You Are a Cappuccino |
 You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new. However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like. You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation. You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please |
What kinda coffee girl are you?
Reflection
It was aptly penned that the problems of work outweights the problems of not having any work at all. today, i have been reacquainted with its truths.
a few years back i would have been annoyed at these statement. upset with anyone reminding me of its meaning. but at this point in my life, the exactness of it, resonates so real with me. i rest in this assurance and understanding this, is freedom to me.
thank god i have grown up!!
a few years back i would have been annoyed at these statement. upset with anyone reminding me of its meaning. but at this point in my life, the exactness of it, resonates so real with me. i rest in this assurance and understanding this, is freedom to me.
thank god i have grown up!!
Point Of Grace - How You Live
Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress, use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
And have what you want, but want what you have
And don't spend your life looking back
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances and let it all out
'Cause you won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live
So go to the ballgames and go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children, dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth 'cause you can't get away, no
Face it and you'll be okay
(Chorus)
Oh, wherever you are and wherever you've been
Now is the time to begin
So give to the needy, and pray for the grieving
Even when you don't think that you can
'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
And make peace with God, and make peace with yourself
'Cause in the end, there's nobody else
(Chorus)
Two Words - Lea Salonga
In a while, in a word,
Every moment now returns.
For a while, seen or heard,
How each memory softly burns.
Facing you who brings me new tomorrows,
I thank God for yesterdays,
How they led me to this very hour,
How they led me to this place...
Every touch, every smile,
You have given me in care.
Keep in heart, always I'll,
Now be treasuring everywhere.
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I hold this moment true?
No trace of sadness,
Always with gladness...
'I DO...'
(instrumental)
Now a song that speaks of now and ever,
Beckons me to someone new,
Unexpected, unexplored, unseen,
Filled with promise coming through.
In a while, in a word,
You and I forever change,
Love so clear, never blurred,
Has me feeling wondrous, strange,
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I face each moment true?
No trace of sadness, always with gladness,
'I DO...'
Never with sadness...
Always with gladness...
'I...DO....'
We Could be in Love - Lea Salonga/Brad Kane
Lea:
Be still my heart
Lately its mind is on it's own
It would go far and wide
Just to be near you
Brad:
Even the stars
Shine a bit bright I've noticed
When you're close to me
Lea:
Still it remains a mystery
Chorus (Both):
Anyone who seen us
Knows what's going on between us
It doesn't take a genius
To read between the lines Brad: ohh
And it's not just wishful thinking
Or only me who's dreaming
I know what these are symptoms of
We could be in love
Lea:
I ask myself why
I sleep like a baby through the night
Maybe it helps to know
you'll be there tomorrow
Brad: Lea:
Don't open my eyes Ohhh
I'll wake from the spell I'm under
Makes me wonder how Tell me how
I could live without you now
Both:
And what about the laughter
The happy ever after
Like voices of sweet angels
Calling out our names
And it's not just wishful thinking
Or only me who's dreaming
I know what these are symptoms of
We could be in love
Brad:
All my life
I have dreamed of this
But I could not see your face
Lea:
Don't ask why two such distant stars
Can fall right into place
(Repeat Chorus)
Both:
Oh, it doesn't take a genius
To know what these are symptoms of
We could be Lea: ohh
We could be, we could be in love
Brad:
Could be in
Both:
We could be in love
Like I Never Loved you at All (Take That) - Pirates of the Caribbean
The best video made for this song was to the movie "Becoming Jane" -it was perfect!! Then, it was taken off YouTube, I was devastated. So I suppose this video would have to do!
Can't Live a Day Without You - Avalon
I could live life alone
And never fill the longings of my heart
The healing warmth of someone's arms
And I could live without dreams
And never know the thrill of what could be
With every star so far and out of reach
I could live without many things
And I could carry on, but
I couldn't face my life tomorrow
Without Your hope in my heart I know
I can't live a day without You
Lord, there's no night and there's no morning
Without Your loving arms to hold me
You're the heartbeat of all I do
I can't live a day without You
I could travel the world
See all the wonders beautiful and new
They'd only make me think of You
And I could have all life offers
Riches that were far beyond compare
To grant my every wish without a care
Oh, I could do anything, oh yes
But if You weren't in it all
Jesus, I live because You live
You're like the air I breathe
Oh Jesus, oh, I have because You give
You're everything to me
Becoming Jane DVD Review
By Kelvin Cedeno
Jane Austen has been deemed one of the greatest and most influential writers of all time. Whether or not one agrees with that sentiment, there's no denying the impact her work has had on the literary world despite her publishing only four novels in her short lifetime (and two more posthumously).
It's extremely common for classic literature to be adapted to film, and Austen's works (particularly Pride & Prejudice) have been transferred to this medium an overwhelming number of times. Therefore it seemed inevitable that a film would be made about her life. As she was very private, little is known about her as a person, though this didn't daunt Miramax from releasing 2007's Becoming Jane.
This slightly biographical feature tells of Jane Austen's (Anne Hathaway) experiences as a young woman shortly before becoming an established author. Understood only by her father (James Cromwell) and sister Cassandra (Anna Maxwell Martin), Jane's quick wit and creative tendencies make her a bit of an outcast in her large rural family. When privileged law student Thomas Lefroy (James McAvoy) is sent by his uncle (Ian Richardson) to live in the countryside, he and Jane are immediately catty with one another. The two can't avoid regularly running into each other in such a small town, and with each meeting, they only tolerate each other's presence. Such tolerance finds its way into love, but Jane's mother (Julie Walters) insists she marry Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox) for financial security and an upstanding reputation.
Anyone watching Becoming Jane for historical accuracy needs to look elsewhere. The movie takes some known facts of Austen's life and connects them together using elements from her own novels. In other words, this is historical fiction. While some Austen purists have been deeply offended by that approach, there really is no reason why this simply can't be taken as entertainment. Nowhere does it claim to be a factual account of Austen's early years, and it certainly doesn't set out to smear the author's famous good name. Taken strictly as a film, Becoming Jane succeeds rather nicely thanks to its two leads.
Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy both carry the film, and virtually no scenes exist without their involvement. Even with an inconsistent accent, Hathaway infuses charm into Jane and shows a flair for spouting out the writer's witty, long-winded speech. McAvoy also delivers his similar dialogue naturally and with just the right level of cheekiness.
The production as a whole is of remarkable quality. Sets and costumes look and feel authentic and lived-in rather than the pristine, stagey look of similarly-themed pictures. Despite being a character drama, definite care has been given to the appearance and presentation, and it shows. Any flaws Becoming Jane may possess stem from its storytelling. Jane and Tom (or, rather, Anne and James) certainly share good chemistry, but there's very little transition between the loathing and loving stages. It's not a jarring turnaround, but the progression doesn't flow as smoothly as it could. Another quibble is in regards to the supporting cast. Many talented actors are onboard here, but they're given little to do. Perhaps this is the best approach in order to further exemplify Jane's isolation from people in general, but one wishes to know certain characters, such as Mrs. Austen, better than permitted.
Becoming Jane may not be very strong narratively, but its performances, craftsmanship, and sophisticated dialogue all help make this a pleasing effort. The Austen references used to flesh out the story are often done quite cleverly and succeed in making the audience wonder just what real-life experiences influenced her work. The film is proof that not every period piece needs to be a grand, sweeping drama. Sometimes character-based simplicity can be far more potent, and this is certainly a philosophy Jane Austen herself would've agreed with.
DVD Details
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, Spanish)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Closed Captioned; Extras Subtitled
Release Date: February 12, 2008
Single-sided, dual-layered disc (DVD-9)
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
Black Keepcase Housed in Embossed,
Holographic Cardboard Slipcover
Also available on Blu-ray Disc
VIDEO and AUDIO
Becoming Jane is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. New films have become pleasantly predictable in the transfer department, for they're usually presented very well. This feature is no exception. The image is spotless and suffers from neither print flaws nor digital ones. Color palettes alternate between the warm and vivid variety and the cold and sterile type, depending on the scene requirements. Both cases appear to be replicated well on this disc. Sometimes the image is a bit soft, but for the majority of the picture, detail is pleasing.
Those expecting demo-quality audio will come away disappointed, but the Dolby 5.1 soundtrack does the job it needs to. A dialogue-heavy film such as this has little use for surround channels, and these are only utilized for the mellow score and for distributing the extensive speech. Both come across cleanly and intelligibly, and that's good enough for a low-key production of this sort.
BONUS FEATURES, MENUS and PACKAGING
The disc's modest supplements begin with a fairly robust collection of thirteen deleted scenes (19:29). Many of these re-emphasize points already made clear in the final film,
but they're still entertaining and contain some nice supporting character moments. Interestingly, the scenes are presented open matte, clearly exposing a boom mic every few seconds.
Next is an audio commentary by director Julian Jarrold, screenwriter Kevin Hood, and producer Robert Bernstein. The track itself is something of a mixed bag. On one hand, the trio openly discusses what in the film is artistic license and what is based on actual fact. On the other hand, all three men aren't the most engaging of speakers. It's difficult telling them apart without the aid of the (thankfully included) subtitle track, and their quiet comments don't always sustain one's interest. The following two features provide much of the same information in more entertaining ways.
"Discovering the Real Jane Austen" (17:00) concerns itself partially with the production and partially with the real Austen. The former aspect features behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the commentary participants along with some of the cast. The latter is covered by interviews with various historians who compare the film to what is known about the actual Jane Austen. Despite the short running time, quite a bit is packed in here, with the most fascinating bots involving the references to Austen's novels peppered throughout the storyline.
Finally, there's "Becoming Jane Pop-Up Facts and Footnotes." As the title suggests, this is a subtitled trivia track that runs concurrently with the main feature. Information relevant to the scene in question appears, and the topics cover both history and this production. The facts don't pop up as frequently as one would like, but they're still enlightening and even occasionally amusing.
At the start of the disc, there's an anti-smoking advertisement that's immediately followed by trailers for Disney Blu-ray Disc, Wall-E, and Dan in Real Life. All of the trailers, though not the anti-smoking ad, appear under "Sneak Peeks" along with more trailers for Enchanted and "Greek". Unsurprisingly, no trailer for Becoming Jane itself is included.
The main menu presents scenic shots from the film with an animated, light-green overlay evoking trees and leaves. The piano-heavy score accompanies this and the subsequent, and similarly-designed, static menus. The disc is housed in a standard black Amaray case, which slides into a lightly embossed and holographic slipcover. Inside the keepcase is a two-sided insert with scene selections on one side and an Enchanted advertisement on the other.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Becoming Jane has quite a lot of talent involved both in front and behind the camera. While not all of it is used to its full potential, the film does far more right than wrong. It offers a sweet and classy "what if?" story involving one of literature's best-known yet most mysterious authors. It is presented well on DVD visually and aurally, and despite the light supplements, there's quite a bit of information to be found. This DVD earns a recommendation to fans of Jane Austen's work and a rental to anyone interested in a light, unpretentious period drama.
Jane Austen has been deemed one of the greatest and most influential writers of all time. Whether or not one agrees with that sentiment, there's no denying the impact her work has had on the literary world despite her publishing only four novels in her short lifetime (and two more posthumously).
It's extremely common for classic literature to be adapted to film, and Austen's works (particularly Pride & Prejudice) have been transferred to this medium an overwhelming number of times. Therefore it seemed inevitable that a film would be made about her life. As she was very private, little is known about her as a person, though this didn't daunt Miramax from releasing 2007's Becoming Jane.
This slightly biographical feature tells of Jane Austen's (Anne Hathaway) experiences as a young woman shortly before becoming an established author. Understood only by her father (James Cromwell) and sister Cassandra (Anna Maxwell Martin), Jane's quick wit and creative tendencies make her a bit of an outcast in her large rural family. When privileged law student Thomas Lefroy (James McAvoy) is sent by his uncle (Ian Richardson) to live in the countryside, he and Jane are immediately catty with one another. The two can't avoid regularly running into each other in such a small town, and with each meeting, they only tolerate each other's presence. Such tolerance finds its way into love, but Jane's mother (Julie Walters) insists she marry Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox) for financial security and an upstanding reputation.
Anyone watching Becoming Jane for historical accuracy needs to look elsewhere. The movie takes some known facts of Austen's life and connects them together using elements from her own novels. In other words, this is historical fiction. While some Austen purists have been deeply offended by that approach, there really is no reason why this simply can't be taken as entertainment. Nowhere does it claim to be a factual account of Austen's early years, and it certainly doesn't set out to smear the author's famous good name. Taken strictly as a film, Becoming Jane succeeds rather nicely thanks to its two leads.
Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy both carry the film, and virtually no scenes exist without their involvement. Even with an inconsistent accent, Hathaway infuses charm into Jane and shows a flair for spouting out the writer's witty, long-winded speech. McAvoy also delivers his similar dialogue naturally and with just the right level of cheekiness.
The production as a whole is of remarkable quality. Sets and costumes look and feel authentic and lived-in rather than the pristine, stagey look of similarly-themed pictures. Despite being a character drama, definite care has been given to the appearance and presentation, and it shows. Any flaws Becoming Jane may possess stem from its storytelling. Jane and Tom (or, rather, Anne and James) certainly share good chemistry, but there's very little transition between the loathing and loving stages. It's not a jarring turnaround, but the progression doesn't flow as smoothly as it could. Another quibble is in regards to the supporting cast. Many talented actors are onboard here, but they're given little to do. Perhaps this is the best approach in order to further exemplify Jane's isolation from people in general, but one wishes to know certain characters, such as Mrs. Austen, better than permitted.
Becoming Jane may not be very strong narratively, but its performances, craftsmanship, and sophisticated dialogue all help make this a pleasing effort. The Austen references used to flesh out the story are often done quite cleverly and succeed in making the audience wonder just what real-life experiences influenced her work. The film is proof that not every period piece needs to be a grand, sweeping drama. Sometimes character-based simplicity can be far more potent, and this is certainly a philosophy Jane Austen herself would've agreed with.
DVD Details
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, Spanish)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Closed Captioned; Extras Subtitled
Release Date: February 12, 2008
Single-sided, dual-layered disc (DVD-9)
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
Black Keepcase Housed in Embossed,
Holographic Cardboard Slipcover
Also available on Blu-ray Disc
VIDEO and AUDIO
Becoming Jane is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. New films have become pleasantly predictable in the transfer department, for they're usually presented very well. This feature is no exception. The image is spotless and suffers from neither print flaws nor digital ones. Color palettes alternate between the warm and vivid variety and the cold and sterile type, depending on the scene requirements. Both cases appear to be replicated well on this disc. Sometimes the image is a bit soft, but for the majority of the picture, detail is pleasing.
Those expecting demo-quality audio will come away disappointed, but the Dolby 5.1 soundtrack does the job it needs to. A dialogue-heavy film such as this has little use for surround channels, and these are only utilized for the mellow score and for distributing the extensive speech. Both come across cleanly and intelligibly, and that's good enough for a low-key production of this sort.
BONUS FEATURES, MENUS and PACKAGING
The disc's modest supplements begin with a fairly robust collection of thirteen deleted scenes (19:29). Many of these re-emphasize points already made clear in the final film,
but they're still entertaining and contain some nice supporting character moments. Interestingly, the scenes are presented open matte, clearly exposing a boom mic every few seconds.
Next is an audio commentary by director Julian Jarrold, screenwriter Kevin Hood, and producer Robert Bernstein. The track itself is something of a mixed bag. On one hand, the trio openly discusses what in the film is artistic license and what is based on actual fact. On the other hand, all three men aren't the most engaging of speakers. It's difficult telling them apart without the aid of the (thankfully included) subtitle track, and their quiet comments don't always sustain one's interest. The following two features provide much of the same information in more entertaining ways.
"Discovering the Real Jane Austen" (17:00) concerns itself partially with the production and partially with the real Austen. The former aspect features behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the commentary participants along with some of the cast. The latter is covered by interviews with various historians who compare the film to what is known about the actual Jane Austen. Despite the short running time, quite a bit is packed in here, with the most fascinating bots involving the references to Austen's novels peppered throughout the storyline.
Finally, there's "Becoming Jane Pop-Up Facts and Footnotes." As the title suggests, this is a subtitled trivia track that runs concurrently with the main feature. Information relevant to the scene in question appears, and the topics cover both history and this production. The facts don't pop up as frequently as one would like, but they're still enlightening and even occasionally amusing.
At the start of the disc, there's an anti-smoking advertisement that's immediately followed by trailers for Disney Blu-ray Disc, Wall-E, and Dan in Real Life. All of the trailers, though not the anti-smoking ad, appear under "Sneak Peeks" along with more trailers for Enchanted and "Greek". Unsurprisingly, no trailer for Becoming Jane itself is included.
The main menu presents scenic shots from the film with an animated, light-green overlay evoking trees and leaves. The piano-heavy score accompanies this and the subsequent, and similarly-designed, static menus. The disc is housed in a standard black Amaray case, which slides into a lightly embossed and holographic slipcover. Inside the keepcase is a two-sided insert with scene selections on one side and an Enchanted advertisement on the other.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Becoming Jane has quite a lot of talent involved both in front and behind the camera. While not all of it is used to its full potential, the film does far more right than wrong. It offers a sweet and classy "what if?" story involving one of literature's best-known yet most mysterious authors. It is presented well on DVD visually and aurally, and despite the light supplements, there's quite a bit of information to be found. This DVD earns a recommendation to fans of Jane Austen's work and a rental to anyone interested in a light, unpretentious period drama.
Before I was a Mom - Author Unknown
Before I was a Mom
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on. Spit on.
Chewed on
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night..
Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on. Spit on.
Chewed on
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night..
Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.
Murder of the English Language
nothing gets my goat more than reading blogs which are badly written - bad grammar and bad spelling (and i don't mean typo errors!!) AND when it is obvious, they have NOTHING to write about. so they rant on and on (not dissimilar to what i am doing now!!) about nothing. it would still stand for an interesting read, if they were actually being imaginative and creative in their endeavour! my 6 (soon to be 7) son speaks,write and spells a million times better than these witless-colourless-try-too-hard blogs!
truth be told, english is not my mother-tongue and only began to speak-read-write-spell the language at 9 years old. naturally, i don't profess to be an expert on the subject nor even on writing in general BUT it erks me to no end when something is spelt wrongly and on the shameless misuse of the english grammar!! it is LIKE the torture of hearing a singer sing out of tune. just murder on the senses!!
yet i am still drawn to these badly written blogs. partly due to my sense of loyalty as they are afterall written by my fellow countrymen and also, i secretly find myself hoping that, one day, they will improve!!
truth be told, english is not my mother-tongue and only began to speak-read-write-spell the language at 9 years old. naturally, i don't profess to be an expert on the subject nor even on writing in general BUT it erks me to no end when something is spelt wrongly and on the shameless misuse of the english grammar!! it is LIKE the torture of hearing a singer sing out of tune. just murder on the senses!!
yet i am still drawn to these badly written blogs. partly due to my sense of loyalty as they are afterall written by my fellow countrymen and also, i secretly find myself hoping that, one day, they will improve!!
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