Virginia and I watched "Reds" the other night. It was nominated for twelve academy awards. It got best director for Warren Beatty who made the movie, "Heaven Can Wait" so he could afford to produce, write, and direct "Reds" and have the pull with the movie studio to make it.
It is a very educational movie about what life was like in America and Russia during the Russian Revolution. It was based on a true story specifically about two writers who get caught up in the excitement of the revolution. The stars are primarily Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton. During their lives in the U.S., The two main characters were in Provincetown, MA. Beatty gave Keaton a puppy for a Christmas present.
Jack Nicholson portrays Eugene O'neil, one of the writers who pals around with Jack Reed (Beatty) and Louise Bryant (Keaton). As you would expect, Nicholson's portrayal is a tough as nails character. Keaton is often left alone while Jack Reed (Beatty) travels the country promoting Socialism. Bryant and O'neil have an affair while he is away. When Reed gets home, Bryant cuts it off with O'neil and goes back to Reed. Jack Nicholson puts in a typical performance as a sullen, wounded, rejected lover.
The day after we watched the three and a half hour long movie, Virginia said, "I know this sounds stupid, but I was wondering what became of the little dog when Reed and Bryant took off for the Kremlin?" I replied, "Perhaps Eugene O'neil took her in." This was very funny to Virginia because "O'neil" was such a tough, independent man who would be the least likely character in the whole movie to have sentiment for, and the willingness to, take in a homeless dog that belonged to the lover who rejected him. This struck Virginia as hilarious. For any of you who have seen "Reds" I hope you will enjoy this too.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
"Is this the party to whom I am speaking?"
A few years ago we were at my brother in law's for Thanksgiving. His wife's niece had just had a baby girl and all the husband's relatives had flown in to see the baby. The conversation turned to the relatives and their elderly parents. One thing was universal, voicemail.
Old folks don't understand voicemail. They "dial" a number and hear their son or daughter's voice and they start talking. They don't understand the concept of voicemail. They think they have their son or daughter on the line and they expect to start having a conversation.
The voicemail says, "Hello, you have reached..." As soon as the elder hears "Hello," they start to talk to who they think is an actual person, then, they are rudely interrupted by, "you have reached." They keep talking saying, "Hello?" "Hello?" and the voice keeps going on saying, "Leave me a message at the tone." The elder hears a beep tone, is confused, and keeps saying, "Hello?" "Hello?"
Then, they swear into the phone saying, "Who the #$%&@ is this and why the #$%&@ aren't you answering me?" Then they get angry and slam the phone down on the cradle thinking they have just been totally ignored and rejected by their offspring. If you have these problems with your parents/grandparents, you are not alone. If not, consider yourself lucky.
If any of you want to comment on this post, let me know if you have similar experiences.
Old folks don't understand voicemail. They "dial" a number and hear their son or daughter's voice and they start talking. They don't understand the concept of voicemail. They think they have their son or daughter on the line and they expect to start having a conversation.
The voicemail says, "Hello, you have reached..." As soon as the elder hears "Hello," they start to talk to who they think is an actual person, then, they are rudely interrupted by, "you have reached." They keep talking saying, "Hello?" "Hello?" and the voice keeps going on saying, "Leave me a message at the tone." The elder hears a beep tone, is confused, and keeps saying, "Hello?" "Hello?"
Then, they swear into the phone saying, "Who the #$%&@ is this and why the #$%&@ aren't you answering me?" Then they get angry and slam the phone down on the cradle thinking they have just been totally ignored and rejected by their offspring. If you have these problems with your parents/grandparents, you are not alone. If not, consider yourself lucky.
If any of you want to comment on this post, let me know if you have similar experiences.
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