Girls, "Svengoolie" Is Kicking Off 2026 With Something I Have Never Seen Before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           I am telling you, darlings, I have never heard of "Blood From The Mummy's Tone.'  It is a 1971 British film, so it may be from Hammer, and promises of lots of bosoms, which has Baby Gojira intrigued.

                             At least Svengoolie is not scraping rock bottom as he did last month.  Here is hoping better and campier films are offered.

                             And I want to see more of Nostalgiaferatu.  He is the best of the Sven Squad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               So, as always, join us at 8PM, girls!  The fun starts then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Kerwyn will be watching with us, too.  As will Cucumbo.  Here is to his movie finally being shown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Well, darlings, it is that time.  The ball dropped last night, I screamed, and this morning we face a new year. 2025 is now history, and so now we will have to make some new history for this year.

                                         Today happens to be the birthday of my beloved Daivd, so that is getting things off to a good start.  On April 7 of this year, this blog will turn 19 years of age.  And you know what comes after 19, darlings, so expect a big party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Of course I am anxious for the theater, book fiction, and films that come out this year.  Hell, I am anxious for culture, in general.  We seem to be in a decline; let us pull ourselves out of it.

                                               David and I did have some bubbly last night, but it was sparkling apple cider!  Perfect for ringing in the New Year.  Today we are going to a New Years' mass and then celebrating David's birthday.

                                                  Of course, I will share all that happens with you in the coming year.  And you are free to do the same.

                                                   Another year.  They do go fast, don't they?????????????????

                                                   Wishing a happy year for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Farewell To The Year, Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Or, as Barbara Loden, playing Ginny Stamper in the 1961 classic "Splendor In The Grass" said in the New Years Eve scene, "Happy New Year, Daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                           Ah, that was a scene.  So will be the one in Times Square.  And no, I am not going to be the New Year's Baby this year, because it is too cold to run around nude.  Nor will there be any Satanic rejoicings as in the New Years Eve scene in "Rosemary's Baby."

                           I still remember my first New Years Eve, which was 1967 going into 1968.  I was thirteen years old, and you know what my grandmother and I watched that evening, before Guy Lombardo?  Burt Lancaster going after Shirley Booth with a knife in 1952's "Come Back, Little Sheba." No wonder my middle school years were the worst.

                           Things are much different now.  "Merrily We Roll Along" was the Best Picture Of The Year, and "Culpability," by Bruce Holsinger as The Book Of The Year

                           Compared to 2024, this was a pretty good year.  I can only pray that 2026 keeps up the good vibes we had this year.  And, of course, Easter will mark the annual screening of "The Song Of Bernadette.".  And "Gone With The Wind," the novel, turns 90 in 2026, so you know I am going to reread it.

                                And the USA turns 250 on July 4.  I can remember all the 1976 hoopla around the bicentennial.  I never thought then about 50 years in the future.  And here we are.

                              I cannot end this year without thanking my beloved David, who sustains me through everything, and who I am always here for, regarding him.  Thanks to all you readers out there, even those who argued with me; it is still a discussion.

                             More I cannot wish you than a blessed 2026!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Onward and upward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            

Farewell To December, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            The last day of the last month.  The last day of the year.  Can you believe we are at that point already, girl?

                              I am telling you, December was one of our busiest months.  We got all the shopping done.  We sent out all the cards.  David's cousin Elan and his friend Rhonda came into the city early in the month, and we went to The Met, and saw my favorite Christtmas tree, and then had a nice leisurely lunch.

                             On December 7, we had the unforgettable experience of seeing the film (or filmed) version of "Merrily We Roll Along."  With the same extraordinary cast, we saw it do live on Broadway in 2023.

                                Broadway had us attending four shows--'Liberation," "Marjorie Prime," Mama Mia!" and "CHESS!"   

                                 We also saw the movies "Blue Moon," with Ethan Slater, and "Kiss Of The Spider Woman," with Jennifer Lopez.  David gets the blame for that.  And I prefer Priscilla Lopez, darlings.

                                  On December 23, the annual group of Bill, Nancy, Alyssa, Joe, Davida, and David and I converged on The Bridgeview Diner for our annual holiday gathering.

                                     Don't forget I cited The Times 10 Best Books Of The Year, not to mention my five best.  Go with mine, darlings.

                                      And lastly, I reached my goal of having read 100 books.  I have 88 pages to go in "The Director," which is terrific, so it will be either book number 101 for 2025, or book number 1 for 2026.  Only time will tell.

                                        Oh, and we cannot forget "Svengoolie's" lop sided screening of "The Bad Seed."  Let's hope we don't go through that again.  That may not have been in December, but it was a rather negative highlight of the year.

                                         Hope your December was filled with highlights, and not just in your hair.

                                          May 2026 bring happiness and much more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Something I Have Been Thinking About, Girls--Were Joyce Maynard 18 Today, And Wrote Her Times Piece, Would It Be Any Different, And Have The Same Impact As In 1972????????????????

                              This reference may not resonate with some; in fact, I may be exclusively writing to Baby Boomers, in our now twilight years.  But on April 23, 1972, when this article was published, it set many of my generation's teeth on edge.  Many of us asked, "Why isn't this me?"  Including myself.

                                To give Joye credit, unless I am wrong, she stands on record as the youngest published author in "The New York Times."  That alone is an achievement.

                                  As for if this were to happen today, I can give you two words that would make it differ tremendously--social media.  Forget The Times; it may have gone viral.   But in spite of that, I do not think it would have the same impact, because with You Tube and Podcasts, so many out there are telling their own stories.  Joyce was singular, as she was then "the spokesperson of The Baby Boomer Generation."  Now, generations following us speak singularly for themselves.  And maybe that is the way it should be.  Too much importance, on both pro and con sides, was placed on Joyce at the time.

                                     And another thing, for those who remember.  Were J.D. Salinger alive today, would he have tracked down Joyce with the same tragic results?  That is one for the books, and one to think about.

                                      Funny how ideas pop into my head.  Boomers out there, what do you think.  Agree or disagree?  Anything to add?

                                      I would love to hear what you think, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Evening At 7:15 I Reached My Goal Of Having Read 100 Books This Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                       From

                                      To

                                          It has been a while, girls, about two years, since I made this number, and that I read a huge number of lengthy books; to be surpassed in the coming year.

                                           I know I listed "Culpability," by Bruce Holsinger as The Book Of The Year, and I still stand by that, but my favorite reading experience of all this year was my "Summer Of Victoriana."  That is when I re-discovered the pleasures of "Jonathan Strange And Mr. Norrell," by Susanna Clarke, which then led to my actual "Summer Of Victoriana."  It started with "Wide Sargasso Sea," by Jean Rhys, (the prequel to "Jane Eyre") then "Jane Eyre, " by Charlotte Bronte, "Wuthering Heights," by Emily Bronte, "Great Expectations," by Charles Dickens, "Frankenstein," by Mary Shelley, and "The Turn Of The Screw," by Henry James.  Darlings, I am telling you, after this the year was just not the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             And so, we come to the end.  Not to get morbid, but I have begun reading "The Director," by Daniel Kehlmann, and while it is spellbinding, I cannot be sure whether this will turn out to be Book #101, or the first book of 2026.

                                             I cannot answer that one, girls.  All I can do is hope you had a happy year of reading, and wish you another, no matter your taste or preference.

                                             And I get to start over trying to reach that goal of 100 Books.  It gets more challenging each year.

                                              See you in 2026, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope You Are Enjoying Your New Years' Week, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Just a brief post to wish you all a happy week.  We saw "CHESS" yesterday and I am still processing it, so a post is forthcoming.  I am struggling to finish my 100th book and I will do so as I sign off here.  I sang in choir all through Advent and Christmas, with doctor appointments a 'plenty.

                           But I want to wish all out there a joyous week, and a Happy Celebration into a New Year filled with peace and love.  And some animal friends.  And some wonderful fiction.

                              Didn't 2025 just whizz by?  Well, dears, when one gets older, the years do go faster.  It seems like yesterday I was in my Forties.

                               So, just a brief post today to wish you all the best.

                                Gojira and Baby Gojira send their love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!