Make Me

In A Weekend

So yesterday I went to a new restaurant where I was introduced to the raw food movement.  For all my making fun (raw food cookbook? Isn't that an oxymoron?) it was actually quite tasty.  Although I don't think I'd like to eat like that everyday.  I think sometimes there is the compulsion to ADD flavor to food rather than let its own flavor come out.  I got lettuce wraps and one was supposed to be sort of tuna flavored and another, pizza-ish.  They kind of came off like they were trying too hard.

Then I went to see An Ideal Husband, which was quite good, but left me yearning for a little Rupert.  It was also nice to enjoy the lack of smoky air in Coronado.  It's playing until Nov. 18.  The next season looks like a good one and I hope I get to see some more productions.  We'll have to see what else is coming to town.

Today it was Dan in Real Life, which I loved and highly recommend if you like this sort of movie which I'm having trouble describing.  It's just nice to see a movie that has a family that isn't dysfunctional.  It's funny without being slapsticky and it hasn't a certain truth to it that I like.  In the end, you just like spending time with these people.

It Be Good, Matey. It Be Good

Saw the Pirates movie last Thursday.  Yes, I was one of those people who sat in line for an hour to see it.  We went to the 8 o'clock show and there were people waiting in line since 4pm.  In pirate costumes.  Actually, there were a lot of pirate folk about.  It was interesting.  I mean some people just wore the bandannas or the striped socks and others came in full gear.  Tried to get a picture but it was a little obvious.

Anyway, my friend got in line around 5:30 and I got there about a half hour later.  Luckily they let us in to the theater at 7, so it wasn't too uncomfortable.

I really enjoyed the movie - one reviewer advised not to try to hard to make sense out of everything but just sit back and enjoy.  That makes it better, cause there's a lot of stuff going on at once.    Orlando looks really cute and Keith Richards part wasn't as big as it was hyped up to be.  Interestingly enough, I thought Jack Sparrow wasn't really in the foreground of the movie.  Still, it was fun and there's a definite set-up for #4.  Can't wait.

Speaking of can't wait....Harry Potter!  When I finished Half-Blood Prince last year, I thought it was going to be forever until #7 came out.  Now it's practically just around the corner! Do you think Harry dies?

Annie, Not the Musical

Sunday I went to the Annie Leibovitz exhibit at Balboa Park.  It was truly exceptional.  I wasn't expecting that.  I mean, I know she's a stellar photographer, but I didn't expect that her non-celebrity photos would be so moving. Moving and yet ordinary.  Ordinary people doing everything things: living, laughing, dying.

She had a lot of photos of her family and I really love her mother's face and stance.  And her father's quiet dignity.  And something about the comparison of ordinary people such as Oseola McCarty or citizens of Sarajevo living amidst a war make the celebrity photos look silly and self-indulgent. 

This photo of William Burroughs brought a lot of comments.  One couple was saying he looked repentant.  I don't know exactly what  he's feeling, but I don't think it's repentance.  At least not in this photo.  I'm sort of thinking he may have dozed off a bit.

This was a favorite photo too.  Mostly because of my never ending crush on Mikhail Baryshnikov.  But I like the lines of the bodies and how concentrated they are even to the points of the their fingers.

There were a lot of photos of Sontag. The cancer photos of Sontag and of Leibovitz's father are very personal and vulnerable.  There was one of Sontag standing before the entrance into the stone city of Petra.  Really amazing.  Wish I could find it online.

Her photos are making me rethink the aging process.  There's such wisdom in these untouched faces.  it makes you want to know them and hear their stories.  They give you glimpses of too much wine in dark cafes over fierce arguments and uncontained laughter.  Of 50 year friendships and unbearable sorrows.  Of life and breath and love.

As far as celebrity photos go, I'm really partial to this one for some reason. 

Doesn't it just say "dedication" and "athleticism" to you?  Okay, well it doesn't say it me either.  All it says to me is "yum!"  But maybe if I stare at it long enough. There's another photo of Johnny Depp that is also delish as well as a really nice shot of the family Obama. 

There's a, uh, political photo featuring 7 members of our current administration which I titled Seven Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The man in front of me did not think it was funny and started to give me the stink eye until he noticed I was about six inches taller than him and "ethnic" and then he just moved on. Gave me my laugh of the day.

If the exhibit comes to your town make an effort to get to it.

I took a photo of the display outside the museum and I'm rather proud of it

The way the real trees and photo trees are positioned it almost looks like it's not a billboard.  Cool huh?  Wish I could say I noticed it before I took the picture.  But most of it's in focus so no complaints here.

This is the other side of the museum entry.  I was trying to get the detail of the hennaed hands.

Yummy Day

Went to see the Pirates of the Carribbean movie this AM.  Yes, this AM.  Our group had a little trouble finding a common time to get together so we ended up at the 10:30 show.  We were at the Ultra Star movie theater in Hazard Center.  Unbeknownst to me, the first show every day is $5.  Cool, huh?  And Tuesdays are $5 all day.  But don't go to the first show on Thursday unless you're bringing some kids.  It's babies and parents day.  Something about an in theater changing table is enough to give you warning.

Anyways, I really liked the movie only I have to watch the first one again because I forgot a lot of the whats and wherefores.  The octopus face guy is really cool.  In fact all the makeup and costuming is really, really cool.  It's enough to keep you from having to look at that ugly Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.

By the way, my friend Cathy and I had a sixth grade argument over who was who's boyfriend.  I think I get them both.  Yay!  And no, I won't share!

We went to Mimi's Cafe afterward and our waiter looked like Captain Jack!  At first I was thinking it was because we'd just come out of the movie, so I asked him if anyone had ever told him who he looked like and he reluctantly told us "that captain guy in the Pirates movie."  Maybe that's the difference between men and women - if I looked like someone famous I'd be taking advantage and getting a whole lot more action than I get looking like me.  Although I went to this event where Sarah Ferguson was hawking Wedgwood china and there was a woman there who looked very much like the formerly topless in Texas Duchess, but then she was all about getting her picture taken with Sarah and talking to her people.  And apparently she showed up at a lot of SF events.  So I guess there's a fine line between flattery and stalking.

Where was I?  Oh yeah - the waiter that looked lilke Captain Jack.  Yum.  He said he used to get that he looked like Edward Scissorhands.  Um, hon?  You need to face it, you look like Johnny Depp.  Now shut up and get in the car.  Mama's gonna buy you a condo....

   

 

 

 

Somebody's Been Holding Out on Me

Just watched season 1, episode 1 of Soul Food.  And I'm a little miffed.  Somebody has been holding out on a sista.  If I had know that the scenery looked like this:

I woulda surely bought some Showtime. 

His name is Boris Kodjoe.  And all I'm sayin' is if you a gonna name your precious baby 'Boris' make dang sure he's fine.

Dang! 

Will You Be My Friend?

I'm looking for some more Netflix friends.  Anyone want to be my friend and share your queue? I admit to not being that interesting movie-wise, but it's a great way to see movies you wouldn't ordinarily glance at.  Leave a comment and I'll contact you via email, so leave your address.

Punch Drunk Love

Did I mention I joined Netflix?  Did I mention how I had 63 movies in my queue after the first visit?  Did I mention I now have 80?  Yeah, well consider yourself up to date.

Last night I watched Punch-Drunk Love starring Emily Watson and Adam Sandler.  I'm not sure I really liked it.  In some of the scenes Sandler seemed to be in over his head acting-wise, resorting to tricks that conveyed emotion, rather than conveying the emotion itself.  I hadn't seen an Emily Watson movie since Hilary and Jackie (which I loved, by the way).

Sometime this weekend I'll be watching Real Women Have Curves.  I'm really enjoying the Netflix!

BTW, went to the PO today and I had a lovely Christmas card from Stefani.  Thanks Stefani - you're just in time - it finally feels like the holidays!  Pop on over to Pine Tree Designs to see more of her handiwork.