Hello.

 

Hi, I'm Annie.

Mother of 3,
spouse to G,
writer of things,
former batgirl,
sister,
daughter,
lucky friend,
and American
living in Australia.

Basic Joy = my attempt to document all of this life stuff, stubbornly looking for the joy in dailiness. 

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Mama, Ph.D.: Women Write About Motherhood and Academic LifeMountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the WorldThe Sweetness at the Bottom of the PieThe Island: A NovelThe PassageSecret Spaces of Childhood

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Tuesday
Mar012011

Oscar night shenanigans

We're a movie family. My mom and her sisters have been known to fly across the country to watch the Oscars together, even bringing fabulously eclectic formalwear gathered from searches of secondhand clothes stores throughout the year. Also, ask my Grandma about our ancestor Edwina Booth who starred in a movie nominated for best picture in 1931 and she will fill you in on all of the details including a purported train ride across Germany and some early Nazi run-ins.

Not everyone gets this movie thing and that's okay. I know it seems a titch kooky. I just wanted to point out that we come by this silliness naturally.

When the Oscars roll around each year, we try to take the chance to make it an occasion. We fill out the ballots and keep score for bragging rights (even though we haven't ever seen all of the films). We tune in early for the red carpet commentary and critiques. This year we spread out Lauren's red snuggie blanket for a red carpet and issued this challenge: dress up like someone from one of the movies or in your red carpet finest.  

Originally I tried to get away with going as Mark Zuckerberg in the Social Network, wearing a hoodie and sweats but then when my daughters got into the spirit of the evening, I upped my game a little:

Photobucket

Maddy started out the evening in a black tutu a la The Black Swan. Then she switched to boxers, knee highs and a t-shirt, a tribute to the locally filmed The Fighter. Lauren went as a red carpet movie star, happy to recycle her prom dress from last year (maybe the boned bodice could be a nod to Winter's Bone?). Sam came down in a cowboy hat and badge as Woody from Toy Story 3. Greg, just home from church and home teaching, came as one of the accountants for the Academy in charge of protecting the honor of the voting system. In retrospect, I'm saying that I went as grown-up Mattie Ross (remember in True Grit when she leaves the graveyard in her Mary Poppins-like dress?). Either that, or Tom Hooper's proud mum who found the idea for The King's Speech and passed it along to her son. The line of the night: "The moral of the story is: listen to your mother."

p.s. Overall, I wasn't that wowed by the Oscars this year but I *loved* Cate Blanchett's hair last night (here's the side and back). Really, really. Don't be surprised if I return to my shorter hair of yore sometime this spring. I think I might be up for a change.

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Reader Comments (5)

What a fun night! I loved reading about Edwina Booth! She's a hottie!

03.1.2011 | Unregistered CommenterTrina

Caleb thought Maddy was actually going to the Oscars-I set him straight but it was sad that he didn't know a thing about them. Maybe thats ok too. I watched it but I have to say it was pretty painful. James and Anne were hard to watch. There were moments of sparkle though. LOVE Cate's hair-it made me want to go short too but I won't yet. I really liked her funky dress too but my favorite dress was Gwenyths. I think I may dress up next year-looks like you had fun!

03.1.2011 | Unregistered CommenterLiz

I mostly ignore Oscars, but do think that hair would look stunning on you,.
Also, I could not ignore your daughter's beauty, as she sat in full view of the camera behind D.T.C. Saturday night.

03.1.2011 | Unregistered CommenterJenny

Well, as you know, we love all that kind of carryin' on. Love that you were dressing up and having a grand time with the glamourous, over-the-top evening. I do love the Red Carpet and everything about the whole night. Love Greg's accountant from Pricewaterhouse. Perfect. Thanks for sharing the photos. Proud to know you. I thought Anne Hathaway was quite fun and I think she did it just right - she just decided to have fun. Loved her "On My Own" at Hugh Jackman's expense. So cute. James Franco seemed a little sleep-walkie, but then he is a full time student and has another film project in the works as well. He was a pretty good counter to her part.
Love YOU!

03.1.2011 | Unregistered CommenterMa

Your hair looks fabulous either short or long. Because I'm tired of mine long, I'll live vicariously through you cutting yours. It was way too traumatic when I cut mine. Can't do it.

Love the oscar party. Your family is awesome.

03.2.2011 | Unregistered CommenterChristie

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