what i'm...

I’m going to steal a blogger convention--and by that I mean a common post type, not a whole gathering of bloggers--and do a “What I’m…”.

what I’m watching…
Wallace & Gromit. Fave line from Wallace: “Now then, no sense in prevaricating around the bush”. Especially liked: A Close Shave.
Mr and Mrs Smith. My library had this and I thought, it’s free, how bad can it be? In a word: Tragic. Like stickytaping a copy of New Idea across your telly. There’s an early scene where Brad and Ange are at a party and someone hands Ange a baby, and she is made to look uncomfortable, as if she’s never held one before, and whaddya know, just at that moment Brad’s character looks over from a doorway to see her holding the baby…COO!…. And that’s the point at which he falls in love, of course.

Hollywood Ending. OK, but not my favorite Woody. Some funny lines. Liked this exchange between Woody and his friend,

“You know, part of me really wants this.”
“And the other part?”
“Also wants it, that’s the problem.”

Big Love on SBS-TV. I’m conservative on Big Love. I don’t buy it, that women can be happy sharing a man, making do with one quarter each. More like Big Patriarchy, isn’t it, since women aren’t likely to be allowed to take multiple husbands anytime soon. But I can’t stop watching it. And Margene’s blog is a bit of fun on the side.
Pretty In Pink. Also from the library. As good as it was when I was fourteen, with a classic 80s soundtrack. (Apposite line: “I mean, he’s a yuppie, but he’s soooo nice!”)

what I’m listening to…

Bob Dylan on the radio with Paranoid Blues. Gives me a belly laugh that song.

Nick Cave’s new outfit Grinderman. Especially like the new single (I Don’t Need You To) Set Me Free but can‘t find it on the tubes.

Otis, who is guaranteed to be played on my weekend off once a month. Here's a good one on youtube.

Nirvana, Nevermind. Also gets played very loud once a month. (Apposite line: “I’m so horny, that’s okay my will is good.”)

Beastie Boys, The In Sound From Way Out. My eye fell on the name of track 3, Namaste, which made me think of my friend Jen, who sent me an email with that word as the title the other day. I still haven’t looked up what it means. Peace?

what I’m reading...
Newspapers and blogs.
St Johns’ First Aid for Babies Fast! Recommended. If you read through this while you have PMT you may have a little cry at all the terrible things that can conceivably happen. But having a first aid book with exact photos of procedures is very reassuring.
Sneaky Veggies. Recommended. Yummy recipes, witty style.

that's gotta hurt

I like Helen Garner but God, she can be catty. In the new magazine The Monthly--like every other blogger who read Surfdom and/or Troppo's posts about it, I signed up for a free first issue via the magazine's website--Garner reviews the Nicole Kidman flick Birth:

"But two things are wrong. One is Kidman herself. When such a blatantly manufactured force as the Nicole Phenomenon keeps coming at you every time you open your front door, it is a point of honour to put up resistance. I long for her to wriggle out through the bars of her stardom, to persuade me she's not made of cardboard. But I can't get past that thin, nasal little voice with its high-school intonations; those melodramatic brows; the awful girly thing that happens when she laughs."

Miaow.

off with the pixie

Interesting little French film about erotomania on SBS last night, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, starring the astonishingly gorgeous Audrey Tautou. Ah, god, I miss the movies! I haven't been to the movies in about a year and a half. I think we'll have to make a point of catching up on some films while in Sydney this week. If we have time...we've only got about three days to try to cram in visits with: two sisters, four of my closest friends (including one who is visiting from Paris), my old workplace, and a couple of bloggers as well.
I'm really excited. It should be a great trip (though I'm told Sydney's expecting a heatwave...bugger). We haven't been to Sydney since Harley was five months old and back then he slept most of the time. This time I'm sure he'll be craning his neck out of his stroller, eyes goggling as he takes in all the sights and sounds of the Big Smoke. Bit nervous about the five hour bus/train journey down for this reason though--he may well wriggle the entire way. At least on the second half of the trip, on the XPT, we'll be able to stretch our legs a bit. Not looking forward to getting around on Cityrail either. Just the other day on the news there was another story about a baby falling out of his stroller into the gap between the train and the platform. Scary stuff...wish us luck. Anyway, have a great week everyone, and enjoy Australia Day. Seeya.