I’m so glad the election is only two weeks away.

I can’t take it anymore.

What’s up with McCain/Palin and Co. saying a vote for Obama/Biden is a vote for socialism? Didn’t Bush just sign a bailout costing 700 Billion dollars? AIG? Halliburton’s no bid contracts? The deficit skyrocketing? Now we have 1% of Americans controlling 21% of the wealth? Why is it bad that people making over 250k might have to pay a little more in taxes? Trickle down economics don’t work. I don’t understand all this socialism talk. So are they saying it’s okay to bail out huge financial companies who took bad risks (and paid their senior execs a ton of money) but not people who have no health care or crappy public schools? I’m confused.

What is Congresswoman Michele Bachman (R- Minnesota) smoking? She said the following on MSNBC:

"What I would say is that the news media should do a penetrating expose and take a look. I wish they would. I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out if they are pro-America or anti-America," she said.

This sounds a little McCarthy-like to me. Oh I know, I should be quiet. Obviously as an expat I must be anti-American. I mean why else would I have left the GREATEST country ever! First of all, I doubt any member of Congress is “anti-America”. Second, what does her party want…people to ignore the major problems and only shop, play video games, and watch Fox News?

Also who gets to decide who is anti-American? Is this related to the belief that only small towns are pro-American? So that means everyone who lives in a town of over 15,000 is anti-American? How so? I lived in a small town of 12,000. It's nothing like Palin's. Her small town has 46 crystal meth labs and one of the highest high school dropout rates in the state. Why does she keep talking about small town values?

I thought in order for a democracy to function it’s citizens have to be involved. I don’t think it’s anti-American to ask what the heck happened during the last eight years.

Rush said Powell only endorsed Obama because of race. Did Rush hear Powell’s full statement? Does Rush only support McCain/Palin because they are white? I voted for Kerry, Gore, Clinton, Clinton, but not Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. I thought Powell laid his case out very well and I’m glad he said something about the anti Arab/Muslim rhetoric. It’s wrong and not very American.

I’m not mad at Penèlope Cruz for dating my man.

I get it.

I saw VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA over the weekend. Javier Bardem and Penèlope were fantastic. Without them the movie would have been zzzzzzzz.

“ScarJo” is beautiful but I don’t know, something about her in this movie seemed flat. I got nothing from her. Maybe that was intentional? Rebecca Hall as Vicky was great. Her American accent was flawless.

Here is a little clip of my man. Nice way to start my Monday. Thank you Javier.

Flashback Friday – Gerardo - "Rico Suave"

Last week we went down memory lane with MC Hammer.

I remembered this song after walking in Rome with my friend Sara and noticing that a model in an Armani ad looked a little “Rico Suave”.

Like “Can’t Touch This” this wonderful song was also a hit in 1990. This led to me to ask, “What the heck was going on in 1990?” This song and video are beyond cheesy.

I read that 90s fashions are come back. I pray that is not true. I wasn’t a fan of those gets up the first time around.

Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Oh no! First Hef and Holly, now Madonna and Guy?

Okay all jokes aside while eight years of marriage is like forty years by Hollywood standards, I feel bad for the kids. Hopefully that split won't become ugly. Why are they breaking up?

* I had to edit this. I just read pre-nups are not legally binding in the U.K. and that is where they got married.

When I lived in L.A. my gym used to have E! showing on one of the TV monitors. There is the E! channel here in Italy and I happened to catch an episode of the "The Girls Next Door." I wonder what Italians think of this show.

One of the "girls", Holly, has broken up with Hugh Hefner (aka Hef). He made it clear he wasn't interested in getting married again or having more children. I'm not sure why she is shocked. Hef is 80, is still legally married and has grown children almost twice the age of the 20 something Holly. Hef said he was sad, they were sharing the same bed only a few days ago. The show is scheduled for a sixth season and Hef is looking for another live-in love. I don't understand why. I know with the plastic surgery and Viagra he would like to think he's still 30 but he's not. He still has two other girlfriends in their 20s, Kendra and Bridget, why add a third?

Would you become Hef's new girlfriend? Why or why not?

What’s Cooking Wednesday – A kick butt marinara sauce from Giada De Laurentiis

There are more What's Cooking recipes at Shan's place.

I agree with Ms. De Laurentiis every cook needs one. I have made different ones over the last couple of years and this is the one I like the best. It’s easy and I usually make a big batch and freeze a few portions.

I used to buy jar sauces (I know, I know) until a few years ago. Once I start making my own, I couldn’t go back. Now the jarred stuff seems too sweet, esp. Prego.



This sauce is a good base for other recipes. I got it from Giada’s book EVERYDAY PASTA. This is a fantastic cookbook. I use it a lot. Not only are the recipes excellent, I like the layout.

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 small onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes (I couldn’t find crushed tomatoes here I bought whole one and squished them with my hands.)
2 dried bay leaves

In a large pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon of each salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper, to taste. (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)

Buon Appetito!

Something I have not heard since I’ve moved to Italy….

“You are so melodramatic!”

One of my closest friends in the States used to say this to me all the time. Funny in Italy on a scale of 1 to 10, I’m a 2 at the most.

Perhaps growing up in a Caribbean household is the reason I can be overly expressive at times. I never even thought I was melodramatic until it was brought to my attention.

Then I moved to a country where a company describes its potato chips like this:

Double thickness,
twice as much flavour. 

The flavour of the countryside, vital and sumptuous.
The pleasure takes you away 
in waves of flavour.
 A truly traditional sensation that nibbles away without letting go. 


Folks, they are talking about chips! Vital and sumptuous? Pleasure taking me away in waves? Ha. This sounds like it should be about my future boyfriend.

The Vatican Museum

After three visits to Rome in two years and living here for six months, I finally made it to the Vatican Museum. I visited St. Peter’s Basilica during my first trip to Rome. I live within walking distance of the Vatican but after hearing how overwhelming the Museum was and crowded it could be, I kept putting it off. It was worth the wait.

I went on a Context tour. These tours are pricey but as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. There were two older married American couples in my group. That’s it; just five of us and a kick butt docent from England named Hilary.

To be honest I would rather stick hot knifes in my eyes than be on a tour with a large group of people. You can’t hear the guide and you're shoved quickly one space to another.

However, going on a small tour to see something specific can be rewarding. I know I would not have enjoyed the Vatican Museum as much if I had done it on my own. We could ask questions and our guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. After the tour I wanted to return to school and study the Reformation and the Counter Reformation again. As someone who tells stories for a living, I loved hearing about, Nero, the Sack of Rome, some of the outrageous Popes, the lives (and deaths) of Caravaggio and Raphael, Greek mythology, etc.

The tour was three hours and it felt like we were in there for only 30 minutes. It was gorgeous outside on Saturday and the museum wasn’t too crowded. The tour started at 2:30 so maybe we lucked out with our timing. Once we ended up in the Sistine Chapel it was packed (I could write several posts about Chapel.) I think a lot of people skip major parts of the museum and just head to the Chapel. It’s a shame because the grounds are beautiful and there are some incredible paintings in the Pinacoteca Gallery.

Hilary had a binder with her and showed us close ups of several works of art while we sat outside in a courtyard. She explained the different panels of the Sistine Chapel.

I’ve seen Michelangelo's Pieta. It’s behind bulletproof glass after a mentally disturbed man attacked the statue in the 70s. You can’t get close to the statue and see the details of Michelangelo’s work. It’s the only work he signed (look on the sash) because no one believed he did it.

As Hilary showed us the close up photographs, she said this is what Michelangelo was put on earth to do. I can’t believe he was only 23. To have that kind of talent at any age really staggers me.

I’ve mentioned before I do have some issues with organized religion (again, I'm happy my parents don’t have zee Internets) and struggle with questions of faith. I stood there and looking at the Pieta and felt moved. Where does that kind of talent come from? I feel the same way when I hear some of my favorite composers and singers. You can’t teach someone to sing, paint, or sculpt like that. They have to have some talent to begin with; maybe a teacher can help bring out the best in them.

I’m not a mother but when Hilary (who has two sons) was describing how Mary looks at her son, I seriously almost broke out in tears. The only thing that saved me from being completely embarrassed was everyone our group was in awe of this work. It’s just strange to me that something created from a block of stone can convey emotion. Freaking amazing.

When my family and friends come to Rome I will suggest this or another one of Context's tour. One of the husbands said the tours they went on in Florence were amazing and worth every penny. The professor who did the screenwriting workshop I went to a few weeks ago was raving about them as well

Here is the Context website.

The Map Room was one of my favorites.


Raphael's Transfiguration. Photos without flash are allowed in the Museum. However no photos are allowed in the Sistine Chapel. Of course people kept trying to take photos and ignored the guards asking them not to. I thought that was beyond rude. It was dark so not sure how their photos were going to turn out any way.

Flashback Friday – MC Hammer - "Can't Touch This"

When I first started doing Flashback Fridays someone reminded me not to forgot MC Hammer. Of course how could I forget this song? It was a monster hit in 1990. Song was corny as hell but thank to the great Rick James sample it was catchy.

Once Gangsta Rap became popular the days of fun hip-hop like Will Smith, MC Hammer, Sir Mix A Lot etc. were over. Mc Hammer even tried to go "hard". It didn't work.

MC Hammer went from earning millions to being broke. There was a movie on VH1 about his rise and fall. Things seem to be going better him these days.

Have a great weekend.

It's Hammer Time!

Help…I’m addicted to San Carlo’s Rustica potato chips.

Really.

I have had two bags (not the little snack size either) so far this week. I went to the supermarket closest to my house. They had only the Classica flavor. I HAD to have the Rustica so I walked several long blocks to another supermarket and bought just one bag.

Now I should probably buy more than one bag at a time but I worry I’ll eat them too quickly.

I’m trying to limit this treat to once a week, maybe during the weekend. I like to eat the chips while drinking a nice glass of Coke with lots of ice.

These Rustica chips are the bomb. They’re thick cut with the right bit of salt. Love, love, love them.

I feel the description below from the website captures the essence of this wonderful "food".

Double thickness,
twice as much flavour.

The flavour of the countryside,
vital and sumptuous.
The pleasure takes you away
in waves of flavour.
A truly traditional sensation
that nibbles away without letting go.


Here is the website. The company is based in Milano.

What are you addicted to these days?

Ab Fab - Another Hollywood remake

Variety has reported that Fox is going to remake this classic British show. It will be set in L.A.

How will this work? The original is very un-PC and the Eddy and Patsy are train wrecks. ha

The women are over 40. Hello, are there any actresses, other than Diane Lane, who haven't had so much work done they look around their age and not like creepy women trying to look 25?

Any fans of the show? Do you think this remake could work? Who would star in it?

Giovanni Bellini Exhibit Rome

If you are in or going to be in Rome anytime from now until Janary 11 2009, this is a great show to check out. It’s the first major retrospective of Bellini’s work in 60 years.

I went yesterday around 5:30 and it wasn’t too crowded. The show opened September 30th. One of the guards said the exhibit was very popular during the weekend.

It’s at the Scuderie del Quirinale. This building is fantastic. It used to be the stables for the Papal Palace.

The collection showcases work on loan from several international museums. Of course the Accademia in Venice loaned several works, along with works from the Met in NYC, The National Gallery in London, The Louvre, The Washington National Gallery, The Uffizi and The Staatliche in Berlin, etc. There are also a few pieces from private collections.

Here is some more info on Bellini and the exhibit from International Herald Tribune.

Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris, Brick Lane by Monica Ali and Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

THEN WE CAME TO END - received a bunch of buzz when it was published. I happened to be at Feltrinelli and saw it in the English language section. The hype is dead on. This fictional account of a mid-size advertising going through downsizing is hilarious and sad. Ferris nails the work place dynamic. If you have ever had co-workers, this book’s for you.


BRICK LANE - is about an 18 year-old woman, Nazneen, from Bangladesh who is sent in an arraigned marriage to London. She struggles to make sense of her new world, where she doesn’t speak the language and has a very traditional husband who is 20 years older than her. The characters really come alive. I like how the husband is a well-rounded antagonist. You do feel for him, he is struggling as much as his wife. I zipped through this book. I had to know if Nazeen was going to be okay.



HALF A YELLOW MOON – I have been meaning to read this book after hearing my friends rave about it. It’s a fictional account of two sisters in Nigeria during Biafra’s fight for Independence. The POV is a young boy from a village who has been sent to be a houseboy for a University professor. The professor is love with one of the sisters. This might sound like it’s a very heavy or an inaccessible novel. It’s not. It’s a beautifully written novel with moments of heartbreaking sorrow, yet at times it’s quite funny. Like Ferris and Ali, Adichie received much critical acclaim for her book. She’s a powerful writer entwining politics, love and family in a way few novelists can.

Flashback Friday – Carlton Banks + Tom Jones = a funny clip

Foreclosures, bail outs, debate drama, etc., I needed a break.

I was never a fan of Will Smith's "rapping". I thought his flow was kinda wack. However, his show was pretty funny at times.

Carlton Banks was/is one of the best known geeks on the planet. This short compilation cracked me up. Go on Carlton, bust a move.

Have a great weekend.

It's hard not to take things personally.

A few people have asked me what was going on with my novel. Nothing. Every book agent my literary manager and the film agent he teamed-up with sent it to, passed. Some said they like the writing but they couldn’t sell it. The commercial fiction market is brutal. Except of course for Lauren Conrad from THE HILLS who just scored a multi-book deal.

I know I should let these things roll off my back. However, when someone says, “She’s a good writer but I don’t care about this story”, it stings. Then yesterday the first thing I saw in the morning was an email from my manager regarding a producer passing on one of my scripts.

I tried not to spiral into the “I’m going to end up a bag lady. Why did I leave my job? Will I be broke forever?” malaise. I had been writing all morning. I finally walked over to Trastevere to run an errand. It felt good to get out.

That is until I started watching some show on the Discovery Channel about British people who buy houses overseas and renovate them. I starting thinking about if I don’t sell a script in Hollywood I won’t be able to pay my rent, much less buy a house. This led to the whole “I can’t believe I’m this old and I don’t own a home.” That led to “Why am I still single? Will I have a boyfriend this century?” Then I was glad I didn’t do drugs and wasn’t an alcoholic because I would have gotten messed up.

My manager and I had our weekly conference call last night. He told me to keep on writing and moving forward. He said I don’t want to become one of those bitter, jealous, struggling Hollywood screenwriters. Those folks don’t last.

He’s right. So this morning I got up and went to work, instead of wallowing in self pity. I owe the Italian film company another draft of my treatment. I took a break, went to the park (now it’s too dark to work out before I start writing) and will get back to work after breakfast. I had a cold all week. This was the first morning I was able to work out. My mood is much better.

Writing is a strange profession. You have to be sensitive enough to put pen to paper yet have tough enough skin to not let rejection break you. This dichotomy is the one of the reasons why many creative people are freaking nuts.

How do you deal with professional setbacks?

My first “What’s Cooking Wednesday” post – Rigatoni with Sausage

For now I will try to do one on the first Wednesday of the month, then increase to twice a month. I do love to cook but it takes me forever for to write the recipes down. Check out Shan's Place" for more recipes.

This dish is one of my favorite go to hearty dishes. I found the recipe in “Tastes of Italia” magazine back in the States.

RIGATONI CON SALSICCIA/Rigatoni con Salsiccia

1 pound rigatoni
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 pinch crushed dried red chile flakes
1 pound Italian sausage, cashing removed and crumbled
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 (14 oz) can tomatoes, drained and chopped (or I cup diced fresh roma tomatoes)
Salt and pepper to taste
4 bunches arugula, washed, stems removed and coarsely chopped
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese


Cook the rigatoni according to package directions. Reserve ¼- ½ cup of pasta water. Do not over cook.

Meanwhile in a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium for 5 minutes. Add the chile flakes and the sausage and cook until nicely browned. Add the vinegar and scrape bits off bottom of pan. Add garlic and tomatoes and cook about 4 minutes on medium-low, being careful not to brown the garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste

When pasta is done, drain the pasta and add it to the skillet along with the reserved pasta water. Add the arugula and cook until liquid is mostly absorbed.



Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.

Serves 4

I like a Nero D’Avola with this dish. I never had this Sicilian red wine until I moved here. It’s a good everyday wine.

randomissimo - Can someone explain this Matthew McConaughey ad?

I heard this cologne smells very nice. Is Dolce & Gabbana not aware of Malibu Matthew's rep? I can't picture him wearing cologne at all.

This ad is on here all the time.

I get the beginning but at the end when it switches to color? I like the music and the look of the ad. I think Matthew is all wrong for it. I used to think he was talented and v. good looking circa "Dazed and Confused" and "A Time to Kill". What happened? Maybe he has done too many "himbo" roles?

Paul Newman 1925-2008

One of the biggest stars in Hollywood, Newman was not just a wonderful, beautiful actor, he was also a great philanthropist. His brand, Newman's Own, (the lemonade rocked and was the best store brand) raised millions of dollars for charity.

Newman was from an era where the stars seemed larger than life. While he had great looks and charisma he was also very good actor. He wasn't some former reality show guy but a stage trained actor.

Here are some stills from "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". It's amazing to me that Newman was only 30 when he filmed this. He was a grown-up, a man. Think about most of the current American male "stars". Even the ones pushing 40 seem like teenagers.

Good bye Mr. Newman, you will be truly missed.

Flashback Friday – Miss South Carolina – Special VP debate edition

As I type this, the McCain campaign still wants to delay the debates. Move the Presidential debate, which is supposed to be held today, to the VP debate slot and hold the VP debate on a different date (when, some time after the election?).

What happens if McCain doesn’t show up? The debates have not been postponed. If he really felt the need to be in DC to deal with the bailout why not just flip the debates and have the VPs meet today?

I watched Gov. Palin on CBS. It was not good. While the McCain tried to spin the Gibson/ABC interview as sexist they can't do that this time. Katie is not known as a tough interviewer and Gov. Palin was terrible even though she had notes in front of her. Gov. Palin's answers were so incoherent even I was surprised. Her speaking style (I'll get back to ya" and she says "yeah" quite a bit) makes Bush seem like Bill Clinton.

I think the McCain campaign is worried the following would happen during the debates and that’s why they want to move it.



Once again, if McCain had vetted her he would have seen while she can give a prepared speech, she is terrible off the cuff. Gov. Palin did not have a good week. For George Will and other conservative Republicans to speak out about McCain's judgement, says a lot. Right after the convention she did bring a great energy to the ticket. Now that the dust has settled, she's actually hurting McCain. One, she overshadows him, two, because of her lack of experience and intelligence, she's limited on the campaign trail. That is a major problem. Your VP is supposed to be able to step in and pinch hit, any time, any where. It was made clear this week that she is incapable of that.

I don't think it's sexist or elitist to say Gov. Palin has no business being on the ticket. Watching that Couric interview made my stomach hurt and really pissed me off. We are facing major problems (it looks like Washington Mutual is going down and might be sold to JP Morgan) and this is who Steve Schmidt picks to be on the ticket? Are you kidding me?! I think she is worse than Bush. Seriously.

Have a great weekend.

Clay Aiken comes out of the closet.

And in related news, the sky is blue.

Seriously, I'm glad he doesn't have to lie anymore. I'm surprised so many of his fans (the Claymatics) had no idea or still refuse to believe he's gay. Are they for real?

Off topic, McCain wants to delay the Presidential and VP debates "because of the financial crisis".

I'm sorry but as President one has to juggled many problems at once. I don't think they should delay them. I actually want to hear what the candidates have to say about these important issues.

Films, writing and fear in Hollywood

Last week I attended a screenwriting workshop sponsored/organized by the Italian film company I sold a project to.

The exec I work with received her Masters at one of the best film schools in the U.S. One of her former professors held the workshop. This professor also teaches at the top film school in Paris.

The class was in English but I was the only American writer. I really enjoyed the workshop and it was fun to meet some of the Italian writers and writer/directors.

The main things the class focused on was structure, themes, and characters. Writing a script is so different from writing a novel. You might start a novel not knowing your ending. For a script if you don’t know the ending, you will go back and rewrite the beginning after you figure it out.

We watched films that couldn’t be more different (Sideways, The Elephant Man, The Godfather, The Shawshank Redemption, Billy Elliot, Notting Hill etc.) and yet they all had the same structure.

I’ve seen all the films we watched and there were things the professor pointed out that I never noticed before. This workshop will definitely help me with my writing.

We also talked about the “industry.” Hollywood is in a strange place right now. The system is broken. Everything is so geared toward young teen boys, other audiences are underserved. That is why everyone freaked out when a study came out a few years ago saying teen boys ranked going to the movies below playing video games and being online as the things they liked to do for entertainment.

Film critic Jeffrey Wells ha a website called Hollywood-elsewhere.com which is a great read. Currently it’s heavy on politics, and he can get down right cranky sometimes. Anyway, he was talking about how fear in Hollywood is ruining the business. He complained most of the powers that be don’t seem to have any love of film. They are operating from fear and that is why so many mainstream commercial movies suck.

I agree with someone who left a comment saying if you work in film and never get that goose bump feeling before a movie starts, perhaps you should do something else for a living. Several execs have told me they hated writers. Umm okay, why stay in Hollywood? There are other, easier ways to make money.

We will be seeing more comic book movies (there are a bunch in development) and more remakes coming out of Hollywood. I love comics as a child but enough already.

What genres are you sick of and what types of movies do you want to see more of?