WARNING! ACHTUNG!

Hi girls! Today, you have missed an important lesson. Don’t worry! Cátia and I are here to give you the key ideas. We talked about the group assignment – Allyson gave us “Tips for giving a talk” (that you can find in the class blog).

We were then told to delegate tasks, to write down the main topics of our presentation and also to post it in our blog.

Hence, after discussing the topics and tasks of our work, we came up with a plan that will be sent by email. You know, this blog thing is great to communicate but it can also make us lack privacy ;)


By the way!! Next Monday, as we have previously mentioned, is settled on a group meeting where we shall revise our material and practice our talk.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT FORGET TO CHECK YOUR EMAILS.

Sydney Pollack (1934 - 2008)

Breaking News Alert

The New York Times

Monday, May 26, 2008 -- 8:43 PM --

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Sydney Pollack, Film Director, Is Dead at 73 Sydney Pollack, a Hollywood mainstay as director, producerand sometime actor whose star-laden movies like The Way We Were, Tootsie and Out of Africa were among the mostsuccessful of the 1970s and '80s, died on Monday evening athis home in Los Angeles. He was 73.

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Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na

The Wooden Swing

Martina had just woken up in the middle of the purple lily garden. The air was so cold and humid that her tiny lips started to freeze. She was scared, so her blue eyes followed every movement of the wind. The little girl could only think of one thing: her eldest sister. “Where was she?” Martina’s mind asked. “Why wouldn’t she come down?” And then grandpa’s wooden swing creaked, and with her eyes closed she felt the warm arms of Cecilia.
“What are you doing here?” asked Cecilia to her sister.
“I don’t know”, she replied in a sweet voice, “I just woke up here…I’m cold”.
“C’mon, let’s go inside and warm up some milk”.
Hand in hand the two sisters entered the old kitchen and a strong smell of tomato jam sensitised their nostrils. It was very dark so Cecilia searched for a candle.
While the eldest sister was preparing the milk, Martina was caressing two hairy black cats. One was seated in a very serious way, looking at the little girl.
“What’s wrong Raoul? I’m fine, don’t worry!”, Martina said looking at the big yellow-eyed cat that answered back, licking his paw. The other cat was lying down on the table with his eyes focused on the milk preparation, and his big belly moving as he sensed the smell of the hot drink.
The milk was ready and Cecilia took a seat near her sister. “Here, drink.”, she said to Martina, “and tell me about that dream of yours…”
“How do you know it was a dream?” asked the girl trying to hold the big cup with her little fingers.
“Raoul and Lisa told me” and the two cats gave her a look. Lisa, the lazy cat stood up and stretched her legs then walked straight in Martina’s direction to be fed.
“Cee…I’m always having the same dream!” she said looking down.
“Hey! Look at me…dreams are good! Go on and tell me but speak quietly or else we’ll wake up Grandma Sue.” Cecilia said to her sister.
“Well, I’m always seeing mom and dad inside Raoul and Lisa’s bodies and they’re always sitting on grandpa’s swing gazing at me…it’s weird, I know…”
“I see them too. But I see them riding the swing at the end of the afternoon when our lilies turn gold because of the sunlight”.
Martina was looking to her sister’s eyes and giving an innocent smile she asked shyly but enthusiastically “do you want to spend the night in the tree house?”
“Of course, let me just go and get some blankets. Could you prepare their basket?” she said pointing at the two cats.
“Yup!” and Martina put Raoul and Lisa inside a wicker basket and roared a laugh. The image of the two serious black heads made her laugh all the time.
The sisters closed the door and walked fast towards an old fat tree. They climbed the steps and entered the little wooden trembling house carefully. The sound of the cricking floor was the only noise they could hear and scared cats jumped out of the basket to find a comfortable place near the window.
Cecilia embraced Martina and in a soft voice started to read a letter.
“Good Morning sweet Lilies!
Me and dad went to town to buy some food. Please clean up your room and don’t forget to clean Raoul and Lisa’s sandbox.
When we come back we’ll ride together on grandpa’s swing and listen to some of dad’s music. We’ll be back soon girls! Love Mom.”
Martina and the cats fell asleep. Cecilia read the note paper again and listened to Lisa’s intense purr.
The strong sunlight woke up the two sisters.
“Girls! Girls! Where are you?”, they heard an old week voice and went running back home where grandma was waiting for them.
“Sorry Sue! We fell asleep in the tree house” justified Cecilia.
“in the tree house? But weren’t you cold? Little pests, you’re making me crazy! You could have got yourself a cold or something!” as she went on speaking more than 30 minutes the girls exchanged funny looks. “Now, we have to go to town to meet the new teacher, Mrs, Mrs…I don’t remember the name right now. Go on, go on! Take a shower and get dressed ladies!
Fifteen minutes later the girls came down and hand in hand with Grandma Sue walked through the green forest.

-> Girls, girls, girls...........!!!!!!!!

Hey hey girls! need to know if you can all meet tomorrow after class so we can work on our project for the presentation!

I'd say...it would be good for us to stay maybe for half an hour or something like that... just to delegate tasks and organise our stuff!

PLEASE, try reaaally hard to show up! Bring your notes and most of all, your ideas!!

Don't forget to pass the message and also to answer!

Thanks,

Beatriz

La Pedrera

It was boiling hot. The city’s voice echoed in a mix of different accents. It was hard to move our bodies since the afternoon sun seemed to chase everyone with its powerful rays of light while people would chase monuments as if bargains they were. There were only a few, including me, that found a place, protected by the shadow of trees, where we could enjoy the heat of the day in a relaxing way, sitting on the grass.
Some talked, others played cards, I was reading while she, she was photographing. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her red shinning hair tied up in a pony tail; the way her white white skin had little drops of sweat, as if she had just bathed, she was fresh like the water she drank during her now and then pauses to observe the immense crowd.
There I was, next to La Pedrera, when the lightening struck. The moment when the camera film hit the grass and our eyes met. Her green smiling eyes looking through my big brown eyes.
I grabbed the film and handed it to her; my heart trembled. ‘Gracias! Soy Lily!’ she said and so, in that precise moment, the most sweet and wonderful conversation began. For what seemed like eternity – in the good sense – a magical and unique connection took place.
Her calm yet appealing voice kept me focused all the time. The words she spoke were witty; she smelled like jasmine.
‘So tell me Andrew, what brought you here?’ the girl asked, ‘Barcelona has always attracted me; its heat, happy people and beautiful art’ I said, ‘Now you’re hiding something from me! Tell me what it is that you really hope to find here, in this corner of the earth?’ she insisted, but how, how could she know that, I dream of the day when I can really feel the people, the air, the smell of things, without caring about time nor consequences. I admitted to her, opening my heart, for the first time.
She smiled and ran towards the café’s white metal tables and chairs.
‘I’m thirsty, aren’t you?’ she wasn’t really expecting an answer. The waiter came and once again she took control ‘Dos cervezas, uno pan con jamón', I smiled. Lily was taking off something from her back pack when the two beers and the cured ham sandwich arrived, a collection of pictures taken by her. She was thrilled for having me interested in her work. Most of the pictures were portraits. I was amazed how she came up with a story for each individual. Spontaneously, while she started to photograph, I began to imagine a story, a life plot for each character I picked out of the crowd – asking myself whether they felt love, pain or blindness.
‘Hey, Andrew, smile!’ the girl clicked. I was hers, like the photo she had just taken. She knew it.
‘Let’s runaway’ she laughed without being sure I had understood what she meant she stood up and dragged me. We ran from the café. Still shocked by her daring, I admired her. ‘Where are we going?’ I asked, not knowing where she was leading me, ‘I have to be on a train in like ten minutes’ she answered, ‘Ok, so can I see you tomorrow?’ I hoped. The first response was a laugh, ‘Of course we may see each other again, just not tomorrow; I’m heading to Paris’. I felt a pain in my stomach, no longer a pleasing one, it was more like a huge elephant’s foot smashing my entrails.
The girl stepped onto the train, this once wearing a different kind of smile. ‘See you, American boy! Hope you find what you really want!’ she said, waving to me. The train started to leave the station; I had only time to scream ‘I already did!’
There she went, the girl of my dreams. A soft breeze swirled and the most incredible thing is that when we said farewell, we knew we would never see each other again.

Hey Girls!! Check out the NEW ASSIGNMENT - spoken group task!!

Today, the teacher posted at the class blog the two next tasks!

About the Report (obviously) I've got nothing to say since it is an individual task. Concerning the 2nd (the 1st spoken group task), it's really important for us to discuss it - as soon as possible.

So, please, start thinking about the theme, the date, etc. ! Write down every tiny idea you have! Who knows, it might become a great one!

We'll try to talk a bit more about this in class (I mean before/after class), tomorrow! See if you can bring some thoughts to share.

See you girls *

What a week!!

It had been a curious week. It all started when a strange call woke me up. I wasn’t expecting someone at 5 o’clock but hearing the voice on the phone I knew immediately who it was. Steven, an old school friend of mine. I didn’t know what to say except all the normal things people used to say in this situation. The last time I saw Steven was almost 10 years ago and I couldn’t imagine why he as calling me so early in the morning.
´Hey Steve, what’s up? Is something wrong?` I asked him very calmly but nervous inside.
´No…Well yes! I need a favour. Can I come over to your place and stay for a couple of days? ` he wanted to know.
´Of course` I answered, but in the same moment I regretted this offer.
After so many years, what could he possibly want from me? I couldn’t fall asleep again that morning - I was just too excited.
He arrived Tuesday morning and his appearance shocked me. He looked very dirty and strange, quite different. He always had been a great looking guy but know I wouldn’t recognize him on the streets.
´What’s going on Steve, are you homeless? ` I wanted to know but he didn’t answer my question.
He seemed insecure, he checked my windows and my door three times. It was almost as if he was expecting someone or something to happen.
´I just need to stay for this week, is that okay? I can pay you, if that’s the problem! ` he stated.
I was very confused but excited to know everything about him. He explained what he had been through and I was shocked again and didn’t know what to say.
When I woke up the next morning, Steve was gone. He had cleaned up the living room, where he spent the night and left the apartment without saying anything. Two hours later something strange happened. When I opened the door to leave, two men came in and forced me to sit down. They didn’t ask me anything nor did they do anything to me, they just searched the whole apartment for something. I’m not sure if they were searching for Steven or something else, but they even took fingerprints. After a few minutes sitting there and watching strange people looking through my stuff, I was finally able to speak and ask them to leave, and to my surprise, they did without saying a word. I was terrified but still didn’t know what to do I decided not to call the police, since they hadn’t hurt me or broken anything.
Later that evening I received a call from Steven.
´Hey, it’s me` he whispered.
´Where are you?` I asked him, but he didn’t answer this question - like he did with any of my questions.
´I’ll come to your place again, but I’m not sure when, maybe tomorrow… is that still okay?` he asked me with that strong voice almost as if he was demanding it, and I just couldn’t say ´no`.
Finally he showed up on Friday morning and slept the whole day, while I was at work. When I arrived from work, he was gone again. Like the first time, he cleaned everything up but this time he left a note.
´Thanks for everything. I’ll never forget you. Steven.`
After that I spent a great weekend with my friends but still thinking of Steve. On Sunday evening I was alone at home and as it is almost traditional, I went to the refrigerator to get some ice cream but instead of my ice cream, the freezer was full of money and a note that said: ´Thanks again!`
This was a really curious week and I never saw Steven again.

Weeds Theme Song by Malvina Reynolds

I sometimes watch a TV show, which some of you may already know, called Weeds. It's a great american parody of the american dream.
Only recently, I noticed the theme song of the show; it fits perfectly as you'll see. Here's a video of the theme song Little Boxes. There are many versions - a new one for each episode performed by a different artist (eg.: Elvis Costello, Regina Spektor and Linkin Park). You'd probably have fun listening to all of them - try youtube.com. I won't post the lyrics since they're quite catchy.

ENjoy *

“Going Astray”

Synopsis

Austin is a young man of 23 years who just graduated and now is travelling with a few friends through Asia searching for new adventures. In India, he meets Mary, a young emigrant who brings a lot of trouble with her and consequently all the adventures Austin was searching for. Between fleeing from the police, losing their way and even getting arrested, they might have found what both have been looking for.

Scriptwriting

India - New Delhi at a bus station in the afternoon. Austin and Mary are arguing. The Road is very busy.

1. Mary: What’s your problem?

(Cars are honking)

2. Austin: Urgggh… Nothing! I’m gonna get the Times.

(He goes to a kiosk at the station and shouted)

You are so… urgggh, just forget it!

3. Mary: Great! I love it when you do that… can’t you just talk to me?

4. Austin: It’s not my fault we’re stuck here, innit?

5. Mary Ohh…are you saying it’s my fault? I didn’t ask you to come, did I?

6. Austin: So you wannt me to go? Cos I … I would! I mean … look Mary I think we should go back and talk to them, y´know?

7. Mary: Yeah sure, and then what? Don’t you see? We…I mean I have to flee, it’s the only way. You saw these people, they’re gonna kill me!

8. Austin: Well now we’re wanted by the police. That’s not better, innit? We shouldn’t have fled! Oh my god… What have we done?

9. Mary: Look Austin, I’m in this country for a long time and I appreciate you’re coming with me but… you don’t have to… cos I dunno what will happen next, okay?

10. Austin: Well, there’s no return now, innit? I still don’t understand what’s going on… Everything happened so quickly.

11. Mary: Hey look…our bus is coming!

(An old bus arrives very loudly)

Namaste! Two tickets, please! Austin, you’re coming or what?

12. Austin: Erm…yeah, sure!

13. Mary: Why did you get the Times anyway?

14. Austin: Just wanna keep updated! So… what are we gonna do now?

(He hits her In a friendly way with the newspaper on her head)

15. Mary: Ouch! Dunno… we’ll figure that out later.

16. Austin: What? We’re driving almost five hours and you don’t know yet? Oh my God, I can’t believe it!

17. Mary: I ain´t thought about it, relax Oz, get some sleep, okay?

(behind them two kids are boxing against their seats and laughing)

18. Austin: Stop it! Please… can’t you kids play something else? I’m going crazy with all this stuff going on!

19. Mary: You’re being a wuss!

20. Austin: I’m not… but I really need some sleep. I think I haven’t slept since the year dot.

21. Mary: Told you!

22. Austin: Yeah… but first I really have to know… about this chav… I just wanna be sure you ain´t done anything bad. Please tell me… You know I trust you but… I have done stuff for you that I never thought I’d be able to… I even left my friends behind! Come on!

23. Mary: I know … and I’m thankful for that. But I can’t tell you yet. You’re my friend, right?

(Austin nodds and grumbles)

Please trust me!

24. Austin: I do…really…it’s just… erm…I hope not being betrayed, that’s all!

Coming Soon!

'Morning guys! Had a nice holiday? Hope so. I did!

Well, it's kind of weird for me to be doing this... The thing is I want to share something with you. I've been working on a shortstory that it isn't finished yet (two or three chapters left - not sure), but I hope it will be soon.

So, in a couple of weeks I'll post it here, in our dearest garden (the one that flies!), for you to be able to read it.

I'm quite excited, but I can't say much or I'd ruin the surprise. In fact, the only thing I can tell you is the title of the shortstory: Bare Winter Garden.

Here's the picture that it'll illustrate the story. Hope you like it.

Possible title: Bee Pregnant

Once upon a day, just like every other day, there was a girl called Bianca. Bee, as her friends used to call her, was a typical teenager: anti-parents, anti-school, anti-couples-that-kiss-just-to-show-off-how-spectcular-they-are-because-they-have-intercours, anti-nice-people, anti-Bush and most of all anti-anything-that’s-ordinary. On the contrary, she loved retro-stuff like her yellow bike with a black basket and her curly dark brown hair.


Scene 1

Bee talks to her friends, in the cafeteria.


Bee: Hey guys. Wanna go and freak out Miss Sunshine with fake cockroaches?

Valerie: Hi Bee. Sure, she’ll throw up her lunch anyway.

Bee: Are you ok Rich?

Richard: Who cares?

Bee: Hm…yeah, you’re right. C’mon.


Scene 2

(1 month, 2 weeks, 3 hours and 45 minutes later)


Bee: F**k argh huge F**K!

Bee dials up Valerie’s number.

Bee: Val?

Valerie: Bee?

Bee: Sit and listen. Ready?

Valerie: Yeah.

Bee: I’m pregnant.

Valerie: What?!?

Bee: And I’m 5 times sure it’s positive.

Valerie: I’ll meet you in like (pause) 4 minutes.

Bee hangs up the phone and goes to the front balcony.

Scene 3

3 minutes later Valerie arrives.


Valerie: Oh my god! Is it Rich’s?

Bee: Na, Angelina asked Brad Pitt for another baby and they gave me 5 million bucks to give birth.

Valerie: OH MY GOD Bee! What you gonna do?

Bee: Je, let me think, rewind? I’m gonna deal with it. What else?

Valerie: Well… One out of two: or you end it before any one notices it or… you give birth to the brat in the middle of an Arctic Monkeys’ gig…I don’t know…

Bee: Yeah that’s an idea… gosh, I don’t know, I’m like 15…
Anyway, it’s better not to tell Rich, he’ll commit suicide.

Valerie: Na, don’t worry about that, he’d probably fail and hit his pet rat. You know you have to tell him, right?


Bee says goodbye to Val and leaves riding her bike.

Scene 4

Bee: Hey.

Richard: Hi Bee. What’s up?

Bee: Got something to tell ya.

Richard: What?

Bee: Congratulations dude, you’re gonna be a teen dad.

Richard: Wha-what?

Bee: I’m…like…pregnant you know? You’ll receive this tiny package all the way from Paris in about…8 months.

Richard: Are you sure?

Bee: Na, I’m just guessin’. YEAH, I’m freakin’ sure!

Richard: Now, what are we gonna do?

Bee: Dunno. I’m hungry, let’s go to the moll and grab some food.

Richard: K, but… then what?



Scene 5

(3 and half hours later)

Bee was 7 years older than MacMike and 2 years younger than Kara Yoko. The 5 members of the Green Family were having dinner and watching TV when…


Bee: Mom, Dad…

MacMike: Shut up Bug, I’m watchin’ this. Auch, mom she’s kickin’ me.

Mother: Bianca, stop kickin’ your brother!


The 4 heads were glued at the TV show when Bee drops the bomb right in the middle of the dining table.


Bee: Folks, I’m pregnant. Congratulations.


4 heads were still glued at the TV, chewing the bomb.


Mother: Bee, I wanna scream…but I’m still hoping that you’re joking.

Father: Calm down honey, of course she’s joking. Child, don’t play with your mother!

Bee: It’s not a joke, but if it makes you feel better, it’s kinda funny since it’s not Kara who’s pregnant, to everyone’s surprise.

Kara Yoko: Hey!

MacMike: Ahaha! You’re gonna be so grounded.

Bee: M&M, you’re so going to lose your room.



…::: To Be Continued :::…

Now What?!

Synopsis:

Juliet and Mathew got married six months ago. They are the ideal young sophisticated couple. While he is a hardworking and successful businessman, she is a beautiful woman that owns and works in an art gallery.
However, everything changes when Juliet receives an email from her childhood best friend Peter, asking to stay in the couple’s apartment for a few weeks.
Mat is too busy at work, Jules spends too much time with Peter and no one seems to notice that a bomb is about to explode. A bomb that will turn a great modern couple into a great modern mess!

Mathew – the husband
Juliet – the wife
Peter – the wife’s friend


Scene 1

Juliet is reading a magazine in the sitting room when her husband Mathew arrives.



Mathew: Hi honey!

Juliet: Hi…

Mathew: Something wrong?

Juliet: Well… I’m glad you asked. It’s not something. It’s everything you know.

Mathew: O-K. I’m listening.

Juliet: Mat, you’re always absent. Nowadays we never have some time of our own, we’re never together you know, just the two of us. I know it’s a complicated time for you because of the job and all but-but we’ve just got married, for god sake!

Mathew: Oh Jules, honey…I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. It’s just that I want us to have the best, you know, and for that I have to guarantee you a good future.

Juliet: I know, I know but…let me finish here.

Mathew: Go on then.

Juliet: Mat, in fact, this is not a big deal…well, it wasn’t until…

Mathew: I know what you gonna say. Jules, I don’t mind you spending all this time with your friend Peter because I hate to imagine you sittin’ here alone, bored…just ‘cause I’ve got to work late, most of the week.

Juliet: Oh Mat, you’re just so sweet…Argh! That I don’t know where to begin with.

Mathew: What?

Juliet: Ok, here it goes. Mat…I think I’m in love with Peter.

Mathew: Oh! Well…now that’s a shock.

Juliet: How come? I thought you had figured it out already. I’m sorry, but I had to tell you. I just couldn’t bare the thought of you imagining we were having an affair, because we haven’t. I wouldn’t do that, not to you, I wouldn’t.

Mathew: No Jules, because Pete is – you know...

Juliet: I know Pete’s my best friend since ever, like a brother to me.

Mathew: No Jules, is not that,… Pete is (pause) gay!

Juliet: W-what?

Mathew: Pete’s gay!

Juliet: No way is Pete gay!

Mathew: Yeah, you’re right! It’s just too damn weird that in like, 10 years Pete never had a girlfriend! Don’t you think?!

Juliet: Oh, that’s stupid, Pete’s…

Mathew: No Jules, it really isn’t.

Juliet: Hm…anyway, I’m shocked.

Mathew: Why? C’mon!

Juliet: No Mat, it’s not that. I’m surprised that the only comment you have on what I said is that Pete’s gay.

Mathew: Oh, well…that. I guess I have something to say to you too. (Silence)

Juliet: Now I see, go on.

Mathew: I don’t expect you to forgive me. Well, I don’t even expect you to understand all this…

Juliet: C’mon, I’m freakin’ out here!

Mathew: I always avoided Peter. I always knew he was gay.

Juliet: Oh god, you never told me. I’m such a fool. Why didn’t you mention it?

Mathew: Please, stop interrupting me. (Silence) The reason I always knew that and have hidden it from you is… that (pause) honey (pause) I’m gay (Silence)

Juliet: Oh-my-God!

Mathew: Honey, calm down.

Juliet: CALM DOWN? You’re asking me to CALM DOWN?
What the…

Mathew: Jules, I haven’t quite finished yet.

Juliet: What else can you have to tell me?!

Mathew: I love Peter, Peter loves me and we both love you…

Juliet: Ah!

Mathew: …very much. I’m telling you all this is because we love you too much to see you suffer, to betray you. We couldn’t hide this from you.

Juliet: Great! The two men I love the most…ah! God must be a comedian! Ah!



_______(Silence)______________________________(Peter enters the room)



Peter: Jules…

Juliet: Oh hi Pete! Please, join us! Oh, wait, never mind – you already did!

Mathew: Honey…

Juliet: Well guys…I guess this is the moment….
Congratulations! I’m pregnant!
Now what?!



~ THE END ~