December Brouhaha

December was a busy month for me, as it was for everybody else out there I'm sure. From the Holiday Office Party, to Christmas, to this past week of vacation...December has been chock full of blog-worthy goodness. So I'm sorry to say that I have neither the time nor the energy at the moment to recap all of it. In short:

1. Holiday Party - Saturday, December 17. Relaxing, cheerful time with co-workers/ friends. Good thing it was a cash bar, cuz there was plenty of sloshiness as it was. I saw sides of people I'd never thought I'd see (and in some cases hope to never see again). And I got a hickey from our 45-year-old female Quality Assurance director. Good times, good times...

2. Lisa came up the week of Christmas, which was awesome. She and I spent the day together on Friday. Dinner was sushi at Sake Japanese Restaurant. She got California Rolls and Dragon Maki and I got Duck. I tried the Maki and thought they were tasty, but I don't think I would enjoy six of each, which is the typical entree size. After dinner we watched MULHOLLAND DRIVE, which Lisa had never seen, and which I hadn't seen in quite a while. I haven't changed my mind: It was the Best Film of 2001. And the Best Film so far this century. (btw, my "favorite" film so far this century is VANILLA SKY. I've seen that so many times now it's ridiculous.)

2b. Christmas Eve was spent with the parents and Lisa at the 'rents house in North Andover. Gifts received: DIGITAL CAMERA (YESSSS!!!), New Phones, New Tires, George Foreman Grill, 2 Brooks Brothers shirts, OLDBOY on DVD, 3 cute ornaments, and socks (of course). Food: Crab Balls, Clams Casino (or a variation), Shrimp cocktail, and SMELTS.

2c. Christmas: While the women cooked, Dad and I saw SYRIANA, an intellectually if not emotionally riveting multi-plotted treatise about the oil business and all the parts involved. Read Ebert's review. He nails it. 3.5/5. Christmas dinner: Turkey, stuffing, green beans. GOOD STUFF. I made my own mash potatoes (w/ skim milk and chicken broth).

Pictures:





Yeah, not alike at allllll....


Smelts - uncooked



Cooked


Matt's Mashed Potatoes. Mmmm.


2c. Christmas night I went over to Lori's to give her my presents. She liked 'em. Nuff said.

3. Dec 26 - Dec 30: Went trail-walking in Dover, stereo shopping (decided on the Bose Wave Sound System, which will be delivered in 2 business days), got my tires, and more...see below.

4. POLAR EXPRESS 3-D @ IMAX. On Thursday, Loria and I met my mom at the IMAX theater in Reading, MA to see THE POLAR EXPRESS. Both of them had been wanting to see it for a while, and I thought it'd be a good way for Lori to meet my mom and vice versa. It went well. I wouldn't say they hit it off, but they both had nice things to say about each other afterwards, so that was good. We ate at Fudruckers beforehand and then shopped a little afterwards at Jordan's Furniture (where the theater is located). The movie itself was incredible. I don't know how well it would stand up just on TV, but on IMAX, in 3-D, it blew me away. It really touched me and I hope that it comes out in IMAX every year. 4.5/5.

5. STIFFS - Remember when I talked about this small budget movie shooting in Boston? And how they were looking for extras of "italian descent"? Well, they called me this week and apparently I look exactly like one of the supporting characters...the 30-year-old son of the main character, played by Danny Aiello. So today Lori and I drove to the BostonCasting office near Cambridge and met with the Casting Director, Angela Peri. She was rude and curt with me over the phone, but in person she was friendlier. She told a humorously derogatory joke involving the Three Little Pigs. The punchline: "Those are my Guinea pigs." Har har. She took me into the video room, snapped a couple addt'l polaroids, then put me on video for a bit. I had to stand there directly in front of the camera, say my name and my union ("I, uh, don't have one"), and then turn side to side. She informed me that the actor I was doubling for was in fact 5'9" and had a bigger nose than me (go figure). But it's ok because I'd just be driving a car. Oh, she also asked me if I would be willing to cut my hair. I can't imagine how much shorter it'd have to be if I'm driving by in a car for godsakes. But I said "yeah sure." After that, she pretty much threw me out of the office and then Lori and I strolled around Boston for a bit. It was fun. Then when we got back to Portsmouth, we went to Hibachi, one of those Japanese restaurants where they cook right in front of you. It was goooood. Then Angela the casting director called me back and said got the gig. So apparently this Friday I'm supposed to be doing my body-doubling for this tall, big-nosed italian actor. Exciting, no?

Blahhh....not sure what I'm doing for New Year's Eve. Lori is going to be out of town at a wedding, and I haven't heard a word from Bill about his supposed party in the mountains. Oh well, que sera sera.

Happy New Year, everybody. Take care of yourselves.