Greta Scacchi:English/Italian Film Actress

 

Ismail Merchant, of the celebrated Merchant Ivory film-making team, who made Heat And Dust, says:


'She is an eternal beauty. She has always reminded me of a combination of two actresses, Ingrid Bergman and Grace Kelly.'



Greta Scacchi- one of the most beautiful women ever in film, and one of my favorites.

"White Mischief" (like "Scandal") is one of my favorite flicks. A period piece based on actual historical events.

Try "White Mischief" or "A Man In Love" for more Greta.

Man of The Year: Are You A Lebowski Achiever?

 

This is in heavy rotation, often serves as my screensaver.

I'm pretty sure I can locate Jeff Bridge's address- I'm gonna print an 8x10 of this and see if I can get him to sign it thru the mail.

Eventually.


Anyway, the Lebowski Random Quote Generator is here

It's never too early..

This is an image of what I would look like should I decide to be a Marvel Superhero for Halloween this year.


I'm still sort of leaning towards dressing as a "Masked Mexican Wrestler"...

Lake Guntersville, Alabama

I'm really struggling for content lately, so here are some photos I took up in Guntersville.

 

It really is a spectacularly beautiful place, a large lake on the Tennessee River in Northeast Alabama ringed by mountains. Check out the State Park Lodge.

 

Guntersville Lake (generally referred to locally as Lake Guntersville) is located in north Alabama between Bridgeport and Guntersville. Created by Guntersville Dam along the Tennessee River, it stretches 75 miles (121 km) from Guntersville Dam to Nickajack Dam. It is Alabama's largest lake at 69,000 acres (280 km²).

The lake and dam received its name from the town of Guntersville, which received its name from an early settler of the area, John Gunter.(wiki)

 

T-shirt of the Week: Waterloo Records, Austin, TX

This is another souvenir of my trip to Austin.

I opted for the University of Texas "Burnt Orange" color, and a different logo. Their sign and traditional logo is the London "Tube" (subway) style sign.

(In anticipating your questions, thoughts and comments: Yes, I may have put on a few pounds; that's a Saint Benedict medal I'm wearing, I always do; and no, it wasn't cold there.)

 

Anyway, one of the last great record stores in America, and one of the few places that has a decent selection of Kinky Friedman albums. Waterloo Records


Waterloo Records is an independent retailer in Austin, Texas that has been an integral part of the city's music scene since 1982. The store derives its name from the original name of the Austin region, Waterloo. The store's original location was at 221 South Lamar Boulevard, just south of Lady Bird Lake. Waterloo Records later outgrew that 1200 sq. ft. space and moved ⅔-mile north on Lamar to their present location at 600A North Lamar.
Waterloo Records is noted for its knowledgeable staff and an emphasis on customer service. The store prides itself on "catering to the music consumer" and features a ten-day return policy for goods in new condition.[1] Waterloo regularly hosts events featuring live performances by both local and nationally-known artists. It has been awarded "Best Record Store" in the Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin awards nearly every year since it opened.[2] In addition to local acclaim, Waterloo Records is often listed alongside similarly iconic music stores (such as Amoeba Music) as one of the best record stores in the United States.

Brush With Greatness: Gumby

My son and I ran into a legend today, though he appears to have fallen on hard times.

Gumby was beside Hwy 31 near the I-65 interchange in Hoover dancing erratically in front of a Halloween Costume store.

Though gracious, he had very little to say and it appears even his faithful little talking horse has abandoned him.

Pitiful.

 

Gumby is a green clay humanoid figure who was the subject of a 233-episode series of American television which spanned over a 35-year period. He was animated using stop motion clay animation.Gumby's principal sidekick is Pokey and his nemeses are the Blockheads, a pair of humanoid, red-colored figures with block-shaped heads, who wreak mischief and havoc at all times.

Gumby was inspired by a suggestion from Clokey's wife Ruth that he base his character on the Gingerbread man. Gumby was green simply because that was Clokey's favorite color. Gumby's legs and feet were made wide for pragmatic reasons: they ensured the clay character would stand up during stop-motion filming. The famous slanted shape of Gumby's head was based on the hair style of Clokey's father in an old photograph.(wiki)

Learn Animal Husbandry in the privacy and comfort of your own home!

Not so bad. Baby used to bring home giant formaldehyde soaked dead cats when she was studying Anatomy in Nursing School.

(note to self: learn to spell "formaldehyde")

George Jones: American Musician

Here's some classic video.


George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931 in Saratoga, Texas), is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette.

Over the past twenty years, Jones has frequently been referred to as "the greatest living country singer".[1] The country music scholar Bill C. Malone writes, "For the two or three minutes consumed by a song, Jones immerses himself so completely in its lyrics, and in the mood it conveys, that the listener can scarcely avoid becoming similarly involved."(wiki)

Throughout his long career, Jones made headlines often as much for tales of his drinking, stormy relationships with women, and violent rages as for his prolific career of making records and touring. His wild lifestyle led to Jones missing many performances, earning him the nickname "No Show Jones." With the help of his fourth wife, Nancy, he has been sober for many years. Jones clocked up more than 150 hits during his career, both as a solo artist and in duets with other artists.




Don't miss the classic mullet.. typical bass player.

Lucas "Trent" Vinson

I only knew Trent as a seed of the man he was to become, but to know that he grew up to be kind, joyful, adventurous, loyal, strong, brave and proud doesn't surprise me.

His mother, father, aunts and uncles are some of the finest men and women I've ever known.


Funeral services for Lucas "Trent" Vinson, 27, of Leesville will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, September 24, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Leesville, LA.

Trent Vinson was born in DeRidder on March 12, 1982. He passed from this life on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at the age of 27 years, 6 months and 1 day in North Tikrit, Iraq. Trent was a man who loved life and lived it out loud and to the fullest. Trent was a graduate of the Pickering High School Class of 2000. As a young man Trent enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping in the Louisiana woods and a good paint ball fight. As a man, he loved to be surrounded by friends and family. Traveling soon turned into his favorite pastime. Trent's first trip abroad was to Cancun, Mexico upon his high school graduation. This sparked an interest in travel and he traveled again when he started his career with KBR in October, 2003 in Iraq. When on R&R, Trent loved to travel with his friends and brothers. He always said he wanted to see the world. He worked on doing just that, traveling to Indonesia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Australia, Venezuela and Costa Rica. Trent loved the LSU Tigers and the New Orleans Saints. He had tickets to attend home games on his next R&R which was scheduled for October 24th, just a few short weeks away. Rhonda, Trent's mother, shared that from the time he was just a young man, he always told her that "God has a bigger purpose for me and when I go, I'm going out in a blaze of glory." That he did. He is a true hero. When anyone mentions Trent, most think of him as a man who would give you the shirt off his back. Trent's best friend, Mike Hicks recants the story of being in a taxi with Trent when he literally took-off his $70 shirt and gave it to his cab driver and requested to go to Kentucky Fried Chicken where he bought the driver a meal. (excerpted from the Leesville Daily Leader)

Rhonda Smith Vinson in front of her restaurant, "The Leesville Cafe", Leesville, LA, 2009.

I apologize for what has lately become a recurring theme. It's been a hard year.

No, seriously-what the hell IS that?

A friend took this photo of another friend at a gathering a my house a week or two ago, and when the pictures were shared we saw this.
What the heck is the ghostly image in the window?

There's nothing in that room, we are all baffled. I guess the next step is to try to replicate the conditions and try to make it happen again.

Creepy...

"A man walks into a bar..."

In case you don't have a computer, here is your joke of the day:

Three Holy Men and a Bear

A priest, a Pentecostal preacher, and a rabbi all served as Chaplains at a local university. They would get together two or three times a week for coffee and to talk shop.

One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn't really all that hard. A real challenge would be to preach to a bear. One thing led to another, and they decided to do an experiment. They would go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert it.

Seven days later, they all came together to discuss the experience.

Father Flannery, who had his arm in a sling, was on crutches, and had various bandages on his body and limbs, went first. "Well," he said, "I went into the woods to find me a bear. And when I found him, I began to read to him from the Catechism. Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began to slap me around. So I quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and; Holy Mary Mother of God, he became as gentle as a lamb. The bishop is coming out next week to give him first communion and confirmation."

Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, had one arm and both legs in casts, and had an IV drip.. He said "WELL, brothers, you KNOW that we don't sprinkle! I went out and I FOUND me a bear. And then I began to read to my bear from God's HOLY WORD! But that bear wanted nothing to do with me.

So I took HOLD of him and we began to wrestle. We wrestled down one hill, UP another and DOWN another until we came to a creek. So I quickly DUNKED him and BAPTIZED his hairy soul. And just like that, he became as gentle as a lamb. We spent the rest of the day praising Jesus."

The priest and the reverend both looked down at the rabbi, who was lying in a hospital bed. He was in a body cast and traction with IVs and monitors running in and out of him. He was in really bad shape. The Rabbi looked up and said, "Looking back on it, circumcision may not have been the best way to start."

Fortune Cookie Wisdom...

Profound, huh?

Stolen From LOTD

Boulder to Birmingham-Emmylou Harris

She even does grief beautifully.

Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American country singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other highly successful, well-known artists.



A seminal track off the 1975 album Pieces of the Sky by Emmylou Harris. It has served as something of a signature tune for the artist and recounts her feelings of grief in the years following the death of Country-Rock star and mentor Gram Parsons. The song is famous for its chorus "I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham/I would hold my life in his saving grace/I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham/If I thought I could see, I could see your face."

From a German television show, circa 1975.
If it weren't for the English and Germans, there would be virtually no quality video to chronicle a lot of classic music from the 60s and 70s. (Unless it was Woodstock or the Last Waltz)

Weddings are more fun for children, it seems

I'm not very inspired these days, so here is some content stolen from "The Chive". It is one of my favorite websites for all nature of interesting and funny pictures.

I omly wish they would make their logo translucent so it wouldn't be so obvious when I steal content from them.

thechive.com

Confederate War Dead: Rose Hill Cemetary, Macon, Georgia

 

 

 

<

Randy "Rabbit" White

 

Words excerpted from an email from Glen Reid.

I flew up and spent a weekend with Randy back in June when he was still lucid and trying to fight the thing. We had a really good visit and just hated that it took that sort of thing to get us all together....When leaving I knew I probably would never see him again on this planet, but I treasure the time spent. Randy kept his spirits until the bitter end and was going to fight it as long as the doctors held out any hope. Unfortunately, when he was first diagnosed back in March they said it was already a "monster" and it just never responded to any treatments they were able to offer. It had spread so far that they stopped all treatments except pain management a couple of weeks ago and he knew it wouldn't be long. I hope that when my time comes I face it as gracefully, as practically, and with as many friends as did Randy. Ya know, I don't think anyone who knew him didn't like him...I can think of no "enemies," and that is rare!
This also makes me think of the friendships that I have established over the years. I want all of you to know how much I value and truly love each of you. I never want to lose the relationships that we have even if we aren't in daily contact...a person's friends are truly a measure of his time spent in this life.

With love...peace...GR

 

Todd Snider "Greencastle Blues"

Todd Snider was born in Oregon, but he's a spiritual Texan -- a hardheaded, sharp-penned Americana songwriter whose character-actor croon fits somewhere between Lyle Lovett and Jerry Jeff Walker.

"You internet people scare the shit out of me."

Todd Snider, responding to requests from the crowd for songs that had not yet
been released. (Dallas, TX - March 2004

Dusty Springfield

Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien OBE (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), known as Dusty Springfield, was a pop singer and entertainer. Of all the female British pop artists of the 1960s, she made one of the biggest impressions on the U.S. market. Owing to her distinctive sensual sound, she was one of the most notable white soul artists.

Born to an Irish Roman Catholic family that loved music, Mary O'Brien learned to sing at home. Dusty Springfield began her solo career in 1963 with the upbeat pop hit, "I Only Want To Be With You". Her following hits included "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself", "Wishin' and Hopin'", and "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me".

A fan of American pop music, she campaigned to bring the little-known soul singers to a wider U.K. audience by devising and hosting the first British performances of the top-selling Motown Records artists in 1965. Her rendition of "The Look of Love", written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, was featured in the film Casino Royale and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1967.

T Shirt of the Week: The Dewey Paul Band

 

Here's a cool new addition to Jay's ridiculous wardrobe.

Representing Colorado-based fellow traveller, friend and all-around good guy Dewey Moffitt.

 

Bad girls need love too

 

You know what's conspicuously absent from this picture? That happy glow Brides get just before their Wedding Day.

Sometimes the Highway Patrol just needs to lighten the hell up and let one slide.

Warning!

 

Brush With Greatness: Willis Alan Ramsey

"I learned every song off his record. I went to see him everytime he played, got tennis shoes like his. I wanted to be Willis Alan Ramsey." -- Lyle Lovett

 

Willis Alan Ramsey (born 1951) is an American singer/songwriter, a cult legend among fans of Americana and Texas country. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in Dallas, Texas.


I couldn't believe my good fortune when I got to Austin and found that Willis Alan Ramsey was scheduled to perform at Threadgill's (the site of the legendary venue "Armadillo World Headquarters) while we were in town.

All I had to do was blow off the Wedding rehearsal dinner in order to attend.

 

 

 

Despicable.

I remember that day vividly, and will never forget.



No matter what these people try to say their motivation was, I maintain it was the same psychological dynamic that led Oswald to assasinate JFK. The thing they are most angry about is their own insignificance.

Punks.

The Don Quixote of North Alabama's scenic and historic "Chicken Processing/Crystal Meth belt".

I'm resisting the urge to list this as a "Brush With Greatness", but here is my old friend Paul.

He's passionate about these things and I've always admired his tenacity in all matters.

Keep at it, Paul.


Update- We lost Paul this spring.. I'll miss him forever. Jay

"There's a strange man in the driveway"

 

Jay, Paul, Dewey, Geoff

 

 

 

 

Pete's Famous Hot Dogs- Birmingham, Alabama

This is a landmark, a hole-in-the-wall, a hometown treasure.

I bring out-of-towners here- I can divine their character/compatability index by whether they are enchanted or horrified.

 

A hole-in-the-wall downtown hot dog shop that can feel as snug as an MRI machine, Pete's Famous has been dishing out cheap eats since 1920. We first learned about it thanks to a Roadfooder who goes by the handle "The Don." The Don described Pete's hot dogs as "the absolute best in the land, perfectly grilled every time, always on a fresh steamed bun." He said that Pete's hot dogs are "so good I have to hit myself in the head with a brick to stop eating them."

We can relate. Pete's hot dogs are addictive. They are modest-sized crisp-grilled weenies, loaded into soft steamed buns, and almost always served "all the way" with onions, sauerkraut, and tangy-sweet sauce, as well as a shot of mustard.

Other than hot dogs and hamburgers, there is nothing on Pete's menu, not even French fries. If you need something on the side, bags of chips are available; and the beverages of choice are Coca-Cola and a curiously tangy grape-flavored bubbly bug juice known as Grapico. For dessert, choose from a selection of candy bars that includes Goo Goo Clusters. Expect to dine standing up. (From Roadfood.com)

 

Where are you, brother??

 

Has anyone seen this guy?

Donald Joseph Russell Miller, AKA "Donnie Joe"

he has been described as "kinda looking like Malibu Ken"

Last known location: Marin County CA.

Call a Brother.

Yvonne Elliman

The one and only Mary Magdalene (from Jesus Christ Superstar), a great singer and beautiful woman.

You know not to judge me, right?

Yvonne Elliman (born Yvonne Marianne Elliman, December 29, 1951, Honolulu, Hawaii[1]) is an American singer and actress.
Elliman's singing career began in 1969 in London where she performed as a vocalist at various bars and clubs. This led to a recording contract and later, in Miami, a close association as a backing vocalist for Eric Clapton. She performed on many of his 1970s hits including "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Lay Down Sally". She sang the role of Mary Magdalene in the original album of Jesus Christ Superstar and in the subsequent Broadway and film version, and achieved her first hit single with the ballad "I Don't Know How to Love Him".

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham

A couple of photos I took the other night, the iconic 16th Street Church and a couple of other random images for good measure.

 

 

 

While I was driving around looking for photo ops, I distractedly rolled through a red light at Five Points South and got my first traffic ticket in 5 or 6 years. Of course I didn't have my most recent proof of insurance card, so I got ticketed for that as well.

Irritating.

 

Nashville (Over)Saturated!

 

 

 

I've taken some photos from around Broadway in Nashville and fooled around with oversaturating the colors on Picasa.

 

 

 

This is Minnie Pearl's hat (and Roy Acuff's Suit)in a display case in the Ryman Auditorium.