RandomCha

I have several dozen things I wish I could write down at this moment. But I’m at work and it’s going to be busy. And then there’s lots to do after work. Blah.

The leftover turkey is gone. The mashed potatoes are gone. Last night I made up a final plate, and then I sat on the couch and watched the end of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It was a very pleasant ten minutes.

(Random Order) My Eleven Favorite Cocktails:

Mai Tai
Margarita
Martini
Bunueloni
Manhattan
Suffering Bastard
The Abbey
El Diablo
Harvey Wallbanger
Fish House Punch
Corpse Reviver

It’s one of those days where I don’t feel like I have that much to say but I have to say something anyway. I have to write a post for Chicagoist to go up tomorrow. I guess I’ll just throw something together. I’m feeling marooned lately, writingwise. It’s amazing how, when you have a 4-day vacation, you suddenly think about things that haven’t even been on the radar screen for months.

#1, my wonderful boyfriend.

#2, this glass of Coppola pinot noir at my elbow.

#3, the Dems regaining control of Congress.

#4, Robert Altman got some long-overdue respect before he died.

#5, while my job sucks, it pays very well and I know I won’t work there forever.

#6, I’ve had more chances to get my writing out there this year.

#7, there’s a new David Lynch film to look forward to.

#8, I have plenty to eat and a weekend of leisure ahead of me.

#9, dutch apple pie coming up soon.

#10, I have some really great friends out there who care about me.

It truly does feel as if a friend has died. I remember seeing The Player in high school and being filled with delight, and then shortly after that Nashville, which confused me more than anything I’d ever seen before. I didn’t know what I was looking at or what it was supposed to mean. Without putting it into words, deep inside I knew that I would need to learn a new kind of film language. And even after years of obsessively studying the work of David Lynch, I was completely stunned the first time I saw 3 Women. Again, a filmmaker I thought I knew, throwing me for a loop. And causing both excitement (that I’d finally seen it) and anger (that it had been so hard to find, so marginalized).

Altman has made so many films and so many different kinds of films that he’s the rare director (like Bunuel and Hitchcock) whose work you can endlessly revisit; each time you rewatch an Altman film, not only does it seem different, but compared to another Altman film it seems like the work of a different PERSON.

I’m still hoping that Nightmare in Chicago (which I’ve never seen) will end up on video sometime soon. In the meantime, we all have a lot of reseeing to attend to.

Here is a beautiful post by Jeffrey Overstreet about Robert Altman. I may have to watch a film of his tonight.

Filmmaker Robert Altman Is Dead

It is truly a sad day. I have dreaded it for years. His films and technique have touched me more than almost any other filmmaker.

Every single person here at work today is annoying the hell out of me. Every. Single. Person. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many asinine questions and meaningless statements.

Please send 4 o’clock to me early before I bitch-slap someone.