Inspired by my friend, here are a couple of movies I recently saw.
King Corn-- Wow. If you don't have time to read Michael Pollan's tome The Omnivore's Dilemma, this is a quick alternate overview of the industrial foodchain section. (And if you eat, I personally think that you should read Pollan's book.) If you watch the movie and wonder what to do next, read Pollan's In Defense of Food. Good documentary.
La Vie En Rose-- I watched this one solo. The scene that haunted me was when her boxer lover wakes her up after his flight and the chaos that ensues afterward. So sad to see how she physically deteriorated at such a young age.
No Country For Old Men-- This movie is one of many (The Departed, Sweeney Todd, and others that I can't remember off the top of my head) that I just plain haven't finished. I'm kind of over entertaining myself with dark bleakness. (I felt secretly guilty about it until I saw the article in the Washington Post about this issue...) I get about halfway in and then look a spoiler up on the web. It's making my DH crazy.
Sunset Boulevard-- I have never seen this before (yes, Mike, I deserve twenty lashes...) so I figured it was high time. Gloria Swanson had always skeeved me out when she delivered the "I'm ready for my close-up..." line. I'm glad that I got over it. I now see why it is such a classic. (And I was surprised by the secondary love affair story line.)
That's as far as I've gotten. I got to see half of Madagascar II this weekend (in the theater! Oh, the joy!) before the bulb on the projector burned out and the employees said that we all needed to come back for another showing. Iwas incredibly proud of Mark-- he sat and watched like such a big boy. There's just something wistful and touching about watching your little boy sitting straight up in his seat, watching the movie intently. To quote Mike, good times.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
No, I Haven't Fallen Off the Face of the Earth
I truly have been busy.
There was a confrontation between me and my co-worker. She had been snarky and rediculous for a full week. I avoided her until I got a chance to talk to her with no one else around. I calmly stated how I felt-- that she'd hurt my feelings and overwhelmed me when my husband was out of town and I was swamped. I was proud of myself because I know I don't usually confront well. Well, the result was that she didn't talk to me and wouldn't be around me at all for the rest of the week. On one hand, it made me angry that she generated drama about herself from me confronting her about how she'd hurt my feelings. On the other hand, I think that it's just really, really sad.
We finished sending all 100+ blankets around the world and we're now on a first-name basis with the little post office down the road. It was a fundraiser for troops that returned safely from Iraq-- DH's brother is back, safe and sound. While I bit off more than I thought I had with the project, I learned a lot about how to handle it.
Thanksgiving has been private and quiet. We didn't go anywhere. We didn't shop either. What I can't believe are all of the media reports of deep, deep discounts. Umm, where? I truly saw nothing that was worth rolling out of bed for-- at 4 am or 7 am. Give me a computer and websites with free shipping any day.
I'm still trying to finish pumpkin cheesecake and Dorie Greenspan's Spiced Cranberry Cake. My hint for the cranberry cake? Start with the glaze in the recipe, then cover with cream cheese frosting. Oh, and don't eat it the first day-- the flavors need a day to meld. And the America's Test Kitchen green bean casserole is heavenly-- just cut the bread crumb/fried onion topping in half. (It ends up soaking the delicious homemade cream of mushroom soup base, and you end up with green beans encased in soggy oniony mush when you reheat it.) And the meatloaf from the Fall issue of Cook's Illustrated? It made DH pledge his everlasting love to me. And he then transitioned to creative pro-mommy cheers coordinated with our toddler. Yeah, it is that good.
I'm going to teach this week, go to our staff holiday party Friday night, sell items at a craft show on Saturday, and Sunday I leave for New York City. I have never, ever been to NYC before. (Outer NJ/NY/CT suburbs, yes. JFK airport, yes. Any of the actual boroughs? Never.) I am going with other teachers to see the Rockettes Christmas show. The 10-year-old girl inside me is downright giddy. Department store window displays, Rockettes, urban holiday goodness. I truly cannot wait.
Later this month, it is time for our annual road trip to Minnesota. We'll pack our minivan, load in the DVDs, keep the apple juice and granola bar supply line going, and off we'll go.
My dilemma that I didn't anticipate is: How much do I build up this Santa thing? I've never been a mom before, and I'm a little unsure where to take all of this. I'm tempted to just let the Santa thing build naturally for him. I feel a bit ooky about creating this whole huge Santa myth that will inevitably be blown in a few years. Any advice on how to handle Santa with a two-year-old?
There was a confrontation between me and my co-worker. She had been snarky and rediculous for a full week. I avoided her until I got a chance to talk to her with no one else around. I calmly stated how I felt-- that she'd hurt my feelings and overwhelmed me when my husband was out of town and I was swamped. I was proud of myself because I know I don't usually confront well. Well, the result was that she didn't talk to me and wouldn't be around me at all for the rest of the week. On one hand, it made me angry that she generated drama about herself from me confronting her about how she'd hurt my feelings. On the other hand, I think that it's just really, really sad.
We finished sending all 100+ blankets around the world and we're now on a first-name basis with the little post office down the road. It was a fundraiser for troops that returned safely from Iraq-- DH's brother is back, safe and sound. While I bit off more than I thought I had with the project, I learned a lot about how to handle it.
Thanksgiving has been private and quiet. We didn't go anywhere. We didn't shop either. What I can't believe are all of the media reports of deep, deep discounts. Umm, where? I truly saw nothing that was worth rolling out of bed for-- at 4 am or 7 am. Give me a computer and websites with free shipping any day.
I'm still trying to finish pumpkin cheesecake and Dorie Greenspan's Spiced Cranberry Cake. My hint for the cranberry cake? Start with the glaze in the recipe, then cover with cream cheese frosting. Oh, and don't eat it the first day-- the flavors need a day to meld. And the America's Test Kitchen green bean casserole is heavenly-- just cut the bread crumb/fried onion topping in half. (It ends up soaking the delicious homemade cream of mushroom soup base, and you end up with green beans encased in soggy oniony mush when you reheat it.) And the meatloaf from the Fall issue of Cook's Illustrated? It made DH pledge his everlasting love to me. And he then transitioned to creative pro-mommy cheers coordinated with our toddler. Yeah, it is that good.
I'm going to teach this week, go to our staff holiday party Friday night, sell items at a craft show on Saturday, and Sunday I leave for New York City. I have never, ever been to NYC before. (Outer NJ/NY/CT suburbs, yes. JFK airport, yes. Any of the actual boroughs? Never.) I am going with other teachers to see the Rockettes Christmas show. The 10-year-old girl inside me is downright giddy. Department store window displays, Rockettes, urban holiday goodness. I truly cannot wait.
Later this month, it is time for our annual road trip to Minnesota. We'll pack our minivan, load in the DVDs, keep the apple juice and granola bar supply line going, and off we'll go.
My dilemma that I didn't anticipate is: How much do I build up this Santa thing? I've never been a mom before, and I'm a little unsure where to take all of this. I'm tempted to just let the Santa thing build naturally for him. I feel a bit ooky about creating this whole huge Santa myth that will inevitably be blown in a few years. Any advice on how to handle Santa with a two-year-old?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Whew!
Sorry about the lack of posts. I've had quite a few things going on.
I'm trying to get the house tamed. This doggone clutter is kicking my tail.
There are over a hundred blankets in my garage. Don't ask-- just trust me when I say that I need to learn how to say no.
I was observed today by my principal and the central office supervisor for our school. I was nervous, and my co-worker decided it was a good morning to come in my classroom to spew snark. She seems to think that it was funny. (Crickets chirping as I fail to laugh.)
My husband is on travel, of course.
My child has decided that when I am attempting to put him in his carseat is the perfect time to throw a ranting, kicking, screaming tantrum. (Yelling "Ow! Ow! Ow!" He acts like I'm hurting him. Uh, the way you're twisting yourself is where pain is coming from, kid.) Oh, yeah, when I try to take him out of daycare is also a great time for a tantrum. You know the 'How to throw a tantrum' YouTube video? She is a mere amateur compared to my child.
Thanksgiving is next week. The only prep I've done is to make homemade cranberry sauce. That's it. I'll be a busy girl.
I'm wiped. I'm really looking forward to some down time.
I'm trying to get the house tamed. This doggone clutter is kicking my tail.
There are over a hundred blankets in my garage. Don't ask-- just trust me when I say that I need to learn how to say no.
I was observed today by my principal and the central office supervisor for our school. I was nervous, and my co-worker decided it was a good morning to come in my classroom to spew snark. She seems to think that it was funny. (Crickets chirping as I fail to laugh.)
My husband is on travel, of course.
My child has decided that when I am attempting to put him in his carseat is the perfect time to throw a ranting, kicking, screaming tantrum. (Yelling "Ow! Ow! Ow!" He acts like I'm hurting him. Uh, the way you're twisting yourself is where pain is coming from, kid.) Oh, yeah, when I try to take him out of daycare is also a great time for a tantrum. You know the 'How to throw a tantrum' YouTube video? She is a mere amateur compared to my child.
Thanksgiving is next week. The only prep I've done is to make homemade cranberry sauce. That's it. I'll be a busy girl.
I'm wiped. I'm really looking forward to some down time.
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