Eye Candy

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skillfully, mysteriously) her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

--e.e. cummings

What catches you eyes or ears? Have the words of a song, or a book, or even one perfect flower ever made you stop and think, "Wow, I need to slow down more often." In college, I got into the habit of underlying favorite quotes in assigned readings, or writing them down and posting them on my bedroom walls. The first I happened across by chance, when I wasn't paying attention in Spanish 102, when I was doing homework for another course. Of course, most of the time I didn't keep up with the readings, but I did come across a jewel or two, or several dozen. I even have my favorite quote memorized (check out "Old Goriot" by Balzac, it's in there), and I keep the rest in a folder. Most of these come from books I should have read in school, but didn't or didn't enjoy. When I finally read them on my own, and could take my time, sipping at a cup of tea, I enjoyed them so much more. There is just nothing inherently fun when you have to analyze a book. For some literary gems, check out these winners:

Jane Eyre
Prozac Nation
Emma
The Kite Runner
Sense and Sensibility
Little Women
The Great Gatsby
Roots
The Jungle
The Scarlett Letter
Memoirs of a Geisha

I've read and love them all.

Is Batman An American Psycho?

Yes, I have seen "Batman Begins" and can I say...AMAZIN'!!! The best movie of the summer. Even beats out Episode III. Christian Bale, an absolute perfect choice. For those of you out there who are huge fans like me, you know he has a penchant for choosing, shall we say, characters that fall on the darker side of the spectrum. "American Psycho," "The Machinist." He's so dedicated that, like Morgan Spurlock did for "Super Size Me," he let his weight do the talking for "The Machinist" and "Batman Begins." Especially for the former, for which he lost 65 lbs, hovering at a dangerous 121 lbs; then gaining 100 lbs. for Batman. If you watch closely, you can see in certain spots of "Batman" how skinny he still was from "The Machinist." In my not so humble opinion, he is long overdue for some serious accolades. He is too underrated. But then again, that is a blessing in disguise. With that lack of widespread recognition, he can sneak under the radar and make each character his own. No studio exec expects great things from him, so he has the freedom to create greatness without the weight of the studio's money, the freedom to surprise everyone.

As for Katy Holmes, totally unnecessary for the movie, especially since she allowed her supposed fiance to storm the premiere and steal Christian's thunder. Placing yourself in her shoes, how could you not know the medial maelstrom would be focused on Tom? She hasn't had a career since Dawson's Creek, and now she has to go and get in the way of someone who already has a more promising career than her, who is sure to receive more accolades than her. No wonder she is not being asked back for any sequels--and there is sure to be at least one.

Now, Liam Neesom and Gary Oldman. So wonderful to see them in opposite roles. Oldman playing eventual Commissioner Gordon and Neesom, the bad guy. Morgan Freeman, what a choice to make after "Million Dollar Baby." He's Bruce Wayne's Q (for those who are not James Bond fans, this is the gadget guru). And Michael Cane: Absolutely perfect choice for Alfred.

Go see this movie, and let me know what you think.

Question of the week: Who is your favorite underrated actor?

Just Another Brick in the Wall

Every morning I walk up 34th St. past Macy's and Foot Locker and Sbarro's, Dunkin' Dounts, Payless. And most of these mornings I pass the same homeless guy, sitting on a random stone step in some random doorway. Most days he has a sign; on those days when he doesn't, his dog Abigal joins him, sitting on a ratty blanket, looking so sad. Again, he's homeless, and the dog is only with him somedays. I used to think this dog was a stray, but then one morning I suddenly felt so guilty from racing past all the other mornings, that I stopped and gave the guy my breakfast. We ended up chatting, and I found out he's married with five kids; that the dog comes with him on the days it doesn't stay with his wife. That he has cancer and a broken arm, but won't take the medication because Social Security is giving him too much of a hassle. I did feel sorry for him, especially when he would suddenly yelp in pain and grab his arm or side. But, what is he was faking? Just the other day, I saw him talking to a man, and none of this was happening. Was it just a sob story? I mean, there are free clinics in the city where he could go for medical attention. Now, I feel awkward stopping again. Perhaps I'll just drop in a few dollars, and continue on my way. I can't solve all the problems in the world.

It starts....

Can you remember no love, pride, deep-fried chicken, your best friend always sticking up for you, even when I know you're wrong?
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance, five-hour phone conversation, the best soy latte that you ever had, and me?

Ahh, the poetic wonder that is Train. If you haven't guessed by now, I am a huge fan of Pat Monaghan and the boys. Solidified by an acoustic set they did at a Tower Records in the Village two years ago. Absolutely phenomenal. If only they'd tour more often. "Meet Virginia"--their best song, by far, tied with "Drops of Jupiter," "My Private Nation," "I'm About to Come Alive." Somebody stop me. If you've ever seen the band perform, you know what I'm talking about: They actually look like they are having fun out there. No mindless head-bobbing, or lip-synching (Britney, are you there?). Voices that can carry a tune, singers that crafted their own career, that weren't churned out by the Disney assembly line.

Seriously, someone shut me up now....