hike and bike trail

Been walking/running the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail these past few weeks. I don't know if it's my new running shoes, or that the trial is softer than the road, but my bum knee hasn't been acting up (too much). This is really encouraging! Hopefully it won't be much longer before I get into better shape and can catch up to those seniors!

(Hey those seniors kick butt!)

Kid Actor - Jackie Coogan

Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in "The Kid" (1921)

The very first really big kid actor, even before Shirley Temple, was Jackie Coogan (October 26, 1914 - March 1 1984) He started out at as an infant in Vaudeville and in film. Charlie Chaplin was impressed with him and cast him in The Kid (1921). Needless to say, he became a huge star. But as is the case with child actors, as he got older he became less popular. He earned about $4 million, but unfortunately, his mother and stepfather wouldn't let him near his money. Remember, back then, there weren't any laws to protect child actors and in the end, all he got from them was 126K.

There are two things I should mention about Jackie Coogan. One is that because his mom and stepdad riped him off so badly, the California Child Actor's Bill was enacted, which makes it mandatory that 15% of the child actor earnings be put in in a trust for the child (etc).

The second thing is that Jackie Coogan later played our beloved Uncle Fester on the Addams Family!!!

Goonies and Lord of the Rings

Saw Goonies with the kids. It was silly, fun and a blast to watch. Kid movies back in the 1980's seem so innocent.

Anyway, in the 1985 film, the lead character, a 12 year old named Mickey Walsh was played by the actor Sean Astin, who in 2001 plays Sam Gamgee in Lord of the Rings.

Well, when I pointed this out to my kids, they went berserk. Totally crazy. So naturally, we then had to watch Lord of the Rings (the first one).

(Trivia - Sean Astin's mom is Patty Duke).

The Lusty Month of May

Happy MAY DAY!

Heard this song on the radio today and laughed out loud. I've heard it before, but never really listened to the words. It's a hoot!

The Lusty Month of May

From Camelot the musical

Tra la, it's May, the lusty Month of May
That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray
Tra la, it's here, that shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear

It's May, It's May, that gorgeous holiday
When every maiden prays that her lad will be a cad
It's mad, it's gay, alive, a lust display
Those dreary vows that everyone takes, everyone breaks
Everyone makes divine mistakes
The Lusty Month of May

Whence this fragrance wafting through the air?
What sweet feelings does it's scent transmute?
Whence this perfume floating everywhere?
Don't you know, it's that dear forbidden fruit

It's May, the lusty month of May
That darling month when everyone throws self-control away
It's time to do a wretched thing or two
And try to make each precious day one you'll always rue

It's May, it's May, the month of "Yes, you may"
The time for every frivolous whim, proper or im-
It's wild, it's gay, depraved in every way
The birds and bees with all of their vast amorous past
Gaze at the human race aghast
The Lusty Month of May

Tra la, it's May, the lusty Month of May
That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray
Tra la, it's here, that shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear

It's May, it's may, the month of great dismay
when all the world is brimming with fun, wholesome or un-
It's mad, it's gay, alive a lust display
Those dreary vows that everyone takes, everyone breaks
Everyone makes divine mistakes
The Lusty Month of May

Jean Reno

Wow, I completely forgot, Jean Reno was Captain Bezu Fache in The Da Vince Code.

Jean Reno

O.K. I admit it. I love Jean Reno. At least I love his character in The Professional. And Natalie Portman is excellent. This was her breakout role at the age of 12. I know lot's of folks figure I'm a musical/romantic comedy film type, but give me an unusual action film and I'm all over it.

Alice Guy-Blanche

This woman rocks!!!!!

Alice Guy-Blaché (July 1, 1873 – March 24, 1968) was a pioneer filmmaker who was the first female director in the motion picture industry and is considered to be one of the first directors of a fiction film.

In 1894 Alice Guy was hired by Léon Gaumont to work for a still-photography company as a secretary. The company soon went out of business but Gaumont bought the defunct operations inventory and began his own company that soon became a major force in the fledgling motion picture industry in France. Alice Guy decided to join the new Gaumont Film Company, a decision that led to a pioneering career in filmmaking spanning more than twenty-five years and involving her directing, producing, writing and/or overseeing more than 700 films. [1]
From 1897 to 1906, Alice Guy was Gaumont's head of production and is generally considered to be the first filmmaker to systematically develop narrative filmmaking. In 1906, she made her first full length feature film, titled The Life of Christ, a big budget production for the time, which included 300 extras. That same year she also made the film La Fée Printemps (The Spring Fairy), one of the first movies ever to be shot in color. As well, she pioneered the use of recordings in conjunction with the images on screen in Gaumont's "Chronophone" system, which used a vertical-cut disc synchronized to the film. An innovator, she employed special effects, using double exposure masking techniques and even running a film backwards. During her life she directed close to 400 films.

WOW!

Women Directors

Kat got me thinking about women film directors. How many can I think of off the top of my head?

Let's see, Kimberly Peirce. Barbra Streisand, um...Sofia Coppola,...um...um... Penny Marshall (but i saw her on Kat's blog), ...There's an Indian Director who did Monsoon Wedding. I can't think of her name, hold on while I look it up, oh ya right, Mira Nair. Um.. of course Kat herself... and Stacy,... Now let's see. ,....um...Diane Keaton. I think she directed something (gotta look it up). Yup, she directed "Heaven." Argh, now I'm only thinking of actresses how are also directing, which isn't the same thing.

Wow! That's a small list. How embarrassing. Gotta do some homework. Will post more later.

Thankful

What I'm thankful for (not necessarily in order):
Last years Mother's Day gift certificate for a 90 minute massage, that I finally used today!
Finding a really awesome film that I haven't seen in a while.
The glass of red wine which it sitting next to my keyboard as I type this entry.
The story board that is constantly running through my head (note: sometimes this is distracting).
When Big Little guy, gets that he's supposed to do quality work, not just race through his homework.
When Little guy, puts his little arms around my neck and kisses my nose and cheeks (this goes for Big Little guy too, but his arms aren't little anymore).
The facial gift certificate from a concerned friend, that I'm going to use later this week.
That I have a real house,
and a car that works.
That I have friends who care and take me out for dessert.
For believing that no matter how hard it can get, there are always possibilities and hope.

My computer is not quite like its sweet ol' self. The tech guy took it away for a few days, changed it, cleaned it up and brought it back. So now it's the same, but also different. I think it had something equivalent to a computer lobotomy.
...I don't think it knows me very well anymore.