Countdown: Two Chips and a Miss

20 more days!

Hands down the best Chip and Dale cartoon ever made.

Ever.

Countdown: Music Land

21 more days!

This is one of my all time favorite Silly Symphonies.

Very Romeo and Juliet-ish dontcha think? My favorite nuances are the metronome jail and the letters being written in musical notes. Genius imagination!

Countdown: Donald's Dream Voice

22 more days!

As cute and cuddly the temperamental Duck is- even he has dreams for change.

What can we learn from this? Hmmm??? I don't get the problem is. I understand every word he says.

Countdown: The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met

23 more days!

This absolutely amazing cartoon is almost exclusively responsible for my love of Opera.

I love that all the voices are done by the same guy. All. The. Voices. What a talented guy!!!
What a sad, sad story!

Countdown: Ferdinand the Bull

24 more days!


Am I the only one who remembers this one?

It won an Oscar for the best Animated Short in 1938.

Countdown: The Wise Little Hen

25 more days!

Not only does this one teach us a valuable lesson,

but it's the cartoon debut of Donald Duck.

Countdown: Johnny Fedora and Alice Blue Bonnet

26 more days!


This is my all time-if-I-was-dying-tomorrow-and-could-only-watch-one-more-cartoon favorite cartoon ever!

I love the Andrews Sisters. I love the music. I love the romance.

I love that Disney can give personality to inanimate objects and make our hearts break for them.

I sing this all the time. "Johnny oh Johnny... Your Alice Blue Bonnet will always be waiting for you..." It hits home with me somewhat. I'm just an Alice Blue Bonnet trying to find her Johnny Fedora.

For Tiffany

So, I guess I'm using the cartoon countdown as a cheat so that it looks like I'm being a busy blogger, while in fact... I am not.  I was called out on this recently and commanded to continue writing real posts amongst the cartoons. I hope people notice them... but then again, all three of you who read my blog... well.. nevermind.

I hate to blog when I'm sad because I feel I come across as a whiner. Even though this blog was initially set up for me to have a place to vent my frustrations (hence Bitter Harpy) I don't want everyone to think I'm a gloomy gus. And when life is more stressful, I tend to blog a little less.

It's been a stressful few months here. I won't go into detail, but there have been drugs, police, harassing, and a late night phone call with 911... and it hasn't stopped and I don't really know when it will. It will either end when someone is in jail, or dead. Until then we're sitting in the house with all the doors and windows locked and all the lights off so hopefully HE won't come by again. But if he does- I have my phone right next to me at all times to call West Valley's Finest. Even living in Irvington, NJ (the crime capital of the country) I never felt as unsafe as I do here. Most nights I half expect to wake up dead. My biggest fear though is that all this stress is going to give my Aunt a stroke.

Between that, and the fact that I don't do anything. I don't have anything really to say. I don't go anywhere. I don't see anyone. I just kind of exist right now.

BUT!

I had some interesting... nay... positive/funny things happen that I thought would be fun to share.

First, on Friday the 13th when I pulled into the driveway, my odometer was exactly at:

which personally, I thought was freaking hilarious. I don't read much more into it that it was just funny.

This evening I had to go to the post office to drop off my Netflix movie and just *happened* to pass by a Baskin Robbins and stop inside to get this:

One scoop Chocolate Chip. One scoop Pralines and Cream. Yumm-o!

Then also today I went shopping for new flip flops because my old black flip flops have beened demoted to spider killer. That's their job. I don't wear them, I just kill aracnids with them... ew... Anyway, I was at Old Navy and had a moment of weakness. I totally bought this lunch box:

I have no self control, I know. But I love it! I can't wait to take it to work. With the clothes they make us wear there I have to be creative in showing my personality. When I laughed at my weakness at the store the cashier said, "Oh when it comes to my nieces and nephews I have no shame." I said, "Yeah... but the really sad thing is that this is for ME."

Countdown: Donald's Snow Fight

27 more days!

I'm all kinds of ready for spring and summer. Snow and winter never make me happy.

But this cartoon does!

Countdown: In the Bag

28 more days!

First you take the stick put it in the bag

Bump Bump

You come back tomorrow and tell me if that song isn't still stuck in your head.

Countdown: Susie the Little Blue Coupe

29 more days!

Move over Lightening McQueen. This little car was speeding through our imaginations long before you were even a twinkle in your animators uhh... paint can.

Another one of those Awwwwww moments. Makes you wanna be a little nicer to your car, dunnit?

Countdown: Goofy Gymnastics

30 more days!

Sometimes you can't help but feel badly for poor Goofy. He tries so hard.

I know how you feel though, Goof (at least the beginng part of the short)

Countdown: Bubble Bee

31 more days!

This is probably my all time favorite Pluto cartoon.

And who doesn't adore Disney's little Bees? Seriously.

Countdown: Cookie Carnival

32 more days!

I think this is one of the sweetest Silly Symphonies.

And it makes me really crave candy. Where are those leftover Easter Eggs?

(yeah right, like there is such thing as "leftover" candy!)

bahahah! I didn't get it till just now... "sweetest" hahaha. I kill me. :)

Countdown: Cured Duck

33 more days!

This Donald cartoon has the most Bakeshow quoted line ever! I say this all the time!

"Temper, temper shame on you! You never see me lose my temper, do you?"

Countdown: A Cowboy Needs a Horse

34 more days!

I'm not one for political correctness- but one has to wonder if that is why these old cartoons aren't shown anymore.

This one is just cute. It reminds me of a simpler time... when imagination was more vivid than going to the pictures! Also, it has a very catchy song.

Countdown: The Lonesome Ghosts

35 more days!

One last one for our scary weekend.

Mickey and the boys! I remember watching this one on Good Morning Mickey when I was like... 8.

Countdown: Donald and the Gorilla

36 more days

In keeping with the creepy-ish theme for the weekend, here's a classic Donald.

I love Donald- but he sure picks on his poor nephews. I'm glad I'm an Aunt who would NEVER pick on her neicephews... hahaha. I can't even type it with a straight face.

Countdown: Trick or Treat

37 more days!

Since it's Friday the 13th I thought I'd post my favorite Halloween cartoon. It makes me so happy.

I have always loved the name Hazel because of this little witch!

Slight Interruption

We interrupt this countdown to bring you an actual blog post.

This weekend marks the 100th anniversary of the ill fated maiden voyage of the Titanic. I don't know why, but ever since I was a kid I have been fascinated by the whole thing. It's so incredibly awful. I remember facts I learned in probably third or fourth grade that have stuck with me.

I remember when I was probably no more than five and watching "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" and being so touched by her survival tactics. The first time I went do Denver, my very first site seeing touristy thing to do was to go to her house.
I remember when the movie came out I saw it several times in the theater. I know people have called it way overrated, but it's not the story of Jack and Rose that I care about. I mean, sure it's sad blah blah blah... but it's the lives of the real people on board that ship. The Astors, The Strauses (probably one of the most amazing love stories ever)- Thomas Andrews, Benjamin Guggenheim... so many people. So many who will never have their stories told.
A few years ago the exhibition was in Denver and I went. As you walk in they give you the name of a passenger and then as you leave, you see the fate of your passenger. I can't recall the name, but my passenger was a young woman on her honeymoon. She survived. Her Husband did not. Ugh. How awful.
I went to the movie today to commemorate the day they set sail. I was the only person in the theater (well, after a while a couple came in and sat in the very top row and were rude through a good part of the movie and then left as soon as the ship went down- stopping of course to have a "King of the World" moment at the railing [eye roll] jerks.) I remember the first time I saw it I cried when the musicians started to play "Nearer My God to Thee." Another time I cried when I saw the mother and baby in the water. Never once did I cry for Jack and Rose (sorry...) Today I started even sooner than that- I just watched the people, and how utterly clueless they were. I kept wanting to jump into the screen and scream "Stop it! don't you know what is about to happen?!" It's much the same when I look at old photos of the actual ship. I wish I could time travel and warn them.

The fear that had to be going through everyone on that ship is what overwhelmed me today. I absolutely cannot fathom that kind of fear. Total fear for my life. Is this it? I always say I'm ready to go whenever... but really? Could I have faced that calmly? I would imagine not. It kills me, the mothers fearing for the lives of their children. The husbands seeing their families ripped from their grasp, not knowing when or if they'll see those faces again. And the utter disbelief of the captain, crew and ship builder. How could this happen? How could we be so arrogant as to issue the words, "God Himself cannot sink this ship"?
Anyway, this has gotten much more wordy than I planned. But it is something that really touches my soul. I feel for them. I hate that they suffered so cruelly. And because I am the ward music chair- I get to choose what we sing in church. Sunday is the official 100 year of the sinking. We will be singing "Nearer My God to Thee." I will probably be the only one who realizes the significance. And I will probably be crying.

Countdown: Casey Bats Again

38 more days!

Since I'm not a fan of waiting forever for a sequel- I'll give you this one on the heels of yesterday's.

This one reminds me of my big brother... and his bunch of daughters.

Countdown: Casey at the Bat

39 more days!

This is one of my absolute favorites!!!

And since baseball/softball season is already here (hi Shayla) I thought it was appropriate!

GO CASEY!

Countdown: Bath Day Figaro

40 more days!

Do you remember Figaro cartoons? He is the kitty in Pinocchio and he kinda went solo afterward.

Poor Kitty.

Countdown: Modern Inventions

41 more days!

Donald cartoons are my favorite. You'll find a lot of them in the next few weeks.

A lot.

Here ya go!

Countdown: Funny Little Bunnies

42 more days!

I imagine this is exactly how the Easter Bunny and his numerous relatives get ready for the Bid Day!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Countdown: Paul Bunyan

43 more days!

I always get this song stuck in my head- even after years of not seeing it. Any time I meet someone named Paul- I sing this song.

Enjoy this link!

Countdown: Peter and the Wolf

44 more days!

Walt Disney loved classical music. You'll find a ton of it in cartoons (Warner Brothers use a lot too- but these posts are not about a sassy bunny).

This is one of my favorite musical stories. It really helped me appreciate story telling by music.

Grr... I don't know why some of these videos won't let me post on my blog. Here's the link.

Countdown!

Ok... so I've been conspicuously absent lately... even when *I* come to my blog I get annoyed that it's not updated and there is nothing new for me to read (because we all know how entertaining I think I am- therefore- I am my own biggest blog stalker) but I've had priorities.

Like this broccoli salad. I'm sorry. I have to stop now to eat it. It's too fabulous to just sit there, not being eaten...

Yes. I eat broccoli salad. Don't judge me.

Ok... The real reason I haven't blogged is because I just feel like I haven't had anything to say. And I know darn well if I'm falling asleep writing it- You're falling asleep reading it. But I went home last weekend and lunched with some friends I haven't seen in ages and ages. One of them- a self proclaimed Disney addict like myself (she even worked at Disney World!) had never seen some of the most classic Disney cartoons! I thought, "huh... maybe I'm the freak here. Maybe not everyone in my decade of life (she is a little younger...) hasn't seen these. But some of them are older than my MOM (which, come to think of it really isn't very old. Hi Mom.)

Plus- it seems like all I want to talk about these days is Disneyland. I'm pretty excited to go. I was talking to a coworker today and she said that when she took her 6 and 4 year old daughters, they were so bored they wanted to leave. I can't even imagine that! At age 31 I walked through the park crying because I was happy to be in such a magical, happy place. I don't get kids who don't love it.

Anyway- I have decided that maybe the world needs to see the amazing cartoons I grew up on. Maybe you'll learn to love Disney a little bit more- or maybe it will bring back some amazing memories for you. 

So every day for the next six weeks- check back here for the classic Disney Cartoon of the day!  (and maybe a little trivia) If nothing else it will make your day a little bit brighter. :)

Steamboat Willie was Mickey's debut cartoon. It was not however the first created. I think (it's been a long time since I've studied my Disney encyclopedia) that was Plane Crazy.

45 more days to Disneyland!!!