• I’m not sure when this feature was added, but my iPhone 7 plus has a ‘portrait’ mode. I am quite taken with it.
Here is a normal shot:
And here is portrait mode, which allows me to focus on the ZZ in the foreground. Everything else gets softened.
I like it.
• Rest in Peace, John Mahoney. He was such a wonderful actor. He didn’t start acting until later in life, gaining fame from a production of John Guare’s House of Blue Leaves that ran on Broadway in the 80s (also starring Swoosie Kurtz, Christine Baranski, Stockard Channing, and Ben Stiller.) That lead to his run on Frasier. Don worked with him on that show and said he was incredibly kind and nice; a good man.
• I managed to get rid of a lot of the ice on the driveway yesterday, enabling my escape to Lowes where I bought four 50 pound bags of salt. Needless to say, after getting them in my cart and then transporting them one by one to my porch, my back was in complaint mode. It’s been snowing this morning, but tomorrow is the big storm, which will bring several inches of snow along with freezing rain and ice. Help!
• There is going to be revival of the groundbreaking play, The Boys in the Band, which will open on Broadway at some point this year. I’m proud to say that two of the nine actors are former students of mine: Jim Parsons and Brian Hutchison. Actually, now that you ‘know’ Rick, I should say “former students of ours.” We can’t take credit for their talent, but we can take credit for recognizing it when they auditioned for our MFA Acting program. We accepted both of them without hesitation. I’m so proud of them and prouder still that they are my friends to this day. You’d better believe we’re going to be in that audience.
• For those of you who are in the Resistance, I want to recommend a woman who has a page on Facebook. Some of you may already know of her – Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin. She’s a lawyer, an activist and very, very smart. I’ve found her daily Resistance Live broadcasts (at 11 am) to be a source of calm and lots of helpful information. She knows the legal world and she somehow manages to cut through all the speculation and fear that’s seems to be a part of any given day in this administration with clarity and passion. Just go to Facebook and search for Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin/Resistance Live.
Okay. it’s stopped snowing. Oh goody, not only do I have to shovel tomorrow and Thursday, but I get to shovel today, as well!
Happy Tuesday.
that is quite a workout hauling 50-pound bags of salt (plus all the shoveling). hope your back feels better!
kathy in iowa
It’s better. I just have to baby it. Long hot baths help!
What a talent John Mahoney was, he will be missed. All that snow and ice, I don’t think I could deal with nearly as well as you do. Hugs!
On a sad note, two years ago today I lost my Charlie! still sad but oh the joy that sweet kitty boy brought me!
I know. Thinking of you. Two years since I lost Scout on Thursday.
I don’t know that I deal with it very well, Linda.
My back hurt just thinking about lugging all that salt…oh my. You need a wagon or something. We are to have a significant snow event by the weekend…it always scares me when they don’t even tell you how many inches to expect. Take it easy shoveling! ;)
I have a little garden wagon in the shed. I’ll get it out at some point.
Love the portrait mode shot. Very pretty.
Thanks.
Wow, that is a lot of work. Thanks for he Iphone7 tip and the facebook page tip. xo Laura
You’re welcome!
Don’t stress your back too much, Claudia, shoveling and hauling heavy bags of salt. I know they are a necessity in your part of the world. We are John Mahoney fans thanks to Frasier. RIP.
They are an absolute necessity and Don isn’t here, so it’s up to me.
Oh, I do love John Mahoney. Watched Frasier last night and just thought about, and enjoyed his work. He was wonderful in that role.
Thanks for the FB link, and hope you can rest that back a bit. But with that 4-letter word falling from the sky, I know it is just always there needing to be dealt with. Do you have a wagon or a wheelbarrow to help at least a bit? We have a garden wagon and I use it for everything outside. Makes lugging weeds, clippings, bird seed, planted pots, sidewalk salt, Christmas lights, etc. around the yard much easier. Just a thought!!
We have more snow in the forecast through the week as well. We do have sun this morning, and every drop of sunlight does help my soul through this season. Have a good Tuesday.
I have a small garden wagon, but it’s in the shed. If I can make my way there at some point this week, I’ll get it. But of course, I still have to put them in my truck and then left them into the cart!
We are due for ice this evening😢 Thanks for the FB link, I am willing to listen to anyone that can explain the insanity that is the White House. I’m going to check her out this evening-
Smiles,
Kandi
You can access her other daily chats on the page, as well.
first . . . both pictures are beautiful! they just make me feel good.
and second . . .
how I loved John Mahoney. I only watched him in Frasier all those years.
and I liked him in one of my favorite movies of all time . . . The American President!
he was always so spot on and excellent. I had no idea he was born and raised in England.
and I have read in many articles about people who’ve said how amazingly KIND he always was.
that is the mark of the man to me.
and third . . .
have you tried Activon? it’s an analgesic gel. a very faint mint scent that disappears.
and it works. it is my go-to for back or joint pains. or any pain actually!
rub in on and pain is gone!
did I just do a commercial? I think so! but seriously. I always keep it on hand.
sorry to say no recompense is paid to me! does recompense mean $$?
I forget! NO tammy. I think you mean compensation! LOLOL. ah well.
take care of you dear bean. ♥
and p.s.
thank you for the link. and to know she has integrity and clear cut intelligence.
it will be good to have especially for those times I need to KNOW the facts of it all.
Moved to this country in his teens, so he was basically an American for many, many years.
I’ll look for Activon, Tammy. Thank you!
Don’t use portrait mode too often. In your original posting of that photo, I noticed the book ‘My Bookstore’ on the shelf. Read an excerpt, ordered the book and am thoroughly enjoying it! Always enjoy your posts and photos of your home.
In portrait mode, you wouldn’t have noticed the book because it’s blurred! It’s in regular photo mode that you can see the title. Glad you’re enjoying the book!
Just heard the news about John Mahoney this am. May the Force be with him. He had a “small but important” [I think that’s the phrase you professionals use] role in my all-time #1 favorite movie – “Moonstruck.” Every scene in that film is a little jewel, IMO. Loved him in that, in “The American President” & of course on “Frasier.” Had no idea he was British. I wonder if he worked at “losing” his British accent or if he’s just an accent genius. His American accent on “Frasier” was flawless, in my humble & very uneducated opinion at least. I wonder if that’s even possible – to “lose” a natural accent. I know Yankees are playing Brits & vice versa all the time now but I must say some people are better than others as far as the accents go. John’s take on an American accent was superb I think. Like Kate Winslet in “Titanic” – I didn’t know she was English until after I saw the movie. Wow. Both of them made it look easy, which I’m sure it isn’t. Take care doing your shoveling & salting – it sounds like more’s coming so pace yourself. And thanks for the tip about Elizabeth. I don’t do Facebook but I’m going to look for her on Twitter. Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
I love him in Moonstruck. Mahoney lived in this country for enough years that he had virtually lost his accent. He was a member of the Steppenwolf Theater Co in Chicago and you could hear that midwestern sound in his voice. He became an American citizen in 1959, at the age of 19. Still very young.
Heard about John Mahoney’s passing last night. May he rest in peace. Sorry you are going to receive all that snow. We are in for 1-3 inches and then turning into rain.
Marilyn
It’s turning into sleet and freezing rain here but we’re further north.
I tried the link, Claudia, but It says it doesn’t exist or was taken down.
I just tried it and it works. Maybe it’s your browser? Or maybe because it’s linked to my account? Just go to Facebook and search for her and you’ll find her page.
Susan, it works when I’m signed into Facebook on my browser, but it doesn’t work on another browser where I’m not signed in. So just go to your own Facebook account and search for her and you’ll find her page.
You and Don’s life sounds like a movie. I am going to have popcorn for the big snow on Wednesday. Don’t hurt yourself.
I won’t. Don has found a guy to plow our driveway. I can do the rest of the cleanup.
Fifty pounds of anything is a lot of weight to carry! Goodness, Claudia.
I found it very interesting to read about John Mahoney; had escaped me he was a Brit.
Be careful of that shoveling, you strong girl-you!!!!
I will!
Really? Can the little man running our country just spend millions on a parade without anyone else having a say? Where am I?!!
I checked out the Resistance Live on ipodcast. Wonderful! Thanks for the tip. Be careful around that ice. Stay warm and safe.
Think where we could use those millions. He is little in every way, Verna.