Club Book et Club Film

Club Book meets tonight at The Pilot to discuss Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth.

Club Film meets next Friday. Ivana suggested Don't Move (Non ti Muovere) which sounds good. It screened at Talk Cinema in April and the discussion afterward was apparently "feisty". Penelope turned 31 yesterday and supposedly does a good job in Italian in this one. Check out the imdb writeup.

I just hope it is playing by next week. Otherwise, there may be other stuff to check out starting May 6 (except Crash which Ivana and I saw at the fest which was good but I don't want to see it again.) Tell Them Who You Are (a popular documentary made by the son about his filmmaker father) starts May 13 so that would be my alternate vote. Look for your choices at etonline, my best source for release dates.

Finally, don't go see Sin City. It hurt. (I think Frank Miller is a misogynist.) Do rent the combination of Finding Neverland and Spongebob Squarepants (The Movie). "I'm ready promotion, I'm ready promotion...."

Accomplishments

It is always such a pleasure to connect with old friends - virtually and in person. Yesterday I got an email from a high school buddy who just finished writing a novel. Then I met up with some former coworkers for a beer or two at the Duke of York and we toasted to projects completed and projects to come.

Speaking of projects completed, our basement reno is (mostly) over. Over 7 weeks total and still stuff left to be done. It's starting to look good which is encouraging. Too bad I am not encouraged to clean (as I explain in my haiku)

where do I begin
to clean my disheveled house
let's rent a movie

On another note, I am so proud of my Dad. He started a blog when he was here in Toronto and is adding to it regularly. Visit him and post a comment at http://docsam.blogspot.com

6 weeks down, 1 to go

After 6 (seemingly endless) weeks, our basement reno is ALMOST finished. R & I are off to Vegas but my Dad is kindly housesitting while we are away. Still working on that slideshow to depict all the transitions - the changes are quite staggering and exciting. "And expensive," adds Dad.

Wallets are empty
Dust covers our lungs and home
Vegas is calling

Looking to win big
at Casinos on the Strip
Viva Las Vegas

Sweet Saturday

Aaaaaah! Saturday morning, 9:00am: no sound of construction - yet. For the past 5 weeks, we have been renovating our basement and back entrance. A dirty job - glad we're paying someone else to do it. And they're almost done now (phew!) but we are still waiting for it to be over. Although it might not be the massive stress or displacement of a kitchen or bathroom reno, any job - no matter what size - still turns your routine and your home upside down. The glimmer of hope is that soon we will be enjoying the fruits of their labour - just in time for Spring. Already we have seen such incredible progress and such quality work. Only 5 more days to go...Hooray!

Last night I was out with my wonderful friend Michelle and saw Loser Takes All (Qui Perd Gagne!) at Cinefranco - the 8th Annual French film festival held at the Royal Cinema on College St west of Bathurst. The movie was fun and starred Thierry L'Hermitte (love him) as a gambler in the south of France who helps police catch a lottery scammer. The story ends up in Vegas and so will I in a week. Michelle & I enjoyed a delightful martini and dinner beforehand at Kalendar. Very cute place and we sat on the patio. More aaaaah. Now I have to get down to my taxes. Blech.

Thierry L'Hermitte
Still sexy at fifty-three
Aaaah, les hommes français