THOUGHTS AT THREE A.M.

OH, BY THE WAY...THE PURPOSE OF "THOUGHTS"!

Just in case you have visited my site a few times, and may be sitting there with question marks over your heads about my focus for this site...really, the name says it all. Thoughts at 3 a.m.! I have no hidden agenda, no political points to push, it's just what happens to catch my attention at the time, what trips my trigger, what referrers were actually looking for when they hit my site, or what visitors comment on that strikes a cord in me. Whatever is remarkable or noteworthy in the news , or things that occur in my life that I find lovely or brings tears to my eyes, or that make me angry or annoyed. I strive very hard to maintain a middle voice in most of this, to be if at all possible, objective. Yet, there are times when my emotion shows through, and that is just me being human. Other times, I may say things that others find a bit too devoid of emotion, that perhaps they think I should be more excited about. But, how many times can you cry over something, before you're all cried out? How many times can you become incensed, 'til you have no anger, or righteous indignation left? Sooner or later, one must let these frustrating situations go, and go on with ones life, and allow that thing, to work it's way out, whatever it is, knowing all things work together for good, for those who love God. And, if you have noticed, when I say Oh, by the way, I am about to make a point that I wrote the whole blog for, or something I find to be of imminent importance, but which I hope will sound off-hand, as though it just occurred to me. Just thought I would throw that in, for your edification and enlightenment.

Oh, by the way. There are several things going on in this country with which I am displeased and distressed.  However! In each and every situation, there are many voices arguing the same things I would be arguing, had I a higher profile to make my voice heard. I don't see where they need my two cents in there. I don't think they need my help, except to pray for them,and our country. And last of all, please note my people list, entitled, "Others who think". This is a select group whose websites have impressed me with their charecter and wit, and their ability to think. Check them out!

p.s. The Supreme court has lost it's collective mind!

OUI?

IS THINKING YOUR TALKING TO SOMEONE CRAZY? UH-UH. WRITERS DO IT...!

Someone wanted to know if thinking your talking to someone, who isn't there, I assume,is crazy? Of course NOT! Writers do it all the time! That's how we come up with realistic conversation.Banter. Repartee. But, writers aren't the only ones who imagine themselves in conversation. So do Cops, when they see a drunk driver whiz by! They ask, now just where are YOU going in such a hurry, fella? Cab drivers, if they have a drunk in the back seat, and  want intelligent conversation will also talk to themselves, or imagine a fare that is sober.Speech writers do it, as do the speech  givers. So does anyone in business who has to give a presentation. So do teachers, preachers, and actors, all of whom say it is practice, but what they are really doing is psyching themselves up, just in case, there really is no one paying attention. Mothers and fathers do it a lot, for very much the same reason. In fact, most everyone, from time to time, will pretend they are talking to someone...don't let it bother you or disturb you, unless it is someone who sees someone else, who isn't there. Then, seek help,okay?

OUI?

KATHLEEN WINDSOR SEQUELS AND OTHER TIDBITS

I HAPPENED UPON A INQUIRY AS TO WHETHER KATHLEEN

WINDSOR EVER MADE A SEQUEL TO "FOREVER AMBER". TO MY

KNOWLEDGE, SADLY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. KATHLEEN DID

WRITE OTHER BOOKS, BUT NOTHING TO MATCH THE RICHLY

TEXTURED QUALITY OF "AMBER". NOT SURPRISINGLY,

APPARENTLY, WINDSOR LACKED THE TIME TO RESEARCH

ANOTHER BOOK IN  THE DEPTH THAT SHE HAD SPENT ON

"AMBER ", WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE CONSIDERING THE

LENGTHS TO WHICH SHE WENT TO BRING FORTH SUCH A

CLEAR,VIBRANT VIEW OF THE REIGN OF KING CHARLES II OF

ENGLAND, INCLUDING THE MANNERS, MORALS, ATTITUDES,

CLOTHES, FASHIONS,  FOODS, AND TURNS OF PHRASE OF THE

ERA, ALONG WITH ALL THE HISTORICAL FACTS OF THE TIME. IT

IS TRULY TO HER CREDIT AS A WRITER THAT KATHLEEN 

WINDSOR WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE  PUTTING ALL OF THAT

INTO AN IMMENSELY  ENJOYABLE NOVEL, WHICH CAME OFF

NEITHER AS STILTED NOR AS DISJOINTED, BUT FLOWED

SMOOTHLY AND AT TIMES DELIGHTFULLY SCANDALOUS FROM

PAGE TO PAGE.

IF YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK, YOU MAY BE INTERESTED TO

KNOW THAT HOLLYWOOD DID MAKE A FILM OF THE NOVEL,

BUT IN THE STYLE OF THE DAY, THEY DID NOT TAKE AS MUCH

CARE WITH THEIR VERSION OF "AMBER" AS THE WRITER DID.

CASTING LINDA DARNELL AS AMBER, I THOUGHT WAS BASED

SOLELY ON THE FACT THAT SHE WAS A POPULAR RISING YOUNG

STARLET, COMPLETELY IGNORING THE FACT THAT SHE IN NO

WAY RESEMBLED THAT CHARACTER'S DESCRIPTION. OTHER

THAN THAT, THE MOVIE MAKERS RAN TRUE TO FORM, AND

DID THEIR OWN VERSION OF "AMBER".

HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE NOT A STICKLER FOR DETAIL, THIS IS NOT

A BAD MOVIE.

JUST AS, SAY, "GONE WITH THE WIND" WAS STILL A WONDERFUL

PRODUCTION, EVEN THOUGH THEY MADE CHANGES FROM THE

ORIGINAL BOOK, SO IT IS WITH "FOREVER AMBER", WITH THE

HUGE EXCEPTION THAT THE CASTING FOR GWTW WAS

IMPECCABLE, PUTTING VIVIAN LEIGH IN THE ROLE OF SCARLETT.

NOW, IF THEY HAD TAKEN THAT KIND OF CARE CASTING "AMBER"

THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE, FOR ME WOULD HAVE BEEN

DIFFERENT. I KNOW THIS IS NIT-PICKY, BUT WHEN THE GIRL

NAMED AMBER, IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE AMBER EYES AND AMBER

HAIR, SHE SHOULD NOT SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN WITH

REDDISH BLONDE HAIR, AND QUITE INDISCERNIBLE EYE COLOR.

THERE IS MORE I COULD SAY, MUCH MORE COMPARING THE BOOK

TO THE MOVIE, BUT THAT WOULD ONLY BE ME, OFF ON A RANT

AGAINST HOLLYWOOD'S WHOLESALE PENCHANT FOR TAKING

A PERFECTLY WONDERFUL PIECE OF WORK, AND TURNING IT

INSIDE OUT, AND DECLARING IT TO BE THIS BOOK, "COME TO

LIFE!"

ALLOW ME TO DIGRESS FROM "FOREVER AMBER" FOR THE

MOMENT BECAUSE FRANKLY,  I DON'T WANT TO TURN YOU OFF

ON THE MOVIE. YOU REALLY SHOULD SEE IT.

LET US CONSIDER INSTEAD, THE WORKS OF THORNE-SMITH.

NOW, I HAVE HIM ON MY BOOK LIST, HAVING WRITTEN

"THE STRAY LAMB". AN UPROARIOUSLY FUNNY NOVEL, WHICH

WAS COMPLETELY IGNORED BY THE MOVIE MAKERS. THEY

CHOSE INSTEAD TO DO "TOPPER", ANOTHER OF THORNE-SMITHS

NOVELS, AND A GOOD ONE, TOO. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT

THORNE DID A BAD NOVEL. THEY WERE ALL WONDERFUL.

"THE NIGHT LIFE OF THE GODS", "THE GLORIOUS POOL"

" THE PASSIONATE WITCH", JUST TO NAME A FEW. AND, I

BELIEVE ALL OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCH FUN FILMS,

BUT THE ONLY ONE PRODUCED WAS "TOPPER".

WHY?

I BELIEVE IT HAD TO DO WITH EASE OF PRODUCTION.

ALL OF THESE BOOKS HAD MAGIC OVERTONES, AND ALL WOULD

HAVE PRESENTED DIFFICULTIES FOR THE STUDIOS TO MAKE.

POSSIBLY, COSTLY AS WELL, BACK THEN. IN THE 40'S AND

50'S.

BUT NOW, INSTEAD OF GOING BACK AND REMAKING OLD MOVIES,

OR TURNING TO CARTOONS, WHY DOESN'T HOLLYWOOD

MAKE SOME GENUINELY  ORIGINAL, TRUE TO THE BOOK

FILMS, LIKE "THE STRAY LAMB?"

OF COURSE, THERE IS ONE MOVIE I WOULD BE IN FAVOR

OF THEM DOING OVER AGAIN, AND DOING IT RIGHT THIS TIME.

"FOREVER AMBER."

OUI?

OPEN LETTER TO NEW READERS

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THIS SPACE

UNDERNEATH MY LISTS OF BOOKS AND MUSIC, AND PEOPLE, THAT

THERE IS A LIST OF ARCHIVES, AS WELL AS A LIST OF PREVIOUS POSTS.

IF YOU CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, TRY MY LIST OF

CATEGORIES. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ANY MENTION OF RELIGION,

IT WON'T BE REAL HELPFUL, BECAUSE ANY THING I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT

GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, OR JESUS CHRIST, WOULD BE LISTED UNDER

RELATIONSHIPS...

OUI?/ YOU UNDERSTAND, DON'T YOU?