--DID I MISS ANTHING?

…Is that you in the photo above?   I hope not.  I hope you’re safe and dry, swilling a warm cup of cocoa in front of a fire.

…Last week I saw “American Hustle.”  It was a most enjoyable romp.  Jennifer Lawrence was a hoot and again showed her versatility.  Amy Adams was spectacular—sharp, fun, funny, and very sexy.  Christian Bale will certainly pick up an Oscar nod, if not the statute itself.  He must have gained 150 pounds and he’s just genius.  I recall watching him as a 90 pound delusional character in “The Machinist,” then the next film he was in—about five months later—was “Batman” where he was as buff as Marky Mark in his Calvin Klein underwear ad days. 

I still need to see:

“The Wolf On Wall Street”

“Nebraska”

“Philomena”

“Saving Mr. Banks”

“Her”

“Blue Jasmine”

“Dallas Buyer’s Club”

…I’ve been watching “Luther” on Netflix starring the remarkable Idris Elba who also has the lead in Mandella and who played one of the most memorable characters (“Stringer Bell”) on “The Wire.”

It’s a good time if you’re looking for something intriguing.

…One of my resolutions for 2014 is getting back to reading more.  I used to regularly read at least 100 books a year.  It helps when one aspires to be a writer.

I finished “Give Me Everything You Have” by James Lasdun.  It was definitely a creepy book about being stalked, although it did falter often when he tried to draw parallels to Anti-Semitism, though I understand what he was trying to do.

…One of my favorite activities is soaking in the tub with bubbles, jets, a book, with paper and pen handy.  Since getting a new puppy, I’ve only had one bath in the last five months. 

For whatever reason, I always find my creative streak in the tub, so my dearth in bathing may explain my lack of productivity.  Or so I hope.

…Getting used to a new computer isn’t much fun.  I’m not a guy who likes change anyway, but constantly getting bumped off the internet is a tad frustrating, to say the least.  And then there are other things like clipping and pasting and having the whole email disappear into the ether.  Of course, things could be worse.

…Does it get dark early in the evenings where you are?  Doesn’t that suck?  Unless you’re a vampire, you can’t really enjoy the lack of sunshine and how the days shrink in on themselves.

…Here’s wishing you a fabulous weekend.