I walked to the gym today again ^__^ And 'cause it's daylight savings time, it's still really bright out right now and I really like that. The longer that it's bright during the day, the later I can go to the gym without having to drive ^__^ I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Even if I get off at 6PM, I can walk to the gym and be ok 'cause at 7PM, it'd be as bright as 6PM. Even though the whole time thing gets skewy -- I think we're 14 hours time difference to Tokyo now as opposed to 15? I never ever really get it right.
But yeah, walking to the gym was nice, then the workout was nice too. I did ellipticals for 30 minutes, then treadmill for another 30 minutes. I walked 18 minutes, running 12 minutes nonstop 'cause I'm not very good at pacing myself on the darn thing, but I did a pretty good job at pacing myself today. I got faster with the last lap so I had to amp the speed ^_^ It's good to have a little friendly competition on the machine next to you 'cause then you don't even feel tired.
Anyway, I need to hop into the shower and then make dinner. Burning off 700 calories really makes one kinda hungry lol ^__^;
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Nine Music
I haven't seen this movie yet and I haven't heard all too many great reviews for it, but it has an all-star cast and my god, can Kate Hudson sing O,O I was so surprised, pleasantly so though. I never took Kate Hudson to be the singing type and though she isn't that bad of an actress, she hasn't been all that many great movies so I have never really cared for her. When I heard that she was going to be in Nine, I was like "Hmm... this will be interesting." And then I heard "Cinema Italiano" and was really blown away.
This is the remix that I like: Kate Hudson - Cinema Italiano (Ron Fair Remix)
I think I want to buy this soundtrack lol.
Another track that I like is Fergie's "Be Italian"
I'm totally addicted to these two songs right now. The songs by Marion Cotillard and Nicole Kidman are good too, but these two mentioned above really caught my attention. I love the style. At first, I wasn't sure I would like "Cinema Italiano," but it really grew on me.
I think my fears about this movie were confirmed when I heard that it wasn't performing all that well. Though it's a musical, I don't think all that many people have heard of this musical, it was performed almost 20 years ago, I believe and I haven't heard it, but I love musicals so I'm willing to give this a shot when it comes out on DVD in May. Still, it's sad that it made less than half of the budget it was given and was pulled out of numerous theaters.
I can't say the story is all that appealing, but I like the glitz and glam in Rob Marshall's films, plus if I like the music enough, I think I can watch the movie. Though... I have to say that even though I like Chicago's music, I had a hard time liking the movie 'cause I just don't like Roxy Hart at all lol, but Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma was great. I thought Renee Zellweger was good, but I didn't like her character much -- I don't like dumb characters much =_=;
Anyway, just thought I'd share those two songs ^__^
This is the remix that I like: Kate Hudson - Cinema Italiano (Ron Fair Remix)
I think I want to buy this soundtrack lol.
Another track that I like is Fergie's "Be Italian"
I'm totally addicted to these two songs right now. The songs by Marion Cotillard and Nicole Kidman are good too, but these two mentioned above really caught my attention. I love the style. At first, I wasn't sure I would like "Cinema Italiano," but it really grew on me.
I think my fears about this movie were confirmed when I heard that it wasn't performing all that well. Though it's a musical, I don't think all that many people have heard of this musical, it was performed almost 20 years ago, I believe and I haven't heard it, but I love musicals so I'm willing to give this a shot when it comes out on DVD in May. Still, it's sad that it made less than half of the budget it was given and was pulled out of numerous theaters.
I can't say the story is all that appealing, but I like the glitz and glam in Rob Marshall's films, plus if I like the music enough, I think I can watch the movie. Though... I have to say that even though I like Chicago's music, I had a hard time liking the movie 'cause I just don't like Roxy Hart at all lol, but Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma was great. I thought Renee Zellweger was good, but I didn't like her character much -- I don't like dumb characters much =_=;
Anyway, just thought I'd share those two songs ^__^
I Found This Post On My LJ
LoL. So I was going through purging tags on my LJ this morning when I found this post. Good times.
--------------------------------------------------
I found this incredibly cute XD~ I couldn't resist and must post XD~!!! My day is going awesome btw XD~
.:14ｷ50ｷ29:. * @Akisato dies laughing
.:14ｷ50ｷ41:. <@Akisato> two guys came up to me
.:14ｷ50ｷ46:. <@Akisato> to sell chocolate hearts
.:14ｷ51ｷ04:. <@Akisato> soliciting money from a poor defenseless, Valentine-holiday-hating me
.:14ｷ51ｷ28:. <@Akisato> it was kinda cute actually
.:14ｷ51ｷ31:. <@Tachibana> lol
.:14ｷ51ｷ32:. <@Tachibana> aw
.:14ｷ51ｷ45:. <@Akisato> they're all like "would you like to buy a chocolate heart?"
.:14ｷ51ｷ59:. <@Akisato> I'm like "I don't really eat chocolate...."
.:14ｷ52ｷ15:. * Tachibana is now known as Akizato
.:14ｷ52ｷ17:. <@Akisato> They're all like "Well, you can give it to your Valentine maybe"
.:14ｷ52ｷ18:. <@Akisato> LoL
.:14ｷ52ｷ26:. <@Akizato> hop!
.:14ｷ52ｷ26:. <@Akisato> and I'm like "Uh huh..."
.:14ｷ52ｷ32:. <@Akisato> eh?
.:14ｷ52ｷ40:. <@Akisato> LOL
.:14ｷ52ｷ46:. * @Akizato giggles
.:14ｷ52ｷ52:. <@Akisato> anyhow continuing
.:14ｷ53ｷ13:. <@Akisato> they're all like "Well, if you don't have a Valentine, one of us can be your Valentine"
.:14ｷ53ｷ27:. <@Akizato> LOL
.:14ｷ53ｷ30:. <@Akisato> and the other guy's like "Hey, I'll be your Valentine"
.:14ｷ53ｷ35:. <@Akisato> and in my head
.:14ｷ53ｷ38:. <@Akisato> I'm thinking to myself
.:14ｷ53ｷ48:. <@Akisato> "So not only are you soliciting money from me"
.:14ｷ53ｷ57:. <@Akisato> "But you're flirting"
.:14ｷ54ｷ20:. <@Akisato> "You're harrassing me~!!!!"
.:14ｷ54ｷ29:. <@Akisato> iyaa~~~
.:14ｷ54ｷ32:. <@Akisato> seku hara XD
.:14ｷ54ｷ34:. <@Akisato> j/k ^^
.:14ｷ54ｷ52:. <@Akisato> I was like "How much are they?"
.:14ｷ54ｷ54:. * @Akizato giggles
.:14ｷ55ｷ00:. <@Akisato> and one of the guys is like "$3"
.:14ｷ55ｷ03:. <@Akisato> and I'm like "Ok"
.:14ｷ57ｷ07:. <@Akisato> I bought a dark choco heart~~~
.:14ｷ57ｷ10:. * @Akisato gives to Mixie
.:14ｷ57ｷ14:. <@Akizato> aw
.:14ｷ57ｷ19:. * @Akizato gives a choco heart to tsu
.:14ｷ57ｷ27:. <@Akisato> See, I DO have a Valentine XP Who says I don't XD~
.:14ｷ57ｷ31:. <@Akisato> I just hate the holiday that's all XD
.:14ｷ57ｷ33:. <@Akizato> indeed XD
.:14ｷ57ｷ46:. * @Akisato snuggles Mixie ^,^
.:14ｷ57ｷ55:. * @Akizato chus
.:14ｷ57ｷ56:. <@Akizato> ^_^
.:14ｷ58ｷ05:. * @Akisato chuus back XD
--------------------------------------------------
I found this incredibly cute XD~ I couldn't resist and must post XD~!!! My day is going awesome btw XD~
.:14ｷ50ｷ29:. * @Akisato dies laughing
.:14ｷ50ｷ41:. <@Akisato> two guys came up to me
.:14ｷ50ｷ46:. <@Akisato> to sell chocolate hearts
.:14ｷ51ｷ04:. <@Akisato> soliciting money from a poor defenseless, Valentine-holiday-hating me
.:14ｷ51ｷ28:. <@Akisato> it was kinda cute actually
.:14ｷ51ｷ31:. <@Tachibana> lol
.:14ｷ51ｷ32:. <@Tachibana> aw
.:14ｷ51ｷ45:. <@Akisato> they're all like "would you like to buy a chocolate heart?"
.:14ｷ51ｷ59:. <@Akisato> I'm like "I don't really eat chocolate...."
.:14ｷ52ｷ15:. * Tachibana is now known as Akizato
.:14ｷ52ｷ17:. <@Akisato> They're all like "Well, you can give it to your Valentine maybe"
.:14ｷ52ｷ18:. <@Akisato> LoL
.:14ｷ52ｷ26:. <@Akizato> hop!
.:14ｷ52ｷ26:. <@Akisato> and I'm like "Uh huh..."
.:14ｷ52ｷ32:. <@Akisato> eh?
.:14ｷ52ｷ40:. <@Akisato> LOL
.:14ｷ52ｷ46:. * @Akizato giggles
.:14ｷ52ｷ52:. <@Akisato> anyhow continuing
.:14ｷ53ｷ13:. <@Akisato> they're all like "Well, if you don't have a Valentine, one of us can be your Valentine"
.:14ｷ53ｷ27:. <@Akizato> LOL
.:14ｷ53ｷ30:. <@Akisato> and the other guy's like "Hey, I'll be your Valentine"
.:14ｷ53ｷ35:. <@Akisato> and in my head
.:14ｷ53ｷ38:. <@Akisato> I'm thinking to myself
.:14ｷ53ｷ48:. <@Akisato> "So not only are you soliciting money from me"
.:14ｷ53ｷ57:. <@Akisato> "But you're flirting"
.:14ｷ54ｷ20:. <@Akisato> "You're harrassing me~!!!!"
.:14ｷ54ｷ29:. <@Akisato> iyaa~~~
.:14ｷ54ｷ32:. <@Akisato> seku hara XD
.:14ｷ54ｷ34:. <@Akisato> j/k ^^
.:14ｷ54ｷ52:. <@Akisato> I was like "How much are they?"
.:14ｷ54ｷ54:. * @Akizato giggles
.:14ｷ55ｷ00:. <@Akisato> and one of the guys is like "$3"
.:14ｷ55ｷ03:. <@Akisato> and I'm like "Ok"
.:14ｷ57ｷ07:. <@Akisato> I bought a dark choco heart~~~
.:14ｷ57ｷ10:. * @Akisato gives to Mixie
.:14ｷ57ｷ14:. <@Akizato> aw
.:14ｷ57ｷ19:. * @Akizato gives a choco heart to tsu
.:14ｷ57ｷ27:. <@Akisato> See, I DO have a Valentine XP Who says I don't XD~
.:14ｷ57ｷ31:. <@Akisato> I just hate the holiday that's all XD
.:14ｷ57ｷ33:. <@Akizato> indeed XD
.:14ｷ57ｷ46:. * @Akisato snuggles Mixie ^,^
.:14ｷ57ｷ55:. * @Akizato chus
.:14ｷ57ｷ56:. <@Akizato> ^_^
.:14ｷ58ｷ05:. * @Akisato chuus back XD
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Thou Shalt Not Preach Frugality
I've been really frugal and really saving since January -- only dropping the big bucks when it came to getting a new bed -- and then I went to Japantown today 'cause I felt that I deserved a break and some fun. There was an event going on and it was sunny out. I could blame it on many different reasons, but I could not practice what I have been preaching these last 2 1/2 months today 'cause I bought something that I am not sure when I am ever going to be able to use =_=;
I went to Kinokuniya as per usual 'cause I need my monthly magazine fix and I found Final Fantasy XIII sheet music so I got that too. I bought some dango and mochi from Nippon-ya -- no daifuku today, yes, be surprised as those are my fave. Since the cherryblossom festival is coming up, they're selling lots of Sakura desserts so I bought a few. I'm going to take one to the office on Monday for everyone. I then had brunch -- or one could call it really late breakfast 'cause I didn't eat before I went to the city today -- at Mifune 'cause I'm kind of a fan of the food there. After that, I went into the fabric/Japanese clothing store near the entrance of Kintetsu Mall =_=;;;;; and that was where it got a little hazy.
I only saw the yukata and it was perfect. It fit me, it was the colors I liked, and it was just really pretty. I only saw it like I was born to buy it ... so I did =_=; I wanted to buy an obi, but I didn't see any colors that I wanted today so I just left with the yukata. I really have no idea when I'll ever wear it, to tell the truth. I just own one is all =_=; It wasn't cheap is all I can say. This was kinda where the spending went skewy =_=;;; Everything else happened as per usual lol.
I then went to Niji- ya to buy some groceries and I picked up quite a bit of stuff, but then had to talk myself into putting back a lot of it too 'cause I wasn't sure when I was going to eat some things, and for some other things, I still had a lot and if I'm going to Japantown once a month, the I really don't need to go crazy and stock up 'cause in the end, stocking up is all that I will be doing and not really depleting my supply =_=; The end amount came out less than $25. Yes, be amazed. I was so shocked. For someone who is known to generate $50+ in groceries, I managed to get it under $25. Be proud! Yes, this was my proudest moment of the day lol.
Anyway, now that I had my once-a-month splurge moment, I should get back on the frugality track and putter away.
I went to Kinokuniya as per usual 'cause I need my monthly magazine fix and I found Final Fantasy XIII sheet music so I got that too. I bought some dango and mochi from Nippon-ya -- no daifuku today, yes, be surprised as those are my fave. Since the cherryblossom festival is coming up, they're selling lots of Sakura desserts so I bought a few. I'm going to take one to the office on Monday for everyone. I then had brunch -- or one could call it really late breakfast 'cause I didn't eat before I went to the city today -- at Mifune 'cause I'm kind of a fan of the food there. After that, I went into the fabric/Japanese clothing store near the entrance of Kintetsu Mall =_=;;;;; and that was where it got a little hazy.
I only saw the yukata and it was perfect. It fit me, it was the colors I liked, and it was just really pretty. I only saw it like I was born to buy it ... so I did =_=; I wanted to buy an obi, but I didn't see any colors that I wanted today so I just left with the yukata. I really have no idea when I'll ever wear it, to tell the truth. I just own one is all =_=; It wasn't cheap is all I can say. This was kinda where the spending went skewy =_=;;; Everything else happened as per usual lol.
I then went to Niji- ya to buy some groceries and I picked up quite a bit of stuff, but then had to talk myself into putting back a lot of it too 'cause I wasn't sure when I was going to eat some things, and for some other things, I still had a lot and if I'm going to Japantown once a month, the I really don't need to go crazy and stock up 'cause in the end, stocking up is all that I will be doing and not really depleting my supply =_=; The end amount came out less than $25. Yes, be amazed. I was so shocked. For someone who is known to generate $50+ in groceries, I managed to get it under $25. Be proud! Yes, this was my proudest moment of the day lol.
Anyway, now that I had my once-a-month splurge moment, I should get back on the frugality track and putter away.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Beethoven Virus
I finally decided to start watching Beethoven Virus and it is absolutely hilarious! First episode had some weird visual effects for one scene -- looked really low budget -- but I love classical music and any drama that has something to do with music usually has me hooked lol ^__^ I really like it so far. The main girl is hilarious, I really like her at the moment lol.
Basically, the story is about this violinist who works as a civil servant -- I think it's what she does -- and she comes up with this plan to make the city she lives in the next big music capital, so she gets a grant from the mayor of the city to create and fund a local orchestra to bring people to this city and generate even more revenue from it. The problem is that every orchestra she joins ends up disbanding, and the scandal that happens this time is even worse. The conductor-to-be ends up being arrested in a case of fraud, so all the money that should go to paying the musicians basically disappears. None of the players want to perform with no pay, so they all decide to pull out, leaving Ru Mi (the main girl) to fend for herself and a $3 billion won debt.
She starts to find willing musicians who do not care to be paid to form a small community orchestra to make up for the ones who left in order to hold up the pretense that things were going smoothly -- when she was questioned about the project by the mayor. She and her friend are trying to find as many people as possible, but discover that they lack a trumpet player. Just when that revelation is made, she hears beautiful trumpet playing in the background and she rushes out from her room into the streets to find the place where the trumpet player is playing. She discovers from her landlady that the guy playing is her nephew and he's currently house-sitting for one of their neighbors. He's a cop on suspension for losing his cool one day during work, so Ru Mi decides that he must have a lot of time. Her landlady tells her that her nephew, Kang Gun Woo, is really stubborn and doesn't want to do the orchestra thing, but he is extremely weak to people who are in need of help, which then makes Ru Mi act like a partially deaf violinist in order to get Gun Woo to join her orchestra lol.
This is as far as I've gotten right now, but it's so funny. I need to finish watching the rest lol.
Basically, the story is about this violinist who works as a civil servant -- I think it's what she does -- and she comes up with this plan to make the city she lives in the next big music capital, so she gets a grant from the mayor of the city to create and fund a local orchestra to bring people to this city and generate even more revenue from it. The problem is that every orchestra she joins ends up disbanding, and the scandal that happens this time is even worse. The conductor-to-be ends up being arrested in a case of fraud, so all the money that should go to paying the musicians basically disappears. None of the players want to perform with no pay, so they all decide to pull out, leaving Ru Mi (the main girl) to fend for herself and a $3 billion won debt.
She starts to find willing musicians who do not care to be paid to form a small community orchestra to make up for the ones who left in order to hold up the pretense that things were going smoothly -- when she was questioned about the project by the mayor. She and her friend are trying to find as many people as possible, but discover that they lack a trumpet player. Just when that revelation is made, she hears beautiful trumpet playing in the background and she rushes out from her room into the streets to find the place where the trumpet player is playing. She discovers from her landlady that the guy playing is her nephew and he's currently house-sitting for one of their neighbors. He's a cop on suspension for losing his cool one day during work, so Ru Mi decides that he must have a lot of time. Her landlady tells her that her nephew, Kang Gun Woo, is really stubborn and doesn't want to do the orchestra thing, but he is extremely weak to people who are in need of help, which then makes Ru Mi act like a partially deaf violinist in order to get Gun Woo to join her orchestra lol.
This is as far as I've gotten right now, but it's so funny. I need to finish watching the rest lol.
Flashforward Slow Start
So I got hooked on Flashforward when I first saw the series the day it aired. Then I kind of just stopped watching 'cause Ralph Fiennes was kind of ... not impressive to watch and the story was kind of just happening and it was as though the future couldn't be changed no matter what, etc. Things started to get a little annoying so I stopped watching, but then I got curious and decided to pick it up again last night. I finally got to the episode where Dominic Monaghan starred and he is really good *___* Simon is a chillingly fantastic character. I like Jack Davenport too, but I think after the episode titled "The Gift" things are starting to be a bit more fun ^_^ I think I may be able to enjoy this series again.
The same with Private Practice. I finally watched it last night after skipping out two episodes and I have to say that I might be able to continue watching again. Anyway, just thought I'd say that little tidbit.
The same with Private Practice. I finally watched it last night after skipping out two episodes and I have to say that I might be able to continue watching again. Anyway, just thought I'd say that little tidbit.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Whole Post is a Spoiler. Since I can't figure out the cut system on this thing, just bear with it.
Watching this movie was one of the toughest things I have ever seen. It was really heart-breaking, very disturbing, but also uplifting. The abuse was sick, and I had a hard time stomaching parts of this movie, because it was so hard to watch.
There was one rape scene and it was not that long, but it was very hard to make it through. Usually, I can tolerate a lot of things, but this movie really tested my comfort level. I was really bothered and felt really sad. Still, the main character, Precious, ended up building herself up with the help of friends she met in an alternative school and a teacher who cared deeply for her.
The scenes at the end of the movie were pretty powerful to watch, while the beginning made me really nauseous. The ending with Mo'Nique's character, Mary, talking to Mariah Carey, Weiss the social worker, and Precious was really good. Throughout the entire firm, Mo'Nique did a fantastic job portraying a crazy-mean abusive mother, and the scene at the end was very well done.
One of the other scenes I really liked was where Precious was in class and she had an in-class writing assignment, but she couldn't write. She had just found out that her late father had AIDS, which meant she was also a candidate. She did turn out to be HIV+ and was very upset about it. Ms. Rain, her teacher, told her to come with her to her office, but Precious told her to just f**k off and that she doesn't get what she has been through, and that she's HIV+. The expression on the teacher's face just tore at my heart strings. This scene just made me cry.
Precious: "Nobody love me." *she sobs*
Ms. Rain: "People do love you, Precious."
Precious: "Please don't lie to me, Ms. Rain. Love ain't done nothing for me. Love beat me, rape me, called me an animal, made me feel worthless, make me sick."
Ms. Rain: "That wasn't love, Precious."
Ms. Rain: "Your baby loves you." *pause* *whispers* I love you."
Ms. Rain: "Write."
To me, this was the first powerful scene of the movie, and then everything else that followed was good too. I can't say that this is my fave movie, but I do think it is really good. I had a really hard time watching it, because I am a pretty emotional person and even though I was only watching, it felt hurtful like I just wanted to cry, because the situation in here was so terrible. I don't know how to explain it, but it was just not a good feeling. I just felt so sad watching it.
At least the ending was good and I can live with that.
Watching this movie was one of the toughest things I have ever seen. It was really heart-breaking, very disturbing, but also uplifting. The abuse was sick, and I had a hard time stomaching parts of this movie, because it was so hard to watch.
There was one rape scene and it was not that long, but it was very hard to make it through. Usually, I can tolerate a lot of things, but this movie really tested my comfort level. I was really bothered and felt really sad. Still, the main character, Precious, ended up building herself up with the help of friends she met in an alternative school and a teacher who cared deeply for her.
The scenes at the end of the movie were pretty powerful to watch, while the beginning made me really nauseous. The ending with Mo'Nique's character, Mary, talking to Mariah Carey, Weiss the social worker, and Precious was really good. Throughout the entire firm, Mo'Nique did a fantastic job portraying a crazy-mean abusive mother, and the scene at the end was very well done.
One of the other scenes I really liked was where Precious was in class and she had an in-class writing assignment, but she couldn't write. She had just found out that her late father had AIDS, which meant she was also a candidate. She did turn out to be HIV+ and was very upset about it. Ms. Rain, her teacher, told her to come with her to her office, but Precious told her to just f**k off and that she doesn't get what she has been through, and that she's HIV+. The expression on the teacher's face just tore at my heart strings. This scene just made me cry.
Precious: "Nobody love me." *she sobs*
Ms. Rain: "People do love you, Precious."
Precious: "Please don't lie to me, Ms. Rain. Love ain't done nothing for me. Love beat me, rape me, called me an animal, made me feel worthless, make me sick."
Ms. Rain: "That wasn't love, Precious."
Ms. Rain: "Your baby loves you." *pause* *whispers* I love you."
Ms. Rain: "Write."
To me, this was the first powerful scene of the movie, and then everything else that followed was good too. I can't say that this is my fave movie, but I do think it is really good. I had a really hard time watching it, because I am a pretty emotional person and even though I was only watching, it felt hurtful like I just wanted to cry, because the situation in here was so terrible. I don't know how to explain it, but it was just not a good feeling. I just felt so sad watching it.
At least the ending was good and I can live with that.
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