Insider's Scoop

It's fun to live in New York when good things happen. I was lucky enough last weekend to score passes to two movie screenings. I will divulge a little here; not a lot, but enough to make you wish you were me (if you didn't already).

AMERCIAN GANGSTER
Yeah, this comes out in a week or so, but it was nice to see the foreign press screening of it here in the city. I guess I hadn't been reading up on it, so I had know idea it was about drug trafficking, but, okay. Once I woke up (after the first very slow twenty minutes), I really enjoyed it. Do I recommend? Yes if you want to see a good film in the long line of standard/middle-of-the-road gangster, mafia, shoot 'em ups.

BABY MAMA
This one isn't scheduled for release until April 2008, but I got to sit in and be a test audience for it. It's another comedy from Tina Fey, but it's essentially pretty sappy. I wanted it to be like Wedding Crashers, but it wasn't. I don't know why I wanted that, though, because I should have said, "oh, it'll probably be a morality play like Mean Girls." And it was. But it was a funny morality play nonetheless. With the likes of the UHMAZING Amy Poehler, Steve Martin and Sigourney Weaver, this has some really brilliant moments. I won't spoil my favorite, but remember this: it's when Amy offers to pay Tina for gas money.

Also, I finished the second season of WEEDS at three in the morning. I love it. And what an ending. That's good, because it was sort of getting lazy and sloppy I thought, but they sure pulled out the big guns (pun intended).

While I go spend the rest of my day off catching up on network television (Brothers and Sisters, 30 Rock, The Office and maybe Private Practice), I want to know what have you been watching?

Weekenders.

I am at the end of my first real weekend in so long - two entire days off without other obligations, plans, activities, events, or other things to suck up my time. Instead, I slept in, watched some TV, had a vocal coaching, ate, bought some new music, called people, went out for a lovely (and higher-than-i-really-should-have-paid) dinner where i ordered (gasp!) a glass of wine. And so now, some thoughts:

1. I love Joni Mitchell. Go purchase her new album, SHINE. And then, consider the new Herbie Hancock album, RIVER: THE JONI LETTERS.

2. I still love red wine. Mmm. I haven't had a glass since before summer, but it was so tasty last night, and so perfect with the chicken and spinach dinner special I ordered. O! Perfection.

3. WEEDS is a brilliant show! I have watched all of the first season and am just beginning the second season. Mary Louise Parker is beautiful and lovely, and I found a new favorite song (Cotton) on the soundtrack.

4. THE CAINE MUTINY is a wonderful novel. It's my second Herman Wouk, and so darn good. He's an excellent storyteller, good for me as I haven't had a book I wanted to really read since the end of the HP series. I highly recommend it.

5. I miss my friends and will be happy to see them on Big Wednesday.

Splash.

Last night, I was walking with a friend of mine (we'll call him Tim) through Times Square after a really great (!) masterclass, which I should write about because it was amazing, but then this happened, which took the cake:

EXT. NIGHT. CORNER OF 42ND STREET AND BROADWAY.

Tim: Watch out!
Me: What?

WE HEAR A SPRAYING SOUND, LIKE IF SOMEONE WAS WASHING THE SIDE OF THEIR HOUSE, SPRAYING WATER AT IT FROM A HOSE.

Me: Oh shit.

THE TWO GUYS MOVE TO THE SIDE AS A PUDDLE CONTINUES TO FORM UNDERNEATH THE HORSE WHO IS DRAWING THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE.

Tim (in a Southern drawl): Well, I can sure tell when a horse is pissing on my boots.
Me (in a Southern drawl): Hey, have ya ever seen a horse piss before?
Tim: Yep. In the middle of Times Square.

Couldn't be Happier...

Oh! It is so wonderful. Mom and Dad drove up (down?) this weekend and brought my stuff. I feel like I'm at home again, now. Instead of being a guest living on an aerobed on the floor (which, remind me, I still have to get my $10 rebate on), I now am the proud owner of a real live boxspring. I have a chair, a rug, a desk, tv, blinds: the works! I want nothing more than to go home, sit down and read, sit on the floor and play marbles, take a nap on my bed, clean the windows again or rearrange my closet. I'm walking on air! This is what people feel like in real life, isn't it? They're really here, really alive - I am happy.

Of course, I've been scheduled off from work Monday and Tuesday, so I'll have a lot of time to sit in my room and think about how much money I'm not making. Although, it's sort of like real life, because this week, for the first time in a very long time, I have a weekend. Which is fantastic. Sure it's during the week, but I have two days off in a row with nothing to do except buy a plant, order some prints online, gossip with the girls, and get my nails done. Woohoo!

Sleeping on Air

I moved into a new apartment about a month ago. Of course, as the world-weary traveler I am, I move from place to place with a large suitcase and a couple of duffle bags - not much. Definitely not enough to furnish a room, let alone an entire apartment.

So, my parents are driving in today, bed in tow. Last night was the final time (for the forseeable [?] future) that I will sleep on my air mattress. However, I want to take a second to expound on the virtues of the air mattress: compact. multi-faceted. fun. semi-comfortable. easy. breezy. beautiful. covergirl.

I am excited, because I will finally be able to arrange this bedroom into something that looks like a human actually lives here, and not some strange hobbit who needs everything close to or on the floor - what things we take for granted! I never knew how appealing shelves were until I didn't have anything except the floor on which to put everything I own. (Notice how I avoided the dangling modifier.)

Underground Old Woman Hatred

The other morning I was standing on the subway platform waiting for the train, which took FOREVER. Like that kid from The Sandlot, you know, "for-ev-er." Anyway, there was a little old lady with a pen in her hand in front of a Chase billboard. She looked around to make sure noone was watching, which, of course, I was. Anyway, she drew a large swastika on the person in the ad. Then, she drew two smaller ones near the bottom of the sign.

What? Not the image of graffiti artists that I had in mind, but, to each her own I guess. Either way, what was I supposed to do? Stop her? Nah, she might have been wielding a sharp kitchen knife under that floral-print blouse.

Toe Skin

I am not going to discuss this past weekend except to say I think it was probably a good time.

It's been a very crazy busy time, but I was able to spend a few minutes out with some friends last night. Because I have no clean clothes left (thank goodness I have the afternoon off today to get it done, along with some shopping for items for my new bedroom!), I wore flipflops since my socks are all dirty. But it started to aggrivate the skin on the underside of my big toe on my left foot. What is the deal? Now, today, wearing my last pair of clean socks and a dirty shirt, I sit with a bothersome flap of skin on my toe.

Also, I watched this season's GREY'S premiere online last night. Since I don't have a TV, I am relegated to watching after the fact a few days later. (Hurry, TV, hurry!) Anyway, I was sort of not excited about it... but then there was George and Izzy. I love them. They're fantastic. I'm so happy. I can't wait until Thursday... well, Friday or Saturday when I watch it online.