Self-Isolation. I hope.

Today, my lovelies, is move-in day at my college.

Thankfully, I've been here for a week to help with International Orientation, so I'm free to sit in my room all day and watch as my fellow students cart their luggage to their respective rooms. The suckers. ;)

I'm off today, and have planned a delightful Netflix marathon for myself, consisting of--

• Cool Hand Luke ('cause I missed it yesterday)*

• After the Thin Man, which happens to be the only one I've not yet seen, and made twice as nice by the fact that it doesn't have the woefully obtrusive Nick, Jr., who always reminded me --and not in a good way-- of the kid from The Dick Van Dyke Show.

• Elevator to the Gallows, my first venture into Jeanne Moreau land.

Might watch another, if time allows. I'm thinking Klute, Father Goose, Sleuth, or whatever else catches my eye. There are just too many options on Netflix, and in some ways, availability breeds disinterest. For me, at least. I know it's there, so there's no real rush or urgency to see it. Does that make sense? No, probably not. I'm just being lazy.

Also, was looking for some recommendations-- I know a lot about melodramas, but haven't actually seen too many. I'm talking the Douglas Sirk variety, or for later years Tennessee Williams adaptations. I always convince myself they're not my cup of tea, but when I do watch them, I enjoy them 'same as anyone else. So let's hear 'em-- what are your favorites?

*doubly unfortunate, as it was presented on TCM by my manlove, Alec Baldwin

Psst!, Pictures, and Peggy Lee

Whenever I'm bored, say, in a waiting room or something, I like to make up new names for Sally Field movies-- all revolving around Gidget. I'm saying this knowing how incredibly silly it sounds, but it's one of my more unassuming idiosyncrasies, so I thought I'd share.

Examples? Sure. Well, Norma Rae becomes "Gidget Fights the Man." Sybil turns into "Gidget Gets Multiple Personality Disorder" (among other more unsavory things), and --my personal favorite-- Absence of Malice becomes "Gidget Hooks Up with Paul Newman." Yeah okay, say what you will, but it makes me plenty happy. :)

For some reason I've had "My Name is Tallulah" stuck in my head all day. And in that odd, adenoidal voice they used to dub Jodie Foster. Odd, but not entirely unpleasant.

Speaking of Ms. Foster (and who isn't?), I read a while back that she's to direct, produce, and star in a biopic about Leni Riefenstahl. How grand is that? I mean, as far as Nazi filmmakers go, Leni was the tops-- who else are ya gonna choose? Disregarding Leni's lovefests with Hitler (now that would make a good title), her work's actually not bad at all. Junta from The Blue Light is quite possibly my hero.

And I can actually picture Jodie Foster as Leni. They both have a sort of falcon look going for 'em. Beaky, some might say. In a good way, of course. Which is not the case with Anne Hathaway and Judy Garland. Bad casting if you ask me. Cast a Panabaker (or two), if you ask me. And maybe throw in Elizabeth Perkins or Tammy Blanchard and have them dubbed, if you ask me. But did anybody ask me? Did I get a midnight call from Harvey Weinstein saying, "Juliette, oh Juliette-- I need you now." No, I certainly did not. Ah well, I'll still be standing in line for tickets. Because that's just who I am. Ho hum.

Instead of doing a hat of the day, it's gonna be Peggy Lee-- person of the day. Aside from having a marvelous singing voice (I've had "Mr. Wonderful" on repeat for hours), Peggy Lee was also a gifted actress and songwriter. Duke Ellington once said, "If I'm the Duke, then Peggy's the Queen." Plus, she was the voice of the Siamese cats in Lady in the Tramp. It doesn't get any cooler than that.

Peggy with her first husband Dave Barbour.

Scratch that earlier statement-- this is the hat of the day. And these are the gloves of the day, too. :)