Its been sometime since I've written - almost a whole month but I was in a winter funk what with all the lousy weather we've been having but spring has sprung and though I'm still not in full spring mode as it is still cold but at least sunny, I am looking forward to spending the upcoming week with my sweet granddaughter Laura and having my whole little family with me on Easter Sunday.
And keeping in the spirit of Holy Week, I am herewith posting a poem I wrote in high school (either in my freshman or sophomore year) which I want to share with you. It was submitted by either Miss Juco or Miss Ocampo or even Sr. Mary Angela (my Paulinian classmates know of whom I speak) to the Manila Bulletin and it was published during Holy Week then. Now, over 40 years later, I think I should post something fitting for this solemn week before Easter.
The Vigil
A woman stands beside the cross
Her beautiful serene eyes are glistening with tears
Her rose-tinted skin is now almost transparently white with grief
Her glorious mass of shining chestnut hair
Has tumbled over her shoulders
Now shaking with her silent weeping.
She raises her head toward the figure hanging on the cross
And as she looks at Him, a dagger pierces her soul
The Man hanging on the Cross is her only son
She is filled with anguish, pain and sorrow
But, helpless to do anything for Him.
There is a woman beside her sharing her sorrow
A woman called Mary of Magdala.
A group of soldiers are gambling for His seamless robe
Which she made for Him, so long ago.
The sky has suddenly become dark.
Lightning and thunder break through the unearthly stillness
With an angry force
And the woman hears a voice she knows to be her son’s murmur….
“Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.”
And a soldier exclaims in terror and wonder…..
“Truly, this is the Son of God.”
A soft drizzle begins to fall
As two men take the Savior off the cross
And they lay Him in His mother’s arms.
There is still great sorrow and pain in her heart
But, she is also happy.
That He is rid of His suffering and agony.
His hands still bear
The marks where the nails had been cruelly driven into
Those divine hands
Which had caressed her cheek as a babe,
Had helped His father at work
Had healed the sick, the blind and the lame
And had changed bread and wine
Into His own Body and Blood.
The people had demanded the death
Of her Divine Son
This innocent Man
Lying in her arms now
Who had come down to earth
To save man from his sins
Their God and Creator
Who had brought the message of…
Love your neighbor as yourselves.
She thinks about this as she lays Him in the tomb
And she weeps again
But this time, for those who have denied Him
Hoping they will find Him again.
And as she walks down the path, away from the tomb,
We see a Queen, a Mother, a Saint, an Angel
And her name is MARY.
Have a Happy and Blessed Easter, all!!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Snow Days and Disasters.....in the Movies!!!
Well, its been a heck of a winter especially the last two weeks here in beautiful downtown Brooklyn. I woke up (well, actually, I was woken up by a text and email blast from the university that there would be no classes or administration going on), at 5:30 AM on Friday morning to a world of white outside my windows. The good thing is that I got to stay home and read, eat when and what I want, watch movies and make my cat Marco happy by keeping him company and playing with him. Besides, all the birdies and squirrels he watches or tease him from the windows have disappeared to wherever those creatures disappear to when there are big snowstorms or heavy rain. In any event, its pretty for the first 24 hours and since it snowed for 24 hours it was pretty to look at and take photos off. I wish I could play in it but these not so spry and not so resilient bones of mine can't take that sort of thing anymore. What my bones are really asking me is why don't I take them to some warm sunny beach or warm sunny anywhere! And they say there's more snow to come this week. Aaaarrrgghhh.... My granddaughter will be going to school till July if this keeps up to make up for lost school days.
Then I had a slight heart attack (figuratively) because Thursday night it was snowing heavily already and my Direct TV dish was burried under the heavy WET snowflakes and I thought I would miss the ladies figure skating final at the Olympics but milagro! It came back on just about 9:30 pm. Wasn't that Korean girl just exquisite?!!
Nothing much else exciting is going on. Well, there is this earthquake in Chile, which is not exciting but horrid for those people and that tsunami scare because if it is supposed to reach Hawaii and Japan, the Philippines isn't far off but so far, it hasn't happened.
When I was a kid in Manila, really young, I had seen a movie called "Fair Winds to Java" and it was about a tsunami and for years and years I used to have nightmares about a tsunami rolling over us thru Manila Bay. When the real thing happened not so long ago in Banda Asche (Sp.?), I thought - some nightmares do become real. I know I may be a trifle weird but I rather like watching "disaster" movies like the original "Poseidon", "Earthquake" with Jennifer Jones/Charlton Heston, "Twister" (I like watching the movie but I can't relate too much to tornadoes not having really experienced or seen one in real life and I don't live in Oklahoma or Kansas), "Impact" or something with an impact about asteroids hitting the earth, which are a bit scary, and the two movies about nuclear bomb explosions, one had Jason Robards in it, "The Day After" and those are scary too. And then there's "The Towering Inferno" which those nasty terrorists made all too real and a thousand times worse by giving us a taste of the real thing. But I have the movie in video and I like it because of all the actors in it: William Holden, Fred Astair, Steve McQueen, Jennifer Jones, Susan Blakely, Paul Newman, Faye Dunaway and even OJ Simpson, who had a good supporting role. I like ""Dante's Peak" wth Pierce Brosnan (I like anything with him in it), "The China Syndrome", "On the Beach", "Titanic" and "A Night To Remember" (to some even better than Titanic by Cameron), "The Devil at Four O'Clock" (Frank Sinatra and Spencer Tracy), and "When Time Ran Out" with Jacqueline Bissett, Paul Newman and William Holden (talk about the dream team actors!). Anyway, I'm into a disaster mode and I haven't even included movies like "The Hot Zone" or "The Adromeda Strain."
I guess I'm from the older generation because I'd rather watch any of the above movies again than something about Iraq (The Hurt Locker), or blue people with a "message" (Avatar). Which brings me to the (drum roll) the Oscar's next Sunday. I have my favorite actors and actresses but none will win because everyone is now so "PC" (I HATE that term), but I like the spectacle and like looking at the dresses and who makes it or doesn't. I wish I could work the red carpet as an interviewer just for that night. As I'ved said previously, I like the Golden Globes awards better but the Oscar's are a tradition, so something to look forward to.
And for those of you who ARE "PC" and think that I should be talking about more serious stuff in here than old disaster movies, well, we get the serious stuff in our faces every day in the news, on TV and in our lives so I can indulge in old fashioned harmless memories of rotten and not so rotten movies that do what movies are supposed to do - entertain. Your entertainment may be French noir or Italian comedy or Merchant/Ivory films (I love them!) or Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice. Whatever works, I say.
And then there's always my Kindle. Just finished reading a lot of non-fiction like "The Lost City of Z" and "The Johnstown Flood" so yesterday I indulged in a bit of chic lit called "Very Valentine" and loved it. The second of the trilogy by the author of this book releases in the middle of March and I can't wait.
Last but not least, last night I watched "The V.I.P.s" with Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Orson Wells, Maggie Smith, Elsa Martinelli and Rod Taylor and fell asleep watching Cameron's "Titanic" and hated Billy Zane all over again! Besides, not a thing to watch if you hate the cold!
Then I had a slight heart attack (figuratively) because Thursday night it was snowing heavily already and my Direct TV dish was burried under the heavy WET snowflakes and I thought I would miss the ladies figure skating final at the Olympics but milagro! It came back on just about 9:30 pm. Wasn't that Korean girl just exquisite?!!
Nothing much else exciting is going on. Well, there is this earthquake in Chile, which is not exciting but horrid for those people and that tsunami scare because if it is supposed to reach Hawaii and Japan, the Philippines isn't far off but so far, it hasn't happened.
When I was a kid in Manila, really young, I had seen a movie called "Fair Winds to Java" and it was about a tsunami and for years and years I used to have nightmares about a tsunami rolling over us thru Manila Bay. When the real thing happened not so long ago in Banda Asche (Sp.?), I thought - some nightmares do become real. I know I may be a trifle weird but I rather like watching "disaster" movies like the original "Poseidon", "Earthquake" with Jennifer Jones/Charlton Heston, "Twister" (I like watching the movie but I can't relate too much to tornadoes not having really experienced or seen one in real life and I don't live in Oklahoma or Kansas), "Impact" or something with an impact about asteroids hitting the earth, which are a bit scary, and the two movies about nuclear bomb explosions, one had Jason Robards in it, "The Day After" and those are scary too. And then there's "The Towering Inferno" which those nasty terrorists made all too real and a thousand times worse by giving us a taste of the real thing. But I have the movie in video and I like it because of all the actors in it: William Holden, Fred Astair, Steve McQueen, Jennifer Jones, Susan Blakely, Paul Newman, Faye Dunaway and even OJ Simpson, who had a good supporting role. I like ""Dante's Peak" wth Pierce Brosnan (I like anything with him in it), "The China Syndrome", "On the Beach", "Titanic" and "A Night To Remember" (to some even better than Titanic by Cameron), "The Devil at Four O'Clock" (Frank Sinatra and Spencer Tracy), and "When Time Ran Out" with Jacqueline Bissett, Paul Newman and William Holden (talk about the dream team actors!). Anyway, I'm into a disaster mode and I haven't even included movies like "The Hot Zone" or "The Adromeda Strain."
I guess I'm from the older generation because I'd rather watch any of the above movies again than something about Iraq (The Hurt Locker), or blue people with a "message" (Avatar). Which brings me to the (drum roll) the Oscar's next Sunday. I have my favorite actors and actresses but none will win because everyone is now so "PC" (I HATE that term), but I like the spectacle and like looking at the dresses and who makes it or doesn't. I wish I could work the red carpet as an interviewer just for that night. As I'ved said previously, I like the Golden Globes awards better but the Oscar's are a tradition, so something to look forward to.
And for those of you who ARE "PC" and think that I should be talking about more serious stuff in here than old disaster movies, well, we get the serious stuff in our faces every day in the news, on TV and in our lives so I can indulge in old fashioned harmless memories of rotten and not so rotten movies that do what movies are supposed to do - entertain. Your entertainment may be French noir or Italian comedy or Merchant/Ivory films (I love them!) or Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice. Whatever works, I say.
And then there's always my Kindle. Just finished reading a lot of non-fiction like "The Lost City of Z" and "The Johnstown Flood" so yesterday I indulged in a bit of chic lit called "Very Valentine" and loved it. The second of the trilogy by the author of this book releases in the middle of March and I can't wait.
Last but not least, last night I watched "The V.I.P.s" with Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Orson Wells, Maggie Smith, Elsa Martinelli and Rod Taylor and fell asleep watching Cameron's "Titanic" and hated Billy Zane all over again! Besides, not a thing to watch if you hate the cold!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Valentine's Day, February 14, 2010 (The Romantic Valentine, not the Familial One)
If you notice, the title of this posting doesn't say "Happy" only because I don't think Valentine's Day is a happy one for everyone. I mean, I know we all truly love someone - husband, child, parent, etc. but I am thinking that some have lost a truly loved one, hence, though not a tragic day, not the all hearts and flowers one for many people.
I received a sweet email valentine from an old love a few days ago and though in email and short, it was sweet - and since none of you who read this know who he is - I will quote from part of it - to share -
"Happy Valentine's Day Love. It doesn't seem possible that this will be the sixth one since our flight. Thoughts of you give (me) as many goosebumps as they did V day '05. Maybe more. I think memories of a relationship grow with the years as the mind gradually erases any flaws in the relationship and constantly homes in and magnifies what was, and still is, wonderful about it. Stay warm love."
The above sure made my day as any woman, or guy, reading it can appreciate.
And speaking of loves - and in my case, a love lost, I wrote this poem truly spontaneously one summer morning about two years ago. I woke up from dreaming about this particular person and the first lines of the poem were literally already in my head. I had to go to the office but as soon as I got to my desk, I took out a notebook and started writing and in about 45 minutes it was done - just as you see it below. The power of love or love lost is strong indeed. Probably this all came about as "closure" (I truly hate the word but I can't think of a better one for now), when this man finally placed a period to the long relationship we'd had since I first met him in 1969. The why, how and where is not important because its done with but this poem lingers as a testament to what it was and how I felt. Those close friends who I sent it to and to others who knew nothing about my life or didn't know that I had written it, where skeptical that I had actually written it, though impressed. Because I wanted to preserve the integrity of this poem and the emotion that conceived it, I had it copyrighted and received my official copyright # from the US copyright office about 6 months later.
Well, here it is. An old friend of mine who passed away not long ago (God bless him), thought it a little raunchy but that's a guy for you and the only man who read it. The women all understood.
Antonym
I hate you.
I hate you because you come to me
In my dreams
And take over the night
I hate you because you waken memories
Long dormant
And take over my day
I hate you because I taste your mouth,
Your skin, your maleness,
And it’s only a memory
I hate you because you always walk away from me
In my dreams, in my life
I hate you because all others diminish in comparison
And they are nobler than you
I hate you because our past obscures the present
And denies the future
I hate you because there is no present
There is no future
I hate you because I look for you
When I know I will not find you
I hate you because you once were mine
I hate you because you now belong to another
I hate you because you were only on loan to me by Fate
I hate you because we breathed the same air
I hate you because we don’t breathe the same air
I hate you because our bodies joined lifted me
To heights unknown to mortals
I hate you because I knew your body
Better than mine
I hate you because you completed me
I hate you because now no one does
I hate you because we connected without words
I hate you because we now cannot connect at all
I hate you because I will not watch you grow old
I hate you because I only remember our youth
I hate you because you took the best of me
I hate you because I didn’t take the best of you
I hate you because you never heard my silent song to you
I hate you because I never realized yours to me
I hate you because I cannot,
No matter how much I try,
Learn to hate you.
Lea Bowie
Summer 2008
And this is the person I wrote this poem about. The photo was taken in the summer of 1974.
I received a sweet email valentine from an old love a few days ago and though in email and short, it was sweet - and since none of you who read this know who he is - I will quote from part of it - to share -
"Happy Valentine's Day Love. It doesn't seem possible that this will be the sixth one since our flight. Thoughts of you give (me) as many goosebumps as they did V day '05. Maybe more. I think memories of a relationship grow with the years as the mind gradually erases any flaws in the relationship and constantly homes in and magnifies what was, and still is, wonderful about it. Stay warm love."
The above sure made my day as any woman, or guy, reading it can appreciate.
And speaking of loves - and in my case, a love lost, I wrote this poem truly spontaneously one summer morning about two years ago. I woke up from dreaming about this particular person and the first lines of the poem were literally already in my head. I had to go to the office but as soon as I got to my desk, I took out a notebook and started writing and in about 45 minutes it was done - just as you see it below. The power of love or love lost is strong indeed. Probably this all came about as "closure" (I truly hate the word but I can't think of a better one for now), when this man finally placed a period to the long relationship we'd had since I first met him in 1969. The why, how and where is not important because its done with but this poem lingers as a testament to what it was and how I felt. Those close friends who I sent it to and to others who knew nothing about my life or didn't know that I had written it, where skeptical that I had actually written it, though impressed. Because I wanted to preserve the integrity of this poem and the emotion that conceived it, I had it copyrighted and received my official copyright # from the US copyright office about 6 months later.
Well, here it is. An old friend of mine who passed away not long ago (God bless him), thought it a little raunchy but that's a guy for you and the only man who read it. The women all understood.
Antonym
I hate you.
I hate you because you come to me
In my dreams
And take over the night
I hate you because you waken memories
Long dormant
And take over my day
I hate you because I taste your mouth,
Your skin, your maleness,
And it’s only a memory
I hate you because you always walk away from me
In my dreams, in my life
I hate you because all others diminish in comparison
And they are nobler than you
I hate you because our past obscures the present
And denies the future
I hate you because there is no present
There is no future
I hate you because I look for you
When I know I will not find you
I hate you because you once were mine
I hate you because you now belong to another
I hate you because you were only on loan to me by Fate
I hate you because we breathed the same air
I hate you because we don’t breathe the same air
I hate you because our bodies joined lifted me
To heights unknown to mortals
I hate you because I knew your body
Better than mine
I hate you because you completed me
I hate you because now no one does
I hate you because we connected without words
I hate you because we now cannot connect at all
I hate you because I will not watch you grow old
I hate you because I only remember our youth
I hate you because you took the best of me
I hate you because I didn’t take the best of you
I hate you because you never heard my silent song to you
I hate you because I never realized yours to me
I hate you because I cannot,
No matter how much I try,
Learn to hate you.
Lea Bowie
Summer 2008
And this is the person I wrote this poem about. The photo was taken in the summer of 1974.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
SNOW DAY!!! February 10, 2010
Hey there folks,
Here I am, still in my pajamas while the world outside my windows - all five of them - is just a blizzard of white! I don't remember snow like this since my first winter in New York in 1966! Let me see if I can attach a picture or two I took from my windows, earlier today, though now, at 2 PM, its snowing even harder and the wind is picking up.
The picture above was taken from my kitchen window of my back yard. The screen is still down outside of the window pane hence the criss-cross lines, but that tree that is bent down from the weight of the snow is a lovely "butterfly tree" (I call it that because all during warm weather butterflies gather to it, especially Monarch butterflies) which is so lovely during the spring and summer. This was taken at 8 this morning but now at 2 pm half of it is practically on the ground and the other half is hanging over my neighbor's fence. Hope nature does its thing and it comes back to its glory in spring. It has beautiful violet flowers when it blooms.
I took more pictures of my front yard facing the street but since the windows face north,there are droplets of water of melted snow flakes and everything is a blur of white. Wonder of wonders, the mailperson who fails to deliver mail on nice days, actually delivered mail in a blizzard. Go figure but, goodie for me, I got two Netflix DVDs that I can watch.
I know, this is all pretty boring but for my friends in warm climes, this is a little taste of life in the Gran Manzana. I hope my friend Cora Arando Frattali, who is supposed to fly to Nevada made it out of here today.
Nothing much else going on but now that I can download pictures, I will see if I can download some more later on.
Happy snow day everyone!
The picture above was taken from my kitchen window of my back yard. The screen is still down outside of the window pane hence the criss-cross lines, but that tree that is bent down from the weight of the snow is a lovely "butterfly tree" (I call it that because all during warm weather butterflies gather to it, especially Monarch butterflies) which is so lovely during the spring and summer. This was taken at 8 this morning but now at 2 pm half of it is practically on the ground and the other half is hanging over my neighbor's fence. Hope nature does its thing and it comes back to its glory in spring. It has beautiful violet flowers when it blooms.
I took more pictures of my front yard facing the street but since the windows face north,there are droplets of water of melted snow flakes and everything is a blur of white. Wonder of wonders, the mailperson who fails to deliver mail on nice days, actually delivered mail in a blizzard. Go figure but, goodie for me, I got two Netflix DVDs that I can watch.
I know, this is all pretty boring but for my friends in warm climes, this is a little taste of life in the Gran Manzana. I hope my friend Cora Arando Frattali, who is supposed to fly to Nevada made it out of here today.
Nothing much else going on but now that I can download pictures, I will see if I can download some more later on.
Happy snow day everyone!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Winter, chills, spills and magic moments.
Well The Big Chill is back but it IS winter and I guess I'd rather bear with it than if it were too warm and icebergs were floating down the East River. Then I'd know the greenhouse effect is really upon us. I'm all for being eco-friendly with EVERYTHING!
I'm probably the last person left on the planet who hasn't seen AVATAR. I guess I am just lazy to walk the 9 blocks to the movie theater especially in this weather. I'd rather sit home and watch movies on my DVD player or on my laptop on Netflix which has practically most movies I'd like for free. So sue me!
I watched some figure skating last weekend and yes, corny of me I know, but I still love it. Remember when we all used to live to watch Holiday on Ice in Manila?! What did we know from ice skates and skiis. One afternoon, I decided I was going to do some iceskating of my own, so I took the hose and wet the garage floor in our house on San Marcelino Street, put on my roller skates (you know what's coming don't you) and did a twirl, slipped and landed on my face and cracked one of my front teeth! And I looked gorgeous already with braces on. I was about 13 and I would give Ugly Betty a run for her money. Anyway, when the braces finally came off at 15 or so, my dad had me go to the dentist to have that tooth capped. (The only tooth in my mouth that has a cap on it to this day.) But, of course, BEFORE capping it, it seems that when I cracked the tooth, the nerve got infected and I didn't know. So, the dentist had to cut the gum, drain it and I had a couple of stitches in - all this because I thought I was going to glide across my garage floor like a figure skater. When I got to New York, years later, I tried to ice skate ONCE (thinking how hard or how different could it be from roller skating) - hah! Joke on me. It was a catastrophe, so nix that winter sport. I also tried skiing while I lived in Spain. Went with a girlfriend to Andorra. The only thing I did well then, was get expertly off the t-lift at the top of the hill (the ski guy complimented me on that.) Anyway, again, how hard could this be, right? Wrong! Especially if one's skiis are way too long for petite me and there was a blizzard going on. Don't ask me how I got down that hill without killing myself but all I can say is that, from then on, let me just hang around the ski lodge and hope to run into Jean Claude Killey (Sp?). As you can see, and as I've said before....give me sun, sand, beach and palm trees. A sailboat and balmy breezes and I'm in heaven. Short of that, a nice swimming pool will do - thank you very much.
I was born on a hot tropical island in July - so let me watch the Winter Olympics on TV and pretend I'm Peggy Flemming or Michelle Kwan or watch Brian Boitano from the comfort of my couch. The only time I like the cold is by a cozy fire. The best fireplace I remember when a teen was the one at the Baguio Country Club or at my Aunt Trining Legarda's house in Baguio. My mother and I would sit by the fire after dinner and talk or listen to her favorite musical "My Fair Lady." Magic times those.
I'm probably the last person left on the planet who hasn't seen AVATAR. I guess I am just lazy to walk the 9 blocks to the movie theater especially in this weather. I'd rather sit home and watch movies on my DVD player or on my laptop on Netflix which has practically most movies I'd like for free. So sue me!
I watched some figure skating last weekend and yes, corny of me I know, but I still love it. Remember when we all used to live to watch Holiday on Ice in Manila?! What did we know from ice skates and skiis. One afternoon, I decided I was going to do some iceskating of my own, so I took the hose and wet the garage floor in our house on San Marcelino Street, put on my roller skates (you know what's coming don't you) and did a twirl, slipped and landed on my face and cracked one of my front teeth! And I looked gorgeous already with braces on. I was about 13 and I would give Ugly Betty a run for her money. Anyway, when the braces finally came off at 15 or so, my dad had me go to the dentist to have that tooth capped. (The only tooth in my mouth that has a cap on it to this day.) But, of course, BEFORE capping it, it seems that when I cracked the tooth, the nerve got infected and I didn't know. So, the dentist had to cut the gum, drain it and I had a couple of stitches in - all this because I thought I was going to glide across my garage floor like a figure skater. When I got to New York, years later, I tried to ice skate ONCE (thinking how hard or how different could it be from roller skating) - hah! Joke on me. It was a catastrophe, so nix that winter sport. I also tried skiing while I lived in Spain. Went with a girlfriend to Andorra. The only thing I did well then, was get expertly off the t-lift at the top of the hill (the ski guy complimented me on that.) Anyway, again, how hard could this be, right? Wrong! Especially if one's skiis are way too long for petite me and there was a blizzard going on. Don't ask me how I got down that hill without killing myself but all I can say is that, from then on, let me just hang around the ski lodge and hope to run into Jean Claude Killey (Sp?). As you can see, and as I've said before....give me sun, sand, beach and palm trees. A sailboat and balmy breezes and I'm in heaven. Short of that, a nice swimming pool will do - thank you very much.
I was born on a hot tropical island in July - so let me watch the Winter Olympics on TV and pretend I'm Peggy Flemming or Michelle Kwan or watch Brian Boitano from the comfort of my couch. The only time I like the cold is by a cozy fire. The best fireplace I remember when a teen was the one at the Baguio Country Club or at my Aunt Trining Legarda's house in Baguio. My mother and I would sit by the fire after dinner and talk or listen to her favorite musical "My Fair Lady." Magic times those.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Golden Girl, Golden Couples, First Loves and Haiti Telethon
Well, you heard it here first. In my last posting I mentioned that it was a wonder that a beautiful woman like Jennifer Aniston was still playing the field. I talked about the Golden Globes and though I noticed it, I forget to mention that the Golden Couple - Brad and Angelina, did not attend and his film Inglorious Bastards was up for an award. Last night at the SAG awards (whose only highlight for me personally was watching Betty White get the Lifetime whatever it is award), Inglorious Bastards won for Best Ensemble Cast Movie and conspicuous by his absence from the whole cast on stage was - Brad. Again, he and his beautiful partner were not in attendance. Now (drum roll) - the item below is from today's BARCELONA REPORTER -
"Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie DIVORCE lawyers and signed a £205 million split
HOLLYWOOD golden pair Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have seen DIVORCE lawyers and signed a £205 million split deal, we can reveal.
Magazines are taking Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s relationship on the rocks to a whole new level.The world's most famous couple legally agreed how to divide their fortune and who gets custody of their six kids.
The megastars have agreed to equally divide their vast fortune - and to SHARE their six children.
Dynamite legal papers secretly signed by the couple this month detail how all their homes and assets will be carved up.
The agreement gives them joint custody of the kids - but all six will actually live full-time with their mum.
Preparations for a split began in early December when "Brangelina" visited a top Los Angeles divorce firm to begin thrashing out the deal.
An announcement of their separation is expected to be made soon - ending months of speculation that the five-year relationship is on the rocks.
A source told the News of the World: "The document was signed in early January. Both Brad and Angelina had signed it.
"The contract was like a tailor-made version of a pre-nuptial agreement except for an unmarried couple's split.
"It seemed clear they want the world to know they'll both play a part in the upbringing of the children.
"But Angelina will actually be the one who lives with them full-time."
The divorce lawyer they consulted is based in Beverly Hills and has worked on a string of celeb divorces and splits. He is widely regarded as "the best in the business".
Our source added: "There's no date for when the contract would come into effect.
"But the paperwork is already organised for a break- up - and for it to be as unmessy for them as possible. It is clear it's a case of when they break up rather than if."
The troubled couple have not been photographed together in public in recent days. On Friday night, Brad, 46, was snapped backstage at the Hope For Haiti concert in Los Angeles without Angelina, 34.
His ex-wife Jennifer Aniston was there - although not with him.
"Brangelina" fell for each other when they played a warring couple in Mr and Mrs Smith in 2004. They have three adopted children (Maddox, eight, Pax, six, and Zahara, five), and three biological kids (Shiloh, three, and 17- month-old twins Knox and Vivienne).
Both stars have been through high- profile splits before. Brad shocked the world when he split from Hollywood golden girl Jennifer, 40, in January 2005. They had been married for 4½ years.
He was first photographed with Oscar-winner Angelina three months after the split. Before Jen, he was engaged to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Jolie has been divorced twice - from Monster's Ball star Billy Bob Thornton in 2003, and Trainspotting actor Johnny Lee Miller in 1999.
Her joint fortune with Brad of $322 million (£205 million) includes mansions in France, California and New Orleans. But rumours have been circulating for months that the couple's relationship is doomed.
Last week they failed to show at the Golden Globe Awards even though Brad's film Inglourious Basterds was up for a several gongs.
Instead he went to watch the American football team New Orleans Saints, while Changeling star Angelina stayed in California. Also last week, Pitt bought the mansion next door to the family's LA home for £800,000.
His pals Guy Ritchie and wife Madonna famously bought their next-door pad in London before their split so they could share living space with their kids but keep away from each another.
Earlier this month, Angelina was snapped looking tense with an unsmiling Brad in New York.
And last month she said fidelity was over-rated - and if she or Brad had an affair it would not be a problem.
She told German magazine Das Neue: "Neither Brad nor I have ever claimed that living together means to be chained together. We make sure that we never restrict each other.
"I doubt that fidelity is absolutely essential for a relationship. It's worse to leave your partner and talk badly about him afterwards."
Angelina, whose new film Salt is due in British cinemas this summer, also said: "The sparks fly at home if the nice Brad fails to see that he's wrong and reacts in a defiant way.
"Then I can get so angry that I tear his shirt."
Also this month, best-selling American biographer Ian Halperin released a revelation- packed insight into the Jolie- Pitt relationship.
He said when the couple first met they had 20-HOUR sex sessions.
In his book Brangelina: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Ian writes: "Brad had never had such incredible sex.
"My sources say that they sometimes spent 18 to 20 hours a day in bed. But sex eventually wears off.
"She has brought a lot of good things to him - the children, for example.
"But he didn't know what he was getting into, and that's why I think they're going to split."
We asked Brad, Angelina and the legal firm for their comments but they did not respond. "
Now, I'm not saying that Brad and Jennifer will get back together. I think Jennifer has more gumption and pride than that BUT, does one REALLY ever get over that FIRST, full, complete, madly-in-love (or lust) LOVE??!!! I'm just sayin.....
Now, on a the really important tragedy of the new millenium - Haiti. Hope you all watched the telethon hosted by George Clooney on Friday night. I thought it short. It could've gone on an hour longer. All the performances were great but I thought Taylor Swift a bit out of place. Christina Aguilera is one fantastic singer. She's beautiful and has a voice! All the rest were great too and I hear they raised more than 50 million dollars! Way to go guys.
And now, back to padding around in my pajamas on a gloomy Sunday morning. Went to Mass yesterday afternoon. A friend wanted to see "Avatar" today and I'm still undecided. Everyone says its fantastic but I never was into fantasy movies and as wonderful as it is, can I stand watching blue people for over 2 hours and a half? Maybe not. Rather see something else or stay home and watch really GOOD movies free on Netflix. I rate whoever thought up the idea of Netflix right up there with e-mail, Amazon, the Kindle and the world wide web!!
Hasta pasta folks.....
"Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie DIVORCE lawyers and signed a £205 million split
HOLLYWOOD golden pair Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have seen DIVORCE lawyers and signed a £205 million split deal, we can reveal.
Magazines are taking Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s relationship on the rocks to a whole new level.The world's most famous couple legally agreed how to divide their fortune and who gets custody of their six kids.
The megastars have agreed to equally divide their vast fortune - and to SHARE their six children.
Dynamite legal papers secretly signed by the couple this month detail how all their homes and assets will be carved up.
The agreement gives them joint custody of the kids - but all six will actually live full-time with their mum.
Preparations for a split began in early December when "Brangelina" visited a top Los Angeles divorce firm to begin thrashing out the deal.
An announcement of their separation is expected to be made soon - ending months of speculation that the five-year relationship is on the rocks.
A source told the News of the World: "The document was signed in early January. Both Brad and Angelina had signed it.
"The contract was like a tailor-made version of a pre-nuptial agreement except for an unmarried couple's split.
"It seemed clear they want the world to know they'll both play a part in the upbringing of the children.
"But Angelina will actually be the one who lives with them full-time."
The divorce lawyer they consulted is based in Beverly Hills and has worked on a string of celeb divorces and splits. He is widely regarded as "the best in the business".
Our source added: "There's no date for when the contract would come into effect.
"But the paperwork is already organised for a break- up - and for it to be as unmessy for them as possible. It is clear it's a case of when they break up rather than if."
The troubled couple have not been photographed together in public in recent days. On Friday night, Brad, 46, was snapped backstage at the Hope For Haiti concert in Los Angeles without Angelina, 34.
His ex-wife Jennifer Aniston was there - although not with him.
"Brangelina" fell for each other when they played a warring couple in Mr and Mrs Smith in 2004. They have three adopted children (Maddox, eight, Pax, six, and Zahara, five), and three biological kids (Shiloh, three, and 17- month-old twins Knox and Vivienne).
Both stars have been through high- profile splits before. Brad shocked the world when he split from Hollywood golden girl Jennifer, 40, in January 2005. They had been married for 4½ years.
He was first photographed with Oscar-winner Angelina three months after the split. Before Jen, he was engaged to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Jolie has been divorced twice - from Monster's Ball star Billy Bob Thornton in 2003, and Trainspotting actor Johnny Lee Miller in 1999.
Her joint fortune with Brad of $322 million (£205 million) includes mansions in France, California and New Orleans. But rumours have been circulating for months that the couple's relationship is doomed.
Last week they failed to show at the Golden Globe Awards even though Brad's film Inglourious Basterds was up for a several gongs.
Instead he went to watch the American football team New Orleans Saints, while Changeling star Angelina stayed in California. Also last week, Pitt bought the mansion next door to the family's LA home for £800,000.
His pals Guy Ritchie and wife Madonna famously bought their next-door pad in London before their split so they could share living space with their kids but keep away from each another.
Earlier this month, Angelina was snapped looking tense with an unsmiling Brad in New York.
And last month she said fidelity was over-rated - and if she or Brad had an affair it would not be a problem.
She told German magazine Das Neue: "Neither Brad nor I have ever claimed that living together means to be chained together. We make sure that we never restrict each other.
"I doubt that fidelity is absolutely essential for a relationship. It's worse to leave your partner and talk badly about him afterwards."
Angelina, whose new film Salt is due in British cinemas this summer, also said: "The sparks fly at home if the nice Brad fails to see that he's wrong and reacts in a defiant way.
"Then I can get so angry that I tear his shirt."
Also this month, best-selling American biographer Ian Halperin released a revelation- packed insight into the Jolie- Pitt relationship.
He said when the couple first met they had 20-HOUR sex sessions.
In his book Brangelina: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Ian writes: "Brad had never had such incredible sex.
"My sources say that they sometimes spent 18 to 20 hours a day in bed. But sex eventually wears off.
"She has brought a lot of good things to him - the children, for example.
"But he didn't know what he was getting into, and that's why I think they're going to split."
We asked Brad, Angelina and the legal firm for their comments but they did not respond. "
Now, I'm not saying that Brad and Jennifer will get back together. I think Jennifer has more gumption and pride than that BUT, does one REALLY ever get over that FIRST, full, complete, madly-in-love (or lust) LOVE??!!! I'm just sayin.....
Now, on a the really important tragedy of the new millenium - Haiti. Hope you all watched the telethon hosted by George Clooney on Friday night. I thought it short. It could've gone on an hour longer. All the performances were great but I thought Taylor Swift a bit out of place. Christina Aguilera is one fantastic singer. She's beautiful and has a voice! All the rest were great too and I hear they raised more than 50 million dollars! Way to go guys.
And now, back to padding around in my pajamas on a gloomy Sunday morning. Went to Mass yesterday afternoon. A friend wanted to see "Avatar" today and I'm still undecided. Everyone says its fantastic but I never was into fantasy movies and as wonderful as it is, can I stand watching blue people for over 2 hours and a half? Maybe not. Rather see something else or stay home and watch really GOOD movies free on Netflix. I rate whoever thought up the idea of Netflix right up there with e-mail, Amazon, the Kindle and the world wide web!!
Hasta pasta folks.....
Monday, January 18, 2010
End of a book, the Golden Globes and lazy day chores...
Well, I finished the book - Dias de ....(I can't write the Spanish enye in the blog), and its good. Would I have read it had I not known the author? Probably not. On the other hand, had I read the book without knowing who the author was, I would've guessed it was MJPM as his entire persona, his character, his profession and his love of the sea especially the Mediterranean is evident in the book. Moving on....
The Golden Globes - I guessed right on almost all categories except for the music and I couldn't chose in the best actor/actress/picture category though in the latter, I guessed Avatar even if I haven't seen the movie. I adore George Clooney,and I still wonder why Jennifer Aniston hasn't found a partner after Brad but maybe because one doesn't really get over the first great love of one's life. I knew "Broken Embraces" wasn't going to win and I did guess The White Ribbon for best foreign film. (I read a lot of reviews.) I guessed Mo'Nique and since I love "The Good Wife" I guessed correctly and was happy Juliana Marguollis (Sp?) won. Didn't we all love her AND George in ER?!!! Julia Roberts put her foot in her mouth during the red carpet interview when she tells the guy interviewing her,(that young annoying guy with the blonde hair), that "You guys are in the toilet now" meaning NBC with its bad ratings and the Jay Leno/Connan drama and the channel airing the Globes was NBC! The guy was so flusterred. I bet NBC is not inviting Julia for any interviews anytime soon. I thought Marion Cotillard stunning, Meryl Streep, was, well, Meryl Streep, and Helen Mirren is classy, gorgeous and everything one should be and can't at past 60! Love that Jeff Bridges won, even if I was rooting for George and omygod, just had a senior moment and can't remember who got best actress award. Anyway, the Golden Globes is my favorite award show so I had a nice evening looking at the beautiful people and clothes and reactions, etc., etc. Just remembered - Sandra Bullock - best actress!!
As a sidebar, I think Matt Daimon the nicest guy!!
So, we continue to watch the horror of Haiti. It sure makes one appreciate how good we have it. I hope all of you who can have donated whatever you can to this cause. You can do it by texting 90999 and the word HAITI and $10 will be added to your phone bill but donated to Haiti. Also, on-line, the Red Cross and Catholic Charities are legitimate organizations to contribute to. The same way Banda Asche has been rebuilt 4 years after the tsunami, maybe the same will be true of Haiti. Pray God.
Happy MLK Day. Its nice to have the day off and since I have to start using up my vacation days, I am taking tomorrow off also.
So, I'm off to do dishes I left in the sink last night. I know, my bad, but I was watching the Globes! Then, I am cleaning out a bit more of my closet and throwing away clothes I haven't put on my body in a year! Of course, if I keep throwing things away, I'll be left with four pairs of slacks, 2 blouses and 14 tees to wear!!
The Golden Globes - I guessed right on almost all categories except for the music and I couldn't chose in the best actor/actress/picture category though in the latter, I guessed Avatar even if I haven't seen the movie. I adore George Clooney,and I still wonder why Jennifer Aniston hasn't found a partner after Brad but maybe because one doesn't really get over the first great love of one's life. I knew "Broken Embraces" wasn't going to win and I did guess The White Ribbon for best foreign film. (I read a lot of reviews.) I guessed Mo'Nique and since I love "The Good Wife" I guessed correctly and was happy Juliana Marguollis (Sp?) won. Didn't we all love her AND George in ER?!!! Julia Roberts put her foot in her mouth during the red carpet interview when she tells the guy interviewing her,(that young annoying guy with the blonde hair), that "You guys are in the toilet now" meaning NBC with its bad ratings and the Jay Leno/Connan drama and the channel airing the Globes was NBC! The guy was so flusterred. I bet NBC is not inviting Julia for any interviews anytime soon. I thought Marion Cotillard stunning, Meryl Streep, was, well, Meryl Streep, and Helen Mirren is classy, gorgeous and everything one should be and can't at past 60! Love that Jeff Bridges won, even if I was rooting for George and omygod, just had a senior moment and can't remember who got best actress award. Anyway, the Golden Globes is my favorite award show so I had a nice evening looking at the beautiful people and clothes and reactions, etc., etc. Just remembered - Sandra Bullock - best actress!!
As a sidebar, I think Matt Daimon the nicest guy!!
So, we continue to watch the horror of Haiti. It sure makes one appreciate how good we have it. I hope all of you who can have donated whatever you can to this cause. You can do it by texting 90999 and the word HAITI and $10 will be added to your phone bill but donated to Haiti. Also, on-line, the Red Cross and Catholic Charities are legitimate organizations to contribute to. The same way Banda Asche has been rebuilt 4 years after the tsunami, maybe the same will be true of Haiti. Pray God.
Happy MLK Day. Its nice to have the day off and since I have to start using up my vacation days, I am taking tomorrow off also.
So, I'm off to do dishes I left in the sink last night. I know, my bad, but I was watching the Globes! Then, I am cleaning out a bit more of my closet and throwing away clothes I haven't put on my body in a year! Of course, if I keep throwing things away, I'll be left with four pairs of slacks, 2 blouses and 14 tees to wear!!
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