Academy Awards....

I have seen almost every film nominated, which I do every year, and am always prepared with my favourites at this time of year. I wanted to watch the Academy Awards last year (DVD's are out on the streets the day of release in Quito, so I did in fact see EVERY movie last year too), but in Quito there was no way to find the show on television or computer, so I made sure that I was home and available today for the five hour marathon. The show started with the announcement that it would be only ninety minutes long, but with the three hours of 'red carpet' coverage, along with the four hour show, it was not over until midnight, and I watched it all. I had my billing materials from the office all over the bed in front of me to pour through and I did get work done too--- thankfully.

The presenters were horrible and the winners predictable, but it was exciting to watch the actors receiving their awards. I remember how distressed I was last year when I insisted that Eric find the live-stream on my computer in our apartment in Quito, and so disappointed when his efforts were futile. I learned the next morning who the winners were, and that was entirely satisfactory. I wonder why movies are so exciting to me, why I still enjoy them so much and watch almost every well reviewed movie there is. Tara is studying film at McGill, which makes perfect sense to me, having dragged her to hundreds of movies over the years.

I took Maya and her friends Belina and Emily to the mall to shop today. I found it tiresome, but the girls were excited. 'Justice' is the 'in' clothes store, we stopped at Godiva for chocolate samples, spent over an hour in the 'Build a Bear' store to find clothes for the bears we bought some weeks ago, and even more time in 'Bath and Body Works' for creams and potions for Maya's 'spa'. I so rarely shop, and only ever go to the mall with a purpose and a tight deadline, so this was a stretch for me. I was so relieved when the girls were too tired to go on, and was thankful to get home to read my 'New York Times' and finish the crossword puzzle in record time, and all ready for the awards show when it came on.