Cozy Italian in Ballard

I am loving Historic Ballard Avenue. I mean, loving it. Tucked between the more 70's vibe of Market's main drag and the industrial railroad tracks/canal warehouses is a series of tree-lined streets with brownstones, historic buildings, a small park, bistros, upscale boutiques, and unique furniture and gift stores. It kind of reminds me of some neighborhoods in my beloved Chicago. Especially on crisp fall days, with the leaves ablaze in color and the wind nipping at your scarf-covered chin.

Our most recent gem here is Volterra, at Ballard and 22nd. On cuteness and coziness alone, this place stands out: a small outdoor seating area separated from the passerby by a wrought iron fence, glowing lamps on the outside of the door...and then stepping inside, you're met with dimly lit shades of deep red and chocoloate brown. Chandeliers, sconces and light fixtures adorn the walls and were apparently designed by the owner, Michelle (who owns it with her husband Don, after being inspired by the town of Volterra in Tuscany - the site of their wedding) It's one of those places that is warm, inviting and cozy, yet you don't feel like you are on top of your neighbors. Quite a skill to pull off.

The food is an amazing blend of Northwest cuisine and fresh northern Italian favorites. I had the roasted beet and arugula salad, with toasted walnuts and asiago cheese bathed in a light vinaigrette. It was refreshingly sweet, tangy and crunchy. The mussels with italian sausage in a light spicy tomato sauce was amazing as well. The mussels were the perfect size: not too big and not too small.

Our little group (we were taking an out of town business colleague out to dinner) enjoyed some delicious entrees. I had the Dungeness crab ravioli in a tomato cream sauce. Sinful. These fluffy pasta pillows were not just stuffed with a microscopic piece of faux crabmeat, oh no. They were packed full, almost to bursting, with some of the freshest crab around. I could have had 10 more if they had been on the plate (although the portion size was already generous). My husband had the beef tenderloin medallions, topped with chianti and served with mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. He said it was wonderful, although he makes some of the best steak I've ever had at home, so it's often hard to top his creations. And our guest tucked into the wild boar tenderloin with gorgonzola sauce. Sampling wild boar for the first time, I found it was a delightful cross between a really tender pork and perfectly prepared veal. It sort of melted in your mouth.

Dessert was delish as well. My husband and I shared a chocolate/orange cake (not on the online menu) and our guest had a fruit tart special (also not on the online menu) with apples and cranberries, if memory serves me right. Which it may not, due to the amazing wine choice our steward recommended: Pelissero Barbaresco Nubiola 2004. I have to say it was awesome that he came up to our table the minute we sat down and was able to fulfill our request for a "complex red" in our price range. It was wonderful. He even advised what we might order to pair well with it, which is why I opted for the tomato cream sauce and my husband ordered the beef. He thought the wine might be too elegant for the wild boar, but our guest so wanted to try that, that he didn't really care. And honestly, it was still good.

Service was excellent, as noted by the wine steward's helpfulness and careful attention, plus our waiter making some great recommendations. This is a great romantic spot as well as nice business dinner location - which seems odd that it can be both. Warm and inviting, we will be back for sure!

Photo credit: Bob Peterson

Recovering from Brain Injury: Telling my Story

We all have a story to tell. In my work, I advise businesses on how to tell their stories "to engage, inform and delight." But this mission is also a personal one. I've always been a storyteller, whether it be marketing, writing or acting. I love watching the "a ha" moment happen for people who have just learned something new, or are moved, inspired or delighted.

I've been pitching my story about recovering from brain aneuyrysm/hemorrhage to various media outlets and group to help educate about brain injury and inspire those facing challenges. KUOW here in Seattle loved this bizarre and transformational story and just interviewed me for KUOW Presents, which will air on Saturday November 7, between 12 and 2 pm Pacific time. We talked a lot about what I'd learned, how my goals and such had changed, and even about some of the more humorous and crazy things that my initial brain injury caused me to say and think while in ICU!

As with marketing, you need to ensure you have value to offer your audience when doing something like this. And I really wanted to let people know about the effects of brain injury, that the struggle is ongoing even if you "look" fine and that you have to redefine and accept yourself as a result. So many people know litte about this experience, and especially with the uptick in traumatic brain injuries from those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, you can be sure you or someone you know, work with or hang out with may be touched by it.

Given some folks I met whose families and friends did not understand what was happening to them - often causing disastrous results - I felt I should use my miraculously recovery to help be their voice.

Many of the experiences I documented (when I was able to finally get vision back and type) are here.

Wassup B?

I have a great T-Shirt that depicts a smiling sushi roll (I'm guessing a Caliornia roll) with a flower in her "hair" greeting a curmudgeonly blob of green wasabi paste. She greets him with "Wassup B?!" I must confess it took me a few times before I understood the joke. Yes, I was an honors student....

But "wassup" is the fab meal we had Saturday night at Wasabi Bistro in Belltown. This hip, bustling joint was just the urban melting pot I've been craving lately. I just wish I had dressed a little more chic. Yes, I know in Seattle anything goes but that doesn't mean it should. The restaurant touts itself as Japanese Fusion so all of you sick of tragically hip bastardizing of simple foods may want to stop reading now. However, you'll be missing out.

First off, they have some of the most creative Sake cocktails I've ever had. I had a Japanese Gypsy which had pear sake, blueberry vodka, lime and I think something with ginger (it is not on their online menu). It was not that sweet, but was definitely smooth.

Paul got the spicy tofu with ginger sauce, which he loved. If we could make tofu with that kind of flavor, we'd have it more often. I opted for the Beef tataki with roasted garlic ponzu and wasabi aioli. It was delish. The meat was tender and perfectly cooked. But having had beef with veggies from our local Chinese restaurant the night before, I advise not have red meat for two nights in a row.

For entrees, I ordered the Volcano roll.which contained spicy tuna & asparagus topped with ahi & avocado, spicy mayo, unagi sauce, sriracha, tobiko, sprinkled w/ toasted macadamia nuts. It's hella spicy, I'm warning you and oh so yummy. This $14 trip to Heaven was one of the best sushi rolls I've ever had. Yes, it beat the rolls at Sushi Ran in Sausalito and the Kit's roll at Marina Sushi in SF - and that is a bold statement, believe me. It was like I got to combine the Kit's roll with a spicy tuna roll all in one. The ahi was so pink, delicate and fresh and the flavors meshed wonderfully in your mouth. I usually need a good balance between the rice and the fish on my rolls (too much raw fish in one bite makes me gag) but this was just a perfect blend. Paul, who hates all seafood (it was my birthday dinner so he graciously took me for sushi. Is he wonderful or what?) ordered the Green Decadence roll - green onion, asparagus tempura, wasabi aoli, topped with avocado. He absolutely raved about it and thought the aioli mixed with the flavors were just stellar.

That seemed to be the theme for us: food with perfectly blended and balanced ingredients. Notes were not too high or too low or too sharp - just a perfect symphony of flavor. For dessert, we dove into the Banana Split Tempura, a banana fried in a sweetened tempura batter split over ice cream. In my mind, more foods should be fried in tempura - it's so light and subtlely crispy. It was great, although they could have let the ice cream thaw a bit more before serving.

Prices were pretty reasonable for the food quality and atmosphere. They were even kind enough to move us when our initial table was next to a woman with the loudest laugh and voice that could have pierced glass. Now, that's good service.

It's a perfect happy hour spot, first date night, or group night out with the girls locale. Definitely a great find and we'll be heading back. So many other delicious rolls to try, so little time.

Happy birthday! Get your note from the universe

So, today is my birthday. A day that has more meaning after my health issues last year. When it comes to birthdays, I'm like a dual personality: giddy like a 5-year old about presents and being the center of attention; and sad about the reality that I'm getting older. Ah well. The alternative is much worse indeed.

I subscribe to this nifty little email service from Tut, called Notes from The Universe, where you get bite-sized nuggets of inspiration and wisdom direct from the, well, "Universe", right to your email box (beats getting Spam). Thanks to my friend Elisabeth Squires for turning me onto this. You can get it every day, but I only get it on Fridays. However, as today is my bday (and you tell them when you register), I got this little gem that, while I know is automated, for some reason, almost made me cry. This type of affirmation stuff is a little too self-indulgent for me, I know. But sometimes we all just need a flagrant ego-coaxing cheerleading now and again, don't we? And honestly, this could not have come at a better time . I urge you to sign up today!


Happy Birrrrthday to Youuuu,Happy Birrrrthday to Youuuu,Happy Birrrrthday Dear Maria, Happy Birrrrthday to Youuuu!

A few years back, not so long ago, heaven and earth erupted into a major celebration with the news of your impending adventure into this very time and space. You see, someone like Maria Ross doesn't come along all that often. In fact, there's never been a single one like you, nor is there ever ANY possibility that another will come again. You're an Angel among us. Someone, whose eyes see what no others will EVER see, whose ears hear what no others will EVER hear, and whose perspective and feelings will NEVER, ever be duplicated. Without YOU, the Universe, and ALL THAT IS, would be sadly less than it is.

Quite simply:
You're the kind of person, Maria,
Who's hard to forget,
A one-in-a-million
To the people you've met.
Your friends are as varied
As the places you go,
And they all want to tell you
In case you don't know:
That you make a big difference
In the lives that you touch,
By taking so little
And giving so much!

Maria, you are so AWESOME! For your birthday, friends and angels from every corner of the Universe, including buddies you didn't know you had, will be with you to wish you the HAPPIEST of days and an exciting new year in time and space. You won't be alone! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Maria!

Queen Anne Wine Examiner

Just landed a great writing gig for Examiner.com. I'm the new Queen Anne wine examiner here in Seattle. I'm excited about this new project and seeing if it works for me. Queen Anne is pretty small, but topics will range from wine shops, to new wine finds to what's available in neighborhood eateries.

Salut!

What can you do in 365 days?

"How do you measure, measure a year?"
- From the musical "Rent"

August 4, tomorrow, will be the one year anniversary of my aneurysm and brain hemmorhage. How does one celebrate (is that the right word?) the day you almost died? Granted, I haven't gotten melodramatic about the whole event for a year, while those around me want to know if I had a life-changing epiphany. I didn't, really. I was trying so hard to get back to "normal" that I couldn't stop to think about any greater cosmic significance.

But only recently - as I get back into my life again, as business picks up, as I start traveling to visit friends and take vacations again - has this quest for significance grown stronger.

Now, those of you who know me know I'm not much into the naval-gazing or psychobabble. While I enjoy self-actualization, goal setting and even my religious faith as much as the next guy, I have a bit more trouble dwelling on my situation when I saw so many people in rehab much, much worse off than I. People who couldn't fully speak, or walk, or get back to work. Those whose family or friends had abandoned them because they could not deal with the new person they had become. It was heartbreaking and humbling all at the same time.

So, after a dinner out and some glasses of wine shared with my husband...I ponder the duality of "Wow! It's been a whole year since it happened" against "Wow! It's only been a year and look at all we've been through!" Amazing how time and space can morph to be as long or as short as you want them to be.

So, my friends, here is a list of what indeed can happen to someone within 1 year, 365 days. And all I can say is, despite everything, I don't know that I would really change a single thing!

In 365 days, you can:

• Go from healthy to hospitalized to healthy again
• Live through a coiling procedure, an angioplasty, a shunt implementation - and 2 painful eye surgeries.
• Realize how much your spouse truly loves you and how seriously he took the "For better or worse, in sickness and health" part of the vows - especially when he has to see you with a shaved head, breathing tubes and a nasty streak when you lash out
• Learn to never take health for granted ever again
• Take pride in your strength at having stiches put in your head without anesthesia
• Appreciate a family who flies across the country to be with you - knowing many others don't have that kind of bond
• Realize how amazing your mother-in-law really is when she flies from Scotland to Seattle
• Witness firsthand (and be utterly overwhelmed by) the impact you've had on people you've worked with or been friends with over the years - and see just how much you really mean to them
• Learn true generosity of spirit when your friends fly from all over the U.S. to be with you - including some you haven't even seen in a few years - especially when you can't remember most of them being here in the first place
• Appreciate friends who love you so much, they are still there for you when you've temporarily forgotten who they are
• Get used to being pretty much blind for 6 weeks and then have (mostly) full eyesight restored
• Sweep away all the extraneous crap that occupies our lives most days - and realize what truly matters
• Receive the help of countless strangers who saved your life literally and figuratively and realize you may never see any of them again
• Learn to get your strength and stamina back after your body has been through hell
• Appreciate the lessons that your wonderful adopted dog can teach you
• Take time to celebrate small accomplishments, like being able to walk the dog on your own for 30 minutes with no physical therapist present
• See such an outpouring of love, support and well wishes that your heart almost bursts from trying to process it all
• Determine how you will make a difference in the time you have left on this Earth (actually, still working on this one!)
• Learn to not sweat the small stuff
• Learn more about brain injuries and recovery than you would ever possibly care to know
• Recognize your fragile limitations as a human and how wonderfully complex our brains really are in determining our talents and interests
• Accept patience into your life during a slow but steady recovery
• Learn to let go of who you were in exchange for who you have become
• Appreciate the value of slowing down and being in the moment
• Realize the value of going after your dreams, but balance that with not putting too much pressure on yourself to do everything NOW
• Complete an eBook and a book proposal all while recovering from brain injury
• See how wonderful human beings can be to each other - especially medical caregivers
• Recognize how desperately our health care system needs some kind of reform for people who are not as lucky as us
• Appreciate the thrill of driving again when it's been denied to you for 9 months!
• Hone in on the causes that are nearest and dearest to your heart and clear away the clutter
• Learn to let go of pride
• Learn to accept help with an open heart
• Accept your limitations while still loving yourself
• Learn to appreciate all that you have in your own life
• Learn how to give it all back in the end to others who are in need
• Get back up on that horse and live to fight another day, since there is so much to fight for!

My love goes to all of you out there, who sent a card, posted a note on my recovery website, made a phone call, sent an email, flew out here, contributed a gift. And here's some great links:

UW Medical Center - if you have to have brain surgery, you can't ask for more.

Info on brain injury recovery - many of the issues people have recovering from brain injury will shock you, even if the person "looks" okay, but those darn frontal lobes control a lot of behavior we think is automatic.

Lumosity - a great place to train your brain that helped me tremendously. These exercises also help keep your brain nimble against aging, even if you're healthy.

Caring Bridge - where my recovery website was posted: websites for those in medical distress

A Realistic Bucket List

Seems "bucket lists" are all the rage lately. Not sure if this term was around for a while or debuted with the Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman film of the same title. Regardless, it kind of irks me that it is swirling around everywhere like so much the latest hot handbag or must-have designer. While I love self-help and goal-setting content as much as the next gal (yes, I read Eckhart Tolle. Back off.), I'm always leary when it takes the form of a blind fad or trend. Shouldn't those themes be much more consistent and ongoing throughout our lives?

As the one year anniversary of my brain hemmorraghe draws closer, however, I'm still trying to figure out what it all means - and if it really means anything anyway. As I distance myself from the immediate needs and recovery of the event - which were all about getting back to daily living - I am entering a second phase of more thoughtful perspectives around the whole thing. Why did I survive? Why is my recovery going so much more miraculously than someone who has 3 children relying on them? If it was not "my time" yet, than what the heck am I meant to do here? What am I not "finished" with?

Answers abound. My husband, who truly understands how lucky we are but is not a spiritual guy, will tell you "This happened because your artery was weak due to genetics and high blood pressure and it burst. You are okay now because we got you to the hospital in time and the doctors were amazingly skilled. End of story." Or maybe it's just as simple as what my friend Melanie, who I had not seen in person in 10 years and just caught up with over dinner, said the other night, "Maybe you are still here so on this night, in this city, we could catch up over dinner and you can entertain me." I like that answer.

Which brings me back to bucket lists. I feel in this "renaissance of enlightenment", we are just putting too much darn pressure on ourselves to "live our best life." I am all about going after you want, not waiting, experiencing all you can experience. But in my life, the adventures have happened pretty organically. Sure, intention and goals are great things. But when they start to consume you, to make you feel like you are less of a person if you don't accomplish them, that's where I have a problem.

My recovery has been all about being gently with myself, setting realistic goals, and not overwhelming myself with too much. I think this is a good way to live, brain injury or not. So rather than some of the more lofty bucket lists out there that seem to taunt and stress out many of us and make us feel like we are not doing, being, seeing enough, here is a simple bucket list. It is doable, achievable and can still enrich your life greatly. You're welcome.

1. Ensure you have at least one person in your life who understands you, accepts you for who you are, and who makes you laugh. Just one will do. Could be a lover, parent, sibling or friend. If you don't have someone like this, make it your mission to find him or her.
2. Spend at least one night of your life falling asleep to, and waking up to, the ocean. Wherever that might be.
3. Next time you are on a plane, bus or train with a rambunctious toddler or fussy baby, try to make them smile. Just once.
4. Call one long-distance friend a week. Not email. PHONE. If you can't call, write a hand-written note.
5. Adopt a pet once in your life and give them a happy, loving home.
6. Say thank you to every bus driver or cabbie when you get off the bus/out of the cab.
7. Once a day, ask one clerk, be it barista or cashier, "How are you doing today?"
8. Have one dinner outside on a warm summer night with friends, wine, candles and great conversation.
9. Each time you talk to a family member or a close friend, say "I love you" at the end of the conversation. You never know if it might be the last time.
10. Every year, make one trip to a place you've never been or somewhere out of your comfort zone. This could be another U.S. city, a foreign country, or it could be based on accomodations: if you are a hotel person, go camping. Try it for perspective.

When Fish Fly

Got to enjoy the tasty, fresh seafood and hopping atmosphere is Flying Fish here in Seattle the other night. A dear friend who I haven't seen in 10 years was in town on business and I booked us at this spot I've been dying to try. Hubbie is not a seafood fan, so we never made it out to this Seattle hot spot in Belltown.

The place was funky, as per Belltown eatieries, but it had soul. There was a lively, but not too chaotic vibe and I could see making a weekly pilgrmage for Friday cocktails to this place if I lived closeby. Their funky and minimalist neon lettering outside is just the right touch for a place with such a warm but modern feel. Being a warm Seattle summer night, we opted to sit outside and it was well worth it.

The menu changes daily so you are always in for a treat. Mussels, Thai crab cakes and a lovely Ono were our calls for sharing. The mussels were a generous sharing portion, seasoned with Thai herbs and accompanied by a chili lime dipping sauce. My friend said the mussels were the best she's ever had - and this was after raving about the ones at Balthazar in NY.

The crab cakes came with citrus salad, shaved radish, and a lovely lemongrass mayonnaise. They were cooked to perfection - ever so crispy on the outside, and lush and smooth on the inside. The ono was a special and I can't recall exactly what it had in it, but suffice it to say it was a tasty blend of several flavors. The fish was so fresh and thick, a few bites actually filled us up.

I would highly recommend this joint if you are visiting or having friends visit. The service was amazing, the staff friendly and right on top of things. All in all, an enjoyable visit with a good friend who I hadn't seen in ages!

Find your Passion

I am thrilled that CareerApple has invited me to present two online courses entitled Crafting a Killer Elevator Pitch and Networking 101. CareerApple is a website dedicated to help people discover their passion and these courses are an expression of my passion and experience with Branding and Marketing. I invite you to attend these webinars so I can hopefully bring you one step closer to finding your career passion!

Below is info from the CareerApple launch email from its founder, Sunita Sayana:

Do you wish you were doing work that you loved? Are you going through a career transition and want to explore new options but don’t know where to start? Hi, I’m Sunita Sayana and I am the founder of CareerApple. CareerApple is focused on helping people find passion in their career. Our services can help sharpen your skill set, pave the way for a promotion or provide you with the resources to take your career in an entirely new direction. We can guide you toward your ideal career.

Having gone through this journey myself, I have found that the path to finding the right job can be a long and arduous one. The right job inspires you to get up in the morning. When you are doing what you love, it never feels like work. But take it from my experience and the experience of the hundreds of people whom we have interviewed who have all found their career passion: Finding the right job for you and doing work you love IS possible.

Where do I start? The process of reviewing all your options and discovering your new career path can be overwhelming. Our goal is to bring focus to and simplify the process.

Step 1: Discover what you want to do. Take CareerApple’s flagship course on career discovery. This is a one-of-a-kind course that uncovers the core of who you are, what you are passionate about, and which career options will best utilize your skills and talents.

Step 2: Get inspired and informed by people who have done what you want to do! We have met hundreds of people who have found work that absolutely inspires them. Visit CareerApple online to see the profiles of people who have discovered how finding the right job can lead to both fulfillment and success.

Step 3: Take action on your new goal. Finally, regardless of whether you are interested in expanding your professional options or going down an entirely new career path, CareerApple offers the tools and expertise to help you get there.

Thinking about a career in Cleantech? Take our Cleantech course to get a complete understanding of the space, the market forces impacting the industry, the technology, the economics, the key stakeholders and opportunities within the space.

Want to enhance your personal brand? Take our personal branding course along with our course on creating a killer elevator pitch. Meet with one of our career coaches to work out an action plan.

Learn how to leverage the internet to find your next role by taking our course on using social media to network. Whether you are exploring career options or ready to make a change, CareerApple is committed to helping you find a job you can be passionate about. Now, we need to hear from you! Go to Careerapple.com – tell us what you think of our site and what resources you would like to see in the future.

Dave and Maya

Last night, my husband and I, tired of the the exploits of political idiots on The Daily Show (most days it's funny, but some days I find the stupidity and hypocrisy downright depressing) caught Sundance Channel's Iconoclasts. This smart show pairs up two unlikely figures and let's them just talk, debate and get to know each other. Pairings have included people like Ashley Judd + Madeline Albright; skater Tony Hawk + director/actor Jon Favreau; activist Desmond Tutu + entrepreneur Richard Branson.

We watched as comedian Dave Chapelle met with poet, activist, and general inspiration Dr. Maya Angelou. What a pairing! It was a poignant meeting of a wise older soul passing life lessons onto a 30-something man who has been through a lot but is still on his journey. As some of you may know, Dave walked away from his hit TV show and $50 million dollar contract at Comedy Central a few years ago just to get away from it all and save his soul. Maya seemed to understand this act, while many others have not.


You could see in Dave's eyes he wanted to just soak up as much knowledge and insight from this woman as was humanly possible. And she was eager to share, teach, praise and comfort. It was just awe-inspiring to watch so much love pass between two souls right in front of your eyes.


I am a huge lover of independent film and adore many of the selections on the Sundance Channel. Having attended the Sundance Film Festival 5 years in a row (2009 was the first year I'd missed it in a while), I love the energy of storytelling and community that permeates Park City for 10 days out of the year. But I often have a hard time with some indie film that is avant-garde for the sake of being avant-garde, rather than in pursuit of the story. Sometimes shocking is just shocking and it doesn't work. I will never forget an interview I saw back when Melanie Griffith was promoting the film Working Girl in 1988 (not that I would ever confuse that film with an arthouse classic, but bear with me on this point...). She was justifying a scene where she is vacumming the house topless because she's in a rush as "central to the story and what my character would do" or something like that. Seriously? That was pivotal to the entire plotline to have you vacuum topless and was not just a shameless attempt to sex up a late 80's film? I love non-cerebral entertainment just as much as the next guy, but let's call a spade and spade, shall we?


But I digress. Often Sundance Channel carries over some of the best films from the festival, ones that never got full distribution in the light of day. And original, smart, compelling, and eye-opening series like Iconoclasts actually help me regain some of my brain cells back from shows like I wrote about last time. True, honest, insightful storytelling is why I love film so much and showcases its potential to change minds, hearts and the world.

Hate, Inc.

What's with all the shows about people being so horrible to each other?

I am overwhelmed by all the TV series showing women being nasty and fake, men being boorish and rude and generally just celebrating conflict of all kinds. Can't we all just get along, people?

While many people are all about the escapism and drama of reality TV, I've gotta say I think the end of civilization as we know it is finally upon us. Before you judge me, hear me out.

Reality TV can be really fun. I enjoyed the first season of Survivor, before people figured out how it worked and used it to launch their own acting/modeling careers. I even loved The Mole, which used to show people figuring out different challenges in romantic locations like small villages in Italy. It was actually a game of wits, and I dig that. I also love Top Chef and Project Runway because, even though these shows can get a little "meow" at time, they require real skill and talent in order to win. Everyone loves a good competition. And I admit, I really like Millionaire Matchmaker becaue she's so ballsy and speaks her mind without hurting anyone. I've also heard great things about Amazing Race.

But when did shows like The Real Houswives become acceptable? They don't even DO anything. I don't even watch any of the show's incarnations (Orange County, New York, New Jersey) but just from the ads on Bravo, my skin starts crawling. Wealthy women getting upset about not getting invited to a dinner party, or being catty about another "friend" behind her back but sweet as pie to her face. Every teaser ad seems to show some sort of immature remark, backstabbing comment, or whining debutante. I'm really sorry you are pissed that she didn't invite you to her dinner party. But can't you put this much energy into doing something about global warming or animal abuse? Geez....

I seriously just think that entire franchise is disgusting. I won't even eatch it because I don't want to contribute one ratings point to this behavior. I struggle enough with my own inner demons and childish behavior - do I really need to encourage yours? What does this say about us as a culture? Fans tell me, "I love that show! It's like my release to watch all their antics!" And I get that. But it's just people being horrible to other people - and we make these people celebrities as a result. People who are so egocentric, they don't do anything but let cameras follow them around as they whine about whose husband got their wife a bigger diamond for Christmas.

I have to admit I melted some brain cells yesterday: I actually watched 15 minutes of Prais Hilton BFF over lunch. I admit it. I was curious. The entire 15 minutes consisted of these pathetic people vying to become best friends with a woman they don't even know (and when someone figures out what she's famous for, other than being brilliant business woman who has snowed us all into thinking she is a celebrity - which I do kind of admire in a warped way - just give me a call). There was a bachelor party and one young woman obliged the groom-to-be's request for a kiss (and not a peck). Apparently, this gal is the goody-goody in the group so it was not like her at all. The next day, she was forced to confront Paris and the other contestants (who Paris had ordered to "look at her shamefully when she comes out.") as well as the groom -to-be and his fiance. It was horrible. And as fake as Pam Anderson's breasts. The groom actor pretended to be all upset; the bride actress pretended she would call off the wedding and said, "We need to talk." And the poor girl who was goaded into all of this fake drama in the pursuit of being someone's "friend" apologized profusely and looked like she was about to cry.

These are the role models my nieces have to look forward to? They are 3 and 1 years old. God help us. After I saw that show yesterday, I needed a shower. I think we're seriously 2 steps away from Running Man.

I'm not a prude and I'm as pop culture junkie as the next person (probably more so), but this has got to stop. It's not like we have to be highbrow all the time, but seriously. We are influencing a generation of people who want to be known for how awful they are to each other, rather than one working to make this world a little bit better. And God knows, we need some help in that department right now. And I don't even have kids!

I have this awful feeling that when civilized society does implode, people will just stare at each other, dumbfounded, wondering what the hell happened. I'll give you three guesses, my friend.

La Dolce Vita Lives Up to Its Name

My hubbie and I decided to be a bit adventurous Saturday night. Craving Italian food (maybe it's all the research I'm doing for my new book proposal) we decided to try a new place. We were both in the mood for more traditional Italian cooking, not nouveau/gourmet nonsense. Don't get me wrong, that has its place but I was looking for comfort food and a nice solid glass of wine.

Booking through Open Table (we love getting the points), we came across La Dolce Vita in Lower Queen Anne. There were some lovely reviews and the menu looked right on - lots of pastas, bruschetta, even this amazing pinwheel pork loin stuffed with ricotta and served with green beans and a root beer and stoned ground mustard reduction. Yummers.

Che bella! This place is a true gem. The owner, Chris, waited on us, as it was a slow night. They are a little off the beaten path but so close to Queen Anne Ave, it's ridiculous. The decor is classic Italian bistro, with burgundy banquette seats accented by a simple floral fabric pattern, tasteful Italian landscape art on the walls and just a few faux collonades that stop way short of being cheesy. Chris was friendly, amusing and attentive. We opted for the bruschetta sampler - one of them had roasted garlic galore (My husband made me try some, too, so I couldn't refuse to kiss him for 3 days) - and the Insalta Girasole: mixed greens salad with sunflower seed vinaigrette. Simple. Lovely.

Our mains were tortellini alla'amatriciana and pappardelle alla bolognese. All I can say is "WOW!" This dished were made with love. I'm a huge fan of the pancetta and onion marinara that is Amatriciana, but had never had it with anything but bucatini before. It was lovely with the fluffy, fresh tri-colored tortellini. And Paul's pappardelle was some of the freshest pasta I've ever had, ful of meaty ragu goodness with a little bit of a kick.. I always think it's a good sign when I can see the olive oil residue in the plate after I've had a sauce dish, as it reminds me of my mother's sauce. We cleaned our plates. We both agreed we hadn't had Italian this good since Incanto in SF.

For dessert, we ordered the Dulce de la Torat di Leche: Shortcake soaked in spiced sweet milk, sweet macarpone, raspberries, caramel, and nuts. It was rich, sweet and delicious.

Wines were a Barbera for me (which Chris let me taste first, always a classy move) and a Montepulciano for Paul. I thought the Barbera might be too complex for me, but with my heavy meal, it was perfect.

It was one of those adventurous evenings that works out just perfectly. This is our new neighborhood gem and we're definitelu going back!

Italian Shoes

Intriguing new book I found by Adriana Trigiani - a fictional tale of an Italian-American woman and her family's shoemaking company. Maybe proof that there really is a market for my humorous essay memoir called Chick Lit-italiano?! Shout out to Elisabeth for that moniker.

A Tale of Two Sauces

Well, a publisher has decided they would like to learn more about my closet memoir in the making, A Tale of Two Sauces: An Italian American Gal's Quest to Get it Right. Finally, those hilarious childhood anecdotes might see the light of day. I've pitched this as a tamer Sex and the City meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding - with less sex and more sass. My family, after all WILL be reading this. Mostly it's about my growing up sandwiched between Old World Italian values and new world urban "career girl" realities. It will be a book of humorous and poignant essays about growing up Italian in a post-feminist, modern America and how I finally came to peace reconciling this storied past heritage with the woman I am today.

I'm still working on the proposal but wish me luck, as I'm sending it to the piblisher next week if all goes according to plan! Would love to be able to honor my family and heritage in this way. Stay tuned....I'm hoping to chronicle the writing adventures here as I go.

5 Things I Learn from my Dog

Yes, I've become THAT person: a dog owner. I live for little Eddie, who we adopted from the shelter on a rainy January day in 2008. We had wanted a dog for so long (another part of the rationale to move to Seattle and afford more room than SF) and wished for a dream dog of a Lab, but on the smaller side. And, lo and behold, that day at the shelter we were shown a shy, skittish Black lab mix, about a year old and only 35 lbs., fully grown. I think we conjured him into being.

Since I work from home, I walk him every morning after breakfast and before my shower. I love having this little luxury in my life. And now I can actually relate to women who struggle with going back to work and leaving their baby at home. Yes, I know - he's a dog. But he's our baby. Of course, we don't overspoil him, as we're huge disciples of The Dog Whisperer so we practice "exercise, discipline, then affection" in that all-important order. Eexcept for one guilty excess: we let him curl up on the couch (only on his blanket, naturally). He's just so damn cute, I can't resist.

My walks with him have taken on new meaning after my hospital stay last year. When I first got home from my hemmorraghed brain aneurysm episiode, I was weak, frail and had major vision issues. So for me, the goal was "to be able to walk Eddie again on my own." And I reached that goal. No "I want to visit the Pyramids" or "I have to see the world" near-death comeback goals for me. The whole ordeal actually made me want to get back to the simple pleasures of life and walking the dog by the lovely little canal near our house was one of them.

As I walk Eddie, I realize how much he has taught me on these little 30 minute soul-satisying getaways. Lessons I apparently needed to learn after my high-stress, high blood pressure, non-stop, overcommitted, active lifestyle put me in the hospital in the first place:

1) Live in the moment: Dogs are all about this. They can't remember one minute from the next. When I'm walking and a thousand to-do items are swirling through my head as I charge onward, Eddie will stop short and pull me back to the present to stop and sniff a flower or a shrub. Doesn't matter if we've passed it a million times; he finds something new in it. It's a good reminder to just be in the moment and enjoy the precious 30 minutes outside with him, look around, get out of my head, breathe, and RELAX.

2) There can be beauty in crap - just depends on your perspective: As we trot through the college campus right by my house, cherry blossoms blooming, the spring air thawing winter's chill, I'm assaulted with the smells of newly laid manure in the plantbeds and lawns. It's nasty. Eddie, however, acts like a tween girl at a Miley Cyrus concert. He leaps up and down, tries to romp through the grass (as far as his leash will go) and pretty much goes nuts. To him, it's like catnip (dognip?). So I realize one man's trash is another dog's treasure, so to speak. And it reminds me that from this foul stench, bright green grass, gorgeous tiulips, azaleas, and daffodils are blooming nicely for us to enjoy.

3) Forgive and forget: When we come home and Eddie does not come bounding down the stairs to greet us, we know he's been up to something. So we trudge upstairs to see what horror awaits. Usually it's that he's dug something from the recycling bag and torn it to shreds. He cowers before we've even said anything (which my husband recently said kind of made him respect the little guy). So we do the "Bad Dog!" routine and Time Out. And after 15 minutes, he's back licking our hands or sitting in front of us expectantly, tail wagging. All is forgotten. So we must forget as well. I've never been good at quickly overcoming things when someone hurts or disappoints me, but he makes me realize that you have to move on if you love each other.

4) Find joy in the simple things: Taking Eddie to the dog park and letting him run free, chasing the ball, greeting other dogs gives me more pleasure than I ever would have thought possible. I love that he can run around, off leash, and get his exercise. He's so joyful, it's unreal. Doesn't matter how many times we throw that ball: his ears perk up, his tail wags excessively, you hear the "pant, pant" of his tongue, and he eagerly awaits the ball throw. I can't remember the last time I felt as much joy about something so simple. And then I think: in this moment, my joy comes from watching his joy. Even when he is just laying on the coach, you can look at him. He'll stare back, not moving, and then just his tail will start going like crazy. All because you are just paying attention to him and he loves that. Or while on the coach, he flips over on his back, splaying his legs and all his parts to the world and just lays there, paws in mid-air. And he'll just look at you, upside down, with an expression of, "What?" on his face. This makes me laugh each and every time. Never gets old. Talk about a recession-proof pleasure.

5) Put someone else first: I've never really had to take care of anyone else in my life. I'm the youngest in my family. Yes, I babysat as a kid and have neices and nephews, but it's not the same. We don't know if we will have kids someday, so for us, Eddie is new territory. We have to plan now. That word was never really in our vocab before. We have to make sure he gets walked and fed, and we have to make arrangements when we go out of town (thanks Guy and Barb!). Sometimes, we'll be out in the evening, and we actually feel bad about leaving him alone so we try to get home quickly. With my health issues, we have been on one income and I have sacrificed some little pleasures for myself to make sure Eddie's still gets his high quality food, treats or a new toy. Where I used to spend that pointless money on myself, now I spend it on him - all because I see how much joy he gets from things (see #4). Maybe it's all in my head, but I don't care. It feels good to do something that makes your dog happy - even if he won't remember it in 5 minutes.

Having a dog is wonderful - and really helped in my recovery over these last few months. I don't so much mind becoming "that" person. So much so, that I've fawned recently over a SF photographer I am hoping to work with, Ann Hamilton. Check out her dog portraits on her blog. This gal is good and captures the spirit of these furry little ones perfectly

Encouraging Women and Making Our Daughters Strong

Man or woman, please sign the petition to get the new bill on creating a Commission for Women passed. The last commission on women was during JFK's term, but would be great to get it going again. I'm not necessarily a radical feminist, but the commission would cover areas such as education/training, domestic violence prevention, pay equality, and encouraging more women to participate in government and corporate leadership positions. This is good for ALL of us, not just women.

View the entire text of the bill here.

Nell Merlino, CEO of Count Me In and general rabble rouser and activist (she coordinated the first Take Our Daughters to Work Day) just wrote an inspiring book called "Stepping Out Of Line: Lessons for Women Who Want it Their Way In Life, In Love and At Work." She's a friend of a friend and I went to her Seattle book signing - just finished the book. It's fabulous. The one thing that stuck with me was that women today - right now - need to be an example to our daughters, nieces and students. We can't just hope "things are better for them" or live quiet, unhappy lives and hope they go on to live their passions. Girls do what we do, say what we say.

After reading her book, I saw this clearly in terms of my own niece, Angelina. She's 3, but I want her to know she can do anything. But to get that message across, I have to live that same life as an example - not just talk the talk. Many moms, aunts, and grandmothers out there really want their daughters to "have it all" but don't go after it themselves. That is a tragedy. Of the genders, females tend to mimic more than males (Merlino references a study in her book about how female babies can mimic adult faces 400 times more than male babies). So we women, here, today, now need to be that example for them.

And women who stay in abusive realtionships but want their daughters to escape that life need to get out of the relationship - they can't just TELL their daughter to not fall into the same trap. They need to live the example. I saw this time and again when volunteering at a domestic violence shelter. We need more education, training, and role models for girls to realize there are other options out there - and to show them what healthy, successful, loving relationships should look like.

Again, I have never been a radical feminist. I believe women should have a choice if they want to work or stay home. Motherhood is just as noble and valued as any other profession - if not more so. I grew up that way and had a fantastic childhood that I treasure. What I am saying is that women can't teach their daughters to go after their dreams if they themselves don't go after them. So ladies, make sure you are living your life deliberately and with purpose and passion to show our girls what is possible.

Let's get this women's commission bill passed!

"House" Shocker

OK. talk about good TV. Last night's House (FYI: Spoiler alert) focused on the sudden and unexplained suicide of Dr. Kutner, played by Kal Penn. Read info here and on my friend Kate's Buzz Suger report. And if you want to be even more creeped out, check out Fox's memorial page. I know live people who have died and not gotten this much recognition.

The whole experiment is interesting on so many levels:

1) Kal Penn is leaving the show to go work for Obama as Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison.

2) The suicide happened in the first 5 minutes of the show and did not do any sort of melodramatic lead in or come up with some canned explanation - nice. Suicide in real life is never that simple. Also the fact that this was how they got rid of the character was an interesting choice and helped move the story and the development of House's character along.

3) The internet marketing component and buzz is so intriguing. See memorial page and links above, as well as, hey, yours truly is blogging about it! They are treating this like the death of a real person, a friend. The blogosphere is hopping with this story today.

Will be intriguing to see how things pan out. I used to hate this show, but once I started watching, I was hooked. I hate House's character but then that is kind of the point. You tune in to see if he will finally be redeemed or make a change - and he never does. But I will say that I enjoyed Kal Penn on the show so much and am really sad to see him go. He brought a certain levity to the cast that they will either need to make up for or replace. Time will tell.

Oscar Glam

Did you catch the 81st Annual Academy Awards the other night? I saw most of it - I still can't tell which awards shows are time delayed on the West Coast and which are not. This one did indeed start at 5 or so, Pacific Time so it was live. And I liked it a bit more than the Golden Globes.

My gal pal Melanie has already dissected the fashion on her blog, so won't go too much into that. She puts me to shame with her designer knowledge, so my remarks will be more general and random (as always)

• I was apprehensive about Hugh Jackman as host. He's easy on the eyes and a talented actor (and from what I hear from a director who worked with him, as nice as can be) but I was like WTF?! No comedian this year? Where is Jon Stewart? As my husband says, Stewart as host was the only thing that made the show watchable (for him). But I was impressed with Jackman. He was polished, expedient and, yes, easy on the eyes. And I have to admit, I loved the miusical number he did with Beyonce. One, because I think I'm a but of a sucker for musicals in general and two, I just love anything with Beyonce.
• The format and staging was very interesting. Firstly, they pushed the front row closer to the stage (or the stage closer to the front row); in either case, it made for a more intimate setting (notwithstanding that theatre-in-the-round thing a few years ago), which I believe helped keep things running on time - maybe they got to see the audience getting fidgety a bit better than before. I also enjoyed the way they handed out the awards, sort of in the order of a film project: pre-production awards first, then production, then post production. And they explained the categories very well this year, for those who might not know what "art direction" really is.
• I adored the presentation of the Best Actor and Best Actress awards by 5 past winners, read: legends. What a thrill it would be to receive your award from these folks! And the way each one of them summarized each nominees' performance and were so complimentary - can you imagine being Anne Hathway, being praised by the likes of Shirley MacClaine? Who cares that she didn't win - that was awesome. I hope they keep this tradition for future shows.
• And speaking of this, what deal with the devil did Sophia Loren make to look as good as she does at that age? Probably the same one Helen Mirren signed. Damn.
• I also loved the way they performed the nominees for Best Song. And I'm not just saying that because I love the Slumdog Millionaire soundstrack and that song, "Jai Ho". Okay, maybe I am. But the Indian dancers, the drummers, etc - it was what stage productions were made for. My hubbie downloaded the soundtrack for me on Oscar night and I’ve been jamming to it ever since.
• What was up with Jessica Biel's dress? I was like, did she get TP’d or something? I actually find her quite lovely but she doesn’t really “own” these types of events and show off her beauty. Not sure why.
• I loved "Slumdog Millionaire" and was so excited they cleaned up - and that they flew in the kids (who they flund in Mumbai slums) who played the main characters as children. I think I have a bit of a crush on the star, Dev Patel (I still can’t believe he’s only 19) and I adore the way he wears his excitement and awe all over his face, like his head will implode – same expression at all of these shows, as if he’s a kid in a candy store. Love it.
• And, I bet Warner Brothers is kicking itself for passing on distribution rights to "Slumdog Millionaire" to Fox. Don't know what the skinny on this is, but I bet someone got fired.
• Ben Stiller and Natalie Portman's little comedy routine was just dumb. He looked like an idiot with that beard. I'm just saying.
• Hurrah for Kate Winslet! As I've said before, I just think she's the cat's meow and I would kill for her acting career. I'm so glad she finally got her props.
• I have asbolutely no desire to see "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." It seems long and drawn out.
• And speaking of Pitt, did anyone else notice the uncomfortable cutting back to the Jolie-Pitts while Jennifer Aniston was presenting? Meow, on the show's director's part. Not cool.
• And again speaking of the Jolie-Pitts, Angie should sport emeralds more often. Paired with her simple black dress, they just made her look stunning. As if she couldn't be stunning in flannel pajamas, but still....
• Comebacks are great and Mickey Rourke has been (from what I hear) deservingly lauded for his role in "The Wrestler" at so many awards shows, but it was nice to see Sean Penn win Best Actor for "Milk" - if only to avoid Mickey's random, obscenity-laced speeches. We get it, Mickey. You're a tough guy with a foul mouth and you're not afraid to use it. I'm over it.

Overall, I thought it was a good show - AND it ended on time (I think it did, anyway). They even had time at the end to show snippets of movies coming out in 2009.

Old Me, New Me

When you are recovering from a brain injury, as I am, there is a wide spectrum of therapy, advice and help available depending on your own situation. I have been fortunate enough to have wonderful doctors and overall care through the University of Washington Medical Center network and are continuing to take advantage of their therapy programs for cognitive and psychological help.

What is interesting throughout all of this, is how vague many of the answers can be. Sure, there is a lot they know about the brain - there are common organic and psychological symptoms that hit most brain injury patients and the doctors/therapists are great about providing "strategies' to deal with them. "Strategies" has been a big word in my vocabulary the last 6 months - all the therapists talk about strategies. What are your strategies for remembering information? What are your strategies for managing depression and irritability? What are your strategies for processing information that you don't understand?

Some of these strategies are basic time management and organizational principles, and as a professional, I was already employing many of them - writing notes, keeping a calendar, asking for clarification, rehearsal, etc. But some are more fundamental than that: being okay with asking someone to repeat things, for example, or counting to 10 before reacting, creating something to make you get out of bed in the morning, etc.

The common question I get is "When will you be back to normal?" I ask it of myself many times. Most people think I am "back to my old self" but a lot of what I deal with are things that only I notice as different from before. That is not to say they are "no big deal," as some people try to graciously comfort me with. The other thing people say in an effort to make me feel better is "Oh, I have memory problems too!" I know they mean well, but that sort of belittles my own experience. Plus, I did INDEED have some short term memory problems before this all happened and needed to write things down, but I'm dealing with a delta now that you are not - and I have to test those boundaries every day to know where the line is. I know that before, there were ways I handled things (old me); now, I just have to learn new ways of managing through them (new me). Sometimes this can get very frustrating, if you are used to operating in a certain way. It kind of makes you feel like a different person, which is a bit disconcerting.

I always try to ask the doctors and therapists, "Does it ever 'heal' or 'go away'? Will it ever be like it was?" And I get the quintessential non-descript medical answer: Your conditions can improve over time with practice and healing. So.....does that mean I never get to be the person I was? Well, they can't really say. Only that "you will see progress." To me, that means they are not sure if the brain actually heals to "pre-injury" condition, but that you can find new ways of doing things to balance out the effects.

Sometimes, this answer is good enough; other times, it gets me very fustrated. I can deal with "if you practice these strategies every day, you will be back to your old self in 1 year." Measureable, concrete, I know what I have to do. But no one can give that answer, as the brain is a complex thing.

So my interpretation? I just have to embrace "new me" and let go of "old me." I still am the person I was, but I might not be able to "wing it" in a presentation anymore or remember everyone's name so quickly. Those traits were part of who I was, but not who I will be. And that's okay, I guess, since many people deal with those traits even without a brain injury (although piece of advice: that does not make a brain injury patient feel any better! They have still lost a part of themselves that defined them).

The only way I can think to describe it is if your whole life, you defined yourself as "being a middle child" and all that entailed and then one day, you woke up and now you are told "you are an only child." What are the ramifications of how you see yourself and identify yourself (assuming there was no sibling death; it just one day became fact)? Yes, many people deal with being an only child all the time and from the outside looking in, that seems "normal", but for you, it is a different definition of self than it was before. And you have to cope with that.

So, I still have many of my personality traits from before - except I am overwhelmed a lot more easily and probably cannot live the frenetic, multi-activity life I led before as a) it is hard for me to focus, b) I get fatigued a lot more easily and c) it's not good for my high-blood pressure! So I have to deal with that loss - and it is a loss - and try to embrace the new me. One thing I do know: new me is a very lucky lady and has a lot to be thankful for.

Slumdog Millionaire Pays Off

It's not often that award buzz automatically equals a good film. But every few years, there is a "little film that could" that is just simple and beautiful and complete - and deserves every award it earns.

That film is "Slumdog Millionaire."

The story itself is a different and intriguing. A young "slumdog" (meaning from the slums, uneducated) named Jamal from India competes on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Given Jamal's educational background (and some shifty folks who do not have his best interest at heart), the young man is investigates as a possible fraud for knowing the answers. the story is told running back and forth through time to show where in his life he got the answers to some of the questions being asked. Alongside all of this, is the plot of how the boy and his brother lost their mother long ago, ended up on the streets victimized by various nefarious types - and ultimately how Jamal tracks down his long lost love.

The story could have been so contrived, but for some reason, the directing and subtle acting by these fine Indian actors keeps us rolling along and cheering for Jamal and Latika (his love). The character of Salim, his older brother is, by turns, a sinner and a saint; the fact that they did not make him a cartoon good guy or bad guy makes him one of the most interesting characters in the film.

I adored the subtle acting of Dev Patel as the adult Jamal. His fierce determination coupled with his ability to fade into the background and withdraw made his plight completely believable. Heexpressed his zeal and passion not through overacting or over-reacting, but through his actions. The fact that he's only 18 blows me away. And Fredia Pinto as Latika is just gorgeous and luminous.

This movie stayed with me long after we left the theatre, like a really good Sundance film. It was directed by Danny Boyle, of "Trainspotting" fame and - in an unsual twist - gives co-director credit (unheard of) to Loveleen Tandan - who was the film's casting director primarily. This was a highly unusual and controversial move from an awards standpoint, but she is credited with making some key directing and casting decisions that just made the film. Normally, only one person can hold directing credits for award purposes (see controversy spillover here) but Boyle wanted Loveleen's contributions to be recognized with the film.

I have not seen a film in a long time that was really "good." This film had suspense, romance, hope, justice and all of the ingredients necessary to make a darn good story. Somewhere along the line, filmmakers forgot that really, the story is what it is all about.

Golden Globes 2009

Just had a chance to check out the Golden Globe awards on DVR. While the show itself was a bit lackluster it beat the news conference they held last year to announce the winners. Check this link for other great moments.

Check here for a list of all the winners. But here are my own observations on this annual starfest.

• Kate Winslet was charming and disarming in her "freak out" over winning not one, but two awards. She won for both "The Reader" and for "Revolutionary Road" which paired her once again with Leo DiCaprio. Her first speech she asked everyone to bear with her as she "has a habit of not winning things." And then she completely freaked out at her second win, which saw her coming out on top oiver the likes of Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson and "the other one" Angelina Jolie. She also looked captivating in a great strapless and great hair.
• Clint Eastwood is not just an actor, director, and former mayor - but he's a musician too? he got nominated for best original song in "Gran Torino" and for best soundtrack in "The Changeling". I still think he's creepy though and way too old to be "the cool, bad ass old guy" in every film he does.
• What was up with Drew Barrymore's hair? It looked like she got caught in a wind tunnel in 1950. And Renee Zellweger, who usually looks flawless in Carolina Herrera, looked like a dark, Goth version of Miss Haversham in that crazy black drapey number with the bare shoulers cut out.
• Laura Linney won for "John Adams" and I was psyched. She is awesome and looked radiant in gold. And what a classy lady - no notes needed, she's just well-spoken.
• Tracy Morgan was hysterical accepting for "30 Rock". He said he and Tina had a bet that of Obama won, he would accept all awards and be the "face of post racial America - deal with it, Cate Blanchett." Priceless.
• Ricky Gervais should have just done a stand up number. He did some off the cuff comic material that was priceless. While expressing his bitterness over not getting nomintated ("That's the last time I sleep with middle aged journalists") he also congratulated Kate Winslet on her win by saying, "See? I told you to do a holocaust movie, didn't I?"
• Happy Go Lucky actress Sally Hawkins won for Best Actress in a Comedy Motion Picture. I never heard of this film before. And, she looks entirely too thin.
• The underdog "Slumdog Millionaire" seemed to be this year's belle of the ball. I really need to check this one out.
• Classy beauties were everywhere: Jessica Lange, Demi Moore, Sigourney Weaver, even Sandra Bullock looked good. I like these older women who still look fantastic dressing in a way that makes them shine. Take a tip, Miley Cyrus.
• Heath Ledger won posthumously for "The Dark Knight". While I agree he's a gifted actor, I really don't think his performance in TDK was THAT great. Will I get shot for saying that? But director Christopher Nolan accepted on his behalf and gave a lovely, short, classy speech. Way to go.
• Maggie Gyyllenhahl is so cool - but does she really have to scream "vintage" in everything she wears? I know that's her thing, but her dress looked like a thrift store fabric. What do I know? It probably cost thousands of dollars!
• What was up with the room setup, and the fact it took people forever and a day to make their way to the stage? Let's plan better, people.
• Tina Fey won for Best Actfess in a TV Series -Comedy or Musical. Love it. And love that she said in her speech (paraphrasing here), "There are a lot of people on the Internet who don't like you, so if you ever get too egotistical, you should check it out. And I'd like to address them now." to which she named a few and told them to "suck it". Nice.
• "Mad Men" won for best TV Series - Drama. This made me so happy. And plain jane Elisabeth Ross (Peggy) looked stunning in red.
• Mickey Rourke won Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for "The Wrestler". While I'm all about a comeback, he looked like Liberace on a bender. Why is stringy long greasy hair so big in Holloywood among men?
• "Wall-E" won Best Animated Film and director Andrew Stanton accepted the award. I thought this film was so poignant. And I met Stanton at Sundance a few years ago, so that was cool!
• Hayden Panatierre is just a lovely young girl. She always looks so fresh and polished.
• Gabriel Byrne beat Hugh Laurie from House and Jon Hamm from Mad Men? Seriously?
• Anna Paquin beat "SVU's" Mariska Hargitay for her role in "True Blood." That just blows.

All in all, it was pretty uneventful and non-cntroversial (except for a few "bleeps" over naughty words.) I was very surprised that Mamma Mia did not win more awards - that was just a visual roller coaster and I thought the Hollywood Foreign Press would eat it up. But honoring "Slumdog Millionaire" was very consistent with the HFP's way of being moved by little movies that could.