Number 1 Already?

Today is my nephew's first birthday. I can't believe he has been in the world a year already. It feels like yesterday that he was a nothing but a talc-smelling roast beef of a person that I could hold in the crook of my arm. Now he's a walking, pointing, babbling and smiling machine!! Way to cool. In ten days I get to celebrate my birthday. I have a feeling that it's going to be a mellow affair this year and, for once, I think I'm OK with that possibility. Does that mean I'm getting old?

Rapping to Redemption

Sometimes I find myself having to watch Saturday Night Live. The most recent instance occured while visiting friends who don't have cable. So what else to do late on a Saturday night when you've stopped "doing" the club thing? If you're like me, you may end up watching SNL and remembering why you stopped in the first place. Or, you will be like me last night and you'll enjoy the return of some decent sketches. And, most importantly, you will be treated to Natalie Portman doing this! Thank you Ms. Portman. I forgive you for all that prequel-jazz now.

Bio Blog #2 ... Natalie

This week I present Natalie - my best friend. She can get by on the one-name-thing cause almost everyone who knows me has heard of her. I have known her for 23 years. Truth be told, she is my Jiminy Cricket. I'm off to visit her (and her fantastic husband) this weekend when we will talk for hours, drink tasty martinis and engage in delicious cooking rituals. I will be nourished in all the good things in life by the time I get back - thanks to Nat for that!

I am ... quirky, bookish, and full of opinions.
I can ... imagine everything and plan nothing.
I love ... a small number of people with a large amount of ferocity.
I will ... never dedicate my life to acquisition.

What is your sign? Sagitarius
Where were you born? Sudbury
Where do you live now? Montreal

What has been the best place you've visited in between and why?
I spent a year in the South of France when I was 19. I had never lived outside of Sudbury before and France made me understand beauty. Poetry meant something after that. I went back for a month at 28 with my husband Blair, and I had no idea how much more beautiful beauty could be when you're in love.

What is your favourite:
Movie - Moulin Rouge
Book - Possession, by A.S. Byatt
TV Show - The Office (British version)
Drink - Red wine

Who is your celebrity hottie of choice?
Mark Ruffalo ... and Colin Firth ten years ago

If you could have lunch with anyone in the world ... who would it be and why?
Can it be someone dead? If so, then Sigmund Freud. I think it would make a funny story. ("And then I ordered sausages, and he was like 'Very interesting choice, my dear . . . '")

How do you know Raye?
We met at school in grade 3 and used to play make believe and My Little Pony in the woods together.

What 3 words would you use to describe Raye?
Ebullient ... Imaginative ... Fun

Do you have your own website? No

If I Were a Member of the Academy

It is only 4 days until the red carpet unfurled at the Kodak theatre and the stars arrive to pick up their little gold men. I have to say that this year's event is likely to be less-thrilling than other years. The potential and likelihood for an upset is low. The "winners" appear to be foregone conclusions. All of them are worthy choices. But some of them just wouldn't be mine.

Supporting Actor:
George Clooney - Syriana
Matt Dillon - Crash
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt - A History of Violence

The hard part here is that I haven't seen two of the films (Cinderella & Violence). I think the Academy is going to be split over Giamatti - who was snubbed for a Sideways nomination last year and Clooney - who they will want to reward in some fashion since it can't be for director or film! For myself, I'd like to see the new generation represent and get some gold-laminate in Gyllenhaal's hands. I've always been a believer that the supporting award must go to someone that "supports" the film and lead performers to the extent that the film would not be same without that portrayal. Jake is the only one who truly fits the bill from this list of nominees (but I liked him better in Proof to be honest).
Likely Winner? Clooney
Raye's Choice? Gyllenhaal

Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams - Junebug
Catherine Keener - Capote
Frances McDormand - North Country
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain

Again - two performances on this list that I haven't had the pleasure to see (June & North) but neither of them are really in the running this year. The downside of this category is the inclusion of Weisz. In a "political" move to keep her out of the leading lady pack where the competition is tougher she has been slotted into this secondary group. The good thing? She's going to get an Oscar out of it and complete the awards season trifecta (Globe, SAG, Oscar). The bad thing? She shouldn't be running in this race at all - she had a leading role and is going to steal the award from a woman who truly gave an incredible supporting performance this year - Michelle Williams.
Likely Winner? Weisz
Raye's Choice? Williams

Lead Actor:
Philip Seymore Hoffman - Capote
Terrence Howard - Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
David Strathairn - Good Night, and Good Luck

If you had asked me in November I would have said this was Phoenix's award to lose. It appears now that it is Hoffman's to keep. It's always a tough year when the category is full of great performances and you everyone is deserving without any politics coming into play. It's also nice to see such a strong showing of younger actors coming into their own. That reality may sway people to want to support Strathairn - the lion of the group - but this won't be the case. For me, the best work is done by the one guy NOT playing a character based on a person in the real world - Heath Ledger. The challenge of "becoming" a (once) living person maintaining the character's reality but I've always been more impressed with actors who can conjure complete characters from nothing but words on a page.
Likely Winner? Hoffman
Raye's Choice? Ledger

Lead Actress:
Judi Dench - Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Keira Knightley - Pride & Predjudice
Charlize Theron - North Country
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line

The obvious oddity in this group is Knightley - I can only conclude that the actresses who nominated her were so shocked by the potential that Keira could act that they felt compelled to say something. But act to an Oscar degree in P&P? I don't think so. And aside for Walk the Line, the remaining films are small, critical faves that certainly gave their leading ladies material to devour. But this is no real contest. It's Reese's show - consider she never sang or played an instrument before taking the role? - and deservedly so.
Likely Winner? Witherspoon
Raye's Choice? Witherspoon

Adapted Screenplay:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
Munich

Original Screenplay:
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Match Point
The Squid and The Whale
Syriana

I love the screenplay awards. They are the starting point of all great films because they build the story foundation on which all the visuals are built. This year the field in both categories is strong and I've seen all the films but two (I can't believe the DVD release for Violence was delayed!!!). Truth be told, I have NO idea where the Academy is going to come down on these awards. Often, the screenplay awards go to strong films in other areas (acting, directing) which would favour Match Point and Syriana. Or, the award goes to the films that are the broadly competent like Brokeback. Then again, the award can go to the film that poses the "tough" questions (Crash) or delivers wonderful dialogue (Capote). It appears that the Academy writers know WHAT to nominate. The question will be whether or not the voters can agree on what to reward.
Likely Winner? Brokeback Mountain & Crash
Raye's Choice? Capote & Syriana

Best Film:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich

The best film race is a lack-lustre one for me this year. But it is likely one that the Academy enjoys. All the contenders are strong films. All the films have solid contributions from actors and/or feature the talents of acclaimed directors. But for me? The field feels empty. None of the nominees are films that made a substantial mark on me. Not like Million Dollar Baby or The Aviator did last year. Still, one film stands out as offering the best collection of goods in one basket and I will be surprised if the Academy doesn't agree with me.
Likely Winner? Brokeback Mountain
Raye's Choice? Brokeback Mountain

The Academy Awards will air on CTV (support your Canadian TV stations!) on Sunday, March 3. I will be at my best friend's place watching them. And not matter who wins, I reckon it will be a good time cause Jon Stewart is hosting!!!

Triptych

I took these three pics on a whim. And, due to a funky printing error they came out in bronzed shades of pink and yellow. I'm not an artist but I love my photography.

"Don't Waste the Pretty"

Woah - I have posted every day for a week! That means a)I didn't have a stimulating spring break or b)the break gave me fodder for blogging.

One of the things I did do on this past week was break down and read the infamous trash book "he's just not that into you" (or rather I read the adbridged version that skips all the sad-sack stories - thank goodness! - in place of wise tidbits). And although this line was made famous on "Sex and the City" by a man who broke up with Carrie on a Post-It Note (hence the complimentary nephew pic!) - there are some truths to be had.

And, on the heels of my last self-indulgent post ... good things for me to internalize. I may just have to use some of my neon post-its and stick kindly reminders to myself. Some of my faves:

"Better than nothing is not good enough for [me]."

"There's a guy out there who will want to tell everyone that he's your boyfriend. Quit goofing around and go find him."

"... No matter how powerful and real your feelings may be for someone, if that person cannot fully and honestly return them and therefore actively love you back, these feelings mean nothing."

"Make space in your life for the glorious things your deserve."

"From this moment on ... make a solemn vow about your future relationships: no more murky, no more grey, no more unidentified, and no more undeclared. And, if at all possible, try to know someone as best you can before you get naked with them."

(are you listening Meredith?)

Me, Myself is Meredith

Yes, another post about my favourite show. It appears that Meredith is taking a lot of flack from fans for recent behavior vis-a-vis George. Yesterday's episode is being criticized for being a downer and for harming the core characters relationships beyond repair. I, personally, thought the episode was brilliant. I also found it to be a little scary. You see, as villified as she is, I am Meredith Grey. I may not have the frog-smile or be a fishstick. And I like to think that my eyes are more fabulous. But as far as her flawed character goes? I am her.Let's compare...

1. Men issues related to rejection by & absence of father ... CHECK!
2. Tendency to use alcohol and/or sex to quell sadness & pain ... CHECK!
3. Attraction to emotionally unavailable men of dreamy status ... CHECK!
4. Forgetful of personal strengths due to relationship obsessing ... CHECK!
5. Childhood view of mother who was impossible to live up to ... CHECK!
6. Realization that mother is not a superhero ... CHECK!
7. Lost as to how to deal with mother's frailties ... CHECK!
8. One good friend that always says it like it is ... CHECK!
And her two most recently revealed attributes:
9. Will sleep with a decent male friend for the wrong reasons ... CHECK!
10. Will trick herself into believing she can be "just friends" ... CHECK!

Seriously, who needs self-help when there is "Grey's Anatomy"! :)

NOTE: Since my best friend fails to comment on my site that much ... I add a recent email comment that came under the subject "Yes, you are Meredith":
After B. and I watched Grey's Anatomy last night, I
looked over at him and said "Raye," to which he
replied "No kidding." Nice comparison chart on your
blog, by the way.

A Poem

Untitled

Moments be gone
that cannot be controlled.
Let memories be sweet
in the furture untold.

Small buds of promise
left to wither and dry
in the minds of the fearful
who dare not to try.

Drown in a crimson river
that flows beyond its sands.
A tide to be stemmed
runs through weak hands.

Its life is the love
beyond wisdom and choice -
the reminder of freedom
one hopes never to voice.

Tears without moisture.
Sobs yet to borrow.
The scent in the air
is the death of tomorrow.

A garden of joy?
So much is not to be.
Trapped by thorns of time -
release me.