Sunday, November 27, 2005
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Don't tell my parents or my grandparents, but...
On Friday I got this in my inbox:
Seizing the opportunity, I made an appointment to do this:
I like it.
posted by Joie! at
10:23 p.m.
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Saturday, November 26, 2005
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Bluebeard and his wife: A dialogue (Children's Lit excercise)
“You,” she was trembling as she spoke, but she had to keep talking, “you knew I would open that room. You knew because every other one of those bodies in there, every one, every, single one did it. You knew I would look. You…” her voice trailed off, unable to continue.
He was nonchalant. “Why did you look? I said not to.” He looked down at the bloodstained key and picked absently at the stain.
“Who was the first? What was her crime? Or did you start collecting bodies before you started collecting wives?” She was almost hysterical now, gesturing wildly in his direction as he stared impassively back.
“You know, you are the first to ask. It is an interesting question, isn’t it?” He paused and raised his eyebrows at her. “Catch.” He tossed her the key. “Want to take another look? Or would you prefer to see something else before you join the others in the room?” She fumbled slightly as her fingers closed around the key.
“You’re sick. You’re twisted.” Her eyes raked the vicinity for something she could use to hit him with. She longed to slap him, to get a reaction out of him. Anything was better than the cool, blank expression on his face; the emotionless words falling from his lips. She raised her hand impulsively.
“Are you not interested in the question anymore? Or are you just stalling, biding your time, hoping that someone is going to come rescue you? DEUS EX MACHINA! Ha. You’re funny. You know, no one came to save any of the others in the room, why should anyone come to save you?” He was enjoying this, she could tell. “Well? Are you going to hit me before you tire your hand out by holding it so high?”
She hit him hard across the face. He smiled disconcertingly. “Feel better?” he taunted. “It might interest you to know that you’re not the first to have done that. I’ll answer your question if you really want to know. I want to answer it, I’ve always wondered why no one has ever asked me how I started my collection.”
“Fine,” she said, “fine. Tell me, who was the first, why did she die?” The fact that she was truly interested in his response surprised her. She leaned toward him unconsciously, no longer straining to hear the distant sound of galloping horses.
He did not expect this. His body language began to mirror hers. “The first died in childbirth that room. Broke my heart, turned my beard blue. I erected a shrine to her there. I forbade all to enter that room, it was my inner sanctum. The second entered the room. Jealous that I still pined for my first wife she covered the room in gallons of pigs’ blood. I caught her red-handed, so to speak. In my rage, I killed her. That’s how it started. I keep the room as a test. I do not need a wife so trecherous as to defile that which I privately hold dear. You, like all the others failed. I, the romantic, continue to search for the one who will..."
She did not even notice her brothers charge into the hall. Her screams echoed through the village as their swords landed on his head.
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For the story of Bluebeard, click
here.
posted by Joie! at
10:50 p.m.
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Wednesday, November 23, 2005
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Harry Potter and My 4th Anniversary
Of all things to break this blogging draught: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - the movie.
I managed to catch it on the day it opened. I couldn't line up for it, so I ended up having to sit in the front row, but it certainly did not detract from the experience. I would say that this is the best movie yet - iff (that is not a typo, it means "if and only if") you have read the book. I say this because the movie doesn't really bother to take the time with exposition. Rather, it very magnificently brings episodes in the book to life. So, if you've read the book, you have a good handle of what's going on and you can watch the magic of Hollywood make the story leap off the page. If you've never read the book, then it's sort of like a look into the mind of someone with moderate to severe
ADD. (Also, if you've never read the books, then the best movie to date would be the third. Unequivocally the third.)
It's really cool to see how the actors have all grown up - despite what
Lisa says, I contend that regardless of age they are becoming quite droolworthy. Well, some of them at least. I also really appreciate how Fred and George are featured more prominently as the comic relief and how you really feel like the stories are taking place in a boarding school rather than some far away magical place. I expected to dislike Prof Moody due to the fact that he did not - not in the least! - look like what I thought Moody should look like. The actor (
Brendan Gleeson) did such a good job of the role, that I have no further objections.
I would be a really bad blogger if the first real post I've written this whole month only involves a movie that has already been extensively reviewed. So:
Today is my 4th Anniversary with Jim. That would mean that from the time he first expressed his intentions (by kissing me) I have aged by 4 years (~20% of my life to date). It's mind boggling to think about it this way and I can't even say if here is where I expected to be when I thought ahead at 17. Where I expected to be at 21? That was too far away at 17 for me to be concerned with. If my 17 year-old self could see me now though, I think I would be happy about it. After I get over my shock and disbelief, that is.
This year we agreed not to get anything for each other and I suspect that it's borne out of the fact that neither can think of what to get the other. (Well, I would appreciate a white cat/kitten named
Bechamel but not under our current living conditions) I might be doing a little something for Jim, but that's between us, as far as I'm concerned. Jim has made
secret dinner reservations that he's going to surprise me with so I don't know what's going to happen tonight, but I sure am excited about it. 4 years. That's hell of a long time.
posted by Joie! at
11:12 a.m.
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