I survived the first week at work after the long break. Actually, I was very productive and engaged last week at work. That’s why in Europe, people seem to take vacations all the time, because it helps to make the working hours more efficient. Well, at least we can hope.
I have not posted home cooking photos because I have not been able to put some thoughts on what kind of new dishes to create. Although I enjoy cook many of my favorites, taking and posting repeated photos are not interesting to me.
After reading a post about salty duck, I decided to make a similar dish with chicken wings.
After I stir-fried salt with pepper and spices, I marinated chicken wings with the mixer of seasonings for about two days.
Yesterday, I cooked them and they turned out pretty good. All the flavors from the spices are infused into the meat.
Nevertheless, I need to think about something new to cook.
I am surprised by how windy today was. When I was standing next to the cliff watching the waves and tides, I kept thinking the images of me being blown into the ocean by the strong wind. Obviously, my GAD was acting up again.
The strong wind really stirs up the ocean big time.
Even in the middle of the vast ocean, there are waves and splashes without the help from rocks and cliffs.
Despite the windy condition, the hike was wonderful as always. I am not sure if it’s due to the wind, there are quite a few white clouds floating on top of the hills—normally they are much darker clouds.
After I got back from the hiking, I sweated off toxicants in the steam room before I came home. Thus, I missed the "no pants day" entirely in the subway today. It’s okay, since riding subways in undies is no longer a fresh idea any more anyways.
I am called to jury duty next week. Although tomorrow I don’t have to go, not sure how many days I will have to sit in a court room the rest of the week. It will be interesting, even it’s a civil court.
I am not sure civil court or criminal court this Chinese student will be. He shut down Newark Airport last week because he wanted to be romantic and gave his girlfriend another kiss after she passed the security check point. How did he do that? He sneaked in the terminal when the security guard was not watching.
Awwww! How romantic! Or should I say, how stupid?! For being that stupid alone, he should be put on trial in a criminal court. It’s a crime against insanity.
I was going to write an essay about the terrorism in this entry, obviously, I am carried away. Oh well, there is always next time.
Legalizing same-sex marriage will not only grant equal rights to gay and lesbian citizens, it will also have an added bonus—breaking the tradition that men propose to women. Before that happens, especially if you are not gay, the only time for a woman to pop that big question is on February 29 in a leap year, according to an Irish legend described in a cute comedy "Leap Year" (USA 2010 | 97 min.). No matter how much you disbelieve the predictable plot, the film lightens your heart by flashing Hallmark Cards that charming Amy Adams and Matthew Goode appear in every one of them, with the magnificent landscape of Ireland as the backdrop.
Anna (Amy Adams) is a confident and in-control stager, who is expecting her boyfriend of four years to propose to her. When he fails to do so, she decides to go to Dublin and to propose to him on the leap day instead. On her bumpy journey to Dublin, she meets a handsome bar tender Declan (Matthew Goode) who agrees to take her to Dublin, with a price. After numerous arguments and mishaps, Declan and Anna finally arrive Dublin, but her life has been forever changed.
Even Anna and Declan are strangers who are mean to each other at first, it is quite obvious that they are meant to be the true romantic couple in the film, despite the fact that Anna has a long time boyfriend. After Anna and Declan meet, these two characters are perfectly presented at the center of almost every scene in the film. No matter day or night, Anna and Declan always show up together at the perfect spot in front of the breathtaking landscape. Each frame looks like a postcard from the Ireland’s Tourisum Bureau or a centerfold in a fashion magazine. When they speak, it sounds like they are reading Hallmark Cards from time to time (remember what the bride stands up and says at her wedding?).
They are simply beautiful to look at, which make the audience to forgive the unconvincing transactions of the story line as well as characters’ change of hearts. How can anybody want do doubt such a charming fairy tale? How can anybody not to wish them to be together forever, before they meet a more beautiful and charismatic person?
However, once the same-sex marriage becomes legal, this type of fairy tales will no longer exist, not even once every four years on a leap day. By that time, everybody can propose to anybody, regardless of gender, and Hallmark will sell more cards. The downside is that Anna will never be able to meet Declan, unless she gets a postcard she made for Ireland’s Tourisum Bureau and decides to take a road trip.
After acting in the hilarious "Juno," innocent looking Michael Cera becomes a spokesperson for those shy, sex deprived, awkward high adolescents. A few of similar characters have been credited to his name. His latest role is a nerdy teenager virgin in director Miguel Arteta‘s comedy "Youth in Revolt" (USA 2010 | 90 min.). Even with a French twist, his role gets repetitive and he is unable to repeat the same magic as in "Juno."
Nick Twisp (Michael Cera) is a soft-spoken shy nerdy teenager who thinks about sex all the time, but has never been with a girl sexually. On a family vacation at a trailer park (indeed, that is the location!), he meets and falls for a beautiful girl Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday) who lives in a trailer with her super religious and protective parents. Sheeni hints Nick that the only way for him to get her: "You must be bad, Nickie. Be very, very bad." Nick takes the advice seriously and invents a complete different persona—a mustached chain-smoking French named Francois Dillinger (Michael Cera). With the encouragement from Francois, Nick goes on a rebellious rampage that leaves his innocent good boy image forever behind him.
The film is based on C. D. Payne‘s 1993 novel that has a cult following. Thanks to the book, the film has plenty goofy dialogues that make the audience chuckle. However, while Nick is liberated from being an innocent boy, the film appears to be bond and constrained. It never reaches to the level that makes us laugh out loud. The film would have been funnier if it were as free-spirited as its fantastic music sound track.
Michael Cera is a talented exellent actor and he gives terrific performance in many films, including this one. However, it is time for him to grow out of those sexually frustrated and monotone talking adolescent roles. For one thing, sooner or later, he will have some facial hair like Francois does.
Silky Tofu, 味道好极了! 