NS June 30th, 2008
It was my birthday yesterday (only one more year until the big 3-0 now!) and I just have to thank all of my wonderful friends and family for sending their well wishes and lovely, thoughtful gifts. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.
I also want to give special thanks for my friend L, whom I have grown particularly close to in the past three years and who has become something of a touchstone. We have so much in common, such similar tastes and outlooks on life and our conversations flow with the kind of ease and familiarity of those you’ve known since you were born. I’ve never censored myself when we’re together and know that I can be completely and utterly myself around her. That is not an insignificant thing.
The other amazing gift we share is motherhood. She supported me throughout my pregnancy and TNC’s early baby days and when she told me of her pregnancy when TNC was about five months old, I excitedly helped her plan and prepare as she had done for me. We trade tips on teething, foods our kids like, breastfeeding, toys, milestones, the madness of toddlerdom and are always there to lend a sympathetic ear when one of us is getting no sleep or just at the end of our tethers. I trust her so implicitly that she is going to be my second birth partner, alongside The Noble Husband. We must be great friends if I’m willing to let her see me buck naked and writhing around in labour!
And now, the news that she too is expecting her second child, news which will bring us even closer as we embark on yet another journey together. There’s no one else I’d rather go through this with and I will forever be grateful for her friendship and camaraderie. I love ya, L!
NS June 27th, 2008
I saw this list of Entertainment Weekly’s ’100 new classics’ over at What If No One’s Watching and just had to participate. I’ve seen the ones bolded.
1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
5. Toy Story (1995)
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998 )
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
9. Die Hard (1988 )
10. Moulin Rouge (2001)
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
12. The Matrix (1999)
13. GoodFellas (1990)
14. Crumb (1995)
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
16. Boogie Nights (1997)
17. Jerry Maguire (1996)
18. Do the Right Thing (1989)
19. Casino Royale (2006)
20. The Lion King (1994)
21. Schindler’s List (1993)
22. Rushmore (1998 )
23. Memento (2001)
24. A Room With a View (1986)
25. Shrek (2001)
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
27. Aliens (1986)
28. Wings of Desire (1988 )
29. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
30. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. The Breakfast Club (1985)
34. Fargo (1996)
35. The Incredibles (2004)
36. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
37. Pretty Woman (1990)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
39. The Sixth Sense (1999)
40. Speed (1994)
41. Dazed and Confused (1993)
42. Clueless (1995)
43. Gladiator (2000)
44. The Player (1992)
45. Rain Man (1988 )
46. Children of Men (2006)
47. Men in Black (1997)
48. Scarface (1983)
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
50. The Piano (1993)
51. There Will Be Blood (2007)
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988 )
53. The Truman Show (1998 )
54. Fatal Attraction (1987)
55. Risky Business (1983)
56. The Lives of Others (2006)
57. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
58. Ghostbusters (1984)
59. L.A. Confidential (1997)
60. Scream (1996)
61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
62. sex, lies and videotape (1989)
63. Big (1988)
64. No Country For Old Men (2007)
65. Dirty Dancing (1987)
66. Natural Born Killers (1994)
67. Donnie Brasco (1997)
68. Witness (1985)
69. All About My Mother (1999)
70. Broadcast News (1987)
71. Unforgiven (1992)
72. Thelma & Louise (1991)
73. Office Space (1999)
74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
75. Out of Africa (1985)
76. The Departed (2006)
77. Sid and Nancy (1986)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
80. Michael Clayton (2007)
81. Moonstruck (1987)
82. Lost in Translation (2003)
83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
84. Sideways (2004)
85. The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)
86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)
87. Swingers (1996)
88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
89. Breaking the Waves (1996)
90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
91. Back to the Future (1985)
92. Menace II Society (1993)
93. Ed Wood (1994)
94. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
95. In the Mood for Love (2001)
96. Far From Heaven (2002)
97. Glory (1989)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
99. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
100. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)
Wow. I don’t really consider myself a huge film buff but I’ve seen the vast majority of these. I suppose it makes sense though, since it spans my lifetime.
NS June 26th, 2008
Just now, discussing the Neil Entwistle case (the Briton who was convicted today of murdering his wife and baby daughter) with TNH:
Me: To think, that he shot his baby and then his wife and tried to pass the blame off on her. It’s sickening.
TNH: Well, I can see why someone would murder their wife, but…
Me: Wait, WHAT?! You can SEE how someone would murder their wife. You sympathise with him. That’s lovely, very reassuring.
Him: Oh, you know what I mean. It’s much more understandable if you hate your wife’s guts and want to kill her, but your baby? There’s just no way.
Me: I’m checking your Google history from now on.
NS June 25th, 2008
As the kicks within me grow stronger, so does my urge to get things done. Many would call this ‘nesting’ but I prefer to call it GRABBING MY TO-DO LIST BY THE NUTS. I need curtains on my windows, things on the walls, crevices cleaned, closets organised, shelves rearranged, things taken down from the loft and others put away, the creaky kitchen door fixed, a trip to the dentist finally made, a birth plan drawn up, birth supplies procured, world peace and a partridge in a pear tree. Quite a lot, isn’t it?
A major bonus to this sudden overdrive of energy is that I’ve gotten my writing mojo back, it seems. I don’t want to jinx it but suffice it to say that I have some new things in the pipeline that I’ve very excited and confident about. After months of pretty much giving up on trying to do anything to jump-start my freelance career, I’m back with a vengeance and I have a plan. I won’t give up this time and my goal is to get something published (for actual money this time, NO MORE FREEBIES GODAMNIT!) before I pop. T-minus twelve weeks and counting…
