Work has been such madness lately, leaving me very little time to do what I love; blog.
Forgive my absence! I plan on being far less flaky in the future.
Now, about my Washington trip:
The good news is, I saw just about everything I wanted to see in the Smithsonian.
The bad news is, I almost died from sunstroke on the 4th of July. Ugh. It was 100 degrees!
I basically slept through the fireworks.
:(
Some highlights:
There's a gorgeous garden along the American History Museum so I stopped to smell the roses for a few minutes. I was interupted by the buzzing of a ginormous bumble bee.
I'm pretty much convinced that this is the biggest bee I've ever seen.
Some of my favourite things at the Smithsonian:
That's right; those ruby slippers
Teddy in all his cuteness
President Lincoln's infamous hat
The original Barbie & G.I Joe
I grew up watching the Carol Burnett Show and remember, vividly, the Gone With the Wind skit. Classic TV moment so it was awesome to see this dress in person.
It was wonderful to see the Hope Diamond in all her glory but wished they would have kept the stone in it's gorgeous setting. Didn't like the display at all. And I wasn't allowed to try it on.
These jewel's once belonged to Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon's first wife who he divorced because she couldn't spawn his ugly children.
I never saw diamonds sparkle like that--it was almost blinding.
I drooled.
Julia Child's Kitchen (probably my most favourite exhibit because it felt so personal)
While I was there, they were playing a video of her, teaching us how to make the perfect omelet. She was hilarious.
They even had her books...
Michelle Obama's inauguration dress designed by the wonderful, Jason Wu:
She has big feet....
I think these bad boys are size 10
The Monuments:
Washington DC loves it's monuments--they're all over the place, mostly of men.
I was calling the Washington Monument 'The Erect Penis' all weekend because, well look at the thing.
The city reminded me a lot of Paris
The Jefferson Memorial......
So beautiful and the views of Washington were fanatastic:
Out of all the monuments, I liked Lincoln the best...he was bigger than I thought he would be
I wished my camera picked up the big spider web between his legs. I guess he's kind of difficult to clean?
Another reason why it's taken me so long to post these pics--I lost them. Some how, I erased EVERYTHING on my camera. Then, magaically, one day they all appeared again. I'm no techy so this is impossible to explain.
So many issues facing us today (hello!! There's a big, stinking, disgusting oil spill RAVAGING the Gulf Coast) and all my city can think about is some ridiculous gathering of a bunch of empty/stuffed shirts, talking about the international financial system. In other words, The G20 Summit.
The G-20 is made up of the finance ministers (now there's a group of people who deserve daily beatings) and central bank governors (money-hungry assholes) of 19 countries.
Here they are, along with very important issues that WON'T be addressed at this billion-dollar summit:
Argentina ~ Argentina remains on the Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to fight human trafficking.
Australia ~ Ok, so their biggest issue is opium. Not the perfume. They also like their cocaine and amphetamines....who doesn't?
Brazil ~ The richest 10% of Brazilians receive 42.7% of the nation's income, while the poorest 10% receive less than 1.2%
Canada ~ We're being taxed to death--especially in the province of Ontario. Also, our Prime Minister is a closet-case bible thumper.
China ~ fuck me. Where do we start?
France ~ They're leader has a Napoleon Complex and likes to pick on minority women
Germany ~ This is what's expected of German women: Kinder, Küche, Kirche (children, kitchen, church)
India ~ Poverty, poverty and more poverty. Westerners travel to this country in droves, trying to find the 'meaning of life' but your average citizen of India doesn't see a dime of your tourism dollars. And the environment? Why don't you just Google 'Coke India'. You'll quickly see at least one major environmental issue facing this country all because of our obsession with sugary soft drinks.
Indonesia ~ UNICEF estimates that 100,000 women and children are trafficked annually for commercial sexual exploitation in Indonesia and abroad, 30 percent of the female prostitutes in Indonesia are below 18, and 40,000-70,000 Indonesian children are victims of sexual exploitation.1 The East Java Children’s Protection Agency estimates that at least 100,000 women and children are trafficked annually from, through, and to East Java. ~ Quote from UNICEF website
Italy ~ Besides the fact that they won't win the World Cup, Italy is having a little problem with their mozzerella cheese turning blue. It's now being labeled as 'smurf cheese'. Google it if you don't believe me.
Japan ~ Some apartments, motels, night clubs, and public baths in Japan have put up signs stating that foreigners are not allowed, or that they must be accompanied by a Japanese person to enter.
This country needs some good PR. And don't even get me started on their eating habits.
Mexico ~ This country suffers with it all; environmental issues, immigration issues and some water quality issues throughout the country. They're even starting to suffer with their #1 commodity: tourism.
Russia ~ This country has the second highest suicide rate (Lithuania is #1) so what does that tell you?
Saudi Arabia ~ An absolute monarchy. Need I say more?
South Africa ~ Poverty and HIV/AIDS rape this country on a daily basis. But that only happens to the black people so the rest of the world doesn't give a shit
Republic of Korea ~ I have two words: North Korea.
Turkey ~ Turkey faces MAJOR environmental issues, especially water pollution
United Kingdom ~ Education funding will be cut by 25% over the next four years. In other news, it costs the country $35.5 million per year to keep the royal family, royal.
United States of America ~ Oil spills, Katrinas, gun-control issues, no healthcare and Sarah Palin--and many, many other issues that won't be addressed at the G20 summit.
European Central Bank, is the 20th member of the 'G-20'. Yeah, there's a group of decent, hard working people.
My city is under siege--cops everywhere, protesters already getting warmed-up, traffic jams on every street and a bunch of ugly fencing put up so the Empties & Stuffies don't have to look at themselves in the mirror, via protesters.
Why is this world so fucked up?
And why did I chop my hair off?
If one more person calls my haircut cute, I'll stab them.
I'm starting to plan my Washington DC trip (July 1-5) and I'm finding it hard to limit my time at The Smithsonian to one day.
I mean, come on--you need about a week to get through that sucker.
First stop: The Hope Diamond
Yeah, you saw this coming....what woman in her right mind wouldn't want to see the diamond she'll never have?
Facts:
WEIGHT: 45.52 carats
CLARITY: VS1. Whitish graining is present.
COLOR: Natural fancy deep grayish-blue
CUT: Cushion antique brilliant with a faceted girdle and extra facets on the pavilion.
DIMENSIONS:
Length: 25.60 mm
Width: 21.78 mm
Depth: 12.00 mm
In other words, it's big.
Next Stop: Barbie!
Between Barbie and The Hope Diamond, The Smithsonian is a Girl's Best Friend.
Next stop: "Milestones of Flight" Gallery: 1903 Wright Flyer
Planes fascinate me. And to be able to see the original Wright Bros plane, in person, is priceless.
Next Stop:
Lunch and another coffee before someone gets hurt.
Next Stop:
The First Lady's Gowns
I'm particularly interested in anything Jackie Kennedy ever wore.
Next stop:
The Giant Squid
Gross but necessary.
Next stop:
Julia Child's Kitchen
There's just something about Julia....
Next Stop:
Civil War Exhibit
Humans can be real assholes. This fascinates me....
Next Stop:
Dorothy's Ruby Slippers
Admit it; you would love to try these on, wouldn't you?
Next Stop:
Kermit the Frog!!!
That's right, Kermit. In the flesh.
Next (last?) Stop:
Portable Bathtubs: Tub Bathing from the Early 19th and 20th Centuries
Every time I watch a romantic movie set in a century before bathing was a daily ritual, I often wondered if people back then were really that romantic.
How can anyone feel sexy when they stink?
If anyone has been to The Smithsonian, would love to know what you think should be on my 'Must See' List.
Last night, like millions of other schmucks, I tuned into the series finale of Lost.
I've been watching the show (religiously) for six years, often complaining that I gave too much of my time to something I barely understood.
Same can be said for men, but I digress.
The finale was 2.5 hours (!) long and moved at a snail’s pace until the last 30 minutes when the writers suddenly decided to perform the ultimate writing sin: they ended the story with a group of dead characters.
If you’re thinking, ‘WTF?’ then imagine how I felt last night when Jack (the main character) uttered the words, ‘I died, too’.
I threw my head back and yelled, ‘Ha! I was right all along—this is a form of purgatory!’.
I love being right but I was hoping for more. Much more.
I'm left with some serious questions (for you fellow Losties, I’m sure you’re in the same, pathetic boat):
What exactly was the Smoke Monster?
The Smoke Monster had been harassing the islanders since season 1 and really, became one of the main characters. However, the writers did not address Old Smokey at all in the finale.
Did Jack have a son or not?
I’m very confused over this. So, was this Jack’s fake son that he needed to get over the issues with his Dad in purgatory? Or was this fake son really Jack as a child?
For fuck's sake.
Where the hell were Michael & Walt?
For the first few seasons, Michael and his son Walt were main characters of the island. However, the writers did not write them into the sideways story at all. Perhaps because of the lack of connection with the other characters? Perhaps because the actor who played Michael trash-talked the show after he was killed off?
What the writers did offer us in exchange was the final scene when Jack kicks the bucket, Vincent (that’s Walt’s dog he left on the island when he and his dad escaped) lays down beside him. Cute but I would have liked to see how the Walt & Michael story turned out.
What was the point of Rose & Bernard?
Seriously, what did they offer Lost? They were sketchy little characters that really added nothing to the plot. They would show up from time to time but if you blinked, you would miss them.
The Boone & Shannon characters were far more interesting but they were killed off very early in the series. Oh, well. At least they were in the finale for about 30 seconds.
Why wasn’t Helen (Locke’s fiancé) in the church at the end?
What really did go on between Widmore & Ben and why was Eloise Widmore such a fucking bitch?
Their issues were never really discussed or resolved. Nor was Eloise's bitchy ways.
Why do I care so much?
Um, because I gave six years to character's that I loved, only to discover that they were dead the whole time. NONSENSE.
Lost writers should have taken lessons from Alan Ball. There's a writer that can tie up a series in a neat, little bow for the viewers.
So, are there any Losties out there reading this?
If so, enlighten me.
I've been tagged by the great ModernDayStoryteller
She wants me to spill my movie-loving (and loathing) guts out so here goes....
1. The first major movie-going experience I can remember is watching ET on opening night.
The crowds, the hysteria, the smell of popcorn quickly made me realize I was in my favourite place in the entire world.
I was seven and wanted to be Gertie.
Believe it or not, I still feel the same every time I see a film. That’s the power of cinema, kids.
2. William Hurt in The Doctor will always be the all-time best performance by an actor, in my opinion. It’s also one of my very favourite films. (I know EVERY line!)
3. Hands down, Julianne Moore is my favourite actress. I want her to play my lead character, Anna if I ever turn my novel into a film.
First, I have to finish the novel.
Look at her--she's perfection.
4. I’ve seenAntonia's Line (a Dutch film) about 30 times, and counting. That film makes me laugh, cry and dream, all at the same time. Is it my #1 fave? It's close but really, I love so many films it's hard to choose just one.
5. To this day, I’ll still watchThe Exorcist if it’s on television but can only watch it if I cover my ears (this is how I watch all horror movies).
That film still scares the shit out of me.
6. I live for film festivals—you haven’t seen a film until you’ve seen it with a film fest audience.
If I were a Richie Rich, I would travel to every film festival in every city across the globe.
7. I believe that the Rom Com is dead. And that makes me very sad.
8. I can watch Immortal Beloved until the end of time and will still cry my eyes out at the end, each and every time.
9. I ADORE Pixar films. Especially the Toy Story films. Love, Love, Love.
So, you'll know I'll be in line when Toy Story 3 opens this summer.
10. I detest cowboy movies and westerns, in general.
And I still don’t understand why John Wayne is such a big deal. He was a terrible actor.
(please save your hate mail because I really don’t give a shit and you know I’m right)
Now, I have to tag someone.....and I know just who.
Last night, after waiting and waiting for what seemed like a year, I got to see the new movie Kick-Ass which just opened in theatres here in Canada on April 16th.
For those of you that don’t know much about this movie, watch the trailer:
Basically, Kick-Ass is about a group of vigilantes masquerading as ‘real’ super heroes in New York City.
The story centres on Dan, a horny, nerdy high school student with a fond love for Kleenex and comic books—his two best friends are pretty much the same.
Sick and tired of getting mugged by two neighbourhood thugs on a daily basis, he wonders why the millions and millions of comic book fans have never attempted to be real super heroes so he decides to be the first.
Or so he thought.
Long story short, he bites off more than he can chew when he meets Hit Girl, the 11-year-old super hero with a potty mouth, heavy artillery and a Dad out for revenge. (really, her name should be Kick-Ass because that’s basically what she does throughout the entire film)
I won’t lie; this film is violent but it’s no more violent than any other action film. Perhaps people think it’s more violent than it really is because the story focuses on a young girl and a group of naïve teenagers. Or maybe I’ve watched so much violence on TV/movies in my life that I'm immune to it.
This a strong possibility.
A lot of critics, including Roger Ebert who gave the film only one star, have panned this movie because of this type of violence: “Shall I have feelings, or should I pretend to be cool? Will I seem hopelessly square if I find “Kick-Ass” morally reprehensible and will I appear to have missed the point? Let's say you're a big fan of the original comic book, and you think the movie does it justice. You know what? You inhabit a world I am so very not interested in. A movie camera makes a record of whatever is placed in front of it, and in this case, it shows deadly carnage dished out by an 11-year-old girl, after which an adult man brutally hammers her to within an inch of her life. Blood everywhere. Now tell me all about the context.” Roger Ebert
I’ll admit, that scene that Ebert mentioned, the adult man fighting Hit Girl, was kind of difficult to watch but it was hardly a blood bath. Or 'blood everywhere' as Ebert says.
I wonder if Roger Ebert would feel the same if the 11-year-old girl were an 11-year-old boy? After all, girls are supposed to be ‘sugar and spice and everything nice’, right?
Which brings me to something interesting that I witnessed a couple of weeks ago.
I attended the lovely wedding of a good friend of mine who had a typical Italian wedding in which the reception took place at a lavish banquet hall.
After dinner, the DJ played (very loudly) some hot new pop/dance songs to get people up and onto the dance floor.
The first brave souls to enter the empty dance floor were the nieces and nephews of the Bride & Groom, ranging in ages of about six to twelve—most were girls.
Everyone watched and clapped along as the kids danced and sang to one of Kesha’s songs (a 23-year-old American pop star with a very large tween/teen following) which include lyrics about brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack Daniels and boys trying to touch her ‘junk’. The young girls knew every, single word.
Now, did they know what these words meant? Who knows?
Perhaps only the proud, clapping parents know the answer to that.
Later on in the night, the DJ played Lady GaGa’s song called ‘Love Game’ which includes lyrics about asking a potential lover if she can take a ride on his disco stick and confirming that she’s been “educated in sex”.
All the little girls knew this song word-for-word as well.
Maybe I’m too sensitive (and a little too feminist, if there is such a thing) but I find this appalling. I also find it appalling that parents of these young girls see absolutely nothing wrong with this but think that cursing and ‘violence’ on TV & movies is wrong.
Excuse me but I think our over sexed society, as it pertains to young girls is far more damaging. I find this to be the real violence in our culture. It's a violence against innocence and morality.
These parents are probably the same people that think shows like The Bachelor, Toddlers & Tiaras, The Real Housewives of Orange County, etc. etc. etc. are good old-fashioned family television shows, thus confirming to their young daughters that looks and sex appeal are more important than any other quality she will ever have—including brains.
So, what’s worse? An outrageous 11-year-old girl who likes to go after the bad guys and uses the word ‘cunt' now and then or an 11-year-old girl who thinks it’s cute to be drunk, stupid and promiscuous?
Hell, if I had an 11-year-old daughter and I had to choose, I would rather hear the sporadic ‘fuck’ or ‘shit’ from her any day (I can probably live without the Uzis, Hit Girl) over a child singing along to lyrics like “don’t be a little bitch with your chit chat, just show me where your dick’s at”, “ain’t got a care in the world but got plenty of beer” and “I wanna take a ride on your disco stick”.
The thought consumes me throughout the day and won't relent until I drift off to sleep.
Just when I think the struggle is over, I panic and resort to my comfortable, old ways.
You see, I’m not getting anything out of this relationship anymore. I want out.
At first, you seemed like a good idea but now I know; you’re just no good. I didn’t see this at the start because I was blinded by my need to fill the void. My need to feel invisible.
Some cracks in your foundation have let the sun in, only slightly but enough to see there is life on the other side. There is life if I let you go.
Now that you’ve fulfilled my needs and have worn out your welcome, I must gather strength for the day I finally bid adieu to you and your bag full of cures.
But I'm not ready just yet.....you're still winning.
