June 2024 Donations

The County Theater 

I decided it was time to become a member of The County Theater in Doylestown, PA. I've only been there once, but really want to support them and the wonderful classic films they show. 

The County Theater is YOUR nonprofit, community-based, member-driven movie theater specializing in art house films, classic film restorations, and local partnerships. We are committed to excellent programming and to meaningful community outreach.

Our mission: Exhibit art, independent and world films; Educate the community about the film and media arts; Serve as a community and charitable resource for the arts; Preserve the historic theaters as cultural resources.

The County Theater is a place where film comes to life by engaging the community with guest speakers, lively discussions and educational programming, and by screening movies for all ages. Join or renew your membership today to keep great films in our community and support a cultural landmark.

Members enjoy reduced admission prices and free admission to many of our special programs. Sustaining level memberships provide additional support to the theater and enjoy additional benefits. Be a member at the level which is right for you - all of which are tax-deductible.

The Colonial Theatre

Blobfest is right around the corner and I felt compelled to donate to them once again since they are my fave movie theatre ever!

Typewriter Puzz

(photo for puzzle by Phat Dog Vintage)

The Music God Still Reigns Supreme

I was making a new playlist on Wednesday and remembered a song from a band that I wanted to add to it. Only problem is, I couldn't remember the name of the band, or the song, or how it went, or the lyrics, if it had any. All I knew was that it was whatever genre of music Fat Boy Slim produced and it was late 90s and that maybe the lead singer had bleached hair in the MTV video. I gathered the little information I had and messaged Bishop for help. And son-of-a-bitch, he did it!

Lucy's Mini Barbie Plane

Lucy and Mama Stacey are in Indiana for a few weeks and I've been able to FaceTime with the wee lady at least four times so far. The other night she was showing me her teeny tiny plane for her mini Barbies and just being her usual cute self. Especially when she went out on the porch and had to sit quietly while her grandmother and mother chatted. I snapped off a screenshot of her pinching her nose and looking pensive. Can't wait til she comes home and we can hang out!

I Am: Céline Dion

I logged in to work this morning and booted up my personal PC to put something on in the background while I worked. I trotted on over to Prime to pull up Sunday in New York, which I bought a few days ago. When the main Amazon screen popped up it scrolled over to announce a new documentary on singer extraordinaire, Céline Dion. Ooo!! I do so love a documentary. So I put Ms. Fonda's film on hold for the moment and hit play for Ms. Dion. It's impossible to see Céline Dion and not think about Michael. Oh my gosh, the number of times we would be out driving around through the Pine Barrens in Jean-Michel, me smoking Fantasia Lights and Michael on USA cheap-ass cigarettes, and blasting Céline Dion is innumerable. I played It's All Coming Back to Me Now (one of the best songs ever) and Michael lost his mind. He'd never heard that track before (not sure how that's possible) and we had it on repeat over and over and over on so many drives. "This song is as good as really great sex. It's orgasmic!" (Sidebar: Michael was actually in my dream last night at a picnic table somewhere. It was so good to see him and get a hug.) 

I really admire Ms. Dion for taking part in this documentary and showing herself at such a vulnerable point in her life. It was so upsetting to see her in pain, be it mental or physical, and to know she has, hopefully only for the time being, lost the range of her singing voice. No matter what she was dealing with, she always came across as overwhelmingly kind and polite to everyone with whom she interacted. It's no surprise that I was choked up at many moments, but none more so then when she had a spasm which led to a full seizure. She was shaken, embarrassed, and unable to move or speak. Throughout it all her physical therapist and an aide, named Brian, kept her calm and reassured her that she was okay. When Brian kept soothing her and referring to her as Boss, I lost it and dissolved into a puddle of tears. What a relief to know that she has such genuinely caring people at her side to comfort her during these traumatic times. Through it all, Ms. Dion never lost her positive attitude. A class act straight across the board. I hope she knows that all the fans that came to see her in concert and buy her albums, we didn't do it merely because we love her voice, we did it because we love her. Her voice was a gift to her but she is clearly the gift to us. What an absolutely remarkable woman. 

(photo kidnapped from celinedion)

The Roosters at Wing's

When Kayla and I stayed at Wing’s Castle we had to endure a film crew on the second night. They were right outside our back door and were loud as hell. When we stepped out front to take in sunset, they followed and, like typical Americans, ruined it with their raucous chatter. Kay dubbed them The Roosters because they kept us awake with their squawking. Also, their movie stunk.

Girls on Film!

Plus one boy - Xavier!

37 St. Peter's Road

In feeding my daydreams I looked up homes for sale in Phibsborough and came across this listing. The place is super crazy fabulous and I can so see myself decorating it and making it more me. I love the little patio out front and would load it up with plants and flowers plus a birdbath. I'd warm up the kitchen with Nana Irma's classic coffee and cream checkered wallpaper. The downstairs would have the front parlour for relaxing and watching Gogglebox Ireland and the other room I'd make into a fabulous library. Upstairs there'd be a fun office, a cosy spare bedroom, and of course, my room. The yard even has a little patch of grass for a swing and maybe even a telescope for stargazing.

Gemstones

Sammy Hagar - The Girl Gets Around

Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Big Apple Boogaloo

Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song

Kelly Osbourne - Don't Touch Me When I'm Sleeping

Robert Rodriguez - Old Town

Steve Miller Band - The Joker

Cathy Dennis - Another Dream

Nicole Kidman - Sparkling Diamonds

Joaquin & Reese - It Ain't Me Babe

SRV - Texas Flood

Pat Boone - When the Swallows...

Paul Revere & the Raiders - Steppin' Out on Me

Hinton Battle - What You Feel

Boston - More Than A Feeling

Sleater-Kinney - Step Aside

Theme from Laverne & Shirley

Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode

Billy Joel - For the Longest Time

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Pink Floyd - Eclipse 

Elvis Presley - A Mess of Blues

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Breaking the Girl

Bo Diddley - I'm a Man

16 February 2006

One Episode Left

I don't know what sort of mettle Isabella possesses that she can see the penultimate episode of Mr. Inbetween and not finish the series. *Spoilers Below*

Somethin' Stupid

Years and years ago I had a mad crush on Robbie Williams. At the time I was friends with a gal who photoshopped my head on to Nicole Kidman's body and poof! The illusion of a romance with Robbie was a faux-reality! She did a pretty decent job, didn't she?

Seen In East Greenwich

Let us stand together to end racial injustice.

While at a stop light in MTown on the 16th of August 2020 I saw this sign and had to pull out my phone, zoom in, and snap a photo of it. I love the thought of someone in a small town having a placard with letters and deciding what they want to say to the people in the community how they are feeling about the state of our country and coming up with strong, kind words and then posting them for everyone to see. Hopefully it made people think and especially to let passersby know that there are still good humans roaming this earth of ours. 

Magpie Murders

I saw this series last year or maybe early this year and all I could remember was that I had liked it. and that I watched it solely for Lesley Manville. Well, since I have Britbox/Acorn still, I thought, what the hell, and put it on again. 

ps - I forgot so much about this!! It was just as good bingeing it a second time. I guess I’ll give it another six months and see it all over again once I’ve forgotten the entire plot! 

(photo kidnapped from famousfix)

New Year's Eve 2005

I'd all but forgotten about this photo that I snapped of Bryan in the juice aisle almost twenty years ago. He wasn't fond of being photographed, but indulged me from time to time. I love the blurriness and the life-in-action feel of this picture. Bryan was one of the best men I've ever known and I hope that he is still kind and warm, and most of all, healthy and very, very happy.

Leaving for Japan

Not sure if Nana Irma would approve of my sharing this letter...but it's a lovely time capsule of the early years of her marriage to Grandad Tom while he was in the service during the Second World War. It was no secret that he absolutely and completely adored Irma to the ends of the Earth. She loved him in return but never with the same passion and intensity as he had for her. This letter was particularly touching when he mentions having seen a stage show that was put on for the troops and wishing to have seen it with his bride. A lot of his letters during the war mention his daydreams of her; seeing films together, decorating their home, and mostly just being together doing every day things. He was a romantic to the core and I wish that he had lived for as long as we had Nana Irma. 

7 Sep 45

My Darling:

Well we are still waiting for the word to load up on the planes and take off for Japan surely we must go to day. The first battalion of the regiment pulled out last night and we are allready and packed up waiting for the word to leave.

Last night I saw a wonderful stage show it was a Marine show with Dick Jurgens orchestra, they are all in the Marines and they certainly did knock themselves out and put on a grand show. There was an excellent ventriloquist, several good comedians and the band played some really good music. The movie that followed disappointed me somewhat it was Here Come the Waves but I did not think it was up to Bing Crosby's or Betty Hutton's standard.

No mail today darling from you I got a paper from Marjorie Koch but that was all, yesterday not being very busy I wrote a lot of letters I answered Lorraine's letter also Jeanne Bloger's and Ray Kern's and I dropped a letter off to mother besides writing you that long letter. If I have time after I finnish this I will write to Mercedes.

Whenever I see a good stage show it always make me think very much of you how I would have liked to see that with you and enjoyed it together then we could have gone home grabbed a bite to eat and talked it over and then to bed. My darling do you know that I believe you will develop bed sores for a week or more I need you so much that way and every way. It makes me very happy to think that you miss me in that way or have you forgotten those wonderful nights. If it meant as much to you as you made it seem why I can't see how you could have forgotten. You are such a wonderful wife in so many ways, beautiful, intelligent, a good conversationalist and a magnificent bed partner, I am proud of the fact that you are my wife I believe it is my biggest asset.

So long for now darling I think of you constantly and adore every little thing about you soon I may be once again by your side at least it wont be too long it is near enough in the future that we can think about it anyway and a few months ago we darent even hope that our meeting could be so close.

All my love

Tom

Warren the 13th and the Thirteen Year Curse

So sad that I'm on the last Warren the 13th book, but man, oh man, it is fantastic!

Doctor Visit for Two

Today I picked up Kayla and we went to see my dermatologist, who is pretty much the nicest man in town. We booked an appointment for two (we saw him separately though) and got checked out and told that we looked pretty close to perfect with no need for biopsies or anything scary. Hurrah! (Not that we were worried. Well, not that we were too worried...) How did we celebrate? How dya think!? We went to Goldie's in Fishtown, of course.

3 Days 2 Nights

I decided to cancel my Peacock subscription this month, but first I needed to watch all the shows I had yet to see. The last one was 3 Days 2 Nights, a documentary by John Breen about Andy and Mark Godfrey. As young boys, in March of 1974, the plane they were on with their parents, older sister and brother, crashed in the mountains of Colorado. It had me crying buckets and was a beautiful story of survival and surviving and going on to live their utterly changed lives as best they could. It was beautifully done and well worth watching again. 

The film's website gave the following synopsis:

Imagine the defining moment of your life.  Then imagine never talking about it with anyone.  This sets the stage for the documentary film 3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS. 

In 1974, Mark and Andy Godfrey went on a family ski vacation to Aspen, Colorado. Tragically, the plane they were traveling on crashed. The world, as they knew it, was changed forever.  Mark and Andy, who were 11 and 8, survived 3 days and 2 nights in the frigid mountains of Colorado.  For nearly 40 years they rarely discussed the crash, even between themselves. 

This is a film about two brothers coming to grips with the defining moment of their lives.  Their story is one of cathartic discovery in hopes of reconciling such a tragedy.  It’s about how the twin beacons of love and family can help overcome even the greatest of losses.

Music of 2022

In 2022 I continued tracking new artists, musicians, songs, and albums I came across and jotted them down in my Bullet It! journal. Since I already posted the ones from 2021, here are the ones from '22!

Tori Amos "Ocean to Ocean"

Dean Lewis

Sharon Van Etten

more Emily King

Midnight Star 

November Ultra

Olivia Rodrigo "Sour"

Chris Mann "Viral/Viral"

Billie Marten

E.G. Daily

Niela Miller

Franz Ferdinand "Hits to the Head"

Tony Bennett "The Movie Song Album" & "The Silver Linings"

Paul Anka

Michita

Alberta Hunter 

Ethel Waters

Gladys Bentley

Ma Rainey

Bessie Smith

The Music Man soundtrack

"Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays"

Bleached

Poly Styrene

Mahler

Laura Marling

Angel Blue

Fire City Funk "Surrender to Me"

The Swell Season

Sing Street soundtrack

Nightbirds

Jane Marczewski

Bobby Caldwell

The Style Council

Mary Lou Williams

Børns

Vum

W

Lucy Dacus

Sean Hayes

Jobriath

Taylor Swift

KALEI

TOMI

Los Super Elegantes

Ed Sheeran

Jeff Goldblum

Saulo

Harry Styles

Vance Joy

Maya Hawke

Harriette

Big Thief

The Wannadies

Brontez Purnell

Matthew Wilder

Julia Jacklin

girl in red

Norah Jones

Lomelda

Danger Mouse & Black Thought

Julien Baker

Angel Olsen

Khruangbin & Leon Bridges

Lynda Carter "Portrait"

Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum

Robert Palmer

Floor Jansen

Snarky Puppy

Polyphia

Regina Spektor

Alexandra Billings

Raheem DeVaughn & Apollo Brown

The Ivy Walls

Vieux Farka Touré and Khruangbin

Giorgia Borg

Billy Tipton

Quinn Christopherson

Daniel Knox 

Atta Boy

Eron Otcasek

The Summer Set

Florist

Lemon Sun

Jon Presstap

Lizzo

Keith Barrow

The Blue Notes

Teddy Pendergrass

Olly Murs "Marry Me"

Sam Ryder

The Clean

Katy Kirby

Bacon Bros "Philly Thing"

Bronski Beat

Nicotine Dolls

Florence + the Machine

The Fisherman's Friends

Nicolas Godin

St. Lucia

Hunx & His Punx

Milo Greene

Jonny Lang "Signs"

Mike Brown & David Cieri

Truman

Of the five vehicles I've owned since 1995, Truman, my 2002 (I think) Saturn S-Type was my absolute fave. He was cute, but roomie, and had roll down windows and the locks were manual so I could open people's car doors with the key, which I thought was old school and fabulous. He was zippy and I could parallel park him into the tightest spots. He was a wonderful car and I miss him. I really love Roark, who is cute as a baby blue bumblebee, but there was something about Truman that I really really loved.

Tazo Tea

When I worked at the café I used to get a kick out of the clever sayings on the Tazo tea bags. I even cut them up and pasted them in a notebook.