The "New" Blogger

I switched...have to adjust some stuff now--like re-adding my list of favorite sites, adjusting font types, etc...heck--maybe even changing to a new template color! Wouldn't that be some major change? It may take me several days to develop the patience for doing all of this! Interesting that on my view of this blog using IE, the title is cut off at the top. It displays fine on Firefox.

Holiday Pictures

A few pictures from the holidays. As some of you know, I was miserable over the holidays with an assortment of flu-like maladies including a partially collapsed lung. We did have a little fun with Hannah's new camera, though.

Broadway in Knoxville: The Producers

I laughed really hard!
What a treat. I had never seen the movies (neither the 1968 version nor the 2005 version) and I didn't know what this was about until Shalane's plan with her would-be boyfriend were nixed and I got to go instead. The Producers is a Mel Brooks creation and is just as hysterical as you would expect it to be if you are a Mel Brooks fan. His humor never goes out of style.

What's it About?
Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, a scheming theatrical producer and his mousy CPA, hit upon the perfect plan to embezzle a fortune: raise far more money than you need to produce a sure-fire Broadway flop and then (since no one will expect anything back), Max and Leo can pocket the difference. To do this, they need the ultimate bad play, which they find in the musical Springtime for Hitler, written by neo-Nazi playwright (and pigeon fancier) Franz Liebkind. Their plans come to naught and the duo is taken completely by surprise when their new production is hailed as a toast-of-the-town hit.

What the Above Doesn't Tell You
This should come as no shock to anyone who is familiar with Mel Brooks' work. There is a fair amount of distastefulness (the sort of behavior you might avoid in polite company and the sorts of things you would never discuss at work or church in today's hypersensitive, hyper-PC environment). For entertainment purposes, however, go Mel!

If you want to know way more about The Producers than you may ever want to know, then visit here. (I am amazed by the compilation of information about it at Wikipedia!)

Remember the Foris 2005 Pinot Noir Rogue Valley from the Wine, Food, Friends, and Theater post in early December?
Had it with dinner again last night--again at Bravo! before the play. Very disappointing, though. Re-reading that post, I realized I didn't really have much to say about the wine then (only that the eggplant-wine pairing was "lovely"). It didn't seem to have much flavor or texture to it. The food pairing (gorgonzola filet) improved it, but not much. Probably won't try that one again. The service was outstanding, however. We let our waiter know that we were on a schedule and wanted to be done by a specific time. He was more than attentive--and quite happy to serve so well. We were more than generous with his tip. The look on his face was priceless.

Scoop: Another Movie Review

If I had realized what a big acting part Woody Allen played in it, I wouldn't have rented this. Scoop stars Woody Allen, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, and Ian McShane (whoever he is). An American college journalist in London is tipped off to a string of clues in a serial murder case. The tips come from a dead reporter who appears to her inside a magician's "dematerializer." She follows the clues which point to a well-to-do businessman. The college reporter falls in love, believes the businessman is innocent, feels guilty, and confesses to him that she was investigating him. They have a good laugh, continue their romance, and he later tries to kill her. Of course, he's put in jail and she ends up with journalism accolades for good sound investigative journalism. All the while, Woody Allen (the magician character) pretends to be the journalist's bumbling father who is helping her find clues (and who eventually is killed in a car accident because he can't adjust to driving on the wrong side of the road). (Yes, I said bumbling.) YAWN. It was a story that probably would have been better with a different cast.

The DVD cover made this sound like a romantic comedy part murder mystery. It was stupid and, in large part, due to Woody Allen. I wonder if he really and truly thinks he's funny? He is so tiring and annoying. Don't waste your time on this unless you are in love with Woody Allen.

Casino Royale: My Take on It

My longtime friend Barbara and I went to see this James Bond flick. Good guy goes after bad guys. Lots of action. The movie was long. It was initially hard to follow. It seemed slow at times. Not too much else to say except that Daniel Craig is very hot.

I am Ultra-Gullible

ultra-gull·ible
Function: adjective
extremely easily duped or cheated
ultra-gull·ibil·i·ty noun
ultra-gull·ibly adverb


Historically, there was mention that my picture is beside the dictionary entry for the definition of gullible. Yesterday wasn't the first time I was called gullible. Far from the first time. My own parents know this best. The unique thing is that I was called "ultra-gullible." (by my own boss!) I have been ultra slow on the uptake lately. I'm chalking it up to lack of oxygen to my brain due to my partially collapsed lung.

Just for fun, I decided to create my own dictionary entry. (Sorry, Blogger didn't like the phonetic symbols for the pronunciation keys, so I had to cut them out.) Although ultra and gullible are both in the dictionary, the combination of the two is not an official word. Of course, now that I've "published" this, maybe it will catch on and eventually be picked up by Merriam-Webster. It wasn't my invention, however. Boss gets the credit.

Happy New Year

I know some of you must be tired of my seeing Christmas "card" and wondering when I will post something new. Well, this might not be much, but here you go!

Big whoop, huh? Stay tuned, though. I'm feeling better from the crud and will have something to say soon. I promise.

Happy New Year.