I'm afraid my last entry was a bit too stream-of-consciousness. Because I was actually writing it in bit and pieces, I didn't even complete the neighbor anecdote. I forgot to mention that I've spoken to New Neighbor Nancy a couple times since the whole parking issue came up and realized that I was probably being a bit too stubborn and quick to judge. That's why I said that I re-evaluated my initial impression of her. For someone who hates judgmental people, I sure can be judgmental myself. I'm gonna have to work on that.

It's a beautiful day in Burbank today, crisp and sunny. The kind of day that quickens my step and fills my heart and my head with sheer happiness at being alive. I took a quick walk to get some coffee at nearby coffee store this morning, already in a pretty good mood, when I spied with my little eye a sight that made the smile on my face even wider.

A pigeon fluttered from the shadows of a nearby construction site, a long twig in its beak. It (he? she?) landed on a dark little ledge within the same unfinished building and I realized that it was building a nest. The twig in its beak sparked visions of a dove with an olive branch (a natural enough thought with the holidays rushing up) and I felt a little part of me just...melt.

Within a millisecond I realized that the nest would probably be destroyed by additional construction, but since there's not much I can do about that (at least, I don't think I can, maybe I'll have to look into that), I decided to retain the positive feeling that the pigeon originally engendered.

It's a good day, dammit!

Regular readers of my humble journal may have noticed that I am, occasionally, subject to little romantic crushes of varying degrees (don't look at me like that), with both celebrities and male friends as the hapless subjects. Once in a while I worry about my little obsessions, questioning my hold on sanity while reassuring myself that I recognize the not-so-fine line between fantasy and reality. But usually I just have fun with the crushes.

Sometimes, though, my obsessions lead to full-fledged interests that become completely independent of their origins.

About this time last year I became irrevocably infatuated with Mike Farrell. Per my usual habits (not really the word I want, but I can't seem to dredge up the proper word) I rented every video I could get my hands on, bought some of the harder to find movies on eBay, and thoroughly investigated his life and filmography. In the process I made a good friend via e-mail.

This year's infatuation is (in case you haven't guessed) Matt Frewer. Again with the renting of videos, again with the deep investigation. Easier to find his films than Farrell, but harder to find info. Oh well.

My Frewer crush doesn't mean that Farrell is any less important, just a little off to the side. But, as a result of my interest in these two gentlemen and their work, I've rediscovered a number of subjects that I'm eager to explore.

Thanks to Mike Farrell's inspiration, I've rediscovered my desire to become more active in working to better the world around me. His dedication to human rights and his tireless work as an anti-death-penalty advocate motivates me to get off my rump and actually do something more than having a few bucks taken out of my paycheck each week for the Entertainment Charities Committee.

Matt Frewer's environmental activism is also inspiring, reaffirming my beliefs that every action we do to one another and to the planet can either help the earth and its inhabitants or destroy it, thus further kindling the embers of latent activism within me. (Keep in mind, though, that I tend to move a bit more slowly than a lot of people. Don't expect me to turn into an activist whirlwind overnight.)

Thanks to a couple of excellent TV films that Matt Frewer has done, I'm interested in reading more about certain historical figures.

1995's TNT production of Kissinger and Nixon featured Matt as General Alexander Haig, a fairly difficult role which afforded him an opportunity to do some of his finest work (look, Ma, he's not just a goofy man with a extemely mobile face, he can act, too!). A fine movie that piqued my curiosity and drove me to read the biography on which it was based (see below).

Harder to find, but just as rewarding, is American Playhouse's Long Shadows, based on the life of writer Haru Matsukata Reischauer. Mrs. Reischauer was the wife of the late Edwin O. Reischauer, JFK's Ambassador to Japan and founding member of The Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies and Harvard's Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies. I've only been able to view this film at the Museum of Television and Radio, and it nearly made me weep in a room full of strangers. Terrific film, with Matt absolutely excellent as Edwin O. Reischauer.

Now I want to seek out Silk and Samurai, a biography Mrs. Reischauer penned about her grandfathers which, by all reviews and accounts, is an elegant and moving tribute to her forefathers. And Professor Reischauer's numerous books about the Japanese culture are said to be among the best (The Japanese Today, for instance).

To any American readers, have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! I'll be off to the folks for the usual feast, I hope y'all have as much fun as I know I will!