While We Live We Live in Clover When We Die We Die All Over

October Clover Club Dinner - Philadelphia Clover Club

OCTOBER DINNER held by the CLOVER CLUB at the BELLEVUE-STRATFORD HOTEL, PHILADELPHIA, PA

(1907)

Yo, I Saw Rocky the Other Night

I'd forgotten what a good movie it is. All those other crappy Rockys that followed must have ruined my perception of the original. I hadn't seen Rocky in ages, and it occured to me that I'm not sure if I ever saw it in its entirety, because there are lots of little terrific scenes I saw for the first time.

For example, when Rocky walks the bratty girl home and lectures her about hanging with hooligans on the block who don't respect her and as she steps into her house she calls him a creep. Then there's the part where he finally gets Adrian up to his apartment and they smooch by the front door and fall onto the floor, still smooching. And the scene where Mickey (Burgess Meredith) climbs all the stairs to ask Rocky if he can train him, Rocky kicks him out and has a 3 minute shouting fit by himself about how Mickey wasn't there for him before, and what a dump his apartment is and how much it stinks and oh, the indignity before he chases Mickey down the street and gives the little old man a hug and stuff.

Oh, Rocky. Hard on the outside but soft on the inside, see? It really is an excellent script. Remember his jokes about the turtle food when he'd go to the pet store to flirt with Adrian? Here's the excerpt from Stallone's script:

ROCKY
... How's the turtle food this
week?


ADRIAN
... Fine.

ROCKY
Me, I'm kinda aggravated.

ADRIAN
... I'm sorry.

ROCKY
Ain't your fault - Here's the
problem.

Adrian nods... Though charmed, she is slightly intimidated.

ROCKY
The last food I got here had
more moths than flies -- An'
the moths get caught in my
turtle's throat -- That makes
them cough --

The OWNER, a squat woman of forty, steps out of the back and
waves at Rocky.

ROCKY
(continuing)
Yo, Gloria -- I was talkin'
about the turtle food -- Like
I was sayin', the moths get
caught in the turtle's throat
an' makes 'em cough...
(coughs)
A little cough an' I gotta
smack 'em on the shell -- An'
whatta think they get?

Adrian shrugs.

ROCKY
(continuing)
I smack 'em hard on the shell
an' they get... What?

ADRIAN
... I don't know.

ROCKY
Shell-shocked!

Both the Owner and Adrian smile.


OWNER
Startin' with the bad jokes
early today, huh.

ROCKY
Inventin' jokes ain't easy.



__________

Awww, Rock. Tell me about it.

Al Fresco Dining a la Philly

South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA

June 6, 2008

Anne's in Love with Philadelphia: A Few Things

1. Philadelphia loved my hair. The first heatwave of the season was kicked off in Philly, and my 'do looked amazing. In fact, even in the humidity, I'd go as far as saying that I was the hottest single broad in Philadelphia last weekend. Did I say that? Yeah. I said it.


2. Philadelphia however, did not love my camera, and it died after a long battle with whatevs on Saturday night, never to revive, not even when I licked the battery. Thankfully, I got some nice pictures in before its death, but now I'm in the market for a new camera again. Feel free to purchase this one for me.


3. What else do you want to know? Well, I stayed here. Ate here, here, and here. Drank champagne and Campari here. Saw the most amazing art collection I've ever seen in my life here. Saw the world's largest colon and bevy of creepy babies and things in jars here. Also watched this on a huge wall in one of the most fantastic apartments I've ever seen, its lofty living room once the basketball court of the now defunct St. Paul's Catholic School.