Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

TO EACH HIS OWN...

Everyone has their own way of celebrating their birthday. Some people like to have big parties, others like to go out and get wasted. I, on the other hand, have not really celebrated my birthday much over the years. I'm not sure why, but it lost it's meaning. It became just another day. This year was totally different. For the first time in a while I was home for my birthday. I got to spend time with my family and although we didn't do anything special, it was nice to be with them.

But that's not why I'm writing. Two things happened to make my birthday very special. The first actually happened the day before. My friend, Amy, came down to have lunch with me. She had told me previously that she and her family were thinking about going to Germany. I was excited for her since I know she has wanted to go to Europe for some time. She told me on Monday that she wants me to go and she will pay for my ticket! I am trying not to get too excited but it's hard. I really want to go.

The best part of my birthday happened that night. One of my best friends told me I needed to do something special because it is MY day. Since I don't like to go to bars and I didn't want a big party full of people I don't know, I didn't know what I should do. So I chose three people I thought I would enjoy spending time with. It was perfect. We didn't do anything special, just went to dinner and then spent the evening playing Mah Jong. I thoroughly enjoyed the night. It was one of the best birthdays I have ever had. I can never thank my three friends enough for what they did for me. I feel so fortunate to have them in my life. This birthday will always hold a special place in my heart.

Sometimes it's the simplest things in life that bring the most happiness.

ANOTHER GREAT FILM TO SEE

I am becoming a huge fan of Japanese films. There have been great movies coming out of this country for some time, but it's only within the last few years that they have found a wider audience thanks in part to the growing independent film scene. Case in point: Studio Ghibli and the wonderful works of Hayao Miyazaki. If you don't know, he is the talent behind such film's as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and his newest masterpiece, Howl's Moving Castle. I was so excited to be able to experience Howl on the big screen since I have only seen the others on dvd. All of these films are more than just animated features, they are works of art. They combine beautiful images with wonderful stories.

Princess Mononoke tells the story of Ashitaka, the prince of a small village, who is cursed and journeys to the east to seek a cure. He becomes involved in a battle between the animals of the forest and a nearby mining town. This film addresses the question of whether man and nature can co-exist. It is a remarkable movie pairing fairy tale with a relevant storyline.

One of my favorite movies, Spirited Away, is the story of a young girl who must find her courage to save her parents. It is an inspiring tale aimed at children, but just as entertaining for adults. The one aspect of both of these films that I love is their insight into Japanese culture. They both express the importance of spirit gods and the belief that they exist everywhere in nature.

Howl's Moving Castle is different in that it takes place in a fantasy world. It tells the story of Sophie, a young woman who is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and turned into an old woman. She seeks refuge in Howl's Castle. Howl is a wizard who is feared by the villagers because they believe he lures beautiful young women to his castle and then steals their hearts. Sophie quickly befriends Markl, a young apprentice wizard, and Calcifer, the fire demon who powers the castle. She soon realizes that Howl is not as evil as people believe. The movie is a love story that carries an anti-war theme.

All of these films are splendid fairy tales, but what I truly love about them is the incredible animation. Miyazaki shows the beauty in simple things like clouds floating through the sky or the wind blowing through a field. I don't think I can ever get tired of watching his artistry.

What is most impressive is his resolve to hold onto traditional animation. His films are hand-drawn, not computer-generated. Although I do enjoy movies like Shrek and Toy Story, it is a pleasure to see such incredible images created traditionally. I anxiously await his next film.

I gotta have more!!!

I'll just start off by saying I am a huge fan of Martial Arts films. I've seen all of Bruce Lee's movies, most of Jackie Chan's, and a few movies with Jet Li. I was pleasantly surprised with how well Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Keanu Reeves fought in the Matrix movies. And I was very impressed with Jason Statham's abilities in The Transporter. I had only ever known him as a good co-star and had no idea how talented he was. So I rushed to see Transporter 2 with great anticipation. I'm still waiting for satisfaction. I had some idea that it might not be good after glancing at a review in the paper. Let me just interject here by saying that I never hold much faith in reviews-especially reviews of action and horror films. Reviewers tend to focus on things like story and character development. They forget these films are not known for that, so to base an opinion on those aspects means that a person can miss the whole point of these two genres-FUN!!! That's not to say that you can get away with a total crap script, but it is slightly less painful if there are plenty of kick-ass fight sequences and stunts.

But I digress, let's get back to Transporter 2. The review in the paper did say that the movie lacked a good story, but as I just said that doesn't always mean much. For once, the reviewer was somewhat right. The story was not that good. For those of you who have seen the first one I'd like to say that story wasn't very good as well. I had about all I could take of the screaming Asian chic by the end of the movie; however, there were several very good fight scenes and a great car chase that started the film. I have to say that my favorite fight scene is the 'oil' fight. I don't just say that because it shows off Jason's physique (it is a very nice body, though.) I thoroughly enjoy watching something that is new and fresh. Using oil to keep the bad guys from hitting the good guy was unique. Then having Frank use the pedals as both traction and weapons when kicking was very innovative. That is something I expect from a director like Cory Yuen, a popular Hong Kong action film director who directed The Transporter. Although he didn't direct this new film, he did choreograph the fight scenes, so I was still encouraged. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough action and good fight sequences to carry the movie past it's dismal plot. The car chase was not very exciting and the fights were either poorly shot or just plain dull. I'm not going to say they could do better because I really don't think that there needed to be a sequel. Some things are better left alone.

I bet you're wondering why the title to this blog mentions wanting more. I have a new action God that I worship and I have to pass this love to everyone. The film is Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior and my Lord and savior is...

Tony Jaa.

I am still trying to pick my jaw up off of the floor. Let me get the praise out of the way: he is amazing, incredible, exciting, exhilarating, mesmerizing, hypnotizing...

I could go on, but I want to tell you why he is all these things. He is an artist. He moves like a dancer. He has a level of control I have never seen. In one scene he kicks a guy off a table and lands on the same table. It looks so subtle, but if you think about it a person's momentum would keep them moving past that point. Tony Jaa has complete control of his kicks and punches. That's not to say that the stuntmen didn't get hit. They got the shit kicked out them. I have such respect for those men. They have to be just as talented as Jaa. As I said previously, I enjoy new ideas and this film is full of variety. There is a chase scene using Thai cabs. Let's just say their cabs do not look like a checker cab. You have to get rid of one of the front wheels. Now imagine three-wheelers racing down streets and taking hair-pin turns. Are you getting the picture?

I could go on telling about other scenes, but I don't want to give too much away. Just know that if you are half the martial arts fan I am, you will truly enjoy this film. So why are you still sitting here reading my blog? Get out there and rent it, then go buy it so you can watch it over and over like I'll be doing. You can thank me later.

DON'T PUT OFF 'TIL TOMORROW...

So I was thinking...I've always wanted to go to New Orleans. Not just for Marti Gras, but for the history, the culture, the beautiful cemetaries. I fucked up. I put it off, even when I lived in Florida-I never went. Now...it's gone. It doesn't matter what they do, I don't think it will ever be the same.

So this means I'm going to start doing everything I've put off for so long, right? Probably not. It's funny how things like this tragedy make people ponder about their own lives, what they haven't done, what they want to do, what they should have done. Sometimes it makes a difference in a person's life. More often than not, it doesn't do a damn thing but make you feel like you've wasted your life. Well, fuck that! I haven't wasted shit! So I never went to New Orleans, so what. I can still go. It might not be the same, but how the hell would I know-I've never been there!

So I'm just gonna keep enjoying every day the best way I can. If there's anything I've learned from what has happened, it's make the most of today cuz tomorrow it could be gone. I truly am enjoying my life. I have so many things to be thankful for, if nothing else-I have a fuckin' roof over my head and no dead bodies in my yard. As the all-knowing and wise Martha Stewart says, "and that's a good thing!"

I was just talking to my mother and she said that the U.S. has not accepted any help from the numerous countries that have offered it. Apparently it wouldn't look good if we admitted that we need help. Well, I got news for this government-not mine cuz I didn't vote for that asshole-swallow your freaking pride and let these countries help. Let's be brave enough to say we can't handle what's happened and would love any assistance we can get. Doesn't the government understand that this hurricane will affect the entire world, too. New Orleans is(was?) the largest port for exports. 95% of what was shipped through there was export products, so we could be narrow-minded enough to say 'they only want to help us so they can start getting our products again.' Fine, if that's what our arrogant government needs to think to justify accepting help then do it!!! Just give the people of New Orleans some aid. They are living a nightmare. Bush was brave enough to go into the hurricane-ravaged areas of Mississippi and Alabama, but he only flew over New Orleans. Why don't you go to the Super Dome? I hear it's quite a sight.
This whole thing is absolutely pathetic! We sent help to the foreign countries affected by the tsunami within 2 days. New Orleans has been hell for almost a week. What happened? Who's to blame? Although it is sad that people have acted out violently, I can understand why. They were abandoned. Left to fend for themselves with no food, water or shelter. What else do you do? An MSNBC journalist just asked who these looters were, are they gangsters or criminals? You know what? They could be you or me. These people are by no means doing the most honorable thing, but I'd like to see how others would cope with this situation. I honestly don't know how I would react if I were left to suffer the way they have. These are U.S. citizens. They may not be rich, but they are humans. They deserve better.

RED EYE IS MORE OF A BLACK EYE

So I was asked recently when I was going to review the movie "Red Eye" and then I remembered that I had seen the movie. Here is my review...

I had been anticipating this film for months, not because it was Wes Craven's newest, but because I thought the idea of a woman being secretly terrorized on a plane was intriguing. I have to be honest, because I am a woman I am always on the lookout for strong female roles in films. I don't think there is a monumental lack of these roles, but I definitely feel there could always be more. So I sat in the theater with baited breath, anxiously awaiting a kick-ass chic. You know what? Not so much. I had to sit through more than half the movie watching her be all weepy and weak. SHIT!!! Just do something already! Finally she found her balls at the end of the film and by then I was ready for it to end. She should have taken lessons from such great women as Ripley from the Alien series, Clarice from Silence of the Lambs, Sarah Connor from the Terminators, Bette Davis in All About Eve, and any Katherine Hepburn film. I won't be so bold as to say that only female characters are weak. Look at Sean Archer from "Face/Off" when he's played by Nicholas Cage. Or Private Hudson (Bill Paxton) in Aliens. What a pair of snivelling idiots! But Hudson did deliver one of my favorite lines: game over man!

This leads to my next complaint about "Red Eye"...

Sometimes I think that there is no such thing as a true 'thriller' anymore. Atleast I didn't feel very thrilled with this movie. I have to admit, I have been desensitized when it comes to scary movies. I have seen many, but unfortunately am not a fan of a lot of them. For some reason not only is it difficult to write an original script, it is also hard to find original ways to terrorize the audience. The last time I was scared in a movie (and I mean scared) was "Blair Witch." What's funny is that several of my friends said it wasn't frightening because you never got to see anything. Hello? Ever heard of subtle? I still get a chill down my spine thinking of the guy at the end standing in the corner, waiting...brrrr! Sometimes I don't want to see the monster. In the case of "Red Eye", they had a great monster-a young, attractive, intelligent man. And Cillian Murphy was the best part of the movie. Unfortunately, he couldn't carry it off without out an equally strong protagonist. She could have been, but the screenwriter fell short. Damn it! Not again. I know, I know...put up or shut up. Well, I'm not writing a 'thriller', but it will be original.

As far as "Red Eye" is concerned...rent it and tell me what you think.

AN ANSWER TO A DIFFICULT QUESTION?

A woman came into the bookstore today. When I asked her what I could help her with, it was apparent that she was very upset. She said she was Christian and her daughter had just come out to her. She wanted a book to help her. I referred her to a fellow employee whom I knew had more knowledge of books that could assist her in coping with this news. Shortly afterwards, he came to me and angrily told me that she was looking for books to help "cure" her daughter. Initially, I thought he was mad at me, but I quickly recognized that his fervor was aimed at this woman's ignorance and naivety. I admit I was also angry at the idea that this poor young woman was suffering from some affliction; however, I have to say that I quickly saw this as an opportunity to practice what I have learned from the Dalai Lama.

As I said previously, I have been reading "The Art of Happiness." One section discusses the importance of feeling compassion, even and especially in situations where compassion would not be the first emotion felt.

The Dalai Lama says that compassion starts by placing yourself in someone's shoes and experiencing their suffering as if it were your own. This is not an easy task and requires a person to train their mind. I am a new student, but leapt at the chance to practice this especially with a situation that I have little understanding of.

So, why is this woman suffering? There are two reasons I can distinguish: the fact that she is a Christian and that this is her daughter. I'll take on the first reason since it is the most difficult for me to understand.

I was not raised Christian. I am an Agnostic with very strong Athiest tendencies. If I were to follow any religion, it would be Buddhism, but let me open up my mind to her beliefs. She has been raised all her life believing that if she follows certain rules she will go to heaven. This is all she has known. It is difficult, perhaps impossible, for me to state categorically that anyone's beliefs are wrong, so it is important to remember that this is who she is. Everything she knows is based on these beliefs. The hardest thing to face is any challenge of faith. Because of her Christian ideals, she now fears that her daughter will not spend eternity with her. This finality is terrifying for her. Her first reflex is to 'fix' this so that her daughter will be 'saved.'

The second reason is that this is happening to her daughter. Again, I am not a parent, but I have two and am close to many people who have children. A parent's job is to protect their children-from pain and suffering. This behavior is truly altruistic and noble. Perhaps this woman was suffering because she knew that her daughter's life would be very difficult and perhaps full of discrimination. A parent's hope for their child is that they won't have to suffer and will be able to find happiness in life. Her actions would be to try to protect her child from pain.

So, what would I say to her to try to help? Open your heart, see that your daughter has not changed. She needs love and compassion from the people closest to her. This is not her decision, it is her life. Showing her compassion can only bring you closer, while being angry and trying to 'cure' her will only alienate her. I have many gay friends and several have told me that if they had the 'choice' they would not have decided to be gay. It is not an easy life to lead. This is who she is. She will be facing all kinds of obstacles and has already faced the biggest one: coming out to you. Show her that you will love her no matter what, even if you don't agree with her lifestyle. She needs your support now more than ever.

So do I think that this woman will recognize these things, I don't know. Will her daughter have a difficult time? She may have a difficult time whether her mother supports her or not. Did looking at this woman's suffering through compassionate eyes help? It was enlightening to feel compassion rather than anger. I think that if the opportunity were to present itself again, I would be more apt to show sympathy and perhaps be of more assisstance. I will say that I think that my co-worker handled the situation very well, despite the anger he felt. He gave her a book that helps Christians understand and be more accepting of gays and lesbians.