December 14th, 2011 - The Nutcracker

I popped my ballet cherry!

 Unless you count the 3 movie/book versions of this I've seen and the ballet choreography in Billy Elliot.

I don't, and that's all that really matters.

Anyway, last night I went to see Pacific Northwest Ballet's staging of the Nutcracker by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (apparently his first name is properly spelled Pyotr) and Choreographed by Kent Stowell with Shauna and Tim over at life.love and the new roomie, Lindsey.

As far as first times go, this one was pretty awesome. Although it did feel like it went by much too fast. Especially the second act. But by then I was  a little buzzed from the champagne we treated ourselves to during intermission.

It's still not OK to leave alcohol in the glass.

I also started making Inception connections what with the dream within a dream within a dream that is the premise of the story at that point.

There were a lot of children in this ballet which is very appropriate, it being the Nutcracker and all, but I think next time I'd like to see something not so kiddy. Although I am stoked for Snow White in the future and that might be the same.

A super fun holiday night in all ended with our acapella renditions of the Elephant Love Medley and Bohemian Rhapsody in the car ride home.

December 4th, 2011 - In The Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family In Hitler's Berlin

Wow...that's a long title.  Good thing the cover is so amazing ;) *

Anyway, In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson lived up to the expectations Devil in the White City  set. I wouldn't say it outshone Devil in the White City but you can't really beat a serial killer and his murder house juxtaposed with the Chicago's world's fair where inventing the Ferris Wheel was the biggest risk since sliced bread.

I may have made that sound more sarcastic than I meant to, the Ferris Wheel really was a big deal.

I guess the only problem I had with this is that you can't really shock me anymore with all the horrors that Hitler, the Nazi's, and the powers of appeasement pulled. Larson definitely reopened my eyes but ...you know... for how long.

The murder house stayed with me though. When mentioning that I moved to Seattle all by myself, Inever forget to mention the Uncle who lives a block away and who checks in with me every single day and would totally notice if I'm missed.

I keep pitching Devil in the White City by accident.

The reason these two books are so good is that Larson's sets himself apart by making non fiction not as boring/droning/forgettable as it usually is. I'm a history major, I shouldn't say these things. But the feelings, thoughts, and pauses for breath and reflection before big actions aren't really thrown into nonfiction. Too much and people start to question a writer's credibility. But every time Larson does it I don't even notice because it is completely in mesh with that person's character.

For those of you who want a little more detail on the book than the title gives you, the American family in question is the Ambassador Dodd, his wife, his son, and his daughter Martha who were in Germany from 1933-1937.

When most of America was sitting in front of the TV and newspapers with their hands over their ears and eyes (it's possible, I learned that when I was a kid), criticizing anyone who took even mild stands against Germany's descent into psychotic despotism, Ambassador Dodd was driving around Berlin in his old, reliable, American car. He quietly worked behind the scenes, trying to teach by example and he would publicly call officials on their bullshit if they happened to say it in front of him.

His daughter, Martha, was getting to know intimately  all sides of the issues at hand by bedding anyone with luminous or striking eyes. It's her right, but not a mentality I get. Although it does make for interesting reading.

It was a shady time y'all. Hopefully, in this case, history never repeats itself.



* Book Club is conveniently called Judge A Book By Its Cover

December 1st, 2011- Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella

"A lovely night, A lovely night! A finer night you know you'll never see!" :)

The 5th Avenue's 2011 holiday show is Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella and it's adorable. I guarantee you that people will take the bus home  humming the music and straight up sing it when they have to walk the last few blocks by themselves. (and by "people", I mean me. )

But because I'm in an argumentative mood because someone was condescending to me on Facebook and I'm trying not to force them to change their mind so I'm just leaving the argument to die a natural Facebook death (even though my last post I conceded the point and tried to exit gracefully)... I guess I'll be nit picky here.

One of the songs, "Ten Minutes Ago" is all about how Prince Christopher Rupert Vwindemier Vlandamier.... (there's more, I'll spare you) and Cinderella fall in love at first sight.

Alright, sure, that's totally possible. But please wait more than 10 minutes so you can try and make sure. Normally I don't think this would bother me, after all it is a kid's show and they need to keep things snappy. But Brandon O'Neill, who I've obsessed about before, played the Prince and he was very over the top with it. Antsy little boy legs, hunched "I'm so excited!" shoulders, pretty much all the things a person who would fall in love at first sight would do.

Except, I'm sure deep down he was feeling, "This whole premise is ridiculous. Who falls in love at first sight?" and I'd probably like him less if he didn't think that.

Although I did swoon a little at the kiss.  I would never say that was a bad casting choice because you get to see Brandon O'Neill in hot riding boots and the cool vest-with-the-high-collar- over- billowy- shirt- sleeves-look. Can that look come back, please.

He did the best with what he had to work with (a pansy).

Anyway, I guess I wasn't feeling the whole love at first sight thing. I did cringe a little at the cheesiness, although at one point all the adults chuckled and a kid got it two seconds later and laughed really loud and that set everyone off into wild applause which was nice to be a part of.

God bless children.

The only other things I sort of bothered me was that most of the female cast had very distinct and unique voices that are acquired tastes. They're lovely and perfect once you get used to them but a little jarring during their first song.

To end on a high note though, the sets and costumes were delightful, the magic was magical (no but really, I was surprised at how they did some of it) The music of course was excellent. Greg McCormick Allen, Nick Garrison, Sarah Rudinoff, and Jennifer Paz (Lionel, The stepsisters Joy and Grace, and Cinderella respectively) were all perfectly cast.

I definitely want to see it again and you should too if you get a chance!

If you can't, then just stick one of the three movie  versions in :)

Blogger Swap Awesomeness :)

 I participated in a blogger swap recently so I could get a little help with this list of 101 things I would like to do within 1001 days.

My partner, Miranda at Aimless Translation, sent me a lot of thoughtful stuff to help me out :) I got these about a week ago and the only excuse I have for posting this so late is that  I moved! and pretty much all the small things that could go wrong with that did so I haven't had time to sit down and blog until tonight.

 Here's a few photos  of what she sent me :) Her arrangement's so pretty too. I didn't even think to make mine pretty, just practical. I keep forgetting you can do both...

Thanks Miranda! This is what she helped me out with:

20: Go 2 weeks drinking only water (sugar free packets to make the water taste better!  - There's a strawberry lemonade flavor and a cherry which is my favorite flavor!

65: Hand write a letter a month to a family member - She sent me some note cards monogrammed with my initial. I'm already behind on this so I needed this extra boost

83: Find a new favorite cocktail: She sent me a recipe for what sounds like an awesome cocktail. I'll have to give it a try when we finally get this new place all set.

91: Fill every page of a journal: She sent me an adorable monogrammed journal that will fit perfectly in my bag. Hope to have this done by the end of 2012 :)

33 and 34: See a ballet and an opera in Seattle: Miranda looked up some productions for me and gave me the dates which was helpful because I hear about these things and then forget to look up when and then all of the sudden they're gone. I'd love to see how they do Snow White ballet style and I'm already looking forward to Madame Butterfly.

Thanks again, Miranda! And thanks Holly for putting this together.

Top Twelve Thursdays: Christmas Time!!!!!

Taking a lead from  Life.Love and posting my favorite Christmas songs of the moment! (I can't have favorites of all time, that changes literally all the time. Links are to youtube videos, some of which are fun to watch too. The first and the last are pretty special though. If you want to make your own, then you link up with Shauna at Life.Love  :)

1. Carol of the Bells - Mannheim Steamroller: a creepy instrumental version. PLUS the video I found for this is awesome. I'll just let you embrace it and not give spoilers. Trust guys.

2. White Christmas -  Bing Crosby: from the movie White Christmas

3. River - Robert Downey Jr. : from the only good season of Ally McBeal (shhh sorry I'm fun)

4. Where are you Christmas - Faith Hill : From How The Grinch Stole Christmas 

5. Christmas Tree - Lady Gaga: You have to appreciate Lady Gaga/have a sense of humour to appreciate this. It's dirty but fun ;)

6. Believe -Josh Groban : from the movie Polar Express. His voice is so deep and sexy but still innocent.


7. Only Hope - Mandy Moore: I KNOW, I know, it's super embarrassing that I like this song. I'm  also not sure it's technically Christmas but she sings it during the Christmas play in  A Walk To Remember. It's also embarrassing that I like that movie. There are other versions of this that are equally good. Help me find them!


8. Carol of the Bells - John Williams : the Home Alone version aka  the traditional version


9. Christmas Time Is Here - from A Charlie Brown Christmas : it sounds so sad, but I can play this on piano :) ...or could.


10. Silent Night - all Instrumental versions:  but if we need something specific then Enya's 

Oíche Chiúin works too :) 

11. Carol of the Bells - Hayley Westenra: I just discovered this! Not too creepy but not too traditional either


I'll find tons of other creepy instrumental christmas music, but I'll just leave you with this one for my twelfth. Enjoy ;)


12. Jingle Bell Rock - Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chalbert: this one's just necessary.

November 6th, 2011 - Packing for Mars

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void  by Mary Roach is a nonfiction analysis of what NASA's work on getting to Mars. What we know and what we need to find out.

Sounds boring, right?

It's surprisingly not. Mary Roach has a talent for picking up the weird minutiae and pulling a whole chapter out of it. Like: how do you shit in space? stay clean? eat? at what point do you reach your BO threshold and when does your skin stop accumulating oil. Is that story about Enos the chimpanzee being the first thing to orgasm in space even true? ( spoiler alert:  it's not...probably)

I'm definitely going to read her other books: Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, Stiff: the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, and Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

By the way, they're using cadavers for crash test dummies now. I'm trying not to judge based on my initial reaction, but I'd be freaked out.

Anyway, I'm always hesitant about recommending nonfiction books, but if you once in your life had an interest in space you'll probably enjoy this one.

October 20th, 2011 - Saving Aimee

So, I know I saw this a couple of weeks ago but I haven't really wanted to write anything about it. So I didn't. I'm only doing so now because I don't want to screw up my record and leave my few readers in the dark for too long.

It's not that I didn't like this new musical with book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman. It's more that I was kinda of 'meh' about it and I'm not entirely sure why.

Saving Aimee is a biography musical that takes us from Aimee Semple McPherson's teenage years and through 3 marriages, 2 kids, a possible fling/kidnapping, and the development of an extremely influential religious movement.

I'm not very religious; not quite an atheist, but when people start putting words in Nollij's mouth I get a little suspicious. So when I first heard that a musical was underway based on the founder of one of the biggest church's in LA, I started thinking that maybe this would be the one that would break my streak.

I went to the Spotlight Night to see where they were going with this, and learned that Aimee led quite the scandalous life, (she was the evangelical Kim Kardashian, basically) and they were going to focus on her entertainment impact just as much as her religious one.

So I saw it.

It was good story, but there was a lot to cram in there (three and half love stories will do that) and I didn't come away humming any tunes (although the music was good). There weren't a whole lot of characters you could get attached to either, since Aimee was always in the center of it. If she wasn't on stage, they were singing about her. Props to Carolee Carmello for pulling it off, however. She was very talented as was the rest of the cast.

Maybe that was what made it 'meh' for me, Aimee had no outside foil. She was both Beatrice and Hero and that just means there was no one to root for/against. It just kind of was.

I don't regret going, but I don't think I'd see it again is what I'm saying.