HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE!

At this time last year, we were in a mad dash trying to sell our house and packing up our life for a move to Singapore. This year, we are in Singapore and seem to be a little more relaxed. No house selling, no packing, no cross-planet travel, which means it gives us a lot of time to properly celebrate MICHELLE'S BIRTHDAY!

I cant express how much it means to me that Michelle came to Singapore to allow me a chance to live my childhood dream, she gave up her job to do that. Now, one could argue that we are married and that's part of the deal but you'd be surprised how many married people we know here who's spouses remained behind because of work, family etc. Not Michelle, she was up for the adventure, she was up for the challenge, she was ready to try something new.

It hasn't been easy either, it's a lot more difficult to find work here for the spouse than we were lead to believe, really difficult and she has been trying. She's made some friends, she's going to do some volunteering, she's done some of the "lady of leisure" lifestyle and ofcourse we have travelled: Bali, Thailand, Indonesia & Vietnam so far (Macau is next). But no matter what is going on with her, she's always supported me and my career here and for that I will always be thankful.

She's my lover, my best friend, my partner-in-crime, source of energy and I love her with all that I am.

The happiest of birthdays baby! Who knows where life's adventure will take us next but who cares, as long as we are together it's going to be a blast!!!!

GLEE: VOGUE

Michelle's favorite show (GLEE), one of my favorite comedic actresses (Jane Lynch) doing one of our favorite Madonna songs, shot for shot. Good stuff indeed!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Wow, my dad MARIO is another year older and it's weird for me to be on the other side of the world for his birthday.

I think this is the first time I haven't been around to celebrate with him, especially since my mom passed away. As I write this, he's enjoying his last day in Mexico with my stepmom Gina, where they went to a family wedding for two weeks of fun. I love the fact that my dad gets to travel more now. Growing up, he worked so bloody hard, he rarely had time for a vacation but now he's taking more time to explore the world, and I love that.

He deserves it, he deserves to see the world and to enjoy himself because he's earned every waking moment of happiness he gets! He deserves to fall asleep on the couch at 5pm on a Sunday or laugh with his friends at the Red Lion. I think that's the secret to a good life... enjoying the little things! And that's one of the great things about my dad, he takes pleasure in the little things, a snuggle with Laverne & Carmine, a good plate of pasta, talking to the family on Skype, traveling with Gina.

I look forward to seeing him in July, I look forward to swapping life stories with him, I look forward to enjoying a glass of wine with him and I look forward to wishing him a happy belated birthday in person. But for now dad, enjoy the day, enjoy your birthday and know that from across the planet we love you a lot!

UPDATED PIX

Lots of pics to look at including this one of my Dad Mario and his friend, also named Mario, enjoying some Olympic fun in Whistler!!!

A new set featuring updated pics from our favorite beasts LAVERNE & CARMINE

Pics from life in Singapore 2010: JANUARY, FEBRUARY, and MARCH!

Michelle's OLYMPIC odyssey in Vancouver!

Enjoy!

I GOT MY STAR WARS ADIDAS

And all is good - thanks for buying them Fred!
Thanks for bringing them home Michelle!

I'M WATCHING MY STORIES!!!!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 3D

Really? All that hoopla for this??? I was totally disappointed with ALICE. Sure some of the performances were great, some of the FX were enjoyable and it had cool moments but it felt like they forced it into being 3D and despite the Tim butoness of it all, it didn't work in 3D. I actually found myself bored in parts which is a shame cause Burton knows how to make a good looking scene!

THUMBS DOWN

THE ROAD

Wow... I need to take a shower, I haven't felt this low since I watched REQUIUM FOR A DREAM, humanity is in the crapper. I just wish we knew what caused the global disaster because the resulting landscape is cool to see. It's bleak and it's haunting but it's good.

THUMBS UP!

THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT

My fundamental problem with this flick is that I don't buy "Dewey Cox as a Vampire". Selma Hayek as the bearded lady? No problem but John C. Reilly as a Vampire, just don't see it. Based on the popular book series, the Vampire's Assistant starts off an adventure between a circus of freaks and a group of evil vampires, best friends are caught on opposing sides of the line. If this movie was harder, it would have been better. If this movie was sillier, it would have been better, instead it's PG-13 and it's caught in the purgatory of not enough violence and not enough laughs.

THUMBS DOWN

FRINGE: SEASON 1

I really like this show. It's like X-FILES meets TWILIGHT ZONE meets ALTERED STATES meets ALIAS. Good characters, cool crimes, unique twists and fresh perspectives and since it's produced by JJ Abrams it also has a healthy does of STAR TREK lens flares. Can't wait to see Season Two!

THUMBS UP!

UP IN THE AIR

I know I am in the minority here but I didn't like UP IN THE AIR. It felt like there was little to nothing new going on, Clooney was Clooney, Jason Reitman was continuing his quirky directing style and the whole movie felt somewhat boring. I think I need to see it again or something maybe I missed something.

THUMBS DOWN

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS

Always loved Gilliam films and this one is no different. It's feels like a throwback to some of his earlier work like TIME BANDITS or MUNCHAUSEN which is fine by me. Billed as "the last film of Heath LEdger" as he died as soon as he wrapped, Gilliam enlisted the help of other actors (Johnny Depp, Jude Law & Colin Farrell) to help flesh out the character and guess what, it works! Also want to call out Peter Stormare as the President and Tom Waits as the Devil, great perfomances all around.

THUMBS UP!

DAYBREAKERS

Vampires rule the planet and guess what? The supply of human blood is running out and the Vamps haven't found an alternate solution to their issue! That's the premise behind the enjoyable and over-the-top DAYBREAKERS withe the great cast of Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill and Willem Defoe. I really enjoyed the serious campy nature of the film, it's totally gruesome but the characters are 110% committed to their seriousness so it works. I like the ending as well, a neat trick in how to solve the Vampy "epidemic"... hope there is a sequel!

THUMBS UP!

THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX

Bloody brilliant, I loved it. See it if you haven't but if you are not a fan of Wes Anderson films, you won't like it cause it's a stop-motion Royal Tenenbaums with Animals... love it!

THUMBS UP!

MOON

How Sam Rockwell did not get nominated for Best Actor with his performance in Moon, is beyond me. This is a solid little film, a little SOLARIS meets 2001 and Rockwell carries the piece from start to finish. Kudos to Duncan Jones for creating a compelling low-budget space flick that is the furthest thing from cheesy!

THUMBS UP!

MANGIA WITH QUATTRO

So I am going to have to pimp the family a little here and let you know that my family has finally put out a cookbook. It's called MANGIA WITH QUATTRO: FAMILY-STYLE ITALIAN FROM THE HEART and it's chocked full of Corsi Family recipes and history. My uncle Antonio spearheaded the project with help from my cousin Patrick and my dad Mario as well, the whole family actually. I even pitched in with a story about the first time I had a steak at Quattro Whistler and I was glad to help out. All the favourites are in here, from all the restaurants and all the family dinners and tons of photos too! It fills me with a lot of pride to see the book now and hear about friends who are cooking with it and loving it.

Do you feel like some great Italian cooking? Then check out this book (its available in most book stores as well as Amazon) and you'll be glad you did! I'm getting hungry just writing about it!!!