It's the culmination of my week-long birthday. After today, I will officially be a year older. It's been the strangest birthday I've ever had, in many ways. Lots of dancing, food and drink, coupled with a lot of really serious discussions with myself and friends. I guess I have my work cut out for me this coming year, as far as personal growth type things go.

Last night I went to see Return of the King. In fact, last year, I turned 23, just as the second Lord of the Rings movie began. And this year, I turned 24 just as it ended. I don't want to go on and on about it here. It felt like the end of a personal journey, in some ways. Because we've all followed the characters so closely for three years. It's incredibly intense. Mostly I'm amazed at all the archetypes represented in the story. It's impossible to watch it and not resonate in some way.

This year my goal is to learn how to breathe. I'm quite serious. I don't think I've quite figured it out yet, and I know lots of people never figure it out. But this year, I'm going to start learning. Oxygen is yummy (not to mention somewhat addictive - ask anyone who's tried some), but even more than that, proper breathing can help a lot in tough situations. And so far, getting older has meant more tough situations that can't be solved by hiding under table cloths or throwing food. Being on a swing at night can still solve most things, however.

Random thoughts:

- Sitting around in the morning, watching The Ellen Degeneres Show, wondering whether to go to class. Every other commercial is for some lawyer declaring belligerently, "When doctors make mistakes, we make them PAY!" I get up and go to class.

- Just picked up my Return of the King tickets. It already made the AFI's top ten this year. And it hasn't even been released yet! (Finding Nemo made the list also. YAY!)

- I went to the Vedanta Society of Boston today to a celebration for Sarada Ma's birthday. Sarada Ma was the wife of great Indian saint Sri Ramakrishna. The Vedanta Society organizes the place of worship kind of like a church, with chairs and an aisle. It's a strange combination: incense, upright chairs, the beaming photo of Sri Ramakrishna, the saffron robes of the monks, an organ. The services invariably make me happy though. The hymns are lovely sanskrit ones, and it's a really soothing 20 minute walk from the med school, past Fenway. The whole exercise is a good time to comtemplate, feel fresh air on my face and spend some time with myself.

- I decided my other winter soundtrack (other than The Messiah) is Ella Fitzgerald. I've been listening to her every winter for the last four years or so. Her voice is like a cozy fire - warm and exciting. Or like really good hot chocolate with a shot of Bailey's Irish Cream.

- Yes, now they found Saddam. The question is, when exactly? Was it months ago? Apparently when they found him, he said "I am Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq." And that's the reason they couldn't shoot at him - because the special forces are not allowed to assasinate a foreign leader. Good thing Saddam knew his lines. The special forces guys supposedly replied, "George Bush sends his regards." I'm convinced that the only reason they caught Saddam now is that we finally found a good scriptwriter.
I'm waiting for the Oscars to have a category - "Best News-based Drama or Action". Then these over-looked behind-the-scenes people can finally get what they're due.

I just dropped into the library for a small performance of Handel's Messiah. The holidays aren't complete for me without hearing this wonderful piece at least once. I get really emotional during it. When the tenor was singing to Jerusalem that her "warfare was accomplished," it made me sad, because it couldn't be farther from the truth. But then, as the choir sings again and again of "the prince of peace," something really magical happens in the audience. It's a reminder. It makes me happy, that at least once a year, there is an opportunity to step back from the news and give in to hoping and praying that the coming year will bring some peace and goodwill.

Why be cynical, when Mick Jagger is a knight? Whose idea was that?

And, in Italy, down with the devilbox!

I agree that there are some serious changes that need to happen around the way the world perceives religion, and religious differences. The question is, do we want to wipe out the differences entirely? What next - we all have to be the same weight? (I know that doesn't follow directly, but just bear with me.)

Movie Recommendations:

In theaters
21 grams. Absolutely brilliant coming together of a great script, a great director and amazing performances by each and every character. The movie progresses with no chronology. Instead, scenes are grouped together by theme and emotion. At first, I was panicking about whether I would ever understand what was going on. I was foolish to not trust the forces behind this film. The story comes through, with powerful clarity. It stunned me into silence for a few hours. Not an easy film to watch. But strangely enough, at the very end, there is a sense of closure and peace.

To rent
Chungking Express. This is a movie in Chinese, with English subtitles. I resisted watching it for several months, but now, I am recommeding it to everyone. It features two, mostly unrelated, quirky love stories. The characters are compelling and it just makes you happy. It is not that long, and it's like a really beautiful thing to eat. Like two short stories, made into film, smothered in hoisin sauce.

No, I don't only sit around and watch movies. I am also very busy studying and doing other important things, thank you. Oh, and also eating things. Smothered in hoisin sauce.