Hicksville: The Return

I’m back! It feels like I never even left. It’s funny to notice the minor changes, but really it’s just the same. Due to other things, the time I am spending has been cut much shorter than I’d like so I’ve had to compromise a lot on what I get done, but there are some things that were not compromised.

The Lake
Enough time to walk it. Still as beautiful as ever.

Wal Mart
I still know it like the back of my hand.

Waynesville
Is it wrong that I love small town America so much?

Asheville
Still weird in a cool way.

Anyway, here's the photos.

It was a weird feeling being back, like I was home.


In Waynesville I went to Whitman's Bakery. This is a Napoleon which I believe contains all the energy and fat you're allowed in a week.


I couldn't believe my eyes as I was leaving - there was a protest downtown. With placards and everything. That never happened when I lived there! I had to circle around to get a photo. The protest was about the war in Iraq. Quick off the mark with that one eh?


My car was a serious disappointment after the Highlander in Colorado. Wind down windows and only one cup holder. I didn't think they even made cars with only one cup holder!


I love adopting statue poses! This me doing my best Chief Junaluska.

At the weekend Jose, Lindy and Matt came up for the weekend and we skied just down the road from the lake, staying at Lindy's cabin again.


How Aspen do I look?!

Check out this video of Jose on the 'elements'.


It was all I could do not to laugh on the video.

On the way back south, Jose and I stopped at Chimney Rock, a local tourist site that I never made it to.

The Last of the Mohicans was filmed here so they told me.


Apparently I thought there was a danger I wouldn't be in the photo.

So now I'm in New York City, staying with my cool friend Michelle. Good times.

Continuing the movie theme

A lot of things had changed in Hicksville. Mostly for the good I'd say and this is definitely one of the coolest:


The cinema has a restaurant in it! I think this could well be the coolest thing I have ever seen.

Film 2008

Since arriving in the States, I have seen twice as many films as I did all the time in Singapore. And lucky you, I thought I would review them for you because, you know, my opinion matters.

Juno

Synopis: Teenage girl gets pregnant and decides to give up the baby for adoption rather than having an abortion.

Verdict: Actually very good. My synopsis probably makes it sound very dull and dramatic but it is funny. Ellen Page is brilliant and there’s a really good soundtrack. And not to get too serious, I hope it highlights to teenagers having sex what they are doing and the risks they are taking.

See it.

PS I Love You

Synopsis: Dead husband writes letters to his wife from the great beyond.

Verdict: Hmm…I didn’t read the book (and to be honest never will) so I cannot join the people who say ‘it’s not as good as the book’. Hillary Swank is good, fantastic wardrobe, very Holly Golightly-esque. But it kind of left me cold.

Don’t see it, there are far better movies to spend your money on. But I’m probably too late because you have already.

The Great Debaters

Synopsis: A black university professor trains his university debate team. But can they take on the white kids?

Verdict: Predictable but still good. The film was made by Oprah and it really does show the injustice in American society that existed at that time. There’s a little confusion with a farmers union storyline that falls between two stools for me. It should have been included more, or not at all.

Worth a look.

The Bucket List

Synopsis: Two cancer patients come up with a list of things to do before they kick the bucket.

Verdict: One of those films where you think you’ve seen it all in the trailer, and you have. Except for the actually funny parts. Made me think about death a lot and how getting old is just no fun. I still don’t like Jack Nicholson even though he had the best line in the film, where after having chemo he’s throwing up and looks at himself in the mirror and says ‘somewhere some lucky guy is having a heart attack.’

See it.

Charlie Wilson’s War

Synopsis: Charlie Wilson, a congressman, gains funding for the covert war in Afghanistan when the USSR invades in 1980.

Verdict: Brilliant. A serious topic, and one that I don’t really know a whole lot about. It has some brilliant lines in it. – you can tell it was written by Aaron Sorkin (West Wing man). Make sure you take note of the last scene…now there’s another fine mess you’ve got us into.

See it, especially to help understand Afghanistan now.

27 Dresses

Synopsis: Always a bridesmaid girl has been one 27 times, but will she ever walk down the aisle herself?

Verdict: Another film where you think you’ve seen it all in the trailer, but you have not. This film is laugh out loud funny and for a chick flick is not that predictable. One of those films you know you will own.

See it. Boys, I would even say it’s funny enough for you.

Blogs I really wanted to post last week

I thought I would make the effort to post this otherwise it'll be old news and you won't care (I making myself believe that you care already).

No time to tell you about Stop 11: North Carolina

I've been and am back from North Carolina. The Lake was as beautiful as ever and the people as lovely. I really wanted to blog, but there wasn't time so I have a lot to put on here.

But it'll have to wait. I have a flight to New York, my last stop, to get.

Hopefully I'll be able to write from there.