The Beauty of the BanalLife Is Sweet (1990) - A working-class London family tries to live their lives day to day. Dad's vivid imagination lets him survive a job he hates. Mom is the family optimist and their twin twenty-something daughters struggle with life in general.Directed by Mike LeighStarring Jim Broadbent, Alison Steadman, Claire Skinner,... Continue Reading →
A Holiday Movie For A Holiday Weekend
The Second Best "White Christmas" MovieHoliday Inn (1942) - When the female dance partner in a nightclub trio chooses one guy over the other, the jilted one calls it quits. Instead, he opens an inn with an interesting hook. It’s only open on holidays. Along the way there’s a beautiful new female dancer, and the... Continue Reading →
New (and MESSY!) Creativity
My Creative Life Gets Hands On I'm continuing to look for new creative experiences, and earlier this year I tried pottery! At Christmas, I got a gift certificate to a cool local ceramics studio called Hand/Thrown (link). In addition to the staff doing their own work, they offer a variety of classes. From the first... Continue Reading →
A Giant Mess
Failure at a Giant ScaleThey Might Be Giants (1971) - A retired judge believes that he is Sherlock Holmes. When a relative, in pursuit of the judge's estate, tries to have him committed a new Dr. Watson enters the story. Together they face several mysteries they must try to resolve.Directed by Anthony HarveyStarring George C.... Continue Reading →
All The Wrong (Science) Stuff
Getting It All Wrong Turns Out To Be Just RightArmageddon (1998) - An asteroid threatens worldwide extinction with only eighteen days to find a solution. An oil drilling team of misfits gets the call to be the heroes All they have to do is overcome the training, the spaceflight, using equipment that's never been adequately... Continue Reading →
A Community on Two Wheels
Finding Folks I've been wanting to write about my life on two wheels, but my tendency to want perfection keeps getting in the way. Which is ridiculous since I don't believe in perfection. So, this isn't the perfect entrance to this topic. I don't care. We're just going to dive right in.There's a long story about... Continue Reading →
My Life Creative Goes High Tech
Adding New Tools For Creativity 2023 is shaping up as an interesting year for new creative outlets! I have several other new things to share later, but let's start with something high-tech and computer based. 3-D printing! Now, some of the more experienced folks in this field will be shaking their heads. They're thinking "You... Continue Reading →
Money Makes the World Go Mad!
The Greatest Comic Cast Ever?It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, World (1963) - When a career criminal dies in an automobile accident, he leaves clues to the secret location of a hidden fortune to a group of strangers. A cast of some of the greatest comedians of the 20th Century take off running is this comedy... Continue Reading →
Of Triumph and Tragedy and Bette Davis Eyes
Great Stars Will Always Be StarsDark Victory (1939) - A frivolous, beautiful heiress is diagnosed with a fatal illness. She faces a series of decisions about how she will face the end.Directed by Edmund GouldingStarring Bette Davis, Ronald Reagan, Humphrey BogartWhy I Liked It - Davis dominates the screen with a brilliant performance.This is Bette... Continue Reading →
Madcap Mayhem With Extra Murders!
The Tin Man Borrows The Lion's Courage? One Body Too Many (1944) – The unexpected death of a potential client leaves a shy insurance salesman trapped in a house with the likely murderer.Directed by Frank McDonaldStarring Jack Haley, Jean Parker, Bela LugosiWhy I Liked It – A lighthearted romp of a murder mystery with just a... Continue Reading →