Ramblin’ Ramblin’ Ramblin’

Trina did it. She shamed me. I haven’t posted since the Bush administration and she called me out. Aw, hell, somebody should write something here. Of course, this is the worst day for me to try. I’ve got a cold that makes my head feel like it’s stuffed with cotton batting. My eyes keep wanting to close. While walking back from Dunkin’ Donuts just now, I tried strolling through the Public Garden with my eyes shut. First it was 5 paces, then 10, then 20. Came to find out I can go straight for quite a ways without the aid of my vision. Didn’t reckon on the horse manure left by Boston’s mounted police though. Here the city’s trying to close a budget gap and we’re paying our men in blue to fertilize the sidewalks with their damn nags. Boy that makes me want to mutter unintelligible things under my breath. You know, walk all slouched over and say something that sounds like “richer richer richer...” really low and menacing. Show them all, I will.

I want to go on record as saying Barack Obama is the coolest president ever. Everything he says is well-considered and makes sense. Did you see him on Leno and 60 Minutes? He is a grown up. We have a grown up in the White House. No silly posturing, no “mission accomplished” and “bring it on.” No adolescent trysts in the oval office. No “read my lips.” No “we begin bombing in 5 minutes.” And he talks to us like we’re grown ups, too. He appeals to our intellects. He assumes we’re rational and fair. And get this: he thinks we shouldn’t antagonize the rest of the world. How about that?

I am not a very political person, but I’m excited about this president. I honestly believe he’ll make a difference.

Kate Winslet had a good year in 2008. I thought she was outstanding in The Reader, and then she topped herself in Revolutionary Road, which I saw just last night. Forgive me, Kate, for not taking you seriously after Titanic. You had me at Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

And while we’re sort of on the subject, why do British actors do American accents so well? Why do American actors stink at British accents (see Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder in Bram Stoker’s Dracula)? Except for Gwenyth Paltrow. Do you know that when I heard her acceptance speech for best actress at the Oscars for Shakespeare in Love I was stunned — stunned — to find out she wasn’t English. I still can’t believe she isn’t. She really ought to be.

I guess I’m a sucker for an English accent. Last year the family went to Baltimore, where we stayed at their renowned waterfront, a shopper’s paradise and a veritable magnet for street artists of all kinds. I watched this one show put on by a female juggler/unicyclist. She was dressed up like a pirate and spoke with a British accent, only not a pirate British accent mind you, but just a British accent. Nothing piratical at all, more like a London businesswoman. On and on she went through her patter, dragging unwilling volunteers up hold this thing or that for her. One fellow, whose name was Robert, she called “Rawbut,” and I thought, Rawbut . . . how charming. Then, at the end of her act, the English accent evaporated into an ordinary, run-of-the-mill American one. Turns out she was from Ohio. Ohio? I had been had! I felt cheated! I wanted to shout, “Hey, lady, make with the English accent again!” Only that would have been weird, like walking through the Public Garden with my eyes shut.

I’m sort of in Watchmen mode right now. I read the graphic novel about ten years ago and thought it was pretty good. Recently I saw the movie and suddenly I’m hooked. Now I’m reading the novel again in preparation for a second viewing like I’m studying for a test. The comic could be a storyboard — the movie is that faithful to the book. Rorschach is the star of both, of course. I love that guy. I know the reviews are mixed and it’s pretty goddamn long, but I say see it. Even if you aren’t acquainted with the story, see it. Then see it again and report back to me.

Okay, I’ve written enough, time to go home. Nice to see everyone again.