RIP Peggy Cummins

Peggy Cummins, immortal to film noir fans for her portrayal of Annie Laurie Starr in Gun Crazy, passed away December 29th at the age of 92.

The UK-born Cummins never really cracked the U.S. film market, but she made a lasting mark in the low-budget precursor to Bonnie and Clyde. Cummins practically leapt off the screen as the ruthless crack shot, who led her reluctant but besotted husband on a deadly crime spree. I previously blogged about the film here. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend that you remedy that ASAP. It's worth it for Cummins' performance alone, plus it has a continuous, three minute bank heist scene filmed entirely from the back seat of the getaway car that has become famous.

You can check out more coverage of Peggy Cummins from Variety, Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian, and this really terrific post from The Sheila Variations.

New Year's resolutions

We've all got 'em!!! Here are mine:

1 - Write, write, write. My writing goal this year is to submit to every contest, magazine and anthology I can find. Anything that's looking for entries and submissions is fair game. This leads to resolution 1-1/2, which is to be published again. If I can get published even once in 2018, that makes two years in a row. Bonus points for any kind of payment, a goal set by my accountant now that he's letting me claim my writing expenses on my taxes. Apparently the IRS gives you five years to show some sort of income before they consider it a hobby rather than a business, and you can't claim expenses anymore.

2 - Eating and drinking better. Less processed food, fast food, junk food, meat, sodas and wine. More plant-based eating and juicing.

3 - More exercise and getting out of the apartment, even if it's just to walk on the beach. I'm a real homebody and couch potato, and it's too easy for me to just camp out like a hermit.

4 - Work on my to-do list. I have this enormous list of places to go and things to do. My goal is to cross at least one thing off the list each week.

5 - Reading. I need to start making a dent in my stacks of books, not to mention God knows how many more on my Kindle. If I could get through at least one per week that would go a long way toward getting caught up.

Of course, these are pretty much my resolutions every year, so we'll see how it goes.

Happy 2018 everyone!!!

I snicked this image off the internet. If it's yours let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. And Happy New Year!!!

CSI: Idiot

So some jackass just got arrested for - get this - rigging his estranged, pregnant wife's front door to electrocute her when she entered her home.

The good news is that she got suspicious and called the police, who were able to trip the booby trap. The woman and her unborn baby are fine. Her jerk husband has been arrested.

My favorite part of the article:

He had already changed his Facebook relationship status to "widowed".

For all the planning and work he put into this, you would think he would have thought to hold off on the Facebook thing. Nope.

Here's hoping they throw the book at this genius. And of course, wondering how I can use this in a story.

December Words of Wisdom

When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have.
--Winston Churchill

Go the extra mile. It's never crowded. --Unknown

Any problem that you have with me is your problem. --Adam Palmer

Our weirdness leads us to who we actually are. --JP Sears

Keep away from people who try to belittle your dreams. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you, too, can become great. --Mark Twain

Nothing in the world is as dangerous than sincere ignorance or conscientious stupidity. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

That's one of the great things about music. You can sing a song to 85,000 people and they'll sing it back for 85,000 different reasons. --Dave Grohl

Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance. --Eckhart Tolle

You can see what man made from the seat of an automobile, but the best way to see what God made is from the back of a horse. --Charles M. Russell

For as long as you play the victim, you will continue to be treated like one.
--Adam Palmer

It's going to be a wonderful parade!

The Tournament of Roses just announced on their Facebook page that Grand Marshal Gary Sinise will be riding in the very same car driven by George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) in It's a Wonderful Life.

It's a wonderful car!!!

The car is now privately owned but frequently loaned out for charitable events, particularly:

...fundraisers for veterans, allowing people to get their picture taken in the iconic movie car. "All Americans can have a wonderful life thanks to our veterans." says (owner) Mr. Smith.

Earlier today, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center posted a picture of the trailers that just brought the Budweiser Clydesdales to town for the parade. Horsies!!!

I don't think I've ever seen a bad Rose Parade, but this one is shaping up to be amazing. Looking forward to next Monday!

Pics snicked from the Tournament of Roses FB link.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Christmas words of wisdom

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. --Norman Vincent Peale

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it "Christmas" and went to church, the Jews called it "Hanukkah" and went to synagogue, the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say "Merry Christmas!" or "Happy Hanukkah" or (to the atheists) "Look out for the wall!" --Dave Barry

Christmas is a time to open our hearts to God and His gifts. Just like the rest of the year. --Unknown

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. --Roy L. Smith

Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year - and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority. --W. J. Cameron

The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin. --Jay Leno

For the spirit of Christmas fulfills the greatest hunger of mankind. --Loring A. Schuler

Christmas, my child, is love in action. --Dale Evans

On of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don't clean it up too quickly. --Andy Rooney

Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves. --Eric Sevareid

I wish we could put some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. --Harlan Miller

Wouldn't life be worth the living

Wouldn't dreams be coming true

If we kept the Christmas spirit

All the whole year through?

---Unknown

And one more for the December 23rd hat trick!

This just came across my Twitter feed and I had to post it: a children's choir singing Do You Hear What I Hear. Just love them. God bless their precious hearts and their beautiful voices.

Shopping is done and the Honeybaked ham has been acquired. Tomorrow is cleaning and baking, and then Christmas. Have a blessed one everyone!

Sophie doesn't go for kitty treats, but this is still a GREAT ad

Temptations does it again. A cat's dream Christmas.

Almost there...

Always look for the silver lining, I guess

Now if only it was true.

H/T to Beach Living on FB.