Brains, Age, Strength - it's useless if you're not pretty

It's a month after I've left the student lifestyle. Late Sundays with coffee, reading in the sun (if there was any), getting through DVDs I've watched before, but need the mind numbing effect of pretty visuals.

At home in Belfast, I'm expected to attend church. Well, 'expected' may seem a strong word. In the past I would have been 'expected', but now I do what I choose. I'm holding down two jobs at the moment. To make this transition of being relaxed all the time to constantly working, I'm feeling drained. Yet because of my body clock within my Belfast home, I find myself up each morning at around 9am. This morning, I found myself watching a Studio Ghibli film. The second Sunday in a row I've done this. Could Studio Ghibli provide more spiritual awareness than church does? Last week was the appropriately titled Spirited Away. This week was probably the best non Miyazaki film, Pom Poko. When I first watched it last year, my family were giving me a tough time. After dealing with getting over someone who I thought liked me, Studio Ghibli's colours and unusual stories helped give my imagination some hope.

Apparently Pom Poko was released during a recession in Japan. Surely there may have been some relevance that we in the UK could take - but at its core it deals with getting back to the countryside. This is Northern Ireland. I believe the countryside has to stay by law to ensure it's still Northern Ireland.

Last night was a trip to the cinema to see Eclipse. Not bad, however I may reserve myself for the next instalment at home. It felt like watching some fantasy version of Jerry Springer, where each and every time one of the good looking guys appears, many 'whoooos' and swooning was to happen. There was much applauding when the main Edward Cullen character defeated the female villain. I don't remember Dumbledore getting an applause when banishing an army of Inferi. I don't recall Gandalf getting any shouts when he sent a Balrog down. One wishes to pitch this vegetarian vampire against these types and see how he fairs. Although, he's in love with the main character, so maybe that unleashes some super strength.

Maybe with my own experience, it's just a nuisance that the pretty ones get more praise than those with a few brains. Something both church and Studio Ghibli have been good with. Except Howl, he's gorgeous.