Movies, Art and Food Jealousy

Hey everyone listen up -

Now that I've got your attention I have this to say:

Anyway, that being said, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week. I know I may have sounded a little off or down but trust me I had a wonderful holiday. Much better than I could have anticipated. Dinner at Blake's place was so damn delicious. Tori made some excellent twice baked potatoes. Our friend Kyle made awesome stuffing with sausage. Blake made the bird - chicken because we couldn't find a turkey - and some more stuffing, as well as some baked veggies. Minka made some squash soup. And our Scottish friends, Andrew and Stuart brought "American" food, which consisted of chocolate chip - and white chocolate chip - cookies, apple pie and blueberry muffins. Not bad for a handful of grad students that don't cook up much more than take out (I'm definitely referring to myself on that one).

This is my last week of the semester for class. I'm looking forward to having some time off and just getting my things done. I'm sure the first couple weeks will be chaotic but if I get my things done completely I will not care at all.

Let's see. This week I've seen two movies so far, and I'm hoping to see a few more. I went and saw The Descendants, which was done by the same director as Sideways - Alexander Payne - and definitely worth checking out. It's a beautifully crafted film set in Hawaii and staring George Clooney. The other film was 50/50, which Tori and I just saw tonight, and was awesome. A bro-mantic comedy - if I may - that is sure to make you laugh and possibly tear up a bit. Plus it's got Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen - who does an amazing job by the way - so you now know for sure you'll laugh. And because I'm a student of film I get to see these movies for free; how cool is that?

This weekend Tori and I are planning on hitting up the Glasgow School of Art MFA Auction, featuring some work from our friends Blake and Kyle. Anyone in the Glasgow area should attend and check out the work from these and other very talented artists. (Though, I imagine if you're reading this blog you're miles and miles away - don't let that stop you from making it to the show).

In other news, I don't have much. Everyone have fun this weekend like I know I will. This is David Rowley reminding you to watch movies and never leave yourself stuck with the question "What would have happened had I _________?"

(If you're still looking for some hidden pronouncement at the beginning I apologize, there's nothing there. I couldn't think of a clever hook to wrap your brain-balls into my writing so I went with a figurative call out. Cheers.)

Happy Holidays! Cooking and updating

Hello Hello,

How's everyone doing this holiday week!? I'm not bad though it could be going a little better. I'm mostly a little down because nothing in Glasgow (not surprisingly) reminds me that it's Thanksgiving week. I've got Tori and a few people to remind me but who's reminding them? Exactly.

Anyway, I'm prepping for tomorrow the best way I can: listen to stand-up comedy and attempt to make desert for tomorrow's dinner at Blake's apartment. What am I making you ask, why chocolate chip cookies of course. Pretty much the only thing I feel slightly confident I can made (decently). I've linked up the recipe if anyone is interested in trying the cookies I've just attempted. Right now I'm midway into making them so by the time this actually gets posted I may remove the link. Who knows, the cookies could be crap. I don't expect them to be though, unless I burn them, because the dough tastes pretty damn good. I'll get back to you on this.

I've been pretty busy trying to get my papers done the past couple weeks. Today I just hit the 3,500 mark for my longer essay so technically I only need another 1,000 words to be done and I still have two movies to discuss plus an introduction and conclusion. I'm expecting to exceed the word limit by nearly 2,000 words so I'll have to edit, but it's easier to cut out as opposed to look for bull shite to insert. Otherwise, I've finished my seven movie reviews, I simply need to work them over once or twice and I'll be perfect. That leaves just my two feature articles, which don't worry me too much since I've been writing features for the past two years in journalism classes. It's picking the subject that's difficult not the writing. But that's just my opinion.

Let's see, beyond schoolwork Tori and I have managed to get out a wee bit to further explore some tourist spots in Glasgow. Specifically, we finally made it out to the Kelvingrove Museum. And it was pretty neat. I can only look at art for so long - I do what I can but at a certain point my eyes get droopy - but fortunately this place is like four museums in one. Here are an assortment of photos:

Ghosts in armor, prepared for battling tourists

Oh, look at the white balloons; wait, why are they looking at me?

Just hanging around, watching
the people pass by

There was a lot more to see but the lighting wasn't amazing in the museum. Sure there were lights making every display easily seen but often time there would be glare on the photos. These were just a couple of neat things that turned out alright. A couple of knights, open area, one of Salvador Dali's sketches, and a stone marker from where (supposedly) Mary, Queen of Scots watched the Battle of Langside unfold. I like the display stuff and historical aspects more than the art. Probably just because I get jealous of their talent.

But the best part of the exhibit was without a doubt the basement completely devoted to one of Rock's greatest bands: AC/DC. There was a ton of old footage and concert posters on every wall. Letters written to different mothers and girlfriends. It was really cool.

 It was a nice way to spend a couple hours on a Saturday afternoon when the sun didn't want to come out.

Well I think that's all for me. Oh, and I just finished up with my cookies and...they're not bad. I'm no chef and I've certainly had better chocolate chip cookies but i think they'll be a nice addition to the holiday meal tomorrow.

Until next time, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Dr Strangelove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Procrastination

I have work to do yet I find myself doing just about anything else that will distract me from tasks at hand. I'm productive while procrastinating; I liken it to finishing a movie that you weren't sure you wanted to see in the first place. That being said this post is just another aspect of my procrastination.

I have a lot of things I could be working on right now. I need to go back and re-edit some of my old reviews to tighten them up. I need to figure out two topics for my feature article. (They have to deal with film in some way so if you've got any ideas...). And I need to write another 4,000 words for my final (and only actual graded) essay. I'm about to re-watch Dr Strangelove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb which is something I do need to do. And for those who haven't seen this film, stop reading this ridiculous blog, go out and find a copy of this fantastic movie. As Robert Phillip Kolker (critic) has stated - and accurately so - "our history in the years since Dr Strangelove has tended to imitate the film even more than the film, at the time of its making, imitated history." The movie is great, no doubt one of Stanley Kubrick's best.

I wanted to update this blog because I haven't done so in a while but I keep coming up short with things to fill it with. At this point it's nothing more than a quickly put together stream of consciousness. I'd like to think it's something more than that but I'm not sure it is. Perhaps when I begin to travel a bit more this thing will pick up interest and excitement. Until then I remain a boring postgraduate student.

Please don't think my post too pessimistic, that is not my intent. These are just the ponderings of a gentleman with a little extra on his mind. The days are getting very short here, which may be another factor. Sunlight is only out for about eight hours and begins to set a little before 4:30pm. I'm taking more vitamin D to counteract the lack of sunlight.

Well I should probably get back to doing a little bit of work. I've got quite a few things I need to read for this week and at least four films to watch. I quite enjoy all this reading, writing and viewing, I just wish it weren't so time consuming and I could get out and explore some more.