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Ah, the holidays - magical, manic, frantic, stress-inducing, scintillating! My heretofore rather mild psoriasis attack blossomed into Elephant-Man-itis. Doc appointments wriggled their way into the usual notably bustling festivities. Exhaustion and disillusionment R US!"Doctor Feel-Good" adventures invaded my individualistic "I do what I wanna do, and when I wanna do it" schedule at the traditionally nutsiest time of the year -- the progression of three celebrations throughout November to January, dictated by the calendar for ages upon ages. You'd better be game. Ride those sparkling events like a demented Beachboy hanging onto a precariously slippery surfboard for dear life! No exceptions! Always remain perky and full of positive thoughts! Bah! Humbug!This particular season, national events encompassed: stomach churning fiscal cliffs; stubborn "gunblasting-our-way-to-total-obliterative-MASS-massacre" foolishly contentious debates; wildlife culling promoted as sportsy; "looking occasionally cross-eyed" broadcast by the NRA to be certifiable mental illness, which is supposedly the onliest reason that increasingly (currently, more guns in the United States than people) heavily armed, paranoid, violent humans slay one another; ever-present, extremist political points of view quashing peaceful, reasonable dialogue; and self-defeating refusals to deal with climate change's environmental emergencies -- ALL of the aforementioned trampling upon one's liberal-progressive spirit. Chinese water torture.It follows that a person might reflect inner turmoil via the "pain of psoriasis" -- systemic, unpredictable, an all-too-obvious reaction to the world at large! Furthermore, I am "got" because pharmaceuticals thundered into the life of somebody who never even swallows an aspirin. Ever! Hypochondria's not my style. Probably I lean more toward "Christian Science", but our local branch shut down scores of years ago.Quick-fix time! Who relishes feeling even a teensy bit under the weather? But how about greeting each day while covered with chicken-pox polka dots which "flare" into patchy, fire-engine red, scaly patches manifesting their myriad selves into mysterious patterns and configurations via a case of latter-day leprosy once featured in Bible stories, left and right? Life, according to Thackeray, is a "Vanity Fair"! Unsightly, temperamental skin eruptions, other than a few scattered mole-like beauty marks here and there, assure that I'll be more anti-social than I am already! Difficult to fathom! Googling unearthed fellow sufferers comic Jon Lovitz and reality TV starlet Kim Kardashian. Misery loves company!Any boob-tubed obsessed couch potato KNOWS that our societal dependence upon prescription or over-the-counter medications guarantees accompanying unwanted results whenever we watch impossibly perfect models wander gleefully and prettily through peppy commercials. Side-effects listed provide the bulk of the voice-over's script; "possible liver failure, pituitary tumors, severe depression, suicidal thoughts, heart attacks, alteration of personality, debilitating anxiety -- please discontinue use if any of these new symptoms develop!"Waxy, cortisone-based, steroidal-loaded applications of topical, slathering creams initially converted me into a walking Christmas candle. Within a couple of anxious weeks, I experienced a switch-over to a greasy, oily concoction, no longer in tooth-paste sized tubes but rather in huge jars, which assures that I could effortlessly swim the English Channel as a revisited, slicked-up Gertrude Ederle! These ointments and salves co-mingle, entering my blood stream prompting both inventive dreams and convincing hallucinations. Truly, I spotted JFK, or his identical twin, at Richard's Restaurant recently."Jack" appeared very fit and startlingly elegant in an expensive over-coat, his distinctive shock of hair -- still parted and combed to one side -- now glistening silver. The president's steely blue eyes peered in my direction in a decidedly aloof country club/landed gentry manner. I spoke to him and am comforted that my husband also witnessed this occurrence. Rod Serling, in a nearby booth, may have been jotting down notes for his "Twilight Zone" series.Thus, following my relentless rounds with the medical profession in an attempt to retrieve cosmetic acceptability, what TRULY soothed my jangled holiday nerves?LEADING MEN!!! Handsome matinee idols recently paraded across movie screens before my eager, adulatory eyes! These dudes re-directed my vain, obsessive fixation with my skin onto their perilous adventures with -- respectively -- Her Majesty's Secret Service MI6 , civil wars, and French revolutions. Daniel "James Bond-007" Craig stylishly and ruggedly pursuing villains as the sky falls all around himself, Daniel Day Lewis's 150% inhabiting of the iconic persona of a Christ-like Abraham Lincoln, and hunky Hugh "Jean Valjean- #24601" Jackman's completely convincing, mesmerizing transformation from a despicable singing French convict into an angelic singing French savior of singing French lost souls stole my heart! I vicariously cheered, swooned, and suffered! Sacha Baron Cohen and Javier Bardem boosted my spirits also, as both appeared in these very films as cleverly clownish villains! (Javier made it into my paperback book, "Secrets of an Old Typewriter"!)Upton Sinclair regarded Victor Hugo's masterpiece "Les Miserables" as "one of the half-dozen greatest novels of the world"-- agreed! Susie Sexton, likewise, considers Russell Crowe to be "one of the half-dozen greatest actors of this world or any other"! I'll not be moved to change my accurate evaluation of the Australian perfectionist. Contrary to probably countless audience members' appraisals, I reveled in his "Gladiator"- "Insider" - "Beautiful Mind"-blended super-intelligent approach to the character of conflicted, yet determined, "Inspector Javert". His execution (Crowe detractors might snarkily agree with the word "execution") of the constant musicalized dialogue, required of the entire cast at all times, demonstrated consistent focus, flawless articulation, and a raw honesty captured by not one other vocalist as exquisitely.Extraordinary Russell's inspirational believability astounds me. Not since Spencer Tracy regaled audiences with total naturalness for decades have I ever been so impressed by any actor. Russ's Inspector Javert, planted firmly amidst dismally dreary overwrought deprived and depraved local masses of French humanity dubbed "Les Miserables", provided the highlight of my 2012-13 holi-daze malaise!Upon juggling noble protagonist Jackman/ Valjean with aggravating antagonist Crowe/Javert inside my currently addled state of mind, I preferred the performance of Mr. Crowe whose crisp portrayal was neither florid nor melodramatic but instead intriguingly, provocatively observational and artistically out of step with the film's murky tone. For this devotee of unique talent, his Javert won my everlasting devotion. Standing rigidly upon a bridge above the River Seine -- while expressing an anguished puzzlement at the nature of good and evil-- baritone Crowe, as the unbending seeker of often brutal justice, sings: "There is nothing on earth that we share! It is either Valjean or Javert! And my thoughts fly apart. Can this man be believed? Shall his sins be forgiven? I am reaching, but I fall. And the stars are black and cold as I stare into the void of a world that cannot hold. I'll escape now from the world, from the world of Jean Valjean…" Then into the swirling, watery abyss he hurls himself. Could have been my drug-enhanced malady, but I considered diving after him … to administer mouth to mouth resuscitation! (Russell's pending gig involves even more water; he'll be piloting an ark full of animals "two by two" when he stars as … Noah! I can hardly wait!)____________________Drex Morton: "I'm breaking my self-imposed facebook sabbatical due to the stress of Mother's illness, etc. to thank you, Susie, for reminding me of this thing I love both on the stage and in the cavern comfort of theater seats...And your take on the holiday marathon is 'spot on,' and I may live to see the next 'whirling dervish' season with new eyes because of your perspective of grace under fire. My dear Christian Science friend Bunny Maurer, were she able, would applaud your avoidance of most chemical 'quick fixes' thus far...I do, too. My rare 'rhino-virus' incursion, like your skin reaction, is no doubt revulsion at the thought of all the genuine attacks on the progressive, artistic spirit...Had I known you were to see Jack and Rod at the restaurant, I would have asked you to remember me to each."Kat Kelly-Heinzelman: "thanks, Roy and Susie! I am so honored....Roy, I think we all are lucky to have the pleasure of knowing and loving your Mom. You my dear friend are the luckiest one of all of us--because not only do you have her has your best friend but you get her as your Mom. Not everyone can have Susie Sexton Duncan as a Mom even if we wish it. But you got lucky when God was handing out Moms the day he found yours you got a keeper. LOL Your Mom isn't aging at all she is more than beautiful than she was when your Dad married her. Thank Roy for sharing your Mom with the rest of us we are so lucky to have her and you in our lives."Nancy Gray: "Thanks, Roy. I think your mom is so pretty…and a gifted writer!"Barbara Nicholson: "Roy, your mother has a way with words! I admire her writings, wit and vast knowledge of past and present! Know you and your dad realize she is a gem!!!!"Michelle: "She is a spunky thing. And clearly a cat lover!"Mary Shaull: "And away we go! Amazing thoughts. You pull me into your thoughts and observations and emotions with every line! Having just seen Les Miserables, I was with you all the way. Crowe's deliverance was more properly musical than Jackman's, but I liked Jackman's emotional singing more. A song that brings me to tears every time, is Lord Above, Hear my Prayer - and he did it justice. I'll take a million Javier's to one teeny Sasha. Javier is unreal. Nothing else like him. Now and then there's an eeriness in Christopher Walken that chills me, too."Bev Sexton: "Thank you, Roy.....I don't think your Mom is getting older like the rest of us. She looks great!"Alice H. Rivera: "I am praying for you. I saw Roy was writing that you were sick. I felt so bad to read that. You are such a very sweet lady, who cares about everyone. Get well and rest a lot. Love you and God bless, Alice - Saint Susie"Tressa Marie: "Thank you for sharing this wonderful article!"Mina Linda: "Thank you very much, dear Susie and Roy"Lotta Stenfelt: "Nice to see there are also a lot of wonderful people in this world...you are sweet Susie... which means people like you too!"Shannon Wright: "Thumbs up as always!"Paro Babu: "i totally agree with Tressa ♥ thank you very much, Roy for sharing this ♥ 'thanks to those of you who share these lives hanging in the balance. and for reminding us that animals have the RIGHT to live.' this is what makes me respect Susie more and more day by day...thanks a ton for sharing this, Roy ♥"____________________Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter - print and ebook versions available (click the title to order from publisher Open Books' website). Also available in both formats at Amazon.com , or download from iTunes Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or won't