Dare mo shiranai Review

Nobody Knows is based on a true story about 4 children who are abandoned by their mother in a Japanese city. The oldest child is a 12 year old boy and his mother "counts on him". She doesn't let any of them go to school and disappears for long periods of time. She leaves money which is never enough and occasional sends some from whereever she is. The director uses shots such as hands, and sweat to tell the story. The kids survive in part due to friends and strangers who show them little kindnesses. The ending is left hanging.

The movie is long and moves slowly. No cyoborgs, creepy noises or seaweed black hair is used. Some vegetation is destroyed. In spite of this, I sat through to the end because it was very engaging. I will rate it 4/5 acorns

When in doubt, stay down.

candsmon related a lesson learned in her story about her piano recital, and it got me thinking. I found my self feeling very angry and victimized by two episodes recently, the one I ranted on previously involving my dad, and another more recently with my ex. Anger comes up so easily in certain situations, and it really takes a lot of "work" for me to "stay down". I rationalize and rationalize, but I have to write it down and read and contemplate for quite awhile before I can see where the irrationality of my initial reaction comes.

What do I have to gain by holding on to this reaction? I know on an intellectual level that I cannot change anyone, "They are...(who they are)". Any perception I have of them is not them, it's really me. Is it a sick attempt on my part to validate myself and invalidate others? Is it my inability to forgive significant others for not being perfect? Is it because I think they are inconsiderate bastards and should be hung even though they are not bastards, just acting in inconsiderate ways?

Clearly this is a place where I get stuck. Like roadwork, there are three choices...detour, turn back or wait for the workers to get out of the way. I suppose if I wait long enough, everyone will get out of the way. In the meantime, I'll work on the detour.

Devil Cat

Poor Baby. She suffers from the ultimate Red Eye nightmare and has been renamed Devil Cat by my son who I was hoping could borrow some nice blue yes I grabbed off the Net and fix them. I'll have to get out the Mask tutorial and figure it out myself.
Baby is old, and has to tolerate life with Willow, and is a tortie shell Siamese. Years of being a solo house cat made her quite antisocial, and pretty much a one people cat. In her senior years, though, and maybe since she started on her new improved diet, she actually shows herself when I am visiting. She won't sit on my lap or let me pet her, but hey, I'm allergic anyway. One of her endearing tricks is to wander around the house a night mewing with her catnip mouse in her teeth.

First Family Whine

Well today I'm trying to catch up on stuff. The termite man came and recomended home treatment and observation. What a relief! I went next door to borrow the Term-Out recommended and while I'm there my dad walks in with 3 lovely homegrown cucumbers. My mom says "oh, would you like one?" and I happily say "Sure!". My dad says with a frown on his face, "No, don't give her any, there aren't too many and I'm going to make namasu" Mom had just given me some of his namasu, and I still have some in my fridge. I'm the only one who eats it, and I'm not that crazy about it.

I reacted to my perceived tone of disdain in his voice and the look of disgust on his face. I'm a fricken grownup, damn it. It hurts anyway. I can't help but think he hates me because I'm divorced and he spends more time with Ex then with me. I think he is too old for me to confront him, and I'm a chickenshit anyway. Where is the high ground?

I hope my yarn comes in the mail today, because that will make me real happy. Maybe I'll move up my massage date, too, and schedule that haircut and color with the magical Misa. Life goes on.

Willow

Here's another grey cat. Her name is Willow and she lives in Tacoma. She is not a snooty cat although she looks it in the picture. She is an undaunted spirit, and loves any kind of attention she can get. If I open the bedroom door in the am, she races in and expects to get under the covers.

Ebony

This is Ebony with her scungey soccer ball. She has two residences, Seattle and Whidbey Island. She likes to jump in the water and retrieve sticks. She doesn't like to give them back, but expects humans to steal the sticks back from her and throw them again. She liked to curl up under the covers when she was a baby. She has issues with other dogs.

A Irish Setter ran me down and took a chunk out of my arm when I was 5, so I have issues with dogs, but I like Ebony and she seems to remember me when I visit. I even walk her and do the pickup chore for her, but I always take extra bags, just in case!

She expects me to touch the scungey soccer ball. Eeeeoooo!

Ted

This is Ted. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin. He likes catnip and tuna. He also would like to escape outside and romp around the neighborhood. He is my sister's favorite of 3 cats. Mimi wouldn't care, but Daisy would be very jealous.

I am allergic to cats although I grew up with many of them, my favorite being Elvis, but Tina being a close second. Two of my 3 sisters have cats, and so do my parents. When I visit, I have to lock them out of my bedroom or I find them sleeping on my pillow! Sneaky things. They also eat yarn.

The Hood Canal

I could have stayed longer in Quilcene, Washington, but drove down the road a bit and had a picnic lunch. Along the way we drove up a mountain and looked off at Seattle in the distance, and Mount Ranier peeking out. I attemped an arty picture of of the odd shaped moon in the park, but between the grainy scanner and the lack of photography knowledge, it is what it is.

40 Year old Virgin Review

Many people I spoke to really enjoyed this movie. It was very funny in parts and the message about relationships was good. All of his coworkers who try to help him are the real clueless ones.

While I found the movie entertaining, this raunchy romantic comedy genre is not my favorite, so I will only give it 2.5/5 acorns.

A Constant Gardener Review

I saw this movie with my sister in Tacoma. It was the third time she watched it. I will either have to read the book or see the movie again as I wasn't able to remember any of the gardening related comments.

The movie will be hard to watch again as it is very sad. John Le Carré has written a very haunting love story. With the Cold War ended, or shall I say uncovered, the real villain is poverty and the unscrupulous that take advantage of it.

The directors of this movie was able portray the violence and love without being overly graphic. Ralph Fiennes was excellent in his role as a man who leaves his garden to find out what happened to his controversial wife and her friend in Kenya.
The music is great.

I give this movie 4.5/5 acorns.

Staying Alive Review

Okay I'm going to get this one out fast! Travolta must hide when this movie plays. The script was horrible and the drama boring. The dancing was silly. The one thing going for this movie is Travolta is very cute!
So .5/5 acorns for the movie and 5/5 acorns for the young Travolta!

Coupeville

I started my trip with my best friend from high school days in Seattle. I spent one night in Seattle, two nights in Coupveille, on Whidbey, two nights in Port Townsend and end in Tacoma after a nice drive down the Hood Canal. What can be better then wine, good food and friends at sunset on the water?
The picture is Penn Cove, on Whidbey Island, Washington.

I have moisture on the inside of my scanner....waaah!

All roads lead to chocolate!

The Japanese exchange gifts on many occasions. There is temiyage and omiyage.
In order to thank somebody, e.g. for an invitation, one often presents a gift (Temiyage) such as a cake, Japanese sweets or sake. Similarly, when a Japanese person returns from a trip, he or she is supposed to bring home souvenirs (Omiyage) for many friends, co-workers and relatives.
Since I am traveling to the Mainland, I like to bring things that aren't available where I am going.
For my friend and one sister, I bring dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts from Ed and Dons. They only have it at the factory outlet. When I got there, the lady offered me "samples". Well, in a flash I had consumed a toffee, the best chocolate dipped mini oreo, the coconut chew, a macadamia nut cookie, and a mocha caramel. All I can say is that it was well worth going off Weight Watchers for it! I have used up all my points for the next 100 years
If chocolate isn't good for me, why does it taste so good?

Boston Legal

This show follows Yoshistune and has Captain Kirk and that shape shifter from Deep Space Nine on it.
The cast includes:
James Spader / Alan Shore
William Shatner / Denny Crane
Mark Valley / Brad Chase
Rene Auberjonois / Paul Lewiston
Candice Bergen / Shirley Schmidt
Rhona Mitra / Tara Wilson
Monica Potter / Lori Colson
Lake Bell / Sally Heep

The characters are not very realistic, but it reminds me a bit of Ally McBeal. I am hooked.

Yoshitsune Kicks Butt!

In 1183 a great battle during the Gempei War took place at Ichinotani between the Taira and the Minamoto. The Taira greatly outnumbered the Minamoto. The were camped on a narrow plain shielded on one side by a mountain range and the ocean on the other side. The strategy of the day was for the attacking army to split and attack from two sides. The Taira expected this and felt the narrow plain would act as a bottelneck and make it easier for them to pick off their enemy. The young emperor and the 3 treasures which where symbols of legitimate power were to be evacuated by boat. Yoshitsune fakes out the small vanguard army defending the side he supposed to attack from and they run away. After that he decides to go straight down the mountain and beats the Taira with his surprise attack.

It is still 2 years from the culmination the war at Dannoura. That battle is made more famous by the tale of Hoichi the Earless, but I better not say anymore, cuz that would be telling.

Yeonriji Review

The English title of this movie is listed as Temptation of Wolves. I know I saw this movie before so I hope this isn't a repeat review, then I'll know I've really lost it! (Assumeing I ever had it ;)
The lead actors and actresses are all very young. It's a soap opera, really, with a sprinkling of martial arts. It reminded me of My Sassy Girl. The two "bad boys" bump in to a new girl in town, and instantly are both attracted to her. The tragic hero knows her but she doesn't recognize him right away. It turns out he has another secret, too.
I sat throught it twice, and enjoyed it both times. I will give it 4/5 acorns even though it's so contrived.

Katrina Relief

As the pictures and stories come rolling in I am paralyzed with the suffering. So many things seem trivial in the face of such tragedy. I ask myself what can I do. Part of me always struggles with not volunteering for the front line. I decided for now, I'm not ready to go to the front line. But, I can make a donation to the American Red Cross

I don't need a new digital camera, DVD player or laptop. There are babies and people out there in need of the basics. So be it.

Vacation Yay!

Free from the schedule
Why did I have to grow up?
I used to sleep in.