I can't believe I watched 4 episodes of X-Files while folding and chatting tonight. I'm so happy I got to chat with Karen for a long time tonight :)
SCULLY: That was Detective Manners. He said they just found your bleeping UFO.
ok i didn't actually watch 2.5 of the episodes since I was chatting. Another one's starting right now but I am going to sleep!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
hi world
For the past week, every day has seemed like a grind repeating itself over and over again. Every night when I turn my light out at (avg) 3:45am, I feel like where did the day go, this is just like yesterday. There's so much in my head that I wish to calm by reading or writing, neither of which I can do, because I've been doing a project that has me working from the moment I wake until the moment I turn the light out... but I'm shipping that order off today!
One exception was Casino Royale and Babel that we saw on Saturday.
Casino Royale: the new Bond is very... sinewy. If the world is a buffet and we are all food, the new Bond would be roasted prime rib. A yummy, juicy hunk of steak. The Bond girl (Eva Green) would be molton chocolate cake.
(Me: an out-of-season mango.)
Babel: remind me never to see another Babel/Traffic/Syriana type movie ever again. You know the ones--1) three separate stories that are connected, 2) involves children dying or in danger, 3) scenes that take place in the desert or Mexico or both in the case of Babel, 4) stars a cast member from "Ocean's 11", 5) moody cinematography and music and reality-style camera work, 6) and don't forget the political issues such as drug trafficking, oil, gun control, illegal immigration! OK I liked Syriana a lot. But these movies are so depressing and disturbing, I can't deal. I will stay away from any future movies that give off a Babel/Traffic/Syriana vibe.
One exception was Casino Royale and Babel that we saw on Saturday.
Casino Royale: the new Bond is very... sinewy. If the world is a buffet and we are all food, the new Bond would be roasted prime rib. A yummy, juicy hunk of steak. The Bond girl (Eva Green) would be molton chocolate cake.
(Me: an out-of-season mango.)
Babel: remind me never to see another Babel/Traffic/Syriana type movie ever again. You know the ones--1) three separate stories that are connected, 2) involves children dying or in danger, 3) scenes that take place in the desert or Mexico or both in the case of Babel, 4) stars a cast member from "Ocean's 11", 5) moody cinematography and music and reality-style camera work, 6) and don't forget the political issues such as drug trafficking, oil, gun control, illegal immigration! OK I liked Syriana a lot. But these movies are so depressing and disturbing, I can't deal. I will stay away from any future movies that give off a Babel/Traffic/Syriana vibe.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
No wonder I'm a K(nock)O(ut) :P
Time's Op-Ed article last week I found very funny. It's about a study that shows people form opinions about other people in a 100-millisecond glance based on their faces, using a very low-level part of our brains. For example, Clinton looks like an "affable rascal" and Putin is "less gentle grandpa than live mink." The interesting question posed is to what extent do our personalities form our faces VS. our faces forming our personalities. Here is an excerpt (it's not on their website):
"Faciel symmetry appeals to us too. Dick Cheney's least trustworthy feature is easily his smile, a lopsided thing that makes him look as if half his face is pleased with something while the other half is paying bills....
The mingling of face and temperament raises the question of whether the two co-evolve or one produces the other. Was John Kerry's hangdog face responsible for his sodden campaigning? Did Richard Nixon grow his shadowy stubble, or did his shadowy stubble grow him? The British weekly New Scientist has touched on this, exploring what is known as nominative determinism--the common case of people whose names echo their jobs. There is a director of penal reform Frances Crook, the marine biologist Steven Haddock. American culture has been rife with such synchonicity--pitcher Rollie Fingers, Senator George McGovern. 'Are these whimsicalities of chance," Carl Jung once asked, "or the suggestive effects of the name?'
If name drives careers and faces drive personalities, we should have sympathy for politicians consigned by countenance to personalities they might not have chosen. As the midterm elections end and presidential hopefuls look ahead to 2008, there are perils for both the lovely and the unlovely. Those easy on the eye should take care not to overstate the point (MITT ROMNEY: MORE SYMMETRICAL THAN EVER!). Those with aesthetic hurdles should consider whther it's finally time for that eye lift or chin tuck...."
"Faciel symmetry appeals to us too. Dick Cheney's least trustworthy feature is easily his smile, a lopsided thing that makes him look as if half his face is pleased with something while the other half is paying bills....
The mingling of face and temperament raises the question of whether the two co-evolve or one produces the other. Was John Kerry's hangdog face responsible for his sodden campaigning? Did Richard Nixon grow his shadowy stubble, or did his shadowy stubble grow him? The British weekly New Scientist has touched on this, exploring what is known as nominative determinism--the common case of people whose names echo their jobs. There is a director of penal reform Frances Crook, the marine biologist Steven Haddock. American culture has been rife with such synchonicity--pitcher Rollie Fingers, Senator George McGovern. 'Are these whimsicalities of chance," Carl Jung once asked, "or the suggestive effects of the name?'
If name drives careers and faces drive personalities, we should have sympathy for politicians consigned by countenance to personalities they might not have chosen. As the midterm elections end and presidential hopefuls look ahead to 2008, there are perils for both the lovely and the unlovely. Those easy on the eye should take care not to overstate the point (MITT ROMNEY: MORE SYMMETRICAL THAN EVER!). Those with aesthetic hurdles should consider whther it's finally time for that eye lift or chin tuck...."
Monday, November 13, 2006
Recital
Today was the recital for my teacher's students. First off, it was in a house that had the most stunning entertaining area I'd ever seen; they obviously only bothered with the 2 living room areas, dining room, and kitchen; their bedrooms and basement was just so-so. It had a contemporary style with clean lines and spacious rooms and large beautiful wall art, huge ceiling-to-floor windows stretching and wrapping around the whole area. The room we sang in is made just for this type of thing (the homeowner's a huge opera fan), with a Steinway grand piano, friendly acoustics, hardwood floors, and light flooding in from the glass walls and skylights. OK I just had to start with that.
About 14 people sang (my teacher has 32 students though). My song went okay I guess. Well basically, every person who sang, I'd be like "OMG this person is SO GOOD." I was so focused on how good everyone else was, I don't really know how I did.
The order went like this: 2 ladies who aren't very "serious" singers went first, then 8 advanced students, then intermission, then 4 less-advanced students. I was in the "advanced" section, something that increased nervousness... and these people were freaking GOOD...
In the advanced section 1) there were 2 musical-theater girls abt 25 yrs old who were amazing show stoppers, just perfect and showy. I didn't really get to talk to them, but they sounded completely pro to me. One of them had been with my teacher since she was 10, which makes it 14 yrs with her, waa?
2) There were 4 opera men who were REALLY good, at least I though so! One of them is 27 and is my teacher's star student who's going pro soon. However, I was more blown away by a teenage tenor, who, unfortunately, went right before me.
3) And there was 1 opera girl and me. She was good. I guess it didn't blow me away. Dunno.
For the less advanced people, 2 of them were like 17-18 I guess, and I know one of them wants to apply to music school this yr, and they were yeah not very impressive. Although everyone COULD sing, just not all great, sorta like how everyone on America's Next Top Model could be a small-time model somewhere. Anyway, of the less advanced, one of them was 15, and she was sweet, and one was 12, and she was such a charmer, cute to the extreme, and a decent musical theater singer... actually, she is EXACTLY like the little girl in "You've Got Mail" (Tom's Hank's aunt) who sings "Tomorrow," remember? Anyway, she did three songs and finished with "I Feel Pretty." She nailed the "for I'm loved by a pretty wonderful boy!" Everyone died of her cuteness.
About 14 people sang (my teacher has 32 students though). My song went okay I guess. Well basically, every person who sang, I'd be like "OMG this person is SO GOOD." I was so focused on how good everyone else was, I don't really know how I did.
The order went like this: 2 ladies who aren't very "serious" singers went first, then 8 advanced students, then intermission, then 4 less-advanced students. I was in the "advanced" section, something that increased nervousness... and these people were freaking GOOD...
In the advanced section 1) there were 2 musical-theater girls abt 25 yrs old who were amazing show stoppers, just perfect and showy. I didn't really get to talk to them, but they sounded completely pro to me. One of them had been with my teacher since she was 10, which makes it 14 yrs with her, waa?
2) There were 4 opera men who were REALLY good, at least I though so! One of them is 27 and is my teacher's star student who's going pro soon. However, I was more blown away by a teenage tenor, who, unfortunately, went right before me.
3) And there was 1 opera girl and me. She was good. I guess it didn't blow me away. Dunno.
For the less advanced people, 2 of them were like 17-18 I guess, and I know one of them wants to apply to music school this yr, and they were yeah not very impressive. Although everyone COULD sing, just not all great, sorta like how everyone on America's Next Top Model could be a small-time model somewhere. Anyway, of the less advanced, one of them was 15, and she was sweet, and one was 12, and she was such a charmer, cute to the extreme, and a decent musical theater singer... actually, she is EXACTLY like the little girl in "You've Got Mail" (Tom's Hank's aunt) who sings "Tomorrow," remember? Anyway, she did three songs and finished with "I Feel Pretty." She nailed the "for I'm loved by a pretty wonderful boy!" Everyone died of her cuteness.
Friday, November 10, 2006
I even suck at blogging
There's stuff I want to blog about but just can't be bothered sometimes because... my thoughts are so trivial! I'll provide a smattering...
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL: had me in stitches last night! I loved Caridee from the beginning and think she will win (she's soooo pretty and really good at modeling), but last night she was freaking hilarious... that show rocks.
RECITAL: this Sunday. I'd rather not talk about it because it nauseates me. Before my lessons I feel good about my singing. Then I get there and my teacher tells me everything I need to work on and then I feel bad about it. Then I practice a lot and then feel good again. Then go to the lesson and realize everything I still have to work on. Etc.
CURRENTLY READING: Acting for Singers. I wish I wasn't reading this book because reading about singing/acting is very weird/pointless.
BIZ: very busy as I've been saying... which is good but I want a day off. At this very moment I'm not super swamped because I'm waiting for some paper and can't do this order until it arrives--it's for the Oilily store window displays, so I'm excited I'll get to see them (2 Oilily stores in Chicago area).
LOST: last night was their "fall finale" or whatever. They've decided to do two finales per season... I know, weird... but basically they had new shows for 7 weeks, then a 2 month break, and back with 16 straight weeks. So 2 finales. Anyways... Mal was in it! Mal from Serenity/Firefly! He was in Kate's flashback. (Again, for those who don't watch Lost, I know you have NO IDEA what I'm talking about.) Ah, Mal. He played a cop who married Kate. Kate's flashbacks are my favorite, I like her stories.
OPERA: I really want to go see Salome at the Lyric Opera. The diva's supposedly crazy good. A voice that comes along "once in a hundred years," according to my teacher. And I want to see Salome, the most screwed up opera ever written! It was banned from the Met for a long time.
X-FILES: I watched 3 episodes last Monday night. Um, as a reminder, I watch while origami-ing. I really didn't want to see those episodes. One was the one where zoo animals were getting abducted by aliens. The next was the boat that made people age really quickly (I really dislike this ep and had been afraid it would come on). The 3rd ep was the sideshow circus people, Fiji Mermaid.
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL: had me in stitches last night! I loved Caridee from the beginning and think she will win (she's soooo pretty and really good at modeling), but last night she was freaking hilarious... that show rocks.
RECITAL: this Sunday. I'd rather not talk about it because it nauseates me. Before my lessons I feel good about my singing. Then I get there and my teacher tells me everything I need to work on and then I feel bad about it. Then I practice a lot and then feel good again. Then go to the lesson and realize everything I still have to work on. Etc.
CURRENTLY READING: Acting for Singers. I wish I wasn't reading this book because reading about singing/acting is very weird/pointless.
BIZ: very busy as I've been saying... which is good but I want a day off. At this very moment I'm not super swamped because I'm waiting for some paper and can't do this order until it arrives--it's for the Oilily store window displays, so I'm excited I'll get to see them (2 Oilily stores in Chicago area).
LOST: last night was their "fall finale" or whatever. They've decided to do two finales per season... I know, weird... but basically they had new shows for 7 weeks, then a 2 month break, and back with 16 straight weeks. So 2 finales. Anyways... Mal was in it! Mal from Serenity/Firefly! He was in Kate's flashback. (Again, for those who don't watch Lost, I know you have NO IDEA what I'm talking about.) Ah, Mal. He played a cop who married Kate. Kate's flashbacks are my favorite, I like her stories.
OPERA: I really want to go see Salome at the Lyric Opera. The diva's supposedly crazy good. A voice that comes along "once in a hundred years," according to my teacher. And I want to see Salome, the most screwed up opera ever written! It was banned from the Met for a long time.
X-FILES: I watched 3 episodes last Monday night. Um, as a reminder, I watch while origami-ing. I really didn't want to see those episodes. One was the one where zoo animals were getting abducted by aliens. The next was the boat that made people age really quickly (I really dislike this ep and had been afraid it would come on). The 3rd ep was the sideshow circus people, Fiji Mermaid.