kate winslet alert!

As I have mentioned before, I am a HUGE fan of Kate Winslet. This is a big year for her, as she has three major motion pictures coming out. Recently, the preview for her film called "Little Children" has appeared in theatres, and online. This film is directed by the guy who did the film "In the Bedroom" a couple years back, and is getting MAJOR buzz. Her co-star, Patrick Wilson, is a major Broadway actor ("Full Monty", "Oklahoma", and most recently "Barefoot in the Park"). Oh, and the best part is that my roommate and partner-in-crime appears as an extra in this movie! He went up like nine-hundred cool points for this.....and I can't wait to see him on the big screen with the lovely Kate Winslet. You should really check out the website and trailer for what looks to be a fascinating film.

http://www.littlechildrenmovie.com/

photo credit: www.littlechildrenmovie.com

homeward bound

Yes, friends - once again, I am homeward bound to the sweet land known as Columbus, Ohio. Before I sing at my father's new church, I will be doing something that all Ohioans do...and love. I will be cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes on the football field! Like many in good ole Ohio, I am a die-hard college football fan! I love my Bucks...and I will cheer them (attempting to not scream and wreck my voice) sitting next to my father. It will be yet another throwback to my oh-so distant youth. If you are unlucky, and don't have tickets to the game, you can probably watch the 3:30 kick-off on TV cause the Bucks are rated number one!!!!

GO BUCKS!!

photo credit: www. collegegridirons.com

back where i started

As I have been constantly looking back at my life (with the imminent arrival of my 10-year high school reunion), something bizarre and interesting has happened. In a strange circle of life moment, I am back where I started, and once again find myself a PK. (preacher's kid) Yes, my father, now a recovering church beaurocrat, is once again preaching to the people as a Pastor at a church. I feel a compulsion to rebel. I mean....being a PK is just kind of weird. One of two things seem to inevitably happen to a PK. One, they become creepy soldiers of Christ, carrying a bible, preaching the Word, and wandering the streets asking people if they have been "saved". Or, they turn into hard-partying sluts, getting tattoos, wearing mini-skirts and cropped tops, dying their hair, piercing their nose...etc. As a kid I found myself somewhere in the middle. I embraced the church, but didn't preach. I got a tattoo, but it is small and out of the way...you would hardly know it was there...and it's a daisy. But how do I cope with this now? I mean, I am not living with or near my parents...so I don't have to drag myself to his church every Sunday sitting there...not doodling on the bulletin. However, the thought of sleeping around in NYC is just scary...and I don't meet new people well. Plus, it would interfere with the new TV season starting, and frankly that is just not an option. Again, I find myself thinking I might just be becoming an adult?! Why do things like always seem to just crash into you....wouldn't a nice little stream of changes be better? How bizarre it is to find yourself in the same circumstances as when you were a child, and yet everything is so different.

photo credit: http://ecylcletours.com

little pie

The theatre that I work for is having a golf outing next month, and yesterday, I headed up to Colts Neck, NJ to visit the site. I am the first to say that NJ has a terrible reputation....as an ugly, horrible place filled with loud women with sadly out of date mall hair. That is really not the case. This part of New Jersey (anyway)was unbelievably beautiful. Filled with horse farms, green, rolling hills and gorgeous golf courses, this area was truly breathtaking. It reminded me a lot of Upstate New York (which I consider the most beautiful place in the world). While we were in the area, we stopped at a little place called Delicious Orchards on Route 34. There, I got this adorable little pie...it tasted as good as it looked! Delicious Orchards is full of fresh, local produce, unbelievable baked goods, gourmet cheeses, a gourmet deli, gourmet coffee and chocolate, and other treats. It was just a delightful little out of the way place. I guess my message is don't underestimate the beauty of New Jersey. The further you get from NYC, the more beautiful it becomes! Hmmmm...I wonder what that means.

people i like

I find myself inspired by a lot of people artistically. This weekend, my friend Chad came into town and we ended up seeing the movie "Little Miss Sunshine". First, this movies was still AMAZING the second time around. It still made me laugh, cry, shake my head, and sit back and relax. I couldn't help but think about Toni Collette. She is an amazing actress, who is in a little bit of everything. I love that she is not conventionally beautiful, but it still lovely. She is not afraid to change herself physically for a role. She plays good people and bad people, simple people and complicated people. And yet, even though she has been in 25 movies, I still believe every moment that she is on screen. Some of my favorite projects of hers include "Muriel's Wedding" (a must-see if you are a Toni fan..), "Emma", "The Sixth Sense", "About a Boy", "Connie and Carla" (a must-see for musical theatre lovers!), "In Her Shoes" and "Little Miss Sunshine".

There are so many actors that really stand out to me...and for the most part, they are all not-American. Toni Collette is just one that I recommend you checking out. She is Australian...and just plain lovely.

photo credit: www.imdb.com

what does it mean?

I saw this sign at a restaurant. What was behind the door? What does it mean?

i did something last night....

Living in NYC, it becomes very easy to absolutely never cook at home. Between really good, inexpensive take-out and crazy, crazy hours, you can very easily go for months at a time without turning on the stove. That is the kind of person I am. I love food....I watch the food channel, I love to go to different places and try things...or go to the same places over and over...but I digress - that is SO not the point. I don't cook. Then....yesterday....something very strange happened. I decided to make dinner. Seriously, don't get too excited, all I made were tacos. But my tacos were SERIOUS tacos. (Dad, sit down...how is your blood pressure?)

I learned many things making my tacos. First, I have no sense of food timing. I think the secret is timing the prep of the food all out, and in that way I failed miserably. The problem might have been that I started everything at the same time. Now I know, and next time will be better.

Is this a life-changing event? Maybe for the cat, who seemed upset, confused and weary. For me, I hope it is the beginning of my relationship with the kitchen. Today tacos....tomorrow, a full-on turkey dinner! Well, tomorrow is really leftover tacos....but who knows about the day after that.

photo credit: www.webcooking.it

unsettling thoughts

Am I really this old?

Most days, I can get through the day with nary a care...other than checking E! Online and deciding what "Without a Trace" rerun I should watch. However, several things have happened in the last couple months that have totally blown my mind...and made for some unsettling thoughts.

1) My brother and his wife had a baby. I love my nephew more than movies, and worship the ground his little toes touch. However, my brother as a father? It is just too bizarre. I guess it's just hard to imagine the person who you used to bite, punch, scratch, etc. is in any way emotionally ready to foster another human being. That being said, I have complete faith in his abilities...but he will always just be my stinky brother.
2) I found a full on grey hair. It was there.....in the front. It was short and wiry, and I plucked it faster than you can say "help me, Jebus"! I am not ready to worry about grey hairs...I am ready to worry if it's still appropriate to dye my hair bright pink, or if it would be weird to get another tattoo. I suddenly find myself trotting towards middle age!
3)....and this may be the most disturbing one of all. Today, my best friend from high school, forwarded me a message that she had received from the volunteer putting together our 10-year reunion. (Cut to me with look of abject horror.) I have been out of high school for ten years. And what have I done with my life other than waste my parents money on sending me to music school, and accidentally becoming an event planner?

I suddenly find myself living in Manhattan with a friend, a cat, unmarried, doing a job that I love...going to Broadway shows, more movies that I can count, and meeting fabulous people everywhere I go!! How can this be? Um...wait. So, the truth is I am living in Manhattan (where I wanted to live when I was in high school), working for a theatre company (and loving it), and spending my time seeing Broadway shows and going to movies. I guess I haven't done quite as badly as I thought. Of course, if I find another grey hair, I just might totally lose it.

stepping up

I have some good news....for me. AMC has a new policy in NYC that is making me super happy. The new policy says that if you see a movie on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday before 12 noon, then it only costs $6! I can't even tell you how happy that makes me. It was kind of weird to set my alarm to get up and go to a movie this morning, but I will do anything to NOT pay $10.75 for each one. Anyway, today I set my alarm and headed off to see "Step Up" the new dance movie. It was pretty bad, but I actually enjoyed it. Something you should know about me is that I love to dance..and that sadly I am not a very good dancer. So, I ADORE seeing dance movies, and there were some great dancers in this movie. There is one thing that I have to address though. So, the main guy (gorgeous but seemingly empty of soul) breaks into a performing arts school and trashes the stage. He gets caught and is ordered to do community service. So, he shows up on the first day, and the hallways of this performing arts school are full of cliche after cliche of artsy students. My favorite was the three girls walking together and singing in pop music harmony. And let's not forget the two violinists rehearsing in the hallway (frankly I say how rude....get a practice room) and the dancer doing the splits and stretching. Having attended an arts boarding school, and acting school for half days, as well as a music college, I can say that this representation made me laugh out loud. My only other major thought is that I have never seen two friends (soulless wonder and his black basketball playing friend) hug each other so much. They hugged every time they saw each other, and that ended up being more than I hug my mother.

After my $6 matinee, I decided to take in Will Ferrell's new movie "The Ballad of Ricky Bobby". I realize that there is the Talladega Nights or something there, but I am frankly feeling too lazy to look it up...sorry. Anyway, although there were some really funny moments, it was kind of blah for me. I don't know...I was talking to my dad and mom as I was walking up Eighth Avenue towards the Upper West Side, and I think I might be growing up! This kind of freaks me out. No more will I enjoy and/or be drawn to movies meant for the 12 - 24 year old male demographic. What is happening to me? Am I having "the change"? (Sigh) I do have to give kudos to John C. Reilly. He is a great actor, and seemingly approached this film with the same integrity he brought to "Chicago".

Final thoughts: While neither one was brilliant, for $6, I feel like I came out ahead. If you are a dancing fan, you might like "Step Up", and if you are a 12-year old boy, I am sure you will LOVE Ricky Bobby.

photo credit: www.movieweb.com

more later....

I write tonight not from Manhattan, but instead from Lake George where I am vacationing with my parents and Godmother. It has been amazing, and I will post some pictures upon my (dreaded) return to the (sinfully hot) city. I hope everyone has had a lovely week, and I swear, more later.

P.S. The pictures below for the two movies reviews were from www.movieweb.com.

"scoop"! i liked this movie

I think the truth of the matter is that Hugh Jackman could do anything he wanted to, and I would love it! This is the best kind of man there is....he is tall (skies open, angels sing!), he can sing and dance, and he has an accent. To me, there is no one better. (sigh) Anyway, the movie "Scoop" is a lot of fun. It is a Woody Allen movie...so if you don't like Woody Allen, don't go! However, if he doesn't irritate the bejebus out of you...this is a fun film. Scarlett Johannson is cute as a college (slutty) journalist who stumbles upon a HUGE scoop from dead journalist who crosses over to give it to her. The scoop is that Hugh Jackman is a killer. Woody Allen plays a magician who pretends to be Scarlett's dad, and witty banter ensues. Does this movie change the world? No. Will it receive Oscars and accolades? No. Is it a fun way to pass an afternoon? Yes. Do you see Hugh Jackman cavorting about half dressed? Yes. So, all in all, it is a fun movie that I think you will enjoy.

Final thoughts: It has Hugh Jackman in it. Need I say more?

best movie of the year so far is.....

...a little indie called "Little Miss Sunshine". Run, do not walk, run to the theatre and see this movie. It was hilarious, sad, awkward, depressing, illuminating, painful, sweet and every other descriptive word you might think of. I LOVED this movie, and have to give special kudos to Steve Carell (this man is slowly but surely going to take over the world) and Toni Collette, one of my favorite actresses of all time. This film is about a little girl who through default is able to participate in the Little Miss Sunshine competition in California. The family sets off on a road trip with Mom (Ms. Colette), Dad (Greg Kinnear), Depressed gay brother who has just failed a suicide attempt (Mr. Carell), the daughter, the silent brother who HATES everyone, and Cocaine Grandpa. If this sentence doesn't make you giggle, there is something seriously wrong with you! (I have to add that they make the trip in a VW van whose horn eventually starts beeping all the time. It reminded me of the time when MY 1973 super beetle's horn started beeping every time I turned to the right. That made for interesting transport around good old Rochester.) Anyway, hilarity, tragedy, and life ensue. It is a great road trip worth taking....hope you will take the trip.

Final thought: Best movie I have seen so far this year....don't miss it!