The Warrior's Way Is Not MY Way

Whenever you find yourself perusing movies and catch sight of one you've never heard of with semi-noteworthy actors, just walk away.  Walk A-WAY.  An action/sci-fi/western called The Warrior's Way with a hot, sword-wielding Korean guy (Jang Dong Gun) and Geoffrey Rush was intriguing.  I was even willing to tolerate Kate Bosworth.  Ah, what folly.

Yang is the best swordsmen who ever lived (these words actually flash on the screen like a cheesy comic-book movie) and refuses to kill the last remaining member of the opposing clan, a baby girl (she's the best part of the film).  He becomes a hunted outcast and travels with the baby to the American West to visit with an old friend.  The friend's not there (I don't think why was ever clearly explained), but Yang finds himself taking over his friend's laundry business and befriending the town carnival people (complete with a dwarf, a bearded lady, and clowns) and a pretty lady.  Geoffrey Rush plays the town drunk who is "more than meets the eye" and Kate Bosworth is an Annie Oakley character named Lynne with swords instead of guns, red hair, and a traumatic past.  I don't want to give anything away, but the story leads up to a big showdown between outlaw cowboys and samurai warriors with Yang, Lynne, and the townsfolk caught in the middle.

I like flying samurais as much as the next gal, but they do not magically solve the problem of a shittastic script.  I probably could have enjoyed the movie with better dialogue and no voice-over because, hey, it's a cool idea, and the special effects weren't too bad if we ignore the illogical blood splatter.

It's not a complete loss though.  I've learned I can transport a baby by hanging her off of a giant stick much like a hobo's bindle-stick.  And I can say I've seen GR's bum-crack.  (It's especially disheartening to see GR in this film after recently watching a film as good as The King's Speech.)  Plus, I now know of Jang Dong Gun and want to see the Chinese film Wu ji (The Promise) even though I'm sure it will make me cry.

By the end of this week, I'll see how cowboys vs. samurais compares to cowboys vs. aliens.

Neko Case - People Got A Lotta Nerve

I've been enjoying some Neko Case of late.  I love the knitting in the beginning of the video for "People Got A Lotta Nerve" and of course, the elephants. :)  The animation is by Paul and Julie Morstad.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I haven't read the Twilight series and have only seen bits of the movies, yet, I felt like I was reading an adult version of the Twilight romance that made me want to yak -- And I like romance. The main characters were likeable on their own, but I had more interest in the minor characters and the plotline twists and turns. The novel is well-written and has a unique approach to the overwrought vampire/witch/daemon story; however, the use of "creature" to describe the non-human species inexplicably bothered me. Unfortunately, the author's academic professorship shows through in lectures about the practice of yoga, genetics and evolution, and obscure historical figures. However, the dialogue made me laugh out loud several times in a good, intentional way. I won't be anxiously anticipating the next installment of the trilogy, but I might read it eventually.



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Pears' Soap

Wandering around Dollar Tree, I noticed bars of Pears' soap for sale.  Until recently, that soap brand was meaningless to me.  But it just so happens to be one of the advertisements on the back of the magazine illustration Ali gifted me last week.  Pears' is the original transparent soap and was first produced and sold by Andrew Pears in London, England in 1789.  I figure something still going strong 200+ years later is worth a try.  Apparently, in the last few years the company has adapted the pioneering formula to create a "Gentle Care" soap that has a softer texture, lasts half as long, and smells different.  I must say, the first thing I noticed was the scent, and not in a positive way.  In response to consumer complaints, adjustments are supposedly being made to mimic the original scent.  I hope they succeed.  It lathers well with lots of suds and didn't blind my eyes (always a plus).  Not bad for $1.  And interestingly, it's now made in India.

Incidentally, Dollar Tree also has the best terry cloth headband for face-washing I've come across in recent years.  It's stretchy, soft, wide, doesn't fudge up my hair if I wash my face in the middle of the day, and of course, it's inexpensive.

Other Pears' soap advertisements range from adorable (left) to super offensive (right).

Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine - 1-2-3

My previous post gave me an idea -- I wonder if it's possible to make a playlist of songs that include counting?  A counting song I sang to myself when I was young (and still do sometimes) is "1-2-3" by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.

The Decemberists - Rox in the Box

I forgot to mention that Mama bought me The Decemberists' album The King Is Dead at the Borders "Going Out of Business" sale on my birthday.  Let me just say, it's not much of a sale and demonstrates why I so rarely actually bought books and CDs at Borders (unless on extreme clearance).  Now, coffee, that's a different matter entirely.  Yes, the album was released months ago; I am slow.  And I suppose I'm weird because I still buy hard copies of music (and not in the form of vinyls).  I think my current favorite is "Rox in the Box," and I'm really enjoying Gillian Welch's additional vocals.

I just love NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts. :)  Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek is contributing fiddle and vocals on tour.

Also, I love this skull illusion concert poster for The Decemberists.

This may be the cutest bag EVER!  

iMoshion 'Tulip' tote

Birthday Girl

So, my birthday (which I shall not number) was yesterday and I had a lovely, relaxing day.

My family bought me the Fossil elephant wallet I blogged about here.  YAY!  (And there's another something on its way if the UPS delivery man ever removes his head from his ass.  There is no excuse for continual incompetence.)  My friends gave me a book of dog sweater knitting patterns and a tinkling elephant wind chime.  Now, I know some people don't understand dog clothing, but winter is a perfectly acceptable time to dress your dog because short-haired dogs shiver in the cold.  No joke.

 

And then I got myself a little something today.  I can't resist pretty picture frames and dreamy scented candles.

Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good

I really hate when people die on my birthday. :(  Rest in peace, Amy Winehouse.

Fabric Wallet

Like any girl, I change out my purses/wallets every now and then.  Recently, I started using the fabric wallet I purchased in Covent Garden several years ago.  My wallet is the product of a London-based pair of Brazilians who share the company Beyond Fabrics.  If I had any skill with a sewing machine, I might be able to make something like this myself, but um, I don't.

Under the Sea

I've been itching to go to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for some time, and in celebration of my birthday (and because they are also 12-year-olds at heart) my friends agreed to go with me. :)

Like I said, I was really excited.  (Find nail decals here.)

I was especially looking forward to the seahorses because I'm in the midst of reading this:

But alas, only one seahorse species remains.  Boo!

There were bright fish, dull fish, odd fish, stingrays, sharks, turtles, snakes, birds, and so forth.  

Something new and different was the Jellies Invasion exhibit.  Now, generally, I'm not a big jellyfish fan because I was stung more than once at the beach as a child, but behind glass, they're pretty.

We ate at Hard Rock Cafe out of desperation.  Overpriced, mediocre food if you ask me, but we weren't going to trudge across the Inner Harbor during a heat wave in search of something better.  (On a side note, we followed two people inside with bags that referenced a Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference.  Never knew there was such a thing.)  We were seated in close proximity to a creepy bronze bust of Mick Jagger, but while we waited for our food, we rocked out to Journey on the television screen.

Special thanks to the lovely ladies who accompanied me!  Always remember, love will find you!

"The Father of a Thousand Girls"

Happy early birthday to me!  Ali and I went to a local antiques store in search of old tidbits for her archaeology summer camp session, and while there, she bought me a vintage print that I coveted the last time I visited the shop.  Yay!

The vintage print is a cover of the American Sunday Monthly Magazine illustrated by Harrison Fisher (to whom the title of this post refers) in the early 20th century.  I love the woman's one-shouldered blue dress and her gauzy wrap.  I love the couple's downcast eyes toward whatever might be in her hand as if they share a secret.  And I love that someone who lived 100 years ago loved this picture enough to save it.

Ali also let me pick out some stuff from the jewelry grab-bags she bought.  I now have a bitchin' long, dangly necklace of green beads and gold chain, as well as some adorable mini-cameo earrings (even if they are screw backs).

Dragon Tales

I've always been a regular library patron, but lately I've been spending more time in the children's library than in seeking out titles for myself, filling my Mary Poppins bag with books, books, books. 

(Although must seek out Shadowfever by Karen Marie Monig - the final book in a series I said I wasn't going to finish. Reading about Unseelie before bed = weird, weird dreams, even for me.) 

My completely unscientific method of finding suitable, engaging children's books (because believe me, just like with adult selections, there are some where you're like, "How did this get published??") is  to park myself in front of a particular shelf and browse, keeping in mind my audience; Lily, William, Sarah, Rachel, John, Charlie, and now Mae. Last time I was in H/I, this week, R-S-T. I like to read books before I check them out, but last week's visit was abbreviated because Martin was closing for a private banquet at 4:30. But I still did good, albeit with Dad's help. 

 

This is the Farmer by Nancy Tafuri 

Dad actually picked this one, after I asked for his help. Charlie picked it up off the table, started reading it herself and then ASKED me to read it to her, which, given that Charlie isn’t as into books as some of the other 6-year-olds I know, says something right there.

At the Firehouse by Anne Rockwell 

William, for whom I chose this book, loved it, as well he would given his love of all things related to fire. (Last week I brought him Mary Ann Hoberman's adaptation of Mrs. O'Leary's Cow.) I liked it too, in spite of the anthropomorphic Dalmatians.

The Egg by M.P. Robertson

This was, without question, the serendipitous find of the week. Sarah literally squealed when she found it in my backpack. (“You got the egg?!?!? I LOVE The Egg!!!!) And it’s been equally loved by everyone else to whom I've read it.

Because what's in the egg? Nothing other than a DRAGON. (Whether a Norwegian Ridgeback or a Hungarian Horntail, I couldn't tell you.) George (because of course the main character in a book about a dragon would be called George) doesn't so much TRAIN his dragon as mother it; since the dragon has, of course, imprinted on him. 

Charlie however was, God bless her, concerned about the third lesson, “How to Distress a Damsel. 

After I explained that damsel was an old-fashioned word for girl. (French-derived. Like Mademoiselle, get it?) Charlie still wanted to know who this girl was and why was she tied up. She completely rejected the notion that she was WILLINGLY tied up as part of the game. (Although, in a tangentially related note, this week Sarah discovered that her sister would LET her tie her up with jump ropes--once anyway--this even BEFORE we’d read The Egg.) 

Her conclusion? George, despite his studious and innocuous appearance, wasn't really a very nice boy after all. 

Good for her.

Now my damsel, if only you’d sleep in your own bed and go to bed without a fuss.  

“What if there are no damsels in distress, what if I know that and I call your bluff. Don’t you think every kitten figures out how to get down? Whether or not you ever show up.”

Emily's Charms

Two of my friends share today as their birthday, so I'm unlikely to forget the date.  I found the cutest charms by Rustic River Designs for them at one of my favorite local jewelry stores.  At the time of purchase I had no idea these charms are made in Emily, Minnesota.  Hell, I didn't even know there was an Emily, MN.  Awesome! :)

Louise Burns - Gardenia Blues

I flove her ring!

Today's new discovery is Louise Burns.  Her first album won't be released until August, but that's why we have the Internet. :)  Personally, I'm enjoying "Gardenia Blues."

Independence Day

Happy American Independence Day!  Here's one of my favorite speeches about Independence Day from imaginary President Thomas J. Whitmore.