Callistonian.net

There’s a stack of half-read and never- before- opened books sitting on a shelf in my bedroom. For someone who lists reading as one her hobbies, the stack is a disgrace. Why oh why do I own books purchased in August of 2006 that I still haven’t read? I have my reasons but really—it’s just a disgrace…

Earlier this week, I adventured over to a bookstore in search of something “easy to read.” Most of the lovelies on my shelf do not qualify as “easy reads.” Instead, they can only be tolerated in small servings as they seem to inspire headaches. Several are long and dense non-fiction works of genius. Others are shorter and fictional but written in vague styles saturated with symbols—they dare to employ terms that evade dictionaries.  (You know, I love you – Faulkner). Anyway, I went to the bookstore because I thought that I was dying to read a book and I thought that I wanted the experience to be quick and painless (screw long journeys down streams of conscience and through dark jungles swamped with metaphors!). I returned home empty-handed.

I failed completely in trying to find a brainless read. I didn’t even know where to start. While my mind was screaming, “Be practical! Look for something short! Look for something funny!”, my body subconsciously worked against me.  I knew that the game was over when I ended up starting longingly at James Joyce’s Ulysses with Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead in hand.

In the end, I decided to tackle Geraldine Brook’s March (from my shelf)- I’m so glad that I said “No! No!  No~,” to the bookstore’s meaningless drivel, to the popular stuff pandering to the lowest common denominator (HP? – I jest). March wasn’t a painful read. It was amazing, “teh awesome.” It won the Pulitzer Prize. You know, the Pultizer, that amazing award bestowed only on the most brilliant of books. I don’t know when I became afflicted with the “intellectually simulating = ahh! Omg! Scary. Boring! Confusing!” disease but, I’m recovering—it is a sickness that I loathe to have.

Hopefully, I’ll post a review of March soon. It obviously gets 5 stars… Unfortunately, there’s a group of nitwits on amazon.com who gave it one star. One of them didn’t even read the book…  Enough said.

In December of 2006 and January of 2007, I kept a journal of small paper squares and here it is for you to see! Each day is represented by one square. Most of the paper displayed was created or acquired on that day.

What follows is an explanation of each square. The explanations were transcribed from notes (the image on the right). If you view the original document and not the transcription below, you’ll:

a. see my handwriting at its worst
b. witness my disregard for spelling/grammar
c. read strange little asides

Anyway, here’s the edited version:
2006.11.18 - receipt for too heavy luggage >_< (until 2006.11.22)
2006.12.02 – Starbucks bag (contained an M&M cookie)
2006.12.03 – library receipt from Jefferson & Civil Liberties: The Darker Side
2006.12.04 – from sheet explaining in-class exercise of Darfur
2006.12.05/06 – from intro drafts on libel paper
2006.12.07 – from package for color splash flash
2006.12.08 – from op-ed assignment sheet
2006.19.09 – from pocky box ^^
2006.12.10 – bought a sweater from J. Crew (it’s pink ♥)
2006.12.11 – from scrap paper
2006.12.12 – white chocolate wrapper
2006.12.13 – cut from notes on Korean wave paper
2006.12.14 – Gourmet Heaven #2 wrapper
2006.12.15 – more from K-wave paper scribbles
2006.12.17 – from scratch paper for Korean final
2006.12.18 – from bag from stationery store on Chapel
? 2006.12.31 – Starbucks
2007.1.03 – Opry Mills movie ticket – Pursuit of Happyness
2007.1.05 – directions to Social Graces, &c.
2007.1.09 – Sims 2 game purchased
2007.1.12 – Anthropologie return mail slip for Jen’s candle
2007.1.18 – from envelope labels
2007.1.20 – J. Crew receipt bag
2007.1.21 – J. Crew clothes tag
2007.1.26 – paper from Anthropologie package with peacock box
2007.1.26 – Asian idol
2007.1.31 – receipt from Labyrinth Books for [Chinese] books
2007. 2.2. Delia’s receipt
2007.2.4 – tag on Delia’s headband

*The images are thumbnails

Rating:
Unstoppable Marriage is an alarmingly witty romantic comedy. Take note, it skimps neither the romance nor the comedy. Stereotypical girls prone to swooning over corny lines will love it as will guys who enjoy slap-stick/“ha ha! you just got pwned” entertainment. But the amount of hilarious bits greatly outnumbers the amount of mushy ones.

There’s nothing particularly original about Unstoppable Marriage’s plot. Boy meets girl. Their backgrounds are vastly different. At first, they hate each other and their families hate each other &c. It’s all rather classic, very Romeo & Juliet. But the way in which this film executes the typical romantic storyline is exceptional. The details, the acting, the dialogues, characters’ mannerisms—they make Unstoppable Marriage hilarious. If you watch UM and fail to laugh, you have a problem, plain and simple.

While insanely amusing, Unstoppable Marriage has its flaws. The soundtrack is completely forgettable—it’s more like what soundtrack. Most scenes are without music. The cinematography is boring. But at least the director didn’t get creative and make things terrible. There’s also this one scene with a fellow named Andrew—if you’ve seen the film, you know—it makes a person want to gouge her eyes out, “Ah! What happened to this movie? This is terrible! When will this scene end? These people can’t act! Oh!” Other than those things, it’s all good.

Let’s get to know a bit more about the main characters:

Sassy Pretty Girl Eunho played by Eugene (유진)
Occupation: paper doll maker by night; pilot by day (despite her wretched sense of direction)
Trademark: intelligence; ability to pwn aristocratic snobs

Momma’s Boy/Pretty Boy Kibaek played by Ha Seok-jin (하석진)
Occupation: sketchy doctor; pants-wetter
Trademark: immaturity (he’s a pants-wetter, after all); charm

Kibaek’s Momma played by Kim Su-mi (김수미)
Occupation: snob; golf course creator
Trademark: cursing in English (Happy Shit); ability to discuss culture in French gibberish (her foreign language skills alone make this movie a must see!)

Eunho’s Daddy played by Im Chae-mu (임채무)
Occupation: fortune teller; traditionalist
Trademark: ink stone fetish

Movie Facts/Stats:

Title: Unstoppable Marriage (못말리는 결혼)

Length: 115 minutes

Release Date: 2007/05/10

Language: Korean

Director: Kim Seong-wuk (김성욱)

Worst Scene: Andrew and dolls

Best Scene: French, art, culture, wine, & dinner

Trailer: Courtesy of Youtube (in Korean)

How would you feel if your school was flooded; if it caught on fire; if it was hit by a tornado? If any of the above happened to my beloved university, I’d be upset. However, my middle school endured all of the above. Was I upset then? Not in the least.

Every battle of school building versus nature/idiot- inspired- disaster equaled, at least, a few hours of freedom from school for me and as the building was never destroyed… I was happy.

On a slightly related note, I like storms. I’m not fond of tornados or hurricanes but, a strong thunderstorm (every once in awhile) is a lovely thing. The rain falls in torrents; the wind bends the trees; the power goes out. It’s a good bit of adventure. In residential areas, a few hours without electricity won’t hurt anyone. It’ll only inspire creativity and residents will get traditional with their sources of entertainment. Forget the television and break out a board game. Read a book. Write a letter by candlelight? Perhaps not the last one.

Storms are one of the good things about the southern region of the USA. The Northeast misses out.

Site-related: I’m still working on this design. I intend to change parts of it so… beware. :D

I’m no longer sick and I uploaded a new layout! Let’s celebrate.

I added content (do you see the section about me entitled chantelle? it’s new!) but, I still have tons of things to add so, stay tuned.

This is a pitiful blog entry. Oh well. I’m off. If you have any questions about this design or see any problems, let me know. Also, if you have a chance, visit Versailles. au revoir !