Unconscious Mutterings no.3…

State :: of the Union address

Lively :: -hood

Valet :: parking

Traction :: road, top gear

Official :: report

Red hot :: chilli peppers

Powder :: talcum

Replies :: not sent (???)

Flagrant :: disregard

Tweet :: -y and Sylvestro

Caveman

True to tradition (or Murphy’s Law, depending on how you see it) I managed to miss this the first time it came, touring, to my little corner of the universe. I guess I should have expected it. With a total of only three shows available in the area (and the local promotion being what it was, namely pathetic), my chances of securing a ticket at the last minute were slim -to say the least. There was not much left for me to do but quietly fume & shimmer in envy of those lucky enough to have got their hands on one of the little slips (Willy Wonka, anyone?)

A couple of weeks ago, the Gods smiled down at me. I was in the car, on my way downtown one morning, when I saw the posters -advertising the show’s return to our fair city, for three more shows at the end of the month. Saying I’d be damned if I missed it again would be an understatement. I was at the ticket booth that same evening, ready to pay the (slightly hefty at 22 euro) price to secure admission to the show planned for Tuesday, 29th April. And I did it

So, last night I was there with C. ready for some easy-going fun. Still, nothing could have prepared me for the “ride”. For more than 2 hours, Gerasimos Gennatas (the sole actor of the show -which is hailed as the longest running solo in the history of Broadway) mesmerized us with his hilarious interpretation of the eternal “battle of the sexes”.

Saying more would just spoil the fun so I’ll let you hunt the caveman down, visit him, focus on the target or collect the experiences (as need may be ) and come to your own conclusions. Just make sure you do it. It will cost you less than psychoanalysis and teach you much, much more…promise

The Greek Wentworth…

I was sitting quietly, minding my own business, sipping my (extra whipped cream, extra caramel sauce) caramel frappucino @ Starbucks, when I suddenly spotted the -long awaited- Greek version of the divine Mr. Miller.

Now, this is -clearly- meant to be a no comments entry so I’ll just say this:
God is cruel (a little extra decade, not to mention a better dress sense, wouldn’t have hurt anyone )

Upside down, boy you turn me, inside out and round & round…

My whole universe is spinning. It’s either on the verge of evolving or just preparing to implode…

I’m trying to start a company, translate a book, build a website & figure out the intricacies of becoming a part-time…journalist*. Then, if all goes well, I’ll just have to start figuring out the rest of my new life

Hopefully, this (mini)post now giving you an idea of my current situation, you’ll understand why I’ve sort of disappeared on you, lately.

[* If anyone knows of a good, on-line course I'd love to hear about it...]

I was starting to suspect it was about time…

My father and I had an interesting conversation last night. At the end of it, he declared his intention to start a blog & asked for my help in doing so.

I was surprised, mainly ’cause I didn’t think he’d be one to dedicate time to similar endeavours, but quite happy to hear it. I think he’s got a lot of stuff that would be real fun to share and am 100% behind him.

In the spirit of helping him out, I started looking at different host services trying to decide which would be the easiest for him to use. That led to designing a little “trial” version, meant to showcase all the different things that can be done. But, alas, my charitable experiment soon spiraled out of control and…well, here I am with a new blog design instead

Don’t get me wrong, I did put together something quite impressive for him to check out. It’s just that, while doing it, I suddenly felt the old, familiar itch and simply had to scratch…I’m sure those of you who have been visiting for sometime now, know exactly what I mean

Hope you like the new design. God knows it took me ages to adjust. I had to temporarily let go of some features (ie. Guest Book) but I’m sure none of you will fret. Wasn’t as if you were queueing to sign it, now was it?

So, my dear ladies and gentlemen (for however long it lasts this time) I give you the new, multi-level Sneak a Peek.

Hip, hip, hurray!!!

TBR Book Challenge- 2008 Edition…

So…here I am, taking on my very first online, book challenge…After checking a number of the available ones, out there, I finally settled on this one -mainly in the hope that it will help me manage my book addiction & tackle the resulting, ever-expanding number of unread titles on my bookshelves (see relevant entry below)

I won’t be joining the Yahoo group available for this purpose, so my two lists (main & alternate) for this year’s edition will have to be posted here:

Main
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Sleep with Me
Lolita
The Devil & Miss Prym
The Tenderness of Wolves
Twilight
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
The Interpretation of Murder
The Lollipop Shoes
Extra Virgin
Nights of Rain & Stars
The Long Way Round

Alternate
The Observations
Minus 9 to 1
Plan B
A Girl’s Guide to Vampires
Death by Chocolate
Twenty Times a Lady
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Ps. I Love You
In the Dark of Night
Full Dark House
Love in the Time of Cholera
Goodnight Nobody

You can also find the banner -with links to both the challenge homepage & this entry- in my sidebar, throughout 2008.

Having never done this before I’m still (ever-so-slightly) fuzzy on the rules & not sure of whether participants are meant to write reviews after reading each book. I will, however, try to do that & post my comments under “Books”. You can click on the relevant category to access them, at any given time.

Anyhow, I guess that’s all for now. Let the games begin & happy reading to all…

Earth Hour 2008…

For more information about the event visit the dedicated Earth Hour website -by clicking on the animated banner above. Those in Greece can also check Earth Hour Ελλάς

Unconscious Mutterings no.2…

Money :: makes the world go round…the world go round…the world go round…

Unhappy :: couple

Joking :: fun

Chipmunk :: nuts, cute

Date :: and time

Slideshow :: presentation

Chicago :: musical

Lifetime :: achievement

Skid row :: electric guitars

Edward :: Scissorhands

La Vie en Rose…

Whatever you do, do not miss this movie.

Featuring an unprecedented performance by Marion Cotillard this is the heart-breaking, real-life story of one of this world’s legends!

Books! Gorgeous books…

I think I’ve developed a serious addiction to…books!

I’d never really thought about it and had refused to pay any attention to the uncontrolable urge that came over me, every time I passed Waterstones or approached an FNAC these last 6 years. I didn’t even worry about the fact that I’d go on city trips (to Paris, Amsterdam, London, Edinburgh) and come back draging a stone-heavy luggage, half-filled with books (not city guides mind you) -instead of perfume, clothes, accessories or the usual souvenirs & local specialties you’d expect a normal person to buy. And through it all, the books kept accumulating and my collection of shelves and storage units grew proportionately.

Moving back from Brussels I knew I’d had a good 6 boxes of books sent ahead, not to mention another couple dozen titles, still unread, back home. That, somehow, didn’t stop me from heading straight to the airport Press Point and making yet another little purchase .

Shortly after settling back home, I realised the city had a brand new, huge, international bookstore and simply could not stop myself. On my first visit I bought 3 paperbacks & a heavy-set, coffee table bio of Audrey Hepburn. Then I ordered “Eldest” by Paolini & “The Long Way Round” by Ewan McGregor. Upon exiting the premises, on my last visit, I was holding a bag containing “Twilight” & “The Girls’ Guide to Hunting & Fishing”, as well as a 20 euro coupon (having to somehow finance my addiction I’ve registered for the bookstore’s Priviledge Card -the equivalent of an airline mile card for nerds ). Which, as you might imagine, led me straight back the next day for another little hunt through the aisles (resulting in the purchase of Boyd & Coelho titles)…

In between visits I took a short trip to Brussels, to visit friends & take care of a few things, only to end up “looting” my fav second-hand bookstore and come back with another 3 titles, including Guevara’s “Bolivian Diary” & Rubenfeld’s “The Interpretation of Murder”.

Now, I know you’re thinking it can’t get any worse but I’m afraid it can -and has. My home-town also has a second hand bookstore of its own (not even close to the above mentioned one, but still…) which I’ve visited on a number of occasions. Books are so cheap there you always end up buying at least a couple. Finally, to top it all off, I’m currently a member of BookCrossing and can collect books freely at any BookCrossing zone…Thank God, I can also leave some for others to pick up or I’d soon have to give my place up for my books to take over .

So, here I am taking a pledge of purchasing “abstinence”:
“I solemnly promise and swear to NOT buy another book until I’ve read the ones currently crowding my overloaded bookshelf”

I might just order some, though…