Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I've got a major Woody

I have been on a Woody Allen kick lately.  Not, like, nonstop obsession where I can't eat or sleep unless I hear his nervous stammering at all moments of my day, but a slow, normal fondness that brings me from one of his movies to the next.  I have decided I especially love his stuff when Diane Keaton is involved.  They have undeniable chemistry that churns out some of my favorite moments on film.  And she always has the best clothes.  And I just flat out love her.

So far I have seen Annie Hall (which I watched back in high school & loved but need to re-watch), What's Up, Tiger Lily? (his first film, which had hilarious voice over on a '60s Asian spy thriller), Manhattan (a complicated love story that pulls you into all of its emotions so much that you actually root for his teen romance), Curse of the Jade Scorpion (which I wanted to see because I always want to see & read anything that had to do with curses, mysteries, magic, unicorns, jade, secrets, outer space and attics) and most recently, Manhattan Murder Mystery.  Manhattan & Manhattan Murder Mystery made me fall for Woody like I couldn't in high school.  I loved his movies back then, but now that I'm older and have seen tons of classic movies, I can fully appreciate all he offers, which is why I need to go back to Annie Hall.

I become completely absorbed by the world of New York City that he creates and gets me itching to move there.  Various influences have made me feel like that over the years, including my sister actually living there & watching Secret of My Success a million times, but his New York seems so comforting and natural and it isn't some big glamorous show, it's real people living their real lives.  He still gives you his fantastic aerial views of the city and his characters frequent the many landmarks, but the city is a character that is included, but not forced, in such a beautiful way.

Anyways, I am professionally prescribing to everyone, full doses of Annie Hall, Manhattan & Manhattan Murder Mystery.  They are funny, the music is great & if you know your films, all of his homages will make you happy.

Here is the final scene from Manhattan Murder Mystery that perfectly demonstrates the chemistry between Allen & Keaton as well as the comfortable atmosphere he creates through his style of filmmaking & storytelling.  He truly lets the city & his actors make moments that he could never contrive:


I'm telling you, aren't her clothes the bees' knees?  Is it bee's or bees'?  Multiple bees would mean multiple, gorgeous bee knees, so I am going to go with multiple.  Bees' knees.  But aren't they just that exactly?!


Woody Allen, NYC & the Keaton fashion sense,


bunny

Friday, May 20, 2011

Idol

I just had a moment with my husband on AIM:

We were discussing this season of American Idol & how upset I am with America that Haley got kicked off.  She was by far the best.  Scotty is great too, but Lauren?!  She has a great voice but she is not ready for this.  Her stage presence needs work.  Ridiculous.  But that is neither here nor there.  Obviously, America made their (wrong) choice & Haley will just move along with her rad rock n' roll family & Scotty will be singing in Nashville covering classic duets with Sheryl Crow & screwing them up per her usual.  And Lauren will join the ranks of Reuben until she grows up a little & gets some confidence.  I swear, Lauren, I love you, but Haley is my girl.  And mark my words, it's NOT just her song choices & amazing clothes!

The best part about all of this, is that this is the most I have seen of any season, other than the very first one.  It's all my mother-in-law's fault!  But see, during the first season, my hubby lived in LA & I was a freshman in high school in Michigan.  So why wouldn't we be watching it?  Both of our circles were shitting their panties to see what happened next b/c let's be real, Hollywood is one big high school.  Anyways, one time he actually saw that Constantine guy at Disney, who was apparently pretty nice.  I didn't remember who this guy was b/c I was probably getting my diaper changed when he got kicked off, so as I was looking up a pic & sending it to the husby, he sent a link.  And guess what?  We sent each other the exact same picture w/o even knowing it:



And this is why we're married.


peace, fleece & chicken grease,

bunny

Friday, May 13, 2011

Cheers!

Love this.  Letter written by Zooey Deschanel to Vogue magazine.  If you don't think she is a badass, you have something wrong with you:


*UPDATE* I found out that Ms. Deschanel actually wrote this when she was 17, before she was famous.  Which makes her even cooler in my opinion :)


women with positive self-image & badass celebs that stand up to Anna Wintour,

bunny

Monday, May 9, 2011

Summer of Love

YOU HEARD IT HEAR FIRST: Summer 2011 shall be known as "The Summer of Love" (part deux, since they technically already had one in 1967).


It all started with my first full screening of Frankie & Annette's Beach Party (1963).  I love cheesy 1960s teen flicks, surfing (whether in real life or in movies & music), drive-ins, classic cars & just being at the beach relaxing & playing in the water, so these movies are perfect for me.  In high school I was heavily into 1950s nostalgia, to a point where my mom finally said, "People were racist & sexist & there was a long road ahead.  You would have HATED it if you were really in that time period."  Which is probably true, but I am still a sucker for good 'ol Americana.  And I honestly would have loved to be a part of all the Civil Rights/hippie movement & probably would have joined in, having become pretty sick of all the BS of the 50s.  I mean, I HOPE that's how I would have felt....

Anyways, I am here to guide you through this "Summer of Love" with some music & movie tips:

I decided on "Summer of Love" because of a song of the same title by The Fresh and Onlys.  I heard them on The Spy the other day & it totally rocked my world.  Their music is like the Doors, Zombies, Ramones, Beach Boys & some 60s surfer dudes & bunnies had a Lost Boys ritual using the blood of Morissey that got so out of hand, the cave blew up & the Fresh and Onlys started playing from under the rubble.  Here is the song that won my heart & soul:


I ended up listening to their whole album, Play it Strange, on Grooveshark and I am addicted.  It is an incredible album with a variety of psychadelic sounds & influences that make you want to have a bonfire on the beach.  And possibly a Lost Boys blood ritual.  Tennis, as I mentioned in my past bloggy, "Diagnosis Music," would be another great band to add to your library for the summer.  There's obviously a 60s surf revival happening in music and I couldn't be happier.

To enhance your new 60s mania even more, you can join me in my Annette & Frankie obsession & watch any & all of their beach movies.  Of course these are hitting on a different section of the 60s & have a more wholesome & cheestastic (while sexually charged) image to send, but you get it.  Let me warn you, though, the opening song of Beach Party is a little Stepford Wife robotic & Annette's solo "Treat Him Nicely" has some very scary "treat your mental disorder" moments.  There is also some really awful tips on how to handle a relationship.



Beach Party (1963)
Muscle Beach Party (1964)
Bikini Beach (1964)
Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965)
Back to the Beach (1987)





I am actually planning on watching all of these IN ORDER this summer b/c I am hardcore.  You should also add the classic, Endless Summer  (1966) to your queue.  All of these are old school and are lots of fun.  While Frankie & Annette's are cheesy classics, Endless Summer feels like you are tagging along with these friends/fanatic surfers as they follow the seasons & travel the world in search of the perfect wave.  


To take this nostalgic 60s theme to the next level, go to the drive-in.  If you go to www.DriveInMovie.com, you can find one near you, but if you are in the OKC area, search no further & head over to Winchester Drive-in Movie Theater on Western.  You pay a flat rate (cash only) to see three movies in a row & are more than welcome to bring lawn chairs & booze (as long as you keep alcohol in your car &/or put it in a paper sack like a hobo).  It's cheap & you can feel like you are going back in a time machine as you wear all of your 70s boho-inspired clothing that is in again & drink Colt 45 as you tune your radio so you can hear the movie.  What did I tell you?  Is Summer of Love (part deux) awesome or what?!

I'm not going to give too many more ideas away, b/c I will be using this as my theme for our housewarming party, so you will have to see when all of these elements (& then some) are pulled together.  The drive-in is even rumored to be a part of birthday celebrations as well, so hold your horses.  Hopefully I got you started on some ideas for parties & themes of your own this summer so I would love to hear what you come up with or if you have any more ideas to add.  But please tell me what you think of the Fresh and Onlys and Annette & Frankie b/c I'm head over heels!


the 60s, surfing & love,

bunny



Listen to local & indie bands on The Spy FM, based out of OKC, OK


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6930 S. Western Ave
OKC, OK 73139
(405) 631-8851
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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Blue Sky

Just in time for Mother's Day:

The other day I was doing some Buddhist prayers and had the strangest moment.  It's actually "chanting" but that word can be a little off-putting to people.  It's no different than a Christian saying a prayer or singing hymns - I promise there is no virgin or goat or virgin goat sacrifice involved.  But while I was chanting (let's just use the word.  I've lost you by now if it scares you anyways) I wasn't really thinking about anything in particular, just sending positive vibes out into the universe.  For just one moment, the scent of my grandmother wafted by me.  She passed away when I was 15, but the way she smelled when she gave you a hug or tucked you into bed was so distinct.  It was the most alarming & comforting thing to experience in that moment.

It was the cross between her natural scent - that smell that good mothers & grandmothers have that makes you feel like everything is going to be OK - & butterscotch.  When I was little, my mom would take me up to see my grandma (her mother) and a few of my mom's brothers who had moved up to help my grandma out.  My grandma & I would do crafts together and when I was really little I got baths in the kitchen sink.  At night she would pull out her butterscotch candies or Werther's and we would climb into bed & she would read me a story.

The funny thing about me having that moment while I was chanting is that my grandma would turn in her grave if she knew I was Buddhist.  I probably wouldn't even tell her.  She was a devout Methodist, but in the best sense because she practiced what she preached, took care of her family and was not one to openly judge people for who they were.  She fostered kids, even though she had seven of her own, partially for the extra money, but also because she knew it was the right thing to do, to take care of others when you were in a better spot.  Poor and leasing farm land may not seem like the lap of luxury, but compared to the lives these kids were leaving, it was.  I mean, she had her opinions, as we all do, but she wasn't one to stick her nose in your face and tell you how horrible & damned to hell you were.

The one really mean story I remember her telling was about a pastor's wife who was extremely obese but incredibly judgmental of EVERYONE.  Apparently she showed up to one of the church goers homes and was giving her typical condescending spiel, when she sat down in one of their kitchen chairs and it broke beneath her.  She was quiet the rest of the visit.  My grandma got a kick out of that because let's face it, that was karma kicking that lady in the ass!  See, my grandma and I still saw eye to eye :)

Glad she still stopped in to say hello & let me know everything is going to be OK, even if I wasn't practicing the way she would have.