Shame On Me

I wish I could be more generous about "The Hangover Part 2," but I really despised this movie. And not because it is crude and vulgar - okay, I get what it is trying to do in terms of its "shock value." I am by no means a prude, and I accepted the raunchy jokes. My main problem with the movie is that I never believed a single frame of it. I thought the writing was lazy, relying on raunch in exchange of a believe plot. This movie is based on a template, not a story. It insultingly mirrors the framework of the same movie, it's as if they were too scared to deviate from the formula for fear it will lose even an iota of its audience. I am not going to pretend and say I am part of the target market of this movie. Still, I came into the movie theater expecting some kind of entertainment, and sadly, never got it. Maybe because I just thoroughly dislike Zach Galifanakis, and I felt that way about him too in "Due Date," which I couldn't finish. I thought maybe Bradley Cooper's piercing blue eyes would keep me entertained, but even that couldn't keep my interest. Above all, I just could not tolerate the blatant homophobia of this movie. It was evident, too, in the first one, and you know what they say about fool me twice, shame on me. This movie made 137 Million Dollars over the Holiday Weekend, so I am petrified about the effect it has on the hate it spews on its target audience. On my way out, a teenage group of guys were talking about it, and apparently shared my dislike of the film, with one of the young boys even saying "It was just not believable." I hope he shares that sentiment with the rest of his peers. 

Serenity

As I get older, there's something about the serenity of silence that I really love. It's dark outside, and I am basking right now in a combo of silence and almost-darkness, and there's a calmness hat fills me. We went to mass today and as a "closing song" the choir sang "America the Beautiful" and deep inside I was thinking, "where is the separation of church and state?" Yes, yes I know I am over-reacting and it is just a song, but this is the kind of manipulative thing that gets me about organized religion. But I am over it (exhale) I really am. 

True beauty consists of purity of heart.
Mohandas Gandhi

I'll Take Romance

I have been catching up on my DVr'd shows (did I just again use a noun as a verb?) and finally finally saw the last two episodes of "Glee" I don't know why I waited - maybe there was a part of me who wanted to savor them. I am glad I did, though. I just watched them this evening, in a relaxed and open mood, and I think it helped me enjoy it more. The "Funeral" episode is a bit manipulative, and I suspect they did it to give Jane Lynch a "meaty" episode to submit for the Emmys. (And please - she should be nominated for Lead Actress) The "new York" episode, however, was, for me, one of the best in this uneven year for them. I know a lot of people weren't fans of this episode, but maybe there's a bit of nostalgia there for me. I missed NYC much more after watching the show. And the bit about Finn/Rachel romantic comedy - that was pure perfection for me. New York never looked more romantic, and it held memories of a New York City filled with romance, one of the descriptions for me of a city I once knew. And it was almost ironic - they lost because of love, Rachel's dreams shattered because of a kiss, just right after her telling Finn she needs to choose her "dream." And the song choices, for once, fit so well. I loved how the men sang "Bella Notte," one of my favorite songs. It gave an old-fashioned vibe to that scene pretty well, and well, I am just a sucker for old fashioned kind of love. (Sigh. Sometimes I still hope there's someone out there for me) I loved how they ended the series - with hope, secrets, romance (Still) Kurt and Blaine, Rachel and Finn, even the pleasantly unexpected Sam/Mercedes pairing (Why do they have to hide their romance, though? And how can they meet in the parking lot when Sam is homeless?Does he have a car?) All in all, a perfect cap to a year of some highs and lows...See you in September... 

"A master of patience is master of everything else."

- George Savile

Goin' For It

I just came back from running errands - and that is the most I have planned for this first day of Memorial Day Weekend. It was a morning for me-me-e - I bought a shampoo and I had my eyebrows threaded. Small things make me happy. I finally caught up with sleep last night - I was out by 6:30 pm, and I was up briefly around 2 am, and then went back to sleep. I hope I have recovered. And I realized earlier that I have a ton of laundry to do, so that is spinning as we speak. I had a long talk with Ritchie - our first since I left NYC. It's his birthday today so I greeted him and he was telling me he had a long-stage job interview, and is seriously considering a move to Minnesota. The job will be in St. Cloud, but they are willing for him to go to work in Minneapolis. I told him I was for it, that I think Mpls is liberal, urban, and very friendly. And the Summers are beautiful there, I told him. The Winters are horrible, but it is horrible every year now back East anyway so what's the diff. If I had a vote, I would say go for it. 

"The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground."

- Anon

Read, Love & Borrow

I have never been the type to read a book after watching  movie based on that book. Usually, it is the other way around for me: I have read the book, watch the movie, and always say that the book was better than the movie. But I guess I like "Something Borrowed," the movie enough to want to read "Something borrowed," the book. I remember saying that this is one of those instances when I thought I had already read the book then I realized...I haven't. Maybe because I saw this cover plenty of times. It was a best seller, after all. Well, after reading this book, I liked it so much that I now want to read not only the sequel to it ("Something Blue") but also everything else that Emily Giffin has written. I loved the storytelling so much - there is so much depth in the characters - they are all flawed, relatable, and real. Even the villain was not as two-dimensional as I thought (though in the movie the shadings of the character was not as pronounced) This book made me think a lot, of the time when I was in New York, and I was young, and I was in love, and I was unsure about my feelings, and I ignored all the warning signs that pointed to the ultimate demise of that love. When you don't know better, you don't act better, but you learn, and you mature, and then you just remember. This is why I like to read what I read. Maybe in a sense, I want to feel old feelings I never thought I would feel again...

BC/18

One A.M.

Here I am, it's one in the morning and am writing a blog entry. My sleeping patterns are, once again, all messed up and I sometimes think I can't get a break. Last night I spet at 8 p.m., and today I slept early again. However, when I woke up about an hour or so ago, I got stuck again in "Can't Sleep" mode. And now here I am. I am caught up in a book I am reading, but figured I could use a break. I saw my DVR'd episode of Oprah's Finale, and I must say it is interesting. I am not a big fan of her "persona" per se, but I think she is tops in celebrity interviews. This last episode did tend to be a lot self-indulgent, and her new ageisms kind of turn me off, but I will not begrudge her the fact that she has helped a lot of people, and in the end, her "doctrines" help and don't harm. I don't buy them all, but this is America, and there's free enterprise. I kind of like her idea of the OWN Network, but I also think it's nothing revolutionary - kind of like a more self-aware Lifetime Network. I would be curious to see where she goes with it. I am off on Memorial Day, and I didn't think I would be, so I made no plans. So it will be a quiet one this year, but then I just realized that the weekend after I will be in LA for Pipo's birthday. Why do I keep on thinking that it is still far off when it's in a week. Curiously, I have nor done any "preparations" for it. But maybe that's for the better. Not everything needs to be listed out. There's really nothing I want to do specifically there but just be there for Pipo on his birthday. And I could use now a little break from all the hullabaloo here. And that has been my 1 a.m. rant !

"Don't grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form."

- Rumi

Happy Birthday Miss Nora Aunor

Sophisticated Memory

Have been so bust and exhausted I haven't had a chance to write about Natalie & Sheena. Cole & Easton. On Saturday night, went to see Natalie Cole at The Canner, and....I am glad I saw her. She is in my to-watch bucket list, having been a fan of her singing and her records since the late 70s. The timber of her voice is still clear - it is unique and reminiscent of a lady trumbet. However, you can really feel her vocal strains. On more than a couple of occasions, you can hear her struggle with some of the higher notes. And there was even one song where she was singing off-key for two lines. I think she was experiencing some kind of health problem. She commented that she couldn't stand and sing and was asking if the audience minded if she just sat. I don't mean to sound that it wasn't a good show, though. I had a good time, and it is still a once-in-a-lifetime treat to see her "duet" with her father in "Unforgettable," which got a thunderous applause. When she launched into her foray in The Great American Songbook, her show soared. There is nothing more serene than listening to her sing "The Very Thought Of You" under a clear spring evening as I look at the twinkling stars. I appreciated her bossa nova songs, but I don't think the rest of the crowd did. And it was a pleasant surprise to hear her say she was singing a song she normally doesn't sing: "Lollipops and Roses," and then I realized that it was the 21st of may, so maybe it was her way of acknowledging Ate Guy's birthday. For the latter part of her show she did her 70s pop hits. She jokes that this is her "Pre-Natalie Colo" phase, before her "Unforgettable" period. I sometimes forget what a great soul singer she was/is. When she sang "Mr. Melody" I realized how much I loved that show growing up. She launched into her "Sophisticated Lady" songs, like "This Could Be (An Everlasting Love)" and "I've Got Love On My Mind." I loved it. The show could use more focusing, I thought. The older crowd who liked her in standards didn't seem to appreciate her soul side. I saw more than a few "Senior Citizen" type leaving. The show is more for an all-inclusive Natalie Cole fan who appreciates her in all her genres. All in all, I am thankful that in my and her lifetime, I got to see her sing live. I'll be taking this memory with me forever. 

Addicting Yawn

Reading memoirs - they can be really rewarding, or they an seem so self-indulgent that you really are left wondering - why the hell did he think his life was so interesting he had to write one? When Bill Clegg's memoir "Portrait Of An Addict As A Young Man" (talk about a self-indulgent title) came out, it got a lot of attention. And I must admit that it caught mine on a very shallow level - the author was/is veyr good-looking. Though the Times panned it, there were enough good reviews to make me want to read it. But the Kindle price was so high. At $14.99, there was no way I was going to purchase it. I kept on checking and waiting for the price to go down but it never did. Last week, I saw a cheap hardcover copy (for a penny!) and grabbed. I was so excited to read it, and sunk my teeth into the thing instantly. Yawn. What a snooze. The story is familiar. Believe me, it's nothing you have not seen before. A yuppy gets addicted to crack, and blows (literally) $70,000 worth of cash. Are we supposed to feel sympathy? Empathy? . There is nothing about Mr. Clegg that made me care for him. He had everything and foolishly threw it all away. It was like watching a train wreck that wasn't really an interesting one. Everyone came out alive. Rich folks lost their car, and then they buy another one. I wonder if this book would have been sold to a publisher had Mr. Clegg not been in the Publishing business. Thank God it was a thin book that I didn't feel like I invested a lot of time in it. My time would have been better off sleeping. 

BC/17

Back To Back

I am still a lot exhausted from the weekend. I was getting vertigo again today, and it was kind of freaking me out. I hope it's nothing serious, and I think it isn't since I feel a lot better right now. I didn't, haven't had dinner yet and I have no appetite for anything. Two days of going out and not resting really took a toll on me. We went to The Cannery on Saturday night to see Natalie Cole, and slept over there, and then yesterday as soon as we got back, went straight to South Point to see Sheena Easton. It was just timing. For some reason, they like to schedule shows up against each other on the same dates. I would like to think it's a coincidence, but is it? I was just thinking how the circle of life works. Todd passed away on Saturday, and Jacky is due to give birth any day now. Life goes on, and we just have to celebrate what is new, and mourn losses. Oh, and just like a phoenix, my HP computer started charging its battery again. 

Have a life for the rest of the day.
Handling too many pieces of paper
is hazardous to your Breathing Space.
~ Jeff Davidson

Lulu Leaves

It was a busy weekend for me, and I was shocked today to learn that my friend, Todd (aka Lulu) passed away last night. It was just like him to be "taken" on the day of the Rapture. I don't even know where to start describing how I feel about his passing. In a lot of ways I still feel numb, maybe a part of me still is in denial.  In some weird way, maybe it was fitting that I just came back from a Sheena Easton concert - he would have liked that as a tribute to him, all "Telephone," and "Strut." I have a lot of fond memories of Todd: we took a trip together in London. It started as a coincidence, and we decided to meet over there, and we even shared a room part of the time. I remember he took me around to all the tourist spots, and was my "photographer." We even went to Long Yang Club and shared a laugh over how stupid that night was. He took me to Heaven and we saw a performance by Kenny Kenny (probably before he was known as "the" Kenny Kenny) I can't remember the last time I saw him, but I do remember the lasttime we spoke. We were at Uncle Charlie's (the new incarnation) and we were telling him about the place - that it was the new Asian bar in Midtown, and that he would think the place would be hilarious. We were laughing hysterically during that conversation. That's how I will always remember him: cooky, funny, one-of-a-kind. Wreck Havoc In Heaven, Lulu!

WIth Lerna At Ta-Ta

Last Night I Couldn't Get To Sleep At All

Oh boy. I couldn't sleep last night. I must have ate something bad and I had stomach pains. (Damn you, Fat Burger!) I was writhing in pain and only after I took 4 Tylenols did I feel a little better. It was already past 3 am when I finally fell asleep. Well. I must be honest, I was also engrossed in playing the Monopoly (in HD) app for the iPad. It was free yesterday and I downloaded it, and it is mad fun. You get to play with different people, or with the computer, or both! And the graphics - they were just so cuuuute! So now I am paying both ways, but who cares, I will just try to recover some sleep tonight. That's if I don't start playing again, though. I was at El Pollo Loco earlier, and the cashier was this very cute Mexican guy. I don't know, but I have just been into Latin guys recently...not that I am still young to do anything, but I still ain't dead ya know. EPL has one of the tastiest fast food chickens, and being fairly new to this coast, I still cannot get enough of it. 

Part of kindness
is loving people more than they deserve.
~ Joseph Joubert (Pensees)
  

Unseasonable

The unseasonably cool weather we are having here is somewhat affecting me. I don't feel too hot this evening - maybe I should blame Thor? I feel like going to sleep early, maybe because I have not really been able to sleep fully the past couple of nights. Oh old age, why thou be so cruel? I got some very good news this morning, my aunt doesn't have to go through brain surgery. Bombet, my very trusted friend, hooked her up with a great neurologist, and she was told that no surgery would be necessary. She is 83 years old, she doesn't need that kind of intrusion in her brain. Our prayers were answered. I am always critical of the Kurt character on Glee, I find, because I think he won't have as much problems if he didn't have such an attitude. But I underestimate the kind of impact he has on today's youth. There's an intern in the office who is a big fan of the show and we got to talking. She told me she has a huge crush on Darrin Criss (well, who doesn't?) but she also told me that she thinks Kurt is just as handsome and adorable, and she sighs, she says she wishes he wasn't gay because she would get on with him in an instant. I didn't know how to react, I almost threw up in my mouth a little. Then she says, "He inspires me," and I was going to ask in what way, but I thought, it doesn't matter. A lot of people look up to him, and I guess he is positive enough of an influence. Who the hell am I to judge?

Chance is always powerful.
Let your hook be always cast.
In the pool where you least expect it,
will be a fish.
~ Ovid

I'm Thor-Ry

I wish I could say I could write an intelligent discourse on the movie "Thor," which I saw tonight. It was the first time I have ever seen a movie on 3D, which I guess gives you an idea about what kind of movies I watch. The visuals astounded me, for sure, but the sun shining everyday astounds me, too. Chris Hemsworth's abs astounded me, Natalie Portman's overacting astounded me. But the whole movie? Meh. I wish I could say why, but perhaps it all boils down to what interests me. I found it bereft of real human emotions. As we were leaving, a man was exclaiming, "There weren't enough action scenes," and I don't think adding more would have endeared it to me. I sometimes wish I coud say I hated the movie, but it didn't move me enough to hate it. So again, meh. I'm Thor-ry.