critic’s picks – must see movies of 2010

Well I certainly can’t be exhaustive on this, I mean everyone does a top ten movie list, but following is a gathering of some of the critics and awards. The attributions with links are listed below and movies I’ve seen are bolded (a gal’s gotta keep track somehow), I can’t see them all but will cobble together my must see list after a quick run to the movies.

  • 127 Hours – AFI, TC, LS, OG, Sat, AOS, RD, PGA, BM, BFCA, AA
  • Ajami – OG
  • Alice in Wonderland – GG
  • Animal Kingdom – LS, Sat
  • Another Year – LS, OG, SH
  • The Art of the Steal – RD
  • Black Swan – AFI, GG, MD, AOS, OFC, PGA, BAFTA, BFCA, CFC, GIFA, AA
  • Blue Valentine – OG, Sat, GIFA
  • Boxing Gym – MD
  • Burlesque – GG
  • Carlos – TC, MD, AOS, SH
  • Cyrus – Sat
  • Edge of Darkness – BM
  • Exit Through the Gift Shop – TC, OG
  • The Fighter – AFI, GG, AOS, PGA, BM, BFCA, AA
  • Four Lions – RC
  • Get Low – Sat
  • The Ghost Writer – LS, OG, Sat, MD, BM
  • Greenberg – AOS
  • Green Zone – SK, RC
  • Inception – SK, AFI, GG, Sat, MD, SH, OFC, RD, PGA, BAFTA, BFCA, CFC, AA
  • Inside Job – RC, SH
  • Jackass 3D – SK
  • Kick-Ass – SK, RD
  • The King’s Speech – GG, Sat, SH, PGA, BAFTA, BM, BFCA, CFC, AA
  • The Kids Are Alright – AFI, LS, OG, GG, Sat, AOS, SH, PGA, GIFA, AA
  • Knight and Day – BM
  • Last Train Home – LS
  • Let Me In – SK, TC, GIFA
  • Life During Wartime – RC
  • MacGruber – BM
  • Made in Dagenham – Sat
  • Monsters – SK
  • Mother – TC
  • My Dog Tulip – SH
  • Never Let Me Go – RC
  • The Other Guys – Sat, BM
  • Please Give – Sat
  • A Prophet – LS, MD
  • Rabbit Hole – RC, RD
  • RED – GG, Sat
  • Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – Sat
  • Shutter Island – TC, RD
  • The Social Network – SK, RC, LAFC, AFI, TC, LS, OG, GG, Sat, MD, SH, OFC, RD, PGA, BAFTA, BM, BFCA, CFC, NYFCC, SFFC, AA
  • Solitary Man – RD
  • Somewhere – AOS
  • Splice – SK
  • Sweetgrass – MD
  • Takers – SK
  • The Tillman Story – RD
  • The Town – SK, AFI, OG, Sat, PGA, BM, BFCA
  • The Tourist – GG
  • Toy Story 3 – RC, AFI, TC, LS, OG, AOS, SH, OFC, PGA, BM, BFCA, AA
  • True Grit – AFI, TC, MD, OFC, PGA, BAFTA, BFCA, AA
  • Vincere – AOS
  • Waiting for ‘Superman’ – RC
  • Wild Grass – RC, MD
  • Winter’s Bone – AFI, TC, LS, Sat, AOS, SH, OFC, RD, BFCA, CFC, GIFA, AA

AA – Academy Award Nominations, AOS – AO Scott for NYTimes, AFI – American Film Institute, BAFTA – British Academy Film Awards, GG – Golden Globe Nominations, BM – Ben Mankiewicz for Huggington Post, BSFC – Boston Society of Film Critics, BFCA – Broadcast Film Critics Association, CFC – Chicago Film Critics, GIFA – Gotham Independent Film Awards, LAFC – LA Film Critics, LS – Lisa Schwarzbaum for EW, NYFCC – New York Film Critic Circle, MD – Manohla Dargis for NYTimes,  OFC – Online Film Critics, OG – Owen Gleiberman for EW, PGA – Producers Guild, RC – Richard Corliss for Time, RD – Rossiter Drake for 7×7, Sat – Satellite Awards, SFFC – San Francisco Film Critics, SH – Stephen Holden for NYTimes, SK – Stephen King for EW, TC – Tom Charity for CNN

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oscar fun

Well I think it was fun. It wasn’t the best show, and it never will be… I love Neil Patrick Harris and he can do no wrong, but that opening number just didn’t go anywhere good. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin played a nice game of ‘look there is (insert actor name here) (insert joke here)’ but though their pairing didn’t bring anything  greater than an individual host, and maybe not even as good as either of them might have been alone, they popped out often enough and made amusing enough comments.

The awards were relatively predictable, though I somehow lost my Oscar pool. The main highlights were the weird ‘Kanye moment’ when the Best Documentary Short winner’s off screen struggles hit the mic, Salon has some of the reported backstory. And when The Cove winners were cut short, was it because the Academy only allows limited time and a single speaker, or was it because one of the dudes pulled out a message to text Dolphin. And the drama around the memorial inclusions, they can’t include everyone but should they have included Farrah Fawcett instead of Michael Jackson?

But most importantly the fashion… no swans this year but a few hits and what I considered misses. I’m not a huge fan of the asymmetrical dress or the nude tones but Sandra Bullock was working it, love to see the best actress be in a stunner. I also dug the patterns of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams (who I somehow kept thinking was one of the Kates). And Carey Mulligan not only worked a fun classic silhouette with a twist, but in close up you could see the little scissors and forks that the little bejeweling on her dress were made up of, adorable. As for the misses, I could have done without the overdetailed Zoe Saldana, Vera Farmiga, Jennifer Lopez, and Charlize Theron.

And if you’re so inclined check out the full list of winners at Oscar.com.

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groundhog day aka oscar nominations

Well the big ten are here and the only real surprise in Best Picture is The Blind Side. Does that mean I have to go see it?

  • Avatar
  • The Blind Side
  • District 9
  • An Education
  • The Hurt Locker
  • Inglourious Basterds
  • Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
  • A Serious Man
  • Up
  • Up in the Air

I do try to see the films that are nominated in the major categories (picture, director, actor/actress, screenplay) and so far am doing pretty well. I am at peace with my decision not to see animated films so I’m free on Up. Other than that I’ve been dragging my feet on Invictus, I missed The Messenger and its Netflix release date is still ‘unknown’, and The Last Station isn’t even out yet (um, it’s February).

So who will be the big winner? Avatar and Hurt Locker are tied with nine nominations each, and if you’ve been paying attention you know who I’m rooting for. The Oscars are March 7, so first I need to get objective for my Oscar pool… For the full list of nominations go to: http://oscar.go.com/nominations/nominees

Oh and Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow so we’re looking at six more weeks of winter. Cold weather is always a nice occasion to see a movie!

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procrastinator picks – must see movies of 2009

For someone who sees a lot of movies in a year it’s always a pleasure to recommend ten. Though as with most years, at any given time depending on mood and what I’ve seen when, or if I’ve just talked about a film this list might be different. And although I do see quite a few films, I didn’t see them all, so for reference you can check out the critic’s roundup where all those that I’ve seen are in bold.

  • Where the Wild Things Are – I will admit that I have a general weakness for creatures and although I can’t argue that everyone will love this film, I did, they created a beautiful world that felt true to spirit of the book (whose story was nearly all in the emotion of illustrations), particularly the way the characters conveyed moments of wondrous joy and frustration that is Max, and extra credit in my book for a risk that is pulled off, is Spike Jonze single?
  • The Hurt Locker – A critical darling for good reason, the wonderful portrayal of the characters and situations of this bomb unit in Iraq, it focuses more on the small unit than the large battle and I was surprised at the tension and the suspense brought out in nearly each and every moment, it kept me on the edge of my seat.
  • A Single Man – I love that fashion designer Tom Ford’s first feature was not only an incredible visual presentation of a tragically heartbroken man in the 60s, but was a touching moment of a story with incredible performances, particularly Firth in the title role.
  • An Education – I would love to be won over by Peter Sarsgaard but watching a delightful young student well played by Carey Mulligan is almost as fun, the screenplay by Nick Hornby (another fav) brings us along for the ride in a fun and heartbreaking journey with the characters through England in the 60s, hmm maybe I like the 60s.
  • Star Trek – Another soft spot for the Star Trek legacy but though they lost me on the last series of films this relaunch is quite fun, with nods to the original that don’t require a lifelong dedication to appreciate, the action and story stands on its own, thanks JJ Abrams.
  • Sunshine Cleaning – Though put out early enough not to be on more folk’s radar, it was a wonderful small film where Amy Adams plays a single mom who was clearly trying to get it all together even if she’s often only almost successful, her move into the world of crime scene cleanup brings humor as well as poignant moments with a wonderful supporting cast.
  • Up in the Air – Entering into the isolated world of downsizing and living on the road, or more aptly in the air, we catch George Clooney at a time where things could all change and we keep wondering if and how they will, Clooney leads a talented cast who is able to bring the humor and drama to moments well crafted by Jason Reitman.
  • District 9 – Who doesn’t like a moral that is actually told through a well crafted engaging story (not pointing fingers at anything that rhymes with schmavatar), it was amazing to watch the totally unrelatable lead character transform himself literally and figuratively throughout his struggle, starting with the attempt to relocate a ghetto of aliens.
  • Inglourious Basterds – I dragged my feet as long as I could, the previews of Brad, his accent, and that screaming Hitler just didn’t give me confidence that Tarantino hadn’t gone totally over the edge but this fictionalized look at WWII dragged me in with its characters, its scheming plots, and yes the Tarantino violence.
  • Whip It/Zombieland – Sometimes a matinee, a fresh popcorn & soda, and low expectations are met with a delightful afternoon, and that’s what these two movies were, I just had fun at both of them, from girl power through roller derby (I almost walked out and got a shoulder tiger tattoo to match Wiig’s) to a few folks left to fend off the zombies, all you need is a good set of rules and a plan (always remember the double tap).
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critic’s picks – must see movies of 2009

The award season isn’t over but many nominees are in and most of the critics have spoken. So get ready to add some titles to your Netflix queue. In alphabetical order, initials referenced are noted and linked where possible below. The flicks in bold are those that I’ve seen… always too many, never enough. Stay tuned for my favorites of the year.

  • Adventureland – PH, MP
  • Amreeka – GA
  • Avatar – CC, GG, PH, DE, AOS, Bafta
  • Bad Lieutenant – RE
  • Big Fan – GA
  • Bright Star – SA, AOS
  • Brothers – DE
  • Cheri – MLS
  • Coraline – AFI, PH, DE
  • The Cove – PH
  • Crazy Heart – RE
  • The Damned United – PH
  • District 9 – RC, PH, BM
  • An Education – CC, SAG, RE, SA, BM, Bafta
  • Everlasting Moments – DE
  • Every Little Step – BM
  • Fantastic Mr. Fox – RC, DE
  • 500 Days of Summer – GG
  • Food, Inc. – MLS, DE
  • Funny People – MLS, AOS
  • Gomorrah – AOS
  • Goodbye Solo – AOS
  • The Hangover – AFI, GG
  • The Headless Woman – Sla
  • The Hurt Locker – RC, AFI, CC, GG, SAG, RE, CFC, SA, NYFCC, BSFC, LAFC, SFFC, GA, PH, MLS, BM, Sla, NSFC, MP, AOS, Bafta
  • I Love You Man – BM
  • The Informant – SA
  • Inglorious Basterds – CC, GG, SAG, RE, CFC, PH, MLS, BM, Sla
  • In the Loop – BM, DE, MP
  • Invictus – CC
  • It’s Complicated – GG, SA
  • Julia – Sla
  • Julie & Julia – GG, SA
  • Knowing – RE
  • The Maid – GA
  • Me and Orson Welles – MP
  • The Messenger – AFI, SA
  • Nine – CC, GG, SAG, SA
  • Of Time and the City – RC, DE, MP
  • Precious – AFI, CC, GG, SAG, RE, SA, PH, MLS, AOS, Bafta
  • The Princess and the Frog – RC
  • Revanche – MLS, Sla
  • A Serious Man – AFI, CC, RE, CFC, SA, GA, Sla, DE, MP
  • A Single Man – RC, AFI, MP
  • Sin Nombre – BM
  • The Stoning of Soraya M. – SA
  • Sugar – AFI, BM, MP
  • Summer Hours – MLS, DE, AOS
  • The Sun – Sla
  • Tetro – Sla
  • Thirst – RC
  • 35 Shots of Rum – Sla
  • Two Lovers – MLS, Sla
  • Tyson – DE
  • Up – RC, AFI, CC, BM, MP
  • Up in the Air – NBR, RC, AFI, CC, GG, RE, CFC, SA, PH, MLS, BM, AOS, Bafta
  • Where the Wild Things Are – CFC, MP, AOS
  • The White Ribbon – RC, RE

AFI, AOS – AO Scott for At the Movies, Bafta – British Academy of Film and Television Arts, BM – Ben Mankiewicz, BSFC – Boston Society of Film Critics, CC – Critic’s Choice Awards, CFC – Chicago Film Critics, DE – David Edelstein for New York, GA – Gotham Independent Film , GG – Golden Globes, LAFC – Los Angeles Film Critics, MLS – Mick LaSalle for SF Chronicle, MP – Michael Phillips for At the Movies, NBR – National Board of Review, NSFC –  National Society of Film Critics, NYFCC- New York Film Critic’s Circle, PH – Peter Hartlaub for SF Chronicle,  RC – Richard Corliss for Time, RE – Roger Ebert, SA – Satellite Awards, SAG – Screen Actors Guild (best ensemble), SFFC – San Francisco Film Critics, Sla – Slant Magazine (see site for full lists)

* As always the list isn’t comprehensive just those I’ve run across, feel free to add additional notes in comments.

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my must-see movies of 2008

Every year I do a top ten movie list and every year it causes me tons of anguish. Have I seen all of the top rated films? If I see just one more movie will it be one of the best? Am I really placing the movies in the order that I liked them most? Do I even remember that movie I saw last Feb? I could probably come up with ten variations on this list but what it comes down to is there is just a time to throw down and pick ten, and that time was a month ago, so here goes.

  • Slumdog Millionaire – This was just a great movie, the epic setting in India, the love story, and the method of telling the story of a dramatic past through the ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ answers was as entertaining as it was unbelievable.
  • Milk – The movie did a great job of capturing not only Milk, Sean Penn did an amazing job, but the characters and flavor of the time, it might have been even more impactful as a SF resident viewer during Prop 8.
  • The Dark Knight – I love Christian Bale and the whole new Christopher Nolan take on this franchise, and though I actually thought the last Batman was a better story, you can’t argue with the Heath Ledger Joker performance and Maggie Gyllenhaal was a refreshing change from Katie Holmes.
  • Frost/Nixon – I might have liked this movie so much because I walked in expecting not to, reenacting the time around the famous interviews it was a piece of history I wasn’t as familiar with and a captivating story of these two well played men at a momentous time in their lives.
  • The Wrestler – A rough look at the life of a has-been, and who better than Rourke to bring it to life, what’s painful, and therefore good, is seeing how it could go either way and seeing why it went the way it did.
  • Changeling – This Clint film tells the ‘based on a true story’ that is just crazy enough to be interesting, beautifully set in the 20s with an impressive performance by Jolie as we look for her missing son and see her stand her ground with the police.
  • Rachel Getting Married – Hathaway makes us feel incredibly uncomfortable as she returns from rehab for her sister’s wedding and we get a glimpse into the layers that can bring a family together and drive them apart.
  • Speed Racer – Ok so this movie isn’t for everyone, but I was a fan of the original series (which i retried and is admittedly unwatchable), but I thought the update captured the sentiment of the original and by taking the cartoon aspect to a special effects crazy it made it a fun film.
  • The Visitor – Jenkins’ character comes alive with the beat of the drum of illegal immigrants, whose lives he becomes enmeshed in, and watching the personal impact that the deportation can take on those around him was compelling.
  • Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day – I saw this movie early last year and just remember it being a delightful day to spend with McDormand and Adams, the romance, the period costumes, and the pursuit of true love just felt like an update to an old Hollywood film.

And for the record I haven’t seen everything, though I thought I did pretty well this year, and I’ve noted the critic’s picks that I’ve seen.

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and the oscar goes to….

There were not a lot of huge surprises in last night’s Academy Awards and although I was hoping that there would be a swan or a Cher in the bunch I’ll have to say no one embarrassed themselves. This year Hugh Jackman was the host and again, he didn’t embarrass himself. I didn’t mind the opening musical number but the secondary tribute to musicals with Beyonce and some youngsters didn’t work for me. Next year I’d prefer to go back to the comedian host. Perhaps Steve Martin and Tina Fey who as presenters remind us humor can be good.

I also wasn’t in love with the new method of having five previous winners of the acting categories speak to each of the nominees. It was lovely to see some of the previous winners but there was an odd quality to having the prompter reading of admiration, which in some cases came off to me as stilted and a little bit of a drag. Back to clips I say. There was a relatively cute Pineapple Express take on some of the nominated and non-nominated films of the year, which was worth it just to see James Franco’s alter egos cross paths. And although I think Queen Latifah’s song set to the memorial presentation was nice the camera panning back and forth caused it to be difficult to read the names and roles of some of the honorees.

But back to the really important part of the evening, the clothes… Again no one blew me away, but I found some of the simple+ looks most lovely, Keira Knightly, Marion Cotillard, and Taraji P. Henson were of note. I couldn’t totally get behind Miley Cyrus but I’ll give the choice a pass, and no one but Beyonce could look great in that dress. And Sara Jessica Parker’s cup that runeth over and Virginia Madsen’s muffin top on top, reminded me that its all in the details. Amy Adams necklace was fantastic but I would have loved to see it with an even more simple dress.

As for the dudes, Mickey Rourke who always rocks a slightly random look pulled it off sans scarf this year. And I’ll give Adrein Brody the benefit of the doubt that the hair facial and otherwise was for a roll, but Philip Seymore Hoffman in the beanie cap was inexcusable.

And on an unrelated note, cutting to Brangelina during Jennifer Aniston’s presentation, twice, really wasn’t needed. Oh and I won my Oscar Pool, perhaps I will have to buy more television related equipment with my winnings!

(Click on any of the photos to see larger)

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must-see movies of 2008

dark_knight.jpgLooking for something to see at the movies? We’re wrapping up the year and the critics and awards are happening so here’s what folks are saying is worth seeing. Winners or number ones are noted with an*. I’ll make some updates as new lists/awards are received. I shoot to do my own top ten list some time next year once I’ve actually seen some of these (movies seen to date are bolded).

  • Alexandra – MD
  • Appaloosa – PE
  • Ballast – ISA
  • The Bank Job – SK
  • Burn After Reading – EO, GG, NBR, OG
  • Cadillac Records – AOS, DE
  • Changeling – AL, CCA, NBR
  • Choke – SA
  • A Christmas Tale – SH
  • The Class – DE, OG
  • Cloverfield – EO
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – AFI, CCA, GG, NBR, PE, RC
  • The Dark Knight – AFI, CCA, EO*, LS, MD, NBR, OG, PE, RS, SK*
  • Death Race – SK
  • Defiance – NBR 
  • Doubt – CCA, DE, RS
  • The Edge of Heaven – AL, AOS, OG, SH
  • Encounters of the End of the World – MD, RC
  • Flight of the Red Balloon – MD
  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall – EO
  • 4 months, 3 weeks, & 2 days – AL, RC, SH
  • Frost/Nixon – AFI, CCA, GG, NBR, RS, SA
  • Frozen River – AFI, ISA, SA, SH
  • Funny Games – SK
  • Gomorra – LS
  • Gran Torino – AFI, NBR, PE
  • Happy Go Lucky – AOS, DE, GG, LS, MD, PE, SA*, SH
  • In Bruges – GG, SA
  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – EO
  • Iron Man – AFI, AL, EO, RC
  • I’ve Loved You So Long – AL
  • Kit Kittredge: American Girl – DE
  • Lakeview Terrace – SK
  • The Last Mistress – SH
  • Mamma Mia – GG, OG
  • Man on Wire – AOS, LS, RS
  • Milk – AFI, AOS, CCA, LS, NBR, NYFC*, OG, PE, RC, RS*, SA, SH
  • My Winnipeg – RC
  • Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist – SA
  • The Orphanage – AL
  • Paranoid Park – MD
  • Quantum of Solace – AL
  • Rachel Getting Married – AOS, DE*, ISA, OG, RS
  • The Reader – CCA, GG, SA
  • Redbelt – SK
  • Revolutionary Road – GG, RS, SA
  • The Ruins – SK
  • The Secret of the Grain – AOS
  • Sex and the City – EO
  • Shotgun Stories – DE
  • Silent Light – AOS, MD
  • Slumdog Millionaire – BFC*, CCA, DC*, GG, NBR*, PE, RC, RS, SA*, SK
  • Speed Racer – RC
  • Still Life – MD
  • Synecdoche, New York – MD, RC
  • Taxi to the Dark Side – DE
  • Tell No One – OG, SH
  • Tropic Thunder – EO, LS, SA, SK
  • Trouble the Water – DE, LS
  • Vicky Christina Barcelona – EO, GG, PE, SA
  • The Visitor – PE, RS, SH
  • Wall-e – AFI, AL, AOS, BFC*, CCA, DE, EO, LS*, NBR, OG, PE, RC*, RS, SH, SK
  • Waltz With Bashir – DE, LS, NSFC*
  • Wendy and Lucy – AFI, AOS, ISA, LS, MD
  • We Own the Night – AL
  • The Wrestler – AFI, AL, CCA, ISA, NBR, OG*

AFI – American Film Institute, AL – Anthony Lane/New Yorker, AOS – AO Scott/NYT, BFC – Boston Society of Film Critics, CCA – Critic’s Choice Awards, DC – DC Area Film Critics, DE – David Edelstein/NPR, EO – eonline, GG – Golden Globes, ISA – Independent Spirit Awards, LS – Lisa Schwarzbaum/EW, MD – Manohla Dargis/NYT, NBR – National Board of Review, NSFC – National Society of Film Critics, NYFC – New York Film Critics Circle, OG – Owen Gleiberman/EW, PE – People Magazine, RC – Richard Corliss/Time, RS – Rolling Stone, SA – Satellite Awards, SH – Stephen Holden/NYT, SK – Stephen King/EW

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’tis the season

dexter.jpgNot the holiday season, the award season, and it kicks off with Golden Globe nominations. Remember these are the ones that cover tv and film and separate categories for comedy/musical and dramas. Most of these movies aren’t even out yet so as usual I’ll have some catching up to do. I also haven’t caught all the cable selections for tv so I guess I’ll update my netflix queue.

BEST TV DRAMA
Dexter
House
In Treatment
Mad Men
True Blood

BEST TV COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock
Californication
Entourage
The Office
Weeds

BEST MOTION PICTURE / DRAMA
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST MOTION PICTURE / MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

For a full list of nominations check the Hollywood Foreign Press Association site.

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happy anniversary!

0031.JPGWell it’s been a year since procrastinationchronicles.com had its first post! Can you believe it? No, me neither. Since then I’ve upgraded from basic cable to standard cable, and don’t think it’s worth the money but don’t know if I could go back. I still have my old school tivo that only records one channel with a back up vcr, that lifetime membership makes it hard to pay to upgrade. Though I admit my next entertainment purchase just might be a flat screen television. I’ve watched more hours on television than I’d like to count. And of course I still spend a moment or two of my time on things other than tv like reading and going to the movies.

Anyhow, hopefully it’s been as fun to read as it has been to write. Thanks for all of your support, keep reading and watching. : )

xoxo

– the procrastinator

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