Mark Twain House and Ebeneeze, A Hartford Holiday Carol; Connecticut Christmas

November 30th is Mark Twain's birthday. When I was a kid, we used to visit The Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut.

Their annual Holiday House Tour begins in early December. Visit the Twain House if you can. It's enjoyable, there's often something new and they'd appreciate the support.

The play, Ebeneeza: A Hartford Holiday Carol, will be traveling through four Hartford locations, including The Mark Twain House & Museum. Mark Twain plays the Ghost of Holidays Past. This sounds like fun, particularly for fans of Mark Twain's and Connecticut natives.

Mark Twain in his times is an interesting site. Their focus is to show how he "and his works were created and defined, marketed and performed, reviewed and appreciated" in context.

"Many of Mark Twain's works still speak directly to modern readers, but the larger story of his career -- as best-selling writer, live performer, celebrity and American icon -- can be more fully appreciated when those works are located in the context of his times."

Mark Twain was a fascinating and brilliant writer. The film, Mark Twain - A film directed by Ken Burns has some good insight.

One of our favorite Twain books is The Diaries of Adam and Eve. You don't hear a lot of mention of it but it's very funny. These are available on Amazon.

This holiday season if you're so inclined, you may also check out his book The Bible According to Mark Twain: Irreverent Writings on Eden, Heaven, and the Flood by America's Master Satirist.

Great humorists' works can definitely stand the test of time.


If you're reading this on my Facebook Fan Page, you may also want to check out my blog.

Image from The Hartford Advocate

The Ring, The Waltons, Tuesday Flashback Feature

This is part of my Tuesday Flashback Feature. We reminisce about classic TV shows usually from the 1950s-1970s where gemstones or pieces of jewelry featured prominently in the storylines.

The Waltons

The Ring

Oct. 17, 1974

"Sometimes when we were children all the love and attention we got at home just wasn't enough. For each of us there came a time when something from the outside was needed to give us a sense of self-confidence. It was a need of this kind that got my sister." -- Earl Hamner's introduction

Nuriye Purple Amethyst
and Sterling Silver Ring

Mary Ellen Walton (Judy Norton-Taylor) is excited about going to her first college dance. She has a date with a friend of her brother, John Boy's. She buys a second-hand evening bag to go with her dress. 

After she gets it home, Mary Ellen finds a pretty and valuable amethyst ring inside the purse. She decides to wear the ring to the dance. She and Erin (Mary McDonough) keep the finding of the ring a secret.

Mary Ellen loses the when she takes it off to wash her hands in the rest room at the dance. She doesn't realize it's lost until she gets home.

Later, Mrs. Breckenridge (Adrienne Marden), the previous owner of the bag, comes over asking about the missing ring. It turns out that the ring has a lot of

Purple Antique
Beaded Rose Evening Purse
Clutch Handbag w/ Chain

sentimental value for her.

Mary Ellen, John Boy and his date go back to retrieve the ring. The college gym, where the dance was held is locked up. One of the girls must crawl in the window to the rest room to get the ring. Leaving the building, they're discovered!

Mary Ellen brings the ring back to its rightful owner, Mrs. Breckenridge and is sorry for what she did.

"Our lives are measured not by birthdays but by the events that fall between them. Mary Ellen's first grown-up dance was a landmark in her passage from girlhood into the beautiful and engaging young woman she was to become.

"Yet, for a while in her dresser drawer, a reminder of the cocoon from which she had emerged, there remained a beat-up and much treasured old baseball glove, which she eventually passed on to her brothers." Earl Hamner's closing

Dahlia Women's Elegant Flower Wool Cloche Bucket Slouch Hat
Love that you can style this easily and that it comes in different colors

The series, The Waltons: Complete, Seasons 1-9 can be yours in a boxed set just right for gift giving. Single seasons are available available as well. Check your library and TV schedule for this episode.

Each Tuesday, we'll feature a different show, often a US sitcom. Information, including spoiler plot outlines come from various sources. Particularly when the episode hasn't been recently viewed personally, information will be as accurate as possible.When available, a show photo will be included.

I'm always interested to hear your memories. In the interest of supporting fellow artists, I'll be featuring a few shops where the pieces tie into the general theme of the featured story.

My first Tuesday Flashback Feature was about The Ring-a-Ding Girl, an episode of The Twilight Zone. Earl Hamner wrote that episode and there's a short quote from him on that page..

If you're getting ready for a dance and want to be dolled up like Mary Ellen, Etsy is a good place for you to shop. Let your uniqueness shine through. Please note: vintage and art objects on Etsy may be sold out, shops may no longer be open.

Recreate that vintage look with a few items added to your own wardrobe.

Would you wear the Ivory White Vintage Rose Cardigan Sweater? (right) Sourpuss Clothing makes vintage inspired looks in different colors and styles. They get very good customer ratings and are fun for any age.

Even the 1940s Vintage Bullet Bra in your choice of color. Want to be a very authentic Sweater Girl or pinup?

Sterling Silver Large Cabochon Purple Contemporary
Amethyst Gemstone Ring, February Birthstone

Finally, if you're longing for a little memento of the family, the 1975 Little Golden book The Waltons and the Birthday Present.

.... "Good night, Mary Ellen."

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If you're reading this on my Facebook Fan Page, you may also want to check out my blog.


Waltons image from The-waltons.com

The Gratitude Project , Feeling Low? Well, what are you grateful for?

Second Annual Gratitude Project. Several of my online friends are participating in this year's list of gratitude. 

The basic idea is this - create a list of 20 things you are grateful for every day for 7 days. Some are doing different types of lists but the feeling is all the same. 

Here's something from Jilliene Designs' Blog. It's a good explanation of the Gratitude Project:

"When I am feeling frustrated, short changed, insufficient or victimized, I have a wise friend who reminds me that you can't feel self pity and gratitude at the same time. She has suggested on many, many occasions that the best way to combat feelings of resentment, jealousy, disappointment, inadequacy and sadness is to make a gratitude list.

"Her Rx for a spell of bad feelings (lasting more than a few days) is to make a gratitude list of 20 things everyday for a week. You are not to duplicate things you are grateful for, and in my practice, I try not to make a list of specific people because it prevents me from digging deep.

"My WASSIMA gals and I decided we were going to do a week together. Some of us were feeling low, others just liked the idea of it and I think it is a great way to go into November, which holds Thanksgiving and to officially kick off the Holiday Season." -- Jilliene Designs – An Artful Journey

I'm presenting my list of twenty items here and may well add future lists since I do try to remember what I'm grateful for on a regular basis. 

I also want to present links to where you can view other people's lists. They're clever, heartwarming and will probably get you thinking of creating your own lists. Some of these are just great ideas from other people's lists that say what I would like to say, too. :) The list isn't really in any order and may be edited later.

1. I'm alive, breathing on my own, though it's tough at times I can walk

2. There is food enough to eat. I can make healthy, yummy decisions on what to eat -- when I choose to do it. ;-)

3. We have a comfortable place to live

4. My family, an amazing husband & cats

5. My friends.

6. The ability to help others as best I can. And I'll ask for help if I need it rather than just waiting and expecting an offer.

7. Sense of humor

8. I'm unique, have value, talents and passions; creative in different ways and get to express that creativity.  Who said the only person you have to compare yourself to is the person you want to be in the future?

9. I am always learning. I like the saying that goes something like, "I did what I knew how to do, and when I knew better, I did better." (I'm betting that's from Oprah!)

10. Sense of reason, the ability to count to ten before hitting Send, before speaking, the ability to walk away and not respond at all (Does that mean being old?!)

11. Resilience after downfalls, ability to make it through adversity and face powers that are larger than myself without backing down, ability to do what's right instead of what's easiest.

12. Can see beauty and value in small things and things others might call ugly. Grateful for beauty & the arts, natural and made by people, that we're lucky to have around us.

13. The Internet; the friends it's brought me and the ability to work that it's allowed me

14. Chill-out phrases such as: "Make good choices," "Acknowledge and move on," "Don't let the turkeys get you down," "This too shall pass," "You picked him/her -- remember why you did."

15. The enthusiasm, delight and sense of wonder possessed by children, small animals and people who don't forget the happiness in acting "like children."

16. That my parents made me eat right and go play outside and they did all the things that they did for me. They made me mad sometimes and now I appreciate -- most of it! I'm glad that I'm mature enough to know that my parents were human beings and they did the very best that they could, which was a pretty good job.

17. Today. Pretty soon, today will be yesterday. That could've been done yesterday.

18. The wise and caring medical professionals who have helped and continue to help me in my journey

19. The idea of recycling, donating, repurposing, bartering and borrowing rather than acquiring more to add to having a mountain of stuff.

20. Random acts of kindness. It's become something of a cliche but I think it's really true. Manners, thoughtfulness, sincerity -- they're not expensive and they can make someone's day a little easier and brighter. Everyone is in a rush and under stress and lots of us are in chronic pain, but I advocate Public Smiling. Maybe the trend will catch on.

These others are participating in the Project. Several of them are members of the SFEtsy team.

Jilliene Designs – An Artful Journey

My Dear darling

Looking for Inspiration

Sooz! – Creative Chaos

Katie Hugh – oliverifairy

Heather Main – Runs with trimmer

Lori Hudson – Duct Tape and WD40

Cameron Yates – Create Beauty Daily

Linda at Rue Paris -rue-paris.blogspot.com

Aimee Porco – Dream Big

Maryella – createsmileslaughter

Katie Hugh – oliverifairy

Jim Dandy – Running with Feathers

MorningDove – Morning Dew

Zanne Koller -Zannedu

Paula – plays with mud

~~~     ~~~~    ~~~~    ~~~~

If you're reading this on my Facebook Fan Page, you may also want to check out my blog.

Bernard & the Genie: Take a peek

One of my favorite holiday movies for the past several years has been Bernard & the Genie. It stars Lenny Henry (as the Genie) and Alan Cumming as Bernard Bottle. The overall story is a familiar one.

A man is down on his luck. In this case he's really down on his luck. He finds an old lamp and polishes it. Poof! A genie appears to grant him wishes. Often the genie has as much of a story as the man, himself has and that's true in this film.

It's a charming and funny movie written by prolific British comedy writer Richard Curtis who also penned Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Bernard and the Genie is a 'feel-good' film for the whole family. Rowan Atkinson, perhaps better known as Mr. Bean, plays a somewhat unsavory character as Bernard's boss. The genie and Bernard are able to help one another at Christmastime.
 

Curtis wrote and directed Love Actually which has a great big cast and is another fun holiday film. He's also well known for other films and his part in writing the show, Blackadder.

Great Earring Caper, The Brady Bunch, Tuesday Flashback Feature

This is part of my Tuesday Flashback Feature. We reminisce about classic TV shows usually from the 1950s-1970s where gemstones or pieces of jewelry featured prominently in the storylines.

The Brady Bunch

The Great Earring Caper

March 2, 1973

Marcia borrows a pair of fancy dangling earrings from her mom. Marcia warns Cindy not to touch them. Cindy can't help herself. While she's playing with them, there's an interruption! 

She quickly hides them under a towel in the bathroom. When she returns to the bathroom, the towel is gone and so are the earrings!

Cindy enlists Peter to help search for the earrings before Marcia and Mom find out they're missing.

His new detective kit comes in handy. He even gets fingerprint samples from family members to examine.


When Carol announces that she plans to where the earrings to a costume party, the investigation is heightened. Carol and Mike intend to attend the party as Antony and Cleopatra, and the earrings would be just perfect for Carol's costume.

This leads Peter and Cindy to heighten their search for the missing earrings. 

When the earrings are found, it turns out that they've passed unknowingly through many hands while they were missing. 

The earrings ultimately meet an unpleasant fate. Some other items of classic TV jewelry have come to similarly unfortunate endings through the years. Just ask Aunt Bee.

It's the story of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls. All of them had hair of gold, like their mother. The youngest one in curls...

Carol Tyler and Michael Brady were both widowed. Carol and Mike were suddenly single parents to three children apiece. But they met, fell in love, married and became a very happy television step-family. They had a housekeeper, Alice who was like part of the family. The show aired 1969-1974.

While Tiger, the dog was a mainstay, other pets were there briefly and vanished. An early example was Fluffy the girls' cat in the first episode where Mike and Carol get married.

The Brady Bunch Celebrated its 40th Anniversary
on September 15th, 2009

Brady Sizzling Bit: In what episode did Peter Brady utter the words that have become an amazing catchphrase of an entire generation: "Pork chops and applesauce"??

Each Tuesday, we featured a different show, often a US sitcom.
Information, including spoiler plot outlines come from various sources. Particularly when the episode hasn't been recently viewed personally, information is as accurate as possible.
When available, a show photo was included.

I'm always interested to hear your memories. In the interest of supporting fellow artists,
I feature a few shops where the pieces tie into the general theme of the story.
Art, crafts, vintage items shown may be sold out.

DVD videos of the series can be yours to enjoy without commercials, without edits or station logos. What 1970s party is complete without at least one Brady episode? The Brady Bunch: The Complete Series This set has (Seasons 1-5 and the famous Shag Carpet Cover.)

This episode is available on Season Four. The Brady Bunch: The Complete Fourth Season is available on its own.

Susan Olsen, who played Cindy Brady, has co-written a book. Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour

There's an article about Jan's attempts to stand apart by wearing a dark wig on Squidoo.

Another iconic television show, you'll have no problem getting your fix of Brady bounty.

Marcia Marcia Marcia 70s Brady Bunch Dolls are so cute!

Sudden yen for your own exotic Egyptian earrings? Consider some Cleopatra Earrings (above) that Carol could wear as a replacement.

A complete set of Classic TV The Brady Bunch: 8" Dolls: Mrs. Brady, Peter, Greg, Bobby, Jan, Marcia, Cindy and Alice.

Brady Bunch Dolls  can bring back your childhood and bring out the toy hunter in anyone!

Answer to Brady Sizzling Question: The Porkchops & Applesauce episode was The Personality Kid. Peter wanted a new personality and he decided to try for Humphrey Bogart's. Was this something like his Greg, Greg, Greg! middle child moment?

~~~     ~~~~    ~~~~    ~~~~

If you're reading this on my Facebook Fan Page, you may also want to check out my blog.

What if Roald Dahl & Christian Dior made chenille pipe cleaner figures?

I have some old holiday-themed chenille pipe cleaner critters and always thought that they were cute. They're super-lightweight, can be displayed in many different places and they happily blend well with other little ornaments.

There's a nice shop on Etsy called Beckykazana's where you can find her original chenille pipe cleaner figures, known as the Pipettes.

These could be gifts themselves or could grace the outside of a fancy package, too.

There's also artwork, some in the form of greeting cards so you can share with others.

In her second shop, Thefabmissb, she carries unique vintage items. You'll find some nice vintage aprons. There's a show all about vintage aprons that's touring the country right now. The Fab Miss B is the Featured Etsy Blogger for November.

Green Art, Recycled Art Shows : One man's trash may be an artist's treasure

Have you attended a Recycled Art Show lately? Have you submitted a piece to a show? 

Does the current economy have artists rethinking what materials you use or re-use?

It seems we're seeing more and more Recycled Art and Fashion/Trashion Shows. It's all good. Maybe you'd like to attend one, donate to the cause or hold your own. Looks like it's a trend with schools and social groups.

In April around Earth Day, I had a post listing some of the Recycled Fashion Shows that were held earlier in the year. I'm mostly hearing about US shows and would love to be able to mention some in other parts of the world.

Let us know of any more art or fashion shows that we can add to the list. Recycled art means different things to different people, and that can make for an interesting variety, but it all comes down to the same ethic of saving our resources and changing our habits. Just think, Etsy considers 20-year-old items to be vintage. *A few of the links below are flyers of brochures in PDF form.

Nov. 10: Recycled - An Art Show at The Times Square. The Mezzanine Gallery in New York, NY. Runs through Jan. 29, 2010.

Nov. 12: final day: A Recycled Art & Auction will be held in Baton Rouge, LA. Proceeds supporting the construction of affordable housing.

Nov. 13: Steven Dobbin's latest series, Reclamation is in response to the increasing costs of materials typically used to create artworks. The show is at Causey Contemporary in Brooklyn, NY.

Nov. 13-15: The Recycle Santa Fe Art Festival in its eleventh year. "In cooperation with Keep Santa Fe Beautiful and their recycling efforts surrounding America Recycles 2009 and New Mexico Recycling Awareness Month, Recycle Santa Fe is one of the hippest, eco-conscious art markets and juried art events of its time." 

Nov. 13-15: Upper Arkansas Area Recycling Art Show. A non-juried art exhibit showing how art & inspiration can bring new life to trash.

Nov. 14: The fourth annual Junk to Funk Recycled Fashion Show Contest “Trashion Edutainment for the Masses” will be held in Portland, OR's Crystal Ballroom.

Nov. 16: Away and Back Again-Community Recycle Art Project.  "Join us as we utilize recycled detritus, trash to create beautiful artwork." Visitors are encouraged to participate in the creation of a large mandala with the use of recycled materials on the floor of the FedEx Global Education Center Peacock Atrium. Through Dec. 18, Chapel Hill, NC. (image above)

11/20: Charles County’s got Talent in the Arts Show and Recycle Art Contest. Indian Head, MD. Come & show them what you've got!

12/01: Ivy Tech Community College will present its third annual Recycled Art Show. Terre Haute, Indiana. Anyone wanting more information about the show may call 812-298-2227.

12/01-02: Recycled Materials Art Show #2. Re-Art Gallery in Ann Arbor, MI.

12/01-12/31: Recycled Seconds Art Show: Carson City, NV, at the Capital City Arts Initiative Courthouse Gallery 

12/11/2009-01/29/2010: ReVisions, New Creations from Scrap : San Francisco, CA.

For one source of information and inspiration, keep your eye on the Olympia Dumpster Divers Blog. "This ReUsable Life: recycled art in Olympia, the Pacific Northwest, the USA and around the world."

August, October 2010: The Artist in Residence Program at the San Francisco Dump is accepting applications through the end of August 2010. Only artists living in San Francisco may apply.

2nd Annual Recycled Art Contest: The Virginia Beach SPCA will be hosting our 2nd Annual Once is Not Enough Art Contest to promote the creative reuse of materials. Interested artists should review the rules and  submit their entry no later than October 1st.

We are not associated with any of the events listed. Information is always as accurate as possible at the time gathered

If you're reading this on my Facebook Fan Page, you may also want to check out my blog.

Remember Mulberry?

Some say they touch the sky
Some say they see the wind
A whisper of spring is near
Can you hear it say
These are mulberry days

Some say they'll understand
Some hold an open hand
A shimmer of moonlit haze
Can you hear it say
These are Mulberry Days
These are Mulberry Days


Do you remember Mulberry?

Engrave Trouble, The Odd Couple, Tuesday Flashback Feature

This is part of my Tuesday Flashback Feature. We reminisce about classic TV shows usually from the 1950s-1970s where gemstones or pieces of jewelry featured prominently in the story lines.

The Odd Couple
Engrave Trouble
February 5, 1971

Felix Unger (Tony Randall) is divorced and miserable. What would be his 12th wedding anniversary is approaching. His friend and roommate, Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman) decides to help him try to get his ex-wife, Gloria back.

Ganz Plush Honey Bear

On their first anniversary, Felix had given Gloria a watch that had a bear with a jar of honey on the band. When they were a new couple, Gloria used to call Felix her Honey Bear. Later in their relationship, she started calling him, Mr. Clean.

Oscar helps explain that engraving something really romantic could help to win her back. Felix comes up with, Just one more chance. He wants another chance and Just One More Chance was always his and Gloria's song.

Oscar suggests a jewelry store Louie's, where Felix can get the watch engraved. Before they can retrieve the watch, it's stolen when Louie's is burglarized. Turns out that Louie's been robbed 13 times!

Through Oscar's connections they track down Bill Green (Michael Constantine), a shady character who can help get the watch back. Green has a penchant for dogs. 

They find out that the guy who stole it has already given the watch to his

Give the gift of Gloria Swanson
Film, poster, photo or costume

girlfriend. The sad story about Felix's broken home, particularly the snapshot in his wallet of the Unger family dog softens Bill Green. He agrees to help for less money than he usually receives.

Turns out that the watch had been engraved by the thief for his girlfriend. Gloria read the inscription, You're built like a.... She left the apartment sobbing.



Eventually most of it works out though. He had Just one more chance engraved and she loved it. Gloria forgave him and there's a chance they might get together again. There's bad news. Burglars broke into her house and stole it back again. Bill Green did it. They can tell. He left a note: "I fed your dog."

"On November 13th Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence.
That request came from his wife. Deep down he knew she was right,
but he also knew that someday he would return to her...."

November 13th is Odd Couple Day!
Fans celebrate & watch the show
People clean their houses or mess them up, whichever they want! 

One of the Odd Couple inconsistencies that gets fans talking has been about how long Oscar and Felix have known one another. Apparently there were three or four different stories of how and when they met on the show. To top it all off, in the opening of at least one of the seasons we heard:

"... With nowhere else to go, [Felix] appeared at the home
of his childhood friend Oscar Madison ..."

Getting jewelry engraved is a regular source of trouble for characters on television. Still, they continue to try. :-)

Jack Klugman talks about the appeal of The Odd Couple.

Each Tuesday, we'll feature a different show, often a US sitcom. Information, including spoiler plot outlines come from various sources & particularly when the episode hasn't been recently viewed personally, will be as accurate as possible. When available, a show photo will be included.

I'm always interested to hear your memories. In the interest of supporting fellow artists, I'll be featuring a few shops where the pieces tie into the general theme of the featured story.

The Odd Couple, The Complete Series, Seasons 1-5 is available at Amazon.com and elsewhere. The film version with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau is also on DVD. Odd Couple, The Centennial Collection

Odd or even, couple or single, please note: vintage and art objects on Etsy may be sold out, shops may have gone out of business.

Tony and Me: A Story of Friendship by Jack Klugman, ebook or paper.

Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?

I don't know. But there's a good chance each would've had a classic tv show that they enjoyed, and each would have found something they liked on Etsy.

If you're reading this on my Facebook Fan Page, you may also want to check out my blog.

Felix knew who'd stolen the watch because of the note left behind. A watch can remind you of trips you took together. Disney Women's Mickey Mouse  sparkle bracelet watch.

Teddybear holding lilies
glitter watch  
Make your own
photo or logo
clock or watch at zazzle

Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?

I don't know. But there's a good chance each would've had a classic tv show that they enjoyed, and each would have found something they liked on Etsy.

If you're reading this on my Facebook Fan Page, you may also want to check out my blog.

A retro tv article series on Squidoo is just starting as a companion to this one. We'll look at shows where Hair was the main focus.

Oscar Madison for Council mug by teebag
Look at Odd couple Mugs online coffee cup, beer stein at Zazzle.com
 

Retro Vintage Kitsch Romance Kissing Germ-Free! T Shirt by seemonkee
Browse Zazzle for another tee zazzle.com

Dahling, Morticia and Gomez deserve a hand...

They're a lovely couple, married for years and still so mad for each other. They have many of the usual stresses people deal with. Raising children, a home to keep up, roles in the community (real or imagined) to maintain.

Their appearance is important to them. They're happy to have extended family and friends in their home. They have pets who they love and care for, including a meat-eating plant. Of course, we're talking about Gomez and Morticia Addams.

This couple has been played, or voiced, by several incarnations of actors throughout the years.

Maybe the best known are the characters from the television show and films. The 1964-66 TV series was John Astin as Gomez and Carolyn Jones as Morticia.

The Addams Chronicles: An Altogether Ooky Look at The Addams Family is a fun book with lots of information, photos and other goodies.

Raúl Juliá was Gomez in two of the films, The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993). Anjelica Huston was Morticia to his Gomez.

The films are available on DVD. Addams Family Values is on Amazon.com and elsewhere.

Gomez in The Addams Family Reunion (1998) was Tim Curry. Morticia here was none other than Daryl Hannah.

Also in 1998-99, there was a television Addams Family with Glenn Taranto and Ellie Harvie in the roles.

A Broadway musical is about to open for previews in Chicago. Gomez is played by Nathan Lane and Morticia is Bebe Neuwirth.

There was more than one animated series along the way, and we can't forget that it all began with the books by Charles Addams. A selection of Addams framed cartoon works are on exhibit. Charles Addams: Cartoonist runs through January 2010 at The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT.

Do you have a favorite Gomez and Morticia?

If you're reading this on my Facebook Fan Page, you may also want to check out my blog.

Images: Sitcoms Online and Fanpop.com (above)