Five Movies to Avoid

I recently watched a film that really got my goat. It didn’t make a lick of sense to me—even by the end—and so I thought I’d share my experience with you, along with four similar experiences. Now, I know there are exceptions to every rule, and that people’s tastes differ. I’m not saying these movies are horrible by any means. I’m just saying I didn’t like them, and I want to tell you why. (And I’m not giving you the links because why on earth would I want to link you to a movie I think you shouldn’t watch?)

• Solaris (2002). Okay, so it's an interesting idea. But honestly, I didn't understand more than a few minutes of the movie. The plot, from what I gathered, is that a psych-therapist person (George Clooney) is asked to go investigate some weird things going on at a space station. And the whole thing is classified. From then on, things don't make sense. Maybe they're not supposed to. Not only that, but it's SOOOOOO slow! It reminded me of the first 200 pages of The Brothers Karamazov. I just waded through them because I had to for class, but there was hardly anything going on--no story yet to speak of. That's how all of Solaris is. There are a few isolated events toward the end, but even they don't save the movie. It would be like trying to use a tourniquet on someone who's been decapitated. Good luck! Anyway, just don't watch it.
• Closer (2004). We had no idea what this was like, but my housemate and I went to see this in the discount theatre right after it came out. It has lots of famous people in it, so we were hoping for a good show. Not only did we detest the film, but we decided afterward that we should have alked out of the movie as soon as we knew we didn't like it. From the beginning, it's full of foul language and explicit sexuality, and portrays relationships as meaningless drivel to toss around. I strongly recommend you avoid this one.
• Love Actually (2003). This is another movie chock full of famous actors and actresses, but it, too, leaves a LOT to be desired. It's supposed to be a romantic comedy, but although it has its moments, it's generally a waste of time for anyone with a clear idea of what true love actually is. The movie portrays "love" as simply being in a relationship that involves sex. Obviously, the people who truly think that way are missing out big time. Nah, toss it aside. Don't bother with this movie.
• Fight Club (1999). I like Brad Pitt as much as any gal. (Well, maybe a little less.) He just shines in Seven Years in Tibet. But Fight Club is a whole different dimension. I guess you could call this a "man movie," as the title suggests, but I would never find this overblown testosterone film on the shelves of the mature and intelligent men I know. It's a mind twister that leaves you in the end with your brain all full of knots, and the worst part is that it really is mostly about fighting. Yeehaw. Sorry, boys, but if this is your favourite movie, you need a new life.
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). Once again, this is a movie I was completely clueless about the entire time. What is going on? What does that mean? Why did she say that? Who is he? What is going on?? Maybe I'm just daft. Or maybe it's better the second time you see it. But I enjoy movies that are easy to understand, in general. Movies are entertaining to me, relaxing and fun. I don't want to have to stretch my brain into a double-helix in order to follow the plot. Thanks, but no thanks.
  

In the midst of nothing

It's not that I'm lazy... Or should I say, it's not just that I'm lazy. Honestly, there hasn' t been anything to write about recently. I've been staying home all day, every day pretty much, tending to Timothy, getting much-needed sleep, working on David's grad school applications, and reading a fantastic book called The Name of the Wind.

As I said, it's a fantastic book in more ways than one. It's a fantasy tale set in a non-existent time and place, but it's also amazingly written. Most of the story is what we call a "frame tale," or a story within a story. It's full of heroism, devastation, awkwardness, love, hatred, mystery, passion, failure, and music. It's captivating.

And then the book just ends! Neither the framed tale nor the frame itself has any sort of ending. Both stories are just left completely hanging in midair, the way cartoon characters hang when they step off of a cliff before realising what they've done. How can Rothfuss just leave his readers in complete exasperation like that? Did he have to pause because he himself didn't know what would happen next? I hate to think a master weaver such as Rothfuss could really not know where the story is headed. More likely he paused because it was already 662 pages, and he knew the reader would need a rest. (Sort of Tolkienesque?) For whatever reason, Rothfuss leaves you entirely hanging. And the amusing thing is that the story's continuation--in The Wise Man's Fear--is already available for pre-order even though it doesn't come out until April 2009. I guess that says something about the book's demand. I, for one, will be buying the next book, unless I can borrow it, too, off my little brother. :)

I miss Starbucks

Yes, so I'm one of those yuppy-wannabes who enjoy Starbucks Coffee. No, I'm not the kind to spend more than $4 a week there, or even usually more than $4 every three or four weeks. But I sure do enjoy what that $4 can buy me when I do allow myself the luxury! I adored the times my aunt and uncle would take me to Starbucks on the way to do some errand or other. Lovely. And now it's been over a year since my last yuppy-coffee.

...Maybe that's why I think of caramel macchiato when I look at my kitten. I suppose only my aunt Pamela will find that truly amusing, but it's entirely true. I see black and dark brown streaks that could only be coffee, and the light brown is obviously the caramel swirled in. And the white? Mmm, whipped cream!

It's too bad "Caramel Macchiato" is too long a name for this kitten!

A time of quiet and relief

Today I took Luke to the home in which he'll be staying for the next month. And now I'm sitting in an empty (chilly--maybe down to 68 or 70F...brr!) house, with nothing to hear except roosters crowing, goats crying, Timothy breathing, birds chirping, and the hum of the computer. Wow.

I did enjoy taking care of my little brother for the most part. He can be a real charmer. David calls him a dansiyasa, or politician, because he can sweet talk when he wants to. And he helped set the table, bounce Timothy, make lemonade. He even helped my helper Mary clean the bathroom one day! He made life interesting, that's for sure.

But there were also the times he put half a roll of toilet paper into the toilet, filled the tub more than half-full (which is a lot for here!), took a metal pipe outside to defend himself against two girls who were teasing him, threw a rock at a neighbour boy... You get the idea. And it will be nice not having to tie shoes for awhile, or turn down dinner invitations from friends, or wait an hour to use the bathroom while Luke takes a bath. Little joys.

I hope Luke has a good visit with this other family. They're doing us a huge favour, and we truly appreciate it. After five weeks of mothering an 8-year-old with ADD and mild cerebral palsy, I'm FREE!

And the cat came back...or not

Well, I didn't want to write anything until Zoë came back, but she hasn't yet. She's been gone for over a week now. I'd like to think that she just hit the road because she was tired of being put outside. (She got exiled after twice eating cookies that were in a plastic bag on the table... You'd think we would have learned not to leave them out after the first time!) So she could be somewhere else on the compound, fending for herself, scrounging off of other people... But it's more likely--since she hasn't come back at all--that something more dire happened to her. I don't really want to think about the possibilities.

I'm as heartbroken as I can be, considering our family history of cats disappearing. In a way, I've grown accustomed to it, but Zoë was my first cat that was really mine. And I keep kicking myself for making her want to leave. *sigh*

Yesterday I got a mass email from someone giving away kittens, so I wrote and said we wanted one. Honestly, half of me just wants a cat--although less so now that I have a baby to cuddle! But half of me knows that we need a feline for our rodent population, which for the moment is nil but which will grow out of control without a hunter in the house.

Obviously, this little kitty is not quite yet ready to hunt! S/he is only seven weeks old, a little calico with a tiny voice. And I'm eager to give the little one a name. Too bad we don't know if it's a boy or a girl! I'm open to name suggestions, but so far the ones I've thought of are Pippin, Hermione, and Eowyn.

To travel or not to travel?

My cautious husband has forbidden me from disclosing any details about our visa situation, so let me just give you the quick rundown:

We thought we had started the application process for an immigrant visa (green card) to the U.S., but this is not the case... Long story, and it's complicated. If you want details, email me, as I can't disclose them here.

In the meantime we heard we could not apply for a visitor's visa because of the other application. Now that we know we have not filed for the immigrant visa, we can apply for a visitor's visa. Again, for reasons I don't want to share, we didn't know if it was even possible to get a visitor's visa interview.

I'm happy to say we have an interview scheduled for early February. Yay! This doesn't mean we will be able to travel, but at least we'll give it a try. This is a huge relief to me. If--by some miraculous touch of God's grace--we are given the visa, we hope to travel to the U.S. in June/July. Pray for us!!

Gardening IV - Sowing

Sunday, David and I planted my seeds in the four pots I bought last Friday--dill on the left and basil on the right. He used a little hoe so we wouldn't have to stick our hands into the chicken droppings. (Note to self: Buy gardening gloves.) We planted several seeds in each pot, just an inch or two down, and then I watered them. I've been watering them every day because it's so bone-dry here, but no sprouts yet. Yesterday I moved one pot of each kind to the southwestern side of the house instead of southeastern. There's less shade there, so they'll get more hours of direct sunlight. Cross your fingers! Thanks for all your advice and tips. We hope this works! :)

Bringing in the New Year

Happy New Year!!

David, Luke, Timothy, and I ushered in 2008 at home in my parents' bedroom, gathered around the computer to watch the clock. I had to wake both David and Luke to celebrate, but Timothy was a trooper and stayed up with me. (Or was it the other way around?) We cheered and popped the cork on some sparkling grape juice. Yum! (Oh what I would have given for Martinelli's, though!) We clinked glasses and plastic cup and toasted 2008: "May it be as good as 2007--and better!"

Then the boys went to bed. Timothy and I, on the other hand, stayed up and had a lovely meal and bonding time. The firecrackers and trumpets, etc. were so loud until 3 am that poor Timothy--though he tried--didn't really fall asleep until almost 4 am. So neither did I. Poor us! It's a good thing today is a holiday, 'cause the two of us got to sleep until 11. Yeah!!

No plans for today except to expect a couple we know to come visit with their two kids. Should be nice. Today, in Nigerian culture, is another big day of visiting and eating, so we'll just hide away in our home and pretend to not be here!