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Emily

You're not still making major life decisions using Rock Paper Scissors, are you? Judith turned me onto Cowboy Bear Ninja last year, and I converted immediately.

Urban Dictionary says it best: Two players stand back to back and take three paces away from each other as in a gun duel. They then quickly turn to face each other and act the part of a bear, ninja, or cowboy. The bear mauls the ninja to death, the ninja kicks the cowboy's ass, and the cowboy shoots the bear.

They're all fun, but I have a special fondness for making the bear face. Ninjas beware!

Strangers with Candy -- I love Amy Sedaris, but 91 mins. of Jerri Blank seems like a lot.

Ballets Russes -- I actually rented this one already, but after 10 uneventful minutes I turned it off and sent it back. Was not in a very forgiving mood then, and who's to say the next time will be any different? Still, it's supposed to be interesting.

Wah-Wah -- Could be good. Can't remember hearing anything about it. Not sure why I put in on my list.

An Inconvenient Truth -- Al Gore, in my living room? I probably should have seen this in the theater.

Dave Chappelle's Block Party -- The comedy part sounds good, the music part, not as good.

Happy Accidents -- There has to be a reason I've never heard of a romantic comedy starring reasonably acclaimed actors Marisa Tomei and Vincent D'Onofrio. The fact that D'Onofrio's role is that of a time traveler from 2470 could hint to the reason -- that it's terrible? Still, I can't seem to take it off my queue.

The first is in Japanese, so I don't really know what's going on. Something about pounding mochi, whatever that is. Her smile is so beautiful I love it anyway. (21 secs)

I totally know what's going on in this one -- the chicken dance! I taught her myself, and she's a natural. Almost ready for the wedding/bar mitzvah circuit. (9 secs)

Saturday night was 'Deep's annual glam dance party, and there were sequins and glitter as far as the eye could see. Most of the music this year was mash-ups, which wasn't bad, but my favorite moment was the full "Like a Prayer," followed directly by "Freedom 90." Classic!

Party pics here.

Heather, who visited from Boston last weekend, is my favorite kind of out of town guest: entertaining, low-maintenance, and considerate enough to bring the latest issue of "Us Weekly."

She was feeling under the weather, which gave us the excuse I was looking for to have a low key weekend. How low key? We're talking "Scrubs" DVDs, Thai food delivered, brunch on 24th St. with Ted/Naomi/nieces, a chick flick ("Catch and Release," not very good), all afternoon reading the Sunday NY Times, "L Word" at Jon and Molly's low key.

I have adored Heather for almost 16 years, but nothing warms my heart more these days than when she talks about my blog. Asks questions about, remembers posts from, is all-around complimentary in reference to. She's got my number, and how! Invited back anytime.

Despite my earlier skepticism, and thanks to the encouragement of Guy and others, I started watching HBO's "The Wire." It took me a couple of episodes to get into it, but now, three seasons in, I'm fully devoted. It is the smartest, most sophisticated, most challenging, and most rewarding show I've seen. Fully deserving of all of the critical acclaim. It's awesome.

Also obsessed: my friend Malcolm at work, who waived a fee earlier this week for a customer just because her last name was "McNulty."

Can you believe that this girl is even more lovely in person? Her personality doesn't suck, either.

When Pam was a teenager, she had a serious crush on Michael Hutchence of INXS. A wallpaper your bedroom with his picture, bake a cake on his birthday kind of crush. He died in 1997, but a bunch of us revived the tradition with a St. Hutchence Day birthday dinner at Jodie and Michael B.'s house Saturday night.

Photos were admired, toasts were made, and the same 20 INXS songs were played over and over again. We were just sorry we were missing the official celebration, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Sydney. Farewell, gentle friend!

Also tending to the shrine: Ania, Blake, Hal, J.C., James, Michael P., Paola and Thom.

Sacha Baron Cohen cleaned up nicely for the Golden Globes on Monday. Very nicely. Booyakasha!

Despite having seen every teen dance movie released in the last 10 years (including but not limited to "Step Up," "Save the Last Dance," "You Got Served," "Honey," and all 3 incarnations of "Bring it On"), I still somehow managed to be surprised by the ending of "Stomp the Yard." Can you believe -- a tie between the arrogant reigning champs and the lovable underdogs, to be decided by a dance-off?

Corry, who is much savvier about this kind of thing, saw it (and every other plot development) coming a mile away.

David G. is a master of creative execution, and his latest project is no exception.

I, too, made a book over the holidays, albeit one with more limited appeal. I took some of my favorite e-mails that my family sent over the past year about my oldest niece and added photos. "Isabel's 2nd Year" is a real page-turner (if you are a close blood relative).

Ted annoyingly but correctly pointed out that since it's about the year she was 2, it should have been called "Isabel's 3rd Year." And in subsequent printings and/or foreign editions, it will be.

I can't un-watch it, but I can clean up my queue. So long, "Click." Sayonara, "Keeping Up with the Steins." Hasta la vista, "You, Me and Dupree."

It has been pointed out that I haven't blogged much about my new niece Kiko. It doesn't really make sense, given how crazy I am about her. In my defense, all she does is lie around in her pajamas! Still, I think we can all agree that she looks great doing it.

This year the New Year's cabin crew was me, Ania, Chris, Ed, Jen, Jodie, Leah, Mark, Matt, Michaels B. and P., Pam, Shilla, Ted S. and Thom. We had a couple of days of serious relaxation, gearing up for a NYE dance party at the best dive bar in Bear Valley.

Ted, who likes to make proclamations, has been telling us for months that 2007 would be The Year of Flawless Execution. This was put to the test early in the weekend, when we found out that the bar decided not to hire a DJ this year. Ted mobilized immediately, arranging for a P.A. system to be driven up from the city, and we all spent hours making a playlist.

All of this work was in jeopardy 1 hour before we were supposed to leave for the bar, when Ted spilled a glass of milk onto the laptop. The tech-ier people in the house saved the day (I don't know how they did it, but it involved a hair dryer). The result: flawless execution! The night was as fun as any I can remember. More pics here.