He was like my generation’s Elvis…

He was like my generation’s Elvis…

by MichelleMcHatton

When I heard the news about Michael Jackson passing away on my way home from work tonight, the first thing I thought was “he was like my generation’s Elvis”.

Growing up in the 80’s the hippest radio station to listen to in the Boston area was WHTT 103.3.  And ninety percent of what they played on there was Michael Jackson.  It was usually “Billie Jean”; when it wasn’t “Billie Jean” it was “Beat It”.  Ironically I still listen to 103.3 but now it’s called Oldies 103.3.  And I was comforted tonight when I turned that station on and heard my two favorite radio personalities, Zito and Karen Blake, reminiscing along with the listeners about The King of Pop’s notorious life and music.  Thank you, Zito and KB, for being there tonight.

Would I consider myself a Michael Jackson fan?  Not really.  Although I will say I do own a lot of his music, including “Thriller” and I like a lot of his music.  I was not crazy about him as a person.  He was a bit too odd for me to like as a person, a bit too bizarre for me to understand, I guess.  But as a songwriter and performer, Michael Jackson was a class act in my eyes.  I will miss that part of him and that is the part I wish to remember.

Watching the news bits and seeing the crowds emerge on the hospital and just at various places throughout L.A. tonight really does make me believe he was like my generation’s Elvis.

RIP, MJ.

The ice cream is melting…melting!

The ice cream is melting…melting!

by MichelleMcHatton

In a country that consumes more ice cream than any other country in the world, what the hell do the ice cream manufacturers think they’re doing in decreasing the size of the half gallons of ice cream from 56 ounces to 48 ounces?  On top of that, they certainly have not decreased the price!

Breyer’s has even gone so far as to deceive their consumers by making their packaging taller but a little shorter, making it LOOK like they’re getting 56 ounces.  What a crock.

Locally Price Chopper is still offering their own brand Central Market Classics ice cream at 64 ounces; however, I have found their ice cream to be beyond edible and the one time I had it, I gagged.  You get what you pay for.

We should all revolt and stop buying ice cream.  Yeah, like THAT would ever happen!

“Angels and Demons”

“Angels and Demons”

by MichelleMcHatton

I figured since I’m planning to see the movie “Angels and Demons”, I’d better read the book.  All 700 pages of it.  Remarkably, it only took me three weeks.  Good thing Dan Brown is a fantastic author and his writing moves smoothly.  I have read many books in my time but I have to state right here that “Angels and Demons” is the best book I have ever read.  Better than “The DaVinci Code”.

I’m already expecting to be disappointed by the movie “Angels and Demons”.  That is only because the book was so damn good.  As great a director as Ron Howard is, it’s going to be interesting to see how he jams 700 pages into two hours.  I loved “The DaVinci Code” as well but came away disappointed by the movie.  So much from the book was missing in the movie and I’m afraid that’s going to happen with “Angels” also.  But I guess that’s Hollywood, right?

If you haven’t read the book, I suggest you do so before seeing the movie.  I will not do a review of the book here, as it is too long and detailed to give the kind of review it deserves.  All I will tell you is that it has to deal with the fight between science and religion.

Tom Hanks IS Robert Langdon

Tom Hanks IS Robert Langdon

by MichelleMcHatton

In honor of the latest Ron Howard/Tom Hanks release “Angels and Demons”, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss some of my favorite Hanks characters and movies from years past.

It was difficult to decide who my absolute fave character was.  After much pondering and reminiscing of all the Hanks’ films (I have seen almost every single film he has done), I had to go with Forrest Gump.

I realized a long time ago that the really great actors are those that begin in comedy (maybe even TV sitcoms), then prove themselves with a dramatic role–winning an Oscar in the process.  Tom Hanks is one of those actors.

I think the reason why Gump is my favorite Hanks character is because Hanks combines both his comedic and dramatic skills in his performance.  Of course sometimes when Gump is serious he actually ends up being funny without really meaning to.

As for my favorite Hanks movie, that was a tougher choice.  I enjoy the dramas as well as the comedies, right down to “Toy Story”.  I have to go with “Philadelphia” as my overall fave.

Broken down into dramatic fave, “Castaway” is my pick.  The comedies were a harder choice but I narrowed it down to “The Money Pit”.  As for “Sleepless In Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail”, once I get past Meg Ryan, I can really enjoy those cute romantic comedies as well.

And I’ve finally been able to watch the infamous “Bosom Buddies”.  I was a kid when that show was first on and was not allowed to watch it (although I wanted to!).  Some of it is stupid but a lot of the episodes really get me laughing.  I just have a hard time beliving that none of those women ever figured out Buffy and Hildegard’s real identities.  Couldn’t they see the resemblance to Kip and Henry?  Uh…how about those Adams apples, ladies?

Where have you gone Dom DiMaggio?

Where have you gone Dom DiMaggio?

by MichelleMcHatton

I’m not a big baseball fan. I’m not even a Boston Red Sox fan. But I knew of Dom DiMaggio. Not because he played outfield for the Sox, or that his brother was Joe, or that ironically his brother is the one who broke his hitting streak. I knew of him because of the story my husband told me about how he met Dom DiMaggio.

When my husband was 14 his father kept him out of school one day and told him he was going to take him to meet Dom DiMaggio. This was in 1978 or 1979. My husband’s father was a salesman, although at this point in time, I’m not quite sure what kind of job he had. Anyway, he was going to see Dom DiMaggio because he had done some job or project for him. I’m not quite sure and neither is my husband.  But he had some business with Dom.

My father-in-law introduced my husband to Dom by saying, “This is Dom DiMaggio, Joe’s brother”. My husband recalls shaking his hand and remembers Dom said “hello” to him, but that’s about it.

So naturally when my husband told me this morning that Dom DiMaggio died, I said to him, “The same one you met when you were 14?”

“The very same one.”

The thing is, the number of times my husband told me the Dom story, he never ONCE mentioned to me that Dom had played for the Sox. I just figured his claim to fame was being Joe’s brother!

How ironic is it that one DiMaggio would play for the Sox and the other for the Yankees? Weird…