"The Palm Sampler" is a pretty neat album full of eclectic sounds and it's free through Amazon MP3's music store...shameless plug, I know, but the music is SO good, especially "Last Good Day of the Year" by Cousteau:)

Also good and also free is the solemnly pretty song "With of All You Here by My Side":



And "I Wonder Whatever Became of You" is yet another wonderful free song (and one that may hit a little too close to home for anyone whose heart was ever touched by someone--long ago--who now fleets across our minds from time to time):



...been listening to more Korgis' music...love their gentle, ethereal sounds so much and looked up more about them on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Korgis

There is so much good stuff that the Korgis put out...wish I had enough money to buy it all.

for more of their sounds:

http://www.amazon.com/Korgis/e/B000AP74GS/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1264312896&sr=1-2-ent

I don't know what to make of this book. When it showed up on our "new" non-fiction shelf the other day at work I didn't realize at first it was specifically related to Natalie Wood's death. I was thrilled at the thought of a new and possibly better (than previous ones) biography on the "Splendor in the Grass" actress.

Once I flipped the book open, though, and saw it was really nothing more than a speculative take on what may or may not have happened on that horrible night back in November of 1981, I lost interest. I want to know more about what her life was like on the set of her films, what her interests were, how she interacted with people. Her death was so very sad and truly shocking, but people always seem to want to focus on the scandalous possibilities whenever it's mentioned, not really open to the theory that it COULD have been an accident.

I meant to take it back with me to work to today and return it, but a few minutes ago I saw that I had left it on my kitchen table.

The PR for the book mentions that it's a non-sensationalistic look at her very tragic death ("never salacious or exploitive," the back blurb states with what I believe is true sincerity but somehow doesn't ring true once you start reading.)

I think there's a very good reason that this book came as a surprise (and with little to no fanfare) to Natalie Wood fans and it has nothing to do with the fact that the publisher is a small press one I've never heard of before. (Small presses can often be wonderful!)

What's more likely is that it has no new information to add after almost thirty years. What's even more of a turn-off is the awkward recreation of dialogue from that fateful night that no one (not even someone with a photographic memory) could possibly recall unless they had a tape recorder with them that night.

The author Marti Rulli states that Natalie Wood deserves justice and that she wrote this book to help get her some...I don't doubt that the author DOES have good intentions, even if it's slightly creepy just HOW much she wants that justice and how connected she feels to someone she never even met.

Whether it's JFK, Elvis, Marilyn or (in this case) Natalie Wood there are always going to be endless theories on events we will never know the cause of, particularly when the person in the center of it all is not around to tell us.

Maybe it's just me...but I think your time would be better spent watching one of Natalie's many movies...whether it's the delightful guilty pleasure "Sex and the Single Girl" or the gut-wrenching and amazing "Splendor in the Grass."

...just my two cents...

...It's been a busy day at work (love my job!!!!!) and now that the end of the day is approaching I can't wait to get home and read one of the books that has been eying me all day long from the new book shelf...It's called _John Dies at the End_ by David Wong....will keep you posted on in over the weekend...have an awesome one, by the way!!:)

...It's later and I'm home and I just can't get into this book, but I guess I'll still keep trying. Meanwhile I'm listening to the Cowboy Junkies and their song "Sweet Jane"...off of "Sounds of the Eighties" (1988-1989). I couldn't find the cover picture from the actual CD I heard this song on, but below is the "Best of the Cowboy Junkies." Can't believe I never heard their music until now...but then there are several songs on this "Sounds of the Eighties" I've never heard...

I've loved the Dandy Warhols ever since I heard one of their songs on the "Veronica Mars" soundtrack. "And Then I Dreamt of Yes" is perfect to listen to before heading off to bed...which I did before I went to sleep last night.

I slept pretty well, actually. Coincidence? I don't know, but I slept better than I did when I used my natural sleep aids the rest of the week:)

Maybe listening to quieter music and less rousing stuff (like dance tracks and loud crime shows on tv) in the evening is the way to go...

You could have knocked me over with a feather this morning when a library patron came in and asked me if we owned "If Tomorrow Comes" on DVD...We don't own it at all so I've offered him my copy when he is able to track down a VCR player...can't wait to talk to him after he's watched it.

When I first wrote about this VHS I was so sure that it would be out on DVD someday, but alas it still is not...definitely one of the best mini-series of the 80s. I just saw that it IS available in a non-USA region DVD...darn! Wish it were available here...





The tv mini-series, in all its true glory, died in the 80s. Jane Seymour and Jacqueline Smith were the queens of the shamelessly fun ones such as "Crossings" and "Rage of Angels," but the oh-so-underrated Madolyn Smith brought adorable innocence to the table when she debuted in "If Tomorrow Comes."

I used to drive my sister crazy during 1986 as I'd watch "ITC" over and over on the VHS cassette I'd used to tape the 3-night miniseries. One day in the late 90s I was shopping and I spotted the movie on professional VHS. Forgetting where I was, I squealed out loud in excitement and an elderly woman nearby looked at me with alarm before she scurried off faster than I'd ever seen anyone move. I probably should have restrained myself, but I had lost my copy years before and all the good memories I'd had of it came flooding back right there in the store.

If only "If Tomorrow Comes" were on DVD...It seems clunky now to go through all three tapes, but it's still worth it, watching the story of the way-too-trusting Tracy Whitney as she faces betrayal and injustice before she battles her way back with a charm and vengeance that can only come from deep suffering and a need for closure.

There are so many reasons to like "ITC," but if I had to list five of them...

--Revenge has never been so sweetly calculated or free of violence. (I enjoy David Mamet's brand of the dirty double cross, but sometimes it's nice to see the softer side of retribution.)

--It's always neat to see talented actors in their earlier days (i.e. CCH Pounder, Tom Berenger, Liam Neeson.)

--Madolyn Smith is so endearing here AND she shows so much promise as an actress. You have to wonder why she didn't go on to do bigger and better things. ("Funny Farm," while cute and harmless enough, just doesn't hold up to what she does in "If Tomorrow Comes.")

--Tom Berenger!! (Those of you who appreciate Mr. Berenger's sex appeal and understated acting will understand! To this day, I still don't get why he isn't more well-known and valued.)

--No other tv movie that followed ever recaptured the true guilty pleasure spirit of the "big" mini-series (except for the very serious and unforgettable "War and Remembrance," which falls under "big" rather than "guilty pleasure" since it had a very important message and hardly could be considered light fare.)


Give "tomorrow" a chance! I would suggest you hold out and wait for a DVD release (which might offer a clearer picture resolution) but it doesn't look like that's on the horizon...