Project Runway Preview and Predictions

The Project Runway photos from Fashion Week are up (scroll down for all three contestants' and two decoys' shows) and there's some tough competition. About half-way through the season I made a prediction (in a file I saved on my computer) that Romy, Jillian, and Christian would be our final three. Can I see what the producers want me to see or what?

But now I'm really conflicted. I love Chris and I want him to be in the top three, but Romy's show is really nice. I'm predicting Chris will make it as the real third place contestant, but I think Romy had the second best show. Jillian was third best, and Christian was a shocking mess as far as I can see. That feather thing is horrid. It's really too bad as I loved him second best (after Chris) this season. I'll be happy for any of them to win, though. It's not like I will ever wear any of their clothes anyway or care about them once the show is over...

The Other Boleyn Girl

I saw a trailer for The Other Boleyn Girl at the movies yesterday, and I thought it might be something up Parker's alley. I probably won't see it since I'm over Scarlett, and I never really liked Natalie Portman much. There was also a preview for some sappy movie starring the Little Miss Sunshine girl (she's the go to girl for precocious kiddie, nullifying Dakota Fanning's existence) and Ryan Reynolds who has a face for punching, at least to me. Some ripoff of How I Met Your Mother. He just grinds on my nerves. Yeah, either trailers stink or movies stink.

Miley makes me frowny.

Hey Agent99, what's the deal with this Miley Cyrus chick? I see her everywhere, and I don't know what the hell she does, pretend to be two people on a Disney show? And by everywhere, I mean my gossip blogs, Fandango, and Newsweek. Can she even sing? My contribution is that she looks better as a brunette than as a blonde.

Remember when Billy Ray Cyrus had a hit song? Yeah, I try to block that out too.

Booker It

I've actually started reading for fun again, magazines not counting. Inspired about a recent discussion at work about the Booker Prize (the UK's top fiction award for writers from The Commonwealth meaning no Americans), I've decided to try and read one book from each year of my life that has either won or made the shortlist. Already I'm on my way. It's funny because the book I was reading and put on hiatus and the one I'm knee deep in now are both Booker books. I need to catch up on my Newbery Medals too. Too many books!

Breakfast parties

Rarely have I been to a party where the number of guys seriously outnumbers the number of girls present. Usually it's the other way around. I know the term for the former is "sausage fest" but what's the phrase for the latter? I propose "egg fest" (get it?) but Urban Dictionary came to the rescue. Ugh, the term I found there isn't as clever as mine.

Vote today if you're in a Super Tuesday state! I'm not sure why Edwards and Kucinich are still on the ballot. I didn't get an I Voted! sticker. What's the point in voting if no one knows? Kidding. No matter, I blab enough about voting to everyone I know, sticker or no sticker.

Spell check is messed up. If there are any typos, please excuse.

Eyeing movies

A friend and I were talking about how The Eye starring Jessica Alba has a cool poster, but that's not enough to make us shell out cold hard cash to watch that sucky actress stink up a mediocre Hong Kong flick. Yes, I actually saw the original. There's something about trashing Jessica Talentless Alba that make me feel better in general. If you want intelligent thrills with fine acting, check out Spain's The Orphanage. And why is Will Ferrell in yet another sports-related movie? That's enough dude. Plus it's almost Valentine's Day which means a deluge of lukewarm romantic comedies. I'm over romcoms.

Oh yeah, and I am still confused about who to vote for. I guess I'll sort it out/toss a coin tomorrow.

Go donkeys

Presidential hopefuls have been dropping out of the race like flies, both Democrats and Republicans. With Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards out, who's a Dem girl to vote for? It's kinda helpful to have my options cut for me, but on the flip side, you feel like your choices are made by others already. I joked to my Canadian friend that he could buy my vote if he so desired. Hahahaha. I just want to be excited about someone, ya know? I guess I'll have this figured out by Super Tuesday, or at least I hope so. Or it'll be inny meeny miney moe, or however you spell that.

Advice to guys

The incident I'm about to describe hasn't happened to me, but I felt the need to write about it. How come when you are at a bar/restaurant and a guy approaches you who you aren't into, and you turn down his advances by saying you have a boyfriend, he still persists? Guys, "I have a boyfriend" translates to "Go away!" Learn it, live it, love it.

Oh yeah, if I can smell you before I see you, that's too much cologne. Less is more.

For some non-Heath news...

The Oscar noms came out Tuesday. The leads of Atonement were shut out. No nods for the British Tobey Maguire and scrawny Keira Knightley. Keira, stop your bus ads for Chanel Coco. You don't make me want to buy that. Isn't Cecelia supposed to be kind of plain? Why am I even posting about these things when I've barely seen any movies? I don't understand myself.

Best motion picture of the year
"Atonement"
"Juno"
"Michael Clayton"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Julie Christie in "Away from Her" (Lionsgate)
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Best animated feature film of the year
"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics): Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Brad Bird
"Surf's Up" (Sony Pictures Releasing): Ash Brannon and Chris Buck

Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight), Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Tony Gilroy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Paul Thomas Anderson

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner" (DreamWorks, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions, Distributed by Paramount Classics): Alberto Iglesias
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate) Marco Beltrami

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"Falling Slowly" from "Once" (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush" (Warner Bros.): Nominees to be determined
"So Close" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

Adapted screenplay
"Atonement" (Focus Features), Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
"Away from Her" (Lionsgate), Written by Sarah Polley
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

Original screenplay
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Diablo Cody
"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM), Written by Nancy Oliver
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Written by Tony Gilroy
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Brad Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
"The Savages" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins

3XK's email to me:

"If I am ever unresponsive, please call 911 first and Mary-Kate Olsen second."

(I won't link to the latest news report on Ledger's death, I'm not supporting this gossip-page behavior of CNN anymore.)

R.I.P. Patrick Verona

When I first saw the news blurb on Yahoo about Heath Ledger being found dead, I first thought it was some mix up, some April Fool's joke in January. But it's true apparently. How strange. Only last week had I watched the trailer for The Dark Knight on YouTube and was really excited to see it. I thought Heath made an excellent Joker, at least from what I saw.

Agent99 and I saw 10 Things I Hate About You together and definitely took note of this Aussie's debut in the sharp teen comedy. If I didn't have to go to sleep now, I would pull out my copy of 10 Things... and watch it. "You're just to good to be true, can't take my eyes off of you." What Patrick Verona-related quotations can I recall from memory? I'm too lazy to check IMDb.

"I heard he sold his liver for a new set of speakers."
"Leave it to you to use big words when you're smashed."

I love that movie!

And Heath was good in Brokeback Mountain.

Oh, to see a great big man entirely made of snow

SNOW!!!! We had snow down here in the deep south today! I think there was even more further south, but it was still pretty to see. My stupid neighbor was outside playing basketball in short sleeves...what? It is so pretty, but I'm very glad it is snowing on a Saturday so I don't have to waste a pretty weather day at school!

My first thought when I saw the snow? The song "Snow" from White Christmas. Enjoy!

I can play this meme

Gasperina

Lots of co tells us how to create our own Fake Band Debut CD. Here's one of mine.


I had to play too. Couldn't resist. Melville refers to Melville, New York, not the author. --Inessa

My more experimental project-- Light Tank MK VIII. Our debut album, a collection of electronic elevator music, "the possibility of a miracle"

The Preemie Project - my excuse to get crafty

The charity group I volunteer and craft for is the featured charity on the Lion's Brand site (link above). It's awesome that we're getting some props (especially for the founder who is very cool and not as much of a bleeding heart as you'd think). I'm working on a new design for our crafting contest right now. I'll use that as an excuse for my complete lack of posts.

Take me or leave me

For Agent99: Rent on Broadway is closing on June 1 after being on the Great White Way for over ten years. Not bad. I saw Rent back in the fall, and it was fine (attendance a bit low), but I wish I could have seen it when it first came out and had the original cast. When the time machine has been invented, I'll cross that off my wish list.

Golden spheres

Despite barely seeing any movies or TV shows this past year, I thought I would make some Golden Globe picks anyway. At least there's no boring ceremony to sit through. And I deleted some of the less interesting categories.

Best Motion Picture - Drama
American Gangster
Atonement
Eastern Promises
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country For Old Men--I haven't seen any of these pictures. I have read Atonement, if that counts for anything. I have two friends who saw No Country for Old Men, so I will have to go with that movie.
There Will Be Blood

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Cate Blanchett – Elizabeth: The Golden Age--Haven't seen any of these movies, but I love Cate the best.
Julie Christie – Away From Her
Jodie Foster – The Brave One
Angelina Jolie – A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightley – Atonement

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
George Clooney – Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis – There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy – Atonement
Viggo Mortensen – Eastern Promises
Denzel Washington – American Gangster

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Across The Universe
Charlie Wilson's War
Hairspray--I've seen this twice, and it's so infectious.
Juno
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street--Saw it, and was lukewarm. But it'll probably win.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams – Enchanted--She's awesome in Enchanted.
Nikki Blonsky – Hairspray--Nikki's a rare find, but I'm not sure she'll win.
Helena Bonham Carter – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street--OK, but her singing voice kind of brought the movie down a notch.
Marion Cotillard – La Vie En Rose
Ellen Page – Juno

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Johnny Depp – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street--Johnny rocks in Sweeney Todd.
Ryan Gosling – Lars and the Real Girl--I haven't seen my Canadian boyfriend in this, but a friend of mine adored the movies.
Tom Hanks – Charlie Wilson's War
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Savages
John C. Reilly – Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Best Animated Feature Film
Bee Movie
Ratatouille--I was so crazy about this movie that I bought the DVD.
The Simpsons Movie

Best Foreign Language Film
4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days (Romania)
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (France, United States)--I'll vote for this only because the name is neato.
The Kite Runner (United States)
Lust, Caution (Taiwan)
Persepolis (France)

Best Television Series - Drama
Big Love (HBO)
Damages (FX NETWORK)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)--Just don't get the appeal of this series.
House (FOX)--As the only show I watch regularly, I'll have to go with House.
Mad Men (AMC)
The Tudors (SHOWTIME)--I saw a few free episodes on Netflix, and they were fine.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama
Michael C. Hall – Dexter (SHOWTIME)--MC Hall was amazing in Six Feet Under, that's all I got.
Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)
Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)--Hugh Laurie is just plain supercooooool.
Bill Paxton – Big Love (HBO)

So sad

My Yahoo Mail ticker brought up the story of the father who threw his children off a bridge. I am linking to CNN because I think that's Parker's favorite news source. Reading that story just makes me sick. There's a Vietnamese population in the southern AL area? Didn't know that. This website says there are about 2600 Vietnamese in Bayou La Batre, a place I only am familiar with because of Forrest Gump. And this article has some more stats. The shrimp industry was calling.

With the other story about the murdered pregnant Marine, it's disheartening to know how many sickos are out there.

bus and sidewalk etiquette

It was one of those days when all the buses and trains are going in the direction you're not going. If you ride a bus and it's crowded and you're in a two person seat, sit by the window. Don't be an ass! You're not special! Argh. And don't have obnoxious cell phone conversations if you have a loud irritating accent. On the bus, I saw a youngish Asian-American father and his daughter talk about eyebrow waxing. The daughter was around older elementary or middle school, I guess. I don't think my dad knows what eyebrow waxing is.

Oscar nominations come out January 22. I hope they don't screw them up.

the knitty gritty

Soundtrack for this post: the Six Feet Under soundtrack volume 2

Someone please comment to an entry! Please?

Down to business. Parker, you'll be happy to know that your knitting needle case has spurred me to pick up the sticks and start manipulating yarn again (despite a little warm spell here). Even added a new pair of needles to my collection today too, size 7s. I'm excited about my current project, and you'll see a pic up on my Flickr portfolio when it's done. But I was not excited about dropping a pretty penny on yarn. I totally need a Michael's in my neighborhood.

cooking with cats, not cooking cats

Aren't these the cutest things? I love Susie of boygirlparty's stuff so much, and Parker is well aware of this fact!