Books: These are a few of my favorite things

Good evening folks, I have a quick thought that I needed to share. I'm texting a fellow reader of mine, and the Russian novel Anna Karenina wiggles its way into our conversation. I laughably mention that I don't enjoy the movie, quickly followed by "book snob" and I try not to seem condescending to her. Well, you know what, to hell with that. I am a book snob. I enjoy books better, and I, for the most part prefer the books to the movie. Now, as you can imagine the barrage of disclaimers, nay sayers, and un-well wishers that quickly follows exclamations such as mine.
Well you know what? When you make a movie as beautiful and endearing and heart wrenching as the book, I will take back my book snobbery. But there is no movie that can compare to the written word with its minute details and tiny connections and refreshing prose. There is no movie that come close to the magnificence of The Bell Jar or can capture the beauty of a poem. and really, you're going to make a video game of Dante's Inferno and want to tell me its better? No way. Not a chance. When you see a film, it takes you in one specific direction, you see what the director wants you to see. But a book? Well, a book is a private experience. The words you read never mean the same thing. No two people read the same book. A book is a unique phenomenon.
I just prefer pages between my fingers.
Just a quick thought.
Yours truly,
Laura Bookworm, Mother of Pages

Dear Running: I Think This is the Start of Something Beautiful

So during my three month or so hiatus I decided the best hobby for me to pick up was running. Yes, you all read that correctly. I, your masterful blog author, run on a regular basis. I put on my sneakers and shorts and chunky sports bra and take off as gracefully as a fat Canadian goose from its fluffy perch on some small pond. What an image, right? Picturesque. I'm a very slow runner and I loose breath fairly quickly. My mile is laughably slow, a total of 12:37 seconds the last I checked. And that my friends is faster than when I first started.
And boy, does that 12:37 make me the happiest, proudest woman ever. I even started to detail my running exploits on twitter. Yes, I have a twitter. Feel free to follow me and catch the latest updates to my running adventures. and my normal everyday geek. There is much geek. Here you are:
Twitter

Yup, anyway, back to the original thought process here. I started running as a method of stress relief. I have had so much craziness in my life, that getting out after work and just going for a run has been done amazing things for my mental and physical health. I didn't start running to loose weight, which is the immediate response I receive from people. As soon as I mention that I started running, the usual follow up is "But why? You look great! You aren't fat at all! You don't need to exercise", "Wow, that's great to see you're finally looking to manage your weight" or something along those lines.
Well, to begin, I don't need your validation about my body. I like my body the way it is. And just because I go out for a run doesn't automatically mean I'm trying to control weight or have a firmer body or whatever it is about slim bodies that our current society deems desirable. Even if I was running for weight loss, that does not give you the right to comment on my weight, body, style, or whatever. It does not matter. Don't comment on my body. I do enough commenting for you, me, and the whole block. Keep your thoughts to yourself. I appreciate your praise, but it's not okay to ever say something about someone else's physical form. It can get messy, especially if you don't really know how that persons feels about it themselves. So the better question to ask is more along the lines of "how fast is your mile?" or "where do you go running?" ta-da, safe topics, and ones the newly inducted runner will probably have a more enjoyable time talking about.
Second, exercise isn't always about controlling the way your body looks. Sometimes its about how it makes you feel. When I run, I feel so much better afterwards. It has this way of clearing my head and as my muscles begin to ache, my energy depletes, so does the anger and sadness and frustration. I feel better internally as well as externally. It makes me feel whole, relaxed, less stressed, and stronger. And sweaty. I do feel very sweaty but that's besides the point.
It comes down to the notion that what I do for myself isn't for the well-being and pleasure for others. I do things because I like them, whether that's to make myself look really pretty or because I need some stress relief. Running gives me that relief. It helps me maintain a healthy physical body as well keeping my mental health in line. It makes me happy and that's all that matters. I may run twice a week or five times a week, it depends. Running is a happy time for me. To some it is a lifestyle, but to me it was a hobby of mine. When I feel that I need it, it's there for me. My smelly running shoes will not walk off on their own. I mean no one can fit into them but me anyway (size 5 does have its perks).
So, I like to run. I don't love to run. But I do love the way it helps me feel, how it helps me feel stronger and feel that I can persevere even if it is only one minute less than last night. I push myself and my limits, and I find more about myself when I run. It's a wonderful feeling to have. It's a simple way to explore my neighborhood and well, I do get some witty Twitter posts from it too. Don't worry, I am not turning into a complete fitness groupie, or even a running one for that matter. It gives me a goal and a better feeling about myself. I say let's keep it, even if does track mud into the apartment.
The lesson today folks: do what makes you feel better. Give yourself some goals. Don't ever do things to make others happy, because in the end, you need to come first. Unless its a turtle. Always stop and help the turtle cross the street.

"Snowpiercer" Review

So finally a new post! I came back! How lucky you all are! I decided that I was going to take myself out on a date tonight.  I needed some cheering up.  it's good to have some alone time, but it doesn't need to be stuck in my gloomy apartment. So I walked through the thunderstorm - absolutely gorgeous lightening - towards the Nickelodeon Cinemas and saw "Snowpiercer", a sci-fi/dark comedy about a dystopian future and doomed humanity. Sounds like nothing new right? Well, I first saw this Buzzfeed article, and I was mildly intrigued. Bong-Joon Ho's little know, controversial movie? Well, I need to check this out. So I clambered over to Rotten Tomatoes to get a check on the ratings for it. Well, lo and behold this is what I found. Really awesome right?
So I decided date night with myself. It's good to treat myself and be comfortable doing things on my own. After the brutal and cynic post I left earlier today, I was feeling raw and angry and unhappy. A pick me up was definitely required. Definitely. This eerie, snowy movie with the hunk Chris Evans was really what I needed to distract me. Well, let me tell you, it worked. The movie lived up to it's expectations. I will try to avoid spoilers but I make no promises.
The premise of the movie is humankind created their own deathly Ice age that supposedly wiped out all living species on the plant and everything plunged into unlivable temperatures surrounded by ice and snow and wind. Wow. If that wasn't bad enough the last dregs of humanity are stuck on this locomotive that circles the world. It has an eternal engine which allows it to keep propelling itself, without breaking down. Well, the worst of the worst are at the back of the train, living in cramped, dirty, impoverished conditions. They are beaten and made to live in hovels, if you could even call them that. Curtis (Chris Evans) wants to lead a revolt to the front of the train (the engine) and take control and spread the wealth they believe is in the front. Well they follow through and in the end Curtis does make it to the front. I can't explain much of the in between bits without giving much away.
I can say that Octavia Spencer's performance was deep and heartfelt, she was excellent. Although the best performance clearly was Tilda Swinton as Mason, a prime minister sort of individual. She's almost unrecognizable, with a Barty Crouch-esque lip lick. So many excellent actors giving mind-blowing performances.
I like the theme that humans look for quick and immediate solutions. One spoiler: the gas released to help repair the ozone and undo the environmental damage causing global warming ended up creating the ice age. It then is mentioned briefly later on that the creator, owner, captain of the train Wilford (Ed Harris) knew that the gas would be defective and not work. Instead of warning or protesting, he went on building his super train. The easiest solution, the one that would work the fastest, ended up causing humanity their earth, their societies, their everything. Instead of making inherent, longer lasting changes, the world attempted to take the easiest way out. In the end, it became their end.
Most of the movie almost seems predictable up until the last half hour or so, when it all just goes crazy and all these revelations are made, and you are left sitting there with your mouth open, wandering what the heck just happened? where the hell is the rewind button? In the end, the predictability of the movie almost seems done purposefully, that in some ways the director wanted you to think that this was all done before, just another remix of a kind, leading to a similar ending. well, that is not what occurs. All I say can is, I recommend this movie. Very, very well done with a great script and outstanding performances. A little bit gory and some very disturbing story lines. Not for the faint of heart.
It made me think I've got a lot going for me. So what if one boy in the thousands of years of mankind doesn't love me? At least I'm not on a train going around and around a frozen world with an arm cut off and a dictator at the engine feeding me jello. For real. I think things could be so much worse for me now.