from here to the moon

This song is quite beautiful. I love Dolly Parton this much.

where it began

Macau - Awesome place to be born.  Portuguese colony til 1999.  Birth certificate in Portuguese which I cannot read.  Grew up running around St. Paul's ruins catching dragonflies and eating big fat waffles with peanut butter and condensed milk from street carts.

Nissan Pulsar - My first car.  I actually didn't drive in high school and didn't get my license til 19.  A guy I met at junior college, Jason, actually taught me how to drive - he part-timed as a driving instructor.  When I took driver's ed back in high school, I was too nervous.  But Jason was really patient, and it turned out to a snap.  Well not a snap but not impossible.  The midnight blue Pulsar was used when I bought it for a couple of thousand bucks.  It was eventually succeeded by my Honda Civic hatchback which I still have to this date.

Michelle Pfeiffer - It was Jonathan Demme's Married To The Mob where I first became infatuated.  She was the widowed mafia wife who just wanted to start over but when you look like Michelle Pfeiffer people just won't leave you alone.  Soon enough after that, Michelle Pfeiffer became Catwoman and then she has a get-out-of-jail-free card with me for good - not even crap like Dark Shadow will diminish her place in my cinematic heart.

You-Know-Who - It was a stormy day and I ducked into Batmale Hall all drenched.  We were waiting to be let in to the classroom.  Small talk ensued about the unfortunate weather, and we became fast friends.  It was a good run.  And how it ended still stings me every single day.

Ugly scar on left knee - Surgery in 2003 to repair ACL.  Worst mistake I made in my life.  Well, maybe not worst cuz I had some doozies, but it will probably rank in the top five.  I'll make a list soon.  I mean, what was I thinking?  Why would I even need my ACL repaired - it wasn't as if I were going to go skiing or something?  Maybe I thought I could go skiing.  But I should have done more research and considered everything.  But then again, regretting is not why God makes you make mistakes.  Learning is.  So everytime I stare down at that ugly scar or kneel on it in pain, I feel the lesson washing over me like an icy cold bath.

gang bang

Dress rehearsal pics are here!  Love the dark tone and Gang Bang vibe. It's a few more days til MDNA tour opens in Tel Aviv.

bring that chicken home

Nolan:  So, what are your favorite tv shows this past season, m'lady?
Emily/Amanda:  #10 would be The Chew cuz I like to cook in between learning Japanese and karate, and everyone on that show is so likable, especially Clinton Kelley and Carla Hall.  C and C Food Factory rocks.
Nolan:  Well, except Mario Batalli is not really Italian.  It's like Paula Deen being diabetic. What a fraud.
Emily/Amanda:  Well everyone has something to hide.  #9 - House Hunters International.
Nolan:  It's amazing how people around the world can live in anything less than twenty thousand square feet with an ocean view.  It's fascinating.
Emily/Amanda:  It's like watching a documentary on the real human condition.  Very grounding.  They should just run a 1-800 number at the bottom of the screen so we can donate some money to help.  Anyways, back to topic - #8 is Nikita.
Nolan:  Oh that show is ridiculous.  Maggie Q just puts on a pair of glasses and a wig and thinks she is in disguise.
Emily/Amanda:  I know, right.
Nolan:  I am so glad Percy and his main henchman - the guy with the scarred face - finally died.  Villains on tv shows take forever to kill.
Emily/Amanda:  #7 - New Girl.
Nolan:  Meep meep!
Emily/Amanda:  They should have kept Nick away at least for the summer.  His coming back right at the end of the season finale makes the whole episode pointless.  It's called a cliffhanger - writers of New Girl should look that up.  #6 - Modern Family.
Nolan:  Sofia Viagra gets all the attention, but Phil and Claire make the show.
Emily/Amanda:  Phil is the best father ever.
Nolan:  Well, he didn't die in prison after being framed for blowing up a plane and leave his daughter a whole bunch of journals so she can avenge her father's death.  So those Dunphy kids have a chance of growing up normal.
Emily/Amanda:  Hey watch it.  I am normal, except for the whole double identity thing.  #5 is Downton Abbey.
Nolan:  Or Downtown Abbey, as my uncouth associates would say. It's basically Dynasty as Masterpiece Theatre.  When you let your pregnant lady boss slip on the wet bathroom floor and lose her baby who would have been heir to the estate, it's classier doing it with an English accent. 
Emily/Amanda:  Besides, it's nice seeing people live in a normal sized house.  #4 - I love Happy Endings.  Although a happy ending is just a story that hasn't ended yet.
Nolan:  Or a John Travolta massage.  Ok, same difference.
Emily/Amanda:  Mandonna.  Nuff said.  #3 is Hart of Dixie.
Nolan:  Zoe Hart, the heart surgeon who fancies dressy shorts, should totally be with hot neighbor Wade, who fancies wife-beaters.  George, who fancies J.Crew, should be with Lemon, who fancies anything floral with a bow.  And Levon, who fancies straw trilby hats, should be with whoever that is not Lemon.
Emily/Amanda:  So, drum roll please, my second favorite show #2 is Revenge.
Nolan:  Good show of humility.  So why did you let the White Hair Guy go since he now knows your real identity?  And why did Daniel go all Grayson bad all of a sudden?  And can we not get Charlotte, Decklyn, and Ashley on an exploding plane instead?  And how could anyone think they would kill off Victoria, since that would be like Dynasty killing off Alexis Carrington?
Emily/Amanda:  All of these questions will be answered next fall.  Meanwhile, I am going to plot to get Michelle Pfeiffer to play my mother.
Nolan:  I can put a spy camera in her house if you'd like.
Emily/Amanda:  That's so sweet. But I have something on David E. Kelley I can use - it's called the failed pilot of Wonder Woman.
Nolan:  So what is number one, my dear sweet Emily/Amanda?
Emily/Amanda:  #1 is Amazing Race of course.  It's still the one that gets me all stoked with wanderlust.  I mean, sure I can just travel around the world at my will anytime, but to compete for one million dollars like a commoner just looks so exciting.  I really liked the poor hillbillies - Team Kentucky.  I am going to send them a check for ten million dollars instead.  In the end thank goodness Team Big Brother/Crybaby and Team Border Patrol Cops/Arrogant Jerks came up short, and Team Bickering Rachel/Dave brought that chicken home.
Nolan:  Yes, a good lesson in life as well - you gotta bring that chicken home.
Emily/Amanda:  Amen to that.  See you on the other side of summer.

fireflies

Weather:  Overcast
Mood: Bored
Music: M. Ward
Last Movie: Adventures of Tin Tin
Reading: 1Q84
Last Pleasure: Chocolate chip scones
Last Worry: Running toilet won't stop
Last accomplishment: Paid off car loan
Looking Forward To: Watching Avengers tonight
Not Really Looking Forward To: This one project at work that will likely result in more lawsuits
Gas Price: $4.43/gallon for BMW
Clothes: Gray J Crew sweatshirt over black Lands End polo, charcoal gray J Crew chinos
Today's Headline: Uganda Captures Lord's Resistance Army Commander
Current iPad Wallpaper: Photograph of fireflies here
Last Website Visited: http://www.spoon-tamago.com/
Last Meal: Risotto with leek and pancetta
Last Purchase: Three-tier trolley for my mum
Item Off My Wishlist:  A silcione drain strainer for my kitchen sink - so impossible to find
Latest Evidence It's A Beautiful World: 100,000 LED lights float down the Sumida River

i want to feel everything

10. Watching You Watch Him - Eric Hutchinson
9. DoYaThing - Gorillaz featuring Andre 3000 and James Murphy
8. Do My Thing - Estelle
7. Come Back Down - Greg Laswell
6. Home Again - Michael Kiwanuka
5. Myth - Beach House
4. All Of Me - Tanlines
3. I'm Addicted - Madonna
2. You Gotta Fight For Your Right - Coldplay
1. Every Single Night - Fiona Apple

fight for your right

Coldplay and Chris Martin - I forgive you for Mylo Xyloto Schmoto. Not that you care or anything, but you win me back right here.

apocalypse later

May. Another month off the calendar. One more month closer to the apocalypse, and also the 48fps opening of The Hobbit (which I care infinitely more about than the apocalypse). Peter Jackson actually debuted 10 minutes of unfinished footage at some theater exhibitor's convention recently, and there was much rumbling about the look of 48fps and how the super clarity actually took away the warm, lush, dreamy, and painting-like quality of the original trilogy. I am a little bit alarmed, but on the other hand, I have faith in Peter Jackson and his mastery over Middle Earth. He's more than earned it...Before we get there though, we still have The Dark Knight Rises to get all psyched about. The newest trailer is thrilling and ominous. Well, except for the prominence of Anne Hathaway ruining my favorite female pleather-wearing, whip-wielding morally-ambiguous heroine/villainess with a heart of all time. At least that's balanced by plenty of Joseph Gordon-Levitt as I-don't-know-who. I hope he's a good guy in this, cuz JGL just reeks of good guy stuff.  If I had a sister, I would want her to date someone like JGL.  That way, I get to soak in some of that good guy coolness...Junior Seau, former San Diego Charger/New England Patriot and future Hall of Famer, committed suicide...Adam Yauch died after a long struggle with cancer.  I first heard of them when they were booked as the opening act to Madonna's Virgin Tour.  But soon enough they came into their own and charted their course into music history.  I love these guys, their humor and political activism and above all their artistry.  They were masters of what they do.  They were inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame this year.  But Adam Yauch was too sick to make it to the ceremony.  Well, MCA, you've earned your right to PAAARTYYY...Yesterday night was Super Moon.  It actually didn't seem all that impressive to me.  I've seen way bigger (and that's what she said)...Culinarily speaking, I made coffee jello and kale soup this past week...I finally paid off my BMW.  It's all mine.  So now what?...Amazing Race finale tonight.  Since Team Kentucky/Hillbilly is gone (sigh), I guess I am gonna root for Dave/Rachel, bickering husband/wife team.  They scream at each other constantly but at least I like it that Rachel giveth as much as she taketh.  The other teams winning are just not acceptable - Rachel of Team Big Brother is the whiniest cry-baby I've ever seen; Team Border Patrol Cops just think too much of themselves; and Team Meathead and bitchy girlfriend, uh, has a bitchy girlfriend...Survivor One World is so freaking boring because nobody bothers making any move, and everyone is just gonna let Kim win...DWTS is probably gonna end up with Katherine Jenkins facing off with William Levy, but I am Team Derek/Maria Menounos all the way.  She is just adorable, and I am always a fan of Derek and his choreography...Avengers is blowing up this weekend.  I am happy for Joss Whedon, master of Buffy-verse.  I have been rewatching with Chi Young the entire series on dvd.  We are down to the last three episodes.  Kinda sad that it's coming to an end (all over again).  Buffy is seriously one of the best written tv shows ever, so full of heart and soul and humor.  The characters are complex and lovable and frustrating.  They are heroic.  They are loyal.  They make mistakes.  They are tortured.  Their hearts break into a million pieces, and then they try again.  Good lessons to learn even if you are not fighting demons and vampires and saving the world from the apocalypse...