Sunday, January 01, 2012
Last year's lists
I always start the year with a list of all the films I saw and the books I read. On a reading front, this was one of the lightest years in recent history. I started the year off getting very sick, which made reading/focusing very hard until march. The rest of the year was a wild catch up and re-reads of a lot of books for the classes I was teaching. I never write down books i re-read, but perhaps in 2012 I will. As for films - I only list the ones I have seen for the first time.
Books 2011
Candide by Voltaire
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
The Wood Wife by Terri Windling
Cinderella ate my Daughter by Peggy Orenstein
Bossypants by Tina Fey
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
The Mediterranean Diet by Marissa Cloutier & Eve Adamson
The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
A Visit From the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan
The Mediterrain Perscription by Angelo Aquista
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Movies 2011
Planet 51 (Netflix)
A Single Man (blueray)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: the Lightening Thief (hbo)
The king's Speech (theatre)
Autumn Sonata (DVD)
Red Dawn
Black Swan (theatre)
Alex and Emma (hbo)
Gnome & Juliet (theatre)
The Illusionist (theatre)
Walt & el Groupi (Netflix)
Kiki's Delivery Service (blueray)
Rio (theatre)
Cinema Verite (hbo)
Bridesmaids (theatre)
Winnie the pooh (theatre)
The hangover (hbo)
Smurfs (theatre)
Rango (tv)
Cars 2 (3d theatre)
Jane Eyre (tv)
Spy kids (Netflix)
Gloria steiniem documentary (HBO)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 (blue ray)
Through a Glass Darkly (DVD)
Winter Light (DVD)
The Silence (DVD)
Dolphin Tale (theatre)
The a team (HBO)
Clash of the Titans (HBO)
Disneys oceans (Netflix)
Alice in wonderland (HBO go)
The muppets (theatre)
The adventures of tintin (theatre)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (theatre)
Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows part 2 (blue ray)
Bolt (tv)
Kung fu Panda 2 (blue ray)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Prompt #28
Who's your favorite character from a movie that came out in the last year? Who's your least favorite character?
Favorite character
TOOTHLESS the Night Fury in How TO Train Your Dragon
Why do I love toothless? Like Dumbo before him - here is a character who is given no dialogue and yet you love him and root for him. and yes, he reminds me of my dog.
Toothless doesn't give his friendship willingly - it has to be earned. There is an interesting thing in the film - a turning point with Astrid and Stoic's characters - as soon as they say 'I'm sorry" Toothless forgives them and his attitude totally changes.
I admire his loyalty. He is complex. And he is an animal - so you never really know what he might do.
But maybe what I like best - is that here is an animated character that isn't encumbered with a "celebrity" voice. As I watched Gnomeo and Juliet today - i found myself guessing who the actors were. And knowing that the voice is just one facet of an animated character - it really pulled me out of the film.
Least favorite
Guido Contini (yes I looked it up) as played by Daniel Day-Lewis in NINE
I'm all for films about artists being blocked and trying to create their art. But this guy was just a cad. I really didn't get why all these women wanted him. He is the protagonist and I could care less. i wanted him to fail - and I don't think that is what the filmmakers intended.
The feminist in me was annoyed by the objectification. Sure I like looking at beautiful women strutting their stuff - but it was all a male sexual fantasy. It gets old after a while. When was he going to be objectified?
Maybe I just missed the point completley.
Favorite character
TOOTHLESS the Night Fury in How TO Train Your Dragon
Why do I love toothless? Like Dumbo before him - here is a character who is given no dialogue and yet you love him and root for him. and yes, he reminds me of my dog.
Toothless doesn't give his friendship willingly - it has to be earned. There is an interesting thing in the film - a turning point with Astrid and Stoic's characters - as soon as they say 'I'm sorry" Toothless forgives them and his attitude totally changes.
I admire his loyalty. He is complex. And he is an animal - so you never really know what he might do.
But maybe what I like best - is that here is an animated character that isn't encumbered with a "celebrity" voice. As I watched Gnomeo and Juliet today - i found myself guessing who the actors were. And knowing that the voice is just one facet of an animated character - it really pulled me out of the film.
Least favorite
Guido Contini (yes I looked it up) as played by Daniel Day-Lewis in NINE
I'm all for films about artists being blocked and trying to create their art. But this guy was just a cad. I really didn't get why all these women wanted him. He is the protagonist and I could care less. i wanted him to fail - and I don't think that is what the filmmakers intended.
The feminist in me was annoyed by the objectification. Sure I like looking at beautiful women strutting their stuff - but it was all a male sexual fantasy. It gets old after a while. When was he going to be objectified?
Maybe I just missed the point completley.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Prompt #27
Take a character from one of your stories and examine his or her ipod playlist. What 10 songs best describe the character?
What the character has on her ipod and 10 songs to describe her would be very different.
To describe her:
1. Crazy by Patsy Cline
2. Who Will Save Your Soul by Jewel
3. Ne me quitte pas by Jacques Brel
4. Sometimes you can't make it by U2
5. Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard
6. Sir Psycho Sexy by the Red hot Chili Peppers
7. red Red Wine by the B52s
8. Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper
9. Riding on the Metro by Berlin
10. Master and servant by Depehce Mode
on the ipod
1. Peter Gabriel's Passion soundtrack
2. The Beatles (everything before Sgt. Pepper's)
3. Enya (they all sound alike anyway)
4. Mozart
5. Holt's the Planets
6. Duran Duran (thru the Reflex)
7. Blonde's Greatest Hits
8. Edith Paif
9. Billie Holiday
10. Paula Cole's greatest hits
What the character has on her ipod and 10 songs to describe her would be very different.
To describe her:
1. Crazy by Patsy Cline
2. Who Will Save Your Soul by Jewel
3. Ne me quitte pas by Jacques Brel
4. Sometimes you can't make it by U2
5. Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard
6. Sir Psycho Sexy by the Red hot Chili Peppers
7. red Red Wine by the B52s
8. Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper
9. Riding on the Metro by Berlin
10. Master and servant by Depehce Mode
on the ipod
1. Peter Gabriel's Passion soundtrack
2. The Beatles (everything before Sgt. Pepper's)
3. Enya (they all sound alike anyway)
4. Mozart
5. Holt's the Planets
6. Duran Duran (thru the Reflex)
7. Blonde's Greatest Hits
8. Edith Paif
9. Billie Holiday
10. Paula Cole's greatest hits
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Prompt #26
What are five good reasons to break off a wedding?
1. Not being in love with the other person. Really. It wont work if you aren't in love. Someone, and it wasn't me, told me how her mother basically forced her into it when she was having doubts. This someone was insisting that her mother was trying to get her out of the house and wanted her married so she didn't have to deal. This someone admitted to not being in love. Yikes.
Even if you are having that persons baby - don't get married if you are not in love.
2. Lying. He or she lies about something major. An ex-spouse, another child, their income and/or debt, crime, addiction. Lying is not good.
3. Sleeping with someone else after you got engaged. If you can't be faithful during the engagement - how can you be faithful in marriage - which is 100 times harder.
4. Showing up to the wedding intoxicated or under the influence of other substance. If ya can't do it sober - don't do it at all. Couldn't you wait for the reception?
5. He or she doesn't like your kids. Call it off - unless your kids are in college and/or out of the house - then go for it. But if the kids are at home and this person doesn't want to be a partner and help raise them - ya got trouble.
1. Not being in love with the other person. Really. It wont work if you aren't in love. Someone, and it wasn't me, told me how her mother basically forced her into it when she was having doubts. This someone was insisting that her mother was trying to get her out of the house and wanted her married so she didn't have to deal. This someone admitted to not being in love. Yikes.
Even if you are having that persons baby - don't get married if you are not in love.
2. Lying. He or she lies about something major. An ex-spouse, another child, their income and/or debt, crime, addiction. Lying is not good.
3. Sleeping with someone else after you got engaged. If you can't be faithful during the engagement - how can you be faithful in marriage - which is 100 times harder.
4. Showing up to the wedding intoxicated or under the influence of other substance. If ya can't do it sober - don't do it at all. Couldn't you wait for the reception?
5. He or she doesn't like your kids. Call it off - unless your kids are in college and/or out of the house - then go for it. But if the kids are at home and this person doesn't want to be a partner and help raise them - ya got trouble.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Prompt #25
What do you do to calm your nerves when things are getting tough?
Like every good American, I have alcohol. A good glass of wine really helps calm the nerves. I just read an article that the US is NOT the most lubricated nation. somehow I was surprised by that - but other countries with extreme cold weather (yeah you russia) drink more. I do like a glass of wine. It usually puts me to sleep though.
Walking the dogs in the morning is incredibly centering. I use the walk to figure out what I have to do that day and how I am going to accomplish that feat.
The dogs stay with me when I work in my office. Usually I can pet one of them (there is a chair next to my desk that they liek to sit in). or I have one at my feet. Pet therapy is the best.
But the most calming thing for me is spending time with the kid. she always wants me to play with her. When I am stressed out I tend to get snappish and just let her watch TV. But when I sit down and play a game with her - everything is good. She is hilarious and happy and that makes me happy. Candyland, polly pockets or any of the incredibly silly games she has are a blast.
Then reading her three books before she goes to sleep - that is where I relax the most. It's our time.
Like every good American, I have alcohol. A good glass of wine really helps calm the nerves. I just read an article that the US is NOT the most lubricated nation. somehow I was surprised by that - but other countries with extreme cold weather (yeah you russia) drink more. I do like a glass of wine. It usually puts me to sleep though.
Walking the dogs in the morning is incredibly centering. I use the walk to figure out what I have to do that day and how I am going to accomplish that feat.
The dogs stay with me when I work in my office. Usually I can pet one of them (there is a chair next to my desk that they liek to sit in). or I have one at my feet. Pet therapy is the best.
But the most calming thing for me is spending time with the kid. she always wants me to play with her. When I am stressed out I tend to get snappish and just let her watch TV. But when I sit down and play a game with her - everything is good. She is hilarious and happy and that makes me happy. Candyland, polly pockets or any of the incredibly silly games she has are a blast.
Then reading her three books before she goes to sleep - that is where I relax the most. It's our time.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Prompt #24
What's the longest you've lived in any one place? How did you end up there? Why did you leave, or are you still there?
The longest I have ever lived in one place is 7 years in the home I currently live in. Before that it was the place in San Diego with my hubby for 7 years.
I can remember living in 7 different places before I graduated high school. Compared to my spouse whose parents just moved for the first time in 40 years, that's a lot. I never remembered why we moved - I still don't know if we were renting houses or if we owned them until we moved to the East Bay during high school. The reason for that move was that property was cheaper. So were we dodging creditors? Who knows. I was raised by a single mother (who married again when I was in jr. high) - so anything is a possibility.
My husband found this to be very strange. I thought people moved all the time.
My husband and I have lived together since 1996 (I think). We have lived in four places - two of those places for 7 years.
Our current home is the first place we have purchased, everything else was a rental. We do not intend for this to be our last home. It is incredibly small - but currently serves its purpose. We have done a lot of work on the place - making the backyard more livable and various other projects.
Sometimes we get down in the dumps about our place - it isn't our dream home. With the money we make, if we lived anywhere else, we could have double the space. But we live here - the husband got a good job and we moved here. Yes we want more room. I'd love a real office - not that I don't absolutely adore my office in the garage (really I do its awesome) but I would like to not freeze my ass of in the winter. I'd live to have a larger living room or a separate family room so I don't feel like I am living in a kids room. I want my husband to have a man cave - I do - he'd be so happy. I am fine with the size of my kitchen - I just HATE the floors and the cabinets.. but as we are not planning on staying here forever - we just have not decided to spend the major money on renovations. Besides, like everyone else, we are ust going to have to sit in this house for a while so we can get above water.
I am thankful that we have a home.
I am incredibly thankful that my neighbors cut down the two dead pine trees that were threatening to fall on my house.
The longest I have ever lived in one place is 7 years in the home I currently live in. Before that it was the place in San Diego with my hubby for 7 years.
I can remember living in 7 different places before I graduated high school. Compared to my spouse whose parents just moved for the first time in 40 years, that's a lot. I never remembered why we moved - I still don't know if we were renting houses or if we owned them until we moved to the East Bay during high school. The reason for that move was that property was cheaper. So were we dodging creditors? Who knows. I was raised by a single mother (who married again when I was in jr. high) - so anything is a possibility.
My husband found this to be very strange. I thought people moved all the time.
My husband and I have lived together since 1996 (I think). We have lived in four places - two of those places for 7 years.
Our current home is the first place we have purchased, everything else was a rental. We do not intend for this to be our last home. It is incredibly small - but currently serves its purpose. We have done a lot of work on the place - making the backyard more livable and various other projects.
Sometimes we get down in the dumps about our place - it isn't our dream home. With the money we make, if we lived anywhere else, we could have double the space. But we live here - the husband got a good job and we moved here. Yes we want more room. I'd love a real office - not that I don't absolutely adore my office in the garage (really I do its awesome) but I would like to not freeze my ass of in the winter. I'd live to have a larger living room or a separate family room so I don't feel like I am living in a kids room. I want my husband to have a man cave - I do - he'd be so happy. I am fine with the size of my kitchen - I just HATE the floors and the cabinets.. but as we are not planning on staying here forever - we just have not decided to spend the major money on renovations. Besides, like everyone else, we are ust going to have to sit in this house for a while so we can get above water.
I am thankful that we have a home.
I am incredibly thankful that my neighbors cut down the two dead pine trees that were threatening to fall on my house.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Prompt #23
Have you ever lost anything of value? Do you still think about it? Imagine how you'd feel if you'd given it away instead.
I'm not going to write about my car keysvthat fell out of my pocket at the Xmas tree farm, or the fact that it will cost $500 to replace it.
I still have not replaced them.
The fact that I can't remember loosing anything must mean I haven't. Well nothing of major value. I have been robbed. Jackets stolen out of my car. A framed picture stolen out of my office/ that was upsetting because I got that print at the Louvre.
Now I remember - I lost a photo album which had all my pictures from my year of living in England. I used it was a prop in a show (my mistake) and it went missing. I think someone deliberately took it. I can't prove it / but it was the only thing missing and it wasn't a small prop. It was before digital / so all I had were those prints.
I constantly loose things in the house - and although I get crazed and pissy when I try to find it - it is just a thing and usually if little consequence. I tend to be a little bit of a hoarder. A couple weeks ago I gave away all my Nationsl Geographjcs. I have been a subscribes since the 90s - so there were a lot. The husband had just bought me the Complete NG on CDs. So really there was no reason to keep them. It felt good to Give them to someone who could make great use of them. I need to rid myself of numerous a other things that I jace just been carrying around for years...
My need for things Reached an all time high a few years ago - o had a good paying job and it was easy to just buy stuff - I love buying my daughter thins. But the economic situation of today makes me wish I had saved some of that dough. I also have a kid who thinks she gets to have something every time we go into a store- I've created quite the little consumer. We have been working on this. She is getting better. And I am big spoiling her as much - which ia good.
There are certain items that I have that would make me incredibly sad if I lost them. But as long as the husband, kid and fur children are okay - I don't really need anything else.
I'm not going to write about my car keysvthat fell out of my pocket at the Xmas tree farm, or the fact that it will cost $500 to replace it.
I still have not replaced them.
The fact that I can't remember loosing anything must mean I haven't. Well nothing of major value. I have been robbed. Jackets stolen out of my car. A framed picture stolen out of my office/ that was upsetting because I got that print at the Louvre.
Now I remember - I lost a photo album which had all my pictures from my year of living in England. I used it was a prop in a show (my mistake) and it went missing. I think someone deliberately took it. I can't prove it / but it was the only thing missing and it wasn't a small prop. It was before digital / so all I had were those prints.
I constantly loose things in the house - and although I get crazed and pissy when I try to find it - it is just a thing and usually if little consequence. I tend to be a little bit of a hoarder. A couple weeks ago I gave away all my Nationsl Geographjcs. I have been a subscribes since the 90s - so there were a lot. The husband had just bought me the Complete NG on CDs. So really there was no reason to keep them. It felt good to Give them to someone who could make great use of them. I need to rid myself of numerous a other things that I jace just been carrying around for years...
My need for things Reached an all time high a few years ago - o had a good paying job and it was easy to just buy stuff - I love buying my daughter thins. But the economic situation of today makes me wish I had saved some of that dough. I also have a kid who thinks she gets to have something every time we go into a store- I've created quite the little consumer. We have been working on this. She is getting better. And I am big spoiling her as much - which ia good.
There are certain items that I have that would make me incredibly sad if I lost them. But as long as the husband, kid and fur children are okay - I don't really need anything else.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)