Pork Chop Dilettante

Beach Treasures

Treasures from the Delaware Seashore State Park:

All images copyright emilie kleiner 2010. Please do not steal my images.

Movie Monday

I know I'm a day late, but when I woke up this morning it felt like Monday, so this still counts.

For my first review of 2010 is the movie Up in the Air, which released late last year. I had no idea what to expect from it, because I didn't really understand the plot from the trailers that I saw. Low expectations are usually good for me when I watch movies. Anyway, here is where I issue a SPOILER alert:

George Clooney's character is an emotionally and physically isolated businessman who fires people at companies across the nation for a living. He's likeable enough, but he has the usual annoying consummate bachelor quirks--casual relationships, lives in a hotel, barely knows his family. Then, magically, two women come into his life that each have major impacts on his philosophy. Yadda yadda yadda. I know that some people found the movie to be depressing, but I didn't. It wasn't a happily ever after kind of film, but it also wasn't one of those pretentious indie films that has a tragic ending because, well, that's practically the only kind of ending there is for a pretentious indie film. So. I think it was provocative enough to leave the viewer thinking about what it's like to be laid off, or how you'd really once you let it sink in that you spent most of your adult life shutting everyone, including your own family, out. You now have no memories that involve others who are close to you--you are always alone. Definitely something to ponder.

I'm glad I saw it. Some movies speak to me, and this one did. Netflix it, baby!

Temptation

    

I’m in a fight—with someone who shall remain nameless—because she has introduced me to the drool-worthy shoes by Chelsea Crew. Holy schnickes. I’ve been scouring the interweb for great deals on this pair of shoes, and perhaps I will be successful. I’ll be sure to let you all know. I can’t stop thinking about those shoes today.

In other news, I am absolutely thrilled now that yard sales are in full swing. I have a few to check out this weekend.

I can’t help myself. But seriously, I’m on a budget so I am trying to find used versions of what I need, like a toaster or a blender. Shouldn’t be much worse than the crappy blender from the 1980’s that I’m currently using. Oh, and I use a skillet to make toast. So that gets a little annoying.

I wish that instead of working today, even though I’ve been very productive, I was at home cleaning my apartment. I am suffering through CHAOS—Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome—and need to remedy that. When I get home in the evenings I’m usually too tired to clean, but sometimes I have my moments. Tonight I need to do my taxes (I am such a slacker), so the decluttering will have to wait. At least I’m getting a refund this year, so maybe I can save up for a new vacuum cleaner…

Today is Tuesday, so it’s too late for me to do a Movie Monday review, but next week I’ll be discussing Whip It, Up in the Air, and New Moon. As for the rest of this week, who knows what I’ll write. Perhaps I’ll finally find time to take photos of all the treasures I found at Delaware Seashore State Park last Friday. It was a goldmine!

Cicada Design

Yeah, so we're not going to talk about why I haven't been updating my blog lately. I'm embarrassed. You all can come up with your own fantastical reasons, if you wish.

I am excited to announce that I have finally opened up my own jewelry business: Cicada Design. I have opened up shop at Etsy and I'm applying for some local and regional craft shows. I'm living my dream! Ha ha. This really has been a passion of mine for years, and folks, it was only fear that was holding me back. Don't let that stop you all--learn from my mistake.

Here is some of my work (all images copyright emilie kleiner 2010. Please ask permission before using):

All work is low carbon steel and various semi-precious gem stone beads, except for the last picture, which is a vintage celluloid tatting shuttle.

I love to be creative and I know this will fill a huge, gaping hole in my soul that has been missing since I graduated from college with my art degree. I'm excited to be on this path and can't wait to make a name for myself!

Movie Monday

On both of my blogs I am trying out an editorial calendar--you are now officially introduced to Movie Monday, peeps! I will be reviewing whatever movie comes my way each week, be it current or classic. I will be the first to admit that I am far behind on certain films, and I have no shame. So here is my inaugural post:

Image via horror-movies.ca

Up for review this week is the 2007 time-travel horror flick Cronocrimenes (Timecrimes), directed by Nacho Vigalondo. It's dubbed in English, which in the beginning is a little cheese-ball, but I'm grateful I didn't have to read and watch the movie at the same time. The premise is that a regular Joe (except it's technically a Spanish movie, so perhaps he should be called a "Jose Regular") is enjoying a voyeuristic break in his new backyard and witnesses a young woman disrobing in the woods. Of course, since his lover has driven off to fetch dinner, he decides to track this lady down. He ends up discovering her naked and unconscious, and is suddenly stabbed in the arm with a pair of scissors by some crazy dude whose head is wrapped in pink bandages. After a short chase scene, Jose Regular ends up in a time machine and goes back about one hour in time. The rest of the film is the story of him trying to right his wrongs. It's a lot like watching a train wreck, especially because A.) it's a bit horrific and B.) you can't look away even if you want to.

This is not a slice 'n dice film, but it seriously increased my heart rate. I can't explain why, but it freaked me out and I really enjoyed it. Have you seen scary movies that show the bad guy chasing the protagonist, and instead of running after him, he walks slowly and confidently? The whole movie was like that. Very creepy.

Here's a tidbit that totally took me by surprise (not): there is a US version in the works for a 2011! I can't wait to not see it. I bet there will be a different ending.

My recommendation is that you watch this film. It's pretty gripping and worth your two hours.

Next week: a review of Happy-Go-Lucky.

Good News!

I am thrilled to read this article from my Americans for the Arts Cultural Policy Listserv. Live Nation is opening up its own in-house ticketing service! Yay for competition in the market. I am always griping about astronomical ticket prices (mostly because of the stupid fees), so I give major props to Live Nation for standing up to Ticketmaster. Live Nation rules. The best part? They won't charge you a fee for printing your tickets at home!

I'm watching the first season of Little Britain, courtesy of Netflix (I love you, Netflix). Like most comedy shows, it takes a minute for me to get into it. But then I really start to like it (by the way, have you seen Spaced yet? It's so fab!). Currently, HBO is broadcasting episodes of Little Britain: USA, which I haven't seen yet. It's supposed to be like a fourth season of the original show. I think that the best character is actually the narrator...he has the strangest commentary that's easy to miss if you're not paying attention (his name is Tom Baker, but I have no idea who he is). Apparently, Mollie Sugden guest stars in the final episode, which I am looking forward to greatly. I loved Are You Being Served? and have probably seen each episode at least twice.

Tonight, I will leave you with this set of videos from Strindberg + helium.

Troubles with the internets

I switched to Cavalier from Verizon, and suddenly my phone line isn't working properly and now I don't have DSL. I have limited access to the internet at home, thus the infrequent postings.

I had some really cool topics to discuss on here, but of course I didn't write them down and now I've forgotten what they were. I suck. Tangent: I'm actually looking forward to the latest Terminator movie. Wow! Surprise. Christian Bale is in it--'nuff said.

My friend Melissa and I watched the weirdest movie a couple Fridays ago: Synecdoche, NY. It's a good thing we entered the theater fresh off some wine with dinner, because you need a buzz to get through that flick. The acting was great, and there were some parts that were quite hilarious, but apparently it was supposed to be a horror film (?). If by horror, one means seemingly endless investigation of the mundane, then yes, it was quite scary. I didn't hate it, but Melissa and I wondered if we should stop picking movies to watch together at the Charles...

In other news, my nephew thinks I'm his girlfriend (it's quite an honor, since there was a year or so in his life that he wouldn't let me pick him up or even push him in his stroller). I've been taking tons of pictures of events at work, and I'm thinking of eventually having an art opening with the best of those images. I'm still developing my thesis so it will be a while, but I would love have a show again.

I'm just about to finish a book called Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. It is absolutely incredible. Melissa let me borrow it. Daniel has Asperger's Syndrome and is also a savant. He and I have one thing in common: we are both synesthetic. It's nice to read about others who experience their letters and numbers in color and have certain spatial locations for days of the week and months of the year, etc.

OK, time to go. My attention span is not the best these days. Too much Christmas stimuli.

Money Makeover and Other News

I think that the messiness of my apartment is directly linked to my lack of desire to write blog posts. So, this evening I at least cleaned the dishes and took out the trash so I could write something. There's still much more to do, sadly. I've really let myself go...but thankfully I have the motivation to make my apartment look more presentable. Changing seasons always light that spark for me.

While I was at the beach, I finished Dave Ramsey's latest book, The Total Money Makeover. Man, life will be difficult for a time but I know it's worth it. I've set up my budget and am embarking on Baby Step Number One: Save $1000 for a mini emergency fund. Hopefully my credit card debt will go bye-byes and I can REALLY live.

   

I have also discovered that there is a link between two of my favorite movies: Bladerunner and Total Recall. It appears that both were inspired by Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. I knew about Bladerunner's obvious connection but had no idea that Total Recall was somehow related. I learn something new every day! Oh yeah, do you love the Schlitz poster I found promoting Bladerunner in 1982? Did you also know that Schlitz is back? Oh yes, it is.

This Saturday I am going to the Fair Hill Nature Center to volunteer with the Delaware Trail Spinners. They maintain the horseback riding trails in the park by meeting every second Saturday of the month. It should be fun! After that I'll visit my parents. They went to Cape May this week and I am insanely jealous. I even had a dream about finding seashells this morning. Of course, I was in Hawaii, but still.

OK, I'm hungry. Time to make dinners. I don't want to get the shakes like I did last night. Oops.

Unicorns, Mermaids and Batman

I subscribe to the Daily Candy "Everywhere" email, and last week I got this surprise in my inbox:

Um, hi! This would have made me pee my pants in sheer delight as an 8-year-old! Not only was I obsessed with horses/unicorns/pegasuses, but I desperately loved mermaids, too. Whenever we'd go swimming at the neighbor's pool, I'd say a little prayer and ask God to turn me into a mermaid once my toes broke the surface of the water. I truly thought I was being icognito about it, but my mom and my sisters could so tell what I was doing. Anyway, you can imagine my happiness at seeing a combo beast of two of my favorite childhood obsessions!

Oh, I should probably tell you: the design is by this chick named CHANDI who creates for the site Stars + Infinite Darkness. You can buy a black tote bag with the unicorn mermaid on it for $20 at their web site.

In other news (from a completely different realm of my personal interests...or is it?), I'm going to see the new Batman film on Sunday. Woo hoo! A friend of mine works at Fox 45 and was lucky enough to interview four of the main cast members. You can watch the raw footage here. My favorite is the interview with Christian Bale--OK, mostly because he's HOT but also because at one point you can hear the typical Baltimore fire truck sirens in the background. That makes me laugh. I think that every time I'm on the phone with my sister, I hear at least one hysterical siren. It's sort of a requisite reoccuring event just for us.

I Don't Know

...what to write about. I keep thinking about all the embarrassing things I said at dinner tonight. Sorry, you don't get to find out what I said. I'm hoping that I am the only one who noticed. It would be interesting if I could step outside my body and watch myself at the moment I realize I said something dumb. What would my facial expression be? I think my face would turn red for sure, and then I'd look down at my hands and squeeze my eyes shut for a moment. Oh well. Knowing that I am my own worst critic, I am trying to distract myself from agonizing over the meal.

Sooooooo. I went to Pile of Craft this Saturday, which was awesome! I bought a Megan Auman necklace and two felt brooches by Jen Menkhaus/The Littlest Bean. I used to work with Jen a few years ago--I'm really excited for her that she has launched her own product line and is selling well on Etsy.

I am starting to read The Glass Menagerie tonight. I think it's about time I read some work by Tennessee Williams. Up until now I haven't, and I feel like I might be missing something. Thankfully it is a short read--I just finished State of Fear by Michael Crichton and it was a fairly thick paperback. It was really good, though. Sometimes it was too scientific-journal-y, but I did appreciate that Crichton cited actual published climatological studies within his fictional story line. Pretty neat idea.

image copyright emilie kleiner, 2008.