Thanksgiving, Thank You

On the Menu:

1. Ham with brandy and sugar drizzled on top

2. Meatloaf

3. Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

4. Spinach Salad

5. Corn Bread

6. Red Wine or Apple Cider

Yes, you read it right. We did not have turkey. Just thought that we would have cooked it dry and it would just be a waste. It turned out good. It was our official thanksgiving dinner and it was all perfectly imperfect. All was semi home made and spectacular.

XOXO Yana

Pop Culture Phenomenon: Twilight

My very first impression as I walked out of the cinema was that it was such a chick flick and I am definitely not complaining. Yes, the effects could have been more polished and the dialogue more fluid but it was very hard to not love it at the end of the day. The romance, to me, was innocent and pure for the most part with a few dirrrrty undertones. (see how I love torturing my single self by watching romantic movies?)

If guys, meaning manly men, are expecting to see action, you ain't getting much of it. There's also only a few cameos of "blood" which is ironic since this is a vampire movie. No Underworld here if that's what you're looking for. I would say that Twilight is a cross between a teen movie and a dark independent movie with a little spiderman thrown in.

Did I think it's good you may wonder? Yeah, I did not read the book prior to watching it so I may have a different opinion with other avid fans of this cult following.

What I did find very interesting and mysterious is the dynamics between the members of the Cullen family. I was deeply intrigued and mytstified and I wanted more but I just could not have it which leaves me wanting more, for the sequel, I mean (can i get any more redundant here?). Their intensity draws you and I wanted to know their history but sadly, it was untold. They were willing to do anything, not just for their family, but also their loved one's loved one. (?) They protected each other like a creature from the wild, very animalistic. (And I mean it in the best possible way) They are all also not bad to look at.

Of course I could not put an end to this and not talk about the love birds now could I? I did see the awkward and surprisingly sexy chemistry between Edward and Bella. It felt as real as any romance in movies can be. With another sequel, I think their romance might just explode. You see I love the maladroit beauty that Bella, or should I say Kristen, have. If you don't like those types of beauty then you would say that she looks plain but if you do, good for you, then you will say that she is achingly gorgeous. As for Edward, do I even need to defend his gorgeous-ism? He is fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnne. These two are well on their way to cult-following, vampire-loving, pop culture and top-whatever-number-list-of-newcomers/stars to look out for phenomenon.

Overall, the film lacks background and that high techy stuff they do in superhero movies but with a little patience, a better sequel perhaps, it is worth your while. I cannot wait fot the next one after this and rest assured that it will be better budgeted after the success of Twilight.

With this said I end it at this note, "And so the lion fell in love with the lamb. What a stupid lamb. What a sick, masochistic lion."

XOXO Yana

Rate it: B-

So I saw the movie "Flakes" starring Zooey Deschanel and Aaron Stanford. Set in the New Orleans, the movie is about a local cereal cafe where the townspeople normally hang out. This is until they have met a capitalist for competition across the road with the same name and concept. Miss Pussy Katz (Deschanel) took this advantage to squeeze out her boyfriend (Stanford) into actually making his own CD.

So here is what I think. I thought that the movie is a good kind of B movie. It was cute and adorable and it did not have any ridiculous or over the top nonesense. At first it seemed like a totally irrelevant movie but it actually showed a lot of issues concerning consumerism and capitalism underneath. Some scenes were dragging but I love Zooey Deschanel and she always pulls anything off. I am sounding a but biased but who can blame me? It is a quirky movie with likeable characters and yeah, it was kinda cheesy but it is very diffeent and fresh. At the end of the day, it still has that happy ending which is always nice to watch.

Overall, watch it if you're a fan of Zooey or if you are bored or a big indie fan.

XOXO Yana

My Only Politically-concerned Blog

I woke up this morning to a brand new era. Barack Obama is elected president. This is truly a morning to remember for the momentous "change" that people has been asking for is about to happen. Or has it already happened? But I do feel the change in the air and although I myself am not a big politics fan, I do feel a sense of unity as of listening to his heart-felt speech. It does seem like change is coming and his "yes we can" catch-phrase surrounds the white house. I hope it does happen. Not anytime soon but I hope it will.

Another thing that is plaguing the morning news is the issue concerning Proposition 8. It seems that people still oppose the same-sex marriage. Except in Virginia where as my mom would call it, the lesbian state. I do feel a little loss for those people who are already married and might be affected greatly by this defeat. Although I am not married, not even once, it still seems like a tragedy to not be considered married after getting married. It is a sad, sad thing but I do think that this is only the beginning of another war that will go on for years to come. I do feel that everything that has to do with human rights on this country pull through. It may not happen now or the next year but I do know this, the gay community will have their rights because this country is a land of hopes and dreams and justice.

XOXO Yana