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Yesterday it snowed. I was in heaven! It wasn't much, but it was enough. Unfortunately, by late last night, it cleared up, and much of it melted away today.

Like Marty, I got a tremendous satisfaction out of mashing and leaping upon the snow. I must have looked so strange today as I was out. Everytime I saw a patch that was footprint-able, I had to go step all over it, or drag my feet threw it. Everywhere! I love it!

One of my friends from Germany had written me recently, and she mentioned how she had a white Christmas, but how now the sidewalks are just icy and slippery. That, I don't like. We had the same thing here today and I'm such a klutz, I know one of these days I'll fall in front of a group of people.

Speaking of falling, I did take a big tumble today, and it was related to the snow, but it was indoors. I had just come in from mailing off two letters, and my shoes were wet from the snow I had just stomped and gambolled through. I went upstairs to hang my coat, and on my way down, the mini-puddles I had left and my still-soaking shoes sent me FLYING. I didn't see it coming at all.

I could just imagine seeing this recorded, what it must have looked like from someone else's perspective to see me *bouncing* down the stairs. It happened so fast, I hardly remember it, but I think I saw my life flash before my eyes. I reached out to grab ahold of the banister as I was slipping, and wound up cutting my left wrist. Looks like I was trying to commit suicide. I don't think I bumped my head, but soon after I was tired, and I know you're not supposed to go to sleep out of fear of a concusion, but I did. I think it was simply because I had gotten up so early.

But now I'm all bruised and battered. At least no one saw it, I was embarrassed enough, though I'm sure they could hear it!

jl

(Still wants more snow, and lots of it.)

My head is fine, I really am pretty sure I didn't hit it. But I do have some bumps and internal bleeding. Worst, though, as I was sitting down watching TV earlier, my back started hurting really bad. I haven't ever had pain like this before, and I'm sure it has to be because of those stairs. It wasn't like they were two or three carpeted stairs, but half a flight of hard wooden stairs.

I better not be permanently capacitated. I always wanted to do my own stunts.

jl

Bi-coastal, that is.

I didnt want to say anything earlier for fear of jinxing itdamn this neurotic paranoiaso it seems like forever that Ive been sitting on this info.

I got back from San Diego at about Midnight last night. I had left on Tuesday, January 22nd, flying from JFK to Phoenix, and then from Phoenix to California. The purpose of my trip was to attend the San Diego Film Critics Society awards luncheon. I had the time, I had the interest, and most importantly, I had the money! So why not?

Each intermediary moment was filled with something to do until the wee hours of the morning. First thing upon arrivalget picked up at the airport, and head to the screening of the Australian film Lantana. (After that I went over to Tower Records and finally found myself a copy of Almost Famous: The Bootleg Cut; I looked everywhere here in New York without success.)

Wednesday morningup and early, for I was going to the screening of Todd Solondzs new film Storytelling. (Karelle, in the American release, the scene where Selma Blair is getting rammed by her professor, New Line didnt want an NC-17 rating, so they censored the scene by placing a Red Box over them. I wonder if the DVD will show the scene the way the international audiences get to see it.) I had to be dressy, because following the screening, I was heading down to the Westgate Hotel for our luncheon.

In attendance was Thora Birch, Terry Zwigoff (the director and co-writer of Ghost World) and Daniel Clowes (the co-writer and creator of the graphic novel). Richard Kelly, who won our Best Original screenplay for Donnie Darko was supposed to come, but the night before he had arrived back from France. For all we knew, he may have been trying to come still.

(As for other winners, they were invited too, but for example: Guy Pearce is doing a stage play in Melbourne; Naomi Watts, Steve Buscemi and cinematographer Roger Deakins were presently on location filming; production designer Catherine Martin declined and we never got any word back on Ben Kingsley.)

Only the President of our Society and one of the members knew that I intended come. Otherwise, I wanted it all to be a surprise. I think I was just as surprised to find out that I would be sitting next to Thora during the whole event, as the other critics were to find out that I had come. It certainly wasnt what I was expecting; that was more along the lines of the honorees all sitting together in one place, and the critics separate or on the other side of the table. (Sort of a Gosford Parkish Upstairs/Downstairs didacticism.) I was to the left of Thora, and her mother was on the right, and in addition to that, three other critics sat at the table as well as a professional photographer.

Naturally, at first, I was super-nervous. But thats because I knew what virtually no one else there did: I would be presenting Thora with her Best Actress trophy. (It wasnt like I just walked up there and said, And the winner is I made a little speech in her honorConsidering the circumstances of these proceedings, I think its appropriate to put a slight tweak on Ghost Worlds tagline and accentuate the positive) Despite the worry, it was really cool for me. I dont think I praise Thora enough on the board. (Though of course I always recognize her in my reviews.) Every time Karelle mentions her I think, why didnt I?!and partially I think that may be because I keep forgetting her age. For some reason, I always think shes the same age as Christina Ricci since I make the association from Now & Then. Not the case. In fact, Thora is several months younger than I am. Therefore she definitely belongs in my 5 Most Talented Actresses Under 21 list.

I was relaxed quite a bit speaking with Thora and her mother. Especially the amount of time we had. (I totally lost track of it.) There were so many interesting topics, conversations and answers.

Karelle, I know you mentioned something about how I like talking with celebrities or whatever in that old thread The Best Day of My Life when I met David Lynch. The more I think about it, the more I find it trueat least some of it. For the most part, I really have to like or admire the person in question. Ive been following Thora(s career) since at least the same time as Natalie(s), thereabouts in 1994 or so with Monkey Trouble, etc. So it wasnt like there was a fewness of questions I had in store for her. (As a matter of fact, I turned down an interview with Thora in 1999 when I found out it was to be a phoner, because I absolutely hate those!) Also, Karelle, sometimes I like the idea of simply talking to them, having a conversation that they dont have to worry about being reprinted. Interviews are one thing, but a great personal conversation is another. That is what I really like.

Despite the privacy of the majority of the ongoing conversation, I did have two things I wanted to share. I brought up Anywhere but Here because I had always been curious as to why Thora was unbilled as Mary. And according to her, she had wanted work with Wayne Wang and it was much easier than going through the rest of the process of officially taking the role. She also said that Natalie is frighteningly intelligent.

I must give Thora her due credit: she, too, is very intelligent and very well-composed. At first she was very serious, but as time went on it seemed as though she let her guard down and could be humorous, too. Her mom was wonderful, filled with childhood anecdotes and a very interesting perspective from being the mother of a former child-star. All-in-all, it was an excellent day, quite exciting, not even hampered by my stupid little headache. (Does anyone else get headaches when theyre nervous or excited?)

After the presentation, Thora and her mother had to head back up to LA for a production meeting or something of the sort. Zwigoff and Clowes opted to come to a screening of Samuel Fullers The House of Bamboo, which Zwigoff selected. (Beginning this year, it is our tradition to have the winning director select a film from the Museum of Photographic Arts archives to be shown.)

Yesterday I attended my last screeninga mostly dialogue-less foreign film called Tuvaluand proceeded to the airport where I flew from San Diego to Las Vegas, and from Vegas back to JFK. Until I get the pictures (which I will do my best to have scanned and posted here), I wont quite be completely sure that it happened or not. Regardless, it was very much a pleasure.

Oh, and as a last surprise, I was happy to grab a copy of Rolling Stone on my flight back. Jennifer Garner is on the cover. In leather.

jl

PortmanRules, it is because I am a member of the San Diego Film Critics Society.

jl

Thanks, Cal. Actually, I'd love to include more specifics about what we discussed (especially to show off her intelligence), but it would really not be fair. The whole luncheon was an off-the-record thing. As if actors and actresses weren't quoted and interviewed and taken out of context enough. I'm sure you understand ... her mom said that they would try to hook up with me next time she was doing publicity so I could do a formal interview.

Euripides, I totally thought the same thing about awarding Natalie with something!!! I can buy off all the other members (hell, they don't have any integrity ) and make her win, and invite her...sit next to her, etc. Yup, I'm making my list of future winners.

jl