‘War Horse’ is sure to spur interest in horse stories

A scene from DreamWorks Pictures' War Horse.

I have yet to saddle a seat for "War Horse," but I am sure I'll love it.

"What's interesting about this story is that you're watching the horse, go through the war but you're not necessarily watching a war film," explained producer Kathleen Kennedy. "It's not a story that's designed to take you to the front lines to watch what happens to these animals in war. It's really a story about how the horse comes into contact with all the aspects of the war and the people who represent all the different sides of the war."

The new film by director Steven Spielberg, "War Horse," is a story for all ages set in England and Europe where quiet pastures have been unearthed by the conflict of the First World War. At the heart of the story is the remarkable friendship between a horse by the name of Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. What audiences witness when the two are torn apart by circumstances is the extraordinary journey that Joey takes through the war and the inspiring influence that the horse has on all those he meets -- British cavalry, German soldiers, a French farmer and his granddaughter -- before reaching the story's stirring climax in the heart of No Man's Land.

If you've been around horses, you know they can exhibit a ubiquitous demonstration in person perception. So, the idea of taking a journey with an equine -- uprooted from its familiar surroundings on a family farm and the beloved relationship that it had with the owners' son, and sold to the British Army at the outbreak of the war -- is not as preposterous as it might sound.

Even actor Tom Hiddleston, who plays Captain Nicholls, the British army officer who takes possession of the farm horse, Joey, as his personal mount, came to realize how expressive horses can be. "I'm amazed by the strength of the bond between horses and people. Horses will teach you about who you are much more than you could possibly learn on your own. They can sense fear, arrogance, true confidence, true self-possession and inner peace," he said.

This rider knows this to be true of at least one horse, a little pony that I rode as a child, who knew exactly what I was feeling. Every time I thought I was in control of the reins and headed for an afternoon ride, he would bite down on the bit and haul my saddle back to the barn. On one occasion, my escorting equine hauled me right into a stall. It wasn't until I knew what I was doing, and had gained a little confidence, that the feisty little pinto allowed me control of the reins. Then out of the barnyard we flew.

"War Horse," based on both Michael Morpugo's 1982 children's novel and the hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year, was adapted by Richard Curtis and Lee Hall. It has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama and besides an Oscar nod is likely to rekindle our affection with other horse movies.

Below is a list of beloved films about horses:

1. "National Velvet" (1944) is the classic story about a girl who wins a horse in a lottery and turns him into a champion.

2. "The Man from Snowy River" (1982) is a story about a young man, left stranded after his father’s death, who proves his manhood by single-handedly rounding up a herd of wild horses, while pursuing the rich rancher's daughter.

3. "The Horse Whisperer" (1998) is a beautiful story woven from the lives of a workaholic mom and her injured daughter, an abused horse and the horse whisperer whose gift for healing broken spirits, touches all of them.

4. "Hidalgo" (2004) is the story of a cowboy and his mustang, Hidalgo, who travel halfway around the world to enter a race across 3,000 miles of the Arabian Desert's punishing terrain, against Arabia's finest horses and riders and the evil schemers who vow victory at all costs. 

5. "Dreamer" (2005) is the inspiring story of a father who, for the love of his daughter, sacrifices everything to save the life of a racehorse and help to restore its promising future on the track.

6. "A Day at the Races" (1937) is a comedy featuring the Marx Brothers.

7. "Flicka" (2006). A young girl tames a wild horse and proves to her father that she has what it takes to one day run the family's ranch. 

8. "The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit" (1968) is a comedy about a businessman who enlists his daughter and her show horse as the means for promoting a product.

9. "The Black Stallion" (1979). Based on Walter Farley's children's book of the same name, it is about a boy who, after surviving a shipwreck, is stranded on an island with a beautiful Arabian stallion, who he befriends. Once rescued, they ride in a race against the best horses in the country.   

10. "Seabiscuit" (2003) is based on the story by Laura Hillenbrand about an undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories not only inspired the spirits of its team, but a nation.

Bonus: “Secretariat” (2010) is the story of the 1973 Triple Crown winner, Secretariat, who is considered by many to be the “greatest racehorse of all time.”

Looking to read another inspiring story about a horse? Reckless was a little sorrel mare purchased by a Marine to pack ammunition to the front line and carry the wounded back to safety. Read more here

Think B&B for holiday accommodations

The Kingsley House.

Not everyone is comfortable being an out-of-town guest even when a parent or close family member insists it is no trouble at all putting them out and on the couch. It's for this reason many families choose to stay at a bed-and-breakfast while traveling during the holiday season.

It's a "home away from home."

"We used to have a family that booked the whole house at Christmastime," said Dominique Johnson, front office manager for The Inn on Ferry Street in Detroit. It was considered home base for the family who traveled from around the country to reach their home state. Unlike most bed-and-breakfasts, The Inn on Ferry Street not only rents out rooms but has several houses available as well.

"Think of it as Monopoly and we're the Boardwalk side," Johnson said. The residential group on East Ferry Avenue is part of an upper-class neighborhood originally developed in the late 1800s. The homes and carriage houses feature a variety of architectural styles popular at the time, including four Victorians. Popular among these historic homes is Pungs House, a beautifully restored home that was originally built in 1891 for William Pungs, who was vice president of the Michigan Railroad Supply Company and founder of the Anderson Carriage Company. Besides all of its Victorian charm, this historic structure boasts inlaid hardwood floors and two fireplaces. "We decorate each house for Christmas," said Johnson. That includes a Christmas tree where guests can hide away gifts for opening on Christmas morning.

As for Christmas dinner, Johnson said there are numerous restaurants in the area — including The Whitney — or catering services. "That's what one family did," Johnson said. In some cases, because some of the homes can seat 35 guests comfortably for dinner, it is the families staying at the bed-and-breakfast that become the holiday hosts.

The Owen House is another popular choice, not only for Christmas gatherings but holiday weddings, as it features a beautiful grand staircase.

The Inn on Ferry Street.

Prices on the rooms at The Inn on Ferry Street are between $139 and $239 a night. The cost for renting a home: $955 and up.

How about parents coming in to visit a college student?

A search at http://www.bnbfinder.com found several locations, including the Vitosha Guest Haus Inn, a Gothic mansion complex featuring down comforters and fireplaces.

One amenity that is common among any B&B you choose is the hearty breakfast offered by your innkeepers. In some cases, guests can request complimentary shuttle service, within reason, and even a loaner car. Coffee, teas and fruit of the season are available throughout the day.

Send your comments or home and garden tips to gina.joseph@macombdaily.com.

Local singers' Christmas carol gets its wings on YouTube

Cathryn Joanna of Macomb County.

Cathryn Joanna was born with a beautiful voice and a talent for songwriting. This Christmas, she is sharing her gift for music with the world and they are responding.

Shortly after being uploaded to YouTube, Joanna's new Christmas song, "Little Baby Loved," had more than 3,000 hits and, according to her mom, Gail, who has been tracking its success, is getting the attention of listeners in six continents. "It's amazing how it's taking off," said the 18-year-old singer and songwriter. "It's being played on 103.5 (the inspiration radio station WMUZ-FM) too!"

Hearing her song on YouTube was cool but hearing it on the radio, was a dream come true.

"It's kind of surreal," said Joanna, who finished recording the song at a studio in Ohio, shortly before its launch into cyberspace. One minute she's hearing her voice on the radio -- singing a song that she wrote. The next minute celebrity disc jockey Chris Stevenson of WMUZ-FM's "The Morning Light" is saying her name and announcing an upcoming song by a big recording artist like Francesca Battistelli in the same breath.

Joanna is a high school senior, dual-enrolled in home-school and classes at Rochester College. She's always loved music and while her parents were not keen on her becoming a singer/songwriter, they came to realize her gift should be shared. So they and Joanna traveled to a music studio in Toledo, Ohio, and recorded "Little Baby Loved."

Before they returned home, Joanna's best friend had the song uploaded to YouTube.

"I did not want my daughter going into the music business," said Joanna's mother. "It's not the kind of life you envision for your child. It's a hard life. But about a year ago, my husband and I realized this was a gift - her singing and songwriting abilities - and it needed to be shared and this song is part of that."

"It's a great song... about the true meaning of Christmas," she added.

In addition to singing at church, Joanna was asked to be the opening act for the Chuck Tocco Band's CD release party, Dec. 17 at TV's Great Event banquet hall in Trenton.  This spring she will graduate from high school. And while she entertained thoughts of pursuing a music degree, much depends on "Little Baby Loved."

"I could say I want to be a recording star," Joanna said. "But... my ultimate goal is whatever God has planned for me."

Click here for more on TV's Grand Event

Help your children shine at Christmas parties

Kids are never politically correct.

I'll never forget the Christmas I made the gravy. I was in college and my brother, who lives on the family's homestead and always hosts our holiday dinner, tossed me a whisker and asked me if I could finish cooking the gravy. No problem. I mean really, how hard could it be, right? We're all sitting at the table, enjoying each other's company when my niece, who was about 5 or 6 at the time, started whimpering. My sister-in-law whispers, "What's wrong?" My niece doesn't answer so she persists until finally she belts out, "Do I have to eat my potatoes? The gravy is lumpy."

We laughed, but I was with family members who know I can cook, some dishes rather well. Had I been with strangers, I'm sure the remark would have had me ducking under the table.

"The holiday season is when parents tend to notice most acutely which of their kids' habits could use improvement. After all, friends and family are there to witness what you see as an embarrassing display that reflects poorly on your parenting skills," according to Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA, CSP, and author of six self-help books, including her newest release, "The Engaging Child: Raising Children to Speak, Write, and Have Relationship Skills Beyond Technology" ($18.95, Red Zone Publishing). "As a parent myself, I know that in the everyday hurry and worry of life, it's easy to let your kids' smaller foibles go uncorrected. And once you're in the midst of the packed holiday social season, it's too late to correct behaviors you previously overlooked."

"My experience as a professional and as a parent has convinced me that one of the most valuable gifts you can give your kids is to teach them how to effectively (interact) with others in a variety of settings. And the holiday season provides a wealth of opportunities to demonstrate and practice those skills," Kuzmeski said. The time to explain the rules of holiday engagement to a child is now, before all of the parties and gatherings begin.

So, where do you start?

Consider all of the parties, pageants and social settings that you and your children will be attending, and decide beforehand what habits and skills you want your children to demonstrate.

"Don't assume that your child 'would never' act in a certain way or even that he or she knows better than to engage in a particular behavior," Kuzmeski said. "Remember, kids don't' always know intuitively when they need to be on their best behavior, and they can't fake it as easily as adults can."

* Teach them that it's cool to go unplugged

With all of the gadgets available for emails, social networking, text messaging and mp3 players, a great deal of our time these days is spent plugged into something. As with anything, one must learn to step away from the gadgetry, especially at this time of year, when face-to-face interactions are so important. So, create a rule for Christmas. "Place a basket at the door during any family event and collect all electronic devices before the mingling starts," Kuzmeski suggested. "Include a note on the basket that reads, 'So you can enjoy the friends and family you're with.' Explain to your kids how important it is to engage fully with people you love, especially if you don't see certain individuals during the rest of the year."

* Arm your kids with ice breakers

"For youngsters who spend most of their days 'LOLing,' BRBing,' and 'TTYLing,' having a good old-fashion verbal conversation might be unfamiliar, if not downright intimidating," Kuzmeski said.

When adults meet a new child, they'll often ask easy-to-answer stock questions such as "What's your name? How old are you?" Besides teaching them how to answer simple questions, help your child think of something extra they might offer to the conversation. For instance, "Hi, I'm Stephen. I'm 5 years old and I love football."

*Share the importance of charm

It doesn't matter the age of a person, a compliment is always a great way to break the conversational ice. Practice with your kids, giving them examples of how to compliment. A girl, for example, could say, "I love that necklace you're wearing. It's so pretty. For a boy, "Wow, cool watch."

* The weather is the safe zone

It's not the most interesting conversation, but the fact is it works, and it's a great way for a child to ease into a conversation with someone he or she does not know very well. Something they might say? "Isn't all this snow great?" or "I hope this rain turns into snow. I would really like a white Christmas."

* Teach them how to find things in common

If children learn to find a common interest with the person to whom they are speaking, small talk can turn from mediocre to meaningful in an instant. "Teach your kids to be aware of conversational and external cues," said Kuzmeski. "If your daughter notices that someone is wearing a (Spartan) jersey and she's also a fan, she can strike up a conversation about the team.

* It's a wrap

"One of the trickiest parts of small talk is the conclusion," Kuzmeski advised. "Give kids a few lines they can use to wrap up a conversation before it veers into awkward silence like, 'It was great to meet you.' Or 'Enjoy your holidays.'"

TODAY'S MUSE

Don't be yourself, be someone a little kinder -- Mignon McLaughlin, American journalist and author

Welcoming out-of-town guests to your home

Sharing your home for the holidays is a Christmas tradition everyone should experience at least once. For those who know what they're doing, it can be an event that is cherished long after the holidays are over.

So Aunt Millie is coming to town? Face the date and get cracking.

To help with the process, here's a game plan from one of the best penny pinchers I know, Ashley Grimaldo, whose advice for frugal-minded families has appeared here as well as "Redbook" and "The Chicago Tribune":

Create a meal-sharing spreadsheet.

"After a decade of gathering for Thanksgiving with my mother's extended relatives, we finally wised up and started assigning cooking and cleaning to each family," said Grimaldo. "We... made sure each group knew what they were responsible for. Make the most of Facebook and send out small group messages."

Prepare the guest rooms with necessities.

Your guests should have two towels, extra linens and enough toiletries to get them through the weekend. Once the room is stocked, let them know where they are and what to do if they need something else such as aspirin. "Don't forget to leave a few bestsellers and magazines on the nightstand for late-night reading," Grimaldo added.

Do a guests-are-here drill with the family.

"Most of us don't have spare rooms lying around throughout our house. Your guests will most likely need to encroach on current inhabitants," Grimaldo said. "If those evicted youngsters are under 3, let them share a room with their older siblings a couple nights ahead so they will sleep well when company arrives."

Plan activities to burn off calories and steam. 

"Two big ideas here: You will eat far more than you should (despite your steely resolve) and cabin fever leads to badness (as dramatized in 'The Shining')." A brisk walk gives family members time to talk, wear off dinner and enjoy nature.

What's going on around town?

Find out what shows, plays or fun activities might be going on around town and give your guests the option to attend. If you've got snow consider gathering everyone together to build a snowman or go sledding. 

Be a good host and think ahead.

Rather than playing GPS on the night of arrival, send your first-time guests an email with map attachments and directions. Include other need-to-know stops nearby such as grocery stores and pharmacies.

Consider buying a good air mattress.

How many times have you had to borrow a mattress for overnight guests? Watch for sales after Christmas on quality air mattresses. After all, if you're finally going to get one, be sure it's durable and something even you wouldn't mind crashing on.

Ask about food allergies and what kids like to eat.

If you have someone with severe conditions, check for tips and recipes on sites such as Eating With Food Allergies

Spare the carpeting and the dishwasher.

Instead of mopping up spilled soda or constantly filling the dishwasher with unidentified empty cups, consider purchasing a batch of souvenir cups with lids to contain the mess and give your guests something to take home later. Have a permanent marker handy so everyone can autograph their own cup.

Consider the family's pets.

"If your cat-crazy relatives can't make it through the weekend without toting Whiskers along, address it ahead of time," Grimaldo said. "Consult this list of safety tips for dogs at "ASPCA For everyone's sake, ask your guest if the animal has any peculiar habits or needs such as a pet bed or chewy toys.

Send your comments or home and garden tips to gina.joseph@macombdaily.com.

'Performarama' tunes audiences into old time radio and local talent

If you have the funds there is no limit to the amount of entertainment available during the holidays. However, for the average family on a tight budget, the long list of things to do becomes a short list of priorities.

Orson Welles.

Topping the list of priorities are soirees that support local talent such as "Performarama" at The Magic Bag theater in Ferndale, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6. 

What makes this event especially nice is a portion of the proceeds will go to support the marketing and promotion of a local movie and the Michigan Chapter of Alzheimer's Association.

The 2-hour show being presented by Michigan film and stage director Brian Lawrence and producer Aida Munoz features professional actors performing an old-time radio show like those your grandparents talk about when reminiscing about Christmases when they were a child. In those days, families gathered around the radio to hear shows such as "Little Orphan Annie," "The Lone Ranger" and “The Green Hornet,” just to name a few. If their town was lucky enough to be chosen as a spot on the tour, they would purchase tickets to see their favorite radio show performed live at a nearby theater or auditorium.

"Performarama" gives audiences that chance.

A troupe from the Actor's Workshop in Royal Oak will perform a funny skit from the radio days of yesteryear, "The Uranus Players Theater presents Nick Danger - Third Eye." 

Performarama actors, left to right are: Lauren Allen, Robin Mudge,

Ann Marie Lamphier and Jennifer Masty (Harrison Township).

"It'll be hilarious," Lawrence said. Besides being a great spoof on radio, other than the animation specials on TV, how often do you get to see film actors performing for radio? Like the classic stars of yesteryear, they'll be doing all of the voices and sound effects?

The evening, which will be emceed by comedic radio personality Blaine Fowler from WDVD-FM (96.3)'s morning show, "Blaine and Allyson," also features performances by actor and singer Jeff Caponigro, and recording artist Stewart Francke, who has opened for superstars such as Bob Seger and Sheryl Crow and whose own mother-in-law fought the darkness of Alzheimer's Disease. 

"Stewart is a great talent and someone who has been incredibly generous with his time in the past to benefit important charity causes. We very much appreciate his willingness to come perform a few songs at this important event," said Lawrence, adding that L'Stubbs -- a vocal quintet featuring Thelma Stubbs-Mitchell, sister of legendary Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops, and four of his nieces, Pamela Fuller, Shelia Stubbs-Taylor, and Ronda and Robin Pierce -- are also guests. 

"It should be a really exciting evening at The Magic Bag," Lawrence said.

Tickets for the eclectic concert and radio show performance are $25 in advance; $30 at the door or online here. Food courtesy of Kerby's is included. Although it's a clean comedy show, the cash bar limits entrance to only those 21 and over. The Magic Bag is at 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Event hotline: 248-544-3030; Email: info@themagicbag.com.

Magic show to benefit Goodfellows

It's going to be a magical night for children.

As Clintondale Community Theater presents, "Reflections - A Great Evening of Magic," an entertaining evening featuring some of the area's most talented magicians performing their magic so that no child goes without a Christmas, Friday, Dec. 2.

"I've been on tour in Asia for the past two years and I wanted to come home and do a show," said illusionist Keri Kazz, who is among the headliners scheduled to appear.

Other performers at the family-friendly show will include juggler, Rufus The Dufus, magician Dave Schneider and ventriloquist David Mitchell. Special guests will include Rosie The Clown and Frostie The Snowman.

All proceeds from the event go to benefit the Mount Clemens and Clinton Township Goodfellows!

Clintondale Community Theater auditorium is located at 35200 Little Mack (enter off 15 Mile Road, east of Little Mack between Gratiot and Groesbeck) in Clinton Township. General Admission Tickets are $10 at the door. Show starts at 7 p.m. 

TODAY'S MUSE

That's the thing with magic. You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you -- Charles de Lint, Celtic folk musician and storyteller.