I walked through the front door of the brand new movie theater in Salem, Oregon, and scoped out the place. The smell of fresh popped popcorn filled the lobby, while the sound of movies playing in the background spilled from open auditorium doors. The two-story theater was clean and new; fresh yellow paint on the cinder-block walls, high commercial carpet on the spotless floors, tall glass windows reached to the ceiling, a concession stand on the left side of the lobby, with a full service deli on the right. The upper level was the manager's office, a coffee bar, restrooms, and projection booths. In all my years of working at movie theaters, I had never seen a more beautiful building. I asked the usher standing at the front door if I could talk to the manager. She pointed me in the direction of the manager’s office and up the stairs I climbed.
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A recent challenge posted on my Facebook page was to list fifteen movies I had seen that would always stick with me. The rules were to not take too long to think about it, and to list the first fifteen I could recall in no more than fifteen minutes. I don't know if it's the most influential films I had ever seen, and obliviously I was influenced by 80's films, nevertheless here is my list (with a couple of changes after giving it much more thought):
1. Raiders of the Lost Ark. A masterful creation by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, combining great storytelling, wonderful effects, humor, and of course the ever-handsome Harrison Ford. "It's not the years, it's the mileage." 2. E.T. Another Steven Spielberg film, this timeless friendship movie captured my heart, and still to this day, I cry at the ending. 3. Star Wars. The first film I saw more then once, and it forever changed the way I looked at movies. 4. The Breakfast Club. Really the only John Hughes/'Brat Pack' type movie I feel I can relate with, although I enjoyed the others. This film defined my generation as I was a high school student when this film was released. 5. Sleepless in Seattle. I'm not really into 'chick flicks,' but this one is an exception to the rule. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are wonderful in this film, and I loved all the references to An Affair to Remember, and of course living in Seattle gave me a personal connection to this film. "Destiny is something we've invented because we can't stand the fact that everything that happens is accidental." 6. Dances with Wolves. My all-time favorite film. I love the story, the imagery, touches of humor, and being culturally and historically told. I prefer the extended four-hour version of this film. 7. The Sound of Music. My second all-time favorite film. My first experience with musicals that I have come to know and love. I remember watching this with my parents and sisters on NBC, year after year, and love it as much now as I did back then. When in Salzburg a few years ago, I loved "The Sound of Music" tour, and visiting many of the sites associated with both the film and the real von Trapp family. 8. Dirty Dancing. I was working at a movie theater in Portland, Oregon, when this film was released, and remember sitting in the auditorium on my breaks watching Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze dance. I loved the music and the dancing, and of course, Patrick Swayze! 9. Fiddler on the Roof. One of the first films I remember seeing with my parents and sisters at a movie theater. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the acting, and the music. 10. The Wizard of Oz. Can't forget this timeless classic and another annual tradition film, I watched every year with my parents and sisters, after all; "There's no place like home." My favorite character, of course, is the Scarecrow. 11. Field of Dreams. I just love this beautifully told baseball story, and then the ending when he sees his father, and discovers it was all for him, still brings tears to my eyes. My all time favorite sports movie. "No, Ray, it was you." 12. Back to the Future. What's better then building a time machine out of a Delorean? The loved the comedy, the actors, the music, the comic timing of Christopher Lloyd, and then the whole premise of traveling back in time and missing up your future. My personal favorite line is when Doc Brown asks who the president is in the future and Marty says, "Ronald Reagan." Truth is stranger than fiction. 13. Bambi. The first Disney movie I ever saw, and the first movie I saw in the theaters. I remember being upset when Bambi's mom was shot by those hunters and being frightened for Bambi in the forest fire. 14. The Pink Panther (Peter Sellers). My parents took us to theater one afternoon for a Pink Panther marathon. I loved the slap-stick and comic timing of Peter Sellers, who played the bungling French police detective Jacques Clouseau. 15. Live and Let Die. The first James Bond movie I ever watched, and becoming intrigued by spies and espionage. Although I enjoy Roger Moore, Sean Connery is still the BEST Bond. I’m not ashamed to acknowledge I’m lousy at math. Read statistics to me, and my eyes will glaze over and my head spins, thus I confess I don’t understand television rating and the whole numbers game. What I do know is I am sick and tired of NBC and what I feel is them purposing trying to sabotage my favorite television show Chuck.
I read earlier this week, Josh Schwartz, one of the executive producers of Chuck, tweeted that NBC isn't running promos for Chuck anymore. It seems NBC has accepted that the Chuck audience is the Chuck audience and isn't expecting anything more. Such a shame. I love Chuck! I love Chuck, because I can watch it with my boys, and there is little on television nowadays I can watch with my children. I love the ability the writers have to mix humor with drama, and the formula works well for this show. I ship Chuck and Sarah! I love the ensemble cast, Chuck's relationship with not only Sarah, but also his sister, Ellie, and his best friend, Morgan, and even his co-workers at the Buy More. I think the show has a great ensemble cast. The characters are all unique, creative, and well drawn. I love all the cultural, movie, and comic references sprinkled through-out the episodes. I LOVE John Casey, he tickles my funny bone. I like a show that does not take itself too seriously; i.e. during the premiere episode from season four, Chuck said to Morgan, "This is not the opening of a TV show. This is real life." I love the whole fish out of water spy training Chuck has gone through and where he is today; he has grow as a person and a spy. I love the guest stars and am excited about who is on tap for this upcoming season. I love this show so much I have actively participated in several save our show campaigns, including sending boxes of Nerds to NBC and eating Subway sandwiches on Monday nights, which I have NEVER done for another television series. I’m a loyal Chuck fan and according to the Neilsen Co. numbers, Chuck has an Audience Loyalty Index rating of 95.7, which means of all the people who have tuned in to see Chuck, nearly 96 percent of them have returned for every episode. Yet, why do I feel being used by NBC? I’m tired of the show always being on the bubble and them threatening not to renew, or even worse, not finishing the season. Back in May, if I am understanding the numbers correctly, Chuck ranked in the top twenty TV shows in the SocialSenseTV ratings report of social media interactions, measuring posts and reads on forums, blogs, and other social media over a three-month period, including numbers from On Demand, iTunes downloads and streaming episodes via NBC.com or Hulu. Taking those numbers into account Chuck does very well, but all the television brass seems to care about are the Neilsen ratings, which to me is an antiquated way of counting. To keep us rabid Chuck fans happy, NBC agreed to a fourth season, but a shorten 13-episode season, with the possibility of six, maybe nine more episodes, although with the numbers so far this season and with only an average of 3.4 rating, it does not look good. Yes, I am wringing my hands already over the fate of Chuck. Honesty, I could live with season four being the last season, because creatively, I don’t know how much further the writers can take the characters, without changing the characters we know and love. Fine, if they are seriously thinking of canceling after this season, but please let us have a full season to tie up loose ends. I really hope Chuck does not finish the way Scarecrow and Mrs. King ended. I NEED CLOSURE!! On October 3, 1983, I was a high school sophomore recovering from Mandibular Advancement surgery, and trying to keep my mind off pain and boredom, I turned on the television. Little did I know this evening would be a night of chance encounters? I only happened to turn the channel knob to CBS and witnessed Federal Agent Lee Stetson, codename Scarecrow, plead with a total stranger to help him, in what he later termed an “emergency.”
Amanda King, a divorced housewife, who just happened to be at on the platform, dropping her boyfriend off at train station, because he thought it would rain, agreed to take the package. She was supposed to hand it to the man in the red hat. I laughed out loud, when she climbed onto the train, wearing only a nightgown and an overcoat, simply to discover there were twenty-five men in red hats on that train. This lead her to inadvertently became embroiled in a secret mission and in the end successfully saving Lee. Scarecrow and Mrs. King was not quite like anything else I had ever watched, and it charmed and captivated me. I was drawn-in by the chemistry, the characters, and the comedy. Later seasons the chemistry blossomed into romance, and we had characters that cared about each other, and we cared about them. This is what made the show a success then and still to this day. When I first watched “The First Time” little did I know it would be the start of a 27-year obsession with Scarecrow and Mrs. King. I would have never guessed I would have been consequently invested in the show so many years later, but I love this series as much now as I did back then. It was and still is my most favorite television show. . . ever. A few days ago, my husband, Ed, stopped at Kitsap County courthouse to appeal the judge’s decision on his seat belt violation ticket. Last month, he was found guilty of the charges. The judge stated the State proved he was in violation because the State Trooper said he "saw" the buckle hanging from the window, although my husband had pictures showing that was impossible.
At first, I wanted to fight the ticket, because of the principal of the ticket. My husband was obeying the law, yet was cited, because the officer was either blind or incompetent. To appeal the judge’s decision would cost us $230, almost twice the cost of the original ticket, and is non-refundable even if we win. Ouch! Do we fight or not? The first picture is my husband the same afternoon he received the ticket, look closely for the belt, which blends with the grey hoodie he was wearing. The second photo is of the seat belt. When not in use it rests at the lap, NOT the shoulder, so again how in HELL did the officer "see" the buckle out hanging from the window? I could have ten fits, I could tear my hair to bits, I could rave and rant and roar. I'm so mad, I'm so mad. I'm upset! ~ Sleeping Beauty Those lyrics to a children's theatre production are going through my head as I write this entry.
Back in March of this year was husband was pulled over, and given a ticket for seat belt violation. (I had talked about it in another entry). Cutting to the chase, was the fact, my husband swears he was buckled at the time of the incident. He signed the back of the ticket, claiming he was not guilty, and wanted to plead his case before a judge. He also requested the presence of the state trooper, Officer Barlett who cited him. Last week was his hearing. He arrived at court, and was the first on the docket. He had a prepared written statement explaining exactly what happened from the moment he climbed into his car, buckled up, drove through the security gate, onto the highway, under the overpass, to the point he was pulled over. He explained to the judge that in no time did he remove his seat belt, and even pointed to the belt securely across his shoulder and lap, but the officer still wrote him a citation. My husband also brought as evidence a photo of him sitting in the car, with the belt on, showing how the contrast of a grey hoodie that he was wearing that day, might have blended with the grey seat belt. The officer then read his statement, he sated he clearly saw the buckle hanging at my husband's shoulder. This is a bold face lie or the officer is blind or incompetent!! Because the car my husband was driving that day was an older 2000 Chevy Impala and when not buckled the belt buckle hangs down at the lap, NEVER at the shoulder, which my husband testified, but because the officer "SAW" the buckle, my husband was found guilty, and ordered to pay the fine. Yes, this ticks me off. I'm pissed that as a citizen our word means nothing. The judge will believe the officer before the citizen, who I might add, has not been in trouble with the law (except a couple of speeding tickets), holds a CDL license, and has never received a seat beat violation ticket before. I support our police, firefighters, and military. I respect authority, but things like this make me not want to respect state patrol officers. Now it's the principal of the thing. I told my husband to appeal the ticket, even though the appeal will be more then the original ticket. Nevertheless, I'm mad, why should we comply with the law, if we are going to be ticketed anyway, huh? And next time I told him to bring pictures of the car showing the judge and the BLIND officer exactly where the belt rests. Yes, I'm upset!! Thanks to MACHMABEL on the SMK Forum. She started a thread asking us to name our favorite SMK moments. Here are my favorites:
Ed and I are talking about traveling to Europe again. Last time, we visited the village Wimmelbach, Germany, where the Seubert side of the family is from. This time we are thinking of visiting the village Mosonszolnok, Hungary, also known as Zanegg (in German) where the Rieners are from, before they immigrated to the United States in 1885. Zanegg was a German Catholic town until it was ethnically cleansed in 1946.
I'm having problems researching the Riener side of the family tree. First, the family Bible does not go any further back then Ed's great grandfather. Second, the Rieners are from an area around the Hungarian/Austrian border (near but not in Burgenland), and although I can read a little German, I cannot speak or read any Hungarian. I’m looking for information on the village. What might we find there? Are there still Rieners in the area? Also need to know how travel is through Hungary, and if like most places in Germany and Austria, do they speak English, or is there going to be a language barrier problem? A couple of days ago, one of my college buddies posted a video clip from 42nd Street on Facebook. A production I had the privilege to being apart of during my college days at Western Oregon State College (now Western Oregon University). It sure was a blast from the past. I'm amazed at how young we all look and I remember how much fun we had doing that musical. It brought back many fond memories.
Like most young girls, I dreamed of being a ‘Superstar.’ I had always been a ham, but also very shy. I know, an oxymoron. To me, acting was being able to break from my shell, be anyone I wanted to be, and thanks to the script, I always knew what to say. Although, I had a few small bit roles in some church productions, I didn’t start being serious about drama until I was in high school, where I immersed myself in all aspects of the theatre. I had an incredible drama teacher in high school. I am grateful we had such a large drama department and a great Thespian troupe. My oldest son attends a small, rural high school where they only perform only two shows a year—so sad. He has become involved in theatre and I wish there was more opportunities for him. Karen, my drama teacher, encouraged me to be a writer. She thought I was very creative and had a vivid imagination, but I wanted nothing to do with writing back then. No, I wanted to act. My first acting experience was a children’s theatre production of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, which I also one of the co-directors. For the most part, I was a behind the scenes gal, building sets, hanging lights, assistant directing, and stage-managing. When I started college at WOSC, I was cast in my very first play production, A Christmas Carol, which was adapted and directed by the multi-talented Patrick Page. I was very active in the drama department and continued to perform, stage-manage, build sets, work on the stage crew, and was assistant shop supervisor. Two of my biggest achievements were being nominated for an Irene Ryan and attending ACTF in Anchorage, Alaska. I was also recognized in the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. My favorite role, and the one most people recognize me from was the yellow high-top tennis shoe wearing fairy godmother in Sleeping Beauty. I really hammed up the role, and had a great time performing for the kids. I finished my years at WOSC, graduating with a degree in Secondary Education. Then soon after I graduated I moved to Seattle, where I became a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Employees, stage managed countless productions, had an internship at Seattle’s Group Theatre, and worked great community theatres, like Burien Little Theatre, Mt. Baker Theatre, and Renton Civic Theatre. Later, I went back to school to earn a Masters degree in Theatre, with an emphasis in directing, from Western Washington University. I've directed Medea, Baby, From Five to Five-Thirty, A Christmas Carol, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Being a full-time mother and wife has limited the about of time I can devote to the theatre and I miss it, although I would not trade being a mom for anything. I would love to direct another play, and hope I have the opportunity soon. I miss the stage, the limelight, the applause, and the friendships. But for now I concentrate on writing, it keeps the creative juices flowing, and keeps me out of trouble. “Old Dan Tucker wuz a fine old man,
Washed his face in a fryin' pan; Combed his hair with a wagon wheel Died with a toothache in his heel.” My husband was singing this tune the other day as he went about his chores. Our oldest son looked at him, and asked, “What on Earth are you singing, Dad?” I shook my head, and thought how sad my boys did not grow up with Little House on the Prairie. (By the way, the song was what Mr. Edwards used to hum, and was played as a leitmotif for the character on the show). Growing up, I was a huge Little House on the Prairie (LHOTP) fan, and every Monday night my family gathered around the television set to watch the Ingalls family. I enjoyed watching with my parents, yet knew they felt secure in letting me and my sisters watch it, with or without their supervision. LHOTP was a great family show, and one of the longest running family series in television history. The show conveyed many themes and episodes were filled with values, love, friendship, honesty, sorrow, humor, hard work, and faith, as well as, laughter, tears, and even corniness. Laura, Mary, Carrie, and baby Grace loved and honored their parents and loved each other, even though they bickered like all siblings. Ma and Pa loved each other, stayed together, and disciplined their children with love. Like most girls, I dreamed of being Laura. I was born and raised in the Bay area of California, very different from the wind-swept prairies of Walnut Grove; however, I could relate to Laura. I grew up in a family of all girls, was a Tomboy, and was stubborn like my ‘pa.’ I could be sweet one moment and vindictive the next, but only to those who did me wrong. I could see the humor in things and, of course, I would much rather be outside chasing my dog Bandit, or going fishing or swimming then working in the kitchen. In addition, while Laura grew up, so did I right beside her, I felt the same growing pains and trails, fell in and out of love, and had desire to become a school teacher. The television series Little House on the Prairie was a loose adaptation of the classic "Little House" books. My love of the television series inspired me to read the books, and although the show loosely followed them, it did preserve the heart and spirit of the novels. I read all nine of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s "Little House" books, as well as, West from Home, On the Way Home, and several autobiographies. I also read all Roger MacBride’s "Rocky Ridge Years" books (aka the Rose years). And I still have the "Little House" books from my childhood. They are worn, with torn jackets, and missing pages, stained yellow with age, but every once and a while I go back and read them again and still cherish them. Perhaps "Little House" is one of the reasons I've always loved stories and storytelling. Laura was an all-American girl, from a time honored, yet almost forgotten era. She was an early pioneer, and later farmer’s wife, out to tame the new frontier. The "Little House" years were a simpler time, where neighbors helped neighbors, and when people had to go without or starve. Today we have televisions, telephones, microwaves, automobiles, grocery stores and shopping malls, while pioneers lived off the land, made their own clothes, baked from scratch, rode horses or walked, and worked from dawn to dusk. Prairie life was not a fairy-tale. I read that Laura Ingalls Wilder once said the reason she wrote her books was to preserve the stories of her childhood for today's children, to help them to understand how much America had changed during her lifetime. America and technology has changed a great deal in my lifetime, too. Society continues to change and evolve, and perhaps we need these stories more than ever. Perhaps we can stop and examine the present along with the past and maybe, just maybe, the past can teach us something. Although, far from being a world-class traveler, I have been fortunate enough to do some traveling, especially on the west coast. (Before anyone asks why I did not include the Grand Canyon. . . all I can say is I have not been there yet--it’s on my Bucket List). Under the cut is a list of my personal favorite vacation spots in the west:
In the last couple of weeks, I have read a few stories and have left appropriate feedback; however, only half of the authors wrote back to thank me.
As a fan, I’m grateful for a response, even if it’s just a thank you. Call it good manners, call it courtesy, call it whatever. It lets me know the author saw my review and appreciated my time to acknowledge their work. And as a writer, I always reply to feedback left on my stories. Does it bother me when an author doesn’t respond? No, not really, but the next time they write a story, I might not bother to leave a review. And to be quite honest, I don’t comment on many stories, because how many times can a person write, “Good story; I enjoyed it very much,” without sounding condescending? Unless the story really touched me, or was incredibly well written, or had something a little extra then what I've read in most stories, there's not much to say. However, when I do leave a review or comment I like to be acknowledged. Getting off my soap box now. . . **Warning contains spoilers.
I’m excited about another season of Chuck, although disappointed in this half-ass 13 episode season, with the possibility of an additional nine. I really wish NBC would realize what a true gem they have in Chuck. This last weekend at San Diego ComicCon during the Chuck panel discussion, information about season four was ‘leaked’ to the fans. The first surprising revelation was Linda Hamilton has been tapped to play Mama Bartowski. I was surprised to hear she approached the producers for the role, because fans wanted her. Really? Not that I don’t think it’s a bad idea, just took me for surprise, because all the fan sites I have been on have been hoping for Lynda Carter or Kate Jackson. Kate Jackson would have been great. An 80’s icon, who played a spy on the television series Scarecrow and Mrs. King, can be kick-ass, and I think even looks a bit like Ellie. I would have loved to have seen her on the television series again. Although I am a bit disappointed, I do like Linda Hamilton. I was a Beauty and the Beast fan back in the 80's, and enjoyed her in the Terminator movies. I think she can pull it off, even though I still think Kate would have been a better choice. The second thing I read was that Morgan was going to continue spy training. Get out of here. Not sure where this is going, but I would think for more comic effect it would be better if he accidentally got involved in missions. The whole training Morgan to become a spy, I just don’t buy, but I’ll hold out final judgment until season four. Stone Cold Steve Austin and Nicole Richie will be back wrecking havoc for Chuck and Sarah. John Casey’s daughter, Alex (Mekenna Melvin) is going to be a recurring guest star. Really looking forward to seeing the father-daughter dynamics play out this season. I hope the ‘Awesomes’ make another appearance this year, I think it would be awesome to see them, especially around the holidays. Rumor has it that Ellie might be expecting a little baby ‘Awesome.’ Chuck returns September 20th with a brand new episode titled "Chuck vs. The Anniversary." I laughed out loud when I read an ad on my Facebook page that said I should include Tacoma, Washington on my bucket list. I've seen Tacoma. . . been there, done that. Not that interesting. However, it did get me thinking about a bucket list and what things I would want to do or see before I die.
I have ridden on the back of a Harley Davidson with my husband, been to Europe, been on a cruise to Alaska, taken the boys to Disney World and white river rafting on the Snake River, so I can check those things off my list. I have no want or desire to ever jump out of a plane, ride a bull, climb a mountain, or bungee jump, so I will not include those on my list. However, here are the top twenty things I want to do or see before I die; in no particular order: 1. Sell a screenplay to a movie studio. 2. Write a novel. 3. Tour the Canadian Rockies via the train. 4. Fly to Hawaii. Visit Pearl Harbor, attend a luau, see Diamond Head, rent a motorcycle and go cruising. 5. Visit Europe again. See Salzburg and Munich again. We missed Eagle's Nest and Neuschwanstein castle last time, I want to see those places. Attend a production of The Sound of Music at in Salzburg. Visit Paris and see the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Visit Hungary and the Czech Republic. 6. Visit the United Kingdom and Ireland (yes, I know it's Europe, but it would have to be a separate trip). One thing I really want to see in London is Kings Cross Station and platform 9 3/4 (silly, I know), as well as Big Ben, the Tower of London, and more. 7. Visit Italy and Greece. 8. Australia. Enough said. 9. See all three of my boys graduate from high school. 10. Earn a Master's degree in Communications. 11. I want to see my boy's achieve the goals they set out to achieve. 12. Direct Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. 13. Attend a Broadway play. 14. Own a Corvette. 15. See the Grand Canyon. 16. See the Pyramids in Egypt 17. Swim with the dolphins. (I always thought that would be cool). 18. Learn German. 19. Buy a travel trailer. 20. And finally having the energy, health, and strength to do the things I want to do. (I guess money would help, too). "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." ~ Helen Keller I have a few moments this morning before I have to take my son to the orthodontist and wanted to write about a pet peeve of mine. . . I hate unfinished fan fiction stories.
Nothing is worse than becoming involved in a story, investing time to read it, and finding it incomplete. Drives me crazy! Now, I don’t mind authors teasing the audience by breaking the stories down into chapters and posting a chapter every evening or every few days, but it’s just so frustrating to start reading a great story only to find it hasn't been updated for weeks, months, years, or even worse was never completed. I started a story last night that I thought was complete and discovered after becoming emotionally involved in the story, it was incomplete, and has not been updated in weeks. Gak! I can appreciate real life getting in the way, or an author losing interest (trust me I have a few incomplete stories on my hard drive myself), but I personally would NEVER post a story that I haven't finished writing, and wish other authors offered the same courtesy or would at least finish their story before posting. Signed, One Frustrated Fan |
"Hey. . . it's me."I live in the shadows of the Olympic Mountains in the state of Washington and I love camping, boating, kayaking, hiking, and hanging out with my husband, our three adult children, and our Bernese Mountain dog, Henry. Tags
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