At least I didn't have my firebomb scenario...

I went to see Step Brothers starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. It was surprisingly glorious. I have to say the man-chemistry between Ferrell and Reilly is so awesome. They just made it onto my man-couples list:

1. Peter Falk - Alan Arkin
2. Vince Vaughn - Jon Favreau
3. George Clooney - Brad Pitt
4. Will Ferrell - John C. Reilly
5. John Amos - Jimmie Walker
6. Paul Newman - Robert Redford
7. Bill Murray - Jeffrey Wright
8. Brad Pitt - Robert Redford
9. Robert De Niro - Al Pacino
10. Jerry Orbach - Benjamin Bratt

His name is Salvatore...can't be coincidence.

I just finished reading Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan. If you're from the Eighties, have any affinity for the Eighties, or you're addicted to romance--you should read this book. A key character in the story is "Salvatore," which is a name I love. One of my favorite poems features a "Salvatore." [The poet and his book are quite obscure, and I will now tear apart my apartment to find this poem. I think I turned it into a graphic poster because I loved it so much.]

And, I just came across a great interview with Salvatore Scibona. He's a former fellow, of the Mass. Cultural Council, and he discusses his experience as an author on their awesome (and getting better) blog, ArtSake. I'm going to quote the lines that made me swoon, but you should take the time to hit the blog and read the full interview. I'll post links below.

Mr. Salvatore Scibona:

"But also, what could be more unlikely, more uncanny from a writer’s point of view, than that a stranger he will never know should walk down a street with years of the writer’s thoughts in her bag? A book is such an elegant technology, something so complex in such a crude device."

"The finished novel is like a house that stands on the ruins of a previous house that stood on the ruins of another house that was built on a meaningless little patch of ground."

These expressive and lovely ideas will now drive me to a bookstore where I can peruse his new novel, The End. The description on the book's website states that it's a "...about a single day in 1953 as lived by six people in an Ohio carnival crowd." I've requested the book through my library, but impatience might drive me to purchase it despite my scholar's income. As well as checking out this book, I will browse August: Osage County, Madonna's brother's dish-all, and keep desperately searching for the July Vogue Italia, which is the issue featuring black models (editorial, not ads, and, yes, that makes a difference).

Links:

ArtSake interview with Salvatore Scibona
The End
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

When You Caught Between the Moon and Chi-Town

Awesome wedding pictures!  

Matt & Bjork-- Eat your hearts out!  

Sure Signs of Spring

I was walking down the street and got that sweet, strong whiff of doo doo. People with kids and dogs know that smell. Looking around, I spied that a crew had spread new peat around the trees by the sidewalk. Aaaah! The peat signals that someone has expectations of growth. Winter tension just unraveled from my shoulders. Left it on the curb.

I stepped off the train. Warm air. Blue skies and an air of bonhomie. As I descended the flight of steps, a tickle started in my heart. You know it's spring when a young lady's thoughts turn to cute shoes and pedicures.

Good morning, Sunshine

Another space shuttle mission is underway. The mission crew along with the space station personnel are going to add the first part of a Japanese module to the station. Also being assembled on the outside of the station is Dextre. He's a Canadian robot with arms and gripper hands. He'll cut down on the amount of time a EVA takes up. (E.V.A. - Extra Vehicular Activity or a space walk.) His first arm was attached yesterday. Three of his robot friends showed up at the shuttle launch to celebrate his trip to space. Although some grumbling about the Three Laws of Robotics and equal rights were heard, the mood was cheery.

Songs that have been used to wake up the space crew:

"Linus & Lucy" -- A Charlie Brown Christmas

"Godzilla" -- Blue Oyster Cult

"Turn, Turn, Turn" -- The Byrds

"We're Going to Be Friends" -- The White Stripes

I tried to decide which song I would want to be awakened with in space, and here's what I came up with:

"Take Me Home (Country Roads)" -- Toots and the Maytals

shout out to my Jamaican and Pennsylvania roots

"Cherry Bomb" -- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

yeah, i said it!

"Heartache Tonight" -- The Eagles

I'm ret and rarin' to go!

"Return of Django" -- Lee Perry & the Upsetters

Jamaica, again! Plant the Black, Gold & Green, guhl!

"Turn Me On" -- Nina Simone

"like a lightbulb in a dark room, I'm just waitin' for you to turn me on..." how apropos, non?


Holey Moley! How could I forget?

"Pennsylvania Polka"
shout out to my home state, y'all!