Wilma improvements & daily life
Mood:  a-ok
Although Wilma knocked us a whallop and many people still don't have power, I am still impressed with the city and with FPL (or whoever is responsible) in the improvements that they have made. In approximately a week's time, I am noticing that traffic lights are back on in some areas despite the power poles being snapped like twigs or pushed over like a feather by the wind, their wires hanging listlessly in the road.

If the lights are not up...some are non-existent, taken away by the wind and smashed somewhere else or sucked up into oblivion...there are small solar-powered lights sitting in the middle of the street directing traffic, giving the cops a break. What a concept! Way to go Coral Springs! (I live here.)

I think that this hurriciane will bring all sorts of brainstorms and new ways of thinking--- that I welcome. Power poles will be buried deeper, for example. The improvements will be much like post-Andrew and can only be a plus.

It's the trees I worry about. This is a Tree City no longer. These vestiges are not trees but twigs, large lifeless branches that look like shriveled hands barely open, tired and weary and wanting to droop yet slightly open hoping that some great rain will douse them and bring them back to life again, that there ever-spring flowers will blossom playfully upon their dry tops.

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Enough about Wilma.

Today I worked on the City Smart calendar again. I am still not done.

I was supposed to go see Matisyahu-- who is really good--- (and I don't like reggae) but I didn't feel well and I wanted to blog. :)

Tomorrow, I will be going to a boat ride along the Intracoastal...more about that tomorrow.

Fort Lauderdale Film Festival--Review of "Tell Me I'm Pretty"/ Riverhouse
Mood:  chatty
I just got home from attending the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival Gala. It was supposed to be a black tie event but I found there were people of all types and fashions there. There were the wannabes, the already made its, the worker bees, the im' too bored for this, the fighting couples, the flirting girls, the charming older gentlemen and more.

The movie of the evening was "Tell Me I'm Pretty" by Filmmaker Bernard Jeanjean. It was French with English subtitles. The film takes place entirely in an over thirty something woman's apartment. A relationship unfolds between her and her co-worker as the two trade off being flirty and coy and downright distant. What might seem as a boring premise is brilliant in Jeanjean's hands. The acting is superb and very realistic. The ideas seem original and fresh. The theme is something we can all relate to (or at least I can).

This is Jeanjean's first feature film. He has done script writing in the past for television. He hopes to do another project soon also on the theme of l'amour.

This is his first time to South Florida. His film, however, has travelled in other film circuits, including France. He brought other members of his staff and his wife along with him for the journey.

The gala that followed was held at the Riverhouse. I am told this is a historical building with ghosts of it's own. They had outdoor tents set up here, complete with mood lighting and a band that played everything from "I Will Survive" to Big Band music. A few joined in the dancing.

They served a buffet. I had the salmon and because I didn't intend to make this a normal review, I didn't get the full description. However, it was very good. The coating was crumbly and had a slight lemony aftertaste--less stringent and more sweet like a lemon merengue pie. It melted in your mouth and it's color was an orangy pink reminding me for some reason of the tropics. I also had some black beans and rice that were equally tasty.

The Napoleon I had later left much to be desired. Perhaps it had been out too long. It was good but the edges became hard. I am not sure if they brought in the pastries or if they were made there. Of course, washing it down with an Amstel Light didn't do it justice either.

I only had a half of a beer--- and that is a lot for me.

The party rolled on till 12:30pm and as usual I was one of the last to leave....

I would reccomend coming to a gala in the future. They expected a lot more people, approximately 600, but because of the Wilma aftermath, the result came up far shorter...