Aug. 13, 2013 —
See earlier post, Tonka, 1959, for the complete Little Golden Book, with Kodakchromes from the movie.
Category Archives: books
A Movie Road to Fala – FDR’s Scotty Dog
June 28, 2013 — I love connections …
- Heard Laura Linney on NPR discuss her role of Daisy Suckley, FDR’s distant cousin in Hyde Park on Hudson (2012). When Daisy died in 1991 (her 100th year!) a box of letters and diaries was found under her bed.
- Got Hyde Park on Hudson from a Redbox, in Safeway, June 17. Haven’t rented DVDs in years (or gone out to a movie) … Also, the Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren Hitchcock (2012). Took the next day, Tuesday, off; no looming deadlines as the quarter wound to a close … A stay up late, movie splurge night! Nice to have a personal faculty day a quarter that you have to use!
- Bill Murray? Franklin Roosevelt? … It does work. Not a clone, an essence. The true test … I’m tempted to purchase. Watched again, with commentary by British director, Roger Michell … and … wait for it … wait … It was filmed in England! … Never had an instance of, “How phoney is this?!” while watching.
- This led to Closest Companion: the Unknown Story of the Intimate Friendship Between Franklin Roosevelt and Margaret Suckley, edited and annotated by Geoffrey C. Ward, 1995. Got it via Summit, over 35 academic libraries in Washington and Oregon, including Clark College. Access to millions of books from the big guys like U. of Washington, Portland State U. Select a book (or dvd!) and it’s sent to Clark with 3 working days.
- Which led to Margaret “Daisy” Suckley’s book, The True Story of Fala, 1942. Summit to the rescue again!
Before 7-month-old Fala arrived at the White House, November 10, 1940, Daisy taught him how to behave and do tricks. Originally named Big Boy, Franklin changed Fala’s moniker to Murray the Outlaw of Falahill after a Scottish ancestor.
- Last night, sorting through my purchased DVDs, transferring a good chunk from cases to 2 space saving 3-ring binders (with marvelous DVD holders, 8 per sheet) … There it was … Fala: The President’s Dog … a Pete Smith short … an extra with Lassie Come Home … both 1943. With the credit. “Based on the book by Margaret Suckley.” Bravo!
Below, my screen capture from Fala: The President’s Dog … reading his own book! … Whether real, or a dramatization, as much of the short is, it’s still extremely cute!
Fala: April 7, 1940-April 5, 1952 … Driving off with FDR, 1882-1945 …
P.S. A newish children’s book, First Dog Fala, 2008, by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk. Looking forward to the color illustrations by Michael C. Montgomery … on hold at Fort Vancouver Public Library.
Who’d a thunk this day would arrive?? – Cuttin’ the tv tie that binds!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 — Suze Orman says, “Live below your means, but within your needs.” Ask yourself before you make a purchase … Is it a want or a need?
So, with that newly re-emblazoned in my brain last Saturday, I realized that, yeah!, I can live without paying $66 a month for DISH satellite tv. There’s not much I watch now other than Turner Classic Movies, which I love, love, love. But with all my movie recordings to DVD of the past 15 years, I’ve now got a lovely collection of almost … are you ready for it? … 3,000 films and short subjects! … All nicely cataloged in a database listing and cozyily arranged in 25 3-ring binders with the greatest DVD holder pages!! And I still have my up-to-date card catalog as a backup… Think of it as my own ready reference collection, where I can grab something at a moment’s notice. Yeah, you’re right … My middle name IS “Librarian”!
At this point, TCM has very few films I haven’t seen … Mostly MGM, Warner’s and RKO. LOVE those Pre-Codes and 1930s babies! Columbia, Paramount and 20th Century Fox have been most miserly about letting movies out of their vaults.
I admit I’ve dabbled in the reality show realm … Real Housewives of … you name it … Beverly Hills, New Joisey, Orange County … even Here Come’s Honey Boo Boo, and Dance Moms. But all they are now is a whole bunch a hollerin’ and disrepectin’. Hoooweee! That’s more than a normal body can take, I’m a tellin’ ya! It may be labelled “reality”, but they’re sure playin’ to the camera. It’d be mighty fine if they put on their polite pants, but that’d bring in mighty low ratings.
In the immortal woids of Honey Boo Boo, when the family is disappointed that no deer have been around to get hit by cars: “It’s been a while since I done had road kill in my belly.”
Ah, BRAVOTV, I knew ye well. April 4 will be the end of our close association … But, hey, highlights will be free on Ye Olde Internete. Remember, “Andy Cohen’s got the 411… !” … Andy Cohen of “Watch What’s Happening Live!” on BRAVO, home of all the “unreal” housewives!
Back to Suze … I’ve been watching and recording her Saturday evening show (on CNBC – but it’s free on zee eenterneet) for a number of years, probably since 2008, when the economy went kaput … along with the stock market freefall, which affected my 403B retirement (TIAA-CREF) with the college … Grateful, grateful, grateful that I have a solid occupation! Mucho, mucho grateful!
That’s when I discovered her book, Women and Money. Ordered a copy for the library … and one for myself. REALLY helped!
- Now, I’m free of credit card debt … actually for quite a number of years, pay it off monthly. NO THANKS to interest charges! And NO high-interest store cards.
- Have an 8-month emergency fund
- Fully funding my Roth IRA
- Credit union rather than a bank (going back to the early 1990s, when K and I moved to Portland. Portland Teacher’s Credit Union, which is now OnPoint Community Credit Union)
- Found higher interest rates for savings via SALLIE MAE online
- August 2010, purchased a certified, pre-owned Honda Civic 4-door (2 years old, ONLY 7,000 miles!) when my Li’l Red Honda hatchback of 14 years was untrustworthy on the freeway. Three-year loan, paid off within the 1st year! The manager of Clarke’s Honda on Mill Plain offered to buy her right off the bat, cash, when I brought her in during her final troubles. Li’l Red was a regular at Clarke’s and the manager knew she had “good bones”. Didn’t even have to spiff her up for a sale or pay for the repair, since the manager was going to do it himself after she was in his hands.
It was funny to see Li’l Red in Clarke’s parking lot when I’d bring in Ol’ Gray for an oil change. Doing well in her retirement … going out camping and fishing … with fancy new silver hubcaps and tail pipe!
Still need to:
- Set up a will and living revocable trust
- Research and decide on long-term care insurance
- Become more knowledgeable and comfortable about investing
A little ditty I just created … “Right here, right now!” … to the tune of “Casey Jones”:
Suze says … you better save your money
Suze says … you better do it NOW
Suze says … prepare now for your future
‘Cause it’s people FIRST, then money and then last of all it’s things!
Movies, Of Course! 