FADE TO BLACK…


I am about to go on vacation, so there will not be any posts here for two weeks. That gives you plenty of time to catch up on older entries and peruse/make fun of my insane Lost theories, leave comments, or play the silly movie game. Or not.

My mind has already wandered far. I have been thinking about vacation movies, or at least the ones which feature traveling and/or beautiful locales. So here you go.

  • 50 First Dates & Blue Crush (aloha)
  • Amelie (the Paris I would like to see, not the one I experienced many years ago)
  • The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (fabulous!)
  • Brokeback Mountain (quite possibly the most visually stunning setting ever for a film)
  • Cocktail (although Tommy wouldn’t be in my tropical paradise)
  • Dirty Dancing & A Walk on the Moon (for family cabin camping and drama in the Catskills)
  • Little Miss Sunshine (the van of my childhood was more spacious and reliable)
  • National Lampoon’s European Vacation (I prefer it to the original)
  • The Talented Mr. Ripley (sans the stalker/murder stuff)
  • Under the Tuscan Sun (I heart Italy)

Obviously there are far more that would fit this list. By all means, please remind me what I’m missing!

Soon I will be firmly planted in a deck chair aboard a giant ship headed to Alaska, bundled up, photographing glaciers, listening to my iPod and drinking hot chocolate…with Kahlua. No cell, no email, no blog. Yikes. Good times!

Bon voyage.

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TIME IS ON MY SIDE…AND HERE’S WHAT I’M THINKING


It is just over 100 degrees outside, and the power went out at work this afternoon, so they sent us home. It’s sad – I dIdn’t know what to do with myself. I was thinking about going to rent 300 but…

Because I’ve been making an effort to be more ‘green,’ as is the trend right now, I felt guilty about sitting inside with the TV system and air conditioner on. And I didn’t want to pollute the air further by driving any more than I already have today.

I could sit and read a book, but that won’t happen. I’m the kind of person that reads right before bed or on vacation only.

And I certainly do not want to start packing for my upcoming vacation to Alaska; the idea of handling wool or fleece in this weather is not very appealing. 

Somehow my guilt dissipates when I’m on the computer. Yes, it takes up energy, but I justify it because I am productive.

So for lack of any other original ideas, here is quick look inside my brain at the moment:

BASEBALL
Ugh. My team is not good this year. Ok, they’re average, but I’ve been spoiled by playoff runs for the past several years and this has been a trying season for loyal fans. And now, the fire sale. Loiaza to the Dodgers? COME ON. Next thing you know, Piazza will grow out the mullet and rejoin the evil blue empire as well.

And if you think I’M bitter, check out Athletics Nation.

For baseball’s version of TMZ or Perez Hilton, visit On the DL. It is a guilty pleasure.

MOVIES
Last weekend I finally went to see The Bourne Ultimatum. Now THAT is what I call a sequel.  I wish other studios and filmmakers would take the same approach: more action and less dialogue (memo to Michael Bay). This movie was an intense ride, and the best one I’ve taken all summer. Matt Damon is ten times the actor that Affleck ever was or will be. I’ve always felt that Damon is a tad underrated. The Talented Mr. Ripley? Crazy creepy good. Bonus points for putting Jude Law out of his onscreen misery.

MUSIC
I would rather play Eve’s ‘Tambourine’ than hold Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella.’

TV
As much as I love my Mulder, Duchovny’s latest small screen venture isn’t working for me. Are any of you hooked on Californication?

Is it sad that I was very excited to hear that the cast and crew of Lost are back to work, filming the first few episodes of Season 4? I am rewatching Season 2 right now, which is fascinating because of what we learned in Season 3. Before the new season begins, I will address lingering/annoying questions in a lengthy blog.

If you aren’t already hooked, I really think you should go out and buy the first season of Friday Night Lights for only $20. It is not a football show, I promise. Yes, there are pigskin scenes, but relationships and angst are the focal points. Jump on the bandwagon now, before Season 2 begins next month.

Even though the show has been canceled, there is going to be a Dead Like Me movie. Am I the only one who watched and loved that series?

I love Top Chef, but reading the blogs after each episode is almost better.

Damages is the BEST show on television right now. If you haven’t watched it yet, FX will be airing a five episode marathon of the series beginning at 3pm PST on Labor Day – this Monday!

WEBSITES/BLOGS
Have you checked out Michael Cera’s site yet? Hysterical.

Over at The House Next Door, Matt Zoller Seitz has written the best article I’ve seen yet about Owen Wilson.

I read A LOT of other people’s blogs, and I tend to leave comments when they cover topics that I’m passionate about. So I appreciate when readers do the same here, and would like to recommend two sites by two new friends: Cinematically Correct & Ex-Everything.

—–

And screw it. I’m off to rent 300 and Blades of Glory. You can’t get any more random than that.

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LBs. IN THE MLB: WHEN FAMOUS MEN GAIN WEIGHT

There is a story in the upcoming issue of ESPN The Magazine called “ Is Cabrera Living Too Large?” It is about the weight that Florida Marlins star Miguel Cabrera has gained over the last four years. That’s right, an entire article about a man who has packed on a few extra lbs. and how his financial future might be impacted by it.

We don’t see that very often.

Is it wrong that this article made me happy?

In the interest of research and comparison, I’ve put together the photos above of Cabrera a few years ago vs. Cabrera this season. It’s just like US Weekly might do for their Tarts of the Week..on the rare occasion that the skinny minnies eat sandwiches.

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KILL ME NOW

I was just mistaken for a Mom. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But the smarmy college student who sold my friend her new Mac at the Apple Store referred to me as her mother. She is 29 and I am 34. Kill me now.

I think the guy assumed that I was helping my daughter buy her first computer. Granted, my friend looks youthful and I have an old soul. But my old soul is supposed to be invisible, and I certainly don’t look like I could have a college-age daughter. Whatever. His vision and judgement must be blurry from the longs hours explaining why the brand new iPhones are already out of stock.

I’ll just keep telling myself that so I don’t cry into a vodka tonic.

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