Can I do this for a living?

Okay, well I called eight out of 11. But completely missing Best Picture is a pretty big flub. Early on I leaned towards The Departed, just because the Academy seems to like big ensemble casts full of big names. But when the critics seems so dismissive, I didn't think it had a chance. I could have gone either way on the Best Director category, so I'm not really surprised Scorsese nabbed that one. At least I called Best Supporting Actor and Animated Feature correctly. In your face Roger Ebert.

My Oscar Picks at 7:10pm on Feb. 24th

I'll tell you the truth. I really don't feel as confident about my picks this year. I usually agree with a lot of Ebert's reviews, but I'm not feeling Eddie Murphy for Best Supporting Actor. Bowfinger? Really?

The Best Director category could go either way. Martin Scorsese has never won, but most critics agree The Departed isn't his best work. And the Academy loves them some Clint Eastwood.

I am also having an impossible time with the Best Animated Feature and Best Motion Picture. Honestly, none of the nominees for best picture have that special something that makes them an obvious choice. Of the nominees, I think I prefer Little Miss Sunshine, but that seems an awfully cheesy way for the Academy to go. Yes, the same Academy that gave the award to Titanic. I just feel sure they won't go with Babel.

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Helen Mirren in The Queen

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls

Best animated feature film of the year
Happy Feet

Achievement in cinematography
Pan's Labyrinth

Achievement in directing
Letters from Iwo Jima

Best documentary feature
An Inconvenient Truth

Adapted screenplay
Children of Men

Original screenplay
Little Miss Sunshine

Best motion picture of the year
Letters from Iwo Jima

Yes, I’m still alive.

Know how I know? The lower back pain, heel spur, waddling, the huge belly that feels like I’m carrying a bowling ball, ridiculously fast growing fingernails, congestion, exhaustion, sleeplessness, leg cramps, and other assorted aches and pains. Oh, and the fact that I had to get up to pee six times last night. Seven weeks to go, and this kid better be on time.

In other news, my mom finished a new sweater and diaper bag just for me.

I have a new online wishlist at Kaboodle. Because the two baby registries (Target and Babies R Us) and the three page Amazon wishlist really wasn't sufficient enough to document the sheer amount of stuff I covet on the web.

Rob and I are checking out Super Suppers this weekend. Anyone else try that? We thought it would be a good supplement to our Greenling produce deliveries. And plus, we’re really tired of all the stuff we know how to cook. So, short of hiring a personal chef, this is kind of our only hope.

Sunday is the Oscars! I’ll be working on my Oscar picks to post before then. Last year I correctly predicted 9 out of 11 categories. I don’t anticipate doing as well this year. None of the nominated films have buzz that reaches Brokeback proportions.

And Lamb! Poor, poor Sheriff Lamb. Michael Muhney said he was heartbroken about the decision to kill Sheriff Lamb off "Veronica Mars", but he was still glad that the plot point remained under wraps until it aired. Love him. And I'm really disappointed that we'll probably never really learn about Lamb's motivations. Like the time Duncan and Veronica broke into the Manning's house and exposed the child abuse going on in the house. Lamb relased them without a word. It was one of the most complicated and haunting moments of last season. And now we'll never know what it meant. Show your Lamb/Michael Muhney love by checking him out in whatever pilot is lucky enough to get him.