J+J+J+J = Joie de Vivre

Judy and Jane enjoyed the much ballyhooed Julie and Julia movie today. The Julia part hit highlights of My Life in France, though the book is well worth reading for the rest of the details. Though I haven't read Julie's blog, I suspect its main points were also well represented in the movie. The acting in all roles was fabulous. Humor and real-life sad/glad/mad/scared moments abounded. People in our theater showing cheered and hooted at several points in the film. And they sat around afterward talking about it, I suspect because they can identify with both Julie and Julia.

The link I was most touched by was both women's perseverance. The movie showed more of Julie's meltdowns, but Julia spent eight years ~ that's EIGHT YEARS ~ creating, testing, typing, mailing, and retesting recipes for a book she envisioned before she knew there'd be an outlet or demand for it. She followed her passion. She didn't just like the idea of sharing French cooking with American cooks, she did what needed to be done to accomplish her dream. And she did it with excellence.

I love Julia Child's elan, panache, joie de vivre.

One, But Who's Counting?

Big big buzz at Borders today. Racks and racks of Julie & Julia books, My Life in France books, different editions, a package of white cloth with cute black French designs on it ~ maybe an apron, although oddly, the package didn't say. Also gift sets of MtAoFC, as Julie abbreviates it in her blog/book. I watched a video trailer for the movie on a small television. I laughed a lot. Then I watched it again. I'm even more eager for the whole movie on Saturday. [My other belly-laugh at Borders today was a New Yorker cartoon of a guy on his cell phone: "Can you hold on a sec? I think I just took another picture of my ear." I can identify!]

Three, But Who's Counting?

Now only three more days till Julie and Julia opens. Four till I see it. This week I'm making something from Julia Child's groundbreaking cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking ~ a timbale. I was going to pick something I'd actually heard of before, but this appealed to me. Webster's defines timbale as a creamy mixture baked in a mold. I've eaten these little molded mousses in French restaurants, most recently at Le Titi de Paris. So smooth and flavorful, so subtly flavored, such a decadent way to get my greens, oh my. Julia's recipe is for asparagus, but I'm going to use broccoli.

Four, But Who's Counting?

Just four days till the Julie and Julia movie opens. I don't remember ever in my life counting down to a movie opening ~ or even knowing the date a movie would be released. But I have had August 7 on the brain since the buzz began. My Life in France is one of my very favorite books.