Florence Lawrence

The First Movie StarPhoto I took of the final resting place for Florence Lawrence
Those who know me or follow this blog know that I am a sucker for old Hollywood. I thought that no collection of star's graves would be complete without Florence Lawrence. She was a Canadian inventor who invented the first turn signal and she developed a brake signal ,where an arm with a sign reading "STOP" was raised whenever you hit the brake pedal. Unfortunately, Lawrence's inventions were not patented and she never made much money from these inventions.
She is best known as the Silent Film actress, who is often referred to as "The First Movie Star". She was also known as "The Biograph Girl". Lawrence's name was never publicized, fans began writing the studio asking for it. Even when her face had gained wide recognition, Biograph Studios simply labeled her as "The Biograph Girl". During cinema's formative years, silent screen actors were not named, because studio owners feared that fame might lead to demands for higher wages. (something tells me that there is no way the actors of today would stand for that)During her lifetime, Lawrence appeared in more than 270 films, I think she deserves a little recognition even if she has been gone since 1938.

West Memphis 3

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves!
If this kind of insanity is allowed to happen in America, then no American is really safe. To do nothing is to submit to this horrific slander of truth and basically join in with the perpetrators.
By -Henry Rollins

This case is very special to me. These boys, now men, were convicted basically because they were "weird". They wore black, listened to heavy metal and read odd books. Now, that pretty much sums me up when I was a kid. I could not believe that West Memphis actually convicted these boys with nothing more than a man who claimed to be an expert on the occult (which by the way, the degree he received was from a Correspondence school) and no, I repeat NO EVIDENCE. So these kids wore black and were weird, that's basically half the population of Los Angeles, CA where I am from. Evidently, wearing those clothes and listening to whatever music you want is enough to get you convicted of murder in West Memphis! If this "Witch hunt" can happen in our modern society, then neither you or I are safe and free. You can't let something like this happen on your watch and call yourself free!
Please go to WM3.Org for more information.

I just felt what happened to those kids could happen to anybody I know or even myself , wearing the wrong clothes, listening to the wrong music, having the wrong books in your collection, and most importantly, living in the wrong community. I feel like if that case had come up in Seattle where I live, those kids would never have been in jail. But they live in a small community where they wanted that case closed, they wanted some culprits, and they wanted them fast and these kids were a scapegoat.
By -Eddie Daly/Spaghetti

Why I Never Want Children

This Be The Verse

They fuck you up, your mum and Dad,

They may not mean to, but they do.

They fill you with the faults they had

And add some extra just for you!

But they were fucked up in their turn

By fools in old-style hats and coats,

Who half the time were soppy-stern

And half at one another's throats.

Man hands misery on to man.

It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,

And don't have any kids yourself!.......Philip Larkin

I don't any other poem has put into words exactly how I feel quite like this one. This poem just plays in my head whenever someone asks me "Are you going to have kids?....Why not?" Oh I don't know, maybe because I don't want any. And why is it that no one can seem to understand that? Not everyone wants to have children.

Myself personally, I like to be able to go tromping through cemeteries, work on my art, stay out late when I want, take a last minuet wine tasting trip, do whatever, without having to find a sitter to pack 30 pounds of crap for the diaper bag.

I am a selfish person, but at least I recognize that and don't think "Oh my life will be the same, I'll just have a kid with me" or think that dumping my kid with some one else every time I get the chance is being a good parent. I hate it when I hear people say "I just want to get away or I'm so tired of dealing with my kid right now". I feel that you brought that kid into the world, and now your life is 2nd place because you chose to give life to a child. Being a parent is a 24/7 365 day job. You don't get to check out because you want time to yourself.

I had to take care of my younger sisters all my life and now that they are old enough to care for themselves, why would I want to start that all over again? I think I have paid my dues. Besides why would I want to bring someone into life that might be as rotten as me? I'm screwed up enough without passing that on to someone else. So for all you breeders out there, go for you, glad you are happy, hope you are a great parent, but leave me out of this ok?

Delilah

This is my first "Rag Doll" painting! I named her Delilah. Sal liked her so much he didn't let me get rid of her. It's now framed and up on the wall so he can look at it.

Johnny Cash Purse

Here is a cigar box purse I made for myself. Selfish I know, but tell me you wouldn't want to have The Man In Black himself on their purse?The Back side of the cigar box purse
The Inside of the box

There is a quote from Mr Johnny Cash on the inside of my purse reading "The Beast In Me Is Caged By Frail And Fragile Bars" I think that is the way we both feel Johnny.

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud, That floats over vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd, A host of Golden Daffodils..... Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line...
Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.....
I Gazed -and gazed- But little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For often, when on my pensive couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon the inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And Dances with the Daffodils ........William Wordsworth

Cavalry Skull

Here is a painting I did for my pal Sgt. Leisinger who is a Cavalry Scout Sniper for the US Army. He liked this so much he had a tattoo artist draw up something similar and now has this on his back!

Peter Lorre

Peter Lorre
I remember him most as Ugarte from Casablanca. "You despise me don't you, Rick?" and "I find myself to be much more reasonable" Below is a photo of his final resting place I took while at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

With all due respect to Mr. Lorre this is also a way I remember him, and as the "Mad Scientist" from the old Warner Bros. cartoon. And this little tribute would fall short if I didn't mention all the horror films he did. Personally I like The Raven because it also has Vincent Price; and The Boogie Man Will Get You " with Boris Karloff! Thanks for all the memories Peter!

Rudolph Valentino

Rudolph Valentino

"Women are not in love with me, but with the picture of me on the screen. I am merely a canvas on which women paint their dreams."......Sigh. Isn't that the most eloquant way to explain being such sex symbol? It made me feel like a schoolgirl with a crush, sighing, when I read that. He still has that effect on me.

I love this piture of Valentino. Maybe because it reminds me of that era, when all the actors smoked to make it look glamorus, I think he succeded.


Here is Valentino's final resting place. A much more humble crypt than he deserved. I have been to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery quite a few times, and each time there have been flowers, and (my personal favorites), lipstick kisses on Valentino. I must confess that I am guilty of kissing my fingers and pressing it to his grave.Valentino's Shrine, which is actually in the hallway before his tomb, also always has flowers when I visit, and of course I usually leave one also.

More of My Art

My "Toni" Painting

My niece happens to love monkeys so I painted this for her for Xmas 2008. Here she is holding her painting. This is an older piece I did for my pal Tim. It's not a painting. Although I did use some ink on this , it was mostly Charcoal. This was so much fun to do! I must give Kudos to Roman Dirge who gave me the inspiration for this. By the way, if anyone is interested, I can do something like this custom with your name! Just send me an email or comment.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone! Enjoy my picture of St. Patty's statue from Holy Cross Cemetery

Some of my Favorite Tombstones

Love Is Buried Here

Father And Mother, Aren't These right out of a Movie?

This explains why some women think there are no worthy men around...

The only Worthy Husband is finally At Rest

People Are Strange

Great Advice from Mr. Anton McFarland..

Remember Friends As You Pass By,

As You Are Now So Once Was I

As I Am Now You Soon Shall Be

Prepare For Death And Follow Me

My Love Birds

This is a painting I did for my cousin for Christmas '08

These are the love birds she wanted. Not traditional Love Birds, I guess Out Of Love Birds? Anyway, that's my cousin, she shares my dark humor, makes me proud. JK I can't take all credit for this painting because she did tell me what she wanted it to look like. I guess she was one of my first "commissions" although it was a gift.

Pearl and Squishy Painting

Here is one of my most recent painting that I did for a close friend of mine and her dog. Here are pictures of the "Models" for the painting. Squishy insisted on top billing

Squishy

Pearl

Painting of Thom & Lisa

Here is an example of my "Rag Doll" paintings. I did this a couple years agoThis shot is too bright to really see the painting, but you can still see the real Thom and Lisa, who the dolls were painted for.

Arlington West

These Fought In Any Case by Ezra Pound

These fought in any case,

and some believing , "pro domo" (for homeland) in any case....

Some quick to arm,

some for adventure

some from fear of weakness

some from fear of censure,

some for love of slaughter, in imagination,

learning later.....

some in fear, learning love of slaughter;

Died some, pro patria (for one's country)

Non "Dulce" non "et decor" (not sweet and not fitting)

walked eye-deep in Hell

believing in old men's lies, then unbelieving

came home, home to a lie

home to many deceits,

home to old lies and new infamy

usury age old and age thick

and liars in public places

Daring as never before, wastage as never before.

Young blood and high blood,

Fair cheeks and fine bodies;

fortitude as never before

frankness as never before

disillusions as never told in the old days,

hysterics, trench confessions,

laughter out of dead bellies......

I took these pictures of Arlington West a couple years ago and just found them again. I wish I could say things were different now and that Arlington West should serve as a reminder of what we went through....sadly we are still losing our soldiers over seas. I hope the world turns and things get better, but what I hope for most of all is that all these young men and women are not forgotten because we as a free society are in debt to them forever for their sacrifice. Our feelings on the war do not matter when it comes to our veterans. DO NOT mistake the war for our warriors.... please treat them with the dignity and compassion and above all with thanks!

Ohio Cemetery

Here are some of my favorite shots from one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Ohio. If anyone is interested in purchasing any of my prints, I will be putting them up on Etsy soon and I will be adding lots more pictures soon. I hope you all enjoy these shots as much as I enjoyed taking them.

I loved these tombstones, with just one tipped over... Here is another great stone, it was so small and simple, reading just Thomas. For some reason, it is one of the stones that most caught my attention.

James Dean Live Fast, Die Young

"If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he's dead, then maybe
he was a great man." ~ James Dean

Words can not express just how much I love this man! There was a time in my life where you could not turn your head whilst sitting in my room and not see a picture or poster or something with James Dean's name or face. I had this very high slanted ceiling and I even once had a painter come by for an estimate on how much it would be to have him paint Jame's image on my ceiling. (Unfortunately at the time I was a teenage and it would have cost me over $300 an hour) In fact when I met my husband I told him "James Dean and I are a package deal, love me, love James" Lucky for me I am married to the most wonderful man in the world who likes old movies and deals with my James Dean neurosis.

"You can't show some far off idyllic conception of behavior if you want the kids to come and see the picture. You've got to show what it's really like, and try to reach them on their own grounds"~ James Dean.....

James how right you were! I think the reason you are so loved is that you identified with the angst we all feel as youths. You brought to light the struggle, the broken heart, and the disillusion of growing up to realize, as Bukowski said that "The dark is empty; Most of our heroes have been wrong" But not you James, you are my hero and you were right. You taught all of us who love watching you act and who grieve for you even now that we must "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today"

Shot of the James Dean Memorial sign and I on the way to Cholame in California where James had his fateful wreak. This was where he made his last stop. James will never be forgotten and will live forever, not only in his movies, but in the hearts of those who relate to and love him. I wish I could have met you, James but I will settle for knowing your talent and appreciating you, not only as an actor, but as the honest person you were. Your fans are dedicated to never letting you fade away.
The only greatness for man is immortality. ~ James Dean

James, you are immortal and you are great!

Rita Hayworth

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate

Thy Eternal Summer Shall Not Fade

Nor Lose possession of that fair thou ow'st

Nor Shall Death brag Thou wand'rest in his shade...So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and gives life to thee....William Shakespeare

We are all tied to our destiny and there is no way we can liberate ourselves. ~ Rita Hayworth

Then final resting place of the gorgeous Rita Hayworth with flowers and a small "Thank You" note from yours truly. She was so beautiful and one of, if not the ultimate pin up! In fact her picture in Life Magazine in 1941 became one of the most requested wartime pinups. The image sold over 5 million copies! Her beauty went far below skin deep as Rita's soul and heart were as beautiful as she was. I love how glamorous she was and how she used to coyly say "Darling" when speaking with the press. Rita was quoted saying "All I wanted was just what everybody else wants, you know, to be loved." Rita you are still loved, even today.