Julie/Julia

I’ve been pretty stingy with my money lately. Or at least I feel I have been. The reality may be quite different from what I perceive it to be. I try not to buy frivolously, I’m not spending as much money on food in the work cafeteria, nor am I making myself believe I really need something when it’s clear that I really don’t. I’m questioning almost every purchase I think about by asking myself if I really need what I’m about to buy. Surprisingly, the act has helped me set down a few high-dollar items. It’s been an exercise in frugality lately, and I’m not sure my girlfriend is really appreciating the sudden change. Along with questioning my purchases, I’m starting to do the same thing to hers.

A week ago, we stopped by Horizon Books in downtown Petoskey. It’s a cute little bookseller with a coffee shop, some tables and chairs, and a fireplace. Mel wanted to look for a book; any book, I think. When we got there, I immediately set my sights on the Fantasy/Sci-Fi section. Mel hit up some nonfiction then eventually settled back over near me, at the Best Sellers. I ended up with Hyperion by Dan Simmons based on a review from an employee. It’s amazing how quickly one can decide to drop $10 when someone else says it’s okay.

Mel was still perusing the Best Sellers, unsure of which one to get. Remembering that she had been dying to see the movie Julie and Julia, I handed her a copy of the book by the same name. I could only presume it was a novelization of the movie. She agreed, and we set out. We began reading our novels at the beach the next day. On the way home, she expressed more interest in seeing the movie. I decided that I was going to stop being a tight-ass and take her to it.

We went to see it tonight. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it. To shortly summarize: the movie is about a woman who wants to do something with her life and at the encouragement of her husband, starts cooking through Mastering the Art of Cooking in one year and writes a blog about it. 500+ recipes in 365 days.

The reason that I find this movie so great is that she takes something quite impossible and actually does it. She cooks almost every night (sometimes very extravagant meals) and then she writes about it. Some posts are short and some are long… but she does it. What’s even more amazing to me is that she actually finished it. She finished something monumental like that.

After we got home, I hit the computer and searched for the blog. Reading the first post was a bit surreal. Something from a movie should not be in real life, y’know? It just doesn’t feel right for some reason. I know it was based off real events, but it’s still a bit weird.

I called Mel over to show her my find. Her look was first curious, then smiling when she saw “Julie/Julia”, and then turned to a lit up smile once she realized it was the blog from the movie. I don’t think I’ve felt that good about something in a long time. I hope she actually reads it.

So, those of you who have seen the movie: What did you think? Did you get anything out of it?

I don’t see any reason why I can’t finish a project now.