Monthly Archives: May 2004

Back in the Saddle

Flew the puddle jumper home yesterday. As I zoomed over Boston, I waved to Larry and said “Buh Bye Boston, Buh Bye!”

Once home I crawled into bed and watched the newly arrived dvd, Candy. If I had a DVD library, I would place Candy in between Barbarella and The Magic Christian. Myra Breckinridge wouldn’t be too far away. What can one possibly say about a movie whose beginning scene features Ringo Starr (portraying a Mexican gardener) who rapes the lead character, Candy, on a pool table while Richard Burton, right next to them, makes out with a porcelain doll? The thing is, it gets progressively weirder. James Coburn as a sadistic surgeon, Walter Mathau as a paranoid general, Marlon Brando as a long-haired, sari-wearing guru, and John Astin in a dual role of staid father and dirty uncle. Yes it was disturbing and sexist and disgusting but it was also pretty innocent. So with Candy down, now all I have to do it find a copy of Skidoo.

Here are the next movies on my Netflix queue: The Night of the Following Day, Water Drops On Burning Rocks, Swept Away, The Women, Victim, One, Two, Three, De Sade, Sailor Who Fell from Grace, Charles Bronson: Vital Hits, The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, Querelle, And Now … Ladies and Gentlemen, The World of Henry Orient… and 150 others.

hello

Hi, my name is Donna. So nice to meet you. Nice meeting you. What a wonderful story about your business. Yes, very nice meeting you. Celebrity cruises, you say? Fascinating! What a wonderful area of expertise, air conditioning, that is. Tell me more about the educational system of Canada. How lovely– do you often go to Singapore?

Bill Belichick was the speaker yesterday morning. Apparently he is some sports guy. Football, I think. Someone asked me what he talked about. I told them that he said, “Wha Wha, Blah Blah Blah.” Obviously, I didn’t get it. Snapping the ball, off sides, punting… I just don’t have a clue.

I will miss the Haagen Daz ice cream breaks, though.

Boston

Flew a puddle jumper in. I am always so happy when we touch down. I am smack dab in the middle of the city in a very nice hotel. Last night was registration and a reception. All is going well. Today the meetings starts. I am excited!

getting ready

This afternoon I leave for Boston. I am excited. Boston is a nice city and the conference I am going to promises to be interesting. All my bags are packed and I am ready to go (standing here beside the door). I have about 100 crosswords printed out. There was a time I only printed the NYTimes crossword but the other day my father introduced me to the Ref Desk’s Crossword Puzzle section and ever since I have crosswords coming out the wazoo!

amazing grace

My mom, dad, and I went to my cousin Grace’s first birthday party this morning. She is such a beautiful and cheerful baby. Cousin David let me hold her and it felt so wonderful. Be still my biological clock! Gosh, I NEED A PUPPY! I have learned fast haven’t I? There was a time I might have exclaimed, “I NEED A HUSBAND!” Right now a puppy would be nice but I keep wondering if I am ready for the commitment and responsibility. Especially because I feel overwhelmed by the donnavilla. Actually, it’s the upkeep and cleaning of the donnavilla that has me overwhelmed. I can’t imagine having to worry about a dog leaving me presents and chewing my furniture. Then I think how nice it would be to have a little friend to walk and hold and it seems all worthwhile.

tick tock tick tock tick tock tick…

antihero

Last night I went home so I could watch the last episode of Friends. I think it was last season I watched an episode after not having seen it in awhile and I was freaked out by how old and chubby the guys looked and how absolutely emaciated and worn the girls had become. I must be used to the way they look now because they appeared fine to me on this final viewing. Friends was always a nice show to watch if there was nothing else on and nothing to do. For a half hour I could live vicariously in NY and have a set of goofy friends. The one show I really do miss is the X-Files. That last season was thrilling and I would have loved for it to continue with Annabel Gish and Gillian Anderson or that Doggett guy as partners fighting aliens and supernatural criminals. Thinking back on my favorite TV shows, almost all involve some supernatural element or a huge suspension of disbelief. Wonder Woman, Batman, Starman, Misfits of Science, MacGyver, A-Team, Avengers, It Takes a Thief, Run for your Life, Fugitive, Incredible Hulk, Zorro, Black Adder, Due South, Forever Knight, Kung Fu TLC, Highlander, Xena, X-Files, La Femme Nikita. It’s interesting how so many are Canadian productions and all of them have strong themes of Good Vs Bad and Outsider/Individual Vs Society. You can really get the flavor of a person’s personality by knowing their favorite TV shows or movies. If you love a show, it is mainly because you identify with the protagonist. Based on my favorite shows, one can deduce that I see myself as the outsider running from a society bent on my destruction. Gosh, the accuracy of that statement sends shivers down my spine!

dinner

I had dinner at home last night. My dad made Italian Hotdogs. He doesn’t cook a lot of dishes, but those in his arsenal are incredible. After dinner my mom and I went shopping at TJMaxx and I bought two pairs of summery pants and two pretty skirts. Back home we watched the last half of Blood and Sand starring Tyrone Powers! What an incredible movie! Even though it is such a cliché, I can honestly say the movie was visually stunning!
The last few films I have seen have all been oddly interconnected. Take for instance Blood and Sand. Tyrone Powers was the star; he was also the fellow Ava couldn’t romance in The Sun Also Rises because of his war injury. Ava was also unable to romance Rossano Brazzi because of his war injury in The Barefoot Contessa. Something’s Got to Give contained a scene where the characters go to a store called, The Barefoot Contessa. The stupid American in Bed and Board, Billy Kearns, was also in Purple Noon, playing a stupid American. Returning back to Blood and Sand, playing Tyrone’s mother was Nazimova who stars in Salome, that just arrived today from Netflix.

Maybe I just have too much time on my hands?

The Barefoot Contessa

I exercised, washed up, got into my pajamas, grabbed a tall glass of water, climbed into bed and spent 2 1/2 hours watching the Barefoot Contessa. Reclining in bed with the flickering TV in my eyes, I had a strange feeling that this is how I will spend many nights. It was an interesting movie. Not one of my favorites but I enjoyed it. I got a kick that this is the second movie I’ve seen with Ava Gardner where the man she loves is rendered impotent by a war wound. (Can anyone name the other movie?)

Today I will place The Barefoot Contessa in the Netflix envelope and send it back. Gosh, I love this service!

Erin’s new Web site, Dust Designs is doing very well! Google indexed her site almost immediately. Her paintbrush is poised and ready if anyone wants to commission some art!

Hummus

Yesterday I made hummus. It was so yummy and easy to make that I’ve decided to share the recipe with you!

1 garlic clove
1/2 onion
15 oz. can of chickpeas (alias garbanzo beans)
1/2 C plain yogurt
pepper and garlic powder, to taste

Mash the garlic and onion in a food processor or blender. Add the chickpeas and puree. Gradually beat in the yogurt and continue until well combined. Add pepper and garlic powder to taste. Transfer to serving dish, cover and chill for 30 minutes. Serve with pita or crackers.

Cleaning the blender took more time than the actual preparation. I used about 1/2 cup more yogurt and didn’t use the pepper or garlic powder.