Good night, and good luck.

After a relaxing Pilates class at the Yoga Sanctuary, I walked across the street to the Carlton (the original multiplex - now people have home TVs bigger than these screens) and made the 7:40 screening. 93 minutes later I emerged, thoughtful and smiling. Loved this movie! Great cast, Cool black and white, Cool jazz (I went out later that week to buy the soundtrack.) David Strathairn is so good as Edward R. Murrow. Too bad he'll lose to Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote on Oscar night. George Clooney did a great job co-writing, directing and producing. Bravo George! Who cares if Angelina doesn't want you as godfather. This movie was an especially perfect alternative to a night at home watching the other George (Dubya's) State of the Union.

Le sofa est arrive!

We finally arranged to have the sofa delivered. They were supposed to come Friday, January 20th but apparently they were still dismantling the giant sectional and could not deliver it until Saturday around noon. (I had to phone them 2 hours after they were supposed to be here to find this out but HEY I'm only the client....) So today on a snowy Saturday they showed up and took 5 pieces of leather sofa down to the basement (they still had to remove the back door, Richard cringed when they scratched his paint job). And then they began to reassemble it. It took these 2 guys an hour and a half but it looks gorgeous. Jan was our guest from Vancouver for part of the weekend and she agrees that the contrast stitching looks cool and the new favourite seat in the house is the chaise end of the sectional - with a perfect view of the HDTV.

ex-Montrealers Unite!

Saturday night we had 15 people in our home: 10 adults and 5 kids. This was the first test for the new basement and according to Tomas (Dori's son) "the basement is perfect." Phew! He was impressed with the open space ("good for playing hockey") and of course the new TV. Emma and Luiza forged new friendships and "les boys" Gabriel and Alexandre were in fine form. David C (our Top 40 under 40 lawyer) brought hors d'oeuvres and was an amazing sous-chef helping me prepare all the ingredients for my jambalaya (mmmm). Shelley must have spent 3 days chopping every vegetable known to mankind which meant we had plenty to dip in delicious eggplant dip (from Sun valley) and more to enjoy in the refreshing salad. Tom B provided another amazing dessert: homemade Black Forest Torte. (mmmmmmm) Gina (with her arm in a cast after a spill in Florida), Linda, Jeff and Bruce rounded out the guestlist. A wonderful evening of food, wine and friendship.

Anticipation... frustration

Last year, you read about the trials of our basement reno. In 2006, we thought we would finally move ahead and start using the space more often (hence the incentive of our TV purchase) so I bought a new leather sectional to complete our "basement loft". Yesterday I came home early from work to take delivery but the two guys couldn't get it into our basement. (They actually reminded me of the demented movers we used in November 2002 - not strong problem solvers.) After removing the door and tilting it, part 1 of the couch got stuck in the stairwell. Tossing and turning tonight in my bed I felt they should have tried removing the legs or some other way to maneouver it in the space but like I said, thinking out of the box was not their strength. Basically they seemed bitter about doing the things they needed to do (i.e. taking the door off its hinges) and didn't even come with their own tools (I supplied the measuring tape, screwdriver and hammer.) We thought of putting it upstairs and moving our current sofa and love seat down but we weren't sure they would fit in the stairwell either. And then I'd be paying these bitter guys extra to do it all. Richard and I will need to go back to the store and check out our options. A real drag since we are expecting 15 people (friends and their kids) for dinner on Saturday. I think Simon at work jinxed me because he kept saying about my delivery "it's not coming, it's not coming" and now he's right. Stay tuned for the next chapter...

Mary's Birthday Dinner

Tonight Mary Long invited a few of her closest friends for dinner at Pure Spirits Oyster House in the Distillery District to celebrate her 40th birthday. It was an absolutely wonderful evening from start to finish. The food and company were divine. We started with a round of Cosmopolitans for our toast to Mary then fresh oysters followed by soup or salad and a choice of mains. I had the salad with beef tenderlion and portobello mushrooms (very tender and tasty) and ended with dessert and chocolate espresso martini (pretty intense). Mary opened her presents and got to visit with everyone throughout the evening. We finally closed the place at 1:00am. I agree with Carol: 40 is the new 30. Happy Birthday Mary!

Birthday and Brokeback with Les Filles

Tonight we celebrated my birthday with Les Filles (Sarah, Pavlina and Alison). We met at Winners and took the streetcar east to Gio Rana's, 1220 Queen St. E at Leslie. It's an old bank ("a strip mall style bank" as Alison noted) and there's no sign outside - just a big nose over the door like at his other location near Yonge & Eglinton. The place filled up quickly even at 6:00 on a Friday and we got started with beers and then a yummy Shiraz. Scrumptious appetizers and sides and my main (ossu bucco with Cremini mushrooms) was so tender it fell off the bone.

No time for dessert because we decided to try to see Brokeback Mountain at the Beach cinemas a short cab ride away. We got there and grabbed coffees but the only seats available were in the front row. Pavlina and I bailed and found single seats further back but Alison and Sarah didn't want to move (despite the annoying people around them). It was a heartbreaking movie and the performances were very strong. Heath Ledger deserves every prize he wins - muttering like a young Brando in cowboy boots with a convincing accent that belies his natural Australian one. Jake Gyllenhal is also very good as are the supporting actresses Michelle Williams (Heath's new partner) and Anne Hathaway (sporting a Farrah-like blonde hairdo - a sharp contrast to her natural rich brunette in Ella Enchanted and Princess Diaries).

I kept thinking about the movie the next day - it's not so much a gay cowboy movie as it is a movie about nurturing your relationships and being true to yourself. These guys probably couldn't have been together because of the era, and so they settled for the standard choices of marriage and kids and only came alive once or twice a year when they got together. Although most straight men won't see it, they should. And the Alberta mountain scenery is gorgeous. MMMM

Merci les Filles for
Osso bucco and Brokeback
Ang Lee is redeemed

P.S. Anne Hathaway is also starring in The Devil Wears Prada which will be released in June 2006. Les filles will go to the movie ensemble and then we will review both the film and the book at The Pilot (since we're a bit behind in our book club meetings) ;-)