Trainwreck

I've been a bit of a trainwreck lately.

In the best possible way, of course. But my blogging time has been directly affected. The more The Candy Bar's numbers go up, the less time I have to blog. These are good problems to have because when all is said and done, I gotta devote my time to the thing that pays the bills. All week I had plans to blog, yet I never seemed to find any time. Like this week I had plans to blog about:

• "Don't Discount the Discount"-I went shopping with my high school girl friends on Monday afternoon. We went to a Nordstrom Rack and while there I found at least 6 things that I liked that were cheap. Normally I don't buy cheap items, but these were fashionable and fit well. The price made me think twice? Really? Expensive items don't make me think twice but the cheap ones did? Were they not good quality? Would they last? I bought them anyway and I'm glad I did. I have received lots of compliments on my discounted clothing and heck, if they don't last, it's not like I paid a bundle for them.

•  "Stop and Smell the Success"-As I stated earlier, I'm getting busier and busier at the store. This is great, and it's about time but I have to remember I am not superwoman. Some days I forget to eat both breakfast AND lunch. Not good when come quitting time I'm so stressed out and I have a headache that I can't even enjoy my down time. I gotta take a moment. I've got to breathe, and let someone else do it. I don't have to always be the one doing. I already am the one worrying about it so I might as well let someone else do it.  

• "Trainwreck"-After an especially stressful day, which resulted in a headache, I took two Advil, ate dinner and watched the movie "Trainwreck". It was just what the doctor ordered. It was a dumb-ass movie, but I loved it! Amy Schumer is hilarious. Who knew LeBron James was funny and a surprise cameo from John Cena made it worthwhile. The sex scene with Cena was worth the two hours alone! He was hysterical! The laugh was a great release and much needed.

Yeah...It seems like I woke up and it was Friday already. Where did the week go?

For now, I'm ok, great in fact. But I've got to remember that this train I'm on will NOT be a wreck.

Tuesday Tidbits

• I went 4-1 in the football pool this week! I'm officially tied for 6th. I'm also slightly obsessed.

• I'm disappointed in the Ray Donovan season finale. I like a badass Ray Donovan and this episode gave me a resigned and weak Ray Donovan. I guess I understand the reason why they chose to end the season the way they did-it's about absolution and redemption, OK, I get it. But in my opinion they over played their hand a bit here. They put too much focus on Ray's two weaknesses-the Catholic church and his family and I don't feel like it resolved anything for me. I'm thinking that's exactly what it was meant to do. I'll be waiting till next season Ray, don't you worry. 

• Scientists have discovered evidence of flowing water on Mars! Exciting news that some say could lead to the discovery of some form of life on the planet. I wonder-is this a ploy by Hollywood to promote the opening of Matt Damon's new movie "The Martian"? Just a thought.

• The Pope is the cutest man in the world. I love him. 

• Today I consider myself fortunate for all that I do have in my life and fortunate that I will not focus what I don't have....and I'm fortunate that I feel that way. 

• I'm going to see Frack this weekend in North Carolina. It's Parent Weekend at HPU and I can't wait! I miss my boy so much!! He is pledging a frat Pi Kappa Phi and he's rally excited about it. I'm loving the fact that this frat boasts the best GPA on campus and they take academics VERY seriously. So much so, that Frack has to log in 12 hours of monitored study time during the week as part of his pledge duties. Is this great or what?

• Babies are everywhere in my family. Lately there have been most joyous visits from 2 great nieces and a great nephew. I'm not going to even think about the fact that this means I am old..no, I am going to rejoice in the fact that my beautiful nieces and nephews whom I have enjoyed watching growing up are now becoming parents themselves. The love I feel for their children is so overwhelmingly satisfying. It's a beautiful lesson in the circle of life.

The Pack Mentality

Those five men look like movie stars-don't they?
That's because they are. And it happened in the most incredible way. But that's only part of the story.

These brothers-6 in total (and 1 sister)-grew up in in a 16th floor Manhattan public housing apartment which served for 14 years as a prison for the family. Confined to the cramped apartment under their bizarre father's rule, the family of nine spent most of their lives with no contact with the outside world. The father forbade them to ever leave the apartment and held the only key to the front door. The children were home schooled by their mother, and taught never to communicate with strangers. Their only contact with real world were on necessary, supervised appointments or controlled outings to New York tourist destinations. The children were told to never cut their hair and that the outside world had "bad people in it".

The one privilege the boys father did allow was movies. And they indulged in many movies as their personal form of escape from the hell that they knew as their life. Middle brother Mukunda, was the prop master and he would make items from their favorite movies from things he had lying about the house. The boys would reenact scenes from the movies as a way to feel normal and feel free. Then in January 2010, Mukunda, then 15, decided he needed to escape and see life outside his prison walls.

Little did Mukunda know that that escape-he wore a mask he had made to resemble Mike Meyers from the Halloween movies so that he would not be recognized outside by his father-would change all of their lives for ever. Once outside, Mukunda didn't know his address so he kept the apartment building in his site as he visited a bank and a supermarket. People were afraid so he was soon stopped by police. When questioned Makunda says,

“They started asking, ‘Do you live here? Where are you from?’ And I was always taught to never interact with any people, so I didn’t say anything, you know. I didn’t give them any information on me,” Mukunda recalled.

He was placed on a psychiatric hold and sent to Bellevue Hospital for a week stay, which he loved. It was his first interaction with other people outside his family. When he returned home, his father was no longer in control. The boys then started going out together and on a chance meeting they met film maker Crystal Moselle, who they bonded with over their love of movies. Moselle ended up filming the boys for 5 years and the result is her documentary file "The Wolfpack", in theaters now. The film has bee critically acclaimed and won a Grand Jury prize at  this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Purely coincidence that one of the first people the boys meet is a film maker? I think not. These boys have a whole lot of catching up to do and they are doing it in grand style. Hollywood has come knocking and they ironically were, "ready for their closeup". But at an incredible price.

American Movie Idol

Scott Eastwood

So I'm watching TV the other day and a trailer comes on for the new movie, "The Longest Ride". And I stop dead in my tracks for a second. All of a sudden I'm mesmerized by the male lead in this movie. Like I really had to stop and look at this guy. I thought, 'who is THAT?' because I couldn't believe how handsome this kid was. The movie, aimed at the younger than I generation, looks to be another hopeful contender to be the modern day "The Notebook", but my curiosity got the best of me. I Googled the movie and quickly found out that this handsome kid, whom I have never seen before in any tabloid or on TMZ.com, is none other than Scott Eastwood. Yes, that same Eastwood of the Clint Eastwood fame because he is his son.

I then text the authority on the subject, Frick, my daughter.

MOM: OK so Scott Eastwood "the longest ride"? Seriously? The dude is like Tom Brady handsome and I never thought anyone could ever come close

FRICK: HES SOOOOO HANDOME

FRICK: LIKE WOW

FRICK: LIKE HES SO BEAUTIFUL

MOM: Umm yaaa

MOM: WOW

MOM: It was a Zac Effron moment.

FRICK: I feel YA

FRICK: I feel the same way. Three of the most handsome men ever.

The Zac Effron thing is a reference to a time not so very long ago when Frick was a little girl watching "High School Musical" in her bedroom. I came in to her room to discuss something important with her and while I was speaking I glanced over at the TV and completely lost my train of thought. I went silent and I said, "Who is that? He's so handsome."

Silly me-I get distracted by beauty.

And a beauty he is. Just like his father, Clint Eastwood, who was at one time an American movie idol and  not just a two time Oscar winning director. In fact, back in the day Dirty Harry was positively swoon worthy and a major Hollywood sex symbol.

The legendary Clint Eastwood

Yes, good genes run in the family because it would seem that this kid has what it takes to take it to super movie idol status....and I'm an old lady and he stopped me mid blink.

El Jefe And The Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I recently watched the movie "Chef" on On Demand. It was good and I recommend it highly for a light fun movie watch, BUT I will caution you....DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE HUNGRY. This movie is food porn at its highest degree and after viewing it I found myself absolutely ravenous!

Since watching the movie, I can't stop thinking about the grilled cheese sandwich the chef cooks for his son. I have watched the clip below from YouTube about 6 thousand times and I think I got it down, but I'm literally guessing on the type of cheese he uses. I'm thinking the orange cheese is sliced cheddar mixed with some Gruyere, to make that yummy, cheese pulling goodness. It's just about all I can do to not make it grilled cheese night every night in our house! 

I recommend the movie, but the grilled cheese and Cuban sandwiches are the reason to watch. 

And do yourself a favor and have something with you to eat. Something you really like because your are going to need it.

This is the clip from You/tube. I couldn't get it to embed for some reason. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BTfctEmg5w

Thank God It's Friday

When I was a kid, back in the seventies, I remember watching the movie "Thank God it's Friday". The movie was about a Friday night in the hot new disco in town, "The Zoo". I loved this silly movie because it gave me a peek into the glamorous disco scene that was huge at that time. The cast of crazy characters spun together somehow seemed just the right amount of fun.

The late, great Donna Summer played a young disco diva who wanted her chance to sing in the spotlight at the club, but kept being dismissed time and time again by DJ Bobby Speed. Until the end...when she stole the spotlight and sang her Academy Award winning song, "Last Dance". Good times...

I think I'm going to find a copy of this gem at some point this weekend and go back in time to The Zoo!

Thank God it's Friday Bloggers! Go out and get your "Last Dance" on.

George Jung SPRUNG!

Remember back in September I wrote about one of my favorite movies.."Blow"...here? The reality of the story based on George Jung's life was that after serving 20 years in prison, the 71 year old Jung was to be released from prison this Thanksgiving day, 2014.

I awoke this am to my BFF texting me that TMZ.com was reporting that the tittle character in the movie "Blow", George Jung was RELEASED yesterday! I could hardly believe it, but it's true. According to the celebrity gossip site TMZ.com, Jung was released early for "reasons unknown".

Word has it Jung will be released to a half way house in California, where he will begin his transition  back into society. As someone who had followed this story from the beginning, I'm happy for George and I wish him luck on the outside. They say a leopard never changes it's spots, so if that's true let's hope Boston George has changed his spots by now. The alternative is is to BLOW his chance at freedom.

Let The Sunshine In

• With such a warm and gorgeous, sunny Saturday, I was struck by how many of us were "amazed" by the warm weather. It has been so cold here for so long that we forgot what good weather felt like....

• Frick and Frack spent the weekend together in NYC. Yes, I know they are old enough to handle it without Mama and the fact that I called and texted them both six thousand times has nothing to do with the fact that they ignored 90 percent of those calls and texts. Does it?

• Busy week for me. I have one of the biggest days ever at The Candy Bar on Wednesday..,wish me luck!

• I can hardly believe it has been a year since the Boston Marathon bombings. This week the news media of the world will descend on our fair city to tell the amazing stories of the victims and survivors. I pray God will keep the city safe and watch over us as we commemorate the tragic events of last year. I personally believe that this year's Boston Marathon will probably be one of the safest places in the world to be during the race. 

• I baked two incredible pies for Easter yesterday. Jus sayin...

• Looking forward to seeing "The Other Woman". Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann and Brooklyn Decker all team up to bring down Leslie Mann's cheating husband. I have a personal interest in infidelity since I have experienced it first hand. Cheating men are scum and deserve everything bad that happens to them because karma is a bitch and you don't want to piss off a bitch who is pissed off. I love it when Hollywood dramatizes the sweet vindication!

• Nurse Jackie on Showtime is BACK....speaking of bitches who you don't want to piss off..

Monday, Err Ummm, I Mean Tuesday Morning Water Cooler

This is the post I was about to post yesterday when I got distracted by something and forgot about it:

Monday Morning Headline News:

• It's frigid weather here so nothing much to do but indoor activities, so I saw two great movies yesterday. 
• First up: Saving Mr Banks. This was a delight! Emma Thompson's portrayal of the acerbic author P.L Travers, who wrote the children's classic Mary Poppins series, was so unlikable which was in stark contrast to Tom Hanks' lovable portrayal of Walt Disney. The movie tells the tale of the making of Disney's classic musical motion picture of Travers book Mary Poppins and the seemingly insurmountable battle that ensued. In telling the tale we get a biographical look at Travers childhood with a surprise turn from Colin Farrell as her alcoholic banker father. I give this one a resounding two thumbs up! Let's just say that I enjoyed it so much, that I made a purchase on Amazon.com immediately after. 
•  After a quick dinner, I then watched Dallas Buyers Club.  Talk about an about face on the subject matter. I get why Matthew McConaughey is winning all the awards for Best Actor this season. The movie and his performance was riveting. The subject matter-HIV Virus and Aids in the mid 80's-set the stage for McConaughey's portrayal of a man who unwittingly finds out about his diagnosis and death sentence. Jared Leto plays his transgendered partner in the journey to stay alive and beat the odds. Both McConaughey and Leto lost unhealthy amounts of weight to play these roles which lent itself to the urgency of this debilitating disease and the desperate measures people were willing to take in those days. Certainly worth viewing, for sure. 
• Fortune or Misfortune? You decide. Watch out for those winter pot holes!  While I was going to pick up balloons for The Candy Bar event on Friday, I drove right over a pot hole the size of a bathtub. I didn't see it but my car certainly did! I was on a major thoroughfare with lots of traffic. Immediately the tire began to deflate and the steering wheel locked up. I pulled into the first driveway I could, which just so happen to be a Jiffy Lube. As I stepped out of the car on that frigid morning, an employee of Jiffy Lube came out to inspect. "I just got a bad flat tire can you help me?" was all I could muster up and I could hardly believe it when the man asked for my keys and pulled it into his garage to change to my spare. The whole thing took maybe 15 minutes and they didn't charge me!!!! I sent him a Dunkin Donuts gift card while i still wonder with amazement. 

So how was your weekend? 

Blow-n Away

After a long day at work, I was sitting on the sofa in front of the TV flipping through the channels. Everyone else had retired to bed. I was savoring the last few moments alone when I came across the movie Blow. I had remembered seeing the movie a while ago and remembered liking it, so I figured I'd watch on for a bit. I became mesmerized with the story again.

Blow, described as a "biopic docu-drama" based on the true life story of George Jung, a huge cocaine trafficker in the 70's and 80's, stars Johnny Depp and Penolope Cruz. Jung in his heyday, was responsible for over 85% of all of the cocaine brought into the United States. The real George Jung who more likely resembles Bella Ligosi than the handsome Johnny Depp, was a major player. The American Part of the Medellin Cartel, Jung started out selling marijuana and was smuggling huge amounts to the US in airplanes he stole from private airports in Cape Cod and other locations. He was arrested in Chicago in 1974 and was sentenced to prison where he served in Danbury, CT. His cell mate while there, Carlos Lehder, was a small time criminal with some big time connections. Upon their release, Lehder introduced Jung to the Columbian Cartel and Jung taught Lehder how to smuggle. It was then that their very profitable cocaine business began.

In the height of their cocaine reign, they were said to be making millions and millions of dollars. Jung lived a life that was enviable by even Hollywood standards and he showed it off. He married Mirtha Jung, played by Penelope Cruz, a beautiful Columbian who had a taste for cocaine and money, and they had a daughter Christina. During that height Jung charged $10,000.00 per kilogram and had 5 planes a day carrying 300 kilograms from Columbia to California. Jung would make $15 million a run. Jung needed to launder that crazy drug money , so he kept it in the National Bank of Panama City.

Then, as the saying goes, "all good things must come to an end", (it's also questionable if this was a good thing) and Jung's wealthy house of cards came tumbling down. The bank in Panama City siezed his money and his wife ratted him out to the cops during a drug-induced traffic stop that sent him to prison. While he was in prison, his wife divorced him and took away his one true love, his daughter. Upon his release, Jung allegedly tried to get clean and worked odd jobs, then decided to reconnect with his old contacts and get back into the business. He was betrayed by his old associates and was arrested for drug trafficking yet again, this time he was sentenced to 60 years.

Jung is scheduled for release in November, 2014, and here's the investing thing: at 71 years old, the guy stands a good chance of making some serious money. In some circles he is considered a celebrity and get this, he has a legitimate website. Check out georgejung.com if you are interested because I think this guy has nine lives for real.

As I said, I was captivated by this story and while doing my research, I found that I am not alone. It's a fact, according to georgejung.com, that interest in this story always spikes when the movie airs on television. To say that he's an interesting character is an understatement. Some believe him to be a legend, others see him as a criminal . I'm not quite sure what I think other than he is fascinating.

And I truly believe that this is not the end of the Goerge Jung story.

He's Bringing Sexy Back..2

So I'm watching Good Morning America this morning and I see this piece on Will 
and Jayden Smith and their multi-million blockbuster new movie that Will wrote, 
produced and stars in with his son, "After Earth".  The boys are charming and 
friendly and looking like they a having a great time! Who wouldn't when 
Hollywood is literally at your feet.  For the Smith family it would seem that 
life is good.

I then remember an article I read earlier that was highlighting the movie's 
"dismal" first weekend at the box office. The article revealed "After Earth" 
finishing a disappointing third at the box office garnering a mere $27 Million 
dollars. It seems fair enough to criticize the plot and the story line, even 
questioning the movie's motive as a vehicle for Scientology, Will's chosen 
spiritual path.  It seems fair that they panned the actors too. Will for his 
extreme ego and Jayden for his acting chops. After all, actors are open to 
criticism. Its part of the job. Among other things, the movie has been panned 
for "extreme nepotism" and likens it to buying your child "an expensive Ducati 
that he hasn't yet learned to ride".  I have not seen the movie, nor will I, 
unless it comes On Demand very soon and the reason is that Sci-Fi just isn't my 
favorite genre. So I will reserve judgement on the film.

I will say that what I see here is a dad and his son, getting to spend time 
together "working" under the best of  circumstances. Will and Jayden screened 
the film for some military families, posed for pictures, answered questions and 
made the film experience a bit more meaningful for these people and they were 
clearly enjoying every minute of it. (which I get isn't at all that hard)   
Jayden  was asked by an interviewer what it was like to be experiencing this all 
with his dad? Before he could answer, his dad  butted in with a somewhat tongue 
and cheek, "What's it like for you, a little guy, to be experiencing this with a 
big, strong presence like a huge Hollywood box office star?" The message to me 
here was loud and clear: Big Daddy just keeping his little boy in check.  

The idea of father and son, traveling the globe together, working, sharing and 
being together, no matter what they are doing, is a great example of the family 
bond and a great example to all of us of family unity. 

And if that ain't sexy, I don't know what is. 

Like I Died And Went To Heaven

Seriously, fellow fashionistas take note.

I'll be first in line, with my carrots and celery sticks.

My Brother Is Iron Man

Happy Friday Bloggers!

So, I told you a long time ago, that my brother was Iron Man, right? Today  I thought I'd post a little Iron Man T&A for the sexy people out there and ask you to go see my brother's new movie.

Iron Man 3 premiered last night and Gweneth KILLED it in this dress. She single handedly coined the new fashion term, "side ass". No wonder she is People Magazine's newly crowned "Most Beautiful Woman".

You go girl!

Have a great weekend bloggers and try to be the superhero in your loved one's lives this weekend!

Django Is Off The Ch-IZ-ain

Bad ass.

Those are the words that came to mind while watching Django yesterday. Quentin Tarantino is one bad ass Muther F*#ker. His entire Django world is bad ass and through all the gore, the blood and violence, twisted justice managed to prevail. The blurred lines in the battle between good and evil are at the core of the adventures of Dr. King Schultz and a black slave named Django.  Bounty hunting is their game and Django and Schultz form a profitable partnership in exchange for Django's freedom. These boys always get their man.





The all star cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson had me riveted from the opening seconds, and I seem to have a hankering to now watch Inglorious Basterds. Who is this Christoph Waltz? Where did he come from? Christoph Waltz is Badass. This academy award winning  performance lies at the center of the movie's moral conundrum with bounty hunting as a profession. This movie is no Midnight Run, although you will laugh at it's irony.

And shall we talk about Leo? and Samuel L?

Badass. Both of them.

And if you are in to bloody shootouts, then this movie is for you. I HATE violence, but the violence in Django was somehow necessary and brilliantly executed. Quentin Tarantino, in a cameo appearance, even blows himself up! Ingenious and fun and I can hardly believe I just typed those words. But I did. And that's what a gifted writer does for a story. We are fully vested in his characters and the world in which he creates. Unpleasantries like extreme violence become a vehicle to move the story along.

Talk about poetic justice. Django is one hell of a ride....

Into the smoke smoldering, last man standing, bloody sunset.

Cinnamon Says...

Listen honey:

•  “I also didn’t get the acting nomination. I noticed no one was saying I was snubbed there!” Ben Affleck said after the press asked him how he felt about the Best Director Oscar snub.  I love that! Sexy Bostonian.

• Watched "Seal Team Six" last night. Interesting, powerful and somewhat hard to believe? Two of the actors are from TV shows that I used to watch, and I found that to be distracting. I am embarrassed to admit that missed the most important part! I fell asleep before they executed mission. I'm just an old bag. Good thing it's a two-day rental. I'm going to watch the last 25 mins tonite.

• Oprah talked to Lance...Did she make him cry? I'm especially intrigued. Although I think Babs (Barbara Walters) would have been a better interview.

• What you say? Facebook is expected to make a big announcement today. I'm waiting with bated breath. Even still, I sold my stock yesterday...Is it a smart phone? A search engine? Will it be revolutionary  Life changing? Industry transforming? Should I buy again? 

• Going to my second straight AFC Championship game on Sunday in Foxboro and I'm cautiously optimistic. Just sayin..

• Pannini's for dinner tonite!! Aren't I a fun mom? I got a Pannini maker from Santa and I'm using it tonite. Minestrone soup too!

Cand-nac The Magnificent

OK, so I stole the name from the late great Johnny, so lets hope the spirit of the late, great, Carnac the Magnificent is with me today when I make my predictions for 2013.

Lets start at the top shall we? This is an easy one and I've got a 50-50 shot here, so I'm going with my gut...

1. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West will have a...BOY! Just a hunch here, but I'm thinking boy. I was right about My Tommy and Giselle and baby Vivian Lake, so maybe I'm good at this. I'm thinking Kimmy K isn't showing yet, and her face and body don't look different yet, so I say its a boy. Girls take over like little aliens and change you all up when you are carrying them, and Kim  looks like could have held out on the announcement for a while longer. And she's three months along. I'll be keeping a tight watch on her face, if it changes and she starts to look like shit, GIRL. I also predict that Klohe and Lamar will finally get preggers this year too.

2. The US economy will continue its climb upward. Wishful thinking, really. But I am a retailer and I'm watching people spend money (in an affluent community) and I'm thinking that things are looking up. Consumer confidence is creeping back, and I'm hoping that the jobless rate goes creeping down. A bold prediction here, considering that the retail numbers rose at a mere 0.7% for the 2012 Christmas season and was the weakest rise since 2008. I'm still going to predict a better economic climate and the US Stock market to continue to regain it's strength. Today's Dow number is at 13 thousand, just two thousand off it's all time high at 15 thousand back in 2007.

3. NHL Hockey will not have a 2012-2013 season. Greed, greed and more greed will keep the two sides from reaching an agreement by Jan 11th in order for a Jan 19th- 48 game season to be played.. And here's the kicker...NO ONE will care. For us hockey fans out there, we are beyond disgusted by yet another standoff  and if they loose the fan's interest, they will loose the sponsors interest and that ever important sponsor dollar. Not to mention the network air time and network dollars. If life goes on much longer without NHL hockey, I fear that the fans will loose interest and the game, already an underdog in the network money game, and will be in danger of  never coming back from it. GET IT TOGETHER GUYS!

4. Ben Affleck will win an Oscar for Argo. Since I have yet to see the film, I'm not quite sure if it will be for acting or directing or BOTH, so I'm going to predict at least one more statuette for Ben to bring home for  his latest, Argo.

5. I'm not going to do what I did last year and jinx the shit outta my boys, so I'm just going to predict that a certain team from a certain place will make it to New Orleans on Feb 3, 2012, and that  same certain team will WIN the big kahuna in all sports. If you know anything about me, you will be able to fill in the blanks here.


That's it blooggers! Lets see how I did in about 363 days from now.

I Was Just Thinking....

• Real men don't cry. Real men don't lie either. Roger Clemens was acquitted yesterday of all charges that he lied to Congress when he denied using performance enhancing drugs to extend his baseball career. What the? I can't believe it. We all know he lied about using so how could the jury not know? His friends, his trainer, those closest to him all took the heat to protect The Rocket and his good name. They admitted, under oath, to being injected with steroids, but we are expected to believe that Roger wouldn't? And for that matter, what good name? Clemens has tarnished, torched and blew up that name so that he can pretend that he never used steroids.  And that's the thing with liars, their lies become truths in their own minds. And now those blurred lines have a verdict to fuel their fire. Still won't get him into Cooperstown.  
• It's five o'clock somewhere. Actually, it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon in Uganda where Frack is now spending day one of his three week mission. They arrived early this morning about 12:40 am EST and are halfway through day one of the expedition. I pray he takes good care of himself and the group, as he was voted Team Leader. Wouldn't it be great if I could get him to "Team Lead" his homework this fall? I miss that kid so much already and it's only day one. One day at a time, mom.
• Long live Rock! So I'm watching TV last night and I see this Pet Smart commercial about the new Brett Michaels Pet's Rock collection for your pets. It's an exclusive line designed by the rocker that offers, bowls, beds, toys, leashes and apparel for that Rock Star pet in your life. Brett Michaels? Isn't that the guy that won the Celebrity Apprentice a while back? Is this what that trophy gets you? Somewhere the Gods of Rock and Roll are having a good, hearty laugh about this one. And speaking of Rock and Roll, I'm thinking I'd like to go and see the "Rock of Ages" movie this weekend. The theater geek in me will not be denied, but the Tom Cruise fan, even though I think he's a douche, wants to watch Cruise make history. Rumor has it there are some stellar performances from Cruise, Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin. Worth the take, I say. 
• Forever a Townie. I watched "The Town" last night. I had never seen it and dang, if that wasn't a great movie. Jeremy Renner was fabulous but Ben Affleck??(be still my heart) was HAWT! Who knew a Boston accent could be so sexy? This guy could steal my heart any day, and I didn't even know I liked him. The movie, based on the novel, "The Prince of Thieves" is set in Charlestown, MA and Affleck and his group of thugs are major bank thieves. This one never stops delivering from start to finish and if you haven't seen it, like me, I highly recommend it. Two Daily Dandy thumbs way up!

The Master Of Macabre Disguise

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that the gorgeous creature above, Johnny Depp, can effortlessly morph himself into the most interesting of characters so masterfully that he makes you forget how gorgeous he is. His character creations are legendary, beginning with Edward Sissorhands right through to The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.

Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, Sweeny Todd, no one can quite do just what Johnny does which is make the mundane become intriguing and macabre.

But it's his latest creation that's got me all a flutter, and here's the thing, I didn't even know I liked the guy! With this newest collaboration with Tim Butrton, "Dark Shadows" Johnny Depp has me intrigued and asking myself, "Who is this guy?"

Maybe it's because I remember the Dark Shadows TV shows from some where in my youth, and to see Johnny as Barnabus Collins not only took me back to my childhood, it intrigued the HELL out of me. Again, "who is this guy?"

I think I love him.

Not only is Johnny Depp the man a fine chunk of man candy, but his characters tend to incite a feeling from deep inside that is both exciting and exhilarating. If Johnny is in character, it's going to be worth the price of the ticket. And if it's been done right, "Dark Shadows" out May 11th will be a great ride.

Love him or hate him, you can't deny his talent. He is truly a Master of his art.

Matthew McConaughy Is Still Hot

So last night I watched The Lincoln Lawyer with good old boy Matthew McConaughy, and I gotta say, I really liked it. I would recommend it on a simple, exciting, not too violent level because it was a good story that kept you guessing. But for me , the biggest surprise was Matthew McConaughy.

Matthew has become somewhat of a caricature of himself in recent years. If you read the rag magazines like I do, Matthew has been the poster boy of douchebaggery. He, of the jogging on the beach shirtless, living in a trailer on the beach, impregnating a hot Brazilian model, twice, and his cheezey "I'm all that" attitude left me completely uninterested. I even balked at the movie of choice last night saying, "I'm really not a Matthew McConaughey fan."

After the movie I realized that Matthew McConaughy just my have been the reason I liked the movie so much. He worked that douchebaggery into cinematic magic. He's also smokin' hot which didn't hurt, but he didn't use his bare chest to gain my interest. He played a hard living, cocky, criminal defense lawyer to perfection and he won me over. Now I'm thinking he's not such a douche after all.

The casting on this movie was great too. Marissa Tomei and William H. Macy both cast well in supporting roles and Ryan Phillippie plays a convincing villain. The movie opened to little fan fare, but I think it may have new life with On Demand and positive word of mouth. I give it a Daily Dandy two thumbs up, and I give Matthew kudos for getting me to take a second look.

That Texas good old boy still has some magic left in his Stetson.

Last Play At Shea

So I'm riding in my car this morning to a Zumba class, that didn't happen, (a whole other story) listening to Howard Stern. He's interviewing this guy and they're talking about Paul McCartney and the Beatles. While I'm listening to the interview, I'm trying to figure out who this guy is that Howard is interviewing. He sounded much like a kid from Long Island, and at times a bit humble. Howard was asking him what it was like to be a rock star and why he closed each concert with, "Don't take any crap from anyone." He replied it stemmed from his childhood and how he was pushed around as a kid and he kept referring to himself as Willie. Willie got picked on because he played the piano and had his books knocked out of his hands and such. I'm thinking it's Billy Joel, but then I decided no. The piano man could never be a Willie.

Howard asked him about the people who sang at his concert; this last concert at Shea. Artists like John Mayer, Steven Tyler, Garth Brooks, and Sir Paul. Stern went on to call this man insecure, because he admitted to not knowing exactly who would show up at his concert and why they would. Willie told the story of how McCartney called him the day before the show, and he didn't know who it was at first, to tell him that he didn't think he would be able to make it. Something about a flight and not being able to get into town in time. Willie, ecstatic that Sir Paul even considered making it, said he went on stage content that Paul McCartney had almost made it. He was floored when the legendary Beatle, indeed, showed at Shea to close out the show. The New York Times is quoted as saying about Joel when McCartney came on stage,

"The sold out crowd of 55,000 people let out an ear splitting roar as Mr McCartney sang the Beatles, "I Saw Her Standing There. Mr Joel, playing back-up fitting his reputation as a self-deprecating rock star, looking on from his piano as if he were just a fan himself."

It was confirmed that my suspicions that Willie was Billy Joel, when Howard asked him what his favorites of his music were and he replied, "New York State of Mind, Vienna, Summer Highland Falls, to name a few. The entire process was filmed for his documentary that opens tomorrow called, "Last Play at Shea".

I'm thinking that's a documentary I would like to see in the theaters and that that interview alone was worth my $23.00 subscription to Sirius Radio.