Transl. “For life”

I’m throwing your way a list of first names we like – some more than others, some are just little whims we like to keep on the list, and some are more Frank’s preference or mine. Anyway, it gives you an idea of our likes. You’re invited to offer suggestions and/or give an opinion on the names suggested.

If we repeat the tradition created with Xavier, we’ll keep the chosen first name a secret until birth, but thank you for helping us looking!

• Agathe
• Allison
• Anastasia
• Daphnée
• Dorade
• Maya
• Phoenix
• Orly
• Rose
• Winnifred

In the spirit of the holiday season, blog filler! in the form of the Christmas Quiz Tal put up.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping if the gift allows. Admit it: it’s more fun to tear some paper wrapping than just remove silk paper and uncover the surprise right away. Bags for the small odd shapes.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial. My parent’s Christmas gift from a couple of years ago was a beautiful artificial tree loaded with fake snow. That snow litters the floor and drives me crazy each December – and the cats got sick a small couple of times from stupidly eating the stuff – but the effect is so lovely.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Often somewhere around my sister’s birthday, Nov.22, although this year it was just last week. Usually, I LOVE to put up decorations all around the house, but this year I’ve been a little swamped and tired and, as I might not be hosting anything, I think the tree and the lights outside will have to do it. I look forward to when the kids will be old enough so that we can all decorate the house together.

4. When do you take the tree down?
As soon as the holidays are over, the decorations have got to go. It drove me crazy that they were up until January 7 or so last year. Like I said, I really LOVE decorating for Christmas, but past January 1st, I need to take it all down.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Eggnog’s not really a tradition around here, so I haven’t tasted the stuff yet.

6. Favourite gift received as a child?
Hum. I don’t know… I remember getting Barbie’s motor home, which was awesome and included its own detaching vehicle, so I think I’ll have to go with that.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes (long story). It’s a really beautiful thing, too, with hand painted characters made of metal. I also have a wooden stable/shelter that my grandfather made for the scene.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Everyone, at times. Notable perplexity each year for Frank’s sister and maybe my parents.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
Gah… depends on inspiration, I guess. This year it will be Frank’s brother.

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received?
Tough one. I received some bath products some many years ago that I didn’t make much use of, not being one to take baths, really, but other than that I’ve been doing OK on the receiving end.

11. Mail or email Christmas card?
Last year I mailed a scrapbook card with family pictures to a LOT of relatives around – it was Xavier’s first Christmas with us! – but this year I’m pretty busy and just skipped sending cards at all.

12. Favourite Christmas Movie?
Every year, Frank and I (and our kids in the years to come, I hope) watch Anastasia (the Dreamworks animated version) on the morning of the 25th. Alright, it’s not a Christmas movie per say, but there’s snow in it!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually just a little later than I should have.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not to date. I did recycle Christmas gift bags and some wrapping, though.

15. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
Chocolate Christmas log cake, the Vachon version, with cream and ice cream and sweetened strawberries.

16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree?
The previously mentioned white snow Christmas tree is beautiful with white matching lights.

17. Favourite Christmas song?
With a long-term goal of creating an really nifty holiday compilation, I’m trying to find a new holiday song I really like each year. Last year I’ve added Mariah Carey’s version of “All I want for Christmas is you”. Other notables are some songs from the Ally McBeal’s Christmas soundtrack, Sinatra and Lauper’s “Santa Claus is coming to town” – which I like to sing to Xavier – and a couple of other oldies. Haven’t found one for this year; suggestions welcome.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Some travelling involved, since my parents are both originally from an area about 2 hours South of here.

19. Can you name Santa’s reindeer?
No. Well, Rudolph – but in French we just call him the Red Nosed Reindeer.

20. Do you have an Angel on top or a star?
I’m waiting to find a really amazing star to put on top. So far, nothing.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
When I was young it would be on Christmas Eve, but now that we’re older it is spread out throughout the holiday season, depending on when each family throws their Christmas party. Mostly evenings, though.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Too many people in the shops. It is somewhat counterbalanced by the fact that stores stay open longer in December, but not entirely.

We went to the movies twice this week. How decadent, right?

Saturday at 4:30pm, Frank goes something like “I feel like catching a movie tonight. And how about dinner in a restaurant?”. And so, totally taking advantage of the fact that my parents moved into their house next door, we were out the door half an hour later, with mom already with her nose over our stove, cooking spaghetti for Xavier and them.

We went to see “August Rush”, the story of which is completely over the top, and I really enjoyed it. It’s such a cute story, and I’ve liked Kerri Russell ever since “Felicity”.

Then, yesterday, we were offered tickets to the premiere of “The Golden Compass” – Frank’s grandmother had won a set of four from the paper. So we went to the theater again. On a weeknight. Outrageous!

I just read again my expectations for the movie from a previous post, and it’s unsurprisingly close to the mark. Much yummy eyecandy, although the darker themes were somewhat there, if one did some interpretation. I can’t give a balanced opinion, however, as I found myself distracted with my knowledge of the book. There are no surprises in store for people familiar with the literature, you can expect every event one by one. They switched some parts around and added a couple of little scenes to squeeze in required information – they can’t not, really, when adapting to screen – but, as I said, it was hugely distracting to me and I kept asking myself “wasn’t there the part with … before that happened?”. One other thing that bothered me a lot: the book follows Lyra’s evolution step by step, but the movie version takes a couple of shortcuts by leaving her side and injecting scenes with the other characters.

The daemons were wonderfully well done. Lyra’s world was craftily shaped – I can’t tell if the machine designs came from descriptions by Philip Pullman or from the movie people, but it worked well enough. Nicole Kidman was beautiful as Mrs Coulter, and Lyra and Lord Asriel were well cast. The polar bear character (Iorek Bernison, I believe) was more of a softie than what I remembered imagining, and the 3D of him, while beautifully done, was missing just a little touch of realism in some spots – but maybe I’m being difficult there.

Oh, and my last warning for those who have read the books and are planning to see the movie: the movie ends a couple of scenes short of where the book finishes. That jumbled me when we got to the end, since I expected another little stretch of action. I understand why they did it: the novel ends in chaos, with some strong cliffhangers. It is logical that they decided to wrap things up in a smoother way (although the end was a little over-americanized to my taste). Still, that’s one other way my knowledge of the book became a hindrance, since I felt catapulted out.

I still recommend seeing it, if only because it’s a nice piece of fantasy to paint on a screen.

PS. And I know: I changed the background. About time, right?