WeatherGirl’s Station

Amusing. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s performance as Lola, by itself, is worth the price of admission. He is absolutely fabulous in a part that ranges from outrageous humour to heart rending pathos. It’s a little slow at the start and I didn’t find our hero particularly appealing but Chewy just rocks, baby! You must rent this dvd.

Current temperature 36F/2C

Before this is completely ancient news … last Thursday 5 April at 7pm, in the HFA Recital Hall was D-Day for Unhindered By Talent Productions.

Phi and the young’un hosted a wild night of music, song, improvisation, and dance. A stupendous entertainment performed by UMMers and their friends, all in aid of two cancer-related charities.

Lance Armstrong Foundation
Cancer Kids Fund of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

More than a hundred people made it to the show which raised more than $750 from donations that evening and on-line at the Lance Armstrong Foundation web page.

Our hosts performed many of their own songs as first seen at UMM Open Mic Nights and the ASA Talent Show including: Taco Man, Fat fly, and Crabgrass. Plus several covers including, Looking for my leopard and I’m so lonesome I could cry.

Even yours truly got in on the act, reading a number of short poems throughout the evening.

I’m assuming you can still add some pennies to the pot, here if the fancy moves you.

You can read more on the evening’s festivities here and the final accounting here.

Current temperature 37F/3C

Quirky. A rather amusing and entertaining film that was much under rated when it was first released, which for the life of me I can’t understand. Visually pleasing with interesting characters and lots of great humour all the way through. What’s not to like? Even Will Farell is half way decent in this and I usually loath the movies he’s in.

Current temperature 25F/-4C

This winter has been bizarre. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to say we even had a winter at all. Usually, by November there’s permanent snow on the ground. This year I didn’t have to shovel until February! Of course, we got swiped by a storm that dumped big fat flakes all over us and I spent hours digging us out. (All my visits to the gym, using the weight machines, have paid off big time. No achey arms or back. I have shoveling muscles. Yay me!!!!)

After two weeks of snow the temperature warmed and warmed and warmed and spring sprang. One day it hit 70F. Talk about madness. The grass turned green. The birds chirped. We had spring-like rain. Yesterday it was beautiful.

This morning I woke, looked out the window and did a double take. There was snow everywhere. School was cancelled and we had our blizzard on! Wow, that wind was wicked, the drifts were scary. There’s was definitely no leaving town today.

So yeah, I live in Bizarro Weatherland.

Current temperature 16F/-9

Incredible. This has got to be one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. Ever! That may sound a little over the top but I assure you this definitely not only a must see movie but a must buy movie too.

Even though you know how the threads of the story resolve, the tension mounts almost unbearably. You’ll need a box of tissues when you watch. If you don’t shed a tear or two you should turn in your ‘member of the human race’ card afterward.

There are many telling moments but one of the most powerful for me is towards the end when the passengers and hijackers are all praying. Christians and Muslims, all praying to the same god but for different purposes. Though the film doesn’t ‘comment’ I think it profound to contemplate similar historical events where the roles were reversed.

Current temperature: 39F/4C

Saturday we attended the 29th Annual UMM Jazz Fest and, wow, it was a humdinger of a show. Chris Vadala and Allen Vizzutti were the guest artists and they blew the top off the building. The UMM students were no slouches either and we saw some of the best student performances, solos and combos there have been.

The young’un got to participate this year too. His jazz teacher arranged for the junior high students to perform on the Edson stage and take instrument clinics etc.. He had a fabulous time and we appreciate her hard work and dedication to make this possible.

Current temperature: 39F/4C