Thursday, January 8, 2009

Being Have

Yesterday I attended a movie at the Central Library with Miss Havisham, her Secretary, Mary Kathleen O'Looney, Mademoiselle Gramophone and Dr. Burchard. We're usually a raucous crowd, but not only were we at a movie, we were at a movie at the library, so we were doubly quiet. As my Uncle Max used to say, we were "being have."

The movie was Miss Potter starring Renee Zellweger (love her!). Because the film was about a writer and her books, they showed it at the library for free. YES. FREE MOVIES at the library at 1PM on Wednesdays. A comfortable, intimate theatre, quiet crowd, small screen and a bunch of my friends. You can't beat it. We sat right up front and it wasn't screamingly loud like in the multi-plexes. Heavenly.

The photo above is a view of City Hall from the children's section of the library. After the film we all piled in there. (As it was a school day, the room was devoid of children. Thank goodness we didn't have to set an example.) We asked for the Beatrix Potter books and they had a good selection. Mary Kathleen nosed through The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (the Secretary admonished her to read with her mouth closed), Miss Havisham seemed interested in The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse, and Dr. Burchard checked out a copy of The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin for further study.

I became completely absorbed in The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies. The librarian did not have to shush us.

23 comments:

Cafe Observer said...

Oh, so that was what all the ruckus was about with the all those ER vehicles surrounding the place, the loudspeakers, etc.

Unfortunately, due to the Econ 101 crisis, free movies may soon be nostalgic, going the way of paid movies.

Going to this movie was worth the price of admission to see that great picture & put it up on your blog.

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Being have! he he. Love it. I also love Beatrix Potter and have a set which I bought for my boys when they were small.

Joerg said...
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Anonymous said...

ginab: Which Dr. Burchard was it?

Anonymous said...

Excellent! I love a good classic. Still waiting for the Miss H/Dr B transmorphication video.Maybe that's next up at the library?

Margaret said...

Free movies! What a great tip. And the Potter books are lovely, although as I recall Squirrel Nutkin is an apt name for the squirrel in that book. I mean, the squirrel is wild! Am I remembering right?

Chuck Pefley said...

So glad to hear you and your friends were on your best behavior :)

Reading children's books is something I never tire of ... there is a connection with simpler times, I think, that appeals to many.

Cafe Observer said...

So, apparently it looks like Dr. Burchard is actually able to help MH, et al. It must've been the radical treatments of the radical doc.

So, while we still have the econ crisis, apparently another crisis is being treated.

Anonymous said...

It's the Puddle-Ducks that are wild, just ask Mrs. Tabitha Twitchet,

Petrea Burchard said...

No sirens, C.O. That must have been across the street at the coppers.

You kept the books, Lynn! Good for you. I have only a small selection of my childhood books still.

Ginab: click on the links. Some fun and silly videos should answer your question. I may have omitted one, so if your question isn't answered let me know and I'll add it.

From your lips to God's ear, as they say, AH.

Margaret: We shall have to ask the Doctor once her study is made.

Yesterday was the first time in ages I've read a children's book, Chuck. It was so simple and disarming, yet the antagonist was quite evil. Children's books of early days weren't afraid to deal with real violence in the sense that it existed in nature.

Miss H, despite Dr. Burchard's lack of useful credentials, I think you're doing very well.

Katie said...

Oooh, I LOVED that movie! I bet you're ready to move to England now, seeing all that beautiful countryside. Beatrix sure lived an amazing life, and I loved her books as a kid (and they're all still great today). Glad you were being have at the library!

unemployed one said...

free movies on wednesdays, eh? i might keep that in mind next week.

marley said...

I like the view from the window.

Films at the library sounds a great idea. Glad you all enjoyed it.

Re yestredays comment - I like the idea of a 'dark side blog'. I've had a bad day today. Just call me Mr Grumpy!

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Yes I still have them. I showed one of my sons the other day, very pleased with myself. Oh yeah, great, he said, nonplussed. I think you need to be at least 30 to get nostalgia of that sort. Any less age is kind of uncool perhaps!

Petrea Burchard said...

Desolée! I had forgotten to include the links. They're in the first paragraph now.

Unemployed, perhaps I'll see you there. If I don't have employment that day, that is. It was certainly the case yesterday.

Marley, I'm sorry you had a grumpy day. I think you're allowed a grumpy post or two or three.

Lynn: try 40.

Petrea Burchard said...

By the way, Katie, I ALWAYS want to be in England (or Paris) and the movie couldn't have made my longing any worse. Being in Pasadena helps because we have our share of beauty here. But I pine, as you know.

Christie said...

Ah..Beatrix Potter. Her stories are so fun.

Ms M said...

Sounds like a terrific afternoon! Free movie? Good friends? Good books? What more could you ask?
I'll have to see Miss Potter sometime.
I also really like the Winnie the Pooh books.

Leslie Saeta said...

You have some beautiful photos on your blog my dear! Do you mind if I use one as an inspiration for an oil painting? Thanks, Leslie

USelaine said...

I hadn't read any children's books since childhood, until I worked at a bookstore for a couple of years and followed the recommendations of colleagues. "The Giver" is a good one, and is especially worth reading because it occasionally gets banned.

It sounds like you had a lovely day! However, I am completely and officially confused by the screen name soup in Pasadena. One of my theories is that you are just making them all up as different manifestations of your theater talent. I guess I must see to believe.

magiceye said...

beautifully framed!

Petrea Burchard said...

You bet, Christie, and I bet you like the Pooh books, too, like me and Ms. M. The Poohs were probably my favorites.

Leslie, I saw your stuff via Laurie's blog and I'm honored! I'll email you.

Elaine, in my experience banned books can be of the highest quality, and often one is confused as to why they would be banned. As for the personalities, you can find out by watching the videos (I finally posted the links). It's more about someone else's theatrical talent than my own. And if you don't have time to watch the videos that's okay, it's only silliness.

Thank you, magiceye!

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