Halloween 2008 - too early to start planning my costume? NO!

I know some of you might think that since it's only the middle of May, it's too early to be planning a Halloween costume. Well, to you people I say this: I've been brainstorming Halloween costumes since February, so just deal with it and plan on giving me a prize for the most Halloween costume you've ever seen, come October 31st, of course.

So far, these are the options I've come up. In no particular order:

1. A chicken nugget
2. Marie Antoinette - pre-decapitation
3. Marie Antoinette - post-decapitation
4. A hot dog
5. The Incredible Hulk
6. A Kleenex
7. A blog (obviously, this blog!)
8. Linda Richman (Mike Meyers' character from Saturday Night Live circa early 1990s)
9. A cupcake
10. A skeleton

I know my lists ranges from high brow (Marie Antoinette - pre-decapitation) to "what the hell are you thinking?" (the rest of the list), but I think I can pull these costumes off. The Hulk would be the easiest, obviously. My luscious muscles can't be contained. But seriously, I'm sure I could manipulate my body fat to RESEMBLE muscles. And when I suck in my gut hard enough, it kind of looks like I have a one pack...which is only five away from a six-pack. STOP JUDGING ME!

Leading up to the final costume decision, feel free to leave your ideas for my Halloween costume in the comment section of this post. Please, nothing vulgar. I've already gone as the Virgin Mary post-giving birth to the baby Jesus, so trust me, you can't really beat that. (<-- Fun Fact: That costume is what secured my ticket to Hell).

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly = Totally French x Totally Awesome x Worth the $14 I paid to see it

I have a bad habit when it comes to seeing movies. If I say that I'm going to see a film, I've pretty much just said that I, in fact, won't be seeing said film and instead will complain about how I haven't seen it yet and then will never ever rent it on DVD.

When I was still in New York, I made a pretty good effort at breaking this habit. At one point, I was going to the movies maybe twice a week, sometimes on every day of the weekend. It helped that ticket prices aren't majorly expensive in New York, and I was lucky enough to have every amazing movie in the world being shown on my door step. However, in the past couple of years, there hasn't been a movie I've wanted to see as much as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Jean Dominique Bauby's story has interested me since I first saw the film's trailer back in August 2007, and it's taken me until now to FINALLY see the movie.

I was in the midst of packing and moving when the film was released in New York. Then while in Oklahoma City, I learned it was going to be released...the day after I left for Sydney. The film finally had its first showing last week, and I made it to the theater by Friday. And I have to say, it was totally worth the wait.

First off, if you haven't read Bauby's book of the same title, I suggest you do so before seeing the movie. However, the movie is still good even without knowledge of the text. I found the book allowed me to fill in holes that the film couldn't possibly explore, and let's face it: the problem with every book adaption to film is that the director can't possibly cover ever tiny detail that is featured in the book. For one, my favorite line was cut out (I'll get over it).

I don't want to go on and give a synopsis of the film because I want all my readers to actually go out and see it. For those of you writing it off as bourgie French film, you're right...BUT IT'S SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT! I believe I'm in a phase of my life where I'm finally getting perspective on things, and that is exactly what this movie is about: perspective. Both literally and metaphorically.

Also, I'll have an Internet connection at my new home starting Thursday, so expect more frequent blog updates! Yeah!