Kevin Smith lies around constantly...and he's creative!

I haven't stepped outside today. What does that say about me? I purposely don't lay on the couch...it scares me. I get up each morning and take a shower--I have big plans in my head that never pan out. It snowed last night. I don't like the cold. Tomorrow I'm going to Park Ave to become blond...just so I get to talk to people. Colorists have to talk to you, don't they? My first friend will be my colorist. I'm determined to write every day even if it's bullshit. Today...it's bullshit.

I'm now going to put on a coat and walk to the mailbox. I need fresh air. My cat Meryl is starting to look at me like I'm a loser...don't worry, if she starts telling me to kill people, I'll ignore her.

I wish my friends would've had digital cameras back in the day. We had to pack all cool picks into 24 exposures...a lot of crap pics. The Internet I'm afraid would've been a BAD idea for us. Kortney, Toni and I...lip syncing in front of a vhs camera...holy shit...we would've been YouTube'd for sure. The Madonna videos alone would've made us a sensation. But what I would've given for a damn flat iron!!

Restless in Rochester

It's been a month. A few days more actually--since we arrived. Jason is gone this week to Palm Springs for a conference. He reports it's beautiful there...mid 80s. It snowed here today. Big flakes. It didn't snow enough to blanket the ground and make it that awesome quiet outside...you know? Snowy quiet. I love that noise. I'm looking forward to seeing how Rochester celebrates the season. Halloween had skeletons sitting on bushes and big balloon spiders (which scared me) laying on lawns.

We're still adjusting. I'm not too lonely yet. Friends call me constantly and I joined Face Book...which I tried desperately to avoid. (Actually, it isn't bad!) I found myspace to be a bit scary though. It's nice to get back in touch with old friends. I found most of the girls I hung out with in my frosh dorm in college. It's causing a lot of memories to flood over me. I'm so happy to be older. My 30s have been much kinder than my 20s. I definitely have better hair!

I'm going to do my best to start writing again. I've been reading over my old stories in college...wondering where the writer went. Fearing my internal critic has kept me blocked. Fear is a big component in my life still. My fear of flying seems to have come back. It was gone for years and then suddenly this summer, I panicked on a plane. Ever since, even the thought of flying makes me light headed. Two nights ago I read an interview in Vogue with Angelina Jolie. She is my age. I should focus on that, but I do. She became a pilot and flies her own plane. She seems fearless! It's true...I don't fear flying, I fear, fear itself. I'm made a prisoner by my own anxiety. That's no way to live! I'm putting together an illustrated auto biography--things you can do when you're unemployed with no kids!!--and I'm going to cut out a picture of Angelina to remind me to be fearless!

Movie Notes: (random)
Loved Rachel Getting Married- saw it at Little Theatre in downtown Roc. Reminded me so much of Liberty Hall in Lawrence. It smelled the same. I'll be surprised if Ann doesn't get a nomination. I also went to see Changeling. Hmmm...very disturbing. I thought Ang was good, but she's been better. It was hard to watch. I wasn't expecting the violence...I'm fine with violence, just not dealing with children. I'm really wanting to see Happy Go Lucky. I'll report my findings...

more tomorrow.

Yes We Did!

Today, I'm in New York--having moved in October. There's so much newness to discover! I will say, that after last night's events, we are missing Chicago right now. What a great night to be there! I'm sure we would've gathered at the Imparato's and shared it with friends. I'm tired today and emotional...crying randomly at t.v. shows. I'm making chili, cleaning up Jason's office and enjoying the sunshine coming in from the windows. Meryl (our cat) is loving the sun too!

The fall colors are beginning to fade, but some are still hanging on! (This is a pic near the Erie Canal last Sunday.) Crew races were running along the water that day. Very cool. I can't wait until people visit. (Also can't wait to find a job!)

More to come...

to reinvent and begin again...

For the last few years, I've had this overwhelming desire to leave Chicago. (Very similar to my desire to leave Lawrence in 2001.) My 20's were a mess. I was a mess. I'm very surprised I still have friends from that time in my life. I lived with people...good people...who believed in me and tried to help me get back on my feet. When I look back at those times, it's hard for me to be proud of who I was. Living here, it's hard for me to break out of that mess of a person into who I am now. This past weekend I saw friends who spent a lot of time with me during that messy time. I lived with them for a year. Last night, I reverted back to my shock value way of being. Saying things to cause a stir, being ridiculous and feeling like I had to be a certain way. They did not notice it, but this morning as I thought about the night before, I felt embarrassed. I asked Jason if I embarrassed him at all. He said no. He's been the one I've been around the past few years as I've slowly put myself back together, gotten off all medication and grown. I feel healthy now. I've been so slow in the maturation process and have far to go, but I feel like I could be a good friend to people now instead of the bi-polar freak show I used to be. I was sort of fun...but I was unreliable, flirtatious and lazy. I hate that. Now, I would say I feel a bit boring...and I'm afraid of showing that off. My life is balanced and good. It has meaning. I married my friend...a man who really loves me and all the messy parts. I feel sick sometimes when I look over the past several years. I allowed myself to be used, I used others, I was flighty, irresponsible and always played the victim. I was surrounded by strong women though. Interesting. I've always surrounded myself with people I wanted to be like. Living with Lisa and Kelly...women I admired and wanted to closer to. They were so put together and had direction. I had none. I've put off a lot of people I'm sure. Insecurity has a way of showing its head in crazy and dramatic behavior. Now it's hard for me to be around those who remind me of that time--I seem to become that person again. I want to move in order to reinvent myself. I want to come back and visit in my new skin and have them feel proud that they know me. Jason helped me so much to find balance and humility. I've always been an emotional person. I feel a lot. I love my friends but don't show it as I'd like to. Some people are uncomfortable around a lot of emotion. You never know who might shy away from an outpour of love and affection. Fact is, I love my friends here in Chicago and would miss them, but I feel like I can't break out of the old Valerie until I'm out of here. I want to see another part of the country. I want to raise a family. I want to continue to grow into the woman I want to be. There are too many ghosts here. I continually run into memories of foolishness and regret. A crisp new place full of new beginnings sounds perfect. The old times are easier to laugh about when people know you've changed. I'm not sure anyone really knows who I am any more. I'm out here in the burbs living more in the future than in the present. Jason is my constant companion. I see him desperately trying to find a new way of life. He's very cerebral. I'm more emotional. It's a great balance. He loves me and allows me to constantly grow and change without holding me to old ideas and behaviors. I need to take a page out of his book.

I need to find a way to live my life and be proud to talk about it. I need to find a new job, I need to give back to society and I need to find a way to leave a positive impact on those I come into contact with. There are women in my life that I've always admired and idolized. It would be nice to have that effect on someone else.

I could have a film podcast...

2007, a good year for movies. Been hooked on a film podcast that is inspiring me to get back to this blog. (Sceneunseenpodcast.com) Love the fact that podcasts are free entertainment.

Saw all but 4 nominated films this year in all categories. That's either charming or sad.

My top 10 of the year in no particular order:

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
No Country For Old Men (own)
(those are my top two)
Juno
3:10 To Yuma
Ratatouille
The Bourne Ultimatum (own)
Michael Clayton (own)
Sweeney Todd (own)
Black Snake Moan
Zodiac (own)

Honorary Mentions:

There Will Be Blood
Waitress (own)
The Assassination of Jessie James...
A Mighty Heart
Lars and the Real Girl
Margot at the Wedding
Rescue Dawn

Today I put all of my movies into an excel spreadsheet. (again, charming or sad?) We have over 200 titles. Not bad. (though some of the movies are just shit)

I'm watching Darjeeling Limited right now. There's a cool little film before the main flick...with Natalie Portman. Still have a crush on her.

This movie makes me want to take a train. So far...I'm really enjoying this.

I rented 4 movies and bought 4 movies (on sale) last night. On the agenda...

Rented: Things We Lost in the Fire (C), Darjeeling Limited (B+ so far), Eastern Promises (my second attempt), Rescue Dawn (very excited to see)

Bought- Premonition (shit movie, but I enjoyed it for some reason), Zodiac (need to rewatch, I was on heavy medication (hip) when I saw it), Blood Diamond (J loves it) and Bourne Ultimatum.
Next project to Excel the books!

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!!