Junie - 2015

This was taken 5 years ago today (February 12, 2015).

I Remember- The Bathtub Shark

Until I did a web search for this post, I would have sworn that my memory involved a skit from the Canadian show SCTV. It used to air late at night here in Milwaukee when I was young ,and I really didn't care for it - although now I wonder how much of that antagonism was due to misidentifying the source of this sketch.

JOWLS was a Caroll Burnett Show parody of the movie Jaws that took place in a bathroom, with the cast fishing for the Great White in the bathtub. 

The bathtub. Like the one in my house.

SCARED. THE. HECK. OUT. OF. ME

I was a liitle kid, remember, probably under 5. Alas, my bathtub had a small chip in the porcelain and, while even then I knew better, the lizard part of my brain was certain a shark had caused the damage. 

This irrational fear didn't prevent me from taking baths, it just made mine super quick,  and it no doubt hastened my promotion to showers.

To this day, on the rare occasion I take a hot bath, a part of me flickers back to that sketch and makes me wonder, just for a moment, if that shark is hungry.

The Broomstick Challenge Accepted - and Mastered!!

 Junie made it happen lol

Jussie Smollett

Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett was indicted today but I thought they dropped all charges a LONG time ago. I’m so confused. - Lisa

Me - The judge unilaterally reversed the agreement to drop charges and, fearing a DA's office that looked compromised, appointed a special prosecutor from outside the DA office. That's who filed charges now

No Pit Bulls Here

So I think the first “pit-bull kills its owner” story of the year is out. A 5 year old. Enter the crowds to claim how harmless pits are, how it’s the owners fault, or the child’s fault.

I’ve had more then one vet and more then one rescue professional share similar beliefs as mine about this beloved breed, but their years of experience and knowledge means nothing against your personal experience . I understand wanting to give anyone, including dogs the benefit of the doubt, but not with MY family.

Unplanned - a quick review

UNPLANNED is the story of a Planned Parenthood director who defects to the pro-life movement.

It is propaganda, to be sure, but treats the subject with more of an even hand then you would guess; there are abusive protesters, and violent ones,  genuinely caring PP employees, and determined pro-choice patients.

What it lacks is a strong lead and a deft screenwriter, as the legal drama should have been the throughline that tightened up this drama

I doubt UNPLANNED will change any minds. But it might start a debate or two.

#unplanned #movie

Unplanned

 UNPLANNED is the story of a Planned Parenthood director who defects to the pro-life movement.

It is propaganda, to be sure, but treats the subject with more of an even hand then you would guess; there are abusive protesters, and violent ones, genuinely caring PP employees, and determined pro-choice patients.

What it lacks is a strong lead and a deft screenwriter, as the legal drama should have been the throughline that tightened up this drama

I doubt UNPLANNED will change any minds. But it might start a debate or two.

#unplanned

My Thoughts - Judging

Here's the deal-e-o: on a post this AM, while talking about something unrelated,  a woman casually dropped word she has an untreated mice infestation. NO ONE said ANYTHING about the mouse comment and merrily kept commenting on her main point.

F that.  I called her out.

Cue a bunch of people defending *keeping the mice*, saying it "happens all the time,"  and calling me judgey.

Damn right I'm judgey. 

Judgey keeps humans acting within a set of acceptable parameters that facilitate the smooth working of a society. 

Kill the damn mice. And until you do, stop bringing food to the potluck.

Ick

Not sure who needs to hear this today but living with families of mice inside your walls IS nasty and CAN affect your health. Ah the internet.

*edit: it isn’t us! One mouse in 12 years (brought in by a second hand box) and the elder cat had him by the tail immediately.

- Lisa

Our New Spice Holder

Got a super cheap spice holder off WISH. I’m not mad at it, clears up some much needed space! I’m sure I’ll be regretting this decision when the adhesive starts failing or damages the cabinet but, for now, I’m satisfied. - Lisa

Marriage Story

By golly, I did it. I've seen each of this years Oscar nominees for Best Picture. That's been an annual, unrealized goal all my life - until now 

"Marriage Story" is a a film about the sometimes contentious divorce of a married couple. The premise is simple but it is executed beautifully, and Adam Driver just dominates the screen. Laura Dern, who I thought was banal in Little Women, did a great job here, and so did the legendary Alan Alda. Scarlett Johansson's performance, while eliciting no complaints from me, failed to move me.

There are shades of "Kramer v Kramer" in "Marriage Story." Will it surprise at the Oscar's ala KvK? I don't know. But I wouldn't complain if it did.

He Likes It!

 Huckleberry loves the snow.

My Oscar Picks

 My Best Picture Oscar predictions:

No chance: Little Women, The Irishman, Ford v Ferrari

Long shot: Parasite, Marriage Story, Joker

In the running: Once upon a time ..., Jojo Rabbit, 1917

That's not the order *I'd* choose to put them in, just the way I think the Academy votes this year.

I believe, despite it being far from the best movie (nd in many ways merely average) that 1917 will take the prize. It's technically superb, which the professionals adore, it has the weighty subject matter the Academy loves, and it even has mild nods towards "diversity," with its inclusion of some colonial soldiers.

No one will remember it in five years, but there ya go.

Edit: For the record, I think, in a Dannyworld, that The Irishman should take it, but would not regret Marriage Story or JoJo Rabbit winning.

UPDATE

Congratulations on the Oscar! You're the best stunt man in the business Cliff!

#bradpitt #onceuponatimeinhollywood #tarantino #Oscar

Parasite didn't deserve Best Picture. It's almost a laughable decision. Congrats to them tho.

Little Women

Despite it being a Best Picture nominee, I wasn't going to see this film. The impressive "A Star is Born" lay dead in the water last year as a nominee because it was a remake and the voters didn't wish to reward that fact. Little Women has been filmed ad naseum - why should it not suffer the same fate?

But watch it I did, and I liked it. It's a quality, family friendly film.

But Best Picture nominee? Why? Even forgiving its flaws, there was nothing profound to be seen here. And flaws there were.

Having Florence Pugh, with her husky voice and adult curves, play a 12 year old Amy is a poor decision, and certainly impacts how you view Amy's big tantrum. It's a jerky move by a tween, but a monstrous act by what appears to be an adult. And Emma Watson was, as always, lifeless and wooden and mattered little to the tale.

I suppose the film earns points in Hollywood for its "wokeness," but even if you believe wholeheartedly in such ideas, it rang a horribly wrong note here. Having four spoiled, well off white women whine and fret and offer philosophical advice between trips to Paris and the beach, while the neighboring family is literally starving in a shack . . . well it's entitled and its tacky.

Ford v Ferrari

Today I saw my seventh Best Picture nominee, "Ford v Ferrari."

It was quite good and I have no complaints. Like the corporate autos they scorn in the film, I felt the movie was reliable, well constructed, and did the job it was intended to do.

That's fine for a sedan, but in a movie I'm pretty sure it means no Oscar gold.

#Ford #fordvferrari

#lemans

The Irishman

I finished my sixth Best Picture nominee, "The Irishman," last night.

To my suprise, I really liked it. I was initially bored by the idea of yet another Scorsese mafia pic, but it grabbed hold of me and didn't let go. DeNiro was good, but Joe Pesci returned to the screen with an absolute vengence, and Pacino was, as always, excellent.

What can I say, a well told tale, especially one fleshed out by great acting, can do very little wrong in my world.

I didn't think the de-ageing CGI was all that impressive, but it was enough to do the trick (ish), and the complaints that women had little to nothing to do in the film are absolutely true and absolutely irrelevant. It's a story set exclusively in a male dominated criminal circle and that's who dominates the memories of the narrator. As for length, sorry folks not sorry - I was born with an attention span.

I can't believe I'm saying this, I really can't, BUT . . . I think this might be my personal pick for Best Picture.

#theirishman #robertdeniro #alpacino #martinscorsese #Hoffa #Teamsters #joepesci

Huckleberry is Adjusting

If I had to place a bet, I think GusGus and Huckleberry will be good friends (although he did chase Gus for a second last night - but they've bumped noses too.) So far Custard has remained aloof but unafraid, once or twice walking right up to him. Angelcakes is openly contemptuous but has not hid or cried, so fingers crossed. 

He is agreeable to the leash only about a fifth of the time and has had accidents in the house, but he's already improving in both regards.

He gets along well with the kids and Lisa, and spent the afternoon with us in the car while we ran errands. He seems cautious around me and sometimes fearful. I think my size and volume remind him of some bad times in the past (he was skin and bones and terribly meek at the pound.) But we will move past that lickety split.

#GusGus. #Huckleberry

Oh, and as you may have noticed by the affinity for boxes apparently we done adopted another cat.

#Huckleberry #Boxes

Hello Doggo!

 Welcome home huckleberry

The words “exterminate” and “people” should never go together. We have a problem! (spoken by a teacher at the kids' school) - Lisa

1917

I saw this movie tonight. I was impressed, but I don't know if it will linger in my memory.

Visually its spectacular. It's filmed in what appears to the viewer to be two long takes, as if they are a curious spirit following the two main characters throughout their mission. That's never easy, I'm sure, but some scenes are so intricate I have to wonder how they pulled it off at all.

Most of the story is strong enough, and thankfully rises above the "mud-and-guts porn" that dominates the WWI genre. But the scenes in the French vilage were, imo, terribly cliche and knocked me out of the moment.

It deserves its Best Picture nomination. Does it deserve to win? I won't be upset if it does, but I'm not completely sold.

#WWI. #1917 #Mendes

61 Years Gone

61 years gone. RIP Buddy.

#thedaythemusicdied #buddyholly

LOL

 Cold. Just cold.

LOL

Family

 

Yum

 These two are cooking again! Chocolate banana bread and Brazilian truffles. I wonder if they’d make dinner too?