New Years Mosaic Meme

1. Our Direction 2. Untitled 3. Bamburgh Castle HDR 4. from the room that would cease to be 2/2/08 5. Let's all Join Hands 'Cause All we need is Love, Love is all you need 6. supple 7. hand dyed silk obi 8. Novel - A typeface for Novels 9. Hidden Earrings 10. Balinese Temple 11. NYC - MoMA: Bridget Riley's Current 12. From small things to big big world

Inspired by the lovely Danette. Play!

How: Type the answer to each of the following questions into flickr's search box. Copy and paste the URL of your favourite image that comes up into the mosaic maker. Woo!

QUESTIONS! Go!

1. Looking back on 2008, what might the theme have been?
2. If 2008 was a movie, who would play you?
3. What was your greatest gift of 2008?
4. What is your New Year Resolution, or, what are you committing to this year?
5. If January could be represented by one song, what would it be?
6. What do you wish for your body in 2009?
7. Name one new thing you would love to try in the New Year.
8. What do you long for 2009 to bring?
9. If that happened, how would you feel?
10. Where would you love to vacation in 2009 if money were no object?
11. What would you like the theme of 2009 to be?
12. If 2009 was a book, and the title was 5 words or less, what might the title be?

Good year to you.

Top Movies of 2008

I was going to do a top 10, but I really haven't seen that many great movies that were released this year... I guess this is what grad school does to you. So, here is my top five:

5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Hilarious. Ridiculous. True.

4. WALL-E. Adorable. Touching. Robotful.

3. Rachel Getting Married. Wry. Lovely. Layered.

2. Slumdog Millionaire. Visceral. Harsh. Gorgeous.

1. Iron Man. I said it then: "I think this is going to be my favourite movie of the year." And it is. Batman did not even come close. And I love Batman (apparently not enough to put it in my top five list, however). Exhilerating. Funny. Awesome.
And there are still so many great movies I want to see, that could have been on my list if I had seen them earlier! Milk! Man on Wire! Young @ Heart! Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay! Pineapple Express! And more! I love movies.

Merry Christmas.

That simple.

Grand Opening!

I went to Aberdeen Centre (my favourite!) and wandering around for something to eat before Beard Papa cream puffs (I tried the Green Tea filled one today. I like the vanilla better, but it was still delicious) came across the best thing ever! Well, not, but still amazingly exciting and delightful. Strawberry Cones! Since 1983 in Japan! What is Strawberry Cones, you ask? Ice cream? Frozen Yogurt? No! Best pizza & pasta!


I tried the Salmon and Camembert pizza. With a kind of bechamel sauce base. It was delicious! They also have one with potato and tuna... And it's right next to the Beard Papa. Japanese versions of European food FTW!

Where are the mountains?

I'm home. I've missed it so much, and I'm so glad to be back for a couple of weeks, but the mountains have been completely obliterated by the clouds and snow, and it means I don't really feel home yet.

It feels so weird. I know they're there. I want them back. I want my blue city, not this white one.

Slumdog Millionaire

I looked at some clips and the trailer on youtube, with thoughts of posting something, but I don't want to ruin a single glorious moment of this film. Just go. I was embedded in this film from the very first frames - my response was immediate and visceral.

Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jamal, a "slumdog" in Mumbai who somehow manages to make his way to the final question in the Indian "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". It is about the ways people take care of and ruin each other, but at heart it is a love story. Still, be aware of the fact that while it is an absolutely exhilarating and satisfying film, there are many very painful, very harsh moments. I don't know why these surprised me, but they did, so be ready to feel and react.

My favourite movie since Iron Man. This is one to go see in theatres. Now.

Notification of Intent

Just to let you know, I plan on listening to nothing but the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack from now to January 1st.

Haiku

Black boots and black shoes/ facing each other like a/ soldier and a girl.

New t-shirt

So, typically I'm a little bit allergic to American Apparel. I decide that I want a new t-shirt, so I go in, can't find anything, everything is too small, it's too loud, I feel lame and old, and on and on, and I leave dispirited with nothing to show for my time.



Today, however, I wandered in because a friend was looking for a Christmas present for another friend. I saw this t-shirt. I fell in love with it. I love typography! Happy Christmas to me!

The snow looked like cherry blossoms this morning.

New blog

I'm taking a class next term, Resources for Young Adults. As part of the class we have to do a reading log. I'm starting now, and I'm putting it together as a blog. Woo. livefastreadyoung.blogspot.com. I've posted once about Skim, an amazing graphic novel.

It's so nice to be done classes. I have two small assignments to finish for Monday, but I gave myself some time off and went to the library. The stack of YA books I have to read: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. King Dork. The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Also, we have to watch movies, so I'm going to watch Chasing Liberty, with your favourite and mine: Mandy Moore. I might watch it right now. Yay for winter break!

Quirks

Does being "quirky" work as well in the real world as it does in films?

This is what I intend to find out.

The Band's Visit

Again with the shapes. Watch the opening scene of this film and you will know what I mean.

Lindsay and I went to the video store and searched high and low for a movie that was the perfect mix of comedy and drama, something good that would not be depressing. When we finally asked the guy working there for some advice, that was how I worded what we wanted, "Good, but not depressing." He started naming titles, most of which I had seen. He even mentioned The Visitor, to which I responded, "Um. That one is actually kind of depressing."

Eventually we ended up with this one. The Band's Visit (also known as Bikur Ha-Tizmoret) is a charming movie about the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, who arrive in Israel and promptly find themselves lost. The film charts the night they spend in a small Israeli town, spread out among a few locals who have taken them in. Visually, the film is stunning. It is completely pared down, and beautifully showcases the incongruity these Egyptian musicians carry with them through the landscape.

4/5 stars.