November 30, 1874 was a monumental day in the literary world.

No one knew it that day, but years later when Lucy Maud Montgomery started writing and publishing her work, the world woke UP.

Lucy wrote 20 novels and over 500 short stories and poems.

Her greatest gift:  Anne of Green Gables.

I first read it when I was in the 4th or 5th grade.  Mrs. Kindig, God Bless her, suggested to me that I read the moving story of the red haired orphan girl.

I’ve probably read it 30 times in my life, I have at least 3 copies.  It’s a treasure.

Everyone should read it.  Boys, girls, adults…EVERYONE!

Although it’s set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it’s timeless.  Much of the story line in Anne of Green Gables is set on Prince Edward Island, Canada.  Her books turned the tiny Canadian Province into a literary landmark.  She is one of the most beloved Canadian writers.  Leaksdale, where she lived for 15 years and where she wrote 11 books, celebrates “Lucy Maud Montgomery Day”!!

She summed UP her philosophy in one sentence:

 ”I am simply a ‘book drunkard.’ Books have the same irresistible temptation for me that liquor has for its devotee. I cannot withstand them.”

I couldn’t agree more!

Lucy herself was a lonely child who’s mother died when Lucy was 21 months old.  Her childhood was spent with her strict grandparents.   She felt that her loneliness allowed her creative mind to develop.   She had many imaginary friends.

The literary world reaped the mother-lode of that loneliness.

Lucy Maud Montgomery was named for the daughter of King Edward VII, who later became the Queen of Norway.

Lucy was literary royalty in her own right!

…ok, so I went to the movies this weekend.

I’ve been waiting for months for “Burlesque” to come out.

Seriously, I’ve been really excited about it.

And I wasn’t let down.

I’ll have to say, I think I might be the only one.  Most of the reviews have been less than luke warm.

My friend, Mike, who hasn’t seen it, said when I told him it was coming out, that it “may well be the worst movie ever made.”

Well, his pre-judging is wrong!

The ads on TV say, “The musical is back!”

And it is.

It’s a double Diva Dynamo!

The music, show numbers, dancing, and costumes are the second best thing in the movie.

The first, Stanley Tucci.  But more on him later.

Christina has come very far from her Disney days.  She left the Genie in the Bottle behind too.

Her voice has matured, colored, and vastly improved.

She can sing.

She can dance.

And she does a good job at acting.

Ok, so the plots a little weak.

Sorta Andy Hardy meets the Sunset Strip.

A hard scrabble trailer park girl who’s been stiffed one time to many by her dead beat boss, cleans out the till and heads to LA.

One way ticket on the 32 window coupe.

She arrives, and after finding a flea bag residence hotel in which to live, she “hires” herself as a waitress at a club, called “Burlesque”.  It bills itself as the Best View in LA.

There are no windows.

The scenery inside is great,

Cher, looking amazingly re-designed at 64, Kristin Bell, Julianne Hough, Christina Aguilera, and more make UP the chorus line at the club.

Cher sings twice, both classic Cher, both great…ok, the second one makes no sense, but when did bursting into song make sense?

That’s what musicals are all about.

There’s eye candy for the ladies too.

Christina’s love interests consist of McSteamy from Grey’s Anatomy and Cam Gigandet who played James in “Twilight”.

McSteamy plays McMeanie in this one.   Every musical has to have a villian.

Cam is the Knight on the white horse black motorcycle. It’s the 21st Century after all.  Cam received a “One To Watch” award in 2008.

Stanley Tucci saves the film as Cher’s sonically subtle seamstress and set decorator.  He must have a better agent, because he has the best lines.

As movies go, I’ll give it a B.  As music and dance numbers go, an A.  And as costumes go, and A++.

It’s rated PG-13, for innuendo, and a few words, Cher drops the F bomb once.

There’s no sex, no drugs, but plenty of booze…it’s set in a bar afterall!

It’s a feel good movie.  A tad predictable, but fun.

And at least worth the matinee price!

Oh, BTW, I think Cher may have had “some work” done!

Today is William Blake’s birthday, he was born in 1757.

He’s dead of course, but his impact on the world of literature lives on.

Poet, painter, and printmaker, he influenced the Romantic and Pre-Romantic eras of literature.

He was hostile to the Church of England, but believed the Bible.

Most of his contemporaries considered him mad.

You may remember this from Senior English!

The Tiger

Tiger, tiger burning bright.

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies,

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand, dare sieze the fire?

And what shoulder, and what art,

Could twist the sinews of they heart?

And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand?  What dread feet?

What the hammer?  What the chain?

In what furnace was they brain?

What the anvil?   What dread grasp,

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears

And watered heaven with their tears;

Did He Smile His work to see?

Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger burning bright,

In the forest of the night:

What immortal hand or eye,

Dare frame they fearful symmetry?

A 54 year old man and his 12 year old, 94 pound son were arrested in Delray Beach, Florida this week for beating UP an 84 year old man in a Target Parking Lot.

Apparently, the 54 year old, who is also a lousy driver nearly hit the octogenarian with his Silver Corvette.

The old man yelled, “Watch out!”

When the elderly gentleman asked the 54 year old why he almost hit him, the Vette Club member responded with the univeral Christmas greeting of “F$#% You!”

Trying to get away from the impending fray, the Non Corvette owner asked the 54 year old and his son to move so he could leave.

The dad said, “Make me!”

At that point, Junior exited the vehicle and pushed the old man into his car and then to the ground and started hitting him. 

Daddy, every the helpful father, got out of the car and kicked the gentleman in the crotch.

Nice guys!

Police identified the attackers by running the numbers on the credit card the dad used to make purchases at Target, and by his license plate number, which is “QUIK SL”.

Seriously, people if you’re going to commit a crime, don’t do it in a car with a vanity plate.

Police said the older man had injuries to his shoulder, arm, and hand.  He also complained of back pain and had a large bruise on his inner thigh.

Ya think?

All of this was caught on tape.

Statements from three Target empolyees who witnessed the melee, plus the tape led to the arrest of the Dad and son.  Daddy is in the slammer in Palm Beach County on felony charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, dammage to the old man’s vehicle, and battery on a person older than 65.  It is Florida afterall. 

Junior a charter school student from Anaheim, CA was arrested on one felony charge of battery on a person older than 65 and remains in juvie.  He’s also charged with criminal mischief.

To add insult to injury, the kid was wearing a Ravens jersey!

I’m sure Ray Lewis is proud.

Congrats to the dumbnamic duo…you’re Redneck Latte Ravings “Ass of the week”!