Favorite Christmas Carols

Do you have some favorite Christmas carols?  I know I do....it's a great time of year.  There are classic ones, hilarious ones, cute ones.....

There are 3 all time favorites that I like......Ave Maria, O Holy Night and Mary Did You Know.....

I hope that I can find them on YouTube....

 

 

Andy Williams does a great rendition of Ave Maria by Schubert.  His vocal style is so sweet and soft....not strained....and very melodious.  I have heard several different versions of this song, but this is my favorite.  Ave Maria means Hail Mary in Latin.

 

O Holy Night....when I hear this song I remember my elementary school days when we practiced singing Christmas carols for our parents.  This was one that we did and there was a student in my class that had a beautiful voice that sang the lead and we all provided back up.  I don't remember the name of my classmate, but it was the first time that I had heard this song..and it was sung so beautifully!

 

 

I know that there is another singer that has a better rendition, I want to say Harry Connick, Jr.....but I could be wrong and alas....YouTube had limited selections.  Josh Groban does a great job singing this song because his voice is just so wonderful....he could sing Baa Baa Black Sheep and make me swoon!

Here is what I believe should be a classic....Clay Aiken sings this song which became a huge hit for him.  The words are so captivating and simple, yet speaks volumes!  Mary Did You Know.....

Now here are some wacky hilarious ones that just stick in your mind....again....I hope that YouTube has captured them....

Yep....Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is fun to sing...especially if you add the twang in this hillbilly ditty.

Oh...the Hawaiians are not to be outdone....YouTube don't fail me now. 

Frank DeLima is a local comedian.  If you get the chance to see him live....don't miss the opportunity.  He is too funny!  He makes fun out of all the nationalities.  What you just saw is his take on the Filipinos.  When Shirley and I saw him in Hawaii at the Noodle Shop many many years ago, he singled us out because he told us our eyes were so slanted we could see through closed venetian blinds.  We laughed so hard we almost "peed our pants!"   I especially loved his rendition of Tina Turner's Proud Mary.  I couldn't find that one....but I did find another one that you will like Adullah Fataai, a Samoan football player.

Oops....I'm digressing.....back to the work at hand!  Cute Christmas carols.....well there's Alvin and the Chipmunks singing Christmas Time is Here. 

I also liked the Hawaiian pidgin version of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  It is called Numbah One Day of Christmas.....it was written by Ed Kenney, Eaton "Bob" Magoo, Jr., and Gordon Phelps.  Sadly, I couldn't find a good version of this on YouTube, but I can remember the words to the Hawaiian version and not the English version.

Well...I hope that you enjoyed my selections of Christmas carols.  To all of you out there....have a great holiday.  As we Hawaiians say.....Mele Kalikimaka and Hauoli Makahiki Hou....if I haven't screwed it up...it means Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Oops....back up....rewind....there is yet another Christmas carol that I love....it is a duet featuring Bing Crosby and David Bowie.......singing a combination of Little Drummer Boy and Peace on Earth.

Merry Christmas to all....and to all a good night!







 

 

 

 

 



Tis the Season

Someone who has been having a bad few days told me today that there is only nine days left until the end of the world according to the infamous Mayan calendar......what a concept.  I tried to read up on it but it's far more than my brain can handle.

If the world is coming to an end....what would I do?  I don't know that I would do anything different.  I am doing what I am supposed to do.  There isn't a "last wish" that I can honestly say I must do before the end is upon us.  Living everyday at my age is already a blessing.  What more could one ask? 

At work I am surrounded with the "Aloha Spirit".....my company has hired a total of about 5 people from Hawaii.  It is like old home week at the office.  The pidgin English is music to my ears.  If you would have asked me about 20 years ago about speaking pidgin....I would have frowned.  I tried so hard to overcome it....now I find myself embracing it.

My favorite cousin and her family were in town this past weekend.  One can really feel the love when we greet people and give them a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  There is so much Aloha in just the greeting alone.

We ate a lot, laughed a lot....heck....we even went bowling - although liftiing a bowling ball would have really broken this camel's back, because I was suffering from a pain in my back.  Nevertheless, it was fun watching everyone bowl.  After that we went to......wait......can you hear the drum roll????

You guessed it, we went to a buffet dinner.  There were a total of twelve of us.....now the adults got in at half price and the children got in at full price....why?  Because adults can gamble and children can't....so the casino made this rule.  There are actually bean counters that think up these things.

Anyway, I got to eat my daily quota of fresh veggies.....and for dessert....there was Spumoni sorbet!
Wow, my favorite!!!

We had such a great time and they are coming back in March!  I really look forward to their visits!
Needless to say....my dance card was pretty filled up.....and I danced (not literally) the entire weekend away.  I was pooched!

But.....tis the season....right?  Wow I haven't even started my Christmas shopping.....last minute Nellie huh?

I'll have to be creative and get my butt in gear.....Oh WAIT......STOP THE PRESSES!  The world is gonna end 4 days before.....if anyone is left alive after December 21....well then shut my mouth....
Boing.......there you have it....what can be better than to be alive for Christmas!

Let's all get down on our knees and give thanks!  Christmas shopping complete?....check...check!

Black Friday?

For the past 2 weeks,, all I've been hearing on the internet are ads about Black Friday.....you know, the day after Thanksgiving.  That's when all hell breaks loose and stores are giving these stupendous deals on merchandise.  People are standing in lines awaiting stores to open.  I avoid this kind of craziness like the plague!  This is the kickoff for the Christmas gift giving time.

Well, today being Wednesday, I want to tell you that I really scored HUGE!  I'm gonna call it Black Wednesday!  Here's what happened.....I get a call from a friend this morning.  She is in town visiting from Hawaii.

She invited me to dinner at Steve Wynn's signature hotel.....the Wynn.  I met her at the crap table as instructed.  At first I couldn't see her.  Then I heard her voice.  Well there she is with a flower on her hat, sitting at the table.  She asked if I would like to have Chinese, Japanese or a Buffet dinner....well if you've read my latest posts, you might say Buffet...right?

#@!#@! Wrong!  After a couple of lucky passes by 2 men at the table, she was able to retire a marker and we were off to?????.....a Japanese dinner at Mizumi.  Check it out!

 



 

 

This is the view we had at dinner.  The waterfall in the background was gorgeous!  I was one little country bumpkin....it started with the bathroom....I didn't know how to turn on the water to wash my hands.....My friend had to show me.  Then we go to our table and the waiters pull out our chairs for us to sit.  Once we are seated, they unfold our napkins and place them in our laps!  WOW....it's been a while since I've felt soooo pampered!

 

 

We ordered Miso soup, Edamame, Unagi (eel) sushi, Butterfish, Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura and to top it off we had Sorbet....I had pineapple and pomegranate...it was topped with mint leaves, blueberries and boysenberries.  It was scrumptious....and so delicious.  The presentation of the food was just amazing!

 

 

By now you must be wondering why I call it Black Wednesday???? Well, between the 2 of us....we managed to rack up a tab of about $300.  The best part about it.....the hotel picked up the tab.  My friend paid the tip and treated me for my birthday. 

 

After the meal we went up to her suite so she could give me some macadamia coconut chocolates and the makeup I ordered from her.  She had a double suite - it had 2 bathrooms!  One had a shower...the other had a bathtub....so luxurious!

 

 

I had fun playing with the remote that controlled the air, the doors, the drapes and a multitude of other things.  I even walked away with spa slippers that the hotel provides to their guests.

 

 

What a wonderful evening....I hugged my friend and then headed home.  So what makes this like a Black Friday...only it happened on a Wednesday?

 

 

Well, funny you should ask.....

 

          The deal - FREE dinner!

          Standing in line to wait to get in - well on the way home I was caught up in a random DUI inspection for the holiday.....I know it's a bit of a stretch.......but oh well....just indulge me!

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!  May your day be filled with family, friends and great food!

 

Oh, BTW....I get to spend the rest of the weekend eating!  My date book is full!  How fun is that?

 

 

 

 



Oh What a Day I Had Today!

FYI, the title of this post is from the movie Funny Girl, starring Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif.

Going back to work at my age is hazardous.  It's like a dog eat dog world now!  OMG!  some people are intimidated by my years of experience!

Ever try to....how does that saying go?......Ever try to hide your light under a bush or is it bushel?  Is that how the saying goes?  I don't know but....it sounds about right.

Lies, gossips about this person and that person.  A ridiculous dress code being imposed.  People in high places with short fuses!  OMG.....then there is also the.... I want to be a friend to everyone person.  Decisions made due to emotions rather than good judgment!

I feel as though I have fallen into a pit of snakes and am the only one speaking English!  Do you know what I mean?

Well....to add to the insanity, I had to wait 2 hours for the police to arrive because of a break-in.  On my way home I almost run over this guy crossing the street...now bear in mind it is dark and he is dressed all in black clothing and is not in the crosswalk.  He starts yelling unspeakable words to me....and I open the window and fired some right back at him....so not my style! 

After having a rushed Dim Sum lunch - another bad idea.....my friend Shirley calls me up to go to for a free dinner.  With my head throbbing from the day I had already, I'm trying to have a conversation with my friend and bless her heart...at her age....sometimes she says something but means something else.  I've learned to keep on the same wave length  as her....but I had to translate to the chef on why she returned her meal 3 times.

She ordered Clam Linguini - now this is her favorite dish...and we had it there just a couple of weeks ago.  She wanted to go back and have it again.  Well it wasn't the same.  She returned it and they redid the dish...it still wasn't right so she returned it again and ordered Shrimp Scampi instead.  It tasted very tart while my pasta tasted sweet!  Long story short, the head chef comes to our table and she is trying to explain to him that her Shrimp Scampi should be a white sauce...now she actually means her Clam Linguini....here's where my interpreting had to come into play. 

Well, he took her meal off the tab and we left the restaurant. We were chatting when all of a sudden Chef Henry walks up to us and wanted to treat us to free dessert because he tasted the garlic...and he admitted I was right....it had a sweet taste.  Now...pasta is my favorite food....I never turn away pasta....but sweet pasta?.....that's a whole other story!  Well, I was full from my dinner and my friend Shirley doesn't like desserts.

He told us to come back and we can have dinner on him the next time.  Shirley told him that we would be back only if he cooked the meal for us!  Well, at least that rounded out our day! 

Life is never boring here.....there's always some kind of drama going on....but the bottom line is.....it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!  It's all fun!

Experienced Buffet Eaters

Have you ever tried an all you can eat buffet?  Well, usually I like to start off with a salad.  That way I'm sure to get my veggies in.  Then I go for the featured item....whether it be sushi or seafood....something that you can't make at home.  You know the drill....you eat slowly so that you can savor the taste and enjoy the company of whoever is with you.  Then to top it off you check out the desert bar.  Fruits...oh and if they have hot fudge to coat it....the more the better.

Well, today was a whole new experience for this buffet pro.  A couple of co-workers and I thought we would do buffet for lunch.  That in itself is okay....but our lunch break is for 1 hour.  This would be okay too....however it took us at least 15 minutes to get there and 15 minutes for the return trip.  That left us 30 minutes to grab our food and gobble it down. 

Here's where the rubber meets the road.  As an experienced buffet eater....I immediately served up 3 plates.  I had 2 kinds of noodles, seaweed sushi, octopus sushi and california rolls with caviar (fish eggs) on top...along with wasabi and pickled ginger.  I had green beans (my favorite), egg plant and tofu stir fry, steamed fish, chicken with jalapeno peppers and whole black beans (Chinese style) and vegetable tempura.  For desert I had jin dui, a Chinese mochi ball with sesame seeds on the outside and sweet black beans on the inside. 

My co-worker laughed when she saw me with 3 plates.  She had 1 full plate of crayfish, a bowl of melted butter and another plate with the egg plant and tofu and also a serving of steamed veggies.  She went back for a plate of sushi after she finished and then....on our way out.....she had a napkin full of jin dui.  Now how embarassing is that?  Everyone knows that you can't take out food from an all you can eat buffet.  Who does that?

My other co-worker....well you can tell she is a newbie at this.  She had one plate full and a small cup of wonton soup.  She went back for a second plate of food.  Slow eater.

So how can you tell the pro?  Well you won't feel as rushed if you know that you can eat 3 plate fulls at a buffet...so serve it all up at once....then you can take your time eating and enjoy the food without having to stand up in the middle to get another plate full!

Ta Dah! ~~~~~!

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!    

Only in Las Vegas

Caveat:  I created this blog earlier this month....oops forgot to post it....anyway, here it is!

Last night Shirley and I went to Arizona Charlies Hotel and Casino and had a free meal.  We had prime rib which was just so tender...the melt in your mouth kind.  It came with a salad, baked potato and cooked veggies.  We both had raspberry teas to drink.  All of this was FREE!

The casino called her and said they hadn't seen her for a while and told her to bring a friend and have a free meal on them!  WOW they actually call you to come in!  Little do they know that Shirley has given up gambling since becoming a Jehovah Witness.  However we both had a great time!

We couldn't finish the meal and left with doggie bags.  On the way home,  there were 2 homeless people at the intersection and I left my doggie with them.  They were sooo grateful.  Luckily I had  buns in the doggie as well.  I should have listened to Shirley and taken the butters too....next time I will!

Very rarely am I a leftover person.  I usually don't like bringing home lefties because then they just pile up in the fridge and I have to toss them out after a few days.  This way worked out great because the casino got to feed the homeless in the process!

Well tomorrow is the big day.  The day that will result in a President.  Will it be Obama or Romney?  Inquiring minds want to know.  Literally....they want to know!  What happened to the confidentiality of voting!  I got stopped several times by campaign workers asking me who I was going to vote for this election.  I'm sorry but it is none of their business which party will win my vote.  I got stopped on my way to the library and the post office.  I had people knock on my door at night and people catching us in the parking lot after dinner.  They were also trying to recruit workers to do the same for pay!  What happened to the volunteering for your candidate?  Things have surely changed!

What did we learn back in school about how countries collapsed because they hired soldiers of war?  There was no vested interest on their part....Oh well....nothing surprises me any more!  It is what it is! 

Now for the next few days we will be bombarded on TV with election results and commentaries....WAIT!!!! I don't watch TV!!!!!  Hooray!

Que Sera Sera (What will be...will be)

 

Spots Before My Eyes

Who knew that there really is a medical condition connected to the phrase....I see spots before my eyes? 

It started yesterday when I could have sworn that there were flies or some similar insect circling my head.  I kept trying to swat them away.

Bugger!  The spots aren't really spots....but rather floating bubbles here and there.  I figure...gosh my blood pressure must be high.  I take some low dose aspirin to thin out my blood and to relieve the blood pressure.

I go online during my lunch break and find out that it is a malady of old age!  Double Bugger!

Then tonight I could have sworn that I saw light flashes.  Now I'm becoming paranoid.  I go back online and now it could be nothing or it could be my retina is tearing and the possibility of blindness.  Triple Bugger! 

Thoughts run through my mind....have I been watching too many Korean dramas?  Have I been doing too much computer work at the job to have this happen?  Oh Bugger Bugger!

So...I check my blood pressure at home and it's normal.  I ate a salad for dinner with some pasta....eating healthy could help this....am I closing the barn door after the horse has left?

Tonight I will go to bed earlier to rest my eyes.  In fact I am typing this blog with my eyes closed for the most part!

Is this a case of too little too late?  Only time will tell....Looks like I'll have to make an appointment to go see a doctor.  Ugh hate that!

In a few days I'll be 64 years old....wow.....this thought just came to mind.....if I am having a problem with my eyes....what is it that I don't want to see?

I'll leave you with that thought and go and rest my eyes and contemplate on the issue before me....or rather before my eyes!

Wish me luck!



 

Human Nature



Last week I had the pleasure of going to see a stage show at the Imperial Palace on the Strip here in Las Vegas.  It featured a pop vocal group called Human Nature and it has these 4 super talented guys from Sydney, Australia performing Motown songs. 

Smokey Robinson introduced this singing group to Las Vegas back in May of 2009.  The guys have a lot of energy as they sang and danced for 2 hours.  They had us all dancing in the aisles, literally rocking and rolling.

Can you imagine singing and dancing for 2 hours....less 2 outfit change times.  These guys really put on a great show!

My friend Shirley got us tickets and we saw the show.  She even got up and danced with me.  We had a great time and topped the night off with dinner at the Pasta Pirate Restaurant in the California Hotel and Casino.

It's so great to have a friend that loves the same things I do.  We had a blast.  I believe she told me that they will be performing their last show on November 19 and will return to Australia for a while.  I'm sure they will return...from what I hear to a larger venue and a different show. 

We went on a Monday night and the showroom was packed!  Shirley has seen it several times and told me what a great show it was and got tickets for us to see the show.  I LOVED it!

Birthdays

All of a sudden people with birthdays this month are coming out of the woodwork.  In all my years, I've never been alerted to so many people celebrating their birthday this month.  We Scorpios are just loveable people! 

My favorite Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan is one.  Even with all the things I know about him....for some reason his birthday month didn't stick right out at me.  I've seen all of his pictures online of him waving to the droves of people outside his home.  Whenever he is in town, he waves to them from his backyard fence.  Hundreds of people, not just a few people....but hundreds line up to catch a glimpse of him and talk with him. 

I took a friend out for Dim Sum to celebrate her birthday this past week.  We went to the Rio Hotel/Casino and had it for lunch.  It was YUMMY!  Of course it wasn't the same as what we would get back home in Hawaii, but nevertheless, it's soooo good.

One of my co-workers also celebrated her birthday this past Friday.  Give me a break....she was complaining about turning 27.  Boo hoo hoo!  Wait, come to think about it....those were tough years for me as a single mom.  Major Boo hoo hoo!

My classmate from intermediate school was born 4 days before me...and she will be celebrating her birthday on the 15th of this month.  I must remember to call her and give her my best wishes.  Usually when we get on the phone with each other....it turns into a 4 hour call.  So much to talk about and reminisce about.

At this age, so many things change.  Not only does everything head south...bodywise, but our thoughts, our priorities and needs change....no...I'm not going to even touch on the issues about body function changes.

I've found that now I'm going back to the basics.  Simplicity is most important now.  I am getting rid of clutter.  Simple things bring me joy.  Not flashy or fancy things anymore.  I don't know about you but this past Halloween, my costume was made up of various phases in my life.  There was the Christmas shoe phase, the hat phase, the "bling" jewelry phase, the shop at Goodwill phase.  Even doing my laundry today, there was a suit phase, a jacket phase....oh and there were countless others....buying books to read phase (some of which I've yet to read 10 years later).

Now before I go shopping, I make a list.  I tell myself that way I will just buy what I need and nothing more....but I have to admit it is because I'm going through a "what was I going to do?" phase.  Scary huh?

My friend Shirley told me she is back to normal the other day.  She fell off a chair and was in pain for 2 weeks.  She is 75 years old.  OMG she is such an inspiration!  At her age she can get back to normal?  I'm still trying to find my normal!  Gosh, I'm losing brain cells as we speak!

Anyway, to all you fellow Scorpios out there....Have a great birthday this month!

I'm Back!

Well after a long hiatus from blogging, I'm finally back.  In my last post I mentioned about life taking another turn.  Well that turn kept me quite busy....but add to that fact that I changed my residence AND.....I was locked out of my own blog....which adds up to a hell of a turn!

First...I came out of retirement and am again back in the work force in a somewhat Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 situation.  What a tremendous move that was after being retired for almost 4 years.

If anyone else has done this in their 60's I'm sure that they can relate.  The first thing that you realize is that your brain was in retirement for 4 years too and getting it back to function at lightning speed is no easy task!  I think that that situation really caused me to acknowledge my age!

The next thing that you realize is that you are now working with 20 and 30 something year old "whipper snappers" climbing the corporate ladder and leaving bodies in the wake.  But being older, you realize that is not where you are at.  You've already been in this race and now just want to be a spectator....or maybe this is the calm before the storm.  Perhaps in a little while that "cut throat" personality or mentality will be awakened from a long sleep.  Stay tuned to get progress reports.

The whole starting all over again thing is not for sissys.  Coordinating a move, cleaning out storage rental space, working full time and no muscle backed person to help....that was tough.  Needless to say it took a toll on my health.  But now I am recovered, for the most part, except for a sexy bedroom voice that always seems to linger after a bout with bronchitis.

Last week my cousins from Hawaii and California came to Las Vegas and we did a lot of eating, laughing and hugging.  One cousin I haven't seen for over 20 years!  We had a very wonderful time!  I'm sure that the time we spend together now is more precious because we don't live in the same state...and we are older and not bogged down with the day to day life of raising kids and the fact that life seems that much more precious to us now.  What is truly important to us now is having fun and being a bit selfish about it.  We do silly stuff and we are not ashamed!  We treasure friends and relatives more....what a wonderful place to be in our lives!  Here are my silly cousins plus a tag along friend of theirs that is just like family now.  We will meet again next October....and I am crossing my fingers because my cousin Rocky and her husband Kimo may return in December of this year.



Here's how I look at life now......I'm working again which has added to my social networking.  I have less worries about kids and grandkids and ailing parents and feeling pressured about anything and everything.  I have purpose but I don't feel as though I have to prove something to anyone or most importantly to myself.  I am having fun now and making up for all those years of being serious about life and responsibilities.  I guess I had to experience the stress in order to now appreciate the fun!  Wow "laulau"....so deep!

Another Bend in the Road

It always amazes me when life takes me down a different path.  There have been so many paths that I've walked in this lifetime.  When I was younger I hated change.  Now it just seems that I am resigned to having multiple changes in my life.

Luckily the mind has a way of forgetting all the bad things and just remembering the wonderful things.  After all....the mind was created by the most supreme being....why would it be anything else?

Although exhausting...this is a welcome bend in the road for me.  It is filled with possibilities and very friendly people.  I have never seen so many happy people all gathered together.  Everyone is so warm and accepting...this is so unusual.  It's been so easy for me to transition into this change.

And to think that it was preceded with literally a whole lot of shitty mess.  Those close to me will laugh about the irony of it all.  Yet to come out smelling like a rose is the way to go.

Thank you God for your wisdom and for paving the way for me to find the diamond mine at this time in my life.  Wow....I am in awe!  Color me happy!

Simple Pleasures

I think if anything....I am a person who just loves simple pleasures.  Enjoying simple pleasures to me means these are not costly and therefore are more abundant.

Take for instance the company of family or good friends.  Even if it is just a phone call asking how are you doing today?  That's simple right....and it just brightens your day.

Sharing a meal with family or friends is great too....especially when you have a theme to have the most... on the cheap.  That is so much fun for me.  Being a senior has its advantages here in Las Vegas.

Watching movies is another one of my favorite simple pleasures and thanks to the internet one can escape huge monthly cable fees.

Probably the greatest pleasure of all is tracking down these simple pleasures.  A coupon here....a great discount sale there.....so much fun.

Recently I happened upon this wonderful program that pays me whenever I shop.  It can also pay me when my friends and family shop.....AND it helps merchants and at the same time a certain amount of what I spend goes towards charity.  In this economy that is considered a Win-Win-Win.

Thank God for simple pleasures....I feel like the Cheshire cat licking my chops!  

Religion

In my lifetime I have experienced several different religions....all for the purpose of achieving enlightenment, clarity, purpose and understanding.

My earliest experiences have been in the Catholic religion.  I can remember going to catechism classes after school during the week, helping to clean the church on Saturdays and of course attending mass on Sundays.  Back then all of the masses were in Latin and most of the time the priest's back faced the congregation. 

Before getting married we had to go to 6 weeks of counseling with the Monsignor because my fiancee was not Catholic, and my matron of honor had been excommunicated because she was divorced. 

Then when I got divorced I was told that if I wanted to get married again I would need the approval of my ex-husband.  That was when I realized that this religion was not for me.

So I embarked on Nichiren Shoshu (the religion that Tina Turner got into after her divorce from Ike) but realized that everything I was chanting was in Japanese and I didn't understand what I was chanting.

My next encounter was Southern Baptist in the Midwest and was even baptised when I was in my 30's.  Of course my kids and I were the only Asians in the congregation....but I must admit they had quite a wonderful fellowship full of support for us....And we had a lot of fun with activities several days a week.  We got to study the Bible for the first time.  But alas, when we moved back to Hawaii we never quite found the Southern feel of the Baptist religion. 

In college I took a religion class and got to study about the Jewish, Christian and Buddhism religions.  Buddhism appealed to me and I attended a Buddhist ceremony that was in a former Catholic church.  But alas....I moved again.

So...long story short.....what I eventually came to realize is that God is within us all.  We are ALL his children.  We will ALL sit next to him in the hereafter.  Whether we live just one life or we are reincarnated (as so many religions believe)....we will all be at God's side.  Religion is not meant to be separate.  We are all his children.  We are ONE!

Now....getting off my "pulpit".....what I loved most about going to church was the music.  There are so many uplifting hymns that are my favorite....and here are some....

Ave Maria sung by Josh Groban and the skater is none other than Johnny Weir a medalist and national champion.....beautiful combination!

 

Just a Closer Walk with Thee sung by Sara Evans.  Now here is a winning combination as well because I am a huge fan of Patsy Cline...and I lived in Missouri too!

Now who can forget the song sung by Mahalia Jackson in the movie Imitation of Life starring Lana Turner, Sandra Dee, John Gavin, Susan Kohner, Juanita Moore...oh and in case you missed it....Troy Donahue.  That movie is a real tear jerker!



Susan Boyle who became famous after she appeared on Britain's Got Talent show when she sang I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables sings Amazing Grace another one of my favorites.



Tennessee Ernie Ford was a regular on TV when I was growing up.  Here he sings several hymns that are classic. 

Of course the song that he sang that I remember most is....16 Tons though not considered a hymn it was so popular back in the 50's I just had to mention it here.



This next song I've recently covered...but it is worth covering again.  The voice is Mario Lanza singing I'll Walk with God from the movie Student Prince.  

Now I am sure that there are more hymns that are your favorites....and what I enjoy most is the fun watching choirs sing....this next song is called God is Trying to Tell You Something.  I first heard it in the movie The Color Purple. 



Or how about the songs Whitney Houston sang in the movie...

The Preacher's Wife.  The music moves you and uplifts the soul! 



Anything that doesn't hurt anyone and makes you happy....well that's what it is all about....yes?





Jane Eyre





Who can deny the great film Jane Eyre starring Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine....and a very young and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor as her friend Helen who dies of pneumonia in the movie.  My favorite part of the movie was when Orson Welles kept calling Jane....Jane.....Jane.  Well I couldn't find that particular clip...but here is the ending.



Then in comes Timothy Dalton's version of Edward Rochester....I loved this version too.  Dalton has...in my opinion....a bit more sex appeal and is more mischevious in his portrayal of the part.

If memory serves me right...Dalton also acted as James Bond in The Living Daylights...I don't believe that I saw that particular sequel of the Bond movies....I'll certainly make a point to see it though.

In my opinion the romance in the Welles version was lacking, which might be attributed to the difference in the time when the movies were filmed.  The Welles version dated back to 1943...while the Dalton version was filmed in 1983.  Forty years can certainly make a huge difference in this Charlotte Bronte classic.

However no one can deny the star power of Joan Fontaine in her depiction of Jane.  She had the perfect demeanor for the part of Jane.  Margaret O'Brien's role as Adele showed her skill of acting once again.  Also not to be forgotten is the part Agnes Moorhead played as Jane's evil aunt.

The only "bone I have to pick" is the deformity of Dalton's face after the fire at Thornfield.  They turned handsome into hideous.  See for yourself.

  



But like I've always said...all's well that ends well....because watching these movies was quite enjoyable.

Just today I was reading about an actor called Austin Nichols.  He has such a strong interest in cinema that he keeps a log of every film he sees.  He is said to watch at least 20 movies a week.  Now that is what I call passion! 

Let's see....20 movies per week at about roughly 2-1/2 hours each comes to 50 hours a week.  I'm pretty sure that I have him beat.  Oddly enough I have to stop myself from keeping a log of all the movies that I watch....that much info I can do without. 

Now I can truly say that I have been criticized for the amount of time I spend watching movies....but for me that is fun and I'm am not so addicted that I neglect everything else that is important to me. 



I salute Austin Nichols for being a comrade to the lifestyle!  Oh...BTW he is an actor who appeared in the CW series One Tree Hill.   










Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is a well known novel written by Jane Austen back in 1813.  This is my favorite among her other works which include Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and Emma.

Now...personally....if there is a movie version of novels...I would prefer that to reading.  It takes me a long time to read a book...while a movie runs me about 2+hours.  When I was in elementary school it was the Classic Comics that got me through most of the classics. 

However....I have read 2 classic books from cover to cover....Les Miserables by Victor Hugo in 1862 and Lorna Doone by Richard Doddridge Blackmore in 1869.  Believe me, I loved both experiences.  But like some.....I want immediate gratification and nothing delivers like the movies because one is instantly transported into another world with the scenery, costumes and characters.

My grandchildren would prefer the written word to movies and that is so great!  But not for me.

Anyway, back to the topic on hand.  Pride and Prejudice.  There have been many film and TV versions of this novel, however my favorite was the 2005 film version starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland. 



The entrance of Mr. Darcy (Macfadyen) and Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) and subsequent introduction of Elizabeth (Knightley) and Jane (Rosamund Pike) along with their 2 other sisters. 

Mr. Darcy while appearing as stand offish is actually very shy and awkward especially in his pursuit of Elizabeth.  But believe me...he does have his moments in the film. 

There are interesting backstories from this film as well.  The first is that Pike and Woods used to be in a relationship prior to the filming of this movie.  Secondly, Knightley and Rupert Friend who portrayed Mr. George Wickham (Darcy's enemy) began a relationship as a result of the film.  Lastly, Woods' haircolor prior to the filming was very blonde but was later dyed to be like an orangey redhead for the film....well it never was able to go back to the original blonde after his hair grew out.

The proposal by Mr. Darcy was awkward to say the least, but Elizabeth's rejection was full of tension, innuendo and wanting....brilliant!

 

Now here are a number of versions of the film and it also includes scenes from the Indian version called Bride and Prejudice... another favorite of mine, starring Aishwarya Rai and Martin Henderson.  I'm sure that I will have another blog about that movie....stay tuned.





Knightley's description of the movie and Macfadyn described as a "bloke".... with her English accent....was classic....if you know what I mean.







Marilyn Monroe

Choosing a picture of Marilyn to feature on this blog was not an easy feat.  Although she only lived till the age of 36, her pictures reflect the metamorphosis she went through within a short period of time.....her life.

What stands out for me is the underlying innocence on screen that cloaked the torment she was experiencing in real life. 

Today she is considered to be a cultural icon as well as a quintessential sex symbol.  But she was more than that....she was a model, an actress and a singer.

Marilyn had a tough childhood.  It's not clear who her father was...she lived with foster parents....but at the age of 7, Marilyn was stuffed into a duffel bag by her birth mother who experienced psychotic episodes.  Marilyn became a ward of the state and her guardian was Grace McKee.  When Grace married....Marilyn was sent to an orphanage followed by a succession of foster homes. 

While there were offers of adoption, Grace would have none of it....eventually, she moved back in with Grace and her husband.  There is speculation that Grace's husband attempted many times to sexually molest Marilyn so she was sent to live in California with Grace's great aunt.  While there Marilyn was molested by one of the sons. 

In order to prevent being returned to the orphanage, Marilyn married a neighbor at a very young age.  His name was James Dougherty.  In her short lifetime she was also married to Joe DiMaggio, a baseball center fielder for the New York Yankees, in 1954.  In 1956 she married Arthur Miller, a playwright. 

It is well known that Marilyn caused delays whenever filming a movie.  It is said that these delays had contributed to the death of screen legend Clark Gable when they were shooting the movie The Misfits. 

Another famous scandal was disclosed when Marilyn sang Happy Birthday in the White House to President John F. Kennedy.  There are rumours linking her involvement with not only the President, but with his brother Robert as well. 

After Marilyn's death, Joe DiMaggio claimed her body and arranged her funeral.  For 20 years he had a half dozen roses delivered to her crypt 3 times a week. 

What is memorable of Marilyn is her legacy in films.  I just want to touch on my favorites and also some of her more notable films....

In 1953 she acted in Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and How to Marry a Millionaire. 

In 1954 it was River of No Return and There's No Business Like Show Business. 

In 1955 it was Seven Year Itch.

In 1956...there was Bus Stop.

1957 brought The Prince and the Showgirl.

1959....Some Like It Hot

1960....Let's Make Love

1961....The Misfits

1962...Something's Got to Give

Now as the the photo of Marilyn.....I picked this one....It is a pop art image of Marilyn by Andy Warhol. 

He had several versions of this image like the Marilyn Diptych...

It had 50 images of her all based on a single publicity photograph for the film Niagara.  The 25 pictures on the left side of the diptych (2 sided....I learned that in Art History classes....FYI a triptych....yup you guessed it...is 3 sided) are brightly colored, while the 25 on the right are in black and white.  It has been suggested that the relation between the left side of the canvas and the right side of the canvas portrays the relation between her life and death. 

The reason I picked the Andy Warhol image is because regular photo shots just didn't do her justice, in my opinion.  Warhol's image speaks of her fame, her celebrity-ness.....not merely her sensuality. 

Of course there are those that remember this next one.....

 

Well...it is said that scene from Seven Year Itch destroyed her marriage to Joe DiMaggio. 

The last clip I want to leave you with is this interview with Susan Strasberg, the daughter of Marilyn's acting coach, Lee Strasberg.

Don't we all!

Calamity Jane

Doris Day and Howard Keel acted in the movie entitled Calamity Jane, released in 1953.  I loved watching her movies....but this one in particular is my favorite.

The story is about the well known Martha Jane Canary, a frontierswoman who marries Wild Bill Hickok. 

The music and dancing is wonderful throughout the film.  The following clip is at the beginning of the movie.

The men in the saloon got upset when they find out that the performer is a man disguised as a woman....

This next clip shows Doris Day with Howard Keel who plays Wild Bill Hickok.  Their banter back and forth is really the best part of the movie. In this scene she gets the idea to go to Chicago to bring back the actress every guy in town has fallen in love with....Adelaide Adams.   Howard suggests that she observe how the women there dress more like a lady.

She brings back a beautiful woman but not the right one.  She brings back Adelaide's maid.....Katie.  The man that Calamity loves...the Lieutenant....falls for the woman she brings back...and so does Hickok.   I've always loved Howard Keel movies too.

Hickok makes a bet with Calamity that if she brings back Adelaide Adams, he will show up as a squaw carrying a papoose, then gets angry with Calamity when he finds out that she brought back the wrong woman. He lassoes Calamity and ties her up. 

 

But here are the songs that I like....

This next song is one of my favorites from the movie.....it received an Academy Award for Best Original Song and reached number 1 on the Billboard and Cashbox charts in 1954.  

But all's well that ends well at the end of this movie....Calamity marries Bill Hickok and the Lieutenant marries Katie.  Here is Doris Day talking about how much fun she had making this movie.

Finally....here are the trailers for the movie...



I hope you enjoyed this!

Gordon MacRae

Gordon MacRae was a singer and actor.  He appeared in such great musicals from Rogers and Hammerstein....such as Carousel (1956) and Oklahoma (1955) with Shirley Jones.

But I especially loved the movies he co-starred with Doris Day....called By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953) and On Moonlight Bay (1951). 

My mom and I went to see Gordon MacRae perform at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.  Unfortunately, he was so drunk people booed him and walked out because he couldn't perform. 

It was quite a shock for me because I was such a fan of his.  But life happens.  I don't know why....but we stayed until someone took him off the stage.  But he left such a legacy of songs and movies.....that I won't ever forget how great he was.

Now besides the above clips....there were 2 other favorites of mine that were in the movie Oklahoma... here they are.....

Gloria Grahame played Ado Annie in the movie.  Normally dubbed as a film noir siren, she was viewed by some critics to be a miscast as an ignorant country lass in a musical.  Additionally, her concern over the appearance of her upper lip led her to plastic surgery and dental operations that caused visible scarring and ultimately rendered the lip largely immobile because of nerve damage, which also affected her speech.

Gene Nelson who played Will Parker in the movie is such a talented dancer.  Unfortunately the best part of the previous clip is missing...the dancing he did with the lasso.  I can't believe that there isn't a YouTube video of that.  I guess you will have to rent the movie to experience it!