This 'SVU' Episode, "Eternal Relief From Pain," Had Some Liveliness To It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    When I found out Lindsay Pulsipher, as Kim Rollins, was going to be on this episode, I knew things would liven up.  Things always do, with Kim around.

                                       And when the sisters' father, Jim Rollins, played wonderfully by James Morrison, showed up, I knew I had to point something out to all those who have attacked me for saying this and that about White Trash.

                                         Kim and Daddy are proof that White Trash has no business in New York City, and should stay the hell out of it.  Kim tries to pull a Fantine act, and then overdoses?  Daddy is one step away from relapsing, and, so, eventually he does.  But he is clever, with his parting message that "Papa is a rolling stone."

                                             Trash cannot handle the city.  They don't know it, they only know their trash surroundings.  Trash, trash, trash!

                                               The episode was also enlivened by the interaction of Kat (Jamie Gray Hyder) with Tiffany Reynolds, (Stephanie Flanagan) a former "adult film" actress, and now a pharmaceutical rep (supposedly) who deals in drugs and patient-doctor sex.  Kat can certainly be a cool one, when  going undercover; Tiffany fell for the act.  Oh, and it was great seeing Mark Linn Baker as the horny, if impotent, physician, having sex with all his patients.  When he turned to give himself with an injection--the scene was hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  Lastly, who knew that Vanessa Hadid (Zuleikha Robinson) could be such a cool one, herself, when she interrogated, undercover, old friend Trey Harrington?  She was right when she said, of their one-time engagement, "The Harringtons would never allow a Hadid to marry into their family."  I have always been suspicious of whose side she is on, from day one, and when I saw her squealing to Trey Harrington, those suspicions were aroused.  But when I saw how she came through, I finally realized she is one of the good guys.

                                                      It was the Women's Show, and not just Olivia. In fact, the less of her, the better. Before it ended, Kim implied her mother was coming to New York to help care for the baby.  Maybe we will see Virginia Marsden again.  She is a White Trash hoot!

                                                       Word of caution--if you are at any of the elegant places recently mentioned on here, darlings, and see these types luriking about, beware, they do not belong.

                                                         They are scalping the room for victims!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Wish I Had Read This, When It First Came Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Jesmyn Ward did not come to my attention, until "Salvage The Bones," in 2011.  I have been a follower of hers for nine years.  I never  knew of this book till two weeks ago, when during our NYC Staycation, David and I were walking down Fifth Avenue, near Central Park, and spotted The Strand Kiosk.  Of course, I just had to look, and lo' and behold, look what I found!

                                           "Where The Line Bleeds," written back in 2008, is a metaphorical title for an incident later in the book, and the blood lines of twin brothers, Joshua and Christophe.  The setting is a post Katrina Mississippi, right on the Delta, and the boys have graduated high school, and are forced to find jobs in rural Bois Sauvage.  Joshua scores with work at the dockyards, but Christophe descends into drug selling.  One fears a downward trajectory, but with their grandmother, Ma-mee, their mother, Cile, who abandoned them for a career in Atlanta, and their drug addicted father Samuel, known as Sandman, they have support, of a sort.  When these parental figures convene on this trio, a series of confrontations leads to tragedy, and possibly Chirstophe's redemption.

                                              I actually liked this better than "Sing, Unburied, Sing".  The region is captured in beautiful language, while telling what is essentially a Cain And Abel type story.  The supporting characters are outstanding, and, this being Ward's debut, I am not surprised by what followed.  I eagerly await her next work.

                                                So, if you have not read "Where The Line Bleeds," do so.

                                                It is one of the best I have read so far this year!

Girls, It Is Time To Hydrate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Spring will soon be here, but Winter does such awful things to our skin, girls, that one cannot ignore the importance of hydration.

                                 As the late, great, Diana Vreeland once said, "If you have a faucet, you can have a facial."  Meaning no expensive creams and lotions.

                                  Douse your face several times with cold water at the start of each day, and the end of the day. Its bracingness will tighten your skin.

                                  And hydrate your insides with water, as often as you can.

                                  Internal and external purity is what we aim for, darlings.

                                  So, when it is time to apply those beauty products, our faces will already be clean and lovely

This is what I use, darlings!  Put some on, wash it off, put the smoother cream on for the day, and I am ready to go!

That is all it takes, darlings!

So, get going!

And Happy Birthday To Jennifer Jones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      She would have been 101 today, which I am not sure she would have made, anyway, but how I wish she had made the century mark.  Jennifer Jones made an impact on films, and the Hollywood scene, being married to Selznick, and having so much tragedy in her life, as the almost price for her fame which began with her world stunning performance, in "The Song Of Bernadette," back in 1943.

                                        Actually, this date was big in her life.  She was born, started production on 'Bernadette' on this date, and a year later, on her 25th birthday, received the Academy Award for her stunning performance.

                                          How we miss Jennifer Jones, but annual Easter viewings of "The Song Of Bernadette" keep her alive in our minds and our hearts!

                                           So, here is to Jennifer Jones, whose portrait of Bernadette will lives in hearts for generations!

Never forgotten!

                                                                                 

Brilliant!  And look at Arthur Millers Oscar winning

cinematography!

                                     The apotheosis of Jennifer Jones!

Happy Birthday! "The Sound Of Music" Turns 55 Years Old Today!

                                            I can hardly believe I was alive, back then.  Imagine, the thousands in those first night audiences, gasping at the first sight of that gorgeous Austrian scenery, as the music built, and the camera zoomed in on Julie Andrews doing that historic twirl, and then the voice that came out, which was just so exquisite.

                                              Sure, girls, by now we have seen it dozens of times, but to think being among the privileged few when this was revealed to the world for the first time.

                                                And still, people, when seeing it on screen--the only way to see it--gasp at the iconic opening.  I attended a screening a little over a year ago, and the reaction was exactly the same.

                                                  So, Happy Birthday to "The Sound Of Music."  If only a local theater was having a screening today.  I know some will dig out their DVD's and watch it tonight, but it really doesn't do the film justice.

                                                    Happy 55th to this celebrated film!  Let's see if we can get a look at Julie!  Here is an excerpt, from that iconic opening scene!

And here is Heather Menzies, my favorite of the children, whom I always wanted to be, especially to wear this dress!  Rest In Peace, Heather, and be proud of the screen legacy you left on Earth!

Jennifer McMahon Has Done It Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          One almost cannot go wrong with her, darlings!

                                           The questions in this novel is not just "Who are the invited?" but "To what are they invited to?"  This is a supernatural mystery that plays with the tragic history of three generations of women of the Breckinridge family, versus Helen and Nate, a couple trying to rebuild a house in Hartsboro, Vermont, and their lives, and Olive, a girl who has lost her mother, her father, Dustin, a tragic and vicious man, and Aunt Riley, Dustin' s sister.

                                             McMahon goes skillfully back and forth between ghost narration and character study.  The Breckinridge history is fascinating, but the climax of the murder mystery aspect is so wonderfully pulled off by McMahon, I had no idea what was coming.  Until then, I thought I had a clear picture of where the story was going.  Well, I was delightfully fooled.

                                                Atmospheric, suspenseful, while at time moving at a slower pace in spots, "The Invited" is for readers of this genre, and those who love Jennifer McMahon.  I have read many of her books, but not all, so I really need to go out and find what I have neglected of hers to read.

                                                  You are all invited to read "The Invited."  Perfect for these cold, winter nights, with tea and dainties!

                                                   Heh!  Heh!  Heh!

Let's Say Hello To March!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Here we are in the third month, already.  I thought this picture was so cute, as it heralds the promise of Spring, even though Easter is not until April 12.

                                      Let us hope March brings warmth, love, and happiness.

                                      It used to mean much more--the annual showing of "The Wizard Of Oz" on TV, and the Oscars, all took place in this month, when I was years younger.  Today, March's events are what we make them.

                                       So may your March events be truly happy ones!

                                        I will be sure to report, on here!