Foodie Friday - Profeta Coffee

Ok so, this isn't strictly 'food', but it's the culinary establishment that I've been to more often, I think, than ANYWHERE ELSE in LA. (And that includes Jerry's Deli. Where I hadn't been for many months before the horrific Hepatitis scare before Christmas - and to which I certainly won't be rushing anytime ever again...)

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to the wonder of Profeta in Westwood. I won't tell you where it is, because I don't want this amazing secret to become toooo well-known. But try it. Their coffee is a little bit of bliss in a cup. Every single time. (It helps that your beverage is prepared by two baristas, that their coffee is fresh ground, that they use whole milk, and that their small but fabulous selection of pastries and treats is uniformly delicious.)

So go! Try them out. And when you've had ten drinks, your eleventh is free.

(Oh, and the staff are impossibly cool, as is the music they play.)

30 Before 30 #3 - Soda

I went to see a play at the end of the summer holidays last year and spent the entire first half craving a Diet Coke. I felt like Elaine Stritch having an attack. (But without the vodka stingers and the lifetime of Sondheim and hooch.) Having ascertained that I wasn't diabetic, and having sated myself with a 7 Up during the intermission of the play, I spent the second half still craving more soda. After the show I had dinner with some great people, and probably drank enough Diet Coke to fill a hip-bath. And this was at DENNYS. Shame squared.

The following day, feeling unwell after so much carbonated sugar, I pronounced (to myself) that I was going to go cold turkey. Mainly just to see if I could. Boy has it been rough. It's only when you stop acquiescing to the constantly-available nectars that you realise just how omni-present they are. Coca Cola advertising becomes immediately more visible and distasteful when you stop drinking it. (Despite REALLY wanting to.)

I had heard many years ago that Sprite is officially 30% sugar - I suppose it's no wonder that it was my favourite drink, for which I was notorious in Greece. My friends there were ashamed that I would order it, nearly every night. It's still delicious, I'm sure - it'd want to be - but I'm done with it. When I turned 29 last summer I toyed with the idea of stopping drinking sugary sodas at some point in the future - but now that it is fully a quarter of a year since I touched a drop of it, at all, I am happy to put it out there as another of the 30 Before 30 achieved. I do not drink soda any more.

Wild Card Wednesday - MUJI!

I already have a weird reputation for being too much a fan of Japanese stationery. Can you blame me though? Nobody, nobody does it better. (It's a lovely coincidence, in my view, that the words for 'paper' and 'god' are homonyms in Japanese...)

Of course, the best of the best stationery comes from Muji. Tokyu Hands may be the 'Creative Lifestyle' store - and their stuff, on just about every floor, is splendid also, but for my (substantial amounts of) money, Muji can't be beat. Their pens. Their notebooks. Their bags. Their kitchen utensils. Even their packaged food! The cardboard speakers, the spinning-cd wall-mounted cd-player. The list goes on and on - their bed linens, in fun stripes and humble jersey, are probably my favourites in the world. Keep your posh Egyptian ultra-high thread count cotton, I'll take a Muji nap any day.

Tuesday Tunes - Robyn

Definitely my favourite album of 2010 was Robyn's "Body Talk". I know it's kinda cheating to call it one album, since it was a series of three fantastic EPs staggered over several months, but who cares.

Alas, I missed her last gig in LA in November, but hopefully she'll be back at some point. Soon.

I can't pick a favourite, so the top ten 'most played' in my iTunes are:

Love Kills

Dancing On My Own

Indestructible

Include Me Out

We Dance to the Beat

In My Eyes

Hang With Me

Fembot

U Should Know Better

Get Myself Together

...and here's a video. :)

Movie Monday - PARADE

As a pretty random afterthought in early December, I wound up watching this recent Japanese movie - based on a novel by Yoshida Shuichi. Given all the work I'm doing on 'Pains of Youth' I suppose it made sense - it being, like the Viennese play, a tale of a bunch of co-ed young people living in the same place and navigated through their disaffected experience of the world.

It is one of the best Japanese movies I've seen for a long time - dark, surprising, very funny in places, and with some superb acting. Yukisada Isao (who also made Year One in the North and the movie adaptation of Mishima's Spring Snow) does a really clean job of adapting this complicated story, without showing the tricks up his directorial sleeves. Kudos!

There's a trailer here!

Sunday Spices - Celery Seed

I must confess, I absolutely loathed celery when I was small. Probably because my Dad always cooked it in the same pot as my beloved carrots, and the flavour often leaked from one to the other. Stories of the Conor next door eating the stuff raw made no impact, and then later hearing that some people eat celery with PEANUT BUTTER (another taste I developed rather later in my life) truly horrified me.

I'm not sure that I'd go all out and say that I now love celery or anything, but it's definitely part of many flavours, so I've been paying more attention to it of late. At Christmas, I made two big batches of stuffing from the recipe we used when I was growing up (a quarter pound of butter, a pound of mushrooms, two celery stalks, an apple, and a whole bunch of breadcrumbs, all diced, chopped, combined and baked. Sausage meat can be included too, but the sausages here are so demanding in their flavour that I wasn't happy including any...)

With a whole bunch of celery left over from these, I decided to make some soup. But the star surprise was that in Whole Foods I found a packet of celery seeds, which made the soup far spicier and celery-er, and turned out being my new favourite spice! Did you know that it's mostly grown in India? Or that the Ancient Greeks, particularly those occult-obsessed residents of Samothrace, considered it a chthonic plant, heavily associated with death and the underworld? Not so humble now, eh?

I have a whole jar of celery seeds now, which are apparently also great for canning, preserving and pickling. Dunno if I'll be getting THAT far, but I'll definitely add a little for some richness to the next pasta sauce I try.

A New Look!

Well Hello!

I'm sorry I didn't make it into 2011 with a blogpost, but I managed to pick up a cold between 8pm and midnight on New Year's Eve (or possibly a strong allergic reaction to cats, but I doubt that) and so I've spent much of the year so far in bed, medicated.

Regardless, I am HERE, and happy to announce that, as one of my New Year Resolutions, I have decided to blog every single day for 2011. Even if it means that I wind up posting digests if/when I'm away from computer access. Just a little something every day.

In the hope of focusing my posts this year, I'm proud to be telling y'all that every day will have a different 'theme' this year, and they're gonna be something like this...

Spice Sundays

In my new career as a foodie, I'll be trying out a new spice every week - or re-examining one - and trying to cook something with it. Mild to wild...!

Movie Mondays

I watch a lot of movies. Some of them are so weird you may never have heard of them, but I'll be happily introducing what wonders I come across as we go through the fifty-two weeks of this new year.

Tune Tuesdays

Likewise I go through a bunch of music. Maybe it'll be an album, a song, a piece of classical music or maybe even an artist that I wanna talk about.

Wild Card Wednesdays

Just you wait and see!

30-Mad-Thursdays

I'm going to turn 30 on July 11, a little less than 200 days from now. As has become quite a popular blogger meme, I have put together my list of '30 before 30' - admittedly later in the game than some enterprising souls! Stay tuned as every week I let you know how I'm progressing. (Although I am cagey about posting the whole list. It's handwritten and posted on my wall above my desk - I'm gonna do it, but I probably won't post it until the big day!)

Foodie Fridays

As well as my own experiments and adventures in the kitchen, I'll be sharing food adventures and tastings in Los Angeles. Despite my status as a cash-starved graduate student, I manage to get around a bit here in LA, and there are lots of fun places I've discovered that I'm gonna tell y'all about. (And failing that I'll just comment on whatever madness is going on on the Food Network....!)

Seasonal Saturdays

This blog's title comes from the Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, who wrote so many pithy entries documenting life in the Japanese court. Another favourite of mine is Liza Dalby's truly beautiful 'East Wind Melts the Ice' (buy it here) - a book that guides through the seasons of the Japanese (and, indeed, Northern Californian) year. As an homage, I am hoping, every week, to note something special - or note-worthy - of the time of the year, so that the daily beauty, the ordinary plenty, of 2011 does not go unnoticed.

Are you excited?

Stay tuned, add me to your RSS feed, leave comments, get in touch, let me know if even one single soul out there is reading any more!

(I'm gonna be posting regardless. But I hope you'll be coming along for the ride!)

Happy New Year!

Well, here we are, another year is coming to an end. :)

It's funny to think that this time last year, if I remember rightly, I was getting off a plane before heading back to Westwood and spending NYE with Pilar and watching Moulin Rouge, eating pizza and pound cake as the calendar changed. Is it really 365 days later?!

This was a year of Shakespeare, Robyn, Gaga and Ono, Terzopoulos and Mnouchkine, Cirque du Soleil and a cute little mouse. This was the year of Much Ado and Samuel Barber, Hamlet for months, a whole bunch of good cooking, a move to Santa Monica, a visit to the Greek islands, Vienna, Berlin, Paris, Dublin and even Las Vegas!

It was the year in which I've started my fun 30-before-30 project - more details coming soon - and of conquering a variety of fears. Everything from going on a rollercoaster (or eight!), eating a chili pepper, writing more, working more and listening more.

2010 had some peaks and some deep valleys, some new wins and some sad losses, but on the whole, it has been one in which I came face-to-face with a lot of challenges, as we always do. And I'm still standing!

So here's to 2011, may it be one that inspires, thrills, surprises, challenges and changes all of our lives. And hopefully with lots of new music, movies and fabulous food.

I sound like I'm writing this drunk. And I'm totally not. Honest.

Holly, Ivy and Ratatouille!

Stranded as I am in Los Angeles (listening to Mudd and Bing Crosby... Sigh...) I have decided to throw a lunch party tomorrow - Christmas Day - for a bunch of other Christmas orphans from my programme.

Given that we have vegans and veggies and all sorts of dietary requirements and considerations, I have decided NOT to do a turkey - or a ham - but instead I'm preparing a whole bunch of small things that people can nibble.

Piece-de-resistance will likely be the delicious-looking leg of lamb that I'll roast tomorrow. Along with it;

- caramelised maple sweet potatoes

- a ratatouille that looks just like the one from the movie (thank you Thomas Keller!)

- Conor's "roasted roots" - potatoes, garlic and fennel

- white miso peas and carrots

- Ellen's grilled asparagus

- cranberry bread and butter

AND FOR DESSERT;

- my pumpkin spiced bread & butter pudding

- chocolate raspberry brownies

- coconut macaroons with pomegranate cream

- pumpkin pie

- french macaroons with cranberry sweet cream filling

Cooking

I really love cooking - but I seem only ever able to get any done during school holidays.

I'm going for some hardcore nostalgia this weekend; yesterday it was spaghetti bolognese (see above, accompanied by the pumpkin spiced pudding that seems to be becoming my signature autumn dessert!), and today I'm gonna make a quiche - like my mom used to. Maybe with some tomato soup on the side!

As companions to the recipes that make me feel a little less homesick, I'm having fun with some true Americana recipes - yesterday was a bread&butter pudding, and today it's going to be a pumpkin pie. Haha!

(Tomorrow will likely be a chili, and a tres leches cake. Delicioso!)

30 BEFORE 30 #2

I have had a book published. Well, it's ready to be published. My aim was to have it in my hand by the end of 2010, but the timing of these things seems to be somewhat elastic. I'll DEFINITELY have it by the time I turn 30, and my work on it seems to be complete. So it can go on the list.

If you would like to buy a copy, email me! ;)

30 BEFORE 30 #1

I went on this rollercoaster! It's on Santa Monica pier.

Rollercoasters

I must confess I have always been petrified by the idea of rollercoasters. Ever since the afternoon - I don't even know how long ago - that I pestered my parents into letting me go on a Waltzer in Waterford (it's a Tea Cup ride without the narrative attached) I have been "motion sensitive".

Then, all of a sudden, I found myself studying theme park and experience design, and was curious as to why so many people love them and I block myself off entirely from them. I mean, how awful can they be?!

SO - in August I bit the bullet and went on the little mini-rollercoaster on Santa Monica Pier. This was mainly because "Go on a rollercoaster" is on my 30 Before 30 list. With the intrepid Ms. Lenbergs at my side (laughing happily at my terror) we lined up and got on the ride. It's a little yellow track that whooshes around with split-second views of Malibu, and I figured that since they were able to film an episode of Modern Family on it, how awful could it be?!

It was fun. I was petrified, and clung on for dear life, but I didn't die, and didn't hate it. Mission accomplished.

Then I found myself at Disneyland last week, with the Mexican, and he managed to coerce me into going on Splash Mountain (one of the first things we did at the park!) We got absolutely SOAKED. And a 50ft drop is not something I ever actively want to do. But it was such a thrill!

So, since then I've been on Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and the Matterhorn. (What's with the mountains?) I think it helps knowing just how safe Disney makes everything, every day. It's gonna be a while before I brave Knott's Berry Farm or the like, but I am glad to know that I really enjoy such things now.

Next stop will probably have to be California Screamin'. Though I dread it...

Done and Disneyland

Dear Blog,

I know I have neglected you terribly since June. Ironically that's when I started working on Hamlet. The show ended yesterday, after six months of preparations, editing, dramaturgy, rehearsal and performances in three separate locations. To celebrate its conclusion, I'm going to Disneyland this afternoon. For the second time in a week. Hurrah!

And I promise to treat you better from now on. (A consummation devoutly to be wished.)

:)

One week from today...

I'm off to Greece. Can't wait. It's been way too long.

Just because

...!!

I saw this photo on my iPad. (Yes! I got one! Thank you H&R Block!!)

Shipwrecks and Wild Hope

I'm currently feeling shipwrecked/beached by a very tempestuous, challenging and exhausting school year.
Not to say that it wasn't enriching, engrossing and altogether beneficial, but it was TOUGH.
One more paper separates me from my summer holiday (in which I nonetheless have to write MORE papers - and, you know, a book...) and I'm thinking of writing it somehow on a production I saw in Paris, Les Naufrages du Fol Espoir, at Theatre du Soleil.

(If you're reading this and have an issue with the lack of accents, please visit www.gofuckyourself.com)

I'm assuming that the essay should be 4000 words long. Here goes ;)

Food Network

I just saw someone make ginger caviar on Iron Chef America.
That is all.

(Paula Deen would have made butter caviar. And that's why she always wins.)

Telephone

So, I'm only the 29millionth person to see it on YouTube (only now) but I finally just saw Gagace's "epic" video.

Didn't anyone else kinda think it looked a bit like if Chicago happened to be designed by Gaultier and then got spliced into a portion of that awful "Legion" movie? With Art Direction by David LaChappelle and occasional nods to Kill Bill and Thelma & Louise?

I'm sure I've missed a whole bunch of references in there too, mind you.

Fun, raunchy (I loved the hermaphrodite joke) and very reminscent of Chelsea Handler's description of HER time in prison for a DUI.

PS, dear Universe, I'm sure it would have looked much better on the iPad you're sending me.

Amer-I-Can!

Today is Erin Murray's birthday. (But she never reads this so won't get the loving tribute/reference in my title for this blog...)

I've been watching TV this week - perhaps unsurprisingly, since I recently bought a TV. Go figure.
Apart from the tv shows themselves (Lost, Glee, Idol, Chopped, V, RPDR, Robert Verdi and a whole bunch of crap on Bravo and the Food Network - including my first ever introduction to PAULA DEEN) I'm amazed at the advertising. Like, AMAZED.

It's bad enough that you can't watch things online without occasional little interruptions, but holy moly there are so many on tv!

So thanks to this evil little distraction box and its nefarious ways, clearly I'm now desperate for an iPad, a new Lexus (although I was tempted, too, by the Ford that can apparently park itself), a variety of Rachaeaeaeaeaeaeal Ray's crockery items, some Skechers shoes, an iPad, a trip to KFC to support Breast Cancer, dinner with any/all of the Real Housewives, and an iPad.

iPad.

It's ridiculous. I had to turn it off and go for a walk.

Can you watch TV on your iPad? I hope not.

Chrysalis

So, it's been a few months!
But kinda huge ones. I'm surprised at how long ago New Year feels already - so many sea-changes have occurred, in just about every part of my life. (Some visible, others not, some painful, others not...)

BUT it's Springtime, so that means that there are new things blossoming!

And, after all that psycho-babble bullshit, I should add that it's time to kick some ass. And maybe take names.

(Who DOES that?!)

And FYI, nerds, that image is of a MNEMOSYNE butterfly. Nice, huh?

A New Year

Happy New Year!

I hope this year is going to be a good one.

Without question 2009 was the most difficult year of my life. My mother died in January, I spent 3/4 of the year working harder in school than I ever have, and then in the summer, rather than resting, I went to Japan and had my ass kicked by a very rigorous, intensive programme in Noh Theatre!

I'm sure it's not accidental that the two major projects I worked on in 2009 were rather obsessed with death. The first, a production of three Modern Noh Plays by Yukio Mishima, was a labour of love, since I have wanted to work on these cruel, dark little jewels for a very long time. And then the second, a new play called Last Autumn, couldn't really have come along at a better moment.

However, Greek tragedy, Japan and dying characters aside, I feel that some cobwebs need to be swept out. So, very happily, I'm starting this new year with a comedy. A big one. (It's Much Ado About Nothing). I saw the sketches for the costumes yesterday, and they are little short of miraculous. This will be a wonderful project!

I'm pretty eager to make a number of rather big changes in my life this year.

And who knows, I might even keep this little blog a bit better up to date. But no promises ;)

Next stop...

I leave for Japan tomorrow.

I'm heading straight for the north of the country, to visit Matsushima, one of the country's most beautiful places (officially - the other two in the Three Famous Views of Japan are Itsukushima/Miyajima, near Hiroshima, and Amanohashidate, in the centre of the country... I plan to visit all three this year!) 

Wanna come with?

Agency

I want a literary agent.

Type that sentence. in Google and see what strange results you find! (Maybe I should have clicked 'I'm Feeling Lucky' - next time, for sure...)

Meanwhile, if you're from William Morris, Random House, or The Firm, and you're actually reading this, get in touch! I have lovely lovely things for you. 

You too, Oprah. My novel will DEFINITELY be one of your favourite things...

What's Going On

So, for those of you in far-flung places who couldn't make it to see the show at UCLA, here's some photos from it, on Picasa...

The show was a set of three Modern Noh Plays by Yukio Mishima, translated & directed by yours truly.

1. Yuya


2. Dojoji


3. Yoroboshi



And, in memory of the time when this blog was 'Conor's Loves'... here's my current playlist, bouncing out of my speakers just loud enough to madden my crazy roommate. God love him. (I don't.)

Michelle Williams - Break The Dawn
Kreesha Turner - Simple
Jully Black - Seven Day Fool
Kylie - Speakerphone
Katy Perry - Hot N Cold
Lady Blah-Blah - Poker Face
Beyonce - Single Ladies
The Killers - Human
Cyndi Lauper - Same Ol' Story
Kylie - Can't Get You Out of My Head (Greg Kurstin Remix)
Kylie - Giving You Up (Alter Ego Remix)
RuPaul - LadyBoy
Roisin Murphy & Marius DeVries - Yellow Moon (Song of the Year!!!)
Madonna - Nothing Really Matters (which sounds very similar to the previous track, but in a really good way...)
Madonna - Triggering Your Senses (Rare cut from the Confessions Sessions, silly but very good.)

Kyoto

I'm going to spend much of this summer in Kyoto.

Wanna come?!

Confession

In conversation with an audience member after the Modern Noh Plays closed last Saturday, I was asked what on earth gave me the idea to put corsets on the women in one of the plays. Of course I vamped with a series of ideas discussing the oppression of women (also reflected in the projections that formed part of the set design) and the notion of uprightness and forbidding virtue expected of a Japanese woman. Since we couldn't have them wear kimono, I felt it would be interesting to experiment with western equivalents that at once enhance and yet constrict the female form... Blah blah blah...

All of which is true, admittedly, but the OTHER inspiration for the corsets is rather more basic...

I hate Perez

Separated at Birth???

At what moment did Perez become the patron saint of Gay Rights? It was bad enough that he's gone from having a razor-sharp blog that skewered celebrity culture to one that is merely a tame version wherein he's too scared to mock his new 'friends' - or worse, incessantly PROMOTES them. But now his endless attacks of Carrie Prejean are becoming just plain tiresome.

Don't get me wrong - I'm delighted that he's gone on such a manic campaign to bring down St. Carrie of La Jolla (thank you Keith O), but doesn't it feel like he's more likely to do harm than good by being so obnoxious about it?

Perhaps Mario would be more acceptable as a warrior for gay marriage if there was even a remote sense that he was likely to GET married. Ellen, George Takei, Elton John - to name a teeny tiny few - all have made their case with dignity, with pride, and with their partners. But I find such rage and hatred from one catty blogger who made his name drawing penises and coke-trails - and who devotes such energy to lusting after Zac Efron and Robert Pattinson - more than a lot to take.

Love the message, shoot the messenger.

Phew

I can't believe this crazy year is nearly over. Only ten more days of 2008 already - goodness.

AND WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN.

This time last year I was in Greece, hanging out and being extremely relaxed after the crazy year that was 2007 - the change between Athens-then and Athens-now is sobering and very sad. I kinda think of Athens as a second home, so it's obviously distressing to see what's going on there.

I remember I was extremely ill at the beginning of last year - I spent the first week of January sick in bed when I should have been at rehearsal for Macbeth! The tour took me through much of January and February, before I went to Tokyo in March for a little trip. I managed to see Celine Dion in concert (thank you Mark!) and we also had a fantastic day trip to Nikko (thank you Tomo and Robin!) in what was one of my nicest visits to Japan since I left. While there I got invited to come to UCLA and interview...

...and that's what I did in early April. In the meantime I had the privilege of being part of the first ever Project Brand New (which has since become a global phenomenon, thanks to the awesome ladies in charge of it). Los Angeles was quite lovely in April, not too hot, not too cold. The interviews went well, and I was accepted to the MFA programme! Alas my godfather died while I was here, so I cut short my US trip and cancelled my New York visit to go home for his funeral. RIP, Uncle Dan.

In May, I managed to re-do my US trip, and got to New York at last. I had so much fun! Thanks of course to S and the Scorpion Princess ;)

Thanks to my glorious unemployability, I couldn't get much work over the summer. Instead I spent the time writing a lot, and of course did my regular Greek stint in July. The performances were quite marvellous this year - Fiona Shaw in Happy Days, and Pina Bausch's Orpheus & Eurydice. Talk about spoiled...!

Much of August was spent in preparation for the big works of September; 'Caligula' was invited to be part of the Dublin Theatre Festival, and I moved to California. Somehow - probably with the blessings of a variety of angels and Saint Jude! - we managed to get both of these huge, stressful, wonderful things to happen without anyone getting hurt in the process. Everyone involved in the show - whether in New York, Winchester, or of course Dublin - was incredible. I am very lucky to have had such a posse!

And then I got to this place. They all SAID it was kinda like a guantlet, but I kinda couldn't quite figure what that meant. But I have had the fullest, craziest most rewarding three months here already. Three years here will be the making of me!

Of course this year has not been without its losses, its challenges and its sad news. Perhaps I've had more this year than any other year - but somehow, at the root of it all, it's all part of being alive, isn't it? That's how I'm trying to look at it all.

I can't quite figure out how to end this little post. So I'm going to hand it over to one of the loveliest discoveries I made this year - the poet Hafiz. He's an odd little case, rapturously in love with the idea of rapture. Definitely worth a look, for a different perspective. :)

IT FELT LOVE

How

Did the rose

Open its heart

And give to this world

All its

Beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light

Against its

Being.

Otherwise,

We all remain

Too 

Frightened.

Finally...

Alright. A post.

I'm sorry it's taken so long, but now that I'm in grad school (again) I have nooooo free time. Which is good, but also hard work.

I've been in the USA for exactly four weeks. It feels like several months already!

I have barely done any exploring just yet, since I arrived and went straight into class (and I now start my days at 7.30am at the latest...!)

However I did manage to get to see Tina Turner in concert, and I'm hopefully gonna see the glorious Margaret Cho next weekend. Celebs spotted so far: Magic Johnson, sitting beside me at California Pizza Kitchen; Kristen Chenoweth attending a do in UCLA, Mei Lanfang's son doing some Chinese opera on campus, Samuel L Jackson at Bristol Farms (a photo of which appeared on Perez Hilton! - not taken by me), and the cast and crew of 'Role Models', whose world premiere I walked past on my way home this evening.

It's all a whirl... 

More later. I promise, Leila ;)

In a world without...

I saw this, and thought due attention should be paid, since he has passed away...

Miyavi

I uploaded this image before I realised that it was animated. Yikes.

Oh well, I AM a Miyavi fan.

In my final blogette of the day I'm introducing this cranky, weird but quite awesome Japanese rockstar, whose music is ironic, clever, and (my favourite) desecrates and incorporates elements from a variety of Japan's classics - Noh, Buddhism, even Subway theme tunes, street crossing signals and famous ringtones get woven into his heady mix of rock guitars and attitude.

We like!!!

For those of y'all who might need it...

I found a very cool dictionary website yesterday, which I've been using. It's brilliant!

お茶ー青年期ーカミュー梅暦ー本ー入れ墨ー
温泉ー墨絵ー星ー火蛍ー川端ー勇気

:)

Conor's Loves #478: Miss Direction

Just came across what I hope will become my favourite new blog in the world this year.

Keep 'em coming!

Let's Japanese Film!

As part of my maniacal research for my books, I have been watching a crazy variety of Japanese movies in the past few weeks.

I dunno if they've helped my writing at all, but some of them are totally worth checking out;

Taki no Shiraito
Tokyo March
Kara-Kiri
Zatoichi
Gohatto
Dolls
Hana-Bi
Audition
Ran
Throne of Blood
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
Memoirs of a Geisha (not really Japanese at all, but pretty to look at)
Kill Bill (absolutely not Japanese, but the Tokyo O-ren Ishii bits are fun!)
Kaidan (in its day the most expensive Japanese film ever - it's still fab to look at)
The Black Lizard (I know I blogged about it already but it's sooooo much fun)

and of course, a few films by Miyazaki Hayao -
Princess Mononoke
Spirited Away
Kiki's Delivery Service
My Neighbour Totoro (so cute!)

and maybe the most startling of all, Grave of the Fireflies, which - despite the fact that it's a cartoon, ostensibly for kids - is one of the most affecting anti-war films I've ever seen. Have the tissues handy...!

This is our youth

Click HERE to see a short film with Dublin people doing what they do best.

I don't know whether or not this is a hoax - maybe it's real, and even if it isn't, it sure as shit could be.

Brushstrokes

Hello,
I've been out of contact for most of this month, what with preparations for UCLA and Caligula, not to mention my work on my book!
Here's a pictorial preview of what's in store in its twelve chapters...

Muxtape!

I love this site. You get to upload 12 songs and share them.
So, I've done so.
Enjoy!

http://conoroukla.muxtape.com/


#UPDATE: "Muxtape will be unavailable for a brief period while we sort out a problem with the RIAA."

Yet another. Because it's raining and I'm bored.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8.30

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds. Silly question.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Dark Knight.

3B. What funny movie have you seen lately that is worth mentioning? Not sure.

4. What is your favorite TV show(s)? Right now I'm like, the last person in the world to watch Six Feet Under, but it's very good.

5. What did you have for breakfast? Apple juice and toast.

6. What is your middle name? Joseph.

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Japanese.

8. What foods do you dislike? I'm getting better at seafood. I fear Vegan cuisine might not be my cup of tea.

9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Salted

10. What is your favorite CD(s) at the moment? Corelli/Nilsson in Turandot.

11. What type of vehicle do you drive? A Toyota Avensis! Ha!

11B. What is your dream vehicle? A Mercedes. Or a Smart. Or even a Mini coupé.

12. Favorite Sandwich? I prefer to make my own, but in general I hate sandwiches.

13. What characteristics do you despise? Smallness. Cruelty. Laziness.

14. Favorite clothing? Whatever works.

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Okinawa.

16. What color is your bathroom? Green.

17. What is your favorite brand of clothes? I have always liked Calvin Klein.

18. Where would you like to retire? A ranch in Northern Japan.

19. Favorite time of the day? Evening.

20. What was your most memorable birthday? I haven't had a big blowout celebration for years.

21. Where were you born? Dublin.

22. Favorite sport to watch? American Football was a hilarious experience.

23. Person you expect to send it back first? This is a blog. How lame.

24. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Leila.

25. What fabric detergent do you use? Dunno. But it's nice.

26. Favorite beverages? Green or mint tea.

26B. Favorite soda(s)? Sprite. But I found out recently it's 30% sugar so I gave it up.

28. What is your shoe size? 10

29. Do you have any pets? I really want a dog.

30. Are you a morning person or night owl? Both. Does this make me an insomniac?

31. Any new and exciting news you would like to share with family & friends? Y'all know it already!

32. What did you want to be when you were a child? An actor.

32B. What do you want to be now? A director.

33. What were you meant to be doing today? Reading.

34. What book are you currently reading? Invisible Cities, Steppenwolf, Le Bal, Spring Snow.

35. What is you favorite ice cream? Ben & Jerry's Bohemian Raspberry.

36. Red or white wine? Depends. Like both.

36B. Favorite Mixed Drink(s) or/& Beer? Gin and tonic.

What’s your best high school memory? Going to Calcutta.

37. What’s your best college memory? A lot of laughter.

38. What’s your biggest regret? Dunno.

Your daily dose.

I love these kids from Tokyo Comedy.

HI-larious.

Heaven!

I've had gorgeous food in Greece before (and my mouth is already watering with the promise of a trip next week to my favourite restaurants in Argolida) but since coming on Sunday I've been lucky enough to have two little foodie moments. The first was on my first night, when my glamorous hostess cracked open a nice bottle of wine and served olives stuffed with almonds. Sounds weird, I know, but they are delicious! Next morning she also produced some fabulous coffee accompanied by little cinnamon-flavoured biscuits - a very winning way to start the day.... Today it was some caramel vanilla tea, which is also nicer than it sounds.

But the piece de resistance goes to the dessert we had yesterday in a little organic cafe near Panepistimiou metro station in the centre of Athens. It was a bowl of light mascarpone cheese, with chocolate chips and strawberries lightly marinaded in balsamic vinegar. This is, I am quite sure, what God has for dessert on his birthday. (And you can bet your ass I'll be using the excuse of mine to head back there in 2 weeks for a second helping!)

Proust Questionnaire

I've been watching (incongruously) Angelina Jolie on Inside the Actor's Studio, and kinda enjoyed the questionnaire at the end. So, in memory of the time when questionnaires were so fun and frequent online!

(The Vanity Fair Questions)

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A sense of accomplishment (a good job having been finished), good company, and a good laugh over a good meal.

What is your greatest fear?
Running out of time. Mediocrity.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Being unable to be happy for others. Smallness and pettiness.

Where would you like to live?
Japan.

Which living person do you most admire?
Tough one. People who live and create passionately, resolutely, personally. But that is a very long list.

Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
Mizoguchi (in Kinkakuji and in Brushstrokes!),

Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
The first wives, and that memoir-writing Geisha.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Oh dear lord. I don't know.

Who is/are your favorite painter?
Many.

Who is/are your favorite musician?
Madonna (deal with it)

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Gossip.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Gossip.

What is your favorite journey?
That motherfucker of a flight to Tokyo.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Propriety/restraint.

Which living person do you most despise?
Kinda starting to think that it's not really helpful.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Like....!

What is your favorite occupation?
If I wasn't what I was (or trying to be all these things) I would love to consider being an architect.

What is your greatest regret?
Don't think I have any. I'm too young to call them regrets, for now. Leaving Japan is the closest thing to a regret that I have, but it's not one.

When and where were you happiest?
Japan, I guess. Still I'm happy today anyway.

What is your current state of mind?
Enjoying Angelina on the Actor's Studio. Calm, excited at some new ideas brewing in my head.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My feet.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Dear lord. Let me get back to you on that.

What is your most treasured possession?
A book and cd given to me by someone very special. It's as much for the gifts as for the thought behind them.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Over-analysis? Being a good listener, I hope.

What is the quality you most like in a man/woman?
Kindness/sense of humour.

Who are your favorite writers?
Salman Rushdie, Yukio Mishima, Pablo Neruda, Shakespeare, Federico Garcia Lorca.

What is your motto?
Believe. Keep at it. If it's all an illusion, we might as well laugh at it.

(The Actor's Studio Questions)

What is your favorite word?
Thank you.

What is your least favorite word?
Sweetie.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Individuality, beauty, wabi sabi, gratitude, the ineffable, the ephemeral, laughter.

What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Ego, forced things, affectation, cruelty, jealousy.

What sound or noise do you love?
Music. The welcome announcement at the theatre in Epidaurus, and the strange bird that sings there.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Traffic light indicators in Dublin. Scratches on stone or unglazed clay.

What is your favorite curse word?
C*nt. For emergency use only.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Architecture. Publishing.

What profession would you not like to do?
Anything repetetive or clerical in an office with no natural light.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Do come in, we're celebrating, and there are some people here would love to meet you.

The Black Lizard (Kurotokage)

In my ongoing research into the cultural life of Japan in the late 1960s (which, I hope, will lead to 2 books!) I have been trawling through books, plays, music, history, and - most excitingly - film. And the most fascinating recent treasure to be unearthed must surely be 'The Black Lizard' (黒蜥蝪) by Kinji Fukasaku, made in 1968.

The story is adapted from a piece written by Edogawa Rampo, a crime novelist who flourished before the Second World War. His name is actually a play on words based on the Japanese pronunciation of Edgar Allan Poe (Edogaru Aran Pou). The film is concocted from a stage version by Yukio Mishima, who is himself featured in it as a life-size human doll. The star of the show, however, is Akihiro Miwa, Japan's most famous female impersonator, who plays the eponymous heroine, jewel thief and criminal mastermind 'The Black Lizard'.

The film is wildly over the top, a high-camp celebration of crazy that is silly, hilarious, affected and extremely entertaining. Get your hands on it!!

Fuck Lucy - I Love Leila!!

How funny is this lady?!

Eurovision

I love the Eurovision. I always thought it was so exciting growing up looking at other countries and hearing songs in other languages. And all the tacky glitz and 'glamour' etc were fun too, of course. And the whole voting system with the phone-ins - now video calls - etc. A great night in May.

Needless to say I'm less than thrilled with Ireland's entry this year. Although I reckon we'll either win it, or else come last and be permanently disqualified. (Either outcome will be the hilarious, anarchic kind of response that Dustin and his flock are aiming for - and while I'm not stuffy enough to be insulted at their iconoclastic lampooning of such a pan-European-tradition - seriously! who cares that much?! - I don't think the thing is THAT in need of demolition...)

Here's the Israeli entry. A nice song, has a touch of the country's own spirit, nice singer. Written by, of all people, Dana International. Wonder if she'll manage to steal the limelight again?! Perhaps she eats turkey....