Concert with Bon Jovi

One of the great things about living in the Chicago area is that I have the privilege of experiencing some wonderful events. I have always loved concerts. Last November I bought tickets to the Bon Jovi concert at Soldier Field scheduled for July 30. When I bought them, it seemed as if July was so far away, and it was. It arrived however, and I had such a good time. I went with a friend, my sister, and her friend. Chicago is a beautiful city. Soldier Field was the perfect venue for a great band like Bon Jovi. It was sold out, and there were about 60,000 people there. Bon Jovi has been performing for 27 years. Jon Bon Jovi is now 48 years old, and Richie Sambora is 51. They were excellent. Kid Rock is a great entertainer as well. There was even a local band who had won a Battle of the Bands concert who opened up the show prior to Kid Rock coming onstage. This band was called 7th Heaven. Kid Rock is quite a performer. He sings, plays guitar, piano, drums, and scratches on a turntable. He was fun. Bon Jovi is a fantastic band, with Richie Sambora's beyond excellent guitar playing, and the ever-youthful, ever-beautiful, Jon Bon Jovi in great voice. What an entertainer! Needless to say, I had fun, felt young, and have recovered from the under the water feel my ears had all night. All in all, I am grateful to have been able to experience such a wonderful event.

A Reading Addiction

I have so many books lined up that I want to read: The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, Eat, Pray, Love, Deepwater Mountain, and so many more. I have one major problem; I suppose it can be called a problem, or maybe not. Right now I am addicted to reading M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mysteries. I love Agatha Raisin. I read them quickly and then go the library and pick up more. My fear (horror) is that I will eventually run out of them; I've read many of the books, but happily, there are still a few left for me to read. The next one is not coming out until October 2010! There is, in addition, an Agatha Raisin Companion book due out in October 2010 as well. I feel as if I know every inch of the Cotswolds, the setting of the books. Agatha lives in a thatched roof cottage with a front and back garden. She has two cats and interesting friends. She solves mysteries. Even though the village Agatha lives in, Carsely, isn't real, the other towns mentioned are real. I love Beaton's descriptions of the towns and the countryside. I will read those other books. I really want to read them. At least that's what I keep telling myself. I just have to pick one up and get started and put my Agatha Raisin books out of sight. But then, maybe the time isn't right for those books. I really enjoy reading Beaton's books. As far as addictions go, I think this is a fairly harmless one, and after all, what can be wrong with reading about an intelligent, but abrasive, middle-aged woman, who has obsessive loves, likes to eat, and loves cats.

Barbara Stanwyck

I love movies. I have always loved movies. My favorite movies are the old classics, the ones that I watch on Turner Classic Movies, TCM. My favorite actress has always been Barbara Stanwyck. I enjoy going to the movies and watching many movies that are current, but no one today, in my opinion, can live up to the perfection, range, and emotion that Barbara Stanwyck brought to her roles. Her classic and arguably most famous movie was, of course, Double Indemnity, with Fred MacMurray. She played the perfect femme fatale. Fred MacMurray realizes this rather early in the movie, but of course, too late for him. The great irony of a femme fatale is that she's always beautiful and always fatal. Early this morning on TCM, the movie My Reputation with Barbara Stanwyck and George Brent was on. I taped it and I have that great movie waiting for me to watch tonight. I think that perhaps todays actresses and actors could learn a great deal from the class of some of the earlier stars, such as Barbara Stanwyck, Ginger Rogers, and Norma Shearer. Even when Barbara Stanwyck was older and starring in The Big Valley, she was a beautiful, gracious lady.

Sunset

This sunset last night was so beautiful. It was rosy pink. I know the old wives tale is "Red skies at night, sailors delight; red skies in the morning, sailors take warning." Red isn't rosy pink, but it was a beautiful day today. It rained for about five minutes, and then the sun came out, and it's been glorious. What a night and day for a daydream!

Snowball

Snowball is fast becoming the cat who wants to be with us all the time. He is looking like quite the pin-up cat. Here Snowball is sitting on top of a library table.

Steamy and Windy and . . .

It is a very hot day and very windy. We have also been having severe thunderstorm warnings. The clouds are closing out the sun, and potential is here for thunderstorms. I took some pictures behind and around my house of wildflowers, trees, and lillies blowing in the wind.

Tea With Jane Austen

Today is so hot, as has been the past several days. I believe I will stay inside and do house chores, some laundry, vacuuming, and dusting. I also am going to read a little; I'm still addicted to Agatha Raisin. I'm reading the first one, The Quiche of Death. I started in the middle and am working my way around the series. I also am going to work on my current work in progress, Tea with Jane Austen. I really like the pattern and the colors. I also have a beautiful piece of 40 ct. Lakeside Linen's Nutmeg. If anyone would like it, just let me know. I don't really get a lot of readers, so I'm not going to have a giveaway, but if you read this post and want the linen, it's 91/4" x 27 ", just post and I will get your address and mail it to you. I can't stitch on such a small count of linen.

Fire and Ice

I find it interesting that the Twilight movies use literature and poetry to tell their stories. In Eclipse Bella is in the flower-covered field with Edward and is studying for her English final. The poem she reads is Fire and Ice by Robert Frost.


Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Robert Frost

Robert Frost wrote this poem in 1923. It is, of course, about opposites. I wonder how Robert Frost would feel to know that his poem is read by a character who will have to choose between two men, one fire and one ice.

Eclipse

I went to see the movie Eclipse yesterday. I enjoyed it. I have seen all three of the Twilight movies: Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. I haven't read the books, but I do have a copy of Twilight. I can understand why they're such a phenomenon. After all, I grew up watching Dracula movies and Frankenstein movies. I will never forget being scared to death by Jack Palance as Dracula. Of course, Stephenie Meyer has taken the vampire story to an entirely new level: it makes the vampire a hero, not a villian. The original Dracula by Bram Stoker did not contain such romance, only horror. I'm not sure what all of this means, but with the Twilight clothing and accessories, plus the overwhelming success of the stars in these movies, I suppose it's the new in thing for young people, especially girls. Now why did I enjoy the movie? It's attractive, appealing, and the scenery is spectacular. Is it harmless? I suppose. I, however, am not one of the young girls being taken in by the romance of it all. The vampire books have gotten many young people to read, so, in that respect, I think it's probably good. I'll leave that up to others to make that decision.

A Vacation

I haven't posted for a long time. I have been reading, stitching, and just enjoying my summer. I went on a lovely vacation this past week-end to Wisconsin with some wonderful friends. I am also getting ready to read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I have read so much about this book that I decided I need to read it. I have been stitching Tea with Jane Austen by The Sampler Girl. The rabbit is one of many who have taken up residence in my yard. They let you get fairly close to them. I love the rabbits.