My life is brilliant!

This post is dedicated to Amy Hurdcakes because we finally spoke this weekend!! Sometimes we like to sing a little James Blunt when we're on the phone with each other. Amy, you're BEA-U-ti-FUL!  I can't wait to come visit you in New Orleans, but I will miss the P-burgh and all our misadventures there.  

Weekend was pretty chill. Hung out with Les, Sonny and Maberly on Friday. We went to dinner at a new sushi place, Sapporo. First bad sign: no Sapporo in sight! How can a restaurant be named after a beer and not serve any? It's just not right. Second bad sign: the sushi does not stick together and I look like a sushi novice with rice all over myself. Third bad sign: some of the sashimi did not look so fresh. I will not be going there ever again.  

Next up: In Bruges. SO funny! Colin Farrell needs to do more movies like this. Good ones, I mean. It's so un-PC it's hilarious. Two words: racist midgets. Go see it.  

Saturday was full of laundry and watching a Jackass marathon with Nolan. Sunday I hung out with the fam and watched the Oscars. My predictions were a little off, but I did win the pool at my house in case anyone is keeping score. I must say that No Country for Old Men is a fine, fine film and deserves the accolades. The Oscars seemed really, really long this year though. One redeeming thing: they showed Steven Spielberg a lot.  I made the mistake of telling everyone I thought he was hot.  I was mocked mercilessly for the rest of the evening. I'm not taking it back, he IS hot!!




My sister Heather and her family are in town and we had a big dinner tonight. It was so nice to see everyone!  

Sarah, Chaya and Heather (notice the irony of Chaya's shirt)


Travis and Kirsten


I tried to fix my mom's hair...


Heather and Terry


Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Ralph


Nolan and Paige


Me and Heather

Good news!

I just found out that my sister Aimee is coming to town in April! Of course she will be bringing along Macklin and Braden, as well as her boyfriend Jack. I get to do one of my favorite things: play tourguide! I can't wait to see them all, it's been way too long.

Aimee and Mack

Aimee and Jack

Braden and Jack

Oscar Fever

So the Oscars are coming up on Sunday. I decided I better throw some predictions out there for this year. I have a love/hate relationship with the Oscars. I always get so excited when the nominations come out, but they piss me off at the same time. Like when Titanic won over LA Confidential. Or when 2 of the best docs from last year weren't even nominated (In the Shadow of the Moon and The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters).  

I didn't get to see ANY of the foreign films this year and that makes me sad. I didn't even vote on one of my favorite categories, documentary, because I only saw two: Sicko and No End in Sight. Both very, very good. Other than that, I pretty much saw the rest. So here are my votes, even though they won't count on Sunday! My picks are highlighted in PURPLE because it's my favorite color.  

Best Picture

Atonement

Juno

Michael Clayton

No Country For Old Men

There Will Be Blood

I would also be okay with NCFOM winning too...but I'm really pulling for TWBB!

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"

Julie Christy "Away From Her"

Marion Cotillard "La Vie en Rose"

Laura Linney "The Savages"

Ellen page "Juno"

Admittedly, I haven't seen The Savages or La Vie en Rose. But Julie Christy is amazing in Away From Her.   

Best Actor

George Clooney "Michael Clayton"

Daniel Day-Lewis "There Will Be Blood"

Johnny Depp "Sweeney Todd"

Tommy Lee Jones "In the Valley of Elah"

Viggo Mortensen "Eastern Promises"

There is absolutely no question here; Daniel Day-Lewis delivered the best performance. I did, however, enjoy the flopping weiner scene in Eastern Promises. All of these actors gave fine perfomances, but DDL is the the clear choice for me.

Best Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett "I'm Not There"

Ruby Dee "American Gangster"

Saoirse Ronan "Atonement"

Amy Ryan "Gone Baby Gone"

Tilda Swinton "Michael Clayton"

If you haven't seen I'm Not There, go see it now! I would also be okay with Amy Ryan winning for her gritty, foul mouthed mom in Gone Baby Gone.

Best Supporting Actor

Casey Affleck "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

Javier Bardem "No Country For Old Men"

Hal Holbrook "Into the Wild"

Philip Seymour Hoffman "Charlie Wilson's War"

Tom Wilkinson "Michael Clayton"

This was a hard category for me; all great perfomances. My boyfriend PSH was awesome as usual and he got to wear some pretty cool glasses. But in the end, Javier Bardem's character scared the crap out of me and I thought about that movie for days.

Best Director

Julian Schnabel "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

Jason Reitman "Juno"

Tony Gilroy "Michael Clayton"

Joel and Ethan Coen "No Country For Old Men"

Paul Thomas Anderson "There Will Be Blood"

Gotta give it up for the Coen brothers! That's all I have to say about that.

Cinematography

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Atonement

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

No Country For Old Men

There Will Be Blood

I don't feel strongly about this category, but the way parts of this film were shown literally from an eye's perspective is pretty cool. And kind of gross.  

Best Song

Falling Slowly "Once"

Happy Working Song "Enchanted"

So Close "Enchanted"

That's How You Know "Enchanted

Raise It Up "August Rush"

I think I listened to this song about a thousand times in July. No lie.  

Best Original Screenplay

Juno

Lars and the Real Girl

Michael Clayton

Ratatouille

The Savages

This was a hard choice for me between Juno and Lars. Had to go with Lars in my gut, but I would be happy if Juno won.  

Seattle Wrap Up

Sadly, my time in Seattle has come to an end. I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I had. It was awesome to see so many friends in one place. Here are the highlights:

Friday

• Eating pumpkin pie at Grumbley's house while watching Sarah attack the mean cat
• Buying the cutest green wallet you've ever seen
• Walking through the streets of Wallingford singing Imogen Heap while inebriated
• Having a reunion with Jed, Derek, Grumbley, Sarah, Kim and Chrissy! Getting to meet Shannon, Emily and Piper.  

Saturday

• Underground Tour!  If you're ever in Seattle you absolutely have to go on this tour.  Lots of fun facts about Seattle and the best graffiti!
  
  
• Eating fresh figs and tomatoes at Pike's Place
• Some of the most delicious Thai food I've ever had. Peanut sauce is a gift from God.  
• Watching Princess Bride half asleep

Sunday

• Bainbridge Island: good bloody mary, good seafood, good company
  
  
• The biggest beer I've ever had...I had to use 2 hands!
  
  
• The biggest sundae I've ever had, although I did share it with 5 other people
  
  

Monday

• Sitting in the sun with my best friends at Gasworks Park for a few hours
• Eating scallop chowder and a crab roll in Post Alley
• Hot, sugary doughnuts from Pike's Place. Doughnuts are also a gift from God.
• Seeing Mt. Rainier while driving on a floating bridge. Spectacular!
• I saw a guy wearing a Utilikilt at the airport!
  
  
  

Sarah, Grumbley, me, Kim, Shannon

Derek, Jed, Chris, me


Hello Angels! Shannon, Sarah, me


Jed is dirty when it comes to scarves.


Grumbley, Kim, Derek, Sarah, me


Eating chowder and crab rolls. Derek, Chris, Jed


Jed and me at Carey Park


Farewell Seattle!  Hopefully I will return to the Emerald City soon...

Seattle Days 2 and 3

Seattle has been awesome so far!  The weather today was beautiful.  The sun was out, Mt. Rainier was visible, but it was still a little chilly.  Here are some pictures for your enjoyment! 

Kim, Grumbley, Sarah


We are quite cliche with our Starbucks in Seattle. Kim, Sar, me


This is my new boyfriend George Glass. He's very handy and therefore needs a Utilikilt.  

Derek and me


Sar



Grumbley and me


Derek, Chris and me


Sarah Squared


We took the ferry to Bainbridge Island and Sarah seemed to think we were in the Arctic. Notice the guy in shorts behind her.  

Kim, me, Sar, Grumbley

If you're going to do something wrong, do it right! This is my LITER of beer. Awesome!



Shannon had to get in on the liter action too.


Derek and I were T-Rex arm fighting. Doesn't Derek look tyranical?



Shannon and Grumbley



Chrissy, Jed and Chris



Tim and Sarah



Sarah and Kim



Sarah is dirrrty.



Tomorrow is my last day here...I'm sad. :(

Seattle Day 1

Just checking in for sec to post some pics!

Kim, me, Grumbley, Sarah

Derek, me, Jed.  It's been over a year since the three of us have been together.  

Me and Sarah: besties!

Sarah

Jess and Jager...like two peas in a pod

Enjoying some beer

Jake, Chrissy and Derek

Jed, me, Chrissy