I'll have what she's having.

You said he didn't understand English very well. Maybe he just... didn't understand you.

Best Line Overheard All Week:

While at work, about an hour before getting out, I overheard my co-worker in the next office as he moaned, "Oh, sweet liquor store, I can almost taste you."

I laughed out loud.

I used the past perfect?

Well fuck, I guess I have to eat a turtle, as the lady from one of the film distributors got back to me yesterday. Never saw that coming.

And nothing I could ever write is ever going to top that fucking picture.

My interview totally rocked. They will never hire me. But there is not a single thing I could have done differently (I assume), so that's all that matters. But there is a chance I may know by Friday. And someone picked up my Saturday shift, so regardless, I at least have a three-day weekend to look forward to. If they are going to NOT hire me, I sure hope they at least tell me before my big weekend. Then I can feel bitchy on my time rather than theirs.

I know, you're thinking, wtf? But I'd get over it on my time so much faster. I have magical things at my fingertips. Like wine.

As long as they don't do second interviews, please jesus...(which always then makes me think of "second breakfast").

I have so many bitchin' movies in the other room needing to be watched. The hell am I doing in here writing? GRIIIIIIIINDHOUSE!! Or, uh, part of it. Fuckwits.

The premiere of House (season 4) the other night was awesome. Kinda meandered along and really kicked you in the nuts at the end, great stuff.

Ready for October and cool weather. Pumpkins and nutmeg.

Departmental Dan?

So I'm interviewing for another position within my department mid-week. And everyone and their dogs' grandmothers are trying for this one. Snowball, hell, you get the idea. Especially as a bit of a newbie, I'm gonna hafta go in there with a boodle of personality and borderline psychotic enthusiasm for the job. I'm gonna have to make them worry I'll hurt them or myself if I don't get it. One of my co-workers already got ditched from the pool for not spelling one of their precious buzz words with the proper misspelling. I can't believe I did.

So D's in the den watching The Seventh Sign and I walk in, all "Doesn't she totally sacrifice herself for her baby at the end?" and would you believe he never saw that piece of shit? I tried to smooth it out like, hey, just asking, I don't remember... But really, Mr. Horror Move Himself never saw that godawful POS with uber-preggers Demi Moore fighting the apocalypse? No big loss, it's a fairly bad movie.

Speaking of horror movies viewed far too many times, I rewatched Terror Train last night because in writing about it, I was taking far too many things for granted. I mean, it's snowing throughout the whole damn movie but I was pretty sure that graduation and a hazing party were our two key settings (which is, you know, not really prime snow time). So I had to watch. That party at the beginning is indeed a New Year's party, but they keep referring to the pledges having to lose their virginity that night. This involved a call to D's brother (after all, it's New Years and you're still a pledge? How the fuck long does that BS go on, anyway?) to resolve. And the party on the train is indeed also a New Years party, it's just that many of them are graduating early or at least in the very immediate future.

I know, I know, it's just supposed to be scary, I just wanted to get the details right.

And I never understood why they thought it was the magician. They look NOTHING ALIKE.

So I need to polish up that "critique" and come up with some clever answers for potential interview questions that incorporate my experience at old jobs, this job, and oh yes, look at me, I stand out! Sigh.

More importantly, Vel sent me a Cougar Hunt on facebook and I learned something new today. Who knew.

Good nutrition's given you some length of bone, but you're not more than one generation from poor white trash, are you, Agent Starling?

Sometimes, in the interest of winding down, I'll put something on the Netfux just for me. (I know, you'd never guess). So last night I watched An Evening With the Dixie Chicks. It was filmed before Home came out, the album with which I'm the least familiar. This was the album (and tour) that so supposedly suffered from Natalie Maines' badly timed Bush remarks. But at the time of this concert they had neither said anything "offensive" (other than some jabs at Tobey Keith for being a redneck dipshit), nor even released the album.

There was a cute moment when Martie Maguire introduced White Trash Wedding by saying it was inspired by her marriage (second): she went to a Catholic church in Austin to be married and was told, basically, that she was a heathen and to take her business elsewhere. She found herself watching Jerry Springer not too long after, and thought to herself, "Wow. That woman up there may not be too much more white trash than I am!" But if you ask me, she could have a Marlboro shirt over her baby bump with the sleeves ripped off and both a cigarette and ass crack hanging out...I'm pretty sure you can't play the violin like that and be white trash.



Ooh, and I watched Colbert last night...not only did he not mention the joke stealing claims, there was a very not-so-subtle biting remark. For two weeks he's been advising anyone Jewish to call his 1-800-Oops-Jew hotline to repent for Rosh Hashanah if they've wronged him, and a Rabbi "called in" to repent for stealing Colbert's material. Colbert forgave him and said it reminded him of a tale, but he wouldn't repeat it because he didn't write it. And there was something just a little dark and bitter in his tone that indicated to me, anyhow, that there was a double meaning in that.

Shit wipes off.

So I was recently "hired," if that's the right word, by a website that may pay me (hey, we'll see). Mostly it's good for exposure (ooh), and though they have several topics, you may have guessed I'd be more the type to write up films. As a projectionist, this was so easy. Well, I'm no longer a projectionist. But I thought well, I'm no different (ahem) than any other schmuck writing and promoting films, let's get some screeners going. I was actually granted access to the press site for one distributor (small things excite me); sadly, it's not the one I'm secretly waiting to write me back.

Either way, even the one whose site I can access has fairly limited goodies. That's my way of saying they don't have much on their plate right now. They certainly will in the future, though, so I'm not complaining. I contacted their online publicist, who sadly did not have an email, just a phone number. If she calls me back? I'll eat a turtle. Those are my expectations. But I've already gotten so much further than I ever expected.

I've published one article so far and I wasn't entirely satisfied...it reads like a seventh grader's paper. I think I was more worried about the mechanics of it all. Hopefully it will smooth itself out. (Read: Hopefully my writing will improve). Publishing on the site generates google ads (doesn't everything?), but sadly mine were completely unrelated to my article. They assure me this happens from time to time. (How do Dr. House and prime time drama relate to speech therapy and teaching? I'm sure there's a way to get there, just not in a way your average surfer is willing to navigate).

But if my posting has been slow on this site, that would be why. I think my next articles will relate to Halloween movies, the lesser knowns. Just added some to my queue, though some ready-made writing off the top of my head might include Black Christmas (Bob Clark's, how sad I have to specify), Terror Train, and some Argento (Deep Red or Tenebre). I recently added some I'd never seen that sounded promising, like The Changeling and The Ghastly Ones. Good stuff.

(And I just checked on my article; not only are the ads reflecting the subject matter, it even found an ad for the upcoming season of Reaper I referenced! Neat-O! Now to get more than two people to look at it...)

A watch doesn't really go with this outfit, daddy.

I know the news is nearly always unpleasant, but it just seems like the past few days have been an absolute parade of ridiculous shit. I actually haven't bothered to read about the O.J. mess, just read the details of the whole Jena 6 debacle this morning, and it seems like the Taser incident is having the wrong aspects blown out of proportion. Hell, I wasn't there, but I think Jon Stewart nailed it last night: "possible police over-reaction combined with student douchebaggery".

I had to go to bed so I didn't get to see what Colbert did last night (TiVO will save it for me), but I did see something on CNN this morning about an Air America radio host being a little pissy about Colbert allegedly "stealing his joke" about the Republican candidates sounding like Klingons when they talked about having honor. Yes, who could possibly come up with that twice? But hey who knows, it could be an intended mock feud, the show does seem to have a few of those...

Anyway, thank god for real news, like Alicia Silverstone getting naked and saying she's a vegetarian. I have no idea what getting out of a pool all seductively has to do with PETA, really, and even if I was a sixteen year old boy, I'd still be watching it while cutting up a nice rare steak. (NSFW, it has bum in it).



No movies lately, though House starts next week; considering the cast is still intact I think his team may be back yet (though not in their usual roles for a while). I have Gandhi waiting for me (never seen it), though I admit especially after a long day it's a bit daunting to put a serious three hour movie in the player. Somehow I find myself opting for South Park. And I won't have a day off til the end of the month so Netfux, I'm sure, is thrilled.

I like being a mess. It's who I am.

I've been distracted, as Vel finally talked me into getting onto Facebook. I have just spent entirely too much time racing my Fluff Friend and trying to feed him to get his points up. I bought good food for that little bastard and the last two things I fed him came back saying "Disgusting!" and his points don't go up. Goddamn panda. Betting on the Fluff races is really addictive, you can only race your pet five times a day though.

Uh, anyway.

Might as well watch the Emmys tonight, even though I'm only familiar with about four of the shows... I'm curious about a new show coming out in the fall, Reaper, whose pilot I believe is directed by Kevin Smith. The bitch of it? It's on at 8pm on Tuesdays, right up against House, M.D. Eh, I wasn't that curious, sorry.

This was obviously written early yesterday...we didn't watch the end of the Emmys, since it had a fairly obvious outcome. Who does a huge pointless homage mid-show for no other purpose than to shoot a load all over one particular show? Though I was stoked to see Kiefer Sutherland pick up Best Actor rather that James Gandolfini if Hugh Laurie wasn't going to get it (that's what the Golden Globes are for, they have some taste).

I was a little sad that the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert bit was a little lame (though they didn't--I presume--write it), but dignity was recovered in the "Let's give this to Steve Carell!" moment when Ricky Gervais failed to appear for his award.

Facebook has also, sadly, taken me back to my high school days. I force some youtube on you now, from my graduating year.

Having an affair is nothing like taking a pottery class.

I stole this from Skyler's Dad.

Fuck yeah! And a Diane Lane "best movie match"? For five questions I think it was dead on.

Erotic Thriller

You've made your own rules in life - and sometimes that catches up with you. Winding a web of deceit comes naturally, and no one really knows the true you. Your best movie matches: Swimming Pool, Unfaithful, The Crush

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

If the headline is big enough, it makes the news big enough.

I recently watched Citizen Kane for what could very well be argued the first time. It's true I have seen it once before (surprisingly, on my own, considering I have a four-year film school degree), but in that instance I was not in the mood and to say that my eyes were open the entire time might be an embellishment of the truth.



And as I sit down to write about it, it does feel a little silly. The hell could I possibly say about this movie we don't already know? But for what it's worth, I really did enjoy it this time. I really do think I appreciated it more being older (I was probably 18 the first time). I enjoyed the technique and style the first time, but this time the story meant a little more to me. The themes are all pretty basic (money and power bad! look at the loneliness!), though it did have some nice things to say about the position and power of media which was a little more interesting. But the manner in which it weaved it all together was, I thought, what made the movie really stand out.



To say it is the greatest cinematic masterpiece of all time, well I don't know. I certainly couldn't say what is, and it may very well make the list, but it would be pretentious for me to say I thought it was the best film ever. Taking into account the filmmakers it influenced and its place in history, which are things that probably should be taken into account when delegating that honor, hey, maybe it is. But I'll take Casablanca, personally. Even if it does drip with sentimentality...

And onto something completely different, HOORAY!! for Jon Stewart being slated to host the 2008 Academy Awards.

Listen, I need a cool way to kill people. Don't worry, for my script.

I'm really enjoying Kevin Smith's SModcast, many thanks to MacGuffin for recommending it. I'm working back through the older ones, and though I haven't gotten very far (they are about an hour each and my commute isn't that horrid), I should share one of the more recent treasures.

Apparently, Kevin Smith had never heard of a brown recluse. And really, growing up in New Jersey, this may not be as weird as it sounds (to me, a Texan). Well, there appears to be a You Tube clip running around, and it disturbed the ever-living-hell out of Kevin Smith. He watched it around 10pm, I believe he said, and didn't go to bed until 4am. It was the second day of his diet, which he promptly threw out in the belief that life is too short. Honestly, I didn't think the clip was that bad, thought having said that, it is incredibly disgusting. Don't bother clicking on Norithy's Spider Bite unless A) you are not eating and don't plan to in the near future and B) you have an iron stomach. Somehow, this gentleman seems to have been bitten on his face. (And you know, I saw far worse bites while looking for a picture of our spider friend up there).

And this is what a brown recluse spider bite will do!

I did look up poisonous spiders, as there was a discussion as to how many kinds of spiders are actually poisonous (the podcasters were suggesting something like three...three types in the US maybe, but I always think of Australia as scary spider land after watching a PBS special. And according to Wiki, Brazil has the most poisonous bastards of all. And they wander, too).

Hey my brother, can I borrow a copy of your "Hey Soul Classics"?

Ah, childhood.



To be delightfully compared to:

I'm sorry I said 'vagina' just now. I didn't know you were here.

Six years ago today I was sitting with Drew at Cozy Corner in Ginza (the most expensive "old money" neighborhood in Tokyo) eating decadent desserts when we got word via our cell phones about what was going on in NYC. It was 10pm our time, and we dismissed the first message. It was very abstract and bizarre. A plane had hit one of the towers? We both assumed it was probably something minor and continued paying the tab, finishing up, discussing the day's earlier events. (After all, I had, just that day, weathered out a typhoon at Tokyo Disney Sea--I hadn't even wanted to go!!--with mutual friends of ours who kept pressuring me that I was ignoring them. We had been locked down in the restaurant for hours and the staff kept shoving towels under and around the doors to keep the water out).

So it had already been an eventful day. And I mean, really, what were the odds?

Just before we left we got another message that the second tower had been hit. Still not comprehending the full impact of what was unfolding (but it slowly beginning to dawn on each of us) we left for the night. Drew's trip home was about fifteen minutes (we were in his part of town that night) and mine closer to an hour (I lived in the suburban West Tokyo, and on his night off we would have been boozing it up at my local cheap BLDY joint). But it was Tuesday, and my days off were Monday and Tuesday.

And STILL, I was thinking about something completely different for the majority of the train ride home. I was thinking about After Hours, if you want to know, and what a great story it was. Just some poor bastard trying to get home all night long...can't imagine why it popped into my head on my long-ass train ride home. And as I got closer to Musashi-Koganei, the phone messages we'd gotten played a little more prominently in my head and really started to bother me.

Needless to say, by the time I got home I was thoroughly confused and when my American roommate (whom I had previously planned to pay far less attention to than my--gasp!--Australian roommate) said, "They struck the Pentagon," I actually said, after a pause, "It has to be terrorists!" There was a pause on her part. "Well, yeah."

I had just gotten home. She understood.

And we actually became quite good friends after that (honestly, I'd already started to appreciate her). But it taught me worlds about the differences between Western cultures that I really don't think I would have appreciated otherwise. And that was also the night I learned that Japanese wine is quite possibly the only wine on earth that is not acceptable to drink. (We stayed up quite late after that, buying "wine" from the Family Mart down the road.) Drew can force himself, I cannot. It really is grape juice and piss. I could drink rose Sutter Home shit before I could ever sip a drop of Japanese wine ever again. In any case, I ingested that while we tried to pick out the English under the Japanese dubbing on the news. It may be the only time I've actually tried to hear Bush speak.

And I think it was also the night I learned how to make international calls from the grey, not the green, phone booths. A night to stand out in my mind, for sure. I still have both major English Japanese papers from the next day. And as I got on the train with those papers, the older Japanese woman by whom I sat got up and moved. It was enlightening, to say the least.



But fear not, I have little else of weight to report. Infact, I'm happy to report we watched the first part of the MTV Video Music Awards just now to see the train wreck of a performance we've all been hearing about. They mutilated it, in a way only MTV could, by running commentary around it.

And then we disintegrated into watching videos on youtube of Christina Aguilera (of whom I know nothing) and then Nine Inch Nails' The Perfect Drug, which D recalled fondly. While discussing banned videos, I showed him Depeche Mode's In Your Room (male bondage! we shall never show such a thing!) and now I utterly cannot recall the one with the giant roulette table that landed on 69...I thought it was Strangelove but apparently not. I mean, this was the video that taught me! Or rather...Alex, when I asked her why that shot was given so much attention...

I belive her exact words may have been, "Well, think about the position of the numbers."

Very diplomatic for an older sister.

Sergeant Butterman, the little hand says it's time to rock and roll!

I'm excited, I actually started playing around with building a website a few days ago. It's one of those building block type things that hold your hand, which can be a little annoying (no! I want this to go THERE! and it won't let you), but who am I to complain since I know zilch about this stuff. Even I'm able to navigate their site and instructions, so it must be really EZ. I still have to work on it; hopefully it won't end up abandoned...



Saw Hot Fuzz last night. Hmm. It picked up after about 25 minutes, then towards the end turned into a very over the top take on American action movies (which was funny). I was surprised at the gore and blood throughout, but good times. It was cute overall (mostly due to the characters), but also a bit long (which has been nearly everyone's one criticism). No Shaun of the Dead, but I knew that going in. It also had a creepy Timothy Dalton and a small slew of cameos, including Bill Nighy.

Set aside the criminal law book for a day in exchange for a bit of fluff and started reading The Devil Wears Prada, which is already so much better than the movie. Again, this is not a surprise. Detail! Character! Things that somehow go amiss (for the most part) in a movie...And for the record, if I didn't know how to work one, I wouldn't drive a stick for someone in New York City for anyone, forget the job. Shit, I almost wouldn't drive in New York for anyone.

This is deputy Van Halen down at the station.

I finally wrote something for a film other than "Hey, this was neat," or "Eh, this kinda sucked." I figured I was getting lazy and needed to write an actual review for BSL. Having watched Air Guitar Nation last night, I thought it would be a fun one; it was hard, I admit, not writing things like, "This guy was a total dick." And no, not Hello Kitty up there, that guy was cool.

I sent it over to Skincarver this morning so hopefully it will be posted in the near future.

Whoever told you you had a fat one, Lachance?

So D is happy to report that today, SEPTEMBER SIXTH...Albertsons has their Christmas shit out. Yes, truly. I know, it was that first snow on the ground we had the other day, it's like January is just around the corner.

So I was filling out this online application (not that I don't LOVE MY JOB), but I ran across this question. You have to pick the one best suited to you. I ask you: really?

1. I have provided general information to managers and staff via e-mail; and/or I have used Internet to retrieve information, news releases, updates and related information; and/or I have used a database to track information.

2. I have prepared a memo using WordPerfect; and/or I have prepared requests for purchase; and/or I have edited correspondence on the computer.

3. I have create tables on WordPerfect; and/or I have used Microsoft access to create a database; and/or I have created a desk guide using a variety of WordPerfect functions.

I mean, I HAVE, but does anyone really still have this program? I mean, on something other than their Commodore 64? What, are they trying to weed out the fifteen year olds?

Well, Alzheimer's can't be all bad. You get to meet new people every day.

I love my husband so I rented Waiting... for him, as it stars Ryan Reynolds and Anna Faris, both of whom he has a crush on. And I certainly enjoy them enough, plus it sounded like it might have a laugh.

I admit I probably chuckled a few times. It's more than a little juvenile but it also revolves around a group of people who work at BennigansoopsImeanShenanigans. There's the obvious, but there were some good moments as well. I think it's really hard not to enjoy it at least a little if you've ever worked in customer service, not just the food industry. Lots of one-dimensional characters, but what were you expecting?

And then this afternoon, my dad sent me

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo."

which totally messed with my head.

I have other interests. I'm a magician.

So I'm reading this book about criminal law and ran across this little gem I'm sure we'll all be glad to know...



This is Bob. Bob has an ex-wife and a cocaine stash. Bob may not be terribly bright either, but that's beside the point.

(The book is providing a case example to illuminate some of the finer details involved in a search and seizure:)

Bob's ex-wife Jan knows where Bob hides his cocaine. She calls the police and tells them about the cocaine. She directs them to Bob's house. When they get there, she opens the door with a key (she never gave it back to him). She puts her purse on the entry hall table, opens the hall closet and puts on a sweater that appears to be hers. She then leads them to the place where Bob keeps his cocaine. As far as the police know, Jan lives in the apartment and has full authority to consent to the search.

So basically, even though the police totally did not have this dude's permission, this search did not violate Bob's Fourth Amendment right because the police were right to believe Jan had the authority to consent to the search.

Ain't that a bitch.

But really, if you're that stupid not to move your stash one you've established an enemy who knows where you keep it, then you deserve to be busted, I suppose.

That teaches him to mess with a man and his mannequin.

Thank god, just when I can't possibly muster even one original thought, I found a brilliant meme off No Smoking in the Skull Cave.

And while doing it, some of them demanded far more thought than I was willing to give, so I snipped at will.

Favorite quote from a filmmaker
"There's something deeply satisfying about directing the flow of water."--David Lynch

A good movie from a bad director
Adventures in Babysitting, Chris Columbus. Still really cute.

Favorite Laurence Olivier performance
A Little Romance, Diane Lane's first movie! (Sue me). I'm really not as familiar with his work as I should be...

Describe a famous location from a movie that you have visited
Kinda obvious if you read this blog, but the Park Hyatt in Tokyo, the bar from Lost In Translation.

Carlo Ponti or Dino De Laurentiis (Producer)?
What?

Best movie about baseball
Ugh, no. I guess Field of Dreams, if I have to pick.

Favorite Barbara Stanwyck performance
Will always love Christmas in Connecticut but did just add Double Indemnity to my netfux list...



Fast Times at Ridgemont High or Dazed and Confused?
Dazed and Confused, REALLY no contest.

What was the last movie you saw, and why?
Jesus, I already admitted to watching The Princess Diaries, do I really have to bring it up again? Why? Damned if I know. The same reason I have a horrendous diet? Good choices I do not always make.

Whether or not you have actually procreated or not, is there a movie you can think of that seriously affected the way you think about having kids of your own?
Usually I just see movies that come out that are aimed AT kids and I shudder. And think HELL NO.

Favorite Katharine Hepburn performance
Bringing Up Baby, absolutely.




A bad movie from a good director
Steven Soderbergh...the Ocean's movies bore the shit out of me. Action and hotness yet I have zero interest.

Salo: The 120 Days of Sodom-- yes or no?
Oh sure, sounds depressing as hell.

Ben Hecht or Billy Wilder (Screenwriter)?
I'm going to go with Billy Wilder. I'm always impressed by intelligent (witty) comedy.

Name the film festival you’d most want to attend, or your favorite festival that you actually have attended
Maybe the Edinburgh one. I'll take it where I can, SXSW was fun, but might as well be in Scotland! (Sitting in the dark, watching films...wait).

Head or 200 Motels?
I'm pretty sure I saw 200 Motels at 4am at a boyfriend's apartment. I do not recall it well nor do I wish to revisit it.

Name a performance that everyone needs to be reminded of, for whatever reason
Amy Madigan in Streets of Fire. That role always cracks me up, it's very serious.

If you had the choice of seeing three final movies, to go with your three last meals, before shuffling off this mortal coil, what would they be?
Uh, wow. No idea.
Lonesome Dove; I consider it a six hour movie, thank you.
La Vita e Bella, very sweet.
Kicking and Screaming, it always makes me laugh.



And what movie theater would you choose to see them in?
The old Inwood with the red velvet seats (but perhaps redone with GOOD speakers). See first pic. NOTE: This was taken PRIOR to the building's rape and ruin by Mark Cuban. It's also where I met my husband; he was the general manager and I the projectionist. Aw. First movie here was Trainspotting with Alex at 16. They had the sexiest chocolate pretzel sticks.

Is there a movie you can think of that you feel like the world would be better off without, one that should have never been made?
FORREST FUCKING GUMP.

What the HELL does Leona put in that pizza?

D asked me about this the other day and I wasn't sure if I was crazy in my reply, but apparently I was right. I actually looked it up, though, that's how exciting my life is. What IS the difference between brown and white eggs? (Some people mistakenly think the brown are better for you). I do buy brown, but I just like the way they look! (Although after seeing the above picture I may rethink it...that is one ugly bastard).

Straight Dope Staff replies:

There is one major, MAJOR difference between brown eggs and white eggs.

Brown eggs are brown and white eggs are white.

Does that answer your question?

No? OK then. According to the Egg Nutrition Board (and who should know better?), "White shelled eggs are produced by hens with white feathers and ear lobes. Brown shelled eggs are produced by hens with red feathers and red ear lobes. There is no difference in taste or nutrition between white and brown eggs." The people at Crisco (who may know even more than the egg nutritionists) go further to say, "They simply come from two different breeds of chickens. Brown eggs, however, are more expensive because the chickens that lay them eat more than those that lay white eggs." Among the breeds that lay brown eggs are the Rhode Island Red, the New Hampshire and the Plymouth Rock--all larger birds that require more food.

But Bill Finch of the Mobile Register suggests that brown eggs may have tasted better at one time. He says, "For years, the chickens preferred by commercial growers happened to lay white eggs. A few smart cooks sought out brown eggs because most of the home-reared American flocks, which had access to flavor-enhancing weeds and bugs, happened to lay brown eggs. Commercial egg producers eventually got wise to this. They started raising chickens that laid brown eggs, and charged a premium for them at the store.

Hot stuff.

I thought to look it up while I was at the grocery store waiting to have D's prescriptions filled. D has had a root canal and is going to have a crown put on this Wednesday. The pharmacist offered to have it ready in ten minutes so I wandered around. The only thing I needed was wine and inasmuch as I don't care what people think of me, I just didn't want to show back up at his counter to pick up goddamn Vicodin with a bottle of cheap white in hand.

It's the end of the month, they're out of toilet seat covers!

I recently bought an espresso machine to cut down on my Starbucks expenses. Even if I only drink Americanos, I figure it adds up. And now it's starting to be the season most difficult to resist...come on, pumpkin spice latte, gingerbread latte, eggnog latte...and as Alex informed me a few days ago, the pumpkin spice latte is here.



So I found this pumpkin spice latte recipe online and tried it out. It's pretty damn good. I won't pretend it isn't a PITA, but it's certainly a damn close if not perfect replica. And hey, I wouldn't want to make it every morning anyway, it would hardly be special. Shit, it's almost too hot outside for it to be really appropriate anyway.



In the interest of humiliating myself, I should admit that I watched The Princess Diaries last night. I couldn't help it, I was curious. I mean, Anne Hathaway and Mandy Moore are just really damn cute, plus it had Sandra Oh (for about two minutes) and Heather Matarazzo (not only from Welcome to the Dollhouse but Saved! with Moore as well). Oh and some chick named Julie Andrews.




I mean come on, how hot is that green dress? (Though it must have looked atrocious on the rack, what's up with those lines...) She's smokin' enough to go dateless to whatever awards shindig this is. Hell, I would go dateless if I looked like that.

Yes, of course Diaries was a turd. It was Pretty Woman Meets Romy & Michele (with actors ripped EXACTLY from Pretty Woman and put in their same role, even with some exact lines and situations, e.g. awkward formal dinner scene). Same director so I guess it's allowed? Anyway, I got it out of my system I am happy to report.



And then to recover, I watched the first disc of An Evening With Kevin Smith: Evening Harder. Anyone who has had to endure Dora the Explorer should watch the first disc just for his bit on that. But of course the whole thing was really funny. Each disc is a show, the first in Toronto and the second in London. Since it's up to the audience to ask questions, each show is different. (And I did download his Smodcast just recently and plan on listening to it on my commutes...has to make the morning better).

And after the recent talk of sex, lies and videotape I decided it had been too long and went to set it aside. And I don't even own it! Wtf? How did that happen? And it works both ways, too: sometimes I almost buy things twice. I always take that as a good sign that at least I'm consistent in the desire to own it. But in the meantime I'll have to netfux that particular Soderbergh...

I see you have learned to work the Google on the internet machine.

Ah, sweet glorious weekend. I plan to do absolutely nothing. Well, aside from get my car's oil changed and hopefully make an even bigger dent in the bathroom tiles.



But in the past few days I've actually seen some movies and started a new series. The new series is Rome. Only two episodes in so it's hard to judge. It's entertaining though, and what more can one ask for.

Rented Blades of Glory, as I knew D wanted to see it and I guess I was vaguely curious since our friends Rob and Katie quote it relentlessly. It's really not my type of movie, but of that type, it's one of the ones I was most willing to try. If that makes sense. And you know what? It wasn't anywhere near as juvenile or homophobic as one might expect. It actually made me laugh more than once. I'm not saying I recommend it or would watch it again, but if you're in the mood for good stupid, check it out. I don't seek out Will Ferrell, but when the material is good he's quite funny.

The next movie was Double Happiness starring Sandra Oh. I had mentioned to Alex I was pretty sure I found her annoying, especially after the recent dips into Grey's Anatomy I'd taken. I was told no.



And I knew I might be confusing her annoying-ass characters with her as an actress, but I thought her character in Sideways wasn't annoying. And you know, the more I think about it, yeah, that was an annoying character. And Double Happiness was quite cute. As Alex put it, very 90s indie. Not that much going on in the originality department, but it was well done and nicely shot.



What blows is that I think I'm just about out of Netfux and tomorrow's a stupid holiday. Jeez. I'm definitely going to have to watch Inland Empire now.