So Long, 2020!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Before I  wrap  up, just to remind all  my girls, that, after this post, the next time  I  write it  will  be  2021!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Congrats to  all  of us who have come  this far!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Just to recall some enjoyable moments from  the past  year!

                                          1. Celebrating Lynda's 90th birthday!

                                          2. Going to Washington,, D.C., with  our  neighbors, Dan  and Jennifer,  and staying at the Willard  Hotel.

                                         3.   Having tea at The  St. Regis.

                                          4.  Dining  at Le  Bernardin, before  the  lockdown.

                                            5. Seeing the  ENCORES! produciton  of "Mack  and  Mabel," a fitting  show---a great one!--to end theatergoing, for the time, on.

                                            6.  Reaching my goal  of  100 books  read.  I think  I will clock  out  at 102.  Very  apt, as  shall be explained.  Not to mention coming through a heart ablation OK!

                                             7.  Thanks  to  all my animal friends--our beloved Chloe,  whom,  sadly, we lost this year,  plus Cujo, Nicholas, Indiana  Jones, Seamus, Sparky, Rowd  Dexter, and our own, beloved, Baby Gojira, who enrich my life  with  their  love.   May we  all  do  the same next year,  and meet  some new friends.

                                             8. And last, but  not  least,  my beloved David,  without  whom living  through this  would not be possible.  I treassure  the blessing of his presence every day, as  he continues to work  from home.   I urge  you all  to treasure  you  and yours!

                                                    So, until  next  year,

                                    Love to  all,  from The Raving Queen (40 lbs heavier, here!) and David!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     See you in  2021!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These Were The Symbols Of 2020!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      What else,  girls,  but  the Corona Virus,  or Covid19,  which has been the number one news topic  for the  major portion of the year?   When  people, decades from now, look  back  on  2020, this is what they will  think  of.

                                          Unless, they think of another symbol, and it is no surprise to  me there is  a  connection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  

                                          That  is the  "Karen!"  Oh, don't kid yourselves,  entitled bitches, both male  and female, have been around, since Time  began. But it  took  Covid, and the anti-maksers, to crystalize entitelement into a name, and with that name, and the virus, the misbehavioor has  only gotten  worse.

                                             While I  hope  the vaccines help eradicate Covid, while some police  charges  and a  good smack in the face is  deserved by all these Karens,who  should be made rid  of, immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 What  a year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Persons Of The Year For 2020, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                        We have a trio,  this year girls,  so withoout wasting any time, let's get going!

 

                                                                                    

                                       As always, Sister  Camille D'Arienzo,  for her love, inspiration, and the messages of  hope  and  forgiveness she  pours out each  Sunday.  She has been a force of nature in helping  us here get through this Covid  year,  and  we wish here on behalf of  my readers and myself, health and  blessings, in  the year ahead!

                              A figure  new  to me, this year, but another living saint.   Dr. Anthony Fauci has been  the  calm leader at the storm  of catastrophe this year, with his  messages of hope, reason, graciousness, and warmth.  And, yes,  girls, isn't he just  the cutest?

                                        And  last, but not least, seventeen- year- old Greta Thunberg, for  her devoted activism to climate change;  something needing  watch over in the coming years.   Greta  was  counted  on this year for  insight, good  judgement,  and sense.  Wishing  you many more years  of  dedication and hope  for  us, Greta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Who could be more worthy than  this  trio?????????????????????

"To Touch Anti-Matter Man Was To Risk Instant Destruction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             I promise you a  more detailed  review  of  the year,  girls, but this phrase  and cover reminded  me so much of  Covid,  which is  what  shaped pretty much all  of  2020.

                                              And just as Batman is dishing it  out to Anti-Matter Man,  I  would like  to  see Dr. Anthony Fauci doing the same to Covid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Spank this son  of  a  bitch  good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

56 Years Ago Today..........................

                                    That is  when  I  got  my first  pair  of  eyeglasses.  And this is what they looked  like,  except the upper part was brown,  not  black.  They were in a little  brown case that snapped shut,  and  had, on each side,  a drawing  of  a  basketball player, and a baseball  player.  These were glasses for  boys,  you see.

                                      Hey, it  was 1964,  I was in  fourth  grade,  and  who the  hell,  then,  knew  anything?  Least  of  all, me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       I  did  know  enough that, where I came  from,  eyeglasses  were a  sign  of social  economic,  and intellectual status.  They were very  IN,  darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Thank God  styles have changed!

                                       Now, with my glasses, I  look like  Stephanie March!

                                        At least, with the glasses!  If only I had  her hair!

We Had A Perfectly Cheesy Christmas, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Really,  girls,  in the face of a pandemic, there  is  no  better kind.

                           First, we watched the 1974 film, "Black  Christmas,"  with Margot Kidder,  Andrea Martin,  and Olivia Hussey playing sorority girls.   I know, it  HAS been  a long time.

                           Directed by Rob  Clark,  and written  by A.  Roy Moore, this might  have been  a preview  of   slaughter fims  to come, since everything here predates devices used by John Carpenter  or Sean  Cunningham,  like  POV killer  shots,  long shot exteriror shots juxtaposing  the  beautiful and macabre, and Olivia Hussey, using her  most  mannered voice,  as she dips  her  toes into  territory better handled by "When A Stranger Calls,"  which did  not  come  along till 1979.  

                              Keir  Dullea, as the  film would have one  think,  is  the killer,  but when the film  ends  with  the now  famous  line, "Agnes,  it's  Billy.  Please don't tell  what we  did,"  one is  not  so sure of  Dullea,  and, of course,  here is  the  setup  for  the  sequel.

                              I  still  say Agnes and Billy were  siblings  who had an incestuous relationship, and  Billy  may be  stalking  girls  in  a  way of getting back at  this sister.   Or maybe he thought one of  the  girls  was his sister.  I would bet Margot;  she was  sexually agressive, and  gets the biggest  laugh in  the film when  she  spells  out F-E-L-L-A-T-I-O as the house  phone number.

                              This  piece of crap passes the time. Perfect  for pandemic  time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         We also watched  "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians,"  which I had  always wanted to see.  This has  a prepubescent  Pia  Zadora, (three years  before  doing  "Henry, Sweet Henry," on Broadway,  back in 1967) and  a bunch of little  known  New York actors, many of  whom  were doing Broadway shows  in  the  eveniing, while  shooting this,  during  the day.  The  little  blond boy who  plays Earthling Billy Foster,  was  in  "Oliver!"

                                             Legend  has it  the  film  was shot  within an airplane hanger  out on  Long  Island.  It looks  it.  The  color photography is cheesy;  the green  martian  make-up  on those  actors looks  like blackface, which  surprises me  this film has not come in for  non-PC allegations.

                                                 Plot?   What  plot?   Earthiling kids  and  Santa Claus abducted by Martians, changes  for  the  better,  than back  to  Earth.  Who cares?

                                                  What  makes the film  worth  watching is  Pia and the visuals.  The latter  are  simply artless; compared  to  the  artistry of  K. Gordon  Murray's earlier  1959 film,  "Santa  Claus," whose art direction  mirrored George  Melies.

                                                      Crap can  be  fun,  darlings!   Even if  it is  not  good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas To All, From Gojira!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Isn't  he the cutest,  girls?   And so  thoughtful,  as  Gojira goes  on his way  to  deliver  gifts  to  all  he  cares  about,  particularly the children.

                                       Yet,  he isn't forgetting this is  the  day  to celebrate the birth of Jesus.   Who knows; he may be an unacknowledged  part of  the  Nativity.  He was around,  back then!

                                         And you can  bet  when  he gets near  those  childrren, he will  wear a  mask!

                                         From David, myself,  and  Baby Gojira,  as  well, a Merry  and  safe  Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"The World, In Solemn Stillnes Lay, To Hear The Angels Sing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                        Once  again, girls,  it that holiest of nights,  and  I salute all out there  who have  made it to this point, while remembering those who have not.

                                         This is not just your ordinary Christmas Eve.  It  is  one to be  thoughtful and  pensive,  and  if any dark  nights of  the soul,  a  la  Ebenezer  Scrooge, take place,  this  is  surely the  year  for   it!

                           

                                     For  this evening,  no  other carol will  do  than  "O  Holy Night,"  which happens to be  one  of my favorites.  Here is Josh Groban's  heartrending renditon!

                                       Merry Christmas, everyone!   And  joy to all in  2021!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday To A Living Saint--Dr. Anthony Fauci!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    If anyone has been  the  guiding force  of  hope for  this year 2020, it  is  Dr.  Anthony Fauci.  Small  susrprise  he  is  a Christmas  eve baby,  although,  now having turned 80,  he is far  from  infancy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     And doesn't he  look  good,  for 80?  I am telling  you,  girls,  he is  just the cutest!

                                     Thank  you for all you have  done, Dr.  Fauci,  and  may we continue  to  rely upon  your guidance, in the coming year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Have a Happy and Blessed Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What Would Christmas Be, Without Judy And Margaret??????????????

                                      Garland  and  O'Brien,  that  is.  After exploring the melancholia of "Winter Was Warm" recently, itis time recognize the Gold Standard,  performed  by Garland to  the young actress.  It is beautiful and heartbreaking,  and  I defy those to watch this scene without a dripping,  wet,  handkerchief.

                                        This is one of  the highlights of  the  1944 film,  "Meet Me In St. Louis."  And what follows, in tandem  with  the earlier, Halloween scene,  is  what won Margaret O'Brien  her Special  Juvenile Oscar that year.  And  Margaret is still  with us today.

                                            And so, wishing all my girls brighter days aheaad,  here is a  classic too perfect to be overlooked!

                                           Cherish it, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Three Broadway Luminaries, In Such Quick Succession.........How Tragic!

                                Peg Murray,  who died on November 29 of this year, was a fixture on the soap opera circuit,  when  it was strong on television.   She appeared, over the years on "Love Of Life," "Another  World," and  "All My Children."

                                 But she  won a TONY Award,  for Best Featured Actress In A Musical, for her role as  Fraulein Kost, in the original,  Harold  Prince  production of "Cabaret," which opened in 1966.  She had one of the  most difficult roles in musical theater, as the character, though crafty, starts out as a sympathetic,  almost Fantine type, then gradually,  to the audience's  horror, evolves and trasnforms herself  before everyone,  on stage and  seated,  into the Perfect Nazi.

                                    Not an easy role to play, but no one played it like Peg.  Later, after Lotte Lenya left the show, she  stepped into the  role  of Fraulein Schenieder.  How I would have loved to have heard her rendition of "What Would  You Do?"  It may not have touched Lenya's, but I am  sure it touched audience's hearts.  She also appeared in "She Loves Me," "The Subject Was Roses,"  "Something More," and as  Fraulien Schneider  once more  in  the 1987 revival of  "Cabaret."

                                      She was 96 when she died.   A long, professional  life.

                                       Rest In  Peace, Peg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Then,  on December 20, Ann Reinking passed away.  She was a mere 71, and died in her sleep,  while visiting a brother  in Seattle.  Shocking  as this  may be to some,  as  far as I am conceerned, she was Broadway's  Number Two  Dancer, of  my generation.  Number One will always be  Donna McKechnie.

                                Which is  not to say Reinking  was  lacking  in  talent  or  skill.  She first  caught  my eye in the Andrews  Sisters' musical,  "Over  Here!," back  in 1974.   I  also saw her, at the Palace Theatre, with Joel Grey,  in "Goodtime  Charley," back in March of 1975, where she was choreographed by Onna White.

                                 "Chicago,"  in 1976, brought she and Bob Fosse together.  I saw the original production, with Liza stepping in for Gwen Verdon,  so Reinking, then, may or not have been in the ensemble.  Near  the end  of the run, she stepped  into the role of Roxie Heart,  a role she would go on to repeat in the ENCORES! revival of 1996, with Bebe Neurwith,  as Velma, and the two would go on in these roles,  when it  moved to Broadway, where the production is  still running.   It netted Reinking a TONY Award for Best Choreography.   

                                      And don't  forget,  she played a variation of herself,,  in  the 1979 Fosse bio-pic, "All  That Jazz."  Oh,  the names were changed,  but Theater Queens  know whom it was  about.

                                        Reinking had Cyd Charisse legs  that "went  on forever," as well as a very tecnical  style of dance.  If lacking  in  the warmth of McKechnie,  there was no mistaking  her talent and style.

                                        Another dennizen of Broadway bites the dust!  No  wonder the lights are dark!

                                           And, just today, I learned of the passing of Rebecca Luker, whom I had seen in  "The Secret Garden," back  in 1991, and "The Sound Of Music" revival of 1998.  What a gorgeous voice Rebecca had, and how tragic for Theater Queeens,  and  most especially, for Danny Burstein, her husband of 20 years, who waged a battle with Covid, which he  still struggles with,  while  his wife was battling ALS, (Lou Gherig's  Disease) having been diagnosed,  months earlier. And which was her cause of death,  at only 59!   I pray Rebecca did  not suffer, and  I pray for her husband Danny at  this time of loss.  What a sad year 2020 has been in  so many ways.

                                             Now, Rebecca's  voice graces the heavens.  With Barbara Cook, Marin Mazzie,  and now Rebecca,  up there, Heaven is  sounding better all the  time!

                                               Rest  In  Peace,  Rebecca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               May we all  do our part  to save Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Is Really Important, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      

                                      One day last week,  "The New York  Times" announced that  Karen Killilea had died, at  the age of 80, back on  October 20, of this year.  That name  instantly rang a bell with me, as I am sure it would with many of the Baby Boomer Generation.  For those who do not know about Karen,  it is about time you did.  I can  only hope,  in tribute to her, the books are reprinted, and widely re-distributed.

                                          Back when I was ten,  many stores of all kinds had either paperback racks,  or kiosks.  Almost always, I would see, among them, at this time, this book with a blue background, and a portrait of a smiling pigtailed girl, from another era.  The book's title was emblazoned in big block letters--"KAREN."  Above that were the words, "She lived a miracle!"

                                            It was certainly eye-catching.  I  found myself asking,  "What miracle did she  live?"  A search on the back cover and inside blurbs, revealed nothing.  I had known  about Helen  Keller and  "The Miracle Worker" by this time,  so maybe that was it.

                                             Time went  on,  and  the  book  became  less visible, as did its sequel,  "With  Love, From  Karen."  Having reached my twenties,  I finally picked up a copy of "Karen," and read it,  enraptured,  and deeply moved.  Karen Killilea,  who was born on August 18, 1940, was three months  premature,  and diagnosed  with cerebral  palsy.  At a  time  when the advice was to instituiionalize such infants,  and forget about them,  the Killileas refused to give up,  finally finding a doctor in Baltimore Maryland, who introduced them  to the then radical concept of physical therapy. The  book  then chronicles their work  with Karen, so that she evolves from a disabled infant, into a functional, happy child.  The sequel, "With Love, From  Karen," begins five years after the first book  ends,  chronicling Karen's journey from adolescence  into adulthood.  If you read the first, you cannot not read the other.

                                                Girls, I cried real  tears.  One would have to have a heart of stone not to.  And I never forgot Karen's story,  and how inspirational it was to me, as well as my having some tangenial  connections  to  it.

                                                   I was born on November 18, 1954.  I was two months premature.  I spent the first two weeks of my life in a hospital incubator.  My making it then was questionable.  I did,  but later was diagnosed with a congential heart defect I had surgically corrected on May 10, 1966.  And just this year--on October 15, I had a heart ablation, now having atrial  fib.

                                                    So, I relataed to Karen,  and it gave me an idea of what my parents had to go through,  which I now appreciate at this late age.  My sister, by the way, was born in 1940,with no 

problem.  Had Karen  been  born full term--on  November 18, 1940, we might have shared the same  birthday, but I  would never have known about her.

                                                    By the way,  when I was born  I had red hair.  The pediatrician  at  the time,  Frederick W.  Lathrop, whom  my mother  had  worked for, as a nurse,  told her, at the time, "Red  hair preemies are the ones who make  it."  My sister  told me this.  And here I am!

                                                      Karen's mother,  Marie Killilea, wrote  both books. The first book was published in 1952, the second in 1963.  In the second book, the reader learns that the Killileas were living in Larchmont,  NY,  and their neighbors were Jean and Walter  Kerr--she, the author of "Please Don't Eat The Daisies," he, the most renowned theater critic of the day.  They gave Karen and her family lots of emotional  support.

                                                          If  you remember "Karen," tell me about your experience with this story.  If you haven't, latch on to some copies, and read them both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                            I  promise  to get to Ann Reinking,  but Karen  was cucially important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Despite What You See, This Game Is More Political Than Occult!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                When I first saw the  cover for this game,  "The Circle," I thought it a foreshadowing of the Transogram game, "Ka-Bala," I had, as a child.  With Tarot Cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Actually, this game is more of  a foreshadowing of Parker Bros, game "RISK." Here,"The Circle" is a secret organization  that everyone playing  is  a part of,  with the object being to fight off world domination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Very prescent for today's  times!  But "RISK"  is still  out there.

                                     Even board games cannot be judged by their covers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Well, I Did It! I Reached My 2020 Goal Of Having Read 100 Books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       It happened last night, at 9PM, when I finished "Psycho," by Robert Bloch.  An oldie, but a goodie!  To be sure, I will continue reading, to see what I total out at, once the year ends.  My record,  so far,  is 115, but I do not think  I will make  it  this year.

                                         Regarding "Psycho," it was such fun to re-visit the Bates Motel!  If you only know the  Hitchock film,  there are a few  minor surprises, the only revealed  here not being spoilers.

                                           For  starters,  the Janet Leigh character is named "Mary Crane," not "Marion," as she was in the movie.   Much of Jospeh Stefano's witty repartee  dialogue  is missing.  And Norman Bates  is  conceived  as someone  whom  Victor Buono--or that type--  should have played.  Except, the former  works great on the printed page,  but on screen Anthony Perkins was much more  creepy.   Ironically, Vince Vaughn was Norman as Bloch conceived him,  in  Gus Van Sant's 1998 redo, but the less said about THAT the better.  Mother Bates should have gone after him  and  the negatives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Oh, the movie is set in Phoenix and thereabouts, whereas the novel  is within  Texas.  And there are no  Christmas street overlights, as Marion drives away, like  there are in the novel.

                                               Otherwise, "Psycho" pretty much plays out as what is seen on screen.

                                                But savoring it slowly, in  print, can be as delicious fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               By the way, that was 100 books over 354 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here We Go, Again, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              The year is just speeding by, darlings!  Yesterday, Autumn came to a crashing halt, and  now, begins, as Shakespeare says, "the Winter of our discontent."  Which will not actually sink in  until  January 2, when all things holiday come to a scrreching halt.  Even though it does not technically end  until January 7.

                                                  And speaking of technicalities, again  we face the six month question--When  is  the shortest  day?  When the longest  night?  Some say today,  and tonight,  but I was taught  the 22nd, so I am standing  by that.  I do believe tonight may be the  longest night.  Snuggle in good, tonight, kiddies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      And now, I will share with you my favorite Winter song,  which is "Winter Was Warm," introduced in 1964, in "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol," and sung by Jane Kean.  Like "Have Yourself A Merry Litte Christmas," from "Meet  Me In St. Louis," just twenty years before, it has a touch of melancholia, which makes one appreciate what they have right  now all the more.  There could  not be a better message for us  all  this season, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Bring on Winter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Belated Happy Chanukah, To One And All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      Darlings, I cannot believe it is already the fifth night of Chanukah,  any more  than I can fathom  tomorrow we are halfway through this month!!!!!!!!!!  And the year is quickly winding down.

                                                         As per  tradition, for  the  past five  nights,  David,  Baby Gojira,  and myself,  have been  lighting the candles,  and  rejoicing in  the celebration  of Chanukah,  just as, come  the 25th, we  will extol the  Miracle Of Jesus,  on Christmas Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           So, to those celebrating Chanukah, joy and happiness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                            And the same thing to  those who don't!

                                                            Happy Holidays, and Joy to  all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

So Far, This Game Takes The Prize For Best Cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     I love the title--"Chiromgica, Or The Hand Of Fate." If only the game board,  or whatever is inside could have been represented,  as I am sure it was equally fascinating.  Magic and  occult games figured in this  era,  and  I think some of those deserve examination.

                                     And, again this is  fit  to  adorn any wall as a work  of  art!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     How timeless, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time To Welcome A New Reader, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             I had a feeling one would come along before the year was  through.  And  I  was right, as the follower indicator is now at 114.

                                               So, welcome new, reader, though I don't  know your name.  I gather one of  my recent  posts  is what got you here.  May you find  it on here worthwhile,  entertaining, and informing.  And feel  free to  comment  anytime.

                                                 On behalf of my other readers, I bid  you welcome!  Remember, this blog  goes  great with coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    Now, to initiate  you, via this blog's  unofficial theme song!

                                                              Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How Many Times, When We Step Into The Shower, Do We Sometimes Think Of Janet Leigh????????????????????

                                            
 

                                         Anyone having seen the legendary shower scene in Hitchcock's 1960 "Psycho," is sure not to forget  it.  When I first watched it, at 13, I placed a chair against the locked bathroom door, every night, for a week.

                                           And sometimes,  as I try to look glamorous as Janet, the thought of that scene passes through me, as I bathe.  The sheer vulnerability of  it.  There is literally no place for one to go! Which is one of many reasons why the scene  is so frightening.

                                             Several nights,  I had a "Psycho" dream .  It was the driving scene.  I was in the car, it was raining, it was my body, but I was Marion.  In my dream, I heard the voice of my David, like  John Gavin, ask, in my mind, "Marion, what are you doing up here?  Is something wrong?  What is it, Marion?"

                                              My dream stopped before I was anywhere near the Bates Motel, which is a good thing.  Maybe that place inspired the Roach Motel commercial, where "roaches check in, but they don't check  out."  Just like Marion Crane, at the Bates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Some things are best not forgotten!

                                                  So watch yourselves,  girls,  in the  shower, on your journey to beauty!

There Is White Trash, And Then There Is EVIL White Trash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Let's switch, for a bit, from books to murder,  girls!!!!!!!!!!!  With me,  anything is possible!

                                     The killing of the  Lyon Sisters is a real life version of  the original, 1977 version of the movie "The Hills Have Eyes."  And while some of this mystery has been solved, there is enough left unsolved to question many aspects,  including the girls' parents.

                                       Those parents were John and  Mary Lyon, and the sisters were born--Sheila,  the eldest, in 1963, and Katherine,  in 1965.  They were born in Kensington, Maryland.

                                         Meanwhile,  atop Taylor Mountain, in nearby Virginia, lived a family named the  Welches.  They were as far a cry from "The Waltons" as could be.

                                             There was Lloyd Lee Welch, Sr. and  Jr.  A cousin named Henry Parker.  An uncle named Richard.  And Richard had a wife named Patti, who was trash as trash could be.

                                              They were the kind of folk unfortunate people meet up with in movies  like 1972's "Deliverance," and the aforementioned "The Hills Have Eyes."  Oh, yes, I am telling you, folks like this are really out there.  Just look at the MAGA  people,  if you do not believe  me.  Or the Proud Boys.  Proud, my ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 These men are the kind who would sodomize  their own  mother,  or grandmother,  while women like Patti stand by, and watch.  

                                                    There was no reason that the paths of these pieces of scum,  and the Lyon Sister, should have crossed.  Unfortunately, they did.

                                                     It all started on March 25, 1975, a Saturday, when the sisters told the parents they were going to a shopping mall in suburban Wheaton.  They were told to be back by 4PM.  They weren't, and trouble began.

                                                    At the same time the sisters were planning  their excursion,  Lloyd Welch, his father, cousin Henry, and Uncle Richard, went  down to the mall,  looking to pick up and abuse some  girls.  One of the  men  watched kiddy porn,  so it was not  surprising  the sisters were chosen. They were not inviting  them for tea,  darlings.  Just to be tortured, sexually abused and killed.  The kind  of thing that mostly happens, up on  Taylor  Mountain.!

                                                      Lloyd, Jr, then 18, trolled the mall, until he found the sisters, who were seated at a table in the Food Court, each having a slice of pizza, and  beverage.  He approached,  and  enticed  them with the  prospect of getting high on marijuana.

                                                          Here is where I ask  questions.  Sheila was only 12, Katherine only 10.  So,  the parents let  them  walk  alone to, and around, a shopping mall?  What is wrong with them, as parents?  Mine  would never have  allowed this at such an age.  So,  I am sorry,  part of  the blame for what happened goes to them!  Meanwhile,  Sheila, the older one, was easier to entice.  She  told her younger sister, Katherine,  it would be  fun  to hang  out, and get high!  And this is the OLDER sister?  Who should have had sense  enough to ignore Welch,  or turn him  down!  Yet it was the younger who was more apprehensive, because she had sense.  Looks like Sheila would  have turned out  to be  another  suburban tramp!  She might have  morphed into White Trash,  as an adult. The signs were there.

                                                              Once Lloyd got the sisters into the car, it was too  late for them.  Once on Taylor  Mountain, the men  tortured, sexually abused, and killed the  girls.  Lloyd  Jr. says he only witnessed it,  though I do not believe that.  And doing  nothing about it is just as bad as killing.

                                                                 Katherine was killed first.  The smarter of  the  two,  she did try to make  a  run for it,  but was overpowered, and her neck  was broken.  As  for Sheila,  she  is buried  up on  that mountain somewhere; it is believed Welch, Jr.,  and  cousin Henry Parker, met  on Mountain Road, in Thaxton, Virginia, which was Welch territory.  Parker had a bag which looked like a dismembered body, and they was burnt it to a crisp.  The remains are believed  to be those of Sheila Lyon, who was killed, after her sister, but how, when, and specifically by whom, remains a mystery.

                                                                      What is clear is this tragedy could have been avoided, if,  and I am sorry to say again,  the  Lyons had kept better watch on their daughters.  Especially Sheila, who,  had this event been averted, was clearly headed for trouble.

                                                                          One  of the greatest examples  of  the  consequences of "stranger danger"  that I have ever heard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                             Rest In Peace, Lyon Sisters!

                                                                             And parents--keep a  closer eye on your children!

      

Good Of Kind! But That Margaret Atwood Blurb--Come On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Every serious reader has a rough patch, and with now this post, and the one before,  I guess I was in one.  As most of your girls know,  I am a sucker for sagas, so when I picked up "Aria," I thought it would be engrossing.

                                             But the blurb on the cover, by Margaret Atwood,, no less, has got to be a joke!  She says this is "an Iranian 'Doctor Zhivago.' "  The novel has neither the scope, breadth, or poetic lyricism of the Pasternak work.  And this is the second post this year, where I refer to it, so maybe Fate is telling me it is  a time for a reread.  I shall see.

                                               The tile refers to the heroine, who begins as an infant, found by an  Army driver in war torn 1950's Iran.  Her name,  interestingly enough,  is continuously said throughout the novel to  be  a boy's name, not a girl's.  Unusual to me, considering its feminine sound.

                                                 The rest is very conventional--she endures  cruelty,  hardship, and comes  to a point of  empowerment amid  the strife  of Iran.  Yeah,  yeah.  I have read this type of thing before, and while it is readable enough, it leaves no  lasting mark.  This is Nazanine Hozar's first novel,  and  while I admire  the research and detail she has done here to write it,  others before her have been better.

                                                   A debut book, but not a breakout one.  I hold hope that Hozar will come to write one.  I am willing  to give this author another chance.

                                                   But those seeking  a satisfying  saga will be disappointed!

                                                    Skip this one, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Predictable, But Loved The Cruel, Twisted Ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              I am not going to tell you what it is, girls, because I am not a spoilsport, but I will say this is  the first mystery novel  Banville has  written,  under his real  name.   Previously, he wrote  under  the  pseudonym Benjamin  Black, and his first effort, "Christine Falls" I found thrilling.  I would read more  of  the  Black  novels,  if only I had  more  time.

                                             "Snow" is perfect, not only for this time of year,  but it  offers a cleanser to those recovering from bigger, more ambitious reads.

                                                It is essentially a murder mystery, and a  family saga.  The Osbornes purport to be the pillar of  their Irish community, but are they really, now?  Anyone who knows the genre  knows the answer to that one.  

                                                   A body is found in the library!  Oh, my God!  Who did it?  Miss Scarlett?  Colonel Mustard?   Who, by the way, Colonel Osborne here could be a stand in for.

                                                    And the murder victim turns out to a socially self-ingratiating priest, known  to the family as Father Tom.  It does not take long to fathom the reason for his murder, and where this novel is going.  But the twist is well worth it!

                                                     As enjoyable as "Snow" is, it seems  like Banville cranked it out in a hurry, maybe to fulfill a contractual obligation,  or to get  out of the Black mystery niche.

                                                       I  wish he would go back  to it.  "Snow"  will offer hours of entertaining,  diverting  fun,  but is not on  the level of "Christine Falls."

                                                        If only Banville  could reach that level again!

                                                 

What Detailed Intricacy! Another Great Art Wall Piece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 What caught my eye on this game, darlings, is not just its patterned resemblance to the Uncle Wiggly game board of my childhood, but my fascination with turn-of-the century cycling.   I have  always wanted to ride one of  those big front wheeled bikes,  but who can find one today,  outside of a museum?

                                  So, "The Great Victorian Cycle Game" is great for those who fancy the same.  It's a simple start-to-finish board game, but its design scores over originality.

                                   Far  superior, and  more creative,  than today's overly techno video games!

                                    Bring back  the  board game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Especially to those of us, who are are bored!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Forget "Pin The Tail On The Donkey!" Wouldn't You Want To Be Playing With Ribbons In This Parlor, Looking Like This????????????????

                                               Such simple pleasures, darlings!  A Victorian setting and gown, and pinning  ribbons on--what?  Pictures?  The wall?

                                               Who cares,  because the elegance and decor is of such artistry it surpasses anything turned out today.  Definitely for after dinner.

                                                Which is now.  So, get into your party dress, and  join me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, Girls, How About A "Camp" Christmas, This Year?????????????????????????

                                   Please do not misunderstand me.  I am not suggesting dismissing altogether The Miracle Of The Baby Jesus.  After all, that is the true reason Christmas is celebrated.

                                    But everyone knows this is as different a year as was never expected.  So, why not "camp" up your Christmas this year?  And I am telling you, for me, this picture, completely in pink is my idea  of  the ultimate in Christmas decoration.  "Camp,"  that is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Who needs company, when one has a room like this?  Just ZOOM this to your loved ones,  or those not loved, and  you will be the envy of  all.  Especially the latter.  If only I had seen this pic earlier in the year.  Obviously, it requires months of work.

                                         For those with skills in construction, perhaps this  could be mounted in time  for  THE  day!  As for me, and  many on  here,  looking at this  pic will  have  to  suffice.

                                          But,  "camp" is one way to invest some variation into your Christmas!

                                           Wherever that "camp" may lead you, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How Many Games Today Teach Anything????????? Let Alone Art History!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Let's face it, darlings, once this pandemic is over, we  will still be a culturally arid nation.  Courses and  majors  like  Art  History will eventually vanish  from the curriculum vitae of most colleges.

                                               So, this Victorian/Georgian game , called "Wonders Of Art World," is not only visually arresting, making for a great wall piece, but  one can actually learn  something.

                                                 Sure,  in my day there was "Go To The Head Of The Class," and "Game  Of The States."  Not to mention  Parker  Bros. game "RISK" could be argued as educational.

                                                    But nothing nearly as  sophisticated as learning about art masterpieces, girls! I mean, God forbid people should learn anything today.   I am almost ashamed to say I probably learned about human  biology,  via the Milton  Bradley game, "Operation!"

                                                    See why this past era of  games fascinates me?  Wouldn't it be great to find one of these under your tree,  on  Christmas  morning?

                                                      Dream  away, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, Here Are MY Picks, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take Careful Note!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   At least, as far as my "Top Five Fiction Books Of 2020" go.  Honesty, girls, who needs "The New York Times," when there is "The Raving Queen?"   Is there any overlap?  Yes, actually two books on my list match "The New York Times".  All ready?  Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                               

                                     1.  "Hamnet," by Maggie O'Farrell--Without question, darlings, this was my "Book Of The Year."  Its detailing the grievous impact on a family of the  loss of a child, and how it led to Shakespeare creating one of his best known works is both moving,  beautiful, poetically written, and I almost cried real tears!  This is the REAL thing--a skilled literary "What if?"

                                         2.  "Utopia Avenue," by David Mitchell--I would read Mitchell no matter what; even though his previous book, "Slade  House," had all the elements I craved,  it was like an  aspic that failed  to gel.  So, I picked up "Utopia Avenue," with a little trepidation.  But once opened,  I could not stop; the title, referring to a British band during the Sixties manned  by three guys and a girl.  Three of the quartet are song writers.  The lone female, Elf Holloway, seems a stand in for Stevie Nicks, and the novel chronicles the rise and fall of the group, especially how and why they disintegrate.  While doing so, one learns much about the music business, and Sixties groups, as just about everyone from that era Boomers can recall is referenced.  Those non-Boomers will learn much.  If "Hamnet" had not crossed  my path, this might have been my "Book  Of The Year."  Read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        3.  "The Vanishing Half," by Brit Bennett--Another book on which "The Times" and I overlap.  This sisters story is fast paced, insightful, and  honest in its depicting the varied aspects of the Black  experience in America.  Perfect for these times,  but the literary quality is good enough to be welcome  in any!

                                          4.  "A Burning,"  by Megha Majumdar--It is certainly a Sin Of Omission this did not makes "The Times" list.  This is what should have replaced "A Children's Bible."  It is this year's "There, There," examining two stories, one where a young Muslim woman named Jivan witnesses a terrible train accident, and the negligence displayed by the police in handling it, and its impact on her, as her story overlaps with her former gym teacher, a man named P.T. Sir, and his evolving from a mind mannered man into a terrorist.  Frightening and disturbing, it is too good to ignore, with a sense of structure and timing that does not let the novel wander off course.  Do not miss this one, darlings!  And feh!!!!!!!!! on "The New York Times!"

                                          5.  "Fifty Words For Rain," by Asha Lemmie--Oh, my God, girls  this is the most entertaining novel of the year!  A big, gorgeous MGM  1950's type epic,  written  with the political sensibility of today's  time.  A wealthy heiress is abandoned from her Japanese family for carrying on with an American soldier, and  getting knocked  up.  She is thrown through the gate onto the street.  Several years later,  she leaves the child on her former  home's steps, hoping the child's grandmother will give her a better life.  What follows is a harrowing tale of abuse and vengeance that comes full circle when  karma rewards the now grown child for her travails.  Gorgeous, tapestried imagery, emotionally volatile characters, this was an unexpected surprise, and I knew it would be on my list, when I found myself,  days after finishing it, unable to stop thinking about it.  Grab yourselves a copy, and sit back!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Well, there you have it!   All this should provide  enough reading material  for some time to come.  Speaking for my list, it IS superior to "The New York Times," if I do say so,  myself.

                                         Meanwhile, having written all day, I shall stop and have a drink!

                                          I am still a Gibson Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!