Leg Lickin' Good!

It's no real secret that I am a big food fan. I like to eat and cook good food. It's a passion of mine and is very therapeutic for me. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I even had the cable company run a wire for a TV on the refrigerator. That way I can get my fill of Dr. Phil, Seinfeld, news, or sports while I cook.

I think that people that are passionate in life are passionate about food. I'm proud of the fact that I am a self taught cook and a good eater. I'll try to cook and eat most anything once, and there is very little I don't like.

I am also an act of service guy. I would like to think words like care and love are verbs and require action to really be put into motion. For me, cooking and serving is one of the ways I show as much. But as much as I enjoy all of the above, I know someone whose got me beat.

My dog Kona! She is 9 years old, and about 50 pounds. On my vets advice, she eats one bowl of food a day in the morning, and gets all the water she wants. The passion she shows for that food that I simply pour into that bowl is something that I have never seen. I can cook a meal for an hour in the kitchen for family and friends, and it never plays to the same reviews that Kona gives on her meal that is simply decanted out of the bag.

When Kona's done savoring her half crunchy, half chewy food with water at her usual bowl with a nice window view, you can see the contentment on her face. She even licks her legs and chest for the next few minutes to savor every last drop of the succulent dish that may have splashed on her. Just one last taste of the delectable on-sale dog food that's been stored in the plastic container on wheels. Keep in mind, it's the same swill every day for her. Not like us, a different menu every night. She just loves to eat... and good for her!

I don't generally make it a practice to splash my dinner in my lap daily. Doesn't bother Kona. I also don't eat my dinner in about 60 seconds. There again, Kona's good with that. She loves dinner so much, she even eats it standing up. Not me! Have you ever licked the plate clean for a minute after the food is gone? She does! Dogs are so passionate about food that they just stick that muzzle right down in the bowl and go to town! Now I gotta admit, I've toyed with that idea a Thanksgiving or two when the turkey and stuffing was just begging to be eaten, but I never followed through. I got no game.

As great as some of the food I've eaten in my life has been, I can't say it's ever been leg lickin' good. Finger lickin' good? Yes....Leg lickin' good? ....No. But Kona can.

That's the way Kona rolls.

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Wrapping up Oscar

The 81st Academy Awards are now over, and now it's all Monday Morning quarterbacking on the show and the winners

The show itself was fine enough. Hugh Jackman showed amazing guts with the opening song and dance routine that started the show off fast and furious. The fashions were what the were and there were the good moments and the awkward moments too on camera. Tina Fey and Steve Martin stole the funny moments award, and the award to the most awkward moment, too many to mention, and the competition was too fierce. All pretty standard stuff.

I know we were all sitting on the edge of our seats for the Sound Editing, and Costume Design Oscars to be doled out. But after all the junk, we got to the meat. The reason you watch. The BIG awards.

Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner of the night. Eight Oscars in ten tries this year including Best Picture. A movie that is good to be sure, but I have contended all along it is overrated. Nothing at all wrong with it, just not 8 in 10 Oscar good. I still contend that Changeling is the best movie of the year, and sadly wasn't even seriously invited to the party.

No surprise with Heath Ledger as Best Supporting Actor for Batman, Sean Penn for Best Actor in Milk. Kate Winslet finally breaks through as Best Actress for The Reader, and her award- a long time coming.

The big surprise came with Penelope Cruz for Best Supporting Actress for the Quirky Woody Allen flick, Victoria, Christina Barcelona. Clearly moved, I think it was the best moment of the night. Real emotion with no agenda. Cruz seemed somewhat stunned as she held Oscar, and gave as nice a speech as can be expected under stunning circumstances, in both English and Spanish. A real lesson for future winners to follow. Well Done.

Now that the 2008 movies have been honored and put to bed, time to move on to 2009. Who will be this years Slumdog Millionaire?

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72 In 52

This weekend I took one of my semi-annual trips to Central Florida to play some golf during the cold weather up here. I lived there for ten great years, and had real success professionally and personally. So fortunate to make and keep such great friends. Eight years after my departure from the Sunshine State, I go back and spend time with them and chase the little white ball around a well manicured course.

I truly felt blessed this weekend, to be able to play 72 holes of golf in 52 hours with the three best friends I have ever had. I've known my friend Ray in Florida for 13 years now. Don, who I go down there with every year, we've been friends for 29 years. And Tim, who is also a long time Floridian, I've been friends with for 40 years! It was truly a special time. We played 72 holes of golf in 52 hours on some of the best courses imaginable. We laughed, played well at times, badly at times, had a few drinks, and even smoked a cigar or two.

Truth be told, we ate so many chicken wings over the three days, I got chapped lips from them. That's when you know you've eaten a lot of wings. But as they heal, I look back at what was really important this weekend. What the four of us really learned. I think we all learned the same thing, whether we realized it or not at the moment it was all going on.

What we learned was how unbelievably rare it is for four guys to be in our position. To be lucky enough to have been friends all these many years, and now even decades. We all discussed it indirectly a time or two over huge mounds of food. How great the places were that we played, how much fun it all was, the great shots that we made, and how we busted each others chops over the ones that weren't so great. I felt a real appreciation this weekend not just for the tons of golf, but for the time together.

I noticed when we were playing well, we lavished in it. When one of us was struggling on the course the others were there for the pick-me-up. (And we all got our chance at that one.) This bunch has been through a lot together over the years. Good and the tough. Turns out that golf mirrors real life for this foursome. And this weekend it showed up big time. Friends that not only like to spend time together, and play the best game in the world, but friends that "got" the moment.

Yea, we played 72 of the finest golf holes that Central Florida has to offer, but that wasn't the best part. The best part was the solidification. We've been doing this a couple times a year for 8 years now, but this weekend I think in all our minds it set in concrete that this tradition will continue till we're all hitting drivers on par three's. And that's something worth celebrating!

Not many groups of friends can say it let alone live it. I'm lucky and I know it. And as time goes on it's good to "get it." Sometimes this getting older thing isn't so bad after all.

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Academy Awards Preview

Sunday Hugh Jackman hosts the 81st Annual Academy Awards show on ABC Television. This years Oscars again are really featuring movies and performances that by and large are not mainstream movies, as has become the trend the past few years.

Many of the years really well reviewed movies were shunned, or given very little love by the Academy this year. Example being, Gran Torino, Changeling, and Batman and there were others. Movies like Milk, Doubt, and The Reader shown much love, although not a lot at the box office. But there were nods given to some big movies as well, Slumdog Millionaire, Benjamin Button and a few others.

What I'll do here is give you three winners from each of the five main categories. Film, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. I'll give you my pick from the nominees, plus my pick from all movies that may not be included in the Oscars, then I'll give you the pick I think the Academy will pick. So here we go.

Actor
My pick from nominees
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon - He was terrific, so much dialogue, totally into character.
My pick from all movies
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino - At 78 he mesmerises audiences more that ever.
Predicted Oscar pick
Sean Penn - Milk - Hollywood loves him and his performances.

Actress
My pick from nominees
Angelina Jolie - Changeling - Not a big fan of hers, but she was terrific here. Really great!
My pick from all movies
Angelina Jolie - Changeling - Simply the best performance of the year for actresses.
Predicted Oscar Pick
Kate Winslet - The Reader - Heartbreak in years past melt away this year. She's due.

Supporting Actor
My pick from nominees
Heath Ledger - Batman - Forget the hype, he was great.
My pick from all movies
Heath Ledger - Batman - He made a good movie really good.
Predicted Oscar pick
Heath Ledger - Batman - He wins, going away. Landslide

Supporting Actress
My pick from nominees
Amy Adams - Doubt - She was a very big part of this movie being successful. Loved her.
My pick from all movies
Marissa Tomei - The Wrestler - Raw, nitty, gritty, and very daring. Very brave.
Predicted Oscar pick
Marissa Tomei - The Wrestler - I think this movie is going to win something, she is it.

Best Picture
My pick from the nominees
Frost/Nixon - Ronnie Howard directed. Tough story to tell. Performances great.
My pic from all movies
Changeling - Clint Eastwood directed. Should have been nominated. Fantastic.
Predicted Oscar pick
Slumdog Millionaire - Has won everything else. Fine movie, I feel a bit overrated.

What do you think? E- mail me your picks and thoughts @ scott@wqmx.com

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MOVIE REVIEW - The International

Wow! Give me a pillow will ya? It's the new thriller...The International, starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. Right up front, I want to tell you that I am surprised that those two could actually stay awake while making this snoozefest.

My goodness. The International is the story that takes you around the world to many exotic places, Italy, Turkey, Germany, and New York City in search of the worlds biggest bank tycoons. They have gone rogue and are financing all sorts of terrible ventures in hopes of becoming the worlds most powerful entity financially. Trouble is, instead of the thrill of visiting such places, this movie feels more that the waiting at the airport to catch the plane go there.

This is a two hour borefest that never picks up any speed, and never kicks into high gear. It's strictly revving in the driveway with a blown tranny. Dark, dreary, and tough to follow, and that's just for starters. Huge problem here too, the heroes to cheer for Owen and Watts? You know nothing about them. They only have a face and no character - none absolutley none. This is the flicks fatal flaw. You flat out just don't care about them, or if they find justice. I certainly didn't, but in fairness, the quicker they did, the quicker I could go home.

I can't imagine this move really being interesting to much of anyone for 9 dollars. You may find some enjoyment out of it in three years when it shows up for free on TNT every weekend, but certainly not worth your money or your time at the theaters.

Clive Owen has been hyped as the next big thing for a while now, and he flat lines here. Naomi Watts has done some meaningful work in the past, and I applaud her for her realness on screen. But let's not get carried away here, The International has nothing to offer.

The International. There are boring movies, there are snoozefests, and then there is ....The International. Watch C-Span reruns instead. You'll stay awake longer.

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MOVIE REVIEW - Confessions Of A Shopaholic

Isla Fisher is certainly lovely as Becky in the new movie Confessions Of A Shopaholic new this week. But beware, there is trouble in shopping paradise.

Based on a tell all book a year or two ago, COAS is the story of a young, single woman who quite frankly is addicted to shopping and all the bling that goes with it. Becky spends money she doesn't have on things she doesn't need while ringing up the credit card bills. She is actually very relateable for many young women, who "suffer" the same addiction.

Becky is a young journalist, who lands a job at a magazine called Successful Saver, and becomes an instant hero when her articles on saving and shopping go international. Ironic since she's about 20 grand in the tank with debt. Will she be exposed? Will the debt collectors find her? Will this movie develop a second joke?

That's the trouble here, there is one joke in COAS, and that's it. It tries real hard to come up with another one, but fails. The joke is, she spends too much money, and goes to great lengths to justify her behavior. - Period. The movie trots out other big name stars too to try to give it a second joke, John Goodman, Joan Cusack, John Lithgow, Julie Hagerty, and others, but it is what it is. A two hour telling of the same joke.

Isla Fisher has a huge role here, and is asked to do the impossible. Be really funny for two hours, and truth is, not many can. Her character was designed to be a walking, talking punchline, and it doesn't work. We've seen this character 1,000 times before. The over the top, lovable, pretty, single girl against the the big city. She gives it a go, but they asked too much. I really have liked her in the past in other smaller roles, but I'm thinking she is a better side dish, than main course. She can be very funny, and is at times here.

To be fair, this movie really doesn't talk to me. I don't share her values or her lack of respect for money. But it is going to talk to many young people that are in, or are nearing the same boat. There are some laughs here from Fisher, and there will be some who will think this is the funniest movie of the young year so far. And that's the best thing about movies, there is something for everyone at one time or another.

Footnote too. I have not read the book, but this movie has the look that the book could be so much better than an adapted movie. Sometimes the transition just doesn't work. The story overall may be decent, but making it entertaining on the big screen? Tough to do sometimes.

Confessions Of A Shopaholic. Overall...in need of immediate treatment.

We're Not Exaggerating

When my partner Sue Wilson and I began doing the morning show together last summer, we started learning many things about one another quickly. You can't help it when you're paying attention, and in the same room together for 4 hours every morning.

One of many fun things we share, is the silly practice of exaggeration. We find each other saying things like, "It's a hundred below zero outside," or "it's ten thousand degrees today, humidity's five hundred percent." Sometimes it spills over to money, "George Clooney makes a jillion dollars a year," things like that. It's part of each of us individually and together on the show. It's kinda fun.

With that said, I noticed that when people exaggerate in speech, they use words like, million, ten thousand, a jillion, a bezillion or some other fun sounding word that fits that they just made up on the spot. I've never heard anyone use ..trillion. And now you can. Because finally, at last, it's in play!

This week Congress passed the stimulus, or recovery bill and now it's reality. We're spending a trillion dollars. That's a lot of money. How much is it? I literally have no idea. I don't think anyone really does.

How do I feel about it? I don't know, never spent a trillion dollars before. I don't think I've ever exaggerated a trillion dollars before in speech, and I've done my share of exaggerating. Using trillion just seemed too over the top! I've said million dollars a number of times. I think I've used a billion dollars a few times in extreme emergency exaggeration situations, but I don't think I've ever played the trillion card. This is all very sudden for me, and I've had no time to prepare. I've been caught with my numbers down.

All these years, million has been hogging all the good exaggeration slots, but I feel million has had it's day, and now we're skipping right over billion and going to trillion. You gotta feel bad for billion, it's been waiting all these years to get it's day in the exaggerational sun, and it's not gonna happen. Clearly, trillion is the new million, and is here to stay.

This trillion business is going to be with us a while too. It'll run right through our speechy exaggerationous society for a good many years, only one day to be replaced by .....zillion.....(I don't even know if that's a number, but it's sounds like one.) And zillion could be a scary one, because I think the next thing after a trillion is quadrillion.....and using history as our guide, we'll give quadrillion the billion treatment skip right over it and go to zillion. Which also is frightening, because zillion begins with a "z," where do you go from there?

Any way you slice it, a trillion is a lot of anything. It's like ten thousand, million, billion or something like that, although that may be an exaggeration. And as Sue always tells me in jest, "I've told you a million ..er.....oops a trillion times quit exaggerating."

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