it's not life that matters but the journey...

Hi - I think I mentioned awhile back that I help put together a semi-monthly newsletter for my team at work - it's mostly just fun stuff like movie suggestions, crafts, facts about holidays, recipes and other fun ideas.

I'm in charge of the media section and the creative corner (arts, crafts, etc.), and our theme for February, of course, is Valentine's Day.

I'm not much of a fan of romantic movies (in fact, I don't like romantic comedies much at all), yet I want to come up with a list of good movie suggestions for Valentine's Day.
So that's where my friends come in:

Please post a comment with your favorite romantic movies, or the best movies you can suggest for Valentine's Day. These can even be anti-Valentine's Day movies (one that comes to mind is War of the Roses with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner), for those who hate the holiday! Whatever you can suggest would be great!

Also, if you're a crafty person, can you suggest any fun craft ideas for Valentine's Day - not necessarily for kids, but for anyone?

Thanks in advance!!!

Thank you dawnie1970 and sadistic_kitten for the virtual mystery gifts on my profile page! I love mysteries!! Also thanks to orygun_forest for the virtual cake! yummy!!

And since it's February 14th...


Glitterfy.com - Valentines Day Glitter Graphics

It's already the end of Valentine's Day here, and it was not a special day. As I hear many of my friends saying about this holiday, and as I've pretty much always felt, I think Valentine's Day is a silly holiday that is best saved for children, and hopeless romantics, or people who are in brand new relationships, and who are starry-eyed for each other. I love my husband. In fact I love him more and more all the time - the longer we're together. Which is precisely why I didn't give him a card or chocolates today. I don't need a special day for me to tell him how much I care about him. I can show him every day - or any day during the year. And same goes for him to show me his love.

And to add to the silliness, here in Japan Valentine's Day is such a big deal that they have actually two holidays for the price of one. February 14th, Valentine's Day, is the day for girls (or women) to give chocolates to boys (or men). And then, on March 14th (next month), we have what is called "White Day" when boys can then give chocolates to girls! Silly huh? Well of course it is! Especially when you consider that Valentine's Day is just one of the many holidays that Japanese have "borrowed" or taken from western cultures and made their own. Japanese people don't really celebrate Christmas or Halloween the way that we do in America, for example - but you will always see lots of the typical decorations around during both holidays. But Valentine's Day has become a pretty big holiday here in Japan - and mostly for the chocolate companies. People don't typically give anything but chocolate - no flowers, no jewelry... just chocolate.

Anyway - if you are a person who celebrates Valentine's Day, and if you're in love (or at least in a relationship that makes you generally happy), then I hope you have a fun day! If you have children, I'm sure you will have an opportunity for exchanging Valentine's - that's always fun too! But even if you hate the concept of Valentine's Day because it's a big money-making scheme for flower and candy and card companies - and even if you are bitter because love just doesn't come your way - or you've been jilted one too many times - I think Valentine's Day can still be a chance for us to think about who we love, and who is important in our lives. (and I sort of stole this idea from java_fiend who wrote a great post saying similar sentiments - which I thought was great!)

So I celebrate my entire Friend's list today (and every day)! and all my family and friends around the world!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Thanks to serialbathera, wolfpurplemoon and toadflax234 for the virtual big bear hugs on my profile page! I feel loved:)

We didn't do much today. Besides trying to stay warm - it was ridiculously cold and misty all day again - we just did some shopping and reorganizing the room - again. M's been on a quest for the perfect arrangement for our room so he can use his computer and play music. This was like the fourth rearrangement. But I think he's got it ... for now!

We found my favorite wine, Yellow Tail Shiraz, at the grocery store today, and bought a big bottle for really cheap! It tasted so good, with some pizza and cheese and crackers. We watched the movie Collateral with Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise. We'd seen it before, but it's always a fun one to watch - Tom Cruise is chillingly perfect as the evil bad guy. I think it was one of his last good roles.

Nothing planned for tomorrow, but that's fine with me. Oh but we have loads of laundry to do - yuck!

Oh I just remembered tomorrow is Valentine's Day... funny how after being married for nearly 10 years, I have little interest in a commercial holiday which is really just an excuse for people to boost the economy by buying each other chocolate and flowers and other expensive things. Of course you can always make it more meaningful, like the Japanese girls do, and make your own chocolate cakes and truffles for your loved one. I can't be bothered baking this year, though - too much trouble to figure out how to use the oven! And since we eat so much chocolate on a daily basis, it's silly to buy more just because it's a mandated holiday. I hated Valentine's Day when I was single - I mean who doesn't? But as a married person, I find it kind of silly - as are most holidays (except for Halloween, of course). I think it's much more valuable to give little gifts throughout the year, at unexpected times, to show your loved one you care. M and I do that for each other from time to time, so February 14th is really just another day! And besides, here in Japan, they even go so far as to split Valentine's Day into two holidays. On February 14th, girls are supposed to buy gifts (usually chocolate) for their guys. But then girls must wait until March 14th, which is what the Japanese call "White Day" - that's when the guys buy chocolate (or other gifts) for their girls. The chocolate companies make lots of money with not just one, but two holidays for lovers. Too bad there are not more industries profiting (lingerie or sex toy shops, for example)... I don't think those kinds of shops are too prominent here in Japan, where people may be very into sex behind their closed doors, but they certainly won't talk about it. hush hush!

Anyway, for an explanation of Valentine's and White Day, here's a couple links: http://www.tanutech.com/japan/valentine.html
and of course wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Day

But enough of my rambling. For all you guys and gals out there who love Valentine's Day, I do hope it's a very romantic day. And for those of you who are single, or who hate the holiday, I say buy enough chocolate for yourself (or your single friends), rent "My Bloody Valentine" (cause it has Jensen Ackles, why not?) and indulge!

*smooches*

that's all for now.

Even though it's already over for some of you in other countries...


Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

I had a pretty busy day. This morning I went to see Slumdog Millionaire and all I can say is WOW!! I got there about six minutes late (had serious trouble finding the damn movie theater - and got all red lights on the way there)... but once I sat down, I didn't even move my eyes from the screen once. I didn't even think about eating my candy! I was mesmerized. What a fantastic film! I'm still thinking about it now, and want to see it again.

After the movie, I came home and did some serious organizing and cleaning. I threw away a whole box full of papers from my classes, and other stuff that I don't need. If I do from time to time, moving will be so much easier in May and June. Then I cleaned my bathroom - scoured the floors and the tub. and after that, we went across the street and ordered Thai food which we ate at home with red wine that I bought at Trader Joe's yesterday.

and now that I'm thoroughly exhausted, I think I'll watch Scoop , the Woody Allen movie with Scarlett Johansen and Hugh Jackman, and then read my Sookie Stackhouse novel (I'm now on the second one) and go to sleep!

Happy weekend everyone!