FF XVIII, 30

Frank Facts and Reviews

Volume XVIII, No. 30

Sunday, October 14, 2012

This was one of the most frustrating weeks in a long time for me. On Monday, I was almost the victim of some sort of Scam Operation! An unknown phone caller, assuring me that he was a representative of Medicare, said he just wanted to make certain I was getting all of the benefits to which I am entitled. Now, let me add that he had awakened me from a deep sleep, and I was still pretty drowsy. I answered several questions, and did not hesitate when he asked me for my checking account number. The moment the number was out of my mouth, I realized what a fool I had been! I quickly hung up (noticing that his number and place of the call---Beaumont, Texas, were on my caller ID.

Grabbing my check book, I got in my car and drove straight to my bank. I had to cancel any checks they might get that day, There wasn’t a single car taking up the parking lot, so I relaxed and parked. Imagine how confused I felt when I knew the bank was closed! I checked my watch: it was well after 9:00, but I could not figure out why they were closed at that date! Will somebody please tell me when Columbus Day became a national holiday?

Still ignorant as to why the bank was on vacation, I drove to my next door neighbor’s house, and had him call the Better Business Bureau, to see if they could give me any advice. Then we called the district attorney. Nobody was working!

Later, that same day, my friend, Darren O’Donnell, called to tell me he had contacted a branch of Compass Bank (my carrier) and had alerted them to my predicament. He had taken care of everything! It certainly helps to have great friends! I went to my branch office on Tuesday, had them close out the old account (which I had over 20 years) and issue me a new number.

But my week of nightmares was not over yet: I was involved in a fender-bender on Thursday. But that can wait till next weekend!

Growing old is not pretty!

 

Cat Naps Quotes

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.”

Irish Proverb

 

 

The Road to Ginger

       Every year, one of our bridge group from the Tuesday Methodist Church Game asks us to buy tickets to participate in an all-day program that is held in the ABBA Temple. There are tables for Bridge, but most of the people are playing other games. I have been to several of these fund raisers, and find them rather tiresome; so, when Janet and I traveled the route she had jotted down, when she called the woman who raised cats about our coming out to get a look at her fresh litter of Persian kittens, we found (to our amazement) that it was very near this landmark!

       “Well, this just has to be the right place---wouldn’t you think?” My friend observed.

       She had driven closer to the mail box, which had the woman’s name on it. We were both impressed at the decorations all over the mailbox, as well as the house to which it so obviously belonged. Cat motifs abounded! Even for my tastes, it seemed a bit too much,

       “Well, I should certainly hope so!” I agreed.

       On the porch, we waited after ringing the doorbell. Did it, too, have a cat’s face? I honestly think it might have, but I have forgotten many things about the experience, including the name of the cat owners. I thought I would be able to find it among the papers that I got with the adoption of Ginger, but there, too, it is missing.

       When the door was opened, the young woman who invited us in told us that, “Mother will be right with you.”

       The house was lovely, and so was the daughter.

       We were led into a spacious room and sat down to wait.

       Before long, the mother appeared, holding a basket-full of adorable little dirty-white kittens. I was told, later, that the color was called “Burnished Silver”. I had risen as soon as woman had entered the room, and

now that she was closer to me, I could see that one of the babies in the basket was not the same color as all of the others. That one was Burnished Gold, I was informed. 

       All of the “white” cats, except one, was male: the lone “gold” kitty was also a female. Over the years, I had loved cats and it seemed to matter very little whether they were male or female. As a matter of fact, I was infamous for name cats the wrong name, and they didn’t seem to mind. Both of my Judys were tom cats: the first one (while I still lived with my parents) would return home after being gone for three or four days, during which time I worried myself sick about “her’. Then “she” would come back, looking like the wrath of God: at least one of her ears would look half chewed off, and would have to be taken to a vet, so he could drain the puss from her swollen toes! It was the vet that informed me that Judy was a male, and not having been neutered, was out “Tom-catting” when he disappeared like that. But Daddy was adamant. I could keep the cat, and the cat could stay in the house as long as we stayed up; but one we went to bed. Judy had to go outside. This handsome creature lived until I went to Michigan State to finish my PhD; and then Mama wrote me that “She” had stopped eating, and that she was worried about Judy. Mama loved my pets almost as much as I did. When I received the letter, I phoned Mama immediately, to tell he all Judy needed was a pill for stomach works (which I kept in the family medicine chest). Mama began crying as soon as she realized who was calling, “Honey,: Mama said, “Judy died this morning.” I felt, literally, as if the world would never be the same for me. George, too, was very fond of that very special cat, and had written me (that last year of her life) that Judy had just walked past the open door to his bedroom, looking as if she were searching for me. He wrote that her lower jaw dropped as she sat at the screen door at the front of the hall, and seemed to be moaning my name.

       That Judy was the first of the extra special loves of my life.

       But, at that moment my concerns were with this little ugly pug nosed unnamed pure-bred. I had to admit (later, to Janet) that I was very disappointed in the little snub nose all of the Persians had. I knew. Then, that Chipper (the most perfect cat I ever saw) was definitely not Persian, but was probably an American Domestic, just as all of my best pets had been.

       Still, I was determined to stick with my original intention to buy one of the little Persians, in spite of their pug noses!

       The breeder and I came to an agreement on the price, and she informed me then and there that I would not be able to take the kitten with me for about six more weeks! Her routine was to part with the cat only after it had all of its shots. Of course, I was impatient to take the kitty with me that day, but I knew argument would get me nowhere.

       As Janet and I were standing in the opened front door, it was suggested that as soon as I decided what name I would choose, to let her know. She said she would begin calling the kitten by that name, and by the time I got her to my house, she would be used to her new name. It sounded logical, but Ginger seems totally oblivious to what I call her. She has an open mind; anything I want to call her- makes no difference to her!

(To be continued)

 

 

 

 

Kudos for Social Security

       There are not too many things I despise more than having to call somebody to report that their product, which I pay for, is not working. Invariably, the usual first thing I get is the news that today is one of the busiest they have experienced in a long time, and that my call is very important to them---so, although the delay will be long, please do not hang up on them. They will take my call in the order in which it was given. And then the “Music” begins. Only once in all of my years of being “put on hold” have I heard anything but “A” (for awful) sounds, posturing as music. That was long ago, when no less than AT&T had me glaring at my out-of-commision telephone, as I listening to a Mozart Piano Concerto on the other end. I even thanked them (when I finally got a word with an actual human being) for the courtesy they had shown me.

       Usually, the trash that interrupts their never-ending barrage of “commercials” ranges anywhere from Bluegrass (fast becoming my most hated genre) to acid rock.

       Oh, well, if you are a part of MY generation, this torture that must be endured, doesn’t need to be described by me,

       Imagine my surprise---and then slack jawed disbelief, when I had to call my local Social Security office to inform them that I had changed my bank account number, in order for them to know where to send my next SS checks, and  here’s exactly what happened (and I am not making this up).

       A recorded voice asks me, “What is your name?” and I answered, “Francis Imbragulio.” And then, instead of the usual follow-up to this disclosure, I was asked if my phone number was (and they quoted my almost-50 year old number. Then said, if it were correct, please press ONE). I hit the ONE and waited for the music and helpful hints (such as the fact that I could be conducting this entire procedure “On line”) but none such was forthcoming. I almost fainted when I was told to hang up my phone, and that I would be called in the order of which my call had been received!      

       I was stunned beyond belief! And then I got suspicious. I had never had any occasion to telephone SS, so felt almost certain this was entirely too easy! “Oh, well,” I rationalized; “What have I got to lose but three or four hours?” Having directed this query to Ginger (who was rolling around on her back at my feet) and looked adoringly at me and laughed in my face. I could almost hear her thoughts: “SUCKER!”

       I walked into the den and turned on my TV and began watching something I had recorded from the night before. I had barely gotten “into it” when the phone rang. I picked it up to answer it, and I heard a man’s voice, asking if this was (and then I heard my own recorded voice saying) Francis Imbragulio, and if it were he, to please press ONE on the phone or say, “One”. I was being served after less than ten minutes! The man could not have been nicer, he took care of the check transfer and asked only a few questions that were necessary.

       Before I hung up my phone, I felt compelled to tell him (just as I had thanked that long-ago AT&T worker, for the Mozart) how grateful I was that Social Security was the greatest service in the world. I said that just the way the new system used my pronunciation of my one name, had saved several wasted minutes as he tried to figure out not only how to spell it, but also, how to pronounce it.

       My next question for all of you, is, why the heck can’t every other company use as much common sense, and stop wasting the small amount of time many of us have left in this flawed old world of ours?

 

 

Movie Trivia Quiz #55

1.                   Boom Town had four of Metro’s biggest stars in one giant bore (as I remember it) Hedy Lamarr and Claudette Colbert were the females, who were the boys?

2.                   Lana Turner and Judy Garland were in what big musical of 1941?

3.                   The Haunting was one of the greatest Ghost Stories ever filmed. Can you name one of the pair of outstanding actresses who were in this masterpiece of terror?

4,          Born Free was a true tale of what kind of animal? Her name              was Elsa.

5.          Song of Love was supposedly a film biography of what 19^th century composer of symphonies, concertos, songs and piano virtuoso works? He was portrayed by Paul Henried, with Katherine Hepburn as his wife.

           6.         Who portrayed Brahms in the above question?

7.              What actor played Benito Mussolini in Chaplain’s The Great Dictator?

8.               What actress was Joan of Arc in Shaw’s Saint Joan?

9,            Call Me Madam featured Ethel Merman as what society icon?

10.   In Old Chicago had which stars who had also appeared in Alexander’s Ragtime Band?

 

 

Answers to Movie Trivia Quiz #54

1. A Face in the Crowd was Andy Griffith’s breakthrough role in 1957. Long before the Mayberry days.

2.        Brigadoon was the name of the village where Gene Kelly found Cyd Charisse, only to have her disappear for 100 years that night.

3.     Humphrey Bogart was the tough male star of the Treasure of the Sierra             Madre.

4.     Malcolm McDonald was the star of A Clockwork Orange.

5.     Nancy Kelly played the mother of Patty McCormack,

the little devil-child, in The Bad Seed.

6.  Helen Keller was the basis for the film The Miracle Worker.

7.     Angels with Dirty Faces was the first film since Dead End for this teenaged group: The Dead End Kids.

8.     William Powell reprised his role as Florenze Ziegfeld in Ziegfeld Follies.

9.     What actress was

10. Marilyn Monroe sang “We’re Having a Heat Wave” in There’s No Business Like Show Business.

 

 

 

 

FF XVIII, 30

Frank Facts and Reviews

Volume XVIII, No. 30

Sunday, October 14, 2012

This was one of the most frustrating weeks in a long time for me. On Monday, I was almost the victim of some sort of Scam Operation! An unknown phone caller, assuring me that he was a representative of Medicare, said he just wanted to make certain I was getting all of the benefits to which I am entitled. Now, let me add that he had awakened me from a deep sleep, and I was still pretty drowsy. I answered several questions, and did not hesitate when he asked me for my checking account number. The moment the number was out of my mouth, I realized what a fool I had been! I quickly hung up (noticing that his number and place of the call---Beaumont, Texas, were on my caller ID.

Grabbing my check book, I got in my car and drove straight to my bank. I had to cancel any checks they might get that day, There wasn’t a single car taking up the parking lot, so I relaxed and parked. Imagine how confused I felt when I knew the bank was closed! I checked my watch: it was well after 9:00, but I could not figure out why they were closed at that date! Will somebody please tell me when Columbus Day became a national holiday?

Still ignorant as to why the bank was on vacation, I drove to my next door neighbor’s house, and had him call the Better Business Bureau, to see if they could give me any advice. Then we called the district attorney. Nobody was working!

Later, that same day, my friend, Darren O’Donnell, called to tell me he had contacted a branch of Compass Bank (my carrier) and had alerted them to my predicament. He had taken care of everything! It certainly helps to have great friends! I went to my branch office on Tuesday, had them close out the old account (which I had over 20 years) and issue me a new number.

But my week of nightmares was not over yet: I was involved in a fender-bender on Thursday. But that can wait till next weekend!

Growing old is not pretty!

 

Cat Naps Quotes

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.”

Irish Proverb

 

 

The Road to Ginger

       Every year, one of our bridge group from the Tuesday Methodist Church Game asks us to buy tickets to participate in an all-day program that is held in the ABBA Temple. There are tables for Bridge, but most of the people are playing other games. I have been to several of these fund raisers, and find them rather tiresome; so, when Janet and I traveled the route she had jotted down, when she called the woman who raised cats about our coming out to get a look at her fresh litter of Persian kittens, we found (to our amazement) that it was very near this landmark!

       “Well, this just has to be the right place---wouldn’t you think?” My friend observed.

       She had driven closer to the mail box, which had the woman’s name on it. We were both impressed at the decorations all over the mailbox, as well as the house to which it so obviously belonged. Cat motifs abounded! Even for my tastes, it seemed a bit too much,

       “Well, I should certainly hope so!” I agreed.

       On the porch, we waited after ringing the doorbell. Did it, too, have a cat’s face? I honestly think it might have, but I have forgotten many things about the experience, including the name of the cat owners. I thought I would be able to find it among the papers that I got with the adoption of Ginger, but there, too, it is missing.

       When the door was opened, the young woman who invited us in told us that, “Mother will be right with you.”

       The house was lovely, and so was the daughter.

       We were led into a spacious room and sat down to wait.

       Before long, the mother appeared, holding a basket-full of adorable little dirty-white kittens. I was told, later, that the color was called “Burnished Silver”. I had risen as soon as woman had entered the room, and

now that she was closer to me, I could see that one of the babies in the basket was not the same color as all of the others. That one was Burnished Gold, I was informed. 

       All of the “white” cats, except one, was male: the lone “gold” kitty was also a female. Over the years, I had loved cats and it seemed to matter very little whether they were male or female. As a matter of fact, I was infamous for name cats the wrong name, and they didn’t seem to mind. Both of my Judys were tom cats: the first one (while I still lived with my parents) would return home after being gone for three or four days, during which time I worried myself sick about “her’. Then “she” would come back, looking like the wrath of God: at least one of her ears would look half chewed off, and would have to be taken to a vet, so he could drain the puss from her swollen toes! It was the vet that informed me that Judy was a male, and not having been neutered, was out “Tom-catting” when he disappeared like that. But Daddy was adamant. I could keep the cat, and the cat could stay in the house as long as we stayed up; but one we went to bed. Judy had to go outside. This handsome creature lived until I went to Michigan State to finish my PhD; and then Mama wrote me that “She” had stopped eating, and that she was worried about Judy. Mama loved my pets almost as much as I did. When I received the letter, I phoned Mama immediately, to tell he all Judy needed was a pill for stomach works (which I kept in the family medicine chest). Mama began crying as soon as she realized who was calling, “Honey,: Mama said, “Judy died this morning.” I felt, literally, as if the world would never be the same for me. George, too, was very fond of that very special cat, and had written me (that last year of her life) that Judy had just walked past the open door to his bedroom, looking as if she were searching for me. He wrote that her lower jaw dropped as she sat at the screen door at the front of the hall, and seemed to be moaning my name.

       That Judy was the first of the extra special loves of my life.

       But, at that moment my concerns were with this little ugly pug nosed unnamed pure-bred. I had to admit (later, to Janet) that I was very disappointed in the little snub nose all of the Persians had. I knew. Then, that Chipper (the most perfect cat I ever saw) was definitely not Persian, but was probably an American Domestic, just as all of my best pets had been.

       Still, I was determined to stick with my original intention to buy one of the little Persians, in spite of their pug noses!

       The breeder and I came to an agreement on the price, and she informed me then and there that I would not be able to take the kitten with me for about six more weeks! Her routine was to part with the cat only after it had all of its shots. Of course, I was impatient to take the kitty with me that day, but I knew argument would get me nowhere.

       As Janet and I were standing in the opened front door, it was suggested that as soon as I decided what name I would choose, to let her know. She said she would begin calling the kitten by that name, and by the time I got her to my house, she would be used to her new name. It sounded logical, but Ginger seems totally oblivious to what I call her. She has an open mind; anything I want to call her- makes no difference to her!

(To be continued)

 

 

 

 

Kudos for Social Security

       There are not too many things I despise more than having to call somebody to report that their product, which I pay for, is not working. Invariably, the usual first thing I get is the news that today is one of the busiest they have experienced in a long time, and that my call is very important to them---so, although the delay will be long, please do not hang up on them. They will take my call in the order in which it was given. And then the “Music” begins. Only once in all of my years of being “put on hold” have I heard anything but “A” (for awful) sounds, posturing as music. That was long ago, when no less than AT&T had me glaring at my out-of-commision telephone, as I listening to a Mozart Piano Concerto on the other end. I even thanked them (when I finally got a word with an actual human being) for the courtesy they had shown me.

       Usually, the trash that interrupts their never-ending barrage of “commercials” ranges anywhere from Bluegrass (fast becoming my most hated genre) to acid rock.

       Oh, well, if you are a part of MY generation, this torture that must be endured, doesn’t need to be described by me,

       Imagine my surprise---and then slack jawed disbelief, when I had to call my local Social Security office to inform them that I had changed my bank account number, in order for them to know where to send my next SS checks, and  here’s exactly what happened (and I am not making this up).

       A recorded voice asks me, “What is your name?” and I answered, “Francis Imbragulio.” And then, instead of the usual follow-up to this disclosure, I was asked if my phone number was (and they quoted my almost-50 year old number. Then said, if it were correct, please press ONE). I hit the ONE and waited for the music and helpful hints (such as the fact that I could be conducting this entire procedure “On line”) but none such was forthcoming. I almost fainted when I was told to hang up my phone, and that I would be called in the order of which my call had been received!      

       I was stunned beyond belief! And then I got suspicious. I had never had any occasion to telephone SS, so felt almost certain this was entirely too easy! “Oh, well,” I rationalized; “What have I got to lose but three or four hours?” Having directed this query to Ginger (who was rolling around on her back at my feet) and looked adoringly at me and laughed in my face. I could almost hear her thoughts: “SUCKER!”

       I walked into the den and turned on my TV and began watching something I had recorded from the night before. I had barely gotten “into it” when the phone rang. I picked it up to answer it, and I heard a man’s voice, asking if this was (and then I heard my own recorded voice saying) Francis Imbragulio, and if it were he, to please press ONE on the phone or say, “One”. I was being served after less than ten minutes! The man could not have been nicer, he took care of the check transfer and asked only a few questions that were necessary.

       Before I hung up my phone, I felt compelled to tell him (just as I had thanked that long-ago AT&T worker, for the Mozart) how grateful I was that Social Security was the greatest service in the world. I said that just the way the new system used my pronunciation of my one name, had saved several wasted minutes as he tried to figure out not only how to spell it, but also, how to pronounce it.

       My next question for all of you, is, why the heck can’t every other company use as much common sense, and stop wasting the small amount of time many of us have left in this flawed old world of ours?

 

 

Movie Trivia Quiz #55

1.                   Boom Town had four of Metro’s biggest stars in one giant bore (as I remember it) Hedy Lamarr and Claudette Colbert were the females, who were the boys?

2.                   Lana Turner and Judy Garland were in what big musical of 1941?

3.                   The Haunting was one of the greatest Ghost Stories ever filmed. Can you name one of the pair of outstanding actresses who were in this masterpiece of terror?

4,          Born Free was a true tale of what kind of animal? Her name              was Elsa.

5.          Song of Love was supposedly a film biography of what 19^th century composer of symphonies, concertos, songs and piano virtuoso works? He was portrayed by Paul Henried, with Katherine Hepburn as his wife.

           6.         Who portrayed Brahms in the above question?

7.              What actor played Benito Mussolini in Chaplain’s The Great Dictator?

8.               What actress was Joan of Arc in Shaw’s Saint Joan?

9,            Call Me Madam featured Ethel Merman as what society icon?

10.   In Old Chicago had which stars who had also appeared in Alexander’s Ragtime Band?

 

 

Answers to Movie Trivia Quiz #54

1. A Face in the Crowd was Andy Griffith’s breakthrough role in 1957. Long before the Mayberry days.

2.        Brigadoon was the name of the village where Gene Kelly found Cyd Charisse, only to have her disappear for 100 years that night.

3.     Humphrey Bogart was the tough male star of the Treasure of the Sierra             Madre.

4.     Malcolm McDonald was the star of A Clockwork Orange.

5.     Nancy Kelly played the mother of Patty McCormack,

the little devil-child, in The Bad Seed.

6.  Helen Keller was the basis for the film The Miracle Worker.

7.     Angels with Dirty Faces was the first film since Dead End for this teenaged group: The Dead End Kids.

8.     William Powell reprised his role as Florenze Ziegfeld in Ziegfeld Follies.

9.     What actress was

10. Marilyn Monroe sang “We’re Having a Heat Wave” in There’s No Business Like Show Business.

 

 

 

 

FF XVIII, 29

Frank Facts and Reviews

Volume XVIII, No. 29

Sunday, October 7, 2012

 

A Boring Tale of My Most Recent Medical Experience

Tuesday, when I returned home from my “Bridge Day”, I found two rather frustrating “Voice Mail” messages. Both of these were spoken so softly, that I could barely understand what they were about, and both gave me phone numbers to call back, which I could only guess at. After playing each call several times, I risked calling the one that sounded as if the woman (?) was calling to remind me that I had an appointment at 8:45 the next morning (Wednesday). The number I had guessed at and dialed was not a legitimate one, so I called Providence Hospital and asked to be connected with the Neurology Department (since I was overdue for my 6-mos. checkup, and my condition had been steadily going downward). The operator connected me with Urology! I assured her that I had no trouble in that area (at the present time), but that I was badly in need of seeing my Neurologist again. I had seen him the last time way back in April: at which time he had told me that the results of the CAT scan I had to have, because I was unable to have an MRI (which cannot be taken if you wear a Pacemaker)                       indicated that I had suffered a series of small strokes. An MRI probably would have been more thorough, but it was out of the question.

To make a long and boring story a bit shorter, the operator finally told me that I was scheduled to see my Neurologist at 8:45 on Wednesday! What a relief!
   I had always received a card, giving the time of my next appointment (after being given the date over the phone, and agreeing to the time) but this new system simply does not work. I made it clear that I want to know well in advance, when my next visit is scheduled.

When I arrived for this appointment, the parking lot at the Providence’s giant facilities, the parking lot on the side which includes buildings A, B and C, were running over with parked cars. I drove back and forth for ten minutes, and could find nothing from which I would be able to walk to B building for my date with fate. Just as I was about to give up and return home, a car pulled out of the first row of cars next to building B. I was lucky enough to pull into it before someone beat me to it. Sighing with relief, I got my Walker out of the car and rolled myself into the building. I found that my doctor’s office is now on the second floor, after going up and down the corridor before asking if it had changed. Yet I was still five minutes early!

 

 

 

Dr. Denson is a dear and genial man, and I always enjoy my check-ups with him. He told me that he had injured his own back since I had last seen him, and has a cracked vertebra. I told him that my left hip is now at least half a foot higher than the right one, and asked if that could be why I was beginning to have pains when I sit or lie down, as well as when I get up. He mentioned a condition that I may be developing, and checked my reflexes. He seemed satisfied, saying that all of my reflexes are normal and strong in each test; but said he would call in a prescription for medicine to relieve my pain. He asked which pharmacy I used, and I told him, K Mart’s. I assumed that he had e-mailed the information, and almost drove out there the next day, to pick up my meds. Luckily, I called beforehand and was told that the last prescription that had been called in for me had been in September. So, I had to call Denson’s nurse to ask what had happened. She apologized profusely, but I have to say that I have never seen anything more poorly operated as my last visit to this facility! And my experiences are many over the years 1984 (when Providence Hospital was downtown Mobile) to the present,

PS: I have been taking two of the pills each day and night since Thursday night (with the warning to eat something when I take them: or they will cause a burning sensation otherwise) and the pains are already gone!).

FOOTBALL 2012

Yesterday, USM and Ole Miss both lost their games: Ole Miss looked as if they had it made, then lost at the last minutes (rather like USM’s fate last week). But my dear Eagles were never even in their home game. They lost their 4^th in a row, (14 to 40) to Boise State (the school with the blue grass!). I have decided to be philosophical: Our team in no worse than Georgia, who was trounced by South Carolina, managing only one TD; and mighty LSU got smothered by Florida, scoring only 2 Field Goals. Most of the sports announcers are at a loss to explain why this football season, which is now 1/3 over, is already so bizarre.

 

Cat Naps Quotes

“Everythiug I know I learned from my cat. When you’re hungry, eat. When you’re tired, nap in a sunbeam. When you go to the vet’s, pee on your owner.”

Gary Smith

 

The Road to Ginger

I heard the phone ringing, and walked over to pick it listlessly off its cradle. I said, “Hello.” And was relieved when I heard Father Gorman’s voice, He was calling to ask me if I would be willing to play for a funeral that day, for one of our parishioners at St. Edmund’s by the Sea, where I was still employed as the Minister of Music. He was aware that Chipper had died in the crucial surgery he had undergone the day before. How ironic, I thought. I was in no mood to do anything, aside for wanting only to sit and feel sorry for myself all day long. On the other hand, it might make me feel better, just doing something for somebody else. I was unable to place the deceased man, when I was given his name, but agreed to bring some suitable music for the Mass. Sam Woodward, our mutual friend, who is a cellist, was going to play some unaccompanied Bach, so I wasn’t asked to read any complicated keyboard accompaniment for the first time. Sam would drive us down in his car, if I drove to his house. And so that is what we did.

Sam was a great pet lover, himself.  has all sorts of animals living with him: a gorgeous Siamese cat, which I have never seen because she is always hiding when I have been there; dogs (plural) and even a pet monkey!

When I rang the bell and he came to the door, his kind words of sympathy started the water works again, so he quickly got us into his car and began the drive to the Island. I was determined not to make a spectacle of my grief, and managed to discuss what music we should play.

The funeral went well, and afterwards, Father Gorman handed each of us a crisp hundred dollar bill. That was certainly a pleasant surprise! When I saw the lady whose relative was being buried (I have forgotten how they were related) she happened to be someone who had always been very complimentary about my regular musical offerings, as well as my accompaniments to all the hymns sung by the congregation.

Back in my own home, the black veil of sorrow descended over the house like a shroud. Just the thought of eating anything made me nauseous. I walked into the study and dialed Janet’s number. I asked her if she would be willing to go with me the next day, after our bridge game, to look for a cat. My plan was to find something as near to Chipper’s beauty as I could find at one of the pet shops in Mobile. She readily agreed, and with that little ray of possible sunshine, I managed to get through the night.

2.

I drove up to her house and blew the horn at ten, as we had agreed the night before. She came tripping down the stairs and slipped into the seat next to me, with her usual sunny disposition intact.

“Well, I just feel it in my bones: we are going to find a kitty-cat just like Chipper today!”

“I’m not so optimistic, but I wish your feeling would prove to be right!” I hated to sound so gloom-and-doom-ish, but I knew, deep down inside of me, that finding another cat as beautiful and sweet as Chipper would be no easy task.

All of the stores had Tuxedo cats. I had no fewer than four of these black and white beauties, in a row: Two “Judies” followed by two “Trudies”! Trudy II was still with me at this time, and was the only one whose facial markings had not been perfectly symmetrical. When I first got her, I was not happy about that face: but in time, I came to adore it

There were lots of Brindled, solid blacks (I had two “Smutty Joe’s” in my childhood) and various shades of yellow—in short: they had everything except what I was looking for,

“Let’s go on home,” I said sadly. “I’m sorry to have wasted your morning.”

“Oh, that doesn’t matter. I’ll look in the paper. Lots of times I see ads from people who want to give away cats.”

I nodded, hopelessly. Muriel had found a cat right after I got Trudy II, on one of her visits from Baton Rouge. She had been thrilled to death with her good fortune.

As I thought back on her delight, my spirits began to rise a bit.

“Do you ever see anyone advertising selling their kittens in the paper?” I had known of this sort of thing, (that was how I found “Honey”, a gorgeous white Pomeranian, for Helen) but somehow, it had just slipped my so-called mind.

“Why, yes! But it’s usually someone who breeds fancy cats that are sort of expensive,” ever practical Janet mused.

“Well, I’d be more than willing to pay a couple-a hundred if necessary.”  “Honey” had cost at least two hundred: and I had never seen anything that my sister had received all of her life, than she adored as much as she did this sweet little animal.

A few days later, the paper had an ad from a lady who specializes in the breeding of Persian cats! I could hardly believe my good luck. The litter would soon be ready for adoption, her ad stated.

I called Janet as soon as I thought she would be up. She said she would be happy to contact the lady and tell her I was interested. And there, and then, the Die was cast! There was definitely a Persian kitten in my future!

(to be continued)

 

TV Series Reviews

Yes! Your worst nightmare is a reality! I am starting a new feature! This is because all I can so is sit still and watch television, since I can no longer take in movies in their natural habitat. Between the stadium seating (what was wrong with inclined floors?) the eardrum-blasting volume of the Dolby sound system (or is there something newer and louder now?) the other business advertisements, the outrageous admission prices, and the cost of refreshments (I somehow cannot conceive of paying $5 for popcorn, and ditto Cokes, etc): Well, only the very wealthy, as far as I am concerned, can afford it. Add to this, the fact that about 50% of the biggest boxoffice attractions seem to be animated cartoons (when I see a big star’s name on a film’s credits, I expect that star to be IN the picture: not hearing the voice, while watching some Pixar trash!

In passing, let me mention again (for anyone who is unaware of my bizarre TV habits) that my usual first impression of any successful series is full of suspicion and pre-watching abhorrence of at least one of the main characters. Thus, I formed my own picket-line, bad-mouthing Seinfeld, Frazier, and The Closer- simply on my first impressions of their “Stars”- whom I had never watched for more than five minutes. In my own self-defense, however, I had never even heard of The Mentalist or The Big Bang Theory, until friends convinced me that they were sensational, and in all honesty, I found them both loathsome! That Mentalist in particular: I have never seen anyone more arrogant and for less reason to be so!

I’ll give you a sample next Sunday, when I plan to “take on” the new Masterpiece series on PBS, with their simpering replacements for Alistair Cooke, and Diana Rigg as commentators.

 

 

 

Movie Trivia Quiz #54

1.                   A Face in the Crowd was which actor’s breakthrough movie

role in 1957?

2.       What was the name of the village where Gene Kelly found Cyd

Cyd Charisse, only to have her disappear for 100 years that night?

3.     Who was the tough male star of the Treasure of the Sierra             Madre?

4.     Who was the star of A Clockwork Orange?

5.     This lovely lady played the mother of the little nightmare child, in The Bad Seed. Extra points for the seedy horror.

6.     Whose life story was The Miracle Worker?

7.     Angels with Dirty Faces was the first film since Dead End for this teenaged group?

8.     Who played the part of Flo Ziegfeld in Ziegfeld Follies?\

9.     What actress was The Sunshine Girl?

10. In what film did Marilyn Monroe sing “We’re Having a Heat Wave”?

Answers to Movie Trivia Quiz #53 (All About Judy)

1.                    Judy Garland was the actress who was supposedly making a film about the inventor of the Safety Pin, in Ziegfeld Follies.

2.                    John Hodiak was the man Judy fell in love with in The Harvey Girls.

3.                    I Could Go On Singing was Garland’s last film.

4.                    Judy played a Jewish woman, testifying against the Nazis. in Judgment at Nuremburg.

5.                    Judy supplied the voice for the female lead in Gay Purr­ee (animated cartoon)

6.               Judy got the lead in The Wizard of Oz, when Fox would not       allow Louis B. Mayer to use Shirley Temple. And aren’t we all glad she did!

7.               Vincent Minelli was Judy’s Oscar winning director husband, and Liza’s Dad.

8.               Judy starred with Gene Kelly in his very first MGM film: For Me and My Gal. Later, they made The Pirate and Summer Stock (which was her last film for MGM.)

9.         Judy Garland won only one Oscar: for her role in The Wizard of Oz (it was as Best Child Star), In my opinion, she was cheated out of winning Best Actress for A Star is Born (first remake)

 

10.          Tom Drake was the beau she sang about in “The Trolley

Song.” He was also “The Boy Next Door” (and Judy admitted to having a crush on him all of her life: but he wanted only friendship

 

 

Movie Trivia Quiz #52

1.     Gary Cooper was the thief in Beau Geste.

2. Sam Jaffi played Gunga Din. Later he was a doctor in a series on TV

3. Kathryn Hepburn wore boys’ clothes in RKO's 1930’s movie Sylvia Scarlett. It was a boxoffice bomb, in its day, but achieved “Cult movie status in later years. Cast included Cary Grant and Brian Aherne.

4. Talullah Bankhead was Catherine, the Great., in A Royal Scandal?

5. She was also the reporter who saved her own Typewriter in wartime, in Hitchcock’s Lifeboat?

6. Marnie and The Birds were Tippi Hedrin’s only movies.

7. Melanie Griffin was her far-more-famous actress daughter.

8. Liza Menelli was  “Junie Moon”, in Tell Me that You Love Me, Junie Moon.

9. RKO’s The Leopard Man was made after the success of The Cat People. Hattiesburg’s own Dennis O’Keefe played this sinister role.

10. Grace Kelly won an Oscar for The Country Girl. Academy Award winning Bing Crosby was her co-star.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.     Gary Cooper was the thief in Beau Geste.

2. Sam Jaffi played Gunga Din. Later he was a doctor in a series on TV

3. Kathryn Hepburn wore boys’ clothes in which RKO 1930’s movie that bombed totally?

4. Talullah Bankhead was Catherine, the Great., in A Royal Scandal?

5. She was also the reporter who saved her Typewriter, in Hitchcock’s Lifeboat?

6. Marnie and what other hugely successful movie were Tippi Hedrin’s only movies.

7. was her far-more-famous actress daughter.

8. Liza Menelli was  Junie Moon, in Tell Me that You Love Me, Junie Moon.

9. RKO’s The Leopard Man was made after the success of The Cat People. Hattiesburg’s own Dennis O’Keefe played this sinister role.

10. Grace Kelly won an Oscar for The Country Girl. Academy Award winning Bing Crosby was her co-star.

 

Cat Naps

“Everything I know I learned from my cat. When you’re hungry, eat. When you’re tired, nap in a sunbeam. When you go to the vet’s, pee on your owner.”

Gary Smith

 

The Road to Ginger

I heard the phone ringing, and walked over to pick it listlessly off its cradle. I said, “Hello.” And was relieved when I heard Father Gorman’s voice, He was calling to ask me if I would be willing to play for a funeral that day, for one of our parishioners at St. Edmund’s by the Sea, where I was still employed as the Minister of Music. He was aware that Chipper had died in the crucial surgery he had undergone the day before. How ironic, I thought. I was in no mood to do anything, aside for wanting only to sit and feel sorry for myself all day long. On the other hand, it might make me feel better, just doing something for somebody else. I was unable to place the deceased man, when I was given his name, but agreed to bring some suitable music for the Mass. Sam Woodward, our mutual friend, who is a cellist, was going to play some unaccomplished Bach, so I wasn’t asked to read something for the first time. Sam would drive us down in his car, if I drove to his house. And so that is what we did.

Sam, being a great pet lover, himself.  has all sorts of animals living with him: a gorgeous Siamese cat, which I have never seen because she is always hiding when I have been there; dogs (plural) and

When I rang the bell and he came to the door, his kind words of sympathy started the water works again, so he quickly got us into his car and began the drive to the Island. I was determined not to make a spectacle of my grief, and managed to discuss what music we should play.

The funeral went well, and afterwards, Father Gorman handed each of us a crisp hundred dollar bill! That was certainly a pleasant surprise! When I

saw the lady whose relative was being buried (I have forgotten how they were related) she happened to be someone who had always been very complimentary about my regular musical offerings, as well as my accompaniments to all the hymns sung by the congregation.

Back in my own home, the black veil of sorrow descended over the house like a shroud. The thought of eating anything made me nauseous. I walked into the study and dialed Janet’s number. I asked her if she would be willing to go with me the next day, after our bridge game, for a cat. My plan was to find something as near to Chipper’s beauty as I could find at one of the pet shops in Mobile. She readily agreed, and with that little ray of possible sunshine, I managed to get through the night.

 

2.

I got my good friend, Janet Morris, to go with me to every pet shop in Mobile. My goal was to find the “Nearest to Chipper”  kitten I could.

They all had a lot of Tuxedo cats, but I still had Trudy II, who was almost a Tuxedo; except for non-symmetrical markings on her pretty little face. And I did not want another solid black (with two “Smutty Joes” in my past life. No. Nothing short-haired would do. I was, at this time, convinced that my adopted kitty was a Persian. He was not. Persians all seem to have pug noses.

So, as Janet would point out one cat after the next, I’d simply shake my head, “No”.

 

 

Movie Trivia Quiz #54

I made the mistake of telling a former piano student about the tape (on which I recorded his performance of a Clementi Sonatina.) He begged me to let him take the tape home, so he could make a copy of his performance, and I was stupid enough to let him. I never got it back. He apologized copiously, but it did little to compensate for my loss. I have never known such anguish as I felt at Chipper’s early death.

While he was with me, I never entered the house after going anywhere at night, that he was not there at the door, awaiting my return. If I drove myself, he knew instinctively that I would be coming back through the back

 

 

 

 

Movie Trivia Quiz #54

1.   A Face in the Crowd was which actor’s breakthrough movie

role in 1957?

2.       What was the name of the village where Gene Kelly found

Cyd Charisse, only to have her disappear for 100 years that night?

10.    Who was the tough male star of the Treasure of the Sierra             Madre?

11.    Who was the star of A Clockwork Orange?

12.    This lovely lady played the mother of the little “nightmare child”, in The Bad Seed. Extra points for the seedy horror.

13.    Whose life story was The Miracle Worker?

14.    Angels with Dirty Faces was the first film since Dead End for this teenaged group?

15.    Who played the part of Flo Ziegfeld in Ziegfeld Follies?\

16.    What actress was The Sunshine Girl?

10. In what film did Marilyn Monroe sing “We’re Having a Heat Wave”?

Answers to Movie Trivia Quiz #53 (All About Judy)

6.                    Judy Garland was the actress who was supposedly making a film about the inventor of the Safety Pin, in Ziegfeld Follies.

7.                    John Hodiak was the man Judy fell in love with in The Harvey Girls.

8.                    I Could Go On Singing was Garland’s last film.

9.                    Judy played a Jewish woman, testifying against the Nazis. in Judgment at Nuremburg.

10.               Judy supplied the voice for the female lead in Gay Purr­ee (animated cartoon)

9.               Judy got the lead in The Wizard of Oz, when Fox would not       allow Louis B. Mayer to use Shirley Temple. And aren’t we all glad she did!

10.          Vincent Minelli was Judy’s Oscar winning director husband,         and Liza’s Dad.

11.          Judy starred with Gene Kelly in his very first MGM film: For Me and My Gal. Later, they made The Pirate and Summer Stock (which was her last film for MGM.)

9.         Judy Garland won only one Oscar: for her role in The Wizard of Oz (it was as Best Child Star), In my opinion, she was cheated out of winning Best Actress for A Star is Born (first remake) to Grace Kelly.

 

10.          Tom Drake was the beau she sang about in “The Trolley

Song.” He was also “The Boy Next Door” (and Judy admitted to having a crush on him all of her life: but he wanted only friendship