Hollywoodland

On this date in 1895, French film pioneers Auguste and Louis Lumière showed the first commercial movie at a Paris cafe.

Hard to believe 2009 is almost over. And all the news shows are doing segments about the past decade. Never mind that technically the decade didn’t start until 2001, thus doesn’t end until the end of 2010. The media is full of people who apparently can’t do math or read. Do they not do any kind of fact-checking these days?

Anyway. Onward. The only new thing on tonight is a new MythBusters. Woohoo! Love that show!

And I’ll be doing my best to settle back into a writing groove. Gotta kill some zombies!

Lady Angelica Quentin clears her throat. “My dear Miss Lennox, zombies are already dead.”
I frown at her. “Yes, thanks. I know that. I was using artistic license.”
“Sorry. Just making sure.” She settles down next to my desk. “Now, when are you going to, as they say nowadays, ‘hook me up’ with darling Sebastian?”
“Keep this up and maybe I won’t,” I reply.
She laughs, knowing full well I’ll do no such thing, and disappears back from whence she came.
“Bossy characters,” I mutter under my breath.

Reading: I finished up Spy Games last night. I loved this book so much!!! I hope Gina Robinson writes more in this series. I started Murder Had a Little Lamb by Cynthia Baxter. It’s the latest in her Reigning Cats & Dogs series.

Traditionally, today is the third day of Christmas, so my true love better drop those French hens off soon. Preferably dead and plucked so we can pop them in the oven and roast them.

In Hollywood history, today is the birthday of both Sydney Greenstreet who was born in 1879 and Marlene Dietrich who was born in 1901.

A lot of people are surprised at the split of Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. So, here are some Hollywood couples who keep on keeping on together.

Meryl Streep and her husband have been married for 30 years.
Ron Howard and his wife Cheryl have been married 34 years.
Bill Cosby and his wife have been married 45 years.
Alan Alda and his wife Arlene have been married 52 years.
James Garner and his wife Lois have been married 53 years.
Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne have been married 55 years.

Those are just the people who are still living. If you want to get into Hollywood couples where one spouse or the other has died, the list would be even longer. And I didn’t include the couples who’ve been together less than 30 years but more than 20.

There’s nothing on tonight so I’ll be doing more DVR catch-up watching.

Reading: Secondhand Spirits was cute and fun. Next, I started Spy Games by Gina Robinson. I’ve been looking forward to this one since her first book, Spy Candy came out.

I know it isn’t what they mean by Boxing Day, but I always think of when I hear the phrase. I have this mental image of people gathering the day after Christmas to climb in a ring and go a few rounds with their friends. Or enemies. Or even complete strangers!

So, anyone brave the stores this morning for the after Christmas sales? If so, you’re a braver soul than I! I used to hit the sales when I was younger but now I want to avoid the crowds and hassle as much as I possibly can. Luckily, even the online retailers are having sales! So maybe I can snag some bargains with my gift cards.

Tonight is another Doctor Who special expanded episode. One of the last with David Tennant. So I imagine I’ll soon be in for more tears when he hands the reins over to Matt Smith who looks way too young to be the Doctor, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. On the plus side, John Barrowman reprises his role as Captain Jack Harkness on the show. Hubba hubba!

No writing until Monday.

Reading: Now I’m reading Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell. It’s about a witch who runs a vintage clothing store and ends up having to solve the murder of a woman whose old wardrobe she bought. And I’m pretty sure we’re going to have a romance in there somewhere too.