I love my name.
20. I am not competitive when playing games but will do anything to prolong the fun.
21. "Steak and salad" is my favorite meal.
22. I love sincere people.
23. I am motivated by schedules and love planning.
24. I love crossing things off lists.
25. I love talking on the phone.
26. I love animals, but do not want a pet.
27. I hate concerts: they're too loud, too dark, and too people-filled.
28. I do not always wear sunscreen.
29. I really dig my family!
30. I like cooking more than I ever thought I would.
31. I have a crush on Sean Bean.
32. My favorite flowers are daisies.
33. I despise grocery shopping.
34. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.
35. I want a haircut that I can fluff and go.
36. Autumn is my favorite season.
37. My two nephews inspire me to no end.
38. If I could have any job in the world, I would sing in a musical on Broadway.
39. I am 5 feet, 3.5 inches tall but always round it up to 5'4".
40. I love taking long walks alone.
41. I am extremely expressive with my face.
42. When I read books aloud, I voice and animate the characters.
43. My favorite cold treat is Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.
44. My favorite hot treat, besides tea, is my homemade Ginger Carrot Soup.
45. I enjoy outside chores like washing my car, mowing the lawn, gardening, and re-staining the deck...
46. I love people who are on time and become frustrated with those who are late.
47. I have begun to embrace my personal history.
48. I went to Woodstock… and spent a lot of time at Studio 54.
49. Whenever I stop to notice a plane flying overhead, I always wish I were on it.
50. I love starting my day by watching the TODAY show.
51. I love to entertain.
52. I wish I had become an actress.
53. I am addicted to a few select Websites.
54. Blogging is much easier for me than keeping a journal.
55. I love the Internet and do not know how I functioned without it.
56. I can be very nostalgic and sentimental.
57. I am OK with life's occasional good-bye's. (Probably a throw back from my days as a foster child.)
58. I think I would make a fantastic interviewer because I am notoriously curious!
59. I will turn off a show or movie I am enjoying if I hate the commercials supporting it.
60. I suck at crossword puzzles and scrabble. It is a tremendous source of embarrassment to me.
61. I find a bad movie unforgivable.
62. I dream of owning and running a Bed and Breakfast to satisfy my love of entertaining.
63. I am currently writing a terrific story.
64. I like supporting locally-owned establishments.
65. I always try to use proper grammar, and I never feel that I have adequately succeeded.
66. I believe in stereotypes.
67. I favor organic foods.
68. I love teaching myself things that intimidate me (HTML) and feel proud when I master it.
69. I have a storage unit full of things that I have not seen in 10 years. (However, it is organized perfectly.)
70. I love email.
71. I love being at a stadium to watch sports (especially soccer and B-ball), but hate watching games on TV. Except for hockey. I detest hockey all the time!
72. I love being productive.
73. I love writing, even when I am writing lists about what to write!
74. I am desperately unhappy with where our country is headed.
75. I am so terrified of going to the dentist that I need to tranquilizers for 2 days before I go.
76. I love all things Celtic.
77. I dream of someday living in a cottage in the Scottish Highlands.
78. I will never have plastic surgery.
79. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I know I once lived in Scotland.
80. I have recently committed to write 500 words a day.
81. I love the OUTLANDER Series by Diana Gabaldon.
82. I always have music playing and it usually acts as a soundtrack.
83. I love little shops and quaint villages with little family owned shops and detest mall shopping.
84. I never pay full retail for anything!
85 I can squeeze a dollar until the eagle cries!
86. I volunteer my time and skills whenever I can.

A MADISON COUNTY EVENT! 9.17.07

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:17:04 GMT

Whenever I would spend time with my beloved pal, Connie, there was always a towering pile or an overflowing tote of reading material close by. It was our intense need to devour the written word that introduced us seventeen years ago and immediately sealed our bond as girlfriends. We’d share stories, articles, novels, science projects, recipes, medical advice, you name it. We’d read it and proclaim ourselves overnight experts on any subject that dared to challenge us. Very few writers passed our stringent expectations and those who did became our immediate heroes. We spent many an hour picking their style and cadence apart until we discovered every literary trick they had up their proverbial sleeves.

Connie and I knew we had a good thing going. We’d meet at least once a week for lunch and about twice a month for dinner to chat about our hobby, uh, passion, uh, obsession…all right, addiction. No matter what the discussion, debate or argument, we’d always end the meeting by acknowledging how lucky we were to have found a partner with whom we could freely share our secret worlds of words.

Unbeknownst to me, however, the dynamics of our calm, sophisticated air of intellect and debate were about to undergo a radical change.

Connie’s desperation to speak to me one Sunday morning after Service was palpable. She vigorously made her way through the meanderers lingering about the church aisles and took hold of my forearm. Hastening me away from the pastor, she interrupted his efforts to guide me in selecting the next week's music.

In a hushed but deliberate tone, she instructed me as only a teacher can. “Put aside everything else you are reading and read this book first. The Bridges of Madison County. Got that? The Bridges of Madison County. Stop and get it on the way home. It’s an easy read. You’ll be done with it by tonight and then we can talk. I will phone you at about 8 o’clock to discuss it.” She went on to say it was the story of a photographer – a National Geographic photographer - who had found love while on assignment. Connie knew what a sap I was for a wonderful love story. She also knew I had begun a lifelong love affair with National Geographic when I was a teenager. She assured me it was the book I had been waiting for. Trusting that she knew my likes and dislikes as well as I knew them myself, I did not question her authority.

I knew what I had to do; Barnes and Noble made a sale that day.

Upon my arrival home, I put the kettle on and changed my clothes. In order to read the perfect book, one must be completely unconstrained and have all significant creature comforts close by. This was going to require that I brew a large pot of tea. I freshened up the sugar bowl and sliced a plump, fresh lemon. Then I selected my favorite mug from the cabinet and made up a tray to take to my study. I strategically placed it on the table next to my reading chair. Next, I turned off the phone and the computer. I selected Bach to accompany my read and inserted several hours' worth into the CD player. My favorite fuzzy throw was the last item on my list. I picked it up and made my way to the sanctity of my favorite chair for a reader’s version of an afternoon delight.

As I made my way through the character introductions of the first few chapters, my brow furrowed, my glasses needed constant adjusting, and I could not seem to keep from fidgeting. I cannot imagine why Connie would have told me this was the book I had been waiting for; I just don’t get it. This is not the fine writing in which we are typically interested... It was all I could do to keep from being completely distracted from the story by Waller's high-schoolish style, or lack of style as the case may be... She does not know me at all, I fretted. …And after all this time together, talking books… Go figure… I consoled myself by deciding that it was the story itself and not Waller’s writing that she wanted me to seek after. I did as was expected of me.

Before dinner, I was approaching the final chapters and took a moment to refresh myself. On my way back from the necessary room, I deliberately crossed my study to turn my phone back on. Connie would soon be calling. While standing at my desk fussing with ringer control, I picked up a handful of tissues in anticipation of where the story was headed. They sat next to my empty teapot awaiting their turn to be my significant creature comfort.

As the story and the day drew to an end, I had become consumed by the emotions stirred up by this story and the two people about whom it was written. It didn't seem right to subject them to the harsh glare of my halogen reading light. I lit one single candle in their honor, and let it burn while I dabbed my flooding eyes and pulled my throw over me. Curling up into the barrel of the chair, without realizing it I assumed a fetal position. Seems Mr. Waller was not the literary klutz I had originally presumed!

It was the harsh electronic beep of the phone that awakened me. Connie was eager to hear my thoughts. I wept as I shared my torn feelings of compassion and disdain for both the author and the couple. Honoring or condoning adultery on any level just doesn't sit well with me.

Afterwards, I outlined my plans to get to the library first thing in the morning. I felt the need to weed through old issues of National Geographic until I found a photograph of this phantom photographer. It seemed odd that his name did not ring a bell. My inability to recall his face was driving me quite mad with curiosity.

For some reason, Connie found this amusing.

I didn’t care. Next morning, I jumped out of bed in anticipation of the day. After hurriedly consuming my morning pot of java, I enthusiastically made tracks for the library and my personal version of heaven: hundreds of issues of National Geographic!

For some reason, the librarian had been expecting me, and she appeared to be amused.

It hit me as I sat at my table in the research room clumsily trying to balance a teetering pile of slippery yellow magazines. The research Librarian had also seemed to be expecting me and also seemed to be... amused.

It was an impeccably planned, flawlessly executed practical joke. Connie, my serious friend, my bossy, opinionated, teacher friend had pulled it off. And I, her streetwise, instinct-proud, sentimental friend, had risen to the bait. I took hold of it: hook, line, and sinker. It had further dawned on me that it was more probable than possible that she had shared her expectations for my unwitting victimization with more than just the two librarians.

As you can well imagine, Connie turned out to be one of the most significant women in my life. We shared many a practical joke after that – on both the giving end as well as the receiving… having dubbed that particular one our “Madison County Event”. Through the years we often referred to it, laughing each and every time as though it was all brand new to us.

My dear, delightful Connie is gone now, but the memories of her and of that magnificent "Madison County Event" still linger warmly in my heart. I think of her often and most especially whenever The Bridges of Madison County or National Geographic or Robert James Waller unceremoniously come to mind.

____________________________

A few years ago, while on a weekend trip with my friend Barb, in celebration of my 50th birthday, I visited the covered bridges of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania.

I do not recall whether or not I mentioned Connie or shared stories of her, but she was there in my heart, and for some reason… I was amused.

CM
*A special thank you to J.C. for kicking down a roadblock.

JUST FOOLING AROUND WITH MY COMPUTER...

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:20:36 GMT

First Name:	Carol
Middle Name:	Ann Oh! The creativity!
Birthday:	November 2nd Mark your calendars!!
Eyes:	TWO Both brown
Hair:	Brown/Gray sigh
Fav color:	Aqua Blue Used to be pink, but I'm over it.
Day/Night:	Anytime, Hon!
Fave Food:	Fresh Veggies from my gardens
*FRIENDS AND LIFE*
Do you ever wish you had another name?	No, my name is my most cherished possession But I do like my nicknames: Cassie and The Bookmeister!.
Do you like anyone?	I like everyone WTF!
Which one of your friends acts the most like you?	Barb They don't call us Lucy and Ethel for nothing, you know!
Who's the loudest?	Lydia She is also the funniest person I have ever known!
Who have you known the longest of your friends?	Liz She's my Scarecrow... I love her most of all.
Who's the shyest:	Destiny She is also the kindest
Are you close to any family members?	Of course
When you cried the most:	When my daughter died
What's the best feeling in the world:	Laughing - HA! You thought I was going to say something else, didn't you?
Worst Feeling:	Heartbreak/Lonliness
*FINISH EACH SENTENCE:*
Let's walk on the:	Moon.
Let's run through:	the surf.
Let's look at the:	other side of this...
What a nice:	ass.
Where did all the:	straight men go?
Why can't you:	just hand me the credit card?!
Silly, little:	Chrissy!
Tell me:	a story...
*HAVE YOU:*
Ran away from home:	Yes
Pictured your crush naked:	Frequently
Skipped school:	No
Broken someone's heart:	Yes
Been in love:	Yes. Yes. Yes.
Cried when someone died:	Yes, but not until I was alone with Steve. What kind of a question is that?
Wanted someone you knew you couldn't have:	Madly! I have always been a dreamer~
Done something embarrassing:	Too embarrassing to think about it.
Done a drug:	Yes
Cried in school:	Yes
*RANDOM*
Your Good Luck Charm:	I am everyone else's good luck charm. However, I do have a lucky cap and footy shirt I wear when there is a game...
Best Thing That Has Happened:	My Family!
Ice Cream:	Chocolate Chip... mmmmm...
Makes you smile:	My Family!
Has A Crush On You:	Sean Bean. WHAT! It could happen...
Do You Have A Crush On Someone:	Yes. Sean Bean! Try to keep up.
*HAVE YOU EVER*
Fallen for your best friend?:	No
Made out with JUST a friend?:	Yes
Kissed two people in the same day?:	Yes
Had sex with two different people in the same day?:	No
Been rejected: .	Yes
Been in love?:	Most definitely
Been used?:	Most definitely
Done something you regret?:	Oh yeah! ...and yet...
Cheated on someone?:	Never done that. Bad form.
Been called a tease:	Yes And, hopefully, I will be called that again!
*WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON...*
You touched?:	Steve
You talked to on the phone?:	Andrea
You hugged?:	Chrissy
You instant messaged?:	My cousin, Mark
You kissed?:	Chrissy
You yelled at?:	I don't yell.
Who text messaged you?:	My cousin, Mark
Who broke your heart?:	Sean Bean... because he's taking so long to get here.
Who told you they loved you?:	My little Chrissy... But Sean Bean loves me too; he's just quiet about it.

Okay, this was a lot of fun. Steve will smile and shake his head when he reads the references to Sean Bean. My kids will shake their heads too, but they will not smile... which will make me smile. See how clever I am?

Speaking of Mr.Bean, I hear he is in the States just now. Fix your hair and keep your eyes open; ya never know who you might meet...

CM - feeling silly today

A LITTLE WHINE: It's terrible and I'm cranky!

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 20:45:48 GMT

Okay, so it's not all that terrible. And I am not really all that cranky... but there are those days when nothing I do seems to come out quite the way I had envisioned it when I started...

The forgetfulness is a source of unrivaled embarrassment and that is terrible. I don't like being embarrassed, never have...

For years, I have been teasing and picking on my friend Barb who is notoriously late for anything and everything. Her typical arrival time is about 15 minutes late but she has been known to make me wait more than an hour. Now we have been friends for a long time and I am used to it. I am relatively easy going and never ever go anywhere without a good book so waiting is moot. Frankly, I usually relish the reading time.

But something unacceptable has begun to happen. I have begun to be late. Now this does not sit well with me. I am notoriously on time. It's who I am and how my friends count on me to be.

Lately, for some unknown reason, I have begun to have trouble organizing my time.

And by the way, where do all the words go? Since this whole menopause business started, I have lost my abliity to speak a full sentence without forgetting a key word. It's like my vocabulary chip is, uh... chipped.

I think I will section this blog into uh... sections (Eeeeeek! See what I mean?):

WONDERFUL DAY
GOOD DAY
BAD DAY
REALLY SHITTY Wondering-why-was-I-born DAY
TOTALLY ZONED DAY

Today is a good day and I would like to address some of the wonderful things about entering a certain age...

Like...

It's wonderful that I no longer feel I have something to prove.

It's wonderful that I no longer worry about how to please all of the people all of the time.

It's wonderful that I can write to my heart's content... or not.

It's wonderful that my clothes all fit.

It's wonderful that I have the most wonderful husband in the world.

It's wonderful that I am getting to see my children grow up and am experiencing great pride pride at having been a part of who they are. I like them. They are nice people. Good hearts - all different, all the same. I see their father in them... and me, yes... sometimes I see a bit of me.

*The cancer is making itself known today, but it's not bad. I can certainly handle it. The chemo - ugh. That's a different story. More on that another day. Not today. Today is good!

Except for the facial hair. THAT'S DEFINITELY GOTTA GO!

Wax on, Wax off!
CM

STILL BEANMUSED After All THese Months!

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 00:49:54 GMT

I had a wonderful email discussion a few days ago with an online friend about roles in which we might like to see Sean Bean.

I have given this a lot of thought (too much thought, if I am to be truthful) and have decided that I would like to see Sean Bean in the part of

Robert Langdon (the Tom Hanks role) in The DaVinci Code.

Now before you go off getting your knickers in a knot, hear me out: I quite enjoyed The DaVinci Code. Thought it was done beautifully. In fact, it was a complete mystery to me that some reviewers claim to have been disappointed that it was not a more action packed, race 'em/chase 'em kind of film. Apparently, they'd been looking for a more exciting theatrical experience. But I found it intelligent and thought provoking, just like the book. For action and excitement, I was extremely satisfied with National Treasure, which conveniently brings me back to Sean Bean.

First off, I think he and Ron Howard might have enjoyed and benefited greatly from working together. If you consider they are both genius in their work and add the notion that they appear to maintain polar opposite ideas of what is entertaining, and combine that with what we already know about their work ethic and ability to listen to and value professional, artistic input from each other, it's clear that a collaboration between these two would have made for a spectacular outcome.

TDC certainly would have been a very different film with Sean Bean as Langdon. For starters, the complete lack of sexual tension between the male and female leads would have provided such powerful anxiety... well, I believe it would have provided the catapult Bean so desperately needs for US filmmakers to catch on to his steamy screen prowess. It's no secret that they need their hands held. (Overall, with the obvious exceptions of Lucas, Spielberg, and Howard, they do not know what they are doing.)

So let's give Sean a wonderful story with a role such as Robert Langdon and have him walk them through it, shall we?

As indicated in my role preference scenario, let's have Sean escort the audience on a sensual journey where the aforementioned sexual tension is perceived by the audience instead of splashed boringly across the screen as he is oft required to do... I am stressing the profoundness of the cliche "why buy the cow when one can get the milk for free?". Instead of giving it up in nearly every film, this time I'd like to see Bean leave them wanting more. The clearly male notion that nudity is always what the audience wants is such a foolhardy insult to the intellect and creative imagination of the audience! Someone else's interpretation is never as good as one's own.

Picture this win/win outcome: Instead of exiting theaters fanning feverishly while announcing that Sean Bean is hot, women will instead be exiting theaters completely unaware, at first, that they will not be able to get him out of their heads. Their clamoring to see him again will most assuredly catch the watchful eyes of the powers-that-be who will then pat themselves black and blue on their collective backs while their brazenly expensive PR firms denominate the ensuing pandemonium: The Sean Bean Phenomenon! Oh lordy, I can see it all now!

CHECK AND MATE!

THEN... On the heels of that, I would like to see him in the role I believe to have been written for him.

My ultimate dream part for Sean Bean...

In a perfect world, Sean would play Jamie Fraser in *OUTLANDER which would be produced by the BBC as a series of about 12 films and run over a period of somewhere between six months to a year. He would start as a young Sean (think Storyteller) and magically age 20 years at the appropriate time. If anyone could do this, it's Sean Bean. I would trust no one else to play a much beloved character such as Jamie Fraser. (Oh and I, of course, would be Claire Randall Fraser. *cough, chortle, cough* This is in a perfect world, right?)

It would have to be the BBC because they are infinitely more responsible with literature than US film makers. Sad but blatantly true.

Carol
Anyone have Sean Bean's phone number? I owe him a couple of Thank You's anyway...
*Outlander By Diana Gabaldon