Alec took me to Gould’s Bookstore in Newtown. HUGE!
Before Saturday brunch in Chatswood. Capturing the happy moment.
Pretty wattle blooms.
This blur of motion is Alec with out grocery shopping and my awesome new black leather boots.
Sydney Life
Flame On!
A hectic day today. An early morning climb with Mel, Vanessa’s baby shower, dropping by to see Mum and Dad, then dinner and the new Fantastic 4 movie, Rise of the Silver Surfer, with Alec.
I love superhero movies – with the exception of Spider-Man (I don’t like emo superheroes. How can they save me if they’re having a cry?). I thought the first Fantastic 4 movie was pretty average, but I really enjoyed this one. Maybe it was some much needed escapism. Whatever. I still enjoyed it immensely.
I do however have a problem with Jessica Alba having blonde hair and blue eyes. What the? If they want someone fitting that description, why don’t they hire one of the many blonde hair, blue-eyed actresses loitering around Hollywood and give them the role instead of making a dark girl blonde? So unnatural-looking.
Out of all the powers, I would like to be the human torch – getting to fly and controlling fire. In case of an apocalypse, I’d be fully sorted.
Ocean’s 13
Alec and I braved Westfield’s Liverpool to see Ocean’s 13 last night. I loved the first Ocean’s movie, but wasn’t sold on the sequel. Nonetheless, in the greater (south) west, there is a shortage of good movies on, so Ocean’s 13 it was.
It was actually a lot of fun. I do love Brad Pitt (the holder he gets, the hotter he is. How does that work?) and I find George Clooney charming. I was pleasantly surprised by Matt Damon as well – he has a few scenes with a fabulous fake nose that is hysterical.
A very pleasant way to spend a few hours on a rainy day. I’d just advise not seeing it in Liverpool!
From Baghdad With Love
I just finished reading this book, about a US marine who befriends a stray puppy while on deployment in Baghdad, and his fight to save the puppy’s life.
While set against a background of war, the core story is about the friendship between the puppy and the marine, and how saving the puppy becomes a symbol of saving the humanity of the marine and his numerous friends who also risk their lives to save this one puppy.
The book gives some really interesting history on how the army trains its soldiers to be able to kill other humans and the rules they live by that are supposed to help them be able to perform their jobs. One of the major rules is no pets while on deployment. So for these marines, some of whom, like the author, see them selves solely as marines, to break these rules is a major deal.
The puppy and the compassion they show for him show that at core, you can never fully train the humanity out of a person. And that can only be a good thing.
Shrek 3
Alec and I saw Shrek 3 today at Liverpool, where they have recently started to have allocated seats. Usually I would ignore the allocation and sit wherever I pleased, but the cinema was looking like it was going to fill, so I obliged. I need to say right now that I am not a fan of allocated movie seats.
Anyway, on to the movie. I love the Shrek films, and number three didn’t disappoint me. It had the same fun characters from the previous films, with some added bonuses – all of the famous princesses were in attendance as seen in the pic. Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel and Beauty.
I love the mashing together of multiple fairytales and legends, such as the new characters from the King Arther legend, as well as the way they turned typical fairytales upside down. For example, the princesses save themselves instead of waiting to be saved. Girl power, fairytale-style.
Cutest new characters: The baby dragon x donkeys (disturbing but so cute I want one).
Funniest moment: The three little pigs doing sausage rolls.
Yo ho, a Pirate’s Life for Me
Alec and I saw Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End last night at Chatswood. I read some terrible reviews of this movie before we went in, so I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. The enjoyment of a person who is expecting the worst. Interesting.
The movie picked up where the terrible filler-middle film left off. I’d forgotten what had happened so was a bit lost for a while. Whose heart is that? Why is in a box? You get the drift.
I would have liked to have seen more of Johnny Depp’s character, but I was happy to see the return of Geoffrey Rush. Less Keira Knight would have made me a very happy girl indeed. Her journey from prim lady to pirate king was quite an adventure.
Orlando Bloom spent a great deal of the film as Keira’s arm candy or as a possible traitor. Not sure how I felt about this – but considering he isn’t up to scratch as a leading man, I guess the director wasn’t sure what to do with him.
Still, the monkey was awfully cute.
Best things:
There was no giant hamster wheel.
Keira Knight didn’t spend an overly-long scene pretending to faint.
Worst:
There wasn’t a happy Disney wedding.
The pirates’ teeth. Why does piracy equal gum disease and slimy enamel?
World Press Photography
I actually went to the exhibition twice this week – once with Shelley, Shaden and Daniel, and then again today with Alec. Yes, it was worth the two trips.
The exhibition was divided into sections like news stories, wildlife and arts/entertainment. Such amazing photos. They inspired me to take more, and better quality, images, as well as making me see how insignificant a lot of things I panic and stress about really are in the bigger scheme of things.
Dinner & Dance
I had a great time last night with Alec. We went to dinner at Baia (Cockle Bay), a great Italian place with delicious food. Best boscaiola pasta ever.
We then headed to the Opera House to see the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan perform Wild Cursive. It was Alec’s introduction to dance – I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did. We had great seats, a few rows from the front.
The piece Wild Cursive was inspired by calligraphy. The moves were amazing – fluid at times, sharp and forceful at others, with strong roots in martial arts and contemporary dance. I loved how it was a true ensemble piece. No one dancer was the star, they were all amazingly talented.
Unlike a lot of the ballets that I see, Wild Cursive was fresh, innovative, dramatic, exciting and energetic. They had limited props and very plain black costumes, which meant that the focus was purely on their amazing moves and technique. Modern contemporary dance the way it should be.
Thanks Alec for a really great night out. I love you!
RSPCA Million Paws Walk
Alec, Ness, Kate and I represented team Google with partners, friends and puppies at the Sydney Olympic Park. There is no such thing as too many puppies.
Pug bums.
Lil’ Buff
Obligatory self portrait
Too much puppy love
Dear lord
This pooch joined our party
Flying Yorkie!
Going Hard Core
I went back to climbing last night. First climb in three months with Kate. I had jelly arms after the third climb. I followed it up with my first personal training class today with Lisa. I am officially going to die I am in so much pain. I hope that after a few more sessions I will be almost as fit as the Shellbinator.
Inspirational climbing shot.