OSCAR PREDICTIONS!

Tonight is the NIGHHTTTTT.

MY FAVORITEEE NIGHTT!!!

IT'S BIGGER THAN SANTA COMINGGG!

THE OSCARS!

I love love love oscar season/night.

Here are my predictions, since I obviously have to get back to watching the red carpet!

I'll do the top 6 for you!

BEST supporting Actor Noms:
Heath Ledger - Dark Knight
Josh Brolin - Milk
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
MIchael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder

I PREDICT that Heath Ledger will get it.... but here's what I think. Though Ledger did a GREAT performance, I think Downey Jr gave a GREAT performance ALSO. Ledger will get it because, well you know... but I think it would be awesome for RDJ to get it.

BEST Supporting Actress Noms:
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Christina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - Ben Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

I predict... this is a hard one... that well... I'll tell you who I WANT to win - Tarji P. Henson because she had to act to an animatronic doll sometimes and she made us care about that little fake person! But I'm thinking Penelope will win. MAYBE.

BEST ACTRESS Noms:
Kate Winslet - The Reader
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo -Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt

I predict Kate will get this one, but I think Anne did a great job with Rachel Getting Married... Yes, I am on a first name basis with these lovely ladies.

BEST ACTOR Noms:
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad pitt - Ben Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

I predict... WELL THIS IS A TOUGH one - that GOD i don't know... I'm going to do two ballots... one with penn, one with rourke. Rourke could get it, but the academy could have said, welll he was a boxer, he hit rock bottom, this is his life - not so much of a stretch. But some people though Penn sounded like his I am Sam character sometimes during Milk... so WHO KNOWS!

Best Director noms:
Danny Boyle - Slumdog
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
David Fincher - Ben Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk

I think Ron HOward did a wonderful job! But I think Danny Boyle will get it for Slumdog.

Best Picture Noms:
Ben Button
Frost/nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

SLUMDOG. I enjoyed ALL of these films though, I must say! I've seen all of them and I really did think bits were great from each and every film is so different!

I've gotten to see ALMOST every one of these films that was nominated for these big ones... the only ones I've missed are VIcky Christina Barcelona, Frozen River and The Visitor. That's not so shabby!

Well I hope you all enjoy this evening... it's too bad Miley Cryus gets an ABC red carpet interview and others don't...

I'm also sad they're doing a Best Song medley this year instead of each song getting it's own time to showcase the song... Hence why Peter Gabriel won't be singing for Wall-E.

As for Hugh Jackman hosting, he's nice eye candy, but I hope he's funny as well!

HAPPY OSCAR NIGHT!

i spend my life falling...

This blog title post could mean many a thing... and some of those things better be left for a different blog post... but what I mean by it tonight is literally... FALLING. I have now fallen down in NYC at least three times in the past 5 years. Tonight, Amy, Ali Fales and I had just stepped out onto the street after seeing 'Chicago' and less than a block away from the theater, I tripped on uneven pavement, my foot totally rolled into the lower, uneven part and BOOM. I was down. I stood up as quickly as I could, with Ali and Amy in tow, and just start LAUGHING at myself. Which is typical. haha so then towards the end of the block I was thinking, I should check to see if my pants have a hole in them now, since I landed right on my knee. So I look down, sure enough, it's not just a hole, my pants have SPLIT from one side seem to the other... straight tear right across my knee. Now I'm laughing and tearing up... also typical... because these are my FAVORITE pants. They're almost like the sisterhood of the traveling pants, but without the sisterhood part. They've been with me EVERYWHERE. Paris... London... Amsterdam.... I cannot think about how great these pants have been to me.

But so because I made Ali and Amy stop and take a picture of my tragic pants, we then saw an envoy coming down the block a few blocks over from 49th on 43rd. So we stop and decide to be THOSE people who stand and watch as the envoy comes to a stop and the canadian prime minister gets out. YEP. You may ask, but Obama was just up THERE visiting him in Canada?! Well I guess they travel quickly and he and his fam are staying at the Westin hotel in NYC on W. 43rd st. Just incase you were wondering.

On another note... THE OSCARS are tomorrow! Well now I guess technically today! I'm excited! But sometimes I wish I didn't get wrapped up in who's going to win and the odds of them winning, etc. I like to enjoy the surprise of it all. Maybe one year I'll skip all the prep, contests, reading and just GUESS based on which I thought were the best performances. I think I'll do that next year. Too often in life we're left with no surprises anymore... and i KNOW that the Oscars can have surprises, but still, I want to be surprised by it ALL.

I'll write tomorrow and tell you my predictions, since now I am TIRED and tomorrow night is going to be a late night.. Monday at work isn't going to be so pretty... : / ... that's one thing that will NEVER be a surprise... the Oscars never ending on time!

goodnight and goodluck.

yea, let's CALL THAT BITCH UP!

Today I went to see "The Reader" and boy, Kate Winslet reallllyyy knows how to pick her happy-go-lucky scripts. I'm feeling so uplifted about life since I've seen this and Rev. Road. BOY OH BOY! let's all run out and get some ICE CREAM with M&M's on top. EXTRA m&ms for this time 'round.

I am going to just put this out there. I liked Kate better in "The Reader" than I did in "Rev. Road." (We're going to call Rev Road, RR from now on). RR had something missing. Adrien agrees. I said "I don't know what was missing exactly.... but maybe it was that lack of Celine Dion" SO there it is. CELINE DION must be involved in some sort of way whenever kate and leo make a movie together. I love me some kate and leo, so if Celine is what makes that extra magic, then bring on my favorite French-Canadian!

Also it was slightly awkward knowing my dad and gerri (his GF) were sitting right behind me (the theater was crowded, we had to sit apart) when there was penis and kate's boobs being shown. But such is life, and if I've seen Harry's Potter with my father in real life than I guess I can handle seeing one on the big screen with him, too.

So why the title of this blog post? I was sitting here chatting with Gerri and she told me Nikki's wedding pics were up. (Nikki is her daughter, my "common law step sister: if you will... or something like that) She then proceeded to tell me that she was a little upset that there were no good pictures of her and my father dancing or sitting together, but lots of the ex and his new wife. Sore subject. ANd none of me... how could that photographer... ahhaha. So my dad said, well we'll have to call her up and stage the wedding and do it over again. After looking at more pictures I turned around and yelled "YEA! Let's CALL THAT BITCH UP!"

I think Chelsea Handler is starting to rub off on me. I've started delivering jokes like her... but maybe I always have and just notice it more now... or she brought out more of the tongue in cheek, sarcastic side of me. You all should really listen to her book on CD for "Are you there vodka? It's me Chelsea". Hearing her read it is way more fun than reading it. Very entertaining. On Tuesday, I am going to start another book I got today. "I Am America (And so can you!)" by Stephen Colbert. I am also looking forward to the start of that one, but am slightly worried since this includes some pictures that I obviously wont' be able to see with the book on cd version.



WEll, I'm going to go drink wine and watch some television and then read some chick lit later. Sounds pretty perfect to me! Going to the see "The Wrestler" tomorrow. The last big film I have to REALLY see before the Oscars on SUNDAY! I can't believe they're only a week away already! Get ready for your favorite GOLD MAN!

shopaholic.

Tomorrow I am going to see "Confessions of Shopaholic." I'm not expecting great things since I have read the book and also the second one (they combined the first two for the movie) and can already tell from the previews they have changed A TON of things.

1. She's british in the book. not in the previews.
2. She already works at a financial times newspaper type deal and doesn't have to just get the job, she actually knows a bit about finance, just can't keep track of her own stuff..
3. It takes place in London. This is very upsetting to me, as I always enjoy seeing a movie that's filmed in London so I can reminisce and be jealous of everyone who lives there.
4. She moves to New York in the second book, only after getting a personal shopping position at Barney's.

WHYYy do they change these important things? I don't get it Hollywood. I'd like to be a screenplay adapter. I should get on my first piece that inspired me a few years back, "Tangerine." It's a young adult book and it's SOOO GOOD. Don't judge it based on the fact that it's a YA book. It's awesome. You read it, and tell me that you agree that it could be an awesome movie.

I'll let you know how Shopaholic goes. Let's be serious here, I'm going just because Hugh Dancy is in it. Another favorite Brit of mine, but sadly he is taken by Claire Danes.

TOODLES.

p.s. I finished "Are you There Vodka, It's me Chelsea." and I did love it. I'm working on finishing "my horizontal life" which I have on paperback. I also started reading "Dewey" that book about the cat who lived in a library. I'm thinking it wasn't such a good idea to start this as I can tell he will die in the end and I will be a human water fountain. : /

a long time coming.

I would apologize again, but it seems that's what I do every time I haven't written in a while. So I'll just tell you all about what I've been doing and what's been keeping me so busy.

NUMBER ONE. ELection day happened. And it was the most epic of epic days. I spilled my glass of wine on the living room rug because I was so damn nervous while the election coverage was happening. (This was early in the night, and I had yet to have a sip of my very full glass, so I lost all that precious wine... ) That night was SUPER exciting, obviously, and I cried when they pronounced Obama the winner and scanned over all of the happy people everywhere over the US and abroad. But those days before 1.20.09 seemed to take FOREVERRRR. GOODNESS! But the day finally came and I got to watch that epic event as it happened and it was worth the hype. I'm sad I wasn't down in DC, but know it would have been a long crazy trip and I had just taken lots of time off to go to Florida on vacation.

NUMBER TWO. Obama is still a "wrongly" spelled word in these things. Let's pick up the pace BLOGGER people! And spell checkers everywhere!

NUMBER THREE. Christmas happened also. Which was another drama fest this year. But it seemed to work out OK in the end, I just had to split the parental situation on that day, and I hate picking and hate having to face the reality that is a broken family.

NUMBER FOUR. I went to Fort Myers, Florida with the old folks. And it was another EPIC time. Amy and I made the long drive from CT to Florida. Two days, a stop each way in Fayetteville, NC and had to drive back through part of a snow storm. But I can honestly say that I WANT TO LIVE THERE WITH THE OLD PEOPLE. I liked eating at 5:30/6 everyday, going to bed early, waking up at 8:30/9am everyday, sitting and reading books all day in the sun. AHHHH the life. I want to be a senior citizen 'snow bird.' TRUE STORY. and we saw dolphins off of Captiva Island. EPICCCCCC

NUMBER FIVE. Job hunting and bathroom painting took up lots of time in November and December. I didn't worry about the job hunt while in FLorida, but I told myself I HAD to apply for some as soon as I got back. So the Sunday I was back, Jan 11, I applied for another job with Camp America - through the company AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study). That monday they called me in for an interview for TUESDAY. So I went in with the knowledge that there were actually 4 jobs up for grabs, and a bunch of us were all going to be tested for all of them. Turns out it was like what I would imagine SPEED DATING would be like. NO JOKE. I had to rotate around through 4 tables and had a certain amount of time at each table... AHHHHH. But a week later, they called me back for a second interview for the original position I had applied for with Camp America. Went in for the second interview, they told me I was the last of 4 candidates being interviewed and they were making a decision that day and sending out an offer the following day. Well that following day was a friday and I was at work 9-3. Noon rolled around and I was sure I didn't get it since I was assuming they were making the offer in the morning... well 2:45 came and I stepped into my office at work to hear the phone ring. it was them. My boss Sonja was like RUN OUT! TAKE IT! ANSWER IT! So I picked up to hear my new boss tell me she thinks she has good news for me. I said oh yea? Well I got that job! So i had to hadn in my 2 weeks notice and then read over some stuff and finally accept the position. So I am now the Operations Coordinator at Camp America. I'm one of three. The people seem super nice, but still not the family I had at the Y... maybe over time it will be. I'm learning lots and doing some basic entry stuff for flight info and dealing with these Camp Director fairs that are coming up in London and Warsaw. BUT I"M GOING TO THE LONDON ONE! I'm soooo PUMPED!

NUMBER SIX. I will miss the YMCA. I already dread the commute in the AM, but have given books on tape a try. My first one.... "Are you there vodka? it's me Chelsea." By the one and only Chelsea Handler. I figured I should start with a comedy piece and it's working out well. I'm actually paying attention and I just pause it if I find myself worrying about the traffic instead of concentrating on the material.

NUMBER SEVEN. THE OSCARS are coming!!!! I've seen soooo many movies since I've last posted, I owe you guys SOOOO MANNYYYY reviews! I'll try to make a list and do a quick blurb about what I thought about it. I think I'll do this one with the most recent seen...
-"He's just not that into you" - i've read the book and I thought this did a good job of converting the non-fiction piece into a fiction movie. I liked most of the cast, the only part that was over the top was the main role... so unfortunately there was a lot of time being devoted to being over the top. This was the writers fault and not Ginnifer Goodwin's. I agree with what my dear friend Adrien said, "could have been really great, but it wasn't"

-"Revolutionary Road" This movie makes me want to run out and pick some daisies. Get married. Have lots of babies and just makes me look forward to being an adult. NOT. The cast was INCREDIBLE. Kate Winslet was awesome. So was Leo. Michael Shannon who is nominated for a supporting role was also deserving of that nom.

-"Frost/Nixon" Was another good one where Michael Sheen got snubbed once again. But they made history riveting.

-"Slumdog Millionaire" I LOVEd it. The Soundtrack is ALSO AMAZING. Worth every nom. GO SEE IT.

- "THe Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Also, I liked this but was too long. WEll, not too long but the material wasn't as spread out as it could have been. There was too much of him being old and not enough of him and Cate together in his prime. Brad Pitt will not win. And shouldn't either.

- "MILK" AHHH, this cast was amazing. James Franco got SNUBBED, I liked him better than James Brolin. Emilie Hirsch also made a great little gay man.

- "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" not worth your money. netflix it if you really want. only some parts were funny.but i love kevin james.

- "Rachel Getting Married" Anne Hathaway's performance really is amazing. I think she should have a real shot at the oscar, but I'm afraid the academy may have forgotten about her.

- "Four CHristmases" another one you can netflix. Some parts were funny, other parts were not so much. But reese and Vince were really great together.

- "Doubt" I fell asleep. I'll be honest. But it was late, I went to a showing at 9:40 pm on a friday nighT and I was EXHAUSTED. I did like everyone's performance's though. I don't think Meryl deserves to win though. But she did get the SAG... so who knows...

- "Twilight" I'm a fan of the books. I'm not as big of a fan as some, but I do enjoy the series. This movie was a good rendition. I use good as in not GREAT or excellent. It could have been better. I, among others believed that they should have spent more time getting to know each other like they do in the book. I understand some changes they made for movie purposes, but I believe that a lot of what makes the books a real page turner was not in the movie.

I know there are more... but I can't THINK OF THEM!

But this has been a long enough blog post anyway... I'm just waiting for American Idol to be over and I'm turning in early since I've got to get up early these days.

They just kicked that guy off with the face piercing but let on that annoying girl tatyanna? or however you spell her name. Now I know you're saying, JENNAAA boys and girls have noting to do with eachother right now, but it doesn't seem very fair. I liked that kid with the face piercing (not the piercing). He and his best friend were so cute together... WHO KNOWS.

and I've been watching lots of Showtime's The Tudors. I LOVE IT. I LOVE HENRY CAVILL. My new favorite celebrity crush. IAHHHH his IMDB.com photo does NOT do him justice. He is so damn cute and likable. Please marry me, henry? (that's him below)



Well peace out girl scouts. Hope all has been going well in 2009!

VOTING

The day has (almost) arrived. The day where I get up, do a little stretch, put on a shirt with a not so distracting design (I need room for my 'I VOTED' sticker) and head out to one of my favorite places, the polling center. It's the one and only, ELECTION DAYY!!

This post will be short and sweet, and mostly to the point. I need everyone to go out and vote. All I ask of you fine people, is to get out there and exercise your right to have a say in this country's well being and future.

I just love to vote. I really, honestly get so excited about voting, that I cried during this year's primaries when I arrived at my polling center in Blacksburg, Virginia and they had CLOSED EARLY. I was so tired and upset, that I got back to my apt and cried to my roommates and to my father on the phone about not being able to vote. I hadn't even made up my mind about Hillary or Obama, but I just was horrified that they took away my right to vote. So maybe I'm being dramatic here, but who cares, so then when the only sliver of happiness left of my day was taken away from me when the release of 'Into the WIld' was delayed and I could not buy it to make myself forget about the voting outrage, I was grief-stricken.

SO enough about my sad stories, I am just asking you to get out there and vote. Otherwise I will not speak to you on this election day. But I guess if you just didn't register, that's a whole different ballgame. So if you're registered, then that means you need to VOTE.

peace, love and hope. (and happy voting to you all.)

and here's my not-so-hidden choice for whom I hope you're voting.

my peaceful, happy place.

I am addicted to the movies. This is nothing new to the people who know me best. But i realized how calm and happy I was last night after I got home from the movies last night. Some could say it was because the movie I had just seen had a happy ending, and sure, I'm not as happy when I come home after a depressing movie, but I am calm... like I've just gotten my fix. And that's just what going to the movies is for me, it's even more calming than M&Ms! I know, this is another shocker.

Everyone on earth has that thing that they have to do. Well for me, it's going into that theatre and waiting for them to turn the lights off. To watch something that's bigger than myself and something that will bring me into another world. It's like my therapy. I love sitting in those seats, no matter how much my butt falls asleep... and sure, there are some seats in certain theatres I've been too that I wouldn't mind if I never sat in them again, but most of the time, I love those seats. My favorite is when no one is sitting in front of me so I can put my feet up or not worry about kicking the seat when the aisle is too small for my long legs.

And then the previews start. They are just as much fun as the movie itself, because I get to plan out my future! Decide which ones I want to see and which to skip. And finally the movie starts. At first I get agitated if the people around me aren't quiet by the time the 20th Century Fox music plays. But I know for most, people think this is still free range talk time. And for an hour and a half, 2 hours, whatever, I don't have to talk to ANYONE. I can just sit there and observe. I turn my phone on silent and I don't worry about if I've been sent a text or missed a phone call. It's like a need my weekly fix of the movies, I can't live without them. I LOVE IT.

I believe that this is why I get so angry when the people around me are talking. I just want to watch the movie in peace and quiet. It's especially annoying when it's not just teenagers talking, the adults should know better than this. And I'm not judging the old people who are trying to whisper, even though they should know not to talk either, but because they do not realize the volume of their voices. I've had first hand experience with my own grandma on this one in the last James Bond flick.

So others may go to the gym for therapy, others go to actual therapy, others like to walk when they want their peace and quiet, so I am telling you fine people of America, that the movie theatre is my safe haven. So please respect those of us who treat the movies like this and be quiet!

I love the movies. LOVE LOVE LOVE going and sitting in the dark theatre. I seriously get itchy for the movies when I haven't been in a while. You may say that I'm pathetic, or a dork? But I would beg to differ. Well I am a dork. I'll give you that one.

So take some time out today to think of that one thing that makes you oh so happy.

good news

good news, friendos. my dear cat snowflake went to the vet today and got a smaller cone for her head. now she is a bit happier, though she would still rather kill us than wear that cone. but we learned that she may have hyper thyroidism. she is old, 17 years! but as you can tell from the pic in the last post, she went from spaceship to this...



i know she looks like she hails from the far away land of planet of the cats, she's just letting her head droop way down, i suppose this may be the most comfortable with the cone?

but why am i blogging about my cat? you got me. i am tired and don't have time to blog about my next topic. my love for sitting in movie theaters. until next time...

something's been bugging me.

Something's been bugging me. Or really, MANY things. let's just see how many i can actually remember right now.

ONE. when a CD skips. i know, this is not important in the grand scheme of things... but when I was to just drive to work, and i'm sick of the radio and i don't really have to drive so far as to plug in my iPod, i rely on some of my mixes. Today I popped in my Now 7 cd. I know, this one is a CLASSIC. so you can imagine, much to my dismay, the CD starts skipping on one of my fave tracks of the CD, Mandy Moore's "In my pocket." The same thing (the horrible disappointment and sadness you feel) when a DVD skips. It crushes your soul. You were groovin' and enjoyin' and BAM. Sometimes the skip lasts a second and sometimes it last the whole dame song, or a whole scene of a movie. It's just ruins everything. And I'm someone who prides myself on the care I use on my discs. But in some cases, my DVDs were scratched by others. Some CDs were scratched when I was dumb and put their info jacket insert, whatever you want to call them, behind the actual CD. I have since learned better and out the CDs behind the insert, this is of course in my travel CD case incase you were confused about my use of jewel boxes.

TWO. sarah palin. and the american people who support her. All these people that are just so CLUELESS about her lack of understanding about her own potential job, the world, our country, the list could go on. Obama doesn't walk around saying parts of the country are more pro-America. He doesn't wink when he's trying to make a point but can't seem to finish his sentence. She'll go on SNL, but not Meet the Press, the View, she won't even go on The O'Reilly Factor for goodness sake. I don't understand, or really, I DO understand. Her OWN campaign is scared to put her on these things knowing that if she's not rehearsed enough or memorized enough, God only knows what will come out of her mouth. But I want to just shed a tear right now... because I feel BAD almost that it's come down to this. Letting her only speak to crowds where she's prepared something... she can't even answer a third grader correctly when asked what a VP does/what she'll do as VP.

And because I'm a woman, of COURSE i would have liked to like her. But because she came out of no where with nothing but a dead bear on her couch to show for, i can't support her. (Check those photos out for real, they are from her anchorage office, i saw them on aol.)

THREE. When people criticize Ellen for speaking about her opinions on the potential ban on gay marriage in California. Just let the woman speak about the things she cares about. For other celebs, that may be cats or Darfur. For Ellen, it's something that hits close to home. And i agree with her, what are people so scared of? I'd love to know. Who cares if a couple in love of the same sex wants to get married. Should we really stand in the way of their happiness? I should think not. You KNOWWW half the people who are complaining would be PISSED if the government was threatening to take away the rights and privileges of their own marriage.

FOUR. That people still believe that Obama is muslim (but really, why would it matter?), or that he had that first meeting in Ayer's basement. AHHHH people, please use http://www.factcheck.org/. PUT ON THOSE THINKING CAPS! USE YOUR RESOURCES!

FIVE. when the book you want is already checked out. But these are things that cannot be helped. We should all be so grateful that others are reading.

Let's discuss what makes me happy and end on a high note.

ONE. Obama making an appearance via satellite today on the Ellen show and tried to prove that he's a better dancer than Michelle. I love you Obama, but she's got you beat.

TWO. When the kids I've been helping in swimming classes finally get what I've been trying to teach them. When it CLICKS!

THREE. When people show up to work and actually do their jobs. Ahhh, I can smell the accomplishment.

FOUR. Reading a great book, even if it meant having to wait for it because someone else got to enjoy it too. Have you visited your local library lately?

FIVE. Laughing out loud. Whether at a TV show, with your Dad, talking to friends, or at your cat who is banging into things because you had to put on a cone around her neck to keep from scratching her head (but really that makes you sad on the inside too.)



So my people, I leave you with this. Use your brains. Check your facts. Read a book. Laugh out loud. and most importantly, Use good judgement.

great sequels

I've decided to write a little something about the best sequels out there that DID deserve to get made. As I sat and watched "Father of the Bride" this morning on TV, I found myself hoping that as the ending approached "Father of the Bride: Part 2" would come on after. Much to my disappointment, The Encore Love channel decided to throw my dreams out the window and play "The Fugitive." Not that I don't like the Fugitive, but after "Father of the Bride," I want to watch the sequel!

So here's a list of my favorite, watch-worthy sequels.
- "Father of the Bride: Part 2" -Who doesn't want to see a pregnant Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams and a funny Martin Short doing pre-natal exercises to a ridiculously good workout plan by Franc? While this sequels story line of Mother and Daughter having babies at the same time, it's a happy and fun movie to sit through. You don't ever think that they shouldn't have made this film! I can't get enough.

-"My Girl 2" - I sometimes want to watch this one over "My Girl" because I know I'll cry my eyes out over the first one. But this sequel is genuine and as audience members, we want to see teenage Vada Sultenfuss grow up some more and see how she's coping with Thomas J's death down the road. We get to see her travel to CA to find out more about her mother and all in love with her not-really-related cousin, pierce her ears without permission! and lose her Thomas J mood ring (or so she thinks) in that weird dinosaur tar pit. I love me some "My Girl 2." Plus, the soundtrack made me fall in love with the Steve Miller Band song "Swingtown."

- "Toy Story 2" - We all know how those Disney sequels can go. This one surpasses them all and sticks true to the original's charm.

Here's some that are automatically on this list... "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back," "The Godfather Part II," "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" ( and that goes for "Epidode VI" and "The Return of the King") "Back to the Future 2," and I'm skipping over "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" to "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." Because let's be honest, "Doom" has the most annoying sidekicks ever to grace a sequel.

So bust out those series and enjoy the first movies and then these great sequels!

must list

here's a must list of some recent faves to hold you over til I can sit down and write a full post...

In no particular order...
- La Misma Luna (Under the Same Moon) - spectacular!
- Pink! - She is not such a recent must have... she is always a fave. Especially So What! Her CD debuts Oct 28th
- The Office Season premiere!
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - ahhhh! I cried my eyes out. J'adore.
- OBAMAAAA
- Sharon Osbourne on Ellen
- Hot Topics on The View
- READING... in general.
- Ew, Variety, The Huffington Post...
- Ricky Gervais
- Project Runway
- Grey's Anatomy Season Premiere
- anddd hiking.

what are some of your must haves?

Russell Brand, Sarah Palin and my love for Weeds

So now that I'm home and just lifeguarding while I look for a job, I've got lots of time to catch up on politics, tv, books, you name it. So my first item on the list was Russell Brand and the MTV VMAs. Many a people are angered by his performance and jokes about the Jonas Brothers, especially. Personally I found him hilarious. I'd say 90% of his jokes were funny which is a pretty good percentage if we're talking MTV VMAs here... let's be serious, they're not always the funniest thing you can find on TV. But I thought his humor was quick witted and yes, he is a bit crazy... but who isn't?

I knew he was just joking about the Jonas Brothers... but it seems as though parts of America missed that part. And what really gets me ticked off is when people complain about it who didn't see all of the jokes! They just hear the bit about putting the ring around their testicles, or whatever he said. Sure that was a bit crude, but they didn't even hear the funnier parts that came before that! And then for Jordin Sparks... who represents what I consider middle america... she just made that silly comment about anyone making fun of the rings is a slut. Well... thanks Jordin for taking the jokes to the next level and ruining the moment. She's the one who started this whole mess by reacting the way she did. I'm willing to bet five dollars that if Jordin didn't say that, no one would be talking about The Jo Bros rings. America needs to lighten up!

Another thing that makes me angry about Middle America is that everyone who loves Sarah Palin is like boo hoo you're picking on Sarah. Well excuse me for wanting some information about the possible VP. If John McCain dies, I would like to hear what she has to say about banning books and her gun laws and her thoughts on abortion and blah blahh. I'm sick of all this BS about the media being too invasive... the MEDIA is just DOING THEIR JOBS! As citizens of America we have the RIGHT to know what Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and John McCain think and believe. We have the right to know what they're going to do for this country and what they've done in the past... goodness gracious people, stop playing the gender card and open up your minds. America needs to get smart!

Onto a more positive note. I love "Weeds." The TV series on Showtime. It's sooooo good. I just finished Season 3 and unfortunately I don't get Showtime, so I've got to wait for Season 4 to be done with and get out on DVD. It's quick, smart, funny, heart-warming, and just has an all around great cast! I can't say enough good things about it. Well one bad thing, from doing my research into Season 4, my fave character Conrad seems to be out. Where did he go. If anyone can tell me where he's gone, it'd be much appreciated. He's the really funny guy in "Baby Mama" and was also in "The 40-year-old Virgin" and a bunch of other things... Romany Malco is his name. Everyone should check out "Weeds" and maybe... Showtime should pay me now for being such a great supporter! Haaa!

OH! So I've always said that I'm proud to have never watched "The Hills" and will refuse to watch it, convinced that it will make me lose brain cells. Well I watched one.... (insert gasp here... i know, it's awful) and only because my friend Amy was over and it was on before the VMAs. Well I did feel a few brain cells short, but luckily Russell Brand's jokes gave me them back I think... So anyway, it was the WORST hour? of my life... I think I watched 2 episodes. I just cannot believe how AWFUL Spencer is. WWHYYY does anyone let him get away with his personality. I think he is the worst person I've ever seen in my life. I really hope I never meet anyone like that. EVER.

Well, peace out friends. I hope you all open your minds a bit and do some research into important issues these days like the election and when to criticize a comedian and when to just enjoy the show.

Palin's Speech

I don't really know where to begin.

I guess I'll begin with my favorite part of the speech. Which was not even a part of her speech, it was when her youngest dueghter spit on her hand and combed over the baby's hair. It was cute and gross all at the same time... I say we get that kid in the VP seat!

So besides spitting out lies about Obama and talking all of our money and raising taxes... she just scared me.

I did not get a good vibe from her and I thought she was very cold and just being the bitch from High School that no one was really friends with. Even the way she greeted her family at the end turned me off in the fact that she grabbed her children's faces and shoved them into her cheek. She couldn't even kiss them on the cheeks?! And yes, she had the baby in her arms so she couldn't hug them.. but it was all very odd. If I were her, I'd be kissing their cheeks and you know, show them my thanks for their coming along and supporting me.

She was such a spit fire, but not in a good way. I wonder how much information they really had to cram into her head because she didn't know that much about McCain or about what he's done... I wonder how much she has been paying attention to anything lately since she has the five-month-old special needs child. Now I do support her little shout out to the parents of special needs children, but I almost took it the wrong way. I thought she was just trying to get the sympathy vote... I do have sympathy, but don't use your special needs child for the election in the wrong way.

I guess we'll see what more people are saying tomorrow... and as always, I'll be watching my fave ladies on The View at 11 to see what they thought. I will just about die if Elisabeth says one more time that she thinks Palin has more experience as Obama. There is no comparison... I don't care if he's never been a Governor, you cannot say that she's got more experience than him.

Like my dad said when she criticized Obama for writing two memoirs but no law... 'is it better to have someone whose written no laws or someone whose voted against the laws he wrote himself.'

I ask you my dear friends to pay attention this year and don't vote based on gender or race, but on beliefs, values and the way the candidate sees our country. Do your research and get out there and vote.

the 08 race to the white house

I'd like to apologize for my long absence from this blog. I was at camp calumet lutheran for boys and girls all summer working two jobs, so when I did get a second off, I was probably sleeping.

Anyway, I'd like to address the issue of the 08 election. This election has turned into a dirty, dirty game my friends. I cannot believe that the republicans have whipped out their secret evil fighting machine, Sarah Palin. The woman that you have never heard of, the pro-life, pro-gun, banning books, crazy christian governor from Alaska.

Where did she come from? I know that my being at camp has kept me in a nice New Hampshire bubble, but she's been a governor for less than two years and you want me to trust her to run the country because John McCain is so old and will probably have a heart attack at the first big problem he has to deal with? I don't think so...

Another issue I have with the republicans is that they think because she is a woman, all women across the US will run towards her and vote for her in a heartbeat. It's like getting a slap in the face when people assume that. It's degrading towards women and they might as well say that we would vote for Oprah because she's run a tv show for so many years... so therefore she's qualified. (Shoot, probably a lot of women in this country would vote for Oprah.. but let's face it. She'd be better than Sarah Palin. She likes to READ!)

I don't think running a small town in Alaska and then governing one of the least populated states in the US qualifies her for the VP seat. Oh but then again, we can't forget about her being a mother. As Sherry on The View put it, 'if you can raise 5 kids then you can run the country..." or something like that. Well once again, I have to disagree. My grandmother raised 5 kids and that does not mean I would trust the country in her hands, no thank you. Being a mother is hard, and rewarding and whatever else... I wouldn't know yet, but it does not mean that you can run a country just because you've raised 5 kids.

She hasn't even made it past the teenage stage yet and she's already let one get pregnant. Whoops.

Another issue that was brought to my attention today was the fact that she tried to ban books before she was mayor and then while she was mayor. When the Library Director refused and rallied against those bans, she fired the Library Director the first minute she could when she became Mayor. Banning books is like... taking away my rights to watch certain TV... I promise I'll think of better analogies for this post later... But because I was raised by two librarians, I am whole heart-idly involved with keeping reading open to everyone and letting people choose what they want to read. Like my stance on abortion. I don't want some big wig telling me what I can and cannot do with my body. I want to read whatever the hell I want.

I bet Sarah Palin doesn't know the Bible is a banned book. Let's discuss her crazy christian antics. If she were to try and impose some of her crazy ideas onto the state and school systems then I feel bad for the Jewish, Muslim, Agnostic, Pagan, Hindus, etc. we could go on for days listing people who live in this country and don't want their kids learning Creationism and other things about Jesus.

This is a FREE country. FREE that spells free.

Well I should get off my soap box now. I know I'm not the person who knows everything about this election, but I care enough to write about it and hope that others will make the right decision.

Plus, Obama and Michelle are just so damn cute. Who wouldn't want a First Lady who knows when embellished neck lines are in?!

This has nothing to do with movies... but... I really needed to express my thoughts.

SO here goes.

I strongly dislike David Archuleta. He bores me to tears, he can't sing that well and his voice sounds like it's breathy and just plain shot.

I don't understand why the judges praise him time and time again. I just really don't get it. When Randy said he could sing anything, I was yelling back at the TV, 'NO! No he can't! And he showed us he can't sing anything almost every week, esp. the first Beatles week when he screwed up majorly! I don't even remember what song he messed up because I tried to block it out of my head immediately.

I really, truly, honestly do not understand what people see/hear in him. He's awful. He needs to go. He's never put an original spin on anything... even Kristy Lee Cook took chances.

and now I will get down from my soapbox...

after the Oscars...

Even though last night's Oscars weren't the best Oscar telecast EVER... they were still way more enjoyable than a silly montage of Oscar clips would have been if the strike didn't end and also WAYY WAYY WAY more fun than that "Golden Globes" telecast was.

So I got all my big predictions correct except for Best Actress. I changed my vote from Julie Christie to Ellen Page, ONE) because after seeing 'Away From Her' I liked Page's performance better. TWO) because I really hated Julie Christie's audio commentary. Did I mention that in yesterday's post? I'm not really sure... but her commentary was so bad it's worth speaking of again. My movie business class professor told me I should start youtube videos discussing the audio commentaries for films, specifically Oscar nominated ones... this idea could actually go somewhere. For now though, I'll just write about it.

Ms. Christie, or Julie as I like to call her, yes we are friends and on a first name basis... as I am with all of the Oscar noms from last night... had nothing valuable to say in her audio commentary. Granted I could only watch/listen for about 20 minutes before giving up, but she was just awful giving no insight into how she worked with any of her cast members... now maybe I should have listened more.. to see if she ever did say anything, but if you don' talk about them within the first twenty minutes of commentary, I doubt you will. The only spoken word about any of her co-stars was about Olympia (Dukakis). NOT ONE SINGLE WORD ABOUT GORDON PINSENT. HELLOOOO. You had to SPOON with the man... and NOTHIING!? no, 'hey, Gordon and I laughed a lot during this scene and had to do it multiple times'... or 'Gordon was a wonder to work with'... NOTHING.

And then Julie complained about not wanting to do this film. She said she was obviously glad she did... but she was really opposed to it because she didn't like the cold... (she has scenes skiing and laying in the snow) and she didn't want to learn 'Canadian.' I didn't realized 'Canadian' was a language you had to learn Julie... Yes she claifys herself and mentions learning the 'Canadian' accent. But really, you're now nominated for an Oscar... you shouldn't be complaining about anything, Julie!

I bed half a dozen other older actresses wouldn't have minded at all to have to pick up a 'Canadian' accent for a role... God only knows how many Daniel Day-Lewis has had to learn... and look at him, he's grateful.

SO, I'm going to get off of my soap box now... I hope you all enjoyed the telecast... and are anxiously awaiting the start of this year's Oscar race/season!

OSCARS!

TODAY. IS. OSCAR. DAY! I am excited. Tonight's show is going to be a good one, I can feel it in my bones... and it should be, because the writers' strike is over so we can have the REAL oscars! I got to write an article for big lick about my predictions... and also past Oscar wins to check out and Oscar snubs that we still love.

But I hope everyone enjoys the show this fine Oscar evening... I just love love love the Oscars.

HERE is my article about the Oscars...
http://www.biglicku.com/blu/Stories/StoryDisplayPage.aspx?&title=My%20predictions%20for%20Oscar%202008&id=904#

you can see the others by clicking on my name in the TAGS part towards the bottom of the page.

V-Day

is it bad that I want to see Definitely, Maybe?... I don't think so... Even rotten tomatoes liked it better than 27 Dresses. But there was no way I could go tonight at a 720 showing on Valentines... I would be with all couples. Shooot.

The Writers' Strike is OVER!

THE WRITER'S STRIKE IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!! yippee.

i suppose this is a good ending to the bad day i just wrote about.

let's get the OFFICE back up and running@

VA's not so super Tuesday

Today was the VA super Tuesday, not last Tuesday... but TODAY. I was extremely excited to vote and so I had class until 6:15 and knew the polls were open until 7. This was the first time I couldn't vote in the afternoon, so I felt like I would really be there with the after work voters. SO I pull into the parking lot at 6:25 and the doors are CLOSED. Everything is dark and shut down; they've shut down the polls at my location EARLY. I immediately call my father and express my hatred towards this elementary school for shutting down early and making a very hopeful and entitled voter angry.

I come back to my apt. and yell to my roommate that I'm really pissed and I start to cry. Who knew not being able to vote would make someone cry. But the tears were also reflecting a really hectic weekend and plain exhaustion.

So where am I going with this on a movie blog you ask? Well the only thing that kept me from continuing to cry was my knowledge that I was going out to buy 'Into The Wild'. I've been waiting for this day since I first saw the film in the theaters. So I stop my crying and get my butt over to the FYE, where I have a handy dandy gift card, ready to purchase 'Into the Wild' and 'Across the Universe'. 'Into the Wild' is not there. Well I think, that's OK, I'll go to Target, use my gift card to buy 'Across the Universe' and it'll be all set. Then I start wondering, if anyone should have 'ITW' today, it would be FYE... so I'm now starring at the Coming Soon poster and I don't see it listed... so it just has to be a mistake... I get up to the register and finally notice... ALLLL the way down at the bottom is 'Into The Wild' coming March 4.

I seriously wanted to keep crying right then. Like, could my day get any worse? An awful exam in the AM, lack of sleep, not being able to vote and now I can't buy 'ITW'... GREAT.

so I then go to Coldstone where my roommate is working and she gives me cheap ice cream... in a NEW chocolate cake batter flavor... it is divine and I go back to my apt, turn on 'The Biggest Loser' and drink wine to drown away my sorrows.

Should we movie fans really have to put up with this writers' strike... which should be over tonight!!! AND not having DVDs released when they say they will?!?! oy vey.