Autobiographies

About the time I started one of my first acting classes as an adult, I happened to be rummaging through some memorabilia I had brought back to California after my dad died in Ohio many years ago. That was one of the most emotional weeks of my life, clearing out my childhood home with all the memories of years past with my brother, mom and dad. Anyway, this one particular day, I came upon a letter (one of the few my mom had kept for me) from Miss Parsons, my fourth grade teacher, at the end of the year. It stated that my reading was mostly biographical. I was amazed to learn (remember?) that way back then I still preferred bios to fiction.
She also mentioned that I "excelled in acting." Isn't that nice to know.

Some of my favorite books (particularly autobiographies) up to now that you may want to check out if you haven't already are:

Desi Arnaz - A Book - This was such an interesting story in that Desi goes into detail about some of the groundbreaking techniques they were able to discover in filming the "I Love Lucy" TV series. Many are used to this day. I read it a long time ago, but it has stuck with me. And of course any thing you can learn about Lucille Ball is a fascinating read.

Ingrid Bergman - My Story - I particularly like to hear the facts (as the actress tells it) about her life, rather than just rely on all the press reports that were written, particularly about the scandal back then when she became pregnant by her director lover, Roberto Rosselini, while still being married to another. They eventually married, but in that day and time, they withstood much gossip. You realize how much times have changed. Today, if that happens, the stars only make more money, get offered more projects, etc. She led such an interesting life, and her movies stood the test of time. Casablanca is a favorite for sure.

Elia Kazan - A Life - Cameron, my acting coach at the time, recommended this epitome (anything over 800 pages!) Kazan (or Gadg as he is called by friends) is brutally honest about his personal life, his flaws, his affairs (of which there were many...including Marilyn Monroe). I'm not much for seeing movies over again or rereading books, but this is one for which I might make an exception someday. As an actor, I was interested in the on and off set stories of the other actors, how he directed certain movies and actors, such as Marlon Brando whom he cast in the broadway production of Streetcar Named Desire. "The best and most human parts of you are those that you have inhibited and hidden from the world," Elia writes. Cameron used to say something similar..."What you try to hide from us is what makes you interesting to us." This one is worth reading from a history standpoint as well.

Quincy Jones - Q, The Autobiography of Quincy Jones - I've always been fascinated by Quincy Jones.
Being a singer, every time I saw a show, an artist, a project that I felt was outstanding, it had Quincy Jones' print on it. He either wrote it, produced it, directed it, or all three. There are too many superstars to even begin to name the ones he has walked beside in five decades of the entertainment business. He's an inspiration for his vision and accomplishments, considering he came from a poor family, and had a mother who "descented into madness." Quincy has had many triumphs, and it's nice to know among his honors is the selection as a 2001 Kennedy Center Honoree for his lifetime contribution to American culture through the performing arts. You learn much about the "business of show."

dream lovers - The magnificent shattered lives of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee by their son, Dodd Darin.
I thought Kevin Spacey did a magnificent (if I may use the word again) job of portraying Bobby Darin in the movie of the same name. The thing I find most interesting when I think of Bobby Darin, is I always heard, "Mack the Knife," or "Splish, Splash, I was taking a bath," over and over again and yet, those are only two of the vast recorded songs that Bobby put out in his short 36 years. It's funny but for a long time, every time I heard a guy singing on one of the few "standards from the Great American Songbook radio stations," I would wonder who that good singer was, not realizing it was Bobby. He had such a sense of swing and his phrasing was excellent, right up there with Sinatra, dare I say. I was always disappointed Bobby and Sandra didn't stay married. I think that was a tragedy, since she never really found happiness again, it seems, at least from the stories that are told in this interesting book. What came through for me is that the love that these two parents had for their son is a wonderful legacy for both of them beyond their achievements in their respective successful careers.

Out of all these biographies, one thing stands out... the fact that these people led fulfilling lives, made mistakes along the way and learned from them. How grateful we can be that they help teach us life lessons by sharing their journeys.

People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves, they have the first secret of success. Norman Vincent Peale

Friendship

When I go away, it's nice to have a book to read, so it was with perfect timing when my cousin, Sandy, gave me "Getting Along Famously, A Celebration of Friendship" as an early Christmas gift just as we were leaving for Palm Springs. As it turned out, I had lots of time to read since P.S. had the worst storm they've had in 70 years!

This interesting book by Melissa Hellstern, author of "How to Be Lovely - The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life," told of many great friendships by famous women, such as Coco Chanel & Misia Sert; Julie Andrews & Carol Burnett; Audrey Hepburn & Sophia Loren, and Lauren Bacall & Katherine Hepburn. Much research went into telling these stories. It made me reflect on the wonderful friendships I've had in my lifetime up to now.

My neighbor, Lin, as it turns out, was indeed one of my best friends as I look back. Lin, who never smoked a day in her life, and had the most healthy lifestyle of anyone I know, died of lung cancer. Before we took our walks in the morning, she beckoned me to breakfast at her home. Creamy oatmeal, made with real cream and a robust cup of coffee with cream, just the way I like it. That was only one of the ways Lin spoiled me. If she knew we were entertaining, she would bring over orchids from her garden that day. She had a green thumb like no one I had known before. When I hosted a sales meeting at my home, she offered, no, insisted, she come over and cook for my sales group, consisting of 10 people. Lin made the best chicken stir fry I've ever had. She did her Chinese ancestry proud.

Once when we came back from a two-week trip, for which she always volunteered to take care of our mail and newspapers, I noticed our lawn looked exceptionally good. I said, "Lin, did you see anyone lingering around our home?" She looked at me aghast, as if I would think she hadn't guarded our property well enough.
I said, "There seems to have been a fairy gardener. Everything looks so trimmed and neat." She smiled sheepishly. I knew it was another one of her thoughtful deeds.

It was a sad day, but I was touched that her husband, Ed, wanted me to deliver the eulogy at her service. How lucky I was that this wonderful woman became my neighbor and dear friend by chance. Once when Ed was coming over for dinner recently, I instinctively set out four glasses for cocktails. I started to correct myself, but knew Ed would appreciate the fact that I still feel Lin's spirit with us to this day, seven years later.

The book is filled with wonderful quotes, "What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" George Eliot

"The holy passion of friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money." Mark Twain

Southern California Peril

Sometimes we like to joke about California's four seasons: fire, flood, mud, and drought, but there was nothing funny about the fact that last week the fire came within one block of our home. A shift in the wind and I wouldn't be sitting in my home office right now. Within a five-mile radius of our home, over 25,000 acres were burned. It took 3,700 firefighters to deal with this disaster. Over 250 homes were destroyed or damaged. Miraculously, there were only seven injuries, no deaths reported. We don't take for granted the people who keep us safe. God bless the firefighters, police force and highway patrol, and others who put their lives on the line to save our property and more importantly, our lives.

There's nothing like a peril such as this to put our priorities in order. When you're planning an evacuation, and say you only have 20 minutes, you go for the mementos and important papers, birth certificates, deeds, etc. (unless you already have those in your safety deposit box at the bank). Material things really don't matter. We know that, but this really brings it home. This has really made my job
of decluttering much easier. As a self-professed pack rat (I inherited the gene from my dad), I put too much emotional attachment into things. When I try to analyze it (and why would I take the time to do that unless I really thought it would help cure me), I rationalize that it's because I lost my family early in life. Now, I tell myself that the clothes I'm giving away will help a family who lost everything in the fire. It may be a coincidence that we received two give-away bags for charity drives within one week after the fire.

Although we all are busy with our everyday lives, this does bring us closer to our neightbors. We're all breathing a sigh of relief. It's stressful just being on alert for two days. After a time-out, I've reactivated posting in my gratitude journal. We feel blessed. Excuse me while I write a check to one of the many local charities who will help victims of this tragedy. If you want to help, the Red Cross is a good place to start.

"The smallest deed is better than the grandest intention."

Mystery Party

My friend, Peggy, organizes mystery parties both here and in Ohio once a year.
It's a leap of faith to sign up for one of these things, because you never know who will show up, where you're going, what to wear (although she usually gives you a hint), and exactly what you'll be doing for the next several hours.

Last year, we ended up decorating the Burbank Rose Parade float. It was November... in the early stages of the preparation. It was quite interesting to see the wire mesh work and the internal machinations of the float. We cut dry flowers for a few hours. Doesn't sound too exciting, but it was fun to chat and realize that the flowers would end up somewhere on the float January 1 in the parade.

This year we were told to wear something black. About 26 people showed up at the designated location to carpool to our final destination. But first, you have to guess where you'll be going. If you have no idea, you can just put down something you'd like to do in the future. That's how Peggy gets her ideas. No one guessed our mystery venue.

I must have passed Hollywood Forever Cemetery a zillion times on my way to Paramount Studios. Well, actually, I was just passing there too. This vastly immaculately landscaped cemetery, boasting mausoleums, exhibitions, monuments and gardens was the venue for the 9th annual celebration of Dia de Los Muertos MMVIII. Don't ask me to translate. I only know that muertos means death or some derivation of it.

This annual celebration held on the religious "All Saints Day" allows one to partake of various sacred ceremonial tributes and memorable altar creations on the ground.
Actually, the altars were unbelievably elaborate and colorful. The place was packed with people in masks, skeletal costumes, etc. At this year's celebration they danced and sung in memory of Julian Trace Posada, known as "Happy Feet," 2006 - 2008.

To make things even more interesting at this final resting place for many Hollywood stars, Peggy organized us into two teams and sent us on a scavenger hunt. This is one great way to cover the grounds in a short period of time (well, actually, we had an hour to do it, and we needed every bit of it). Some headstones dated as far back as the Civil War. Rudolph Valentino is buried there, as well. It was quite interesting walking among the many imposing tall old headstones and towering monuments. Many had large pictures of the deceased imposed on the stone.

Johnny Ramones' cool grave site (guitar in hand) was on our list, as was Mel Blanc's ("That's All Folks!") We never did find Estelle Getty's resting place nor were we able to enter the mausoleum where Bugsy Siegal is entombed. I guess it was only fitting that the beautiful weather we had been having took a hiatus while it sprinkled and was overall a bit dreary while we were there.

If you're at all interested in finding out who's who in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, located next to Paramount Studios, check out Tony Scott's book, "The Stars of Hollywood Forever."

Does Peggy know how to throw a party or what! I'm in for next year.

"If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner."
Tallulah Bankhead

Tidbits from the Internet

All of these email helpful hints...I had to start a "reference folder" in case I decided I wanted to use one of them. One of the best that I've tried and it works is adding baking soda to the water you use to boil eggs. It makes peeling them a cinch. Try it! I'm not going to put a hole in the top and blow on it to have the egg peel itself as demonstrated in the video. It just doesn't seem sanitary.

Have you tried any of the honey and cinnamon cures? Anything from pimples to cancer. Honey it claims can be used without any side effects for any kind of disease. The combination is quite good, but to achieve longevity with tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, you'd have to use four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.
If you try it, let me know how it works out.

What about all the things you can do with Bounce? Who knew?

The other really good one is the five things you never knew your cell phone could do.
I keep it in my car. The Worldwide Emergency Number for Mobile, even if you're out of the network area, is 112. It will even work if your keypad is locked.

All for now. I have to check my email.

P. S. If your ship hasn't come in, swim out to it.

Comedy with a Flair

Rita Rudner recently recorded her first television special in over a decade. Rita Rudner, Live From Las Vegas premiered on PBS in June, 2008, in conjunction with a DVD release. I missed that one, but since I've been a huge fan for years, I decided to see her live show recently. She came out in a beautiful blue gown and delighted the audience with her low-key hilarious act for over an hour. She is so relatable! The time just flew by (you know, when you're having fun).

Rita started out as a dancer on broadway. She has maintained her great figure through the years. Her first big break as a comedienne came in 1988 when she appeared on Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. She did two HBO shows, Born to be Mild and Rita Rudner: Married Without Children. She can no longer claim the latter as she is mom to a six-year-old daughter.

Rita is also an author: Naked Beneath My Clothes: Tales of a Revealing Nature; and the 2008 I Still Have It...I Just Can't Remember Where I Put it: Confessions of a Fiftysomething. Rudner wrote, produced, and starred in the award-winning romantic comedy Peter's Friends, featuring Kenneth Branagh and Hugh Laurie! Why hadn't I heard of this before!

Since becoming a mom, she has settled in Las Vegas, where she has been named that city's "Best Comedian" for the last five years in a row. I can see why.

Opening for Rita was a fantastic jazz vocalist, Kitty Margolis, who lives in the Bay area and has had a successful international touring career. Just so happens I had taken a vocal workshop with Kitty locally about four years ago. She is a wonderful clinician (Harvard trained) as well as an "exhilarating and imaginative jazz singer of the highest order."

I loved the way Kitty came out singing her intro...high energy, great range, and commanding stage presence. She has many award-winning cd's out. I have Heart & Soul: Live in San Francisco, and Evolution, both winners.

A lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Oktoberfest

The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's (later King Ludwig I) marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Oktoberfest in America is now an excuse to celebrate German culture and drink beer. I attended my first celebration a few years ago with my KSU Alum group, which coincides with Ohio's homecoming weekend. It's been a tradition of ours for the last three years. This year was no exception.

In Munich, Germany, Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held each year during late September (moved up a few weeks for better weather). It is the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year.

Oktoberfestbiers are the beers that have been served at the event in Munich since 1818, and are supplied by six breweries, known as the Big Six. Originally, Oktoberfestbiers were the lagers brewed in March and allowed to ferment slowly during the summer months, but from 1872 a strong March brewed version of an amber-red became the favorite Oktoberfestbier.

Since the 1970s the type of beer served at the festival has been a pale lager. These lagers may range from pale gold to deep amber, with the darker colors more common in the USA. In addition to the 6,940,600 litres of beer consumed, visitors also eat huge quantities of food, most of it traditional hearty fare such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinsbraten (roast pork), Haxn (knuckle of pork), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Wurstel (sausages), along with Brezel (pretzel), Knodeln (potato or bread dumplings), Kasespatzle (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut, or Blaukraut (red cabbage), oxen, etc.

At our Oktoberfest at The Phoenix Club, we enjoyed potato pancakes, schnitzel (breaded veal), brautwurst (sausages), sauerkraut, and funnel cake (with strawberries, whipped cream, and powdered sugar), the latter accounting for my increased weight the next day, I'm sure. Well, okay, maybe the large stein of Britmeister I had might have contributed too. There was a terrific band direct from Germany, and many cute couples performing for us. But, the crowd really gets into it, getting on our feet and out on the dance floor for the "chicken," flapping our wings, etc. and sundry other fun dances where we can exercise our geekiness without standing out.

Inspector Clouseau even visited Oktoberfest in the 1976 movie, "The Pink Panther Strikes Again." This event is celebrated all over the globe

If you get a chance to attend one of these events throughout the U.S. next year, do so, even if you don't drink beer. Bring some friends, and you'll make new ones too. It's that kind of atmosphere.