How long does it take?

I got Julie & Julia for Christmas and as I watched it this morning, I wondered how long it will take for me to be as popular as Julie is. I'm sure people would really like to hear about how I'm writing a lot more because of Julie Powell. Amy Adams showed that Julie had a hard life. And it got even worse when Julie knew thought that Julia didn't like her. But then it all got better, she had interviews, articles, pictorials, and I wonder how long it's going to take for me to at least sell a screenplay. Out of the twenty films I written, not one has been produced.

And even though I had quit writing for a week, I began again mostly because of Julie. I would probably be a sad unemployed freak if it wasn't for her. I'm really liking the chain starting with Julia to Julie to me and hopefully me to someone else.

And I'm tired of waiting for popularity or publicity.

I want to grow up to be just like Julie.

A Realization

Lately as I was writing my latest feature film, "My Mysterious Man", I figured out what kept me writing. I remember I was listening to four CDs, one at a time. Each of them are women.

When I listen to Michelle Branch, I find her lyrics to be very moving and touching. They're very sweet sounding. She's a real romantic singer.

When I listen to Alanis Morissette, I find her words to be the most honest lyrics I ever heard from any singer. She always has something to say and feels proud to express it with music.

Whenever I listen to Avril Lavigne, she can be very rocking. Like a pun. I always thought of Avril to be a rock singer. Her music is fun-loving and hip. I love inspiration from Avril.

And when I listen to Melissa Etheridge, she makes me feel very energized and always giving me the energy to write scenes or scenarios.

To brief it up in one word each, Michelle is romantic, Alanis is honest, Avril is rockin', and Melissa is energizing.

These four women really know how to write music and they always get me going. In fact, I was somewhat still around writing the beginning of "My Mysterious Man" and after listening to four CDs, one of each of these women, I kept writing and wouldn't stop when I got to the middle of the climax. And that's the most I've ever written while working on one movie at a time. I say that's usually not like me. Because most of the time, I write a few scenes at a time for each film I'm in the middle of. I'll never stop listening to Alanis, Michelle Avril, or Melissa.

I Can't give up.

After losing my USB plug-in, I was ready to give up on writing. Not because of that but also because I kept getting an overload of ideas in my head and it was too much. I felt like never getting my USB back kind of helped with the not wanting to write.

And I was doing well for a week with the giving up, but I kept getting an idea. Just like I did before. I got a new USB but didn't try it yet. Nothing's on it so far.

For some reason, I just have to write. So I'm going to give that another try but I will also try my plan to open up a shelter for unwanted pets and animals. I already had plans for that and was focusing on trying to achieve it, but for some reason, I just had the idea to write My Mysterious Man.

I know I wrote LOTS of things through the past year and a half, but some of my feature films meant more to me.

I'll explain in a future post what My Mysterious Man is. I was just explaining this one about how it's hard to give up on what I love doing. It's like smoking, you know, it's hard to quit. I don't smoke and never have, but I hear people explain how it's hard to quit because it's addictive. Well, I know I love writing and have a passion for it. And that's why it's too hard to not do anymore.

No more Just Like Julia Child

OK, so I was at the library in my previous town. And I might have left my USB plug-in plugged into the computers and tried to retrieve it yesterday and get this. It turns out that the only red USB plug-in that they found was white. Technically white and red.

And half of what I written was saved on it. So I know that I'll never see my USB plug-in again, which means Just Like Julia Child won't get finished, it will never get transferred to screenplay format and sent to a production company in L.A. and then Julie Powell won't get to see the film that was dedicated for her that could've been a good role for Leonardo DiCaprio.

This also means that my attempts at getting Julie to see my blog are lessened. And I was just writing the climax for JLJC. Hoard was having a verbal fight with Daniel Castro, not being a good friend to Ben Birch, and apologizing to Nathan Billiam, and Nathan apologizing to Howard. Then I stop so I can save it and go to my internship UNKNOWINGLY leaving my USB in the computer.

And it wasn't until later that night at home (using the bathroom) that I realized I left my USB at the library. And they were already closed by then. So I call them today (Sunday 11/08), then go there to find it, and they don't have it.

Julie Powell, now that I can never see what I've written in Just Like Julia Child, or other things I wrote and finished, this is the point where I REALLY need you to see it. I was kind of writing the Julia Child film as another way to bring you to my blog. And now that that's gone, my blog is the only thing I can think of to get you to know me.

Please, Julie. Nothing would make me happier unless you read what I had to say about you. I nearly cancelled my blog because you didn't get to me yet. I would totally appreciate this, Julie Powell.

What's Howard to do?

OK, so I'm working on Just Like Julia Child. By now, Andrew, the boss, lent Joanne the Julie & Julia book. That's my homage for Julie. And Joanne was going to show Howard the book, and that's when the climax started.

Howard is currently working at the restaurant and will get to work in the Photography studio once the head chef comes back and he doesn't know when that is. Nathan is very grateful for what Howard's done, but Joanne disapproves of it, and Daniel, the Jewel clerk, tries to talk Howard into going back to the camera store. Now Ben, Howard's friend, seems to not like the fact that Howard has no major in cooking and has only been cooking for a week.

And I wrote Howard to want to go back to the store as well as want to stay at the restaurant. But should he disappoint Nathan?

This is a real big decision for Howard. Come to think of it, there were many big decisions for Howard. And they were all regarding to how much his choices also affect Joanne. Since I've never been married, I just assumed that whatever career choice a man ponders about, it also affects his marriage with his wife. I could be wrong, but that's how I wrote Joanne to feel.

I also kind of wrote Howard to make a disrespectful comment to Daniel about working as a stock boy. Something about trying to work for something worthwhile. And Daniel said he's working so he can earn money to pay for college.

So Howard is affecting his marriage with Joanne and breaking a new friendship with someone who was trying to help Howard out. But he doesn't want to depress Nathan and quit. Nathan has been thankful for Howard's help.

Should he go back to the store and start at the position he was waiting for? Or stay at the restaurant and help out a family friend?

It's Extraordinary.

The more I see a clip of the real Julia Child, I can't help but think "what she's done for Julie, and what Julie's done for me..." I'm starting to feel proud of myself for starting this blog. And I wouldn't have if Julie did in the first place.

Recently, I tried starting a new diet. It would be called The No Butter Diet. It's a long story about how I originated it, but it all started with a joke called The Butter Diet, and I thought it could actually work. There's just a lot of more details in between.

So the more I take classes on Nutrition and think of recipes that don't need to have butter in them, I can see myself writing a book about it and give Julie another homage. Then again, it will be a looooong time until that happens and that's understandable. So far I have a few things that don't need butter.

And the cool thing about it is that if I ever do write a book, I know I can maybe give an acknowledgement to Julie. Even better; Julia. I'm already writing a film that's meant to be dedicated to Julie. It's hard to explain, but Julie Powell is an excellent lady to me. My blog is because of her, my writing Just Like Julia Child is because of her; I feel eager thinking that she's going to comment on one of my posts.

I actually had a dream the other night. I was actually having lunch with Julie and we were chatting and laughing and it was really fun. Although, it was actually Amy Adams. But it was still Julie Powell either way.

I must say, it really is extraordinary. The chain linking Julia to Julie, and Julie to me, and my ambitions to keep writing this blog and my film which are both dedicating to Julie. It seems like all those plans to cancel my blogspot account is way over my head.

A Homage to Julie!!!

Right now I feel kind of proud of myself. For the first time in Just Like Julia Child, I gave a little homage to Julie Powell. Like I promised I would.

By now, Howard began working in Nathan's restaurant. And Joanne found out because she went there for lunch with her friend and wanted to tell "the chef" how she preferred her steak, because he wasn't making it to her satisfaction. In the kitchen, she was stunned to Howard as well as he was stunned to see her. After Joanne took in the news that Howard was working there, she began to get a little worried.

Right now, I'm working on a scene where Joanne is reading Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her boss, Andrew, asks her about it. And then he begins to explain about a woman named Julie Powell who cooked her way through MtAoFC and wrote a blog about it. So I'm planning for Joanne to tell Howard about Julie and then maybe Howard can get some encouragement to show more passion for working in the restaurant. Kind of like how I got encouragement from Julie to start my blog and start Just Like Julia Child.

I promise that when I finish it, I might put it on this website I found called Triggerstreet.com and see if people would like to read it. And by people I mean Julie.

I guarantee that the more detail I put into JLJC about Howard working at the restaurant and stuff and Joanne dealing with the news, this is something I think/hope Julie would really like.

He took it!

I got around to getting back to Just Like Julia Child. Howard decided to take the job offer. He made a plan with his boss at the camera store that he can take a few months of absence to work for Nathan until his regular head chef can come back. And when Howard goes back to work, he'll finally be in the photography studio that he's been waiting for.

So that makes Howard happy for both scenarios. He's helping out a family friend and he gets to receive the promotion he's been waiting for.

And I have a plan for later in the film. I'm going to have Joanne go out to Nathan's restaurant to check it out and have her convinced that Howard's going to meet her there for dinner. And when Joanne likes her entree, she's going to go and make compliments to the chef which she doesn't know is her husband because Howard's not going to tell her. Then when she does meet the chef, she'll get a surprise that her husband kept from her and then a marital spat's going to happen resulting in a climax.

Once that's written, I'll post more JLJC updates.

And I'm still waiting for Julie Powell to see this.

I want to give up.

There's something I never thought I'd say.

Something tells me to cancel my blog. No one seems to care, I can't get Julie to read it, I'm running out of ideas for Just Like Julia Child, and I'm already unhappy with stuff right now. And to think things were looking up.

The pros of canceling my blog is that I impress other people by giving up and can decide a new field to look for jobs in and become educated for.

The cons of canceling my blog is that if cancelled, Julie may decide to read it but there's nothing to read.

I'm leaving my account up because just incase I cancel it, and Julie does want to read it, then everything I wrote is gone. So I won't cancel it. After all, I would've even have started this blog if it weren't for her. She said she didn't know what a blog was and neither did I. And we both started one. Julie is an important part of my life even though I can never meet her, but I really want her to see what I wrote for her.

I always have trouble of thinking of ways to promote this and getting Julie to see it and just feel that nobody cares on how much Julie's book touched me.

I might have to be remembered as the unhappy and unemployed 21-year-old who still lives with his parents and goes to community college while his brother already has the life he wants and I have nothing. At least I have a name.

If I have to, I'll try even harder. I'll keep figuring out ways to get Julie Powell to see this. It won't be easy, then again, nothing ever is.

Should he take it?

I got to a point where Howard really struggles with the decision to take Nathan's job offer. All he's told are Ben, his friend. Not even Joanne.



If Howard takes the job, he becomes the head chef and the master and gets promoted to manager after Ryan, the regular head chef, comes back. It's only for a few months that Ryan can't work.



If Howard gets promoted at the camera store, Howard finally gets the chance that he's been waiting for since college. He finally gets to be a photographer rather than camera salesman and does something he cares about.



Although there are disadvantages based on Howard's decisions.



If he becomes a chef, the other sous chefs ridicules him and can't work with him and without Ryan. And Howard gets made fun of and teased.



If he becomes a photographer, he would have let Nathan down and disappointed him. Even though, Nathan had other people to consider to be a chef temporarily, he really wanted Howard.



There are both advantages and disadvantages for Howard taking the chef job or getting promoted for the photography job.



This is one where I really need comments. And nothing like "This sounds really good. I can't wait to [read] it. etc." I kind of need advice myself for what I should write Howard to do. Comments would be well appreciated.



PS: I'm still working on getting Julie to see my blog. It may not be easy, but I'm still trying at it.

Answers to the Discussion Questions

Now here come the whole point of why I started the blog. I get to reveal my feelings about how Julie's book affected me. The discussion questions in the back.

1. "Julie has such a remarkable with Julia Child, despite never having met her. What do you think of the relationships that Julie built in her mind? And why does it not matter, in some sense, when Julie finds out that Julia wasn't an admirer of hers or the Project?"

Cary: I think Julie had some sort of imagination of meeting Julia in person. Although it's not like she ever could have in real life. And I don't think Julia was into Julie's Project because at her age, 80-90, she wouldn't really care about much. I'm just saying. Or maybe it was because Julia thought that Julie would have better things to do instead.

2. "Throughout the book, various people become involved with the Project: Julie's husband, her friends, and several family members. Discuss the different roles each played in the Project. Which people were most helpful and supportive? Who was occasionally obstructionist?"

Cary: Knowing the personality of Eric Powell, he seems sarcastic and kind of dorky, but he's also reliable. In a way, he was supportive for Julie by raving about her meals and complementing her on almost every one. And her friends didn't seem to show support for Julie. I think they were just ignorant to let Julie cook. It was something she liked and cared about but they didn't even say anything positive. And her mother - I noticed how Julie's mother was very critical and nagging. So Julie wanted to also master the art of French cooking. Her mom could've been a little nicer.

3. "Did you find Julie to be a likeable character? Did you relate to her insecurities, anxieties, and initial discontent? Why do you think it is that she was able to finish the Project despite various setbacks?"

Cary: Of course Julie's likeable. I can relate to her in may ways. I even started a blog because of her. She inspired me to write this when I didn't even know what the term "Blog" meant. I felt sorry for her when she had the problems with those dinner parties (like oversleeping or the big dinner with Amanda Hesser) and even the Beef marrow and German guy. I wanted to get sick as Julie was. It's like I'm empathic to her - in a way. I felt sorry for every problem she had, and totally understood how she felt when she got the news that Julia died. I feel that I'm there for Julie and that she's there for me...hopefully.

4. "The Julie/Julia Project is obsessive and chaotic, yet it manages to bring a sort of order to Julie's life. Have you ever gone to obsessive lengths to, ironically, make things more manageable? Why do you think Julie does (or doesn't?") succeed in this?"

Cary: I wanted to see Julie & Julia even before I heard about it. Once Amy Adams went on the Late Show With David Letterman, and she said that she was making a film about a woman who cooked her way through Julia Child's book. So I briefly read about it and already I wanted to see this. There was even a clip of Meryl Streep at the end of the Academy Awards and I was like "I am so seeing that". Then after the first time I saw the trailer, I knew. So when I could, I got the book from the library in the town I used to live in and got right to reading but had to return the book (explained in another post). And when I finally got the book back, I didn't even put it down. The Friday night before J&J, I skipped dinner to finish the book, and even woke up later that night with the book open on my chest. That Saturday morning, I had to quickly finish the book. So yeah, I wasn't exactly obsessing, but I was in a big rush to finish reading the book before seeing the movie. And I wouldn't give up.

5. "If someone were to ask you about this book, how would you describe it? Is it a memoir of reinvention? A homage to Julia Child? A rags-to-riches story? A reflection on cooking and the centrality of food in our lives? Or is it all (or none) of these.?"

Cary: All of the above. It's basically everything besides a novel. When I first got it, I thought it was a type of cook book, but it was even better. Julie is a great writer and a stunning lady. I actually recommended this to my mom and then another friend of mine. Out of the choices given in the question, I'd say this is more of a reinvention. Julie was basically recreating her life to make it better. And she did. She really improved on herself. And Eric has grown to be more proud of her and more supportive.

6. "Did Julie's exploits in her tiny kitchen make you want to cook? Or did they make you thankful that you don't have to debone a duck or saute a liver? Even if your tastes may not coincide with Julia Child's recipes, did the book give you a greater appreciation for food and cooking?"

Cary: I actually was into cooking even before I heard about J&J, I liked cooking. But I wouldn't want to cook a Julia Child meal. Maybe in her other "Baking With Julia" book, but not MtAoFC. Those seemed too complex for even Julie to make. However, even if a recipe calls for it, I am not going to learn to debone a duck or saute a liver. I already learned that you have to rub your hands all over raw meat to get the herbs on it.

7. "At various points in the book, Julie finds that cooking makes her question her own actions and values. What did you make of her lobster guilt, for example, or her thoughts on extracting bone marrow? Have you ever encountered these issues while cooking, or while going through other everyday motions of life? Have you come to conclusions similar to or different from Julie's?"

Cary: Like I said in the previous question, I had to learn to rub my hands all over raw meat. But I don't plan to ever extract bone marrow or commit lobster murder. I have lots of love for animals that I don't think they should be tortured or killed to serve people. That's what makes me sometimes question "How would you like it if someone killed and cooked you and served you to people?". It reminds me of the German guy, but anyways, it's hard for me to see a turkey shot and cooked for Thanksgiving or think of the mysterious things that I don't even want to know about that makes a hot dog. So, it's hard for me to do what Julie did. And not because it's gross, which it is, but mostly hard to see an animals sliced right in my hands.

8. "When Julie began the Project, she knew little to nothing about blogging. What do you think blogging about her experiences offered her? Does writing about events in your life help you understand and appreciate them more? Do you think the project would have gone differently if the blog hadn't gained so much attention? Who was the blog mainly for, Julie or her readers?"

Cary: Just like Julie, I was new to the blogging thing. That's when I realized, "You know, if Julie puts her experiences about cooking into a computer, then so can I.". I felt that if I take the time to blog about how Julie's book affects me, then I might become as popular as she did. (Although that never happened for me, yet). I started blogging two months ago, and obviously, Julie's popular didn't start as quickly as to months, so I thought I should maybe wait as well. I think eventually someone's going to read my blog and wonder, "Why didn't I think of that?". I feel that out of the many people reading Julie's book, I'm one of the few to actually read for something meaningful, and not just because a move was coming out, but to read the book because I want to tell the world and Julie how much I want to be like her. Marriage and Popularity are two things I'm looking forward to. And I think Julie's blog was more for her. If it was for her readers, I'd have to say that I'm one of the few. Even though it was hard for Julie to cook, she still managed to get through it with Julia Child watching over her.

Julie, I hope you eventually read my posts and think I'm doing a good job by looking up to you. Even though there will be many posts to come, I still am waiting for you to check me out.

Howard's Job Offer

I wrote the birthday dinner scene in Just Like Julia Child. So Nathan talked to Howard and said he needed a head chef because his HC Ryan got a hand injury involving a bread knife and then it nearly became a whole Sunshine Cleaning Thing. Nathan had to clean up some of Ryan's blood. And now that Ryan is taking a few month break, Howard starts pondering about which job to do. Photography is something he loves and is passionate and excited for, but he's only been cooking for a week and for his wife, Joanne.

This is where Howard begins to make the choice. I'm not even sure what he should do but I'll eventually find out. And I wrote Nathan to not have it be a problem if Howard declines the job offer.

When I have more details on Just Like Julia Child, I'll post the updates here. This is the same film that I'm dedicating to Julie when I'm done writing it.

Any promotional ideas?

Lately, I've been thinking of ways to promote this until Julie sees it.

I posted it a few times as my status on Facebook and wrote a note about it and tagged people. But a friend of my dad's from last night, suggested I make a page about it. I'm already a fan of several things so far? So last night I made a page for it and got some people already a fan of it.

And I started a Twitter account and posted it there. And the only one I know personally on Twitter is Calvin.

But Facebook and Twitter are the only things I can think of and I don't think Julie has one. I don't do My Space or Google or any other thing like that.

But just this second, I set it as my signature that shows up whenever I make a post on an IMDb message board.

So if anyone has any promotional ideas on how to promote my blog, please let me know. People even found Julie's when she first started but not mine. After all, my blog is based on a book that's based on another book. I'm creating a chain.

Please help me, Julie.

I have no idea how to get Julie to read my blog. Without, I wouldn't even have started this. At first the title of the whole thing was called "Unfortunately 21" but I changed it as a way to get Julie to notice me. (Also I wasn't liking that title.)

I commented a couple of hers. And her post about someone having had a good idea, I thought that was about me when it wasn't, I regretted getting my hopes up. Sometimes I even think about closing my blog and ending it because I don't get many comments (more like any comments) and I don't think people are reading it.

This is the only thing I can do to get Julie to read my blog and see how her book told me to start a blog of my own and explain my reactions and feelings toward the book.

I wouldn't mind if anyone else decides to read it or leave a comment. As long as one of them is Julie admiring my words and feeling about Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes in One Tiny Apartment Kitchen. She is a big impact on my life and someone I can kind of relate to based on what she wrote.

Julie, it would make my day if you would see what I had to say about you. I said lots of good stuff that you're really going to like. And of course the title of my blog refers to you because I can't think of another Julie I know personally or met briefly.

I would really appreciate this if you read my blog.

A side of me no one has ever seen

I went to a party of a woman who my brother and sister-in-law rented a house from. And I've been 21 for a little over two months now. I remember last summer, I had two margaritas and my incredible and funny sister-in-law claimed I was drunk after tripping on the sidewalk.

But today I went to the party and kind of treated myself to a strawberry margarita. It was tasty and tangy and I kind of limited myself to one. But I couldn't resist getting another glass. So that was two. And after a while, I was holding the urge to get another one. Later, my sister-in-law, Gina, offered me to taste a wine cooler. And it was a berry one. I kept taking tastes of Gina's wine cooler and it was sweeter than the margarita.

Obviously I didn't even get drunk. I didn't drink enough. Just three small glasses of a strawberry margarita and half a bottle of a wine cooler. I got so into the drinking alcohol and I wish I want to do it again, but I also kind of want to stay the same kind of person who doesn't drink even after the age of 21.

Who finished the tea?

So earlier this week I made some iced tea. Organic Apple. It was really sweet (because I sweeten my tea) and tasty.So this morning after cleaning the house, I get a glass of iced tea. And I'm going to get another glass when I see that the pitcher is empty and sitting by the sink.

I know I didn't take the rest of the iced tea, my mom said she didn't finish it either, my dad doesn't like flavorful tea (iced or hot), and obviously my dog couldn't have finished it.

Even though it doesn't even mean anything as to who finished the iced tea, it's still kind of fun to think of it like a mystery that we have to figure out.

However, I know who really finished it, but my lips are sealed.

Do you think it evaporated?.......

Don't peple care?

Since I started this blog, I felt like people don't even care about how Julie inspired me to start this. Julie gets comments on her blog, but I don't even think no one is reading mine because the number of views I get increases by only one. I think I am that one.

I've had a lot to say. And I'm starting a chain here. Julie cooked her way through Julia Child's book, and I'm doing something that I like for once and thought Julie or others would notice. Julie got publicity and I get nothing.

Last night I went to bed thinking "why doesn't anyone care about me?" or "what have I done deserve nothing?". Sometimes I feel like closing my account and wishing I haven't read the book or saw the movie. I feel that all this was meant for nothing if no one is even glancing at it.

And if I can't even find the right kind of job for me, then I feel like I should look for entry-level jobs.

I was also working very hard to finish the book before I saw the movie on Saturday. I was not eating breakfast, I skipped dinner on Friday, and around Friday night, I found myself waking up with the book resting open on my chest and finished it on Saturday. I even listed all the people who inspired me to start this blog and Julie wasn't even the only one. And even some of the people I thanked, aren't even reading it.

Please let there be at least a few comments on each post. I want at least two or three people to care about me.

My Special Thanks

Now that I'm done with the book - finally - I'd like to list some people who understood what I was going through while reading it and writing this blog.

My mentor John Condne - even though John is often sarcastic and spontaneously jokey, he still helpful and willing to read any film I write and gives me new ideas for plot points. As I write Just Like Julia Child, I know he may come to eventually like it after we discuss it and see what should be changed - if anything.

My mom, Paula - Out of family members, she was the only one who knew how much I had to finish it within the last three days. My brother said "You don't have to rush through it" and my sister-in-law said to see the movie in between reading the book. My dad, on the other hand, didn't seem to care. But my mom was the only one who knew that I had to finish the book in limited time before the release of the movie.

Julia Child - Without Julia, Julie wouldn't have known what she wanted to do for something she has passion for. And I would come up with a great new film to write as I don't have many ideas or have two many ideas and one to settle down with.

Rebecca - if I could remember her last name, but after meeting her recently, we have lots of favorite movies in common and is excited as I am to see Julie & Julia. After I lend the book to my mom, then Rebecca is next and eager to read it to.

And of course Julie Powell - Julie, if it weren't for you, I'd be cooped up in the house looking for jobs that don't mean anything to me and would be miserable to no end. Reading your book and writing this blog are things that I'm very proud of and confident for. Julie is inspiring me to maybe write my own book, and after she didn't know what a blog was, she gave me the idea to start one myself. I hope she eventually has time to read mine as I'm dedicating it to her.

And I'd also like to thank Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be excited as I am now to see Julie & Julia later this afternoon. I hope they give very good performances and maybe earn an Oscar nomination or so. This should be an Oscar catching movie.

If Meryl and Amy worked well together in Doubt, which I still have to see, then they should work even well together even if they don't have any of them same scenes.

Julie, someday, my blog will eventually be read by you. Maybe if I'm successful with it, Just Like Julia Child will be finished, rewritten if it needs to, filmed and produced and could be very popular.

For my soon-to-be readers, you haven't seen (or read) the last of me. I'll still be around posting posts and writing JLJC.

And once again, congratulations to Julie for the book and getting to see Amy Adams be you.

Julie's Crepe's of Wrath

Poor Julie can't make crepes. I thought they would be easy because they're just a dessert dish. But apparently they burn as to what happened with Julie. Crepe after crepe after crepe. I myself am not into burned, blackened desserts either.

Then again, I'm not much of a baker. I just cook. I can always get a grilled cheese sandwich nice and golden but I can't make riceroni without blackening it or covering the stove area with steam.

According to Julie, crepes are not that easy to make. But she was proud of herself when she finally made herself a golden crepe.

I'm sure they're are many things Julie has trouble starting out with herself that she needs to work on it a few more times. But you know, mistakes happen. I know I HATE them, but they do happen to me to. Like burning riceroni.

Just Like Julie

In a way I'm reminded of Julie with the same kind of problem she was having. She was worried that she wouldn't finish Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year. And I'm around page 133-136 out of the 200-something pages, and I'm planning to see Julie & Julia this weekend. For as long as I can remember, I've always seen movies on their opening weekend. Usually that Saturday or something. And I worry that I won't be done with the book before I see it. I am totally seeing Julie & Julia this weekend. If there wasn't that gap between having to return the book and then getting it back, I'd be a little bit farther into it and could finish it in time to even read the "conversation with Julie Powell" and answer the discussion questions. When it's time I'm going to answer the discussion questions in a later post.

I promised my mom I would lend it to her, but she's not in that much of hurry. And there's someone I also know that's next in line. And I know that she's not in a hurry either. Besides, when I am done with it, hopefully by Friday, the film version would already have been released. Although my friend did seem in kind of a hurry to read it because she didn't know that my mom was after me.

Julie, even if I stop my other daily routines, I will read lots more a day. I've been reading three to five pages a day. I actually didn't eat lunch today so I can read it, and probably won't have much of a dinner this week or something. I am promising to myself that I will be done by Friday.

I may even have to put a hold on Just Like Julia Child.

Eggs and Omelets

After reading a chapter about Julie cooking eggs, I was eventually getting nauseous. I don't like eggs very much and really not into eggs especially with cheese.

By the way, I started in the book I own from where I ended in the book I borrowed. It was in the middle of the egg chapter.

About the eggs, I'm surprised that Julie had a lot to say about them. I couldn't even say that much because I don't like them. I actually know a lot of people who don't like eggs. Some of them don't like them cooked a certain way liked scrambled or omelet, and some don't like the taste of them.

I once ordered a taco skillet at a small restaurant and I thought it was going to be meat and cheese and all the other taco fixings, but there was a scrambled egg on top. I know that the menu listed eggs in it, but I thought they would be on the side with my pancakes. I just ate the eggs anyway.

It's not that I don't like them, but I don't prefer them. I'll eat them scrambled. Sometimes I like eggs, and sometimes I don't.

Julie's Back!

I just went to Border today to go birthday shopping for my brother, and they had - on sale - lots of stuff for Julie & Julia possibly to promote the movie. They had Julia Child's My Life in France and they had Julie's book. They also had Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

And now that I had a chance to own it, I quickly got Julie's book and an Indiana Jones book for my brother. And now that I have it back, I am so going to continue from where I left off. I have it written down somewhere.

And what's cool about this book is that it's more modern-looking. Before it was just the cover with the egg beater tipped over, but now this is like a movie poster looking thing. It'd be easier to imagine Amy Adams being Julie.

I would also like to apologize for the gap in my posts. I know that were about three days apart, but this was a week of no Julie & Julia or Just Like Julia Child.

I still promise to keep posting JLJC updates, but now that I got the book back, there will be more about Julie.

Who could be Howard Gold?

As I write films, I tend to think of different kinds of actors that would be potentially good for the parts. As I write scenes, I imagine them like a movie as I'm writing. I'm sure many people do that with books and they see what's going on as they read it.

After having written enough scenes, I was seeing Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Gold. And Clive Owen as restaurateur Nathan Billiam.

The thing with Leonardo DiCaprio is that he plays characters that are going through struggles. I've seen part of Revolutionary Road and I know that that's about a married couple going through problems in their lives. And with Howard, he's struggling to earn a promotion. He has a degree in Photography and works part-time in a camera store with a photography studio upstairs. And he really wants to be a photographer. But as he works for the promotion, he learns more about cooking and eventually becomes talented and gets the job offer for Nathan's restaurant.

That's when Howard begins to think about his future. He only started the cooking thing because Joanne wanted meals to be ready when she gets home from work. Should Howard do what he cares about and is excited to do, like being a photographer? Or should he accept a great job and a start at a position in a new field where he skipped the first few entry-level positions? He would most likely be a busboy, then a host(ess), then a waiter, then head chef. But Nathan wants him to skip all that and be the head chef.

Howard was really working hard to be a photographer, but he never wanted to be a professional chef in the first place.

Because of this big decision, is why I see Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Gold. And I see Clive Owen as Nathan Billiam because Clive has some sort of ability to play the owner of a very classy restaurant or big business.

I just got an idea.

As I'm working on Just Like Julia Child, I had the to dedicated to someone. Two people actually. The main character is kind of based on me. As I'm writing my blog for Julie Powell, my main character is cooking Julia's recipes.

As a writer, you want the first 20-30 minutes to be about the characters and get to know them. And that's what I've done so far. Howard Gold works in a camera store under a photography studio and is working hard for a promotion. And the other people, like costars, are basically known for what they do. Joanne Gold just got a promotion and is working as an assistant to newspaper editor-in-chief Andrew Harding. Howard's friend, Ben Birch, likes to hang out with Howard and is sarcastic and a joker. After Joanne lets Howard know that she prefers home-cooked dinners, Howard buys as much as he can from Jewel Osco. And stock boy, Daniel Castro, befriends Howard and tells him stuff about cooking. Daniel is a culinary student at the French Pastry School in Chicago (which I already researched) and helps Howard out. One of Joanne's friends, Nathan Billiam, is a restaurateur in a classy - but fictional - restaurant in Chicago that was left to him by his father. More of Nathan will be explained later.

Now that the characters are known the plot can start.

And as I think more of what's going to happen, Howard is going to be a Julia Child follower as is Julie. He's not exactly like me, as I'm a Julie follower, but he cooks Julia Child meals for dinners and an upcoming dinner party that Joanne wants to host.

And my idea is that I think I want to dedicate my film - when it's ALL finished being written - to Julie. This sounds like something she would enjoy seeing (hypothetically) and can tell that someone - meaning me - had the knowledge to write something for her, like she writes for Julia.

I do plan to mention Julie once or twice about her blog, but it's basically about Howard cooking meals from a Julia Child cookbook. Not someone who dedicates things to Julia.

I'll post updates on JLJC. I just hope I can at least finish my book eventually.
-Cary

Problem with the book

Yesterday, I went to my old local library to renew the book because it was going to be due next week sometime. And the librarian said six other people requested it on hold. And that there are also three other copies. It was so unfair because other people want to read the book just because Julie & Julia is coming out this summer. And I was excited to be finished with the book before it's release in August.

If I want, I could attempt to finish the 200-something pages when I was only on page 58 within 3 days, and though that's not something I can do, I had to return it and request it on hold. And I have to look at the next 1 or 2 months before I get it back. If there's three copies and six people want it, then I'll get back by the time I already saw the film.

So to my readers (if any I hope), don't expect to see any posts about my responses to what I read.

But on the bright side, I will post some stuff about my film, Just Like Julia Child, but not as many as I would about the book.

If possibly, I could find my new library and cross my fingers that they have it, but I don't want to risk going there (even though I have no idea where I'd be going) and finding out it's not there.

Also, I hope that at least one of these six people are doing what I'm doing. Julie is following Julia's footsteps, and I'm following Julie's -- in a way. I wonder if any of the other people are reading for just because or for meaning. Me = meaning.

-Cary

Beffmarrow is something I don't want to think about.

One of the chapters I read was so disgusting to even visualize let alone read about. (no offense, Julie.) But it was basically about how she had to cook with bone marrow or beef marrow that she was incredibly disgusted with as well.

I often see pink flesh-y stuff on chicken so I don't eat that, but I never saw it on beef. But she was saying how she hated cookingh with the bone marrow and it looked like s***.

There was especially this one part she said that I wanted to get sick as Julie was. Apparently, this German guy cut off his friend's penis and cooked it, and even fed it to him. I actually clenched up my legs thinking about that. I have never heard of something like that before.

I just hope later in the book, Julie is going to talk about more pleasant and non-gaggy things to visualize.

Just Like Julia Child

Yesterday I started working on a new film. I had just finished My Fair Sadie, and began to work on Just Like Julia Child. I'm actually working on it this minute, and just finished the first scene where we find out that Howard Gold works in a camera store and wanting to earn a promotion to work in the photography studio. I'm not at the point where the plot starts just yet. Not even close enough to it.

I'm also still reading the second chapter of Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes in one Tiny Apartment Kitchen. I'm really excited for this book and I actually have to renew it soon.

I also plan to be working on Just Like Julia Child at the same time I read the book.

-Cary

For Julie

Recently, I got a book from my non-local library which is in the town I used to live in after having moved nearly two months ago. This summer I'm excited for the Meryl Streep/Amy Adams movie Julie & Julia. So the book I got is Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes in one Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell. I already read the first chapter whereas Julie basically introduced herself and her husband. When her husband, Eric, said she should write a blog, I read that Julie didn't know what a blog is. And neither did I until today.

To me, I think the book is going to be about how Julie managed her marriage by cooking from Julia Child's book Mastering the Art if French Cooking. I like cooking sometimes, but only for leisure. I'm avoiding restaurant jobs. And when I cook, people rave about what I make and I don't want them to. Basically what I did was just put a whole bunch of ingredients together. Everyone else does that.

I'm kind of excited to see what Julie has to say in her book. I only got the introduction and how she found out what a blog was. And that inspired me to start this one, as I just learned what a blog was. And every keeps saying "You should start a blog" and I'm like "OK" even though I have no idea what they're talking about. I just know Academy Award winner Diablo Cody wrote one before Juno.

As I write this blog some more, I'm going to explain what I read and how I felt of each chapter in Julie's book. (Julie, if you're reading this, then a big thank you for you.) Think of it as the Cary/Julie project. Writing and comparing (or contrasting) our thoughts and opinions. I even wrote a pitch to a film I might end up writing soon.

It's actually called Just Like Julia Child. It's about this man named Howard Gold. Howard is like Mr. Mom. His wife, Joanne works as a journalist, and he just has a part-time job in a camera store (not to be confused with working in Photography). Joanne gets promoted to where she works longer hours, and prefers that Howard has dinner already made when she gets home. When Joanne shows him the cookbooks, he finds one of Julia Child's. He begins to make Julia's meals every day when Joanne comes home and she begins raving about it. When Joane decides to have a dinner party, she asks if Howard could make a few of Julia's dishes to serve at the dinner party. One of the guests is Joanne's friend, Nathan Billiam. Nathan is a restaurateur and is crazy about Howard's cooking that he asks if Howard would be the head chef. Howard decides to do it, and brings in much more money to support Joanne.

As it's only a pitch, that's about as much details as I can give. As I write films, more, I begin to imagine who'd be good for these parts, so I can give them to my mentor for ideas of who to cast. (See my "Introduction" post.)

And if Just Like Julia Child was written, filmed, produced, etc., it might sound something that Julie Powell would enjoy. Julie might even enjoy my future blog posts about what I have to say about her book.

-Cary

Introduction

I'm Cary Pohlhammer, 21-years-young, and in a rush to grow up.

I'm eager to be 25 because that's the youngest I want to be married. I wouldn't mind getting married at 27 or 28, but just as long as I'm older than 25. And every time I see a man with a daughter, I feel like I'm never going to have that. I see myself married to a woman and raising two girls.

As of my life now, I don't go to school, and am looking for the perfect job. And I'm not giving up. I'm a writer by leisure, and am looking to work in something like fashion or clothes. I love to watch movies and write them as well. Recently I just finished a romantic comedy called My Fair Sadie, in reference to My Fair Lady. It's about an actor, Academy Award nominee Benjamin Potter, who gets a role in a movie whereas the director wants him to be married, and he meets a woman named Sadie and tries to keep it from her that he's only marrying her for a role in a movie.

It's very funny and only written. So don't expect it to be in theaters anytime soon. And I can't help but imagine seeing Hugh Jackman as Benjamin Potter. Probably because every girl wants to marry Hugh Jackman.

Anyways, the whole point of this blog begins in the next post. That's when I get into more specific details about why I started this.

-Cary