
—Ingrid Bergman

Snow Art

A Drink in the Rain
Baltimore, 1955





—Gene Kelly

by Wallerant Vaillant (Flemish, 1623–1677)
Oil on canvas Dimensions: 29 3/4 x 25 in. (75.6 x 63.5 cm)



Pheasant Tricorne Hat Vogue, 1949

Designer: Jan Mlodozeniec

Film director Stanley Kubrick holding Polaroid camera during the filming of his movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1966



Middle Kingdom
Dynasty 12
Reign of Senwosret II
ca. 1887–1878 B.C.
From Egypt, Fayum Entrance Area, Lahun, Tomb of Sithathoryunet (BSA Tomb 8), BSAE excavations 1914
Gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, turquoise, garnet (pectoral)
Gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, turquoise, green feldspar (necklace)
Dimensions: L. of necklace (b): 82 cm (32 5/16 in.); H. of pectoral (a): 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.); W. 8.2 cm (3 1/4 in.)



Jewish men pray beside the walls surrounding the Cave of Machpelah, “Cave of the Patriarchs”, in the southern Israeli city of Hebron. Machpelah means “doubled” in Hebrew. One reason given is that four couples are buried there: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. (Our matriarch Rachel is buried elsewhere.) Hebron, Israel, 1995.

There’s a wonderful story on Stanley Kubrick in R.Lee Ermey’s book. Apparently they became friends while filming Full Metal Jacket. Much of it was filmed in England, and he and Kubrick went out scouting for locations in his Mercedes sedan. He ran the car into a ditch and it didn’t phase him – kept going.
MM has a look of sadness in that picture.
Gene Kelley – great quote. Wish I had learned contemporary dancing better – although it seems like “jumping around”.
At the age of 18 my father felt I should learn ballroom dancing, against my protestations.
Well, let me tell you, in 1968 not many kids were into ballroom dancing.
Someone who knows more than me said his style and Fred Astaire’s was very different.
Well, Robert…. you’ve done it again!
– Several Art Deco entries — I absolutely love the convertible!
– Another fascinating, albeit unattainable, watch.
– An interesting comment from Gene Kelly about dancing. So few people seem to understand that dancing is a physical manifestation of a personal relationships. Years ago I told my wife that dancing was, essentially, sex with your clothes on — a socially acceptable form of foreplay. My premise was too limited back then. You can, of course, dance with family or friends without it being sexual (but it is still a physical manifestation of your relationship with that person), or it can be a courtship on some level (ooh-la-la).
– The Egyptian necklace is stunning.
– Joan Collins has always oozed sexuality (at least she did in my teenage fantasies)
– Peggy Lee isn’t an entertainer I’ know much about so I did some reading this morning. A talented woman with some atypical Hollywood traits (a staunch Republican) and some typical Hollywood traits (4 failed marriages). I’ll have to read some more about her, once I’m done reading about…
– Charlotte Salomon. I’ve been reading about an hour now and I’m still finding incredible factoids/tidbits about this woman’s life, art, and death. How have I not heard of her before now?? You could do a whole post about her life! Thank you for introducing her to us!
– Your grandkids just keep getting cuter and cuter.
Have a wonderful Shabbat.