Back from Vacation
Columbia, South Carolina to be exact. To visit the BFF Alicia since we haven't seen each other in over a year - and our other friend Erin also flew down so we were all together again! Even though August has been slow, it was a nice change to go down South and spend time there, where things really and literally DO move at a slower pace. It was a wonderful break from it all - I've never been to Columbia before, but it's definitely different from the likes of DC. Overall, there was a nice Southern charm to it, especially when we drove through nice neighborhoods and I fell in love with the Southern homes. It was interesting to drive around the city, seeing the rich and not-so-rich side by side and just noticing the economic differences between Washington DC and there. And the weather was so HOT - literally, it felt like 100+ degrees everyday and not a drop of rain in site. Alicia is currently in her second year of grad school at the University of South Carolina, so we got a tour around campus, met a lot of her graduate assistant friends and went out every night. It kind of felt like being in college again, just minus the schoolwork and all. I miss her a lot, so I was glad to be able to spend time with her.
We saw both Becoming Jane and Stardust while Erin and I were visiting. And I have to say that I really enjoyed both of them! I love Jane Austen (really, what female doesn't?) but I knew this was a "semi-biographical" story about her life and possible romance with Thomas Lefoy. And I was perfectly okay with that, although I know a lot of other die-hard Jane fans were not. I knew this was going to a romantical movie and since I really like those types of stories, I was all for seeing it, even if I also knew Jane Austen never married in real life. I mean, the movie ending was extremely bittersweet, and we were crying up a storm. (And not the slight, sniffle-crying you do during a movie, but the full out, I-have-to-blow-my-nose-because-I'm-crying-so-much-yet-trying-to-remain-as-quiet-as-possible tears.) And no, no one really knows if she did have anything with Lefoy because all but 2 letters written to her sister Cassandra were destroyed. But when I walked out, the romantic in me liked to think that maybe, just maybe, that's how it all worked out in real life. I totally recommend it, as long as you keep in mind that the movie takes what is known of their supposed romance and fills in the gaps with their imagination. I thought Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy (so hot) did a fantastic job too!
Stardust was also amazing! I haven't read the book, but I'm on the library waiting list to read it, so we'll see how alike the two arel; however, I thought the movie was great. It very much has elements of Grimm fairy tales and adds its own twists and turns. Robert De Niro was by far the best part in it as Captain Shakespeare, although Michelle Pfeiffer as the wicked witch Lamia was spectacular as well. I do love a good fantasy, and there was the romance aspect thrown in too, so I was happy as a clam. And visually, a movie that involves magic and fantasy is almost always going to be great in my opinion. And having not been to many movies in so long, watching those two great ones during my vacation makes me want to go and see them again.
And now I'm back in the office for another three weeks (THREE WEEKS!) until I leave for Vietnam. It's weird and scary and exciting all at once. I hope to be able to post some pictures soon!