Dragon’s Den

WESTPORT, Conn. - Paul Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar who personified cool as the anti-hero of such films as “Hud,” “Cool Hand Luke” and “The Color of Money” — and as an activist, race car driver and popcorn impresario — has died. He was 83.

Newman died Friday after a long battle with cancer at his farmhouse near Westport, publicist Jeff Sanderson said. He was surrounded by his family and close friends.

In May, Newman had dropped plans to direct a fall production of “Of Mice and Men,” citing unspecified health issues.

He got his start in theater and on television during the 1950s, and went on to become one of the world’s most enduring and popular film stars, a legend held in awe by his peers. He was nominated for Oscars 10 times, winning one regular award and two honorary ones, and had major roles in more than 50 motion pictures, including “Exodus,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Verdict,” “The Sting” and “Absence of Malice.”

Newman worked with some of the greatest directors of the past half century, from Alfred Hitchcock and John Huston to Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese and the Coen brothers. His co-stars included Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and, most famously, Robert Redford, his sidekick in “Butch Cassidy” and “The Sting.”

Rich and I went to a Sushi restaraunt called The Sushi Station for dinner. I am not a Sushi person, but Rich really likes it and wanted to go there so we did. He doesn’t get to go that often. I had spicy veggie rolls and Rich had alot of other things. All in all I think we were both very pleased. I think we will take J9 there sometime. I don’t think Lee would like it.

After sushi we went to the Farm & Fleet in Sycamore. Rich needed a new sleeping bag. He is going to Talladega Alabama for the Nascar races at the end of the month. Rogan and I will have a week of bonding and I sure his Aunt Denny will spoil him with another toy. Since he is my only nephew I feel that I should spoil him rotten (his Uncle Doug spoils him when we are in Vegas).

Rich, his Aunt Maira, brother Doug and friend Chris are going to be camping at the race track this year. His Aunt Maira has never camped before and I feel for her. I did it once and will never do it again. Never.

 Also, while at Farm & Fleet I bought a cast iron skillet. I have wanted my own for a long time and it was a really good price. Now I can make the wiskey cobbler. Yum.  

TTFN

Car…

the car is very good. If you had asked me a two months ago if I would ver drive a Focus I would have said no, this is based on my experience with Dad’s Red Focus wagon.  My opinion has changed. I really like it and I am glad I went back to Ford, ten years away is to long.

Sunny…

Sunday September 13th was Sunny’s Birthday. I wasn’t sure at times if he would make it to one year old ( I was optomistic). I think he had a good day other than the rain. According to Mom and Dad Sunny does not like the rain. He will not go out in it. He gets Mom and Dad to go downstairs with him to stop the rain.  :-)  He got his hair cut Saturday morning and looks very cute (he threw up in the van on the way there, this is normal). He then went to the pet store and got a gift from them (a frisbee and a gorilla). I went over and gave him some new balls (be nice people), a chew toy and some Frosty Paws (dog ice cream). I put the Frosty Paws on a paper plate and set it on the floor for him. He tasted it and then proceeded to pick the whole thing up and run away with it. I convinced him to come back and let me cut it up for him. All in all I think he had a good b-day.

Darlene…

Dar got a new car last week. One guess what it is. 

Dum Dum Da Dum……..

B got his drivers license last night.