Month: November 2003 (Page 1 of 7)

Pieces of April

I saw this Thanksgiving-themed movie last night in an empty theater, after the family left. I often enjoy that experience, because it makes me feel like they’re screening the movie just for my benefit (which I guess they are). It was a nice capper to a fantastic day of cooking, talking, laughing and eating.

Katie Holmes of “Dawson’s Creek” is surprisingly good as the rebellious, tattooed April, who has invited her estranged family, including her terminally-ill mother (Patricia Clarkson) to Thanksgiving dinner in her rundown apartment. Other than Sean Hayes’ over-the-top neighbor with an unrealistically swanky stove, the acting is great throughout. There were many times when the story went in unexpected directions, and it was touching and darkly comic in turns.

Clarkson, also great in “The Station Agent,” was fantastic as the prickly mother. I know in her situation, I would get pretty tired of people asking how I was all the time too.

It was eerily appropriate for me to see this movie after just having prepared a feast for my own (real) family. When April dropped the uncooked turkey on her almost comically dirty kitchen floor, I audibly gasped. And as I watched her decorate the hallway with streamers and make placecards as she ran around the apartment building looking for a replacement for her broken oven, I thought, “No way she’s doing that all in one day.”

Recommended.

Happy Thanksgiving

Call me a shrieking commie baby-eating America-hating purblind idiot if you must, but this photo makes me ill, on so many levels.

Norman Rockwell is spinning in his grave.

NOTE: This is absolutely NOT the post I was intending to make tonight. But I saw another version of this photo on, you guessed it, Dean Esmay’s site, along with some intense praise for the President’s bravery and the size of his “brass ones.” And it angried up the blood, as Grandpa Simpson would say. This stupid election-year photo-op stunt is going to be gobbled up like edible panties on a hooker. And despite myself it’s added a little queasy edge to what was a wonderful family celebration today.

Listening to…

“Mad Mission,” Patty Griffin

It’s a mad mission
But I got the ambition
Mad, mad mission
Sign me up…

Thanksgiving menu

Crab and cream cheese appetizer
Brined turkey
Roasted-garlic mashed potatoes
Sage sausage stuffing
Green beans with lemon
Cranberry chutney
Rolls
Pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream
Apple crisp with vanilla ice cream

It’s a tradition around here that I ask people what their plans are for the holiday. Let me know in the comments. And have a great Thanksgiving, everyone.

Tonight’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” was one of my favorite episodes of the entire series so far. I love that they are featuring some families now, and the tone was so overwhelmingly positive I had a huge smile on my face the whole time. I loved the message that people should be comfortable with who they are, and not try to hide behind a toupee or anything else. That’s a message that a lot of gay people have had to learn the hard way.

Gurgle.

Average Joe

Is anyone watching this show? I am, and it’s quite entertaining, I must say. Even though I knew Melana would eliminate one “Average Joe” and one model tonight from the remaining six, I was shocked that her “Average” brushoff was the cute and sweet glasses-wearing John – from La Crosse, no less! He’s been my favorite throughout, and definitely more of a catch than funny but not-much-else Adam and insufferable bully Zach.

I was glad Melana kicked off the truly scary-looking “model” Alex – I don’t think I could have looked at his face for another week. He reminded me of those lizard aliens on “V”.

Ah, television. How you comfort me.

Shills

Salon has a piece today about the ubiquitous on-air therapist Dr. Phil. The good Dr. is being criticized for, among other things, endorsing a line of weight-loss products called “Shape Up.” The most interesting line in the article is this:

“While he reports that he discussed his decision with his mentor, Oprah Winfrey (who has consistently refused to endorse products herself) he remains determined to chart his own course.”

Oprah has refused to endorse products? That’s just not true. Just today was Oprah’s consumerism orgy called “My Favorite Things,” where she shills Christmas gifts like face cream and DVD players, while magnanimously giving the mentioned products to everyone in the audience (who hoot and holler like lottery winners as each new freebie is announced). Oprah’s book club has made millions for the lucky publishers of her chosen tomes. If that isn’t endorsing products, I don’t know what is.

I guess I’ve always had a problem with Oprah, ever since I read a profile of her where she said she loves giving stuff to people, but if anyone ever actually asked her for anything, she would no longer consider them a friend. And I don’t like when casual mentions like the Dr. Phil article reinforce the erroneous idea that Oprah’s some kind of combination of Barbara Walters and Mother Theresa.

Strange historical fact: Eleanor Roosevelt did margarine commercials.

Word of the Day

quisling

Got the idea from Rich Procter’s latest on Smirking Chimp, a pretty funny parody of Republican “talking points.” Reads sort of like those Onion “Ask A…” columns, but with more truth and bite.

Memo to Tom Daschle

Could you please stop calling marriage “a sacred rite between a man and a woman” on Meet the Press and anywhere else you get a microphone shoved in your face? Civil marriage, no matter what it’s called, is a legal contract enforced by the state. How about using your position as Senate Minority Leader to remind people of the difference between civil and religious marriage, instead of being a wishy-washy pseudo-Republican? We’ve got enough real Republicans already, Tom, thanks.