Published by Frank January 6th, 2008
in Humor and movies.
I try to keep this blog relevant, folks. I don’t post ads for my books, or bother you with too many of my short film works. But now and then, I just gotta make you aware of something that might have dropped off your radar.
There’s about eight seconds of Mandarin spoken in this film, which is the only thing that makes it a candidate for this blog, but… I love you, guys. I want you to be happy. This film will make you happy. See how this works?
You want to make me happy? Go watch this film. Laugh. Be happy. Do it for me.
I’m gonna go watch it again. This’ll be the fifth time.
OH! And, before you sit down expecting Braveheart or The English Patient, I feel that it’s only fair to warn you that this movie… this movie is stupid. It is intentionally stupid. But if you liked Dodgeball, I really think you’ll get a kick out of this.
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Published by Frank December 31st, 2007
in Greetings.
When I turned 40 last week (December 21st), people kept asking me if I felt any older. I said, “Yes. I feel one day older than I did yesterday.”
It’s just a day. Nothing special really.
That being said, I try not to get too wrapped up in this year ending/beginning anew thing. But it does make a difference, this year we’ve spent together. I have had such a great time talking to all of you, of sharing triumphs and tragedies, of posting movie reviews and talking to fellow students. When I turned 30, I never could have imagined that I would find myself here, learning Chinese with such great people.
You’re all a part of my daily life and I thank you for making this site someplace worth coming to every day. And so to you, the readers, and to you, the folks at ChinesePod who allow me to come here with my Mandarin mutterings…
Happy New Year!
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Published by Frank December 26th, 2007
in Greetings.
圣诞快乐！
Albeit, belatedly so. How is everyone today? Is everyone enjoying the goodies they got? Anybody get stuck with a lump of coal?
Nahhhh, not you folks!
Aunty Sue was kind enough to point out that I had a birthday last week (the 21st), and it reminds me (like I needed reminding) that I’ve had 40 years of combination gifts. This year was no exception, of course. My family and I gathered around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and they presented me with giant wrapped present. I mean just huuuuge. This, they announced, was from all of them; from my mother and father and sister and brother and sister-in-law and nephew and two aunts. What’s more, this gift of enormity was for my birthday aaaaaand Christmas.
I looked at the box. Looked at them. Back at the box. Then I said, “Oh, my God! Can she breathe in there?!”
After the laughter died down, I tore open the wrapping and found a super-duper deluxe gas grill! FINALLY I can make that Chinese red pork loin the right way. I usually broil mine in the oven, but this will be so much better! And ribs! Chinese spare ribs! Ohhhh, yes, my friends.
Who wants to come over for a barbecue? 
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I’d been editing film the last few weeks, so my main desktop computer was sidelined while I used my more powerful MacBook Pro along with my monitor for some dual screen action. Unfortunately, my iTunes library is linked to my desktop machine, so I had a lot of stuff to catch up on!
It’s a little like Christmas morning, in its way. I was simply inundated with all this cool stuff! I didn’t know what to open first! Do I gorge myself on Dear Amber? Dive head first into a Qing Wen marathon? And then there’s the lessons! Hoo boy!
As much as I’ve missed the sound of ChinesePod in my ears, I’ve still hit the site every day to review the dialogue. It’s been a great challenge to see how much I can grasp simply by reading the characters and then checking my “work” by clicking on the audio button. I’m not going to break my arm patting myself on the back, but I’ve been doing pretty well — even on the Intermediate lessons!
So while I’m thrilled to be back in the listening fold (and how great was it to hear Aric?), I think it’s good to take a break from your normal learning routines now and then. This forced my brain to work on the same subject in a different way and helped me with my character retention.
So… yay!
Oh, and in non-ChinesePod related news… I just signed a deal with a publisher in India to tell the life story of ALEXANDER THE GREAT in graphic novel format. It will be my first book in their “Lives of Important People” line. (That’s what I’m calling it, anyway.) I’m all kinds of excited about it. Wish me luck!
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