Absorbed

I moved!

2009-06-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

So, I've officially changed addresses...find me here:

http://joyannabanana.blogspot.com/

Two awesome things

2009-01-13T07:49:00.000-08:00

1. My new light therapy lamp - thanks, Mom! Check it out here.

2. A bumper sticker I saw this morning that said "Non-judgment day is near." What would Jesus say to THAT?

Christmas

2008-12-21T15:34:00.001-08:00

It took until now, but it finally hit me...yay, Christmas, here I come!

Okay, that's all. Merry Christmas, everybody.

Mediterranean, Revisited

2008-12-08T18:43:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I've decided...that perfume (Elizabeth Arden) is not good.

Ask, and ye shall receive

2008-12-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Ask Cory, and you shall receive fast...thanks for making my dreams come true.
Under the Muck

Break Up Albums

2008-11-30T18:26:00.000-08:00

I'm not including the years because I don't know them all, and I'm too lazy to look them up:

Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black" - any album that includes the lyric "I cried for you on the kitchen floor" is clearly an album for me.

The Good, The Bad, and the Queen, "The Good, The Bad, and the Queen" - ah, Damon Albarn, master of the building song, how did I get by before I knew ye? This album makes me feel there is something larger than myself to which I belong.

Of Montreal, "Hissing Fauna, Are you the Destroyer?" - again, a lyric: "The mousy girl screams 'violence, violence!'" But everything about this album is a huge release. I love it. Thanks, PB.

PJ Harvey, "White Chalk" - already got its own write-up here, but the decadence of this pathos is too rich not to mention. I cry just thinking about the white chalk hills...for me they're red clay, but we've been over that too...

Tori Amos, "Boys for Pele" - it's all in the title, really, and this album has seen me through a few. "Don't take me back to the range" is a standout thematically correct lyric for this one...but again, there are so many.

Iron and Wine, "The Sea and the Woman" - ok, it's not a real album, but the ground it covers in five short songs leaves me bereft enough. To be enjoyed in moderation, along with these other artists: Ben Trickey, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash, Aphex Twin, Sparklehorse, and Mogwai. For different reasons, of course.

In addition to GBQ, these all make me happy in a forget myself and sing along way:

No Doubt, "Best" - don't knock it.

Cake - anything, really. I can sing pretty much all their songs, and I do it so well.

Regina Spektor, "Begin to Hope" - it's all in the title, and she has a piano.

The Sugarcubes or Bjork - again, pretty much anything makes me happy.

Blur, "Parklife" - Blur makes me happy, but "Parklife" sticks out as the shiniest album (to me).

Um, that's enough for now. I wish more (any) of you had music blogs. It would be a good way for us to learn about good music. Do it!

Oh, where are you, Mr. Darcy?

2008-11-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

Stephen Colbert is the funniest person in the world. To me today.

This was too impossible to resist, as we're still in the year of Jane Austen:

I'm actually rereading "Sense and Sensibility" right now. Can someone give me proper web punctuation rules on that?

Still feeling audacious

2008-11-16T10:27:00.000-08:00

Back on Nov. 4, I had the pleasure of being on the phone with one of my Atlanta friends as we watched the election results roll in, and I told him I'd blog about it, and I haven't yet, so here we go...

I know you're all sick of reading/writing about the election, but I've been pretty quiet overall about the whole thing, so allow me a moment. I hadn't realized how much I've been personally impacted by the culture of fear that has permeated my consciousness for the last seven years. I've always tapped into it, and been aware of it, of course, but also, I'd always somehow imagined myself to be above it. When Obama won, I felt a physical relief. No matter what else you think about him or other politicians, I think you have to recognize that the message of hope and perseverance is a much healthier and happier one that the one of fear-mongering, de(of)fense-oriented knee-jerk belligerence we've all been inundated with for the last eight years. I am proud of my country again. I wouldn't say I'm all rosy-eyed innocence, but I do believe my faith has been somewhat restored in my fellow Americans and in the political process. I would never have imagined two years ago that this man would be our next President. Americans have been too caught up in protection and agression (and it's not worth getting into the race part of if because I just don't have anything to say that's new) for me to have thought this was possible. I'm still just really happy and excited, and I hope this is part of a cultural shift in general.

Personally, I've often been criticized for making decisions based on fear and avoidance, a sort of "what if" comes up for every alternative when I'm planning. One of my ongoing initiatives in personal growth has been to make decisions based on knowledge and contentment (my two questions "Is it smart" and "Is it fun" fit in here) - this has been a struggle for me, but over the years, I've seen it improve. It delights me to think that the whole country is joining me in this shift. I'm even deluding myself to thinking it has something to do with some epoch shift and universal alignment and whatnot, but seriously, whatever I think - I feel a little bit better knowing the figurehead in my country is respectable and inspiring to all sorts of people all over the world, and that at least a lot of people are thinking with hope instead of fear.

Oh oh oh, one sort of funny thing DID happen...I'm used to voting in GA, which is a much more controlled and content-heavy process than voting here in the small town in VA where I was registered. When I went in, I handed the 90-year-old monitor lady my voter registration card and chatted while I fished out my license. She waved me on in and told me she didn't need my license. So I asked if she needed any picture ID, and she said "No, you have your registration card right here." I said "What if someone had stolen that from me?" and she says "Well, then I'd need to see your ID." At this moment, a couple of guys sitting at a table nearby were all "Yep, that's right" and "You got it" and whatnot, and the younger monitor woman just looked sheepish. I asked her this way "What if I had stolen this from someone?" but she just sort of glazed over. Now, I voted at like 6:45 pm - am I REALLY the first person to bring this up to them today? The old woman never did understand what I was talking about. So don't get too worried - I'm still plenty jaded about the process and about the general stupidity level of people in the world - but it is also kind of funny.

So, there it is, my politics post. One day I'll get on about religion, but let's just leave it where it is for now, shall we? I'm still on a hope high.

Sniff sniff

2008-11-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

I love smells. Um, that's not exactly it...my life is strongly impacted by the sense of smell. That might be more it. It's somewhere in between maybe? We all know I love sounds, and most of us do too, but I think smell is less common, or less discussed anyway. So for me, it's really important. Let's talk about it.

In my last post, I wrote about the smell of Target. I got to smell Target again today. It's distinct. I like it. I have known folks who don't, even folks who find it headache or nausea-inducing. There are stores where I can smell the dye in the clothes (I find this a lot at Marshall's and Filene's Basement, eh?), and that is headache and nausea-inducing for me, but the sweet smell of packaging doesn't do it. So there's that.

I had Indian food for dinner from the pretty good restaurant here in C-ville. (It's no MSB, but it's pretty tasty.) The smell of that food is like eating a meal to me. It's so hearty and thick and layered and delicious. I would love to learn to cook food that smells that way.

And now, perfume and cologne and other scents, oh my...remember what your first boyfriend smelled like (or g/f, sorry)? I remember mine. I can't remember the name of the cologne he wore, but I remember it so distinctly, sweet and just a little tiny bit musky and almost feminine but a little earthier and like it would taste really good, like sugary chocolatey fruit almost. Very rarely I'll smell if these days...far more often I smell what my later boyfriends wore. And then there's a perfume my aunt wears that I love (Happy) but can't wear myself (just doesn't work) and when I smell it, it comforts me.

And my mom's hands had a smell when I was a kid...clean and lotion-y maybe, but I don't know what kind. It was probably just Ivory soap. She wasn't really big on decadence when I was a kid, since she was a stay-at-home mom and spent a lot of time, well, mommying. But I smelled my hands the other day, just moving hair out of my face or something, and they smelled like her. It was weird.

So, as I'm moving and settling into my new space, smells are new and old and catching my attention. My new place has its own smell. My stuff all has its own smell, and there are many different smells...so, since nothing can stop me and put me somewhere else like a familiar smell, I thought it might be a fun game to list some of my favorite smells:

- fresh-cut grass
- maple syrup
- oranges
- vanilla
- lavendar
- lemon pledge
- diesel fumes
- Oil of Olay
- rosewater
- bacon, preferably a little on the burning side
- coffee, but not flavored, which makes me a little sick
- Lola the cat
- baby hair
- earth (leaves and dirt, a little water)

Hmm, aren't you all fascinated? My blog never ceases to amaze me. It is an exercise in nothingness, and it's a little more challenging to write about nothing than I'd thought. Kudos to Larry David.

Last bit on sniffing - I finally found a daytime perfume that I like. Molton Brown, Gingerlily. It's quite good, and I can reserve the last stuff I bought for evening time since it's a little heavier. And I do go out in the evening quite a bit...my cocktailwear is really getting used these days. (That's sarcasm.)

I need to stop stalling and just unpack.

I'm a homeowner

2008-10-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

That's right, I bought a townhouse today, and am official. Look for an email with my new address coming to an inbox near you...

In other news, this has meant extra Target time (and will for a while, I imagine). Next time you walk unto a Target, inhale deeply as soon as you walk in. Tonight I heard it called the scent of unpurchased goods + Starbucks. Call it what you will...I call it Heaven. I love the smell of Target.

Wow. So next time you need a new iron and some cheezits and maybe a cheap shirt and a pair of sunglasses and a new cd and some scrapbooking supplies, inhale deeply and think of me.

The Duchess, 2008 - movie

2008-10-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

I went to see The Duchess on Sunday.

***Spoiler of sorts alert***

I should have done a little more homework. I knew it got mixed reviews, but I like Keira Knightley, even if everyone else does hate her, and I also like pretty costumes, so I thought I would like it.

Pretty costumes - check
Period piece - check
Love story - check
Lovely scenery - check
Rape scene (!?) - check(!?)
Left me feeling lonely, bereft, and gross - check

The characters were flat; the directing was boring; the story was sad. I don't regret going. I just regret that someone made this movie. It could have said something. There was potential in this story. It failed.

Lowest common denominator effect, I think. Like a period Crash.

In other news, all is well. More on that later.

There's just something about blogs...

2008-09-20T18:26:00.001-07:00

You guys, how did we get around before these things? They're wonderful. I have a love/hate relationship with the internet (who doesn't that works in an office, or like me, for a software company?), and so, with blogs, but really...it's just a great thing to have. So you prefer to be awake and communicating at 4am, fine! I'll catch up with you at 10:15 on a Saturday night...can you imagine how rarely we'd talk if you didn't blog? It would be like...well, like some of my relationships with people who don't blog. We talk like twice a year...maybe five times.

And why do you think it is that I am so telephone averse? I find them horribly inconvenient and annoying. Remember when we were 13 and LIKED to talk on the phone? Even though we spent ALL DAY together? What was that about? I don't even like to hear one ring now.

Maybe I just like blogs because I like to type. But I also like the voyeur aspect of it too...like I can see what's going on with you even if I'm in my pj's in a superfoul mood. I like that. It's low-commitment, and we all know how much I like making promises.

I'm just really happy about my blog, and yours too, if you have one.

Oh oh oh, unrelated. I bought a new perfume tonight, and I'm not completely settled on it. It's Elizabeth Arden, Mediterranean. Anybody have feelings? I might take it back. Brother's girlfriend just came in and smelled it - she likes it.

Have a good weekend.

The dentist

2008-09-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

I went to the dentist for the first time in a couple of years. I've been afraid to go because I'm afraid of the dentist, and I'm especially afraid of a new dentist, and I moved, you see, so I couldn't keep going to my old trusty dentist.

But it all worked out, and I actually like my new dentist a lot and it didn't even hurt except for maybe a little when they were doing those awful bite wing x-rays. Those hurt me. And it's so silly - the equipment is too big for my mouth. Now, I know I'm not a large person, but there are lots of people who are smaller than me, and I just wonder about that whole sizing thing.

Which reminds me - I've been trying to find jeans, and it's just horribly depressing. Nothing fits me. I find it intensely frustrating.

So, um, the point is that what works for some people doesn't work for others, and we should all just release control of one another and learn forgiveness. Most everything should come from a place of love.

Thanks, Dr. Yarbrough.

Fall?

2008-09-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

Does anyone want to give me $100k to sponsor my Fall wardrobe? Bottega Veneta and Prada are calling...and I'm finding myself at Express.

Why I Chickened Out: The Peaks of Otter

2008-08-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

See, I told you I'd write about chicken. Actually, my title is only half what this blog is about, and I'm doing this in reverse chronological order for all you Scorpios out there.

I'm getting a little personal here, sorry. I try not to do that usually, but I can't help myself. I've had a bear of a couple of years. My ultra-supportive (and tired of my insanity) boss ordered me to take a week off. So I did, this week. The goal was to get away from all the stressors, most of which are in my head, frankly, which makes escape a little hard. But I tried, and it's been a good week.

(Side note: with Monday being a holiday, I still have three and half days of relaxation coming my way. Not bad.)

I spent the first part of my vacation on the beach. More on that later. Yesterday, Thursday, I drove down to the Peaks of Otter Lodge, one of the lodges off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was lovely. I was very, very glad to be away from everything, and it was, I decided upon arrival, just what I needed. So I hung out on the porch reading NYT book reviews (I'm way behind) and writing in my journal until the heavy fogged cleared a bit - we've had a lot of rain over the past couple of days - and then I went for a walk around the lake, and looked at the old log cabin that had been Polly Woods' Ordinary (Polly Woods was a widow; an "ordinary" is a place where the needs of ordinary travelers - shelter, food, etc. - are met), and then back to my room for more reading. It was nice.

The lodge has a cocktail lounge, so I went for a G&T to accompany my Vanity Fair perusal, then had dinner. Now, dinner was something special, which shocked me, frankly. I had the yummiest fried chicken ever. And it was half a chicken. (See, I'm talking about chicken again!) So, even though I left more than half a plate of food, it was scrumptious, and I highly recommend it. Dessert was a white russian back in the cocktail lounge, and then back to my room for more reading before bed.

(Another side note: I fell on the wooden bridge on the way to my room, bruising my bottom, but more seriously, my ego. It was wet and slippery.)

So, it's dusky by this time, and I stay off the porch because it's cold to me (which is anything below 70). And I read more VF. And then...the scampering begins. And the chirping. And the chattering. And the scratching. And I try to ignore it. And I try to convince myself that it's birds. And I stand on the bed peering up at the oh-so-high rafters. And I consider putting my iPod on, which I decide against because, well, if there's a wasp in the room, I want to know where it is. And this goes on. For two hours.

Those of you who know me really well know that I have a lot of little neuroses and anxieties, but the one truly irrational phobia I have is mice. I am TERRIFIED of mice and rats. Now, I'm afraid of heights, but that makes sense, because you can die if you fall off a building; and I'm afraid of clowns, but who isn't?; and I'm a little skiddish about both bridges and trains, but again, that's logical, and for me, it's also paired with a nice healthy fascination. Nobody ever died from seeing a mouse in their house. I don't think. I stopped hiking the Appalachian Trail because of the mice. Not the bears (never saw any), but the mice.

So I left.

The nice boy at the front desk offered to get me another room, but I was in such a state by the time I finally went to the front desk that I just wanted OUT. So I came home, through the fog on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and got here around midnight. And I slept until 11:30 this morning, almost never happens.

I was afraid I'd regret my decision because it was so lovely there, but I don't. Maybe I'll go back one day with a friend and a special up-front request for a mouse-free room. I'm going to try to get a massage today or tomorrow to compensate for my loss.

And just a quick note about the beginning of my vacation: I went to Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks. It was perfect. Lovely, small village, all mom and pop establishments, only three miles square. The sixteen-mile long island is almost all national park. I rented a bike to get around, and saw everything. The beaches were amazing, wild and beautiful. It's the only time I've ever been on a beach where I looked to the right and the left, and as far as I could see, there were no people. I hope to go back every year. It was awesome.

Enjoy your long weekend.

Cabbage

2008-08-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

I think cabbage is really delicious. It doesn't get the love it deserves because it's cheap and stinky, but really, it's delicious.

Right now, I'm having cabbage masala from the Himalayan buffet down the mall, and it's fabulous. Really, really hot! Possibly the hottest thing I've ever had there, and so so yummy.

PawPaw made the best damn cole slaw ever, mostly because he sliced his cabbage so thin. Also, it wasn't sweet slaw, and he didn't put too much mayo in it. The secret? (This is really Grandmama's recipe, let's be fair.) Lots and lots of pepper. So the theme for extra delicious cabbage seems to be spice.

I've also had good southern cabbage with lots of butter, cabbage rolled around pork for delicious Thai yumminess, and cabbage and sausage casserole that warmed me right up. So, it's versatile too, see?

Next time, we'll talk about chicken.

Musika

2008-08-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

So, I don't think it's any secret to most of the three of you who read this that music is really really important to me...I always have something going either for background or that commands my full attention (listening to a little My Bloody Valentine - "Loveless" - right now, which falls into the former) and I'm not really embarrassed to admit that my current music budget is higher than my rent (I've got a sweet deal living with my brother while I "save for my own place").

But once mp3's and iPods came around, I got all confused...it didn't help that I finished school. Where was I to get my musical info? Gone were the friends who always had some new cd playing, gone were the days of liner notes and (mostly) listening stations, and radio just sucks now (especially up here, where the three local stations are NPR, country, and classic rock c. 1980 - if that's classic). I've never been great at getting musical info from magazines, and websites aren't much better for me. And forget MTV or VH1, right?

I'm lucky enough to have a group of friends who are all really savvy and in the now know about music, and when I have the opportunity to actually talk to them (you), they (you) always have good recommendations. And I'm also really lucky to work with some music fiends as well, with interests that run across the board, but still...I don't know...I just feel like I have trouble keeping up.

I'm still buying cd's from the 80's of music I missed (and 90's and 00's), and I rarely get anything new. I guess that's alright, but WHAT IF I'M MISSING OUT?

So, I think I've posted almost this exact question before, but I'm desperate...any ideas? Thanks. You're all really awesome.

Oh, Airlines

2008-08-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

Dear US Airways:

I hate you. Just wanted to let you know.

Love,

Joy

Seriously, Delta, Northwest, Airtran even, someone - would you just buy these guys already?

Dear Unnamed Leasing Company

2008-06-26T16:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Unnamed Leasing Company:

You truly suck. I find it unbelievable, your lack of customer service, and your utter disrespect for your tenants. Does your public image, your reputation, matter to you at all?

I look forward to the day when we are no longer contractually bound.

Sincerely,

Disgruntled Tenant

Yup, Comcast

2008-06-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

So, my cable stopped working last Thursday. This isn't a big deal for me, as I'm not much of a tv watcher, and I was sort of convinced that maybe I just don't know how to use the remote or something, but nope - it was really goofed up. I called Comcast several times and after trailing through a series of option menus that say things like "Press 1 if you are an existing customer" and "Press 3 if you are having trouble with your cable television," received an error message that said "We cannot complete your call at this time. Please call back."

Eh?

So, I did. I called back - several times. And last night, I had success, and had a charming conversation with a young woman in TX. Apparently, lots of cable users in my area are having trouble - something about thunderstorms, tornadoes, global warming, I don't know.

So she reset my signal, whatever that means, and voila! Le cable.

This was going to be a post about how annoying the whole debacle was, but instead, I'm going to make it about how awesome my customer service rep was. She was friendly, initiated small talk when we waited for my box to reboot, and gave me $17 off my next bill for my trouble. I like it.

Maybe it's a trend, and all client service is improving. Let's hope.

Food, Death, and the South

2008-06-02T18:56:00.001-07:00

I love the South. I love being a Southerner (by the grace of God). It's warm and lush and sometimes a little beat-up and impoverished, but the people are good, and there is community, and there is sometimes even a little leisure. And I am from Georgia.

So, we had a death in the family recently, and I was overwhelmed and shocked by the immediate, enormous support we received from our community. Not only did we receive buckets of cards, but not once did anyone have to cook, make a call, run an errand, do a chore, nothing. We were completely cared for and loved. We got fried chicken and peach pie and pound cake and pork roast and pot roast and pimento cheese and rolls and hashbrown casserole and dressing and gravy and butterbeans and green beans and yams and sweet tea and cole slaw and cookies and you name it. We had people stopping in to check on us, sending neighbors to do the same, calling kin, singing songs, praying, adding us to prayer chains, offering to help - the phone rang 'round the clock. The grass was even cut (and we're talking about several acres worth of bush-hogging here) while the family was making arrangements at the funeral home one day. It was incredible.

So, I'm proud to come from the Christ-haunted South, where the flies bite and the dirt's red and the lakes are all dusty. And I'll write my piece on food some other time.

Lifesavers

2008-03-08T16:26:00.000-08:00

These are things that always make me feel good:

- Lost in Translation
- flowers
- sunshine
- Amelie, and the soundtrack
- Le Petit Prince
- Cake (the band)
- ice cream
- red wine
- clean sheets
- a hot bath
- walking around the mall, especially at Christmas
- cheese
- letters
- Jane Austen
- any period movie
- a massage
- the ocean
- and, in the spirit of the day, the Time Change

Lots to cover today

2008-02-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

As I was preparing to write this post, something occurred to me for the second time in as many days: I'm such a capitalist! Ayn Rand, I blame you. You and Miuciia Prada. And maybe a little bit L'America.

Anyway, whatever, morals aside, all this chatter about commodities makes me feel good in a nice escapist predictable kind of way, so it's what I'm going with. Maybe you'll get something out of it, and if I stumble on something ethical (read: green or fair-trade), maybe I'll remember to throw it in.

So, today, I bring you my opinions on:

J Beverly Hills hair care products - I'm a big lover of products, but I usually get impatient and stop using them because they're sticky, or too expensive, or they smell, or my favorite: give me incurable dandruff. So, I was a little hesitant when my new salon switched product lines to J Beverly Hills, but I gave it a go anyway, because the prices weren't terrible. In fact, the shampoo, the first product I bought, was only a few dollars more than the one I usually get at the grocery...and I love it! I'm using the "Add Body" shampoo, and now, conditioner too, and they're fantastic. Highly recommended for folks with hair like mine, that could use a little lift. One of my favorite things about the shampoo/conditioner is that my hair stays clean longer than with other shampoos. The stuff also works, and the smell isn't terrible. To add even a little more punch to my locks, I've also started using their volumizing spray foam, "Lift Up." It's a little sticky, so I only use it once or twice a week, but I love the way the spray distributes evenly over my head without leaving streaks of plastic-y yuck. And again, it actually works. Final plug for this company: I've also started using their product "Fresh.Hair" dry cleaning spray for those days between washes. It works really well to add a little lift and remove smells. So yeah. Oh, and they're working to make all their products sulfate-free. Some already are.

The Kite Runner - 2003, book by Kohled Hosseini- um, have you guys read this book? It is amazing and beautiful. I don't want to say much about it, but I read it in three days, and for my schedule the past couple of years, that's a record. It's fantastic.

After the Wedding - 2006, movie - another amazing story. I especially liked this because it was completely unexpected. I knew it was a mystery/thriller-ish movie, but I figured it would be all sex and violence, right? Not so. The plot had a bit of a stretch in it, but once I got finished rolling my eyes over that, I really enjoyed the movie. This was an especially nice surprise because I had psyched myself out to feel depressed after watching it, and that wasn't the case at all. Don't get me wrong - there's plenty of sadness in this tale - but the depth of emotion explored and the complexity of just our humanness makes this one a great film.

Here's a little personal life update for those of you who care about that sort of thing: the weather is lovely, sunny and cold, so I've gotten to be outside some. I'm meat-free for the season, and feeling cleaner. I've been going to the gym regularly, and what a difference exercise makes! And I'm heading to Arkansas later this week. I'm sure that will be absolutely thrilling.

I hope to see some of you within the month. Until then, I'll keep up with you virtually.

Crash, 2004 - movie

2008-02-18T18:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I finally watched Crash. I'm a little behind on this one - all the rest of you watched in in 04 or maybe 05, so I thought I'd best catch up.

And sure, it was neat. Spoiler alert: I especially like the scene where the cop pulls the woman out of the car.

But it was so predictable and it relied on so many stereotypes to make its didactic point...I mean, can't we teach that racism is bad in some less mundane way?

Philosophy tirade...I guess maybe not, though. I work in software (e-learning) and we develop to the lowest (or one of the lowest) common denominator, because we have to. So while I may appreciate highbrow intelligentsia, most people...don't. And who am I kidding anyway? We all know I'm pretentious enough to pretend to like lots of things I don't understand. Like sushi, for example...there you go, J and H, I don't really care about sushi! I'm so embarrassed, but it's true. I just sort of like sushi. In fact, I'm seasoning my cast iron skillet right now - with Crisco! Hahaha! So maybe Crash was made to make a point for those who prefer being smacked on the nose with their realities.

Okay, back to the acting. Well-played, Matt Dillon and Thandie Newton. You were the only not-one-dimensional characters in the movie, and Thandie, you were actually convincing. Spoiler again! I'm recently discovering something about the sexual objectification/exploitation/abuse of women: men know how powerful it is too! I always thought only women knew how awful it is, but men do too...and that's a big part of why they do it, to hurt other men. That's a really stupid thing for someone who studied this stuff for ten years to admit, but there it is. Maybe I just needed some space to see it...so yeah, Thandie, right on - I was totally convinced when you were in that car, and I felt what you were feeling - FUCK YOU, Matt Dillon cop!

Sorry. Got a little carried away there. So, overall, maybe a C+/B-, but Thandie gets an A+ and Matt gets an A-.

Oh, one more thing, my high school senior English teacher went on this rant about Braveheart and Beaches and other tearjerker pulloutallthestops movies about this time in 1995. He was so right. Use your brains, directors, and I at least will appreciate you more.

It's worth adding to your Netflix if you haven't seen it, but not worth moving to Priority 1.

What Not To Wear - tv

2008-02-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

So, historically, I've not been much of a television watcher...but it's just so affordable now, and I couldn't resist getting cable tv when I got my phone and internet, so for the first time in my adult life, I have cable.

And folks, I am addicted to TLC's "What Not To Wear." You might have known this would happen since I was ridiculous about watching it whenever I could in The Time Before Cable, but now if it's on, then it's on in my house.

Seriously, I love Stacy and Clinton. I secretly (until now) would love for them to come and rescue me. I want to look hot all the time! This might be more important to me now than say...investing for my future or taking vitamins every day. I know it is, actually.

The thing that is most wonderful for me about this show is how cute it makes me feel...I sit here all vindicated thinking "Uh, yeah! Don't cover your crotch with your shirt, duh!" and "Of COURSE a pointed toe with a heal makes your legs look longer, lamer!" Ahh, I love validation.

Pilates

2008-02-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

I had my first Pilates private lesson today. I think I'm going to like it - it's much, much harder and more cerebral than I was expecting.

More on that when there's more to share.

PJ Harvey, White Chalk, 2007 - album

2008-02-02T17:23:00.000-08:00

So, one of my Christmas gifts was PJ Harvey's White Chalk. I love love love PJ in general, but this is particularly awesome. The album is somehow richer than her previous stuff in its minimalism, maybe because it's so raw, so present, so intensely...empty.

I told my work friend PB - we like to talk music - that I think White Chalk is what Bjork was going for, but failed to achieve, with Vespertine. I like Vespertine well enough now, but it took years for me to warm up to it, and even now, I don't listen to it often. It's no glorious achievement like White Chalk, which somehow manages to stray from PJ's usual punkish power into this new melodic, beautiful, almost sweet, pages-from-her-diary work. Unlike Bjork, PJ relies on her instruments, especially her voice, not production, to say what she wants to say. And like crazy little Joanna Newsom, the spaces in her music sometimes say more than the layers.

Right now, I'm feeling melody more than rhythm anyway. Maybe I always do?

If you haven't heard White Chalk, get your hands on it. It is riveting, and it's distracting, so don't expect to just toss it on in the background at work. You'll find yourself stopping to actively listen - at least, I expect you will. And I'd like to hear what you think.

Great Expectations, 1998 - movie

2008-02-01T18:15:00.000-08:00

I finally decided I'm going to start writing this blog I started like a year ago and never posted to. Here we go. I'm thirty now, so it's important to be - uhh - to, erff, umm - I dunno. My friends are all so interesting; I'm just trying to keep up.

So, it's a well-known fact that Dickens is long-winded and dull, but I'm trying to brush up on my classics because I think it's important to be well-read to be smart, and I like to try to be smart. To warm up the idea of reading Dickens (first "to read" on the Dickens List: Bleak House), I decided to Netflix the Ethan Hawke/Gwyneth Paltrow movie "Great Expectations" from 1998. I liked it then because Tori Amos was on the sountrack. I liked it now because it's good.

One thing I really love about myself, if I may, is that I'm hopelessly romantic, and this is just a painfully romantic movie. Gwyny is so beautiful and morose, and Ethan is so WT and youthish, and there's all the color and the music and the wet wet rain...I have a real thing for pretty, and this movie does it, while somehow inspiring hope and validating bitter hopeless ambition all at once. How perfect - thank you Alfonso Cuaron.

So I enjoyed the movie, and it was a good inspirer. Once I'm done with my Wilma Mankiller autobiography, I'll pick up Bleak House.

One note for those of you that know last year was The Year of Kerouc (those who don't, I'm sure there will be more about this): I picked this copy of Bleak House up at Haslam's, visiting Lo in St. Pete last Fall. Fascinating, yes?