Patrick's Sunday 7

I think Patrick's Sunday 7 is interesting this week.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Beginning with the top 10 websites as listed by Web100.com, list the websites from that list that you visit most often. If there aren't seven sites in their top 10 that you feel you visit enough to list, continue on to their next set of 10, and on, until you either fill 7 slots or run out of their rankings.

For example, of their top 10, I only really visit Amazon.com regularly, so I'd list it as my #1, then move on to their 11-20 rankings. Make sense?

Either answer the question in a comment or answer it in your journal and include the link in a comment.

The reason I think it's interesting is because you can possibly find a link to somewhere you've never been. I know I clicked on a few of Patrick's "favorite links" to see what they were all about.

Anyway, if I were to really choose the places I go the most they would all wind up being journal/ blog addresses lol.. so.. leaving those out here are the main sites I visit most often.. only 2 of them even reached that top 100 list! Hmmm, I wonder what that says about me?? (never mind, I don't think I want to know!)

1- http://ebay.com/

2- http://amazon.com/

3- http://imdb.com/

4- http://www.barnesandnoblez.com/goto.htm

5- http://www.half.ebay.com/

6- http://dictionary.langenberg.com/

7- http://www.geocities.com/leecoke/index.html

Almost...but not quite...darn!

Oh boy... Anna's comment asking if I ever met Sean Connery brought back an instantaneous memory! (thanks Anna!... it brought a smile to this face of mine!) So this is for you Anna.... thanks again for the memory.. it was a good one to have! (after Dorn's comment she may enjoy this also)

As some might guess, it's yet another DeForest (and Carolyn) episode...heh, go figure huh? Anna asks about Sean Connery and it turns into a DeForest story. (get use to it! lol)

During my years knowing the Kelley's, it meant they got to know me pretty well too. They knew of my love for movies and often we would sit in a small room in their home and chat about this actor or that, or a new movie that just came out. (more the actors)

The room we'd often sit in was a small bedroom that they converted to a office.. well sorta .. it's where Carolyn would take care of De's Fan Mail, but it was also a room with some nice soft chairs where Carolyn would sit to read because the room had ceiling to floor windows, plenty of natural light and where they'd sit to watch the animals come to the feeders they had right outside the windows, including a hummingbird feeder which De had trouble keeping full because they were at it ALL the time!

Anyway, where was I? Oh Sean Connery, right.

I never really had to buy any "movie type magazines" (but i did) because De and Carolyn kept me up to date on any of the actors that they knew I liked. This included: Richard Widmark (who De had worked with on more then one occasion), Kevin Sorbo (who they didn't know until I told them about his Hercules series, and then Carolyn watched for him), Harrison Ford (who De agreed was one fine actor), and of course... Sean Connery!

At times Carolyn or De would cut out articles of those they knew I was ... let's say: fond of. Sometimes Carolyn took to mailing them to me, other times she'dcall me and tell me, "next time you are by here don't let me forget to give you this article i found".. and so it went.

One day I piece of mail came to my apartment from them. In it was and ad for a Golf Tournament.... a "celebrity" Golf Tournament, (now why the heck did they send me this?... I found out when I read more closely) any guesses who one of them was?..heh. Right.. Sean Connery! The tickets to it were very reasonable and I called my girlfriend Sue, who i knew liked Connery too, and suggested:

"Want to go see a golf tournament?"

"Say what?"

"A golf tournament"

"Yeah, right ,sure.. it's my favorite sport...not!"

"Sean Connery will be playing..."

"How much..and when?" ... heh..

So.... it just happened that shortly after they sent me this information, but still a few weeks before the golf tournament, I was visiting De and Carolyn. Naturally.. the subject came up of Sean Connery.... naturally.

And De was ready for this particular conversation... naturally.

"So... I will bring my Cannon with the zoom lens," I was telling them. "If I'm lucky to get anywhere near him I can maybe get some good pictures. Have you ever been to a golf tournament?" I asked.

De responded that indeed he had.

"Do you think I will get close enough with this zoom to get a good shot or too?"

"Oh.. yes, I'm sure of that."

"Oh.. great!! It's just good that I don't get too close though."

"Oh?" Carolyn queried.

"Well, to be honest here.. heh.. if I were close enough to hear that gorgeous (sexy) voice of his... Sue would be peeling me off of the ground!"

"Hmmm," says De...

"Hmmm?" says I..

"Well.. I suggest you wear green."

"Huh?"

"Because at some point you will most likely get as close to him as you are to me right now and I would hate to see your white jeans get grass stains on them."

"gasp! You're joking right?"

(shit eating grin on his face) " nope"

(instant hot flash) "shit!"

(Carolyn is giggling uncontrollably) "Why? What's that matter Pat?"

"I'm just wondering how the pictures will look taken from the ground up!"

(total laugher on their part!)

As it turned out a week before the Tournament Connery had to cancel being in it.. so Sue and I cancelled our plans for the trip.. sigh.. well.. it's as close as I ever got to meeting Sean Connery. It's probably for the best though... my heart couldn't have handled seeing that face close up thru a zoom lens or hearing that voice!!

p.s De and Carolyn were nearly as devistated as I was when he cancelled... they really wanted to hear my reaction to seeing him in person! .. the little shits!

Feline Friday

It's "the day of the Kitties"!!!... and what did the 9 cats in this house do that I could take pictures of you ask?..........

They slept!

It's been in the 90's and humid, humid, humid here lately. My room has no air conditioner and i only have a small window fan. The other day it was 91 degrees in my room... below is Peanut, who along with BooBoo Kitty, thinks they own my room.. and my bed. (you can tell it's hot in here when she shows her belly!)

So, I sneaked downstairs with my camera and found Stinkey... once again the heat was winning over those great playing cat shots!

So.. there you have the exciting pictures from "the Cat House"... maybe next Friday will be better.. yah, that's the ticket!

Meanwhile, if you want to play or even if you just want to see more cat pictures.. head on over to (Sometimes) Photoblog and have a look or leave a link.... or both!

LifeTime Achievement..

I think I know why I didn't sleep well last night.
It had a lot to do with watching AFI's Tribute to Sean Connery for two hours!! Oh, help me but he's still "got it"! (woof!)
I was glad to see them give him a Life Achievement Award, and totally enjoyed seeing clips from most of his movies, though I did think they over did the James Bond films. They were great to be sure, but they totally left out mention of "The Wind and the Lion" and never saw one photo from The Medicine Man or Finding Forester. Three of his movies that I dearly love! I noticed they also left out A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I will admit that I think he looked his absolute "finest" when he did Hunt for Red October though. That movie alone created, for me, many "hot flashes" ..heh.. well.. sorta anyway.
Of all the speakers they had for Connery I thought their choice of the person to speak of Connery's distinct voice was about as good as it gets. Who better to be able to talk about "that special something in a voice," than James Earl Jones!
Yes, Sean Connery had some of the best up there talking about his career.. and well he should! I think Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were there to truly honor him but also to make mention that Indiana Jones's dad is needed for one more movie.. after which, Harrison Ford arrived on stage and started his talk by looking at Connery and saying one simple word: "Dad". Now that brought a smile to my face and hope in my heart that indeed they will get that last Indy movie made and "dad" will be in it along with Harrison!! (oh yeah, oh yeah!.. doing the happy dance here!)
The couldn't have picked a better actor to award the Life Time Achievement to if you ask me... all too soon I see actors of his caliber gone from the silver screen forever. Not that there are very good actors out there.. but they don't have whatever it is that the old time actors had, I see Sean Connery and Harrison Ford as the last of their breed... ahhh but what a breed they are!!


"Ahhhh, baby he's still got it!.........."
(here's a few links in case you want to read more about the Award Show:)
Hollywood Reporter..
eonline News..

There's always and excuse...

I am tired.

It's already 3:30 in the afternoon here and I just finished editing book 2 of my story. Well, not a real edit, because I don't know what I'm doing lol.. but I am trying to make the words flow better. I'm more then sure it needs a lot more fixing then I could ever give it. I've been pushing myself to do this because I'm hoping in the end it will keep me going so that I can begin writing another saga for my characters. But.. I'm really tired from being in front of this computer so much each day and now I have book one to do which is the longest of the three.

I probably shouldn't even bother since it's nothing worth ever publishing... but I like my characters so much that I don't want to let them just disappear from my mind. I'm sure that sounds ridiculous, but it's how I feel. I also have this "thing" about my story.. I want it to look and read the best it can be. I'm so hell-bent on this issue I'm afraid I'll ruin it instead of help it.

I really wish I knew more on how it's supposed to look. I scan over books I've read but I also know that's not how it should look if they aren't "real books". Such as: all my writing is "justified" ..this is because that is how it appears in books I've read. Yet I've read that it is easier to read if it's NOT justified.

I've spaced my lines by one and a half (so of course I've read they should be spaced 2 full spaces..sigh) I also know I tend to use too many commas, but Word spell check/ grammar check had few it stops and suggests a semi colon rarely.

Fortunately ....or not (heh) ...no one can tell how I write by my journal... I know I write in my journal as I do in IM chat.. which is: type fast, leave typos, use no punctuation or capitals lol. (and we won't mention the fact that if I use my computer to type a "snail mail" letter that I forget some of those I am writing to have no idea what abbreviations like "lol" mean! heh.. gawd, it may well be that this computer is not be such a good thing at times!

Anyway.. even though I know what's coming as I read thru the chapters, I still cry at parts that are emotional to me. You'd think by this time (having written it and reread it at least 4 more times) that I'd get over it! But noooooooooooo.. I sit here trying to see thru the tears and fix what little I can.

I wonder if I will ever get to a point where I finally say, "that's it... I know that I can't fix it anymore"? When in reality... anytime you reread something you've written you will change some things. No telling if it makes it better or worse, it's just when you read it, you are in a different place then you were when you wrote it. Now that I am 62 I wonder if I will still be trying to fix it when I'm 72?!

How does one know when "enough is enough" when you are the only one reading it?? (ok so a few others have read it.. but not anyone who would know what is right or wrong with it.. other then a typo)

I'm sorry my journal has been taking the brunt of my being so tired from all of this.. but it's either put up some photo's or talk about what I'm doing, which I don't want to bore anyone with by mentioning it all of the time... so.. just 38 more chapters to go and maybe my brain can go somewhere besides "Kesterwood Forest"!! Just know that for now it's in a really great place..

Hang in there please!!

A Rose by any other name.. is still a Rose!

Some more back yard pictures:

Weekend Assignment...

John's Weekend Assignment #116: The Things We Share With Dad

Weekend Assignment #116: Tell about some personality trait or quirk you got from your father -- or, if you're a father, some personality trait or quirk of yours you see in your kids.

Extra credit: Did you ever get dad a tie for Father's Day?

This one isn't that easy for me to answer, because my mother and father were divorced right after I was born. But as you can see.. one thing I got from my father, was to look like him!

I did know that when my mother met my father he was in a band. He played the big upright Bass (unlike the new fangled ones that one can wear over their shoulder like a guitar). He was also a singer.

Whelp... his voice I did NOT inherit! (you'll have to trust me on that one, cause I ain't about to sing!) But I did inherit the want to be in a band. Which as you know if you've read my journal for any amount of time, I did do.. though it wasn't for long. I'm just glad I got to do it, no matter how short it was.

And that's all I know about my Father.. so if I inherited anything else... I don't know about it! ... oh, and for extra credit.. ummm, no I never bought him a tie. (hard to buy any present for someone you never met)

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's and Granddads out there!!

Pimping my Son..

I'm about to pimp my son... yep you heard it.. gunna pimp some news that I just found out about him.

Since the news would only interest those who Rollar Blade or Speed Skate I'll be nice and only show his photo and give a link to read...

This is my son George. Married to the beautiful Kathleen, mother of my grandson Brent. George has been designing inline skate plates for some time now and it seems he's going to try to make it a business... below is the link to the newly acquired information.

So I ask that anyone into skating take a look.. or if you know someone tell them of the link!!

Skate Innovator Starts New Company
Liberty Sports will produce frames, wheels and bearings
By Planet staff
(posted Tuesday, June 13, 2006)

Feline Friday..

Feline Friday is here again!... I can't tell you how much BooBoo Kitty appreciates his special day! He's always more then willing to let me snap pictures of him ! In the photo below he's true nature when he says:

THAT'S MY MOUSIE!! (every toy is a "mousie"..heh)

Remember.. anyone wanting to play along or even just see more kittie pictures go to Elipsis.. Suddenly Carly (Elvis is Guest Host... you heard right! Elvis is in the House folks!) and check it out.

One more time I am going to ask if anyone knows why the photo's look so bad once they are on the journal? They look great in PSP and even if i click "view" once I upload them to AOL File Manager, they still look fine... but when i post them.. they look AWFUL! I upload them as jpgs. Is there something I'm not doing?????

AFI...

Last night I watched AFI (American Film Institute) 100 Years, 100 Cheers in which they listed 100 that they thought were inspirational.

It was a really good two hour program, except for the overwhelming commercials. There was more then one moment when I was going to give up and just turn it off. But there were just too many great movies being listed and clips being shown from them. (Towards the end, I will admit I nearly fell off to sleep from so many commercials.)

Out of 100 movies they listed there wasn't one that I hadn't seen more then once, (many several times or even more!) The few that I hadn't seen that often were just because they hadn't shown up on television in a long time.

It was a blend of movies over the years. Some were older black and white movies and some were much newer. The oldest being: City Lights (1931), starring Charlie Chaplin and the newest was Hotel Rwanda (2004) starring Don Cheadle. That covered quite a spectrum of years.

Their top three choices were: It's a Wonderful Life (1946) starring James Stewart, To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) starring Gregory Peck, and Schindler's List (1993) starring Liam Neeson.

As I saw so many movies come upthat were ones I watch each and every time I find them on it amazed me that my taste in movies would match their choices. I know an old post I did mentioned movies that "I have to watch" if I happen tocome across them.. a number of those were in this list too. Like Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), and Rudy (1993) just to rename two.

Some time ago AFI did a show on the top 100 most famous quotes from movies. Just for fun I thought I'd list the top 10 here and see if you could name the movie they are from. Most are from older movies so I don't know how many would know them, but here they are:

1 Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. Gone With the Wind 1939
2 I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse. The Godfather 1972
3 You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am. On The Waterfront 1954
4 Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. Wizard of Oz 1939
5 Here's looking at you, kid. Casablanca1942
6 Go ahead, make my day. Sudden Impact1983
7 All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup. Sunset Blvd. 1950
8 May the Force be with you. Star Wars1977
9 Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night. All About Eve 1950
10 You talking to me? Taxi Driver 1976

I wouldn't leave you guessing.. the answers are there. Just pull your cursor over the questions (and beyond) and highlight it all.. you'll find your answers to see if you are right.

At the AFI web site I also found their list of 25 top "legend" actors and 25 female actresses. The list is below. If you truly don't know these actors you should make it a point to see something they were in.

1. Humphrey Bogart............... Katharine Hepburn
2. Cary Grant ..........................Bette Davis
3. James Stewart.....................Audry Hepburn
4. Marlon Brando ...................Ingrid Bergman
5. Fred Astaire.........................Greta Garbo
6. Henry Fonda........................Marilyn Monroe
7. Clark Gable.........................Elizabeth Taylor
8. James Cagney....................Judy Garland
9. Spencer Tracy.....................Marlene Dietrich
10. Charlie Chaplin.................Joan Crawford
11. Gary Cooper .....................Barbara Stanwyck
12. Gregory Peck....................Claudette Colbert
13. John Wayne...................... Grace Kelly
14. Laurence Olivier...............Ginger Rogers
15. Gene Kelly........................MaeWest
16. Orson Welles....................Vivien Leigh
17. Kirk Douglas....................Lilian Gish
18. James Dean .....................Shirley Temple
19. Burt Lancaster ................Rita Hayworth
20. The Marx Brothers..........Lauren Bacall
21. Buster Keaton .................Sophia Loren
22. Sidney Poitier ..................Jean Harlow
23. Robert Mitchum ..............Carole Lombard
24. Edward G. Robinson.........Mary Pickford
25. William Holden ............... Ava Gardner

I guess for a "grand finale" pimping AFI there's one more thing... an upcoming show I plan NOT to miss, since I happen to.. like... love... adore.. and so and so and so forth.. Sean Connery. This is so any Connery admirers can mark their calendars...

Round Robin Time Again...

Well, I wasn't going to do this one... usually, when Round Robin posts what the next one will be, if something jumps right out at me I do it, then again.. sometimes nothing jumps out at me. Nothing jumped this time.. until last night as I was showing some of the cat photo's to someone... it was then I knew I had what I wanted for the Round Robin Photo Challenge: Emotions. And remember, if you want to play along just leave a link over at The Round Robin so everyone can see!

Below you will find: BooBoo Kitty at play with a scratching post. Each photo either contains the emotion, or invokes one... I hope you enjoy them as much as BooBoo did!

The Tony Awards..

Last night I watched the Tony Awards.... I hope many of you did too, because it was an excellent show.

Though I've never seen a Broadway Show (always out of my financial reach) that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to. The closest I ever got to seeing a play were high school plays that my son was in and a few others that were put on by churches or other high schools. Even with untrained "actors" I loved them.. so i keep a special thought about them.

This year I have to admit, it amused me somewhat. It seems the big winner was "Jersey Boys". That in itself isn't amusing but what is, is that I knew the "real jersey boys" when they worked in Keansburg NJ at a club across from the one the band I was in was playing. I played at the Shamrock in Keansburg and they played at the Club Miami. (don't quote the club name).. as you might suspect they weren't called the Four Seasons yet... back then they went as "The Four Lovers". Now that's amusing! hahaha... sorry, but to this day I can't hear or think of Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons without my brain saying "the four lovers"...

But they did go on to make a few hits.. heh. But I have to admit, I never thought of them as becoming a Broadway play!!

Congratulations to all the winners.. and even those who didn't win for all they entertainment they give to those who get to see the plays...

A complete list of winners of 2006 Tony Awards

(The Four Lovers!...)

7 Years Ago Today..

Seven years ago today, my friend DeForest Kelley lost his battle with Stomach Cancer.
Seven years ago today, I lost a dear friend
DeForest entered my life at a Star Trek Convention. From that simple meeting, the first time I made him laugh, I knew I had met an amazing man. He, along with Carolyn, made me feel special. Made me feel they cared. Made me feel as if I mattered.
I know many may not bother to read the following poems that DeForest wrote (since they are Star Trek related) but, since I've told stories concerning him and since I've posted many pictures of him before, I thought I'd remember him today, the anniversary of his passing, by posting something he wrote. (3 somethings actually)
I wish that everyone has the opportunity in their life, to meet someone as nice as De.



Poems by: Jackson DeForest Kelley..
The Big Birds Dream...
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away,
There lived a big bird nesting on a play.
He thought if he could hatch it and get it on the air,
He'd make himself a fortune and build himself a lair.
The day finally came and the story was born.
He let out a cackle: "No more corn!"
He flew from his nest with the play in his claw,
Certain to sell it, for it had no flaw.
The story he hatched within this yarn
Took place on a ship as big as a barn.
Not only that, it was in outer space,
Far removed from the human race.
Its crew searched the universe for worlds unknown
To teach and learn and not try to own.
Not only that, they built a new nation
This time known as The Federation.
All of this, taking place in the skies
On a starship known as The Enterprise,
Now wouldn't you think, with a plot like this,
The big bird had what couldn't miss?
Well, he landed in Burbank on Hollywood Way.
And headed east, to sell his play.
Things weren't as easy as he thought they'd be
Particularly when dealing with NBC.
The Enterprise crew was one of a kind,
Superb in their work, with good things in mind.
Difference in color and difference in race,
Green, white, yellow and token black face.
At first, the black was not to be,
'Til the big bird screamed at NBC:
"It's either she or I," he began to yell,
"Who knows who's gonna ring whose bell?"
With great reluctance they agreed to say:
"Okay, follows, we'll do it his way."
At a later time, on another day,
They'd the first to boast they went that way.
Most who read it said: "This bird is nuts!"
But there was one among them possessed with guts.
"Let's go with this bird, loud and clear
He's saying things people should hear."
"Let's give it a try and hope it will work."
So spoke the head of the big network.
So the pilot was made and they all took a look
"My God!" they shouted, "he's filmed a book!"
Another one yelled, "It's too far out!
I don't understand what it's all about!"
But the one with guts had a grin on his face,
Now he was ready to state his case.
"Far out?" he said, "I liked what I heard,
And I'm still gonna go with this crazy bird."
So they made another pilot with a change here and there,
And finally, they got it on the air.
The big bird felt a sense of elation
After so many days of complete frustration.
But now he knew the big job was done
And he was proud of his fine new son.
One thing was left for the big bird to do:
Find a name for his dream-come-true.
He gave a big party so the brass would appear,
To name this dream he held so dear.
When they party calmed down and the feeling was mellow,
The bird stepped forward to christen this fellow.
"Left your glasses," he said out loud,
"I've got a new baby of which I'm proud."
He took an IDIC from his hand,
The symbol he'd created for the change in man.
He placed it tenderly around the small neck
And, in a mellifluous voice, said: "Star Trek."
The brass with guts jumped up and down
"My God!" he said, "what a sound!
How did he think of such a name?
It's commercial as hell the name of the game!"
Well, the public loved it but the Neilson was low
And they tell the networks what to show.
The word was out for all to hear
Star Trek dead after second year.
The rest is history, as you surely know.
For you, the fans, saved the show.
The millions of letters you sent to the brass
Simply knocked them on their ass!
But after one more year they put it away,
Not knowing it would rise in syndicated play.
Then came conventions and letters and toys,
Reruns and rating and lots of noise.
Finally the studio was heard to say:
"We'll remake Star Trek another way."
"How will we do it?" one of them said,
"Not as a series, the re-runs aren't dead."
"Let's do it as a movie, a special, or a play
For heaven's sake, let's do it some way!
Precious moments are flying by
The actors are aging and soon may die."
"Are they still available or should we re-cast?
Without the originals, how long would it last?
Go get the big bird he knows where they are
And have him remind Spock he's still not a star."
"We've got to keep their egos down
In case replacements can't be found."
So in flew the big bird, ready to squeal.
Naturally anxious to make a deal.
"First," he said, "we should discuss the star
For all of them probably think they are!"
"Don't be funny," an executive said,
"If that's the case, the whole thing's dead."
"What's with Shatner? How does he look?"
"I don't know but he's written a book.
Seems he wanted the world to know
How he suffered, making that show."
"What's with Kelley, what's with his life?"
"He's living in the Valley with the very same wife!
I know one thing that buggin' him,
He's sick of that line: He's dead, Jim!"
**************************
The Dream Goes On...
"Now about Doohan, the one with the brogue."
"Well, he bought a motor-coach and hit the road.
He's grown a beard it's sliver and black,
And he says he wants to keep it, if he comes back."
"What about Takei he flew the damned ship."
"Well, he's into politics a whole new trip.
He had a job on the Mayor's staff,
But they couldn't take that crazy laugh!"
"Okay, okay, what about Nichelle?
The one you said would? ring our bell?"
"She's working for NASA goes all over the nation
Trying to interest women in the space administration.
"They're using the Enterpriseto colonize space
And can't seem to do with without the female race.
She says she's had it in Communications
And want to come back in Public Relations."
"Well, where the hell's Koenig our young Russian lad?"
"Oh, he's writing for films and he's really not bad.
As a matter of fact, if he can be found,
He could be the one to get this off the ground!"
"That just about covers the entire crew.
Majel's no problem, she's married to you!"
"Don't you believe it, not on your life!
I don't make deals with my very own wife.
"And even though she's married to me,
She still commands the same high fee.
And if this show goes, she'll be back, you can bet
I've never written a script without her yet.
"And there's one more actor you've left out
That I really think we should talk about.
I know it's something you hate to discuss
Because it's going to create quite a fuss.
"I'm referring to Nimoy and what he has to say.
He's in New York, doing a play.
He's portraying a doctor and says it's a joy
And he might came back if he could play McCoy."
"McCoy's role?" the executive said,
"My God, man, he's out of his head!
Well, I'm telling you, that really takes guts
The brass will think we've all gone nuts!"
"What about Kelley, if Spock plays McCoy?
He'll just flip if we get another boy."
The big bird spoke with that smile on his face,
The one he wears when he's solved a case.
"Easy, gentlemen, don't worry about that.
I can fix him in nothing flat.
So just relax and calm your fears.
I'll paint De green and give him the ears!"
So that bring us up to where we are today,
With thousands of people gathered to say
"Star Trek Lives!" It will not die
When will someone make it fly?
*********************************************
The Dream Goes On, and on and On...
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away
I think some of you heard me say
“Star Trek lives, it will not die --
And you are the someone who made it fly.”
Well, the studio was in a kind of fix.
They wanted to go #6.
But after we did #5
Paramount’s faith took a dive.
Then they thought of all the press they could get,
And suddenly it become a very good bet.
So they put out the word for the world to hear: Star Trek 6 for the 25th year.
Lots of changes are taking place
Turn around, a brand new face.
It goes to show, you never know --
They even let Mancuso go.
Harve Bennett left in a huff,
Just simply said he’d had enough.
Give him credit, he stood his ground.
I miss knowing he’s around.
He’d been with us since Star Trek 2.
That alone was tough to do.
He was always there to hear you out,
No matter what it was all about.
Another reason for liking him --
He scrubbed the line, “He’s dead, Jim.”
It’s good to know, just “in case,”
We’ve got Ralph Winter in his place.
A better man could not be found.
We thank our stars he’s still around.
Now I’ve got some more good news --
We’ve got Nick Meyer -- how can we lose? It’s good to have someone we know
To see is through this final show.
Star Trek 6 was made for you --
Paramount’s way of saying “adieu.”
Please accept it with deep appreciation
From those of us in the Federation.
We don’t care about a critic’s review.
We only hope it pleases you.
They’ve critiqued our bellies, wrinkles and hair.
We just keep going -- we don’t care.
I don’t suppose they’ve ever been told
That all of us are growing old.
It seems to me the thing worth knowing
Is to simply try to keep on growing.
Now it’s time to check on the crew,
To see what’s old and what is new.
Jimmy’s bought a new RV.
It’s the fanciest one you’ll ever see --
It must have been built for a movie star.
Itlooks just like a traveling bar.
He’s going to move to Washington State
And build a home for himself and his mate.
It’s on five acres, ‘way out of town.
We’ll miss knowing he’s around.
He’s sick of traffic and LA noise.
He wants to relax with Wendy and the boys.
Pocket decided, after taking a look,
That they’d re-publish Walter’s book --
But not before he agreed to relent
And let them use that damned accent.
When George lost his job on the Mayor’s staff
I thought he’d lose that crazy laugh.
But when he’s back on the set, it’s louder than before.
He’s blown twenty takes -- maybe more.
As most of you probably already know,
Nichelle now has a one-woman show.
She’s touring the nation in a variety of roles,
Touching people’s hearts and lifting their souls.
She’s got talent, looks and guts.
She’s out there knocking them on their butts.
We love Nichelle -- she’s very dear.
Even with that thing stuck in her ear.
Bill, of course, is doing 911.
He’s the star, so he’s in heaven.
He always seems to be on the go --
Even has his own horse show.
He works all week and rides on Sunday
And is back on the set the first thing Monday.
It can’t be money he’s going after.
It must applause, joy and laughter.
I hope he’ll always be around
With both feet firmly on the ground.
After all, it’s because of him
I have that line: “He’s dead, Jim.”
Remember that Alien with the pointed ears
Who gave me trouble for 25 years?
Who wanted to die in Star Trek 2
And have the impression he was through?
…REMEMBER?
But boy -- did he do a turnaround
When he heard that money sound.
He not only decided he would not defect,
But wanted to act -- and direct.
He’s just crazy wanting more.
He directed 3 and also 4.
Now he’s back as Producer/Actor,
A very, very important factor.
For I never thought that I’d see the day
When Spock would control my movie pay.
Even so -- I’ll never get rich --
Because of that green-blooded son-of-a-bitch!
But I can’t kick about my life.
I’m happy in the Valley -- with the very same wife.
Finally and foremost there’s my dear friend Gene,
The man responsible for this whole wonderful scene.
It’s it strange how one person you know
Can change the wayyour life will go?
He will always be a part of my life
Even tho’ my nurse became his wife.
All of this has been said in fun
And not intended to hurt anyone.
You are the reason we’re all here
To celebrate this -- our 25th year.
I always thought Star Trek would just “be” --
Something constant, such as the sea.
But, like all good things, this too must pass…
So -- I’ll see you often, in the bottom of my glass!

Re-mem-mem, Re-mem-a-member When..

Yesterday was a day of wondering what's next with this country of ours. I was upset all day over something I had heard on television and even wrote a really long post about it. But I couldn't let myself post it. In fact, the only post I did was Patricks Sunday 7 at my other journal. I kept going back to what I had written and knew that the whole thing was my feelings on it... my opinion. And like most things that involve religion or politics it is surely controversial. I try always not to talk of either of those subjects and so i decided not to post it. But I couldn't shake it enough to sit and write about anything else.

That took up most of my day! sheesh. Today is a rainy day (again)..it seems we are getting more then usual this year, and surely more thunderstorms then normal. It was evening before I could clear my mind enough to, once again, do a little editing on "book 2" of Kesterwood. (remember i'm editing in reverse) Thankfully, doing that pulled me out of the mood I had been in all day.

This morning i received an email from a friend, it was one of those that you go to a web site and with music in the back ground it listed things for the "more mature" folk, asking "do you remember?" and had the longest list I've ever come across. Normally, if I read these I remember most of what they list and a few that i don't. This time there wasn't a thing on the list that I didn't remember! Good gawd... when did I get this old????

I think as one reads them (and if they are old enough to truly remember them) little flashes of memories come to mind. Not necessarily specific, but in general. And since it was a time when you really weren't thinking real hard on what life would be like when you are no longer that young, it's a small piece of freedom. Most ask at the end of a list like that, if you wouldn't want to go back to "those times". The truth is, most would!

For me I thought, yes I would like to revisit that time, but not "to be young again" necessarily, but because when we were that young (and those that are now) are free of major responsibilities, free to think only of theirself. It was a time of ignorance of what's to come (not that its all bad) and to be not to have major worries or concerns. So, would I like to feel like that again? You betcha ! But would I like to be young again? Well... not THAT young! But I wouldn't mind having the 10 yrs of my 40's again. (that's when i think i felt the best health wise and there still felt like there was many good years to live)

So tell me... do YOU remember any of the below list??

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN...?

All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?

It took five minutes for the TV warm up?

Nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got home from school?

Nobody owned a pure bred dog?

When a quarter was a decent allowance?

Your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?

All your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had
their hair done every day and wore high heels?

You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped,
without asking, all for free, every time?
And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?

Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?

They threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed. . ...and they did?

When a 57 Chevy was everyone's dream car...to cruise,
peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and people went steady?

No one ever asked where the car keys were
because they were always in the car,
in the ignition, and the doors were never locked?

Lying on your back in the grass with your friends
and saying things like, "That cloud looks like a ..."

and playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game?

When being sent to the principals office was nothing
compared to the fate that awaited the student at home?
Basically we were in fear for our lives,
but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.

Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy,
Howdy Doody and the Peanut Gallery,
the Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows,
Nellie Bell, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk.

As well as summers filled with bike rides, baseball games,
Hula Hoops, bowling and visits to the pool,
and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar.
Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that"?

How many of these do you remember?

Candy cigarettes

Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside

Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles

Coffee shops with table side jukeboxes

Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum

Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers

Newsreels before the movie

P.F. Fliers

Telephone numbers with Party lines

Peashooters

Howdy Doody

45 RPM records

Green Stamps

Hi-Fi's

Metal ice cubes trays with levers

Beanie and Cecil

Roller-skate keys

Drive ins

Washtub wringers

Reel-To-Reel tape recorders

Tinkertoys

Erector Sets

The Fort Apache Play Set

Lincoln Logs

5 cent packs of baseball cards -
with that awful pink slab of bubble gum

Penny candy

35 cent a gallon gasoline

Do you remember a time when...

Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-moe"?

Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "Do Over!"?

"Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest?

Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening?

It wasn't odd to have two or three "Best Friends"?

The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was "cooties"?

Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot?

"Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense?

Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for giggles?

The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team?

War was a card game?

Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle?

Water balloons were the ultimate weapon?

I Want What He Has!

Today is an anniversary of sorts... this is my 300th post!! Hard to believe!

Well, yesterday (when I didn't post, heh) I was at the Chiller Con helping my buddy Kevin McCarthy again. I was thrilled to see him. The last time I saw him he said the trip East was getting a bit much and he didn't think he'd be out again, but here he was....and he's thinking of doing another con in NJ in August called The Twilight Zone.. in which he did a few episodes of the television program with the same name, and made an appearance in Twilight Zone the movie. He said we'd email and keep in touch and he'd call me about that one.. if i can afford the taxi's by then (2 weeks after the "break the bank" con) I'll go to help him the busy day (Saturday) again.

Actually, there's one autograph I'd like to get at the Twilight Zone con, but I just don't know I can do the taxi thing and still be paying on the big con.. but Mickey Rooney will be at that one, and to this day i so enjoy watching when him was a kid doing the "Andy Hardy" movies (some of which Judy Garland appeared in), and I adored Lewis Stone, who played his father "Judge Hardy". (as far as I can find out there were 12 Andy Hardy movies made... now there's a collection I'd like to see on DVD!! I 'd get that in a heartbeat!) Anyway.. so.. it's possible I will see dear Kevin yet again this summer!!

Oh, and before I forget, we did discuss the fact that he's filming a movie! He has a part in a movie that will be called "Slipstream".. it was written by Sir Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal himself! Oooooo hahaha) and is being directed by Sir Anthony and of course... it will star Sir Anthony !! Kevin couldn't say enough about how nice Anthony Hopkins is. I was glad to hear that because I love Anthony Hopkins!

When I first saw Kevin, I was a bit surprise to see him using a walker but he gets around fine with it. His spirits are always so high he's a joy to be around. I don't know what it is he has .. maybe it's those energizer bunny batteries.. but whatever it is.. I want what he has! For the most part he had a nice steady flow of customers seeking his autograph and he did well selling.

Of all the people who came by there was one young man that stood out. When he spotted Kevin his mouth dropped open and he grabbed his buddy and shook him and I could see just how exited he was.. he finally approached Kevin with a "oh my god it's really you!".. during the time he spent talking and gasping at him he must have said "OMG" a dozen times! He was absolutely hysterical. Even when he left he stood excitedly talking to his friend and kept looking over at Kevin.. when he finally was gone I leaned over and said, "well, you made that young man happy" and Kevin laughed and mentioned he hadn't seen anyone that excited about meeting him in some time. At 92 he's still got it! (whatever "it" is!)

Kevin stayed busy so I had little time to walk around the convention myself. Until a man who had helped Kevin the day before came by and offered me a break if I needed it. (actually I did.. I had been sitting for 7 hrs straight and a potty break sounded reeeeeeeeally good!) So, I took a break and before I came back I dared to go upstairs to see if I could get a peek at Jonathn Frakes and Brent Spiner.

Well, by the time I got there the lines had finally disappeared and I got in the small room where they were. I listened in to a few conversations they were having with other fans (the best part of any con are the stories) and then got to say hello to them both. I had no intentions of making a purchase since all my funds are being saved for the "con that broke me" (the creations con the end of July) but Brent was nice enough to allow me to take a photo of him, and we even chatted a bit about the series he was in Threshold that just been cancelled and about my friend DeForest and the scene Brent did with him as the 137 yr old Admiral. So that was really nice.

Brent looks spectacular with his white hair!! I don't think it makes him look old (he's only 57) and told him I thought his hair was beautiful and I hoped he didn't have to dye it for a part.. he said he didn't intend to but if he had to he'd let it grow back out right away .. ...

I still don't get it though..how come men get laugh lines and woman get wrinkles... and men get distinguished looking, and woman get gray? sigh... it's just not fair~!

Hippy-dippy weather report...

Well, the weather man got it right this time... (where's George Carlin when you need him?)

Early yesterday evening (around 7 pm) we were told to expect a fast moving storm.

They were right! Now, it may have been only an hour long but ..oh boy.. it was a beaut! The rolling thunder began and I shut down my computer and thought I could watch tv thru it (generally we are able to do that). But.. you guessed it.. the tv would go off with the first real crack of lightening!

It lightening and thundered for maybe 15 minutes before the rain began.. all the cats except Peanutchew and Booboo hid. (I'll never know where all these cats hide but you can count on the fact if your life depended on finding any of them during a lightening storm.. you'd be dead!) BooBoo and Peanut were laying on the bed with me as I watched television, but the lightening seemed far tooooo close and so I turned off the tv. Moments later a lightening cracked so hard and loud I could swear to you it totally lit up the house here! Booboo jumped straight up and ran! I jumped nearly off of the bed.. it sounded to me like I heard "crackling noises IN the house when it happened) But the lights were still on.

I went downstairs to check on my brother and David who were both a bit shaken from it too. It was at that moment I told David, "you realize, every since I got a fat lip on the phone during a storm .. I DO NOT answer phones when there is ANY lightening around!" (safe to say here, I am the person who answers their phone all the time).. David chuckled, and before he stopped... the phone rang! (heh) ... I say "bye" and took a few steps to return upstairs. David answered the "cell phone" saying it was "safer".. yeah right David, tell me that after your ear melts off!

It was the neighbor. (David owns the homes on each side of us) The lights there had gone off and they thought they smelled something. David got a flashlight and went over. He went to the cellar and saw that the fuse box had "tripped" so he reset it.. lights came on.. Whew. But not the end.. he got a call back a little later and went back.. it seems the lightened burned out all the overhead fixtures in the ceiling upstairs in that house!! (Can we say: thank you for not burning out my computers?!!!)

The Electrician is due to come by today and will have to replace all the lights upstairs in that house.. (can we say: Holy Moley, that will cost a small bundle?!)

So.. it was an exciting evening.. one in which we could have done without, but glad it wasn't any worse then it was!! All the times that weather men are wrong.... this time they hadda be right!

(don't forget it's Feline Friday.. my post is here)