Tag: 100 happy days

100 Happy Days: 18

I became aware of the Little Free Library project when a nine-year-old boy in Kansas was ordered to remove his from his front lawn because the city called it an “illegal structure.” Yeah, you don’t want people to encourage reading or to share books–that shit leads to thinking! And thinking…who knows where that might lead?

Check out the link above to learn more about the Little Free Library program. Recently, while driving through one of Houston’s neighborhoods, I spotted my first Little Free Library. I think it’s a wonderful idea, especially in areas with a lot of kids and foot traffic. (Except for those places where someone will run outside brandishing a cane and yelling, “You! Kids! Off my lawn!” Or where five overwrought dogs don’t exactly make the best welcome committee, not that I know anything about that personally.)

Today I managed to get a photo of the LFL with my cell phone, and that made me happy.

100 Happy Days: 17

Meet Violet. (The last time you saw her, she looked like this.)

Favorite Book: The Color Purple
Favorite Movie: Purple Rain
Favorite Song: “Purple Haze”
Favorite Band: Deep Purple and New Riders of the Purple Sage
Biggest turn-on: Purple mountain majesties
Biggest turn-off: the following poem by Gelett Burgess

I never saw a Purple Cow,
I never hope to see one;
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I’d rather see than be one.

100 Happy Days: 13

Today I read that director/producer/actor Paul Mazursky died, and though that is nothing to be happy about, it did remind me that one of the things I’d planned to share during these days of happiness was whenever I’d finally have time to sit down and rewatch one of my favorite Paul Mazursky-directed movies. Though it was generally panned by the critics, Tempest was a 1982 movie I stumbled on and fell in love with. I think it was the first time I’d seen either Molly Ringwald or Raul Julia in a movie. (In fact, it may have been Ringwald’s debut film appearance.) Also in the cast are John Cassavetes, Gina Rowland, and Susan Sarandon, all favorites of mine. Anyway, this DVD of Tempest is the final thing I bought a couple of weeks ago with the same birthday gift card that brought me the Tom Robbins memoir and the Redneck Poet Magnetic Poetry kit.

Tempest borrows loosely from Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, and sadly, this is a play I’ve never read. I always wanted to because it’s so heavily referenced to good effect in a favorite Mary Stewart novel, This Rough Magic. Maybe Shakespeare’s play should be my summer classic this year.

As I said, Tempest wasn’t a favorite of the critics, but except for one unpleasant little goat incident (you’ve been warned), I was thoroughly entertained. One scene in particular never fails to fill me with joy; I’ve made several friends watch the movie with me for that scene alone. Tempest is quite similar in theme and characters to another Mazursky favorite, 1986’s Down and Out in Beverly Hills. Other great Mazursky movies are Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice (I’ve always been a Natalie Wood and Dyan Cannon fan), Harry and Tonto, and An Unmarried Woman. Mazursky also had acting credits in tons of TV shows and movies. Quite a legacy.

100 Happy Days: 12

With two aging dogs, I’m going to the vet almost every week, either to take them to be checked for various ailments or to pick up prescription food, meds, and their routine flea/tick/heartworm preventatives. The worst part of these visits is what they’re doing to my credit card debt.

Probably the best part is seeing Rocket. For years, the vet practice dog was Tag, but Tag went to the Rainbow Bridge a few months ago, and then Rocket appeared. For a youngster, Rocket is not very rambunctious (one of the vet techs said they usually call him “Rock” because it’s more accurate than Rocket). However, when either the dog or cat sides of the reception desk get busy, Rocket will stand up on his hind legs and look over the counters to see if anything interesting is going on.

Today, it was quiet when I went in, so beyond a quick glance when I called his name, Rocket kept his focus on the bone he was chewing.