There Is No Way To Prettify This Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      I cannot believe it has been twenty-five years.  A quarter of a century.

                                    Like the headline says, this is a sad day, which is why I chose the photo above.

                                   This will always be a benchmark day in my life.  I remember exactly where I was, where I had been living, the circumstances that landed me in the West Village just in time to see the second tower collapse before my eyes, which is when I realized this city was in big trouble.

                                      I still fear another attack.  Not in NYC, but perhaps elsewhere.

                                      People talk about resilience.  But how does one get over this?  I was lucky not to have lost any friends or loved ones, but I think of those who did, and I cannot imagine how awful this day is, and what it brings up.

                                        They, along with the firefighters, policemen, volunteers, and those suffering subsequent 9/11 illnesses are the ones whose resilience we should be saluting.

                                           However, we have gone twenty-five years without another incident.

                                           May that continue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Never forget, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's Take A Wild Ride On "Mulholland Drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                                                  

                              No matter how many times one sees David Lynch's 2001 "Mulholland Drive," the ride never stops being wild.  This has to be my fourth viewing, and it just left me stunned in a highly positive way.

                               Now, darlings, this post is going to be very different.  I am just going to muse on some of the impressions I got from my recent viewing the other day.  If you want a cohesive analysis of the film, turn to my August 8, 2019 post, where I give just that.  Meaning I have not seen "Mulholland Drive" in seven years.  That is too long to go without.

                                If "The Wizard Of Oz" taught Dorothy "There is no place like home," "Mulholland Drive" teaches one never to leave it in the first place.  The film, with elements of  'Oz' and Ingmar Bergman, charts the downward trajectory of Naomi Watts' characters from hopeful aspirant to street whore.

                               Naomi's look, above, recalls Judy Garland walking out of her house into Munchkinland.  Dan Hedaya, as Vincent Castigliano staring through the glass partition at Michael J. Anderson as Mr. Rocque in his wheelchair, recalls the Metro quartet, awaiting Oz.  Of course, fire and smoke, recalling both 'Oz' and trademarks of David Lynch, are present throughout the film.

                               But girls who wouldn't want to dwell at 1612 Havenhurst Drive, with Coco as a landlord?  Coco is played by Ann Miller!  ANN Miller!  ANN MILLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And the witch like Lee Grant as Louise Bonner1!!!!!!!!!!  Is she a witch or not?  At this apartment complex anything is possible.

                               I still cite "Blue Velvet" as David Lynch's masterpiece, but this film marks the culmination of that film and beyond, what with the duality of women, another wild road ride, and odd people and places.  I cannot argue with those who see this as the ultimate Lynch, and I confess after this viewing I may have to include it in my Criterion Collection.

                                 Laura Harring is especially good as Watt's doppelganger, and I just loved Chad Everett as the sleazy has been.

                             Even wild rides come to an end, and this one ends at the Club Silencio, which is where I want to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Come on, girls!  Let's fly to the West Coast and take that wild ride on Mulholland Drive.

                                 I dare to say it could be the most iconic Hollywood film since "Sunset Boulevard."

                                  Those who don't travel, I urge you to see this film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   It will transport viewer to a world they won't think about leaving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, There Is A New Meeting Place In Town--Until October 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                    

 

                                                                                  

                            Yesterday, David, our erudite friend Chris, and I went to the Tarot Exhibition at The Morgan.  Chris is especially adept at Tarot reading, and I have always wanted to learn but at this age that is too much information to absorb.  Nevertheless, I have always loved the artwork of Tarot--I am talking about the traditional Tarot, and not the commercialized ones manufactured today.  A Charles Dickens Tarot?  Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Now, The Morgan is located on Madison Avenue, off of East36th Street.  For girls out there, and especially those who are single, this is a place to meet men!  I am telling you, I saw so many distinguished and attractive looking men, who, were I not married, might have been enough to take my eyes off the exhibit.  Fortunately, they didn't.  But for girls on the make, especially if you are looking for someone to settle down wit, should seek this place out.  There is even a space for having lunch, which I consider very Joan Fontatine--one expects her to come out, offering slices of Arnold Brick  Oven Bread.

                               Darlings, I am telling you, The Morgan Tarot Exhibit is currently the hottest place in town.   I urge you to visit, whether seeking male companionship or not.

                                 Those having trouble, listen to me.  When sitting at a lunch table, remember to daintily drop your napkin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    It works almost every time, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  

The Fall Literary Season Will Soon Be Upon Us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But Where Are The Goodies????????????????????????

                               Richard Russo is worth looking forward to, but Tea Obreht is a mixed bag; I know, having read two of her books.

                                But where are the really big writers; the kind who make me want to run to the bookstore immediately, because I just have to have that book???????????????????

                                     Emma Cline is coming out with something called "Switzy," which I want to read, and Kate Atkinson is coming out with a new novel called "Our Noble Selves."  I am especially excited about Kate.

                                         But is that all readers like me can expect?  There used to be such an outpouring of literary wealth come the Fall, but now I am not sure what to expect.  And how about that New York Times list?  They will have to pull spuds from ashcans this year to find some quality fiction.

                                            Unless some authors out there are keeping secrets.  And we get some last-minute surprises.

                                              I would like to be optimistic, but with the cultural quality in this country descending to a lower grade level than one is used to, I can't hold out hope.

                                             I mean, what if Dan Brown's "The Secret Of Secrets?" turns up on book lists????????????

                                             That will be a sure sign that literary fiction is in trouble!

                                              What literary fiction, darlings??????????????

Darlings, If Game Boards Could Come To Life, What Board Would You Choose? And What Sort Of Game Token?????????????

                         I can tell you in a heartbeat.  I would choose the original Candy Land game board I once owned, pictured here.  Not because of the sugar and sweets, because I am a diabetic, but because no other game board I have ever seen emphasizes color so much.

                           Now, as to game token, I may be mixing stories but this is my choice!

                       I want to be Disney's Alice.  I love the hair, that blue dress and white apron, and it would go great with the colors on the Candy Land game board. Not to mention the white stockings and black Mary Janes!!!!!!!!!!

                       Oh, girls, isn't this a wonderful fantasy?  If only it could come true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                      Maybe in my dreams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                       And that Candy Land game board could be used in so many decorative ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby Gojira Is Stepping Out On This Labor Day In Style!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      While David and I have been occasionally running around NYC, Baby has had his own agenda.  He has been going to Harry Winston and Van Cleef And Arpels, buying elegant jewelry.  And now he is ready to show his purchases to all of us.  Doesn't he look so elegant?

                                        Yes, Baby Gojira is ready for anything--a Met Opera opening, The Met Gala, a Broadway opening, or a night on the town with ANNA.  I hope ANNA gets a look at this; she will be impressed.

                                          But I wanted all my readers to see how lovely Baby Gojira looks, and how proud we are of him, and how he loves to model in front of his public.

                                           What time are you being picked up, Baby????????????

Happy Labor Day, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         I wanted an especially cheerful and colorful picture to honor this day, because I consider it one of the saddest.

                          Forget we are going into the week commemorating the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, but that is an additional factor.  Without it, Labor Day is still a sad day for me because the magic of the 80 plus days from Memorial Day to here comes to an abrupt halt.  Though there is exactly two weeks to go until the actual end of Summer, this has always been the unofficial end of that season.  School resumes, summer cottages are closed up, everyone exits the Hamptons or Fire Island, and the Fall resumes.  I always felt a bit of sad when a child, and I still do.

                           The idea of honoring our laborers is a good one, but why was a day so near the end of Summer chosen?  I have always wondered about that but have no answer.

                             Nevertheless, I wish everyone a happy Labor Day, and enjoy it any way you please.  The last hurrah, as is said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Here is Christine Ebersole in the song that says it all-=-"Another Winter In A Summer Town," from "Grey Gardens!"  Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!