Dear God,
I would like one of these, please. As I’m sure you know, my birthday is on July 3rd.
Thank you,
Amen.
Bitten January 17, 2009
We had a day off today and I went to the cinema here in Berlin with Anne-Mai. (Fun fact: They sell wine and beer at the concession stand!) I really wanted to see Valkyrie, cause how cool would that be to see in Berlin? I could almost justify spending money on it, then, because it’s more of a cultural experience and not just a movie. Right?
But Valkyrie hasn’t been released yet here in Germany, so we saw Twilight instead.
I am so embarrassed about how much I liked that movie. I mean, I really liked it! Despite the reservations I had while watching it, the biggest of which was why the heck would this girl be attracted to a vampire lifestyle? You can never eat or sleep again. Those are two of the greatest pleasures in life! Also, when she’s all cuddled up to Edward? I mean, wouldn’t that suck, considering it would be like snuggling with an ice sculpture? I’m just saying.
Okay, but seriously, I’m not so embarrassed that I liked the movie. But I AM embarrassed at how swoony I felt over Robert Pattinson’s character, Edward! I feel like they made him in a factory by pushing the button “Teen Dream Heart Throb.” If I was 14 I would totally be covering my walls with collages made from Tiger Beat magazine right now.
But come on, can you blame me? With his sculpted features, creamy skin, and wild, modern-day-James-Dean hair…sigh. In my defense, I did also love him as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter. Take a look at him and try NOT to swoon:
The Single Girl’s Guide To Excuses January 5, 2009
In Little Women, Jo describes her feelings when she moves away from home for the first time to work as a governess and aspiring writer in New York:
“I felt bold on leaving Concord, but I confess I find New York rough and strange, and myself strange in it. Mrs. Kirk believes I am here for a brief interlude of sensational experience before succumbing to a matrimonial fate [...] but I hope that any experience I gain will be strictly literary.”
I can relate to Jo. When I came to Norway, I felt brave but out of place and floundering in the new culture. And like Jo, I think most people I know have certain…expectations on how my life should be unfolding, especially now that I’m 24. These expectations, once latent, are now showing themselves as time passes and I remain single and without prospects (how Jane Austen-esque does that sound?). Friends and family at home continually ask, “So, have you met a cute Norwegian boy yet?” Even people here ask if I’ve found anyone interesting. How many times can you just lamely say “no” without feeling like the leftover you joke about being?
Well, I’m an aspiring writer, too. So I will take Jo’s words, and when people ask if I’ve met a Norwegian man yet who can throw me over his shoulder like a viking and carry me off into the sunset, I can arch my brow and say nobly: “I hope that any experience I gain here will be strictly literary.”
And when I make into Oprah’s Book Club, you’ll see I put all these years of solitary world travel to good use.
Iron Man? Yes, Please! May 19, 2008
So, I saw Iron Man last Friday night. When I first heard it came out, I knew nothing about it. Like, I hadn’t even seen a trailer. Then after it came out everyone was raving about it, and then I heard that Robert Downey, Jr. plays Iron Man. And then I wanted to see it.
I have loved Robert Downey Jr. since I was a kid and watched him in sentimental movies like Hearts and Souls and Only You. Then, in high school, I went through a serious Ally McBeal obsession. They were running that show on FX like 800 times a day (fun fact: that same year they filmed an episode for the last season at the ice rink I worked at, and I got to meet Ally McBeal/Calista Flockhart!). Anyway, RDJ played Ally’s love interest during parts of season 4 and season 5, and I just loved him (despite the fact that his character’s name was Larry). His incredible wit, his rough-around-the-edges good looks, and his confident, don’t give a damn attitude are irresistable. In Hollywood, where tanned, blond-streaked (and yes, beautiful) Jude Law and Brad Pitt-types rule the world and the screen; RDJ is a welcome contrast.
We all know he’s been through some rough patches and taken a few wrong turns, but he’s got a couple of projects lined up for us to look forward to and I’m glad he’s back.
Presenting Jackson Wilshire April 23, 2008
Guys, let me tell you about my friend, Jackson.
We became friends my sophomore year at LIFE and had great times fighting in the cafeteria, annoying the hell out of people while talking during movies in the Cove, coming up with crazy band names, laughing our butts off at Disneyland, and one time having a very special “faux date” on Valentine’s Day at Home Brew Coffee, where we sat on stools and sipped extra thick milkshakes and watched “Say Anything” on my laptop.
Jackson is an incredibly talented singer, songwriter, and musician; he’s the kind of guy who has phases of hyperinterest (like the time when all he wanted to do was watch anime, learn Japanese, and do martial arts), and has a brilliant, philosophical mind.
He is the one who (along with TJ a.k.a. Peach) got me into fitness and nutrition in the first place. They are also the boys who gave me the glorious nickname, Joy X (that “x” is Greek “chi” symbol, for those of you who are not Bible college nerds).
Jackson just revived his blog, Truth A Paradox, and I immediately added it to my blogroll. Feel free to engage in intellectual and theological dialogues with my dear friend, Jackson Wilshire. (How great is that name for a musician?)
Take Me to the Movies! Or Sushi. August 22, 2007
Hey, I totally love being single but sometimes I miss how when you’re part of a couple, you go to the movies ALL the time. When I’m flying solo, I just don’t get to the theater. I’m not one of those brave souls who can go to the movies alone, and I never really want to go with friends because I feel like I’m wasting quality time with them. But a boyfriend? Sheesh, you’re always talking and spending time together, so sometimes it’s nice to sit in the dark and drink a Diet Coke and then have something to talk about afterward. (more…)
Aussies in the O.C. May 29, 2007
The other night I went out with my friend Katie and some Australian tennis pros. Yes, it is good to have friends on the inside of the pro tennis circuit. Who doesn’t want hot professional athletes with hot foreign accents popping up on her social calendar from time to time?
I knows it’s the Nose May 25, 2007
So when Zach Braff began to appear in the peripheral of my celebrity awareness, I wasn’t sure how I felt about him. I went to see Garden State when it came out, just like everyone else in my generation. But, unlike everyone in my generation, I did not enjoy it. However, during the movie I found myself confused about whether or not I thought Zach Braff was attractive. I wavered during the entire film, as well as during the few times I’ve suffered through episodes of slap-stick ridden Scrubs. In case you’re saying, “Zach who?” here’s a pic for your reference:
