Review of The Shipping News (2001) by Cathe J — 31 May 2004

[color=black]I have a gay rat named Jerimiah. He loves the hairless rats..so much like some of my other gay friends..hair just seems to turn him off. One of Jerimiah's boyfriend's is Zorro. Zorro would hump a doughnut if he had the chance. That's probably why Jerimiah likes him. The white dumbo is two years old last March..he's one of my senior citizens. In rat years that makes him about 68.. His other age-mates are Gousgous, (2 years agouti), Damien,(2, naked boy also known as frankenratty), ErnieKovacs (2, naked boy blind as a shoehorn). The four of them have fun bossing around the youngsters. But in his old age, Jerimiah just hugs the naked boys like Quentin Crisp ogling a preteen gymnast. Along with his sexual appetite, Jerimiah is the glutton of the bunch too. He'd knock down Joe Namath to get at an egg noodle. Of all my rats, he is the one that all people seem to fall in love with first. [/color].

[color=#000000]I mention him this morning because I just put together a desktop image of him and its' lifesized. I look at his ruby eyes, big old ears, and swirly cone vanilla and white face, and just giggle at how cool he is. I'll have to post this in the photos section. I was so tired this morning, I almost fed the screen instead of the rats in the cage. [/color].

[color=#000000]Why am I tired? I got up too early so I could play art geek for a friend. I was racing to get some stuff done before she went on vacation, but it wasn't what she wanted so I had to redo it anyhoos. Ah well. In the old days someone would say what they wanted and I'd have it done right, in four different formats within an hour. Now I feel lucky if I have the right program opened. I notice more and more each day how the medications I'm taking make my mind mushier. I have more appointments in the next few weeks. I'm seeing a genuine shrink again, so I can get back on the anti-depressant things I used to be on. They made me fat, and that realllllllly depressed me, but I'm hoping there are better drugs out there now. [/color].

[color=#000000]So last night's adventure. First of all...I LOVE my friends. I haven't been this close to people since I was in grad school for music. (There, I developed a close group of like-minded people in San Francisco, who loved me despite myself.) This group in Vegas is much the same. I call them the posse, but there really isn't any ONE sheriff in the bunch. We're a group of people who probably all got beat up in grade school, for being the weirdos, too smart, and of course, BORED with people our own ages, and in this group, Jeff and I are probably the weirdos. We've had to dodge a few more life bullets than most of the other folks so we laugh at things others may not get. But, see, that means there are TWO weirdos in this group...and that makes it something unique. There's a quiet one, a dominant loud one, an introspective-inquisitive one, a worrier, a gimpy one, a type A go getter, a do-it-all myselfer, goofy little brother, and of course..we're all sexy, and adorable in our own ways with a sense of humor that permeates throughout all we do. In effect, we are all each other's family. I can't see ever not having these folk in my life. So when it's just a time for the Posse to be together, it's usually great times. [/color].

[color=#000000]I went to one of the pal's place for a get together or Mexican proportions. The smells of great kitchen games make me very happy. Cilantro, tomatoes, garlic...I'm drooling thinking about it..but the guacamole...YUMMMMMY. Advocados are in those special food groups that chocolate belongs into..the one that makes my mouth water just thinking of them. One of the folks was at the counter cutting up Watermelon, and Emily was co-ordinating everything in her Ace-Producer style. I like helping in the kitchen because it's CREATION, and it's one of the few things I can still do without feeling like my hands will fail me. They sometimes do, but I can make up for it in other ways.[/color].

[color=#000000]The first thing that happened was one of the nicest things which has ever happened in my life. One of the guys HAD to talk to me. Now when someone says they need to tell you something, it's not always good news. Of course, me being my own worst critic..like all of the people I know... starting wondering if I had my foot in my mouth and upset him somehow. BUT worrying wasn't necessary. He told me that his mother, who never really is into jewelry, has been wearing a bracelet I made for her birthday, and hasn't stopped talking about her dinner party. He praised me for the thoughtfulness of the gift. All I could think to say was Thanks, and I was just all mushy and gooey in side, knowing that somehow I helped an older woman have some great memories. [/color].

[color=#000000]Flash back time. One of my first legit non art related jobs was that of Nursing Assistant at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged. I worked on the fifth floor.. the one where they put those who just weren't all there anymore. Most of the people still had their tattoos from Concentration Camps. Many of the men were castrated. I remember three in particular, Ella who used to call me "Fred" because she couldnt' remember my real name, Esther, an very TALL regal woman who used to be a pianist in the symphony and premiered some of Russia's most famous orchestrated works in the thirties and forties..she was world famous at some point and would often play piano in her sleep...and Rubin, an opera singer who was castrated in the camps to be a castrati, and was asked to sing for Hitler on dozens of occassions. None of them had families who would visit, except Esther...whose some came monthly, for about twenty minutes. It was there I learned that memories are the best gift anyone could have. These people had nothing of their own anymore, but memories, and I would listen to their stories for hours and hours. I spend much time on figuring out perfect presents for people. When Shadow gave me the news about his mother, I felt so relieved that my life's ambition is still working. Emily said something similar to me around Xmas time, but I think it always means more when the treasures of our culture..the older folks..feel happy about things that give them good memories.[/color].

[color=#000000]Present day once more... It was a family feeling. We all sat down to have dinner, and it was still a family feeling. Some guy laughs and teases because he thought of me like a little sister, which is EXACTLY how I feel about him...he's my big goofy brother. We sat and laughed, quoting lines from our favorite cult classic movie, and talked about the Travel plans...and just DEVOURED cherries and watemelon afterwards. It was a thanksgiving without the turkey, or the drama. [/color].

[color=#000000]Then we watched the Shipping News. As a writer hoping to find an audience, I really liked this Visual book. The characters were interesting, human, real. I still can't figure out how Kevin Spacey can show emotion without moving a muscle on his face. But he does it. The little girl wasn't anywhere as good as Dakota Fanning.... the superhero of child stars, but she got the role down well, and did a good job. Cate Blanchett...I think I should just call myself Cate, I like that much better than Cat, and it's less confusing than CathE.... Blanchett played a raunchy character so well, and exactly like people we all know. Julianne Moore, the most understated actress did a great job... she's just likeable. But Judi Dench, Dame Judi..She reminds me SO much of my foster mom, and always makes me miss her terribly when I see her on the screen. They had the same eyes, and the same way of speaking. They had the walk, and the mannerisms..just so much alike. Ann was a complete Anglofile and loved Dame Judi's work. I would watch her mirror her when she played a queen or a dutchess or even a secretary. They were so much alike. I see Dame Judi, and I feel like I'm getting a chance to see my mom again. But like in real life, the movie ends, and the reality becomes a dark room. [/color].

[color=#000000]I had to knock Capt. Worry in the head with a pillow a few times for talking over the dialogue. He says he never does it, but he always talks over a movie, no matter where we are or what we see. If he didn't make me laugh I'd be able to tune him out. [/color][color=#000000]Everyone else hung out for some time, but I had to get home and take care of my beasties.[/color].

[color=#000000]Today I set up appointments to follow up on the boob stuff, and what not. I take the bandages off in a couple of hours. Tanyalee is coming by the boyfriend's house tonight as is MaryAnn and her hubby Scott. It's bbq night. Capt. Worry looooves to use that grill! [/color].

[color=#000000]Later gaters![/color].