Snapshots

— The Hudson is now pretty much encased in ice. It’s gorgeous in a fierce glittering kind of way. I stood out there this morning, freezing-cold, watching the mini icebergs float by. Then this morning, I checked in on CW’s site, and had to laugh at his latest post. Just because of the contrast.

— I finished the biography of Howard Hughes I had been reading. The ending of his life is not only tragic but enraging. It’s weirder than fiction. The evil Mormon aides … so WEIRD. I have no idea how much of it is true. I have no idea if he really was trapped by his own people who were vying for control of his billionis, and who encouraged his drug addiction in order to keep him docile … And they were all MORMONS, which … the whole thing is very odd. Apparently, Hughes had all of the various women in his life followed, tailed, bugged, etc. And he had a problem, in the beginning, with his staff assigned to follow these girls falling in love with them, or stealing them. So Hughes said he only wanted homosexuals to be on his staff. Since this was in the 1940s and 50s, though, being out was not a common thing, and Hughes found it hard to find anyone who would admit to being gay. So then he came upon the brilliant idea: straight-laced Mormons! But the way they treated him, neglected him, pumped him full of drugs … it’s tragic. It made me mad.

— I’m writing like a Tasmanian devil. Lots of plans. Lots of things going on. It stresses me out. But I’m also very pleased with my work, even though it is all just in progress right now.

— I watched the movie 61* last night, for … oh … the HUNDREDTH TIME???? In my estimation, it is that rarity: a perfect movie. Every scene, every performance, the story itself … the way the story is told … it just WORKS. On every level. Barry Pepper and Thomas Jane … day-um. That is some fine acting. And … I may be insane, but it really looks like, in certain scenes, that they are ACTUALLY playing baseball. It’s awesome. Like … Thomas Jane is just an actor and all, but there were certain moments on the field when I believed I was looking at Mickey Mantle. And Barry Pepper has Roger Maris’ specific swing down to a T. Oh, and Bruce McGill as the General Manager … who the hell is better than Bruce McGill??? Let me scream it from the hilltops: I LOVE BRUCE MCGILL. He’s one of those character actors that you probably know, you would know his face … I LOVE his work. Bagger Vance – as one of the golfers, his movie-stealing turn in The Insider… There’s not a more exciting moment in The Insider than during the deposition when he suddenly screams at the tobacco lawyer: “WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF YOUR FACE.” A fine fine actor. Great scene between McGill and Pepper (as Roger Maris – who is pretty much freaking out from all the stress) in McGill’s office. Where McGill finally says to him, “Like it or not, Roger, right now … you’re bigger than the game.” 61* is a great film. Congrats, Billy Crystal … you really GOT it. Not only did you tell a compelling and fascinating story, but you infused the entire tale with a love of baseball, a true understanding of the sport, the love of the sport. Barry Pepper’s work in some scenes makes me cry. BRAVO TO ALL INVOLVED.

— Last night was a cooking night. I don’t cook every night … but last night I did. It was fun. Went to the grocery store, stocked up … There is a feeling of well-being when the fridge is full. So I cooked. The kitchen was warm, cozy, the lights were low … and I felt even MORE cozy because I knew that pretty much just outside the river was clogged up with icebergs.

— Strange crying jags. But then also strange laughing jags. Guffawing on the phone with my friend Beth… Like Joni Mitchell said: “Laughter or tears … it’s the same release.” (MJF? Is that the quote??) You know. Laughter/Tears. Par for the course.

— Oh, forgot to mention: saw the movie Mean Girls. I was completely surprised by how much I loved it. I actually think I need to own it. Strangely enough. It was witty, ridiculous, the script was smart and FUNNY (“But honey, you love Ladysmith Black Mambazo!”) – there were some laugh-out-loud funny moments, and it was also quite poignant. It had some meaning. I was not expecting any of that, and again … it was a lovely surprise. Love a movie that makes me laugh. And I finally, grudgingly, realized why Lindsay Lohan has become the latest “It Girl”. Because, ehm, she’s kind of feckin’ adorable, that’s why. She’s lovable. She’s a perfect teen star. I loved her character. And go, Tina Fey!! Tim Meadows as the beleaguered principal with chronic carpal-tunnel was hilarious.

— I like to sit at my desk, in my pre-dawn morning ritual, with the cup of coffee next to me, the desk-lamp on … and re-read what I have written the day before. I’ve got this whole system with my off-line writing, how I write, when I edit, blah blah blah. In a weird way, the drudgery of editing is one of my favorite parts. I sit there, it’s still dark out, the curtains are drawn, I’ve got incense burning, I’ve cooked a couple hard-boiled eggs for the breakfast, and I read what I’ve written out loud to myself. It’s enormously helpful. You hear things you might have missed, (like repetitive words, awkward phrasing, or too much writing in general) – than when you just edit with your eye scanning the page. Precious dawn moments. I would be so wigged out without that time.

— My friend Ted and I went to go see Vera Drake last week, and I’m pretty much still haunted by it. The movie has remained with me, I have found it hard to shake it. Imelda Staunton: I remember her highly comedic performance as the dim-witted curly-haired wife of the big ol’ CURMUDGEON in Sense and Sensibility. She played a woman who did not have a brain in her head, who literally had never had a thought worth thinking. An AIRHEAD. And so nothing could prepare me for what she did in Vera Drake. God. It was one of the harshest most upsetting movies I had seen all year. Stellar acting all around.

— Funny. I just saw my entire family on Saturday. And I already miss them all. It was wonderful, I got to talk to pretty much everyone for at least SOME amount of time … but still. The family is so huge. Invariably there are people you “miss”.

— Continuing on with reading the Adams-Jefferson correspondence. I am already getting ready to do a big Presidents Day thing here on the blog, made up of quotes from the letters. These letters are so intense, and so incredible, that it’s almost like I can SEE the hair rising up on my arms as I read them. Yay for being a Founding Fathers geek!!

— Cool, man. A fireball over Madrid.

— I think I need to get out more.