Farewell Harry Potter

I have to admit that I fell in love with the Harry Potter books and its been a very long time that I find enjoyment in not only reading the books but seeing the characters come to life on screen. I can see how the books affected adults and how children loved the stories. This weekend I will see the final Harry Potter and I will relish this feeling for many years to come. The movies all started in 2000 and 2009 shows how they all grew up in front of your eyes and that they all were part of the movies. I want thank J.K. Rowling for the masterpiece that she created to be shared for all the years to come. I wish I could visit Hogwarts and be a student but I'm really just a plain muggle. Just another day here in Idaho living the good life and surviving another day in the jungle.

Are You Being Served? - Mollie Sugden

It seems so many dear favorites of my are passing away and I just read today in my Entertainment Weekly magazine of the passing of Mollie Sugden on July 1st. If you are a big british comedy fan of Are You Being Served then you know all about Mrs. Slocombe and her "Pussy".

The much-loved star, famed for innuendos about her "pussy" on the hit show, passed away in hospital after a long illness.
Her twin sons, Robin and Simon Moore, were at her bedside. Her agent Joan Reddin said: "It was very quick in the end... she faded away."
Yorkshire-born Mollie began in theatre where she met actor and future husband William Moore. She landed the role of fearsome Mrs Hutchinson in sitcom The Liver Birds, then starred in Are You Being Served?
Mollie's bossy Mrs Slocombe was head of ladies' fashions at department store Grace Brothers. She ruled over dippy assistant Miss Brahms - EastEnders' Wendy Richard who died of cancer in February aged 65.
Mrs Slocombe was forever concerned for her pussy. One of her lines from the TV hit was: "It's a wonder I'm here at all. My pussy got soaking wet. I had to dry it out in front of the fire."
Mollie returned as Mrs Slocombe for Grace & Favour, the sequel to Are You Being Served? She also appeared in Coronation Street.
More recently, she was part of a Little Britain running gag featuring a woman who claims she was a "bridesmaid at Mollie Sugden's wedding". Mollie was in the final sketch.
Frank Thornton, 88 - Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? on the BBC from 1972 to 1985 - said last night: "Mollie was superb as Mrs Slocombe."
Agent Joan added: "She was a lovely, lovely person... a great professional. She started going downhill after her husband died nine years ago. They were very much in love."
Mollie, who lived in Surrey, died at a Guildford hospital.
Click on the IMDB link to find out about her.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mollie_Sugden
Click here for a video of some of her funniest moments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_mcTcWlX3I

My Tribute to Farrah - Angels Among Us

Farrah Fawcett was an Icon that had come from a mere televsion drama and with the right agent (Jay Bernstein) produced her poster that skyrocketed her to fame. I must admit that I had the poster and I watched Charlie's Angels but I must admit I was disappointed when she left the show. I'm certain there were many factors in her surrounding camp that made her want to leave a hit show and pursue a fim career. Her launch into films I believe was not planned well only because the audience really didn't know Farrah's hidden talent in acting and it seemed they just wanted to cash in on her fame. The films of Somebody Killed Her Husband, Sunburn, Saturn 3 (which had Kirk Douglas also) in my opinion were not roles that she should had embarked on. Though everyone does something and of course it helps pay the bills. I think of the early Farrah that not too many people remember but I do. I remember her guess appearances on: I Dream of Jennie, The Flying Nun, The Partridge Family, Marcus Welby, The Girl with Something Extra and of course her commercials. I believe I even had her shampoo. I just know that I really enjoyed her performances when she returned to televsions in good movies and as you watched them you could see her acting was getting fine tuned. Murder in Texas with Sam Elliott, The Burning Bed, Between Two Women with one of my favorite actresses Colleen Dewhurst (Murphy Brown's Mom). That movie was inspirational and what a strange twist when Farrah plays a daughter in law who is not liked by her Mother in law but yet takes care of her when she becomes ill and bedridden. Then came the glamour of Poor Little Rich Girl and mostly Extremities which was I believe she was magnificent. Some of these TV titles should have been films and I'm sure Farrah would had achieved an Oscar with time. I think of all the beautiful women who take on roles of suffering and non glamour and win Oscars. I know Farrah just wasn't in the right arena. All I can say is that no matter what she did I believe she got our attention. Her legacy will be her last documentary with the struggle against cancer and her determination to show people just how brave with hope and faith you can have. I enjoyed it tremendously and will always remember her and the other Angels making an appearance for the Aaron Spelling tribute on TV Land Awards. She is an Angel and what more perfect way of living a beautiful life. I know that I was touched by her and I thank her for being in the public eye so I had an chance to see her sparkle in the heavens as angels are always with us. To Ryan and Redmond my deepest thoughts and I know that she will be loved and remembered always. Attached is the link to IMDB. Check it out. Some of her work is on DVD and should be reviewed. Maybe for kicks one night just pop in the DVD Charlie's Angels and watch her in style and raise your glass to a beautiful woman.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000396/

My Own "Vanity Fair" Proust Questionnaire

I admit it. I read "Vanity Fair" and I enjoy it. I also have to state that for the price of an issue I get some interesting reading by some very good contributing writers. At the end of each issue they give a questionnaire to a well known celeb and I always review their answers and think of how I would respond. So today, I answered the questions myself to give a more in depth personal view of myself. Here are the questions with my answers and maybe you too will think about them. Time to ponder your views.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Laying on a beach with a beautiful sky and listening to the waves of the ocean.
2. What is your greatest fear? Not being able to eat my favorite foods anytime I want.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Not having enough patients to deal with things in life.
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Bad manners and not listening.
5. Which living person do you most admire? There are several but what comes to mind is President O'bama. He is a radiant light of hope in these bad times.
6. What is your current state of mind? That time is running out and I can't keep up with it.
7. On what ocassion do you lie? On matters that are personal and isn't anyones business. No comment would be better I guess.
8. What do you dislike most about your appearance? My weight - could stand to drop 20lbs.
9. What is a quality you most like in a man? Intelligience and being good natured.
10. What is a qualifty you most like in a woman? Understanding and unconditional love.
11. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "Right" like that will really happen.
12. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Not to offend or upset anyone as in a person. I would say it's a what. Good Home Cookin and a great old movie.
13. What talent would you most like to have? To play the piano and write beautiful songs.
14. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My self confidence and my eye color. Love those baby blues.
15. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Like the songs says "Being Alive" surviving all the years when so many didn't.
16. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, Who or What? A scientist to heal people or a bird and to fly.
17. What is your most treasured possession? My Fred Flintstone cookiejar which means something from the heart due to the person who gave it to me.
18. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Substance abuse.
19. What is your favorite occupation? Writers, opening and sharing their minds.
20. Who are your heroes in real life? Teachers.
21. What is it that you most dislike? Animal cruelty.
22. What is your greatest regret? No accepting opportunities due to lack of confidence or what other people thought.
23. How would you like to die? Like the scene from the movie Beaches, laying on the beach staring into the sun and hearing the waves of the ocean.
24. What is your favorite motto? Don't fuck with me fellows, I'm been to the rodeo. As Joan Crawford stated to the board directors of Pepisco. Love that Mommie Dearest attitude.
25. I'm leaving this blank as a question to wish upon.

Karl Malden - What a Nose and a Great Actor!

Today, I reflected on a very good Actor named Karl Malden. Karl was born on March 22, 1912 and his real name was Mladan “George” Sekulovich. He passed away on July 1, 2009.
I remember him fondly in many of my favorite movies which included “Nuts” as Barbra Streisand’s father, “Dead Ringer” with Bette Davis as a detective and love interest, “Pollyanna” as a reverend who put the fear into his congregation until Pollyanna came along (actress Hayley Mills), and most of all Michael Douglas’s sidekick in “The Streets of San Francisco” from 1972 to 1977.
Another favorite role he played was in “Gypsy” with Rosalind Russell. His character of Herbie showed a very kind side to him and was most loving to love a woman like the mother of Ms. Gypsy Rose Lee. He played in over 50 movies (see IMDB) for all details but most of all for over 20 years he was the recognized face of the “American Express” commercials and always told us “Don’t leave home without it”.
He was a rare gem of an actor and one that you recognized immediately but perhaps not always knew his name.
So, just a comment on another guy named “George” and with pleasant memories of Mr. Malden and all the great characters he played.
He was married to Mona Greenberg for 71 years (what a run that was) and had 2 daughters. His trademark was his Bulbous, mis-shapen nose - which he broke twice playing sports as a teenager

Today, is Sunday and I felt appropriate that I remember him and today was a pleasant day with doing yard work and running errands.
Till I blog again, this is the curious monkey wishing a good day and to all a good night.

Los Angeles Times Obituary: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-karl-malden2-2009jul02,0,5658128.story

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/

Fourth of July - the beginning of my Journey

This is my first post in beginning a new adventure in the blogosphere. What a better way to start this then on a Fourth of July.
This day also makes me think of the song by Martina McBride Independence Day in “Let Freedom Ring”. I discovered Martina McBride http://www.martinamcbride.com when I discovered Country music while I was living in Las Vegas. As the years have gone by I really have converted to be a Country music fan. The lyrics of so many songs reflect how I felt and do feel today. As I travel through my Jungle of Life I will write more about the country music artist’s I have grown to love and admire.
I have started this journey to share my feelings about myself, friends, family and mostly how I’m on a road of self discovery.

Please note that I’m no expert in the information technology age but at the age of forty six I am attempting to learn and explore the new age of technology taking baby steps at a time.
As I learn more about blogging I will want to make my blog the most interesting with all the bells and whistles I can entertain everyone with. The location of my blogging is in Meridian, Idaho where I currently reside. I will go in to details about how I arrived in Idaho later but the point that I want to express that it’s quite a very nice place when you get accustomed to it. Any new relocation is a culture shock and it just approached being over two years (I relocated here on June 26, 2007).

Today, I woke up and it’s a Saturday with the weather playing a very pleasant part. It is going to be in the nineties and I spent the morning cleaning the house, the patio deck out back and making sure our bunnies Cosmo and Gizmo are being kept cool.

I’m writing this post from my office in the house which is quite comfortable and the television is on and I am seeing Sex and the City (one of many favorite shows). I guess if you have ever seen the show you know who the character of Carrie Bradshaw is and is played by Sarah Jessica Parker. I like her character because she experienced life in New York City much like I did and wrote a column about relationships. What else is more important than relationships?

Ok, this is what I have to say today and I’m taking it easy but this Jungle that I’m in with myself is going to mostly share life experiences, movies & celebrities because as some people know me I’m a big film /star buff. As you can see on my Blog, Sandra Dee played a very important role in my life and as I move forward I will share that as well.

Otherwise, I made some Cherry Jell-O (my favorite) though there is a new Passion Fruit flavor that is really good and made some Ice Tea for drinking later in the evening. Anyway, I am real excited about this blog and sharing my life.

In doing this I’m leaving my legacy so maybe some day someone out there will find it and reflect on who I really was.

To all, I wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July 2009 and till my next moments in blog land I wish you well.