I'm Lovin' It

Lovin' It:
Eddie Money's Greatest Hits CD. An off-the-cuff beach trip purchase that has proven to be the best cd purchase since 2008 for me. Also, it's probably not technically his "greatest hits" because it was in the Borders $5.00 bin and looks like a compilation they threw together. Still - it's totally awesome!

Adam Lambert's single "Whataya Want From Me". It's only slightly embarrassing that I like this song. I watched his season of American Idol so I feel like I understand him to some extent. This song is best for driving.

Truman Capote's Summer Crossing. Wish I had this book at the beach last week because it would have been fun to read in no AC. Really capture the mood of the book you know? So far it's a quick read and the most interesting one I've read this summer.

Cashews. Just because.

Things I'm Not Sure About:

Pretzel M & M's. I saw a commercial for them last night. It really BLEW MY MIND. Review to come once I eat one.

Summer Reading Roundup: Mattaponi Queen

I've been on a short story kick recently, starting with some McSweeney's books I read while I was housesitting, going through Alice Munro's Runaway (which really deserves its own post), and winding up with Belle Boggs' Mattaponi Queen.

I bought Mattaponi Queen a few weeks ago, then when I was at Quail Ridge last weekend I saw that the author was coming this week! So for a few days I was reading Alice Munro's stories and Belle Boggs' simultaneously. I don't recommend this. The stories in Runaway pack a bigger punch and are better-constructed, but that is also a career-topping collection for Alice Munro. Belle Boggs, who is much younger, writes like the recent MFA that she is. Which isn't a bad thing, but I couldn't keep from comparing the two as I read. Maybe just don't try to read two similar books simultaneously in general!

The stories in MQ are really nice vignettes (or longer arcs) and the rural Virginian scenery is laid out beautifully. The characters are believable if not so heart-grabbing as Munro's; the pace is also not as quick, or it feels slower, which is sort of what I mean by the MFA style--the characters take a little longer to get in your head, and the overall feel is not so dynamic as it is ruminative. But I would recommend it. Did I grade the other book(s) with letter grades? If so, MQ gets a B+.

And! Belle Boggs was at Quail Ridge last night and I went to see her read. She and her mom pickled some stuff and made jams to pass out at her readings, so here is a jar of "Loretta's hot bread & butter pickles" (the pickles and jams were all named after characters...maybe there will be another collection of their recipes and cooking habits?) pictured next to the book. Isn't the cover art beautiful?? Obviously I brought my copy for her to sign. She asked if I was a writer, to which I replied "uhh...well..." because I don't know if "yes" is an honest answer to that, but neither is no. You know.

"Well, I teach high school," she said, and signed my book with all best wishes. She also pressed a four-leaf clover into the title page.

Read this book, everybody.

World Cup Love

Not to be all cheesy, but this is the sweetest thing.

Toadz

I've always loved the natural world but lately I've been into toads more than ever. It all started when a lovely plump toad returned to our porch every night around 9:45 pm. From then on, we always made sure he was there, even watched him catch bugs, and it seemed he liked to be petted. He didn't mind the flash of the camera or being observed. Once I made him upset and he released his water sac!!! Oops, I'll try not to startle him from now on.

Then one day he didn't come back. Life wasn't the same. Yeah, its summer and I'm bored--but toads have loads of personality. It hadn't rained in a while, I guess that was the reason. If you didn't know, toads burrow themselves in mud and dirt during the day and are nocturnal, most active at night. Well, since its been raining new toads have been showing up.

Lately I've been on the search for a Toad House. I also found someone who might love toads more than me. These pictures are my personal photographs of my amphibian friends. I like this one because he looks deep in thought.

Vuvuzelas get more oral than sex workers

CNN today brought us this hard-hitting piece of journalism, or The Onion article. Who knew soccer was a high-brow game?

Speaking of noise-makers, this clip is sorta funny. Probably how most people felt during the last month.

Cutting Edge

When I first saw this letter last night I thought it was fake...just look at it! Emotions were running high about LeBron and "the Decision to end all Decisions". This morning people seem to be reposting it so I guess that means it's real. LeBron going to the Miami Heat is lame, but the owner of the Cavs writing a letter in Comic Sans? Did he type this out in 1994? Good grief. Way to add insult to injury Cleveland.

JoP Investigates: Cagefest

One of JoP's most loyal readers (she changed my life with the cinnamon sugar Leonardo da Veggie suggestion) has taken on an epic summer project. Hilary is on a quest to watch every Nicolas Cage movie known to man. Join us as we sit down and chat about her joys and sorrows along this journey.

Why Nicolas Cage?
This is such a loaded question, it is causing me to reexamine my choices in life that have led me to this point. When I was a little girl, my dad always told me that one day – maybe not as a kid, maybe not as a tween, but one day – I would have a religious experience and "find" God. I was skeptical until the year 1997, when Con Air and FACE/OFF were both released. Since then, I knew my destiny would be to fulfill this goal of watching every Nicolas Cage film.


Are you watching them in any particular order?
No. I pick them based on how alluring Nicolas Cage's face is on the DVD art.


Did you do anything special to prepare for this? Training, stamina exercises, endurance drills, etc?
I have always been ready for this.


What's your favorite Cage movie so far?
It's a tie between Ghost Rider and Wickerman. And don't call these movies, they are films.


What's the most disappointing movie so far?
Guarding Tess, only because I wanted Shirley Maclaine and Nicolas Cage to have a love affair, and it never happened. (Ed note: Maybe we can hope for this in the eventual Guarding Tess 2).


Which film are/were you most looking forward to?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice


Who does he have the most chemistry with?
Alison Lohman from Matchstick Men


What's your favorite Nic Cage look?
I like him in his Ghost Rider leather ensemble, and I like his look in Bangkok Dangerous. But I might have a new favorite once Sorcerer's Apprentice comes out.
I am very fickle with my favorite Cage look though; so much so that I have a Nicolas Cage Adventure Set on my refrigerator.



What would you say to Nicolas if you could meet him?
There would be no talking, only body language.


Would you call this an "obsession"?
Yes


If so, how does your boyfriend feel about it?
I haven't taken that into consideration.


Are your friends/family supportive of this goal? Or are they obstacles in reaching your goals?
My family is very supportive. Nicolas Cage is really a family obsession – my sister and I watched Con Air, FACE/OFF, and The Rock basically on repeat during high school, and we all went to see Bangkok Dangerous in the theater.


Is this a project for anyone? Who should steer clear?
Some people have expressed disdain for Nicolas Cage's acting ability. I choose to not speak to these people and they can go watch the Twilight saga for all I care.


How will it feel to have seen every Cage film?
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I think it will be painful for me. When I finish an artistic compendium that I have really thrown myself into, I become depressed at the thought that it will never be new to me again. So no matter how many times I watch these films, it will never be as exciting as the first time.


How has Cage inspired you from this experience?
I sort of want to be buried in a pyramid now.


Are you tumblring/bloggin this event? I smell book deal!
No, I think JOP is the only media outlet that might appreciate Nicolas Cage as much as I do. (ed note: very true.)


Which movie icon's filmography are you going to tackle next?
I can't make that decision, it's like buying a new puppy a week after your old dog dies... I just don't have the heart.


May we suggest John Travolta?
You may.

Thanks Hilary for taking time away from "the Cage" to speak with us!

Everyday Jams, July 2010 edition

These are things that are big in my life right now, every day or most days:

Bok choy! The crunchiest, crispest, tastiest greens to stir-fry. The crunchiness of watercress with the flavor of a nice green onion. I've been trying to learn how to cook one new vegetable per week, and this is the best one so far. Kohlrabi, on the other hand...not a great success.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I just finished this, after reading it on and off for a year. This is like the LOST of books, am I right? Glad to have finished it, but now I want to scour all the fan blogs and theory pages (assuming they exist) just cuz I'm curious about what other people think.

Venus flytraps. Half of my apartment is technically a basement, and all of it is in an old house in the woods. I got lots of insects lurking just outside my door, and sometimes they sneak in; plants and non-chemical repellents (lots of candles and lemons at my place too) are my favorite weapons in this war, and the VFT is the most fun one.

Sunscreen. Doesn't need explaining!

Water. See above!

Fundamentals of Database Systems textbook. Bo-ring but true. My summer class is rough going but important for my career (maybe). Half.com screwed up my order so I'm borrowing from a friend. Still does not hurt the sting of Databases 1.

Preschoolgems twitter feed: Really helps during Databases lectures. Really, really, really helps.

Silly Bandz: The Silent Killer

Maybe from now on I'll just diss on other sites/news outlets' (is JOP a news outlet?) writing. Today's is an insane alarmist piece on (shocker) Fox News...about Silly Bandz!

“See these cute little bracelets? They’re called Silly Bandz, and I think they could potentially be harmful to children if they’re not careful...Dr. Manny was especially concerned for kids who wear numerous Silly Bandz for hours at a time, or even fall asleep at night with them on."

Hmm, food for thought. Speaking of food, I think the only way this could be any kind of problem (the issue is apparently that they could cut off your circulation temporarily)(shaking and crying over here, just thinking about it) is if your child is so morbidly obese that a rubber band is that tight on her/his wrists. Which...you got other problems, in that case.

Box Office Prediction: Twilight

Edward Pattinson looks like his head is falling over. Twilight #3 should tilt a bit from its predecessor, but just barely.

Twilight: Eclipse: $295 million