I am an incurable romantic (and other truths).

I am an incurable romantic. You know this if you have ever chanced upon my Twilight blog. You may not know that much of what I read (and I read a lot, about 1-2 books a week) is romantic in nature. The same goes for my film-viewing. If it weren't for the boyf, I would watch solely romantic movies. Thanks to him, I have come to appreciate action films as well -- no go on the horror/suspense categories as of yet, though. I try to convince him to see a romantic film with me every now and then, however, and he's pretty receptive I must admit.

So in my combing other Twilight-related blogs for news of the upcoming sequel, "New Moon," I chanced upon the following trailers for this new short film called "The Summer House," starring the main actor from "Twilight," Robert Pattinson. I have a feeling it is right up my romantic alley. Here are the trailers:

The Summer House (trailer)

The Summer House (extended trailer with music)

I first saw the extended trailer with music some time ago and had forgotten about it, thinking it wouldn't be released or whatever. I even fell in love with the song that plays during the second trailer; it's called "Into the Night" and it's by the Motorhomes. They're a pretty decent band.

I would be over the moon if the film came out and I honestly never expected it to, but according to recent buzz in the Twi-verse, it might be coming out soon.

Contrary to what I thought when I first saw the extended trailer sometime in the summer, it will not be a feature-length film but rather a short. Its IMDB page cites its run time as 12 minutes (!). That's short, but what I have seen of it so far intrigued me ... I really want to see it! (And no, this desire has nothing to do with a certain floppy haired actor with the initials R.P. :p)

I also found out that the film has its own website. It's quite rustic and charming and it has quite a bit of information about the film. Here is the synopsis:

The Summer House is about a moment in a young girl's life. A turning point, a time for decision: to go back, or go forward?

Jane (17) is in rural France visiting her aunt Priscilla during the hot summer of 1969, the year of the Moon landings. Also staying at this beautiful 19th century chateau, a sleeping beauty of a house, are her aunt’s old flame Freddie Porteous, a charming Englishman, and his wife Marie Pierre, a French woman of great sophistication and beauty.

Jane has left behind an unfaithful first love. Several letters have pursued her, letters decorated with hearts to tempt her. The author of these letters, Richard (18), turns up uninvited. Jane is unaware that her situation is provoking tensions among the older generation, she catches whispers of unspoken somethings at the heart of Freddie and Priscilla's relationship and she finds Marie Pierre’s allure and passion unsettling.

Jane looks to her role models for advice but Priscilla, Freddie and Marie Pierre have become wrapped up in their own giddy feelings about what it was like to be 17 and in love. At a party to celebrate the moon landings Jane is transformed by Marie Pierre from English mouse to sophisticated woman. Wanting to impress and suspecting Richard might be at the party she holds her head high.

Dizzy from dancing and emboldened by champagne Jane ventures out to the Summer House. Curiosity has got the better of her. Is there a dalliance between her sensible aunt and charismatic Freddie? Instead she is confronted a repentant Richard. He wants her back. She is impossibly tempted, but repelled by his crude attempt to force her.

The romantic ideal of young love becomes crushed by his rough desire and by the giggling arrival of Priscilla and Freddie. Jane is forced to face the disappointment of reality. Troubled by Richard’s motivation and by the apparent immaturity of Priscilla & Freddie, she burns the unopened letters and drops them into a deep well. Her world has changed, expanded; a more complex fairy tale is emerging…

Interesting, no? It also cites that the film is based on a book, but apparently it is only available in the UK. Woe...

Hopefully the Twilight fervor will convince the publishers to bring the book here! If you are interested in learning more about "The Summer House," you can visit its site here.


In other news, I received my score report from the ABCTE today and yes, folks, I officially passed both the Professional Education and English 6-12 tests! (These are teacher certification exams, without which I'd be unemployed) YAY! I've been a nervous wreck since I took the exams (almost a month ago), literally tearing my nails to shreds as I waited for my scores... So I'm happy that's one less stress to worry about.

But now I'm worried about something else, something even more important -- the boyf suddenly became ill this afternoon while I was relaxing at his house with him. He seems to either have contracted some stomach virus or developed a bad reaction to something he ate earlier in the day. We don't know yet and will have to just wait it out. I felt bad leaving him (no, we don't live together), but I had to come back home to get ready for work tomorrow. Plus he lives with his family, so I know he's not alone. He's sleeping now -- hopefully when he wakes up tomorrow, he will feel better.

It wasn't until I met him that I realized you could be so affected by the status (emotional, physical or otherwise) of somebody else. When he hurts, I hurt. It is a visceral thing, a connection that nothing or no one else can break. I know I am truly blessed by his presence and often consider myself the luckiest girl in the world. So please say a little prayer for him tonight. I'd really appreciate it.

I think I am going to jump in the shower now, maybe make myself some hot choc, and curl up with le chat and watch a film. Possibly a romantic one. Possibly even "Twilight." ;)

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to sleep, perchance to dream

I came home bone-tired and decided to take what I thought was just a cat-nap, but wound up becoming something akin to the prelude to hibernation.

Meh, I still feel tired, somehow. This has taught me that sometimes a nap can actually leave you feeling worse. It's all in the timing -- you can't overdo it.

At least I woke up to good news -- the boyf was out scouring the liquidation sales at Circuit City and found "Rock Band 2" on sale for 40% off. Yay! It has "PDA" by Interpol and other awesomely awesome songs I can't wait to "perform."

*Yawn.* Ironically, although I slept too much, I am feeling sleepy again now. As soon as I finish up here, I think I'm going to wash my face and climb back in bed.

I'm half-hopeful I'll have the bird dream again. I'm not someone who normally remembers her dreams, as sleep is a nebulous limbo-world for me and I'm an incredibly deep sleeper, but this afternoon I dreamed a wonderful dream -- I was standing in a field with waving green grass swaying in the wind, and in the shimmering distance of the evening sky I could see a flock of birds flying into the blaze of the setting sun, their shapes stark black V's against the canvas of sky.

It was a very simple dream -- that was all there was to it. But I want that dream again so bad, it almost hurts, because it gave me such a feeling of well-being and contentment. I think I may have even woke up smiling.

Let me count the ways...

How do I love thee, boyfriend? Let me count the ways...

Last night, you went out to celebrate with a dear friend of ours who's getting married in a month. It was a bachelor party, so I knew I'd be spending my Saturday alone. I was sad a little, at first, because you know I enjoy spending all of my waking hours (and sometimes even sleeping hours -- you know how I love my naps!) with you, but truthfully, I looked forward to spending some time just puttering around my house, reading, writing, enjoying my ME time.

Little did I know that you wouldn't give me time to miss you! :) No, you called me periodically throughout the night, to check up on me, sending me cute little text messages, even sending me a message to let me know when you got home safe at 4 AM, despite the fact that you knew I'd be long-gone in the arms of Morpheus by then.

As if that wasn't enough, you called me this morning to wake me up -- much earlier than I expected you to be up after a bachelor party, I should add. You called to say you missed me and how you were looking forward to seeing me again today.

How could I ever doubt your feelings for me?! And yet inevitably, I do, when the demon of insecurity possesses my soul and blinds me to all the love you hold for me. And inevitably my doubt saddens you, which in turns hurts me. A vicious circle.

The next time the demon steals over me, I will try to remember last night, and how you did not let our separation prevent us from communicating. How you left your bright heart in my hands, so that its warmth would soothe me in your absence.

The boyf and me visiting his law school, UM, in November.

On Rain & Why "ME" Time is Necessary

Normally, I detest the rain. I have an almost cat-like abhorrence of moisture (outside of the shower, of course), hating it for the way it makes my hair frizz (which I regularly torture with blow dryer and straightening iron to remove all evidence of curl), hating it for the way it makes my skin feel sticky and clammy, hating it for the muddy puddles that dirty my pant hems. Rain = Ew.

And rain in Miami is usually not a pretty thing. The humidity is already bad enough, goodness knows. Rain just makes it that much worse.

However, there are certain days, like today, when the rain isn't that bad. There's a cold front passing through, for one, so the humidity isn't as rampant as usual. Plus something about the gray sky and chilly weather is terribly romantic. Perfect for curling up at home with a cup of coffee, like I am with my White Chocolate Mocha right now. Then the rain doesn't feel quite so oppressive.

Well, this is going to have to be a quick post because I needed to be getting ready five minutes ago. The boyf and I are going on a date, making the most of tonight because tomorrow night he's attending a bachelor party for a friend of ours who's getting married in a month.

I must confess I'm not as sad as I thought I would be at the prospect of a boyfriend-less Saturday night. Truthfully, I need the time -- to grade papers and catch up with my work, to study for some educator exams I am taking next month, and just to unwind. I'm a firm believer in "ME time." Even couples need time apart every now and then, to recharge the batteries, if you will.

Have a great weekend, everybody! Hope you enjoy some ME time, too. :-D

Nine years is a long time.

Nine years is a long time.

Nine years ago, I was 21 and brimming with the fervor of youth and possibility.

Nine years ago, I only had one item on my Christmas Wish List. And it was a boy's name. ;)

Nine years ago, on a night like tonight, I was gathering the courage to do something I previously was too shy to do (outside of kindergarten) - tell a boy I liked him.

Nine years ago, I was writing poems about a boy with "amber-colored eyes."

Nine years ago, I used to spend 12 hours on the phone with this certain boy, foregoing food and sleep just to speak with him.

Nine years ago, I made plans with this boy to go to the movies the following night. I remember we went to see "Toy Story 2," then we bought a bottle of Merlot in a liquor store near the movie theater in Sunset Place, and went to a park near Ricky's house where we had an impromptu picnic - red wine and Taco Bell. It was one of the most delicious meals I've ever eaten. It was one of the coldest nights I've ever experienced. We huddled down in our jackets for warmth and I struggled to untie the knots on my tongue (the wine helped) and tell this boy how I felt. I don't remember who told whom first - it's all jumbled together in my memory. But I remember our first kiss. I remember how we stayed in that cold, cold park until day break, just kissing and talking. It was the first of many kisses, the first of many heart-felt conversations.

Nine years later, those kisses & conversations are still going strong. I love you, my dear MM! Happy Nine Year Anniversary!

Australia will just have to wait.

"Australia" came out in theaters, which was a happy surprise for me - for some reason, I kept thinking it would come out on Christmas day. I would totally drag the boyf to see it today, but I've got a date with Edward for 5:10 PM. ;)

Yep, I'm seeing "Twilight" again! This time with another teacher from school and some of our English students. I'm excited to see it again because everyone tells me they love it even more after a second viewing.

So "Australia" will just have to wait. Maybe I can convince Ricky to see it on Saturday? Hm.

I can't believe Thanksgiving is done and Christmas is almost here. This year has flown by so fast! Thanksgiving this year was spent with the boyf's family at one of their friends' house. We had turkey, stuffing (my personal fave), mashed potatoes, pasta, asparagus, and I forget what else. But it was all good. Ricky came and hung out with me at home after we spent some time with his family and their friends, and we wound up taking an extended nap. Must have been all that food. Ricky left me at some ungodly hour to go participate in the Black Friday madness. I stayed home sleeping, thank-you-very-much. I need my sleep because I came down with a monster cold yesterday. The night before, Wednesday, I went to see Madonna in concert with a friend, and we had some major nose bleed seats that practically had us sitting next to God. It was a good show, and I had a lot of fun, but it turned unexpectedly chilly that night, and I guess sitting that high up must have jumpstarted this cold. Ugh. I just hope it goes away before Monday.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

OMG, the Christmas, it is coming. Like for real. And why am I speaking like a lolcat?! I don't know, but all I know is that Christmas is my favorite season. It seems like it begins earlier and earlier each year. Walking into Target tonight with the boyf in search of a "Happy Birth of Your First Child" card for his cousin, I was struck by the festive decorations. It always seems to be put me in a cheery mood. That and chocolate. But I digress.

I am more excited than I should be because something else is coming, and sooner, too - the "Twilight!" I just bought two tickets for me and the boyf via Fandango. We will see the movie-of-the-forever at 5:10 PM on Friday afternoon. All of my students tell me they are going to see it at 7:00 PM. I was OK with going at that time, too, but the boyf, he is afraid of the fangirls. So we will be avoiding them and going to an earlier showing. [Little does he know his girlfriend is a major fangirl.]

I have posted at length about my new haircut, my bangs. Everyone's been pretty positive about them. Most people tell me I look "more Chinese" now. Not that I am Chinese, or even one drop Asian to begin with. (Read: I am a Cuban-American, born and bred in Miami, FL). Yes, I do have slanted eyes that crinkle funny when I smile. But whatever. The point is that I'm happy with my new bangs and everyone else seems fine with them, too.

Enter the boyf. He is not happy. He says he liked how I looked better before. I say meh to him. This is what I looked like before bangs:

While I was OK with how I looked, I like me with bangs better. They add a certain polish to my look, I think, and they make even a ponytail (my normal mode of hairstyle at least twice a week) look more stylish somehow. Here I am with bangs:

I am thinking of keeping bangs, cutting them every so often to maintain them, but I don't want the boyf to be upset. But I want to be happy. But I don't know! AH, EMOTIONAL TUG-OF-HAIR, WHY DOST THOU TORMENT ME SO?! Yes, I know, it's just hair, but to a woman, her hair is never "just hair." So what do you think? Should I keep the bangs or grow them out?