can't we all just get along......

Riley , the sheep dog, has arrived for a week long visit. A certain someone is not amused.

I'll know it when i see it........

I was in a middle school the other day- I was part of an arts workshop- i was doing some improv with the kids. One of the girls was wearing a t shirt that had Andy Warhols Marilyn Monroe image printed on it.

We talked about it for a moment or two, I turned to the kids who were all sitting around and asked them- Is Andy Warhol's Marilyn painting "art"?

A spirited discussion ensued.

It was wonderful. No consensus was reached.

I wonder what they would have to say about Mr.Duchamp's fountain.

for arts sake..........

Wanna buy a Van Gogh baseball? or a scarf? or a teacup? or a key chain?

I know just the place. The Philadelphia museum of art is finishing up an exhibit called , Van Gogh: Up Close.- which focuses on the work he did in the last four years of his life.

To say that the show is a crowd pleaser  would be an understatement. The crowds are huge and enthusiastic. This is one of those exhibits where you need a separate ticket , apart from your general museum entrance. I got mine a week in advance and the slot I got was the absolute last half hour on a Saturday afternoon. The museum closes at five, but for the duration of the Van Gogh they stay open until seven.

About a dozen years back, there was an Exhibit of Van Gogh portraits in Washington DC at the national gallery- same deal huge crowds, sold out. I drove down to see that, but without a ticket, last weekend of the show. I had to do some of my best begging/whining/cajoling/pleading to get in. I got in, when push comes to shove, I am an excellent beggar/whiner/cajoler/pleader.

A few days before I went to Philadelphia I read an article and the author was making the case that Van Gogh was wildly overrated , that most people feel under the romantic spell of the misunderstood genius who never sold a painting. I have to admit that there is a bit of that- most people whether they know his work or not, know that he's the guy with the ear. (or more precisely, without the ear)

The writer goes on to say (and shame on me I don't remember the writers name) that most reproductions of Van Gogh's paintings are poor and  make the colors brighter and more vivid.= people like the reproductions more than the actual paintings.

Hmmmmm.  I can remember the first time I saw "Starry Night" at the museum of Modern Art, I was walking around looking at the paintings and saw a crowd half up the gallery , as I got closer I saw what all the hub bub was. "Oh, a famous painting" So I stopped and i looked.....and stood there for 10minutes. This thing was like an electric charge buzzing on the wall. Those thick brush strokes, swirling in the sky, the-whatever the hell that tree thing is in the left foreground- totally dominating that left side. I kept inching closer until I was nearly on top of it- each of those brush strokes are alive, strong and deliberate.

In the Philadelphia show there is a room of landscapes,where the horizon line is up near the top of the canvas- these feature a combination of blue and yellow paint that is absolutely remarkable. I don't know what reproductions that writer has been looking at, but nothing compares to seeing the originals up close.

Since I was in the last group of the day,I moved forward with the crowd, caught up in the tide, but after a while Iwalked back a bit and now had some room to sit and ponder what I was seeing.I know that it's mostly because I know a bit about his life, but when you look at his work you can definitely see his passion, his desperation in his work.

Of course the exhibit empties into the gift shop. Hey,you have to make a dollar, I don't begrudge a museum selling souvenirs- I've always liked souvenirs......I resisted----okay I bought a few postcards and a paperback copy of his Letters. I already had a copy of his letters at home, but I needed to sit down in my hotel room later and read while the images were still fresh in my head.

-----

As an extra bonus- the Philadelphia museum has a few rooms dedicated to none other than Marcel Duchamp. A few years back I had a total 100% immersion into his work- you have to love an artist (hell anybody)with a sense of humor.  The Bicycle wheel ( a readymade) is one of my favorite pieces of all time. The crown jewel of their collection is an odd, sculpture/installation called Etannt Donnes- you walk in the room and there in a pair of wooden doors,get a little closer, there are a few gaps in the wood, get real close and look through the door and you see............ I'll let you take a trip to Philly and see for yourself.

He worked on Etannt Donnes for 20years! In secret! Everyone thought he had retired, but he had one last piece to finish, which he gave to the Philadelphia Museum, but they had to wait until he was dead before they could exhibit it.

cest la vie

didn't he ramble......

everybody is a star........

How is it possible that Rocky is 36 years old? It seems like just yesterday - my colleges chums and I were filming our parody of this very sequence. All i remember is putting our camera operator in a shopping cart and pushing him alongside our"Rocky" to get those tracking shots.

The SUNY Fredonia Library has some rather imposing steps that filled in for the Philadelphia Museum steps.

I still remember, we were all artsy fartsy "cinema" types, but this grungy little Cinderella story totally won everybody over. There was a pal of mine at the time, Dan (I'm so ashamed, I can't remember his last name) he saw a preview of Rocky and came back raving about it.

I was in Philadelphia this past weekend, seeing a wonderful Van Gogh exhibit (more about that another day) and there I came face to face with the legendary steps.

There was a huge crowd entering the museum to view the art, but there was an equal crowd who came to master the steps.

Young, old, real old, fat , skinny, out of shape, no shape- one by one , in groups - hundreds of people running up the steps. The biggest crowd was there around 7 pm, I had just exited the museum and was sitting near the bottom of the steps doing some first class people watching. By now the museum was closed, but the crowds kept coming. I heard English, Spanish, French, German- everybody knows Rocky.

Stage left of the steps  at the bottom is a statue of Rocky, in his boxing trunks, hands raised above his head. As art it's a bit on the kitschy side, but as an attraction it rivals the steps-people lined up , waiting patiently for their turn to pose next to the Italian Stallion.

I think the original idea was that the statue would be placed at the top of the steps, and I believe for a time it was- then it was moved to another location, but after a bit the museum relented and let it come back to the lovely location where it now resides.

It's rather ghoulish, but I have to admit that the one thought that went through my head as I watched ascent after ascent was, "How many heart attacks happen here annually? " There were a lot of people who had nooo  business running at all, let alone running up those stairs.

ps there was one unpleasant incident, at one point about 15 guys riding Motocross motorcycles came roaring up, popping wheelies, turning donuts , reving the engines and  of course riding up the stairs, while tons of people were still walking up and or down. Nasty louts (the riders, not the walkers) One nit wit , took a nasty spill as he was riding up the steps.

Inside I was kinda hoping he cracked his head....... does that make me a bad person?

mysteries at the museum......

I have been a member of the Museum Of Modern Art for over twenty years. In that time I have seen some of the most incredible art work in history up close. I have been inspired time after time. Pieces I have written, sets I have designed, songs I've written have started by walking through those galleries with open eyes.

Incredible -Picasso's Guernica (when I was still a kid) , crazy kinetic sculptures, Ferdnand Leger's painting's. Chuck Closes's portraits, The original drawings and notes for Art Spieglemans Maus, The drawings of George Seurat....... and on and on.

Incredibly, I have never seen a movie at the Museum! That's right, Me, Movieboy, had never been to either of the theaters that are right there at the museum! Oh, I have been to exhibits of posters and movie ephemera right in the lobby of the theaters.  One of the most important film libraries in the world! They have about 4 showings everyday! I have been in the building hundreds of times! I'm a member! The movies are free for members!

Never.

The other day I was there to see the monumental exhibit of the work of Cindy Sherman, But I'll write about that soon.

The museum was getting ready to close, I looked up at a poster that announced that they were showing the film "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being". I saw it when it first came out in 1988. I had nothing to do that evening, I had planned on heading home , but what the heck, I'll grab a bite to eat and then come back for the 7:30 showing. I went to the members desk and got my (free) ticket.

At 7:15, I return to get a good seat. In the lobby I see Philip Kaufman , the director, and standing next to him is film scholar Anette Insdorf. It turns out she just published a book about Kaufman and that the museum was kicking off a week long celebration of his work. Kaufman and his editor, the legendary, Walter Murch, introduced the film. Bonus!

I love Kaufman's movies, but he's a director that flies just under the radar.  The Right Stuff! Invasion of the Body Snatchers! The Wanderers (a personal fave), Henry and June. The White Dawn (another personal fave) , he created/wrote Indiana Jones, for goodness sakes. Attention must be paid.

Many of his movies deal with sexuality/sensuality/lust/eroticism/carnality/ in an adult way. His "Henry and June" was the first film to be rated NC-17 (if memory serves) a rating that all but spells box office doom.

What the hell is wrong with us!? The movies revel in gore and violence and torture and debasement. Absolute horror, But we run from any hint of sexuality.

"Take off your clothes"

There are many sexual/erotic/carnal scenes in the movie. Some are funny. Some are tragic. some are uncomfortable. Some make you want to tear your clothes off and join in. All of the scenes are there to tell the story- not to just ogle over incredibly gorgeous naked bodies. It doesn't hurt that the people who are naked are incredibly gorgeous, Juliette Binoche, Daniel Day Lewis and.......Lena Olin...... Oh dear god, Lena Olin! Lena Olin and that hat!

Most times when actors are in scenes with nudity all kinds of negotiations take place before hand about what can be shown and how much and how much touching can happen. Understandable. I can only imagine how awkward it must be to film those type of scenes.....

I was in a horror movie once and in my scene I was a patient in a hospital. A beautiful woman enters and climbs into bed with me, Now she's on top of me! It would appear that we are engaged in a bit of afternoon delight. Unbeknownst to me she is a ghoul! A demon! And at the peak of our passion she reaches in and pulls out my heart!

We had just met and 10 minutes later. we were grinding away in bed. Granted we were fully clothed, but still...

In Kaufmans movies the sensuality feels real. And it has consequence. Satisfaction, love, guilt, you know all that stuff,

There's a wonderful moment when Lena Olin's character is dressed in some lacy underthings and is standing next to her married lover. We are seeing them from behind, I will be blunt , when God created the perfect bottom, he gave it to Lena Olin.  Her lover is standing next to her and after a moment he reaches over and places his hand right on that behind. You can hear the audience smile.

Without getting too graphic, throughout the movie, hands and mouths go where they seldom do in Hollywood movies and it all feels....right.

For your viewing pleasure, I present the above scene, perhaps the most erotically charged in the movie. In context you should know when this starts the scene is about half way over, there have already been some awkward moments, some tears, some laughs, as a matter of fact when this sequence starts , the audience is still giggling over Binoches reactions, that changes when Lena Olin takes her arm. A beautiful moment..

I want more sex in the movies.

a slave to fashion......

I was in New York City the other day ( ..just like I pictured it/ sky scrapers and everything)

It was a lovely spring day and I was feeling cavalier,so i get all duded up- I "handlebarred" my mustache and combed out my beard. Put in  a gold hoop earring ( I'm more of a demure silver earring guy) , an electric blue shirt with a black sport coat/ complete with a Buddy Holly button on the lapel. I had been gifted with a lovely silk bandanna  a while back , so I tied that around my neck and put on my saddle shoes and Viola! off I went.

During the day I found myself sitting on a bench reading the paper,  a family was sitting next to me. The son (about 7) turned to me and said "I like your look".

My look. Most days I pull on jeans , sneakers and a tee shirt, but that day I had a look.

I was reminded of a show I did for many years on stage- The Dr. Gesundheit Show. I was Dr G. It was a fun/silly show for kids and adults kinda in the style of Pee Wee Herman.

One of the characters was my housekeeper ; Concetta (later renamed Connie. more PC you know) Concetta was played by my dear friend and brilliant actress Candi.   She would tease her hair high up on her head, wear over sized earrings, 20 brightly colored bracelets,  a chunky necklace or two.  Her clothes were a neon colored explosion complete with a tutu style skirt. Platform shoes. Kabuki like make up.  Total excess. Total genius.

After each performance we would do a meet and greet with the audience. Every time , all the young girls (ages 3 to 10) would line up to meet Concetta/Connie/Candi and every girl .... every single girl !... would tell her how beautiful she was. No Irony. no snark, they all thought she was absolutely beautiful.

they liked her look

sweet dreams, baby.......

A few years back I was reading an article about how we learn- part of the article involved the influence of sleep and dreams on learning. During one part of the process the researchers needed to be able to see if the could control what their subjects were dreaming about. As I read this I said outloud "Tetris" - y'know that classic, elegant computer/video game.

I'm not a big games player , but for a while I was hooked on Tetris. I had a hand held game that I would play on the train, an hour or so each day.  During the night I would always have a Tetris based dream.

So , I'm reading the article, I turn the page and there it is-Tetris! The researchers discovered that people who played Tetris before going to bed were inclined to dream Tetrisy that night. They had a long explanation as to why, but I was so proud of myself for guessing.

Last week I saw the movie, Pina, by Wim Wenders , a documentary/performance film about the dance/theater work of Pina Bausch. I knew a bit about her, and had seen a few lips of her work, but I was coming to this experience with open eyes.

Incredible.

Each night since , my dreams have been Pina-esque, which makes sense, many of her pieces have that crystal clear dream logic.

I have to see it again, I'd like to try and track it down in 3D, i saw it in your basic 2D.

anyone have an aspirin?.......

If you are 50 years old (or older) let's take a quick trip back to those thrilling days of yesteryear

Think about the neighborhood you grew up in. ( I grew up in a suburban neighborhood, about an hour east of NYC, on Long Island, or as the locals say Lawn Guyland)

Think about the families who were your neighbors.

Now, how many kids were in those families?

I'll start- My family 5 kids. Next door on the west 5 kids. Across the street on the east 6 kids. Behind us 4. down on the corner 5 on the other corner 6 and then 10.

There were a few 2's and 3"s sprinkled in but you get the idea

The majority of these families (mine included) were Irish Catholic.

I remember I went to a wedding once where the bride was from a family of 10 and the groom was from a family of 14. (French catholic marrying into Irish Catholic)

Let's travel back now to the present. Same neighborhood, same houses. No kids, no kids, two kids, two kids, two kids, that one house on the corner- 5 kids, obviously there's something in the water at the end of the block.

you get the idea.

So, unless there has been a massive improvement in the Rhythm method - somebody is using contraception, someone has some birth control in the house. Raise your hand if you believe that married men are using condoms- I don't see any hands.

Is it possible that the use of birth control goes beyond sex crazed college co eds?

just asking

didn't we meet on a summer cruise....*

A moment from one of my favorite Woody Allen movies- Love and Death

All of the, 70's Allen (and Mel Brooks ) movies Are the foundation of my families sense of humor, when we get together we can have entire conversations in "code"

"Is it nessa,,,,?" "Of course it's nessa!" (high anxiety, mel brooks)

* (the producers, brooks)

don't look behind that curtain........

A month or so back, I'm sitting in a Barnes and Noble store, drinking a large green ice tea (sweetened, thank you very much) paging thru one of the most recent James Patterson books- not really a fan , but I am in awe of the fact that he basically puts out a book monthly. Perhaps I am most in awe of the fact that he gets away with co- writing these books. What the...? As far as I can tell he sketches out characters and story and the co writer does the nuts and bolts. Amazing.

But that's not why you called, So , over the PA they play the featured Cd's of the month, hoping to entice you and then crush your will and force you to buy what they're hawking. Usually I can resist. On this particular night they were playing a new compilation of Frank Sinatra's greatest hits. Now , if you were born after 1940, these songs are woven into your DNA, you've grown up with these playing somewhere in the background. There is no need to purchase. For God's sake, you probably have all of these songs at home already! Included in this collection are My Way and New York, New York- no right thinking person needs to ever hear these overblown, overproduced, over played monstrosities ever again.

Of course, as I was leaving, I stopped by the music section and bought a copy. ........It was on sale!.... I'm a member, I get an extra 10% off- on top of the sale price!!! Witchcraft is on there! Under My Skin!! Summer Wind!!!! That's one of my favorite recordings of all time!

Okay, I fell right into the trap they set, but no regrets, it's a wonderful collection and I listen to it a ton. He was remarkable- listen to the ease of this performance of Under My Skin. I love the way he swings when he gets to the bridge " I would sacrifice anything....." A true Artist- one of a kind. Lot's of imitators, but no one comes close.

Of course , he was also a world class shit. One of a kind nasty bastard. I'm sure members of his family would disagree, but there is plenty of evidence on hand that points to the fact that he could be a spiteful, ruthless, cold, cruel, monster. But.....the songs, the work.

I read the recent memoir by Dyan Cannon about her relationship with Cary Grant. He was much older , near the end of his career , she was at the start of hers- they met, fell in love, got married, had a child.

He was also controlling, jealous, domineering, prone to wild swings in mood and totally enamored with LSD. He made her life a living hell, But the movies, that voice, that face, that smile. One of a kind- NO ONE like him.

Woody Allen...........

Picasso.........

John Kennedy........

Walter Brennan.........

etc..........

The artist owes us their art and ....what else? Anything? Should we care how they lead their lives outside of their work? The more we know about...(fill in a name) does it change the way we watch the movie, listen to the song, see the painting, cast our vote?

just asking.

ps If anyone is looking for the most beautiful woman in the world, you can call off the search. I found her. She works in the Cafe at Barnes and Noble in Newburgh NY, right off the thruway.

what am i wearing.........

I love movies.

Always have. I love the whole event- going to the theater- picking the seat- coming attractions- watching the credits. Yes, I'm one of those , I stay to the bitter end, usually as the crew of ushers clean up around me.

I used to save every ticket stub from every movie (and concert and show, etc) . During college years I remember seeing, on average, 7 movies a week. That was a bit of heaven as well as excess. Lots of film .clubs and societies as well as three separate theaters in town.

A few of my pals and I discovered that the local library lent out 16 mm films, so on weekends we would "borrow" a projector from the school and show films in our apartment- mostly oddities. The first one we showed was the documentary "Hospital" by Fredrick Wiseman- a good film, but it starts with a rather graphic bit of surgery , up close, pass the pop corn!

Today is Academy Awards Day- I watch, but I'm not a fan. I don't like competition in the arts, yeah I know, everybody loves competition. Just seems silly to me. Especially when people attempt to connect some meaning to the awards beyond, marketing.  (Ordinary People was a better movie then Raging Bull? back in 1980 it was)

This past year I got back in the movie going habit- saw a bunch. Mostly pretty good. Back in the old days I saw EVERYTHING. Now I'm a bit more selective

Here are 3 movies that I enjoyed and then thought about as I left the theater and then talked to people about and in 2 cases went back to see a second time.  The Tree of life, The Artist, and Hugo.

The Artist- the presumed best picture winner. An absolute joy from start to finish.Now in the press we see the backlash in full bloom.  "Cute, harmless , precious, a stunt......."
I loved it, i cried like a baby once or twice (tears of joy), laughed out loud, and actually gasped a time or two. If you haven't seen it (and according to Box office reports most haven't) you should.

Here are two moments that are worth the price of admission- The young starlet in the stars dressing room, alone with his costume, that's all I say- don't want to spoil it. Perfection.

And very early in the Movie, we see an audience watching a Movie, -the hero is thrown in a cell and locked in. There is a dog in the cell, but obviously no way out. We cut to a view of the audience and their reaction, two gasps and a burst of applause. Back to the screen, the hero has escaped! How? there was no way out Well however he did it, it made the movie audience burst into applause. Again, Perfection.


Hugo- again a few tears were shed. I saw it in 3D, I saw a bunch of 3d movies this year and I can safely say I'm done. Well, maybe not. Most of the 3D things I saw were mostly full of silly effects, stuff jumping at the screen.I will say that the snow in Thor was fun, it really had a "prescense" It was all over the place.
(back in high school I remember we went to see a 3D soft core porn movie , something with Stewardesses. the possibilities of 3D porn are.....alarming.... but this was mostly throwing things at the camera and then hopping into bed)

With Hugo you really feel that you step inside an enviorment, you are completely a part of that train station. It's also a thrill to see bits of the Original George Melies Silent films on the big screen.

I also have to believe that the young actress  Chloe Moretz is going to have a long career - what a face! (i could be wrong, I'm not the best predictor of longevity- I thought Leelee sobieski was going to be a big star)

The Tree of Life- where to begin. I saw this one twice and it was like seeing two different movies- I will say that like 2001, this is a movie I will keep coming back to. Amazing.

When I first saw it , I started to squirm a bit during the first section of "the Universe" sequence. "wow, this is long"  But, them I stopped and thought "well , this is How Terrence Malick wants to tell the story so, sit back and take it in"

The second time I saw it was at Stony Brook University on a HUGE screen and a packed house of nearly 1,000 people. 950 of which were not having a good time. Lot's of grumbles and moans and talking throughout. My Favorite reaction was at the end, the movie finishes and the audience lets out a collective wail. they were stunned that it was over and that there was no tidy ending. I loved this reaction, after nearly three hours of quiet, non linear, meditation, which includes dinosaurs and swimming pools, they were shocked that there were no easy answers to be found at the end.


So there's three I really liked- there is one thing the all share, all of them could have been silent. There are long stretches in Hugo that are silent and there is very little in the Tree of Life that is spoken that is of  great importance, no big plot points, lot's of whispers and murmurs and overheard conversation.

Alright, I'm going to go get ready to watch the Oscars, or maybe I'll go to the movies instead........ but I will Tivo the show, I'm interested to see what Billy Crystal has in store...... talk about back lash! He is the great modern host, but he's getting no love. Meh

sanctuary.......

Someone gave me  a gift certificate a few months back to an Italian restaurant. Very thoughtful. I travel a lot, going back and forth to different theaters for rehearsals and/or performances, so to be gifted a meal or two or three nearby where I'm working is always appreciated.

(from the Producers: Bloom-" You can't shoot the actors. Actors aren't animals" Bialystock-"did you ever eat with one?")

This place was perfect, close to a theater I was working at, but not too close. In other words, if I ate there, chances are I could eat by myself and not be disturbed by other cast members. I know a bit antisocial, but I like to sit by my self and read during a meal break.

The food is wonderful and the service is excellent- nothing fancy schmancy, your basic red sauce Italian joint.

I've been back a few times, it was a very generous gift, and I would probably go back more often, but.....

I have established that I like to read as I eat ( I know , bad habit) usually the daily papers, sometimes a book. In the dining room they have music playing AND a television tuned to the local all news station AND another TV tuned to ESPN. Both Televisions have the sound turned on, not loud, but audible. I'm trying to eat my bowl of minestrone while The Human League asks the eternal question, "Don't you Want Me Baby" and Norm is giving me Traffic and weather together and Skip Bayless is droning on about Tim Tebow.

Oh and in the mens room opposite the toilet, hanging on the wall....... there's another TV. ESPN2.

Next time I'll pack a lunch and eat in the car.

more destiny.......

A GREAT story and a wonderful song, continuing my tribute to Roseanne Cash

a date, with destiny........

Back in the mid 80's , early 90's- I found myself listening to a lot of country music. There were tons of great songs and performers, Dwight Yoakam, Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, Carlene Carter, John Anderson, Marty Stuart, Foster and Lloyd- well you get the idea.

I found myself having a huge crush on Roseanne Cash, I loved the music and I loved her look, Ah, the 8o's. Even in country music they were sporting the spike hair and tutus and lace, etc. I think part of it was the fact that she was the image of a girl i was dating at the time (my young lady friend was blond but other than that, pretty close)

My taste in music is eclectic, catholic (small c), fickle. As the years went by I found myself listening less to the country artists, but Miss Cash was always nearby.

She moved to New York. A friend of mine was the principal of the school her kids went to, he told me " I talk to her every morning , she's an absolute delight"

A few years back I read her memoir, Composed, a beautiful book. It's every thing a great memoir should be, personal but not private. I don't need to know every excruciating detail of your life, but I treasure moments of insight and discovery. She tells her story and like any good story she rambles forward and back in time, letting a moment from her 20's illuminate where she is now.

Like many fans I was fascinated by "the List"- this is a list of 100 songs that her dad, Johnny, gave her as a gift. It was his take on the songs that provide the foundation of country (american) music. Years later she made an Album, based on that list. One hiccup- she couldn't find The List, so she choose songs that she remembered where on it.

This Year, I read a book called "Always Been There" by Michael Streissgut, about the recording of that album. It's fun, but not a must read. One thing about it, like me Michael had a huge crush on Roseanne and at times whatever insight he has about the music is overwhelmed by his gushing about how smart, and talented and beautiful she is. All true, but remember Mike, personal not private.

Oh and a few months back , there she was hosting a show on PBS. Way back when she was married to singer/songwriter/ producer Rodney Crowell, but alas it was not meant to be. In her book she shies away from talking about the circumstance of their divorce, no need to go into details, she does let us know that it was a painful time.

I was delighted to see Roseanne and Rodney together on the PBS show - talking about music and singing together (can't remember the song they sang)

Because of all this I can say with great confidence that our paths will cross one day- nothing romantic, nothing untoward, just a meeting of the minds......

I approve this message.......

"In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes"

Of course we all know that quote. Many people probably know Andy Warhol (if they know him at all) for that rather than his art..

I now nominate this quote to take it's place alongside Warhols;

"Nobody knows anything"

Some of you have heard that one. It comes from screenwriter/novelist  William Goldman. He wrote it about Hollywood- everybody thinks they know what it takes to make a hit, but of course the truth is nobody knows.

I'm thinking about that insight tonight as I watch coverage of the Iowa Caucus (that's an odd word). I'm flipping between CNN, MSNBC, FOX, lots of people are talking, lots of theories are being put out there, tons of numbers are being spun. and the only thing that you can take away from all this TV is.........(see above).

Don't get me wrong,  I love it, it's loads of fun and if you sift thru all the BS there are little nuggets of information to be found.

It is adorable to see Rachel Maddow let her nerd flag fly, she has a huge grin on her face as she tells us that what's happening is "exciting" and "Fascinating". Oh, I'm not being snarky here, I love the enthusiasm these political types exhibit. I confess, I used to be one of them. I think I've written on here in the past about my love of the world of politics, oh, I had it bad. I got better.

The one thing I will say, especially to all the social conservative candidates, talking to you Rick Santorum, I think you want to stay with the economy and jobs. Leave the family and gay marriage etc alone.

Change is slow , sometimes glacial, but sometimes the change train leaves the station and you can't bring it back. Trains head one way. The other day Santorum said that he would look to annul gay marriages if elected. 20 years if you had talked about gay marriage you would have been shunned, 10 years ago people would have scoffed, 5 years ago, they would have giggled, next week they'll be RSVPing to their cousin Billys wedding to Frank.

Oh, I have to go Wolf Blitzer is crunching numbers........

a spectacle.........

I have a new pair of glasses.

For the past few years my frames were a gold metallic, Ben Franklin looking arrangement.

Before that I had a round tortoise shell frame- kinda like Phillip Johnson, the architect, used to wear. Those were my favorite but difficult to find.

Now I'm wearing the au courant, hipster modified Buddy Holly look. So far, so good.

I am now going thru that early phase of new prescription wearing- I constantly feel like I'm walking down an incline, in a few days that should pass. This is also the first time I have bi focals, or as they are now known progressive lenses. Another learning curve- look up to drive, straight ahead for the computer, down to read.

I have been wearing glasses since the first grade. nearsighted. Never had any interest in contacts- touching the eye gives me the heebie- jeebies. Laser surgery? Hmmmmm. I don't know, most people have good luck with it. I think my biggest hesitation with the laser is the anecdote my sister told after her surgery, about the smell of her eye burning. Oh boy. ( i know, I'm a baby- I wanted to say say sissy, but that's not done these days)

The woman who helped me choose my frames was excellent- it's always a pleasure to have someone thoughtful and knowledgeable and funny in customer service. I do have one quibble after we choose the frame , I handed her my prescription and her reaction was  "WOW"- 

Believe me I know- my eyes, not so good. I don't need to be reminded by my eyewear provider.

It did reinforce one fact I have known for a long time- If I had been born a caveman, I never would have made it to puberty.

ps on an entirely different subject- if you want to see the greatest book cover of the past 10 years, track down "Mississippi Sissy" by Kevin Sessums

Lenny....

Here's a bit of serendipity- Bernstein playing (and conducting) Rhapsody in Blue. For the record I will state that I find the opening Clarinet performance here to be rather Ho Hum ( a technical music term)

ring in the new...

When I was a kid (about 12 or so), I read a book about George Gershwin. A biography geared towards junior high types- There was a  chapter devoted to Rhapsody in Blue, of course, talking about the first performance and how it was such a big step in both classical music  and jazz.

I feel terrible because I can't remember the title of the book or the authors name, but it's one of those things that made a huge impression on my feeble little brain. He/she/they  wrote so vividly about the piece, but in particular about the opening clarinet cadenza, that I ran to the library the next day to get a recording- which I then proceeded to listen to about 20 times in a row.

I thought of this the other night as I watched the Live from Lincoln Center News Years Eve Concert= they featured the music of Gershwin and Bernstein.  During one of the intermissions they played a short film about that opening cadenza. The 54 year old me and the 12 year old me sat there spellbound.

Hoping that sets a good tone for 2012