One Last Mention...

I've been mentioning the Hollywood Walk of Fame a bit lately, so I thought I would inject a bit of History for it. I found the following on the web..
History
The Walk of Fame is a chronological history of the Hollywood-based entertainment industry and honors those who have made significant contributions in the categories of radio, television, motion pictures, recording and live performance.
The official nomination period is announced in the Hollywood Entertainment Trade publications and an appropriate news release is disseminated to the Los Angeles area print and broadcast media.
The Walk of Fame Committee meets annually. Nomination of an individual or group does not automatically equate to approval of a star in the Walk of Fame. Several hundred applications are reviewed annually, from which an undetermined number is selected. All nominated artists are carefully and objectively evaluated. Those not selected the first year will automatically roll over for a second review the following year. If it is not approved in the second year, nominees must be resubmitted
When nominating an individual or group, the sponsor must submit the nominee’s qualifications as well as contributions to the community and/or civic-oriented activities. The application must be accompanied by a biography (not exceeding two pages) and photograph of the nominee. Non-returnable samples of the nominee’s work may also be submitted (i.e. in the recording category – a music CD; Motion Picture – a DVD). After the Walk of Fame Committee has made its selections, the artist must be approved by the following agencies: the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles City Board of Public Works, with the final approbation being the Los Angeles City Council.
Criteria for Star on the Walk of Fame
1. Professional achievement
2. Longevity of five years in the field of entertainment
3. Contributions to the community
The recipient must agree to attend the dedication ceremony.
In case of a fan nomination, a letter of agreement must be sent by celebrity management.
There is a five-year waiting period after death for nominations of deceased individuals. The Committee does not necessarily select posthumous honorees each year.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce makes every effort to schedule a dedication ceremony on the date requested by the honoree. A 60-day lead period is needed for required permits, the manufacturing of the star, and advance publicity.
Please be advised that if your nominee is selected and the induction does not take place within five years of the selection date, the nominee must be re-submitted during another voting period.
Just as a note: I wonder how Mr Trump got past the rules to get a star?
According to an article I found the Apprentice began 3 years ago...so he has not had a show for 5 years like is required.
COMMENTARY
By Andy Dehnart
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 7:06 p.m. ET Jan 8, 2007
When “The Apprentice” first debuted three years ago, it was a sensation even before it began.

Getting a star on the Walk of Fame has changed over the years. I remember when DeForest was told that he was nominated for one... he wasn't sure he wanted it.
When I asked him why he wouldn't want one, all he said was that it doesn't represent what it did long ago. I was never really sure what he meant by his remark. Although over the years when I have talked with others about the Walk of Fame, the term "political" was uttered many times.
I think the sentence: honors those who have made significant contributions in the categories of radio, television, motion pictures, recording and live performance says a lot. Most especially the words "significant contributions", which I am guessing has changed over the years.
I honestly don't feel that "reality tv" fits the category at all, though it does make some a celebrity of sorts. But one does not necessarily have talent to accomplish this.
I didn't mean to pick on Mr Trump in particular. He is, after all, not the only one that has received a star but doesn't really belong on the Walk of Fame. I guess it will always remain a mystery as to how some manage to get a star while others, much more worthy, do not.
Still the Hollywood Walk of Fame will always remain a tourist attraction in Hollywood... that much will never change. And if you ever go there, it is something you shouldn't miss!
'Till next time....
p.s. by the way if you ever DO go there, DeForest's star is located at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. Just so you know... heh

A neat meme...

This is a really neat meme. After being reminded of it from Donna at A Country Life, I have decided to post it again.. for any new readers I may have!
***************************************************************
I am from an Irish father and a English mother.
I am from a small town in the eastern state of New Jersey. A very little town that had only one traffic light, one elementary school and no high school.
I'm from wild Tiger Lilies lining a creek that flowed thru part of the town.
I'm from a 4 family house with a chicken farm next to it and a second home with a small sheep pasture next to it.
I am from a town that had no movie theaters, or things to do. I am from an after school playground going higher then the bar on the swing.
I am from a family without a father. I am from a mother did a man's job in a nearby factory but did not get the same wages as the man next to her, doing the same thing. I am from a mother who raised two children by herself. I am from an unknown family. I am from a mother who was adopted and from a father who was a singer and a musician.
I am from the poor side of the tracks and thrift shop clothes. I am from never having said the word "daddy".
From hearing that my birth grandparents, on my mothers side, were of some distinction: a "Lord" in England. And that my grandmother by birth came back when my mother was 7 and wanted her back, but the court asked the child who she wanted to live with, and of course chose the only mother she knew.
I am from coal and wood burning stoves and irons that had changing handles.
I am from by birth, an Episcopalian, by choice Methodists and Presbyterian and now none at all.
I'm from Salvation Army camps, eating home made cookies at my neighbors, playing "pretend" under the front porch, and reading used Zane Grey books.
I am from puppies and turtles, and kittens born on windowsills, from wild strawberries and wild violets, and from catching frogs in streams. From big band and rock and roll music and the Syncopated Clock on t.v.
I am..... me.
*****************************************************************

A Quick Read

It was that time again, for me to back up my computer, so I spent part of yesterday afternoon copying things to cd. I do this every month.. a bit of a pita but then, I always feel safer once it's done.
Well.. the book I was reading, Goblin Quest, was a quick read! (356 pages)
It was a nice light read. Different. When was the last time anyone read a fantasy book where a Goblin is the main character? And an undersized Goblin to boot! This was a stand alone paperback book, and though it was not a bad read, (I did enjoy it) I don't know if I would have wanted more of the same.
Next up I am going to start reading Eragon, by Christopher Paolini.

This is the book they made a movie from. I haven't seen the movie so I have nothing to spoil the read. I have some other paperback books but I did find it harder to read the small book with my blurry eye. I looked inside of Eragon and it is double spaced like the Margaret Weis books I just read, so I decided to wait on the paperback books for now.
New Jersey is finally getting winter temperatures. We had a dusting again, of snow, but that's all gone. This is NOT a complaint!! I've always loved "watching it snow", but now that I'm old and have bulging disks in my lower back, shoveling is not on the list of "fun stuff to do". So, I'm ok with the lack of snow! Besides, it's probably waiting for March to have a blizzard or two and mess up my trip to California.. that's the sort of luck I have. But I'm hoping it won't come to pass. We are expecting another dusting tonite... so far each time we had our tiny bit of snow it's happened while I'm alseep. I wake and see it white outside and by noon it's gone. I've yet to actually "see" it snow! That's incredible to me seeing as January only has 8 more days left to it!
Oh boy... the news is on television... Hilary Clinton is officially running. Along with more people then normally run! Maybe everyone running thinks they can be the one to get us out of this war!.. that would be nice.
'Till next time...

Winter arrived in NJ

Well, it finally happened! The first snow (other then a dusting) in New Jersey!
I took this picture at 7:30 this morning.. It's now 9:10 and the roads are clear just from traffic... so it's safe to say the rest will be gone shortly.
It seems so strange that other parts of the country are getting pounded with snow and the East Coast that is normally the one to get hit hard has been spared.... so far. (not complaining!)

Being true to being a pessimist... I await the other shoe to drop. But in this case I would love to be found wrong!
On another note: I finished book 3 of the Dragonvorld Series by Margaret Weis. I enjoyed the trilogy. Book 3 was odd somehow... it was hard back but smaller (the actual size of the book) then the first two. It also wasn't double spaced like the other two. And it seemed to me, (not that i am knowledgeable in this matter) that some things in the last book were "rushed". I realize there are times when things are to happen quickly but I felt like some things could have had more written about it.
Oh well.. I still enjoyed them. They were different and yet well written. With a few good characters to keep me reading, which was most important.
Next I am going to tackle Goblin Quest. I say tackle because this is a paperback. The printing will be smaller and not double spaced.. a real test of how much I can roll my eye around for a clear spot. If it gets too much I will have to set it aside and read a hard back and hope the eye gets better sooner or later.
Changing the subject:
Did anyone watch Greys Anatomy last night? Oh goodness... what a tear jerker it was! I didn't want to go to sleep with that on my mind so I tried to stay awake and watch Men in Trees. I'm not an Ann Hesch fan but I watched most of it and then turned it off and eventually went to sleep.

'Til next time..

A Little of This and That

Well, yesterday was a day of reading. I finished book two "A Dragons Son" (the books aren't very long) and will begin book 3 of the trilogy today.

I'm glad I had these books to read, it's keeping my mind off of other things right now. But I'm surprised I read that one so fast. Between calls from my brother downstairs and the blurry eye it's difficult to get much reading done at any one time!

These books are hard back books. For some reason the first two books were double spaced, which helped alot with my eye problem. I took a look in book 3 and it is NOT double spaced... darn. This one might take a tad longer lol.

The sun finally has come out in New Jersey!.. For 5 days we had clouds and drizzly rain going on. After a few days of this it starts to drag you down with the gloom. I don't know how some people can life in areas where it is cloudy and rainy most of the time. Even when I lived in Florida, there would be daily downpours but the sun was out part of the day too, so it was rarely all gloom.

Gosh we are half way through January and no snow in NJ yet! Why do I think that when it comes it will make up for it???!! (Probably because I was born and raised in NJ)

Did anyone watch the Golden Globes the other night? I did. I was really happy when the show "Ugly Betty" won! I love that show. (but I still hate the title!) After the show won America Ferrera, born 1984 (was anyone born in 1984? Gads!), who plays Betty won for Best Actress in a Comedy. Although she has done a few things before, she probably came to be known most from being in the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I was really glad she won, she's great in the part. If you haven't seen the show you should. The casting for the show is fabulous.. most I never saw before, aside from Vanessa Williams and Salma Hayek. But they make a great group of actors and actresses.

I was also glad that Hugh Laurie won a Golden Globe.. I like his show too! Does anyone not watch House? (probably a loaded question).

My last surprise (happy one) was for Kyra Sedgwick when she got a Golden Globe! (hubby Kevin Bacon was pretty darn happy for her too). She was shocked and you could see it! She has developed a really good character for her series The Closer.

All in all there were some nice surprises and some totally expected. It was a good show, I hope you got to see it.

... Till the next time.

Calgon...take me away!

Oh hooray, the 4th rainy day in a row...
Anyway, I finally (blurry eye and all) finished Mistress Of Dragons by Margaret Weis.

I wondered even before I opened it if she could get me to like these new characters. I love the Dragonlance characters and sometimes it's hard to let new ones into my life. I'm glad to say she succeeded! Though not as profoundly as the ones from the other series, she did manage to make a character that kept me wanting to read more about him. (this is a good thing). I don't want to give away anything in case someone might want to read this particular series, I'll just say I'm looking forward to beginning Book 2 The Dragons Son, and then on to the last one Master of Dragons.

On a different note: those who read my journal in aol know I have a mirror copy in Blogspot, and those in Blogspot know I have a mirror copy in AOL. Well, it seems that Blogspot is making a major changeover to a "newer and better blogspot" (we know how that goes, bigger is not always better. It's just more "stuff" that only a few people use, and for people like me it's a PITA) So, I am contemplating deleting my blogspot journal. I haven't decided for sure yet but after sleeping on it, so far, my mind hasn't changed.
I hate just having the aol journal because I still can't stand the animated banner on my journal.. it was so nice at blogspot not to have flashing ads on it! But I will give aol credit where credit is due.... when aol does an "upgrade" to their journal, no one has to "switch over" or "make another account" etc.(which also makes no sense to me Google already owned Blogspot, so they already have my information) Aol just shuts down for a few hours and when you next go to your journal the only thing changed is a new button here or there. You can use them or ignore them.. of course, I ignore them. For that I give them credit, they make it easy and no one has to go about re-customizing their journal because it remains exactly as you left it before the "upgrade".
I'm looking into WordPress ( a place you can make a free journal/blog) because i read where it can move my whole blogspot journal over to them, but I still don't want to re learn another whole way of blogging so I doubt I will do that, plus I don't think they allow animation there. But for now, it remains an option.
We'll see... I'm going to wait a few days before I decide what to do. Right now I am busy being ticked off at Blogspot for not giving me the option to keep what I have or "upgrade". I'm not even sure I'll keep the aol one going if i shut down the blogspot one. (between hometown errors trying to upload pics and the banner I'm not happy in aol journal).. so maybe it's just time to let it all go.
I will admit that 4 days of rain might be clouding my judgment at the moment... And no matter what I decide, I can still read the journals I've been following and keep commenting so none of that will change.
Hoping for a sunny day tomorrow...

Blame it on Shelly!

Utoh.. I know I promised no more DeForest, but Shelly had a few comments that made my mind wander..

First she mentioned that she hadn't noticed his "sexy lower lip" and would watch closer now ..heh. (he had this way of pulling his lips together sort of like a pucker and push that lower lip out)

I have to tell you how that all came about. You see before I ever met De I had joined his fan club out of California, which was run by Sue Keenan; later to become a very good friend.

Though I did not meet De "through the club", but rather on my own on a Trek Cruise, the club became important to me. I met others in the club who became friends, Annie mostly, she's probably the only person I know that genuinely cares about me. Who would have known I'd meet someone like that through a fan club?!

Sue would have "parties" at conventions that De was at. She'd hold auctions to raise money for De's Charities, and it allowed fellow fans to meet. It was at these gatherings that I would hear over and over about De's "finer attributes"...in other words, what made him so "sexy" to the fans. The lip came out on top time and time again.

That bit of knowledge eventually led to my "award". (a much nicer award then the pachyderm poop plaque! But I wrote about that already)

De's club was a blast to be in. Sue was great and put together a "newsletter", consisting of several pages every other month for all to read. It would update everyone on what De was doing, (if anything! He always credited himself with being the laziest actor in Hollywood) and be filled with stories that the fans had written about seeing him on stage for the first time or writing to him for an autograph, and of course I had to put my 2 cents in with con reports that I went to where we played pranks on Sue. Many would write to Sue anxiously awaitingto see what happened to her next! The Pranks we did on Sue were just as much for De and Carolyn as the club. They loved reading what we'd do to Sue! And there was always a cartoon Sue created of Myrtle.

De liked his club and often when we'd be having the auctions at a convention he and Carolyn would show up to say hello to everyone... can we say "shock and heart palpitations ?"! For many of his club members that was the first time they ever got to meet De close up and personal. I don't know of any other actor that did something like that with their fan club.

I remember once, there was this 18-20 year old gal that came all the way from Germany to one of the cons, "just to see her favorite actor..De". She had joined the club and wrote to Sue and we knew she was coming. We got with De and told him of her. He shook his head and said something about how he couldn't believe someone so young would give a hoot about and old man. He asked her name and told us he would talk to her from the stage.

But he did more.. he called her up on stage and hugged her and told the whole audience how she had traveled all the way from Germany just to see "him"! The poor girl was visibly shaking in her shoes while she stood there with De and his arm around her!

When she came down from the stage she headed right to Sue and I and was crying! We hugged on her while she kept saying how nice De was. We certainly agreed with her!

There were times De would call on me from stage, referring to me as his personal photographer since I was always front row and taking pics at every convention, to take a picture of him with someone from the audience. Then I would find that person and get their address and mail them the photo.

But I am getting away from Shelly and her comments..

She also mentioned seeing De on tv a bit more than usual lately. I'm guessing some of the westerns he was in are showing up again. He was always a bad guy in them. So very unlike the man himself.

Ok, I guess I've rambled on too much here... (we'll try this again..) Till the Next Time!

The Award

From the day I met the Kelley's I knew they were my captive audience and my job was to bring smiles to them. Which I tried to do on a regular basis. In doing so they kept something alive in me.
Sometimes my mind would race with an idea and other times it would be completely spontaneous. Yesterday's entry was one of those "spontaneous" things... this one was thought out.
It was the year of Star Trek's 25th Anniversary and special Conventions were popping up to celebrate along with tributes and other such things.
One day while at the mall (where I worked part time) some people came and set up their displays for selling in the halls of the mall. As I walked around I notice one such setup which featured "wood". Now, I love wood, so I walked over. This man could do about anything with wood! And one thing REALLY caught my eye. He had made signatures out of wood!.. no, not the "burnt in the wood" kind... but rather a stand with the name in wood above it!
This fascinated me and my mind took off... towards DeForest naturally. Maybe I could have his signature made in this wood and make some sort of award for him! After all... Paramount and Conventions were celebrating... so, why shouldn't I?
So I went home and began to create a letter to go with the "Special Award" just for him and then I would go talk to the man at the mall to see if what I wanted could be done.

The "Award" was his signature carved from wood. With a little something extra on the stand itself!

I asked if words could be added to the stand part and he said yes. I told him what I wanted it to say, "The Sexiest Lower Lip in the Galaxy"... after he stopped laughing he told me the price.
I was not laughing.
Holy Moley.. it's how much?!! *gulp* dang.. but you know the rest... it's worth it to get a smile or a giggle from the Kelley's.. Once I had it in hand I wrapped it with plenty of bubble wrap and mailed it.

I figured I'd be pretty safe from anything De could do since I was in Florida and he and Carolyn were in Ca..
The phone rang..
"hello?"
I heard giggling..
"oh, hi Carolyn... let me guess, De got a package today."
more giggling.. "why, yes he did...."
"Ummm, did he like his "award?"
"I think so... (more giggling)"
"You think so???"
"Well, he's in the bathroom examining his lower lip at the moment or i'd ask him!"
Of course she was joking, but it cracked me up just the same.... Gosh, how I loved making them smile!

Of all the things I've lost.. I miss my Mind the Most!

So... ready for another short memory story ?
As part of the cast of Star Trek, every now and then Paramount would send De and Carolyn a box full of "samples" of things being release with Paramounts blessings. To which De or Carolyn would call me and a few other friends and say, "Come over we have a box of things. There might be something here you want."
I would trot myself over to their home and they'd pull out the box. Mostly it would be models or dolls of some sort, which I never bothered to collect. My collection pretty well stuck to autographs/ photos/ a few books and maybe a t-shirt now and then, because I could use them.
In one box there were some t-shirts... well, actually they were night shirts to be worn to bed. I figured, what the heck, I wasn't married and no one sees me, I'd take one.
Maybe I should have preceded this whole thing by telling you, that when I met the Kelley's something inside me opened up. I'm not sure what it was, but from the time I met them until the time they died, it seemed that my life's mission was to do whatever it took to bring smiles to their faces.
Now, considering what I've just told you... I went home and before I put the shirt away I was grinning to myself. Why this sort of thing only happened to me where it concerned these people, I don't know... but puns, pranks, evil doing, were always bursting through.
So... I had someone take this photo of me... and what I had done to the shirt and mailed them to De and Carolyn. (I do hope you know that part of the Star Trek Introduction went " To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before".)


Upon the arrival of these photo's in the Kelley's mail I received a phone call... Carolyn was laughing so hard she couldn't talk so De let me know that they thought "the shirt seemed to fit perfectly"... heh.. yeah, no kidding De!

A C and Me (post 500!)

It seems whenever I pull out my "collection" on DeForest I find more photo's of things I never intended to use here... but I wind up scanning them and then going into my "memory mode". So anyone reading this blog is in for a few more old memories that surround De and AC and living in CA...

Seeing the date on the pass I realized it was a "Christmas visit". I wrote a short post about this exact day last December, when I went on Paramount lots wearing antlers and a red nose. I won't repeat myself but I will leave a link if anyone is interested.
Notice the photo's behind us? AC's walls were filled with them. He knew anyone and everyone in "the biz". For the longest time his best friend (before he passed away) was James Cagney.
A.C., much like DeForest, is a very special man. While he's worked for Paramount nearly all his life, and made friends with just about every actor and actress that there is, A.C. has this quality about him... no matter who you are.. when you are with A.C. you feel special. I've never met anyone who didn't love A.C. Lyles, and that includes me.
I remember another time I was there to visit him, along with my girlfriend Sue. We were sitting in that very office just chit chatting, when his phone rang. Mary Ann answered the phone and then poked her head in the office.
"You probably should take this A.C"
A.C. put up his finger and indicated "give me one moment", and picked up the phone, and sat back in his chair. We heard a jolly "hi how are you?", saw a few nods of the head as he agreed with whatever was being said, and suddenly we heard, " Look, Kevin, I have two ladies I am trying to flirt with here in my office. Can I get back with you?" A moment later he hung up.
"Kevin?" Sue asked.
"Kevin Costner" AC replied.
My eyes widened and Sue responded, "You hung up on Kevin Costner?!!!"
"He can wait," A.C. said, "I can call him anytime, but I don't see you girls often enough."
I think I came near tears at that moment.. but I hung on and we continued our visit.
Shortly after his phone rang again, and Mary Ann answered the phone.
"Sorry to interrupt a second time.. you may want this one A.C."
Once again the finger went up, he reached for the phone with a smile on his face, and never took his eyes off of us.
"Oh, Buddy" we heard, "I've been meaning to call you, but I'm busy with some young ladies right now, can I get back to you?"
(good lord he was doing it again!)
He hung up the phone with a promise to call within the hour...
This time I chimed in, "Buddy?"
"Buddy Ebsen," he replied.
"Oh, my gawd, A.C., we love you to death, but we can wait for Buddy Ebsen!" I blurted out.
A.C. chuckled and got up from his seat and came towards us.. we stood up and he wrapped his arms around each of us.
"Anyone can pick up a phone," he said, "But when you take the trouble to come to see me, I don't want any interruptions."
This, was A.C. Lyles.
This is the type of man he is.
I may not see him anymore... but I still love him to death.
(the exact words of ACs phone conversations may not be verbatim, but it is as close as I can remember)

My Assault on Sherry Lansing..

Having mentioned Paramount the other day it reminded me of the time I got to being mad at them. This was the time, back in 1993, when Sherry Lansing was head of Paramount, and was saying they were going to make Next Generation Movies and drop "the old guys"... I guess you can imagine that I saw RED! (This all happened shortly after Brandon Tartikoff had stepped down as chairman of Paramount.. and HE wanted to do another movie WITH the Original Cast!)
I talked with DeForest and asked him if this was because some of the originals maybe didn't want to do anymore. He said, "no". If a good script was there and they asked they'd all do another. (this was after ST 6 had already been out)
So in my infinite wisdom (which is none) I decided to wage war with Sherry Lansing and Paramount about the Original Trek folks and wanting them to do another movie..
My brainstorm was to send her a piece of mail each week... for however long, I hadn't decided. Before I even began I knew it wouldn't mean diddly but I wanted to feel like: at least I tried.
I didn't tell the Kelley's my "plan" but what I did do was xerox a copy of what I sent each week and sent it to them. De had foretold me that he could not be "involved" but would be interested to see what I did. (I think it was more then he figured lol)
Anyway.. I began my war with a little "poem" that I wrote... now, let me tell you.. I'm ain't no poet! ...but this was the first piece of mail to Sherry Lansing..

That was "Week 1"....
I have to say as I scanned these things I thought, "geez if i had a computer back then I could have done some REALLY good stuff!".Ah well, I was only voice my opinion after all... (jokingly I mailed a copy to De and Carolyn with a note )

Week 2 ...
I wanted to let her know that I thought a Star Trek VII would be nice.. with the Originals of course!

These were both 8x10 and had to be hand drawn and colored... I cut out a photo from a magazine, xeroxed it for De and put it in the mail to Sherry Lansing. I wondered what the odds were that it would ever get past her secretary..but hey, I had to try.

Week 3...
Week 3 saw me "crafty".. of sorts. Some cut outs and paste helped lol...

If you can't read it .. its says: When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are... But when you wish upon THESE stars...your dreams come true!
I wasn't fooling around lol... I'd push Walt Disney or anyone into their faces if it would get our guys another movie!

Week 4...
Next I tried music... well.. I didn't send a recording! (lucky for her!), but the titles fit!
(when I can I am making the pics smaller, but some I can't or you can't see it at all lol)

Week 5...
I had this photo of "McCoy" from Search for Spock.. near the end when Spock looks at his friends who "brought him back to life".. and I heard Spocks voice when he put his katra into McCoy... "Remember"...

It was a color photo and looked better, but all I had saved was a b&w xerox.
I was still sending copies to the Kelley household. It was a weekly call back to me with comments each week. Carolyn did a lot of giggling.

Week 6..

By now De was beginning to feel sorry for Sherry Lansing... well... maybe a little.

Week 7...
This week I added alot of color... thought maybe she'd notice it..heh.

It was also LARGER , about 11x14. it was folded in half like a card. The yellow was the top.. when you opened it the black. The stars are photo's I had taken of the cast that had stars on the walk of fame at the time. I think I heard Deforest moan when he saw the copy and knew the size of it ...heh.

Week 8...
(tired of this yet?. I was hoping Sherry Lansing was beginning to get the idea)

this week I took it easy and cut out an article and highlighted to better points. At the top I wrote: "They are yours to do with as you please. They have been and always shall be our friends. They are the heart of Star Trek. Listen to your heart... listen to the Fans. They're not dead yet Jim!"

Week 9...
No rest for the weary.. I pushed forward, while Carolyn giggled some more!

I liked this one myself LOL... I burned the edges of the paper and some holes in it to make it look like a wanted poster. It too was a bit large and had to be folded. I think the cowboy in De liked this one!

Week 10...

Since it hadn't been all that long since the cast had put their hands in cement at Mann's I thought I'd remind her how much they are loved.

If they weren't getting to Lansing... I figured her secretary was, by now, dreading to open anything from me!

Week 11...
(like my artistic touches? lol)

Week 12...
I myself couldn't believe I was still sending this stuff!

How much hinting did this woman need????? I know I wasn't the only one !!

Week 13...

I was running out of ideas! But refused to give up!

Week 14...
I was surprised that I managed to get inspired again.... much to Sherry Lansings dismay.

By now I was surprised she didn't send a cop after me lol...
So I decided I'd better wind it up... after all... I think I sent as many HINTS as I could come up with. But, I would send one last HINT...... and it would be the biggest one yet! A full sheet of oaktag! Rolled and mailed in a tube!

Week 15..

When I told De about this one he guffawed!...
Of course I never heard from Sherry Lansing, and maybe that's for the best. But about a week after I finally halted my assault on her I received a note and package from DeForest....


If you can't read his handwriting it reads: "Dear Pat, Please accept this "Lemon Seal Award" for the most imaginative Star Trek petition for the return of the Original Crew for number VII. I was most impressed with your presentation. I'm sure Sherry Lansing will be too..... Deforest"
Ummm, yes.. that is a real lemon which came off of the tree in De's backyard.. he painted the eye and beak and presented it to me... Heck, that was better then anything I could have gotten from Sherry Lansing!.... well, except maybe another movie *sigh*

A Note of Thanks...

For those of you who were concerned about my latest health problem, which was my right eye... it gained a bunch of what they call floaters, and whenever I moved my eye from side to side I would get a lightening type flash on the side of my eye.

Many thought it might be a torn or detached Retina.. which I am more then happy to report, It is NOT! (I sweated that one out!)

The doctor said the Retina was fine and the flashes and newly acquired "floaters" (which also are making it really hard to read) MIGHT go away in a few months.. or .. may not. So expect to see my typos then usual!

But at least I know it's not the Retina and so am not "blind" yet! I realize some may say .. well, you have the other eye, which is good. Well.. it's not that good. I have a blind spot right in the middle of sight. It's been there since I was young. When looking through both eyes it's not noticeable, but should my other eye get real bad and I need to see with only my right eye.. well... when I look at typing such as I am doing now thru one eye.. each word, as I look at it is gone... i see all around it but not the exact word I am looking at. Which tells you one of the reasons I was so upset over the other eye.

Other than taking care of my brother, all I have to call of a life of my own is being on this computer, watching television, or reading. That takes both of my eyes.

So... that's that for now. I want to thank everyone for caring enough to leave comments about getting to a doctor. That too was not easy. I got very lucky that the neighbor could come and stay with my brother so that I could go. She could not have done that if her husband was not presently out of work, because of small children. It's hard to ask someone to help take care of a disabled person when they are not used to it. Luckily again, this neighbor, when she worked (before kids) was a person who went to help at homes, thru an agency, for the disabled.

This same woman may be the lady that helps me actually be able to take some "time off" (second time in 7 yrs) this coming March. But I will save that for a later post.

Thanks again to all of you!

All this eye stuff is effecting my reading blogs more then I like. I am a slow reader to begin with and now I think it's down to a crawl! I tire of rolling my eye around trying to find a clear spot only to have the floaters return and hinder what I am trying to read... This is going to impair my book reading too... I really hope this eventually disappears like the doctor said it "might".

But until then... we will attempt to get back to regular programing....

Give and Take..

Is this a case of: what the right hand gives................

Indiana Jones 4 set to shoot in 2007 Associated Press
Published: Saturday, December 30, 2006

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- George Lucas said Friday that filming of the long-awaited "Indiana Jones" movie will begin next year.
Harrison Ford, who appeared in the three earlier flicks, the last one coming in 1989, is set to star again.
Lucas said he and Steven Spielberg recently finalized the script for the film.
"It's going to be fantastic. It's going to be the best one yet," the 62-year-old filmmaker said during a break from preparing for his duties as grand marshal of Monday's Rose Parade.
Exact film locations have not been decided yet, but Lucas said part of the movie will be shot in Los Angeles.
The fourth chapter of the "Indiana Jones" saga, which will hit theatres in May 2008, has been in development for over a decade with several screenwriters taking a crack at the script, but it only recently gained momentum.
Lucas kept mum about the plot, but said that the latest action flick will be a "character piece" that will include "very interesting mysteries."
"I think it's going to be really cool," Lucas said.
At the inaugural Rome Film Festival in October, the 64-year-old Ford said he was excited to team up with Lucas and Spielberg again for the fourth "Indiana Jones" installment. Ford said he was "fit to continue" to play the title role despite his age.
Ford played Indiana Jones in 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," 1984's "Temple of Doom" and 1989's "The Last Crusade."
Lucas praised Ford for breathing life into his character.
"Mostly it's the charm of Harrison that makes it work," he said.
© Associated Press 2006


.... the left hand takes away?
Indiana Jones' New Year's Resolution? by Bridget Byrne Sun, 31 Dec 2006 03:51:00 PM PST
New Year's Day you'll see George Lucas and his personal empire pulling out all stops as he turns his grand marshal gig at the Rose Parade into what's being billed as a Star Wars "spectacular" celebrating the hugely successful franchise.
But when it comes to his other hugely successful franchise, 2007 may—or may not—be a bellwether year.
On Friday, Lucas was quoted is a widely disseminated Associated Press report that filming on the long-gestating fourth installment of the Indiana Jones saga would begin shooting this year, partly in Los Angeles, and would hit theaters in May 2008.
The AP article quoted Lucas saying that he and director Steven Spielberg had recently finalized the script—something that had occupied the time and talent of numerous screenwriters.
"It's going to be fantastic. It's going to be the best one yet," the wire service quoted Lucas, who co created and executive-produced 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
But by Sunday, the 2007 start date didn't seem so solid. A Lucasfilm spokesman said he couldn't confirm all the details in the AP story, suggested the report might contain some inaccuracies and referred E! Online to Spielberg's company, Amblin, which would oversee the fourth installment.
The Amblin representative in turn said the AP story didn't appear to be entirely accurate. While acknowledging that a lot of people want to get the movie to "happen," he said the article appeared to make plans sound more definite than they were at this time as it had omitted such words as "hopefully" from Lucas' comments. The Amblin rep said the company may announce something official on Indy 4 this week, but quickly qualified that with the word "hopefully."
Whether or not he gave a firm start date, Lucas did say the movie would be a "character piece" with "very interesting mysteries," and added that Ford, now 64, is "fit to continue" playing the fedora-favoring hero. "I think it's going to be really cool," Lucas said.
Lucas, Spielberg and Ford have been teasing fans about Indy 4 for more than four years now. Last March, Ford told a German magazine that the script "was in hand" and filming was imminent. Indeed, a rep for Spielberg hinted to E! Online at the time that Spielberg could begin rolling cameras "before 2007."
I will be very happy when I hear it's in PRODUCTION!
IMDb also lists Sean Connery, John Rhys Davies, and Natale Portman as "rumored" to be casted! I do like the lineup!!!!
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On a different note...
I used my gift certificate for Barnes and Noble and ordered some books! (thank you Annie!)
The first is called "A Goblin Quest" by an author I've never read before, but the write up sounds like I could get a few smiles while reading it so I was first on the list...

Then I am trying yet another new author (to me that is).. Trudi Canavan..

So I will be looking forward to those coming in the mail.
I am reading a trilogy at the moment by Margaret Weis, so I'm not in a hurry for them to arrive but I'm sure they will come this week. I wish they were hard backs but they aren't. Over the years I've gotten to like hard backs best. Maybe because if I really like what I read, I keep it forever and every so many years I reread it again and again. Some of my older paperbacksare really getting yellow and brittle.. this upsets me no end. They are books that have been reprinted but... there's always a but... they change the cover art. Now this may not see like anything to most, but I get to like the artwork on fantasy books and have even purchased books by the artists, if they have one published. I have books by Frazetta and Boris and Sweet and others.. i really hate when they reissue a book that they change artists!
I would love love love to get David Eddings books about Belgarion, my Dragonlance series with Raistlin, and the first 6 books on Pern in hard back. They are all falling apart from multiple readings! I don't know if it's true, but I have read (somewhere) that the paper quality in hard backs is better and so lasts longer. Figures, so it's probably true.
I once followed Eddings 5 books on sale in Ebay. Boy how I wanted them.. the price started low, but if you've ever watched something you wanted up until the last few minutes of the auction you know "anything" can happen. And it did! They went for much more then they are worth... but my heart sank just the same lol. Oh well..
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Before I leave I want to thank everyone for "health suggestions".. I will try to get to a doctor, but it's more complicated then for most, since I cannot leave my brother home alone. David works during the day and nights and weekends are not when one can find doctors hours. I am not in pain. (well.. not any more then normal for the bulging disks in my lower back. I am always in pain from that). This time it's my left eye... new floaters have arrived within the last week, and a blurry area that keeps covering the pupil so that reading is very hard.. and also "lightening" down the outer edge of my eye. But I will try some calls to see if i can find a doc. that has evening hours.. I just won't hold my breath.
I'd also like to thank Pamela, who actually clicked on a bunch of those links I left a few posts ago! lol.. we had a mini war over Spin and Marty (who gets who) LOL.. Thanks again Pam.

Are there any Answers?

When something is wrong, re: not feeling well , a mysterious pain that won't go away, anything that you can't come up with an immediate diagnosis for; I go into a panicked/ depression mode.
My whole inside reacts immediately by going into over drive. My stomach churns, I begin to shake, and I cry. In other words: I am scared shitless. (there I said it.)
All the worst possibilities jump to the top of the list. And fear becomes my bosom buddy.
Why this happens I don't know, but it has been this way for me ever since I can remember. I was never one of those folks that say, oh it will go away, or, simply go to a doctor to find out. THAT last one in particular I put off.. because I'm afraid of what I will hear.
I even do this when I need to ask for help or ask for a simple favor... i put it off, afraid the answer won't be what I need to hear.
It makes me wonder where it came from. Why do I always think the worst will happen? Why do I feel that no one will willingly reach out to me. (without expecting something in return). Part of that could be why I don't reach out. I don't feel I could reciprocate, so why would anyone help me? Maybe this is why I always feel so alone.
My brain tells me that the panicked reaction I get doesn't help. (duh) So I wonder why I can't control it, as much as I wonder how it all began. I even get this way when it's not me! One time when we had to call the ambulance for my brother.. it happened. The shakes, the crying, the turmoil in my stomach so that I thought I was going to be sick, and even (ehmm) the intestines. Ah yes, for a long time I've know the meaning of having the "you know what" scared out of you! That folks is not just a saying.
My brain knows that it deals with lack of control over the situation. The "not knowing". And of course the fear "OF knowing".
So what makes a person deal in such a manner? Why do some "go off the deep end" and react such as I do while others click into some reserve power to see the situation through?
If you have any answers I'd sure like to know them!