Pattie's Pop Culture Paradise

My Happy for the Day: "The Show"

2009-07-02T12:56:00.007-04:00

This is one of my new insta-happy songs, "The Show" by Lenka. Happy lyrics? Check. Adorable singer? Check. Smiling tomato puppets and happy bluebird puppets? Check and check. There's something that's just fun about Lenka literally floating and flying through different scenarios, seemingly with girl-next-door superpowers, while singing optimistically about finding her way in life that picks me up whenever I'm feeling down.

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Lyrics:
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle / Life is a maze and love is a riddle / I don't know where to go, can't do it alone / I've tried, and I don't know why...

Slow it down, make it stop / Or else my heart is going to pop / 'Cause it's too much, yeah it's a lot / To be something i'm not / I'm a fool out of love / 'Cause I just can't get enough...

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle / Life is a maze and love is a riddle / I don't know where to go, can't do it alone / I've tried, and I don't know why / I'm just a little girl lost in the moment / I'm so scared but I don't show it / I can't figure it out, it's bringing me down / I know i've got to let it go... / And just enjoy the show

The sun is hot in the sky / Just like a giant spotlight / The people follow the signs / And synchronise in time / It's a joke, nobody knows / They've got a ticket to the show....

(I want my money back, just enjoy the show)

Where Has the Year Gone?

2009-07-01T22:20:00.000-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

At the sound / Of the first bird singing / I was leaving for home / With the storm / And the night behind me

Uriah Heep / "July Morning"

Holy hell, it's July! Where have the first six months of the year gone? I feel like I've been unbelievably, incredibly busy already this year. And yet there are plenty of other things I want to do before the year is over. So much to do, so little time.

Photoblogging: 3 Kitties in the Sun

2009-06-30T22:41:00.003-04:00

Because I'm missing their little brother terribly tonight, I thought I'd post a pic of how Belle, Finn, and Buster (top to bottom) are enjoying the lazy days of summer.

My Best, Most Relaxing Day Ever

2009-06-29T22:26:00.002-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

Relax don't do it / When you want to go to it

Frankie Goes to Hollywood / "Relax"

For the first time in seven years of participating in the Relay for Life, I took the Monday after the event off. And it was AWESOME.

How did I treat myself after once again pushing my gimpy right hip to its limit? I took the day off from work today and cashed in the Infinity Spa Package gift card to Aveda Natural Alternatives Spa Salon that my fantabulous husband gave me for Christmas. That's right -- I held on to that gift card for six lonnnng months with my eye on the prize: enjoying it after the Relay.

And good gravy, it was totally worth the wait. My spa experience started at 11:30AM with a one-hour massage by the amazing Amber. I would've very happily lapsed into a full-on coma if I hadn't had a manicure and pedicure to look forward to after. That's where the wonderful Michelle took over, giving me my first-ever manicure and first-ever pedicure (I know -- can you believe that?). My pedicure was followed by a wonderful paraffin treatment that left my tootsies as soft as a baby's behind. Three-and-a-half hours after I first arrived, I left the spa floating on air, as relaxed as I'll ever be, with my fingernails and toenails painted in an awesome blood-red shade called Wicked.

I rounded out my day by coming home and napping on the couch for a couple of hours. Once I woke up, I continued my intentional lazy streak by watching some TiVoed shows. All in all, the perfect lazy, relaxing day.

Thanks again to Rich for the perfect gift. I know it's one I look forward to treating myself to again someday.

Scene From a Marriage # 10,513

2009-06-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

Whispered conversation while attending worship service in Iowa with the grandparents:

"Are you lip synching?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know Methodist hymns. If they were set to Catholic ones, I could sing along, but they're not, so I'm lip synching."

"Don't you think that's rude?"

"It'd be rude not to."

Downtown Knoxville ACS Relay for Life 2009

2009-06-26T11:59:00.004-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

'Til the storms fill my eyes / And we touch the last time / I will love you, love you

Fisher / "I Will Love You"

Today’s the big day: the 2009 Downtown Knoxville American Cancer Society Relay for Life! The economy may be bad, but you can help me do some good by joining my team, the Tennessee Purple People Cancer Eaters or by making a donation to help me and my team raise funds to help fight cancer. Here in Knoxville alone, 1,673 people were diagnosed with cancer for the year ending 2006. My mom was one of them a few years ago; I walk in honor or her being a 7 ½ year breast cancer survivor. So please help me make a difference and support our community at the same time. The event starts at 7PM tonight at the World's Fair Park. It's an overnight event, but you're welcome to come by for even a fraction of the evening. The more, the merrier! And don’t let any rain we may get scare you away – most of us will be there for the whole event regardless of the weather.

If you’d like to make a donation to my team, click here. If you’d like to make a donation to my personal page, click here. Times are tough for all of us these days, which is why it's more important than ever to raise funds to help cancer patients receive the treatment and care they need. Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Thanks for your support -- this isn't just a cause for me, it's now a way of life.

RIP, Michael and Farrah

2009-06-25T23:23:00.008-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

A willow deeply scarred / Somebody's broken heart / And a washed-out dream / They follow the pattern of / The wind, ya see / Cause they got no place to be

Michael Jackson / "Man in the Mirror"

Two of my childhood icons died today, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. While I'd hoped for the best in Farrah's battle against cancer, I wasn't surprised to hear she passed away; she fought the good fight but had taken a turn for the worse recently. I'm glad her suffering is over, and I will always admire her strength and courage for the brave face she wore while fighting such a horrible disease. The news of her passing this morning made my heart ache, and I found myself missing my old Charlie's Angels dolls for the first time in decades.

Getting home from work in time to hear Charles Gibson announce that when ABC World News returned they'd be "remembering Michael Jackson" absolutely floored me. I still don't think I've recovered from the shock I felt upon hearing he died from cardiac arrest at the young age of 50. Like many of my friends, I grew up on his music. I still have Thriller on vinyl, one of my seminal childhood albums I will hold on to forever. Much like this old button I also still have, I'll remember the Michael Jackson from my childhood, the talented singer who made music that thrilled all of us, particularly the little girl who lived in the cul-de-sac in that Houston neighborhood. That's how I choose to remember him tonight.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to My Nervous Breakdown ...

2009-06-24T21:37:00.010-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

My head is a box filled with nothing / And that's the way I like it / My garden's a secret compartment / And that's the way I like it / And that's the way I like it

Ben Lee / "Catch My Disease"

Things have been beyond crazy lately. Like I-went-hiking-on-the-Appalachian-Trail-only-to-end-up-in-Argentina crazy. Why exactly have things been so crazy? First, work has been busybusybusy -- site redesigns are always fun (cough). But it's been good -- days fly by when you're busy and when you work with a great team.

The primary reason I'm freaking out these days is that, while this will be my seventh year participating in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and my fourth as a team captain, it's my first as a committee member. I'm in charge of the Luminaria ceremony, so I've been busy writing the speech, meeting with the pastor, securing the bagpipers, and lots of other little things. Yesterday I was even interviewed on WVLT (channel 8 here) alongside the ACS's amazing Ashley, who has been an invaluable support throughout the last few crazy months. Tonight, though, I've been trying to decide on songs to play after the bagpipers finish playing "Amazing Grace." I chose a preliminary set of songs based on their lyrics, and not only how they affect me personally and emotionally, but also how they can be interpreted by and affect fellow Relay participants. My playlist so far:

"Keep Me in Your Heart" by Warren Zevon

"I Will Love You" by Fisher

"I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlan

"I'll Be There" by Escape Club

"Silent Lucidity" by Queensryche

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In between work craziness and Relay prep, I've seen my awesome little nephews as often as possible. My best days are now the ones where I get to see either Elliott or Stephen, ideally both -- they're my special little guys.

I've also managed to motivate my lazy, stressed, and expanding ass to start semi-regular full workouts again, although I took tonight off. (I've learned the hard way to listen to my body when it's achier than normal.)

I've found the time (thank you, TiVo) to enjoy some great TV, too: The Closer, Leverage, True Blood -- squee! -- and Better Off Ted to name a few shows, about which I will write more once I'm done with the Relay. I'm also really enjoying the 10 little Indians concept of Harper's Island (and, boy, will I be pissed if Jimmy is the other killer).

Now you know where I've been. It's not too late to donate to the Relay for Life, either. You can donate to my team as a whole (or pick a random team member) or make a donation on my personal page. Oh, and I have some fun news to share about my upcoming big vacation. It can't get here soon enough.

Eye Candy: Hugh Jackman

2009-06-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Enough said.

Photoblogging: Orange Man

2009-06-04T15:31:00.000-04:00

One of my first photos with my new camera, I took this during a Mother's Day walk at World's Fair Park with Samantha, Michael, and Stephen. It's a thin metal cut-out man who resides on the bench.

Eye Candy: Jensen Ackles

2009-05-10T10:00:00.001-04:00

My current number one Fantasy Second Husband©, Jensen Ackles, kicks off a new monthly feature: Eye Candy. Why? Because I feel like it. And because Jensen is oh so pretty, I thought I'd start with him.

Note: To be fair (read: to appease the hubby), I'll also occasionally feature an actress/celebrity Rich thinks is hot. Because all's fair in blogging and marriage.

*This image was first e-mailed to me by a friend as a thank you. Needless to say, I almost fell off my chair.

Flying Solo for a Few Days

2009-05-05T20:02:00.006-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

Sun is shinin' in the sky / There ain't a cloud in sight / It's stopped rainin' / Ev'rybody's in a playin' / And don't you know / It's a beautiful new day / Hey / Hey

Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O.) / "Mr. Blue Sky"

I'm on my own for a few days. Rich is off to Hampton Roads to visit a lot of our friends and attend one friend's graduation. Sounds like fun, right? So why did I stay behind? Because both brothers-in-law will be away this weekend, leaving both my sisters alone with my little nephews. So as much as I wanted to see Joan, Sharon, Kathy, Christian, Kristen, Matt, Elaine, Dale, Sallie, David, and all the others, I had to stay behind so I can be here in case the siblings and nephews need me. Not to mention our fur kids needing to be taken care of.

As with any time Rich is out of town, I have grand plans for how productive I'll be. I'm going to work on both my books, including an agent query letter for the first one -- finally! I'm going to post hundreds of photos I've been sitting on to my Flickr albums! I'm going to exercise every night! I'm going to take care of lots of tiny home improvement projects! I'm finally going to teach Troubadour the "bang, you're dead!" trick! Will any of that come to pass? Um, we'll see.

More realistically, I'll manage to exercise a few nights, write a few pages, have my sis and brother-in-law over for dinner, and manage to not kill Troubadour. Provided my sweet, overly ambitious puppy doesn't attempt anything along the lines of the other night's Great Pork Chop Heist, he and I should be fine. Still, I do plan on taking advantage of the solo time. And Rich has ordered me to relax on at least a couple of nights, which I fully plan on doing.

One thing I have managed to stick to lately is daily writing exercises. I bought myself a pretty journal from Borders the other day with the sole purpose of dedicating it to writing exercises, and so far I'm doing pretty well with it. If I can at least stay the course with that while Rich is gone, I'll consider my solo time a success.

I really do want to post photos this week, though. My new baby, my Canon EOS Rebel XS, arrived the other day, and I've been getting to know it and taking lots of photos (of course). (I got a great deal on Buy.com, although the price has already gone up from when I bought it.) I'll be sure to post a couple of new photos here when I do.

Scene From a Marriage # 14,018

2009-05-04T22:56:00.001-04:00

While watching X-Men Origins: Wolverine during Hugh Jackman's first shirtless scene:

"You OK there? Is that drool?"

"Sorry, honey. You must've heard my eyes widen."

Scene From a Marriage # 12,231

2009-03-26T07:57:00.000-04:00

After seeing the third of three bears during a hike in Cades Cove:

"Honey?"

From behind a tree:

"Yeah?"

"Where'd you go? I blinked and suddenly you were behind me."

"I'm sorry. I love you, but I was totally planning on using you as a human shield from that bear if I had to."

Life AFK

2009-03-25T10:00:00.003-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

Save me, I'm lost / Oh lord, I've been waiting for you / I'll pay any cost / Just save me from being confused

Carolina Liar / "Show Me What I'm Looking For"

I've decided to blog only when I have something worth saying. OK, worth saying in my opinion, anyway. So I'll only be posting when I feel I have something to say, want to share my interest in something, want to express my opinion about things, want to document events in my life, feel like sharing something fun and so on. Basically, I'll be maintaining my status quo and will be posting as infrequently/intermittently as I always do. This is just my way of letting myself off the hook. I'm never going to be a prolific daily blogger. At least, I don't think I ever will be. This is a hobby for me, one I enjoy, but one I'm giving myself permission not to obsess over. To wit, I've been enjoying my real life lately, the one I don't live online; trying to manage my stress level has been key. For instance:

I've made time to work on my book and even started a new one.
I hosted my sister's baby shower this past weekend (little dude is due in the very near future).
I celebrated my puppy's 1st birthday by buying him a cake from River Dog Bakery. He was thrilled (and so was big brother Caleb).
I've been catching up on TiVoed shows (Damages has been great this season -- of course -- and Castle is light but a lot of fun).
I've continued on my organizational bender in my neverending quest to bring more order to our house.
I stopped following certain bloggers and Twitterers because their negativity and hypocrisy was bringing me down. I feel much better for it, too.
I updated my wish list. Why? Because I have Borders gift cards burning a hole in my wallet and I want to be prepared next time I'm in the store. I'm that senile already.
I went to our friends' charity basketball game (which I actually Twittered about).
I've spent less time on Facebook and Twitter (despite the previous basketball-related Twitter mention).
I swore off curse words for Lent. Why'd I do that? Because as a non-practicing Catholic I still like to exercise willpower every now and then. (Typing curse words doesn't count, right? Only spoken ones do, right?

And that's what's going on in my world these days. Now it's time to go write.

My Happy for the Day: "Say Hey (I Love You)"

2009-03-25T08:30:00.001-04:00

I first heard this song a few months ago on WFIV 105.3 and never heard the DJ announce who the song was by or even what it was called. Enter Google search, which led me to Michael Franti & Spearhead. This song makes me happy every single time I hear it. I've also enjoyed discovering more of the group's music, including the single "Yell Fire," currently being used as part of FX's awesome Rescue Me season five promo. I hope this song puts a smile on your face the way it does mine.

Lyrics:
This one goes out to you and yours worldwide / I say hey I'll be gone today
But I'll be back all around the way / It seems like everywhere I go
The more I see the less I know / But I know one thing / That I love you
I love you / I love you / I love you

I’ve been a lot of places all around the way / I’ve seen a lot joy and I’ve seen a lot of pain
but I don’t want to write a love song for the world / I just want to write a song about a boy and a girl
Junkies on the corner always calling my name / And the kids on the corner playing ghetto games
When I saw you getting down well I hoped it was you / And when I looked into your eyes I knew it was true
I say Hey I'll be gone today / But I'll be back all around the way
It seems like everywhere I go / The more I see the less I know
But I know one thing / That I love you
I love you / I love you / I love you

Now I’m not a highly metaphysical man / But I know when the stars are aligned you can
bump into person in the middle of the road / Look into their eyes and you suddenly know
Rocking in the dance hall moving with you / Dancing in the night in the middle of June
My momma told me don’t lose you / ‘Cause the best luck I had was you
I said Hey I'll be gone today / But I'll be back all around the way
It seems like everywhere I go / The more I see the less I know
But I know one thing / That I love you
I love you / I love you / I love you

And I said rocking in the dance hall moving with you / I said Hey momma hey momma close to you
Rocking in the dance hall moving with you / I said hey papa, hey papa close to you
Rocking in the dance hall moving with you / I said Hey Momma close to you
Rocking in the dance hall moving with you I said
Hey momma, hey momma, hey momma, hey momma
Hey momma, hey momma, hey momma, hey momma
What you gonna do?

My momma told me don’t lose you / Cause the best luck I had was you
And I know one thing that I love you / I said I'll be gone today
but I’ll be back all around the way / It seems like everywhere I go
The more I see the less I know / I said I'll be gone today
But I’ll be back all around the way / It seems like everywhere I go
The more I see the less I know / But I know one thing that I love you
I love you (3x)
I love you (3x)
I love you (3x)

Faves: Bond Theme Songs

2009-03-24T18:10:00.001-04:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

Another tricky little gun giving solace to the one that will never see the sunshine / Another inch of your life sacrificed for your brother in the nick of time / Another dirty money, heaven sent honey turning on a dime

Jack White & Alicia Keys / "Another Way to Die"

In honor of the latest James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, coming out on DVD today, I thought I'd list my top five favorite Bond movie theme songs. Of course, me being a child of the '80s, you're not going to find Shirley Bassey's "Goldfinger" on this list. Although I do have a blast singing along with it: "GollllllllddddddddfinGUHHHHHHHHHHHHH."

"For Your Eyes Only" - Sheena Easton
Recorded back when she was still something of an ingenue, years before Prince went and sexed up her image and before she married Sonny Crockett, Sheena Easton tackled theme song duties for Roger Moore's fifth outing as James Bond. Movie theme aside, I think the song still stands well on its own as a great ballad.

"Another Way to Die" - Jack White & Alicia Keys
The first duet recorded for a Bond movie, this song earned an almost immediate backlash for being too disjointed, for not having an obvious hook/refrain, and for basically being so different from all the previous Bond themes. Which is exactly why I like it so much -- it's catchy without being catchy, which is no small feat. And if you've seen Quantum of Solace, it's hard to argue with how well this song plays to the opening credits.

"You Know My Name" - Chris Cornell
I've never been a die-hard Chris Cornell fan -- I like him well enough, but he can be a bit too screamy for me at times. But his distinct style made for a great theme song for Daniel Craig's first outing as James Bond, Casino Royale. The movie series was in desperate need of a reboot, and not only did it accomplish that (and then some), but Chris Cornell helped drag it into modern times, kicking and screaming to a hard rock beat the whole way.

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"The World Is Not Enough" - Garbage
If you know me at all, you know I'm a massive Garbage fan. Despite that -- or maybe because of it -- I think the group's theme song for the Pierce Brosnan Bond outing, The World Is Not Enough, stands as one of the best Bond theme songs ever. The song's lyrics have fun describing the life of a secret agent ("People like us / Know how to survive") while the video is a beautifully filmed mini-movie featuring its own deadly agent. And really, I just think Shirley Manson kicks ass in any capacity.

"A View to a Kill" - Duran Duran
Did I mention I'm a child of the '80s? It was a toss-up for me whether Duran Duran's titular song for Roger Moore's last Bond movie would get my top spot or whether it would go to Garbage's "The World Is Not Enough." You can see who won (although it was neck-and-neck). Childhood nostalgia aside, this video shows Duran Duran doing what it does best: setting a memorable song to an equally memorable video. Spies? Check. International locale? Check. Band members wearing guyliner and sporting big hair? Check and check. Bonus: the accordion bit at the end of the video, which is not part of the radio single.

Now for full disclosure: After Sean Connery, Daniel Craig is my favorite Bond portrayer. What can I say? I prefer the real, tough men's men to the pretty boys. That, and the blue bathing suit didn't hurt.

Photoblogging: Posh Puppy

2009-03-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

My puppy Troubadour with "the Donald." Put a wig on your own pooch or kitty at Posh Your Pet.

My Favorite Birthday Boy

2009-02-25T21:13:00.004-05:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

Every time I kiss your lips my mind starts to wander / And if all my dreams come true / I'll be spending time with you /Oh, I love you more today than yesterday / But not as much as tomorrow

Spiral Starecase / "More Today Than Yesterday"

Today is my favorite blue-eyed boy's 35th birthday. In honor of that milestone, we splurged on a fantastic dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House, where our amazing servers Roland and Johnathan helped make an extra-special meal extraordinary. The delicious food and desserts didn't hurt, either. Roland was even nice enough to take a picture for us to commemorate the evening.

Being that turning 35 is a big deal (particularly according to the Book of Pattie), I'm hosting a birthday party for Rich this Saturday. Our house will be hopping with family and friends, just as it should be for any special occasion.

So here's wishing Rich the happiest of birthdays today. He's not only my husband, he's still the best friend I've ever had. Or ever will.

Photoblogging: Jellyfish

2009-02-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

I took this shot at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga the day after Valentine's Day. It came out better than I expected, since I took it with my camera lens pressed to the glass.

Liveblogging: The 81st Annual Academy Awards

2009-02-22T20:36:00.078-05:00

8:31PM.
Gawd, Hugh Jackman looks good.

8:36PM.
Enjoying Hugh Jackman's opening number. You can't say he's not giving it his all.

8:38PM.
"I am Wolverine" -- awesome!

8:40PM.
Oh, look, Angelina's wearing a black dress. Again.

8:41PM.
Eleven minutes in, and we're on the fist time-suck montage of the evening. Any guesses as to how many more of these they'll have? I'm going to say three. Make that five.

8:43PM.
My prediction for Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz. Don't know why, but I just think it's her night.

8:46PM.
I really hope every category's nominees aren't presented this way. It's. Taking. Forever.

8:47PM.
At least if Marisa Tomei wins, it should shut up all the My Cousin Vinny doubters.

8:48PM.
First winner of the evening: Penelope Cruz! I'm 1 for 1 so far. I should quit while I'm ahead. Wonder if Javier was her date tonight?

8:50PM.
Loosely translated, Penelope thanked her fellow Spanish actors and said this moment is shared with them and this award is in a sense theirs, too.

8:51PM.
Predictions: Heath Ledger for Best Supporting Actor (duh), but if anyone else steals it, I think it'll be Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder. Best Actress: I think this will be Meryl's year, but Melissa Leo could be the wild card. Best Actor: I really, really want to see Mickey Rourke win. I think he's earned it more than Sean Penn, especially since Penn's already won in the past.

8:53PM.
Ah, Tina Fey and Steve Martin together again. Love them. Best Original Screenplay: I think it'll go to Wall-E, although I'd love to see In Bruges honored.

8:56PM.
The Oscar goes to Milk. Boy, was I way off.

8:59PM.
I think Best Adapted Screenplay is Slumdog Millionaire's to lose.

9:01PM.
The Oscar goes to -- you guessed it -- Slumdog Millionaire.

9:03PM.
Jennifer Aniston and Jack Black are presenting a montage. At least it's for animated movies that came out in 2008. Oh, look, Angelina's smiling. That's nice.

9:06PM.
I'm going with Wall-E again, this time to win Animated Feature.

9:07PM.
It's official: Rich and I need to see Wall-E, especially since it just won the Oscar.

9:08PM.
Best Animated Short Film? I don't know any of them. Any of them have the penguins from Madagascar? I love the penguins.

9:09PM.
I'm going with the French La Maison En Petits Cubes to win. Or Presto because the bunny's really cute.

9:09PM.
Yep, the French animated short won.

9:16PM.
Sarah Jessica Parker's sporting some impressive cleavage tonight. Daniel Craig's tuxedo is wearing him well, as always. They're presenting the award for Art Direction. I think it'll go to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, although it should go to The Dark Knight.

9:17PM.
The Oscar for Art Direction went to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Bah.

9:19PM.
Nominees for Costume Design now. I'm guessing the Academy will again show its appreciation for Mr. Button.

9:21PM.
And The Duchess smacked down Mr. Button for Costume Design. These Oscars are really boring so far. I'm going to paint my nails now.

9:24PM.
Hellboy II or The Dark Knight should've won Makeup instead of Benjamin Button. Bah.

9:25PM.
Glad Robert Pattinson shaved. He looks like Wolfboy with too much stubble. He and Amanda Seyfried are introducing our third montage of the evening. At least it's using "Lovers in Japan" by Coldplay for the music.

9:29PM.
I forgot Judd Apatow created a short film for the Oscars. Here's hoping that livens things up. Cinematography award is coming up, too. My prediction: Slumdog Millionaire.

9:32PM.
Natalie Portman looks gorgeous as usual. Ben Stiller's spoofing Joaquin Phoenix. Waiting for it to get funny.

9:35PM.
Slumdog's cinematographer wins it. Ben Stiller's bit never got funny.

9:39PM.
Jessica Biel's giving a rundown on the Scientific and Technical Awards, which she hosted recently. My husband just caught a glimpse of her and informed me that she is his "boo." News to me. And to her, I imagine.

9:44PM.
At least Seth Rogen and James Franco's bit is funny.

9:46PM.
Time for the Live Action Short award. I think The Pig will get it. No idea why, though.

9:47PM.
The Oscar went to Spielzeugland (Toyland). I don't know anything about it or any of the other live action shorts. In totally unrelated news, my dog is snoring. Which is what I'll be doing soon if the awards show doesn't get any livelier.

9:53PM.
Hugh Jackman's leading a musical number. Beyonce just chimed in. Dear lord, now they're singing a song from Grease. My puppy's head just exploded.

9:56PM.
Lord help me if Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron start singing a song from High School Musical. I'll have to shoot myself.

10:02PM.
Montage! Number four, I think.

10:03PM.
Looks like it's time for the Best Supporting Actor award. They're doing the same multiple-presenter thing as for Best Supporting Actress. I'm going to watch my dogs wrestle for a few minutes.

10:08PM.
Congratulations to Heath Ledger's family. They're making their way to the podium now to accept his posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

10:10PM.
Very moving speech by the Ledger family. Also very moving to see so many of his fellow actors with tears in their eyes, too.

10:12PM.
Montage # 5, this time of documentaries that came out in 2008.

10:13PM.
My prediction for Best Documentary Feature: Man on Wire. Documentary short: The Witness -- From the Balcony of Room 306.

10:15PM.
Man on Wire won. No surprise there.

10:18PM.
Smile Pinki won for Documentary Short Film.

10:23PM.
Montage # 6! At least it's for action in movies in 2008. Fun!

10:26PM.
Will Smith's presenting the award for Visual Effects. I'd love to see Iron Man or The Dark Knight win, but I'll bet Mr. Button gets it.

10:27PM.
Fucking Benjamin Button. Even after all its awards won tonight, I still have no interest in seeing that movie. I'm allergic to schmaltz.

10:29PM.
Now on to Sound Editing. Again, I'd like to see The Dark Knight or Iron Man take it. But I think it'll go to Wall-E.

10:29PM.
Congrats to The Dark Knight for Sound Editing. I imagine it will also win the upcoming Sound Mixing Oscar, too, unless the Academy decides to award Benjamin Button again. You know, because if you listen closely enough, you can hear him aging.

10:32PM.
Slumdog Millionaire wins for Sound Mixing. And I once again win as one of the worst Oscar predictors ever.

10:34PM.
Will Smith prepares to hand out the fourth award for which he's presenting, the Oscar for Film Editing. This is one category I love -- editing, when done well, is an art unto itself. I predict Slumdog Millionaire will win.

10:36PM.
Woohoo! I was right.

10:38PM.
I could swear the announcer said a tribute to Jerry Lewis is coming up. That'll be the obligatory dog-walking segment, then.

10:42PM.
Eddie Murphy is presenting the Jean Hersholt Award to Jerry Lewis. Time to walk the dogs and surf some blogs.

10:51PM.
Michael Giacchino is conducting an orchestra in playing music from this year's nominees for Music (Score). They're on Defiance now.

10:54PM.
Zac Efron and Alicia Keys are presenting the Music (Score) award. I'd like to see Defiance win, but I'm going with Slumdog Millionaire.

10:55PM.
Slumdog can do no wrong tonight. If it doesn't win Best Picture later, I'll be really, really surprised.

10:55PM.
I predict that the song "Down to Earth" from Wall-E will win best Music (Song). Just because it's a tiebreaker against the other two songs nominated, both from Slumdog Millionaire.

11:01PM.
Slumdog Millionaire takes the Oscar for the song "Jai Ho."

11:06PM.
Liam Neeson and Freida Pinto presenting the award for Best Foreign Language Film. I'm going to say The Class will win.

11:07PM.
Departures from Japan won Best Foreign Language Film. Thank God I didn't join any betting pools for this year's Oscars. I'd be screwed.

11:11PM.
Queen Latifah is introducing the In Memoriam segment. She's singing Billie Holiday's "I'll Be Seeing You" as images appear on the screen behind her.

11:13PM.
Bernie Mac died way too soon. And I still can't believe Michael Crichton's gone.

11:19PM.
Oh, Reese. You do remember you're not 50 years old yet, right? What's with the dress?

11:20PM.
Best Director has to be Danny Boyle.

11:21PM.
Yep, it's Danny Boyle. I've got to get out and see Slumdog Millionaire this week.

11:27PM.
Time for the Best Actress award. I think it's down to Meryl and Melissa.

11:28PM.
I take it back. I think Kate Winslet's going to win. Sorry, Meryl and Melissa.

11:30PM.
Oh, Sophia. That dress does not do you justice. Now, if it were prom ...

11:32PM.
Go, Kate Winslet! Now there's an actress who epitomizes glamour.

11:36PM.
Best Actor is up next. Still pulling for Mickey Rourke. And if he wins and mentions his late dog, Loki, I'll probably cry.

11:40PM.
I love Richard Jenkins. I've loved him since Flirting With Disaster. in which he played an FBI agent. Who happened to be Josh Brolin's life partner. And who accidentally ends up on an eventful acid trip. Makes you want to see it, doesn't it?

11:43PM.
Sean Penn won. I'm disappointed.

11:47PM.
What's left? Best Picture? We all know who's winning that one: Slumdog Millionaire.

11:53PM.
Slumdog Millionaire caps off an amazing night. And now I'm heading to bed.

Photoblogging: Brooklyn Bridge in Black & White

2009-02-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is one of many, many, many shots I took when the hubby and I walked the Brooklyn Bridge during our last visit to New York City, October 2006.

Scene From a Marriage # 11,554

2009-02-18T22:00:00.005-05:00

"I want those lights down.”

“Why?”

“Because they’re Christmas lights. It’s not Christmas anymore. I want them packed away until next Christmas.”

Quietly, almost inaudibly:

“I wish I could pack you away until next Christmas.”

Laughing:

“What?!”

“Oh, come on. You just wish you’d thought of saying it first.”

“OK, you got me there.”

Faves: '90s Music

2009-02-12T08:01:00.001-05:00

Song Lyric of the Day:

I search myself / I want you to find me / I forget myself / I want you to remind me

The Divinyls / "I Touch Myself"

A while back I blogged about some of my favorite '80s music videos. And while it's true that I listen to '80s music a lot, I also listen to a lot of music from the '90s. Whereas '80s music defined my childhood, '90s music defined my high school, college, and young adult life; it was the music I listened to as I figured out who I was, what I wanted to do in life, where I wanted to be. Maybe I'll blog in the future about music from the year 2000 on. Otherwise known as the music I listen to while I figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

I've excluded some songs that are really obvious and cliched (buh-bye, "Smells Like Teen Spirit") and wasn't able to include some due to disabled embedding (honestly -- who doesn't allow embedding these days?). I'm also sparing you my long-dead love-of-all-things-grunge: Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and the rest of their ilk. Regardless, here are some of my favorite songs and videos from the '90s.

10. "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" - US3
As a non-jazz fan -- a fact that I'm surprised hasn't caused my father to disown me -- I love US3's jazzy, peppy, and wholly original "Cantaloop." And all these years after its release, I still think the voice at the start of the song introducing "a recording from Blue Note Records" sounds a lot like a young Gary Coleman. Don't ask me why.

9. "Enter Sandman" - Metallica
Metallica is probably the first heavy metal band of which I was really a fan (okay, after Def Leppard in their glory days). This is the video that convinced me I just had to hear more from them; I even attended a concert they put on here in Knoxville. I doubt I'll ever see a coffin-shaped stage again.

8. "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand" - Primitive Radio Gods
All-around cool and probably the only real hit for which the Primitive Radio Gods are known, my ears perked up when I heard this during the movie The Cable Guy. The slow, trippy beat does a great job of complementing the B.B. King song it samples, "How Blue Can You Get?".

7. "Happy When It Rains" - Garbage
This song pleased the mopey, pessimistic goth girl within to no end, and I've been a fan of everything Garbage has done since. I was thrilled to finally see them in concert a few years ago in Norfolk, VA, because lead singer Shirley Manson not only has an amazingly strong voice in person, but because she's an all-around talented badass. And the band as a whole rocks. Here's hoping they decide to make some new music again.

6. "Buddy Holly" - Weezer
Weezer's blue album was played nonstop in my college dorm room; their music was a very bright, peppy contrast to most of the darker music I listened to at the time (see: Garbage, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Depeche Mode, et al). Fun videos and great music -- both of which they still continue to produce -- are what's kept me a loyal Weezer fan all these years.

5. "I Touch Myself" - The Divinyls
One of the best songs to sing along to if you want to make other people uncomfortable. Brought renewed attention to that niche of specialty music: the ode to self-love. See also: "Shock the Monkey," "She-Bop," "Turning Japanese," etc.

4. "Lightning Crashes" - Live
I fell in love with Live's music beginning with "Selling the Drama," but it was the insta-classic "Lightning Crashes" that convinced me the band would be around for the long run. I'm still a fan, and singing along with the crowd to this song at their concert in Virginia Beach a few years ago was a moment I'll forever treasure.

3. "Freedom" - George Michael
Long before he started hanging out in public restrooms as a hobby, George Michael was known for making music. Really good music. "Freedom" was his ode to the downside of music stardom, and he went the ironic route by choosing not to appear in the video at all, instead having well-known models lip-sync to the song. At least his leather jacket from "Faith" made an appearance.

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2. "Deeper Shade of Soul" - Urban Dance Squad
Who would've thought that a Dutch band sampling Ray Barretto's classic song, "A Deeper Shade of Soul," and setting it to a hybrid sound including hip-hop, ska, funk, and rap would result in such a fun song? I love this song so much it almost makes me giddy, I think it's so much fun to listen to. And sing along to. And dance to. Also to avoid being caught singing or dancing to (that's for the spouse). Now if only I could get my hands on an MP3 of it, my music library would be complete.

1. "Me Myself & I" - De La Soul
A classic any way you look at it, this was one of my anthems (if you will) throughout the '90s. It's that rare song that cheers me up every time I hear it. Also notable for what is quite possibly the shortest Q-Tip cameo I know of (three words long). This is another essential song I need to add to my iTunes library.

Photoblogging: Buster's Humiliation

2009-02-05T14:51:00.001-05:00

Taken the same night I dressed Troubadour up in his Halloween costume. Buster is my pacifist Zen kitty, although you wouldn't know it from his expression here.