We got wii fit last week. Funny time for me to start and all - what with my ever expanding belly and changing sense of balance, since wii fit measures pretty much everything based on your sense of balance.
It also told me I was overweight, and then didn't blink an electronic eye when I set a goal to GAIN a pound and a half in the next two weeks. Hee hee.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Rent: FIlmed Live on Broadway
So yesterday, I went to see Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway at Metro Pointe theater. This is part of a new thing that SOny is doing called "Hot Ticket," where they film big events - broadway shows, concerts, etc., and then play them in movie theaters on extremely limited engagements.
From feedback I've been reading, Rent did not do very well - meaning most of the theaters had 15 - 40 people in it. (I would expect that it could have done much better.) There were some big problems with it, though. First of all, it was VERY poorly advertised. Even I had trouble finding info on it, and I am a total rent head. Also, it was expensive - $20 a ticket. Again, even as a total rent head, I had trouble parting with $20 to see a movie of Rent that will be released on DVD in a few months. Finally, its engagement was very limited - in theaters across the country, your only options were to see it on Wednesday or Thursday at 7:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday at noon. Noon? On the weekend? What were they thinking? I mean, all of the previews in the "first look" that they play when you're waiting for the real previews to start (you know the previews before the previews?) were geared towards little kids. It was not planned well.
That being said, I did enjoy the production. My and 16 other loyal Rentheads watched it Saturday, at noon, in Costa Mesa. At times, I could almost forget that I was in a theater, and feel like I was at an actual stage show. I loved that it was the musical, pure and simple - no cheesy edits or cookie cutter plots like the movie version. This is a true recording of the stage show as it is meant to be seen. However, some of the filming was not to my taste - I thought they spent way too much time doing close ups, and not enough shots pulled back to show more of the stage. Some of the close ups were WAY too close - those shots were distracting and unnecessary. Also unneeded were some of the shots where the cameras, zoomed in closer than needed, moved quickly to follow the action, which sometimes gave a dizzying effect.
The performances were awesome, the music flawless. I can't wait to get this on dvd - as I can guarantee it will get a lot more play then the movie dvd gets. If I come across people who have never seen it, I won't have quite as many qualms about recommending this as I do about the movie version.... (My normal advice is, don't see the movie until you see the play. Chances are, you won't like the movie.) This version, though, really does the musical justice.
From feedback I've been reading, Rent did not do very well - meaning most of the theaters had 15 - 40 people in it. (I would expect that it could have done much better.) There were some big problems with it, though. First of all, it was VERY poorly advertised. Even I had trouble finding info on it, and I am a total rent head. Also, it was expensive - $20 a ticket. Again, even as a total rent head, I had trouble parting with $20 to see a movie of Rent that will be released on DVD in a few months. Finally, its engagement was very limited - in theaters across the country, your only options were to see it on Wednesday or Thursday at 7:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday at noon. Noon? On the weekend? What were they thinking? I mean, all of the previews in the "first look" that they play when you're waiting for the real previews to start (you know the previews before the previews?) were geared towards little kids. It was not planned well.
That being said, I did enjoy the production. My and 16 other loyal Rentheads watched it Saturday, at noon, in Costa Mesa. At times, I could almost forget that I was in a theater, and feel like I was at an actual stage show. I loved that it was the musical, pure and simple - no cheesy edits or cookie cutter plots like the movie version. This is a true recording of the stage show as it is meant to be seen. However, some of the filming was not to my taste - I thought they spent way too much time doing close ups, and not enough shots pulled back to show more of the stage. Some of the close ups were WAY too close - those shots were distracting and unnecessary. Also unneeded were some of the shots where the cameras, zoomed in closer than needed, moved quickly to follow the action, which sometimes gave a dizzying effect.
The performances were awesome, the music flawless. I can't wait to get this on dvd - as I can guarantee it will get a lot more play then the movie dvd gets. If I come across people who have never seen it, I won't have quite as many qualms about recommending this as I do about the movie version.... (My normal advice is, don't see the movie until you see the play. Chances are, you won't like the movie.) This version, though, really does the musical justice.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Kids say...
Last night, I was talking with Andrew - Angie's son. We told him that we were having a boy, and that his name had to start with G. Grant asked him, "Don't you have any friends that have names that start with G?"
Andrew says no, only girls. Then he says, "Well, I guess there's God and Jesus."
Grant tells him, "Jesus starts with a J, but God works."
"Yeah," I said. "We could name him God. How's that?"
and Andrew says, "No. I don't think you can name him God. I think the name is copyrighted or something...."
Andrew says no, only girls. Then he says, "Well, I guess there's God and Jesus."
Grant tells him, "Jesus starts with a J, but God works."
"Yeah," I said. "We could name him God. How's that?"
and Andrew says, "No. I don't think you can name him God. I think the name is copyrighted or something...."
Friday, September 19, 2008
Disneyland free on your birthday
Get in Disneyland for free on your birthday.
September 18th, 2008, 11:03 am · 8 Comments · posted by Adam Townsend
If you've got a birthday next year, you can get into Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure for free.
Starting Jan. 1, the two theme parks will let you in free to one of them on your birthday.
If you already have a multi-day ticket or annual pass, you can choose an "alternate birthday treat," like a gift card, a ticket for another day or Fast passes for the rest of your group – up to six people.
The gift will be worth the value of a day pass to one park.
"This is your birthday – come on in," Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo said in a Thursday telephone interview.
Regular admission into Disneyland is $69 for adults, and $59 for those ages 3-9; under age three is free.
The Disneyland and Disney World resorts are starting a new promotion to take advantage of the current tourism trend: celebration vacations.
According to industry research firm Ypartnership, more and more people are taking vacations to celebrate some life event, like a birthday, a reunion, a honeymoon or a retirement – so-called "milestone" vacations.
"People tend to plan more intensely and further in advance for certain vacations," Rasulo said. "Historically, most of our celebrations have focused on Disney milestones. This is a celebration that focuses on milestones in our guests' lives."
Disney has used that research to organize its promotional strategy — the resorts next year will institute Web programs that let park partiers order ahead cakes, flowers, restaurant table service, tea parties with characters and other special services.
To avoid delays at the park, officials suggest pre-registering for the free tickets at www.disneyparks.com. To get the free passes, park-goers must show a valid ID for adults or notarized birth certificates for children.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Miss Me?
I know - it has been a while! I had my long vacation, which was amazingly awesome.
I am back to school - I have 30 students this year - more girls than boys - and they seem like a really nice group. I have one student who has autism. So far, so good - I really like him. I am super busy though with back to school stuff. It will be nice when things settle back into a routine. We have a new 5th grade teacher on our team - the new dynamics are interesting but things are going well.
My belly is starting to pop out a bit. I can fit some of my regular clothes, but some are getting too tight. My belly is a little better on the left then on the right which is funny. Odd, though, is that my belly button hurts! It is kind of itchy and tender on the inside. My boobs are sore too. It is just like everything in stretching and getting tighter. Such fun!
I am back to school - I have 30 students this year - more girls than boys - and they seem like a really nice group. I have one student who has autism. So far, so good - I really like him. I am super busy though with back to school stuff. It will be nice when things settle back into a routine. We have a new 5th grade teacher on our team - the new dynamics are interesting but things are going well.
My belly is starting to pop out a bit. I can fit some of my regular clothes, but some are getting too tight. My belly is a little better on the left then on the right which is funny. Odd, though, is that my belly button hurts! It is kind of itchy and tender on the inside. My boobs are sore too. It is just like everything in stretching and getting tighter. Such fun!