A Few Thoughts in No Particular Order

Hi friends! This afternoon I'm hosting a Cookie Exchange Party, so I shouldn't blog too long but there's just a bit of life to share.

First off, we saw Des Hommes et Des Dieux (Of Gods and Men) last night. It was one of the most moving films -- if not the most moving film--  I've ever seen. 

While the above trailer doesn't have English subtitles, I think you can still pick up on a bit of the meaning by viewing it. These monks sacrificially loved people. If you want to know what real love looks like, watch this movie. It's a revolutionary kind of love. 

I also finished the 570-something page Alone in Berlin (then there's an afterword and then a file of documents in German they were used in the investigation). True story of an aging, working class carpenter and his courageous defiance, albeit non-influential, to Nazi Germany -- this book is brilliantly written by a tormented genius. Fallada penned the book in 24 days then died before it was published. Fascinating stuff. In the afterword, Geoff Wilkes writes: "whereas Hannah Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963) dissects and analyses 'the banality of evil', Hans Fallada's Alone in Berlin comprehends and honours the banality of good." An exploration of metaphysical realities, religiosity, evil, the banality of good -- Alone in Berlin will be a story I'll mull over for some time. This quote also reminds me that I should pick up Eichmann again! 

In other news, did you know that Kate and team are starting an online mag? Matchbook Mag. Thanks J. Tharp for the hat tip! Matchbook is guaranteed to provide some pretty eye-candy!

And on to what I'm really really really excited about:

I'm packing a bag and heading to the States very soon!!! First stop: to see this one!

Lots to Blog About

Wow! Life has been flying by, and I haven't been blogging much. There's so much to share!

First off, I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for the first time in my life last Thursday. It wasn't that complicated of an affair, as my lovely friends pitched in to bring dishes of yumminess over. All I made was a turkey, gravy, green bean casserole, and pumpkin bars for dessert. It was so great spending time with friends that I'm very thankful for. We're very blessed to be surrounded by some truly wonderful people in Edinburgh. And to top it off -- my friends can cook!  They each brought something so delicious over!

 Above is Josh and then Joe & Amanda. Amanda is doing a fabulous job of posting about all of her adventures in the UK at her blog The Riveras in Edinburgh. Keep your eye peeled for all of her snow pictures!

This is the lovely Alicia! When I get together with her, I'm not surprised when she tells me nonchalantly that she just biked 15 miles to the ocean and back. Wow.

On a side note - if you don't have a hand held blender, you are missing out an a fabulously convenient gadget. It was my lifesaver for hosting our Thanksgiving dinner. Is the cream cheese icing clumpy? Use the ole' hand held blender. Is the gravy disgustingly clumpy where you couldn't fain the existence of bits of turkey in it??? Hand held blender to the rescue!

This is the lovely Kidwells! Katy is who I went to Geneva with last week, and we pitifully do not have a picture together from our time in Switzerland. You should definitely check out their blogs: Sparrow Hopes and Domesticated Theology. And they even went one year of their life living "green," which you can read about at 52 Bright Green Weeks.

Next up, I helped host a "Hoo-Roo" for a very dear friend this past Friday evening.  This is a very sad yet happy thing for me. Peter, our guest of honor, is a very, very dear friend who I'm so sad is leaving Edinburgh. He's moving back to Sydney to start teaching at a seminary this month. He's been such a faithful, loving friend and has played such an integral role in our lives and has also been a constant source of encouragement and blessing. It makes me really teary that he's leaving, but I know we'll see him throughout the coming years -- whether it's in the States, Italy, or Australia.

This is Peter entering his surprise Hoo-Roo!

A little shocked at his surprise hoo-roo?

Did I mention why I'm "happy" for Peter to be returning to Australia?  His mama is in Australia, and I'm sure she'll be very glad to have him back home. I, on the other hand, would have been happy to have him wherever we live! (Totally selfish -- I know!)

Christine (the fabulous host!), Nigel, Becky, half of Josh, and Peter with his godson Dominic.

Speaking of Friday evening, that's when the snow began to fall. And it hasn't stopped! And it's Wednesday. The last report I heard is that we're under two feet of snow in Edinburgh. Isn't that ridiculous amounts of snow?!!? Yikes! It is so chilly here!

Here's a picture MBA took on Saturday:

 This was just a light dusting compared to what we have now! I ventured out with my camera today for a few more shots and will be back to share those with you shortly. 

But can I just say how nuts it is that we have two feet of snow, and it keeps falling. And falling. And falling. Now the officials are worried about flooding. But considering that it's - 3 and shouldn't be above freezing until Saturday -- and at that, only 1 degrees -- I'm not that worried about the flooding. 

(After my own flat flooded this past year and my grandmother's house floated away in the Great Flood, you would think I would be worried about flooding. Is there something wrong with me?!!?)

Anyway - back at the ranch. 

Or the tiny flat that my sister calls a tree house. 

I've also finished Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor:

I so wish I had the benefit of sitting under an amazing literary scholar and really gleaning all the insights that make this book what it is. It's a weird tale. The literary devices she uses are foreign from so many other books I've read. But, I appreciate the book. I'm glad I read it. I think I should read a minimum of five literary articles on the book and take a class on O'Connor. I've read her Spiritual Writings before and loved them. Yet, this novel was in its own ballpark. I'm still mulling over it ...

This is turning into the longest blog post ever!

Other things I'm thinking about:

1. The irony of people who allege to emulate the ethics of Jesus and are consumeristic-- especially consumeristic at Christmas time. What's that about? 

2. Making chili in this wintry blizzard we're having! Anyone have a recommended chili recipe out there? Are you still reading? I don't blame you if you're not!

3. The lovely German Christmas Market here in town and the super yummy blueberry coffee I got at the market. This was my first flavored coffee since living in Britain, and I so appreciated how super delicious it was!

4. How the movie Green Zone reminds me of No End In Sight (minus the conspiracy part). 

5. How the documentary on Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds me to be alert for present victims in need of assistance and compassion. Who are victims in our present society? May we truly see others in their struggle and seek to help them where they are. If you haven't seen this film, rent or buy it now. It's sooooo good. 

6. World AIDS Day.

7. Remembering Advent: when Jesus entered history.

"…[T]here must be no weakening or obscuring of the saving truth that the nature which God assumed in Christ is identical with our nature as we see it in the light of the Fall. If it were otherwise, how could Christ really be like us? … God’s Son not only assumed our nature but He entered the concrete form of our nature...". - Karl Barth (emphasis mine)

Babette's Feast

I recently watched Babette's Feast after learning about the film from reading The Hungry Soul. The main contention in this book is that eating amongst one's loved ones is not just about feeding the body but also about feeding the soul. This theme is perfectly portrayed in Babette's Feast, which is a Danish film made in the late 1980's. As we enter the Thanksgiving season, it is a most poignant reminder of the celebration and ritual of gathering with friends and family to feast together not merely for the sake of the food alone.

The following video contains a New York Times critic highlighting the importance of Babette's Feast:

"Beasts feed: man eats: the man of intellect alone knows how to eat."

"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are."

- Brillat-Savarin

I have a thing about doors in Europe. I love the vibrant colors, the various sizes, their design .... they're simply interesting and add to the landscape of so many aesthetically pleasing cities on this continent. The door above has probably been around for quite sometime and has definitely been painted over and over again. It's likely not to have been sanded prior to the fresh coat of paint. Nor has it been replaced -- even if it doesn't fit quite so snuggly as it once did.

In addition to my obsession with photographing doors over here (that's hyperbole folks!), I have been enjoying Reading Lolita in Tehran. From the title, you can gain much about the book: there's a group reading western classics in Tehran, and it's probably not a celebrated group. It's immediately intriguing -- isn't there something fascinating about how a completely different culture receives Western thought and ideas?

 The book is divided into four sections. Thus far, I suggest reading the second section of the book and then going back and reading the first. While the second section has a cohesive narrative of the author's life, the first part is a bit disjointed -- albeit interesting. It's just that the first part of the book details the underground reading group taking place in the author's home, and that would have had a lot more meaning had I known more about the author herself. Anyway, it still seems worth a read!

MBA and I also saw Social Network last week. Do I even have to tell anyone this is the Facebook movie?

By the time it was released here, the film had received a lot of hype from all my American counterparts.  The movie itself is definitely a hyped up film -- it's intense,  and it tells a story a lot of people want to hear. The story I saw was one about people having an endless capacity for evil and for destroying themselves. You might see a story about how Facebook came in to existence. Someone else might see a story about Sean Parker's come back. While the directing was really well done, the actors impeccable, and the soundtrack by Trent Rezner superb -- I'm just not as "in" to this movie as most others. Allegedly, only 40% of it's true; but most people watching the film won't consider that. That bothers me -- there's a lot of re-creation going on there, and it affects real people's lives. Additionally, I think the movie could have used a light moment here and there. Overall, I just wasn't as impressed as I thought I was going to be. Goodness -- I am so going against the trend by saying all this!!!  I feel like such a rebel!

I know I'm going against the grain saying all this, so feel free to throw your own two cents in there!

Made in Dagenham is an interesting film inspired by the true story of English women striking against Ford in 1968 in order to have equal pay. They were the first women that went on strike against Ford Motor Company. Their union hardly supported them --- yet they were the impetus to the Equal Pay Act of 1970 in Great Britain. Fascinating stuff! Plus the hairstyles, clothing, and accents will make you smile. It's definitely worth a watch!

Conviction

Since it is Film Festival time, why not continue on with the theme of movies???

Conviction, which is not at the film festival and won't be released until 2011, looks fascinating -- like an Erin Brokavich meets Cinderella Man type of film. It's based on a true story, and those that were actually affected by this event seem to be on both sides of the fence as to what really occurred. Not that I have much to give away in terms of "spoilers," but I won't say anything further about the articles I've read. Instead, check out this trailer for a glimpse of the Waters' story:

Edinburgh's Very Own Flash Dance

Hey Edinburghers -

If you've ever wanted to be a part of a flash dance, now's your chance. This Saturday on June 26 at 11 you can meet up at the Festival square for a flash dance promoting part of the Edinburgh Film Festival. But first you need to memorize the following:



For more information about participating, go here.

Summer Weekends

Edinburgh is simply splendid during balmy and sunny summer days. (Notice the prerequisite: they must be "balmy" and "sunny" -- not simply "summer"!)  I have a new perspective on my Scottish life -- the summer is the absolute best time to be living it up in this Scottish capital. When the weather is nice here, there couldn't be a better place in the world! Cafes are spilling over into the streets. The best of the street entertainers have set up shop. And the sun on these gorgeous buildings just does me in! On top of all that, there's entertainment galore everywhere you look.

This past Friday evening, MBA and I headed out to Leith with a couple of our friends. We were intending to make it to the Leith Festival, but instead had a walk along on the water and ate at a gastropub, The Granary. At times I forget Edinburgh is on the water since we rarely get out to the shore. With the late summer nights, a walk along the water in the sunny, cool temps was absolutely perfect.

The weather on Saturday was absolutely brilliant, also. A rarity but I'll take it! While MBA worked, I ran a few errands, took in a few da Vinci's and Botticelli's at the National Gallery, and had lunch with some friends. That evening we picnicked in The Meadows -- a park in which we've taken full advantage. I could happily eat every dinner outside in the park all summer long!

Yesterday afternoon we even had tea outside at Eteaket, and it was hot! Almost too hot but somehow we managed to sip hot tea on quite a warm afternoon.

However, the absolute highlight of our weekend was seeing Sean Connery at a Special Gala for the Edinburgh International Film Festival. In honor of Sir Thomas Sean Connery's 80th birthday, the film festival held a special gala and showed the 1975 movie The Man Who Would Be King. Before the film, Connery took the stage and made more than a few comments. It was so fun to see him shoot off the cuff and just be himself. It was as if he was just having a chit-chat with the audience about his life in Edinburgh, doing this film, and the festival in general. I can definitely see why he is so well-loved. Saeed Jaffrey, who played Billy Fish in the film, was also there. He seemed to be a very good-spirited man, and he made some amusing and very kind comments.

While not the most brilliant shot, here's a picture of Sir Sean. He's the one on stage all the way to the left. His shirt looked like something from Tommy Bahama. There was no black tie for this red carpet event!

And here's the two of us on the red carpet before the big event: 

Good times! 

We're headed to another film festival event this evening. This time we're in store for a world premiere viewing. Last year I saw Hurt Locker at a premiere as part of the film festival. It would be fabulous to see another premiere of an award-winning film. Here's hoping!

No End in Sight

MBA and I recently watched No End in Sight, a documentary mainly on the reconstruction of Iraq after the invasion. I realize I'm a few years behind on this documentary since it was released in 2007. Nonetheless, it's still an important work. Regardless with whether or not you agree with the war or the ideas expressed in the film, you'll walk away from the film better equipped to think about the issues surrounding the Iraq war and the US government's involvement in it.

An Education

I saw this brilliant film this past weekend. You may be familiar with Nick Hornby who wrote the screenplay-

"Action is character" -- An Education

The Young Victoria

Always one to love a story amidst its' historical context, The Young Victoria earns its' esteemed praise as a film with convincing acting, captivating cinematography, and a well-crafted script. Victoria, the longest ruling British Monarch, ruled the empire while also leading a remarkable private life and creating a beautiful love story with Prince Albert of Germany. Five stars for the film! Hands-down, I definitely recommend it!

What Happened on Sunday?

Lots!

First of all, we saw The Last Station:

I also perused a few pages of the Mrs. Tolstoy's book: The Diaries of Sofia Tolstoy while at Blackwells.  The book looks so intriguing!

We also experienced a ridiculous mess -- our flat flooded. We're now officially homeless, but that's hopefully getting sorted out today. I'll be back with pictures to show the utter destruction -- it's a big, uninhabitable mess! Think: fire hydrant busted inside your home. There was no small trickle!

Das Weisse Band

MBA and I saw Das Weisse Band, The White Ribbon, yesterday afternoon. I'm still mulling over the movie; it's quite thought-provoking. MBA liked it. I found it interesting. One critic states that the film is "an oppressive and impressive moral painting, in which neither the audience nor the people in the village find an escape and a valve from the web of authority, hierarchy and violence. [...] Everything in The White Ribbon is true. And that is why it is so difficult to bear." (Translated from German in "Eine deutsche Gewaltgeschichte"). I agree. It is a difficult movie to bear. The maker of the film, Michael Haneke, described the film as an exploration of every type of terrorism. The dark portrayal of fallen humans might, at times, be accurate; yet, life in Eichwald seemed hopeless. Realistically, redemption was never mentioned or portrayed. Possibly for the audience to deduce?

I don't know.

If you're interested in the film, I would do a bit of reading and research prior to going to determine whether it's well-suited for your tastes.

And Along Come Tourists

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day, and in my feeble attempt to commemorate the day, I spent the afternoon at the Filmhouse viewing the film And Along Come Tourists.  The German film, set at Auschwitz, examines the German memory of history through the relationship of a young, German civil servant working alongside an 80-something survivor of the concentration camp. The young German, Sven, has some difficulty with the slow, depressing world embodying the former concentration camp. Yet, he convincingly evolves into a figure committed to civility, honoring victims, and recognizing the importance of history. In the last scene Sven's at the train station escaping back to Berlin, but he encounters a German school leader accompanying a group of young German students to visit Auschwitz. Sven abandons the train station and helps the group find the bus stop and how to get on to the camp. The German school leader, impressed with Sven's assistance, states [paraphrase as the movie was in German] that he's thankful that Sven's volunteering at Auschwitz as the world will now judge Germany as to their response to the horrific, systematic killing of millions of people. It's interesting that people, generations later, are concerned with an appropriate response to the atrocity committed by their former countrymen. Yet, the film never questions the appropriate response. Is commemorating a place, a piece of soil, a decent start? Is viewing the thousands of stolen suitcases, each representing a tortured victim -- is that an appropriate response?

Food for thought.