Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for the comments on Orange Alert! Wore her last night to the movies, and she was warrrrmmmm…. (but not overly so, love Paton’s Classic Merino.)
Went to see Cold Mountain. Hmmm. I really don’t know how I feel about it, which is odd. I’m usually quite opinionated about movies (and lotsa other things, too, come to think of it). I enjoyed watching it. Mostly. I think. I remembered why I didn’t finish the book: It’s about WAR. I really hate war books and movies, ‘specially the ultra-realistic ones. This one had moments that saw me walking out of the theater.
(Didn’t tell my group this, but I left once during a particularly wrenching gonna-be-bloody-awful scene and came back after chatting with the candy people and washing my hands in the bathroom. And I couldn’t find my folks. I stood and stared at where I should have been sitting, but the group of four kicked back with their feet up on the railing in the front row were just too young. Shoulda been two guys and two gals, thirty-something range. The group I stared at was the same configuration, with a gap-seat for me where I should have been sitting, but they were all about nineteen. I TRIPPED for about three seconds. Then I giggled all the way back to my real seat down the hall in the right theater.)
It also had beautiful moments, incredible scenery (oh, Maggi, is that really North Carolina?), and truly stunning people (Jude AND Nicole? Perfect). Renee Zellweger, I have to admit, was amazing. I sat and actively enjoyed a great deal of it. Then I was grumpy upon leaving and remain rather ambivalent about it, and I’m still not sure why. Anyone seen it? Any thoughts?
Hey! More pop-culture:
Did you see Carrie’s arm-warmers on the Sex and the City premiere? Oh, my knit-gals are so cutting edge! Look:
Em’s:
(And while we’re on the subject of her, Eve’s finished pretty-pretty Wave-Along, too!)
Of course, Carrie’s armers were blue camo fabric, but the sentiment is the same. She would have probably preferred hand-knit.
And I just have to address one of my comments. La Brainy says of Orange Alert: “What a great sweater! Is there any colour that DOESN’T look good on you? :)” Darling, please. It’s all in the digital camera. You have to know that for most pictures I post, I’ve taken at least ten more. You’re seeing the good stuff.
What you’re not seeing is this, where I appear to be addressing the spirit world. Or this, where I have lost my arms. Snort. Damn, every time I look at those I crack the hell up.
Last day with Bethany before we put her on the plane tomorrow…. Off to play!
What an aura! Good thing I didn’t have any beverages at my desk, I was laughing before I even saw the picture!
Cold Mountain is on my to-see list, and now you’ve made it sound more intriguing.
hi! just recently started reading your blog. i enjoy reading about your many adventures especially in knitting. you do nice work. anyway — i saw cold mountain — and i know what you mean about feeling ambivalent. i thought it was beautiful. nicole and renee did an excellent job — so well that i forgot who they were — they usually bug the bejesus out of me. and then there was jude law …. jude …. so pretty …
anyway — maybe it’s because it’s gotten such excellent reviews — around here anyway — that i was expecting something perfect … so i was just ever so slightly disappointed.
Ah, but Rachael darlin’: bizarre diaphonous pictures of you do not contradict La Brainy’s original premise that there appears to be no color you can’t wear. The one of you addressing the spirit world though–priceless.
Thanks for the Cold Mountain tip–I think the whole “what a beautiful movie but…” thing is typical of Minghella (he directed, right? I hope so because I hate being wrong). He also did The English Patient, a very very beautiful movie that I HATED.
I love that you posted the pic of my/Col’s armer. I love that Carrie’s wearing them in S&TC (which I haven’t seen).
The fact that it’s shot in Romania is one of my holdout reasons. And they changed the Virginia battle of his wounding (not that I’m ANY knid of Civil War geek). But I liked the book a lot. I’m afraid they changed the ending, and I hear Kidman’s just too pretty all the time. Will let you know if I do get there — Meanwhile, I watched Sex & Armwarmers again last night, but mostly for Misha!
I too just discovered your blog (courtesy of Greta). And although I haven’t seen the movie, I have to tell you that unfortunately it was not filmed in NC (where I live). I believe it was filmed in Romania?!?
Anyway, I love your knitting. And, I love your response to Bethany’s comment (which I also said “amen” to).
I like the Spirit World and the Lost Arms photos. And my spouse commmented on the “deer in the headlights” look that he says he associates with you. 🙂 I’m always impressed at how nicely your pictures come out. And your knitting.
I don’t like violent movies. I went to the war in scotland one, which I’ve blanked out the name of, because I was told it “wasn’t too violent”. Ha. I screen my movies much more carefully now!
Oh. Holy. Jesus. SNORT SNORT SNORT! I should know better by now than to click some people’s links when I’m at work. The Spirit World photo! I’m gasping for breath! That is the funniest thing! I’m imagining a commentator with one of those smooth nature-show voices: “Rachael’s knitting transports her to another realm, one where the physical body begins to fade away…”
Once again, Rachael, you’ve made my day. Thank you! (And Maggi: “Sex and Armwarmers”! Ha!)
(“Cold Mountain” is probably a big enough blockbuster to play here eventually, so I may see it, despite my loathing of Ms. Zellweger.)
My little voices told me to look at your spirit world picture, we are all laughing!
Orange Alert is awesome, I would think the buzz from wearing something you made yourself (and designed!) would keep you warm for days. Congratulations, it’s beautiful!
HA! Those pictures are great, a little scary, but hilarious!
giggle. snort. the cats are even staring….what happened to her ARMS, mama? Is that what would happen if you wore orange alert and took it seriously? With a swish of their tails (any mention of war finds us all leaving the room and going to wash our hands….)they are off to try and find you in the spirit world….
the photos are the guts but i’m still sniggering over you wandering into the wrong theater and wondering how your friends managed to shed 10+ years while you were away.
lol
Tee hee. Can you contact some people for me on the other side, Rach? I’m glad that you are willing to share your reject photos…I promptly delete all mine. Love digital cameras.
Cold Mountain=too violent for me. I can’t really take any even slightly realistic violence. I’m lame, I know, but I prefer cheesy romance or comedy…
Those armwarmer photos are great!
I, too, am unsure about my feelings for Cold Mountain. While I absolutely loved the book, I grow increasingly tired of directors feeling the need to add/eliminate/change certain elements of an author’s imaginings. And while the Romanian mountains were beautiful, they don’t hold a candle to the Blue Ridge (where I live, and only 15 minutes from the real Cold Mountain). But Jude and Nicole are certainly easy on the eyes….Love the orange sweater. Am strangely drawn to orange lately….hmmmm
I couldn’t agree with you more: Cold Mountain–eh.
Carrie’s arm-warmers–absolutely fabulous.
You just crack me up to no end.
I was more interested in seeing Cold Mountain, before I read your review. I am also not a big fan of war movies. Seriously, the last one I saw was Platoon. Hmmm, I’ll have to think about whether or not Renee’s performance is enough motivation to go. Probably not.