Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

                                        Marina Corricella II, Procida Island, Gulf of Naples Purchase the painting here: https://www.icanvas.com/canvas-print/marina-corricella-ii-procida-island-gulf-of-naples-campania-region-italy-pim14213?  

  The Clare Glens by Chris McMorrow Purchase the painting here: https://chrismcmorrow.net/collections/irish-landscapes-paintings/products/the_clare_glens_268

  Facebook photo (CNN) Louie Anderson, an Emmy winner whose career spanned from stand-up and game show host to starring roles in TV and film, died Friday in Las Vegas from complications related to cancer, his publicist Glenn Schwartz confirmed to CNN. He was 68.   On Thursday his friend, fellow comedian Pauly Shore, tweeted that he had said his goodbyes to Anderson and asked for prayers for the ill star. Read more here: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/21/entertainment/louie-anderson-dead/index.html

  Facebook photo (CNN) Meat Loaf, the larger-than-life singer whose bombastic rock opera "Bat Out of Hell" is one of the best-selling albums of all time, has died at age 74, according to a statement on his verified Facebook page. "Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side," the statement said. "Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours."   Meat Loaf's agent confirmed his death to CNN. No cause of death was shared.   The singer, whose real name is Marvin Lee Aday, was born in Dallas.   Read the full story here: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/21/entertainment/meat-loaf-obit/index.html

  If Hulu gives it a chance to catch on, I think “How I Met Your Father” will start growing on people, as soon as word gets around that it's not a sequel to or companion to “How I Your Mother.” The format and premise are almost the same and one of the main characters lives in Ted Mosby's old apartment, but (after two episodes at least) that's where the similarities end. Hilary Duff is likable and relatable as younger Sophie. Kim Cattrall as older Sophie, who is telling the story, is as wonderful as she always is. Whereas Bob Saget was heard but not seen in HIMYM, we do see Cattrall in her luxurious home in the year 2050. So far, we haven't seen the son to whom she is telling the story. I'm assuming that's because the father prospects are of different ethnicities and showing the son may reveal who the father is. Chris Lowell is charming in a goofy kind of way as Jesse, the mail lead, as is Suraj Sharma as Sid, Jesse's roommate. Tien Tran is over-the-top...

  The Netflix limited series “Maid” should help to answer questions about why victims of domestic abuse don't just leave. It also touches on mental illness, alcholism, post-partum depression and several other difficult-to-deal-with issues. But, the series does all of this without being preachy or in-your-face. The story centers on Alex, a young woman who, along with her toddler daughter, leaves her abusive, alcoholic partner although she has very little money and no job prospects. At different points during the series she tries turning to her “free-spirit,” unreliable mother; her father, with whom she hasn't had a relationship for quite some time; and even back to her partner, Sean. She turns to a shelter for abused women; she tries to get low-income housing; and she even spends one night on the floor of a ferry station. She does manage to find a job with Value Maids, although she has to pay for her own cleaning supplies, and develops an interesting relationship with Regi...

  This wasn't my favorite Alex Cross book in the series, but I still liked it a lot. The first two-thirds were OK, but the last third was very exciting, although it read more like C.J. Box than James Patterson. (That's not a bad thing, by the way.) The elusive and mysterious M makes another appearance. Add to that the murders of government officials involved in a Mexican drug cartel, and Alex's wife in a dangerous situation in Paris, and you've got non-stop action from start to finish. One of the best parts of Fear No Evil, or any other Alex Cross book, is Alex's family. (Sampson and his daughter Willow have some touching moments as well.) It's been interesting watching Damon, Jannie and Ali grow and mature, albeit very slowly, over the last 29 years. (Unlike C.J. Box, whose Joe Pickett characters age with each book.) I hope Nana Mama stays "ninety-something" for years to come, though. As I've been writing this, I've been trying t...

Buy the painting here: https://www.lighthousegalleries.com/product/paris-flower-market-14x11/