I’m back briefly to award a Perfect Post award to CCAP for this unique and grace-filled post. I have been reading CCAP regularly for a long time. I missed this post, however, because I was trying to meet some deadlines when she posted it. My big sister brought it to my attention. I had to read it twice to understand it’s full meaning. I love it because it is beautiful, original and deeply touching, but also because it resonates with my sister who I love very much. And hey, I like Les Miserables, okay?

Please go visit CCAP, and then MommaK or
Lucinda to find out more about the Perfect Post awards and to find more award winning posts.

If you are looking for more good reads this week, also go visit Arethusa who is doing a wonderful five-day series about her favorite poets. Scroll all the way down to Monday and read the whole week’s series. I just love this woman. I wish I could say I was like her when I was her age, but I can’t. She’s much more cool, focused, and cultured than I was. I can say with certainty, though, that if Arethusa had been my college roomate we would have gotten along famously.

But hey, we’re friends now. This “youngster” teaches me a hell of a lot and inspires me to spend more time enjoying the arts. If she ever stops blogging, my spirit will droop. And I will go back to feeling like a frumpy, uncultured SAHM, instead of a college chick with a cool friend who likes to talk movies and show me pretty paintings.

I’ll be back April 10, with a slightly new approach to balancing blogging and “life.” I’m doing well and enjoying lurking. It’s been a fantasy of mine for a long time to lurk.

(Putting black cape back over my head and heading towards an unsuspecting blog.)

This photo is deceptive since all we’ve had is rain lately, but it is indeed one view available in my yard this week.

Love you guys!

I’m going to take some time off from blogging to focus on my school work, family, etc. and to challenge myself in other areas.

See you all when I get back.

Happy Spring!

If you’d like me to drop you an e-mail when I start posting again, e-mail me or leave a comment here. That way you won’t have to keep checking back.

Yesterday we were hit by cold, heavy rain. I stayed in my pajamas much longer than I should have. When I finally got dressed I was so disgusted with myself that I dressed up fancy for the Oscars. (For me, fancy is putting on nice dress. Nothing formal.) Rachel watched me and asked me to wear a necklace she made me. The Oscars were shown live at 5:00. I went into the garage and got some old boxes of toys that needed sorting. This kept the girls excited and busy while we watched the ceremonies.

It is clear that my readers love it when I talk about movies, so I think I’ll make it a regular feature.

KIDDING! It bores you to tears.

My family was a movie family. Three girls, no boys. We leaned towards movies, rather than sports. I love movie talk.*

So I think I’ll call my sisters tonight.

And I’ll give you all a rest while I enjoy a day of sun. The rain has cleared.

Hannah wants a walk.

*I know a lot of women that are bored by movies and love sports. Don’t mean to stereotype. Our family enjoyed sports, but loved movies.

If you want to read my Oscar preview and didn’t catch it, see below.

Just checking in to see who’s gearing up for the Academy Awards tonight.

I love this time of year, even when I don’t agree with the Academy’s choices. Every year I attempt to see all the Best Picture nominees. I rarely am able to do it. Since having kids, I don’t even come close to accomplishing it.

This all stems from romantic memories of being in Manhattan one March and walking into movie theaters on a whim, attempting to see all the nominees. I saw them all that year. Don’t ask me who the nominees were.

Most years I disagree with the winners and get all steamed about it, but that’s part of the fun. Titanic shouldn’t have won Best Picture. In my opinion, no film with a badly written script should win best picture.

My husband and I have an inside joke. One year he thought Uncle Buck should have been nominated over Ghost. I’m not even sure those two movies came out the same year. It’s just something that makes us laugh. He loves John Candy.

My favorite host has been Billy Crystal. I look forward to seeing Jon Stewart tonight. I hope he does well.

The past couple of years my husband and I have received free tickets to a fun Academy Awards party where we viewed the awards on a big theater screen. This year we’re staying home. Any tips on how to keep the little ones busy? It starts early here, PST. One of the few events that shows live.

I got a late start this year seeing the films and with the exception of Capote, was limited to movies released on DVD. I wish I had seen Good Night Good Luck, Brokeback Mountain, Memoirs of a Geisha and King Kong. For some reason, Munich doesn’t interest me.

Here is a list of the nominated films that I’ve seen.

CAPOTE
Loved Philip Seymour Hoffman in this film. The film was very well done. It also got a supporting actress award nod for Catherine Keener’s performance. As much as I loved the character of Harper Lee and Keener’s performance I don’t think she should win here. The role wasn’t substantive enough.

HUSTLE AND FLOW
Received a best actor nomination for Terrence Howard. I have loved Terrence Howard in every thing I’ve seen him in. This was no exception. Even so, I was surprised to really like this film. I would be happy to see Terrence Howard win. I definitely think the movie should win for Best Song. The song was the heart of this movie.

WALK THE LINE
Received nominations for performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. I think Reese Witherspoon will win. I liked the movie. Both performances were very good, but I’m not sure they were the best in their categories.

CRASH
I thought the performances in this movie were excellent. The movie as a whole, while having some great moments, was a little off for me. The script wasn’t completely believable in my opinion. I know racism exists. That wasn’t the problem for me. It was this particular storyline. I just didn’t buy it. Sandra Bullock was very good in her part. The movie was nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Matt Dillon) and a few others. I would not be disappointed to see Dillon win. He was great. I’m glad the film won a Screen Actors Guild award for best ensemble. Perfect award for this film.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
This movie was nominated for Best Actress (Keira Knightly) and several other awards. I would like to see it get Best Art Direction. Keira Knightly was wonderful and deserves the award as much as Reece Witherspoon, in my opinion. I think her beauty distracts you in this movie from what a good actor she is. Why wasn’t Donald Sutherland nominated here? The academy got it wrong there.

NORTH COUNTRY
Great Movie. Charlize Theron received the Best Actress nomination. Charlize gave a strong, subtle performance. She was completely believable. Also the best Minnesotan accent I’ve ever heard in a film. She sounded exactly like my cousins. Frances McDormand is nominated for Supporting Actress in this film. Very worthy of a win here, though I didn’t see all performances in the category.

THE CONSTANT GARDNER
Rachel Weisz gave a powerful performance in this interesting, suspenseful movie. She’s nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category, which is strange because she was a lead character.

CINDERELLA MAN
I really enjoyed this movie. Paul Giamatti gave a wonderful, sensitive performance. It’s a toss up for me between him and Dillon in the supporting actor category. Of course, I haven’t seen all the performances in this category.

Here is a list of nominations. What have you seen? If the Oscars are over when you read this, were you disappointed or happy with the show and the results?

Or if you don’t care about the movies, feel free to give red carpet commentary. I predict Keira Knightly, Rachel Weisz, and Charlize Theron will look stunning. Terrence Howard will look good too.

Last week I picked Rachel up at school. The weather was lovely. While I was waiting for her I made plans with a friend of mine to meet at a park for lunch. The problem was I hadn’t packed a lunch. We made a detour for the Bagel shop and on the way out of the shop we went to the bathroom. Hannah was with us.

It was a one room restroom with the sink in the same room as the toilet. Hannah didn’t go potty but touched enough questionable–deeply questionable–surfaces that we had to give her hands a thorough cleaning. This is always a pain because she soaps up rinses off and then wants to soap up again. It takes a while to end the madness. There is always the risk that Hannah will get wet in this process, which would pretty much ruin our plans. Hannah would want her clothes off. We would have no extra clothes. You can imagine the rest.

So, on this day Hannah soaped up a number of times before I convinced her to start drying off her hands with the paper towel. Very seriously, she dried her hands and threw the paper towel away.

Then before I could do anything about it, she grabbed another paper towel and started wiping the filthy floor. Finally, to top it off she flushed the toilet again.

I considered my options, and then grimaced as I grabbed her and made my way out of the door.

Sometimes, when you know you can’t win, you just have to end the madness and cut your losses.

You would have washed her hands again, wouldn’t you?

Sigh.

I’m changing the subject now. The park was fun.

Since awards seem to be in the air I’m going to nominate myself for the Most Sporadic Blogger Award. Anyone want to give me a button.

Why am I sporadic? Well, partly because I just am. But also because I have been taking classes this year. I tend to write my better posts when classes aren’t in session. They are in session now. I’m taking two classes. Life is great, but busy. So, forgive me if it takes me a little longer to get around to visit you, and forgive me for my boring posts.

Hey. Wait a minute. Wake up!!

+++++++

My sister-in-law sent us the Jack Jackson Curious George CD. It’s groovy. We’re enjoying it very much. When I put it on in the car, Hannah asks, “Curious George, Mom?” When I say yes, she answers, “Oh.” She’s loving the word “Oh” lately.

Anyway, the music makes me happy. In fact, just last night I put the music on after dinner. “Talk of the Town” was on. I was feeling it, dancing. I saw my husband looking at me, admiring me, with a smile on his face. He walked over to me and whispered something in my ear. I thought he was going to say something like “You’re sexy.” but instead he whispered, “You’re a Deadhead and you don’t even know it.”

The Grateful Dead bore me. They don’t bore him. I guess I wasn’t boring him, so I’ll take the compliment.

We continued to dance together, taking turns singing into a new shower head that we had just received in the mail. I watched my girls twirling around to the music.

And I was blissfully happy.

+++++++

Hannah no longer lets anyone call her Hannah. She’s Turloughs Mom most of the time. Turlough is one of her dolls, named after a little friend of ours. About every five minutes she announces, “I Turlough’s mom.” Everytime Rachel calls her Hannah, Turlough’s mom comes running to me crying, “I Turlough’s mom.” It makes her a dead on target for teasing. Rachel is discovering the joys of teasing, and I’m all over her for it, but part of me understands. If you don’t laugh you cry out of frustration. And Rachel does cry, too, sometimes. Hannah has been talking up a storm and taking charge of her world and it’s an adjustment for Rachel, who is an amazing big sister, but used to being in charge. She’s struggling with the change in dynamics. And I’m struggling to know how to help her through it. I have to give her credit. She does call Hannah Turlough’s Mom quite a lot.

Care to imagine what my afternoon was like?

But damn Hannah’s cute. She’s so cute if I wrote about it I’d put you all to sleep again.

Yup, that cute.

Hey! Wake up. She’s cute dammit.

+++++++++++

Talk Of The Town Lyrics

I want to be where the talk of the town
Is about last night when the sun went down
And the trees all dance
And the warm wind blows in that same old sound
And the water below gives a gift to the sky
And the clouds give back every time they cry
And make the grass grow green beneath my toes
And if the sun comes out
I’ll paint a picture all about
The colors I’ve been dreaming of
The hours just don’t seem enough
To put it all together
Maybe it’s as strange as it seems
And the trouble I find is that the trouble finds me
It’s a part of my mind it begins with a dream
And a feeling I get when I look and I see
That this world is a puzzle, I’ll find all of the pieces
And put it all together, and then I’ll rearrange it
I’ll follow it forever
Always be as strange as it seems
Nobody ever told me not to try
And the water below gives a gift to the sky
And the clouds give back every time they cry
And make the grass grow green beneath my toes
And if the sun comes out
I’m going to paint a picture all about
The colors I’ve been dreaming of
The hours just don’t seem enough
To put it all together
Always be as strange as it seems