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I saw this a while back and forgot to post about it. Apparently it didn't amaze me as much as it did the critics, but I did like it quite a bit. I have a feeling that appreciation of this movie must most likely go hand-in-hand with appreciation of its music. And, the appreciation of the music may need to override one's sense of appeal when it comes to camera work. In the case of my movie theater audience, some of the older folk just didn't get the look and the style of music, and they left, mumbling about how "This does absolutely nothing for me." So, if you're interested, check out some of the songs on myspace and then go see the movie if you like them.

From what I've read online, the music is mostly written by Glen Hansard of The Frames (of whom I had never heard until looking up this movie on Amazon), who plays "guy" to Marketa Irglova's "girl". The story is simple enough, a convenient set up for a modern-day musical: a guy who sings on the street meets a Czech girl who also likes music. They are both lonely and befriend each other and literally make beautiful music together, all while we wonder whether the two will end up together in the end.

The movie is filmed with a very gritty feel, which is what director John Carney (also formerly of The Frames) was trying to achieve, to show the working-class feel of Dublin several years ago. The songs are often just as abrasive, with Hansard's vocal chords put to their full use, both in volume and passion. His voice, coupled with the sweet tones of Irglova's, makes for some very heartfelt and affecting songs.

While I would only buy about half the songs off the soundtrack, the rest of the movie still works because there is, beyond the music, a genuine level of friendship and emotion. And the route the story takes is not necessarily one that was expected, which makes it that much better. In the end, the movie is a sort of musical snapshot of a week's time in these people's lives, and an endearing one at that. I will have to revisit it in a few more months and see whether I like it more or less, but for now, it was definitely worth it for the scene where the girl makes up the lyrics to "If You Want Me" while walking down the street.

This past weekend I felt like I was bored a lot, but still managed to get a lot done. I had no plans (as usual) for my short Friday, so when my sister said she and my mom were going out to eat and to the mall, I decided to tag along. After lunch at Red Robin we went to the mall and hit up a bunch of stores. I struck it lucky with a lot of sale stuff from Lucky pants at Nordstrom to the semi-annual sale at VS to cheap flip-flops at Steve Madden. I came home and had to get stuff ready for the guy who was going to buy our desk and take away our couch. I carried way too much down the stairs only to be told once he saw it in person that it was too big for his room. Boo. At least he took away the couch, but unfortunately (for both of us) when I was pushing it towards the front door, I didn't realize the side was just fabric and no stuffing underneath, and my knees broke through the fabric and jammed on the inner-frame. Ouch. At least he still took it! Friday night Ric and I went to dinner at Panera and headed home, where cleaning up Pip's fur gave me an allergy attack. I just went to sleep to avoid dealing with it.

Saturday I slept in as usual, but only until 10, which is good for me. I finally finished reading Lynne Truss' Talk to the Hand, which I have been reading intermittently for the past year. I love her sense of humor. Ooh, and I just looked it up and see that she has another one about apostrophes, which will release in a week. I'll have to check it out. I headed over to do laundry at my parents' place and watched VH1's marathon of Britain's Next Top Model for a good few hours. Jenny and I went to Target to shop for Cosette's 1st birthday. You have no idea how long that took because everything is so frickin' cute. I met up with Ric at Wendy's house to celebrate Cosette's birthday with the family. We also signed the lease agreement for the house while we were at it. After Cosette's cupcake-eating, the grandparents went home and we all had some Starbucks and chatted. I stayed up late that night watching Monkeys, Go Home!

Sunday I went to church while Ric stayed at home answering dispatch calls from work. The Andersons and I all agree he didn't miss much by way of music or sermon. Since none of us are in an Adult Bible Community, or ABC (these are Sunday School classes in disguise), we thought we'd follow the church's trend of abbreviating everything and use our first initials to spell out the name of our own ABC. Of course, Jeri, Elizabeth, Colin, and Ric = JERC. Haha. We all ate out at Ruby's for lunch, then Ric and I napped in the afternoon and spent time packing. I counted all our spare change and came up with almost $150. Sweet! That will cover the cost of buying boxes as well as moving the piano. In the evening we went to see Live Free or Die Hard. Review to come! When we came home we sat down for another fun one, Zathura. RTC as well.

Up this week: trying to sell off some furniture, preparation for moving, the La Mirada fireworks show, and lots of time off (I only work today and tomorrow). I have no plans, really. Hopefully I'll think up something to fill the time. Maybe an outing of some sort.

Um, I have no real reason to go to LA this week, but I just might to check this out... Maybe I'll pick up a squishee.

Very early this morning we had a spontaneous miscarriage. I don't really know how else to start, and looking at those words is difficult.

Stephanie is doing well physically, and we will today or tomorrow see her OB/GYN. We got home from the hospital a little over an hour ago, and all tests seem to indicate that everything has passed naturally. So that's supposed to mean that everything is fine.

A few minutes ago a dear friend asked me what stage I'm in. An abstraction, but a caring one. It's too early to talk about stages. It's more like breaths. This one shock. That one anger. This one resignation. That one hope.

They come and go like waves, some stronger than others, lulls in between. But they come and subside and come again. Soon enough they will turn into days, then weeks. Then maybe I'll recognize stages, which of course will mean that it's all over.

Another friend wanted to make sure that I am well networked with people I can talk to. I've never seen my network, but I know the faces of my family and my friends. I know love, and I know that I have it in so many people. I know that words like 'network' and 'stage' are shorthand, but time has stretched and slowed to make room for good words, old words, deep words. Mourning. Friendship. Grace.

We feel bad for people who try to comfort, because what can you really say or do? And yet you want to and even need to care, to act. I guess in that way you're stuck. But we're stuck, too. We haven't found a script for this yet, just as you haven't found one for how to respond.

And in some jacked up way, that's care and it feels healing to us. We're all just trying to make our way through this, and if anyone else could play their part with much finesse, I would probably be angry. Somehow I much prefer the stammering missteps and the second-guessed consolations.

So you can call if you like, or write, or just pray. You don't need to write something out to make sure you don't say the wrong thing. We will treat you with grace, and trust that you are doing the same, as we offer one another tender mercy in a tender hour.