Anyone else looking forward to these??

yes yes
and also…

big fat YES

This week was extremely busy, but there were a few bright spots that made it rock!

1. This morning we scored tickets to see Iron and Wine at the Warfield on June 1st!! I found out yesterday that Mr Sam Beam would finally be making a stop in Northern California during his current tour, and I forced (at water-gun point) Tim to log onto ticketmaster at exactly 10am this morning to snag 3 tickets during the fan pre-sale. Micaela is going to be coming with us, and we’re all soooooo excited! I’ve heard he’s AMAZING live.

Here’s one of my favorite songs by this ridiculously talented, extremely bearded man:

2.  Marco officially started crawling, and is getting around very well. My big boy! He also understands the word ‘No’, and will shake his head back and forth when you say it. His teachers are so excited to tell me his accomplishments every day; it’s nice that they are proud of him.

Tomorrow we’re going to Belle’s 2nd birthday party. I can’t believe she’s two already!

OMG and the Oscars are Sunday!! I love watching the Academy Awards.  Colin Firth is going to win the Best Actor award. I can feel it in my bones…

Currently reading: The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro

Listening: The Decemberists‘ album The King is Dead’, multiple times per day. I love every track, no exceptions (a rare and rad occurrence).

Also, a little late to the game, but I’m digging the Ingrid Michaelson song ‘Parachute’

Loving: Marco woke up this morning in a beautiful, sweet mood. When I looked at him in his crib, he smiled, raised his arms up to hug me, and said ‘Mama!’

I kind of died a good little death right then and there.

Watching: Who’s watching the ‘Watchmen’? Not me. I finished the book (different but i enjoyed it more than expected), and borrowed the movie from Adrienne and Justin. Unfortunately, we have not had time this week to sit down and watch it! I’m hoping I can manage it tonight.

What are your weekend plans? Anything exciting?

Happy Monday, readers! How was your weekend? I had a pretty good one, if I do say so myself.

Saturday we visited with my mom and sister (who is 17 years old now – HOLY MACKEREL!), and had dinner at La Pinata in downtown San Jose (oh HAI Sharks fans). The food was just o.k., but the Blackberry Margarita I ordered was delicious!  Sunday I grocery shopped, surprised Tim with a matinee ticket to ‘Tron: Legacy’ in 3D at Cameo Cinema, and spent time with Marco while Timmy geeked out at the movies.

Look at this hunk:

This is how Marco kisses me: He pulls my face in, opens his mouth and makes contact with whatever is handy (my nose, lips, or cheeks). I end up with drool all over my face but it’s so cute I don’t even care. Ignore my scrubby appearance.

I’m ready to rock this week. I got so much done on Friday, that today should really be a breeze – but we’ll see how it goes. Tonight, I’m going to see ‘Black Swan’ (FINALLY!) right after work, and I can’t wait!

[The ubiquitous 'faves' post for 2010]

The past year was a beautiful, insane, yucky, badass one, for sure. I like to remember my years past with the music, books, photographs, and movies that defined the year for me… let’s take a trip down memory lane:

PHOTOGRAPHS
In order of occurrence, not of preference.

January 2010

Posts regarding the Baby-moon in Los Cabos: here, here, and here.

May 27, 2010

Posts regarding Marco’s birth: here, here, and here.

July 24, 2010

At Tim’s birthday barbecue with the Gomers

September 18, 2010

Posts regarding my birthday: here and here.

September 27, 2010

I just love his little face! This was taken after his bath.

December 24, 2010

<3 Marco’s cheesy-ham face. <3

MUSIC

Phoenix – ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’
I know this came out in 2009, but I started listening to it this year, and BOY did I listen to it. Such a great, fun album. These guys have a very tight sound (and I mean that literally, not the ‘hella tight!’ way).  All of the songs are very carefully crafted. Favorite songs: ‘Lisztomania’, ‘Lasso’ and ’1901′.

Jimmy Eat World – ‘Invented’
Well DUH! My boys put together a lovely, lovely record. I think this rates in my top 3 JEW albums. Favorite songs: ‘Heart is Hard to Find’, ‘Movielike’, and ‘Mixtape’.

P.S. The MP3 version is available for download for just $5.99 on Amazon. CLICK HERE

The Black Keys – ‘Brothers’
HECK YES.  Those are my only words.   Favorite songs: ‘Tighten Up’, ‘Sinister Kid’, and ’10 Cent Pistol’

Brandon Flowers – ‘Flamingo’
I was already a fan of The Killers, but Flowers’ solo effort has his characteristic flamboyance and theatricality, yet retains the folk-rock sound that I like. Favorite songs: ‘Broken Heart of Mexico’, ‘Only The Young’, ‘Crossfire’ . 

LITERATURE

Once again, these weren’t all released this year, but I read them this year. So there.

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

FILM

‘Inception’

I know you probably agree with me, so explanation isn’t exactly necessary; the story was super, the effects amazing, and Leonardo DiCaprio forced me to accept his talent as an actor. Also, Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a three-piece suit. OMG.

There’s my list for the year, folks. What’s on yours?

* H A P P Y N E W Y E A R ! *

<3

…a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you!” – Ebenezer Scrooge  from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

This is a random post – my thoughts are a bit scattered!

Today was neither good nor bad, but it was tiring. I was so busy at work with stacks of paperwork to go through, and I barely made it through the urgent stuff. I will be swamped tomorrow. Hope I can get it all done.

I know I’ve no right to complain about the cold, considering the snow storms elsewhere, but it’s been in the low 30s and I am freezing my tush off! Tim was in Colorado for work last week (Marco and I were all alone for four days, wahhh!!) and the temperature dipped into the teens; talk about MISERABLE! It was snowing though, and I would’ve liked to see that.  I’ve never seen the snow, except in passing out of a car window. Doesn’t really count.

Oohh!! My tickets for The Decemberists arrived in the mail!! Tim and I are going to see them on February 14th at the Fox in Oakland. Valentine’s Day FTW! Their new album, ‘The King is Dead’ comes out in January – I am very excited. The last two albums ‘The Hazards of Love’ and ‘The Crane Wife’ were both so flippin’ epic.

I’ve about finished with my Christmas shopping; just a couple of gifts left to purchase. I hope everyone likes their presents! Marco has so many presents sitting under the tree; Tim thinks I’m kind of a nut for getting him so many. I can’t help it, though! Hee hee

Been listening to Christmas music more and more, to try and psych myself up for the impending celebrations. Last year I posted a list of my favorite holiday tunes, and this year I’ve not added any new goodies to my playlist. I tend to stick to the classics.

I’ll leave you with a clip from one of my favorite Christmas movies, ‘A Muppet Christmas Carol’:

Enjoy your Monday evening, my kind readers!

First, a couple of notes:

-If you want to know if someone is an optimist, find out if they buy white tee-shirts. Nothing says ‘glass-half-full’ like the purchase of a white shirt. “Oh, I won’t soil this. No problem keeping this clean.”

-Sweet potatoes are actually REALLY good.

My Thanksgiving plate – round 1.

P.S. SWEET POTATOES AND YAMS ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. Yams are nasty.

Love and hugs and hearts and flowers to Monica (other Mom!), because she made the BEST thanksgiving dinner. I’m still drooling.

-Ice is cool. See below:

Nutcracker ice sculpture at the Yountville Festival of Lights

I’m waiting for more of that delish old vine Zinfandel…

Marco and I, freezing our buns off.

I promised a movie review, so here it is:

‘Nowhere Boy’ was pretty good! Aaron Johnson was lovely as John Lennon, and had his accent down pat. I think the director (Sam Taylor-Wood) put together a good piece, putting aside the Lennon myths and really capturing the spirit of the Liverpool teen. This film depicts the time before he was in the Beatles. He reconnects with his mother, Julia, after spending most of his childhood being raised by his Aunt Mimi, and learns some painful truths about himself and his parents.

There are a few little goosebump-y moments – such as when he meets Paul McCartney, and later on, George Harrison. They kept these moments from being too stagey, and really broke it down to how teenage boys meet and become friends; sizing each other up, a handshake, and then they’re buddies. Still, as a Beatles fan, it gave me some thrills!

I did cry a little too; couldn’t help it! There’s a moment where John and Paul are hugging and crying at Julia’s funeral (after John punches Paul in a fit), and I teared up, not only for the moment itself, but because I was thinking how tough it must be for Paul to remember that his best friend is no longer around to hug, punch, you know…anything.

In conclusion, the movie was well-acted, with a good story to tell. If you’re a Lennon or Beatles fan, check it out. Also, for further information, check out the John Lennon biography by Philip Norman.

Speaking of books, I finished The Cider House Rules by John Irving. SO GOOD. I laughed, I cried, I munched on an apple. Read it. PLEASE.

Thinking of starting on The River King by Alice Hoffman

Tomorrow I promise adorable pictures of my baby Marco, who turned 6 months this past weekend!

xoxoxo

I’m guest-blogging over at my friend Jacqi’s blog today, so go check it out HERE.

I gave my notice to the Inn yesterday – kind of sad to leave my boss! She’s amazing, and I hope that my new employers are just as great (but I think they will be!).

I’m very excited for the rest of this week. Tomorrow we’re going to check out a really cool daycare for Marco (crossing my fingers they let him in! I don’t like waiting lists), and then we’re going to visit Tim’s sister Chloe, who is home visiting from college (it’s her 18th birthday!).

Then we have the National Day of Eating: Thanksgiving!

On Friday, the town of Yountville is hosting its annual Festival of the Lights.  There’s food, wine, Santa Claus, carriage rides, and the lighting of the trees down the main street. Tim and I love attending this – we weren’t able to last year because I had to work, but we went in 2006, 2007, and 2008. I’m excited to show Marco around!

I’m thinking of hitting up Cameo Cinema to see ‘Nowhere Boy’ … I <3 me some Beatles, and I read the John Lennon biography earlier this year, so it will be interesting to see the portrayal of Lennon’s youth. Here’s the trailer:

I’ll probably be MIA for a few days, but I promise to return with recaps of the holiday and the movie!

Spend the holiday with loved ones, and eat lots of delicious food. Remember to thank your friends and family for being lovely.

XOXOXO

I know, 2 posts in one day, but there’s big news about Baz Luhrmann’s movie version of ‘The Great Gatsby’!!

Okay so ”Gatsby’ is one of my favorite books. I fell in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald, and after I read it, I obsessively read everything else he ever wrote.

I can see Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby – but I want to state that I would’ve REALLY liked to see him as Nick Carroway. I think he would’ve been perfect for that role. But I can get on board with that much more easily than I can as the rumoured decision of Baz Luhrmann to give the role of Nick to Tobey Maguire. JUST WRONG. I can’t stand Tobey Maguire, and even with all of the many (MANY) flaws of the 1974 film version of this book, Sam Waterston was perfect as Nick. A&E made a television version years ago, and they cast Paul Rudd in the role – and he actually was quite a good fit. Tobey Maguire will have to pull out something magical in order for this role to suit him.

I was hearing rumours of another Leo DiCaprio-Joseph Gordon Levitt matchup, and given Leo as Gatsby, I would’ve liked to see JGL as Nick!

Speaking of another ‘Inception’ buddy, Tom Hardy would be a perfect Tom – and not just because of the name. I think he fits the word ‘hulking’, as Daisy says.

I wasn’t so sure about Carey Mulligan as Daisy, but I like her as an actress, and after seeing this promotional artwork I can envision it:

I have a feeling she’ll play her much better than Mia Farrow, who turned Daisy into a flighty little delicate thing. I want them to bring out her manipulations, her calculating brains. Carey is a little young to play Daisy but I think that there’s potential for awesomeness here.

Although, just want to throw this out there: wouldn’t she have made a PERFECT Rosemary Hoyt in a theatrical version of  ’Tender is the Night’? OMG I’m drooling just thinking about it.

Maybe Baz can make this work. We’ll see.

I finished reading The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen last week. While I was never able to like any character, the story was interesting and believable. The outcome was kind of what I expected. I can’t say that I love it, but I did enjoy Franzen’s style. I may check out his more recent novel, Freedom, but probably not until I read a few of the books I’ve added over recent weeks!

Currently reading The Cider House Rules by John Irving. I love Irving, and think he is a fantastic storyteller. His A Prayer for Owen Meany is one of my favorite books EVER. So far this novel is great. One of the things I love so much about Irving is his sense of the comedic – nothing is left untouched by his dark humor.

I want to mention, however, that this book is not for everyone. One of the main plot points involves abortion, and the moral questions surrounding it. I wouldn’t particularly recommend this book to someone with very strong feelings against this action.

I know that John Irving won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie version of this book – but I haven’t seen the film yet. I’m adding it to my Netflix queue after I finish the novel.

OH YEAH – AND ANOTHER THING! Do not ever watch ‘Simon Burch’. It’s the movie loosely based on Owen Meany, and it’s terrible. John Irving wouldn’t even let them use his character names because the screenplay was so bad. Just stick to the book, which will make you laugh and cry.