WontonSushi

Monday Movie Mash-up

2008-09-22T17:25:00.000-05:00

Smart People

Average comedy. Dry humor… a little too “stuck-up” for its own good. Cast is average except for a stand out performance by the wacky brother, played by Ashton Holmes. -I think this one hit a little too close to home for me to be as funny as it deals with the death of a mother and her daughters coping mechanisms. Don’t expect to watch this and laugh out loud; you may actually come away from it more depressed than when you popped in this comedy!

Bloopers and Gag Reel from the movie

Mean Girls

Yes, it stars Lindsey Lohan. Yes, it’s a movie geared toward teens. Yes, it’s a little bit predictable and yes, everything turns out rainbows and puppy dogs in the end. But… alright, I loved it! It’s got a solid story, good-enough cast, and it may have been formulaic, but it’s also funny. Think Lindsey Lohan before you came to hate the name.

Mean Girls trailer re-cut, horror-flick style

Get Shorty

I know what you’re thinking, “But Get Shorty is an American classic! John Travolta at the height of his post Pulp Fiction comeback AND Danny Devito - playing mobsters!” Surely, I must have been living under a rock all these years. Well, I’ve submerged from my self imposed exile, and I don’t think I missed much with this one. Maybe it was the three glasses of wine I drank before watching it - but I was utterly confused, and not captivated enough to bother re-watching during my subsequent hang-over.

Best part of the movie? Bette Midler

Y Tu Mama Tamben

For whatever reason, this film got rave reviews, was nominated for an Oscar for best screenplay, won the Independent Spirit Awards for best foreign film, and won 32 other awards. I say it was slightly above average for an smaller budget, foreign movie. But I think this is one that you have to judge for yourself, just be sure to get the subtitled version - not the dubbed one.

Official Movie Trailer

Friday's Fun Food

2008-09-19T13:40:00.002-05:00

Tetris Sugar Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup cooking oil
2 eggs
4 ½ cup flour
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream together sugars, butter and oil. Whip until “fluffy”. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, and cream of tarter. Add to batter. If you plan on rolling out dough, add another ½ cup flour.
Either roll out dough or ball together a tablespoon or so of dough and flatten onto cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Basic frosting

¼ cup butter
¼ cup shortening
1 box confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cream (or milk)

Soften butter and shortening by microwaving for twenty seconds or so. Whip together butter and shortening till well mixed. Add sugar, vanilla, salt and milk. Cream together. Scrap sides of bowl and the whip for 2-3 minutes at high speed. Frosting should be light and fluffy.

If you like a sweeter frosting, use a higher proportion of butter to shortening.

Procrastination Organization

2008-09-18T13:54:00.000-05:00

Call it the desire to be your own Martha Stewart, or blame it on the Container Store and Label-Maker Plus, but woman all over are getting the Organization Bug - BAD! It’s one thing to keep your kitchen pantry in order. But it’s an entirely different problem when you spend more time re-organizing the pantry shelves after making dinner than you spent cooking the meal in the first place.

Organize: To put together into any orderly, structured whole. To arrange in a desired pattern or structure

Organization: An ordered manner; orderliness by virtue of being methodical and well organized

On the surface, a well organized home is something to be proud of. I’ve walked into my neighbor’s home, the family with the four kids under six years old, and am in awe at the toy bins neatly staked and the chore lists color coded on the wall. Seems like she’s really got her life “in order”. But then I asked her about it, and the dirty little secret that so many woman carry came tumbling out.

Organization as a time-waster. Organization as a way to procrastinate. Organization to fill-up your time and mind so that you can focus on that instead of what’s really “messy” in your life.

Who would have thought that all those highlighters and labels and bins have a dark side?

It’s easier to go through the old appointment book and highlight schedules and rewrite lists than to think about all the chaos involved in maintaining your families schedules.

It’s easier to go out and spend money on all the right-sized food storage canisters and spend days organizing your pantry than to actually plan for that big party you’re hosting.

And it’s a lot easier to organize that desk covered in bank notices and IRA statements than to sit down and figure out what your financial plan is going to be in this economically uncertain time.

Looking for a new job? My job search log is highlighted. I have an excel file for each day, and then another one broken down by salaries. I have folders to bring to different interviews based on certain criteria. I spend so much time preparing and making sure everything is in order, that I forget the important part - actually getting out there and applying for positions and networking. Maybe because those two things frighten me, I instead choose to focus my attention on what I have control over - my organization.

To lead a happy life, you need balance. Having toy bins to help keep down the clutter in your home is a wonderful idea. But labeling the bins into different categories and having a check-out system for your kids toys, well, that just crosses the line. It takes the fun out of life. Having a daily schedule is great, but having three or four calendars on the refrigerator all highlighted and broken down by the hour…. That’s just too extreme.

If you find yourself making lists, or labeling everything in your bathroom, ask yourself what you really “should” be doing. In my case, it’s making more phone calls to potential employers instead of re-writing my search list for the fourth time this week.

I’ll admit that there are woman out there who are just extremely organized and can handle all the time spent organizing as well as actually being productive. But for us non-superwoman, there is a happy medium for us to find.

Buffalo ‘66 Movie Review

2008-09-17T16:28:00.002-05:00

Before filming the infamous filatio scene Vincent Gallo is now famous for, he wrote, directed and starred in Buffalo ‘66 along side Christina Ricci.

While searching for the famous Brown Bunny scene - which I’m assuming was blocked by you tube because of the sex acts, I found this equally creepy video below. Who doesn’t like a grown man in a bunny suit getting his nasty on while crying?

At least these guys have some money behind their names. Give me enough cash and I may be able to handle the furry outfits.

ANYWAYS… back to the movie.

Did you know that Vincent Gallo is a crazy genius? This movie is amazing. Well written, great actors, amazing video editing and each and every camera shot is “just right.” To me it’s more than just a movie, it’s a work of art. And I never, ever, say that about a film. It was artsy, but not obvious like The Tracey Fragments. The film angles were clearly all thought out well in advance, but no effect was over the top. Take, for example, my favorite scene in the whole movie. Christina Ricci pole dancing anyone… See below.

So Gallo is a genius directing this movie.

How is he crazy you may ask?

Examples below, courteous of wikipedia.

1. As a teenager, Gallo was frequently arrested for petty crimes and for indecent exposure, and has reminisced in print about his compulsive teenage masturbatory habits. While living in New York, Gallo was a go-go dancer at various gay clubs and has also admitted to prostituting himself to gay clientele

2. In early 2005, Gallo made a posting on his merchandise website offering his "disease-free" sperm for $1 million. However he added that he "maintains the right to refuse sale of his sperm to those of extremely dark complexions

3. Gallo also expressed his desire to impregnate a Jewish woman, because "this connection to the Jewish faith would guarantee his offspring a better chance at good reviews and maybe even a prize at the Sundance Film Festival or an Oscar."

4. Just check out his website: http://www.vincentgallo.com
Now tell me he’s not a nut! (please don’t stalk me or kill me Mr. Gallo for writing this, as I am extremely fearful of your wraith.)

I ‘m giving it 4 ½ out of 5, or 9 out of 10, or 92 out of 100 stars. Which ever one floats your boat! I think I’ve listened to the Moonchild song a dozen times just while writing this. Kind of gets stuck in your head.

Cord Blood - Stem Cell Collection

2008-09-16T17:50:00.000-05:00

Television commercials on storing your child’s umbilical cord blood and stem cells upon delivery are creepy. Who wants to contemplate their child becoming ill, and needing this treatment, during this monumental milestone in a families life - the delivery of their baby. But, my curiosity finally won me over, and off to investigate I went.

The most prominent of cord blood banks is CBR - Cord Blood Registry. I started with their site and compared their services to that of ViaCord and Cyro-Cell. The collection process and storage procedure is the same in all three companies. Pricing too is pretty much equal. This might be a case where customer service would really be the deciding factor.

Cord blood - or placental blood - is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after a healthy delivery. This blood is rich in stem cells. Most medical doctors agree that this stem cells are the body’s master cells, used to create all other tissues, organs and systems in the body. These cells have yet to have any outside influence on them, no viruses attacking, no mutation due to aging. Because of this, doctors believe (and have a good amount of research to prove) that these cells are significantly more useful for use in transplants and cellular related disease.

There is a one in 20,000 chance of finding a “match” in regular stem cell banking for Caucasians. This drops to an average of about one in one hundred thousand for minorities.

Stem cells are used in transplant medicine to regenerate a patients blood or immune systems. Usually following a combined treatment of chemotherapy and radiation, the stem cells are then infused in to the body’s blood stream. From there, they migrate to bone marrow and begin to multiply, new healthy cells to replace those destroyed through chemo and radiation.

Cord blood has three main characteristics that make it a better chose than a bone marrow transplant.

1st - cord blood is easier to match. The person uses cord blood is stored is a perfect match, and 2nd and 3rd degree blood relatives are almost always a perfect match.

2nd - Cord blood is immediately available. The stem cells can be taken directly from storage and used as needed. Normal transplant procedure requires the donator to undergo surgery and then testing.

3rd - There is a lower risk of GVHD - Graft vs. Host disease. Meaning, there is less chance that the body will reject the cells.

Every year, more and more uses for stem cells are being discovered. From sickle cell anemia to chronic leukemia to brain tumors and ovarian cancer (click here for a full listing), these cells are proving to be the best, least invasive treatment for many diseases.

By this point in my research I am hooked on the idea. A little scared of what type of fees would be associated with the collection and storage of the cells, but very interested in the idea. So, I dug further.

And, surprise, surprise, not too bad!

All three big cord blood banks charge about the same. For the processing and bank fees they charge an average of $1700. Throw in a $150 courier fee and the first year storage fee and we get a grand total of $1975 for the first year. A big chunk of change, but considering what you get in return, I think the investment is well worth it. There is an annual storage fee of $125.

This safeguard of “biological resources” for a family with a high risk of cancer or other now “treatable” diseases is a must. The child’s own stem cells could be used to treat their childhood leukemia or their fathers Altimetry.

As an added bonus - the entire process is made absolutely painless.
1st - enroll by telephone or on-line
2nd - take the provided kit to hospital when labor begins
3rd - have the OB/Alzheimer’s Disease collect the blood and placenta
4th - call the 1800 number for the courier
5th - courier delivers “goods”
6th - cells stored at negative 321 degrees Fahrenheit until needed.

Done! Simple bodily flood storage.

All kidding aside, I would urge anyone planning on having children to at least research this idea. Especially if you’re going to be passing on some “not so great” genes.

Monday Movie Mash-Up & Mexico

2008-09-15T14:03:00.002-05:00

Since I was in Mexico all week (happy happy joy joy!), I didn’t get a lot of movie watching in. Actually, I’ve only seen two; one the night before we flew out and then the in-flight movie.

Little Shop of Horrors

Reminded me again just why I don’t like musicals…
Not a bad movie, but again with the musicals…
They get stuck in your head and make you sing “Suddenly Seymour” while on a tropical beach sipping a Mango Margartia! Watch the much funnier “remake” below.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

-in flight movie -

Yeah I know right?! When did American Airlines get movies to me faster than Netflix? Whatever, it made a super bumpy ride home not so scary. This fast-paced movie is filled with a great cast. I think I loved the dialog between characters best; it has a well-written and witty flare. See long trailer below

And now… Mexico!

Jason and I, still not burnt!

Some people go to Disney land, I like cemetaries - waxy candles

At our hotel's very own Monkey exhibit... we had cougars too!

Xcaret Park Orchid House

Vacation Anxiety

2008-09-05T16:36:00.002-05:00

I'm going to Mexico! Tomorrow (Saturday) - for over a week!
Don't forget about me Entrecard friends!
I will be back - with lots of pictures and some great stories to share
...so check back soon (Sept. 15th)

(insert your jealousy here)

Vacation Anxiety

Vacations are supposed to be a time to relax. A time to sleep in and indulge. No forced trips to the gym, no household responsibilities, no counting calories, and definitely no stress.

But what happens when someone actually likes the routine of every day?

With my vacation quickly approaching - we leave tomorrow - I can already feel the anxiety starting to build. And we aren’t talking about the normal tension one feels over getting to the airport on time or dealing with the rental car companies. My anxiety stretches well past that.

I’m nervous about not having my “safety nets.” I know daily what I need to accomplish and how to go about getting to that short term goal. I know what I will do in the morning after breakfast and I know that I will go to the library to “work” through the afternoon. I know that my husband will be waiting for me at home with a smile on his face and that my cat will curl up on my lap after dinner.

I am safe in these routines and habits. I know exactly what to expect at any given moment. I know that I don’t have to worry about any surprises popping up. I’m not good with the unexpected. And vacations are all about letting go of the daily grind and trying new things.

For me that means one week of no plans, no routines, no responsibilities, no obligations, and no security blankets. One week of anxiety for me, and pure heaven for my husband.

I’m sure there’s some medicine out there that my doctor could subscribe for this condition, but I don’t want to be a uncaring zombie either. I want to have a balance. I want to be able to enjoy a vacation!

Thinking logically, it’s not like I actually love everything about my daily routine. There are plenty of responsibilities that I would rather go without, like folding laundry. But there are plenty of things that I do enjoy.

I think that finding a balance is going to be the key to keeping the anxiety at bay. I may not be able to have all the securities of home, but I can find a way to incorporate part of my routine into our vacation.

My “security blanket” will be my writing, my Sudoku puzzles, my reading. I can find comfort in long walks with my husband and quiet mornings sipping on my coffee. I will embrace those moments of calm and remember them when I start to get anxious about not knowing what exactly is coming up next on our vacation.

I will find comfort in talking through my stress with my husband and trust him to be the responsible one; the one who handles the rental car catastrophe or finds the right gate at the airport.

And if the anxiety does sneak up on me, I will breathe. Or go for a walk. Or scream into a pillow. Whatever I need to release the tension and move on so I can get back to enjoying my vacation.

Fifty-one weeks out of the year, I do the same thing. Starting tomorrow, on my ride to the airport, I’m going to embrace the opportunity to spend one week, just seven short days, being adventurous and not being scared - trying to learn to live without a safety blanket. Who knows? Maybe the experience will make me more confident in everyday life as well.

The Raveonettes

2008-09-04T16:16:00.001-05:00

Been rocking out all day to this band.
I think their voices are just hypnotic… what do you guys think?

"Produced" music video:

Live performance video:

Wordless Wil Wheaton Wednesday

2008-09-03T14:22:00.004-05:00

**click to view clearly

Monday Movie Mash-Up

2008-09-02T13:27:00.002-05:00

Deathwatch

"Its not bloody Shakesphere"

Brought to us by the insanely popular FEARnet

In 1917, in the Western front, a group of survivors of the British Company Y reach the most forward German trench in a foggy night. They capture a German soldier that advises that evil is in the trench, forcing the soldiers to kill each other, and asks them to leave the place. Only the private Charlie Shakespeare listens and helps the prisoner, while a supernatural force scares and makes the soldiers insane.

Or… just watch the best 10 minutes…

Part 9 or 10

Watching the Detectives

SO, I’m on a Lucy Liu obsession right now. She plays two types of character. Kick-ass bad girl with whips, or quirky laughing next-door neighbor types. This role attempts to mold the two together, but she comes out more crazy than quirky, and more of a wanna-be bad-ass than the real thing.

Video below maybe a stretch, but considering that most of the characters are old school movie obsessed, I’m thinking a lot of the subtleties in plot and characters can be extracted from the clip below.

**in fact, even the setting and cars are similar… huh - more research maybe needed on this one! Maybe the film is better than the 6.5 out of 10 I’m giving it.

Desperado

InShandeee’s (the brother-in-law’s) recommendation

Video below plays out the best scenes to one of my favorite songs… Whished I had seen this first before watching the whole hour and a half movie…. No - I kid - it wasn’t THAT bad!
I have a secret love/hate relationship with Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez

… In any given movie, I hate about 50% of it and think the other 50% is pure genius.

Willow

A classic. What else can you be said about this one? I thought it was a little cheesy, but no more so than I think ET would be now if I watched it over twenty years after it came out.
A must see for kids of all ages!

Video of the best “Peck” lines from the movie!!! Peck peck peck peck peck!!

The Secret (AKA Si j'étais toi)

This is I watched is NOT The Secret movie about how to visualize your life and make all your dreams come true. So if I think of a baby in my minds eye over and over, The Secret says that one will materialize for me…
OK - not going to be seeing that one… for a video on it though, see below:

The movie I saw, starred my hottie David Duchovny and that chick from Mystic Pizza with the big nose, Lili Taylor. Messed up story, not good, not bad, really not worth mentioning anymore.

Patron Saints

2008-08-30T11:59:00.001-05:00

Today’s Patron Saint?
(Aug. 30)
Fiacre

A hermit whose cult flourished in France. Patron saint of horticulturists and those who suffer from veneral disease.

Today’s feelings?

Anxious craziness
Which patron saint will help me out?
Dympna

A woman who lived in solitude with where lover after fleeing from the sexual advances of her father (she looked too much like her dead mother). Dad burned both daughter and lover at the stake. The town where this all went down eventually became famous for treating the mentally ill and the towns folk adopted her as their saint.

Today’s agenda?

Writing
Which patron saint will guide me?
Francis de Sales

Bishop of Geneva who wrote texts for lay-folk explaining the church ‘s practices.
Famous saying: “ flies are attracted by a spoonful of honey than by a whole barrel of vinegar.”

**I’m an atheist with a knack for picking up books with visually stimulating covers from the “to be re-shelved” cart at the library.

Who doesn’t love a GOOD Documentary? Suggestions…

2008-08-29T13:14:00.001-05:00

Searching for Angela Shelton

“Filmmaker Angela Shelton journeys across the United States meeting other Angela Sheltons in an effort to survey women in America.”

Trailer:

Hello, I'm Angela Shelton!
Commentary from the “original” Angela Shelton

PaperClips

“As a part of their study of the Holocaust, the children of the Whitwell, TN Middle School try to collect 6 million paper clips representing the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis.”

One of my personal favorite documentaries of all times! If you’ve seen it, please let me know what you thought.

Trailer:

Completely unrelated, but cool video:
Paper Clips Stop Motion

Religulous

Humor review of modern day religion. Been waiting for this to come out on DVD for awhile now.

Trailer

CNN Interview
Religulous Star Bill Maher Talks About His Upcoming Documentary, 'Religulous'

Questions for a Happy Marriage

2008-08-28T15:38:00.001-05:00

What can we do to have a happy, loving atmosphere in our home?
Make your home somewhere you both want to be.

What can you say and do to meet your spouses needs.
Try asking what those needs are. You may be surprised.

What positive things can I say and do to put my (husband or wife) in a positive emotional state?
Give the wine is not the correct answer - just the easiest!

How can I address an issue to get the outcome that we both want and need?
Before speaking, clarify the outcome you want. Silence is ok.

Say something appreciative a few times a day.

What benefit have you gained from your marriage?
Write a list of ways that you have benefited from being married to your spouse. Keep adding to the list and reread it frequently.

What do you love about your spouse?
Write a list of your spouses positive patterns and qualities.
Keep adding to the list and read it frequently.

What can you do to bring out the best qualities of your spouse?
Try to reinforce those qualities with words and action.

What went wrong in the past?
STOP!
What is past is the past. You create the present and future with your thoughts, words, and actions.

Thankfully re-worded an revamped from:
© Rabbi Zelig Pliskin [based on "Marriage" by Rabbi Z.Pliskin]
http://www.simpletoremember.com/growth/20-key-ideas-for-happy-marriage.htm

Gorillasushi's Plea

2008-08-27T20:31:00.003-05:00

This is my husband... gorillasushi...
This is his poem... His plea...

I want to push my body again.
I want to do it right this time.
I want to find my old friends and kick with them without the disappointment of an intangible injury.
I want to show up at a competition and have people say
"who is that guy?"
I want to live my dreams again.

I thank you so much for any help you can give.

This is a video of what he's "dreaming" of again...

Can you help? Please check out his site.

What's a Nimrod?

2008-08-26T15:43:00.002-05:00

Jason, that’s my hubby, called me a nimrod today. Nimrod? Since I didn’t know that exact definition, I was left with a flood of pictures of what a nimrod actually is flying through my head. Stuff like:

Nope, that doesn’t help.
Nor does…

Get it… Sim’s Rod… like fishing… ok, that’s a stretch.
And then all those years of bible school came kicking back in!

Nimrod was the great-grandson of Noah. In addition to being the creator of the Tower Of Babel, he is also a noted hunter - which is what got him the money and status to take control of land and then build that famous tower to the gods that back fired and gave us different languages.

So I hit the internet. Hard. A whole afternoon of researching.

My conclusion was this…
Bugs Bunny frequently called Elmer Fudd a “poor little nimrod.” And since Nimrod created the Tower of Babel and Elmer Fudd stuttered and stammered over his own words, and stupidly can never catch Bugs…

Nimrod took on the negative connotation of a foolish person.

Then I remembered that rule that someone came up with that I am not researching the name of as I’ve already spent all afternoon on this…

From dictionary.com (where else?)
nimrod
noun(Old Testament) a famous hunter
AND
Informal A person regarded as silly, foolish, or stupid.

You know the rule, the one that says the simplest answer is usually the right answer?

Get this.

Bugs “you poor nimrod” EQUALS
Bugs “you poor hunter”
Yeah..

Elmer Fudd is just too Sexy
Watch below you NIMROD!

So, over the years of kids frying their young minds on cartoons, they picked up the term nimrod as an insult to throw at their friends.

Now the real question, “why is my husband calling me a nimrod?” Already forgot!

Monday Movie Mash-Up

2008-08-25T14:24:00.002-05:00

27 Dresses

Complete and total chick flick. I sat on the couch with my husband, watching this, me with tears in my eyes and him laughing his butt off at the leading guy and how completely unrealistic the whole set-up even was. And predictable.

But that’s kind of the point of a girly romantic comedy. The guys in the movie are BETTER and NICER and have EMOTIONS that they aren’t afraid to share.

Video montage of funny moments from the movie:

The Hills Have Eyes II

Do I need to explain again my extreme addiction to bad horror movies? I seriously cannot see a trailer for one without having to put it on my Netflix account.

I KNEW that this movie was going to seriously suck. The original was bad enough, but a sequel… what was I thinking! It’s an addiction and I need help!

My Sunday =
Jason Statham movie marathon!

The Bank Job

Jason Statham is supposed to be an action hero. He’s supposed to show off his amazing body. He’s supposed to be in movies that aren’t just “ahh - so-so”… Enter the Bank Job. I guess every actor deserves one dud.

Instead of seeing the movie watch this great interview with Jason Statham instead!

Death Race

Saw this one opening weekend - and the theatre was still empty. Granted, it was an afternoon showing on a Sunday, but still, I thought there’d at least be some people there.

An action-packed popcorn flick, this movie would have been smart to get itself a PG-13 rating instead of an R. The only people I can see really loving this movie are going to be teenage boys. Guess they’re all going to have to wait for it to come out on DVD.

Video from Comic-Con announcement:

Movie Trailer Re-edits

2008-08-24T17:16:00.001-05:00

Ditto – the social entertainment guide presents:

The best movie trailer re-edits

http://www.ditto.net/Lists/The-best-movie-trailer-re-edits

I stumbled upon this sight while procrastinating at the library. After watching each and every trailer on this site, I realized that over an hour had gone by and that I had a great post. Hope you find the site as entertaining as me, just don’t get caught at work watching some of them… You’ve been warned. My top three favorite are below.

10 Things I Hate About Commandments

One of my favorite movies – The Ten Commandments, I watch this movie at least twice a year, every Xmas and every Easter. Now, I am never going to be watch it without feeling a little bit dirty.

Little Miss Sunshine Re-cut Trailer

The original trailer was super depressing… this, well, this re-cut is version definitely puts a whole new spin on the movie. You’ll just have to watch it to understand.

Brokeback to the Future

Back to the Future III wasn’t the best of movies. Going back to the old west? Seemed like a stretch at the time… milking the franchise for all it was worth. But now, you can see how the romance plays out between Doc and Marty.

Lucky Number Slevin Movie Review

2008-08-23T15:41:00.002-05:00

Josh Hartnett, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, Bruce Willis, and Lucy Liu?

How did this movie fly so far under the radar?

An all-star cast is putting things mildly; these actors came together and created a master piece.

I am so in love with this movie. Hubby and I actually sat through the whole movie again this morning with the commentary on. We even watched it to the very end. I’ve never before had enough interest in a film to do that. I felt like Josh Hartnett and Lucy Liu were sitting on the couch next to us, just gabbing about the movie.

The director overlooked nothing. The sets are gorgeous and quirky. The camera angles and final edit and post-production work are all done to perfection. In the commentary, both Lucy Liu and Josh Hartnett talk about how much effort and thought went into the edit of the movie. Scene were switched around, lots of re-shoots… in the final scene along, Morgan Freeman had fifty takes! That’s a lot of tape to choose from.

The plot is anything but simple. I can’t even attempt to explain it without given up some twists and turns that you should really see for yourself. Just try and watch the first eight minutes of it and not immediately put in on your list of rentals.

See… told you so! The rest of the movie plays out beautifully. I’d say it’s the best written and directed script since Fight Club or Snatch (my two previous favorites).

Speaking of Lucy Liu, here’s a crazy stalker video montage of her greatness.

I looked hard for a trailer I liked, one that wouldn’t give too much away. But really, there aren’t any.

One of the greatest things about this movie, is that after you know the ending, all the pieces fall into place, and it leaves you eager to watch it again to spot all the “clues” throughout. The director assumes that his audience has a brain and doesn’t spell it all out like too many movies do today.

Not only am I going to give this one five stars on Netflix, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and ten out of ten on IMDB, I’m also going to call it my favorite movie. That’s a tall order, but Lucky Number Slevin deserves it.

Library Hobos? In Naperville?

2008-08-22T14:18:00.002-05:00

In an attempt to stay sane and focused, I’ve been spending more time at the library since I lost my job. If I stay home, I tend to get a bit depressed and way antsy. By making myself get up and dressed and out the door, I feel like I have at least the semblance of a routine

Library culture is very interesting. We have a nice selection of regulars.

There are the college kids who didn’t go home for the summer, who spend their days prepping for the MCATs or other equally impressive tests.

We have the day traders. They’re easy to spot by the constant wrinkle in their forehead.

The mommies usually make an appearance right before lunch time. I think there must be some story time on the lower level right about then, the kids’ yelling having loud fun.

And then there is the one five- or six-year old girl who just wails away no matter what her dad does to calm her down. She’s my alarm clock, telling me when it’s time to reload on the coffee.

There are the retired folk who are the saddest things ever! Sitting by themselves in the quiet reading section, doing cross-words and I imagine pooping themselves.

But the most bad-ass regulars… the hobos!

Back round:

Naperville, Illinois is ritzy. By that I mean, big houses, bigger egos, and a huge tax revenue; enough for the city to support 3 libraries. My library is the #1 in the nation, based on population. It’s a college town with pricey restaurants and not a single homeless shelter or food stamp assistance office (I checked).

So how do we have hobos hangin’ out at the library each and everyday? I’ve narrowed in on three people in particular I am sure fit the hobo criteria.

Hobo: a lout, clumsy fellow, country bumpkin. OR a disreputable vagrant; "a homeless tramp"

*that’s dictionary.com’s definition.

Others may consider a hobo to be called:
Italian or Spanish: vagabondo
Danish or French or Swedish: vagabond
Czech or Slovak: tramp

I like to think of a hobo more on a visual basis, see video – it’s sad and a little offensive, you’ve been warned. The video’s not best quality, but it shows you exactly what TYPE of hobo I’m referring to.

I love my hobos. They make for good entertainment when I need some distraction from writing and actually accomplishing anything.

For example,

One of my hobos uses the payphone for his own… makes for great viewing when someone else attempts to place a call… hobo storming out and standing uncomfortably close behind the caller… trying to give the naive person a hint to get lost.

The payphone hobo and the sad old man hobo get into it, almost everyday arguing over answers to crossword puzzles.

Or when the lady hobo got kicked out for yelling at a kid who accidentally bumped into one of her numerous plastic bags she brings everywhere with her.

I haven’t really figured out why these three are always here, but I think it has to do with them being crazy, and without family to care for them.

Sad really. But also quite amusing. One more fun hobo video for your pleasure.

The Tracey Fragments Movie Review

2008-08-21T14:40:00.003-05:00

I fell in love with Ellen Page when she starred in Candy as the insane teenager exploiting her sexuality for her own revenge. Then she did this film with little media-coverage, and then she played Juno.

I wonder if she’d go and take this roll back now that she knows what a huge success she’s destine to grow into?

It’s indie for the sake of being indie. See trailer below for example:

Trailer:

Don’t get the wrong idea. I liked the movie – overall. Stress overall. It took me a little time to get over the use of multiple frames, but once I did, I thought they worked very well with the film. Not so with the husband. He couldn’t stand the editing or the multiple camera angles.

For an overly indie, Canadian film done on a smaller budget, I think the movie delivered. The acting was sold, the script was well written, and the plot was thoroughly developed. I wouldn’t buy it and I won’t watch it again. But, if you’ve got Netflix it’s an instant watch and a good way to spend a sleepy morning.

Oh, and just in case you weren’t 100% sure that Ellen Page has “made it” as an actress…. She now has a plethora of fan-created music/photo montages on youtube, each a little creepier than the last.

*Title to this little internet gem? “Ellen Page- the Beautiful Canadien”
Yes, Canadian is spelled wrong… loser couldn’t even do a spell check before professing his love.

Coming Soon!

2008-08-20T15:08:00.002-05:00

I haven’t seen either of these, but I am anxious for both!

Now entering girls-only territory here…. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Releasing September 12^th

The Women

Looks a bit like a Sex and the City rip off - but it’s a remake of a 1939 movie, so I’m thinking that S&C was the rip.

Great cast! Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Total Chick-tastic plot, girl power all the way! Sex, friends, man-bashing, money, & lots of liquor.
Trailer:

Coming to DVD August 19th

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Light hearted romantic comedy.

Frances McDormand- how can you not love here! Plus Amy Adams is kind of a hottie!

Total self-discovery plot. Socialite learns to follow her heart and her “handler” learns how to let her hair down!
Video Review:

Detective Disher = Yummy!

2008-08-19T11:29:00.001-05:00

I’ve loved Monk since its first season. Back when he was a little bit more disordered and Sharona was still in the picture as his nurse.
(creepy stalker fan video below)

It’s not fair to say that I love Monk really. Love the show – yes, love the character…. Not bad, but so not my favorite.

The best character on the show, Detective Disher. Hands down. He’s even got his own online advice video blog!

How can you not love him! He’s adorable, innocent, handsome in a nerdish sort of way, and plain nice. Desperately in love with Natalie… will he ever get his chance? Some crazed fans think so – just watch….

Monday Movie Mash-up

2008-08-18T11:31:00.002-05:00

Definitely, Maybe

Ok. So I’m sure if you are anything like almost every other person in the word, you are sick and tired of the girl from Little Miss Sunshine. She’s quickly losing her cuteness, and her acting leaves lots to the imagination. And as a general rule, Ryan Reynolds is block office poison.

Why again did I add this to Netflix? I swear it was Jason, he swears it was my choice. Whatever the reason, I had low expectations going in, and looked at simply as a quick, romantic comedy, Definitely, Maybe, definitely didn’t suck.

Here’s the best scene in the movie – now you don’t have to watch it at all! You’re welcome!

The People Under the Stairs

The same lack of sucking can’t be said for this little … well piece of crap. Not even bad enough to just be considered campy. Just plain lousy. But…. It did star one of my favorite grungy-era teenagers! Can you guess

Thelma & Louise

I know. I’m twenty-six years old. How is it that this was my first time watching this? I hadn’t even seen clips of it before, and as uber-geeky as it sounds, I hadn’t even seen the sexy Brad Pitt parts – not even as stills!

It is definitely dated. But the plot is still great. As a woman, I was a little insulted by how the two main characters were portrayed, they do come off like idiots.

Just watch Brad Pitt and enjoy….

Chewy Dark Chocolate Covered Almond Cookies

2008-08-16T12:51:00.003-05:00

1 ½ cup flour

1 cup oats (not instant)

1 ½ teaspoon baking soda

1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup butter

½ cup Crisco

½ cup mayonnaise

¾ cup brown sugar

¾ cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup dark chocolate covered almonds

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix together flour, oats, soda, powder and salt. Set aside.

Cream together butter, Crisco and mayonnaise. Add sugars and beat until fluffy. Stir in vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Add flour mixture and blend just until all moistened. Gently fold in chocolate chips and dark chocolate covered almonds.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Makes about 5 dozen.

FALL TV PREMIERS

2008-08-15T14:39:00.002-05:00

what to watch???

so the laptop broke at the library today. i just got all the letter keys to work, but stuck in caps. kind of a pain....

but, i took the time to research some tv premiers. all for your consideration and all link to more info on each show.

MONDAY, SEPT. 1

"Raising the Bar" (TNT), 10 p.m.*
ZAK FROM SAVED BY THE BELL MEETS THE MOM FROM MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE???

TUESDAY, SEPT. 2

"90210" (CW), 8 p.m., two-hour premiere*
(WILL WATCH WHILE HIDING IN MY CLOSET, EATING ICE CREAMING AND CRYING ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 4

"The Moment of Truth" (FOX), 8 p.m., two-hour premiere
SPILL MY DARKEST SECRETS FOR CASH. NO PROBLEM, I’LL EVEN ADMIT TO THINGS THAT AREN’T TRUE FOR A MILLION DOLLARS. HOW FAR HAVE MORALS GOTTEN ANYONE RECENTLY ANYWAYS?

SATURDAY, SEPT. 6

"COPS" (FOX), 8 p.m.
HOW CAN THIS SHOW “PREMIERE” ISN’T IT ALWAYS ON SOME CHANNEL AT ALL MOMENTS IN TIME???

TUESDAY, SEPT. 9

"Fringe" (FOX), 8 p.m., two-hour premiere*

CAN’T ADD ANYTHING YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THIS JJ ABRAMS NEW SHOW

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10

"'Til Death" (FOX), 9 p.m.

YES IT’S FORMULAIC, YES IT’S KIND OF LIKE EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND WITHOUT RAYMOND. YES IT HAS BECOME ONE OF MY FAVORITE SITCOMS THANKS TO HULU.COM

"Do Not Disturb" (FOX), 9:30 p.m.*
LOOKS LIKE A RIP OFF OF THE OFFICE. PROBABLY WON’T MAKE IT LONG TERM.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 12

"America's Toughest Jobs" (NBC), 8 p.m.*
THEY CAN ONLY DREAM OF MIKE ROWE – THIS SHOW WILL BOMB!

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13

"MADtv" (FOX), 11 p.m.

SICK OF IT – SO SO SO READY FOR IT TO BE FUNNY AGAIN

"Talkshow with Spike Feresten" (FOX), midnight
I’VE HEARD NOTHING BUT AWESOME THINGS ABOUT THIS TALK SHOW, BUT IT’S ON REALLY LATE – BUT NOW, MY UNEMPLOYED ASS CAN STAY AWAKE PAST 9 PM!

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (FX), 10 p.m.
LOVE IT OR HATE IT – RAUNCHY AND RUDE…. I’VE LAUGHED TILL I PEED A FEW TIMES, AND I’VE ALSO TURNED IT OFF MID-WAY THRU AN EPISODE BECAUSE I FELT DIRTY AND HAD TO SHOWER.

MONDAY, SEPT. 22

"How I Met Your Mother" (CBS), 8:30 p.m.

SUPER EXCITING - FAVORITE SITCOM, GLAD IT DIDN'T GET CANCELED!

ALSO – CHECK OUT Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

"Heroes" (NBC), 9 p.m., two-hour premiere

THIS SEASON – THE VILLAINS TAKE OVER, JUST IN CASE YOU’VE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK.

"Worst Week" (CBS), 9:30 p.m.*
a funny sitcom…. we’ll have to see!

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23

"NCIS" (CBS), 8 p.m.

SHOWS BEEN GOING DOWN HILL THE LAST FEW SEASONS, BUT I’VE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME ALREADY, SO I’VE GOT TO SEE IT THROUGH TO THE END.

"The Mentalist" (CBS), 9 p.m.*

GOOD IDEA – SOMETHING ORIGINAL FOR ONCE. CASTING LOOKS A LITTLE – WELL, ANNOYING, BUT I’LL GIVE IT A SHOT.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24

"The New Adventures of Old Christine" (CBS), 8 p.m.

FIRST SEINFELD WANNA-BE THAT’S KIND OF HOLDING IT’S OWN. THINK ELAINE ON CRACK AND ALL STUPID!

"Lipstick Jungle" (NBC) 10 p.m.

MONEY – POWER – SEX – AND HOT WOMEN!

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25

"My Name Is Earl" (NBC), 8 p.m., one-hour premiere

LAST SESSION SUCKED, I’LL GIVE IT ONE OR TWO EPISODES TO REDEEM ITSELF.

"The Office" (NBC), 9 p.m., one-hour premiere

PAM AND JIM? THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER!!

"ER" (NBC), 10 p.m.)

SHOULD HAVE BEEN CANCELED YEARS AGO – DR. GREEN DIED, AND THEN THE NEXT SEASON WRAPPED UP SOME LOSS ENDINGS…. THREE YEARS LATER – UNCLE JESSIE IS A DOCTOR??

SUNDAY, SEPT. 28

"The Simpsons" (FOX), 8 p.m.

SICK OF IT

"Family Guy" (FOX), 9 p.m.

!WHO DOESN’T WATCH!

"American Dad" (FOX), 9:30 p.m.

FAMILY GUYS COUSINS

"Californication" (Showtime), 10 p.m.

TWO WORDS - David Duchovny- TOO BAD I DON’T HAVE SHOWTIME!

MONDAY, SEPT. 29

"Chuck" (NBC), 8 p.m.

FOUND THE RERUNS ON HULU AND NOW IT’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE DRAMATIC COMEDIES

"My Own Worst Enemy" (NBC), 10 p.m.*

TWO WORDS - Christian Slater – NEVER GONNA WORK.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1

"Pushing Daisies" (ABC), 8 p.m.

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY – BEST WRITTEN SHOW EVER!

FRIDAY, OCT. 3
"Wife Swap" (ABC), 8 p.m.

"Supernanny" (ABC), 9 p.m.

(ME HIDING IN CLOSET FOR TWO HOURS WATCHING OTHERS SO I CAN REJOICE IN THE FACT THAT MY LIFE DOESN’T SUCK SO BAD I HAVE TO GO ON A REALITY TV PROGRAM TO FIX IT)

"The Ex List" (CBS), 9 p.m.*

CUTE IDEA – WILL PROBABLY GET CANCELED

"Sanctuary" (Sci-Fi), 10 p.m.*
DESCRIBED AS X-FILES MEETS SIN CITY… WHY HAVEN’T I EVER HEARD OF THIS ONE?

THURSDAY, OCT. 9

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS), 9 p.m.

WITH THE WHOLE ORIGINAL CAST PRETTY MUCH GONE, I THINK THEY SHOULD JUST END THIS ONE GRACEFULLY INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SUCK THE MONEY TEAT ONE MORE YEAR.

"Kath & Kim" (NBC), 9:30 p.m.*

I’M SORRY – BUY MOLLY SHANNON CAN NEVER DO ANYTHING AGAIN ON TV. TYPECASTED.

"Life on Mars" (ABC), 10 p.m.*

AMERICANIZED VERSION OF A BRITISH HIT.

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

"30 Rock" (NBC), 8:30

I ONLY STARTED WATCHING THIS ONE LAST SEASON, AND HAVE SINCE WATCHED EVER EPISODE, AT LEAST TWICE, ON HULU.COM… LAUGH OUT LOUD