New Title

Just so no one thinks I'm suffering from a similar blog title commitment anxiety to that displayed in my previous blog, I'd like to clarify that this new title, Loft-y Thoughts, reflects my new writing environment.  Today I was the recipient of a fabulous early Christmas present from my dear husband:  a desk of my very own!  Of course I had one as a student, but sold it when I moved to Kingston under the false presumption I would no longer have a use for it.  Instead, I found that when obligated to do mind-numbingly boring work all day long, all I ever feel like doing on evenings and weekends is school-like work (i.e. reading and writing, here and elsewhere).  These activities (particularly writing) are much more enjoyable when one has a desk, for as convenient as my laptop is, I'm generally not all that motivated to write when sitting on the couch in front of the TV.

Anyway, back to the title.  Our bedroom is best described as a loft.  It's basically a big room with a sloping ceiling that overlooks the living room downstairs.  When I came home from work today (a full 5 1/2 hours early!  Hooray!) Steve had positioned the desk next to the railing so I can have a view of the living room, big window, and skylight when writing.  Plus, it's an absolutely gorgeous desk: solid wood with a dark finish...a little small but hey, items purchased from Craig's List are rarely perfect.  And I'd rather have a used smallish desk of good quality than a brand new cheapy one for the same price. Oh what a wonderful, thoughtful husband I have.  (And now he cannot possibly be angry at me for going overboard on his gifts, as I'm pretty sure this puts him over the limit on mine!!!)

Merry Christmas everyone!

What Makes For a Wonderful Life?

I was inspired to watch It's A Wonderful Life for about the hundredth time after reading this article by Wendell Jamieson in the NYT.  Jamieson argues that "It's a Wonderful Life is a terrifying, asphyxiating story about growing up and relinquishing your dreams, of seeing your father driven to the grave before his time, of living among bitter, small-minded people.  It's a story of being trapped, of compromising, of watching others move ahead and away, of becoming so filled with rage that you verbally abuse your children, their teacher, and your oppressively perfect wife.  It is also a nightmare account of endless home renovation".

Furthermore, Jamieson argues that Pottersville, the town Bedford Falls would have become of there had never been a George Bailey, "looks much more fun than stultifying Bedford Falls - the women are hot, the music swings, and the fun times go on all night.  If anything, Pottersville captures just the type of excitement George has long been seeking".  Even financially, Bedford Falls/Pottersville would be doing much better in 2008 if George had not helped bring manufacturing to the town (i.e. because the economy of Pottersville is driven by brothels, bars, and other service industry-oriented businesses).

Despite the fact that Jamieson admits to being teared up by the movie's final scene (come ON, who isn't?) this has got to be one of the most cynical articles I've ever read.  "Is this what adulthood promised?",  he asked his fifteen-year-old self upon first seeing the movie.  Considering Jamieson was a teenager in the eighties, I'd estimate he's in his mid-40's today.  I'm 25, and have already realized that adulthood is often about giving up your hopes and dreams in order to support those you love.  But the whole POINT of the movie is that love and friendship are better than all the money, education, and travel one could achieve in a lifetime.   Life is about compromise, and if you can't accept that and make the most of it anyway, you're never going to be happy.  Cheesy?  Yes, of course it is.  But maybe we see it as such because we're socialized to believe real enjoyment of life can only be had when we relinquish all responsibility and follow all of our craziest dreams.  I'm guessing the majority of us (myself included) glamorize this hypothetical alternate life because we have chosen to allow ourselves to enter relationships - not only with a significant other but also with friends and family - in which we are forced to compromise.  But I'd bet you my next paycheck if we actually lived in this alternate reality for a day or two we'd miss the comfort provided by love and friendship.

I'll admit Pottersville looks like a blast.  And yes, you're supposed to feel bad that George has to give up on his dreams.  But who knows?  With all that money he gets at the end of the movie, maybe he and Mary were able to go on a much-delayed honeymoon after all.  

Review: Rachel Getting Married

I've wanted to see Rachel Getting Married since it came out in the summer (or was it early fall...?...hmm).  Unfortunately, I live in Kingston - the land of non-blockbuster movie scarcity.  I'm serious.  I never noticed it growing up, but an appalling percentage of movies that come out in larger cities like Toronto and Ottawa make it to our (insert angry-sarcasticy tone here) quaint little backwater.  Luckily, there are theatres like the artsy ghetto-chic one in Yorkville that screen movies long after they've left regular theatres.  It's like they're consciously catering to poor saps like me who have to wait for a trip to Toronto in order to see the movies we're interested in.  My mom was good enough to go see it with me (second time for her) during our shopping trip in TO this weekend.

Kym (Anne Hatheway) plays a recovering drug addict who returns home for her sister Rachel's wedding.  This movie does an amazing job of conveying the awkward phoniness of large family gatherings by evoking those petty alliances, unspoken grudges, and glaringly obvious disapprovals that are inevitable when people who have nothing in common pretend to be long lost friends for a substantial stretch of time. Competition for for attention and pity is hot, and most family members seem to bring out the absolute worst in one another. But what happens when these politics are further complicated by blame for the death of a young son/brother being batted around and the mother of the bride is so unapologetically disinterested in her children?  Can the wedding go off without a major battle scene?  I know I'm weird, but I find this kind of tension extremely suspenseful.  The movie is shot in the fashion of a home video, which takes some getting useful but is actually very effective - I felt like I was actually watching someone's amateur home video.  Yet the camera work is actually deceptively intricate - shots of characters, particularly in the wedding scene at the end, are perfectly timed so as to build suspense.

I'd have to say the best thing about Rachel Getting Married, however, is the acting.  Anne Hatheway's performance is certainly oscar-worthy, and I'd be very surprised if I see a better one this year.  I didn't recognize any of the other actors, but they are all fantastic.  This is the kind of movie that could have been ruined by less than perfect acting, and I'm in love with the idea that they all pulled it off!

Review: Lotus-Heart-Blossoms

When Steve and I lived downtown on Queen street, an adorable little restaurant called Lotus-Heart-Blossoms appeared kitty corner to our place that we kept on meaning to try but for some reason never did.  I can't honestly say one of the main reasons we never made it had nothing to do with the fact that it's vegetarian and not licensed.  Truth be told I love the idea of vegetarianism and/or non-alcoholism, but when it comes down to it I want some meat and a glass of wine with my meal thank you very much.

As logic would have it, our first visit to Lotus-Heart-Blossoms occurred on Thursday night (8 months after we moved out of our old neighbourhood and into the boonies, so to speak, a 20 minute drive from the restaurant).  It is impossible to review this restaurant without commenting on the decor.  They are two dining rooms, each with cheerful yellow walls and clean, shiny hard wood.  The walls are adorned with quirky yet fitting paintings by local artists and clear, beautiful photos of mountains, hikers, and children in what I think must be India and/or Thailand.  It's obvious the restaurant used to be a house, but they still managed to create a clean, open concept by use of clean design and appropriate colours.  Being inside makes you feel excited about the fact that you're about to be good to your body by putting into it only the best natural ingredients.  

I ordered the ricotta and spinach crepes topped with swiss and nutmeg, and when our adorable sari-sporting waitress brought brought the meal out it was so beautifully presented it seemed a shame to dig in.  Of course I did, though, and I'm happy to say I was not in any way disappointed.  I hadn't had crepes since Paris two years ago, and had completely forgotten how much I like them.  They were warm, soft, and full of flavourful, and the swiss nutmeg sauce was a perfect complement.  Even the side salad was amazing - it had this wonderful soy-sesame sort of dressing that made it light and fresh (as opposed to the heavy, limp lettuce topped with cheese and croutons you get at so many places).  To drink I ordered coconut water, a delectable liquid that claims to contain "the highest known sources of electrolytes" in addition to "purifying the blood and reducing stress".  It was pleasantly sweet, low in calories, and despite not having any alcohol really did seem to make me less stressful.  Steve had the chili with corn bread, which he enjoyed very much.  Usually I don't particularly like chili (there's some spice in it I find off-putting), but from what I could tell from my sampling, this chili did not contain that particular spice and was hence very tasty.  

Overall dining at L-H-B was an extremely positive experience.  It appealed to the hippy dippy side of me, which I think is quite a bit more prominent than I sometimes like to admit.  If I could eat vegetarian food that great every day, I honestly don't think I'd have much of a problem giving up meat.  And the best thing?  They even have takeout!!!