Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Film at 11

I have let two weeks go by without seeing a movie! And, so close to Oscar season. I committed to having a party this year (was on the fence after the poor showing two years ago), but bit the bullet and happily have 9 responses. 8-9 people is really ideal for an apartment my size (for optimal comfort while TV viewing, although that number assumes a couple of people on the floor or standing behind the couch) so it's good to have a cushion for cancellations. (Two years ago I went from 7 to 2 in the space of three days. It was me and a married couple. Embarrassing. But at least it was snowing heavily, so there was an air of adventure about their coming.)

I have also only seen 2 of the 5 "Best Picture" nominees ("Milk" and "Slumdog Millionaire.") I have no desire to see "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (it looks creepy and tedious at the same time) but I might have to. I did plan on seeing "The Reader," so that will not be an issue, but "Frost/Nixon" was always on my if-I-have-to-for-Oscars list. Sigh. At least if I see those three, I'll also hit every acting, screenplay, and directing nominee, since I've seen all the others. I was especially pleased to see Melissa Leo for "Frozen River" and Richard Jenkins for "The Visitor." And Anne Hathaway for "Rachel Getting Married" and Marisa Tomei for "The Wrestler" (I think her performance has been somewhat ignored under all the praise for Mickey Rourke, so good for her. I know she was already vindicated for her "My Cousin Vinny" win with a nomination for "In the Bedroom" a few years back, but it's great to see her still getting kudos for what she does.)

I haven't even posted my top films of last year. Lazy!

Monday, January 19, 2009

3 day wii-kend

I'm not gone. I have been considering it, but at the same time, I've continued to write blog postings in my head throughout the day, so I think there still is a need to have a place to just dump thoughts. Could it just be a diary on my laptop? I suppose, but I still have a fantasy that I am writing for an audience, one who's noticed that I have been gone, one that keeps returning. I don't have that alone, on my laptop.

Facebook has fully infiltrated my age/profession/what have you group. At business conferences, networking events, and social gatherings, I've heard people talk about how their teenage kids are appalled that they are now on it. (My generation is now parents of teenagers. These shifts in relative age go much faster when you're one of those without children yourself, watching from the sidelines.) All agree it's fun to catch up with former high school friends, college friends, etc.

But I think also there's a weirdness to the sudden connection with your past - you accept someone's friend request, and then you can visit his or her facebook page and see pictures, read comments by and conversations with other people (and check out what the other friends are like), and very often read a few status postings on what the person is up to. (Note that the majority of my friends are "cold," "tired," and "enjoy" weekends.) There is usually an exchange of short messages - what have you been up to since college? and then we retreat back into our boxes. Yet now we are connected, and if I want to, I can observe them casually from now on.

I'm not sure what I expected. It's not like I'm going to suddenly become best friends with these people, right? Yet I guess I thought we'd have more of an email dialogue or conversation before simply watching each others' lives unfold. But maybe it really is just like running into someone at a reunion - you only get x number of minutes for polite, high-level chitcat, and then you're pulled away into another conversation.

I don't regret being part of it, and I will continue to explore to see who else I can find out there, but my expectations have - okay not lowered, but at least shifted.

The big news this week is that I finally found a Wii in stock and purchased it. I am now, 100% hopelessly addicted. I have long known I have an addictive personality when it comes to video games - my old Nintendo NES, varied computer games, the Sims, etc. I even became fully addicted to word games on Facebook (Scrabble and the Boggle-like knockoffs, Tetris) before this.

I don't have too many games yet for the Wii (my "Guitar Hero" is winding its way on a UPS truck as we speak), but the first one I bought was "Sims Castaway." Yes, I know my sweet spot! I set up the system at 8:30 on Friday night and at 2:30 am, was still playing. Went to bed and woke at 8:30, turned it on again at 9:00, and had to pull myself off playing at 3:30 pm.

Note that: it's a three day weekend, and bitter cold outside. So I have excuses.

I played a little less yesterday, and it's now Monday, and I fully intend to get out of the apartment to see a movie and do some grocery shopping. On the other hand, I did some research online this morning, and now know how to plant crops in Sims Castaway, and maybe I'll just try it out before I jump in the shower...

Monday, January 05, 2009

Starting on Monday

When I started this, I found a couple of others who were starting their blogs at about the same time, people of similar age although living different lives than me. Now, I am the only one who remains, the others having pretty much said "farewell." It causes me to wonder why I am still here, and to wonder if for me, too, it's time to sign off. Maybe.

Today is back-to-work day after a two week break, one shared by much of the population I am part of, judging by the behavior of neighborhood shoppers last night and the number of "oh, god, my vacation is over" updates on facebook this morning. I am insane to admit I am ready to go back, that I almost miss the routine of work. I didn't just sit around for two weeks, but in the last several days I pretty much did, and it started to feel a little like the end of my unemployed days - loose ends, inability to focus, general feeling of boredom.

Don't worry, I'm sure by lunch time I'll be stressed and ready to come home again.
ring logo
Writing Desk Webring

Join | List | Random
Previous | Next
Powered by RingSurf
Locations of visitors to this page