Tuesday, April 10, 2007

When the Goose is Away

I know that's not the phrase, but it's apt. This weekend while Middlebrow was pursuing his Tallness Studies, I bonded with the wee one. We played Sorry (he wins every time!), read a few chapters of The Incredible Journey, played baseball in the backyard, and let Gus tug us along for a walk.
I watched a girly movie, "The Holiday," which I actually liked for many reasons.
  1. Cameron Diaz: despite myself, I'm starting to actually like her; see "In Her Shoes."
  2. Jude Law: dimples. No explanation needed.
  3. Kate Winslet: already liked her. still like her.
  4. Jack Black: not overly jokey, for once. Great!
  5. Adorable sub-plots: kids, old men.
  6. Amanda (Diaz) makes movie trailers for a living. Sometimes she hears movie trailers for her own life in her head. Complete with the movie trailer voice guy. These were some of my favorite surprising moments. I want someone to make a movie trailer for my life!
  7. Heart: Lately I just want a movie with heart. Some emotion. Down with irony and cynicism! I want my romantic comedies to be romantic and funny with happy endings.

I also managed to drink a little too much red wine (oops!) and stay up late listening to Justin Timberlake and Shakira (and the Dixie Chicks and Cheryl Crow) on my iPod while doing (actually, messing up) Sodoku.

I also discovered I make a terrible single mother because I forgot to do the Easter Bunny shopping and had to have a friend do it for me. Easter was made more fun by my mid-afternoon nap which made me late picking up Middlebrow from the airport. Luckily, in the spirit of Easter, he was forgiving.

Made the basic potatoes-lamb chops-green bean Easter dinner. All in all it was a fun weekend. Did I mention the bottle of pre-made Margaritas? No? Well, those were good too. And the first meeting of my uber-writing group. All good.

Now it's the mad dash/sprint/grading marathon to the finish line.

10 comments:

Counterintuitive said...

I'm not sure that any amount of good movies would make me like Cameron Diaz but I commend your effort to like her.

I also forgot about Easter gifts; silly me, I thought the neighborhood easter egg hunt earlier in the week would be good enough. But no--must have chocolate, candy, and the hiding of eggs.

Anonymous said...

I, too, love Jude Law, despite his nanny-sex ways. Have you seen Junebug perchance? Just saw it and loved it, and I think you would too.

AND I think you'd make a great single mom, Easter gifts or no.

Nik said...

Ah the nights alone with the red wine are sort of dangerous. I wish I had been there for that night! Or the lamb chop night--both sound like so much fun.

Scorpion's Tail said...

sounds very good...the wine, the lamb, the new writing group, the time with son. Doing some of the same here (without the wine) as The Don is out hunting ants.

Turns out the Easter Bunny DOES visit American kids living in Spain. Whew...we were WORRIED!

susansinclair said...

"In a land where writers must toil away as underpaid teachers to support their art, one woman faces the ultimate challenge: Easter shopping."

Dr. Write said...

Ha Ha Ha good one!! I can even hear that guy's voice. (and believe me, it IS a challenge!)

Lisa B. said...

I loved The Holiday. Completely enjoyable. Saw it twice. Good for all the reasons you mentioned. I too forgot about Easter candy for the one remaining child, and managed to get away with it, too. I guess I promised to get him some Starburst jelly beans, and I guess sometime I will, but otherwise, we just went down to my mom's and all was well.

Lisa B. said...

I loved The Holiday. Completely enjoyable. Saw it twice. Good for all the reasons you mentioned. I too forgot about Easter candy for the one remaining child, and managed to get away with it, too. I guess I promised to get him some Starburst jelly beans, and I guess sometime I will, but otherwise, we just went down to my mom's and all was well.

Lisa B. said...

I loved The Holiday. Completely enjoyable. Saw it twice. Good for all the reasons you mentioned. I too forgot about Easter candy for the one remaining child, and managed to get away with it, too. I guess I promised to get him some Starburst jelly beans, and I guess sometime I will, but otherwise, we just went down to my mom's and all was well.

Anonymous said...

The Holiday was not on my radar, but I saw it a few days ago because my friend Amy had rented it. We both had low expectations but made sure that all the men were out of the house so that we could enjoy our dumb little chic flic. Lo and behold, what a find. Some of the plot was far-fetched, but in that gratifying "it's a movie" kind of way. Good acting, especially Eli Wallach...what a stud!

I forgot it was Easter, but my neighbor, Mary Lou, told me how to cook a honey-baked ham. I really am in Texas!