Thank you Boyan!

Boyan made me a website. It's super cool you have to check it out.

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!

www.krisserincanary.com

Updates

I know, I know I've been absent--but I'm very excited to be back and excited that people responded to my Lurkers post! Here is what has been happening since last I wrote:

The Decemberists and LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl
Overall I think they did a really good job. The LA Phil was a little overpowering--it was hard to hear the rest of the band with such a loud accompaniment but they played "The Tain," and "Los Angeles, I'm Yours," so I was happy. I got video of the latter but the quality is really poor (because our seats were so far away)











Dress Fitting
Yay! I finally had my first fitting for my wedding dress--which turned out magnificently. I am so excited and I have my second fitting next Saturday. I took a few pictures but obviously I can't share them here because A. That would ruin the element of surprise and B. Boyan might stumble upon it and we all know that's bad luck! I will tell you that it turned out exactly how I wanted and even better. Now I just have to buy the gloves and shoes and other fun stuffs. Oh! and I'm thinking of renting some jewelry, any suggestions of where to start?

Biggest Loser Almost Over

Our final weigh-in is on Friday and although I could have done a better job during the past eight weeks of going to the gym and eating healthy I don't think i'll fare that bad. I already have plans of going to Meltdown on friday to celebrate with a big grilled cheese sandwich. Mmm....cheese.




Mom's horseback riding adventure
I took my Mom horseback riding for her birthday at the Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center and had a grand old time. Apparently the Equestrian center is open to the public--so if you are a horse lover you can walk around and visit the different horses in the stable whenever you want. Afterwards we went to Alice's Breakfast in the Park--a very small very quaint little restaurant on the lake in Huntington. I didn't even know they HAD a central park but they do and it's very large. They have tons of land for people to walk their dogs, go fishing etc. The restaurant itself was cluttered with fun ornaments, dolls, and unique wall hangings--just my kind of eccentric atmosphere. To top it all off the pancakes were absolutely delicious (this coming from someone who doesn't like pancakes).

























Bulgaria or Bust!
It's almost about time for me to hop across the pond for my big fat Bulgarian wedding and I am so excited! It looks as if I'm going to have a few friends there as well as Joan, Britta, Ruth and Louis are all planning on heading over to celebrate with me. My goals before I go to Bulgaria are as follows: 1. Save money for shopping 2. Buy presents for Boyan's family 3. Learn more Bulgarian or Oshte Bulgarski!

Reading, So much Reading

This has been a summer full of books! Since my last posting on what I was reading I've read the entire Philip Pullman's Dark Materials series, the newest Jane Green book (which I am planning on writing a review of, not a very good review) The Great Gatsby and now I am reading Jane Eyre. I didn't have to read it for school--and after watching the PBS Masterpiece theatre version of the story I decided I wanted to read it. The movie is very well done and has been nominated for several emmys, I definitely suggest you watch it if you can. The book has been very enjoyable, not at all as hard to read or boring as I had imagined it would be when I was in high school. After that I am planning on re-reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy, finish the Ender's game series, and reading King Lear in preparation for the arrival of the RSC and Sir Ian McKellan in October!

That is all for now, I have some reviews I want to write up--I'll try my best to get those up as soon as possible!

A blog about writing

I've decided to revive an old blog that ended before it started. Check it out here and let me know if you are interested in writing for it.

Hey Lurkers!

That's such an ugly word isn't it? Lurkers...

Well, Mr. and Ms. Anonymous that's what you are! But you aren't alone, a study by Jakob Nielsen revealed that 90% of users in online communities are lurkers who never contribute and only 1% contribute regularly.

So, I guess I can't begrudge you your silence--you're part of the majority but...

I'd love to hear from you! It's so disparaging to see so few comments on my blog when my google analytics tells me I have readers from all over the country. It makes me think that either, A. You're not interested in commenting or B. Google Analytics is lying to me.

Either way, try and comment more often. You can comment anonymously I don't mind that but I'd love to open up a dialogue.

Look at all the people from all over the world who have stopped by just this month:

United States
California
Los Angeles
Irvine (Hi Joan!)
San Francisco
Stockton (Hi Aunties!)
Orange
Pleasanton
Winnetka

New York
Buffalo
Hicksville
New York (Hi Corey!)

Massachusetts
Yarmouth Port
Waltham
Cambridge

Texas
Austin (Hi Mandy!)
San Angelo
San Antonio

Georgia
Austell
Augusta

Hawaii
Honolulu

Virginia
Norfolk

North Carolina
Midland

Florida
Tampa

Washington
Seattle

Australia
Northern Territory

Canada|Quebec
Montreal

Bulgaria|Sofija-Grad
Sofia (Hi Gabriela!)

United Kingdom|England
Poplar (Hi Janea!)

South Korea
Busan Metropolitan City
Seoul City

I know you are out there so comment people! Or if you have questions email me at petals.blog@gmail.com.

A Whole New You!

You ever wonder what type of people spent countless hours as alter egos online? Or just how true to self the characters they spent tireless hours creating are? Andrew Sullivan covered this really interesting slide show from the NYTimes with side by side comparisons of people and their avatars. Some of these people spend more that 50 hours playing their games per week.

Lets see, 40 hour work week, 55 hours of play time, 168 hours in a week...that leaves 69 hours per week, 9 hours per day of spare time to sleep, eat and do other things.

Why is it that these images come to mind....

NO JUDGMENT!

07.07.07

It looks as if today may be the luckiest day in the history of the world. Well, maybe not but I have something extraordinary to be excited about. Tonight, is the night, of all nights. Tonight I get to see the Decemberists with the L.A. Philharmonic at the Hollywood bowl.

Yes my friends it is a monumental occasion, one that I have been preparing for since....last month.

I'll fill you in tomorrow on all the deets of how amazing it was. Until then, bridle your jealousy.

Movie Review: Ratatouille

Last night Boyan, The Schlaf and I went to see Ratatouille. I was surely excited, I had heard many great things from family, friends and co-workers and with my own love of animated movies I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.

The movie was being shown at the Landmark on Broxton. This theater had been closed and now is re-opened and it was my first time to visit the small cinema. The food was reasonably priced (it was 14 dollars for sour patch kids, junior mints, a medium popcorn and medium drink. I crawled over a few couples and sunk down into my seat of choice in the middle/front of the small room.

Now, my recipe for animated movie success is simple. Well written story, unique idea and nice graphics. Ratatouille did an incredible job in all three arenas but shined in the story telling and character development department.

No matter how much you hate rats this story truly makes you empathize with Remy, the main character and his love of food. Watching him sniff and smell the different ingredients in the kitchen, you understand his enthusiasm in creating something beautiful. Remy is followed around by the little ghost of his favorite chef Gasteau, and it is in Gasteau's restaurant that he begins his culinary adventures. Gasteau made a legacy when he wrote the book "Anybody can cook," and it is this motto that inspires him throughout the movie.

This movie is just for kids, in fact there were all adults at the 9:55 showing (the theater wasn't sparse neither). There is excitement, disappointment, suspense, romance...everything you could want in a movie.

I definitely recommend you go and Ratatouille. Support quality animated films and good writing.

Hello Buffalo

I've never been to Buffalo, New York. From what I hear it's cold there...really cold.

You're called the Good Neighbor City . I think that sounds nice.

You're also the second largest city in New York.

The area was originally settled by an Iroquois tribe, the Ongiara and named after the river that runs through the city. Did the Ongiara call the city Tatonka?

It was originally designed in 1804. The State University of New York, Buffalo was founded in the city in 1846 as a medical school. The mascot is Victor E. Bull. Cute!

I'd like to meet you reader(s) from Buffalo.

Say Hi! TaTonka!

Did you have a booze-filled fourth?

Good for you! There is nothing more American than getting wasted to celebrate the independence of our great nation.

I, however, decided to take it easy and head down to Newport for a day of reading, laying out by the pool and spending time with the family.

I think I'm reinstating my tan which is very exciting, and I got to see some beautiful fireworks. I still contest that the best fireworks I've ever seen were in D.C. when I went with my Dad when I was 13.

Anyhow here are some photos and vids of my 4 of July experience.






Speaking of 4 of July traditions, I saw that the cheerleader from Heroes (Hayden Panettiere) sang the Star spangled banner yesterday. The girl is trying but she just isn't a singer. Perez was making fun of her but I don't think people understand what a difficult song it is to sing. So, in case you wanted to hear someone do it right I'm sharing with you Whitney Houston's version. It gives me goosebumps every time I watch it.



"This is America, and if I wanna be British, I'll be British." -- Lil' Bush

But I rike it....

Some have accused me of having a quirky sense of style. Joan often says I think I have the ability to pull off crazy styles (but can't...). She's my authority when I go shopping. If Joan says no, its gotta go.

One day when I have beaucoup dollars I'll buy fabulous clothes and be a fashion icon. Then all the crazy ideas I have in my head will manifest themselves in my wardrobe and people will understand me....

ANYWAYS What started me on this rant was a picture of Eva Green at the Dior show this week.

Now, I know what you are thinking, but I kinda really LOVE this dress. It's crazy, its busy, its pink (I don't LOVE pink but it works here) and seems to be a fusion of a Christmas tree, tissue paper and a chinese qipao.

The design on the bottom is so rich and fantastical, it makes me think of vintage Christmas ornaments and fairy tales.

Maybe that's my problem I think of clothes in a literary way--anyways I could gobble this gown up in a second I think it's fantastic.

I applaud Eva Green for wearing such a unique dress to the Dior show (although she's French and probably thinks it's a piece of art, or a statement...or something "It tis art, I dun give a fook vhat chu sink...stupid ameriCANS HISSS")

I could leave the shoes though. They look like some sort of serpentine creature is crawling up her legs on their way to devour her body.

By the way, I could totally pull this off. WITH the shoes.