I'm back! Happy happy joy joy!

[sarea]

Well, not really, but the ordeal of traveling is such that it does actually make me glad to be back, once I am.

Plane fare: $250
Fuel cost to Jade's house: $2.39/gallon
Comfortable flip flops to sprint in: $16.50
Concealing black hat: $0 (borrowed from Jade)
Cell phone to communicate with mid-plan: $40/month
Robbie's face as I pulled up in her stolen car: priceless

Happy birthday to all the lovely people whose birthdays I missed, namely: lissinthecity (hope your trip is/was fabulous!!), msscribe, and mynuet. *HUGS* and belated birthday wishes!!



Sadly, I have gained about 5 lbs on this trip. Fun and happiness does that, I guess. I have promised my family that I will lose weight between now and when I see them again at Christmas. But if it doesn't happen, then screw 'em. <g> Plus, they saw me on the fatter end of my trip. I wasn't too bad when I first arrived. It was all the eating Jade, Ropo, and I did. Damn them. The most we ever splurged was this fancy French restaurant we went to, which ended up costing about $60/person. It was good, but not $60 good.

Anyway, so yeah. Surprising Robbie for her 40th was so much fun. Jade and I had planned it for weeks, if not months. Staying quiet about it was difficult from time to time, especially as we led up to the event, but easier than you might expect. Everything went off w/o a hitch. Well, there was a slight hitch, as I got lost on a street I shouldn't have been driving down as I was supposed to pass Jade and Ropo on their walk, but it wasn't a big enough hitch to ruin the surprise, so yay!! I felt so sneaky, going into her house (that'll teach you to lock your door when you go on walks, Robbie) and stealing her keys, but the end result was worth it. OH, HER FACE!!! Hahahahhaa.

The weather was lovely when I was down there, if a trifle warm. But since I usually live w/ cold weather and rain, it made for a nice change. Taking dips in Jade's pool was especially lovely, since it was interspersed w/ eating good food, reading fun books, and watching TV.

Okay, so first, books. It was all about Marian Keyes.

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes -- This is possibly Keyes' best book (that I've read so far). Not the most enjoyable, but as far as writing and plot development goes, very well done. I found the back-and-forth timeline kind of tiresome, but that's because I wasn't as taken as Luke as I was supposed to be. I thought he was kind of a loser, and didn't find him attractive. However, I loved the ending, felt it was earned and deserved. Rachel, however, I found to be even more annoying than Lucy. <g> Loved the rest of the Walsh family.

Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes -- Arguably my favorite Keyes novel as of yet. I loved all the characters, and I was always interested to see what happened next, and I was surprised a number of times, which is nice. Predictability can be boring; I think the key is to be predictable and unpredictable at the same time, if that makes any sense. Anyway, despite the many storylines, she did a great job of fleshing everyone out, and even if I didn't root for anyone the way I did for Daniel/Lucy, I genuinely liked all the characters (even the ones I hated).

Watermelon by Marian Keyes -- This was pretty good. I had read a lot more of it earlier than I had thought, and I'm not quite sure what made me put it down and not go back to it. I think in general the premise didn't really appeal to me -- a woman whose husband ditches her on the day she gives birth to their child is not exactly fun fare ... and to make light of it by making it fun fare isn't exactly cool, either. However, Keyes pulls it off, and I even ended up liking Adam/Claire (Adam as a hero in Keyes novels is second only to Daniel), though I thought that Adam's little secret was a bit too convenient for the situation. But I dug that he was a younger man and Claire was an older woman. :D

Angels by Marian Keyes -- I really liked this one, even though as far as heroines go, I wasn't too enamored of Maggie. I didn't think I could get past Paul cheating on her, but in the end, considering everything, I was okay -- even happy -- with their reconciliation. Maybe because I didn't love or hate Maggie, I didn't have to feel like she deserved better, or didn't deserve better, or whatever. And even though Lucy Sullivan was 10,000 times more annoying, I did want the best for Lucy -- I cared about her in a way that I couldn't dredge up for Maggie.

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton -- This was pretty good. It's not the most thrilling book I've ever read, but I assume the series gets more captivating as it goes on, kind of like S&tC. The writing is okay, although I find Anita a bit tiresome from time to time w/ her put-upon tough-girl routine. It's also kind of weird to read about vampire lore outside the Whedonverse. The differences actually don't bother me as much as the similarities, which is a bit odd. I'm okay with differences, because Joss is just making shit up like anyone else, but sometimes there are things that make more "sense" from his verse. Of course, it's a catch-22, because like I said, if it's too similar it weirds me out and I wonder if there's stealing going on.

Also, as with any fantasy tale, there are just some things too fantastical for me to truly buy into, and for this one it's the fact that vampires are accepted members of society, and there are actually laws protecting them. And yet they are still bloodsuckers! WTF. Anyway, I kinda dig the UST going on between Anita and Jean-Claude at the moment, though really, she was having UST with everyone. <g>

Anyway, despite all that reading, I did also manage to watch five movies in the theater (six if you count the fact that we saw Troy twice), two rentals, and the first half of Sex and the City S6. I'm so productive when I'm not at work! :D

HP:PoA: Alfonso Cuaron is a genius. I adore him. I love what he did w/ this film, even if it wasn't perfect. He did what Chris Columbus wasn't able to do: make a film adaptation worthy of the books. Don't get me wrong, I had some issues, and in general SS and CoS were fine -- but I'm one of those people who have misgivings about them being too much like the books. The problem is that the letter is the same, but not the spirit. Film is a different medium from the written word; they're separate crafts, and what works for one does not always work for the other. The trick is in being able to tell the story in the 2-3 hours that's allotted. Another good example of this is Bridget Jones' Diary, one of the very few film adaptations of a book that I've truly enjoyed. And did it follow the book to the letter? Absolutely not. But it's BJD in every way.

I've noticed that people who aren't in the HP fandom generally enjoy the movie more than those who are in it. I think, being in the fandom, we start to grow expectations that aren't v. reasonable because we care so freakin' much about every little thing. And I'm a little glad for the distance when it comes to the movies, frankly. I'm already too obsessive about other things. <g>

As for the other nuances of PoA, I pretty much agreed w/ everything seldon said, so go here for a great breakdown of hits/misses/interesting notes.

Troy: I liked it. I don't care that it's being denigrated. I don't care that they changed the story (this is significant, given The Iliad is one of my fave books ... though admittedly it's been awhile since I last read it, so the details aren't fresh in my mind), because for the movie they were making/story they were telling, it 'fit' and was fine (please, I hope no one really thought it was going to be a faithful adaptation of Homer). I went into it hoping to see some pretty boys, and the fact that the movie was even entertaining beyond that made me happy. Most surprisingly, I didn't give a hoot about Paris and Helen, which I usually care about. I was t00bily squeeful about Achilles/Briseis (even though Hector was so my guy), which I didn't see coming nor had I heard anything about it before. If I had, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it half so much.

What I did like, however, was the fact that they showed the whole thing w/ Helen to be less about love than it was about power/pride, which I think gets overlooked whenever people think about Helen and her face that launched a thousand ships. It wasn't Helen or her beauty; she was a friggin' excuse.

Anyway -- Eric Bana has rocked my world since Black Hawk Down, and I was also super amused by/impressed with Brian Cox.

Surviving Christmas: Possibly the worst movie ever. If not, it's a contender at least. It was a free screening, but it starred Ben Affleck, and I really, really should have insisted that we not go. But I like Christina Applegate and Catherine O'Hara, and hoped that they would be able to lift the movie ... but no. Ben's ability to choose the WORST scripts ever is strong and unceasing. Never, EVER will I see a movie w/ him in it w/ out at least THREE trusted thumbs up, and even then, meh. I will not budge from this vow and YOU CAN'T MAKE ME.

Supersize Me: Stay away from McDonald's? This is news? But there's no denying their food is tasty, though at least w/ this around it'll be a heck of a lot easier to resist. V. interesting throughout.

The Day After Tomorrow: The usual summer disaster film usually doesn't appeal to me, and this one was no different. However, it was better than I'd expected, and was entertained at least for the time that I was in the theater.

The Notebook: OH WAIT, I DIDN'T GET TO SEE THIS ONE. Because the screening passes didn't come until after I had already left California, those fuckers. It would have been so perfect if we'd been able to go while I was there. Instead I had to see Surviving Christmas. Damn their eyes. :-l

Training Day: I've seen this before, but I really like it. I'm so over the Denzel thing, but this was a departure for him, and I even liked Ethan Hawke! (It's weird, I don't really like EH, and yet I like him in pretty much all the roles I've seen him in, most especially Dead Poets Society.)

The Blue Lagoon: Oh, I should feel guilty for making Jade and Ropo watch this (Jade for the first time), but it's one of my favorite GP movies evah. <g>

Sex and the City, S6, Part One: I h8 the bastards who are releasing this in two parts. And I wouldn't even get the first part (you KNOW they'll probably sell them in a nice set one day), except that I have become totally in lurve w/ Samantha/Smith. I'm making a S/S tape for myself, which will be the easiest thing ever because there's so little of it.

Here are my predictions for the end of the season, judging from the way things are going so far: They've paired everyone off, so I'm going to assume that they're going to end it happily (or the complete opposite, in which everyone is all alone yet again), with everyone with their exact right person: Carrie with Big, Miranda with Steve, Charlotte with Harry, and the big question mark, Samantha with Smith? Maybe this is why I like them, because of the four couples, they're the ones I'm least certain of. Samantha is an independent woman, even more so than the others, and it would kind of take something away if she were to end up w/ a man in a monogamous relationship after all this time. And yet, if she's going to end up in a monogamous relationship w/ a man, Smith is so the right choice. They're adorable. :D

My flight home arrived last night at 9pm, but I didn't get home until 11pm, because taking the shuttle always delays things. Especially if you have a family of four making a stop before yours. The little girl, all along the way while traveling on her street, was all, "That's not my house. That's not my house. That's not my house." On and on and on, impervious to her mother's shushing and my silent wrath. All I could think was, "Shut up shut up shut uuuuuuuuuuuuuuup!!!" And the most appalling thing is that kids under 12 ride free. Um, excuse me, but little kids should fucking cost MORE, everywhere they go, for the disturbance/headache they create to THE OTHER PAYING CUSTOMERS.

I am a strong believer in little kid segregation. I'm sorry if this offends you, but your kid is yours, not mine. As a childless person attempting to enjoy her life the same way any other person does, I don't feel that I should have to put up/live with other people's choices, or be made to feel like a second-class citizen without as many rights as people with children.

IMHO young children are like pets -- if parents are allowed to take them anywhere, I ought to be able to bring a dog to those same places. Dogs are just as noisy/dirty/uncontrollable -- and in most cases, far less so.

I think little kids/babies are cute -- in pictures and when they're being quiet (or as appropriate to the situation). But I DO NOT believe they belong in:

1) movie theaters for films over a G rating (and even then, I'd really prefer to watch films without a soundtrack of Screaming Child)
2) airplanes (there ought to be regular flights and family flights, so all the little kids can bother each other and the other families)
3) restaurants that don't feature clowns/pizza/video games

In this way, I am totally like Samantha from Sex and the City, and I don't feel the least sorry about it.

Okay, wait. This has all sounded extremely harsh. I don't actually think that kids should be banned from the above activities/places. It's more that, as a childless person, I would like more options in order to be able to do things AWAY from little kids if I want. Adult nights, adult flights, etc. I mean, don't I have the right to do that?? Sigh. I mean, I'm not like this ALL the time (except maybe in movie theaters; then I'll be irate every time). It's just that most of the places that I don't think are appropriate for children are places that the KIDS don't even want to be. And the adults ought to know better! Take some damn responsibility for your child. Often times, the kid hates it and is miserable, making everyone in the vicinity just as miserable, including the parents. I mean, WHY DO YOU DO THAT? WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?

And sometimes, there are little kids who are great! Who can sit in a theater and enjoy it and not be obnoxious! I don't want to punish those kids to not be able to see a movie or whatever. What I really, REALLY wish is that I could just trust parents to have good judgment. And that they know when the kid acts up, it's time to leave.

Doesn't really sound like I should ever have kids, does it? This is why I have decided that instead of kids, I will care for and nurture handbags. <g>

Went to Nordstrom's today and bought three -- yes, THREE -- new Kate Spades. I am so high on the crack, but instead of feeling guilty the way I normally do after exorbitant purchases, I only feel giddy. I got:

- a nylon Carol (cranberry)
- a cotton canvas Vertical Bucket (Clayton Stripe)
- a cotton canvas Jadyn (Chelsea Fleur)
- also got this beauty on eBay (a Carolina in KS's signature rose print from her 2000 spring collection)

Now, in less frivolous tones...

Reagan's passing: So sue me, I liked him. And it's touching to see everyone gather together in remembrance, and being positive for a change. Everything is usually so fucking negative it depresses the hell out of me. (OMG apparently online you can get the actual film of that guy who got his head cut off, and my brother and parents watched it but I couldn't. But did you know that it wasn't a clean hack, it was SAWED OFF??? OMG I couldn't stop thinking about the horror of it.)

Am freaking out again, so here's another subject change: Have gotten Avril Lavigne's new CD. Is it wrong that I really like her music? Really really. Anyway, there was only one song on it in which she collaborated w/ Ben Moody (of Evanescence fame), and I like it, but could it be any more about Amy what's her name? <g> It's so blatant he should be embarrassed. As should Avril for going along w/ it. Anyway, I really dig the CD, but so far I like her first album better. She shouldn't have collaborated so much w/ Chantal Kreviazuk (or however you spell her name); her fresh sound/lyrics was what made her first album so awesome! Of course, I could be singing a different tune once I've listened to it some more. <g>

For akscully: Ginny/Zacharias, condoms, circle of cheer, beige face. Go nuts! :D:D:D

Comments

[kirixchi.livejournal.com]

Totally jealous of your KS purchases. I said that my Hamilton was my last, but now I totally covet the pink, striped Jaydn. Perhaps this will be my slythcon purchase. Anyhow *envy* My one big gripe with KS's recently though is that they are made like crap. My Sardinia, Hamilton, and even my leather Sam broke within a month, and they charge extortionist prices to repair them.

Ah, well- but they are SOOooo cute, no? An addiction.

I'm so glad to hear that you liked Troy too. I'm with you. I don't know why reviewers were so down on it. Brad Pitt was not king Ac-tor, but he and Briseus were H-O-T and my Sean *goofy grin*. I am ALL about the Odysseus/Penelope smut. Sadly, the "fandom" makes me feel that I must apply an exorbitant amount of plot before I get them in the sack.

Doh, stupid plot.

Missed you much! :D

-Kiri

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

The guilt hit this morning, but you're totally right -- it's an addiction! I need help. I think I saw a picture of your Hamilton from way back when -- it was pink, wasn't it?? They had the cutest Pia, too, but I was able to refrain. (But then I went home and won that eBay auction, so really, I'm not too proud.) I think at one point I was just like, "Well, I'm being completely crazy, so might as well go all the way!"

I am extremely saddened to hear that they broke so quickly!! Nooooooo! If/when you can, I'd love to see pictures of your bags. :D

Yeah, re: Troy -- I think they were down on it because they expected it to be something more than it was, and really, who's fault is that? I expected it to be a guilty pleasure movie, but it turns out that I don't even feel all that guilty about liking it. So there ya go. <g>

[corianderstem.livejournal.com]

I am a strong believer in little kid segregation.

Oh, I knew there was another reason to like you. *g*

Welcome back! We need to plan a dinner soon ... at my new apartment! Yay!

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Together, we can shame all those people who go to the movies w/ their screaming kids. <g> (They always seem to gravitate toward our shows, for some reason, though you and I normally choose adult fare. They're out to get us.)

As for dinner at your new place -- name the day and time, I'll be there! Whoooo!

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

My birthday is Friday - the 18th - so you're early. Glad to hear the trip was much fun. :D If it helps any, I don't take my own screaming brat into movie theaters, precisely because he'd be a disturbance.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU, RESPONSIBLE PARENT. <g>

Oh, I'm so glad I didn't miss it. For some reason I thought it had come and gone ... that'll teach me to skim two weeks' worth of friends posts. But soon you'll be leaving for your own fun trip, and then you'll be able to empathize. ; )

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

I get so pissy with people who pull that stuff. Wait for the damn DVD if you can't or won't get a babysitter.

But, yes. It was probably because there was like a day or two when I was all "my birthday's coming up, people, show the love", and then I dropped the subject, because I don't want to go any further towards the Land of Ultimate Tackiness than I already have.

[fiannan.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! I'm glad to hear your trip was awesome :)

It's nice to hear that you enjoyed PoA, cause I adored it too! So many people on my flist have said how they disliked it strongly, or rather, that they disliked Cuaron's style. I was beginning to wonder if I was a minority *g*

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Thank you, it's nice to be back. Sort of. <g> Vacations are lovely, but there's always a sense of relief to be back home, even though it means having to deal w/ daily stuff again.

I know there are some people who didn't like Cuaron's directing style, and they're entitled to their opinions. I don't understand them at all, especially considering how much better PoA was than the previous efforts, but their opinions are theirs. <g> I likely can't change their minds, but they can't change mine, either. But I do know plenty of people who liked the movie -- and Cuaron -- the way I did, so never fear. Plenty of us enjoyed it!

[fearthainn.livejournal.com]

You know what I hate? Family parking spots. They drive me NUTS. I mean, handicapped spaces I totally get, 'cause if you're handicapped or in a wheelchair you should totally be able to park closer to a business and have a larger space for getting into and out of your car. But now they have all these parking spaces for families, like spawning suddenly makes you incapable of walking, or like people who choose not to have children aren't families. Or like having kids suddenly gives you free reign to hog the best parking. I always want to park in those spots because I AM a fucking family! Family of one, but a family, dammit!! I deserve to park wherever I want! Grrrr!

(And also, my friends and I long ago dubbed Chantal Kreviazuk Chantal Crappyupchuck. Much easier to spell and to pronounce. ;) )

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

OMG YES. Where does that happen, for you?? For me, it was always at the gym w/ the freakin' reserved family parking. In the days when I went to the gym, you don't know how often I wished there were adult hours or no-kids policies. Working out was already such a chore; having to put up with kids running around the locker room was just too much. Not to mention the family parking on top of it all.

As to everything you said -- word. Just word.

[fearthainn.livejournal.com]

Oh geez, freaking EVERYWHERE. Rona (like Home Depot but Canadian, although come to think of it, Home Depot has them too), Safeway, Wal-mart...some malls have them, but not as many. I walk to my gym and it's an adult clientele, so I don't have that problem there, thank god. But it's the one at Wal-Mart that ticks me off the most, because my local Wal-Mart is always packed with kids, but those stalls are always, always empty. So the stalls are being provided as a privilage for people who've popped out a kid but no one freaking uses them!! Like, WTF??!

And not to mention...dude, freaking WALK. They're kids! They're young! They have the stamina! An extra 2 minutes schlepping across the parking lot? Not gonna kill 'em!

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

I always park in those stupid "Expectant Mother" spots. Fuck it, are they going to give me a pregnancy test in the parking lot? And, y'know, if you're pregnant, the only reason you can't walk wherever just like normal is if you're on bed rest or otherwise have a high-risk pregnancy - and if that's the case, a) you shouldn't be shlepping to the grocery store, and b) you can apply for and get a temporary disability tag.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

There are expectant mother parking spots?! I have never seen such a thing. I'm sure that when the day comes, as I'm huffing by from a parking spot 1/2 mile away, it won't be pretty.

Maybe I should reconsider this whole breeding thing. One day, I'll need an heir. *snicker*

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they've got them at Kroger and Publix here (grocery store chains, in case the names aren't familiar on that coast). Right next to the handicapped spots, right up by the entrance, with little storks on a pink and blue background.

As for having a mini-Sarea, I'd avise waiting a little while longer, as the world may not be ready. ;)

[fearthainn.livejournal.com]

Actually, I've never seen those either, but I'm sure I'd blow a gasket if I did. Dude!!

[akscully.livejournal.com]

OMG, you whore. I skimmed your entry. Let's learn about the wonders of editing sometime, shall we?


So, Ginny always calls Zach a wanker, and really, who can blame her? What else do you call a guy who so gleefully explained what condoms were to a group of young pureblood witches?

Except, here's the problem.

Sure, Ginny gets this funny look on her face whenever Zach is around--her mouth turns down at one end and most of the color goes out of her face; she gets a sort of beige face, it's really weird--and she yells a lot, but you know, wanker.

The problem is when you discover them in a broom closet together, after hearing something about a "circle of cheer". I mean, who do you call a wanker then? Especially when you saw what she was doing. Because, technically, she was--

Er, never mind.


You know you love it.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

This was a test of true friendship. Now I know who my true friends are, by those who read the entry. Clearly, you did not pass muster.

BITCH, I WARNED YOU IT WAS LONG. AT LEAST I LJ-CUT IT. AND YOU'RE ONE TO TALK, MS. FLIGHT-STORY-OVER-TWO-DAYS. I WAS MAKING UP FOR TWO WEEKS! Anyway, it was mostly reviews of things that are easily categorized and passed by if necessary. :p:p:p

You're lucky your drabble was so amusing. Best Ginny/Zacharias evah!! (And the only one I've read, but you know.)

Ginny might be a wanker, but at least she isn't a ballnamer.

[akscully.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I should have known when I saw how LONG THE FUCKING CUT WAS. CHRIST. Brevity is the soul of wit or something, bitch.

I have a feeling she's a ballkicker.

Galahad?

[hannah-kim.livejournal.com]

Totally agree with your Troy & Day After Tomorrow thoughts (shocking).
Anyways, you usually agree on these things. Jake Gillenhal or whatever his name is. Would you describe him as The Yum? As always I'm at odds with my friends, they all dig the brooding, I think he has a cat mouth.

I salute you for saying what most non-child burdened people dare not say out loud.

Oh, and glad to hear you had a fun trip! *g*

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I do not think Jake Gyllenhaal is the yum. I don't dislike him as an actor, but I'd never drool over him. His face is too -- puffy, or something. Slack, soft, whatever it is, I don't find it attractive. A guy I wouldn't normally find attractive, but now do -- Tobey Maguire. Maybe it was Spider-Man that did it. <g>

If I ever have a kid (poor thing), I'm sure I'll sing a different tune, but it won't be so much that I think I'll have more rights as it is that I'll think people ought to sympathize w/ me more. <g>

[seldon.livejournal.com]

True confession: I spent the entirety of The Good Girl thinking that Rachel Jennifer Aniston's boyfriend was Spider-Man Tobey Maguire.

(and I find just a little creepy that Kirsten Dunst, Peter Parker's love interest, is Gyllenhaal's lover).

[seldon.livejournal.com]

Gah, long post. You weren't joking with the warning in the cut.


The most we ever splurged was this fancy French restaurant we went to, which ended up costing about $60/person.

$60? Were the frog's legs laden in gold? Or was it Michigan J. Frog from the old "A Froggy Evening" WB cartoon? I should hope so, since gold isn't that tasty and, at $60, my meal should entertain me as well as nourish me.


I really liked this one, even though as far as heroines go, I wasn't too enamored of Maggie.

Funny, I felt the same way. I didn't like Maggie that much, either, even while she was more like me than Lucy. The ending did blindside me, since I wasn't expecting her to reconcile with her husband, and I'm still not sure if it was the best for her character (or for her husband!). But the book was entertaining, even if I didn't care much for the characters. It did make me interested in more of Keyes work... Sushi for Beginners is in the queue.


I've noticed that people who aren't in the HP fandom generally enjoy the movie more than those who are in it.

I've been talking to several muggles and I've noticed the same thing. The greatest praise I've heard so far from those unfortunate enough to have no knowledge of the books is that one of them that found CoS dragging in places has watched PoA twice already. We have a fan in the making!

I've also realized that most non-fandom people don't notice the plot holes introduced by the lack of explanation about the origin of the Marauder's Map - maybe because they are mostly the same crowd that have no problem suspending their disbelief in their latest summer blockbuster. In fact the only gripe I've heard about it is from one person that felt that Lupin trusted Sirius a little too quickly... but since this comes from a person who thinks a movie set in a school for wizards is 'dumb' (his SO dragged him to the movie), I consider that this being his biggest complain is a triumph for the HP fandom.

And thanks for the plug :p


The Blue Lagoon: Oh, I should feel guilty for making Jade and Ropo watch this (Jade for the first time), but it's one of my favorite GP movies evah.

What does it say about me that my first thought when I saw "GP" was that it stood for "Gratuitious Porn"? I remember seeing this movie when I was around 8, and while it isn't particularly graphic or anything, I wonder how it managed to slip by the censors (a.k.a. my mother). I do like this movie, but I find the rip-offsequel to be more of a guilty pleasure.

I know, I'm sick :p


It's just that most of the places that I don't think are appropriate for children are places that the KIDS don't even want to be. And the adults ought to know better!

Word!

And while I'm not a strong proponent of child segregation as you, I think a little consideration is not too much to ask, especially in movie theaters and restaurants.


This is why I have decided that instead of kids, I will care for and nurture handbags.

As long as you don't start naming them and cooing to them and using them as an excuse to take days off work... :p


Have gotten Avril Lavigne's new CD. Is it wrong that I really like her music?

I think of her as "Guilty Pleasure". I feel so ashamed of liking her that it's not funny. For example, my favorite song from her is "Things I Never Say", which has some of the most inmature lines I've heard in a song (unless you consider lines like "I wanna blow you... away" to be sophisticate and stuff)... But it has a good rythm and decent arrangements and an average yet hummable melody and a catchy chorus and, gah, I can't help it! And plus, the music is very, very good to code by... Electric guitars and screaming voices are a must when you are working at midnight and the caffeine is starting to wear off.

I'll wait for the reviews from my friends that are really into her, though, before deciding if I'll drop the cash for her new album.


but could it be any more about Amy what's her name? It's so blatant he should be embarrassed.

Well, isn't this interesting? Do you have the title? I need to google the lyrics - yes, I like my Schadenfreude as much as the next man.

Nice to have you back!

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

$60? Were the frog's legs laden in gold?

Heehee, alas, there were no frog legs on the menu. I had:

- starter: lobster salad (totally worth it as they gave you a whole half lobster)
- entree: lamb shanks (or was it rack of lamb...? In any case there were only 4)
- dessert: chocolate souffle (which I've never had before, but it was excellent)

The ending did blindside me, since I wasn't expecting her to reconcile with her husband

I know! So odd, and yet by the time it happened I was okay with it. The thing is that now I've read about three Walsh sisters (Rachel and Claire being the other two), and I wish I'd known what I know now when I met her -- I'd dearly love to know whether she has any plans to write novels for Anna and Helen as well. Helen is such a caustic bitch, I love her! :D

most non-fandom people don't notice the plot holes introduced by the lack of explanation about the origin of the Marauder's Map

Wow, because I was totally like, WTF, they didn't tell us that Moony et al were Sirius et al! I mean, granted, it's probably not a make or break detail (or at least, now I know it's not, since JKR would probably have spoken up if it were), but still, I thought it was a nice way of tying everyone together. Your friend is probably right about Lupin trusting Sirius too quickly, but it was an allowance I made in my mind since we're dealing w/ limited time in a film.

Heehee, I also totally love the sequel to The Blue Lagoon, as I really like Milla Jovovich, but I think the original holds a special place in my heart. But really, I have no idea how they were given leave to make something so sensual back then. I mean, you're right, there wasn't anything totally blatant, but all the implications were like anvils. Plus there was skin, skin everywhere!

I think a little consideration is not too much to ask, especially in movie theaters and restaurants.

Sigh. I probably wouldn't be such a child segregationist if those few bad apples (meaning kids and parents) wouldn't ruin it for everyone.

As long as you don't start naming them and cooing to them and using them as an excuse to take days off work... :p

Hahaha, actually, Kate Spade bags have their own names already, so that's taken care of. ; ) As for taking days off work, I might need a shopping break from time to time...

Re: Avril, you're right, it's not exactly sophisticated music. But I first listened to her album thinking she was going to be like Britney Spears (and the only song I'd heard by her at that time was "Sk8ter Boi"), so it was a really pleasant surprise that she had more of a dark, alternative rock-type tone than something poppy. Of course, she's still pretty poppy, but it's tempered by her folky lyrics (as opposed to the same phrase repeated 300 million times throughout the song). I do like the new album, but ... it feels more poppy than folky imho. Still, I like her enough that I'd recommend it ... especially if you can get it for $9.99 the way I did at Circuit City. <g>

As for the Amy song, it's called "Nobody's Home" -- lyrics are here (http://www.allavril.com/NobodysHome.shtml). A taste:

I couldn't tell you why she felt that way
She felt it everyday
And I couldn't help her
I just watched her make the same mistakes again

Open your eyes and look outside, find a reason why
You've been rejected, and now you can't find what you left behind
Be strong, be strong now
Too many, too many problems
Don't know where she belongs, where she belongs
She wants to go home, but nobody's home
It's where she lies, broken inside

[seldon.livejournal.com]

starter: lobster salad (totally worth it as they gave you a whole half lobster)
- entree: lamb shanks (or was it rack of lamb...? In any case there were only 4)

Was the starter bigger than the entree? Those wacky french :p

I'd dearly love to know whether she has any plans to write novels for Anna and Helen as well. :D

Ooooh, I hadn't thought about that! It'd be great to have a novel written from Helen's point of view. Maybe then Maggie will actually be interesting :P

And you're right, those lyrics are soooooo about Amy what's-her-name. Minus points for not using the word "heart-broken" anywhere in the song, though. Obviously this guy still has much to learn about shameless angst.

[seldon.livejournal.com]

Oh, and about HP...

Pud has found an article that says that the revelation of the Marauder's identity is being saved for a later movie. I don't know why they would to that but it does makes sense, since is not likely that they wrapped the film and nobody in the production team noticed the two feet wide hole in the plot...

I wonder if they will move this plot point to OotP. Getting to know the Marauder's through Severus pensieve would have a decent shock value, and plus, by showing just how much he has changed, would help muggles get a major investment in Sirius character and ultmate demise. After all, is not as if he plays an important part in GoF, so his death would not have too much of an impact.

The last paragraph is just the manifestation of my weird desire to see Kloves redeemed before the final movie.