Holidays at the Cinema!

Jason and I had a movie marathon. With the exception of No Country, we saw all of these last weekend. Crazy. We just needed out of the house...and we both love movies. So, some quick thoughts.

I Am Legend- Very quiet, tense, entertaining! I was very nervous through the whole thing...reminded me a bit of 28 Days Later (which I loved). Were there holes? Sure, but I really didn't care at the time.

Charlie Wilson's War- We saw this last (after 3 other movies) so I was a little tired...but I enjoyed it. It was interesting, I learned something. It's worth the ticket, but it'd be the same on dvd as well.

Juno- Loved it!! Great script, loved the characters. It's timely, with little Spears pg now. (I personally don't care about it...there are worse things than being pg at 16) This is the movie to see if you have to see just one.

Sweeney Todd- You have to really enjoy musicals, because this is no exception! It's practically an opera! Lots of singing...lots of gore....lots of entertainment. I loved it, but Jason wasn't so much into it. He at least appreciated the story and thought Johnny did well.

Walk Hard- Dewey Cox Story- Just bad. Not worth the ticket. Not sure where the good reviews came from...but it's not good. We enjoyed Anchorman...but this isn't even close. Plus, FULL FRONTAL nudity...of men...for LONG periods of time! Uhhh...no thanks.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets- It's what you'd expect. It's fun, entertaining, mindless...a good way to spend a couple hours in the movie theatre and away froom the family.

No Country For Old Men- If you enjoy FILM, you will love this movie. If it doesn't win best picture...I'd be surprised. (Course Daniel Day looks like he has a gem on his hands as well) It's captivating...great script, great story...just really amazing.

Need to see Atonement.

Netflix: Just started watching Nip/Tuck. Huh. I can't help but really enjoy it. It's pretty graphic and the story lines are insane...but man, it's addicting! Crazy. Just finished Season 1. Jason can't really stomach it, I don't blame him. It's a serious guilty pleasure.

Wow, does it seem like I don't do anything but watch movies? Yikes. Maybe I should do some book reviews as well. I do read as well... Coming sooon!!

Reviews on:

Born Standing Up
Matrimony
Eat, Pray, Love

11.28.2007

It's gloomy today, unfortunately. It's one of those days where you wouldn't be able to guess the time if you looked outside...it could be early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The trees look cold, missing their leaves and everything just looks blah. Maybe that's why holiday lights help out the season....

Some quick movie reviews, no deep revelations, just quick thoughts...

Enchanted- Very Disney, pretty cute...didn't take itself too seriously. I smiled through the whole thing and though I was accompanied by two grown men instead of my little nieces, they really enjoyed it too. Amy Adams is adorable and makes the movie. (if you like her, check her out in Junebug. GREAT movie!)

August Rush- Kept watching it and thinking, "This should be on the Hallmark channel." It's not a big screen movie...at all.

American Gangster- long...enjoyable...some scenes were pretty harsh, but overall I had a great time watching it. It's sort of like The Departed meets Blow.

Michael Clayton- umm...pretty good, could you wait for dvd? yes.

Dan In Real Life- Great sweater movie...fun to watch, comfortable...and it actually made Steve Carell sexy.

Lions for Lambs- AWFUL. Preachy, tired and felt like it should have been shown in an high school classroom. I was actually embarrassed for the actors...although they acted well, the script didn't give them anything to make it spectacular.

Away From Her (on dvd)- You can't really enjoy this movie, it's heart wrenching, but it's very, very good. Julie Christie is just beautiful...I recommend it, but don't think you're going to feel good afterward.

I would've called you Vid.

What if we had gone to high school together? We were so different. Both of us were well liked, but we definitely hung out with different crowds. Were you quiet? I was pretty loud at times. You were two years younger...so, a sophomore when I was a senior. We weren't in the same clubs or sports...how would we have met? You studied a lot, I didn't. You were known as one of the nicest guys in school...I was voted most flirtatious. Think you would've liked me? I could've learned from you back then, like I do now. I just wish I could go back and observe how you were at 16. I wouldn't have gotten in the way of anything, but I would've said hi to you in the hall-smiled at you in the hall. I think I could've talked you into going to more games. I think I could've made you laugh...maybe take yourself a little less seriously. It's weird, I think we would've been friends. Just friends, but we could've had the potential to be good ones. I think of us in my little town, not in the big one you grew up in. I would've come over to your house to get you to go riding around...you would've resisted, but I would've tricked you into coming. I think you secretly wanted to rebel a little, you just didn't have the right influence. I was a good kid, I hung around good kids. We didn't drink or smoke...we just stayed out too late, mostly talking. Everyone almost always ended up at my house on Saturday nights--after their dates or after spending family time at home. You could've showed up with someone...or most likely, I would've come to get you. You were the type I would've wanted to hang around. Witty, smart, funny, kind and focused. I was anything but focused. You probably would've given me some good advice back then. You have a sense of calm about you...and an overwhelming feeling of "good." I know you were flirty and that maybe you would've at least thrown a look at me at some point. I would've talked to you until late at night about whatever was on my mind...I would've wanted your insight. We would've laid on the high jump mat talking into the wee hours of the morning...laughing and such. I would've signed your yearbook, "I know we'll always talk because how could I not know what you're doing...I can't wait to see all the things you do in your life."

I'm lucky enough to have a front row seat for that now. So I didn't meet you until later...oh well, at least we met. All the rest I can day dream about and wonder...but know this...if we had been high school friends...we'd still be in touch.

This is Halloween!!

Fall does a great job of setting nice bright plant arrangements along the roads making everything just look better. I wish the trees were always these beautiful shades of yellows and reds. I guess we wouldn't appreciate them as much if that were the case. Soon snow will blanket the fields and will make nice decor for the trees. (the slush in the streets I wish we could avoid!)

I'd love to walk through Central Park today...maybe I'd see some hippies running around looking for Donna. (I always think of that...and the little stone bridges.)

If I moved, would I just miss being here? I seem to always want to be somewhere else. I've been that way since I was a little girl. Back then I wanted to live in Scotland. I wanted to be just like James Herriot. Such an odd person to idolize at 7, but his life seemed almost perfect to me. (Google him! He's pretty cool!) Unfortunately when I found out I'd have to be pretty good at math to be a veterinarian, my dreams went down in smoke. When I went to Scotland a few years back I couldn't get over how amazingly green things were. Maybe I'm just really fond of lush bright colors. Growing up in Kansas with long seasons of dark mustards and browns had me yearning for color.

I need to go get a pumpkin. Our deck needs some flickering eyes at night.

10.15.07

This morning I wake up in New York. My cat is banging around in the kitchen searching for something to eat...I forgot to feed her last night. I peel myself off of the hot leather couch (a bed would've been a nice touch) and make way to the cabinets. I find tuna fish, but no can opener. The next best thing is a church key...so I make an aluminum dotted line around the edges and pry it off the best I can. I slice my thumb. I put it in her dish and wrap the last paper towel on the roll around it. I'm pretty sure I don't have any band aids, that would require thinking about what could happen in the future and I'm not good at that. Course, it would also require to learn from mistakes and that hasn't happened either. Walking into my bedroom, I see Nikki laying comfortably in my bed. "It's time to go. It's after 8." She nods and slides out of the sheets onto the floor. "thanks for letting me stay...I'm sure they're at work now." (her parents fight) "Take my bike and get to school." She grabs the key off of the hook and heads down the stairs.

My thumb is bleeding through the paper towel. Shit. I need coffee. I'm too tired to shave today.

It'll take a lot more rain to change this view.

I have a picture on my desk at work of Jason and I dancing a drive-in diner in Cleveland. We're both laughing and looking at each other...I love it. This marriage thing is pretty good. This past weekend we had our final reception with his mother. We're done travelling!! Now we get to settle into things and just relax and enjoy being together. It was a tough summer, but we had to do it our way and I think in the end, everyone knows each other much more than they would if they'd met at a wedding. 4 receptions over 3 states...whew!

Chicago is rainy today. If it were just surrounded by mountains or something, it'd be a better view. Or if the water covered Schaumburg and my window looked out over beautiful blue water with sailboats and seagulls....but the concrete jungle in front of a grey sky makes me long for another part of the country. We'll be taking trips to New York state soon to see if we like it there. It'd be closer to family and to the east coast. Beautiful. Who knows what we'll end up doing...only time will tell. The cool thing is that we're ready to take it all on together. It really helps that we were friends for so long before we were anything else...at times, our friendship stands out more than anything else. He just makes me laugh. I realize we're honeymooners, so I'm still all starry eyed...reading this as an outsider, I might be rolling my eyes about now. Understandable.

Man, I sure could go for a Sonic right now.

Why the hell do they have commercials here if there aren't any close by?!! (Cool thing--there was a Sonic in Colorado that I talked my family into taking me to! A Sonic surrounded by mountains...now THAT'S a view!!!)

Rocky Mountain High.......

Just got back from our second wedding reception in Bailey, Colorado. It was beautiful. I watched my mother and her siblings revisit their childhood...acting like children themselves at times. Everyone laughed and hugged...and they all adored Jason as I knew they would. The geography was something hard for me to leave. The mountains surrounding us, the rushing stream outside our cabin and the smell of pine are all things I could wake up to every day. The little one was in rare form...at 2 1/2, she ruled the roost and made my heart melt a hundred times a day. Watching Jason carry kids on his shoulders up the mountain...man, I can't wait to have children. "Uncle Jason" was a hit and is quickly becoming more popular with all of the kids. (that's ok..he's new...they'll remember me later.)

I'll write more later...time to get off work!!

May 11th

Don't feel like writing too much...except to say that I'm thinking about you today. I realize it should be more on your birthday, but I can't help it. It's been a long time.

Miss you.

Haunted

The people that come in and out of my life haunt me somehow. It's amazing how close you can become with someone and years later, they've disappeared out of your life for one reason or another. It happens to all of us. I remember them all...and I think of them. Friends that I spent every second of the day with...for years...and now we have our own lives. Every person I've met shaped me somehow. Hopefully they all know what they meant to me. Course, we were younger then...and I was not as careful with my sharp tongue. My heart was always softer than my rough exterior. I wish I had the opportunity to say I'm sorry for all of the hurt I've caused. We don't always get to do that. I hope I run into them sometime later in life. Until, I'm haunted by all of them.

Wide Open Spaces

When I drive home from work, I’m starting to see the high school kids at track practice. Warm months remind me of home…growing up and spending my afternoons after school at the track. I wasn’t a track star by any means, but I went out every year to be with all of my friends that were. They all seemed so talented where as I was just sort of there for fun. I loved track meets. I loved cheering for my friends and spending Friday nights under the stars. We’d all huddle together in our hoods…laying on each other’s stomachs and wait for events to be called. We’d swap music. Depeche Mode is BIG track memory for me. I always loved being around my friends. I miss that time of my life. High School is such a bad memory for a lot of people. They were the best years of my life. College had too much drama and heartache. High School was more or less the innocent years…you’ve just found out about love and what it can do. You’re mature enough for some things and still protected from others. All of us were still alive and looking ahead to greater things. At this age, I find myself thinking of those who’ve passed away or that I’ve just lost touch with with a heavy heart. You don’t have time to think about the past, you’re creating it. I miss the summers around home. I hadn’t had enough experience to know all that I was missing out on in the rest of the world. My entire world was in that little town. I learned to love music, boys, movies and my friends there. I miss the warm summer days driving down the country roads and spending evenings under the wide Kansas sky. It’s a strange feeling to have everything in one place. Now, my friends, my family and my heart are all scattered throughout the U.S. I’ve loved a few times since then as well. But I can remember the feelings I used to have. I can almost close my eyes and feel how my heart used to feel back then. It’s great to be able to exercise it that way. It only grows bigger…if you’re doing it right.

I'm smiling as I write this.

I'm lucky to have all of the people I do in my life. I'm lucky I'm completely in love with my fiance who loves me so much. I'm lucky to have such amazing and diverse friends. I'm lucky because I actually like my parents. It feels good to be taken care of and know that people really do care about me. I get to have the wedding I always wanted...amidst water and sun and without stress (that also has Beatles music). I'm just lucky and I'm lucky for so many reasons...I'm just having a moment and wanted to note it. I'm happy and I'm in love and I can't wait to see Jason every day when he gets home...and I'm marrying him. I love that. Life just worked it way out. That's pretty cool.

Tuesday ramblings...

It's been a long time. I have a new hip and I'm just around the house doing nothing and yet I have not blogged. Mom was here for ten days helping, so that was taking up my time. This is my week without anyone constantly. Jason comes home and checks on me a lot and then I have the alone times. Been wrestling with boredom and a mild depression this morning. I think I've whipped it. Man, it's work to try to make yourself feel better. I clean a little...as much as I could and decided I needed to read my Oprah mag and get a book. TV's been ruling my time. It's a gorgeous day out today so I opened all of the windows and am now letting all of the light and fresh air in. That is helping a lot. I've seen a lot of friends while I've been "down." My old roommate Debbie came by the other night. I hadn't seen her in over a year! I did go to see Zodiac with J and Dustin on Sunday night. My first big outing. We were all very scared and disturbed afterwards. To know that it all happened...to know that someone was that cold blooded...it really upset me. It reminded me of how I felt while I was reading In Cold Blood. The family described in the book, the Clutter family, reminded me so much of the Siefkes family back home. Good family, good kids....just good people. The idea of hunting people for a game. I came home and watched an hour of Larry King before I could go to bed. He was covering the release of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on dvd. He interviewed one of Johnny's wives, the second, Joanne. She was great. He showed old clips and it made me miss being a kid. I used to be able to stay up and watch Johnny Carson while I was at my grandparents house. If I could see anyone today, I'd like to see them. I just want to be around them again. They always made me feel special. Extra special. I don't know....I just always felt like they really enjoyed me, too. That's an important feeling.

The fresh air is making me feel better. I just wrote an entire paragraph and now it's gone....what happened?? Ugh.

Miss my grandparents today. I wish they lived next door. I'd love to be able to play gin with someone and talk about stuff. A lot of people make me feel special, but they were the first to do so....so well (other than my parents). In a way, they set the bar. That's important. People need to feel loved and respected and they need to feel special. At least I need to.

Going to read Oprah now.

I hope we all try to make those around us feel better just for being around us. That's a great way to be. I'm not like that all of the time, I need to work on that.

making love out of nothing at all

the title of this is the lyric i have in my head, it has no significance.

it's a snow day. the office closed at 2. it's snowing. it's windy and it's good to be out the office. i've been trolling other blogs. people out there in other cities, in other lives, in other skins. me, i'm just in mine. i'm 32 and living a simple life. i'm just another engaged girl having hip replacement surgery. nothing right now makes me too exciting except that i really do like my boyfriend...future husband. that's pretty cool. i'm not in a band touring around, i'm not coming back from a trip-homeward bound (just wanted to use that word), i'm not in high heels right and i'm not wearing a thong. i didn't put on lipstick today but i am wearing a beautiful ring. am i uninteresting? i feel uninteresting. i feel like i limp a lot, wait, no, i do limp a lot. that's hot. my god, did i just quote Paris?

i wish i was looking out at something i'd never seen before. but, it is beautiful. the snow is blowing and it seems as if snow is falling down from the sky and up from the ground.

i should be writing something i care about.

"I'm ready for my close up..."

It’s Friday and I’m thankful. It’s been the longest week! SO COLD! I’ve heard it’s been the longest streak of cold weather for 15 years. Whew! I had blood work done this morning. It was my second and final deposit for my surgery. The hospital called and FOX network wants to do a piece on my surgery. They’ll be filming during surgery and talking with me afterwards. Wonder if they’ll get my tattoo? (My dad wondered if I should get another one. Haha) The nice thing about this whole thing is that the Bennington girls will be reuniting for a few days. Wendy and Mom are flying in to help me out! Wendy will leave after 3 days, and Mom after 10. It’ll be fun (aside from all of the pain.) Jason will have help and that is an ease off my mind.

Tonight’s movie pick is off the Oscar track…and it has already received horrible reviews! However, horror movies are normally tradition with family film night. (Friday night movies with Jason and Dustin.) We’re taking in The Messengers. I’ll let you know how it is! Could be just awful. By the way…if you’re shopping for a good scary flick, check out The Descent! GREAT FLICK!!

Oscar Buzz—Roper’s picks are (reported by Dustin first thing this morning):

Best Picture - The Departed
Helen for Actress
Jennifer for Supporting
Forrest for Actor
Scorsese for Director

More on Oscar

Ok, I'm sure I'll keep doing this, but I've been researching the picks a bit on-line. It is a possiblity that Clint will sweep. The Academy loves him and coupled with Speilberg--pretty impressive. I still have yet to see Letters, but I'm hoping to see it before the show. I'm excited about Babel being nominated for Best Score. I really loved the music. It was the only film I've seen recently where I felt the music was its own character...somewhat like a tour guide. Babel is up for the double whammy win as well. It sort of falls into the "Crash" category. (That was a HUGE disappointment, but oh well.)

Found out that the hospital doesn't have cable. No E! for red carpet!!

Oscar thoughts...

Ok, I just saw The Departed and LOVED IT. Dustin and I went to see it and Volver on Sunday. Volver--I enjoyed the story and although I appreciate Penny's acting, I don't understand the nomination. In fact, there are a few nominations this year I don't get. Eddie Murphy for best supporting for Dreamgirls?? What? He's playing Donkey (Shrek) and his SNL James Brown. I didn't see anything special. Also for supporting, Mark Wahlberg? Go see The Departed and see if you think he deserves it? He's barely in it (not that that matters), but he was nothing comparedto Leo or Matt. Ridiculous. Let's go one by one.

You can follow along on the ballot: http://a.oscar.abc.com/media/2007/images/nominees/printballot_2007_2.pdf

Lead Actor- most likely it'll be Forest Whitaker. I have yet to see his movie.
Supporting Actor- Will they pick Eddie?? I want Djimon (Blood Diamond) or Jackie Early- Little Children (been hearing great things.)
Lead Actress- Helen Mirren is my guess. Judy Dench was equally as powerful though.
Supporting Actress- Jen Hudson (great job!! the only reason to see Dreamgirls.)Although I enjoyed both ladies from Babel.
Cinematography- Hmmm. Either Children of Men or Pan's Labyrinth are who I'd like to see win.
Costume Design- Dreamgirls...though Marie Antoinette caught my eye.
Directing- Hands down THE DEPARTED!!! Go Martin!
Doc Feature- I'd love it if An Inconvenient Truth won. We'll see.
Adapted Screenplay- The Departed
Original Screeplay- Little Miss Sunshine
Best Picture- I'd be happy any of these really. The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine are my soft spots though. (Who knows, Babel could take it!)
Foreign Language Film- Pan's Labyrinth (this is a beautifull (yet horrific) film, go see it.)

I can't say enough about The Departed. I had a blast watching it! It's my personal best picture. Although I loved Miss Sunshine, it didn't have the same effect on me. I am very excited to see Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson and Forest in Last King. I might have to update this!

I'm getting my hip replaced during the Oscars--Feb. 25th! Can't believe it. So, I'll be cheering on an IV. Hey, at least I won't have to get up to go to the bathroom. hehehe.

More to come! (I plan on seeing some movies in the coming weeks)

Oscar Noms!--my thoughts to follow.

1. Best Picture: “Babel,” “The Departed,” “Letters From Iwo Jima,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “The Queen.”
2. Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, “Blood Diamond”; Ryan Gosling, “Half Nelson”; Peter O’Toole, “Venus”; Will Smith, “The Pursuit of Happyness”; Forest Whitaker, “The Last King of Scotland.”
3. Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Volver”; Judi Dench, “Notes on a Scandal”; Helen Mirren, “The Queen”; Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada”; Kate Winslet, “Little Children.”
4. Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin, “Little Miss Sunshine”; Jackie Earle Haley, “Little Children”; Djimon Hounsou, “Blood Diamond”; Eddie Murphy, “Dreamgirls”; Mark Wahlberg, “The Departed.”
5. Supporting Actress: Adriana Barraza, “Babel”; Cate Blanchett, “Notes on a Scandal”; Abigail Breslin, “Little Miss Sunshine”; Jennifer Hudson, “Dreamgirls”; Rinko Kikuchi, “Babel.”
6. Directing: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, “Babel”; Martin Scorsese, “The Departed”; Clint Eastwood,H “Letters From Iwo Jima”; Stephen Frears, “The Queen”; Paul Greengrass, “United 93.”
7. Foreign Language Film: “After the Wedding,” Denmark; “Days of Glory (Indigenes),” Algeria; “The Lives of Others,” Germany; “Pan’s Labyrinth,” Mexico; “Water,” Canada.
8. Adapted Screenplay: Sacha Baron Cohen and Anthony Hines and Peter Baynham and Dan Mazer and Todd Phillips, “Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”; Alfonso Cuaron and Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, “Children of Men”; William Monahan, “The Departed”; Todd Field and Tom Perrotta, “Little Children”; Patrick Marber, “Notes on a Scandal.”
9. Original Screenplay: Guillermo Arriaga, “Babel”; Iris Yamashita and Paul Haggis, “Letters From Iwo Jima”; Michael Arndt, “Little Miss Sunshine”; Guillermo del Toro, “Pan’s Labyrinth”; Peter Morgan, “The Queen.”
10. Animated Feature Film: “Cars,” “Happy Feet,” “Monster House.”
11. Art Direction: “Dreamgirls,” “The Good Shepherd,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “The Prestige.”
12. Cinematography: “The Black Dahlia,” “Children of Men,” “The Illusionist,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “The Prestige.”
13. Sound Mixing: “Apocalypto,” “Blood Diamond,” “Dreamgirls,” “Flags of Our Fathers,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.”
14. Sound Editing: “Apocalypto,” “Blood Diamond,” “Flags of Our Fathers,” “Letters From Iwo Jima,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.”
15. Original Score: “Babel,” Gustavo Santaolalla; “The Good German,” Thomas Newman; “Notes on a Scandal,” Philip Glass; “Pan’s Labyrinth,” Javier Navarrete; “The Queen,” Alexandre Desplat.
16. Original Song: “I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth,” Melissa Etheridge; “Listen” from “Dreamgirls,” Henry Krieger, Scott Cutler and Anne Preven; “Love You I Do” from “Dreamgirls,” Henry Krieger and Siedah Garrett; “Our Town” from “Cars,” Randy Newman; “Patience” from “Dreamgirls,” Henry Krieger and Willie Reale.
17. Costume: “Curse of the Golden Flower,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Dreamgirls,” “Marie Antoinette,” “The Queen.”
18. Documentary Feature: “Deliver Us From Evil,” “An Inconvenient Truth,” “Iraq in Fragments,” “Jesus Camp,” “My Country, My Country.”
19. Documentary (short subject): “The Blood of Yingzhou District,” “Recycled Life,” “Rehearsing a Dream,” “Two Hands.”
20. Film Editing: “Babel,” “Blood Diamond,” “Children of Men,” “The Departed,” “United 93.”
21. Makeup: “Apocalypto,” “Click,” “Pan’s Labyrinth.”
22. Animated Short Film: “The Danish Poet,” “Lifted,” “The Little Matchgirl,” “Maestro,” “No Time for Nuts.”
23. Live Action Short Film: “Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea),” “Eramos Pocos (One Too Many),” “Helmer & Son,” “The Saviour,” “West Bank Story.”
24. Visual Effects: “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “Poseidon,” “Superman Returns.”
Academy Award winners previously announced this year:
HONORARY AWARD (Oscar statuette): Ennio Morricone
JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARD (Oscar statuette): Sherry Lansing

time for change

Over Christmas break (I still think of things in semesters), I saw an old friend from High School. His name is Jeremy and he sent me his blog today. He lives in New York and it's been so fun to read about his life and times. Go read his blog...it's great.

urbanjayhawk.com

He's inspired me to do more with my blog. I think I'm making it too complicated and it's really not too fun to read if you happen to stumble upon it. A lot of inside stories and meanings. It might be good to start out my second year of blogging by starting a new chapter. This is going to be a great year and it'd be nice if I had record of it.

It's FREEZING today in Chicago. Can I say I'm from Chicago if I live and work in the burbs? Some might say that's cheating. However, my life in times in Schaumburg isn't much of a draw. I'm headed into the city on Friday with Dustin to see Wicked. I'm so excited! I've wanted to see if for such a long time and he's taking me for my Christmas present. We saw Barbara Streisand together...he's my theatre friend. It's always nice to get dressed up and feel pretty. My day to day work attire gets so tiresome and leaves me feeling very unsexy. Dustin is always good at making our outings into dates and spoiling me. We've had so many adventures together...from Vegas to New York City...our relationship is actually pretty romantic! : ) I love that we've been to Central Park...rowing around in our little boat and walking the streets of Greenwich Village day dreaming that we'd live there someday together. For right now, we both live here. He needs to get a boyfriend in New York!

This week is just another week of pain for me I'm afraid. I'm so frustrated by my hip and my inablility to do daily tasks. Walking to the printer and getting a copy is on my nerves. My surgery is soon...I can't wait. The thought of doing about anything is hard for me. I'm not someone who suffers in silence. When I'm in pain, everyone knows. I don't like that about myself...but I'm not making big strides to change either. I'm sure my blogs will get a bit boring during my month at home...maybe I should do movie reviews during that time.

Im moving desks at work...near the BIG windows that look over the forest preserve. I'm excited about it actually. I love looking out the window and day dreaming. I used to go there for lunch sometimes. I love trees and forests. I'm afraid it will just keep the odd thoughts that trickle into my brain at a steady flow. I'm sure my co workers think I'm on drugs...I made a silly comment on how much I miss my neices and nephew and how I'd love it if they were Littles (like the cartoon) and could play around on my desk while I'm here. I guess that is a bit strange, but I think it's fun to think about.

Tonight is suppose to be date night. It's been a bit difficult to keep it going while Jason is so hard at work. It brought it up though...so we'll just have to see. I think we're going to see Babel. If we do, I'll review it. We saw Notes on a Scandal and Pan's Labyrinth over the weekend. I enjoyed them both...but they were each very disturbing in their own way. Jason wasn't thrilled about having Judy Dench's face in almost every frame of Notes...I think he would've rather had Cate's. Go see them though. They're worth seeing.

More to come.

Is this familiar?

You know who I'm writing to...is this crazy or what? You could've written this over and over the last 5 year of your marriage. Thank God you're out of it.

"Used To You"

I'm still here because
I've got nothing else to do
you're an asshole
but I'm getting used to you
I like the fact that
you talk incessantly
I got a thing for assholes
who tell good stories

I think that drinking
is the only thing that you do right
you're gonna self-destruct
I think that's what I like
you like me so you try and make me
feel like shit
I think it's kind of funny yeah
I kind of enjoy it

if you're gonna do it, overdo it
that's how you know you're alive
go ahead, take yourself a coma nap
take a puddle dive

you said, this is my bedroom window
you said, this is my view
you said, lie down here with me
and see the things that I do
like you were trying to tell me something
about the way you live
like you would give me something
if you had something to give

and for all your talk
you don't say much that's real
I think I know more than you
about the way that you feel
I understand your anger
and your apathy
I think if I was you,
you're who I'd be

I'm still here
'cause I got nothing else to do
you're an asshole but
I'm getting used to you
I could love you, yeah
I've entertained the thought
but I could never like you
so I guess I'd better not

Ani...

"Asking Too Much"

I want somebody who sees the pointlessness
and still keeps their purpose in mind
I want somebody who has a tortured soul
some of the time
I want somebody who will either put out for me
or put me out of misery
or maybe just put it all to words
and make me say, you know
I never heard it put that way
make me say, what did you just say?
I want somebody who can hold my interest
hold it and never let it fall
someone who can flatten me with a kiss
that hits like a fist
or a sentence, that stops me like a brick wall
because if you hear me talking
listen to what I'm not saying
if you hear me playing guitar
listen to what I'm not playing
and don't ask me to put words
to all the spaces between notes
in fact if you have to ask, forget it
do and you'll regret it
I'm tired of being the interesting one
I'm tired of heving fun for two
just lay yourself on the line
and I might lay myself down by you
but don't sit behind your eyes
and wait for me to surprise you
I want somebody who can make me
scream until it's funny
give me a run for my money
I want someone who can
twist me up in knots
tell me, for the woman who has everything
what have you got?
I want someone who's not afraid of me
or anyone else
in other words I want someone
who's not afraid of themself

do you think I'm asking too much?

My Year

2007, the year of a new hip, a new last name and a new family.

At 32, my life is taking form. Growing up, I never envisioned this. I've been slow to mature.

But, I'll take it.