Well, dear readers, I had neither Mexican Food or a Sticky Bun yesterday, but I still managed to have a lovely day and evening nonetheless (“nevertheless” – a lovely three-for-the-price-of-one word). I did quite a bit of work in the morning hours, then picked up some mail that needed picking up, and then did some things around the home environment. Then I headed down to the DGA to see Mr. Clint Eastwood’s film, Million Dollar Baby. Prior to seeing it, I went to the Virgin Store, which is a store I don’t really care for. However, I did pick up two count them two CDs whilst there – Jacques Loussier’s marvelous Play Bach CDs from France. I met our very own Tammy Minoff at the DGA, and then we saw Million Dollar Baby. Of the little I’ve seen this year, I’d say it was the best American film of the year, hands down. Why? Because Mr. Eastwood is a fine non-showoff director – a director whose primary aim is to tell the story. This he does very well indeed with simple understated direction that never calls attention to itself. The film is beautifully crafted. Furthermore, Mr. Eastwood respects screenwriters. It’s said that after he bought this script, the writer asked him when the notes sessions would begin. Mr. Eastwood told him there would be no notes sessions – he was shooting the script as it was written. Hillary Swank is very good as the Million Dollar Baby – I don’t know if she’s a great actress or anything, but she plays this part extremely well and deserves her kudos. While I do believe that Mr. Eastwood will prevail as a Best Director Academy winner, I feel that it’s his performance in the film that should win an award. In short, it’s a great performance. Not a show-off performance, just a perfectly-pitched nuanced performance. No Oscar bait here, but he deserves to win the Oscar for Best Actor because no one I’ve seen this year can touch this performance. Mr. Morgan Freeman delivers another terrific performance. The film takes a strange turn two-thirds through, and I wasn’t sure I liked that turn, but it turns out that the final third is what the film is all about. It’s moving, and Clint, as I said, is superb in his final scenes. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it strongly.
I had a turkey sandwich for lunch, so for dinner Tammy and I went off to our beloved Genghis Cohen for Chinese food. As always, it was yummilicous. And thankfully, I didn’t overeat – we split two dishes. Oh, and before the movie I went to a place called Bristol Farms, just down the street from the DGA. I’ve never been there before (last I was in that joint it was Chalet Gourmet – about twenty years ago), but I’ll be going back, for they have chocolate licorice and any place that has bags of chocolate licorice gets my business. It’s like Trader Joe’s, but everything looks better. So, now I have chocolate licorice to keep me warm and cozy.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because I must get off my Hillary or Howard Duff and talk about other things.
I have slipped into something more comfortable to write part deux of the notes. My goodness, I just got very French, didn’t I? Isn’t that just tres tres? In any case, I have slipped into something more comfortable to write part deux of the notes. I’m wearing a chiffon gown with a plunging neckline and I look quite dazzling in a comfortable sort of way. Tres jolie, if you ask me.
Tonight I will be celebrating a birthday with one of our very own dear readers. Yes, Virginia, it’s time to put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, it’s time to break out the cheese slices and ham chunks, it’s time to dance the Hora or the Polka, because today is the birthday of dear reader Charles Pogue. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to Charles Pogue the birthday boy. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO CHARLES POGUE THE BIRTHDAY BOY!!!
We’ll be going to our beloved Schwab’s where I will try not to overeat as usual, and yes, I’m thinking of wearing this very chiffon gown with the plunging neckline. If I do so, heads will turn, mouths will be agape, and looks will be askance. Has anyone noticed that the French have come and gone? We started to go off in a French direction, using such charming words as “tres” and “deux” and “jolie” and then, quite suddenly the French disappeared. And speaking of foreign disappearances, where in tarnation has Hisaka gone? Perhaps she ran away with the French. Someone has run away with the French, because the French has left the room. Merde. Oops, there it is again.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must work in the home environment, I must drive about in my motor car, and then I must join the birthday boy and his lovely wife for a lovely birthday dinner. Today’s topic of discussion: Since I just saw Million Dollar Baby, and since the setting for the film is the boxing world, what are your favorite sports films and, while you’re at it, what are your favorite sports? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as I sit here in my comfortable chiffon gown with the plunging neckline.