NDBT

Hi everybody. Well - I’ve been back a month. I’m slowly readjusting to life at home. No more repacking my backpack (in fact, all of my travel gear is now up in the attic), no more moving on, so far not a lot of new scenery. I’ve been working on getting the house in order, and now that that is improving, I’m focusing on getting a job.

I’ve also started up a new blog, that will be mostly movie-focused. I probably won’t be able to update quite as much as I’d like until I get a new laptop, but if anyone is interested; this will be the new address; http://feedmeacat.blogspot.com/ The title is “So… what are we doing for New Years?” Kudos to anyone who gets those 2 references.

And that’s it. That’s the end of my travels. Until one day when I am once again financially solvent and I can take off across South America and South-east Asia. And more of Africa. Or until I get an international internship. Or something like that.

musica; It’s all over - Garbage

Ok - I have an actual update, but I’m just going to put these up while I’m thinking about it;

7 Christmas movies that need R-rated remakes

There are a whole bunch more top 10/ bottom 10 lists out, including cinematicals 25 hottest, 25 lamest, EW’s top 20 films (yay Zodiac and Jesse James!), the 10 worst, the best and worst tv (what?! No Office? No Lost? Clearly not a very good list), best and worst albums, 10 best songs (it includes Justin Timberlake, so grain of salt), a second opinion of the best in tv (yay CSI!), 10 best books,  and the NY Times critics; A O Scott, Manohla Dargis, and Stephen Holden. I’m glad Zodiac and the Wind that Shakes the Barley got some shout-outs, but no one for Jesse James? really?

Also - and this is something I was thinking about for a while - have you ever identified an actor (particularly tv actors) with a particular role so strongly that when they guest on another show, you find it jarring? Like, hey! What’s Mac doing on the island? Or why is Stephen Colbert forging things?

the Strange Wilderness trailer (I think this makes me laugh a lot because I actually watch nature programs)

the Mama Mia teaser (I was wondering who the cute groom was, until I realized it was Dominic Cooper from the History Boys. Yay!)

the 21 trailer (I love Kevin Spacey)

the Beatles. Which from what I hear tell is the best part of Walk Hard. Justin Long as George Harrison cracks me up.

musica; starlight - muse. on repeat.

Well - getting back to the US went mostly smoothly. The supershuttle was late, as usual, but I had told them my flight was an hour earlier than it actually was, so that was ok. Enormous line to check bags, and you have to pay $25 to leave Auckland (euch) but the staff was pretty helpful and friendly. The flight was pretty good, although a bit of turbulence. Even taking sleeping pills, I think I only slept about 1-2 hours. They had good movies though. Saw Stardust, Hairspray (meh), Die Hard 4.0, and the Simpsons. Oh - and I guess I had requested the Asian veggie meal when I reserved my tickets, so I got my super-yummy dinner first, and my bizarre breakfast (polenta and cauliflower - in what way is that breakfast food?) first, too.

It was the first time I had ever flown in to SF from the West, and we had a perfectly clear morning for it, so you could see the farralons, and then Point Reyes, and then the whole city spread out perfectly. It was really gorgeous. Oh - and a bit before we reached the bay area, we had a bit of thin cloud cover below us and the sun behind us, so if you looked down, you could see a perfect shadow of the plane surrounded by two complete concentric rainbows. It was very cool.

The bay area is lovely. I’m in Pacifica. I spent the first day just trying to stay awake till 9pm. Yesterday, Ross and I hit the Dickens Faire (yummmmy fish and chips, and lots of fun characters everywhere - and surprisingly not too crowded) and then I went to Stonestown. I hit up Express to find an outfit for Davies. I was going to get some slacks and a top (that could double as work clothes), but then I found a dress that fit perfectly, and was cheaper than the other 2 would have been. Then I got up to the register, and it was half off! Score. They unfortunately got rid of the Payless at that mall, but I managed to find a pair of heels on sale at nine west. I’m not thrilled with them, but they’ll work. So long as I don’t fall off them. It’s been more than a year since I’ve worn heels. Which is so weird - I grew up in heels. I never wear flat shoes. But that doesn’t work so much backpacking. Anyways - Ross and I are off to Davies tonight, which should be a lot of fun. (If you go here you can find some girls chorus christmas songs. The silent night at the bottom was recorded at Davies).  

Musica; Muse playlist - Starlight, Bliss, Hysteria (mmm.. Justin Theroux), Time is running out, Supermassive black hole, Knights of Cydonia, Sing for Absolution, New Born

The SAG noms are out! I don’t have time for a full squawk, but at least this awards season is all over the map, after last year’s incredibly boring “Forest Whitaker… Helen Mirren…” snooze-fest. Snubbing Johnny? oh so not cool. But at least Angie is in and I’m happy for the cast of the 3:10 to Yuma, since everyone seems determined to overlook Rescue Dawn.

I’m off to the airport in 4 hours. And I’ve left my tylenol sleep pills buried at the bottom of my suitcase. I can’t decide whether it’s worth unpacking and repacking the whole thing just to get to them. Still, it’s not like I have much else to do. But I worry it won’t close this time… Hmmm…

Well, unless I get bored at the airport tomorrow. (Hint; look for it).

First up; I LOVE New Zealand’s Inland Revenue department. They are courteous, friendly, helpful, competent people. Everytime I’ve called (4 times, maybe?) I’ve spoken with really great people who have been able to answer all of my questions with no trouble. Plus all of their tax forms and guides are really easy to follow. Ok - I realize doing the taxes of 4 million people is easier than doing it for 300 million, but still… so much nicer. Plus! I’m supposed to get a refund! yay! Who knows when it’ll arrive in the states, but that’ll really help ease the couple of weeks before I get a job/ first paycheck in Boston.

I’ve been hearing lots from people in the states; I love how christmas time prompts everyone to reconnect.

In sad Christmas news; A Catholic reviewer might lose his job over positive reviews for the Golden Compass, RENT, and Brokeback Mountain. Because, clearly, the people calling for his firing have seen those films. (Speaking of which, in the holiday spirit; the OBC 10th anniversary seasons of love)
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton

10 years ago today was the opening of the biggest movie in history. Or not.

I love it; there’s a moveon.org petition to bring back the daily show.

Travel stories; the travel editor from the SF Chronicle said every traveler should have one of the following type of stories;

a 3rd world bus story. Obviously this one needs to be a minibus or taxi brousse story. Although the night brousse ride in Madagascar is probably the best story, I’d just like to mention my favourite 3rd world bus; the Rock of Ages minibus in Cape Town. Ah, deafening euro-pop.
a bathroom story. Easily the pit toilets in Madagascar inhabited by 4-5 inch spiders. Right above your head. At night.
an airplane story. My most memorable flight has got to be one of my lags to South Africa, when I had an Indian great-grandmother frantically prying on one side of me, and a guy from Chevron on the other who spent the whole flight trying to convince me to work for an oil company.
an animal story. Umm… where to begin? Between the kiwi, cassowary, lemurs, and safaris, it’s hard to pick just one. The deer in Killarney. Seeing an albatross in Kaikoura. All the little night marsupials in Krakamia. Probably the best story is doing the bush walk in Botswana and running into a pair of Elephants. Or working with the goats at Kervella, if we’re including domestic animals.
a hotel story. The best place I stayed was probably on the edge of Andasibe park, where we got some lemurs coming into the place, and you could occasionally see Indiri across the river. The sketchiest was the place in Tamatave with the cockroaches and evil fan of doom. Actually, the best hotel story is the time I stayed at the Ritz in Boston with GREEN DAY. Have I told that one?
a food story. Hmm… exotic food? I’ve eaten emu. I’m not too big on the eating weird animals thing. I’m trying to think of meals that stand out. Yamamori’s with Kristl in Dublin. Oh!! The Ristorante Accedemia and their warm lamb salad. And the bread at the Casa Lingua. Mmmmm….Man was the food good in Italy.

Oh and the cheesecake in Venice.
and a guide story. My favourite guide was the one we had in Botswana. I can’t post his photo just now, but I’ll see if I can when I get home. And the Stray drivers have all been pretty cool here in NZ. Oh - and Melican (from Crazy Kudu) in Namibia was fantastic. The guy who took us to Kruger was kind of crazy, but super-sweet.
musica; No one- Alicia keys, Don’t shoot me santa - the Killers, Just like Heaven - AFI, CS Lewis Song - Brooke Fraser

Well hell. I started writing this post a week ago, and it seems to have been lost. Hmmm… and I am running out of internet time. Ok - well I was going to post my travel mix, my “I’m coming home to SF/ CA” mix, and a packing list, but due to time constraints, I think it’ll just have to be the travel mix. I’ll try to do the packing list when I’m at home and unpacking.

Oh my god – Kaiser Chiefs, Oh my god – Mark Ronson ft. Lily Allen (these two obviously also work well in the I’m coming home category), Take it easy – Eagles, End of the line - Traveling Wilburys, The Way – Fastball, Runaway – iio (I must have a remix - I can’t find the version I like online), Run, baby, run – Garbage, America - Simon and Garfunkle, Road Trippin’ - Red Hot Chili Peppers, Roam - B-52s, Stratford on Guy - Liz Phair, Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen, Mowbray Kaap - Freshlyground, Ramblin Man - Allman brothers, Fast Car - Tracy Chapman, Runaway - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, City of New Orleans - Arlo Guthrie, Learn to Fly - Foo Fighters (also good for going home), No particular place to go - Chuck Berry, Free - Martinis, I’ve been everywhere - Rolf Harris, Everyday is a winding road - Sheryl Crow, Truckin’ - Greatful Dead, Long Way Home - Supertramp, Every picture tells a story - Rod Stewart, Far Away Places - Bing Crosby, Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin, Changes in Latitudes - Jimmy Buffett, Send me on my way - Rusted Root, Holiday - Weezer, Open road song - Eve 6, Vacation - Go-gos, Promised land - Chuck Berry, On the road again - Willie Nelson, Born to be wild - Steppenwolf, I’m like a bird - Nelly Furtado, Move along - the All-American Rejects, Go your own way - the Cranberries, Running on empty - Jackson Brown, Car Song - Elastica, Where the streets have no name - U2, On the road again - Bob Seger, On the road again - Canned heat, There is life outside your apartment - Avenue Q, Get out the map - Indigo girls, Midnight rider - Allman brothers (I also personally love Jessica, since it’s my song, but it’s also good to listen to on long bus trips), Over the hills and far away - Led Zeppelin, Katmadu - Bob Seger, Easy Rider - Jimi Hendrix, Leave Home - the Chemical Brothers, Marrakesh Express - Crosby, Stills and Nash, Come fly with me - Frank Sinatra, Roadrunner - Jonathan Richman, Miles away - Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Flower - Moby, Eleanor put your boots on - Franz Ferdinand, Around the World - Red Hot Chili Peppers, Buenos Aires - Evita, Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin, Desert Rose - Sting, Island in the Sun - Weezer, Santa Fe - RENT. I’m sure there are more, but I no longer have my original mix on my new ipod.

Ok - I think I have enough time to list a few California songs; Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Also by RHCP; Californication, By the Way and Tell me Baby), Music is the Victim - Scissor Sisters, Malibu - Hole, Santa Monica - Everclear, City of Angels - the Distillers, Earthquakes and Sharks - Brandston, Hollywood - Madonna, Hollywood Nights - Bob Seger, California Sun - Rivieras, A Sorta Fairytale - Tori Amos, Hey Pretty (bonus track) - Poe, San Francisco - Vanessa Carlton, San Francisco - Judy Garland, Rockabye - Shawn Mullins, California Dreamin - Mamas and the Papas, San Francisco Days - Chris Isaak, We built this city - Jefferson starship, San Francisco - Scott MacKenzie, San Francisco - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, California Girls - the Beach Boys, California, here I come - ???, Do you know the Way to San Jose - Dionne Warwick, LA Woman - the Doors, San Francisco Bay Blues - Janis Joplin, California - Joni Mitchell, Going to California - Led Zeppelin, California - Phantom Planet, California - Rufus Wainwright, California sun - Rancid, and of course, Mr. Tony Bennett.

This has got to be the best holiday video EVER CREATED:

Check it out on youtube.

I’m not sure which part I love best;

Brandon singing with absolutely no facial expressions while wrapped in a hand-knit Christmas sweater

The fact that he’s tied up with tinsel

The random marracca shakes

Or the HOMICIDAL, DANCING SANTA CLAUS

I still cannot get through to the payroll department, which is really annoying. I have to get through by tomorrow morning if I want to hand in this tax refund request. Sheesh.

I finished up the fall in 47th place for the fall box office game. Not bad. Maybe I can shoot for the top 25 in the spring?

Really, at some point today I might finish those last couple of blog posts. Or I might go sit in a cafe and read some more Cadfael. One of the two.

The trailer for Leatherheads. Yay John Krasinski!

The full, two-minute trailer for season 4 of Lost. YAAAAAAY! God… so, so amazing. I’m still reeling from the season 3 finale.
What, girl? Timmy’s in the well?

JK Rowling has a new interview coming up and this post has some potter puppet pals (although I personally prefer the original).

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists made thier movie picks.  (Black Sheep gets a special mention, and they were clearly impressed by Viggo Mortensen.)

What’s your favourite movie year?

You should watch this. It has Paul Rudd, Justin Long, Craig Robinson (The Office) and Jonah Hill. They’re funny.

Yeah - not much new to report. Wandering around the city. Finished Light Thickens by Ngaio Marsh (I enjoyed it, because the bulk of the book was about rehearsing a play - the murder was a total afterthought), and now I’m reading the 6th Cadfael (I couldn’t find #5). Yeah - that’s really it. I couldn’t get through to payroll today, so that’s tomorrow’s task.

I am having fun re-watching this. Are they going to show the Christmas special in America? 

Spam spam spam spam;

The new Dark Knight trailer. Heath Ledger looks sociopathic and Christian Bale looks gorgeous. I’m excited.

EW has a Milo Ventimiglia featurette with his directorial ae video. Heroes was on last night - but it was 209, which was the last one I’d already seen. I want to see the end two!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: Must Watch: Snow Angels Trailer with Kate Beckinsale. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. release? distribution? Merry Christmas to me!!

From Cleolinda;

This is a holiday snowglobe, and you are an angry god.

TIME Magazine’s Top Ten of 2007.

 ‘Charlie Bartlett’ Poster. 

First HBP still; JK Rowling Interviewed on The Leaky Cauldron’s Podcast; Newsweek Names “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” Best Book of the Year; Twilight fans up in arms that Cedric Diggory is not hot enough to play their sparkly emo vampire. 1) No, literally sparkly. 2) WHAT? [Ed; hahahaha]

Ten Minutes of ‘Extras’ Series Finale Online.

Lost Moving Timeslots?; Lost Finds Thursdays In January.

Smith’s ‘Legend’ grows with $76.5M debut; Box Office Report: ”I Am Legend” sets record.

Amazon.com Buys Beedle the Bard for $3.98 Million; Amazon Posts First Review of Beedle the Bard Tales by JK Rowling; Amazon Posts Second Synopsis from “Tales of Beedle the Bard”; “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart” Review Online from “Beedle the Bard”; Behold the Tale of Babbity Rabbity!

Photos are up here for whale watching and Karori.

Also I highly recommend you check the following out; Harry Potter and Stephen Colbert (I’m still pissed youtube took down all the old report bloopers). And I really really want the writers strike to end already!!
Oh - and boys don’t cry.