The Kids Are.... just ok.

A few weeks ago, a friend and I went to a free screening of the film "The Kids are All Right".  It was a spectacularly well-made film, with of course an amazing cast.

I think the message was relevant, the story line fascinating and the on-screen chemistry really fun.  I want to preface this by saying I really DO think that I liked this movie.

I found out about this screening, gchatted with a friend to ask her interest and rsvp'd for 2.  I really had no information on the film other than it was free and happening on an evening where I did not have anything else going on.  I got to the theatre and saw the movie poster.  Um, Annette Bening and Julianne Moore? I immediately loved the film.  Apparently, being female the fact that Mark Ruffalo also starred should have been the reason for the love, nah.. he's good- but I prefer him in "Just Like Heaven" :-)

A little backstory.  I had a small part in the creation of the film, "The Women", which is where I was first introduced to one Annette Bening (literally and figuratively).  I had heard of her, but really had never seen her on screen.  She was absolutely amazing on set, just as a person and as an actor- very kind and gracious (at least from my perspective) and treated everyone on set (including the 3 year old girls) as adults and well, people (which is sometimes rare).  The next time "The American President" was on television, I made sure to watch. 

So, "The Kids Are All Right" had my full attention, I was laughing, I was sad, I was interested.  The came the butt, and yes I mean that with two t's (oh pun).  Like I said, I had no information on this film... not even that it was rated R.  With the information given, I really figured it would be a PG-13 sort of night.  I would have loooooooooved a warning.  Cursing is not a matter to me, but nakedness on the big screen? I just need to mentally prepare.  The first sex scene I got over.. but then there was another, followed by like 3 more involving Julianne Moore.  I got over that and tried to move on in the film.  Then came a scene with Annette rubbing Julianne's foot (oh first name basis? we're on it). It was a pleasant scene with tons of character building.  Then came Julianne's nipple.  It just seemed unneccessary, and over the top for the nakedness aspect.  Would the scene have been any less important if she had remained fully underwater? No. Hhmph.

I want to say that I liked, even loved this movie, as so many others have but I'm still getting over it.  I have, nonetheless, recommended it to friends and family (with the warning I would require).  Go see the movie while its in theatres, support independent films, try eating local, and do your research before walking into a 'sold-out' cinema.

Life's Little Lessons

1.  No matter how nice you are, or how you and your family have been through a lot lately, I WILL judge you if you sneeze into your hand and I see it.  I will judge you more and be convinced you've made me sick if you sneeze into your hand, immediately pick up paper and hand it to me.  Sneezing into your hand is only acceptable if you immediately wash your hands (with soap!) after... otherwise, follow nursing rules- sneeze into your elbow!

2. Speaking of washing your hands... if you don't wash your hands after using the restroom, and I catch you, I will think you are gross.  I probably won't let that feeling go either.  Same goes for people who fake wash.  Oh, what? Yes, I see/hear you, you "this sink is automatic so I will just wave my hand near the sensor, let people hear the water, and then run out of the room" or you "I'll just rinse a finger quickly under water and people will think I washed".  Whats so hard about washing your hands?

3. My next residence will be chosen based on the following requirements: kitchen counter space and lighting, carpet and central air.  I am so sick of being hot.  Bring on fall!

4.  I have zero interest in unsolicited life advice, especially that in which I am called an idiot. THREE times.

5.  I should write posts as I think of them and then just schedule when they post.  That would make sense, and provide more for your reading pleasure.

6.  I am finally beginning to read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" on a recommendation from a genius friend. Sustainability is amazing.

Brown Thumb Strikes Again

RIP crazy orchid.

Thursday- I realized it was about that time to water it again.

Friday- watered it and noticed some flowers were wilting.  "Finally" was my only reaction since this plant seemed indestructable.  Then I noticed a leave was sort of bloated, which is the only word I can think of to describe it.  I watered it.

Saturday- all but one flower fell off, plant has gone to the bad place.

Since I never disposed of the corn plant, one can only wonder that with the orchid out of the picture, if it will grow, bloom, and eat us.

Yikes...

I will talk to myself through you, don't worry

I have taken to calling Facebook the greatest, most amazing, waste of time ever created.... whenever it is brought up, and especially to those who do not partake. Yeah, apparently people like that exist.

Ever notice that people have conversations through comments on status updates?

Have YOU ever?  With someone else?  With yourself/

Oh, having a conversation with yourself through someone else's status update is hilarious, magical and absolutely noteworthy.  It also allows middle sister to facebook chat with you in uppercase (with a million exclamation points) that because she had also commented on that same status message, her blackberry was beeping every time I left a post.  Naturally, it made me leave more. Why ask for it?  I don't have a blackberry, I'm not sure what BBM stands for, and I am devastatingly disconnected from the world whenver not in front of a computer.... I WILL shove my disconnect in your face, should you entice me.

Smallest sister's status message was:  What do you mean the first half of Breaking Dawn won't be out till November 2011.. thats simply not acceptable.

Middle sister: likes this..

Middle sister's friend: wtf?

Middle sister: Yes cuz since they split it in 2 they had to renegotiate all the contracts cuz they were only for 4 movies and had to change it to 5

Smallest sister: lame.

Me: i'm tired.

Me: VOTE ORANGE

Me:. helllloooooooooooo. I need to clean my house so friends can come over and we can eat lobster. that we cooked ourselves. after racing them against each other. b/c thats what people where I "live" do. wooo.

Me:. ps- small sister. do you NOT have a job? how are you on facebook mid day.

Smallest sister: im at work but don't have much to do..

Smallest sister: better question is don't you have a job?..

Me: I DO! and apparently it was go home 4 hours early day! Middle sister, beep!(is that the sound a bb makes?)

And this is what said lobsters looked like.  Once they were cooked, I was too busy getting messy to take most pictures, but they were red and delicious as most lobsters are.

This was the only boy lobster... and he was feisty, and the biggest too. Kept trying to jump off the counter we had him on... he just wanted to win the race against the big red banded one in the front of the picture above.

Hungry Hungry Hippos!

What did I do last weekend?  Well... here goes... complemented with pictures:

Friday:  Work. Home. Sweat in the 100 degree house for 2 hours. Decide to pack. Leave House.  Make it to the mall just before closing (addendum: left house LATE), to pick up dress on hold.

Arrive in NYC at 1AM. Celebrate with cousins for 1 hour, head to NJ. Diner until 3:30 AM  Arrive home and fall asleep at 4:30 AM.

Saturday: 6:30 AM alarm goes off to head to Carlo's in Hoboken!  6:40 AM, alarm goes off again.... 6:50 again.... 7:05 involved in a semi-serious discussion about how stupid it would be to drive to Hoboken... and get made to feel bad about myself because I vetoed the whole "its already 4:30 AM, why not just head to Hoboken now, wait for them to open and then sleep?" idea.  What I did NOT see on Saturday:

Sunday:  Considered setting alarm for 6:30 AM again.... realized next time in NJ might be better.  Fate made up for our massive bakery failure by providing us with:

Look close. You will see a Rabbi, leading a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony... surrounded by the groom and groomsmen wearing kilts.  It was awesome.

So funny!

Don't worry Mary, I'll get you next time....

But then again, the Cake Boss website says they are filming next season in Italy. I could crash their party overseas!

So much to say.. so much to say, CAKE

SO many posts running through my head!  I vow to take the photos off my camera that I would like to post, and actually write things about them.. then maybe even pre-schedule their posting date so you have something to read and I stop feeling bad about myself :)

Do you watch TLC's Cake Boss?  I do.  And you should (although I was told tonight that after mentioning "Say Yes To The Dress" for years, my mother was underwhelmed after her first experience with the show).  But really, Cake Boss is like Ace of Cakes but Jerseyfied... awful accents, overblown Sopranos-like Italian-ness and really yummy looking desserts. 

This show takes place in a bakery in Hoboken, NJ... an area where I might happen to be near this weekend. 

The real question... do I stay or do I go?

I read real live reviews online, not the TV-padded versions.. and apparently the wait to get near the door is outrageous, especially on a weekend when I would be there.  But very few said the desserts weren't worth it.  I'm leaning to yes.

The bakery opens at some scary sounding time, like 7am-ish.  Our plan, legit, is to wake up at 6:30 and go there for when it opens. All to avoid waiting in line. Then go back to sleep.  Crazy?  Yes.

I invited my mother. Who has never, ever seen the show... or even heard of it.

Here's what happened.

"We're thinking of going to a bakery in Hoboken Saturday morning at like 7am, want to come?"

"No."

"Are you sure? Its supposed to be good, its on Cake Boss and everyone seems to lo"

"No."

"But, its a cool place and on T."

"No!"

"But, you like"

"Nope"

"You don't have to drive, just co"

"Absolutely not but thaaaaaaaaaaanks"

"Ok but seriously, its a bakery and their stuff looks incredible, and its not like we're in town that often and"

"Nope"

She WILL get a cannoli.  And she WILL eat it.  And she WILL love it.  Or maybe at a reasonable hour, we will just go to lunch.

What would you do?  Sleep?  Go?  Go and buy a cupcake to throw at Mary, Buddy's sister (who else doesn't want to do this)?  Go and buy pastries that don't make it all the way back home?  Sleep?  Wake up at 6:30, get mad, fall asleep, wake up at 10 and buy cake at Pathmark?  You tell me.

NJ ~ sigh

As I left work last Friday, telling my boss that I was going “home”, I smiled. She didn’t realize that I was NOT from this ridiculous place that I currently “reside”. Apparently, on my way to the Garden State I drive through the town she grew up in (which is also the THORN in my side ironically… she told me what exit on 84 she grew up in.. that happens to be the very one that when I get sick of CT and driving, I look up and I’m always, without fail, at that exit). We had a little conversation about “my part” of NJ and she just said “that area is really beautiful; I kind of wish more people would realize that”. I liked her even more that day.

Words I use to describe NJ: green, rolling, farmland, highway, trees, deer, shore-Pt. Pleasant variety. Words others use which make me feel all stabby (thank you Jen Lancaster, heart): fist pumping, turnpike, factories, smell, shore-Sleazside variety.

 

Anyway I managed to drive all of the way there, without hitting ANY traffic. Of course, the minute I arrived it was busy busy busy, but toooooooooooootally worth it. Visiting my grandparents, the family, the friends (woot Vittoria! Ps- send her good thoughts for waking up early and making it to week 2 ;-), even the sisters were decent. Thank you all.

 

The main event was the 4th of July carnival and fireworks. This is my annual NJ event and one I really will only miss for VERY important family events. I actually have no idea why we go, since Vittoria and I spend the entire time looking out for and then avoiding everyone we went to high school with. It’s quite a wonderful tradition actually…. But also quite seriously a waste of our time :-)

 

Here is my list of things that make NJ awesome… my list of un-awesome things is pretty short (deer, cops, HS people, maybe more I can’t remember):

• Bagels!
• NY Style Delis that make huge matzoh balls and have pickle bars
• Mandee
• ALWAYS being near a highway
• Cheap gas
• Free assistant pumping cheap gas
• DINERS (mmmm disco fries)
• Disco fries.. I just decided they need their own line

 I’ll think of more and make many more posts on the topic. Trust.

 

PS- watch ROYAL PAINS tonight on USA. I have no vested interest; it is just an amazingly awesome show. Enjoy, and you’re welcome. (Best enjoyed with pretzel M&MS ;-)