'Burlesque'

Alright...where to start: It was great to see Cher, again...as always! I LOVE that "ole" gal! Such a sweetheart! :-) As always, she did a great job playing her part. She was only in the opening number but it was nice to see her get in a nice get-up even if it was for just a, uh, brief, (get it?! ;-) period! :-)

I'm going to point out a starlet that I'm not quite sure why she wasn't given a bigger role in this movie. She was the chick w/the attitude, always worrying about the threat of 'Ali,' (Christina Aguilera), and that was Kristen Bell. Kristen had one main scene in the entire flick (who had quite the outfit on!) and several small bits thereafter. Can I just say this: I was very disappointed w/the role that Kristen got. It, basically, sucked because I have seen her do a ton better in her other movies! :-(

It was interesting to see just how much of the movie was centered around Christina Aguilera who is already a household name(? or not...) but...I guess that's what happens when you can write 4 songs to the movie! And, yes...Christina was AMAZING no doubt about it! She's got a voice that gives you goose bumps as she begins to amp up!

Here's a sample from the beginning of the movie and, yeah...it's pretty much a one-woman show from there on, except for a few butt shots of the rest of the Burlesque cast, here and there!

Cher also performs one song as a rehearsal piece in a very dim-lit blue-hued floodlight titled, 'You Haven't Seen the Last of Me' that made me HOPE that wasn't going to be fortuitous of some freak accident as happened to Bono years earlier 'cuz I actually went to see Cher only to discover that she is practically side-lined in this movie so that Christina could clear her [already famous] lungs! So...Cher, you did GREAT but...Sweetheart, I want to see MORE of you! You're a Legend that is too young and beloved to be moth-balled, already! :-(

Two of the men that caught my attention were (one of my favorites) Eric Dane (whoo! That smile!) of (also my favorite! lol!)'Grey's Anatomy' who I always enjoy watching/listening to on the show; and...Cam Gigandet who I had not heard of, before. Between these two men and those eyes and smiles...(sigh)

I have often enjoyed seeing Stanley Tucci and found him to be a great fit for this movie as well.

I really enjoyed Christina's performances but would have enjoyed having seen more talent from others as well.

The Amazing Cuttlefish

Something that I have always been fascinated by: Marine Biology and, in particular, all the beautiful and complex inhabitants of the ocean. In this case, the cuttlefish...who no one can yet figure out how it does this amazing thing that it does with it's magical hiding technique using camouflage.



Fascinating, huh?! :-)

Ever tasted cuttlefish? The Asian community marinades and dries it into an addictive and tasty snack treat. Try it, when you get the chance. I think that you'd like it. It's an excellent source of protein, too. :-)

'Letters to Juliet'

From the beautiful scenery of the Italian locations to the beautiful cast, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie for several reasons: 1) being the 'Hope[less]/ful Romantic' that I am, I actually believe in the premise of this movie; 2) many times, I will go to a movie, in large part, to see the locations. I'm not sure if I will ever get a chance to actually go to Italy but have often dreamed of going so...I always enjoy the opportunity to see movies that feature this beautiful country; 3) I had not seen a movie with Amanda Seyfried, yet, so was curious to see the movie for that reason, as well.

Oh, my! my!my! the "lookers" in this cast! Where to begin! Vanessa Redgrave was so beautiful! I would absolutely LOVE to see MORE (and support!) the gracefully aging community of actresses and actors of yesteryear! Why are they "moth-balled" so early in their career?! It's a travesty!!

My heart nearly stopped when Christopher Egan entered the room!! I wouldn't mind being able to jump into a pool of blue eyes like his! :-P He reminded me of a younger (blonder) Matt Damon. For the record, I think I'd STILL pick Matt (sorry, Christopher! It's the age thing! ;-) but...he was definitely "easy on the eyes" as they say! :-D

I thought I had seen the best of the "pretty boys," when Christopher walked in but...when they came upon Daniel Baldock, I thought I had died and gone to Heaven! lol! ;-P "Where has he been hiding all these year?!" I wondered, and..."why aren't there MORE that look similar to him?!" I thought! Anyway...I'll be keeping my eyes on him, in the future! :-)

So...as if the beautiful rolling hills, that they drove through and filmed, weren't enough, out of the blue rides in one of the most handsome "aged" men that I can ever remember seeing...that being 'Lorenzo' star Franco Nero (oddly, he isn't listed on imDb's casting! Weird!). Wow! Be STILL my heart! lol! They sure don't seem to make 'em like that, anymore, either! :-P

So, then...if you're interested in watching a movie that is just...sweet, go watch it. If you're a 'Hopeless Romantic,' like me, I'm almost certain that you'll LOVE it! If you happen to enjoy beautiful scenery and actors, you won't be disappointed! And...if you have someone whom you are trying to tell how much you love them, take them to this. Unless they have a really "thick skull," they'll "get it;" and, hopefully, not chew your head off for letting them know how much you care about them! :-(

And...there are several very good life "lessons" to be learned from this movie, too. I hope that you'll watch it; I warmly recommend it! :-)

Oh and...there's a heartwarming tidbit about this movie that just made me "swoon," when I discovered it. I'll let anyone who asks me, first, in on it! (wouldn't want to distract from the movie! All I can say is...that the life lessons shared in this movie were actually "played out" in real life! Nothing can be more romantic than that! :-)

What's For Lunch?!

I was, recently, writing about having a pretty well-balanced diet. At least once or twice a week, I go and have a Vietnamese Spring Roll (half order); and a small bowl of chicken broth-based Vietnamese Rice Noodle Soup along w/an iced Vietnamese coffee...w/the latter being only an occasional "treat". :-) If you have never tried Vietnamese food, before, please go give it a try, at your earliest opportunity. It is simply WONDERFUL; FRESH; TASTY; and...HEALTHY!

Norah Jones - 'Come Away With Me'

I wanted to post this song 'cuz...I LOVE it and Norah Jones' FAB voice! Had I written the song and made a vid, I think I would have shot some coastal scenes and driving in a convertible and...running off to go sailing for the day! Me LOVE-'EM the ocean!! :-P

Hope you enjoy! :-)

'Come Away With Me'
Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song

Come away with me on a bus
Come away where they can't tempt us
With their lies

And I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So won't you try to come?

Come away with me and we'll kiss
On a mountaintop
Come away with me
And I'll never stop loving you

And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night
Come away with me

'You Can Leave Your Hat On'

A clip from '9 1/2 Weeks' that I am particularly fond of. What I wouldn't do to be able to look like *that* and...of course...just being able to do that little number...now, *that* would be pretty sexy, too! ;-)

Enjoy!!

forgot to mention: That's a HOT sax in this song, too, BTW!! :-P

Lyrics:

'You Can Leave Your Hat On'
Baby take off your coat
Real slow
Take off your shoes
I'll take off your shoes
Baby take off your dress
Yes, yes, yes

You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on

Go over there, turn on the light
Hey, all the lights
Come over here, stand on that chair
Yeah, that's right
Raise your arms up in the air
Now shake 'em
You give me reason to live
You give me reason to live
You give me reason to live
You give me reason to live

Sweet darling, (you can leave your hat on)
You can leave your hat on
Baby, (you can leave your hat on)
You can leave your hat on
(You can leave your hat on)

(You can leave your hat on)

Suspicious minds are talkin'
They're tryin' to tear us apart
They don't believe in this love of mine
They don't know what love is

They don't know what love is
They don't know what love is
They don't know what love is
Yeah, I know what love is

There ain't no way
(You can leave your hat on)
You can leave your hat on
(You can leave your hat on)
Give me the reason to live
(You can leave your hat on)
You can leave your hat on

Apple's 'Nano' iPod

Oh, MAN!! This is one thing that I have been drooling over!!

Here's an update: I bought one, just a little while ago and...I gotta say: I'm a little disappointed w/the design of this thing: In order to work this silly thing, I have to turn it "upside down" so that I clear the vid lens. It's SILLY that I have to do this! Who designed this thing?!

BUT...I do have to say that one thing that I absolutely LOVE that it *does* have and that is a RADIO!! Woo hoo! Still WISH that it had WIFI, though!