Mystery Movie Night

The last Sunday of every month is Mystery Movie Night for the boyfriend and his merry band of whacko pals. Each one hosts in rotation supplying the movies, food, and drinks. No one but the host knows what the movies will be. They are usually a double feature of horror films or some obscure art or sci-fi film.

Last night was our turn to play hosts. The choice of movies was left to me. I decided to screen 2 of the boyfriend’s movies. I could have chosen from any the ones he worked on as matte painter, 3D digital effects artist, miniature artist, etc. and shown something like The Chronicles of Riddick, Ed Wood, Titanic, or Looney Tunes: Back In Action. Instead I chose 2 films showcasing the boy’s acting skills.

The movie selection was Body Rock (1984) and Horror Brunch (1987). Body Rock may be the all time worst film ever made. It is amazingly bad from plot (what plot?), dialogue, costuming, music, to choreography. Yes boys and girls I said choreography, Body Rock is about white NYC break dancers and rappers (yes, I said white NYC break dancers and rappers) namely Chilly D (Lorenzo Lamas), and his pals like E-Z and Snake ... are you getting the picture? Chilly D vaults from dancing in the streets, tagging graffiti, and rapping to the top of the NYC club scene forgetting his street pals and his humble beginnings until he loses it all and returns to his roots. The costumer must have been channelling Emilio Pucci on acid. Body Rock was so bad it received 2 Razzie nominations in 1984; one for Worst Actor: Lorenzo Lamas and Worst Song: "Smooth Talker". Song: "Smooth Talker".
The boyfriend has a small bit part where he walks into the diner where his pal Chilly D is holding court and is told his name is on the guest list at the hot new club where Chilly is working.
Boyfriend: Hey Chilly!
Lorenzo Lamas: What’s happening?
Boyfriend: Get me into the club Friday night?
Lorenzo Lamas (rapping): I take care of my friends... I get them in for free ... you be on the list, under - Chilly D!
Boyfriend: Yeah!
Right, makes you want to throw up in your mouth a little ...




Horror Brunch is a short. It is a spoof of all the classic horror movies. The last shot of the film is an Alien creature popping out of the boyfriend’s chest.




In a salute to Body Rock’s NYC locale I had a buffet of deli cold cuts, salads, bagels, rolls, and celery tonic. Then in the media room I set out martini glasses next to individual miniature vodka and Pepto Bismal bottles as well as individual brown paper barf bags. All of this in addition to the obligatory popcorn and boxes of Dots, Junior Mints, Milk Duds, and Malted Milk Balls.

The evening was a huge success despite the look on the boyfriend’s face when I announced the movie selection ...

OK honey, next time you get to choose ...

Mastercard moment

Price of gasoline at the Mobil station on La Cienega and Beverly Blvd. yesterday - $2.72 gallon.

Cost to fill up car - $48.96.

Having Tracy Scoggins drive up, get out of her car, jump on your bf and hearing her call him Darky Dark while you pump the gasoline – priceless.

Random Messages from 30,000 feet

Dark had to go to NY last Monday for a meeting before flying on to Tokyo. He flew on Japan Airlines the 2nd leg. JAL just started in-flight online internet service from NY to Tokyo and he called me just before leaving NY to asked me to log on MSN Messenger. After take-off he logged on MSN and we started a marathon 10 hour conversation that got more wierd and disjointed the longer we talked.

D: Hey babe, this is cool! Now I don’t have to read the airline gift catalog over and over.
R: Yea, but you still have to buy me a present. Just make sure it isn't a bank shaped like an airplane from the catalogue.
D: Crap. I wonder if I can get my money back.
*
*
D: Erm, I like to look at your pic while we chat but can you find one with your shirt on? Something more conservative?
R: What? You don’t like my chest? That’s NOT what you said the other night mister
D: No no no … I love your chest. But the Japanese grandma sitting next to me is frowning.
R: OK, ... I’ll find another pic. But first I want you to lean over and whisper in her ear.
D: Uh oh, … what do you want me to say?
R: Dunno, maybe … Hiroshima, Nagasake, Hari Kari, Remember Pearl Harbor … something like that …
D: I just laughed out loud, you asshat. Now I’m being stared at by 150 Japanese … and Grandma is clutching her chopsticks like a weapon.
*
*
R: I’m getting tired. Don’t you want to sleep or watch a movie?
D: No! Do you know how boring the in-flight movie selection is?
R: Speaking of movies, why did you say Brokeback Mountain could have been better?
D: It was good. It just could have been better.
R: ???
D: Look … if the explosions had been bigger and if it had a really good car chase then it could have been perfect.
R: Who are you?

Letter to BC

BC,

It was 3 years ago today you left me. In many ways it feels like it was only yesterday. I still remember everything about that day. It is crystal clear in my mind. I don't remember many details of the weeks that followed but that day is acid etched in my memory.

My first year without you was the very worst. I grieved like a wounded animal. You left such a huge hole in my life. I didn't want to go on living in a world with no BC in it. The second year was all about learning to live alone. I hadn't done that in 32 years. I had to relearn everything. This past year has been about reconnecting with life. I've started moving forward again.

I sold our house you know. I had to let go of the things that kept me anchored in our past. I know you understand. You would want me to go on, we talked about it. And yes I met a man, BC. He's a wonderful man. This man loves me and makes me glad I'm alive. He's not a substitue for you. You can never be replaced. But I found I still have enough of the love you gave me to share with someone. You taught me how to love. I'm just passing on lessons I learned from you.

I'd like to think Paula and you are together today. I'd like to think you are both watching me and loving me. I still feel that love. So today is a good day for me. I have known great love. I'm still receiving it. I carry you in my heart always. And I am happy again. Thank you for loving me so many years.

Ray

Still a hillbilly

You can take the boy out of the hills but ... well no, actually you can't. Not in my case it seems. I was living in the hills of Tennessee.

Then I moved into the hills of Hollywood with Dark.

Last week we moved into the new house so now I'm living in the hills of Beverly. I can't quite wrap my brain around that zip code change.

I love the new house. It's kind of a Hamptons hybrid. I've been unpacking and trying to get everthing straightened up before Dark gets home tomorrow. He flew to Tokyo this week to consult on an anime project.



I like that the house is very private and completely walled.

We are planning to turn the poolhouse into an office for the two of us.

The kitchen is a good sized and there is a media room for Dark's film library.

The library actually has enough shelves for all my books.

And this is the master bedroom where the magic happens ...

Our new next door neighbor is Angie Dickinson. I can’t wait to go borrow a cup of sugar from Sgt. "Pepper" Anderson.