So, this is the new year...

There'd be no distance that could hold us back.
So, this is the new year...

2009!

I will be a little sad to see 2008 go. It is the year that I graduate nursing school, got an RN job, moved to Portland. It was beautiful year for a lot of reasons. Time to makes some plans for 2009. Also, I find myself wondering about what will happen to the new year glasses once it's 2010. I'm afraid for their existence.

One reason I love being a nurse.

I'm moody, so I can only think of one. It's the things my patients say. Yesterday, an elderly women needed help moving from her chair to her bed. I'm nearly 6 feet tall and...shall I say...curvy? Anyway, the other nurse and CNA asked for my help. When I went into the room the patient said "you are a fine figure of a woman." That made my week.

Happy Holidays!

"What was it like as a little queer in Phoenix?"

My sister and I saw 'Milk' on Sunday night. Great film. As she said in the car afterward, Sean Penn is the best living American actor. He is spot on genius in everything he does. I was so drawn into the movie because of his performance as Harvey Milk.



Gus Van San is a brilliant director. I know there have been missteps but in general, his movies are always witty and thoughtful. He did very well with this film. The screenwriter did a fantastic job, as well. At times it reminded me of 'My Own Private Idaho.' The scene in which Cleve calls up all of his friends for the rally, it was just like the scene in MOPI when the hustlers are all magazine cover boys in the porn shop. The color and style were very similar. I liked that.



The cast was amazing. Josh Brolin was Dan White. Very good casting move. Who else loved the scene with Dan, Harvey, and Jack outside of the birthday party? Not many people play drunk well but he did it. Diego Luno was fantastic, too. It was a nice touch of humor for the movie.



The relationship between Harvey and Scott was sweet. It was this very touching story in the middle of the heaviness of what was going on. They loved each other. Sean and James did wonderful. I will say that I thought James would have a bigger part in the film. There has been a lot of buzz about him and he did well but I wasn't blown away buy any one thing.

Sean deserves the Oscar. I don't know how he does it. The first scene with Sean taping himself in the kitchen, you know it's going to be amazing. Especially if you've heard the actual recording of Harvey Milk saying it. He becomes him.

Emile Hirsch. Oh Emile...you're the new love of my life. He was adorable as Cleve Jones. I didn't think he had it in him and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the film.



In the end it fired up my little activist heart and made me motivated to rage against the machine. That's all I ever really want from a film. :)

Go see it.

Five Songs by Artists You Should Know.

It is winter. Snow has fallen. Scarves have come out of the closest. [pun intended] Noses and toes are cold. In honor of all of the seasonal joy, I thought I'd give you a song list. A few songs by some artists that I think are great and come highly recommended...by myself. Click the names for the Myspace links and have a listen.

Johnny Flynn

'I wonder where you learned to be so good
I wonder if I'm doing the best I could..'

Johnny is amazing. He's a new find for me. He feels old. I love that. It's romantic. It doesn't hurt that he's very pretty. Almost boy band pretty but he doesn't come with shiny outfits or choreography. Just sweet, sweet tunes. I'd recommend Brown Trout Blues, Shore to Shore, and The Wrote & The Writ.

Radical Face

'I see the airplanes, they're pouring from the chest
they fill the air and burn and bury just like the rest...'

Radical Face is incredible. Incredible. I can't even remember the first time I heard him. I just remember listening to Wrapped in Piano Strings and crying. Lyrically and musically very talented. I'd recommend that song, as well as Welcome Home and Let the River In.

The National

'Turn the light out say goodnight
no thinking for a little while
lets not try to figure out everything at once
It’s hard to keep track of you falling through the sky
we’re half-awake in a fake empire...'

Who isn't from Brooklyn lately? The National is a great band. The vocals are unique and you can't really help listening to it. Great music, as well. Listen to Start a War and Fake Empire.

Joanna Newsom

'This is an old song, these are old blues
and this is not my tune but it's mine to use
and the seabirds where the fear once grew
will flock with a fury and they will bury
what'd come for you...'

This is the part when my sister leaves the blog. Okay, okay. Joanna is a definite acquired taste. I just can't help but love her. She's quirky as F but in a really cool and haunting way. I'm in love with the sound of the harp. Give her a chance. I'd listen to Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie and Peach, Plum, Pear.

Land of Talk

'A little thunders good, I thought maybe you would
but it's okay, we all feel left out
sometimes growing up, it can get you down...'

Don't doubt Canada's ability to put out decent music. I know Obama was elected, so we no longer need to threaten to move to Canada but pay attention to their music. Land of Talk is great. Lovely and simple lyrics. I mean that is the best of ways. I recommend It's Okay and Some Are Lakes.


Happy listening.

Or stay and fight!

'There's hope for a better world, there's hope for a better tomorrow. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the asians, the disabled, the seniors. The us's. The us's. Without hope the us's give up. I know you cannot live on hope alone but without it life isn't worth living. You and you and you have gotta give 'em hope. Thank you very much."
-Harvey Milk.


My sister and I watched 'The Times of Harvey Milk' tonight. It is the Academy Award winning documentary from 1984 about Harvey Milk. Because my public school education failed me I didn't know about Harvey Milk until I was 16 and read about him on my own time. It's an amazing and inspiring story. I cannot wait to go see 'Milk.' Sean Penn and James Franco were nominated for Film Independent Spirit Awards today for their roles in the movie. In my opinion the Spirit Awards win over the Oscars any day.

World AIDS Day.

Prevent.
Educate.
Respect.
Empower.
Share.
Protect.
Love.
Unite.