With the exception of weird stories that eventually end up on television in one form or another, everybody loves their mom. I am no different. It's hard not to feel an affinity for someone who carried you inside their body for nine months (or in my case, ten). Then the whole feeding, clothing, teaching to speak business pretty much cinches it. But, on top of that they freely give out hugs. They may punish you for some pretty seemingly ridiculous things, but they also make sure still get dessert, sometimes even if it means that they don't.
If you're lucky, and I am, they become your friend for life. The whole unconditional love thing is pretty impressive, too. No matter how big the screw up or the fight, it can always be worked out, because she's your mom.
I love you mom. I always have and I always will.
I'm sure I didn't tell you as often as I should have, but I did tell you- and you told me- that I love you.
My mom past away at 7:45 pm on Saturday, March 5th, 2005. A really hard part of her life is over and in that I can find some relief. And as days pass and I can write about her for longer than a minute without crying, I'll be able to remember more and more of what made her such a special lady.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
comic books
DC versus Marvel- which publisher puts out the better work?
It's really about the quality of the story telling. DC comes from a simpler time, many of it's heroes appearing in the late 30's and early 40's and as such represent the times with a black and white view of good and evil. Marvel, on the other hand, saw most of its characters created in the 60's; a time where things were beginning to grey and the comics reflected this.
DC's stories are simple moral plays, i.e. Superman has to defeat some baddie, sometimes it's almost hard for a while, but in the end good prevails. Marvel presents more melodramatic, complicated stories where heroes become villains and vice versa.
But, following my own logic, I would have to pick Image/TopCow/Darkhorse over DC and Marvel. If you want moral complexity, take a look at Spawn or Witchblade. Even Hellboy, which is relatively straight-forward in a way the DC fans could appreciate, has a richness of character not evident in earlier times.
"Like, you know, whatever." -Lisa Simpson
It's really about the quality of the story telling. DC comes from a simpler time, many of it's heroes appearing in the late 30's and early 40's and as such represent the times with a black and white view of good and evil. Marvel, on the other hand, saw most of its characters created in the 60's; a time where things were beginning to grey and the comics reflected this.
DC's stories are simple moral plays, i.e. Superman has to defeat some baddie, sometimes it's almost hard for a while, but in the end good prevails. Marvel presents more melodramatic, complicated stories where heroes become villains and vice versa.
But, following my own logic, I would have to pick Image/TopCow/Darkhorse over DC and Marvel. If you want moral complexity, take a look at Spawn or Witchblade. Even Hellboy, which is relatively straight-forward in a way the DC fans could appreciate, has a richness of character not evident in earlier times.
"Like, you know, whatever." -Lisa Simpson
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
restaurant review- Eleni's Philoxenia
Eleni's Philoxenia. 112 NW 9th Ave, Portland, OR
We went to dinner at 6 on a Tuesday night. Our timing allowed us a nearly empty restaurant at first, thought by 7 the place was over half full.
We started the meal with an appetizer and a glass of wine each. I had red wine and picked it by price rather than by name. I'm not much of a wine connesieur, but enjoyed the rich, spicy-almost dry flavor. Our appetizer was a plate of dumplings filled mostly with feta that came out at the same time as our bread. The dumplings were superb as was the olive oil that came with the bread.
For our entrees, my girlfriend had tiger prawns in a tomato sauce with zucchini, vegetables and mushrooms. I had the kota me skortho, free-ranged chicken, oven-baked and served with garlicky mashed potatoes with broccolini and asparagus. It was delicious. The chicken was moist and tender with crispy edges, just the way I like it. And, how can you go wrong with garlicky potatoes?
For dessert, we tried different dishes to get a better idea of what they had to offer. My girlfriend had a custard with grand marnier and kahlua sauce and I had the baclava. They were both rich, but the baclava was almost too much with its honey sauce and candied fruit.
Our waiter was attentive but not over-bearing. He provided just the right amount of service. The hostess kept our water glass constantly full, which is always a good thing in my book.
Our ticket came to just over $60 which seemed very reasonable for what we had received. Though, it's definitely someplace we can't afford to go very often.
Grade: A-
We went to dinner at 6 on a Tuesday night. Our timing allowed us a nearly empty restaurant at first, thought by 7 the place was over half full.
We started the meal with an appetizer and a glass of wine each. I had red wine and picked it by price rather than by name. I'm not much of a wine connesieur, but enjoyed the rich, spicy-almost dry flavor. Our appetizer was a plate of dumplings filled mostly with feta that came out at the same time as our bread. The dumplings were superb as was the olive oil that came with the bread.
For our entrees, my girlfriend had tiger prawns in a tomato sauce with zucchini, vegetables and mushrooms. I had the kota me skortho, free-ranged chicken, oven-baked and served with garlicky mashed potatoes with broccolini and asparagus. It was delicious. The chicken was moist and tender with crispy edges, just the way I like it. And, how can you go wrong with garlicky potatoes?
For dessert, we tried different dishes to get a better idea of what they had to offer. My girlfriend had a custard with grand marnier and kahlua sauce and I had the baclava. They were both rich, but the baclava was almost too much with its honey sauce and candied fruit.
Our waiter was attentive but not over-bearing. He provided just the right amount of service. The hostess kept our water glass constantly full, which is always a good thing in my book.
Our ticket came to just over $60 which seemed very reasonable for what we had received. Though, it's definitely someplace we can't afford to go very often.
Grade: A-
Monday, February 14, 2005
movie review- Vanilla Sky
edit: I must have been smoking crack when I wrote this, Stanley Kubrick had no part of this project, as it wasn't even started until after he had died. The Stanley Kubrick/Tom Cruise project was Eyes Wide Open which also starred Nicole Kidman. /edit
(note: the term smoking crack is a euphamism, such as I voted republican, which denotes a boo-boo of an oh-so-obvious nature.)
There was a lot of hype for this movie before it came out. As with most Tom Cruise movies there was a buzz, though that may have been more about Tom and Penelope than about the quality of film being made.
Then, before it's in the can, Stanley Kubrick dies. Truly one of the greats, I can only hope that he had a lot more to do, and that in finishing up in his place, they (the producers and director, Cameron Crowe) knew not what they were doing.
I didn't like this movie. It was too long, with the story really dragging in the second half. There wasn't a lot of character development, though they spent enough time with conversation to have done it had that been their goal. Tom Cruise plays David Aames, a spoiled rich kid who is a...jerk. Character or caricature? Cameron Diaz, as Julie Gianni, is his "friend" who he "fucked four times in one night" and because of this falls in love with him. Penelope Cruz plays the part of Sofia Serrano, is an immegrant dancer brought to a party by best buddy and novelist, Jason Lee (whose characters name I've forgotten and can't find online for some reason). With out giving away the movie, complications ensue in all of David's relationships.
It's only fair to say that I don't like Tom Cruise in most movies, because he is always Tom Cruise and never believable as the character. But, he's got a lot of passion. Cameron Diaz on the other hand, would have a hard time acting her way out of a wet paper bag that was already partly torn open. The rest of the cast does an okay job, and I even found myself liking the rolls played by Lee and Kurt Russel. Sadly, their contribution was way too little to counteract the Cruise/Diaz dynamo.
Interestingly enough, I dind no mention of Kubrick's name tied with this movie, so I guess I give all the blame to director, Cameron Crowe.
Grade: D
(note: the term smoking crack is a euphamism, such as I voted republican, which denotes a boo-boo of an oh-so-obvious nature.)
There was a lot of hype for this movie before it came out. As with most Tom Cruise movies there was a buzz, though that may have been more about Tom and Penelope than about the quality of film being made.
Then, before it's in the can, Stanley Kubrick dies. Truly one of the greats, I can only hope that he had a lot more to do, and that in finishing up in his place, they (the producers and director, Cameron Crowe) knew not what they were doing.
I didn't like this movie. It was too long, with the story really dragging in the second half. There wasn't a lot of character development, though they spent enough time with conversation to have done it had that been their goal. Tom Cruise plays David Aames, a spoiled rich kid who is a...jerk. Character or caricature? Cameron Diaz, as Julie Gianni, is his "friend" who he "fucked four times in one night" and because of this falls in love with him. Penelope Cruz plays the part of Sofia Serrano, is an immegrant dancer brought to a party by best buddy and novelist, Jason Lee (whose characters name I've forgotten and can't find online for some reason). With out giving away the movie, complications ensue in all of David's relationships.
It's only fair to say that I don't like Tom Cruise in most movies, because he is always Tom Cruise and never believable as the character. But, he's got a lot of passion. Cameron Diaz on the other hand, would have a hard time acting her way out of a wet paper bag that was already partly torn open. The rest of the cast does an okay job, and I even found myself liking the rolls played by Lee and Kurt Russel. Sadly, their contribution was way too little to counteract the Cruise/Diaz dynamo.
Interestingly enough, I dind no mention of Kubrick's name tied with this movie, so I guess I give all the blame to director, Cameron Crowe.
Grade: D
Sunday, February 13, 2005
New Music- part V
When we moved back to Oregon, it was summer time. Summer means lots of outdoor activities and outdoor activities means live music...
...The band we caught at the 2004 Bite of Oregon was Pink Martini. I guess this group best fits in the jazz category, but in the same way that Norah JonesHang On Little Tomato. The performance was very eclectic with songs from traditional jazz to cuban dance to japanese to eastern european and ne'er I say, everything in between...
...The band we caught at the 2004 Bite of Oregon was Pink Martini. I guess this group best fits in the jazz category, but in the same way that Norah JonesHang On Little Tomato. The performance was very eclectic with songs from traditional jazz to cuban dance to japanese to eastern european and ne'er I say, everything in between...
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