Nothing like a sick day at home to catch up on what's out there in blogland.

The mommy bloggers have taken a real hit, and there are in fact some real duds out there. But two of the most popular had really great entries recently.

Dooce's tale of the 20-something on the ski lift is one with which we can all identify.

Did you really just say that to the crazy old lady snowboarder? The woman who is twice your age and has seen twice as much of life and just last year pushed an eight-pound baby out of her wee waw without an epidural? YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT RISKS? At least, that's what I was thinking when Jon reached over and squeezed my knee in an effort to say DO NOT DO IT. WOMAN. HE DOES NOT NEED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR WEE WAW.

So instead I just nodded and said GOOD POINT

Then there is Mighty Girl Maggie, who seems delighted with her quirky life but occasionally gives little tasty tidbits like new vocabulary from Martin Amis.

voluptuary
a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit and enjoyment of luxury and sensual pleasure.

argot
a specialized idiomatic vocabulary peculiar to a particular class or group of people, esp. that of an underworld group, devised for private communication and identification: a Restoration play rich in thieves’ argot.

My friends have new blogs. High school friend Nansch is cooking up a storm on Remlerville. Form + Function in Raleigh will help you repurpose what you already own to make your home more wonderful (trust me on this - I know!). And Church Chick is posting her writings from her girls' school days on Life's Little Bits.

Also, I am loathe to post it because I know it will be taken down, but La Ga Ga was on the Brit Awards last night and she was radical. Google it.

I have to say, I believe in love.

More Movies

The Blind Side
I like Sandy Bullock - a lot. And she's so likable as a done-up, tough-talking Texas woman that I am not sure I cared about the poor homeless kid. The "white woman saves black boy" theme annoyed me before I saw the film, but as a friend said, the character's courage was the quality we all want to emulate. The story was built for tears, the character for an Oscar nod, the men were pretty much set decor.

The Brothers Bloom
I'm not sure I understood the plot at all, but Rachel Weisz, you are gorgeous along the lines of Audrey or Grace, and what acting you seem capable of! Adrien Brody is surely a jackass in real life but I can't look away when he's onscreen. My darling Mark Ruffalo was maybe the weaker of the two, alas. The film had style and panache and all that, and was sweet and sentimental. Sometimes I confess I get a little tired of the precious ways of bad boy directors like Rian, but I like looking at their handiwork. A scene that stands out for me is in Mexico, the camera cuts away from a cabana as the main character walks toward us, the lights on the ground lining his path quietly pop on and then glow, slightly out of focus.

Up in the Air
If anyone doubts Clooney's weight as an actor, consider: he is a megawatt SUPERSTAR the likes of which we've not seen (in a man) for decades. His personal life is tabloid-documented. And he here chose a small, unassuming film about, say, AIR TRAVEL, with a well-connected but untested new director, unknown co-stars, and a plot that makes his character falter and trip. These women who share the screen with him gave me a lot to enjoy. I was more on the side of the confident lover when the perky co-worker (SPOILER) gets dumped and BAM - she's amazing! I really liked this film and know that if George hadn't been in it, it would have never been seen. So thanks again, Cloons.

I Could Care Less...

...about the Olympics. Between managing my own little athletes, tiring of television and sitting down indoors, and a newfound fear of snow and cold (and now wind! Good Lord the sky is falling!), I really have no desire to watch any of it. Anyone want to change my mind?

Seeking out some newish music to share with you today, I tried and failed to love singles by Joanna Newsom, Beach House, Dan Deacon, xx, and even my old standby Spoon (the new album has not wowed me. Wow.). Then I heard this song, and decided that my love of it is directly related to the view outside my window: mud, muddy snow, pouring rain, bits of sleet, and also, mud.
ROCK ON M-Fs!

snOMG

Snow '10 report:

Day 1: Children dressed and ready to go by 7 a.m. (it was a Saturday) Much sledding in the what was actually sleet. I tended to my dentist, who injured her hand, a kid whose parents were at the top of the hill socializing whilst he hit a fire hydrant, and to various wild child confrontations. I welcomed the limoncello being passed around in a glass jar at that point.

We ate well and slept better, and watched" Iron Man". My husband did a lot of sitting around reading Blake, as he is wont to do.

Day 2: Church was NOT canceled. I slept in at least, but then we ventured out. This was more than I could take, apparently, as I then had to nap. Long walk in the slush, more sledding, fire FAIL (so unusual for me! I am such a good fire builder. I am devastated). Forewent the Grammys in order to watch Masterpiece's "Emma".

Day 3: Ventured to friend's house where we had non-instant cocoa (my children will never, ever let me serve instant again), chili for the 3rd time (white bean, a nice change of pace), and some killer-ass sledding that actually was scary and a bit painful. Still. Attempted to build a snowman. Friend found tiramasu in her fridge and pulled it out. My children were instantly transformed. What is this dark magic, they asked. They have talked of little else since.

Day 3 is ending with a question of whether or not schools will open tomorrow. At this point our Spring Break is in jeopardy. I still like my family, but a rigid schedule and actually driving at this point would be welcome.

AT LEAST WE HAVE POWER.

Now to go put a blow dryer to my firewood. I will succeed tonight!