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Bottle Shock - What a great name for a movie. My review is to recommend that you see it right away. And if you like California wines, then see it even sooner! It takes place in 1975, it's a true story, it's charming and real, the actors are watchable, and the scenery and music are great.
We're starting to get some good weather this week, so I've been on a couple of nice walks. I think I'll take my camera along from now on, and record early spring this year.
Today I did a major job of clearing off my kitchen desk. I completed tasks that had been hanging over my head since January! This feels so good I can't tell you. I hope that I can purge a lot of paper in the next few days or weeks. A clean desk. Ahhhhh.
I'd like to go into the summer with long unplanned days stretched out before me.
South Park - As anyone who has watched this Comedy Central cartoon about 4th graders knows, this is not a show for the meek. No matter the theme, it's usually handled in the absolute most disgusting way possible...but cleverly. And therein lies the appeal. This show is so funny. Last night, the topic was banned books, (and no doubt a small tribute to J.D. Salinger); the teacher handed out copies of one of one of the most controversial banned books ever: The Catcher in the Rye. And that's all I'm going to say. If you're up for lots of cartoon vomiting, this is one of the funniest episodes ever. Oh, and by the way, it's not for kids.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - I just finished rereading one of my all time favorite novels. This wonderful book transcends time, place and age, although it is very specifically about a certain time, place and age. It takes place in the early 1930s in Maycomb County, Alabama, and is narrated by Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, daughter of the town's lawyer. She tells about events that took place on her street and in her town during a three year period when she was 6-9 years old. The story and characters are so real, and the book is so beautifully written, that it's unforgettable. Remember when our children used to watch the same video over and over when they were little? That's how I am with books. I've been reading this one since I was 10 years old. I hope I'll read it another few times before all is said and done.
I wasn't called in to sub today, and I somehow managed to do a whole lot of nothing. I mean I finished the ironing, and submitted application materials in person to another school district, read the paper (which isn't saying much anymore - Monday and Tuesdays the Trib is featherweight) and now I'm writing this. I'm also working on a big clear-off of my kitchen desk. Still, it feels like nothing in the scheme of what looks undone around here. Back to my endless list.....
Friends: I didn't sub on Monday, so I made a spring skirt with fabric I bought for last spring. So that was good. Creativity. Something accomplished. Then on Tuesday went to the Housewares Show which is a long tiring yet fun day. That night I fell into bed at 10:30! The next day drove up to Jenny's lake house in Wisconsin, where Jenny, Sue and I played Mexican Train, Double Solitaire, some other card game with 6 cards that Jenny kept remembering new rules for and Rumikub. All to the accompaniment of iPod music, appetizers and tasty beverages. I even got the new skirt hemmed! Came home yesterday afternoon, and went to a fun girls' night at Nancy's house in honor of our friend and friend-networker, Pam, who has moved to New Jersey, and who we dearly miss. It is so great to see Pam. She is still gathering us all together. Today went to a few house sales with Nancy, (scratched the itch as she says) found a lovely crystal pear, Waterford either shot glass or dram cup, (where the workers have a dram of whiskey each day twice during their whiskey making shift - at least they did when I toured the Johnny Walker factory in Scotland ages ago) and some other stuff that I now can't recall. Never a dull moment!
Closets: My closet is a compilation at this point. I'm not sure I like it, because I keep on keeping some clothes that are really great, just not on me anymore. I want my closet to be a mix of things I can wear that look great or work great for the occasion. Not a bunch of old stuff that I keep passing by as I go to boring standbys that are comfortable. I have to say that the clothes that look the greatest are usually not the comfortablest. On me anyway.
This topic is on the table because I bought those new flat velour hangers at the show. I love hangers and a great looking closet. So something is going to have to give here, because my previous hanger system is now in serious jeopardy threatened by the new space saving system at the same time I want to clear out.
Haven't watched a show or finished a book lately. And it's snowing and slushy outside and I'm going to a fun benefit tonight and this blog about less than nothing/zero/more boring than boring is born of the fact that I have to figure out what to wear tonight, get my hair in party shape and do my nails. Enough avoidance. On to the tasks. If I really pull myself together, I'll post a picture tomorrow. Hmmm.....what did I wear to that Bat Mitzvah last month?
Up - Yesterday was a rainy day, and after returning from a couple of house sales that "didn't quite scratch the itch" (as my avid house sale partner Nancy said), Peter and I watched Up. I loved the beginning of the movie, enjoyed the middle part OK, and pretty much slept through the end. I saw enough to know why it won awards and to figure out the ending. It was good enough to hold the interest of my war-game playing son who could have opted out at any time. That's got to be as good a review as any.
Today after church my plan is to sew, bead and do other creative pursuits. I'll also have to finish the laundry, read the Sunday Trib, orchestrate the DVR, because there might be three shows to record at once, and we only have capability to record two and only watch one of those two. If we could record two and watch a third, it would be much better. I also want to go for a walk to unload the winter from my body.
Bead, Sew, Creative Pursuits.
A Serious Man - Yesterday I thought I rented the movie A Single Man, but when it started out with this funny little old fashioned fable, I knew I had the wrong movie. I'm not sure at what point I realized that I had the Coen brothers movie with a similar name, but it's so great that I did, because I loved it. It's about a guy, a serious man, whose world is pretty much imploding on him. It's very watchable, quirky, serious and funny. The Bonus Features on the DVD were long, but good, especially the last one translating yiddish words and expressions into english. I was familiar with most of them, but enjoyed learning some new ones.
I've been thinking a lot about decorating, since I'm about to embark on some painting around here. I want dramatic stunning spaces, but have realized that those usually come at the expense of light, since the easiest way to bring drama in is to paint with strong colors. The truth is that I am more comfortable in light filled rooms. I don't mind mono-chromatic rooms, though, and I am rather tired of the heavy gold frames and some of my traditional lamps. Even my rugs, which I love, bring darkness into the rooms. So what to do?
The September Issue - This documentary takes place in the months, weeks and days preceeding Vogue Magazine's September 2007 Issue. It follows Editor in Chief Anna Wintour, Style Editor Grace Coddington and my favorite Andre Leon Talley. I wouldn't be surprised to find that this award winning film was made to counter the reputation of Anna in the fictional The Devil Wears Prada. Yes, she's not sweet and sugary to everyone, but she gets the job done in a world where no one seems to appreciate a drive for perfection.
I loved this movie and watched many of the bonus scenes as well. My mom subscribed to Vogue for years in the 60s, 70s and 80s. I've subscribed over the years, and often buy that huge and heavy September issue. This year I bought the Italian Vogue September issue. (no one will be surprised that I still haven't read it- it's pretty daunting!) I wish I had some of those issues from the 60s and 70s. I probably have some picture cut outs from those magazines in the basement. Really.
I found my ring.
Under the ironing board in my office/sewing room. I searched there many times. I have no idea how it got there now. I'm just glad it did. Relief. Thank you God.
Inglourious Basterds - Why didn't I see this movie right away? Because if you tell me a movie is violent, then I shy away, same for cartoons and action films. However, this is a movie about historical events, and it's a great story. I love Quentin Tarantino because he makes a stylish movie. Every detail, every nuance, every word uttered, every note of music, has a place in the movie, and it's been very carefully thought about and included. His characters are magnetic no matter whether they're good or evil. So yeah, it's violent, I guess, but who cares? I think the Nazis were a violent bunch, and I think World War II was violent event. This is a movie, and it's really good. Tonight is Oscar night. I wonder if this one will win any awards?
In The Beginning - Great First Lines From Your Favorite Books - Collected by Hans Bauer - This book has been on my shelf for ages, and finally I decided to read it front to back. It's a fun read, and the first lines are in alphabetical order according to the title of the book, and I love it when I recognize one. First lines are very important; my son has learned to call the first line of a paper the "hook". If you've got a good hook, it's usually easier to catch them, and then to reel them in. Here's a favorite of mine:
"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth".
This was written in 1951, and when I read it years after that, when I was 12 years old, it was new and different and like no other book I'd read. Maybe before or since. Certain books evoke certain feelings, and then they have to be read at just the right time in your life in order to grab you. Do you recognize it? The color of the font is a clue.
How does iTunes know to play all the music you love and want to hear right then, song after song after song? And other times, how does it possibly manage to play the last songs in the world you feel like listening to right then? Song after song. How?
