Check out these two videos taken in the San Francisco Bay area. They pay tribute to mesmerizing fog, so much a part of this city’s identification. Couldn’t get ’em to imbed. One’s 4 minutes+ and the other a couple minutes long.
Adrift:
Steaming City:
Saw these guys play in Port Townsend, WA. Couldn’t hold still!
From their website:
“The Crow Quill Night Owls are a band that plays jug band, jazz, and string band music of the 1920’s and 1930’s.
they were formed in 2007 by guitarist Kit “Stymee” Stovepipe and tenor banjoist Windy City Alex. they’ve since added Baylin Adahere on washtub bass. the group fluctuates from a duo to a six person band and often features members of other bands in similar genres.”
Thought I’d share a little film that’s both inspiring and positive, two qualities I think some may apreciate in these times.
Angela Hawse is a AMGA Certified alpine and rock climbing guide I’ve met through a mutual friend. She can be found here: http://www.alpinist007.com
Came across this video and asked her if I might share it on this blog. They raised over $23,000 for a great cause, the dZi Foundation, which provides safe houses for girls in Sikkim, Nepal. Please watch. Talk about strong and motivated women!
Click the link below then click the PLAY button in the middle of the screen. I couldn’t imbed it. (Computers…grrr!)
Woke at 2ish this afternoon after a night of work. I’m an 8 hour of sleep kind of girl. These 5 -6 hr sleeps are not cutting the mustard. I can’t wait to be done with nights. They’re wrecking me!
Floating around in that half-asleep state, I made coffee, eval’d the sky, noticed blue skies and dry (ish), calm air. Didn’t trust myself on my bike, not coherent enough. Desperate to prove to myself I’m not turning into a mole (it’s a challenge most days) I went for a walk on the American River, next to the bike path.
Snapshots:
A flyfisherman. Looked like fun:
Pretty and smelly, too:
After, saw a treat of a movie, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. Became a $20 treat after one ticket and the “matinee bargain special” of popcorn and a small coke. Worth it. Went to the Tower theater, blogged about earlier after seeing MILK. (A masterpiece, in my mind.) I’d much rather give this theater my $20 than the giant big-box theaters.
Stashed the trusty camera in my bag and got a pic of the Tower lit up in all it’s art-deco splendor. It’s dark, but you can get an idea of the fountain, palm trees and garden in front of it. A special place.
I watched the Oscars on Sunday. I’ll admit, I love oogling the gowns as much as the talent. This flick has been on my “to watch” list for some time. It earned numerous Oscars.
GO SEE IT. RUN, DON’T WALK!
It’ s splendid. It is disturbing. It is real. You may cry and ask often, “Why?”
A 2 min. trailer. Like usual, they don’t do the film justice:
Tommorow, a long bike ride if Mother Nature cooperates? If not, lots of knitting to catch up on.
I watch my sis and hubby-in-law’s (Tyler) blog. Today I found this posted.
Tyler grew in up in a quintessentially rural, Western MN farming community. In that town stands a house with a baby doll perched in it’s window. All the time. Embedded below is the link to the short film, about 9 minutes long. It’s a time committment to watch (aren’t most of us short on that these says.) I’m a sucker for American Folklore, though. Growing up in what was once a rural MN farming community I can relate to the scenery, houses and more.
If you have time and are interested in American Folklore/oral history it’s a good little film to watch. Be sure to see the quick little blurb AFTER the credits.
Yes, it’s creepy, but really makes me curious. Really.
Tonight I treated myself to dinner and a movie.
I prefer small, independent theaters to the big box theaters. A gal I met through a knitting group out here in SAC showed me the Tower Theater and it’s adjacent restauraunt the Tower Cafe. We had lunch there last week (and sat in camping chairs in a nearby park, in the sun, knitting, surrounded by ducks and geese. It was a great afternoon!
The restauraunt serves fantastic food, is one of those places I would take a visiting family member or friend (hint…hint…who’s coming out?) because it’s so unique and special. In front of the theater and restauraunt is a lush garden with tables for dining, complete with a fountain, all occupying a tidy corner of a city block.
The Tower’s, well, tower on top, all lit up, is a beacon of old-fashioned art-deco-glamour. I wish I’d had my camera in my purse. What was I thinking? I always tote it around! It was abeautiful sight all lit up. Below, a pic from a website, http://www.savethetowertheatre.org/.
Photo by Richard Tolmach from the website above. The theater is in danger of closure
Photo courtesy of Richard Tolmachvv
Watched the flick MILK which was incredible. I loved that it was full of real-seeming people, working towards a cause. Laced with historical footage of gay rights events in the 70’s and on, it’s history. Amazing that people had those saved. Plus…it’s based in San Francisco, which you may have noticed from blogs past I am fascinated with. (Already planning my next trip back. It’s only a couple hours away from SAC. )
The movie made me nibble my nails (nasty habit, I know), give silent cheers to the characters, and let loose plenty of tears. Wish I had someone to talk to about it. (It’s 1015 PM out here and I don’t think friends east of me would apreciate a call “just-beacause” at 1115 PM or midnight.)
Here’s a trailer. I recommend this movie, rave, really. Sean Penn was incredible. I wanted to hug him. Was an odd feeling. Less than 2 minutes does not do the movie justice but gives you a taste.
I remember our first VCR, growing up. It was a huge behemoth, had the tape holder that popped up, from the top. We taped a lot of movies. There were several that I watched over and over and over including:
I loved the horsey flicks. Didn’t really care about the leading men in the movies back then (like Harrison Ford). These days I pay keen attention. (Hello, Daniel Craig, oh yeah!)
Last night I got home from work, first day there, it sucked. Made a PB&J. Must’ve been subliminal comfort food. Turned on the evil, glowing box. Watched a movie we had taped, in that giant VCR, which I hadn’t seen in over 20 years.
THE ELEPHANT MAN, done by David Lynch.
It was released in 1980. A very young, handsome Anthony Hopkins was the Dr. and John Hurt played “John Merrick” AKA The Elephant Man. I believe he won a film awarded for his portrayal, as he should have.
Funny thing is, I held onto the basic story all those years yet remembered very little of the actual film itwelf. I knew it would be in black and white. Once it started, I noted it to be very surreal and almost primitively “artsy” a la David Lynch. I’m surprised I didn’t remember more of it, given its graphic (mentally, not the graphic that describes movies today) nature.
Along with that keeping my interest, the story is fascinating. This is what the story is about, the morbid fascination we have in things far from “normal.” It is a classic story of good and evil both obviously represented and not so.
And…it is SAD. Heart-wrenchingly SAD. I soaked through fists of TP, flushing out my tear ducts profusely. Annabelle, bless her fuzzy little self parked herself by my shoulder and provided support, sharing warmth and offering an occasional (reassuring?) glance my way.
After, I turned off that big, glowing box, started up the small, glowing thin box, and researched The Elephant Man. His name was really Joeseph Merrick, not John as in the movie. Wikipedia will teach you some. He was an interesting character for Victorian times.
Rent the movie. It’s an oldie worth dusting off. Maybe you have an old VHS tape of it lying around? I wonder if my parents have tossed theirs?
The Knitting Nurse 