Last night after a dinner of homemade chili and freshly baked bread, and after we’d bundled The Peanut up for a bedtime story and a cuddle with her stuffed giraffe (Gerald), Mr. ReddHedd, egregious and I sat down with cups of tea to watch Miss Potter. (YouTube of film trailer here.) Well, to be honest, we, girls, sat down for the movie — and Mr. ReddHedd sat down in our vicinity with a crossword puzzle, but ended up watching most of the movie instead.
Why, yes, I did say egregious — she’s visiting Casa Smith this weekend. And she has already been co-opted as "new bestest friend, knitting maestro and person for whom all Christmas presents must be displayed and demonstrated" by the wee one.
Egregious and I started talking a bit about children’s literature, and favorite books and movies and such…and after she went up to bed, I realized that while we do a lot of reading to The Peanut — lots of original Pooh from A.A. Milne, and of course Beatrix Potter’s magical stories, and I’ve been easing her into the Little House books and lots of fairy stories and folk tales and such, at least at bedtime if not throughout the day as well, I’m not good at giving myself those giggle breaks on my own.
I haven’t been very good at allowing myself a lot of whimsy of late. And that I miss it.
As the political season marches forward, growing increasingly more intense and competitive, it is easy to lose sight of some of the very real joys in life when you are buried watching negative attack ads. Really wonderful things like snuggling with your four year old in the comfy corner chair while reading her favorite story for the umpteenth time, that slightly damp feel of her newly washed hair cool against your cheek, and her laughter spilling out as Pooh Bear once again finds himself in a muddle of sorts and must think, think, think his way out of it. Or sharing a warm mug of tea with a friend and chatting about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…whatever form it may take in the moment. Or simply sitting still and watching the birdies flit back and forth from the hedges to the feeder, chattering all the while.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself and the people you care about it to stop and find yourself some whimsy.
I’ve decided I need more of it, so I’m asking for some help this morning: anyone read anything lately that made you laugh out loud? Or have you rediscovered a favorite book from childhood that makes you smile all over again? See a good movie — old or new — that made you giggle so much that tears ran down your face? Listen to a song that makes you belt out the words whether or not you carry a tune, all the while with a smile on your face? Have a favorite thing which always makes you smile? Do tell.
Lets talk whimsy and happiness this morning. Because everyone can use an extra smile or two. I’m gonna pour egregious and I another cuppa coffee. Why don’t you pull up a chair…
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Good morning, Christy
g’morning firedogs
had something to post but will wait till we get serious
am sitting here in panera bread, having my spinach artichoke souffle, dark coffee, (which is more watery then most coffee houses regular blend) and haveing some free internet, doing my politiking (word?) on panera’s dime
then off to work, it’s a beutiful day here in lawn guyland new york
I have kept all the books from my childhood and my children’s. So many favorites to read my grandkids.
But one tattered and worn was “Brave Mr Buckingham” by the author of “Pat the Bunny”(1939). I looked it up on line and its worth a couple of hundred dollars now so Im making a copy for the Grands. What a job!
I love childrens books
Good morning to all at Casa Smith. Not an old movie but spouse and I watched Ratatouille the other night. Very funny and heartwarming. It also reminded me of one of my all time favourite books. “Down and out in Paris and London”. George Orwell. “Travels in Burma” is another of his I read again and again. I enjoy Orwell a lot. 1984 is not so bad either
Morning gang. Perris — that souffle sounds tasty…
Good morning Christy! [waves hi across the room]
Folks, it is enchanted wonderland here. Wonderful family, cutest doxie in the world, even the elusive cat and I have made friends, charming home. Ha! They think I’m leaving at the end of the weekend.
Song: Whistle While You Work [youtube]
Good Morning everyone.
I watched Rat Race on NYD and I have to say it was really funny. I’d like to reconnect to some whimsy and fun, thanks for this thread.
Good Morning Christy and waving to egregious across the room there *wave*
are we sure perris isn’t eating a swiss chard souffle?
Hi MM!
it’s yum
I listen to the podcast of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me on my morning commute once a week.
I do not always succeed keeping my laughter silent on the crowded commuter train.
Whimsy and happiness is seeing our transplanted CA six year old enjoying the snow. He sees the first flake fall, runs for his boots and sled, and says “It’s snowing, Daddy! Can we go sledding?” I tell him he has to wait with the sled until there’s more than a dusting on the ground.
Waiting for enough snow to cover the ground can be tough if you’re six.
*g*
Not any easier for our 8 year old.
KC doesn’t get that much snow, and it was funny for a transplanted Detroiter to see our office close at noon for the first ’storm’ of the year’s projected 1-2 inches.
Good morning Christy et al,
Scarecrow was with us at New Years and we watched I Was a Male War Bridewith Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan. Great for laughs! And then later that night another Grant movie, Holiday with Kate Hepburn.
Love the old movies especially at holiday time.
Christmas time I always take out my David Sidaris Christmas Elf recording and watch a Claymation Christmas—both funny and beautiful at the same time.
Now I have some serious work to do in prep for tomorrow. Will pop in when I need a break.
I’m in Chi now, where we get a bit more snow.
aw, egr – who would not want to make friends with you?
so glad to hear that you are having a lovely visit with christy and family.
E.B. White’s “Stewart Little”, teh book and 4 and up are a good combination.
RevDeb
“His Girl Friday” is my all-time fave.
It *defines* snappy dialogue.
I heard that crack about Swiss chard! “Stalkey and Company” by Rudyard Kipling still makes me howl, and the “Just So Stories” are wonderful too.
Hiya Elliot
Roz Russell was made for that part.
Mmmmm…swiss chard, sauteed in some extra virgin olive oil with a little minced garlic, some hot pepper flakes and a little pancetta…nummy.
oh, for the list of happy things… of course – visits from friends old and new. one of the best things in the whole world.
For whimsy — Rocky and Bullwinkle. Amusing in both first and second childhoods.
Laugh out loud books for ladies? Try Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. The funniest novels i’ve ever read. I buy them for all my vacations.
Good morning from L.A. What a lovely post to read first thing this a.m. Have a great visit, egregious & Christy & family.
“The Young Folks Shelf of Books,” a ten volume collection that I managed to wrestle away from my brothers, is something I still pick up from time to time & have xeroxed to teach reading, writing, & story structure, even to adults. Among a zillion wonderful fairy tales, stories from history, myths, & poems, these are old, old favorites:
The Story of Molly Pitcher- Agnes Reppelier
Thunderbird Limps Home- Ernie Pyle
The Devil and Daniel Webster- Stephen Vincent Benet
The Pumpkin Giant- Mary E. Wilkins
How They Broke Away to Go to the Rootabaga Country- Carl Sandburg
The Magic Fishbone- Charles Dickens
and one Dad used to read aloud to us during the holidays:
Christmas with Queen Bess-John Bennett
“Holiday” is subversive, speaking of holiday movies ;)
would love to hear the Christmas Elf recording, he’s hysterical, as is his sister Amy.
Enthusiasticly agree
The commentary about politicos and the press is apparently timeless as well.
Two movies that reduce me to helpless laughter are “Hopscotch” and “The In-Laws.” Serpentine, Shel, serpentine… And Hopscotch is where I learned that FBI stands for Fucking Ball-Busting Incompetents.
I’m reading this now, seeings that I don’t have little one’s nostalgia will have to replace whimsy!
White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s (Paperback)
by Joe Boyd (Author)
“This is the best book about music I’ve read in years, and a gripping piece of social history.”-Brian Eno
When Muddy Waters came to London at the start of the 1960s, a kid from Boston called Joe Boyd was his tour manager; when Dylan went electric at the Newport Festival, Joe Boyd was plugging in his guitar; when the summer of love got going, Joe Boyd was running UFO, the coolest club in London; when a bunch of club regulars called Pink Floyd recorded their first single, Joe Boyd was the producer; when a young songwriter named Nick Drake wanted to give his demo tape to someone, he chose Joe Boyd
My neighbor’s Great Dane, Annabelle has brought to life both Marmaduke and Scooby Doo for me. She always makes me smile, and whenever she come out of her house, she immediately looks to see if I’m out. I have to admit, I do the same thing.
Those are good. I also like the Agatha Raisin mysteries for sheer giggle out loudness. M.C. Beaton writes them — hilarious stuff. Can read one in a coupla hours, so they are great for a break.
Amy Sedaris on Martha Stewart was almost as funny as John Lydon on Tom Snyder.
Mrs Peterr and I have been treated to a Shrek marathon (I, II, and III) by our kid, who had the first already and got the other two for Christmas. Mrs. Peterr turned to me at the end and said “this reminds me of Rocky and Bullwinkle, for all the adult humor wedged in alongside the kids stuff.”
In the third movie, Eric Idle plays a wonderful new-age wizard/therapist named “Merlin,” there’s a nerdy kid names “Artie Pendragon” whom Shrek is trying to get to be the new king, etc. . . . It’s hilarious for the adults who know the King Arthur stories.
Carl Sandburg’s Rootabaga Stories in the definition of whimsy. Here’s a sampling of the stories you’ll find, all so wonderful to read aloud. Plus you can find mp3 versions online!
The Story of Jason Squiff and Why He Had a Popcorn Hat, Popcorn Mittens and Popcorn Shoes
The Potato Face Blind Man Who Lost the Diamond Rabbit on His Gold Accordion
The Wedding Procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle and Who Was in It
Never Kick a Slipper at the Moon
…etcetera etcetera…
I always loved books by Virginia Lee Burton. She got a Caldicot award for The Little House. Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel is another title from her . My favorite book was Choo Choo: The Story of a Little Engine Who Ran Away. Just great illustrations that she did herself all through these books.
Whatssamatta U
Mr. ReddHedd suggests old SNL. Anyone for some Bass-o-matic.
Christy and all young parents, you must read the little ones “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. It has everything. Naughty children (which kids love), humor, compassion and the true Christmas story. A really lovely story. It was assigned to my oldest when she was in 4th grade (I think). She told me how much she was enjoying it so I read it, too. Wonderful.
The “Santaland Diaries”(Sedaris) can be downloaded as a MP3. They are as funny as anything Ive heard.
I love “Pull up a Chair” but don’t forget to get up out the chair and keep that exercise resolution!
good morning Christy, the Byrds ‘64-’65 and a good cup of coffee and a wonderful post like this….life is good,thank you.
Absolutely! And the movie is fabulous as well. We watch it at least once every Christmas season.
ROFL!
Who could ever forget the Bass-o-Matic!
I love this thread but I have to go help my husband hang his one man show at our local gallery.
Sandburg’s stories are wonderful to read aloud. My daughter @ age 25 still makes the occasional reference to the blue slab ticket that gets you on the train to Rootabaga Country. Thanks for the tip on mp3 versions!
Good Mornin’,
I woke this morning to my littlest one (just now 4)
climbing in to bed and curling up snuggley. The best!
Good luck and congratulations to your husband! A one man show is quite an honor.
Lover of the Bayou! Guess that was a bit later though.
My kids are older now, and there are no grandkids in sight, (thank God), but I still remember the words from Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore.
“Pigs from London, Pigs from France, Pigs in just their underpants”. There’s also a pig dressed like Elvis.
oh thanks!
Amy’s party book is also a scream:
I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence
and what MM said!
The Santaland Diaries are very funny. And having been through the maze at Macy’s in NYC when my niece was young makes all the funnier for me.
I loved Miss Potter.
Good morning everyone. I recently discovered that a favorite cartoon from my childhood that I hadn’t seen for years is available on youtube, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you “The Dover Boys At Pimento University“
As for books, every once in a while I meet someone who also has fond memories of the Freddy the Pig series by Walter R Brooks.
Good morning everyone. Thank you all again for keeping me sane. Delurking to share….not from my childhood but I work in a school library environment and when “Stellaluna” was published, I fell in love. She’s my hero:
From Wikipedia:
A mother fruit bat loves her baby called Stellaluna very much and would never let anything happen to her. When the two are attacked by an owl, the predator knocks Stellaluna out of her mother’s safe embrace. Soon the baby bat ends up in a bird’s nest filled with three baby birds named Pip, Flitter and Flap. The mother bird will let Stellaluna be part of the family only if she eats bugs, not hang by her feet and sleep at night.
When all the baby animals grow, they learn to fly. When Stellaluna and the birds are out playing, it gets dark and the birds go home without her because they will not be able to see in the dark. Stellaluna keeps flying, but when Stellaluna’s wings hurt, she stops to rest. When she did, she hung by her thumbs. Soon another bat comes to ask why Stellaluna is hanging by her thumbs. She told the bats the story of what had happened after they were attacked by the owl. Another bat interrupts the story. That bat is Stellaluna’s mother. Stellaluna and her mother are happily reunited and Stellaluna finally understands why she is so different.
I have the book, the CD and a little wrap-around Stella pet that I keep on my refrigerator door handle.
Clarence White!
I picked up a couple of these at Half-Price Books for my daughter.
She’s ‘not that into them’ just yet, but I am patient.
I made reference to this on a thread of Swopa’s a couple weeks ago- for laugh out loud merriment there’s nothing quite like the cd compliations of BBC Radio’s “The Goon Show,” or as cast member Spike Milligan referred to it, “The highly esteemed & pressed Goon Show”:
Goon Show on CD
I don’t know how to do the html thingies but the Mark Teague books are a family favorite.
I had forgotten how long he has been gone.
My wonderful sister gave me a two disc Tribute to Fats Domino for Christmas so some nice new music to keep me company.
And I still go back and re-read all the Kipling stories every so often. Truly loved The Jungle Book and Riki Tiki Tavi when I was a young’un. As well as The Wind In The Willows
I’m rereading and old Nero Wolfe novel this week.
Rex Stout’s character development is brilliant.
Did someone say “Underpants”?
The “Adventures of Captain Underpants” is a series of spew-inducing stories for beginning readers, written by a guy named Dav Pilkey. In an interview describing how the series came to be, he says:
Click on the “Grownups Guide” button at the link for more.
My kid tried to read the first book out loud to me one day, but would laugh so hard that he had to stop to catch his breath. Finally he gave up, saying (very seriously), “You’ll just have to read it for yourself, Dad. It’s just too funny for me to read it to you.”
I’d like to give you an example of Amy Sedaris the hostess
how long until you could catch a breath after that one?
btw, we are watching classic Bugs Bunny cartoons this morning. At the moment, the Daffy Duck as Robin Hood one is on. Mwahahahahahahaha…
Yoiks, and away! SPLAT!
Edwards says that Clinton’s Third Place finish in Iowa could be the end of her campaign:
http://politicalticker.blogs.c…..-suggests/
(CNN) — Democrat John Edwards seemed to suggest Friday Hillary Clinton’s third place finish in Iowa may have rendered the New York senator effectively out of the presidential race.
Speaking at an early-morning campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, Edwards pointed to entrance polls indicating Iowa voters overwhelmingly listed “change” as the most important attribute they are looking for in a candidate. That means, he added, there are now only “two choices.”
“I’m walking backwards to Christmas”
This is what happens when the County Board of Supervisors hires an election official from Ohio:
SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUES SECRETARY OF STATE BOWEN:
(San Diego does not want to count 10% of the vote in a close election of less than one half of one percent between candidates.)
December 18, 2007 San Diego County filed a complaint against Secretary of State Debra Bowen for allegedly exceeding her authority in cracking down on electronic voting machines.
The suit targets a directive by Bowen that counties using any of four electronic voting systems (including Premier/Diebold) conduct a manual tally of 10 percent of randomly selected precincts if a contest’s margin of victory is less than one-half of 1 percent.
To quote information from an article from the Sacramento Bee:
“We’re objecting based on the fact that it didn’t go through the Legislature, it didn’t go through any kind of regulatory process, and it isn’t really a workable plan,” Seiler said.
This lawsuit has been approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Other counties are not a party to the lawsuit but conceivably could be affected by its outcome.
Edwards is my fave, but that statement is as whimsical as anything from Sandburg.
“Cold Comfort Farm” by Stella Gibbons is hilarious
I second the Evanovich Stephanie Plum series
Anne Lamott pretty much across the board
Suzanne linked up the “What’s Opera, Doc?” YouTube the other night on Late Nite . . .
I wait every year for Martha Grimes’ latest fiction offering. She never lets me down, wit, clever plots, and very dry humor. If you can, rad her books in the order written, but this is not essential in order to enjoy them.
This christmas, as every year, my twentysomething kids and i watched The Muppet Christmas Carol, laughed out loud and felt great at the end of it.
I’ve been pimpimg the newer film Paris Je T’aime for the last few weeks to everyone i know for a feel great film all about love.
thanks for the making music in 60s recommendation. my son will love that and we are big Eno fans here.
I’ve been trying to get The Peanut interested in the Mary Poppins books by P.L. Travers. I think they may be more amusing as an adult than when I read them as a kid, but it may be too early for the read for her.
Guess I’ll just have to read them for myself instead. *g*
And for sheer unabated whimsy?
William Bennett’s “Book of Virtues”
“My Pet Goat”
“Constitution for Dummies” by George W. Bush
Oh, and a reminder gang — we have the Book Salon for Craig Unger’s Fall Of The House Of Bush this afternoon at 5 pm ET. It is a fantastic book — very well documented throughout — and the salon with Craig and John Anderson (of Follow the Money) should be great today.
So just a reminder for everyone…
Love the Captain Underpants books! My son would do the same thing, except, he would come staggering and slurring with laughter out of his bedroom holding the page he wanted to show me and would try to tell me why it was funny. Of course, I would end up in the same condition after reading the page. LOL I loved the center of each book where you place your hand on one page and then quickly pull the page back and forth to give ya some action packed fun!
Find a collection of Uncle Remus stories to read, that is tall cotton for kids
Got the CD & it’s hilarious.
As far as favorite Goon Show broadcasts, I’ve got to go with “Six Charlies in Search of an Author.”
The Goon Show is one of Monty Python’s primary influences, according to Cleese & Palin in an interview I heard.
When the rats do their “heat wave” dance after Kermit asks for more coal and Scrooge yells at him, I laugh out loud every time. We watched that several times this year, as The Peanut has recently discovered the joy that is Muppets. *g*
Eloise at the Plaza?? My twentysomething daughter STILL quotes from that at will.
Oh Yes! And Uncle Wiggly as well. (My dad was from Mississippi.)
“The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter” by Dick Cheney
Two entirely different types of movies to make you laugh out loud: Ratatouille and Kinky Boots. Both guaranteed to cheer you up.
As for books, rereading Charlie & the Chocolate Factory always fills my irony/sarcasm tanks as an adult yet still reminds me of when this book was read to me as a 4 year old.
Roald Dahl is marvelous.
Matilda is a delightful movie as well.
Is that really a book?? OMG too funny considering Carson McCullers committed suicide. Now that is black humor.
Kinky boots? Sounds interesting…
This video made me laugh out loud yesterday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX1rLv_hNeI
Is that wrong? Should I seek professional help?
Tumbled into my snarky mode there for a minute. Got going on books that should have/could have been written by others, based on title.
Case in point: The Velveteen Rabbit by Jimmy Carter
Ooooh…I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the Great Glass Elevator…and pretty much anything else that Roald Dahl ever wrote. It’s been ages since I’ve read those — thanks for the reminder. :)
hey, Kay. Cold enough fer ya? Have you managed to dig out of the snow? Are you rural or urban, uh, as urban as we mainers get?
I have a wonderful memory of visiting his home in Atlanta, The Wren’s Nest with my mother and my little sister, whereupon my scrupulously honest mother ripped off the little old lady auxiliary claiming we kids were both underage. She never lived that one down, not ever.
Seriously, the home itself was charming to see, especially that brier patch.
For reading aloud to real young ones,you can’t beat Dr.Seuss. I after about the third repitition, I can really throw myself into “Sam I Am.” I don’t know if the kids care for it, but it’s hard to get me to stop.
Pretty much anything by Mark Twain. Not exactly whimsical, but dang funny.
I pre-ordered “How to Rig an Election”. I’m sure there’s no way FDL would invite the SOB who wrote it for Book Salon (I hated giving him my money). But, could we have a Book Salon sans author? I expect it to be quite interesting.
Yesterday it was 2 degrees. Warm I tell ya! This weekend? It could reach 40 degrees. We’re thinking of going to the beach ’cause it’s gonna be so warm. LOL
The cord to my digital camera is under the snow, so I’m hoping today I can find a replacement. I’ve taken lots of pics and one video of the latest storm and am hoping I can get them up on my blog. We got over 15 inches in the last storm. I can only pahk one cah in the driveway now. ;-)
Marion @28 — Hopscotch — Walter Mathau, Glenda Jackson & filmed in Savannah !
Raven @ 29 — White Bicycles, the ‘06 hit Christmas present,resides permanently on my husbands’s bedside table.
KittyKitty, I’m in Oxford County (Oxfud, as we like to say heeyah). ;-) I’m in the foothills of the mountains.
Oh, and I came across these books while perusing boingboing.net before the holidays and ordered a set for my twin grand nieces (age 4) who live in Salsomaggiore, Italy. They love her.
Sardine in Outerspace. A true anarchist if I ever saw one.
If you go HERE you can read an excerpt.
Brilliantly drawn.
For adult whimsy, the blog “Chase Me Ladies,I’m in the Cavalry,” is hard to beat, both the posts and the comments. Definitely no children allowed.
Morning everyone. Warming up to the 20’s here today, and I’m taking my son skiing. Yea! It’s fun skiing with a 13 year old (well, he snowboards); he gets me to try all sorts of things – little jumps, skiing into the woods etc that I would never do on my own.
We’ve been cracking up lately with old Marx Brothers movies. Is it Duck Soup that is about Freedonia? I think so. We get goofy with laughter watching the antics of Harpo.
Ditto for Charlie Chaplin. We were helpless with laughter, almost had to turn it off, when we watched the dance scene in, I think it was The Idle Class.
As someone who was raised on the Uncle Remus stories as well as the ones I mentioned earlier, I would only offer the caution that reading them now, they should also be used for teaching. Honesty and all that.
Mrstrailerco @ 49 — Is that the same author as “Piggy in the Puddle”?
“See the piggy. See the Puddle. See the muddy little puddle. See the Piggy in the Middle of the Muddy Little Puddle. See him woggle, See him wiggle in the very merry middle….” Goood times
Actually, there are some blogs that make me laugh out loud. I’ve learned not to go to TBogg when I’m at work. But, even here at FDL, some of you people are sooo witty that I appear insane at my desk.
FYI….I shared the dancing Cockatoo with my co-workers. We were all quite impressed.
That cockatoo knew how to bust a move…
I’m busy adding all your book suggestions to my amazon.com wish list. I’ll check them out later.
I agree. Even Christy’s post this morning had me laughing! It’s fun to be around sarcasm, otherwise, I probably would have dried up and blown away by now.
I grew up with the Goons (not that the Goons ever grew up). The escape from Dartmoor prison will be a favourite forever.
Marx Brothers’ comedic anarchy is good for what ails you. Have you tried watching any W.C. Fields to go with?
“It’s a Gift” & “The Bank Dick” are particular favorites around here.
Which immediately brings to mind Spike Milligan’s “Silly Verse For Kids”.
http://www.amazon.com/Silly-Ve…..038;sr=1-1
If you can get hold of this, do. The illustrations (also by Milligan) are great, and the poems are hilarious. I need to find a copy for the nieces.
I bought “White Bicycles” after Joe Boyd had a speaking engagement at a local bookstore. He speaks as well as he writes! This is a very engaging “inside view” from a guy who watched a lot of the changes in music occur from the 1960’s through today. The book covers the period from the time Boyd was a college student in Boston in the early 60’s where he started promoting unknown Blues musicians on campus through his jazz phase, into the revolutionary shift between folk purism to amped up folk-rock. Then he hits the late ’60’s and the psychedelia scene.
I always through Boyd was British, but he is a very sophisticated Yank, smart and affable…and remarkably healthy given the amount of drugs he apparently consumed back in the day when he was running anarchist concert venues in London.
Boyd today is a producer, you might find his name on a lot of well-known records (particularly on those of his most recent musical love…international or “World” music…he founded Hannibal Records in the mid 1970’s)…but just as amusing are “the bands that got away” due to various machinations of agents, competitors, and corporate buy-outs by ignorant business magnates who simply had no clue what they were doing.
I fully agree. The’re good, in the way of Aesop’s Fables, but dangerous. I once used the term “tar baby” to describe someone who caused trouble for anyone who contacted them. There was no problem, but I realised almost immediately that it could have really insulted some.
Pukoon!
More whimsy: Mrs. PiggleWiggle.
The “Basil” episode of Fawlty Towers.
I can’t stop laughing at ‘Willard’ senn see this:
South Park: All About Mormons
Holy cripes! Double take. There’s a mouse in that cup on top. My bleary eyes didn’t even catch it at first. LOL
Here’s one of my favorite W.C. Fields, “Honest John,” for anyone who has a couple of minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEIUW5Rslrc
The guy who plows me out is a native mainer, so his plowing mantra is “plow the whole damn yard”, which leaves me with quite a mess each spring to fix. Yaad all torn up and such. This year i tried to tell hm, just one row to garage and a bit for another car, “Yup!” he says, and proceeds to plaw up the whole place again! He just got divorced, his wife told me she just couldn’t seem to talk to him, that he didn’t listen. doh
Remember ~ “Preview is my friend!”
i’m just south of owl’s head on the coast.
More coffee, CarolynU? *g*
I don’t think I’ve sseen W.C. Fields in…40 years. (wow, that makes me feel kinda old) Thanks for the suggestion.
Great tip on the Milligan book, thanks.
Nomolos @ 107, you are so lucky to have heard the Goons on radio- I had to wait for my eldest brother to bring their albums home from university to catch on to the Goons special brand of off-the-wall hilarity.
Yeah, but I’m checking the cup first.
Wow, so many smile-making books, movies, etc I wouldn’t know where to begin. Surfing around this morning I made a discovery. I don’t know how long he’s being doing this but I thought it so far out I had to share, at the risk of someone saying “Where the hell you been?” Howard Dean, of all people, posts a poem a week. This week it’s from Emily Dickinson.
http://poem-of-the-week.blogsp…..emily.html
You can bet yer sweet bippy I bookmarked this site.
And LO, the Goons begat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eCdIe0wdvU
A friend’s eight-year old finds this hilarious, as I did, and still do.
Inkspell and Inkheart by C. Funke (Great imaginative escapes!)
Tried to read Uncle Remus to my son 25 years ago and found it way outdated racially. Can’t imagine reading it to children now.
Good morning. This year it wasn’t movies that we all got involved in, it was board games. The grandkids got the following: Risk, Clue, Uno, Horse Monopoly, and a Disney Sorry for the 6 yr old.
Clue has taken center stage and even Daddy likes to play thinking he can formulate the answer with lots of notetaking. BUT the 8 yr old girl, who seems to be not be paying attention much, has won almost every single time, and the look on her Dad’s face when she guessed right was priceless. Playing a seemingly clever kid game proved to be a challenge. And the tournament was ON.
We played Clue all New year’s Day and the 8 yr old won 90% of the time. Go figure. Finally her Daddy gave up, we made her a “Clue” crown and moved on to Risk. There Daddy got beaten by Mommy. And the next game the kids and Daddy ganged up on Mommy and she finally lost.
Had a very memorable day with lots of laughs, closeness and memories be forged.
And here’s one for the kiddies i forgot. Dont know if it’s in print or not. I got a copy from a second hand book store.
The Goops! (And those who are like them? or something like that.)
Wonderful mischievious Goops! poetry and stories.
here’s a taste: (from memory, this stuff sticks to your ribs!)
The Goops they lick their fingers
The Goops they lick their knives
They spill their broth on the tablecloth
OH! they lead disgusting lives
The Goops they talk while eating
And loud and fast they chew
And that is why I’m glad that I
Am not a Goop. Are you?
For sheer roll on the floor laughing (and incredible production values), look up the “Animaniacs”cartoon series. It was produced by Spielberg and was televised from ‘93-98.
Every episode had its own score and the music was played by a 40 piece orchestra. The main characters, siblings named Wakko, Yakko, & Dot, lived in Burbank having just escaped from the tower on the WB lot.
This ran during my daughter’s HS years. We had an appt. to watch every afternoon … pure escapism. It was the “Muppets” of her adolescence and provided marvelous stress relief.
The series is one of those written on many levels –won Emmys and a Peabody. Read the Wikipedia entry for more. Think I’ll buy her the DVD series as a late Christmas gift! *g*
LOL! Yessah, gotta get ridah of the snow! Since I’m not a large land owner, my driveway is small enough to not need a plow guy or even a snow blower, but that didn’t stop the old man next to me the other morning from coming over and plowing the beginning of my driveway that was 3 foot ‘mountain’ of snow and ice. (What is it with men and their snow blowers? LOL) Of course, the snow pile at the beginning of my driveway is so high (it’s now level with one of the street signs) prevented me from seeing him and I only knew he was coming over because the sound of his snow blower was getting louder and louder! LOL
I’m ready for spring, you?
Beautiful area. ;-)
Can’t forget Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book
E is for Ernie. Ernie is a genie who lives in the ceiling. Ernie likes to eat eggs. Would you like to feed Ernie?
His trilogy of war memoirs are required reading, too. Both side-splitting and moving. The man was a genius.
I never stop laughing at the movie “Elf”. Santa telling Buddy “There’s like 30 Ray’s Pizza’s and they all claim to be the original – they’re not. The original one is on 11th.” Makes me smile just thinking about it.
Also, with a 13 year old daughter who woke up the other day and said she dreamt we had a party and had all the D’s in one room and all the R’s in another room, and commented “Giuliani didn’t even campaign in Iowa, did he?” while the caucus returns came in, I broke down and bought all the trashy InStyle and Us magazines I could find at Walgreen’s so we could just flip through and see “Who Wore It Best”. Sometimes mind candy is just the ticket.
Here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..re=related
I’ve become enchanted by Precious Ramotse of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency (as channeled by Alexander McCall Smith). I understand that the Miss Marple of Botswana is soon to be in a motion picture.
http://www.randomhouse.com/fea…..books.html
please forgive me, I had to post this…sorry
“You sit upon a throne of lies!”
Boardgames are such a great way to get the family to sit down together. My son and I still play Monopoly and my sister gave him an updated version for Christmas. Instead of money, each player uses their bank card in an ATM machine. Prices have been updated and so have the tokens. My favorite new one is a purse with a little dog in it. How’s that for whimsy?
Richard Scarry books were the overwhelming silly favorites of my now adult children. The 27 year old lost his keys over Christmas and was tearing the house apart. When he found them under a table next to the sofa he said “Goldbug!” You never forget the funny happy stories from childhood.
My sweet bippy has been bet, raised and called so many times, not sure I can do that any more. Is the Dean site for real? The photo is hilarious.
I’ll see your Goons and raise you a Peter Sellers!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLongUBPm5Y
Thanks!
On the CD along w/I’m Walking Backwards for Christmas are these episodes: The Greenslade Story, The Treasure in the Lake, Wings Over Dagenham, & The Rent Collectors.
Laugh ’til your face hurts sketch comedy…
Anything with Gene Wilder.
For whimsy — Rocky and Bullwinkle. Amusing in both first and second childhoods.
Seconded.
A long time ago, I bought an excellent Dudley Do-Right T-shirt at the (who produced those?) store on Sunset Blvd in L.A. And the woman who rang up the sale – the lady who did the voice of Rocky! I think her husband did Bullwinkle(?), but didn’t meet him. Cool shirt, and of course I insisted on hearing her do a little bit of “Rocky” for me.
Wish I still had the T-shirt, but it disappeared along with an evil ex-GF. *s* Good trade overall I guess, but I wish she’d left my shirt…
I highly recommend Laurie King’s mysteries. One series is about Mary Russell, Sherlock Holme’s wife (oh, do you think you missed something?). Another is about a female detective in San Fran, who happens to be lesbian. A third series is in the Pacific Northwest.
All are smart and intelligent women leads and worthy of your time.
Last week, I reread Jane Austen. My husband is curious about my rereading it, but I describe it as sitting in a sweet, soothing stream of enriched prose. The construction of sentences, the arch irony, and the perfect vocabulary all calm me immensely.
(ad astra, formerly NZ Expat)
i’m actually loving all the snow BUT for once have relief from cold in site as am heading to New Mex for a week at end of Jan to do some research. Lame excuse really, just wanna get away. A rare thing. i usually slog through the whole maine winter with come kind of perverse pride. I’m gettin over that after 15 years of it. Guess i’m either a lightweight or everyone is nuts.
Geez, serious technical difficulties. I’m trying to link to a youtube video “802″ – it’s a hilarious take on what passes for rap here in Vermont. Sorry I can’t seem to make the link go, but it’s worth checking out. (you don’t have to like rap to get a good laugh)
YES yes! richard scarry! Lowlie Worm!
For gracious and sane parental survival: Nancy White’s Momnipotent.
http://www.nancy-white.com/nw__200.htm#mom
Especially “Mammas Have A Secret”.
Good morning Christy and Firepups. I watched a DVD of Singin’ in the Rain with Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds recently and it definitely lifted my spirits.
Did you see Alec Guinness in Noblesse Oblige? Wonderful. And thanks for the Sellers
I liked “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” but you have to like Hunter Thompson to appreciate it. It probably also helps if you lived through the era, but if you haven’t tried it yet, you might want to try it now. To me, it’s perfect for the primary season. Compare and contrast, I always say.
I do the same with Dickens from time to time. Some things never get old…
I love Laurie King. Also Reginald Hill and Robert Crais if you like to read mysteries.
For other books, some of my favorite writers these days are Julia Glass, who won the National Book Award for Three Junes, a beautiful book; and a fabulous writer Sena Jeter Naslund who wrote an unputdownable book Ahab’s Wife, with one of the most interesting female protags ever written. Even better if you ever read Moby Dick, but not necessary. She just came out with another one Abundance, which is fascinating – about Marie Antoinette.
I’m not familiar with it. My favourite is “Kind Hearts and Coronets.”
Cinnamonape@137 — Have you also sampled the Alexander McCall Smith books set in Edinburgh?
Am I really the first to mention Calvin and Hobbes???
a classic, especially since he played most all of the parts, love him.
Try it with Closed Captioning ON. It gets you thru the mumbling.
I am suspicious of those who will only play the board games chess and backgammon. I know people like this. I Mean , Where are the laughs there folks? I get along much better with folks (like my kids) who can throw hours away on clue, monopoly, trivial pursuit (personal fave), risk, even operation or candyland for the young ones. Shoots and ladders, we got em all. Staying up all night, little ones asleep, with friends and family playing poker or trivial pus=rsuit in the 80s, now THOSE were good times.
Had a boyfriend once who hated board games except chess and backgammon. Needless to say, that relationship had severe limits.
I do believe it is one and the same
Hard to pick the best lines. We actually have a little illustrated book around here somewhere with the real keepers.
Luv Calvin and Hobbes. We have several of the “best of” books. That and a Far Side one. Always good for giggles…
(”Midvale School for the Gifted.”)
you mean these two?
Heh, heh. I was talking about the book!
See, I just laughed out loud!
martha grimes! martha grimes! martha grimes! wonderful mysteries and witty and dry as a bone. never fails to bring the laughs.
Was just going to throw Far Side’s hat in the ring. I love animals doing human things. Ever since they used to dress up the poodles in tutus on Bozo.
“God as a kid tries to make a chicken in his room…”
what’s that british cartoon ?wallace and gromet! wonderful offbeat humor for all ages.
Did someone mention martha grimes? ; )
I like her work too. Haven’t read her in a while, good suggestion.
KittyKitty@169 –Yes to the Inspector Jury series! The others are way too depressing.
crackin’ good
When will you be breaking Peanut in on the Harry Potter series? Or have you started already?
hardest I ever laughed? The first time I saw Steven Wright at the Comedy Store. Had no idea what was in store, (or that laughing too hard can actually hurt a bit):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnxB6fEyHAk
For sheer zen calming, I like picking up beach glass or shells. The lake we lived by in New Zealand was filled with pumice and the Kiwis on its shores had years of drinking and pitching the bottles in the lake. I reveled in strolling along the shore and picking up the glass bits, polished to smoothness by the pumice. I would find variants of the same kind of shell, gray on Great Barrier Island and the white version on Waihi beach.
Now, I’m in Kansas and there is no such strolling. But on icy days, I walk around and around the upper level concourse of Allen Fieldhouse and I can hear the KU basketball team dribbling and shouting through practice. On dry surface days, I’m out in the country listening to the bird song and the dry grasses rasp against each other. And on the inside days, there are the bright cardinals at the birdfeeders.
All great antidotes to the horrible betrayal that surrounds us. Christy, you remind us to take our antidotes daily and we need the reminders. Thanks.
There’s an older movie Where The Buffalo Roam with Bill Murray that is very funny. It combines several of Hunter’s books. Murray made a great Thompson.
Here’s a great Maine blog to get you through the wintah:
http://thefilecabinet.blogspot.com/
I just found it and am glad I did. I can relate to his observations!
That was funny, and I like Bill Murray in it!
Watching the original “The Producers” with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. True ROTFL. And then to realize the political and cultural subplot that missed the first time.
Mostel was was a serious actor, a blacklist target, an intellectual (also my next door neighbor but I didn’t know it). And the day they wander through NYC cooking up the scheme is Joyce’s Bloom Day. When they finalize the scheme in front of Lincoln Center it turns on the fountains. And NYer to the core (except for baseball preferences)even after 25 years in the BlueBayState, I stood up and cheered.
Cheering for fraud and misrepresentation. Sorry Christy and Looseheadprop. I do defend the rule of law.
Hi Egregious, hope you are enjoying WV’s post Mountaineer victory bliss as well as Peanut immeasurable joy.
I loved the Scarry books as much as the children. My children were all visual learners and would laugh at the wonderful illustrations. I think I am going to dig them out of the closet and read them instead of reading about politics.
Thank you for that.
BOOKs, BOOKS, books!!!!!! Forget the movies MS S – they will come too soon sadly! One proviso- don’t read down to the peanut! You will be amazed at how much more the peanut is capable of following. It will stagger you!!!
Enjoy your period of whimsey.
Kenneth Mars on the roof with those birds! Funny, funny stuff in the original.
Boids.
I still crack up at the movie, Young Frankenstein. Is that wrong? And why do I think of Jean Schmidt now when I observe Cloris Leachman’s character in this movie? Huh.
Last time I’m trying. If this won’t link up, I’ll have to tap it with the hammer:
802
It works! Note to self: you can’t check links in preview mode.
Late in this fun thread, but had to say I am not much of a board game player (not patient enough) but that day with my family around, laughing and munching all the munchies left over from Christmas, will remain a favorite memory for me and the grandkids. Everyone drinking hot chocolate, everyone laughing together, even the 6 yr old could join in. The age span was 6 to 62 (me). T.V. never went on all day. At all.
We laughed, we laughed till we wept. When we do try to watch a movie, it is either the 14 yr that gets bored, or the 6 yr old and someone gets up to do something else. But when we play these board games, no one leaves the room. Great music playing and laughter all around.
First really good Christmas in a while.
One proviso- don’t read down to the peanut!
Um, only knowing Christy from reading her threads and comments, I highly doubt that she needs that suggestion. :)
Good morning Christy. Morning firepups.
Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey?
http://www.deepthoughtsbyjackhandey.com/
ohohoh! just such a magnificent body of work hers.
In addition to the Richard Jury (of Scotland Yard) series, she ’s written two novels that are political: Biting the Moon and her new one, forget the name.
But the BEST are the four that comprise a story about an old hotel in NY state or some wheree undefined. Anyway, character telling the story is 12, Martha very good at this. The End of the Pier, Hotel Paradise, /Cold Flat Junction, and ummm, I forget the name of the last one in that series. Mystery but not the richard jury series. Love the characters she creates whichever series they’re in. Especially the Ex-earl Melrose Plant. You are talking dr/Y british humor with him. And Martha is from Baltimore i believe, lives in england and NM now. She is my fave.
You gotta watch the movie…JDepp is the best!
As for Calvin and Hobbes: http://deathby1000papercuts.bl…..s-ago.html
I still get a kick out of it also. I think my favorite is the scene where he goes in with the monster after telling helpers not to let him out under any circumstances.
I first read this as, you remind us to take our anecdotes daily.
Screwball mystery is my genre of choice for lol reading.
Sarah Caudwell was a master, who unfortunately only published four. Whacky, eccentric and erudite brit. She was a lawyer and used young lawers as characters. Worth digging around for them used. My fave: Thus was Apollo Murdered.
Carl Hiaasen’s insanities crack me up. Haven’t read them all, but Double Whammy was a scream.
Nice to hear Evanovich’s name mentioned. Last week when the world got to be unbearable, I read two in one day – they’d been sitting for a long time. I have nine and eleven in hb, happy to mail to the first taker. Not exactly permanent collection stuff ;-)
Well, you asked what made me laugh:
from TPM
LOL If you saw the vast explosion of books that is our house, including the several caches of children’s books that are The Peanut’s domain, you’d see why that is. *g*
Thank goodness we have several built-in bookshelves in our house, or we’d be in big trouble…
snip snap snur
I got a book of the collected “Sam and Max, Freelance Police” comic book for Christmas, and it’s my whimsical reading before bedtime. They’re bizarre and fun, with plot twists like “Spontaneous human combustion — what a stroke of luck!”
Back in the eighties during the Tylenol poisoning scare, I saw a newspaper article that told folks if they were concerned over anything to go to the hospital where “an anecdote would be provided.”
Swear to Dawg true story.
Before I leave for Ojai & an all day visit to bf’s relatives, this youtube from W.C. Fields’ “It’s a Gift” for those who might never have seen it. Amazing timing in this scene, written by Fields under one of his pseudonyms:
It’s a Gift- Mr. Muckle Scene
that’s really lovely. i think all kids crave that kind of comradery (sp?) with family.
One of Emptywheel’s posts yesterday also made me laugh out loud pretty much throughout the post!
Christy, how old is the peanut?
Breaking: Levy has broken CA/NV border – Possibly 4,000 “stuck”..flooding on NV side…(sorry can’t type well…I have badly sprained wrist..)….
Love that scene! The whole movie cracks me up. “Poo poo undies” is a term I used often when my son was little. ;-)
The original Shrek movie still cracks me up. Lots of adult humor in it! I love how the little king had a big castle, you know, to make up for where he was lacking. LOL!
First let me recover from the impact of that picture…
…
OK. I’m good. I’d have to toss in Julie Andrew’s Mandy into that. I just reread it — I loved it as a child and it actually held up pretty well on rereading. The best children’s books, I think, are the ones that appeal to children, but have details and such that adults can pick up on and enjoy as well…
Anything by Richard Scary or Dr. Seuss, of course. (Ignore the new crud that’s packaged up to look like Dr Seuss and even reuses the drawings but has utter crap for the verses, if you look over the book carefully, you’ll see there’s another author listed for all the Seussification of the book.)
Since my sister has nephews, I’ve been coming across new ones, like The Big Bad Pig and the Three Wolves and other ones that turn the classics upside down ;-)
I had a children’s edition of Arabian Nights that I enjoyed quite a bit. The Little Giant Book of Fairy Tales — I can still see every illustration in that book.
When she’s old enough, read The Hobbit to her. It’s meant to be read aloud and it’s a wonderful story.
That’s all off the top of my head. I was quite a book reader. Still am, but don’t have the time for it I did when younger…!
I love reading more than anything, including politics, eating and even sex. Ahem, sorry.
It’s so gratifying when my 20 year old son goes through My bookshelf looking for something to read. Last one he chose was Vidal’s Empire.
Good gawd! Terrible!
YES! karl hiaasen, epecially the ones with the whacky (but not so much) ex governor!
and so it has come to pass as you tell us the anecdote here :)
Can’t wait for Book Salon!!!
told folks if they were concerned over anything to go to the hospital where “an anecdote would be provided.”
hmmm… maybe they were mental hospitals? (funny farms)
Oh, don’t forget “The Once and Future King” by White. I still love that/them.
Caudwell was great. If I’m not mistaken she was a Tory lawyer who died fairly young and her books feature young single priveleged but relatively impecunious London lawyers whose firm specializes in assisting clients in tax evasion through off-shoring. “Thus was Apollo Murdered” is my favorite as well.
Good morning Dogs! I watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off last night-just stumbled across it, and smiled the whole way through. Reminded me of high school.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8
if you missed this it might give you some giggles
One of the best books I read with Texteen was “Trolley to Nowhere”. Also, along a similar vein was “Half Magic”. I think he was 7 at the time and it opened up wonderful discussions of magic and of time travel and how he or I would use it.
Just received this from a family member:
A true story
A Michigan woman and her family were vacationing in a small new England town where Paul Newman and his family often visited.One Sunday morning, the woman got up early to take a long walk. After a brisk five-mile hike, she decided to treat herself to a double-dip chocolate ice cream cone. She hopped in the car, drove to the center of the village and went straight to the combination bakery/ice cream parlor. There was only one other patron in the store. Paul Newman, siting at the counter having a doughnut and coffee. The woman’s heart skipped a beat as her eyes made contact with those famous baby-blue eyes. The actor nodded graciously and the star struck woman smiled demurely.
Pull yourself together! She chides herself. You’re a happily married woman with three children, you’re forty-five years old, not a teenager!
The clerk filled her order and she took the double-dip chocolate ice cream cone in one hand and her change in the other. Then she went out the door, avoiding even a glance in Paul Newman’s direction.
When she reached her car, she realized that she had a handful of change but her other hand was empty. Where’s my ice cream cone? Did I leave it in the store? Back into the shop she went, expecting to see the cone still in the clerk’s hand or in a holder on the counter or something. No ice cream cone was in sight.
With that, she happened to look over at Paul Newman.
His face broke into his familiar warm friendly grin and he said to the woman,
“You put it in your purse.”
Thanks for the giggle. I get a lot of those here. Also strolling through the assorted LOL cats websites.
Thanks, Christy and fdl pups, for all the thoughts and refs to kids’ books.
i am making a very small movie on early children’s books–mostly chapbooks and primers–my granddaughter, 9 yrs old and perfect and wonderful–is playing short scenes of Little Red Riding Hood and Little Goody Two Shoes. This is amazingly fun and challenging. we are working with little old books, some of them worn to shreds, pieced back together with big stitches, from terribly didactic to whimsical. we are part of a long tradition of the getting and giving of literacy–often through the magic of a dressed up animal!
(formerly known as Ga–our new system does not accept 2-letter names.)
Netflix is updated, library books ordered and YouTubes bookmarked for later. Thanks everyone. Have a great day.
LOL. Great story.
The funniest novel is e a novel by Matt Beaumont. It is not exactly polite and not everyones cup of tea but lol hilarious.
Christy, the horse love began for my daughter around 4 years of age. She loved the Black Stallion series (one stormy day, my husband read to her for five straight hours from these), My Friend Flicka, and Black Beauty. For several years, the house was full of galloping, prancing, neighing, and the flipping of her pony tail. A great time to remember. Your peanut may be approaching that time.
About to head out the door for today, but just want to say this thread is a balm, also a reminder of what we all want from life, a bond w/each other against the ugliness BushCo has tried to force on us all.
This thread in all its purity- the antidote to Bushspeak/lies/corruption.
Sorry for the gooey sentimentalism. Just the way I see it this a.m.
Afterword: “Sheep in a Jeep” (”Sheep in a jeep on a road that’s steep…” hmm, sounds political to me.)
My Grandson desperately wanted a Hobbes stuffed animal for Christmas. Of course there is no such thing as the characters were never licensed. I couldn’t even find a pattern to make one. I finally settled on a Tigger. His mother found an orange cat toy and used fabric markers to make it look more like Hobbes. The boy loves that one, it was close enough. I havn’t seen him without it since.
“If I ran the Internet…”
Do you mean “Adonis”? Can’t find “Apollo”
I read all the Black Stallion series books when I was ten.
Isn’t it funny how a bear likes honey
Buzz, buzz, buzz I wonder why he does…
Years ago I had the privilege of spending some time with her.. She was every bit as delightful as you’d expect and did indeed (as rumored) smoke a corn cob pipe. We were with a pretty raucous crowd at a convention, drank oceans of wine and kicked up our heels big time. It was before her fourth book was completed and I think she may have already been ill. Patricia (Penny) Moyes was with her and being solicitous. Since I was already a die-hard fan, I followed her around a bit like a puppy dog, she graciously included me into “her crowd”. What a loss..
From Wikipedia:
Solai,
Right you are, it is Adonis. Sorry.
Make sure she doesn’t miss Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series. You can start now. When she gets a little older, try Lois Lowry’s Anastasia Krupnik series.
R: TO&FK—-the very first animated version was truly wonderful—I wish Castor and Pollux could blow me to Bermuda right now! T.H.White is on my list of authors that I would have as dearest friends.
Morning to all.
Woke up early, made sure the camera was charged, drove to “la riviere du nord” close to Sainte-Adele. Put on my snowshoes as the sun was rising, and I started my trek on “le parc lineaire du petit train du nord”. I used to snowshoe in the seventies, got myself a new pair over the holidaze. What a difference, light, maneuverable, look like less of a clown when walking… I went down this very steep incline to the river, got there in one piece. Then a fawn looked at me and bolted. Made it out of there happy, tired, fulfilled.
Riviere du Nord
Those are beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
I know I am so late this morning, but I have to put in a word for making your own books. My s-i-l used to have the kids make books and would send us copies. Too great. My nephew made a book when he was very young about growing a money tree, so Dad could stay home and not have to go to work. Too cute, with illustrations.
Then later there was a book about Wildlife Rescue written by my niece, a true story from an adventure Auntie B had with a baby bird.
But my all time faves were made by a little friend from across the street. She was a cat lover from Norway. She wrote many, many stories with wonderful pictures of my various cats and their adventures. Among my favorites of these, written in Norweglish of course, are “Finster Goes to the Moon,” “Finster Goes to the PowWow,” and “Maybelline’s New Car.”
No better stories, none more wimsical.
If you love the Byrds, and Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiassen, check out mysteries by Virginia Swift– Brown-Eyed Girl, Bad Company, Bye, Bye, Love, and Hello, Stranger. Lots of music, laughs, and the bad guys get it in the end.
I thank you for the nice comment. Truly appreciated.
One of the funniest books I’ve ever read is Handling Sin by Michael Malone. Especially funny if you are a southener.
I watched “Ferris Beuller” at 1:00 in the morning. Needed some laughs-funny movie
Jonny English – great Bond spoof
Elf- get to watch Christy as a Twelfth Night celebration!
Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect – has a great message.
Children books:
Junie B
Amelia Bedelia
When Pigs Fly
Christy,
Try Pigs Ahoy by Chris Demarest, and maybe Stinky Cheese Man and other fairly stupid tales by Sciescka (?, spelling) who was apparently named Childrens Literature ambassador of the US recently.
Just saw Will Ferrell in “Stranger Than Fiction” and i have to admit i laughed my ass off. Good luck with your search for the light heart…
OK gang – can’t say this is exactly B-Potter-ish, but the most recent thing that made me laugh out loud were these. Both hilarious. Hockey players may relate….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..&NR=1
Enjoy!
Late to this thread, but haven’t seen where anyone mentioned “Mistress Masham’s Repose” by T. H. White; one of the most beautifully written books I know, with (absent spoilers) a very deep, very satisfying, laugh-so-hard-you-have-to-put-down-the-book moment towards the end. Rowling should pray she’ll ever write anything this good.
This always makes me smile.
http://rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.ytmnd.com/
Holiday Snow Globe – Interactive
A silly little power trip
http://www.freeonlinegames.com…..wglobe.swf
Jez Alborough wrote some wonderful children’s books: “Cupboard Bear” is my favorite. I used to have to recite it to my little one over the phone at night when I worked the evening shift.
I saw a funny movie starring Judy Holliday. Might have been Born Yesterday. Goofy and hilarious.
Your guess is as good as mine. I linked to a number of the poems and the links worked so…. Guess I’ll hafta spend a little time with it.
Someone mentioned Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books. These were also brilliantly dramatized by (I believe) Canadian television which should be available on DVD. (It was VHS in my children’s day.) Funny, loving, whimsical family life through the eyes of the 7 year old little sister.
RED for crsy
A red breasted warbler flits
on to a branch
depending so much upon the silent,
hatted, faces in the crowd.
These days I need Evanovich just to be able to sleep at night.
T.H. White beats Rowling any day IMHO. Thanks for reminding me of my daighter’s utter delight in being read Mistress Masham’s Repose each night during one holiday vacation. A wonderfully plotted story- it’s a surprise some shrewd movie maker hasn’t snapped up this little gem yet, it’s very filmable in our era of CG screen wonders. Peter Jacksonesque….
Re: Sarah Caudwell. I read all her books and liked them a lot. Saw “Juno” with my daughter and loved it. Very funny. Great soundtrack. My daughter has seen it twice more with her friends. Loved the Pullman Dark Materials trilogy and also his Sally Lockhart books. Great stuff. It’s raining and storming here. I am warm and dry. I just made a gingerbread cake with cream cheese frosting and fondue with a lot of wine and some brandy in it. Good food for cold weather. I hope all of you are warm and dry. How terrible it must be to be homeless in this weather. It makes me realize that despite my worries and complaints, I have a lot to be thankful for.