OMG. (And Not In A Good Way)

My second foray into dating happened last week at a Starbucks in Arlington. This was the second guy I had been emailing from eHarmony. In the very first email, L. said he was only 5 feet, 2 inches. I'm only 5 feet, 1-3/8 inches (in bare feet), and to tell the truth, I've never dated anyone that short. But, you know, I'm keeping an open mind.

I showed up, walked in and immediately thought, "Oh. My. God." L. was probably about 40 pounds heavier than his profile picture. L was so different from his profile picture, I came home afterwards and checked. Just to make sure I wasn't crazy. And he was practically bald. And really round. And sort of shaped like Humpty Dumpty. And I had to bend over a bit to hug him.

Now, I don't have a problem with any of these things. I'm not the most svelte woman out there. And personally, I like men who embrace their baldness and shave the whole darn head. I can think of quite a few sexy men with shaved heads. Jason Statham. James Blake (post dreadlocks - tennis player). Michael Chiklis. Um. My mind went blank. But a man losing his hair doesn't bother me at all.

I've always thought of myself as an open-minded, kind person. Someone who doesn't judge people based solely on their looks. But as I was sitting there talking with L., I couldn't help but wonder what people would think of me if they saw us walking down the street together. Then my next thought was, "How incredibly shallow." But where does that leave me? See L. again just to prove to myself I'm not shallow - even though I'm not interested? And wouldn't that be leading him on more?

Our conversation was alright. I did sit there with him for an hour and a half talking and getting to know each other a little. And L. invited me to dinner, but at that point, I knew I wasn't interested, so I declined. And then I left and called Angela and expressed shock. She pegged what was bothering me about the whole thing - I had a bait and switch pulled on me. The profile picture showed one thing - the person was another. Which, I guess, isn't that suprising with the whole internet dating thing. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

The kicker of this experience? L. closed out communication with me on eHarmony with the reasoning of, "I just didn't feel like the chemistry was there." At least I avoided another phone call like this.

Another Great Benny of Living in DC - Call Out to NOLA Fans

I got a meetup message about the closing ceremony for John K. Lawson's exhibit - Floodline at a gallery in DC. I don't care if I go with people I know or not - I'm heading over there today after work. Here's a brief description of the exhibit:

One morning in Maine, John Lawson took a dingy from the island where he and his wife were vacationing to the mainland to fetch the morning paper, and learned that his home and studio were under six feet of water and that his adopted home city of fifteen years was in a state of chaos. It was six weeks before they were allowed to return to New Orleans and sort through their personal belongings. Everything was damaged. From his studio drawers Lawson pulled out twenty-five years’ worth of soaked sketches and drawings. By pulling the paper carefully apart he laid what was still intact onto the porch of a friend to dry in the sun. The piles of photographs though were less salvageable; in some the subject was still discernible, but for most the colors had bled into one another, creating abstractions in brilliant colors, which melted and crept eerily across the faces of family and friends. With these remains, about a third of his life’s work, Lawson began his journey of understanding the disaster that had changed his life forever. In this exhibition we are witness to Lawson’s mourning, healing and ultimate discovery of acceptance and hope.

I've been missing New Orleans for a few weeks now since I saw a friend's photo of the French Quarter in her facebook album. And I hardly ever went into the French Quarter (unless I had an urge for a muffaletta from Central Grocery).

Anyway, I figured this was a small way to reconnect with what I consider my hometown and remeber the city before and after Katrina.

I'll post my reaction and experience to Floodline afterwards.

Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster: A Review

I finished the above book last night buried in the bed with the dogs and cats. For a while, I was reading lots and lots of memoirs and I read her first one - Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, or, Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office which I thought was hilarious and enjoyed immensely. The first book had Jen getting fired and tumbling from her yuppie life in Chicago into practical adulthood.

I grabbed Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, Or Why Pie is Not the Answer from Barnes & Nobles along with another memoir (The Sharper the Knife, the Less You Cry) right before Christmas while I was "Christmas shopping" (hey, I always get something for myself - and I have a Barnes & Noble discount card). Jen has always been okay with her weight and size, but when she goes to the doctor's office after a health scare, she realizes, "what good [is it to] finally being able to afford a pedicure if I lose a foot to adult onset diabetes?"

There was one part in the book that I laughed out loud, and could not stop laughing for about 5 minutes. I disrupted the two sleeping boxers next to me (Maggie under the covers, Trouble squashed next to my hip). Trouble managed to look annoyed and disinterested at the same time. I, however, had to go back and read the same chapter again which led to more minutes of laughing in bed.

If you like reading memoirs, a woman who has no apologizes for who she is, and a book about the reality of attempting to lose weight for health reasons (not to have society drool over her size 2 dress), then this book is for you.

Dog Transport #2 for 2009

This past Saturday I drove for Rhonda's transport. We moved the following dogs/puppies from South Carolina to New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New Hampshire starting Saturday morning and ending on Sunday.

1. Four houndettes ~ hound-mix pups, 7 weeks old
2. Four Sharpies ~ shar-pei mix pups, 9 weeks old
3. Jenga ~ shepard-mix, 1 year, spayed female
4. Sheamus ~ dauschund-mix, 3 months, neutered male
5. Iris ~ keeshond-mix, 9 months, spayed female
6. Bluey ~ cattle dog-mix, 1 yr, neutered male
7. Belle ~ dauschund, female, 9 years
8. Eden ~ dauschund, spayed female
9. Rain ~ plotthound-mix, 8 months, female
10. Lily~ American bulldog, 2 yrs, spayed female
11. Autumn ~ retriever-mix, 1.5 yrs, spayed female
12. Benny ~ lab-mix, 2 yrs, neutered male
13. Princess ~ pitbull, 1 yr, spayed female

I couldn't take everyone's pictures since there were two drivers, and we had to unload and load the furries from our vehicles to the next leg. But I was able to take pictures on the ones I transported in Alexandria. For some reason, I beat the second driver to the meeting spot by 10 minutes. I wonder how that happened?

Below is Autumn. She was super-skittish and very shy. She would keep hopping to the opposite side of the vehicle whenever someone opened a door. Which made getting her out of the 4Runner a fun task. There was a tragic end to my GPS when I finally did get her out.

Here are the four hound-mix puppies. All black and shiny with perky inquisitive faces. Another rescue told me it's very hard taking pictures of all black dogs, but apparently the secret is using a flash at night.

Here are the four shar-pei mix puppies. Sorry about the wiring for the crates in the pictures. I didn't want to risk opening the doors and having the puppies sneak out. There is nothing worse than losing a dog during a transport. It's happened a few times at hand offs I've been to (and once to myself), and every time I practically have a heart attack. A lot of these dogs have been abused or living on the street and aren't used to people. So having a dog slip out of her collar, and then trying to coax her to get near enough to grab her without spooking her is a very difficult. All the while, I'm thinking to myself, "If she dashes, there is no way we can just call her to come back. And she's not from this area and doesn't know any familiar places or people ..." Scary. Oh yeah, the four shar-pei puppies:

This is Iris the keeshond. She was adorable although she did not get along with Lily, the American bulldog. Fortunately, there were two vehicles per leg, so we kept them in separate cars. Iris was a pistol and so full of life. You can see it in her face when I took her picture.

I think this is Rain. I didn't drive her on this leg, and I was able to snap a quick shot when the other vehicle showed up and we started to figure out who goes where.

So that was my second transport of the year. I've always wanted to foster dogs, but since I'm already over my limit of pets in the condo I'm renting, and one of my dogs is dog-aggressive, I tried to figure out another way to help. After driving for dog rescues for over a year, and meeting so many beautiful dogs and puppies just waiting for a fur-ever home, I can't justify ever buying a dog or puppy. It's disheartening to realize that for all dogs we've been able to help, thousands are still put to sleep for no other reason than no one wants to adopt them.

Okay. I'm done with my soapbox now.

You Can't Go Wrong With Bacon

Last night I got a wild hair and decided to make the New England Clam Chowder with Leeks and Bacon recipe from the Williams-Sonoma Soup cookbook I previously mentioned. I've made a few recipes from it, but I've never messed with shell fish before other than shrimp.

The ingredients are pretty basic (like most New England food) so I gathered leeks, red potatoes, bacon and light cream from the supermarket. The first one I went to, that is. Two grocery stores later (the last being the fancy Harris Teeter on Duke Street) I found 3 dozen fresh clams. I went with the littleneck clams since they were cheaper and if I screwed up the recipe, I would waste less money.

I followed the directions (I always do the first time), and found the soup to be tasty. A few problems - other than the leeks and bacon, there were spices and boiled red potatoes. Yuck. Potatoes are my least favorite starch and this includes (french) fried potates. (And in my experience, just about anything fried tastes good. Case in point: Fried pickles. Delicious.) Depsite watching the simmering broth like a hawk, I think I broke the cream because I had to simmer to potatoes for 15 minutes in it. The soup still tasted good, but the consistency was a little off.


I rooted around Williams-Sonoma's website and found another recipe that calls for adding the cream at the end and simmering for 2 minutes (enough to heat it up), and adds celery, onions, Worchestershire sauce, and pancetta. Next time I'm in the mood for clam chowder, I'm going with this recipe instead.

On the up side, I still have tasty soup for the rest of the week. I experienced steaming fresh clams for the first time, and they tasted so good (I snacked on one before adding to the soup), I'm encouraged to cook more fresh shell fish and maybe try a Linguine with White Clam Sauce.

Bon appetit!

WTF??

The Drudge Report had a piece claiming the following:

[Nancy] Pelosi, the mother of 5 children and 6 grandchildren, who once
said, "Nothing in my life will ever, ever compare to being a mom," seemed to
imply babies are somehow a burden on the treasury.

If you actually read her statement, she doesn't imply that at all. She just states that providing more money for contraception would reduce costs to the state and government in reduced health care and education. Since when is trying to reduce unwanted pregnancies (through prevention, not abortion mind you) spun into saying children are a burden? And the photo of Pelosi accompanying the piece is very unflattering and shows a look of disdain or disgust on her face.

I haven't read a lot of the Drudge Report, but I see a very clear bias in this article and in the reporting of "facts."

Dialogue of a Confident, Independent Woman

My parents raised my sister and I to be strong, independent women. We were never taught that we couldn't do things because of our gender and that certain jobs were "boys" or "girls" jobs. I suspect this was easier to do since there were only two girls and no boys growing up. Who mowed and trimmed the lawn, cooked dinner, did laundry, ironed and relocated 1/2 cord of wood growing up? My sister and I. Our mother never told us, "When you grow up and get married, you can do whatever you want ..." or anything like that. It was usually, "When you grow up and have your own place ..."


My recent adventures into the dating world is a place I haven't had much experience in this. Then again, I haven't had much experience in dating. I've mostly just "hung out" and then, Bam! We're in a relationship. Usually because we've just had sex and one of us (okay, mostly me) wants to see the other one again.


After my date with T last Sunday, I decided I didn't want to pursue anything else with him. And when I didn't hear anything from him during the week, I thought perhaps he felt the same way. Until T called Friday night and left me a casual message saying hi. Rats. Now I'd have to call him back. (Calling T back was reaffirmed after a very long discussion with a co-worker on the way back from Baltimore about how it drove him nuts when women would get his messages and texts, and then wait a few days before responding.)

I waited a day and called about 7:00 pm Saturday. Below is basically the message I left:

"Hello, T? Thank you very much for lunch on Sunday, Clyde's was a nice restaurant. I, er, don't think, um, (short, uncomfortable laugh) jeez, I don't know how to do this, (then I burst out with) I don't think it's going to work out between us. I hope things go really well for you, and if you have any questions, you can call me (What the f*** was I saying? I was trying to say we shouldn't see each other any more, and I'm leaving the door open for more communication?!?!). Anyway, thank you again for lunch, and good luck."

I can't even imagine how much more disastrous the conversation would have been if T actually picked up the phone. As soon as I hung up, I realized what a mixed message I left. In my defense, I've never had to leave a message like that for anyone (as if you couldn't tell).

Well, at least I got the following done:

1. First date post-divorce? Check.
2. First awkward phone call letting the other person know I don't want to see him anymore? Check.
3. Feeling like an awkward teenager still? Check.
4. Slightly embarrassed because I feel like I should have learned this stuff already instead of learning it in my thirties? Check.
5. Willing to keep trying and possibly make a fool of myself? Check.

One thing I've come to accept. It's mighty hard for me to find another relationship, get married, and have kids if I'm not willing to meet men and go out on some dates. Mighty hard.

So I'll keep trying. I accidentally bought a 1-year membership to eHarmony anyway. What the hell. Call me an optimist.

I'm So Trying to Justify Buying This ...

I love Williams-Sonoma. Some people might think this is cooking snobbery, but I blame my Aunt Betty who gave me my very first WS cook book (titled: Soup) when I was 12. Sure, I didn't actually make anything out of it until I graduated college, moved into a house with a roommate in Port Angeles, WA, and when I got snowed in for three days by myself, I cooked up a storm. But the Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup with Flanken and Greek Chicken and Lemon Soup with Orzo came out quite tasty, thank you very much.

I got Williams-Sonoma's sale email a few days ago, and I keep trying to justify buying the Bialetti Hot Chocolate Pot. It's 20% off! Just pour in some milk and chocolate, and voila! Hot chocolate! Fantasies of sipping a steaming cup of hot chocolate with whip cream on top danced before my eyes. (How can there be steam if whipped cream is topping the cup? Oh, details, never mind.) I even had a flash of inspiration this morning walking into work through the slowly drifting snow that I could pop that sucker on my desk and have hot chocolate at work! Of course!

But slowly, reality settled in. I don't even have a place to put this particular kitchen gadget (and I do love my kitchen gadgets). In fact, I put together a mini cabinet to store a bunch of my kitchen stuff since the new kitchen had half the space as the last kitchen. And do I really need a hot chocolate maker? Aren't I trying to lose weight? How often would I actually use it?

Reluctantly, I closed the Internet page and slowly let go of dreams of snuggling onto my couch, sipping a cup of hot chocolate ...

Sometimes I hate being a responsible, practical adult.

Date Wrap-up

I've gotten some emails from folks wondering how the date went last Sunday. We met at Clyde's in Reston which is sort of a fancy-upscale pub. We had some really good food (Eggs Maryland for me - like Eggs Benedict but with crab cakes instead of ham), and some good conversation. There were some potential red flags I made note of during our emails, and I wanted to meet in person to see how things played out.

There were a few concerns: T made a comment about doing something to solely piss off the ex-wife (not for any other reason). He kept giving me suggestions (kind of pushily) about what I needed to do to go into the Coast Guard Reserves, and get back onto Active Duty even though I said I didn't really want to get into the law enforcement side of the CG. And he brought the conversation back to that topic later on. I got the distinct impression that T was "partier," and even if he didn't drink often, when he did - things could potentially get crazy. (I'm sort of wondering how truthful the Drink: once or a twice a year part of his profile was.)

I decided that even though I had a very pleasant time, T wasn't what I was looking for in a partner. It was nice figuring this out on my own practically and logically. Without getting swept up in the "potential" for the relationship and just taking my own thoughts and feelings about it.

And I did offer to pay for lunch since I suggested meeting in the first place. He politley declined, and then I offered to leave the tip and he declined again. If we went on a second date, I would have paid.

Thank You for Reading

Let me start off by thanking everyone who's been reading my blog. How do I know people have been reading? I've installed a tiny little stat counter on the bottom of the page (although every time I look at the page, it counts: sometimes page hits aren't the best way to figure that out) and people have left comments!

So thank you everyone. It's nice to know my words and thoughts aren't just drifting around in the cyberspace black hole.

What's After Toe Dipping?

After I moved out (January 30, 2006), formally separated, and eventually divorced (December 14, 2006) my (now ex-)husband, I took some time off to figure out how the hell I actually ended up in that marriage because I really, really, never want to do or go through that again. I did lots and lots of prayer and meditation, crying, talking with the support system and sponsor, went to lots of meetings, and ended up in therapy. During that time, I avoided anything that even resembled a potential romantic anything. In fact, if I even was even remotely attracted to a guy, I (mentally) ran screaming away, far far away. I was in a place where I couldn't trust myself or my instincts.

After much work, I realized that I had some things to deal with and work through that (of course) had nothing to do with the ex-husband, and everything to do with family of origin stuff (doesn't it always?).

November 2008: I decided it was time I dipped my toe into the pool of dating and romantic relationships. At the suggestion of the therapist, I mentioned to my friends that I was possibly, potentially thinking about, you know, maybe, sort of, well, in the near future, getting back out there. In the dating world. To meet men. For dates. And whatnot.

I joined eHarmony, filled out the 6 pages of questions and waited. I'm glad to see I'm not so screwed up eHarmony rejected me (despite those chemistry.com ads, I did not steal library books). I started getting communication requests and hence, my sucky-second job started.

After a few weeks of emails, I worked up the courage to see if anyone wanted to meet for coffee. Because coffee is way less scary than, you know, food. Like lunch or dinner. Or, good lord, breakfast. Sneakily, my coffee date slid into a lunch date (I mistakenly said noon).

*Cue the chorus*

I'm going on a date tomorrow.

*End cue*

Sure, it's only lunch (that's what T said on the phone. Already - more well-adjusted than I in this particular area). But what the heck, I have to start somewhere.

So what exactly is the next step after I dip my toe? Submerging the foot? Wading up to my waist? Does it depend if I wear make-up and heels or not? Questions, questions, questions.

I'm so clueless about this stuff.

Like Mardi Gras, but in DC

As I hunker down for the long-long weekend (I have Monday and Tuesday off from work), I couldn't help but realize similarities between where I live now, and my last hometown of New Orleans. Note the following similarities:

1. Entire city blocks will be closed to car traffic.

2. Hordes of people (one estimation I heard was 5 million people) will be wandering the streets looking to celebrate.

3. Bars will be open for 24 hours.

4. There will not be enough toilets for the masses of people wandering the streets.

5. People living in the greater DC metro area are renting out their homes and leaving for the weekend.

6. People who haven't left DC had people they haven't talked to in years calling up asking for a place to stay.

7. They are formal balls all weekend.

8. Friday night there is more traffic coming into the city and leaving the city.

9. Tuesday is a federal holiday!

Winter Coats Over the Fur Coats

Maggie and Trouble in their winter coats. I had to bust them out this morning as well as my silk long underwear (to wear under my flannel-lined jeans) for the 0 degree wind chill we had. I still say if I have to suffer through the cold, we should at least get some snow to make everything white and pretty.

Maybe I can get a Battlestar Galactica winter coat at the auction ...

Get Your Own Piece of Battlestar Galactica!

I lifted this from imdb.com's hit list:

Tomorrow and Sunday, Battlestar Galactica props will be auctioned off in Pasadena, CA. Auctionnetwork.com seems to be hosting the online auction. Here is their description:

The Battlestar Galactica Auction, presented by Propworx, is coming to the
Auction Network on January 17 and 18, 2009. Collection includes set plans,
production art, foam core set models, scripts, costumes, ships, props, set
pieces and more.

Set Plans and Production Art: Lots 1-81
Foam Core Set Models: Lots 82-91
Costumes: Lots 92-348
Props: Lots 349-626
Set Decs: Lots 627-772
Set Pieces: Lots 785-800

Costumes? Set decorations? Props? Every Battlestar Galactica geek's dream. (Which I am one). Oh to have Jamie Bamber's uniform or dog tags ....

A girl can dream. Jamie Bamber's towel, here I come!

Rick Sanchez Gives Joe the Plumber the Smackdown!

Found this on jezebel.com and loved it when CNN's Rick Sanchez lays into Joe the Plumber's "reporting" in Israel and his views of journalism, free speech, and war.

Happy viewing below:



May I mention that I snorted when Rick Sanchez said, "You're not really a licensed plumber, you're not really a war correspondent, and you're name isn't even really Joe ..."

Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear

It's silly, but I did it anyways. I can blame my sister for starting it.

1. Put your iPod, iTunes, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question below, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You MUST write down the name and artist of each song, even if it doesn’t make sense!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "Is this okay?"
YOU SAY? Sleeping Bags - Lyle Workman from the Superbad Soundtrack

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Digital Love - Daft Punk

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Things Just Ain't the Same (Hex Hector Radio Edit) - Deborah Cox

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Larger Than Life - Backstreet Boys

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree - Glen Miller Orchestra

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Goodbye to You - Michelle Branch

WHAT DO YOU FRIENDS THINK ABOUT YOU?
Strum and Drang - Megamind

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Green and Blue - Deep Forest

WHAT IS 2+2?
Modern Crusaders - Enigma

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Haitia Breakdown/Starsky & Hutch (Live) - James Taylor Quartet

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Hornpipe - George Frederick Handel

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Live and Let Die - Guns N' Roses

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Strange Weirdoes - Loudon Wainwright III from Strange Weirdos: Music From and Inspired by Knocked Up

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Tonight is the Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel - Barenaked Ladies

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Stronger [Pablo La Rosa's Tranceformation] - Britney Spears

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Do Anything - Pete Shelly from Some Kind of Wonderful Soundtrack

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Narcolepsy - Thrid Eye Blind

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Don't - Jewel

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
My! My! Time Flies! - Enya from And Winter Came

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Red Alert [Jaxx Niteclub Mix] - Basement Jaxx

WHATS THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
The Maiden Medley - Magical Strings

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Head Over Feet - Alanis Morissette

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Storyline - Danny Elfman from Edward Scissorhands Film Score

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
The Beaches of Cheyenne - Garth Brooks

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Walk Right In - Rooftop Singers

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Strong Enough - Sheryl Crow

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band) - The Moody Blues

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Something So Strong - Crowded House

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
How Soon Is Now? - Love Spit Love

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Black Night - Deep Purple

*WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear - Frank Oz/Jim Henson and others from Muppet Hits

Um, you could say I have a rather eclectic mix of music on the 160 GB iPod.

Discussion on the "Not Rape Epidemic"

Back on December of 2008, an essay titled "The Not Rape Epidemic" began making its way around the internet. I first found it on jezebel.com and followed it to the original post. The author describes the many, many ways women and girls are Not Raped but still sexual assaulted or coerced into sexual acts; particularly by older men and girls.

Megan, an editor at jezebel.com, offers a different view on the need for statutory rape laws (although she does not directly address the author's experience of the Not Rape piece.)

And TatianatheAnonymousModel at the same site wrote of the Not Rape epidemic in the modeling world.

Interesting reads.

Chick Flicks: A New Playlist for the iPod

Yes, I finally broke down and bought an iPod last May. I got tired of swapping out music on my 8 GB mp3 player and wanted something that would hold the entire music library, but Apple's proprietary rights on their music pissed me off and I held out as long as I could. A happy day it was when I found out I could download mp3's from Amazon without the DRM.

I'm a big fan of film scores and film soundtracks. My very first film soundtrack was Glory by James Horner on cassette tape, and let me tell you, I wore that sucker out. Since then, I acculmulated many, many film scores and soundtracks from Aladdin to Wicker Park and 10 Things I Hate About You. Not all of them were downloaded leaglly, but most of them are. A good movie score or soundtrack can take me back to a scene where something emotional is happening. It can make me remember a feeling, a longing, or identify with what's going on. A great soundtrack can make me feels those things just by listening to the music because the music itself embodies those feelings in addition to keying on the screen.

Hands down I would say the two best Soundtracks I have are Romeo + Juliet and Love, Actually. Romeo + Juliet combines great 90's tunes that matched the updated movie's location to LA with Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes. Volume 2 is a lot of spoken word over the background music, and in my opinion, and waste of money. The original volume spawned singles such as the ubiquitous The Cardigan's single "Lovefool," and Garbage's "#1 Crush."

Love, Actually has two versions, the US edition and the import. The bulk of the songs and artists are the same, but there are a few notable differences. Craig Armstrong's PM's Love Theme and Portuguese Love Theme and Gabriel's Sometimes are on import editions only and well worth the money if you are lucky enough to find a copy stateside. Craig Armstrong's PM's Love Theme is used for trailers quite a bit, and I'm happy when I recognize it on the TV or in the theater.

I wanted a playlist that would evoke all hope, happiness, love and other gushy stuff I get while watching a good romantic movie or romantic comedy aka Chick Flick. Not all the songs are from Chick Flicks, some of the songs are key themes from other movies I just liked. And some songs are not in any movie I know of, but would be perfect for one if the rights could be aquired.

Here is my playlist from my music collection:

Aladdin:
A Whole New World - Lea Solanga and Brad Kane
This Kiss – Alan Menken
Aladdin’s Word – Alan Menken
Happy End in Agrabah – Alan Menken

Superman (It's Not Easy) – Five For Fighting

You’re Beautiful – James Blunt

Beauty and the Beast:
Beauty and the Beast - Angela Lansbury
The Beast Lets Belle Go – Alan Menken
Transformation – Alan Menken

Bourne Supremacy: Extreme Ways – Moby

Braveheart: by James Horner
A Gift of Thistle
Wallace Courts Murron
For the Love of a Princess
The Princess Pleads for Wallace's Life

Breathe - Faith Hill

Casino Royale: The Death of Vesper - David Arnold and Nicholas Dodd

Chasing Liberty:
The Seed 2.0 - The Roots
Satisfaction (Isak Original) - Benny Benassi
You’re Free – Yomanda

Have a Little Faith in Me – Mandy Moore

Chuck (Episode 210 Chuck versus the Delorean - I think): Furr - Blitzen Trapper

City of Angels: Angel – Sarah McLachlan

Con Air: How Do I Live - Leann Rimes

The Craft: How Soon is Now? - Love Spit Love

Cruel Intentions:
This Love – Craig Armstrong and Elizabeth Fraser
Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve

Dan In Real Life: by Sondre Lerche
My Hands Are Shaking
Let My Love Open the Door
Family Theme Waltz
Dan and Marie Picking Hum
Dan and Marie Melody
I’ll Be Okay (Instrumental Reprise)
Dan and Marie Finale Theme

Dances With Wolves: by John Barry
The John Dunbar Theme
Two Socks - The Wolf Theme
The Love Theme
Two Socks at Play

Dawson’s Creek: Crazy For This Girl – Evan and Jaron

Definitely, Maybe: by Clint Mansell
Will Hayes for President!
For Emily (Whoever She May Be...)
April (Come She Will)
Summers Over
The Happy Ending is You
Brooklyn Bridge
Countdown
April's Story

Edward Scissorhands: by Danny Elfman
Ice Dance
Farewell...
The Grand Finale

Enchanted:
True Love's Kiss - Amy Adams and James Marsden
That's How You Know - Amy Adams
So Close - Jon McLaughlin
Enchanted Suite - Alan Menken

Everwood: Theme - Blake Neely

Felicity: The Power of Goodbye – Madonna

Finding Nemo: Beyond the Sea – Robbie Williams

First Daughter: Dance My Dreams - Tamia

A Fish Called Wanda: by John Du Prez
Main Title
Wanda Meets Archie
Wanda Visits Archie at Home
Wanda Meets Archie at Flat, Pt. 1
Wanda Meets Archie at Flat, Pt. 2
A Fish Called Wanda Suite

For the Boys: by Bette Midler
P.S. I Love You
Come Rain or Shine
In My Life
Every Road Leads Back to You

Forrest Gump: by Alan Silvestri
Jenny Returns
The Wedding Guest
Jenny's Grave
Suite from Forrest Gump

Grosse Pointe: Sex Bomb - Tom Jones

Grey’s Anatomy:
The Story – Brandi Carlile
Cosy in the Rocket - Psapp
How to Save a Life - The Fray

How I Met Your Mother: Hey Beautiful - The Solids

I Turn to You - Christina Aguilera

Just Like Heaven:
Just Like Heaven - Kate Melua
Lust for Life - Kay Hanley
Her Picture - Rolfe Kent
David Alone - Rolfe Kent
I'm Seeing Someone - Rolfe Kent
Machines Don't Know Everything - Rolfe Kent
I Remember You - Rolfe Kent

Just My Luck:
Dance - Shazney Lewis
Five Colours in Her Hair - McFly
I’ll Be OK - McFly
I’ve Got You -McFly
All About You -McFly

King Arthur: by Hans Zimmer
Woad to Ruin
Do You Think I'm Saxon
Hold the Ice
Another Brick in Hadrian's Wall
Budget Meeting
All of Them!

Knocked Up:
Grey in L.A. – Loundon Wainwright III
You Can’t Fail Me Now – Loundon Wainwright III
Daughter – Loundon Wainwright III
Ypsilanti – Joe Henry
Naomi – Joe Henry

Queremos Paz - Gotan Project
Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre) - Gotan Project

The Lake House:
This Never Happened Before - Paul McCartney
The Lakehouse - Rachel Portman
Pawprints - Rachel Portman
You Waited - Rachel Portman
I Waited - Rachel Portman

Legends of the Fall: by James Horner
Legends of the Fall
Isabel's Murder/Recollections of Samuel
Goodbyes
Alfred/Tristan/The Colonel/The Legends

White Flag - Dido

The Lion King: by Hans Zimmer
This Land
Under the Stars
King of Pride Rock

Amazed - Lonestar

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring:
The Road Goes Ever On ... Pt. 1 - Howard Shore
May It Be - Enya
The Road Goes Ever On ... Pt. 2 - Howard Shore

Lost Promo: Pocketful of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield

A Lot Like Love:
Brighter Than Sunshine - Aqualung
Mad About You - Hooverphonic
Breathe (2 AM) - Anna Malick

Love Actually:
Turn Me On - Norah Jones
Songbird - Eve Cassidy
Wherever You Will Go -The Calling
All You Need Is Love - Lynden David Hall
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Too Lost in You - Sugarbabes
Christmas Is All Around - Billy Mack
All I Want for Christmas Is You - Olivia Olson
Sometimes - Gabrielle
Glasgow Love Theme - Craig Armstrong
PM's Love Theme - Craig Armstrong
Portuguese Love Theme - Craig Armstrong

Mamma Mia!: Mamma Mia - Meryl Streep

Mean Girls: Dancing With Myself – The Donnas

Message in a Bottle: I Could Not Ask For More - Edwin McCain

Sway – Michael Bublé

I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan

Moonlight (I forgot which episode): Shine - Shannon Knoll

Mr. & Mrs. Smith:
Mondo Bongo - Joe Strummers and the Mescaleros
Assassin's Tango - John Powell
Express Yourself (Mocean Worker Remix) - Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Lay Lady Lay - Magnet with Gemma Hayes
Nobody Does It Better - 8mm

Much Ado About Nothing: Overture - Patrick Doyle

Music and Lyrics:
Pop! Goes My Heart - Hugh Grant
Dance With Me Tonight - Hugh Grant
Don't Write Me Off - Hugh Grant
Way Back Into Love - Hugh Grant and Haley Bennett

The Next Best Thing: Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? - Moby

The Notebook: by Aaron Zigman
Main Title
Allie Returns
Noah's Journey
Our Love Can Do Miracles

I Melt With You - Nouvelle Vague

The O.C.: California - Phantom Planet

P.S. I Love You:
Love You 'Till the End - The Pogues
More Time - Needtobreathe
Carousel - Laura Izibor
Last Train Home - Ryan Star
In the Beginning - The Stills
If I Ever Leave This World Alive - Flogging Molly
Kisses and Cake - John Powell

Phenomenon: Change the World - Eric Clapton

Philadelphia:
Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Have You Ever Seen the Rain? - Spin Doctors
I Don't Want to Talk About It - Indigo Girls

Psych: Theme from Psych

Reality Bites: Stay (I Missed You) – Lisa Loeb

Romeo + Juliet: Balcony Scene - Craig Armstrong

Roswell: Here with Me - Dido

Rush: Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

Sliding Doors: Thank You – Dido

Smokin’ Aces: by Clint Mansell
Shellshock (Another Day, Another Dollar!)
Aftermath (Body Count)
Dead Reckoning

Collide – Howie Day

Strictly Ballroom:
Love is in the Air – John Paul Young
Time After Time – Mark Williams and Tara Morice

Titanic:
My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
Leaving Port – James Horner
“Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch” – James Horner
A Promise Kept – James Horner
A Life So Changed – James Horner
An Ocean of Memories – James Horner
Hymn to the Sea – James Horner

Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life: Pandora’s Box - Sinfonia of London Orchestra and Chorus

True Blood: Bad Things - Jace Everett

The Tudors: by Trevor Morris
The Tudors Main Title Theme
Fun and Games
A Queen’s Loneliness
England Reborn
Wolsey Commits Suicide/Finale

Twin Peaks: Twin Peaks Theme [Instrumental] – Angelo Badalamenti

Up Close & Personal:
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Up Close – Thomas Newman
She Knows – Thomas Newman

The Wedding Date:
Breathless - The Corrs
Invitation to a Wedding – Blake Neely
Hello 3-B/Good Morning – Blake Neely
Close Your Eyes – Blake Neely
It’s Complicated – Blake Neely
The Morning After – Blake Neely
Going to Get Him – Blake Neely
Save the Last Dance for Me – Michael Bublé
Home – Michael Bublé

The West Wing: Theme

While You Were Sleeping: by Randy Edelman
Love Theme
Riverside Walk
Jack and Lucy
Tear Jerking Tale
A Happy Ending

Wicker Park: All I Do

40,000 Miles – Goodnight City

10 Things I Hate About You: I Want You to Want Me – Letters to Cleo

Midnight Train to Georgia – Indigo Girls and Ani DiFranco

An Ironically Named Song

On my way home from work today, I spent 10 minutes in the vehicle trying to remember the name of a song. I heard the melody in my head, I knew the title started with an "Un-something" and I knew Nat Cole sang it, and Natalie Cole sang it as a duet with her father's recording.

Here are the titles I kept trying but I knew were not it.

Unavoidable? (No, it's something someone wants to be.)

Undefinable? (Hmm, close, but still doesn't feel right.)

Undesirable?

Irresistible? (No, it begins with an "un-")

Finally, it came to me: Unforgettable.

Oops.

For All You Elizabethan Fans Out There

One of the advantages of living near Washington DC is being able to enjoy the cultural events here. (I am hunkering down and allowing the masses of people coming in for Inauguration to swarm outside while I happily watch TV with the PS3, my dogs and cats and bask in the indoor warmth.) The Smithonsonian has a Resident Associates Program where classes, seminars, speeches and events are held. Topics cover the arts, history, performance and film and other assorted good stuff.

I signed up for Alison Weir's seminar on Elizabeth I and Katherine Swynford: Scandal, Survival, and Succession. Alison Weir is British author who wrote a bunch of biographies on Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Henry VIII's wives and children, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Queen Isabella. She recently began writing fiction taking place in the same era: The Lady Elizabeth and Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey are her first fiction novels. The seminar is February 7 all day, and I bought my ticket already. Good thing I'm a Resident Associates Member; I saved myself $35.

Too Bad This Piece Didn't Run 4 or 8 Years Ago

Morning Edition on NPR had an excellent piece on the origins of the Presidential Oath of Office. Did you know it is located in the Constitution and is the only thing in quotes? I didn't! NPR's Steve Inskeep interviewed Marvin Pinkert, executive director of the National Archives Experience. Here are some things I learned this morning:

George Washington and the Founding Fathers made changes to the Oath of Office which included swearing to the Constitution. "That the president is treated as a citizen under the Constitution rather than as the supreme authority of the land says something special about the nature of the U.S. government and the foresight of the founding fathers, Pinkert says."

Here's another: "Among those changes," Pinkert says, "is to cut out the word 'judgment' … and replace it with the word 'abilities,'" which was later shortened to "ability."

I'm hoping President-Elect Obama has studied and taken these words to heart. President Bush's actions while in office (FISA courts, allegations of torture and abuse, using his judgment instead of his abilities), in my opinion, don't reflect the principles the Founding Fathers wanted in a President who took the Oath of Office.

Holy Crap!

I'm heading to Atlanta for Memorial Day weekend for a conference, and out of curiosity, I checked airfare from Washington DC to ATL. Jeez! $300 round trip! And this is 4 months in advance. I even checked Southwest (which I hate flying because I feel like cattle in their group-lines) and Airtran. Same price: $300. And this is before check-in baggage fee between $25 and $50 depending on how many bags I check-in and how much it weighs.

I wouldn't mind driving except I figured I would be really tired after the weekend to spend 9 hours in the vehicle going north on I-95. I'll have to coerce, er, I mean, recruit some people to drive down there and back with me.

$300.

Craziness!

Is It Bad That I Very Much Want to Steal This?

I came sooo close. Too bad the woman taking money for tickets at the theater was watching me.

Darn.

News from the Weekend

Let's see, some friends from work took me out to lunch to Paradiso Restaurante in Springfield, VA which was yummy. Thanks friends!

On Saturday I did a dog run from Fredericksburg, VA to Laurel, MD with 5 adorable chow puppies, 4 black lab-mix puppies, 4 medium size puppies, and 1 smaller female dog names Meris. I didn't get a chance to take pictures of the puppies, but I did get some photos with the camera phone of Meris and Jack (a tri chi/jack russell terrier/feist male) who sat on the seat next to me. Actually, one of the bigger brindle puppies sat on my lap. He kept sneaking out from the back of the 4Runner.

Meris is looking into the camera.


Meris is looking into the camera again.

Jack sleeping peacefully.

Jack (right) and Meris (left) while I'm driving to Laurel, MD.

Ending the dog run in Laurel worked out well since I met up with my friend Stephen to see The Spirit. Now, the movie was released on Christmas, and within 2 weeks, the movie was relegated to late night showings at most of the theaters in my area. Not a good sign. A woman at work said that visually The Spirit was good, but the dialog and plot were stupid. With some trepidation, I plunked money down and saw it in the theater.

The best way to enjoy The Spirit is to watch it as a campy, not serious movie. Which I enjoyed immensely. I do have a few beefs. Gabriel Macht apparantly learned from the Christian Bale School of Superhero Dialog and graveled his way through the movie. I also never saw Gabriel Macht without his mask, and after seeing him play Johnny in Because I Said So (Gabriel Macht's character was the only good thing in the movie), I think we should have seen him more with out the mask. Sure, it would have detracted from the movie, but that's just a small wish on my part.

Sunday I had a phone conference for 3 hours, met up with some folks interested in getting a Young People's bid for something started (they decided in NECYPAA) and talked with the sponsor for a few hours.

All in all, a busy weekend, and now I'm back at work. Yuck.

More Matt Damon Cameos Than I Originally Thought

I admit it. I watched Eurotrip. And spotted a shaved-headed, tatooed, pierced Matt Damon as lead singer to a band torturing one of the main characters with the song, "Scotty Doesn't Know" about cheating with the main character's girlfriend. And despite finishing the movie, I immediately re-watched it to ensure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. Nope. That was definitely Matt Damon and, if he was actually singing, doing a fine job singing lead on the catchy song. Apparantly, Matt Damon was in Hungury filming The Brothers Grimm, and filmed the cameo as a favor to the director/writers, and band, Lustra.

Lo and behold, I came across an article at ifc.com (this article) detailing the cameos Matt Damon has done for friends in other movies. How cool. I interpret Matt Damon's willingness to do cameos for friends as someone who doesn't take himself too seriously and still can enjoy his job. Someone who can take the good and bad of being a celebrity and an actor and maintain some level-headedness and be grounded. Of course, I don't personally know Matt Damon. But let me maintain my fantasy that there is a generally good-guy, down-to-earth actor in Hollywood. Someone who is well-adjusted and likeable.

A Good Reason to Live (or At Least Visit) NYC

Will Ferrell is doing one last impersonation of President Bush. On Broadway. How fantastically hysterically funny will this be? I don't know, but I really really wished I had the time/money to visit and see the show. It's called You're Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush and runs from February 5 to March 15 at the Cort Theatre.

More info can be found here.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay: A Review

Finished the first of three books the Showtime series is based off of last night, and in one word: Excellent. The ending in the book has some serious differences than the ending of Season 1, but I can appreciate both forms of media separately. The wry humor, the self-awareness, and the dread Dexter faces when confronting old memories are mixed with a suspenseful plot. Loved it.

After reading the book and watching Seasons 1-3 on Showtime, I have a better appreciation for Michael C. Hall as Dexter. He does a great job nailing the contradictions of Dexter and still keeps me wanting to watch to see what happens next.

I've already delved into the second book, Dearly Devoted Dexter and have the third one, Dexter in the Dark on my waitlist at the library.

30 Hours

Time elasped between the following:

1. Purchase of a Playstation 3 and my very first Tomb Raider game, and

2. Purchase of the Official Guide of Tomb Raider:Underworld to figure out how to get out of Niflheim and locate the stupid gate.

I'm so lame.

So Hysterically Bad, I Practically Peed Myself Twice

This weekend, before I bought a Playstation 3, I lounged about in bed and flipped on cable to see what was on. Low and behold: Lambada. Now, if you are my age, you may vaguely remember a movie with dark haired people grinding away on the screen with Lambada, The Forbidden Dance. This movie was not the same. A quick search on imdb.com (what the hell did I do before the Internet?!?) shows there were not just one, but two Lambada movies released in 1990. Really? Was the Lambada that popular of a dance it needed two movies released in the same year?

In my defense, I only watched this version of Lambada because it had a very early twenties Melora Hardin in it. Melora Hardin: beloved deceased wife of Adrian Monk and wonderfully psychotic ex-girlfriend of Michael Scott. She had the very short Just One of the Guys haircuts popular then, the teenage guys had the Miami Vice look, and people were chatting on their car phones. You know, the ones installed in their cars. There was one brick-sized cell phone with the foot long black antenna off of it.

The movie was so horribly, cheesy-bad, I couldn't figure out if it was good.

Summary: J. Eddie Peck in late 80's early 90's hair (think early Jon Bon Jovi) with the requisite dangling earring off the left ear (because left is right, and right is bad/gay) is a Beverly Hills high school math teacher during the day, and a Lambada groovin', black leather jacket/pants-tank top wearing, tutor to the inner city kids at a dance club nick named ... Blade. Oh god. It went down hill from there. Could a plot get more ridiculous than that premise alone?

Add in one Sandy Thomas (Melora Hardin) in early 90's short hair (think lead in Just One of the Guys) who is a spoiled, Beverly Hills student determined to sleep with her math teacher (going as far as tracking him down at the dance club and Lambada-ing with "Blade's" rival Ramon, who is determined to keep the inner city kids out of the tutor program to get their GED). And did I mention that Blade is married to a very put-upon wife who can't understand why Blade must go to the club every night to "tutor" and leave her with their young son at home?

Being a product of the 80's and 90's, I have fondness and nostalgia for many movies from that era. The Sure Thing, Better Off Dead, the aforementioned Just One of the Guys, the lesser known One Crazy Summer, all the way to Say Anything. (You may have noticed a common thread. So I liked John Cusack - sue me).

But I never saw Lambada when it came out in the theaters. No nostalgia for me. Ah, the ridiculousness of the plot and characters. The hair. The clothes. The late 80's/early 90's horror. I couldn't watch afer an hour.

I will say this: J. Eddie Peck was a hunk back then. All 80's styled hair and shaved chest. And thank god Melora Hardin moved onto bigger and better things. Her career survived the 1990's and she's matured beautifully. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Lambada.

Squee! Ryan Reynolds!

I have a serious crush on Ryan Reynolds. I watched Definitely, Maybe over the weekend with the audio commentary on (because I'm such a movie geek) and happily listened to the director, Adam Brooks, and Ryan Reynolds chat about filming different scenes, Ryan's thoughts on when his character fell in love with each of the female characters, working with Abigail Breslin, Isla Fisher, Racheal Weisz, and Elizabeth Banks, and their ideas on how being Canadian creates a tendency to want people to like them. Worth the viewing (although, if you are not a film geek, skip the commentary).

Then I'm rooting around on the Internet and find this in imdb.com: X-men Origins: Wolverine. Ryan Reynolds! Playing Deadpool! (I have no idea who that is, but I'm searching the Internet right after this to find out.) True, he's in the trailer for about half a second. But he's in the upcoming film! And potentially be buffed out! Although, not as ripped as Hannibal King? (Boo) But in the new big movie! Yeah!

I also added Chaos Theory and The Nines to #2 and #3 on my Netflix queue. Ryan Reynolds, you've come a long way from Van Wilder. And that's a good thing.

Stealth Mode

I've been sick with a sinus infection (yes, you're welcome for the accompanying visual), and then a 1500 mile round trip down to Orlando with the dogs for Christmas, and possible food poisoning from New Year's.

So, no blogs from me lately. I didn't even log into eHarmony. Sometimes, keeping up with all the communications feels like a second job. A sucky second job where I don't get paid. Of course, one could say the pay-off is a few dates, some coffee/tea meetups, a potental romantic relationship. One part of me is up for the effort in pursuing my romantic life for the new year.

The other part of me completely identifies with Liz Lemon in 30 Rock Season 3, Episode 4 when she wanted to date Gavin Volure (Steve Martin) and all she wants is to (I'm paraphrasing) "skip into the relationship 12 years and sit on the couch and watch tv together."

Bah. Contradictions: you will be the death of me yet.