In The Void

Well this blog is truly in the ethernet I think, and since I haven't posted since March, sorely neglected. This, however, will be a quick, short note. My writings have been focussed elsewhere, on that "book" I've been writing, and so far have north of 35 pages, very small font, so I AM making progress. May have to self-publish, which works fine by me, so I'll just keep plugging along and in a year or so should have a rough draft of my adventures/memoir. It actually feels like it's a true possibility now, kind of like since I've kept painting, however sporadically, I'm beginning to feel like a sometime, novice painter. Very funny indeed.

They Say Everyone Has One Good Book in Them

Whoever the fuck "they" are, I still often wonder if it's true.  And I'm thinking if it's true, I'd better get started on mine.  Since I figure it will take 5 years and thousands of revisions to be a workable piece worthy of an audience. I'm thinking movie adaptation of course.  Think it'll have to be a novel, as I, like most people, live way too much of a predictable day to day life to make a memoir riveting enough to keep anyone's attention past the first paragraph.  But the more I deal with writing at work and the more I see just how anal I am about the English language, I do believe I could write something halfway interesting. So I have a couple of themes in mind, one my rebirth in the dating world after my 14 year absence, another is the long distance love affair with my overly intellectual bad attitude 29 year old in the gay city.   Both would need some embellishment, however certain aspects of each have been so fucking entertaining to me, I find it hard to believe anyone with a slightly twisted sense of humor like mine wouldn't at least get a few chuckles from the telling of the travails.  So onward and upward I think.  Better get cracking on that first draft.

Oscar Surprises

Well it would seem no one is expecting any rock the boat upsets tonight. Of course I am certainly hoping Annette Bening does win for best actress. I'm a big fan of Natalie Portman, Closer is one of my favorite performances of hers, but Black Swan by itself is a deeply flawed film and I'm a firm believer that the whole project should fly if the individuals are to be lauded for their performances. And The Kids Are All Right is a winner through and through. This is Annette's fourth nomination for an Oscar, and while she has a long career yet ahead of her, she's overdue. Her turn as the neurotic real estate agent wife in American Beauty was also Oscar worthy, and that was back in 2000, so it's been a long time coming. Natalie Portman will have many more years to again achieve her nominations and as talented as she is she will surely get at least a couple more. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that academy members recognize that it is Annette's year.

An even longer shot is best supporting actor which by all accounts is a lock for Christian Bale. And he does deserve it, but I'm still hoping that he's burned enough bridges with his on set tirades that the academy will overlook him. And while Geoffrey Rush does deserve an Oscar for the King's Speech, he already has one statue in his trophy case with Shine. So hope against hope, I would love to see Mark Ruffalo walk away with his first. He's been slow and steady and generally under the radar for many years while collecting a long list of stellar performances, the most notable as Laura Linney's troubled brother in You Can Count On Me. Other notable titles include Zodiac, In the Cut, a little seen but very good film with Meg Ryan in her most gritty role and my favorite film of hers, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

So let's hope for a few choice memorable moments, and more than a few upsets.

V Day

So I debated on whether to wear black this year for Valentines, but honestly it's been such a great year, I ended up wearing a red sweater, my red italia booties and red earrings given to me by my oldest. Pretty damn chipper actually, and although I didn't get flowers or chocolates, I have received both this year (once at the same time which had never happened in my life). And just last Friday received chocolates by a grateful tenant who moved into our building because I was so damn helpful and pleasant. Score! And Parrot chocolates, no less, the best in the west. They were delish, but thankfully I shared with the co-workers or else I could've easily downed the whole box myself. It's one of the few things I lose total control over, chocolate. Received a couple of valentines good wishes, one totally unexpected by the adorable chef at the B-Bar. Man why didn't we hook up when we had the opportunity, and in Paradise no less! Guess that was my pre-wild child phase, which I'm hoping I never move out of.... So on to Chicago if all goes as planned, then Outer Banks in May, and just realized today I get 4 days off for the 4th, so may just have to plan another adventure. This being free and single stuff is pretty liberating.

Post Secret

In the 2 or 3 minutes it took me to read post secret today, 7000 others also logged on to read it. Hard to believe almost half a billion people have read it to date.

Blue Valentine

Here is the latest case of a movie that disappointed mainly because of what it could have been. I so wanted to love it, especially after waiting a year to see it. This was the only movie I stood in line for at Sundance that I did not get in, the buzz was at such a fever pitch that everyone who could attend, did. It's also a case of where you got the distinct impression that the making of the film was much more intense and personal and emotionally intimate than the actual final product. Seeing the director Derek Cianfrance, Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling on Charlie Rose describing the scene on the bridge sounded so much more intense and charged when they talked about it. That Michelle had no idea Ryan was going to climb the fencing of the bridge, as if to jump, and that she had been sworn to a secret that she was not to tell, no matter what. The scene could've used several more minutes of build up to the finale of her blurting out she was pregnant. But it all happened so fast that any drama was soon deflated. Another 30 minutes of depth of both the characters, what made them tick, what did they want that they weren't receiving from the relationship? And the story should have been developed, we want to see the pain and agony that always accompanies a failing relationship. Not because we're gluttons for punishment, but because we've all been through the heart wrenching pain that happens when just love alone can't save your marriage/relationship. Why had they fallen out of love? Where had it all gone wrong? Those questions are never answered. True the "NC 17" scene was very emotional, but it had more to do with the camera angle and the hint of rape than the intense feelings they felt for each other. Michelle and Ryan are both terrific actors, but I have a feeling a substantial part of their performance was left on the cutting room floor.

Neil, still master after all these years

So I had always heard about Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit, thought it was way Northern California, but alas just south of San Fran. When I saw the lineup: reunion Buffalo Springfield, Pearl Jam and my favs Modest Mouse, not to mention freakin' Billy Idol (I know!) who I never thought I'd see in my lifetime, I decided this was the year to go. Not really any reason not to, which is good enough reason to do it in my book. Since tickets hadn't gone on sale yet, it was a real viable trip. And when a week out I lucked into an 11th row ticket from the late releases for night one, I felt blessed. No sitting on the lawn in the rain, which despite the great music, would have been miserable. Luckily both nights I was under the big tent covering the front half of the crowd. It really lived up to the adventurous weekend I was hoping for, despite the rain, so I was very happy I'd lucked into finding out about it in time. Seeing Buffalo Springfield do all their greats, from when I was barely a teenager, was like a time warp trip. Nice to see them all but honestly Neil and Stephen Stills are still rockin' their asses off and look healthy and happy which is fun to see. Not like Dylan who's a caricature of his former self and should just call it a day. And of course hunka wunka Eddie Vedder, singing Patti Smith's Dancing Barefoot and Modest Mouse doing acoustic Cowboy Dan were also highlights. But silly as it seems, seeing a limo driver holding a cardboard sign saying my name by the exit of San Jose airport really was the most surreal moment! On to my next adventure......

Phoenix, say hello

HOLY CRAP! It's been so long since I've posted I forgot all my login shit, luckily I finally got it. So after literally years with no one spending time reading any of my stuff I see some Phoenix peruser has actually looked a few times. So write me a comment, I'm always game to hear from far away folks. And reading some old posts from 5 years ago I'm happy to say a lot has changed and a lot has stayed the same, in all the right places thankfully! Maybe I'll actually start posting more. Funny after seeing the two U2 reviews, I'll be headed to SLC to see them again in May after seeing them at the Rose Bowl Oct 2009. They never get old! I mean seeing them of course, because yes, they are getting up there a little bit! Well have to go run now, one of the good things that hasn't changed. The lack of sex, FINALLY has changed for the better. And yes, absence does make the heart grow fonder! (absence of sex of course)