Talk to Me

The first pet post of Spring.  Not that you'd know it. 

I hope last Sunday's snow storm was THE last of the season. 

Watching. Always watching. 

Bugging Dad #1, as he was working from home. 

They're all cute, but I'm all about Tony here. 

He's got the white and black face. 

Bright Ideas. 

Shep's full of 'em. 

Trying something new. A new embedded video way. 

This is how Mr. Shep starts telling us we WILL be going for a walk  It's quite cute. 

Song by: Chris Isaacs 

My Eyes are T-Shirts

Never let it be said that I don't pay my debts.................eventually. 

I'm sure I still owe a few someones out there a few somethings. Probably cash. Or coke. 

Last week, I said Mike and I had not discussed any type of prize for The 12th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game®   I believe he could have just basked in the glory by itself, but that wasn't really gonna do. 

During the broadcast - at least the part for which I stayed awake - I looked for a prize. And found one. Unfortunately, he found the item as well, which I hoped he would not. He just didn't know it would be the win from our contest. 

As you may remember, we had some good, albeit brief, fun with the Animated Short section. I went with the winner. Mike went with My Year of Dicks.......as I knew he would, as he is predictable that way. 

Upon his win, the next day I contacted Mike's much better half and requested a verification on his shirt size.  I won't divulge it here, as you know how people are about their body size. That's only between his WW coach or every carny on the East coast. ......or Carnie Wilson.....and him.  And me. 

I mean, had the Whale been nominated for Best Pic, just to fuck with him, I'd have gotten him the  XXXXXXXXXXXXL.  I mean, if they're not selling those then what is the point of My 600 lb Life (possibly my autobiography title) and shows like it? 

Ordering didn't go as planned. The site started off with the billing address..........and then it turns out, no shipping address They assume, if you bought it, you want it. 

You know what I didn't want?  To get the shirt and have to go to the fucking post office.............for Mike. Well, for anyone. It's just fun to get in that specific jab. The order, the site, nothing, had any contact information. I didn't even get a confirmation email that might have had the 4-1-1- on where I could reach out to someone. 

Luckily, they have a Twitter handle (which doesn't work for me, since I dumped Elon months back) and one for InstaGram. I reached out via the latter. 

First off, yay they're giving the profits to Texas reproductive rights. I'm going with the baby arm in the title image that maybe their film has something to do with a woman's body not being ruled by white men in government. 

Secondly......Secret Admirer situation !!!  Is it a 'situation'?  Is it 'secret'?   I suppose it could be a situation, but 'admirer' seems like a lot. And I mean, a LOT.  For some reason I upper-cased the F in 'friend'. Isn't that enough? 

Thirdly........I'm part of Team Dicks!   ....and unlike most teams, I didn't even get picked last for this one!! Heck, I might even be able to make team captain..............or at least 'ball boy'.     ......see what I did there??

Naturally, Mike knows this will be a post. Well he knows there IS a post. He can only guess at the content....to a degree. He asked me to be kind.  Actually, he said "If you can't be mind (not MY typo!), at least be funny". 

I promised the latter only. I think I did ok. 

I will await tales of his wearing it to the mall and to Sunday dinner at his mother's house. I'm guessing one more martini and he'll care less and less about where he wears it. 

My debt is paid, even though technically I didn't have one. He won. He deserved it. And unlike the Armie Hammer phone case, hopefully the shirt's creators won't turn into cannibals. 

Song by: Matt Berninger

Anniversary

When I blogged about Spring and Indictments the other day (only one has happened so far, btw....) it wasn't until after hitting "publish" did I remember that March 20th equals by blogaversary. 

I started this thing back in 2003! I think last year I said I was 20. Or starting 20? I dunno. I'm old. Me me, and blog me. 

6,660 posts. Including this one.  18,501 comments. Not including the ones of praise you leave for me today. 

I kid. I kid. 

You can leave those anytime. It doesn't have to be today.   

I was gonna write other stuff, but then realized I said it in the vlog. One in which I did in one take - right or wrong. But probably mostly wrong. I find it best not to overthink these things. One and done. Much like a trick. 

We're (well, I am) already into three days of another year. Maybe this year, I'll make this thing interesting. 

.....but probably not. 

Song by: Duran Duran

Site of the Month

Remember when I said if I had nothing I'd just post hot guys or videos? This is kind of that. But then I figured I could pair it with a Site of the Month to not reek of desperation. 

Instagram isn't the Site.........but Brendon Wharton's page is. 

For whatever reason, he popped up in my feed and he makes me smile, so, after the umpteenth time of his videos showing up, I just decided to follow him. 

Yes, he's got an incredible body - though a little too over done for my tastes.  Yes, he's got a handsome face. But honestly, it's his moves in the gym. 

He's got 'em. The moves, that is. Nothing overt, yet sometimes overt. I get they are 5-7 seconds long and edited together to make it seem more cohesive. I also love that seemingly no one else in the gym is paying attention to him or his moves.   .....save the dude, who I'm assuming is holding the camera. 

Brendon is fun to watch.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brendon Tyler Wharton (@brendonwhartonfit)

Spring is Here

*

Ahhhhhh Spring.  It's today. 

A time of rebirth and coming out of a cold, heartless season. 

And, if BLOTUS is correct, the day he's arrested / indicted. A different kind of rebirth. A different kind of cold and heartless times. 

For Fuck Sake - it's a probable indictment on hush money to Stormy Daniels. I mean, this is a man who has defrauded much bigger things - including his country - for the sake of attention. 

Unlike his probable lie regarding the January 6th insurrection where he claims he did not provoke or incite having rioters / felons / MAGA folks to overthrow the government, this time, he is asking / telling people to 'protect and take back our nation'. 

Fuck.  I hate repeats. 

But the word on the street is that his minions will surround Mar-A-Largo to stop any arrest or transport of the Whale (not the movie!).  Or as it's probably known as vigilantism. Maybe when they go to harm the law, they'll fatally injure the accused......except that would make him a martyr and I can't allow that. 

While Stormy Daniels / $130,000 hush money is piddly stuff - where he won't spend one minute of jail time, even for arraignment - I SO need this to happen. 

I need (not want) the arrest to happen in the middle of the fucking night. Hair not done. Make up not on. Girdle not on. Depends probably still on. 

I need that to the news cycle. I need it to be the image with which the country is left: the man behind the curtain. The charlatan. The version Melanoma had to see (read: fuck!) just to get her green card and alimony. 

Of course, tit for tat. Now favours are pouring in. That twat, McCarthy, is threatening the NY prosecutor with looking into seeing in any federal funds were used for x, y or z.  That is a dangerous game. Doubtful you want the DOJ snooping through your shit, Kev. 

Maybe this is a big Jenga analogy, and once this piece gets pulled, things will start to tumble. 

A boy can dream. 

Happy Spring 2023, all. 

*sorry - my rule of thumb (usually) is no pictures of that dirtbag. But this is an unedited AP image that i thought necessary to show. 

Song by: Carly Simon

My Music Monday

March Sadness is the theme. I just saw, maybe I could have called it March Sade-ness and just do Sade tunes. 

Today, I don't know it is a sad song, but it sounds sad. I mean, it's Sinéad O'Connor. And to top it off, it's Sinéad O'Connor covering a Dame Elton John song.  Yes, I feminized him.  Yes, it's homophobic, but I can live with it. 

As John goes, I can take or leave his song "Sacrifice". I had heard it, obviously (or maybe not?), but I had stopped buying his records around the time of the Brown Dirt Cowboy. 

O'Connor does an incredible (my opinion) of the song on a tribute album to John and Bernie Taupin called Two Rooms. Years before, O'Connor would take offense when people compared her first disk to Kate Bush, saying she had more in common with Elton John. I guess she went out of her way to prove that. 

She slightly slows down an already semi-slowish song and her very understated vocals make you lean in to hear them and take them in. I've listened to this version 100x (and I'm being conservative) than I've ever listented to the original. 

Enjoy the Silence

I have run out of time to write anything.  Or even do the nonesense post. 

Saturday was a long and busy day.  I'll give you all your Sunday back.   Enjoy the day. 

Song by: Depeche Mode

Jump Jump

I'll say it was an interesting week at work. Not necessarily in a good way. I have far too many quirky people reporting to me - but not good quirky.  Still, each night, I got to stop by daycare and retrieve Shep, so he was all about kisses and making me distracted. 

We are at Horseshoe "Lake". 

Big to-dos for the 'hood. The lake is man made (was?). The dam in failing. So the water is drained Too expensive to fix, but people have been protesting it going back to the natural setting you see behind Mr. Shep. 

Daycare's IG feed. 

I hope he's having fun. 

Annie & Rosie.  

Not related genetically or by adopted family, but they hang together at daycare. I have a feeling you do not want to fuck with these ladies. 

When Shep Met Linus. 

Just when you think you know all the 'hood dogs, along comes another one. They got along famously. Sometimes you're just not sure with Shep. 

I am very familiar with Shep's greeting when I come to get him. 

I am loving he got someone else in on the action. 

Song by: Debbie Harry

Cooking with Blobby

Another new dish. Another pasta related one, if one can consider ramen as 'pasta', though I suppose it is. 

It had me at the title: Spicy Sesame Noodles With Chicken and Peanuts.  What is not to like about most of those words? 

Of course, early on, I was bummed it wasn't sesame paste but oil. I have made sesame noodles (via paste), and it's been ok, but Ina made it a LOT of work. It got raves, but it was a LOT of work.  This one seemed less so, but it sounded good. 

Let's see if it was, shall we? 

INGREDIENTS 

Yield: 4 servings 

1½ tablespoons (!!!) red-pepper flakes 

1½ tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 

1½ teaspoons toasted sesame oil, plus more as needed 

Kosher salt and black pepper 

½ cup plus 1 tablespoon neutral oil, like grapeseed or vegetable 

6 tablespoons roasted, salted peanuts, coarsely chopped 

Rind of ½ orange, peeled into 2- to 3-inch strips 

1 pound ground chicken 

10 to 12 ounces ramen or udon noodles, preferably fresh 

3 tablespoons finely chopped chives

PREPARATION 

Step 1 In a medium heatproof bowl, stir together the red-pepper flakes, soy sauce and sesame oil. Set next to the stovetop. 

Step 2 Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Meanwhile, in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium heat, cook the ½ cup oil, peanuts and orange rind, shaking the pan occasionally, until the peanuts are golden and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes. 

Immediately pour the contents of the skillet over the red-pepper mixture (be careful of splattering!) and set aside. 

Step 3 Meanwhile, in the same skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add the chicken and press it down with a wooden spoon into a thin layer. Season with salt and a generous amount of black pepper and cook, without stirring, occasionally pressing the layer of chicken down, until the bottom is browned, 5 to 7 minutes. 

Break the chicken up into small pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more. 

Step 4 While the chicken cooks, cook the noodles according to package directions, until chewy but not soft. Drain and toss with a bit of sesame oil. 

Step 5 Remove and discard the orange rind from the chile oil. Off the heat, add enough chile oil to coat the chicken and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Add the noodles and toss, adding more chile oil to fully coat the noodles and chicken. (If you don't use all of the chile oil, you can store it in the refrigerator for 2 weeks in an airtight container.) 

Top with chives and serve at once.

Verdict?   It was ok. 

1.5T of red pepper flakes, oddly didn't make it that spicy. The sesame oil didn't make it that peanuty - nor did the peanuts. 

It was fine, but not great. 

Oddly - or maybe not - the leftovers fared better.  Yes, before reheating I put a splash more soy and sesame over the noodles. It helped. 

I wouldn't say no to this one again, but it's not going into any kind of heavy rotation. 

Shopping with Blobby

Yet another installment in the drudgery that is everyday shopping. The camera-phone makes it a bit more fun - though I get looks whenever I take pics of products. Like I care what people think!  

This is really a Shopping with Becky.  She sent it my way. 

I was skeptical this was real. Just because of the name: Dingle Bearies.   

But then you look and go, 'chocolate covered gummie bears'.  

ICK. 

There is clearly a website for them. And it looks like Wal*Mart sells them. Of course, they'd sell just about anything if it made them three cents. 

Still, the name, if not the product, speaks to every 12 year old boy. And every man who has never mentally progressed past the age of 12.....................which is every man, ever. 

In theory, we should all have boxes of these in our house.  Oh, not to eat. Never. But imaging people opening up the cupboards to see them. 

Ides of March

 Because it never gets old.

Song by: Silverstein

One

Let's drag out this post, like they drag out the Oscars. 

Can we first critique Mike's comments? 

I get he was in a different time zone when he wrote them, but it only got one laugh from me. Mind you, it was a big one. The thought of Dame Judi Dench saying "My Year of Dicks" almost made me snort.  

And for the umpteenth year in a row he signs in as "anonymous".  I suppose "Deep Throat" was taken - and maybe the name doesn't apply to him, you'd have to ask around - but the sad fact of the matter this: he doesn't remember his gmail or yahoo sign-in / password. 

I'd have to go back and check, but I do believe this year is the largest gap in our selections: 11.  I want to say the most before this has been 7-8.  Usually it hovers in the 4-5 category. Those were great, because if they did those earlier in the program, I could mathematically declare the winner and go to bed, reading for details, if necessary, the next day.  

More on that in a bit. 

The show: meh. Nothing horribly exciting or horribly bad, but I'm loving Kimmel who should just host yearly. And man did he slam the audience about Will Smith. The whole security thing and violence at the awards and then said, "or do what you did last year. Nothing Maybe give him a hug afterwards".  I believe 88% of the celebs didn't get that it was at their expanse. 

My other take a way.  Lady Gag Gag.  I know we are supposed to be for trans rights, but yikes.....this dude.....

That is one severe look. 

Of course, when (s)he performed, someone took sandpaper to her face to get the layers and layers of make-up off so she could look "real" for her absolutely shiteous song from Top Gun. Sorry - it was just awful. It made "Take My Breath Away" sound like a classic. I told Mike, if she won, I was scrapping the Oscars thing - totally not worth it, and a good reason never to actually see Top Gun.   .....and why did (s)he got a 3 minute talking intro?  No one else did.  

I gotta give it to Short Round - from the acceptance speeches I saw (true, I only made it to a little after 22:00 - or like 12 awards in) he was pretty fucking good. Those acting classes are finally paying off. 

And Julia Louis Dreyfus nailed it as usual and that was as a presenter. The whole crappy Disney ad, since they own ABC, was just a big fucking turd, as was the shameless introduction like it was an award for their new Little Mermaid. All of it a cheap and embarrassing tactic for ABC and Disney. 

But as the race between Blobby and Mike goes........and of course, I hate to say it...........Mike won.  

By one. 

But one more than myself. 

I did myself in with the Director selection. I got cock / wishful that it wouldn't be the Daniels. I lost that bet. I lost the race. 

While I didn't think I'd lose on 'Best Song', who the actual fuck thought RRR (or whomever they are) would win? And worse, who thought Mike would pick that?  It certainly didn't help matters. 

For most of the broadcast - for which I stayed awake - we were pretty much even. And honestly, there were 11 opportunities to bust a win / loss wide open.......yet it didn't happen. A margin of one. It could have been so much worse. For one, I could have stayed up for the entire show and texted with Mike the entire time. So, in a way, he REALLY won. 

As always, since my fuck up in year one, the accounting firm of Dewey, Cheatham & Howe has the official tabulation below. 

Best Picture - both won

Best Director - Mike wins

Best Actress - both won

Best Actor - both won

Best Supporting Actress - Mike wins

Best Supporting Actor - both won

Cinematography - Blobby wins

Editing - both won

Original Screenplay - both won

Adapted Screenplay - Blobby won

Production Design - both lost

International Feature - both won

Animated Feature - both won

Animated Short - both lost

Documentary Feature - Mike wins

Documentary Short - both lost

Live-Action Short - Blobby wins

Visual Effects - Blobby wins

Original Song - Mike wins

Original Score - Mike wins

Sound - both win

Makeup and Hairstyling - both lost

Costume Design - both lost

I'm guessing he never gets this far in the post where I remind folks to look at the title image. Honestly, I can't believe the man even talks to me.

Perhaps there will be 13th year of this nonsense.  

Song by: Three Dog Night

12 of 12

 So I'm doing my 155th 12 of 12.

Normally it is 12 pictures taken on the 12th of the month. Since I only post once per day, you get my images the following day. All pictures taken with my iPhone. Click images to enlarge, if you choose.

Created by Chad Darnell and picked up from, what I can tell, any number of random bloggers who then link back to him and vice versa. Chad is no longer doing this, nor is successor coordinating the linking of other 12 of 12'ers anymore. Erik is back and I think he's picking up 12 of 12 again. 

07:13.  Time change false alarm.  It turns out he didn't lead me downstairs to go out. He just rolled around and went to sleep. 

09:36. Gym Time.  PT exercises to strengthen the knee. 

09:45. Gym Time II.  More stretches for knee and hip. 

Or I'm channeling Ann Reinking.

10:13. And for good measure, I'm bringing back vintage 2018 wear!

Yes, I fucked up my knee, which is extending my time in PT. 

11:19. No. I'm not juggling.  Just post gym-snack. 

12:06.  Laundry.  Sunday 12 of 12s are mostly about chores. 

13:46. Sunday hike up at Lake Erie and the Solstice Steps. Grey, but not super cold. 

14:54.  Mocking me. 

I have a number of books on my bedside table. The top one is for the queer book club I joined. They meet to discuss it on Wednesday.  I'm only one-third done. It's not horrible, but it's not GRABBING me.  ....and I haven't been making time.  Wednesday is gonna suck. 

16:14. Weekly grocery run: completed. 

16:32.  Ran a report for a Monday meeting. A. it gives me more time in the morning to workout. B. to do it later would mean me doing it tipsy. 

17:32.  Drinking Zoom. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. 

Not waiting to drink - just for others to show up. 

20:04.  The 12th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game®  begins.

Another month in the books. Maybe I'll do #156. 

Playing to Win

It is THAT time. The time of year of which none of you are waiting..........or in which you never participate. The 12th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game®     

It's a horse race. 

That's "horse".  Say it correctly. 

Lord, can you believe Mike and I have been doing this for 12 years? And all because of a flip comment on his blog on how he "always wins the office pool" regarding the Oscars. I took the bait. He challenged. I accepted........and a dozen years later.........here we are. 

Cookies, cupcakes, phone cases, movie tickets, booze and barbs have been exchanged. I'm mostly in it for the barbs...........and the cookies. Lately, there have been no prizes for the winner, which is ok, as I'd be broke. 

Mike had to remind me that the awards were this week, which means I had to do the work of the ballot and getting it to him. Mind you, as he is older, he is retired and has time on his hands. Naturally, those hands are clucthing a martini glass, but you'd still think he could have done a little of the work.    ......you'd think!!

So after I post this, he'll amend his selections to end up beating me by like 2-3 categories. Normally, we try to be witty about our selections, but we'll see. For both of us. 

Yearly, I fight choosing what will win versus what I think should win. I know this going in and I still go with the what should.........hence all my losses to secondest bestest dad to Ollie. 

Let's get this over with.......shall we? 

Best Picture “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “The Banshees of Inisherin” “Elvis” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” “The Fabelmans” “Tár” “Top Gun: Maverick” “Triangle of Sadness” “Women Talking”

Honestly, I don't even think this one is a contest, is it?  The movie is a LOT, but at least it doesn't have Tom Cruise in it. 

Best Director Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans” Todd Field, “Tár” Ruben Ostlund, “Triangle of Sadness” 

Yes, I'm bucking the Daniels. I am. This category alone might cause me to lose, but I'll do it in good conscience. While Banshees was sometimes figuratively painful to watch, it was beautifully written and shot. 

Best Actress Cate Blanchett, “Tár” Ana de Armas, “Blonde” Andrea Riseborough, “To Leslie” Michelle Williams, “The Fabelmans” Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

C'mon. You know it's gonna be the Crouching Tiger; Leaping Lizards lady. She was great. 

Best Actor Austin Butler, “Elvis” Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Brendan Fraser, “The Whale” Paul Mescal, “Aftersun” Bill Nighy, “Living”

Full disclosure: did not see the Whale. If you want to see Fraser in something good, he's in like a 4-5 episode arc of Scrubs from like 18 years ago. Butler was semi-fine, but not win-worthy though I could easily lose this one. Honestly, I originally voted for Farrell, but decided I wanted to win. I still hope Farrell wins. 

Best Supporting Actress Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Hong Chau, “The Whale” Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Condon has pulled off this award at other shows. BAFTA, Golden Globes - though she had that in the bag, as she's foreign herself.  I know the money is on Curtis and personally I like her, but I don't quite get the praise for her in Everything. She was fine. And that's it.  Stephanie Hsu however has NOT be recognized at any award show and she may have been the best part of Everything. 

Best Supporting Actor Brendan Gleeson, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Brian Tyree Henry, “Causeway” Judd Hirsch, “The Fabelmans” Barry Keoghan, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Yeah, Quan was SUPER annoying as Short Round in the shiteous second Indiana Jones movie- second in annoyance to Kate Capshaw - who fucked her way right to the top. But his racistly named Waymond, is what helped some very confused viewers (read: me) figure out the semi-entire multi-verse thing going on in the movie.  I'm also having a hard time with Gleeson being listed as Supporting here. He was def, co-lead of Banshees. 

Cinematography “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths” “Elvis” “Empire of Light” “Tár”

I did not see Quiet. Honestly, until the awards were announced I didn't even know they remade this. But I heard people liked it and somehow people love cinematography with war movies. Elvis had its moments for sure, but Luhrmann didn't do much new he hasn't done with all of his over the top visual movies 

Editing “The Banshees of Inisherin” “Elvis” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” “Tár” “Top Gun: Maverick” 

I'm surprised there are other nominees. A few months ago I lamented on how a filmmaker gets things to screen from a vision. Everything baffles me on every level on how they sold it, let alone made it. Editing doesn't even begin to tell of all the work that had to go in to piece this together. But this editor(s) deserves the award.....and then some. 

Original Screenplay “The Banshees of Inisherin” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” “The Fabelmans” “Tár” “Triangle of Sadness” 

Triangle of Sadness sounds like Mike's relationship with me and gin.  .....not in that order, I might add. It's hardly original. While I want to go with Banshees, I am leaning towards not. Everything isn't adapted, but I'm not sure it's original either. 

Adapted Screenplay “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” “Living” “Top Gun: Maverick” “Women Talking” 

Well, it IS Women's History MONTH!.  They should get something!   ....or at least 73% of something. 

 Production Design “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “Babylon” “Elvis” “The Fabelmans”

Sure. Why the hell not? 

International Feature “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Germany “Argentina, 1985,” Argentina “Close,” Belgium “EO,” Poland “The Quiet Girl,” Ireland 

Quiet isn't winning the big best picture category, so it's gonna pull a Roma and win other category to which they were nominated.  This one. 

 

Animated Feature “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” “The Sea Beast” “Turning Red” 

Artsy Fartsy director meets a story most people think they know. 

Animated Short “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” “The Flying Sailor” “Ice Merchants” “My Year of Dicks” “An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It”

Listen, I think we all know Mike is gonna pick the "My Year of Dicks".......just because of the title. Yeahhhh.....that's it.  But how are we not rooting for the Ostrich title?   I'd have picked the Dicks one too........if it were 'Years'. Plural. 

Documentary Feature “All That Breathes” “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” “Fire of Love” “A House Made of Splinters” “Navalny”

Honestly, watching the trailers for all of these, most seem worth of the prize. I think the sentimental will be Splinters, as it's about the Ukraine. But I'm all about Bloodshed.  Fire of Love looks great.  

Documentary Short “The Elephant Whisperers” “Haulout” “How Do You Measure a Year?” “The Martha Mitchell Effect” “Stranger at the Gate” 

Who doesn't love a story about an ex-marine who went to blow up a mosque? Tale as old as time. 'Murica!

Live-Action Short “An Irish Goodbye” “Ivalu” “Le Pupille” “Night Ride” “The Red Suitcase”

I have nothing in which to back this up. The trailer looked good and it won the BAFTA prize and the Brits HATE Ireland, so...........it MUST be good. 

Visual Effects “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “The Batman” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Top Gun: Maverick” 

I suppose Cameron & Co should get something for an 11 year wait and taking in two billion dollars. 

Original Song “Applause” (“Tell It Like a Woman”) “Hold My Hand” (“Top Gun: Maverick”) “Lift Me Up” (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) “Naatu Naatu” (“RRR”) “This Is a Life” (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) 

I have seen one of these movies - and if I've heard any of these songs, it's been unknowingly.....but, you know....Super Bowl star Rihanna is on this one (I think).  Or Rhianna. I know it's not Rhiannon. So that alone is a win............for me!

Original Score “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Babylon” “The Banshees of Inisherin” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” “The Fabelmans”

I'll assume the Fablemans was done by John Williams. ...and he has like 17 of these statues. Literally no one saw Babylon and the few who might have (and I'm talking the reviewers) didn't like it.  Once again, I'm going with Banshees. I don't remember the music at all, save for some pub songs - minus a finger or five. 

Sound “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “The Batman” “Elvis” “Top Gun: Maverick” 

I dunno.  Jet noises?

Makeup and Hairstyling “All Quiet on the Western Front” “The Batman” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Elvis” “The Whale” 

The pomade bill alone was a good chunk of the budget. 

Costume Design “Babylon” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Elvis” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”

I kind of want Mrs. Harris to take this. We wanted to see the movie, but missed the window. I'm sure it's streaming somewhere. 

So, the choices are locked in.  

Mike will make fun of me for not staying up for the show. Hell, I'm up at 04:00, and the show is only ending like 2.5 hours before that. I know it won't make me beautiful, but I do need some beauty sleep. 

I'm sure we'll recap this on Tuesday. Hopefully with me as the winner. 

Song by: Little River Band

I'm Only Sleeping

It was only a semi-craptastic week.  Some work. Some not. Things are fine - honest. But you know - you don't check in Saturdays to "read".  So let's get to it, shall we? 

More from our urban hiking. Down to where they park the Mather.

And like every other city, we have the name of our city in different places. 

I was making out with Shep. 

Even the yappiest of dogs needs to rest now and then. 

Or so I've been told.

March.  Snow. 

We were slated to get 3-5" yesterday.  What you see is what we got. 

Daycare pick up greeting.  Yay me. 

Uh ho..............she's up. 

Song by: the Beatles

Stop Draggin' My Heart Around

Lord.  I can't believe I even have to write about this in 2023. But it's more like 1953......but more conservative. 

If you've read me over the years, you know 'drag' is not my thing. Doing it (full disclosure: did it once at halloween), going to it, or watching it on tv. 

I have absolutely nothing against it or those who do it. It's just not my thing. 

Guess what?  It goes on all the time and hasn't affected me slightly even once. And it hasn't affected you once. Or anyone else. 

I'd tell the folks in Tennessee to 'suck my dick', and I did have to think about it for a second - but I'm good, as I don't recall anyone in that state doing that to me. 

Yet. 

You've seen the memes - Shakespeare, Geraldine, Bob Hope, Tony Curtis, Patrick Swayze, Julie Andrews, Jack Lemmon, Jackie Gleason - all wearing women's clothing.  HILARIOUS.  And those folks in Tennessee paid to see all of it. 

You've seen the memes - men in powdered wigs, priests, popes, all wearing dresses, fancy shoes and headdresses bigger than anything Carmen Miranda could dream up. 

Mind you, Gleason, who was roasted by Family Guy, who threatened, on a weekly basis, to send his wife "to the moon".   Lois responds - and correctly - "Okay, you're threatening to punch me so hard, I'm gonna fly to the moon? Like ... like it's funny to hit me so violently, my body will fly out of the atmosphere."

Domestic abuse is hilarious, and probably prevalent in the volunteer state. So is drag. 

Have you ever been on the General Jackson - the paddle wheel boat that goes through whatever river runs through Nashville?  The entertainment for the corporate events that are on stuck on that boat?  Cher. Dolly. Reba. Barbara (Streisand, not Mandell).   ......and all dudes. 

You just know these fucking Tennessee housewives watch and love Rupaul's Drag Race. 

Having drag queens read to kids is like abortion.  If you don't want to go or to have one - don't. Don't go. Easy Peasy. The people who are taking their kids are not the ones banning this shit. You're stopping something in which they're not even participating. 

Of course, it's Tennessee. Maybe they're envious that Brad dons a red wig, a bra full of bird seed, a lot of duct tape and fake ass Louboutins can read.  .....and they're lucky if they can still wash their back with a rag on a stick. 

It's fucked up - and predictable. The not so slow erosion of LBGTQ rights. 

Put on a white sheet (i.e. dress) and a hood, and you can still legally gather in Tennessee. Just make sure it's not 300 thread count Egyptian cotton................they might think you're gay. 

I'm not sure how this doesn't violate the First Amendment of speech and expression. They can say the Founding Fathers didn't mean drag queens..........and they didn't because they didn't envision them. Just as they didn't envision AR-15s. 

I guess we will get to see what SCOTUS says. You know the one where one-third are BLOTUS picks.  FML. 

I fucking hate this place. 

Song by: Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch Me

Some GOP operative from North Carolina, whom I have never heard a thing about.......mostly because he's a hick from NC, has publicly accused the head of CPAC of sexual battery. 

Not shocking. Not surprising. 

Christians in politics are the biggest of hypocrites, of course. So, it would almost be shocking if it wasn't coming down the pike. 

Funny turn of events: the judge wouldn't allow a $9,400.000 law suit go forward in the accuser remained anonymous, and I'm guessing that is what the accused was counting on.   .....until he gave up the ghost and stated his name. 

I guess grouping a guys ding dong - even clothed - and an invite up to a hotel room is considered sexual battery. Me? I just call it "Thursday".  Tomato. Tahmato. 

Allegedly, this guy has photos, video and texts from the CPAC guy. I mean, I sure hope so. 

I don't know how it will play out and I don't care. Even if the CPAC guy steps down, it won't hurt the organization who has never been worried about facts.............or Christianity. They'll just get another d-bag to take his place. 

BUT............and this killed me........the legal team of the accused (I'm not even going to bother to remember, let alone convey, any of these names) let surface racist writings and rantings of the accuser. 

This is the GOP.  This is CPAC.  This is the South.   

You can't even be in any one of those three, let alone all of them, WITHOUT having racist thoughts, convictions and mindset. It would be wildly more surprising if any of member of any of those groups didn't have a racist tirade trailing them around somewhere. 

Oh no!!!!.......and he liked the Confederate flag.  

You know, the same one is that every GOP rally, every NASCAR race and no doubt every CPAC meeting. Again, you get it with your GOP/CPAC Starter Kit. That an your Racist MadLibs book. 

This is all well and good, but hardly a barn burner.  $9.4 MM does seem like an overreaction to a cupping. I'm just guessing someone is in debt.............or worse, saw it happen and pegged the accuser as a homo. ....but I'm just guessing. 

Oh yeah - the blog image.  HILARIOUS.  And still more there than at his inauguration. 

Song by: Susan Sarandon