Day is done, can't get it out of my head and more quiet

- I would have never captured this image if I hadn't been listening to the last bit of the audio book I was about to return to the library.  I was sitting in the library parking lot listening and thinking how beautiful the winter branches of that tree looked against the 6pm sky.  The real story here is about taking a quiet few moments to look at simple things around me like this.

- Finally watching the film Saving Mr. Banks, the story of the making of the film Mary Poppins.  My sister Jo and I loved "Mary Poppins" when we were children and had the soundtrack.  So I found that I knew every word to some of the songs, particularly "Let's go fly a kite."  I've been singing it all this week.  Here's a link to the scene in the "Saving Mr. Banks" in which the song is pitched to PL Travers (played so well by Emma Thompson that I forgot it was her I was watching.)

- Driving home from the eye doctor with eyes so dilated I turned off the audio book and the radio and just concentrated on driving.  And then realizing I kind of liked the quiet. 

Audio books make my long commute more than bearable.  And I tend to listen to things I wouldn't normally read.  Right now I'm listening to another Lee Child book and have a Nevada Barr book waiting for after that.  Both authors stretch reality a bit, but that's what make them good mystery / thrillers, I guess.  :)  Have a good weekend!

Groundhog Day, the movie and the real deal

- It being Groundhog Day tomorrow, it seems like a good time for Phil's (Bill Murray) Piano Solo from the 1993 film, "Groundhog Day." I love how he riffs into Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" at the sight of Andie McDowell's character Rita.

- Back when the film came out, my mother and sister decided to go to a movie one day and not knowing anything about it, chose that one. And they hated it. I walked into the room at the tail end of a conversation in which they were telling my dad and brother-in-law about the film. I announced, "I LOVED that movie!" Mom and sis looked at each other and burst out laughing and shook their heads. I stand by my original impression of the film and love how Phil took the opportunity to improve his life by learning to play piano, ice sculpt and speak French.

- It was raining last Groundhog Day. How do I know? I looked at last year's post for February 2. But after a couple of really rainy days in Atlanta, we are supposed to be cold today, but sunny. I wonder if that groundhog named Phil will see his shadow?

I'm out of town - mom's in the hospital again.  (She will be OK.)  So appropriately enough for Groundhog Day tomorrow - this was last year's post.  And the third thing refers to 2010.  Cheers and here's hoping for an early Spring!

If it could talk..., a hit and movie weekend

- If this fern could talk, it would say, "I love me some outside!"  It was a rainy warmish weekend in Atlanta.  The fern comes in and out, but stays outdoors on the back porch if the temps are above about 40 degrees f.  It sits on a stool that came from my great aunt's home right now, but in the summer it hangs by my front door.

- Making Spicy Mexican Slaw with Lime and Cilantro for game night with friends on Saturday. Click here for the recipe.  It was a hit and went well with the potluck dinner we always have.  My favorite thing:  red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing for dessert.  Yum.

- From the ridiculous to the sublime:  watching two movies on dvd this weekend I've heard a lot about, but just somehow hadn't seen before - Bridesmaids and The King's Speech.  I definitely recommend The King's Speech.  :)

From the 19th floor, on the way and say anything

Click to enlarge.

- A view of midtown Atlanta with ominous clouds looming. My clients were having an intense discussion about their project, so I turned my attention to the view. I like the modern interspersed with the old, with Rhodes Hall (the oldest residence on Peachtree Street) and the spires of Peachtree Christian Church, both sitting right in front of the ramp to I-85 north in the lower third of the image.

- Early in the morning at my office, a coworker says she is just at work for a moment before heading out to join her son and his wife for a sonogram view of her first grandchild. She feels torn about leaving for the day. "You need to go. You'll never get this time back," I say. "That's what Tony said, too!" she says.

- The high temperature on this day was a very humid 98 degrees Fahrenheit (we must be in for a hot summer), making me forgo my afternoon walk. I ride my exercise bike instead while watching an episode of "Inside the Actors' Studio," featuring John Cusack. A lovely break and I got to watch the actor speak of one of my favorite films, "Say Anything."

Make way for ducklings, out of time and return

- I love this little film about a banker who takes care of a mama duck and her babies, as the news commentator says, just like a real life version of "Make way for Ducklings."

- Doing a double take when a man wearing a snappy straw fedora and a crisply ironed white shirt with tie, rides by on the sidewalk on a decidedly one-speed bicycle. He looks as if he stepped out of the 1950s or so.

- Having Blogger back, even if my Thursday post seems to be lost in the blogosphere still. I liked my Thursday post, so I hope it returns safely and tells of its adventures. :)

So it is Friday, lovely Friday. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Living on in film, Forget You and sofa time

- A still from my favorite Elizabeth Taylor film, "Father of the Bride." I've watched this one over and over. She was only 17 years old when it was filmed.

- In my quest for good walking songs for my ipod, friend Becca suggests Cee Lo Green's "Forget You" - saying, "I could listen to this song all day and never get tired of dancing in my chair..." Ha! It made me do that a little, too. :)

- And not getting my walk yesterday due to logistics, pharmacy hours, pollen count and general laziness. Just settling on the sofa at 6pm wasn't bad either.

Early spring, catching up on films and cookies

- The trees are blossoming in full force in Atlanta, a sign of an early spring. We are back to the low 30s this morning in temperature, so they must be feeling a bit shivery right about now.

- Watching the 1993 film, "In the Name of the Father" - a true story of a group of people falsely convicted of IRA bombings. It is a good somber film for a rainy day and Daniel Day-Lewis's performance in it is phenomenal.

- The church deacons host a cookie reception after the 11am service. A group of women have a discussion about the oddity of cookies served in the lunchtime hour, as we munch cookies then talk about what we are about to have for lunch. :)

Resting, cup running over and joy to the world

- These dogs, hanging out in the sunshine, while their owner shopped on Saturday.

- A neighbor takes the opportunity to tell me all that is going wrong in her life as she is getting into her car. But before she backs out, she rolls her window down and calls out, "It's all good though, my cup runneth over!"

- From an article about my favorite movie reviewer, Roger Ebert, who can no longer speak or eat as a result of cancer surgery to remove his thyroid, comes this quote from him that sums it all up for me, "I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out."
Jones, Chris, "Roger Ebert: The Essential Man." Esquire.com, 16 February 2010, http://www.esquire.com/features/roger-ebert-0310

Cabin fever, synchronicity and the sisterhood

Enough with the snow. Seriously!

- So I have gotten a bit of a case of cabin fever now, but have been grateful for the opportunity to stay home while other peoples' cars are crashing into each other in the aftermath of the land of the ice and snow. Also - my ex-father-in-law passed away yesterday. He had Alzheimer's disease. He was a lovely man, a veteran of a foreign war who came back home and ran the family dairy farm after the war was over. I liked to help him count cows at the end of the day, something I only got to do now and then. A sweet, sweet man.

- Maybe my dinner of Steak au Poive was appropriate. :) I don't eat meat often, but I sauteed a little steak and made a remoulade sauce to go with it, along with some caramelized onions. Yum.

- Stellaaahhh!!!!! A Streetcar Named Desire. So much yelling that I'll be watching the remaining 1 hour and 16 minutes another time. What else was there on the DVR to watch? Hmmmm. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Yep. That was just the ticket. A nice little film - not gritty, but just what I needed for this night.

“Whoever you are,” Blanche DuBois said, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” Best line ever! I hope you experience kindness from everyone around you this weekend, my friends.

Winter scene, films with yelling and well-rested

- It looks a bit more beaten up and slushy now from this scene on Monday afternoon. My neighbor poured some of that ice melt stuff on the sidewalk to make it easier for her to walk her dog in and out. We have a fair amount of young children living in the condos and they have enjoyed playing in the snow.

- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Oh my - the yelling! I watched it over the course of two days. I can't imagine why Paul Newman wouldn't have gotten an Oscar for his performance. Today - A Streetcar Named Desire, which promises a bit more yelling. :)

- Having the time to make food has been fun. I guess the difference is - having the time, and feeling so well-rested while doing it. Yesterday - it was hummus. Yum.

Life inside, snowpocalypse and Roman Holiday

- Life inside. Somehow adapting with three computers going and the television. The laptop in the front is my up-to-date computer, the one behind it is an ancient one that has a Mahjong game going and there is a desktop computer back in my home office that has some age on it. And I am glued to the news. I am talking to clients from home, too. And still feeling fortunate to be able to stay home.

- Someone coined the term Snowpocalypse and looking it up on Google, only to find that it is already in the online urban dictionary. So it is not all about us. :)

- Watching the delightful Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn's first film. The lead-in from Turner Classic Movies said she almost didn't get the part because her screen test was so subdued. But when it was over, they left the cameras running without her knowledge and asked her about her life. Her animation while chatting with the director won her the role.

The first day, Aqua Net man and Cool Hand Luke

Neighbor Rhonda's dog Lucy, Monday morning

- And before it was over, six inches of snow fell in Atlanta. Then there was sleet on top of the snow, leaving more than an inch of ice on top in some areas. So looks as if I have the day off again today! There are news reports of miles of tractor-trailer trucks stuck on our perimeter highway, so I do not complain about being in my place where it is warm and there is lots to do.

- Watching news reports all morning and laughing at a veteran weather reporter who was reporting from outdoors, withstanding the barrage of admonishment by the female anchors inside that he is not wearing a hat in the 20 degree weather. Best line of the day, "My hair is like a hat now after so many years of having Aqua Net sprayed on it."

- Delving into the 4-star films that have been accumulating in the "My DVR" folder, last evening, Cool Hand Luke. I did not know that is where that line "What we have here is...failure to communicate" came from. Paul Newman's character of Luke demonstrates an unquenchable spirit and you can just feel the miserable summer heat. Today I can choose from, The Last Emperor, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Roman Holiday and A Streetcar Named Desire. I'm think the Audrey Hepburn movie. :)

Reflections, crazy fun and where did it go?

- This view from a parking lot in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, with its crape myrtle tree, reflection of a golden building, parking deck surveillance and a building with stair steps to the sky.

- Some graphic designer coworkers took me to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show once - just a crazy fun experience, complete with audience interaction. One of them sends me this message: Preorder and download songs from Glee: The Music - The Rocky Horror Glee Show by Glee Cast on iTunes. Must have this.

- Friend Jennifer's new employer is offering "A DAY OFF to the winner of the company Fright Fest Costume Contest." So, she is now officially entertaining all unique/creative/non-store-bought/non-scary costume ideas. That sounds like a great employer to me. :) Halloween must be coming up - where has this year gotten to?

I hope you have frightfully good weekend, my friends!

Saturday, Crazy Heart and once in a blue moon

- The weekend definitely had some good things in it - sleeping in on Saturday and some vegging on the couch. The highlight - a wine and cheese tasting benefit party in the evening with friend Kim L. Some tasting, some schmoozing and then on to see Eat Pray Love. This film has not gotten the best reviews, but I think the reviewers haven't read the book - it followed it somewhat faithfully. And I definitely want to go to Bali now.

- A film that did get great reviews - Crazy Heart. Jeff Bridges was so convincing as a down and out singer that I was completely absorbed into the story. And Colin Ferrell's singing was a complete surprise.

- This lovely bouquet had a wonderful name that caught my eye - Blue Moon bouquet. That's what made me want to buy it. Another blue moon isn't due until August 2012, so this was meant to be a once in a blue moon purchase, I suppose. :)

Steve's house, pulling for the dog and friends

- This house caught my attention last time I was in my home town of Milledgeville, Georgia and it turns out that it belongs to a childhood friend, Steve S. I love all the little whimsical touches and you can't see it, but the porch ceiling is painted blue - a custom in the south to keep away wasps nests and / or spirits, aka "haints." :)

- Receiving this message via facebook from a former co-worker, also named Steve, "Hello there my old pal. I hope you're doing well. I was watching Independence Day the other day, and I always think of you when I watch the scene in the tunnel where the dog makes it to safety. I don't know if you remember me loaning you the movie, and you commented on how you were pulling for the dog." I have no memory of this, but am glad to hear that I was pulling for the dog.

- Going by my client's house to see her new baby - just one week old. Her dog Scout, who loves company, runs around like a fool barking, stops long enough to sniff the baby's toes and then ends up by leaning against me, gazing up adoringly. The baby was oblivious. I'm betting that she and Scout will be great friends.

Passing through, treasures and recycling

- The courthouse in Monticello, Georgia, taken on Saturday evening around 8:15pm. It is difficult to imagine it would be dark in about an hour. This was the courthouse in which scenes from the movie "My Cousin Vinny" were filmed. In the movie, the location was Alabama, but most of it was filmed in and around Monticello. Some farmers on the town square with their wares (mostly watermelons) watched with interest as I took my photo and passed on through.

- Clearing out the storage shed at our family home in nearby Milledgeville, we encountered trash and treasures. When my sister and I lifted an old trunk, all sorts of bug life scurried out. My sister is still laughing over my shrieking like a little girl and running out in the opposite direction.

- We discovered that an old kitchen worktable from my grandparents' house was all the way in the back of the shed - it must have been in there for 25 years. I open the drawer to the table and discover several old sheets of aluminum foil. They must have been conserving them to use again later.

Day is done, blush and bashful and little gift

- Leaving a book signing and seeing this vision of the sky and setting sun over the city of Decatur, Georgia.

- Reading dooce's blog yesterday in which she had a guest blogger, her friend Sarah, and laughing out loud at the title of it: Blush and bashful. It's all about her impending nuptials, but it made me think of how my sisters and I love the movie "Steel Magnolias" (we get a kick out of the fake southern accents.) :) That line in the movie was spoken by Shelby who announced her wedding colors are "blush and bashful" and her mother piped up and said, "her colors are pink and pink." Anyway - I digress - the post is a hoot.

- Having a chat with the volunteer coordinator at my favorite non-profit, the Georgia Radio Reading Service (for the blind and print-disabled.) I record the New York Times Book Review that airs on Sunday evenings. She asks if I am OK with sticking with that program and I tell her how opening the book review every week to choose the reviews I will read always feels like a little gift. And hopefully the listeners feel that way, too.

Another gift: the weekend! I hope you have a great one!

Decisions, flexibility and step in time

- The food is easy - same specials every day - and whatever current sporting event is going on is featured. Mr C's devoted clientele must have a good support system inside.

- The flexibility of my cat Sophie while a bit of remodeling is going on in the kitchen during the day. Her food and water had to be re-routed to other rooms. She seems particularly pleased to discover her water bowl in the bathroom and keeps going back to visit it, as if water is especially more of a treat when it is somewhere else.

- Mulling over the wording for tomorrow's post brings up the phrase, "over the rooftops" and instantly recalls the memory of the chimney sweep song and dance sequence in the film version of "Mary Poppins." And happily singing "Step in Time" to myself on the way to work. I especially like it when the sweeps dance like The Rockettes. :)

Pozole Blanco, feather and Hitchcock

- A lovely soul-warming Pozole Blanco soup at The Bone Garden Cantina. Chicken and hominy, topped with onion, jalapeño, oregano and fresh avocado. Yum. The "Easy Rider" sculpture graces the bar area and is in keeping with the whole day of the dead theme.

- A nice wait-person has a beautifully done tattoo that features a colorful peacock feather that goes from inside wrist to elbow.

- Smiling at the suggestions on my Netflix queue - often leading back to movies from the 1940s. Today it is pushing Alfred Hitchcock films and one of my favorites "Notorious."

Leg lamp, hat required and nurture

- This leg lamp spotted in an antiques shop in Thomasville, Georgia, reminding me of the lamp in one of my favorite movies ever, "A Christmas Story."

- A casual invitation from a client to join an Atlanta womens' club. "I don't know," I ask her, "would I have to wear a hat?" She says that indeed they do have one event during the year in which hats are required.

- Arriving to moderate a meeting, a friend and committee member who knows I don't feel well brings me some vegetable soup. It's for lunch today.