Pleasant surprise: several inches of pre-Christmas snow. Good, cake-frosting sort of snow, albeit heavy. Hopefully, enough to adorn our Yuletide festivities.
Dec. 21
Recent musical acquisition: "O Lucky Man (soundtrack)," by Alan Price. Film soundtracks like they _used_ to be. Not overwhelming, just eminently suited to the film. Good, basic, straight-ahead pop-rock.
Dec. 19
Viewing: "Mighty Aphrodite" -- rather muted at the beginning, especially for Woody Allen, until Mira Sorvino saves it (her voice reminded me of Frank Burns imitating Fr. Mulcahy). Only troubling aspect is reappearance of Allen's patronizing attitude toward the Great Unwashed. Nice touch: during Allen and Sorvino's talk in restaurant, the autographed photo just above him appears to be Helena Bonham Carter's.
Dec. 17
Family reading of A Christmas Carol, specifically during the visit of Spirit of Christmas Past, and Scrooge is shown the day his fiance "releases" him from their betrothal. OD interrupts to ask, "So, she's dumping him, right?"
Dec. 16
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's visit to campus necessitates presence of Secret Service, who bring in bomb-sniffing dog to scope out event area. Naturally, this arouses curiosity about pooch's training, lifestyle, etc. Am informed later on that dogs are assigned to live, as well as work, with designated agents. The latent TV producer in me is fascinated.
Dec. 13-14
Taking a deep breath, we plunge into the holiday maelstrom (i.e., shopping and tree decoration) and emerge victorious. Well, for now, anyway. Meanwhile, we move one more step from childhood innocence: OD posits that last year's surreptious and last-second stocking hangings were notthe work of Santa at all. We project nonchalance at this hypothesizing. Well, for now, anyway.
Dec. 12
Spam from area "student" who runs a "tickling videos" distribution business and is looking for appropriate (i.e. "YOUNG, HOT, TICKLISH") gentlemen to produce their own. Thankfully, it contains this proviso: "This is not a TICKLING SERVICES AVAILABLE POSTING. I have a boyfriend, full cadre of friends, and plenty of guys to tickle already. I AM NOT LOOKING TO MEET OR TICKLE ANY GUYS ENCOUNTERED FROM CYBERSPACE!" Now we know who was responsible for last year's "Tickle Me Elmo" shortage.
Dec. 11
Oldest daughter, hearing that boss took office staff out for holiday luncheon today, asks "So what's the catch?" Prompted to elaborate, she says "There's always a catch to that kind of thing. Better be prepared for lower pay or a pink slip."
Dec. 10
Viewing: "It Happened One Night" -- finally, uninterrupted, start-to-finish viewing. This idea has been recycled so many times over, and with far less successful results; here, there is restraint, good writing and good acting (Clark Gable must have had a genetic predisposition to play rascals). Most underrated parts: the mid-stream discussion on piggyback rides; and the "Daring Young Man" bus sequence.
Dec. 8
Reply received via e-mail, apparently to recent USENET post: "Too much talk, too many words, not enough sex." Shucks, folks, I'm speechless.
Dec. 6
Recent musical listenings/acquisitions:
*Black 47 "Home of the Brave": an Irish-American Oysterband? Only a heckuva lot more diverse, musically -- punk, reggae, rap, et al; interesting duet between Uillean pipes and brass on one track.
*Mance Grady: objectivity impossible, of course, since he's an honorary Dark Eyed Sheep alumnus. Love those harmonica-bodhran duets, though.
*"The Indestructible Beat of Soweto": unfortunately, the cassette copy I got contained no notes about the songs or performers, so I'll be enjoying them in bliss but also ignorance. Great fiddle piece at end of Side 1.
Dec. 4
Ad spotted in Times gives pause. A handsomely designed clock intended for business establishments contains a hidden camera to catch employees in potentially compromising activities (or no activities at all, perhaps).
Dec. 3
Viewing: "Drugstore Cowboy" -- unexpectedly satisfying, not the least because of Matt Dillon's combination of guile, glibness, intelligence, naivete and cynicism; great uses of Max Perlich and William Burroughs.
Thanksgiving Weekend:
Dinner and conversation with dear old friends, considerable leftovers, walkies and play with neighbor's dog, family viewing of "Miracle On 34th Street" (gad, Natalie Wood was a p***er, wadint she?), as well as "Bean" -- TV a much better format for it, but generally a success, and a howl; most unexpected good bit -- Atkinson and Peter MacNicol rendition of "Yesterday."
Forthcoming acts of desperation in the film world: Eddie Murphy as Dr. Doolitte? "Blues Brothers 2000"?; new, presumably higher-tech version of "Godzilla" (with memorable teaser "Size Does Matter")?
Opportunity, also, to peruse recent musical acquisitions, including Luka Bloom's "Riverside" -- anyone who sings with that much conviction can rarely make a bad album.
Nov. 25
Book completed: "Think On Death," by David Willis McCullough -- other than the Hudson Valley settings, I couldn't drum up a lot of enthusiasm for the story, somehow.
Nov. 23
Excursion with kids to favorite used album store in Kenmore Square. Gulp. Spice Girls have already thoroughly infiltrated household. Gulp. But they did also elect to purchase new Chumbawumba album, which provide counterbalance.
Nov. 21
Day of Indolence. Part of it spent watching:
*"The Van" -- not as straightforwardly comic as "The Snapper," but lovingly and meaningfully rendered; bless Colm Meany and all his bollickness. And great Eric Clapton soundtrack.
*"The Craft" -- well, it didn't take a lot to guess what was going to happen next as the story moved along; you _know_ Fariuza Balk is going to be the Ulitmate Evil. Still, interesting demonstrations of what one can do to liven up those school uniforms.
Nov. 20
Unsolicited spam-mail of the week: Offer of property for sale in Bangladesh. Wonder if George Harrison has anything to do with this...
Nov. 15-16
Birthday weekend no. 2: In which older daughter selects wardrobe for parents prior to arrival of guests, shoos them into seclusion, then later invites them to participate in round of "Life," which idea is abandoned in favor of impromptu, kids-sized version of "Riverdance." Included, parents-only viewing of "That Thing You Do" -- Tom Hanks studiously avoided some potential pitfalls in this, and the damn thing is so good-spirited it's hard not to like it at least a little. The first-airplay-on-the-radio scene in the appliance store is terrific.
Nov. 13
In international news:
*British study suggested that background music in store appeared to influence shoppers' selection of wine--French accordion music turned them to the pride of Bordeaux, for example, while German oompah-pah had others reaching for the Rhine. So, the obvious question is, would morris dance music have folks rushing for the pub?
*Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs apparently is set to live out his days in Brazil, after they refused to extradite him to Britain. Perhaps a reunion tour with the Sex Pistols is in order.
Nov. 10
Left-over correspondence: Unsolicited general plea for advice from unfortunate journalism student in Spain who, according to barely comprehensible e-mail, tried to interview prominent academic using hidden microphone but "confused him with someone else, didn't know what to ask, made only stupid remarks and, if this wasn't enough, took him his car-seat."
Nov. 8-9
*Birthday weekend no. 1: In which one parent must furiously clean house and keep birthday girl from bouncing off wall, while other escorts older daughter to morris dance gig in Connecticut 2 1/2 hours away, then back in time to shuttle her off to sleepover and to assist spouse in supervision of birthday girl and four lively guests. Included, a parents-only viewing of "Mars Attacks!" -- a little more graphic than it needed to be in spots, but good, goofy fun. Wonder how many times Jack Nicholson needed to stop during filming to keep from laughing out loud.
*Also, first exposure of offspring to Monty Python ("The Holy Grail") an unqualified success. Favorite bits include Knights of Nee, the Swamp Castle scene, the self-abusive monks and the "Camelot Chorus." Had interesting time explaining Galahad's dilemma at Castle Anthrax, however.
Nov. 6
Dear, oh dear...colleague notes that some of her students writing about John Hume referred to him as a "New Hampshire native" -- obviously because his hometown is Londonderry.
Nov. 2
Excursion with OD and classmate points up proliferation of "tech-speak" in kids' everday conversation: saying "pause" as a prelude to interrupting someone; and, if you wish to stop someone from discussing computers, you say "Virus!"
Nov. 1
Viewing: "The Spitfire Grill" -- some familiar motifs (strength through sisterhood; mysterious, alienated prodigal son) built satisfyingly around theme of redemption; Alison Elliot suggests a raven-haired, slightly edgier Jodie Foster.
Oct. 31
A mild Halloween brings in bumper crop of confectionaries. Strictly enforced regimen of dental care is indicated.
