Is it really so?

I’m trying not to get too carried away here but… IT LOOKS LIKE MY BITCHY NEIGHBORS ARE MOVING!! I feel like singing! Let's dance everyone! I love this song, not really but it's so funny!

Taking advantage of my online library

I don’t know why I doubt borrow more audio books from my library. I can borrow them online and listen right away. They all kind of books, a lot of nonfiction so why don’t I do this? I will from now on, it’s free and you can listen to a sample before you borrow it (you can only lend 5 books per week). When it comes to audio books the reader is very important, some are just so boring no matter how exciting the story is you can’t listen to it.

Read!

I’ll try to read more nonfiction books from now on. I can’t remember the last time I read one…oh the last book I read was one, and the three after that… but I somehow feel I’m not reading enough of them so I’ll read more of them.

Street art

Right now I’m obsessing about street art. Why not have art on the streets? I rather look at an elephant walking a tightrope holding an umbrella than anorexic photoshopped girls in underwear when I’m in the city. When I was out walking I kept an eye out to see what I would do if I had the talent and there were lots of things I would like to do. At the moment the people in my neighborhood don’t deserve any art though.

It is amazing the things people think of, and manage to create. Before I looked around on the net I didn’t think much about it and now I’m more open and thinking more on what can be done here? I can’t do shit because I’m useless but in my head I am brilliant and create lots of beautiful art.

When I looked around the internet I came across a trailer for a movie about British street artist Banksy and it looks like fun, reminds me of skateboard films. Banksy is one of those artists you have seen lots of thing by you just don’t know it.

So cute!

I did not have the time to get my camera but the other day a pheasant stopped by. Not that common but they make a quick stop around here as the move to where ever it is they stay for the rest of the year.

It did remind me that children today are... less educated perhaps than I was as a child, “Look mommy, a chicken!” I heard a kid yell when he saw it. Oh well.

It also reminded me that I want chickens and perhaps a golden pheasant, or a peacock.

Franklyn

Franklyn is a very beautiful movie visually but story is thin I’m afraid but very pretty indeed and I’ll keep an eye out to see what Gerald McMorrow (cool name) will do next. I like movies that have put money on “the look” of it and they have created a certain vibe, but that basically all there is in this movie. Not enough work on the actual story. Lovely darkness in it, I think it could have been a little bit more of that.


Apparently Ewan McGregor was supposed to be in it, don’t think it would have made the movie better but perhaps I would have heard of the movie earlier.

Feels like you can show any picture from this movie without spoiling anything.

I love Eva Green, something about her, she has that cunning secretive look and I hope she gets to play Catwoman if Catwoman is to make a comeback. And she's not a bad actress either.

As I said, not that much of a story but it’s the guys first feature film so I understand but I wish there was more because it’s so pretty. If you appreciate beautiful costumes and comic vibes then you can watch this movie and read at the same time and just watch it since there’s not much of a plot.

Rec

Name: Rec
Country: Spain
Tea: None
Snack: None
Expectations: After watching the trailer I believe this movie to be scary and I’m not sure I should watch it before I go to bed. Oh, I have to go and lock the door!



We get to follow a Spanish TV crew on the show “While you were sleeping” as they follow the firemen. Despite the fact that it’s starting out slow and slightly dull… it manage to remain interesting, how? I don’t really know, maybe because I’m a sucker for reality shows?


It does get a little chaotic at times but the acting is good so I believe it. A few cheap things but all in all it’s interesting and at the end is pretty scary, I had to turn the sound down, things seem less scary when you turn the sound down. I found the last ten fifteen minutes of this really creepy and if more of the movie had been like that I would not have managed to watch all of it, I would have been too scared. It took me awhile to finish the movie because it was disturbing at the end and I need a break or two.

Parts of the end looked like a Marilyn Manson video but I won’t show any pictures or say anything, won’t spoil it if anyone wants to see it. Of course they made an American version of the movie because God forbid those poor souls should have to watch something with… subtitles! After looking at the trailer it looks like they copied it frame by frame, a few differences in the plot and I think I’ll see it just because. The american version is called Quarentine.

Prey

Name: Prey
Country: South Africa
Tea: None
Snack: None
Expectations: None, don’t remember much from the trailer either. But since it’s from South Africa I assume there’s a lion in it.

I don’t know… angry lions in Africa aren’t as scary as an angry shark in New England. Lions eating tourist that invade their space is just animals being animals, I’m with the lions on this one. You see the lion right away so it’s not like a lurking menace in the deep so there’s no mystery of the unknown. It would be scarier if there were attacks in the dark and we did not get to see the “monster” but now it’s just a holiday gone wrong.


Cell phones have messed up horror/thrillers because everyone have a phone so you have to have a scene where they break the phone, lose the phone, the batteries are running low or they have no signal (seems to be the most common one used).

It’s hard to get scared when you see the “monster” and think they are cut. They remind me of my kitties, so cut!


It wasn’t a very good movie as far as I recall but “The Ghost and the Darkness” was better than this one, different kind of movies yes but at least there was some suspense in that one.

What kind of idiots goes out in a car on a safari without lots and lots of water? And why drive like that?

Best part of the movie: The giraff and Mr. Crawfords house. It's a really nice house I have to say.

High Tension

Name: High Tension
Country: France
Tea: Raspberry (milk on the side)
Snack: Raisins
Expectations: None, here we go…

22 minutes: I’m really really bored… very distracted, I want to look at shoes. I’m thinking of getting a pair of cute ballerina slippers, probably black because that’s my favorite color, some say black isn’t a color but I think some people are smartasses so…

24 minutes: Oh dear… I can’t do this right now. I need a break from this one. I’m going to watch Oscar winning documentary The Cove instead.

Okay, I’m giving it a go… this movie just made me forget all about this challenge. I can’t put my finger on it but just as this movie started I was sick of it, so dull and boring. Now I’m hoping that the girl dies, I’m cheering for the killer, get her!!

25 minutes: What the fuck!? What…? I hate this stupid movie! It’s not good when you don’t care about the main character in a horror movie.

33 minutes: Aimée rescued me for a little chat, lovely break…

51 minutes: Oh dear god! I hate the stupid bitch, die! I hate the movie more than I hate her however. I just want this damn movie to come to an end, Jesus fucking Christ!

52 minutes: I’m sure the movie isn’t THAT bad, we just started off on the wrong foot…

The UK title is the best thing about the movie, "Switchblade Romance" sounds sexy. I think I watched this movie in four or five parts, that how long it took me to finish it. DON'T watch this movie, watch "The Cove" instead.

How much water do you use in a day?

My über green week has begun and I was curious on just how much water I use in a day and it did not start out well. I put a basin in the sink when I washed up and wow! That was a lot more water than I thought I used. I got a bucket and I could actually use that water to flush with. So I got some more buckets and collected some snow outside and I’ll use that water to flush with (yes this is extreme but I’m going to be a green as I can this week). It’s just noon and I feel I’ve used more water that I should in just one day. I like water, I should take better care of it.

Things to do

1. Buy a water boiler thingy, they say it takes less energy to use that than to boil water on the stove and when you think about all the tea I drink I guess it’s a good thing.
2. Switch laundry detergent to a soap based one. (I have to confess I have no clue what my laundry detergent contains at the moment)

Green Life

I’m going to have a little green experiment this week, starting Thursday… We talk a lot in Sweden about the environment and how bad it is, we all have to work together and blah blah blah, just talk and no one cares what so ever I’m afraid.

I’ve seen plenty of people throwing paper in the trash instead of the recycling bins, you can’t leave this neighborhood without passing one of these bins and since most people take the car every morning to work why not take some paper along with you and throw it on your way?

Then there are people that still have their Christmas lights up… sigh. And they also have lots of decorative lights on their house and around the garden. Yes it looks warm and inviting but also a little like a theme park. Yesterday when I was out on my walk I noticed just how many lights people have. It’s not practical light but purely decorative, they are on the house, in the roof, in the drive way, in the walls, in the trees, on the trees, they are everywhere. Do you really need all of those lights? 10 – 15 years ago the only lights people had was one in the driveway and one above the door which is pretty darn practical when it’s jet black outside but apparently that is not enough anymore.

Then there is this one family that has had a fire lit close to every day this winter. Yes it’s cozy but every day? Come on! And it’s not a fire to warm up the house, just one of those things for ambience.

I’ve also been thinking, now when everyone build these glass boxes, insisting that it’s a house it must take more energy to warm them up a cold winter. Windows are as isolating as a wall is, are they? They also have much higher roofs which means more space, more space to heat and let’s throw in some windows in the roof as well. Doesn’t sound like the best design if you think about the environment but maybe there’s some fancy new technology that makes it all good, what do I know?

On Greenpeaces Swedish website there are ideas that you can do in your neighborhood to make it better… here are a few of them.

• Organize a “Clean up the beach” day. (Ha! No one would show up, well maybe some would show up and take a dip and ask if I was a criminal doing community service.
• Start a composting system. You can sell the soil to a gardener or a plant nursery to cover the expensive. (Well, I guess I could try to inform people about composting. Here people take all their garden trash and throw it in the wood and think Mother Nature will just make it go away. They throw whole Christmas trees there… are they retarded or do they simply don’t give a damn? I think it’s the latter I’m afraid.)
• Organize a tree planting campaign. (Ha ha ha ha!! People here HATE trees and cut them down and builds pools, wooden decks or lawns.)

I feel pretty damn alone in my neighborhood… I once said I didn’t want them to demolish a small patch of wood because I liked to watch the birds and the answer I got was something like, “Birds? Who gives a fuck about birds?”

Neighbors, everybody needs good neighbors…

(Yes, that show made it all the way to Sweden) If you could pick your neighbors, what a joy! Who would you pick and why? There are six houses beside mine on our little street and here are my neighbors if I could pick them.

1. Oscar Wilde. There is some view into this house but hopefully not that much (they haven’t moved in) but I can picture Oscar living there and I would spot him sitting in a chair in front of the fire when I make tea (from the kitchen I can see straight into what probably is the living room). I would wave and he would raise his cup or glass, maybe wave me over for some tea or a brandy.

(Oscar dressed for Ms Marples annual spring tea party)

2. Who do I want to stare at all times? Johnny Depp or maybe Dita von Teese but then I would stare at them all the time and they wouldn’t like me so… maybe Batman/Bruce Wayne? He would never live there because it’s too small but let’s say he would. I’m sure he would come up with something clever to avoid the whole situation with the view straight into each other’s houses and I’m sure I would like Alfred. (Bet Oscar would love if Robin moved in next door.)

("Hurry up and get dressed, we'll will be late Master Bruce")

3. Beatrix Potter. I’m sure she would take good care of the yard and make it nice for birds and other animals and I’d ask her for help with building birdhouses ect. She doesn't seem to be hard to live close to, a very nice and calm person. (I base this on the movie I saw, could be a bitch but I doubt it.)

(Beatrix waiting for her husband William to hurry up)

4. Hmm… can’t come up with anyone at the time, let’s pretend it’s vacant for now. Any idea’s who could move in there?

5. The Bennets of course. Mrs Bennet seems like fun and she would fill me in on all the gossip, especially if they live next to Oscar Wilde and Batman. I love Elizabeth and Jane and hopefully we would be friends and take walks across the neighborhood.

(Red alert! The Bennets are coming!)

6. Miss Marple maybe… a nice lady and she would like the place I’m sure. I think she would be a wonderful neighbor and I can picture myself stopping and chatting a little when I take the dog out, and he would like her too since he loves little old ladies.

(Miss Marple and friend is waiting for the guests in the garden, they probably just spotted Oscar)

Imagine the tea parties with the neighbors! I want these neighbors! I'll pretend they live here... imaginary friends, that sounds healthy.

Time Flies…

When I look at the stuff I wrote in the beginning… let’s just say that I’ve changed a bit (what was I thinking? No taste what so ever). When I first started out writing here it was supposed to be about tea but that doesn’t happen very often so I’ll try to do it more because tea is wonderful.

Right now I’m having the famous “Söderblandning” from the store where it all happened, “The Tea Centre of Stockholm”. I remember reading somewhere that Vernon (the creator) doesn’t like the blend himself, I find that funny, like writing a bestseller and not liking it. Anyway, my first visit at “The Tea Centre of Stockholm” and they had these super cute tins with the store on them. I had to buy them! Six different teas for 299kr which means that each tin cost almost 50kr which I would have paid just for the tin.

But it’s small things like that that makes people buy perhaps more tea than they intended (aka good for business). It can’t cost that much to make these tins and they are so cute! The store smelled of tea when I stepped inside and it was pretty dark and almost gloomy because they have this old fashion vibe going on which is one of the reasons they only accepts cash which is silly because they have plastic bags and carpets with rubber on it so… Cozy but the lack of light almost made me a little depressed. There was a candle or two lit but that was it. I don’t think some proper lights and accepting credit cards would hurt the business.

Birds in the garden

The change in the number of birds is absolutely shocking after the cut the wooded area down! I never thought it would be like this but I am sad and amazed what a difference it is now and the fact that no one seems to care what so ever about it. Due to this I will try and keep an eye out for birds that I see.

I won’t mention these birds:
1. Magpies are doing well but they are scavengers and do well around humans (aka raiding the garbage cans) and I see them on a daily bases.
2. The crows population is smaller, they have moved up on the hill where there are more pines left standing, they seem to prefer pines over other trees. I like crows so I’m a little sad that we don’t have more of them here.
3. Blackbirds are doing well too, one of the few birds that has visit the birdfeeder regularly this winter.

Today I saw a Eurasian Jay which was a nice surprise since I haven’t seen on this winter, also saw a woodpecker and I haven’t seen them either. Maybe they are coming back for spring?

What I’m doing this weekend

Organizing my desk… the chaos! I can’t find anything, it’s such a mess I barely have room for my tea cup, imagine the horror! I need a place for the tea cup, letters that I should answer, bills to pay… what else? Well, I’ll start with that and we’ll see where it goes.

My books are here!

I don’t want to know how much money I spend on books… I think I would scare myself if I looked into it so I won’t.

What did I get?
· “Northanger Abbey” by Jane Austen: Because I don’t have it and need it for my Jane Austen reading.
· “The Bad Beginning” by Lemony Snicket (Swedish): If I remember correctly my friend Shalyn (and her auntie) like the series so I want to give it a go and the first book was on sale so…
· “Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen: I only have it in Swedish and I didn’t like it. I will read it in English and hope it’s better.
· “Antigone” Sofokles (Swedish): I was on sale and I have a buddy in Greece name Antigone so I just had to have it.
· “Madame de Pompadour” by Herman Lindqvist (Swedish): On sale and I like history but I don’t read enough about it so this was great. Madame de Pompadour was Louis XV mistress.
· “Bleak House” by Charles Dickens: I liked “Great Expectations” and want to read more Dickens, and I really liked the BBC series “Bleak House” and wanted to read it, I know that the ending is different in the book.
· “Our Mutual Friend” by Charles Dickens: I saw this one on TV and liked it so I want to read it. I love the Victorian era so…
· “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë: I really liked it when I read it in Swedish so I want to read the original version.
· “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë (Swedish): Read it in English and I didn’t like it at all but maybe I didn’t understand as much as I thought I did? Read it in Swedish and I’ll see if I like it better or if I did understand it and still don’t like it.
· “Agnes Grey” by Anne Brontë: I liked her sister Charlottes book so I want to read something from each sister and this was cheap so why not?
· “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Brontë (Swedish): It was on sale.
· “Krigets Färger” by Arkadij Babtjenko: For some strange reason it seems like this book is not translated into English, it probably will be soon. It’s none fiction, Arkadij was only 18 when he was sent to war in Chechnya and this is his story. He works as a journalist now for the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta.
· Mystery book but a mystery author: Birthday present to someone whose birthday is coming up.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

(Pretty poster)

Okay fourth film in the challenge, Germany, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari silent film from 1920, about 50 minutes long so it will be perfect before bedtime. And knock on wood, silent films are never scary so…

Tea: None
Snack: None (because you should snack all the time, and I’m still stuffed since dinner)

Not a good start, 44 seconds and what does somnambulist mean? Sounds like it has something to do with sleep… ah, sleepwalker, okay now I can continue to watch the movie.

(Funny picture, had to show it)

I liked it, silent films are usually very charming and this was no exception. It reminded me of Tim Burton, apparently the light and shadows were painted directly on the set, background ect and I think that could be one of the things that gives it a Burton vibe.

(Very Burton to me with the curles on the wall. The shadow on the wall is a door, pretty neat)

Apparently they did a remake of the movie 2005 and it seems that they couldn’t come up with anything on their own and shot the thing using green screen and used footage from the original film. Be inspired by all means, I can understand that the original movie gets people excited but use that inspiration and do something of you own.

(2005 version)

(Original version from 1920)

Best thing in the movie: Lil Dagover who reminds me of my mom back in the day, without the Leno chin but I don't remember that from the movie, bad ligh hopefully.

And the winner is…

My little Jane Austen give away winner is none other than, Brittan! Who seem to share my fondness of owls and will receive a copy of Emma! I hope more people will have give aways, look through your bookcase and give away the books you don’t need, want or like.

Black Water

So, third movie is from Australia and it’s called Black Water, “This movie is based to true event”, that always makes me suspicious. But I guess it doesn’t have to be a lie, if a person gets killed by a crocodile (which I’m pretty sure has happened) you can base a story on that, everything is fabricated but it is based on the story were a person was killed by a crocodile. But I don’t get why? I don’t think it adds anything to the story by claiming it is based on truth; it doesn’t get scarier so why bother? Thoughts on this one anyone?

Snacks: Raisins (waiting for dinner)

Three people head off for holiday… um, why would you want to spend Christmas break with your sister and her boyfriend? Sounds really boring and third wheel to me.

I just hate scene when people are trying to get out of the water, Jaws flashbacks from when I was six I guess. I get stressed out watching it and want to yell at the screen. Don’t these people watch animal shows? I can hear Sir David Attenborough sighing, “Crocs can jump you stupid fools!”

Like with all horror movies you questions people’s actions, I’m sure I would be of no use if there was a scary crocodile in the water (unless you think crying and pissing oneself is helpful) but it looks so silly when people don’t act the way you want them to in these situations. Like in Friday the 13th when all hell breaks loose and the girl decides to make coffee… maybe that’s what you would do because you are scared senseless but it looks so stupid.

Got to take a break, dinner and my dog is expecting his dinner too and then a walk. I’m glad I didn’t watch a movie with some killer who kills people who walk their dogs; I think I’m safe from crocodiles in the snow…

What’s with movies that make you want to eat? I just want to stuff my face with something but I’m not hungry.

Not that scary but horror movies rarely are and I’m not sure I would really call this horror. Yes, it was absolutely uncomfortable to watch each time anyone was close to water but scary as a movie? No. There were some things I don’t believe are normal crocodile behavior but the crocodile isn’t really a monster, more just a crocodile.

The girl is cute, she reminds me of someone… maybe if Scarlett Johansson and Naomi Watts had a baby?

Best thing in the movie: The cute little frill-necked lizard that hurries across the road, so cute!

Dead Snow

I need a break from all the garden work… I rather be out raking and digging than looking up how to sow stuff and whatnot on the net (all garden stuff is posted here). So movie time it is. Norwegian horror, how bad can it be? The last and only Norwegian movie I’ve seen was Cold Prey and thinking back I don’t remember hating it but apparently I didn’t when I watched it. So second movie in my little challenge is Dead Snow from Norway. Undead Nazi...

Tea: Raspberry (because it’s the only one left)
Snack: Falun rågrut (crisp bread)

Yellow Bastard Production, that’s a funny name. Movie starts with “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Grieg and we see lovely scenery of Norwegian wilderness. I’m expecting lusekoftor within a minute… No, no lusekofta but the movie is far from over so hopefully there will be one and a pair of skis before it’s over.

Some Guy: Why do we even play this game?
Some Other Guy: Because Hollywood has told us it’s super fun.

So true, they are always playing Twister in American movies and TV shows. I never have and it doesn’t look like that much fun.

(Nice little cottage though)

I think I’ve figured out who’s going to die first… (Update: I was way off)

They like to have snow scene, either a guy on a scooter, sled, whatever and “cool” music… “Cool” music always sounds stupid to me since it’s so obvious that they want the scene to “cool” and it never is when it’s force, looks more like a low budget coke commercial.

(Looks like a nice place for a tea party, without the undead Nazis of course)

There are a few issues I have with the plot and I won’t spoil it if anyone wants to see the film but, surely someone who read the script would have commented on it.

(If this was an american movie I think this guy would look different in that version)

I don’t know how old they are supposed to be but one of them act like he’s a really dull 40 year old and they are all boring losers. I don’t get the feeling it is always intended to be funny but it is; it’s like a campy movie without the campy.

After 49 minutes it is getting a little dull. I find it hard to remember people’s names. In Sweden we don’t use names unless the person we are talking about isn’t there, we don’t tell Anna, “Anna you have to call him.” And I’m guessing it’s the same in Norway so they don’t use people’s names as often and it makes it harder to remember them, at least that’s my theory at the time (it’s way past midnight and my head is weird so…).

Leading Actor

The Oscars are only a few days away and every year we try to guess who’s going to win and see who with can get most of the right (I never win…) Print a ballot and play the game too, only eight days left! I haven’t seen any of the nominated movies, at least I don’t think so.

Leading Actor
Jeff Bridges “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner “The Hurt Locker”

Morgan Freeman has an Oscar, support in “Million Dollar Baby” but this is the fifth time Jeff is nominated so… I think he should get one. I don’t think I’ve seen Jeremy in anything, oh I lied, I’ve seen him in “North Country” anyway, based on what I have seen from these people Morgan is the best actor but I think it’s Jeffs turn.

Crazy Heart trailer

I Sell the Dead

Friday and first movie in my little horror challenge is “I Sell The Dead”, I read something about this movie and I had to look it up and I liked the trailer but for some reason it went straight to DVD here in Sweden.

Tea: Raspberry
Snack: Sponge cake

The intro, where nothing happens just an illustrated background that goes on and on for 2 minutes and 25 seconds, eaten all of the sponge cake…

Fun film and a very pretty one, I really like the atmosphere and I will keep an eye on director Glenn McQuaid and see what he will do next, there are rumors about a sort of sequel and he's making "I Sell the Dead" into a comic.

For everyone who likes darker movies, not much horror more humor. I started to think of Mel Brooks "Young Frankenstein" but with a little more gore (not much though).

Larry Fessenden and Dominic Monaghan

Horror movie challenge

I came up with a challenge, watch ten horror movies from ten different countries. I’m into horror right now so horror it is. Don’t think I know that many foreign horror movies (a few Asians)…

1. I Sell The Dead (USA)
2. Black Water (Australia)
3. Dead Snow (Norway)
4. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Germany)
5. High Tension (france)
6. Surviving Evil (UK/South Africa)
7. Prey (South Africa)
8. Rec (Spain)
9. Sauna (Finland)
10. Körkarlen (Sweden)

Cold... + Jane Austen

A long and cold winter... right now it's about -18C which is according to my little converter somewhere around -0,4F. Not funny! I will get my flannel pyjamas on and my angora sock and go to bed, just after I finish listening to The History of England by Jane Austen online.

Nighty night...

Mansfield Park X 2

Managed to read the book and see the movie (2009). No matter which of the two you pick first the second will be a surprise because they’ve changed a lot from the book. If I had seen the movie first I would have expected the book to be better… not that the movie was good. They have changed big things like a no to yes, I hope I don’t give too much away here… The leading lady, Fanny Price is two different people. The movie is actually based not only on the book but also on Jane Austens letters which give Fanny a lot more spunk than she has in the book.

If you can only pick one way to experience Mansfield Park I would pick the movie simply because it’s faster to watch it than to read it.

On to Emma soon in my little Jane Austen experience and I loved that Sarah gave away a copy of “Pride and Prejudice” so I said I would steal that idea and I did. I have a spanking new copy of Emma (but I think someone sat on the package though…). All you need to do is to leave a comment and by the end of the month (or when there is more than one comment, which is more likely the case) I will pick a name and see who wins.

UPDATE: Due to Sarahs nice little promo the last day to sign up will be February 28 and Mars 1 I will pick a winner. And I hope it inspires more people to give away books.