Thanks, moms.

Muchas gracias for your get well wishes and home remedies. I am feeling much, much better. Yesterday about 6pm was the beginning of the turnaround time and it's gotten better every hour since. Excellent ideas, by the way. I pretty much followed Jason's sleep until you are numb theory, thank you. However, next time I get sick, I'm all over Rand's martinis and steak and eggs option.

How come when you're sick you want to sleep on the couch? I know I'm not the only one... what is that? Is it that you don't sleep well, so you try to fall asleep to the TV? Or, maybe it's just on par with how pathetic you feel - you are simply unworthy of your own bed? Or, maybe you just want to be in the middle of the room everyone walks through so you can get more attention? Probably just habit.

I watched a lot of crappy TV during my sojourn on the couch, but did manage to sneak in some winners, which I am happy to share with you, buddies:

The Dark Ages on the history channel. This was a great program. The Dark Ages don't get much play in the media these days.

Children of Men This is just a great film. As usual, Clive Owen rules and the film is almost as beautiful to look at as he is. There really is a lot to be said about it, I'd love to have a longer discussion of it with my sparty-pants friends - anytime. Especially interesting (not spoiling anything): He never once picks up a gun, although bullets fly around him most of the movie. The use of the term "homeland security" is not lost on the viewer. It's set in the not so distant future for a reason, "futuristic" sci fi type aspects are minimal for a reason - - it's more of a comment on current society than not. The hand-held visual effect works beautifully - sucks your right in, especially this amazing part where in some blood spatter sits on the lens for a shocking amount of time. Yikes. It's damn fine film making.

Rome on HBO. I on-demanded a few past episodes to prepare for the season finale. Phew, what a program. This season (#2) just knocked my socks off. The finale had this amazing and hilarious scene where in Marc Antony has yet to say fuck all and run into his own sword, but wants to fight Gaius Octavianin (later to become Caesar Augustus). In a drunken stupor - and in full Egyptian-style eyeliner, scrolling henna tattoos and a gold lame skirt - he parades around all tuff like and makes an effeminate slave boy giggle. He turns around, points his sword at slave boy and says "Do I amuse you?" and the entire Goodfellas funny like a clown scene ensues... ending in a beat down with a sword instead of a gun. Seriously.

The Riches on FX. Although not perfect, The Riches is totally enjoyable. It's a fresh new story, well-acted and certainly carries that trademark FX aplomb. It could be a lot quirkier, especially with Eddie Izzard as the lead, but it's still a fun watch. I think I'll stick with it for a bit.

Okay, I'm off to bed. My bed, in my bed room, not the couch. I'm definitely feeling better.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina.

P.S. Attention HBO aficionados: April 8 - the new seasons of the Sopranos (the last season) and Entourage commence.

Damn it!

I'm sick. I fought it for a couple of days, with just some coughing, congestion and general tiredness, but I woke up about 4am today feeling like total ass. Damn! I know people are always saying I don't have time to get sick... but seriously, my friends, I don't have time to get sick. Damn it.

Anyone have any never-miss home remedies?

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina.

VIP St. Patrick's Day

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY, yo.

I thought it would be really weird and sad, not going out for St. Patrick's Day. But, it wasn't- at all. I got a lot of writing done, saved money and, best, am fully functional and not hungover today. Love it.

I did do something super fun though - and unexpected. Mel came over to my cat-sit pad in Bloomington/Edina (cat update: he's cool. apparently the poor sucker was constipated. a little kitty-laxative & he's a-ok) and we went to have a bite at Crave, new in the Galleria. Just into a glass of wine and the (decent) sushi starter we had ordered, one of Mel's former LCB students came out of the kitchen and very proudly introduced himself as the sous chef. He, Dusty, then proceeded to send plate after plate of complimentary apps and entrees our way. O, and dessert too. We felt very VIP and very, very full.

Speaking of restaurant VIPs, did anyone see Andrew Zimmern on The Tonight Show the other night? I've been watching his travel channel show, which is pretty fun (although, he's no Anthony Bourdain. but, I suppose comparing those two are like comparing apples and puppies), and have been a longtime fan of his MSP mag stuff. Anyway, I'd say he's on the verge of really hitting it big time, which is always fun to see for a local guy. His blog is fun too.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina.

P.S. Woops, forgot to say Happy St. Urho's Day to all of my people.

shutupSHUTUP

I am so weary of this white house. I haven't shared political thoughts for a while because I am just tired of it all... but now I'm sort of fired up again. This U.S. attorney firing thing IS a big deal and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And it is NOT the same thing is what previous administrations have done when they've "cleaned house" upon arrival.

These attorneys are Bushie's own appointees, fired several years into the first, and even second, terms.

These attorneys were not turned over with the administration; they were fired for incompetence and other "real" reasons. These attorneys were targeted for specific behavior (such as refusing to prosecute some democrat for some made up crime or being deemed to light on democrats in general), and there is an email trail to prove it.

This is NOT what Clinton did when he came into office and there was the typical turnover. This is more akin to if the Clinton administration had conducted a covert operation to fire Ken Starr.

Ugh, puke. These guys just make me ill sometimes. They operate like bullies or mobsters and then they lie and spin with such boldness that people actually believe them. Yes, I know the good news is that less and less people do actually believe them anymore. AND, the best news, I know, is that with the newfound democratic subpoena power, this type of bullshit is coming out and people are beginning to be held accountable, a la poor little Scooter.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina.

P.S. Do me a favor, the next time you hear a conservative say Bill Clinton - ever- flick him in the forehead. Keep flicking repeatedly until they either cry or run away.

You have got to be kidding me.

Remember when I was house/cat-sitting around christmas time and the cat wouldn't eat and I was so afraid she (at 17 years old) was going to die on my watch? Sadly, she did die shortly after her owners returned home... but that is not my point. Now, I'm back at that same house, sitting the surviving (17 year old) boy cat and guess what - - the damn cat won't eat. And he seems kind of sick. I think it's me.

Le sigh.

For crying out loud.

What is up, Saint Paul? Where is the love?

Last Wednesday evening, there were two - TWO, I say - shootings in Saint Paul. Now, I know that there are probably more than two shootings in Saint Paul on any given night, however, I'd like to take the East Side out of the equation, because (sorry), it's just sort of expected. These shooting were a lot closer to home, literally, and felt threatening in a way the East Side madness doesn't. It was a weird night of news-viewing, window-peeping, and checking in on people.

Shooting 1 - Ohio and Stevens, West Side Saint Paul, USA. This is just blocks from our house. Ish. It felt a lot scarier on Wednesday night then it turned out because 1) the fuzz originally thought there were multiple crime scenes, one basically out of our living room window... cops, ambulances, CSIs, gawkers all night all around the house, and 2) they also originally said it was gang-violence, which scares me a lot more than the botched drug deal it turned out to be.

Shooting 2 - Costello's on Selby Ave. Fucking Costello's man... ya know where Nick works and where we, um, are all the time. Nobody died in this one, but it is apparently more gangy than druggy. Awesome.

Strib blurb on both, for the curious.

I read this City Pages article a while back on the Gangs of Saint Paul and was actually quite shocked about the proliferation of random, violent, gang-related crimes downtown St. P, on the West Side and around Cathedral Hill. No one really seems to be talking about it much, at least when it was published. I know I didn't discuss the article with anyone. I remember I just read it, shut the paper and thought 'huh, that sucks' and 'what a stupid title.' I'd guess it's getting more attention now, at least at Costello's.

Anyway, speaking of drugs and gangs, I am up for checking out this new Miami club, dubbed "Miami Vice meets Scarface." I think this is hilarious and could actually be really fun and quite the hit.

Seriously, a Scarface room? Come on, that is awesome. I hope they offer free-standing piles of cocaine you can just stick your face into.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina.

P.S. If you haven't seen it yet, go check out what I (and Mel) feel is actually the best movie of 2006 and should have brought home every award it wasn't up for: Little Children.

It is an amazing film- - intelligent, chilling, complicated without feeling heavy handed, thought (and conversation)-provoking, darkly funny, really, really well acted (beautiful, bold Kate Winslet - you never cease to amaze me) and so well written it just made me shake my head - many times. By the way, the original book was written by Tom Perotta, who wrote Election- so, you know it's smart. The adaptation was co-written by Perotta and Todd Field, the director. How it didn't win adapted screenplay is beyond me.

There's this really cool thing that happens with the voice over where it first hits you over the head with pointed narration, basically telling you how you are supposed to feel about a character or a scene... and then it drops out at one point along the way, which you don't even notice, allowing for the viewer's own judgement and connection, only to pop back up again at the end. It's jarring and, I believe, utterly brilliant.

3 2 1 ... Happy New Year!

Hey - remember New Year's Eve? Is it me, or does this feel like forever ago? How time flies... anyway, here are some NYE photos I've meant to share for a while now. Enjoy.