Creem

Remember the letters in Creem magazine?

Counting Toys

It is rare that I suffer from insomnia but the other night I had trouble drifting off. I suspect it was because I had been out in the heat for several hours. I was too tired to get out of bed but too awake to lie still. I decided to try and remember every toy I ever had and try even harder to remember what became of them.  It was an exercise that was working on making me drowsy until I snagged on a memory.

There was  a children's wooden domino game. They were not regular dominoes but simple pictures painted in bright colors on flat pieces of wood. I remembered how they smelled when I took them out of the box the first time but could not recall how I received them. I was awake now and had to get  up and  look  through a few things. I  found a magnet I had made out of one of the pieces. I have no memories of this domino set other than opening the box, catching the scent of wood and that "new toy" smell and then emptying the box onto the floor, hearing how the pieces "clapped" when they fell , gathering them up again and feeling the weight of them all and then lining them up one by one admiring the shapes and colors. I'd like to find this set again.

Once I got the magnet on the fridge I was exhausted and fell right to sleep.

She's smooth and works the magic, he's a bit of a spaz.
They have a white haired guy and a sophisticated
 red head with a mischievous gleam in her eye too!

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But the "Betty" smiles on this show.

Minutiae born of dog days

It is hard to believe the summer is over. The traffic has started up again, last night the grocery store was busier than usual and trash cans are overflowing with boxes that held coffee makers, toasters, microwaves, shelves, lamps... It is always a culture shock to have close to forty thousand people descend on Austin within a single week in August.

There are still a few more movies to be shown at the Paramount before they end their summer series with a party and Vertigo the first week of September. Once the movies stop, summer is officially over for me. I am on my way to dog day hibernation. We have had triple digits and I thought last year's triple digits had fortified me with super human strength and endurance and that I'd be able to get through a few days of hothothot easy this year. I was wrong, I'm a wimp after 101 degrees. It has been a mild summer compared to last year but the front lawn still managed to turn a crispy brown despite late night watering.

While I make a general decision to avoid leaving the house during the day, August, after sundown, can be really nice. For some reason I always think of this Addams Family episode where the entire family goes on a picnic in the evening and moon bathe by the full moon. Not a bad idea.

A few weeks ago my friend presented me with a working 16mm sound film projector and a few movies. I can't wait for the weather to cool down enough for outdoor movies. The other night I was wishing there was a drive-in I could pull up to and watch an old film. Could be a B or C picture, I wouldn't care. It would just be cool to catch a film at a drive-in again.

I experienced part of a Godzilla film at one when I was kid. The drive-in was called The Gay 90 and was along Highway 90 in Del Rio. It  closed down in the late 70's and became a flea market and now there are FEMA trailers parked there. Austin had a drive-in on North Lamar where the Half-Priced Books now sits. There was another not far from that location on Burnet Rd. I wonder if they were open year round. Anyway, outdoor movie watching appeals to me.

I have seen a few new hairdos today on students.  Two young men were sporting very retro looking Spader Shags. I never even  saw one those in real life in the 80's.

Has me wondering if these men's hair styles (see below) will ever become popular again.

I know this style is back. Well, it's been popular around Austin awhile.

Santo Santiago

Breathless- The Restored Print

I am still buzzing from the last few nights of films at the Paramount. We watched The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, an absolute must see on the big screen to fully appreciate the music, colors and delicate contours of Catherine Deneuve's face. It was paired with the musical The Young Girls of Rochefort, more candy, colored, French cinema but this time with American song and dance man, Gene Kelly. Last night the treat was Breathless.

The fiftieth-anniversary restoration print also has revised subtitles. The Rialto website points out that this anniversary version is not available on DVD. Watching Breathless on the big screen for the first time was beyond dreamy and beyond sublime. The film was shown as it was intended and should be turning the Paramount into a church where we all gathered to worship Godard for all of 90 minutes.

The Fab Four: Mono Only

A very important package arrived at our door this evening: The Beatles In Mono Box Set. If you are the type of person who leaves CDs on the floor of your car or use them occasionally as coasters, this is not the box set for you. If you are sold on stereo being the only way you'll ever listen to music, then this set is definitely not for you.

The set was created for the hard-core fan. It includes the first ten albums in re-mastered mono and a double album of singles and EPs, called "Mono Masters". What I love is that each disc looks like a miniature "33", complete with plastic anti-scratch sleeve, inner paper sleeve, original album cover, inserts and all original text. Now that is a great gimmick. It doesn't replace the actual joy of owning the collection on LP but it's a nice consolation prize and perhaps could make one less anxious at record conventions.

Found Photos

When I was a kid I was crazy about the book sale that was held every summer at our local library. I loved old books and there would be plenty of them at the book sale. All I needed was some change and a few hours. The books were a quarter or a dime depending on the age and condition. I was into the dime books, those books with titles that had long faded from their tattered spines. These books guaranteed mysteries, treasures and wonderful illustrations. They were usually dedicated in pencil and dated back to the early 1900's. Some were old library books with the borrower cards still in them. I loved going back over the dates and traveling through time with them. If I was lucky, I'd find a handwritten letter, postcard or an old recipe between the pages or perhaps a receipt from a store long gone. If I was truly lucky I'd find photos! Such were these finds.

Obama was in town

I was able to attend President Obama's speech at Gregory Gym on the University of Texas at Austin campus with a press pass. It was the only way I was going to be able to attend the event. The entire day was surreal and exciting and something I will never forget. With my dinky Canon Power Shot S2 IS I was able to take a few photos. My hands were a bit unsteady, I am somewhat short and the light source was hard to work with my camera's limited abilities but I managed to capture a few mediocre shots between the professional photogs.  The important thing is I was there. It was difficult to be in the moment, configure a camera and try to take one sharp and clean photo. I chose to be in the moment. I procured the press pass on what I thought were weak credentials, but I grossly underestimated the people I write for.

Meet Lionel

Two weeks ago, when visiting Del Rio, I found a tiny, emaciated kitten. William named her June and we decided to keep her. We were not looking for another kitty but she crossed our path and it was love at first sight. Sadly, June was too young and too sick and could not make it here on earth. She suddenly passed away last week leaving us really sad. She had a really unique personality and was very easy to love.

One of the many things June did for us was draw our attention to the cat crisis in Austin. We decided we would adopt a kitten but perhaps at a later date. I went to Austin Pet's Alive fill out an application to have on hand later. While I was there this little black and white kitten hopped on my lap, purring loudly. He never left my side the whole time I was there. After I left I found my thoughts going back to him. I was told black and tuxedo kitties had a harder time finding forever homes. I discussed it with William who said go ahead and adopt him. Lionel came home today and has managed to make us all swoon. Thanks to Austin Pets Alive he is healthy, has had all the necessary vaccinations and has been neutered. All we have to do is provide him with a loving home. Tres easy.

I can't help myself