Presents and Mountains

Well, I do not see myself going online again until next week, so I will say it now (and again): HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I finally saw "Brokeback Mountain" and loved it, but was not ovewhelmingly moved as I left the theater. However, as the hours passed and now a whole day has passed and the more I think about it, I love the film more and more. It was truly profound and moving. It was truly a sweeping love story. So beautiful! And (sorry Jake) Heath Ledger was so incredible in it. His performance is sublime and so understated. He breaks your heart! Wow.
I must say, however, "A History of Violence" continues to be my favorite film so far this year...

Since my friend, Yellowpop Lucy, posted something about the Christmas gifts she received this year, I will do the same. I got so many gift cards I don't know what to do with them. Frankly, I prefer getting an actual gift, rather than a card. Even if the item someone got for you is cheesy or "not me," to me that means someone thought of you and said: This is what I will get Rafi. He'll love it. He'll get a kick out of it! To me, gift cards are an easy gift to give. It is a generous gift but not a lot of thought goes into it. I don't want to sound like an ingrate, however, I am grateful for all of the gift cards I got. Thank you! I received the following cards: 3 for Starbucks, 2 for Target, 1 for Border's, 1 for Macy's.
I also got several books. I received wine and champagne. My auntie gave me a new pair of bedroom slippers, which are so comfortable. My aunt, by the way, gives me gloves one year, a scarf the next, and slippers the following. She then repeats this sequence... I got some stationary. I received so much chocolate and candy from students... I got a cute scarf from my friend Naomi. I got new wine glasses from Carmela. Ca$h bonus from Rob and Cassandra!!! They shouldn't have. ;-) Picture frames, candles, a wallet, more booze... But my absolute favorite gift this year came from my roommate Cindy. She gave me a (I will not spell this or say this correctly, sorry) a monocular, like binoculars but only one lense/eye piece. They are really powerful and I can see clearly from my hilltop home into other poeple's houses across Glendale Boulevard... Oops, I just outed myself as a vouyeur!
Anyway, happy new year to all. I know Christmas is not about getting gifts and all, but I hope everyone out there got something fun and special that they really love.
God bless...And all the best for everyone in 2006!!!

The Year That Was 2005

To quote Julie Andrews, these are a few of my favorite things...(this year)

Music:
I didn't buy nor download much new music this year as I have in the past. While I really loved the releases by The Arcade Fire, My Morning Jacket, Beck, and Brazilian Girls, among others, I only got to listen to their music at friends' houses and businesses or on the radio. Other favorite releases of mine this year were: M.I.A.'s "Arular, Kanye West's "Late Registration," " Fischerspooner's "Odyssey," Ladytron's "Witching Hour," Bebe's "Pafuera Telaranas," Nouvelle Vague's "Nouvelle Vague," Kate Bush's "Aeral," and I am shocked at my even mentioning the following two, but Mariah Carey and Madonna put fabulous c.d.s out, which rank among the best this year. Another favorite release of mine was Stereolab's 3-disc 1 d.v.d. compilation, "Oscillons From the Anti-Sun." It is a collection of songs, videos and t.v. appearances by the "groop" from the last 14 years. Despite the changes in background players over the years and the death of original member Mary Hanson, two years ago, Stereolab continues to be my favorite band.

Film:
I have not seen many of the big December releases yet. (I am planning on going to the movies tonight actually...) However, this year, for me at least, was a big year for foreign films (primarily French) and documentaries! Some of my favorite films include Lucrecia Martel's "The Holy Girl (Argentina), Sebastian Cordero's "Cronicas" (Ecuador), Oliver Hirschbiegel's "Downfall" (Germany), Wong Kar-Wai's "2046" (China). From France I loved: Arnaud Desplechin's "Kings and Queen," Agnes Jaoui's Look At Me," and especially Jacques Audiard's "The Beat That My Heart Skipped." The documentaries I loved include "Grizzly Man," "Murderball," and "Mad Hot Ballroom." I saw "March of the Pinguins" and found it cute, but did not love it. Sorry America!
I must also add that not all of my favorite films were in other languages. I was deeply moved by Miranda July's "Me and You and Everyone We Know," and David Cronenberg's "A History of Violence" was a fantastic, scary thriller. Both well-acted and incredibly entertaining. Among the year's best.

Television:
I really got into "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy" these last couple of months.

Events in My Life:
I loved becoming an uncle once again. I enjoyed my trips to Mammoth Lakes and Cabo San Lucas. It was wonderful seeing a pair of friends getting married. I totally got into cooking, eating, drinking wine and gardening, with the likes of Serene, Dominique, Oscar and Jerry. I also came close to losing a beloved friend this summer, whom has since made an incredible recovery. Another dear friend said good-bye to two beloved pets in one years, but welcomed a wonderful new one into her home in the Spring. Other favorite things this year: Springtime brunches, playing Gin Rummy, playing Scrabble, walks in Elysian Park, Campari and Soda, drinking champagne, dancing at Little Pedro's, bar hopping in Echo Park, reading the New Yorker and catching up with all the books I had piled at my bedside, going to the beach, bike riding, i-tunes, Happy Hour at The Edendale Grill, Nick and Stef's, El Conquistador, The Daily Grill, blogging (but not the wierd, uncalled-for responses)...

I hope I get to write another entry before 2005 escapes us. Happy new year to all! I hope everyone gets what they want in 2006.

Tis the Season...

It is mid-December, and for the last week I have been juggling two jobs, family visits, holiday functions and Chrsitmas shopping. And I love it!!! I wish I could say I have been watching a lot of movies, but I have not found the time. The last film I saw was "Pride and Prejudice" two weeks ago, and I found it to be a wonderful, satisfying adaptation. If I find some time this weekend, I'd like to see "Brokeback Mountain" and "King Kong."

All three of my favorite reality shows have ended their Fall season, and I am happy that for once all of them had winners whom I was rooting for. On "Survivor" my three favorite players were in the top three, Rafe, Stephanie and Danni. I would've been happy for any one of them to have won, but Danni was the winner. "America's Next Top Model" had Nicole as its winner last week. And last night the Linz Family finshed first on "The Amazing Race." I am not lamenting that there isn't anything left for me to watch on t.v., since I do not have the time...

Thanks to Oprah and fashion magazines I have discovered my favorite drink for the season...Pomegranate Martinis! They are so easy to fix. All you need is good Vodka, like Absolut Citron, pomegranate juice, a splash of Cointreau, a splash of lemon juice, lots of ice (for shaking) and sparkling water. I won't give you exact messurements. I did not use any when preparing them for friends during a dinner party last Friday night. You just kind of feel it out...adding more vodka if too weak or more juice if too strong... I think everyone was pretty much pleased with their drinks.

A Happy Decemberist

Once again, December has snuck up on us. It is already the 6th and Christmas is under 20 days away. I predict that, as usual, the holiday will come and go and we will be left wondering where it went or how it went by so fast...
This weekend, just one week after Thanksgiving, I began doing, preparing and partaking in a number of winter/holiday activities. I began my shopping already. I put some Christmas lights up at home. and I went to two holiday parties. I begin working at Uncle Jer's this coming weekend. This will be my 8th (or 9th) Christmas that I work there. It is now a tradition for me to be part of that family every December. It is fun for me to see people in the spirit, feeling generous, thinking of others. I also enjoy catching up with the friends I have in the store, who work there and shop there.
On Saturday, after having lunch at Costa Alegre with Oscar, Jerry, Moises and Serene, we decided to walk down to the Echo Park Christmas Parade. We had so much fun being loud and obnoxious, dancing and posing with the cheerleaders and flirting with the firefighters and Aztec dancers who were parading. I have lived in Echo Park for 10 years now and I have never attended one of the neighborhood parades. I have to say, it was also great to see all the "latins" and Mexican folks in the neighborhood out in the streets. It was like taking back Echo Park! You know what I mean...