Monday Musing

Christmas traditions really can be fun even when you've done them for years on end and you may think they are getting rather stale.

Yesterday, the women of the family(along with one lone boyfriend) trekked downtown to the grand old Alabama Theater to watch "White Christmas" on the big screen.  We can't remember precisely, but it seems that this must be at least the 7th year for this.  And every year -- even though we can quote whole scenes worth of the script -- it's just as much fun.  The mighty Wurlitzer organ is played superbly for a half hour before show time.  Then comes the audience Christmas carol singalong.  The organ disappears under the stage, the lights go down, the velvet curtains open and the event begins; always with a classic Disney cartoon.  This year it was Donald Duck's turn at bat.

Throughout the movie, you can hear people (usually me, but others, too) softly singing under their breath.  The laughter comes easily.  We love Bing.  We love Rosemary.  We are in awe of Vera Ellen and her teeny, tiny waist.  But oh, how we ADORE Danny Kaye.  I really think it's the only reason my mother continues to attend.  Well, that and she loves all the 50s ambiance.  She says it reminds her of "how much fun we used to have......y'all just don't know how to have a good time now."  The Sisters's song is probably my and my sister's highlight.  Both the versions. 

And at the last when Bing, Danny, Rosemary & Vera Ellen stand before the glorious Christmas tree and encourage their film audience to join them in the last chorus of "White Christmas", the Alabama crowd is THERE and we oblige.  The theater rings as we sing out and enjoy the White Christmas experience for another year.

Monday (Movie) Musing

Yesterday afternoon I treated myself to a movie.  The one I chose was "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock.  What a GREAT movie!  Yes, the storyline is predictable, but so what?  It's still good.  Y'all need to go see it if you haven't already.

Sandra Bullock has dead-on nailed her character, Leigh Ann Tuohy.  The supporting actors are excellent, too.  As a matter of fact, I was very pleasantly surprised at Tim McGraw as the husband.  Now I can see what Faith Hill sees :)  But back to Miss Sandy.  It was so nice to see her portrayl of The Southern Sorority Girl all grown up.  She could have gone WAY over the top with that, but didn't.  She managed to show that yes indeed, Southern girls-now-women have more layers than just "Daddy's little rich girl" or "spoiled bitch" or "flighty twit".  Those elements are certainly there sometimes, but there are also qualities of caring about others and wanting to do the right thing.  Even if that means going it alone.  "Steel magnolias" isn't just the title of a play/movie.  Bossy?  Yes.  Flirty?  A little, but with a modicum of taste.  Mannerly?  Absolutely.  Iron will....temper......courageous?  Yes, yes and yes.

Maybe one of the reasons I liked this movie so much is because I know more than just a few of these very same women.  Grew up with them; had them for friends and relatives and role models.  Loved them to pieces.  As a matter of fact, I suppose there are people out there who would peg me for one my own self.  That's okay by me.  I was born and raised in the South.  Lived here my whole life (with a couple of years here and there away).  An alumnus of both the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama.  Instructed in the football culture from junior high school on.  AND, an initiate of the Kappa Delta Sorority......just like Leigh Anne.  So, yeah......it was fun to see "myself" up on the big screen.  Just wish I looked a little more like Sandra Bullock!  But then I'd have to be younger and on a perpetual diet.  So, maybe I'll just be content to stay one of the unknown Southern Sisterhood. 

Literary Dogs

Just received an email from the AKC about a cute little contest they've devised in conjunction with PawNation.com.  They're asking people to vote for their favorite dog character in literature.  As several people pointed out, they left out two icons:  Lassie and Lad.  But included Clifford The Big Red Dog.  Huh?  And CUJO!  At least they managed to include my second fav, Skip of My Dog Skip fame.

I've read lots of dog stories in my life, but probably the one that I would have to vote for is one I never read.  I was too young to know how at the time.  But my father read it to me -- a chapter every night before bed.  You'll recognize him:  Old Yeller.  I remember very well being taken to see the movie when it came out.  I think it was the first time (but definitely not the last) I ever cried at the movies. 

I guess I can thank that "old yeller dog" for being engulfed in dog hair and drool since then.

Monday Morning Musing

In a rare fit of determination, I went to the movies yesterday afternoon. This is significant because I probably attend 2-3 movies at a theatre in a year's time. The movie I had made this extra effort for is "Julie & Julia"..... the one about Julia Child and Julie I-Forget-Her-Last-Name cooking all the recipes in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year.

It was a really good movie and I'm glad I got to see Meryl Streep work her characterization magic. It was funny and heartwarming and all that. But I'm just going to tell you: if I thought I had to take a cookbook and fix every recipe in it in a year just to get a handle on my life, I'd probably be in the looney bin before the second week. I can't imagine coming home 365 NIGHTS to fix some long drawn-out French recipe. Hell, it's all I can do to make myself go to the grocery store every week. And half the time, I don't come back with anything really edible.

So, while I -- like Julia -- LOVE to eat, I'm still not going to stay in the kitchen. If I want really good food, I'll save up the "egg money" and go to a nice restaurant.