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THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 26, 2004
Charlotte Perkins
Charlotte’s Web
cperkins@evansnewspapers.com
Literary Quiz
The poetry quiz is going
to change a little to include
other kinds of literature.
There will still be poems!
Just some prose as well.
That said, and to start off
easy, what novel, by whom,
begins with the following
words?
It was the best of times, it
was the worst of times, it
was the age of wisdom, it
was the age of foolishness, it
was the epoch of belief, it
was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it
was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it
was the winter of despair...
Last Week* cognoscenti:
The poem, “Casey at the
Bat,” ends with the famous
line, “There is no joy in
Mudville. Mighty Casey has
struck out.” Those who got
it right were Charles Stone,
Evelyn Evans, Bill
Harrison, Jim Worrall,
Jerry Wall, Annette Lynn,
Skip Korson, Terry Everett,
Irene Eaves, Joe Bishop.
Leap Year baby?
If you were bom on Feb.
29 please call me right away
at 987-1823, or e-mail me
(above). We’d like to fea
ture some of the folks out
there who only have a birth
day every four years.
And more on birthdays
We’re about to start run
ning the babies’ first birth
days and pictures on
Saturdays instead of
Fridays (also the birth
announcements) Also, we’re
running birthdays on a
daily basis on page lA, so
check that out. You can
send the birthdays to
HHJ@evansnewspapers.co
m. We really need to have
them in writing.
raaicna ihmnmit
This week, I’m starting
something new: suggestions
for good reading from some
people who love good books.
First off, for non-fiction
readers and ancient history
buffs, Joe Bishop, HHJ
columnist, WNNG news
editor and walking encyclo
pedia, says, “The most
intriguing book I’ve read
recently is ‘The Orion
Mystery’ by Robert Bauval,
which examines why the
pyramids in Egypt were
built.” Bauval is not a “clas
sical” Egyptologist, Joe
explains, but an engineer
who worked with several
Middle Eastern construc
tion and drilling firmß and
has come up with his own
highly readable explanation
of the spatial orientation of
the pyramids that they
directly mirror the belt of
the constellation Orion.
(Next week: a list of all
time favorites from Bill
Harrison)
Mxtd Mngs
I think I shall never see a
highway lovely as a tree. I
also think I can speak for all
my neighbors when I say
that it was sad to see all
those towering pecan trees
cut down around the inter
section of Houston Lake
Road, Ga. 127 and Sandifer
Road, even if we do know
that the new intersection
will be a big improvement
for both speed and safety.
Maybe after the work’s
done somebody will plant
some dogwoods.
Entertainment
Steven Harrell's latest: a tale of two wars
By Emily Johnstone
HHJ News Editor
For history buffs and any
one who likes a good read,
Perry author and local attor
ney W. Steven Harrell’s lat
est book has just hit the
shelves.
His second book to be pub
lished that is centered
around a war-torn era, “The
Rifle Captain” will intro
duce you to the world of
teacher and family man
Stephen Harris.
His home is in the rolling
hills of north Georgia, near
Royston.
In 1917, this teacher of
history is about to become
part of history-making
events himself as World War
I looms. He soon finds him
self a member of the United
States Army, leaving his
beloved wife, Loralie and
two daughters back home.
Readers will find them
selves remembering much of
what they were taught in
school or learning about
events they never knew of
before as Harrell skillfully
'Welcome to Mooseport' clever, entertaining
“Welcome to Mooseport”
is a warm comedy featuring
a bundle of talented film and
television actors. There are
plenty of recognizable faces.
But coincidentally, audi
ences of all ages will chalk it
up as an easy, but clever,
romantic comedy.
The incomparable, big
screen legend Gene
Hackman plays Monroe
“Eagle” Cole, a beloved
American president settling
into his Mooseport summer
home following two terms in
Washington. In an effort to
resolve a jam for city lead
ers, he’s offered the job as
mayor at his welcoming cer
emony.
President Cole and town
organizers soon discover the
following day that longtime
Mooseport resident, Handy
Harrison, quietly enrolled in
the mayoral race also. Salt
of-the-earth Harrison,
played by CBS’ star Ray
Romano, serves as David to
President Cole’s Goliath in
the race. The fact that
Harrison serves as the local
“handyman” working on the
plumbing in Cole’s home
further illustrates the differ
ences between the two.
Prior to accepting the role
of mayor, and the subse
quent race for the position,
President Cole believed he
was headed to a life of book
tours and speaking engage
ments - making piles of
money and enjoying his time
in Mooseport. Pulling out of
a race against his plumber is
not an option for the PR
conscious team for the for
mer president. Cole has
much more to lose than
Handy.
There's more to life than money and things
Diane I would like a
woman’s perspective on
this. I have enjoyed
everything a fine salary
can provide and never
seemed to mind how
much and how hard my
husband has always
worked until recently.
He Is CEO for a company
and his career and posi
tion have afforded our
family financial and
social success. Why isn’t
it important anymore?
It hasn’t bothered me
until now after 20 years
that getting to the top
and staying there was
important - in fact I
always encouraged it!
CEO’s Wife
Dear Wife,
A columnist named Dave
Barry once said, “You should
never confuse your cureer
HHJ REVIEW
weaves his extensive knowl
edge through Stephen’s
story of love, duty and deal
ing with war action in
France while dealing with
news of his wife’s infidelity
back home.
Before he is killed near
Cornay, France, during bat
tle, Stephen writes a touch
ing letter home to his wife
telling her he forgives her
indiscretions.
“I have learned in the
midst of this war to let go of
my anger,” writes the brave
soldier.
In Book Two, we meet
Stephen’s son, Clayton, a
member of the military serv
ing in World War II in 1944.
Clayton, an intelligent
and brave young man who
led a platoon to parachute
into Sicily in 1943, is on his
way to be part of the largest
seaborne invasion in history
- Operation Overlord.
During his time overseas,
|JB lr
Riley Smith
Entertainment Reviewer
rsmith@evansrk-wspapers.com
Competition between the
two steadily increases once
the affection of Sally Mannis
(played by “ER” and
“Newsradio’s” Maura
Tierney) enters the picture.
Mannis, Mooseport’s vet
and sweetheart, endures six
years of dating Handy with
little future in sight.
President Cole initiates a
media circus in Mooseport
when he shows interest in
dating the frustrated girl
friend of his opposition for
mayor.
There is a wealth of mem
orable supporting charac
ters. Many will recognize
President Cole’s assistants
Grace Sutherland (played by
Marcia Gay Harden) and
Bullard (Fred Savage), as
well as his spiteful ex-wife
Charlotte (played by
Christine Baranski).
Handy’s circle of friends
include his dog, Plunger,
and the good ol’ employees
at his hardware shop. Every
American town has its
weirdos. It’s impossible to
overlook the contributions
of dozens of odd townsfolk
W 7
. 1
Diane Gross
Ain’t Life Grand?
HarlcvßirH4447B@nol.com
with your life.” Not know
ing more about your rela
tionship with your CEO, I
can only address this as a
person who has met a few
execs in my day who all
seemed to believe they
would “have it all” when
■Mi Jl *
STEVEN HARRELL
Clayton visits his father’s
grave and weeps from never
knowing him.
He leaves one of his dog
tags on top of a cross at the
head of his father’s grave,
feeling a bond with the man
he grew up without and a
strengthening of resolve to
survive this war and return
home to his family.
Does he?
Read Harrell’s “The Rifle
Captain” and find out!
(Harrell is also author of
“The Unionist,” a tale set
during the Civil War.)
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Twentieth Century Fox
President Cole (Gene Hackman, right) encounters veterinarian Sally (Maura Tierney), to
the consternation of Sally’s boyfriend, Handy (Ray Romano), in “Welcome to
Mooseport.”
found in lovable Mooseport.
Director Donald Petrie’s
movie finds many of its
actors reproducing roles
they’ve already shown in
television and film. But it
works - if it ain’t broke,
don’t fix it. Hackman is ter
rific as the pampered former
president. He displays a
charm and breadth that is
on point with the film’s
quirky situations. Tierney
again brings sass and beauty
to the leading female role,
this time on the big screen.
She dazzles as one of seem
ingly two strangely gorgeous
they reached the top of that
corporate ladder!
I have always wondered
what makes us set our prior
ities ... what events take
place that cause us to put
them in our own order?
When it’s so important to be
recognized by our peers,
family, and friends by how
successful we are or appear
- and that takes precedence
over our relationships - it
seems so sad to me. It’s like
our happiness is based on if
we “make it big” - isn’t it?
It’s kind of like buying that
lottery ticket over and over
for that one lucky number
that will simply CHANGE
EVERYTHING for us!
Why can’t we be satisfied
with just the “atta boy,"
warm fuzzies, or cost-of-liv
ing increases and etyoy what
and who we have right next
At 81/m* . . A Jli
women in small-time
Mooseport.
Romano and the role of
Handy Harrison go together
like peanut butter and jelly.
The goofball husband
schtick Romano has flour
ished on in “Everybody
Loves Raymond” resurfaces
in “Welcome to
Mooseport.”.Those familiar
with his television show will
find the complacent, good
natured role of Harrison
very believable. This is his
first attempt in cinema.
Romano even manages to
sneak his passion for golf
to us? lam sure it’s cool to
have that big salary.... But
what do we risk if that’s the
only thing that drives us?
When does enough become
enough? If being at “the
top” is more important than
enjoying life or spending
precious time with family or
friends - isn’t the picture is
askew? I think it can be a
shallow existence don’t you?
Do they “have it all?” I
don’t think so.
It really is hard for me
when I meet someone who
really believes that a suc
cessful career IS what LIFE
is all about. Somehow I
wish I could wiggle my nose
and there would be no more
twisted priorities in any
one’s life.
So you’ve encouraged him
411 the way to the top of the
food chain and now wonder
PAGE 6A
into the story.
“Welcome to Mooseport”
doesn’t break the mold in its
story or appearance. It’s
simply a romantic comedy
that entertains during all
two hours. Sometimes, it
takes a simple movie like
this one to allow the audi
ence to step back and bene
fit from easy lessons about
romance, honesty and con
tentment.
Overall: A-
Story:A
Visuals: B-
Direction: B
Acting: A-
what’s missing? Good for
you - don’t get me wrong -
because there is nothing like
enjoying life with the money
and position to have the best
of “THINGS.”
Take your CEO on a picnic
and walk barefoot in the
grass .... Talk to him about
this .... kiss a bunch .... and
reminisce - then together
share your success with a
homeless person or someone
who really needs help - it
will change how you have
spent your dash (that little
mark in between your birth
and death dates).
Diane Gross lives in
Warner Robins and can be
reached by e-mail at
Harleygi r13444 78@iM01.c0m.
Diane's column appears
ei>ery Thursday.