Almost everyone and their grandmas have watched the penultimate blockbuster movie of the summer right? Watched The Avengers last Sunday and no kidding — it was fuckin’ amazing! Having watched most of the previous solo movies like the two Iron Man movies, Thor, and Captain America… I was definitely blown away by how well they meshed all these mighty super heroes into one kickass movie.

Tony Stark aka Iron Man nerdbonds with Dr. Bruce Banner aka the Hulk over thermonuclear physics and it was cute! Thor getting super fistbumped by the Hulk, Mjolnir and all… The Black Widow kicking ass with her backflips and pistols! Hawkeye and his super hightechy bomb & grappel hook laden arrows (Katniss would have loved one of those ~)! Captain America frisbee-ing his shield to hurl away at the aliens!

Must say though that while my eye candy is still definitely the blond gorgeousness of Chris Hemsworth‘s Thor, I was super impressed by Mark Ruffalo‘s delicately nuanced portrayal of the Hulk… he gave the giant green monsters a  face full of emotion and he was stellar as the reluctant Dr. Banner who eventually chooses to use “the other guy” as a force that he can harness/control for good. This guy needs his own movie, with a cameo by his best science bro –

In other non nerdgasm news — its Nurses’ Week! To all fellow my fellow real life superheroes who give kickass patient care everyday… you are appreciated!

Back in high school, I needed to take an elective art class to pad my applications for college. Having been burned back in freshman year by an overly grumpy art teacher… and also having no artistic skills whatsoever, I decided to take Photography I with Ms. Stewart. She was the epitome of cool hipster art teacher who was neither frumpy nor grumpy. From that class, armed with a Pentax SLR that my brother graciously bought for me… I reveled in spending my afternoons in the darkroom, developing black and white photos like there’s no tomorrow. Even got selected for a photography contest.

It was inside the darkroom that I felt calm and collected, away from the craziness of high school life.

Sadly, the intense time that being a nursing student in college sapped all of that…

This year, I finally saved enough moolah to buy a dSLR! Behold my new baby, a Canon Rebel T3i –

It takes awesome photographic wonders like this…

And this…

More here.

So last Friday night, I pretty much got stuck doing relief charge yet again because one of my coworkers called in sick. I wouldn’t have minded so much if I wasn’t hacking like some old lady with pneumonia… my throat hurt like no other, and there was stupid patients issues that needed to be solved. Plus I had to stay overtime for an extra hour in the morning because like an idiot I forget to count our narcotic keys when I started my shift. Le shit hits le fan.

Anyways the ensuing day ended up less sucky… because I trekked to the theaters and watched the Hunger Games with my family. I must confess I totally geeked out (having tots loved the entire trilogy in its original book form!) and kept saying to my twelve year old niece (who is also a huge fan) how the movie was EPIC. In truth, it was mildly decent and left me wanting for more. For a book to film adaptation, it was pretty serviceable and stayed true to the plot of the original YA novel.

Jennifer Lawrence gave her performance as Katniss Everdeen with brevity, underscored with that subtle look of having lived such a rough and tough life in the poverty stricken District 12 (aptly with muted colors in the movie)… she carried the weight of the movie on her shoulders, and delivers. Josh Hutcherson with his blond mop as the titular “boy with the bread” Peeta Mellark, was performed with equal doses of both charm and vulnerability, which would have been grating if it was played by a less competent young actor. I remember seeing him in Bridge to Terabithia and Journey to the Center of the Earth, and didn’t have inkling that he’s grow up to such a nuanced actor.  Liam Hemsworth only had broody solo screentime as Gale Hawthorne, and thank goodness… because he didn’t look like he can hold his own against the other young actors in the movie. I only know him as Miley Cyrus’ erstwhile boyfriend and brother to the gorgeous Chris Hemsworth (THOR!! Huge crush!!).

Despite the first film foray into these dystopian novels that I enjoyed so much, I am looking forward to the adaptation of the second book, Catching Fire. Can’t wait to see who they cast as Finnick and Annie! And the arena based on a clock!

Sunday night, in pictures –

Discovered this quaint little place called La Vie Cafe next to my favorite Korean BBQ, it had super adorable little french pastries.

And wallart… in monochrome.

I had some macaroons in rose, hazelnut, and coffee flavors… while sipping on some lavander milk tea.

Thats it… till then, my lovelies…