Weekly Photo Challenge: Curves

One of my favorite pictures taken with my old camera. This was an orchid I got from Ikea a few years ago. I like the soft curves of the petals and the stunning beauty it presents. Ok. I admit it. It does look like an alien.

JavaGirl’s Journal: Week 2

Dear Journal,

This past week has been extremely fun, yet distracting for me. Monday I felt lightheaded with conjestion and had to take the rest of the afternoon off from work. I later had to make an appointment with a doctor to see if I had bronchitis or pneumonia. Lucky for me, it was neither and my coughing was only due to my allergies. Once I get my allergies under control, my coughing should subside. Tuesday, I took the day off from work because it was my birthday. My mom gave me a little surprise party with some old friends of ours. It was great to look around the table and just be in the midst of people I know who care about me and who have seen me grow up since I was 5 years old. Of course, much to my mom’s delight, she made sure the servers came around with a little cake and candle. Once I was served my delicious dessert, they all broke out in song and serenaded me. The last time this happened, we were on a Royal Caribbean ship and the entire restaurant sang along. My mom really thinks this tradition is hilarious, but if it makes her happy, then I’m happy (and embarrassed). It was a perfect day and everything went well.

One of things I learned this week is how truly profound a parents actions can affect a child even as they grow up and become adults. Children are so impressionable at such an early age, every little thing you do as a parent they hang on to or they remember it for life. I’m remembering the first time I met my biological father, he turned his head away and refused to shake my hand. This was significant to me because I was 12 years old. Two simple acts from him and it affected me from then on up to the end of my 20′s. All I wanted and longed for was his love and acceptance. I didn’t know what I did to deserve his cruel actions except maybe to think I reminded him of my mom who he truly loved. It was hard growing up without a father figure and understanding the male way of thinking. I had to learn through trial and error in regard to dating. But it always went back to my father. The way I was treated. The love, care and respect a father gives to his daughter is what makes a girl know how she should be treated as she gets older. Anyways, years ago, my adoptive mom met my biological father again and they chatted for a bit and he told her to tell me that he loves me and is very proud of who I’ve become. That’s all I needed to hear and it made all the difference in the world. It was a beautiful ending to all my confusion and sadness as a result of feeling rejected and unloved by my father. A new day of finally feeling accepted by the one man who was part of me, my flesh and blood. My mom told him how I finished school, never got into drugs, alcohol, smoking or anything crazy. Although, there was that one day I…… I’m kidding. Children remember vividly the smallest details and fleeting moments a father gives them. For a parent, what may seem like an ordinary gesture or conversation to their child is actually a monumental moment in time for a child, especially to a daughter from her father. These past years have been serene and I feel good in regards to my biological father. I am at peace and happy in my heart.

National News: Remember that 10 year old girl who was waiting for a lung transplant last week? Well, she got her lungs and had a successful surgery this past week. Colorado had to deal with a huge forest fire and Man of Steele is doing pretty well in theaters across the nation. Hopefully, I can check it out next week.

Happy Father’s Day to the coolest, kindest, sweetest most awesome blogger dads out there who I am lucky to call my friends here on WordPress. This is your day and you all deserve “THE BEST DAD AWARD” badge! Enjoy your day!

Song of the Week:

Thank you John Mayer for an enlightening song.

Midnight in Paris (2011) Movie Review

A special movie for a special day.

Cast: Owen Wilson plays a screenwriter named Gil who yearns to live in the 1920s in Paris. He finds himself back in time in that era every midnight. Rachel McAdams plays Inez, Gil’s fiancé, who doesn’t believe him and who does not share the same passion as Gil in wanting to live in Paris. Gil and Inez are both in Paris with her family due to her father’s new work related opportunity. When he travels back in time, one of the first writers he meets is F.Scott Fitzgerald played by the very talented Tom Hiddleston. Not to be outshined, Alison Pill played the ever charming Zelda Fitzgerald, who I personally think did a fine job portraying her. Corey Stoll played Ernest Hemingway who appeared to be ready to fight with anyone at a moments notice. Kathy Bates played Gertrude Stein, who was friends with Picasso who was played by Marcial Di Fonzo Bo. Marion Cotillard played the French muse whom Picasso was inspired by and who happened to run off with Hemingway at one point in the film. Adrien Brody played one of my favorite artists named Salvador Dali.

Basic movie facts: This movie was written and directed by Woody Allen. There is a part where Gil is talking to Bunuel about a movie idea which he’ll make in the future-that movie ended up being called El ángel exterminador aka The Exterminating Angel. This film was actually made by Bunuel in 1962.

Pros: Where do I begin with all the pros? If you’re an artist who is really into some of the greatest artists who ever lived or a literary buff who enjoyed reading the great classics, then this movie is for you. Sure, not everyone liked this movie or are familiar with the greats who appeared in the film, but that’s ok. The first time I watched this movie, I was overjoyed in seeing Picasso “come to life” and Salvador Dali-both these artists were great friends with another artist/sculpture whom I admire, James Edward. I even blogged about him and his Garden of Dreams. You can check it out here. Edward James and his Garden of Dreams. This movie is basically a gathering of famous artists and authors who all come together in this bar, if there ever was a fantasy of that happening. Apparently, Woody Allen beat everyone else to that, hence the birth of this film. Woody Allen brought into this film a cast of very talented actors and actresses to portray some of the greatest artists who ever lived. Another pro is that this film is filmed in Paris. I’m a big fan of movies filmed anywhere in France.

Cons: If you are not familiar with some of the characters, it won’t mean as much to you in that regards. I had no idea who Gertrude Stein was, so I was more focused on Kathy Bates (who portrayed her) as an actress and that creepy movie she was in. I noticed Rachel McAdams really enjoyed “poofing” up her hair in several scenes. It was slightly distracting, but she’s so amazing and talented, it’s not really a con.

Cinematography: Director of Photographer was Darius Khondji who did a beautiful job in capturing the charm of Paris. It was fun to see some well known locations from another movie “Before Sunrise” and “Before Sunset”.

Music score: I have the entire music score in my little ipod. The first time I watched this film, I was mesmerized by what I saw and this only happened because of the music. Listening to the music as the main character was so magical, I just had to bring it into my own life to add some magic. It has worked. The soundtrack to the film accompanies me as I wash dishes, get ready in the morning, make my coffee, cook, clean up etc. I feel as thought I am living somewhere in Paris in the comfort of my home. I absolutely love it. So when I watched it the 3rd time two nights ago, all the songs were already so familiar than what they were when I first watched this movie the first two times. Two of my favorite songs in the movie are called “Je Suis Seul Ce Soir” and “Recado”. I usually listen to them every morning when I’m getting ready for work. Recado, for some reason, reminds me of a sunny morning in Rio with my buttered bread and coffee waiting for me out in the patio overlooking Copacabana Beach. I usually dance around the kitchen with Recado, but you’ll never catch me dancing if you are with me. Ok. Maybe. Music is such a huge part of my everyday life. It just brightens my mood and makes my morning magical. All these songs make me so happy and I just can’t stop smiling when I hear these songs.

Favorite quote: “Paul: Nostalgia is denial – denial of the painful present… the name for this denial is golden age thinking – the erroneous notion that a different time period is better than the one ones living in – it’s a flaw in the romantic imagination of those people who find it difficult to cope with the present.”

I think having nostalgia for the past can be good to a certain point. A healthy way of dealing with that would be to incorporate some of the nostalgia to present time and mix it up with modern everyday life. If you believe that cooking from the 1800′s was amazing and that people ate healthier that way, then go out and buy a cookbook from the 1800s and make food from that era for your everyday life. I happen to love music from the 1920-1940 time and I play this kind of music whenever I can. I don’t sit and think about going back in time to France in the 1920′s all the time, but I bring it to present time to enjoy with the comforts of my technology at my fingertips.

Audience reaction: I loved this movie so much I now own it. For more than one reason, lol.

Relatability: For the past few movie reviews, I seem to be relating more with the male characters for some reason. I think that’s kind of funny in a way. I’m sure if I went to Paris, I would absolutely fall in love with the city and wonder what life would be like in the 1920′s. I happen to love walking in the rain like Gil. This is basically because there were times I had no choice but to walk in the pouring rain down in Brazil almost every single day. Rain does make a city even more beautiful, especially after it has stopped raining with the sunshine making everything shine with a certain freshness lingering in the air. Today is special because it’s my birthday. It was not hard deciding which movie to review for today. If you’re clever, you’ll realize there is a connection from the past few movies to this one. One clue: T. H.

Fun photo ideas for your next travel destination

Haha, you might want to try some of these poses next time you are at an iconic landmark. Have any of you done these? I’ve been to the one in Rio many times, but I’ve never done the holding hands thing with the Christ the Redeemer statue. I’ll have to try it next time I head down to Rio.

I’ll meet you in Rio!

JavaGirl’s Journal: Week 1

Dear Journal,

This past week has been an eye opener for me. Let me try to explain it in a photographer’s point of view. See, it’s like looking through the camera and someone is trying to tell you where to point the camera to. You see what they want to show you, but you can’t see the specifics they are telling you to focus on. You try and try to focus and point at what you think is what they want you to see, but it seems nearly impossible. With a little help, they adjust the camera and gently glide your hand on your camera to where you are supposed to be pointing at and viola! A little adjustment here and there with the angles and suddenly it all becomes clear. You take your eyes off from the camera and look at the same thing and wonder, wow. As a result, now it’s so much easier to spot these things I had been so confused about. Sure makes my life a million times easier. Apparently, using the wrong filter lens was my problem. Using none of them, ends up making what I need to focus on much clearer. My metaphor has nothing to do with love, career, location, friends, my photography etc. It has to do with seeing others or things as a reflection of myself. If that makes any sense.

Mom continues to do ok. She’s feeling a bit better each day. The other day, books came flying off the shelf in her kitchen. I had never witnessed anything like that before and think her house is haunted. I had to make a quick drive by the other day because her electric scooter charger was lost and she wanted me to drive down to find it. I found it within 15 minutes and she was so relieved. Making sure her coffee is fresh for the next day, filling her cup with ice and water and anything else she might need before I leave is something I always do for her. I call her everyday to ask about her day and what else is new with her.

National News: The past week brought horrible tornadoes to Oklahoma. It’s been so heart breaking to see how many people have lost their homes and lives. You wonder why things like this happen. A building collapsed in Philly killing several people. The man behind the collapse was high on drugs. Unbelievable. All these people were doing were supporting the Salvation Army store by being customers and they ended up paying for their lives as a result. A little girl is waiting for a lung transplant. People with Verizon accounts such as emails and telephone are being spied on. I have Verizon for internet and my landline, but I hardly use my landline anyways. I’m about to change my Verizon because I don’t like it. A Swedish Princess got married to an American banker and I really like her dress too.

Song of the week: I fell in love with this song by Patty Cline called “You Belong To Me”. I saw it in a movie I reviewed called “The Deep Blue Sea”, which has quickly become a movie favorite of mine mostly because of the depth of the storyline. I can’t stop thinking about the movie and song. It is haunting my mind and I don’t mind at all. This song reminds me of how my mom is convincing me to go to Brazil next year to a town in the West Coast with a group of people (as a translator). I grew up in the Northern Eastern part of Brazil in the city of Belem. This town I might go to next year is in the opposite direction and much cooler in weather; I hope. I’m still thinking about going. I want to go, but at the same time I can’t guarantee my mom will be doing fine. Back to the song, since I love airplanes, I know exactly what kind of “silver plane” she is singing about in the song. To “see the jungle when it’s wet with rain” is something I have grown up seeing as a child. I can still smell the jungle air and feel the humidity surround me. This song just means a lot to me because it makes me a bit homesick. In a good way, of course.

It also reminds me that I am long overdue for a slow dance.

Guys, is this true??

They become friends!! Lol! Anything else you would like to add to this list? Bring it!! We women want to know! Lol

The Deep Blue Sea (2011) Movie Review

Cast: Tom Hiddleston plays Freddie Page, a carefree, live in the moment type of guy who falls in love with a married woman. Rachel Weisz plays Hester Collyer, a lonely married woman who is in an unhappy marriage to a judge. Hester has a history of suicide attempts. Simon Russel Beale plays Sir William Collyer, the judge who Hester is married to. Other actors included Anne Mitchell, Jolyon Coy, Karl Johnson, Harry Hadden-Paton and Sarah Kants to name a few.

Basic movie facts: I couldn’t find a lot of behind the scenes facts with this film.

Pros: If you liked the actor who played “Loki” in “Thor” and “The Avengers”, then you’ll love him in this movie. Tom Hiddleston is such a talented actor in this film and it shows with his dramatic dialogues. Rachel Weisz is amazing too with all the issues she portrayed with her character. This is a melodramatic film which explores the development, stresses and finalization of an affair mixed in with two very different people who were never soulmates to begin with.

Cons: I didn’t have much knowledge of the plot as I began this movie. I had never even heard of this movie until a few days ago and that was only because I am trying to watch every movie Tom is in before October. As the movie progresses in the beginning, you hear a brief narration by Rachel Weisz who plays Hester. It was not clear as to why she was so glum and not talking. I didn’t know who the old man was in the room with her. Was she with her psychologist? Was he her uncle? Father? Grandfather? None of this was explained to me in the beginning, so I was a little confused as to who he was. You later find out who he is and why she is so glum. Other than that, that was my only complaint about this movie. Everything else was fine.

Cinematography: German born Florian Hoffmeister was the director of photography for this film. Most of the film is shot with dark tones that smartly reflects the tone of the melodramatic story. There are several places where the actors are standing in a position that makes them look like a still photograph in a brief pause as if they want you to reflect on what they just said. There were times when I thought the movie paused or froze, but it’s just the way the movie is filmed. The camera span is gentle and flows well with the other scenes.

Music score: Samuel Barber composed the original score for this film. Having Samuel compose the scores for this film was a smart move by the film company due to Samuel being a Sergeant in the USAF during World War II, so he was able to reflect that time period in his music with what the story was trying to convey. The songs were all sad and dramatic, but lively at the same time with memorable tunes. The music was definitely the other main character in the film as I think most music scores should be.

Favorite quote: When Freddie tells Hester they can never be together.

Freddie: Today, the letter. The suicide attempt. We are lethal to each other. You can’t expect a bloke to go on after he’s driven someone to suicide, much as he loves her.

Audience reaction: I loved this film!

Relatability: I wasn’t sure how much I should say about how relatable I felt with this film. First of all, I related very much to Freddie and his love for life and being carefree. One of my ex-boyfriends from several years ago also had a history of suicide attempts much like Hester and we were in the same situation, albeit my ex-boyfriend was not married. Unlike Freddie, I did not have an angry fit about finding out about the history of attempts. In fact, it only made me more worried for him. Just like Freddie, I basically said the exact same thing to my ex-boyfriend about not being together anymore as a result. It’s hard to go on when someone wants to end their life and you are part of the reason why. It really affects you. It changes the whole dynamics of the relationship. You only want them to get professional help and rebuild their soul and spirit. My ex-boyfriend and I continue to be buddies and I am happy to say he’s gone back to college and is doing well with life. He’s happy and promises to never attempt to end his life again. I, on the other hand, continue to make sure he’s ok and doing well. I watched this movie with a professional point of view. I’ve attended numerous seminars and workshops for professionals in dealing with this kind of thing with our clients. Rachel Weisz, in my opinion, played perfectly a text book version of someone who didn’t commit suicide, but used the last strength within her to continue on with life even after several attempts. I haves= seen this with many clients of mine. This is a deep and moving movie with superb acting that touches two very deep and complicated matters of the human heart, spirit and strength.

Click here to watch the entire film. There is a brief scene which makes this film Rated R, other than that, it’s safe to watch the rest of the time.

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says

I love men who wear bright orange pants and sombreros! Lol. Ok. Not really. When we had a road trip down to Florida two years ago, I met this guy above. He was waiting for me holding up this huge sign to let me know where I was in the hemisphere, just in case, you know, I got lost or something. I think we were in South Carolina somewhere. All I know is that for the next 10 miles before seeing this 9 story tall man, you could see mile after mile of signs teasing you about “South of the Border” stop. We got out and walked around the place. There was this firecracker store and I thought how brave those people were to work inside one of those stores, lest something happened that would set off the entire store. Yikes. So, this is my entry for the Weekly Photo Challenge…Mr.Sombrero and his huge hat holding up a sign telling me where I’m at.

I present this award to each and every one of you.

The Rules of the Award are:
Display the award logo on your blog.
Link back to the person who nominated you.
Answer seven questions.
Nominate other bloggers for this award and link back to them.
Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award requirements.

I’d like to thank Stefan aka Maxima’s Blog for this lovely blog award. I’m flattered he thinks of my blogs as influential and for including me with other wonderful blogger friends of his. Thank you Stefan. As you may know by now, I tend not to follow rules for these awards not often enough, but I do have my reasons, especially when it comes to this particular award.

Since beginning writing my blogs, I have come across numerous bloggers who have indeed influenced me in some way or another. These bloggers have inspired me, but also have influenced me by how they write, their interaction with their friends and subscribers, how they design their blog pages, but most of all, how they have influenced me to become a better person.

Whenever someone subscribes to me, I do take the time to read their “About” page (if they have one) and look around their blog; they did take time to fix it up, the least I can do is appreciate their work. Therefore, I want to give this award to every subscriber of mine. It’s yours too. You’re all lovely people and very fascinating writers. I am truly enjoying reading about your life, poems, adventures, trials and tribulations, travels, movie reviews, funny stories and questions about life. I read a blog a few days ago that brought me to tears, it was so sad. I admire your openness in expressing your thoughts about serious subjects. I’ve read other blogs that just bring tears to my eyes because I’m laughing so hard.

Thank you.

I am having an absolute fun time getting to know all of you. Thank you for being a piece of the puzzle of my life here in the blogosphere. Feel free to carry on this award to your own liking and to those you choose to give this award to or just accept this award. No pressure.

The seven questions are:

1. If you could create your own planet what would it look like?

JavaGirl: It would be a mixture of Asgard, Pandora and Abregado-rae (Star Wars). I would have the milky way and galaxies within very close proximity to admire at all times during the day and night.

2.If you could visit one nation you have never visited before. What nation would that be?

JavaGirl: Well, since I love isolated places, the Japanese Volcanic Island of Aogashima would be the place I would love to visit. I would declare this the next real Jurassic Park location. They should do a movie there.

3. Have you ever taken a long distance train trip?

JavaGirl: No, but hopefully by the end of summer or early Fall, a train trip to Quebec City will be in the works. Looking forward to it.

4. What is something you would collectively change about humanity?

JavaGirl: Abuse. People who abuse other people (including children) and animals. It’s frankly quite disgusting and I don’t tolerate it. I wish there was more kindness in this world.

5. What is your favorite song(s)?

JavaGirl: Oh wow. Well, there is a three way tie with the songs that are my absolute favorites. Edwin McCain’s “I could not ask for more” is such a sweet song, it just melts my heart. Shania Twain’s song “From this moment” is a very, very romantic song and successfully brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it-it’s so beautiful and extraordinary. Mozart’s Concerto No. 21 Adante is out of this world and I’m so in love with it.

6. If you could meet one person who is still alive who would you choose to meet?
JavaGirl: You. Whoever is reading this.

7. If you could choose one symbol to represent you, what would that symbol be? Why?

JavaGirl: The heart. Because I love to love-in general. I’m always full of love.

The Hurt Locker. Another movie date with you all.

Did you think I had forgotten about our movie dates? Of course not! I chose this one because I thought you might like it. I had written a little about this movie in my blog called “Jeremy Renner Can Sing”. I enjoyed this movie so much, I included the charity organization Jeremy Renner is involved with on my Charity Links on my blog page. Mad respect to all the men and women who serve our country and to those who are trained to disable bombs. This movie will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Click below to watch the entire film.