It's Here and It's Awful

Remember when I discovered that Pepsi was going to put out Mt. Dew with real sugar and not high fructose corn syrup? Remember?!? This morning I was at the grocery store getting OJ and champagne (Craft Day mimosas, woohoo!) and there it was...Mt. Dew Throwback, with its retro label and all its sugary glory. Glee erupted in my heart. Joy danced on my eagerly awaiting taste buds. I felt like I had when waiting for the last Harry Potter book. I was a kid on Christmas. At last the day had arrived. And then I drank it. It's awful... I am so depressed.

My New Favorite Book

Dinosaur On Passover, by Diane Levin Rauchwerger

Best passage from the book (from memory):
We wanted to start the Seder,
but Dino was nowhere to be found.
He was hiding in the pantry,
juggling matzoh boxes all around.

Best quote about the book by a co-worker:
"Are dinosaurs Kosher?"

Weirdest Thing Said to Me Today

"When you chew, it's like the little things are dancing on your neck."

Italians are Beautiful (a movie review)

8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo: Mesmerizing. A film about making films, but so much more. This Federico Fellini masterpiece is spectacular. Following the creative crisis of director Guido Anselmi, the film delves into the psyche of both an artist searching for his creative vision, and a man struggling with his life (and the women who inhabit it) that interrupts it. I really enjoyed it. It's a visual feast, filled with hilarious moments and poignant vignettes. Definitely a classic. I highly recommend it. I'm especially intriuged by how modern it is. Made in 1963 it seems more at home with movies filmed today.

It Occurs To Me...

...as I watch The West Wing Season 1, under the looming two-week deadline imposed by the Seattle Public Library, that there are at least 46 other people in this fine city interested in watching exactly what I am watching right now. And as I progress through the seasons I am contesting with at least 46 other people to request and check out those 6 other seasons before them.

Now, I bring this up because, one, I think it interesting that there are at least 46 other people in this city who are either wanting to watch, or watching what I am watching or wanting to watch in the future. At least 46 other people in this city with similar interests. I have lots of interests, yes, but the fact that there are at least 46 other people who love both The West Wing and the library intrigues me to no end. I think the library should institute some sort of friend finder/dating program. What a great way to meet people with similar interests. Think of the opportunities! At this time, right now, I am basically ignoring at least 46 other people who would be interested in watching what I am watching. 46 other people I could invite to my house and pop popcorn for. 46 other people I could be friends with. 46 other people I could possibly spend the rest of my life with, and not have to die alone.

And I bring it up because, two, think of the reduction on library holds that could result from this friend finder/dating program. Right now I am at least one of 2000 people waiting for Doubt. Even if you only connected 2 library patrons on one hold request, that would reduce the wait time by half. And I would have been watching Doubt three weeks ago instead of 4 months from now, and not remembering having even requested it or what the movie is about at all.

It's just a thought...

I Want 10 Million of His Babies

Skulduggery & Trickery

I checked out Season 1 of The West Wing from the library. I have exactly two weeks to watch an entire season because, of course there are loads of people lined up behind me to watch this Aaron Sorkin miracle of video recorded awesomeness. I thought I was making great time through the episodes, two nights and already on disc three. Though there were some strange plot gaps I felt I should have known about, but thought perhaps I was washing dishes during that particular scene. So I kept going. But tonight it became clear I was missing more than just small plot points. Turns out, there are episodes on both sides of the discs. Crap.

Bath Time

A wet and angry Brody O'Mittens















An extremely wet and angry Opal McMittens (under the couch)

Yum Yum

Right now I am relaxing after a gruesome day of work, watching West Wing and eating the most amazing pizza in the world...THAT I MADE MYSELF!!!!
Recipe:
One piece of Trader Joes flat bread, smeared with Trader Joes ready-made pesto, covered with tons o cheese (preferably the mozzarella kind) and topped with tomatoes. Then cooked in my 350 degree toaster oven for about 7 minutes. And Viola! Amazing white pizza right in your own home.

Now, while I didn't actually make any of the ingredients, I think the genius is in the combination.

No Rest for the Wicked

I've been fighting insomnia lately. Last night was particularly bad. So this morning before starting work, I went over to the bakery for some coffee. It took me a minute to realize that after ripping open my sugar packets, I was pouring the sugar into the garbage and not in my coffee cup. So either it's early onset Alzheimer's, or I'm just really, really tired.

100 Movies

Many of you know my love affair with the library. Not that I actually read that many library books. I use it more as my own personal, free Netflix. The sheer size of their collection is pretty amazing and if you haven't checked out your local library I really urge you to do so. I think the most fun I have is putting movies on hold and then waiting to see which gems await me on my weekly trek up the hill. Waiting 3 months for the new Batman movie was little trouble considering the countless movies I was able to watch in between.

As a result of this expanded horizon of unlimited movie watching, I have been searching through all sorts lists for what I need to see. I've been through the IMDB lists and the AFI lists, but as these are mainly American films, I am going with the 100 Movies to See Before You Die from Yahoo Movies. I know, not a very elite reporting agency but it seems like a good place to get my feet wet. Here's the link if you're interested http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/100-movies-to-see-before-you-die.html

Here are some short reviews from the films I've already seen on the list...
12 Angry Men- Watched it in high school, should probably revisit it
The African Queen- The movie that made me love Humphrey Bogart
Apocalypse Now- Martin Sheen has a heart attack while filming, Marlon Brando's an ass, and Lawrence Fishbourne as Larry Fishbourne lies about his age in order to play his role...in the end it doesn't really seem worth it.
Bringing Up Baby-Katherine the Great
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid-Do you really need to be told by a list to watch a movie with both Robert Redford and Paul Newman?
Casablanca- The movie that did not make me love Humphrey Bogart
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon- Kinda surprised this one is on the list
Die Hard- AWESOME!
Double Indemnity-Love Barbara Stanwyck...film noir, not so much
Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb- Just saw this one and it's outstanding, hilarious. Peter Sellers is a genius.
E.T. the Extraterrestriall- Believe it or not, I have never seen this movie whole, in one sitting. I'm sure by now that I have managed to get the gist of it, but will be viewing it again anyways
The Exorcist- I have nothing to say for this one, all I really remember are the outside stairs
The French Connection- Gene Hackman, Gene Hackman, Gene Hackman...is awesome!
It Happened One Night- Great movie, Clark Gable is stunning. I never understood why he was so adored until this, but then again, I always hated Rhett Butler
It's a Wonderful Life- I once vowed to never see this movie. I'm not sure why, I guess that was the extent of my younger rebellious phase...I adore this movie
The Lady Eve- Watched during my recent Barbara Stanwyck phase, she's amazing, but I will never understand why they would cast her beside such a dull-witted version of Henry Fonda and expect us to believe that she could love him
The Lord of the Rings- "Are you frightened?" "Yes." "Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you" ooooooh! I wish Viggo was hunting me!
M*A*S*H- One of my favorites.
The Matrix- Another that I'm surprised it's on the list, though I s'pose it did revolutionize movies if only having produced countless imitators.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest- Not a big Jack Nicholson fan
Pulp Fiction- Thank God I've already seen this and won't be forced to watch it again...ug!
Raiders of the Lost Ark- The best Indiana Jones, hands down.
Rear Window- The scariest scene in film history...Jimmy Stewart watching a darkened window and suddenly he sees the glowing end of a cigarette, the only evidence that he is being watched back. Fabulous.
Rebel Without a Cause- I think I will never understand my James Dean love when I was younger. Who was I even?
Roman Holiday- Lovely
Saving Private Ryan- Before Tom Sizemore went totally nutso, and a young Vin Diesel. Weird.
Schindler's List- I regret leaving the theater half way through this movie. But eventually watched it in full
The Shawshank Redemption- Lovely
Silence of the Lambs- Creepy
Sigin' in the Rain- Love Debbie Reynolds. Gene Kelley not so much
Some like it Hot- eh
Star Wars- Empire is better
Titanic- really?
To Kill a Mockingbird- Fabulous, and still not as good as the book
Toy Story- I had a little crush on Buzz Lightyear
When Harry Met Sally- Does anyone else find Billy Crystal as annoying as I do?
Wings of Desire- Weird and over my head, but still pretty awesome
Wizard of OZ- You know this one

So that's 38 of 100. I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'll tell you right now, I'm not that excited for Chinatown or Jaws but I must complete the list.

Actually...

...I was mistaken... Apocalypse Now: Redux is the longest movie ever.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

If my dreams were real, today I could report: Newly uncovered information shows that in 1965 The Andy Griffith Show correctly predicted that Barack Obama would one day become our 44th president.

Movie Review

I just finished watching the longest movie in the world. I swear it took me longer to watch the movie than read the book. And I couldn't get over how much Emile Hirsch looks like Jack Black. It was very distracting. Not to mention the voice over by Jena Malone. She reminded me of a cross between pre-botox Nicole Kidman and David Caruso. Awful. Clearly not intended to be the more unbiased account from the book; a little too much romanticizing. Seriously Sean Penn, unclench a bit.

Welcome Spring

At last, it's over. Spring is here, or seems to be for the moment. That was a lot tougher than I expected. Here's hoping next winter will be easier. In celebration, here are some photos of my recent walk to the library...

And the World's coolest tree

Overheard at Work

"I fixed something and I don't fix anything! Today I used a screwdriver for the first time! I mean I get a rush from changing the lightbulbs"

And then another coworker talked about cleaning her Dyson vacuum, and I told her I hated her a little bit.

It's Happening

I knew it would. I'm falling into the Facebook vortex wherein I compare myself to everyone I've known since kindergarten. I'm not married, I don't have kids, I didn't go to Harvard, I wasn't on Jepoardy. I'm boring. Blah.

Vengeance Will be Mine

Oh how I do love Boston...let me count the ways. The only thing that could make me happier is a four game sweep. Die Carolina, die!

For the Non-Believers

Photographic proof that Opal is not as innocent as she appears.













That poor toilet paper never got to fulfill its toilet paper destiny.