Oscar speculation

Hey everyone! All is well in Colorado. Lots of sunshine and none of the snow that they've promised us all week. It is going to be soooo hard to go into work tomorrow, but luckily there's a Junior Achievement bowling thing, so we all get to leave early - yippee! This has been a killer week for me given my new workout. I am bone tired and so sore. lifting weights is even worse than i remembered, but i've followed the plan to the letter so far. 80 more days (not that i'm counting ;). I did get some inspiration though from shaun who just placed first in his age bracket in an Arkansas triathalon and third overall - Congratulations, Shaun!!! I find all this amazing, especially considering that when i lived down South he wasn't even thinking of training for such events. i have no such grand plans as entering triathalons, but it's good to know if you set your mind to it these things are possible for the truly determined.

In other news i have taken up the age old art of knitting, thanks to the kit i received from my parents for Christmas and the teachings of larissa, world's best knitting teacher and all around gen x martha stewart without the annoying parts and jailtime. i finished my first scarf, blue to match my fleece, and am now learning how to purl, so i can start the second one for thomas. unfortunately, by the time it's done it will probably be spring. but there's always next year. i'm really enjoying the activity. since i have no creative ability, it's nice to finally find something that i can produce. watch out, a hand-knitted scarf may be in your future.

It's only 3 days and counting......to what? Oscars, of course. This is the entertainment junky's superbowl, tho i have to admit i prefer the spectacle of the golden globes. Still, you can bet i'll be replaying the oscars come sunday nite. if i start watching a good one hour late, i should miss most of the commercials. i'm heartbroken that joan and mellissa won't be covering the show for E this year. instead i'm stuck with star jones. she drives me absolutely nuts! as for the host, i usually think chris rock is pretty funny, tho i definitely don't agree with everything he says. here's one quote tho that cracked me up: “Bush lied to me, man. He said we got to move on Iraq because they’re the most dangerous regime on Earth. If they’re so dangerous, how come it only took two weeks to take over the whole country? You couldn’t take over the Bronx in two weeks. You’d need a month to get the Grand Concourse.” it'll be interesting. my favorite host in recent years was steve martin. he was funny and classy and witty all at the same time (tho no johnny carson or bob hope as my dad says). martin's also a great playwright (picasso at the lapin agile is hysterical if you ever get the chance to see it. einstein, picasso and my fav schmendiman all on one stage - it was so good i had to see it twice - just checked imdb to confirm a spelling and found there's a movie in the works!!!). i also loved both of his novels - shopgirl - it will be out as a movie soon starring martin and claire danes) and the pleasure of my company. both books are funny in a dark humor kind of way and a little sad.

anyway, the oscars! i have been highly neglectful this year and haven't seen all the films - ray and vera drake are two that i just didn't make it to. one because the runtime was too long (tho this in no way stopped me from seeing return of the king in all it's 3+ hour glory) and one because it just looked too depressing. i loved the aviator for recreating the 40s in all their glory so it's my pic, as is leo. i enjoyed the first 2/3 of million dollar baby and all the actors did great. as for best actress, i'm actually pulling for annette benning in being julia. it's a great role and she pulled it off with gusto. sideways - enjoyable, but soooooooo overrated. it is really just a romance movie for guys. i wouldn't mind virginia madsen getting the nod for best supporting, tho aviator's cate blanchett deserves it for her startling portrayal of kate hepburn. she truly captured her. i loved finding neverland, but don't think it's really good enough to win anything, but it was a wonderful movie, especially the play scene at the end with all the orphans.

i mostly watch the oscars to see what everyone will wear. kate winslet's really been impressing me lately, so i hope she comes away with best dressed. i also like to see which actor or actress breaks down sobbing, ala gwyneth and halle. hopefully this exercise in movie minutia wasn't too taxing, but it's hard for me to stop at this time of year. i'll be back early next week with my reaction to it all.

have a great wkend!

aloha.