Wednesday

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Yesterday I crocheted mostly, and I watched The Big Sleep (1946) with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, with the screenplay written by William Faulkner. That movie is incredible!! The story is so fast-paced (rare for an old film), the dialogue and story line is complex, plus there is a major romantic component. Girls are all over Humphrey - or is he all over the girls? Both. It's wonderful. This is a film noir if there ever was one. So if you're going to watch one this should be it. I haven't seen a whole lot more of them and I know there are other good ones, like the Maltese Falcon, but this film is up there for sure.

I also watched another old film from the '40s called "The Forbidden Street" with Maureen O'Hara and Dana Andrews. That was a good movie too, somewhat humorous but also dark. This one was set in Victorian England, about a woman who marries below her social class, moves to the slums, and ends up very unhappy with her drunken, unaccomplished artist husband. That is only the first half, it has a happy ending. She winds up owning a profitable puppet theater with a man who looks like her dead husband.

I went for a long stroll, and inquired at clubhouses around the neighborhood if I could teach zumba. I hope to become a certified teacher in December.

Also, I read Zelda Fitzgerald's biography. I am envious of her and Scott's life! They were such passionate people, and together they lived a messy and self-destructive life, but they made an impact and today the are notable people for the quality of their art, and their accomplishments. I hate to say I'd like to be them (but I would!), they lead incredible lives. Zelda was an incredible person. She was bold, never lost her dignity but did all kinds of wild stunts, like taking off her lacy black underwear in public and throwing it at friends, and holding her skirt above her waist while dancing, but these stunts didn't make people think of her as pathetic. She followed through on her actions, whether or not others thought they were acceptable.

Other thing I did yesterday include cleaning my room. I finally took books out of crates and piled them on my bookshelf. I also practiced accordion for about 40 minutes yesterday. I'll try and do that again this morning before I go to my dad's house for the next few days. I'll be sewing a dress while I'm there. Hope that works out!

So things on my agenda now include: sewing, beginning my long-term study plan for the GRE!, finishing Zelda book, watching Queen of Outer Space (1958) with Zsa Zsa Gabor. Can't wait! I have to watch it this morning because it's due back at the library in a couple days, and I won't be in town then.

Picture came from this blog, which also holds some good info on the film
This image is great for many reasons: women in fine clothing holding guns, men as their prisoners, wild jungle setting

That's all for now!