SUNRISE/Austin Film Society

Tuesday night at the Alamo S. Lamar and we continue with the Essential Cinema Series of European emigre filmmakers.  Tonight's film SUNRISE, directed by F.W. Murnau is a silent film from 1927.  Abe and I approached this silent film with some reservation..."silent" is what had us less than enthusiastic.  But boy were we so wrong in our initial reservation and so happy we experienced this gorgeous film.  Dr. Charles Ramirez-Berg (a really popular and highly acclaimed  UT professor of film) introduced the film and provided the notes.  He prepared us for the German filmmaker's orientation toward film: to present the  inner workings of the characters,  their motivations, their desires, their contentment and their discontents, the construct of their psyches.  (Abe whispered "ah, it's all so Freudian").  How right he was.  With no words the actors communicated heartfelt, intense  and raw feelings.  A husband sins, he turns into a monster while rowing a boat and preparing to murder his wife.  She begs for mercy and runs far away from him.  She communicates her abhorrence for him.  He is ashamed, so ashamed.  She forgives.  They have fun.  The film goes from dark drama to all American fun with carnivals, city streets, restaurants, barbershops.  And then the inevitable darkness is revisited in the form of a storm, out of everyone's control.  There is a Hollywood ending (thank goodness).  I couldn't have bared to lose these wonderful characters.

Dr. Ramirez-Berg pointed out that Murnau was an incredible humanist.  There is no doubt about this.  His actors bring you in to their world.   You join them in  their pain, their happiness, their fears, their shame.  You're happy to be human, a part of this experience.  I just loved this film!

In addition, Dr. Ramirez-Berg provided some history as a founding person of AFS with Chale Nafus.  He talked about how much fun they all had when they first put AFS together:  "Just a bunch of guys sitting around watching films."  He talked about the joy of being with people who felt as  passionately about something as you did.  He recognized how much AFS has given us and  asked us to say "hi" to Chale and thank him at the end of the films we see.  This one's for you Chale:  THANK-YOU SO MUCH!!!!  I hope you know how much we appreciate our Tuesday nights and more.

RED TAILS and BESS BISTRO

I am so happy George Lucas has finally brought this patriotic film of the all black Tuskegee Airmen to theaters.  The dog fights of the P51 Mustangs kickin' ass and shooting down Hitler's Luftwaffee had me thrilled, cheering, holding my breath, squeezing Abe's hand tightly.  The aerial fights  are thrilling, the men's camaraderie and closeness are heartwarming, the cinematography of Italy is gorgeous, and America's racism is unhidden and shameful.  I don't care if this film is criticized as being formulaic and aged in it's presentation of WWII, it is thrilling, and tells an important story.  Don't miss it.

We then went to Bess Bistro with Reed (Sandra Bullock's place).  Great atmosphere and good food.

This morning I was an extra at the Paramount in "bumpers" for SXSW. Those tiny shorts before the films.  What fun!  What a pleasure to see these filmmakers work so collaboratively.  And these tiny fill in shorts are FUNNY!

NEXT TO NORMAL @ Zach Theatre

A musical about mental illness?  Me liking it?  Me taking Abe to see it?  That's what happens when you step out of your comfort zone.  We had front row seats at this intimate theater and it was opening night so there was champagne and food after the show.  We both LOVED this performance.  The director, David Steakley had his own reservations about this Pulitzer prize winning Broadway musical and did not see it until a third visit to NYC.  And am I glad he did and brought it to Austin.  Hats off to the ensemble and Kelli Schultz, a UT Senior (Plan II Honors) in the role of Natalie.  This young woman's talent will serve her well as a teacher in S.F. in Teach For America after graduation.   The leading role was performed by Meredith McCall who has worked with the director for 20 years.  She is superbly talented.  My friends back in NY are laughing and shaking their heads.  This "I don't like musicals" person is loosening up her grip.  A wonderful evening of theater.

Visual Arts Center (VAC) at UT

What's more beautiful?  The Opening  night exhibits or the people who come to observe?  I couldn't keep my eyes off of either.  The huge sculpture upon entering, a piece by Diana Al-Hadid is beautiful and can be observed from two floors.  The people watching was just fantastic.  Visual artists and their community care much more about what they wear than the film community.  I love it all.

We got a parking ticket when we left.  That sucked.  I've already appealed.  Night y'all.

First You Take Care of Business Then You Shop!

On this glorious sunny day in Austin I walked to City Hall over the 1st Street bridge to vote yes to stop the repeal of a law requiring non medical pregnancy centers from telling the truth.  They don't offer medical services to help women make decisions about reproductive care.  They offer a religious point of view.  And the city council voted 6-0 to stop the repeal.  This is why voting counts.  To continue on this fine day  I did what I have never ever stopped loving.  Shopped for sales. 

Went to Plain Ivey Jane (an overstock boutique shop) and bought a gorgeous multicolored sundress for $30  off the clearance rack.  It called "Addie" to me.  Then over to LOVELY my favorite Vintage shop and bought a Cynthia Rowley bag I've coveted for months. 50% off and $20  in my account from consigned clothing and I got the bag for $20!

Love Letter to Austin: the weather, your politics, shopping deals, culture!!!!  You so tickle my soul!

UT OLLI and RAIN

Classes today; rain all last night  (5.8"), Abe's playing tennis now; I'm cooking turkey meatballs and spicy sauce with whole wheat shells and broccoli with garlic.  So my brain has been nurtured, my garden is just singin' from  the rain, Abe is happy.  Spoke to Josh last night,  he loves his job in D.C. sharing bicycles with the populace.  And today Liz thanked me for all of my links to culture.  My kids are well and doing well.

I figure the 62 years of social work practice that we put in between us has not gone unrecognized thanks to a higher power.  Abe thinks I'm crazy when I think this way, but I don't.  This life is one to be grateful for.  And I am truly grateful.

FAUST/Austin Film Society

Continuing with the European Escaping Filmmakers at the Alamo this evening we had the good fortune to see Murnau's FAUST.  A silent film from 1925 Germany with heavy dramatic performances.  Good vs. evil, an archangel vs. the devil, and a young woman being punished brutally for having loved.  Scenes of her clutching her baby through a blizzard and being denied help are heartbreaking.  While I'm not a lover of silent films (no I don't think THE ARTIST is the best picture of the year) I must admit I was surprised by how engaging this film was.  Coming home to Chale Nafus' notes (almost 5 pages tonight) is always fun and so informative..  The information and analysis he provides about the lives of the directors, their childhoods, their travels, their lovers, their performances on the sets always helps me to rethink the film.  And perhaps to understand the film better.  And then there's always Abe to answer questions about what we just saw.  In this case "three heads are better than one."

EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE

What I love about this film is that it's about a boy who thinks.  He thinks things through with enormous energy, logic, oriented to detail,  and is thoroughly unconnected to pop culture. He is a quintessential New Yorker and like so many of Jonathan Safran Foer's characters his history  has layers of life's trauma and ordeals and his response is unique. On top of this he's considered to have autistic features (nonconclusive Asperger's Syndrome) and is so fortunate to have a father (and then a mother as well) who does not reject his thought process, but enhances it, works with him, challenges him to face his fears.    I loved young Thomas Horn's performance as well as  Max Von Sydow, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright.  This was quite an ensemble. 

This film about a boy who loses his father on 9/11 in the towers so touched me personally.  Here we were a New York family all in different places when the towers were struck, scrambling for everyone to get home safely while we were all in different boroughs in schools and at jobs.  A good father (Tom Hanks/Abe) who himself does not have a father due to wartime traumatic events.  And then to see a young boy search so many familiar neighborhoods in the outer boroughs, interacting fearlessly with people from so many diverse cultures.  His comfort with the streets, people of all ages and cultures  (even though he is so riddled with fear and carries a tambourine to calm himself) reminded me of what my children received from that NY childhood.  For some reason NYC is always at it's finest when responding to a traumatic event.

I loved this film.  I loved the characters and the ultimate acceptance of a horrific event that brought an unspeakable loss to a very special young boy.  I'm reading the book right now as well.  It's wonderful.

Graham Reynolds at the 29th Street Ballroom

Tonight we headed up north  to hear Prokofiev's Visions Fugitives (22 mini compositions for piano).  They were first performed by Dr. Jeff Helmer the Director of Jazz at UT (our neighbor, a very pleasant man) and then by Graham Reynolds and the Golden Hornet Project.  This was FINE music: radical, interpretive, collaborative, fun, and delivered with good humor and incredible skill.  Abe's not big on interpretive music and found this extremely enjoyable.  29th Street Ballroom is a really good venue to hear music as well.  The audience loved this performance.  Me too!

Mexican American Cultural Center

Tonight we headed down to the Emma Barrientos MACC with Reed for the opening exhibit of "Fingerprints of Reality" an exhibit of photos depicting the immigrant's journey and "Barrio Scenes", paintings of East Austin.  The photojournalist, Carlos Lazano and the painter Roy Madrano were present at the opening and spoke as well.  Liz and Jared met up with us as well and we were all impressed with the work presented.  I was very moved by both artists' talks, as this was both of their first exhibits.  Both were so appreciative for the opportunity to show their work.The MACC is a beautiful space, entry is free.  I have seen wonderful films and exhibits in this space that offers so much to the community.

We then ate pizza at HOUSE on Airport and 51st.  It's good brick oven pizza.  Great atmosphere and good talking with good friend Reed.  This afternoon I hooked up with Ria and her Mom, Amandine, visiting from Belgium at SO CO Cafe.  A good day of people, art, intelligent conversation.  Some days just offer so much.

MATZOH BALLS

No, this isn't an indie film or a new rock group.  It's an ethnic food that's close to our hearts and homes.  I would invariably get a call from Liz when she was at UT at about 11PM at night:  "mama, it's Liz.  I'm at HEB and I want to make matzoh ball soup for my friends 'cause tomorrow is a Jewish holiday.  What should I get?"  And always I told her, Matzoh Ball Mix, Manischewitz or Goodman's.  Just follow the directions, it's exactly the same as if you start with matzoh meal.  She always called later to say they weren't as good as mine.  I always loved that. When your kid is thousands of miles away it's nice to hear that some things are not replaced easily.  The trick is after you've followed the directions and removed them from the fridge, place the balls in your homemade chicken soup and not in boiling water as directed.  Every ethnicity in the world has their own chicken soup.   If you want to try matzoh balls just make your soup, place the matzoh balls in the soup and 20 minutes later voile!  L'Chaim.  To Life!

MY REINCARNATION/Austin Film Society

Tonight found us back at the Alamo S. Lamar for AFS doc night with a pretty booked house.  This is an interesting film about a Tibetan father and son in Italy and their relationship to Buddhism, reincarnation, the Dali Lama, and each other.  The son (Yeshi) is a secular young man born to a Tibetan Buddhist teacher and an Italian Catholic mother.  She has raised him and his sister pretty much as a single parent, however her reverence  for her husband is apparent.  He is a renowned master  teacher who believes his son is the reincarnation of his great uncle who himself was an important lama.  Initially Yeshi is reluctant to assume this responsibility but after time, maturation, his father's illness he steps into the role and becomes a masterful and revered teacher himself.  What I liked about this film mostly was the universality of the tension and conflict that can be created by a parent's expectations.  It seems this conflict was satisfactorily resolved for this young man and his father.  They're the lucky ones.

We're back at UT classes with OLLI  and were really surprised to like our morning class entitled LEGENDS OF THE TEXAS FRONTEIR (1800-1825).  The instructor was well prepared with interesting material, extremely knowledgeable, showed a fine PBS film about the West and it's impact on the American character.  Once again we've learned that keeping an open mind has paid off.  The next class was the ORIGINS OF ROCK AND ROLL taught by Jerry Conn.  What a hoot!  This guy is a great teacher and the music!  Everyone in this class was smiling!  The lecture in the afternoon was COUNTERFEIT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.  Good scary information about the greedy world we live in and how people traffic in anything! 
A fine day for my brain in Austin.

FURY/Austin Film Society

Tonight's Essential Cinemas found us back with Fritz Lang in this American made film from 1936.  It's B&W, the subject is lynch mob mentality, revenge, justice, death penalty and love.  Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney provide brilliant dramatic performances.  The opening scene of them discussing their future marriage before she leaves for a better paying teaching job  is one of the most realistic romantic scenes I've seen on film.  No fluff,  just peanuts, torn jackets, a decision to not have twin beds, sets the stage for a relationship that you want desperately to succeed.  When you think it might not, you're heartbroken.

While Chale Nafus'  extensive notes (4 pages tonight) offer great behind the scenes info about Lang's collossal difficulties with cast and crew, MGM and Louis Mayer you also are made aware of Lang's enormous sensitivity to the human condition, fairness, justice.  It seems he loved humanity but had a real hard time with people.

This is a beautiful film that captures so well the ugliness of people in a mob as well as the transformation of a character when he is able to rethink his need for revenge and what he will lose if he carries out his plan.

As an aside.  Sylvia Sidney was an absolutely beautiful woman and talented actor.  She was born in the Bronx to Jewish immigrant parents (Romanian and Russian) who divorced and then was adopted by her step-father, Sigmund Sidney,a dentist.  She attended a well known acting school in NY to overcome shyness and from the earliest time was encouraged by her parents to pursue her acting career.
(Forgive me for putting in that bit of  NYC nostalgia. I couldn't help myself).  Night y'all.

CONTRABAND

This is an engaging  action packed thriller with Mark Wahlberg's signature all over it.   He's fiercely masculine, sexy and tough.  Defends his wife and kids with supernatural physicality and enjoys the danger along the way.  This 3 star film is worth the price of admission to just see Giovanni Ribisi perform as a drug lord seeking his take after a drug shipment becomes bungled.  This was a great way to spend a cloudy afternoon after gym and Abe's walk with Foundation residents.

We pay homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today.  How different the world would be had his life not been shortened by a bullet sent with hatred.  We have not been able to cleanse ourselves from this hatred to this day.  Martin we need you more than ever.

Sausage, Peppers, Onions,Potatoes and Football

Some of us watch football and some of us ( me) remain clueless and use the time to cook.  And feed the football watchers.  So here ya go:  Greek Salad, Chicken Tenders,

Sausage, Peppers, Onions, and Potato Bake Recipe - Allrecipes.com 

and of course it begins with that winning

 Shrimp and Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe | Yummly

Enjoy enjoy to all my football watching friends.

Stav, Lindsey, Liz Back in the Hood

My girls are back.  All together in Austin.  Stav spent a semester at Rutgers and is back home in Austin and we are all lucky.  She's a talented teacher, beautiful inside and out, and resumed working immediately.  Liz and Lindsey complete the trio and I just love to feed them and they just love to eat and always come hungry. A perfect combo.  Tonight was: 
 Shrimp and Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe | Yummly

Spicy turkey meatloaf, roasted potatoes, broccoli and of course home baked cookies.  I just love this part of my life here in Austin. Feeding people I love.  Tomorrow it's Reed's turn.  And of course football for Abe.

IRON LADY

Flawless performance by MERYL.  Gorgeous film with stunning cinematography, make-up and costume.  Captivating, opening scene will knock middle aged women married for a long time to their spouses to their knees. Written by a woman Abi Morgan (she co-wrote SHAME) and directed by a woman Phyllida Lloyd (MAMA MIA, now that's different) and this is a shout out to women.  Regardless of what you feel or felt about Margaret Thatcher and her conservative politics this film will make you relate to her with empathy , root for her, and accept her.
   
No one in the theater moved when the film ended.  Everyone sat until the last credit was given.  Don't miss this, it's spellbinding.

We then headed to GrayDuck Gallery for an opening of Austin local artists.  Cool.  Right behind LOVELY.  What could be better?

Unheard of in Brooklyn

Announcing a FREEZE!  And the notice and attention Austin gives it.  I have finally learned to protect my garden; Abe runs around turning hoses and faucets on, plants are brought in from the terrace.  This is hysterical!  In Brooklyn we lived in a freeze and all you did was curse when you had to schlep kids to school through snow banks taller than them, figure out subway and bus routes to get to your hospital jobs (hospitals NEVER close); pray that the streets were shoveled so you didn't fall a bazillion times before you got to work; on and on.  Austin, I LOVE your panic attacks about weather. 

OOPS

Can write but can't post on FB.  Has happened before and once they determine I'm not posting nude photos, dirty, offensive material or whatever else you're not allowed to post,  Brooklyn Native/Austin Grown will appear again.  Nevertheless, to my friends in Austin enjoy this gorgeous weather.  Peace 

M/Austin Film Society

We're back to AFS;  Chale's tomes; Essential Cinemas and the Alamo South Lamar.  This series of films groups three emigre filmmakers who left Europe and went elsewhere to make films.  (Not sure where "elsewhere" is just yet but for Fritz Lang it was Hollywood).  We began with M starring Peter Lorre.  I knew nothing of this intensely dramatic B&W film about a murderer of children.  The opening scene where a Mom prepares her child's lunch and awaits her arrival home from school is harrowing as we see her beautiful little girl walking home from school, bouncing a ball and eventually meeting up with this murderous creep.  The community's response to the murderer among them is well portrayed, their use of beggars to behave as spies is clever and very realistically shot, and the moral issue of "do you kill him" or have him stand trial is relevant today as well.  The moral conflicts of pre-Hitler Germany being played out in a courtroom rather than with a lynch mob is testament to Lang's moral conscience.  His wife Thea von Harbou wrote the screenplay so I won't imagine how she could go from wanting proper legal management of a child murderer to being a member of the nazi party.  Thankfully, Fritz Lang declined Goebbel's invitation to become the Fuhrer (what a word!) of Film Production and got out.   Another survivor who has brought so much to the American culture.

THE ARBOR (Documentary)

A well made unusual documentary (Clio Barnard filmmaker) combining actors with lip synching of the actual subjects.  THE ARBOR is an estate (think poor housing project) in England where Andrea Dunbar, a young playwright grew up and died at the age of 28.  But not before she made her mark (3 plays written and produced) and brought three children into the world to share her ravaged life.  She suffered from serious alcoholism and the story is told by her children.  Her eldest daughter Lorraine appears to have been affected the most and her life is a shambles with addiction, prostitution, multiple children removed from her care and one child dead.  But throughout this honest case study there are some shining moments of humanity: Andrea's remarkable talent in her written words enacted by actors at outdoor readings at the estate; and the sheer love of Lorraine's foster parents.  It's not up beat, but very well made.  Reminded me of all of the families I worked with from Red Hook and Gowanus Housing Projects.  Poor is poor and the lives lived are frequently unbelievably sad, particularly for kids.

Bach's Herd of Harpsichord's

I studied classical piano from age 6-13.  The piano teacher lived in my building in the Bronx.  She was a witch.  I was forced to practice two hours a day, was sent downstairs to our basement apartment when I was ill prepared for my lesson, and the day my mother liberated me from these lessons was a national personal holiday!  I caught many a beatings for not wanting to perform for family and visitors.  However I emerged from this experience with a love of Bach and baroque music.  And for that I am grateful. Bach was my favorite composer and I loved playing his Inventions.

And today we went up to the First Presbyterian Church where we listened to a wonderful Bach program performed  by LA FOLLIA AUSTIN BAROQUE with three harpsichords and a baroque ensemble.  It was just beautiful.  Abe joined me and enjoyed much of it.  After a while he's had enough Bach. And to prevent gridlock in the parking lot we left a bit before the program ended.  This is what you call compromise in a marriage.   The concert was lovely and we ran into Ria and Amandine, her lovely mother here from Belgium.
It is a pleasure to run into someone who is so happy to see you! 

And now home to Abe's beloved football.  A compromise in a marriage.  It works.

Bows, Cauliflower and Raisins

Deeeeeeelicious!  Here ya go:
1 lb farfalle
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup bread crumbs
l large head cauliflower, broken into florets
1/4 cup olive oil
3 chopped anchovies (I used 6)
2 lg cloves garlic, pressed
1/4 tsp hot red pepper flakes
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup Marsala wine (I didn't have any so I skipped this)
juice of one lemon
Boil the water for the pasta and then cook as directed.
Toast the pine nuts and then the bread crumbs in a dry skillet separately.  Careful, they burn easily.
Place cauliflower in a pot and cover with 1" water.  Cover and steam for 5 minutes. Place in colander.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet, add anchovies, garlic, hot pepper flakes, raisins and steamed cauliflower.  Cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes.  Add wine and lemon and cook 5 minutes. 
Drain pasta and add it to skillet.  I halved this recipe so it fit.  If you make the whole recipe put the skillet contents, pine nuts and bread crumbs in the pasta pot.
Toss well and serve. 
I made 1/2 recipe and had enough left over for another meal for Abe.
Bon Appetit.
Now to watch the Republicans beat each other up.

What Would NEVER Happen in Brooklyn, New York

We came home last night to no water throughout the house.  Checked with each neighbor who all had water so  I called Emergency Water Services and spoke to Paul.  He took the info and assured me someone would be here within two hours.  On a Friday night!  Someone was here at 10:30PM and told us we had a busted main water pipe and were losing 6 gallons/minute.  He turned off our water and instructed us to get a plumber and let Water Services know it was repaired so we could be reimbursed.   I then called ABC Home Improvements where we're hooked up to their Emergency Services and this morning at 7 a.m. we received a call that the plumber would be here in 45 minutes.  He's out their digging now.  I repeat.  This would NEVER ever happen in N.Y.  Any emergency services required by our old loft building took days.  And sometimes (not too infrequently) we'd be without water for a day or night at a time.  I won't even mention the difference in $.  Austin, once again I am reminded of my love for you! On this one Abe's on board.

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY at the Violet Crown

We both loved this beautifully shot slow paced spy thriller.   It's nothing like any of the action packed modern spy movies of today.  More like a 1950's story of intrigue and story telling than a shoot em up terrorist flick. Abe thought it moved along like a novel.  Gary Oldman is brilliant.  These are actors who demonstrate their skill and craft at the highest artistic level. I recommend this film highly.

This morning I auditioned up at the Chancellor's House (actually pool house) for a Yale student's  film. Good screenplay, fun audition, UT Chancellor has a very elegant house.  The neighborhood reminded me of Scarsdale, NY (a wealthy suburb).  And then I came 5 miles back down south to our edgy diverse hood.  Like living in Brooklyn.

Came home to no water.  Called neighbors, everyone has water.  Called Emergency Water Services and they'll be here within 2 hours.  It's a Friday night!  Way to go Austin!

OFF THE WALL on S. CONGRESS

Abe's idea to go to First Thursday on South Congress and scout out some new local artists' stuff (we're open-minded about arts and crafts).  And lo and behold there were no crowds, just people strolling and some vintage shops opened.  Restaurants actually weren't filled to capacity.  SWEET!  That's because everyone is shopped out and the first Thursday in January isn't even advertised.  It's not for real.  But it was good for Abe and me.  We stopped in at Mi Casa and spoke to Jim who has sold us some wonderful hammered copper and recycled wood furniture.  And headed to Uncommon Objects which is always a good browse through for uncommon objects.  And then we stopped at Off The Wall where we always enjoy chatting with the owners.  And we spotted a find and purchased as well.  With a 24 hour clause to return if it didn't work.  It's a mirror with lots of African and local wood and a shelf and some steel rods and it's vintage.  (What a description!)  Best is it's  made by a local artist who has sold his stuff for years at the Armadillo Crafts Fair.  But not anymore.  And so we add to our collection of Armadillo Crafts Fair stuff.  And in this vein we continue to support local artists which makes it all worthwhile.

BANNED,BURNED,SEIZED,and CENSORED at HRC

I skipped Body Pump today to pump my brain.  (Cycled 45 minutes for those of you who are well aware of my flexible nature. HA!)  We went up to Harry Ransom Center where we were really engaged by the current exhibits.  THE GREENWICH VILLAGE BOOKSHOP DOOR is an actual door with signatures of 240 artists, writers, publishers, philosophers and just plain ol GV folks.  The years were 1920-1925 and the door was located in Frank Shay's book shop at 4 Christopher Street.  The BW photos, the maps, salvaged books, local newspaper articles, diaries are a wonderful memoir of a literary Bohemia that existed in that part of the city.  We were both transfixed.  The next exhibit on censorship is astonishing.  Can you imagine an annual book burning of obscene literature in NYC supervised by the NYPD? These were the years in between our wars.  God forbid you should read about sex for a breather!  In Boston the Watch and Ward Society truly gave birth to our current Tea Party affiliates.  As I said this is astonishing. Also on exhibit was a 1940 Frida Kahlo Self Portrait. I've seen many prints of this famous painting and was so happy to catch it here before it goes on it's many travels.

We ate at Kerbey Lane and then headed to the new Student Activity Center on campus.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  Modern, spacious, green, green, green and high tech.  A nice compliment to the UNION and just another reason we love UT.  Each time we're on campus we are reminded how fortunate we were to be able to send Liz here.  We each took the subway daily to our City University campuses.

Peanutty Double Chip Cookies and Community

I bake weekly.  No special occasion. Just was raised valuing the importance of thanking people who provide a service with food.  So aside from my family,  Foundation Community residents and staff, the ABC Pest Control guy, the plumber, Postal Workers, the tree guys, the contractor and his helpers,  UPS delivery men, and my favorites, the AFS interns are all recipients of my home baked cookies.  And it makes me feel so happy!  People really love cookies.  Here's what I baked today.  They're great.  Try them...you won't be disappointed.

Peanutty Double Chip Cookies recipe | m.ifood.tv

Lasagne and Those Old DVDS

Liz, Jared and Abe played tennis today to bring in the New Year.  And then came back to S 4th street for left-over lasagne.  When we first moved to Austin we took all of our old family videos and put them on a couple of DVDs.  And today Jared got to see "lil Liz" at her birthdays, dance recitals, elementary school graduations and family vacations where she spent hours looking for bugs.  Liz laughed her head off, Abe couldn't get over how much hair he had and how dark his eyebrows once were.  And I couldn't help but think how happy we all were.  Probably because the videos stopped once they were teens.  And now everyone's grown and photos are happy once again.

SHERLOCK HOLMES Second Time Around

Abe loved the action, special effects, humor.  I sat their holding my head up on one palm thinking "oy vey when will this be over?"  Marc Savlov in the CHRONICLE calls this a "revisionist Holmes explodathon" and while I could never think up a term like that it  describes it perfectly.  What really bothered me was that all of the actors always looked so shmutzy (translation:dirty).  I would pass on this but if you like films like Abe does then go see it and have a fun time!

We ate at El Alma on Barton Springs and it was delicious with Happy Hour prices.  Now that's a good way to begin the New Year.  May 2012 bring everyone peace, prosperity, kindness and a world that rewards human kindness.  And not just because it looks good on your resume.