Vocal Expressions

Just got back from seeing this movie starring Angelina Jolie. This was an espionage thriller flick with lots of twists and turns. Angelina plays Evelyn Salt who is accused of being a Russian spy and becomes a federal fugitive. Angelina gave a great performance - the action sequences were awesome...she didn't disappoint. The rest of the cast was rounded out with two actors I enjoy watching: Liev Schreiber, plays Ted Winter (loved him in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and "Defiance") Chiwetel Ejiofor, plays Peabody (loved him in "American Gangster," and "Talk to Me") Two Thumbs Up! Looking forward to the next adventure.

This evening I went to The Charles Theatre in Baltimore to see a foreign film entitled "Welcome." It's part of the theatre's cinematheque series. Synopsis: Bilal is 17 years old, a Kurdish boy from Iraq. He sets off on an adventure-filled journey across Europe. He wants to get to England to see his love who lives there. Bilal finally reaches Calais, but how do you cover 32 kilometers of the English Channel when you can't swim? The boy soon discovers that his trip won't be as easy as he imagined... The community of struggling illegal aliens in Calais is captured with authenticity, from the point of view of people who arrived there knowing nothing about France. This immigrant drama, with wonderful performances by the actors, is a strong story which uses documentary austerity and minimalist style to create a great emotional impact. This film was quite moving and gave a whole a new meaning to the word "determination." I was truly impressed with Bilal...

Saturday night adventure. I made it all the way out to Bowie to chill with some friends at the Half Note Lounge. This was my first time at this jazz spot and when I walked in, I fell in love with the place. The atmosphere, live band, the delicious cuisine, the staff and the crowd - AWESOME. I felt right at home, unwinding outside, drinking some Relax Riesling, enjoying some jambalaya, having great conversations and being treated like a queen! I had a wonderful time and look forward to hanging out there again. See for yourself, check out the website: http://www.halfnotelounge.com/

Stanford Grill recently opened its doors on May 24, 2010 in Columbia, MD. And I finally made it out to this fine dining American cuisine restaurant this evening with a friend of mine. The food was moderately priced. I ordered the rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. The house salad and the dressing were awesome. Of course, I had to get two boxes for my leftovers because the portions were very hearty. I loved the atmosphere and the staff including the greeters and the manager...they were very warm and welcoming. I'd definitely dine there again! Visit their website at: www.thestanfordgrill.com

With the summer heat rising at 90 degrees and above, it's time to indulge in what makes me happy. Here are some of my guilty pleasures: Iced coffee from anywhere McCafé Mocha Frappé Summer movie blockbusters Summer TV lineups (True Blood, Hawthorne, Rescue Me, Dark Blue, etc) Hanging out with friends at the spur of the moment Halter tops Cool summer dresses Capris Finding great bargains on clothes and shoes Manicures/pedicures with bold designs Laying by the pool reading a good book Sprucing up my deck with beautiful flowers Driving with the windows/sun roof open late in the evening when the sun goes down Working out at the gym - although I'd be drenched in sweat BUT a good sweat! Daycations - Exploring new places Dining outside at restaurants