Uffda

Busy weekend coming up. Since it's been a busy week, I'm feeling a bit rundown, but like my wise brother says, "I'll sleep when I'm dead." True enough.

Today is our MarCom office party. Woot. It's at Moulin, always a good time. Great food, a little drinking, prizes. Good stuff.

Tomorrow night my coworker and her husband are having a party. Great couple - she's in physician outreach and he's a very talented & personable brain surgeon. His blog is fantastic.

Saturday morning early run, and then I'm going to see "It's A Wonderful Life" at the Hi-Pointe. It's my favorite movie and I've never seen it on the big screen, so this will be a treat. I can pretty much recite the entire movie, but will refrain so that I don't bug anyone. Am I a dork? Yup. But a festive one, so look out now...

I've got two invites for festive outings that evening. Not sure if I want to do anything, may just veg...I feel like I need to catch up on 20 million hours of sleep.

Sunday is open, and I'm going to keep it that way because the best things come up last minute. This I've learned the hard way.

Movie Review & other stuff

Saw "Tree of Life", featuring Brad Pitt and very little of Sean Penn. Directed by Terrence Malick.

I really enjoyed Pitt's acting. And that's about all I enjoyed about the film.

I really liked Malick's "The New World" with Colin Ferrell. It was a very poetic film, moved me in all sorts of ways, and even though it was linear, that's not something I have to have in a film in order to like it. Same goes for "The Thin Red Line".

However, "Tree" was just a big 'ol mess of nothing special. Jumped all over. Sean Penn's part was useless. It was, in places, disturbing and not in a good way. And the family dynamic was probably true to many families back in the day, but they way in which it was portrayed felt forced.

NOT recommended by me. Watch at your own risk.

In other news, Ollie is sick. Under the weather. Being weird, not eating, listless, seemingly sad. Vet said it could be due to new treats, Busy Bones, I've recently given him, or his supposed melanoma. Since I refuse to let the doc cut him up, I will remove the treats and see.

Other other news, I am so ready for Xmas to be here. I love spending time at my aunt's house, just kicking back, eating, relaxing, and just being. No judgement, just good times. LOVE IT.

More news...you know how you see a movie trailer and it just PULLS YOU IN? Like, after you watch it you are setting a reminder in your phone that you HAVE to see this film on opening night? And then you see the film, and realize that many of the scenes that were in the trailer were NOT in the movie? Or that the trailer didn't accurately represent the actual movie, and you're sitting there wondering why you paid good money to see crap?

Well, check this link out. It has the Top 10 Biggest Movie Controversies in 2011, and it's grand. They have a short about how many times Natalie Portman was replaced in "Black Swan", and I remember thinking how cool it was for her to do most of her own dancing. HA! Not so, said the researcher...

In final news, I'm fighting off what could eventually turn into a huge addiction to Duncan Heinz Homestyle cream cheese frosting. I made cupcakes over the holidays, and discovered his fluffy, beigey heaven. I am really fighting the urge to go out and buy a can just for spooning...

Thanks for sharing, Modesto

Modesto is my most favorite restaurant in the Lou. Hands down.

The menu is ALWAYS diverse and delicious. Fare for carnivores and vegetarians alike.

Some of my favorite tapas are:

Bistec a la Cabrales - grilled hanger steak with Cabrales cheese and port reduction

Empanadillas de Chorizo - chorizo, potato and cheese pastries with ailoi

Pinchos Morunos - lamb skewers with yogurt and tomato-herb salsa

So I was just perusing my Facebook page, and I see a new post from Modesto.

Guess what? Chef Gracen Dinsmoor posted a recipe for.......wait for it.........wait for it........

GOAT CHEESE STUFFING!

Oh my goodness. Seriously?

Does it get any better than this?

Not only does the recipe revolve around goat cheese (which, in case you didn't know, is cheese made from angels on high) but it comes straight from the selective, creative and exquisite mind of Chef Grace.

This Monday just got a gold star.

I know what I'll be doing after work today - heading to the grocery store to get the ingredients to try out this fantastic fare.

But let's get to the bottom line here of why this is blog-worthy.

What makes this recipe unique is not that it contains goat cheese. Nor is it because it comes from the incredible mind of Chef Grace.

What makes this situation unique is that this culinary creation was shared by a renowned chef, who works at a renowned local eatery, via Facebook.

Restaurants don't have to share anything. Many share the photos of dishes they make, but not the recipes. Why? Because that might make potential patrons NOT visit the restaurant and just make the dishes at home.

They don't have to go the extra mile and make anyone's Monday a little bit less Mondayish. But they took the time out today to do just that, and I'm thankful.

Am I gushing? Perhaps. Is it warranted? Yup.

It's that sharing, that transparency, that willingness to reach out that will make me continue to go back to their restaurant for more.

Snow can suck it.

So, last winter I started hating snow. And pretty much all things related to cold.

And it got me worried.

Am I finally an adult? Have I lost that child-like wonderment that goes along with winter holidays, making snowmen and ice skating?

I really went all out & crabbed about the snow. Driving in it. Other people driving in it...poorly. Putting me in danger.

And all my crabbing made me feel old. Made me feel like a crotchety, old lady who has too many cats, is perpetually single, and never calls anyone by their correct names. And who shakes my old-lady fist at the snow, threatening it with my wizened, balled-up hand.

Today, after talking to a coworker, I now feel better.

I am not old. Or crotchety. I have a dog. And I always call people by their correct names.

I just don't take any pleasure in snow during the workweek.

I like snow in the following situations:

1. Skiing (on vacation)

2. Sledding (on the weekends)

3. For Oliver (he loves to play in it until his tiny baby paws get too cold and he starts walking like he's rusting like the Tin Man did in The Wizard Of OZ)

4. For how it makes Christmas Day feel

So, Mother Nature, feel free to bring on the snow. If you can start early Saturday morning, and make sure it melts by Monday morning commute time, we're all good.

Deal?

Deal.

Movie Review - The Descendants

I'm baffled as to why critics are deeming this the best film of the year.

It blew. Far and wide.

I'm a genuine Clooney fan. The only movie I haven't seen of his yet is "The American" and I will soon. Why? Because I need to wipe my memory of the steaming pile of shit that was "The Descendants."

To sum it up:

Tragic accident. Coma. Indifference. Cheating. Clooney attempting to run in Docksiders. Anger. Confrontation. Sadness. Death. Ice Cream. Credits.

The movie was so damn boring. Clooney's character felt very one-dimensional, which many reviews are touting the opposite. This movie TRIED very hard to be "real" but in my opinion it fell extremely short of that.

It was also extremely depressing. So much so, that I got into a funk that lasted for hours. And yeah, that's on me, but I would've been fine and dandy had I need seen that stupid movie.

Am I letting my mood cloud my judgement, my review? Nope. I really went into this with an open mind.

The only thing that saved the movie for me was watching Clooney reach a level of acting I hadn't seen from him before - he cried.

I liked that. I know he has range as an actor. Now, for me, he has depth.

I wouldn't even spend a Red Box $1 on this.

I cannot recommend this movie.

Consider yourself warned.

Movie Review - Melancholia

Melancholia is, by far, my favorite Von Trier film. And, by far, one of my favorite films of the year.

I'm a "light" fan of Kirsten Dunst, meaning I enjoy her acting but will not rush to see her in a film. There has to be more than just KiKi to get me excited.

After this film, I've changed my tune towards her acting. She was superb. Portraying a character who suffers from mental illness and has a major depressive episode is something she does deftly. There is no victim or hero in her character - she is who she is, and it's clearly evident in her portrayal. What I most loved about her in this film is how seamlessly she transitioned between scenes & showing the audience her feelings - she made a connection with the audience (me) that I search for from main characters in most films and am usually let down.

Supportive characters Kiefer Sutherland, Stellan Skarsgard, Alexander Skarsgard, John Hurt and Charlotte Rampling all give very good performances - they are woven into the story perfectly, and however short their face-time, they are definitive to the story. No fodder at all - very rich, tasty treats that pop up throughout.

Charlotte Gainsbourg as Kirsten's sister, did a fine job of playing a sister dealing with a broken family, while trying to keep her own afloat. If anyone is a victim here, it's her, by all counts - of herself, mostly. While Kirsten is the main play, Charlotte could be considered a second main - the film is broken down into two parts, "Justine" which is Kirsten's character, and "Claire", which is Charlotte's character.

The cinematography is breathtaking - I know this sounds corny but if there is a better word for how lush this entire movie feels, give it to me and I'll gladly use it. The opening scenes, however "artsy" you may categorize them, are like melted warm butter for your eyes. The music that permeates the film is fitting, like a warm onesy for the adult movie-goer. It's a combination that is intoxicating.

I gush. I know. But I truly liked this film.

It was filmed in Sweden, primarily at Tjolöholm Castle, which is on my list of places on earth I must visit. It's like a dream. Really. It is.

The plot is this - Kirsten's character getting married, and at the same time a planet called Melancholia "might" be hurtling towards a collision with earth. Angst, and more angst, horseback riding, marriage strife, meals on the terrace, a potential deadly world event, a couple baths, and the end. If you want more deets, go here.

I'm not going to spoil this for you by giving away the very surprising ending. What I will say is that this movie is a journey. It is spying inside the mind of mental illness. It is spying inside of failed and flawed marriages. It is peeking behind the curtain of a filmmaker's dreamscape. And I'm so glad that Von Trier decided to share this with us.

It is also a disaster film, but maybe not in the true meaning of the word.

Check it out.

My neighborhood park

I've always enjoyed living near a city park, whether it's Forest Park, Francis or Tower Grove.

Last weekend I took Ollie over to TGP for a walk, and there was hardly anyone there. I guess everyone was recuperating from the World Series festivities and Halloween stuff. The quiet of the park, along with the beautiful fall colors of the leaves, inspired me to take a few pics.

I have to add that using apps like Instagram and Hipstamatic can turn a boring photo into something that looks professional.

Yeah, Oliver decided to drive home. His paws just reach the pedals.