Are You Still Drunk Off The Egg Nog?

My Christmas was good... uneventful. My niece was sick. That put a small damper on the day. She is three. I got everything I asked for. I didn't ask for much. I was glad it snowed earlier in the week. I enjoy seeing snow on the ground at Christmas time. I ate too much food. I drank too much egg nog. But it was all good. I saw my family. That's always fun and challenging and puts you back to the age of ten. 

I can't believe it's almost 2009! I think I have New Years plans. I just wish I had someone to kiss.

Damages - January 7th, 10pm

Damages - Season Two - January 7th - 10pm FX

Watch this show. Do what you must to see the first season. It is above and beyond anything else on television. The writing and the acting and the editing are top notch.  

Don't miss it! And let's discuss.

The Holiday Season

When I was a youngin' I would have a countdown until the holidays, especially Christmas. December was the best month of the year and I couldn't wait to spend time with family and wake up on Christmas morning anticipating what Santa brought us.

Here was our Holiday tradition when my brother and I were children.

On Christmas Eve day we would go over Grandma Dot's house and spend the afternoon eating delicious appetizers and playing with the cousins. We would always have the best time. I would stare in awe at the pile of gifts that stood upon the fireplace in the living room of her house wondering how in the world all of the perfectly wrapped gifts could fit in that small space. It was like a child's dream. I seperated the gifts and put them into piles, a pile each for Robert, Me, Ryan, David, Angelo, Andrew, Anthony, Adam, My mom and dad, Uncle David and Auntie Lena, Uncle Bobby and Auntie Kim and Uncle Al and Auntie Donna. (and in the years to come more piles for Haley, Rocco, Milania, Robert & Jacqui). But when I was young - a kid it was the grandest time. We would sit by the gifts waiting for the adults to come to their senses and come into the room for us to open them. When they finally came in we would go from youngest to oldest (and the next year from oldest to youngest) and each open one gift and then the rotation would start over again.

Once we opened all of our gifts and talked and played for more time my mom, dad brother and I would leave to go to Grandma Jennie's house for another exciting time. Adam and I would sit and watch TV and bother our parents asking when Auntie Shirley, Uncle Leon, Becky and Ben were going to get there - as they were ALWAYS late! Then they'd come and we'd play for a while and then sit at the kids table and pretend to drink wine (which was really apple cider - we did this at all of our holiday functions when with each other). Then we'd have to rotate each year between me and Becky and Adam and Ben as to who would do the dishes. Somehow every year Ben and Adam would weasel their way out of it and Becky and I would always have to do the dishes...(same thing at Thanksgiving, Ben and Adam always got the wishbone damn boys!) So then we would bug our parents, Grandma, Grandpa, Tia and each other about opening gifts. It would take forever (well not forever, but in our young impatient minds it would feel like it).

Once gifts were opened we'd play with whatever we received and have a blast. We would vow to call each other the next morning to tell what we got from Santa and we left, where all the way home Adam and I would peer out the windows into the black night looking for any glimpse of the red sleigh with eight reindeer.

Once home we would rush to put our PJ's on and jump into bed, but not before promising each other that if one of us woke up before the other we would wake that person up and then wake up our parents to go to where Santa left the gifts. But there was one rule...we couldn't wake up before 6am. And of course I would always open my eyes when it was still pitch black out and look at the clock...it would only be 3am and the excitement of the knowledge that just in the other room lay a pile of toys from Santa and I couldn't for the life of me fall back asleep. So I would lay in bed with my eyes closed and pretend to sleep until the clock read 6:00am and I would run in and wake up my brother and we would both jump on our parents bed to get their butts up!

We would pull mom and dad down the hallway into the living room and each ran to our gifts, which were seperated so we knew whose were whose. My gifts were always on the two chairs and leaning against the table between them and Adam's gifts were sprawled across the couch. We would be so wide awake with amazement and excitement. We would take inventory in our heads and yell at our parents as to what we got. We would play and have fun and then go back to sleep for a little while and then play some more. We called Becky and Ben as promised and we relayed what we got.

Later in the day we would head on over to wherever my Grandma Dot was (either at Uncle David & Auntie Lena's house or Uncle David and Auntie Donna's house) and we would have dinner there.

Now Christmas isn't that big of a deal. It's fun getting gifts for my younger cousins - Haley, Rocco and Milania...as they are adorable, but as for playing, I miss being a kid.

The New Year

I love the holidays. I love the food. I love the music. I love the decorations. I

I love the possibility.

And for some the holidays are sad. I can see that. If the one you loved was gone. If you never had the money you wanted to spend what you wanted to spend. I know some find the music sad.

And as sad as I can be throughout the entire year the holidays make me happy.

I find possibility.

I am always alone. It makes New Years kind of a drag, but I get through it.

I wish I could translate the possibility I have during this time of year throughout the whole year. Everything that bugs me in life doesn't bug me so much during the holidays. And it's never been about a present for me.

It's always been about the possibility. The possibility that I will be okay. That there is still hope for me. That I will find love. That I will love myself. That I will be a good friend one day. That I will be a good writer. That I will be a good person. One day it will happen. The holidays give me that. The colored lights. The smell of pine. The giving.

I've found this year that throughout all my failures I learned to stand up for myself a little more and not be such a push over. That's big for me.

And lets not forget egg nog. I love egg nog. Paula Deen has a great egg nog recipe.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm stuffed.

What did everyone have for Thanksgiving?

I bet Lindsay had some pumpkin pie. :)

All About Amanda

Amanda lives in Boston. We met in college. She didn't like me at first, but we eventually became friends. We've been friends for seven years. I saw her this week in Boston. We don't get to see each other much living in different cities, but we talk often. We both have similar jobs (and hate them!) and we both have similar attitudes towards people (we hate them!) -- but if you're some anonymous person reading this then I would be especially kind to you. That's no b.s. -- Lindsay and I write (not often enough probably), but it's hard to imagine anyone else reading this (unless we force their hand, which we sometimes do). Anyway, it was a fun weekend. We went to Newbury street. We shopped. I bought some great Marc Jacobs jeans. The weather was great. We got all dressed up for this party. Her family is very nice and the plane ride to and from Boston was agreeable. What's next? Thanksgiving! Okay.. Halloween too.

Live from New York it's SATURDAY NIGHT!!!

Ok so I love saturday night, especially the cast members Amy Poehler and Kristen Wiig. They are just HILARIOUS! And last week Tina Fey came back for an opening segment with Amy Poehler where she played Sarah Palin and Amy played Hillary Clinton...it was amazing, Tina Fey is a genius lol. In fact, I just purchased "Baby Mama" and "30 Rock" mainly for her.

Anyways, so this week James Franco hosted the show. It was a great show and very funny...well this one skit was about this guy (James Franco) who comes back to his home town after a long time of being away, it was very tv show looking they way they did it. And this girl comes up to him (Kristen Wiig) to introduce herself to him and so on and so on. They get to talking and he explains in many ways how how he has a very small ding dong. lol. So while they're doing this skit I'm thinking, they should have Blake Lively host and she can do this kind of skit...and then after the girl (Kristen) leaves him because he's creepy, lo and behold - there's BLAKE LIVELY!!! haha. She must have been reading my mind. So she finished off the skit, basically was on the show for all of 30 seconds, but still exciting.

After that I kept thinking that Blake Lively and Leighton Meester NEED to co-host the show one saturday night, that would be super amazing! It would be the best show ever. So if Lorne Michaels is reading this (doubtfully) MAKE THEM HOSTS!!!! :)

Lindsay OUT!

Mono

Remember my trip to Fire Island?
It turns out this is the vacation that keeps on giving. I contracted mono on that vacation. I can't go to the gym until October. I can't drink until October. I guess I had a mild case - for mono. But I'm tired of being sick. And I've rented a bunch of really bad movies.

Who decided "What Happens In Vegas" was a movie worth making?


And oh, rumor has it that L was spotted with Babs at the water cooler. Could a friendship be the next step?

Gossip Girl

Who am I? I'll never tell.
xoxo

Who is addicted to Gossip Girl? I got hooked this summer. I had seen a few episodes and been a casual fan, but it's hard for me to get into any show without watching from the beginning.

I love the humor. I love the real New York City setting. I love the drama. I love the gossip. I loved last night's episode.

I'm still wondering where is Lilly? At least she talked to her daughter on the phone from the cruise that never ends!

Little J's voice kinda bugs, but I find her endearing.

Blair rules the show.

Vanessa finally had a purpose, but I still feel like she should move back to Vermont.

Chace Crawford is beautiful, but isn't the best actor. He has two expressions: blank, brooding stare and utter surprise. Maybe it's surprise that he found himself a job as an actor? Okay, that was mean. I'd love to meet him. I'd love to have sex with him. He's probably very nice. And I like Nate as a character, I do.

But this is Gossip Girl. We're allowed to be mean.

So, comment on last night's episode and the show in general. All opinions welcomed.

Here I am!

Here I am. Alive and well. Kicking and screaming as it were. It's been a crazy few months as Mark has stated. I went to the Dominican Republic in July and basically was hit on by every tour guide we had. And none of them were cute! :/ Then in August I went to see Celine Dion perform her Taking Chances world tour at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. That concert was truly outrageous! Fantastic! Best time ever! I <3>

Yeah that's enough about that. So now I'm at work and am planning out Beauty and the Beast happenings so that when January comes around I won't have to do much, except build the set and whatever else is needed. Hopefully Ann O'Grady has costumes for the show. I did find a magic mirror and a magic rose to rent! yay.

I am bored. I got wii fit last night, it's fun!
That's it for me,
Lindsay

Where In The World Is Lindsay Dias?

She's been to the Dominican Republic. She's bought a new Jeep. She's gotten a raise. She's on a new diet. So many things have changed.

But she still loves Mark.

Or does she?

We need her to blog!

Oh yes, this is Mark.

Fire Island

I spent a week on Fire Island. It was my first time on the island. I shared a house with twenty-one people. Does that sound exhausting? It was. It was even more exhausting witnessing a threesome. Yes, if you're gay the majority of sex with happen in a threesome situation. Is it normal? Is it healthy? What is normal? What is healthy? When should the threesome expire? Is one night enough? What about two? Can it go on for five? No, I didn't have a threesome. I really didn't. I'd start laughing. And if one part of the couple wants the threesome to end and the other part wants it to continue is that a sign that maybe the relationship isn't worth it? And should you keep in touch with the guest star after it is over? I'm new to the whole situation. The threesome and the rules and regulations that come with it. I need to be educated. If anyone out there has any opinions please post.

Tired of Sitting

I am tired of sitting. I sit. I sit. And I sit again. Five days a week. For nine hours. I don't why there are so many periods in this paragraph already. My friend Bryan would tell me that this is grammatically incorrect. Lindsay wants to write a book with me. We can't even write a blog. She's written a book before. It's called Amber Shades of Grey. My sister is getting a divorce. She moved out this weekend. She has a small child. It's a hard thing. I go on vacation this friday for a week. I am going to Fire Island. I've never been. It's suppose to be very gay. And then I remind myself I am gay. But will there by any attractive people there?

Bewitching Hour / Wizard of Oz

Okay so my shows went up last weekend (the 21st and 22nd) and I was nervous as all get out! The week before the show was disasterous...the kids were forgetting their lines and stepping on everyone else's lines; the little kids had forgotten the dances; people were not at rehearsals; parents were complaining about the lateness of the rehearsals; the headshots weren't done; the programs weren't done - etc. etc. etc. So needless to say I was freaking out, as was my mom. Then the tech rehearsals were full of glitches and craziness...it was a wonder we were even going to be able to put the show up on that Saturday night and Sunday afternoon! And then the Bewitching Hour rehearsal...the last rehearsal where everyone could make it. Oh sheesh...three of the girls were forgetting their part of the show...and boy was I going nutty. And for that tech rehearsal, we were pushed aside so they could do crew to cue for Wizard of oz...so we had to do tech at 3:30 the DAY OF THE SHOW! Talk about hectic and stressful situations!


So then after our tech on saturday we got ready for the show. We got in our wings and awaited the lights to go up. And when they did, everything went smoothly. Bewitching Hour was amazing...each kid in it performed with all they had and I was so proud! And then on Sunday, it went even better! I couldn't be happier (as Glinda would say). It made my heart swell three sizes. :) I love my kids.


And Wizard of Oz also went so well. They did forget one scene (a different scene each day ha) but other than that everything went great!

Now I can't wait until next year when I take on the insurmountable task of becoming the sole director of the production. We will be doing "Beauty and the Beast" and I am thrilled beyond belief to have the full power, and can do things my way and have full say into what actually happens on stage! GO ME! :)

Flavors of Entaglement

I saw a free concert last night. Alanis Morissette performed for "The Artists Den" in an effort to promote her new album "Flavors of Entaglement" which is released today (June 10).

She looked good. She sounded great. The alcohol was free. I went with my friend Dana. It was a good time.

It could have been cooler inside. And cooler outside. I hate waiting. They made us wait. Nothing ever starts on time, but were waiting in the New York City heat.

But more importantly, her new album is very good. You must buy it (that includes you Lindsay).

I Like To Floss

I am flossing right now. I am at work. If you call what I do work. I'm not flossing at my desk because my friend Amanda tells me that it is not sanitary. So, I've pushed my chair slightly away form desk and I'm flossing. I like to floss. It makes me feel clean and healthy and I get satisfaction when I go to the dentist and he tells me that I've done a good job.

I also have a date after work. I don't know about this. It's a second date. But good oral hygiene is important; especially if you have some oral activity.

I'll let you know how it goes. I know this blog is wildly popular.

Hold up...wait a minute......

Wow it's been a while hasn't it?? Sorry for the wait all you faithful readers. Wait, do we have faithful readers? Do we even have READERS? Well, whatever. Sorry Mark for being so negligent of this amazing blog of ours. It has been a crazy month and I just have no explanation of why I haven't been able to post a blog about my amazing life. I know...it has been lonely and sad but I am writing now and that should cease your worrying and sorrow. So...the reason I haven't written? Is because I've had nothing to say. Nothing important. Nothing pertaining to anything worthwhile of reading. Not that I have anything important or worthwhile to say now, I just felt like expressing myself. Sort of. Eh, who am I kidding? I just felt like spewing my thoughts to the ghosts of bloggers past.

So...I work with children grades 1-8 every year for six months out of the year and it is my favorite thing to do. The kids are amazing and I love every one of them (okay, mostly every one of them). Oh COME ON! I can't like everyone! Don't harrass me now. Next year I have been appointed the official director. The main cheese, the MVD as it were. I don't know how I am going to do it. I have nobody to lean on if I lose my confidence and feel like everything is falling apart. I have to stop treating the kids like friends and become increasingly more strict and force them to listen to me. Oh Boy! How is this ever going to work?! I don't know. I am more nervous than I've ever been in my life. I have this overwhelming feeling that it will all fall to pieces once I take over and not only will the show end in a major failure but the program will die along with it. And if that happens, the parents and the kids will be disappointed and I will be the cause of the downfall of the North Kingstown Drama Program. Now, most people are supportive and tell me that I can do it; my mom for one, and Mrs. O'Brien (a mother of two of the girls in the program). And Leah, who has been in the shows since Sound of Music three years ago. But I've gotten comments from others, not mean or anything or negative comments. Just comments that upset me and make my confidence drop a few notches. Some saying that they'll be sad and angry if my mom doesn't do it. And one about how they want to be a director like my mom. When asked "not like me?" the response was "no, like your mom". I know it wasn't meant meanly or against me in any way, but that's the person I am. I take everything personally and take it to mean that I'm not a good director so I can't do it.

It's not their fault. It's mine. I treat them all like friends and am very bad at disciplining. I don't want them to dislike me, I enjoy that they treat me like a friend - it makes me feel good about myself. Yes, it's sad. It takes 11 year olds treating me like a friend to make me feel all happy. But they're great kids. So How in the world do I do this? Oh life.

Can I Leave?

It's Thursday. It's 80 degrees. I just had lunch. Can I leave work? I'm contemplating buying an Ipod. The battery to my Ipod is near death. I want the Ipod Touch. If you're gonna buy an Ipod I think you deserve the best. I know I do. I want to go tonight after work, but I also really want to just be home. This blog isn't very good. Okay, maybe it is. I feel good today. That's a nice change. Not that things aren't bothering me. But that's for another blog.

Reading is damned hard writing

Here I sit, microsoft word open with the straight line just blinking away on the blank white screen taunting me to write a word...a letter even. I tell the humming noise, which is trying to break through the wall surrounding my brain to cause the words to spill onto the keyboard; 'I have nothing to write about, the ideas are stuck inside a deep dark cavern of the writing side of my mind.' The humming doesn't listen. It doesn't understand I have the want, the NEED to write, to create my second novel but just not the words to put that novel together, nor the motivation it takes to sit at the computer and actually think. The blinking line doesn't comprehend that the longer it sits blinking the more I become agitated and my right hand will move to the mouse and move the cursor up to the "x" and shut off that writing program. I don't mean to do it, my arm moves of its own accord.

There's a quote I have on a bookmark of mine written by Ernest Hemmingway I believe, where it says "Reading is Damned Hard Writing," which I put as the title of this blog. Those words can't be truer. While people pick up a book, or short story or poem, they think to themselves that it is simple to write those. Well, I assure you all IT IS NOT! So I sit and stare at the blank screen becomming more and more depressed that not a single thought is coming to me on what in the world to write about. And if that thought comes to me? Well how do I go about writing it...how do I do the research for it? If any of you have any idea. Let me know.

Signed,
Lindsay

Book Club

Lindsay wants to do a book club. She wants to do a book a month. I vote for a book every three months. I'm very lazy.

Who wants to join? Write a comment if you do. I know we have many loyal readers. The details will be posted shortly. There's a rumor I might be in North Kingston this weekend.

Oh I wish...I wish...

What exactly is the point of life? You wake up in the morning, brush your teeth, put your hair the way you want, get dressed and eat breakfast. Then you get in your car and drive to work. While there you go through the hours looking at the clock and wishing the day to end so you can go home, run errands, watch TV, do what you normally do in your daily routine and then go to sleep only to do the same thing over again the next day and the next day, just yearning for the weekend to come where responsibility flies out the window and you can savor the two days of nothingness. And those two days fly by quicker than the week days go. Work is not even one ounce of fun or enjoyment. It is a means to an end; to pay those bills that are burning holes in the mailbox during the month and at the end of the month. So basically you are working a horrible job (not what you went to college for) to pay for a house that you rarely are in and a car that is parked outside of your office building more hours than you are driving it.

So...seriously, what is the point?

eh, I'm not having a very good day :/
Lindsay

It's Spring!

It's spring!
Don't be reading this blog today. Go outside. Fall asleep in the sun. I've almost fallen asleep at work.

Suit suit...

Do you ever just want to escape your life and live that of another; a better life, a more fun and exciting life, a life you dreamed was yours but was out of reach? Well if you answered no, then you are utterly and totally lying to not only me but to yourself. At one point or another in everyones life there comes that moment of "why can't I have that person's life?" So...what do you do? You know what I do?


I play The Sims.


Back way way many centuries ago...not long after the bible began...Okay well not that long ago, maybe about seven or so years ago, a game came out for the computer...a game called "The Sims" it was based slightly on "Sim City" but with people instead of cities and buildings. My brother had gotten it as a gift for some reason or another and him and his friend Jesse were big time into playing it. I sat down with them one day and was immediately hooked. I could make a person and have them live in a house, and have them make money and decorate their dwelling. And I could have them be whoever I wanted them to be. It was amazing. I remember one morning I woke up early (I know...ME? wake up EARLY? HA) and sat down at the computer with Adam and Jesse and we began designing our own houses and people and had them live. Before I knew it it was 1:00 in the morning! Time flew by!!! We had the cheat code for unlimited money so we could make the grandest houses and have the most magnificent furniture and decorations. Don't you wish there were a money cheat code in real life? I sure do! Then a few years later out came "The Sims 2" and it was more complex and even more entertaining. With "The Sims 2" you could have your family grow; instead of back in the original Sims where babies are born and then three days later they magically turned into a child. With Sims 2 the newborns turned into toddlers who then turned into kids and then into teenagers and so on and so on. And not only that but they had the real characteristics and traits of the parents who bore them. AMAZING! With each expansion pack the game became more and more enthralling and I looked forward to playing it all the time. And now, coming up in 2009...


THE SIMS 3!!!!!!!!!!!!


When I looked online and found that out I almost fell on the floor in excitement! Not only does all that happens in Sims 2 stay but now with the Sims 3 you can completely customize every little detail from the furniture and wallpaper matching to the exact characteristics of the people you make...So amazing. And the graphics are incredible. So with the Sims 2 and soon the Sims 3 you can transform yoruself into who you want to be...extroverted, confident, married with kids etc. It is certainly a computer game for life.


goodbye.
Lindsay

Court

I was suppose to be a witness in a trial yesterday. I was suppose to put my hand on the bible and swear to tell the truth. The whole truth. And nothing but the truth. It didn't happen. But it did get me to thinking about the idea of truth. Everyone has their own version. Who is right? Who is wrong? Life isn't so black and white. You learn that as you grow older. There's this shade of grey. Sometimes the grey is all you see. Sometimes the truth just doesn't sound right. I'm lonely. I'm gay. Sometimes denial is better. Better not only for you, but the people in your life. The truth can take you down. The truth always comes out. The truth can be hard and cold if you try to hide it. But when you confront the truth it becomes your best friend. There's this idea that telling the truth makes you more vulnerable, but it what it really does is make you more human. When you face it you become a more authentic person because you have a strength you never had before. You have a part of yourself you didn't have before. And it's that moment you have to remember the next time the truth gets you down.

The Anti-Fangirl Lament

Have you ever gone to see a broadway show, or a concert? Gone to the stage door afterwards trying to meet your one true hero or inspiration that you have just seen perform live and in living color?? The most amazing night of your life for you have just witnessed true talent right before your eyes and to have the opportunity to actually meet this person is just what you have been dreaming about since you were a wee one...WOW. That would be awesome. Well here's the thing that will make you stop and think - is it even worth it? First you have to stand outside and if it's the middle of winter it's freezing, or if it's raining or snowing, that's a whole other story. And secondly, you have to put up with the screaming obnoxious twelve year olds. These teeny-boppers have a name you know...they are known as "fangirls". What seperates the 'fangirls' from the 'fans' you ask? Well here it is in one fell swoop - the 'fangirls' are CRAZY! Fangirls run screaming with their arms flairing and their eyes all bug eyed dashing towards their favorite actor/actress or someone whom they may think is that person with such gusto and ferver that they cause distress and fear in the person of interest. Fangirls use that high pitched voice and speak in sentences that run into each other and completely take full control over the time they are with said person, so when it comes to the end of the line the 'star' is completely exhausted and less enthusiastic about talking with the rest of their fans. Fangirls chase the star into the car, and possibly even chase the actual car as it drives off. Fangirls cry when they finally meet their idol...they CRY! Ok, so maybe THAT'S not SO horrible. So us fans are put into a category into those of the fangirls and have to deal with the rules the stars put up for themselves in order to protect their well being...the rules such as 'no taking pictures with said person just OF them.' What the fuck is that about? We fans make the star a star and they can't make the time to take a picture with twenty people who have waited an hour in the cold to meet them? Okay, so they're in a hurry, they have to catch a train, or go to dinner with family...but a few extra minutes can't hurt anything. So that's how we deal with being a fan...the fangirls. And we don't want to be the fangirls because of that mentioned above...we kindly sit back and wait for the star to get to us, to be kind and respectful and give them their space so we are not crowding them and not chasing them down...but where does that get us? No autograph, no meet & greet and no picture. And in order to get that, we must become a fangirl, we must look deep inside ourselves and find that inner aggressiveness and take that and run. Knock that star down if it means we can actually get a tiny glimpse! Push that picture into their face to get their name scribbled down however illegible. Okay, so I have to admit, as much as I despise 'fangirls' I have been that person in my life...but I'm happy to say I am totally OVER it. :)

Your fan,
Lindsay

Writer's Block

Why start a blog? Who is really reading this? I think because I use to write and I want to write again. I started writing when I was ten years old. I wrote constantly for seventeen years. I stopped about a year ago. How old am I? You do the math. I was never good at math. I was only ever good at writing - or so I thought. I had struggled and worked for no money in any capacity to gain experience for five years. I was going to be a writer. That might not seem like a long time, but you go that long without a paycheck. It isn't fun. The series of near misses got to me. I spent so long thinking I knew where I was going and then one day I didn't. I got a job that turned out not to be what I had expected and it broke me. Why then? I don't know, but in that moment something crossed over in me. I simply had nothing left to say. I had to put away the pen. The ink had dried up. And with that I lost my identity. What was I suppose to do next? What was I suppose to do for the rest of my life? I had always identified myself as a writer. And then I wasn't. I had lost my identity or any ability to define myself and who am I. Who am I? I'm still trying to figure that out.

BENJAMIN BARKER!!!!!

DISCLAIMER: Previous post (about liking plain burgers) was written by Mark but he misplaced his mind and forgot to sign his name at the end. But it's okay, we all still love him right??? :)

Tim Burton. Johnny Depp. Helena Bonham Carter. Sacha Baron Cohen. Wonderful cast equals amazing movie! Any project with Tim Burton at the helm will prove to end up in a masterpiece film. Each depiction of events he creates - audiences around the world know that it is a Burton film, and they won't even have to see Johnny Depp in the movie to know that, although he most likely will be there. Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride and Big Fish are just a few of Burton's finest films, but his most recent directorial project, the film based upon the broadway musical "Sweeney Todd" is one of my all time favorites, and that's saying a lot as I am a huge Burton fan! With a cast of such extraordinary talent "Sweeney Todd" was bound to be a huge success. You really can't go wrong with the phenominal actors playing the ever so psychologically damaged souls of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett.

Johnny Depp pulls out all the stops in this performance as Benjamin Barker / Sweeney Todd, his performance a no holds bar. With such a vast array of work under his belt; in comedy, drama and horror films Depp certainly knows what he is doing, and who would have thought he could sing?? Not many as I have learned. But he shocked us all. The hurt, anger and general outrage towards the cruelty he had experienced shows in everything Sweeney does throughout the movie, and with any other actor it wouldn't have come across as well as Johnny Depp put it out there.

Judge Turpin. The root of all evil! And he's played by none other than Alan Rickman, a notable actor who in my book can do no wrong! He is an amazing actor, an actor who can make me hate him in every way possible but still love him. For those of you who don't know - Alan Rickman plays Severes Snape in the Harry Potter movies - My favorite character, yes I do love those villains. Rickman plays Turpin with every ounce of his soul. Judge Turpin is what is wrong with humanity. He holds the power to do what he pleases and is the cause of Barker's demise into becoming a serial killer.

Shocker of all shocks - Sacha Baron Cohen, otherwise known as Borat played Senor Pirelli, a fellow barber like Sweeney. I've never seen Cohen in anything other than this movie but from what I've seen, he is very talented. His portrayal of Pirelli is remarkable...such humor and a slight tinge of jealousy toward his inspiration shines through his performance.

Helena Bonham Carter. There are not enough words to say about her. She is truly an amazing actor who isn't afraid to just let it all out there. Her performance as Mrs. Lovett is beyond words. Carter brings out the warmth and caring persona found in Mrs. Lovett. It is heart breaking to see how she loves Mr. Todd and how he doesn't return her feelings. For me, Helena Bonham Carter is the true heroine in the film and is what is real and honest and true about what love is; that you would do anything for the person who you love the most. And in this film, anything is ANYTHING. In everything I've seen Carter play she has astonished me in every way. She is brilliant, and has rocketed to the top of my favorite actress list.

What made me laugh about this movie is the "Harry Potter" reunion of actors. Along with Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman the actor who plays Wormtail plays alongside his Harry Potter companion.

If you haven't seen "Sweeney Todd" you should run to Best Buy to purchase a copy RIGHT NOW. And watch it over and over again.

<3>

I Like A Plain Burger

I like burgers. I do. I like them plain. What does that mean? That means without any toppings. So, when I order them I don't need to be asked if that includes lettuce and tomato. I am always asked that, but it's not needed. Why? Because I like it plain. I like to say I am a revolutionary. I still get the confused looks, but in life I am often confused, so I don't judge. Who am I kidding? I judge. Who doesn't judge? It's fun to judge. But that's another topic for another day. I am a picky eater and proud of it. I know there has to be someone else out there who enjoys a plain burger. Speak now! But I'll tell you I enjoy the bun.

I TOLD YOU!!! I DON'T COOK!!!!

So here's the deal. I have a beautiful kitchen in my house with brand new tile floors, brand new cabinets, gorgeous marble countertops and the walls painted a nice color orange with the technique of trashbagging on top of the paint. It is very pretty, one of my favorite rooms in the house. The problem is...I don't cook! I tried to make rice once...RICE. I burned it. How in the world does one burn rice you ask? Well, I don't have an answer. I did exactly as the box said...you know, those boxes that give you exactly what to do, the box of knowledge! Well either the box was defective or the stove was (or maybe it was just me) because it was unedible. It was that moment when I threw away my wooden spoon and replaced it with a remote control and a bullhorn. No way was I ever going to humiliate myself again in front of my friends or family. I would never hear the end of from the rice, nevermind if I tried to cook something as hard as a dish of Macaroni (ok, I'm not that bad...I can make pasta). So I vowed to never again pick up a spatula, stir a cup of soup or even pour a glass of chardonnay. Then I got my own apartment. There was a stove. Oh Boy! What do I do with it? How do I eat? Oh well...I'll just live like I'm stranded on an abandoned island...looking for anything I can eat that doesn't involve that dreaded thing that keeps taunting me with its flames and buttons. So I became a scavenger, eating at my parents house, going to fast food joints around North Kingstown and scarfing down the disgusting fake hamburgers and delicious McDonalds fries and drinking the ever so sugary Diet Coke. Because we all know that drinking DIET coke cancels out the rest of the fatty dinner meat and very salty potatoes shaped like sticks! Then a year and a half later I bought a house and as I mentioned before...a house with a gorgeous kitchen that sadly sits there neglected. I do use the sink, to give Gracie her water in her bowl. And I occasionally use the refrigerator to store those items that are needed for things you actually have to cook...you know, the ketchup, mustard, mayonnaisse (ewwwwwww gross...I do NOT have mayo). The one thing I do like to 'cook' is cereal. YUM ... but that's not cooking so much as it is mixing. hmm...oh well. So what do I do? If any ghost who reads this knows how to cook, can you teach me?? I'd be ever so grateful!!!

Tastefully yours,
Lindsay