Series 2: Vending Machines

My other favorite thing in Japan -- the fabulous vending machines. They have everything. I had to try as much as possible. The grapefruit water -- yummy! And the best? An iced cocoa that is SO, so yummy. Hot, cold. No problem.

When I get a chance I will share more food pics. There are so many cool things.

Japan Series 1: plastic food menus

I love these! One of my favorite things about being in Japan are the plastic food menus.

Picture one: a whole bunch of ice cream flavors. I think there are more than 31....

Picture two: typical Japanese menu items of noodles, bento boxes, etc

Movies on a Plane

So, I'm now back in town after my adventure in Asia. I'm having a hard time adjusting back to the time change, but had no trouble sleeping over there. Curiuos....

Anyway, i had a chance to check out a bunch of movies on the 10 hour flight over and the 8 hour flight back. While plane movie viewing is never ideal, announcement interruptions have to be made in 2 languages on international flights making it even more annoying.

I Am Legend -- kept my attention and was not as bad as i expected

Sadly, that is the only one I can remember 8 days later. Oh well. They were all on my Netflix queue, which I have now been able to update.

Not as interesting a post as I had hoped...

The Movie Spreadsheet

We have gotten organized and have a spreadsheet of all the movies we want to see until the end of the summer. I'm sure more will be added as I do some more research into the movies coming out. But it's a good 30 movies long. And we have been making headway!

Leatherheads -- entertaining and often charming (who does not like a George Clooney movie? -- plus as a bonus it has John Kraskinsi) this movie ends up disappointing in the end because the ending does not make sense! The likable hero gets taken down at the end for no good reason except for the truth to come out. So, I won't go on and on, but I really don't like Rene Zellweger and I was left with kind of an icky flabberghasted kind of feeling. Why???

Forgetting Sarah Marshall -- another movie by the Apatow gang. This one is written and stars Jason Segel, who was my favorite on Freaks and Geeks. I'll just say that I laughed out loud many, many times, but there was also some moment of "I did not need to see that" as well as the most male frontal nudity I've seen in any movie -- ever. Gratuitous! But at least the guys get the gratuitous scenes for once.

The Forbidden Kingdom -- Jet Li and Jackie Chan together at last. A big deal, yes? By the looks of the crowd at the matinee I would certainly say so. But while it was good, it was also a bit lackluster. It didn't have the epic "wow" nor was it as funny as the previews would like you to think. The fight scenes went on.... and on.....but overall not bad. Just not what it could've been.

Green Valley Meats

Last weekend was like 80 degrees (remember that?) Never mind that it's been doing nothing but raining AND snowing since. Anyway, we went to Green Valley meats to pick up some steaks -- and a couple of extra treats too. The best bacon I've had to date and some smoked oysters that were not bad at all.

The steaks ended up being delicious. Super thick cut. I wasn't sure how long to grill, but they turned out great!

That was the end of the good weather....for now anyway.

Run Fat Boy Run

I loved this movie! It even made me want to be a runner. Not a marathon runner, mind you -- or even a half marathon runner. But the kind of runner who runs often and enjoys it. Anyway, how can you go wrong with a movie written by Micheal Ian Black and Simon Pegg. Run Fat Boy Run chronicles the woes of Dennis, a slacker/loser with a good heart who leaves his pregnant finacee at the alter because he does not feel he is good enough for her. So he spends the entirety of the movie trying to win her back (which involves running) and hilarity ensues. I give this at least 4, maybe 5 stars.