I blame my Dad

Dear Friend,

Would you believe that for awhile, particularly when I was in middle school and beginning high school, I was convinced that any movie made before I was born wasn't worth my time? And heaven forbid it wasn't in color! I'm sorry to admit that, yes, I was that foolish at one time. (I didn't even think about the fact that all those Disney movies I loved so much were made before I was even thought of, illogical thing that I was.)
My Dad has always been a fan of movies, old or new, and I think he probably prefers films to television.  He was a big influence for me to give old movies a shot. Dad always has a copy of a fairly recent Leonard Maltin movie book. I've been known to just flip through those books at random, just to read a quick plot synopsis and on occasion a cast list. Dad's also got a pretty sizable collection of DVDs on hand (though not as big as mine...), being a fan of the $5 or $1 DVD bins in supermarkets.  He sometimes finds some gems in there, amazingly enough.  He introduced me to the Marx Brothers who I found hilarious, despite the lack of hue on the screen. 
But I think the most encouraging part my Dad has played in my becoming a fan of classic films is that he's almost always willing to watch a movie with me.  Sure, there are movies that are decidedly "Mom and Me" movies, like romantic comedies, but most of the other films I want to see whether an animated family film, exciting sci-fi, or critically acclaimed classic or more recently silent slapstick I know that if I want to watch with someone else, Dad will most likely be up for it. 
So, now that I'm a hopeless fan of classic films, who literally turns on the Turner Classic Movies channel every single day, I can blame my Dad.  Or should that be Thank my Dad?

That Voice!

Dear friend,
It has been a very "Frankie" week for me.  I'm not complaining at all.

I don't have a celebrity crush on Frank Sinatra, mind you.  This isn't a case of "protesting too much," I just want to clear that up. A few years ago my Dad was under the impression that I had a crush on Cary Grant, when I didn't.  This is the same sort of thing; I love them, but I don't love them. (I do have a silly, little crush on a member of the Rat Pack, but it isn't Frank, and I'm not telling you who it is, so don't ask)

Anyway, as I said, it's been a very Frankie sort of week for me.  Turner Classic Movies aired a movie called the Kissing Bandit, which I just had to watch, since Frank was in it.  I have a fondness for Frank's early movies, ones where he played a lovable dork who was so nervous around women that he had no idea what to do.  He was such a little, skinny, silly looking dude that the roles fit him very well.  In my opinion, the only thing this movie had going for it was Frank. It was silly, beyond the point of being able to be taken seriously. The costumes were ridiculous, so much so that I burst into laughter at the sight of some of them.  Frank didn't sing nearly enough, either.  Still, I enjoyed watching it. 

A few other Frank movies were on but I, unfortunately, didn't catch all the way through.  I did, as I mentioned at the end of my birthday post, watched Ocean's 11.  I got it out of curiosity about the Rat Pack.  I enjoyed the movie, enough to look past it's ridiculousness.  (And like I said, I now have a crush on someone in the Rat Pack. Just for fun, use the process of elimination, it's not Dean or Sammy, either.)

The day after my birthday, I used some of my abundant supply of itunes money to buy a few "Essential" albums by Frank and Dean Martin.  I love them both. I don't know why it had taken me so long to get actual CDs from either of these two amazing singers, instead of picking up a song by them here or there.

My brother and my sister-in-law sent me a few musicals on DVD as birthday presents.  They sent me Singing in the Rain and Guys and Dolls.  The smile on my face as I opened the package was considerable. I love both of these movies but had never gotten around to buying either one.  As I write, I'm gleefully watching Guys and Dolls, enjoying the fact that Nathan Detroit, and so many others, aren't using contractions. Or should I say, are not using contractions.

I used to love those cartoons making fun of his screaming and swooning fans.  They were really my first indication that Sinatra existed.  Perhaps they were a strong influence on me, since I consider myself something of a Frank Sinatra fangirl.  I was amused to learn that some of those screaming fans were actresses hired and paid to make him seem more popular.

I don't think I could ever get tired of hearing that man sing. It's been an enjoyable week.

My Batman sounds like Kevin Conroy

Dear Friend,
I think I may have written to you about Batman before. Perhaps around the time that a certain highly anticipated film came out this past summer, perhaps around the time that a certain animated show came out on a children's television block. All I know is, I talk about Batman from time to time.
The subject of this particular "super hero" came to my mind this time because my father turned on the TV and Batman was on. You may be familiar with this particular Batman, played by Micheal Keaton, against Nicholson's Joker. I was already familiar with this little film because my parents had it on VHS and one of those summer nights that my brother was home from college we watched it together.
I cannot say that if this had been my first exposure to this character I would have ever sought any more exposure to him. I can't quite put my finger on why I dislike this movie, casting or design or plot, but I know that I don't like it. At all.
Thankfully, "my Batman" came in the form of a Fox animated series, at just about the silver age of Warner Bros. animation. Back in 1992 I started watching Batman: The Animated Series. Now, if you do your math, that was when I was 9 years old. I'm not sure if many 9 year old girls were watching superhero cartoons back then, but I had an older brother and had been "sharing" his TV shows most of my life. (If you hear him tell it, though, we watched nothing but Rainbow Brite and My Little Pony.)
It certainly wasn't my first encounter with action/crime fighting cartoons, I had been obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles before this.
Anyway, it was a new cartoon, and being young me, I made sure to watch it. Little did I know that I would wind up a bat-fan for life. Even when the show switched from Fox to Kids WB and became the Batman/ Superman Adventures, and I had to tape it while my family was at church, I still watched. I even remember my shock at the episode "Over the Edge" when I thought everyone now knew that Bruce Wayne was Batman.
I even "followed" Bruce Wayne to Batman Beyond, which brought us Terry McGinnis in the batsuit. Of course, though old and "decrepit" Bruce was still my batman.
In between shows, of course there were the movies, with Val Kilmer and George Clooney, but these, in my opinion, all sucked. Frankly, for the longest the only batman I would say was worth anything was one that was drawn.
However, I had never, at a single point in my life read a Batman comic. Not a one. I'm not into comics.
Then came along Justice League on Cartoon Network. I however, never got into that, too many of those other people in tights running around (or flying as the case may be).
Fox, then, came up with The Batman, which is supposed to take place at the beginning of Bruce's career as Batman. I had several problems with this series, as you can see if you go way, way back in my blog. I disliked character designs and voices. I've heard that it improved greatly, but I still haven't given it a chance. I mean, come on, that design for the Joker is terrible, and the voice of Batman in the show will forever be the liar of two episodes of Due South to me, not Batman.
How pleased I was when Batman Begins came out. Finally, a live action adaptation that didn't make me roll my eyes until they were in the back of my head.
Then the sequel came along and I was rather disappointed, since it was so depressing and evil I couldn't in anyway enjoy it.
Now, Cartoon Network is starting the process again by bringing us Batman: The Brave and the Bold. I like it. I enjoy the fact that this show doesn't take it self as seriously as the recent films. Because, though tragic in storyline, and dark by design, Batman, if you step back and look, is very ridiculous. This show has a sense of humor, and lots of guest starring heroes. I think, even though the voice isn't Kevin Conroy, I will be watching this one.

Wow, that was long. Did you even finish it? Congrats if you did.

High fructose corn syrup adverts! Really?

Dear friend,
Strangest of things, I have nothing in particular to write about. I'm merely trying to stay awake until a show comes on, this late Friday night.
I finished watching the DVDs of the television show "Life" earlier tonight. I missed the entire first season because I was trying to sleep when it came on. I still find it strange that the prime time segment of television is one hour later on the eastern half of the country than it is in the western half. Who really stays up to watch the 11 o'clock news? Anyway, I enjoyed Life, but I don't think I could get engrossed in it like my other shows. I was certainly captivated by the story, but I don't think it's the sort of show I could watch over and over again.
OK, I just had the weirdest thought. It's natural to type as I think. I remember in school, when I had to learn how to type I thought I'd never be able to do it. What really made it natural for me was to go into chat rooms, usually talking about cartoons, and being the verbose and loquacious nerd that I am I had to learn how to type quickly to keep up with the other not so wordy participants. Now I can, and actually am doing so now, watch television and follow the dialogue and plot while I write out my thoughts. Though my tiyping still isn't perfect, it's an extreme difference from what was.
As you can tell, change intrigues me. Yet I can't take it calmly when it happens too quickly. Slow change, so subtle that you don't notice it, is pretty awesome to me.
I should probably stop writing, before I stop making any sense whatsoever.

Was I really like that?

Dear friend,
My brother is here for the week and decided that we should transfer home videos onto DVD while we can still use the VHS. It's a good idea, which of course means that we have ended up watching the videos as they transfer. And I can't believe that the little 6 year old that I just saw doing the most basic of gymnastics moves, and skipping back into place after each one, grew up to be me! I honestly don't remember being that enthusiastic about anything, let alone in public where every one's parents were nearby.
I do happen to remember being a "look at me, look at me!" sort of girl when a camera was involved.
It's also fun to see how many different ways my Mom did my hair when I was younger.
It's fun to see my brother, especially in 80's and 90's clothes. I'm certain that a certain pair of sneakers my brother was wearing at my 6Th birthday party are being sold again at Journeys.
It's odd to see your life in clips. I'm now quite sure I won't audition for any reality TV shows. Like I was considering it to begin with. (Haven't found a clip of me developing my sarcasm, but maybe it's there.)

Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey

Dear Friend,
Yes, I did catch Time Crash on Youtube. How could I not, since, despite not really watching Dr. Who, my two favorite doctors meet. I've been watching some DW, and find that, shock, I don't like it. Not at all. I need to have something else to do while it's on because it doesn't hold my attention. When it does I tend to think, "This is too creepy to be enjoyable." so I don't really know why I keep trying.
Well, actually, my friend, I do know why: David Tennant is cute. On top of that it's the longest running sci-fi show, it must have something going on for it. It helps that this doctor wears Chuck Taylors, the world's coolest shoes. Whenever I wear my light tan/off white chucks I think of them as my "Who shoes." Yes, I'm a dork.
Anyway, friend, I didn't necessarily begin to write to talk about DW. Actually, I may have. I realized a couple of weeks ago that Netflix noticed I had a "thing" for Peter Davison. It's like the program that recommends things to users looked at my queue and said "Man, this dude's in nearly everything at the top of her list. Let's recommend more!" And so, in the top suggestions for me the had classic DW, and At Home with the Braithwaite's. Both programs that I know I have no intention of watching. (I may relent on the classic Who, though)
I found out that Peter was the voice of Mole in a Wind in the Willows Christmas special I saw as a kid only once and liked. Now I want nothing more than to see it again, sadly it's not to be found on DVD.

So, Friend, how is your Thanksgiving weekend going? I've enjoyed the time off, and thank God that I don't work retail. I can't imagine what it's like to work in a store on Black Friday. I hope yours goes very, very well.
Feel free to watch Time Crash, here:

Memory

Dear Friend,
Have you been especially nostalgic lately, like I have? Do you also begin to remember the ends of old summers come "back to school time?" Or have you grown and matured to the point that you don't really notice anymore?
For some reason seeing notebooks and pencils take prominent store space each August still fills me with the same sadness and uncertainty that it gave me when I was small. I enjoyed school very much, I just didn't want to go back. Summer had been too short, surely it had been longer last year! I still wanted to wake up late, play in the sunshine, go swimming or running through sprinklers and watch Price is Right if I wanted to.
Now, they only part of that list that I still do is wake up late. At 24 my summers are not what my summer was at 12. But I still feel disappointment at seeing back to school sales.
I recently put up my cork board for small, temporary things that I like to hang on the wall. I put a few photos up and realized a sad thing: I have pictures of people I used to know, not friends that I have. Occasionally I'll send or receive e-mail from these people but they are decidedly in my past. I don't have anyone outside of my immediate family in my present. This fact troubles me, especially now that I must admit I don't know how to change that.
I read someone's account of making a new friend recently. One thing that struck in in the story was the author's claim that they "recognized" this stranger as a friend immediately. I remember being able to feel that way, the last time I felt it was in elementary school. Back then I could walk up to a person, say "Hi, my name is ______, what's yours?" and suddenly I had a best friend. I realized sometime in my teens that it doesn't work anymore. I don't know if I lost some ability to spot a "kindred spirit" from across the room or if children just have simpler needs from companions. I'd like to think it's the latter, but I fear it's the former. I've stumbled or been pushed into some friendships since then, and I've loved each of my friends no matter how awkward or long our acquaintance-ship (I don't think that's a word, but who cares) was. I just wish I had an "insta-friend," though. I hope when I get a job, or something, I find one.
There's always hope.

The voices in my head sound like Mel Blanc

I, about 7 years ago, described myself as a "voice junkie." Why I used that colorful phrase is yet to be understood, but I still love to hear good voices. I don't mean singing voices, just speaking voices. I once had an online pen pal for an entire year with whom I had nothing in common other than an appreciation for Rob Paulsen. I worked at reading quickly in order to read the credits of cartoons in order to know who was doing the voices. I have the "Speechless" memorial art for Mel Blanc. I like voices.
So, anyone who is as into voices as I am would of course like Mel Blanc. He's the man of a thousand voices, after all. I read his autobiography for a school report. I know why he changed his name from Blank to Blanc; a horrid teacher told him that he was always going to live up to his name, he would be blank, worth nothing. People like that shouldn't be allowed around children, let alone teach them. Anyway, I've been a Mel Blanc fan for longer than I've been a Rob Paulsen fan (which has got to be almost 15 years, now) so imagine my dismay at finally hearing Mel's radio show on XM classic radio and realizing I don't like his normal voice. It was like finding out Santa Claus doesn't exist. I still respect him for his talent, but man his normal voice was ugh. It didn't help that his character in the show was a moron... but then sitcoms, be they on TV or radio, are filled with idiots. I wish I'd never heard it.
Phil Harris is on XM, too. He's not known for doing a wide range of voices, but that's because his own was so cool. I first liked Phil as Little John in Disney's Robin Hood, who is basically Baloo from Jungle Book (which I also love), who is basically O'Malley in Aristocats (love the character, the movie is meh...) and recently I've heard his radio show and heard him on Jack Benny's show (I think it's Jack Benny). It's a voice from when I was a kid, and it's cool. The drunk jokes are somewhat amusing, too.
I bought the Many Adventures Of Winnie the Pooh this week. I love that this movie has great voices. Sterling Holloway sounds so soothing and sweet in all his Disney work. I assume that's how he always sounded, but without any research on him I won't say for sure. I remember watching A Day for Eeyore when I was little, and I could tell it was different, but my most recent veiwing showed me just how different it is. Jim Cummings, though great, is not Sterling Holloway. The only thing that keeps the magic in that short is the fact that I watched it as a kid. I also love John Fiedler as Piglet. I watched 12 Angry Men recently and smiled as soon as he talked. Paul Winchell and Barbara Luddy are great additions, too.
There are so many different voices that I've loved for a long time, but I think I've mentioned all the ones on my mind now. So I'll quit.

Allow me to be nostalgic

Most girls go through the "boy-band" stage. I was fortunate enough to not be enamoured of Nsync or Backstreet Boys or 98 Degrees. I was head over heels for BBMak. I fought it, really, I didn't want to be into a boy band, but they got me. I still love them, they just don't exist as a band anymore.
As for the members themselves, I can't find a dang thing about Mark Barry (my favorite member...)
Christian Burns is in some group called Inhaler. (Sorry, honey, the "guyliner" isn't fooling me)
But happily, I found that Ste McNally has a site with acoustic samples of the songs he's trying to put on a CD. Here! Ste MAK in all his glory!
His voice was my favorite in the group, and his guitar playing was the best in the group, and so I'm happy as a peach right about now. (That is, if peaches are particularly happy) Sadly, his lyrics are about as mentally challenging as walking through a revolving door. Then again, I don't quite go to pop to think deeply about life, do I? My favorite song happens to be Blue Jeans, sounds oh so original doesn't I? Ok, so maybe I'm needlessly sarcastic, but I really do love the song. Reason for Breathing also happens to be one of the most cliche ridden songs I've ever been subjected to, but I truly think I could listen to this guy sing the users manual for a toaster right now.
I've been listening to BBMak a lot lately. And I just have to wonder why these guys weren't more popular. The songs are fun, the harmony is great, they were cute! That's all that a boy band needs for success, really, isn't it? I blame Hollywood Records for not enough publicity. Sure, they were all over Disney Channel after their first CD came out, but the second CD was barely advertised. That sucked. Maybe the world just wasn't/isn't ready for a boy band that doesn't do choreographed dances. Well, it's hard to do all that junk when you're holding a guitar. They chose the music over the dance, so there! Yeah, I'm nuts.
What I really think the problem was happens to be the fact that there were so stinking many boybands in the 90s. Every time you turned around there was a new one. They couldn't all survive.
I'm off to listen to more of "Ste Mak's" songs. (The boy really needs a more normal sounding name. What's wrong with Steve or Stephen anyway? And McNally isn't that hard to say...)

Till next I write!

That day has come!...... and passed

So, I've been waiting for a very loooooooooooooooooong time for "them" to put Animaniacs and/or Pinky and the Brain on DVD. Oh, joyous and happy day I had yesterday when I expactantly walked into my nearest Wal-Mart (soul-devouring pit that it is) and came out with the first 22 or so episodes of both neatly packaged on little discs. Well, that and bird toys and gum and Snoopy Come Home on DVD... never let me alone in a Wal-mart, ever.
I watched the first disc of P&tB last night, subjecting my father to a marathon of cartoons (Love ya' Dad!). I'm surprised I chose to watch the mice before the Warners, A! was my favorite in years past. But who knows why we do the things we do. If I begin to start randomly singing "Brain Stem, brain stem!" then I cannot be blamed, I adore Pinky. (Rob Paulsen..... you rock, is all I can say, sir, You Rock.)
I only watched the first episode of A! and the interview of various voices featurette (Rob Paulsen!!!) and am eagerly looking forward to the rest of all of them.

Now, what we need is Freakazoid on DVD, and my preteen years of cartoon veiwing will be complete. (I think, I can't remember what else I watched back then.)

So, my WB TV animation collection now has the Looney Tunes Golden Collections (not really TV, but oh well), Batman: The Animated Series, season 1 of Animaniacs, season 1 (sort of) for Pinky and the Brain, and season 1 of Batman Beyond. Yep, I want Freakazoid now.

On a completely different note: Benji should so win So You Think You Can Dance. I love that guy (in the exact same way I love Elliot Yamin, of course)! He's amazing!

~Till Next I Write!

My sweet cat

Who would believe that this seemingly innocent little cat could go berserk, clawless and nearly toothless as she is, and start attacking a cat 15 years her junior? I certainly would. It would seem little Ivory, my dear, sweet, 17 year old baby, has decided she's had enough. Enough of that little brat of a Zoe sneaking up behind her and jumping over, or worse yet onto, her head. Now, Ivory is the one doing the attacking. I can't say I blame the dear old lady.

Ivory's story is that she was the 2nd cat in our family, after Alley (who sadly is no longer with us). At 17, she's the longest living of our pets, and if you were to listen to my father, the dumbest. She put up for 14 years with being put down by Alley, who was Queen cat of the house. Ivory put up with being second in line for table scraps, comfy laps and window sills. But she put up with it.

Then we got Jake, our white German Shepherd (also gone now). He never messed with Ivory, but he certainly got in her way, being a dog, and therefore not too too bright. In the eyes of a cat, anyway, besides, he was another competitor for the wonderful table scraps. But she put up with it.

When Alley died, Ivory got a little freaked out, and figured that my Dad would take her wherever he'd taken Alley and he wasn't to be trusted. As far as she knew, one day Dad said, "Come on, Alley, you're out of here." and there went that other cat. She didn't trust my father near the door for months. Still, she eventually got used to being the only cat. So, of course, she put up with it.

Then, we got Zoe. My poor dear had to live to see me, her beloved SLS, bring in another cat! Not only a cat, but an energetic kitten. An energetic kitten, who grew to be an annoying attack cat, who blamed any and every problem on her. But, Zoe doesn't eat table scraps, so she put up with it.

However, in the last month, she's decided she's sick of putting up with it. I guess she's decided, she's an old lady, in her restful years and she's going to enjoy it, Darn It! So now, not only does she attack Zoe when the mood hits her (who can easily take care of herself, having both teeth and claws in addition to youthful zest) but she now also jumps up to investigate what sort of table scraps are available to her. While this does pose a problem at meal times for us humans, I can't help but think; It's ok, Ivy girl, you've earned it. Do what you want, and lets aim for that Oldest living Cat record baby!

I love you Ivory, my girl!

It's been too long

I am now full-time at my job. That's caused more stress than it should have, but I won't bore all you people with all the drama. *audience (of one) applauds* Gee, thanks...

Anyway, I love being the person who duplicates CDs, except for the inevitable times when all there is to do is wait. Wait for CDs to print, wait for CDs to burn, wait, wait, wait. And hope that your boss doesn't wander past the door, since just standing around (or sitting as I sometimes do) doesn't make it look like you have much use there. But when you actually do stuff, it's cool to be the "CD duplicator lady" :-)

Oh, this song on my internet radio makes me sad. "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5. I think it only makes me sad because it's the first song I heard after our dog was put down. That memory sucks. I really feel sorry for a co-worker of mine, who lost 2 dogs in as many weeks. After the 1st one died, the other was so depressed that it died too. That so sucks.

I so want to hug whoever came up with TiVo and other such devices, such as our DVR. Why? It makes it possible for me to again watch Radio Free Roscoe. At my own convenience, yet! Everyday, there it is, a new-to-me RFR just waiting to be viewed. And eventually burned to DVD. My infatuation with RFR is pretty deep right now. I don't really know why. I can guess, though, probably the guys. There is just something so entertaining about TV high school guys stumble through their lives. It isn't so funny for TV high school girls, they tend to be too whiny. But Ray/Pronto, Robbie/Question Mark and Travis/Smog are just "cuties". (No, not that way! Ok, maybe Travis... Maybe)

My eyes are drooping and itchy, and it's only 9:30. I thought I would adjust to waking at 6 am by now...

Hey, guess what! They put Faery Tale Theatre on DVD! Anyone else remember that show? Shelley Duvall and various celebrities doing fairy tales! My favorite has to be The Three Little Pigs. Watching it recently explained why I've always liked Billy Crystal, I liked him when I was little and saw him playing a pig in colorful clothes, building his own brick house and playing the oboe. Years and years later, I still like him, though I'd forgotten why. Funny, huh? Jeff Goldblum was hilarious as the Wolf, too. Of course, now that I'm older and watching this series, it's got a lot more adult humor than I ever suspected when I was a kiddie and watching. Weird how stuff goes over children's heads, and they never knew it was there to begin with.

Anyway...
Till next I write