Dragonfly Dreams creates unique and one of a kind, handmade jewelry to be enjoyed by all. We use only quality glass beads with a variety of top of the line wire and string for beading. We incorporate fresh water pearls, hematite, and a variety of crystal gems and stones into our jewelry. We create one of a kind jewelry, so that no one design is ever repeated. We use gold and silver plated and sterling silver accessories in our jewelry. We will be glad to create a customized piece of jewelry for your specific needs. .....
Cary Grant remembered for his humor, grace, class
May 25, 2005
An "American Masters" profile neatly sums up the subtle actor's self-made, multifaceted life
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
TED MAHAR
The Oregonian
Cary Grant was a lifelong example of a self-made man.
Every actor learns to wear the clothes, affect the speech and look natural in the world created for him. When the show's over, off come the duds, poof goes the character's world and the actor reverts to what passes for normal.
Not Grant. As a teenager who ran away to join a traveling show, he began creating roles for audiences and building a character for himself.
"I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person -- or he became me," Grant once said. "I have spent the greater part of my life fluctuating between Archie Leach and Cary Grant, unsure of each, suspecting each."
Various Cary Grants reveal themselves in an "American Masters" profile, "Cary Grant: A Class Apart," narrated by Helen Mirren and Jeremy Northam (as the voice of Grant), and written and directed by Robert Trachtenberg. In just 90 minutes "Class" does a neat job of summing up the life Archibald Alexander Leach constructed for himself and generations of movie lovers.
Grant personified fabulous looks, natural grace, effortless humor, a disarming naturalness and, above all, class.
Archie Leach came from a sad, impoverished, mean English childhood that could have been created in dark colors by Charles Dickens. He could have lived and died in menial work and perfect obscurity but for an undefined, overwhelming urge to escape his real world and make a place in a world he imagined from reading and seeing in plays.
He joined a variety show company at 14 and toiled steadily in show business until he retired from films in 1966 with "Walk, Don't Run." But he remained active and public-spirited, becoming a director of Faberge cosmetics company. When he died at age 82 in November 1986, he was on a tour of appearances he made more or less regularly simply talking about his career and answering audience questions.
One question came up in various guises often, "Who is Cary Grant?" His answer was always some variation on, "When you find out, will you tell me?"
"Class" does a very decent job of suggesting a reasonable answer without trying to be too specific or excessively analytical or speculative. In fact, partly because of his extraordinary star power from the late 1930s on, Grant was able to make a few films that touched on his own life, notably 1944's "None But the Lonely Heart," one of his few bombs.
"Class" makes a point that Peter Bogdanovich makes in his commentary in the recent DVD release of Grant and Katharine Hepburn's classic 1938 screwball comedy "Bringing Up Baby" -- a flop that hurt Hepburn but not Grant. When you compare Grant's work in "Baby" to his work in 1940's "The Philadelphia Story," you see what a subtle actor he was. He gave the impression that he was just playing himself, but "Class" shows in a deftly sorted set of clips that Grant was quite a good actor.
Commenting on Grant are friends and co-workers including Bogdanovich, Martin Landau, Ralph Lauren, Eva Marie Saint, Dina Merrill, film scholars Todd McCarthy and Jeanine Basinger, New Yorker critic David Denby, ex-wife Betsy Drake and widow Barbara Harris and many others -- including old filmed interviews with Howard Hawks and George Cukor.
Missing are ex-wife Dyan Cannon and their daughter, Jennifer.
"Class" shows that Grant fought his incredibly good looks, never hesitating to seem awkward and downright silly. He and Hawks prided themselves on how ludicrous they could make him look in "Baby" and 1949's "I Was a Male War Bride."
He was rather fearless with his reputation. He shared a house off and on for several years with gay cowboy star Randolph Scott. They knew of the gossip and ignored it, neither suffering at the box office. In one blithely pungent sentence, Drake says that they had a rich sex life, allows some leeway for his 43 years before he met her and says that she doesn't care, and it doesn't matter.
"Class" omits a factoid that has new currency thanks to Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator." Grant was a friend of Howard Hughes and maintained a room in his home that Hughes could use any time to elude reporters or anyone. It was Grant who introduced Hepburn and Hughes. Stingy with interviews about himself, Grant granted interviews to promote 1973's "A Touch of Class," produced by a company of which he was a board member. I was able to interview him and heard him say something I'd never heard from any other movie star.
I asked if he watched his old movies. He said yes; he didn't go out of his way to see them, but if one was on TV, he might watch it.
"I made so many, I'm bound to forget a few, so I can be in as much suspense as any other viewer," he said. "Audiences see characters in a story in normal sequence, but films aren't shot in sequence. I saw actors, sets, lights, cameras and crew members. I had no idea how a film would look until it came out."
Ted Mahar: 503-221-8228; tedmahar@news.oregonian.com
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
TED MAHAR
The Oregonian
Cary Grant was a lifelong example of a self-made man.
Every actor learns to wear the clothes, affect the speech and look natural in the world created for him. When the show's over, off come the duds, poof goes the character's world and the actor reverts to what passes for normal.
Not Grant. As a teenager who ran away to join a traveling show, he began creating roles for audiences and building a character for himself.
"I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person -- or he became me," Grant once said. "I have spent the greater part of my life fluctuating between Archie Leach and Cary Grant, unsure of each, suspecting each."
Various Cary Grants reveal themselves in an "American Masters" profile, "Cary Grant: A Class Apart," narrated by Helen Mirren and Jeremy Northam (as the voice of Grant), and written and directed by Robert Trachtenberg. In just 90 minutes "Class" does a neat job of summing up the life Archibald Alexander Leach constructed for himself and generations of movie lovers.
Grant personified fabulous looks, natural grace, effortless humor, a disarming naturalness and, above all, class.
Archie Leach came from a sad, impoverished, mean English childhood that could have been created in dark colors by Charles Dickens. He could have lived and died in menial work and perfect obscurity but for an undefined, overwhelming urge to escape his real world and make a place in a world he imagined from reading and seeing in plays.
He joined a variety show company at 14 and toiled steadily in show business until he retired from films in 1966 with "Walk, Don't Run." But he remained active and public-spirited, becoming a director of Faberge cosmetics company. When he died at age 82 in November 1986, he was on a tour of appearances he made more or less regularly simply talking about his career and answering audience questions.
One question came up in various guises often, "Who is Cary Grant?" His answer was always some variation on, "When you find out, will you tell me?"
"Class" does a very decent job of suggesting a reasonable answer without trying to be too specific or excessively analytical or speculative. In fact, partly because of his extraordinary star power from the late 1930s on, Grant was able to make a few films that touched on his own life, notably 1944's "None But the Lonely Heart," one of his few bombs.
"Class" makes a point that Peter Bogdanovich makes in his commentary in the recent DVD release of Grant and Katharine Hepburn's classic 1938 screwball comedy "Bringing Up Baby" -- a flop that hurt Hepburn but not Grant. When you compare Grant's work in "Baby" to his work in 1940's "The Philadelphia Story," you see what a subtle actor he was. He gave the impression that he was just playing himself, but "Class" shows in a deftly sorted set of clips that Grant was quite a good actor.
Commenting on Grant are friends and co-workers including Bogdanovich, Martin Landau, Ralph Lauren, Eva Marie Saint, Dina Merrill, film scholars Todd McCarthy and Jeanine Basinger, New Yorker critic David Denby, ex-wife Betsy Drake and widow Barbara Harris and many others -- including old filmed interviews with Howard Hawks and George Cukor.
Missing are ex-wife Dyan Cannon and their daughter, Jennifer.
"Class" shows that Grant fought his incredibly good looks, never hesitating to seem awkward and downright silly. He and Hawks prided themselves on how ludicrous they could make him look in "Baby" and 1949's "I Was a Male War Bride."
He was rather fearless with his reputation. He shared a house off and on for several years with gay cowboy star Randolph Scott. They knew of the gossip and ignored it, neither suffering at the box office. In one blithely pungent sentence, Drake says that they had a rich sex life, allows some leeway for his 43 years before he met her and says that she doesn't care, and it doesn't matter.
"Class" omits a factoid that has new currency thanks to Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator." Grant was a friend of Howard Hughes and maintained a room in his home that Hughes could use any time to elude reporters or anyone. It was Grant who introduced Hepburn and Hughes. Stingy with interviews about himself, Grant granted interviews to promote 1973's "A Touch of Class," produced by a company of which he was a board member. I was able to interview him and heard him say something I'd never heard from any other movie star.
I asked if he watched his old movies. He said yes; he didn't go out of his way to see them, but if one was on TV, he might watch it.
"I made so many, I'm bound to forget a few, so I can be in as much suspense as any other viewer," he said. "Audiences see characters in a story in normal sequence, but films aren't shot in sequence. I saw actors, sets, lights, cameras and crew members. I had no idea how a film would look until it came out."
Ted Mahar: 503-221-8228; tedmahar@news.oregonian.com
Women's Retreat Photos
May 23, 2005
As some as you noticed, I was a little under the weather. I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted to, and wouldn't you know it, I goofed on the group photo too :) But I did get some good shots of you ladies genuinely enjoying yourselves. Let me know if you want any prints or have a preferred service (like Ofoto, Snapfish, etc) that I can upload them to.
The photos can be viewed here
The photos can be viewed here
Vodkapundit - How I Spent My Christmas Vacation
May 18, 2005
"Finally, two beauty shots of the finished product. On the last one, another Coke can is there for scale. Altogether, it's 37 inches long and took about 15 hours to build. And that's for a guy who plows through Lego sets with all the unrushed grace of a teenage boy losing his virginity."
More Star Wars fandom. This was sent to my by my darling husband. The quote I picked myself. My DH would rather be drooling over the Destroyer. Now I know what to get him for Father's Day.
More Star Wars fandom. This was sent to my by my darling husband. The quote I picked myself. My DH would rather be drooling over the Destroyer. Now I know what to get him for Father's Day.
Grocery Store Wars | Join the Organic Rebellion
This is great!!!! Makes me want to go visit the Portland Farmer's Market even more. Can't wait for Thursday!!!!
HistoryWired: A Few of Our Favorite Things
May 12, 2005
The Smithsonian Museum of American History has developed an online museum. View museum objects by topic such as clothing, sports and transportation. The site also features individual items from Lincoln's Life Mask to the Lone Ranger's Mask.
Letter From a Toddler
Not that this has ever happened to me, but it reminded me about the importance of play and that kids sometimes don't make a mess just to be messy and that just about everything can be turned into a teaching moment.
It warmed my heart =)
It warmed my heart =)
Dear Caregiver,
You looked a little tired and discouraged when the parents were coming to pick all of us up today. Then, when that one dad said, “Did they learn anything today or did they just play?” I thought you’d just about had it. I’m writing to cheer you up and tell you that I’m learning lots because you help us play.
Tonight at supper my big sister said that she learned “the nines table” in school today. I’m not sure what the “nines table” is but everyone seemed pleased and excited that she’d learned it.
I learned a lot today. Unfortunately, I can’t talk enough to describe what I learned about how the world works. I know that dumping out bins of toys, climbing, knocking over blocks and squashing bananas on my feeding tray doesn’t sound as mysterious as “the nines table” but I’m sure grateful that you know how important it all was.
Thank goodness you know I have to play to learn. For example, remember today how every time you’d kneel down and open up your arms, I’d run to you for a big hug? We were playing a game of course, and we’d both laugh – but just the act of running was learning for me. Babies and toddlers learn through their big muscles, you know. When I ran into your arms it not only made me feel loved and happy, it gave me a chance to practice the movements of using my arms and legs together. I’m brand new at that. Running strengthens those muscles too. It was fun. I wanted to do it over and over. I’m glad you had time to play so that I could learn. Thank you.
And I’m glad you noticed today how much fun I had tapping with the xylophone hammer, remember? I tapped the xylophone for a while, then the table, then the floor and lots of other objects. I discovered so many different sounds – metallic, strong, soft. Oh, by the way, sorry about Robby’s head. It sure scared me when he cried so loud. Thanks for finding all those boxes and pans for me to tap. I am beginning to understand so much more about the world now because you realized I was learning, not “just playing”.
I heard you say, “Tappers need things to tap!” You must believe that “dumpers need things to dump” too, because you filled up that coffee can with clothespins over and over and let me dump it out as much as I wanted to. You must have realized that I wasn’t trying to make a mess when I dumped out all the tubs of toys yesterday. I need to dump things out. I’m so curious about how something can be full one minute and empty the next and that I can make it happen. Dumping things out makes me feel big. After lots of play dumping, I’ll want to try filling. It’s really the very first step towards being able to put things away neatly – when I’m older.
Thanks to your helping me play, I’m learning that it’s good to be curious, it’s good to explore and learn and understand. I get the feeling you think my play is pretty valuable. My play is all my own idea you know. You must think that my ideas are pretty valuable, too. Hey, that must mean you value me, too. I’m important, and what I learn is important – even if it isn’t “the nines table”.
Please don’t be discouraged. You helped me play today. You gave me gifts of learning and self-worth that nobody can ever take away. See you tomorrow!
A Toddler in Child Care
-Author Unknown
Kingdom of Heaven
May 10, 2005
I *really* want to see this (isn't Orli a dreamboat?), but I am history buff too. My son wants to see it too. He's into D&D and knights and etc (has been for the last 3 years) but I think he just wants to see a really good action flick. It's rated R for violence and some adult content. I was thinking that before I let him see it, he has to do short report on the Crusades so that he at least has some factual context to put the movie in.
I hate how uninformed and easily influenced our kids are growing up to be. There should be absolutely no excuse for the ignorance that is rampant these days, and yet, there it is.
I hate how uninformed and easily influenced our kids are growing up to be. There should be absolutely no excuse for the ignorance that is rampant these days, and yet, there it is.
Ewok spoof
May 6, 2005
Thursday, March 31, 2005 11:29 PM
This site had Tim laughing so hard he practically cried.
This site had Tim laughing so hard he practically cried.
Tim watched it at least twice.
Skype - Free Internet telephony that just works
"Skype is free Internet telephony that just works.
Skype is for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world."
Oh my gosh! I am loving this software!!!!!! Finally a chat software that works since I couldn't get chat to work in Trillian with a friend on a Mac.
The Resume of Jesus Christ
Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Web site: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus
Occupational Background
Major Accomplishments
-I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times,(See Genesis 1:26).
-I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15).
-I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15).
-I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my Web site, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my Web site.
References
Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance
In Summation
Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start? Time is of the essence,
(See Hebrews 3:15).
Phone: Romans 10:13
Web site: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus
Hello. My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart.Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.
Qualifications
- I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
- I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
- I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
- I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
- The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)
Occupational Background
- I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).
- I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
- My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)
- Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).
- I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6).
- People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33).
- Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)
- I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).
- In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).
- My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a lamp unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).
- I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).
Major Accomplishments
-I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times,(See Genesis 1:26).
-I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15).
-I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15).
-I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my Web site, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my Web site.
References
Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance
In Summation
Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start? Time is of the essence,
(See Hebrews 3:15).
