Old Habits

Specifically, getting-old habits. I just saw The Family Stone on HBO. I know, so last year, literally. I won’t bother reviewing, bottom line, I give it a C, for cable-waitable, though the point is moot since it’s no longer in the theaters. They packed a lot of nice diverse characters and plot points, but the journey and end were predictable (though I will confess my eyes welled up at the final tableau).

The one thing that is sticking from that movie was when Rachel McAdams’ character remarks on Sarah Jessica Parker’s character’s irritating “throat-clearing tic” she would do when she was nervous. While we were watching, Paul remarks, wow, you do that, it’s kind of maddening.

Well, point taken : I’ve noticed that I’ve been doing a lot more throat-clearing but it’s not a nervous thing, it’s a getting-old thing. Like I'm just more phlegmy in general. I clear my throat in the morning. I clear my throat after coffee with a lot of half-n-half. I clear my throat if lounging in some obtuse angle for a while watching tv.

Sooo, as I get older, will I get even phlegmier? Will I be like those old dudes on the streets of New York who would hawk a loogey on the corners or air hank in the gutter? Ech.

And that's not the only thing. A long single whisker makes an appearance on my chin every other moon. I pass out in front of the tv on the couch if I'm not upright. I wave my fist at these young punk drivers on the road. I often start sentences, "when I was young..." I wake up with a sore back because I've spent the last 7 hours vigorously sleeping.

Anybody else getting older and grosser/more annoying/lamer?

Or is it just me?

A good read

Here's a pile of stuff I've started reading:

Here's what I've been actually reading:

Man, I am so hooked.

Who knew?

- Who knew that Bourne Ultimatum would kick a$$ in the post production awards?
- Who knew there wouldn't be the sentimental vote in the actress categories? Maybe because those ladies won other awards already...
- Who knew Helen Mirren had such a smokin' bod? That red dress was total wowee wowee.

Other questions:
- Did anyone else want to throw up at the sight of the guy with the chili & cheese beard in the Carl's Jr chiliburger commercial?
- What's up with the creepy MasterCard commercial with that dude's "searching" eye?

Last thoughts:
- All those "Enchanted" songs up for Original Song...really? All three?
- Watching the Javier Bardem's clip for Best Supporting brought me back. We don't really hear his character speak until that scene and between the conversation and the timbre of his voice--you are riveted. The actor who shared the scene with him was also perfect--who didn't know exactly what was going through their minds?
- You know the joke, if you're one in a million, there's a thousand of you in China? I can't help but think that Marion Cotillard is Leah Remini's French twin sister.
- Ugh, my worst year--only 14 right out of 24 categories. Good thing I didn't do any pools this year. Well there's always next year...

Happy Oscars everyone!

2008 Oscar Picks

Where have I been? I totally meant to post these sooner. These are my predictions (though not necessarily what I believe should win):

Best Picture: No Country for Old Men (I did like this film, but I feel Atonement deserves it)
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Best Actress: Julie Christie, Away from Her
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Best Supporting Actress: Ruby Dee, American Gangster (I think this will be a Paul Newman/Color of Money award--more a nod to significant lifetime body of work)
Best Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, Juno
Best Adapted Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Best Director: Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Best Documentary Feature: No End in Sight
Best Documentary Short: Freeheld
Best Foreign Language Film: The Counterfeiters
Best Animated Feature: Ratatouille (everyone loves Pixar!)
Best Art Direction: Sweeney Todd
Best Cinematography: There Will Be Blood
Best Film Editing: No Country for Old Men
Best Original Score: Atonement
Best Original Song: "Falling Slowly", Once
Best Costume Design: Atonement
Best Makeup: La Vie En Rose (though it would be hilarious to see Pirates or even better, Norbit win)
Best Animated Short: I Met the Walrus
Best Live Action Short: At Night
Best Visual Effects: Transformers
Best Sound Editing: There Will Be Blood
Best Sound Mixing: Transformers

Off to watch the Oscars!

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Because we sure didn’t get to see a Total Eclipse of the Moon!

Tonight was the Big Lunar Eclipse--the last one until 2010. I saw the clouds clearing in the afternoon—so I raced to pick up the girl after work but by the time we got home there were huge wads of clouds in the sky. We wandered outside for a while. She had a sack of goldfish crackers and I had a sack of Trader Joe’s Honey Sesame Cashews.

I thought the sky had that promised vague orangey tinge behind the clouds, but that was probably wishful visualizing on my part. We bumped into other people also futilely hoping to catch a glimpse of the eclipse. One couple claimed to see the start of the lunar eclipse between two clouds. Snort. Show-offs.

We went home deflated as our empty snack sacks.

Well, there’s always 2010.

Feeling a bit guilty

Exhibit A:

This is an 8" marzipan cake from Gelson's. I guestimate that it is approximately a thousand calories per sliver. It was gone in 24 hours. We are a family of 3. That's counting the 8-year-old.

I'm not even going to mention the heart-shaped cheesecake we acquired on Sunday. Which is just about gone too.

Exhibit B:

This is my new page for Elise Blaha's Paper Adventure. It is for week 6--the theme was Color. My personal connection is to bright, rich, moody, passionate colors. I don't connect well to pastels or neutrals. Like Beige. You say beige, I say cage. Anyone else feel this way?

Anyhoo, as the Paper Adventure is on week 8, I've fallen behind. Again.

Guilty? Oh yes. Not to worry, I'm still trying. I'll catch up. As long as my gallbladder doesn't give out first.

hubba, hubba

Happy Birthday to Paul who rocks my world. Like he rocked the model paint when he was 12. (BTW, it's NOT non-toxic and he highly does NOT recommend application to your face...or your skin...or any other organic matter).

He shares his birthday with these other luminaries, according to the OC Register:

We'll be celebrating his birthday with buffalo burgers from Fuddrucker's, a marzipan cake from Gelson's, and a Lord of the Rings (extended versions!) marathon.

Sorry ladies, he's all mine.

Have a great President's day!