State of the Universe

So what is this about Warner Brothers executive blaming women for their poor box office hauls lately? Evidently a bigwig said that they will no longer choose scripts where women have the lead roles. What I wonder, is that just for action movies? I’d like to see a chick flick with no chicks. Ha!

Of course, people are furiously covering up the comment so thoroughly that the media is already doubting their three separate sources. That isn’t so scary. It is scary that someone actually is thinking that way. Does Mr. Bigwig really think that not casting Nicole Kidman and Jodie Foster is going to help? What about all the other elements like say, good supporting actors? Directors? Publicity? Scripts? You know, the other zillion things that make up a good movie. Because face it, us women can’t do EVERYTHING all at once. If the script sucks, it doesn’t matter who is cast as lead, it is going to bomb.

As an aside…some of these TV stations sure are making it hard to find out what their schedule is for their shows. I just wanna know what is on tonight! And yes, the above little rant did come out of me trying to find out what is on TV tonight.

There was an article about living without items made in China in Chatelaine that was okay. It didn’t really debate the issue or tell me much new. But it shows me that I am not the only one looking around at other options. I always expect more from magazine articles. I guess that is why I usually don’t read them. I expect a couple thousand words of facts, not just talk. I guess I expect it to be a mini book or something. Same with newspapers. Those articles start off good and then reduce themselves to dribble.

It’s tough when my husband is right about things. For instance, he was right that one of his students was in trouble. (Now a former student by a few years.) But he was powerless to save him outside the school. He’s been a touchstone for this kid. And he knew that the kid was in limbo. He could either make it or not, he just needed the right thing in his life at the right time. And he couldn’t figure out what the right thing might be and how he could get it to the kid.

Sadly, that ‘thing’ didn’t come along and now there will be a funeral for that teen next week.

I hate it when he is right.

Come on Versa!

So, I was finally getting motivated to do all these things in the yard that I have been putting off. I planted the 50-60 bulbs I had bought (tulips and daffodils) and was moving on to mowing the lawn so it would look less scraggly over the winter. And guess what I did? I broke the mower. After, embarrassingly, having the neighbour come over and remind me that I had to prime the engine, (I hate looking that dumb), we got it going. But then it died and then it wouldn’t stay going at all. So something somewhere is screwed up. Or maybe I am just supposed to have a scraggly lawn all winter–just so we don’t start looking too uppity.

I voted for going out and buying an electric mower, but the idea was ixnayed.

Anyway, I was all motivated to mow and the mower broke. I was all motivated to build a wind screen trellis thing for our deck–and now I have an awful cold. I even finally bought the wood and have all our tools that I will need returned. And now I don’t know what to do. Other than watch a pile of TV. And read–except that my eyes burn.

I keep hoping my cold will go away if I do nothing.

But oh, I should be getting my call from Nissan today or tomorrow telling me that I won the Versa! Cross your fingers for me! The draw is today. Please, please, please! I need a new car. My exfoliating one is getting pretty wobbly!

I picked up a book at Chapters: ‘The Feminists Go Swimming’ (by Michael Collins) for something like two bucks. It isn’t what is sounds like. Not at all. It is a bunch of short stories by an Irish male writer. Basically, they are gloomy, hopeless stories and women tend to be these total downers. Does he hate women? Or is life really that oppressively gloomy in Ireland? What about the happy little leprechauns dancing around after rainbows? Is that all an American myth? Maybe leprechauns are really vicious little ankle biters. The stories are well-written but I’m not sure if I am going to finish reading the book. Unless he puts in some leprechauns.

I am also reading ’4Blondes’ (by Candace Bushnell, writer of Sex in the City–which I have never watched–only female on the planet that hasn’t, I am sure) which I got for 50 cents at the second hand store. It is about a bunch (4) of unhappy women who are big shots in New York. There seems to be a lot of unhappiness and anal fixations in all of their lives. Maybe if they knew that the Ps go in their Vs, they’d be happier.

First Snow

Last night was the first snowfall of the season. It is already gone, of course. But, it was pretty exciting for our daughter as well as for her friends who came over this morning to play all day. By 8 a.m. she was outside making snow angels. And I tell you, I forgot how crazy a toque can make your hair when you pull it on when your hair is still wet and don’t pull it off until your hair is dry. Eeeek!

They put a playground in beside us which is very exciting. Many hours have been spent there already. And I have met a pile of neighbours. Strange though, they all ask when they discover just how close we are to the park, “Did you build or buy?”

Like really, are you trying to classify me with some strange schemata you have in your mind? Because, you can pretty much toss it out because we didn’t do it for the reasons you assume. (Although, I am not sure what reasons they are assuming…basically, I just don’t understand.)

Anyway, the snow was wonderful. But, I suppose it also means that I shouldn’t procrastinate much longer on planting my daffodils and tulips if I expect them to come up next spring!

And of course, the other outdoor projects…

Still haven’t gotten the car fixed. But then again, I am sort of hoping to hear from Nissan that I won a Versa. I sent in my essay for this week’s draw (which actually happens next week). Now, of course, I never win anything. But then again, this would certainly make up for a lifetime of not winning stuff!

Okay, okay, I won some peanut butter brittle when I was 17.

Girl’s Night

Where did September go? Anyone, anyone?

I am so full. Oh man!

Was talking with a lady at my daughter’s dance class today and her and some friends are heading to Vegas for a week. That is some girl’s night out. Usually they just rent a limo and go out. This will certainly top that!

When I was a teen, my mom and I sometimes would have a junk food weekend when the guys were away. We’d rent movies and eat some junk. It was cool.

Anyway, hubby is away for a retreat. Even though we have a ton of leftovers to eat, my daughter and I decided to eat out. Never a hard decision, really. So we had fries and the usual restaurant type food. Then we went out to get some pumpkin pie and whipped cream. Finally we spied some and wonderfully, it had whipped cream on it already! Sweet!

On to the movie store, used our two for one coupon and got two movies. Daughter picked up “Happily N’Ever After” again. Something about the princess thing. I am going to watch “Year of the Dog” (when I get access to the TV.)

Anyway, got home where the helium balloon got let go of (not by me) and some impressive wailing resulted. Well, you’d have thought she had gotten her fingers caught in the door or something. And of course, the neighbours are all out and the new playground is plum full of parents and kids. (It is nice that the playground is so well used, but it sucks that EVERYONE had to hear the wailing.)

So, it was decided that we should have a pajama party. Because we’d never had one before. And pajama parties are fun. So, here we are with full tummies, eating pie (that had been frozen–not so yummy) and watching “Happily N’Ever After”–which is amusingly satirical.

Man, I am full!