Dreamgirls, Goldenguys

This is THAT weekend. Sunday is THAT day. Ha? Some may wonder. Love it or hate it, it's the Academy Awards time, darlings! And I'm excited! =)

This year the awards is bit different show, because even us Finns have been able to see most of the nominees. Remeber those times when we got to see the winners only months afterwards? Oh horror!

Later today I'm headed to the movies to catch one of them, Dreamgirls. I can't wait to see if it is really with some major faults and some "glued in" musical numbers and some brilliant acting performances like the reviews back here tell me. But when we know that Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson both are nominated for an Oscar and have pretty much had a clean sweep at award shows leading to this, I bet that I'm about so see some rock-solid first class supporting role work from them. But the rest? We'll see. What comes to musicals you can never be sure. I, for one, hated Chicago, but love, love, love Sound of Music.

Naturally, when I wake up at 00.25am to catch the Academy Awards broadcast, many surprises can be on their way. Maybe Forest Whitaker is beaten by Leonardo DiCaprio or Will Smith? Some predict that Peter O'Toole could catch the actor in leading role Oscar.... Or maybe against all odds Helen Mirren will not be rewarded from her brillant performance as the Queen Elizabeth II but many time winner Meryl Streep or many times nominated and never won Kate Winslet? And Oscar has adored Dame Judi Dench before.

Now, what comes to the supporting roles, it's nearly impossible to hope for the victory to someone else than Hudson and Murphy. But it would be so refreshing if the Academy's 6000 voters would have decided to vote for the underdog and give the golden guys to Abigail Breslin and Alan Arkin, who both did inspiring performances in Little Miss Sunshine. And I do hope that LMS will win the Best Picture! Now that would be something!

One category will be followed with the biggest interest this year: achievement in directing. Martin Scorsese's name is on everybody's lips. But will he win? Or will Clint Eastwood beat him? Again? I sure hope not! No offence, Mr Eastwood, but you already have an Oscar. It's Mr Scorsese's turn now. But like I've said, surprises could be on their way.

So, it's time to buy some popcorn, get some pre-oscars naptime and get ready for tomorrow's big night! Who is bringing who? Who wears what? Who is the queen of the night? Who is the king? Which film is the big winner? These questions and more will be answered come Sunday (for, for us, Monday) night!

It's Oscar time! =)

Rules of Happiness

5 Simple Rules to Be Happy

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

(Beliefnet)

Mugs, Friends, Valentine's

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. The shops are filled with cute cards, sweet stuffed toy animals, all sort of chocolate stuff and all possible romantic things one can buy. But, still, I'm thrilled that back in here the day is all about friends.

Valentine's Day, the Day for Friends in here, is a different holiday in here and I like it that way. This year I have given my friends cards in advance. I remember mum and my boyfriend with gifts. Mum got licorice and my boyfriend will get his fave author's book and his fave kind of chocolate tomorrow, when we'll celebrate the day together.

Last night I watched an episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, in which Conan and Dr Phil McGraw discussed Valentine's Day. Apparently, men are clueless what to get their girlfriends and wives on that day. That is kind of sweet. But if you ask me, all that stress and worry is pointless. Naturally, I cannot speak for all the women out there, but for me personally, simply recalling the day, the romance, the special bond in some sweet manner is all I need. Last year my boyfriend wrote me a short story about how we met, made me a collection of songs and bought me an orchid. My heart melted.

Now, sometimes just one simple rose is much more impressive than the whole bunch. A self-made poem can touch a heart more than a poem collection by someone else. Simply a cute card with the text "I love you" is touching. Pick the gift with the girl/woman in mind; different people like different things in the different time.

I'm a romantic at heart. I love all those cute cards with cuddly animals! When I saw this mug with an adorable teddybear with a red heart on his hands and a text "A piece of my heart always belongs to you", my heart went all "awww". Still, when I saw the price tag (7 euros), I decided not to even think about getting it. I do not need extravagant romantic gestures to feel loved and appreciated. And I don't want chocolate. I'm so happy that I get to spend the day with my boyfriend. It will be fantastic to have a lunch at somewhere special and just be together. That's all I need.

Thought of the Day

"Happiness is not a destination, it's a journey. Happiness is not tomorrow, it is now.
Happiness is not a dependency, it is a decision. Happiness is what you are, not what you have."
(Brahma Kumaris)

Private Hearts

This week our prime minister's former partner was, once again, in media. This time she published the cover of her up-coming book, published later this month. The book is titled, interestingly, Prime Minister's Bride.

If you ask me, this whole thing has got way out of hand! This woman dated our prime minister for 9 months and because it ended to a clearly painful break-up (he send her a text message about it, she spoke to many, many journalists) she is now publishing a book in which she will print every single text message, email and diary entry she has from their entire relationship. Great.

I'm sure that there are plenty of people, who find this whole thing amusing. Because elections are in March, prime minister's political opponents must be pleased as well. Some of my fellow Finns cannot get enough of rumors, so they'll be excited to read that book. And then... then there are the rest, who are very angry, upset and outraged at this single mom. (I wonder, did she think of her children, never mind the prime minister's, when she wrote that book? I bet not.)

As a media student I am interested to see how this saga ends. Will the prime minister's popularity go down? Will he get lots of sympathy votes? (I think he will.) Will this book become a success or just a piece of published revenge? Media is already refering it as a "kiss and tell"- book, which, probably, will not be far from the truth, according to the information bits about the content.

Now, I met my boyfriend the same way these two did, online. I was looking for a friend, they were up for something more. They dated 9 months, my relationship has lasted already nearly 14. She is soon a published author, I love to write myself. BUT I would never ever publish anything my wonderful man has sent to me without his permission. I have saved all the emails he has sent and some of his texts, but it would never occur to me to show them to anyone else. They are our private property. Some things should be left private.

But then again, who am I to talk, I'm not dating a famous person (Thank God!). Apparently, that changes the rules, although I do recall hearing this lady say that she did not date the prime minister, but the man he is outside his job. Whatever.

I cannot help but wonder, if the prime minister had told his ex in person that "sorry, this is not working" and then explained her kindly why, would the results have been the same? Perhaps. According to her, they did talk after the break up text - at a parking lot. That does not sound that nice, now does it? Sure, prime minister was a busy man then, Finland was in charge in EU that minute, but let's forget that fact. As a woman I feel for her. Nobody should be dumped via a text, but in person. And no important discussions should take place at a parking lot but inside four walls at someone's home, but still... Enough is enough.

Now, I recall watching a program called Pressiklubi (The Press Club), in which this lady told the host that her time in media was running out and that it would be her last interview, something like that. Yet, I'm pretty much convinced that she already was writing, if not even finished, her book. Why the secrecy and lies? It is very interesting to me that her book will be published so close to the election and that makes one wonder that what's behind all of it. And, of course, if the publisher has sympathies towards prime minister's political opponents, everything is possible.

One thing is sure: I don't have to ever buy nor borrow Prime Minister's Bride. I'm sure that one of our tabloids will gladly pick it up and publish all the juiciest details on its front page.

Looks Matter, guys!

Now this is far too juicy for me to ignore it, so let's get to the entertainment news, shall we?

Finland will be hosting the Eurovision Song Contest this year. Earlier this week the broadcaster in charge, YLE, announced the hosts of the show, popular actor Mikko Leppilampi and media person Jaana Pelkonen. This announcement was met with astonishment, joy and outrage.

Astonishment, because YLE had been hinting that it wanted the hosts to be experienced ones (meaning older) and these young, hip hosts were a nice surprise and joy in that sense. But lots of folks back here are angry, because usually they had seen Jaana Pelkonen hosting Eurovision-related shows with another young fellow, Heikki Paasonen. Now YLE and EBU simply announced that Mikko Leppilampi was a better choice.

Why I find this hilarious, then?
Well, first things first: my sympathies are with Mr Paasonen. He has the experience and talent of hosting a show. He has personality and sense of humor. I like his style. BUT he lacks one thing: he cannot speak French, a talent, which Mr Leppilampi has. And, more than that, according to the statement, Mr Paasonen does not have the looks for the job! There we have it: LOOKS MATTER. That means you too, guys!

That's why I find it funny. Women have faced this dilemma for decades; if you're beautiful, you need less talent. That's why it is kind of refreshing to see that men do face the very same thing. Let's face it, you can be funny, talented and experienced, but still, if someone is more good-looking, you're out. French, my dears, can be learned. But looks... that cannot be altered complitely.

Now, personally I have absolutely nothing against Mr Leppilampi. I liked his rewarded perfomance in Finnish film Helmiä ja Sikoja (Pearls and Pigs) and I've heard him sing. He can entertain, that's for sure. And apparently, he has spoken French in public before, so there's that. And looks... he has bit of that young georgeclooney charm, which, without a doubt, helped him get this job. But can he sustain his popularity now when lots of Finns are angry at him because he is not Mr Paasonen? Time will tell.

If you ask me, it is interesting that when Mr Paasonen was not "good enough", he was replaced with another young man. That's plain cruel to me. Especially, when the lady he is hosting lots of shows with has been picked for the job...

Been there, figured it out

Sometimes the answers to the biggest questions is one's life are actually very simple in that "staring-into-your-face" and "cannot-see-the-forest-from-the-trees" - sort of way.

Dr Phil wrote in his book Self Matters that his dream is very close to the life he lead at the time when he decided to change his life. He just altered his attitude, city of residence and other things inside out.

I'm the first to admit that at the time of frustration I have wondered if the things I want in my life are, truly, the things I should be wanting. Then, after doing my share of soul searching, I understood that the things that I want to do in my life (I made a mental list) are in fact presicely the kind of things that I'm in the path to do.

Some might wonder, now, what was the point to doubt it all, then? Well, it made all the difference, actually. If I had not went through that, I'd be still out there, wondering, if I had made the right choises and I would question it all time after time. Having done that, I can smile and admit, yes, the ship called my life is right on its course.

And that, my friends, is one fantastic feeling.

Keeping it simple

Ok, I'm all for trying new things and all that, but I just hate it when my blogger account had to be switched to a new one! That means new passwords to recall and I only have about zillion other pws to recall already! *sigh*

I want some parts of my life to be simple. And NOT having zillion pws is exactly part of that. I have selective memory at times, and passwords come and go...

Stranger Than Fiction

Last Friday I went, once again, to see a movie. This time my choice was Stranger Than Fiction.

Now, I have seen Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman and Queen Latifah in films before several times, but this film was the first in which I saw Maggie Gyllenhall and only second with Will Ferrell (the first one being Bewitched). And I must admit that I fully enjoyed myself throughout the film. Thanks to that belong to the script and the cast most of all.

Lately I have found myself liking a lot of films in which the characters are wondering what it's all about. Stranger is another one to the collection. Naturally, in this flick, the main character Harold Crick hears that he'll be dead soon. That makes him get a life.

Too many of us are simply floating through life and wake up to live when it's too late - or never. Films like this make one think about it all and that is always, to me, a sign of a good one. Actually, no matter how much I think about it, I cannot find any faults in it. I'm sure that there are few, but when I go to see a film, I want to enjoy it, be entertained and, of possible, laugh. It was all in there. Simply enjoyable. Treat with no sugar, fat or calories. Heaven!