After more than a month, I finally watched Michael Clayton, a 2007 movie starring some great actors — George Clooney,Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, and Sydney Pollack. The movie was a little slow, but interesting camera direction by the director, and excellent performances by the cast. You can figure out the story at an early juncture in the movie, but it was still good. As a matter of fact, Tilda Swinton won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2008 Academy Awards.
I’ve uploaded a slew of September 2008 photos, and you will also soon see new photos for October 2008 from Julie & Robbie’s housewarming (coming soon, keep checking.) New September photos include Sai and Karthik’s chaat party, random family shots, and our anniversary dinner.
This morning, we did some driving around Central Jersey, buying clothes for the kids — they’re quicky growing out of their current wardrobe. We had a nice lunch together at a McDonald’s in Bridgewater, believe it or not. Strange as it may sound, we all sat together, ate lunch, and felt no pressure to hurry off to the next task. You could almost call it “quality family time.”
In the evening, we went to the aforementioned housewarming at my sister’s place.
I’ve mentioned that I joined Facebook a few months ago. Similar to Friendster, but there’s more interaction and activity on a daily basis. I’ll tell you the best part. I’ve been using it to get in touch with my elementary school friends and classmates from over 20 years ago. Turns out, a number of them in Rockland still get together every month or so. This past Friday, I drove the 90 mins to meet up with some of them.
I found it to be an amazing experience. Back then, not everyone got along all the time, and we all had our circles of friends, but you all knew each other over the years, since there were basically only two classes per grade. Seeing these folks 20 years later, all the cliques and growing-up-awkwardness was over, and we simply enjoyed each other’s company, with some reminiscing, and catching up. Someone does graphic design, someone is in the film industry special effects world, another does work with youth for the county.
We met up at Rick’s Club American restaurant and bar, which I’ve always wanted to go to, but we never did in the 20 years we lived in Congers. Close to closing, some of us drove down to Nyack to the Black Bear Saloon, to meet some more folks. By the time I got home, it was 5:30am.
Thanks to Pete and Shalimar for arranging. Let me know the next time we’re getting together.
When I grow up, I want to be a maverick. BTW, I had looked forward to the VP debate, but I got bored about 30 minutes into it. It was less debate, and more “Let me ignore the questions and facts, and just spout campaign points for 2 hours.”
Saturday Night Live was much more interesting, and in only 11 minutes. Thank you, Lorne Michaels.
I forgot to post this last week. The following is a portion of an article from Irish Times, followed by the SNL sketch mocking the interview. Enjoy!
Katie Couric is an anchor with CBS News who did a lengthy interview with Palin that has since been parodied to devastating effect on Saturday Night Live by two comedians, Tina Fey (as Palin) Amy Poehler (as Couric).
In the real interview, Couric asks Palin whether it would be better to spend the $700 billion Wall Street bailout helping families cope with rising household bills, instead of giving to irresponsible bankers.
Palin answers: “That’s why I say I, like every American I’m speaking with, we’re ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the – it’s got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track.”
“So healthcare reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.”
When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily,
Joyfully, playfully watching me.
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
Logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
Clinical, intellectual, cynical.
There are times when all the worlds asleep,
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man.
Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am.
Now watch what you say or they’ll be calling you a radical,
Liberal, fanatical, criminal.
Won’t you sign up your name, we’d like to feel you’re
Acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable!
At night, when all the worlds asleep,
The questions run so deep
For such a simple man.
Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am.
