percy jackson and greek mythology

Just a very quick post for a movie recommendation. Well, and a book recommendation tied into that too, I guess.

So yesterday I went to see The Lightening Thief in theatres, and I loved it. I have to admit that I had kind of been looking forward to seeing this movie for a long time. About a year or so ago, I got around to reading the book, and my first reaction was that I was kind of upset with it. I was upset with it, because I wanted to know where this series was when I was that age.

I thought it was such a cool idea, putting the Greek gods into today's world, and having them be just as meddlesome and dramatic as ever. Growing up, I loved Greek mythology. I still do, of course, but I used to read anything I could that would give me more stories about the gods. Any guesses as to my favorite god?*

So yes, the book is a suggested read, and I recommend the movie. As with any adaptation, there were some things that were left out. But I can honestly say that I didn't mind so much. I think the actors were all fantastic, mortal, god and demigod alike. And of course the Fury was awfully creepy. I thought the "kids" were a little bit older than I had pictured in the books, but again, it didn't bother me so much. It's been awhile since I read the books, so that could have been part of it. But also somewhat older kids, like in the movie, are probably more likely to be going off on their own like that.

I'll admit it. I'm kind of already looking forward to the DVD and the second one. My inner-nerd is happy. To recap my short post: excellent story idea and a pretty good cinematic adaptation.

*If you guessed Athena, you'd be correct!

even the best laid plans...

I was supposed to do some travel over the long weekend, hopefully going somewhere a little warmer than DC where the snow and the cold could have free rein while I was away. But...that did not quite work out the way I had planned. My trip, ultimately, was canceled, and while at the time I was of course upset, I now fully appreciate the irony.

I first had to reschedule out of DC because of snow here. That was not ideal, but it was ok. I was able to reschedule for an early morning flight the very next day. I figured I could live with that, even if it meant leaving for the airport just after the middle of the night to give plenty of time to get through the snowdrifts.

But then I had to reschedule my trip again because of snow. At my destination. And this was not a place that sees much snow, and so of course their "severe winter weather" was a couple of inches, compared to the massive amounts of inches piling up around the capital. But here my luck ran out. I was not able to reschedule a flight out until the day before I was supposed to return. I would have had less than 24 hours of vacation.

So I canceled. And you know...I've also decided to look at it this way. For the amount of flying I do, I have not had many major issues. I figure I was due...and I would rather have had it been this weekend than say Christmas, or over my trip to Paris that I finally took a few months ago.

It would of course have been nice to be in the south where their snow is already gone, and they're cold with 50 degrees, but I'll be back. And the weekend here gave me a chance to catch up on other things. And also give myself more work to do. On one writing project, a little over halfway through the edits, I decided it would probably work better in first person, rather than third. Ironically this was something I thought when I first started too.

I am now rewriting from the beginning. But also taking a look at it as a time to edit. Let's see how this goes.

snow part II

Though I guess really I should edit my last post to be "snow: the prequel." If you haven't heard on the news, and don't live anywhere near here, then you may not be aware that DC saw a lot of snow over the weekend. A lot. Probably more snow than I've ever seen in my life (visits to Montana excluded since it's expected there. Practically mandatory).

And being out in the aftermath on Sunday, with the most beautiful clear blue sky with wisps of clouds and a blanket of whiteness covering the ground, I was again reminded that DC is an absolutely beautiful city. That thought hits me periodically, among the cherry blossoms or with fall leaves blazing against a blue sky...flowers coming up after the quiet of winter.

But the blizzard also had a few interesting moments. For one, mostly on Saturday during a short break in the torrents of snow falling down, the few people that were out had free rein of the streets, walking in the middle where the ground was much more solid. No worries about cars for once (and for more on that, please see my earlier post about being a pedestrian in DC). And there was something else too...something that made me realize it wasn't just me.


See, snow makes me happy. When it falls, it's beauty is calming and I could sit for hours with hot chocolate, a book and a window and just watch it fall. And that I have done before. But when I was out taking pictures...I realized I wasn't the only one who was made happy by the snow fall. For the first time, I traded many smiles and "good mornings" with those I passed in the streets and made way for a good camera shot.

For some reason, it opened people up, in ways that I see more often in Texas than here. Too often, we Washingtonians, hurry to work with our headphones, passing people by without eye contact, without a smile or a "good morning," especially in cold weather when we're hunched over trying as best as possible to protect ourselves from those bitter cold winds rushing down the downtown wind tunnels. I know because I'm guilty of this too.

But it was a nice change.