... Likes Sands Through an Hourglass

My birthday was Sunday, and the weekend became very Me-centric. Since I turned 25, Mom and Dad felt that a celebration was in order. Friday evening, I met my parents at the Asian market near the university, and we bought salmon, halibut, grouper, and beef tenderloin for Saturday's cookout. In addition to this preparation, I baked a chocolate cake (with homemade milk chocolate frosting) for the festivities on Thursday.

The cookout was suppose to be a pretty small affair but quickly ballooned to a full-fledged party with twenty-two people, games, an impressive buffet (there's still food left), and many birthday cards. Dad and Poppy grilled all of the fish and beef as well as shrimp, chicken, and all the vegetables Mom didn't roast. My brother and his girlfriend drove up, and all the area family came. After we ate and most of the people left, we played a few games of Blokus, two games of Liverpool Rummy (the variation my family plays), and a game of Fluxx. Afterward, I was exhausted and went to bed after watching Rocky which I got as a promotional from Columbia House a few months ago.

The next morning, Dad made waffles, and I left for Jason's after breakfast. For my birthday lunch, we went out for Cane's chicken (one of my favorite places to eat). I opened gifts. Jason introduced Stephanie and me to Spades, a card game the bears a slight resemblance to Hearts. We played three games and all won one apiece. We watched the Ross Kemp episode of Rick Gervais's brilliant Extras.

We used the DruidCraft tarot deck that Stephanie got me for my birthday. She did a reading for me with a spread new to us. It was extremely interesting and fun. Sunday night, I did a Celtic Cross reading for her which wrapped up at around 5:30 in the morning.

Usually, I get very depressed and inconsolable on my birthday, but this year was different; I was in a pretty good (if somewhat unstable) mood. On the way home of Monday, I did have a moment of nervous anxiety and irrationally low self-esteem.

Last night, I was able to get away from most human contact and had some alone time. I watched Olivier's Hamlet and a 1934 Dick Powell film called Dames which was very low on plot and high on humor and spectacle.

Breakdown of birthday presents:

• Ticket to see The Drowsy Chaperon (Mom and Dad)
• White FiestaWare pitcher (Nana and Poppy)
• Autographed and framed photo of Joan Fontaine (Jason)
• Autographed Jason baseball card (Jason)
• DruidCraft tarot deck (Stephanie)
• Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant (Stephanie)
• Metallic necklace (Stephanie)
• Color-it-yourself tarot deck (Stephanie)
• Zen: the Perfect Companion by Seung Sahn (Stephanie)
• DK Eyewitness Film (Trish)
• Merchant-Ivory's The Bostonians (Shari)

Quick Thoughts of Some Films

I haven't watched that much this month since I got the fourth season of Boston Legal and watched it in an embarrassingly short amount of time. So I thought I would dash down my thoughts on the films I have watched this July.

The Thief of Bagdad (1940)
Fantastic film that I watched on TCM. It's the story of an exiled prince and a beggar thief who team up to defeat the wicked Jafar and reunite the prince with his throne and the woman of his dreams. Along with The Black Swan, this is one of the movies I've seen recently that I wish I'd seen as a preteen. I would have been instantly immersed in the world these films create; I would have made up stories about the world and its inhabitants.

Woman in the Moon (1929)
I got this film during the last Kino sale. It's a Fritz Lang silent film and one of the first films that explores space travel. In typical Lang fashion, the idealistic scientists are hijacked by a network of spies for shady businessmen (and one cigar-chomping businesswoman) who wish to control all of the purported gold caches on the moon. There's espionage, romance, and a breathable atmosphere on the moon.

Mr. Hulot's Holiday (1953)
Another TCM showing. The amazing thing about this film was the way it evoked warm, fuzzy feelings about vacations I've been on. Somehow, it encapsulates the anticipation, the heady feelings of travel, and all the little frustrations and inconveniences that inevitably crop up. Though it's a slapstick comedy in the vein of Chaplin, it feels very realistic and truthful.

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Watching this, I realized that I'd seen parts of it a long, long time ago. Either that or it has a familiar quality. I love Streep and Hoffman in about everything, and this was particularly moving. I can see why it won Best Picture that year. Also, the late 70s were a very brown time.

King Solomon's Mines (1950)
The TMC showing coincided with me finishing reading the book. Another film I would have loved when I was little. It's interesting the deviations they took from the book. Most of the book's actions happen, but the emphasises are different. The book is basically broken into four sections: the introduction, the trek across the desert, the battle of the tribes, and escaping the mines. The book adds a trek to the desert which takes up over half of the film. From that point on it covers the over plot points quickly and deletes the epic battle. I really enjoyed it and now have yet another reason to love Deborah Kerr.

I'm Not Good at the Internets

It's been over a month since I last updated and not because I have a lack of things to say/report. Mostly, I just don't think about updating. When it does occur to me to write an entry, I'm usually busy doing something else (ex. driving home, showering, fretting).

Added to this is my aversion to "Internet culture." Social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter produce all of the anxiety of more direct communication without any of the payoff. A generally water-downed version of a person is brandied about without any depth of relationship and real understanding. While they are attractively concise, these tidbit offerings leave me cold. Of course, I'm primarily interested in understanding myself and part of this process is believing that others are just as interesting and interested in exploring themselves. And personal Internet information seems transitory and smacks of unneeded compromise. Which is my way of saying, "Whoops, I'll try harder in the future!"

Onward to the news:

1. Shelter

Everything on the buying-a-condo front is going smoothly. I got a call from the realtor today, and she informed me that the condo passed the termite inspection. Last week, the house inspector gave me his report which cited only an estimated $450.00 in repairs; these consisted entirely of things I had planned to replace. After this, I sent all the paperwork and documents to the mortgage company who has since sent it to the closing company. (I had no idea this would be so complex! The image in my head was of speaking with George Bailey at the savings and loan, striking a deal, and ending with a handshake.)

Unfortunately, the entire process has been plagued with minor inconveniences: the seller was out of town and unreachable for a week, my realtor's husband is ill, the seller's realtor gave us the wrong key when my parents came to look, one of the credit bureaus put the wrong credit history on my report. Through all this I've remained relatively calm and positive. I've even had a couple days when I was excited. Still, there is a persistent, foreboding voice in my head that keeps warning that I'm going to end up messing up my life more than I already have.

2. Education

I received all the acceptance letters and paperwork. I've filled everything out and sent it in. I do need to get a student ID. I was happy to find out that I will be monetarily compensated for the workshop I have to attend in order to teach first-year composition. I also received some of the articles and essays that I will use in the class. I'm excited about how structured everything is and am beginning to feel that I may actually make a success of this little endeavor. (I'm steering clear of any teacher-schmaltz.)

3. Birthday

I'm about to start my birthday weekend. I'm turning 25 (a quarter of a century) and won't have another landmark birthday for a number of years. Mom, Dad, my brother, and his girlfriend are coming up tomorrow for a cookout that will feature all of my favorite grilled seafood and roasted vegetables. I baked a chocolate cake and made the icing for it yesterday and will assemble it tomorrow morning. On my actual birthday, I'm going over to Jason's to hang out for awhile. Beyond that I haven't any plans except to watch a couple good movies and relax.

My Reading List

Yesterday, I finished reading Jose Saramago's haunting novel Blindness which was published three years before he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998, and I realized that I really haven't blogged about the stuff I'm reading (with the exception of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale) so I decided to jot down thoughts about my reading list for this year.

This is my second year to have an official reading list, and I've found that it's an interesting process. I find it helpful to have a list since Fours (such as myself) find solace in organization and direction. By constructing a list, I can better understand my reading habits and interests and also remember books I've read or want to read. (I have problems with remembering and accurately placing things in time.) Like I said, this is my second year to do this, and already I've learned so much about the process and a little about myself.

Last year, I developed a list after getting the idea from a project of Stephanie and Shari's. The challenge was to choose eight categories/genres and read eight books within those parameters. I sat down in late January and completed a list of sixty-four books.

I can say with qualms that this list was a failure. It failed for a couple of reasons. 1) I neglected to include "fun" reading. Most of the books on the list were longer than average and could be called "classics." 2) The process was very forced. I completed the list in one day and hardly deviated from it during the year. In the end, I only read twenty-two books. While having a list was really good for me, it was too limited, and I found myself unable to break away from it.

In December I started compiling a list of categories/genres I was interested in and came up with six: action/adventure fiction, literary classics, poetry collections, award-winning books, non-fiction, and book I own but have not yet read (not a genre but definitely something I wanted to address). Within these, I chose three or four books to start from, my thought being that I could build the list throughout the year. I've since added three additional categories: children's literature, religion/theology, and a free-for-all category.

The nice thing about having a freer structure and fewer initial titles is that I'm able to be inspired by the things I read or develop an interest in to pick up novels I had no intention of reading. And I don't have to bump another book from my list. There's no set number of books for each category. Thus, I've dropped the challenge aspect of the list. I don't do well with challenges. I tend to panic and shoot my self-esteem all to hell.

Another thing that's really helped me is Shelfari, which Shari introduced me to early this year (see my shelves to your right). It helps give me a visual idea of what my reading habits are. Also, if a book stays too long on my "I'm reading" shelf, I start to get antsy and quickly finish it. This year I resolved to read more than I had in 2008, and I'm already close to fulfilling that resolution.

Will This Madness Ever Stop?!?: Memorial Weekend Post #3

As I mentioned, we went to Hastings over the weekend to check out their sale. I bought way too much, but the sale was pretty good. I bought eleven films (including two coveted used Criterion releases and two coveted cheap Disney films) for $68.00. We also went to Blockbuster where I found a few things for $3.99 and $1.99.

Blockbuster Buys
Look Both Ways
an Australian film I watched recently with Stephanie and loved

Tanner on Tanner (2004)
a mockumentary follow-up to Robert Altman's Tanner '88

Vera Drake (2004)
a drama starring Imelda Staunton as a woman who performs illegal abortions

Play It Again, Sam (1972)
a film adaptation of Woody Allen's play; the first movie pairing him with Diane Keaton

Hastings Buys
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
2-disc Criterion; one of my favorite movies of last year

That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)
Criterion release; Luis Bunuel film

Toy Story 2 (1999)
a Pixar/Disney flick I didn't have and a really good one (I watched it last night.)

The Fox and the Hound (1981)
a Disney flick I didn't have; this was actually new but in the used wrapping

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
one of my favorite films of last year and just the newest addition in my Woody Allen collection

The Duchess (2008)
one of the best period dramas I've seen in quite some time

Frozen River (2008)
a moving movie about the undeterred human spirit

Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)
pretty sure this is really bad, but I read the book last year, and it looks so pretty

Ghost Town (2008)
quirky comedy I saw in the theater last year

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
cute teen rom-com I saw in the theater last year

Synecdoche, New York (2008)
film I wanted to see in the theater but was boycotting the only AMC showing it.

Add to this the Ultimate Oliver Stone set (12 movies on 14 discs!) which I bought from fye for $9.99 + shipping/handling, and my film collection has ballooned recently. As I told Stephanie yesterday, I have lots and lots to watch!

Movie Thoughts: Memorial Weekend Post #2

For me, any long weekend affords a prime opportunity to take in a few (or many, some would say too many) movies. Usually when I watch a large amount of films in such a short amount of time, there is at least one that does not quite live up to expectations. However, this weekend was an exception. Everything that I watched was wonderful!

The Band Wagon (1953)
Jenna and I watched this since we both love Singin' in the Rain and An American in Paris and other movie musicals of that time frame. Though this film wasn't as sophisticated in its storyteller or technical artistry, it was still highly entertaining. Fred Astaire plays Tony Hunter, a has-been movie star who returns to the stage at the behest of old friends who've written a light musical comedy. Unfortunately, an overly zealous director/producer turns it into a modern telling of Faust. Hilarity ensues.

Some Came Running (1958)
The next day we watched this drama about the quiet desperation of small town America (also directed by Vincente Minnelli who directed The Band Wagon). Frank Sinatra plays a man who arrives back in his hometown after getting out of the army. Once there, he reconnects with his brother and starts to fall in love with a teacher. He also meets an alcoholic gambler played by Dean Martin (this was their first pairing) and a former hostess turned brassiere factory worker (played by Shirley MacLaine).

Speed Racer (2008)
I watched this with Dad who really wanted to see it. I know it's not a great film, but it's not as bad as the reviews claim. It's definitely flawed, but the simple message and stunning visuals are fun to watch and always leave me a bit happier.

Mon Oncle Antoine (1971)
I just received the Criterion release of this film last week and watched it with Jenna. I think she enjoyed it, but I can never really tell with her. It follows the coming-of-age of a boy living in an asbestos mining town in Quebec. It's a very subtle movie dealing with discovering love, sex, and death.

Brideshead Revisited (2008)
Because of the lackluster reviews and the shuffling into the realm of forgotten movies, Stephanie and I spent a lot of this movie waiting for it to fall apart. Instead, it was a great adaptation of a incredibly complex novel. It was nice to see Matthew Goode is something that wasn't Match Point.

Ghost Town (2008)
Rewatched this with Stephanie and Jason. It's a fun take on the romantic comedy and quirky-afterlife comedy. Everything that Ricky Gervais says is hysterically funny. Tea Leoni is adorable and slightly odd. Greg Kinnear is an asshole. Fun times!

I've Loved You So Long (2008)
This was probably the best film I watched over the weekend. It's definitely the one that I've thought most about. It's an unexpectedly moving story about people in very painful, difficult situations. Kristin Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein play reunited sisters, and I'm amazing at how much they can relay in simple motions and quiet moments. Everything felt so organic and genuine; nothing was obligatory. Despite the rather depressing subject matter, I thought it was an uplifting film. It portrayed so well the human need for connection and love.

I'm Glad I Was Asked: Memorial Weekend Post #1

During the summer session, I've switched to four day work weeks and get Saturday through Monday off. Since I was not working on Memorial Day, I got Tuesday off and had a nice four day weekend.

Friday evening, I went to my parents' house and spent Saturday with them. The official plan was to go through the boxes I have stored there, but I decided to have fun instead. Jenna and I watched several movies, and I did a bit of reading. Dad and Joel attended the Byron Nelson golf tournament in Irving, Texas. Mom worked on a quilt for my cousin. It was such an enjoyable visit.

Sunday morning, I left my parents' and went to stay with the Stephanie's family. (For a detailed breakdown of the weekend's events, read Stephanie's stellar post here.) In addition to Stephanie and her parents, Shari and her family and Jason spent the weekend having fun and hangin' out, yo. We played games, watched movies, ate excellent food, drank mixed drinks, beer, and wine (not all together, mind you).

Stephanie, Jason, and I went to scope out the sale at Hastings which culminated in me buying too much and coasting into line minutes before the store closed. When the store is about to close, there is a soothing woman's voice that asks you to make your final selections and please proceed to the checkout line where you will be served with a smile. The promise of a smile is so prominent that I imagine not making your final selections and proceeding to the checkout line will result in being served with a scowl and/or snarl. Thankfully, our cashier was terribly nice.

I also watched a Redbox being used for the first time. Does anyone rent from Blockbuster anymore? If so, why? It was such an easy process and so cheap! We had a code to get a movie for free, but had we not, it would have only been $1.00! I'm genuinely excited about this. One of the reasons that I acquire so may DVDs is that renting is so expensive. This gives me another option to see a newer film without finding space on my shelves for it.

Over the weekend, I learned that I sporadically suck at games. Over the course of a couple days, I lost Monopoly (new with credit cards and an earnest worldview), Monopoly Deal (a fun card game), The Friends Trivia Game, Television SceneIt!, MarioKart, and croquet. I warned Stephanie that next time I visit, I'm going to bring something that I can win. (This may mean playing chess with her kid nephews.)

Unfortunately, there is always a drawback to so much time off. It was incredibly hard to go back to work, especially ten hour work days.