Favorite Movies 2005 Part 1

Ralph Fiennes pulled off an acting hat trick this year by being in 3 of my favorite movies of 2005.

Fiennes was some of the vocal talent in "Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Wererabbits". I have been a W&G fan since their first short, "A Grand Day Out" and was so pleased they were finally making the jump to feature film. As always, Wallace is sweet but feckless while Gromit continually demonstrates he is the brains of their operation. A.O. Scott of the New York Times compared Gromit to Garbo and other great faces of the screen and I'm not about to disagree-it's pretty impressive for a clay dog with no eyebrows. But the W&G pictures, short or long, should give dog lovers everywhere hope because they prove though they are way too good for us, our dogs will continue to love us and save us from ourselves.

Fiennes also his debut into the Harry Potter movie world with his terrifying performance as Lord Voldemort in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". It was one of the scariest scenes I've seen in a movie bar none and really makes you question marketing it as children's movie. Lord V is the personification of evil (though he doesn't look very much like a person) and Fiennes plays him perfectly. "Goblet of Fire" is my favorite book of the Harrys (so far) and I was pleased by the movie, though it is essentially all plot, barreling ahead to get as much in as possible.

For goal #3 Fiennes was the diplomat husband in "The Constant Gardener". To be honest I was not really that interested in this movie but wound up liking it a lot. Fiennes' character is seduced by a younger woman who he then marries and brings to Africa. She is an idealist who is appalled by big drug companies who use poor Africans as guinea pigs. When she is killed because she knows too much, Fiennes' whole character changes-from a henpecked husband whose wife wore the pants to a grieving widower who will do anything, and I do mean anything, to find out what happened to his wife. The ending is beautiful and envitable and the filmmakers, to their credit, did not shy away from at all.

Personal Best and Worst of 2005

The Bad

Having to put my little cat down(you know it's in the owner/pet contract but you hope you never have to make that call)-multiple car woes-doozy fights with my boyfriend-my boyfriend's Red Cross Louisiana trip (it's in both lists cause I missed him terribly)-"Elizabethtown"-friends' custody and love troubles that I couldn't do much about-Jayhawks dudes solo show-neighbor/apartment complex wars-my friend Scott's death-being the designated driver for people having outpatient surgery.

The Good

Derby Week trip home-UP vacation-"Lost"-author encounters both fun and outrageous-watching all my boyfriend's races (I tend to tear up I'm so proud)-fun time with Vivian, Carly and Riley-my boyfriend's Red Cross Louisiana trip (it's in both lists cause I was proud of that too)-Chicago trip-Greg Brown and Kathleen Edwards shows-my parents' visits up to Michigan-
Breeders Cup Day-3 Ryan Adams records-fun mail from my friend Lisa-NBA playoffs (even though we didn't win)-going to see Tiger baseball (even though they suck).

I'm sure I'm forgetting some from both lists. My hope for 2006 is the same hope for every year-that it be the best ever.

Happy New Year!

Sounds of My Season Vol II

In addition to the funny, crazy customer comments ("I'm looking for an author, I don't know if you've heard of her-Jane Austen?" Oh, the writer who pioneered the novel form as we know it? Yeah, I think I have heard of her.) I've also been enjoying some holiday music.

New Stuff:

"Christmas Songs" by Diana Krall

A little too stutter step experimental jazzy for me-what I like on her regular albums drives me crazy with the Christmas one.

"The Season" by Jane Monheit

If you're only going to buy one "jazz babe" holiday record this season, make it this one. Monheit covers lesser known, more modern songs like "Merry Christmas Darling" and "My Grown Up Christmas List" which works in her favor-her voice is great for those and she's not bumping up againest some classic version that people won't be able to get out of their head.

Old Favorites:

"Christmas" by Bruce Cockburn

One of my favorite holiday records, now sadly out of print. Who would have thought that "Rocket Launcher" dude would be so full of the Christmas spirit? He has some great classics like "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" (done in a muted minor key) along with some spirited spirituals like "Mary Had a Baby" (done with a rousing chorus and loads of handclaps). Someone please get this one back into circulation!

"In the Christmas Mood" by The Glenn Miller Orchestra

Their medleys really cannot be surpassed. It makes you feel wonderfully old fashioned and happy.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" by The Vince Guaraldi Trio

What can you say about this really? Great for listening to in the dark, with the snow coming down outside illuminated by the tree lights.

"Where Will You be Christmas Day?" by Various artists collected by the folks at Dust to Digital

A fun vintage collection I bought last year that has songs from 1917-1959 including such favorites as "Papa ain't no Santa Claus (and Mama ain't no Christmas Tree)" and the ever festive "Christmas in Jail-Ain't that a Pain".

"Go Tell it on the Mountain" by The Blind Boys of Alabama

A great, great Christmas record sung with soul and loads and loads of feeling. My favorite cut is their duet with Tom Waits on "Go Tell It on the Mountain" which may sound strange on paper but is actually great and perfect when you hear it.


And no holiday season would be complete without hearing:

"Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives (my favorite secular carol)
"O Holy Night" (my favorite religious carol-the "fall on your knees" part just kills me)
"Christmas in Killinary" by Bing Crosby

Sounds of My Season

Some of the best sounds this season for me were provided by the ladies from Victory Outreach who were providing gift wrapping services at my store. Their Greek chorus-like running commentary about the retail goings on provided some much needed color and laughs. Whether it was their encouragement during some marathon Service Manager shifts, "Girl, she's all over the place" or their analysis of a particularly cranky customer, "He surely got up on the wrong side of heaven today", they were never at a loss for words. They also had a "Merry Christmas" or a "Have a blessed day" for all, which took some people back a minute but most recovered themselves enough to return the wishes. More than any favorite carol, those ladies reminded all in earshot what the season is supposed to sound like.

Christmas Controversy

There is a fight going on over Christmas. Here in Michigan at the state capitol in Lansing they are debating about changing the name of the decorated evergreen that lives on the lawn of the capitol from the "holiday tree" to the "Christmas tree". I don't know about you but I don't think any Jews or Muslims were fooled.

There are also (as always) competing books-the right leaning one claims the left are "attacking Christmas" while the left one says that the right are using Christmas to fly under the seperation of church and state radar. Like during the last presidential election customers are taking sides, usually quite loudly. If you are sold out or displaying one but not the other you will likely be accused of a bias. Somehow I don't think that's what Jesus had in mind. Especially over a holiday co-opted from the pagans anyway.

As someone who has had 2 people throw things at me this holiday season I can honestly say I don't care if people give me greetings for a holiday I do not celebrate. It's certainly better than some alternatives I can think of. And I celebrate Chrismakkah anyway so they'd probably be correct.

But all this fuss is taking away attention from the real reason for the season- gifts of course. May you get more than your share and have a very Merry Christmas.

Favorite Books 2005-Part 1

The Wonder Spot
by Melissa Bank

Yes, along with Helen Fielding, Bank did help shape the pastel genre known as "chick lit". Yes, it is very similar in tone and subject to her first book, The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, but it is written so well, with so much understanding about the lives and problems of women that I didn't care.

Julie and Julia
by Julie Powell

I know I like a memoir when I want to befriend the author. That was certainly the case with this one. Unsatified with her life Julie seizes on her French cookbook and determines to make every recipe in one year and blog about it. Funny and crazy, I read this one in a weekend.

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
by Amy Krause Rosenthal

This little book was a total charmer. I want to be Amy's friend too because we feel just the same about so many things (books seperate you from the world, magazines make you connected to it).

Prep
by Curtis Sittenfield

An amazing debut, this novel is about a lonely girl isolated from her fellow students at the exculsive prep school she attends. The tone was so dead on in this one it made me uncomfortable to read it because it brought back so many bad memories of my own school years.

Everybody Into the Pool
by Beth Lipnick

Of all the candiates to be the female David Sedaris, Lipnick is my favorite. Funnier than Sarah Vowell, less crazy than Laurie Notaro, Lipnick tells the story of growing up with her eccentric family with the right mix of honey and vinegar.

Favorite Books 2005-Honorable Mentions

All in My Head
by Paula Kamen

The true story of a woman who suffered, and learned, from a headache that lasted 10 years (and counting at the time of publication). Her quest for a cure led her from Western to Eastern medicine with stops everywhere in between. As a person with a chronic condition myself I appreciated Kamen's candor about the frustrations of living with a pain that no one else can see. I would (and do) recommend it to anyone with chronic pain and in any cases where a cure doesn't really apply.

Drama City
by George Pelecanos

I considered this one lesser Pelecanos when I read it. At the reading I attended when he spoke of how quickly it had been written I understood why. After hearing him read it though, and listening to the audio book, I like it much better. The 12 step meeting scenes are great and I do hope that we will read more about Rachel and Lorenzo in future books.

Assassination Vacation
by Sarah Vowell

The latest from NPR's squeaky voiced star is a road trip to the places of great Americian assassinations. Vowell, a self proclaimed civics geek, loads the reader up with lots of history but in such a charming way that you don't really notice the education. I would gladly grab some Combos and Twizzlers and ride shotgun on her next trip.

It's Peppermint Season!

I was standing in line at the grocery last week-at the dirty KrogerI frequent the frozen treats are in the line of view so I leaned back to see if it was time. And I saw it. With a squeal of glee I dashed over to grab the Edy's Peppermint ice cream. My absolute favorite ice cream in the world, available, for reasons I cannot fathom, a limited time only.

This, not summer, is prime ice cream season.

And it's not just the Edy's either, there are peppermint treats everywhere you look this time of year. From the Peppermint Biscotti in the cafe to the candy canes on the tree-for mint lovers confined to the Starlight mint doldrums the rest of the year it's their chance to go wild. And go wild I shall...

"Cindy, It Was Always You"

As we all know, life is messy. You really don't get that satisfying "full circle" thing very often. (Perhaps that's why it's expected in our entertainment?) This leads to lots of crazy behavior from people seeking the "c" word. (That'd be closure, friends.)

Lucky me, I got a little of that this week when my boyfriend found a promo copy of the new Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 record, "tick tick tick", which features a song cowritten by George Pelecanos. As regular readers of this blog know I had dinner with Mr Pelecanos earlier in the year and made a (memorable) ass out of myself over the inspiration of said song. (See "My Dinner With Pelecanos")

The good news is the song, "Cindy, It Was Always You" rocks. It's fun and dirty in all the right ways-not surprising given the man's books. (Hello ice cube sex scene!) I really like the song's build, it has some cool harmonica and a sharp, sharp hook. All and all, a fine addition to the "chick name song" canon.


**"tick tick tick" is due to be released in the US in 2006-please look for it then***

Black Groaning Day

In one of my favorite books of recent years, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, the protaganist, Christopher, has autism. He describes his bad days, days when he is overstimulated, as "black days" on which he just wants to curl up in a ball and "do groaning". Though I don't have Asperger's Syndrome, after being beaten down by the effects of the last few days, I know exactly how he feels.

Last Thursday I had to have 4 (count 'em) 4 fillings put in. I had never had more than 1 before and didn't quite do the mental prep necessary so I was left whimpering with the dentist above me complaining about how small my mouth was. (That happens when there is a giant needle going in and out-go figure.) Then when checking out I was informed of my bill which caused more whimpering.

Then Friday while we were out walking the dogs we were approached by one of the maintainence men with bad news. While salting the parking lot their truck had accidently hit my car, crushing the trunk. I tried to be zen about it as he felt really bad but it would certainly mean negotiation and auto repair-two of my least favorite things.

But those were only the warmup for today.

I was the designated driver for a friend who was having some minor surgery. Though I suck at medical stuff (see dentist above) I was glad to do it as she has done so much for me. We arrived at the clinic to find that a former (with emphasis on the former part) friend was an employee there. Though it was funny in a "of all the gin joints in all the world" kind of way, it was more cruel surprise. As if my friend didn't have needles and side effects hanging over her head, this too.

But we made it through that (4 hours of waiting) only to have the muffler on my car come loose and start dragging the ground. This involved a tow truck driver with a bungee cord, a mechanic named Mike and about 3 hours of waiting. (Oh, and more whimpering from me.) Poor girl, she was doped to the gills, slumped in the waiting room at Midas. The muffler was repaired (of course they found something else wrong as is their way) and we again attempted to get her home into her own bed. But then we were locked out because I had overlocked the door. (!!!)

So we went to get supplies at Trader Joe's while the landlady came with a key (we were frankly pretty sick of my car by then). Of course, the cherry on the sundae was seeing the snake in the grass ex-husband of another friendwhile there. So our shopping trip turned into a "Mission Impossible" stealth job. But he didn't see us. (We think.)

So, Christopher "black days"? Yeah, I'm with ya on that.