"So Get On Up, On The Floor, Girls, We're Gonna Boogie Oogie Oogie Till We Just Can't Boogie No More!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                About a week ago, David and I were doing errands, and we stopped at our local eatery, the Offshore Diner. Their Alexa machine was playing this tune, by A Taste Of Honey--a group I had forgotten--but as soon as I heard the melody, my muscle memory kicked in, and I began dancing to this tune.

                                  I felt better for having done it, so, with this period of time being so perilous, with me still processing the emotional drain that was "Death Of A Salesman," I think it would be a good opportunity for all of us to feel better about ourselves by taking some time out, and dancing to "Boogie Oogie Oogie."  The melody is hard to resist, the lyrics are fun, and oh, girls, we get to dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   So, go on, girls!  Get on up on the floor!

                                     Here is the song to help you out!

                              "Everyone tonight must do the boogie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"A Soothsayer Hath Warned 'Beware The Ides Of March'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                    Yes, girls, it is The Ides Of March.  This is the day, according to William Shakespeare, that Julius Caesar was stabbed to death; even by Brutus, hence the famous line "Et tu, Brutus!!!!!!!"

                                      Brutus was a real rat, like Judas Iscariot.  But this means that today is a day to be extra cautious.  With bad weather on the way, and I mean really bad, it would serve all to stay indoors as much as possible today.  Go about your routines but do nothing to arouse extra special caution.  Don't try cooking any fancy new dishes or deserts today.

                                          The Ides Of March has its positive side, too.  Two days from today is St. Patrick's Day; two days after that is St. Jospeh's Day, when the swallows return to Capistrano.  And next Saturday is the 21st, when Proserpina comes back from Hell, her mother is happy, so we have Spring and Summer.

                                             No need to be all gloomy about The Ides Of March.

                                              Just watch your step, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Spring Is Coming, And So Are Thoughts Of Weddings! Now, I Would Stick With Julie Andrews' "Sound Of Music" Gown, Designed By Dorothy Jeakins!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I Know A Lot Of Girls Out There Would Want Carolyn Bessette's Wedding Dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      That dress, incidentally, girls was designed by Narciso Rodriguez, who is still practicing, so if you want that gown, I am sure he could whip it up for you.

                                        The gown was impressive, though I am still going with Julie's.  When Carolyn and JFK Jr. got married, it was the American version of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.  And fraught with as much tragedy.  Of course, I have always known the Kennedys were under a curse, but not the royal monarchy.

                                           Still, isn't this dress gorgeous?  I would love to at least try it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             It was a horrible and saddening tragedy what happened to this American golden couple of our generation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               But, darlings, you have to admit, they both went down, looking good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, This Is The "Svengoolie" Season Event Of The Year, As The Squad Airs The One, The Only, The Original 1980 "Friday The 13th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      Now, you know why I did not say much yesterday, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      I could be wrong, but to my knowledge, this could be the first time this film is airing on network television.  Those who are tuning in for the first time I will respect by not trying to say too much to spoil a first viewing, but I do have some questions.

                                         This film is noticeably violent.  Even though several of the murders take place offscreen, the ones that do can be shocking.

                                            Like the harpoon shooting through Kevin Bacon's neck, as blood spurts.  In 1980, this was as shocking as things get.  Will it be shown tonight????????????????

                                               And how about the decapitation?  Will viewers get that????????

                                               Still, there is Jeanine Taylor's Marcy, with her 'Rainmaker' monologue to look forward to.

                                                And Sandy at the Blairstown Diner, where I once ate.

                                               Not to mention Walt Gorney's brilliant performance as Crazy Ralph, and the cinematography and how its makes use of the full moon, and the New Jersey locations.

                                                  Darlings, "Friday The 13th" is more than one might think.  Within its genre realm, it is an artistic masterpiece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     So, don't miss it tonight, girls, at 8PM.  David and I will be there, with Baby Gojira And Company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   

                                                 

The Sadness Of Revisiting One's Home Town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Last week, David and I went on an L and M Bus Tour.  We went to two art museums, one in Princeton, and one on the Rutgers University campus in North Brunswick.  The museums were fine examples of what they ought to be, but it was the emotional resonance of being back in familiar territory that got to me.

                              Princeton is much more cosmopolitan than I thought.  Oh, sure, the university is still there, and always will be, but either my memory misperceives things or the town has expanded considerably since I was last in it, decades ago.    I mean, Labyrinth Books!  I have GOT to go in there, sometime.  I bet Joyce Carol Oates hangs out there

                                 Now, the Rutgers visit was more personal for me, because I inhabited this campus during my youth.  Not so much as a student--Rutgers was the only school I ever applied to that turned me down!!!!!!!!!!!--but, in those days, one could wander the campus, see the bookstore, and use the library for your own research.   Of course, if one was not a student, one could not take out books, but that did not matter, then.  Now, I am sure only those matriculated can gain access to the library and its materials.  How times have changed.

                                 In the picture you can see part of the road we traveled, and those arches over the Raritan River, which were part of my life since infancy.  And from New Brunswick, down by the highway leading to Albany Stret, one can see Highland Park across the river.  That is when I wanted to cry.  Highland Park will always be a part of me, but I can never go back there.  Even sadder is the realization that, in my absence, the town has gone on, without me.  That is a bitter pill to swallow. 

                                 Still, I was glad for this glimpse of Highland Park.  It is still there and always will be, a secret kind of place like Brigadoon.  I guess that is what makes it special.

                                   Having read the Thomas Wolfe book, I can say he was right.  "You Can't Go Home Again."

                                     Cheers, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Friday The 13th, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Two consecutively in one month.  Can you believe it, girls???????????

                              I won't say much on this post, because I will have something more exciting to say tomorrow, because something special is coming up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Meanwhile, enjoy your Friday The 13th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, Somone In Bay Ridge, Besides Us, Is A Big Gojira Fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           On this poster, in almost the exact spot on our subway platform, where Cynthia Nixon was called by her right name, someone painted a picture of Gojira giving it both to our fearless leader and Northwest Florida.

                                              Actually, I think he should have given it to all of Florida.  I mean, the Jim Dooley generation that made it a retirement mecca is gone, people don't flock there like they used to, it is hot, crawling with creepy creatures, alligators and mountain lions among them, and the government down there--don't get me started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  So, I just want to thank the artist who drew Gojira onto this poster.   He still looks as lovable as ever!

                                                    At first, I thought Baby Gojira had done it.

                                                   But he would NEVER be seen on a subway platform!!!!!!!!!!!!