American Studies

Confession. I only checked this book out because a friend asked if I was on the cover. I am pretty sure it is not me, as I would never be caught dead wearing those harem pants. But I am really enjoying the essays. It is filled with real nail-biters like, "t.s. Eliot and the Jews" and "the mind of al gore" but the essays are written with such clarity and precision, marked with great humor and an intellectual curiosity not muddled with academic pomposity. I usually find most cultural essayists onerous bores, but I get the sense that Menand would be a great dinner guest. Plus it makes me feel smug to read it on the subway. I keep my "hunger games trilogy" safely hidden on the kindle.
And the end.

A mother's prayer for it's Daughter

I just love this so much.

The Trip

If someone can get the DVD of this BBC show, please let me know. I've been watching the clips on you tube, and it is amazing. I am totally in love with Steve Coogan, and have been for years, but am also now in love with Rob Brydon. I can't figure out how to add a clip of this show on the iPad, but if someone can tell me how, i will be deeply indebted. If you liked Tristram Shandy, then you will adore this.
genius.

Wien

I love this town, even when it is frigid cold and pitch dark by 4pm. Arriving here on Monday was like returning to one's college campus years after graduation. The elegant stately buildings are still here. The sounds are the same. The faces vaguely familiar. But like any lost time, it holds something sad in its return. Memory is a tricky mistress. I love the memories, but not sure I want to reconnect on Facebook. I'm using an iPad so I'm not yet sure how to add photos.

love/hate

how is it possible to love a television show so much, yet totally hate it?
i'm getting worried that david simon's polemic is getting stronger than his story telling. that makes me sad. his storytelling would have been amazing had he given himself the room. but i am way ahead of this plot line, and i'm just waiting to be surprised. i'm no naysayer but, david simon, you can do better.

Lit

this book is gutting me. in a good way.

Obama kills AGAIN! @ White House Correspondents Dinner

just watch the prez. leno is terrifying.

cracker

wow. i forgot about this album. it rocks. i've been trying to remember the name of this band/album for weeks. i lost the cd in a totally amicable break-up in the 90's and i don't think i've heard it again since today. so nice to hear again...i recommend it.

new favorite actor

his spot-on performance in the oh, so over wrought inglorious blah blah blah aside, his performance in Hunger is genius. it's also a really great film. i love movies that take about 40 minutes for real dialogue to happen, and i love that the first real dialogue is a one camera shot that lasts for 20 minutes (between bobby sands and his priest). this is a tough film to watch, but so worth it for the performances. i am now in search of the michael fassbender catalogue.

rabbit angstrom is a prick.

so is holden caulfield. i know it's sacrilege, but it's true. i'm so over the "salinger mystique." i re-read catcher after his death, like thousands of us did, while in the midst of reading rabbit, run. yet a book that i REALLY love, franny and zooey, is hardly ever mentioned. it is by far, salinger's best work; intimate, intense and dreadfully uncomfortable. i suppose the same could be said for updike's series. but like salinger, i prefer updike's short stories and incredibly sentient literary criticisms and his beautiful essays (Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu is awesome! and i hate the red sox.)
don't get me wrong. i'm a huge fan of the anti-hero. i love richard yates, cheever, walker percy, and even richard ford. but all of these books are filled with characters, events, and literary detail that deserve thoughtful inquiry.
maybe it is my gender (and age) but i'm over the man-child.

i can only hope

this dog is named rupert pupkin.


image from petswhowanttokillthemselves.

"In The Loop"

Just a sampling of the genius behind this movie:

Simon Foster: Tobes, I don't want to have to read you the riot act but I am going to have to read you some extracts from the riot act, like section one, paragraph one: don't leave your boss twisting in the wind and then burst in late, smelling like a pissed seaside donkey.

Toby Wright: Look, alright, I was late for the meeting, Simon, I am sorry, but it's not like I threw up in there, is it?

Simon Foster: No, you're right, I'm being unfair. I should be thanking you for not throwing up. Well done, you're a star. You didn't wet yourself, did you? You're in the right city. You didn't say anything overtly racist. You didn't pull your cock out and start plucking it and shouting "Willy Banjo". No, I'm being really unfair. You'd got so much right, without actually being there in the beginning of one of the most important moments of my career. Thanks, you're a legend.

stuffed portobello mushrooms

i'm no vegetarian. i've tried. but i've become inspired by my friend, livininthegspot and i'm trying to limit my meats intake. here is one of my favorites, cause it feels like you're eating the meats, but you're not! it's super easy, and you can use whatever veggies you may have in the fridge. the most important and delicious part is the cheese. that is something i will NEVER be able to give up.

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms


2 Portobello mushrooms
1 T olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 of an onion, chopped
1/2 of red pepper, yellow pepper chopped
1/2 yellow squash, chopped
2 small tomatoes, seeded and chopped (or half can of drained, diced tomatoes)
1 bunch of fresh spinach, cleaned and trimmed
1/2 tsp each, basil, oregano
pinch of crushed red pepper
kosher salt, pepper to taste
1/4ish cup grated good parmesan
several slices fresh mozzerella cheese
fresh basil (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. (i used the toaster oven) Remove the stem and gills from the mushroom.
2. Brush the mushrooms with a little oil and put on a foiled cookie sheet.
3. Heat olive oil in a small saute pan. Add the onions and peppers. Cook until tender. Add in garlic, then squash. Cook until tender.
4. Add in tomatoes and spinach. Add seasonings to taste. Cook until spinach wilted and "cooked."
5. Divide the filling and stuff the mushrooms.
6. Sprinkle grated parmesan on top. Cook for about 10/15 minutes or until cheese begins to melt.
7. Add slices of fresh mozzarella on top and set to broil. When the mozzerella begins to bubble and brown, take out and sprinkle with fresh basil.
8. Serve it up over a few spinach greens, they start to wilt while eating. Delicious.

three fingers

i totally just got, after watching a frank sinatra movie, what a "three finger" drink means. before, i could never understand that drink order. why would someone want a bartender to put three fingers in their drink? wouldn't that pour be over the glass and be unsanitary? and wouldn't it depend on the length of said bartender's fingers?
i'm stupid. and the end.

(not yet) vanishing new york

a great audio/slide show of my neighborhood cheese store and the proprietress.

stoner

a highly over-looked book. sent to me by my friend e. because she felt so strongly about the book. this was my original response to her after reading about 80 pages:
"is this book going to be relentlessly depressing? it's beautiful, but so
far he has a failed family life, what seems to be a future failed academic
life and a failed marriage. tell me there is some light in this."
her response:
" no. there is no light. but i think it's his relentless HONESTY and
stoicism that saves the book from being depressing somehow. it's a near
PERFECT book somehow...."

it took another 20 pages to realize she was right.
the first paragraph gives us the summary of his academic life and his legacy. then you roll back the layers of his real life. they are both tragic and hopeful. it makes you think of every obituary ever written. what is a good life? what is an honest life? what are we willing to give up? and what are we not willing to give up?

read it. and the end.

beginnings and endings

my friend erica told me that she did an exercise where she wrote down everything of note that she did last year. she found it really productive. i think this is a great exercise. she also mentioned that she got really resentful while doing it, which i totally understand. but by the end, it was really helpful. i'm going to start working on my list. i'd be interested in knowing yours...

operation santa

this year the post office made it way more difficult. i completely understand their reasoning. last year i had the name and address of my gift recipient, and i google earthed it. crazy, i know, but i wanted to know where my boxes were going. during that time, the postal service suspended their policy, shut down the operation for a few days and changed their strategy. now i can't go to the neighborhood post office (which i wouldn't do anyway, i go to greenpoint) but must head to midtown to mail gifts with a "process number" and the post office sends to the recipient. this year i took a letter from a mom with wishes for her kids. thankfully eben and his office friends are helping out.
however, i must mention the first letter i read. she wanted a 40gb ipod, not white, but black. she made drawings and specifications: not itouch, not ipod, not mini. this girl was on a mission. needless to say, i passed her 2006ish wish...
here is the letter i chose in its entirety, and once again it breaks my heart (verbatim, including spelling, except i don't know how to put circles over i's):

"Dear Santa
I am writing this lettr in hope that you can bring some happines to our home.

I am Mother of 2 children.

Cruz is 8 yrs. old, he is a size 9 in clothes in shoes he is is a (size 3) he wants the following board games Sorry, Monopoly city, wheel of fortune and rotating globe light. toys pokeman pokedex, uno, hot wheels playset helicopter. Backpack of Mario, books Diary of a wimpy kid.

Evelyn: is 6 yrs old she is a size 7 in clothes. in shoes she is a (size 13) wants the toys, Barbie princess castle, cinderella Doll of Hannah Montanta, Hello Kitty she wants the board game of let's go fishin. Book: of Hello Kitty. Back pack of violin.

I am extremely greatful your cooperation in helping us have gread christmas.

Thank you for taking your time to read this."

i'm hoping we get everything on this list. if not, i will be crushed. but i've already purchased stuff for the mom. cause everyone needs a christmas now and then.

WTF?

although it gets kind of great towards the end.

the wire.

10 minutes of goodness: