Yowsah!

I sure do love me some young Elvis...

Hey from Uncle George!

Gregory Peck

So serenely handsome...

(photo kidnapped from freemooviesonline)

Keith Haring's Admirer

September 11th of last year Marina and I were at the Keith exhibit at Grounds for Sculpture and I managed to quickly snap this photo of a man taking in Keith's Curling Dog. The stranger had such a fabulous, 80s inspired NYC style - the Adidas, the funky hat, the slightly tapered jeans - and I felt transported back in time to when Keith was alive and well.

tell me what you love

boats
the sea
green
pink
scarves
snow
water
the sky
books
mountains
houses
sculpture
pillows
blankets
photographs
hands
patchouli
cookies
pizza
owls
snoopy
book stores
candlelight
music
records
accents
gentlemen
manners
buttons
stickers
little kids
puppies
sincere compliments
pink roses
bearded fellas
white daisies
soft skin
piggy banks
keys
sleep
postcards/letters
clouds
hugs
stars

Rome

Another slide from my grandmother's trip to Italy in the 70s. The woman in the foreground makes this photo.

In the Barrens

Driving to Karen's house on Wednesday I noticed this sad, abandoned house and had to photograph it. I'm always drawn to the ruins of old homes and buildings. The bare trees and missing glass windows made this house particularly eye catching.

George Beitler Hylander

Ah...Uncle Bud. What a fabulous fella, and another relative that I never had the pleasure of meeting. He was my grandfather's first cousin and also his best friend. My Grandad always spoke so highly of Uncle Bud, telling me once "He was a good man. not squeamish or factitious." After my grandfather passed, I inherited Bud's wife, Blanche's, Amelia Earhart suitcase. Inside I discovered old photos, medals, and even Uncle Bud's Boy Scout sash with all of his badges. Here are some of the fabulous photographs that I am now the proud owner of:

The Hurt Locker

(photo kidnapped from filmofilia)

Although I adore nearly every actor in this film - from Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie as leads to Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce, and Christian Carmago in supporting roles - I was hesitant to watch it. I am trying to lead a more peaceful existence, in my thoughts and in my actions, and films about war, especially the war in the Middle East, tend to fill me with rage. But this film left me with hope that not all of those that fight in this war are without feeling. Some are courageous and fragile and incredibly noble in their efforts. Well done by all involved!

Clarence L. Hudson

Clarence, a very distant relative of mine, is pictured below during the 1910s, he was a chauffeur back then, and stands beside (if I am correct) a Pierce-Arrow. He was so tall and so proud of his glorious automobile. This photograph of a man I've never known sits delicately on a bookcase where I see him every morning.

Rome, Open City

He who fights for justice and truth walks in the path of God...and the paths of God are infinite.

(photo kidnapped from denofgeek)
(ps - this scene makes me cry every single time. even just looking at this frame makes my eyes burn with pending tears.)

The Waltz

This is one of the most gorgeous pieces of sculpture I've ever seen. Camille Claudel has been a favourite of mine since high school and this is without question, one of her finest works. The grace and movement of the lovers is so smooth and effortless. It's captivating.

If it were up to me...

...these would be my picks for the best of 2010:

Best Picture - Lovely, Still

(Lovely, Still photo kidnapped from traileraddict)
Black Swan
The King's Speech
The American
Inception

Best Director - Nicholas Fackler for Lovely, Still (Nicholas Fackler photo kidnapped from zimbio)
Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan
Tom Hooper for The King's Speech
Anton Corbijn for The American
Christopher Nolan for Inception

Best Actress - Natalie Portman for Black Swan
(Natalie Portman photo kidnapped from beyondhollywood)
Ellen Burstyn for Lovely, Still
Patricia Clarkson for Cairo Time
Hailee Steinfeld for True Grit
Lena Dunham for Tiny Furniture

Best Actor - Martin Landau for Lovely, Still
(Martin Landau photo kidnapped from media.theiapolis)
James Franco for Howl
Colin Firth for The King's Speech
Mark Wahlberg for The Fighter
George Clooney for The American

Best Supporting Actress - Melissa Leo for The Fighter
(Melissa Leo photo kidnapped from bravenewhollywood)
Amy Adams for The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter for The King's Speech
Mila Kunis for Black Swan
Melissa Leo for Welcome to the Reily's

Best Supporting Actor - Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech
(Geoffrey Rush photo kidnapped from marmasnews)
Christian Bale for The Fighter
Kevin Kline for The Extra Man
Matt Damon for True Grit
Vincent Cassel for Black Swan

Best Documentary Feature - Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (Radiant Child photo kidnapped from barbarajanereyes)
Kings of Pastry
A Film Unfinished
Inside Job
Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould

Best Original Screenplay - Lovely, Still
(Lovely, Still photo kidnapped from traileraddict)
Black Swan
The Fighter
Howl
The King's Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay - True Grit
(True Grit photo kidnapped from frommysomewhatseriousmind)
Toy Story 3
The Town
127 Hours
The American

I am still looking forward to Oscar Night with Emma even though a lot of my favourites of the past year will be absent. Fingers locked in crossed position for Ms. Portman to bring home a golden boy! She was completely mesmerising.

Joan Armatrading

A few years back I discovered this lovely photo of Ms. Armatrading. My affinity for her grew when Cerpts made me a kick ass mix with the following songs:

• Drop the Pilot
• (I Love It When You) Call Me Names
• Frustration
• When I Get It Right
• I'm Lucky
• Me Myself I
• The Weakness in Me
• Heaven
• Down to Zero
• Love and Affection
• Show Some Emotion
• Willow
• Rosie
• Save Me
• Bottom to the Top
• In Your Eyes
• Recommend My Love
• Tender Trap
• You Made Your Bed
• In These Times
• Blessed

Antwerpen - April 9, 1945

Florence, Italy

My grandmother took this slide while vacationing in Florence in the late 1970s. Nana is known for taking not so fabulous photos. Lots of heads cut off and images completely blurred. The above picture is her masterpiece and I doubt she even realises it. Only the chair to the left and two of the glasses are clear and crisply in focus and therein lies the beauty.

Grandad Tom in the War

My favourite story about my grandfather was the time when he was asked by his commanding officer to go on a night patrol with two other men in Okinawa. My grandfather had a bad feeling about it and told his C.O., "Respectfully, sir, I decline." He had a young wife and son back home and he was not about to go on any suicide missions. Of course this infuriated the C.O. and he said, "How do you feel about serving five years in a federal penitentiary, Corporal!?!" Always quick on his feet, Grandad Tom replied, "Leavenworth, Kansas sure sounds nice right about now." Needless to say, the three men that did go out, never came back.

Nelson Mandela

Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.

(photo kidnapped from stern.de) - photographed by Herb Ritts

Melody Gardot

A while back my mother introduced me to the song Baby, I'm a Fool and I was gobsmacked. The voice, the arrangement, everything about the song was pure perfection. Melody's album My One and Only Thrill, carries that perfection throughout the entire cd. It deserves to be mentioned that Ms. Gardot is as beautiful as her music.

(all black and white photos by Nicholas Jhara & Shervin Lainey)

(photo kidnapped from LondonJazz)

I ♥ Lilly

This book is so hilarious. I picked it up at The Loft and was cracking up with each and every page. Kevin Henkes is ridiculously gifted - I love his words and his characters and adore his illustrations. Lilly is the cutest, sassiest, most super dooper fun mouse ever. Read it and see for yourself!