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SUN 5.30.04 @ 9:49pm
Josey died. We're kind of in disbelief, because she was doing so much better. And she'd survived for so long, the odds were in her favor. Apparently there were more complications, leading to surgery, during which she died. I try not to think about it, but it comes up anyway. "Rock Lobster" playing on the radio only an hour after Eric told me. And then at dinner, a man took a seat at the table across from us, and he had amputated legs.
I don't know what to say or do or think. She's just gone, and it's not fair. It just makes no sense at all.
THU 5.27.04 @ 10:00pm
Just a few quick words on boring movies.
Last night's Bright Future was boring, but had a beauty to it at times. Somewhat similarly, Girl with a Pearl Earring, which I finally rented this week, was quite beautiful, but it was mostly boring to watch. In "Girl", I wasn't struck by anyone's performance, not really. I think Scarlett Johansson is a breathtaking creature, and watching her plain yet radiant face was like foreplay for the eyes. But nothing truly moving or even interesting happened in the film.
And I'm ok with that. I think it's why I can keep coming back to SIFF year after year. I remember one of the first SIFF films I ever saw was Dead Man with Johnny Depp. Black and white, really weird, quite boring, but so beautiful.
My favorite SIFF movie so far, Gabbeh, was Iranian. It was supposed to be set in more modern times, about a nomadic tribe, but an ancient fable was taking place in the life of this young woman in the tribe. Hard to explain, and I don't think I'm getting the description quite right. Because it was boring and cheesy and I don't remember, but I don't believe it was well acted. But it was gorgeous and I loved it. Never have I seen such riotous colors as in this film. Hand dyeing and stitching blankets occupied the lives of the women (and men?) in the tribe, and every scene was just so rich with color. I met my husband and friends afterwards and gushed out that it was an "orgasm for my eyes", and when I tried to explain the plot, they looked at me like I'd grown a 2nd head.
So I keep going back. And usually I'm rewarded. Intermittent reinforcement is the strongest kind. It would be nice to see a real gem every once in a while though. I never seem to pick the film that goes on to woo Indie-loving America, ie: Trainspotting & The Full Monty & Whale Rider. Oh well. Maybe this year I will?
But I guess what I really want to say is that I may have ripped into Bright Future, but I did enjoy myself. I found worth in the film. And that's a lot more than can be said about most trash created for TV these days.
THU 5.27.04 @ 9:34pm
It would be impossible to overestimate how much a nice rain storm can affect my mood. A half hour holding Kyra as I watched the rain, followed by a nice wet drive to work, and I was calmed all day. It helped that it rained enough to darken the skies enough to open the blinds closest to my desk: the closest window is at such an angle that if there's any brightness to the sky, it can be quite blinding when I'm trying to look at my computer because I can see the bright sky at the same time. Weird, but I often have to wear sunglasses on cloudy days, so go figure.
Then when I was coming back from eating a quick lunch, I noticed it was pouring. I was transfixed for at least 5 minutes. In fact, I'm starting to think I'm lucky summer is coming, because if the rain keeps up, I won't be able to get any work done as I stare out the window at it.
Sometimes, as I stand there watching, I want so desperately to somehow write about how rain makes me feel. And it's just impossible. There are no words. So it's just a private fascination that I'll never properly be able to share with anyone, sadly.
But speaking of writing, sometimes I wonder if my problem is less having something to say, and more being too much of a lazy slob to do anything. I've had ideas for 3 different short stories come to me in the last month or so, and haven't done anything with them. So last night I started writing the most recent. And stopped at half a page. True, Eric was demanding it was late and we should go to bed, so not my fault, right?
But it seems once I start, whatever I put down isn't good enough, and I get bored. Dejected and bored. Ever wish you could just think something through, and it would be recorded just like that, and you could always come back to it with crystal clarity? Most of my stories have been rehearsed so many times in my head before ever getting written down that you'd think I'd know them word for word by now.
WED 5.26.04 @ 10:00pm
I am exhausted. What the hell is wrong with me? I will never wear my platform boots to another SIFF outing, especially on Capital Hill where climbing stairs is highly likely. But just because my knees are now ready to throw me onto my ass and call me bitch should not mean I'm ready to crawl into bed and sleep for 12 hours. Weird.
So my first SIFF 2004 film was Bright Future from Japan. Argh. I wish I'd opened SIFF on a better note. There was not much here for me to enjoy, and when I heard people coming out claiming they thought it was "excellent" and "funny", I felt like I'd been left out of a joke. Would I have understood it better if I'd ever been to Japan? I suppose that's possible. But aside from a few wacky moments, the film wasn't funny. And it certainly wasn't excellent. It was mostly boring and left me wondering, "What the hell is going on?"
It was just amazingly frustrating for the film to center around one character, and not know what the hell he was thinking 99% of the time. All of the characters were hard to read at times. But Tatsuya Fuji was truly wonderful to watch. I had so little in common with the main character, that the movie for me became about Fuji's character Arita redeeming himself through his son's friend. I liked the guy more and more, despite my problems with father figures. By the end of the movie, I couldn't keep my eyes off of the guy, he was so moving.
And the jellyfish were pretty damn cool. But someone said the jellyfish was/were symbolism. OK. But of what? The dead guy? Um, yah, so? That was brilliant why? That's like saying the scene with the dead guy's ghost sabotaging things was symbolism for the dead guy's wishes. It's not symbolism when it's so fucking obvious a 5 year old could figure it out.
Am I that big of a film snob, or was this movie really THAT much over my head???
I know I should have stuck it out and watched the 2nd film by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Doppelganger, but I just couldn't wait to get out of there to stretch my legs and take off those damned boots.
I'm pretty sure the rest of the films are going to be better. I'm just frustrated that I finally got to pick up my free SIFF guide, and immediately found 2 more movies I want to see. I can't believe I specifically searched for Hero, couldn't find it listed anywhere, and now that I've made my choices and it's probably sold out, I find the listing right at the front of the fucking guide. It must have been titled in it's original language or something. I hate it when they do that. Fuckers.
ps: never, ever, ever pay to park at Broadway Market if you're going to see a movie somewhere else. I parked for 3 hours and paid $8.75. Holy fuck.
TUE 5.25.04 @ 10:34pm
What a dismal day. I was more chipper yesterday after learning Heather wasn't coming to town afterall. What's my problem? Not even the afternoon rain did the trick. Maybe I didn't get enough sleep last night. Couple that with my leftover lunch doing a number on my stomach, and that's as good a guess as any.
I was thinking today how lately at work I don't have the time I once did to be in my own head for any length of time. Being the bookkeeper gave me lots of monotonous tasks to complete that freed my mind to wander. Purchasing does not allow any slack at all, and requires all my concentration.
But a fascinating catch-22 came to me: I know it's normal to question if weird things going on with your body are normal, but that doesn't necessarily make the weird things themselves normal. Or maybe it's just a circular argument.
Anyway, I amuse myself when I'm in my own head sometimes, with little gems like these. It helps me from running around in circles waving my hands in the air and screaming like a lunatic. Please don't feel obligated to be amused with me.
So, yah, Heather isn't coming up for her company's training. Because she put in her two-week's notice on Friday. They're still trying to woo her into staying though. Makes her decision tougher, but her position enviable, I say. Nothing like having people fight over you, right?
I could have punched her when I read her email, don't get me wrong, but after a few hours to mull it over, I wrote her a nice email asking for info on the new job and letting her know I was still coming to her wedding. Can't believe she's looking into a new job a month before her wedding!
I can't wait to get on that plane. Wish it was tomorrow. I really need to decide on a fucking hotel though.
I'm still kind of in a fog over Italy. I think it's some kind of shock, after lusting after something for so long, to finally have it within my grasp, I don't know what to do with myself. Especially considering that if I can curb my spending habits for the next 6 months, I should have saved a pretty little bundle to put against the trip. It's times like these that can make a sane person wish they bit their nails.
ps: I make kick-ass teriyaki, yes I do. pppllllllbbbbbbbbbb on Heather missing out.
SUN 5.23.04 @ 11:29pm
We went to see Troy on Saturday. It was entertaining. I'm not quite sure why Jay walked out on before it was over: Paris has always been portrayed as a pansy in any telling of the tale, and he probably missed the part where Orlando channeled his Legolas persona to grab his bow and slay Achilles through the heel. Plus a few arrows in the chest for good measure.
Yes, the acting sucked. And I wasn't all that impressed with the visuals. There were multiple scenes where you could see fake blood being sprayed like it was being pumped through a sprinkler system. But Eric Bana was wonderful to watch as Hector, and Peter O'Toole's still got it: the old man brought tears to my eyes as he pleaded with Achilles to return his son's body.
Really, the biggest problem I have with the movie is its detours from the original story. The siege lasted a decade, not a couple of weeks. Achilles did not kill Agamemnon, as he had a more terrifying fate awaiting him at home at the hands of his own wife. But really, it's the fact that they left out Iphygenia completely that really pissed me off. The most loathesome part of the story is Agamemnon sacrificing his own daughter to the gods for the sake of wind. And they didn't even put that into the movie. Lame, lame, lame.
The rest of the weekend has been spent cleaning this house, getting it in somewhat presentable shape for Heather's visit. She'll probably only be in the house for a few hours this week, but we want it to look nice. I can't wait to see her!
WED 5.19.04 @ 8:58pm
I am going to miss Angel terribly. I actually cried when Wesley died. I told Eric that this was harder than when Buffy went off the air because Sarah Michelle Gellar, at the time, had promised to do at least one guest-stint on Angel the next season. She never did, there's no real spin-off in the works, and now these amazingly complex characters I've grown to love and laugh with are gone.
We are talking seriously about going to Italy next spring. I should be more excited than I am, but instead I'm hesitant. Part of me really wants to invest in the house. Updating and decorating. But I really want to go to Italy, and I want to go before we start a family. And I want to start a family in the next 2-3 years. So, next year is really optimal, because then we'll have a whole year after that to get the house in better shape before planning on a baby coming into the picture.
Anyway, for some reason I'm more nervous and doubtful than excited. Eric kind of blew me away when he said he'd be willing to put alot of the expenses on his credit card if we could save enough to buy the tickets outright and well enough in advance to still get a good deal. We've done this before, twice now. Saved for a year and gone on a wonderful vacation at the end. This time just seems scarier because of the house for some reason.
TUE 5.18.04 @ 8:46pm
My head hurts, so this may be a little scattered.
Heather is making an unexpected trip up here next week for job training. I am so excited! We're going to spend at least 2 of the 4 nights she's here together. Probably just sharing dinner together, since we'll both be working the whole time she's here. But any time with her will be amazing. That's what I miss out on the most because she lives so far away: just casual time together for no good reason.
Of course, the first 2 movies I was planning to catch at SIFF are playing back to back the Wednesday she's here. Maybe I can convince her to see one of them with me. If not, I might just opt out. I'd really like to spend as much time with her as possible!
Speaking of which, we finally bought our airfare to Lake Tahoe for her wedding next month. Still haven't narrowed down the hotel though. We're horrible procrastinators!
iTunes makes it entirely too easy to purchase music! I've already spent over $100 in my first month of allowing myself to purchase there. Now that I've started, I don't know how to stop. I've got another $40 or so in my shopping cart begging me to hit "Buy".
Speaking of addiction... A few months ago I started watching daytime TV again. As in soap operas. I am now addicted to All My Children. Damn Tad Martin! When I was at the UW in 1992, there was this big ad campaign that "Tad Martin" was returning to All My Children. I'd never watched the show, so I watched a few episodes to see what the fuss was all about. And I've been following the plots off and on ever since. In fact, since I've gone to my current schedule, AMC is the only show I watch, and about the only one I care to watch.
Problem is, I want to start heading to work earlier. But for the past two weeks I've been glued to my TV set for my daily hit. ARGH!
So as I ween myself away, I've decided I will work out Tuesday-Thursday in the mornings, followed by getting to work an hour early. Mondays and Fridays I can sleep in and catch AMC before I have to be at work. Those are the best days for soaps anyway.
So I went to the gym today. And last Friday night with Eric. I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't put on any weight since stopping my gym trips within a month of starting back in... January or so. In fact, I am 2 pounds lighter than the last time I weighed myself at the gym all those months ago. That is most excellent. It proves that my moderate dieting is working, and all I have to do is get some regular exercise and I will start losing some weigh!
News of Josie isn't great, but it's not horrible. She had a "turn for the worse" last week, then stabilized again towards the weekend. They were able to do some more surgeries. She is actually doing better at the moment than she was when she had stabilized early last week. Or at least that was this morning's news. For some reason I'm not getting the email updates.
Most disturbing is that Eric gets the impression that she's not actually in a coma, but that they're keeping her under. Because of her condition and pending surgeries. I don't like this. I don't like any of it. Get better, Josie.
THU 5.13.04 @ 7:12pm
I just wanted to update that as of Tuesday afternoon, Josie was doing a little better. Her collapsed lungs were starting to work on their own. They were finally able to do a CAT scan and determine that their was no head trauma. They still have more tests to perform to determine brain damage - she lost a lot of blood, so oxygen to the brain is probably an issue. Vern is in Portland again to be with Josie, so we're not going to hear anything for a few days until more tests have been done. She is still in a coma. Come home Josie.
MON 5.10.04 @ 1:30pm
Please don't die, Josie. I hope that's not a cruel request.
Josie Peterson was in a car accident this weekend. We all went to school with her, but I didn't meet her until sometime after that. I can't actually remember when we met. I just remember her being at my wedding, and we danced to "Rock Lobster" like crazy people. She seemed to love that crazy song as much as I did.
Josie is a nutball. Such a sweet girl, she always treats me like we're close friends, even though I can't recall a single deep conversation with her. She would be my sister-at-arms at boring events. She has this evil sense of humor. A funky flair, an eye for beauty. She loves photography. Last I heard, she had moved to Portland specifically to work at a camera shop there where she would have an important role of some kind.
I think we're all thinking about Vern. Vernon, complicated, mysterious, moral, stoic. Torn. In the end, fallable. Who knew? We all love Vern. We all love Josie. We all love Vern + Josie.
The idea that they may never have their "Ross & Rachel" moment, when they know they should and will be together forever after and let nothing come between them... That's the saddest thought for me. It's likely oversimplifying their relationship immensely, but I think it's all what we hope for them eventually.
If you know Josie, please get in touch with my husband. He will know more details on the donation account Jenni Pertuset will be setting up to help with the costs of Josie's medical bills for her family.
FRI 5.07.04 @ 3:05am
shit. I forgot Ravenna. How could I possibly have forgotten about Empress Theodora??? I must be tired...
ps: I was right about the "Y" shape and which city as at each point!
pps: the Amalfi Coast is SOUTH of Rome. I was hoping not to go south. Fuck.
ppps: Isn't there some important fresco at a monestary at Assissi. Shit. Another day trip to somehow work into Florence. Again, IF you can do that in one day.
FRI 5.07.04 @ 3:00am
crap. today's exchange rates of euros to dollars puts the Euro at 1.2 $$. Crap. That means all those 120EU hotels I looked at will cost me $145. Argh. 21 x $145 = $3045 on lodging alone. holy shit.
air fare, however, makes a HUGE difference depending on what season you travel. I would want to go in either March or April (off-season). $663 per person round trip. As opposed to June $1200 or September/October $880.
Sounds like the best way to save money is on the hotel. And on the eating. I was thinking $100 per day on eating and exhibits. But that's $2100 right there.
I'm assuming we could half that if a) we stay at hotels that include buffet breakfasts with your lodging (continental doesn't cut it), b) eat cheaply except maybe once in Rome and once in Florence. I'm not going for the food, so that's fine by me. But to be in a foreign city where you don't know where the restaurants are, and you're starving for dinner NOW? It could be easy to go over budget a few times.
Next I need to look into rental cars. But because it's an outrage idea to fly directly into Florence ($1600-$2000 instead of $660-$1200), it would not make sense to drive everywhere from Florence. Probably train from Rome to Florence. Day trips from Florence to Siena and Montepulciano (is that one possible?). Then train to Lake Como and Venice. How to fit in the Amalfi Coast? I need to consult maps. I'm pretty sure Rome is South, Florence is North of Rome, Lake Como is the very Northwest corner, and Venice is the Northeast corner. Kind of a big "Y" with Florence as the center. NOB knows, I could be wrong. And after that, I don't know where anything else is.
The logistics of planning a 3 week stay in a foreign country, with multiple destinations, is already freaking me out.
I should go look at a map.
I should go to bed.
FRI 5.07.04 @ 2:18am
oh fuck. why is it that in the mornings, if I sit on the couch or (god forbid) the bed, I can be asleep in 5 minutes. But at night, I can lie awake for hours?
I came out here to "get tired". Or something. I just spent 1.5 hours surfing sites looking for info on travelling in Italy. I bought a book on cheap travel through Italy, and have been paging through it in all my spare time since the weekend. I am now convinced we should not do any more rennovating of the house yet, and instead spend the next year saving to go to Italy. I'm tired of waiting!
Why can't I sleep???
I really want to do 3 weeks in Italy. At least 7 days in Florence. At least 4 or 5 days in Rome. At least 1 night at Lake Como, so probably 1 night somewhere between there and Florence. A day or two in Venice would be nice. I have to see Montepulciano. Apparently, it's a must that I see Siena and the Amalfi Coast. Is that the Italian Riviera, or is that another coast? The things I really want to see can probably be squeezed into a 2 week trip. But with travel from Seattle to Italy likely to take close to 24 hours each way, and a desire to spend at least a day and night exploring London while I have the chance, why cram everything in?
But 3 weeks of living and travelling and eating and shopping in foreign countries will only add to the staggering costs of flights and lodging. We spent over $2000 on our 10-day trip to Hawaii. About $4000 on our 7-day trip to Jamaica. I'm afraid to even guestimate what 21 days in lodging and airfare in Italy will cost, let alone figure in travel between cities, and all the other expenses actually staying there will total. Eek.
I can't even remember how Italy became so important to me. I think I've narrowed it down to high school. I remember having a keen desire to travel in junior high: I wanted so badly to see Greece and Egypt because I was intrigued by their mythology; I wanted to see London because, well, it's London; I wanted to go to Paris because that's where Lestat was so happy before he became a vampire; I wanted to see Germany because I was taking German.
So I think it was my Senior year Humanities class with Mrs. Schuck. The Renaissance just resonated in me. Stuck with me. The works of Michelangelo just floored me. I want to see every single work of art ever produced by him. And every other Renaissance art they have tucked away in Florence. Unfortunately, some of M's work is at the Vatican. *sigh* Days stuck surrounded by Catholic revellers trying to get in touch with MY messiah, the Lord Michelangelo.
Isn't the Mona Lisa Italian? Da Vinci I believe. And yet it's in the Louvre. Fuck. If I was Italy, I would go on a rampage and demand all my national treasures returned. Bah, humbug. Not even accounting for works destroyed or lost, I bet it's impossible to see everything created by Lord M. Bah, humbug. >.<
I do believe I'm rambling. How can one be deliriously tired, and still not fall asleep. Damn the electric fence! Damn the electric fence!
I went to high school with Gary Larsen's nephew. Do you ever wonder what happened to all those hugely talented people you went to high school with that you were sure were going to be famous one day and, well, they still aren't?
I went to high school with Zoe McLellan. She lived a stone's throw away from Eric. She's... kind of famous. She's in IMDB and everything. Starred in that HORRIBLE Dungeons & Dragons movie. And never got another gig again... Actually, we saw her on tv just the other day... Can't remember what show now. JAG? Enterprise? Some show we don't normally watch.
Still babbling randomly I see. Maybe I should try bed again.
THU 5.06.04 @ 11:16pm
Goodbye, Friends. Yes, I cried like a baby. It's very much like when "Mad About You' went off the air. My relationship with Eric grew as we watched that show, and their relationship mirrored ours in so many ways, it was sad when it finally left. There's less in common between us and the characters on Friends, but after 10 years, it's still sad to say goodbye to something you've grown accustomed to.
So what have I been doing? Well, life seems to revolve around keeping sane at work, and entertaining myself when I'm not there.
I read the newest Poppy Z. Brite, Liquor. Hardly like the popular horror novels she wrote years ago (that I only just read this year), but definitely still her style. Her bitchy, scathing characters that still manage to attach themselves to you. It was a satisfying read. Also in books, I picked up the English-translated manga of Angel Sanctuary. You can read my review of the anime here. The manga is very similar to what I remember of the movie, except it has a character that the movie left out. I read it in a day, and am frustrated to hear the next installment won't be out for a month or two. Amazon says there are over 10 of these in Japanese. It would be really cool if they translate all of them, so I know what happens after the movie left off.
In music, I've spent way too much money over at iTunes. I bought the new (only?) albums by Maroon 5 and Jet. I bought Muse's Absolution. I still think the lead singer sounds like a GIRL in "Time is Running Out". I bought an album by a chick named Hayley Westenra - I keep forgetting to look up info on her. Her music is the haunting blend of opera and pop music. Kind of like Celine Dion I suppose, except not annoying. I bought The Best of the Posies because it was dumb that I didn't own anything by them. I bought the last release of Poor Old Lu, that band with incestuous ties to Sunny Day Real Estate and The Posies that Eric introduced me to because he sat next to the lead singer in Chem 101 or somesuch our first year at the UW. We had no idea they were around long enough to release commercially-viable albums. Oddly enough, they only just broke up recently. Weird. Anyway, after all those serious expenditures, I picked up a dozen or so singles I should have in my collection and don't. And I really wish I had the money to buy an album or two by Ryan Adams. His music is... an odd mix. But good.
As for movies, we finally went to see Kill Bill Vol. 2 last weekend. Wasn't as good as the first one, but still good. The girl who played BB was gorgeous. Alas, I missed my chance to see Ewan McGregor's penis (*sigh*) in Young Adam, as I had a migraine that ruined my plans with Susan. But that weekend I also watched The Fifth Element for the 5,000th time, and curiosity had me look up the writer/director Luc Besson. I can't believe how many movies he's involved in that I didn't realize. More importantly, very soon he's going to be responsible for bringing us The Transporter 2 (Jason Stathom is sooo yummie!), Claire Daines + Ewan McGregor ( = yummie squared) in Flora Plum, and this bizarre movie called Danny the Dog that sounds either brilliant or horrible.
Finally, I'm going to purchase my tickets to SIFF 2004 tomorrow morning before I go to work. I'm going to see 10 movies, a respectable number, especially since I saw none last year. 4 of these 10 movies are special screenings, so it's really going to be an obscene amount of cash to shell out for movies. But they all sound worth it. If you care to join me at any of them, here's the list. Oh, and please cross your fingers I don't lose my fucking tickets this year (before seeing a single FUCKING film). Thank you.
BRIGHT FUTURE
Wednesday, May 26, 7:15 PM @ Harvard Exit
DOPPELGANGER
Wednesday, May 26, 9:30 PM @ Harvard Exit
JAGGED HARMONIES
Saturday, May 29, 4:15 PM @ AMC Pacific Place
DONNIE DARKO - THE DIRECTOR'S CUT
Saturday, May 29, 6:30 PM @ AMC Pacific Place
TOUCH OF PINK
Monday, May 31, 3:45 PM @ Egyptian
FACING WINDOW
Friday, June 04, 7:15 PM @ AMC Pacific Place
BEFORE SUNSET
Saturday, June 05, 7:00 PM @ Cinerama
BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS
Sunday, June 06, 3:45 PM @ Cinerama
AN EVENING WITH STEPHEN FRY
Sunday, June 06, 6:15 PM @ Cinerama
LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
Friday, June 11, 7:15 PM @ AMC Pacific Place
archived
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
february/march 2003
2002
Error processing SSI fileJosey died. We're kind of in disbelief, because she was doing so much better. And she'd survived for so long, the odds were in her favor. Apparently there were more complications, leading to surgery, during which she died. I try not to think about it, but it comes up anyway. "Rock Lobster" playing on the radio only an hour after Eric told me. And then at dinner, a man took a seat at the table across from us, and he had amputated legs.
I don't know what to say or do or think. She's just gone, and it's not fair. It just makes no sense at all.
THU 5.27.04 @ 10:00pm
Just a few quick words on boring movies.
Last night's Bright Future was boring, but had a beauty to it at times. Somewhat similarly, Girl with a Pearl Earring, which I finally rented this week, was quite beautiful, but it was mostly boring to watch. In "Girl", I wasn't struck by anyone's performance, not really. I think Scarlett Johansson is a breathtaking creature, and watching her plain yet radiant face was like foreplay for the eyes. But nothing truly moving or even interesting happened in the film.
And I'm ok with that. I think it's why I can keep coming back to SIFF year after year. I remember one of the first SIFF films I ever saw was Dead Man with Johnny Depp. Black and white, really weird, quite boring, but so beautiful.
My favorite SIFF movie so far, Gabbeh, was Iranian. It was supposed to be set in more modern times, about a nomadic tribe, but an ancient fable was taking place in the life of this young woman in the tribe. Hard to explain, and I don't think I'm getting the description quite right. Because it was boring and cheesy and I don't remember, but I don't believe it was well acted. But it was gorgeous and I loved it. Never have I seen such riotous colors as in this film. Hand dyeing and stitching blankets occupied the lives of the women (and men?) in the tribe, and every scene was just so rich with color. I met my husband and friends afterwards and gushed out that it was an "orgasm for my eyes", and when I tried to explain the plot, they looked at me like I'd grown a 2nd head.
So I keep going back. And usually I'm rewarded. Intermittent reinforcement is the strongest kind. It would be nice to see a real gem every once in a while though. I never seem to pick the film that goes on to woo Indie-loving America, ie: Trainspotting & The Full Monty & Whale Rider. Oh well. Maybe this year I will?
But I guess what I really want to say is that I may have ripped into Bright Future, but I did enjoy myself. I found worth in the film. And that's a lot more than can be said about most trash created for TV these days.
THU 5.27.04 @ 9:34pm
It would be impossible to overestimate how much a nice rain storm can affect my mood. A half hour holding Kyra as I watched the rain, followed by a nice wet drive to work, and I was calmed all day. It helped that it rained enough to darken the skies enough to open the blinds closest to my desk: the closest window is at such an angle that if there's any brightness to the sky, it can be quite blinding when I'm trying to look at my computer because I can see the bright sky at the same time. Weird, but I often have to wear sunglasses on cloudy days, so go figure.
Then when I was coming back from eating a quick lunch, I noticed it was pouring. I was transfixed for at least 5 minutes. In fact, I'm starting to think I'm lucky summer is coming, because if the rain keeps up, I won't be able to get any work done as I stare out the window at it.
Sometimes, as I stand there watching, I want so desperately to somehow write about how rain makes me feel. And it's just impossible. There are no words. So it's just a private fascination that I'll never properly be able to share with anyone, sadly.
But speaking of writing, sometimes I wonder if my problem is less having something to say, and more being too much of a lazy slob to do anything. I've had ideas for 3 different short stories come to me in the last month or so, and haven't done anything with them. So last night I started writing the most recent. And stopped at half a page. True, Eric was demanding it was late and we should go to bed, so not my fault, right?
But it seems once I start, whatever I put down isn't good enough, and I get bored. Dejected and bored. Ever wish you could just think something through, and it would be recorded just like that, and you could always come back to it with crystal clarity? Most of my stories have been rehearsed so many times in my head before ever getting written down that you'd think I'd know them word for word by now.
WED 5.26.04 @ 10:00pm
I am exhausted. What the hell is wrong with me? I will never wear my platform boots to another SIFF outing, especially on Capital Hill where climbing stairs is highly likely. But just because my knees are now ready to throw me onto my ass and call me bitch should not mean I'm ready to crawl into bed and sleep for 12 hours. Weird.
So my first SIFF 2004 film was Bright Future from Japan. Argh. I wish I'd opened SIFF on a better note. There was not much here for me to enjoy, and when I heard people coming out claiming they thought it was "excellent" and "funny", I felt like I'd been left out of a joke. Would I have understood it better if I'd ever been to Japan? I suppose that's possible. But aside from a few wacky moments, the film wasn't funny. And it certainly wasn't excellent. It was mostly boring and left me wondering, "What the hell is going on?"
It was just amazingly frustrating for the film to center around one character, and not know what the hell he was thinking 99% of the time. All of the characters were hard to read at times. But Tatsuya Fuji was truly wonderful to watch. I had so little in common with the main character, that the movie for me became about Fuji's character Arita redeeming himself through his son's friend. I liked the guy more and more, despite my problems with father figures. By the end of the movie, I couldn't keep my eyes off of the guy, he was so moving.
And the jellyfish were pretty damn cool. But someone said the jellyfish was/were symbolism. OK. But of what? The dead guy? Um, yah, so? That was brilliant why? That's like saying the scene with the dead guy's ghost sabotaging things was symbolism for the dead guy's wishes. It's not symbolism when it's so fucking obvious a 5 year old could figure it out.
Am I that big of a film snob, or was this movie really THAT much over my head???
I know I should have stuck it out and watched the 2nd film by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Doppelganger, but I just couldn't wait to get out of there to stretch my legs and take off those damned boots.
I'm pretty sure the rest of the films are going to be better. I'm just frustrated that I finally got to pick up my free SIFF guide, and immediately found 2 more movies I want to see. I can't believe I specifically searched for Hero, couldn't find it listed anywhere, and now that I've made my choices and it's probably sold out, I find the listing right at the front of the fucking guide. It must have been titled in it's original language or something. I hate it when they do that. Fuckers.
ps: never, ever, ever pay to park at Broadway Market if you're going to see a movie somewhere else. I parked for 3 hours and paid $8.75. Holy fuck.
TUE 5.25.04 @ 10:34pm
What a dismal day. I was more chipper yesterday after learning Heather wasn't coming to town afterall. What's my problem? Not even the afternoon rain did the trick. Maybe I didn't get enough sleep last night. Couple that with my leftover lunch doing a number on my stomach, and that's as good a guess as any.
I was thinking today how lately at work I don't have the time I once did to be in my own head for any length of time. Being the bookkeeper gave me lots of monotonous tasks to complete that freed my mind to wander. Purchasing does not allow any slack at all, and requires all my concentration.
But a fascinating catch-22 came to me: I know it's normal to question if weird things going on with your body are normal, but that doesn't necessarily make the weird things themselves normal. Or maybe it's just a circular argument.
Anyway, I amuse myself when I'm in my own head sometimes, with little gems like these. It helps me from running around in circles waving my hands in the air and screaming like a lunatic. Please don't feel obligated to be amused with me.
So, yah, Heather isn't coming up for her company's training. Because she put in her two-week's notice on Friday. They're still trying to woo her into staying though. Makes her decision tougher, but her position enviable, I say. Nothing like having people fight over you, right?
I could have punched her when I read her email, don't get me wrong, but after a few hours to mull it over, I wrote her a nice email asking for info on the new job and letting her know I was still coming to her wedding. Can't believe she's looking into a new job a month before her wedding!
I can't wait to get on that plane. Wish it was tomorrow. I really need to decide on a fucking hotel though.
I'm still kind of in a fog over Italy. I think it's some kind of shock, after lusting after something for so long, to finally have it within my grasp, I don't know what to do with myself. Especially considering that if I can curb my spending habits for the next 6 months, I should have saved a pretty little bundle to put against the trip. It's times like these that can make a sane person wish they bit their nails.
ps: I make kick-ass teriyaki, yes I do. pppllllllbbbbbbbbbb on Heather missing out.
SUN 5.23.04 @ 11:29pm
We went to see Troy on Saturday. It was entertaining. I'm not quite sure why Jay walked out on before it was over: Paris has always been portrayed as a pansy in any telling of the tale, and he probably missed the part where Orlando channeled his Legolas persona to grab his bow and slay Achilles through the heel. Plus a few arrows in the chest for good measure.
Yes, the acting sucked. And I wasn't all that impressed with the visuals. There were multiple scenes where you could see fake blood being sprayed like it was being pumped through a sprinkler system. But Eric Bana was wonderful to watch as Hector, and Peter O'Toole's still got it: the old man brought tears to my eyes as he pleaded with Achilles to return his son's body.
Really, the biggest problem I have with the movie is its detours from the original story. The siege lasted a decade, not a couple of weeks. Achilles did not kill Agamemnon, as he had a more terrifying fate awaiting him at home at the hands of his own wife. But really, it's the fact that they left out Iphygenia completely that really pissed me off. The most loathesome part of the story is Agamemnon sacrificing his own daughter to the gods for the sake of wind. And they didn't even put that into the movie. Lame, lame, lame.
The rest of the weekend has been spent cleaning this house, getting it in somewhat presentable shape for Heather's visit. She'll probably only be in the house for a few hours this week, but we want it to look nice. I can't wait to see her!
WED 5.19.04 @ 8:58pm
I am going to miss Angel terribly. I actually cried when Wesley died. I told Eric that this was harder than when Buffy went off the air because Sarah Michelle Gellar, at the time, had promised to do at least one guest-stint on Angel the next season. She never did, there's no real spin-off in the works, and now these amazingly complex characters I've grown to love and laugh with are gone.
We are talking seriously about going to Italy next spring. I should be more excited than I am, but instead I'm hesitant. Part of me really wants to invest in the house. Updating and decorating. But I really want to go to Italy, and I want to go before we start a family. And I want to start a family in the next 2-3 years. So, next year is really optimal, because then we'll have a whole year after that to get the house in better shape before planning on a baby coming into the picture.
Anyway, for some reason I'm more nervous and doubtful than excited. Eric kind of blew me away when he said he'd be willing to put alot of the expenses on his credit card if we could save enough to buy the tickets outright and well enough in advance to still get a good deal. We've done this before, twice now. Saved for a year and gone on a wonderful vacation at the end. This time just seems scarier because of the house for some reason.
TUE 5.18.04 @ 8:46pm
My head hurts, so this may be a little scattered.
Heather is making an unexpected trip up here next week for job training. I am so excited! We're going to spend at least 2 of the 4 nights she's here together. Probably just sharing dinner together, since we'll both be working the whole time she's here. But any time with her will be amazing. That's what I miss out on the most because she lives so far away: just casual time together for no good reason.
Of course, the first 2 movies I was planning to catch at SIFF are playing back to back the Wednesday she's here. Maybe I can convince her to see one of them with me. If not, I might just opt out. I'd really like to spend as much time with her as possible!
Speaking of which, we finally bought our airfare to Lake Tahoe for her wedding next month. Still haven't narrowed down the hotel though. We're horrible procrastinators!
iTunes makes it entirely too easy to purchase music! I've already spent over $100 in my first month of allowing myself to purchase there. Now that I've started, I don't know how to stop. I've got another $40 or so in my shopping cart begging me to hit "Buy".
Speaking of addiction... A few months ago I started watching daytime TV again. As in soap operas. I am now addicted to All My Children. Damn Tad Martin! When I was at the UW in 1992, there was this big ad campaign that "Tad Martin" was returning to All My Children. I'd never watched the show, so I watched a few episodes to see what the fuss was all about. And I've been following the plots off and on ever since. In fact, since I've gone to my current schedule, AMC is the only show I watch, and about the only one I care to watch.
Problem is, I want to start heading to work earlier. But for the past two weeks I've been glued to my TV set for my daily hit. ARGH!
So as I ween myself away, I've decided I will work out Tuesday-Thursday in the mornings, followed by getting to work an hour early. Mondays and Fridays I can sleep in and catch AMC before I have to be at work. Those are the best days for soaps anyway.
So I went to the gym today. And last Friday night with Eric. I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't put on any weight since stopping my gym trips within a month of starting back in... January or so. In fact, I am 2 pounds lighter than the last time I weighed myself at the gym all those months ago. That is most excellent. It proves that my moderate dieting is working, and all I have to do is get some regular exercise and I will start losing some weigh!
News of Josie isn't great, but it's not horrible. She had a "turn for the worse" last week, then stabilized again towards the weekend. They were able to do some more surgeries. She is actually doing better at the moment than she was when she had stabilized early last week. Or at least that was this morning's news. For some reason I'm not getting the email updates.
Most disturbing is that Eric gets the impression that she's not actually in a coma, but that they're keeping her under. Because of her condition and pending surgeries. I don't like this. I don't like any of it. Get better, Josie.
THU 5.13.04 @ 7:12pm
I just wanted to update that as of Tuesday afternoon, Josie was doing a little better. Her collapsed lungs were starting to work on their own. They were finally able to do a CAT scan and determine that their was no head trauma. They still have more tests to perform to determine brain damage - she lost a lot of blood, so oxygen to the brain is probably an issue. Vern is in Portland again to be with Josie, so we're not going to hear anything for a few days until more tests have been done. She is still in a coma. Come home Josie.
MON 5.10.04 @ 1:30pm
Please don't die, Josie. I hope that's not a cruel request.
Josie Peterson was in a car accident this weekend. We all went to school with her, but I didn't meet her until sometime after that. I can't actually remember when we met. I just remember her being at my wedding, and we danced to "Rock Lobster" like crazy people. She seemed to love that crazy song as much as I did.
Josie is a nutball. Such a sweet girl, she always treats me like we're close friends, even though I can't recall a single deep conversation with her. She would be my sister-at-arms at boring events. She has this evil sense of humor. A funky flair, an eye for beauty. She loves photography. Last I heard, she had moved to Portland specifically to work at a camera shop there where she would have an important role of some kind.
I think we're all thinking about Vern. Vernon, complicated, mysterious, moral, stoic. Torn. In the end, fallable. Who knew? We all love Vern. We all love Josie. We all love Vern + Josie.
The idea that they may never have their "Ross & Rachel" moment, when they know they should and will be together forever after and let nothing come between them... That's the saddest thought for me. It's likely oversimplifying their relationship immensely, but I think it's all what we hope for them eventually.
If you know Josie, please get in touch with my husband. He will know more details on the donation account Jenni Pertuset will be setting up to help with the costs of Josie's medical bills for her family.
FRI 5.07.04 @ 3:05am
shit. I forgot Ravenna. How could I possibly have forgotten about Empress Theodora??? I must be tired...
ps: I was right about the "Y" shape and which city as at each point!
pps: the Amalfi Coast is SOUTH of Rome. I was hoping not to go south. Fuck.
ppps: Isn't there some important fresco at a monestary at Assissi. Shit. Another day trip to somehow work into Florence. Again, IF you can do that in one day.
FRI 5.07.04 @ 3:00am
crap. today's exchange rates of euros to dollars puts the Euro at 1.2 $$. Crap. That means all those 120EU hotels I looked at will cost me $145. Argh. 21 x $145 = $3045 on lodging alone. holy shit.
air fare, however, makes a HUGE difference depending on what season you travel. I would want to go in either March or April (off-season). $663 per person round trip. As opposed to June $1200 or September/October $880.
Sounds like the best way to save money is on the hotel. And on the eating. I was thinking $100 per day on eating and exhibits. But that's $2100 right there.
I'm assuming we could half that if a) we stay at hotels that include buffet breakfasts with your lodging (continental doesn't cut it), b) eat cheaply except maybe once in Rome and once in Florence. I'm not going for the food, so that's fine by me. But to be in a foreign city where you don't know where the restaurants are, and you're starving for dinner NOW? It could be easy to go over budget a few times.
Next I need to look into rental cars. But because it's an outrage idea to fly directly into Florence ($1600-$2000 instead of $660-$1200), it would not make sense to drive everywhere from Florence. Probably train from Rome to Florence. Day trips from Florence to Siena and Montepulciano (is that one possible?). Then train to Lake Como and Venice. How to fit in the Amalfi Coast? I need to consult maps. I'm pretty sure Rome is South, Florence is North of Rome, Lake Como is the very Northwest corner, and Venice is the Northeast corner. Kind of a big "Y" with Florence as the center. NOB knows, I could be wrong. And after that, I don't know where anything else is.
The logistics of planning a 3 week stay in a foreign country, with multiple destinations, is already freaking me out.
I should go look at a map.
I should go to bed.
FRI 5.07.04 @ 2:18am
oh fuck. why is it that in the mornings, if I sit on the couch or (god forbid) the bed, I can be asleep in 5 minutes. But at night, I can lie awake for hours?
I came out here to "get tired". Or something. I just spent 1.5 hours surfing sites looking for info on travelling in Italy. I bought a book on cheap travel through Italy, and have been paging through it in all my spare time since the weekend. I am now convinced we should not do any more rennovating of the house yet, and instead spend the next year saving to go to Italy. I'm tired of waiting!
Why can't I sleep???
I really want to do 3 weeks in Italy. At least 7 days in Florence. At least 4 or 5 days in Rome. At least 1 night at Lake Como, so probably 1 night somewhere between there and Florence. A day or two in Venice would be nice. I have to see Montepulciano. Apparently, it's a must that I see Siena and the Amalfi Coast. Is that the Italian Riviera, or is that another coast? The things I really want to see can probably be squeezed into a 2 week trip. But with travel from Seattle to Italy likely to take close to 24 hours each way, and a desire to spend at least a day and night exploring London while I have the chance, why cram everything in?
But 3 weeks of living and travelling and eating and shopping in foreign countries will only add to the staggering costs of flights and lodging. We spent over $2000 on our 10-day trip to Hawaii. About $4000 on our 7-day trip to Jamaica. I'm afraid to even guestimate what 21 days in lodging and airfare in Italy will cost, let alone figure in travel between cities, and all the other expenses actually staying there will total. Eek.
I can't even remember how Italy became so important to me. I think I've narrowed it down to high school. I remember having a keen desire to travel in junior high: I wanted so badly to see Greece and Egypt because I was intrigued by their mythology; I wanted to see London because, well, it's London; I wanted to go to Paris because that's where Lestat was so happy before he became a vampire; I wanted to see Germany because I was taking German.
So I think it was my Senior year Humanities class with Mrs. Schuck. The Renaissance just resonated in me. Stuck with me. The works of Michelangelo just floored me. I want to see every single work of art ever produced by him. And every other Renaissance art they have tucked away in Florence. Unfortunately, some of M's work is at the Vatican. *sigh* Days stuck surrounded by Catholic revellers trying to get in touch with MY messiah, the Lord Michelangelo.
Isn't the Mona Lisa Italian? Da Vinci I believe. And yet it's in the Louvre. Fuck. If I was Italy, I would go on a rampage and demand all my national treasures returned. Bah, humbug. Not even accounting for works destroyed or lost, I bet it's impossible to see everything created by Lord M. Bah, humbug. >.<
I do believe I'm rambling. How can one be deliriously tired, and still not fall asleep. Damn the electric fence! Damn the electric fence!
I went to high school with Gary Larsen's nephew. Do you ever wonder what happened to all those hugely talented people you went to high school with that you were sure were going to be famous one day and, well, they still aren't?
I went to high school with Zoe McLellan. She lived a stone's throw away from Eric. She's... kind of famous. She's in IMDB and everything. Starred in that HORRIBLE Dungeons & Dragons movie. And never got another gig again... Actually, we saw her on tv just the other day... Can't remember what show now. JAG? Enterprise? Some show we don't normally watch.
Still babbling randomly I see. Maybe I should try bed again.
THU 5.06.04 @ 11:16pm
Goodbye, Friends. Yes, I cried like a baby. It's very much like when "Mad About You' went off the air. My relationship with Eric grew as we watched that show, and their relationship mirrored ours in so many ways, it was sad when it finally left. There's less in common between us and the characters on Friends, but after 10 years, it's still sad to say goodbye to something you've grown accustomed to.
So what have I been doing? Well, life seems to revolve around keeping sane at work, and entertaining myself when I'm not there.
I read the newest Poppy Z. Brite, Liquor. Hardly like the popular horror novels she wrote years ago (that I only just read this year), but definitely still her style. Her bitchy, scathing characters that still manage to attach themselves to you. It was a satisfying read. Also in books, I picked up the English-translated manga of Angel Sanctuary. You can read my review of the anime here. The manga is very similar to what I remember of the movie, except it has a character that the movie left out. I read it in a day, and am frustrated to hear the next installment won't be out for a month or two. Amazon says there are over 10 of these in Japanese. It would be really cool if they translate all of them, so I know what happens after the movie left off.
In music, I've spent way too much money over at iTunes. I bought the new (only?) albums by Maroon 5 and Jet. I bought Muse's Absolution. I still think the lead singer sounds like a GIRL in "Time is Running Out". I bought an album by a chick named Hayley Westenra - I keep forgetting to look up info on her. Her music is the haunting blend of opera and pop music. Kind of like Celine Dion I suppose, except not annoying. I bought The Best of the Posies because it was dumb that I didn't own anything by them. I bought the last release of Poor Old Lu, that band with incestuous ties to Sunny Day Real Estate and The Posies that Eric introduced me to because he sat next to the lead singer in Chem 101 or somesuch our first year at the UW. We had no idea they were around long enough to release commercially-viable albums. Oddly enough, they only just broke up recently. Weird. Anyway, after all those serious expenditures, I picked up a dozen or so singles I should have in my collection and don't. And I really wish I had the money to buy an album or two by Ryan Adams. His music is... an odd mix. But good.
As for movies, we finally went to see Kill Bill Vol. 2 last weekend. Wasn't as good as the first one, but still good. The girl who played BB was gorgeous. Alas, I missed my chance to see Ewan McGregor's penis (*sigh*) in Young Adam, as I had a migraine that ruined my plans with Susan. But that weekend I also watched The Fifth Element for the 5,000th time, and curiosity had me look up the writer/director Luc Besson. I can't believe how many movies he's involved in that I didn't realize. More importantly, very soon he's going to be responsible for bringing us The Transporter 2 (Jason Stathom is sooo yummie!), Claire Daines + Ewan McGregor ( = yummie squared) in Flora Plum, and this bizarre movie called Danny the Dog that sounds either brilliant or horrible.
Finally, I'm going to purchase my tickets to SIFF 2004 tomorrow morning before I go to work. I'm going to see 10 movies, a respectable number, especially since I saw none last year. 4 of these 10 movies are special screenings, so it's really going to be an obscene amount of cash to shell out for movies. But they all sound worth it. If you care to join me at any of them, here's the list. Oh, and please cross your fingers I don't lose my fucking tickets this year (before seeing a single FUCKING film). Thank you.
BRIGHT FUTURE
Wednesday, May 26, 7:15 PM @ Harvard Exit
DOPPELGANGER
Wednesday, May 26, 9:30 PM @ Harvard Exit
JAGGED HARMONIES
Saturday, May 29, 4:15 PM @ AMC Pacific Place
DONNIE DARKO - THE DIRECTOR'S CUT
Saturday, May 29, 6:30 PM @ AMC Pacific Place
TOUCH OF PINK
Monday, May 31, 3:45 PM @ Egyptian
FACING WINDOW
Friday, June 04, 7:15 PM @ AMC Pacific Place
BEFORE SUNSET
Saturday, June 05, 7:00 PM @ Cinerama
BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS
Sunday, June 06, 3:45 PM @ Cinerama
AN EVENING WITH STEPHEN FRY
Sunday, June 06, 6:15 PM @ Cinerama
LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
Friday, June 11, 7:15 PM @ AMC Pacific Place
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
february/march 2003
2002