Now that's a Spice shop

You might remember the book by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni about a decade ago. I didn't even realize it became a movie till I discovered the DVD nestled between Mischief and Monty Python's Personal Best. A movie it did become starring none other than the impossibly gorgeous Aiswarya Rai as the mystical Mistress and Dylan McDermott as the object of her affection.

Critics panned the movie when it debuted in 2005. Rotten Tomatoes said: "Imagine Like Water for Chocolate without the passion" and "It's acted with the artificiality of an After School special". Desi reviewers such as Lotus Reads , a Canadian book-hound blogger are likewise underwhelmed.

"...this movie is as bland as milk"

In truth, all true with the exception of one aspect of the film - the set of the spice shop. Chili garlands hanging off hooks, obligatory mounds of crimson, yellow and green condiments, sheafs of herbs, incense sticks smoldering in every corner, clear bottles stuffed with dried and fresh spices. Holy cow, I wanna shop there. The movie might lack fire despite the casting of Mrs. Bachchan and Dylan, but the set made my mouth water.

As I'm fond of saying - don't forget to use condiments!

After all, the Grammys are about music not shiny lights

Given the crack-smoking press of late, I was more interested in whether Amy Winehouse would MAKE it to the Grammys then whether she would win for her richly deserved album - Back to Black. I was already aggravated by the US Embassy denying the beehived songstress a visa to attend the 50th Annual Grammy awards. (If you're feeling plucky, ask me about my thoughts on the US tendency to deny passports or threatened deportation to innocent non terrorists). Then Kanye West's self puffery goaded me even further.

I will say his Blue Man Group inspired performance of "Stronger" was fun. And the anticipated tribute to his angelic mother was touching. Mr. West's self aggrandizement wears thin in the company of Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Ringo Starr. Vince Gill adminstered the most appropriate bitch slap to Kanye's pouty face when accepting his Grammy from Ringo. "I just got a Grammy from a Beatle. Can you say that Kanye?"

But annoying little rappers were worth it in the end. Around 10:30 pm EST (4:30 am in London) Amy Winehouse performed both I'm No Good and Rehab. Looking a bit demure in front of a tiny club she cranked out that amazing voice that doesn't apologize for being an imperfect woman in love, in trouble and unabashedly talented. Shortly after she received the Grammy for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

I never got a chance to see Dinah Washington, Chet Baker or Billie Holiday sing live. Like Winehouse they were gifted vocalists/musicans who shared their talents and addictions with the public. Winehouse is poised to address both. Will she dive the swampy depths of overwhelmed emotions into a dreamy deadly haze or share her gift with clarity and self compassion?

The world waits.

Super Tuesday Eclipse

My pricking thumbs this morning knew something was in the air, and it wasn't the Giants victory parade. As voters in 24 states (New Jersey included) head to the polls on behalf of both parties, certainly a big event but only when I consulted the calendar did I realize the enormity of today. Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday, on which Catholics and New Orlean natives gorge in excess before the penitent rite of Ash Wednesday.

Not only is the morrow Ash Wednesday and might predict the future of the USA politically, but it heralds the first Eclipse of 2008, in which the new moon and Chiron converge in Aquarius.

Simone Butler of Mooncircles says:

Chiron lances personal, social and political wounds, releasing whatever has been repressed. We can see this at work in the fight between the front-running Democratic presidential candidates. How perfectly Aquarian is it that two “underdogs” — a white Scorpio woman and a black Leo man — would square off against each other in 22 key primaries on February 5, just hours before the New Moon/Chiron convergence in Aquarius? Mudslinging notwithstanding, it shows how far our society has come.

Indeed. Even in the last election I never would have dreamed a female AND a person of African descent as the front-runners for president. Unfortunately to many, this pairing seems to cross each out, implying that both candidates are both equally, negatively handicapped.

However, as this eclipse reminds us that we are all one, perhaps unity might pervade. And dare I predict a dream ticket will emerge heralding the first female president with the first black vice president?

It's all in the dreaming.