Goodbye to Jeanne-Claude, artist, muse and partner of the artist Christo.  I was lucky enough to work at The Gates Project when they created their fabulous site-specific work of art in 2005. The artists installed 7,503 vinyl “gates” along 23 miles of pathways in Central Park. From each gate hung a panel of deep saffron-colored nylon fabric. The exhibit ran from February 12, 2005 through February 27, 2005.  Even though the exhibit officially ran for two weeks the installation and deinstallation of the project stretched out this work for almost two months.  I believe this community work of art, was the beginning of the recovery of our wounded City from the devastation of 9/11.

As a Gate Watcher, I held a long pole with a tennis ball on the end of it so that I could unfurl the saffron curtains if the wind wrapped them around their stanchions.  I had the good fortune of speaking to thousands upon thousands of visitors from all around the world about the project, about New York City, about life, art and politics for two weeks. It was an experience I will never forget.  Most of you on this list came to visit me at my post to share the experience.

The knitted orange Gates scarf you see in my photo was created by a friend – Jennifer – who was inspired by the work of Jean-Claude and Christo.

Every morning that we worked we would meet Jeanne-Claude and Christo at the Boat House for breakfast where they would talk to us, both individually and as a group. They also were generous enough to take the time to sign our souvenir posters, books or whatever – every Friday afternoon – with their signature orange crayons.  I have my signed posters proudly hanging in my living room.  Rest in peace, dear Jeanne -Claude.

I went to see House of the Dead at the Metropolitan Opera last night.  Yes, the opera.  I like to fill my life with a bit of highbrow culture to balance out the lowbrow stuff that fills my life. To clarify, an opera loving friend (yes, one of those Ring Nuts you hear about) chooses the operas for me each year.  She knows I only like operas that are dark, depressing where lots of people suffer and/or die. No fluffy stuff for me. The House of the Dead is based on the writings of Dostoyevsky, a guy who knew a lot about crime and punishment.

There is much ado about bringing the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks to the Big Apple to stand trial.  For a change, I scratch my heard at the fuss. Has our Constitution been so shredded that people do not think that the legal system can stand on its own and mete out justice according to our laws?

As soon as motor mouth Rudy Giuliani starts banging the drum I know it is time to see what’s going on.  Rudy still lives with a 2001 calendar. He is one annoying dude who refuses to move along.  He has made a fortune off his moments of 9/11 fame and sounds the drum of ‘Danger, Will Robinson, Danger’ whenever someone will listen.

I am going to watch this trial (which might take two years to get to court) closely.  I only hope that it is not my turn to serve on the Jury.  Or then again, maybe that would be a good thing.

He will not wake up and see that the country is trying to move along.  His disastrous run for Repugnant nominee in the last round should be proof enough.  But, alas, he just cannot help himself.  He forgets that in 2009 we have video of his double speak.

Watch Jon Stewart skewers Rudy here. “We’ve all heard that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed will be tried in New York. Would you believe that Rudy Giuliani expressed conflicting opinions about trying terrorists on American soil before and after he learned he would never be president”?

Speaking of loudmouths – Stephen Colbert says ‘adios’ to Lou Dobbs: http://rawstory.com/rawreplay/?p=4294

If you missed my Sunday photo montage, check out the Central Park Zoo  snow monkeys. They were given a mirror as part of the Zoo’s ongoing enrichment program.  I happened to be at the habitat when they discovered this new addition to their home and watched their reactions.

Movie Review: Precious

Alternate Title: You Shouldn’t Go Home Again

Story: Put your prejudices away and run to see this powerful, emotional drama directed by Lee Daniels, written by Geoffrey Fletcher and based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire.

It is 1987, Harlem and Clareece Precious Jones is like no one you know. She is a 16 year old obese, illiterate girl who is pregnant with her second child after being raped again by her father. Why would you want to see such a seemingly depressing film? You need to see it because the script and acting are like nothing you have seen before – and, hard to believe, it is actually somewhat uplifting.

How Precious manages to escape her abusive mother, desperate situation and finds shreds of hope within herself is movie magic. Director Daniels finds just the right notes in style and substance and mixes reality with dream sequences to make this film all the more special.

I am a sucker for films about resilience, redemption and underdogs. Combine those qualities with incredible acting, an eclectic sound track and you have an award winner, for sure.

Acting: Unknown Gabourey Sidibe as Precious was simply wonderful. She will most definitely be walking the red carpet this award season. Mo’Nique as Mary should also see that red carpet since her performance was also amazing. Paula Patton as the lovely Ms. Rain, was terrific as was an almost unrecognizable Maria Carey as social worker, Ms. Weiss. Lenny Kravitz was fine in the small role of Nurse John.

Trivia: Mo’Nique launched own line of clothing Mo’Nique’s Big Beautiful and Loving It in August 2000. It closed in 2002. Paula Patton was featured on the cover of husband Robin Thicke’s first album, “A Beautiful World”. Lenny Kravitz has a daughter, Zoë Kravitz, with Lisa Bonet. He is the son of Roxie Roker and Sy Kravitz. He was named after his uncle, Pfc. Leonard Kravitz, who was killed in action in Korea on 7 March 1951 while suppressing a Chinese attack and saving most of his platoon; he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Lenny has joined the fight to get his uncle the Congressional Medal of Honor. Supporters believe the CMH has been denied to Pfc. Kravitz because he was Jewish.

Predilection: None

Critters: Cats and dogs (none were harmed)

Food: Lots of carbs, fried and greasy foods including chicken, pigs feet, corn and bread. The only healthy option was fruit eaten by a male nurse.

Sex Spectrum: Rape is not sex.

Blatant Product Placement: McDonald’s was discussed.

Soundtrack: A terrific mix of tunes by Mario Grigorov.

Opening Titles: The title is scrawled on a black background. All credits at the end.

Theater Audience: Note to self: Never ever go to the movies on a school holiday. We went on Veterans Day and it was a very crowded downstairs theater. Luckily we were in the secret balcony but sadly others have discovered that area too. It was, as they say, an interactive audience and many laughed at inappropriate times. The film was rated R – yet there were young children, accompanied by adults in evidence in the theater. I wanted to call the ratings police. Bad parenting reigns.

Weather: Precious weathers the seasons.

Sappy Factor: 0

Quirky Meter: 0

Squirm Scale: 3. The home that Precious came from was extremely abusive and at times, very hard to watch.

Drift Factor: We did not drift.

Predictability Level: High

Tissue Usage: 0

Oscar Worthy: Yes

Big Screen or Rental: This film should be seen on the big screen.

Length: Under two hours.

LOBO HOWLS: 9

Where are you going this time, Mom?  That’s what my dog Benny and cat Madison seem to be saying as they look at me with that ‘doesn’t this make you feel guilty’ look again.

Raise your hand if beach vacations are on the top of your list?  Hmm – I see lots and lots of hands.  I too, used to long for an empty beach, a good book and a drink with an umbrella in it.  So, what happened to that fun in the sun babe?  I am guessin’ the ravages of time and tide have altered my longing to be seen on a beach. Anyhow – I am off for a week – for a fine beach vacation with good friends.  Now where did I put that old lady bathing suit?
I am not taking my computer.  My goal is to not listen to much of the post-election poppycock and blathering.  I plan to unplug, de-rant, enjoy my good buddies and maybe even use their boogie board again. Gasp.

So I once again will suffer the indignities of being poked, sniffed and prodded at airports, gag at the awful smells and be forced to breathe the foul air on the plane and generally try to steer clear of anyone who is coughing, sneezing or wheezing. Alas, no matter how many times I leave for an airport the same nagging questions come to mind.

-  Is the dog sitter available?  -  Is the cat sitter available?  -  Should I pay my bills before I go away or wait until I come home? – Did I stop the newspaper from being delivered?  -  What book should I take?  What if I don’t like the one book I brought?  – Should I leave my windows open? -  How much cash should I take?  -  Did I forget my passport?  (you now need a passport to go to the Virgin Islands) -  What time should I call to have the car service pick me up?  -  Is the weather going to be good for the flight?  -  Will there be turbulence?  -  Will we make the connecting flight?  – What about swine flu?  -  Will some rat bastard diseased carrier be sitting next to me on the flight?  -  How many pairs of socks should I take?  – Underwear?  -  Will everything fit in my carry-on luggage? -  Do I need a winter coat for when I come home? – Did I pack my Xanax? -   Should I set an alarm clock?  I never need an alarm clock but I always set one before a trip.  I do not even know if the alarm clock works.  I am always up before it goes off.  Now I have to worry about that too. These are just a few of the things that are running through my brain. Mwah!

See you soon.

Election day is always an emotional roller coaster.  I was most nervous about Jon Corzine and guess what?  New Jerseyans decided they wanted the ‘fat guy’ not the ‘rich guy’ to run their state for the next four years. As we say in Yiddish ‘ gey gezunterheyt’ (fine – do whatever you like – don’t listen to me – see if I care’). Living across the river from New Jersey gives me a semi-interest in their politics and lots of laughs about their corruption and scandals.  Sometimes New Jersey makes the crowd in Albany look almost competent. The Jersey crowd has thrown out Corzine.  Let us see what Governor Christie can do with their economy.

I was not at all optimistic about the craziness in upstate New York in the 23rd district.  But I was interest in the Repugnant in-fighting over who was going to be Repugnantly Conservative enough to win the backing of the big shots in their shambles of a party. Democrat Bill Owens took a surprising victory in the special election, winning a House seat that Repugnants had controlled since 1872 and in the process, has probably cause more fighting amongst the Repugnants for control of the party. This is going to be good watching.

Bloomberg did not win by the huge (or as we say in Brooklyn -’yooge’) margin they thought he would. Only one million New Yorkers came out to vote. Shame on you if you did not vote.  You could not find 10 minutes out of a 15 hour polling day to exercise your right to vote? Bah!  Since he did not win by a huge amount I can already hear the rustling for position by the Democrats who now think 2013 is theirs.  Anthony Weiner?  Is it your turn?

The ugliest vote was out on Maine.  Once again, the bigots, the homophobes and the supposedly Christian believers have denied other people their rights. Maine voters repealed a state law granting same-sex couples the right to marry, defeating an effort by gay activists who hoped the state would become the first to approve gay marriage at the polls. Shame on Maine.

Virginia was not a contest from the beginning.

So what does it all mean?  Who knows?  The blathering TV heads will spin this anyway they choose.  The Dems are already saying it had nothing to do with Obama – well – I am not so sure of that.  The Repugnants will play down NY’s 23rd district in favor of bathering about NJ and Virginia.  I am going on vacation.

Movie Review: Law Abiding Citizen

Alternate Title: Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold

Story: Revenge can be very sweet, highly entertaining and has been an ongoing theme on the big screen for a long time. However, when the film maker loses sight of the reason for the revenge – huge plot holes can open up and a film quickly goes down the toilet. Sadly, director F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job) and writer Kurt Wimmer fall into that rabbit hole.

Engineer and family man, Clyde Shelton’s wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. After the killers are caught, Philadelphia hot shot, prosecutor Nick Rice, in an effort to keep his conviction rate at 96% makes a deal that allows one of the killers to serve a light sentence and the other goes to death row. This abuse of the judicial system does not sit well with our grieving engineer, now widower.

Fast forward 10 years and the mayhem begins. Admittedly, watching the two murderers get their just rewards (however gruesome) was satisfying. If the film had ended there, it would have been considered a short. So, for another hour we endure the bodies piling up and after awhile my movie buddy and I would just point and snicker at which character was going to be whacked next.

The productions values were fine but sadly, the script was murdered along the way. Unlike their license plates, You do NOT have a friend in Pennsylvania in this bummer film.

Acting: Jamie Foxx, who usually surprises me with his acting, essentially grunted through this film. I do not know what the fuss is all about when it come to Gerard Butler. He does not appeal to me nor did I notice any acting skills in this film at all. Steady screen presences, Bruce McGill, Colm Meaney and Viola Davis all handed in fine performances given what they had to work with.

Trivia: Director F. Gary Gray won Best Video of the Year for Directing the TLC’s “Waterfalls” video at the 1995 MTV Music Video Awards. Gerard Butler went to Glasgow University where he studied to be a lawyer/solicitor. He is Scottish, but is of partial Irish ancestry. He has a tiny pug your could fit in your palm named Lolitta he fell in love with while walking by a pet shop.

Predilection: Sometimes gratuitous violence is very entertaining.

Critters: None, thankfully.

Food: A big scene involving a porterhouse steak, pasta and asparagus.

Blatant Product Placement: Apple, Duxiana beds, Pepsi

Soundtrack: Loud, louder and loudest.

Opening Titles: The horrific home invasion which leads to the revenge part of the film comes before the title. All other credits at the end.

Visual Art: The prison scenes were filmed at Broadmeadows prison, which is very much like Eastern States prison and can be visited in Philadelphia. I have been there and it is one cool tour.

Theater Audience: About 10 other people and us. FYI – my movie buddy liked Saw VI. Need I say more?

Weather: It was so cold while filming this movie, I pointed out to my movie buddy that you could see the breaths of the actors even while they were indoors.

Sappy Factor: 0

Quirky Meter: 0

Squirm Scale: The revenge killings are pretty squirmy.

Drift Factor: I did not drift.

Predictability Level: High

Tissue Usage: 0

Oscar Worthy: No

Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine.

Length: 110 minutes

LOBO HOWLS: 4