I can write for hours about how my family is doing, about how my sister’s roof damage and my brother’s work in Houston and my grandparents feeling lonely in Alabama and wanting to at least go to Baton Rouge for awhile … and so on, and so on. I can recount any number of silly conversations with them.
What’s difficult for me to write about is how I have felt about the recent disaster and how I dealt with it … or didn’t. I can tell you this: however bad you think it might be, if you haven’t ever experienced your hometown being devastated and nearly destroyed, it’s gonna be a whole lot worse. I had imagined the possibility, because every year someone would predict terrible things happening to New Orleans if a hurricane ever hit it outright. But I was never, ever prepared for what actually happened, particularly regarding the survivors left in New Orleans. The Superdome is essentially ruined for me as any kind of event center; it’s a symbol now.
Category: my happy life
it’s not easy having a good time
I was originally going to use the title “I can’t take any more” but my brain followed it up with “My God, I can’t take any more of this. First, you dump me for Eddie. Then you cast him off like an old overcoat for Rocky. You’re like a sponge … you just take, take, take and drain others of their love and emotion. Well, I’ve had enough. You’ve got to choose between me and Rocky, so named for the rocks in his head.” (The next line in the film is the title of this entry.)
At which point I wondered exactly how many times I’d seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show, back in the day. Damn. I can’t remember whether “datalogging” is supposed to be one word when we use it in documentation at the office, but I have total recall of the trivial.
But then I remembered Sena Mall Theater in New Orleans (where Rocky Horror played for many years) and even though it’s a wine cellar now, it still reminded me of what’s going on there right now. Of what’s being predicted for the city in the next 24 hours when Hurricane Katrina comes to town.
not dead yet
Not resting, either, but not dead. In case y’all were wondering.
Remember when I said that the crunch time at my day job would end around August 12? Imagine a hollow laugh at the thought. We’ve got at least two more crazy weeks over here.
Plus, I am still getting used to budgeting time for posting at Cinematical, although that’s turning out to be a lot of fun. Of course I recommend reading the whole site, because I’m only one of a dozen or so bloggers sharing all kinds of news and commentary, but if you wanted to see what I personally have contributed so far, you can look here.
And I’m finishing up some volunteer work that’s taking a lot of time this week, although I expect the bulk of that work to end by Monday.
Meanwhile, I am deciding whether I want to see two movies this weekend that I have been waiting ages and ages (years, in one case) to see: The Aristocrats and The Brothers Grimm. Maybe I should ration them out. I’ve been hearing that the Terry Gilliam movie has been getting some negative reviews, but I suspect that critics’ expectations are high since it’s been seven years since he’s had a movie in theaters. (Lost in La Mancha doesn’t exactly count.) I’m in denial about the possibility of the film’s being a dog.
oh goody, we’re going to talk about me
And the news is good: I am now posting items at Cinematical, a weblog that provides commentary on all aspects of film news, reviews, and issues. So far I’ve posted only a few tidbits of news because I’m still getting started. I didn’t want to jump in with some crazy story about how my brother blames Christopher Walken on his premature hair loss. I have already managed to mention the Alamo, though. Ultimately I think I will be posting daily over there, depending on my schedule.
I’ll still post occasional Austin-related movie info here, as well as entries that are a little too personal for a film industry-focused weblog, movie reviews, and rants. I may even tell stories about the cat, but only if they are of general interest.
By the way, while we’re discussing my new gig, I’m currently looking for more part-time freelance film-related writing work. Or non-film-related writing/editing work, for that matter. If anyone has any resources or advice they can share, please email me and let me know. I’ll be happy to send you the URL to my online portfolio if you’re seriously interested. I’m not looking for tech writing; I do enough of that during the day. But I would like some paid freelance opportunities for movie reviews, articles, or columns.
[Did everyone recognize the movie quote in the title? If not, go rent The Philadelphia Story.]
rerun: the pitch (sixteen times two)
The Web (even the AP wire) is abuzz with the news that Molly Ringwald wants to make a sequel to the 1984 movie Sixteen Candles. She’s ready, she thinks she’s found the ideal script, isn’t it a wonderful idea, blah blah blah. And the crowd goes wild.
So I thought I would republish an entry that I wrote on my 32nd birthday. (Bear in mind that Molly Ringwald and I are around the same age.) I want to point out that I thought of this idea years before the rest of y’all, and this is the proof: from Nov. 2, 2000. Molly, feel free to call.
fraidy cat comes home
You might wonder why it took so long for me to post my Movies This Week entry last week, why I didn’t see The Life Aquatic this weekend when I swore I would, and why I’m taking extra antihistamines without complaint.
I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the household, the shy and retiring but still mischievous Rufus T. Firefly (aka Rufus, You Doofus, aka Mr. Fuzzybutt).
updating from PJ’s, part one
Here I am at PJ’s in Clearview, my internet home away from home, taking a few minutes to write about what I’ve been doing.
The weather outside is not that frightful, people. It is maybe 40 degrees out there, and it was sleeting a bit this morning, but this is New Orleans and you would think we were heading for the blizzard of the century, the way people are carrying on. The older relatives may all be staying home from my parents’ Christmas Eve party tonight because it is too cold for them. And you should have heard the rest of my family fussing last night when we went out to dinner! I am starting to feel like the hearty cold-tolerant one, and if you know me … well, let’s just say that I wear sweaters to work all year and call anything above the Mason-Dixon line the Frozen Yankee Tundra.
restaurant hell: a dining event
On Friday night, my boyfriend Beau went to a holiday dinner party for the company where he currently works. I am a nice girlfriend, because I agreed to go to a restaurant that I have actively avoided since it opened in this town: Buca di Beppo.
When Buca di Beppo first appeared in Austin, I knew nothing about it except that the signs outside seemed a bit garish. Well, so are the signs at Chuy’s and I love to eat there. After some friends ate at the new restaurant, I found out the scoop.
Buca di Beppo is a national chain. The restaurant serves only “family-style” meals—most portions are meant to serve 4-6 people.
In other words, single diners are not welcome there.
dig those crazy clementines
I think there is a conspiracy to take over the world, in the manner of Pinky and the Brain or any James Bond villain, and it involves clementines.
That’s right, clementines. The seemingly harmless tiny oranges that are suddenly taking over all the grocery stores, at least in my neighborhood.
They look so tempting. Cute little oranges that are so easy to peel! Who could resist? But you can’t buy them individually, you have to buy a ton of them in a miniature five-pound crate or box that costs from $5 to $7.
big sleazy labor quickie
Here we are in the PJ’s again. I mean the coffee shop, not my pajamas. I have to say this is a very nice PJ’s and I like it very much except I wish they’d turn the music down. That makes me sound like an old fart, but the music is not exactly to my personal taste and it gets intrusive. I could live the rest of my life without having to hear “Careless Whisper” again, thank you.
I guess we could go sit outside in front, but then we have to deal with smokers in close proximity. I would rather have the music.