Musings of a Virgin

As you know my family came from S'pore to visit me on 4th Dec and just flew back on the 28th. I think I did a fairly decent job entertaining them, we even did a short trip to Chicago and they did tons of shopping. The picture below was taken at the airport before they left, there are 2 boxes under that baggage and they came with only 1/2 that luggage.

From left to right: Brother-in-Law (Rizwan), Nephew (Raiyan), Sister(Ruby), Niece(Sarah), Mother(Shirley)

Its bitter sweet to see them go. I finally get control of the remote again, and the computer, but ... there's a lot to be said for coming back home to a filled house. And despite the angst and chaos kids can create, they really do fill your life with ... something.
Man! Listen to me get all mushy. Anyway. Today's also my B'day, 29th Decdemer. hence my little sentimental bout. Didn't do anything special, went to work, came home, played World of Warcraft and now I'm blogging.

This cute card was waiting for me at home from the 2 little imps. Sarah is 6 and just a bundle of energy, she's like the energizer bunny on crack. And Raiyan is 3 and just a stlicker for doing things just right. For example, he'll pick strands of hair off the floor and hand it to you because floors should be completely clean. Yes we're all afraid he's going to grow up very anal. But for right now its soo cute.

Finally, here's a collage of photos we took while in Chicago.

Posted by emyln at 10:51 PM | Permalink | Comments

Here's a great action shot of the new Superman (Brandon Routh). Superman Returns has finished shooting and will be released in the US on June 30, 2006. The more I see of this show the more pumped I get :)

Here's an interesting quote from an interview with Wizard magazine:

At 6-foot-4 and nearly 250 pounds, Brandon Routh never perceived himself as too small for anything.

That's why he was taken aback when public perception deemed him "too small" to fill the ample tights of Superman in the upcoming blockbuster film, "Superman Returns."

"That was always a big concern for everyone," Routh said with a laugh from the Sydney, Australia set of the movie in an exclusive interview with Wizard: The Comics Magazine. "I was never concerned about it, because I knew that I was in good hands with the people that I've been blessed to train with, and I knew from previous weightlifting experiences in high school and college that I could put on weight. I was worried that I might get too big to be human in other films beyond this. But it's been cool to see myself transform as well."

Brandon is 6-foot-4 and nearly 250 pounds??? Really? None of his pics make him look that big, in fact I was one of those who thought that he needed to put on more muscle. As a comparison here a pic of Randy Orton, a professional wrestler who's 6 foot 4 and 245 pounds.
Hmmm... they might be the same height and weight but Brandon sure looks smaller to me. What do you think?

Posted by emyln at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

Here's the link to the article

Rowling expects to start on the final book, not yet titled, next month.

Basically she's not started writing the book as yet. The woman finished writing the book over a year ago and has not started on the final book!!!!

OK, **deep breaths** I'm a huge Potter fan and I WANT that final book NOW! I know its brattish of me but this confirms that book 7 won't be out till 2007 at the earliest.

Posted by emyln at 8:14 PM | Permalink | Comments

We're not doing anything special for Christmas. Good food and good dvd's about sums it up. Enjoy the christmasy pics.

Posted by emyln at 7:15 PM | Permalink | Comments

This can up in conversation and it seems like its a big holiday in some countries but while I had heard about it, I've never really known what its all about and which countries celebrate it. So I looked it up and here's what I found.

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It falls on December 26th, which is also St. Stephen's Day.

St. Stephen was a little known saint who achieved eternal fame by being the first Christian to be martyred for his faith, and he met his death by stoning.
...
...
In England, this day has become part of the celebrations, of being with family.

A day to visit other relations, and to have a rest from the day before, to play fun games. Some families, buy a new game each year, but still bring out the old favourites :-)

For some it is good to have the 2 days, as on one of the days you can visit with your parents, and the other day your inlaws :-)

St Stephen is the patron saint of horses, so Boxing Day became associated with horse-racing and hunting. Other sports are also held on this day like football and rugby.

Here's the link to the whole explaination.

So basically Boxing day in its basest form is simply an extension of the christmas holidays. And now you know. :)

Posted by emyln at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments

Went to a late night screening of this show last night with my niece and Brother-in-law. To be honest I didn't know what to expect. I had read this book eons ago in my youth and had loved it. I also remember searching high and low for Turkish Delight and finally finding it only to discover that it was TERRIBLE! If you're a nougart fan, you might like it though. But I digress.

The show is amazing. No if's ands or buts. Its holds very true to the book, and the 4 children are simply amazing actors. Put simply they acted more in this one film than the 3 kids in Harry Potter did in the first 3 movies of that franchise. The special effects left me breathless. Its sewn into the movie so well that you can't tell what's real or not. Your first glimpse of this is when Mr. Tumnus the Faun comes on screen and it keeps getting better and better. From your first sighting of the Beavers to seeing Asland (The Lion) in all his glory.

Even the battle felt epic, and I'm talking about Lord of the Rings epic (minus the gore cos this movie is aimed at kids). I must simply commend Tilda Swinton who plays the white witch. She is the best villian I'm seen in... longer than I can remember. From her stunning costumes to seeing her wield 2 swords and fighting Peter. I got goose bumps. Finally a villan who was powerful cruel and yet defeatable without the aid of some otherworldy aid.

I must say that The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrope is a good but much like Lord of the Rings, but it is the director Andrew Adamson that really made this movie shine. What Peter Jackson did for Lord of the Rings, Andrew did for The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrope. Any movie that makes you want to borrow the book and read it is A MUST SEE. I give it 9.5/10

Posted by emyln at 7:28 AM | Permalink | Comments

Christmas is coming, but the games aren't. In fact...the games already came.
Serenity

Tuesday
Peter Jackson's King Kong (PSP)

Wednesday
Dead of Alive 4 (360)

Friday
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (PC)

DVD
Serenity
The Brothers Grimm
Four Brothers
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Thundercats: Season 1, Volume 2

Theater
Memoirs of a Geisha
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Rumor has It
Fun with Dick and Jane
The Ringer

I am a leaf on the wind - watch how I soar.

Source: EvilAvatar

---

The weather is currently -10 degrees F in Minneapolis, the coldest day this winter thus far. I've just come back from a 4 day trip to Chicago with the family. 7 hours driving in a car is a little hectic, but I think the trip was enjoyable for them, especially the niece and nephew. But I will say that getting back to work seems quite peaceful this Monday morning. Does that make me a bad uncle?

Anyway, nothing of note for games, and I've yet to watch any movies although "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrope" is high on my list. This week's releases don't scream watch me at once although I'll probably rent
"Memoirs of a Geisha", "Cheaper by the Dozen 2", and "Rumor has It" when they are on DVD.

Special mention for DVD's go to Serenity. Don't think, just get this DVD. you won't regret it.

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me

Take me out, to the black
Tell'em I an't comin' back
Burn the land, and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me

There's no place I can't be, since I found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me
- Theme from Senerity

Posted by emyln at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments

Click on the picture and start killing sheep.

Posted by emyln at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

New pics of X-men3 from USAToday. Ben Foster is Angel and he looks very buffed up compared to his other roles. Kelsey Grammer is certainly looking blue and not so Fraiser like.

This is probably the last X-men movie we'll see for the next 10 years or so until they decide to do a remake. But fret not cos Wolverine is scheduled for 2007 and of course the magnificent Hugh Jackman is reprising the role.

Posted by emyln at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments

The family has come visiting and will be staying thru Christmas. I've got 2 rugrats tearing up the house, my sis and her husband and my mom. So its a pretty full house. So posts will be a little slow and sporadic.

Here's the run down so far. I cleaned the house like a demon and prepared for their visit then on Sunday the alarm didn't go off and I woke up at 12:30pm. About 1 hour after their plane landed. Yes that's right I was over an hour late and the first thought in my head was OMIGOD OMIGOD OMIGOD. So I dressed called them immediately and drove at 80-90mph and picked them up. Not a good start to the visit.

Then it was home and then out again for lunch and some grocery shopping. Costco is always a fun place to visit it carries tons of stuff, all super sized. We got home again and I made a Gingerbread house with the kiddies. Its actually pretty easy but I will say this, everything used to make the gingerbread house is sweet. very very very sweet.

I'll post pics soon.

Posted by emyln at 6:32 AM | Permalink | Comments

A light week this week, but a few gems show up like Animal Crossing: Wild World for the Nintendo DS and various Prince of Persia titles for various platforms. Lots of gems on DVD this week, and in the theater we have The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which looks to be an entertaining fantasy movie.

Monday
Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)
Hammer & Sickle (PC)
Mario Tennis: Power Tour (GBA)
Super Mario Strikers (GCN)
Tokobot (PSP)

Tuesday
Battles of Prince of Persia (DS)
Dragon Booster (DS)
Pac-Man World 3 (PC, PSP, DS)
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection (PSP)
Prince of Persia Revelations (PSP)
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (PC)
Sonic Heroes & Super Monkey Ball Deluxe (XBOX)
Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Super Monkey Ball Deluxe (XBOX)

Wednesday
Sims 2, The (PSP)

Thursday
Ultimate Block Party (PSP)

DVD
Cinderella Man
Fantastic Four
Dukes of Hazzard
Clone Wars: Volume 2
24: Season 4
Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume 4

Theater
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Source: Evil Avatar

---

Fantastic Four DVD is a must for me. I loved the movie and Chris Evan is soooo dreamy. The Chronicles of Narnia is also high on my list to watch but doubtful if I'll get to see it anytime soon. See next post for why.

Posted by emyln at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

This week's hunk is Ryan McPartlin. I first spotted this hunk in the sitcom Living with Fran with Fran Drescher. The show is a comedy about a middle aged divorced woman with 2 children in their late teens/early 20's who meets and marries a much younger guy. Sounds corny but I like it.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, Ryan graduated with a degree in speech communication from the University of Illinois, where he played football in the Big Ten Conference. After graduating, Ryan decided to spend six months in Australia and New Zealand to explore the outback and decide which career path he should follow. It became clear that he wanted to be an actor, so he moved to Southern California to pursue his dream.

He spends a great deal of his non-working time taking acting classes and says that his other passions include almost any outdoor physical activity, including scuba diving, tennis, snowboarding, and racquetball. Ryan is also serious about physical fitness and is a board certified personal trainer.

Posted by emyln at 5:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

An intensely private individual that chooses actions with care, you strive to further your own skills and powers.
This happens because I choose it to happen!
Raistlin is a character in the Dragonlance universe. He has a short biography at Wikipedia.

WOOT! I'm Raistlin!! This actually made my day, now how geeky does that make me?

Posted by emyln at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Best of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (10 Episode Collector's Edition) (1983)

This is now available and I'm just not sure if its nostalgia or if this cartoon was any good to begin with. Should I get it? Or is this one of those shows that was good only because I was a kid when I watched it?

Posted by emyln at 5:32 AM | Permalink | Comments

OMG! I thought this was something out of a dumb horror show but there actually was a living dog that looked like this! His name is Sam, he's met Donald Trump, he's 15 years old and he was crowned world's ugliest dog for 3 years in a row. Oh and he's dead now.

Click here for the whole article.

Posted by emyln at 5:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yet another fluff post. But be warned this is a very catchy tune that's gonna run in your head for days and days and days!!! But so cute!!!!

Posted by emyln at 5:09 AM | Permalink | Comments