Happy Birthday to Jane Austen!

Jane Austen was born on December 16th, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire, England. She was the sixth child. Her life is marked by the ordinariness of it--which may explain why she was able to write so brilliantly about the every-day life of the country gentry in Regency England. At age 26 she moved to Bath with her family where she lived for 5 years.
At the death of her father, she then moved back to Hampshire to the village of Chawton where most of her well known novels were written. Jane Austen was first published in 1811. The book, "Sense and Sensibility", was written in 1797/8. She then embarked on the writing of "First Impressions" which later became, "Pride and Prejudice" and was published two years later. "Northanger Abbey" was completed in 1799 but not published until after her death, along with "Persuasion". However, "Mansfield Park" (1814), and "Emma", (1816) were published before her death even though they were written after "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion". At the time of her death, she was working on her next novel, "Sanditon". A lesser known work "Lady Susan" is a small work written in a series of 36 letters, but it tells a great story!

She died at Winchester while on a visit, and is buried in Winchester Cathedral.

If you love watching movies of her works, here is a list of some of the movies made of her books or abour her, some are pure interpretations and others are variations on the books or themes, but give credit to her for the source:

Becoming Jane
Bride and Prejudice (Bollywood)
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Clueless
Cold Comfort Farm
Emma(Gwenyth Paltrow)
Emma A&E
I Have Found It (Bollywood's version of S&S)
Jane Austen’s Biography

Jane Austen Book Club
Mansfield Park -(PBS and theatrical)

Miss Austen Regrets
Northanger Abbey-PBS
Persuasion (both PBS and theatrical)
Pride and Prejudice (A&E) THE BEST!
Pride and Prejudice 2005
Pride and Prejudice- A latter-day story
Pride and Prejudice(Masterpiece Theater 1985)
Pride and Prejudice 1940
Sense and Sensibility A&E version

Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson version)

Let me know if I have missed any! We can never get enough Jane Austen now can we!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Only in Arizona!

It was the perfect day. I was on my way to finish up the last of my Christmas shopping. The radio was on 24 hour Christmas music, and they were playing one of my favorites, the Trans Sibrean Orchestra playing "Christmas Cannon", when what to my wondering eyes should appear...I saw Santa Clause on a motorcycle, on his merry way to cheer up children somewhere. It was magical, funny and exciting all at once. I felt like a kid all over again!

I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas Season and the Spirit it can bring into our lives!

Final List of Must See Chrismas Movies!

So far I have given you 10 great Christmas movies to see, now for the rest of the list. I know it will be impossible to see all of these movies during this busy time but if you want Christmas to last all year.... Anyway, the next on the list is "The Shop Around the Corner". This has been remade 2 other times, ("In the Good Old Summertime" and "You've Got Mail") but the original, as usual, is the best. Probably just because Jimmy Stewart is in it but also because of all the other great actors. It takes place all during the Christmas season and is really fun!
Next has to be "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Not much more can be said about this classic. It is amazing to me that this movie is still enjoyed by a new generation, which shows that it is not the new technology but the story that makes a great movie.
Ditto for "How The Grinch Stole Christmas". Even though the Jim Carry movie version is good, my grand kids still prefer the animated original!

This next one is probably not known to many of you. It is "Holiday Affair" with Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum. Both great actors, this is about a widow with a young son and how 2 men are trying to win her affections. I bet you can guess who wins. Robert Micthum is really good in this and he is in a role you rarely see him in, the romantic lead.

Then of course is "A Muppet Christmas Carol". How could you go wrong with the Muppets and the GREAT Micheal Caine! Enough said, except that this movie is hilarious! It is also a great way to expose young kids to Dickens without scaring them. The "spirits" in this version aren't as scary as others.

Now you have my top 15 Christmas movies to check out. However, here are some others that are worth seeing:

The Ultimate Gift (this is a great one!!!)

Claymation Christmas Show

Creature Comforts Christmas

Polar Express

The Santa Clause 1,2,3

White Christmas

The Nativity

Meet Me In St. Louis

If I have left one that you like off the list, let me know. I am always looking for fun Christmas movies to see!

What An Amazing Show!!!!

I was going to write a review of the play "The Winter's Tale" by William Shakespeare that is being performed at the Mesa Arts Center for the next 3 weekends by the Southwest Shakespeare Co., but then I read the review in the Arizona Republic and it said it all!
The Cast was perfect, their performances were impeccable, the costumes were amazing, the set was very creative, and at intermission, the Wassail that was on sale was delicious. There were even some very cute bears to by as a souvenir! (You will get the significance of the bears if you see the show). So, the evening was unforgettable.
Here is the link to the Arizona Republic article: http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2008/12/01/20081201winterstale1202.html

This play is rarely performed and it is my favorite so please go see it. Half of the shows are already sold out so hurry!!!! You may not ever have the opportunity to see it done this well again, unless SSC does it again of coruse.

Five More GREAT Christmas Movies

Here is a list of 5 more Christmas movies that are great to watch while decorating or if you need help getting in the holiday mood! Do you love the song "White Christmas" but don't like the movie of the same title? Well then, you need to watch "Holiday Inn". This movie can be watched on every holiday because it takes place throughout an entire year and there is a song for every holiday of the year. It is great fun!

Next is "The Bishop's Wife" with Cary Grant. He plays an angel sent down to help a bishop who is having a hard time getting things done. Cary Grant is amazing....but he is in every movie he's ever made. This holiday movie was re-made with Denzel Washington (who I love to watch!) but the original is soooo much better!
Next is "Elf". What more can I say but this is so fun to watch. Will Farrell is perfect as Buddy the Elf, but watch for a cameo performance by Peter Billingsley, yes, I mean Ralphie from "The Christmas Story". He is the head elf that helps Buddy feel better when he is so behind on his toy building. (he is here in the red suit)
"Millions" came out about 3-4 years ago and I instantly fell in love with it. It is a heart warming story about 2 brothers whose mom has recently died. Their Dad moves them to a new home and one day while out playing, the younger brother finds a duffel bag full of money. It takes place during the Christmas season and it has a lot of good messages about the true meaning of Christmas. As a side note...the portrayal of the LDS missionaries is hilarious even if it is inaccurate. This movie was made in England so that is why there is the inaccuracy. But it is so funny.

Last movie for this group is "Joyeux Noel". It takes the true accounts of the first Christmas during WWI where the soldiers stopped fighting for a few hours and came together to celebrate Christmas even though they were enemies. It is beautiful and very touching. They are parts in sub-titles but most is in English. There is one "scene" you will want to skip but it is not on the battlefield so you will know what I mean when you get to it, so skip past it. The rest is perfect!

If you have a comment on any of these movies, let me and everyone who reads this blog know what you think of them.

My Top Five Christmas Movie Picks

As fas as I'm concered, the Holiday season starts on November 1st. However, there are some things I can't do until after Thanksgiving. One is put up the Christmas decorations. The second, is break out the Christmas movies. Now, every holiday at out house has a list of movies that we (I) watch to celebrate the holiday, so I thought I would let you know about some of my favorite Christmas movies.

First and on top of the list, is "The Christmas Story". I always watch this on Thanksgiving Day as I am cooking. It is the best of all and so funny!

Next is one you might not have heard of. It is "Christmas in Connecticut" with Barbara Stanwyck. It is one of the rare comedies that she was in and she is great. Sydney Greenstreet, who is always a "bad guy" is also in this and he is perfect and also very funny. Check this one out if you can find it (or call me, I have it).
I know my third pick is probably everyone else's first, but next is "It's a Wonderful Life". AHHHH, Jimmy Stewart.... What more needs to be said.
Then we get to "A Christmas Carol". My favorite version, (and I have 5 different versions, including "The Muppet Christmas Carol"-very funny!) is the 1951 version starring Alastair Sims. It is a classic and he is the best Ebenezer Scrooge.

Last in my top five, and I do watch them in this order is "Miracle on 34th Street" with Natalie Woods. I love every character and actor in this movie! And because it starts on Thanksgiving, it is on my Thanksgiving and Christmas movie list!

Check out these movies, and during the upcoming month I will let you know of other great Christmas movies, some you might not have ever heard of.

Have a Great Thanksgiving!

Two Random Thoughts on Two Different Subjects

Christmas is such a fun time. I especially love to listen to Christmas music. However, there is one song that should be banned from all Christmas affiliation! Let me explain.

When I was in first grade, our class had to learn the Christmas song, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" for the school Christmas program. Even as a 6 year old, I remember thinking how wrong it was for a mommy to kiss anyone but her husband and I was upset that we were being taught this song to sing in a program like everything was OK.
I remember feeling devastated that Santa was going around and kissing any mommy that would let him. In order to save all children these feelings, I want this song banned!!!!

Christmas should be a happy time not a disturbing time for children. That is my opinion on that song!

Next, I heard a rumor that the only show I watch regularly is in danger of being cancelled!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO SAVE "PUSHING DAISIES"????
If you haven't seen it, WATCH IT!!! It is a great murder mystery every week!
Maybe we can change ABC's mind if they are really thinking about cancelling it. It is so frustrating when there is so much garbage out there on TV that a great show can't make it. Here is a link to sign an online petition to ABC to keep it on: http://www.petitiononline.com/daisies/petition.html

Please Vote!!!
Thanks for letting me vent on those 2 subjects!