Why Do I Always Feel Like Janet Leigh In "Psycho," When I Have To Leave My Apartment To Go Somewhere????????????

                                 Girls, I am telling you, I have no black lace underwear.  Maybe I should get some.  I could go shopping this weekend.

                                But, like Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, I make sure I look as good as possible and have everything at my disposal, when I do leave.

                                 What we girls have to go through!  It is amazing I even get out of here.  But then, it is mostly for doctor appointments, which is a retiree's social event, and I make a point of looking good for any social event.

                                  Don't be caught short, darlings!  Take a tip from Janet, even if you are not absconding with money, and look your best when you leave the house.

                                    And no trashy roadside motels, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                  Here is Janet to show how it is done.  See how great she looks?

                                     

A Sad Farewell To Our Beloved Seamus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Seamus has finally left this world, darlings.  I got a call yesterday from a friend I know who is close to Seamus' owners, Deidre and Michael Butler, the former who ran Paws Truly pet shop for at least eight years, then switched locales to Apple Tree, a health food store in Bay Ridge, where Seamus paired with Nicholas, the cat.  But let me tell you, as far as pet selling was concerned, Seamus ran the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            He was also a fixture at Bay Ridge's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, and let me tell you, the event has not been the same without him.  Not only should there be a memorial service for him at St. Anselm's, but there should also be a tribute to him in the parade.

                           It seemed like Seamus would never die, which makes me all the sadder he did.  But he was sixteen years old, longer than a dog his size usually lives, and no dog got more love or better care than did Seamus Butler.  As happy as this picture makes me feel, today it is heartbreaking.

                            Thank you, Seamus, Deidre and Michael, for letting me love Seamus as much as I did.  I will always love him, and keep him in my heart, as will David.  And that goes for the two of you as well.

                               Be at peace, Seamus.  And know your love enriched many.

Darlings, This Was The Greatest Make-Up Job Since Sandra Harrison In "Blood Of Dracula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                             And the results were the same--both actors looked better as the monsters!

                             "The Curse Of The Werewolf" was Oliver Reed's first starring role, even though he had been in films since 1955.  I never understood why some got all hot and bothered over him; yes, I have seen the mud fight scene in 1970's "Women In Love," but my eyes went to Alan Bates.  Oliver Reed always struck me as gorilla like--brooding and brutish.  He managed to synthesize all of this brilliantly into his characterization of Bill Sikes in "Oliver!," but then he was directed by his uncle, Sir Carol Reed.

                              Roy Ashton did Reed's make-up for this film, and it is just about perfect.  Reed does look better as the werewolf, and is more convincing here than as this young, tormented soul whom the audience is supposed to sympathize for, but, for God's sake, it is Oliver Reed!  Come on!

                              Still, the pointy ears add the right touch that Universal never did.

                              And Yvonne Romain, who plays the servant girl/werewolf's mother escaped from this crap to marry Leslie Bricusse.  Good for you, Yvonne!

                              Set in Spain, when the novel was set in Paris, because Hammer already had Spanish sets, the film is all over the place.  The actor playing the sadistic Marquis looks faux French, like Basil Rathbone in the 1935 "A Tale Of Two Cities," and no one even attempts a Spanish accent.

                               Still, it was fun to see this fantasy of my childhood realized.   Now, I can move on to more important things like fashion and skin care.  Still, this "Svengoolie" broadcast was tinged with sadness, as no "Sventoonie" followed it.  Bring him back, you heathens of Me TV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                The only ones cursed by this, darlings, was the audience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                

                                

Can One Get Amazon Delivered To The Cayman Islands???????????????????

                      Excuse me for a moment, girls, but this is important.  I don't often get political on here, but I just have to say something.  Yes, I do have an issue to pick with Bruce Handy, and his piece for "The New Yorker" entitled "The 'Dazed And Confused' Generation, but that is not for here, unless the piece is taken offline.

                        What I have to say is about Trump's CPAC speech, wherein his followers are all like the boogiemen of Boogieland, in the 1934 "March Of The Wooden Soldiers."

                          The Donald is delivering his followers and everyone into his Fascist Fantasyland, which, if he gets elected again, will become real.  So, I am thinking of a place to retreat to.  David says there are better places than the Cayman Islands, and I am open to suggestions, but  the matter stands that--gasp! --I may have to leave New York.

                             Whatever the relocale, it must have access to books and coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            But that does not mean I will leave you, girls!  This blog would probably become more of a "Life From The Road" kind of chronicle.  If we actually do leave, which is highly unlikely.  We will just cross our bridges, when they come.

                            Even if the worst happens, and all the communities that are not White Christian Americans are burned at the stake, like Elizabeth Selwyn, at least I will be able to say I went out in style--

                           Like a flaming queen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         

If Jamie Lee Curtis Wins The Oscar, What Will The Category Be--"Best Supporting Actress," Or "Best Supporting Actress/Actor????????????????"

                              Talk about gender issues!  Girls, not since the 1959 TONY Awards unfathomably nominated "The Children in 'The Sound Of Music'" as "Best Featured Actress In A Musical," even though two of them were boys, has a gender issue this big appeared on the horizon.

                                We all know, girls, that Jamie Lee is a hermaphrodite.  For those not in the know, that means she allegedly has both male and female reproductive organs.  But who can tell?

                                 Nevertheless, it begs the question of her Oscar category.  While I would be happy for her to win, if she does how will the hermaphrodite or transgender community feel?  Ever since her breakout performance as Laurie Strode in John Carpenter's 1978 masterwork, "Halloween," Jamie has given her all no matter how crappy the film!  She and the screenwriters made 1980's "Prom Night" into a heartbreaking Shakespearean type tragedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And who could forget her sympathy for the killer in "Terror Train," also made in 1980?

                                  So, I am cheering for Jamie, either way?  But how is Oscar deciding on gender?

                                 And let me warn you, dolls--this is just the beginning.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, This Could Be The Comedy Hit Of The Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                       Isn't he cute, girls?  I bet if I walked up to "Cocaine Bear," with sugar in my hand, and petted him, he would just melt and eat out of my hand.  I mean, in my day, it was "Gentle Ben."  Now--"Cocaine Bear?"

                         Talk about the rubric, " You can't make this ***t up, this is just too much.  It has to be a hoot, and the cast is unbelievable--Ray Liotta, in what might be his fmal screen performance; too bad he did not stick with Scorsese.  Then there is Keri Russell, who must really need a job, and incomprehensibly of all, TONY winner Jesse Tyler Ferguson!  Are you kidding me?  He must be friends with someone on the crew, or helped finance this crap, so he had to appear in it.

                            And would you believe they couldn't use a real bear?  It is all computerized.  Hey, on "Gentle Ben," they used a real bear.  Why not here?????????????  I guess the Oscars did not want the bear slapping anybody.  I can think of some who deserve a few good slaps from Mr. Cocaine Bear.

                              Remember "Smokey The Bear," who said, "Only you can prevent forest fires?"  Maybe the makers of this film are saying "It takes crap like this to bring audience awareness to the real culture lying beyond them, or to those who really crave it."

                               At least, I hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              But, at least, it is good for a laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"They Call Us Babes In Arms, But We Are Babes In Armor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                       Now, darlings, you know I will always be a babe in arms.  And, of course, I would love to do the stage show.

                                        Can you imagine, according to The Internet Broadway Data Base, there has not been a Broadway revival of this 1937 classic?  As I have said, Harold Prince should have retained his 'Merrily' cast and simply staged a revival of this show.  Ann Morrison and Lonny Price would have done for it on stage, what Rooney and Garland did for it on screen, in 1939.

                                           Because of that film--Garland's firs, right after 'Oz,' and with Margaret Hamilton, to boot! --it has become the gold standard for the piece.  Who could blame anyone, with this talented bunch?  But wouldn't it be fun to see a fresh group of youngsters do this on stage.  And I mean fresh faced, not some kind of woke update!  God, doesn't that make one sick?

                                              To get an idea of how this might play out, here are some clips.

                                Here is the trailer for the film!

                              And here is Judy Garland, singing my favorite song from the Rodgers And Hart score, "Where Or When?" Wouldn't you just love to see this on stage?

                                Harold Prince found his 'Merrily' cast.  I am sure the talent is out there somewhere..

                                Give it a chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!