Peeps for Fall and the movie "The Gift"

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

I cannot believe it is August already!  This summer has just flown by!  I am gearing up for my next great adventure, trying to savor every last moment of summer.

Last night, I went to an advanced screening of the movie "The Gift."  The invitees were "press and tastemakers."  So I guess I am a tastemaker?!  I am going to start handing out business cards that say "Lily On The Lam, Tastemaker."  (That will make me even weirder than I already am!)  Well I loved, loved, loved the movie.  Joel Edgerton plays "Gordon" a former high school classmate of Jason Bateman's character.  But evidently Gordon was known as "Gordo the Weirdo" and instantly latches on to Jason Bateman's character and his wife.  Then mayhem ensues ...

I was impressed that star Joel Edgerton wrote, directed and produced the movie.  He's more than just a pretty face (although in "The Gift" he is more creepy than pretty.)  My friend and I screamed twice during the movie.  Psychological, suspense thrillers freak me out - but I kind of love it too.    There were some nice twists and turns in the movie.  I definitely did not guess the surprises ahead of time.  

At the end of the movie, each guest was presented with "a gift."  The movie was so psychologically jarring that I turned to my friend and said "Is it weird that I am scared to open this?"

But some tiny part of me is brave and I opened the box, bracing for a tiny severed head or a monkey (see the movie and you'll know why I thought it might be a monkey).  But turns out it was four pieces of chocolate - which was the perfect dessert after jumping in your seat screaming during a movie!

So thank you, fine folks at AMC for the free screening.  My friend and I very much appreciated it.  

In keeping with the "what sugar can I put in my belly" theme, I was very excited to read The Huffington Post's review on the autumnal Marshmallow Peeps flavors.  The Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Spice sound intriguing.  The Candy Corn ones do not.  I will paraphrase my friend Miss Ohio: "Why do food companies keep trying to make one food taste like another food?  Maybe they should just make food that tastes like it is supposed to ..."  (Examples:  root beer float-tasting chocolate chip cookies and candy corn flavored Oreos.)  True, true but I still want to get my hands on some of those fall flavored Peeps!  Have you tried any of them?  Share your feedback on Peeps or the movie "The Gift" below!  

And as always, thank you for reading!

One More Reason To Feel Like An Under-Achiever

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

I am back in the United States after my business trip/vacation to Campinas, Hortolandia and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.  I ate so much meat and deep fried foods that I decided upon touching ground in the United States that a strict diet would go into effect.  And then I ate a box of Trader Joe's "Gone Bananas" frozen dark chocolate covered bananas (see my review here).  So much for that strict diet.

While waiting in the Viracopos airport (the new International terminal still under construction), I watched the documentary "Paladar" about two University of Southern California students who opened an illegal, underground restaurant in their apartment. 

The documentary was good, but it made me miss my wayward youth AND it made me feel like a complete underachiever.  My senior year of college, I worked as a House Fellow (a.k.a. Resident Assistant) in the dorms while working as a receptionist in a real estate office on the weekends (usually hungover) and going to class full-time.  My worldview was too small to even imagine doing something as revolutionary as running an illegal restaurant out of my home.  I was lucky if I could manage to cook a packet of Lipton Noodles and Sauce in my hot pot!

If you're looking for an interesting documentary or a reason to make yourself feel like an uninspired, under-achiever - check out the movie "Paladar."  I rented it on iTunes.  It's an interesting flick.        

The Confession: My Name Is Lily and I Like Fancy Sloppy Joes

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Happy Monday!  To start this week off right, I am declaring today "New Product Wednesday on a Monday."  It's like Christmas in August, people!

I am back from a week in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina where I worked my arse off round the clock for my job and any free time I had was filled with sleep, Southern food and cocktails.  The one week felt like sixteen weeks and I am very glad to be home in Florida.

A few weeks back, Ms. Wrigleyville and I had been shopping at one of my favorite stores in the world: Cost Plus World Market.  We do not have one in Tampa Bay, so I must make a pilgrimage any time I want to go for some low cost "world goods."  On this particular trip, I slipped something into the shopping cart trying to be "discreet."  I might as well have had a Polish tuba band behind me with banners saying "What is Lily doing?" as I tried to be "discreet."  Ms. Wrigleyville caught my not-so-sly, not-so-ninjaesque movements and said "What are you putting in your cart?"  BUSTED!

I threw up my hands and said "OK now listen, DON'T JUDGE ME!"  Which I think is pretty much the international way of saying "I am pathetic, judge away!"

In my cart, I had put a spice/sauce packet for ...

Red Fork Brand "Best Sloppy Joe Skillet Sauce with roasted tomato and garlic."  My name is Lily and I like fancy Sloppy Joes. 

In my defense, I have to say that naming something "Best Sloppy Joe" is really a teaser that no mortal even with superhuman strength could turn down.  I mean, who wouldn't want to see if this truly was the BEST Sloppy Joe ever?  

And my point is proven, because Ms. Wrigleyville didn't judge me.  Instead she asked me which aisle I procured this packet of nirvana and she promptly ran over and grabbed one for herself.  Proving once again why we are friends.

Now let me tell you how I am with sauce packets and spice mixes.  Whether at home or abroad, I love to buy seasonings.  I then put them in my cupboard, forget all about them and then five to ten years from now throw them out in a "ohh I forgot about these" sad moment.

But when something says "BEST Sloppy Joe," you can't just leave it lingering in the back of the pantry!

Side Note:  The unfortunate placement of the "H" key next to the "J" key on the laptop keyboard combined with my devastatingly unfortunate FAT FINGERS means that I keep initially typing "Sloppy Hoe" instead of "Sloppy Joe" which makes me laugh hysterically (I have the maturity of an 8 year old boy) and then I correct the typo and move on.

After a long business trip, I cleared my weekend schedule to do some serious recuperating.  I did make time to see Jamie Kennedy at Sidesplitters Comedy Club with friends and to volunteer at a local theater.  I had been wishing I had cancelled my volunteering because I was so tired and would rather just sit on my butt watching a mini-marathon of season one of Bravo TV's "Below Deck" television show.  

But once I was at the theater, I felt reinvigorated.  There were some local celebs at the show as well as some colorful characters and I enjoyed talking with them all.  Reinvigorating!  I know it is difficult to find time in one's schedule for all the things we need to do, but it was a good reminder to me that volunteering really does fuel my soul.  It is something I need to spend more time doing because not only do I pay forward the opportunities I have been given but it also nurtures me as well.

When I headed home, tired but happy; I remembered that package of Sloppy Joe mix and stopped at the store for ground Chuck, a large yellow onion, a large green bell pepper, a can of fire roasted tomatoes and a pack of Publix French Hamburger buns.  I'm not really sure what makes a hamburger bun "French" other than it has a funky carved, egg-washed top that sorta looks like a slashed baguette.  But I do know that they taste good and tend to hold up better than your typical hamburger bun.

The sauce mix was fragrant.  The ground beef-vegetable mixture smelled heavenly.  

I settled in to eat my "Fancy Sloppy Joe" while watching the new "To Be Takei" George Takei documentary on iTunes, which I highly recommend.  Apparently right now the movie is only in 1 theater in the country -- in Manhattan, so I appreciated being able to watch it on iTunes.  Thank you, Apple!

The Fancy Sloppy Joe was good.  A little on the sweet side.  I added cayenne pepper and alder wood smoked sea salt to balance out the sugary taste.  While I enjoyed the sauce mix, I probably could have replicated the same flavor with less sugar by using some tomato paste and garlic.  But for ease of use, the sauce packet was great.

So Fancy Sloppy Joe:  B+.  The George Takei documentary: A+++++++++++.

Happy Monday!   

Thank You, iTunes!

Happy Saturday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

I hope that your weekend is in full swing ... and by that I mean, rocking and a-rolling -- not that you're a swinger.  

I really don't need THAT image in my head.  

Seriously, I don't.  

I already hear my elderly neighbors having sex on odd occasion (really odd occasion!);  which is emotionally scarring enough.  

I mean part of me is really glad that they're still a-movin' and a-groovin' - I just don't need to aurally be part of the whole melange.  Ya know what I mean?

There are many things I appreciate about living in Florida.  (Beaches, warm weather in the winter, beautiful water, great cuisine, diverse peoples, vibrant food truck scenes, waterfowl, marine life, Bayshore Boulevard ...)  

There are also many things I dislike about living in Florida.  (Hurricanes, lightening storms, endless torrential summer rains, rednecks, mosquitos on the banks of the intercoastal, strip clubs and "happy endings massage parlors" everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE ...)

But obviously the good traits outweigh the bad traits since I have been here for what seems like a billion and four years.  However, one item that Tampa Bay lacks still causes me deep heartache ... 

The lack of independent movies.  

For added pain, my old home of Minneapolis has started to become an indie movie release city.  When the Roger Ebert documentary "Life Itself" premiered, it opened in only two cities in the country.  

New York City and Minneapolis.

I shook my fist at the sky at the unfairness of it all.  Had I known I was moving to a cultural wasteland where we only have one indie movie house that plays only one film once a night, I would have watched a lot more indie films when I lived in Minneapolis like I did when I lived in Los Angeles.

Now sometimes we get an indie film here in Tampa - the more popular, mainstream ones.  Unfortunately it will be maybe 4-16 weeks after the rest of the country has seen it.  Even then, the movie is usually only in the theater for 1-4 days.  Poof!  Gone in a blink of an eye!  

I wish Jacksonville's fabulous Sun-Ray Cinema were a lot closer to Tampa Bay!  Maybe it's time to move to the other coast!

I was particularly hurt not knowing if the Roger Ebert documentary would come to Tampa.  I really, really, really, really want to see it.  Nevermind, the fact that Roger Ebert's autobiography of the same title has been sitting on my bookshelf unread forever.  Nevermind, that I had a goal to disconnect my cable TV for the summer and read 12 books in 3 months.  (I've read only two so far and it's practically mid-July ... whoops!)  

But then I read in the magazine "Entertainment Weekly" that "Life Itself" is on iTunes.  How did I miss that??  I did a supreme happy dance!  

Sadly, I figured this key bit of information out at 1:45 a.m. Thursday morning.  My endless parade of staying up way too late and waking up for conference calls with Europe much too early continues.  Sigh ...  

I seem quite intent on making myself into "The Walking Dead."  Zombification 101.  I went to sleep content with the knowledge that this weekend for $6.99 I could rent "Life Itself" on my Apple TV.  I could see Roger Ebert's last journey in the privacy of my own home, which is probably for the best as I suspect I may shed a few tears.  Maybe more than a few.  

It's time to put aside my laptop and cable TV and read that autobiography that has been patiently waiting for me all this time ...  but maybe after I watch the documentary on iTunes.  My cultural wasteland just sprouted a small oasis ... and I am going to enjoy every moment of it.

Happy Saturday to you all - thanks for reading! 

An Open Letter to Cardamom Monroe ... A Winter Park, Florida Love Story, Part One

HAPPY FRIDAY LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

There is nothing so delightful than the appearance of the weekend.  I have a half-day today at work which is basically the adult equivalent of an elementary school snow day.  AND I AM JUST AS EXCITED!  It's important to embrace the simple things and little pleasures in this life.  My evening plans are TOP SECRET - as in it's something that could be construed as embarrassing and dorky.  

Which by the way might as well be on my business cards "LilyOnTheLam - Embarrassing and Dorky since 1437."  (I'm OLD, people - get used to it!  Get over it!  Get under it!  Fetch me some Botox and a Witch Doctor!)

But enough about my dorkiness, this post has a greater purpose.  This post is an open letter to one singular sensation, the amazing mysticalness known as Mr. Cardamom Monroe.  Not your ordinary spice or herb ... 

What is cardamom anyway?  I put it in baked goods and my 2nd place winning bourbon coconut curry braised organic grass fed beef short ribs (more about that another time!)  

OK according to Wikipedia, cardamom is the third most expensive spice by weight.  Mr. Cardamom Monroe would now interject that I should not mention his weight on my blog ... and "Third most expensive?  Try THE most expensive!"  Mr. Cardamom Monroe has an attitude!

I don't know if anyone informed the people of Orlando, Florida but Mr. Cardamom Monroe is planning an onslaught of the city.  As in, he's moving there.  I have a lot of stalkers ... because ... well, because I am me.  I don't appreciate any of their stalker-ocity, but I am flattered that Mr. Cardamom Monroe felt the need to relocate across the country to be in the same state I am in.  But he's playing somewhat hard to get - moving to Orlando versus setting up camp outside my front door.  He thinks he's being sly, but I see right through him.

Mr. Cardamom Monroe is checking out the real estate scene.  Evidently he plans on stalking me for the long haul if he's looking to actually purchase a home.  Anything that helps fund the Florida economy is good with me!

There are several places I like to visit when I am in Orlando, so I gave a horror movie gasp when Mr. Cardamom Monroe told me that he heard Winter Park was "old and staid."  He might as well have stabbed me in the HEART.  Bolt the windows and doors because I am about to have a melt down!  

I love, love, love Winter Park!  There should be a booth with my name on it at The Ravenous Pig American Gastropub for the number of times that THIS piggy was ravenously eating there!  

Seriously if you're near Winter Park and want an insanely good meal, get your piggy feet down to The Ravenous Pig.  You and your stomach will NOT regret it.

As an apology to my beloved city of Winter Park, Florida for Mr. Cardamom Monroe's scandalous commentary; Ms. Wrigleyville and I decided to spend part of July 4th weekend on a mini road trip to eat, drink and shop our way from Winter Park to Winter Garden, Florida.  Had we also stopped in Winter Haven, we would have had a Winter Trifecta!

OK to be fair, we actually already had our road trip planned but I like to be dramatic.

(Side Note:  Ms. Wrigleyville and I love, love, love The Tasting Room at The Chef's Table at the Edgewater Hotel in downtown historic Winter Garden.  This restaurant is TO DIE FOR - and I will blog about it some time down the road.  You must, must go.  Take my word for it.  I'm serious, people!)

I consider myself to be an informed foodie ... and I act like a "Know It All," a little too often for some people's tastes.  (Suck it, Haters!)  So not to sound too condescending, BUT I get a lot of joy when friends introduce me to a new favorite place because usually I am the one giving the recommendations.  

It's nice to actually be the enjoyer versus the planner all the time.  Not that I don't enjoy the experience if I plan it and not that I don't love planning it; but sadly I have found there are a lot of selfish users and takers in this world so when I find a good person I am extra extra grateful.  

As I was saying to Ms. Wisconsin the other day, I don't expect 50-50 all the time in my friendships but it can't be 100% Me and 0% the other person -- and sadly I was remarking to Ms. Wisconsin that several people in my life have no clue why I don't want to continue giving 100% while they give 0%.  (Catch the clue bus, clue train or clue airplane, people!)  

I decided some time ago to give low effort people the exact same amount of effort that they are giving me.  ZERO.  I am only putting energy into relationships with people who are also putting energy into it.  Life is too short to be a giver amongst a sea of takers.       

Ms. Wrigleyville, with her foodie encyclopedic knowledge, recommended we do breakfast at The Briarpatch in the Historic District of Winter Park.  Since I drove us from Tampa Bay to Winter Park, Ms. Wrigleyville offered to buy me breakfast.  I am pretty sure she was regretting that decision when I played "Sally" from "When Harry Met Sally" when I placed my high maintenance breakfast order.

But here's the thing ... I ordered a partially off the menu item (sorta) - a combination even the Chef himself didn't know could be great (to paraphrase the Billy Crystal line from the movie)-- and IT WAS AMAZING!  I was tickled with happiness!  Perfection on a plate, people!  

I need to buy Ms. Wrigleyville something because I am sure my high maintenance order cost a pretty penny!  (By the way, what tastes better than an amazing breakfast?  A FREE amazing breakfast!  Thank you, Ms. Wrigleyville!)

The Briarpatch restaurant is beyond awesome.  Which is what I think of Winter Park, in general.  (Are you listening, Mr. Cardamom Monroe?)  They have a glass case with multi-layer cakes bigger than elementary school children.  Check out this photographic evidence ...

Is the cake less caloric if it's dyed patriotic colors for July 4th?

The Briarpatch is very popular, so Ms. Wrigleyville and I got in line and stared at the dessert case.  I was trying to figure out how I could fit this entire case into the backseat of my convertible.  However I am not a logistical genius, so my "figurin' out" was basically me just standing there slack-jawed, whispering "caaaaaaaaake" in hushed, awed tones between drool drips.

The restaurant is lovely.  I read some online customer reviews saying that the service is bad.  I have to disagree.  Our server and the servers for all the tables around us were giving great customer service.  Maybe I'm just the type of person who gets good service wherever she goes (NOT!),  but my experience with The Briarpatch was excellent.  Our server even offered to send us out with to-go cups of iced tea!  So sorry online reviewers, I have to disagree with you - our server was top notch!

Ms. Wrigleyville and I noticed that one of the specials of the day was a nectarine waffle.  I have never had a nectarine waffle.  Both Ms. Wrigleyville and I were intrigued.  Everything on the menu sounded delectable.  

By the time we were seated, I was so hungry I could have eaten off of other people's plates.  I had not eaten all morning, then add a road trip on top of it ... I needed some sustenance STAT!

Ms. Wrigleyville ordered an omelet ... look at this delicious thing.  If I remember correctly, this is the white cheddar, bacon and mushroom omelet with breakfast potatoes and whole wheat toast.  

My order required our server to use two pieces of paper to write down all the instructions!  OK maybe not, but it sure felt like it.  The Briarpatch has a variety of eggs Benedict on their menu.  Yet the one that caught my eye was a corned beef hash eggs Benedict.  HELLO!  

I had a corned beef sandwich as big as a smart car the last time I was in Murray Hill, NYC (Sarge's Deli - one of my favorites).  I also had the most amazing corned beef reuben while watching the World Cup at local Irish Pub MacDinton's in South Tampa.  I don't even like reuben sandwiches and yet this one was so good I could scream like a soccer (ahem football) hooligan!  MacDinton's Pub is also a place where I have been known to give a fake name to overly friendly gentlemen and talk with a ridiculously exaggerated accent that I refer to as "Swiss-British."    

My step-father has informed me that while there is Swiss-German, there is no such dialect as Swiss-British.  This does not deter me one teeny bit.  Regardless of the veracity of my pub persona, the MacDinton's bouncers think I am hysterical (or crazy) because they know I am really Minnesotan.  Or Swiss-Minnesotan, as it were.  Or Minne-Swiss.  Or Swiss Miss.  Or Swiss Crazy.  Swiss Swiss.

Is it possible to have a corned beef deficiency in addition to an assumed nationality?  I have been pro, pro, pro corned beef lately and yet here I was in Winter Park, Florida contemplating MORE corned beef.  When is enough, enough?  Will there be public service announcements discussing how to properly conduct a corned beef intervention?  If there will be, I hope none of my friends and family watch!

The corned beef hash eggs Benedict at The Briarpatch restaurant is served on an English muffin with a side of regular grits.  That might be fine for the Harry's of the world (back to "When Harry Met Sally" references here), but when it comes to ordering breakfast I am Meg Ryan's Sally, all the way.  

That's the ONLY way I resemble Meg Ryan ... OK no I take that back, the personality of her character in the movie "Addicted To Love" is 100% me from age 17 to ... how old am I, now?  From age 17 to age 934.)  

If you've never seen this guilty pleasure "somewhat chick flick" called "Addicted to Love," you MUST MUST MUST see it.  NOW!  GO!  

It is a somewhat black comedy/somewhat romantic comedy.  It stars Meg Ryan, Matthew Broderick, Kelly Preston and Tcheky Karyo.  It is directed by the underrated Griffin Dunne.  It's $3.99 to rent on iTunes and $6.99 to purchase.  The movie is ridiculous and snarky.  It's lovely and it's sad and yet it's hopeful too ... and there's a Milky Way Man, a kissing monkey and a frothily light French tunes soundtrack.  So really, do I need to say more?

OK two more points about "Addicted to Love" because really I just can't stop!  The movie has a speech about what is love with an example of Meg Ryan's character's father that you will never forget.  It also has a line "How much to put lipstick on the monkey?"  Which really is a question I think most of us have been asking ourselves for most of our lives.  Or is that just me? 

Back to breakfast at The Briarpatch ...

There was a goat cheese rosemary biscuit on the specials menu at The Briarpatch that caught my eye.  Here's the thing ... I like goat cheese.  I like rosemary.  And as "The First Lady of Lynchburg" can attest when I blew out her ear drums shrieking when I saw a restaurant in Virginia called Biscuitville, I LIKE BISCUITS.  

There is definitely a trapped Southerner somewhere within my Minnesotan body.  And she's probably trapped under a pile of biscuits and pimento cheese that I have eaten.  Oh well, at least she's not starving!

I asked our very friendly server if instead of the English Muffin, could I order a goat cheese rosemary biscuit and have the Chef use that instead?  

I could tell from the server's face that I was the only Sally/Meg Ryan who had ever requested such a combination.  She looked distressed and uncertain.  I gave her a pep talk - we're in this together!  You can do it!  Now go get 'em!  

And then before she could run off, I also quickly asked if I could get cheese grits instead of regular grits.  That also cost extra (sorry Ms. Wrigleyville!), like 72 cents extra I think ... or maybe it was $1.72 or $2.72 or $272 ... I am a big spender when someone else is paying!  I am surprised I didn't ask for a 10 pound lobster as a garnish!  

My high-falootin' ways and server pep talk worked because our wonderful server was able to convince the Chef to make my "Sally High Maintenance Order" ...

The Corned Beef Hash Eggs Benedict - high maintenance order served on a
goat cheese rosemary biscuit with a side of heart-stopping cheese grits.

This was probably the best corned beef hash I have ever eaten.  It was made with big chunks of real corned beef, seasoned to a heavenly taste.  It melted in my mouth with just a hint of brine.  This was no dog food looking hash that I normally see in diners across the country.  This was gourmet and fantastic.  The potatoes were crispy, not greasy.  Everything was perfectly seasoned and in harmony.  

My high-maintenance order of placing all this wonderfulness on the goat cheese-rosemary biscuit was worth the fuss.  I don't know how a biscuit can be creamy and flaky at the same time ... but it was.  It was like buttery custard in a firm, flaky, moist biscuit.  The rosemary was strong and fresh, but not overpowering.  There was a slight hint of tangy goat cheese but again not overpowering.  A very well-balanced flavored biscuit.  

The poached eggs were perfectly cooked.  The Hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy without being overly heavy.  And the cheese grits ... smooth as silk with a rich, cheesy body.  It was like eating a cheesy creamy bowl of teenage dreams.  (Insert Katy Perry-esque knock-off song here.)

This was easily one of the best breakfasts I have had all year ... probably in several years even!  Thank you, Briarpatch!  Thank you, Winter Park!  (Are you listening, Mr. Cardamom Monroe?)

Then my breakfast went off the rails.  

You see Ms. Wrigleyville pulled out a machete ... and a gun ... and a slingshot ... and screamed "You are splitting the nectarine waffle with me, so we can try it!"  I am pretty sure she also pistol-whipped me and that her barking orders had a 1940's era German accent.  It's all a blur now, but I am pretty sure that is an accurate re-telling.  

I fell to the ground sobbing "Nooooooooooo!"  Hostage negotiators were brought in.  People fainted in the streets.  I recited a Samuel L. Jackson speech for no reason. 

And after fourteen hours of tense stand-off, I agreed to split the nectarine waffle with Ms. Wrigleyville.  I have 17 cats at home to support, I can't be killed in Winter Park.

     
Now the waffle was good ... BUT ... if The Briarpatch had named this waffle "Pecan Waffle with Nectarine garnish and syrup" I would have proclaimed this crisp, butter, malty, taste bud charmer the best waffle ever.  

However I was expecting a nectarine waffle and therefore was a tiny bit disappointed.  This waffle was chock full of pecans inside and out and topped with perfectly ripe nectarine slices with a not-too-sweet syrup.  But I had been expecting fruit inside the waffle giving me a strong nectarine punch of flavor.  Instead it was nutty, buttery, crispy with a velvet center.  An amazing waffle, just one in need of renaming.  #FoodieProblems  (The name didn't stop me from eating part of it though!  Yummy deliciousness!)

If you go to Orlando, you must do two things :

(1)  Go to Winter Park's historic district and have breakfast at The Briarpatch.

and 

(2)  Find Mr. Cardamom Monroe and tell him Winter Park rocks!

If you are nowhere near Orlando, make yourself a waffle and watch "When Harry Met Sally" and "Addicted to Love."  Either way, you'll have a great experience!

As always, thanks for reading!

(July 13, 2014) P.S.  Interested in hearing more about the movie "Addicted to Love"?  Check out this blog post from one of my readers here.

Each and Every Time ...

Happy Thursday LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

The weekend is so close!  I have been burning the candle at both ends and not making getting enough sleep a top priority.  As such I have spent most of the week as a cranky zombie.  And I have no one to blame other than myself!  Oh and the Powerball Lottery commission for not giving me money so I can just play all day and not have a job ... but um mostly it is my fault that I am sleep-deprived.

One of my favorite movies is "The Shawshank Redemption."  I am pretty sure I have seen this movie more times than I have been to church ... which is probably a really terrible statement on my level of Catholicism.  Or a really big statement about how obsessed I am about this film.  Glass half-empty or half-full?

So when a friend posted a link to this IFC.Com "15 Things You May Not Have Known About The Shawshank Redemption," I had this reaction:

OK OK even though there may be some skeptics, I can actually read - but I just love that clip of Aubrey Anderson-Emmons who plays "Lily" on "Modern Family."  And no, I don't love watching her because her character shares the same name as moi - that's just an added benefit.  

I also am appreciative that Aubrey Anderson-Emmons and her mother actress/comedian Amy Anderson retweeted my blog post link about the need for people with Caucasian and Asian heritage to sign up to be eligible donors on the bone marrow registry.  (Haven't read it?  Read my post here!  Now!)  Amy Anderson, like me, is originally from Minnesota.  Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, like me, is part Caucasian, part Asian.  Given these similarities, is it too much to ask to have a guest star role on "Modern Family"?  I think not!

Anyway enough about my love for the TV show "Modern Family" and back to my love for the movie "The Shawshank Redemption"!  I was intrigued to see if I, super fan, knew all fifteen things on the "15 Things You May Not Have Known About The Shawshank Redemption" article.  Turns out I knew several, but there were still some surprises.  It makes me want to watch The Shawshank Redemption all over again!

My favorite part is the Morgan Freeman speech about "hope" at the end of the movie.  It gets me each and every time.  My heart catches in my throat and I am sad and cheerful and spent and reinvigorated.  How does a movie generate the same emotional response in me when I have seen it so many times?  I could basically say all the lines in this movie word for word.  I have no clue why it still gets to me each and every time, but it does.  I think it may be perhaps that no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the odds and no matter what the painful experiences life may bring; that in the end hope is a good thing.    

I am not a big fan of spoilers in case any of you have not seen the movie, so I won't attach a clip of the final scene with the "hope" speech ... Instead, I include this clip which is actually two scenes spliced together.

Speaking of rewatching old favorites, I have been "tasked" with watching the movie "Purple Rain" as "homework" (I'll explain more another time) ... another great film.  It reminds me of my youth in Minneapolis.  It's been raining a lot in Tampa ... usual summer season.  Can't think of a better time to stay inside and watch an old movie.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Raunchy, Gritty, Somewhat Inappropriate … And Yet Surprisingly Sweet (Movie: Obvious Child)

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

I am back from my NYC trip and I wish I had one more day to lounge before heading back to the Rat Race.  But I am Junior Global Rat, Esquire and I guess there is no rest for the wicked!

Ms. Bermuda and I had free passes to see the Jenny Slate film "Obvious Child."  (Thank you, Gofobo.com!)  So I was more than happy to finish work and head to the movie theater where I didn't have to think … and didn't have to break out my wallet!    

From the very first few minutes of this movie, I thought "Uh oh, this may be TOO MUCH for me."  I'm not a prude in any way, shape or form.  While I may refer to myself as a "gentle, hot house flower" - anyone who knows me would spew liquid out of their nostrils while drinking if they thought anyone actually believed me to be such a delicate creature.  So if a movie is going to get me going "uh oh," then it must be off the charts.

Jenny Slate - formerly of "Saturday Night Live" and presently for pop ups on Comedy Central's "The Kroll Show" (as in Nick Kroll) - stars in this grunge-tastic film about abortion.  Yes, abortion.  Saying I enjoyed the film probably makes me a heathen destined to the volcanic lands of the here after, but I'm pretty sure my ticket to that place was purchased a long time ago.  (And I believe in reincarnation anyway, so there!)  Overall, my thoughts about Jenny Slate's movie "Obvious Child" are in the title to this post … "Raunchy, Gritty. Somewhat Inappropriate … And Yet Surprisingly Sweet."  

At times I was squeamish.  At times I was grossed out (hello opening monologue!)  But what surprised me the most about a film on what I think is a sad subject, regardless if you are pro-life or pro-choice; is how sweet I thought it was at times.  Life isn't pretty and neither is this movie.  The end was probably too sentimental and unrealistic, but hey that's what I love about movies.  If I wanted a dose of reality I would watch the news.

I don't think this movie will be the "feel good hit of the summer," but I thought it was an excellent performance from Jenny Slate and I hope to see more films from her in the future.

Broadway, Stop Trying To Bankrupt Me!

Happy Friday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

It has felt like this entire week was one long "Friday the 13th" - someone close to me was going through an extremely painful crisis and I was trying my best to help her.  Now on the actual "Friday the 13th," it looks as if (knock on wood) that all may be resolved in a good fashion - but I am so scared that things will fall through that I don't want to exhale just yet.  Still holding my breath and praying!  Fingers still crossed!

Very soon I will be seeing "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" on Broadway for the 2nd time and this time from the front row!  Neil Patrick Harris - in his role as the testy Hedwig - took a giant gulp of water and spit it on two women who got up in the middle of the show and made half a row (including me) stand up so they could get up and go to the bathroom.  It's only a 95 minute show people!  Go to the bathroom before the show starts!

I heard today that when Neil Patrick Harris finishes his run as Hedwig, the wonderfully witty actor Andrew Rannells will be taking over as Hedwig.  Many people know Andrew Rannells when he originated a role in The Book of Mormon.  I was not able to get tickets to The Book of Mormon on Broadway until I think year two of the show, so Andrew Rannells was no longer in the show by the time I saw it.  

I am pretty sure this is a master plan from Broadway to bankrupt me, because of course now I also want to see Andrew Rannells when he performs as Hedwig.  He is very different from Neil Patrick Harris and I can't wait to see what he does!

I have never seen a show on Broadway twice.  I have seen some shows a 2nd time (Wicked, Les Mis) when they are in a touring company show locally but I have never seen a Broadway show twice.  "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" is going to be my record for show I have seen the most times on Broadway!    

I may be eating ramen noodles for all meals from now until 2025, but I am going to make sure I see Hedwig with Andrew Rannells in the lead role!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  I feel like Queen Social Butterfly as I will be going from party after party after party this weekend.  Usually I have been the one hosting parties, so it's great to go to several events where my only duties are to eat, drink and have a great time!

P.S. If you have time this weekend, go see "22 Jump Street" - I had lower hopes for this sequel but it really delivered in laughs.  Mindless fun.  A great distraction from a long, difficult week!  Make sure you stay for the credits!

Summer Homework!

Happy Thursday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

The next round of my adventures is about to start!  I have found that during my most busy times I need to set aside some time to coordinate and organize myself - put form around the day to day functions to help guide myself forward versus just spinning in circles.  

Although it has been centuries since I have been in school, I find summer to be almost a time for New Year's Resolutions.  A New Season's Resolution, perhaps.  A time when once again I can stop and ask myself:  "What's It All About, Alfie?"

I have to say that the state of reality television on Bravo TV has declined dramatically in the past few years.  I literally hate myself for watching it.  This past weekend, I volunteered 14 hours of my time for two different causes.  Sunday night, I came home exhausted.  My DVR was filled with the most ridiculous of fake scripted drama.  Now I appreciate TV and movies as a distraction, but I don't need my blood pressure rising following stupidity.  What a waste!  

So I decided after this season of Game of Thrones ends, I am ending my cable subscription.  Goodbye television!  (Hopefully, I will find a hot man who has cable by this October when "The Walking Dead" starts!)  I am taking the summer off!  In my childhood, I used to be a ferociously avid reader.  Now I go in spurts- I may read five books in a couple weeks and then not read again (other than magazines and online newspapers) for months.  Yet for some reason, I keep buying books.  I have an entire bookshelf just waiting for me.

In trying to "better myself," instead of TV this summer I set a goal to read 12 books between June 16 - September 16.  Now I know what you might be thinking "Ooooh this is a great time to read all the classics that you may have not read in high school and college."  Um yeah, that would be a good idea but if I am forgoing TV I want to read for entertainment and some element of distraction from my stressful work.  If I make the task too "homework-like," I won't do it.  That's just me.  

And like I said, I already have an entire bookshelf filled with tomes waiting for me to crack their bindings and enjoy.  My summer resolution starts June 16 … I'll keep you posted on how bad my television detox gets and whether I stay on track of my goal!

P.S.  The Jake Jarmusch movie "Only Lovers Left Alive" is at the Burns Court Cinema in Sarasota, FL for all you Central Gulf coastal Floridians.  I saw it in New York City.  It's not the best movie in the world, but I just loved watching Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as these swank, hipster vampires.  Check it out!

Business Buzz Words, Semantics and Personal Responsibility: Part 1

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a great weekend!  I lifted my "no refined sugar" restrictions and allowed myself some Easter Candy.  Mistake!  Sometimes it's easier just to abstain than to try to be successful at moderation.  I didn't go crazy but when you go from zero to 30, it still seems pretty fast.

Ms. Chicago and I attended the Mainsail Art Festival on Saturday.  To counteract the sugar now coursing through my bloodstream, we managed to squeeze in almost 11 miles just walking around the art tents and downtown St. Pete.  We had lunch at 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House.  It was good.  I would definitely go back.

I also saw the movie "Dom Hemingway" starring Jude Law and Emilia Clarke from "Game of Thrones."  I have seen both actors in person on Broadway.  I saw Jude Law in Hamlet and Emilia Clarke in Breakfast at Tiffany's.  They are both great actors.  The movie was an interesting indie film.  I had no idea that the lovely Emilia Clarke could sing.  (And am frankly rather jealous - beautiful and a good singer?  Save some talent for the rest of us, please!)

I was also happy to see that in the movie 41 year old Jude Law plays the father of 26 year old Emilia Clarke (although her character is 22 and Jude Law's character is older).  Usually in films, 40something leads are usually paired with 20something leading ladies.  It was nice to take a break from the cliche! 

I purchased the song Emilia Clarke sings in the movie (The Waterboys' Fisherman's Blues) from iTunes and have already listened to it several times.  Click here for a clip of Emilia Clarke singing in "Dom Hemingway."    

On Sunday, Ms. Wisconsin and I walked along the Bay.  She was counteracting crab cake eggs Benedict.  I was still trying to work off Cadbury Mini Eggs, Starburst Jelly Beans and Marshmallow Peeps.  I had been fairly sedentary during the week, so I started the walk early to get extra miles before meeting Ms. Wisconsin.  It was a gorgeous (but overcast) day along the bay.  I saw nine dolphins, two manatees, too many flying fish to count as well as numerous water fowl.  

I ended up logging almost 16 miles for the entire day on my new Withings Pulse smart tracker.  I personally prefer the Fitbit activity tracker, but I wanted to give it the Withings a try.  I'm glad I was able to log so many steps this weekend, but my feet are tired!  I wish I were back in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia where I could get an extremely painful (but extremely effective) deep reflexology foot massage for pennies.  Sigh!

Inspirations for blog posts have been flying at me left and right lately.  I seriously feel like a psychic who challenges the spirit world to start talking to her, then has a million ghosts screeching their stories.  Be careful what you wish for!  My blog muses must be working overtime!

Today's inspiration is drawn from Jon Stewart and Comedy Central's "The Daily Show."  Jon Stewart was teasing the antics of TV show personalities at a certain news network (rhymes with Box).  In a clip shown, the cable TV anchors were talking about their wild collegiate youth on Spring Break.  

One anchor said "There may have been some nights where I was over-served (at the bars)."  

For some reason, that sentence struck me.  I thought about the wording … "I was over-served."  Not "I drank too much" but that someone else served him too much. 

Can I go to The Cheesecake Factory, order one of their HUGE entrees and then justify eating it all by saying I was "over-served"?  Um no, no one has a gun to my head!  I don't have to eat everything that is put in front of me.  I think I may steal this line.  I didn't over-eat.  I was over-served.  I am not fat.  My pants are under-Spandexed.  

Personal responsibility completely detached by utilizing selective word choice.  Wow.  

I had to admire the villainous panache of this turn of phrase from the TV show personality.  If I admit I drank too much, well then I am sloppy and out of control.  But if I was over-served … well I am the helpless victim to a liquor industry recklessly out of control.  The entire event is reframed.  Instead of myself doing something stupid, I have been victimized!  

This is some high class word-smithing.  Do they teach a class on this stuff? Because I need to learn this!    

It is amazing how changing a few words can completely alleviate the inference of one's personal responsibility for his/her words or actions.  

A few years ago, an actor made a homophobic slur remark about a fellow actor.  His publicist announced the actor who made the remark would be going to rehab.  Is there a rehab center for hostile language use and overall stupidity?  Did he have Tourette's?  Did a disease cause him to insult his co-worker with a homophobic slur?  I swear "going to rehab" is the quasi-apology response for every issue.  

How about "I'm a dumbass.  I said something stupid and hateful.  I realize that because I am in the public eye, that I could be perceived as a role model.  I do not want people to emulate my hate speech.  I am going to volunteer for the next year with various charities.  I hope after the end of the year, my actions will speak louder than my unfortunate words."  OK that might be an overboard solution, but what I am trying to say is "Just own your behavior!" 

There is a guy on Twitter who claims to be almost 100 years old and posts inspirational messages (@BismeeQuotes).  Today he posted "What we speak becomes the house we live in."  Let that one absorb in.  I have visions of painting walls with my words.  Would I rather be surrounded by positivity or negativity? 

Is it just me or are we in an age where there seems to be no true personal responsibility or accountability?

Most of us are not medical doctors or practicing lawyers where we have to worry about a malpractice suit if we admit accidentally (or purposely) doing wrong.  So why the reticence to acknowledge one's mistakes?  Isn't this how we grow and learn?  We don't come into this world perfect.  We all are going to stumble and fall at various points in our life.

When I was growing up, I was taught that you must own up to your behavior.  The truth will set you free and all that.  But more and more, I feel like people point to some evil force that propels them to action versus accounting for their deeds.  "The reason my car ran you over is because President Obama is a secret Kenyan."  

I didn't run you over.  My car did it.  

There are a couple people in my life who definitely utilize this strategy in apologies.  Instead of "I am sorry I hurt your feelings," they use "I am sorry you feel hurt."  A subtle shift in language, but a large shift in ownership.  

"I'm sorry your blood is leaking from your skin" versus "I am sorry I stabbed you ninety-two times."  

It makes me want to scream "Own your actions!  Own your words!  You are not a victim when you are the assertive actor!  Stop hiding behind semantics!  You are not a robot!  No one compels you but yourself!"

But frankly if I opened the door to start screaming stuff like that, I don't think I would ever stop screaming until I was dragged off to the nuthouse.

So instead I write in my blog … and I try to stay away from uniformed men with nets and straight jackets.   

Tune in tomorrow at LilyOnTheLam.com for Part 2 of "Business Buzz Words, Semantics & Personal Responsibility" when I share "The Country Mouse's Corporate Tale."  Until then, please feel free to rub my feet!

Tim's Vermeer - A Movie You Just Have To See!

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

This past weekend was indie movie weekend for me.  Tampa does not get many independent movies as compared to New York or Los Angeles or even Atlanta, Minneapolis and Boca Raton.  Plus several of the movies we do get are only in theaters for a millisecond of time.  It's easy to miss a lot of independent movies. 

I often travel to Burns Court Cinemas in Sarasota or Enzian Theater in Orlando to get my indie movie fix.  If I lived closer to Boca Raton, I would absolutely be a weekly visitor to the Living Room Theater there.

I saw the Jake Gyllenhaal movie "Enemy" at one of my local favorite theaters, the historical 80+ years old Tampa Theatre.  I am not sure if I loved it or hated it!  See the trailer for "Enemy" here.  I will say that the movie has kept me thinking about it - analyzing it, trying to understand it.  I read the synopsis of the book the movie was based on (don't read the wiki on this before you see the movie - too many spoilers!)  If a movie keeps you thinking for days after seeing it, it was probably a good movie or at least worth the ticket price.

On Sunday, I attended the ArtPool Gallery Crafty Fest in St. Petersburg.  I very much wanted to try their famous "wet coconut cake" at "The Cafe at ArtPool."  I assume it is like a coconut tres leches cake.  "Wet coconut cake" sounds very old-school Southern to me.  Old-school Northern might have picked a more appetizing name than "wet cake."  But perhaps I am just a Northern snob.  ;-)  But at the time I was still trying to shed the weight I gained eating my way through Los Angeles, so I had a high octane espresso instead.       

After Crafty Fest, I then drove over to Anna Maria Island to get in some sun at the beach.  Since I was so close, I then went to the Sarasota Art Festival and then headed over to the Burns Court Cinema as it started to rain.  I hadn't heard of any of the movies showing at Burns Court Cinema (darn you Tampa and your lacking of indie movies!), so I read the synopsis for each film.  

I was going to go to the Annette Benning, Robin Williams, Ed Harris film "Face of Love" but I noticed that a movie called "Tim's Vermeer" had almost double the RottenTomatoes.com score.  The reviews were raving for "Tim's Vermeer" whereas the reviews were lackluster ("A bad Lifetime movie") for "Face of Love."

While a movie about art and technology, directed by Teller of Penn & Teller did not scream "ABSOLUTE MUST SEE" to me - the high RottenTomatoes.com score intrigued me.  Plus the movie was 15 minutes earlier than "Face of Love" and I wanted to get out of the rain!  (Honestly!)

Now Burns Court Cinema is not the fanciest theater (although their concession stand has a higher class of snacks than most theaters!  Yum!)  The theaters themselves remind me of  ones from the 1980's - cement floors and acoustic panels on the walls.  I always sit somewhere around the 4th row at Burns Court, which is much closer than I would at a traditional theater.  The reason behind this is because Burns Court Cinema has a large elderly population of consumers, as Sarasota itself has a large elderly base.  Every single time I have seen a movie at Burns Court Cinema, at least one elderly patron falls asleep.  

Sometimes you hear a light hum of shallow, steady breathing.  Other times, you will hear building-shaking snoring.  Sunday was no exception to the sleeping patron rule.  Toward the end of the movie, someone was sawing logs with a deep breathing "woosh woosh."  Not exactly the movie soundtrack I like to hear.  There was no snoring, but still it was somewhat distracting.  I find that being closer to the screen helps me shut out the side noise of elderly patrons coughing up phlegm, sleeping, loudly unwrapping God knows what and making movie comments in extremely loud "whispers."

There is a sign in the Burns Court Cinema lobby recommending patrons research the art house/independent films BEFORE attending them.  Also that patrons should keep an "open mind" when watching the movie because there are NO REFUNDS.  I have never seen a sign like this anywhere else around the world.  I can only assume it's because of grumpy elderly folks complaining.  

Many times in Tampa, I will see elderly couples at the movie theater at movies I don't think 80 years old would want to see.  Sometimes I then see them walk out in a huff within the first 30 minutes of the film.  Sorry Great Grandpa, you probably should have researched "Twilight" before attending.  Movies are so expensive these days, it's worth doing a little research before buying a ticket if you're easily offended/bored.  

Despite the sleeping patron, I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed "Tim's Vermeer."  I was BEYOND FASCINATED by the film.  Usually I am so ADHD during documentary movies that I cannot sit still.  In fact I usually cannot watch a lot of documentaries at home because I start multi-tasking and lose all focus.  But this movie had me on the edge of my seat in fascination.  I could not believe what I was seeing! I was also in awe of the extent of one man's total devotion to a mission.  It was interesting, funny and again I was JUST FASCINATED.  

If you like documentaries or wonder what you would do if you had unlimited money, this movie is definitely for you.  If you like art, this movie is for you.  If you like technology, this movie is for you.  If you like solving mysteries, this movie is for you.  If you like being in awe and highly fascinated, this movie is for you.  If you believe the Queen of England will eventually make the right decision, this movie is for you!  

In other words - you should definitely see it.

I am not going to tell you more about the movie because I don't want to give any spoilers.  However, I will say there is a scene where English artist David Hockney is looking at a painting with a lit cigarette in his hand.  The smoking lit cigarette was poised just centimeters above the oil painting.   It took all my restraint not to scream at the screen "OH MY GOD, GET THAT LIT CIGARETTE AWAY FROM THE PAINTING!"  Perhaps if I did scream, the sleeping patron would have woken up.  

Did I happen to mention I am crazy and think people on a movie screen can hear me?  I also think drivers in other cars can hear me … except when I have the convertible top down, then for some reason I don't think other cars with windows rolled down can hear my very loud, very sarcastic comments about their driving.  Go figure.

On a side note, Magician Penn Jillette of the duo Penn & Teller, narrated parts of "Tim's Vermeer."  I had forgotten that I sort of kind of have a crush on Penn Jillette.  (I have weird tastes, what can I say?)  Perhaps it's because I've always liked Magicians (no, not you David Copperfield).  When I lived in Los Angeles, I dated a magician/illusionist who is now a trapeze artist.  

Yes, you read that sentence correctly.  

If a cocktail party is boring, I will always have a tidbit like that to drop to stir up the conversation.

If you're a regular reader of LilyOnTheLam.com and/or you know me, you'll know that dating a magician/illusionist/trapeze artist is not the craziest thing I have done in my life …

If you get a chance, definitely see "Tim's Vermeer."  I am 97.86% sure you will enjoy it!  And hey if you don't, at least you supported independent movie making and Teller's debut as a Director.

Have you seen "Tim's Vermeer"?  What did you think of it?  Share your thoughts in the comments section below.