New Furniture

I've been looking to move closer into Kansas City than I am at my current residence in the far away suburbs with a cow farm across from my nieghborhood, but alas, I have not been able to find the perfect house. I decided that while I'm waiting for perfection to come along, why not completely refurnish my current home which I am ready to abandon? Today, I received the latest funiture shippment for the living room. I still have to order a couple of tables and the painters have not worked their magic, but I knew everyone would want to see. The new living room funiture consists of 2 leather club chairs, a sofa with chaise and area rug.

WHAT YOU TALKIN' 'BOUT?

I'm introducing yet another new segment on the Catbox entitled WHAT YOU TALKING' 'BOUT? It’s all about trivia whether it be movies, TV, or general A-list celebrity gossip. You will find no sports trivia here as that sort of information is completely useless and amuses no one. For this first round of WHAT YOU TALKIN' 'BOUT trivia, we will dwell on the beloved and sadly missed hit show Murder, She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury. Here we go...

1. What was the first novel written by JB Fletcher?
2. What is the name of her deceased husband? (No, Mr. Fletcher won't do. I need a first name.)
3. What was Jessica's maiden name? (Extra points if you can give me her full name...what does that B stand for???)
4. What was Jessica's street address in Cabot Cove, Maine?
5. Jessica wasn't always a famous author of murder mysteries. What career had she retired from before becoming a novelist?
6. Jessica eventually moved to Manhattan. What was her phone number there?

These are real questions with real answers. As a bonus, here are some extra credit questions:

1. How many seasons did this hit show last?
2. How many times was Ms. Lansbury nominated for an Emmy for this role? How many times did she win?
3. What was the only spin-off from Murder, She Wrote?

Good luck!!!

Who's That Celebrity???

This week’s celebrity guest has an IQ of 162 and was admitted to UCLA at the tender age of 14. This early exposure to college life apparently had an impact on the future actress because she really got around the block. She has been married 4 times (so far) and her current husband is Robert Wagner. You may remember him from his role as Jonathan Hart on the hit show Hart to Hart, co-starring Stephanie Powers. Our celebrity has also been known to date a number of famous others including Henry Kissinger, Frank Sinatra (Frank’s daughter Nancy was a high school classmate of hers), and Sean Connery.

Our celebrity guest is probably most famous for her role as a bond girl, playing Tiffany Case opposite Sean Connery in Diamonds are Forever (1971). Or could it be her role as the mother of Mikey, Kramer’s “little” friend, on Seinfeld?

Do you know who this celebrity is?

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Last summer my dear friend Kitty began knitting me a scarf to help me survive the bitter cold of winter. Her knitting went on into the fall, winter, and the following spring before finishing it this summer. During my recent weekend O' fun in Chicago, Kitty finally presented her fine handiwork to me. Here you see me modeling my new wrap.

It is a luxurious, hand-made, garment crafted out of the finest baby alpaca wool from the Peruvian Andes. I like to think the cria (official term for baby alpaca) donated its fleece to Locks of Love and those warm, woolen locks will now be keeping my neck toasty all winter long. Thank you little alpaca baby for your sacrifice and thank you Kitty for your excellent needle skills. My neck will be very appreciative all winter.

Dear Abby

HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT (but he totally loves me)

I was dating this guy, I’ll call him “Ryan”, at work who was totally obsessed with me, then got promoted and moved away. I wanted him back so I told him that I was dating lots of other guys (black guys mostly) and also that I was pregnant (total lie) and keeping it. Then, for no reason at all, he gets totally upset that I lied to him about being pregnant. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he says we are never going out again. I don’t get it. Then I started dating “Darrel” who works in the warehouse. We are totally in love, but he wants to spend time with another woman. I told him “you have to make a choice. It’s either your daughter or me.” He picked his daughter, but I know he didn’t mean it. I told him I need to know where this is going and he said “you need to access your un-crazy side.” Darrel is the most complicated man I have ever met. I mean, who says exactly what they’re thinking? What kind of game is that?

Sincerely,

Crazy in Love Kelly

Movie Trivia

A guy at my company had some free film festival tickets to give away this morning and decided to make them a prize to a movie trivia contest. the contest is over, but I thought it would be fun for the Catbox readers. Do you know the answers??

1. Name the film that won best picture at last year’s Academy Awards (the most recent Awards show), and name two stars from that film.

2. The film “Steel Magnolias” featured a rather unusual wedding that included an even more unusual cake. What was unusual about the cake, and what color was the cake (both the icing and the cake itself)?

3. I asked this question once upon a time in one of our old newsletters, but I like it so much I’m going to ask it again. In “Back to the Future,” the mall where Marty McFly and Doc Brown meet to test the DeLorean has different names at the beginning and end of the film. What is the name of the mall at the beginning of the film, what does it change to, and why does it change?

Baby Jessica

You may recall when 18-month old Jessica McClure fell down in a Texas well and the world watched from the edge of their seats waiting to see the toddler emerge. It took 2 1/2 days to get her out of there, just long enough for random strangers to send in lots of gifts and over $1 million in cash. Her story was later turned into the 1989 made-for TV movie, Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure, starring Beau Bridges. Rent it today at your local Blockbuster. (Seriously, someone needs to watch this and post a review.)

That was 20 years ago on Tuesday and Jessica, now a 21-year old mother, is waiting to turn 25 when she will cash in on all the money in her trust. If you fell down a well as a small child and were about to come into a pile of money from a bizzare event you don't even remember happening, what would you do?

Who’s That Celebrity???

Born September 12, 1955 in New Rochelle, New York, this actor’s boyhood dream was to be a professional baseball player, but lucky for us, he seriously injured his elbow and was unable to play. Instead, he went on to play one of two cross-dressing roommates in the 1980's ABC television sitcom Bosom Buddies. His co-star, Tom Hanks, went on to greater fame and fortune, but we all know the real talent lies within our featured actor. His most critically-acclaimed role was playing Michael Harris in the series Newhart. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1987, 1988 and 1989 for the role. Later, he would star in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show. He co-starred with Yasmine Bleeth in the 1996 made-for-TV movie Talk to Me about an idealistic talk show producer who clashes with her ratings obsessed boss on a story involving a young prostitute.

In addition to acting he has juggled recreationally for years, attended numerous conventions of the International Jugglers' Association and has performed as a juggler in the television show Circus of the Stars.

Can you name this star?

Dear Abby

Today begins a new era in the Catbox with the birth of a segment called “Dear Abby”. I will post all sorts of interesting situations for which advice is desperately needed. Then you, my loyal readers, will be providing said advice to guide those that have lost their way. These are real situations…or perhaps stolen from the real lives of real characters on real TV sit-coms. No advice is too harsh or inappropriate; just tell us what you really think in your heart of hearts (which is the tiny heart inside your beating heart). Our dear friend, and loyal commenter, Abby will be comment-advising with you as if this segment was named specifically for her…because it was. I am sure she will have excellent advice, but do not let that deter the rest of you from commenting. Here is our first sticky situation from a reader in Scranton, PA:

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO

Dear Abby,
I am an accountant at a mid-range paper supply company and have been in a relationship with the top paper salesmen at my local branch. Then he murdered my cat, Sprinkles, and I had to break up with him. How do you tell someone it’s over? You send them a notarized letter, right? Well, what if the recipient is your notary?

Sincerely,

Soon to be Single in Scranton

PS- Do you have any men that you could fix me up with? I would like to have a relationship with a man.

Who's That Celebrity???

This popular celebrity is famous for starring in TV shows such as Family and Family Ties. However, she is probably best know for her Emmy nominated performance in the Lifetime made-for-TV movie A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story in which she portrayed Betty, a San Diego socialite convicted of murdering her former husband and his mistress-turned-wife. (The real Betty, also know as prisoner W42477 and currently residing in the Central California Women's Facility, will be up for parole in March 2010.)

Our celebrity's mother was a co-creator of the hit TV show One Day at a Time.

Can you name this star?

Who's That Celebrity???

This week I'm introcuding a new game called Who's That Celebrity where I'll post a picture of a well know A-lister and you have to guess who it is. Here is this week's celebrity:

She is mostly famous for being the mother of another celebrity by has had a glittering career of her own in which she had been a psychic and has also made an excercise for seniors video with Richard Simmons. Today, she is available for public speaking engagements about her psychic abilities and is also into Rumpology. I swear I am not making this up. On her web site it tells you how, for a mere $125, you can send her a close-up picture of your butt (still not making this up) and she will do a reading for you. Now where did I put that camera....

Can you guess who she is?

The Cornballer

Another top gift this year is sure to be the Cornballer.

“The Cornballer was invented by George Bluth Sr. sometime in the 1970s. He attempted to market it in the United States by taping an infomercial with fitness guru Richard Simmons, but the infomercial was interrupted when he burned himself using the device, then lost his temper and attacked Simmons. He suffered a further setback when the device was deemed unsafe for anyone and was banned across the globe.
However, despite these setbacks, he was able to market the device illegally in Mexico by redubbing his infomercial saying, "¡Soy loco por los Cornballs!" to make it appear as though George Sr. was not burned, but rather was "crazy for cornballs". This made him into something of a cultural icon in Mexico, and when Mexican officials staged his execution, an editorial cartoon in a Mexican newspaper showed him being dipped into a Cornballer with the caption "Frito Bandito".”

Christmas Wish List

I have discovered the hot item that will undoubtly be on everyone's wish list this Christmas:

American Idol Talent Challenge.


A DVD karaoke machine based on the popular television show. The unit connects to a television, comes with a working microphone and mixer and 12 songs to test your talent.

Compete with friends, who rate you using the DVD remote. You'll hear reactions to your performance from "American Idol" judges Randy, Paula and Simon.
Retail price: $49.99

I don't want to name names, but I know one sad kitty who will be singing the blues if she doesn't get this for Christmas.