Sad News and Poppin'

I have said before how I have this thing about Poppin' Fresh. I had him and his wife Poppie and their stands and even took them to college with me. There's just something about the doughboy's cherubic countenance that never ceases to cheer me up. Well last night I saw the doughboy's latest commercial. He's shakin his groove thing to Barry White singing I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Babe. Cutest darn thing I have seen in a long time. And I must say Poppin' has got some rhythm. I always have been a sucker for a man that can dance.

And speaking of adorable commercials I think some of my favorite commercials have been any of the Hershey's Kisses commercials. Especially the ice skating kisses. Very cute.



On a sadder note the world had to say goodbye to the incomparable Shirley Horn last week and to the legend Rosa Parks this week. Ms. Horn died last Thursday (10/20/05) in her native Washington, DC after a lengthy illness. (She actually lived in Upper Marlboro, MD). She was 71. The jazz pianist and vocalist was often compared to Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, but I always thought she brought her own unique sound to the standards. If you have never heard Shirley Horn give yourself a treat and listen to her rendition of Here's To Life.


Rosa Parks is the woman who "sat down so that many could stand up". Rosa Parks received many honors in her lifetime to include the NAACP's Spingarn Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. For the last few years Rosa Parks had been suffering from dementia. She died Monday, October 24, 2005 at the age of 92.

On Sunday night I watched Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking. My favorite portrayor of Sherlock Holmes is Jeremy Brett. To me he is the quintessential Holmes. Like so many others I was crushed when he passed away. He was an amazing actor.
I was pleasantly surprised at Rupert Everett's portrayal of the famous sleuth. He was amazing. I did have some problems with the this rendition of Silk Stocking. There was quite a lot of forensics that seemed as if it was an attempt to combine CSI with Edwardian costuming. There were just a bit too much of the 21st century creeping into the storyline for my tastes, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

"Because I could not stop for Death --
He kindly stopped for me --
The carriage held but just ourselves
And immortality."
-Emily Dickinson Because I Could Not Stop For Death