Movie: "A Single Man"

Colin Firth plays a gay university professor in Los Angeles in the early 60's.  He's mourning the death of his lover and planning suicide when the pain continues nearly a year afterword.  He lives in a modern house with lots of glass, and is friends with a former lover played by Julianne Moore, who continues to think there's a possibility of restoring their sexual relationship.  Because the director is designer Tom Ford, everyone and everything is beautiful.  After meeting up with one of his gay students at a bar, he begins to think there's a possibility of happiness.  Alas, it's not to be.

Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies

One thing leads to another.  I bought molasses for the baked beans, so this morning I baked molasses cookies to use some of it up.  It's a simple, spicy recipe that makes a very nice tasting cookie.  The recipe is from The Joy of Cooking.

Finished Object: Ninja Style Helmet Liner

One of my knitter friends is having a Superbowl knitting party and asked attendees to make helmet liners to donate to U.S. servicepeople.  I used this pattern and Shepherds Wool yarn.  It wasn't a very interesting pattern, but it went quickly and I love the yarn.

Book: "A Gate at the Stairs"

This Lorrie Moore novel takes on post 9/11 anxiety, racism, and the coming of age of a girl from the country who is attending university in the "Athens of the midwest."  As usual the characters are quirky and the wordplay plentiful.

My rating:  **** (out of 5)

Chicken Posole

 Even though this is a Martha Stewart recipe, it's surprisingly quick and easy, especially if you use grocery store rotisserie chicken.  I'd probably find her insufferable in person, but she does have some good recipes.

Movie: "Crazy Heart"

I was predisposed to like this movie because I'm a sucker for both outlaw style country music and Jeff Bridges.  I realize that the Maggie Gylenhall character, a reporter for the Santa Fe newspaper, was living in a house that would easily go for $800,000 in Santa Fe and I also realize that Bad Blake's recovery from alcoholism was too quick and easy.  Nevertheless I liked the movie - a lot.

My rating:  **** (out of 5)

Book: "Olive Kitteridge"

This novel, in the form of 13 connected short stories, centers on Olive Kitteridge, an overbearing small town middle school math teacher who ignores many of the social niceties.  Although she's not always likeable, she is understandable.    It deserves the Pulitzer Prize that it won because it's a masterpiece.

My rating:  ***** (out of 5)