Damon and Affleck with their Oscars earned for the 'Good Will Hunting' screenplay, 1998.

When I was 9 years old, I saw ‘Titanic‘ (1997) at least 7 times in theaters. I was one of Leonardo DiCaprio‘s  ten-million underage girlfriends. I was so in love, I watched all the movies of his I could get my hands on and discovered ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape‘ (1993) was excellent film-story-telling; I watched the Academy Awards and found that it was exciting to root for your favorite movies. Of course, in 1997 I picked ‘Titantic‘ to win ever category it was nominated in, and I was only disappointed 3 out of 14 times. That year for the Oscars, my best friend, my mom, and I made a picnic of junk food in our living room, and we started the Oscar party early with the red carpet. To this day, I remember that the designer of Matt Damon‘s and Ben Affleck‘s suits was named Molly and the pair yelled, “We love you, Molly” into the camera. I always felt the love from the Academy, and I’ve whole heartily given it back.

Since the nominees were announced for the 84th Academy Awards last month, I have work furiously to find as many as I could to watch. Happily, I’ve conquered the the majority of them. So, even though I haven’t been invited to join the Academy yet and the refuse the count my votes, I’d like to voice my opinion anyway. I’ve seen most of the films, I’ve done my research of more studied opinions and results of other awards, and I’m ready to cast my vote.

Best Picture: ‘The Artist‘ (The way I see it, there are really only four movies to consider for this category, and while I liked ‘The Descendants‘ and ‘Midnight in Paris‘ more than ‘The Artist,’ I like what a black and white, silent film winning could mean for the film industries.)

Leading Actor: George Clooney ‘The Descendants‘

Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer ‘Beginners‘ (Although, I think Jonah Hill would give the best acceptance speech.)

Leading Actress: Viola Davis ‘The Help‘ (But Rooney Mara should be a more talked-about contender. Her role in ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo‘ was hauntingly good.)

Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer ‘The Help‘ (. . . as if there is anyone else in this category!)

Adapted Screenplay: ‘The Descendants‘

Original Screenplay: ‘Midnight in Paris‘

Directing: Michel Hazanavicius ‘The Aritst‘

Cinematorgraphy: ‘The Artist‘

Film Editing: ‘Moneyball‘

Art Direction: ‘Hugo‘

Costume Design: ‘The Artist‘

Sound Editing: ‘War Horse‘

Sound Mixing: ‘Hugo‘

Visual Effects: ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes‘

Documentary Feature: ‘Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory‘

Documentary Short: ‘The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom‘

Foreign Language Film: Iran’s ‘A Separation‘

Animated Feature: ‘Rango‘

Make-Up: ‘The Iron Lady‘

Originial Score: ‘The Artist‘ (I mean, duh, it the promotional music for the whole award show!)

Originial Song: ‘Man or Muppet’ from ‘The Muppets‘ (And I’m really hoping for a great performance by Jason Segel!”

Animated Short Film: ‘La Luna‘ from Pixar (Okay, so two days ago I was all about ‘The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,’ but after seeing all the nominated shorts in the theater, I must say ‘La Luna‘ is heart warming, clever, and well to par with Pixar standards. Sorry Lessmore. But readers, ‘Fantastic Flying Books‘ is free on iTunes. I suggest you check it out.)

Live Action Short Film: ‘Raju‘

So I’m ready for this week to be over. I’m ready to be sitting in front of the TV with good company, good wine, and a good red marker that will contest my votes.

For now I’ll celebrate this day of love and of romance like a bridesmaids at a wedding–happy to party but secretly jealous that it’s not me.

At such a time–and this is a REAL reason to not like Valentine’s Day when you’re single–I digress to reflect on the ruin of past Valentines (or would be Valentines if we lasted to a February). I’ve had a few good times with past suitors. They have built my confidence and torn down my inhibitions, have made my laugh and helped my cry, or they simply introduced me to something I kept even though I didn’t keep them, like my favorite beer he introduced me to or the TV show we watched together. All of these past flings served a purpose, and that purpose just wasn’t chocolate-boy for Tuesday. So I resolve to eventually kiss a few more frogs, to keep enjoying my bacholette-hood while it’s still mine, and celebrate Valentine’s Day with good wine, rich chocolate, and romantic comedies.

Then it’s mailed.

My thoughts and gratitudes are written down and out there with no means of retrieval. Why does this make me feel anxious? It’s not as if ANYONE dislikes receiving a handwritten note. And I’m quite certain that these recipients don’t carry around my card to show everyone how sentimental and cheesy I am. Still, I have a freezing moment of hesitation when I’m standing in front of the mailbox.

It’s worth it, putting yourself out there graciously. The only thing that matches the joy of receiving a note in the mail is receiving thanks for having written one. Through e-mail, text message, passive mention, or reciprocating note, hearing that I made someone’s day a little better with just five minutes of my time is the best feeling. Period. It’s as if I have a hand in karma. There are so many people who have positively affected my life, and I’m glad to return the good vibes.

As life sweep me away, I find it’s important to pause and reflect on all those who got me where I am. Anything and everything I’ve done, from learning how to make a pot of coffee to graduating from college, I didn’t do alone. My life is in debt to so many, but I will pay in full with gratitude and hand written notes.

So, I challenge you to write a hand written note. And not to your mom or grandmother, but to someone who isn’t  expecting it from you. Such as a teacher from high school who taught you something you’ve never forgotten or a priest from church who said something that really made you think last Sunday. It’s often the little things that people do that mean the most to us, and it’s often these things that go unthanked.

For another’s thought on writing, see Mary Robinette Kowal’s blog post “The Month of Letter’s Challenge.”

Let’s talk about snow. For one thing, it’s awesome, like awesome falling from the sky, and a lot of awesome has been falling this weekend. I’ve seen a modest share of snowstorms in Kentucky (or ice storms), but those have been child’s play compared to the serious snowball fight Chicago throws.

For instance, I saw a poor guy sweeping a path during my lunch break, when I left work two hours later, he’s sweeping the same path; I suspect he spent the-hour chunk of time resweeping and resweeping because of the insane rate of snowfall. A car on Michigan Ave was towed, stuck in the snow as an F150 trudged along with groaning trouble and three more cars on Lake Shore Drive (in my notes for this post, I abbreviated this to LSD then laughed at myself.)

And on my bus–note, it’s bad idea to take a bus in a blizzard–the driver and several passengers hovered close to the wind shield, sucking in air at every stop, the wheels shaking under us for traction. I hope I don’t come across as complaining, because it was awesome. The downtown tried to stay busy, as people started their long and annoying trip home, but the persistent fall of snowflakes, twisting in the infamous Chicago wind, silenced the echo from reverberating off buildings and forcing what little noise Friday afternoon was trying to create to fall mute.

So with wine, hot chocolate, warm food, and lots of snowcream, I enjoyed the wintery weather from the comfort of my new couch, watching my favorite movies. Life, in deed, is good.

Of all the things I don’t know, there are a few elementary things I know to be true. Firstly, hard work and hard faith get you everything; maybe not everything you want, but they get you everything you need. Secondly, one day (and perhaps one day closer in the calendar than I think) I’ll remember these days of endless sandwiches, ruthless budgeting, small apartment, and 14-hour work days, and I’ll call these “The Good Days.”

Upon this thought, I’m changing the name of the blog. I was never in love with “Good Golly,” but it was silly and I’m silly. That much worked. “The Good Days” is more descriptive of what I want this blog to be about; a documentation of stupid things I do (like failing the Illinois written drivers’ test) and the dorky things I do (like spending Friday night at home, rearranging furniture).  So, I’m raising my glass of cheap wine–that’s a lie; I splurge on moderately-priced wine–to my early twenties, to the days that suck, and to the money I don’t have. . . yet. Here’s to figuring it out, to making a mess, cleaning it up, and making a mess again, and to filling “The Good Days” with laughter, even if the laughs only comes years later with a tone of self-mockery. I wouldn’t trade places with anyone in the world. Put that on my headstone, whether I die tomorrow or in 76 years.

These photos are curtsey of  my Instagram account. It’s quickly becoming my favorite App!

Still, I want to spend 2012 trying to better myself. So, with retrospect gratitude in mind, thinking about all the blessings I have in my life and all the new, amazing people I’m meeting, I resolve to write 366 hand-written thank you notes. (It’s also my scheme to save the postal service and buy new stationery.) As often as I am in other’s debt or a bad day is randomly made tolerable by straying thoughts of better times, I want to actively thank others in a simple gesture of a hand-written note. If nothing else, it will force me to think positive in the long, cold months every Chicagoan has warned me is on the way.

So, to recap and reminisce the amazing year I had 2011, here are a few of my favorite new movies from the year.

The bro and I have fun doing pretty much anything. Just look at we cool-kids at a Cubs game.

This crazy resolution started with the original Oceans Eleven (1960). On the 2nd or 3rd, I had a feeble thought: I want to see all the Rat Pack movies. This thought tangled around inside my head until it turned into, “I want to see a lot of movies I’ve never seen!” I sought out popular lists, asked advice (which came peppered with amusement) from friends and family, and started watching. My favorite from this month was The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). Of course I love Narnia just as I love Wonderland, Neverland, and Hogwarts, but more-so I enjoyed the viewing of this movie. It was right before I started my last semester of college. My brother and I went to the movies together and found ourselves alone in theater. We laughed, shouted at the screen, and had the best time together.

February

I watched a lot of movies with other people this month, mostly in preparation of the 2010 Oscars. As I glance over the list, I can name my companions, the location, even the conversations. Blue Valentine (2010). 127 Hours (2010). American Gangster (2007). My favorite, however, was Rabbit Hole (2010), one I watched alone. It got Nicole Kidman an Acedemy nod, rightly so. The story was sad, but it was also a story of forgiveness–forgiving others and forgiving yourself. I found it beautiful and creative.

March

In March I gave up drinking wine for 6 days as my unrequited Lenten resolution, Elizabeth Taylor died, and I had a huge midterm in my History of the Crusades course. Cross my heart, I know this because of the movies I watched. My favorite from this month was Guys and Dolls (1955). Every now and then, a doll needs a good laugh, a good story, and a good song. Luck be a lady. . . especially with Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando asking you so nicely!

My momma was so proud. At the time, I was prouder of my smokin' tan.

April

There are THREE notables here. Notable meaning that my geek alarm went off in my head when I saw their titles. 1. I loved Morning Glory (2010). When I got this movie for graduation, I watched it again, twice, resolution be damned. The music, the Harrison Ford and the Diane Keaton and the Patrick Wilson, and the job I’d like to have–everything about this movies was perfect. 2. Patton (1970)’s opening scene with George F. Scott walking towards the camera in a screen dominated by the American flag was movie-magic; it was brilliant filmography. 3. I’ve always loved Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) just gave me another reason to love. And that final court scene! Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) has some competition!!

May

A lot of ending-type things happened this month. I graduated from college and moved out of a semi-permentate place to be a semi-nomad for three months. Curling my hair for a 9am graduation ceremony, I sat on the floor and watched Easy Rider (1969). Packing up two year of junk from my apartment, I watched Seabiscut (1949) and National Velvet (1944), two films I’ve had in my personal collection for years without having watched.

June

Hello, Summer! Hello, Barrington! Of the summer blockbusters, I left the theater excited about Midnight in Paris (2011) and Bad Teacher(2011). The first was airy, humorous, and made me feel beautiful and smart. You know movies that make you feel beautiful? Well, if you haven’t, you haven’t watched the right movies. The latter was funny when I needed a good, gut wrenching laugh. Laughing loud and by myself in a crowded movie theater felt great.

July

Home for the Fourth of July weekend, my friends and I saw Monte Carlo (2011), and it was one of the best times I’ve had with them. That movie is about adventure and friendships, and then somehow finding yourself in the mess all that can bring. I’ve lost those friends, or perhaps just temporarily misplaced them; we stopped being what the other needed–them for me and me for them.

I also taught creative writing camps this summer at TT Patton. What a fun year?!

. . .but I found my hidden love for Katherin Hepburn in A Philadelphia Story (1940) and. . . I SAW HARRY POTTER! I’m a pretty big Harry Potter fan, a Potterhead, if you will. I went alone to the midnight showing and felt like crying during the final moments like the annoying girls behind me. The difference between them and me, I didn’t cry and they blubbered loudly. Even though I didn’t cry, I was sad. No more midnight parties with other Potterheads, nothing more to get excited about. If there could be only one reason that I want kids, it would be so I could experience Harry Potter all over again with and through them. It was, after all, Harry and JK Rowling that made me love to read. Before that I was an average blondewho hated to read “big books.”

August

After watching Jane Eyre (2011), I wanted to be 18 again in Mrs. Bailey’s English class. I wanted to be young and innocent and in love with Mr. Rodchester (when I wasn’t being in love with Mr. Darcy, of course). It’s one of those movies that makes me believe in love, in case I ever forget. There was also My Life in Ruins (2009); I watched it twice in a row. It made me want to get up and run, run in the direction of the moon, the wind, or any other haphazard aim. Here in the 2011 calendar we find a lost Molly, maybe a little less lost by the desire to be completely lost. During the second viewing of My Life in Ruins, I devised a plan. 1. Move to Chicago and work my butt off to afford it. 2. Run away to South America or Eastern Europe and volunteer. 3. Make my mother happy and move home, studying for the GRE, writing a book, working to save money, and planning to escape to South America or Eastern Europe.

September

I decided to move to Chicago and work my butt off, duh. Initially, my parents were less than thrilled, but Happy Birthday Molly and we moved anyway. (Do you like how my past self and my current self become plural?) It was a good month for movies, though. Katherine Hepburn in State of the Union (1948) was excellent, and Jean Harlow (directed by my boy, Frank Capra) in Platinum Blonde (1931) made me want to bleach my hair. . . still kind of want to bleach my hair.

My Chicago apartment. It ain't much, but it's mine!

October

The first movie I watched in my studio apartment was Anna Karenia (1935). My favorite movie for October–though I did scrounge around for scary movies I hadn’t seen–was Unfaithfully Yours (1948). It was about a conductor who incorrectly thought his wife was cheating on him. During a concert, he thinks of what to do about it, his ideas being changed with the scores. After the concert, he goes home and tries to execute his schemes–killing his wife, buying her off, ect–but they all go terribly wrong in a classic, 1940s screw-up kind-of way. Linda Darnell is gorgeous, too. Now, I want to be brunet.

November

Twilight’s Breaking Dawn (2011) was the best movie of the year!!!!!. . . not. I did see it, for comedy-sake. A for real contender for my favorite movie of 2011 was My Man Godfrey (1936). William Powell and Carole Lumbard were hilarious, and you really can’t beat the writing and the comedy of a good 1930′s movie. I didn’t manage to watch a lot of movies in November and left busy-Decemember with some catching up to do. It wasn’t because I lost faith in my resolution or got bored with, I was just kind of distracted WINNING NaNoWriMo. That’s a competition in November to write a novel, and in order to win, you must write 50,000 words. So yeah, I did that.

December

Possibly the best movie I saw this year, I have to say, was The Brothers Bloom (2009). Great cast. Great videography. Great story. I loved the quirkiness and the characters and the schinanigans. The plot was straight with seemingly random bits intersecting and adding weight to the greatness. (By the way, did I mention that this movie was great–sad, funny, and great.) And it was also great to watch my final new movie for 2011 in theaters and join friends for celebratory drinks after. We saw Oscar buzzing Shame (2011), which has my girl-crush Cary Mulligan. Shame, however, is not for the average movie goer. Definitely not a movie you take your mother, your first date, or your religious friends to go see.

Ah, to be in love with one’s own life as I am! Well, with this, I’ll wish everyone a Happy New Year. I, personally, will be hitting the town, hoping that a few glasses of champagne will help me decide on my 2012 New Year’s Resolution.

The lights trimmed the trees, and a child screams, “Oh my gosh! Look at him go!” as a lanky monkey swung and flipped to the amusement of ZooLights goers.

The buses on Michigan Avenue cram with cold bodies and bulging shopping bags at every block.

Drinkers in tacky Christmas sweaters, Santa suits, and battery operated lights closedown Clark Street and crawl between the Twelve Bars of Christmas.

This Christmas Season has been unlike any I’ve ever had. It’s been fast and loud and bright, and it’s been most unlike the cozy Decembers I’ve spent at home with my momma, her couch, and her black-and-white movies. Not to say one is better than the other, nor to say that I prefer one to the other, but the newness of this year’s celebration has me excited for the holidays like I haven’t been for years. 

The basic newness of my life has me excited. . . about everything!

Here, there are two things people say when they discovered I moved to Chicago from Kentucky just three months ago. One, they remark on the accent they can only hear when they know I’m from the south. Two, they wonder if I’m homesick. I always hesitate before saying “No” because I know, one way or another, my mother can hear me and is pouting at my answer. But I’m really not homesick, no matter how heartless or disrespectful that may seem.

I still love my family and my hometown and the way in which I was raised. That being said, I love this different. It love working my several jobs; I love meeting new people; I love public transit, and struggling, and just getting by. It’s an adventure. Better than that, it’s my own adventure. 

Most people wouldn’t choose my life and that’s fine because I’ve lost a lot in the last few months getting myself here. There have been fights and a lot of peanut butter sandwiches and mistakes. But it was all for this independence and this life that I guess is mine and not anyone else’s.

With my shopping done, the presents wrapped, I have a week of Christmas to look forward. A Christmas writing class, two holiday parties, and my parents in Chicago before I’m dragged home–not kicking and screaming as you may assume–to enjoy Christmas in good ole E’town. 

So, I won.

In all honesty, it wasn’t that difficult either. It took some time management, a few extra cups of coffee, and days lugging Baby Mac around with me. . . all day, but I won my very first NaNoWriMo, writing 50,038 words in the just 30 days.

The face value of this experience is, “Hey, I have written a novel.” But in reality, it’s a very, very rough draft of something that could be plucked and tweezed into something unembarrassing. It’s randomness, shifting style, and hap-hazard plot twists allude to an emotional month of new experiences, intense exhaustion, and the always present Molly-Mischeive.

I wouldn’t say I have a novel, not yet at least.

The true value of my NaNoWriMo experience is less tangible and more self-involved. First, I know that writing a 180 page, 50 thousand word document is well within my capabilites. Second, I found true therapy in my writing; I’ve been able to flesh out my frustration into purposeful fiction. Thus, beware those abroad who have been my cause of frustration. You may or may not have just ended up in a possible book. Third, and let’s end with this point, I know I cannot write at home. Rather, I cannot write with an accessible Internet connection. If I only I had figured that out in college. Perhaps the reason that I thus far raved about writing longhand is because my pen cannot log onto Twitter. I actually got most of my word count finished on public transit. Nestled in a window seat on the bus to work, I could write an easy thousand words.

Mina’ story and her romantic entanglement probably won’t be an American Materpiece, won’t earn me a million dollar nor win me a Pulitzer Prize,  and won’t even be published, but Mina and I accomplish something together. For that, I guess I’ll always my love my little brain child, even if she becomes that ugly child only a mother could love.

Now that that’s done, it’s down hill on my New Year’s Resolution. Not only do I need to finished my movie list, I need to concoct a resolution for 2012! It’s been a great year so far!

Since the beginning of June, I haven’t been home, really home and settled in with the people I love. This long weekend was different, and I have enjoyed it, napping in the afternoons and gaining at least five pounds. (I LOVE homemade cookies!)

In a few hours, I’ll have to go pack and try to fit more stuff in my suitcase than I brought with me. When I get to Chicago, I’ll have to do laundry and go grocery shopping and ease back into a routine until Christmas. I am thankful for my new life; for the opportunities I’ve had, the new friends I’ve made, and the independence I’ve gotten.

But I’m forever thankful for home, the center of my John Donne compass, ever fixed as I “doth roam.”

For now, I’m entering crunch time. I only have three more days to reach 50K words for NaNoWriMo and 34 days to finishing watching 365 Movies.