GJ Willis' Art Notes

I had to run for the bus again. The bus I was running towards was the #20. When I finally made the bus the stern looking driver said, “Looks like you’ll be losing weight in the morning.” She laughed as did I. I was happy that I made it. She was again in a very animated conversation with a passenger. I believe this was the same passenger as yesterday. From their conversation I gather that the woman she was talking to is a fellow bus driver.

The light rail train was on time. It’s again being driven by the gray haired man. The makeup monster was aboard. This morning she had a friend with her that wore a tight pink jacket that was trimmed in pink fur. I’m starting to think either she’s a prostitute, a receptionist, or a beautician/nail person. She got off at her usual Lexington Market stop.

The light rail baby is aboard. It seems to be just quietly looking around the train at the passengers.

WHAT I DID LAST NIGHT: I finally watched the director’s commentary of Merlin. I had to fight to stay awake as I watched it. The movie was more exciting than the commentary. I don’t consider my dvd viewing complete until I’ve seen all the special features on the disc.

I also went to Plaza Arts where I picked up some nice shiny 3-D paper as well as scissors that can cut in a scalloped edge. I bought them with my gift certificate from Christmas. I now have about 4 or 5 dollars left on the certificate.

The woman who rang up my order was the same one who waited on me on a Sunday in August. She has red hair and had on a red plaid shirt. She looked better than she did the last time I saw her. As I can recall when I last saw her she had on a generic all black ensemble. One thing I can say for sure is that the red hair and the red shirt she has on today, really makes her pop out visually. Also she's still as perky as I remember her being when she last waited on me.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on a long sleeved button down denim shirt. I’m wearing it with black slacks and black canvas tennis shoes.

The bus that got me to the light rail on time this morning was the #2. It was driven by the George Forman looking man. The gray haired man is driving the light rail train this morning. The light rail baby is also aboard. It’s wide awake this morning. It seems to be in playful mood while playing with it’s bottle.

I have never discussed a certain passenger who is sometimes on the train when I get on. I dub her the makeup monster.

She is usually putting on makeup or stinking up the train with nail polish that she applies daily on her commute. I have no idea what it is she does for a living. She looks absolutely garish. She looks like a female female impersonator.

TOP 5 DEBUT ALBUM’S OF ALL TIME: WTMD is having a best debut cd of all time countdown. You can vote on any 5 debut album’s from any genre and any era.

My picks for top 5 debut album’s would include the Violent Femmes self titled debut album. I would include it because I hate to say it but their debut album was the best album they ever put out. The lion’s share of the tunes they are known for come off of their debut album. What you probably don’t know is that their debut album was never a hit. However, it has had steady sales throughout the years. So in a since it’s an underground hit that’s over 20 years old. I would be very disappointed if it does not show up their list.

I would also include Pearl Jam’s debut album 10. I would include it because it ushered in the early 90’s Seattle grunge sound.

Another debut album I would include would be the Beastie Boys, License To Ill album. I would include it because against the odds they’ve managed to stick around for well over 20 years. When they first came out they were a joke. Who knew they’d be around this long?

Another good debut album I would include would be The Clash’s debut album simply entitled, The Clash. The Clash were the first commercially successful punk rock act. Also from the ashes of The Clash you get Big Audio Dynamite which was a major influence on such acts as Fat Boy Slim and Moby. Also BAD used a lot creative sampling throughout their work.

Ok here’s my list of the top 5 debut albums of all time: The Violent Femmes-The Violent Femmes

Pearl Jam-10

Beastie Boys-License to Ill

The Beatles-Meet the Beatles

The Clash-The Clash

WHAT I’M WEARING TODAY: Today, I’m wearing a multicolored striped mock turtleneck pullover. The colours in the pullover include: blue, lime green, black, white turquoise, and lavender.

This morning I had to run to catch the #20. Luckily, a man who was just getting off the bus saw me running and yelled at the bus driver to stop the bus. I eventually got on the bus. When I got on the bus the stern looking driver was in a very animated conversation with a passenger. I had never seen her so jovial.

The light rail train was on time. This morning it’s being driven by the elderly gray haired man.

Also this morning the friendly Latino man said, “Good Morning!”, to me before I did. I haven’t seen him in weeks. Also the baby is aboard the train the first time this week.

WHAT I DID LAST NIGHT: I tried to watch the entire director’s commentary of Merlin. However, it slipped my mind that the movie was originally a mini series, thus, it runs longer than the usual. I will have to watch the second half of the director’s commentary on the movie tonight.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on a cream colored actual turtleneck instead of the usual mock turtleneck. The turtleneck I have on has a denim blue paisley design on it. I’m also wearing dark blue slacks and beige canvas tennis shoes aka the Muppet shoes.

Today, after a whole week I got the #20 bus. It was driven by the stern looking woman. She again said, “Good Morning!”, to me.

The light rail train was on time as well. It’s being driven by a woman with a very long ponytail. Several times this morning she had to stop the train. I hope that I will be able to make it to work on time.

WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO: All last week I’ve been listening to Elvis Costello’s cd, The Very Best of Elvis Costello. It's as brilliant as I expected it to be.

I’ve also been listening to INXS’s compilation cd, Shine Like It Does. I find it to be very danceable and fun.

Another cd I’ve been enjoying is The Smith’s, Singles cd. I absolutley love the lyrics to “There’s a Light That Never Goes Out”. How can you possbily go wrong with lyrics like, “if a 10 ton double Decker bus crashes into us.. to die by your side... well the pleasures all mine.” The Smith’s lead singer Steven Patrick Morrissey doesn’t have the nickname of Miserable Morrissey for nothing. Those lyrics are so over the top in miserableness that they’re downright funny.

Still, I have to say despite Morrissey, the absolute best thing about The Smiths is guitarist Johnny Marr. In my opinion Johnny Marr is a genius. He's arguably one of the greatest guitarist of the late twentieth century.

MOST LISTENED TO CD'S LAST WEEK

Elvis Costello-The Very Best of Elvis Costello

The Smiths-Singles

Marc Broussard-Carenco

INXS-Shine Like It Does

MTV’S Best of 120 Minutes

WHAT I’M WEARING Today, I’m wearing a purple mock turtleneck pullover that has a gold and deep purple leaf design on it. I’m wearing it along with stone washed denim jeans and my beige canvas Muppet shoes.

Today, I mostly spent my time on the Outpost Gallifrey message board. I did things like update my user profile and became a Guardian member of the service by paying a $10 yearly subscription fee. I used to be a paid member before they changed servers some time last Spring.

QUICK REVIEW OF MERLIN: Yesterday, I watched the Special Edition version of the NBC mini series Merlin. If you’ve been reading this blog a while you probably know that I have on my queue at Netflix almost every version of the King Arthur legend that they have available in their library. I have not entirely completed watching the movie. I still have to watch the director’s commentary. I plan on watching that sometime this week.

Overall, it was ok it fleshed out Merlin’s background story. However, I found Miranda Richardson’s voice in the movie to be annoying in it’s raspiness. She’s evil we get it! There was no reason for the voice.

The movie had a lot of big name stars for a network tv movie. It starred Sam Neil, Miranda Richardson (daughter of Vanessa Redgrave who played Guinevere in the film version of Camelot), Helena Bonham Carter (with a lisp), Isabella Rossalini, and Martin Short. What the hell was Martin Short doing in it? As you can probably guess he was the designated funny man. He played a character similar to Steve Martin’s animated genie in Aladdin.

Overall, the movie has better than average for a tv movie. The special effects were outstanding for a tv movie.

Since seeing a long slew of King Arthur movies I can tell that the costume design for Merlin was heavily influenced by Excalibur. He wore a wore a skull cap and a feathered cape.

Also I noticed that the casting of King Arthur and Mordred perhaps influenced the casting choices in Mists of Avalon. The two actors looked similar to the other King Arthur and Mordred in the later, Mists of Avalon, production.

An original take that this movie took was that the marriage ceremony between King Arthur and Guinevere was not depicted as a happy occasion. There was a storm about to brew as the ceremony took place. This I felt was a good example of foretelling.

Overall, the movie was watch able and had great special effects. The only annoying thing about the whole production was the sound of Miranda Richardson’s voice.

The next King Arthur movie I have is Disney’s, The Sword In The Stone.

QUICK REVIEW OF GUINEVERE: Last Thursday I finally watched the wrong version of Guinevere that Netflix sent me.

The movie they sent was about this young 20something and her relationship with a man older than her parents.

The old guy was played by Stephen Rea. I do not understand how his character could get young 20something’s to fall in love with him, tutor them, and then have them pay his way. He looked real creepy. Now if the older man was played by Richard Gere, maybe I’d understand how they could be so seduced.

Sarah Polley who played his “Guinevere” in the movie was gum challenged. I found myself cracking up every time she laughed or smiled. She has horrible dental work. She had a smile that was more all gums than teeth. As I understand it Polley is a Canadian. I thought they had dental care on par with the US. Oh, well....

The absolute best performance in the movie was Designing Woman’s, Jean Smart. Her portrayal of the mother was absolutely chilling. When she finds out about the affair between the wedding photographer(Stephen Rea) and her daughter(Sarah Polley) the speech she gives to the wedding photographer is Academy Award winning material. She really laid him out good for having a thing for young inexperienced girls.

Overall, the movies premise was beyond belief. It was ok but not the greatest. It’s more of a Lifetime cable movie of the week. It’s highly watch able but won’t change your life. Also, I kind of liked the theme music of the film. It was very new agey.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Right now I’m wearing blue plaid pajamas with blue slippers.