Crash

Wow. I just saw the movie Crash. What an amazing, thought provoking movie. It was, in many ways, painful to watch.

Perspective.

Moving.

SO many amazing, powerful scenes. So many seemingly minor, yet incredibly thought provoking.

The odd thing about this world is that you can never really get inside someone else's head.

I could go in and describe scene detail by detail and analyze it (like I am doing on the phone with my mom right now..) but I can't because I don't know if you've seen it.

See this movie.

I like facts. I like dealing in facts. I like dealing with what is. The rational. The logical.

But the problem is we live in a world of people. And not all people are rational or logical or factual. People are emotional. People are opinionated. People often rely more on their beliefs then anything else. And no facts can change that.

If someone believes that one race is superior to another, their beliefs are going to create an alternate reality, despite the fact that no race is superior.

If someone believes that being gay is wrong, then it is their beliefs that are creating the reality.

If someone believes that people on the street have a choice, then their beliefs create the reality, despite what may be true for each individual.

If someone believes that a person with a tatoo is morally indecent or trashy, then every person they meet with a tatoo has entered into the reality of that person.

People's opinions, people's beliefs, create their reality. But that reality extends beyond their lives. It reached out and touches others.

People hurt each other, disrespect each other, call each other names, honk at each other, spread anger and hate... because they believe the person they are doing it to... what? doesn't have feelings? deserves it? Was a born a certain color? Lives a certain lifestyle?

If someone is pissed off and decides to pull a gun on someone, no amount of fact or logic or reason is going to change that situation.

But what I really liked about the movie is it wasn't all about death. Death isn't the only bad thing that can happen when people's opinions invade into other's lives.

This is the world that our opinions and beliefs are creating.

Are we happy with it?

When I was in high school, my friend wrote me a letter once. She has a child. She is white, and the baby's father is black. My friend was worried about being a good mom. She didin't know how to raise her daughter... in the black culture or the white. I thought that was the most ridiculous thig I had ever heard. I wrote back that she should raise her daughter to be herself. Why does she have to be raised black or white? My friend wrote back, "You live in such a bubble out there in California. The real world isn't like that."

That line resonates in my head to this day. What does it mean? I grew up rarely seeing racism. Or did I? Maybe I BELIEVED that racism didn't exist, so I never saw it. Maybe my beliefs made me just as blind?

When I see a movie like Crash, I want to think that it can't really be true. People don't really treat each other like this. Do they? It doesn't make sense.

But then I start thinking about beliefs that I have heard... "She has a tatoo, wow she must be pretty messed up" "Isn't being Gay totally sick?" "Asian drivers" "illegals working at the drive through."

Sigh. I'm not living in a bubble. It exists all around me. And whether its a choice (tatoo, piercings,) you were born with it (your race), or the jury's still out (being homosexual), not a single one of these things, in and of itself, is a reason for hate, meaness, disrespect. Its only people's beliefs that make it such.

I know people with tatoos who wouldn't hurt a fly, who are caring and respectful. I know Asians who are good drivers. I know Mexicans who have come legally to America and worked hard to learn English so that they could work at drive throughs. And I know gay people who are more family oriented and moral then many straight people I know. I've seen them. I've had their children in my classrooms.

Why the tendancy to have opinions that assume the worst out of people?

What good does that do? To make a more peaceful, humane, better society, wouldn't it be better to assume the best of people?

Think of it this way. If you go into a situation where you think negatively, how hard does the other person have to work to make you change your mind and view it positively? On the other hand, if you assume a positive view and need to change your mind, well, it is a lot easier to change your view to the negative then to the positive.

Another point the movie brought up is those within a certain stereotype who choose to perpetuate it. In this movie, blacks who continue to steal and rob was a major example.

Some great examples:
1) Anthony: That waitress sized us up in two seconds. We're black and black people don't tip. So she wasn't gonna waste her time. Now somebody like that? Nothing you can do to change their mind.

Peter: So, uh... how much did you leave?

Anthony: You expect me to pay for that kind of service?

2)
Anthony: Look around! You couldn't find a whiter, safer or better lit part of this city. But this white woman sees two black guys, who look like UCLA students, strolling down the sidewalk and her reaction is blind fear. I mean, look at us! Are we dressed like gangbangers? Do we look threatening? No. Fact, if anybody should be scared, it's us: the only two black faces surrounded by a sea of over-caffeinated white people, patrolled by the triggerhappy LAPD. So, why aren't we scared?

Peter: Because we have guns?

Anthony: You could be right.

And the response, later in the movie?
Cameron: [to Anthony] Look at me. You embarrass me. You embarrass yourself.

SO true. When people behave badly, they perpetuate stereotypes. WHen someone does something wrong, it reflects on their type. Someone commits a crime? Well, its becasue their black, or Mexican, or an Asian gang banger, or a spoile rich white kid, or poor white trash, or a punker with tatoos and piercings...

So what else needs to change? Not just people's beliefs, but people's actions. Represent. Remember, for every action you take, you are representing. Yourself, your family, your culture, your community, your "type."

And what about those who truly do represent in a positive way, but are still assumed to be "less then..." Keep fighting the good fight, people. Its a vicious cycle. Don't fall into it.

Where am I going with this? Sigh. I don't know either. Maybe that's why Crash "ended" the way it did. Kind of like this blog. It didn't really end.

Officer Hanson: Something else funny?
Peter: [laughing] People, man... people.

Cute Puppy!

Ok, so I was watching an episode of Great Cruises today. It was about an Alaskan Cruise on the Radiance of the Seas (which is the same cruise ship we are going to take to Alaska in August.)

Anyways, there was a long scene with an excursion that involved sled dogs.

Normally when dogs come on tv, Belle runns up to the screen and watches for a bit, and then loses interest, but this time, the sled dogs had her attention for the entire segment!

What was really funny was, several times, the sled dogs would run across the screen at an angle and run off a corner of the screen. Belle would go to the corner of the screen and track the dogs running of the edge of the screen with her head, as if she was trying to figure out where they were going! Her head whizzing down following the running dogs... it was so cute!

South Park goes in for the "kill."

This article comes from here

South Park: "The Return of Chef"
TV Review: The animated series comments on a cast members departure.
by Eric Goldman

March 23, 2006 - [SPOILER WARNING: Key episode plot points are discussed in the course of this review.]

Don't piss off Matt and Trey. The South Park season premiere this week once more proved that to be true in a big way. Though would you expect anything less? In the past couple of weeks there has been a lot of attention given to the fact that Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef on the long running series, would not be returning this season. Hayes was quoted as saying he was upset over the show insulting religion as an explanation for his departure, but as many (including South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker) were quick to point out, the show has pretty much lampooned every religion through the years in equal measure. Thus it seemed somewhat notable that the show had done their big Scientology episode "Trapped in the Closet" last fall, and that Hayes is in fact a Scientologist.

One of the great things about South Park is that because the show is so quickly and crudely produced, they can have episodes on the air that are amazingly topical, often commenting on headlines that just occurred. And you knew there was no way there were going to let something like Hayes quitting the show go by without commenting upon it. "The Return of Chef" began with a fake "Previously on South Park" segment that showed Chef deciding to leave town and join a group called The Super Adventurers Club to travel around the world, as all of the kids (Cartman included!) got emotional and wept. But in the premiere Chef returns, and everyone rejoices… until they notice something isn't quite right with him.

In an extremely funny move, Parker and Stone took previously recorded footage of Hayes from old episodes and awkwardly spliced it together to create new dialogue for Chef. Chef it seems came back to South Park with a shocking new fondness for sex with children, and one of the episode's running jokes had Chef continually begin to sing his popular "I'm Gonna Make Love to you Woman" song, except "woman" was replaced with every rude and crude thing you can think that involved children and their bodies. Suffice to say, the show isn't getting any more family friendly as time goes on.

"Trapped in the Closet" had started this whole situation by parodying Scientology, and while Parker and Stone weren't about to bring up the religion by name again, they pointedly made it pretty clear what they think of the situation with Hayes, pulling no punches. We learn that the Super Adventurers Club has in fact brainwashed Chef, changing him from the friend all the boys loved to this "weirdo" they're talking to now. Make your own conclusions as to what that is supposed to signify. One inspired in-joke had the leader of the Super Adventures Club explaining their belief that having sex with children makes them immortal, as text on screen informed the audience that, "This is what the Super Adventures Club actually believes;" a clever reference to the "Trapped in the Closet" episode using the same wording when showing Scientology beliefs. The episode then went to the South Park extreme, as Chef makes his choice to stay with the Super Adventures Club rather then return with the boys… only to be burnt alive, fall off a cliff, get impaled and then finally be torn apart by a mountain lion and a bear. And yes, it was all wonderfully, horrifically hysterical.

In the end, a funeral is held for Chef, and Kyle delivers a eulogy that probably says how Parker and Stone really feel about Hayes, in which he says he's not going to let Chef's recent weirdness ruin his memories of his friend and the good times they had. It was a truly sweet sentiment for a show that had just had Chef's face ripped off by wild animals. Then again, as the Revenge of the Sith inspired coda proved, Chef has been rebuilt by the Super Adventure Club and you never know if he might pop up again, Hayes or no Hayes. There's been some pretty strange rumblings in the past couple of days involving rumors that Hayes had a stroke and speculation on whether or not he was even the one who actually quit or if someone did it on his behalf. If more of this story comes out, I wouldn't put it past the creators of South Park to bring forth more of their brash commentary on it in future episodes.

Just Like Heaven

I just finished watching Just Like Heaven. It was really good! It stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. I knew the premise and it sounded like a cute romantic comedy, but I couldn't figure out how they were going to end it. I really thought it was all around good.

Also, it had Jon Heder in it... which was funny because I saw Napolean Dynamite for the first time last night. (I wasn't crazy about it, but I also slept through a lot of it 'cause I was so tired!) But anyway, I'm watching this guy in Just Like Heaven and its like one of those things where you know you've seen them in something else and then I realized... hey that's Napolean!

Also, I got my report cards done this morning. I got 1-15 done while watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and 16-31 while watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

If each movie is 2 1/2 hours long, thats 150 minutes. Which means that each report card took aprx. 10 minutes. Yeah. Thats fun math.

From the pen of a 5th grader

Question: Transportation by water was very important to the British Colonies. The folowing term is related to water transportation. Explain how the term is related to water transportation.

Raw Materials:

Answer: People grow raw materials and then swim to the other side to trade.

South Park

Check this out: and pay careful attention to what Matt Stone says.




Soul singer Isaac Hayes quits 'South Park'

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Soul singer Isaac Hayes said Monday he was quitting his job as the voice of the lusty character "Chef" on the satiric cable TV cartoon "South Park," citing the show's "inappropriate ridicule" of religion.

But series co-creator Matt Stone said the veteran recording artist was upset the show had recently lampooned the Church of Scientology, of which Hayes is an outspoken follower.

"In ten years and over 150 episodes of 'South Park,' Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslim, Mormons or Jews," Stone said in a statement issued by the Comedy Central network.

"He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show."

He added: "Of course we will release Isaac from his contract, and we wish him well."

In a statement explaining his departure from the show, Hayes, 63, did not mention last fall's episode poking fun at Scientology and some of its celebrity adherents, including actor Tom Cruise.

Rather, Hayes said the show's parody of religion in general was part of what he saw as a "growing insensitivity toward personal spiritual beliefs" in the media, including the recent controversy over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.

"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs ... begins," Hayes said.

The crudely animated cartoon, heading into its 10th season next week as one of Comedy Central's biggest hits, centers on the antics of four foul-mouthed fourth graders in the town of South Park, Colorado.

Outlandish religious satire has been a mainstay of the show since its debut on the Viacom Inc.-owned network in 1997. The series grew out of two short films by Stone and collaborator Trey Parker -- "Jesus vs. Frosty" and "The Spirit of Christmas," the latter featuring a martial-arts duel between Jesus and Santa Claus over the true meaning of Christmas.

Hayes, the first black composer to win an Oscar for best song with his theme to the 1971 film "Shaft," gained renewed fame on "South Park" as the voice of Jerome "Chef" McElroy, the school cafeteria cook whom the boys often seek out for advice.

In an episode last fall, one of the gang, Stan, scores so high on a Scientology test that church followers think he is the next L. Ron Hubbard, the late science-fiction writer who founded the religion. Hayes did not take part in that episode.

In an interview with Reuters late last year, Hayes talked about a foundation he formed to bring Scientology-based study techniques to disadvantaged inner-city schools, in partnership with fellow devotee Lisa Marie Presley.

"But it's not religious," he said then, describing himself as Baptist by birth and Scientology as "an applied religious philosophy."

Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox said producers have not decided whether Chef would be dropped from the show or continued with another actor supplying his voice.

Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.




Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/south.park.hayes.reut/index.html


A few more good points:

Remember, Isaacs said this:

... "he fumes, "Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored. As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."

Stone has fired back at Hayes saying, "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology... He has no problem - and he's cashed plenty of checks - with our show making fun of Christians."

And here is the key point, which I couldn't have said better myself:

Stone adds that he and Parker "never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and, to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin."

Parker has previously said the show had avoided the controversial topic of Scientology out of respect for Hayes and his religious beliefs. He explains, "Finally, we just had to tell Isaac, 'Dude, we totally love working with you, and this is nothing personal, it's just we're South Park, and, if we don't do this, we're belittling everything else we've ripped on.'"

(These quotes are cited from various articles, including the one found at http://www.azcentral.com/ent/celeb/articles/0314hayes.html

I just want to add that one of the major reasons I love South Park is that they take on everyone. Matt is right. The fact is, Chef has particiated in plenty of episodes that bash Christians (I can think of one specifically about Catholics right now). He i turning himself into a hypocrite by saying that he can't support such a thing after participating in it for many years. Matt is so right when he points out that intlolerance begins when someone is okay with bashing all religions but then claims to support religious tolerance when their own beliefs are satired.

In other words, other belief systems aren't as important, so its okay to poke fun at them.

Frustrated

AAAAAAAAAAAAH. I am so upset. I want to cry. I cry about the stupidest things but still grrr....

So I go to the eye doctor to get my new contacts and I find out I have an eye infection (so my eyes don't just itch from the cold I have!)

So He writes me a prescription and I go to fill it.

SO my pharmasist says that my insurance won't fill my prescription because he is an eye doctor, not an MD. All I need to do is call my general practitioner and have them call in the same prescription.

WHAT??? Well thats all well in good, except I don't have a general practitioner.

SO I run over to the 24 hour clinic and pray they can help me.

SO the doctor there looks up my prescription in his little drug reference book, and then he looks at me, and then back at the RX, and then back at the reference book, and then looks at the RX again and says...

"so you have an infection..in your...? "

"eye" i say...

"Ok and this prescrition if for...?" (as he references his book)

"The infection" I repeat "in my eye..."

"Ok and your wearing contacts now?" (book reference)

"Yes, becasue I haven't been able to go home and get my glasses yet..."

"because you have an infection?" (look at the book again, flip back and forth a few pages...)

"Yes,"

"in your..."

" in my eye..."

"Is it on the cornea?" (scanning the book...)

"Yes. Its not pink eye, its on the cornea."

"the infection?"

"Yes. The infection is on the cornea. In my eye. "

"Come back here, please"

So he looks at my eye (like the guy knows what he's looking for. I mean seriously. I am asking for a prescription for an antibiotic eye drop. I'm sure thats big on the teen drug scene these days... Can't he just copy the damn perscription?)

So he looks in my eye with his chunty MD light and I say. "It should be easy to see. My eye doctor just put in the dye..." (As in, I just left the freakin doctors office, come on!"

So he says, "You shouldn't need dye to see this infection," (Excuse me? you baggin' on my eye doctor?)

"Well," he says, "I guess I'm just going to have to take his word for it..." Grrrrrr

(Which, by the way, really pisses me off because it sort of felt insulting toowards my eye doctor..."well, i better take his word for it..." Uh YEAH, he is an EYE DOCTOR, and to be honest, a damn good doctor at that! If I could find a GP and an OBGYN that were as nice as my eye doctor I'd be in heaven... I mean, imagine, not feeling rushed at my appointments, getting my questions answered, even a moment or two of genral conversation.... and he calls me back on the phone! Personally!)

Anyway back to the know-it-all at the clinic...

SO he writes me out the RX.

... and a run back and this time, "Sorry, this time it got declined because your insurance doesn't cover this medication."

Way to freaking go.

I was so pissed off. All that damn running around! Thank the gods that my doctor gave me a sample of the stuff to start out with.

Why does this have to be so complicated? I mean seriously! Some drugs covered, some not. What is the deal? I hate going to the doctor becasue it just seems like everything is so complicated when doing so. I don't deal well with this stuff. I know its stupid but hoops and loopholes and all this stuff just stresses me out. Things should be clear. I shouldn't have to wait until I get to the pharmacy to find out if my insurace covers my medicine. I shouldn't have to even worry about that. I pay good money for my health care insurance. I should get whatever medicine my doctor thinks I need.

And if I don't stop writing about this I am going to cry, which probably isn't good because I only have this teeny tiny sample bottle of antibiotic eyedrops, and they aren't going to do any freaking good if I cry the damn things out.

Do you hear the people sing?

From: Broadway World

Les Miserables to Return to Broadway for 6 Months Beginning October 21


February 16, 2006 - by BWW News Desk

To celebrate LES MISÉRABLES becoming the longest-running musical in the world in October of this year, producer Cameron Mackintosh announced today that Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical will return to Broadway for a special limited six-month engagement, beginning this coming fall at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Previews will begin Saturday, October 21, with an official opening slated for Thursday, November 9. Casting for the production will be announced in the coming months. Tickets will go on sale to the general public in June, with group sales beginning later this month.

LES MISÉRABLES is the third longest-running show in Broadway history and will, on October 9, pass the 21 year old record of Cats in London to become the longest-running musical ever on the West End or Broadway with 8,372 performances; a run nearly three years longer than Broadway’s record-holder The Phantom of the Opera, all three shows having been produced by Cameron Mackintosh. LES MISÉRABLES has been seen by over 53 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages since its first London performance in October 1985. The original Broadway production opened on March 12, 1987, at the Broadway Theatre, winning seven Tony Awards that season, including Best Musical. The show went on to play a total of 6,680 performances.

“2006 has been a very special year for me with Phantom becoming the longest running musical ever on Broadway and soon, in London, on October 9, LES MISÉRABLES becomes the longest-running musical in the world. So the opportunity to bring LES MIZ home to Broadway in the exquisite and intimate Broadhurst Theatre, next door to Phantom, to celebrate this historic achievement is irresistible. I am sure that the timeless power of the show will be an unforgettable experience both for new audiences and serial Les Miz-ers,” said Cameron Mackintosh.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, LES MISÉRABLES is musical by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It features music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with original French text by Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. Directed by Trevor Nunn & John Caird, the musical is designed by John Napier with lighting by David Hersey, costumes by Andreane Neofitou and sound by Andrew Bruce.

LES MISÉRABLES was first presented by Cameron Mackintosh and The Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre in October, 1985. The musical transferred to the West End’s Palace Theatre later that year, where it played for 19 years. LES MISÉRABLES transferred to the Queen’s Theatre in April, 2004, where it continues today.

My Reality Stories

Well the season is in full swing and all my favorite shows are on!

Survivor is turning out to be a good season so far, with some characters I really like , and some that I don't. I think Cirie is turning out to be a very cool player, which I think is very good for her. I also like Dan a lot. Currently, I can't stand Shane, and for some reason, I'm not so crazy about Bruce.

The Amazing Race has some great teams this time around! Love the nerds, David and Lori, a team after my own heart. Also, love the hippies, BJ and Tyler (I hope they can stay focused!!! They were pretty excited on the first episode!) Ray and Yolanda are cool, I really admire Yolanda's attitutde while putting that bike together in San Paulo with all of those rude guys watching. She really kept her cool. I felt so bad for her! In the mother and daughter team, (Wanda and Desiree), I am struck at what a good team they make. They really seem to balance each other. and the daughter is beautiful! Lisa and joni, while, I don't like or dislike them, but gah... I could do without another set of screamers like the bowling moms. Finally, Lake and Michelle. DO they always have to put an ass hole guy and his submissive girl on each show? And his motion sick patch is annoying.

And of course there is American Idol. Getting ready for the top 12, I really like Paris, Mandisa, and Melissa, Ace, Chris, Will, and Elliot. But the show is overall quite enjoyable because there are a lot of good singers!

Thats it for my stories for now.

CAG Conference

I went this weekend to Palm Springs for the California Association for the Gifted conference. It was very informative on many aspects. Its nice to be in a place where the general swing of things tends to go my way... towards creativity in teaching (instead of the cookie cutter robots that seems to be the current trend).

Also, I went to a highly reccomended conference on "Parenting the Gifted Child." The speaker was awesome and I walked away with so many ideas to pass along to parents of my students, as well as ideas of my own for when I have kids some day.

In addition, the confrence was very enlightening on a personal level. Some of us shared stories of when we had grown up, teachers and experiences we had, how we saw ourselves as learners and how teachers saw us as learners... it was very thought provoking.

At the end, Grant and I did the Palm Springs Ariel Tram, which was really cool. (I had never been to Palm Springs before!) We got home around 7:30 and I was falling asleep by 8:30, I was SOOOO tired! One of those weekends where you sit around alot and absorb a lot of information.

Catch Up

I know its been a while. So lets play catch up...

Grant and I had a great weekend in San Diego last week. You can read about it here if you haven't yet.

I spent a lot of time with Amy this week and she officially had her bone marrow transplant on Friday evening. Now, we wait.

Grant left one of my book crossing books on the deck of the Sapphire Princess when he and Steve went on their cruise and someone found it and responded!!! My very first in the wild book found! Yipee!!! They left it at LAX.

Ok, I gotta go eat now.

Upcoming Dates

Feb. 21 Rent come out on DVD.

Feb. 28 Sims 2 Open for Business expansion pack is released.

Feb. 28 The Amazing Race premiers.

Sims 2 Open for Business

Ok, when I first read about this new expansion pack for Sims 2, I wasn't terribly impressed. Moreover, I couldn't wrap my mind around how I would work it into MY game, as in the way I like to play the Sims. So I thought, eh, I'll probably pass on this expansion pack.

Well, a couple of things have happened recently that have made me change my mind. First of all, I started reading tons of articles and seeing all of these great screen shots and videos (try the cinematic trailer on the left if you are interested) to see what the game included and how it would work (for example, you can run businesses like toy shops, bakeries, floral designs, hair stylists, night clubs...), and if you want, you can run businesses from your home or on a seperate community lot.

Ok, this all sounds good, but there is already a career element to the game, how would they fit together?

Well, I am now in my 2nd generation of Sims. These sims were able to go to University, and were able to start earning skills when they were toddlers. As a result, they were able to higher into their jobs at level 5 or higher (out of 10). I have two 2nd generation sims who have already met their life time wants and will now be permanently platinum in their life aspiration meter. (This is a good thing!!!) And these tweo sims are pretty young...what to do with these guys now? Their lives need meaning nd purpose...they still need to meet goals, but career and money are no longer an issue...

Well, along comes this new expansion, and now my Simmies have something new and exciting to do with their lives....run a business! And there are so many different types of businesses to choose from, I can have each sim family start a different kind of business and not have to repeat for a few generations! In addition, I can hire Sims from other families to work in these businesses.

Sigh. Leave it the the Sims people... I am now anxiously awaiting the release of this new expansion pack!!!

Winter Olympics

Are you watching? I can even get Grant to watch becasue we can watch it in HDTV!!!

In any case, I just waned to point oout how much it annoys the crap out of me when the damn commetators talk over the figure skating routines. Save it for the recaps, people, I just want to enjoy the routine and the music... sigh... Is it just me?

By the way, Airborne??? Its a gimmick. Anyone remember Cold-eze??? Sigh...

I think I'll go blow my nose now.

The Amazing Race

YEA! The Amazing Race premiers on Tuesday, Februaury 28th! I am so excited! The teams look very interesting!!!

No inspiration...

I am so tired. I am stiing here trying to think about something to blog about and nothing is coming to mind. Which is odd. There is lots to talk about. I am reading a new book, a History of The New Testement, and I am trying to catch up on my TV shows (I watched Medium and American idol last night - I am so excited that Hollywood week is starting tonight!) My Sims are growing into teenagers... oh and I really think that this Disney/Pixar merge is going to bring about a new era to Disneyland and California Adventure.

There, I blogged. I feel a little better now. I feel bad when I negect my poor blog.

Wild Fires

Recess indoors. Smoky fires nearby. Probably rainy day lunch schedule. I am hungry. I forgot to eat me breakfast shake this morning. I will drink it at recess. I think I will have Jamba Juice for lunch. It has been a while since I've been there. I go through phases.

Update

Grant's on a cruise in Mexico with Steve - Lucky dawg! They are having a great time!

I started watching The L Word on DVD, interesing...not sure if I'm crazy about it, but I am going to get the next part of the season one dvd and see if the plots get more interesting. I'm not quite ready to right it off yet.

Amy is going to the hospital on Feb. 14 for Chemo. She gets her bone marrow transplant on Feb. 28. This is it folks... whatever you beleive in...good thoughts, good karma, prayer, or hope send em towards Amy and her family! I'll be reminding you as the date gets closer!!!

Went out with my friend Angie last night for pie and tea! I love going out with her because she always gives me food for thought. And I love to think.

I know, I need to blog more.

I solved my Rubik's Cube!

Rubik's cubes have become a big thing in my class. So I had one of my students get me one and I have been working on it. I solved it tonight!!! I admit, I didn't do it myself... I used algorithms that I found online. That is my goal, to understand how it works and why. I like to work backwards...solve it, and then figure out how I did it. Thats how I learned the dragon lock.

Anyway...even using the algorithms it took me a while to get it. But I got it!!!! I am so happy! I can't wait to show my kids tomorrow!!!!

Bob Saget!!!

Grant and I had a great night last night! We had dinner and then spent about an hour at California Adventure and rode the new Monster's Inc. ride and Tower of Terror.

After that, we went to the the Improv in Brea to see Bob Saget! It was a lot of fun. Bob Saget is so funny!!! We saw the late 11:00 show that they added. He seems to be somewhat obsessed with Brokeback Mountain...everything was "Brokeback" this and "Brokeback" that. Anyways, awesome night! We had the best seats... we were in the first row of booths (just behind the tables that hug the stage) in the center. It was great!

New Season!

American Idol started this week...the beginning episodes are such a crack up!

Survivor premiers on Thursday, Februaury 2nd. This is a preview from the website:

MEET THE NEW SURVIVORS
Stranded on an island off the coast of Panama, 16 strangers must live together and compete for the million-dollar prize. This time, the castaways will begin their competition as four tribes: older men, older women, younger men and younger women. At least one Survivor each week will be banished to a separate island miles away from camp. How will this change the game? Who will outwit, outplay, and outlast all others? Don’t miss a single episode of SURVIVOR:Exile Island.

The Amazing Race website isn't up yet, but season 9 was filmed last November and should premiere this Feb...I hope!

Other shows I am watching this season are Medium, The Ghost Whisperer (check out the Mythology section, it's pretty cool), Any past or current episode of Law and Order that has Jesse L Martin in it, and (new for me this season,) 24.

In addition, I plan to watch Sex and the City when I have time and am able to borrow the DVDs.

Of course, Rent should be released on DVD sometime this Spring, but rumor has it that it may be released on February 21st! Wait, scratch that, It is official!!! Just a little over a month! Sigh. And I love the cover art!

Pumpkin Pie

Do you ever wonder how words came to be?

OR, do you ever wonder how certain foods got put together? Marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate, for example? Who thought that up?

Lets look at "Pumpkin Pie". Obviously called such because we are referring to a pie made out of pumpkin.

But Pumpkin in itself is an odd word, no? Where did that come from? (It comes, by the way, from the Greek word for large melon, "pepon" which the English evolved into "pepion" and later, by the colonists, "pumpkin". Nothing particularly magical there, right?)

And who ever thought of turning that big orange "melon" into a pie? Hmmm??? Again, i am sure we could look at a rational view of that, too...colonists cut off the top of the pumpkins, filled the inside with milk and spices and honey, and baked them in the ashes of the fire. This was the early version of our Pumpkin Pie. Again, not particularly cosmic.

This is what makes the world, and its people, so incredible...simple, logical steps...I believe.. all evolved to this point for one very simple reason...the word Pumpkin Pie.

So why is "Pumpkin Pie," those words, put together, so important? So special?

Well, have you ever heard a little kid say "Pumpkin Pie?" There is nothing cuter in the world then a little kid saying "Pumpkin Pie." It just is adorable. No ifs, ands, or buts. You should have heard Amy yesterday talking about pumpkin pie. It was like a roll of giggles in my tummy everytime those words bounced off of her lips.

Pumpkin Pie. Pumpkin Pie. Pumpkin Pie.

The words evolved so that kids could say them in their little kid way.

Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Pie.

Right now, I can't imagine a more magical sound.

books and stuff

I just read "The Sisterhood of the traveling Pants." I really enjoyed it, and boy did some of those stories hit home! I can't wait to read the next two books! They are pretty popular, and so they are always checked out at the library! I am currently reading "YaYa's in Bloom." I can't quite wrap my mind around these stories...they are so confusing. The characters are so complex.

Anyway. we had a great camping trip this weekend. My Belle dog is so skittish in the tent when it is windy. it is pretty funny! Thats all for now!

My sense of humor is so different from others...

because I don't think this new trend in kids shirts is very funny. Yet they are quite popular among the elementary school set (an age in which, I assume, parents are still buying the t-shirts, right?)

Anyway, the shirts say things like, "Sister for Sale - Will take any offer" or other things that insult their siblings (I've seen a couple of different versions of the shirt...)

I just don't understand why anyone would buy that for their kids. Is it funny? I mean, don't you want your kids to be friends? What am I missing here?

It seems to me that when you wear a tshirt with a message on it, you become a walking advertisement of your charecter...of the type of person that you are. There are plenty of funny shirts that aren't hurtful to others...especially family members! I don't know. Maybe its just me. I have been accused of being too sensative.

Wedding Photos!

Wanna check out my Wedding and honeymoon pictures? Click on the link and check them out! I split it up into different albums...
getting ready,
ceremony,
reception,
portraits,
and honeymoon parts 1, 2 and 3.

Enjoy!

New Project!

I added some pictures to the blog! No need to go searching...I only added two...to recent posts...check out "locks of love" and "so what happened was..."

Also, I added a bunch of pics to our honeymoon blog so check out the July and Aug archives if you want to see a few pics!

Guilt...iiiick!

Guilt is the curse of the caring.

It is true. The "evil" don't feel remorse, do they? For the most part, if someone feels truly guilty, then you can have some sympathy for them...even if the act they commited is unforgivable.

Guilt is the worse feeling ever.

Guilt can eat people alive....make them wallow away.

Sometimes, people even feel guilt over things which they have no control over. (This is a comon trait in Gifted kids....)

Other times, people truly make mistakes which they feel remorse about...and should...

Obviously, the best thing to do in these situations is to make amends, make things right, and then move on...you can't live your life feeling guilty about something...

"Forget regret, or life is yours to miss...."

But other times you can't make amends...there are many circumstances when this is true... and thats when guilt is the worst, at least in my opinion.

If you can't make amends, then you still need to find a way to get over it and move on... but what if something keeps reminding you of what you did? A person, a place, your own damn mind... and you keep feeling the guilt? Sometimes, that's my worst problem.

For me, it was worst in high school...probably because then I did things that maybe I should have felt guilty about (nothing too serious, but let me tell you...I am glad high school is over... ) but seriously...that was 10 years ago (and would you believe that sometimes I still look back on that with regret?)!

Since then, I am pretty proud of who I've become, and I've tried very hard to do things right...things that I wouldn't regret...things I would be proud of. For the most part, I think I've succeeded. For the most part, I think I've made amends if I have done something wrong. So, for the most part, I haven't had those aching, stomach flutters that were once so common for me...

But when I read stories or watch movies or shows that involves a person feling guilt or remorse, it can really hit home...

Ugh...and sometimes, someone or something.. or my own damn mind... can bring things up that make me feel so guilty... and sometimes I can't, for whatever reason, make amends.

And that is just the worst.

Could this be a Catholic thing?

12 Days of Christmas

Just a reminder: The 12 Days of Christmas start on Dec. 25 and last until Jan 5th,ending with the epiphany on Jan. 6th. So if you celebrate Christmas....please leave your lights up until then! They are so festive, and really brighten up those dark winter nights!

Thanks!

Locks of Love

Well, I cut my hair last week. I cut off 13 inches and donated it to Locks of Love. This is the second time I've done it. I think I can cut off 10 inches every two years or so. I cut my hair three years ago at Christmas for locks of love, but I kept it very trimmed and neat and I wanted it long at my wedding. I don't like it short, but I think its worth it. Its pretty short this time...I can't even put it all in a pony tail, but I must admit, that even though I don't like it...it doesn't look bad...its actually kinda cute...

43 things

I found this really newt website called 43 things. The premise is to list "things" that you want to do in your life...goals if you will...both short term and long term...whatever or however you want to use it. You can post up to 43 things, look at others, cheer others on, update your progress, and the website will even email you to ask you how you are doing on your goals if you want it to. Its really kind of cool, I think!

It also has a sister site called 43 places. The premise here is...guess what? 43 places you'd like to visit!

Dear Mr. Columbus

Dear Mr. Columbus,
I have now seen your wonderful film, RENT, four times. I have enjoyed the film each and every time I've seen it. I want to applaud your decision to keep the movie true to the play, and your excellent choice in casting. The six original cast members have a spark that truly makes their characters real, and the two new cast members were perfect fits for the already outstanding cast. Overall, I truly feel that the film was very well done.

I do have one critique to make, however, and I hope you'll forgive me. I honestly feel that it was a mistake to cut "Halloween" and the rest of "Goodbye Love," from the film. Every time I see the film, I become more confirmed in my conviction that the argument between Mark and Roger really needs to be in the film to make it complete. There are too many holes otherwise. You spent a lot of thought, I am sure, in how to stage every aspect of the film, including Mark and Roger's hug at the end of "What You Own." I believe that the embrace between those two friends could have been one of the most powerful moments in the film, but instead it fell a bit flat, due to a lack of follow through in explaining what terms the two parted on.

Also, each time I see the movie, I feel more and more that additional emotion is needed, beyond the key scene in the film that precedes "Halloween" and "Goodbye Love." We need to deal with the emotions of the other characters too. Roger's car coming around the bend came too soon...we needed more time to deal with the pain...and so did the characters. I read that you and your editor felt that it was too much emotion for the screen. I disagree, and I think that is exactly why those scenes SHOULD have been in the film. There was more to mourn...the breaking up of a family, Mimi's goodbye, Mark and Roger's fight... the film as is leaves so many loose ends, and didn’t allow the audience to face some realities with the characters they have grown to know.

Mark and Roger, especially, really had a chance to shine here.

Mark and Roger had important messages for each other in "Goodbye Love." Despite them being said in anger, the messages were critically important. "Mark hides in his work, from facing your failure facing your loneliness...Your always preaching not to be numb, when that's how you thrive...." is but one example.

You said that the scenes would be on the DVD, but as deleted scenes and not as part of a completed film. I beg you to reconsider and have an option on the DVD so that those of us who believe with their hearts that these scenes must be there, because they are so important, can watch it whole and complete. For some people, it will be to hear Mimi say goodbye to Roger, for others, like me, it is too see the fullness of the relationship between Mark and Roger be brought to a deeper level.

Please, reconsider, and include an option on the DVD that has the full movie with all of the scenes.

Again, I really want to say that I appreciate with the deepest sincerity your work on this film, and they way you honored and immortalized the original work. I think you did a brilliant job.

Viva la vie boheme!

Here you go, Donna!

Ever wonder about the lyrics to La Vie Boheme, from Rent? Read on, my friends!

**Note, I didn't include the entire introduction to the song as sung in the stage version, Just a bit of the dialouge leading up to the major song. I am focusing on getting the lyrics to everything they were toasting to, so if you're singing along, I stopeed at the end of La Vie Boheme before Roger and Mimi start their conversation.**

I also found this awesome website that researched the different people mentioned in the song. I will link it to the bottom of the page as well as here so that you can read it if you want!


La Vie Boheme and La Vie Boheme B (Film version - mostly..the two versions get a bit mixed in my head...)


ROGER

"Why did Muffy-"

BENNY

"Alison"

ROGER

"Miss the show?"

BENNY

"There was a death in the family
If you must know"

ANGEL

"Who died?"

BENNY

"Our Akita"

BENNY, MARK, ANGEL, COLLINS

"Evita"



BENNY

"You make fun yet I'm the one
Attempting to do some good
Or do you really want a neighborhood
Where people piss on your stoop every night?
Bohemia, Bohemia's
A fallacy in your head
This is Calcutta
Bohemia is dead"


MARK and cast

"Dearly beloved we gather here to say our goodbyes

(Dies irae dies illa
Kyrie eleison)

Here she lies
No one knew her worth
The late great daughter of mother earth
On this night when we celebrate the birth
In that little town of Bethlehem
We raise our glass- you bet your ass to-
La vie Boheme

La vie Boheme

La vie Boheme

La vie Boheme

La vie Boheme

To days of inspiration

Playing hookie, making something out of nothing

The need to express

To communicate,

To going against the grain,

Going insane

Going mad

To loving tension, no pension

To more than one dimension,

To starving for attention,

Hating convention, hating pretension

Not to mention of course,

Hating dear old mom and dad

To riding your bike,

Midday past the three- piece suits

To fruits, to no absolutes

To Absolute- to choice

To the "Village Voice"

To any passing fad

To being an us, for once, instead of a them -

La vie Boheme!

La vie Boheme"

MAUREEN

"Hey Mister- she's my sister!"


RESTAURANT MAN

"So that's five miso soup, four seaweed salad
Three soy burger dinner, two tofu dog platter
And one pasta with meatless balls"

"eeew"

Collins
"It tastes the same"

Mimi
"If you close your eyes"

RESTAURANT MAN

"And thirteen orders of fries
Is that it here?"

CAST

"Wine and beer!

To hand-crafted beers made in local breweries

To yoga, to yogurt, to rice and beans and cheese

To leather, to dildos, to curry vindaloo

To huevos rancheros and Maya Angelou

Emotion, devotion, to causing a commotion

Creation, vacation

Mucho masturbation.

Compassion, to fashion, to passion when it's new

To Sontag

To Sondheim

To anything taboo

Ginsberg, Dylan, Cunningham and Cage

Lenny Bruce

Langston Hughes

To the stage!

To Uta

To Buddha

Pablo Neruda, too

Why Dorothy and Toto went over the rainbow

To blow off Auntie Em!

La vie Boheme

MR. GREY

Sisters?

MAUREEN & JOANNE

We're close

CAST:
Brothers!

Bisexuals, trisexuals, homo sapiens,

Carcinogens, hallucinogens, men, Pee Wee Herman

German wine, turpentine, Gertrude Stein

Antonioni, Bertolucci, Kurosawa

Carmina Burana

To apathy, to entropy, to empathy, ecstasy

Vaclav Havel - The Sex Pistols, 8BC,

To no shame - never playing the Fame Game

To marijuana

To sodomy,

It's between God and me

To S & M

La vie Boheme

COLLINS

In honor of the death of Bohemia an impromptu salon will commence
immediately following dinner

Maureen Johnson, back from her spectacular one-night engagement at the
eleventh street lot,
Will sing native american tribal chants backwards through her vocoder,
While accompanying herself on the electric cello....
Which she aint never studied


...and Mark Cohen will preview his new documentary about his inability to hold an
erection on high holy days


Mimi Marquez, clad only in bubble wrap, will perform her famous lawn
chair-handcuff dance to the sounds of iced tea being stirred.

...and Roger will attempt to write a bittersweet, evocative song ..........
That doesn't remind us of "Musetta's Waltz"

Angel Dumott Schunard will model the latest fall fashions from Paris
While accompanying herself on the 10 gallon plastic pickle tub

And Collins will recount his exploits as an anarchist
Including the tale of his successful reprogramming of the M.I.T. virtual reality equipment
To self-destruct, as it broadcast the words:

ALL

"Actual reality -- Act Up -- Fight AIDS"

BENNY
"Check!..............."
...............

La Vie Boheme - B

To Dance!

No Way To Make A Living, Masochism,
Pain, Perfection,
Muscle Spasm, Chiropractors,
Short- Careers, Eating Disorders

Film!

Adventure, Tedium, No Family,
Boring Locations,
Dark Rooms, Perfect Faces, Egos,
Money, Hollywood And Sleaze

Music!

Food Of Love, Emotion, Mathematics,
Isolation,
Power, Rhythm, Feeling, Harmony,
And Heavy Competition

Anarchy!

Revolution, Justice,
Screaming For Solutions,
Forcing Changes, Risk, And Danger
Making Noise And Making Pleas

To Faggots, Lezzies, Dykes,
Cross Dressers Too

To Me

To Me

To Me

To You, And You And You, You And You

To People living With,
Living With,
Living With,
Not Dying From Disease!

Let He Among Us Without Sin
Be The First To Condemn

La Vie Boheme
La Vie Boheme
La Vie Boheme

MARK
Anyone Out Of The
Mainstream
Is Anyone In The
Mainstream?

Anyone Alive - With A
Sex Drive
Tear Down The Wall
Aren't We All?

The Opposite Of War
Isn't Peace...
It's Creation

La Vie Boheme

Viva La Vie Boheme!

So what happened was...

So last night, I come home from Disneyland and Grant calls and he's all, "What time are you going to be home?" So I tell him that I'm home already, and he says, "Oh, I thought you were going to be home later, I stopped at the mall to pick up a few things." So I'm like, ok, well, I'll be here working on Christmas cards. So like an hour and a hald later he's still not home, so I call him and I'm like, "Any new info on an ETA?" and he says "Yeah I'm on my way." So I ask him, " Well, do you want to pick something up for dinner?" And he says, "How about we go out to Polly's?" Cool by me!

So a few minutes later Danny come home and I ask him if he wants to come, and then Grant calls and he tells me to come on out. Out I go and....there is our brand new 2006 Hyundai Sonata parked in the driveway! Danny and Grant had gone to pick it up and take care of the whole thing without me! Aren't they awesome! Grant was on the phone all, "Oh, I am ready to go get your car so we'll go get it tomorrow morning." Totally didn't catch on!

(I don't think I blogged yet about my car accident? Last Monday I got in a car accident and my old car was totaled. Nobody was hurt, both me and the other driver are all right. Grant and I had talked about getting a new car next year...it just happended a little earlier then anticipated!)

So anyway, my car is beautiful. A 2oo6 Hyundai Sonata LX in aquamarine. It has a ton of safety features, and comfort features (I must say I am very excited about the seat warmers...) So, I am very excited!

Rent...my sad lament

I can't believe it, but Rent is only playing in two theaters near by now. What is wrong with people? Sigh.

The dentist shot

I have to go to the dentist in 20 minutes. I have to get a cavity fixed and anotherone next to it filled. I am not looking forward to this. I hate the shot. I am such a baby about it. The pressure, the painful pinches, the sharp pushing...yuck...I am drooling as I think about it. I will probably cry. I hate that I am such a baby about this. Other things don't bother me. Why this? I hate waiting.

Yuck.

Happy Holidays??? or Angry Christmas???

I am really getting sick of hearing about this uproar about stores using” Happy Holidays," instead of Merry Christmas.

Its like, "are you serious?" Who cares either way?

First of all, I don't think the shopping aspect is exactly what the "Christmas" part of the season is supposed to be about, so who cares if secular, non religious businesses (like restaurants and shopping centers) decide to make every single person who walks in the door feel included and welcome? Not just the majority! What’s wrong with making sure that no feels excluded? (um, hello, Happy Holidays INCLUDES Christmas...) Why should anyone be expected to stereotype and assume you celebrate Christmas?

Besides, every major store I walk into is completely decked out for Christmas, including nativity stuff, and very rarely do you see even a fraction of all other winter holidays combined.

But most importantly, I think its pure hypocrisy for "Christians" to be out boycotting, picketing, or sending out rude or demanding letters. None of these actions bring about feelings of peace, love, generosity, joy, or goodwill that are supposed to be what the season is all about.

Instead, they promote anger and irritation...from store employees and management, to shoppers who have to walk by the picketers, to people at home checking their email and instead of getting kind Christmas wishes, they get angry letters urging you to join in their angry party.

Jesus was the last one to exclude anyone, as I understand it. So why do these people want businesses to do just that?

Jesus was born in lambing season, which was not the end of December. The early Christian church used the pagan holiday of Yule, or Winter solstice, as a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus to incorporate "old beliefs" with the new. As such it is really appropriate to say "Happy Holidays," acknowledging the need for holidays, gathering, community and love and light in the darkest, coldest nights of our year. That's why so many holidays are clustered around this time of year!

A celebration of Jesus's birthday maybe important to many people, but it is not the only thing this season is about, even for those who celebrate Christmas.

"What?" You say? Well, it is not!

This season is about love, and family. Light through the darkest nights. Hope and peace and kindness. Its about making children of all ages laugh and believe in magic, and learn about the joy of giving. It is about gathering with friends and family, and giving and receiving, gifts and time, and love.

Happy Holidays is the term used for the season, spanning Thanksgiving, to New Years. Jesus's birth, like the birth of any child, should be greeted with the best of humanities intentions, trying their best to welcome the new life into a world full of peace and love and compassion.

If you spend the season any other way, particularly in anger, then I'm afraid that you may be missing the whole point of the season.

Sims update (Generation 1 and 2)

Ok, Generation 2 is ready yo take off, so I wanted to do an update to help me remember thier family histories.

I started out with four families. Lisa and Kelly Terra, Carson and Jai Blaze, Jeff and Casey Aquarius, and Jim and Kate Windes.

Each family had two children:
Lisa and Kelly Terra adopted Brandi and Beatrice

Jeff and Casey Aquarius had twin boys, Bryan and Kyan.

Carson and Jai Blaze adopted Hannah and Aaron

Kim and Kate Windes had James and Gina.

All the children grew up and became close friends, and all eight children went on to attend Sim State University.

Bryan Aquarius graduated with honors with a degree in mathematics, and Brandi Terra graduated with honors with a degree in Philosophy. Bryan and Brandi became engaged in their senior year of college. They got married after graduation, and now have a toddler, named Bradley, and a newborn neamed Bridget.

James Windes, who was Bryan's roommate in college, also graduated with honors with a degree in mathmatics. He married Brandi's sorority sister, Hannah Blaze, who graduated Sim U with honors with a degree in Biology. They have a newborn named Amy, and I have the suspicion that there will be another on the way, soon!

Aaron Blaze, Gina Windes, and Beatrice Terra started their junior year at Sim State U by moving out of the dorms and into thier own small house. Aaron and Gina are quite the couple on campus. They are so in love! Beatrice has a crush of her own on Kyan Aquarius, who is currently residing with the popular Sim State Fraternity.

Ah, they grow up so fast!

And of the first genreation sims? Well, Jeff, Casey, Carson, Jai, Jim, Kate, Kelly, and Lisa retired and moved to Shady Acres. A peaceful, quiet community with a small pond, chess sets, book cases....and a balcony full of juke boxes, bars and hot tubs! These sims are living life in the lap of luxury! Recently, Lisa passed away. But her ghost is till around...haunting the halls of Shady Acres...and with good reason. Apparently, her lover, Kelly, has had a crush on Jim...and neither the living Kate, nor the ghost of Lisa, are too pleased with the situation.

Life never gets old in Veronaville!

Sounds good to me!

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road.


It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like Mother of Pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"


"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.





"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked. Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveller asked.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.


After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.


"Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"


"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there". The man pointed to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in."


"How about my friend here?" the traveller gestured to the dog.


"There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveller filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.





"What do you call this place?" the traveller asked. "This is Heaven," he answered. "Well, that's confusing," the traveller said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."


"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's Hell."


"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"


"No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that they screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind."

Rent, 3rd time around

GOD I can not wait for the DVD. Anyway, I have further observations to make about this fantastic film, but I will be blogging about that tomorrow morning, in between finishing my report cards and playing the Sims (Hannah and Brandi need to finish their second semester of junior year, at the very least) but I digress...

So yes, I went to see Rent again with Grant tonight, and yes I loved LoVeD LOVED it again. Real standouts are Angel, Collins and that Roger...total cuties, I am so drawn to them...and Mark, of course, Mark.

Today 4 U - Proof Positive

God, I have thought about so many things to blog about in the past few days but it is always RENT that gets me on here. You guys must be so sick of hearing about it! Oh well, some observations tomorrow, and then we'll see abotu moving on...that is until I see it again!

Echinacea is not an appropriate form of health insurance.

Just thought you should know.

Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe, andf save from devestation our brains...

Report Cards

It's that time of year already.

Have I mentioned how much I love this class??? They are seriously an all around awesome group of kids! I am so lucky this year!

My Space

The more I think about it, the more I think My Space sucks. EVERYTIME I hear about anything in connection with this website it is always bad. ALWAYS.

I feel old. But seriously. Kids these days.

All teenagers want to seem older. I understand that. It sucks. They usually regret it, but it happens.

But now it happens on the internet for the whole world to see. The whole world. Anybody. No matter their intentions.

And teenagers are so stupid. They put their first and last names, their cities and states, and then post slutty pictures of themselves. Charming.

I am really upset right now. I think I'll go. Have a good cry.

Rent, Round 2

Better than the first time. Love. It.

Except: The Roger/Mark fight was even more lacking this time... it REALLY needs to be in there. I pray its on the DVD.

It passed by so much more quickly this time. It didn't feel like 2 hours. It was beautiful. I think the first time I was really worried about whether:
A: it would be good
and
B: Donna and Tammy would like it.

This time I was way more relaxed, and I knew it was awesome, so I just totally enjoyed it.

Oh, and Donna? I was in the same auditorium as last time and there was no annoying green line....I guess they listened to us!

Rent

Ok, I am currently in my post-haze fog, complete with my headache from that good solid cry I had a two thirds into the movie (although I must admit I shed a few tears at the very beginning, just seeing it on the big screen....)

I don't really know even how to begin this one. One big question I have is I wonder how people who have never seen it before will react to it. I am going to be very careful to not put any spoilers in here. But being me, a true renthead, someone who could actually say and or sing virtually every line in the movie, well, I loved it. It was more vivid and real then I could ever have imagined it. I've often wondered what it would be like to actually live in the city (of course, in better circumstances than this) so it was often difficult to visualize the general setting for me, and this movie did that amazingly well.

For the most part, I think that Chris Columbus did a great job sticking to the original material. I can go piece by piece and described what was awesome, but it mostly was, so I guess instead I'll do the few minor things that I thought were lacking, because there are very few things to mention.

1) I thought the scene with engagement party scene was distracting and out of place. There must have been a better way to show where Jo Ann was coming from. Although I enjoyed the song in this setting, very humorous, the build up was to jarring to make it worth it. And, despite it, I don't think enough was done to bring out Joann's character. In addition, I missed Maureen's comment regarding Maureen and Mark's friendship "I can't take them as chums..." and, for that matter, Mark and Joanne’s friendship in general was majorly glossed over.

2) I am really disappointed that they took at the fight between Mark and Roger and Mimi's "Goodbye Love" section. I really hope this comes as an extra on the DVD. It makes their reunion so much sweeter and provides much more context.

Thing I really liked:

Most of the songs they changed into dialogue truly did work well in the context of the movie. Of course, that’s why seeing the play is awesome, because you'll get all of those little snippets sung for you, but in this context it was fine. I did miss the big "Christmas Bells are Ringing" scene, right before Maureen's protest, because that is my favorite song to sing... I like those medleys...

Also, every song they did sing was so amazingly powerful. You know how when you watch Saturday Night Live, they have these really great sketches, and then they just have these really cheesy, weak endings that leave you like... oh, well, it was a pretty good sketch, I guess...? Well at the end of each one of these incredible songs, you'd be like, "God, how will they end this scene without it coming across as cheesy or weak?" And you'd find yourself praying for the scene to not be ruined...and it never was! The scene often would hold for a moment to give yourself time to catch your breath and then cut to a new scene.

Highlights...

God, It was like seeing the play from the front row. Seeing their faces, their reactions, awesome.

Tango Maureen...this was the one song that stuck in my head when I first saw the play in London, 1998. And I thought the film version was bang on. I think that Tracie Thoms is so adorable!

La Vie Boheme - Always a favorite in the play, and the movie did not disappoint either. I think this scene would be so much fun to act out and dance too. For the most part, the camera didn't distract (As in, very occasionally, the camera would pan in and focus on one person when I wanted to back away and watch the scene from distance, more like a stage. But this was very rare) "Actual Reality, Act Up, Fight Aids!"

The original cast (or most of it) was a brilliant and totally perfect choice.
Adam Pascal really is a perfect Roger...you wanted to hug him and kick his ass at the same time. And he is so darn cute! I love when Collins shakes his head on the subway during the Sante Fe song.

Jessie L. Martin was also charming and brilliant as Collins. His voice has so much power and emotion, and he was so sweet and happy singing his love song to Angel.

Idina Menzel is an awesome Maureen, perfectly confident, sexy, and she has that powerhouse voice. And her moo... well... wow

Taye Diggs played a perfectly smart ass Benny...although I think a few key scenes that show a but more of his humanness were cut out...

It was so awesome to see Wilson Jermaine Heredia play Angel, and he did an awesome job (I am running out of adjectives!) I loves seeing Jai Rodriguez in the role on stage, but I am so glad that Wilson did this for the film version. I really think he did a good job of showing Angel's kindness, sincerity, and loving, giving nature.

Tracie Thoms, the new Joanne, did a great job in the role she was given...I don't think the script showed enough of her personality, she seemed far to at ease in Maureen's world, but I think Tracie herself worked the material well. And what a beautiful voice...a great match for Idina and Jessie.

Rosario Dawson, the other newbie, stepped right into the role as Mimi and she was amazing. She ia a fabulous singer and dancer!

And of course, Anthony Rapp. The film would not have been complete without him. Although I have never seen him on stage, he is the Mark that I always visualize. Amazing.

Ok, I guess I should give it a rest. I am seeing it again on Friday, so I may comment more then.

Go see it.

"Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way, no day but today!"

Rent Reviews

I have been reading Rent reviews and some of them are particularly nasty. It is amazing to me, that someone can see a story full of such beauty, with an inherent message of trying to "measure your life in love" and not find any positive message to pass along.

Some common gripes: The message is outdated, as dealing with issues such as disease and loss, and choosing to live each day for today are messages that don't apply to today. (One article even said the topic of AIDS is not relevent to our modern day audiences... really? and Aids has been cured and no longer affects our lives anymore? I must have missed that news flash!

Also, that Christopher Cloumbus had the nerve to stick the original material and to not change it/modernize it/add anything new.

All I can say to that is...Thank God! I am glad that the first version of this fabulous story matches so closely to the original! For all the people who have not been able to see the musical, this is their opportunity to see it, in all of its glory.

No day but today!

Rent is Due

Today, at 5:50.

and another thing

As I think about the movie I do keep thinking of other things that jumped out at me, for example, how they students learned to block or defy the imperious curse, and how Harry was able to do it, and how this came in handy with VOldermort at the end. Not huge, but again something that jumped out at me.

Of course, the whole house elf thing jumped out at me, but I understood it, and it was okay, to me.

In contrast, I think they dragged on the dragon scene a bit too long...could have been trimmed down, and the time could have popped in a few more details.

I guess it was originally thought that this should be made into two films, but they decided to do one instead. Well what about making one long one (3 hours or so) and having an intermission, like some of the old flicks? Thats how I saw Lawrence of Arabia...) Just a thought...

Harry Potter one more thing

One thing I that would have been funny that they left out was the whole revenge on Rita Skeeter...trapping her in a jar when she turnes animangus into a mosquito...

But the movie was quite emotionally heavy at the end and that may have taken away from it. Just a thought.

The only truly big mistake that I think was ever made (so far) in the films was to not take a minute and go into detail about who Wormy, Moontail, Padfoot and Prongs were in the 3rd film.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Well, they did it again. They took the book, made the right cuts here and there, and came out with a brilliant adaptation of the book. I was very impressed by the film. I think they chose all the right stuff to keep in, and nothing felt seriously missing.
I guess if I had to choose something that could have intileed more fear about the death eaters, would have been that instead of having them burn the camp, it would have been better for them to actually have performed the Imperiso curse on some people, particularly muggles, and have them dancing in the air. But really, that's nit picking big time.

Also, I do think they jumped scenes about quickly at times, but thats just the nature of the beast, I think, when you are taking a 700 plus page book and turning it into one movie.

But honestly, truly, what I really enjoyed the most, was the acting on Daniel Radcliff's part. I've always liked him, but I never really felt that he delivered the emotional impact that I wich he would. This film was a real transition for him. At one point I was extremely tense and saddened by what had happened, but it was Daniel's response in the scene that actually made me cry. I was very impressed. Also, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, James and Oliver Phelps (The Weasly twins) and especially Mathew Lewis (as Neville Longbottom....) he was brilliant! And, as always, I was impressed by Micheal Gambon, really much more the sprightly Dumbledore I had always pictured, and Jason Isaccs still gives me the perfect creeps as Lucius Malfoy.

Great Movie!

Harry Potter Tickets

I bought them for Friday evening....this time we decieded to go for digital projection instead of IMAX....

Conversations I'd like to have with people

"Hello, sir? Why, exactly, did you choose to wear pants with patches shaped like guns stitched on to them? What message were you trying to convey? They don't look particularly bad ass, or scary...and yet they promote an undeniable sense of violence. I am jus wondering why you think thats cool. what is it about promoting violence that you enjoy? Is that what you want to be remembered for? Why is this the message, of all messages, that you want to spread? Just curious."

Disney Teacher's Award

Ok...I just got a packet informing me that I was nominated for the Disney Teacher of the Year award. The interesting thing is that I was nomintated with my last name as Benedict at Allen school, but I can't think of anyone here who would have nominated me. So it must be someone who knows that I moved and my new name and all that jazz.

Its pretty awesome to be nominated (and I would love to know who nominated me!!!) I don't think I am going to apply, however, because I don't think I am ready yet. If I were to actually be a finalist, I would really want to feel like I have earned it, and I think I need more experience to be that teacher. One of the essay questions is (paraphrase) How do you teach creatively and still meet the demands of the required curriculum? And at this point, I don't think I do, because I am too busy trying to teach the curriculum.

In any case, I feel incredibly honored to have been nominated.

Did I mention that I would love to know who nominated me????

Thanks!

New York, New York, A helluva town

So tomorrow, I am off to New York City. Grant is already there. Today he went to the Statue of Liberty and saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

I am flying out tomorrow afternoon, and should arrive around midnight or so which should make for a unique subway ride into the city itself.

Ever the faithful journalist, I will be recording the trip on our honeymoon blog which will now become the Grant and Bobbi Family Vacations blog . So check it out if you want to.

Love,
Peace, and all good things knowing that I am going to the city of RENT

Only in California?

Temperature? mid sixties. This morning on the playground, a little girl wearing pink shorts, a pink, short sleeved shirt, and a pink scarf.

Rent clips!!!!

If you check out the Rent Blog there are clips from the movie...Mark, Roger, Benny, Collins, Maureen and Joanne each have one... and I'm sure Angel's and Mimi's will come soon.

Mark's has me so excited, Collins' has me energized, Roger's gave me chills, Joanne's has butterflies of anticipation in my stomach, and Maureen's has me intrigued...but I have watched Mark's the most!

Sooooooooooooo excited.

"To riding your bike midday past the three piece suits, to fruits, to no absolutes..."

Play List for Karaoke Revolution Party

Have I posted this yet?

Karaoke Revolution Party

(I've Had) The Time of My Life
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Always
American Woman
Brick House
Call Me
Crazy
Crazy in Love
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me
Drive
Dust in the Wind
Endless Love
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Everywhere
Fame
Fly
For You I Will
Headstrong
Greatest Love of All
Here I Go Again
I Don't Wanna Be
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
I Love Rock and Roll
I Will Always Love You
If You Could Only See
I'll Be
Material Girl
Me and Bobby McGee
Pain
Pieces of Me
Play That Funky Music
Start Me Up
Superstition
Sweet Caroline
Take On Me
Takin' Care of Business
That's Amore
The Game of Love
Time After Time
Truth Is
Turn The Beat Around
Unforgettable
Uptown Girl
Waiting For A Girl Like You
What I Like About You
Who Can It Be Now?
You're My Best Friend

Prince Charles and Dutchess Camilla

Charles and Camilla are visiting the States. I think they are such a romantic couple. Its a real life fairy tale, im my opinion...true love wins out over popularity, or status, or expectation... love against the odds. Its the stuff romance novels are made of! I am so happy for them. I heard at a state dinner, he referred to her as his "darling wife..." sigh. romantical.

Rice a Roni

You know, this is really good stuff. I usually have a box on the weekend if Grant has to work. yesterday, I had the fried rice kind. Its really pretty easy to make...you are supposed to cook the rice vermecelli mix with 2 table spoons butter or margerine until the vermecelli becomes golden brown...but, well, whatever...once the butter is melted I move on...it always turns out fine, im my opinion! I don't know where I'm going with this. I think, primarily, I am trying to avoid correcting this stack of essays. I guess I should go now.

Bye.

I'm not the only one...

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

- John Lennon

This Morning

Ok, so normally when I wake up in the morning, I get up and turn off the alarm as fast as I can (which is on the other side of the room) and then I put in my contacts, and then (hee hee) go back and lay down for a few more minutes of warm lazy time before jumping in the shower.

So this morning I am laying there in my warm lazy time, and struggling to stay awake. Usually this isn't a problem, but I have been known to dose a bit when I go back to bed.

So, I roll over to check the clock to make sure I hadn't overslept, when I realize that:
A) I haven't put my contact in yet,
and B) The alarm hasn't gone off yet,
because it is 2:30 in the morning.

I really don't want to know how long I was laying there trying to actually keep myself awake. Thant has never happened before.

Yikes. I I am so tired.

Red Ribbon Week

Today, my kids were asked to come up with a Red Ribbon (Drug Awareness and Prevention) slogan. I just about busted a gut when I heard this one, in perfect accent:

"Mare - uh - juh - won - uh
is bad, mmmmmm-kay?

Rent Soundtrack is Here!

The Rent soundtrack is here and available!!!

"HOW DO YOU MEASURE A YEAR?"
Rent - In theaters Nov. 23 (69, 935 minutes from the posting of this blog)

Over..what's next...

Well, Back to School Night is over. Yuck. No fun. I don't know if I am giving parents what they really want to hear or what. I ddi't get a lot of feedback. Oh well. I had plenty to say! I talked for the whole 30 minutes easily.

Today after school I am going to home school Amy and then I am going to Pasadena for a weekend conference. It will be a sort of nice mini vacation, I guess...thats how I am looking at it! The conference is all about GATE stuff, So it should be useful. I'll get a lot of information!

Laterz

Back to School Night

Back to school night starts in ten minutes. I hate the waiting. I am not a patient person. I want to get this over wth. I hope that I don't speak to quickly, so there is a whole lot of time left when I am done. I hope I make a good impression. I am being judged tonight. Yikes. Classroom presentations are so much easier. Maybe I should have practiced what I was going to say. Hee hee! Oops. Oh well. I have to pee. I always have to pee when I am nervous. But then I don't really have to pee. If I were going to go the the bathroom, that little pee pee muscle would give me a wink and a tear and that would be all she wrote. I am sure you are thinking about what a lovely visual that is. Three minutes. I should publish this and go. I hope that tear doesn't roll down my leg. Wish me luck. It will all be over in one hour!

Just sittin around

Hi. I am sitting here in my classroom. Grant is setting up my printer on my computers. He is wonderful. I just finished correcting my papers. We're going to go see Grandma at her rehab facility tonight. We were going to swing by Dinseyland, to, but I don't think we'll be making it. I have Back to School Night in two days. I am not close to ready.

If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done.

Rent Quote of the night:

The opposite of WAR isn't PEACE, it's CREATION.

Choc Walk

Buenos nochas,
I did the Choc walk at Disneyland this morning. It was awesome! I really had a good time. I was impressed by how many people showed up, by the number of charecters who cheered us along the way, and really by the whole experience all the way around. Next year I would like to be more organized and actually get a team going. Today, Angie, Cori, and Kevin, Amy's brother, went. Kevin is just the sweetest kid ever.

I am super tired, however. Its been a long day.

peace, tonight...

Home Schooling

I started home schooling yesterday. Actually, she was still in the hospital, so we started there. It felt so right. That was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. I felt like a hero! I am sure that I make the same difference to all of the students in my class, but I just felt different.

I felt like she really wanted to be there. She wanted to learn. She pushed on, even though she was in pain.

What a tough, strong, brave little girl. I admire her so much!

Also, I must admit, there is some pride going on, knowing that she was in my class last year and that she was able to work through all of the beginning of the year stuff with no problem...especially in math! It made me feel like i did a good job last year!

But most importantly, it makes me feel good to know that I am making her happy. Let me tell you, she laughed out loud once during a story, and I am living to hear that laugh now. It was one of the most honest, good sounds I've ever heard.

Big Brother 6

"As for Maggie... Sure, you may consider your blank stares, and apathy a strategy but I assure you that it is not. You, Maggie, represent those in our society who sit around quietly and watch the good people of this world go down in flames. And when the dust begins to settle you feast on what’s left."
- Kayser Big Brother Blog

Thunder Storm

We are having a true, honest to God thunder and lightning storm!!! I can't think of the last time we've had a lightning storm here like this...

Its funny,at physical therapy today, we were commenting on how mice the weather is, and someone said that the weather was reporting possible rain for tomorrow. We were all, yeah, right, clear skieswarm weather...

A few hours later I looked outside and it was gettin' all cloudy...I laughed and passed the story on to Grant...and now, sure enough...

Poor Kanga, though. She is wiggin out!!!

Speaking of "Patriotic" issues...

Our school sang "God Bless America" during a flag ceremony last week. It got me thinking. How could singing such a song during a school wide ceremony (not performed in an artistic or cultural sense, such as at a concert or performance) not be considered endorsing a certain belief system? True, no one forced the students to sing the song. Students could choose not to sing it. But still, it just seems odd, in retrospect.

There are many patriotic songs that mention God or have religious overtones, but my specific thought regarding "God Bless America" is that the song is essentially a prayer, is it not? The singer is talking to God, making requests..."stand beside her, and guide her..." Is this an appropriate song to sing in a public school? Does express the ideals of freedom and patriotism that we want to teach our children in a civil setting?

But is sure is a pretty song to sing. And I love to sing.

Old Friends

Yesterday afternoon, I went to see an old friend from high school. It is so funny. In both of our lives, so much has changed, and yet, to me anyway, our time together was just the same. We were good friends for a while, and our time yesterday felt very much like old times.

It got me thinking. Alot. I talked Rob's ear off last night. Then I talked Grant's ear off when he got home from work.

My water is boiling. As a side note, for those of you who have read my honeymoon blog, I found that really good Lipton orange, passionfruit, and jasmine green tea that I discovered on our cruise. They sell it at Vons and at Walmart.

Anyways...

There are some core values that my friend and I both have stuck to, and I think that makes a difference. We can relate, still, in many ways.

I think that if I bumped into other people from high school, our time together would be very strained. And would leave me feeling very sad. My meeting yesterday didn't make me sad. I feel very hopeful.

But also, I feel very introspective, as I often do after hearing news from the past.

It is so odd, becasue I feel like that wasn't my life. I don't know that person that went to Edison, played in the band, sung in the choir. Its like that whole part of my life is a hazy cloud. Rob keeps me grounded in this aspect. He REALLY knew me in high school, and he knows me now, and I think that what he tries to tell me all the time when I get into this mood is that, deep down, I am still very much the same person that I was in high school. I just don't think very many people knew who I really was. I don't think I let it be shown very much. But Rob saw it.

But still, the person I was, outwardly, is the mystery. I wish I could remember, so I could understand why...alas, I don't know if this is making any sense at all. And as I am sure a lot of people who are asking...does any of this really matter? Who cares who I was 10 years ago? The time has past. move on.

I know.

But its like this big hole that I don't remember, but I feel like I should be able to.

How can I figure out the big mysteries of life and the world if I can't even figure out the tiny mysteries that exist inside my own head?

Don't you love when I get in these introspective moods? Hee hee.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter got a rating of PG 13.

Not too worried...so did Star Wars...

Physical Therapy

The range of motion on my wrist is almost back to normal, which is nice. Connie, my wonderful therapist, says I am doing awesome. The one thing that is interestiong - when I first sat in there I saw this peg board that looked like a pre schooler puzzle...with different sized round pegs that fit into appropriate sized round holes. I thought it looked kinda fun...

I have to use that contraption now. I have to use this gripper thing to pull out each peg and put them back in. It looks so simple. It sounds so simple. But it is a pain. Sigh. I hate that thing!

Back to School

I am so excited to be back to school! So far I love my new class. It is so hard to feel like you fit in at a new school but I know it will happen eventually.

I introudiced some GATE strategies and I think I did a pretty good job with them! I am a bit stressed about how I am going to get everything done but I'm sure it will work out!

Big Brother

I am so proud of Janelle. I hope she takes it all. If not, she still kicked butt with all of the prizes and America's Choice. We love you Janey!

School starts Thursday

I hate this time of year...its always the anticipation that kills me.

School starts Thursday...