I like our 2003 Toyota Prius. I like it a lot. There are times, however, that I think that Phillip and I would be ideal candidates for total reliance on Flexcar. (In other words, not owning a car at all.) There are reasons that I'm afraid of a totally shared car life. (I realize that this is mainly the result of being stuck in a paradigm, but I have other, more logical, concerns about trusting our mobility to a one-of-a-kind company.) I was thinking about this this morning as I took our car in for its third oil change, and looked at the odometer displaying a mere 4044 miles.
Friday, November 28, 2003
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
On the first night of Spanish class, six students (including me) showed up. Then, during the break, two students - a couple taking the class together - informed the instructor that they were expecting a more advanced class. So they dropped out, leaving four of us.
Last night, one student didn't show up. That left three of us - Azumi, Cathy, and me. Azumi and I seem to be on the same skill level, while Cathy seems to be way ahead of us. I often felt like she's in the wrong class. Azumi and I were both in the instructor's beginning Spanish class - Cathy was not. While Azumi and I are struggling with reciting "Puedo a hablar poquito español," Cathy makes up something like, "Estudié español en la escuela por dos años, pero me olvidé de la mayoría de lo que aprendí." - and she gets most of it right! Maybe Cathy needs to be in a more advanced class.
I've been working overtime this week, and will be working overtime all next week. While my evil coworker's on vacation, I've been coming into work an hour early. So, with Spanish class, yesterday was a long day. I had several thoughts of being indulgent and lazy and taking a Flexcar home. Ultimately, I stuck to the bus. I walked about two blocks from the classroom to the bus stop, where I waited five minutes for a 7 to arrive. It was chilly outside, but the bus was toasty warm, and smelled like patchouli. It was a nice ride home.
Last night, one student didn't show up. That left three of us - Azumi, Cathy, and me. Azumi and I seem to be on the same skill level, while Cathy seems to be way ahead of us. I often felt like she's in the wrong class. Azumi and I were both in the instructor's beginning Spanish class - Cathy was not. While Azumi and I are struggling with reciting "Puedo a hablar poquito español," Cathy makes up something like, "Estudié español en la escuela por dos años, pero me olvidé de la mayoría de lo que aprendí." - and she gets most of it right! Maybe Cathy needs to be in a more advanced class.
I've been working overtime this week, and will be working overtime all next week. While my evil coworker's on vacation, I've been coming into work an hour early. So, with Spanish class, yesterday was a long day. I had several thoughts of being indulgent and lazy and taking a Flexcar home. Ultimately, I stuck to the bus. I walked about two blocks from the classroom to the bus stop, where I waited five minutes for a 7 to arrive. It was chilly outside, but the bus was toasty warm, and smelled like patchouli. It was a nice ride home.
Monday, November 24, 2003
So, now The Matrix trilogy is over - I hope. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed the story, but I'm haunted by the idea that the way the trilogy ended leaves open the possibility of further sequels, spin-offs... TV series? [gasp!]
None of the two sequels ever gave me the thrill of first seeing "Bullet Time" (yes, I know, that Gap ad was first with the "freeze and spin" effect - but "Bullet Time" was something way beyond that trick) - although the freeway chase in Reloaded came pretty close. Neither the second or third film measured up to the first, but I still don't feel that makes them bad films. Even Revolutions was much, much better than any other (non-Matrix) science fiction movie I've seen in the past three years.
I read a lot of movie criticisms after I've seen a film, but I don't read them to decide if I should have liked or disliked that film. Rather, I read them to gain insights into films I may or may not have "gotten." The thing that jumps out at me in the negative critiques I've read about both Reloaded and Revolutions is there was too much talking about ideas and not enough action - as if they would actually want a mindless action movie. That's what made me like the whole trilogy, overall. Personally, I don't think a lot of films critics got these films. The trilogy has been an exploration of the meaning of freedom, choice, and reality. You just can't discuss those with action alone.
None of the two sequels ever gave me the thrill of first seeing "Bullet Time" (yes, I know, that Gap ad was first with the "freeze and spin" effect - but "Bullet Time" was something way beyond that trick) - although the freeway chase in Reloaded came pretty close. Neither the second or third film measured up to the first, but I still don't feel that makes them bad films. Even Revolutions was much, much better than any other (non-Matrix) science fiction movie I've seen in the past three years.
I read a lot of movie criticisms after I've seen a film, but I don't read them to decide if I should have liked or disliked that film. Rather, I read them to gain insights into films I may or may not have "gotten." The thing that jumps out at me in the negative critiques I've read about both Reloaded and Revolutions is there was too much talking about ideas and not enough action - as if they would actually want a mindless action movie. That's what made me like the whole trilogy, overall. Personally, I don't think a lot of films critics got these films. The trilogy has been an exploration of the meaning of freedom, choice, and reality. You just can't discuss those with action alone.
Last Friday, on my way home from work, I stopped off at the library and picked up the copy of Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes that I had on hold. On Saturday morning, I started reading it.
Saturday afternoon, we went to Ikea, and I felt frustrated by the crowds - specifically the shopping carts. I couldn't get through many aisles, because they were blocked by shopping carts. I couldn't stop to look at much, because there was always another shopping cart trying to squeeze past me. After Ikea, we went to the 99 Ranch Market, in The Great Wall Shopping Mall, and I felt even more frustrated by the crowds - especially the shopping carts. In the 99 Ranch Market, the problem was mostly getting nearly run into, several times, by shopping carts bulldozing their way down narrow, crowded aisles. I did not enjoy the experience as much as I should.
Sunday, we left church a few minutes early to see The Matrix Revolutions. I left the theater feeling underwhelmed by the movie - but this morning, on my way to work, I changed my opinion. I'll write more later, I hope. After the movie, we went to Trader Joe's - and again I felt frustrated by the crowds, especially the shopping carts.
This morning, before the bus, I felt like I'd wasted last weekend. Then, riding in on the bus, I remembered that I don't believe in the concept of wasting time. I did what I had to do last weekend.
Saturday afternoon, we went to Ikea, and I felt frustrated by the crowds - specifically the shopping carts. I couldn't get through many aisles, because they were blocked by shopping carts. I couldn't stop to look at much, because there was always another shopping cart trying to squeeze past me. After Ikea, we went to the 99 Ranch Market, in The Great Wall Shopping Mall, and I felt even more frustrated by the crowds - especially the shopping carts. In the 99 Ranch Market, the problem was mostly getting nearly run into, several times, by shopping carts bulldozing their way down narrow, crowded aisles. I did not enjoy the experience as much as I should.
Sunday, we left church a few minutes early to see The Matrix Revolutions. I left the theater feeling underwhelmed by the movie - but this morning, on my way to work, I changed my opinion. I'll write more later, I hope. After the movie, we went to Trader Joe's - and again I felt frustrated by the crowds, especially the shopping carts.
This morning, before the bus, I felt like I'd wasted last weekend. Then, riding in on the bus, I remembered that I don't believe in the concept of wasting time. I did what I had to do last weekend.
