Bon Voyage, Marilyn

Here is a recent portrait taken by the talented Mr. Steve Zambrano of our recently departed pal. He brought it - and another he had shot of her with her daughter, MacKenna - to the fairwell party said daughter and the Devine M's best friend Peggy arranged at Zuma Beach on - appropriately - Earth Day, April 22nd. Hearing all the great stories and parting words from a host of those who knew her so much better than I, was wonderful. It was a somber day, but the lovely lavendar festooned dias and 57 - count them - 57 lavender baloons framing it made for a festive feel in spite of a chilling and unremitant wind. The balloons were in celebration of the almost 57 years she was with us - April 22nd being her 57th birthday. Two very talented sculptors, whose names I didn't get - damn it - had been out on the chill beach since 6am building a sand replica of our lady of the Green Door. If any of you have pictures from the occasion - especially of that sculpture - please email them to me. Several folks there said they would send pictures, but I've not received any as yet, and I just couldn't let another day go by without posting this small tribute to that so much larger than life personality - our beloved Ms. Chambers. Bon Voyage, Marilyn.

Marilyn Remembered

A new star graces that firmament we can't quite reach. Though, sometimes, it truly seems we actually can, and do. At least it often seems that way to me. Especially in my garden. Yesterday morning I was getting feelings of excitement from my two best biker buds - Iron Mike and Pegleg Flix. I often "hear from" them out there. Couldn't make out any clear "messages." Oh, I don't actually hear voices or anything. Don't call the funny farm - yet. It's sort of imaginary email. Anyway, I couldn't think of what was making me think so of the aforementioned "biker buds." Then I felt a wave of "Wow" from old Henri Pachard - who will always be Ron Sullivan to me. Not until I opened up my email shortly thereafter did it all make sense. The Devine Ms. Chambers had arrived! No wonder "the guys" were in a twitter. Now, please don't think I do not feel sorrow. Well, some sorrow - especially for her daughter - and for her multitude of friends and fans - but I feel more a sense of gratitude that I got to meet her a few times. I was even in her (I think) last film. Just a cameo walk-on, but I thank my good buddy Veronica Harte, who was directing it, for that perk. I'm very proud to be able to say, "Yes, I was in one of her movies."

Naturally, I thought back on the weekend she, Chuck, and I spent in Chicago with the indominable "Professor Irwin Corey." He, she, and I were guest judges at a nude beauty pagent. Chuck rode shotgun. Much hilarity ensued, as I recount in my book, The Devil Made Me Do It.
Alas, that was about the longest time I ever got to spend with her.



Here we are at one of the "company picnics" where I was honored to present her with a Lifetime Achievement Award from her peers.





She was a true original. The sweetness of her nature permeated every corner of any room she entered.

I raise my glass of Perrier to you, Dear Lady of the Soap Box. Happy Trails.

LA Times Festival of Books

The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society (GLAWS) has accepted me as a member! Not only that, I am one of the authors to be represented at their booth - #631 - at the forthcoming LA Times Festival of Books on the UCLA campus in Westwood.

I'll be there with books to sell and handouts to hand out on Saturday, April 25th, from 4 to 6 pm and again on Sunday, April 26th, from noon until 2pm. Be sure to let me know if you are there because of reading this. I actually do try to keep track of that sort of thing. Details of the event can be seen here.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Spring Equinox. It's Easter, it's Passover, it's flowers all over the place and I just love it.

Another Denise creation

Hi Chele,

I found another great pic of you online and souped it up with some pink fog and ornate hearts...The Dancing Queen of Hearts

xo

Denise

Ah me. So I got out the tape measure. Yes, the circumference is the same at 73 years of age - but it's all a LOT LOWER.

So I asked the talented Denise...

I asked my friend, the very talented artist, Denise LaFrance, where she found that image of my foot. Her answer:

I was on this photosite and saw a pic of a lady in a bath tub and I then thought of how her there in the tub reminded me of you in the tub...so then I went on youtube and searched for a clip from your film.

I found the movie clip...so then I saw that scene with you and your lovely and cute foot turning the taps on with your foot ( as you'd mentioned you always do^^)--so I then pushed PAUSE and got my camera and snapped a picture of the still/paused shot.

THEN I brightened up the colors, imported the picture to my photobucket account where I could then add the steamy effect on the edge and put a frame which I chose in pink...for that 'bathroomy' feel...and then added some glitter & blinking graphics to create an homage to you, your film and your lovely famous foot!^^.

The blinking image I shall attatch here--it's another type of file and I was not sure if or if not you'd be able to open such a file//but I can at least try and so I send it to you here now..you have to click here:

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z142/DeniseLaFrance/?action=view&current=ChelesFOOTinbathtub-1.gif

Blast from the Past

I can't believe Denise LaFrance - amazing artist and dear pal - found this!
Yes, it's authentic. I'd know that bunion anywhere.
For those of you under 60 - this is a frame from the porn film, The Devil in Miss Jones.
OK, all you foot fetishists - let me her from you!
email me at
georginasworld@gmail.com

And click on Denise link above to see more about her.

Skylight Book Store, Los Angeles

On Vermont Boulevard, just south of Griffith Park, sits a bulwark of free thought and creativity called Skylight Book Store. It is the pulsing heartbeat of a great L.A. neighborhood; a vital organ of the community - and by gosh, the community knows it.

I met the owner, Kerry Slattery, last fall when I attended a gala opening of the store's spiffy new annex. Screwing up my courage, I pressed a copy of my book into her hands and introduced myself. Recognition lit her eyes and she graciously thanked me for the book, and said I could email her and ask for an event date!

I decided to throw myself a birthday party for my 73rd birthday on March 1st. That was cool with her.

The big event:
A goodly crowd gathered.

These were, as promised, cakes and ale..


The manager, Steven Salardino, and lovely sidekick, Kelly were amazing. They completely rearranged the interior of the store; setting up
chairs, table for "cakes and ale" (ok - Victor Bene's Bakery cookies - but they're boss
cookies), arranging a chair and table for book signing, and a chair for my pal Libbie Jo Snyder to entertain us with her fantabuous jazz/classical flute selections --- all within a half hour! My jaw was on the floor.



Once the crowd gathered, had their cakes and ale in hand, and found places to sit, Kelly said it was time to start and introduced me.




But I didn't want to start the reading until my 85-year-old buddy, Joyce arrived.


She has been my sounding board and booster from the start of my literary life.

I met her in the 70s when she was "the orchestra" for husband John's, improve group, War Babies.

As soon as she was settled comfortably, I launched into one of my favorite chapters, The Journey of the Dorabelladonna. That's the one that chronicles my trip from Maine to California in a 30-foot-long derelict school bus with a smokestack sticking out the back.

Then I signed books.

And book marks.

And posters.

And DVDs.

And really old pictures.









Then I just schmoozed with old friends and new.



Husband John took the pictures seen here.


All you guys who were taking pictures and said you'd email me copies...???

I haven't received any yet! Remember - the email address is georginasworld@gmail.com