i can´t believe that it has almost been a week since i blogged last! the past five-six days have been filled with so much that some of it is becoming a blur ;)
we´re in Sevilla now, Spain´s fourth largest city. it is hot, HOT. we got into the city yesterday afternoon from Granada and it has pretty much been in the high 80´s. thank god for a/c!!!
lessee here. i really should mention some of the places we´ve been, eh?
last friday, we took a day trip to Aranjuez, which is a short drive south of Madrid. nothing too special...just a small town that was once the spring and fall homes of the royal family. there´s a massive garden that the Spanish Bourbon monarchs built three hundred years years ago, in an attempt to replicate Versailles. now, i´m sure it´s nothing like it...but it´s still pretty damn impressive.
as i mentioned last week, the royal wedding was last saturday. everything was closed off for the limo procession and the security was tight; on one block, lois and i were stopped and searched at each corner by the police. later, when we were in the pharmacy, the 60-year old pharmacist told us that the cops confiscated an apple in her pocket because she ¨might throw it.¨ lol
what else...rain. and lots of it. in fact, it rained every day for the first six days we were in madrid. and when we went to Granada (5 hours SE) for two days, it rained there too. luckily, we were able to do the important things in the morning before the afternoon downpour.
anyway, back to our goofy itinerary.
tuesday was a long, but very worthwhile day. we went up to Segovia, which is about an hour north of Madrid. it´s known for three things - a massive aqueduct, a stunning cathedral built in 1525, and the Alcázar (a really cool castle).
the Segovia aqueduct was built around the first century BC. made of granite, it´s about a half mile long, has 166 arches, 120 pillars, and is around 100 feet high. other than its age, the other cool fact about this massive structure is that it was built WITHOUT any cement or mortar! how ´bout a pic?
the cathedral, although started in 1525, wasn´t finished for another 200 years. supposedly, it is the last Gothic structure built in Europe. go see this site.
if any of you have been to Disneyl*nd, or even watched the show as a kid, then you´ve seen the Alcázar. really. what´s the first thing you envision when you think of Disneyl*nd? the castle, right? well, the Alcázar served as the primary model for Walt´s little castle. and it is awesome!!!
i hate to cut it short, but we gotta head back to the hotel and pack for tomorrow. i´ll update from Cadiz...
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Sunday, May 23, 2004
it´s the wine...
argh...we just finished dinner across the street at a place called Cafe del Principe (Prince Cafe). it was soooo good. we had ham and potato croquettes, combination paella, a bottle of Faustino VII Rioja, tiramisu, and a couple super strong cafe con leches (cafe au laits). we escaped for 55 Euros (incl. tip)...not bad considering a bottle of wine and paella for two in denver runs about $50 anyway. and it was authentic here ;)
been a long day. we went to the Reina Sofia and the Prado and did some MAJOR walking. between the two, there are 145 galleries. i think we wandered through a bit more than half of them. had to. many of Madrid´s art galleris are free on sunday, saving us about 3-6 Euros at each one.
the Reina Sofia is quite interesting to say the least. much of it is modern art, mainly painting and sculpture in the postwar era. the gem of its collection is Picasso´s famous depiction of the Basque town, Guernica, which was destroyed by German bombers in 1937. it shows the general chaos and fear of the town´s citizens as they´re awakened by the noise and the carnage laid out by the bombs. it´s considered to be one of Picasso´s most famous works.
anyone who has studied a bit of art history is familiar with this painting...and has probably seen it ad nauseum in books or postcards...but to see the real thing is just mind-boggling! the canvas is SO freaking huge! i was not expecting it to be around 10 feet by 22 feet - damn!!! what´s even more stunning is the fact that picasso spent only five months working on the project (from studies to the finished product); talk about being driven!!!
as for the rest of the Reina Sofia, it was quite impressive, if not a bit confusing. i guess we´re not much for some modern pieces. there was some really strange stuff. still, to see a bunch of Miro´s and some amazin´ Picasso b/w photos of the first light of the Spanish Civil War...
and the Prado? there is so much that it just hurts yer tiny little head thinking about it. man, 105 galleries of goya...velazquez...caravaggio...rembrandt...el greco...flemish masters...i just don´t know what to say. it will leave you utterly speechless to view all the things you read about it books; the bold brushstrokes, the mastery of lighting...the perfect musculature...the gamut of emotions - it´s overwhelming. you simply can´t take all this stuff in on a daytrip. we´ll have to finish it on the 6th, the day before we leave.
well, i want to continue, but it looks like lois has fallen asleep on me. i promise that she´ll blog next time...she writes so much better than i.
been a long day. we went to the Reina Sofia and the Prado and did some MAJOR walking. between the two, there are 145 galleries. i think we wandered through a bit more than half of them. had to. many of Madrid´s art galleris are free on sunday, saving us about 3-6 Euros at each one.
the Reina Sofia is quite interesting to say the least. much of it is modern art, mainly painting and sculpture in the postwar era. the gem of its collection is Picasso´s famous depiction of the Basque town, Guernica, which was destroyed by German bombers in 1937. it shows the general chaos and fear of the town´s citizens as they´re awakened by the noise and the carnage laid out by the bombs. it´s considered to be one of Picasso´s most famous works.
anyone who has studied a bit of art history is familiar with this painting...and has probably seen it ad nauseum in books or postcards...but to see the real thing is just mind-boggling! the canvas is SO freaking huge! i was not expecting it to be around 10 feet by 22 feet - damn!!! what´s even more stunning is the fact that picasso spent only five months working on the project (from studies to the finished product); talk about being driven!!!
as for the rest of the Reina Sofia, it was quite impressive, if not a bit confusing. i guess we´re not much for some modern pieces. there was some really strange stuff. still, to see a bunch of Miro´s and some amazin´ Picasso b/w photos of the first light of the Spanish Civil War...
and the Prado? there is so much that it just hurts yer tiny little head thinking about it. man, 105 galleries of goya...velazquez...caravaggio...rembrandt...el greco...flemish masters...i just don´t know what to say. it will leave you utterly speechless to view all the things you read about it books; the bold brushstrokes, the mastery of lighting...the perfect musculature...the gamut of emotions - it´s overwhelming. you simply can´t take all this stuff in on a daytrip. we´ll have to finish it on the 6th, the day before we leave.
well, i want to continue, but it looks like lois has fallen asleep on me. i promise that she´ll blog next time...she writes so much better than i.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
humph...
the rain is coming down in sheets right now. we slogged through it for a half an hour to get to the internet cafe. the roads are either packed with people or totally closed off for the royal wedding. yes, i had no idea that the Prince of Spain was going to get married during our visit.
it has been total chaos since yesterday. we strolled by the Royal Palace and the Cathedral, watching the masses of papparazzi and media elbow each other for the prime viewing spots. you cannot watch anything on tv without it mentioning "la boda real."
geez, everyone from Hilary Clinton to Placido Domingo to Prince Charles to Nelson Mandela are in attendance. too bad they´re getting soaked too heh.
so, it looks like once this wedding is over, everyone in this city of 4 million will be able to go on with their lives; it´s like a ghost town our hotel´s neighborhood. and once we dry off, we´ll head to the Prado and the Reina Sofia museums. i´m very psyched to see Picasso´s Guernica at the Reina Sofia and to wander through the numerous galleries at the Prado, filled with works from Goya, Velasquez, and El Greco.
on monday and tuesday, we´re scheduled for daytrips to Segovia and Toledo. we are gonna stay bizzeee...
hope everyone is doing well...will blog soon! hugs
it has been total chaos since yesterday. we strolled by the Royal Palace and the Cathedral, watching the masses of papparazzi and media elbow each other for the prime viewing spots. you cannot watch anything on tv without it mentioning "la boda real."
geez, everyone from Hilary Clinton to Placido Domingo to Prince Charles to Nelson Mandela are in attendance. too bad they´re getting soaked too heh.
so, it looks like once this wedding is over, everyone in this city of 4 million will be able to go on with their lives; it´s like a ghost town our hotel´s neighborhood. and once we dry off, we´ll head to the Prado and the Reina Sofia museums. i´m very psyched to see Picasso´s Guernica at the Reina Sofia and to wander through the numerous galleries at the Prado, filled with works from Goya, Velasquez, and El Greco.
on monday and tuesday, we´re scheduled for daytrips to Segovia and Toledo. we are gonna stay bizzeee...
hope everyone is doing well...will blog soon! hugs
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Hi Guys
Can´t believe we´re finally in Madrid. It´s held such mystique for me for years, and now we get to see the country. We were so bent ouf of shape from trying to sleep on the plane...skinny seats, but not skinny butts. We´ve only begun our big 2004 adventure. Maybe we´ll have some fun travel stories to share. there´s a green parrot (computer assist) that keeps telling us we´re running out of time. Aren´t we all. so enjoy your hours hour by hour.
cheers
cheers
a quickie from madrid...
we´re finally here. the trip on the two planes was far from painless. our first flight to philly was delayed by 20 minutes and we didn´t get there until 50 minutes before our connection. so....after frantically rushing from one concourse to another, we boarded the other plane and sat there for another hour forty before we took off. sheesh. our asses were seriously tired even before the plane took off.
the flight to madrid was a bit better though. we were lucky enough to get some seats that were behind the crew´s sleeping area, which meant no one slamming into our knees at all. the onboard movies were great (big fish, the last samurai, school of rock, mystic river, and that looney tunes one). so, we settled in for another eight hours. lois was majorly uncomfortable though...
the hotel we´re staying at is a three star w7 nice amenities, although it´s a bit small. we found this internet cafe after quaffing a few beers and stuffing ourselves full of tapas at a cerveceria (brewery...but more of a beer garden). argh. it is so hard getting used to these keyboards...the keys are different.
anyway, i´m gonna let lolis blog for a few minutes before our time runs out! so...see ya!
the flight to madrid was a bit better though. we were lucky enough to get some seats that were behind the crew´s sleeping area, which meant no one slamming into our knees at all. the onboard movies were great (big fish, the last samurai, school of rock, mystic river, and that looney tunes one). so, we settled in for another eight hours. lois was majorly uncomfortable though...
the hotel we´re staying at is a three star w7 nice amenities, although it´s a bit small. we found this internet cafe after quaffing a few beers and stuffing ourselves full of tapas at a cerveceria (brewery...but more of a beer garden). argh. it is so hard getting used to these keyboards...the keys are different.
anyway, i´m gonna let lolis blog for a few minutes before our time runs out! so...see ya!
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
da plane...da plane
does not leave for another ten hours. and i still have not packed. no big deal though...after 20 trips out of the country, i can do it in 10-20 minutes; got the routine down pat.
been reading up some in my new guidebook that i bought at tattered a few hours ago. this time, i purchased a Rough Guide...which i haven't used since my last trip to Guatemala in '95. they're excellent guidebooks that contain excellent history and transportation info.
other guidebooks that i have relied heavily over the last 13 years are:
Lonely Planet...although prices aren't always up-to-date, one of the best guides w/ the most destinations. heavy as a brick though...
Footprint...comparable to LP guidebooks, but usually tall and bulky.
Let's Go...a guidebook based in the U.S. (the above titles come out of the U.K. and Australia) that provides some unique, if not quirky, info for the traveler. this title was started by Harvard students in the 60's.
Frommer's...not for the traveler on the cheap, but at least it's updated annually.
so, what do i typically take on a three week trip?
2-3 pairs of pants
1 long sleeved shirt
1 windbreaker
2 polo shirts
1 light jacket
5-7 t-shirts
2 pairs of shoes
1 pair of sandals
20 rolls of slide film
1 deck of cards
music
2 guidebooks if i haven't done my homework
1 crossword puzzle book
2 cameras (1 SLR and 1 point and shoot)
all this kee-rap usually fits in one small suitcase and a daypack. if i'm traveling to a warm climate for two weeks, i can survive w/ just one carry-on duffel bag and a fanny pack. a cold climate? throw in long johns, another long sleeved shirt, a couple candles (you'd be surprised how you can raise a room's temp. a bit w/ candles), a hat and maybe some gloves.
often, i'll take pretty ratty clothes if i'm going to a third world country...for two reasons:
1. thieves won't even consider me as a target if i look poor. granted, i don't dress in tatters, but it sure ain't flashy ;)
2. i can leave most of the clothes in the hotel room at the end of a trip and use the extra space for souvenirs. the hotel workers can either use some of the clothing or know someone who wouldn't turn it down.
well...we're looking at t-9.5 hours now ;) perhaps my next post will come from an internet cafe in Madrid...provided i don't oversleep and miss the plane LOL. i swear, it's too weird to take an afternoon flight. i know it's more convenient for Europe and South America because you'll get there the next morning, but i am so used to taking the 7AM flight to Mexico or Central America; i'd be leaving for the airport about now and asleep on the flight in no time ;)
been reading up some in my new guidebook that i bought at tattered a few hours ago. this time, i purchased a Rough Guide...which i haven't used since my last trip to Guatemala in '95. they're excellent guidebooks that contain excellent history and transportation info.
other guidebooks that i have relied heavily over the last 13 years are:
Lonely Planet...although prices aren't always up-to-date, one of the best guides w/ the most destinations. heavy as a brick though...
Footprint...comparable to LP guidebooks, but usually tall and bulky.
Let's Go...a guidebook based in the U.S. (the above titles come out of the U.K. and Australia) that provides some unique, if not quirky, info for the traveler. this title was started by Harvard students in the 60's.
Frommer's...not for the traveler on the cheap, but at least it's updated annually.
so, what do i typically take on a three week trip?
2-3 pairs of pants
1 long sleeved shirt
1 windbreaker
2 polo shirts
1 light jacket
5-7 t-shirts
2 pairs of shoes
1 pair of sandals
20 rolls of slide film
1 deck of cards
music
2 guidebooks if i haven't done my homework
1 crossword puzzle book
2 cameras (1 SLR and 1 point and shoot)
all this kee-rap usually fits in one small suitcase and a daypack. if i'm traveling to a warm climate for two weeks, i can survive w/ just one carry-on duffel bag and a fanny pack. a cold climate? throw in long johns, another long sleeved shirt, a couple candles (you'd be surprised how you can raise a room's temp. a bit w/ candles), a hat and maybe some gloves.
often, i'll take pretty ratty clothes if i'm going to a third world country...for two reasons:
1. thieves won't even consider me as a target if i look poor. granted, i don't dress in tatters, but it sure ain't flashy ;)
2. i can leave most of the clothes in the hotel room at the end of a trip and use the extra space for souvenirs. the hotel workers can either use some of the clothing or know someone who wouldn't turn it down.
well...we're looking at t-9.5 hours now ;) perhaps my next post will come from an internet cafe in Madrid...provided i don't oversleep and miss the plane LOL. i swear, it's too weird to take an afternoon flight. i know it's more convenient for Europe and South America because you'll get there the next morning, but i am so used to taking the 7AM flight to Mexico or Central America; i'd be leaving for the airport about now and asleep on the flight in no time ;)
Saturday, May 15, 2004
argh...
so lazy right now. it's gonna be a somewhat busy afternoon. for one, i am in DIRE need of a haircut. if i don't i'm convinced that those paranoid rent-a-cops at the airport will stop me for WMD in my hair - it's THAT bad.
also need to get to the library so i can find a spain guidebook or two for the plane. the two that i own are still quite good, but they're also about five years old. plus, it might be a wise decision to go to the library because i have a book that is due today.
and if i don't crash my car on the way back, i can spend a few hours with dad while mom and susie go to a (rescheduled) Mother's Day awards ceremony that the Col*rado Ch*nese Club sponsors every year. unfortunately, this is an annual outlet for my mom, since she was the inaugural 'Mother of the Year' in 1999. i've nothing against the award or the recognition that it affords to some local mothers and the years of toil that they have had to endure raising their children. that's cool. i know that i'm too much of a wimp to be a mother.
the one thing that i don't like about the club is many of their members are just extra lame flakemeisters. and that their gatherings are another opportunity for mom to bask in the 'spotlight' that she so desperately craves.
BUT...since i love my mother (don't we all) off i go to get the locks chopped.
also need to get to the library so i can find a spain guidebook or two for the plane. the two that i own are still quite good, but they're also about five years old. plus, it might be a wise decision to go to the library because i have a book that is due today.
and if i don't crash my car on the way back, i can spend a few hours with dad while mom and susie go to a (rescheduled) Mother's Day awards ceremony that the Col*rado Ch*nese Club sponsors every year. unfortunately, this is an annual outlet for my mom, since she was the inaugural 'Mother of the Year' in 1999. i've nothing against the award or the recognition that it affords to some local mothers and the years of toil that they have had to endure raising their children. that's cool. i know that i'm too much of a wimp to be a mother.
the one thing that i don't like about the club is many of their members are just extra lame flakemeisters. and that their gatherings are another opportunity for mom to bask in the 'spotlight' that she so desperately craves.
BUT...since i love my mother (don't we all) off i go to get the locks chopped.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
snazzy...
looks like blogger has fancied some things up for us. a few more buttons and easier roaming (sounds like a phone commercial).
as you can see, i've added a weather pixie to my blog. i always liked Cindi's, so i had to have one too ;) now, while it's not as informative as going to weather.com, it still serves its purpose. btw, for the time being, i've set it to the weather at Madrid's Barajas Int'l Airport until we get back on the 7th; you'll get a general idea of the weather we'll be experiencing.
as you can see, i've added a weather pixie to my blog. i always liked Cindi's, so i had to have one too ;) now, while it's not as informative as going to weather.com, it still serves its purpose. btw, for the time being, i've set it to the weather at Madrid's Barajas Int'l Airport until we get back on the 7th; you'll get a general idea of the weather we'll be experiencing.
too anxious...
to even type.
we leave for Spain in a week and i have not even planned an itinerary. i think we're going to split the trip into mostly two and three day stays, with the exception of Madrid...
so here's a rough itinerary:
Madrid - 4 nights (including day trips to Segovia and Aranjuez)
Bilbao or Santander (same general area) - 2 nights
Santiago de Compostela - 2 nights
overnight train to Sevilla
Sevilla - 2 to 3 nights
Córdoba - 2 nights
Granada - 2 nights (gotta see the Alhambra!)
back to Madrid for two more nights
somewhere in there, we have an extra night. we're considering Toledo, but it's so close to Madrid. i wish we had an extra week or two. it would be awesome to view the Rock of Gibraltar...spend some time in Portugal...or even get a couple days in Morocco. 'course, that all takes even more money that we lack ;) if we get to see some castles, moorish architecture, the Prado, the caves at Altamira, and drink some good wine, we'll be content.
with dad in the rehab facility, it has been hard to concentrate or to even get anything done. i've been meaning to get new rear brakes and a new CV boot. argh. money? it barely has enough time to sit in my sweaty palm...
Cindi mentioned that she popped into Anthony's for some pie. sigh. last friday, after watching the cat for awhile, i stopped at the Famous Pizza on B'dwy and Bayaud for a slice of sausage. yummm. i forgot how much better this one is compared to the colfax store (the sheridan store is still good though). anyway, just by gorging on that slice, it only reaffirmed my 20-year loyalty to Famous... it must be the crust and the slightly sweet sauce.
i'm just about drooling.
there's a NY Pizzeria a half block from the Brakes Plus that i patronize on occasion. they too, have great crust - hot and slightly chewy; a perfect excuse to take my car to Brakes Plus ;)
some major competition across the way though. on the other side of Leetsdale is Papou's, which serves Connecticut style pizza. i know you're saying, "Conne-wha?" yep. i don't know what makes Connecticut style pizza, but this place has won best pizza in westword two years running. so, cindi, that means you and me...at Papou's...soon.
talk about jumbled thoughts...
went to see Secret Window at the cheapies last saturday. Johnny Depp is always great. the movie was unexpectedly tense and creepy...
a better blog later...
we leave for Spain in a week and i have not even planned an itinerary. i think we're going to split the trip into mostly two and three day stays, with the exception of Madrid...
so here's a rough itinerary:
Madrid - 4 nights (including day trips to Segovia and Aranjuez)
Bilbao or Santander (same general area) - 2 nights
Santiago de Compostela - 2 nights
overnight train to Sevilla
Sevilla - 2 to 3 nights
Córdoba - 2 nights
Granada - 2 nights (gotta see the Alhambra!)
back to Madrid for two more nights
somewhere in there, we have an extra night. we're considering Toledo, but it's so close to Madrid. i wish we had an extra week or two. it would be awesome to view the Rock of Gibraltar...spend some time in Portugal...or even get a couple days in Morocco. 'course, that all takes even more money that we lack ;) if we get to see some castles, moorish architecture, the Prado, the caves at Altamira, and drink some good wine, we'll be content.
with dad in the rehab facility, it has been hard to concentrate or to even get anything done. i've been meaning to get new rear brakes and a new CV boot. argh. money? it barely has enough time to sit in my sweaty palm...
Cindi mentioned that she popped into Anthony's for some pie. sigh. last friday, after watching the cat for awhile, i stopped at the Famous Pizza on B'dwy and Bayaud for a slice of sausage. yummm. i forgot how much better this one is compared to the colfax store (the sheridan store is still good though). anyway, just by gorging on that slice, it only reaffirmed my 20-year loyalty to Famous... it must be the crust and the slightly sweet sauce.
i'm just about drooling.
there's a NY Pizzeria a half block from the Brakes Plus that i patronize on occasion. they too, have great crust - hot and slightly chewy; a perfect excuse to take my car to Brakes Plus ;)
some major competition across the way though. on the other side of Leetsdale is Papou's, which serves Connecticut style pizza. i know you're saying, "Conne-wha?" yep. i don't know what makes Connecticut style pizza, but this place has won best pizza in westword two years running. so, cindi, that means you and me...at Papou's...soon.
talk about jumbled thoughts...
went to see Secret Window at the cheapies last saturday. Johnny Depp is always great. the movie was unexpectedly tense and creepy...
a better blog later...
Saturday, May 08, 2004
what is up...
with the tagboard? guess i haven't been writing much of anything worthwhile, so it doesn't matter if i have one or not ;)
been at the cat's house for a couple hours. he's out frolicking and crouching low, like he's big game hunting, when dogs or people pass by. it's interesting to watch him - so alert.
i've something to admit...i've been eating pasta at another woman's house. whimper* yes, i was getting a cuppa tea when i spied some farfalle and jars of natural pasta sauce (she pretty much shops at Wild Oatz and Whole Fudz).
and i just lost it...
it has been a few months since i've made pasta in the house. lois has pretty much stayed away from it since November...which is a good thing. the diet that her kinesiologist has her on has been working; she sleeps better; has had fewer problems with her joints; she's hovered around a 20-lb. weight loss for a while now.
you know, i've been good and not even mentioned the 'p' word, even in casual passing ;) moreover, i've resisted from making surreptitious batches of pasta and marinara late at night.
so...it looks like i have turned to eating mongo bowls of pasta at other people's houses - i feel so ashamed. what's next? using their deodorant? ewww....
been at the cat's house for a couple hours. he's out frolicking and crouching low, like he's big game hunting, when dogs or people pass by. it's interesting to watch him - so alert.
i've something to admit...i've been eating pasta at another woman's house. whimper* yes, i was getting a cuppa tea when i spied some farfalle and jars of natural pasta sauce (she pretty much shops at Wild Oatz and Whole Fudz).
and i just lost it...
it has been a few months since i've made pasta in the house. lois has pretty much stayed away from it since November...which is a good thing. the diet that her kinesiologist has her on has been working; she sleeps better; has had fewer problems with her joints; she's hovered around a 20-lb. weight loss for a while now.
you know, i've been good and not even mentioned the 'p' word, even in casual passing ;) moreover, i've resisted from making surreptitious batches of pasta and marinara late at night.
so...it looks like i have turned to eating mongo bowls of pasta at other people's houses - i feel so ashamed. what's next? using their deodorant? ewww....
Friday, May 07, 2004
meester tarantino
finally went to see KillBill Vol.1 at the cheapies last night. good thing because it was the last day; it has been replaced by 'The Butterfly Effect.'
did you guys see it? i thought it was pretty good. you just hafta laugh at the egregious amounts of spraying blood. gore can have a cathartic effect on some moviegoers (sick ones like me ;). ever see Dead Alive (aka, Braindead)? there's some major blood flyin' in that flick. and believe it or not, it was directed by Peter Jackson...about nine years before he directed Lord of the Rings.
if anyone is intrigued enough to go rent Dead Alive, make sure that it's the unrated version. the R-rated version is 19 minutes shorter and lacks the full effect and humor. at least the unrated version is only cut by seven minutes. and if you actually like it enough, i can lend you my uncut copy :) and Sam Raimi's Evil Dead 2:Dead By Dawn is a great cult movie with copious amounts of blood too.
back to KillBill though. Tarantino is a master with the use of flashbacks. Pulp Fiction is his flashback masterpiece. and although he didn't direct it (but was the writer), Natural Born Killers incorporated flashback almost seamlessly.
i was surprised by how many people attended the movie though. i thought i would be one of a handful of viewers since vol. 1 came out in october. instead, there must've been at least 40 people...
i wonder if some people walked out of the theater, completely hating the movie. i think when it comes to Tarantino, you have know what movie genres he prefers to fully appreciate his filmmaking efforts. in Kill Bill, he borrows heavily from HK martial arts (especially Shaw Brothers) movies from the 70's (aka chop socky...even though i hate that term), spaghetti westerns of the late 60's (think Good/Bad/Ugly), blaxploitation flicks of the 70's (Superfly, Shaft, Across 110th St.), and Samurai movies. oh yeah, he's also a huge fan of Bruce Lee...whom he pays homage to with Uma Thurman's yellow and black jump suit (same style used in Lee's last film, Game of Death).
i also think it's cool that Tarantino used past stars such as Gordon Liu, Sonny Chiba, and even David Carradine. why not honor these hardworking actors, who were once huge stars, with a role. after all, look what Pulp Fiction did for John Travolta's career. prior to Pulp, he was stuck doing the Look Who's Talking movies with Kirstie Alley and bombs like Staying Alive and Perfect. in fact, in the ten years before Pulp, he was in nine movies...but the ten years after Pulp, he's been in 19 movies...many of them blockbusters (sprinkled with some piles of poo too though ;)
of course, all this rhetoric is only relevant if you give a flying fuck about the movie or Tarantino ;) but hey, his moviemaking is better than 70-80% of the stuff out there. i mean, really, how many people flocked to see the Full House twins in their latest movie? too many, if you ask me.
did you guys see it? i thought it was pretty good. you just hafta laugh at the egregious amounts of spraying blood. gore can have a cathartic effect on some moviegoers (sick ones like me ;). ever see Dead Alive (aka, Braindead)? there's some major blood flyin' in that flick. and believe it or not, it was directed by Peter Jackson...about nine years before he directed Lord of the Rings.
if anyone is intrigued enough to go rent Dead Alive, make sure that it's the unrated version. the R-rated version is 19 minutes shorter and lacks the full effect and humor. at least the unrated version is only cut by seven minutes. and if you actually like it enough, i can lend you my uncut copy :) and Sam Raimi's Evil Dead 2:Dead By Dawn is a great cult movie with copious amounts of blood too.
back to KillBill though. Tarantino is a master with the use of flashbacks. Pulp Fiction is his flashback masterpiece. and although he didn't direct it (but was the writer), Natural Born Killers incorporated flashback almost seamlessly.
i was surprised by how many people attended the movie though. i thought i would be one of a handful of viewers since vol. 1 came out in october. instead, there must've been at least 40 people...
i wonder if some people walked out of the theater, completely hating the movie. i think when it comes to Tarantino, you have know what movie genres he prefers to fully appreciate his filmmaking efforts. in Kill Bill, he borrows heavily from HK martial arts (especially Shaw Brothers) movies from the 70's (aka chop socky...even though i hate that term), spaghetti westerns of the late 60's (think Good/Bad/Ugly), blaxploitation flicks of the 70's (Superfly, Shaft, Across 110th St.), and Samurai movies. oh yeah, he's also a huge fan of Bruce Lee...whom he pays homage to with Uma Thurman's yellow and black jump suit (same style used in Lee's last film, Game of Death).
i also think it's cool that Tarantino used past stars such as Gordon Liu, Sonny Chiba, and even David Carradine. why not honor these hardworking actors, who were once huge stars, with a role. after all, look what Pulp Fiction did for John Travolta's career. prior to Pulp, he was stuck doing the Look Who's Talking movies with Kirstie Alley and bombs like Staying Alive and Perfect. in fact, in the ten years before Pulp, he was in nine movies...but the ten years after Pulp, he's been in 19 movies...many of them blockbusters (sprinkled with some piles of poo too though ;)
of course, all this rhetoric is only relevant if you give a flying fuck about the movie or Tarantino ;) but hey, his moviemaking is better than 70-80% of the stuff out there. i mean, really, how many people flocked to see the Full House twins in their latest movie? too many, if you ask me.
justforfeet
is going bankrupt and has been liquidating their inventory for a month now. we went to the stapleton store and found four pairs and some insoles...all for $110. everything is at least 50% off and the selection, although limited, is still good.
lois got a pair of black walking shoes for Spain, a pair of comfy sandals, and some casual slip-ons for work. i found some volleyball shoes for the indoor season. i still have a gift certificate from DSW that i'll use for some cross trainers though. it's just that there's NO such thing as a sale on v-ball shoes unless you order online through a company such as spikenashbar.com my last pair was $60...so getting these for less than $30 was definitely a steal.
speaking of steals, W*l-Mart has men's sandals (soccer slides) for $2.77. sure, they're not quite as comfy as the soft, nubby ones that i got at T*rget a couple years ago for $12.99...but i'm savin' that extra ten bucks to exchange it for 8.25 Euros...gee.
lois got a pair of black walking shoes for Spain, a pair of comfy sandals, and some casual slip-ons for work. i found some volleyball shoes for the indoor season. i still have a gift certificate from DSW that i'll use for some cross trainers though. it's just that there's NO such thing as a sale on v-ball shoes unless you order online through a company such as spikenashbar.com my last pair was $60...so getting these for less than $30 was definitely a steal.
speaking of steals, W*l-Mart has men's sandals (soccer slides) for $2.77. sure, they're not quite as comfy as the soft, nubby ones that i got at T*rget a couple years ago for $12.99...but i'm savin' that extra ten bucks to exchange it for 8.25 Euros...gee.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Bug-B-Gone
just got a yellowjacket trap at wally world at the recommendation of Nelle. can't wait to put it up. for the past few years, my parents' house has had big time buzzin' problems. this baited trap, which is enhanced with a little apple juice, seems like it'll be a lot easier than waiting until nightfall to spray the nest ;)
Monday, May 03, 2004
cat poop...
it not a pretty sight, nor is any animal coprolite.
i'm stopping by a friend's house a couple times a day to check in on her cat while she's in Greece. his feline highness, Nimbus, is a 17 lb. behemoth. he's thirteen or fourteen, is charcoal colored, missing a few teeth, but is a pretty easygoing cat.
it has been awhile since i watched a cat for someone. my brother, steve, had a psycho diabetic cat that was pretty much incorrigible. that was the last time i 'cat sat.' so Nimbus is a breath of kitty litter fresh air...
and yes, i have an aversion to picking up or cleaning up poop. i can handle blood, but there's something about a hot, steamy log that makes my face wrinkle up. ah well. better dry and dusty from litter clumping, than freshly wet and slimy from the big guy not reaching his pan in time. poor thing. i wonder if he feels a bit embarassed.
must be nice to have yer poop scooped on a daily basis...
yes, yer highness. a tummy scratch and a can of food before you let me leave your kingdom for another day...
i'm stopping by a friend's house a couple times a day to check in on her cat while she's in Greece. his feline highness, Nimbus, is a 17 lb. behemoth. he's thirteen or fourteen, is charcoal colored, missing a few teeth, but is a pretty easygoing cat.
it has been awhile since i watched a cat for someone. my brother, steve, had a psycho diabetic cat that was pretty much incorrigible. that was the last time i 'cat sat.' so Nimbus is a breath of kitty litter fresh air...
and yes, i have an aversion to picking up or cleaning up poop. i can handle blood, but there's something about a hot, steamy log that makes my face wrinkle up. ah well. better dry and dusty from litter clumping, than freshly wet and slimy from the big guy not reaching his pan in time. poor thing. i wonder if he feels a bit embarassed.
must be nice to have yer poop scooped on a daily basis...
yes, yer highness. a tummy scratch and a can of food before you let me leave your kingdom for another day...
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