Monday, Feb. 27, 2012

Well, the Oscars weren’t much to waste 3 hours on, but I did it anyway.  Sigh.  Billy Crystal wasn’t all that funny; I found some of the comments he made kind of rude, actually.  The gowns most of the women wore were gorgeous, but what was that thing with Angelina Jolie and her skinny leg?  Bizarre.

Unfortunately, the only movies I saw out of this year’s crop were The Help and Hugo.  Hugo was terrible; The Help fantastic.  I was pulling for The Help to win, but The Artist looks like a fabulous film, so I’m going to have to reserve my opinion until I see it.  I was happy for Meryl Streep (isn’t she absolutely gorgeous?) and thrilled for Christopher Plummer — the way he bounded up those stairs you wouldn’t think for a moment that he’s 82.

But, it’s all behind us for another year.  Just one question though, why was there only two songs nominated?  Does no one care about the music that accompanies movies anymore?

We had our blizzard.  Our burrowed into the house with my books and waited it out.  It was lovely.  Tim was away and I had the house entirely to myself.  Quiet.  Long stretches of it.  Bliss.

And then, I had to face the hip-deep drifts of snow that had blown into my driveway.  My doorway and steps and walkway were obliterated by snow.  I headed outside around 11:30 yesterday anticipating a couple of hours of back-breaking lifting and heaving.  I got the steps, landing and walk done, and then the driveway around my car.  As I was getting ready to tackle the deepest stuff, though, my neighbour from across the way came over with his snowblower and did it for me!  I can’t tell you how grateful, how relieved I was that he did that for me.  I finished up in just over an hour.  So very, very grateful.

Now, we’ve got just over a month to go before Spring is here once again.  I love that the mornings are getting lighter and lighter each day.  I can feel myself waking up again.   The world is a wonderful place.

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Sunday afternoon

It’s Stupid-bowl Sunday,  oops, I mean Super-bowl Sunday.  Tim’s all geared up with beer and chips.  He’s a happy little fella.

Me?  I’m going to bake.  Granola bars and bread.  Get some stuff done for work tomorrow. Kick back, relax, read some more of Black House (which is a MAJOR disappointment, I must say), maybe contemplate beginning a crochet project.  We’ll see.

Spent the weekend at a CUPE bargaining conference.  The best I’ve ever attended.  KUDOs to our new AB Div President and the team she assembled to make this weekend such a success.

I’m not a political animal or much of a networker (probably why I’m not very successful in the things I want to be successful at — but that’s off topic) but I think I did pretty good this weekend.  I got up, for the first time ever, and spoke at the open mike.  This is just a little daunting, and in my past experience at these things, the mike is usually commandeered by a select few with a special agenda to sell.  This time, however, that wasn’t flying.  Made for a nice change.

I also spoke up and out when I had the chance.  So many of the people who attend these CUPE events are such radicals.  They see things in only one colour — black or white — neither of which is a colour, but, there you go.  I tend to see things in all shades and consider myself more of a conservative (not CONSERVATIVE) for those of you who will  jump at the chance to flog me for that choice of word.  I don’t take an extremist position or point of view, I try to see things in terms of what will work for the best for everyone.

Apparently, this makes me a weak unionist.  So be it.  I’d rather be a weak unionist who manages to get what’s best for the membership I represent, than an extremist who constantly puts their jobs in jeopardy.

Well!  I got that off my chest.

And all because I had the guts to say what I felt this weekend.  And lets face it — the signs all over the walls said to listen, respect, and contribute.  I was only doing what was expected.

On another topic entirely:  watched the movie The Help last night.  It’s a wonderful film.  If you get the chance you should see it.  I wanted to read the book first, but just knew I wouldn’t have time before the Oscars at the end of the month and I do want to see all the contenders before the awards ceremony.

It’s a wonderful story of women, both black and white, in the 50’s, and the racial and societal constraints each had to deal with.  It’s not over-wrought, there’s (thankfully) not a lot of violence, though it is alluded to.  It is a very intelligent movie with lots of humour and insight.  I don’t think I’ll ever look at a chocolate pie in quite the same way again.

Watching it I couldn’t help but admire the lovely dresses these women wore.  I often wish I had lived during that time simply so I could wear such gorgeous dresses.  Of course, I wouldn’t have wanted to live in such repressive conditions, but, oh, those dresses!

In my job wearing a dress to work would be simply stupid.  And because I’ve become so accustomed to wearing slacks, jeans and cords, when I do put a dress on I feel awkward.  Isn’t that silly?  I somehow feel like I’m “showing off” or not being my ‘real’ self.  How is that we come to place such restrictions on ourselves?  I’m thinking that maybe, just maybe, I’ll go shopping one of these days and pick myself up a couple of nice everyday dresses that I can wear around the house.  Dresses suited for doing housework, but that look feminine and pretty.

What do you think?  Am I being unrealistic?  Longing for something I never had?  An experience that I don’t even understand?  Or simply getting addled?  Help me out here with your comments!

They’ll be greatly appreciated.

Just some pics I downloaded from Google Images to illustrate the kind of dresses I’m talking about.