STOP PRESS!!!!

I started thinking about writing my year-end wrap up...but I got distracted by this piece of news delivered to me by Kickette.com....

IKER CASILLAS IS BACK ON THE MARKET

HOLY MOLEY!!!

He must have found out that the Phud is nearly done so I'm ready to move to Spain and start popping out his babies now. Like, right now.

Yes, just keep on tossing that ball while you wait for that plane to land.

Dirty Carbonara night!

Silly Natty and Ladiesman_217 purchased a marital home which they proceeded to tear up and renovate. To celebrate what is essentially the end (for now) of the destruction, Silly Natty decided to invite some people over to eat Spaghetti Carbonara. I can't remember how the discussion decided we were going to eat specifically that, but hey, CARBONARA!!!

Dr. I-K fries the bacon, Natty does an Asian pose

bacon, bacon, bacon....(and mushrooms)

eggs, eggs, eggs...(+ cream to the side)

ta-DA!!!

Mmmmm. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of my empty plate but rest assured, I (and the others) ate a lot before collapsing on the couch to peruse wedding magazines. Job well done.

Things I have been doing other than blogging...

So regular readers might have been concerned about the drop off in the level of blogging I haven't done in the last few days.

(Strange, I thought I just heard a pin drop!)

Anyway, here is a list of things I have been doing instead of writing this blog.

Not working on thesis!!! YES - unlike the last few years where I would have been in the lab all alone over the xmas break, I have not been working on my thesis! Okay, maybe a little, but I have not been in the lab or writing!

Baking and Eating. Holidays, the scent of bananas, a lump of butter in the fridge = banana cupcakes. A day later, they're all gone. Clearly, I had to replace them with more cake! I think I'm getting chinny.

Shopping! I resisted going out on Boxing Day and the following day, but Pooey asked for a Wii. So I went out and got one. Hehehehehe.

Boxing. Obviously since I purchased the Wii, I've had to play it right?! My traps and lats hurt. But oooooh...I may have found a my home gym exercise :D

Jigsaw. An evil person who shall remain nameless gave me a jigsaw for xmas knowing that I enjoy these things. Because I am cocky, I said I would complete it within a week. That week ends on Sunday.

What I'd done by Tuesday night.
I'll keep you posted on the progress.

And of course, Sleeping. Mmmm, sleeping in everyday has felt so good :D

Movie review - The Hangover

Months and months after people told me this movie was a classic of the genre (although I'm not sure exactly which genre it belongs to - Hai Mischka!) I finally managed to watch The Hangover.

A couple of days before his wedding, Doug (Justin Bartha) and his best friends, Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms), and his fiancee's brother, Alan (Zak Galifianakis), head to Las Vegas for his bucks party. The next morning, Phil, Stu, and Alan awake to a trashed hotel suite, a random baby, a tiger in the bathroom, and worst of all, no Doug. So the guys retrace their adventures to figure out what exactly went on the night before. It's a very simple premise, but it's extremely well executed.

This can in part be attributed to the characters who, while a bit stereotypical (the confident guy, the worrywart, and the weirdo) are sympathetic because they're genuinely freaked out at having lost their friend, bewildered by their hijinks, and not remembering a single detail of how they did it. But another part is that the movie stays away from cheesy flashbacks, instead choosing to reveal the details of what happened piece by piece to them as well as to us so that many of the jokes catch you unawares.

Having said that, perhaps the best aspect of this movie is that a lot of the jokes are unexpected! The plot steers you in some areas expected of a night out in Vegas (strippers, shotgun wedding), but largely sticks to bizarre actions conducted when one loses their inhibition - like, where did that tiger come from? In fact, one could argue that one of the best things about this movie that it largely stays away from what would normally expect from bachelor parties (strippers etc). They are of course alluded to in the closing credit sequence, a photographic montage of the things that went on during the night. Watch the ending credits - the photos can be somewhat amusing.

So is this a classic? I'm not sure. But it has a verrrrrrrry highly entertaining narrative, and full of classic lines. So on the strength of that, go watch it if you haven't! By the way, tigers love pepper...they hate cinnamon.
7-8/10

Song of the week - Britpop wars part 2

Blur arguably put their best work out after the Britpop 'war'. Not to say that their pre-1996 work isn't great, but they received more international attention with their later albums particularly with their 1997 album Blur which featured Beetlebum and their internationally best-known song, Song 2. However, my favourite song from their backlist comes from their 1999 album 13, the gospel-tinged Tender.

Princess

Princess A, taken at today's family Xmas party.

Every family has one. Well, mine has two if you include me, given that that's my parasol she's posing with!

Press Club dinner

One of the side-effects of the Masterchef phenomenon was making George Calombaris a celebrity. Despite the fact that he uses cutlery with a closed fist, we decided to have dinner at his flagship restaurant, The Press Club.

And so on a warm summer's night, we group of undergrad buds rocked up at 8pm for dinner.

Except I rocked up too early and was told to go to the bar and wait. I decided to order a bellini.

Dinner was a case of ordering off a semi-set menu consisting of four courses, where we were able to select our dish out of three options.

Our menu du jour (ou nuit)

The mezze course consisted of a number of small shared plates. These consisted of olives, some pickled cabbage and cucumber, a salmon cerviche (my favourite of the lot), and the following which looked very nice:

a saganaki and tomato-flavoured shot.

Because I'm allergic to oysters and didn't have a hankering for vegetables, ordered the scallops for entree.

My scallops - the dressing on top included pistachios and sultanas.
They kept the roe on *thumbs up*

Because all the mains looked good, we have photos of all three.

My main - the lamb with pomme puree.
Or as Cam called it *a fancy name for mashed potatoes!*

The pork belly with fennel and peach.
Ummm...a bit salty. Asians do it better!

The salmon.
Quite nice.

For dessert, I had the baklava.

Baklava. Damn, it was yum.

Dr. I-K with the yummo baklava.

So, do I rate it? Yes, it's better than Rockpool and DEFINITELY better than Nobu. On the other hand, the expense vs. quality satisfaction equation might have been altered depending on who you were during the night. There were a few mix ups with orders (not mine) that led to a debate as to whether a tip should have been delivered (this is Australia - tipping is not compulsory!). Over all, I'd say, "yeah, Press Club is really good!" but I'd also put in the condition that you book early and save up for it.

Bridesmaid shopping win!

After much searching, Silly Natty, Dr. I-K, rachie-poo, and myself have agreed on a dress for Silly Natty and Ladiesman_212's wedding. I have been given clearance to post a photo by the bride herself. I think she's just as relieved as us to have one thing knocked off the list :D

As you can see, it's a dove-grey dress by Maticevski.
Hmmm, that mirror is a bit dirty.

Next on the list - shoes, jewellery, hair, and makeup!

Song of the week - Britpop wars part 1

I started re-listening to Oasis' 1995 album What's the Story (Morning Glory), and thinking how much I enjoyed it when it came out. It's release led to one of the seminal moments of the 90s Cool Britannia movement - the Britpop war with Blur.

My song of the week doesn't come from Morning Glory but instead from their 1994 debut, Definitely Maybe. And so here is Whatever.

Good strings and simplicity before infighting and egos led to the bloated overproduction of later works (although I still do love Stop Crying Your Heart Out *thumbs up*).
Next week will be a song from Blur!

Yeah!

Your result for The Commonly Confused Words Test...

English Genius

You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 100% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!

For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

Take The Commonly Confused Words Test at OkCupid

Bridesmaid shopping fail or Party dress shopping win!

Silly Natty and Ladiesman_217 are getting hitched next year and Dr. I-K, Rachie-poo and yours truly are going to be bridesmaids. *Woohoo! Wedding crashers watch out!*

Anyway, we've been looking for a dress to suit all of us, which we've found to be more difficult than expected due to various cuts and colours - the usual dramas in looking for matching dresses. That said, when we three bridesmaids went shopping yesterday, we did find a dress on which we all reached consensus - we loved the cut and colour! Unfortunately, it didn't match the vision for wedding colour themes of the bride, and it got vetoed.

I then decided *You know what? I still like the colour and cut, I've got other parties to attend, I'm buying it anyway!* And so I did :D

Decadent Tuesday!

Following a quick email exchange today and I ended up waiting for Lydia in the GPO ABC shop before heading to a noodle shop for dinner. I had the

Bún bò Huế
(Source)

she had the Bún chả giò. Mmmmmmm.....Viet flavours are so nice in these warm summer nights.

This innocuous and gentle start to the evening then evolved into what will now be known as DECADENT TUESDAY!

At some point in our post-dinner conversation, the topic was turned towards the fact that my desire for cake that had not been sated by eating an almond and chocolate danish/croissant-esque pastry for morning tea, and secondly venues where I should have my Submission (oioi) party. Somehow we decided that we should go to one of the locations I was considering, so that we could partake of some crème brûlée (okay, it's not a cake but I'll still eat it :P).

(Source)

And so we strutted up Lt. Bourke to go to one of my favourite bars out of my many favoured bars of this glorious city, Siglo.

While perusing the drinks menu, our lovely night could only be enhanced by having a Bellini.

(Source)

Think about it. The combination of peach liqueur, peach nectar, and chilled prosecco drink, as a side to a delightful dessert on a warm summer's evening, while sitting on a rooftop terrace overlooking Parliament and surrounding gardens. Lydia decided that she would have one too. But hark! Should we be drinking booze, eating custard, and staying out late on a weeknight that wasn't Friday?!?! And then Lydia made it all better by declaring "Of course! It's Decadent Tuesday!"

Hopefully this will become a monthly event.

Crimes against fashion

(Asian) Nightclubbing. Looking for fashion crimes here is about on par with Oaks Day. It was requested that I revive the Crimes Against Fashion tag to comment on a particularly heinous and incredibly common crime - the clear plastic bra strap.

Now in theory, they kind of make sense - they're clear ergo they are nigh on invisible, right? Except...they're so bloody not! In daylight, you end up with shiney shoulders. And it's even worse when you're in a nightclub with multi-coloured lights going off which then reflect off the plastic so they become even more highly visible. If you don't want your bra straps to be visible, invest in a good strapless bra.

On the topic of visible bras, we also saw a lot of this action going on in the club

The backless dress with the visible bra.

Just...no.
(Photos from google image search)

Opera binge

So in the last fortnight I went and saw three different productions! It was bloody exhausting but also somewhat enlightening due to the differences.

First opera was Cosi Fan Tutte. My expectations were superduper LOW given the last butchering of Mozart that I was privvy to, and my catching snippets of the first scene on ABC2. The modern updating I could handle (although they might want to ask their leads to tone up if they're going to walk around in open shirts) but horror of horrors - it was being sung in ENGLISH. :O:O:O:O But you know what? I found myself quite enjoying it while I was watching. Sure, the translation was a bit on the dodgy side, but the fun of the music shone through. And I do love Soave sia il vento even though it was in English. Special props must go to Tiffany Speight as naughty Despina. Again, I'm not sure how much my enjoyment of it was aided by thinking it was going to be a crash and burn so caveat emptor to people who intend to see it.

Next up was Aida. It occurred to me while I watched the production that Aida is one of those SUPER operas that can't be modernised or fiddled with a la Mozart. For one, it's set in Egypt, has a cast of thousands, and one of those super-tragic plots that needs to be sung in Italian :P. The production starred Jennifer Wilson who was absolutely amazing. Not really of Ethiopian slave proportions (which bothered a friend who saw the production before me), she has a BIG voice that blew me away - it could be heard over the very large chorus! Milijana Nikolic as Amneris started off very slowly but by the end I was happy to give her a thumbs up as well *thumbs up*. My main criticism would be that the direction by Graeme Murphy was bordering on the pretentious side with the projections, travelator stage to similuate Egyptian friezes during the triumphal march, and the ballet. Hah! There was a bit where some of the dancers were topless and I could hear the mutterings of *is she naked?!* going on around me.

The last opera of the season was A Streetcar Named Desire by Andre Previn. I LOVED THIS LAST ONE!!! Starring Yvonne Kenny, Antoinette Halloran, and Teddy *blush* it was full of great singing and made me want to re-read the play and watch the movie. Sung in English and featuring *modern* music that caused some amusing grumblings from the older ladies while waiting in the toilet queue, I found the production very interesting and a faithful rendition of the play. The music may not have been particularly melodic on par with Mozart, but there was good use of horns (it is set in Nyawlins') and at times simulated modern urban sounds. Thumbs up!

I will admit to being slightly opera'd out now. Onto the 2010 productions!

Song of the week - All These Things That I've Done by The Killers

Oh yeah you gotta help me out, yeah oh don't you put me on the backburner...when everything's lost, the battle is won, with all these things that I've done.

I do not think he's a hottie...

but there is something oddly hypnotic about this picture....
It's probably the tux (with undone tie oioi) and glasses. But what's really disturbing is that I actually do believe he looks like a mannequin in this picture.

Help me, please.

(Picture from Kickette)

Arrrrrgh matey! Happy birthday, Lydia!

An incredible FIVE years since we met each other on the Great European Adventure 2004 where we happily celebrated her birthday by having tequila shots in Le Marais, we celebrated Lydia's birthday in a much more civilised manner with an afternoon tea.

But not just any afternoon tea party - there was an amazing Lighthouse cake to be eaten!
I'm not really sure why the cake was shaped like a lighthouse - I think it had something to do with a dream/request, but the actual cake backstory was that it had been invaded by Pirates (arrrrr), and the British Navy were rowing away to stop them from getting the booty!

Lydia with her cake.

A close-up of the cake - they are lego men!
It was a chocolate cake iced with white chocolate. It actually had pink layers, I don't know why they've come out orange here :(

The cake with the amazing cake artists, Bron and Tash.

And we all happily tucked into the cake, sandwiches, cupcakes, cheese, and fairybread and lived happily ever after. Happy birthday again, Lydia! Best birthday (cake) ever!

Song of the week

No I won't kneel!

Help please! + *bonus* new love!

Some people like to mark new phases of their life but cutting their hair off or getting makeovers or the like. For my periods of upheaval, I like to get glasses. Okay, that's not true. It's more like I realised my current pair of glasses are five years old. I have thus spent a bit of time looking for a new pair but have been hobbled by the realisation that while I *look good* in glasses, it is difficult to find a pair of glasses that suit me due to my round face and anime-esque features (kekeke, whatever).

But now that Pooey is back, we took a day out to try and find me a pair some suitable and suitably different frames. I require 2 frames, one for general wear and one to get transition lenses - lenses that change to sunglasses in sunlight for when I don't feel like wearing contact lenses. Help me choose, please!

These are the options (excuse the funny faces I'm pulling).

CK5189

CK5590

Face a Face 1

Face a Face 2

Denmark

Please pick your favourite two. I've allowed multiple selections so hopefully this will work.

Also, while we were randomly ambling around, I found myself gazing into the deepest, sweetest brown eyes I had ever come across and fell instantly in love. With those eyes came soft honey-blonde hair and beautiful floppy ears.

Unfortunately, I can't really keep a puppeh right now, so my heart was broken asunder and with a longing glace, we parted ways. *sigh*.

I *HEART* POOEY!!!

because she is my favourite sister and brings me such nice presents! Pooey arrived yesterday morning and I didn't get to see her until today because I was at work and then I had to go to the opera! (Opera blog entry coming soon.) Then when I came home from all the singing, everyone was asleep :(

Anyway, here's some of the awesomness she got me.

Dresses!!! Pooey and I love a good strapless dress and although I was the winner in the bust wars, they fit very nicely! I can retire that mauve one!
L- H&M, R - Zara. Why are these brands not sold in Australia?! :@

T-shirts!!! Pooey got these from David&Goliath.
Hehehe, spooning leads to forking oioi

Assorted things that Pooey thought I'd like or I asked for!!!
L-R, Alice in Wonderland coaster from when she went to Oxford, Tube-brand mint box from when she went to the Transport Museum, Cath Kidston purse, Cath Kidston coin purse, Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche (miam miam!!!), various other Chanel goodies (oui oui!!!).

Not photographed are the large number of comfy M&S bras I asked for (woooh, so comfy!!!), various food products, and Cath Kidston umbrella. Also, apparently there is a large number of romance books and shoes that are being shipped over :D.

*clap clap clap* Have I said I luff Pooey? If not, I luff Pooey!!!

End in sight?

So....see that countdown calendar counting down to my thesis submission? Well it's incorrect. I'm not going to submit in 3 days or whatever it's at. BUT!!! I had a chat with Da Boss yesterday and she said the END IS DEFINITELY IN SIGHT for her!!! She can see the light at the end of the tunnel for me :D The prediction is definitely by the end of the year (fingers crossed), I need to just need to fix up some niggly little things and *sigh*.

And then I can lie in bed and.....lie in bed. I don't have a job yet.

Anyone need a scientist?

Songs of the week

Cannot be bothered picking out some art pieces for this week so I'm posting two songs that vanillabear and caramelbear said reminded them vaguely of me. Kekekeke

Firstly we have Hugh Grant and Co. singing *Pop! Goes my heart!* from the Music & Lyrics Soundtrack.

And now, *I told you I was freaky* from Flight of the Conchords!

Hmmm...makes me kinda wonder how I'm summed up by these two :P
*bis ({)(L)!

Third place!

After a few years of trying, I've finally won a judged prize-winner at the Under the Coverslip competition!
Here's my pic!
After the presentation, I was told that one of the judges vocally thought I should have been placed higher. I'm not sure if I should be happy or pissed off at that.

Movie adventure - 2012

The adventure we had before watching 2012 deserves an entry all of its own!

Markdod, Ahbreez, Annie, Brian Munich and myself trundled down to eat Grill'd burgers and watch the disaster porno, 2012 at 8pm. Despite rocking up over an hour early, the session was sold out! I blame this on it tightass Tuesday and spillover from boys who didn't want to watch New Moon. We nonetheless enjoyed our burgers immensely (mmmm Summer Sunset...) and contemplated what to do.

I was going to head on home because at 2.5 hours long, I wasn't really looking forward to catching a later session and then follow it up by catching a bus that comes once an hour and ends at midnight. I was convinced to hang around for an 8:30 session at the cashino by the offer of a lift home from Annie and Brian Munich. So we popped into the car and drove over to the casino...only to find that that session was also sold out!

Markdod noted that there was a session at Greater Union Bourke St. at 9pm, but this was kinda pushing it for Ahbreez and herself since that session would end very close to midnight. Nonetheless, we popped into the car and drove back to the city for that session. Brian Munich noted that that might have been one of the few times five people had driven into the cashino and not spent any money.

The guy at GUBS confirmed that their session was indeed not sold out, and so we settled into the retro discomfort for the next three hours. Our discomfort was aided by the weird theatre configuration, lack of allocated seating, and equally awesome and disturbingly sticky carpet.

Was it worth making the trip to three different cinemas to watch it? Read the review to find out!

Movie review - 2012

Disaster porn!!! In the spirit of other movies such as Deep Impact, The Day After Tomorrow, and basically any other movie where we get to see the CGI widescale destruction of something comes 2012 - where we get to see the ENTIRE world destroyed!

In the year 2009, solar flares are causing a disturbance in the action of neutrinos (cough), leading to the rapid destabilisation of the Earth's crust and movement of tectonic plates. Dr. Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is running a race to try and save the human race before that happens. In the year 2012, Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) is a failed writer, now acting as a chauffeur to Russian oligarch Yuri Karpov (Zlatko Buric) and his family and girlfriend. Curtis is also separated from his wife Kate (Amanda Peet) and the movie picks up when he attempts to take his two kids Noah and Lily camping at Yellowstone. In an attempt to find the romantic place in the park he shared with Kate, Curtis finds that the lake has evaporated. He also meets Dr. Helmsley who tells him it's classified, and a conspiracy theorist (Woody Harrelson) who tells him that the world is about to end but that the rich people have created ships to keep themselves alive. Random earthquakes are happening on a greater scale and frequency all around the world and the boarding process alerts Yuri that it's time to go. An offhanded comment by his shitty kids makes Curtis realise that the crazy theorist was CORRECT! and he heads to LA to try to save his family. We are then treated to TWO HOURS OF SEEING THE WORLD BEING DESTROYED IN SPECTACULAR FASHION!!!!

As with the Transformers movies and various other BDFs (Big Dumb Films) reviewed here, you should know exactly what you're buying into when you hand over your money for that ticket. Anyone expecting a plausible plot, an excellent script, and prize-winning acting from this...well, the Yuri is excellent when he delivers the *It's Russian* line...but otherwise, I think you need to examine how and why you select films.

2012 is highly enjoyable mush in which we get to see an earthquake literally tear up LA and plunge it into the ocean. It's awesome watching all those skyscrapers explode! Other highlights include watching Yellowstone explode Mt. St. Helens-style, the SS. John F. Kennedy capsizing onto Washington DC., the dome of St. Peter's collapsing and crushing everyone in the Vatican, tsunamis ruling the world, the list goes on. They've put a lot of money into the CGI and many very amusing destruction sequences ensue!

As you can probably tell, I enjoyed myself immensely! My main complaints are thus:

• I know that one of the staples of this genre is to kill main characters, but I was really upset with the carnage! It was noted by fellow spectator Brian Munich that this movie was really good at making you bond with certain characters...and then kill them in such a fashion that you couldn't even hope for their survival! Heartbreaking.
• Ignoring Australia! Why is Australia ignored in these movies? I think it would have been awesome to see a tsunami wash into the desert and turn Uluru/Ayers Rock into an island! Or an earthquake split the Harbour Bridge in two! Think about it - great CGI sequence in my head right there.
• It's a very long movie. I know that it's very long just to satisfy my desire for disasters and carnage but 158 minutes in a very uncomfortable seat (curse and bless you, Greater Union Bourke St!) made me want some of the sequences to be shorter. Sacrilege, I know.

Anyway, I have no reservations in telling people to go watch this. It is big, stupid, enjoyable, and recommended! Would I watch it again? Probably not because it is so long but I can't deny that is Big, Dumb, and undeniably fun. What are your other options right now? New Moon? Pfft. Just make sure your seat is comfortable.
6.5-7.5/10 (The 6.5 is because of the discomfort rating)

Oh, wheel-y?

There's a ferris wheel on Birrarung Marr that I've been meaning to ride on for the last few years but never did for whatever reason. H was back for the weekend so he was roped in for some touristy things on a lovely overcast day.

H checks out the wheel for structural deficiencies.

Well...it looks safe and sound.

Southbank with the cage obstructing the view.

Again with just a bit of cage obstruction.

Looking towards the MCG and Tennis Centre (bring on this summer of tennis!)

Some Collins/Exhibition skyscrapers

H acting his age.

I think the ride goes for about 15 minutes and they pause it so the cage sits at the top and you can have a nice look around. I'm sure it'll look better on a sunny day or at night when all the lights are on. Because it was raining when we made our way down there, we were the only people on the wheel at the time. I'm a little surprised they were willing to run it for only two ppl but *shrug*. As we were getting off, a mother and daughter couple were about to get on, probably because we had given it our seal of approval *nod*.

I actually don't go down Birrarung Marr much (I hate the gravel) but there's also a really cool playground down there with swings, hammocks, a climbing rope pyramid, and mini-climbing wall! Naturally, I had to climb all over the stuff so I can assure you the equipment can ably support the weight of an adult female and therefore also gets my seal of approval!

Painting of the week - Olympia by Manet

Edouard Manet, Olympia, 1863

Musee d'Orsay, Paris
(Source)

After the Venus of Urbino last week, I thought this would be a nice piece for the week. Olympia clearly references Titian's painting through the composition of the work - the bed, presence of the maid, animal at her feet, and of course, the pose. But unlike Venus whose relaxed pudica gesture was intended to titilate, Olympia's tensed hand is a defensive concealment.

Also unlike Venus, Olympia's identity has never been in question. Statistics from the 1860s indicate that while the city has a population of approximately one million, Paris had about 35,000 registered and an unknown number of unregistered prostitutes. Working girls often acquired psuedonyms of which Olympia was a common name. Needless to say, when Manet submitted this painting to the Paris Salon, outrage ensued.

Victorine Meurent, the model in Olympia, also posed in an number of Manet's other paintings including his other outrager, Dejeuner sur l'herbe.

Nature is my enemy

The weather is turning hot (well, it is coming into summer) and I hate it! Apart from my apparent inability to sweat properly due to ichthyosis vulgaris, mosquitoes love me and my O+ blood. H thinks it's also a case of Viet cuisine being awfully tasty in warm weather. But the really shit thing is the immune response I have in response to the little bastards.

Last week I got one on my knee and this is what it looked like without scratching, about 10 minutes after the bite.

You can see the classic signs of a Type I Hypersensitivity right there - the raised wheal in the centre surrounded by red flare (outlined) caused by vascular leakage. It kinda looks like computer game alien.

Later in the week, I acquired some more bites on my legs and they ended up looked like this.

You can see the flare on these bastards very easily! Having the bites so closed to each other caused localised oedema in my legs so they looked all lumpy and actually kinda hurt to touch. Curse that IgE/Mast cell activation!

I'm currently in the last phase of the reaction. The bites aren't itchy anymore, but all that red vascular leakage has made my legs look like they're covered in bruises.

Okay, that's all I needed to whine about!

First day at work!!!

I've been an professional employee before, and I've been an employee of the university before...but today was my first day as an official PROFESSIONAL employee of the university!

I'm now working as Laulita's personal lab slave - indeed, when I came in this morning, she'd already written a list of tasks she wanted me to do! Nothing too arduous, check temperatures, make buffers, etc. I'm slowly working through the list, I think about half of them are done. *nod* And before you all think I'm slacking off by writing this blog during working hours, it's currently my lunch break. Muhahahahah!

And yes, I'm aware the Ph(u)D isn't done yet. But a girl needs moolah to eat and buy herself pretty things!

Movie review - Julie & Julia

Food porn. I love it. And Julie & Julia has it in SPADES!!! Ooh la la! Even if you don't like watching cooking (hell, what kind of freak are you?!) at least watch it for Meryl Streep's performance as Julia Child.

Julie Powell (Amy Adams) is frustrated writer now public servant whose job involves dealing with post-911 issues. It's a crap job and she cooks to escape it. After going to lunch with some more successful 'friends', she decides to cook her way through all the recipe's in Julia Child's seminal cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a calendar year and following her husband's advice, keep a record of her progress. Interspersed within are episodes retelling of Julia Child's (Meryl Streep) arrival in France with her husband Paul (Stanley Tucci) and introduction to French food, her time at Le Cordon Bleu school, and attempt to get her book published.

Oh. I loved this movie :D I totally understood Julie's cooking as way of soothing the savage beast within (nom nom nom), and I loved experiencing the joy of French food and learning the language through Julia's eyes. *sigh* I want to go back :D The Julia part of the story dominates J&J largely due to Streep's performance. Always an excellent actress (duh), Streep takes what could be some pretty annoying personality traits (the singsong voice, the way she carries on etc) and makes them endearing and amusing! Also noticeable is the chemistry between Streep and Tucci (reunited from The Devil Wears Prada). Not the most attractive couple, what is apparent through their story is how attracted and in love they are. Although I kept remembering that Tucci is about 10 years younger than Streep and was a little surprised when I found out that Paul Child was about 10 years older than Julia. *shrug*.

Amy Adam's (another great actress) is also great at showing how frustration is the catalyst for the endeavour, how it sucks her in and frustrates but ultimately how it fulfills Julie. More snappy and curt than Julia, it is harder to warm up to her character. Sometimes I couldn't help thinking that she should get over it - living in Queens and having a meal fail is not the end of the world. By the end however, you're really cheering her on to get to the end and bone that whole duck to serve up to dinner! There's also great chemistry between Adams and Chris Messina as Julie's husband Eric.

As you can see, I've reviewed the two parts separately. It reflects my main criticism in that J&J seemed at times more like two separate movies mashed together. I don't know if it was just me, but it seemed like the colours and quality of film were better in the Paris sections than the NYC ones? Or you know, maybe Paris really is just a prettier and more magical place :P. The Julie section is a little bit weaker than the Julia bits, but that's probably due to Meryl's portrayal having such force of personality that she overshines the grittier, less sympathetic Julie. Also, at 123 minutes...it's probably a bit long and drags a little in the middle. Otherwise, I loved this movie!

Yumm-o!
7.5/10

Painting of the week - Venus of Urbino by Titian

Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), Venus of Urbino, 1538

Uffizi, Florence
(Source)

Continuing on from the pudica theme, Venus of Urbino is an example where the gesture is clearly there to titillate rather than conceal. In fact, the way that Venus has her hand slightly curled over her pubis so enraged (or entertained?) Mark Twain that he wrote a fairly entertaining account of it. Venus is a pretty interesting piece due to its infamy and there's a lot of academic debate about various aspects.

The painting was commissioned in 1538 by Guidobaldo della Rovere, Duke of Urbino. The pose of Venus is clearly modelled after Giorgione's Sleeping Venus, in particular the controversial hand gesture. Other indications that this is Venus (the Goddess) are the flowing blonde hair and the roses in her hand. However, there are many other items iconographically associated with Venus that are missing, e.g. Cupid, oranges etc.

According to Rona Goffen, the piece was supposed to be an 'instructive' present for the duke's young wife, basically telling her that to be a good wife, she had to be up for the nookie. In support of this hypothesis is the domestic scene in the background of maids rifling through some cassoni (bridal chests) and the dog at Venus' feet. Dogs are iconographically considered a sign of fidelity, and this dog was also seen in a portrait of Guidobaldo's mother. But the dog is sleeping - taken as a sign of infidelity, and it also made an appearance in a later painting by Titian of Zeus' seduction of Danae.

Au revoir, zver muzhik

Today, one of my husbands decided to take a ride (with me) away from the playing field and into the sunset.

(Source)

He played his last professional match, losing 4-6, 7-5, 4-6 to Juan-Martin del Potro, in the Paris Masters. *sigh* Marat and Paris, two of my favourite loves and I'm not there to be with either :'(

But now that he's not constantly on the Tour, we're gonna start making those babies that he wants and that I'm happy to give him.

Pfft, what do you mean, you have plenty of time to find the right woman? I'm right here!!!
Y tebya lyublyu.