texchan: aya with his bazooka, from WK OP #2 (Default)
Went to the kiddo's first school play today. A rousing rendition of "The Little Red Hen". All the kids had to wear yellow or white shirts (because they were all chicks), and they had little hats with beaks on them. Well, sort of "hats" -- they were made from construction paper and stapled to a little band that went around their heads. (I made the hats/beaks/whatever-you-wanna-call-'em for my daughter's class. Oooh, fun! =D)

more, more, more! )

Aaaaand, that's all folks. I guess. =D
texchan: aya with his bazooka, from WK OP #2 (Aya Gluhen Rilezu)
I had a Harry Potter sort of day today.

I dragged the hubby off to see the newest HP movie this morning. We hit the earliest show in the hopes of missing some of the crowds, which worked. We had great seats. I know a lot of folks weren't wild about the movie, but I really liked it. I know they had to leave a lot out from the book, but I actually enjoyed the quick pacing of the film. Also, I thought they did a pretty good job of condensing things without losing the basic strain of the story. But, that's just my opinion. I'm certainly no expert -- on either movies or Harry Potter stuff.

Then, I picked up my copy of Book 7 this afternoon. I had reserved a copy a month or so ago. I was going to wait until tomorrow to get it, but we were out running around and near the book store. So, I decided to pop in and pick it up. Me and about a bazillion other people. We hit a lull, so the lines weren't very long to check out. But the poor store staff looked exhausted. I'll bet they were having a very rough day.

Yes, I have started reading the book, but I'm not very far. Only about 30 pages in. I don't plan on seriously trying to get into it until, probably, sometime next week. I'm currently reading a novel by C.J. Cherryh -- the fourth in a series -- and I want to finish it first. The moment I got my copy of the book in hand, though, I flipped to the back, just so I would know how it ended. And, yes, I did go around and read some spoilers this afternoon -- hee. Well, spoilers don't hamper my enjoyment of the book ... and I'm just evil that way. The only reason I hadn't read the spoilers before was that I've been busy and didn't think it worth the time. Yeah, I'm kind of weird like that.

We also went to see Transformers tonight. That movie kicks so much ass. 'Nuff said. I'm definitely getting it when it comes out on DVD, and I wish I could see it again in the theater. Such a great movie.

I think I really like the new design for my main website. I feel a little guilty thinking that -- like, maybe it's wrong of me or something, since it was my work and all. At the same time, I'm glad I feel that way, because it was my work. And, it was a heck of a LOT of work to get it done, too.

I've gotten a pretty decent start on my book. I have the "prologue" part done, which is a pretty decent length, and the first chapter of the next part done. I started on chapter 2, but the past couple of days haven't been very good for writing because of family obligations and such. I was going to work on it tonight, but my head is throbbing and I'm too damn tired to think. So, I hope to get something done on it tomorrow. I feel like I have a decent start on this thing, and I really don't want to lose my momentum.

I'm watching Louie the Rune Soldier, courtesy of the recent ADV sale. I really like this show. Louie is so irritating, but, just when you're about to write him off, he does something rather endearing and a bit heroic. It's one of those shows that is funny and, yet, not. Yeah, I know that makes no sense, but ... heh.
texchan: aya with his bazooka, from WK OP #2 (Bazooka Aya)
I'm a happy fangirl this morning (although it's almost noon at my house, which, I think, also makes me a lazy fangirl). Anyhow ... happy fangirl-ness.

Why, you ask? Or, maybe you didn't, but I'm going to tell you, anyhow. (Yeah, this journal sux like that, doesn't it? ^.~)

I got a new Aya cel! Heh. See? You knew it would have to be something Aya-related, right? Sadly, I am that predictable. Ah well. Technically, it's not the "best" Aya cel out there, but I like it a lot. It's pretty much a full set-up, which is so, so cool. And, I love the "glowy" colors in it. Plus, I can't seem to get enough cels of Aya yelling. I have no idea what's up with that. I try not to overthink it, really. I don't want to scare myself.

So ... linkage: Argh! I'm on fire! (or not)

And, in other news ...

Hubby and I watched The Weatherman last night, courtesy of Netflix. It was a very different movie. I am a big Nicholas Cage fan, so I usually like him in any role he plays -- although I did NOT like Leaving Las Vegas. Anyhow, I quite liked this film. I think. I know that sounds odd, but it was an odd movie.

At first, I thought it was funny. But, then, as I watched, I realized that, although it was funny on the surface, there was something incredibly sad and desperate about this character and his situation in life. He had a life that, on the outside, many people would envy, with regard to his job. And, yet, there was so much on the inside that was wrong. The way he almost idolized his father, to the point where he realized he could never be the man he believed his father wanted him to be ... the way he couldn't hold his marriage together and blamed himself for that, although he definitely wasn't the only one at fault ... the way he continued trying, desperately, to connect with his kids and always ended up feeling like he had fallen short. It was all so ... well, sad.

OK. So, it's a sad movie, I thought to myself. But, I kept watching ... and I realized it wasn't sad. Not really. Because, at the same time there is this sort of reaching desperation within the character of Dave Spritz, there is also something very heroic about him. Yes, he is basic and ordinary and flawed. But, aren't we all? And the thing was -- he kept on trying. No matter how many times he felt or looked like a total ass, he just kept trying. Right up until the end, when he realized he didn't have to try so damn hard. That all he had to be was ... himself. I guess it sounds strange to consider that a "victory", or to consider those qualities heroic in a character. But, consider this -- it's easier not to try. It's easier to walk away when things don't go your way. I should know. I do it all the time. And, thus, I am not nearly the human being Dave Spritz is.

Either way ... funny, sad, heoric ... I think The Weatherman is one of those movies that makes you think. And, it's one of those movies you have to watch a few times before you really feel like you've "got it". Even then, maybe you never will get it -- not really. But, hey, that's part of life, too, right? I don't know. Maybe it's just me, being weird. I mean, when Dave was sitting at the food court in the mall, thinking about how people always throw fast food at him, and, all of a sudden, he realizes: "I'm fast food." I couldn't decide -- was that a sublimely ridiculous moment, or one of the most profound movie epiphanies of all time? Maybe I need to watch the movie again to decide, but I'm kind of leaning toward "epiphany".
texchan: aya with his bazooka, from WK OP #2 (Touch Me Touga)
Just wanted to jot down a couple of thoughts on the book I finished reading yesterday, as well as The Illusionist, which my hubby and I saw just this afternoon. No better way to spend a rainy day than seeing a movie. Well, I suppose reading a good book is just as nice, too. Which makes it somehow logical to combine these two topics here. After all, it's raining at my house, courtesy of Hurricane Ernesto; makes me feel like everything has come full circle, at least in this tiny way. Ain't life just strange like that sometimes?

First things first ...

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella.

I have to say I loved this book. It's such a funny read; I laughed all the way through it. I really identified with the heroine, Samantha Sweeting. And, if you have ever dreamed of just chucking it all and running away, I think you'll love this book, too. On the eve of her partnership into "The Big Law Firm", super finance attorney Samantha Sweeting makes a mistake of epic proportions, which ends up costing her client in a huge way. Samantha, always high-strung, is overwrought with guilt and unable to face what she has done. She goes into sort of an emotional meltdown, hopping the first train out of London, and getting off ... well, in some small village a few hours away. She has no idea, at first, where she is. She is nursing a migraine from hell and shell-shocked by the realization she has ruined her career, and, somehow, she manages to stumble into the Geiger household -- just when the Geigers are looking for a housekeeper. Somehow, Samantha, who hasn't the first clue with regard to any sort of housework, lands the job. And, in the process, she finds something she had believed lost for good -- her life.

OK. Confession time here. When I was in law school, I had this very vivid, recurring fantasy. Each time I was on my way to school, or on my way home ... really, whenever I was in the car. I would take nothing with me, but just get in the car and drive ... as far and as fast as I could. And, I would keep on driving until I ran out of gas. Wherever that happened to be, I would stop and get a job -- any kind of job -- until I had enough money to put gas in my car once more, and, then, I would drive again. Of course, I was in North Texas at the time, which meant that, should I drive until I ran out of gas, I would likely end up on the far side of Nowhere. Plus, I had "obligations" ... and people counting on me to "do the right thing". So, in my heart, I knew it could never happen. Besides, you can't really run away from yourself or the life you pick. Even so, this little fantasy/daydream, as simple as it was, sustained me through three years of law school and, then, through a couple of really horrid jobs in the legal profession. Needless to say, I identified with Samantha right away. I think that made this book that much more enjoyable for me -- because she succeeded in doing what I never could. For that, I love her and cheer her on whole-heartedly. But, even if you're not a lawyer, if you have ever had a horrible job or a terrible boss or just a shitty day, I think you can identify with that urge to run away from it all. It's a really attractive idea, even though, as we grow up, we realize we can't run away from ourselves. No matter how far we run or where we go ... we're always there waiting for ourselves at the end of the line.

The Illusionist

I have only three words for The Illusionist, starring Edward Norton and Jessica Biehl, and they are this:

SEE THIS MOVIE!

With a rainy afternoon ahead of us, my husband and I decided to catch a flick. My mom is visiting, so we have kiddo-free time -- something rare in our household at the moment. Since we hardly ever get to go out, we haven't kept track of the movies, although my hubby had heard a little bit of positive buzz about this one. On the whole, though, I went into it with no expectations. I had heard nothing, and I knew next to nothing about the film.

This movie just blew me away. I'm not a big fan of Jessica Biehl, but she was tremendous in the role of Sophie. Edward Norton, as always, was a master in the title role. I thought the film had a marvelous supporting cast, the scenery was beautiful, and the movie was beautifully shot. The plot was an illusion in and of itself, and I do mean that as a compliment. At first, it seemed like such a straighforward premise. It's not until the very end of the movie that you realize exactly how intricately worked and woven this story is. The word "graceful" comes to mind when I think of a way to describe the movie's plot. This was one of those rare movies that draws you right into the picture ... where you look up at the end of the film, surprised to find yourself in the here-and-now with a couple of hours having passed you by.

So, really ...

SEE THIS MOVIE!!
texchan: aya with his bazooka, from WK OP #2 (Default)
Gacked from Lucidscreamer's LJ. This one was just too darn fun to pass up.

And, I think I hit the mother lode with my result. Either that, or I've been writing waaaay too much WK fanfiction. o.o


Mmmm... fangirly.
You're a bishounen!

You're male, but people often mistake you for the other option. You're unfeasibly thin and pretty and always have perfect hair, often surrounded by sparkles/sakura/roses. You almost certainly have a tragic backstory which involves one or more of your parents, and are liable to have a Tragic Destiny (TM). You were almost certainly invented by a female mangaka, are worshipped by a female audience, and your life is characterised by periods of extreme pain and angst. Sucks to be you.

Which generic anime character are you?




In other news, I finally got to see Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest. Loved, loved, loved the movie. Hated, hated, hated the ending. And, even more than that, I despise the fact that I'll now have to await the third movie to find out what really happens. *sigh* Although, my little geekazoid fangirl heart is obscenely happy that it seems there will be a third movie. Yeah. I know. I'm an enigma. *silly grin*

Oh! And I almost forgot ... I added a really wonderful wishlister cel to my cel gallery. I already had one shot from this particular scene, but this little gem was the exact shot I had up on my "want" list -- so I was pretty excited (in that drooling fangirl way :P) over getting it.

Smiling Chibi Ran (from Weiss Kreuz)
texchan: aya with his bazooka, from WK OP #2 (Default)

Jerked out of a sound sleep this morning by the most excruciating stomach cramps. What a rude, rude awakening and such a bizarre occurrence, too. I can't, for the life of me, figure out what caused them ... although it's probably an overflow of the stress and tension I've been channeling lately. Bleh. At any rate, since I'm up and (sort of) about ... decided it was a good time to do some updating in here. Not that I really have anything amusing or even remotely interesting to share, but ... oh well. *insert big shoulder shrug*

Seems like the weekend just shot by at light speed. It's so strange when that happens ... especially since, without fail, I am never able to look back and figure out just what, exactly, made the days seem so full that time flew like that. On Saturday, I went to see the new Harry Potter movie. My gosh, but it was good! At least, I thought so. I had debated over waiting a week or two to see it, figuring the theater would be super crowded ... but, I have been looking forward to this movie's release for a long time. So, I sucked it up and braved the crowds. And, for the record, the theater was full! Didn't matter --- I still managed to lose myself in the film's magic, and passed an enjoyable --- what? --- 2 hours? hour and a half? Well, however long it lasted, anyhow. My only gripe is that so much of the book was left out. I can understand why. I mean, the book was really huge. Making a movie without cutting anything out would have been impossible. Still ... *insert whine* No matter, though. I can always return to the book whenever I want to relive the entire adventure.

Read more... )

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