Ramblings of a Princess

Haha! Sorry, I couldn’t help it. I love John Travolta, and I also enjoyed Jonathan Rhys Myers in August Rush. But when I saw the bald Travolta in the movie poster, I said, “I am going to watch this movie.” Also, the director is Pierre Morel, same guy who directed Taken. And I LOVE Taken.

Shallow, I know, but there you have it. I’m watching it tonight. Wheeeee~

Chemistry creates a good match. The on-screen tandem of actors John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers assures a new addition to the elite list of effective pairs lighting up the big screen.

This February, a no-nonsense buddy relationship happens in theaters, with a veteran act stirring it up with someone with ‘enough presence to play opposite him.’ From Paris With Love, with director Pierre Morel (Taken), ensures audiences of a ‘credible comedy with a dramatic story.’

Here, Travolta portrays the role of secret American agent Charlie Wax who is in Paris for a high-risk mission and who crosses paths with embassy worker James Reese (Meyers) who wants to become a real agent. The film follows the two on a journey through one of the world’s most popular cities, with all the comedic dialogue and situations while Wax serves as mentor for Reese.

“Jonathan and I both have a similar attack on acting, (approaching it) in a very naturalistic way,” says Travolta. He explains, “Our energies are similar in that we keep the fire lit throughout a scene and if we don’t, we make it happen.”

Travolta has only good words for Meyers who already won a Golden Globe for his starring role in the CBS television miniseries Elvis and got nominated twice for playing Henry the VIII in the Showtime original series The Tudors. He points out. “He is a brilliant actor and I think out of all the young actors, he is probably the most gifted. All his performances prove that because they are diversified and they’re believable and they’re classic.”

Meyers is likewise in awe of Travolta much more than one can easily scale. He said, “In Face Off, I think he did a brilliant job with being Nic Cage! You don’t have the physicality to portray the person you are meant to play and I think he really nailed that.”

Meyers separates his character from that of Travolta and shows how that difference makes a big difference: “I have to go through a lot of really dorky stuff, ethical issues and Reese is far more ethical than Wax. So it’s a buddy movie where there are people who have different ideals, yet have the same goal which they’re going towards to.”

Okay, so, to be honest, I didn’t love the movie adaptation of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief very much. I thought it was just…okay. Enjoyable, but it made me roll my eyes more than a few times. But what it made me feel, though, was want for the book.

Last night when I was browsing around at National Bookstore, I saw a medium-sized stack of the book—the saleslady I asked told me that it was selling really fast, which was understandable—with the movie poster as the cover. Now, I actually like the movie poster. Very much, actually.

This one.

But the thing is: I don’t like having movie posters on my book covers, regardless of my opinion of the movie adaptation. For example, I actually liked the Pride and Prejudice movie (both the BBC and the 2005 one with Matthew MacFadyen and Keira Knightley), but for my new copy of the book I hunted for a good cover that wasn’t a movie poster. I’m picky like that.

Anyway. I spent a full 30 seconds staring at The Lightning Thief book with the poster. I finally decided to let it go and hunt for an edition with the old cover. And then, just as I turned away to go, I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a hardbound book with the old cover.

This one.

Well, okay. It wasn’t fully the old cover, but it was close enough. It was beautiful. It was hardbound. It was THE LAST COPY. But it was 800 pesos. Pretty cheap for a beautiful harbound, but it wasn’t in my budget.

But… I stared at it for one full minute.

And then I walked away.

And then I turned around.

I bought it.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee~ I love how it looks like an old book. I love how it feels like an old book. I love that it’s sitting on my shelf.

Because it’s been half a year since its release, and I still haven’t seen lyrics of it posted. And because I love its happy tune with its sad lyrics. And because overlapping lyrics are a challenge, and I love challenges. And because I love blogging about good unknowns. And because ukeleles are love.

Nothing I Can Do
by Snowglobe
album: No Need to Light A Night Light on A Night Like Tonight

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Tried to help you, girl
But just added to your pain
There’s nothing I can to take that away
you can hate me, that’s okay

And know I love you, girl
Oooh~
Seems there’s nothing I can to show you that’s true
Some things you just can’t prove

How my heart swoons
to much love
There’s only room
for one love

And there’s nothing I can do
there’s nothing I can do
that’s good enough for you

We’re a separate hearts
and that ain’t gonna change
There ain’t nothing in this world to take it away
No, that ain’t gonna change

And you call to me
from that swirlin’ fog of rain
You act just like a stain
as I’m wanderin’ my own way

When my heart swoons
I know, love
There’s only room
For your love

There’s nothing I can do
There’s nothing I can do
There’s nothing I can do
that’s good enough for you

There’s nothing I can do
There’s nothing I can do
There’s nothing I can do
that’s good enough for you

There’s nothing I can do (one love feels like the other)
There’s nothing that I do (our love is like no other)
There’s nothing that I do
that’s good enough for you

There’s nothing I can do (one love feels like the other)
There’s nothing I can do (our love is like no other)
There’s nothing I can do
There’s nothing I can do

(One love feels like the other
Our love is like no other…)

—-
corrections in the overlapping part are welcome

I have no more words.

Two weeks ago, I announced a raffle for the This Journal Will Actually Change Someone Else’s Life 2010, which is this year’s version of the planner I used last year. It ended today, and after receiving 56 entries (not bad for a first timer in raffles, yes?) we have winners!

The winners were drawn using Random.org as shown in the thumbnails.

Aja – screenshot
Ganns – screenshot

I know I said I was only going to give away 2 journals, but keeping with the spirit of generosity suggested by the planner’s title, I decided to give away my own copy, as well! And the winner for the extra draw is:
Zoe – screenshot

Congratulations, winners! I hope the Journal will help you this year. I will get in touch with you guys and we’ll figure out how I’ll give the journals to you guys.

Many thanks to Mukhang Pera for posting about this contest in their blog, and many many thanks to everyone who submitted entries!

Bloggers
Why I Want “This Journal Will Actually Change Someone’s Life 2010″ by Emong
Be Better Not Bitter by Aliping Binabahay
This Journal Will Actually Change Someone’s Life 2010 raffle by Pink_23
This Journal Will Actually Change Someone’s Life 2010 by Min
This Journal Will Actually Change Someone’s Life 2010 by kasai
This Journal Will Actually Change Someone’s Life 2010 by Gentrified
Day 13: Plans and Goals by Cherry
Being a Big Sister by Ellen
I Need a Planner…badly! by Laya

Commenters
JA
Mistervader
Vin
yanangski
Tere Sevilla
Kawen
Christian homeschooler
Winston
Carlo
Charmaine
Janette Toral
Sherwin
Mi
LA
Joy
Koji
Apple
Gail
Jen
Chit
Abegail
Rem
Ellen Joy Castel
Suzanne delos Santos
Vivian
Kae
Donna
Kasai
Floraben
Min
Leslie
Colwin
Suzanne
Glenda C. Santos
Bagel
melandriaromero
Lhan

I know it changed mine in 2009.

Here it is, folks! FreeSpeech Publications, the people who gave you the This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life 2009 (long title, I know, but that’s what it’s called), has released the 2010 version! Some of you may have already seen it in Powerbooks and Fully Booked (I know I have) and maybe even flipped through it. Maybe you’ve thought, “Wow, this’ll be a nice gift!” or “I should buy me one of these.”

Well, guess what: I’m going to have a giveaway! Yup, I liked my 2009 planer so much that I think you should get the 2010 one. I’m giving out not one, but two copies of This Journal Will Actually Change Someone’s Life 2010.

This Journal Will Actually Change Someone’s Life 2010 is filled with witty facts, unusual holidays and interesting blurbs, awesome pates with mood charts, quarterly check-ups and tips for self-empowerment.

It’s very much like last year’s planner, which, as I’ve said, was very helpful to me. You can read my review or check out the official website.

So do you want one?

You can either comment or blog!

Comment
1.) Post a comment below about why you need a planner this year

Only one comment per person, please. Multiple comments by the same person will only count as one.
Each commenter will get one  (1) raffle ticket.

Blog
1.) Write about why you need a planner this year
2.) Link back to this blog post.
3.) Post a comment below with the URL  of your raffle entry.

Blog posts will get two (2) raffle tickets.

I’ll hold the raffle on January 15, 2010 (with witnesses haha) and post the result immediately after. Submission of entries ends at 12 noon, Manila time.

———————————————-

This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life 2010 is available in Powerbooks and Fully Booked stores.  You can also order your copy in the official website for 720 Php.

One of the things I don’t usually do is wear red during the Christmas season just because it’s the Christmas season. (Except on our Christmas Eve dinner, where we all dress up and take our family photo in our living room.) Actually, I don’t usually wear whatever-color-for-whatever-occasion on whatever-occasion just because it’s-the-occasion.

But today, I decided to do it. (Ah, yes, I have a lot of “but today…” activities, don’t I?)

Red jacket from my aunt’s closet. White turtleneck from…our office uniform. Jag jeans from a factory outlet along Libertad Mandaluyong – 120Php.  Brand new Naturalizer shoes, also from my aunt’s closet – P1000.

I was ready to get jokes along the lines of,  “uhuhuy~, Christmas colors, eh?” But, pleasantly enough, most people liked my bright red jacket, and gave no jokes. Nice.