Cracks In Sidewalks

To all my Cracks In Sidewalks Readers,

I will not be able to post for approximately one month.  I apologize for the lack of posts this past month, but there have been other pressing matters that will continue for a short time longer.

I look forward to resuming my blog soon.  I can’t wait to post lots of new photos and write new articles and reviews.

Thank you for you support,

Audrey

Just got the airport to my computer fixed for me.  Actually the airport was working but I couldn’t access my iTunes.  My bad!  I downloaded something several months ago and it wasn’t compatible with my iTunes.  A recording engineer friend of mine came over last night and set it all straight.  Now I’m rockin’ and rollin’ as I get my work done listening to Taj Mahal sing his classic “Stagger Lee” and “Blues With A Feeling.”  I can’t tell you how I enjoy being able to control my music through my laptop.  I can be in bed sick and be playing with my stereo that’s in my living room choosing my music and changing my mind as many times as I wish.  Such freedom!

And speaking of changing ones mind or having choices, if you like TV this is a week of decisions.  On Sunday night I was between “Desperate Housewives,” “Brothers and Sisters,” “The Golden Globes,” and the season premiere of “24.”  At this point I was happy I had let my HBO subscription go, it would have been too much.  And Showtime, I rent the DVD’s.  Finally I settled on “24” with switching to the “Golden Globes” during commercial breaks.  And if you’re an “American Idol” fan, which I have to admit I am, Tuesday night was their season premiere.  I didn’t catch it but I’m certain I’ll be checking in with them off and on throughout the season.  I really want to see the new judge, and how she interacts with the rest of the crew.

Still haven’t seen “Slumdog Millionaire” but got around to seeing “Milk” this past weekend.  Sean Penn was great and James Franco made me wish I was a gay man in the movie and he was my co-star.  That guy is cute!  Need to fill out my SAG Awards Ballot, just got a copy of “Doubt” in the mail yesterday and am still making up my mind.  I think it needs to be in by the 23rd?

Flying into San Francisco tomorrow.  Going for the weekend to visit with friends and family.  Will also spend a day in Santa Cruz and a day and night in Big Sur.  Can’t wait!  Big Sur is my favorite place on the planet, at least so far, and I can’t imagine that changing.  I have been building memories there for years.

Will write again upon my return, in the meantime let me wish everyone a belated Happy New Year!

I’m wonderin when you’re going to feed me?

This will probably be the last “crack” of 2008.  It’s been an eventful Holiday Season.  I’ve attended my own little film festival, have gone to hear lots of good music, eaten too much good food, have visited with friends, gotten reacquainted with old friends, had multiple conversations with family (all in Portland OR this holiday), and as always have had a lot of good cheer, but never too much.

In recent weeks several things I’ve done to get in the spirit and to be celebratory have included going to a number of film screenings.  Being a voting member of the Screen Actors Guild I’ve had the opportunity to attend some by “invitation only” special events.  A few highlights have been Q&A’s that have taken place after seeing several of the films.  They have included a Q&A with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, another for “The Reader” included Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, and Lena Olin, and yet another Sam Mendes the director of “Revolutionary Road.”  Then there was a special screening several weeks ago of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”  For me this was especially fun.  I knew and sometimes worked with director David Fincher early on in his career and had not seen him in almost 20 years, so it was great to reconnect with David.  That screening also happened to coincide on the day his movie got nominated for 5 Golden Globe’s including a “Best Picture” award, “Best Actor” award, and a big nod to David who was nominated for a “Best Director” award.  Earlier in the same week I saw recording artist/composer Peter Buffett whom I had also not seen in almost 20 years at a benefit concert.  Peter arranged the music to a song I wrote and recorded in 1988 that got made into a music video and David Fincher made me give him a copy of it to take back to LA that same year.  It was quite uncanny and a major blast into my past to see them both in same week!

Then Neil Young and his wife Pegi came into town to play Madison Square Garden with Neil’s band.  We have been friends for many years and I always love seeing them in concert.  Neil is always the entertaining amazing singer, (yes I love Neil’s voice), and of course a legendary songwriter, and his wife Pegi has become the consummate pro backup singer, and a solo artist in her own right.  Listening to Neil is always like coming home for me.  He puts me in a feel good place whether he’s singing a ballad, a protest song, or he’s breaking all the strings on his “Old Black” Les Paul guitar while having the music contort through his amp.  He also amuses me and I love listening to the new songs he consistently tries out on his audience, both to their thrill and sometimes dismay.  And Pegi, Neil’s wife continually amazes me with her beautiful perfect harmonies to his songs.  And every time I see them Neil is having her play different instruments with his band besides sing.  Last time it was guitar and vibes, where this time Pegi played the piano as well as the vibes.  Also playing with Neil on this tour was the legendary Ben Keith, Rick Rosas, Anthony Crawford, and Chad Cromwell.  The bands opening for Neil on this leg were Everest and Wilco.  I also need to extend a special thank you to Pegi who has helped me rise to the status of “cool aunt,” as I’ve been able to bring my nieces and nephews to several shows.  They and their friends are also big “Neil” fans and his shows have become a family event.

For Christmas Eve we had a lovely dinner out at a great restaurant that opened several years ago in my neighborhood in Chelsea called “Cookshop.”  Their food is always fresh and excellent.  On Christmas day, we went to the IMAX theater and saw the remake of the movie “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” with Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly.  It was a perfectly fun entertaining movie to see, and IMAX is always an adventure.  Also a recent rental I saw during the holidays and would recommend is a Turkish film called “The Edge of Heaven.  It’s a wonderful captivating story, and exquisitely produced.

So now we’re winding down 2008 and headed and almost into the New Year, 2009.   I know I have some challenges that I’ll need to face in the coming year and I’m certain many of you do too.  I want to thank you all for supporting “Cracks In Sidewalks,” and I want to wish everyone a good healthy and happy New Year.  See you in 2009!