did i miss a memo?

Tonight, I'm watching the Oscars and missing Mama.
It started with J.K. Simmons' acceptance speech for his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Whiplash". He urged people to "call your mom. Don't text her or message her, call her. And if you're lucky enough to have both parents still alive, call your mom and your dad."
I started bawling right there and then.
Good thing I wasn't at that Oscar party with the 40+WSN tonight, was my first thought, when I regained composure. I had begged off, due to this allergy or cold or whatever I have. I had felt badly about not going. Now, I was glad I was in the safety of my own home, with no need to explain why I was losing my mind.
Everyone here knows why I'm losing my mind.
(smile)
Then I resumed watching the show, especially enjoying the talented Neil Patrick Harris. And, of course, the musical bits and all of the lovely clothes donned for the evening.
Patricia Arquette's speech after she won for Best Supporting Actress for "Boyhood", the moving words of the two women who won for "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1", the humble tone of the once-freckle-faced man behind "Big Hero 6".
How did I know he once had freckles?
He told us in his acceptance speech, sharing the story of him telling his mom and dad, as a "freckle-faced boy", that he wanted to work for Walt Disney when he grew up.
Moms and dads have had a lot of public thank-yous tonight.
Was there a memo that went around, reminding attendees to honor those who brought them into the world?
Perhaps there are no more thank-yous to parents than in previous years... might that be the case? Am I simply more attuned to those words of homage this year?

Oh, my! Lady Gaga just sang a musical tribute of the tunes in "The Sound of Music" - and she played it straight! She truly has such a good voice, when she isn't hiding behind a contrived stage presence.
Even more marvelous - the lovely Julie Andrews joined her afterward on the stage! Then Ms. Andrews introduced the line-up for those nominated for Best Original Soundtrack (which went to "The Grand Budapest Hotel")! But first she talked about the fifty years which have passed since she was a lass of thirty who sang as Maria the governess.
Wow.

I'm back again!
I had to go watch the rest of the show!
Eddie Redmayne won Best Actor! Very nice! And he made sure to dedicate his Oscar to the honor of those afflicted with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as ALS. You know, that disease that destroyed the body of Stephen Hawking, but couldn't touch his mind. I'm so glad the bfe and I saw "The Theory of Everything" together!
Best Actress was won by Julianne Moore, for a film I've had two opportunities to see with others. Seriously. Plus, the man at the jazz concert talked to me about it, as his wife had recently died after several years in the unrelenting grip of Alzheimer's Disease. He told me "Still Alice" is true to the effects of the illness.
Three times it's come up. I guess that means I really should go see it.
"Birdman" won for Best Picture!!! Yeah!!!
It's director, Alejandro Iñárritu, won for Best Director, too! Oh, wait, they call that Best Achievement in Directing now. Perhaps they always did and I just missed it?
Anyway, I very much enjoyed that one! I found Michael Keaton to be the absolute best choice for its lead. Why? Who better to portray a man trying to escape the large shadow cast by his superhero character, a man showing he can act without the aid of a costume and cinema's special effects?
I look forward to seeing that one again when JAVAFLIX Savannah next convenes. Ah, to be able to discuss my thoughts with others after a second viewing! Or, perhaps, it would be more correct to say 1 3/4 viewing. You see, I missed the first 20 minutes or so the first time I saw it... Nice to have a free second chance!
Perhaps I'll try to see "Still Alice" while it is still here.
"Whiplash", I hope, will have a rescreening some time, too, now that it's won an Oscar. I hope.

oscar, party of one

I count myself fortunate.
Tonight,
I picked nearly all winners.
Not just with the film awards -
having seen
most of the contenders
this past year,
I did well at predicting
who would take home
the 9-inch golden men -
but also with those I invited
to my little Oscar-viewing party
here at my house.
Actually, I was the only one
physically here,
but I had fairly constant
"conversations" by text
with the first niece
and the peace Guy.
Very nice!
The huggable hugger Hai
did not respond
until hours later.
All in all, though,
a fine evening.
Especially if you consider that I had a pretty ugly pity party gaining strength in the late afternoon.
Ugh.

But wait! I thought you had these fancy Oscar parties you attended every year with the outlaw Bunny?

Well, I have in the past, though not every year. Not this year. I don't even know if this is one of the years that the hostess did not have the party. I simply heard nothing of it. I very nearly asked about it, too, but I didn't feel like inviting myself over like that. You know?

Okay, I can get that. But didn't you hear Hai talk about the Oscar party he was attending?

Why, yes, yes, I did, as you well know. Again, I was not invited. I'm sure if Hai had wanted me to come with him, he would have asked.

Oh-key do-key. I'm going to leave that absolutely alone. How about that meetup party? You may have known some folks there...

Yeah, I may have. I may not have. I didn't want that to be the first meetup I actually attended with that group. Honestly, I may as well remove myself from that one. I just haven't yet.
And I was not wanting to make nice with a bunch of folks I didn't know.
Speaking of, that's why I was having the pity party this afternoon.
My first niece and her husband were in a theatrical production at their church and she had made a 6:00 PM reservation for me... but only me. I had thought her mom and little sis would be joining me.
No.
They went to the show on Friday.
But no one had told me I would be going through it with 25 strangers.
Ugh.

me 2 her (about 6:05pm): Honey, there are big crowds here and i am not in the mood to have to wait.
1st niece: You shouldn't have to since you have a reservation.

Meanwhile, I had started a conversation with the peace Guy.
me 2 peace Guy: I am so aggravated. I seem to have lost a hundred dollar gift card. I wanted to use it tonight since i have no Oscar party to go to.
me 2 pG: Instead, i am going to watch Christina and Jason in Judgement House at their church.
me 2 pG: With a bunch of folks i don't know.
me 2 pG: I am SO aggravated. Christina's mom and little sister were supposed to be with me, but they went on Friday. She didn't tell me until 25 minutes ago.

1st niece: I understand if you can't stay.
me 2 her: I am staying. I am just peeved. Lost my 100 dollar gift card and am very distracted.
1st niece: Oh no. Like I said if you need to go... it is ok.
me 2 her: Break a leg. :)
her: Hopefully not.
me 2 her: Not literally, of course. :-)
her: Lol
me 2 pG: Okay. I have vented and feel better.
me 2 her: No. I want to see you and Jason. I think it is all the noise here in the waiting area.
her: It is loud in here too.
me 2 pG: I am even talking to the woman next to me.

Then the group of 26 that I was part of were called up to begin experiencing the play.

her (7:01 pm): have you started yet?
me 2 her: Just finished! Very good! I feel much more at peace now. :-)

pG (7:01 pm): The whole concept of a "judgement house' kind of freaks me out. I'm sure the gift card will show up. Until you mentioned it I had forgotten it was oscars night.
pG: I haven't been to a movie in ages and I think the only oscar nominated movie I have seen is '12 years a slave'.
me 2 pG: it is a segmented play that follows four teens. Good theatre. And no one can get bored because the group is always moving on to the next scene.
me 2 pG: I feel much calmer now. :-)

And I most certainly did.
And I had a brainstorm: why not have an Oscar party at my house?
And who cares if I was to be the only person there? Through the wonders of modern technology, I could easily share that experience with folks I would have invited, had I not known already that they would not be available.
So, here we go now...

me 2 pG: Wow. Jared Leto won for supporting actor!
pG (8:54 pm): I'm sorry I'm not watching. And like I said I haven't seen many of the nominated films. What was the name of the movie?
me: Dallas Buyers Club. He played a drag queen with AIDS. He was incredible. In real life, he is part of Thirty Seconds To Mars.
pG (9:02 pm): Oh, that is one of the movies I've been dying to see. I know it's still playing here I hope I still get a chance to see it on the big screen.
me: Be prepared to sob. I thought I was, but i was not.
me: Hit me very hard.
me: Kristin and Barbara wanted to go get food. I just went home.
me 2 her: Helium won for best short film!! That was the one about the hospital and the red dog balloons. Yeah!!
her (9:45 pm): yay! I really liked that one!
me: Me too.

me 2 pG: The woman in 12 Years A Slave won for best supporting actress!

me 2 her: Whoopi wore ruby slippers for the Oscars!
her (10:35 pm): I just got home. I have to get a shower and take the "hell" off.
me: :-)
me: Pink is singing.
me: Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
me: In a ruby dress.
her: I see

pG (10:41 pm): That is not a surprise to me she is amazing on so many levels and she was particularly good in that movie.
me: I still have not seen it. One of these days, when i have someone to hold me afterward. I simply cannot watch sad movies these days.
me: The screenplay writer, John Riddler, won for 12 Years, too.
me: And it wonn for Best Film!!
pG (12:07 am): Yes, I relate to the not wanting to see sad or difficult movies right now. I think that is part of the reason I haven't seen Dallas Buyer's Club.

Pretty good party!

oscar night!

Last night, I mixed and mingled on the red carpet with Hollywood's magic makers. I chided Shaft for taking my seat while I was replenishing my plate with sumptuous goodies. I argued with Harry Potter about his identity - I mistook him for Snake - and lost the debate. (For future reference, besides age, the primary difference is Potter wears glasses.) I snapped quick pics of The Help and The Artist (as well as his Muse), but somehow missed a close-up with the Bridesmaid. And we all drank a champagne toast for the host and hostess with the mostest at this Fourth Annual Oscar Party, right here on the RIGHT coast.
I certainly enjoyed myself in Georgetown last night! I had been invited by my outlaw Bunny to, once again, be treated to a fine extravaganza with her coworkers and friends, and I had jumped at the opportunity. Then, yesterday morning, her back went out and she had to abstain, but she encouraged me to go - so I did. I am so glad I did, too!
I wore a sparkly sequined overlay on my purple velvet dress, finishing the ensemble with slippers of silver. Just right for mixing with Hollywood's elite! I even wore my glasses this time, prepared for the evening's activities. Trivia of Oscar, selecting the Oscar winners, find-an-Oscar-word puzzles - all with prizes for those with the most correct! I completed the puzzle, but I'm not sure how many Oscars I correctly "awarded". Still, I didn't walk away empty-handed, receiving a swag bag as I departed, as well as one for my outlaw. Woohoo!