Just saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with my pal Mary Ellen. We often go to movies together when our husbands don’t want to go. Roger just rolled his eyes when we told him what we were going to see.

Extraordinary cast!!

I was interested in the movie because of the cast: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilson, and Celia Imrie. I thought the movie might be an okay one, but I was wrong. It was delightful! I almost applauded at the end.

I’ve always thought Judi Dench is a wonderful actress, but in this movie I was struck by how beautiful she is. Age agrees with her. And Maggie Smith! She plays a woman with some pretty awful characteristics, who learns a few things about humanity. She is so interesting to watch, I want to see everything she’s ever been in.

Mary Ellen and I agreed that both of our husbands would have enjoyed the movie. I don’t know why Roger just doesn’t listen to me and do what I tell him to. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been right and he has to eat crow. Well, actually I can tell you since I keep a list, but that would make for a really, really long post!

Old Town Cottonwood

Old Town is a very cute area of Cottonwood, Arizona, and has been improving since we moved here 13 years ago – fun shops and great restaurants. It’s also fairly close to my job so Mary Ellen, Katie and I had lunch today at Crema. I had a veggie wrap and gelato. The bee’s knees! We talked about what we’ve been doing, and then disease and death. Katie reads the obituary pages all the time. She’s not even as old as I am!  We’re not exactly the Sex & the City women. (I feel elderly)

Here’s a tune from the Boswell Sisters (which makes me feel young even though it was recorded in 1931). Fantastic!!

Mid MonsterFest

Where has October gotten to? I’ve been very busy and we’ve watched many movies. Here are a few that may be worth your while…

Peter Lorre in Mad Love

First, Mad Love made in 1935, directed by Karl Freund and starring Peter Lorre, the lovely Frances Drake and the usually creepy Colin Clive. But, Creeptown’s mayor in this movie was Peter Lorre. You haven’t seen stalking until you see this movie.

Before I Hang, 1940, directed by Nick Grinde and starring Boris Karloff and Evelyn Keyes. Will scientists NEVER learn??? Experimenting leads to things like the polio vaccine, walking on the moon and bad stuff happening after the wrong blood transfusion. Anyway, Karloff is superb.

The Boogie Man Will Get You, 1942, directed by Lew Landers and starring Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Max “Slapsie Maxie” Rosenbloom (not surprisingly a former boxer). This one is a comedy and while not the funniest thing I ever saw, did have its moments. Who knew Karloff & Lorre had the timing? It had an Arsenic and Old Lace quality (except it was funny) and this pair did quite well.

Premature Burial, 1962, directed by Roger Corman and starring Ray Milland and Hazel Court. It was based on an Edgar Allen Poe story and was not nearly as cheesy as you might think, considering the director. Ray Milland played an emotional whiner who would run to his room to pout during parties and was an all-round dud. Hazel Court LOVED him and that’s always a little hard to swallow. In an interview we watched with Corman he stated what a ‘great job Ray Milland did, but of course he was a leading man and sooooo handsome.’ Arghh! That statement was creepier than the movie!!

Ray Milland handsome?! A ladies’ man because he played the husband of Grace Kelly in Dial M for Murder? Hey, she dated Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window, but that doesn’t make HIM handsome. In fact the flaw in both those movies is why, in God’s name, would someone as beautiful and Grace Kelly have anything to do with either of those geeks?

So, I took a gander at a young Milland and I admit my mistake, he was quite dashing. Over time that changed quite drastically and in the movie we saw? Not so cute.

an older Ray Milland

Ray Milland as a baby

Had lunch again at Nature’s Pantry in Cottonwood with Mary Ellen and Katie. I had, get this, a Folded Falafel Quesadilla served with salsa. Quite a mix of cultures, but it was very good. It came with fresh fruit and bean salad. Mary Ellen ordered and shared a Chocolate Walnut Torte having only eaten a salad for lunch. The torte came with whipped cream. I ate one bite sans cream and Mary Ellen ate the rest (she only had a salad!!) OMG! It was delicious!

Roger went to a travel writer’s convention in Phoenix this past week, met lots of people and brought home lots of literature. He’s leaving for Cincinnati tomorrow to visit family while I stay home being very busy. Did someone say Sweeney Todd?

If You’re Ever in Cottonwood, AZ

Today I had lunch with my pals Mary Ellen and Katie at Nature’s Pantry (115 S. Main St., Cottonwood, Arizona, “Specializing in Lunches, Cakes, Coffees & Catering”). They are open for breakfast and lunch. Yum food and very reasonably priced. I had a Veggie Pocket and it was delicious. They serve their sandwiches with a small container of the salad of the day. Today it was carrot salad. I’m not much of a carrot person and have never tasted the stuff. But, I gave it a whirl and it was most tasty, as were the melon slices that came with the meal. I highly recommend this restaurant.

So we chatted about several topics, biopsies, the health care debacle, Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure, and make-up. We’re very modern women. Oh, yeah, and wedding bands as Mary Ellen’s husband has misplaced his. Being a painter, and not wanting to grunge it up, he was forever taking it off. (yet another reason to carry a purse!) I mentioned Chris and Sandy Boothe who make gorgeous jewelry.

Had a meeting at the Jerome Artist Cooperative last night and rode up with fellow artist and neighbor, Birgitta Lapides. We are planning an open studio event in December. Check back later for more details.

Meanwhile I’m finishing up a doll for a customer in Bull Head City and will be posting a photo before she travels to her new destination.

Adolphe Menjou

Did we watch a movie last night? Yes, we did. The Circus Queen Murder directed by Roy William Neill. Made in 1933 and starring Adolphe Menjou – I really don’t think anything further needs to be said.