My darling lives in a world that is not mine
An old child misunderstood... out of time
Timeless is the creature who is wise
And timeless is the prisoner in disguise
Oh who is the beauty... who is the beast
Would you die of grieving when I leave
Two children too blind to see
I would fall in your shadow... I believe
My love is a man who's not been tamed
Oh...my love lives in a world of false pleasure and pain
We come from difference worlds... we are the same (my love)
I never doubted your beauty... I've changed
And when I call
Will you walk gently
Thru my shadow
The ones you dream of
The ones who walk away
With their capes
Pulled around them tight
Cryin' for the night
Cry for the nightbird
-Stevie Nicks, "Nightbird"
Sara has a new ezboard to trade plot bunnies, The Breeding Ground. This is for anyone who participates in fanfic - all fandoms welcome. Post a bunny, take a bunny. Have fun and write, write, write.
Once in a while, I get on a WWII movie kick. I think I sometimes get overwhelmed by the sacrifice that men like my father made, many paying the ultimate sacrifice of their lives so that their children could be free. This started several years ago when I had the good fortune to be able to watch the mini-series "The Winds of War" with my father. As the film progressed, he made comments like "I remember that. We couldn't believe that happened." And in the space of a week, WWII became very real to me. Since then, I watch movies from the 40's with much more interest. I am fascinated and moved by the way normal everyday people rise to the occasion and perform extraordinary acts when faced with the crisis of a world at war. In honor of my father, I am listing some of my favorite WWII movies. Most of these do not chronicle the war per se, but they portray the beauty of humanity trying to cope with uncertainty, loneliness, and sacrifice.
40's Era Films:
"Arise, My Love" - Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland
"Love Letters" - Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten
"Casablanca" - Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
"Random Harvest" - Greer Garson, Ronald Coleman
"Lost Horizon" - Ronald Coleman
"Mrs. Miniver" and "The Miniver Story" - Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon
"The Best Years of Our Lives" - Myrna Loy, Fredrick March, Dana Andrews
"Twelve O'Clock High" - Gregory Peck
"To Have and Have Not" - Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart
"Notorious" - Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant
50's/60's Films About WWII:
"South Pacific" - Mitzi Gaynor, Rossano Brazzi
"The Inn of the 6th Happiness" - Ingrid Bergman
"The African Queen" - Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart
"The Great Escape" - Steve McQueen, James Garner
"The Dirty Dozen" - Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine
"Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" - Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum
"The Enemy Below" - Robert Mitchum, Curd Jurgens
"Apartment for Peggy" - William Holden, Jeanne Crain
"In Harm's Way" - John Wayne, Patricia Neal
Contemporary Films:
"The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" - Robert Mitchum, Victoria Tennant (TV Mini-series)
"Memphis Belle" - Matthew Modine, D.B. Sweeney, Harry Connick, Jr.
If any of you have any favorite WWII movies that are not listed here, I would love to know what they are.
My father lost part of his hearing in WWII. He was a tail gunner on a TBM Torpedo Bomber and popped an eardrum during a dive. Because he didn't want to get rejected from the war effort, he never told the government doctors.
When I was growing up, this wasn't too much of a problem, but as he's aged, his hearing has become so bad that he can't understand alot of the conversations anymore. It's really been tough on my Mom because he thinks he understands what she says, when in reality, he doesn't...leading to misunderstanding and frustration.
A few years ago, he tried to get a hearing aid, but was told nothing would help him. But recently, he found out he was eligible for government medical benefits for veterans. After seeing a couple of their specialists, they fitted him with a hearing aid that works!
Mom and Dad called last night and were SO excited. He's hearing things he hasn't heard in years. I'm so happy for him!
Since it's OK for Lori to be grouchy at Liz because of her blog, I think it's OK for me to be grouchy at Lori's Comments. In the past couple days I have tried to leave or read her comments and have waited...and waited...and waited. Only to have my comment eaten or not allowed access. So I'm officially grouchy about it!
Yesterday, I rented the DVD Director's Cut of ST:TMP. I have not seen this movie for years and wanted to see if the DC lived up to the hype.
I must say that the movie is beautiful. The colors are fresh and crisp and the sound that pumped through my 5 surround sound speakers is clear and powerful. I still think that many of the shots of V'ger and the Enterprise are too long. I also think that the whole idea of V'ger becoming a living machine is far-fetched, but the underlying theme that logic is not the end-all-answer-to-life still rings very true. What I didn't expect were the flashbacks...
Six young women in bell-bottomed bluejeans and Navy peacoats stood in line as it grew and snaked around the old Egyptian Theatre. Their breath made frosty puffs in the cold December air as they talked and joked among themselves and with others waiting in line around them. The atmosphere was upbeat and expectant. Overhead, flashing lights framed the words "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". None of the young women considered themselves a "Trekkie", but a couple had mentioned going to the opening and the others wanted to join in "The Event." When the doors finally opened, they purchased popcorn and Coke, found some good seats and relaxed to view the movie. The room filled quickly until there was not a seat left. Finally, the lights dimmed, the previews finished and the opening chords of music began. The crowd went wild. This scenario repeated as each familiar character was re-introduced to the adoring audience. As the main story began, a hush fell until the film ended. "What did you think?" someone said, as they filed out of the theatre. "Long." "Strange." "Not sure, but wasn't it great to BE here?" "Yeah, I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
Healers are gentle people, gifted with the ability to heal others with the strength of their own minds. They can examine a person's body and aura, helping them to recover from injury or sickness. Healers never put themselves first, and can be generous to a fault.
Secondary
Ability:
Empath
Empaths posess the ability to feel the emotions of others. They are gentle people, who encourage and nurture others. They percieve the world with their hearts and not with their minds. Empaths make great friends because they understand people.
I have 2 well meaning people in my life right now who are driving me crazy. Stark. Raving. Mad. About my garden, of all things. I have much more important stuff to think about than my garden and besides the garden is for relaxing, for working off steam, and having a bit of beauty in life. It's not supposed to be a source of conflict. Sheesh.
First there is my neighbor. He has this beautiful vegetable garden and thinks everyone else should have one, too. I don't want a vegetable garden. I want flowers. But he insisted that I take some zucchini seedlings at the beginning of summer. The only place I had room for these was in my freshly raised rose bed. Now these d*mn zucchini plants have taken over my rosebed and still haven't produced 1 zucchini, since some critter keeps biting off the blooms. And why do I need these things anyway when every time I step out the back door, the neighbor appears like magic wanting to know how many of *his* zucchini I want. The guy must have survelliance cameras set up to watch my patio. I like zucchini, but in moderation. I don't need a refrigerator full of them - especially when I have 2 plants that are supposed to be giving me all the zucchini I need.
And then there is my friend. Her back yard is almost literally one big flower garden. It's lovely, but a bit much for my taste. Anyway, I mentioned that I wanted to get a plant that is in bloom right now, since my perennials are either done blooming or will bloom later. There's a flower that looks like an orange daisy with a black center that I like. She says she will give me a start. So I go over to her house to get it and she argues with me for 15 minutes that I said I wanted a different plant, not the daisy-like plant. This I don't understand. Why does she argue about me saying something I know I didn't say? I know what I wanted. I also know I NEVER wanted that other plant, so why argue? Well, it seems she doesn't have a lot of the plant I wanted and can't split it up yet. So no plant. And that's Ok, I'm a beggar here so it's no big deal. I'll wait until next year or I'll go buy it.
The other thing she's done is grace me with numerous Rose-of-Sharon plants. Believe me, this is a good thing, but I don't have a good place for them right now. So I have these cute little seedlings in water on my window sill. Every time she visits she asks me why I haven't planted them yet. I have several reasons, which I tell her every time, but she keeps asking. It's like she's deaf or something.
Why is it that when someone gives you something, they feel like it's OK to tell you what to do with it? Even if you didn't ask for it or want it. I think I'm going to rip up the zucchini and plant the Rose-of-Sharons in their place until I can prepare the place I want them to eventually go. Then no one will be happy but me. Why can't they just take care of their own gardens and let me take care of mine? I don't tell THEM what they should do, why do they feel like it's OK to give me orders about MY yard? Sheesh! LEAVE. ME. ALONE. That's all I ask.
edit at 5:00 pm - I talked myself into it. It's done. Zucchini plants gone. Rose-of-Sharons planted. ::wipes dirt off hands and face::
I was checking out this week's mystery cam which is the Panama Canal and ran across this series of shots of the USS New Jersey passing through the locks. Very cool.
I love the mystery cam page. You can find a netcam to view cities and landscapes all over the world. The best thing is you don't have endure long plane rides and bleary eyes from time zone changes and lack of sleep. It's also free. How can you beat that?
Here are some places I've been. Anything familiar?
I haven't posted anything lately because I just don't feel like I have much good to say. Maybe if I get some of it out I'll feel better. I found out late last week that I didn't get the job. And I don't have anything else that's even close to being a good fit - no more interviews scheduled, no headhunters are returning calls. And the stock market is not helping things one bit. I'm running out of ideas.
A very good friend of mine has been very sick and I've been sitting in waiting rooms with her as she writhes in pain. It's such a hopeless feeling. There's nothing I can do but be there and provide moral support. I haven't been too fond of doctors for years for personal reasons. And I HATE hospitals...'nuff said about that!
I need work, I want to work. My mental health depends on it.
Secondary
