Drama day

Who's that pretty lady?

We went to see "The Happening" yesterday with Kerry. She worked a few days on the film last year and we were looking forward to seeing how it all turned out. They had featured her scene in one of the trailers, so we hoped that meant the scene actually stayed in the final cut (sometimes, as the release date gets closer, scenes get cut at the last minute). Thankfully, her big scene was very much there and one of the most effective/dramatic scenes in the whole film.

As far as the film itself....well, Kerry's scene was great, there were a few very disturbing visual scenes early on and Betty Buckley's (the mom from "Eight is Enough" for you TV kids) scenes added some much needed tension.

Overall...did I mention that Kerry's scene was great and that Betty Buckley was in it?



After stopping by a local crepe place for an after-movie snack, we headed back to the apartment so Kerry could get ready for her performance at the theater a few hours later. It would be the first time I've seen her in a play and I was really looking forward to it. I've heard her sing a bit around the apartment (my favorite improved song she did was "I get too many bills in the mail"), but hearing someone in a big show is often very different.



She was GREAT and the show was a lot of fun! I have always admired people who can sing a song so effortlessly and with so much emotion. My shower singing has that too, I'm sure, but dogs howling is not the same as an audience of people cheering and applauding.

The show is chock a' block full of fun songs, dancing and energy. Her co-star in the show, Harry Groener, was good (and besides his many credits, will forever be known to me as "the mayor" on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and another of her co-stars, Meredith Patterson, is quite famous recently to all of us "Boston Legal" fans as Missy Tiggs, the annoyingly cute singing ex-fiance of Tom Selleck this past year. Such a funny character...

After the show, we had dinner with a few of her castmates, then came home to catch up, then get some sleep.

Also, as some of you know from my recent travels abroad, I have a "wee" bit of an issue with large spiders. For the past few nights, I've noticed this spider hanging in a web between a nearby tree and Kerry's balcony. It's been far enough away for me to still sleep soundly and, since it was dark, I couldn't really get a good look at it.

So, last night I saw it again in the same place and decided to try and get a picture of it. After a few trys, here is what I got...



What the ass kind of spider is that?

Geez!!!!????

Wow Houston, look at the time....gotta go soon.

A happening day

Not enjoying the heat so much...

It's been in the upper 90's since I got here and, I have to admit, its kinda ass. The thing about heat is that, with it, there seems to be an extreme lack of cool. When it's too cold, you can always put on more clothes to get warm. When it's hot, you can only get so naked and then...you're still hot.

And the police tend to try to arrest you....again.

Luckily, Houston has this cool (literally and figuratively) underground walkway system that connects most of the downtown buildings for just this reason. It allows you to get from place to place without being "above" in the sweltering heat. It's also very clean and bright and without the smell of urine and mouth that I was expecting to experience. As a result, the sidewalks in the city look almost empty most of the day.

Enjoyable.







The city has a variety of interesting art pieces scattered about...very modern and colorful. I'm not a big arty person, but I can appreciate most of it for what it is.

Well....most of it.



This particular piece looks like something my little niece threw together for her kinder-care class. It's a somewhat famous project and is featured prominently in one of the big buildings in the middle of the city. Hmmmm...

I should have kept all of my pathetic shop class projects. If I had known that they could be considered "art" in Houston, I could have moved here and lived a life of luxury and fame.

You live and you learn...



We're going to see Kerry's play tonight, which is very exciting. She is playing THE American in Paris, so I think she'll have a pretty big part in the show. We stopped by the theater yesterday for a few minutes and she took me backstage to see where all the magic occurs.



I got to see her dressing room, which was fun. It took all of my willpower to NOT sit down in one of the chairs and put on some of the fun costumes and such in the room. However, I do believe I've found my outfit for the show tonight...

I think I'll wear this hat...



Unless it's too hot (I don't want the fruit to go bad), then I'll wear this hat (if Cher can part with it for the night)...



And this outfit...



They're subtle, but formal enough to fit into the bustling Houston theater crowd.

I'd hate to stand out.

Oh, we're also going to see the new movie "The Happening" this afternoon. Kerry has a small part in it too (she plays a mother who gets a disturbing call from her daughter), so that should be fun. I suggest seeing her movie over that Hulk this weekend.

Didn't the Hulk come out about 5 years ago anyway?

Do we really need another one with not one, but TWO badly CGI'd Hulks?

Me thinks not...

First night out

I had a great time with Kerry's gays and other cast members last night. We all ate at a great restaurant, Hugos...we ate a LOT. The food was good, the company was fun and I enjoy any restaurant with cobalt blue glassware. It'll be fun to see this wacky crew of kids in the show tomorrow night. If it's anywhere near as witty as their own personalities...it's gonna be a hoot!



Considering it's not in the Alps and isn't really a chateau...my guess is that the inside provides a variety of "pleasures" for the active adult. Things like this...



I'm not ready to book my pleasure party just yet....but at least when I am, I know who to call.



I might need to go into this store to buy a volcano light or to see if Wilmer Valderamma is working behind the counter. A person can dream, right?

Kerry and I are off to do some errands in this "wonderful" heat. Hopefully it'll help me sweat out the late night scrambled eggs with chili....and waffle that I ate at 2:00 am last night.

My intestines are still "thanking" me for that meal.

Not Whitney Houston

This heat is whack!

After, what seemed like a 25 minute walk from the terminal to baggage claim, I finally made it out of the Houston airport, to SuperShuttle and to my friend's lovely condo here in downtown Houston. It's about 95 degrees today and muggy...I should smell "great" later.





First impressions of the city....seems great. Looking forward to actually seeing it, rather than driving through it.



My friend has arranged for several of "her gays" (she's the star of her show, so she gets to have her own gays) are taking me out tonight for a tour. We're about to leave soon...so this will be short. Like the sign I saw at the airport above....I think I'll be hanging with some national and international Marys...I'll soon find out when I meet them.

Of course, I always favor the Mexican Marys (lower left of sign)....

More tomorrow....

Words on fire

There are a LOT of unhappy people out there in the world.

In the course of an hour today, I witnessed three examples of this. A customer at the Post Office who, unprovoked, decided he needed to tell the guy behind the counter how to do his job and how to do it quicker. His tone was immediately dismissive and condescending...no wonder those employees go postal.

After leaving the Post Office, I allowed a gal to exit a parking lot to merge into the opposite lane. The man in the truck behind me thought that laying on his horn would help her navigate the oncoming traffic quicker. It didn't...

While waiting for my McLunch, a burly man decided to lecture the manager, at the height of the lunch madness, about not getting enough direct eye contact when he ordered his meal. The manager seemed surprised and tried to apologize, but the man proceeded to just yell at him anyway, not giving him any opportunity to talk, then grabbed his Mcbag and left.

What a McAss.



I know that these are difficult times and people are under a lot of pressure. However, it is often quite disturbing to witness the surge of people in this world who feel justified in lashing out at others on any given day...just because they can.

It's no wonder there is so much crime and violence...the amount of people barely hanging on mentally appears to be overwhelming at times.

It's sad...but certainly something everyone should keep in mind when they're out and about. Pick your battles and pick them well. The wrong word to the wrong person can be deadly these days.

A smile, a "Thank You", a "Have a nice day" used to work in days of yore...

The only way for us to ever bring a little peace and joy back into this world is if we each do our best, on a daily basis, to treat people in the way we like to be treated.

It's really not that difficult and certainly makes a very big difference in the grand scheme of things.

The Karma police must be overwhelmed these days...



I'm heading to Houston tomorrow through Sunday to see a friend in a play. I've never been to Houston, so I'm looking forward seeing her in the show (plus she has a role in the new movie "The Happening" that opens on Friday...so we're gonna see that with her too).

I'm also looking forward to exploring the city and seeing if everyone really does drive around with gun racks in the back of their pickup trucks.

As for me, I'll be "shooting" pictures on my camera and posting them here, if all goes well.

Oh...I also watched the remake of "Sybil" that was on Saturday night...

Remember what I said about Nora Ephron and the studio that remade "Bewitched"?

I believe Nora has a new neighbor now...

3G iPhone announced today

Well, Steve Jobs unveiled his newest baby today...the 3G iPhone.

It will be pretty much what the name implies: a device that looks much like the existing iPhone, but with a 3G radio and built-in GPS features, available July 11 in 22 countries (growing to 70 later in the year).

But what will stick out is the price: $199 for the 8GB model. So compared with the existing $399 8GB iPhone, you're getting pretty much the same features and a much faster network for half the price. No wonder Apple has tried to use up its supplies of current iPhones - after today, I'm not sure who would buy one. In addition, the iPhone 3G sets a new bar that all "smart phones" will be measured against.

Sounds like it's gonna be very fancy and all the kids will probably be buying them up the moment they hit the shelves.

I've seen the current iPhones work and, as fun to play with as they are, I still wish they'd fold up, like most of the "Star Trek-type" cell phones out there.

I'd also like them to be encased in indestructible rubber so that, when dropped, they would bounce right back up into my hand...rather, than shattering into a million little pieces on the ground below.

Is that too much to ask?

Cell phones are evil

Well, after watching this video....



I may rethink keeping the charger next to my bed...

Hello nightmares!

Secret Lives

I have been following Post Secret, off and on, for a while now. For those of you who don't know about the site, it's a place where people send anonymous postcards containing secrets that they've kept in their lives. Some of them are hilarious, others touching, and others are heart-crushing.

But, they are always fascinating.















The site really offers some compelling insight into the human psyche.

There are also a variety of YouTube videos that feature some of the Post Secret cards, like this one featuring the song "Breath Me" by Sia (this song was also used for the finale of "Six Feet Under").



That song always gives me chills...

Sybil

No movie (TV or Film), to this day, has ever affected me as deeply as the 1976 TV movie "Sybil", staring Sally Field and Joanne Woodward. Although, "Sophie's Choice" and "Ordinary People" follow closely behind.

But, "Sybil" is THE one.

I remember watching it when I was much younger and being rivited by Sally Field's performance. I had grown up loving her on "The Flying Nun" and was so surprised to see my Sister Bertrille suddenly disappear and dissolve into this sad, tortured woman with multiple personalities. It was a two-part "Television Event" (they did those back then) and, after watching the whole thing...I immediately bought the book and read it.



Sally Field's gut-wrenching performance still brings me to tears all of these years later. She certainly deserved the Best Actress Emmy that year (1977) and, had it been a feature film, she would likely have received an Oscar.

When the movie went into syndication and would replay very late at night, I used to stay up to try and record the full version (almost 4 hours) without commericals on my VCR, but it was often so chopped up, that saving a pristine copy was almost impossible (no matter how expertly I had mastered the "pause-record" maneuver on my remote). There was a video version available, but it had been cut down to two hours, almost half of the film had been edited out....not good.

Then, a couple of years ago, Warner Bros. finally released a 20th Anniversary edition with the full version intact and I bought it the day of its release. The film looked and sounded great, although visually dated when compared to how things are filmed today (with fancy cinematography, editing and smooth scene transitioning), but the performances held up just as they originally did.



When I read that a remake was being filmed with Jessica Lange as Dr. Wilbur and Tammy Blanchard as Sybil, I was very apprehensive. The original was so impactful and well-acted that it just seemed wrong to attempt to remake it. Especially since, historically, remakes often suck (Nora Ephron and Sony Pictures have secured a condo in Hell for their remake of the perfectly cast, yet magic and joy-free, "Bewitched").

This "Sybil" remake was filmed almost two years ago and I've been watching for it to air since. I just found out today that it will be airing on CBS this Saturday night at 8:00.

Saturday night?!!

My fears appear to be coming true. As I dug a little deeper into this non-TV event, I found that CBS.com doesn't have any kind of promotion for it on their site. The move is only two hours long, there are only a couple photos even available online and the few reviews out there, at this point, are not very good.



As much as I'm dreading this remake, I'm going to watch it. I'm sure it'll be another interpretation of the book, which is fine. But, when a major network has a property with this kind of history and then does nothing to promote it...it doesn't bode well.

It's a very bad marketing decision on their part.

No matter how it turned out, they missed an opportunity to use the hype from the original to build an awareness campaign for the remake. A monkey could have created a better marketing plan for the film in exchange for a banana and a juicebox.

It makes no sense.

But, my heart will always be with the original. If you have a chance to watch or buy the 20th Anniversary DVD of the original "Sybil" with Sally Field...do it.

It's still a very haunting performace by a "TV actress" who was, at the time, just known for flying around the convent San Tanco or Gidgeting her way across the beaches of California.

It altered Sally Field's entire career forever and, I'll wager, the movie will stay with you for that long too.

I found this "Sybil" montage and I really like the song choice...

D-liscious

The new season of "My Life on the D-List" can't get here quick enough for me. Here is a little intro to the new season by Kathy (Miss Griffin, if you're nasty)...



Enjoyable...

Living Underground

Mr. Baggins, the condo association has a problem with your mud hut.

As you know, I enjoy the "Lord of the Rings" movies. When I came across this site about a family in Wales that has built this eco-friendly dwelling, I just had to feature it.

It immediately reminded me of my trip to Hobbiton, while I was traveling in New Zealand. From the outside, this structure looks a lot like the design of the Hobbit homes in the films.



I love the natural design of the structure, the curved wood framing around the doors and windows, and the rustic feel of the home. It would certainly be a bit more sound-proof on most days (you'd likely be living in the woods, so no need to worry about traffic or helicopter noise). Of course, you'd have to mow the roof at some point, but I'm sure you could find a local kid to do it in exchange for a bag of magic beans or something.

Although, I'm guessing that you might have a more frequent bug problem, being all covered in dirt and such. Of course, MY Hobbit house would need to be hermetically sealed from the inside (like my heart) and it would also need to have all of the modern convienences available today (no compost toilet for me), plus Wi-Fi, Cable and a top of the line audio system with big screen TV and Enya music piped into each room.



As with many things in life, I like the idea of a home like this. I like the idea of living a simplier life in the wilderness, surrounded by nature and fresh air.

I also like the idea of someone paying for, building, maintaining and cleaning it for me too.

Any takers?

Dogs just wanna have fun

Rue McClanahan is dressed in her "Golden Girls" best.

I went to my friend's dog show yesterday and had a really fun time. As you know, when you're at an event like that, you're surrounded by a very eclectic array of canines and canine owners. Most dog-lovers are great and very sound human beings. Then, there are the owners that are just a "wee" bit too into the whole dog thing....



They often speak to their dogs as people and respond to them in the same way. They dress them up (as you can tell by Rue's wig and outfit above) or cart them around in little baskets (above), so they don't get tired.

By the end of the day, I was wishing that someone would push me around in one of those carts.



This guy had a cute puppy....not the kind of dog you'd expect from a big guy like this. Then, I saw the back of his shirt...



Hmmm...that dog better keep in line if he plans to reach adulthood.

There were a mix of celebrities there throughout the day helping to judge events. The best was Shirley "Mrs. Partridge" Jones.



She was just as nice as you'd expect and stayed out there in the sun far longer than I would have for most of the day.



Dee Wallace (the mom from "ET", among other things) was also there and looked pretty darn good for a woman of her age. Quite sassy...



There was a guy from "Baywatch", David Chokachi, who brought his little dog too.



Allison Janney from "West Wing" showed up towards the end of the competition, but seemed very nice. I wonder what contest she won for her blue ribbon...



And, Rip Taylor was there too. I tried to get a better picture of him before he left, but he seemed to disappear in a poof of glitter...so this will have to do (a glitter-free photo, as you can see).

I wonder if that is his "wife"....?



I thought this company had a funny name.

It was a fun day, full of interesting competitions ("Most Playful", "Best Trick"). My friend's dog, Zora, won first place in two competitions...."Best Pit Bull Mix" and "Best Smile".



She does have quite a smile, don't you think?