Mamma Mia... much better on stage than celluloid.

Main thoughts: Brosnan sings as badly as I do. Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, and Stellan Skarsgård prove that supporting cast can carry a film. "Voulez Vous" was incredibly well done.

Best headline of the day... "Pope Meets Koala, Texts Pilgrims"

Why?

Shortly after I got married, I came home from work to a new resident. He reeked of feces, looked like hell, and was running at the nose. He was a snot-ridden thing. He wouldn't just sneeze, he'd expectorate through his nose. But, he jumped out from under a dresser at me grabbing the back of my leg with his claws and we instantly bonded. I took no shit from him, he took no shit from me, and there was instant respect.

He was a thick-necked orange tabby who walked out of a barnyard and into our lives. His meow was missing the "ow" and he thus became "Meems," his onomatopoeic moniker. I never considered myself a cat person before meeting the little guy. He would greet me at the door, loved rough-housing, and despite his tendency to occasionally sink his teeth into my flesh sans provocation and his aversion to being in your lap, his affection was hard to miss. His crackly purr as he'd sidle up to me on the couch and look into my eyes was all the hard proof I needed.

And one day, I said goodbye to him with an already heavy heart. The marriage was over, had been, and I knew leaving it behind was for the best for all involved. Meems, he had gained siblings, friends, and new digs along the way. Much as I'd have loved to take him with me on the next step of life's journey, I wanted as little disruption to everyone's lives as possible, specifically those who had nothing to do with the human misery that led to this passage. I cried hard, and then harder, as he took one last swipe at me with his then-declawed paw when I turned and walked away. That was almost three years ago.

I keep not in touch with my ex-wife or her family, but while browsing across the local news "down home," I came across this blog.



Admittedly, I've missed you since that last cheap shot.

Dear What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Thank you for making me miss my brother... badly.

*sigh*

He's a pain in the ass, but he's my brother.

Is your ISP cock-blocking P2P traffic? We know Comcast is.

I almost hate to admit it, but I didn't loathe Sweeney Todd. Wow. The Burton/Depp pairing does it again. Sondheim's music still makes me want to punch puppies, but was somehow bearable for this production.

Will try to catch up on posts and comments. No promises. No internets at home until Thursday and our much more sparsely inhabited new neighborhood has poor wireless leeching. Right now, it's back to the office and nursing the various aches and pains of my out-of-shape self from a weekend of moving. For once, I've been looking forward to sitting at my desk all day. We're finally done, though! All that's left is unpacking and arranging the new pad.

Linda's a dynamo at unpacking (I swear she unpacked and put away 7 boxes worth of stuff in the kitchen in the time it took me to hook and hang the shower curtain and liner)... so I've been on errand and furniture building detail. I purchased and assembled a DVD/CD shelf and a cabinet for the bathroom which is now mounted on the wall and ready to be filled!

Aside from finishing touches, the bedroom, kitchen, and dining room are done. The bathroom, office/spare bedroom, sun room, and living room are left. Since our living room is huge, we decided to split it up and make a television nook in the far third of the room. This avoids the television being the focal point, which we both approve of. The rest of the room will be more of a conversation/sitting room and we're using the tiki/tropical theme (of course) for the whole thing. Kitchen/dining rooms are primitive in theme. Bedroom is leaning towards the orient. The guest room/office is a work in progress.

More later!

Emily is my hero!!!!i

I began writing an entry on patriotism and it felt wrong. I kept leaning towards saying what it isn't to me. I said that I don't fly a flag, won't say the Pledge, etc. I wanted to be more positive, because despite these things, I AM patriotic. It felt as wrong to focus on the negative as it feels when people question or challenge my patriotism due to such things.

But the more I thought about it, 4th of July is a date. The holiday we celebrate is Independence Day, observing our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

While the textbooks point to the break being due to things such as ignored attempts at delegation, increased British military presence, taxation without representation, and growing fears of an increased authority of the Anglican Church, what does it mean to you?

I have a symbiotic relationship with my car. It's parasitic, of course, but hell, as long as I'm the parasite... right?

Today's fortune cookie reads: Some pursue happiness; you create it.

Discuss. Debate. Laud. Deny.

Now that I've finished laughing at their *cough* "news," I have to share. Go here (http://www.onenewsnow.com) and see for yourself.

Edited to add:

The comments are, in my opinion, better than the obviously slanted* news:

"Without a moral basis rooted in Christian ethics democracy is doomed to the ash heap of history , according to the founding fathers."

Say what? When? Where? By WHO?

*..and by "slanted," I mean "practically upside down, inverted, and reversed."

The site is also guilty of this hilarious goof: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2008/06/the_dangers_of_1.html

Manhoru no naka no ningyo (Mermaid in a Manhole)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0161638
Made 20 years ago by a low-budget Japanese schlock house, but still better than most of today's big-budget lacklusters. Visceral, Poetic, Disturbing, Beautiful
(NOT for the squeamish)

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Also happened to catch The Happening. True to Shyamalan's MO, this one had a bit of a twist at the end and really played on modern society's arrogance. And Spiderman 3 - great cameo, Stan! Perfectly cheesy, as always. LOVED Bruce Campbell's cameo too. Could have lived without the first 50 minutes of the rest of the film, though.

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Linda and I finally got diligent in our packing efforts and really got some good work done last night. Most of the kitchen stuff is sorted between us and the housemate and is now packed, gone, or off to donation land. Linda, though she doesn't think so, did a bang-up job in our bedroom closet. Tonight... more packing, loading the car, smudging/blessing the new digs, and then unloading! Gonna start feeling like home in a few short days.

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Other than that, it's business as usual.

We have the key!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*wants to play with the trolls*

Some of these seem to be repeated or obscure (as in, The Chronicles of Narnia AND The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe listed separately) but an interesting list nonetheless. I've read 43 of the hundred and make no apologies for the ones I've read, want to read, loved, or couldn't give a rat's ass about, classic or not (as in, fuckyouverymuch Gone With The Wind).

:P

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding
- Nick Lowe

As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.

I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?


So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

Yesterday, bruhinb made me drool with delight when he shared a link to Bacon chocolate chip cookies with maple cinnamon glaze... And on that day, bruhinb was my hero.

Methinks I know what baking project is going to christen our new oven!