These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

It's the end of the year and I'm a sucker for compilation lists. I mean, really, if I could just be a commentator on one of Vh1's "I Love the ..." series, my life would be complete.

So, here goes a rundown of some of my fav. things from the year 2010:

Movies




1. Black Swan - Long have I loathed the site of Natalie Portman in a film. This was the first time since maybe the Professional that I was able to separate the actress from her role and really enjoy her portrayal. And the cinematography was amazing; the visuals haunted me days later. Also, I'm a sucker for dance (especially ballet) films.

2. Inception - Ok, so, it probably wasn't the best movie of the year. But, it kept me on the edge of my seat. For the first time in years, I honestly could not guess where the plot was going to take me. Christopher Nolan proved to be a truly talented and thought-provoking writer/director. I suppose you could say Inception was the Avatar of 2010. I saw it on opening weekend with my fam, watched it for a second time with my friends, and each of them saw it for a second time with one of their friends. For the men in the movie alone, (seriously, Joseph Gordon-Levitt might be our generation's Paul Rudd) Inception was worth it. That it urged audiences to question reality at least until they talked to another viewer about it was the seasoning on the popcorn.

3. The Fighter - I just saw this movie a few days ago, and can I just say, I now firmly believe Christian Bale is the best actor of our time. He murders his role. Somehow he managed a more believable local accent than Mark Wahlberg, a Boston native. Wahlberg was not that great in the film, but everyone else delivered powerful performances.



4. Toy Story 3 - If this third installment in the Toy Story series doesn't move you in some way, your heart might be made of concrete.

Two Shockingly Good Movies

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - Saw a lot of previews for it when it was in theaters and didn't understand what the hype was all about. And then I saw the movie on DVD last week. Absolutely hilarious. And full of memorable lines. Sure, Michael Cera plays Michael Cera in the movie, but that's what he does best, isn't it?



The (New) Karate Kid I'll admit it, I was suspicious. Anyone born in the '80s knows nothing can top the original Karate Kid, right? Here's the thing though, the new movie does not attempt to replicate the old. Sure, it's a disturbing display of nepotism given that Will and Jada basically just developed the film as a star vehicle for their son. But, you can't deny Jaden Smith's talent. And you've got to love Jackie Chan as the new Mr. Miyagi. I know he's one of the world's biggest superstars, but I feel as though this is the first time in American cinema he's really been given a part to chew on.

Favorite Books



1. Little Bee - I know some people think New York Times bestsellers are fluff pieces. Chris Cleave's novel couldn't be further from fluff. The engaging story alternates between the perspectives of two women from different ends of the earth who share one life-altering experience. I broke down crying quite a few times while reading this book. I would recommend buying it before it loses its integrity as a major motion film starring Nicole Kidman.

2. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Just read this non-fiction book over break. My brother brought it home as UW Madison gifted each student a copy (hey, BU, where's my free book?!), and I stole it from him. Essentially, it is the story of Henrietta Lacks, a black women whose cells were stolen and harvested without her knowledge in the 1950s. Her HeLa cells went on to become the most famous cells in history, creating bioengineering industries and curing diseases like polio. This is a tale of injustice, of race in America, of medical ethics, and so much more. It's a MUST read for med students.



3. Push - Alright, this novel was released in the mid-90s. But since the movie Precious was based on Saphire's text, I read it last year. I was so moved by this short novel I had to stop reading it on my lunch breaks because I ate at my desk last year and I didn't want to embarrass myself crying in front of everyone. So glad I read it before I saw the movie. Honestly, books are so much more vivid and get away with so much more than one can ever demonstrate on film. (Sorry, film friends... it's just, the book is so much more graphic than people could ever stomach to watch.)

TV Shows

1. Parenthood - The best way to describe this movie is functioning-family porn. I don't mean that in a dirty way. I just mean that this show projects an image of a model family and I'm absolutely taken by its fantasy. The great thing is that each member of the family is flawed, but they all balance each other out. Yes, it's a corny drama, but it has so much heart. The actors - Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls, Peter Krause from Six Feet Under and Erika Christensen are phenomenal.



2. Parks and Recreation - I think this show got off to a rocky start in 2009. But, all the elements of the show really gelled for me in its second season. I hate that NBC programmed it as some sort of mid-series replacement because I would like my weekly Aziz Ansari fix back. Like the Office, its cousin series, this show only works because of its fantastic ensemble cast.

3. Speaking on ensemble casts, I enjoyed those post-American Idol viewings of Glee last spring. This season, I haven't watched many episodes, and the ones I have seen were infrequent, so I don't really know what's going on. Those kids (well, twentysomethings in real life) are annoying. But they can SING. So, I have to respect them.



4. Ok, I must really have a thing for ensembles because Modern Family is another new favorite show. As non-traditional as the Pritchett clan is, they uphold traditional family values. It's all about the L-O-V-E. The Phil and Cameron characters, while slightly buffoonish, are just so damn likable.

Artists who impressed me this year

1. Nicki Minaj - I read somewhere that before dropping her debut album in November, the female rapper was featured on 11 Top-10 songs of 2010. When you hear her delivery, you know why. She elevated each and every one of those songs.



2. Drake - Before 2010, Aubrey (Drake) Graham was just wheelchair kid from Degrassi to me. And then "Over" and "Find Your Love" launched a double assault on me and I was a believer.



3. Lady Gaga - I know she's over-hyped sometimes, but not only does Gaga pen memorable songs, she's also a music video visionary and a fashion provocateur. (I am obsessed with her heel-less Alexander McQueen shoes.) Though I wasn't feeling the "Alejandro" video so much, I probably watched "Telephone" at least 100 times last year, no joke. Unlike Katy Perry (whose music I just don't get), Gaga stands for something. We may not always understand her intentions (as with the meat dress fiasco), but she's not afraid to be more than your average sex kitten songstress.

Fashion Trends

1. Military-inspired garb - Love those embellished jackets and lace-up combat boots. My M.J.-obsessed friends and I like to imagine this trend was revived as an homage to the King of Pop. I don't know if all that's true, but it happened. And I wish I could pull off the look.



2. Sequins not just for Golden Girls anymore - When you live in the Midwest, last year's coastal fashions are stocked in stores for longer than the trends last. And that's fine with me because I will never outgrow mirror-ball shiny sequin pieces. The gaudier, the more eye-catching the better I say.




3. Red lips - long have I bowed to the power of the ego-boost in a twist tube that is red lipstick. Last year, every magazine I saw told me it was the "now" look. Red is my little black dress of lip color, so for me, it will never go out of style. If only I could find the right lipliner to keep it from sliding off my lips, so I could sport red lipstick whenever I am out!

Well, I could ramble on for hours discussing my favorites and not-so-favorites in pop culture. So, I shall stop here.

I will just add that I am grateful for the last year. It was a year of great changes as I embarked upon a grad school journey in Boston. I have made some lifelong friends and grown to further cherish the ones I already have. Happy New Year all!

Is that My Clock I Hear Ticking?

My dear friends, I have something to admit to you. I've become a mushy person. As I enter the thick of my quarter life, I've become a ball of sloppy emotions.

This can be evidenced by the fact that every time I watch TV on my own these days, I break down. Literally, every day, something or the other seems to bring tears to my eyes. Tell me why I couldn't cry in my speech class when people bared their souls (Let me amend that ... I was moved, just not moved to cry), but yet, I'll be watching a corny-ass episode of NBC's Parenthood ready to bawl because Christina's just trying to get through her day without a Max meltdown.

Who is this person who feels the sharp pinch in her tear ducts and experiences a trickle of tears while watching reruns of Will and Grace? It was one thing to cry during the season finale of Showtime's the Big C, but openly weeping because of a Today Show segment (granted, Meredith was awarding thousands of dollars to a worthy non-profit and the couple running it was not embarrassed to cry on national TV). Ack. These days, it's like anything might set me off.

Apparently, the 24-going-on-25 year-old me is a big Ole' softie. I'll pretend to be nonchalant, try to be aloof even. But underneath it all, I'm a suburban housewife.

Whip My Hurr

I got my hair cut today! I think the last chop I had was right before my birthday in May. That means 7 months ago. My hair was at least mid-back length. I love my hair, but it was IMPOSSIBLE. It was like a bunch of rat nests strung together. So, I went to Jean-Pierre Salon on Newbury Street. My appointment was with Michelle, and she really seemed to understand the texture of my hair, unlike the last stylist I had.

Jean-Pierre was a sophisticated establishment and so easy to work with. I found a coupon in the Collegiate Couponbook for a $39 first-time cut. I called at 10 a.m., booked an appointment for 2 p.m., and was in and out by 3.

Above and below are the fulfillment of my need to shallowly document my new hair-do.

School's Out for Winter

Guys, I am 1/3 of the way done with grad school.
This is both exhilarating and frightening, as am I just that much closer to having to get a job again! YIKES

This semester was such a mixed bag of emotions. Lots and lots of highs, but as usual with me, much self-pity and neediness as well.

First off, I think I lost some weight in September because it was always so freaking hot and there is NO air conditioning in my apartment. Oh, I had two fans circulating at once, but they were no match for 101 degrees on move in/orientation day.

I spent much of September missing my Condo Crew from back home and sending them sad drunk texts at Comm events about how my new roommate was dancing with the gay guy I wanted to make my friend, or how no one but me was in to the reggaeton music at the bar, or how the T stopped running after midnight, so I had to unnaturally go out to the bar before 11.

October was a month for getting caught up in schoolwork. I had a mid-term, a mid-project report, and a middle of the semester crisis all due that month. I also constructed a friend square, which was a good support system, though it has since sort of gone on hiatus.

November was the month things started coming together. I got a little more comfortable in Boston. Enough so I could bluff knowing my way around town when my sistah from home came to visit. And by that point, everyone in my program knew each other, and I was really starting to bond with my "Comm Studies Coven."

And well, December has been a rush to the end. And now, the end has come. Somewhat anti-climatically because my final was made "optional," to which I said hell no, and now have a week to hang about Boston. So there has been some drinking. Mostly eating. (That weight I lost? Probably gained it back and then some.)And spending time with new friends before we all leave for a month.

It took a while, but I can safely say, I'm really enjoying my time out here.

Teens Get Nutty

Nutmeg... the new flavor of drug. Who would have known? Ignore the fact that seafood dude from Top Chef was called on to be an expert on this topic.



Apparently, one can snort or smoke nutmeg. Has anyone tried this?

When Less Is Just Less

Listen up, sassy undergraduate with flashy fashion sense, you are not Lady Gaga. Nor are you Beyonce. You might have runway dreams, but for now, you are living a dorm-room-mirror lifestyle. My time in Boston has been short – one month to be exact – but in that period, I’ve observed many a wardrobe malfunction.

Why, just the other day, a girl sauntered past me without any bottoms on. That’s right, no real article of clothing from her midsection on down. Her ensemble was as follows: a shirt that hit her at the waist and a pair of opaque tights.

It must have been embarrassing when she discovered she had forgotten to grab a skirt out of the closet when she got dressed in the dark. Or perhaps she was so proud of the underwear she had purchased that weekend, she just had to show her professor and classmates. Either way, the tights-as-pants look was beyond inappropriate for school. And confusing. Pants are not frivolous.

On another occasion, I witnessed a student hurrying to get to class. The girl was not wearing a shirt. Well, I take that back. Technically, her blouse could be categorized as a top. But since it was completely sheer and I could make out every detail of her bra, I don’t think it counts. A see-through top with just a bra underneath is just a tad bit overexposed for your 9 a.m. lecture. Just because Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City attempted the look doesn’t mean you should too. Remember that bird hat from the SATC movie? Exactly.

After 8 seasons of Project Runway, I understand that fashion is about taking risks and making a statement. Just make sure your statement is appropriate for your setting. When in doubt, consider this: What would Michael Kors say?

I’m not advocating collars that are buttoned up to the chin or floor-length skirts. I just want to let you know, what you wear reflects on you. Think about the message you are broadcasting to the world.

Boston Blues

Well friends, I thought that by moving to a new place where I know not so many people and starting school again, I'd be motivated to write like I did senior year of college. You know, when I attempted to updated this blog daily. Remember those days?

There has been so much to write about these last few weeks. First, the anxiety of moving. Prior to my move, I was simultaneously excited and scared. I was more than ready to get "on to the next one;" yet, I was terrified of casting away my security blanket. Though in the past I've had no problem slandering Rockford, it is my birthplace and will always hold a special place in my heart. Besides those four years in Champaign, that summer in Chicago, and a few odd months in India, it's all I've ever known.

Until now. I'm in Boston, baby. It's everything I thought it would be and many things I didn't anticipate. There are things about it I already love and things about this city/state that just mystify me. I've wandered around town for the last two weeks confused and disoriented. I've acquired new roommates and made some acquaintances who I hope will become friends soon. I've had one week of class so far and one day of assistantship training. It's all so new and overwhelming, I've had little time to reflect. Certainly you will hear more about these things in the future.

For the time being, I am still in a homesickness phase. Though I didn't cry at the airport or on the plane (I really shocked myself there), I can't help but compare my experience here to my life in Rockford or my time in Chi. So much about Illinois is in disaster mode right now, but there is much to love.

In a non-particular order, these are a few of my favorite - and some begrudgingly missed - things:
1. My amazing friends who are in some ways extended family. Indeed as much or as infrequently as I see these people, some of them whom I have known nearly all my life and some who I have befriended in the last few years, I often refer to these people as my “sisters” or my “condo crew.” They have made the last two years of living at home and working for minimum wage (and less) bearable.
2. Ridiculous work situations that have inspired me to write. Behind the Teller Line coming to a bookstore near you!
3. Beef-A-Roo – a true Rockford original indeed. Is there some way I can have cheese fries shipped out to Boston? I don’t know what sort of crack they slipped into their seasoned salt, but damn I could eat it on everything.
4. Our sense of pride in our little claims to fame. Ie: the invention of the Sock Monkey, the Symbol, Cheap Trick and Michelle Williams (not the actress, the third member of Destiny’s Child.) Nothing of Ben and Matt or Harvard-level fame, that's for sure.
6. I will always be grateful for the mixed high school I attended, the experience of which led me to seek out a UN crew of friends everywhere I go. Though I've only hung around BU for a week, I am desperately craving a rainbow coalition to align myself with.
7. Coworkers who behave like a dysfunctional family. I don't know any other kind.
8. Public transportation that runs into the wee hours of the night. Oh L, as dirty as you are, you were always there for me.
9. My proximity to the city of Chi. How I love thee.
10. Fast food that stays open after bar-closing time.
11. Chain retail stores - there's no Wal-Mart for miles and it takes two modes of transportation (bus and train) to get to Target. I miss cheap one-stop shopping.
12. Mid-westernisms : Saying pop and pellow (though I don't say that) and dipping everything in ranch/nacho cheese sauce
13. Since the flow of fashion to the Midwest was slow, I never had to care if my clothes were "on trend." Everyone here appears to be cut from the same Urban Outfitters/American Apparel cloth.
14. I even miss cornfields. I don't think Trader Joes sells corn on the cob!
15. Last but not least, my fam. They drive me crazy, but I’ve got to love them.

The Times They Are A'Changing

I'm sitting here tonight typing this on my new lappie! I'm hoping to update this, and my other blog more often now, since the previous lappie was held together with heavy-duty tape and moved at the pace of a snail. Definite disincentive to write. So, readers, if you don't see me updating this thing often enough for your liking or if you know me well and hear that I'm slacking on any of my writing projects, remind me that I have a new machine and have no reason not to be writing!

I can afford to stay up as late as I want to mess around with this toy since tomorrow will be spent not at work, but rather, packing and shipping my baby brother off to college for his undergraduate year. Seems like he's still a child. I will probably refuse to ever see him as an adult. As of tomorrow, it'll just be me and my parents at home.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Amladi house will have an empty nest. Because I will be arriving in Boston. It's rather interesting this age gap I have with my brother. In these two years I stumbled around finding myself, he grew to college age. All the anxieties he feels about school I've already experienced. I recall just how scary it was to be alone on campus of 40,000+ hoping that my roommates would like me, that I would find a group of friends that would accept me quirks and all, and that I would not absolutely fail at school.

Six years later, I'm back where I'm started, slightly wiser for the wear. I possess all the same insecurities. Only this time, I have an established rapport with my roommates and bring with me an academic pedigree that demonstrates I can make it in school. The friend part is a little more terrifying (as is the love part... but hey, it's not like I've ever been good at finding love). I'm not a super-social butterfly but, I like people. I wouldn't call myself anti-social in any way. But it takes me a while to adjust. And to let people in. I just hate how vulnerable I am in unfamiliar settings. I don't want it to read as desperation, so I tend to isolate, so I can remain aloof.

Well, this is a big move. It's time for a fresh start. Old habits die hard, but I'm hoping to push my self way into the discomfort zone and enjoy life to the fullest.

Good Thoughts

I'm prone to jags of negativity. So I do have to apologize for the generally pessimistic and/or annoyingly self-depricating tone of my postings. So you don't think I'm a Debbie Downer, I've got to let you know that I can be a happy-go-lucky gal when the mood strikes.

Compliment of the day: I was at the car wash, which appeared to be pretty much unpatronized all day. When I pulled in, there was probably a crew of 20 young Latino men waiting to wash my car. I was definitely the center of attention. As I stood in the waiting room, the customer who came in after me chuckled to himself. "You sure are putting a twinkle in their eyes," he said to me.

Well, I'll take that. Being the object of attention for that brief 10-minute period (especially since I was make-up free and in rather drab clothes) really lifted my spirits. Boosted for the rest of the weekend.

Weighty things

It's the second week of my two-week free guest pass to Bally Total Fitness, courtesy of my girl Sha'Donna. I think they give out those things with the idea that a friend might use it once or twice and then forget about it, so they won't be out anything. Well, other than the weekend, I have been at Ballys every day for my workout. They probably didn't know what they were getting into when they made my pass. I will continue to be there every day until it expires.

And then, I might crash. I can see now how easy it is to get body-obsessed, and then, develop a disorder. I used to mock my coworker because he "needs" to eat a well-balanced lunch everyday and take a run and he divulged to me that when he eats sweets, he feels like he has to run off the fat from say, a cookie. Me and my inner fat kid, I could not understand what that was like. I've said it before and I'll reiterate, I have absolutely no will power. I love chocolate. I love dessert. I most especially love fried things.

I gained weight since I left college. I don't know how much because I refuse to weigh myself. This is because I KNOW I will be obsessed with weighing myself a lot and then will go into a downward spiral if my weight doesn't meet my expectations. I've never had problems with food in the past, but I have an obsessive personality. If something bothers me, I dwell. And when I dwell, I like to eat.

This past month, I've tried to eat healthy. Let me tell you, (fresh) blueberries in your oatmeal are the best! Not only is it a nutritious breakfast, but combining all that fiber with anti-oxidants is just as good as drinking a cup of coffee (which I drink now sugar-free for the past two years). Tonight I even made an omelet with spinach and tomatoes instead of eating the carbo-loaded rice my mother had prepared for herself. Now that I'm working out, I feel disgusting when I eat poorly.

When I eat something I probably shouldn't, such as frozen custard, a large order of cheese fries, etc., I think well, this is OK only if I work out later. I know that's not healthy. I know that eating some fat is OK. And I know the things I listed could be worse. Despite everything I know, I think otherwise. Just another issue to add to the list.

On the upside, today I stayed home from work to do an interview for an assistantship via webcam. Even though that felt like a total FAIL, when it was over, these two girls knocked on my door. They were from a local community group collecting change for families of domestic abuse survivors. I don't know if they were just buttering me up or if they were surprised to see me dressed up in my one really well-made work blouse in the middle of the afternoon, but I got an unexpected compliment. One of the girls said in shock when I opened the door, "You're really beautiful." Too bad she wasn't a grown man. I might have swooned.

Love and Other Uncomfortable Emotions

Today, I had a crisis to deal with.

My little brother's prom date caught mono and I spent the evening offering him guidance. Now, I spent part of the last month gently urging my brother to gather the courage to ask a date to prom. The first girl he asked turned him down. The second girl (this chick with mono) was a friend, who already had a boyfriend... but she agreed.

Cut to two nights before prom and my brother receives a text message stating that it will be highly unlikely she will be able to accompany him to the prom. Of course he already has the ticket, tux and corsage ordered. As the older sister, my heart went out to him. I really just wanted to fix the situation. I suggested he ask out his co-worker, and my mom and I helped him build up the nerve to do this. Turns out she had something else to do that night.

Yikes. I feel like I struck out with my brother. Love, even high school-style like can be a scary thing. Dances are the height of awkward. Especially landmark dances like homecoming and prom. You feel like you have to go, because it's prom. It won't mark your life; it shouldn't be the highlight of your life, but hey, it's part of the archetypal high school experience.

All this drama took me back to my own prom. I had a twisted self-image in high school. Not that I don't still have a terrible self-image, but at the time, I was confused into thinking that even though I didn't have any guys demonstrating interest in me, somebody would ask me out. I waited what seemed to be an acceptable amount of time, and then so I wouldn't look desperate or pathetic, I asked out a platonic friend, a coworker of mine that nobody at my school knew.

I don't for one second regret my prom date. I do regret: Ignoring my date as much as I did since I was having so much fun with my friend + Getting my make-up done at the Clinique counter at the mall. Never again Clinique!

Jerry was a good friend and I'm glad I picked a date I could have fun with. And one who was there to cater to me on my night. However, I do on some level, wish that I had pushed myself romantically. Gone outside the safety zone, so to speak. Cut to six years later and I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with the uncomfortable. As a result, I would say that I've never been on a date date (with someone who wasn't just a friend) that I enjoyed.

Here's hoping I can be brave enough to explore my feelings and find myself on a real date with a guy I'm crushing on within the next six years!

Grad-uating

As I've stated before, Syracuse so far is the only graduate school to have accepted me. And to offer me a fellowship, which I don't have to do anything for (except be multi-cultural and pursue interests I already had!!).

Well, I visited Syracuse for its Open House. And I learned three things that endear it to me, as it reminds me of my undergrad institution.

1. SU, like U of I, had a racist Native American mascot that people protested against which then had to be removed.

2. The same school colors. I can wear my blue and orange shirts inside out!

3. Renowned for its great basketball and terrible footballs teams.

Ah, Syracuse I feel like I know you well.

A downfall: the airport was tiny. My plane was delayed like alllllllll day. Seriously. Last time this happened, I had my coworkers to drink with and distract me. All I had in the Syracuse Hancock Airport was my thoughts. Oh, and a DVD of California Dreams, season one. Because each episode was roughly 20 minutes, I went through that baby pretty fast. The airline attendants were really helpful though, I'm not sure people in Chi would have been as understanding since they see thousands more passengers every day.

See You at the Movies

So, the Oscars are going on right now. They're in the middle of the boring technical awards. I hate to say that because I was once a theatre techie in high school, which is the equivalent to the cinema techies, but all those categories in the middle do extend the awards show too much.

To pass the time, I'm compiling my own best/worst/most anticipated film list.



Favorite Movies

1. This Is It - Do I have to explain this one to you? I think if 10 movies were nominated, this one should have made the cut. It has drama, heart, heartbreak, a personal look at the man behind the hits, amazing music and mind-blowing awesome dancing. Speaking of nominations, why didn't a song from the soundtrack make the cut instead of one of those tired Randy Newman songs? Unless you absolutely hate Michael Jackson (or his music) with every fiber of your being, I think you'd enjoy this behind-the-scenes look.

2. Avatar - It has made more money than any movie ever. I think that explains it all. There are crazy special effects, an interesting (though conflicting) storyline, and great action scenes.

3. Star Trek - This movie speaks to men and women. You got the action for the men and all the cute, slightly nerdy eye candy a girl could want. And I believe this movie can cross the sci-fi boundary as well. If you're into the whole Star Trek mythology thing, you'd probably get a kick out of the whole parallel universe thing and the cameo from Leonard Nimoy. And if you know nothing about Star Trek (like me), you get to see an engaging origin story.

4. Up - Pixar gets it right every time.

5. The Hangover - This movie has no pretensions. It is what it is - a raunchy comedy. What I like about this film is that it features guys who are actually funny instead of so-called comedy stars. With guys like comedian Zach Galifianakis and the Office's Ed Helms on board, you knew this thing had to be funny. Every single thing in this movie is so random, you can't help but laugh. A tiger in the bathroom? YES! It doesn't fare as well on second viewing, but with the Mike Tyson cameo, you know why this was the best-selling comedy film (DVD)of all time.

Most Over-hyped



1. Julie and Julia - An OK movie, but I don't get why Meryl Streep was nominated other than because she is Meryl Streep. The main character was ridiculously whiny and I know as a writer/blogger I should sympathize with her, but I can't. She was a total ass to her husband.

2. Inglorious Basterds - I just don't get it. There were too many subplots and I just don't think they were all developed. This movie was long, so really as the viewer, I felt like I deserved a better story. I get that it was supposed to be something of a farce, but nothing made me laugh. I've liked some Quentin Taratino films, but I'm not totally sold on his brand of in-joke hyper-violent machismo pop-culture chop-shop movies.

3. (500) Days of Summer - I've long been a fan of Zooey Deschanel with her wide-eyed sarcastic fake innocence and quirky quips and Joseph Gordon-Levitt has aged well. From Ten Things I Hate About You, to 500 Days, he has retained the same dimples but really grown into an attractive man. I really wanted to like this movie, which was described as being a romantic film guys could like too. But I was left frustrated. The main character needed to man up and stop mooning over the girl who clearly just wanted to be friends with benefits. Honestly, I thought the song-and-dance number was just a gimmick; it wasn't as memorable as critics described.

4. New Moon - Ugh. Twilight. At least the first movie had some charm. Switching directors just changed up the whole tone of the film. Absolutely the only thing this movie had going for it was Taylor Lautner's abs. Not saying the abs weren't nice, but they could not compensate for the terrible posturing (wouldn't call it acting) and limp script.

5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Movies just never make that same connection that books do. I read all the books and though I wasn't a Pot(ter)head, I enjoyed them. I was engaged in the story and felt Dumbledore's death, but with the film, his death just didn't carry the same weight. They need to hurry up with the last film(s) cuz those young adults are getting too old to pass for teens.

Movies I Look Forward to Watching on DVD



1. Precious - One day, I hope to be like Sapphire, sitting in the audience crying tears of joy when the film script based on one of my novels (or book of short stories) wins an Oscar. I looooved the book Push and I cannot wait to see the film translation. Even just watching clips of Monique and Gabi's performances got to me.

2. Hurt Locker - I really hope it lives up to its awards hype. And I love that a woman made this movie and it's not an overtly female movie. It's the little movie that could, which instantly endears me to it.

3. Up In the Air - I'm intrigued to see if George Clooney's acting is really as good as everyone says it is because I'm convinced he plays the same charmer fast-talker type in all of his movies. That being said, it seems like a really topical movie and I read the director used a lot of real people in bit roles.

I Need to Watch More Jimmy Fallon

Months ago, I caught a bit on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon where Mark-Paul Gosselaar showed up as his alter ego, Zach Morris. That character, with his oversize '90s cell phone and his super-bleached blond hair taught me all I needed to about teenagerhood on the early '90s Saturday morning (and subsequent TBS staple) TV show, Saved By the Bell. I'm not even going to dignify any ignorance by explaining the plot of that pop-cultural icon. What I will say is if you grew up in the '80s and '90s, that was your shit.

What was Mark/Zach on hand to talk about? Why, the reunion of the one-hit wonder band, Zach Attack. Or rather, the Jimmy-Fallon facilitated reunion of Saved By the Bell. In my geeky way, I got excited. Very excited. OMG, if only all the actors would show up as their characters. Slater and Jessie would totally be married by now.

I'm not a big Fallon watcher. My allegiance is to Craig Ferguson and his total abandon of late-night show conventions. But every once in a while, Fallon surprises me by doing something that speaks to the cheesy core of me. Like with the aforementioned bit or with his acoustic version of "Pants on the Ground."

Well, turns out that the reunion can't happen. Fail! Right? Wrong. Jimmy Fallon more than compensated by reuniting the cast of California Dreams and having them present their title song. Why, I reaaaallllllly thought they were lip-syncing.



Thank goodness for Entertainment Weekly. Even though they didn't hire me to intern for the Website, I am still a faithful reader of EW.com. It feeds my pop candy tooth. Without them, I'd never have seen this clip. I was so geeked watching it at work on Friday. Reading through the comments on the EW blog, I felt like I had located my kinsman. These are my people. And hey, there were other people wondering why shy hottie Mark Winkle didn't get a nod on air. I was shocked to learn other people think like me.

California Dreams was no Saved By the Bell, but shoot those kids had a band, which magnified their hotness factor times 10. And there was an Asian character! And she dated the Black drummer! And I was so in love with Mark Winkle, the replacement lead male singer. This past summer, I discovered that Rockford Public Library stocked my beloved show and I rushed home with my rentals. The quality of the film does NOT stand up. But, man do I love every one of those so-terrible-it's-good story lines.

Read their comments here:
http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/03/05/jimmy-fallon-california-dreams-reunion/

Hire me, please, EW!

No Money For You

Today, I was passed out in a comatose haze after an Olive Garden meal celebrating my parents' 25th anniversary. I was stirred out of my rest-state by my father, who informed me I had a phone call. NO ONE calls me on my house phone, so I should have known something was up.

Now, I KNOW the University of Illinois is broke. But I wasn't expecting a call from the U of I College of Media asking for hundreds of dollars worth of donations. As someone who now works in the non-profit sector and has been taught about soliciting gifts, I have learned that you're supposed to start high and then go low. But damn. I think the school should know not to ask (sort-of) recent college graduates for a crazy sum of $400. Needless to say, they're not getting any money from me.

I'm not a grouch. I'm willing to give to my alma mater. I credit much of my personal development to the U of I and a lot of my skill development to the College of Communications (now Media). But I'm sorry ... the school didn't help me find a job. So, I don't have the money for that kind of thing. After I publish my first book, I'll donate some big bucks to the U.

And Another Update

Syracuse is offering me a fellowship too!

SNL Actually Makes Me Laugh

After laughing my way through an entire SNL sketch (the one above), I was shocked into silence. Long have I stated that SNL fails to live up to its reputation as a comedic institution. And this season has been especially terrible with guests like Blake Lively and Megan Fox, who strike me as mannequins (pretty on the surface with no emotional depth).

But a little Olympic break must have been all the writers needed to write a seriously funny sketch featuring sharp observations.

Everything they point out about the "disastrous" "We Are the World 2" video is spot on. Watch it!

Grad School Part Duex

I got into to one of my schools! It's still early on, I hadn't expected to hear from anyone this month. Ahhh, I feel smart! Honestly, I wasn't sure I'd get into the Newhouse School. I feel WANTED, which is an awesome feeling after well, struggling to find a decent job these last two years.

Not sure if I'm going to go to Syracuse until I get the official letter and hear from the other schools but, this is nice.

As usual, as much as I want change, I fear it too. Hopefully, in the months to come, I get over since I'll be out of employment in September anyway.

Reader Buzz

I'm on book two of my book club reads. I was supposed to read the first half of Little Bee, a novel by Chris Cleave for this week's meeting. Well, this is one of the most engrossing books I've ever read because I am well on my way to finishing it before tomorrow.

For any fans of literature, I recommend checking this book out. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but I will say this: I have cried three times in the past two days reading this book.

The novel shifts between the perspectives of two women. One represents the Western World and one is an African refugee. One of the subtle themes in the book is the clash between cultures and the juxtaposition between West and the Rest, but it's not a big point of contention. It's handled rather beautifully.

This book will shock you describing the worst possible of human atrocities and at the same time, reaffirm the resilience of the human spirit.

The writing style and rhythm of dialogue are brilliant. As a writer, I am horribly jealous of Cleave. I only hope that when I finally publish a work, it will be half as good.

New Year, New Look

It's been about two years since I first ventured into blogging.

Though I update less frequently than I did when I got into this realm, I have to say I still enjoy it. And I have to thank anybody who still reads this thing for sticking with me.

I felt like it was time for a face lift. As you may have noticed, I changed this blog's name. I think it's more reflective of my personality, or at least my online personality. While I maintain that I am probably still the only Divya Amladi alive at this time in this world (not out of conceit, it's just that pretty much anyone named Amladi is somehow even distantly related to me), the title didn't roll off the tongue right.

The name is a kind of play on words and if you know me, then you know I do love my words. I added a photo too because I love the header for Bitch, please and I felt I was neglecting this blog by not adding a visual element. You might observe more changes in the weeks to come. I think I've outgrown this template too, but I'm not sure how I want to change it.

Insta-aging

I'm a few months shy of my 24th birthday. Just saying that makes me want to gag. I'm well on my way to being 25. A quarter century. I'm gonna be grown.

At the same time, 24 is really not that old. I say this because today another co-worker asked me how many kids I have. Not do I have kids, but how many. I am waaay too immature and selfish to have kids. I would be a terrible mother right now.

And as we know, it would not be possible for me to be a mother anyway. HA!

I just want to know when I went from looking like a 12-year-old girl to a mom. Not that a 12-year-old girl couldn't be a mom (that totally happened at my middle school) but still ... Suddenly, I went from giving off the teeny-bopper vibe to being a MILF. Ok, maybe I'm just flattering myself with that one.

Did this happen the day I turned 23? When my face filled out? When I started worked at YouthBuild, where 90% of our students under age 24 have kids of their own, so maybe it's just a natural assumption? I don't know. It's just tripping me out that this is at least the 4th instance in the last few months.

Read this now

I have decided that I need more hobbies and more social interaction with people who share common interests. Thus, I am joining/forming a book club. Our first pick: Push, the novel Precious is based upon.

Push takes the reader on a crazy emotional ride. You will feel like crying, feel indignation for the injustice Precious endures, you will experience her joys with her, and your heart will break for her.

Chick lit is all good and fine but I believe literature ought to have a purpose: to make the reader think and question. And that is what Push does. It is provocative. Working at a social service agency, I can't help but wonder how many Preciouses I encounter on a daily basis. I know that I can be a spoiled brat sometimes but, right now, after reading this novel, I feel grateful for even the shitty parts of my life.

I have yet to see the film. For anyone who hasn't yet seen it but is considering watching the movie, I suggest reading the novel first. This is powerful stuff. The descriptions in this book are so vivid and are sometimes so unimaginably terrible, I don't imagine that they would translate well on film.

Sometimes Push hits you over the head with its message. But nothing about the main character's life calls for subtlety. Push doesn't shy away from radicalism. Sapphire has a message and she wants to light a fire in her readers.

One person alone can't change the system. Maybe the system will never change. But working together, as a circle, as a community, we can effect real, meaningful change on a personal level.