More movies, pre-Oscar thoughts, etc.

Arturo and I went to see "The Wrestler". I was totally prepared to hate it--not a big fan of Mickey Rourke, hate wrestling, don't like sports movies in general, etc. I also thought that nobody could be a better contender for Best Actor than Sean Penn in "Milk". Well, I was completely sucked in, just bowled over by Rourke's performance. I don't know where he pulled this one from but it is an extraordinary piece of work. I was in tears during one scene, he was so brutally, brilliantly honest and exposed as an actor. If he doesn't win the Oscar it will be a major robbery. According to imdb.com, Marisa Tomei is 45. While that's not exactly over the hill, it ain't young either. She looks completely fantastic--don't know how much time she spends at the gym to get that body but it must be substantial. It's embarrassing, really.

Wrote the Oscar quiz over the weekend. Arturo says it's a tad easier than previous years, which is good, because people often tell me it's very hard. I think this one is full of giveaway questions but then again.....I'm the one writing the quiz! We'll see what the reaction is this year. I think things are pretty much under control for the big night; all I have to do is the usual furniture rearranging and of course borrow the projector again. Last year I offered to buy the projector from Bill but he wants way too much money for it--$1000!--which is crazy, since it's hardly new. But he's funny about stuff like that, so I won't ask again this year. Personally, if I were in his situation, I'd rather have $200 in my hand than a projector which might be worth somewhat more to a different person, but which I never used. Oh well.

I've been doing a lot of cleaning out and rearranging over the past months. I think the house looks better (at least to me), and I have the satisfaction of knowing I've done a lot of good work. My next job, after the Oscar party, is to work on the TV room. I'd really love to radically re-think everything about it. I think it would be fun to paint it a wonderful, warm, tomato-soup red, and make it feel like a little jewel box theater. We'll see what happens. I have a lot of ideas percolating.

My picks for the Oscars: Picture--Slumdog; Actor--Rourke; Actress--Winslet; Supporting Actress--Davis; Supporting Actor--Shannon (this is actually an "anyone but Heath Ledger" vote); Director--Boyle. I think Winslet will win but in my opinion she's nominated for the wrong role; she was much better in "Revolutionary Road". Oh well--less than a week to wait!

One singing job in March and two in April, which makes me very happy. I am much better when I have something to prepare for. Arturo's Schubert concert was last night, and he played so very well! I was so proud of him. He looked calm and collected, all the little things I've heard him practicing came off without a hitch, his intonation was perfect, and he was so musical. Plus he looked very handsome in his tails! A lovely evening.

TTFN. Comment away! I love to know what everyone thinks....or even if they're reading at all. xoxo