The Heiress (1949, Movie)

This story is basically built upon—the struggle between a timid daughter and her willful father over the suitor of the girl. "The Heiress" has been hailed as Olivia de Havilland's "finest work ever" and under the superior direction of William Wyler. She plays Catherine Sloper, a plain-looking aristocrat who stands to inherit a fortune from her ailing physician father (Ralph Richardson) but he disapproves of Catherine's sudden and passionate suitor Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift) certain that the penniless young man is out to win Catherine's inheritance and not her heart. Morris is the first man to show her any attention and she is too much in love to even consider such a betrayal.

This film belongs to de Havilland who is heartbreaking, docile, victimized and ultimately cruel. She gives a performance that turns on a dime, from sweet and dull, to absolutely bone chilling cold as the woman scorned by two men.

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002, Movie)

The story of course is based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas, unread by me. "The Count of Monte Cristo" is a movie that incorporates piracy, Napoleon in exile, betrayal, solitary confinement, secret messages, escape tunnels, swashbuckling, comic relief, a treasure map, Parisian high society and sweet revenge, and brings it in at under two hours, with performances by good actors who are clearly having fun.

Ballerina (2009, Movie)

As a ballet lover, I cannot help but enjoy this film. It follows five dancers at different points in their career at Russia's famed Kirov Ballet. Each young woman is very interesting as well as brilliantly talented, and it is fascinating get their perspective about their lives as dancers. As you watch "Ballerina" you begin to understand why Russia has produced so many of the greatest dancers in history; the dedication to hard work to achieve perfection is fully evident in every frame. And you just cannot help rooting for these young women, all of whom exemplify excellence.

The documentary does well in showing the extreme discipline imposed upon the would-be prima ballerinas, and the requisite intensity of their dedication. There is a hurried tone to the film: so much to cover, so little time!

What extraordinary dancers and their commitment to their art!

Arcadia 2009 Senior Day Camp

City of Arcadia arranged outing programs yearly to promote healthy living for individuals 50 years and older. This year, 'A Tour of Spain' was arranged to experience the rich cultural delicacies of Spain. Early in the morning, 50 plus people were boarded on bus heading for Arcadia Wilderness Park. Thanks to the gorgeous sunshine after 2 full days of rain.

We were able to discover different parts of Spain, a beautiful and traditional country full of history, from an informative presentation. We tasted some of their traditional dishes, prepared by Chef Mario from Vista Cove at Arcadia. Then we enjoyed "La Sole' Flamenco Dance Company directed by Yvette Garcia, performing passionate rhythms of Flamenco from Southern Spain.

Moreover, I made my first bead bracelet from an interesting craft class taught by Joyce Tagliamonte. Isn't it something to be proud of?

Lunch Menu

Ethnic food from Spain

Gazpacho Soup (cold tomato and cucumber bits soup)

Ensaladilla (potato salad)

Paella with chicken, shrimp and sausages (Spanish rice)

Albondigas with tomato sauce (meat ball)

Tortilla de Patata (omelet with potato)

Zarangollo Murciano (veggies)

Flan (dessert)

Afternoon snack: Churro and hot chocolate

Buddha Amitabha Empowerment by Shamar Rinpoche

As Rinpoche put it, we were blessed to have this event taken place in a Japanese Amitabha Temple in Palo Alto. It's especially special since Shamarpa is regarded by Tibetan as an emanation of the Buddha of Limitless Light (Amitabha).

To me, Rimpoche is Amitabha.

The Huntington Art Gallery

British Watercolors of the Eastern Mediterranean

This time we spent time in the Huntington Art Gallery to enjoy European art.

By the end of the first quarter of the 19th century, watercolor paintings of the western European landscape had become familiar to British collectors, who began to seek new and different imagery with which to decorate their houses. Artists were eager to supply this demand. Improvements in transportation across Europe and the Mediterranean opened up new areas for artistic exploration, such as Eastern Europe, Greece, and the Near East. The fashion for exotic and orientalized subjects meant that British watercolorists who traveled there found a ready market for their works at home. The 15 pictures from The Huntington’s permanent collection on display in “British Watercolors of the Eastern Mediterranean” illustrate the great variety of style and the vastly different approaches employed by artists such as Edward Lear (1812–1888), John Frederick Lewis (1804–1876), and David Wilkie (1785–1841).