Eat, Pray, Yadda yadda yadda

I went and saw Eat, Pray, Love today. I can sum the entire movie up with one giant eyeroll.

I went to see it knowing I would hate it. My friend, whom I do love and respect, has read both of the books and wanted to see it. I am going to take her word for it that the book is better than the movie. She's going through a bit of a stressful time right now, and dating a new guy, and something about this woman's view on relationships chimes with her.

I'm not going to rant about everything I disliked about the movie; I'll just compose a short list:

• cultural appropriation
  
• spoiled, whiny white people
  
• modern "spirituality"
  
• soul-searching that results in the conclusion: "Gee, it really is all about me!"
  
• Julia Roberts
  
• self-serving philosophy
  
• lack of perspective
  
• "Rich, pretty people have problems, too!"
  
• "Everybody loves what's-her-name!" (Honestly, I can't remember the character's name...)
  
• lack of sacrifice
  
• no real character growth
  
• TWO AND A FUCKING HALF HOURS LONG! I mean, really? REALLY?
  

Then we had sushi and udon for dinner. Hooray!

My stomach may explode, but I'll die happy...

I went to a baby shower today for an old high school friend. It was lots of fun, especially because a couple friends who now live elsewhere were in town for it, plus the four of us who still live in the area.

After the shower, we were invited to the mom-to-be's parent's house for a BBQ. Cassie's family is Chinese, and her husband's family is Filipino, and there are FANTASTIC cooks on both sides. Her mom had classic BBQ staples like chicken legs and potato salad, and also spicy marinated cucumbers (YUM!) and homemade egg rolls. The best part, though, was the desserts!

Cassie's mom made a gelatin dessert with red beans, and her husband's father made Cassava Cake. I am giving it capital letters, because I think it's going to be my newest confectionary obsession. It was OMG so good! Here's a pic of another one I found online:



The one his father made looked a lot like this, all moist and golden brown and yummy, but it had a thin layer of custard on top.

I am definitely going to try to make this myself, if I can figure out where to buy cassava root.