The Incarceration of Mimi?

Ok, I'm not here to hate on The Diva for getting a little tipsy. Lord knows, there will be tomorrow, and I don't want to be judged a hypocrite (did anyone catch my reference to Mariah's lyrics in that last line? It was a bit feeble).

Especially since her drunk-ass speech has been talked about e'erwhere, and it took place at the Palm Springs International Film Festival (having never heard of this, I assume it is at least a C-list event and Mimi may have even put it on the map with her inebriation).

Of course, being a Precious movie fanatic makes things a little more charcoal. I mean, the girl gives this decent, subtle performance as a jaded New York City social worker, even abandoning her looks (a faux lady 'stache helped camouflage The Diva's good looks in the movie). And some film board, likely wanting any excuse not to vote for the famous R&B icon, gives her an award.

But even so, Mariah couldn't ditch her Divatinis for a night. Granted, the PSIFF sounds like something you would have a couple drinks at, but you may as well not attend if you think it's so laughable you don't care if you're coherent enough to give a proper speech. (And even by lower standards than properness, Mimi barely mentioned the movie and couldn't even feign an emotional response to receiving the award.) Mimi then had the audacity to blame her buzz on the director, Lee Daniels, because they hadn't been together since filming and must've done a little sipping together that night.

Moral of the story: Don't bite the hand that feeds you, Mimi. After Glittergate, you were lucky to be cast in anything. Ever again. Especially to have a director cast you in a challenging role in an important and relevant movie, risking some of its success on you and your cursed past.

(Apparently though, she and Daniels were friends and he was impressed by her work in a flop they filmed together called Tennessee.) Having previously cast Helen Mirren for the role (who had to bail), Daniels received a call from Mimi at the right time wanting to split a bottle (presumably). And so the beautiful fairy tale goes about a drunk diva who knows how to twist her fate through alcohol. Can she evade an Oscar because of shitty speech-giving abilities?

Sincerely,

A Diva in Training

An Ode to McNally Robinson Polo Park

Oh, hi McNally.

... Remember when I learned all about steaming milk (the act, not the noun) while working as a barista at your restaurant and bakery?

And remember when I had to stare at my creative writing teacher’s picture on the wall all day because it was so near my view as a once-hostess?

Remember when my brother took a call from you and thought I was working at a tattoo parlour because of the name Prairie Ink (which I thought was cool, but decided I didn't want the pressure of reminding people to disinfect their piercings and whatnot)?

Remember when I got to listen to nice, lightly-amplified music while serving cute hippies?

Remember when I was working there and at The Sun and my coworkers would make a point to read my silly little stories?

Remember how cute I thought the story behind Holly McNally keeping her former flame's name in the brand was, until Wikipedia just told me it was because she couldn't afford to replace the signage at first? (It's still cute.)

Remember the tree erected in the restaurant?

Remember the staff book/meal discounts?

I do.

I remember it all well, and I will never forget one of my longest runs at any job (8 months — shut up, I’m commitment-phobe) and the place that helped earn me enough buck to move out into my first apartment.

What swell digs this place was, and what a great staff/atmosphere to boot.

May the best of this place trickle into Grant Park, and make it all the more swell.

P.s.: Sell my book one day.

RIP.

I wish I knew Natalie Portman. Seriously, though. She seems really cool.

Well, I'm gonna go ahead and pull a K-OS. This post has nothing to do with Natalie Portman, but doesn't the mention of that song title hook and intrigue you? And didn't her alluring and exquisite face invite you to this post?

Wicked.

Anyways, I'm approaching the end of my two-month hiatus from careerland, and I couldn't be more ready to move on from being eternally available and mostly unproductive. Though, there certainly have been some good times. (Fashion TV is now a lot more like my religion than a hobby.)

I watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona today for the 4th time (instead of cleaning my room - again, I take full responsibility for my extreme laziness) and in it Cristina aka Scar-Jo says she is currently "at liberty" rather than unemployed. I like this saying, and I often felt that way. 

But, how, I ask, does one get the money to go to Barcelona for the summer while "at liberty?"

Alas, the best news of my liberty-phase was in the form of a contractual agreement offered to me by APTN during the Olympics to pull me out of this bind and leave me with just the kind of money to get away!

Which leads me to my New Years resolutions for 2010, and my 23rd year of existence!

(I promise, it really will tie in.)

1) Go overseas. I have the time, I'll be acquiring the money, and good lord am I ready for the adventure!! I've wanted this for so long and decided to get my schooling over with, and now here I am. Hopefully joining cousin Ashley in India in March!! (Could I pick a pricier flight?)

2) Help people more. I've always been happier when I'm making other people happy or making some kind of a difference, which may be selfish, but it really does make you feel like you have something to offer and feel more connected with people. I keep missing my emails to confirm a session in the soup kitchen, but resolve to make this happen in early 2010 and continue with the trend throughout the year!

3) Make this my fittest year of existence. Now this may be a super-typical one, but this was the first year I've even paid for a gym membership and I had a workout plan made, so pff! who says I won't continue with the commitment in 2010? Plus, I've started doing major portion control and avoiding indulgences, and I feel that must make me so much more committed since I'm starting before the new year (not like those other poseurs..? ;)) JK. I'm rooting for all of us!

Anywhoo.. I may as well throw in something about Natalie Portman because she is super awesome and more people should realize it. Like I really think I'd wanna hang out with her. First of all, there's her acting ability (See: The Other Boleyn Girl, Closer (as a stripper!!) and Brothers; which wouldn't have had any legs without the brilliant casting); then there's her Harvard degree; and oh, yeah, her elegant beauty that is so deep she can rock a bald head.

PS, this: 

Yeah, she did. She fuckin' rapped on SNL.

This Christmas

I'd say this Christmas has been the most successful for me in regard to spending QT (and doing some serious binge-drinking) with those I love most.

I've visited friends in different provinces, spent weekday nights dousing my palate with cheap wine, Swiss cheese fondue and having great conversation after hoots!

I've visited with my cousins I love, privately over coffee and together with the whole fam. I've made both my grandparents laugh and seen them enjoy a meal and everyone's company.

I've even dressed as a mandarin orange for a Christmas party in which I fell downstairs trying to piggyback my BFF/other half of my mandarin orange team to victory in a costume contest. (Expect my YouTube debut shortly!)

I've met with friends new and old, made some new friends, renewed some old friendships that were neglected by long-distance strains, and most likely started some of my own Xmas traditions! (That aren't as depressing as watching Home Alone alone on Christmas Eve... a real old one I had!) 

I even did a day of volunteering for the Christmas Cheer Board and will be starting at Agape Table soon — a tradition of helping people I hope to continue into the new year!

Perhaps the best thing I've taken from This Christmas is that you should dwell on what you do have over the holidays, and not what you don't. When it comes to prezzies, friends, family, jobs, relationships, etc. And not only at Christmastime — I truly think it's the key to happiness year-round.

I didn't even put together a wish list this year except that I asked for one piece of technical equipment which I think could really help my blogging/career in the long run... in that it needs to include nice photogs!

Until next week, I wish you all a Christmas of good wine, great shared conversations, and truly happy memories!

Warm fuzzies,

Bren.

Oops, I did it again..

Oops! Forgot to blog for a while. Hopefully I'm better at managing my hair than my blog, though I'm sure some would disagree (red is a bitch!).

In order to make up for two weeks' blog time, allow this to be an intro to the next one...

Simply acknowledging my failures as blogger and excusing my hiatus from the one thing I love most. (What a Frotchloser!)

P.s.: My roots are bad....

In Our Lifetime

I usually only blog once a week (which, even then, it's become a delayed Sunday night endeavour) but I saw a commercial on the plane that I had such an emotional response to that I had to share it before Sunday at 11:59 p.m.!

I dare you to not get goosebumps and/or single-teary-eyed over this beautiful creation. I've never felt like the end to cancer was so conceivable or prouder of the progress made so far.

Enjoy!

Literally Inspired

Yeah I saw SYTYCDC live on Friday. Yeah I Photoshopped a picture of myself with the relative unknown who also had particularly large quadriceps (like my own).

WHO WEARS THEM BEST?