Pristine Frankenstein

Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, 2:30 pm — Perk and Rinty are mesmerized by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, 1994, on the new (as of last Saturday) 50″ HD tv … (Perk likes to sit on the basket when the forced-air heater is on … )

Above — The white square attached to the wall with blue painter’s tape is the amazing antenna I got last April when I cut satellite tv … “Winegard FL-5000 FlatWave HDTV Indoor Digital Flat Antenna – Made in USA” … From Amazon.com … All 3 PBS stations are crystal clear now that the leaves are off the trees … PBS always came through in the bedroom with a second Winegard …

Above — Paused the Blu-ray … Helena Bonham Carter writing to Victor Frankenstein … If the autumn trees hadn’t lost their leaves, they’d blend with the tv screen … The 46″ Samsung HD tv had lived with me since last November … Loved its clarity, but it just needed to be … a bit bigger … Last Saturday morning, after Leslie trimmed Doob’s hooves, something drew me to the BestBuy website … 50″ Samsungs were on sale, available at Jantzen Beach … 55″ would be too large for the car, the stand and for me to easily carry … Two hours later it was set up …. Like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it’s just right!

The 46″ has replaced the 40″ Samsung in the bedroom …. Once again, just right! … The 40″ is safely boxed … ready for a new home … Luckily, they’re all remarkably easy to assemble. Just 8 screws, a magnetized screwdriver and the stand is attached …

When Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein came out in 1994 I couldn’t be bothered … Robert De Niro as the monster?? … Two weeks ago it was on THIStv … The story overcame its pan and scan presentation … Couldn’t stop watching … De Niro brought tremendous pathos … Directed, co-produced and starring Kenneth Branagh as Victor Frankenstein … The music can be overbearing, but I kept thinking about it … Borrowed the DVD via Summit. Rats! Pan and scan …  Where was the widescreen version? … Blu-ray only … It arrived yesterday via Amazon, free shipping.

• See more adventures of Perkins the Orange Tabby and Teeny the Tuxedo Cat

Perk’s Feeling Better

Monday, Nov. 4, 2013, 12:30 am — Perky meets antibiotic … Twice a day for 7 days …

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 3:50 am —  One day later … She eats moistened dry food … No more cat pain med! … Below, sitting by her late-night reading, The Private World of Katharine Hepburn and Hollywood Hoofbeats.

• See more adventures of Perkins the Orange Tabby and Teeny the Tuxedo Cat

Horse and Child Silhouettes – Adda May Heintz

Sunday, March 24, 2013 — Who is Adda May Heintz? Found these two horse and child silhouettes in Lincoln City, Oregon, around 2001. Antique shop to the right of the Bijou Theatre on the main street.

Caught my attention with the black Fell pony resemblance … and the natural way the child approaches and leads the pony. Happy and relaxed, even the rambunctious dog!

Went back several times during that stay at the beach before I plunked down the cash:  $45, approaching pony. $35, leading pony.

Searched the land of the Google, for both her name (in the lower right corner, approaching pony silhouette) and the studio label on the back of both: “Harold Parker Studio, Established – 1905, Pasadena”. No results.

Both in 12 -1/2″ x 10″ black frames, glass, aging paper backing. The foreground pony and child are cut paper on an ink-drawn background.

I’ve always thought the child was a girl … with the short hair, it could go either way.  Hey, Adda, wish I knew who you were! … Is this you and your favorite pony? … Or you and a dream pony?

Borrowed photos below … Bijou Theatre, U.S. Highway 101, where I saw Ramon Novarro’s The Red Lily (1924), Dec. 6, 2000.  Antique shops down the block from the Bijou … pretty sure I got the silhouettes from the lavender shop.