In the Kitchen with Justin

Growing up, skipping breakfast was never an option. And to this day I am committed to all the hype and believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day (though maybe not the most delicious). "Gotta have a breakfast," as Margie's husband says to her in Fargo.

But some days, I am so rushed I leave the house without breakfast thus forcing me to improvise. Like today.

I had a packet of regular Quaker instant Oatmeal in my bag. I am not an oatmeal fan. However, I learned this weekend - from an 18 years sober alcoholic and former crack addict - that rolled oats are the "perfect breakfast." So I figured I'd give it a go.

I went into the office kitchen and got to fixing my oatmeal. And then I saw packets of Swiss Miss Cocoa with marshmallows. Being an experimental chef, I couldn't help but wonder if the two could be prepared together for a delicious breakfast. I imagined those chocolate oatmeal cookies that were so popular in the mid-80's - particularly in my neighborhood. I put half a packet of cocoa in a mug, then the oatmeal packet, and then 1/2 cup of hot water. I then moved the mug to the microwave and set it for two minutes.

During this time I was (a) hoping that coworkers would not come into the kitchen and see me cooking; and (b) complimenting myself on my inventiveness and planning to tell everyone about my craftiness.

After two minutes, I opened the microwave. Complete disaster. The concoction boiled over completely and was all over the microwave. It looked like I microwaved a sick baby's diaper. So chef Justin fled the kitchen to make room for Utah Disaster Kleenup Justin. And the latter moved like lighting because if Justin didn't want to be seen cooking in the kitchen, he most definitely did not want to be seen cleaning that shit up. While 6 out of 10 people would have used paper towels to clean the rotating glass carousel, I take pride in being in the smart minority that thinks to just remove the glass carousel and rinse it off in the sink. That made a 5 minute clean-up job take only abou 30 seconds. The mug was a disaster too: oatmeal was caked all over it. Scrubbing that was the hardest part. But I got it all sorted.

And then I started all over again because I still had to have a breakfast. This second attempt was much more successful than the first.

Recipe review: It's just okay. Swiss Miss oatmeal is better than plain oatmeal, but not as good as chocolate oatmeal cookies. I think I put in too much water and not enough Swiss Miss. Some milk might have been a good addition, too. And a little sugar.

In other news, I saw two documentaries last night: Jesus Camp and WordPlay. Both amazing in their own way, and I recommend both.

Today's Song: Blurry, Puddle of Mudd

Monday, Monday

and Sundance is over. For me, it is the highlight of the winter season. Now there is nothing to look forward to besides Valentine's Day and Spring, i.e. March. A highlight of Sundance was just being in Park City where the air was both clear and almost warm. I sat outside and read the Tyra Banks "You Call This Fat?" issue:

Puffy from the weekend, I'm certainly not going to call Tyra Banks fat.

Thanks to B-Lo's connections, I saw Paul Oakenfold play at Harry O's on Friday and Saturday nights. Queen Latifah was there. As she walked by me, I couldn't help but be amazed at how tiny she is.

For Christmas, the Wilsons gave me an amaryllis. It is in full bloom right now and I will post a picture a little later. It is really quite amazing.

And this is what it looked like about a week ago:

Today's Song: While You See A Chance, Steve Winwood

One Word Answers

I stole this from another blog:

ONE

This Moment: Bright
Your Shoes: Suede
Craving: Travel
The State of Your Home: Cluttered
Annoyed By: Queues
Noise In the Background: Porno-Witch (trust me, it's one word)
Really Want To: Run
Thinking About: Weekend
Smelling: Cologne
Favorite Product In Office Supply Aisle: Pens
Don't Ever Want To: Bald
Your Eye Color: Debatable
The Weather: Freezing
Have Never Tried: Germany
Everyone Should Try: England
Last Vacation Destination: Chicago
The Last Thing You Had to Drink: Latte
Your Bad Habit: Procrastination
What You're Going To Do Now: Read

Today's Song: No Letting Go, Wayne Wonder

Still Sundancing in SLC - with Sport to Boot

Last night B-Lo took me to the Jazz game - VIP style. Dinner in the sponsor room and courtside seats. And free beer. It pays to know marketing directors.

Mid-way through the game, I remembered that Grace is Gone was screening at 9:30pm at Rose Wagner Theater. John Cusack is Stanley Phillips, a patriot father of two, who is overwhelmed when he gets news that his wife, Grace, has been killed in the Iraq war. Though distraught himself, he tries to rally the strength to tell his two young daughters. Instead, he bundles them in the car and heads out on a roadtrip to their favourite amusement park. Inside he knows what he needs to do. But first he must first learn who his daughters are before he can begin helping them overcome the tragedy.*

The film was made for 2.5 million and Harvey Weinstein bought it very early on in the festival for about 4 million, I believe. Accordingly, the film garnered much buzz and the SLC screening at Rose Wagner was packed.

B-Lo and I were denied tickets. But I wanted to see the film, so we did. How did we get in? That's not important. What is important? The movie is 89 minutes long. And everyone in the theater cried for at least 80 of those.

There was a Q and A with the writer and director following the screening. He said his goal was to put his view of the war "out there" without making the film polarizing. He did a really good job.

In lighter news: On the OC, Michael Nouri plays Dr. Roberts - Summer's dad. Summer's mother has never been portrayed/revealed. Nouri was the male lead in Flashdance. I read on-line that some fans are hoping Jennifer Beals will appear and play Summer's mother in the finale. Thus making Summer the child of Flashdance.

Some pictures from "last days of work":










Today's Song: Maybe Not, Cat Power (from Grace is Gone)

*Again, obviously plagiarized.

Sundancing in SLC

Still tired from a long weekend, I planned to go home after work yesterday and catch up on laundry and sleep. But then I remembered that I hadn't yet seen any Sundance films. I have six vouchers that can be exchanged for six tickets and I didn't want them to go to waste. I wasn't quite certain about how to exchange them. I tend not to pay to much attention to the fine details of Sundance - preferring instead to try and talk my way into events rather than waiting in cold, long lines. I decided, though, to give it a go. So I looked at the films playing at the Broadway, Tower, and Rose Wagner, and decided to try and see Starting Out In The Evening and Joshua. I got into both without (a) having to stand in the cold, (b) wait in line, or - most importantly - (c) having to arrive at the theater hours ahead of the start time.

The films were good (though I doubt either will be buzzed about). I enjoyed the first one because of the cast: Lauren Ambrose, Lilli Taylor, and Frank Langella. I found it to be a quietly intense, superbly realized drama about erudite New Yorkers who tug on each other's vulnerabilities as they strive to actualize individual promise at different stages of life.* The main character is an aging author and I thought Sara Z. would really enjoy the character and his struggles with the writing process. The second movie, Joshua, was like The Omen meets Rosemary's Baby meets, and this was my own opinion, Problem Child. I wanted to mention the latter film to the director in the Q and A following the screening, but I am not that bold (or rude). Joshua addresses one of the most difficult decisions anyone has to make: whether to have a child. It is a life altering decision that carries profound consequences even if everying goes right; but what if it goes horribly wrong?*

I ended the night by giving a couple of drunks a ride home. Neither of which were me.

Also, Jake Paltrow, Gwyneth's brother, has a film in the festival titled The Good Night. Principal cast includes his sister, Penelope Cruz, Danny DeVito and MARTIN FREEMAN aka TIM from the BRITISH Office. I don't think he is in town, but I would have liked to have seen both him and the film.

In other film news: The Oscars. I have not seen Babel or Letters From Iwo Jima. I plan to see the former, but do I have to see the latter too? Has anyone? I think most of the categories are easy to pick this year.

Today's Song: Noah's Dove, 10,000 Maniacs

* Alright, so obviously I plagiarized the official Sundance film guide.

I really want to do a Sundance post

but it is too hard to remember all the details.

Some highlights:

1. The paparazzi mistaking me for James Franco.
2. Running right into Judith Light.
3. Adam Brody checking me into my Deer Valley condo. Well not him exactly - he stood there while his manager took my money and handled the details.
4. Seeing Winona Ryder in the next room and realizing I would need to keep my valuables in the car.
5. Dropping a Stella Artois in the middle of a Rosie Thomas acoustic set (download "Wedding Day" or "Since You've Been Around" on iTunes) and then having it immediately replaced by a worker.
6. Checking out Parker Posey.

There are more stories, but I'm too tired to write about them. Instead, I am going to go the lazy route and post links to amuse you - and help you realize why you should be watching Joy on My Name is Earl:

This.

This.

This.

And this. Actually - I can't find the best clip: Joy singing Faith Hill. Will keep looking.

Today's Song: Friends, Bette Midler

Let me push you this way:

She is amazing. Seriously. How does she get away with this behaviour?

Watch this. And then watch this. If you have time, this is good too.

And then read this.

I would love to be her publicist. "You weren't drunk? You didn't take pills? You were just tired? There were 'technical problems, right?' Got it. This will all be fine."

Today's Song: Promise of a New Day, Paula Abdul

Some More Shakins

Sports: I want to see a picture of this water bottle.

Sundance: The volunteer party was last night. As usual, you show your credential and you get a plastic wristband with three drink tickets attached. As soon as I have that wristband on, I start searching for ways to get more tickets. I look for dropped tickets on the floor, I look for extra wristbands lying around, I make friends with elderly volunteers that I can sense will not use their tickets and thus will gift them to me. The thing is - I don't really even want the drinks. I just like the challenge of getting the tickets.

Videogames: Yesterday I got a new high score on Big Brain Academy. My score came in at 1771 grams and my grade was an A. My prior high was 1,585 grams and a B+. The highest you can get, I believe is 1,800 grams. I'm going to shoot for that now. Good luck to B-Lo and Stella - eat my brain dust.

Lunch: I had lunch today at the downtown Nordstrom Cafe. The store closes on January 20 so it was likely my last lunch there. I will really miss the old Blue Plate Special. Half a french dip, cup of clam chowder, and salad. It hasn't been on the menu for several years, but I think I will talk about that cafe and lunch special the way older people talk about lunch at The Paris (I think that store had a lunch counter in the old SLC days).

Weather: I am numb.

Today's Song: More Today Than Yesterday, Spiral Starecase

Some Shakins

Car: Is back in action. It was an expensive ordeal and I had to file an insurance claim, but the little car is better than ever - so maybe it was worth it?

Chicago: The hotel was great. The flight was first class both ways. I made it home just fine. My bag didn't. United left it in Chicago. After significant work on my part, I picked it up at the airport last night. I really, really do not like checking bags. For that reason. I'd forgotten that Macys bought out Marshall Fields. I didn't know that Lush had a boutique inside Macys on Michigan. I bought some new boots at Cole Haan and four pairs of Levis at, well, Levis on Michigan. So much for my New Year resolution to reduce consumerism.

Amaryllis: It is now over a foot tall. It grows about an inch everyday. I bet it will bloom in a couple weeks. Thanks again Stella.

Sundance: Starts this weekend. Volunteer kick-off party tonight. Opening party on Friday. And then the usual craziness all week long. I hope the weather warms. If it's in the teens here, it has to be frigid in Park City. The line-up for the Music Cafe doesn't look quite as good this year as it did in previous years.

Phone: I bought a Razr V3x off of eBay. The phone isn't available in the United States and isn't supported by Cingular. However, it is "unlocked" which means my Cingular SIM card works just fine with the phone. The only downside so far - and is turning into a big one - I can't send text messages to e-mail addresses. Which means I can't send pictures from my phone to this blog. Or my e-mail account. I need to find a fix for that.

Today's Song: This Is It (Live) - Kenny Loggins

Phyllis Owned NBC Last Night.

I laughed so hard at the post-beauty parlor scene that I scared myself. She is the love. I tried to find a screen grab on-line, but couldn't. Hopefully everyone saw it.

I can't believe it but I am actually a fan of My Name is Earl. I came to that game pretty late. I think Joy steals every scene. She is the love, too.

With all the talk of David Beckham, aka The $250 Million Dollar Man, I had to dig this up out of the archives:



So there's that.

It's way too cold. But honestly, I have a hard time telling the difference between 30 degrees and 18 degress. Once it's under forty, it's all pretty much the same to me.

Today's Song: Passion Play, William Fitzsimmons (from last night's GA)

Some Shakins

Trip report: I went to Boise on Tuesday. I flew up in the morning and back that night. I hadn't been to Boise in at least 20 years. The downtown area was great. Very walkable and had an interesting selection of restaurants, bars, and shops. Plus it was pretty crowded compared to downtown SLC - much more foot traffic. Ultimately Boise seemed like a mash-up of SLC, Ogden, with a touch of Portland. The cornerstone of their civilization, for me, was the fact that wine was sold in convenience stores.

Presidential Address: GW addressed the nation last night. I know that because his mug was on most of the televisions at the gym. I didn't watch though. I turned my treadmill's television channel to "Mork & Mindy". Striking similarities between GW and Mork from Ork.

Car trouble: Fender bender this morning. Mini vs. curb. Curb won. I've known I need to replace my two front tires for awhile now. They treads are really worn down. But I put it off and put it off. This morning I paid the price. Making a u-turn at 100 South and Main on my way to Starbucks, my tires lost traction and I ran into a curb. I busted the rim of the front passenger tire. I got my coffee and then drove straight to the dealership. My car didn't handle the drive well. Driving just under 30mph for forty blocks on State Street, I swerved all over the road and made many drivers angry. At the dealership, I took in a piece of the rim, told the service advisor that I hit a curb. He said, "You've probably damaged your suspension. We'll need the car for days. You should probably call your insurance company and file a claim. They'll get you a rental car." Amazed, I replied, "You haven't even seen my car yet. If you were a doctor and I came in complaining of a sore throat, would you automatically assume I likely have pneumonia or cancer?" I really, really don't trust car people.

I'm going to Chicago this weekend. Looking forward to that.

Today's Song: Lips Like Sugar, Echo and the Bunnymen

2007 Year End Playlist

Because you are dying to know my personal details, I will share this bit of hjustin trivia with you. Every month I make a playlist on my iPod, e.g. January 2007, and I put on the playlist all the songs that I am feeling that month. So if I am put on hold, and Genesis’ “Taking It All Too Hard” is playing on the hold music, I will think, “I haven’t heard that song in awhile - I like it,” and then I will put it on my monthly playlist. Each month then has sort of a musical diary. Then, at the end of the year, I go through my monthly playlists and select one or two or more for my Year End Playlist. So without further ado, here is 2006 Year End - with a little something for everyone, but mainly a lot for me:

Boston / Augustana
Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have / Panic! At The Disco
World Spins Madly On / The Weepies
My Ever Changing Moods / The Style Council
Don’t Stop / Brazilian Girls
In the Sun (Gulf Coast Remix) / Michael Stipe
Neverending Math Equation / Sun Kil moon
Do I Do / Stevie Wonder
The Next Best Western / Richard Shindell
Comfort of Strangers / Beth Orton
Your Love / The Outfield
This Modern Love / Bloc Party
Be Gentle With Me / The Boy Least Likely To
Swing Life Away / Rise Against
Control Myself (feat J.Lo) / LL Cool J
Undeniable / Matt Kearney
Follow Through / Hotel Lights
How We Operate / Gomez
Is It Any Wonder? / Keane
Not Ready to Make Nice / Dixie Chicks
How to Save a Life / The Fray
Hands Open / Snow Patrol
Love and Memories / O.A.R.
Wound Up / Office
Rooftops / Lost Prophets
Here I Am (Kaskade Radio Edit) / D. Morales & T. Keenan
Give Me the Night / George Benson
A Public Affair / Jessica Simpson
Chapters / Commuter
Since You’re Gone / The Cars
Method of Modern Love / Hall & Oates
The Adventure / Angels & Airwaves
Smoke From a Distant Fire / Sanford & Townsend
What Hurts the Most / Rascal Flatts
Too Little Too Late / JoJo
Sexy Back / Justin Timberlake
When You Were Young (LuConte Remix) / The Killers
All I Need / Matt Kearney
Into the Night / Benny Mardones
London Skies / Jamie Cullum
The Gentlemen Who Fell / Milla Jovavich
Together in Electric Dreams / Human League
Running Up That Hill / Placebo
Suburbia / Pet Shop Boys
Domino Dancing / Pet Shop Boys
Brighter Discontent / The Submarines
So Long, So Long / Dashboard Confessional
And I Am Telling You / Jennifer Hudson
Irreplaceable / Beyonce
Hands Down (feat Michael Stipe) / Dashboard Confessional
All the Trees of the Field . . . / Sufjan Stevens
Time of Our Lives / Paul VanDyk

So there you have it. If I were a true music blogger (which I certainly am not), I would post mp3's of each song. Two words: too hard.

Another personal detail: I cut my eye open on the faucet last night while washing my face.

Today’s Song: As I Go, Richard Swift

New Year - New Post

Happy Belated New Year Everyone.

I saw in 2007 in my typical fashion. Dapper, drunk, and dancing. Okay that's not really true. Partly.

I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but if I did a few would be:

1. Stop ripping tambourines out of lead singers' hands.
2. Stop trying to accompany lead singers on stage in the middle of their set.
3. Stop arguing with the band members about their playlists and demanding "instant requests."
4. Start dancing with women my own age, i.e. under 40 as opposed to over 60.

Given those resolutions, I think you have an accurate picture of my New Year's Eve. If how one celebrates New Year's Eve sets the tone for the coming year, I will probably do jail time this year. (I just knocked wood to make sure that doesn't actually happen.)

Some things I hate about January:

1. Crowded gym.
2. Weight loss and diet tips on every home page. (It would be fine if they would do it quarterly - but once a year is pretty lame.)
3. Quit smoking ads.

Some things I like about January:

1. No more Christmas hair removal ads.
2. Sundance.

A special shout out to aunt for my iPod karaoke gift. I think house parties just got a little more exciting.

I am still officially a freak and geek. I can't get enough of my Wii and Nintendo DS. I'm getting fairly good at Zelda on the Wii, actually. (And I suspect I just lost half of my readers. For the record, I do not D-n-D, do not like Renaissance Fairs, and do not know how to program a computer.)

I have to say, I didn't really like The Pursuit of Happyness. Thinking I must have missed something, I read Chris Gardner's Wikipedia page. Seems to me the movie took a fair share of dramatic license with the man's life. AND in watching it, I knew that somehow that Chris Gardner was the main force in getting the movie made. As opposed to some long time admirer.

Incidentally, even if it would be fiction, I'd still like to see a movie version of A Million Little Pieces.

Finally, if you haven't in awhile, I suggest you revisit the Breakfast Club. I watched it the other night and realized there was alot about that movie that I had forgotten. References I never understood until now.

Today's Song: Alright this one is tricky. Have you seen the trailer for the movie Music & Lyrics starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore? In the trailer, a song queues up 24 seconds in. It's an eighties song. The lyrics don't play. But in my head I hear the chorus and it goes something like, "wait, wait, wait". But I really do not know what song it is. If you have a moment, check out the trailer - and let me know if you know the song.

Here is the trailer. (Again, the song starts up at 24 seconds in.) Thank you to anyone and everyone that gives this a try.