Category Archives: Random Neuron Firings

Over 40 and fabulous

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Yesterday I saw a picture of Kurt Russell, and I thought, “Wow, he looks good for 57 years old.” Then I wondered how many other actors, say, over 40, still look great (and by “great,” I mean “not necessarily drop-dead gorgeous, but really good”). Here’s my list, in somewhat ordered fashion (especially the last 2).

Still Got it After 40 List

And just for my friend Bando:

A couple of these photos, admittedly, were taken before the actors were 40 (both Hughs, for instance), but I liked them, so I posted them.

So who are your favorites? Who else in Hollywood has kept it basically together without destroying his face with cosmetic surgery? Let’s stick to men this time — I’ll do a post on girls later.

Photo credits: Time, Vanity Fair, Universal Pictures, GQ, imdb.com, Associated Press, AMC-TV.

Things That Make Me Happy

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(First, let’s assume that the top of the list is occupied bigtime by my family, my friends, and my students.)

Last night and this morning, I realized there are lots of things that offer me comfort, fun, relaxation, convenience — and interesting reading, if nothing else.

Things That Make Me Happy (in random order)

  1. The Wal-Mart Photo Center. How cool is it to upload your Jakey photos, check a few boxes to order different sizes, and have them ready for pick-up a few days later? I know lots of folks wail on the Wally, and for some good reasons, but you can’t beat this service for convenience, unless you have a really good photo printer at home (which I don’t).
  2. Online shopping. Truly, during the Christmas insanity that rules my life and job, it’s spectacular.
  3. Quiet time. The Thriller stays up late and sleeps in usually till around 8 a.m. That leaves me with the 4:30 – 6:00 a.m. slot for coffee, reading, returning emails, and most importantly – Rockin’ the Bourgeoisie.
  4. Getting prezzies in the mail. Books, especially. But a recent amazing gifty contained two other great loves of my life: software and coffee. (Wave to BoomR — how are you feeling, luv?)
  5. Cooking and baking for the holidays. Mostly because I hope to get to spend some fun time with the girls in the family. Not that the boys can’t cook or bake — we just don’t want them in the kitchen with us, getting in the way, changing the subject, putting their fingers in stuff and generally being pests.
  6. Giving gifts. And wrapping them up all pretty beforehand. My fam will tell you I’m relatively good at it.
  7. Reading before turning out the lights. It’s the last thing I do every night; I don’t think I could go to sleep without it.
  8. The last day of school before Christmas break. It’s stress-free, usually, and everyone’s happy and in the holiday spirit.
  9. Snow days. Not because I want to get out of school (I’m usually too obsessive about missed rehearsals for that), but because of the quiet in the early morning, before the snow plows get going. My street and yard look peaceful and pretty, and since no buses run, there’s not as much activity on the roads.
  10. My good fortune. I’m not wealthy, God knows. I’m a public school teacher with a semi-retired husband. Most of the time, I’m in a panic about school loans, rising fuel and food costs, and whether or not the Mighty Ford Ranger is going to make it another school year of 22 miles one way to work. But still, I have family and friends who love me, and isn’t that what it’s about, really?

So what are some things that make you happy? I covet your lists.

Fink out.

It’s all the rage

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Hey, I want to quit acting, too. Everyone who’s anyone is either doing it, threatening to do it, or talking about it to get press. I can’t keep up with Hollyweird trends. First it’s Scientology, then colonics (eww), Kabbalah, acai berry…what next? Buncha bandwagon jockeys, the lot. It’s a head spinna.

But back to the quitters. Look at the ever-growing list:

  1. Joaquin Phoenix – he’s concentrating on his music. Or is he?
  2. Nicole Kidman – she’s thinking about having more children instead. Err, wait. Maybe not. She’s under contract for at least two more major releases after Australia. One article I read featured the following reader comment: Whoever will they find to speak breathy and act flabbergasted in movies now? HAA
  3. Diane Lane – hates the parts she’s been getting.
  4. Angelina Jolie – she wants to fade away and become a grandmother. Nah, just kiddin’. It was another publicity stunt. (Sorry, but I’m about as sick of seeing the “Jolie-Pitts” everywhere as I am of seeing these guys.)
  5. Nicolas Cage – acting turned him into a monster.
  6. Eddie Murphy – wants to do stage acting and standup.
  7. Gary Oldman – now that would be depressing. Seeing as how the article is over a year old, I hope he’s changed his mind.
  8. Alec Baldwin – couldn’t happen fast enough for me, pal. You said that a year ago and you’re still around — what’s the hold-up?

See, the thing is: don’t threaten to quit. Just QUIT. Bow out gracefully and quietly. Make people wonder aloud where you went, rather than when you’re going to actually leave.

The Thriller and I used to do the IRC thing pretty regularly back in the early days of internet chat (yes, before AOL), when everyone was on dialup. [In fact, read the sentence at the top of the original IRC Primer page. Heh. 93k — I dunno, that might take awhile.] Anyway, we’d be in a channel talking to friends, and some meanyhead would come in and cause trouble. When he/she was given a hard time by the other folks, we’d all get a rambling swan song — the “I Quit!” tirade. Snoozer. Just L-E-A-V-E if you’re leaving. Don’t announce it, fuh cripesake.

Oh, by the way — I’m leaving now, and don’t even try and stop me. I mean it. I’m really going. Right now.

Fink out (I quit!).

B-r-r-r.

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It is freezing in my little rat’s nest this morning. The first really noticeable snow of the season fell last night, and it looks pretty outside my back door.

Clicky:

Several schools in my area are already on a delay — there was lots of snow up Cleveland way, but it’s not too bad here at all. I don’t want a delay…middle school choirs need the rehearsal. Yikes.

It was so cold when I went to bed last night, I slept in a turtleneck, a sweatshirt, 2 pairs of socks, sweats and gloves. Yes, gloves. My little paws were freezin’. Must talk to the Thriller about this issue.

But, of course, there’s always this to calm my freezing, jittery carcass. Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, with just the right amount of vanilla DaVinci, and a double shot of whipped cream. Yummy.

Ok, back to reality. Hit the shower, then the street.

Aloha.

PS – Browns win! Browns win! (‘Bout time.)

Jing-a-ling jing

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I hear Christmas bells in my little pointy head. And not because I’ve been up to my beady eyeballs in Christmas music since mid-October (which I definitely have), but because I happened upon some fabulous toys yesterday while looking for potential prezzies for Jakey’s stocking.

But this isn’t just *any* group of toys; it’s the mother of all groups of toys. Toys we remember from our childhood, and from when our kids were little. Toys that bring back memories. Toys that are still completely boss.

Have a looksee at the following (this will probably bore the youngins, but the crusties will get all nostalgic for sure), and thank Santa for Hammacher Schlemmer (students, we are SO hitting that place in NYC next year) and Back to Basics Toys, who still see the kid under the graying or disappearing hair.

Bozo Bop Bag!

Or, if your tastes truly run to the high end…

So what were your favorite toys? I’ll bet we’ll have a lot of “Hey, I remember that one!” rejoinders.

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PS.

Dear Santa:

I really, really, really promise to be good, if only I could have this. And I promise to only use it at school, and never on Rousseau or Jakey or Helen or Lars. Promise. So please bring it to me, because I want it, and because I need it. And I want it.

Happy Monday.