Even now I can feel your hand.

As I related in the last point, I saw the movie In the Cut, as recommended to me by Amber, and was surprised to find how much I loved it. I'm also obsessed with this particular tumblr that summarizes or features movies in four frames. Above is my hand at "framing" Jane Campion's 2003 movie. I instantly thought of framing the film because of how interesting Campion's shots were throughout. Has anybody seen it? What did you think? I remember people absolutely hating it when it came out; I can't believe I hadn't seen it until now.

The viewing also led to a little shake-up in my Top Five. Mark Ruffalo has always been near the top, but was never included. Well, he has taken down Lee Pace. Pace, as you may remember, was the lovable main character on Pushing Daisies, but since that has been cancelled, my love, too, has waned in his absence. Ruffalo is IN. Also, weird fact that I learned while watching the behind-the-scenes featurette on In the Cut - Ruffalo hadn't worked in ten months when approached my Campion, as he had just gotten over brain surgery from having a brain tumor that paralyzed half of his face. He doubted whether he would even return to acting.

In other news, the new Dashboard Confessional album is out today and I've been listening to it for the past week completely enamored with both the full-band and acoustic versions of the songs. Before listening, I wondered why he would even put out two versions of the same songs, and once I listened to the electric songs it became clear: Carrabba, you are using some electronic effects! Gotta get those acoustic songs out there too for the ol' die-hards...like my friend Rick, who has always proclaimed Dashboard is infinitely better unplugged. Rick and I plan on discussing the album(s) this week, and I'll let you know how that debate goes. For now, you can pick up the album for $6.99 today via Shockhound and if you want to know my two favourite songs at the moment they are "Get Me Right" and "Even Now."

Also, you know that movie Say Anything? It was released TWENTY years ago. Can you believe that?Lloyd Dobler holds the title as my first swoon ever. Way over any other 80s teen character, Lloyd was my silver-screen lobster - and I think every girl who's seen it. Some of the ladies came over on Saturday night for an anniversarial viewing, in which we talked about when we had first seen it, and how in ways it ruined our ideas of love - Lloyd Dobler does not exist (these sentiments were half-joking). Our own Jiscilla had never seen the film - I KNOW. We laughed as she commented during the viewing: "Aw, her dad is so nice. He takes care of her." and "She's not going to give him that pen, right? HA. That would be awful." I actually loved seeing someone react to the movie without ever having seen it! We all revelled in Diane Court, Joe lies/When he cries, Stoltz, keymaster, "If you were Diane Court would you fall for Lloyd Dobler?", kickboxing is the sport of the future, how does that "happen", I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen, IN YOUR EYES THE LIGHT THE HEAT, etc., etc., etc.

I think you know I could go on about this seminal film of my adolesence - couldn't you? Is there anyone who doesn't like this movie? (And not in an award-worthy way or had to be relevant to your childhood way - just, simply, like or do not like...and why?) I think a negative opinion of Say Anything would really surprise me! Like, surprise me in a way completely different than when people say they hate The Beatles or The Godfather. How can you hate on Lloyd? Anybody want to prove me wrong?

Get me right.

I KNOW! My posting has been dismal! Even my father is eager for me to extract words from these fingers. He scolded me about not quitting something everyone enjoys. Not that I was ever in danger of quitting, but I'm pretty sure this is a good place for my dad to keep tabs on me and when I don't post for two weeks, he becomes concerned, though we talk a few times a week on the phone.

HI DAD!

And so, I now attempt to catch you up on what I've been up to. Work has been particularly "way harsh, Ty" for the past two weeks. It's just started to go from boiling out of control, to a quiet, easy simmer. Also, my use of foodie adjectives does not mean I've learned to cook a great deal, though my mother-in-law got me a subscription to Cooking Light and it has inspired me to attempt it with a real furor...one day...hopefully soon.

You ever feel like so many things are constantly happening you can't keep up? Yeah, that's what's been happening and I haven't had a respite for some real good "me" time or "catching up with my own life" time. And since I don't have time for that, I simply haven't had time to reflect upon it via this here blog. Which isn't bad at all, since I've been having an absolutely stellar, indescribably fun time with my husband and all my friends! But to recap...

• My parents visited and Jesse and I treated them to a lovely New York steak dinner at Keen's Steakhouse. Over delicious meat, my mother began talking about babies. As in Jesse + Jessica babies. As in not JMJsquared, but JMJtripled. As in I'm so glad I would feel guilty about not eating this pricey meal because otherwise I would have lost my appetite. As in, me? Really? Us? The people who can't stand it when the kitten cries at five in the morning and throw him out of our room? Yeah, we're not baby people - yet. NOT FOR A LONG TIME!
• My friends and I saw Aziz Ansari do standup at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and he was hilarious. Then Jim Gaffigan showed up as a surprise and did a set and I think I may have been doing his "audience voice" impression for an hour straight to my friend Amber, who was not even there, but it was one of those special ocassions where it didn't matter, we were cracking up at 3 in the morning by me simply saying "that's not funny" in a strange voice. I can't even explain it. Probably why I didn't think it was bloggable in the first place!
• I'VE BEEN READING! I am now on book #46 of my list, and it is week #44! I've been loving most of what I've been reading lately. Currently I'm reading something that is probably the most self-relevant book I've ever read - it's a collection of short stories called Come Together, Fall Apart by Cristina Henriquez. I'll write more on this later, perhaps after I finish it or at the end of the year during my book wrap up!
• I am #1 in my fantasy football league for the THIRD week in a row. I am impressing myself at this point. We'll see though, it could all change this weekend!
• MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK announced that their next album, My Dinosaur Life, will be out on JANUARY 19th, 2010!!! They have all the info on their website, as well as a tracklisting - and I can't wait for everyone to hear it!! Seriously. SERIOUSLY. It's rad and I'm biased but I'm also just a superfan married to that certain man and...oh crap, I'm rhyming (first sign of insanity). Yes, this album kind of drives me crazy in an awesome way.
• (Okay, I'll try to reel it in...)
• I saw a ridiculously great movie entitled In the Cut, starring Meg Ryan and Mark Ruffalo and directed by a favourite, Jane Campion. I didn't see it when it first came out years ago because it was pretty much panned, but after Amber suggested I netflix it, I was astounded to find a great female-perspective noir detective thriller. And you know what? I think Ruffalo just made it into my top five, officially. (He's always been hovering, especially because he's probably my favourite rom-com dude ever in 13 Going on 30). I'm working on a visual "framing" of the film, coming soon! And you're wondering who got kicked out of my top five aren't you? Something I'll update in the future...
• For Halloween my friends and I simply had a great games night. Halloween is one holiday I try to avoid being in Manhattan for - only bested by St. Patrick's Day. So instead we have decided to get dressed up tonight for our friends' party down the street. Yes, it's a post-halloween party. I'm sure I'll have some pictures to share.

What have you been up to? I've been reading everyone's blogs, make no mistake, but some of you don't blog! What were you for Halloween?!

Quick story that just happened: I almost peed my pants in the elevator.

First, you have to understand the mindset I was in: I work in a building on Madison Ave where I see Anna Wintour on pretty much a weekly basis because she gets her hair done in a salon on another floor. Also seen in the lobby or around are Ivanka Trump, Tom Wolfe, etc - seeing a celebrity every now and then is not that surprising, but it's always fun.

So I saw Anna Wintour this morning from an elevator vantage point, and she looked impeccable, and then I got on an elevator an hour later and there was a guy on there who from the side angle looked exactly like Chris Pine. I stared blatantly at him because I didn't know if it was him or not. He was wearing a plaid shirt and jeans and slip-on sneakers. For those brief moments I considered: if I really am in an elevator with Chris Pine, I HAVE to say something, right? A picture with my iPhone? Pass him the number of one of my single friends for his "time in New York"?? WHAT DO I DO?

But then my death stare (it must have seemed that way to everyone else in the elevator, not the very least to the "man in serious question" himself) got a reaction from Chris Pine-y (yeah, I definitely made him uncomfortable with my mouth agape and all) because he stared back at me face-full-on and I realized that no, this man is not the matinee idol from Star Trek. No, he's not that top five-r. He's just a really hot dude who works in my building. BOO.