Whatever Wednesday - Sonny Boy

Sonny Boy by Al  Pacino.  Wow

What an  iconic actor on  stage and screen. 

Michael  Corleone

Serpico

I don't need to say much more.  What a life!  He grew up with a mentally unwell  mother, really just wild in the South Bronx.  Crazy friends, but he had a lot of  promise  and a teacher that recognized it.  He entered the New York High School of Performing Arts and never looked back.  Stage, screen, rich,  poor,  drugs and alcohol, bankrupt, success.  So much of life that would worry us - he shrugged as only Al Pacino would, and then  worked to make his life work.  He embodies art and art is in his blood and  soul.

A unique individual who has given it his all.  I can't begin to list all the credits.  Read the book and you'll hear that distinctive voice in your head. 

It's Al F@*king  Pacino!!!!!!!
 

Monday Moments - Hum Along with John Oates

I treated myself to a music night - John Oates - an acoustic evening.   It  was really, really pleasant. 

As he said, "No video screens. No synthesizers.  You have me and my stories with music." 

I saw John Oates when he and  Daryl Hall played in my high school cafeteria. John was a graduate of North Penn High years ahead of me. He met Hall at Temple  University (Philly, PA) and the rest is some music history. A top selling pop duo.  Alas, they are fighting now.  So John has his three talented guys for acoustic shows and musically it was awesome. 

He's seventy-six now, lives in Nashville. A lot more country and blues influence in his new works. His latest album is "Reunion" and I like the songs. Oh, and he did have some deep cuts of Hall and Oates songs, plus the famous "She's Gone". 

Thanks John, I've been a longtime fan and your voice is still mellow and smooth.   
 

Finally Friday - We Live in Time

 I needed to escape one day, so I headed to the movies.  I didn't want stuff exploding.  I didn't want to think too much.  I just wanted fluff.

Success.  We Live in Time filled the requirements.  Yes, I paid admission and I was fine  with it.  You can wait for this to arrive on streaming.  It could have been a "made for tv" movie, but the cast elevated the whole storyline. 

I like Andrew Garfield ( so pretty,  so hot, and such a good actor) and Florence Pugh (so pretty, so hot, and such a good actress).    They had chemistry in this film and were nicely believable.  This movie followed them falling in love (cutesy), them dealing with couple/marriage issues, and finally dealing with a cancer sentence.  (So Sad).   

It was predictable and yet well done.  That's it. That's my review.  Maybe  catch it on  a streaming day when you have nothing else going on. 

Cheers!   Sniffle.  

Whatever Wednesday - More Pumpkins - hey it's fall

Fall at the Dallas Arboretum is absolutely beyond spectacular.   Ray was busy calculating the pumpkin count. Over 500 on one building alone.

Our Texas drought has affected  other areas.  Even the arboretum's flower  color is a tad faded. Still lovely,  but you can only water  so  much.  We  needed rain in  October   (hello climate  issues)

Um, pumpkins  galore

Cue the mums.................oh, yeah!

and a sweet statue finale
 

Monday Moments - A bit more State Fair of Texas

October 17th - the iconic Big Tex -  bigger, bolder, badder than ever - Howdy Folks!   So fun

The Hall of State is a gorgeous Art Deco building that we always visit.  They host excellent exhibits.  This year was a card building exhibit.  Sorta wacky.  This dude uses playing cards and builds replicas.  He was an architecture major, but realized his talents lay in cards.   He's making a living!

Here's the Austin, TX state capitol building

Cotton Bowl....football.  This year Texas Longhorns totally destroyed the Oklahoma Sooners

 And here's the dude with a reflection of Ray watching him work on this tower.  He was very precise in the card stacking. 

Don't sneeze! 

Finally Friday - State Fair of Texas (yes it is over)

Thursday October 17, Ray treated me to the Great State Fair of Texas - a late birthday present.  And really we say "Thanks, Dad" because a very old insurance policy came  to light.  We claimed it from dad's estate and voila - dad chipped in funds.   Whatever - it was a grand day.  I did wear my sling (rotator cuff recovery Week 10) due to crowds

Ray wears the boots in the family. 

Had to try a 2024 prize winning fried food and it was crazy tasty good. 

Cotton Candy Bacon on a stick.    Now think about it.... savory,  sweet....bacon.   OMG, it was really tasty. 

The Latina Mundo folks were celebrating  Day of the Dead at the Women's Museum.   Fun!

 Yes,  I wore the sling.  We went here after Pig Races, Stunt Dogs,  Cars, Fletcher Corny Dogs, and more.  The crowds were beyond nuts.  Ray even said after a million years of fair going, he did not remember crowds this big.  I got a tad overwhelmed and called it quits after 5 hours.  Whew!

Whatever Wednesday - Pumpkins and Fall

Has America fallen?   Nah - I doubt it.  We don't know WTF has happened yet.  So let's enjoy the Dallas Arboretum pumpkin fest.  This covers October and  November.   Enjoy!

Misty fern  glen.  Always so pretty

Me with a fake huge armadillo.  No sling.  Week  11  - the shoulder is healing - slowly, but it's all about time.  Many weeks to go

Ray's face at the Pumpkin  Village Saloon - there was no free whiskey offered.  Well,  shucks!

 There were a zillion  pumpkins everywhere.  So amazing and lovely.  As a member, I'll  take  credit!