Girl Detective

#72 in my 2007 movie challenge was Billy Wilder’s Ace in the Hole, supposedly a lost classic resurrected by the Criterion Collection. I can easily see why the movie bombed when it came out. It has Wilder’s hallmarks of dark humor and sarcasm, but in the end it’s too bitter. Kirk Douglas is a sleazy reporter who thinks he’s found his ticket out of small-town exile when he comes across a human interest story about a trapped treasure hunter. He and the other characters are almost beyond redemption, and their manipulation is queasy to watch. Smart and sharp, but too heartless for me to enjoy.

Recently released by the Criterion Collection, #71 in my 2007 movie challenge was David Mamet’s directorial debut, House of Games. Joe Mantegna is arresting in his first starring role, and it’s easy to see why Lindsay Crouse’s character was drawn to him. (Crouse was married to Mamet at the time. I am more familiar with her as the psych. prof. from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.) Crouse is a therapist with a patient who says he owes thousands of dollars. Crouse promises to try to help him, and gets drawn to a group of grifters. It’s a twisty, noir movie that turns some of the conventions upside down. Crouse is more the innocent bystander than the femme fatale. That role is filled more by Mantegna. The end is also not typical of noir; Crouse is not crushed by either the city or by crime. The transfer on the Criterion print is lovely. Crouse’s hair and wardrobe, though, are laughably typical of the 80’s, reminding me of Patrick Nagel prints and shoulder-padded power suits.

#70 in my 2007 movie challenge was Baz Luhrmann’s first film, Strictly Ballroom. Does it seem possible that this is fifteen years old? This movie is a favorite of my husband G. Grod’s and mine. A young ballroom dancer wants to use his own steps. The mousy girl teams up with him, and has a few moves of her own. Like Luhrmann’s other films, the story is no surprise, nor is its ending. It’s a combination of the Cinderella and Young Hero myths. Yet like his other films, its the spectacle that entrances me–the over-the-top characters and costumes, and the brazen musical dance numbers. I like that the girl is believably mousy; she’s not just a model with a pair of glasses and mussed hair. SB is loud, colorful, fun, sweet, and just the thing after a long day.

#69 in my 2007 movie challenge was Pedro Almodovar’s Volver. It’s a dark, funny meditation on the support that women give and get when times get tough. Penelope Cruz is lovely, tough, and vulnerable as Raimunda, and is far better than in any American film I’ve seen. Throughout, there is heightened style, deliberate use of color, and steady tension that gave homage to Hitchcock. The look, coupled with Almodovar’s sympathetic female characters, and bittersweet drama, made this one of my favorite recent films.

#68 in my 2007 movie challenge was Wild Strawberries, part of a retrospective at the Oak Street Cinema to honor the late Ingmar Bergman (no relation to the actress Ingrid Bergman.) It’s a beautiful black and white film. The main character is an elderly doctor who has to travel to another city to receive an honor for his career. He chooses to drive with his daughter-in-law. Along the way, he has meaningful dreams, poignant reminiscences, and frank conversations. They pick up a group of young hitchhikers and a bickering couple who’ve been in a car accident. There’s no shortage of themes to ponder, in spite of the film’s 91-minute running time–parenthood, aging, marriage, career, and happiness are but a few. I feel fortunate I was able to see this in a theater. I found it a film that was lovely to look at, and engaging to think about.

#45 in my 2007 book challenge was The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman, the sequel to The Golden Compass. It is a characteristic second book in a trilogy. The beloved and hated characters are back, the plot speeds along, but the end is more cliffhanging than that of the first book. I am glad to be reading this trilogy when I can immediately pick up book 3, since there was a long time between the publishing of the last two books.

TSK shares many strengths with TGC: nefarious villains, engaging child protagonists, religion, adventure, and the utterly engaging daemons, familiars who take animal form and accompany their human partners in the world of heroine Lyra. But it also shares the shortcomings. The adults are either entirely good, or entirely evil. Religion is completely messed up. And all parents are, in some way, bad parents; the only good adults are non parents. The children are wise and well spoken beyond their years. As the book progressed, I became increasingly irritated by the construct of the alethiometer, the device the first book was named after. Since it’s all knowing and Lyra can magically read it exactly and perfectly, then there is little that’s left to chance for the children. They know far too much about what’s happening and what’s going to happen for there to be a believable and constant tension. Finally, I thought there were far too few armored polar bears in this book compared to its predecessor.

I feel bad criticizing this book; I know so many friends who love the series, and they are friends whose taste I admire and respect. I raced through the book, and enjoyed it. But I was also nagged by little things as I sped along that left me feeling unsatisfied by the end.

#67 in my 2007 movie challenge was the sleeper Irish musical, Once. This is a charming, engaging film that never strays over the line into twee. It also doesn’t have the formula of many English/Irish films for American audiences: charming loser/underdog (who usually recruits friends to help) makes good. See, for example, Brassed Off, Waking Ned Devine, Billy Elliott, The Full Monty, that one about the guy swimming the channel, that one with Anthony Hopkins on a motorcycle, etc.

Glen Hansard is a street musician who catches the attention of Marketa Irglova, a Czech immigrant, who is also a musician. They have a good time, make music, then have an authentic ending. The music is great; I admired it all the more when I found out that Hansard and Irglova were performing their own compositions. This was a beautiful, tender, decidedly non-flashy musical, if such a thing isn’t an oxymoron. Loved it.

I went to New York City for a long weekend with seven of my high school girlfriends. We had a great tour guide in E, who lives there. We did lots of tourist-y stuff, like the top of Rockefeller Center, an open-top bus tour, Ground Zero, a show, shopping on Canal Street, walking Central Park, and crossing the Brooklyn Bridge at night. I’m not sure we ever stopped talking, and that made something of a spectacle on the subway. (”But we’re the only ones who know each other!” protested our friend P.) We were wives, mothers, singles, professional and stay-at-home. Only three of us live in our home state, now.We are all different, but somehow all the same, too. It was a good weekend.

Some things I was reminded of about NYC: Watch where you step; lots of people have dogs. Restaurants are LOUD. Food is plentiful and varied. Red tour buses are a lot more prevalent than blue ones. Even the coffee lingo is different: a red-eye is a cup of coffee with a shot of espresso–here in MN we call it a depth charge. And in NYC, you can get two shots, which is (of course) a black eye.

I’m sure there’s more, but I can’t recall. There was burn on re-entry, as usual. Guppy refused to kiss me, hug me or let me hold him for several hours. Drake seemed excited to see me, but he’d been sick all weekend, so his listening skills are even sketchier than usual. G. Grod has his hands full over the weekend so I could get time away. I’m very grateful, both to him for the break, and because I have a group of good friends so many years after high school, and that we all made the time and effort for the trip.

Don’t want to check bags? No problem, as long as you’re familiar with the most recent Transportation Security Administration guidelines, updated last year to restrict liquids and gels. Interestingly, though, they are now more lenient with grooming tools such as nail clippers and tweezers.

To sum up, passengers are usually allowed two carryons–a small suitcase and a personal bag. Liquids or gels in carry-on bags going through security must be in 3-oz or smaller containers, and all fit in a quart size zip-top plastic bag. This can be tricky if you’re not checking a bag, and going somewhere longer than overnight. Here’s an ample sample plan, with examples from brands that carry travel sizes:
Toothpaste

Shampoo

Conditioner

Hair product

Face lotion w/ SPF

Night Cream

Body lotion

Eye drops

Deodorant

Hand sanitizer

Mascara

Evian mist

Cortisone cream

Other items for the kit that don’t need to be plastic-bagged:

hairbrush
comb
toothbrush
floss
disposable razor (use it and lose it!)
eyelash curler
lipstick
lip balm
blush
eye pencil
bandages for blisters
tweezers
prescription meds (keep in original bottles for unexpected refills)
decongestant and ibuprofen
multivitamin
hairband
powder
hair elastics

And one of my all-time favorite, most useful products

Dove Sensitive Skin bar

OK, I’m off to test my theory….After about 30 minutes, I’ve got all the stuff from the first list fitting comfortably in a quart bag, and the rest of the stuff in a gallon bag. I tweaked the lists a bit, and I think this should leave me prepared, not weighed down, and get me through security.

I really enjoyed when Guppy was about 6 months old. He smiled but did not yet have teeth, was not yet eating solid foods, and he stayed where I put him. He was soft, round, and very good natured. Over the past year+, he’s gotten fourteen teeth, learned to stand, crawl and walk, and eat like a champ. He also has learned to love many of the same things as his big brother, 4yo Drake, which meant a steep increase in sibling rivalry and fights.

Now, as he hits the 20 month mark, I again notice he’s at a particularly charming age. He’s walking and talking. He loves to smile and wave. He likes to play, and he continues to be soft, round, and very good natured, at least when he doesn’t have a tooth coming in.

I heard once that kids tend to be more easy on the half year than they are near their birthdays. I’m certainly appreciating Guppy’s half years, but since he’s 2 1/2 years younger than Drake, it means that one boy will always be going into a challenging period as one is leaving it. I’ll try to notice how things are with both boys as we manage the next six months.

My friend The Hoff complimented me on my watch today.
I told her it was actually my husband G. Grod’s, and said we were fans of the Nixon watches, and have another apiece, his and hers. Nixon isn’t a common brand. It’s sold mostly in skate and specialty stores. G. and I have often gone Nixon watch shopping on a date; we’ll have dinner and ice cream at Crema Cafe, then head down the stree to Lava Lounge, which carries a good selection of Nixons.

Nixons are well constructed, and have a price tag to match. I was surprised on my last trip to Target to discover a wide selection of men’s fashion watches by Timex and Mossimo. The styles were good, and the prices reasonable, most between $20 and $40.

I had the strangest playdate this morning. My friend The Hoff came over with her son A, who is Drake’s age, and her small infant. 20mo Guppy was at the babysitter’s today. Drake and A played mostly well and on their own, then took off to the basement to watch My Neighbor Totoro and SportsCenter (tough loss for the Bills last night, apparently; ouch!) The baby slept. The Hoff and I had time to sit, drink coffee, and talk.

The boys had fun, we had adult conversation, and the baby had a nap. It was lovely.

For a long weekend, I want to pack light and not check bags, but I don’t want to wear the same things. I want to look nice when I go out, but want to be comfortable walking around. Here’s a theoretical mix-n-match shopping list (for the store or from your closet), all from Target for us budget babes:

Walking shoes: Dress boots:
Skirt: Pant:
Midrise Dark Wash Jean:
Blouse:
Sweater:
Long-sleeve T-shirt:
Fitted Blazer:
Trench Coat:

And to round things out, the basics:

Opaque tights
Bras: two
Socks: three
Underwear: three
Slip

Coming Soon (I hope): Toiletries, and how to follow the TSA guidelines!

#66 in my 2007 movie challenge was Todd Fields’s Little Children, based on the novel by Tom Perotta. This was a dark, well-done film.

Kate Winslet plays a bored stay-at-home mom who falls into an affair with a handsome SAH dad. The suburban and domestic frustrations are squirmingly well depicted. Though I generally dislike voiceover, I thought it worked well here. Jackie Earle Haley was devastating as a convicted pedophile who’s been released from jail. He’s a complex character that could easily have been written or acted too simplistically. There is uneasy tension throughout the movie, especially in regard to the well being of children. I found it interesting that in the end, no children were harmed, though the adults were pretty banged up both physically and emotionally.

I really empathized with a lot of Kate Winslet’s messy-mom tendencies, like not having a healthy snack packed. I also recognized the social tension from the playground moms. A few things didn’t ring true, though. One, all the moms who had 3 to 4 year olds would usually have another child or be pregnant, at least in our neighborhood. Two, I don’t know any mom who can manage to sit on a bench and read a book while her kid plays; I only wish it were that easy to make time to read. And three, Kate Winslet is not believable as a mousy character, even compared to Jennifer Connelly.

These are tiny quibbles, though. The film is quiet but powerful, and has some brute honesty about marriage, children, and societal expectations.

There were some disappointments in the second week of the new fall television season. How I Met Your Mother ’s funniest moments were jokes about New Jersey, which is too easy a target. Heroes has too many bad story lines to maintain momentum for any good ones. Bionic Woman had stilted dialogue and dreadfully trite storylines for Jaime, both on the job and with her sister. Even the scenes with Katee Sackhoff were dull, though “I was hacked” is an intriguing plot thread. I am probably going to give this show one more episode. And Top Chef irked me with its gimmicky, worthless live bits.

I didn’t have time to watch Bones, Reaper, Life, or Dirty Sexy Money, but I’m afraid to risk the time on them. Maureen Ryan didn’t like Reaper, so I’ll probably skip it. Any other advice?

High points were the bittersweet premier of Aliens in America, House and his new crew, Dale’s comeback and near win on Top Chef, the return of 30 Rock with Alec Baldwin’s new reality show, and Creed’s new hair and jargon at the Office.

#44 in my 2007 book challenge was Confessions of a Blabbermouth from the DC Minx line of graphic novels. It’s written by Mike Carey and his 15yo daughter Louise, and illustrated by Aaron Alexovich.

Tasha Flanagan is a mildly rebellious teen blogger. Her mother starts to date a guy Tasha doesn’t like, and he has a daughter that she both likes and hates. Things get tense on a group vacation. Though dark things are hinted at, the reality is much more palatable. Tasha is funny and likeable. The art is manga-influenced, and suits the frenetic pace and mood of the book. Overall, though, this reads more like a book for pre-teens than a book for older teens and adults. It’s enjoyable and clever, but there’s not much depth.

I really liked the final episode, but I really hated the live intermissions. Yes, it was nice that the contestants got to have family and friends there, but still. Waiting this long seems cruel to them, and gimmicky to me. Bravo, do not condescend to me.

Loved the celebrity sous-chefs. Todd English looks even more suspiciously even-featured than Rocco DiSprito, though Rocco looked awfully cute, I thought. Wished they’d brought back Tre and Lia; best of luck to you two. You went before your time, I thought. All the eliminated chefs seemed to do a good job of backing up their Exec. I felt very bad for Casey. The editors highlighted her trouble with the altitude, showing her gasping a few times. And the fact that the only dish they liked of hers was actually executed by Howie had to be a tough blow. But that emphasizes what was so exciting about both the series and the finale–as in any creative endeavor, a combination of inspiration and good fortune can trump technical skill.

I think Hung deserved to win. Two excellent dishes and two good ones is an impressive feat. And while the judges belittled his molten chocolate cake, he was the only contestant this season to be able to pull off a better-than-OK dessert.

I was thrilled by Dale’s strong finish, and hope he’s not out of the chef business much longer.

Yesterday and today have been nigh-perfect weather: 70’s, sunny, low humidity, and few clouds. Here were a few songs that popped into my mental playlist out walking:

Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce
Good Day, Sunshine-The Beatles
Pig Island-Scott Bakula (From Philadelphia Chickens, and because Drake always mentions it when there’s a “very blue sky”)
The Sesame Street theme song (”Sunny Days….”)
Walkin’ on Sunshine-Katrina and the Waves (played to death, I know, but I love it still.)

Nine years ago today, G. Grod and I stumbled blearily across Market Street in Philly to get our first cups of coffee as a married couple. There we found my sisters Ruthie and Sydney, and Syd’s best friend Buffy and her husband Ace. It was a wonderful impromptu morning-after celebration. Thanks for being there, everyone, especially you, G.

When Bill Clinton guested on The Daily Show the other week, he said he thought a lot of the DC political irritability is due to lack of sleep.

Since having one kid, and more so after having a second, I have become a sleep believer. Before, I never napped. I didn’t think I could. Since becoming a parent I’ve learned otherwise. I didn’t or wouldn’t nap because I was anxious and felt I should be doing something else. Now I know that there are few things that “should” be done ahead of sleep. There’s a reason it’s on the base of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, along with eating, drinking, and breathing.

Merlin at 43 Folders shows some love for the nap, too. I’d never heard of dropping the spoon, but I’ve always thought drool is the best proof of nap.

43 Folders has some great ideas on email-box management called Inbox Zero that I need to start now. But then, I’ve said that before, way back when I only had 580 emails in my inboxes. Now I’ve got over 700. Sigh.