I just learned of two more sad passings. Not that anyone passing away isn't sad, but these two, while an inevitable part of our lives, still meant a lot:

Billy Wilder: Last of the legendary Old Hollywood directors, the man who directed Sunset Boulevard (from which we have the famous line "I'm ready for my close-up now Mr. DeMille!"), Some Like it Hot (my all-time favorite screwball comedy) and many, many others. He died of pneumonia at 95.

Elizabeth, the "Queen Mum": at 101, she died in her sleep.

At such a phenomenal age, her loss isn't at all sudden. This was a former commoner who supported Edward VIII in 1936 when he abdicated the throne, and who rallied the people of London during the Blitz.

The fact that she essentially lived the entire 20th Century is phenomenal.

Goodbye, Billy and Elizabeth. You'll be missed.

Part of the 'blogging experience: I just changed the code for one of my Webrings yet again.

Most of the snow in Montreal melted again today. With my strong belief in Murphy's Law, I'm expecting it to snow again soon.

Milton Berle dead at 93

A sad loss of Dudley Moore is followed by even sadder news. "Uncle Miltie" is a classic we'll miss horribly.

What a bittersweet day: I was going to Vermont for Passover, but plans changed when a(n ultimately bad) doctor said she had a hernia. My folks were worried, and came to stay at my sister's so that my dad could bring sis to a hospital, where they were stuck waiting for most of the day.

Turns out it wasn't a hernia, so we all got together for dinner at her home.

I get home, relieved and enjoying the company of my nephew and nieces -- then heard on TV that Dudley Moore died of pneumonia, a complication caused by the terrible illness he had.

He had a wry British wit, and was part of more memories than I can count. I'll miss him.

I always have fun visiting my friend Pat's Live Journal: he tries out different "Which character are you?" quizzes, and I then try them for myself...

The latest was "Which Calvin character are you?". I'm closest to Hobbes, the coolest stuffed tiger in the universe.

Montreal continues with unconditional weather patterns: having no snow on the ground since early January, we had a major enough snowfall yesterday, so now there are a few inches of snow on the ground...

CNN.com - Bush talks of threats, concerns and U.S. judges - March 14, 2002

Nuclear weapons are an option to protect American soil? Bush talks of Saddam Hussein using "weapons of mass destruction" and he'd consider using such a weapon as OK if he pushes the button!?

This is why Republicans in office is scary. A party that believes "might makes right" should be nowhere near power... it was scary enough when Regan was near the missile launch button. Now we have to worry about a man who may destroy the world without a second thought.

I hope his advisors convince him to forget these thoughts.

Yesterday marked 6 months to the day the worst event in our recent memory: the 9-11 tragedy.

Have no doubt about it - this tragedy will be fresh in this generation's minds for many years to come.

I forgot to mention last time: Diana Krall is also the musician featured in a car ad here in Canada. Makes sense, since she's a Canadian herself...

Wow... I haven't posted here in a week! Sorry about that... it's been a hectic week of phone tag for me, trying to get everything ready for my apartment move at the end of May...

I heard on the radio today that Diana Krall is going to have another show in Montreal this month... at last year's Jazz Fest, she was touted as the next big thing in Jazz crooners.

I have her next to last CD. Frankly, I'm not that impressed. Mind you, as a fan of Holly Cole, it takes a lot to impress me over her song stylings.