Day of The Prez

"I never did give anybody hell. 

I just told them the truth and they thought it was hell."

<> Harry S. Truman <>

Truman was a boss, ladies and gents.

...

True story.

{half way through McCullough's biagraphy and -loving- it!}

The Better Ones & An Ending

As it has been nearly forever and a day since I have last visited here with intention to post, I thought I should finish the year out responsibly. Thankfully, a few rolls of recently developed film from my summer pet project {actual film photography via my vintage/refurbished minolta XG 1 camera}, I have a bit more meat this time than the typical literary blurb and corresponding image. 

Be gently dear reader...I am still as of yet a freshling to this film venture...

 

Here are the better of my first fruits:

{be sure to click on the images for full resolution}

'Til next year, friends...❤ 

Perspective

Just think how happy you would be if you lost everything you have right now... 

...and then got it back again.

<><><>
Frances Rodman

{the power of conviction...one of God's greatest gifts...}

When One is Uninspired

Hello there...it has been a awhile since I have posted more than a vague sentence or two with corresponding imagery...time is either so completely stagnant or passing me by at such a blistering speed that I have not the presence of mind to stop and take stock of my dwindling supply of inspiration.

And so, today I ramble.

I am sitting here, listening to my recently acquired vinyl recording of the "Charade" soundtrack. Having been brooding over the late-50's/early-60's atheistic and its absence from my life as of late, Mancini's main theme for the film is actually a very effective balm for my misplaced yearnings.
I am also plotting the reconstruction of a vintage dress find. Rest at ease, dear reader...it is not my clumsy, unskilled hands that will be undertaking this deed of beautification; the proper professionals will be consulted. I am thinking a low scooped back, quarter-length cuffed sleeves, skirt hitting at or just below the knee, and perhaps a thin gold braided belt to finish it off.

What say you, hmm? Normally I would not meddle with items of age, but being a sweet homespun frock with such an irresistible pattern, it seemed a shame not to show it off.  I shall be glad to update you when the transformation is complete. :)

War is older than Mankind...

...But it's younger than Grace...

<><><>

Joe Pug

Happy Memorial Day...

On This Day of Mothers...

...be sure to hug yours...

>>>>=<<<<

Feline and Sir "So-Fine"

Just Sir Sean Connery inspecting a cat's paw...

----<><><>----

Happy Weekend, folks.

To Procrastinate is Divine

How is a girl supposed to get any schoolwork done when such a thing as Cray Grant .gifs exist on the internet...

"The Awful Truth" ~ 1937

Sigh...I need a screwball movie marathon stat...

The Musicbox

*~*~*

I freed a song from a dusty box
Now a fitting vessel I seek
Feathers made of steel, a key with no lock
Who knew braille could create melody?

Rusalochka || 1968's Soviet-animated "The Little Mermaid"

Today being the day after Valentine's, I thought it fitting that I let you in on a new love of mine: The 1968 Soviet cartoon version of Hans Christian Andersen's, The Little Mermaid.

 >>>>=<<<<

 Being previously almost completely ignorant of Russian film Soviet or otherwise, I instantly fell in love with the beautiful animation of Rusalochka (or Pусалочка to be precise) when I stumbled upon it a few months ago.

{warning: potential spoilers ahead}

This version has a lot going for it besides enchanting animation. 

Namely, it is not "Disney-fied".

Staying true to Andersen's original tale, this little mermaid is a ghostly, graceful, sea-nymph who makes a dangerous choice and succumbs to the consequences even in light of  possible "way out". Instead of risking it all to "get the guy", the heroine weighs the cost of love and eventually puts the happiness of others before her own.

 Its portrayal of the ever idolized "true love" is not the exuberant, musical one that most of us knew growing up. Instead, it is a haunting, and at parts downright somber, picture of a steadfast (even if initially impulsive) love that might have cost the mermaid her happiness in the end, but never her goodness.

This is a telling contrast to the much loved Disney version, which twists a very "me-centered" theme into the story: The ends will always justify the means as long as you are following you heart, right? 

And while some prefer their fairy-tales without moral overtones thank you very much, they really miss out on the richness of the very human themes within the original stories.

 1968's Rusalochka, a faithful retelling of Andersen's classic love story, proves that sometimes a quiet resignation in the face of a moral dilemma is a greater testament to love than a "no-holds-barred" approach filled with musical numbers and sassy side-kicks. 

 { .gifs via }

 And because of this {along with its gorgeous animation} it holds a special place in my own romantically-closeted heart. ;)

>>>>>=<<<<<

|| The original Russian version can be found here, and the English closed caption version  here. ||

Love In All Its Loveliness

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❤ Play and Enjoy ❤ 
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❤ A Smorgasbord of Love ❤

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❤ >>> happy valentine's day <<< ❤