'A Man Called Otto,' Crossword Puzzles, Word Searches, Half-Times and Some Snow

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25

Saw one of the best movies I've seen in a long time, "A Man Called Otto."  Besides him being old and living in a world he doesn't much care for and the loss of his long-time wife six months earlier, I felt I had a lot in common with Tom Hanks' character.   

If this movie doesn't get Academy Award nominations for best movie, actor and actress there is something mighty wrong.

I completed a Tribune Crossword Puzzle (the one on the comics page) with no help.  This is the first time I've ever done this.  If you'd told me six years ago that I world be doing crossword puzzles, I would have told you you're out of your mind.  Both my mom and wife were big fans of those.  Plus, I have come to enjoy word searches.  

Who'd have ever "figgered."

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26

Went to Half-Times for their $1 pints of Lite and half price pizza and sandwiches and had another one of their great TBC (turkey, bacon & cheese) subs.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27

Stayed home today as it snowed all day.  It has snowed 1 1/2 to 2 inches every day starting Wednesday.  All that snow we haven't been getting, we're starting to catch up.  I still can't get the snowblower started, but so far I have been able to easily shovel accumulation off.

--RoadPuzzle

About the Academy Awards

I haven't made up my mind as to whether I'll watch the Academy Awards tonight and mostly because I will have seen so few nominees.

I've seen:

BEST PICTURE

1917
Ford v Ferrari
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women

BEST DIRECTOR

Sam Mendes   1917
Todd Phillips   Joker

BEST ACTOR

Joaquin Phoenix

BEST ACTRESS

Saoirse Ronan

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nobody

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Florence Pugh   Little Women
Kathy Bates   Richard Jewell
Scarlet Johansson  Jojo Rabbit

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

How to Train Your Dragon:  The Hidden World

--RoadMovies

I've Seen Just One Best Actor Nominee and No Best Actresses

This happens every Academy Awards show to me.  When the nominees are announced, I haven't seen many in any category.  This is usually because the movies weren't shown at my local theaters or were out for just a very short time.

As I said in a previous post, I only saw two of the Best Picture nominees:  "Ford v. Ferrari" and "Joker."

The only Best Actor nominee I saw was Joaquin Phoenix for "Joker."

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BEST ACTOR NOMINEES

Antonio Banderas ""Pain and Glory"
Leonardo DiCaprio  "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood"
Adam Driver  "Marriage Story"
Joaquin Phoenix  "Joker"
Jonathan Pryce  "The Two Popes"

**************************

BEST ACTRESS NOMINEES

Cynthia Erivo  "Harriet"
Scarlett Johansson  "Marriage Story"
Saoirse Ronan  "Little Women"
Charlize Theron  "Bombshell"
Renee Zellweger  "Judy"

Hopefully, my local theaters will bring most of these back again.

--RoadDog

TAX FACTS:  There are at least 480 different tax forms, each with many pages of instructions.

Music Deaths: Peter Fonda

PETER FONDA, 79

Died August 16, 2019

Okay, so he was an actor and not a musician, but he's listed here for his great movie "Easy Rider" and that wonderful soundtrack.

Not only that, but it was a great road trip movie as well, something I appreciate even more now that I have gotten into Route 66 and old roads.

Thanks, Peter.

12 Actors Who Died in 2015

From the Dec. 3, 2015, Cheat Sheet.

I am only going to list the five I watched the most.

1.  Leonard Nimoy, 83  Well, Mr. Spock.

2.  Anne Meara, 85.  Half of Stiller & Meara.  George's parents.

3.  James Best, 88.  Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane on "Dukes of Hazzard."

4.  Sir Christopher Lee, 93.  Saruman in "Lord of the Rings."

5.  Donna Douglas, 82.  Elly Mae Clampett on "The Beverly Hillbillies."

"Paw!"  Animals Down By the Cement Pond.  --RoadDog

2016 Honorees on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Announced June 22, 2015.

"Mama" Cass Elliott
Cyndi Lauper
LL Cool J
Shirley Caesar (gospel)
Michael Keaton
Barbar Bain
Kurt Russell

--RoadDog


MORE TO PONDER:  If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed.

JSS-- Ice Gone--Windstorm Yesterday-- Bears Party-- Grape Crush

Just Some Stuff:

1. All that ice on the driveway and sidewalk is finally gone thanks to the warm weather Thursday to Saturday. I helped it along with a LOT of chopping, chopping, and chopping. Boy, are my wrists and hands ever sore.

2. Yesterday, we had ten friends over for a Bears-Packers party. And DaBears won!!! As horrible as this season is going, if you beat DaPack, things are good again. However, I'll be backing the Pack in the playoffs. I would like to point out to Kip that the Bears beat the Pack both games this year!!!!

3. We had major wind yesterday, with gusts up to 55 mph around Spring Grove, Il. We were lucky not to lose electricity as we usually do in any sort of inclement weather. It blew down my spiral Christmas tree, lost a red ribbon, and put out one strand of lights.

4. Grape Crush--Earlier last week, I bought a six pack each of Orange and Grape Crush in 12 ounce bottles. Getting a pop in a bottle anymore is rare, but I haven't had Grape Crush in a long, long time. It was as Good as I remembered it Being.  Wasn't that what Radar drank on "MASH?"

Life Just Goes On. --RoadDog