Les filles du botaniste (The Chinese Botanists' Daughters)

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, I went to see the film Les filles du botaniste (The Chinese Botanists' Daughters). This was a gay film about two Chinese lesbians who fall in love in the eighties in China... This story deals with cultural unease of homosexuality, and misconceptions of it. The storyline was slow, and there wasn't a lot of character development, but the story was very, very interesting.

There was also a lot of nice scenary of China and Vietnam, and it was nice to find out that the film is actually in Mandarin... Even though I don't speak much of it, but sometimes, the translation just doesn't quite get the full meaning, and it's even more funnier just listening to the Mandarin. Of course, I was the only one who laughed, since I was the only Chinese person in the theatre. Oh well.

I read a review of this movie on imdb, and it was very harshly rated. The person said that the outcome of the story was highly unlikely... I disagree... Chinese people have the fear of the unknown, and anything that is unnatural, they want to destroy... I believe that the ending was highly probable... Especially since there are also open-minded Chinese people who live in China.

I won't describe exactly what goes on for the ending, since it would spoil it. Although, what I can say was that there was a lot of very tastefully shot girl on girl action. It was very daring for two Asian (or one Asian, one half Asian) actress to pursue lesbian shots.

Weirdo weekend

This past weekend, I've met a fair share of weirdos on public transit... Let me start with the first individual that I saw...

On Friday evening, I was taking the metro to go to Jeunesse Lambda. When I got on the metro, there was a dude there, and he didn't look the cleanest, had very long hair, looked a bit disheveled. I didn't want to judge or stare, so I just minded my own business. All of a sudden, he started rambling on and being very vulgar. I didn't pay too much attention to what he was saying, but I heard traces of stop thinking so highly of yourself and staring at me... I did get a glimpse of what he was carrying in one of his bags, and it was a big bottle of beer...

On Saturday afternoon, as I was returning home from my class at the YMCA, I got on the metro, and look and behold, it's the same dude as yesterday. He hasn't changed his clothing, and I think he still had his bottle from before, but I wasn't too sure. I got off the metro, and he was still on it...

On Saturday evening, I went to Fo Lam buffet. Fo Lam is a Chinese buffet, but it is situated about 30 - 40 minutes away from where I live (I need to take the metro to the terminus, and then a bus). I enjoyed my buffet, and then after, I was waiting for a bus to take me back to the terminal station, and there was this guy who was rambling on (in English) about the creative mind, and how it's endless, and how that people are trying to stop it, and he can't be stopped. He said that we don't need another wave of Nazism in Quebec, etc. etc.... He got off at the terminal station, but he didn't end up taking the metro.

And then today (Sunday), in the afternoon, after I finished eating a greasy spoon breakfast, and I'm on my way to teach an aerobics class, I met someone who was carrying this big wooden box/crate thing, that looked like a half broken down cabinet of sorts... And about half way through, he started mumbling again... He got off the metro before I needed to get off.

So, three very special people (perhaps special in the sense of eating glue?), and four sightings... I think I deserve a break and I should go for all you can eat sushi, but my wallet and the hole in it says no.

Stupidity, Jeunesse Lambda and pot-pourri

On Friday, Jan. 26, 2007 I went to Jeunesse Lambda, as usual. Tonight's topic was humour or discrimination? And of course, it was not a very interesting discussion. It seems to be like that whenever this organization tries to talk about something serious... But when you've got a bunch of teens who have no brain power, who care more about their iPod than having a decent conversation which requires the use of the brain.

There was a surprise, which were two people trying to out DJ each other, and of course, the winner was the person who had a cell phone that rang at the end. This was okay... the worse part of the evening was when the President announced that Jeunesse Lambda has a blog... Why on Earth would you want to put up a blog? That's such a stupid idea! I really want to find out whose stupid idea this is, because he or she (most probably a he, since most of the CA there are men) and tear a strip off of them or something... I just feel so frustrated, since this is such a stupid idea. The president also proposed that if you give them a link to your blog, they can post it... Frankly, I reject that offer with a ten foot pole, quite possibly fifteen... They probably wouldn't be able to read my comments, since it's in English, and then the ones who can, would find out what I really think about the group.

At the end of the evening, people were getting ready to get to Espresso.net, to go and have a coffee and chat... I usually like cafes, coffees or teas, and pastries, but frankly... I would not want to spend time with a bunch of losers... Someone asked if I was going to the place, and I told him politely that I wasn't going, because I like the atmosphere, but about 30 people kind of ruins it.

This evening also consisted of Flavio and boyfriend (quite possibly to be, but I think it's kind of already determined) making googly eyes at each other, and holding hands, kissing, and being sappy. We decided to get a bubble tea at L2 Lounge, instead of Espresso.net, because we could actually have a bit of more intelligent conversation. Earlier this evening, I saw in a magazine that someone published a book called: Gay and Single...Forever?: Finding Love, Sex and Intimacy in a World That Believes in Mr. Right by Steven Berenzai. After seeing this all evening, and finding out about this book, I think I want to read this. It will give me a bit of hope in men, since Valentine's is around the corner.

Speaking of books, I think I'm going to order this book, with my friend's book, and hopefully that will put the order at over $39, so that I can get it delivered for free, but I'm not too sure. If not, I may have to throw in something extra, we shall see... My friend's book is entitled: The Cafe Toscanini in Fremolia, and is available online! Please check it out, and if this is your type of reading, support my friend!

And speaking of music to make me feel better about men... I'm listening to Mya - Free... I'm single, sexy and sweet... If you have any other suggestion of songs, I'd be open to them... I am not really feeling my angry girl collection, since I wasn't dumped...

Curse of the Golden Flower

On Tuesday, January 23, 2007, I went to see the film Curse of the Golden Flower. This is the latest martial arts mixed with drama film to come from China... It was done by the same team as Hero and House of Flying Daggers.

The film was not a bad film, however, if you have seen the first two, it was definitely a let down... There was a lot of computer graphics, and some of it very evident. And there wasn't much acting involved, considering it's a drama...

Though, it features Chow Yun Fat, and Gong Li. In typical Chinese movie fashion, there's lots of colour, lots of nice cinematography, and a pretty depressing storyline... I believe there were more actors and extras dead than alive at the end, but that's to be expected in a Chinese film.

Don't get me wrong... This is not a bad movie. However, if you have seen the first two, you may be dissapointed, that's all. Though, I have to say, there was one surprise at the end that I didn't see coming, but this perhaps stems from a lack of Chinese movies for me.

Sigh... Am I the ugly duckling?

So, my friend Flavio is having a great start with someone, and looking at those two this evening, I think it'll probably blossom into something. It's the second time they've seen each other, and I've already caught them holding hands, and the dude gave Flavio a good night kiss... So, I'm guessing in about a month, they'll be one of those couple that show their public displays of affections everywhere... You know the type, the couples that you love to hate...

And speaking of bizarre happenings. The three of us, Flavio, boyfriend to be (possibly) and me wanted to get a bubble tea in Chinatown, but when we got there, we thought there was a power failure, and then when we got to the street that Chinatown is on, a passerby told me that a supermarket caught on fire...

I am listening to Natasha Bedingfield's song - Unwritten. Here are the lyrics:

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Chorus:

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Chorus:

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Chorus:

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

Thank you Natasha... Today is where my book begins, and the rest is still unwritten.

You can never please them all, can you?

This is still one of my favourite quotes: "It is better to lose a lover, than to love a loser."

I had that on my MSN, but then a friend of mine complained about it being stale... But then this is also the same friend who complains if the quote is too long, or if it changes too frequently?

I usually change my quote when I am inspired, but I keep the old one until I have new inspiration... And that's how I do it...

But then again, I have had people who have told me that it was immature to put a quote or a statement after your name... Or it's immature to constantly change it...

Stupid bureaucracy, again!

I just got an e-mail from my secondary referee, and he told me that he doesn't qualify, because he didn't teach me during the Fall Term of 2006. So, I'll have to e-mail my supervisor and say that I don't have a secondary referee, because I didn't take a course in Fall 2006.

Why do they make students do all this crap to get money for scholarships (and this continuation of the award would be about $500, since I'm splitting the award - and I would be happy to get this money), but the paperwork is driving me up the wall... Why do they want to use paperwork to get students to go crazy? Aren't courses, work, exams and the like already bad enough? And then you throw in the constant re-evaluation of OSAP, who can give you money one month, and then announce that you've received an overpayment in the next!

So, I'll have to reply to the e-mail of my supervisor, about the fruit of my labour, and also tell her that I don't have a secondary referee, because I did not take courses during the Fall term of 2006.

Miss Potter

On Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, I went to see the film Miss Potter. No, this is not a film about Harry marrying someone, and then her legacy, nor is it about Harry's child and her journey into wizardry... This is a film about Beatrix Potter, the popular author and illustrator of the children's books of Peter Rabbit, a rabbit with a blue coat.

I do not know if this film was a biography account, or if it's based on her real life, but it was an interesting film... It featured Renée Zellweger, and Ewan McGregor. This film tackled some interesting topics that were in the English society around the time of the turn of the century in the 1900s. There was a very distinct line between the rich people and the working class, and thus people falling in love between classes were discriminated against. After seeing the trailer for this film, I thought I was going to cry, but no that didn't happen.

Step choreography nowadays...

Today, Sunday January 14, 2007, I finished the second day at the Can-Fit Pro Fitness conference in Montreal, Quebec. I really enjoyed my experience. I ended my day off with the last half of a step workshop (Jumble Step 2007), where the presenter was showing new choreography for step.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the choreography, it's just that I'm finding step choreography now to be more and more dance-like, fancy, with lots of turns... And for me, choreography with lots of turns requires a lot of time to learn... I find it challening, but perhaps because I'm such a new fitness instructor, to learn new choreography with lots of turns in about an hour and fifteen minutes... I need at least three classes.

And since this was the Can-Fit-Pro conference, there was a trade show, and I bought about $200 worth of Fitness music... But I believe I now have music to last me a long, long while...

Bubble Tea at L2 Lounge

On Jan. 12, 2007, after Jeunesse Lambda, I went to L2 Lounge in Chinatown of Montreal for a bubble tea. I had a mango milk tea with mango jelly. I also ordered a black pepper chicken with noodles.

The bubble tea was good (for Montreal standards), the jelly was a bit ordinary, but tasted very mango-like. What annoyed me was the quantity of food that they gave me for the price they charged me. They charged me $6.50 for this noodle, and it was so small, like one of those small square dish bowls.. I will not be attempting to eat meals at this place again. Maybe I would get the occasional hors d'oeuvre, but that's about it.

Bureaucracy

Today, I went to drop off this stupid form I need to fill out, it's a progress report on my status, to continue my award.

So, I had to fill in some crap on this paper, and then pass it onto some many people, only to get my award renewed. I didn't have someone as a secondary reference, because I didn't take any courses (aside from my reading courses). But my thesis supervisor said that I needed a secondary referee...

Why do I have to this crap for another $500? Stupid bureaucracy.

On another note, I think I will offer the nickname of Harbinger (insert last name of YMCA boss at Guy-Favreau) to my boss. She always foreshadows bad news... Like today, she took the time to send a file with everyone's CPR and expiry dates... And I understand that most of them have expired, but still... I don't need to know that ALMOST EVERYONE'S has expired. * Sigh * I mean, she's quite the harbinger... Apparently, the word harbinger is not used much anymore... It's literary. Oh well.

Rocky Balboa

On Thursday, January 11, 2007, I received a 2 for 1 pass for a Cineplex Odeon theatre from a friend, so I decided that I would treat a friend to watch a movie at the Paramount downtown. There were many movies to choose from, but he really wanted to see Rocky Balboa or We Are Marshell... And there were movies I wanted to watch, such as Night at the Museum, or Freedom Writers, but I am thinking that the AMC will get them in their theatres before their run in theatres is finished... Anyway, since I really do not like Matthew McConaughey, Rocky Balboa was the lesser of the two evils.

This story needs no introduction. It's about Rocky, who has already had five movies. Now, in this movie, he has started a restaurant, since he has all that money from his boxing career. Everything goes well, until some sports channel has this simulated virtual fight between Rocky Balboa and Mason "The Line" Dixon. And in this virtual fight, the computer declares Rocky Balboa the winner.

Now, of course, the story is written so that Dixon is undefeated, and people are getting tired of his antics and attitude. The beginning of the movie, people were pelting ice at him after he won the match.

So, we see some scenes of Rocky training, since he agreed to this exhibition match. And we eventually get to the fight.

Please save yourself the money and not go see this movie... The ending is he loses, but not by much. He loses by one point. Which is something to be proud of, since he's in his early fifties, due to the story line, and he was fighting some 30 year old punk. Which of course, means the computer was incorrect, because he lost...

The Holiday

On Tuesday, January 9, 2007, I went to see the movie The Holiday featuring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Jude Law.

The movie was about Cameron Diaz's character, Amanda, who is a trailer editor and maker (trailer for movies), finds out that her ex cheated on her. Thus, she throws him out of the house. Kate Winslet's character, Iris, who is a journalist, was cheated on by her boyfriend of three years, and she is having difficulty getting over him. They both get fed up with men and they participate in a home exchange program where they switch everything for two weeks (homes, cars, computers). However, when they were not looking for love, they find it... Winslet finds Black, and Diaz finds Law...

This movie had tasteful moments, and I found it very enjoyable. The movie didn't sit well with critics, but it does exactly what it should do for a holiday flick. It's funny, makes people laugh, and have aww moments... I really enjoyed this movie. Winslet had to kiss Black, but it's a small price to pay to have had all those moments with Patrick Wilson in Little Children.

And of course, when the movie started, there were these two girls who got in late, and then were yammering away (after the warning of be quiet while you're watching the film). When the film started, they were still chittering away, so I asked, "Are you quite done yet, because the film has started.", and of course, they gave a rude reply, "Yes, but you could have been more polite about it.", and I retorted back, "This is a movie theatre, not a grand hall. You come here for a movie." The two girls glared at me as they were leaving the theatre, and I think that when I was leaving the building, they bumped into me on purpose, to try and provoke me. My god, why are these idiots coming to movie theatres thinking it's their right to blab when the movie has started? Sheesh.

Happy Feet

On Wednesday, January 3, 2007, I had an opportunity to catch up with a friend of mine, Emily R, whom I have not seen in about a year. We have kept in touch via Messenger, but I haven't physically seen her in person.

We went to dinner at Jack Astor's, and well... The portions were small for the price they charged, and they didn't announce that if you wanted cheese on your garlic cheesy bread, it was an extra $1.50. It's going to be a relatively slim chance that I go back to Jack Astor's. But at least I was more satisfied with them then I was with 3 Brasseurs in Old Montreal when I went for my friend's birthday...

After dinner, we watched the movie Happy Feet. It was a good movie, and it worked at many levels, and spoke to many audiences and spoke to different ages of audiences as well. I was disappointed at the amount of singing in the film though. I thought there would have been more, because that was the idea that I got when I saw the trailer. Granted of course, the actors they hired to do the voice-over work were amazing, and for the little parts of the movie where they did sing, the singing was very well done (perhaps some very talented vocal coaching), and I really liked Ramon of the Amigos (especially when they sang that Spanish version of My Way). I also liked Mumble, both the baby and grown up versions, but I thought the baby version was more adorable.

The storyline was incredible, although I thought that at one part of the movie, it was pretty dark for a children's film. Luckily, the film didn't end at that part, which would have definitely made it a sour note with children, probably.

After the movie, Emily and I went for a bubble tea, and we had some very good conversation in the car. It was a great evening!

Happy New Year and the like

First things first: I would like to wish everyone a healthy, prosperous and happy new year (aka 2007). The Chinese New Year will roll around soon, but the English new year is here. I'll probably do tidings again when Chinese New Year rolls around.

I'm glad to say that my parents' Aptiva (Pentium 200 from 1996) has been repaired, and I now have access to the internet and I no longer have to deal with my brother's attitude when I borrow his precious laptop to check my e-mail.

And of course, it is me who has to yield once again in my family. I was frustrated and angry at the fact that the computer is slow, and of course, criticism was made on me because I expected that I am to get a state of the art computer. No, I'm frustrated because the computer is slower than before, and the computer guy also reinstalled Internet Explorer 4.0, which is not compatible with many pages now, since most computers have minimally IE 5.5. Thus, I have to rely on Mozilla Firefox. In fact, I was looking into the Beta version of Firefox 2.0, but after checking the system requirements, I realized I cannot use it, since the system requirements are too high for this Aptiva.

My mother went on about how I shouldn't be angry and expect that I get a new computer, since they have a budget (and throw in the whole nine yards). And of course, my brother, who has a laptop with Windows XP (granted two years old, but at least XP with IE 6.0) told me that I needed to self-reflect?

Oh really? Look at the tea calling the kettle black. Mr. I have a laptop but I don't want to share it with my brother because he takes time checking his e-mail while I spend as much time as I want looking at Neopets, fictitious governing games and fictitious business games with my computer that can have more than one window open without freezing while chatting with three of my friends on MSN Messenger and checking my e-mail. I get angry because the computer is slow, and it took me three hours to check my e-mail and to finish this post, because it is a Pentium 200 with a 28.8 or 33.6 (I don't recall which one) dial-up modem. I can't even use Messenger on this computer because it would cause my computer to freeze, and make my internet time even more than 3 hours...

But looking at the bright side. The computer works. Granted, I feel myself aging while I attempt to check e-mail (which normally takes me half an hour at the most on my computer), it works, and I at least have access to my e-mail, and I don't need to deal with attitude.

Oh, and happy new year again... I should think about starting a Pak-Kei-o-rama, to get donations for Pak-Kei so that he can get a laptop and check e-mail while he's at home, instead of using this lovely Aptiva (Pentium 200) and will take 2.5 hours or so.

Casino Royale

On December 31, 2006, I went to see the movie Casino Royale. It's the latest James Bond flick, but this time with a new James Bond - Daniel Craig.

This was a movie that my brother saw first, before me, and he made some comments about Daniel Craig looking like he's fifty in some of the shots... And I concur. He looked fifty especially in the black and white shots at the beginning of the movie.

This screenplay was co-written by Paul Haggis, director (and winner of best picture Crash) last year. It's amazing how he finds ways to make films longer than they necessarily need to be. This is true for Crash, and it's true for this film as well.

The storyline of this film is as follows: Bond follows a tip about a bomber, and it leads him to another one, since he shot the first one, and this eventually leads him face to face to the villain of this movie, the accountant, whose name will remain hidden, so that the film is not ruined if you choose to watch it.

There are some amazing foot chase sequences as well, and that torture scene was devilish and hot.

I also liked the way how the James Bond character was portrayed in this movie. He's very cheeky, and intelligent. I liked this portrayal, and in fact, I believe many others who have seen this film also believe that it's a very accurate portrayal.

If you get a chance to see this film, great, but you don't have to clear your schedule for it.