Sherlock Holmes: The Aftermath

I love those sunglasses. I went to Fabulous Fanny's in NYC, a store that sells vintage and antique eyewear, and saw several pairs of antique ones just like those. I've now identified that sunglasses are my weakness.

As for Sherlock Holmes, the aesthetics were fun and fanciful, as RDJ's costume was certainly edgier than the classic Sherlock attire. But it worked for this film because it was "cool" and "hip"; it balanced the intellectual and quirky habits of the classic Holmes with a 21st century thirst for action and, well, being edgy on purpose.

It was a commercial film, and as A.O. Scott said, it was a feature-length trailer for the sequel that includes Holmes' archnemesis, Dr. Moriarty. I basically agree with everything Scott wrote, which definitely isn't always the case.

This assessment is copied from an email.

Sherlock Holmes

I was entertained and my favorite part was the score. It wasn't amazing, but it was a good way to spend a couple of hours. I'm a stickler for CGI details, so there were a few points (and by a few I mean a lot) that I thought were shaky (the bridge scene with Rachel McAdams, who I thought was kind of blah, was certainly technically complicated, but wasn't up to par in my mind with other digitally created spaces). The camera use + score definitely made a big contribution to the success of the film.

It not only catered to the National Treasure people (speaking of which, did you see both of those trailers for the new Nick Cage movies? Ahhhhh) but it also got a bit of that Guy Ritchie gruffness that dudes like.

The coincidence (or is it) is that The Hound of the Baskervilles is on TCM. Basil is a bit different from RDJ, to say the least.

I'm glad I had low expectations for the film because I was pleasantly surprised--it had more of the Holmesian logic and judgment than I thought it would, and RDJ is always good at playing a crazy, self-obsessed ass, which is the only kind of RDJ I like.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I  love Christmas. This is our Christmas tree this year...

It's our tallest tree yet!

With gold disco ball ornaments,

glass ball ornaments, red velvet ribbons and gold silk ribbons,

clear Christmas lights, and white flowers.

 These are glass ornaments are cool, they look like bubbles.

On this Christmas afternoon, we did some baking and I experimented with making Whole Wheat Oatmeal Applesauce Raisin Craisin Muffins.

 

Some are 'plain' and some have peanut butter or raspberry preserves centers.

labeled by color, duh

pre-baking

post-baking

To be honest, I'm not very good at baking, but I try and I'm learning.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Christmas Failure

I've failed my family.

Like the albatross, shame and dishonor burden me on this Christmas eve, for I have time traveled this morning and made a terrible mistake.

My father woke me up at 8:45 asking, "Don't you have work today?" Groaning and turning on my side, I managed to grumble, "no, ugh." Leaving me to bask in the fresh radiator heat, he closed my door and continued to bustle about our apartment.

Fast-forward five minutes.

I decided to be virtuous and perhaps get up on this glorious morning. I was slightly confused by my father's question that seemed to seep into my dream; it made me wonder if he was, in fact, correct.

He was.

I thought today was Wednesday and yesterday was Tuesday. Perhaps it was Avatar's fault. I have no clue.

Throwing on whatever Rugby clothes I could find, I snagged a macaroon and headed off to work.

Oh, what losing a day meant.

It meant I did not have time to buy a glorious present for my family, one that would bring us together more than our annually purchased puzzle (we have 4 ones from the Beatles collection; my mom and I bought one from the M&M's store in Times Square that is proving to be rather difficult).

And what game was that?

Stratego.

I saw it in the "Onyx" edition at B&N for $50, which was absolutely ridiculous. Borders was sold out. I didn't have time (since my epiphany was on "Tuesday" which was really Wednesday) to buy one from the games store in Harvard Square.

My memories of playing Stratego during recess (my friends and I in middle/elementary school skipped outdoor recess in favor of sitting inside and playing the game) were instantly trivialized; if I had really wanted to get Stratego, wouldn't I have put more effort into finding it?

Work screwed my plans for nostalgic game-playing on a cozy winter day.

Sulking as I ate mounds of crackers, cheese and olives and drowning my sorrows in a tiny glass of Pinot Noir, I regretted not buying that game.

And yet, in hindsight, it wouldn't have been a family gift. It was my own present, one that I need not wrap poorly and make my brother open when he would never find the game as special as I did. Not buying the game lifted this burden; perhaps I'll invest in one for when I return to college.

Maybe frat parties will be replaced by heated battles of Red vs. Blue.



What are your favorite board games and why?

Cake and Wreath

Recently, several of my best friends (Fay included) and I made a cake for my birthday. They are all very gifted in the kitchen and here is what we made:

It's

triple layer white cake

with

layers of raspberry preserves

and

vanilla frosting

garnished with

strawberries.

Today, my family and I went to purchase a Christmas tree... and I made a wreath with the tree trimmings:

Isn't it darling!!!

Galliano's Christmas Tree

Courtesy of NYMag.

John Galliano has designed a Christmas tree that makes me swoon--not only is it playing into the Japanese painting aesthetic that I've been loving lately, but its minimalism just seems appropriate for the times, too. The blues are gorgeous and the overall look is just pretty. Doesn't really say Christmas to me, but that's okay.