I support Helen Mirren!

Ah, what a good weekend. Very social. I went out pretty much every night, but it was during the day on Saturday that I fell in love. With Helen Mirren.

I went to the play Phedre with Helen Mirren at the Shakespeare theatre in Chinatown. I've noticed that lately I've been having somewhat of an obsession with Greek tragedies. Probably because my mood is already lugubrious and mercurial but, what a great play! Of course everyone in the play was excellent. Dominic Cooper (who played Hippolytus) was especially fitting. But I have to admit that Helen Mirren was the best out of them all. She has such a presence on stage and seems to melt into her character. I've seen her as a head house maid, the queen of England, a murderous and now a incestuous mother. She's just so good!

Anyway, long story short, if you have a chance, go see it!

Hippolytus and Phedre Aricia and her maid

Hippolytus and Aricia

Friday Fun-ness

It's friday! Everyone should be at least moderately happy. I have a few treats lined up for you this morning.

A letter to all the girls in the office: I got this letter from a friend of mine, and it's really pretty funny. I don't know if it's a real letter or something that someone typed up for the heck of it, but go ahead and read it. I made my morning a little brighter!:

"To the women who work in my office...I hate you.

Girl with the bright blond weave who works in reception- I don't know how you got your job, you are so uneducated that it make makes me sick. Did you graduate grammar school? I think I would respect you more if the answer to that is no. I want to throw a rock at your face every time I walk by when you are answering the phone and you say something like 'who you callin'for?' or 'he in a meetin' right now' or my personal favourite, 'who this is?' I bet the people on the other end of the phone want to throw a rock at your face too. I also can't stand when I get message notes from you that are written like so: "Mr. Smith called hes wanting to kno wen he shuld exspect the letter of aprovle". ARE YOU KIDDING ME? It amazes me that the only two things in your job description are answering phone and taking phone messages and you can't do either of those things!

Tall girl in design with short brown hair- you have horrendous body odor! I'm not talking a little stench here and there, I am talking every day when you walk into the building people drop dead. I don't know how you don't notice it. I'm going to buy you deodorant for Christmas.

Fat woman who works in suite 19- I don't know exactly what you do for this company, but I know far too much about your personal life. When you talk to your boyfriend on company time, please refrain from telling him it felt so good when he slipped his hard C**k into your fat a**! yeah I heard that, and so does everyone else that walks by your suite when you are on the phone. It's disgusting, and we don't want to hear about it, so keep your voice down.

Blond woman who works for accounting- I know that you are 30, not 25 and I also know that at the Christmas part last year you had sex with the boss' son in the broom closet and that he got you pregnant. Please don't insult me in front of our coworkers again or I will tell everyone.

Hot girl that works in sales- when you wear that brown skirt with the white flower on the bottom and you sit down, we can all see that you don't wear panties.

Boss' old receptionist- My name is not, John, Jason, Jack, Jim or Jared. It's Evan.

Middle aged woman who works in reception - your job is not that hard. You answer phones, put people on hold, and take messages. I don't care that you were up late cleaning the house or that you sat up all night waiting for your delinquent son to get home, that does not give you a reason to get rude with a customer, or walk around complaining about how your job is so stressful. Half of us come in still drunk from the night before, but we never yell at clients, bitch about our family members or say our jobs are sooo hard.

Pregnant b*tch- there is only one of you so, so no need for further description but let it be known that you are not the first person to ever get knocked up. You are not the first person to get heartburn, and you are not the first person to get morning sickness. You are not the first person to pee their pants because the baby put too much pressure on your bladder and you certainly are not the first person who has had strange cravings for cheese and anchovies. For the love of god stop complaining about it!

Little intern girl- You are so cute with your stringy brown hair, acne and braces but your coffee skills are lacking. All I ever want is a large black coffee but you seem to think that I would rather a low-fat latte, or a caramel machiato, or even a Chai Tea. nope I don't want those, i just want a damn black coffee12 Also you obviously don't know your alphabet because my filing cabinet is a mess. F does not come after R, sweetie. Do you want to flunk the class you are doing this internship for? No? you better shape up and get me the right coffee then!

Pretty girl who is head of the writing department- you are the only girl who works in this office that I can stand. you greet me every morning with a bright smile and a cheery hello. And you are so damn smart. No wonder that at 24 you are head of the department that could much make or break our company. one time I asked you the circumference of the earth and you actually knew it! Usually I would think that is weird and a little dorky, but form you I find it really hot. I also like that you are the only girl in the company that hasn't slept with someone that works with us. But for the record, if you slept with me, I wouldn't respect you any less.

Hispanic girl who works in design. You wear way too much makeup. I hate that you draw your eyebrows on, and I'm pretty sure you have an adams apple and are a man.

35 year old secretary- you have two sons; a 20 year old and a 15 year old. Yet you dress like you are 16. I would be embarrassed to be your children. On and you look really stupid when you wear that plaid school-girl skirt with the white tights and hooker boots. This is an office...not a brothel.

Sincerely,
Evan"

Always a party when there are suddenly photos of you on the interweb right before your election.

Talk about a real treasure hunt!

Woman gets pregnant again after two weeks of already being pregnant

On second thought, maybe creating a Halloween scene that reenacts Steve Mcnair's murder scene wasn't such a great idea

Things I love thursday

The ability to say what you want, even if someone else doesn't agree:
I love how in the states, you won't get shot or arrested for saying something that you believe in...even though it could possibly offend/go against what other people believe. I'm not going to get into a politics discussion with you, but I was walking past the White house and I saw someone standing with this sign. While I may or may not agree with what it says, it struck me that you can say almost anything (of course within boundaries). There is such freedom here in the States. It made me happy to be here.

Monarch butterflies:
Yes I am still obsessed with monarch butterflies this week. I've been staring at pictures and watching the butterflies pass through DC. I really do, at some point in my life, want see the monarch migration. That would be astounding I think.

Plotting my travels:
I'm so excited. I've decided that I'm going to go on a trip. Where? I have no idea. When? Probably Feb, July or August. But I love looking at the options and plotting out what I want to see, and what I want to do.

Movie Picnics!:
I went with my friend Emily to a free outdoor movie on Monday. That was so much fun! The movie was the Dark Knight from the new batman series. I haven't seen it in a while, but the movie still rocks! Or at least I think so.

Designing rings:
Voila! my new creation! There's a story behind it, but it's kinda personal and I'm sure that most of you aren't really interested.


So what do you love?

-Meow

It's beginning to look a lot like christmas! For you dog lovers.

I have an unhealthy obsession with Christmas. I can't help it. I love getting people presents, and I generally bankrupt myself. I generally start planning my Christmas presents months in advance, keeping an eye out for those special gifts. Well today I've stumbled across some gems that I just had to share with people:

Love your dog? Would you like to have a strange way of showing your pet off without having to take it everywhere? Behold! I give you pet portraits!

Weekend Review

Review of the day: Polish Movie "Katyn".

I was having breakfast with my dad the other day and we started talking about Obama's recent decision to pull out of the missile program proposed for Poland. While I won't get into details about the conversation, we started talking about how the decision was announced on probably one of the worst days to announce it - the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland. This is something that remains extremely prevalent in the minds of Eastern Europeans. My father and I started discussing the finer points of the situation, when he suggested that I watch the movie "Katyn".

The movie is based on the massacre of thousands of polish officers by the Soviet army after its invasion on Sept 17, 1939. It follows the lives of various individuals during this time, including two officers and their remaining family. It is an extremely moving film, and very well made.

I warn you though, if you don't like graphic images of war, you probably shouldn't watch this. It has a few scenes where you see the murders, and while not gory...it's just shocking.

Things I love thursdays

Bonjour! How is everyone doing? It's been a long time since I last posted on here (almost a year). I know that several of you are upset about it, but I assure you that things have been really busy lately. Anyway, on with today

* Butterflies: I have been dying to go see the monarch butterfly migration. I don't think that I'll be able to this year. But one day I will. I keep looking at amazing photos and it's inspired me to go back to the Smithsonian for an exhibit that they have about butterflies.

* Planning parties: I'm helping a few friends plan a low-cost, high-fun party and to be honest I really enjoy it.

* Thunderstorms and deep rain: After the heatwaves that we had here this summer, the thunderstorms are an excellent

*Writing letters to friends: I love letters. I love friends. Why not combine the two?

*Office "cooperation": Seriously, it just makes things so much easier.

What do you love today?

Map contest

Random: This is a map that I need to print out


<p><strong>><a href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008/pick-your-president/">2008 Election Contest: Pick Your President</a></strong> - Predict the winner of the 2008 presidential election.</p>

Apologies

So, I haven't logged in a while. A LONG while. I've been going through a strange haze lately, mostly with roller coaster feelings that are long drops into depression. So I'm changing what it is that I do now and I'm deciding to go for something new. Well kinda new. I'm going to attempt to keep this blog up and I'm going to revamp myself. I'll let you all know the outcome.

Carousel

It's friday moons and spoons. Everyone should be somewhat happy! Well as you know, I'm feeling rather restless. So in the hopes of quenching that mind boggering travel itch, I've included a special suprise, along with the regular tidbits of carousel.

Who doesn’t have a safari on their must-do list?
Too expensive? Think again. Stay in small, owner-operated lodges and private houses, take scheduled flights instead of private charters, use resort guides instead of pricey private guides — and your trip will be top-of-the-line and reasonably priced.

The Itinerary:
1. Start slow in Sarara, a community-run tented camp in North Kenya where you can stretch your legs on long walks accompanied by local Samburu tribesmen. Or walk out the kinks with Kerry Glenn and her team of camels through spectacular rocky outcrops on Karisia Limited Walking Safaris.

2. Want to push yourself a little? Climb Mount Kenya and fly-fish for rainbow trout from your Rutundu Log Cabin. Or spend a few days in colonial style at Sosian on the Laikipia plateau or in the sheltered oasis of Ol Pejeta conservancy, the only place in Kenya to see endangered chimps.

3. Next, jump on an AirKenya flight to the Masai Mara game reserve, the jewel in East Africa’s crown. Stay at Rekero, a stylish, community-minded resort with excellent local Masai guides. Situated near the confluence of the Mara and Talek rivers, the tented camp has front-row seats for the annual wildebeest migration.

4. Finally, end with a bang at Shompole, the most glam lodge in Kenya. (Adding to the allure is the fact that it’s partly owned by the Masai.) Otherwise, head to the Swahili Coast and rent a bungalow like Alfajiri on the gorgeous beach.

Where the Wild Things Are

Wildebeests, zebras, and the nomadic lions that love them migrate in a giant circle, starting in the southern Serengeti in Tanzania in March. They head west then north, army-style, following the rains (and new grass). They reach Grumeti River around June, site of the over-the-top Sasakwa Lodge, cross the Mara River in July and August — then turn around and head back the same way. Other big safari animals — cheetahs, gazelles, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and leopards (the hardest to spot) — tend to stay put and are found everywhere.

When to Go

Year-round, but the best times are June-October and December-February. The green months (November, March, April, May) are rainy and less expensive. If you want help planning a safari on a budget, contact local guide Sandor Carter at sandor@wananchi.com. If you want to do the trip in grander style with your own private camp and an expert guide, contact Lindbald at info@lisalindblad.com.

So you can see that I am desperatly wanting to go to africa. I'll have to wait a bit before I can save up enough, but how glorious would it be? Anyway, onward with the clickies:

PLAY

Consumer Consequences

What: Answer a few questions about your lifestyle, and this interactive game will tell you how many earths it would take to sustain 6.6 billion people sharing your habits.

Why: It’s a small world after all.

Where: Online at sustainability.publicradio.org.

GO

Search Me

What: Efficient new search engine enables you to scan resulting pages visually.

Why: Watch out, Google.

Where: Online at beta.searchme.com.

USE

Believe Honey Bar

What: Profits from these lovely shea butter soaps go to the Raise Your Hand Campaign, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring children in developing countries have access to clean water.

Why: Believe to achieve.

Where: Online at noodleandboo.com.

GUZZLE

Vodka 360

What: The world’s first ecofriendly vitamin V is distilled four times, filtered five, and does the trick.

Why: Here’s to a healthy buzz.

FOLD- Tried and Tested

Cubecraft

What: Want a paper model of your gaming hero? Download the instructions and fold, no tape or glue required.

Why: Know when to fold ’em (you can even have battles).

Where: Online at cubecraft.com.

That's it for carousel today, but I think I've kept some of you occupied enough.

Weekend Review

How do you like my picture? Lately I've been doing some soul searching. So I went out and did lots of wandering around the town and hanging out with friends. It felt good to catch up with them and hear how things are going with them. I loved it. I realized that there are so many people I know that have known me through so many different stages in my life, and yet they've always loved me for it. It felt really good to know that. So I've decided to make a goal for the summer (which I will carry on, but I need to start somewhere). I like people, so I think I'm going to meet as many as I can. I also need to take a more active part in the lives of my friends. This is a short post I know but my weekend was really just a couple of days of hanging out with people, and taking lots of lovely pics (like the one above).

Peronsal Goal

Today I have no real post for you, but I do have a goal...and that is just something you'll have to find out...tomorrow! ;)

Yippee!

Weekend Review

Friday 5-16:

Oh boy, what a day. Work was like a grand duchess of the pain squad, and I was her little pawn. I spent the better half of the day running around trying to fix the big shi-bang mess that had been thrust upon me. But, I succeeded and at the end of the day I retired to a delicious night of movie and catching up. M was out of school and drove up to visit people in the area. I spent the night eating steak and watching a movie about law/racism in the south. I can't really remember the name of the movie, but I have to admit...it was good.

Saturday 5-17:

Graduation day. A lot of friends that couldn't graduate with me (or before me) were graduating. Let me tell you, it's the oddest thing sitting at a graduation event as an alumnus. Only a year ago I was the one dressed in green and feeling strangely euphoric about my future life as an independent. Now I was on the other side of the fence. I felt proud of my friends, knowing that they had so much potential. Afterwards I went to a graduation party for R, where his mother gave so much food I was in a perpetual food comma for the rest of the afternoon. Today was also the day that I met the infamous A, girlfriend to the equally infamous M. What a couple! They are so right for each other it's almost sickening...in the best way though. I have never seen M as happy as he was with her. She's one of the few people that I warm up to immediately and I like her. She has beautiful, kind eyes and a face that seems always ready for a warm smile. I like that. Plus she gets points on my part because she gracefully accepted a pounce.

Sunday 5-18:
After an entire night of tombstone (which I was asleep for most of it) and then packing up. I helped R move all his stuff out of the dorm. I'm just grateful that he didn't have as much stuff as most girls. I remember trying to help K move out of her dorm, and it was a never ending stream of cardboard boxes, tape and random knickknacks. Guys are a lot easier to move.

Anyway, after a couple of hours of shoving everything into cars, I practically slept the rest of the day and night.

That my friends was my weekend. Nothing exciting, but nonetheless enjoyable. I've very excited about tonight though, it's James Bond night. More on that later.

Pervert of the month

And the prize goes to: Isabella Rossellini.

Let me begin this with a story. I love learning things...it's sick. So it is not surprising when I decide to read up on something completely random. The other day, I decided that I'd learn about how spiders mate...I typed in Google and I got this: Green Porno. I was piqued. So I clicked it.

Okay, so I'm a little late to the Green Porno party. But what I lack in punctuality I more than make up for in enthusiasm for these warped short films. Isabella “Put Your Disease in Me” Rossellini outdoes herself (and actually does herself) in this eight-part series about the sex lives of various insects, arachnids and mollusks. Produced by Sundance expressly for smaller digital screens (computers, cell phones, etc) the whole series is just dirty, filthy, good clean fun. Try to imagine a Children’s Television Workshop-produced interpretation of that transcendently horrible "pterodactyl pr0n" and you’ll be somewhere in the ballpark. But not really.

But seriously, enjoy....I know that I think this is the awesomeness of idility.

Weekend Review

Hello all, yes and yes. I know it's been a while since I last updated. Please believe me, it's because of work. ;) So shall we begin?

Friday 5-9:
Oh let me tell you. Nothing seems quite as fun, as Karaoke and a few good laughs. After a steady bar crawl across the city, I went with a few friends to a Karaoke Bar. I am not an amazing singer, but I still had fun. Yes I looked a little silly, but it was with friends and besides...I had nothing really to loose.

Saturday 5-10:
Today was a day that i was supposed to be enthralled by Shakespeare...except good old William let me down. I have never read a Shakespeare play that I didn't like. This is not the same as saying that I have read all of his plays, because I haven't. This was one of those plays; Anthony and Cleopatra. First, I am a fan of Cleopatra. Yes you can say that she switched sides and had no real loyalty save to herself, but I liked reading about her life. So I went to the theatre with high expectations: Shakespeare showing Cleopatra in the way that she should be. I wasn't very happy.
You know how they say that great actors in Hollywood will sometimes star in a ridiculous movie, simply for the money? They're called rent movies. Well this must have been Shakespeare's equivalent. His rent play. I was so disappointed with how he portrayed the characters. But I won't get into it.
Afterwards I hung out with friends for a bit, and relaxed before heading home for an early bed time.

Sunday 5-11:
Happy mother's day! I went with my mother and my sister to Cafe Atlantico. I have mixed reviews about Cafe atlantico. It's not that the food is not good...it's that the portions are ridiculously tiny for the price. Yes, technically they are "tapas", but having been in Spain for a large portion of time....even in Spain the "tapas" aren't that small. Anyway, the food is good though...just don't go if you're really hungry. Afterwards, I went to go see yet another play. This time I wasn't disappointed and saw for the first time Julius Cesar. Now THAT was a good play. My faith in Shakespeare was reignited.


Short and sweet I know. But I'm trying my best to come up with something that I can squeeze into one my breaks. You'll have to forgive me.

Cinco De Mayo

Good morning to you all. So as I stated in my last post...a lot of you don't know exactly what Cinco De Mayo is. So I'm going to give you a brief update of this.

It is often thought that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day...it's not. Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16. This holiday is actually called the Baker's war to some people. Though I don't know the exact correlation between bakeries and war, it's a nicer way of stating that the Mexicans declared war and won against foreign french forces.

At the time of Mexican independence from Spain, the country was put in a constant turmoil since everyone was fighting about who would rule. At this point, the french (who had a presence already there...in bakeries I assume?) decided this was an opportune time. They invaded and declared war on the Mexican government and marched onto Mexico city.

The french ended up occupying the city and placed Maximilian I, as Emperor of Mexico on the throne of Mexico. Eventually the french were defeated and expelled in 1867. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army's victory over the French at Puebla ( a region in Mexico) though this has nothing to do with the final expulsion of the french.

Weekend Review

Hello everyone! Yes I know I've been away for a while, but I must tell you that I've been pretty busy lately with work, so it's hard to update when at the end of the night you are exhausted. Also...I don't have Internet at home.

Anyway, I will start with what was supposed to be yesterday's update. I warn you though, I will rush through it pretty quickly so that I can play catch up.

Friday May 2:
Ah Friday. Quite relaxing actually. I went and watched a couple of movies with some friends and then ate a whole bunch of ice cream. It was delicious, and simple. A combination that I approve of in a lot of things.

Saturday May 3:
I went to the open air market at the national cathedral. There wasn't a lot that I needed but I did buy aluminum wire and talked to some interesting shop owners. I then later went to hang out with a few friends to celebrate a birthday.

Sunday May 4:
Today my company had it's charity walk. I had to get up earlier than I normally do on a weekend and book my way over to the capital to stand at a table and direct people to places. I wore a bright blue wig so that people could see me giving directions and could easily find me. While some of my co-workers almost had a heart attack, a lot of them treated it with a sense of carefree amusement. It did look quite real. When I put the wig on, it reminded me of how I used to be. I was, once upon a time, very very underground. I had piercings and dyed my hair every color of the rainbow. It's a thing that not many people know about, but it was a part of my life. I had forgotten how various people responded to "distinctively" dyed hair. Some people were enthusiastic about it and said that they loved it. Others made rude comments and off-hand remarks. It didn't really bother me, but I forgot how some people did not like anything "different".

Anyway, it was a good walk and there were lots of people. We (my charity group) took up practically half of the Mall. I left sometime at midday and enjoyed a very pleasant walk by the river, still wearing my bright blue hair and just remembering. I made some silent promises to myself, which I'll share with you all in a bit as soon as I can form them into a challenge for myself.

Monday May 5:
Happy Cinco de mayo! Do you know what Cinco de Mayo really is? I'm guessing not because not many people don't. You should! But what a day. I played hookie for the first time from my job, and enjoyed my day so much that I'm tempted to do it again. I went to a flea market and browsed the stalls (a favourite thing of mine to do) and then watched an outdoor movie of James Bond. Dr. NO! It's a weekly event that'll last till September, and I can't begin to express how much fun I had. I'm trying to gather up a group to go with me every week, or at least during the good movies.

How was everyone else's weekend?

Carousel

It's Friday! woo! I'm very very happy that it's Friday. It's been a long week for me and frankly Friday is the day to celebrate the release! Carousel is a little bit different today, but I think you'll like it anyway.

You blew your shot with Saint Peter when you blew Peter Saint. But hey, no worries. You can save your soul online at reserveaspotinheaven.com. For less than the cost of a couple of cocktails, you'll get a certificate of reservation, registered in the Book of Light; a first class ticket to paradise (why climb stairs when you can fly?); an official ID card; and the heaven 101 mini informational guide (find out what's really behind those pearly gates). A few more bucks and you'll have VIP access to the Big Guy and a pass that gets you to the Land of Milk and Honey as well as Thug Mansion, where the cool angels hang.

Got enemies? Ensure they burn for all eternity; sign them up for one-way tickets to firey damnation at reserveaspotinhell.com. Sound familiar? well they do to me...oh that's right, we've played this game before; indulgences.

For those of you in DC, I have found the deli shop! It's a great gourmet shop and I stumbled upon it (don't ask me how) the other day. The owner, Steve Gatward came stateside to set up a new shop after selling gourmet meat in the UK and Australia. It gets daily deliveries from regional producers (Amish sausages from Pennsylvania, anyone?). And Gatward is happy to oblige special requests (hungry for ostrich?) with a day's notice, and grind beef to order for burgers. The store also stocks marinades, mustards and sauces along with striped butchers' aprons from England. Go ahead and pair your feast with Napa's best pinot. It's called "Let's Meat on the avenue" 2403 Mount Vernon Avenue, at oxford Avenue, Alexandria (703-684-6328).

I have been craving a vacation, and today I indulged in my fantasy of the perfect Caribbean vacation. There are so many options, but here is one.

Let me tell you, Nicaragua is the New Costa Rica; gorgeous beaches, adventure activities and a killer exchange rate...(I don't necessarily agree wit their politics though). Now you won't find five-star resorts or boutiques, but you will find $10 meals, and $60 beachfront rooms. And if you prize getting there before the crowds while getting away from it all, you've arrived.

So you arrive in Managua and turn around: You'll want to catch the first tiny plane off the mainland. The Corn Islands, off the Atlantic coast, are two of the last bits of unspoiled paradise in the Caribbean.

The culture in Big Corn is more Nicaraguan local than European backpacker. You'll want to zip around in a $1 taxi to waterfront bars and homey restaurants. The islands' most luxurious hotel (king-size beds, infinity pool) is Casa Canada. Relax with a cold Tona (the national beer) and a $10 lobster at Anastasia's on the sea, the only over-water restaurant on the islands.

If the bustle of the Big Corn island is too much, take the 30 minutes roller-coaster boat ride to Little Corn island - and leave civilization behind. Casa Iguana is a neo-hippie resort with beachfront cabanas, board games, and hammocks galore. Kick back on the deck to watch the sunset or join a communal dinner in the no shoes allowed restaurant. Prefer to keep your sandals on? The veranda-fronted rooms at Hotel Los Delfines may look a little dated (dig the mirrored headboard) but they have all the creature comforts right in the heart of downtown (such as one exists).

For an island only one mile square, little corn offers a surprising variety of food.Credit Euro expat hoteliers, like the Italians at bio farm Farm Peace & Love and the French and the Spanish at Ensuenos. The best eatery, Habana Libre (+505-848-5412), Serves authentic Cuban food with the fastest service in the country. Order the slow-roasted pork in advance.

If you tire of the many white beaches (the best are on the north end) go underwater with a snorkeling or scuba trip. Dolphin Dive can help you explore the local reefs and spot giant turtles. Not so aquatic? Hit the dirt dance floor at the Happy Hut reggae club and try the Nicaraguan version of bottle service; coca-cola and a bottle of Flor de Cana rum for about $5.

A bathing suit and a good book aside, you won't need much on the Corn Islands, but bring plenty of cash - there are no ATMs. But with prices so low, you can afford to say an extra day or two.

Things I love thursday

The Washington Nationals — I know that they aren't the best team, but they're my team, and the first "real" baseball game I ever saw was with them.

Ice Cream — I can't help but love the guilty pleasure. I had ice cream yesterday at the baseball game that I went to...and it was delicious. I ate it up so quickly that I left fudge smeared all over my lips...worth every bit though.

Soft Sheets — My blankets are warm and inviting. I slipped into them last night and I don't think my head hit to the pillow before I passed out.

Cool mornings — It's getting very hot here since summer is on its way, but I love cool, misty mornings. It's not sweltering hot, but its not cold anymore.

Birds Chirping — I know lots of people hate the birds in the morning, but I actually don't mind them. They make me happy to listen to them, and prepare me for my day.

Red Cardinals — I woke up this morning, got dressed, and walked out to go to work...and I saw this bright red cardinal on a branch. It's the first one I've seen in the area this spring. It was also the first thing that I saw stepping out of my building, and it just made me smile. I've always loved cardinals.

Thinking the best of people — I like to think the best of the people around me. Or at least I try to. I know it's a bit naive...but sometimes, it's good to give someone a second look.

People that support — They will always find a way to tell me when I'm slacking off, or overreacting in just the right way for me to hear it. <3>

a certain young — "snotty", dark and deliciously intelligent gentleman that makes me laugh and feel better. Even when I don't deserve it.

Paper cranes — I knew how to do them perfectly ages ago, and then forgot...so I had to relearn it. I plan on doing something with them later...you'll see.

Video Mania — I love videos that make you laugh and just enjoy everything around you. Here are a few. Doki Doki!

Movie dream

There’s a new movie coming out with Eiko Ishioka's Costume design in it! I can't tell you how much I love Eiko Ishioka's designs...they are always unique and I find them immensely inspiring. The film is directed by Tarsem, who previously collaborated with Ishioka on the movie The Cell.

Events take place in a 1915 hospital, where a bedridden patient befriends a little girl with a broken arm and offers to tell her an adventure story about five men - an Indian adventurer, an African ex-slave, a masked bandit, an Italian bombmaker, and Charles Darwin (what? yes!). The girl is enthralled by the exotic tale, and waits eagerly for every new chapter. But the storyteller, a broken man emotionally and physically, has a dark motive for telling the tale: he wants her to steal something at the hospital in exchange for the story’s conclusion. Here is the trailer:



I did a quick Google search on when the film is coming out: nothing. I did a search for it on IMDB, and learned that it was completed in 2006. Hmm. That’s when I started digging into the YouTube comments. One guy writes that he saw it at a private screening in LA a week ago, and that they asked the audience to critique for the purpose of determining whether it will go on the big screen or on DVD. Another person writes that they have not yet found a distributor. And then there is this comment by Khan Higou:

"I spent a year working on post-production of this movie (in Paris);
I know every single image of this feature and believe me, it IS beautiful for
sure. And you Americans are not lucky about this independent movie
(self-produced, directed, even self-distributed, no big studio logo in front of
this trailer, did you notice…) ’cause I heard it has been rated R in the US; a
way to punish Tarsem everybody thinks here ’cause the movie is not that
violent"

Further research turned up one review that indicates that the film has not been sold for distribution due to scathing reviews at the Toronto Film Fetival. The reviewer writes that Zoe Bell (Death Proof) was the president of the jury that year. “(She was) seated two seats away from me quite enjoyed at least from what I could get from her reactions to the film while it was being shown.” Maybe she didn’t like it so much after all.

Maybe the ending is a little predictable, I admit the cell in terms of plot was pretty crappy...it was a bad movie...but seriously but the visuals look stunning! I want to see this - and I want to love it.

Death Bed...the bed that eats

I've been trying to catch up on some old cult classics, to expand my experience with movies. I came across the other day "death bed". I’m not sure how to explain what makes Death Bed: The Bed That Eats so special, or if I should even try. I certainly didn’t know anything about the film when it was first recommended to me (by some hairy-palmed weirdo lurking around the K.A.T video rental in Clarendon a few years back). Completed in 1977, this “forgotten horror classic” was never officially released. Legend has it that director George Barry had no idea anyone had even seen the picture until he Googled himself and found a bunch of websites raving about it. After 25 years, the company "Cult Epics" finally put it out on DVD.

Death Bed is definitely rave-worthy, but again, I'm at a loss to explain why without taking away some of the mystique. Here’s the overview from Cult Epics:

“At the edge of a grand estate, near a crumbling old mansion lies a strange
stone building with just a single room. In the room, a four-poster bed waits to
absorb the flesh, blood and life essence of unwary travelers…”

So it would seem the title is fairly self-explanatory. And yet there’s more to this story than just OM NOM NOM. Demonic elemental spirits for instance, and Timotei-haired beauties writhing in toxic yellow foam. Also, Aubrey Beardsley’s ghost is trapped in the wall and he won’t shut up.

See, now, I’ve already said too much! At this point, you’re either raring to rent it or you’ve grown bored and are scrolling back to the romantic tuesday column. Either way, I commend you.