Drop-stitch poncho

Finally finished the drop-stitch poncho and I absolutely love it. It was very simple to knit but looks really cool. The pattern is from Lorna Miser and I used Tahki New Tweed (absolutely love the yarn and have ordered more not knowing what I will make).

I used some beads to just make it a little more dressy :)

Movie Review: March of the Penguins et al

March of the Penguins
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Amazing movie...It is the story of the Emperor penguins and how they brave the winters and survive lack of food for months in order to keep their race alive... The movie is really nice but what we loved more was the story "Of Men and Penguins" by the directors Laurent Chalet and Jerome Maison and were very impressed with their passion, perseverance and dedication in bringing antartica and the story of the emperor penguins to the rest of the world. Infact we liked their narration in this documentary much more than that in the movie by Morgan Freeman.

They talk about how much ground work they needed to do to shoot the film. While shooting, they lived in Antartica for 9 months away from the family and disconnected from the rest of the world. Everyday they would walk from their camp for about a mile in the ice and -58 deg weather dragging their equipment to film the penguins. Once while filming they were hit by a blizzard and they continued to shoot inspite of it for a while but eventually gave up. They got so lost in the blizzard that a rescue team was sent to get them back. Both of them had severe frost bites and knee injury and had to take a month off recuperating. As Laurent says in the documentary, "their nine months was spent as subjects of the emperor. They had no clue what they were going to do as normal people when they return to the normal world". I think everybody should get a DVD and watch the documentary even if they have seen the movie.

The DVD also has a national geographic piece on critter cam but this was not as close to the heart of the makers as the earlier documentary..

Capote
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Really good movie and very worthy of an Oscar. It is the story of how author/journalist Truman Capote befriends murderers in order to get a story for his book and how he sacrifices his integrity chasing fame and fortune. Philip huffman has done a wonderful job. Below is a line from Truman Capote and I am sure most people would have felt like this at some time.
" I have shed more tears for answered dreams than unanswered ones"

Memoirs of a Geisha
==============
Good movie. I would love to read the book now. The only part that I found missing was that Geisha's are considered extremely intellectual. They are very well versed with history, literature, etc. and can carry on an interesting conversation on any subject..but somehow this was never conveyed in the movie.

Before and After - My very own felted bag

This was my first felting project. I made it using my own instincts..so did not follow any patterns. It turned out quite well. ..the handle is a little wider and longer than I hoped. Also I wish the yarn was a little softer. Felting rocks cause it beautifully hides all knitting errors :)

Below are pictures of the purse before and after felting

BEFORE
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AFTER
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Grey's anatomy - What a finale!!

We love this show...one of the shows we put reminders for to watch :) and after a long time a show we wait for every week...We started watching the show this season and have loved every episode and the season finale was as gripping as it could get. For a change we did not change channels during an ad break..i think there were very few ad breaks :))

The best part of the finale: Individual conversations of the interns with the Chief

Can't wait for the next season to start in September. Lots of unanswered questions

- Is Izzie really out??
- What is going to happen between Derek and Meredith
- Are there going to be new characters
- George and Callie...Really??

Movie Reviews - April (kind of late..I know)

Inside Man
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Fantastic movie. Good acting, excellent script, very good pace, real good humour..and there is a pleasant surprise in the beginning of the movie. Must see...

Flightplan
=======
Starts off well but for some reason they try to make it creepy ..gives more of a horror feel than that of a suspense thriller. Not worth renting a dvd..but ok to watch if it is running on HBO

Wallace and Gromit - series and movie
==============
Oh so cute...the series are much nicer than the movie itself. The inventions are a must see , esp the snoozatron :)

Salaam Namaste
============
First half is good...second half as usual gets all melodramatic. Javed Jaffrey is amazing.....wives...sorry ?? ekjhactly

Good Night and Good luck
==================
It is more like a documentary..good for people who knew nothing about Senator McCarthy. Very short...the making of the movie is pretty interesting (how they built the elevator etc.)

March of the Penguins
==============
Amazing movie...It is the story of the Emperor penguins and how they brave the winters and survive lack of food for months in order to keep their race alive... The movie is really nice but what we loved more was the story "Of Men and Penguins" by the directors Laurent Chalet and Jerome Maison and were very impressed with their passion, perseverance and dedication in bringing antartica and the story of the emperor penguins to the rest of the world. Infact we liked their narration in this documentary much more than that in the movie by Morgan Freeman.

They talk about how much ground work they needed to do to shoot the film. While shooting, they lived in Antartica for 9 months away from the family and disconnected from the rest of the world. Everyday they would walk from their camp for about a mile in the ice and -58 deg weather dragging their equipment to film the penguins. Once while filming they were hit by a blizzard and they continued to shoot inspite of it for a while but eventually gave up. They got so lost in the blizzard that a rescue team was sent to get them back. Both of them had severe frost bites and knee injury and had to take a month off recuperating. As Laurent says in the documentary, "their nine months was spent as subjects of the emperor. They had no clue what they were going to do as normal people when they return to the normal world". I think everybody should get a DVD and watch the documentary even if they have seen the movie.

The DVD also has a national geographic piece on critter cam but this was not as close to the heart of the makers as the earlier documentary..

Capote
=====
Really good movie and very worthy of an Oscar. It is the story of how author/journalist Truman Capote befriends murderers in order to get a story for his book and how he sacrifices his integrity chasing fame and fortune. Philip huffman has done a wonderful job. Below is a line from Truman Capote and I am sure most people would have felt like this at some time.
" I have shed more tears for answered dreams than unanswered ones"

Memoirs of a Geisha
==============
Good movie. I would love to read the book now. The only part that I found missing was that Geisha's are considered extremely intellectual. They are very well versed with history, literature, etc. and can carry on an interesting conversation on any subject..but somehow this was never conveyed in the movie.

Pirates of the Carribean - Dead Man's Chest
==================

We saw the movie last weekend...knew that it was not going to be anywhere as good as the Part 1. but did not expect it to be such a let down.

Our reaction to the movie...

- How could Elizabeth swan kiss jack sparrow (my cousin still can't believe it happened...I think she somehow wishes that it did not really happen ;)
- Why did they bring back barbossa
- Why were people in the movie so dirty
- Too much talking very little action...

Silver lining in the dark cloud...
- One amazing fight scene
- Some funny moments

Hopefully Part 3 will be much better...and earn back the "Wow..pirates of the caribbean" reaction back

Do we have the right to complain about gas prices??

Below is a lighter side to this issue. It is true that people spend money on Starbucks coffee and do not seem to mind or think twice (or even once) that it costs 4 times what a coffee should ;) but the same people crib about the soaring gas prices.