Thursday Thirteen - 40 - 13 of Heath Ledger's Films

As I sat at my desk last week, typing away at my computer, I had the news on TV to my left. The words "the body of actor Heath Ledger" sliced through my thoughts. My head turned as I took in the sight of his picture in the top right corner of the screen, an announcer speaking words that cut at my heart in jagged stabs.

Heath Ledger has been a particular favorite of mine since I first saw him in the fantasy series Roar in the late 90's. Not just for his sexy voice and charismatic presence, but for his obvious acting chops - head-and-shoulders above his peers from the very beginning. My husband and I own a lot of his film work on tape and DVD, and as my husband is the Bat Fan Incarnate, we were waiting and waiting for the release of The Dark Knight this summer. For me, the news that Heath was playing The Joker was a sign that all was right with the world.

I still feel like I'm trying to process the reality of his death. To borrow the words of Daniel Day-Lewis, "I feel very unsettled at the moment. I didn't know him. I have a strong impression, I would have liked him very much as a man if I had. I'd already marvelled at some of his work, and had looked forward so much to seeing the work that he would do in the future."

Today's Thursday Thirteen salutes some of Heath Ledger's body of work.



1 - Roar - 1997 - 2000










View Roar compilation



"Roar features Conor, the freedom fighter circa A.D. 400,in the new sword-and-sorcery adventure series. This show doesn't pull that Hercules trick of inserting modern slang and sensibilities into an earlier era; it's more an attempt at the brooding romanticism of Koslow's bodice-ripper, 1987-90's Beauty and the Beast. And Ledger, a knockabout Australian, is handsome and muscular in a refreshingly non-bodybuilder way. The result is a TV show that looks great - all dark green forests and deep blue skies - but if it wants to distinguish itself from its genre, it has to get a lot more moodily grim." - Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly


2 - 10 Things I Hate About You - 1999





View Trailer


"10 Things I Hate About You is inspired by Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Two guys want to take Bianca to the prom. One is shy and likable. The other is a blowhard. But Bianca's father (Larry Miller) has forbidden her to date until her older sister Katarina (Julia Stiles) starts going out. So they hatch a plot to persuade Patrick (Heath Ledger), the school outlaw, to ask Kat to the prom. He takes a $300 bribe, but then realizes that Kat is actually quite lovely, etc., and really falls in love with her, after which, etc. I liked the sweet, tentative feeling between Ledger and Stiles. He has a scene that brings the whole movie to an enjoyable halt. Trying to win her heart, he waits until she's on the athletic field, and then sings `I love you baby' over the P.A. system, having bribed the school's marching band to accompany him." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times



3 - Two Hands - 1999







View Trailer



"Star-on-the rise Heath Ledger is both attractive and charming, the perfect matinee combination, as the naïve would-be crim and spruiker (hoodlum), Jimmy. He is also a deft dramatic actor with a charismatic screen presence not seen in the Australian cinema since Russell Crowe. It's a sharp black comedy, a farce (a robbery scene which is hilarious), a romance, a thriller and of course the classically structured gangster film. All of which are masterfully directed by dazzling first-time feature director, Gregor Jordan, who not only effortlessly displays skills here as a visually impressive movie director, but his detail of character is brilliant." - Paul Fischer, Urban Cinephile





4 - The Patriot - 2000





View Trailer



"The moment war threatens his family, Benjamin (Mel Gibson) becomes the guerrilla fighter he was during the French and Indian War. Determined to rescue Gabriel (Heath Ledger) from the gallows, he sneak-attacks twenty of His Majesty's soldiers from a bluff. Gibson, himself the parent of seven, brings ardor and complexity to this conflicted father. His scenes with Ledger (Ten Things I Hate About You) - the Aussie newcomer has the talent and looks to become a major star - provide an intimacy that holds an overlong film together against the winds of bombast, irrelevant romance and relentless revenge." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone



5 - A Knight's Tale - 2001




View Trailer


"The hero of A Knight's Tale, William (Heath Ledger), is locked into serfdom, and is determined to change his stars. William wants to be a knight and seizes the opportunity when the knight he serves dies. He pretends to be nobility and adopts a ludicrously royal-sounding name, since 'only noble knights can compete.' Mr. Ledger has a courtly manner and he's very likable; he pays attention to the other actors and is bowled over by Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon). Although he's the star, he cedes scenes well. To further connect with the young audience, William's dirty blond hair is stylishly tangled in dreadlocks. He's an antediluvian skate punk dancing to Bowie's Golden Years, with action sequences playing to The Boys Are Back in Town, We Are the Champions (of course) and Rare Earth's lugubrious cover of Get Ready." - Elvis Mitchell, The New York Times





6 - Monster's Ball - 2001










View compilation from YouTube - WARNING: major spoiler at the end. If you stop it at the 3:15 mark you're still safe.





"Billy Bob Thornton plays Hank Grotowski, a prison guard on death row. Emotionally, Hank's a hollow shell, filled to the brim with hate spewed from his invalid Klansman father (Peter Boyle). Hank pours his bile onto his grown boy, Sonny (Heath Ledger). The broken lad seeks solace in whiskey-blurred couplings with a truck-stop whore. Emotional tension in the Grotowski household boils over when Sonny, also a guard on death row, bungles the solemn 'walk' that brings condemned murderer Lawrence Musgrove (Sean "P. Diddy" Combs) to the execution chamber. Hank beats him in public, setting a calamitous chain of events in motion. In the aftermath, Hank finds solace at a local diner where a new waitress, Leticia Musgrove (Halle Berry), serves him chocolate ice cream, which he will only eat with a plastic spoon. We already know Leticia is Lawrence's widow.

Ledger is surprisingly deft at playing a wounded soul; though he's already a respected actor in his native Australia, this performance will help him shed the pretty-boy image that Hollywood has slapped onto him." - Tor Thorsen, Reel.com





7 - The Four Feathers - 2002






View compilation from YouTube




"Harry Faversham (Heath Ledger) is the son of a decorated general. He's part of England's elite — an officer cadet at a top military academy, attends balls with his similarly pampered chums, and is engaged to a fetching debutante, Ethne (Kate Hudson). However, Harry's upper-crust bubble bursts when it's announced that the Madhi, an Osama-bin-Laden-like cleric leading an army of 'fanatics', has attacked a strategic British fort in the Sudan. Harry and his classmates, including Jack (Wes Bentley) are ordered to pack up and ship out. On the eve of his departure, Harry has second thoughts. He questions what business England has in the Sudan in the first place, abruptly resigning his commission the next morning.

His friends and fiancee send Harry four white feathers as symbols of his lily-livered-ness. In order to redeem himself, he hops on the next ship to the Sudan. The Four Feathers is as much a personal journey as it is a cross-continental trek. As well as ace lensman Robert Richardson's cinematography conveys the desolation of the Sudanese desert, it's the actors who add detail to The Four Feathers canvas. In the case of Ledger and Bentley, each does a splendid job of showing how war quickly makes grizzled men out of fresh-faced boys. The duo also acquit themselves off the battlefield as two sides of a love triangle." - Tor Thorsen, Reel.com





8 - Ned Kelly - 2003





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"The picture that emerges from this presentation of Ned Kelly is a Victorian police force that is as amoral as it is vicious and largely to blame for Ned’s life of crime. The film gives Heath Ledger a terrific vehicle and Ledger relishes it, creating a strong, silent type of Ned full of inner anguish, and a desperation born of circumstance. Several times he tries in vain to avoid killing police who are hunting them, and expressing his regret when he does. He is a tragic hero figure, but a hero figure all the same and Ledger makes a great impression, a real lasting image, as Ned Kelly. The story touches on the very roots of Australian pioneering society and should trigger a robust debate about the man and the myth." - Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinephile



9 - The Order - 2003





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"Alex Bernier (Heath Ledger) is one of the few remaining priests belonging to the Carolingian, an order that recognizes the existence of spirits, the paranormal and Latin-only Mass. In Rome to investigate the death of their friend, that couldn't be a suicide, they meet Eden (Benno Fürmann), a Sin Eater. Unfortunately for the Sin Eater, he keeps the sins that he 'eats' and will suffer a damned eternal life unless he can delegate his job to a new candidate. Now centuries old, Eden wants to retire and pass the important job of saving the excommunicated on to Alex, who is understandably hesitant about the proposal. Ledger does a great job portraying a character who should be much older than he is, always able to express the right amount of emotion when necessary. Crafty cinematography by Nicola Pecorini constantly keeps the surroundings dark and gloomy." - Scott S., Movie-Vault.com



10 - The Brothers Grimm - 2005









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"Terry Gilliam rarely has it easy making movies. Whether its his unfinished Don Quixote or the brilliant Brazil, the suits always want him to change things. The Brothers Grimm, with the shots called by the brothers Weinstein, is no exception. If you're a Gilliam junkie, as I am, you go with it. Starring Matt Damon as the skeptical Will Grimm and Heath Ledger as his susceptible brother Jacob, Ledger fares better as the nerdy brother who goes along with Will's plan to scam German villagers with fake witches that the boys banish for a fee. But Jake keeps looking for real magic. Ledger lets us see the hope in Jake's eyes when the brothers enter a forest ruled by a genuinely evil Mirror Queen (Monica Bellucci). Gilliam is Jake at heart. It's Gilliam's chance to run amok, and watching him do it is eye-popping fun." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone



11 - Brokeback Mountain - 2005









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"Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) meet when they are hired to tend sheep on Brokeback Mountain during the summer of 1963. One thing leads to another between these young men of such opposite temperaments, and a summer romance blossoms in the isolation of their mountainside campsite. They return to their separate lives in one of the finest films of the year, a heartbreaking tale of the price paid for keeping desire and one's true nature a secret. It's Ledger who is truly transcendent. With Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain, he breaks through to another level. Ennis is a man of few words who rarely shows what he's feeling, but Ledger, through body language and expression, is able to convey each conflicting emotion that has turned Ennis' life into something akin to purgatory." - Pam Grady, Reel.com




12 - Casanova - 2005




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"He’s Casanova (Heath Ledger), and he has so many admirers he doesn’t need to sleep with the same woman more than once, and seldom does. How does he do it? Heath Ledger is proving himself as versatile as any working actor. This year, he’s successfully portrayed two entirely different roles; he’s gone from serious-as-a-heart-attack closeted homosexual cowboy in Brokeback Mountain to Casanova himself, a charming, playful socialite of a ladies man. If it doesn’t take talent to convincingly portray those characters in back to back movies, then what does? As Casanova, Ledger doesn’t play the material over the top; he lets the comedy speak for itself and focuses his attention on defining the cunning, seductive traits of the famed character. He's perfect for the role." - Blake French, Filmcritic.com




13 - The Dark Knight - 2008




View Trailer






Opening July 18th, 2008

"Christian Bale once again embodies the man behind the mask in The Dark Knight. The film reunites Bale with director Christopher Nolan and takes Batman across the world in his quest to fight a growing criminal threat. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman has been making headway against local crime...until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker (Heath Ledger) unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new menace--Batman's most personal and vicious enemy yet--he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront everything he believes." - Synopsis from Movieweb.com

Wordless Wednesday - 33

Photo by Vince Bucci

Poetry Train Monday - 34 - The Look That Passes Between Them

This is a reworked poem from my high school years. The original version is quite long. One might even say overly long. I had a look at it recently and decided a much shorter version could be picked out of it.




The Look That Passes Between Them


Even then
She chipped away
The cornerstones reduced
To so much rubble

He grabbed the hammer
The chisel
Dashed them to the ground
Screamed and spit
Grabbed her by the hair
Dragged her to the door
Kicked to smash it open

She landed upon jagged edges
The stones she'd chipped from the tower
The pain was blinding

Trembling
She rose to her feet
Her skin raw
Without the shell
He'd pried free
Still buried in a pocket

One day they'll meet again
His blue eyes no longer charged
With desperation
No shutters to keep a breeze
From tussling his hair

In his outstretched hand
A shell
In hers a polished stone


Copyright - Julia Smith - 2008

7 Weird Things About Me

Jill the Acadian and Christine d'Abo tagged me for this meme last week. My first thought was, only seven weird things? Let's get into the really weird stuff, folks. Why not?



1 - When I was a kid, I liked cheese and mustard sandwiches. No butter - blech.








2 - From elementary school age and onward, I've been totally obsessed with Victorian girls' and women's high button boots. The lace-ups come in second. I love them, too, but not the way I feel about the buttoned shoes. I actually bought myself a pair of shoes at an antique show - they're lace-ups with a slight heel. But they're fragile so no wearing them.

The one and only time I ever had a sleepwalking incident is connected to a dream I had about these shoes. When I was in high school, I dreamt that there were a pair of high buttoned boots waiting for me in the lobby of our apartment building, where the mailboxes were. Luckily for me, my dad was up late watching TV when I went to the front door that led out into the main hallway.

He said, "Where are you going?"


And I said "I'm going to get the shoes..." As the words passed my lips, I realized how bizarre that sounded, which served to push me out of the sleepwalk-y spell. I burst out giggling, tried to explain what my dream had been about, went back to get under the covers and giggled hysterically for 20 minutes or so.


3 - No surprise then, in my humble opinion the female form reached its pinnacle of beauty during the 1870's. I just get all gushy and swoony when I see paintings of Victorian ladies of the period, or watch films set in that time. Most specifically I love the evening wear of that decade.

Painting - Young Ladies Looking at Japanese Objects by J.Tissot, 1869











Painting - Too Early by J. Tissot, 1873

Wouldn't it stand to reason I would think the male form reached its zenith at about the same time? But that wouldn't be weird.





To me, the male of our species was in its finest form at the end of the 18th century, heading into the 19th.




Particularly in military uniform.


















4 - Back in my teeny bopper years, I had a rock solid crush on Leslie McKeown, lead singer for the Bay City Rollers. Apparently I've been drawn to Scorpio males without fail. No matter how much the Rollers were derided as I headed into my twenties, I never stopped thinking he was just my cup of tea. I've always loved his voice, and for Christmas a few years ago I got a compilation CD from my cousin. Thirty years later, I still think he's got a sexy voice. When I'm writing my dark scenes of tragedy, I may be listening to Puccini or Prokofiev, or perhaps Leslie McKeown singing 70's pop ballads.



5 - I'm basically a cheery, optimistic, serene sort of person. Meanwhile, all of my fictional storylines are filled with anguish, violence and tragedy. A lot of times as I walk down the street sorting through various scenes in my head, if I could share the 'audio' portion with someone else, there would be a lot of crying out in pain, or just plain sobbing.


It's the voices...the voices... Sometimes it makes me wonder why I have such a soundtrack of agony playing through my mind. Those are my characters, though, and they're usually going through some sort of hell. One must torture one's darlings, mustn't one?




6 - If given the choice between a midwinter trip to Hawaii, a full-year premium seat subcription to a season of National Ballet of Canada performances, or $2000.00, I would take the ballet subscription without a moment's hesitation.

Heather Ogden in Romeo and Juliet






7 - I would rather stay up late and be productive creatively, than go to bed at a reasonable hour throughout the work week and feel rested. I make this same choice over and over, week after week, month after month. You'd think the fatigue would win at some point. My surge of energy always kicks in by late afternoon, though - without benefit of a coffee. C'est la vie.

Activities of the Common Night Owl by Fredrik Arnerup

Now, whom do I tag, whom do I tag?

How about Joy Renee, Keeyit and Sue?

Thursday Thirteen - 39 - 13 of My Favorite Songs From Movie Musicals

1 - O What a Beautiful Morning

Oklahoma!

Hugh Jackman


When I first discovered him in X-Men, and read about his previous stage role as Curly from Oklahoma! I longed for some way to see what was already over and done with. Then, voila - a filmed version of his performance was released. Dreams really do come true.



2 - Your Song

Moulin Rouge

Ewan McGregor




As I watched this film for the first time, I couldn't believe how many times it went in a direction I couldn't have predicted. This scene absolutely filled me with joy, especially the singing moon at the end. And Ewan McGregor is completely irresistable for me.




3 - Jack's Lament

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Danny Elfman




I love Danny Elfman's film scores and was charmed by his songs for this Tim Burton film. And to hear him sing this one is a treat. It often lodges in my head no matter what time of the year it is.




4 - I Remember/Stranger Than You Dreamt It

The Phantom of The Opera - Warning: the audio is extremely faint. You'll have to crank up your speakers in order to hear it.



Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler



I feel so sad for the Phantom as he sits waiting for his dream-come-true Christine to wake and join him at last. And when she goes a step too far and does what he couldn't conceive of, I just love his total freak out. I also love the way Gerry loads the words with ugly emotion, since he's an actor first and a singer second.




5 - Sweet Transvestite

The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Warning: remember to turn down your speaker volume before proceeding!

Tim Curry








The more I watch this performance, the more amazed I am at Tim Curry's instincts and his fearless walk down the steps toward the end, head back and arms outstretched. For most people, that would be fatal, especially in those heels.




6 - Springtime For Hitler

The Producers

Michael Davis and cast

The first time I watched this scene I had one of my laugh attacks where my husband is on stand-by in case I might die laughing. It triggers a total asthmatic shutdown, really quickly with no warning. Meanwhile I'm still laughing like a hyena with tears streaming down my face. The thing that gets me is the look of horror on the faces of the audience members.







7 - Knights of The Round Table

Monty Python and The Holy Grail

Cast

When I first saw this as a kid, I was swept up by this scene's sense of glee and silliness. I come from a very silly family, so it felt good to realize other people shared our sense of zaniness. As an adult, this only gets funnier the more times I watch it. Especially the part where the line of knights rushes toward the camera.





8 - Bedazzled

Bedazzled

Peter Cook



This scene takes place after Stanley Moon (Dudley Moore) is given another chance by the devil (Peter Cook) to win the heart of the woman he loves. After becoming a pop star Stanley sings his hit 'Love Me'. But that song is followed by this one, and Stanley recognizes it's the devil messing around with him yet again. Blowing the raspberry is the safety hatch that gets Stanley out of this wish.






9 - With Cat-Like Tread

The Pirates of Penzance





Kevin Kline, Rex Smith and cast

Kevin Kline is all about giving 310% as he plays the Pirate King. Go, Kevin, go! I just love the unabashed over-the-top vibe to this scene.








10 - Simon Zealotes

Jesus Christ Superstar

Larry Marshall and Cast

Continuing with the over-the-top theme, this is one of my favorite scenes in any musical, ever. Could be the slo-mo given to the dancing. And it's so groovey, baby!









11 - Bottle Dance

Fiddler on the Roof

Roy Durbin, Ken Robson, Robert Stevenson, Lou Zambrogna and cast

Confession time. When I was a kid, we kept borrowing this album from the library over and over, until we realized we could buy it and just keep it (head slap.) My mom, my sister and I used to dance around the living room to this one. Here's the confession: I used to stare at the picture of the 2nd dancer from the right because I had a crush on him. I still love the way he moves.





12 - Peron's Latest Flame

Evita

Madonna, Antonio Banderas and cast

This was my favorite song from a production that played at the theatre where I worked. I really loved the clever staging of Evita's rise in status, as well as the music. When the film came out, I was impressed once again by the complexity of this song. And I can't resist Antonio.






13 - Tonight (Reprise)

West Side Story

Richard Beymer, Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Russ Tamblyn and cast

I just love how the tension builds by the end of this song. Everyone's heading towards multiple black moments. Bring it on!

Wordless Wednesday - 32

Poetry Train Monday - 33 - Pedigree

This poem was inspired by the relationship my late father-in-law suffered through with his father. I've been thinking about that a lot since he passed away. I admire him for working through his own pain enough to raise three sons who grew into caring men.


Pedigree














Word-stones bruise. Clammy face, chill with pale fear,
Washes over with hope for escape. Hands
Grab, shove till boy sprawls, choked by dust. By tears.

Leather whistles through loops. Skin prickles. Stands
Over him - snaking back, father's coiled strength -
- washes over with hope for escape. Hands

Grip the straw. Body curls. Jerks. Yet arms' length.
Slash/burns. Grits teeth to bite back howls. He fails.
Over him - snaking back, father's coiled strength -

Granite fury geysers hot. Leather flails.
What trigger for this scalding? ...many names.
Slash/burns. Grits teeth to bite back howls. He fails.

No action, word appeases him, nor tames.
His mother's horror serves a new rebuke.
What trigger for this scalding? ...many names.














A bond that festers, flares as quick as puke.
Word-stones bruise. Clammy face, chill with pale fear -
His mother's horror serves a new rebuke.
Leather whistles through loops. Skin prickles. Stands -


Copyright - Julia Smith - Jan. 2008


Warning: link to clip shows blood and some violence.

Photos are stills from the 2003 Swedish film Evil (Ondskan) by Mikael Håfström, starring Andreas Wilson. It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. I've only seen parts of it, but it's on my to-watch list.

Switching gears entirely - just think of all the hotties out there that we don't even know about...

Charmed by Enchanted

My mom and I went to see Kevin Lima's Enchanted this afternoon. It was the perfect thing for me. A sweet, tongue-in-cheek romance, Enchanted plays around with both fairy tale and Disney animated musical conventions. Rather like Shrek.










Starring Amy Adams as an animated princess about to marry the prince of her dreams, the film switches gears into the hardcore reality of New York City. Our heroine must make her way through this confusing new world. Luckily the force of her plucky belief in the best of life has a way of rubbing off on even the most jaded big city dweller.



One of these New Yorkers is a single father played by Patrick Dempsey. He ends up regretting his decision to bring the confused young woman out of the rain and into his apartment. The self-styled 'princess' sweeps him along and before he knows what's happening, he's falling in love with this odd result of his Good Samaritan moment.



Dempsey discovers his new roommate has been telling the truth when her royal intended shows up. James Marsden has a lot of fun with this puffy-shirt role!


Evil step-mom and queen Susan Sarandon grabs onto her villainous role with both hands. Pursuing her nephew's bride-to-be for purposes of elimination rather than family bonding, she puts both of the princess's beaux through their paces as the romantic triangle tries to sort itself out.


Amy Adams is really amazing. Making an animated personality work in live action is quite a feat. I'm also a big fan of James Marsden and got a big kick out of his joyous aren't-I-too-fabulous? prince. It was left to Patrick Dempsey to anchor the film in reality and he provides the perfect bridge between the 2D and 3D worlds.

Thursday Thirteen - 38 - 13 Paintings by My Sister-in-Law, Anna Baccin

Welcome! (cheek kiss) Step inside - the cyber gallery is buzzing but it's not too crowded yet. Don't be shy about scooping up a wine or an hors d'oeurve. There's cute wait staff passing goodies around ;D

I'll introduce you to Anna when she's free. I think I see her - I guess she's outside doing a photo shoot. Oh sure, I can tell you a bit about her. She went to the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, where she earned a diploma for a four-year program in Fine Arts, focusing on Drawing and Painting. Her medium is oils on either canvas or board.

Anna was already married to my husband's brother Ken when I came on the scene - they have two boys, now. I know - how did I get so lucky to have her for my sister-in-law? Have no idea, but I'm thankful all the same.


She lives in Ottawa but loves returning home to Toronto whenever she can.








Here's her first piece. I'll let you stroll around. Enjoy the show and I'll be sure to bring her over before you leave.



1 - 'Nun in Florence'











2 - 'Ballerina'












3 - 'Figure sitting'











4 - 'Window seat'
















5 - 'Laura at piano'











6 - 'Two models'












6 - 'Pauline'













8 - Untitled













9 - 'Figure study'






















10 - 'il mondialismo' (worldism or globalization)





11 - 'Model reclining'












12 - 'Florentine albergho'










13 - 'Self-portrait'















Oh there she is! "Anna - hi!" (She's with our niece Emily.) "Come meet everyone."


"I appreciate you taking the time to come and view my artwork," Anna says as we all reach over for a glass of wine.

"I just disappear inside the atmosphere in your work," I say, sipping and gesturing over at the 'Florentine albergho'.

"I have tried to capture a mood of time and place," Anna says. "I love the idea of creating another world that people can inhabit and believe in, just like an author creates worlds in their writing, or how some filmmakers create them in movies."


Wow - the boys have been so great during the art show. But they want to go for a little walk, so I guess we'll say goodbye for now.

"Thanks Ken, for helping me get the artwork up for the show."

"No problem," says Ken.

More guests! I'd better go say hello. "Thanks for coming," Anna says to more gallery arrivals. "And thanks Julia, for doing me the honour of showing them on your Thursday Thirteen."

Oh, I just have to hug her for that! See you! - thanks for making my third cyber art show such a special event.