A Little Amusement

Found this site earlier, and found it very amusing.

I took the quiz and scored 85% correct, which meant I guessed correctly on 17 out of 20 pairings.

So, how is YOUR gaydar?

Another Curious Coincidence

I went to see a matinee of The Forgotten, starring Julianne Moore and Gary Sinise and Alfre Woodward at my favorite matinee theatre in Hudson. As usual, I had a private screening. I hope they get a lot of business in the evenings, because I like going there in the afternoons, and I am quite frequently the only patron in the place.

Anyway, I liked this movie. After seeing it, I came home and read a lot of reviews. Most of them were of the negative variety. And while I agree that the film doesn't really answer the questions it raises (such as why these things are happening) I find that life itself rarely gives answers either. I thought the concept and the acting were quite good, and perhaps this is more of a foreign film - Americans like their films all wrapped up nice and tight...we don't seem to like having to think or really discuss art.

And I did like the ending...I guess I am a sucker for determination winning out in the end. I liked seeing a happy ending. God, does that make me an optimist?

Oh, about the coincidence...when I woke up this morning, I found that great Virginia Woolf quote...then I went to the movie, which I wasn't planning on, and Julianne Moore was in The Hours, which was about (more or less) Virginia Woolf...It isn't like Virginia Woolf crosses my path every day...

Wisdom From Virginia Woolf

The only thing in the world is music-- music and books and one or two pictures.
--Virginia Woolf

New Music Tuesday

Well, I had every intention of getting QUEEN LATIFAH's new CD, The Dana Owens Album, when it was released today.

From the opening notes of Track 1, I can assure you all that this is the must-have CD of 2004. While only having time to give it a rather rudimentary perusal, this CD is destined to be one of my favorites of all time. If you are familiar with her tracks from the soundtrack to Living Out Loud, and, like me, yearned for more tunes ala Going Out Of My Head , Be Anything and Lush Life, the wait is over.

The CD is mostly soul, R&B and jazz covers, with a few ballads, and a great cover of California Dreamin' with nice guitar work. Go get this CD.

While I was picking up the Queen, I saw that JOSS STONE's new CD, Mind, Body & Soul also came out today, and it was on sale for $9.98.

Again, only time for a cursory listen, but it is also a highly recommended listen. Her first CD (EP really), Soul Sessions blew me away. I really am amazed by her voice - but I must admit to being a bit freaked out by the fact that not only is she a mere child of 16, but she is also British. To consider these facts while listening to her sing makes my head hurt. It is improbable at best. To me, I hear a soulful refined Joplinesque quality in her singing - a lot of living and feeling - and then I remind myself that she is a blond, 16 year old Brit. Amazing.

Time and Love

At long last, today is the day I celebrate owning my own copy of the CD, Laura Nyro: Live at the Bottom Line 1988!

I received it from an EBAY seller in California, after several years of waiting for a copy in excellent condition that one could purchase for less than $35. To make the waiting even more excruciating, I had borrowed a copy of the CD via inter-library loan from the New York Public Library...but the disc was so damaged it could not be copied, and barely played. Imagine my joy at a shiny, scratch-free disc!

Laura's live performances of Wedding Bell Blues, Stoned Soul Picnic and a "new" song, Companion are three of my favorite tracks of all the Nyro oeuvre.

I highly recommend giving this CD a listen. Delightful.

Time and Love refers to a Nyro tune, of course. To round off my day, I purchased four Fossil watches. I have no idea what came over me. I intended to buy one, but....there was a sale....and, well...I have a nice square sack of Fossil tins now. One is a gift, so three is slightly less self-indulgent, and with my current watch family of two, I think the five of us won't be seeing any additions at any point in the next decade or so. If you haven't checked out the majorly cool watchbands on the newest Fossil watches, I suggest you do so. But be forewarned, they appear to be surprisingly addictive...

Sadly, I visited the Fossil website, and found another "must-have"...I warned you about their addictive quality...

An Odd Coincidence - A Book Review

My best friend just took a fancy job at Stanford University in California, so while she and her husband are out there looking for a place to call home, I am house-sitting their soon-to-be sold home for them.

I settled in for a bit of reading, with a book I found at my new favorite bookstore, Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Legacy Village (Cleveland).The book is: River of Shadows -Eadweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West by Rebecca Solnit (ISBN 0142004103).

Muybridge was the "father" of instantaneous motion photography. Solnit posits that he is also the father of cinema, and by a complicated, albeit fascinating chain of events, she argues that he is the father of the whole "modern" world that we live in, and the manner in which we perceive it. The book is a wonderful history of early western exploration, photography, cinema, Native American relations, and the effects of the railroad not only on opening up the country, but the effect it had on time, and on man's perception of time.

These are all topics I find intriguing in and of themselves, and it takes place in my favorite time period...but one of the major characters in this tale is LELAND STANFORD. This book is also a history of Stanford University, and California history! Very strange how life will lead you to connections like these...

And by the way...if you think of Muybridge as just a "motion photographer", (if you think of him at all) there is a world waiting to be discovered! Not only was he a gifted landscape and panoramic photographer - he was also a murderer! Ah, those wacky, crazy days of yore...

Restaurant Review - SERGIO's

I had a lovely lunch on this chilly and rainy, kinda Pacific Northwest day with my pal, Heather, at Sergio's, my new favorite restaurant in University Circle.

It advertises that it specializes in South American (Argentinean) cuisine, yet I am still not entirely sure what that means. Last time I was here (two weeks ago exactly), we were able to sit outside on their lovely patio. I must point out that the charming facade of the restaurant as well as its name does indeed lead one to think that it is an Italian eatery. But those kinds of identity dichotomies intrigue me - I suppose because I can relate to them so well.

The other great thing about the location of Sergio's (besides being in walking distance of the Botanical Gardens, the Cleveland Art Museum and the Cleveland Cinematheque), is that the Frank Gehry-designed Peter B. Lewis building of Case Western Reserve is across the street, and that is one cool building. Just trying to figure out how they managed to get the walls and windows to curve kept me entertained for the walk back to my car.

Okay, back to the review. The ambiance, the setting, the staff (I had the same waitress who did remember me and what I had ordered two weeks ago, including the type of wine I had, which impressed me perhaps more than it should have) and the food are all outstanding, and the prices are certainly reasonable.

I can highly recommend the orecchiette pasta, which is served with caramelized onions, chicken and spinach in a lovely wine sauce. And whatever you do, you must have the French press pot of Brazilian coffee after your meal. For me, that has become the sole reason for going there. But I must say for the record that Heather is an excellent dining companion, and the conversation was stimulating - even if I am filled with envy that she is leaving tomorrow for a much-deserved trip to the Toronto Film Festival. I am making a cyber-note to go next year!

Sergio's 1903 Ford Drive Cleveland, OH 44106 216-231-1234 (nice number!)

New Music Tuesday

PATRICIA BARBER: Live - A Fortnight in France

Oh, how I do adore Ms. Barber. And how excited I was to get this CD in my hands.

Ms. Barber kindly posted the CD on her website a few days ago, so I had heard and fallen madly in love with this performance, which I was already predisposed to adore, as I am inordinately fond of live albums.

I was most taken aback by Witchcraft which sounds like the opening act for Sinatra at the Sands...I have never heard her play in this manner before, and it is a great tune.

Other favorites are Gotcha , Dansons La Gigue! Call Me (not the Blondie tune) and Laura.

Reunited With a Old Friend

I've been having a huge urge to get outside and do some shooting (photography, not guns).

Today I got up early and grabbed by gear - my old friend, the Nikon N70. With a roll of color and roll of black and white film, and a fresh battery, and the obligatory stop at Starbuck's, I was off for my photography adventure.

I went to Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland Heights. It is well-known for its Victorian angels, which is one of my favorite subjects for photography. A few very famous folks are resting there, including President Garfield, Eliot Ness (The Untouchables) and Mr. John D. Rockefeller. I think because of these high profile and wealthy residents, the enormous, unending grounds of the cemetery are in meticulous upkeep. Which means that though there are indeed many, many statues in the cemetery, they are almost, without exception, in perfect condition. No missing limbs, decay or untimely decapitations to be found here.

I think that the most dramatic photos from this shoot came from two bronze statues that have excessive patina stains that look like either tears, or a very abstract Cirque du Soleil performer's make-up. Once I figure out the photo posting thing, I will share my findings with you.

My trip was over very quickly, even with two rolls of film, as I dedicated practically the entire B&W roll to one statue. This means a return trip is called for...and there is so much more cemetery to explore...