Things Into Which I Am Currently.

Ha! Sometimes being grammatically correct comes off as a Yoda impersonation.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Pomegranate 7-up. Have y'all tried it? It is the best beverage out there....okay, the best non-alcoholic beverage out there. And it is "limited edition," which translates into 20 bottles stored in my pantry.

2. The red-headed awesomeness of Messrs. Hauser and Lewis. That would be Cole Hauser of K*Ville and Damien Lewis of Life, respectively. Yummy. (Since high school, I have had a thing for redheads...I can't explain it.) V. v. yummy.

3. Barenaked for the Holidays by BNL...especially the BNL/Sarah McLachlan duet. Excellent Christmas tune.

4. WoodWick candles. These candles, which I have found at Von Maur and Hallmark, last forever, come in wonderful "flavors" like Cinnamon Chai and Applewood, and have a wood wick (hence the name...duh), so the candle makes this crackling, popping sound...very soothing. I would highly recommend a WoodWick candle for a Secret Santa gift.

5. The quirky novel The Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England by Brock Clarke.

What are y'all into right now???? What makes you happy right now?


**Removed ellipses in title per Kel's comment because she was absolutely right :)

The airing of the grievances.

Since Festivus is just around the corner, I thought I would air a grievance of my own: the annual firm holiday party. Ours is the same: the same country club, the same conversations with the partners and their spouses, the same choice of chicken, steak, or fish, the same awful deejay with his Kenny G dinner music, and "Baby Got Back" to really get the staff up and dancing (or if that doesn't work, the ubiquitous "Electric Slide"), and the same open bar....which causes the same staffer to make a complete fool of herself.

Ugh.

How to combat this problem? Those of you that have annual holiday parties...what do you do? Are your parties similar to the one I described above, or do you do something inventive and fun? Anything has got to be better than choking down a hockey puck shaped cheesecake while listening to the deejay spin "Old Time Rock & Roll," and the partner's wife rattling on about how busy she is, what with baby Jasper (or Caleigh, or Jaden, or whatever name is now trendy) and the personal training sessions, and the weekly spa appointments.

Bring on the suggestions.

*sigh*

It's 2:50 p.m., and I am enjoying a lunch of taco Doritos and 2 mini Snicker bars.

Yep. It's been one of those days.

Fave new blog, y'all!

Mindy Kaling - who plays "Kelly" on The Office (who, btw, is my husband's TV girlfriend) - writes a blog called "Things I've Bought That I Love." Love, love, love it.

Number one, she's high-larious, and (b) I have found some super cute gift and clothing ideas.

Check it out:
http://mindyephron.blogspot.com/

You can thank me later.

Things I am Enjoying this Morning...

• A grande Bold with cream and 2 splenda along with a slice of pumpkin loaf.
• "Let Me Touch You For Awhile" by Alison Krauss & Union Station playing on the iPod.
• A surprise wonderful email from an old and very dear friend.
• The silence which comes from the entire staff sitting in computer training in another building.

How do you like to start your work day?

Well, let's see....

Didn't have Chuck on my must-see TV list. Really liking Chuck.

Tried Big Bang Theory...it was "ehh" at best.

Enjoyed Aliens in America (even though my former TV boyfriend, Luke, is not what he used to be), but don't know if I will make time to watch it....though Mondays are a bit grim, when I am not watching the game.

Cane...could be interesting...I will keep watching.

Life? Loved Life. Love Damian Lewis...seriously adorable. And his character kind of has a Dr. House/Detective Goren thing going which I dig.

K*Ville. I am sticking it out despite poor reviews.

What am I missing, people? I know, Lawren, Prison Break....but I think it is too late for me and Wentworth Miller, despite his hotness. Kind of like Lost...if you weren't in at the beginning, you aren't ever getting in.

Must See TV

Blame this post on Robin. She started me thinking on the new shows for the fall, as well as the old shows which remain appointment TV. With that intro, here's what I hope to be watching/DV-R'ing come the fall:

Monday:
Yeah...not much is going on for me on Monday. I think that Aliens in America looks okay...and Scott Patterson (Luke from Gilmore Girls *swoon*) is now a part of the cast, so maybe I will give it a try. Another new show I am planning to try is K*Ville...gotta love a good crime drama (like there aren't enough, right?), and this one, set in post-Katrina New Orleans, has the potential to be quite entertaining. So, yeah...I got nothin' for Monday....Oh, wait - Family Guy is on Monday, right? I will be watching Family Guy on Monday :)

Tuesday:
This one's easy, now that Gilmore Girls is off the area, and Dancing with the Stars has no one that has captured my interest.
8-9 Bones
9-10 House
10-11 Cane (Jimmy Smits & Hector Elizando back on prime-time TV - woo hoo! Of course, this will be DV-R'ed b/c I never make it through the 10:00 show!)

Wednesday:
This is a toughy. I think I am going to try out Pushing Daisies, a cool concept, and I love the look of the show. Soooo....
8-9 Pushing Daisies
9-10 Criminal Minds (Mandy's left, but Joe Mantegna has signed on...should be good stuff!)
9-10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (DV'R'ed to fast forward through all of the bullshit reality show-type filler)
10-11 Life (Damian Lewis - a cop who spent a significant time in prison for a crime he did not commit, is exonerated, sues the gov't, gets a huge damage award, and...goes back to being a cop. Fabulous. Also stars Alan Arkin...yay!)

Thursday:
Another busy night - but these are the oldies but goodies...*
8-9 Ugly Betty (Is or isn't Santos going to live??? What about Betty and Henry??? Can't wait to find out.....)
9-9:30 The Office (three words: Pam. And. Jim. Okay, and Dwight. I love Dwight.)
9-10 Grey's Anatomy (DV-R'ed b/c I am a bit exhausted with Izzy & George's storyline, and I can fast-forward through Mere's annoyingly pinched dialogue of miserable-ness)
*I can't believe I am typing this, but I think I might DV-R Survivor. I haven't seen it in years, and really think it has run its course, but I am excited by the prospect of the show being set in China this season. We will see!)

Friday
What else???? FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!!!!! (Call me, Kyle Chandler!)

How about the rest of you? What are you planning to watch this fall? What are you excited about? What are you NOT excited about? (I'm talking to you, creators of Cavemen. What the hell.)

Random question...

What do y'all think of that whole big belt thing? You know, wearing a wide belt with a dress shirt or sweater? I now own two and kind of dig the look - it creates a nice shape that I once achieved without the need of accessories...but I also kind of feel like Betty Boop.

Thoughts?

For those of you in the know...

Isabelle Jade [Chinese name]

or

Maya Grace [Chinese name]

Thoughts, please....

He's at home...washing his tights.

So, there's this new show on TNT called "The Company." I have not yet seen it - though it is patiently waiting for me on DV-R. It stars Chris O'Donnell, Alfred Molina, and, the main reason I want to watch - Michael Keaton. Is it weird that I am still harboring a bit of a crush on Michael Keaton from back when he played "Batman" in 1989??? I think so. Loved him - loved the hair, the glasses, the tortured soul...and of course, the Batsuit (w/o the nipples, thankyouverymuch, George Clooney). Loved all of it.

This goes back to the strange celeb crush question I asked some years ago....I guess I can add "Michael Keaton circa 1989" to the list, huh?

And speaking of shows on basic cable- anyone watching "Mad Men" on AMC? (This is why I love my DV-R.) The lead character, Don Draper...what's up with that guy? Seriously tortured soul. Excellent show - if you're not watching, I suggest you check it out....if only to relive the good ol' days: Drinking bloody marys at client meetings, drinking scotch in the privacy of your office, drinking mint juleps while pregnant. (Are you seeing a pattern here?) Ooh, also - Niagara Falls on your honeymoon, and flirtin' with the gals in the typing pool. Good stuff. It's certainly a time period that hasn't received much attention- and it is fascinating.

Silly donkey.

Bonnie and Rock? Seriously? Could Bonnie be any more annoying? Apparently, I do not understand the job duties and responsibilities of a "nanny" - according to Bonnie, it entails cooking fried cheese, making beds, and Windexing things. Hmmm....tough gig.

I am now on Team Rock......I can't believe I just said that.

Good morning, Baltimore!!!!

Go see "Hairspray." No, seriously...go.

It is a toe-tapping good time. The leads are amazing - Nikki Blomsky, Zac Efron (adorable), Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken...etc, etc, etc - all wonderful. I don't know the actor that played "Seaweed Stubbs," but he blew me away....

And - though his "Baltimore accent" was absolutely annoying, I enjoyed John Travolta as "Edna"...I mean, he's no Divine or Harvey Fierstein...but who is????!?!?!

I am off to buy the soundtrack, since the Broadway CD that Chuck gave me is completely worn out.....now, go. See the movie. You won't regret it.

Summer Lovin'...

TV Show: Hell's Kitchen
Seriously, Gordon Ramsay's use of the word "fuck" is a thing of beauty. And something about him is completely sexy. As for the cheftestants, I am in Team Waffle House - go, Julia!

Book: New England White by Stephen L. Carter
I read his first book, The Emperor of Ocean Park, and it is one of my alltime favorite books. So psyched to start the new one......of course, this may change once Amazon sends me HP & the Deathly Hallows.

Beer: Land Shark. Yum-a-dum-dum. Thank you, Jimmy Buffett, for coming up with a yummy, refreshing beer - best enjoyed on my new deck. Woo hoo!

CD: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
Okay, I know, I know. I am a ginormous nerd. This has got to be the best audio-book I have ever heard...well played, Scott Brick, well played. (Ooh, for those of you who are fans of this book, my brother told me that a movie version is pre-production, with Tom Hanks playing Daniel Burnham and Tom Cruise as Dr. H. H. Holmes. PERFECT.)

Yep, I'm back...

but more importantly, she's back - Energy Spatula is back in blogger business.**

Welcome back, E.Spat. I've missed you.

**Thanks to Kel for the heads-up. (Sorry, girl - how insensitive of me!)

Hi-larious.

Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?* by Jen Lancaster. **

Buy it, read it....don't drink Coke while doing so, or you will do some serious sinus damage.

*Does that title rock or what?
**She's from Huntington, IN - how funny is that?

Reee-al tomato ketchup, Eddie? Nothin' but the best.

You know those movies that, if they are on television, you HAVE to watch - even if you have seen them a million times, or even if the movie is three-quarters of the way over - you still have to watch? Well, that was me yesterday.

(Yes - I am a slacker. I took the red-eye home from Vegas, and didn't go into work....way too sleepy...and slightly hungover...can you be hungover from food???)

I caught National Lampoon's Vacation, The Blues Brothers, AND the classic Rear Window. Luckily, I caught the last one from the beginning...and how great is that movie? Seriously -Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Raymond Burr. Excellent. A trifecta of awesome. If I had found Grosse Pointe Blank, my slack-ass day of TV would have been perfect.

What about y'all? What are those movies that YOU have to watch if you find them on TV??

Cross your fingers and hold your heart.

The title is for my BFF Amanda. Thanks to her and my girls, Kyleen & Heidi, and law school buddy, Matt, for coming to see my show yesterday. Though I was unable to see them, it was awesome to know that they were in the audience rooting for me. Thanks guys, for making the trek north for a little KP and Cole Porter. You are the best.

In other news, I have new wheels! Yes, I have finally rid myself of the Accord, and am now, oddly, driving the same kind of car as my parents. Does that make me feel a little old? Yep. I am afraid so. Or maybe my parents are just extra cool. I think it is the latter. Either way, I LOVE my new car. Here it is:

It's a Hyundai Santa Fe...and it rocks. Fully loaded with fabulous butt-warmer seats and a killer sound system. (And it has a 5 year/100K warranty which is pretty awesome.) So very excited about driving it to Gulf Shores in a few weeks!!!!

Like the loss of an old friend.

Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead

If you're out on the road
Feeling lonely, and so cold
All you have to do is call my name
And I'll be there on the next train

Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead

Goodbye, Stars Hollow....I will miss you all...Kirk, Miss Patty, Gypsy, Babette & Morey, Sookie & Jackson, Michel, Paul Anka, Lane & Zach, Luke, and of course, the Girls themselves.

*sigh*

Thank God for DVDs.

For an absolutely perfect eulogy, brilliant dialogue and all, check out:
http://roundheadedboy.blogspot.com/2007/05/shamus-on-gilmore-girls.html

Freakin' SWEET!

I know that, in the past, I have discussed the virtues of certain radio stations...but since moving to the Fort, I have stuck to NPR and my iPod, because, well, all I could find were country stations. ("We have both kinds of music: country and western."*)

Well, no more. I have found the greatest radio station - only been on the air up here for abut 20 days...and well, I love it. It is perfect for someone like me - born in the late 70's, graduated from high school in '95...they call it "classic dance." And boy, is it.

A sample from this morning's drive in to work:
Lionel Ritchie's "All Night Long"
Earth Wind & Fire's "Boogie Wonderland"
MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This"
Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation"
Andy Gibb's "I Just Want to be Your Everything"

I have also heard "It Takes 2 (to make a thing go right)" by Rob Base and Michael Jackson's "Do You Remember the Time?" (back when MJ rocked my world).

Tell me that doesn't rock....especially on a Monday morning....

*From the movie...no, you know what? I am not going to tell from what movie that quote came. If you don't know, you need to be smacked in the neck with a sock full of quarters.

Out of the mouths of gays.*

Apologies to my reader. The lack of blogging is not for lack of things to discuss, just no time to get them down. I am currently in the home stretch of rehearsals for a show I am doing at our local community theatre. Honestly, when I started I thought it would be Waiting for Guffman, but to my great surprise, it is not. My fellow performers are talented, wonderful people and I am truly happy I decided to audition (AND that the director chose me to be one of the 8 that make up our small cast). So...that's where I have been....

Lastly - to my fellow Gilmore Girls fans, Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" is now my new favorite song....who's with me?????

*Has absolutely nothing to do with anything in this post. It's merely my favorite line from my favorite bitch-on-wheels, Wili, from last week's Ugly Betty.

God bless those affected by the Virginia Tech tragedy.

And shame on the media who have decided to place the blame for this incident squarely on university administration and law enforcement officers.

Don't miss it!

Grammy-Award winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin will be holding a saxophone clinic at Paige's Music in Indianapolis on April 24th at 6:30 pm. Jeff plays with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, one of my all-time favorite groups. If you are a sax player, a jazzer, or just want to know how this guy can fit two saxophone mouthpieces in his mouth at the same time (dirty!), I recommend you check it out...the guy is absolutely brilliant.

(And for more Jeff in Indy, come to the Jazz Kitchen in Broad Ripple on May 13th where he will be playing with his Mu'tet. For more info: www.jeffcoffin.com.)

While I am commenting on things Heidi will probably disagree with....

Let me preface this whole post by saying that I am an absolute music snob. Those who know me know that I never listen to Top 40 radio - I listen to a lot of jazz, Broadway, soul, and anything recommended by my brother, Kyle, who has the best musical tastes of anyone I know. My favorites musicians run the gamut from Jamie Cullum to Bela Fleck to Alison Krauss to Pat Metheny to Michael Brecker to Tower of Power, etc.

That being said:

Y'all remember back inthe good ol' days when I was recapping American Idol...you know, back when Idol was good. Well, if you do - you will recall that I was a huge fan of one Elliott Yamin The adorable guy with the funky teeth and the killer soul and R&B sound. Well, the funky teeth have been replaced by veneers (and, I hate to say it, but they look a bit like Chiclets stuck in his head), but the voice is still there. Oh yeah....I bought his self-titled album on iTunes. And let me just say how much I love it.

Yes, it still has the same production quality of every other Idol's first album (a little too clean, a little too pop), but it is so very clear that this guy has a phenomenal voice and musicality that I believe that been missing from every Idol that has come before him....and apparently after him (read: San-effing-jaya). Seriously. If you are a pop fan, get this album. If you are even an R&B fan, get this album. This boy can saaaang. And he does a cover of one of my top ten favorite songs ever, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" - just awesome.

I really think that this is the best male voice that has come out of Idol yet (yes, even better than Clay Aiken - and for me, that is saying something)...and with a little more time and experience, Elliott Yamin could have a significant musical career ahead of him.

"Thank God You're Here..."

Is anyone else watching this show on NBC? It may just be my odd and unfailing love for Dave Foley that I am watching (seriously, I have had the biggest crush on him ever since Kids in the Hall and News Radio), but I am really enjoying it.

If you don't know what I am talking about - TGYH is an improv "game" show, somewhat similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway? - only they use well-known actors...Jennifer Coolidge, Wayne Knight, Kevin Nealon, etc. in the different sketch scenes. David Alan Grier (of In Living Color) is the host and Dave Foley is the "judge." It's pretty damn funny...and there's nothing else on at that time....so yeah, I am hooked. These actors are put in costumes, and sent through a door where someone greets them with "Thank God you're here!" and the actors are thrown into a scene. Hilarious. One of my favorites so far: Joel McHale (from The Soup...or Talk Soup...or whatever the eff it is called) - just fantastic. Love him.

And Dave Foley.

Not so good.

Root canal this morning. Suck.
Jammies and Jon Stewart at 1:00 in the afternoon on a Thursday....Not-So-Suck.

The joys of the weekend.

• Taking the first motorcycle ride of the year.
• Spring cleaning the garage...and boy, did it need it!
• Enjoying a matinee of "Little Children" at our local indie theater. Seriously, a great film...true to the book, entertaining, with fine performances by Kate Winslet and Jackie Earle Haley.
• Watching Peyton Manning on SNL...(paraphrasing) "Coach, I just thought about going out there for the second half, and a little pee came out." Hee.
• Catching up on "Friday Night Lights" and "Grey's Anatomy" - God bless you, DV-R!
• Sleeping on freshly-laundered sheets.
• Reading a chick lit book: "Cocktails for Three"...good, mindless entertainment.
• Drooling over Daniel Craig as James Bond in "Casino Royale."

Yup...I think that's it!!!!

Dancin' with Steve Sanders, Joey Fatone...and some other people.

Okay, since I am not watching AI, I thought I would check out this season's "Dancing with the Stars," if only to see Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering, actually) get his dance on w/my girlfriend, Cheryl Burke. And so I did....and I have to say, I was quite impressed....with the guys...and Cheryl.

My faves: Joey Fatone. No question. He's adorable, funny, and can certainly groove...even if his partner looked a bit skankified. Also - Ian Ziering. Pretty good...and he's still got it in the looks department. Apolo Anton Ohno....now that boy can move. If he can make time to practice, he will definitely stay in the competition.

Not-so-faves: Ummm....the completely achy-breaky Billy Ray Cyrus. He is out of his element. And mullet gags just aren't going to cut it. Oh...and, basically, all of the ladies. Not really impressed at all....though I think Laila Ali may be able to make it happen.

Honorable Mention: John Ratzenberger. Excellent. Confident, handsome, smooth. He is certainly not going to go the way of George Hamilton and Jerry Springer. He showed he can do it - even given only 2 weeks to learn the first routine.

Oh- can I just say that Heather Mills is NOT a "charity coordinator" or whatever bullshit job title they gave her. She is PAUL MCCARTNEY'S EX-WIFE. Period. Nothing more, I'm afraid. And I don't care about her leg...I'm sorry, I don't. Either she can dance, or she can't. That's all that matters.

Lastly, I am starting a campaign to have Samantha Harris maimed....who's with me???!!!

*sigh*

THEY HAVE TO END THE SEASON (AND POSSIBLY THE SHOW) TOGETHER, RIGHT?!?!? I HAVE PUT WAY TOO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS SHOW FOR THEM NOT TO END UP TOGETHER, DAMNIT!!!

*end of obsessive rant*

I've gone batshit crazy, y'all!!!!

One Helluva Weekend.

First and foremost, CONGRATS TO THE COLTS!!!
I could not be more happy for Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning, and the rest of the boys in blue. It is certainly a well-deserved win for a classy team like the Colts.

Second - I saw The Painted Veil at our local independent theater....Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber and the China countryside as a backdrop....truly a lovely film. I highly recommend it.

Third - B/c of the crazy cold weather, I spent much of the weekend indoors, bundled under a quilt...watching Seasons 2 and 3 of Gilmore Girls...reliving the good 'ol days.

And finally, today....is the big 3-0. Yes, dear reader(s?), I am officially old. My husband bought me a lovely watch, my work colleagues decorated my office, and a friend bought me the "Birthday Girl" Philosophy gift set...what could be better????

Hope everyone else had a weekend as lovely as mine!

I don't care that he's dating Jessica Simpson.

I really really really love John Mayer's latest album, Continuum. Okay, I am a big JM fan - I even skipped Torts my first year in law school so I (along with a couple law school cohorts) could see him in concert...well worth it. (Sorry, Professor Magliocca...it just was). This album is the most musically diverse and challenging of all of his work - though, honestly, I don't even want to include his second album, Inside Wants Out - it wasn't all that spectacular. (Okay, it sucked). But his live album , As/Is, and his blues stuff are just impressive....

Anyway...I say all of this as background to say how much I love Continuum. I especially love "Bold As Love" and "Stop This Train" and "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room." Just great stuff, really.

What else am I listening to?
Hmmmm....
Alison Krauss & Union Station's So Long, So Wrong
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook
Patton Oswalt's Feelin' Kinda Patton (Okay, he's a comedian...but I'm still listening to him)
Herbie Hancock's Possibilities

How 'bout you? What are y'all listening to right now?

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.

Bears vs. Colts - Super Bowl 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My town isn't going to know what to do. Coach Dungy was right about where the Super Bowl should be played...right here in my town, baby!

All I have to say about it is...

GO COLTS!!!!

This fantastic win by the Colts capped off a fantastic weekend - great conversation, shopping, and lots of wine with my best girlfriend, and a couple good movies with my hubby.

What could be better?

The Globes...

One of my all-time favorite awards shows - nothing goes better that movie & television stars AND booze. Makes for entertaining television. Favorite moments of the night:

• America Ferrera's truly heartfelt acceptance speech - she so deserved the award for Best Actress in a Comedy (for Ugly Betty, in case you didn't know!).
• Ugly Betty's win for Best Comedy (of course, I was sad too that The Office didn't win...it was a toss-up for me!)
• One of my many boyfriends, Hugh Laurie - and his win for the portrayal of the ever-sarcastic, self-destructive, gorgeous Dr. Gregory House.
• Meryl Streep's witty acceptance speech - what a class act.
• Helen Mirren's awards for portraying both Elizabeths...I saw The Queen, and have never been so impressed with a performance.
• Sacha Baron Cohen's acceptance speech...hee hee.

Not so great: Warren Beatty's loooong-winded thank you for his Cecil B. DeMille Award....and Tom Hanks' incessant use of the word "balls." Ugh.

Happy 2007!!!

I spent a wonderful weekend with my mom and dad, brother & sis-in-law, and in one word - it was fab. We did a kind of Christmas/NYE combo - with dinner and presents on Saturday night and NYE celebrations on Sunday, and it was perfect. Nothing better that eating, drinking, playing games and watching movies with the fam. Also, I have to say, I much prefer Garrison Keillor's NYE special to the creepy Dick Clark/Ryan Seacrest New Years Rockin' Eve. If nothing else, it makes me feel young :) I didn't know half of the performers scheduled to play on NYRE. Yep - gotta love ringing the new year in with some sparking shiraz and Emmylou Harris....old school, baby.

Hope everyone had a fantastic New Years' weekend!