Daughter # 1 and I were singing to wee Katie and were not able to remember the “real” lyrics to Guys and Dolls (see above) so we looked them up.
We had fun, but she was not impressed:
We also found the Fireside Book of American Folk Songs–a classic published in 1957–
and we sang all our faves, but again:
“Who are they, Mommy?”
I guess our singing stinks, but we had fun anyway. Katie forgave us. Singing is not something I have done much of lately (no church) so I am out of practice, but it is fun and I recommend it. It lightens the spirits.
I will also note that last night we watched the 1951 Alastair Sim version of Scrooge. It was great. The Barbara Allen scene always makes me cry.
…as does the whole second half of the movie. (“Barbara Allen” is in the Fireside book, by the way, and we sang it in the afternoon.) Watch it or, better yet, read the Dickens book which the movie faithfully follows:
“I don’t know what to do!” cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath; and making a perfect Laocoön of himself with his stockings. “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-body! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!”
–Charles Dickens
At the very least, send a check to the Salvation Army.
Cards in each mailbox, angel, manger, star and lamb, as the rural carrier, driving the snowy roads, hears from her bundles the plaintive bleating of sheep, the shuffle of sandals, the clopping of camels. At stop after stop, she opens the little tin door and places deep in the shadows the shepherds and wise men, the donkeys lank and weary, the cow who chews and muses. And from her Styrofoam cup, white as a star and perched on the dashboard, leading her ever into the distance, there is a hint of hazelnut, and then a touch of myrrh.
“Christmas Mail” by Ted Kooser
Read through this article about the line-up of December Christmas movies (and others) on TCM to find out why Paul Zahl and I should truly be best friends. I mean really. I don’t agree with his take on all the movies, but The World of Henry Orient and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon are spot on.
This is an interesting tidbit about Episcopal minister Endicott Peabody in the Old West. He built St. Paul’s Episcopal in Tombstone that stands today as the oldest Protestant church in Arizona.
On December 21 Saturn and Jupiter will align into a beautiful bright star. This will be the first time they align like this since the Middle Ages. According to Forbes, the two planets will look like a “double planet” and provide an extraordinary amount of light. The last time these two planets aligned like this was on March 4, 1226, according to astronomer Patrick Hartigan at Rice University. Pretty cool. I hope I remember to look.
We were sad to learn that Charlie Pride, country singing superstar and the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, had died at age 86.
Here’s Mr. Pride bringing some Christmas cheer your way 50 years ago:
Enjoy your Tuesday. Only three more days ’til Christmas vacay starts pour moi.
Sometimes when you’ve had a day full of Zoom meetings and newsletters revisions and two hours on the phone with the university IT help desk, there is nothing to do but watch Youtube videos of Steve McQ.
Tonight, if I’m still feeling really confused, I may have to indulge in a little Channing Tatum…
‘Cause a woman ought to do what she thinks is best.
That’s all I’ve got today. Oh, and this from Samuel Taylor Coleridge:
Recently I watched the movie My Foolish Heart (1949) which, as you know, is the only film adaptation of a fictional work written by J.D. Salinger. It was loosely adapted from his short story, “Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut,” and Salinger was so disappointed with the changes made to his original story, that he never again allowed any of his work to be adapted for film.
Dana Andrews and Susan Hayward–all wrong
It isn’t a terrible movie (especially if you don’t know the Salinger connection.) The screenplay is, after all, by Julius and Philip Epstein, who wrote Casablanca (1942). But they took Salinger’s poignant little story and turned it into a four-star tearjerker, giving it the full-blown Hollywood treatment. He must have been really embarrassed, I mean really embarrassed. I re-read the story and I suggest you do the same.
This is an interesting article about a dead Presbyterian who still has a lot to say to us.
And this article by an Episcopalian makes some good points.
And I like this poem by Richard Wilbur:
A Barred Owl
The warping night air having brought the boom Of an owl’s voice into her darkened room, We tell the wakened child that all she heard Was an odd question from a forest bird, Asking of us, if rightly listened to, “Who cooks for you?” and then “Who cooks for you?”
Words, which can make our terrors bravely clear, Can also thus domesticate a fear, And send a small child back to sleep at night Not listening for the sound of stealthy flight Or dreaming of some small thing in a claw Borne up to some dark branch and eaten raw.
Who cooks for you?
*George Bernard Shaw (He continued, “The difficulty is to find them to do. Never lose a chance: it doesn’t come every day.””)
Today we toast Theodore Roosevelt on his birthday.
Roosevelt in 1885, the year he moved to his ranch in the Dakotah Territory.
I think I will watch The Wind and the Lion (1975) in honor of our 26th president. This film, you will recall, is about an international incident being (almost) triggered when an Arab chieftain (Sean Connery) kidnaps an American widow and her children. President Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Keith) deals with it American style–He sends in the Marines.
It is also the anniversary of the day Rebel Without a Cause debuted in 1955, 65 years ago! James Dean had just died less than a month before in a car wreck at the age of 24. It is hard to imagine that this story of teenage angst and rebellion was viewed as being quite shocking back in the day, but it was. It seems quite innocent, even sweet, to our jaded eyes.
And, hello, how did I miss the fact that American golf legend Tiger Woods attended the grand opening of Payne’s Valley Golf Course at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri (near Branson) on Tuesday, September 22. Named after Ozarks native and fellow golf legend Payne Stewart, it is the first public-access golf course designed by Woods. The 19th hole at Payne’s Valley, we are told, is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about golf holes in the world (see below). “Nature golf” looks kind of like miniature golf for grown ups, but who am I to say.
Mid-MO makes the theBig Time.
Finally, here is a great version of the classic Townes Van Sant song “Pancho and Lefty” performed by Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. (Also, I spy with my little eye a young Marty Stuart on mandolin.) Check it out.
Daughter #1 has been crisscrossing the state this week doing exciting things in great weather…
…so I am standing in for her on the blog today!
But as you might have guessed from yesterday’s post, it’s been a busy week for me as well with my usual load of Zoom classes and a virtual national conference added in! Zut alors, it is hard to focus on anything! Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun.
Well, here’s a good list of movies to watch in November from one of my favorite retired priests, Paul Zahl. If he says, “No better movie has ever been made about the real life of a local parish minister,” you better believe it. (He’s talking about Stars in My Crown (1950)
Today is the feast day of Frithuswith, the patron saint of Oxford and of Oxford University. She is credited with establishing a religious site later incorporated into Christ Church in Oxford. Frithuswith (650-727) was the first abbess of this Oxford double monastery. I had never heard of her either. You can read more about her here. Great name, though, right?
It is also the birthday of Sir Thomas Browne (1605 – 1682) about whom I know next to nothing.
I really like this statue of Sir Thomas Browne in Norwich.
However, Herman Melville was a great fan and called him a “crack’d Archangel.” Virginia Woolf said, “Few people love the writings of Sir Thomas Browne, but those that do are the salt of the earth.” And Jorge Luis Borges said, “Sir Thomas Browne — I love him. I translated him into 17th century Spanish and it worked very well.” So I guess I better start reading some Thomas Browne.
I didn’t do much this weekend. I continued to read Death in Holy Orders by P.D. James, which I tried to read years ago. I am enjoying it this time around. I finally gave up on Jack by Marilynne Robinson. Apropos of that disappointment, I had an email exchange with one of my institute’s facilitators, a retired professor, who is also a big Robinson fan and has taught her other books. It went like this:
ME: Are you reading Jack by M. Robinson? I have to say I am disappointed. I guess my expectations were too high.
Prof: I am VERY disappointed with “Jack”. I’m not sure I can bring myself to teach it. I’m considering alternatives.
ME: I’m not sure I can bring myself to FINISH it!
Prof: AGREED! ALAS!
Academic ALL CAPS!
The OM and I celebrated our aforementioned anniversary with a drive to Defiance, MO and a visit to the Sugar Creek Winery. It was very pleasant and the wine wasn’t bad.
Unfortunately, it was rather nippy temperature-wise and I had not worn appropriate gear, so we didn’t spend a leisurely afternoon like last Sunday. We are still learning the ropes of how these winery visits work.
You will recall that Defiance is where frontiersman Daniel Boone ended his long career, arriving around 1800 at the age of 65 with his wife and several of his children. Nathan Boone, his youngest son, built the home which one can visit today. Daniel Boone passed away in this home on Sept. 26, 1820 (200 years ago!) For Missouri, that is a very old house.
I have visited the home, once as a child and once with my own children, but not in at least 25 years and certainly not since 2016, when the Historic Daniel Boone Home and surrounding property in Defiance was given to the people of St. Charles County by Lindenwood University. The nearly 300 acre site includes The Historic Daniel Boone Home, adjoining Village historic site, and surrounding property. We will have to check it out soon.
I also watched Signs (2002)–a favorite of mine. It is a good movie to watch in the Halloween season because it is scary, but it is also a great movie about lost faith and miracles. Swing away, Merrill.
I had a quiet weekend. There were no margaritas and no wee babes. I went to an estate sale and to TJ Maxx. I swept out the garage. I moved my plants inside from the Florida room. (We turned the heat on!) I put my spring/summer clothes away and got out my turtlenecks.
I started reading Marilynne Robinson’s newest book, Jack. It takes place in St. Louis.
St. Louis was quite a town. He wondered if Della had ever seen Eads Bridge from down by the water. It. looked like the walls of Troy. Gigantic, tawny stones, soaring arches. Of course, the stones themselves would be as ancient as the stones of Troy, and the fossils in both of them older, by the measure of the little lives that had fallen into whatever it was, clay by the color of it. And the eons they had spent evolving so they could end up there.
I literally slept through Marooned (1969), a movie I had not seen since I saw it at the movies back in the day. (I still haven’t seen it.) Despite Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, Gene Hackman, James Franciscus, David Janssen, and John Sturges directing, this movie about three American astronauts stranded in space could not hold my attention. Maybe I’ll try again.
And maybe not.
I watched Key Largo (1948) which is a great movie. It is my favorite of the Bogart/Bacall films and, as I’ve said many times, Claire Trevor is spectacular. Lauren Bacall takes a backseat in this movie, allowing Claire to shine in the spotlight, but in her own quiet way, she was never better and she looks great. Edward G. Robinson is pretty swell too as a bully and a coward.
In one of the filler segments on TCM, the six hosts talked about what movies they watch in order to feel better in trying times. It was interesting and, not surprisingly, their choices to me were quite banal–but the point is, to each his own. The two women picked musicals that lifted their spirits and the men all picked their favorite movies–you know, The Godfather, Taxi Driver etc. I would agree that comfort to me comes in the form of my favorites, be they comedies or dramas. I happened to watch part of The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) while I was folding laundry, and felt much better having seen ol’ Steve McQueen drive that dune buggy on the beach. Faye Dunaway laughs and loses her cool and squeals in terror and then laughs. It seemed very real.
A quiet weekend at home is fine. I enjoyed seeing texted pictures of my busy grandchildren playing soccer…
at the playground…
and taking walks in the stroller…
Pax vobiscum or “Well, my friend, are you ready to do me this service?”.
And now it is Monday and we’ll start another week with a little help from Marvin Gaye, hopefully on the right note:
*”I sing because I’m happy/And I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow/And I know Jesus watches me” (Harvey Fuqua)
It is October! We are “back at school” but still on Zoom. Sigh. Thankfully, the weather is beautiful and fall-like and it is Friday. The leaves are turning, but we won’t hit peak for weeks here in flyover country.
The boy came over yesterday afternoon to help haul things out to the curb for (another) bulky trash pickup. We got rid of a lot of ‘stuff’ that daughter #1 and I bagged up over the last few weekends, plus some big items that were just taking up space.
The wee laddie accompanied his dad and when I was tidying up the living room before they went home, I found him …
…in the bag of Beanie Babies! Quel nutball!
I thought this article was typical of Apartment Therapy and there “must do,” right now, apocalyptic, “as the climate crisis grows more dire” attitude to everything, but it did get me thinking. If you had to leave home because of an emergency, what would you grab?
This was a thoughtful post about Raskolnikov and the Gospel of Luke and includes this provocative line, “Just prior to this, my mother had revitalized her commitment to the local Episcopal church after years of shoddy attendance.”
TCM will be celebrating 30 years of The Film Foundation in October so I am looking forward to watching a lot of good movies. Last night I watched one of my favorites: La Strada (1954), Fellini’s masterpiece.
“Its purpose is – how should I know? If I knew, I’d be…the Almighty, who knows everything. When you’re born. When you die. Who knows? No, I don’t know what this pebble’s purpose is, but it must have one, because if this pebble has no purpose, then everything is pointless. Even the stars! At least, I think so. And you too. You have a purpose too.”
I will be on my own this weekend, so it will be a quiet one. Believe me, I need one! How about you?
Lot’s of famous actors were born on this day: Greer Garson, Gene Autry, Trevor Howard, Stanley Kramer, Brenda Marshall, Madeline Kahn…the list goes on and we could toast any of them. But I’m going to focus instead on someone who died on this day: the actor Edward Everett Horton, born in Brooklyn, New York in 1886.
Over his long acting career, Horton frequently played an eccentric friend or a butler…
…and you might remember his distinctive voice as the narrator of “Fractured Fairy Tales” on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (1959-61).
But who can forget him as the medicine man, Roaring Chicken on F Troop (1965-67), a show my DP and I loved as children?
With Frank de Kova (left) as Chief Wild Eagle
Indeed, Horton was one of those wonderful character actors who always stood out and added so much to every movie/TV show he was in.
Here’s a classic scene with the also great Eric Blore from Shall We Dance (1937).
Well, I am happy to remember Edward Everett Horton today and to toast him…with a pipkin of porter… a beaker of beer?
Enjoy your Tuesday!
(The painting is by Winslow Homer, whose birthday is today.)
dual personalities 