end of summer cinema.

I never watch movies. It's just so expensive and time consuming. The only movies I've seen this whole year (2) were when Whitney took me to see "Valkyrie" and when Jared took me to see "Up." But now there are all of these movies I want to see coming out all at once!

I am making it a goal to watch all of these. It may take me a while, but I'll do it. Let me know if you want to join me and we'll make a pact to watch one of them together.

1.Julie & Julia. I received recommendations from Jared and Miriam back to back on this film last night. I'm pretty excited about it now.(click on the image for the trailer.)

2. Still Walking. By my favorite director, Kore-Eda Hirokazu. I've been yearning to see something like this for so long! Japanese films can take me somewhere American films never could.(click on the image for the trailer.)

3.Ponyo! By my other favorite director, Hayao Miyazaki. But I must watch it in Japanese with English subtitles. The English-speaking versions of his films have always been dreadful, in my opinion.(Where is the little boy singing this so I can squeeze him?! Cute!! I may try to learn the words to this.)

i promise i do not like manga or anime.

Whitney once said: "Laura, you're the most Japanese person I know. You're more Japanese than Chip and he is half Japanese and he speaks Japanese."

Is it more nerdy that I felt slightly flattered?

I received an email from my sister today suggesting a destination for our next Barlow womens' retreat. She knew I'd be on board. There's no way I'm gonna make a trip to Japan any time soon, so here's the next best thing for a nerd like myself-- Hotel Tomo:
It's in Japantown in San Fransisco. It is completely Japanese themed. I felt really nerdy about how excited I was to go and then started thinking about how if you line up a lot of stuff that I like in a row, you could really get the wrong idea:

My favorite food is sushi.
My favorite fashion publication is FRUiTS.
(which documents Tokyo street fashion)
My favorite cartoon of all time is My Neighbor Totoro
My favorite t.v. show is Samurai Jack.

My favorite comedy is Kamikaze Girls.
But I also really want to own a pair of cowboy boots -- oh my gosh-- maybe that's really Japanese of me too...