Mercy

(photo kidnapped from patrickhoelck)

(The above poster reminds me of a 1960s French film; it's gorgeous.) Mercy is brilliant. I've seen Scott Caan's other films -The Dog Problem and Dallas 362 - but this film is by far his finest achievement.
Set aside some time on a Sunday evening just as the sun is setting and watch this film. (Cigarettes and scotch optional.)

Paradise Lost

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.
~John Milton

(photo kidnapped from genius)

Money Can't Buy It

When I was little I used to pester the ladies who lived in the house behind ours on a weekly basis. I would randomly knock on their door and ask to play with their dogs, Max and Shorty. There was one time when I was about four that I stopped over; Max and Shorty's mom said that she was about to go out and that it wasn't a good time. Then I vividly recall her asking me, somewhat jokingly, if I had any single uncles. I told her my Uncle Roy wasn't married. She asked if he was rich and I said, "No, but he lifts weights." I knew so little about my uncle at that age aside from the fact that he was quiet and kind and had weights in the basement where he worked out. Then Max and Shorty's mom chuckled and brought the conversation to an end. As I walked down the driveway I remember judging her. "Rich??? Who needs money when you could have someone like my Uncle Roy marry you and love you til the end of time? She's stupid."

The Black Apple

Emily Martin - extraordinary artist. I love her shop and have most of the items for sale set aside in my shoppy cart. As soon as pay day comes around, I'll be placing a mighty large order. These are two that I cannot wait to display:

Pray

The track listing for the first burned cd mix I ever made back on February 5th, 2001:

The Prodigy - Breathe
Bob Marley - I'm Hurtin' Inside
Madonna - Beautiful Stranger
Elvis Presey - Kentucky Rain
Rage Against the Machine - Maggie's Farm
Tiffany - I Think We're Alone Now
Moby - Flower
Ricky Martin - Spanish Eyes
Nas - Nas Is Like
Judy Garland - The Man That Got Away
Morrissey - Angel, Angel Down We Go Together
Sarah Vaughan - One Mint Julep
Sister Hazel - All For You
The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black
Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me
The Dixie Chixks - Ready to Run
Ani DiFranco - Out of Range (live)

Independence Hall

December 12th, 1910

Lounging Beauty

Oh, Ms. Monroe, how chic and fabulous you look reclining in your home and reading some great and gorgeous piece of American literature. I like to think that she's reading some Fitzgerald, maybe Hemingway. Whatever she's engulfed in, she looks content and relaxed and the very picture of quiet, simple, elegance.

Grammy the Sunbather

Here is a picture that I found outside the library and feel that it's the perfect end to a hot-ass summer that is finally cooling down (god, i hope i didn't just jinx us...). Grammy looks so happy sunbathing with her summer reading novel just beside her left hand. Who would throw this gem of a photo away??

I Want...

...a love like Bogie and Bacall!

Letter from New York

I am one chapter from finishing Helene Hanff's Letter from New York and I love every single page. Her New York is a city that feels so far away. The relationships she has with her neighbours is one that I wish existed for myself. Her stories are filled with humour and charm and are the perfect companion for any rainy afternoon.

(photo kidnapped from thebluestockingsociety)

BROOKLYNrehab

I stumbled across this totally unique souvenir from New York City. An actual feather from a real life NYC pigeon! What a brilliant idea! Check out the shop if you like what you see.

happythankyoumoreplease

Tony Hale. How could Arrested Development be my favourite TV show and my fave character not be Buster Bluth? Tony was absolute perfection as Buster which is why Buster was my fave character on the show. This weekend I saw Josh Radnor's film happythankyoumoreplease and Tony Hale's performance makes every other scene in the movie go into star filter so that his moments are the ones that stand out. The movie was charming and interesting, but if anyone other than Tony Hale had played Sam #2, I doubt I'd have been so taken with the film. Do yourself a favor and go see it, if only for the scene during dinner between Tony Hale and Malin Åkerman. Everything Tony's character says is endearing and enchanting.

(photo kidnapped from movieinsider)

Renegade

Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams
Damien Rice - the Animals Were gone
Yes - Owner of a Lonely Heart
The Smiths - There Is a Light that Never Goes Out
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
Belle & Sebastian - The Boy with the Arab Strap
Tears for Fears - Head Over Heels
The Clash - Train in Vain
Duran Duran - Notorious
Beastie Boys - Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun
Jesus & Mary Chain - Snakedriver
Doves - There Goes the Fear
Patrick Swayze - She's Like the Wind
Lady Gaga - I Like It Rough
Echo & the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
INXS - Never Tear Us Apart
The Church - Under the Milky Way
Simon & Garfunkel - Scarborough Fair
The Smiths - Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

~7.10.10

From Enchiridion

Of things some are in our power, and others are not. In our power are opinion, movement toward a thing, desire, aversion; and in a word, whatever are our own acts: not in our power are the body, property, reputation, offices, and in a word, whatever are not our own acts. And the things in our power are by nature free, not subject to restraint nor hindrance: but the things not in our power are weak, slavish, subject to restraint, in the power of others. Remember then that if you think the things which are by nature slavish to be free, and the things which are in the power of others to be your own, you will be hindered, you will lament, you will be disturbed, you will blame both gods and men: but if you think that only which is your own to be your own, and if you think that what is another's, as it really is, belongs to another, no man will ever compel you, no man will hinder you, you will never blame any man, you will accuse no man, wou will do nothing involuntarily, no man will harm you, you will have no enemy, for you will not suffer any harm.

(Epictetus translated by George Long)

The Calendar Hung Itself

Does he kiss your eyelids in the morning when you start to raise your head?
And does he sing to you incessantly from the space between your bed and wall?
Does he walk around all day at school with his feet inside your shoes,
Looking down every few steps to pretend he walks with you?
Oh, does he know that place below your neck that is your favorite to be touched,
and does he cry through broken sentences that I love you far too much?

Does he lay awake listening to your breath,
Worried you smoke too many cigarettes?
Is he coughing now, on a bathroom floor?
For every speck of tile there's a thousand more you won’t ever see
But you must hold inside yourself eternally.

Well I drug your ghost across the country and we plotted out my death
In every city, memories would whisper, Here is where you rest
I was determined in Chicago but I dug my teeth into my knees,
and I settled for a telephone and sang into your machine:
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

And I kissed a girl with a broken jaw that her father gave to her
She had eyes bright enough to burn me. They reminded me of yours
And In a story told she was a little girl in a red-rouge, sun-bruised field
and there were rows of ripe tomatoes where a secret was concealed

And it rose like thunder, clapped under our hands
And it stretched for centuries to a diary entry’s end
where I wrote,
You make me happy oh, when skies are gray
You make me happy oh, when skies are gray and gray and gray

Well, the clock’s heart it hangs inside its open chest
With hands stretched towards the calendar hanging itself
But I will not weep for those dying days
For all the ones who've left there's a few that stayed
And they found me here and pulled me from the grass where I was laid

~Bright Eyes

La Dolce Gilda

"You're still following me?
Stop! Leave me alone!
I'm just teasing. Come here.
Come...closer.
You know I love you, my little monkeys.
But leave me my dreams.
Dreams are like paper, they tear so easily.
I love to play.
Every time I play...you win. Ciao."

Barnacle

alanis - head over feet
cybill - i told ya i loved ya
ani - not a pretty girl
madonna - i want you
liza - i can't say goodnight
pills - rock me
ac/dc - hells bells
little steven - inside of me
joan osborne - how sweet it is
melissa etheridge - come to my window
circle jerks - love kills
manson - lunchbox
ozzy - dreamer
tina turner - look me in the heart
buddy holly - maybe baby
cleftones - heart & soul
george michael - look at your hands
jimmy eat world - bleed american
the king - heard it through the grapevine
journey - send her my love

~February 1st, 2006

Jayne & Mickey

If a more interesting room exists, I've never seen it. It's bizarre and gaudy, but I really love it. My favourite feature is the cuckoo clock up near the rafters.

Hi From Fred in San Fran!

(San Francisco sure is some town. - what a charming compliment!)

The Fall

(photo kidnapped from maridari)

One word: Lush. The visual scope of this film is epic and incredibly lush. The colours are vibrant and rich and then muted and warm. The acting is effortless and the viewer forgets that they are anything other than Roy's hospital mate in the next cot over, eavesdropping in on the stories he tells Alexandria.

(photo kidnapped from catincauntaru)

(photo kidnapped from chisinau)

I loved every frame of this film and fell instantly in love with Catinca Untaru as Alexandria. How could I not? She is completely and utterly the essence of adorable. And she reminded me so much of my niece Nicole. When I used to live with Nicole and her little sister Ashlee, Nicole was Catinca's age and was also missing her front teeth. The character of Alexandria had the sass, spunk, and sweetness that Nicole had; watching this movie was like watching Nicole as a child. Perhaps that's what drew me so strongly into each moment. It is a perfect film that I watch again and again. Please follow suit. You will not be disappointed.

(photo kidnapped from collider)

Life

I stopped to see Langston at the library across the pond and picked up yet another audiobook. This time I snagged Keith Richards' Life. Oh, and it's read mostly by Johnny Depp. Keith Richards + Johnny Depp = pure perfection. Growing up, The Rolling Stones were definitely played on our Hi-Fi along with others like, The Band, Streisand, Mathis, The Beatles and Andy Williams. (The one thing my mother and I seem to share completely is our eclectic taste in music. Clearly I inherited that from her.) Anyway, it wasn't until BFF Amy, became mildly obsessed with The Stones that I truly gained a profound love for them as well. Nowhere near as hard core as Amy, but I do love them thanks to her. Can't wait to get outta work and listen to Johnny turn them pages.

(photo by David LaChapelle kidnapped from us.nationalpost)

Uppy

I received this little guy from Lauryn over the weekend. I love Ugly Dolls and Uppy is without a doubt the most adorable yet! Dig his tag's description: You'll never meet anyone more optimistic than Uppy. He's super positive! He's positive that the snack you have in your hand belongs to him, and that your bank account should be in his name, not yours. Uppy is sure of things. He's sure that you guys would make the perfect team, and that your team should make it's way down to the bakery to order something really super delicious. You handle the money part and Uppy is sure he can do all the eating. No worries.

 

Grant & Scott

Grand Hotel - Mackinac Island