Muffy

What a big and beautiful life.

The Best Show In Town

I tend to like award shows; I'm usually drawn by a decent host, and the celebrity speeches. Sometimes I'm even informed enough to care who wins. But in my ripe old age I find that the gloss of award shows has worn through. The one show that consistantly entertains me, and is time and again worth the investment of an evening, is the Grammys. Ironic, since I love the movies so much and can't remember the last cd I bought!

This year's Grammys were no exception, very entertaining. The performances are always something unique and special, and it seems that Alicia Keyes is a standout year after year. She opened the show with a "duet" with Frank Sinatra, and did a fantastic number later with John Mayer, another recent favorite of mine. I had a good nostalgic laugh over a performance of Jungle Love by The Time, and Kanye West's sunglasses alone might have made tuning in worth while. The low point for me was actually West's acceptance speech, which I thought was offensively arrogant. When you're sharing a stage with Tina Turner and Prince, when you follow tributes to the Beatles and Luciano Pavarotti, maybe you should dial it down a notch for your latest rap album.

A Little More Green

So we've added to the family again, Dave is still enjoying his Santa Fe, and I've finally gotten a new Prius! It's fun to have a new car, although the jury is still out on whether it's thousands of dollars worth of fun. But in the end, it suits me, it will last forever, and it conserves, which is important to me. The tank seems about 1/2 the size of the Camry, but goes the same distance, so that's a nice treat! Dave is even willing to carpool with me a little more, since I can offer him a seat heater now.

Heath Ledger

As my close friends know, Brokeback Mountain has been one of my favorite movies over the last few years, and it's in no small part thanks to Heath Ledger. I wouldn't claim to be a lifelong fan, I haven't seen half of his movies. But this one really moved me, and I feel a connectedness to him because of this movie.

I've been really saddened by the news of his death. It's struck me several times in the last few days that there must be hundreds of people out there in the world that I am subconsciously hoping for, wishing well, and loving in my small way. Even those who live in my imagination, it turns out I need you.

As a terrible post script, Heath Ledger is the star of the 2008 movie I've been most anticipating, The Dark Knight. Only a couple days before he died, I was in the movie theater admiring him on a poster, and the chills he sent up my spine as the new Joker. A few days ago I decided to check out the trailer online. As I expected, he was riveting. Beautiful. Mesmerizing. Honestly, Jack Nicholson should never have bothered. What a strange way to say goodbye, but in the midst of a busy looking summer, I'll find a way for those couple hours.