December 2009: Stuff

[furtech]

Here's the whole Flickr set!

December 2009 has been a month of atmospheric highs and plummeting lows. Some very good things happened, some very bad things happened. All in all I can be thankful that I end the year in a relatively neutral state. The weather mirrored this with it's frosty lows, rain and SoCal highs (in the 90's).

I did manage to get up some Christmas lights (two whole days before Christmas!). I tried an experiment with my bamboo: the result was pretty, but not terribly Christmas-y.



Thank goodness for good friends and good dogs: long walks are a great way to re-set.

A group of us went to see Avatar and, like most people, enjoyed it a lot. I don't think that it moved me as much as, say, the first Star Wars movie did when I saw it, but I'm glad that Cameron exists and that he does not disappoint (nothing sticks as sourly in my gut as a huge-budgeted film that fails on story or characters). Somewhat bittersweetly, this felt like the good 'ol days when we'd see films together (and everyone still resided locally). The 3D was very effective-- they've come a long way.

Speaking of films, I also saw "Sherlock Holmes" as part of a friend's "Jewish Christmas Celebration". Great Chinese food (they were packed!) and a flick. Enjoyable film that won't lose too much on video. There was one of directorial brilliance, followed by the rest of the film (like the director made the effort, then decided that it was too much work to be that clever and didn't bother again). Still, nice popcorn-film.

I was going through some old pictures and found the pics taken during our trip to London the other year: Man, London joins NYC as an excellent place to spend Christmas! I'm guessing that the Germans would also do a great job (as they practically invented all the cool traditions!)-- I just don't have a city to focus on. London at Christmas is just beautiful .

Comments

[spunkywulf.livejournal.com]

At least the bamboo mimics a fireworks display! :D

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thanks-- I need longer poles next year, though. More movement! I'm still not sure fireworks=xmas spirit, tho'.

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what Spunky said. That's what I first thought when I saw the thumbnail!

Both dogs and Carol are down south this week, BTW.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Ooo! If you'd like to eat out at other places along with the usual Wednesday Indian, let me know! Most places are dead this week-- there's kushiyu (http://www.yelp.com/biz/kushiyu-tarzana) in Encino; Mantee (http://www.yelp.com/biz/mantee-studio-city) in Studio City (amazing--just went there); The Korean Tofu Soup Place (http://www.yelp.com/biz/so-kong-dong-tofu-house-korean-b-b-q-valencia) next door and good Japanese near the stage! (http://www.yelp.com/biz/chiba-restaurant-north-hollywood) As well as a great ramen/trad. Japanese restaurant (http://www.yelp.com/biz/kyushu-ramen-van-nuys#hrid:RZ3v4txHPam_GNzvo15t6g/src:search/query:tofu%20house%20valencia) in Van Nuys. We can eat our way to the New Year!

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

*MOAN* I've already gained 10 pounds since Solstice!

Oh, what the hell, I'll talk to Carol about it at lunch today. ;)

[dustmeat.livejournal.com]

Hey, there's me!

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

It looks like you have lasers shooting out of your yard. awesome.


And I'm glad to see its not just my Jewish friends that referred to Christmas as Jewish Movie Day.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Awwww, collie in the blankets! So cute!

I'm glad you had a good holiday. Friends and dogs are very good.