Oscar and Drew Barrymore

Bet you thought I was going to write about the Academy Award and the actress, right? Well then, you are half right.

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the Hollywood premiere of a wonderful HBO movie, "Grey Gardens." I went with my dear friend, Gaye, who is a member of the American Film Institute (AFI). HBO and AFI sponsored the premiere in the breathtaking Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, and the party afterwards at the equally breathtaking Hotel Roosevelt. Gaye's mom, Anne, also an AFI member (and one of my mom's best friends), came with us, along with Gaye's daughter, Skye, who looks like a movie star.

This was my third movie premiere in the past three years, and I get an enormous kick out of each one! Last year I went with Gaye to the "Leatherheads" premiere and the year before that, she invited both Gary and me to the premiere of "The Pursuit of Happyness."

"Grey Gardens" is the story of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter, Edith, who were known as "Edie" and "Little Edie." They were eccentric relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy who lived together in the Hamptons, where they let their estate - "Grey Gardens" - deteriorate and their living conditions could only be described as pitiful squalor. Yet they were apparently quite happy in some respects, engaging and funny at times, and also pathetic and sad. The performances by Jessica Lange as "Big Edie" and Drew Barrymore as "Little Edie" were Oscar-worthy! And of course, Oscar - the award - was named by Bette Davis for her first husband, band leader Harmon Oscar Nelson, Jr., who, after divorcing Bette, married Anne and had three children including my friend, Gaye. I've shared this story in a previous blog entry.

Because the movie was made for TV by HBO, these two incomparable actresses will have to settle for Emmy's instead of Oscars. Well-deserved. Fabulous movie. See it if you haven't already.

Drew Barrymore was at the premiere, of course, sitting six rows in front of us in the same row as Jessica Lange. I was struck by how adorable Drew is - very tiny, pretty and extremely kind. She made a point of talking to just about everyone in her immediate presence, even in the theatre's downstairs ladies room. A very real, lovely person. Her supposed boyfriend, Justin Long (the MAC guy), sat right behind her and they were obviously having a lot of fun. Jessica Lange is shy, but also very pleasant and was accompanied by her children. We also saw William Baldwin, Ali Larter, Lisa Kudrow and Jenni Garth. And I'll just say the party was fantastic and save all the details. I didn't get home till 2 AM. I had four hours sleep before I had to "open" the Silverado booth at America's Family Pet Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

Working the Pet Expo all weekend was fun, gratifying and tough, all at the same time. Silverado imported Marley the baby Kangaroo from our Salt Lake City community, thanks to Noralyn, the administrator and her associate, Tammi, who drove the kangaroo in a rented van with the back seats taken out. Believe me, caring for a 14-month old kangaroo at the Fairgrounds with almost 30,000 people coming by the booth (and gasping) all day for three days is NOT an easy job. Noralyn and Tammi deserve medals. Marley was a good girl and cooperated most of the time by allowing children and adults to pet her. Only once did she jump over the table and hop down the row of booths, startling the crowds, which was fun for the Silverado team to observe!

Which brings me back to Oscar. On Sunday morning, Gary and I finally had a chance to stroll around the Expo to see the other exhibits. We found our way to the pet adoptions tent, with no intention of adopting. And then I saw him. A beautiful little Siamesy looking kitty with bright blue eyes staring out of a cage near the entrance to the tent. He had been shaved at his neck and on his legs and they told me thus 10-month old neutered male "Snowshoe" cat had just recovered from a serious poisoning. He had been in the vet hospital for months on a feeding tube and IV's, but was healthy now, and ready for adoption. I went to the other side of the cage and saw that his name was Oscar. That was almost too much synchronicity for me. He was supposed to come home with us. Not only because of my love of movies and Gaye's dad, but because Gary's all-time favorite cat - a big feral male that he and his son adopted many years ago - was named Oscar. I called Gary over and showed him the name. Needless to say, Oscar is now an Ingram.

Oscar is adapting well to his new surroundings. Molly cat is not as welcoming as the dogs. She was a bit riled up because he decided he likes her kitty condo and she doesn't seem to want to share. Bindi Sue is thrilled with a new playmate. Vanna ignores him. Gary is happy to have just a tiny bit more testosterone in our home.