We had a wonderful evening last night!  I conquered the 9ft table and surprised the heck out of myself.  At times I’d keep waving at the ball for it to go in.  Matt informed me I was not allowed to use “the force” when playing pool.  I informed him a Jedi has to do what a Jedi has to do.  Then, of course, we had to do the whole light saber thing with our pool cues.

I’ve really been trying not to be helicopter mom and hover around Sam while he has been getting ready for his trip, which I know he appreciated.  Was as supportive as he’d let me be-from a distance.  This is the first time he has ever flown without a family member and I know I shouldn’t worry.  But at the age of 22, he is still my baby and always will be.

This morning I was asked to take him to the airport.  He had double-checked his carry on and realized that he forgot his toothbrush.  Got that packed.  We are getting ready to walk out the door when I stopped, turned around, and looked at him.

“Uh, where is your guitar?”

The look on his face was priceless!  He tossed his carry on to me and ran back to his room to grab it.  So does that make me sort of his roadie?

The cool thing is that I didn’t want to go home and watch the clock until his flight left.  So I went to a place nearby to get my nails done.  He had told me he was flying out at 11:19.  I came walking out of the salon around 11:15.  Stood there looking up at the sky and then I glanced at my watch-11:19.  Waited 3 minutes and saw his United Airlines 757 fly over the shopping center I was at.  Grabbed the cell phone and took a picture of it which I’ll text him in a little while.

I’ve had more fun today.  Being Leap Day, Disneyland opened at 6am and will close tomorrow at 6am.  They’ve never done this before.  Of course I follow Disneyland on Twitter.  Besides posting lots of pics of all the people in the park, they’ve been doing a trivia quiz every hour-I’ve only missed 2 so far and I’m rather proud of that.

Matt and Andie are going out with Matt’s dad tonight for Matt’s birthday.  I’ve made a lovely spaghetti dinner with a salad.  I plan to eat while reading the 2nd book in “The Hunger Games” trilogy.  Then disappearing in my bathroom to do girl stuff to my face-a nice way of saying I’m going to smear stuff all over it and then set the timer.  Jammies on, light my livingroom candles and the fireplace.  Then its just me, 3 cats, 1 dog, and “Downton Abbey”…..and the last piece of Matt’s birthday cake if its still there.

*sigh*

A perfect evening.

I take the rockstar to the airport tomorrow at 9:30am.  I live close to the airport and can see the planes take off and land.  Of course, I plan to be standing out on the my deck at 11:20 tomorrow to wave at his plane as it takes off.  Sam is very excited but, unfortunately, has come down with a cold.  The good news is that he plays lead guitar only, and doesn’t have to sing at all.

Got low lights in my hair yesterday.  It looks really nice but very natural.  Now that Andie knows I’m not a natural type of girl, she is having me come back to the salon next Monday to make the low lights even darker which will look unnatural and be very me.

Guess you are getting the idea that this is sort of a this and that kind of post.

Yesterday I was nausea free all day!  I even got my stair step machine out and did about 10 minutes on it 3 different times.  That light at the end of the withdrawal tunnel is getting brighter and brighter-YAY!  Right hand not as bad, but not real great yet.  But I was able to open two water bottles all by myself yesterday.  Still some knee problems sitting down and standing up, but no pain walking.  I am one very happy camper!  This is the best I’ve felt since the beginning of November when I first tried to get of that nasty medication.  

Went to Target with my weekly shopping trip.  Bought baby Tristan his first newborn outfit. I got a little teary eyed. Andie will be 4 months pregnant next week.  She is Portuguese and has a gigantic family.  To them, talking is basically yelling very loud.  I’ve witnessed this.  I now understand why she prefers to live here.  Another thing she told Matt and I is that everyone wants to be in the room at the hospital.  I first thought she meant the waiting room, because that’s where I will be setting up camp when she goes into labor.  Nope-the delivery room.  Its not unusual for there to be atleast 20 family members in there.  She says she is putting her foot down and that’s not going to happen.  This birth is going to be pretty interesting I think.

At Target I also bought the 2nd “Hunger Games” book.  Haven’t finished the first yet, but really love it.  Also bought Matt, Andie, and I’s latest obsession-season 2 of “Downton Abbey”.  We were all watching season 1 on Netflix last night and loved every moment of it.  I live on Wisteria Street, so we now call our house Wisteria Castle.  Matt is now Sir Matth-a-lot.  We address Andie (per her request) as “your ladyship”. Me?  I’m the Queen of course.

Sam looks at the three of us and shakes his head.

Tonight the four of us are going out for Matt’s birthday dinner.  I felt the poor guy got cheated on Sunday with the Oscars.  He wants to go to Dave & Busters.  He says the food is great and he wants to see me play pool on a 9 foot table.  I’ve only played 7 foot, but am beating him more and more on 7 feet.  A 9 foot table is going to be real interesting.

We are planning and plotting our second day trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.  The Disneyland passes the four of us got for my birthday were 2 day passes.  We want to go while Andie can still go on the fast rides, and before the Spring Break crowds descend.

I’m going through movie withdrawal with no plans to go to a movie theater for atleast 2 or 3 weeks.  That doesn’t mean you get off the hook with the movie fact thing-”The Lone Ranger” starring Johnny Depp started filming today.

Now I have to go back and look at that cute little outfit while imagining my grandson wearing it in August when he makes his appearance.

I. Can’t. Wait.

Happy Tuesday all!

I. Am. One. Tired. Leopardditz.

Awards season is officially over and I truly enjoyed every moment of it.  Saw “Hugo”, “The Help”, and “The Artist” yesterday.  Came home to a housefull of Sam’s friends.  They took off by 10:30pm.  I watched the Independent Spirits Awards (the Oscars for the Independent movies) from 10:30 to 12:30am.  Hardly slept last night.  Got ready for Oscar party with neighbor at my house…party started at 10:30 am and ended when the Oscars did.  Matt’s birthday was today.  We did his birthday celebration during Red Carpet commercials.  Fortunately, my boys totally get my movie obsession.  I made Matt’s cake Friday.  It ended up looking like a pool table and said “Happy 28 Birthday” with the 2 ball and 8 ball-he loved it!  The Andie just texted me.  She does hair and is still being trained.  She is really, really good.  Needs a hair model for highlights tomorrow am at 8.  I’m taking one for the team and said ok.  I consider the girl family now and I do what my family needs me to.

“Hugo” in 3D was absolutely amazing.  Not a 3D fan at all.  But I kept wanting to put out my hand and catch the snowflakes.  I teared up at the end of the movie because it was over.  That was my 3rd time of seeing “The Help”.  Read the book and own the movie.  One of my favorite movies!  I cried right along with Octavia Spencer when she won tonight.  ”The Artist”?  Didn’t like it at all.  I’m not putting a foot in a movie theater for the next 2 weeks and am only watching tv shows on dvd until then.  I need a Hollywood break.

That being said, I started reading “The Hunger Games” yesterday between movies.  Definitely on that bandwagon!  Want to see it in IMAX.

Threw up twice yesterday am before the movie.  But I haven’t thrown up since then-I’m feeling optimistic.  I see feeling good in my near future.

Sam is getting ready to go on tour for 5 days with the band.  I think he leaves the 28th.  He and Matt went to shoot pool tonight.  Don’t remember if I said anything about the fire shoot with the band Matt did, but the pictures were really amazing.  He showed me a picture of a magazine cover that he shot.  I think he’s up to 5 covers shots, one shoe box, a side of a box, and I don’t know how many ads and spreads in magazines.  

I hear my bed and a cat calling me. 

And my alarm going off way too early tomorrow am.

One last thing.  I’d like to thank the Academy for sticking with me during awards season.  I’d like to thank all the movie theater employees.  I’d also like to thank all my friends who put up with my obsession.  But mostly I’d like to thank my boys for paying for me to go to AMC Best Picture Showcase and listening me rattling on and on about movies this season.  I couldn’t get through it without them.

Oh, and in my head I’m wearing vintage Coco Chanel, Loubouton shoes, and Harry Winston diamonds.

In reality I’m wearing Target from head to toe and darned happy about that.  

Goodnight all!

Hats off to Sasha Baron Cohen.  The man has managed to generate an overwhelming amount of publicity for his new movie.  Of course, everyone wants to know if he will walk the red carpet Sunday night, and what will he wear?  I had to laugh when I saw an interview with Martin Scorsese.  He said the 2 biggest challenges of shooting “Hugo” was filming in 3D for the first time and working with SBC.  That’s the first movie I see tomorrow and I’m very excited about it.  After that is “The Help”-own it on DVD, seen it 4 times, read the book, and absolutely love it.  ”Extremely Loud”-I’m going to see how I feel.  May go take a snooze in the car-I’ll see.  ”The Artist” I want to see so I can figure out what everyone is talking about.  ”Midnight in Paris” is the last movie.  I love it so much, but it doesn’t start until after 9pm.  Busy weekend, feel like crap, planning to call it a night after “The Artist”.

Nasty withdrawal from the Prednisone this week.  I couldn’t keep anything down Tuesday or Wednesday at all.  Since last week, I’ve lost 6 pounds which isn’t good.  Today I’ve had a banana and 2 pieces of toast.  Ran a couple of errands this morning because I had to.  Matt’s birthday is Sunday.  I decided I’m going to make him a cake decorated just like a pool table.  Nothing like being over ambitious, but I know he’ll love it.  Don’t know what I’m going to fix to eat for Lauren and I’s Oscar party.  Food is not my friend right now.  

Going to try to get a few things done and then lay down for a short while.  I’m starting to get these red, itchy splotches on my arms from the withdrawal.  I had thought about waiting another month before attempting to stop taking it.  But is there ever a really good time in your life to feel like crap for up to 8 weeks?  Not for me.

The good news is that my left hand is pain free, and my knees don’t kill me when I walk.  Getting up and down from/to a sitting position isn’t as bad this week.  So there is a pinpoint of light at the end of this tunnel.

I recommend you buy stock in the company that makes Tums. Picked up 2 more containers today.  The berry smoothie ones aren’t that bad…if you eat enough of them and they help.

Very busy day.  In a hurray.  No movie/tv fact for today.

But something even better to share!

Yesterday Matt and Andie went for the 3D sonogram to find out the sex of the baby.

If the baby chooses to be born on its due date, on August 21st I will hold Tristan Lee for the very first time!

When Matt texted me, of course I started crying-its how I roll.  Then when they got home, they had a dvd for me to watch of the sonogram.  Yup, my grandson is already on tv.  Then the happy tears really started falling.  That didn’t last long before I was laughing so hard.  Andie was trying to decide which picture to post on her Facebook of Tristan.  Yesterday morning when I got up, this was the last thing I’d have expected to hear in my livingroom.

“Is that his nose or his penis?”

Getting to see my grandson for the first time (and hear his heartbeat) during Oscar Week?

More priceless than a Master Card commercial.

I. Am. Braindead. Today.

Yup, its official.

Saw “War Horse” yesterday.  Wonderful movie!  Since I had seen it before, I went out to the lobby and read a book during the really bad war scenes.  Then went back in for the last 30 minutes.  The funny thing is that when I heard about that movie last January, I told Sam it would make it to the Oscars. 

“Moneyball”?  I know as much about baseball as I do about golf-you hit a ball with a stick and chase after it.  This movie was wonderful, Pitt or no Pitt.  I now know why Jonah Hill was nominated for an Oscar for his role.

“Tree of Life”?  After 40 minutes, I walked out and went shopping.  3rd movie ever that I’ve walked out on.  Brad Pitt may break up with me over that, I can live with it.  

“The Descendants”? AMAZING movie!  I had read the book and the adaptation was perfect. (really into screenplay adaptations now) It made me laugh and it made me cry.  Loved every moment of it.

Was in a movie theater (except for in and out trips) from 9:30am to 9:30pm yesterday.  And I get to go do it all over again next Saturday.

My adventures yesterday-kilt wearing guy was there for the 4th year.  I really think its cool when I see a guy wearing a kilt.  One of my weird things.  Taking a pillow with my blanket was the way to go. No one sat next to me, I pulled up the arm rest and stretched out.  It was like watching a movie at home, minus two cats.  I was talking with a lady about the marathon that they don’t do yet in my county.  All the movies nominated for Best Picture in a 24 hour period.  I told her that at movie #7, I’d turn to her and say, “wasn’t that a great movie with the horses running around the baseball field?”.  She said she’d turn to me and say, “wasn’t that a great movie with the tree giving life in Hawaii?”.  We both had a good laugh about that.

Worried about Matt today.  He is sicker than a dog and has to drive to northern LA for a photo shoot.  This is the one with the and that is going to have themselves lit on fire by a stuntman while he shoots them.  He’s making a huge amount of money on this.  I’m sure the stuntman knows what he is doing.  He has shot a band in Florida with alligators.  I have confidence in him.  But I’m his mom and still worry.  This is one of those moments when I want to go, “yes!  And now you get to go through this since you are going to be a dad!”.

Sam played a gig last night and is still sleeping.  I’m still in my jammies and am going back to bed.  Still trying to wrap my head around that I get to see “Hugo”, “The Help”, “Extremely Loud”, “The Artist”, and “Midnight in Paris” next Saturday.

As I call it every year I go to this, it my Super Bowl and I love every moment of it.

My bed and the pets are calling me.  See you tomorrow.

Movie/TV factoid of the day:  For those of you who watched “Friends” (I re-watch all 10 seasons every November), remember the picture frame that surrounded the peephole in Monica’s apartment?  It was sold at an auction in December for…..$52,000.00!  Frankly, I would have much rather owned the wipeboard on Joey’s door.  Also when the show ended, Courtney Cox took the orange couch home from the coffee shop which I thought was rather neat.

Am gearing up for tomorrow.  Bought some anti-nausea stuff at the pharmacy that I was told would help.  Keeping my fingers crossed about that.  Am packing up oversized purse with snacks, water to smuggle in incase the line is too long to get food.  Also bringing a book to read during the dinner break.  Next book I’m reading is “The Hunger Games”.  I’m sort of getting on the band wagon for that movie.  Saw Katherine Lawrence-she will play the lead, Katniss-in “A Winter’s Bone” again the other night.  Tough movie to watch, but she was so darned good in it!  Last night I watched “Midnight in Paris” for the second time-that movie just makes me smile.  Watching it the 2nd time, I picked up on a whole bunch of thing I missed the first time.

I know what I want to win at the Oscars but, based on what I’ve been reading from the critics and people in the industry, in addition to what/who won what at the awards shows starting in January, “The Artist” will take best picture and director.  Streep will get best actress and Clooney will take best actor.  Octavia Spencer and Christopher Plummer will take supporting.  I would be so darned happy if I was wrong about the top four.  Oh well.

In other movie-related news (which I’m sure you are as sick of hearing about movies as my sons are-it will all end…for a while, after the Oscars), a friend of Matt’s sent him a link to an indie movie he filmed yesterday called “Champion”.  Matt started yelling for me to get out to his computer and watch it.  The thing is breathtaking!!  Matt is meeting him up in LA next week-I told Matt to tell him I would be happy to be his date at the Sundance Film Festival next year when it comes out.  Matt said he would pass that along and that I should be happy to know that he looks just like Ryan Gossling.

Now George Clooney and Ryan Gosling are on a list of men I don’t find attractive…at all.  I’m sure they are nice guys, but….

A day of housework to make up for taking off for 12 hours tomorrow.  But its a lovely day, so I opened all the doors and windows to air the house out.  Having 3 cats, 1 dog, and 2 sons, I’m always airing the house out when I can.  Oops-my dryer is calling me!

I follow Disney Memories on Twitter and get so much enjoyment out of it.  All it is is quotes from different Disney movies.  Today’s I particularly loved, “One shoe can change your life”, Cinderella.  Found that very appropriate for NYC Fashion Week.  

Haven’t been feeling good.  And then yesterday the barfing and diarrhea started.  Oh joy.  But I’m getting a system down.  I keep a handful of kleenexes on the counter to grab and wipe my mouth with, along with a scrunchy to hold my hair back.  I know barfing is imminent when I start burping loudly.  Then I go running to the bathroom, do the deed, and come out to find that one of the boys have left me a glass of cold water on the counter.  Barfing sucks, but it sort of got amusing yesterday.  The cats love to sit on the counter and watch me.  Maybe they are sympathizing thinking I’m yaking up furballs.  Buk barks at me while I’m barfing.  

New bathroom rule-no one allowed in the bathroom with me unless they have thumbs to help hold back my hair (hence, the scrunchy).

I’m trying not to get freaked out about how I will feel on Saturday.  That’s when I see “War Horse”, “Moneyball”, “Tree of Life”, and “The Descendants”.  Somehow I’ll just deal with it.  Have put myself on the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) and Gatorade.  I’m trying to look at the upside-maybe in a week I’ll be able to fit in my skinny jeans again.  I’ve already decided which sweats and shirt I’ll wear.  Wish to goodness I had the guts to show up in flannel jammies-saw someone do that last year.  I’ve picked out which small blanket I’ll take and have decided to take one of the couch pillows with me.  For as long as you are in the theater, you just make yourself as comfortable as possible.  What’s really nice is that it never sells out.  You hope that no one will sit next to you so you can put the armrest up-then its like being on my couch at home watching movies.  So darned excited!

Am almost done with the 3rd book in the “Dragon Tattoo series.  Really enjoying it so much!  Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig have both signed on to do the next two movies.  However, the director has another project he’s working on when they want to start filming.  The films will definitely have a different feel to them if they bring in another director.  What do I have to do?  Go to Hollywood and take a meeting with this guy??

Movie fact.  The Hungarian government has decided not to go after Brad Pitt for “attempting to smuggle guns” into Budapest during the filming of “World War Z”.  The whole thing was so stupid!  Depending on many guns they need for a filming of a particular movie, sometimes real ones are cheaper to use.  The first (and maybe last movie-I’m not sure) to use real guns was “Lord of War” with Nicholas Cage.  He is an arms dealer and there would be huge mountains of guns he was selling.  Excellent movie with the most amazing opening sequence I’ve ever seen.

Matt’s girlfriend had her 2nd sonagram yesterday-so cool to see the pictures and see those tiny little baby hands and fingers.  Next week we find out the sex of the baby.  To me, I don’t care what sex the baby is, as long as it is healthy.  The GF has her heart set on a girl and, so far, her name will be Genevive.  I just want to know the sex so everyone stops referring to the baby as “it”.  That bothers me-that’s a baby in there, not an “it”.

I’m starting to burp again.  Don’t know how much longer my toast and Gatorade will be with me.  Want to come over and hold my hair back for me?

Withdrawal particularly bad today.  Running a fever, can barely walk.  As long as I can make it on Saturday.  Started reading my Entertainment Weekly yesterday and all they could talk about was Oscar movie showcase.  I was thrilled and sad-don’t tell people about it!  The first Saturday is my big day-Moneyball, Tree of Life, and The Descendants are on that day.

In other Leopardditz news, today I’m cooking a full on Thanksgiving dinner in honor of Valentines Day.  Sam and I are celebrating the fact that we are single and its all good.  We live 30 minutes from the Mexican border.  On Cinco De Mayo when this city goes crazy and celebrates, we go out for Italian food.  You can always get a table.  Thinking that the Thanksgiving dinner on VDay may become a yearly tradition.

No movie/tv tidbits for today.  Going to go lay down while the turkey is cooking.  

Atleast my house will smell good this afternoon!

(guitar roaring in the background.  Pretty sure Sam has it turned up to 11.)

“The Vow” took box office this weekend over “Safe House”.  It was Valentines Day weekend-what can I say?

We do weird things on holidays around here.  Live very close to the Mexican border so what do Sam and I do on Cinco De Mayo?

We go eat Italian food.  We can always get a seat.

Am going through full Prednisone withdrawal and feeling like shit.

Living with a professional photographer, he critics everything I watch on tv and reading magazines.  ”They are all off with the lighting”.  With Sam, he goes musical.  I can’t sing in front of him because I can’t carry a tune.  But we do have similar tastes.  Right now we are both into Queen.  Rumors are out there that Adam Lambert will replace Freddie Mercury.  We are hoping for Freddie Nelson-sounds just like him.  A total Journey moment.

Been a long day-going to read my Entertainment Weekly and go to my happy place.