So, survived another December.
At what cost?
Who knows.

Since my neighbors killed their wireless internet connection so I've been without internet for the last few weeks. Not really a huge ordeal but sometimes it would have been convenient to go online of course.
Will get my own connection asap.

Thanks goes out to Bas and Tamara for sending some chocolate. No Tim Tams but anything different than American tastes good!
After 4 months I can honestly say the food tastes a lot less rich than I'm used to. It tastes a bit stale as though they try to put as little stuff into it. Think I should check out some of the Delicatessen stores.

Biggest news is probably that I now have my own car. It's an old 1990 Toyota Corella but it's just the thing I need. It runs and that's the way I like it.
Went to downtown last week which was easier than I thought, only to get lost for a short while on the way back. Oh well, the movie (Kurosawa's "Hidden fortress") was worth the fuss.

Have seen quite a share of movies during the last two weeks. I'll say some brief words about a few of them.
"Walk the line": Johnny Cash biopic with Joaquin Phoenix leading the viewer to the ups and down of this American idol. Not a classic but very good and enticing throughout the entire length.
"Memoirs of a geisha": Though I haven't read the book (yet) the movie makes me want to read it. The makers have paid a lot of attention to the visuals and it looks impressive. The acting is good and most of the dialogues in English, though I would have preferred it to be in Japanese. The story is quite predictable but enjoyable nonetheless.
King Kong: Peter Jackson's rendition of the 1933 edition is an exhilirating ride from start to finish. He takes time to establish his characters in the beginning of the movie and tension is build up to new peaks before we finally get a glimpse of Kong. I've always been a huge fan of these monster movies and Jackson's reputation to be impeccable no matter what genre he tackles is held high. Though some of the CGI is a tad weak it is necessary to recreate the prehistoric population of Skull Island.
No classic but vintage blockbuster.

"Munich": After the immensely horrible and ultimately disappointing "War of the worlds" I was curious if Spielberg would still have something to say in movie world. Considering the topic of this movie one's expectations are high.
Stylistically it's a breathtaking ride. Acting is excellent with Geoffrey Rush in villainous role and Eric Bana ("Chopper", "Incredible Hulk") as the leading character heading the small group of men on a crusade of revenge. While in some spots Spielberg merely brushes the surface of some profound topics it feels good that the movie is not as pro-Israel as I feared it might be. The message is clear and in Eric Bana's character the viewer can recognize the effects of this ongoing violent history between the Israelis and Palestines. All just for a piece land of their own. To call home.