My Acting Career

In 1988 I was living in Beeton, Ontario, a small little town, but a great place to raise my children.  A new television series called "War of the Worlds", based on the famous radio show and movie, filmed an episode there, and I signed up to be an extra, along with my good friend Trish.  We were cast as townspeople who had been taken over by the aliens, so we still had human form, but were just wandering around aimlessly until it came time for us to chase down the Jeep that the heroes were trying to escape in.  It took three days of filming, and by the time I finished, my feet were so sore from running in high heels for take after take after take, that I threw the shoes out!  The series starred Jared Martin, who played Dusty Farlow in the tv series "Dallas", and also Richard Chaves, who had just finished filming "Predator" with Arnold Schwarzenegger (he played Ironhorse in the movie).  Both really nice people, and I enjoyed a coffee with them during a break.  The series was not one of the best, and I think it only lasted two seasons, but I certainly had fun being an extra in it, and I made sure to videotape the episode, in which I appear a good half dozen times, including rocking and chasing the Jeep down the main street with  my fellow alien townspeople!

Jared Martin in the middle, me on his left, another extra on his right.
 Richard Chaves in the foregrround, and a Canadian actress,
Lynn Mason Green, who also starred in the series.

Halloween Fun

A friend posted this video on facebook today and I lost all my mascara laughing so hard!  It's Ellen Degeneres' Halloween tradition to send one of her production staff, Amy, into a haunted house and video her reaction.  This year they sent a camera man, Andy, along... the result is hilarious!!  Check it out...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=208728115975710&set=vb.100005155690229&type=2&theater

Autumn Apple Picking

Autumn Apple Picking by leegal57 featuring a vneck sweater

An outfit I put together on polyvore inspired by the lovely colours in the autumn apples.  All my favourite colours!  This would be such a comfortable and casual outfit to wear for a day picking apples. 

A set for a "Red, White and Denim" contest on polyvore

Denim in Paris by leegal57 featuring a blue cropped jacket

Day 7 ~ At Sea

The last day of the cruise, and our only day at sea.  The weather turned a little colder and rainy today, so it was a perfect day to enjoy the ship, the food, the different sitting areas, and to read and people watch. 

Bolero's Night Club, on Deck 4 just below the Royal Promenade. 
A nice quiet place to sit and read on a sea day.

The Captain at Coffee Chat with the Captain.  People were able to speak with him and ask any questions.  This captain was actually the most public captain I've seen.  He was eating lunch in the Windjammer at the table next to ours one day and was always strolling around the ship speaking with people.

 

Cupcake decorating lessons at the Cupcake Cupboard.  Later in the day we saw lots of people walking around with cupcakes which looked like mini hamburgers!

 

 

 

I enjoyed some more of my favourite ham and cheese croissant sandwiches from Café Promenade.

 

The bulldog statue outside of Café Promenade. 

He sometimes mysteriously moved around during the night.

 

Mom people watching from our window bench.

 

Enjoying a lager and lime at the Hoof and Claw Pub, killing time

before the Move It! Parade with the DreamWorks characters.

 

 

And it could be put off no longer.... the dreaded packing for the journey home. 

 

(Sorry the picture turned up twice... I have no idea how to delete it in this format - I've tried everything - and I don't want to start the post from scratch!!)

 

 

7:00 a.m. Sunday morning, leaving the port in Barcelona.... thank you for a great cruise, Liberty!

Sunday City Stroll

Sunday City Stroll by leegal57 featuring hobo handbags

Day 6 ~ Naples and the Ruins of Herculaneum

 

The beautiful morning sky over Naples from the ship.  Another great day weather-wise for us!

 

The huge fortress at the base of the city.

 

I have yet to look up on the internet precisely what this building is, but it sits atop the mountain overlooking the city.

 

In port with us were Ruby Princess and Celebrity Equinox.  While Mom and I were at our early morning breakfast before the sun came up, we watched these two ships all lit up following us into port.

 

All over the hillside, you can see domes peeking up between the buildings.

 

 

Celebrity Equinox... not quite as big as Liberty of the Seas

 

After breakfast... ready for our walk around the city before our afternoon tour.

 

Lovely narrow streets.  I bought some candies at a street market.

 

The fortress from the city-side.

 

We stopped for a cappuccino... delicious!

 

The cruise terminal, which was full of very interesting shops.  Other than in Nice, I had not bought anything while walking around the cities.  I scored at this cruise terminal, buying a gorgeous pair of leather boots, a hat and two scarves, all made in Italy.

 

It was too early to have pizza in the city, but I did have pizza on the ship!

 

After lunch we set out on our excursion to Herculaneum.  This city was buried in mud during the same eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii, on the other side of the peninsula.  Because the mud and stone prevented air from getting to the ruins, they are much better preserved that those at Pompeii.

 

My first view of Mt. Vesuvius (on the right) from the bus.

 

Only one third of the ruins have been uncovered, as the modern city of Herculaneum has been built on top.  They had no idea what was underneath until excavations started in the 1700's after someone digging a well came across them.

 

One of the old houses.

 

This building was originally right on the water.  It was part of the port.  The water has receded many miles over the centuries. 

 

When Vesuvius erupted, many people tried to flee by way of water. No one knows how many made it, but the perfectly preserved skeletons in the doorways show how many did not.

 

Mt. Vesuvius overlooking Herculaneum.

 

An orchard looking much as it would have 2,500 years ago.

 

One of the extremely well preserved frescos in the buildings.  The dark smudges at the top of the wall are the original wood beams, carbonized by the heat of the mud.

 

The colours are so vivid!

 

Part of the gymnasium, which includes a huge swimming pool which has not been excavated.  We were able to visit it through excavation tunnels.  Although the pool is now under 60 feet of mud and rock, it was originally an outdoor pool.

 

Some beautiful oleander blossoms.

 

Another view of Mt. Vesuvius.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this excursion, walking on the same stones that were walked upon by the inhabitants over 2,500 years ago.  Next time... Pompeii!