Things the Steelers Ruined for Me, 2009 Edition

So, the Steelers' record rests at six-and-six, and the playoffs loom ahead as opportunity for teams who haven't blown their fair share of fourth quarter leads over the past three months. We in Steeler Nation collectively weep into our beer-stained Terrible Towels and cry out in despair, "Why? Oh, the talent wasted! Oh, Troy, please come back and save us with your superhuman-ness! What the heck kind of defense is that? Are you seriously telling me we can't score a touchdown in the red zone against the Oakland Raiders? Oh, spare us from this never-ending nightmare!" (If you think this is exaggeration, you clearly have never done busniess with a die-hard Steeler fan...)

While some might wonder where to put that frustration, I will place mine squarely into this blog post, so appropriately titled. Here, dear friends, are the things now ruined for me - at least for the time being:

**My morning routine. I can no longer watch "Mike and Mike" on ESPN or, conversely, listen to them in my car on my way to court. No, they might inadvertently mention the NFL season and that could send me straight into apoplexy. Now, I have no direction while drinking my coffee and flip mindlessly through the channels trying desperately to avoid all sports information like the plague. When I come out of bed in the morning, Greenie and Golic don't greet me anymore like they have in the recent past. Ol' Scotty P. has that ridiculous Robin Meade from HLN blaring her cheesy pageant smile and I just can't take it for a minute. My whole start to the day wrecked. Thanks a bunch, black and gold.

**Christmas. You just know there will be packages under the tree filled with Steelers' trinkets and wares. And while I still love 'em with a white hot passion, every sight of black and gold memorabalia is currently like a kinfe in the gut, a reminder of what could have been. I'm sure this feeling may diminish in the next few weeks - especially if there happen to be at least a couple of wins mixed in there - but right now, this is where I am and I can't help it. (And I know I'm not alone, either.)

**Weekends in January. As if the post-holiday depression and weight gain isn't bad enough, I am slowy coming to the sad realization that my weekends will be devoid of football games about which I actually care. Nothing to look forward to when the tree comes down and the presents put away. No hope for that extra game in February. Gone, all gone. Blah.

**My motivation to cook dinner. I don't get any domestic traits honestly, so for me to actually get into the kitchen and cook takes some doing. Usually, I can put on "Around the Horn" (aka "Sports Shouting" for all you 30 Rock fans!) and listen to Woody and the fellows debate while whipping up one of my signature dishes - of which I only have several. All the sports stimuli truly gets me into the culinary spirit and, dare I say it, I find it enjoyable - especially when "Pardon the Interruption" follows. As you might guess, I can't watch these shows anymore and, thus, I have zero drive to cook anything. I hope we don't starve. I really, really do. But unless something turns around on the gridiron, I can't promise anything.

**My will to live. Just kidding - come on, now! I know I'm crazy about those stinky Steelers, but I haven't completely lost it! Especially when you consider there are still four more games on the schedule and if all the stars aligned just so and several AFC teams got lost on their way to the stadiums on Sunday afternoon and perhaps a few of them took pity on Pittsburgh and forfeited, we're still alive for a Wild Card spot!! Here We Go, Pittsburgh - Stairway to Seven, baby!!

Wants and Needs

This time of year, one might be tempted to give in to the urges from advertisers that you "NEED" this or that or some other thing. One may find oneself bombarded with catalogues from Sears and Lands End and Bass Pro Shops every time the mailbox is opened. To combat this I shop consistently all year long, so that this time of year is no harder or easier than, say, the middle of March.

But I kid - kind of. It is easy to get caught up in looking around to marvel at all the stuff out there from which to choose. Sometimes, in the grocery store, I get a slight panic attack when I realize just how much food is in there. I remember the stories of foreigners from, say, the old Soviet Union who visited American supermarkets to nearly faint at the sheer amount of fresh food available at all times with no rations or shortages. These tales play through my head as I push my cart around and around and past all the aisles of wares I've never even looked at, let alone eaten. (An aside: I hate the grocery store. This is only one of many reasons why.)

As if this wasn't enough, Christmas piles on the pressure, even though it is often subtle. I'm fairly adept at ignoring most ploys, but sometimes I find myself pulled into a pile of overpriced sweatshirts and actually consider whether to purchase one. Then, I may see a pretty charm bracelet placed ever so conveniently next to this display and think, "Hmm. That would match so nicely." Before you can blink, I've racked up a potential price tag of over one hundred dollars.

Is it the soft Christmas music playing and the warm, homey smells of the small store? Why do I suddenly feel that I simply can not leave without these trinkets? I don't know how to answer this, but I quickly come to my senses and realize these are not necessities - especially at over one hundred dollars. Good golly!

Yes, that red sweatshirt and silver bracelet might be things I want - especially at that moment. But when I return home to find two excited pups and one smiling husband waiting for me, I understand precisely how much those things do not matter.

I do have all the things I need right here. All year 'round.

Impending Holiday Mayhem

It's Mashed Potato Season - aka Thanksgiving and Christmas-time. Time for frantic holiday traveling schedules and overindulgence of food and drink. And I, for one, can't wait! Bring it on!

But, the hidden excitement for me in this time of year lies in the cinema. The quality films are set to debut, and there are more than a few I am anxious to see. Even though the list is mainly high-brow, there are several movies destined for no bigger an award than the MTV movie popcorn man - and I'm not ashamed to admit that. Don't count out a pleasure just because it happens to be guilty!

**The Twilight Saga - New Moon: Okay. Spare me the criticism. I have plenty of problems with Ms. Meyer's books and that could be a series of blog posts itself. But, no one could accuse her of not telling a damn fine story or failing to invent intriguing characters. And I might be the only person on the planet who found the "Twilight" movie somewhat more fascinating than the first book - it could be the stylistic director, Catherine Hardwicke of "Thirteen" fame, or the mystique of Robert Pattinson's oddness. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but it somehow penetrated my subconscious and, thus, I am looking forward to the next installment in a way even I had not anticipated. While I won't be able to muddle through crowds of squealing teens on the first weekend, I will catch it eventually. (FYI: I'm Team Jacob. Big time. How is that even a debate?)

**The Blind Side: My big weakness when it comes to movies? Sports stories. Even better? Football films. This true tale of Michael Oher's life and eventual draft into the NFL could be only mediocre and I guarantee I'll still shed tears. The trailer alone is kind of a weeper. But, the early reviews are that it's quite good and after reading a story about the real adoptive mother, Sandra Bullock's Leigh Ann Tuohy, and how she's such a pistol even Ms. Bullock was intimidated when meeting her, I'm so looking forward to this one. Strangely enough, "serious" movies are often uber-depressing and realistic. We already know this one comes out with a happy ending and so you can look forward to two hours of goodness.

**Precious: Definitely designed to make you squirm and think rather than feel good about yourself, this award season front-runner is high on my short list. Helmed by an unknown youngster, Gabourey Sidibie, and comic Mo'Nique, this is a dark inner-city tale of an abused teenager surrounded by poverty and bleakness. The acting is rumored to be devestating and the melodrama nearly on the brink. Having said that, one can guess my husband is hardly interested, as the trailer alone is way "too real" for him. As for me, I am pretty much frothing at the mouth to get my ticket. It can't get "too real" for me, as evidenced by my love of documentaries and films like "Sherrybaby." And I'm rooting for director Lee Daniels to become only the second African American nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards. (John Singleton for "Boyz 'n the Hood" in 1991 is the first - and only, at this point. And a bit of trivia for you: Lee Daniels is openly gay, a fact which would make his nomination doubly influential in terms of Oscar history.)

**Invictus: The true story of Nelson Mandela, played by perennial good guy Morgan Freeman, and the inspirational 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, this one is destined to be fantastic. If you don't know the almost too-good-to-be-true tale - which I didn't until the Espy awards this past summer - Nelson Mandela basically united a bloody, torn, damaged nation through rugby. While that is incredibly overly simplistic to the point of being offensive, I think we should all just see this Clint Eastwood movie. (What screams "Oscar" like Clint Eastwood?) To drive home the point - Matt Damon stars as the rugby team captain. Ahhh...what could be better than that?

**Brothers: After seeing the trailer while watching "Public Enemies" I became obsessed with this tale of two brothers, Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire, and their war-influenced love triangle with one brother's wife, Natalie Portman. Again, this looks disturbing and dramatic and...awesome. It might not win any awards, but I'll be the judge of whether it wins a spot in my DVD collection. (Early odds indicate yes.)

**Up in the Air: I truly don't know many details about this new George Clooney film. But, knowing it stars George Clooney, what other details do you really need?

And I'll see you at the movies...after the last helping of mashed potatoes, naturally.

Spooktacular, Spooktacular

It's the most wonderful time of the year: fall. The weather and leaves and smells are all great. But, really, it's the football which truly makes it all perfection. Our weekends in Morgantown for WVU games have simply been heavenly and this past Sunday, we capped it off with a bonus trip to Heniz Field to jeer Brett Favre to his first loss of the season. My sincere inner peace at this simple feat can not be exaggerated. There are no words. It. Was. Awesome.

Anyway, now it's all downhill to Halloween, which is one of my favorite holidays, even though I don't always get to dress-up anymore and my trick-or-treating is a past memory. But, I do make it a fine tradition to scare myself silly with some spooky flicks. I can enjoy the traditional "Halloween" and "Nightmare on Elm Street" and I'm not squeamish when it comes to gore. I had a fine time with "Sorority Row" and "Last House on the Left" - both the old and new versions. But, I thought I'd share some of my real favorites - not just movies, but true films:

**The Exorcist: Simply put, it's the single best, most frightening film ever made. Even now, having watched it a million times, I appreciate the underlying horror in every frame. The director's version with that new shot of the "backward stair-walk" caused me sleeplessness for a few days - and I was in my twenties.

**Rosemary's Baby: My absolute favorite in the genre, the tone of this movie is one I find most interesting. I've watched it so many times, I can recite the dialogue by memory. Mia Farrow is absolute perfcection. That devil rape scene? Pretty darn disturbing.

**The Sixth Sense: Nothing compares to the first time, but even after you know the reveal, the whole film holds up well. It's a modern masterpiece, I think.

**The Shining: Oh, Jack, you are something else. Nothing compares to the book for sheer terror, but this film, with its eerie wide shots and haunting score still gets under my skin. Classic.

**Picnic at Hanging Rock: Not your regular horror film at all, but if you have not seen this Peter Weir marvel, you should. It's got the creepiest foreboding dread and will certainly stick with you. Nothing outrageous happens, but I don't like to watch it by myself.

I hope to add to this list, as "Paranormal Activity" has arrived in Asheville. I love when tiny films like that take everyone by surprise. I also read a story that when Stepen Spielberg screened the DVD at this home, he walked into his hallway and found his bathroom door locked, which caused him to believe the DVD was haunted. Now, that's a movie I must watch!

Have a Ghoulishy Wicked Halloween. Don't get too scared!

Second Verse, Same as the First!

It always amazes me how everything runs on a cycle and there really are no new ideas. (Except possibly in Quentin Tarantino's mind, which is another topic entirely.) Witness the latest installment of rewind: the television series "V."

There are several distinct examples of obsession from my childhood which reign above all the other more minor ones - my desire to be a red-headed orphan ala Annie, my bonnet-wearing days where I hoped to gain buck teeth and morph into Laura Ingalls, and then my love of lizard-skinned aliens in the "V" miniseries and the weekly serial. When I first saw those scaley skins under the fake human facade, I fell instantly in love - and to me, that does not mean that I just enjoyed the program a little bit. Oh no, when Steph finds something she loves, all bets are off: it's pure, unadulterated infatuation from that point forward.

To put this into perspective, I will tell you a little tale of my fifth grade year: I spent every recess putting on grand reproductions of "V" on the playground. Because I started the idea, I got to be Mike Donovan, played by the dreamy (to me at the time) Marc Singer. I knew the most about the "V" world and I brought the weapons to school, so I was in charge. (I realize that today, bringing fake guns to the schoolyard would get me expelled and possibly thrown into juvie. Let this be a lesson to the over-reactors out there: I am today a functioning member of society. Who at ten years old chased my classmates trying to stun them into submission every afternoon with a white plastic weapon. I think we can all see that not every kid with pretend artillery turns into Columbine-like murderers. It's worse. They could turn into attorneys.)

Anyway, I decided recess was not enough time to carry on my charade. So, I started inhabiting my role of Mike Donovan all day, everyday in school. I would not respond to "Stephanie" anymore - only Mike. I wrote Mike Donovan on my papers and talked in class incessantly about "V" and my theories on the plotlines. My less-than-desirable teacher wrote a note home to my mom about my behavior, but I don't think my mom ever got that note because what dumb-ass teacher gives a kid a note to deliver to their mother? Seriously. (I later got in trouble for that because, apparantly, if a dumb-ass teacher writes a note for a parent and hears no response, they assume the note never reached its intended destination. Oh well - I say I get points for trying, anyway...)

This was the first time in quite forever since I had really fit in at school and had any friends. Kids in my class would approach me on the playground and ask if they could be in "V" with me. Kids from other classes started to show interest, too. If I didn't like them much, I made them faceless, nameless aliens who would be gunned down unmercilessly at any given time. I waited with baited breath for Friday nights to spend that glorious hour watching "V" and planning my attack for Monday morning. It was a great highlight in my history, I can tell you.

Of course, nothing lasts forever. Pretty soon, I had to give up my daily acting (against my will, I might add) and go back to answering to my given name. It got cold outside in western Pennsylvania, so the days of gunning down aliens ended. I still loved "V" but came to a conclusion: not everybody was as "into" it as me. (This lesson has served me well throughout my life, too. Just because I spend every waking minute thinking about something I love a lot does not mean other people share my exuberance.)

And now, after all these years of re-watching grainy VHS tapes and upgraded DVD versions, there is a new installment ready to appear. Could it be any better than that old one? Probably yes, to a new generation. No doubt the special effects will have improved - though that fact alone makes me a little sad. I hold a special fondness for those old shaky sets. There won't be any Marc Singer in the cast (that I know of) but we do have Scott Wolf of "Party of Five" fame on board and Juliet from "LOST" so I don't think it's all bad.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. But for me, as I hearken back to those old days of "V" and the love I hold for it, I have an inkling I'll be dusting off the old version and popping that into the DVD player more than I will be transfixed by this new one. We'll see, of course. I'll try to post an update of my reaction after I've seen it. Until then, if I can get my hands on any plastic weapons, would anyone care to join me in my backyard for a game of chase-the-alien-and-stun-it-into-submission? No? Okay.

I didn't think so, really, but it was worth a shot.

Stuff I Learned From the Boob Tube

And "they" say TV will rot your brain...whoever "they" are anyway:

**If you are married to a man who never lets you see him naked and has a strange past history, you very well could be married to a woman pretending to be a man. This seems quite preposterous, but I've heard it time and time again and it's even been on Oprah - not just once, but several times. And for crying out loud, everyone knows Oprah only deals in hard cold facts. So, do whatever you need to do out there to protect yourself from these types of con artists. Because this would be a hard thing to explain to the friends and family, you know?

**If you happen to be in front of Judge Judy for any reason, don't put your hands in your pockets. This ticks her off. As do a slew of other inexplicable behaviors, like trying to explain your side in a case. But, really, if you've decided that Judge Judy is the proper arbitor of any contested matter, then that's on you.

**If, by chance, you have killed a spouse in a certain way (i.e. drowning them in a hot tub/bathtub or pushing them from a mountain) and seemingly gotten away with said crime (i.e. you are free to marry again) don't decide to kill the new spouse in the same manner in which you offed the first one. It's suspicious. You tend to raise a few eyebrows. Then, they just tack on the first murder to the second, and that doesn't do your chances at acquittal any justice.

**In keeping with the above example, there are numerous creative ways to murder someone. Most are extremely effective, especially the slow poisoning. Or the fake robbery set-up with a dead witness. Or an axe to the head. Unfortunately, most killers get caught. But, at least give yourself a fighting chance by not using too much repetition.

**People don't understand that when you have a child, you are responsible for teaching them right from wrong. Small humans aren't necessarily programmed to just do what you tell them to do. You actually have to instruct them using this method called reinforcement and punishment. In this case, repetition is not only recommended, it is crucial. If you don't do this properly, there are several options available to you: Supernanny, Nanny 911, or learning the proper etiquette for jailhouse visits. I guess it's up to you, but I'd just go with common sense and realize that a kid is not the boss of me.

**Attorneys are not, as a general rule, attractive people who should be allowed before the camera, even if it's only for a lame bit about "getting money for you." Seriously, it's just one more example of my belief that we ought to go back to our roots and bring back the powdered wigs and costumes to the courthouses. Because some of these jokers who want to represent you need a serious makeover. And a good diet plan.

**Late at night, people will plunk down their had-earned cash for just about any piece of crap you want to sell them. Witness the popularity of the "Snuggie." And the "Snuggie for Dogs." I really think these people are just up late buying trinkets from infomercials because they are drunk off their asses. And speaking from experience, you've got to be pretty loaded before this stuff looks so appealing that you just can't wait 'til morning to call in that order.

So, stay tuned folks - because the life lessons just keep on coming! And they can't, they won't, and they don't stop!!

Happiness Abounds

As promised, it's not all Negative Nelly around here - there are plenty of things for which I'm super-duper happy and I'm not afraid to say it!

**No list can be complete without mention of my two best friends - the dogs. After little Beagle Gracie suffered a seizure at the vet's office two weeks ago, I realize how deeply I care for both pooches. And though that experience was scary, it put things in perspective and I see how precious each day is. I'm thankful I have such terrific pets and such a fun little family with whom I can spend my days.

**I'm glad for my love of documentary filmmaking. I can't be sure where it started, but I have a very early memory of sitting in my parents' living room at about seven years of age watching a documentary on PBS about a Holocaust survivor re-visiting some of the camps in Germany as a grown woman. The impact of that has stayed with me and now, I am riveted by documentaries and the often painful stories they tell. The insights I've gained from such films are undescribable, and I'm grateful I can appreciate this often under-appreciated film medium.

**Although I often complain about having gone to law school and deciding upon that particular career, I am quite happy that I have such a degree and opportunity in my back pocket should I ever need it. Sometimes I don't think of it as a benefit - more as a curse or some sort of embarrassment. But, in reality, it's not something I'd give up. I might change some of my choices here and there as they relate to my career, but the main decision I'd probably keep the same.

**Above most other things, I am supremely happy to be lucky enough to have grown up in the Pittsburgh area. At one point in my life, I would not likely have counted this as a blessing. You really don't appreciate things as much as you should until they are removed from you. Now, this is such a large part of my heritage and I am most proud of it.

Thanks For Nothin...

Sometimes, it is rewarding to think of all the things in your life for which you are grateful and take a moment to ponder life's gifts, both big and small. This is not one of those times.

Thanks for nothin':

**West Virginia PowerBall. Yet again, you let me down with your picking numbers which did not match the ones the computer picked for me. Now, I have to continue with my life's goals to make money and retire like a normal person with such goals. No magic dream vacation to some private island where I sip Mojitos all day long whilst laying about in the sun on a perfect beach of bliss. No endless shopping trips to the Kate Spade store where I get to buy things full-price and not off eBay. No payoff checks for my mortgage. No RV to drive to Mountaineer football games. Yeah, thanks for nothin'.

**Pittsburgh Steelers. You, upon whom I pin my entire week's happiness, can't seem to honor me with a win lately. I know you can't win them all. I'm not asking to win them all. How about winning more than you lose? How about that? Huh? Don't you know I am only one of millions in Steeler Nation whose entire Sunday night may be ruined after you allow the pitiful Bungals to score a touchdown after two consecutive 4th and 10 conversions? Yeah. Ugh.

**WVU Mountaineers. Okay, you aren't so bad as the Steelers. Yet. Let's keep it that way and forget that dreadful rainy performance in Alabama a week ago. Please.

**Academy Awards. Seriously, I wait all year for this night - which is bigger than most other nights in my life (unless the Steelers are in the Super Bowl which, at this point, looks like a longer shot than the West Virginia PowerBall, making the Oscars the premiere event of the winter in the Poling household) and I work diligently to see all nominated films. Now, you expand the field to ten nominees for Best Picture, so that unworthy commercial projects can be included and further reinforce the idea that the public's opinion is the same as critical opinion. Now, I love a dumb, guilty pleasure as much as or more than the next person - I mean, I own the movie "Hush" with Gwyneth Paltrow and I love that movie and no one will ever accuse it of being quality filmmaking. But come on. We don't need any more attention paid to these projects. Why mess with something which works for the most part and which makes me happy? Don't you know I am change-adverse? Please come to your senses after this year and change it back, so my little world can return to normal.

**Brett Favre. Can't you just suck in your umpteenth comeback so I could have that small bit of atonement? Maybe later? Okay.

All right, I think I'm done now. Whew. Feels better, I'll tell you that. Next up, I will accentuate the positive. For real.

Grow Up and Eat Some Scones

Football season is mercifully upon us - thank goodness for small miracles! It's been a long, hard summer filled with endless replays of the Super Bowl - I just about have the on-field calls and announcers' play-by-play memorized, which means it really and truly is time for some new games to be played. Tomorrow the NFL will kick off at Heinz Field, where the defending world champions will get to business creating new magical memories for another season. Until then, around here it's all Mountaineers all the time...

Over the past weekend, WVU opened their first Pat White-less season in recent memory with a win at home - and, wouldn't you know it, it took me moving from Morgantown all the way to North Carolina to score season tickets to the 'Eers! Now, for every home game, I will watch WVU live and in person at Mountaineer Field and I will treasure every minute of it. I even came home with a new motto: "If you're lucky enough to drink a Heineken in the Blue Lot at 9:00 on a sunny Saturday morning surrounded by thousands of crazed Mountaineer fans, some of whom look as if they haven't yet been to bed, you're lucky enough."

But I digress. As many tailgates as I've attended over the past decade and a half (and I stress the word MANY) this one took the cake. It wasn't that the cast of characters had changed that much - a few additions and several old standbys from the good old days. It wasn't just that I got to park in the Blue Lot and sit in box seats - though that helped. It clearly was that I have changed. Dare I say it out loud lest it be true: I think I may have grown up.

We ate omelets and fruit salad and had a table and a tent and a small stove, set up by people who weren't out boozing until 3:00 in the morning. In fact, our tailgating crew was up bright eyed and ready at 7:00, not hungover at all. We drank cold beer out of actual coolers. I brought scones for crying out loud. Scones. I doubt I even knew such things existed several years ago when tailgating equaled someone stopping off at Sheetz to lug a case of Natural Light to the parking lot.

Yes, we truly were among the adults. And I belonged there. And it felt awesome. It's taken a while for me to make this transition, as I've spent so many years of my life in school or getting back into school, surrounded by students younger and wilder than me. (Okay, maybe not wilder, but certainly younger...)

Everywhere I turned, I saw families with small kids, indoctrinating them as they should into the Mountaineer traditions. Dads threw footballs with their sons, little girls bounced around in their replica WVU cheerleader outfits, moms sipped cocktails and their husbands grilled hot dogs and downed Bud Light. They've been there all along in the Blue Lot, kids growing up this way and fans bleeding gold and blue. Only, this was my first time as a part of it, to really see it through new eyes.

It often feels that things stay stagnant, that there is no meaningful change. But this time, I can say the change in me is remarkable. I'm not a different person entirely, but I do feel I've turned a corner I'm not sure I had foreseen I would.

And it seems right. I can't wait to get back there this weekend, to share another day of comraderie at Milan Puskar Stadium. I haven't decided what I will contribute to the tailgate yet, but the fact I am bringing something of worth is in itself a step forward. And even though I did see a beer bong after the game ended, I am confident I won't be on the receiving end of that. Those days are behind me. I am now (mostly) a grown-up.

At the tailgates, anyway. As for the rest of my life, we'll have to just wait and see...

They Went About As Far As They Can Go

It's no secret I love 90210 - the old, vintage one, not the new, slick one. For Christmas, much to his chagrin, my husband bought me three seasons of good old 90210 on DVD. Lately, I've been pathologically addicted to Season 5, which is (in my expert opinion) the best, juiciest, most delicious season ever.

This should suprprise no one who even remotely knows me since Kelly's cocaine days are the highlight of the entire series! I could go on about this, analyzing my admiration for this season's highlights (Valerie's evil turn sleeping with Ray Pruit, Kelly burning up in that frat house fire and getting mixed up in Professor Findlay's cult of "evolution", Dylan's bad-ass trip to Mexico to rescue Erica, etc.) but I will spare you any more gory details of major plot points.

Last night, I realized there is even another reason to adore Season 5 and that would be the hidden reference to "Oklahoma!" Now, it also should surprise no one how much I adored being a part of the Parkway Playhouse's cast of "Oklahoma!" over the summer. I have only recently ceased my near-daily replay of the soundtrack on my iPod, but still admit to random snippets of the performance in my home - you could find me with a certain Beagle and Chessie singing "Farmer and the Cowman" while enjoying a little jig...

Anyhow, in a conversation between Andrea and Peter - the doc with whom she's having a not-very-secret affair while Jesse is off interviewing for judge clerkships all over the country - she mentioned casually that one potential job might take Jesse to Kansas City. In response, Peter says, "I hear everything's up to date there!"

HAH!! Who knew those 90210 writers were so savvy? Not me, I tell you - not until last night. When I heard that, I swear that I sat straight up on the couch, disturbing two snoring dogs snuggled with me, and my mouth flew wide open. Had I heard that right? Had one of my favorite shows really and truly referenced the single greatest experience of my entire life? Upon rewind, I was pleasantly reassured that, yes, it had. As if Season 5 didn't have enough highpoints, I had found one more.

It only goes to show that just when you think things couldn't get any better...you get an off-hand "Oklahoma!" comment and they do. While this might not work for everyone out there, it sure brightened my evening.

It might not take much to make me happy, but I can't apologize for that - there are 3 more discs of Season 5 to relish! Game on!!

Yes, I Can!!

Below you will find the sure-fire tips to successful home canning, developed by none other than...me. (**Note: These steps will take between 8 and 12 hours to complete, so be prepared.)

Step One: Pick your vegetable of choice. For me, it's tomatoes. Endless piles of smelly tomatoes, lined up as far as the eye can see...

Step Two: Pick out the ripest ones and discard the gross ones. Try not to throw up due to weak stomach and dislike for tomatoes. Wash the vegetables and lay them out to dry on a clean dishtowel.

Step Three: Realize you don't have enough clean dishtowels, so begin a load of laundry to get ready for task at hand. Also realize you have never washed that cute little purple Woodstock tank top and decide you want to take that on the weekend trip to Morgantown and wash that too. Also realize you may need the new jean skirt clean to complete the outfit. Decide to start with the delicates, so you'll be ready for next weekend - since you'll spend most of your waking moments between now and then on the tomatoes.

Step Four: Wait for the laundry to dry. Spend said time reading the third novel in the "Twilight Saga" even though you are just about sick to death of Bella's longing and whining. Nevertheless, decide that "Eclipse" is a way better book than the first two and begin to strategize how to get your hands on that fourth one as soon as possible.

Step Five: Look longingly at tomatoes on counter. Make a pouty face.

Step Six: Find something delightful on television to occupy your mind. Discover an episode of "Law & Order:SVU" and watch the first few minutes. Come to conclusion that the tomatoes can wait until the episode is over.

Step Seven: Who are you kidding? Everyone knows you can't watch just one episode of "Law & Order:SVU." Get comfortable!

Step Eight: Get tired of the couch and meander to the kitchen. Boil water.

Step Nine: Find a good-ass movie (or several) to keep you company for the duration. Try to stick with themes from the DVD collection. One real-life example might be "fun teen flicks" like Cruel Intentions and Mean Girls. Another might be "instant modern classics" like Boogie Nights and Jackie Brown. This step is absolutely, positively the most crucial part of turning canning into a pleasant experience. If this step goes awry, it is literally all down hill from here. Do not ignore my warnings.

Step Ten: Soak tomatoes in boiling water and begin the arduous task of peeling and cutting. Make a huge mess on the counter and watch as tomato juice spills down the cabinets and onto the floor. Marvel at the quickness of a beagle to lick spilled juice from floor and thus become permanent fixture in kitchen as she impatiently awaits more spillage.

Step Eleven: Boil mason jars for 5 minutes to prepare to fill them with boiled tomatoes. Become anal about these steps as one does not wish to cause botulism.

Step Twelve: Decide that time has come to begin drinking due to extreme heat in kitchen. Rummage through all available brands of beer in refrigerator to determine just the right one. Real-life examples might include a nice Blue Moon or Yuengling.

Step Thirteen: Skip this step due to superstition.

Step Fourteen: Watch tomatoes boil. Remove jars from water with special tongs and avoid splashing hot water on self. Fail at the last step and cuss as water burns small patches on skin.

Step Fifteen: Fill jars with tomatoes. Replace in boiling water. Notice water seems less hot. Cuss as you see that burner is not working (again) and try to slide burner back into position without placing bare hand on scorching metal. Cuss profusely as sweat seeps into eyes and makes job much more miserable.

Step Sixteen: Finally get burner to work and start timer for 40 minutes. Begin clean-up process. Continue the drinking for sanity's sake.

Step Seventeen: Throw all tomato residue into bag to be dumped into the "Comp-gross" pile. Stick said bag outside to wait for husband to actually dump it due to aforementioned weak stomach.

Step Eighteen: Sit back and take a load off, admiring all the hard work you were able to accomplish in the past 10 or so hours. Decide as you sit that you are absolutely disgusting and head for the shower.

Step Nineteen: Get ready to do it all again tomorrow, due to the endless piles of tomatoes that await you...

**Adendum: Shortly before this writing, but after the idea for this writing, that sad little broken burner actually burnt itself out for good. Thus, the tomato canning has been put on indefinite hold until a solution can be reached. Updates will be provided as new information is received. Until then, it looks like "Eclipse" and movie classics uninterrupted by stinking tomatoes!! Cheers!

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

What I did (and did NOT do, since updating my blog certainly falls into that second category!) over my summer vacation:

**I did not reflect constantly on my life, obsess over the way things could all fall apart dramatically at any moment, worry, or otherwise occupy myself with negativity. Instead, I chose to live for the moment, make spontaneous decisions (like buying a pair of Calvin Klein jean shorts...full price...not on any sale...and with relatively minor guilt after talking myself into doing so) and just concentrate on day-to-day happiness. This is easier than one might think, once a pattern is begun.

**I spent two glorious, forever-treasured months in the cast of "Oklahoma!" at The Parkway Playhouse and, honestly, it changed my life. Something opened up in my brain and screamed out, "HEY!! Remember how you used to linger in this creative outlet all the time? Wake up and get back to it!!" If I could become a permanent, lifetime member of this cast, I totally would. I might be one of only several other members (and you know who you are) but I wish I could relive it. I also spent enough energy relishing every moment of it that I don't feel regret or sadness when I dwell on those memories. I only feel joy.

**I took minor setbacks in stride and learned it doesn't make a bit of difference in the long run anyway. It does, however, help in the moment to make my life easier and more enjoyable.

**I cheered loud and clear for the Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup win and found great joy in being a member, albeit however far-removed, of the City of Champions.

**I turned 35 years old and realized I need to get my life on track. Instead of lamenting over this decision, I also formulated a plan and, so far, have kept the plan on track. (I also got a Wii for my birthday and will attempt to balance my future plans with playing Madden. Goals abound, you see!)

**I became a bit addicted to Guitar Hero while at my sister's house and have (so far) resisted buying one of my own so as not to derail the aforementioned plans for my future.

**I made some good friends in my new town who reminded me there are places I do indeed fit in and make a contribution.

**I took holidays, relaxed, laughed, and soaked up every ounce of exuberant joy I possibly could.

Of course, there are always constants, which are necessary. One thing I have yet to figure out: Brett Favre. As I've always claimed, I will be dead and he'll still be playing quarterback in the NFL.

Maybe, to spin that into a positive, I should be thankful - it looks like I have one more year left in me!!

Mortal Words

Every day you live, you are technically closer to death. Sobering thought. It reminds me of when I worked in the psychiatric hospital with the inpatient adolescents. We had one particularly inquisitive young lady who would walk around the unit and ask, "Am I going to die?" over and over and...over. Again. All day long.

One day, a clever medical resident answered her with, "Why, yes, you are. Someday. We all are going to die." Though it startled (and amused) me at the time, it also seemed to calm the poor kid down. And it's often replayed in my head over the years because it's simple and true: yes, we are all going to die.

You just hope you can go out with dignity and at an appropriate age. That last part is always funny to me because, the older you get, the younger that age seems to feel once you reach it. Doubtful you'll ever turn over a birthday and think, "Well, this is an appropriate age to die! See ya later then!"

Today, I discovered that despite my youthful appearance, mental age of twelve years, and tendency to wear my hair in a ponytail, I am getting older. I've begun to face up to the fact: as much as I'd hoped never to grow up and mature, I can't help but age.

Cooincidently, HBO Documentary Films is debuting their series on Alzheimer's disease. I've TiVo'd all the episodes, but I haven't brought myself to watch them yet. Tonight, I"ve started down that road and discovered how depressing and fascinating it all is. The idea of growing old is not scary in and of itself - but the thought of losing your sense of spirit is terrifying.

It's that last part which causes the fear. What happens when you no longer remember those tidbits of memories which make you who you are? What do you really become then?I hope desperately that I won't ever find out - not that I"d really know in that state whether or not I knew. But...still. It's all just another good reason to write my thoughts down, to keep faith in words. Later on down the road, I might appreciate it more that I could ever imagine.

And if not, I'm certain it will provide a chuckle here or there - whether from me, or those closest to my heart.

Guess What? I'm Back, Baby!

I've begun to emerge from my long fog of "word hiatus" and thus, my posts should go on from here as previously scheduled. In the past month, I have experienced/realized/enountered the following:

**I re-examined my mental health and decided it needed attention. And I am giving it its due care. Have you heard how much I love therapy? I could literally go everyday...and I"m not kidding. (Though, my plan only includes weekly sessions...for the time being.)

**I've immensely enjoyed the Penguins' playoff success...and thorougly detested their recent loss in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals...and I have faith they can pull out a win in Game 7 to advance. Let's Go Pens! (Amidst the warm, spring weather, I feel a draw toward cold Canadian hinterlands this time of year and find myself cheering for "blood on the ice!")

**I visited Twin Peaks on several weekends, from the comfort of my cozy new bed. And though I never left my home, the trip was as "trippy" as I remembered and more so. I will visit again in the future, I am certain. (Thank goodness for the Definitive Gold DVD Box Set - David Lynch, I could kiss you!)

**My job became almost unbearably ridiculous, but this has motivated me to get my act together and think about my future. This thinking stage could last a while, but it's a new start anyway.

**The sunny days have been heaven and I've noticed the greenest greenery around me, awakening me from my "winter coma" just in time for new flip-flops and sundresses. (Of each, I have purchased several versions and I relish the chance to wear them!)

**Brett Favre insists on continued torment of my psyche and I've decided he should concentrate a bit more on his own emotional health, as I think he may be mentally ill. I try so hard to ignore his repeated attempts at harrassment. I've only mildly succeeded, as expected. Really? Deja vu all over again...

**I have a renewed focus on my writing. And I vow to keep it, no matter what happens in the next month, or two or three.

Ahhh, the sweeness of a rejuvenated soul!

Life Just Is...

I'm up and ready to go - though not by choice. The past few weeks have been a struggle, internally and outwardly. It's tough sometimes to push yourself to keep going and going when all you'd like to do is crawl under the covers with a good DVD marathon (like, Twin Peaks or 90210's Fourth Season).

Nothing bad happened, no trauma. Just life. Sometimes, that's enough to drive someone back to bed for a while. I am confident it will pass and as the days get warmer and longer and brighter, my energy and mood will follow right along.

Until then, I'll count my many blessings and keep right on "keepin' on." The week's bright spots will help: NHL hockey playoffs and the Pens' upcoming match-up with Philly, a new book to read.

And my sincere belief in all things rosy.

Anniversary of Sorts

It really stinks when you have to work harder than you would like and it robs you of your fun time. I can't exactly complain because my job is flexible and mostly cake, but still. I like to blog, read, watch movies, and screw off on the internet better than I like to work - even at a flexible, cake job.

But, enough of that. A year ago this week, on the eve of the NCAA men's basketball final, I decided to start a blog. The next day, before the Monday night activities, I wrote my very first blog post. I hoped this exercise would get me writing more, hopefully push me into a motivated, disciplined state. I had big, fantastical dreams of getting that memoir finished or being discovered, plucked from obscurity and handed a super-duper contract for my unique, insighful ideas.

Okay, not really. But I did hope to better my written skills and become a more consistent writer. I think it probably has happened, to an extent. I find myself more expressive, more often. I no longer have fear of others reading my work. My writing has become (I think) more streamlined, my words chosen carefully to be succinct.

Mostly, this blog provides a real opportunity to connect with other people. I've had some random comments from strangers, which shows folks stumbled upon my words and read them all the way through. That is kind of scary and neat all at the same time.

So, hopefully the next year will bring even more fun. And hopefully, that basketball game tomorrow night will be just as exciting as last year. I know I live in North Carolina right now, but...Go Spartans!

Dancing Stars of Nonsense

I have a love/hate relationship with several things and though I try to keep it under control, I just can't sometimes. Such is the case with "Dancing With the Stars."

After last time, I swore off the whole thing. Brooke Burke and her do-nothingness drove me to the brink of insanity, and the judges are ridiculous. (Except Bruno, who is kind of awesome.) I really and truly meant the words, "I'm not watching anymore. That is it."

And then I saw the new lineup of stars and, well, damn it. I had to tune in. Shawn Johnson, for crying out loud. The only other way they could hook me bigger would be a Pittsburgh Steeler. Gymnastics is my other true weakness and so, here I am again, beholden to that (has to be) rigged Monday night fiasco.

I don't watch the whole thing live, as those days are far behind me. There are highly specified rules. I DVR the episode Monday night and only watch after it is completely over or the next day. I only watch the dances, except for my favorites for whom I will sit through the practice highlights. (This is currently Shawn, Steve-O, and my little pocket cowboy, Ty Murray.) I don't watch the judges' comments if I hear any negativity. And, most importantly, I can not hear one peep from Samantha Harris, lest my entire head explodes right here in my living room.

After all these built-in safeguards, I still find myself riled up frequently. There is no Tuesday results show for me, save the last five minutes when I see who is going home. And even so, I can't keep myself from angry outbursts - and it's only like the second elimination. Ugh.

Why must I get so deeply involved in this ridiculous so-called competition? Because I like to feel the passion that comes with being involved. The win is made so much better when you've gone the distance. Likewise, the loss is that much more bitter, but with the highs come the lows.

I wish I could feel a different way about it, but I can't. We'll see how it all plays out, but so far it is not looking so great. When Teletubby clone Steve "The Woz" Wozniak is still bumbling around and Denise Richards is gone already, you know you might be in for another long, long season. (Not that she was good, but she could at least walk straight. I suspect the Cloris Leachman phenomonen...)

I'll try to remain somewhat sane throughout, though I won't make any promises. Obviously, after last season's vow never to return to this forsaken show, we all know how those promises work out anyway.

Reimagine Your History, Kids

My family insists I practice "revisionist history" on a regular basis, meaning I tend to "creatively reimagine" events from the past. I deny this vehemently and really believe my own press - I don't think I do it. It's just that everyone remembers the facts a certain way and I contend my memories are closest to the truth. So...there you go.

This past week, I have partaken in two films where imagined history is a large part of the plot. The first is "Watchmen" which is popular, mainstream, anxiously awaited, and gloriously violent in its heightened over-the-top fashion. I enjoyed it, even though I have no familiarity with the graphic novel and did not know the story going in.

The strong movie style fascinated me nonetheless, and part of that dealt with the film's ability to place the fictional Watchmen in all the important parts of history. It created a brand new version of the familiar world in a satisfying way, so that you felt the on-screen events truly could have been just that way. That blended reality with pure fantasy made for a deep, insightful trip into a strange, yet plausible universe of moral and cultural dilemmas. This is just the type of film you can discuss for hours afterward - always a treat.

The other film was completely unknown to me before my sister alerted me to its showings on IFC. Unfortunate, really, that more people haven't seen it and I hope that changes after reading my highly influential blog posts. (Sarcasm intended, naturally.) It is called "CSA: Confederate States of America." From this point forward, whenever I am asked of the most terrifying film ever, this will be my response.

This is a mockumentary from a very highly reimagined, scary world that could have been, at least in the minds of these particular film makers. After the South won the "War of Northern Aggression" the Confederate States of America went through, as you might imagine for yourself, radically different experiences. In this version of reality, Britain has made a "documentary" which chronicles this new America's history, from Abraham Lincoln's exile to Canada to present day high-tech gadgets to keep your slaves from taking off.

This film is a marvel, in that the documentary - done in PBS-style, with dry narration and clips from "films" made throughout history - is spot-on. The acting matches in such a truthful, authentic manner, you're sucked into thinking it could be real. (In fact, I had moments of panic when I thought of some redneck stumbling onto this, not knowing what it was, and thinking it was some racist, facist propoganda for their ridiculous positions. Then, I tried to tell myself that most stereotypical rednecks don't stumble upon the Independent Film Channel very often...or, at least, I hope not.)

The clincher is it comes complete with fake commercials - for pills you get from your "veterinarian" to keep slaves calm and submissive, offensively modeled fried chicken establishments, and horribly named tobacco products, among others. This is what really crawled under my skin. Though I admire the finished product, I took a break in the middle so I could watch from beginning to end: it just felt too disturbing. And when I did get to the end, I found an even bigger surprise awaiting me which provoked even more feelings of unease. (I won't say what that is, because you are all going to rush out and watch this!)

So, history reimagined both made me think and scared me out of my wits. But, it intrigued me too. Because history is precarious, prone to differences we live with just because that's the way it ended up - and we don't often spend hours upon hours thinking of how it could have been, given a few alternate moves on the board. And as strange as things seem to be, it seems things have worked out okay for us so far - as compared to the terror-ific alternatives.

I hope when we look back from ten or twenty or one hundred years in the future, we still think the same thing.

Mad About March Madness

January and February are pretty blah months, when you think about it. Even though I love the events during that time (The Super Bowl, The Oscars, etc.) the actual time of year is pretty depressed. It's cold, it's snowy, it's dark, it's dreary.

But, the past few days have been filled with sunshine and warm breezes and, though I've been super busy in my life, it fills me with an energy I desperately need. And to top it all off...

It's Selection Sunday this weekend, which means the NCAA March Madness is upon us! Yea! Something to look forward to each day and night, game upon game where you cheer for teams you may have never heard of before and get involved in the latest, greatest Cinderella team of the tournament. Which was sw-eeeeeet when that team happened to be WVU a few years ago. ("You've been Pittsnogled!")

I'm ready to get my brackets down to a science and I can't wait to see how things turn out. Things like this make odd bedfellows, as they say, when you find yourself rooting for schools and people you otherwise might detest, or ignore completely. As of now, Florida is one bubble team on the outs for the big dance and that alone is one early mark in my "win" column. We'll see what else comes to pass on Sunday evening.

Ahh, it's nice to have some big time sports competition to distract me from regular, real life. Time to cut down some nets!

Circular History

Everything old is new again...or something like that. Yesterday, I heard a new Offspring song on the radio. A few minutes ago, I watched a preview for "Last House on the Left." Noah Wyle is on ER tonight. What year is it anyway?

My deduction: there are really no new ideas out there. Things just go 'round and 'round. ("Like a record, baby, right round..." This ditty is being sampled on a new tune, by the way.) Leggings are a good example. I wore them in high school and when I saw them return in present day, I vowed to resist. This too failed. Check my closet for proof.

Might as well give up and roll with it. Whether it be politics, pop culture, or fashion, we can all just buckle in and ride the cycle again. I hope someday we will learn from mistakes in the past, lest we be doomed to repeat them. (For example, spandex and bodysuits. These should be relegated to the halls of West Beverly High for repeated DVD viewings of 90210, not beyond.)

But wisdom like that, too, is about as likely as Michael Jackson really going into retirement as he so claimed. It just is not the way things work, be they big or small.

Banned Together

If you are a fan of Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN, you know that when they receive disagreeable e-mail comments they will "ban" people from the show for specific periods of time. There have been lifetime bans, month-long bans, and bans for only a day or two. I've decided to take a page from that playbook and "ban" some things of my own.

Lifetime ban to all cheesy furniture outlet commercials. Here in Western North Carolina, the offensive annoyance is Mattress Max. The people on television should not be permitted before the camera. Ever. And they think they are bloody Hi-Larious, with their geeky little promos. ("Mattress Max will save you mo-neeeeeeey!") Um, no. This is not indiginous only to this area, as everyplace I've ever lived had their very own version. (see: "Chuck's Furniture Mart" in Morgantown. You know where it is: "to the right, to the right, to the right of the Morgantown Mall.") Ugh. Go away low-budget, self-produced horrors of advertising. You. Are banned.

Lifetime ban to American Idol and any remnants from said show. I know my bitterness rises from the skeptacular Bo/Carrie finale, but really. I think we know now that the winner of this show is not necessarily the best singer from the group. (i.e. Jennifer Hudson, superstar loser.) So, can we put it to rest? It's on seventeen times a week, it sucks the energy from everything in its path, Randy hasn't given a sounder critique than, "Wow, dog, you are...wow, dog" since Season Two and Paula continues down the incoherent rabbithole in which she is queen of her own little world. To top it off, even I know about Sanjaya and that pathetic crying little tweener in the crowd - and I don't watch the darn thing! Enough already. This is what has created the horror known as The Jonas Brothers. (I don't need proof. I just know that's true.) You are banned, the lot of you. (You too, Jonases. Now, go away.)

Lifetime ban to the Octuplet Mom. Go home and take care of the FOURTEEN kids you now have through artificial means. You asked for those fertility treatments and obviously, that worked out. Right or wrong, I am so incredibly tired of hearing about her and her gaggle of offspring. I understand that these kids might lose in the end, but there are lots of kids out there born with the short straw. It's sad. Life isn't fair. This lady certainly did those kids a disservice and I'm truly sympathetic - for the kids. But can we let her fifteen minutes of fame expire? Please? Banned, I say!

Whoo. I feel better now that I got those things off my chest. So, everyone say it with me now: Banned Together!

Oscars and Beyond

My sister got married last year and afterward, she described a condition wherein new brides have a post-partum-like depressive period when all the pomp and circumstance is over. I think now that the Oscars and Super Bowl and football season and holidays are all said and done, I may enter that same blue time myself. But, before I go, one more post to honor this most wonderful time of year!

So, the Oscar producers certainly mixed it up. They veered away from the traditional order of business and handed out the awards in a totally different sequence. All I could think was, "What if nominees, as I would if I were there, counted on that same-old order and went to the bar to get a drink and missed their category completely? Do you think someone warned them beforehand? I hope so!"

They tinkered with the stage and props, added a bunch of bells and whistles, and poked a lot more fun at Hollywood than usual. I can hear the rumblings from staunch purists (like, me!) But, although change is sometimes hard, by the end I decided I liked most of them (though not all.) This morning, I see online that many of my favorite parts are everyone else's pet peeves. Go figure.

But, most importantly, the winners! I personally adored the five past actors giving little speeches to the nominees, in place of the tired old film clips. It might not be for everyone, but it touched me to see true emotion on the nervous nominees' faces when honored by acting legends like that.

Penelope Cruz's win for Best Supporting Actress - not surprising, but satisfying. Heath Ledger's family certainly spoke with heart and emotion, and though I was prepared for that moment, it still left me teary-eyed. Kate Winslet finally made it to the podium and her bit about practiced speeches in front of her bathroom mirror really hit home for me. (I am guilty of such tricks to this day!) And Sean Penn? Awesome, deserved, funny, humble (for him) and lovely. A terrific and important moment.

"Slumdog Millionaire" really had its moments, and props must go out to all involved in the film. (For a minute there, it seemed all of India might join them onstage to accept the big prize!) My personal favorite: all those little kids. If you've seen the movie (and now, you all have no excuse not to!) you know the importance those children play and how precious their cinematic performances. It tickled me to see them recognized, almost as much as Danny Boyle's shout-out to Tigger! My love for him shot up tremendously in that moment, as we both apparently hold great affinity for Winnie the Pooh.

I don't know if next year's telecast will return to the more traditional version or not. It would be nice to see them incorporate some of the best ideas from last night's show and move toward more innovation. Regardless, I can take a small break from super manic movie-watching and go back to my normal habit of just plain old movie mania.

In closing, this year was most satisfying, even though my fave film did not win. I can't take a thing away from "Slumdog Millionaire" because it really is a great story. So, another year down and another new crop of movies on the horizon. Before we totally move on, just a couple personal highlights of mine:

**I loved when "Man On Wire" balanced that Oscar on his nose and did a magic trick! But my first thought as he ran up there, when I saw his eyes glance skyward? "Oh my gosh, dude's going to climb something!" (Hee!)
**Seth Rogan and James Franco in the "Pineapple Express" bit about the alleged comedies? Brilliant, especially when they showed the "Milk" kissing scene. That truly was laugh-out-loud funny. (And a reminder that James Franco got seriously snubbed.)
**Hugh Jackman did an opening song! I had resigned myself to only having that luxury when Billy Crystal hosted. As soon as it ended, I thought to myself (and said aloud to my husband), "I must learn that!" (And for those who don't know, my sister and I can sing all Billy Crystal's little parodies from each year, on cue, anytime you ask us. Add this one to the list - give me a day or two.)

So, that's it. I guess my Oscar posts have come to an end. Boo-hoo. On the other hand, it's never too early to start prepping for next year! Yay for art and flim and acting and great perfomances and movie stars! (And, in passing, yay for whoever coined the phrase "Angeloony" in description of those, like me, completely infatuated with Angelina Jolie. That is just too good - as is she.)

See ya next time!

Oscar Watch 14.0

This is it. Movies are watched and picks are made - in the big categories, in the little ones, all the way around. The competition within the family is always furious - the winner of the pool gets bragging rights and that's about it, but apparently for us, it's enough. Even though I see many of the nominated films, I don't always win the pool, usually due to my incessant need to go with what I want to win and not what will likely take the prize. We'll see how it goes this year! Drumroll please...

Best Picture: I picked "Slumdog Millionaire" because I bet it will win. If I were an Oscar voter with a real ballot, I'd still pick "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." It stands out even now as the most well-rounded of all the films, and I will stand my ground on that.

Best Director: I'll go with Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire" though I'd love to see David Fincher get it for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." His ability to combine cutting edge special effects with deeply moving performances in an epic film amazes me.

Best Actor: A close call, but I'm going with Sean Penn in "Milk." Incidentally, this is also my choice as the best of the year. Mickey Rourke comes a close second and I won't be surprised if he won, but Sean Penn's Harvey Milk resonates more and more.

Best Actress: Another close one. I've picked Kate Winslet in "The Reader" in a real slugfest with Meryl Streep in "Doubt." I think Kate wins it by a hair and is my choice as the best. Though I do agree with some recent rumblings that if any other actress acted as well as Meryl Streep, she'd win hands-down. Meryl Streep is so good in everything, it works against her apparently.

Best Supporting Actor: Of course my pick is Heath Ledger and everyone in the pool, even those who typically go against the grain, has picked him. Alive or dead, it's the best performance of the bunch this year.

Best Supporting Actress: Might as well stick the names in a hat and pick one randomly. These ladies are all so good, I still can't decide. I finally marked my ballot for Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" but don't even know as of now if she's really my choice as the best. Anyone who wins this one deserves it wholeheartedly and it should be exciting just to see who does take it. I think it might be Penelope Cruz, but as evident with my pick, I think the advance buzz could be wrong. Good, tense races like this make it fun!

So, the tension builds until the big spectacle tonight. I'm especially anxious to see Hugh Jackman as the host and for the rumored Baz Luhrmann song-and-dance numbers. Most of all, I can't wait to see who wins what, what surprises may come, and which stunner packs the most emotional wallop. (Last year, hands down, it was Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard winning Best Song for Falling Slowly from the remarkable indie hit "Once.")

There's always something which warrants a rewind - and if you don't believe me, stop by sometime and we can review the Oscar ceremonies from the past fifteen or more years. Happy watching!

Oscar Watch 13.0

Today, there will be two posts: this final review post and then my own picks for the Oscar ballot. So, with no time to waste, I must get to it!

Penelope Cruz is nominated as Best Supporting Actress for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." This is Woody Allen's latest relationship comedy and it delivers. I have not traditionally placed Woody Allen on the same pedestal as other film geeks, but I generally enjoy his work. This film places Rebecca Hall (Vicky) and Scarlett Johansson (Cristina) in Barcelona with Javier Bardem (Juan Antonio) and gives them all sorts of sexy scenarios in which to play out fears and desires. Penelope Cruz joins in as Maria Elena, Javier Bardem's unstable ex-wife, who complicates the interludes with her antics.

The film overall is pleasant and provocative. I enjoyed it and could watch it again, as the dialogue and acting are sharp. Mostly, it looks fabulous. The Spanish landscapes are gorgeous and a testament to Spain's obvious beauty. (To quote Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, "I want to go to there.")

Penelope Cruz really brought this film to another level. At her first introduction, you think her inclusion could melt into jealous sterotypes and simply add tension to the semi-established relationships. But it is not the case. Credit goes to Woody Allen's writing, but also to Penelope Cruz's ability to make Maria Elena likeable, yet unbalanced in a somewhat understandable way. And her character's decisions seem to make sense - to both those onscreen and the audience.

This is Penelope's second nomination in recent years and she might win this time. The Best Supporting Actress category is absolutely the most difficult to pick, as all five women gave emotionally satisfying, memorable performances. The Academy likes Woody Allen (possibly less-so than before the Soon-Yi debacle) and could reward him through this nomination.

Regardless, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" is enjoyable and Penelope Cruz does a good job in her role. Her fate on Oscar night? Well, at this point, it's less than twelve hours away, so we shall wait and see!

Oscar Watch 12.0

As they say in sports, it's almost time for the "talking to stop and the game to begin!" The Oscars are here in a little more than a day. I am proud of my "movies seen" record. It always occurs to me that I may see more nominated films than those who actually cast a vote, since seeing the movie is not actually required before the voting. The injustice! Oh well...

When you sit down to watch a Clint Eastwood film, you can guarantee it won't be a dull experience. His string of recent directorial marvels includes "Mystic River" and "Gran Torino." (That latter film is tough, raw, edgy, and highly emotional. Although not nominated, it is something to see and discuss.) He owns two Academy Awards for directing "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby." While I may personally not like those films, I won't disagree that they are powerful pieces of work.

In his film "Changeling" he creates another dark, gritty story and Angelina Jolie anchors it with one of her strongest performances ever. She is such a big movie star, sometimes I think her awesome acting chops get overlooked - and then she does work like this to remind everyone. (Should I recuse myself from review? Because my admiration for her is hard to put into words. I think she's talented beyond belief and her strange quirkiness only adds to her charm. I love her big, sprawling, ecclectic family and find her beauty mesmerizing. She is considered a bit of a hero, if you will. I'll attempt to regain some neutrality...)

Her work is the film's sole big-category nomination as Best Actress. She plays Christine Collins, a single mother in the 1920's whose son, Walter, disappears one evening from their California home. The perpetually corrupt LAPD brings her a boy and claims victory in the reunion - but this boy is not Walter. And when Christine tells them so, they go to devious and terrible lengths in their treatment of her to defend their (dis)honorable reputation.

This is a crime drama wrapped in an emotional saga of pain and justice. The look of the picture is unquestionably remarkable, the story is strong and all the supporting players near-perfect. But Angelina Jolie is what you will remember after the credits roll. Her love and determination tears at you through the screen. This film is based on true events and you have to think, were the real Christine Collins alive, she would approve of Ms. Jolie's delicate, nuanced portrayal of her courageous fight.

As per usual, Clint Eastwood has fashioned an emotionally difficult picture through which to sit. But, also true to form, it pays off in spades. "Changeling" is worth a rental. Angelina Jolie could very will win an Oscar for this role. I don't know if that will happen this year, but her nomination is certainly well-earned.

Oscar Watch 11.0

A round-up of two different acting noms: Melissa Leo, Best Actress hopeful for "Frozen River" and Robert Downey Jr., Best Supporting Actor contender for "Tropic Thunder."

These two couldn't diverge more if you scripted it. (Neither is to blame that I chose to lump them together in my meager little blog post!) Melissa Leo has that real quality about her - which means she actually looks like a real person in this movie, not like a Hollywood glamazon dirtied up to play poor. Robert Downey Jr. puts on black face and is hilarious doing so.

"Frozen River" is a tense little thriller. It engages you right into its cold, odd little world. Melissa Leo is Ray, a dollar-store cashier who just wants a new double-wide for her two sons and herself after her husband takes the last of their money and traipses off to Atlantic City to gamble it away. She unwittingly gets mixed up in smuggling illegal aliens across the American-Canadian border with a girl native to the adjoining Mohawk Reservation.

It's not a typical picture, but it more than holds your interest throughout. Melissa Leo is actually understated in many ways - which makes it a bit of a surprise the Academy noticed her role in a small film released before the late-December rush. But it's refreshing, and though I don't know if she will beat some of the power players she's up against, she could. It is certainly a mesmerizing performance.

Conversely, Robert Downey Jr. plays an Australian method actor in black face in the witty "Tropic Thunder." The Academy's well-known discrimination against comic performers in actual funny roles is literally only the second biggest hurdle he must face, as he is up against Heath Ledger.

As a fan of Robert Downey Jr., both before and after his difficulties with cocaine and the legal system, I am happy to see this nomination for this role. He's ironic and hysterical. This movie isn't perfect - there are some real uneven moments - but it's pretty darn funny. Robert Downey Jr.'s take on this character makes the film for me, and in any other year, I might even say he had a real chance. Just not this year.

Both of these actors are real long shots to win the gold man Sunday evening. It's nice to be included in the group, though, and you just don't know: strange and wonderful things sometimes happen on Oscar night.

Oscar Watch 10.5

A few nights ago, I pondered deeply: How many times in the past ten years have I been disappointed with the Oscar wins? I tell myself it's about half the time, but I don't know if that is accurate. So, let's see:

1998: "Shakespeare In Love" over "Saving Private Ryan." Ugh. While I may like "Shakespeare In Love" better, it's because war movies aren't my speed. But is it better? Um, nope. This year was a disappointment for sure, all the way around.

1999: "American Beauty" takes it all. I won't disagree with that choice per se, but the movies were all so strong it's hard to pick the "Best." See the nominees: "The Green Mile", "The Sixth Sense", "The Cider House Rules" and "The Insider." It's hard! But, the real snub came when Russell Crowe did not win Best Actor. See: Next year...

2000 : "Gladiator" beats out "Traffic" even though Steven Soderbergh wins Best Director and Ridley Scott does not. That is always the sure-fire way to tell no one can make up their minds. I did not agree at the time, and still have trouble with this...but not nearly the problem I have with Russell Crowe winning Best Actor this year. I love, love, love Russell Crowe, but his win should have come last year for "The Insider" and not here. His performance in "The Insider" ranks, to me, as one of the very best ever. An example of the right actor winning for the wrong role.

2001: "A Beautiful Mind" wins and "Moulin Rouge" does not. Enough said. I can appreciate the reasons behind it, but I don't agree. The Academy has a hard time rewarding new filmmaking styles. (Witness "Pulp Fiction" losing to "Forrest Gump." I rest my case.) So, Baz Luhrman's frenetic, hyper-realized musical certainly does not look like the traditional Best Picture, no matter the visual brilliance of it. I won't say it's a total wash, though.

2002: "Chicago" beats both "The Pianist" and "Gangs of New York" and no once since the ceremony ended will let anyone forget it. The outrage - from some of the same people who voted for crying out loud! This is just wrong on many, many levels - even though I adore "Chicago" on stage and screen, love the music and wish I could play Velma Kelly sometime. But seriously, people...just, seriously. At least there is a silver lining - Adrien Brody's surprise win for Best Actor in "The Pianist" ranks as one of my best Oscar moments ever! They got that right for sure.

2003: "The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King" is awarded top prize, since Peter Jackson had to be rewarded for his groundbreaking trilogy. I would personally have picked "Mystic River" but I appreciate the choice. In terms of filmmaking on a whole, Peter Jackson did create a new mold.

2004: The "Million Dollar Baby" year. Oh, boy. It's hard to even talk about it. Clint Eastwood is a major Hollywood player and last year, for "Mystic River", I would have stood up and cheered for his win. But this? I can't get in line...too bad because "The Aviator" is tremendous and one of Martin Scorsese's best.

2005: The whole "Crash" debacle. I think I"ve already discussed this. Suffice it to say that "Crash" manipulated its audience and likewise, manipulated itself into the top Oscar spot. It's not a terrible movie and I don't hate it. But it's not the best of that year.

2006: Finally! "The Departed" wins Martin Scorsese's first Best Director prize. (That itself is scandalous.) This is by far the right decision. Yea! A lot of cheers for this one!

2007: "No Country For Old Men" and the Cohen brothers win. I love the Cohens. I don't agree with this choice over the more deserving "There Will Be Blood." But, Daniel Day Lewis did win as Best Actor, so I guess there is some atonement in that.

So, all in all, I only count four years I could say were personally satisfying and one that was truly awesome. So, forty percent of the time I'm happy. Huh.

Doesn't matter! The Oscars are less than a week away! I wonder how it will turn out this year? I can't wait to find out. I hope you can't either!

Oscar Watch 10.0

A week from today, the Oscar race will be over and the statuettes awarded. I'm almost prepared to start preliminary predictions. Still, there are a few performances of which I haven't yet written. One in particular will transcend the movie and nomination and analyze all that the Oscars really mean to me: Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight."

It's been a year since Heath Ledger's tragic death. I have yet to totally believe it's real. I know I had no personal relationship with the actor, but his work onscreen feels so meaningful, so heartfelt. Like so many others, he impacted my life with his talent and will forever be missed. Perhaps that is why it's difficult to talk about him and his likely sure-lock to win.

"The Dark Knight" certainly lays claim to being the year's most popular movie. I recently rewatched it and, honestly, it's a fine piece of filmmaking. But it is Heath Ledger's Joker who makes it sizzle. Christopher Nolan fashioned a fine new Batman in "Batman Begins" and you will never hear an argument from me when Christian Bale is cast as the lead. (Though, given recent events, you may hear an argument from him...)

But let's be honest: there was no Oscar buzz for "Batman Begins" and rightfully so. I think "The Dark Knight" draws its strength from Heath Ledger in such a powerful way, he infuses himself into every ounce of that movie, whether or not he is actually onscreen.

For those reasons, I believe his nomination is deserved and the right place in which to honor this picture. I can feel the criticism bubble around me, as I know many feel passionately that this movie should be nominated in the prestigious categories, too. But, honestly, if not for Heath Ledger, this is a great summer popcorn flick that rakes in a bunch of cash. And it's well-done. But it is not the art film it is in its current form. Heath Ledger rises above and beyond what anyone could have expected from him, and in turn raises the bar for this picture. Plain and simple, Heath Ledger makes "The Dark Knight."

I'm sure he will win the Oscar next week. It saddens me because he should be here to accept and bask in that moment, although from what I've read about him, he would likely be quite uncomfortable in that sort of spotlight. In actuality, this whole thing highlights a major flaw in the Academy Awards. (Not the only one, mind you - I have a whole post planned for my biggest Oscar pet peeves and why, though I love the Oscars, about half the time I highly disagree with the Academy's selections.)

Heath Ledger should have died an Oscar winner, for his gut-wrenching turn in "Brokeback Mountain." Now, I love Philip Seymour Hoffman and "Capote" showcased his brilliance, but he should not have beaten Heath Ledger for Best Actor. The "Brokeback Mountain" year still has me incredibly miffed. If you ever want a spirited discussion wherein I turn red with disgust, ask me sometime about "Crash" winning Best Picture that year. Total travesty...

Regardless, I know the ways of the Academy. Sometimes, youngsters don't win for the most-deserving nomination because there is someone else that year who, for a myriad of reasons, will win instead. It's political, plain and simple. It drives me nuts because I am a purist in most every area and especially in this one. If you turn in the best performance in a year, you should win. I don't think it should matter whether your competitors previously lost and now need the "make-up" win. I don't care if the Academy feels you must "pay your dues" or "have time" to win later. (A rule that the Academy only follows in certain cases and other times throws right out the window when someone, you know, deserves to win!)

I don't know what the Academy as a whole thought when they cast their ballots that year - or any year. But, Heath Ledger had that buzz about him - he was great, he was destined for big things, and he'd probably win an Oscar or two or three in his time. "Brokeback Mountain" apparently was not his time.

And then, his time ended. Yes, it stings when people die prematurely and no, no one could really predict that coming. But it just shows how fragile it all is. Anyone can go at any time. Thus, in my opinion, you should be rewarded when what you've done deserves the prize. (And believe me, I have thought that he lost that Oscar fair and square because the voters belived Hoffman's work better. But, frankly, I don't buy it.) You should not have to wait because no one, not even famous, talented movie stars, is guaranteed time on this Earth to fulfill a destiny.

So, unless something completely nuts happens, Heath Ledger will be an Oscar winner next week. And he deserves it. Is he the best this year? Well, it is debatable - but hardly worth the time because I don't see a scenario wherein he does not win. And I'm not angry about that, and would not be even if he were alive and well.

It is a bummer, though, that he is not alive and well. His last performance will eerily live on as his legacy. Real life is not fair, you know. And apparently, neither is life onscreen.

Love, Love, Love...

Isn't it weird that Valentine's Day this year comes on the heels of Friday the 13th? Or is it just appropriate? I mean, I love Valentine's Day, mostly because it is all pink and hearts and smiles and hugs. But let's be real about it: it's a Hallmark holiday, made up for consumerism. Today, beleagured men line up to buy overpriced flowers and jewelry to show how much they "love" their partners.

I've never really been too much about the material gifts, though in my younger days I can admit I fell victim to the enormous pressure to make this day count. I've received some pretty nice things over the years from various suitors, some expensive and some just thoughtful. Not all of them meant true love. In some cases, no real emotions were involved whatsoever. So be it. I'm sure it was fun while it lasted!

Some of my best V-Day memories involve my girlfriends at our favorite bar, dancing the night away with the rest of the lonely singles. And that's okay too. Love, for me, has always included both the romantic and the platonic and each is most important in its own way.

This year, we've decided against the traditional celebration. In meager college years, this day equalled an excuse for a fancy dinner out. Sometimes, this day has been roses and lobster dinners at home. Last year, it was an extravagant trip to Las Vegas, with Cirque du Soleil and gourmet eats. (It has also been long lines in restaurants where the very next day, you can eat the same food without waiting a minute. Long gone is the insanity of that!)

Now, we are going with pizza and an evening of "The Princess Bride" - my all-time absolute favorite film ever, inspiration for a fairy tale life of love if ever one existed. We will curl up with the dogs and then eat chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream and just be together. Not much different from other nights, really, because as you get older, that is what love...is.

Happy Valentine's Day to one and all. No matter the celebration you choose, may this day of love be filled with just that in all its treasured forms.

Oscar Watch 9.0

There are some films which just reek of strong acting and while you watch, you realize the amazement to see such talent together onscreen. "Doubt" certainly falls into this category.

Notice the nominations alone: Meryl Streep, who seems to garner a nod for showing her face. And this is not to say it's undeserved, as she's simply marvelous and grows more so with age. Amy Adams, who is one of my absolute favorite stars ever since "Junebug" so fascinated and enthralled me. (If you have not seen it, go do it. Right now!) Philip Seymour Hoffman, a fantastic addition no matter what he does and no matter how disheveled he looks doing it. And Viola Davis, a newcomer who has one tantalizing, suspenseful showdown with Meryl Streep which will stick with you long after the film's end.

This, too, was a stage play, much like "Frost/Nixon." I bet it was a doozy onstage, though it certainly did not star the caliber of actors we have here. The premise is instant intrigue: a priest, Philip Seymour Hoffman, at a Catholic school shows (too much?) interest in a young boy, who also is the first black student admitted to this New York City private school in the 1950's. The nuns, school principal Meryl Streep and teacher Amy Adams, delve into whether something inappropriate happened and what, exactly, they should do if it did. Along the way, there is a mighty confrontation of the young boy's mother, Viola Davis, which only serves to complicate.

As you might imagine, this is a dialogue-heavy, intense drama which pulls you along its path. I can bet it worked better onstage, but the look of the film adds to the foreboding nature of its plot. There is a lot of rain and wind and blustery cold. And in the end, there is no real contrition, if you will.

But it's the journey that matters most. And to witness the talent of these fine actors is something to see. I don't know, given the master class of actors involved in the Oscar races this year, whether any of this film's nominees will walk away a winner. (Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman already have won, of course.) I do think they are worthy addtions to the group, and I think the film shows them off nicely.

"Doubt" will get you thinking and could start some interesting conversations. That, too, is a testament to a fine film.

Oscar Watch 8.0

Oscar night draws gleefully nigh. (Don't you just love the word "nigh" in modern times - or is it just me?) I am excited and ready. There are few performances I must catch before the big night and luckily, they will bow on DVD prior to Sunday, February 22nd. (Melissa Leo in "Frozen River" and Angelina Jolie in "Changeling" for starters.)

Sadly, I must do without a few films as well. "Revolutionary Road" and its nominated supporting actor Michael Shannon never fit my schedule and, most disappointing of all, I will miss Anne Hathaway's leading performance in "Rachel Getting Married." I so wanted to see that latter film, but it just slipped away from the theaters too quickly.

But I won't dwell on the negative! Next up for review is a small, impressive film you could rent on DVD right now, today - "The Visitor." Its star, Richard Jenkins, is nominated for Best Actor. He himself describes his chances to win as, "Please. I have no chance." But, regardless of that, this movie is well worth the watch, especially since this type of film often does not get the audience it deserves. (And on a side note, any film which can motivate me to think about possibly going back to the practice of law is quite an achievement! That in itself should win some kind of award!)

This movie touches on many social, relevant issues - our country's over-zealous immigration laws, right versus wrong, love and loss. Richard Jenkins is the type of actor who plays in numerous films, but is kind of nameless - like, you'll recognize him as "that guy who was the dad in 'Step-Brothers'" or something like that. He really marvels here in a touching, warm-hearted portrayal of a middle-aged widower who accidentally discovers he can still feel passion for people and life.

Sometimes, I truly prefer these small movies. And sometimes, I will admit, I long for the ditzy Hollywood ending because the realism hurts my heart too much. This is not a "feel-good" film. It's depressing, though humor slides in at many turns. It is, however, worth your time. I hope Richard Jenkins can transform this into some more starring turns. He is very, very good.

"The Visitor" likely won't win anything on Oscar night. But the attention it's garnered with its nominations surely won it a few more viewers. And that is the realy beauty of the Academy Awards.

Did You Ever Notice?

Randomly, and with no particular point to be made, things I've noticed and/or learned in this new year:

**Mitch Berger, the Steelers' punter, deserves an Academy Award for this on-field theatrics - maybe "Best Flop" for his performance in the AFC Championship game. (Not that you'll hear any complaints from Steeler Nation, mind you. I"m just saying...)

**People can be mighty righteous. See Exhibit A: Michael Phelps and a bong hit. Come on, now - he's a twenty-something-year-old kid at a college party who smoked some pot. Half the folks ready to lynch him as a "bad example" probably smoked their fair share in college, and the other half wishes they had. Some of them might even roll a fat one now and again, on weekends away from the family when they re-live the freedom of irresponsibility. (I, for one, am suspect of anyone who did not get high in college.) Michael Phelps is a super-talented millionaire who took a bong hit. It's not like he toked up pool side in Beijing, for crying out loud. I'm ready to boycott Kellogg's for their dropping him as a sponsor. Don't we collectively as a country have bigger things on our plate than a little bit of weed? Seriously...

**We're supposedly in a recession, but I still can't get out of Target without waiting in line while shoppers in front of me buy necessities like new 300-thread-count sheets, bottled water, and dog toys. I'm not criticizing, just noticing. (I myself can't seem to check-out without spending at least a hundred bucks, so no stones thrown by me.)

**There are those walking among us who buy into infomercials. In fact, one such person sleeps next to me at night. Say it isn't so! But I recently read an online article about the Snuggie - you know, blanket with arm-holes - and its influence on pop culture. (My favorite part of the advertisement is when the family all dons their respective Snuggies to keep warm at a sporting event - they look like wizards ala Harry Potter and company at a Quiddich match! Priceless.) I guess even when times are bad, folks can scrounge $19.99 for a ShamWow. Those genius marketers know what they are doing! Good to know.

So, wisdom comes in odd packages. Like the ShamWow spokesman says in his other masterpiece campaign for the SlapChop, "Linguine, Fettuccini, Martini, Bikini!" (That has absolutely nothing to do with anything. I just find it hysterical and will quote it whenever I get the chance, no matter the situation.)

Words to live by, my friends. Keep your eyes open in this wacky world - there is no telling what you'll see!

Oscar Watch 7.0

Next up is the last installment in Best Picture nominees: "Frost/Nixon." In addition, perennial Hollywood favorite and all-around nice guy Ron Howard scored a Best Director nomination and Frank Langella a Best Actor nod.

This docudrama tells the story of British talk-show host David Frost's infamous televised interviews with newly-resigned President Richard Nixon. The story is told as if a documentary crew followed up with the folks involved in bringing the interviews to life. This method adds some intrigue to the already fascinating journey to make these interviews happen.

With all the circus-like coverage of Tricky Dick's White House departure, no one had gotten the former Commander in Chief to confess his actual wrongdoing or apologize to a cynical nation and David Frost sees a gold mine in being the first to get it done. Mr. Frost is played with a twinkling eye and unerlying wit by Michael Sheen. He truly embodies a radiant energy and turns in a layered performance. The bond he forms with Richard Nixon, purely by accident and to his surprise, is brought to life by strong acting on his part.

Frank Langella does a great job as Richard M. Nixon, showing a symapthetic side to the much maligned historical figure. He won the Tony Award for this perfomance on Broadway, in the stage play upon which the film is based. Having been a baby when this played out in real life, I don't remember the actual events. (President Nixon resigned the day I was born. Literally.)

I do know that this story has been fictionalized and much dramatic license taken. But I do not care. It is suspenseful in a much different way from an action film and allows you to see layers of a character usually thought of in one-dimensional tones. In the end, Richard Nixon was a lonely and confused old man who had poor social skills. Does that excuse his inexcusable actions? Of course not. Does it make him human? Yes.

Is this movie worthy of all the praise heaped upon it? I'd say it is. It is not for everyone. But if you like history made into movies, this is a good one. I doubt it will take home any big prizes on Oscar night, but it's well-acted and well-directed and touches upon a story not everyone remembers.

And it is a story worth telling.

Oscar Watch 6.0

Next, a bit of a departure. Besides the great big important categories at the Oscars - picture, actor, actress, director, and the like - there are smaller races just as exciting. One such contest is Best Animated Feature. Some might argue quite effectively that great films get relegated to this subset simply because they do not star human actors. This could be the case with "Wall-E."

This is a truly unique animated film. No talking animals, no silly dance sequences, no ironic sarcasm, no green ogres. And while there are cute creatures with whom to fall in love, the entire movie does not at all feel like an extended marketing campaign.

"Wall-E" spins a fascinating yarn about a robot sometime in the future designed to pick up trash on an unliveable Earth. In this imagined time, humans have over-consumed so that our dear planet is overrun with debris. People live on a cruise-like spaceship while robots try to find signs of ecological life. The beginning of the film is almost devoid of communication, as Wall-E is entirely isolated, with only a cockroach for a friend. His joy is saving "treasures" from the piles of trash and transporting them to his lair. It is remarkable to see what he has created from the stuff left behind.

One of his obsessions is replaying a VCR copy of "Hello Dolly!" as he sings and dances to the melodies of a bygone era. He twirls and recreates routines with a deep joy familiar to anyone who has been swept away in music. It is touching, emotional, and brilliant. In my perception, this one idea elevates the film to a level I have not experienced in animated storytelling.

One day, a new type of robot arrives: EVE. The two hit it off immediately. Wall-E shows EVE his cache of loot and they fall in love. Eventually, they find themselves on the human's starship and realize they each hold an important key to Earth's success.

This film looks amazing, as do all Pixar productions. There is a strong and wise message attached. But the story and the way it is told is simply genius. I enjoyed every bit of this smart, insightful, deep little gem. For a movie aimed at kids, it is more intelligent than most so-called grown-up fare.

When I first watched this film, it struck me as "simple." I don't mean that in a derogatory way. It is a bit old-fashioned in its approach to story and message, and that is refreshing. I am sure kids found a great deal to fall in love with. Adults could benefit in an even greater way.

This one is on DVD now, so get out there and find yourselves a copy! This is a must-see for any generation. And the message could not be more timely: We need to pay attention to our planet and to each other.

Oscar Watch 5.0

One of the biggest surprises of my Oscar season has been the thoughtful, deep, and insightful film, "The Reader." It is nominated for Best Picture, and Stephen Daldry is nominated as Best Director and Kate Winslet as Best Actress.

Stephen Daldry always brings interesting stories to the screen (for example, "Billy Elliott" and "The Hours") and often scores himself an Oscar nod - though he has never won. In "The Reader" he really outdoes himself and much of it hinges on Kate Winslet's remarkable talent.

This is Kate's sixth nomination and she's only thirty-three years old. (Geez. I'm older than her. What have I done? Kind of makes me feel small and insignificant...) She is often hailed as the best female actor of her generation and even before this film, I would not argue. However, after this movie, it seems almost written in stone as truth.

"The Reader" tells such a complex and moving story, I hate to ruin it. I will say this: the basic plot tells of a thirty-something German woman, Kate Winslet, in post World War II Germany. By chance, she meets a fifteen year old boy and they begin an affair which ends suddenly and without warning. What happens from there deserves to play out onscreen, but it involves Nazi war crimes, dark secrets, books, and growing up. I can't do justice to the storyline and won't try. This is one film where the less you know before going in, the better.

Kate Winslet's paramour is played by a breathtaking young man, David Kross. He is absolutely wonderful and I can't wait to see more of him. He not only has chemistry with Kate Winslet, he transforms from kid to adult in such a believable, human way. To top it off, his acting is on par with Ms. Winslet's, and that is no small feat. (And as a bonus? He is played as an adult in the film by Ralph Fiennes, whom I savor in any performance.)

This picture is brilliant and suspenseful, and certainly not in the traditional sense. Something like this could easily get lost in the shuffle and I've heard mumblings that its inclusion as possible Best Picture is what knocked out "The Dark Knight."

I understand the anger at that exclusion. However, after seeing "The Reader" I can't say it should have been slighted either. The twists and turns in the story, the seemless switches in tone, the look of Germany through the decades, and, most of all, the acting are all first-rate. It is hard to argue against this film as a strong contender.

But in the end, I come back to Kate Winslet. I have not yet seen all her competitors, but I can't believe she will be bested. Her character here is not entirely likable or even good - which makes her performance all the more amazing. She should probably write that speech, if she has not already done so.

If you can find this one, do it. I gurantee you won't soon forget it.