It's DROM's Birthday Weekend!

drom, all retired folks move to Florida. actually we live in a little place further north.

Soon we will be seeing the Armenianization of drom.<smile>

Diana Krall is a lovely young woman who plays piano and sings all the old songs, drom. Check her out sometimes.

And now we turn the regularly scheduled party over to Cav, who knows one helluva lot of stuff.

Thanks Letty. I just wish I knew what to do with that helluva lot of stuff. Still, it's fun to share here. I'll probably stick to cooking. I think philosophy pays even less.

O, Lord, you're so right, Cav! Did you watch much Fr. Ted? Wasn't Dermot's death really a tragic way to end things? Has it been cancelled? It would have been ghastly; an insult to his death, I think... besides, Fr. Ted is an Irish show just like Mark Twain's works are American, or rambling prose is Russian... move them and they lose their heart. Can you imagine Tom Sawyer punting on the Thames?!

And now, everyone, I must run along (literally) to the shop... I'll be back in about fifteen minutes. Joy to you all, and see you soon!

drom, a link:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/lmds647.htm

Two lovely songs;

"Nobody does me like you do"--now stuff
"They Can't Take That Away from Me"--old stuff

My favorite (because I sang it, of course):

If I should lose you,
The stars would fall from the sky.
If I should lose you,
The leaves would wither and die.

The birds in may time,
Would sing a haunting refrain,
And I would wander around,
Hating the sound of rain.

With you to guide me,
A rose would bloom in the snow.
With you beside me,
No winds of winter would blow.

I gave you my love,
And I was living a dream,
But living would seem in vain if I,
Lost you.

All done in a minor key with fabulous changes, but very difficult intervals to sing and still master one's intonation

Hey, I did that from memory. Retired in Florida or not. I can still remember!

O, Letty, I have nothing against retiring in Florida; my most heartfelt apologies if it appeared so! I was just curious about migration there.

Thanks for the site, Letty! The song is lovely; but, unfortunately, the link claims that no such song can be found to listen to... I'll have to download them instead, because she seems wonderful!

Anyway, years may peel as flowers do or sunshine be hid by rain, but jazz never leaves your soul, your brain, your heart... that's what makes it so special.

And she does "These Foolish Things", too. (A very favorite of mine)

But, I'm not going to sing it for you Drom, because I can't sing (that's Letty's job) and because I came here to wish you a Very Special Day.
And I did have a card for you, a funny little teddy bear blowing out a candle, but he didn't show up.

It's so cute, Raggedy! Thank you for your care .

I have the entire series on video. One day, I will get it on DVD. I haven't heard anything about an American remake, so I can only assume it's been cancelled, or is on the back burner.

You're welcome Drom, but I don't see the picture I sent.

Oh, I saw "Americanization of Emily". The script was by Paddy Chayefsky,based on a book by William Bradford Huie. It's a romance between James Garner and Julie Andrews, but has an unusual plot. Garner is the fall guy for a U.S. Admiral's plan to have an American be the first victim of the Normandy invasion. (a different slant on on life among U.S. military brass). Happy ending, if I recall correctly.

And I must tell you that I have seen Wuthering Heights (Olivier and Oberon) at least 7 times and am ready to watch it again. My all time favorite. I've read the book also.

I just posted the URL into my address bar, and saw it that way!

Where does the Americanization come in? The first thought, when I heard that it had nothing to do with Emily Brontë, was that it was something perverse, like A Clockwork Orange... because Americanize sounds forced. Did you like the movie?

As for Wuthering Heights, it's in my top seven books list (I prefer to list everything in increments of seven, rather than three.) I've only watched the film twice; although it completely miffed me, that the Olivier version (and all others, as far as I know) deleted the whole of Volume II out, it's so wonderful! Both are so out of this world, to unfortunately clichéize. One can feel the passion jump at you, as lava would.. when was the first time that you watched and/or read it, Raggedy?

I think that her poem Remembrance sums it up quite well for those unfortunate enough to have not seen it.

Cold in the earth and the deep snow piled above thee
Far, far removed, cold in the dreary grave!
Have I forgot, my Only Love, to love thee,
Severed at last by Time's all-severing wave?
Cold in the earth, and fifteen wild Decembers
From those brown hills, have melted into spring
Faithful indeed is the spirit and remembers
After such years of change and suffering!
No later light has lightened up my heaven,
No second morn has ever shone for me
All my life's bliss from thy dear life was given
All my life's bliss is in the grave with thee.

I prefer Emily out of the three sisters, followed by Anne, then by Charlotte; despite this, ironically, I'm going to be writing a film version of Charlotte's 'Villette.' It's amazing to think how well they all write most of the time, despite being so isolated...

Diana Krall is a Canadian, by the way, born in BC. I also think she is now married to Elvis Costello. She is worth checking out.

It's been at least twenty-five years since I've seen Americanizaton of Emily, Drom, so I really don't remember all the angles. What I do remember is that Emily had suffered many losses during the War and didn't approve of Garner's resistance ,and admitted cowardice, to being sent to Normandy on a "special" misson. He's told he'll be the first victim of Omaha Beach to "come back from the dead". She, nevertheless, finds him too attractive to resist. But, I think I should see it again before I go any further. (lol)

I think that's great that you will be writing a film version of "Villette."

I was probably around 12 years old when I first saw Olivier in Wuthering Heights and I read the book shortly after seeing the movie. (That was a long, long time ago.) "Remembrance" is a beautiful poem. I have favorite lines from the movie Wuthering Heights which I've quoted many times on movie threads. But one more time can't do any harm. (lol) "What do they know of Heaven or Hell, Cathy, who know nothing of life.? and "Haunt me then. Haunt your murderer. I know that ghosts have wandered on the earth. Be with me always. Take any form. Drive me mad. Only, do not leave me in this dark alone where I cannot find you. I cannot live without my life. I cannot die without my soul."

A birthday update: I was going to go to the RSC, but they're showing nothing on Sundays... so, I'll go to the (Malvern) Hills, if the trains aren't running once every four hours..

I'll certainly make sure that I check Krall out; she sounds great. I'm quite a big Costello fan, and I knew that he married a Diana, last year, but I didn't know who it was.

Thanks, Raggedy; there were some books from that time that I thought deserved a film more-- like Flaubert's L'éducation sentimental or Anne Brontë's Tenant of Wildfell Hall-- but, I thought that Villette would be a good place to start; star-crossed Regency tales seem to be popular at the moment, but I'd prefer to tell one that will lead to people reading...

Both the film and the book are truly amazing; the passion equalled by deaths.... and the characterization is wonderful. It is a real shame that she died before writing a second book; I am persuaded that it would be just as good.

Malvern Hills - lucky you, aren't they lovely?

Do you know David Prentice's paintings of the Malverns? here's one:



- one to remind you of a hopefully happy day out there.

coincidentally, i went to high school at Malvern (Collegiate); but that's in Toronto, Canada; how mundane!!

by the way, Drom; why do i connect C.P.Snow to "Villette" in my mind? (crossed wires; wouldn't be surprised).

[just went to my bookshelf and found "Villette" now i remember i loved it, but the connection to Snow still escapes me...... ]

Unfortunately, I never got to see the Malvern Hills to-day, (that picture is wonderful, by the way, Vivien) because of an obligation with my ancient grandmother; so, the day was spent listening to lament-songs; and I didn't even get a candle... O well. There is always next year. Perhaps I should forget this birthday and re-instate a new date.

Isn't Toronto interesting, Bo? Perhaps the place was named after the Malverns; did you like your time spent there (generally?) As for CP Snow and Villette, the connection could be that the narrator of Villette was Lucy Snowe (originally Lucy Frost.) When did you read it?