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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in
Ellen's LiveJournal:
| Friday, July 25th, 2008 | |
| 3:51 am | Man on Wire In 1974 I had a summer job at MetLife (where I later worked for 17 years) in between the two years of grad school. One morning I got to work to find everyone glued to the windows facing downtown. A guy was walking on a tightrope between the towers of the World Trade Center! How was this possible? It was Philippe Petit, whose stunt made world headlines. He was arrested and sentenced to perform community service, which consisted of another walk on Belvedere Castle high above Central Park. This agile Frenchman became a New York icon, as did the newly built towers. The astounding documentary "Man on Wire" details this amazing feat. Using interviews, old footage and photographs, and a few re-enactments, we see the incredible amount of planning and practice that went into Petit's hour in the sky. Not a word is mentioned about 9/11, but that memory shadows every moment, making the story that much more poignant. Even though we know the walk was successful, the audience feels nervous as "le coup" approaches, and intensely exhilarated as he takes the first step. Like I said in another context, "I'm crying just even thinking about it." Tears of joy. I saw the movie at a Museum of the Moving Image event Thursday at the Times Center (where in stunts reminiscent of Petit, two men recently climbed up the building). The director was present, and afterward, he and Philippe Petit (in person! wow!) were interviewed by Dick Cavett. Despite some of Cavett's strange tangents, it was a fascinating evening. The movie opens in New York this week, and is playing later this summer at indie theaters. Don't miss it. Update: NYC Sunshine Cinema, 143 East Houston Director James Marsh In Person with High Wire Artist Philippe Petit on Fri & Sat, July 25 & 26 at 7:15, 8:05 & 10:20pm |
| 2:33 am | |
| Thursday, July 24th, 2008 | |
| 2:55 am | Woody Goody I used to love Woody Allen. His movies were so New York and funny. "Annie Hall" was a big favorite, filled with moments like Annie ordering pastrami on white with mayo. Then Allen's personal life intruded and the nebbishy-older-man-getting-improbably-yo I was offered a single seat at a screening tonight of Woody's upcoming movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and accepted, knowing nothing about the movie. I got there early, waited briefly on line (behind a familiar-looking man who recent pictures show was not Jackie Martling or Danny Aiello, but someone in that vein - possibly just an unknown man), and snagged a center first-row balcony seat in Cinema 1. The movie began with the familiar Woody Allen titles fonts, Spanish music, and a narrator. The engaged Vicky (Rebecca Hall - who seemed familiar, and indeed was in the woefully ignored "Starter for 10") and free spirit Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are spending the summer in a parent's friends' luxurious villa in Barcelona. They meet charismatic artist Javier Bardem, still not over his wild and crazy ex Penelope Cruz, and various pairings and complications ensue. The plot moves quickly with a light and humorous touch. I really enjoyed the movie. It was still light afterward (oh look, Regis was there, though I didn't see him) and the timing was right to walk to another movie at 8:30 which I'll talk about later since I might see more in that series. It was starting to rain when that let out around 10, and pouring buckets when I got out of the subway. I waited a bit under a construction scaffold but it wasn't letting up so I rushed the rest of the way home in deep puddles and lightning. Jiggety jig! |
| Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 | |
| 12:17 am | Movie Screenings This is turning out to be an unusually busy season for movie screenings. There were 2 last week, 2 this week, and 3 next week. I belong to a few organizations that get me in, but you don't have to know anyone to find these. Here are some sources nationwide: http://www.filmmetro.com http://www.gofobo.com http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/free-stu http://www.wildaboutmovies.com (warning: has many pop-ups) There are also Facebook and Yahoo groups devoted to movie screenings. So stop staring at that computer screen and go stare at a movie screen! |
| Monday, July 21st, 2008 | |
| 9:53 pm | It's really hot out. I sent out some work this morning. I also finished 3 books recently: "Catching Alice" by Clare Naylor - although most of the story takes place in LA after a brief beginning in London, the tone and language are decidedly British. I'm writing this a few weeks after finishing and can't remember much of the plot. Something about a benign stalker. Eh. "Things I Want My Daughters to Know" by Elizabeth Noble - this was definitely British, about 4 sisters coping with the loss of their mother over a year. It was slow going, and I kept confusing the sisters. One potentially interesting plot point regarding the paternity of one sister was not fully explored. "Loose Girl: A Memoir of Promiscuity" by Kerry Cohen - the anti-En. There was a constant parade of guys with a few longer-term relationships interspersed. The author meets her husband at the end, but it didn't feel very different from the rest. I was going to pass my copy on to ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} jedusor since Cohen went to Clark, but someone on a book trading site claimed it instead. Clark is peripheral to the goings-on, so you're not missing much.
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| Friday, July 18th, 2008 | |
| 2:44 am | Mamma Mia After some uncertainty whether I could book a "Mamma Mia" screening without a guest (the passes were supposed to be for 2 only, and I was not having any luck finding a second), everything worked out. I worked on some work nearby, left for the theater just before 6 (an hour ahead of time), and got on the long line. My group's organizer soon came around, plucked us from the line, and led us into the air-conditioned lobby. We were checked in, given a free popcorn coupon (which I didn't use) and tickets, and sent up to the theater where we were the first to go inside. Although we could not sit in sections reserved for Universal or SOCAPA (School of Cinema & Performing Arts), there was a great choice of seats in the stadium-style theater and I parked myself midway up and center. My group's membership director happened to be next to me, and she was told to save 6 seats, so I contributed items from my purse (book, magazine, "Wordplay" cards) to put on the seats. The only problem was, she did not know what the people coming looked like. There were some cell phone conversations back and forth as people arrived, and eventually I got my stuff back. I haven't seen reviews of the movie, so don't know the general buzz but in this theater, the vibe was enthusiastic and positive. The kids from SOCAPA were too young to remember ABBA, but they really got into it, singing along, rhythmically clapping, and cheering. It could have been disastrous to have the actors themselves sing the musical numbers, but somehow it worked. "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia" and the music behind the credits were stand-outs. The Greek island scenery was breath-taking. The plot was paper-thin and not terribly plausible, and the acting was campy and broad, but it all fit and I found it entertaining. Usually Hollywood puts 50+ actresses out to pasture, but here they were allowed to vamp and flirt. I can see this becoming a cult movie a la "Dirty Dancing." I heard a few grumbles as we exited, but most of the audience left humming and happy. When I got outside at 9, a line was forming on the sidewalk. I went back to finish working and when I left at 10:30, this line was around the block: for "Batman." I haven't seen any of the series, and it's not at the top of my list or even on my list. |
| Monday, July 14th, 2008 | |
| 12:42 am | Jiggety Jig! I will blog in detail later, but let's just say I took an unexpected trip to Rochester, NY today. |
| Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 | |
| 4:36 am | Crackbook In the last few days, I've spent untold hours exploring Facebook. Eventually, I'll find everyone I've ever met (if they don't have too common a name), and anyone that's going to friend me will friend me. I find kids of people I know more than my contemporaries, but a fair number of us old people are there. There will be new blood, but it should settle down. Actually, it already has. I'll keep rerunning the e-mail and other finders to pick up additional people. Then what? I haven't begun to explore the games. Since I don't play Scrabble, I'm in no hurry to try Scrabulous. People are recommending Scramble. No time now. I have a lovely list of 151 friends, each one a separate gem with a back story. I know most of them in person, with a few exceptions like blogging pals Ryan and Brian and LJ friend sdn . It's nice to see people displayed from various parts of my life: family (I made my nephew add a certain movie to his favorites), high school, college, puzzles, TV work, the movie (editor Doug, our high-powered sales agent with extremely famous Facebook friends, a London journalist who happened into an IFC showing and talked to us afterward). No one from grad school (which I never discuss - ick!) or actuarial work so far. I enjoy seeing the status reports (no need to join Twitter), new pictures, writing on the Walls, new friends of friends who I might know, interconnections (one constructor became friends with the game-show database guy based on a comment on my Wall). And continuing updates thereof. Puzzles is the largest segment by far. qaqaq and I currently have the most mutual friends at 53, with nplchainsaw close behind at 52. Chainsaw has an edge in that we also have ex-coworkers on our lists. I've joined some groups, but am not sure of their purpose. I can check for new members I might know (I'm hoping the newbies are put on top, otherwise, how do you find them?) and read internal group postings. Not too exciting. My high school's classes on either side of me have their own groups ('68 has a big reunion next month), but not mine. Younger people have their whole class on there, but my generation is just getting into it. This once again proves I have an addictive personality. Excuse me while I refresh my home page. |
| Monday, July 7th, 2008 | |
| 11:48 am | She takes it! Gotcha is the winner of my extra copy of "I'll Take It." To be delivered at the con. Thanks to all. |
| 11:15 am | Stop the Madness! Those original journalists are at it again. I just had to comment. |
| Friday, July 4th, 2008 | |
| 7:31 pm | Last call for "I'll Take It" Only two entries so far. I'll extend the contest until 11:59pm Sunday. http://ennienyc.livejournal.com/233 |
| Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 | |
| 6:30 pm | Evil Corruption qaqaq has invited me to join Facebook. I always thought it was more for the young crowd, and maybe it is. So there's another addictive time-waster. Oy. |
| Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 | |
| 11:41 pm | Smart viewing Today at MoMA: 5:00 p.m. Dottie Gets Spanked. 1994. USA. Todd Haynes. 30 min. Poison. 1991. USA. Todd Haynes. 85 min. 8:00 p.m. A Time for Drunken Horses. 2000. Iran. Bahman Ghobadi. 80 min. Discussion with Ghobadi. or 8:30 p.m. Going Places. 1974. France. Bertrand Blier. 117 min. Instead of this high-falutin' fare, I saw "Get Smart" with the last of the AMC coupons (more are on the way). As a kid, I loved "Get Smart." I haven't watched the TV show recently, so don't know if it aged well. The movie trailer did capture some of that atmosphere. But the movie? I guess I wanted something laugh-a-minute like "Airplane" and this wasn't. It was pretty good, silly at times, used all the tag lines - but just didn't seem completely goofy like the show. I liked the techie guys and see they have a DVD spin-off which I'll have to check out. |
| 1:40 am | Jackie Mason I fondly remember the Worldwide Cinemas, located in the basement of the then-new (built 1989) Worldwide Plaza. It was a second-run theater, so if you were willing to wait a few weeks, you could see movies for $2-3. This complex also hosted many screenings I attended in the '90s. When I got busy working at the game show, I got out of the habit of seeing movies, and the theater closed when I was unaware. I also fondly remember seeing Jackie Mason four times live in the '90s, including his Politically Incorrect show twice (a year apart). Jackie Mason is part of family legend. Vacationing in the Catskills in the '50s, my parents went to an after-hours show with a comedian who was also a rabbi and said they laughed so hard they literally couldn't breathe -- yes, they saw then-unknown Jackie Mason. Now in his 70s, Mason says his current show, The Ultimate Jew, is his last. It's closing this month, so I thought I'd better go. Tonight was the night. I went to the designated address, and it turns out that New World Stages is actually the old Worldwide, resurrected as a theater complex. Jackie did seem older (I last saw him in 1996), but soon hit his stride. Despite some F-word usage, it was mostly clean, covering politics, Starbucks, restaurants, immigration, gentiles/Jews (LOTS on this). Some material could be considered offensive, and it might help to be Jewish - lots of yarmulkes in the crowd. When I got home, my Barnes & Noble order was there - less than 24 hours after placing the order. Wow, that's fast. Now I really really need to cool it on the book buying. |
| Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 | |
| 2:01 am | I'm melting!... and reading, and moviegoing Fresh Direct now warns: Please Note: You may find that “light” and “fat-free” ice creams and sorbets arrive softer during our hottest months. We do our best to ensure ice cream keeps its cool in the freezer boxes of our delivery trucks, but low-fat versions do tend to melt faster than the full-fat varieties. I guess I'm not the only one who complained about this problem, but it also happened during cooler weather. I'm back to ordering frozen items from FD on a limited basis, but no more ice cream. Speaking of ordering, I ordered yet again from B&N. Ack! My excuse is that I received a gift card due to inaugurating my B&N credit card so I had to apply it. I stuck to deeply discounted bargain-priced items, mostly from my wish list. This list is gradually whittling down - and being added to with new items, but the net effect is subtraction. The wish list was started during college. Thomas Cottle's "College: Reward and Betrayal" (1977) might have held more interest when I was closer to being a student, but after reading the intro and glancing at the rest, I'm returning it to the library. I renewed it (and 2 other library books) in case I don't get to a library before it's due Wednesday. "The Burglar in the Closet" by Lawrence Block was much better. Part of a series about Manhattan burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, the story stays light and enjoyable even as the bodies pile up. I put the series in general on my wish list. Even though summer tends to be dead time for entertainment events, I had offers for 3 different movie screenings tonight. It's still June, so maybe July and August will be dead. I had RSVP'd on 6/11 for "The Wackness" so that's where I was going. I don't think I've been in the SONY screening room since "Multiplicity" in 1996. You take one elevator to the Sky Lobby and another to the 7th floor where there's a nice screening room. Waiting there were some familiar faces from the Spirit Awards screenings. One showed me this depressing article on the state of indie films (Mark Gill, by the way, bid on a certain crossword movie at Sundance in 2006). I don't know about the state of indie films, but the state of the cast of "The Wackness" was a stoned haze. The plot was heavily about drugs, so even though the movie was watchable, I didn't like being in even a fictional druggie environment. Afterward, I felt like I needed some air. Since I got caught in a downpour yesterday, I brought my umbrella today, so of course it didn't rain when I was out. |
| 1:05 am | Merv Griffin's Crosswords "Merv Griffin's Crosswords" is reportedly going on indefinite hiatus. That doesn't sound promising, but in the backlogged En household Merv is still going strong. On three occasions in the last few months, when TiVo threatened to run out of room, I cleared off MGC episodes (marked "save until I delete"). In the beginning, I actually watched but soon resorted to checking the first 2 contestants, fast-forwarding to see the spoilers enter, and immediately erasing unless there was someone I knew. Here are my notes on dubious clues or whatever: 3/24 - Finalist was stuck on STO_S/SAIG_ (A) and was just about to get it when time ran out. 3/26 - It's somewhere in "The Greatest Story Told" (EVER) 3/27 - The three in a lounge who don't need drinks to sing (TRIO) 4/1 - Palindromic family nickname (SIS, but could have been DAD, MOM, POP) There seems to be good camaraderie among the contestants as they switch places, patting each other on the arm or back. One guy said, "I'll be back!" but the spoiler he switched with won. Oh look, there's: 3/28 - Pat Manzo 3/31 - winner "Janet" seemed familiar (no spoiler intros so not sure if I know her) 4/2 - nplloquacious, who I didn't know was called "Dunn." Good game, much moving around of podiums 4/21 - Elfman 5/6 - Julian Petrillo ("Word Wars" co-director) 6/? - tablesaw's mom, previously preempted in NYC for local news. She looks too young to be Tablesaw's mom. Still no sign of Al Sanders, though there were preemptions for crane accidents and other news. |
| Sunday, June 29th, 2008 | |
| 10:34 pm | Some of the crossword bloggers link to me, so I should say more about puzzles. One of today's NYT theme entries is ( Spoiler! ) Here's one from earlier today: I almost lost the Panasonic electric pencil sharpener by jamming in a tiny stub which then wouldn't come out. Banging on the back and trying to edge it out with a paper clip didn't help, nor did sticking the point of the unfolded clip in the eraser and pulling. As I got resigned to buying a new sharpener (this one is at least 20 years old), the stub whirred and jiggled and moved back enough for me to pull it out. I immediately threw away all the other stubs I keep around. It killed me to discard perfectly good erasers, but I have stand-alone erasers and lots of other pencils with erasers. I have a portable Sanyo sharpener that stopped working a while ago and is now discontinued, so I bought a generic replacement last year. I never used the new one, though, because it didn't work even after trying 2 sets of batteries. I just tried again - using different +/- configurations - and it still doesn't work. The batteries expire in 2012 so that shouldn't be the problem. Meanwhile, I never threw out the Sanyo so I just plugged it into an outlet to see if it recharges. (Update: Ooh, I think it's going to work. Maybe I hadn't noticed the slide-out plug prongs for recharging.) I haven't finished any more books, but saw 2 movies and a play. After being quiet for a while, the TV org had invites for two screenings last week. I couldn't make "Journey to the Center of the Earth" but did see "Hancock." The guest I asked couldn't make it and it was getting late to RSVP so I went myself. The line outside the AMC Lincoln Square had people from other groups (including NY Women in Film & Television, which I'm wondering if I should join), but our organizer came around, checked us off on the list, and gave us 2 numbered blue tickets. At the top of the escalator, someone looked into my bags checking for cameras (they're concerned about illegal recordings), but I was stopped again a few feet ahead by people seated behind a table. The man seemed skeptical that I didn't have a cell phone ("Not only didn't I bring it, but it doesn't exist!" I insisted) but did let me through. I was tempted to dump the entire contents of my bags on the table, but figured I'd never get invited to anything again so remained polite. Everyone else had to check their phones in special bags, so maybe that's what the tickets were for (I held mine, hoping for a raffle that didn't exist). I was happy later to breeze out while everyone else waited on a long line to retrieve their phones. The auditorium was the same large one as our abbreviated Tribeca premiere. Almost the entire middle section was taped off for people with white tickets, so I took one of those isolated single seats on the side. I'm not sure who the white-ticketed people were, but eventually they filled the center. There were also extra-special VIP aisle seats with double rows of tape, I think for critics. I'm happy just to go to these things, but there's always some level of "you're not as important as THESE people." That's showbiz. The movie? Will Smith plays Hancock, an atypical LA superhero - rude, drunk, sloppy, destructive. But he gets the job done. When he saves a P.R. exec from an oncoming train, the grateful man offers to improve his image, includes him in his family life, and things move along entertainingly. About an hour in, there's a twist and then some sci-fi mumbo-jumbo I'm not sure makes sense. Sigh, that's showbiz. Big, loud, and violent, with lots of broken glass. While I'm not the ideal audience for Hollywood blockbusters, I'm also not the ideal audience for arty experimental films. Such a film (I can hardly call it a movie) was Yvonne Rainer's "Privilege," which I saw at MoMA yesterday. It focuses on menopause and female aging (always fun topics) as well as race and class, through a series of real and fake interviews and flashbacks with a skeleton of a plot. Tough going. Some people walked out, but I stayed for the end and Q&A with the filmmaker (who I was amazed to later learn was born 1934 - her dance experience must keep her looking fit). Walking to 8th Ave. for the bus, I could see the lights of Times Square glowing a few blocks down as I passed 7th Ave. and Broadway. It's still exciting to me. I ordered more AMC discount movie tickets. The cheapest source I found was through the Entertainment book for $6, good after the first 2 weeks. I got the last batch free with credit card points but don't have enough reward points from any source to do that right now. If I can get to the theater before noon Fri-Sun, it's also just $6 (for which I'd pay cash, since why waste a coupon?), but I never seem to be up that early. I was up at 6 a.m. the other day and got a hot bagel at Times Square Bagels just after they opened. Unfortunately, I was up at that hour because I was STILL up from working at the Times all night. Two more weeks of puzzles were ready and I went after another event, and then slept most of the day. Today I was up before noon in order to get to a play: "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" by Christopher Durang at Roundabout. At first, I had to get used to the theatricality (people don't talk like that!) but then it moved quickly and was absorbing. But still, a lot of theater lacks naturalness. You know they are ACTING. I could have gone to "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" at MoMA afterward, but had work to finish so went home. I could have used an umbrella because it was pouring when I got off the bus. I almost got off much earlier to avoid an old, crazy guy (I assume someone yelling and screaming incoherently is crazy), but luckily he got off around Lincoln Center. Oh, and maybe the highlight of the week (mentioned in a comment on Jeffurry's blog): the Associated across the street had Minute Maid Light raspberry passion! They hadn't had it since I discovered it there in the first place, 2 years ago. This is not an easy item to find, and I got 2 containers which are already finished. The non-highlight of the week: homemade turkey burgers. I think I need to season them; plain-broiled tasted like dry hockey pucks. |
| Saturday, June 28th, 2008 | |
| 2:28 pm | iTunes doesn't know from procrastination iTunes stopped downloading the Sunday NPR puzzle segment because I had not listened to it in a long time. The nerve! Don't they realize that October 2007 is NOTHING when it comes to being backed up? I mean, I have unread magazines from 1992. I clicked the button saying, No, I still want it, pretty please. P.S. to Ryan and Brian: My terrace season has begun, but I still haven't done the download from iTunes to iPod that will bring your podcast to my lounging chair. This WILL happen before the weather turns cold. |
| Thursday, June 26th, 2008 | |
| 2:41 am | Cutthroat Crosswords Orange's blog recently added a place for readers to enter solving times for the NYT and NYS puzzles. I've been inputting my NY Sun times without first looking at everyone else's and darn, Dan Feyer (Winner of the C Division as Ryan and Brian always say) is the new Howard Barkin (Knower of All Things per R&B), coming up swiftly from nowhere to beat me most of the time. In fact, Dan even has a Tyler-like video (minus Tyler's obnoxious commenters) solving an old NYT online in 1:44. Makes me feel old and slow (those inevitably go together). But who knows, next February the speedsters could fail to check crossings and make careless mistakes. And I wouldn't be that upset if their planes couldn't get here (evil grin). Oh wait, most of them won't be flying. Since I solve the NYT on paper while proofreading, my times aren't comparable to applet or Across Lite speed demons. On the other hand, when I first solve, the proofreading is minimal. I read all the clues as always, but don't read them carefully or check cross-references or make sure I fully understand everything (I do circle accents or potential typographical trouble spots, but that doesn't eat up much time). Careful checking doesn't happen until I make the Across Lite file and solve a second time. So as of Thursday's puzzle I started recording my NYT times on Amy's blog as well. If nothing else, people may feel comforted that I'm so slow. Today's not bad, but there may be times I'm considerably off the pace. I'll resolve now to post regularly no matter how bad my times seem unless 1) I'm unable to get online in time, or 2) I didn't time the puzzle (occasionally I'm interrupted by a phone call or visitor or just forget to note the starting time). So Dan, Howard, Tyler, Amy, Byron, Al, Stella, Doug P. (who research shows is deadbydawn) and some mystery people (zachugly?), I expect to feel humbled. |
| Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 | |
| 1:21 am | Media round-up I can always be counted on to read, see movies, and do puzzles. (And eat, but I'm not listing my meals here.) Puzzles: Sports is a big weak spot for me, so I ordered some sports crossword books recently, finishing "Baseball Crosswords" by David Kahn and "Go Yankees! Crossword Puzzle Book" by Brendan Emmett Quigley. I think I learned something, and there were surprisingly few times I had no idea (so if I didn't know the baseball fact, I at least knew the crossing). The next puzzle book I'm working on has 300 puzzles so it could take a while to finish. Books: I took "Out of Place" by Edward Said out of the library, and returned it today mostly unread. I just couldn't get into it, and had even less incentive when I realized the book stops after his graduate schooling. I wanted to read about his years teaching at Columbia (which included my years there), as well as his marriage to his first wife who still teaches at Barnard. "The Daria Diaries" by Anne Bernstein - a thin bit of fluff supplementing the "Daria" TV show. "Flying South" by Nancy Geyer - angsty 1982 chick lit narrated by a woman who learns her professor husband impregnated his student, and trysts with an old platonic friend in New Orleans to get over it. "Home Girl: Building a Dream House on a Lawless Block" by Judith Matloff - This was a LibraryThing early readers' program offering. The author was a foreign correspondent and her writing skill is evident in this closer-to-home story of brownstone rehab in West Harlem. I was riveted as she and her husband coped with repairs, neighbors including drug dealers, and childbirth, and eventually found a strong community. "Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club" by Maggie Marr - another one from LibraryThing (thank you, LibraryThing!). This was a dishy novel about evil Hollywood - sex, drugs, huge egos, and plastic surgery. Some of the secrets were a little out there. Now I want to read the previous book about these characters, since sometimes I got confused who was who. Movies: "On the Waterfront" - continuing to fill in the large gaps in my classic movie viewing, I saw this at MoMA last week. Yup, there's a reason these are classics. Marlon Brando coulda been... you know. Waiting for the movie to start, the older men next to me dropped some famous names, but I didn't have enough info to figure out who my neighbors were. "Full Grown Men" - IFP arranged this screening to "share the love" so I'll share the love and say it's a quirky, charming, bittersweet, nostalgic story of a 35-year-old Florida family man in sort of a pre-midlife crisis. Interesting cameos from Debbie Harry, Alan Cumming, and Amy Sedaris. Co-star Judah Friedlander spoke afterward and looked hairier than his character. "Sex and the City: The Movie" - I had 3 books to mail and thought I'd combine a trip to the 24-hour post office with this movie nearby. The PO line was ridiculous, so I tried again after the movie (when it was almost empty), running into my cousin R on the street. I saw just about every episode of the TV show, so this was more of the same. Other than not liking one character's plot, I laughed, I cried. There's just one AMC discount coupon left. I got these with AMEX points, but can buy more through one of my entertainment orgs. I was going to hear an author tonight at the mid-Manhattan library, and went early to catch their book sale before it closed at 4. I then checked out the Book Off used bookstore nearby, and ended up with a total of 10 books for $12 plus tax. I didn't feel like shlepping these in and out of library security, so brought them home. There was still plenty of time to make it back to the library, but I decided to see the SATC movie instead. |