Random Tuesday stuff - Sailing Off on the Good Ship Lollipop

This is one of my stream of consciousness posts....

Shirley Temple has died at age 85. 

Probably the most famous child star of all-time, she was washed up at 12, but went on to have a successful diplomatic career.  Years ago, I read her autobiography, Child Star, and while I found it an interesting read, it lacked some excitement, save the fact that her parents frittered away her considerable fortune.

She was credited by FDR as raising the US's morale during The Great Depression and of this I have no doubt.  It made me think of who got us through the 2008 economic downturn.  The top-grossing film of 2008 was The Dark Knight, which means that Heath Ledger got us through.  Decidedly darker, but I can live with that.


Whenever I think of Shirley I think of my beloved Aunt Betty, who was three years older than Shirley and had an original Shirley Temple doll. 

When I was very young, I loved Shirley's movies, precocious tyke that I was.  Though not, I think, true at all to the original book, I loved her in Heidi.  But then, I loved anything Heidi and even as I write this I think I need to get me to Switzerland ASAP!

Thank you Shirley for entertaining so many of us so well.  I imagine you like Frodo, slipping off on the Good Ship Lollipop.....

I finally saw The Dallas Buyers Club on the weekend.

It was amazing as were Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto. 

But it was unsettling how scary thin these two men made themselves to play this role.

This is method acting in the extreme and you would think with all the special effects in their arsenal Hollywood could figure this one out...  I read an interview with Tom Hanks, whose doctors blame his yoyo dieting for various parts as partially responsible for his Type II diabetes. 

Olympics

I am in Olympics fever and watching every night and usually around lunch time when the finals are on.  After many years of doing poorly, Canada has finally begun to invest in its fine athletes and we are doing really well and it is nicer to do really well than really poorly I have to say.

My favourite moment thus far?  Our golden boy Alex Bilodeau, who won gold yesterday in moguls, just like he did in 2010 in Vancouver, embracing his brother Frederic, who has Cerebral Palsy!

I watched the interview with Alex last night where he said he always felt he needed to push himself harder, because Frederic, who is physically, not cognitively, disabled, can never do those kind of things.  Whenever he feels tired or overwhelmed he reminds himself how much Frederic would give to have the same opportunities.  I'm not going to lie - I had a couple of tears going down my face at that one!

And have just woken up to more gold.  Go Team Canada!!!!

Have a great day and stay safe out there!