I Liked The Anne So Much, I Bought The Company!

crewchika: oh boy
crewchika: your favorite person is going to tokyo
GomsHat: Is it me?
GomsHat: Am I going?
GomsHat: I hope you're going to take pictures
GomsHat: and I want you to notice the first afternoon you are there
GomsHat: That you can not see the sky
crewchika: I will be most happy
crewchika: to take a gazillion pictures
crewchika: did I tell you we are climbing mt fuji
crewchika: A MOUNTAIN
GomsHat: Are you climbing or taking the tram things up?
crewchika: climbing
GomsHat: Awesome
crewchika: I am very, very excited
GomsHat: I demand your pictures on return
crewchika: I bought a special memory card for that purpose
crewchika: holds anywhere from 900-1200 pictures
crewchika: and I'm bringing my laptop to upload them asap
crewchika: so count on updates
GomsHat: I want you to show them to me so you can explain each one
GomsHat: I know what you are most excited about though
crewchika: being amongst people my height?
GomsHat: Damn it!
crewchika: aha!
GomsHat: Who the hell made that joke first
crewchika: I made that joke
crewchika: come on now
GomsHat: Bah
GomsHat: I shake my fist at you
crewchika: that's going in my livejournal

( oh and....that's hot... )

I love John Cusack. I'm not anxious to have his babies or anything, but the man is a talented actor- I don't think I've seen a single movie he's been in that I didn't like. 1408 has had some decent reviews, though some basic complaints I saw described a lac of plot finality and explanation, but I decided to give it a shot. I'm going to mention some exact moments in the movie, so if you still want to be surprised I'd stop reading here.

All in all, I enjoyed it- it's not a favorite, but it's worth a mention. The dialog for the mostpart was good, and Samuel Jackson has an almost ridiculous cameo in it that I enjoyed immensely. Honestly, that man can make any movie he wants and still come out on top- I think he's the one actor who isn't viewed in a negative light when he takes on a bad movie. Snakes on a Plane was an obvious joke, and you just have to love someone who has that much of a sense of humor about himself and his work.

Anyway, the first few scares jolted me, but I did find the last 20 minutes or so of the movie somewhat disappointing. The 'maybe it was just a dream' scenario is somewhat tired, and I thought the woman they chose to play his ex-wife was a bit...blank, I suppose. She just didn't seem as tortured as he was, and given they'd lost their daughter and it destroyed their marriage and any semblence of the life they'd wanted together I think his was the more appropriate reaction. I'm aware their relationship was not the main point of the story, but it did have a bearing on several plot-points and it could have stood some more serious thought. Besides that, I liked that they didn't make the daughter into something that suddenly turns evil or grabs and bites him ('shock! it's really a demon'). The Ring, The Grudge, Acacia- I am finished with the scary little kid idea, I was done with it the moment I saw it.

All this aside, it's a decent movie, and I would recommend it.

AND I LEAVE FOR JAPAN IN A MONTH! THE JOY, THE UTTER RAPTURE!

oh, yum to travel. I shudder to think this year would have been like without a month-long interlude in Japanland. It isn't so much the job, but some of the people in charge of my training should be promptly rapped on the head with an iron bar. There's a 4.5% raise coming our way july 1st, which is lovely, and unusual, though it really doesn't account for the years of pay missed because of Chesapeake being the lowest paid police department in the state. People who have been there for 22 years are making $40,000. If I worked somewhere where I'd started out making less than $30,000 a year, I'd damn well be making at least $60,000 at the 22 year mark. Though it's not like I'll be there for anywhere near that long, so I suppose there's no harm done.
But enough about this. I have a job, with health insurance and benefits, a charming boyfriend with flaming red hair, and Paris Hilton went to jail. Some things are very, very good.

I had the oddest dream the other night. It's difficult to remember some of it, but I believe I'll try to draw some of it, and scan it in rather than explaining the entire thing. I was in a futuristic version of our world, and I knew about a sort of manhole in the middle of a clearing the woods that led down to an entirely different world...to look at it, it looked like nothing more than an abandoned well cover, but once it was removed a few rusty rungs down a polished white circular white portal, like you might find on a submarine, was made visible. I remember climbing down and closing it behind me, knowing that no one could enter unless I invited them. The first room was beautiful. It was filled with young saplings in patches of lush green grass, with small light flowers everywhere- the trees were budding and were all covered in white christmas lights, which gave off the only light in the room. It was peaceful, and there were people here and there that I'd brought down at some earlier date. I remember realizing that the elderly, even those who were ill or senile, could be given renewed strength and mental awareness in this other world, and I had brought an older woman with me who instantly seemed younger in body and mind. There were other adjoining rooms, with skies above, which were contained without feeling like we were underground. The air was fresh and clean, and there was a beautiful organic sense around the entire place.

sooo...Slither. Pretty much.
( shocked and appalled! )
By far one of the dumbest horror movies I've ever seen. It's obvious that it's made to be stupid, however, which is the movies one redeeming quality. Nathan Fillion (Mal from Serenity) and Elizabeth Banks (the crazy chick from 40 year old virgin) both have main roles. Even Jenna Fischer from the office has a brief cameo. The movie holds its own with some fairly decent wit, but it is thoroughly disgusting...which I suppose is the point, being a horror flick.

I still turn to Turner Classic Movies for the good stuff, though. There is something so wonderfully soothing about the wonky sound and crackly picture of an old movie. Perfect for a rainy day with a cup of hot tea.

I would also like to recommend a couple of fabulous movies for your viewing enjoyment. Pans Labyrinth was astoundingly beautiful and held my interest the entire way through, despite a couple of disturbingly graphic torture scenes. V for Vendetta, which has been on HBO frequently for the past few weeks, also holds a place in my recent favorites. Both are worth owning.

I just spent my afternoon as a hostage in a police training activity. Awesome.

Mothers day I went to Richmond and spent most of the day with my mom browsing through nurseries and working in the garden.

( mothers day... )

Good things:

- New promising career as police dispatcher- A couple of years of certification and solid, meaty paychecks and I will migrate to Boston and complete art school. This is one hopeful theory.
- New car. My transmission is acting wonky, and it costs more to fix it than it does to buy newer used vehicle from a friend. New car includes new cd player, new speakers and new ipod dock, none of which were in my much loved but very finicky volvo of 20 years. Sadness, but relief to be in a reliable vehicle.
- FINALLY, SOME TRAVEL! 3 weeks in Japan with a possible side-trip to Thailand or China is planned for late July early August. The trapped, penniless feeling is beginning to leave me. I am so euphoric at the thought of experiencing another part of the world I can barely contain myself.

The Bad:

A year ago Easter gram died. That whole time was such a terrible blur, it didn't even register with me until the day had passed. I felt guilt immediately - but also the strong sense that she would hate the thought that I'm concentrating more on the worst day of her life than all of the beautiful, amazing moments I shared with her. I know everyone is missing her, deeply. The family still feels strange and separated from each other, and there are no signs that this will change any time soon.

But things are improving, slowly. The only thing to do is wait.

I got the job at the police department. Come monday I will be a dispatcher trainee. The best part? It's full time, pays about $15 an hour and includes free health insurance with the city. I'm also able to take that trip to Japan this year because of the pay and because I let them know before I was even accepted. A new intensely stressful but highly beneficial job and a 3 week trip to Japan. This year is improving.