My gosh, so sad. Carrie Fisher was so funny, and honest and open about her life, giving a voice to many people suffering with mental illness and addiction. Debbie Reynolds was a legend as an actress, singer and dancer. Mother and daughter passing within a day of each other is heart-wrenching. Hope they're laughing together in the hereafter.
Sadness.
Such an incredible talent and generous citizen of the world, gone too soon.
Saw Nocturnal Animals yesterday. It was really good up until the very last moment. Then we weren't sure what to make of it.
I wasn't a fan of the first three minutes or so, though. Good grief. It just went on and on, and was SO incredibly random. Susan thought it was terrible, too, and it was her exhibit, so there you go. After that, I was sucked into the story and never let go.
Amy Adams and Isla Fisher in the same film! They're long lost twins, right?! Just when you thought you'd never seen them together, so maybe they ARE the same person... they do a movie together.
Anyhoo... I liked the film a LOT. Visually, it is beautiful. It seamlessly travels from present to past to writer's imagination and back around again. There are differences in color and textures among the three worlds, taking us from dusty west Texas to trendy LA to a couple's college days in the ol' ATX. I just couldn't wait to see what would happen from minute to minute.
I thought I had heard there was a surprising twist, so I was waiting for it. It is a great story, catapulting us into a very dramatic, but mysterious ending. We had to go to the net to get a crowd perspective on it. I'm not the only person to say out loud when the lights came up, "What was the point of all this?" I got The Matrix, y'all. It shouldn't be as complicated to figure out what happened in this movie.
Was revenge the point of it, for her leaving him all those years ago? I think that was the point. I mean there was an art piece in the gallery that said REVENGE, for heaven's sake. How many clues do we need? If so, I think the ending was too softened and needed a little more obvious realization and some sort of reaction on her part, that would have made it more clear. Perhaps Ford didn't want it to be that definitive.
See it for the sheer beauty and compelling story. Also, it will keep you and your movie date talking about it all the way home!
Our kitchen remodel made the remodeling company's 2017 calendar! We're August. I guess all those hours selecting finishes and accessories paid off.
My beloved 96-year-old Grandpa is still on Hospice. A couple of times in the past few months, he has taken turns for the worst, but he's perked up both times and is hanging in there. We'll visit him next week. My aunt Kerstin has been sending frequent text and photo updates to all of us on his status. Since she's sending them to two generations of family, she was calling him Granddad/Dad, but over the weeks, it's become G-Dad. Love it! I call it his rapper name.
Sunday Stealing: The Here-to-Serve 16 Questions
1. Which is worse? Being gossiped about or being lied to?
Lauren tells me that her friends in their 20's who are married and starting to have babies aren't going to do the Santa/Tooth Fairy/Easter Bunny thing. They don't want to "lie" to their kids. Whaaa...?! I guess magic is out, too? Ariel and Superman are just cartoons? How sad.
Jeff and I were driving around in the country on Saturday, and happened upon the Andalusia whiskey distillery in Blanco. We barely missed the last tour, but we did a tasting, which was cool. The bar is a nice place to hang out. We also visited the cows out back.
While we were out that afternoon, I was telling Jeff about Culture Map. It's a site with a fabulous event calendar for each of the major Texas cities. The Austin calendar has all the main happenings around Austin, and doesn't include every band playing every tiny venue, which clutters every other Austin event calendar. I really appreciate live music, but I have always wished it would be a separate calendar, so you don't have to scroll through 1000 events to find the Pecan Street Festival.
Me: I don't mind seeing a major act like Hootie and the Blowfish on an Austin calendar, I just don't want to sift through hundreds of coffee shop shows.
Jeff (laughing): Every time you refer to a generic band, it's Hootie and the Blowfish.
Me: It is?
Jeff: Yes! And I don't associate you with them at all. I would expect you to say...
Me: Maroon 5?
Jeff: ...Prince or Adam Ant or something. Anyone but Hootie and the Blowfish.
Me: Well, you gotta love Hootie.
(Prince and Adam Ant?! I thought Hootie and the Blowfish was a throwback!)
Lyrics of the Day
...When I wake to find the solace of
all that we've become
I can't wait to make the promises
that I've been leery of...
"I Will Wait" Hootie and the Blowfish
Saturday 9: O, Holy Night (1967)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This beloved carol takes its lyrics from a French poem. What else can we thank the French for?
Friday night, when we were grabbing a burger for dinner, there was a disheveled man slumped into a corner booth, talking on a cell phone. He was speaking loudly, talking to a girl. He seemed upset, and I thought maybe we should GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE. Then the conversation suddenly turned more pleasant, and they got onto video chat of some sort. It was obviously the first time they'd seen each other.
He went on and on about how pretty she was and how no one was ever going to tell either one of them anymore how they weren't good enough, etc. He professed his love for her, obviously for the first time, and asked when she was coming to see him in Texas. Soon he asked if her mom and dad were home. (Where is Chris Hanson when you need him?)
After a few minutes he said, "How old do you think I AM?! I'm only 38/48!"
38/48?
He mentioned he could "kick anyone's ass" because he'd spent 12 years in prison and 15 on the street. (Grab the food. We're OUT.) Well, that accounts for 27 of his 38/48 years.
At some point he said he had been in the military. He explained that his record says he was only in for two months, but he was actually in for a few years. Evidently, after two months, he was selected for special ops and when you complete special ops service, the government erases your records... AND YOUR MEMORY. "That's how they do it these days." Mmmkay.
"Hold on. I need some weed."
He leaves all his crap (jacket, bottles of water, money) on the table and exits the restaurant to smoke outside the door. We're in the 'burbs, y'all. People smoke their weed at home, not at a restaurant. ;)
He comes back in, still video chatting. We left.
That was the most disturbing meal experience I've had since the McDonald's incident when the kiddos were little. The manager had to call the police to remove a guy fussing with some electronic device and talking to himself at his table next to us. Laura and I stayed there longer than we should have as well. Ha!
Friday Five: Celluloid Heroes
1. What movie most recently impressed you with its score or soundtrack?
My gift wrapping is complete! Mailed off the mailed things this morning. It's all spiced cider, Christmas music and Christmas light viewing from now to December 25. Whee!
Sunday Stealing: The Bearded Questions
What is some of your favorite music?
Maroon 5, The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber's current album (is it too late now to say sorry not sorry? :p), Train, Matchbox Twenty
List your three favorite scents.
fresh shower, spiced cider, coffee
How do you ground yourself or recharge?
head outside and get closer to nature
Any ways you treat or spoil yourself?
I buy a Starbucks coffee beverage.
Besides your blog, do you have a creative past-time?
I used to write- short stories, poems, songs. Used to make videos. I haven't done anything creative in a while. I may have to make a Hobby Lobby stop soon.
Share something difficult you've been through.
When my dad was dying, Lauren was very ill. I traveled to upstate New York to be with my father in his final days, but it was really hard to leave Lauren, hard to be with Dad at the hospital where he was suffering so terribly, and hard to know how to balance needs there and at home. Just one of the worst weeks EVER.
What helps you fall asleep?
a cool, dark room, bundled up under the covers
What is one strength and one weakness of yours?
strength- remembering song lyrics
weakness- not remembering names
Have you ever received a letter or written one to someone else?
Uh... yes. What is this, 2095?
What makes you feel powerful, what breathes life into you?
a powerful song, like Muse's "Uprising"
What's your favorite thing to do at night?
go out to dinner and a show or concert
If you could go back to any era, what would it be?
the 1950's
Your favorite things to wear at home?
a flowy sundress
If you could be immortal or have an extremely long life span which would you pick and why?
I would be immortal. It would be very empowering to have no fear of death.
Tell us about something positive you have done for yourself or someone recently.
I just printed all of our insurance cards for our cars. Yeah, baby!
One thing you like about your appearance?
that I look like my mom and dad
Something that makes you feel better after a hard day?
relaxing on the couch
If you have one, name a favorite book and movie.
No favorite books lately. My all-time favorite movie is Love Actually.
Well, well, well. Scroll on down to the last paragraph of this NY Times article to see that it is completely sane to put tape over your webcam, thankyouverymuch.
Just saying. :)
We saw A Christmas Carol at Zach Friday night. Jeff and I both thought it was the traditional play, but were very pleasantly surprised to find it is actually a musical version, using current popular hits to accompany the traditional story! So everyone is in Victorian clothing and the set is of that time, but they're belting out today's Billboard hits. It's always this way, but they use different music each year. Awesome!
Greater Tuna's Jaston Williams plays Scrooge, perfectly. There are a lot of great singers in the show, but I have to mention a few freakin' amazing voices in particular- Kenny Williams (Ghost of Christmas Past, Mr. Entertainment), Chanel Haynes-Schwartz (Ghost of Christmas Present- a remarkable energy and gorgeous voice), Paul Sanchez (Bob Cratchit with his beautiful rendition of "Oh Holy Night") and Marianel Marquez (Marta Cratchit... OH MIGOSH that girl can SING!). Marianel sings "Halo" and the entire theater is silent, many brought to tears, until she finishes, then the place goes nuts.
On our way to lunch in the cold rain today, we were talking about having chili sometime this week. We talked about chili dogs and chili fries. I said chili fries sounded really good, because I haven't had them in years. Then, at lunch, they had chili cheese fries.
Jeff: You should get the chili cheese fries!
Me: Nah. I don't have any idea if they're any good here. I want good chili cheese fries, so if they're shitty, I'll have to have them again.
Jeff: Chili cheese fries are never shitty.
Probably true.
Saturday 9: Take My Breath Away (1996)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) When were you last breathless?
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