No Place Like Movies At Home: To Have and Have Not

 So, it's been a little while since I have done one of these. We are hopefully going to be doing more of them this year because I really need to get back into the swing of things. 

Today's movie is To Have and Have Not

When asked to help move Resistance member during the war, Harry Morgan said no. however, you get a pretty girl, and money, involved things change.

Look, I have a very hard time keeping interest in this movie. I so badly wanted to! I really love both of these actors, but I can not get into it. I had the same problem with The Big Sleep which will be a movie I watch again soon. The only thing that I remember from this movie that stuck was the fact that Lauren Bacall was supposed to be this lounge singer... and when she sang it did not sung that great to me. 

Follow The Yellow Brick Road: February

 As much as I love my city I was not looking forward to go exploring this month. The reason is because it's been so nasty out! So much rain and gray sky was really eating away at me. Wanting me to do such a thing was a task to work myself up in. I really didn't want to do much of anything. However, I made my way through the dreary city, and learn a few new things about her origins. 

This month still kept us in the Downtown area. Still not very far from where I work. We are in the Market Square area today. If you have ever been downtown you know that that is the place to go for food! Not just the fabulous restaurants that we have, but also the farmer's market that is held there almost every week of the year! There are great street musicians that love to show off their talents, and if you find the right one, they will teach you a thing or too as well. Market Square has held lots of memories for me over the years. The first time I really remember being in that area was in 2009. December 12, 2009 if you want to know the whole truth. The first time I ever entered the great majestic walls of the Tennessee Theatre was that night. I was in Krutch Park, just across the street from Market Square and will also be discussed today, and I remember the blue Christmas lights that clung to the trees. I remember seeing the waterfall and the little man made creek that runs though. I remember the Christmas tree. I never would have thought that almost 13 years later I would have many more memories to add to that, and be writing about it's history in such a way either. I have wonderful moments with the closest of friends, and with those whom I don't talk with anymore. I have been to brunch, Lunch, dinner, dessert, working lunches with so many people. Alaina and I have eaten sushi many times in the square and have been casual and dressed up doing so. I remember sitting at the table on a hot and sticky midnight when Luke and I hung out with some old co-workers that we loved getting to see again. Bradley and I went to dine and walk about the same night that we did the Rat Pack Radio Show. I remember when I first started to work Downtown and just walk around and thank God that I get to live in this city but I now get to work in the area of the city that I love so much! How many people have I helped to take their picture in this square. How many movie have I seen for free with so many other wonderful people who love classic movies as well? 

Now, my memories are apart of history. Not only my person History but for anyone who ever happen across this page. So, lets relive some of Knoxville's memories as we take a look in the past.

When you come up to Market Square from the Krutch Park side, you will see this beautiful building right on the corner. This is the Peter Kern's Building. It is now home to the Oliver Hotel, Tupelo Honey and the Oliver Royal. This building has been updated a bit on the outside in recent years. As many years as I can remember this building was brick, it's still brick but now it's painted. However, I admire the fact that they didn't totally cover the brick and still made it have a classic look as to not make it look out of place with the rest of market square. The building was created for Peter Kern, a German immigrant who late became the mayor of Knoxville, to house he candy factory. Well I should say Candy factory, barker, and Ice-cream saloon, and a ballroom. 

Standing across the street and looking at this building you greeted with the faces of three young women. 

The Tennessee Woman Suffrage Memorial was placed in Market Square in 2006. The three ladies are Anne Dallas Dudley, Elizabeth Meriwether and Lizzie Crozier French. These three ladies are Suffragettes from Tennessee. One to represent the three sections of out state, West Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and East Tennessee. The reason that this statue is here will be discussed in a minute, but these ladies have great stores written on the statue of what they did in order to push through to have women have the right to vote. 

The large bell next to these women is the Market House Bell (no picture). It was the first hung in the City Hall building but was taken down for safety reasons. The bell was used by the police chief to ring out fires and alarms before the radio came into existence. The bell was also used in World War II to ring out blackout drills during the time. 

When you turn to the Left on Union you will follow the road down a little past Market Square. you will find even more wonderful food, and two building called the Pembroke and the Daylight. 

It's undergoing some construction, but the building is still standing strong. I am not sure when the building first came to life, but it was the home to the TVA for more than 40 years. It's was originally called "New Sprankle". No idea why. 

The Daylight is directly across the street.

My understanding from the book Historic Knoxville, which is were I am getting all of this information, they seem to have built around the same time. This building have visit from India's Prime Minister, and a few others in it's time. It currently houses a Restaurant called J.C. Holloway, a coffee house, and Knoxville's only independent bookstore Union Ave Books. 

Once you have been temped by coffee, and books, you will have to pass another temptation of one Pete's Diner. Please, I beg you, give into temptation here. The food is great! Once you have eaten start walking off that food and go the end of the street (away from market square still) and you will run into a very strange building The Masonic Temple. 

All the book really says about this building is that it's a very remodeled home that once belonged to Charles McClung McGee. He donated the funds to the McGee library and was also a railroad tycoon. However, nothing else is mentioned. However, there is a Wonderful blog all about all that happenings in Knoxville. The blog is called 'Inside Knoxville' and it's written by Knoxville Urban Guy. He has stated on his 'About Me' page that he didn't want to use his real name. So, that is why he gets this credit with that name. He actually got a chance to go into the building, and ask questions, in 2011. Below I have the link to that blog if you are interested. 

https://insideofknoxville.com/2011/11/just-exactly-what-is-inside-that-masonic-temple/

Now, you should head back up toward Market Square again and cross the street to crutch park. If's it Christmas time, come back and check it out once the sun sets. It's still wonderful even if it's not "the most wonderful time of the year". Take your time and look at all of the works of art, and the history written on the ground in front of the archway. Take pictures in front of the waterfall, and enjoy the only bit of grass that you are really going to get in this part of downtown. 

I am very excited to see that the flowers are starting to bloom on the trees here. it's a lovely spot to read, or have a picnic. This was made possible by Charles Krutch. He was a TVA Photographer, who's work is at New York's Museum of Modern Art, and when he died in 1981 is donated the money to the city so a park could be added to the downtown area. The Krutch Family has had lots of influence and respect to Knoxville, and East Tennessee. 

The statue that you see featured in this picture is the Rotary Club Centennial Statue. The man is named William Sergeant, from Oak Ridge, who fought to eradicate polio worldwide. He was a leader of the club lived to see the statue added to the park in 2006. This statue is sculpted by Lajos Biro of Hungary. he is known around the world to be prolific sculptor and this might be he only work in America. 

Crossing over Clinch, you will see another statue of a man and woman. Let me introduce you to Febb and Harry Burn.

 Those suffragettes at the top there may have fought long and hard for the right to vote, but this unlikely team made it happen. Harry Burn was a legislator from East Tennessee. He was a man that was 100% against the 19th Amendment and went public about how he was going to vote "no" if the vote came to Tennessee. The vote did come to Tennessee, and it was also need just one more state to have a majority for "yes" for it to pass that Women could legally vote. Even more so, Harry Burn was the last to vote. When it got to him the vote was also at a tie. Why is there a statue of a man who didn't want women to vote? Well, it's because of the women with him, his mother Febb. Febb wrote her son a letter just before the vote was set to happen, and she asked him to be a "good boy" and vote yes. Any properly raised Southern gentleman always knows that you should listen to you mother. It's because of that letter that Mr. Burns actually voted yes. Against every thing he has said about the Women's vote and changed his mine and the 19th Amendment was passed. In honor of that event, both Febb and Harry were place in the heart of downtown Knoxville in 2018. 

We have talked a whole lot about some really well known people that have helped to shape Knoxville. Let's talk about one who is from Knoxville that has had an impact on the world of entertainment, and this month that is Quinton Tarantino. 

Mr. Tarantino was actually born in Knoxville in 1963. The reason was because him mother has her parents living here when she was pregnant. He lived here until he was about 4 and went to California with her mom and Step-father. He returned to live with family when was in about the 5th grade, for a very short time, and when to South Clinton. He is a Director, Writer, Producer, and Actor that got his real big break in the early 90s when he wrote the script for From Dusk Till Dawn. His first movie was as Director was Reservoir Dogs that came out not terribly long after the success of From Dusk Till Dawn. One of his signatures, other than the bloodiness and dark humor of his films, and that he almost always mentions a name of a town in Tennessee. 

The movie that I watched to honor Mr. Tarantino's work this month was Django Unchained. 

When a bounty hunters to assistance of identifying some men who are watched by the government, dead or alive, he hunts down a man that know what they looks like. However, it's not someone you would normally think that he would be looking for. Dr. King Shultz stops some men who are escorting some slaves to be sold. Among them is a man by the name of Django. In a, very violent, act of freeing all of the men so Django can help they are off to search for these men. As they venture together, King gets to know more about his new deputy and find that he is hoping to find he wife, and get them both up north so that they can be free. However, King learns that Calvin J Candie is her new owner. He is a very charming, and dangerous, man who will not let go of his "property" so easily. They come up with a plan to win over his trust and save his wife.... nothing goes according to plan.

I have not seen all of Mr. Tarantino's movie but I love this one! It's funny, and it's got some of the best actor to come on screen. Jamie Fox is always fun to watch and the outfits he wears as a freeman are hilarious! However, Christoph Waltz has got to be one of the best actors of the modern day. He is in several Tarantino movies, and every time he shows up in anymore movie you know that you are going on a whirlwind of a ride. This is the movie that I suggest when people ask what of his movies you should see. I know lots of people pick Pulp Fiction, but Django Unchained will be my favorite. 

I hope you have enjoyed this month's tour of Knoxville, I hope that next month will be just as good. 

What Ought To Be: February

The hardest thing about February, besides is always being cold and rainy, is the fact that it's so short! I have to pack everything into less days and still have to do the same amount of stuff! I am very glad that it's very over and now tat I get the chance to actually say what's been happening! So, let's get right into those questions! 

1. Closer in Faith: I am very excited that I have still kept up with my Bible reading everyday. However, Prayers still needs work

2. Lose 50 Pounds:  I did make it to the gym 10 times this month (barley). I always have been good with my eating. I feel like really good and my clothes fit better.

3. Cook Better:  I did make two of my meals from the TCM Cookbook. I have also made lots of dinners at my place. So, I'm feeling better and more comfortable about cooking

4. Dress for Success:  I still have not dressed up in my fancy dresses. However, I have enjoyed putting together my outfits and have stopped throwing them up in the morning

5. Speak up: Oh, those one really had a huge step forward. I went to a memorial service this month. One of my friends, Will, showed up in a suit. I kept thinking "Man, he looks good in a suit". Instead of just dropping it, I told him

6. Own the Room:  I feel like I am walking in confidence, however, I still need to figure this out. I'm not sure what I want out of this I think that's the problem.

7. Look People in the eye more: I have improved... it still needs more work.

8. Building Relationships: So, yes this is still going, and no. I really need to connect with some of my friends better, however, I did spend a lot of time with some friends because of the memorial service.

9. Style: I broke down and bought a romper. I wasn't sure what I have thought about this. I love it now

10. Creativity: I failed a bit at this one. I read Francine River's new book "The Lady's Mine" and that was really all I had time for. However, if we call my video editing skills creative, I did do the memorial service video

11. Spoiling: I bought a new purse! I always wait till the one I am using breaks and I bought a new one.

12. Peace:  Overall, I feel really good, however, the areas that I needs to work on I'm disappointed that  I didn't improve much from last month. However, we have plenty of time. There is still a  lot of year left.

Two different worlds collide when a movie star and a college student wind up meeting in Ireland. Finley and trying to reset after to failed attempt to get into an orchestra program for college. Beckett is on set for a movie that is going to be a hug release. They met on the plan from the states but they were not very interested in each other, and also hoped to never really see each other again. However, Finley's host family owns the bed and breakfast that Beckett is staying at. They soon become reluctant friends, and learn to be themselves while everything is falling around them.

This movie was one that I was really looking forward to when it came out in 2021 or 2020... I can't remember. However, it was a nice refreshing rom com that we need when it came out. It's still a really good movie. I find that it's so sweet. I picked this movie on the list of Confidence because Beckett learns that he can be himself without having to put on a front of what sells on the magazines. Finley, learns that she can be joyous and enjoy live even thought she feels a little lost since of the loss of her brother. That there is something in living your life by being yourself that seem so unattainable. However, once you learn not to care of what other people think, then you really can just be yourself because there is no need to impress anyone else. 

Let's talk food! 

 I know that I have talked about this movie before when I did my Best Picture Challenge. However, it's in the book so have to speak on it again. Very simple. Lots of story interact and collide when many guests arrive at the Grand Hotel. 

This drink this evening was a Louisiana Flip. It's was sweet but very strong. It's also one of those drinks that has an egg in it. So, that is always a little nervous. However, I did enjoy it for the most part.

Dinner was a German Pancake with Ham and Gruyere. So, this one I didn't like as much for a few reasons. The first being I forgot to buy the right cheese and didn't go out and get it. So, I used Provolone. The second.... I put way too much provolone. It really was way too much cheese. Like, I regretted putting that much in there. the Third problem was I didn't like that Pancake because it was no sweet. There is a Sweet version of this that I am willing to try at some point. Jeannie also told me that I should put sugar in the recipe for the pancake next time (it was also way too eggy). She makes something similar to this all of the time so I will be taking to suggestions next time I try again.

The second meal is going to be very hard to beat.

This is another pre-code movie that was really thought provoking for the time. Miss Drake and a CEO of a car company. She works all hours of the day and wants nothing to do with marriage or children. However, sex is a completely different story. She has men, that work for her, around her home all of the time. However, when they fall for her she ships them to another part of the country for work. That is until she meets just the right man.

The drink for this meal was Vodka Tonic. It came right out of the movie when one of her butler's says that it helps to lure the men to her bedroom. I didn't like the tonic water so much. I think that if some other flavor was there I would have liked it. Just not enough there for me. 

The meal is going to be hard to beat. I mean this will be a meal that I will add for future dinner. It's Boozy Olives (they were ok) but the Bowtie Pasta With A Spicy Vodka Cream Sauce... now that's a good meal!

I am not really a huge fan of olives, but I thought I would give them a try. I wasn't a huge fan. I keep meaning to bring them to my mom though and keep forgetting. However, The pasta is amazing! It's super simple to make, and cheap. It's got a great kick. I really don't like eating a lot of leftovers, however, I had this three days in a row and I want more! 

So, one great meal and one ok one. I think that's totally fine. I know I said I was going to do three every month but I ran out of time. So four next month. One of my favorite movies is on the list for next month and I can't wait to watch it. I'm not so sure about the meal though. 

Let The Joyous New Be Spread: February

This month's crazy holiday that we are going to be celebrating is National Pistachio Day! Which was on February 26th of this month. 

This bag of Pistachios was actually given to me by Alaina right after the holidays. The reason is because she doesn't like having to de-shell them her self. So, I got the bag. When I can found this day I thought it would be a good excuse to get them out. 

The movie that I found with this is actually not someone eating or using Pistachios, it's actually a character that is named Pistachio. 

Pistachio Disguisey is a the only son of secret agent parents. His father is a Master of Disguise that wanted to get out of the game and not teach his son the way of the Disguisey Family. However, when his father and mother are Kidnapped, Pistachio must work with his estranged Grandpa to find and save his family. 

I remember this being a really funny movie when I was younger. I was right. It's a little different as an adult watching it but it was still just as great of a watch. It was just really fun to re-watch this movie all over again. 

Let The Joyous New Be Spread: January

Welcome back! We are kicking off out first month of celebration with something very easy. National Croissant Day!

I mean who doesn't love a warm, flaky, croissant fresh out of the oven? 

So, as you can see I made some, and curled up on my couch and watched It's Complicated.

When you get into a new relationship everything is a complicated. You are trying to put that person first in your life, you are doing what you can to make sure that it works out, you are trying to make two lives into one. How about the couple we are talking about was already married and are now divorced? How about when they are sneaking around and trying to start something in secret? How about they are doing this and one of them is married, and the other is just starting something new? Yeah, it's get complicated very quickly.

So, the reason that this movie is the one for this month is there is a great scene with Meryl Streep and Steve Martin at Ms. Streep's bakery and they are making Chocolate Croissants. It's a cute scene, and a funny movie that I do recommend that you watch when you get the chance. 

Like I said these are very easy celebrations so they may not always be that long but we have some great stuff happening this year!

 

What Ought To Be: January

 Hello lovely people! So, here we are at the most complicated of my three projects this year. So, when I originally planned this it was not nearly as crazy. However, I can't seem to help myself. I was going to do one thing, and then ended up adding to it.... so here we are.... and here we go.

So, usually these project I will make a list of 12 things and then do one of those thing every month for the whole year and write about each thing as we go along. There is a list of 12 but I am not going to do one thing per month. The list is 12 areas of improvement that will help to build my confidence. My plan is to rewrite the list every month and see what areas I feel great in, the ones I have slipped on, and then make goals to make the next month even better. So, there is no perfect score. Confidence is ever changing and as we go forward we have to make adjustments. Sometime we adjust things and then we push other things back so you have to readjust. So, lets see the list and I'll tell you how I have been doing. 

1. Closer in Faith: Really change my lifestyle to reflect God and His wonders- So, far I have been keeping up with my Bible reading. My prayer life was doing great and now it's falling behind a bit and I need to refocus on that. I have been seeking God in some amazing things and I am still scared about some stuff that is not yet answered. It doesn't mean he isn't listening, just I need to be more patient.

2. Lose 50 Pounds: start taking better care of myself and go to the gym- My church did a 21 day fast and I was able to complete doing it for the first time. I got rid of some bad eating habits, and I lost some weight. The gym will start next month when I am not at church every night.

3. Cook Better: Do almost all recipes in TCM cookbook- I did make the one recipe that I needed this month. More on that below. 

4. Dress for Success: Dress up more. Embrace the things that I love- I have been getting up early and making sure I have done my hair and makeup before work. I still not have worn some of my dresses yet, which is what I want to do the most. However, I have been wearing my hats and I'm excited about that.

5. Speak up: Don’t shy away from what I think- I made a huge step forward this month in this. I told Bradley that I wanted to produce a show on the Radio. He said it sounds amazing, and that we are going to get started working on it! Last year I would have never been brave enough to open my mouth.

6. Own the Room: learn to walk in confidence- This one still needs a lot of work. I look down at my feet a lot when I walk and I need to change that. 

7. Look People in the eye more- This is kept reminding myself of, but still needs work. I can do it when I am in an interview or with friends, but with people I pass or interact with I am having a hard time.

8. Building Relationships: Make sure to keep up with all friends every month- I have done well, and slipped. I have kept up with some friends because I see them at church, but others I have had a hard time with because they don't live near me, or because of being busy. I will be working on be better at this one.

9. Style: try out a new shirt or outfit I would not normally buy and get it.- I did do this and here is the new shirt that I bought. I really hated this shirt when I saw it on the hanger at Walmart, and that is how I knew I had to buy it. I felt way more comfortable that I thought I would. I am glad that I bought it.

10. Creativity: Working on hobbies that I love- I did get to re-read Redeeming Love for the first time in forever, and I also worked on my blanket that I am making. Those are things that I seem to put to the side when get overwhelmed. I am glad I made time for them.  

11. Spoiling: Doing something for myself. That I would not normally do for me- Oh I bought myself some new stuff for my office job. I have been eyeing this keyboard and this mouse for a while and I finally just bought it. I also got my bluetooth headphones that I have been needing for a long time!

12 Peace: Do I feel at peace with the progress that I have made? Yes. I think that this is a great starting point for me to know what I need to build on in the coming year. 

Now, you may think that this is very manageable, however, you haven't gotten to what I added yet. The "being a better cook" is because of this book.

I have owned this book for about five years. I bought it when I first moved out thinking I would try it. I was mistaken because I wanted to cook by the movies I really loved. I haven't seen a good portion of the movies in this book. So, it's been hiding in a drawer ever since. Well, I looked at it again at the end of the year and thought that working on my cooking skills, and maybe getting me to eat at home more often, would work. So, there are 30 recipes in this book. I am making 29 (I am not cooking chicken liver and no one can make me I will do a personal favorite for that night) and I will make the drinks that go with and watch the movies.

Since we had the church fast in January, I wasn't going to do any for the month. However, my dad's birthday and at the end of the month, and the first recipe is a cake. So, I made him a Beet Red Devil Cake with Chocolate Frosting, the cocktail was a Clover Club Cocktail inspired from the movie The Divorcee.

The classic plot of man woman fall in love. You think that they live happily ever after. However, ever after only lasts about three years. When Norma Shearer finds that her husband is cheating she wants a divorce. From there so go on a scandalous escapade of sleeping with men.

This movie is really a shock if you know anything about pre-code movies. Seeing a pre-code movie, after watching hundreds of movies during the code times, it very shocking! Norma Shearer won Best Actress for her performance in this role, and it's just a good movie.

So, both the Clover Club Cocktail and the Cake turned out really delicious! I was surprised because of the fact that I have never baked a cake before.

As for the movie of the month? Well, the would be I Feel Pretty.

Renee suffers, as well all do, from insecurities. So, often feels lesser than and is always putting herself down. After she suffers a head injury, she suddenly thinks that she is the hottest, smartest, and most awesome girl on the planet. Due to this new realization, she takes chances she never thought she could before, she says what she thinks, and she also learns to love herself. Even if in doing all of these things, she does them in sometimes clumsy and weird ways. 

I love this movie as well. I was worried about watching it because I am not a huge fan of Amy Schumer's stand -up. However, She was wonderful in this movie and I loved that she looked like she was having a ball in everything she was doing. 

So, after a very long winded post, we are finally at the end. The sad thing is I have to do three of those recipes every month, so this one will get longer. However, I am looking forward to a wonderful year. 

Follow The Yellow Brick Road: Januray

 I love Knoxville. I have had that a million times and I will say it a million more! I love Knoxville. I was one of the few people that didn't want to leave this place after high school. I wanted to be here all the time. That love has only grown in the last few years because of some of the wonderful opportunities that I have been able to be apart of. I am really excited because I know that I get to learn so much about my hometown this year and I will be sharing it here. 

We are also going to talking about some famous Knoxvillians that we have come to know over the years. We are going to start of with someone we all wanted, or didn't want, as a little brother from the early 2000s Jake Thomas. 

Now, he is a bit older in this picture than most people might remember him. He is best known for his role of Matt McGuire in the TV show "Lizzie McGuire". He was born here in 1990, and has done very well for himself. He is still an actor, mainly on tv but a few movies, and went to Farragut High School. The movie he is best known for is The Lizzie McGuire Movie.

Lizzie is off to Rome! In this adventure we see Lizzie going to Rome to mark the end of her Middle School years, and to kick off high school. She is hoping to see art, eat good food, and hang out with her best friend Gordo. However, things get a little crazy when she get mistaken for one half of an Italian Pop group. The quest becomes is she going to become and awesome pop start, or is she going to embarrass herself like she did at her middle school graduation?

So, Lizzie is off to Rome, where did my book take me this month? Well, we went to 100 block of Gay Street, and to State Street. 

One the 100 Block stands these two Beautiful buildings. 

The building on the corner is called the Rebori Building. It was the original home the the Lawson Magee Library. In 1915 a man by the name of Rebori, who sold peanuts at his cart on the side of the building, purchased the building at auction. He preferred to sell peanuts, so he rented out the building and still sold his peanuts in the same spot. 

The Sterchi Building, that you can see the name of, was actually were a huge furniture Chain store was working out of. It actually has a country music history too. It was at the center of all of the up and coming country music artists that were playing around there. There was deli across the street that hosted country music and songs were sold. 

Now we go to State Street, right near were Knoxville, was born. The Frist Presbyterian Church on State Street is the first church in all of Knoxville.

The land for the church was given by James White, on of the founders of Knoxville, who gave up his turnip patch for the church and graveyard. The graveyard is actually older than the church. It was around for 20 years before the first church was built. The beautiful building that is there standing there today was completed in 1901, and has two Tiffany Windows. 

The graveyard is the final resting place for a great many founders, and leader in Knoxville. James White is buried here, as you can see above, but so is William Blount. He is one of the signers of the Constitution, and is the only one of those signers not buried in one of the 13 original colonies. He was also a Governor and, very briefly, one of the first two senators for Tennessee. The graveyard has been here since the 1790's and it's a well kept, and beautiful final resting place. 

So, I hope you enjoyed this little history lesson and I hope you will join me next month as well.