Awkwardly Social

I received an e-mail today from Cats, and I found it a little vindicating (I think that’s the word I’m looking for) to hear that this was in a New York Times Op Ed piece by David Brooks, “If at any moment in your later life you so much as mention your SAT scores in conversation, you will be considered a total jerk.

I actually accomplished something on my movie yesterday. I made myself stay at school until it was done. I’m going to do the same thing today. At this rate I could do another thesis… Just kidding.

Finished reading Stupid White Men. This is a book about what is wrong with our country through the eyes of a liberal who is so liberal he really isn’t a Democrat any more, but I don’t think he’s a Green. Anyway, he rips on everyone, even Clinton, and praises Nadar. Ralph Nadar might be a great person to clean up the country, but I see him as a bit out of his depth when it comes to dealing with the House and Senate, and the World at large. I think it’s a great read, and I recommend it. Be prepared to be picked on if you are white.

I started reading Foundation by Asimov, I think I read this a while ago, but don’t remember any of it, so it’s been good so far to revisit it.

Oh and Dz sings on Allie’s soundtrack, it’s awesome. That song h

Allie and I both wore spaghetti strap tank tops today. In the words of AW, “That’s a lot of boob.”

Went and saw “The Dreamers,” with my famous friend AW. (It’s really annoying to get stopped by fans and stalked by the paparazzi.)

OK. I highly recommend this film. There is some non-Hollywood nudity, non-Hollywood sex, and non-Hollywood masturbation. What do I mean by non-Hollywood? Most American films when portraying the human body (and the way we have sex, or masturbate) do things with lighting, with cutting, with camera angle, that keeps us from getting all the details, or all of the information. Think the “Top Gun” sex scene. It is probably a symptom of the ‘coding’ they had to do to get things by the censors and I’m sure the censors are still very uncomfortable with certain kinds of nudity and sex (blow someone’s head off they don’t care, but do NOT show someone fucking.) Now because of this, American audiences (for the most part) are uncomfortable with non-Hollywood sex scenes. It all just seems too real. If you’ve seen “Swimming Pool,” you’ll sort of begin to know what I’m talking about. I just thought I’d warn you.

Anyway, the film is ‘pure Bertolucci’ (W and I were laughing about the poster, which has that as the top critical quote). It’s beautifully shot, giving it the look that we’re actually watching a 70’s film. The story kind of sweeps you away and you stop worrying about plot, planting, set-up and pay-off (though there definitely are those things going on.) W contends the acting was a little un-even, but I got no sense of that. The fort was Waller’s favorite part (it’s a pretty great fort).

So that’s my recommendation for “The Dreamers.” See it if it’s at a theater near you (it might still be in limited release).

Also, last night, we were sitting around drinking wine and we had a mix tape on. 50 Cent’s song, P.I.M.P came on. We (all of us being white kids who grew up in predominantly white neighborhoods) were wondering what the lyric “no perms you can’t see” means. (Here’s the whole lyric in case you can’t place it.)

I don’t know what you heard about me
but a bitch can’t get a dolla outta me
no cadillacs no perms you can’t see.
that I’m a mother fuckin P I M P

Then I went home and listened more closely. We misheard the phrasing. It should be: I don’t know what you heard about me/ but a bitch can’t get a dolla outta me/ no cadillacs no perms/ you can’t see that I’m a mother fuckin’ P I M P.

So it really has nothing to do with perms you can’t see. We just can’t see that he’s a mother fucking P I M P.

I have to go wash my mouth out with soap and water. Damn you 50!

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Was I the only dork that not only loved the computer game but also watched the show? I might have been the only dork who hoped that The Oregon Trail was made into a movie. Or that someday at Disneyland, “Goonies” would be a ride. Disneyland made this one [pointing at myself] really happy with Indiana Jones. This one [still pointing at myself] would be even happier if George Lucas gave Disney a little time and updated Star Tours…in time for my sister and niece’s visit in May.

Laser beams….Did anyone else think (when they heard the word Laser Beam) that they would be used for destruction not say, internal medicine?

That’s what I’ve been thinking about while drinking my coffee, sitting on the porch and watering the plants.

Smitty posted the link to the Phobia List on his site. I found some that I have.

1. Aviophobia or Aviatophobia- Fear of flying. (This one is obvious to the people who know me)
2. Buried alive, being or cemeteries- Taphephobia or Taphophobia (I’ve been scared of this ever since that “Hitchcock Presents” episode where a woman was buried alive. That show consistently scared the crap out of me.)
3. Clowns- Coulrophobia. (Actually my sister has this, not me)
4. Firearms- Hoplophobia. (I live in the U.S., I’ve seen “Bowling for Columbine”)
5. Heights- Acrophobia, Altophobia, Batophobia, Hypsiphobia or Hyposophobia (there is a stair case in a parking garage at school that I almost pass out on everytime I get to the last set of stairs…and it isn’t because I’m out of breath, which I usually am.)
6. Places, crowded public- Agoraphobia. (People freak me out.)
7. Claustrophobia- Fear of confined spaces. (Sort of goes hand in hand with the being in a plane, buried alive and crowded public places.)

So. I am a phobic freak. Just thought you all should know.

What I should have been doing for the last hour and a half: Recording Foley for my movie.

What I have been doing for the last hour and a half: Thinking about how much I don’t want to record Foley for my movie, while reading peoples blogs and wishing some people would post more often.

Here are the thoughts that went through my head in justification mode:
I can do it tomorrow.
Who wants to hear footsteps/clothes rustle/glasses clinking anyway?
I can find the sounds in the FX library and cut them in.
Foley is stupid.
I’m allergic to the studio.
I hate USC.
I’m abandoning my movie and moving to Mexico.

The last one is really the only one that provides not only a viable option, but one that also offers a solution to dodging the repayment of my student loans…

Last night on my way home from the mountains I was flipping through radio stations (my CD player is possessed and if I use it I can’t start my car…Long story) and an announcement came.

“The biggest concert of the year is coming to LA. Sold out concerts across the nation.”

I thought… “Britney? Maybe some rock group like, Aerosmith.”

The announcer continues and almost forced me to drive off the road in laughter.

Rod Stewart!

Rod Stewart is the biggest concert of the year?! I looked down to see what kind of station would make that kind of claim… But before I did, I heard the sweet and numbing sounds of the announcer. “It’s 55 degrees in Altadena, 61 in Los Angeles and 53 degrees…. [heavily weighted pause] along the coast.” Ah yes, easy listening with Love Songs on the Coast. 103.5 FM. Dude. I love that station!

So, listening to Allie’s boyfriend Ryan Seacrest this morning, I heard him announce a song, Jessica Simpson’s remake of “Take my Breath away.” Ummm… I know at least two of you watch ‘Newlyweds,’ and maybe one of you saw the episode where Nick and Jessica recorded a duet of “Take my Breath Away.” That’s right, a duet. Now, I’m just saying, “Nick, watch your back, Jessica’s management is gunning for your career.” Also, the song is creepy. It sounds like I’m listening to a long Jessica orgasm.

We might have an exciting new place to go play. I can hear him thinking right now, “Ixnay on the eachhousebay.” I mean, there will be the fear of maurading pirates docking on the balcony, that’s right the water. goes right up. to. the balcony. So I’ve heard. Summer vacation! Woooooo! Spring Break’s over, we’ve gotta move on.