Some Sketches

Finished my sketchbook the other day,  here are some of my favorites from the last year - Smiley

Phil Donahue

 

Phil Donahue, the popular TV personality who pioneered the one hour, single topic talk show with audience participation, has died after a long illness. He was 88. 

Donahue was Oprah before there was an Oprah, and she  graciously credited him in her magazine in 2002. "If there had been no Phil Donahue show, there would be no Oprah Winfrey Show," Winfrey said. "He was the first to acknowledge that women are interested in more than mascara tips and cake recipes — that we're intelligent, we're concerned about the world around us and we want the best possible lives for ourselves."

He got the first talk show interview with Nelson Mandela after his release, hosted a Democratic debate on his show during the 1992 primaries, hosted the show for 29 years, until 1996,  and in May of this year was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden. 

I remember my Mom watching his show, his marriage to Marlo Thomas, and his iconic mane of white hair. I recall fondly the episode he did with George Burns, and being bitter when his show initially fell behind Oprah in popularity LOL

Rest in peace sir. You done well. 

Breakfast at Sabrosa

Definitely a happy place for me. 10/10 again. I need the check to have a spot to tip the pianist tho as I never carry cash and she adds so much to the experience! - Lisa (author)

A Christmas Gift (from 3 years ago!)

 Today was pretty low key. I slept in, then drove Lu to work before going to Mass, then ran some small errands in the evening with Junie (pharmacy, Walmart, storage, etc). 

But right before Mass I swung by Collector's Edge Comics and FINALLY used this certificate Junie got me for Christmas way back in 2021! To my shame, I lost track of it for a long time but was overjoyed to rediscover it. 

Despite the expiration date being two and a half years in the past, the owner honored the gift certificate. I raided the discount bin and picked up ten copies of the great 80's run of Blue Devil. 

Thanks Junie!

Grandpa's Day 2024 pt 2 - Alien Romulus

After the cemetery I drove out to South Shore cinema to meet my friend Seth and catch this movie on its release date. 

I'd been looking forward to this for quite awhile and I was not disappointed.  Set  between the first two films, this is a stand alone thriller about a group of young miners on a miserable colony world that seek to escape to a better life. They find their chance when a derelict space station appears in orbit, and they head out to raid it for the supplies for the long trip. Unfortunately,  the station has a few surprises in store for them, namely,  the xenomorphs.

I did think the movie started a little slow,  although I appreciated the world building.  From the moment they find the face hugger tho, it's off to the races, and the director never let off on the gas.  

The visuals are superb, the effects are practical rather than just all greenscreen, and there are plenty of Easter eggs referencing the other films in the franchise.  

The best part,  for me,  was the final fifteen minutes.  No spoilers, but that was some F'd Up S**t, and genuinely creepy. Yikes.

Grade: A

Afterwards I stopped at the airport Rocky Rococo, to order a slice of pizza - 39 years to the day I went there with my Grandma on Grandpa's Day of 85.