The Lovely Bones Verdict

Okay, so went or go see The Lovely Bones on Wednesday and yes, it was as brilliant as I'd speculated. It was so beautifully sad that I now really want to read the book. If the book's better than the film (which they almost always are, although this may well be an exception) then it's a marvelous read. Just to bad I can't read it yet becuase I'm still buried under all my books from the library. Why do I never think about how much reading I will have to do when I pick my modules? Will have to wait until the summer then, but that won't stop me ordering it off Amazon right now!

Charlie in the snow

How cute is the snow flake on her nose?

The Lovely Bones and Glee

Okay, my cultural artifacts for this week come in the form of something I haven't actually seen yet or a song-and-dance tv show that I just can't get enough of.

The Lovely Bones is a new film based on the novel by Alice Sebold. It's directed by the visionary Peter Jackson and focuses on the (short) life of Suzie Salmon, a young girl growing up in the 1970's who is brutally murdered by a guy who lives down the road. Now I know this doesn't sound like the kind of film your going to want to take in on date night or cinema sunday, but I'm not done yet. Suzie is caught between the living and the dead where she watches her family from the safety of her own world. This is where the beauty of the film is executed by Jackson and why I cannot wait to see it! The performances are very likely to be outstanding and heartfelt, while the elegance of Suzie's imagination and painful reality of her family's lives will evoke the watcher to tears (I know I will cry like a girl.) The trailer gives me chills when I catch it on telly and if the reviews are anything to go by then it's going to be one of the best films of 2010! Go see it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUWKi0W5_g

On a much, much lighter note, I am also entralled with the brand spanking new tv show Glee, which suprised even myself. You see, when what appears to be everyone was prancing and dancing about to Mamma Mia I decided to stay well away. I have even attempted (attempted!) to watch it since everyone stopped dancing and I still can't stand it and do not see the point in its existance. This is exactly why I was so suprised to be loving Glee, but I am! So I willfully pronouce myself a Glee Fan! I just can't get enough of the pre-recorded songs, spectacularly executed through-months-of-practice dance routines, wildly stretched story lines (what kind of husband wouldn't know if his wife was really pregnant? Don't they sleep in the same bed?) and obscene Americaness of it all! It verges on the onbsurd at times and its fab. I urge everyone to surrender themeselves to a bit of song and dance once a week. I guarentee that nothing will make feel better on a monday night than perhaps if you watch it with Johnny Depp feeding you chocolate!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8_blndbOiQ&feature=related

Just a little link . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkQn12ZPTJU&feature=related

A lovely performance of a lovely song in a lovely film. Enjoy!

Weekend To Remember

This weekend was going to be great. Jess hadn’t seen Shannon in over a month. They’d both been so busy lately that it was amazing they were able to organise spending today together. A major shopping trip was just what they both needed. Shannon had said she’d been working flat out at the office lately and Jess had only recently returned from Amsterdam where she’d been employed to write an article about the city’s Red Light District it was famed for. Not really Jess’s cup of tea but she loved the travelling. This new job was proving to live up to her expectations, she only hoped that Sam wasn’t feeling neglected at all. They had just celebrated their second wedding anniversary, not on the actual date though because it had clashed with her trip so they celebrated before she went. He was still as romantic as when they first met five years ago. Roses, chocolates, dinner in a fancy restaurant, they whole deal. Jess really felt like she’d landed a good one when she married Sam. She was alone in the house for the time being though as he was away for the weekend with the guys from work for a stag do. She needn’t worry about him, he was always the responsible one of the group. This was another reason why the weekend seemed destined for her and Shannon to spend together. Her home could be a girl only zone ‘till tomorrow afternoon. Jess realised she was running late so she quickly swigged her coffee, threw on her coat and was out the door.
The train was packed. Though it was to be expected, it was Saturday after all. Jess managed to get a seat early on which she was glad of because it was rather a long journey into the centre of town. Jess took out her book and began to read absent-mindedly. She found herself re-reading the same line over and over again so she decided to cease reading and just look out of the window for the remainder of the journey. She thought of what her hubby might be up to at the moment and how she had forgotten this morning to take her multi-vitamin tablet. She was angry with herself. It was so important for her body to be as healthy as it possibly could be at the moment. Jess also wondered about how withdrawn Shannon had seemed on their last few rendezvous’. Her husband Mark worked away a great deal and so she was often left to her own devises. She didn’t really have many close friends and with Jess’s new job also requiring her to work away Shannon often had to spend her evenings after work alone in their big house. Jess had often wondered why they had so many bedrooms and yet they didn’t seem intent on having children. After all they had been married for going on six years now.
Just as the thought of babies crossed her mind for the tenth time this morning Jess spotted a very heavily pregnant woman board the train. The carriage was still rammed with people and no one seemed likely to move for the young woman, let alone give up their seat. Jess hesitated. She was incredibly comfy where she was sat but she projected herself into the young woman’s position. Jess was very used to doing this. She always enjoyed pretending inside her head what it would be like to be pregnant. She wished for it so badly in reality that it couldn’t help but spill over into fantasy as well. Jess got up and offered the young woman her seat. She was extremely grateful and they proceeded to chat lightly about pregnancy related issues until Jess’s stop came some ten minutes later. She felt rather uplifted by this encounter but at the same time she felt the familiar pang of desire and hoped that she wouldn’t encounter anymore pregnant women today.
* * *
“God it feels like ages since we last saw each other. Don’t you think? How long’s it been, a month?” Shannon’s voice was full of excitement.
“Yeah, about that. You look so well, positively radiant hun. How’s the job?” said Jess with a small sigh of relief. She had been half expecting a reserved Shannon that needed coaxing out of her shell and she was glad that she didn’t have to apologise for being away either. She really hadn’t been looking forward to doing that because Jess could never pretend to feel something she didn’t and she loved being sent away to work.
“Oh it’s fine, same as ever. You, on the other hand, have been having a whale of time haven’t you? Oh, no need to look at me like that, I’m really happy for you. It’s great to have a job you love it’s just too bad we can’t all have that. Anyway, I have some news.” They had entered the food court of the Meteor shopping centre and had decided to sit at a table near the jacket potato shop. The hall was positively buzzing with the sound of happy shoppers pleased to not be in work and who were taking full advantage of the summer sales. Jess eyed an elderly couple who had just seated themselves by the balcony overlooking the lower level of shops. She watched as the husband took his wife’s coat and placed it lovingly on the empty chair beside him and again she thought of Sam.
“News? What kind of news?” Jess knew it had to be something positive because Shannon looked as though she was ready to burst. She couldn’t remember the last time she saw her this ecstatic.
“Well ... I’m pregnant! Can you believe it? I can’t, I’m so excited. I’m only two weeks gone which I know is very early but I felt sick the other day so I just thought I’d see and, well, I am. I went to the doctors yesterday and she confirmed it. It still hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m going to be a mum. Well, what you think?” Shannon’s voice stopped as abruptly as it had began and Jess felt herself being pulled out of the dark pit she had just fallen into at the sound of Shannon’s announcement.
“Oh, yes well, of course it’s wonderful. Congratulations. I’m really happy for you.” She said whilst trying to force a wide smile across her face. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy for Shannon, it was just that they had both wanted to start a family for a while now and it had become somewhat of a friendly competition between them as to who would get pregnant first. Jess had always thought it would be her because she is the younger of the two and she couldn’t help but feel a long, sharp stab of jealousy at the news. “So is that why I haven’t seen you in such a while, because of all this?” Jess said, trying to drag herself out of her jealousy spiral.
“Yeah that’s right, and I have been super busy with work, overtime and all that.” Shannon said with a little of the smile fading from the corners of her mouth. “Anyway, let’s shop. I need to get as much in now before I’m too big to carry my own shopping bags!”
* * *
Jess slammed the door closed behind her. It had been a long afternoon shopping with Shannon. All the talk of hormones and pregnancy cravings had began to wear on her in the end, and she didn’t much enjoy being hauled into Mothercare to look at tiny baby clothes and cots. It had crossed Jess’s mind more than once during the afternoon that Shannon was rubbing her nose into all this baby stuff, and was having a great time doing it. Jess felt a little moody with her friend now she was home but then thought of how she would behave if she had been the first to find out she was having a baby, and she allowed the annoyed part of herself to slip away.
She clicked the kettle on and sat at the oak dining table to survey what she had bought. She was just contemplating why exactly she’d bought a rainbow coloured halter neck dress when she heard the front door open and close on itself. “Joe.” She said to herself quietly. He always had a habit of sneaking about if he could. He came through to the kitchen and made a bee line straight for the fridge without even so much as a nod towards Jess.
After a moment or two of loading items such as a packet of ham and a loaf of bread into his arms and taking them over to the counter he said, “Hiya J, didn’t see you there. You making a cuppa? I’d love one myself.” So Jess got up and placed a second cup next to her own and poured the hot water over the tea bags. Her brother always did this type of thing so she was never much fussed when he came round and raided her fridge. Joe had a habit of dropping by unannounced. He lived in a flat a few miles away with two other guys and worked as a freelance photographer, at least when he could get the work. He used to model in his teens and when the jobs dried up as he got older he decided to move behind the camera, but Jess always had the impression that he resented all the fresh faced talent that walked through his door and, as a result, never made an effort to book new jobs. “So, how’s your day been J? I can see you’ve been shopping.” Joe said as he buttered a slice of bread.
“Yeah, I met up with Shannon and we had a girls day. Thought I might as well with Sam being away. How come you never went on the stag do, I thought you we’re friends with John as well?” Jess noticed that Joe had tensed slightly when she had mentioned Shannon’s name.
After a moments pause Joe said, “Ah well, you know how it is J, no money.”
“Well at least your saving money by eating my food. Oh, you never guess what she told me Joe?” Shannon’s announcement had just hurtled back into Jess’s brain.
“Hmmm?” Said Joe, without an ounce of interest.
“She’s pregnant. Told me today, she could hardly contain herself she’s so excited. I’m please for her of course but I can’t help thinking that ... Joe? You okay?” Jess watched as he spilled his tea all over her kitchen floor. He seamed surprised. “Joe?” She said again after no reply, “You alright?”
“Oh yeah, sure. Sorry J it’s just ... the tea’s hot, u know. Didn’t realise. I’m an idiot. Anyway better be off. Things to do and all that.” Joe said sounding suddenly rather flustered. He made a grab for his coat and was already halfway to the door before shouting back, “I’ll see you later, Sis.” The door slammed behind him and Jess was left standing in her kitchen staring at Joe’s half-made sandwiches. He had forgotten to take them. That wasn’t like him at all Jess thought to herself.
What had gotten into him, and why had he flipped out when she’d told him Shannon was pregnant? Then, almost instantaneously, Jess froze. A horrid thought was beginning to crawl across her sane thoughts like an evil little cockroach and her mind started racing. Joe had seemed utterly surprised, shocked even, to learn that Shannon was pregnant despite the fact that everyone knew how much she wanted a baby. It was as well documented within their circle of friends as Jess’s desire for a baby was. So why was he shocked? That tiny evil cockroach was growing bigger by the second when she recalled how he had tensed at even the mere mention of her name. “No!” Jess gasped, almost inaudibly. “He couldn’t be, could he?” She was ashamed to think it but she knew her brother’s reputation and how well he and Shannon got on. “He couldn’t be ... the father?” Her words seemed to echo across the room and linger so that she was unable to let go of them. She shook herself and insisting on thinking logically. Joe couldn’t be the father, when would they have had any time alone together? Plus her husband Mark had only recently whisked his wife away to Venice to apologise for being away a lot. At that moment Jess couldn’t believe Shannon complained about him as much as she did when he did things like that. “That must have been it.” She whispered to herself with a sigh of relief. “That must have been when she conceived.”
Jess couldn’t believe that she could think so ill of her oldest and closest friend so she decided to ring her, more for her own benefit than Shannon’s. After all, they had only seen each other some two hours ago. She picked up the phone dialled the familiar number.
“Hello?” It was a man’s voice that answered. Mark, the husband.
“Hi Mark, it’s Jess. Is Shan about at all?”
“Sorry no, she’s just popped out to the shop for milk. I can get her to ring you back if it’s urgent?” Mark said, through the sound of rustling papers.
“No never mind. I was just after a little chat, nothing important.” She was beginning to feel an enormous fool at having phoned to casually question her friend over who the father of her baby was. How could she even think it? To deflect the situation she decided to have a talk to Mark. She hadn’t spoken to him in what felt like a long time, though she chose not to mention the baby as she wasn’t sure Shannon had told him yet. It was funny how she had hardly mentioned Mark during their shopping trip but Jess quickly forced herself yet again to swallowed the seed of doubt growing in her throat “Anyway Mark, how you been keeping? How was the romantic trip to Venice? I bet Shannon was totally thrilled when you surprised her?”
“Ah, we never went.” His voice was firm and nonchalant. “I was called for a job in Reykjavik at the last minute ‘cause one of the guys from our team couldn’t make it, some family thing, so I volunteered. It was no big deal, only three weeks. Shannon understands it’s just part of my job. She’s probably used to it by now. Anyways, I better let you go. Got tons of paperwork here anyhow. Do you want me to tell Shannon you called?” Mark appeared in a hurry to get off the phone. Probably couldn’t wait to get back to work, Jess thought.
“Er ... no don’t bother. Just ask her to pop round tomorrow if she can. Erm, thanks Mark, speak to you soon.” Said Jess hanging up the phone. She felt bewildered by his abruptness and she began to understand why Shannon moaned about him so often. Mark didn’t seem to realise that he was putting his wife last after his job and his own needs, and in an instant Jess could understand the possibility of her friend seeking comfort from another man while her husband was away. As he so often was. Maybe Joe had been there for her when Mark had been in Iceland? After all, the dates would match and it wasn’t possible for Mark to be the father if he was indeed away for as long as he said. Jess felt so lucky to have Sam at that instant.
* * *
The next morning Jess awaited the arrival of Shannon with bated breath. She wanted to know the truth. Partly because it involved her brother but also because she felt as though she was loosing touch with her dearest friend and even though this was a complicated situation, she didn’t want to let their friendship slip away. Jess was going to make sure that she let Shannon know that she supported her, no matter what the truth was. The sound of the doorbell made her jump and for a moment she hesitated before answering.
“Hiya chick, long time no see.” Said Shannon laughing as she walked through to the kitchen. “How come you wanted to see me?”
“Well, something occurred yesterday and it left me a little confused so I thought I’d just ask you about it.” Jess could feel her throat tighten. “Tea?” She went over to the kettle and clicked it on then reluctantly began. “Well I saw Joe yesterday, he dropped by as usual, and when I told him about your news he kind of, went all weird. The thing is I have no idea why. You don’t do you?” Jess couldn’t bring herself to look at Shannon but when she heard no reply she eventually looked up to find her with tears streaming down her eyes. It was true then, Jess thought as her heart sank.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen, it just kind of ... did. We didn’t want to hurt anyone, it was just that I was so lonely with Mark having gone away so I phoned here and he told me that you were away too.” Said Shannon through quiet sobs. At this Jess felt a deep sting of regret. “He suggested that I should come round and we could be lonely together so I accepted and when I got here he’d made dinner, which I never would have expected so I was really touched. I just felt so vulnerable and we connected so well over dinner that I think I just lost myself. I’m so sorry Jess.” She said with choking breath. She was so remorseful.
“Oh Shannon, what have you done? You’ve really messed everything up haven’t you?” Jess could feel herself coming close to tears at the sight of her emotionally damaged friend.
Just then the sound of the front door opening could be heard and before either of them could move Joe and Sam were standing in the doorway, their expressions sullen and in shock at what they saw before them.
Before Jess could say anything Shannon blurted out, “I told her. She knows everything. I told her we didn’t mean to hurt anybody. That it just happened and how sorry we are. If we could take it back we would. Right?” Shannon said looking towards Joe.
Then, with the biggest shock of her life, Jess realised. Shannon wasn’t looking at Joe. She was looking at Sam. Her Sam.
She turned to look at her husband, the most trustworthy man she’d ever known and watched him as he said, “I’m sorry, Jessica.”

Feel The Fear.

Run, run, try to find a safe place to hide,
He’s walking, slowly, footsteps of dread,
She is to become his reluctant bride.

Don’t argue, just smile, let everything slide,
But whatever you do don’t let him in your head,
Run, run, try to find a safe place to hide.

Crushing her hand, her freedom denied,
He shoves along, she’s easily led,
She is to become his reluctant bride.

Arriving home filled with fear, his eyes are wide,
Crashing to the ground with legs spread,
Run, run, try to find a safe place to hide.

Scrabbling to her feet, throwing furniture aside,
Running to the safety of her bed,
She is to become his reluctant bride.

Though knowing no difference, his rules she will abide,
Despite blood running deep crimson red.
Run, run, try to find a safe place to hide,
She is to become his reluctant bride.

The Wilting Rose.

The wilting rose of love once sweet,

Sat before us now in dying dread.

Aged promises of when we shall meet,

As now petals fall on her lover’s head.

Battles fought and lives began,

Flowers bloom and fade away.

Her loved one’s call forever rang,

But still the rose lies here today.

As petals fall and leaves dry,

Our rose lingers, clutching weakly to life.

She knows in her soul that he will die,

Her heart will forever pay the price.



With courageous strength the war was won,

Though she will be without her beloved one.

Lets start with a haiku . . .

New York City.

Bright lights, vast buildings,
Stunning skyline of stars shine,
Dirty, crowded, great!