Well, in my dreams, he is!
I’ve been tagged by English Mum in Ireland for a rather interesting meme. I get to invite any eight people I want to dinner!
Now, like EM, I’m going to have to say that my first guest will be my dearly beloved Other Half. Firstly because he is dearly beloved, and secondly because he’d be very interested to meet my second guest - the lovely Johnny Depp. And thirdly, because if I don’t include him he’ll kill me be very hurt.
Now, since I have Johnny Depp seated dead opposite me where I can see him to drool properly, I’ll need to invite Mariella Frostrup too. No, Johnny doesn’t have a thing about Mariella (not that I know of) but OH does - at least, he has a thing about her voice, and he likes intelligent women - so if I seat her next to OH, she’ll keep him nicely occupied pouring her honeyed tones into his shell-like ear, while I talk to my other guest.
Er .. guests.
Hmm. The rules say I have to have eight people, so I need a few more … let me think. Oh, I know someone! But first I have to tell you a little story.
Back in 1985, I was a very tired young mother with a four year old, and a new baby who was a very happy little soul just so long as he was being carried or cuddled. So each evening, OH used to take Son No. 1 up for his bath and put him to bed while I sat on the sofa with Son No. 2 and nursed him till he fell asleep. And so it was that I discovered American Football, and Walter Payton, because one of the programmes that would come on while I was pinned to the sofa by a combination of a demanding baby and mind-boggling fatigue was the Channel Four American Football game of the week. I’d watch the little figures on the screen milling about and falling over and it was chaos. But I thought I’d try to get to grips with the game and over the weeks of that first season, I gradually sorted out the rules and the teams and the personalities. Now, 1985 was a very good year for the Chicago Bears, so they were featured quite often, and their star running back was Walter Payton. Even to me, he stood out as a stunningly good player, and he was a joy to watch. By the time he hung up his boots, he’d racked up some amazing numbers and held several records, and was loved by team-mates and fans alike. He seemed to be such a nice guy. So nice, in fact, that his nickname was ‘Sweetness’. Only a few years after retiring, he died of a rare liver disease … I’d been hoping he’d get a coaching job somewhere or even buy into ownership of a team, which was something he’d wanted to do, but it was not to be - he didn’t even make it to 46 years old. So, I’d like to have him as one of my guests so I can tell him how pissed I am that he died. *Sigh*
John Cusack. Another very decorative and extremely talented actor, who has made some great movies. He seems to make similar choices to Johnny Depp, going for the quirky, the strange, and the unusual … but he’ll put in time on the pot-boilers too, to finance the stuff he really wants to do. One of my favourite Cusack movies is Grosse Pointe Blank, another is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I’ve watched most of them, and there’s only one I regret, and that’s 1408. It would have been fine, if only I hadn’t picked up the director’s cut by mistake. As it is, I can’t tell you when I’ll be ready to stay in a hotel room again - maybe never. I might have to put in a complaint about that, too.
So … who to choose next?  I think it has to be Judi Dench. I admire her so much. She has a quick wit, a dry sense of humour, and despite her status as a Dame of the realm and a great actress, she seems very unassuming and sweet. And she loves Billy Connolly - didn’t they do well together in Mrs Brown? And who could forget her performance as ‘M’ in the Bond movies? Oh, and the TV series ‘A Fine Romance’ would have been very ordinary without her, for sure. Anyway, she is also very fond of Johnny Depp, having starred with him in Chocolat as the redoubtable Armande Voisin, and he is fond of her too, and that’s one of the things one needs to bear in mind when planning dinner parties, isn’t it? Will the guests get along?
Let’s see: Me, OH, Johnny Depp, John Cusack, Walter Payton, Mariella Frostrup and Dame Judi Dench. A well balanced table would need one more woman … but it’s my fantasy dinner party and I can do what I like, so fuck it, I’m going to choose Leonard Cohen. He can bring his guitar and sing to us.
Leonard Cohen has been a hot topic among bloggers and friends just lately for some reason, and I’ve been reminded how much I love his music. I dug out the CDs we have and played those, then I bought myself a new compilation album which included some tracks I’d never heard and I’m really enjoying it.  He always considered himself a poet first and a singer second, but he has a hypnotic voice and his songs are the kind which stay with you for a long time. I always tell people I don’t much like poetry, but I love Leonard Cohen, so maybe I just like my poetry sung to me instead of recited. Listen to the tragically lyrical Closing Time or the enigmatic Sisters of Mercy and tell me that’s not poetry.
So, there you are. If you’d like to have a go at this one, here are the rules:
Pick 8 people you’d like to invite to dinner, dead or alive or re-animated/resurrected.
Say why
Link your answers back to the lovely Lottie
Give credit to the person who tagged you
Tag three others
I’m tagging Mr Nighttime, I’d Rather Be Blogging, and YellowSwordfish. Tee hee.
Oh - and that pic up there? That’s me and No. 2 son doing the demanding baby and mind-boggling fatigue routine early in 1986. I might even have been watching the Bears at the time that was taken.
I most definitely would love to have Johnny Depp for dinner.Oooops-meant over for dinner.No,the first one is right.I would love to be his dessert.
ChrisCandJonJs last blog post..Here Comes Peter Cotton-Tail…….
Oh, mercy … Walter Payton … my husband was such a huge fan of Sweetness, he’d sure love to be invited to this group. How sad Walter died so young. I’d love to meet Judi Dench. I admire her so very much. John Cusack too … and do you suppose we could we get Leonard Cohen to sing “Dance Me To The End Of Love” … ?
Let’s see … did I forget anyone? OH YEAH! Darling Johnny! Heh Heh … aaaahhhhhhh …. four-point restraints might be necessary to keep me off the poor man’s lap.
If I were invited, that is.
Jennys last blog post..Go Cubs Go …
Hey, thanks for the tag. I get the sense that you might have known that the liver disease that killed Walter Payton was the same one that I had. Walter developed bile duct cancer as a result of that disease, primary sclerosing cholangitits. There is a 15-20% of developing this cancer with this disease. In essence, I dodged two bullets. He was listed for transplant when they discovered the cancer, and took him off the transplant list, as it is an automatic disqualification for transplant.
Mr. Nighttimes last blog post..Please pass the script and the couscous.
You’d invite Johnny Depp? Now there’s a surprise ;O)
I love Judi Dench. She a lovely lady with a twinkle in her eyes. Many times I listened to Leonard Cohen. Although some said he sounded far too mournful, I liked him.
You do look a tad tired in the photo.
Babs - beetles last blog post..An award and a gift!
How lovely of you to include Walter Payton. I still cry whenever I see video of him; he was such a classy man, and he died much too young. (I lived in Chicago in 1985 and still live in the suburbs, and my husband and I are rabid Bears fans.)
I’m also a big Judi Dench fan. I’d say you have a fabulous dinner party going on.
Ruth Hull Chatliens last blog post..Half Full or Half Empty
“There is a 15020% of developing this cancer with this disease.”
Sorry, that should read 15 to 20%
Mr. Nighttimes last blog post..Please pass the script and the couscous.
Great choice on Walter Payton.. with one ’small’ possible complication. As you’re a fan of the ‘85 Bears you’ll know that he was never very far away from his lead blocker, “The Fridge”… I’ll let you tell him that he can’t bring a friend
Somnambulists last blog post..No Shopping Today Please
ChrisCandJonJ - Now, now, settle down there. In this fantasy, he’s all mine. MWAHAHAHAHA!
Jenny - If I invited all my Depp friends, I’d have to move into a mansion and make it an Event. ROFL! But I’m sure Leonard would oblige you with Dance Me To The End Of Love ..
I don’t see how anyone could not love Walter Payton, but I guess if you were - for instance - a Bronco’s fan, or hated practical jokers, you might not. Hard to understand though, for sure.
Mr N - I didn’t actually know it was the same liver disease as yours, but I knew he was on the transplant list and had to be taken off when he developed cancer. It seemed like such a bitter thing for he and his family to swallow. I’m very glad you dodged the bullets.
I’ll fix your typo for you.
Babs - I know! He does sound mournful. A friend of mine was a big fan back in her student days, and says that every time she put one of her Cohen albums on, her flatmates used to start howling like dogs. LOL!
Ruth - I always feel a wave of sadness watching him too, or looking at my nice autographed portrait. *Sigh* Such a loss.
Somnambulist - Hahaha! I’m sure Mr Perry was a jolly nice chap too - I’m just not sure I have enough food in the house …
Judi Dench is fabulous!! And Johnny Depp of course but Leonard Cohen? I am gobsmacked - he is so miserable if he’s not moaning about someone leaving him its another tragedy!
Still it your party - just get OH to strangle him at the end!! xx
Now this is THE event to attend! Nevermind the Emmy’s tonight. I’d crash your party, Jay, to be in such revered
company. The great Leonard Cohen’s “Sisters of Mercy” is absolutely beautiful. You’d enjoy his latest DVD, I’M YOUR MAN. A group of Canadian musicians pay tribute to his work with him being interveiwed throughout. Highly recommend it.
Agree with you on John Cusack. I think he was very young when he started his own production company. When he was interviewed on The Actor’s Studio, he mentioned how he came up with the movie “Being John Malkovich” which he produced.
He asked one of the biggest Agencies to come up with their WORST scripts, and he’d take a look, and look what he came up with? Talk about quirky! Love him! There aren’t words to describe my love and reverence for Dame Judi and Johnny. Oh, Jay, you got me going. You know, perhaps this would make for a great mini-script. :))
Johnny and Judi? You would not only have the dinner party of the season, you would have memories to last many lifetimes. Makes me hum just to think of it
And Leonard Cohen. This might surprise you, but I have everything he’s ever done. My mom was a huge fan of his, and we listened to him constantly. We would also go to my aunties house who was also a fan, and her and my mom would blast him at top volume, and spend hours trying to out-sing each other. So I have very fond memories surrounding his voice, and still listen to him every so often. It brings back fond memories of childhood for me.
JTs last blog post..not in the mood to write
Very hot, very smart and very classy picks!!
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..Food Allergies = Depressed
This dinner party of yours sounds HIGHLY entertaining!! Major props for inviting Walter Payton - talk about amazing. I’d love to meet John Cusack, too - have you seen Martian Child yet??
Angis last blog post..Why Do I Get All the Weird Ones??
Oooh, I would love to come to dinner, even with a ghost at the party!
Peace - D
RiverPoets last blog post..Just a Quick One
Kate - Not a Leonard Cohen fan, huh? LOL! That’s OK, you can join the ‘howl like a dog’ brigade music/poetry is so subjective, we can’t all think alike.
I don’t find him depressing having listened properly to the lyrics, and his voice is soothing to me, rather than mournful, but each to her own!
Petra - I haven’t actually seen The Actor’s Studio interview with John Cusack, though I’d love to, so I didn’t know that story. That is just great - proof of his talent as an actor and as a risk-taking producer too. I love Being John Malkovich, it’s a classic!
I’ll have to look out for ‘I’m Your Man’. I saw a programme about him recently with many interviews, both with him and with the loves of his life and it was completely fascinating. Thanks for the tip!
JT - Another Leonard Cohen fan? Yes, I think a lot of people have fond memories of listening to his music. Maybe it’s because they heard it as teens and the way he wrote about things made them think deeply about stuff they hadn’t really got around to yet - but in a very unthreatening way?
Meleah - Thanks! So you wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall then?
Angi - No, I haven’t seen Martian Child. Is it good? Might have to go on my DVD list! I haven’t been keeping up with his movies so much lately (it’s that Depp guy, you know, he dominates my DVD collection… ) and only bought 1408 because it was being shown on a plane and I missed the ending.
River Poet - This is a fantasy, so he wouldn’t be a ghost, not really. We’d put a wrinkle in time or something.
Although a very unrelated post for me becasue I hardly know the people whom you have mentioned about… except Jhonny Depp ofcourse. But a good read and see, now I am feeling a little educated .:p
You looking tired and bored in the piccy and the son seems to enjoy the attention that he is getting.:D
ScratchBagss last blog post..Are you trying to prove something?
Scratch - The links in the post will take you to YouTube video of Leonard Cohen performing, and that’s really all you need to know about him!
John Cusack has made a huge number of movies, but of course, you may not have come across any of them.
Walter Payton was an American Football player, so I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of him, Dame Judi Dench is British, and Mariella Frostrup is Norwegian born, but moved to Britain when she was six, therefore may not be much known in the wider world.
I was just tired in the pic, not bored. When you’re that tired, you don’t have the energy to be bored. I felt like a zombie! I remember it well. LOL!
Ah, what an excellent choice, and a brilliant post. I thoroughly endorse your good taste (except for “Sweetness”, but that’s only ‘cos it brings back the nightmare of being force fed American football by the guy I ended up married to. I only married him on the condition I’d never need to sit through another match again, it’s our pre-nup)!
But wait, something’s missing here hon, what about the FOOD??????
Yep to be fair his music still calls to young people - my nephew has been a fan for years and he’s now 26!
Yes it’s very good…the little boy in the movie is absolutely adorable, and there’s one part toward the end that makes me tear up every time!
That Depp guy? Who would THAT be?
j/k!
Angis last blog post..Why Do I Get All the Weird Ones??
Sounds like a good cast of characters. Interestingly, I like John Cusack for the reasons you mention, as well. Hm. Must be something to your theory!
Jenns last blog post..Brook-Bagging Louie Stamoolis
Shrinky - Look, honey, I have Johnny Depp sitting opposite me. Who the fuck cares about food? A bottle of Petrus and a take out from Kentucky Fried and he’ll be happy. ROFL!
Besides, I have a reputation to consider as someone who Doesn’t Cook.
Kate - It’s amazing how the youngsters have picked up on music from our youth, huh? One of mine is really into Pink Floyd, Queen, Beatles etc.
Angi - I shall look for it! Thanks!
That Depp guy … oh, he’s no-one. Just leave him to me.
Jenn - They know each other too - I have a picture of them together looking quite pally at Hunter S. Thompson’s funeral.
[…] all dead. Well, apart from the wife of course. And me. So far. Of course she has already completed this meme and it’s pretty obvious who was on the top of her guest list! Still, she was good enough to […]
I’m afraid that meme is going to be delayed. Stop by the blog for why.
Mr. Nighttimes last blog post..Sadness…