Big Momma?!?!

Just wanted to publicly express my horror that Big Momma's House 2 was the top-ranking film of this past weekend. People, we have NO right to complain about "the crap" Hollywood produces if we continue to provide it with $28 million in ticket sales. Next time it crosses your mind to actually support Martin Lawrence's career, I suggest counting to 10 and walking away from the theatre. Thank you.

Swing Baby!!!

Although I can't remember the first times I was ever on a swing, I do remember loving swings in general. There is something fantastic about the feeling of swinging, of flying through the air. The woooooooshhhhhh. The smile on Taggart's face is enough to prove that the sensation of swinging is good for him too!

Coupling that a Single Girl can Love

Another new entertainment addiction found. In fact, this one has nicely replaced the void left by my full-viewing of the entire "Sex and the City" series. Thanks to Greg, I have been turned on to "Coupling". Ouch, that sounded WAY naughtier than it should have ... much like the series!!! Upfront I will admit that I am actually behind on the "Coupling" bandwagon. I did catch the odd episode while in Australia but never enough to make me a devotee. So now, five years off the pace, I am becoming one.

"Coupling" is a BBC series that began in 2000 and it's fantastic. It spawned a pathetic American version in 2003 that survived a grand total of 5 episodes before dying a quiet death. Truth be told, I don't think American broadcast television can handle "Coupling". If it had been put out by HBO, then it may have had a shot! One of the greatest things about the show is that it pulls NO punches (verbally, subject-wise) in its presentation of male/female relationships. And, because of its candor, it rings SO true thus making it SO funny. As in, laugh out loud funny. Not to mention infinitely quotable. Ahhh, the hallmark of great show is its ability to create a language its viewers can recite back to each other and "Coupling" has this in spades.

The series is now doing the rounds on DVD and I spent my afternoon watching Season Two. Now I must go out and get the remaining two seasons ASAP so I can find out what happens with Steve and Susan, Sally and Patrick, Jeff and Julia and Jane. Bring on the blizzards ... I have something to kill the time!

Election Blues

I wanted to post this pic taken from the thorough coverage at CBC's site. For the first time in my life I haven't been a fan of soooo much Blue. That solid block in Alberta is terrifying ... ouch! Anyway, we all know the result. I just found this setup to be a very visual smack in the face of Canada's new reality.

Election Notes

It's Election Day. Another one. I feel that my ranting time is over (at least pre-election commentary!) as the polls are slugging through their day. The arrival of blowing snow on the east coast is a sad one. It offers people an excuse to not get to the polls. It creates an obstacle for one more voice to be heard. That voices may be getting lost on flake-filled wind is perhaps an apt position for a Canadian election. Like many of my friends and colleagues I have watched as the Conservative momentum has rolled towards this day. I have read the reports of "the west" finally being heard as its financially-fueled thoughts are top of the Harper heap. I have also seen the emergence of ads, posters, and websites crying out for the counter position. Truth be told, today will be a sad one indeed if the Canadians choose to vote AGAINST a party rather than truly FOR one. It will be like the last election in our southern neighbour where many of us will have to face the world (HELL, face many of our own citizens!!!) and say "We're Sorry ... We Tried". I hope this is not the case. I hope that when the snow clears we will have a Canada that did not bow to fear, frustration, and frivolous power grabs. I hope that we will awake tomorrow to a future that maintains women's rights, marriage for all, childcare and the view that all people are valuable.

Procrastination Activity #12

Found this little quiz on the CBC site. Test your knowledge of teen television. What's even more fun (for us nerdy teen flick fans) is seeing if you get ALL the references in the answers. Have fun.

http://www.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/quiz/quiz.cgi?quiz=arts_teen

The Soft Drink Revolution

Um, yeah. So, I have too much time on my hands these days because I'm too afraid to start my masters research paper and I'm spending my hours watching cable television. Today I saw my first advertisement for 7UP Plus. This is the soft drink with the fruity flavour added and 10% of your daily dose of CALCIUM. Wow! I thought the fruit-infused Dasani water (you know the one that tastes like Crystal Light that has been left on the counter overnight?) was a breakthough but this 7UP is inspired. Truly, I'm not sure if I'm actually impressed or insulted by this product. All I know is it won't be making it into my fridge anytime soon. I'm gonna hold out for my Centrum/Dr. Pepper combo. Why waste money on simple calcium when there is an entire multivitamin just waiting to be dilluted into my soda can?! Ahhh, the future.

Golden Moments

The thing about the Golden Globe awards is that they don't really mean anything ... and yet they can mean alot. Voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Globes are a silly honour that is the grown-up equivalent of the Teen Choice Awards - except even less so as the TCAs are voted on my millions of fans and the GGs are selected by a group of (approximately) 90 press writers.

The real joy of the Globes is found in three things:
1 - it marks the true start of awards season (the SAGs are in two weeks and the Oscars in a month)
2 - it features stars from both film and television so ALL your faves are in attendance
3 - it is held dinner party style meaning a the drag of "ceremony" is enlivened by tons of Moet and fun seating arrangements

This year did not disappoint with some of the best, wittiest, human acceptance speeches in years (I would suggest we have Jamie Foxx' behaviour from last year to thank for this). The event was also a feast of strapless cleavage in layered gowns and a definate absence of bowties. So after three hours of watching, I offer the following observations...

Natalie Portman looking exceptional in her new short hair that makes her eyes pop even more.

The WTF? dress award to Rachel Weisz who should have second-guessed the hair, the blush and the bizarre dress, chunky construction. Then I found out she was pregnant and felt a little bit bad.

Michelle Williams looking SO luminous beside her new man (and father to her newborn) Heath Ledger that I almost, finally, forgave her for her Dawsons Creek days.

Jessica Alba's tan. Wow!

Sandra Oh's cute joy over having her nomination read for "Grey's Anatomy" and then the flustered glee as she got lost on her way to stage after winning the award. Then she says "I feel like someone set me on fire!" (a concept that S. Epatha Merkeson would co-opt later with her hot flash comments!)

Drew Barrymore ... baby, buy a bra.

Hugh Laurie takes the top actor prize for "House" and my other fave medical show gets some props. And really, was there any other choice but him?

You gotta love William Peterson's voice.

Reese Witherspoon starts her run for Oscar and is dressed exactly like a golden globe herself in a metallic top above a cream skirt. She also offers up a speech about familial love that is so sweet she makes Shirley Maclaine cry.

Mary Louise Parker kicks some "Desperate Housewife" ass even though her boobs have returned to normal (ie. non-existant) after last year's post-baby buxom-ness.

An obviously preggers Gwyneth swans around in WAY too much fabric.

Harrison Ford turns co-presenter Virginia Madsen into a side table as he cavalierly hands her is his drink to hold and then continues to present the screenplay award as if she wasn't there.

Mandy Moore takes the prize for simplest elegance.

Joaquin's obvious discomfort at having to stand in front of a crowd of people and just be himself.

Being a little disappointed that Philip Seymour Hoffma's schticky Capote performance is going to run over Joaquin and a VERY deserving Heath Ledger come Oscar time if the GGs are any indication.

Oh, and that one last shot of Scarlett Johansson's cleavage just for good measure.

Bottoms Up

I got this picture from my sis-in-law after the holiday season. I had been to the Hockey Hall of Fame earlier that week and Tanya had this very pic taken (ok - she wasn't IN the cup!) so I loved the cuteness of this one of Taggy. If anyone has been the HHF then you are aware of the magnificence of the trophy room. It is a beautiful room. And then there is the Stanley Cup itself. I am amazed that fans can put their child's butt into the cup - but it does make for a great moment.

Phucking Photogenic at Last!

We all acknowledge the inherent narcissism of blogging. It is often the case that I revel in showcasing my rollercoaster ride of feelings, my writing of movie reviews, or my joy in my nephew. I don't often spend time presenting myself - visually - as one of my vices.

Truth be told, I find myself to be incredibly UNphotogenic and I seldom smile. I hate pictures of myself and find the process to be painful. But recently I have been subjected to many flashbulbs (thanks digital!) at all sorts of affairs and I have grinned much more than in the past. I've decided to rock the pixelated hotness and, thanks to a red dress (and usually I CANNOT wear red), found a selection of pictures from the MBA Games banquet that prove me to be not so bad in 2-D.

The consequence of these pictures has been a number of comments about my smile. Yes, you can see teeth ... I NEVER show teeth. Well, my natural smile does but my photo smile does not ... usually. I'm taking this change in captured emotion to be a genuine upswing in happiness with life in general. This mood plus is also supported with a greater confidence in myself in many respects and it makse me more relaxed thus leading to better kodak moments. There are many people who have entered my life and supported my satisfaction injection but it's the two cohorts in that top picture (Tanya and Greg) that deserve much of the credit. Or maybe I'm just getting hotter?

MBA Games

So the first weekend of January was spent in Windsor, ON. It was the annual competition between MBA programs around the country (ok - only one school from the west was there) that included prizes for spirit, athletics and academics. Although our team did not walk away with any hardware this year, we showed ourselves to be a flashy, retro-inspired, good-time-loving team. Here are some selected moments from the weekend...

SPIRIT
We were outfitted in maroon wigs, headbands, bowling shirts, basketball shorts and knee socks. Really, I don't think we could have looked hotter!!! The best part was how we all wore the same wig but we each established our own personality nonetheless. Although, the girls did have a tendency to look like 50s diner waitresses. Next year? Rollerskates!

ATHLETICS
We had two full days of games to play. Saturday was full of outdoor goodness with the likes of Soccer and Ultimate Frisbee (remind me NEVER to play a full game of that again!) Sunday was the indoor events of basketball and volleyball. It would have been nicer if the weather had gotten the memo for this division so that it would not have blustered freezing snow on the outdoor day and emulating spring on the indoor one. Oh well! We played hard but could have scored more!

PARTY
The weekend ended with a banquet that included a snore of a speech, some tasty chicken and lots of hot bodies moving around. Once again, we represent! As these pics clearly illustrate!

In Memory

I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this post or not. I wasn't sure if it was appropriate for me to do it. But then I thought that these words would only be meant as a positive memorial and I chose to proceed. This post is to remember Brody.

The picture was taken on Tuesday, January 3 at the first wings & beer night of the new semester. Brody was not one of our commerce classmates, but as buddy to Tony, he was a wings favourite. He always brought the energy, the laughs, the un-filtered comments. I was so happy to see Brody at my last wings in Sudbury before I returned to Halifax.

It's a week later, and Brody is no longer with us. He passed away on the weekend in a car accident and the world was robbed of a fantastic spirit. The news was shocking and made me remember that life can be a fleeting thing. It can be taken in an instant. You can hoist a beer with a friend one day and toast their memory the next. This is not a comment to foster living in fear of that end but rather a reminder to cherish the moments before its arrival. It always felt that Brody lived in the present and I hope that served him well. He will be missed.

Brothers

“I don't believe the accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers. It makes them siblings. Gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at.” - Maya Angelou

This holiday season brought many good things to my life but two of the best was the chance to hang with BOTH my brothers and my nephew. I count myself lucky to have such awesome young men in my life. They tease the hell out of me (sometimes I don't take it well, but I guess it's part of the brother/sister code) and give me lots of hugs. I just wanted to start the new year by sharing these pictures of my guys and the little guy.