Getting back on track is harder than I remember

My weight this morning was 192.6. It's continues to be a struggle to eat healthy, but I haven't purchased any junk food for over a week. I'm good if the food isn't in the house, and the way to keep it out of the house is don't buy it in the first place. I might overeat fruit or have a bigger piece of chicken than I know I should have (if I'm not weighing it you can bet I'm eating too much), but that's not as horrible as trying to eat an entire cake in one sitting. <br /><br />Somehow, and I'm not sure how it started, I'd be at the store buying healthy food and decide I needed a "little" treat. I deserved it. Life was hard, I wanted, no...I NEEDED a treat. The treat went from one candy bar to an entire cake, then to a shopping cart full of junk food. Wow. How did that happen? I honestly don't know, I let my guard down a few times and boom! I'm back to old eating habits of four years ago.<br /><br />I feel more in control. I'm eating better and I feel a lot better. Eating crap made me feel like crap. I'm back at the gym, although not every day. I was really consistent for a good 3 1/2 years, going almost every single day to the gym. Then my sister's stroke happen, I became her guardian and my life changed. Now I'm only averaging three times a week. It's not enough. I need to do more. I don't want to do more, but I'm working on it.<br /><br />Today was an intense day. It started off with a three-hour meeting at work, which turned into four hours (9am-1pm). It was a meeting where I had to really paying attention and participate the entire time. Exhausting and mentally draining.<br /><br />Then I left work to take my sister to the dentist. This was her first dentist appointment since before her stroke (a two-hour appointment). She has gorgeous teeth, and has always taken really good care of them. I curled her hair, put a little makeup on her and she looked gorgeous. <br /><br />I almost got myself a $450 parking ticket at the dentist's office. Actually, I did get the ticket, but the "parking official" canceled it after hearing my sob story.<br /><br />I did the terrible thing of parking in the handicapped spot at the dentist's office to get my sister out of the car and into her wheelchair (I don't have a permit yet). I have never, in my entire life parked in a handicap spot for even half a second. Once my husband pulled into a handicap space at the store to drop me off (many years ago). I was horrified and made him move before I'd get out of the car.<br /><br />Anyway, it's a small dental office with about ten parking spaces in front and one handicapped parking spot. It was the only spot available when I pulled into the parking lot. I got my sister out of the car, into her wheelchair, then into the dentist's office, and into the dental chair. This isn't exactly an easy feat. The receptionist told me to leave my car parked where it was, even though I told her I didn't have a handicap permit. She said it was fine and they let people park there all the time if they can't walk far.<br /><br />I went back out to my car to get a book, and the "parking official" as he called himself, had just issued me a ticket for $450 on his little handheld device. As I walked up to my car, I said "you're not giving me a ticket, are you?".  He said yes because I didn't have a handicapped permit. I told him my sister was in a wheelchair and I'd just taken her inside for her appointment. He told me it didn't matter if my sister couldn't walk, but without a handicapped permit, I was breaking the law. I couldn't park there for one second. Then he tried to hand me the ticket. I cried even more (and these were real tears because it just broke me). I tried to explain to him that he had no idea what my sister and I had gone through in the last six months. I was shaking because I was so upset.. He said it didn't matter and he was just doing his job. I cried some more. Finally, I said okay, but I'll go to court on this and take my sister with me in her wheelchair to show the judge she can't walk. Finally, with the ticket still in his hand, he said okay, okay, I won't give you a ticket. But get the permit and don't do this again. I promised him I wouldn't ever do this again. Whew! <br /><br />The changes in my sister since I moved here down here to Washington are nothing short of amazing. In spite of going through hell these last six months since her stroke, and being 73 years old, I think she's absolutely beautiful. Since I talk about her all the time, I thought I should post a picture of her here. This is from today, right before we left for the dentist (I can do the wheelchair transfers with her all by myself!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My sister, Joyce</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaSHRr75gUiVLqJlcqnQLtp1NWVG_3RCk_6jpf8JyZoHMMgv7c27FUjSbaLckQ8RSNXIUIUY1f7E7ecPiyZaGGY_oybdx7xhK7cDy3bTND9RJb8_sY5_xsQypVCKxesTs16iznQ7wNctd/s1600/Mar+8_2012_Dentist2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaSHRr75gUiVLqJlcqnQLtp1NWVG_3RCk_6jpf8JyZoHMMgv7c27FUjSbaLckQ8RSNXIUIUY1f7E7ecPiyZaGGY_oybdx7xhK7cDy3bTND9RJb8_sY5_xsQypVCKxesTs16iznQ7wNctd/s640/Mar+8_2012_Dentist2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />

Getting back on track is harder than I remember

My weight this morning was 192.6. It's continues to be a struggle to eat healthy, but I haven't purchased any junk food for over a w...

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take a seat part 1

I've been keeping a secret from you.<br /><br />I know, I know. Its a terrible thing to do to a friend.<br /><br />Its a dirty secret too. And pretty smelly...with lots of earwax gold. And I suspect some cat hair.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNIvvUus4ozQ8Q-W3TnXjypwi_RY5ZqNpp3sqjG2fGAleKDr06WtmXMb7LAmvNCu1iEsd8Pl92QL9ql9fO8LlQ4aPPnOdftbvGUyP08LADCJifaeCzOJAas-BKYVOQD1ihvKG9tr1dNSb/s1600/P2254629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNIvvUus4ozQ8Q-W3TnXjypwi_RY5ZqNpp3sqjG2fGAleKDr06WtmXMb7LAmvNCu1iEsd8Pl92QL9ql9fO8LlQ4aPPnOdftbvGUyP08LADCJifaeCzOJAas-BKYVOQD1ihvKG9tr1dNSb/s640/P2254629.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I had long wanted a loveseat for our living room and a year (or so) ago I got this one for my birthday. Whoop whoop. Perfect in so many ways - nice lines, structurally in good shape and full of potential. <span style="text-align: left;">So like anything with potential, it sat in my basement for a good 10 months. </span>As you can see though, sister has seen better days. Judging from the fabric, those days were in the 60s. And not the cool mod Mad Men 60s. More like your grandma's doilies and tupperware 60s.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59ERMKT7QcVz_CAqQovD_cIBSQNLHvGRuXd5EIT3QaZNo24MjvvKBzVIzCDyWH3sSgZnytGMiySXZ7c9JyLpYjPZkTtdELLNxqI-6ck-FqwgvwavDwrPTEZ_9DQB1ymZFEnQwfDzoX_ql/s1600/P2254626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59ERMKT7QcVz_CAqQovD_cIBSQNLHvGRuXd5EIT3QaZNo24MjvvKBzVIzCDyWH3sSgZnytGMiySXZ7c9JyLpYjPZkTtdELLNxqI-6ck-FqwgvwavDwrPTEZ_9DQB1ymZFEnQwfDzoX_ql/s640/P2254626.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, we brought it upstairs and put it in the living room for some shock therapy. If you stare at this thing long enough, you'll get your butt in gear to fix it! (the only one who would sit on it was me...and the dog.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jfjCri8BAFyCVYWIgKKN3mkR26iWVJDH-kfDqA3jYYeW8trUUHAN0gzZQCa0JPS5Qyr8qrpX7TabT3WnGCzVLqBtkrCWnrl_VC716y0ZCj72X3NRRhaP59KN2nSXk6zkYigvRfXItjdS/s1600/P2254630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jfjCri8BAFyCVYWIgKKN3mkR26iWVJDH-kfDqA3jYYeW8trUUHAN0gzZQCa0JPS5Qyr8qrpX7TabT3WnGCzVLqBtkrCWnrl_VC716y0ZCj72X3NRRhaP59KN2nSXk6zkYigvRfXItjdS/s640/P2254630.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />When prepping the house for our recent <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/02/very-first-birthday.html" target="_blank">first birthday party</a> we moved it out to the garage (we didn't want to scare our guests) and that was enough to push me over the edge. I officially have a bee in my bonnet.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5I0xuYUYSu26Zt8kxFfU7DzEkTZr31M6e30R3Al6MoCHnPS3zhvN-ZKDmIrbCGrme69zVNCKcCdA-56WP-7yVDQG0yG0LxLIdBkModLM0cAkrVBMGd_0I4fubR9Ad5ATF1IfFfBxRFZd/s1600/P2254632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5I0xuYUYSu26Zt8kxFfU7DzEkTZr31M6e30R3Al6MoCHnPS3zhvN-ZKDmIrbCGrme69zVNCKcCdA-56WP-7yVDQG0yG0LxLIdBkModLM0cAkrVBMGd_0I4fubR9Ad5ATF1IfFfBxRFZd/s640/P2254632.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm ready to tackle the old girl. So now, the big decisions.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YauMdiPTWvpAmpvH8FclzfeSxJXGlHWnleVBYqZOoQMk9fl44iEwZAivqYe-omsRqzqAYKZ0-IsXkABk2VRbB_WTyClG0oAQN5dKSd7R9W_zr8xkNfhiKsLED2MmPVZN7WnegLmPKVsD/s1600/6896205649113643.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YauMdiPTWvpAmpvH8FclzfeSxJXGlHWnleVBYqZOoQMk9fl44iEwZAivqYe-omsRqzqAYKZ0-IsXkABk2VRbB_WTyClG0oAQN5dKSd7R9W_zr8xkNfhiKsLED2MmPVZN7WnegLmPKVsD/s320/6896205649113643.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.fromtherightbank.com/2011/11/my-new-very-old-settee/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%253A+fromtherightbank+%2528FROM+THE+RIGHT+BANK%2529&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">From The Right Bank</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Do I want to paint it? What color? Do I want solid fabric, or a pattern? Nail head or piping? And the biggest question of all...do I attempt to reupholster this myself? Keep the tufting or loose it? So many decisions! (the only thing I know for sure is I want one cushion rather than two) What do you think? I'd love your feedback!!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lOFR4IQj-aMvPeYC6W9BhQ7Ik60Z8brNoP_hxgckH32t6T4QcQltFamlGO31pVrrCIVdxq30qMNT3HkW6N_FmPDfEnlyOI1XZ_fb-Y-sT1gKP0WDTmgaO0emoeRt8IX6sciU_VcenqO-/s1600/6896205649415019.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lOFR4IQj-aMvPeYC6W9BhQ7Ik60Z8brNoP_hxgckH32t6T4QcQltFamlGO31pVrrCIVdxq30qMNT3HkW6N_FmPDfEnlyOI1XZ_fb-Y-sT1gKP0WDTmgaO0emoeRt8IX6sciU_VcenqO-/s320/6896205649415019.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://bijouandboheme.blogspot.com/2011/12/few-thingsincluding-charity-water.html" target="_blank">Bijou and Boheme</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First step, no matter what, is to rip off this fabric and get the wood sanded and ready for paint...or stain. Decisions Decisions.</div>

take a seat part 1

I've been keeping a secret from you. I know, I know. Its a terrible thing to do to a friend. Its a dirty secret too. And pretty smelly.....

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GIVEN FACT: SYRIA DOES POSSESS CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MISSILE HEADS

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZDj5jToup2I6qo-nnv-kxXgyge2QzKcPreuAl-ItcHNFuHI9dTDmj3vsOq-MGHQh0zyZVLl44mdjVsTkr-qfBT1J_9LabrJHlPeG0hjpP29Zr69qm08w9FreC9zLKYR590FPzzIX0ybU/s1600/1images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZDj5jToup2I6qo-nnv-kxXgyge2QzKcPreuAl-ItcHNFuHI9dTDmj3vsOq-MGHQh0zyZVLl44mdjVsTkr-qfBT1J_9LabrJHlPeG0hjpP29Zr69qm08w9FreC9zLKYR590FPzzIX0ybU/s400/1images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THIS TIME AROUND THE CLAIM THAT SYRIA POSSESSES  CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MISSILES IS A FACT, UNLIKE THE US HOAX, CLAIMING IRAQ OF BEING IN POSSESSION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">During the recent meeting between the USA and ISRAEL the discussions not only revolved around their dispute over an attack on IRAN, but also about the SYRIAN crisis and the fact that SYRIA possesses hundreds of surface-to-surface missiles armed with chemical and biological warheads. The peril of the ASSAD regime launching them is AMERICA’S current top concern, especially since a launch would most probably have ISRAEL and TURKEY as the prime target. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In view of such threats the USA urged ISRAEL to patch up relations with TURKEY, for it would take a combined US- TURKISH- ISRAELI military effort to ward off an attack by SYRIA’S poisoned missiles. Indeed, if the SYRIAN conflict is not solved, AMERICA might be forced to turn its missile shield against BASHAR ASSAD’S missiles before they are needed against an IRANIAN attack.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to insider sources the hazard could be accelerated by three elements:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">1. ASSAD might decide to respond with extreme violence to foreign military intervention in SYRIA, even an operation confined only to drawing the civilian population into security zones safe from the attacks of his security services. TURKEY reiterated its call for security zones and at the same time ISRAEL offered humanitarian aid to SYRIA’S beleaguered civilian population. Both such actions might well be taken by ASSAD as provocations deserving of reprisal by missiles – first those carrying chemical warheads, then biological ones.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2. ASSAD might respond to an IRANIAN request to take part in a preemptive strike launched by TEHRAN or IRANIAN retaliation for attacks on its nuclear facilities by the US or ISRAEL.  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">3. ASSAD might transfer the unconventional missions to IRAN’S LEBANESE surrogate, the HIZBALLAH - in which case, the US, TURKEY and ISRAEL would have no option but to attack them.<br />US military sources say that although ISRAEL possesses a strong air force and special forces able to sabotage ASSAD’S chemical and biological missiles, the UNITED STATES and TURKEY would have to pitch in with military resources to destroy them completely.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Allegedly that arsenal is being closely watched by SURVEILLANCE DRONES after the lessons from the Libyan war when at least 5,000 advanced anti-aircraft missiles were spirited out of Qaddafi’s weapons stores, some of them smuggled into GAZA for HAMAS and other PALESTINIAN terrorist organizations.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Apparently the ASSAD regime has an approximately five times more sophisticated air defenses than LIBYA did, covering one-fifth of the terrain and about ten times more than Serbia had. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Article adopted in part from DEBKAfile.</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyUZwj841Z3EU8GKsBm1Yn8fo9mqvbkYlznfnlMhEulltu1SkeKI-Ra2bebp-qi1VMxKYO5gsr3BzHeHgPSbO8yJNrFCtyxG2YUYX14I9jjMbI7x0V8nu0z63koH1vgx2i5D_LZUNFW4W/s1600/pg39.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyUZwj841Z3EU8GKsBm1Yn8fo9mqvbkYlznfnlMhEulltu1SkeKI-Ra2bebp-qi1VMxKYO5gsr3BzHeHgPSbO8yJNrFCtyxG2YUYX14I9jjMbI7x0V8nu0z63koH1vgx2i5D_LZUNFW4W/s1600/pg39.gif" width="581" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CONTRARY TO US “WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION” HOAX JUSTIFYING THE INVASION IN IRAQ, SYRIA REALLY POSSESSES A LETHAL ARSENAL OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARHEADS.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Contrary to the weapons of mass destruction hoax fabricated by the USA in order to justify the IRAQ invasion, Syria really posses such lethal arsenal and probably will most probably not hesitate to use them when pushed into a corner. Interesting though is that only now this long known fact starts to reach mainstream media. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Though DEBKAfile is pro Israel, the fact that Syria possesses Chemical and Biological missile heads cannot be denied. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

GIVEN FACT: SYRIA DOES POSSESS CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MISSILE HEADS

THIS TIME AROUND THE CLAIM THAT SYRIA POSSESSES  CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MISSILES IS A FACT, UNLIKE THE US HOAX, CLAIMING IRAQ OF BEING IN P...

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Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" at Oakland's Paramount Theatre

<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflegAPtn7trGsqJGV6HqGNPd9Fpgx6PgkA2RjvJ0_AGof815O1zqPSTjWFuBgiN1XvmhXvVxj49oN8qU9dLJ2I-92WiNwJl1PntQ2MibaPFrFoua6K37JYZqJmE4Oq85-zkZio-ub0sbw/s1600/paramount+lobby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflegAPtn7trGsqJGV6HqGNPd9Fpgx6PgkA2RjvJ0_AGof815O1zqPSTjWFuBgiN1XvmhXvVxj49oN8qU9dLJ2I-92WiNwJl1PntQ2MibaPFrFoua6K37JYZqJmE4Oq85-zkZio-ub0sbw/s1600/paramount+lobby.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE PARAMOUNT THEATRE, AN ART DECO MASTERPIECE</span> </span></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Friday night, March 9, Alfred Hitchcock’s <i>Vertigo </i>(1958) will screen at Oakland, California’s spectacular Art Deco movie palace, The Paramount Theatre, as part of its Spring Movie Classic Series. The ticket price is an amazingly low $5.00. And…Movie Classic Night includes a newsreel, cartoons and Jerry Nagano at the Mighty Wurlitzer. Kudos to the sponsors of the series, Vo’s Restaurant (authentic Vietnamese cuisine) and the Pacific Pinball Museum.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5HfybzrafiAiSYJpinSokZ1pnoJMasQU6HmNWGEKOJdvrY3LGTmPJVoPpWJ2mIT1vngoPZAc9eVQnYc2NSHRk6KwVoqkmhYZIgtKgyWwArvurQ4-t6ohyphenhyphenV19bWh2um-Czc30OmFWHxwT/s1600/Paramount+exterior+night.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5HfybzrafiAiSYJpinSokZ1pnoJMasQU6HmNWGEKOJdvrY3LGTmPJVoPpWJ2mIT1vngoPZAc9eVQnYc2NSHRk6KwVoqkmhYZIgtKgyWwArvurQ4-t6ohyphenhyphenV19bWh2um-Czc30OmFWHxwT/s400/Paramount+exterior+night.JPG" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above, the marquee; at top, the lobby entrance</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;">The Paramount is one of two great Art Deco movie theaters remaining in America – the other is Radio City Music Hall. Designed by celebrated San Francisco architect Timothy L. Pflueger (who also designed that city's Castro Theatre), its construction was begun by Publix Theatres, the exhibition arm of Paramount Pictures, during the Great Depression. Financial problems forced the sale of the building-under-construction to Fox-West Coast Theatres who completed the project and opened the Paramount in December 1931.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-bE-BsvSqMO5oj2lozVhGf_bcSpW9i5DcAa6kmbpFBGPNc1tbxPTx0Qxm_Q0ouOy7iFr4C-j9GbC6rfbPlPYvQhKOjHLtEQii4qBOD16nUEOEX-mwIfBWk-F6lhHD2Gs3RNUYk7jksDI/s1600/paramount+mosaic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-bE-BsvSqMO5oj2lozVhGf_bcSpW9i5DcAa6kmbpFBGPNc1tbxPTx0Qxm_Q0ouOy7iFr4C-j9GbC6rfbPlPYvQhKOjHLtEQii4qBOD16nUEOEX-mwIfBWk-F6lhHD2Gs3RNUYk7jksDI/s400/paramount+mosaic+2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mosaic exterior</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkMNhHcJNSg5QxqeHlkocCufwfzeKjJxNAcqszxipZr-5esyIykfn8uEESrxrXVph2Ecn2X92IyAfgcG614kRx6n6OW4mIIyf8xfLh89ntFVqndfhB-u5fUG5bEq3ZbQppddiBDOuyQAD/s1600/mosaic+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkMNhHcJNSg5QxqeHlkocCufwfzeKjJxNAcqszxipZr-5esyIykfn8uEESrxrXVph2Ecn2X92IyAfgcG614kRx6n6OW4mIIyf8xfLh89ntFVqndfhB-u5fUG5bEq3ZbQppddiBDOuyQAD/s400/mosaic+detail.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mosaic detail</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;">Though Hollywood studios owned all the major theaters and controlled film distribution completely during the “The Golden Age,” the Depression would bring change and the Paramount would be the last studio-owned movie house built in the U.S.  In its day, with 3,000+ seats, the Paramount boasted the largest auditorium seating on the West Coast. </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V1YoFWGTmYt0UE0IF0wDQQatHi9sRCEh51w_Ggsr-gThY34AAP3luExwgUTSu-cr5rFZvjdqMndX-SRS_jMNCVKBgwKeGu_a1wrlmKqUQ6wW1zvCyjh6TuK2WaHqji4eSGprzsbURDkF/s1600/paramount+stage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V1YoFWGTmYt0UE0IF0wDQQatHi9sRCEh51w_Ggsr-gThY34AAP3luExwgUTSu-cr5rFZvjdqMndX-SRS_jMNCVKBgwKeGu_a1wrlmKqUQ6wW1zvCyjh6TuK2WaHqji4eSGprzsbURDkF/s400/paramount+stage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A balcony view of the stage</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">As with so many of America’s once-grand movie palaces, the Paramount suffered a long period of decline following its glory years - but it was more fortunate than most. In 1972 it was purchased by the Oakland Symphony and given a thorough and authentic restoration that was completed in 1973. In 1975 the City of Oakland assumed ownership and the theater became </span><span style="font-size: small;">a California Registered Historic Landmark in 1976 and </span><span style="font-size: small;">a National Historic Landmark in 1977. Today the Paramount is home to the Oakland East Bay Symphony (formerly the Oakland Symphony) and the Oakland Ballet. The theater is a premiere year-round performing arts facility that hosts concerts of all musical genres (from B.B. King to Leonard Cohen), variety shows, stage productions and movies.</span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4DoHq-p1vcai0McSnB_UNCCn_P8UZOhtg9LJmTcXMHS6o_hONN5NkIN9-Xu1CdqWRdLQgd1p-8JAbbrQNKa7yx0eGuGSTt54voIZyqrLHagNsM3RXchikdNExm0Qvh0JhS6MqK9lYQzH/s1600/paramount+lobby+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4DoHq-p1vcai0McSnB_UNCCn_P8UZOhtg9LJmTcXMHS6o_hONN5NkIN9-Xu1CdqWRdLQgd1p-8JAbbrQNKa7yx0eGuGSTt54voIZyqrLHagNsM3RXchikdNExm0Qvh0JhS6MqK9lYQzH/s400/paramount+lobby+detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby detail</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR98mG_7_wsgiojBa2s6cdVxM-ZZMJMPbIzl4O_Scv5tjn_GPcrG13gjLnhDOcN6jWhLOrJvYQQZJ5fsCZ4JYzm0UAvFSAgkKZoAVuLT_tg8rpvvJX2x0nrxE0XLtY6OFg0QD2hvlbxoD_/s1600/paramount+lounge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR98mG_7_wsgiojBa2s6cdVxM-ZZMJMPbIzl4O_Scv5tjn_GPcrG13gjLnhDOcN6jWhLOrJvYQQZJ5fsCZ4JYzm0UAvFSAgkKZoAVuLT_tg8rpvvJX2x0nrxE0XLtY6OFg0QD2hvlbxoD_/s400/paramount+lounge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theater interior</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4QwPOBePX9sCjvHZo_02YQglD-Wkc1e-XfLlR6WKDcJcTaXiSvUlU0IqC5NU7dOLmJ1FVskh6HUDbA4CCDWiwcQMSqcfE2UsrWkAV_Im8AdsrUbsXB-NDr2y-bqtP4ERax2Z6f_7epYD/s1600/oak+para+interior+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4QwPOBePX9sCjvHZo_02YQglD-Wkc1e-XfLlR6WKDcJcTaXiSvUlU0IqC5NU7dOLmJ1FVskh6HUDbA4CCDWiwcQMSqcfE2UsrWkAV_Im8AdsrUbsXB-NDr2y-bqtP4ERax2Z6f_7epYD/s400/oak+para+interior+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theater interior</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkylappTWwMDzHc-SK6t-aJtcXfOiReWF2GBR_u7oKvynzPJR6_CzeOVyB468Ad6hNHnTkQxg3nScLHbVmZ1C44SGwCbuWEQ6E-9O4eNTayCxd7qFFefUUjp-J95lSsIRGTBZKWqMf7d_/s1600/oak+para+corner+chair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkylappTWwMDzHc-SK6t-aJtcXfOiReWF2GBR_u7oKvynzPJR6_CzeOVyB468Ad6hNHnTkQxg3nScLHbVmZ1C44SGwCbuWEQ6E-9O4eNTayCxd7qFFefUUjp-J95lSsIRGTBZKWqMf7d_/s400/oak+para+corner+chair.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theater interior</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">Tours of the Paramount, located in the trendy Uptown district, are scheduled on the first and third Sundays of every month, excluding holidays and holiday weekends. Ticket price: $5. <a href="http://www.paramounttheatre.com/welcome.html" style="color: #cc0000;">Click here</a> for more on what’s happening at Oakland's Paramount Theatre. <a href="http://decoarchitecture.tumblr.com/tagged/paramount+theater" style="color: #cc0000;">Click here</a> for more photos.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKw-h0omNV9WHs4Ity0Sn_GQtWEkjN4AzrJDJy7FicXFcxHcJNLQCPqZwkJo9IWmTySJ26gC6GQq93rX2cesDRRqIiWsU75wNALm9xdXTbQ6ybQkC5Vg_7g1sKSgjdE2KYzRTw64xYbta/s1600/paramount+auditorium+from+stage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKw-h0omNV9WHs4Ity0Sn_GQtWEkjN4AzrJDJy7FicXFcxHcJNLQCPqZwkJo9IWmTySJ26gC6GQq93rX2cesDRRqIiWsU75wNALm9xdXTbQ6ybQkC5Vg_7g1sKSgjdE2KYzRTw64xYbta/s400/paramount+auditorium+from+stage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auditorium view from center stage</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Vertigo </i>is little mentioned in this post, but for those interested in reading about it at length - <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/p/a-month-of-vertigo-bloggers-their-posts.html" style="color: #cc0000;">click here</a>. It goes without saying that The Lady Eve isn't about to miss her chance to see <i>Vertigo</i> at the Paramount…</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O888bu0QrMg" width="560"></iframe></div></div>

A Month of Vertigo Alfred Hitchcock The Lady Eve (author) The Paramount Theatre Vertigo Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" at Oakland's Paramount Theatre

THE PARAMOUNT THEATRE, AN ART DECO MASTERPIECE Friday night, March 9, Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958) will screen at Oakland, California’...

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