Sharp Enough?

Whenever I read a book before seeing a movie based on aforementioned book, it usually ends badly. So I didn't have high hopes when I bought my matinee ticket to Twilight after successfully navigating a precariously icy parking lot. I hadn't eaten any breakfast yet, so Robb and I bought a large popcorn that conveniently served as both breakfast and lunch (mmm, nutrition).

And then the movie began...

I'm still torn. I planned on sharing my thoughts with you sooner, but the problem is that I still haven't quite settled on a final verdict. I feel like if I hadn't read the book, then I might have really liked the movie (except for Bella's narration which was painfully boring and explained way too much). Even if I hadn't read the book, I think I would have found the fight scene between Edward and James just as anti-climactic. Even though the fight was a very short part of the book, it was an interesting read. In the movie, it was kind of dull and over way too fast. I feel like that was a really great opportunity for some seriously vampiric special-effects, but the movie pulled the punches.

All in all, I'm still looking forward to reading New Moon over the holidays. As for whether or not I'll see the movie for that one when it comes out, that still depends...

I'm dreaming

I won't lie. I'm a sucker for a snowy Christmas, but the weather here isn't quite as "White Christmas" as it is "Icy Death Trap." It's not fun.

I was doing an interview this morning with a certain person from a certain record label in a certain city most of you know as the Big Apple, and he shed some positive light on blizzards: "At least it keeps the tourists at bay."

So true. So true.

Post-Twilight

I'm not proud, but I will admit that I stayed up later than I intended on both Saturday and Sunday just to finish Twilight. I am proud to say, however, that I made it through the ending without a single tear--but I was left fighting a terrible urge to put my coat on and head out in the middle of the night to buy the next book. (You'll be pleased to know that I didn't do that, but I am adding it to my Christmas list).

To be completely honest, I'm surprised at how much I liked the book. There was something about the simultaneous strength and vulnerability of the characters that made all of them--even the vampires--strikingly human. Obviously the story requires some imaginative liberty and a reader willing to bridge the gap between improbable and impossible in their own mind.But for me, it was a great read and a great little weekend adventure. I'm curious though as to what guys who've read the book think about it (when I hinted that werewolves could be involved, Robb became interested) simply because so much of the book is Bella gushing about Edward's dazzling eyes and radiant skin and ice-cold embrace, etc., etc. How do the guy readers react to that, or does it not matter?

This weekend I'm going to see a matinee showing of the movie (what? The book was good, but I'm not dropping $8+ on the movie), and we'll see if it can live up to the book. Will this Robert Pattinson fellow, who everyone seems to be going ga-ga over, live up to the mystique that is Edward Cullen? I've found that movies rarely outdo the books, but I'm going to remain hopeful. I'll let you know how it goes.

Bitten

I'll be honest. I was one of those people who thought, "It will never happen to me." I thought I was immune, but the truth is, it can happen to anyone. It happened to me this weekend. I bought the book Twilight, and I haven't been able to put it down.


How did this happen? I'm still not quite sure. I've made it through life without having picked up a single Harry Potter book (everyone I know says they're amazing books, I just never felt the urge to read them). I pride myself on a diverse and well-researched reading list that's appropriate for my age. But I guess the never-ending onslaught of trailers on TV finally got to me, and there was no way in Forks I was going to see the movie without having read the book.


But that's all in the past, because now the little paperback has been glued to my hand all weekend. (I wanted the smaller paperback and the only one Borders had was the movie cover. I hate having the movie cover, but that's another story entirely.) And now I'm torn: One on hand, I can't put the put the book down and the sooner I finish it, the sooner I can see the movie. On the other hand, the book is so good, I just don't want to finish it.


But right now, Bella's walking into the woods and she may or may not have figured out what Edward really is... How can I blog at a time like this??

A Little Trippy

It was kind of a Willy Wonka moment last night. The vinegar tasted like corn syrup. The limes were sugary sweet, but not as sweet as the grapefruits. No, I wasn't on drugs--I was just doing a little flavor tripping.

My husband read a story in the Times this summer about these flavor tripping parties in New York where people eat these African berries called miracle fruit that temporarily rewire your taste buds and make everything taste incredibly sweet, even vinegar and tabasco sauce. So last night, we went to this little bar called B-Sides (which is just below the Grog Shop, where a ton of great bands often play) where they were having one of these flavor tripping parties. We hung out for a little bit while waitresses passed out food that definitely wasn't for the faint of heart (I passed on the lamb tongue topped with bone marrow foam) before they passed out the berries--which were compressed into little tablets that dissolved on your tongue.

It was a lot of fun at the time, but this morning my stomach felt the effects of taking vinegar shots and sucking on grapefruits and limes... Not so sweet.

This Is Why

I hate falling asleep during movies.

I totally missed the end of Bloodsport. It's fantastically '80s in the best possible ways (high-waisted, tapered pants with skinny belts? oh yeah). But during the fight scenes, there's this sound effect that sounds just like a cat meowing.

Let's Hear It

So the Grammy nominations were announced and while most of the artists induced instant gag-reflexes, I was most interested in the nominees for Alternative Music Album. They are:



- Beck for Modern Guilt

- Death Cab for Cutie for Narrow Stairs

- Gnarls Barkley for The Odd Couple

- My Morning Jacket for Evil Urges

- Radiohead for In Rainbows (which was also nominated for Best Album Of The Year and will have to knock out Coldplay, Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss if they want to take home the title.)


And now we all wait patiently for that fateful February night to see who will win. Given these choices, my vote for best Alternative Music Album would have to go to Death Cab For Cutie and their sixth proper album, Narrow Stairs. Firstly, they hail from a magical city called Seattle, which lavished upon the world the gift that is Starbucks coffee. So they've got that goin' for 'em. Secondly, Ben Gibbard & Co. are a firesafe choice whenever I'm not quite sure what I want to listen to. My husband Robb got me box seats to a Plans-era Death Cab show in Columbus for our anniversary one year and the concert was fantastic. I'd loved their music for a long time, but as with a lot of bands, seeing your favorite songs performed live makes it 100 times better.


Of course, that isn't always the case. When I went to my first Rooney show, I hadn't heard any of their songs until the car ride on the way to the concert. Normally that's a bad idea. I've gone to a lot of concerts of bands I didn't know, and 9.99 times out of 10, it's a pretty boring experience. Rooney was that .001 though, the show was great and turned me into a convert. I'm sure some of you have had that experience--have any concerts made converts out of you?

DIY Holiday

Christmas always brings to mind the same dilemma: I love doing things and getting presents for the people I love, but I give a big thumbs-down to mindless consumerism. So what to do?

Lately I've been scouring the net for DIY gift ideas. Though Martha Stewart isn't really my style, she has a great recipe for homemade bath fizzies that seem like a pretty easy way to give some comfort and cheer to the girlies. I'm also thinking that some homemade pasta (family recipe of course!) wrapped up nicely with a jar of tomato sauce would be a thoughtful and very practical gift. DIY gifts for dudes, that's proving a little trickier. Picking up some fabric for personalized bandanas is one idea. There's also the tried-and-true mixtape or CD. Or maybe knitting a scarf? (Of course that requires knowing how to knit, which I don't.) If I knew how to play an instrument, maybe I'd make some "music lesson coupons" for younger friends or family members and teach them a thing or two. As you can see, I'm still brain-storming...

If anyone has ideas, I'd love to hear them. In the meantime, I'll look around and definitely share the best of what I find with you so that you can have a holiday that costs a lot less, but means a lot more.