Steve and Gray

Steve and Grayson 

Cutest Ranger fan ever

Nora Ephron RIP

I am a little sad today because writer/director Nora Epron has died.  I did not know here personally, of course, but 3 of her movies are my favorites.   First, 'When Harry Met Sally', then 'Sleepless in Seattle and 'You've Got Mail'.   She wrote likable characters that we could root for and these movies had happy endings, just like a a romantic movie should end.    So thanks, Nora.

Li'l Abner

Ok, I love old movies.  I have a large collection and today I wan hanging out in the "L's" and decided on a Sunday afternoon with the residents of Dogpatch USA.   Li'l Abner was made in 1959 and based on a comic strip by Al Capp that ran from 1934-1977.   The residents of Dogpatch live by the code of the hills, have no jobs and the women look forward to Sadie Hawkins day so they can catch the man of their dreams.   Li'l Abner, a big and handsome boy (Peter Palmer) who is loved and chased by beautiful Daisy Mae (Leslie Parris).   Sadly, Dogpatch has been designated the most useless place on the planet and is scheduled to be blown off the map 2 days before Sadie Hawkins day, unless the residents can come up with something that makes them necessary.  Luckily, Mammy Yoakum, Li'l Abner's mom, comes up up with Yoakumberry Tonic, a concoction that made Li'l Abner the big, handsome oaf he is.  The government decides to do testing in Washington on the tonic, delaying the bombing.   Also interested is a ruthless businessman who wants the Tonic for himself.  He comes up with scheme for his bimbo girlfriend (Stella Stevens, a scene stealer) to catch Li'l Abner in the Sadie Hawkins race, then inherit the Tonic after an unfortunate death.   Not to give all away, let's just say good overcomes evil and a good time is had by all.

This is a musical and people do randomly break out into song.  The chorus has a couple of faces that will be a little more famous later, namely Beth Howland who starred on the TV show 'Alice' , Valerie Harper of 'Rhoda' fame and Donna Douglas, 'The Beverly Hillbillies' Elly Mae.  And Jerry Lewis makes a cameo as
'Itchy McRabbit'.

It's hokey, no doubt, but also a ton of fun.  There is a show stopping duet between Peter Palmer and Stubby Kaye about 'The country's in the very best of hands' which showcases their tenor voices.  I bring that up because I saw a stage production several years at the Garza Theater in post where local celebs Mike Morgan and Brandon Bohannan did a mind blowing rendition of the same song.  It was by far the best musical number I've ever seen in Lubbock community theater.

New Laptop

The old one was stolen in the burglary and I was not going to replace it at this time but the strange insurance said that if I replaced within 90 days they would pay all but $172 so I decided if I could get an $800 computer for $172 and I'd probably want one later, it was a pretty good deal.  I got a very cool Sony Viao. I am actually typing on it now so it works and everything!!

Ready for these shingles to take a hike...

The pain is nearly gone and the rash is healing but now it's even stranger.  My left side is still numb, a strange feeling on it's own but now I get these waves of itch going down my body and that feeling is driving me crazy!!   It's inside so there is nothing you can do about it.  You can't scratch it.  You can't put lotion on it.  Nada.  I hope this goes away soon!!

Those Mitchum Boys

Tonight I was watching a movie called "Ride the Wild Surf", a beach movie made in 1964.  Most of my friends know that I am a fan of cheesy 60's beach movies and that if it has Frankie and Annette in it, I probably own it.  But...this one had neither...it had 21 year old Fabian, 32 year old Tab Hunter and 28 year old Peter Brown as the leads.  I got this info from Robert Osborne on TCM and find it amusing that a 32 year old man is playing a surfing teenager.  It also had a brunette Barbara Eden and a blonde Shelley Fabares.  Both look better as blonde's and brunette's respectively.  Hair color aside (Peter Brown was a blonde too), everyone looked fit and gorgeous. \\

The movie was typical beach movie, which means not very good.  But the eeriest thing is that it also had an actor named James Mitchum, son of actor Robert, who I did not realize was an actor too.  It's eerie because he looks exactly like his dad!!  While watching the movie it was all I could think about!!  They have the same eyes...

Robert Mitchum

James Mitchum

I always thought James Mitchum was a handsome man, especially at the age where the above picture was taken.   I read a story once that when he proposed to his wife Dorothy,  he told her to "Stick with me and you'll be farting through silk".  They were married for 57 years.  

Ok, this one is going to be a rant--Roger Clemens not guilty

Today, Roger Clemens, legendary Yankee pitcher was found not guilty of lying to congress about taking steroids while playing baseball.  I don't care much for the Yankees.  My opinion is that with their payroll, they should win every game.  And Rog graduated from the evil empire, the University of Texas, a school I hate beyond reason.  But I did not think he actually used steroids although he had a long and unexplained career of wins.  Lots of people did use them...people who will be judged in Cooperstown someday.   My rant does not involve the verdict but 8 weeks of trial and 46 witnesses in a trial being paid for with taxpayer dollars for something that should have been handled in house at MLB.

I love baseball.  I like watching grown men play a little boys game and I love a good team (read: Rangers) but more than that I love fairness and honesty.  I want to see someone amazing (Rog) go against someone else amazing (Josh) on a level playing field, head to head and I like to see the Rangers come out on top.  Not exactly biased.  And I hate when someone like Barry Bonds or Mark McGuire juice up and break records set by people who did it without the help.    And I don't think if you were on steroids that should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  That is a place for honest players.

But I do object to these hearings in congress.  I love America and believe in the goodness of our nation.  But the truth is, we are in trouble.  Our government has basically sold our souls to China.  We owe more money than we will ever be able to repay.  The Democrats and Republicans cannot agree on what color the grass is right now.  We have a military spread way to thin right now and that scares me a little.  Our country is going to have to learn we cannot be everything to everyone, not anymore.   People have lost jobs in America, the housing industry is in shambles and children in this country go to bed hungry and that's just wrong.   There are so many things that need to be fixed that something like trials about steroids in baseball (this was the 2nd trial for RC, first ended in a mistrial) make me absolutely crazy.

I don't know what the answer is but I hope that someday this little dysfunctional congress--Dems and Reps--alike are soon out on their bohines wondering what the heck happened with their re-elections.  I don't know if Mitt Romney is the answer but I haven't see much of the change promised in the last election.  I do know that sooner or later someone will have to answer for the state our country is in.  I hope it gets fixed somehow, someday