My Favorite Things - Part 1

Sure, I like raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens as much as the next guy. But do you ever look around your house and think about what your favorite things are? You know, the things that you would want to grab if your house was on fire...beyond the family, the cat, the photo albums, jewelry - wow, I'd better move some of this stuff closer to the exit! I'm not a super materialistic person, no matter what my ex husband says, but I like some stuff. Most of it is of no real value, only to me. :)

Books signed by the author:

I have four books that are signed by the author. Let's start on the far right. Anne Rice signed this copy of 'Tale of the Body Thief' at a bookstore signing. I really like her books, especially 'The Witching Hour' and am a big fan. No, I was not dressed as a vampire at the book signing. I have a life and I know the difference between real and pretend. Most of the time. At the top is Ann-Margret's autobiography, signed my the fabulous lady herself and her hubby, Roger Smith. I also obtained this at a book signing. When it was my turn I said to her "Tommy and Viva Las Vegas are two of my favorite movies", and she looked up at me and smiled that Hollywood megawatt smile and said, "They're two of my favorite movies, too! Would you like to meet my husband?" (I don't really act wierd around celebrities and I've met a lot of them, so I don't think I was giving off a stalking lesbian vibe) and Roger came out from the back room and he signed the book, too. They were both very nice and she is a beautiful lady and if I were a stalking lesbian, I'd go for her.

Next to the left is 'The Outsiders' by S.E. Hinton. If you are unfamiliar with this book, it was written about my hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma back in the 60s about the rivalry between the rich kids and the poor kids. It was a favorite growing up and I was glad to see that my son had it as required reading in 9th grade still. The book was changed to the East side vs. West side when it was really the South side vs. the North side. I was a Southsider. When the movie 'The Outsiders' was filmed, I was a senior in high school and since it was filmed in Tulsa, it was all the buzz. I got to meet Matt Dillon and actually taught him how to drive a stickshift because he liked my car (I drove a 1967 Triumph GT6 - guy magnet!!!) I was a little disappointed that he didn't thank me when he won the Oscar for 'Crash', but it was rumoured around my school my senior year that I was dating Emilio Estevez. I did nothing to encourage that rumour, nor did I do anything to squelch it. Many of the kids that I went to school with got to be extras in the movie and I still like to watch it and see those kids. My girlfriend, Angela is a limo driver and called me one day from Tulsa. She said "I am driving Susan Hinton today and also C. Thomas Howell and Ralph Maccio for the DVD premiere of The Outsiders!" I had her stop by the bookstore and buy a hardcopy of the book and get it signed. She did! And yes, it says 'Jana - Stay Gold' The book on the far left is kinda cool. It is one of the later Madeline books, "Madeline in America", which was written by the original author's son. What makes it extra cool is that it is inscribed to Don Henley's kids and signed by the author. I was given this by a friend/neighbor who's ex-nanny had also been the Henley's nanny and they had given the nanny a bunch of books. She gave it to me after I helped her do some organizing one day and she said that her two boys wouldn't appreciate it and for me to go ahead and take it before her husband sold it on ebay. What are your favorite things? More of mine in upcoming posts!