Sad News

Gretchen Wyler, the Broadway and TV actress who became a leading animal rights activist, has died at the age of 75, The New York Times reports. Wyler, who brassily celebrated "Stereophonic Sound" in Silk Stockings, died from complications of breast cancer in her home in Camarillo, CA on Sunday, May 27th.

Born in Bartlesville, OK on February 16th, 1932, Wyler made her Broadway debut in the original production of Guys and Dolls, in which she appeared as a replacement in the role of Miss Adelaide. She also created the role of Janice Dayton in Cole Porter's Silk Stockings, appeared as a replacement Lola during the original run as Damn Yankees and as a replacement Rose Grant during the original run of Bye, Bye Birdie. Other Broadway credits included Rumple and Sly Fox.

Wyler also had an enduring career as a television actress. She was notably a regular on the short-lived series "On Our Own" and also spent a season appearing on "Dallas." Other TV credits included "Providence," "Judging Amy," "Friends," "Falcon Crest," "Charlie's Angel" and "The Phil Silvers Show."

Wyler became committed to animal rights in 1966, after seeing the poor conditions of a New York animal shelter. After managing the shelter for a decade, she became the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' first female board of directors member. She formed Ark Trust in 1991 and ran the organization until it joined with the Humane Society in 2002, after which she became the Humane Society's vice president through 2002. She also founded the Genesis Awards in 1986. The awards "honor the media and entertainment industry for shining a spotlight on animal cruelty." This year, The Beatles legend and animal rights activist Paul McCartney was the first recipient of the Gretchen Wyler Award.

Humane Society President and CEP Wayne Pacelle said of Wyler, "The humane movement has lost one of its brightest stars. Gretchen Wyler devoted 40 intense years to protecting animals, and the cause gained so much ground during that time because of her extraordinary achievements and advocacy -- in the media, in law-making, and in raising public consciousness."

This photo was taken in 1983 after closing night of "Mame" with Music Theater of the Rockies in Colorado Springs. Mom, Matt, and I were all in the show (the first of many shows we all did together). Mom played several character roles and struck up a friendly relationship with Gretchen because of their common attachment to animals.

After Mom died, I made a donation to the Ark Trust in her name and sent this photo with the check. Gretchen wrote back a personal note saying how she remembered Mom well, and was sorry to hear she had passed away. Mom always said that Gretchen was her favorite of the old "MTR Stars" and they had exchanged Christmas cards through the years, so it meant a lot that she wrote back.

We'll miss you, Gretchen. Although our paths crossed nearly 25 years ago, "Mame" was a wonderful memory for so many reasons!

My Babies

Friends at last.

I know how Mom felt--the frustration she must have endured watching Matt and I fight so much when we were growing up. Cootie has been a loner for many years. Now that Emerald is gone and Scutter doesn't have her to torment, he and Cootie have struck up a new friendship. It make my heart melt to see them snuggle. Of course, it's usually short-lived, becuase the "Mr. Hyde" surfaces and he launches an unprovoked attack, and they're off...

Handful o' Hearts

Found all these in the woods near my apartment today.
Posted via moblog.

Dadoons

I was exploring the woods behind my apartment and literally stumbled upon a raccoons nest with three babies (really more like "young teens" I guess) all piled up on top of each other. It startled me a little, but they didn't scatter-- they just looked up at me. I fought the temptation to try to pet them and snapped these shots with my cell phone camera instead. Then I got to wondering where the mother was, and figured it would be better for me to go away in case she was not as calm about me being there.

Mom used to literally hand feed the raccoons in her back yard. She called them her "dadoons" and had names for them... Crazy. I have actually played around with a children's storybook called "The Legend of the Mysterious Raccoon Lady" based on it. It's about family and death, and attempts to put loss into a hopeful and uplifting light. One of these days I'll have to work it out and see if it goes anywhere.

Hearts

Marfan Syndrome Public Service Announcement

I'm trying to boost traffic to this Marfan Foundation's PSA on YouTube. Share it, email it, and otherwise draw attention to Marfan syndrome by showing peopel our PSA!

"Bush Sucks" humor

Unfortunate choice of words...

Hmmmm....

Random Humor

Washington Post's Mensa Invitational which once again asked members to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter and supply a new definition. Here are the winners:

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole. ( My hands-down favorite!)

3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating.The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high

8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

12. Karmageddon: It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

13. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

14. Glibido: All talk and no action.

15. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

16. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

18. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

Tequila- Celebration through Libation

Rachel's birthday -- we spent Saturday night in Mt. Kisco with her family-- lots of tequila-- and then came back to Long Island and she went about her day... Later, I stopped in to The Chalet for a beer and to watch the Yankee-Mets game. The barteder knew me and set me up with a shot. I took this pic with my camera phone and sent it to Rachel. It was enough to lure her back out for another night of birthday celebration through libation. MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmm---- tequila!

You Gotta Have Heart

At Starbucks.

And another...

It's hard to see this one, but it's a tiny sticker that was on the steps at Barnes and Noble.

Sent via cell phone to Moblog.

Another Heart

Sent via cell phone to Moblog.