Once is (not) enough
You guys! You guys! I just saw the most transporting movie in the universal world. Have you seen it? HAVE you? Have you cast your peepers on Once? Oh my children, listen to me, and listen to me good while I grab onto your lapels and shake you briskly and kick you repeatedly in the hindquarters: RUN OUT AND BUY THIS MOVIE THIS SECOND. PLEASE. WITH SUGAR ON TOP. And if you can’t afford to buy it, RENT IT. And then burn it illegally on your computer. But you MUST HAVE IT.
[Note from the Wordpress editors: We in no way support this blogger’s suggestion that you illegally burn a movie, no matter how transporting it is, or how hard she kicks your quarters, on your computer. In fact, we suggest that if you are going to run out and do anything, it will be to call the FBI, thus saving us the trouble. Thank you.]
I just had a little rum and Coke, so I’m feeling loosey-goosey. I know, I know; not even two months ago I told you I was allergic to alcohol, and I believe I still may be, as my throat is closing and my toes are curling and my armpits are tingling and there’s a little guy named Harold whispering limericks in pig latin in my right ear, but that could be due to the drugs. I think I also have the flu. I can never decide if it’s better to be sick while you’re on vacation and can stay in bed without feeling the least bit guilty, or if it’s better to be sick when school is in session and you’re forced to stay home when you’d normally be going out, say, on a really freezing rainy day. Hmm. Hmm. I pick vacation, no guilt. What do YOU say?
Having a good book to read while you’re sick helps. I found one that is totally absorbing, one I actually think about when I’m not reading it and long to get back to, and it’s been ages since I’d read a book like that. It’s called The Quincunx, by Charles Palliser. I still don’t know what the title refers to, but the book is really good. I would write you a review, but I don’t know how to condense it to a few lines. It’s a long story, set in the Victorian era, featuring a little boy named Johnnie who lives with his mother and who is probably the heir to a great fortune, but of course - this being a gothic novel - must go through Dickensian-proportion troubles to get there. If he ever does: I haven’t gotten that far yet. I’ll let you know if it was worth it, when I get to the end.
Our own Maolsheachlann O Ceallaigh has a new blog, so be sure to take a look! And speaking of irresistable Irish people, here’s something for you to feast your ears on. ONCE. But watch it lots of times, okay? kiss!
December 28th, 2007 00:58
Hello, Kel-Bel!
I confess, I have not even heard of this movie. But the next instant I am in a video store, I shall be renting it, just on your recommendation. You don’t have to tell me more than Once.
Being sick at any time really sucks. Good books really do help, though. And speaking of good books, I just read HP7. I thought of you, too, because I remember that you read it all in a day. I did that too, kind of. It was kind of like two days, though, ’cause I started around breakfast time on the 25th, and finished around 4 a.m. on the 26th. Darn those social obligations that kept me away for a few hours during the day! In the interest of not ruining it for anyone who hasn’t read it yet, I won’t comment further here.
In two days time, we are leaving your fair country to return to the frozen–extremely–north. Sigh. We enjoyed the one day of winter yesterday, where they actually got snow that stayed on the ground for a few hours here in Arkansas. I could see how snow would be fun if you knew that on that one day a year, you could stay home from school (assuming it was in session) and play, and not have to worry about the beastly stuff again for 364 more sleeps.
Anyway, enough rambling. In case I do not get back here before then (since internet access is going to be a little up-and-down for the next week or so yet) Happy New Year to you and Scott and the kids! Yippee! We survived another one!
December 28th, 2007 07:20
Thanks for the plug, Kelly. I’m still tinkering with the site and I probably won’t put anything more on until I get back to work (seventh January! Ha ha!). I’m tantalising my audience with a bit at a time, like a 1950s girl with her beau.
Talena, EVERYBODY knows that Voldemort turns out to be Harry’s mother by now. You don’t have to keep it a secret anymore.
I’m afraid I can’t see Once, Kelly, because as far as I can tell it doesn’t feature a) a priest, b) a country girl whose sexuality has been repressed or c) a donkey in a lift (or elevator as you guys say). Therefore I can’t recognise it as an Irish film. I’m very sorry.
December 28th, 2007 08:42
Taleny! So, you’ve been in MY neck of the woods? How do you like it? We’ve tried to keep it cold and wet for you, so as to help you feel at home. We couldn’t manage more than one day of snow, though. sigh. Mea culpa.
Oh, I think you’re going to love Once. It’s a musician’s movie, more than anything else, AND a movie about friendship. It’s a songwriting partnership movie. For a very short time, I had a songwriting partner like that, and it was heaven. I miss him, and I miss playing, but for now, those days are gone, and I’m okay with that. Wistful sigh.
I’m so glad you enjoyed HP7! What a ride, eh? What will you read NOW? The Quincunx? Happy New Year to you, too, friend. xo
December 28th, 2007 08:50
Mally, I’m sorry I jumped the gun on your blog! I can see that you’re still fixing bugs regarding the comments; I hope those get resolved soon, so we can harass you. It ISN’T kind of you to flash your ankle at us like that.
In Once, they MENTION priests (”Why aren’t there any blonde priests?”); the girl is from the Czech Republic, which is a country, but she’s not repressed sexually, only demure and content; but there weren’t any lifts featured that I could see, so I couldn’t tell if there were any donkeys in them. You’re right. It was probably staged, like the moon landing.
STILL, though. FAVORITE MOVIE EVER. At least until the next one. xo
December 28th, 2007 14:24
Kells Bells, I have not seen Once but it will be put in our Netflix queue. I can hardly wait!!
Oh, and it’s much better to be sick when you have to take time off, otherwise you waste a perfectly good vacation. Guilt should never enter when you are considering sickness because “if you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything”. (Count Rugen)
December 28th, 2007 14:56
But then, Jenns, what about the all-important anal-retentive-student factor? If I miss a crucial class, the world might spin off its axis and then ALL will be lost. I can’t let that happen to you guys. AND YOU QUOTED COUNT RUGEN!!!!
Yay!!!!!! I might watch that later.
Oh, I predict you gonna loooove Once! I can’t wait ’til you see it! Report back to me, okay?? xo
December 29th, 2007 13:26
OK, my site is now comment enabled, if anyone feels like visiting and signing the guest-book…
December 29th, 2007 13:57
Alrighty, everybody, did you hear that? Mally’s open for business; I mean, besides the roaring business he already does as a male prostitute-slash-spy. Go on over and promise him lots of money. You’ll make him happy.
December 29th, 2007 14:19
Yes, when I’m not giving headquarters vital information I’m just giving h….
Giving happy times to my clients.
December 29th, 2007 14:42
Kelly, I have an anal-retentive student story for you. When I was in the 3rd grade (in Guatemala) there was an award given at the end of the year if a student didn’t miss a single day of school. I wanted it SOOOOO bad. But I had amoebas. So I would go to school every morning and then start to fade from exhaustion around 10am and my mom would have to come pick me up. I thought this was a fine since technically I had gone to school that day. Finally my teacher told my mother that if I kept doing that she’d have to report it to the school that I wasn’t STAYING for full days so I wouldn’t get the award. After that my mother managed to get me to stay home until I got better. Wasn’t I crazy?!
December 29th, 2007 18:08
Ahem, Mally. I’m so glad you remembered at the last minute that this is a FAMBLY blog. Also, I would hate for you to blow your cover.
@@@
Jenns, you and I are birds of a feather. When I was in first grade, I burst into tears when I got what I thought was my spelling test back from the teacher. It was marked all over in red, and I had never gotten one word wrong before. I was inconsolable until my teacher realized she’d handed me the wrong paper, and corrected her mistake. Another time, in fourth grade, I hotly contested (and won!) my spelling of the word “judgement” instead of “judgment”, as that’s how it was spelled in my favorite “Prose and Poetry of England”, an old textbook of my dad’s which I had at home. You and I were strange children, Jenns. I LIKE us.
December 30th, 2007 13:28
Happy Christmas etc. I have not yet seen once, even though Glen Hansard is the lead singer of my second-favourite band. Don’t know if you know this, but the couple in the film have been coupling in real life also, even though he’s TWICE HER AGE. It’s disgusting and sinful and it really annoyed my brother’s friend who scored Glen and did not make a relationship out of it, despite being only two-thirds his age.
Anyway. My bro once jammed with Le Hansard on one of his own songs and I believe that the bro’s singing style was somewhat ripped off on the last Frames album but I’m not like casting nasturtiums or nothin.
Have a good new year Kelle-Belle. xxx
December 30th, 2007 15:46
Hello, Harlequin. Happy etc to you, too! Disgusting and sinful? No, that’s Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes. Anyone who sees the couple in Once instantly knows they belong with each other. Torie and I both remarked on that, separately, the second we heard them sing together. And your brother jammed with Hansard? VERY awesome. That would be amazing. He’s the most passionate front man I have ever seen in my life, apart from various worship leaders I’ve worked with. It IS as if he’s worshiping when he sings, and that’s a wonder to see. I could watch (and listen) to him all day long.
I hope this coming year is good for you, too, Harls.
January 2nd, 2008 15:22
Once is very good. I think I like it more now than I did just after coming out of the cinema, if that makes any sense.
Happy New Year!!
January 3rd, 2008 09:04
Happy New Year, Fency! Yes, that makes perfect sense, as that happens to me often. With Once, I loved it immediately; or, no, I loved it the moment Hansard’s character handed the money the thief had stolen back to him, and the thief asked how his ma was. hee.
I hope you’re doing well, friend. xo
August 16th, 2008 11:48
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!