The Hateful Eight

Saw the trailer for this film at Pax and Bishop's Sunday and had no clue that Tarantino had another film in the works. (I'm so out of touch, I know.) Anyway, Pax informed me that Tarantino had recently said that he really didn't like that a great number of law enforcement officers were murdering black people. Apparently, the law enforcement community got kinda upset at this statement. Ponder that for a moment. The people who are trained and hired to prevent crime (murder being one of them) are upset that a fellow citizen is against the crime of murder. They are so enraged by this that they have collectively decided to boycott the film. Hmm...oh-kay... So, anyway, from the kitchen, Bishop hollered in, "Well at least I know I'll be safe in that theatre! The one place a black man can go." Sadly, our dear Bishop is not a fan of Tarantino films, so just me and his white hubby will go. Now if we could only find a theatre that was free from both the police and loud, obnoxious people...ah, yet another dream to be unrealised...

(photo kidnapped from ew)
(post script - I did NOT like this movie. Got a little more than halfway through and had to stop. Tarantino makes films for himself, which is completely fine, but I'm not gonna sit on my day off from my lame job where I feel worthless and sad for eight stinking hours and watch something that makes me feel physically ill and even more disgusted with humanity.)

Dinner & Dancing

I just love these two Nick at Nite cds, especially Donna Reed's Dinner Party. Oh, it's so good.... I mean look at the track listing! It's ideal for an evening soiree followed with some dance-able beats from the Dick Van Dyke Dance Party mix. Both albums are absolutely sublime and I owe it all to Terri who bought them second hand for me as a Christmas gift about ten years ago.

Selfie Saturday!

Here are all the goofy selfies that Bella and I took last Saturday whilst gallivanting around Philadelphia!

 

  

 

Tig Notaro

I recently re-watched this fantastic documentary and it was just as good as when I first saw it in June of this year. Tig is so beautiful and so subtly hilarious that it makes her completely irresistible. Being invited into her personal life through this film was so touching. Her honesty seriously knew no bounds. I had seen Tig a few years back in the film In a World, but it wasn't until I caught this doc that I chased down her other work and became a true fan. By the end of the film I felt like all I wanted in life was for this lady to be happy and healthy and keep making people laugh like hell and feel better. She's gorgeous and brilliant and I can't wait to see more of her. Tig, I heart you, big time.

(photo kidnapped from impawards)

Lydia Deetz

Is your whole life a dark room? One big dark room... (it sure is!) Helen at badbooks is up to her old tricks again, creating one of a kind works of art that are cooler than cool.

Master of None

That Aziz Ansari is just unstoppable - and this latest series from Netflix really wowed me. Hilarious and boldly honest with excellent casting. My god, a show set in NYC that features more than just exceptionally beautiful white people? Outstanding. Aziz is wonderful but I really love seeing such a brilliantly diverse cast that seems authentic and not like, "Let's see...we need a tall white dude, a lesbian, and a hot Asian guy. Can someone get on that?" It's real; the scenarios are fresh and the dialogue is perfection. Oh, and Lynn Cohen delivered another enchanting performance in the eighth episode. That woman is utterly divine. But seriously, Master of None was so good. I loved every episode.

(photo kidnapped from impawards)

Andromeda

- Gustave Doré (1869)

Center City with Bella!

On Saturday Bella and I wandered all around Center City, popping in little shops and museums along the way and of course, stuffing our guts at all my favourite eateries - Blackbird Pizzeria, Govinda's and Sweet Freedom Bakery! It was such fun just to hang out and talk. I can't believe she's gonna be seventeen next month. Cray-cray...

We started our day at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, which was very cool, although we are still unclear as to what exactly it is.

 

 

 

 

 

After the Athenaeum we went straight to Blackbird for some super delish pizza (the Haymaker slice is so divine that I pigged out and had two!). It was Bella's first time having vegan 'za and she absolutely loved it.

 

Next up we walked down South Street a bit and checked out some of local artist Isaiah Zagar's work, even stopping in to The Eyes Gallery.

After Eyes Gallery we checked out one of my favourite pieces of street art...

 

Finally we rounded out our day by stopping at Professor Ouch's Bizarre Bazaar & Odditorium which absolutely lived up to its name. Such a fun little shop that I will definitely be visiting again - with cash in hand!

 

 

 

 

 

Take Shelter

I first saw this film back in February of 2012 and recently picked it up at the library to give it another view. The very end was so-so, but aside from that, the entire film featured zero acting. It was like watching a story unfold and you are quietly watching, unbeknownst to everyone, from the other room. It was spellbinding. The scene that stood out the most was when Michael Shannon's character kind of goes off the deep end a bit and makes a huge scene in front of friends and neighbours. Jessica Chastain, playing his wife, was perfect. I expected her to slap him out of embarrassment or just do the same thing you'd seen over and over in other films - get angry and walk out on him - but she didn't. She recognised his pain, that he was sick, and stood by him. It was a pivotal scene and the reason I went back to watch it again. I just loved it. Such a beautifully done piece of filmmaking.

(photo kidnapped from impawards)

Uncle Leo

Is this a handsome fella or what?!

 

(the last photo is from the first World War)

Little L

This here is a photo of the latest baby-to-be, Little L, as at this point the wee one will be either Lucy or Lex, short for Alexander. I don't care what sex the baby is, just so long as I'm their favourite person ever!

MFEO

I saw this fella and immediately knew that he and I are clearly made for each other.

Savor Kindness

Me and Miss Bailey

Ya know those ladies that go ga-ga over babies and want to hold them and sniff them and smooch them? Yeah, that's so not me. I like kids - babies? Not so much. They are so tiny and breakable. It's best to wait until they are a year or two and then I'll pick them up. Bailey, though? When I was over their place on Sunday, Ashlee saw my expression that was clearly I kinda wanna hold her... and before I even asked she thrust the wee one into my arms. Bailey is still such a tiny little lady, but she was so fun to snuggle with and I even got her to smile when I sniffed her sweet face like a basset hound. She's totally my new BFF.

 

 

July 4th, 2014

Last year Xavier and I spent the Fourth driving aimlessly through Napa Valley. No destination, we just hit the open road and went where said road would take us. It was one of the best days of the entire trip; cruising around Northern California and experiencing the state for the first time. I never knew this part of the country was such a dark, lush green with the contrast of a desert gold. It was all gorgeous and the long winding roads through the mountains were spectacular. Here are some shots I took along the way, starting out at Fort Point.