Quotes, quips & worthies
¹ ”So it goes.“ ~ Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five
² ”But they took to the seas more as nautical gangsters than anything else - how are we to think of a figure like Sir Francis Drake?“ ~ Jeremy Paxman
About Her
Elle E. is 24 and teaches in a state overrun by the spawn of yuppies. Therefore she is a full-time heretic much afflicted by spleen.
the colour green, scribes and orators, ruffs, cuffs, Machiavellian villains and vindictive heroes.
wishlist · livejournal · email · msn
Previous Entries
Flickr Photostream
Endcap, or the book log
In the Company of the Courtesan
Sarah Dunant
Rating 
I thought
The Birth of Venus was alright. Perhaps Dunant lost steam somewhere near the end with that one. Here, in the polished grime of Venice, we are in the company of Bucino, the grotesque looking dwarf with a staccato tale to relate. Nothing resembling a plot - just a simple tale of survival and abrupt love. Readable but not memorable. I don't think I prefer this to
Venus. I'm no longer excited by such historical fiction...
Slaughterhouse-Five
Kurt Vonnegut
Rating 
It's my first Vonnegut and I'm glad I read it. It's life; surreal and stupid, hilarious and tragicomic. Strangely quiet too. How do I describe it? I don't think I can. It's quite a book.
On the Bookshelf
The movie log
Rashomon
Directed By Akira Kurosawa
Rating
A morality play. Impeccable. Watch out for the medium.
Stray Dog
Directed By Akira Kurosawa
Rating 
Wonderful atmosphere. I adored the incidental music. So dated and quaint. I was trying hard not to sigh overmuch. Toshiro Mifune is however extremely extremely sigh-worthy.
The History Boys
Directed By Nicholas Hytner
Rating 
I was fascinated - on many levels. What is the stuff that boys are made of? As to the performances, I can only say a big WOW. Griffiths is a tragicomic tour-de-force; Frances de la Tour's stoical countenance speaks volumes. How ironically apt that her sole outburst is lost on the men surrounding her. The boys, all unknown faces to me, are collectively good. The easy chemistry between them is praiseworthy.
Napoleon Dynamite
Directed By Jared Hess
Rating
Not genuinely 'quirky' - it's an MTV production afterall. But I did like the anachronistic '80s charm and I did want to kick the sleazy loser, Uncle Rico, quite badly. I only wish Jon Herder doesn't turn out to become another Will Farrell.
The Phantom of the Opera
Directed By Joel Schumacher
Rating 
Sister and I were on a Gerard Butler binge, hence the seeming necessity of watching this grandiose and, let's face it, quite tacky production. Our dear Phantom can't hold a tune for longer than 5 seconds; Christine is a milk sop; Raoul is too boring to be the cause for any real reflection. I only enjoyed Minnie Driver's OTT performance - and I normally refuse to believe she's an actor. I still don't but that's besides the point. Poor Gerard. What were you thinking? You're much too delicious and "un-fat" to pass off as the Phantom of popular imagination. I mean, he's Andrew Lloyd Webber in disguise.
Rushmore
Directed By Wes Anderson
Rating
Oh dear me. I'm watching this almost everyday. I absolutely adore this quiet little movie. Its charm, whimsy and trademark Wes Anderson soundtrack are just a few of the reasons why this movie works.
An Inconvenient Truth
Directed By Davis Guggenheim
Rating
It's bound to be a good conversation topic for some years yet. 'Scary' is exactly how eveyone describes it and I have nothing earth-shattering to add to that adjective.
Blogroll
Credits, etc.
Friday, November 03, 2006 - 11:00 AM
I have unruly eyebrows. Most of the time, I go out with the unintentional motive that my eyebrows should scare normal people so I'll be safe and strangers won't approach me. It isn't a fail-proof strategy. I'm working on it.
When I get up in the mornings and face the mirror I notice how the impossible becomes possible. My previously spiky brows are perfectly shaped and arched. I get my head off the pillow and I am reciprocated with quite a good deal. The illusion lasts until I throw cold water on my face and get on with the morning rituals.
I'm not a fussy person. I don't have special routines in the mornings. I still don't understand the fascination women (and men, increasingly...) have with scrub creams and foamy washes. I shun the loofah, I abhor the moisturiser. I like to think of myself as a no-nonsense person. I'm low-maintenance. Doesn't mean I keep well. But that's another story.
I want to know what your morning routine consists of. Leave out the obvious brush teeth, etc., bits. Tell me what products you use, that sort of thing.
Ho. I need to get the breakfast in and watch some 360 with Anderson Cooper - the one good reason to watch the news, or anything else for that matter.
Comments:
i'm not so good either with morning routines but that's really because i'm not a morning person. i don't use foamy washes (just water should do the trick) there's always soap in those foamy washes and soap makes the skin dry (my doctor told me once). i use several creams by Vichy. i have used several others but Vichy has been the best so far: Thermal fix 2.
thanks for adding me. you're on my list now as well.
I use body moisturizer (usually, whatever I get for Christmas) because it smells good. I also tend to use a mousse (I think it's called curl-enhancer? It's by Herbal Essences) so that my hair doesn't frizz quite as much. Considering how much hair I have, not looking like a frizzed-out beast (which is what usually happens when I don't use mousse--I look as though I just got out of bed) is a good thing. And prevents the hair from impeding my ability to see around myself.
I'm a slave to my morning routine and the products it entails. I use moisturizer on my face, or else my skin feels like it'll all peel off. I usually go with one from The Body Shop, but right now I'm using Vichy's Normaderm. I also put on a light makeup - mascara and eyebrow colour.
Facial cleansing with something other than just water belongs to my evening routine - I use a foamy cleanser with tea tree oil to control my very unruly skin.
I've been doing this for years now, so if one day I don't follow the routine(s), I feel lazy and unfit to face the world.
I use colgate. That's about it, really..
