Couple of weeks ago, I asked if I was spoilt! I think I am! The earlier post should the early blooming lilacs blooming over my deck from the neighboring yard (lucky me). But my very own Miss Canada (pink) and Miss USA (lavender-periwinkle) are blooming. These are right under the porch windows, so it is really a treat to sit in the porch enjoying the heady summers breath of lilacs.

 

I mentioned on Saturday (yesterday) that I have been watching quite a few movies and TV Series at home, yet yearning to go to the theaters! I did not make it to the movies at 2:00pm, but by and by with the errands completed, I got myself to AMC theaters in Burlington, MA. It was a three way toss up between run into the theater with a min to spare to see Indy, or wait an hour to see Indy or wait an hour and half to see Caspian. The first was too short a wait, besides, I love to see previews, so, option 1 out. Option 3 out, just because, it is too long a wait. I could have waited, but nah! Indy it was!

_preface_:
Before I get into the Crystal Skull movie, a little about my relationship with Indiana Jones movie. As a kid, I have vague recollection of seeing posters (huge posters) put up when the Raiders of the Lost Arc came to be released in the country. Of course, at that point of time, it would have been considered complete frivolity and waste of time and money by my parents to even think of seeing such a movie, or perhaps I was underage to see Indiana Jones battling Nazi's and the ghosts of the Arc. After that, I really heard nothing about the next two movies; Temple of Doom and last Crusade.

It was years and years later that I find myself having seen Patriot Games, Star Wars (re-release), Sabrina, Air Force One and many others, that became a growing fan of Harrison Ford. It was in the last 4-5 years that I finally caught up to see Last Crusade and then Temple of Doom.

Each of the Indiana Jones movie, has a sense of adventure of exotic locations from underground church graves in Venice to Grand Canyon to desolate islands and submarines, forest and poison dart throwing natives and more. There is the thrill of the unknown and unexpected turns and twists. There is our bumbling and yet incredibly lucky hero (Indiana Jones). It is so evident in the way Harrison reacts to the situations in the movie with amusement, anger, and sometime amazement, that it makes it real, alive and believable. He depicts a fictional, yet if he was real, he would really lead us into protecting all our ancient histories today.

So, I must say, I went in to see Kingdom of Crystal Skull with tremendous expectations! Well, sometimes, that is good and sometimes things take a downturn. (*spoliers beyond this*) Oh! Don't get me wrong! I still love Harrison Ford and loved that Karen Allen is back and we have the Henry Jones Jr. III. Awesome! A perfect way to get into the next set of Indiana Jones, the batan has been handed down!

Fanstastic Sequences: There are several sections that truly live up to my expectations (*spoilers*)
1. Great sequence when Indiana Jones II and III are on motorcycle with the reds chasing them. The chase goes through all sorts of streets and alley ways and into the library of the school when Indiana teaches. The chase stops briefly in the library whence Indiana Jones instructs the students to get out of the library for serious archeology! Ha! Ha!
2. Love the entire escape from a nuclear test site, in a fridge.
3. The amazon chase with reds and Indiana family and crystal skull, great! It has swords, and guns and giant red ants and monkeys.
4. It is very endearing to see Indiana Jones hot on the trail of the skull, following the clues from Dr Oxley, from the sanitorium to the ancient ruins with caves and poison dart throwing natives et. al. Awesome!
5. What makes Indiana real, lovable and a hero, is that he follows clues intelligently, passionately and does it to know and not as much for personal gain. He thirsts for the journey and the results. While the enemy lets him get on with it and grabs the treasure as soon as Indiana acquires it. One cannot help cheer Indiana when he flips the odds against the enemy in his own sometimes bumbling and lucky ways. Sometimes whatever he does works and sometimes it doesn't. But, he tries! and tries again!

Not-so fantastic! Now, now! I liked the movie, but there was something really missing! Earlier Indiana Jones movies all have this incredible solid story lines, and one felt completely involved in the quest. When the plane took off from point A to point B, you were with him in the plane, along for the ride. This sense of renewed archeological find was somehow missing. I almost wonder if there was more trade off for jazzy digitalization versus good old story telling! There were serious outcomes if Indiana fails in his quest and the enemy win. This one had it too, but it somehow did not convey the same gravity as unleashing the power of the arc or the power of the holy grail! Perhaps, Speilberg should have left the aliens out! yeah! More than have skull's return meant escape for the aliens in their ship, it meant something more for the good of this planet. Somehow the balance of good and bad for the planet is little more appealing for me, than bad for this planet and escape for the aliens. Whatever!

But, it was fun! Will I buy the DVD? Perhaps not! I will wait for the Blu-ray! ;)

I want one of these! Nah! I need one of these!

There are several reasons for my needing a bicycle! and in no particular order they are:

1. My doctor says, "It is better for your broken... er... fixed foot to be biking rather than walking or running on aspalt!". Yes, yes, I broke my ankle a decade or more ago and I should be grateful that I can walk, but overtime, I have brought it up to be able to walk 3-4 miles without issues and even go running when it takes my fancy! But I think what my doctor is saying very very diplomatically, is that I am getting old! Right! and I should take care of the old Bones (or cartileges or tendons etc etc)! He suggested that at some point in exceedingly far future I may need a cane! Hmmm! Me thinks...... should I get one with a silver head or gold plated. Que Sera Sera! 

2. The gas prices are atrocious! Now, I really don't use my car to commute to work, so, I really not that shamed that I don't over indulge in using in the worlds resources! Blimey! I just annoyed some folks who legitimately need to drive to their work. I am not beating you guys up at all. Actually, I really don't care how the rest of the world commutes to work, whether they are concious of or abusive of the natural resources. That is their lookout. But, my concern is my 'recreational and other commuting' that takes up roughly 40-50 miles a week! argh! That is actually the amount some folks drive to their first job. Something has got to be done for this!

3. I live  a sneeze and cough away from the Bike Path in Arlington, MA.

4. I have this vague recollections that after initial hic-cups with learning to ride a bicycle, I actually enjoyed it! The initial hic-cups include, falling down bursting knees, ramming into stationary trucks, ramming into hedges, and loads of other very exciting and side-splitting stuff that my sister can narrate endlessly in family gatherings.

Now, I have just to find one a good one that I love, so I will use it more often than not. Unfortunately, living in New England, means, I can use it about 4 months, may be 5 months in the year. But, it is just turning summer, so, I have few solid months ahead that I can use to ride.

Step 1: The bikes thus far! I have not ridden a bicycle in about 12-13 years! Actually after my ankle breaking episode, I don't believe I have ridden a bicycle! This will be so interesting to 'test' ride bikes. Where do I start? There is a bike shop less than three-fourth mile away called Quad-cycles. I may as well start there. They appear to know what they are doing. So, I test rode some bikes.... they were:

1. Fuji Absolute 1.0 17 inch
2. Fuji Absolute 2.0 17 inch
3. Breezer Town Bikes (U Frame) 17 inch
4. Schwinn Ultra Comfort Voyageur 19 inch

Of all the above bikes, the Absolute are just absurdly expensive. If my bike is going to be a thousand dollars, then I need it gold plated, and if it is then I will keep it in the glass package, which defeats the purpose of owning a bike in the first place! The Schwinn was absurdly clunky! Sorry, I thought that because I got spoilt with the ultra smooth ride that fuji bicycles provide. Hmmm! Lest you read me wrong! I loved the Absolute 2.0, and if I could justify paying $700 for it, then I would. But I cannot... not at this stage. Perhaps in a few years time.

Today I continued with my bike testing.... LLbean! 
I wanted to test ride Acadia Cruiser (by Schwinn!)... but they are completely sold out.... and I have to wait a week! But I test rode the K2 T:Nine Crosswind Womens and gosh! felt and reacted exactly as the Absolute... but a little more heavier and little more reliable on brakes and at half the price (more or less)! Go figure!

So, conclusions thus far!
I would love to have the Absolute 2.0, but I may get the K2: T:Nine or the Acadia Cruiser as my first bike! This week will tell the story.... and I cannot wait.

After a long while, I am hankering to go to the theaters for a good movie. It is not the movie watching that I am missing, but the actual ritual of getting to the theater and watching one. As regards movies, I have been kind of a movie junkie, with many a evening devoted to DVD's at home, DVD's from Netflix and the watching online in with Netflix and Hulu.com. Some of the movies I have been watching are; Hitman (my notes), King Arthur (my notes), I'll sleep when I am dead, Priates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, 300 (well most of it), The Juror, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Mystic River,  It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world, The Lake House, Death at a Funeral, Gone Baby Gone, almost all of the Prime Suspect series, Coupling, Jane Austen's Mansfield park! Gosh! All this in the last six weeks. All the above movies have appeal to me in some way or the other, a few dazzled me enough to shell out more dollars to own a copy of the DVD at home.... just so it can be at my beck and call.

But all that viewing is at home on my fantastic flat screen monitor and soundworks speakers attached. The assembly is ridiculously simple, relatively cheap and perfectly suitable. It is not the Sony 57 inch with bose home theater system, but it will do, until the time comes for the upgrade. Ah! I completely digress! Back to the matter in hand.... I am hankering to go to the theaters. Usually, I ask couple of people I know that may want to see some movies. But, now I am not sure!

What do I want to see? I want to see:
1. Prince Caspian! Yeah! I do.
2. Of course, having never seen any of the Indiana Jones (duh! in theaters), and I love him to death. One of the people I want to meet is Harrison Ford! I want to see it. Somehow seeing the trailers have left me with mixed feelings about this one. There seem to be treatments (if I may call them) which look similar to the Priates of the Caribbean and  yet again from the older Indiana Jones. But! Hey! I am putting the Cart before the Horse. I should see the movie before I make any judgements.
3. Finally.... yes! I want to see Sex in the City. But, I think I can wait for the DVD release of this one.

So, anyone interested? I am going.... er... tomorrow.... after 2 o'clock.... I think.... I know... most probably!

Could not decide what to have as a center piece for tonights dinner guests! I have always got flowers, usually roses, peonies, and early in the season, daffodils et al. Sometimes, it has been lovely smokeless, dripless candles. But, neither of the two were as appealing as what I finally decided to get!

Ever since I have known about this store and also known about its local branch in town, I have been gifting with grand success with all the recipients. However, with the online pictures one really does not get a sense of the size. Well! Now I know. When I picked this up, it looked grand and looks grander when unveilled! Oh! right! This from Edible Arrangements! Try it, it does not fail to impress or I am just very easily pleased! This one is called Orange Blossom.

Three months and still going strong! This one made it from Whole Foods and really florishing!

Tunnnnaa Dinner at the Kitty Mansion (aka Kitchen)	We are busy!
We are busy! No really, we are! I cannot see past this Tuna Meal.. plate....thing!	Hey! Thief! This is my plate! Git to your own! Mommmmmyyyy!!!!

What happened past that "Mommmyy!!" is unreproducable. I tried with Photoshop, with ImageReady, and then gave up. It is simply a blur of two (I think there were two of them) bunddles of cat fur, tangled, twirled and twisted. With tufts of hair flying around, meowing in general, jaws wide open, claws glinting!

That is it! No dinner for you to! But as you can see, they have already fed on fancy tuna and have all the possible energy to battle it out in some other room or run around in the living room and porch. I refuse to follow!

I transported some of the orchids from work to home, simply because I was running out of space at work. Yeah! I prefer my desk at home rather than work, but then doesn't everyone. :)

Anyways, other orchid saved from a careless co-worker doing just fabulously at home. (Er! Sorry dear co-worker, you don't get this one back). As I write this, another orchid, that was 'abandoned' is on the brink of blooming. If I remember correctly, it has beautiful white-cream flowers.

 

Tonight is our company sponsored outing to the ball game. The last one was ages ago, and I think I had fun! or didn't I?

Lets start off by saying that I am not a huge baseball fan or for that matter any of the commerialized sports. You won't find me at a game stadium, but more likely to find me at a movie theater, library (or barnes and noble), a restuarant, a wine tasting or simply at home. Lest this gives you the impression that I won't go to a game, allow me to clarify. If I find myself at a game, then I do enjoy it thoroughly. This pretty much goes for everything that I do. One of the principles that I live by is; If I am going to do (either opted or asked) something, then I do it with all my heart and soul. It is a waste of time doing it any other way.

So, I am going to have fun at the game. The outcome really does not matter too much for me and I will be happy for my friends if the Red Sox wins. But, if the other team wins, so be it, yeah for them! It will be fun because almost the whole company is going. It has been a while since I have hung out with other folks from the company. There is a pre-game that happens that means baseball food and beer before the baseball game!

(Hope it does not rain! and is not cold!)

_Post_:
The pre-game getting together for the company was at the Boston Tavern on their top deck, with food and drinks. The bright and sunny afternoon turned to nasty little dark clouds that threatened to downpour. But, apart from a spitter-spatter of rain drops it wasn't too shabby.  A group of us made our way to the game way past the start. It was interesting to be there, hanging around the bleechers to see the game in progress. Seats were what they were, nothing very exciting anyways, but for $10 I it was just fine. It was fun to catch up with folks that I have not met in awhile. After the seventh inning, it was time to head back, at least for me. It was a nice evening, just right cool breeze, and I could not wait for the bus or train, so walked from Kenmore to Harvard. It took a good hour, but it was exhilarating to walk. Home by 11:30pm and off into the noddy-world!

Pstt: Who were the RedSox playing against? er... Who won?

I borrowed Enders Game by Orson Scott Card from someone and I cannot remember who lent it to me! Eeeps, I am usually very careful and remember who I borrowed what, so I can return it to the owner. But, I cannot. So, if you are the person who lent it to me, please forgive the oversight and let me know, so that I can thank you for sharing this with me.

I started reading Enders Game about 3-4 months ago, and intense and engrossing as it was, I couldn't bring myself to read beyond Enders life in Battle School. When I finally picked it up on this long Sunday lazy afternoon, it was with a mixed feeling of eager anticipation and dread of what may the next things for Ender. As the pages turned my dread increased, rather the calming down. When I started on the section with Ender meeting Mazer Rackham, that I was sure that Ender was being used in 'real' versus a 'simulated' wars. Despite this knowledge, I could not stop reading, I needed to know how Ender would handle this knowledge. I really did not care whether he won or lost against the buggers. I mean it was nice to have won, but at what costs? The book really became a page turner (both ways). I re-read the sections of what Ender does with the knowledge of buggers and Speaker of Dead, and everytime I read the section, I find different points of view, sometimes from Peters perspective, sometimes from Val or Ender or even the Buggers.

A good book! I recommend it, as do the zillion people who have read it.

Lilacs rate pretty high on my scale. They are right along Peonies and Lavender.  Last year, I planted six Miss Kim's, one Miss Canada, and two Miss USA. They are all progressing very well, and are late spring bloomers. The late blooming was intentional, as my neighbor has all the early-mid spring bloomers. :) So, to enjoy and compliment both the houses, I have the late bloomers. The picture is from my deck. My house/deck enjoys the flowers and right now they have gone completely insane in their blooms, which I totally endorse, enjoy and love. Since the fence is south facing, I get to really enjoy the blooms sans the care.

Now really! Can you argue with such an idlyic deck with deck furniture, lilac abound, a sparkling Cava in hand! This is what I call a good Saturday afternoon!

My excitement, pride and happiness knows no bounds, when each and every little plants not just survives but blossoms under my care. It is my way to know that I done right with nature!

Here are some gifts of nature in my own yard.  I have thought to write more, but the sheer happiness, love and contentment overrides (and falls short) any words that may be put together. So, without further fuss, here is my pride, my love, my joy, and sheer happiness.

The Azalea "Crimson Tide" (as I like to call it)

The Azalea "Pink Florosence" (as I like to call it) s ready to just pop into fantastic dazzling display of color.

	Gosh! With all the courage I can muster I await impatiently the blossoming of perhaps my favorite flowering plant of all all time... The Peonies. These little (or not so little) plants, move me to tears. They touch me as no other living thing can ever make me feel, save the orchids.  So, yeah! I love them. If you ever want anything from me, just get me a bouquet of a collection of peonies or just a gorgeous orchid and I am yours for eternity. I will post when these bloom. I cannot wait! This premature image inclusion is simply a testament of my impatience for these to bloom.
Finally, a little less exciting, than all the above flowers is my very own little red-onion farm!

Okay, I am a wimp! I tried to watch 300 in its entireity, but alas, I am weak, and knowing how it ends, I did not want see it.

However, to do it justice, I saw most of the war scenes between the Spartans and Xerxes's army. It is a fantastic piece of art form. Any scene (at least the point till I was inclined to see), can be frozen in time, to become a wall art. Is that good? Is that bad? I don't know, and I really don't care too much. Visually, it is very appealing. The varying speeds of the film during the fight scenes has the effect of concentrating ones attention to a very specific target. The target could be the tip of the spear, an expression of face, the spurt of blood or simply the wisp of a light garment. I loved the treatment, loved the true levels of red achieved in this film. Soundtrack, memorable, but nothing to write home about.Total eye candy, Gerald Butler and his six pack abs!

Despite all that, I could not bring myself to finish seeing the movie. Me not completing a movie does not happen often. So, then why? I think I completely hate the fact of betrayals. It makes me wish to make a trip back in time and throttle their throats!

Here is a toast to the most precious, caring, courageous, loving and fantastic person I have ever known... my mum! Here is to you mum! A toast with the one of finest champagnes in the world from Moet Chandon (Grand Vintage), enjoyed on my deck in the company of heady lilac blooms!

Growing up, Jane Austen (abridged and then unabridged versions) was one of my go-to authors. As a child I had very different perceptions, conclusions and read at a very different level of understanding. After all these years, reading these classics and also seeing some of the well done BBC adaptations, one truly appreciates the fantastic depth and details of Jane Austen writing. Mind you, I sometimes don't agree with her writings and her character's submissiveness in a situation. Perhaps, because I am too much of an proven independent to accept a womens role/position in the era that Jane Austen wrote in.  But, there are some undeniable truths in behavior, character and circumstance, that she describes that make a lasting impression.

I have been watching "Mansfiled Park" with couple of my dear friends and have very lively debates on the time, place, characters, and whether or not the adaptation is truly a resemblance of the book. I must say, I am going to whole heartedly agree that the link above takes one to the netflix list of on-demand Mansfield park in six (roughy one hour each) episodes. This is one of the best adaptations that I have seen for Mansfield Park.

Yard work is in full swing for the past week or so. The Pink Dogwood is simply bursting at its seams with flowers. Last year, when I bought the tree (it was well past it flowering time) and planted it with loads of faith that it was the one I truly wanted. These trees can be quite tricky, when they don't carry their full botanical name. So, really it is quite uncertain whether you are getting exactly what you want. I just wish the nursuries around get into better habits of carrying the botanical names, rather than only local. But that is another story. For now, this dogwood delivers.

long time no write, and tonight is not really a night for me to write anything meaningful (hic!)

It has been roughy 15+ hours at the computer for fun purposes (hic!)  I have finally got a working vision of my blog-next generation in silverlight (groan! it blooming hurts right now to write this). I don't know if my fancy starting point blog is going to work well with this syndicated version of the blog. But it does not matter too much right now. :)

I am millions of miles away from where i want to be with my blog implementation, but I have it running on this webserver! and that is blooming incredible. :) I am happy! Over the next couple of weeks I anticpate several of these really long hours of understanding silverlight and wcf and asp.net 3.5 and a good bottle of wine! Current favorite! (hic!) Altos De La Hoya *a Jumila (Bodegas Olivares) Red Wine from Spain. Along with this incredible red wine is the soundtrack from Hitman and also from King Arthur.  

Whilst I do the changes (and enjoy great wine and music), please bear with the fact that I won't be writing much here...... and will be moving all mee blogs enteries to the new generation. (Good lord! The number of times I have hit backspace to correct typing mistakess, is actually quite funny! ha-ha-har-hee-hee)

Anyways! Great day! Man! Such a fantastic blooming day!

(HIC!) Blimey! got to go!