Delicious Easter

Christmas, Carnaval, Easter and many others... for every season or holy day there's always something... typical on the table. This is one thing I really enjoy about my country, to have a dishes and desserts. But the most important is to share with others! :)

So to keep the tradition, I've prepared lamb and kid. It's weird to say I prepared kid or I had kid for lunch! eheheh But this is actually the english name for cabrito (in portuguese and spanish).

For dessert, there's nothing more typical than pão-de-ló (similiar to the sponge cake). Luckly in Paris you can find anything and everything related to portuguese products.

I'm lucky because I can prepare all the meals, show the wines and other products. No, I don't work for the Chamber of Tourism! eheheh

It was a long meal... and digestion will take some hours! :-P But it was delicious, nothing went wrong this time! ;-)

As a side note, although France is known for its cuisine, it's curious to see there aren't traditions regarding typical dishes for every occasion.

Hmmm... I wonder what is the next special date. Saint John maybe? ;-)

I really would like to be the next Spielberg or Scorsese, but no, I'm not having directing classes ;-)

This was one of my several April Fools pranks I usually like to make! eheh Yes, it's stronger than me! But don't feel bad, many others felt.... but for different pranks! eheh

At work I spread the news that I was leaving, due to budget reasons. Most of my fellow workers were surprised but at the same time it was... plausible! eheh Luckly I warned everyone at the end of the day, because they were already collecting money for an office pool!! eheheh Can you imagine? My prank was being already lucrative! eheh

But then they got their revenge: they managed to put a sticker on my back with a fish on it. It's what french call "poisson d'Avril". If you want more info on this read my special report! eheh

Then, accordingly to my circle of friends, I had other pranks: canceling a meeting due to a flood in the kitchen, inviting people for lunch or saying I watched the Indiana Jones 3D movie ;-)
It was a very funny day! eheheh

Well, back to real life (well, it's fun too) and time to prepare the Easter Sunday lunch ;-)

A special thanks to those who fell for my pranks! :-)

A future director

I like to watch movies, I like to review them, I enjoy the small details from each movie and to see great performances.
It's easy to criticize, to say it could be better and blah blah blah. What's the best way to help? Instead of talking about, I will do my own movies.

I decided to join an amateur film school, wishing I could be the next Oscar winner! eheh It will take some time until I step behind the camera. For the moment I have to learn everything from scratch: storyboards, sets, framing, light, sound and editing.

I think I should have started as an actor, before trying directing... but I couldn't wait that long! eheh

So now, 3 times per week, after work, I join my new group of movie fans who want to discover cinema from the other point of view. And that doesn't mean in 3D! eheh

Headaches in 3D!

It started in 2009 the next "new" trend in movies: the 3rd dimension. The popularity became so big that TV manufacturers start to invest in this area.

I've visited recently the Sony showroom, where they have an interesting set of 3D-ready high definition TVs, which are going to be put on sale in June/July. I went there for the curiosity, of course, but it wasn't a totally positive experience.

One thing I must agree: 3D in high definition TV sets is very very good! Better than movie theathers but we still need to use 3D glasses. For me the big drawback is the movie and gaming experience.
I watched 3D TV with movie and video game trailers, but it's impossible to focus all subjects in an image. you have one car in a distant plan, then you have a person closer to you, then there's a moto coming in your direction.... ufff! What an headache trying to focus different objects with different depth fields in an action sequence or in an action game.

To make things worse, if you need to read subtitles, you also need to focus your eyes in a plan closer to you.
Honestly I don't see this technology with a big success. Just imagine watching movies, documentaries, sports and TV shows everyday or for long hours. And kids will get their eyes poped out with 3D animation movies and cartoons! eheh

I think after the influenza A virus, laboratories will get rich by selling eye drops and glasses to correct your vision! eheheh

If movie studios like Sony invest in 3D to put more people in movie theathers, why do they invest in TVs too? Well, I guess movie piracy will continue in 3D! :-P

Happy Saint Patrick!

To all the irish around the world: slainte! No, I'm not irish but I like to enjoy a special event with nice people!

So, let's grab a good pint of Guiness and celebrate the green day. Yes, specially now that everything is about being green, eco-friendly, nature respectful and blah blah blah.

I started the first round after work and now is time for the sequel!

The long Oscar night

Once again I kept my tradition: watch the Oscar ceremony live, sleep 2 hours and then go to work! eheh
After recovering from that "very difficult" experience, I'm back to post my last thoughts regarding the awards.

Some of my previous expectations were kept, but I believe there were a couple of surprises.

Avatar - a disappointment because it didn't get all the technical awards. And it didn't deserve the award Best Picture.

Inglorious Basterds - you have to watch the movie and enjoy the Nazi official played by Christoph Waltz.

The Princess and The Frog - it didn't get any Oscar but it was the BEST animation movie of the year. Period. Traditional handdrawn animation, with great jazz (!) songs and a very funny story.
"Up" is more of the same: computers, 3D and Pixar!

Sandra Bullock - for me it was the biggest surprise. I haven't watched the movie yet, but to get the Oscar for her first nomination is really a feature! Specially after winning the Razzie award for Worst Actress for the movie "All About Steve"! eheh

Nine - I watched this movie just before the Oscars and I regret it. It's a bad musical movie! Too many songs and no story! A waste of a great casting! Watching the movie is like watching the Broadway show: a camera filming a stage! "Moulin Rouge" is still the number one musical movie! Because we can can can

The ceremony was good, nothing extraordinary, without any special moments. The hosts Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin were great. I hope they stay for next year.
Once again Ben Stiller managed to surprise and present himself... differently. ;-)

Well, now is time to watch more movies and to make a diet plan after a long night of coffee and junk food! eheh

It was 4 years ago!

It was on a quiet evening, on 3rd of Mars 2006... that I arrived in France. And guess what, I'm still alive!! eheh With 2 suitcases, lots of hope and always very optimistic!

It sounds like the Star Wars opening credits: "A long long time ago in a galaxy far away"! My adventure started in Nice, south of France, a small city on the coast, with lots of sun, beaches, mountains and a "quiet" life. 4 years later, now in Paris, a big metropolitan city, some grey skies and the crazy non-stop life.

I wonder where will I be 4 years from now... maybe in another planet! eheh Ok, let's forget the 2012 end of the world theory. After all we all survived other theories like the year 2000 bug, the H1N1 "pandemic" virus, global warming (or cooling, as you prefer), the economic crisis... until the next big news headline shows up!
I won't even mention Haiti, Chile or Japan! It's the earthquake season!

One thing is sure, I hope you are all there in 4 years (and more!) so we can share our crazy life experiences! eheh

A big salute to those who I came across during my french adventure and abroad!

See you all soon...