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1. Over the years I've tried various gluten free chocolate chip cookie mixes and recipes. Currently my favorite and the hardest to find is Betty Croker's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Right now, attempting Ginny Bakes...already attempted Ginny Bakes Peace Crumble Muffin (too sweet and heavy like a sunken muffin), and Ginny's Oatmeal Coconut Current cookies - which were actually quite good, but I preferred the cookie dough. We'll see what her chocolate chip cookies taste like. The dough is quite yummy, but I also put a ton of vanilla extract in it. I tend to go heavy with the vanilla extract.
2. Just finished watching this horribly depressing yet weirdly touching and critically acclaimed black comedy entitled Young Adult starring Charliz Theron as a formerly popular high school gal in her late 30s named Mavis, who is an author of a pre-created and cancelled series of young adult books, bored in her life and desperate. She decides after receiving a picture of her ex-beau Buddy Bradely's new baby...to go back home to Mercury, Minnesota to win him back. Even though he's happily married to a teacher who performs in a really bad girl band on the side. Because you know envy and destiny and that stuff. Plus mid-life crisis.
It reminds me a little of Bridesmaids, except without the likable characters and not funny, pathetic yes, funny no. For a while I just wanted to smack everybody. Then we got to follow her to her parents home and discover she's divorced, and her parents aren't exactly supportive and a bit narcissitic too. Elizabeth Reizer (who appears to be guest-starring in everything while simultaneously performing on Broadway) plays Buddy (Patrick Wilson)'s mousy and somewhat perfect wife Beth. Theron is insanely photogenic which actually works in this movie - because you can at least mildly enjoy watching her make an ass out of herself. Also there's something mildly comforting about a published writer, in her 30s, who is insanely attractive ...depressed and pathetic. Patton Oswalt plays her confident, who is in the Jimmney Cricket role of conscience.
As the film rolls on, much like Bridesmaids, it becomes oddly touching and somewhat bittersweet. ( plot spoilers )
The movie is basically about female mid-life crisis, much like Bridesmaids was. Being single and getting older, without the kid, the family, etc. Although this one was weirdly bitter-sweet and somewhat pathetic, about a narcissistic 37 year old woman having a mid-life crisis. There's a moment, a brief one, where she obtains a smattering of self-awareness and looks to be on the verge of an epithany or a nervous breakdown, not sure which...but then it passes.
There've been other films in this particular trope, better ones - such as Rachel Griffifs - Me, Myself and I, and Jill Clayburgh's - An Unmarried Woman, as well as the 1970s classic Dairy of a Mad Housewife. Most of these films were actually done in the 1970s, with the exception of Rachel Griffis, Me, Myself and I. Which may explain why they reference as the closing song..."When We Grow Up" from Free to Be You and Me - as sung by a young Roberta Flack and Michael Jackson.
The final number "When We Grow Up"...that is sung over the credits...almost brought tears to my eyes and I fell into nostalgia. It's odd some people remember high school, I remember everything before and after it. High School itself is a blur. I remember the 12 years I lived in PA far better than those three years in a high school in a midwestern suburb. So high nostalgia, which is rapidly becoming a cliche American trope is somewhat wasted on me. I just don't get it. Why do people care about "prom"? In this respect, I may have more in common with the Europeans.
4. I decided to look up the song - "When We Grow Up" on the internet. Because I was pretty sure it was sung by Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack in the 1974 after-school special Free to be You and Me by Marlo Thomas and Friends. It was. And it sent me into a fit of nostalgia, so I looked up other songs from the same after-school special.
From wiki:
Free to Be… You and Me, a project of the Ms. Foundation for Women, is a record album and illustrated book first released in November 1972 featuring songs and stories sung or told by celebrities of the day (credited as "Marlo Thomas and Friends") including Alan Alda, Rosey Grier, Cicely Tyson, Carol Channing, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross. An ABC Afterschool Special using poetry, songs, and sketches, followed two years later in March 1974. The basic concept was to encourage post-1960s gender neutrality, saluting values such as individuality, tolerance, and comfort with one's identity. A major thematic message is that anyone—whether a boy or a girl—can achieve anything.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_to_Be..._You_and_Me
* Anyway here's the song from Free to be You and Me as sung by Roberta Flack and Michael Jackson in 1974.
( When We Grow Up )
For more information on Free to be You and Me Foundation - go here:
http://www.freetobefoundation.org/foundation.htm
I rather like the song, although it has since it's first airing been used for a Target commercial.
Sigh. No comment.
Here's the original 1974 video version with the opening credits and sung by The Seekers:
( Free to be You and Me )
2. Just finished watching this horribly depressing yet weirdly touching and critically acclaimed black comedy entitled Young Adult starring Charliz Theron as a formerly popular high school gal in her late 30s named Mavis, who is an author of a pre-created and cancelled series of young adult books, bored in her life and desperate. She decides after receiving a picture of her ex-beau Buddy Bradely's new baby...to go back home to Mercury, Minnesota to win him back. Even though he's happily married to a teacher who performs in a really bad girl band on the side. Because you know envy and destiny and that stuff. Plus mid-life crisis.
It reminds me a little of Bridesmaids, except without the likable characters and not funny, pathetic yes, funny no. For a while I just wanted to smack everybody. Then we got to follow her to her parents home and discover she's divorced, and her parents aren't exactly supportive and a bit narcissitic too. Elizabeth Reizer (who appears to be guest-starring in everything while simultaneously performing on Broadway) plays Buddy (Patrick Wilson)'s mousy and somewhat perfect wife Beth. Theron is insanely photogenic which actually works in this movie - because you can at least mildly enjoy watching her make an ass out of herself. Also there's something mildly comforting about a published writer, in her 30s, who is insanely attractive ...depressed and pathetic. Patton Oswalt plays her confident, who is in the Jimmney Cricket role of conscience.
As the film rolls on, much like Bridesmaids, it becomes oddly touching and somewhat bittersweet. ( plot spoilers )
The movie is basically about female mid-life crisis, much like Bridesmaids was. Being single and getting older, without the kid, the family, etc. Although this one was weirdly bitter-sweet and somewhat pathetic, about a narcissistic 37 year old woman having a mid-life crisis. There's a moment, a brief one, where she obtains a smattering of self-awareness and looks to be on the verge of an epithany or a nervous breakdown, not sure which...but then it passes.
There've been other films in this particular trope, better ones - such as Rachel Griffifs - Me, Myself and I, and Jill Clayburgh's - An Unmarried Woman, as well as the 1970s classic Dairy of a Mad Housewife. Most of these films were actually done in the 1970s, with the exception of Rachel Griffis, Me, Myself and I. Which may explain why they reference as the closing song..."When We Grow Up" from Free to Be You and Me - as sung by a young Roberta Flack and Michael Jackson.
The final number "When We Grow Up"...that is sung over the credits...almost brought tears to my eyes and I fell into nostalgia. It's odd some people remember high school, I remember everything before and after it. High School itself is a blur. I remember the 12 years I lived in PA far better than those three years in a high school in a midwestern suburb. So high nostalgia, which is rapidly becoming a cliche American trope is somewhat wasted on me. I just don't get it. Why do people care about "prom"? In this respect, I may have more in common with the Europeans.
4. I decided to look up the song - "When We Grow Up" on the internet. Because I was pretty sure it was sung by Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack in the 1974 after-school special Free to be You and Me by Marlo Thomas and Friends. It was. And it sent me into a fit of nostalgia, so I looked up other songs from the same after-school special.
From wiki:
Free to Be… You and Me, a project of the Ms. Foundation for Women, is a record album and illustrated book first released in November 1972 featuring songs and stories sung or told by celebrities of the day (credited as "Marlo Thomas and Friends") including Alan Alda, Rosey Grier, Cicely Tyson, Carol Channing, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross. An ABC Afterschool Special using poetry, songs, and sketches, followed two years later in March 1974. The basic concept was to encourage post-1960s gender neutrality, saluting values such as individuality, tolerance, and comfort with one's identity. A major thematic message is that anyone—whether a boy or a girl—can achieve anything.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_to_Be..._You_and_Me
* Anyway here's the song from Free to be You and Me as sung by Roberta Flack and Michael Jackson in 1974.
( When We Grow Up )
For more information on Free to be You and Me Foundation - go here:
http://www.freetobefoundation.org/foundation.htm
I rather like the song, although it has since it's first airing been used for a Target commercial.
Sigh. No comment.
Here's the original 1974 video version with the opening credits and sung by The Seekers:
( Free to be You and Me )