Happy Thursday! The fish are doing fine, thank you very much. I got them a new filter/pump, and that sloshes them around while they stare at Edward and Jacob that I taped to the back of the tank. Even Bowie had the Dempsey. It's a tradition.
Also, I forgot that sometimes the hottest part of the year is falltime, and this week reminded me of that. Because, haha, I decided that it was fall now, since it clearly wasn't summer anymore. But even when the sun isn't scalding my skin off at 10 in the morning (haha, you know I mean 11:30), there's a sort of...fallness to the air, which makes me want to create some kind of spicy pumpkin treat.
Last Friday was unique in that it was memorable. Me and Carolyn caught the 11:10 AM showing of DISTRICT 9. It was more like the 11:30 showing, because there were just about a hundred trailers. I don't know if you've heard of DISTRICT 9? I never really caught any press for it other than my insider emails, so I was surprised to see it top the box office its first weekend.
So if you haven't heard anything about it, it's a documentarish account of these aliens who landed over Johannesburg and got put into a slum there. More or less. It's very poignant and harsh, and very much more gory than I expected (Mom, this one's not for you). I liked it more intellectually than viscerally, simultaneously entertained and repulsed. A truly interesting ride. I wouldn't see it again, but I'm glad I saw it? That sort of reaction.
I wouldn't see THE FOX AND THE CHILD again, but I'm mostly glad I saw it. Very pretty cinematography, kind of a MILO & OTIS story-excuse to film animals doing animal things. Better for a younger audience with a longer than average attention span.
I also rented Bioshock for the PS3, since now we're playing a game trailer sampler loop at the store, featuring such things as Bioshock 2, Beatles Rock Band, and the new Kingdom Hearts DS game (want). Bioshock is up my alley in terms of story and setting (gotta love that retro-futurism/alternate history art deco madness), and not up my alley in terms of it being a shooting game. I just can't aim and reload when I need to. Or, I can, but with undue strain to my processing capabilities. Or, I don't like to. I wikipedia'd the storyline, so now I don't have to finish it.
But there's something great about exploring the ruins of an under water utopia, a wary ear listening for sounds of crazed mutants around every corner, and catching instead the scratchy tone of "Beyond the Sea" playing softly from some unseen radio.
Tuesday I rented season one of DEXTER, and Wednesday I watched it. A group had screened the pilot for us in that one class, Christianity and ethics...I cannot remember the name of that class. The one I wrote my thesis for. Senior Sem! (ty, Sam) At the time, I remember being put-off, not by the content, but by the film making. It felt disjointed and unclear...but as I heard from others and now have seen for myself, the first episode is not all that indicative of the show proper.
Liked it better than WEEDS, that's for sure. I was unprepared for how clever this show is, from the narration to the title-plot interactions to the dialogue and of course the mystery. Also the acting! Sharp characters presented by trained professionals. There were one or two episodes, however, where the B-plot seemed superfluous and aimless, but for the most part I really get the show. Strong arc development here; everything (well, almost) wraps up neatly. Next week: season two.
While I was cooking today, I slapped in ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT season three disc one because for some reason I only ever purchased season three. Funny, funny show. Not for everyone, sure, or else it wouldn't have been canceled. Michael Cera at his best, hands down. And everyone else in their own way, some of the best character acting out there. Watching a whole half-season in one go really brings out running gags, especially the repeated lines, which just makes it that much better. Wish I had the first two seasons.
And tonight my mom and me watched MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY. I'd seen ten minutes or so with Megan one time, but now I severely question her reasons for not demanding I sit down and watch it completely. What a charming little film! Talk about art deco--my little pre-War heart was over indulged by its setting and theme. And by beautiful Lee Pace, who didn't quite master his English accent (not nearly as smooth as Frances McDormand, for sure) but toughed it out and was also beautiful. Lil' Amy Adams with her "quirky yet lovable out-of-this-world" character card firmly tucked under her belt. Simple, straightforward, tidy, poignant, and out-and-out charming. Very much worth a rent.
Made this little pasta salad today, good for hot weather. Substituted tuna for the salmon fillet in the freezer, and the roasted peppers for a fresh one, scallions for green onions, and no one really likes capers, anyhow. Used the whole box of pasta, which spread the sauce pretty thin, but oh well. I think it's the first time I've used yogurt or a blender in making dinner, so that's sorta exciting. If you don't have to cook the fish like I did, it's also a very quick and painless little affair.
OH, I almost forgot about the crazy space day we had. There was this fundraiser/craziness in Santa Paula, themed "out of this world" and coordinated to some extent by a family friend. So I totally cosplayed in my BSG digs, as unfinished as it is. But there were true to life adults dressed up in crazy stuff, and some cosplaying in their own right. An ensign/lieutenant couple in the command track (Star Trek), a Leia and Han, a guy with a Bumblebee mask. There was also a guy with a really specific costume, clearly from something, but he disappeared before we could ask him who he was. I decided it was Stargate: Atlantis.
They had old planes strafe us and movie props and stuff lying around, and art deco travel posters depicting space liners en route to Jupiter etc. It was pretty cool. My favorite parts were the posters and the fact that that was something that sometimes sane adults did. Also the "free" food samplings for dinner. It was totally fun and totally dorky.
Arright, that's about all I can report on for this week. I wish you luck, those of you who are back in school or are soon to be. HAHA SCHOOL! I'm so over that.
-Steph
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