Braling II,

No T.V. Only videos. When I was four and my parents needed a babysitter, my Grandmother was it. I can remember pleading with her to let me watch the T.V. and her saying it was “the Devil’s box”. What a dear one she was. I recall sitting on the porch swing with her and her seeing a cat in the yard. She screamed, ran into the house, came out with a broom and chased the poor thing all over the property. Reminds me today of “Aunt Betsy” and the donkeys in “David Copperfield”. That was the year I saw my first birdbath (in her garden). I have sharp images in my head right now of those birds. You, just mentioning that about the T.V. and all that came rushing back. Funny how memory works.

Now I have images of Edna Mae Oliver running out of the house yelling, "Janet! Donkeys!"

Just saw the Wallace & Gromit movie last night. It was a long wait since I first heard it was in the works, but worth it all the way. What a perfect movie! And it didn't succumb to the commercialism that so often happens when a quirky short series is adapted to a movie (i.e. Mr. Bean's movie) but instead kept true to the spirit of the W&G shorts that we all love. Interesting seeing a movie with as much creativity and solidarity as W&G and seeing a preview before it for Disney's "Chicken Little" which appears to be very contrived and of limited appeal. Makes you realize how stratified the quality of content is that makes it to the big theaters. I noticed in that article about the fire that they kept mentioning how well W&G is doing in the States. Is it not doing as well in Britain?

groon,

The W&G movie was only released in the UK last Friday, so no box office figures have been available until about now. I fully expect it to top the movie charts here, as they are very popular.

Okay, that makes much more sense.

Chapter 31,

I'm frequently seen chasing cats the better to kiss their preciousness. I do not understand why their preciousness flees my caresses.

Further to my earlier post, the Wallace and Gromit movie has been on release in the UK for nearly two weeks now, and went straight to the top of the box office charts.

Got to see the movie in Pennsylvania whilst visiting the grandkids and enjoyed it very much. There are a few cheap shots and even a reference to Monterey Jack, but some very funny characters and a good yarn. Also, Wallace and Gromit themselves remain true to character and have some heart-warming and cheese-enjoying moments. Looking forward to more! I'm off to purchase some Stilton...

I can't help myself but smile whenever I see Wallace & Gromit.

I was happy to see that two of the most important films of the year were recognized with Oscars: “Wallace and Gromit” and “March of the Penguins”.

Huzzah!
Cracking good films, both!

Speaking of penguins, and I know I'm a bit off topic here, I recently read a newspaper article in the Chicago Tribune about a parent protest of a book about two male penguins who raised an orphaned penguin baby (chick?) together. The parents felt it had "homosexual overtones." The book was then moved to another section of the library, out of the children's section. By the way, it happened to be based on a true story. This is just downright silly.

Were they Great Western King Penguins?

I Think that book was called "Brokeback Iceberg", no?

Ha-ha. That's great that these creatures would take care of one of their own like that, but living in such a harsh environment, maybe it's necessary for any available adult to help.