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My daughter and I live in the same house, but we don't see each much beyond flying past each other to and from work, or she on her way out for a night with friends when I am headed for my pillow and comforter. She is 20 now after all, and very busy with lots of friends home from college. She lives at home and goes to TCU, the only one of her friends (except Casey that is) who didn't go away for college.
Every once in awhile, she remembers I am a cool mom, and insists we go do something together. Almost always, sigh, another kid or two or four ends up tagging along. "Brandon and Courtney are coming!" Concerts in the Park that happened...what started out as me, Tiffany and my son ended up, let's see...Brandon and Courtney and us three, Courtney's dad and his girlfriend, and Jamie, another friend of Tiff's. Sure it was fun, but I am a mom, you know? I ended up just pretty much chilling and listening to the music, wishing N was on the blanket with me but excited I would see him in another week (this was right before my trip and I was an edgey mess).
So when Tiff asked me to go see this movie with her, I figured it would be the same. But I didn't want it to be, because of the movie's subject matter.
At first glance, this looks like it would be a really silly movie. But, I grew up in the 60's and 70's, when Julia Child first found and soared upward her in popularity. She was a real, real hoot! My mom was a huge fan, we watched every episode of The French Chef, and of course, my mom had her cookbook.
My mom was a fantastic cook. She was also a gifted seamstress (professional, though not licensed--dad turned his head re: the money she was paid. Ze IRS never knew just how much she brought in--I had an idea, because I was a very spoiled rotten youngest kid who got to go skiing alot, on trips, doing all sorts of things though, alas, not with my mom because she didn't go anywhere, ever). I didn't inherit a bit of her talent, though I am proud to say that I inherited a great deal of her personality.
My mom, I realize now, was a heck of alot like Julia Child. Whacky, funny, creative as hell, she was a real nut and passionate about what she did (in mom's case, sewing--and lol btw, I can actually fit quite nicely (now) into my wedding dress she made. Damn that thing is heavy!). Fond memories flooded back as I watched this. My daughter, who was lucky enough to have known her grandmother before stroke-induced dementia robbed us of her, loved it too.
I read some reviews that panned this movie. Ignore them, and go see it. Especially those of you who are lucky enough to remember Julia Child, the kind of hilarious person she was, maybe have memories of your own mom or dad cooking while Child's cookbook was propped up next to the stove. I had to laugh when Beef Burgundy was so much a part of this movie--we ate that fairly often if I recall right. I guess it took FOREVER for mom to make it but she didn't care, she loved cooking so much. It is incredibly delicious, and I'm going to try my hand at making it this weekend for me and Tiff and yes, she can invited Brandon and Courtney too. LOL.
There are actually two stories woven into this movie and I thought it cleverly done. I enjoyed both timelines alot, but LOVED the Child timeline.
Meryl Streep does a fantastic job in the role of Julia Child...her mannerisms, her speech, her expressions, all very distinct, all wonderfully portrayed. So much of the fun of this movie is knowing the way Julia Child was in real life...and that, I think, is what the critics who said 'boring' didn't get. Couldn't get. Screw 'em, I say, and the rest of us who can appreciate the woman she was, will do so quite happily.
Unfortunately, as all oldest daughters seem to manage to do, my sister got my mom's copy of this cookbook. She got all the cool stuff somehow, it seems...well actually, everything. I've nothing left but my wedding dress she made (and what would I do with that?) and hellaciously wonderful memories of long conversations about everything under the sun.
I think I need to add Mastering the Art of French Cooking to my book wish list.
* * *
In other news? Nick just went to bed a few minutes ago. Yikes! All-nighter! (Of course, we both know he stayed up until I got home and we could talk before he went to sleep, right?)
And work on my mystery continues. Fourth start seems to be the charm...a different POV, female not male, and for some reason she's a firefighter by profession...wth? Grin. Someday I will write more about my writing process, as I think it is slightly whacked. But when I trust it, it works.
Back to work at the railroad tomorrow. I want to get done ASAP because I HATE BEING WITHOUT INTERNET! They are SO restricted over there, you practically have to offer your firstborn as collateral to be allowed to have internet access. It is making my work harder not having my online mapping stuff, but I am determined to get out of there as fast as I can and back to my cube.
Still, it is nice being back to see the group I've worked amongst off and on for many years now. I also had great fun seeing them all for the first time this year...and knocking their socks off with my weight loss. LOL. Since coming home from Wales, I've dropped 6 more lbs. No complaints here but I wonder when I will stop losing. No complaints here!
To bed now! 11:11 and time to rip out my contacts and hop into bed and dream of delicious beef burgandy. Mmmmm...that movie made me hungry!
Every once in awhile, she remembers I am a cool mom, and insists we go do something together. Almost always, sigh, another kid or two or four ends up tagging along. "Brandon and Courtney are coming!" Concerts in the Park that happened...what started out as me, Tiffany and my son ended up, let's see...Brandon and Courtney and us three, Courtney's dad and his girlfriend, and Jamie, another friend of Tiff's. Sure it was fun, but I am a mom, you know? I ended up just pretty much chilling and listening to the music, wishing N was on the blanket with me but excited I would see him in another week (this was right before my trip and I was an edgey mess).
So when Tiff asked me to go see this movie with her, I figured it would be the same. But I didn't want it to be, because of the movie's subject matter.
At first glance, this looks like it would be a really silly movie. But, I grew up in the 60's and 70's, when Julia Child first found and soared upward her in popularity. She was a real, real hoot! My mom was a huge fan, we watched every episode of The French Chef, and of course, my mom had her cookbook.
My mom was a fantastic cook. She was also a gifted seamstress (professional, though not licensed--dad turned his head re: the money she was paid. Ze IRS never knew just how much she brought in--I had an idea, because I was a very spoiled rotten youngest kid who got to go skiing alot, on trips, doing all sorts of things though, alas, not with my mom because she didn't go anywhere, ever). I didn't inherit a bit of her talent, though I am proud to say that I inherited a great deal of her personality.
My mom, I realize now, was a heck of alot like Julia Child. Whacky, funny, creative as hell, she was a real nut and passionate about what she did (in mom's case, sewing--and lol btw, I can actually fit quite nicely (now) into my wedding dress she made. Damn that thing is heavy!). Fond memories flooded back as I watched this. My daughter, who was lucky enough to have known her grandmother before stroke-induced dementia robbed us of her, loved it too.
I read some reviews that panned this movie. Ignore them, and go see it. Especially those of you who are lucky enough to remember Julia Child, the kind of hilarious person she was, maybe have memories of your own mom or dad cooking while Child's cookbook was propped up next to the stove. I had to laugh when Beef Burgundy was so much a part of this movie--we ate that fairly often if I recall right. I guess it took FOREVER for mom to make it but she didn't care, she loved cooking so much. It is incredibly delicious, and I'm going to try my hand at making it this weekend for me and Tiff and yes, she can invited Brandon and Courtney too. LOL.
There are actually two stories woven into this movie and I thought it cleverly done. I enjoyed both timelines alot, but LOVED the Child timeline.
Meryl Streep does a fantastic job in the role of Julia Child...her mannerisms, her speech, her expressions, all very distinct, all wonderfully portrayed. So much of the fun of this movie is knowing the way Julia Child was in real life...and that, I think, is what the critics who said 'boring' didn't get. Couldn't get. Screw 'em, I say, and the rest of us who can appreciate the woman she was, will do so quite happily.
Unfortunately, as all oldest daughters seem to manage to do, my sister got my mom's copy of this cookbook. She got all the cool stuff somehow, it seems...well actually, everything. I've nothing left but my wedding dress she made (and what would I do with that?) and hellaciously wonderful memories of long conversations about everything under the sun.
I think I need to add Mastering the Art of French Cooking to my book wish list.
In other news? Nick just went to bed a few minutes ago. Yikes! All-nighter! (Of course, we both know he stayed up until I got home and we could talk before he went to sleep, right?)
And work on my mystery continues. Fourth start seems to be the charm...a different POV, female not male, and for some reason she's a firefighter by profession...wth? Grin. Someday I will write more about my writing process, as I think it is slightly whacked. But when I trust it, it works.
Back to work at the railroad tomorrow. I want to get done ASAP because I HATE BEING WITHOUT INTERNET! They are SO restricted over there, you practically have to offer your firstborn as collateral to be allowed to have internet access. It is making my work harder not having my online mapping stuff, but I am determined to get out of there as fast as I can and back to my cube.
Still, it is nice being back to see the group I've worked amongst off and on for many years now. I also had great fun seeing them all for the first time this year...and knocking their socks off with my weight loss. LOL. Since coming home from Wales, I've dropped 6 more lbs. No complaints here but I wonder when I will stop losing. No complaints here!
To bed now! 11:11 and time to rip out my contacts and hop into bed and dream of delicious beef burgandy. Mmmmm...that movie made me hungry!
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Date: 2009-08-12 12:22 pm (UTC)