Dave Crow of Trading Spouses is Loser of the Week

Dave Crow of Fox’s Trading Spouses is my vote for loser of the week! This man is verbally abusive to his wife and children. He spends time with his older son, while completely ignoring his two younger children. At one point the whole family goes on a golfing expedition. Big, macho, Dave thinks it’s appropriate to call his youngest son a “sissy” and criticize his performance. The son has to defend himself and says, “I’ve never golfed before, Dad!” Dave Crow of Belgrade, Montana is my Loser of the Week!

Dave Crow

Felicity Huffman Deserves An Oscar!

breeLast night my friend Danny and I saw the movie Transamerica.  I had wanted to see this film because I had heard that Felicity Huffman’s performance had Oscar winning potential. Well I wholeheartedly agree. Ms. Huffman, as Bree the transsexual, is spectacular!  I really believed that I was watching a pre-op transsexual! The film has many touching moments, as well as many humorous ones.

I would also like to give a shout out to Fionnula Flanagan. Ms. Flanagan plays Bree’s mother, and you haven’t seen such an overbearing, insensitive mum since Fay Dunaway as Joan Crawford! Flannigan’s performance is not as over the top as Dunaway’s however, and is much more truthful. I hope they both get nominated for awards!!

Fourth Week on the Diet

Current Weight: 259 lbs Weight Loss This Week: 2 lbs Total Weight Loss So Far: 6 lbs

I didn’t meet my exercise goal of 2000 calories this week but I still lost weight. I do fine until the night time. If I could just stop eating after 7 PM, I know I would lose faster.  The night time is when I really want chips or crackers of some sort, and cheese. Yikes, I gotta switch my desire to fruit!

NBC Cancels Book of Daniel After 3 Episodes

Sorry AFA, NBC didn’t cancel The Book of Daniel because of your efforts. They cancelled it because the show was just plain lousy.  I tried to like it. I watched it every week and it was just bad.  It had a great cast, but the writing was atrocious! The story lines were unbelievable and most of the dialog was laughable. It really seemed to be trying too hard to be good. I have to admit that this past episode was the best. There were two great moments. First, a great speech by Daniel about the loss of his mother’s mind to Alzheimer’s disease. Second, a great scene between Daniel and his adopted Asian son.  Daniel comes to the conclusion he needs to be a father to his child, more than a best friend. Perhaps if it was given a little more time, it might have developed into something. I doubt it though.  It tried to be a drama with funny situations, but it never pulled it off. There were also way too many story lines going on from the beginning.  The American Family Association is happy tonight, but as usual… they are delusional.

A Star Is Reborn

judy and james

Last night I watched one of my favorite movies, A Star is Born, starring Judy Garland and James Mason. I loved this movie as a kid and I have fond memories of seeing the restored version in 1983. I attended a major re-premiere of the film at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Theater in Beverly Hills. I dont know how I was able to wrangle a ticket, but I am sure glad I did! I rented a tux, parked my rental car down the street, and walked to the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. I was very excited as I walked past the photographers on the red carpet and into the lobby. Inside there were many stars congregating, drinking champagne, and eating hors ‘deurves. I remember seeing James Mason, Gregory Peck, Maureen Stapleton, Rock Hudson, Vincente Minnelli, Liza Minnelli, and Lorna Luft. I talked to Liza about how much I enjoyed her work, and to Lorna Luft about Extremities, the play she was starring in with Farah Fawcett Off-Broadway. At one point I had to visit the men’s room… and ended up talking to Rock Hudson at the urinal! I was just his type back then-young and blonde-thank goodness nothing happened or I might not be writing this today! I remember being appalled at the way the stars drank and ate like pigs! Maureen Stapleton was exceptionally piggish…stuffing chocolates in her face, and at one point, ripping fruit off a centerpiece until it fell apart and crashed to the floor! I met a black women who told me she was the girl who danced with Judy Garland in the Lose That Long Face number. The song was cut from the film and was now restored after 30 years. Talk about paying your dues! Eventually, it was time to be seated in the theater. I was ushered down to a great seat next to Vincente Minnelli! I didn’t talk to him because he seemed very frail, and was kind of propped up in his seat. long faceLiza spoke about how her mother felt when they cut out Lose That Long Face…”She was very upset and I tried to calm her down. She came up to my room. I didnt know what to do – you know that helpless feeling – because I didn’t understand what it meant. So I put my arms around her, and I said, ‘What is it? Can I help?’ And she said, ‘they just dont care.'” Liza looked out over us in the audience and said, “Obviously they do care – very much.” The money that was raised from showings of the restored version of A Star is Born was going toward further film restorations. Many films made before 1950 have been lost forever due to their deteriorating film stock. Earlier in the evening, Fay Kanin, the president of the academy, said, “The 80s is the decade of preservation.”
God bless Ron Haver, the man who tracked down 20 minutes ofsomewhere the missing 27 minutes of the film. In 1982 he spent over 8 months, searching more than 1600 film cans, looking for the footage at the Warner studio lot.
I remember Lorna spoke of trying to track down missing footage herself, and Joey Luft saying he was, “still in his mother’s stomach,” while the film was being made.
Words cannot express my feelings and the electric energy of the room, when the film actually began. I was mesmerized. The print was gorgeous! The soundtrack glorious! Thunderous applause occurred after every musical number. I never wanted it to end!

I really felt that I was a part of an important Hollywood event… sitting in that seat…with Vincente Minnelli leaning up against me!

Recommended links:

A Star Is Born : The Making of the 1954 Movie and Its 1983 Restoration

The Judy Room: A Star is Born

A Star is Born Walkthrough

A Star is Modern

Stillettos and Sneakers: A Tribute to A Star is Born

Third Week On The Diet

Current Weight: 261 lbs Total Weight Loss: 4 lbs

I am struggling with my portion sizes. I like a lot of food. I am also struggling with eating enough fruits and vegetables. I so want a cracker instead. The exercise is coming along. I can walk about 2.5 miles without much trouble. My goal is to lose 4 lbs this week!

Disney World Opens New Website On Expedition Everest

Walt Disney World has opened a new website about its newest attraction, Expedition Everest. The attraction is scheduled to open early this year at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom is my least favorite park at Walt Disney World. The attractions are spread all over the park, with a lot of nothin’ in between. Expedition Everest will hopefuly add a much needed boost to Disney’s Zoo!

Kudos: Expedition Everest

HMR

I decided that I needed a little help on this diet plan. I rejoined Health Management Resources (HMR) for that support. In 1996 I went on their liquid diet and lost weight…51 lbs fast. After 3 months on the liquid diet I entered their maintenance program and lost an additional 29 lbs.. for a total of 80 lbs. I managed to keep it off for about 2 years. I don’t feel up to a liquid diet again, but I can definitely can use their help. Their maintenance program is sensible, does not forbid any foods, and is easy to follow in the long term. The biggest thing I learned was keeping records of what you eat.
When I stopped keeping records the weight came back. I don’t know if I will be their poster child ever again though!
hmr