Breakfast Post.

[sechan19]

There's been a shameful hiatus since my last post of substance (and even a bit of a lag since my last rant). It's hard to believe how quickly time is rushing past me, but then it always does that. I have no idea why I continue to be surprised.

I'm eating brownies for breakfast in a coffee shop here in the hometown, waiting for my dear friend, and study compatriot, lilyblack to arrive. I'm still working on the thesis. I've made a number of notes on my old notes and have been re-reading the seminar paper. A number of flaws have jumped out at me, although that's not surprising. I wrote this paper to fulfill a very specific function after all, and the topic is way bigger than the initial function. Nevertheless, it's clear to me that I have a lot of work to do.

(Some girl just walked past the coffee shop window doing a shimmy-and-shake. It was really cute.)

Anyway, I never wrote anything about the crazy first week in California.

Here are some highlights:
* the first, midnight showing of Prince Caspian was a lot of fun--mainly because the two kids who were running the flick were so stoned they mixed up the reels and had to restart the film for us in another theater. They managed to leave one key scene out of our screening, and it was still a million times better than Indiana Jones 4.
* whitewater rafting was fun as always. It never takes the river guide long to figure out that he is in the "fun boat (tm)." We went through rapids backwards, while executing 360-turns, and (even once) on the front of the boat while holding onto a tie-rope. Riding the wild bronco river is a blast. The guide offered all us girls a shot at the spot, but my father complained that he wasn't asked to participate. (I suspect that this is because he didn't quite have the view the river guide was aiming for.)
* wine tasting was as it always is. I've become a bit less of a wine drinker of late, but I still appreciate a good bottle of red. One vineyard was producing a gorgeous Sangiovese rosé--perfect summertime wine. I was actually impressed with the number of dry rosés available this year. When I used to pour, lots of places had sweet rosés that were little better than glorified blush wines. (Yuck.) I'm glad that people finally seemed to have clued into the best possible use for a rosé wine.
* my thoughts and feelings about both the 雅-miyavi- concert and the new Indiana Jones film have been amply covered in earlier posts so I shan't recap. (Except to say that Spielberg ought to be docked three years of Oscar-eligibility for every bad sci-fi film he's ever made or ever makes... you do the math. Oh yeah, and George Lucas needs to go back to his cave now.)

(This chocolate fudge brownie I'm eating is really, really good.)

* I met my new little cousin this past week, and she's so gorgeous. Her eyes are still blue (and they're going to stay blue, dammit), and she's aware, assertive, and READY TO ROCK! She's a lot of fun, and I'm hoping to spend as much time as I can squeeze out of my schedule with her and her mom. I was introduced to her as an "auntie," which really made my day. I feel as close to my cousins as sisters, and I'm so glad they feel that way too.
* as always, the food out here is too good and the vehicles are too abundant. I'm glad I'll be in Japan for two months of exercise soon! We had an early Memorial Day BBQ yesterday, with a plethora of meats and vegetables (beef, chicken, shrimp, asparagus, zucchini, garlic potatoes). It was all very, very good, and I ate well.
* saw Michael Clayton last night for the first time. Tilda Swinton earned that Academy Award. It was otherwise an extremely good film. It's been a while since I saw a bona fide "extremely good film" (I just don't have time), and this was an exceptional one. It was on a serious subject, but it managed to have a kind of positive ending. At least, it wasn't totally depressing. I can't do totally depressing right now. I saw No Country For Old Men last spring, and it was brilliant, but I never want to watch it again. Not so of this most recent film. George Clooney has really become a force for good in the Hollywood world. I'm very proud of him.

That is all.

Comments

[docjeed.livejournal.com]

One vineyard was producing a gorgeous Sangiovese rosé--perfect summertime wine. I was actually impressed with the number of dry rosés available this year. When I used to pour, lots of places had sweet rosés that were little better than glorified blush wines. (Yuck.) I'm glad that people finally seemed to have clued into the best possible use for a rosé wine.

Agreed. I think that Spanish rosés have really shown people how to do a wonderful wine that's not cloyingly sweet, and winemakers throughout the world have taken notice.

Though personally I'm a German Riesling fan when it comes to the summertime. Mmmm, auslese.