Hey there... I'm Suzianne

Jul 16, 2013

Aloha! E Komo Mai

Hello,
Welcome!

Again, it's been such a long time since I've posted. Isn't it funny how life seems to go by so fast?

I find myself now confined to home due to major surgery. So, here I am again :)

As I was surfing the 'net, I came across some beautiful kitchens from the past. I thought you might enjoy these:

I hope to be sharing more as I'll be off work for a few more weeks :) Be sure to stop back again!

Vintage Christmas

I thought it would be fun to share some images of Christmas' past (maybe if you're my age or a little older, you might remember them...)

Baby Santas

Christmas at my Mom & Dad's house :) Coco loves watching squirrels!

I remember the 'Coke' ads and the Jolly Old St. Nick :)

I had to include this Christmas time ad because Rick actually wanted a 4 sliced toaster :)

I actually remember these Christmas cards!

These adorable girls remind me of Snow Babies that were great collectables a while back.


I couldn't finish this Christmas post without something from the War Years!

Mele Kalikimaka!

Come to the Stable (1949)

This is my ALL TIME favorite Christmas movie. Although it is almost impossible to find on DVD, TCM usually shows it every Christmas. It was just on tonight and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first, second, third, and even forth time :)

Who doesn't enjoy seeing nuns on wheels in the ice & snow?

This is the official review for the movie....
"Two nuns from a French convent arrive in a small New England town with a plan to build a children's hospital. They enlist the help of several colorful characters in achieving their dream including a struggling artist, a popular composer, and a renowned racketeer."

We (the ASYMCA of Honolulu) have almost out grown our facilities on Pearl Harbor... I think I need to do what these ladies did to find the land and building for our 'new' school. :) LOL

MELE KALIKIMAKA!

The lesson learned on Friday, December 14, 2012

"We don't have a crime problem, a gun problem or even a violence problem. What we have is
a sin problem," Huckabee said on Fox News. "And since we've ordered God out of our schools, and communities, the military and public conversations, you know we really shouldn't act so surprised ... when all hell breaks loose."

While the pain and the tears of Friday's school shootings will eventually fade with time, the children will live on. I can only imagine them now as they run and play with Jesus. They are safe in His arms now.

Her Favorite Patient (1945)

Successful doctor Hedy Fredericks (Ruth Hussey) stops by her childhood home on her way to an important meeting in Chicago and gets sidetracked for far longer than she'd planned by a determined suitor, test pilot Morgan Hale (John Carroll). Hale wants her to stay for good reasons, while Hedy's Uncle "Doc" has his own agenda. The two men concoct a plan to keep her from leaving, which works, but the truth eventually comes out.

Cast:: John Carroll, Ruth Hussey, Charles Ruggles, Ann Rutherford, Esther Dale, Grant Mitchell, Frank Jenks, Vera Marsh, Claudia Drake, Renee Godfrey, Joel McGinnis

Genre:: Classic Comedies, Romance Classics, Comedy; I LOVED so much about this movie... the main character in a role that until WWII was out of most women's reach... the fashions are wonderful (even if they are in black and white)... the movie takes you right inside a typical '40s home... not to mention the story is 'cute'.; I give this movie a:

A day that will live in infamy, Dec. 7, 1941

On my way to work this morning I couldn't help but think about that morning 71 years ago. As I looked at the sky I could see the planes filling the sky. I could imagine the turmoil as the sound of bombs dropping... guns shooting... people screaming... it gave me chicken skin just to be in the same place at the same time of day when the world changed forever was almost too overwhelming for me.
I've been told that the building that I work in was actually hit by bullets during the attack. I wanted to share a few photos of the Arizona before, after, and now...

Before the attack

After the attack

This is an aerial view of the Arizona today.

I heard an interesting fact about those men on the Arizona on that day in infamy... there were 26 sets of brothers on that ship. Because of that, no two brothers were able to serve on the same ship thereafter.

God bless those who entombed in this ship beneath the water, may they rest in peace.

The Cat's Meow (2001)

I just finished watching this historical fiction about the death of down-on-his-luck film pioneer Thomas Ince, who met his demise during a weekend on media mogul William Randolph Hearst's yacht. Acting was wonderful, story a good one, but the best thing was the costumes!!!! Absolutely the MOST beautiful dresses, classy mens wear, and gorgeous hats from that time period. LOVED IT!!!

I give this movie a:

Popular Home Remedies in the '40s for the Common Cold

For past few days I've been fighting off a cold. It's kinda funny (ha ha) or kinda ironic that it's been about 10 days ago that I had a flu shot.... and now I've got aches and pains in my joints, a scratchy throat, my head aches, and just feel like I've been hit by a truck.

When I was a little girl (in the 50s) I remember getting a 'shot' of penicillin and having my chest rubbed with something in a tin called Mentholatum. (I wish I had some now!)

Here are a few common ads from the 40's pertaining to flu or cold products:

God bless Veterans, past and present, male & female

Watch on the Rhine (1943)

As World War II looms, undercover anti-fascism organizer Kurt Muller (Paul Lukas, in an Oscar-winning turn) moves his wife, Sara (Bette Davis), and family from Europe to America, where Kurt is blackmailed by a Nazi sympathizer and driven to take drastic measures. Based on Lillian Hellman's play and adapted for the screen by her lover, author Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon), this classic spy drama earned multiple Oscar nominations.

I really liked this movie. History of the beginnings of WWII, family honor, loyalty to own beliefs, courage, romance, and love.

I give this movie a:

GI Joe & Lillie

A wonderful friend from Colorado sent me this video. I just LOVE it and will let it speak for itself...

Thank you Stephanie!

VOTE!!!!!

I believe that our nation is at a very critical crossroad in its history. This WWII voting poster says it all. Right now, in 2012, we do have the right to vote but will we in the future? My son, who is in the US NAVY, was not offered the ability to vote during the last election... wonder why? Yet from what I understand many of Mr Obama's votes came from questionable 'Americans' (meaning were they registered? or US born, naturalized Americans)

At the birth of our nation, our forefathers created a democracy. A democracy is a "government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." We can compare this form of government to a socialist government... a government

"a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole." In Marxist theory, after a country experiences Capitalism it turns to socialism, this means that those 'governing' have authority to take from one group of people to give to the whole. It is known that this is only a step toward communism.

How did we get to this point in time when democracy has become a 'bad' thing that allows people with imagination, gumption, and ingenuity to create businesses and enterprises that become successful and creates jobs to be seen as the 'bad' guys? And that they need to be 'punished' for their success... wonder what Henry Ford or Alexander Graham Bell would think of our 'politicing' today. No, I'm not a wealthy person. But I have been in a place where I had no job, I had an education and experience in my field, but was told over and over again that 'you are just over qualified'. I had no insurance, was not eligible for unemployment, had no savings and so I thought about what I could do. I had been a preschool teacher for over 20 years. I decided that I would take what I knew well and build a way to make money from that. And so I put an ad online directed at preschool teachers. I wrote lesson plans for other teachers and sold them. And then I decided that I had other talents as well... I started my own knitting design company... nothing like the Ford empire, but I was able to make enough to pay for my own health care plus. I share this story because I could do this because of the freedom that I had to try to make my own way. And the satisfaction I got that I did it myself is a gift I will never take lightly. Without that freedom, I would have missed out on learning to rely on God and finding the talents that He had given me.

I want my sons and their children to be able to experience this for themselves, I don't want them to depend on the government. I want them to depend on God who is above all governments.

Whether Obama says he's a socialist or not isn't that important. Look at his platform... tax reform that would take from the rich to give to the poor. Spread wealth over all the nation. Let those who cannot work or just don't want to work live off the success of those who do. By allowing this kind of philosophy to thrive in our nation we then create generations of thoughtless people (not of their own doing) maybe I should better say victims of an oppressive government that thinks and talks for them... people without opinions and ideas of their own. As a teacher, it frustrates me to hear that children are not being exposed to art, and music, debate and literature due to mismanaged school funding. Children are born creative, but that gift disappears and is squashed when they no longer have avenues to express it. How sad is this... those little ones will be the ones to solve our nations problems... but how will they be able to do that without the creative abilities that they were born with.

This is why this election is so very important and if you are an American why we must vote!

Here in Hawaii, I've seen political commercials that emphasize a party rather than abilities to lead. Now this is really sad to me. I've watched political debates where one incumbent candidate refused to acknowledge or answer questions about why she voted to increase the taxes on the middle class or why she voted to downgrade jobs at our military bases but instead answered with words like 'you Republicans'. She actually used the word republicans more than 75 times during the debate. We never did find out why or what she believed other than 'the Republicans' will ruin us and are opposed to President Obama. She has actually said in her ads that her Republican challenger is "an active supporter of Mitt Romney and the Republican Party" Well, why shouldn't she be, she is Republican? When I see these ads I just wonder what in the world?

On Tue. I had to go to the ER I found out that I have a large kidney stone (too large to pass). I can not have the surgery until my primary care dr clears me. I'm not at all concerned about it, but I refuse to have anything done on Tues. (Election day). I want to be able to let my voice be heard.

Please vote!!!! We don't want to lose those freedoms that are seen on this WWII voting poster, do we?

Scary look at the future from our past!!! Very Important

I just finished watching this amazing movie. This is one of THE most intriguing movie I've seen in a long time. Scary because it's a political/economical view of our sociological condition of today. Ayn Rand wrote this book in the 40s but was published in 1957!!! The basic of all of Rand's books and movies has to do with individualism vs collectivism. Without the creative, industrial, and intellectual thinkers our economy will fall. There is a battle between what we have come to know as 'our duty' to those less fortunate and those same people becoming 'victims' of a sense of 'guilt' from those who have created for themselves a personal empire of their own. The villains in this movie are those who like to take government handouts, people who like to tear down the good people who are 'living their dreams', and the government who is 'looking out for all the little people'. The assumption that those in need don't need to 'think' they just want their 'needs' to be met and to be met by the government. Things have gotten all mixed up from our Christian values of treating others as you would have them treat you and giving to those in need... 'let the government take the monies needed via taxes and other governing rules' so we won't have to feel guilt when we see those less fortunate than ourselves. Instead of giving at individuals, let's take care of them as a nation. This produces people who are then dependent upon the government and are less likely to venture out on their own ideas or creating goals that are self reaching. In the movie, all the industrialists, intellectuals, and money makers suddenly go missing. They all seemed to be connected to a man named John Gault. He takes these individuals to a country where they can live out their dream and not be afraid that the government would take away their dream and all their hard work and give it to those 'less' fortunate. When the government does this it makes those 'less fortunate' become dependent on the government and in return the 'less fortunate' will do and say whatever the government tells them to think and say and do.... sounds like America now a days.

After watching this movie I had to find out as much as I could about this Ayn Rand. And luckily Netflix has a documentary on Ayn Rand. It is WONDERFUL!!! she is now one of my personal heroes. And now I want to read everything that she wrote that I can get my hands on.
If you haven't seen this movie, please take the time and watch BOTH of these movies, especially at this time before our presidential election!!!! This is urgent!!! We MUST wake up and get involved... we MUST think for ourselves... we MUST not stand still and let this happen to America!!!!!

Pinup Girl (1944)

Betty Grable (who was seven months pregnant when this musical comedy wrapped) stars as plucky pinup girl Lorry Jones, a passionate secretary and singer who's given her heart -- and her autographed picture -- to just about every serviceman in Missouri. But genuine sparks fly when official business calls her out of state and she meets handsome Navy hero Tommy Dooley (John Harvey). Martha Raye and Nat "King" Cole co-star.

Cast:: Betty Grable, Eugene Pallette, Martha Raye, Joe E. Brown, Dave Willock, John Harvey, Dorothea Kent, Nat King Cole

Genre:: Classic Movie Musicals, Romance Classics, Musicals, Classics; What makes this a great classic is that it has been colorized. As with most all classics... great fashions, great acting, and great music!!! LOVED it!!!; I'd give this movie a:

Movie Sunday... Old Aquaintance

Acclaimed author Kit Marlowe (Bette Davis) returns to her small hometown and reconnects with her melodramatic friend Millie Drake (Miriam Hopkins), who's now married to Kit's old crush Preston (John Loder). Trouble brews when Millie gets inspired to publish a trashy novel she's wrtten. When Millie's newfound fame outshines Kit's, the once-contented Preston becomes disillusioned with his wife's new ego -- and finds himself attracted to Kit.

This is a really wonderful movie about relationships between women and friends. While Kit is the solid one in this relationship, Millie really goes off the deep end. I enjoyed watching a movie where someone had values and stuck with them.

I give this movie a:

Fashion & Prom in 1946

One of my favorite TV shows is Project Runway. I can't say that I'm impressed by the designs, but I do like to watch the creative process. So, for today's topic I googled 'fashion schools in the 40s' and this video popped up. Not too much about 'fashion' but it does show what the 'girls' were wearing to prom that year. Enjoy!

Congratulations LANEY!!!

I am so excited!!! My beautiful niece just got engaged TODAY!!!

I wish you and Nate all the love your two hearts can hold... I know a great place for a honeymoon :)

Laney also enjoys things vintage and retro, so in honor of her today, I thought I'd share a few wedding photos from the '40s

Facts about the 40s

Here's something to think about...
In the 40s the

Population 132,122,000
Unemployed in 1940 - 8,120,000
National Debt $43 Billion
Average Salary $1,299. Teacher's salary $1,441
Minimum Wage $.43 per hour
55% of U.S. homes have indoor plumbing
Antarctica is discovered to be a continent
Life expectancy 68.2 female, 60.8 male
Auto deaths 34,500
Supreme Court decides blacks do have a right to vote
World War II changed the order of world power; the United States and the USSR become super powers
The Cold War begins

And now take a look at this...
Money and Inflation from the 40s and compared with today:
To provide an estimate of inflation we have given a guide to the value of $100 US Dollars for the first year in the decade to the equivalent in todays money
If you have $100 Converted from 1940 to 2005 it would be equivalent to $1433.77 today

In 1940 a new house cost $3,920.00 and by 1949 was $7,450.00

In 1940 the average income per year was $1,725.00 and by 1949 was $2,950.00

In 1940 a gallon of gas was 11 cents and by 1949 was 17 cents

In 1940 the average cost of new car was $850.00 and by 1949 was $1,420.00 More Cars and car prices from the 1940's

A few more prices from the 40's and how much things cost
100 aspirin 76 cents

Philco Refrigerator $239.00

Pork Loin Roast per pound 45 cents

Nylon Hose 20 cents

New Emerson Bedroom Radio 1938 $19.65

Mens Suits from $24.50

Portable electric heater $42.50

Ford Super Deluxe Sedan Coupe $1395

Sealey Mattress $38.00

Reaching into the past to find goals for the future

Rick (hubby) and I were daydreaming this morning about what we'd love to do (if money wasn't a factor) in our future after we retire. I have never really thought about this because like most Americans my age (mid-50s) live pay check to paycheck and what's a retirement plan anyway? And although I've spent almost 25 years of my life as a teacher, preschools don't offer retirement plans to teachers. So, if there will be anything left of the Social Security System when I retire, I'm sure it won't be much. When I was in college in the '70s my Sociology prof told the class that there will be no Social Security for us... looks like this premonition just might come true :)

That's all beside the point, to get back to our dream retirement... I LOVE to travel. And I also love photography. Rick loves to drive and loves to go camping... so we talked about how fun it would be to have a camper and just travel all over the mainland and Canada.

And that lead me to looking into how and when campers became popular. I thought I'd share what I found out...

In the United States and Canada, the history of travel trailers can be traced back to the early 1920s, when those who enjoyed their use were often referred to as 'tin can tourists'. As time progressed, trailers became more live able and earned a new name in the 1930s and 1940s, which was the house trailer.In the 1950s and 1960s, the industry seemed to split, creating the two types that we see today, that of the recreational vehicle (RV) industry and mobile home industry. Today travel trailers are classified as a type of RV along with motor homes, fifth wheel trailers, pop-up trailers, and truck campers.

As I've traveled in cyberspace I've got glances of beautifully restored vintage 'travel trailers'. Here are a few... aren't they so inviting?

I love this yellow color theme. :)

Four Jills in a Jeep

I just finished watching this fun entertaining movie. It's filled with great songs from the '40s as well as great dances. Here's what the reviews say about the movie:

Kay Francis, Martha Raye, Carole Landis and Mitzi Mayfair star as themselves -- with legendary comic Phil Silvers as their Army escort, Eddie -- in this delightful 1944 musical, based on Landis's book about entertaining the troops on a USO tour. With a touch of comedy and romance to spice things up, this fun film features appearances by Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, Betty Grable and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

I give this movie

Hey there... I'm Suzianne

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Don't Carry Tales from Pinup Girl (1944)

From Twice Blessed (1945)

Cadance is wonderful!!!

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