Many thanks! And some other stuff...
Jan. 8th, 2006 06:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annapurna_2Thank you guys so much for the lovely birthday wishes! It's much appreciated and makes me feel quite special. Big hugs to all. :-)
I had a great day but saved the real celebrating for this weekend. I was treated to a scrumptious birthday dinner and a murder mystery play, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Also hit a couple of art sales and snagged some oil paintings for my bedroom to go with my new decor, which is still very much a work in progress.
I was looking for a Georgia O'Keefe-type floral painting, much like I have in my living room, but opted instead for a couple of abstracts with a lovely color palette. I've never favored abstracts in the past, but I've found that changing in the last couple of years, though I'm still pretty picky. I normally lean more toward impressionism.
Now I just have to find the right frames since they didn't have anything that worked with these.
There are still so many![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
seasonal_spuffy stories and icons I haven't read/seen, it's not even funny. So I'm giving up on catching up in one fell swoop. Instead, I'll try to do it a little at a time. Don't be surprised if you eventually hear from me, say...oh, sometime next century? I figure better late than never.
Despite the busy weekend, I managed to get a little more written on Chapter 11 of "Marking Time." Plus, another scene from a chapter further down the road. Hope to get a bit more done tonight in between another try at de-cluttering and watching Masterpiece Theatre's "Henry VIII" offering.
I'm really looking forward to Henry, though with mixed feelings. It feels like so many of their recent programs don't hold a candle to the good old days when MT was hosted by Alistair Cooke (may he rest in peace, poor man) and was in its prime. As good as the recent "The Virgin Queen" was, for me it fell far short of the delicious "Elizabeth R." Largely because TVQ condensed the story down into a four-hour movie while E presented a far more layered and nuanced saga over the course of several hours. Plus, I just love productions that make me feel like I'm watching a stage play, rather than a film. (i.e. "I, Claudius", etc.)
And let's face it. Glenda Jackson still owns that role and probably always will. Heh.
Anyway, since I also loved "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," I may not help but draw comparisons there, too. But I'm going to try very, very hard to judge (and enjoy) this new production on its own merits.
I'll let you know. ;-)
So is anyone else planning to watch?
ETA: Turns out I was wrong. I checked the PBS site for more info on this production and it isn’t new. Seems it’s aired previously. Odd that I missed it, but I’m glad I’m catching it this time around. “Henry VIII” -- and particularly Ray Winstone in the title role – is totally kicking ass. :-)
I had a great day but saved the real celebrating for this weekend. I was treated to a scrumptious birthday dinner and a murder mystery play, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Also hit a couple of art sales and snagged some oil paintings for my bedroom to go with my new decor, which is still very much a work in progress.
I was looking for a Georgia O'Keefe-type floral painting, much like I have in my living room, but opted instead for a couple of abstracts with a lovely color palette. I've never favored abstracts in the past, but I've found that changing in the last couple of years, though I'm still pretty picky. I normally lean more toward impressionism.
Now I just have to find the right frames since they didn't have anything that worked with these.
There are still so many
seasonal_spuffy stories and icons I haven't read/seen, it's not even funny. So I'm giving up on catching up in one fell swoop. Instead, I'll try to do it a little at a time. Don't be surprised if you eventually hear from me, say...oh, sometime next century? I figure better late than never.Despite the busy weekend, I managed to get a little more written on Chapter 11 of "Marking Time." Plus, another scene from a chapter further down the road. Hope to get a bit more done tonight in between another try at de-cluttering and watching Masterpiece Theatre's "Henry VIII" offering.
I'm really looking forward to Henry, though with mixed feelings. It feels like so many of their recent programs don't hold a candle to the good old days when MT was hosted by Alistair Cooke (may he rest in peace, poor man) and was in its prime. As good as the recent "The Virgin Queen" was, for me it fell far short of the delicious "Elizabeth R." Largely because TVQ condensed the story down into a four-hour movie while E presented a far more layered and nuanced saga over the course of several hours. Plus, I just love productions that make me feel like I'm watching a stage play, rather than a film. (i.e. "I, Claudius", etc.)
And let's face it. Glenda Jackson still owns that role and probably always will. Heh.
Anyway, since I also loved "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," I may not help but draw comparisons there, too. But I'm going to try very, very hard to judge (and enjoy) this new production on its own merits.
I'll let you know. ;-)
So is anyone else planning to watch?
ETA: Turns out I was wrong. I checked the PBS site for more info on this production and it isn’t new. Seems it’s aired previously. Odd that I missed it, but I’m glad I’m catching it this time around. “Henry VIII” -- and particularly Ray Winstone in the title role – is totally kicking ass. :-)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2006-01-09 01:13 am (UTC)AND HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! :o) I'm glad you got to celebrate! Can I make you something for your day? Any icon requests?
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Date: 2006-01-12 04:43 am (UTC)::gasp:: How could you not watch it? I can't imagine anything better than...
Am going to take a bubble bath and watch some old school BtVS.
Oh. Okay. Guess there is something better. Heh.
AND HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! :o)
Thank you! :-)
I'm glad you got to celebrate! Can I make you something for your day? Any icon requests?
That is so sweet! I would love an icon whenever you get the chance. Something Spikish or Spuffyish with my name on it, maybe? Surprise me. Hee! ::bounces happily::
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Date: 2006-01-09 03:55 am (UTC)Are you signing up for the next round of
for me it fell far short of the delicious "Elizabeth R."
Bleurgh. My Elizabeth icon is currently in storage waiting for the end of BVT5, but I have to agree with you, particularly in terms of the book. I really enjoyed reading that and I always find Starkey refreshing and interesting. He's just the right mix of salacious gossip and historical fact :)
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Date: 2006-01-12 05:00 am (UTC)Thank you, it was!
Are you signing up for the next round of [info]seasonal_spuffy? LOL! :)
Ha! No, I don't think so. I really, really would love to, but unless I miraculously finish "Marking Time" between now and the sign-up deadline, it won't be happening. I'm determined to get that finished before writing anything else.
Plus, I'm going to try to cut back on the writing in hopes of being able to read, comment and post more often than I have been. We'll see how it goes. Heh.
As for Starkey's book, I haven't read it but it sounds like maybe I should, eh?
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Date: 2006-01-09 06:43 am (UTC)Eeeeek I forgot your birthday sweetie! I'm so sorry - what with one thing and another *hangs head in shame*
Glad you had a good time.
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Date: 2006-01-12 06:56 am (UTC)Oh pfffft! Don't worry about that. I've missed a few, too. Heh. Birthday wishes are appreciated any time! :-)
Glad you had a good time.
I did, thanks!
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Date: 2006-01-09 09:47 am (UTC)And I'm way behind with
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Date: 2006-01-12 07:01 am (UTC)And...ack! I had to stop reading
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Date: 2006-01-10 05:12 am (UTC)But I too faithfully attended the Alistair Cooke school of historical dramatizations, and the original Six Wives of Henry VIII starring Keith Mitchell and Elizabeth R starring Glenda Jackson (Gods Teeth!!! - or was that Gods Death!!!?) were indeed definitive, just as for me, Jeremy Brett in his series defined Sherlock Holmes. I may appreciate and enjoy other productions, but as good as they might be, they're just shows, if you know what I mean.
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Date: 2006-01-12 07:14 am (UTC)He certainly is amazing. I don't believe I've ever seen him in anything before now. Not that I recall, anyway. I was a bit surprised at the accent for the first few seconds, but then it didn't matter anymore. He's very enthralling!
(Gods Teeth!!! - or was that Gods Death!!!?)
I think it was the former. She was so great. ::shakes head in wonder::
And, yeah, Jeremy Brett was awesome, too.
I may appreciate and enjoy other productions, but as good as they might be, they're just shows, if you know what I mean.
I know exactly! And also: I, Claudius; War and Peace; Last of the Mohicans; Upstairs, Downstairs; Poldark; Little Women; Vanity Fair; and so many, many others. Those were the days. ::happy sigh::
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Date: 2006-01-12 03:44 pm (UTC)You remember the War and Peace that was on MT? Wasn't that amazing? I read W&P after I saw that series (which I recall hearing took four years to make), and I recall easily being able to hear and visualize all the characters from the show, which meant they had been very faithful to the book. And Last of the Mohicans - I read the book after seeing that series as well. Let me tell you, I had one powerful crush on Uncas, and quite an appreciation for Hawkeye too. The movie version that came out a some years later was a big disappointment, because they took such Hollywood liberties with who was attracted to whom and screwed it all up; pairing Hawkeye with Cora and Uncas with Alice, IIRC (as if). After seeing the incomparable I Claudius I read the Robert Graves novels it was based - the excellence of those series were directly responsible for getting me to read literature I otherwise may not have chosen.
I taped every episode of Upstairs Downstairs. Before BtVS took over it was my comfort fare of choice. The Duchess of Duke Street was another favorite.
Possibly the best thing I've ever seen on TV is Dennis Potter's Pennies From Heaven. His The Singing Detective was also extraordinary. I'm in the process of re-watching the latter on DVD, which includes commentary by the director and the producer for the entire series, episode by episode. So, I'm watching each episode straight, and then again with the commentary. And best of all, it's the kind of informative commentary that is actually illuminating and worth the time. After I'm through with 'Detective I'm Diving right in to Pennies'. Fortunately for my threadbare pocketbook, my library has both series on DVD.
The director of 'Detective remarked during the commentary that the BBC would never allow them the freedom to make the series they made today. The Alistair Cooke era of MPT was truly the Golden Age of literary drama.
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Date: 2006-01-15 06:22 am (UTC)I adored War and Peace! Yes, they were very faithful. I was watching the series and couldn't wait to see how things turned out, so when I got sick and had to stay in bed for a week, I asked Mom to get the book for me. I think I finished the whole thing that week.
And Last of the Mohicans - I read the book after seeing that series as well. Let me tell you, I had one powerful crush on Uncas, and quite an appreciation for Hawkeye too.
Lol! Me, too...the book and the crush. Heh. In fact, I went on to read all of the James Fenimore Cooper Leatherstocking tales. That Natty Bumpo had more nicknames than even Spike could dream up. Hawkeye, La Longue Carabine, Leatherstocking, Pathfinder, Deerslayer...
The movie version that came out a some years later was a big disappointment, because they took such Hollywood liberties with who was attracted to whom and screwed it all up; pairing Hawkeye with Cora and Uncas with Alice, IIRC (as if).
Yup, and they had Heyward lusting after Cora instead of falling in love with Alice. But I loved it nonetheless. I went into it accepting that they were going to change things up.
After seeing the incomparable I Claudius I read the Robert Graves novels it was based
Again...me, too! ::g::
Plus, I read a few other books on the subject.
- the excellence of those series were directly responsible for getting me to read literature I otherwise may not have chosen.
With me, it certainly fostered a love for the classics. I even voluntarily read "Crime and Punishment" because of MT and John Hurt. Heh.
I taped every episode of Upstairs Downstairs. Before BtVS took over it was my comfort fare of choice. The Duchess of Duke Street was another favorite.
I also loved the American answer to Upstairs, Downstairs, which was a very short-lived series called Beacon Hill. Wish they'd had VCRs then to record it, but no such luck. I think I must have been one of five people who saw it. I never saw Duchess of Duke Street, though I do remember the name. Can't remember why I didn't watch it.
Possibly the best thing I've ever seen on TV is Dennis Potter's Pennies From Heaven.
Wow. I'll have to look for that. I've only seen the Steve Martin version from back in the 80s, I think.
The Alistair Cooke era of MPT was truly the Golden Age of literary drama.
Wordy McWord! ::g::
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Date: 2006-01-15 05:28 pm (UTC)That's right! I'd forgotten all those nick names - all so colorful and descriptive too... Yes. Spike would have appreciated them. As a matter of fact, I can see the young boy William thrilling to JFC's books in Victorian England. Perhaps Spike's penchant for nicknames can be traced in part back to Cooper's early influence!
I also loved the American answer to Upstairs, Downstairs, which was a very short-lived series called Beacon Hill. Wish they'd had VCRs then to record it, but no such luck. I think I must have been one of five people who saw it.
So, that must have been you, me, and three others then *g*. Amazing how so many crap series have been successful when most of the truly substanative, quality ones are shot down.
Possibly the best thing I've ever seen on TV is Dennis Potter's Pennies From Heaven.
Wow. I'll have to look for that. I've only seen the Steve Martin version from back in the 80s, I think.
As much as I adore Bernadette Peters the movie boar only the most superficial reselemblance to the original BBC series. To be fair, it may had some merit as a light, entertaining film with an element of pathos thrown in but it's hard for me to judge. I only saw it on TV long ago and I don't believe I lasted through the half way point, let alone the end. I know that I said I could enjoy a quality production of something that already existed as a definitive creation in an earlier incarnation. But the movie was so light, and fast and...two dimensional that it just pained me to watch it. I haven't seen the movie version of Singing Detective starring Robert Downey Jr, who I like very much and have much respect for as an actor, but I suspect I'd feel the same way. (You didn't mention if you'd ever seen or heard of that one.)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-10 08:49 am (UTC)For anyone who might be interested in ghosts and spooky things.
This car commercial was created in New Zealand when the producers
played it back they noticed a ghostly apparition and an eerie sound.
Turn the sound up, watch closely. Play it and see what you think.
Follow this link you need macromedia installed to view it.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1011738692175276484
no subject
Date: 2006-01-12 07:21 am (UTC)Heh. Now that wouldn't happen to be one of those "gotcha" videos that made the rounds a while back, hmmm? ;-)
It's not dial-up friendly, so I can't tell for sure. But let's say I'm a weeeee bit suspicious. Hee.