"City Island"

"Women are emotionally incoherent...it's our most defining characteristic."

"Call me...but only on a whim."

"What other profession could accommodate my sort of behavioral problems?"

-Quotes from City Island movie.

Emily Mortimer is irresistibly sweet and delicate, as she always is. She reminds me of Chesky in a way. Terribly charming! I love watching her in movies; it's like eating cotton candy on a breezy afternoon as you walk around a lake :)

Andy Garcia was cool. Sweet at times, other times he seemed so ordinary; simply a regular guy.

The young boy reminds me of June (a friend from church) and Guevs (my brother). Sarcastically teasing everyone at the dinner table; so creatively hilarious! He had me bursting with laughter.

The family....just like every family...totally screwed up! So many secrets; things untold because of everyone being afraid of being misunderstood. Sounds like LIFE as it is.

Really enjoyed it, along with 2 slices of pizza and some wine...mmmm!

NOTE: Should I venture to City Island one of these days?

Fragment: MOTHERHOOD

2nd post of the day!

This one I should keep SHORT; but real short, not MY kind of short. I don't want much room left for misinterpretations of the things here said :p

I've always been the one to say: "I'm NEVER gonna have kids! I'm not even slightly interested in that subject matter...changing diapers, the lack of sleep, the constant physical exhaustion, teaching another how to live life when I'm not even so sure, shoving MY desires to the backseat for about 18 years.....WHAT'S THE POINT?!" UFFF! My mother would roll her eyes in disgust every time she'd hear me pronounce these words, which--of course--would make me wanna say them again and again (JAJA!). I was definitely not aware of the weight my words had. But somehow the idea of having babies didn't make much sense to me.

I am NOW well aware of how selfish my words must've sounded (sorry maders!)

However, there was one fact of which I was CERTAIN: there was this motherly instinct that some of my girlfriends had that I never seemed to experience (Chesky and Chas being the prime examples). Therefore, I thought maybe motherhood was just not for me. Just like cooking wasn't--still isn't--either. "There are quite some WOMANLY parts missing in me!", I remember thinking.

Well...I don't know if AGE has anything to do with it, or life experience...but, lately, I feel that maybe--JUST MAYBE--I can deal with having ONE ;)

Then, I watched the movie MOTHERHOOD and the "just-maybe" feeling almost dropped again. That was until I went to visit little An and became convinced that this feeling is here to stay....at least for ONE...JUST ONE...after that one, we'll talk.

(Above right: An and me)

THIS IS PRETTY BIG FOR ME!!!!

NOTE: Sister! Watch the movie! I think you'll see yourself in some aspects of the story ;)

"Natalie Portman"

Another power woman that I love to watch in movies is NATALIE PORTMAN. Her charm is so captivating in each film.

I've seen her in Closer; Garden State; New York, I love you; My Blueberry Nights; Paris, je t'aime; Leon (when she was little); and now, Brothers.

Oh wow, she was amazing in this movie "Brothers". You know how she's sometimes super sexy or crazy in some roles? Well, this time, it was so refreshing to see her again as a normal, girl-next-door wife. The storyline of this film was so touching. I cried like a baby :'( I mean, it is so unfortunate that these things are actually happening in REAL life :S Crazy, crazy! A must watch ;)

Love, love, love Portman movies!

Fragment: MOVIES

I love movies that take place during Christmas. They give me such a "feel good" feeling...... *SIGH*

Love Actually (2003), The Holiday (2006), Serendipity (2001), While You Were Sleeping (1995), The Family Stone (2005), Bridget Jone's Diary (2001), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), You've Got Mail (1998), Annie Hall (1977).

Each one of them is perfect for any gloomy day ;)

I think I might need one today :P

"Eat, Pray, Love"

OH----MY-----GOD!

I read the synopsis for the book "Eat, Pray, Love" a while back and was immediately interested in the story. I added it to my "Books to Read" list, but still haven't purchased it.

Recently, I found out a movie has been made based on this book which will be coming out this summer.

I saw the trailer just now and..........I have goose-pumps all over my body!

You guys know how I'm always talking about recognizing yourself in other people's stories, or in movies, or books, or places, etc......I have DEFINITELY found MYSELF in this story!

Can't wait 'til it comes out!! And the fact that Julia Roberts is the main character is just like the perfect BONUS!

In the meantime, I'm gonna go get me the book ;)

"Crazy Heart"

Beautiful songs. I love Maggie Gyllenhaal in every movie. Superb acting by Jeff Bridges. Valuable life lessons. Absolutely loved it!

"It's funny how FALLING feels like FLYING for a little while."

"-Where do your songs come from?

-Life, unfortunately."

"The harder the life, the sweeter the song"

Definitely stirred MY crazy heart! ;)

"I see you..."

"I see you"...

...nothing in the world compares to being "seen"...

"Alice in Wonderland"

I loved the colors and the images of the new Alice in Wonderland film, so characteristic of Tim Burton....and enjoyed the RED QUEEN'S acting best of all!

Fragment: AUDREY TAUTOU

Just got home from watching "Coco Avant Chanel" with Guvs.

Another of my most favorite actresses: AUDREY TAUTOU.

Her acts are charming and her personality and smile just adorable.

I've enjoyed watching her in "Priceless", "The Da Vinci Code", "Russian Dolls", "A very Long Engagement", "L'auberge espagnol", "He loves me, He loves me not", "Amélie", and looking forward to finding other old and new films of hers!

"The Answer Man"

Interesting answers to important life questions from "THE ANSWER MAN" movie...

Q: Do I have a destiny or is it all free will? Free will or destiny?

A: Free will...moving towards or away from a purpose.

Q: If God made everything, then why are some things bad, like pain and suffering?

A: Opposites; without things that suck you would have no idea what good was and be direction-less. You smell shit and you walk the other way.

Q: Why can't I do things I wanna do? There's so much I know I'm capable of and never actually do. Why is that?

A: The trick is to realize that you're always doing what you wanna do, always. Nobody's making you do anything. Once you get that, you see that you're free and that it's really just a series of choices. Nothing happens to you; you choose.

Q: What keeps me together?

A: He knows everything about you and He wants you to know that you're enough, and so much more. You are here so god can experience the world through your eyes. See what you see; feel what you feel. Everyday, He can't wait to see what you'll do; what makes you laugh, what moves you...He can't wait! Everyday, through you, He falls in love with the world all over again. You are His MUSE.

I saw this film back in December at Fran's house, but hadn't blogged about it. Now, fixing my desk, I came across the piece of paper where I wrote "the answers" and decided to share them with you guys :)

GOOD DAY!

Fragment: JULIETTE BINOCHE

I have very little favorite things, as I'm one of those people who appreciates ANYTHING in EVERYTHING.

Of those few things, JULIETTE BINOCHE is undoubtly one. I just watched the movie "JET LAG", or its original name, "Decalage Horaire"--and I loved her yet again! Have I told you guys about my love for french films??? ;) Juliette is amazing and naturally charming in both French and American films.

These are other movies I've seen her in:

"Dan in Real Life"

"Flight of the Red Balloon"

"Breaking and Entering"

"Paris, Je T'aime"

"Chocolat"

And I can't wait to see her in "PARIS"...here's the trailer:

Don't quote me on this, but for me, Juliette Binoche is like the french Julia Roberts!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her...AND Julia, of course!

"Breakfast at Tiffany's"

I'm usually the one who doesn't know the people that everyone knows, the places that everybody goes to, the news that everyone has heard or read of, the films that everybody has seen.

Well, thanks to Guevs, my younger brother, I finally had the honor to watch a MUST-HAVE-SEEN-A-LONG-TIME-AGO classic: BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S!

Audrey Hepburn is contagiously charming as Holly Golightly; an extroverted, naive, gold digger who, breakfast in hand very early in the morning, gets the thrill of the day by window shopping at the Tiffany's jewelry store on 5th Ave. in NYC.

The story is rather pointless in my opinion. But I did love it! The film tells one of those stories that seem so normal, so everyday-like, that you forget you're watching A MOVIE. The experience is more like living Holly Golightly's ordinary life for a couple of hours.

The tiny elements that conform her character and her life give the film its unique and entertaining peculiarity. Holly lives in a cute little apartment on one of those characteristic brownstone buildings in NYC. She owns a nameless cat, who she therefore calls, CAT. Miss Golightly goes out on dates with guys she doesn't even like in hopes of finding a gold mine that will take her out of her "misery". And to top it all of, every week, Holly innocently delivers "weather reports" to an incarcerated mob boss, thinking she's just getting paid $100 to talk about weather--that was terribly cute...I couldn't stop laughing! Her neighbor Fred and her become good friends, and ultimately, of course, fall in love...awww :)

My favorite scene is where Fred and Holly have this tiny dialogue after Fred announces good news about his book being published, and Holly suggests that they toast with champagne:

FRED: "I don't think I've ever drunk champagne before breakfast before. With breakfast on several occasions. But never before before."

HOLLY: "Well, I've got a wonderful idea! We could spend the whole day doing things we've never done before. We'll take turns. First, you do something you've never done before. Then, me...of course, I can't think of anything I've never done before."

And they go on to have an ultra-cool day just doing things they've never done before! What an inspiring idea for when you and your boy want an out-of-the-ordinary kind of day ;) POINT TAKEN!

"Julie & Julia"

"Uuuuyyy (in a very high pitch!), French people eat french food every single day! I can't get over it!" -Julia Child

Hmmm...I don't know if it has anything to do with the movie, but I made myself eggs for breakfast this morning! Mmmmm; hadn't done so in a while.

I watched Julie & Julia last night. What a feast! Of food, of colors, of laughter, of thoughts, of feelings, of questions, of tears...an inspiring pair of stories.

Meryl Streep, as always, was remarkably fantastic as Julia Child; and Amy Adams, whose been on various movies these last couple of years, also did a beautiful job as Julie Powell.

The film is based on two real stories:

"Julia Child and Julie Powell-both of whom wrote memoirs-find their lives intertwined. Though separated by time and space, both women are at loose ends...until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible." -Columbia Pictures

I saw myself in so many little parts of this film. It is so comforting when you find yourself in such surreal places. You realize you're not alone in your crazy world of fears and frustrations. Lots of people go through the same stuff. In this particular case, Julie Powell found a way to FIND herself...LUCKY girl!

Well, I must say, I have been lucky myself. As I've mentioned before, ABOTONADA and The Neny Fragments have worked wonders for me! When you feel LOST or stuck, creating short term goals (even if they seem pointless) is the best medicine. Goals get you on your feet, motivate you, keep your mind occupied (therefore, less time for crappy thoughts), and you gain so much by just trying to accomplish things, even if you don't exactly get 'there'.

I think I'm starting to need a new set of those...short term goals, I mean....I've reached that point, again..............of aimlessness, and it is not fun! :S Julie & Julia have reminded me of what I started doing this year; finding little things through which I can canalize my passions. Creating goals that will keep me happy and going. So, what will my next project be?! UUUUYYY! Exciting! ;)

Note: This is Julie Powell's original blog, where she started her project, 524 recipes in 365 days from Julia Child's cookbook. The project that changed her life and her world.

"Lovers of the Arctic Circle"

Last night, I saw a magical film. The plot revolves around the concept of the circle of life and the coincidences in life. DESTINY.

I love the plot summary that I found on www.imdb.com:

"Otto and Ana are kids when they meet each other. Their names are palindromes. They meet by chance, people are related by chance. A story of circular lives, with circular names, and a circular place (Circulo Polar) where the day never ends under the midnight sun. There are things that never end, and love is one of them."

One of the lines that struck me the most is when Ana, towards the end of the film, says: "I am waiting for the biggest coincidence of my life..." We could all tell the story of our lives by tying coincidences...WOW!

The ending really bugged me, though...I didn't really understand it! :S As explained on www.wikipedia.com: "In the end, one of the main character dies in a freak accident. Told by Ana's point of view, Otto dies, and told by Otto's point of view, Ana dies."

Hmmmm...a bit confusing...this film is so crazy! The story is so uniquely told. I absolutely adored watching this!!!

Which coincidence are YOU waiting for? Which am I? :p

"Chocolat"

On this beautiful sunday morning, I've had the pleasure of saboring chocolate, enjoying Binoche's candid smile and splendid acting, gazing at Depp's delightful appearance, dreaming of living in a magical small french town like Lansquenet-sous-Tannes...all this just by watching the sweet film: CHOCOLAT.

In this movie, Vianne and her daughter Anoushka are wanderers; moving from town to town every time the 'north wind' changes. They move into a small french town and open up a cozy, beautiful chocolate shop. Vianne is so lighthearded; open to meeting people and welcoming them into her sweet world. But the close-minded people of this traditional town reject her for being sinfully sensual and open-minded. Vianne was one not to pay much mind to tradition or religion. Opening the shop exactly on Lent week, she wins the major's total rejection.

However, trying not to be shot down by the towns people's rejection, she continues to strive in attracting them to her shop. Some came in the shop with total skepticism, "just to check it out and know the enemy", but usually came out happier people. Vianne has such a warm personality, very inviting, very humble, very giving, reaching for closeness, delighted to share her stories and her culinary talents. She helps an old woman reconcile with her grandson and eventually, her daughter. She takes in a lady abused by her husband, teaching her about the world of chocolate and bringing her into her home. She convinces an old man to finally court the mourning lady he'd been spotting for years. She welcomes a group of river drifters when the whole town totally rejects them, as well. By little acts of kindness in return for skepticism and rejection, she had soon enough transformed the conservative locals into happier, open-minded people.

Vianne falls in love with Roux, the leader of the river drifters (ohhh! Johnny Depp!), and while conversing with him realizes that although she's not conservative, inside her exists a set of traditions which she subcoinciously lives by. The whole wandering from town to town when the wind changes, no matter how much this affects little Anoushka, is her way of coping with life.

This film questions tradition in the "sweetest" of ways; leads you to dream about moving to a small village and opening a cute shop; makes you fall in love (YES! with Johnny Depp!); plants a seed of desire for anything sweet! Truly enjoyable :)

I really liked a fragment of a review I found on www.ram.org, "The cinematography and pacing are very good and pangs of desire for something sweet are sure to be felt seeing the delicacies prepared by Vianne. The story is told effectively by creating an aura of enchantment in the way Vianne works: Is she just offering chocolate or is there something more? The actors do an amazing job and give Chocolat its sweetness."

"Flight of the Red Balloon"

I was at Movie Max the other day with a friend and bumped into something I thought I'd seen before. "I recognize that RED BALLOON...hmmmm", I thought, and immediately got a flashback of me, 5 or 6 years old, watching an older version of this film at a school in Manhattan, where we got free lunch, I don't exactly remember why ;)

I have got to rent it!

I didn't rent it that day because we were there for something else, but the red balloon on that cover stayed on my mind. A couple of days later, I went back and got it, and have just finished watching it.

There's something very peculiar about the last couple of months. I feel like after a couple of years of internal storms, a growing up process, and the past 2 years, falling back into my senses, I've entered a stage of RECOGNITION. It's like, in the process of growing up, I've earned as well as lost some things along the way, and those that I have lost are somehow coming back now. Perhaps because it is now that I am ready for them. Ready to use them, to understand them, or maybe, just ready to appreciate them.

Anyways, I remember being so young, and so happy about everything that was going on that day. I was accompanied by mommy, my little brother and a couple of cousins. We were all excited to get free lunch in school trays at the cafeteria, and then pass on to a big room where the french short film "THE RED BALLOON" was being shown.

I can recall my fascination with the plot of the story; I mean, here was a little boy being followed by a red balloon that, as wikipedia describes (I love wikipedia!), seemed to have a mind and will of its own! The entire story just follows around the balloon and the boy as they wander through the streets of Paris. Isn't it great?! If you've become at all intrigued with the description I've provided (wink*), you can watch it right HERE!

The new version that I just watched was also very good. I love Juliette Binoche and I love french films! Similar to the original movie, the red balloon also follows the little boy of THIS film...but not so crazy like the original one. The modern balloon is more discrete :) I enjoyed this film a lot too, and was just so excited to get these childhood flashbacks!

Oh! And a friend had mentioned something about a carrousel and "grabbing the brass ring", which I didn't understand, until a scene came up in this movie, were kids are trying to catch the brass ring while on the merry-go-round! I was looking for the scene in the film on youtube.com but couldn't find it. Take a look at this, though...just in case there is someone like me that doesn't know about this. Isn't it cool how we just keep learning little things each day?

"Vicky NENY Barcelona"

I just saw a film recommended by my lil' brother, and have ABSOLUTELY loved it (he always gives wonderful recommendations)!

"VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA"

Four fabulous reasons:

-Scarlett is one my favorite actresses of all times...and plus, she's so HOT! I hate her, in a good way ;)

-Barcelona is the set of the story...who knows me, KNOWS how much I want to go to this place!

-Hot spanish actors...so great to see them act...and basically, to just SEE them :)

-I'm such a CRISTINA!!! Felt so connected to some of her thoughts...SOME, I've specified, SOME ;) There's one scene where the narrator says something about Cristina that screams out NENY all over the place! It's so cool when someone or something speaks the language of your soul :)

And the narrator says: "It was only Cristina, as the last days of summer expired, who began to experience an old familiar stirring; a growing restlessness that she dreaded but recognized only too well. Suddenly, thoughts started taking precedence over feelings; thoughts and questions about life and love, and as much as she tried to resist these ideas, she could not get them from her mind..."

The following scene is just amazing! When Cristina comes out and expresses what she has thought about, Penelope Cruz bawls out, and makes an OSCAR winning performance :) Check it out!



In the end, I couldn't help but smile again, as the girls prepare to leave Barcelona and the narrator says: "Cristina continued searching, certain only of what she didn't want..." :)

Ohh!! And I loved the BARCELONA song used all throughout the movie, and the spanish guitar playing scenes! I have the same reaction as Vicky everytime I have the chance to experience guitar playing :) *SIGH* I love the guitar!!! This video I found on youtube.com of two guys in Barcelona playing flamenco!

Fragment: POWER of MUSIC

Yesterday morning, as the violins played away Weber's Der Freischütz overture during orchestra rehearsal, my mind drifted to other times. Times that I haven't lived myself. Times that reflected in my mind in black and white. Times of sorrow, of war and pain. I was playing too, but I couldn't help but envision a small apartment hiding 2 jewish families during the German occupation of the Netherlands in WWII. I envisioned a diary, and the insightful words of a 13 year old girl. I caught myself reminiscing.....about the DIARY of ANNE FRANK.

These are the kind of things that music has the power to do. Music can take you places without you having to leave your seat.

The following clip was filmed, July 22, 1941, on the Merwedeplein in Amsterdam, where the Frank family lived between 1934 and 1942, before they went into hiding. That's the REAL Anne Frank looking out the window of her house.

P.S. Watch the movie, it's pretty amazing! Especially if you're going through a whining period in your life. This story will make you stop whining and be a bit more grateful, even of the not so great things that are happening around you. So touching... Here's the trailer:

"If you were a melody..."

Have I mentioned how much I adore "THE HOLIDAY" movie with Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black and Jude Law? Ok, I'm fully aware of how so not intellectual I will probably sound with the following statement, but......"The Holiday" is hands down the movie that I have watched THE MOST in my life...over and over and over...I can recite the whole script and still enjoy it as if it were the first time! The dialogues are impressively smart and witty, funny and oh, so entertaining (in a mature, adult kind of way). Oh! And the soundtrack is stunningly beautiful, stirring my emotions from the opening scene 'til the end.

This scene (among lots of others) is one of my favorites ;) Jack is playing the piano (he's soooo sweet in this movie!), making up a melody for a friend's event. When Kate (Iris) comes in the room, she sits next to him and he says, "I also wrote one that sounds like you.......Iris, if you were a melody.....(plays the melody in piano).......I used only the good notes"....AWWWWWWWWWW! Isn't it an amazing line?!?!

A friend just called and asked me to be part of something very special......He will be giving his girl THE ring on Sunday night, and has asked me to play the clarinet for them at some point during the dinner!!!!!!! Isn't that cool? I felt so honored that he wants me to be part of such a climactic event!

So thinking about what to play, this scene from "The Holiday" came to mind...wouldn't it be nice if I come out and say, "L***, if you were a melody, you would sound like this..." and then, play something beautiful?! Then, her man would come out, go down on one knee...and you know the rest...kiss, kiss, kiss and tears of joy! YEY! Now..........what melody can I play? So the thinking begins...gotta get creative ;) Isn't that always exciting?!

NOTE: So this is them the day of (photo below)! I ended up playing a fragment of Albinoni's Adagio. I walked towards them, playing this stunning melody, and it was a magical moment...she cried...and guess what?! Afterwards she asked, "was that Albinoni's Adagio? It's like one of my favorite pieces in the world!!"

How perfect! UFFFF ;)

"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants II"

Yesterday, some time between lunch and work, I fit in a movie: "THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2". Absolutely loved it! I got so emotional while watching it...which made me realize how much I miss having a close knit, a sisterhood, like the girls in the movie have. In high school, I had my sisterhood; in college, I had one too...but now, in REAL LIFE, I can't seem to find my 'adult life sisterhood'.

With the 'high school sisterhood', the love remains untouched. However, our realities have moved so far apart that we don't seem to connect the dots anymore. The 'college sisterhood' feels more reachable, emotionally speaking; our life experiences together happened more recently, so it's easier to reconnect. Nevertheless, we have gone our separate ways, LITERALLY speaking (we've all moved to different countries and states).

(right: part of my 'high school sisterhood')

I think it's so important for one to feel a sense of belonging, a sense of community with the people you feel so close to. You feel that you can be your TOTAL self with them, that you can do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING with your close knit...there's love, there's appreciation, there's respect and companionship...you are never alone; and even when you are, you know it's because you choose to, not because there's not an option.

I tend to spend a lot of time alone. My friends know this about me and respect that, although they're never too happy about it. However, for the first time in my life, my lonesome moments have become a bit too much. Now, when I'm alone, it's not necessarily because I choose to, it may be more like, I don't have an option. It's kind of sad, really. Some days, I feel this NEED for girly moments and I call Lemay, one of my 'highschool sisters', and tell her, "Let's meet! I need some girly time!" Sometimes it's hard to coincide, but when we finally do, it's pretty amazing how fulfilling these moments can be.

I am so aware of how my life is changing...of how growing up sometimes means growing apart. But now, instead of getting all sappy and frustrated about these things, I accept them (with a bit of nostalgia, of course), looking forward to the sisterhood or brotherhood I will bump into in the future. Soon, I will move to a new place, I will get married, I will construct my own little comfort zone (once again), and hopefully, at some point, I will find that magic instant that connects you to someone effortlessly and inevitably...I will find my 'adult sister/brotherhood' along with my hubby...isn't that cool?! Can't wait........


"That is the best: to laugh with someone because you think the same things are funny!"

Note: mmmm, I HAVE found somewhat of an 'adult sisterhood' recently...two pretty ladies at the symphony have made me quite happy lately...THANK YOU, my girls ;)