OK, here goes the count down...

Seven, yes seven days until we head to Minneapolis.

Why Minneapolis?

'cause Moria Vanish loves Mary.



The status in Bowden right now is very unstable. Weather shifts have went from -48 to plus temperatures and our frozen turkey, reserved for March, is in defrost mode out in our garage.

What this means is that I will be cooking another turkey in a couple of days and we will be celebrating a Pseudos Christmas. Oh what fun!!!

I get to celebrate Christmas all over again before going to Minneapolis and meeting a virtual Lou Grant.

Of course, Spain is the destination, but who knows where those planes will take us.

If they can lose luggage, they might be capable of taking us who-knows-where.

We are expected to arrive in Amsterdam on the 22nd.

I'll keep you posted on the turkey situation and let you know of pertinent developments in Moira's quest.

Sandra

OK, it's clear that the characters in Magic of Letters are coming into focus:

Lou Grant is

Michael Cornetto

Murray Slaughter is

Steve McDonnell

And Ted Baxter is none other than our glorious:

Jeff Bush

How the heck did that work out?! Who knows!  

Sandra

Kay, here we go again,



Obviously, you know I like goofing off, but I'm serious with all of our roles.

Minneapolis is grand and now I need to figure out  a new climate!

K so now I better study up and learn how to ask for the bathroom in Spanish.  

Sandra

Not sure if he's still alive, but if he is, Gavin Mcleod probably has more hair than me.

I used to watch Mary when I was a teenager - had a bit of a crush on her.

Have a great holiday Sandra.

Quoted from stevie Not sure if he's still alive, but if he is, Gavin Mcleod probably has more hair than me. I used to watch Mary when I was a teenager - had a bit of a crush on her. Have a great holiday Sandra.

Thank you Stevie. We're flying from Minneapolis over to Amsterdam and then to Barcelona. We'll be there a few days before getting on the cruise.

Yes, the MTM show was very good. From the perspective of the writers and how they developed the characters and the actors who fulfilled those roles in the show.

The following is taken from The Museum of Broadcast Communications

From MBC:

Much of the same style and tone carried over into Brooks and Burns next success, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. At MTM Productions Brooks and Burns were among the first members of a large group of extremely talented individuals, all working in a creatively charged atmosphere established by executive producer Grant Tinker.

Tinker's philosophy was to acquire the services of creative individuals and then assist them in every way possible to become even more productive. Brooks and Burns thrived under the system, working first on The MTM Show, then creating or co-creating, Rhoda, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, Taxi, The Associates, and Lou Grant.

On the basis of these successes the team of Brooks and Burns became known as members of a new group of Hollywood television producers, often referred to as the auteur producers. They were the creative force behind their shows, imparting a recognizable, distinctive style and tone. Indeed, programs created at MTM Productions have been referred to as the defining examples of "quality television."

The programs were noted not only for their wit and quick jokes, but for establishing a focus on character. Most were built around groups of characters related by circumstance or profession rather than by family relations.

They were quickly recognized by critics as something different from the earlier forms of television comedy focused either on zany "situations" or on domestic settings. These new programs were among the first and strongest of the "ensemble comedies" that were to dominate television for decades to come.

Human frailty and the comfort of friends, professional limitations and the joy of co-workers, a readiness to take one's self too seriously at times, matched by a willingness to puncture excessive ego--all these are hallmarks of the Brooks style of ensemble comedy.

While social issues might come to the foreground in any given episode, they were always subordinate to the comedy of human manners, to character. In this way, the MTM shows were distinguished from the more overtly issue-oriented style of Norman Lear.

This focus on character and ensemble has been passed down through professional and industrial relationships into the work of other producer-writers in shows as diverse as ER and Hill Street Blues, and programs such as Cheers, Murphy Brown or Seinfeld are clear descendants of the work of Brooks and his various partners.

**

The light that was in the writers and actors is something very special indeed.

Perhaps I'll sit down to enjoy some of the old episodes this year sometime.


OK, now I better get down to business.

Sandra

In the following video, Carl says, "We have traveled this way before and there is much to be learned.

I'm going somewhere. I'm performing a thought experiment, and when I recognize who I'm playing with, as co-partners, it's never so lonely as it would be otherwise.

So I'm all packed to travel. Basically, I've packed a lot of black and white clothes, some small light prints- things that don't need ironing and things that I can lux out easily if I need to.

I packed some flax chips because they are my standard night time snack. The vodka, I'll get on the plane or the ship.

I've got Name the Wind, a novel by Patrick Rothfuss packed and a book of intentions. I've got an Asus Eee notebook also ready in carry-on.

All standard health and beauty items are all check-check and double check.

Now I'm wondering, what else might I like to bring.

I know. I want to bring some gifts for people that I meet along the way.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Whatever it might be, it needs to hold sentiment and be light to carry.

Here's another Carl Sagan remix: (I know... from Mary Tyler Moore to Carl Sagan... go figure huh?)



Sandra

Have fun Sandra!

btw, the boat's name isn't SS Craven is it?  

Quoted from Grandma Bear Have fun Sandra! btw, the boat's name isn't SS Craven is it?

Thanks Pia,

It's called the Norwegian Jade, but if we write another ship themed script, I'll have some experience of what it's like.

It feels strange as time gets closer to leaving. Especially since, like you might remember from an earlier post, that a turkey we had out in the garage had started to thaw out because of warmer temperatures and now I've suddenly got to cook turkey again.

Things are starting to get rushed again. It feels all pre Christmas all over again.



Sandra

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. K so now I better study up and learn how to ask for the bathroom in Spanish.

Donde esta el bano?

Quoted from Shelton Donde esta el bano?

Thank you so much for reminding me!!! I need to drum this well into my head because I think it's the most important question that I will need to know.

I wonder if they have the man and woman symbols on the doors?

Sandra

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. I wonder if they have the man and woman symbols on the doors?

Just beware of the one with three legs.


Not sure if it's normal or not, but the ladies' room in the factory at work has "Damas" on it.

Quoted from Shelton Just beware of the one with three legs. Not sure if it's normal or not, but the ladies' room in the factory at work has "Damas" on it.

Damas sounds like dames to me.   Then again it has the "damn" kind of thing goin' on too.

I like to use word association, but that might get me into trouble.

Sandra

Peace,

I'm just about finished the script that is going live despite its imperfections and is going to kick off the real journey that I will experience on the cruise.

I'll try and send it out tomorrow.

It's called "All Down But Nine". It's a Magic of Letters" script and my goal has been to rally on the winds of what Jonny initiated. He set the ball in motion; so I figure since he brought out  the flag, I will wave it.

The character of Moira Vanish was created in the 7WC. She's based upon myself. She's not me, but she is loud and definitely wants to speak; so she's definitely "part" of me.  I think I'll find out more as I write her. Right now, I know she's scatted about within the scripts of Simply.

She's on the run and knows why in one reality, but in others, she doesn't know much at all. In fact, she's so "not herself", she has a hard time understanding what a "sugar cube" is.

She asks herself. "What the hell is a sugar cube? Who the hell invented a sugar cube? And why?"

I'll take notes while I'm on the road, "water" or wherever I am and I'll try and relay back to you all as much as I am able.

Now to

The David Lynch Thread:

Quoted from James McClung Just saw Mulholland Drive for the first time. I think it was way better than Dune which was ruined by terrible acting. I can't really compare it to Eraserhead as I had mixed feelings about both. I loved the noir feel of Mulholland Drive. The scenes with the Cowboy and Silencio were really cool and out there although I have no idea what happened at Silencio. Some of the imagery like the miniature people, the blue box, the studio head and the man from the nightmare were also really creepy. The lead actresses were solid and while the director seemed like a big time creeper, he won me over by smashing the gangsters' car and pouring paint on his cheating wife' jewelry. That said, there were times when the acting and dialogue just didn't seem... right. At times, both felt awkward and unrealistic but in a way that felt intentional. Are all of Lynch's films like this? Also, I thought the whole "switch-aroo" was semi-obnoxious. They made it extremely obvious that all the character names had been switched around and the stuff with the blue key was equally in your face. It felt amateurish, frankly, and reading up on the history of the film, it seems like the weird ending could just be the result of switching from TV to film. In any case, it feels like Lynch has no idea what this movie's about himself. That said, if you can get past the idea of actors playing multiple characters, there's a perfectly logical explanation for everything that happens. That's my interpretation anyway. Seeing as Lynch wanted people to come up with their own, I'll go with the logical as any other would seem like the result of Lynch being a lazy bastard and just throwing a hodgepodge of nonsense out there for people to kill themselves over trying to make sense of.

This sounds interesting to me because I'm interested in the inner meaning of every little thing that I come across.

I haven't seen a Lynch film yet.

If you were to recommend one to me, which one would it be?

I'm still thinking back to when I watched Solent Green and I really didn't know what to think, but it felt to me that it was one of those movies for "its time".

You know how you get movies and you get movies and then you get movies for their time and they surpass their time?

For instance:

Rocky.

Rocky seems so classic that we can hear "Adrien!!!" and we understand.

How about Grease?

Sandy: "I'm going back to Australia; I might never see you again."

Danny: "Don't... don't talk that way, Sandy."

Sandy: "But it's true! I've just had the best summer of my life, and now I have to go away. It isn't fair."

How many times do we feel the echo of "Hopelessly Devoted" and know how it feels to lose an old high school love?

If we start to wonder how it "might have been", this song is likely to be there.

It might not be this song. It might be another one, but there's always "the song" like that.

Which one's yours? What's your story?

**

OK, I cooked the turkey this afternoon.

The gravy is excellent!!!!

I'll freeze miniature dinners for the girls for when we're gone.

They can enjoy it when they are busy and just need to sit down and eat and feel cozy.

Sandra

Today was a wonderful day weather wise here in Bowden.

We saw the Olympic torch come to Bowden when it was still dark, early this morning.

We've got some pictures and hopefully, they'll turn out nice.

It' felt nice to give the torch bearer a "pat on the back". A wonderful connection where it's this family kind of feeling. We had about 500 people out to support. This is good because there are probably only about 1600 estimated people in Bowden. I'm not sure exactly. But it was really amazing.

I'm weird, but I had to hold back the tears.

After our celebration in Bowden, Dave, Lindsay and I went into Innisfail and had a humble McDonald's breakfast, but I do enjoy their hash browns, humble or not.  

It was fun because in Innisfail, they had the torch stop there just before us, and McDonald's was completely crowded with a lot of happy campers wearing Canadian hats and scarfs and red and white.

One of the highlights for me were the butterflies that were a decoration in the McDonald's near the bathroom doors. I've always loved butterflies  because they're a symbol of transformation. Even before I knew that, I loved butterflies.  

So yes, seeing them, was a big thing for me.

I figured out what to bring to people as gifts to remember us by. Besides the typical "Canadian" souvenirs, I realized my luck!!! ...

Valentines is on its way and I was able to find HEARTS!!!! Hearts hearts and more hearts!!!

So we're bringing love from Canada.

I also found this Native American Dream catcher with a woman and an eagle.

I don't remember if I actually posted my eagle story yet, but when I saw it, I thought, yes, I am going to give this to someone. And right now, I'm wondering who.

OK, so tomorrow I'll give another proof of the next Magic of Letters and I'll post it.

I want to thank Jonny again because I'm riding on the tale/tail   winds of the 7WC, and I wouldn't have written what' you're about to witness, (bad and good) without his efforts. So thank you, Jonny.

Also too, a very special thank you to Don who makes all of this possible.

There's just so much going on behind the scenes and we take it all for granted.

Thank you, Don. Really and so much. We are so very extremely grateful for what you have provided!!!!

I just hope you know that for me personally, I would not be the same without you.

And to all of you. You are all more special than you will probably ever know in one life time.

When I head out this week, I'll try very hard to keep you with me.

As soon as I get to an internet connection, I'll try and log on and let you know.

In the mean time, I'll post the little silly tid bits leading up to our travels.

*

This is dedicated to my brother, Stevie,



Sandra

Thank you Sandra. Wonderful song.

John woke one morning with the words 'pools of sorrow, waves of joy' going through his head. He sat down and wrote the whole song almost at once.

There's a fantastic Beatles fansite I frequent: Dm's beatle forums. The people are great, so many young fans. It is awesome seeing the pictures of the lads that fans post off the Net.