What I Did For Love

14 Feb

As is well-documented on this site, my theory on Valentine’s Day — especially if you’re like me and don’t have anyone to spend the day with — is to be good to yourself and spend the day doing things you love. So despite the storm (which sounds worse as it hits the skylights in my office than it actually is outside), I made the hike over to Sam Lagrassa’s for lunch today. And damn if it wasn’t worth it. As always, my roast beef was freshly sliced and warm, the Italian roll was doughy and good, and the mayonnaise, lettuce, and cucumber provided the perfect accompaniments. Suffice it to say, it was yet another excellent sandwich from Sam’s. And thanks to one of my coworkers, who ordered holiday cupcakes for the office, I also had a tasty dessert.

So, storm be damned, I am in love — with myself. I hope you all have Valentines who go that extra mile to make you happy today too.

The St. Valentine’s Day Mess

14 Feb

I don’t know what’s lamer: that there’s a big storm on Valentine’s Day, or that all the snow we have waited all winter for and that was only on the ground for, like, an hour is already getting washed away by all this stupid rain. Are we ever going to get a real snowstorm this year?? You know, one with accumulation that stays on the ground for at least a day? I’d say at this point we’ve earned it.

Love Is All Around

14 Feb

In honor of Valentine’s Day, just thought I’d compile a short list of some of the things I love today:
* the Oreo cookies at the Paradise Bakery in the Pru
* Eddie Murphy’s Delirious — especially the “Ice Cream Man” bit
* getting a seat on the T in the morning
* Lost and Grey’s Anatomy
* waking up with Ann Curry
* the cake at Shaw’s
* my new computer
* Business 2.0‘s “101 Dumbest Moments in Business“
* quarter-zip sweaters
* Countdown with Keith Olbermann
* hot chocolate on a cold day
* a roast beef sandwich on an Italian roll from Sam Lagrassa’s
* Barats and Bereta
* snow!
* baseball is back!
* you (yes, you)

It’s a Miracle

12 Feb

Two of my friends are due to give birth this week. One of them is having twins. Which means that by week’s end, there will be three more little babies in the world. Life’s amazing, ain’t it?

Good, In Any Language

11 Feb

As I’ve previously said, when I see movies after the Oscar nominations have been announced, I’m skeptical that the movie is that good.

So I’m happy to say that yes, Babel is a very good movie.

Is it one of the year’s best? Sure, I’d say it’s worthy of the nomination. But I’m not going to adjust my top 10 to include it. I wonder if I’d have liked it as much if I saw the movie when it was first released in October. Continue reading →

Look Out for That Bus!

8 Feb

So after last night’s episode of Lost, it’s official: a character getting hit by a bus is my favorite plot twist on a TV show. You don’t see it all that often, but when it happens, BLAMMO! — it’s an effective shock that makes the episode even better. I remember the first time I saw the Felicity episode where Todd Mulcahy was hit by the bus. It was so random and unexpected that I laughed as I jumped out of my seat. And last night, when Juliet’s ex-hubby got hit, I had the same reaction, minus the laugh. It was shocking and exciting and unexpected. There are so many clichés of TV shows, but characters getting hit by a bus just hasn’t gotten old yet, and I hope it never does.

Poor Little Rich Girl

8 Feb

Andy Warhol is famous for, among other things, saying, “In the future, everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.” And in the new movie Factory Girl, we see how Andy took one woman — Edie Sedgwick — gave her those 15 minutes, and then threw her away. Sedgwick (played in the film by Sienna Miller, Jude Law’s former squeeze) was an aspiring artist from a wealthy family, who became Warhol’s muse and a central figure in his “Factory” in the 1960s. She was transformed by Warhol — and not just physically — and the film takes us on the whirlwind ride from bottom to top and back down again. And it feels like a whirlwind because the film is only an hour and a half long — which, mind you, is not something I’m complaining about, but it definitely feels a little too short because there clearly has been a bit of editing here, and it feels like certain details are missing. Miller is good, but I didn’t get the bigger-than-life sense about Sedgwick or Warhol (played by Guy Pearce, from Memento). I mean, she was swept up into this world, and really, it didn’t seem all that cool or exciting to me. It’s interesting to think of how different the movie would have been had Katie Holmes been cast as Sedgwick (not better, I think). All told, I’m giving Factory Girl a B–.

Taking My Time

7 Feb

In every issue, Esquire runs a few quick endorsements.

So allow me to run one of my own: the random day off.

I’ve become a big fan of taking nothing-special-to-do, just-a-day-off days off as a chance to just hang out, relax, and catch up on my life. I took a couple in December when I was trying to burn them off (at my company, if you don’t use your days off, you lose them), and I took one today too.

The benefits of these kinds of days off are plentiful: You can sleep in. You can watch morning TV shows, such as Regis & Kelly, or Ellen, or old Dawson’s Creek reruns (oh, and today’s was a classic from back when Brittany Daniel was on). You can run errands at stores like Shaw’s or Target, go to the movies (more on that later), or walk down Newbury Street, and all of it is practically empty.

Similarly, you can actually do your laundry because no one else is competing for the machines. I also enjoy treating myself to a nice-er lunch, or rewarding myself simply because I’m not at work.

I’ll likely take another day in a month or two so I can go to the doctor for a physical.

I think we all tend to save our vacation days for actual vacations (I know I generally do), but I highly recommend taking random days off like this when you have the chance.

She Has My Vote

7 Feb

In the absence of anything better to write about … Just thought I’d tell y’all that I’ve already picked my favorite American Idol contestant: Haley Scarnato, who was on the show last night. Clearly, she impressed the judges — especially Randy, who was totally, obviously flirting with her. Simon thought she wasn’t unique, but given the crap that’s been on so far, the fact that she’s this good makes her unique. I think the foundation is there for her to make a strong run during the competition, and it’s not just because she’s really cute. So take a look and join me in the campaign to make Haley Scarnato our next American Idol!

I’m Not Lovin’ It

3 Feb

What is happening to Coolidge Corner? I mean, I’m no fan of Mickey D’s, but the news in today’s Boston Globe that the McDonald’s in Coolidge Corner is closing is something of a shock. (I guess I missed the story when it was in the Brookline Tab a couple weeks ago.) Apparently, the real estate that it (and the florist next door) occupied will become a Citibank location (sigh — another bank taking up residence in Coolidge Corner). Again, I’m not saying I like McDonald’s, but given that the space previously occupied by Zathmary’s that’s been closed and unoccupied for almost a year is still without a tenant, why doesn’t the bank go there? McDonald’s, for all its chaininess and bad foodiness, etc., is another one of those ‘Corner institutions that you just assume will always be there, like J.P. Licks or Zaftig’s. In fact, one of the best memories I have of this Mickey D’s (and this may be the only one) is after seeing Super Size Me at the Coolidge Corner Theater, when I had a sudden, unpredictable hunger for some Chicken McNuggets (no kidding. I thought the movie was supposed to have the opposite effect). The Coolidge Corner McDonald’s was right there across the street to satisfy me. So, whether or not I ate there recently (and I don’t think I have for at least a year or so), I’ll be a little sad to see this Mickey D’s go when it closes later this month.

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