After the Oscars

I was extremely pleased with the 1 hour of the Oscars that I saw on Sunday night. Unfortunately I had to miss the beginning due to a prior engagement. Non only was I pleased with the winners but I was also pleased with the new format conceived by producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon. The event was intimate, engaging, and relevant. I was happy to see all but one of my predictions come true. However, I do feel that Slumdog and The Reader are two of the best films I've seen in awhile, so for Kate Winslet to win was a real treat.

My Oscar Predictions

Okay, so I have a bitter/sweet relationship with the Oscars. In the past I have had little faith in the celebrated awards show that is ridden with inner politics. There have been disappointing years, like when Crash won Best Picture. There have been great years, like when the Cohen Brothers won their first award for directing No Country for Old Men.

It is sad to see so few films nominated this year, but it is amazing to see such great films nominated. Out of the 80% that I have seen, I have loved them all. Despite my love, I, as always, feel very strongly about who I think should win and who shouldn't. Here are my thoughts:

Best Picture

• Who should win: Slumdog Millionaire. I thought all the hype for this film was possibly just frivolous. Then I saw the movie. I could go on forever about the both political, romantic, and charismatic themes that make this multifaceted movie a hit.
  
• Who shoudn't win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This film, while excellent, didn't carry enough of a message. It was delightful and heartwarming, but could have said something more and didn't.
  
• Who will win: Slumdog Millionaire
  

Male Actor in a Lead Role

• Who should win: Mickey Rourke. He did an amazing job in The Wrestler and helped make the film the power-house it is. Dominating the screen-time the responsibility for the emotional drive of this film fell on Rourke's shoulders.
  
• Who shouldn't win: None. Each of these actors did a great job.
  
• Who will win: Sean Penn - Milk

Female Actor in a Lead Role

• Who should win: Meryl Streep. Performing the challenging role of this strong female in Doubt is something only Meryl Streep could do.
• Who shouldn't win: Anne Hathaway. She did a formidable job at playing the post-suicidal, post-drug addict dealing with a family's constant judgement in Rachel Getting Married. However, while this was an impressive performance from what we've seen before, the performance was more brooding and less contemplative than deserving an award.
• Who will win: Meryl Streep - Doubt.

Male Actor in a Supporting Role

• Who should win: Heath Ledger. Not only did Heath go beyond anyone's expectations, he made the Joker more real and in-depth than what we could have asked for in The Dark Knight.
• Who shouldn't win: Robert Downey Jr. I can only think his nomination if more of a joke than Tropic Thunder.
• Who will win: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight.

Female Actor in a Supporting Role

• I can't respond but I didn't want anyone to think I forgot this category.

Animated Feature Film

• Who should/will win: WALL-E. There isn't enough I can say about this film. An amazing feet that has heart and a truly motivating message.

I could say my thoughts for the other categories, but the cumbersome debate on their technicality would probably come across as verbose and protracted. Look for my remarks after Sunday night.

A Valentine's Day to Remember

Okay, so I will try to keep the sap to a minimum for everyone concerned. Let it be known that even though I love romance I still have my own issues with Valentine's Day too. I figure, if I am going to celebrate the holiday with loved ones I shouldn't embellish or exaggerate my feelings and sentiments in any way. My logic is, any gesture of love on Valentine's Day should be a gesture I am willing to make on any other day of the year. So, with that said, here is my amazing recount of Valentine's Day.

After a long day of work I headed to my girlfriend Michelle's house for some hors d'oeuvres and mocktails with her Mom, Dad, little sister and little sis' boyfriend. Everyone was looking great in their dressy/casual attire. I was greeted by Michelle dressed in a beautiful crimson dress adorned with little flowers around the bottom. I greeted Michelle with her own bo

uquet of flowers. However, I sprung for an non-traditional bouquet of Gerber Daisies. I also gave Michelle a bamboo mobile with hand-painted wooden hearts (I painted the hearts). I have a picture of the flowers along with the amazing cupcakes that Michelle gave me.

The cupcakes were ordered from Hey Cupcake in London, ON. The dozen included PB&J, Carrot, Red Velvet, Maple, S'mores, and Orange Chocolate. These cupcakes are sinfully delicious and amazing. Luckily, Andrew received his own, so he didn't feel to jealous. 

After the cupcakes Michelle's parents left for dinner. The rest of us chowed down on mozzarella sticks and puffed pastries. With the 8:30 dinner reservation I was very happy to have the time to digest.

By the time we left for dinner I was definitely hungry again and ready for the upcoming three-course meal. Pickles & Olives Bistro was cozy, warm, elegant and romantic. Upon entrance I instantly new it would be the perfect way to end the night. Michelle and I both started with salads to awaken our appetites. She drank wine while I had amazing vanilla tea. After, our

 delightful servant brought me my plate of heart shaped pastas, stuffed with cheese, soaking in alfredo sauce and the best sun-dried tomatoes I have ever tasted. Michelle was equally impressed with her salmon wellington stuffed with crab. 

Dessert was almost as decadent as the cupcakes I received. Michelle had a vanilla mouse crepe and I had a triple chocolate tiger cake. Each of us took our time with the dinner and with each other. We sat in the warm, tiny bistro and enjoyed the food. The night seemed to move in slow motion and it was exactly what I wanted for Valentine's Day.

A Close (yet painful) Shave

So for the first time I tried shaving with a double-edge razor. The double-edge (or safety) razor looks like something you would see used in the 1930s, and it is. 

You may ask why I have decided to move backwards in time for my grooming regime and not forwards. Well, I was as forward as you could get and it wasn't working. I've been shaving with some named-like-an-airplane battery powered 5-blade, precision-blade waste-of-money razor for far to long. It wasn't the "best a man can get".

I had heard a lot of people talking about both the quality and economy of using a double-edge razor. I have seen those stand-alone razor blades sitting in the drug store cabinet and always wondered why they cost so much less but contained so much potential. My wondering would not be abided, as I could never find a razor to hold the blades themselves. 

That's when I turned to the Internet. Ah, the great provider. The all-knowing Internet. Mysterious in origin yet satisfying in existence. I searched for double-edge razors in Canada and found Fendrihan.com. This great re-seller of many a shave product showed me the way. I checked out their line-up, read a few articles about the benefits of double-edge shaving, and away I purchased.

It only took two days for my razor and sample pack of 20 blades to arrive! I was so excited that I went to shave right away. My first experience resulted in what you truly would expect of a double-edge shave virgin - slow, uncoordinated movements, with some blood afterwards. Like a scared child I went to my dad for advice. He told me to hold the blade perpendicular to my face and shave with, not against the hairs. I have learned for next time.

It's Been Awhile but I'm Still Alive

Hello to anyone that is still out there. It's been six months, so I would surmise that many more than before are "out there". Sure, we may have changed places, dispositions, and even states (depending on if you believe in Reincarnation). I myself am still myself but have been up to quite a lot. 

First, I have started writing Everyone's Vision again. I've done this because my passion for blogging has been reignited. I feel that a personal blog evokes a certain honesty that only online journaling can provide.

Second, I am starting to write for both Talent Egg and Informed Vote. I think Talent Egg is a great resource for finding that great career. Informed Vote is great for getting your brain involved in Canadian politics.

Third, I am on the hunt for a career in radio and I need some more online presence. Already I have launched Well Versed - a Poetry Podcast. I am looking for new material. I am looking for jobs and contacts and I wanted to write about it all.

So, instead of starting an entirely new blog I just decided to relaunch an existing one. Welcome back me!