Peacefield

I can relate too to the home town stuff, Frankie. While I loved growing up in mine, I was glad to move somewhere new. I have 2 friends who still live up there and are married with kids, so it's nice to go visit them and see my old stomping grounds, but I wouldn't want to live there anymore. I think we should work out how old Marty and Willie would be now if they were together . The big age difference would surely be acceptable now, right?! There's something about his character in Beautiful Girls that is just so magnetic. He's sarcastic, funny, laid-back, and a musician for goodness sakes! Can't get much better than that imo . Maybe you've already seen this movie of his, Frankie, but if not you really need to check out 'Ordinary People.' It is one of my most favorite books of all time as well, which was written by Judith Guest. It's definitely one you need to add to your TBR pile.

Are you a fan of NHL hockey, Karsa? I love watching it, although my pathetic hometeam didn't make it into the playoffs this year . I received 'How to Be' in the mail yesterday from Netflix so I need to watch that so I can mail it back. I also have to catch up on the last 2 eps of 'Who Do You Think You Are' and last week's 'Bones' and 'Vampire Diaries.'

So you're telling me I need to add these Cast books to my wishlist as well, Cali? Well all right, you've forced me! Would you be willing to share this Excel idea? Was it online that you found it or did you make it up yourself? I'd love to do something like that.

So glad you liked it, Coffin Nail! Didn't you find the stuff about the resurrectionists intriguing? I loved reading about that and flashing back and forth between the centuries . I'm only on page 100 in Industrial Magic! Man, I just have had not as much time as I'd like lately to read it. I'm enjoying reading about Paige and Lucas again though, and hope to get more in today.

Coffee and a banana, waiting for my eggs to finish cooking...

Exciting, Cali! I went out for Indian on Friday and had some of my favorites - veggie Samosas, Tikki, Paneer and chicken Pakora, yum! My friends always get the chicken Korma so I know that's good, and if you like mango, get a mango lassi drink. They taste really good with spicy food. Oh and you can't forget the naan bread! I had Chapli kebab for the first time when I went there on Friday, and it was very good. It reminded me of the Lebanese kibbi, made with ground beef and onions, except it didn't have bulgur wheat and had different spices. Very tasty for dipping in yogurt sauce though!

Sometimes, Frankie, but sometimes he can be a little too 'experimental' for my tastes. Put him with Flea and the rest of the guys though? Awesomeness! I know what you mean about some people, Chrysalis. No matter what you have to say, there are some folks out there who have a negative comment for it no matter what. It gets draining! You try to be happy and find the good in certain situations, and then there's that person who just wants to bring everyone down. Sometimes I just feel like saying 'well at least you have your health and a good job, now pipe down!'

I never saw Avatar or the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice. Avatar just isn't my kind of movie, and I just never felt the need to see P&P mostly because I loved the BBC version so much. I saw Titanic and thought that one viewing was enough for me! I never understood my friends who saw it multiple times, I mean, how much tragedy can a person sit through? Blair Witch Project was creepy, but being alone in the woods at night is always creepy to me, so I was sufficiently scared, LOL. A lot of these movies I'm not sure if they were overhyped, but just aren't my kind of film (huge budget/fantasy). All the LOTR films I saw once, but just never felt the need to see again. I will say that I too loved District 9, and ET because that was really part of my childhood. Seeing that in the theatre when it came out was so exciting for me and I loved every minute of it.

Mmm, grilled fish tacos and fresh salsa.

'Grace is Gone' is the one I was thinking of about his wife being in the Iraq war, Vodkafan. And yes, the one about chance where they are skating in Central park was 'Serendipity.' I love that one! Kate Beckinsale and Jeremy Piven are also in it .

I loved that book, Coffin Nail! Good choice . I'm not too far into Industrial Magic yet, but am enjoying it immensely, as usual!

He was in Adventureland, Frankie, have you seen that? I've wanted to but never got around to it. I saw him in The Squid and the Whale which was an annoying movie, but he was good in it. Last night after the game I watched Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York with a bunch of my friends and oh man it was horrible! We were laughing so hard at the bad special effects and the whole concept of a volcano underneath NY in all the old aquaducts. There were a couple actors I recognised in it and that was just sad to see how desperate they must've been to do a film like that.

My BIL started taking classes at Benny's gym quite a few years ago, Frankie, and they just hit it off. My mom even met Benny when she was out there and just gushed over the fact that she loved him in Grosse Pointe Blank . I think I would've just stood there with my mouth hanging open. I'm not really a kickboxing fan, but I've just heard so much about the sport from my BIL. The only reason I know about Benny, Vodkafan, is from 'Say Anything' and then seeing him in GPB. Was that movie called 'Losing Chance' or something like that? I think it was where John's wife was a soldier in the Iraq war. Beautiful Girls is kind of an American classic in a way. A guy who has moved away from his home town comes back and sees all his old buddies that are still there, still doing the same old thing. It was sad too that his dad and brother were the same, and missing the mom/wife . I thought Rosie O'Donnell was hilarious in it too, and everyone for that matter. I always hoped Willie and Marty got together years later, Frankie . Didn't one of them tell the other they would wait for them? Awww. They both just had great spirits, and man, who wouldn't want to marry a piano player like Timothy Hutton?!

Some pesto crackers with garlic-cheddar cheese, mmm .

Heading out to dinner again tonight, and I see mucho chips and salsa and fish tacos in my future!

Baseball! Twins vs Cleveland - hopefully we'll beat them like we did last night .

Most of the time I can take or leave John Malkovich, but I always love him in this film . It's so bizarre it's brilliant! The bad guy in GPB is the prized kickboxing fighter Benny 'the Jet' Urquidez. He and John Cusack have known each other for awhile, and John is a big fan of kickboxing. My brother-in-law is also friends with Benny (my BIL used to do film stuntwork) and has sparred with John many times! I about died when I heard that. It's funny, because way back in '89, John mentions Benny in his movie Say Anything, saying that kickboxing is the 'sport of the future' and that he wants to be just like Benny. I wonder if he knew years later he'd be in a film with him?! I just looked it up, and Must Love Dogs is based on a book by Claire Cook . If you see any of Cusack's 80's movies, please see Say Anything first. It's my fave. Do you know why you think of me when you think of Beautiful Girls? Because I LOVE IT! It's another one of those films I could just have on in the background all day long and never get tired of it. Did you know it was filmed here in MN? The movie itself is set on the east coast, but apparently they filmed it here to get a 'working town' feel. I agree with you about Willy and Marty; it's such a sweet relationship they have! I always feel so sad when they are at the skating rink and they have that chat before he leaves, but you know he's a good guy because he obviously knows how completely wrong it would be if they ever did anything. Next time you watch it, notice the setting - it's so Minnesota!

Oh, man! I can't believe I forgot about Being John Malkovich. That's one of my all time faves! I love GPB, I can never get enough of watching it. I just love the writing . I have a neat story to tell you sometime about the bad guy in that movie, the one John kills with the pen . Yes on seeing Must Love Dogs, but no on 1408. I wasn't a fan of Must Love Dogs I'm sorry to say, although he was cute in it. I think he does better in quirky romantic films rather than the standard. Was Dogs a book first? Seems to me like it was... Have you seen any of John's 80's films? Say Anything is a classic, and I also loved Better Off Dead .

I'm glad you plan on watching High Fidelity again, Frankie, that makes me feel much better. I love Jack Black too, although John has disappointed me a bit since HF with his film choices. If it were up to me, he'd make nothing but films like HF, Grosse Pointe Blank and Serendipity.

Thanks for posting, Fi! I like the letter he wrote . I wonder if he'll have some sort of blog or Twitter updates or something? Hmmm...

Wait, what? Frankie - you hated the film 'High Fidelity?' I thought you were my Finnish sister?! Doesn't that mean we're supposed to agree at all times in the realm of film appreciation? I haven't read the book, but I honestly loved the film and everything about it. Can I ask what you disliked about it?

You are most welcome, Weave!! I love buying sparkly things and you deserved a 'congrats on your new job' gift! Excellent purchase, Chesil! I'm with you guys too in the fact that I'll be reserving judgement and keeping an open mind about Condon doing BD. I would love to ask Summit their reasons for picking him though! Ah to be in on that decision, huh? Either way, I'm excited, woo!!

I'm excited to read it, Weave! My friend was supposed to bring it last night but she couldn't make it so I'll have to get it from her next time. I'm a little bit glad though exactly because of the reason you stated, Frankie! I love the anticipation of reading a book that I know is good, and it makes it that much nicer when you have to wait awhile to read it. I completely understand .

I hope you enjoy Acceptable Risk, Kate! Don't worry, Frankie, of course you're forgiven!! I'm excited to read 'Water for Elephants' too. Hopefully that'll be soon, and I agree on Bel-Ami getting nudged up your list! It's quite enjoyable.

Yeah! Awww...