In the shower this morning, I heard on the radio those 6 words. I almost cried.
Ernest Hemingway wrote that, supposedly for a bet.
There is something un-nameable about it, something that is just so tragic. Maybe its the simplicity - the bare statement of the fact.
It is possible that he meant not for it to be so full of an aching feeling - he could be trying to say it was a boy instead of a girl, a gift never used because of an excess of such items.
But I (and almost everybody who called into the radio) read it as an unspeakable sorrow.
Which is pretty dang depressing for a Thursday morning, lemme tell ya. Nothing puts a damper on your day like hearing that as you shave your legs.
When I Googled it, I came across a blog in which the woman talked briefly about that. She was using it in relation to a news article, where the paper made a challenge; describe your life in 6 words.
What is your 6 letter story?
Heres mine.
"Who'd of guessed I'd be here?"
And, ladies and gentlemen, your Daily Double -
"But I kind of like it"
:-)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Huzz......uh?
Today, I thought to myself (for the record, I rarely think to other people. Talk to other people, sometimes. Think to other people, very very rarely) "I am sooo excited!!"
Now, when I get excited, I don't just get happily apprehensive. My joyous expectancy is rife with whole body quivering, unable to hold a static seated position for longer then .72 seconds, coherent speech becomes difficult, and little to no logical train of thought.
Sometimes, it gets to the point that my excitement causes me to...forget what I was excited for. Sad, I know. Also exceptionally fun. Its adds a lot of creative tension, being that worked up for no reason that you can remember. Good times.
I spent all of today bouncing of the walls, singing meaningless songs with carefree abandon, and now - I kid you not - I can't remember why.
Now usually when that happens, I run through a calender for the day, or upcoming week and that will generally give me a clue. Which is why today, when I ran through that mental calender and came up blank, I was a little frustrated. I mean, being excited for something is only half the fun. I would like my reward please.
So, I ran through the calender out for some months - my brother comes home in September, something exciting in October, and Christmas in December, but thats it. All to far in the future for this degree of ecstaticness; and yes, I just made that word up. I'm that good.
Wish my luck in discovering the source.
Now, when I get excited, I don't just get happily apprehensive. My joyous expectancy is rife with whole body quivering, unable to hold a static seated position for longer then .72 seconds, coherent speech becomes difficult, and little to no logical train of thought.
Sometimes, it gets to the point that my excitement causes me to...forget what I was excited for. Sad, I know. Also exceptionally fun. Its adds a lot of creative tension, being that worked up for no reason that you can remember. Good times.
I spent all of today bouncing of the walls, singing meaningless songs with carefree abandon, and now - I kid you not - I can't remember why.
Now usually when that happens, I run through a calender for the day, or upcoming week and that will generally give me a clue. Which is why today, when I ran through that mental calender and came up blank, I was a little frustrated. I mean, being excited for something is only half the fun. I would like my reward please.
So, I ran through the calender out for some months - my brother comes home in September, something exciting in October, and Christmas in December, but thats it. All to far in the future for this degree of ecstaticness; and yes, I just made that word up. I'm that good.
Wish my luck in discovering the source.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
J.K. vs Stephenie
I started reading Harry Potter before I could read. My mom read the first 3 books to my brother and I, while we sat on the couch (and begged her to read just another chapter. For the record, she didn't *sniff*).
I started reading Twilight about 6 months ago.
I loved both series, and always shied away from the "Who is the greater author? J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer?" debate. Why can't we love and enjoy them both? They aren't really the same genre, so just let them co-exist without forcing the comparisons on us.
But with the release of Breaking Dawn (SM's final book in the Twilight series), I can't stay neutral anymore. I am officially declaring which camp I fall into. Please do not think I do not love the other camp - I just can't give the whole hearted devotion to the other.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I loved the first 3 books in the Twilight series, and the Host. I've re-read all of them, and would definitely read them again.
Breaking Dawn (book 4), I would like to just forget it ever happened. I was one of the fans who got the book at 12:01, eagerly awaiting what I thought was going to be an amazing book, and surprising finale to a great series. Yes, it was surprising. But not in a good way.
She contradicted herself in so many ways, the plot was murky and completely random at times. Everything read like it was by a fanfiction author, not her. Her style, her wording wasn't there. What happened?
The only reason I kept reading was the thought that maybe, just maybe, I had been duped. This was a contest winner or something ridiculous like that, and the REAL Breaking Dawn would come after this chapter. Or this one. Or this one....and it never did. I feel no finality, no closure. I feel like I just spent my money on mediocre fanfiction.
The worst thing an author can do (in my opinion) is give the fans everything they want.
Yes, we wanted Bella and Edward to get married. Yes, we wanted Jacob to be happy. We wanted a happy ending. But not like this. Never like this.
**************Spoiler warning********************************************
Don't have Jake imprint on Bella's shouldn't-even-exist-according-to-SMs-own-statements baby. Don't let everybody live! Kill some of characters we love. Yes, in our dreams they all live happily together, but in the books some of them need to die. Give the characters sacrifices, make them suffer. Don't give us utopia - we have that in our heads. Give us reality. We didn't want fluff.
****************End spoiler warning**********************
For me, the series is now and forever a trilogy.
I don't passionately hate the - I don't feel anything. Its just empty.
J.K. Rowling started Harry Potter because "he just walked into my head, fully formed". She was a single mother living on welfare at the time. She sent the manuscript out dozens of times, until she finally got accepted by Bloomsbury, a small London publisher.
When the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released, J.K. stated "People are either going to love it or despise it". She was right. They were either going to love it or hate it because she choose a "camp" and stuck to it (I loved it). There was no flip flopping, no 180 degree turns. Yes, there was a couple plot twists, but not with the same degree of wackiness as Breaking Dawn. Nor the regularity.
She stuck to her guns. Even though people wanted some things to happen differently, she never swayed. And no matter what you think of the book, or even the series as a whole, you have to respect her for that.
So, the long and short of it is - J.K. Rowling all the way.
I started reading Twilight about 6 months ago.
I loved both series, and always shied away from the "Who is the greater author? J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer?" debate. Why can't we love and enjoy them both? They aren't really the same genre, so just let them co-exist without forcing the comparisons on us.
But with the release of Breaking Dawn (SM's final book in the Twilight series), I can't stay neutral anymore. I am officially declaring which camp I fall into. Please do not think I do not love the other camp - I just can't give the whole hearted devotion to the other.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I loved the first 3 books in the Twilight series, and the Host. I've re-read all of them, and would definitely read them again.
Breaking Dawn (book 4), I would like to just forget it ever happened. I was one of the fans who got the book at 12:01, eagerly awaiting what I thought was going to be an amazing book, and surprising finale to a great series. Yes, it was surprising. But not in a good way.
She contradicted herself in so many ways, the plot was murky and completely random at times. Everything read like it was by a fanfiction author, not her. Her style, her wording wasn't there. What happened?
The only reason I kept reading was the thought that maybe, just maybe, I had been duped. This was a contest winner or something ridiculous like that, and the REAL Breaking Dawn would come after this chapter. Or this one. Or this one....and it never did. I feel no finality, no closure. I feel like I just spent my money on mediocre fanfiction.
The worst thing an author can do (in my opinion) is give the fans everything they want.
Yes, we wanted Bella and Edward to get married. Yes, we wanted Jacob to be happy. We wanted a happy ending. But not like this. Never like this.
**************Spoiler warning********************************************
Don't have Jake imprint on Bella's shouldn't-even-exist-according-to-SMs-own-statements baby. Don't let everybody live! Kill some of characters we love. Yes, in our dreams they all live happily together, but in the books some of them need to die. Give the characters sacrifices, make them suffer. Don't give us utopia - we have that in our heads. Give us reality. We didn't want fluff.
****************End spoiler warning**********************
For me, the series is now and forever a trilogy.
I don't passionately hate the - I don't feel anything. Its just empty.
J.K. Rowling started Harry Potter because "he just walked into my head, fully formed". She was a single mother living on welfare at the time. She sent the manuscript out dozens of times, until she finally got accepted by Bloomsbury, a small London publisher.
When the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released, J.K. stated "People are either going to love it or despise it". She was right. They were either going to love it or hate it because she choose a "camp" and stuck to it (I loved it). There was no flip flopping, no 180 degree turns. Yes, there was a couple plot twists, but not with the same degree of wackiness as Breaking Dawn. Nor the regularity.
She stuck to her guns. Even though people wanted some things to happen differently, she never swayed. And no matter what you think of the book, or even the series as a whole, you have to respect her for that.
So, the long and short of it is - J.K. Rowling all the way.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Thank you
This past weekend I attended a family reunion.
It was the big one, with all the cousins coming from all over the US. We gathered at my grandparents house, where we would car pool to whatever activity was on the schedule, or just sit and talk.
I haven't seen some of my close cousins in 2-3 years, so it was great to see what they were up to (mainly school and work) and talk about the summers my brother and I used to spend with them. It was also interesting to talk to all my relatives, because after the usual "Hi, how have you been? So good to see you" ect., they would say "I read your blog. Why haven't you posted in a while?".
Umm.....
Any excuse I make would be a moot point - I have the time. Just sometimes can't find the motivation; if there is one thing I abhor, it is weak material. If I can't take pride in what I'm writing, then I won't publish it. That would discredit myself and insult the readers (anybody who has read Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer knows exactly what I'm talking about).
However, now that I know that people are awaiting my thoughts, I will double my efforts.
I am truly honored and touched that people read and enjoy this blog; it was started on a whim, just an idle pastime where I could use really big words and type a lot (I love the sound that keyboards make). My family and friends didn't have to ask me next time I would post - I didn't know they even read it.
So thanks. It's really cool that you look forward to what I write.
It was the big one, with all the cousins coming from all over the US. We gathered at my grandparents house, where we would car pool to whatever activity was on the schedule, or just sit and talk.
I haven't seen some of my close cousins in 2-3 years, so it was great to see what they were up to (mainly school and work) and talk about the summers my brother and I used to spend with them. It was also interesting to talk to all my relatives, because after the usual "Hi, how have you been? So good to see you" ect., they would say "I read your blog. Why haven't you posted in a while?".
Umm.....
Any excuse I make would be a moot point - I have the time. Just sometimes can't find the motivation; if there is one thing I abhor, it is weak material. If I can't take pride in what I'm writing, then I won't publish it. That would discredit myself and insult the readers (anybody who has read Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer knows exactly what I'm talking about).
However, now that I know that people are awaiting my thoughts, I will double my efforts.
I am truly honored and touched that people read and enjoy this blog; it was started on a whim, just an idle pastime where I could use really big words and type a lot (I love the sound that keyboards make). My family and friends didn't have to ask me next time I would post - I didn't know they even read it.
So thanks. It's really cool that you look forward to what I write.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The Dark Knight
Amazing. Amazing and beautiful and not quite as terrifying as I thought it would be. I was really expecting absolute terror. Suspense, absolutely. Terror, occasionally.
We ordered tickets on Fandango, which was a good thing. There was a line about 30 people long inside the theatre, but we just walked right in (and then to the concession stand, where my friend got Muddy Bears - chocolate covered gummy bears. Ewwww). Sat through the commercials. The person reeling the commercials must have been sleeping through that bit because we got a commercial for, guess what? The Dark Knight.
Overall, the movie was very very good. It was pretty long, and about 2/3 through it seemed to stop then start again. I still loved it.
There was quite a bit of violence, and lots of pretty explosions. The violence was pretty crucial to the movie, but I bet they could have cut some out. Maybe not a lot, but some. The explosions were awesome though.
One of the saddest parts was when *********very very minor spoiler warning***************
he crashed his Lamborghini. There was a bit of angst (which I naysayed with perverse vigor) but it really worked in this.
Ah, the Joker. Psychotic and brilliant. I've never seen Nickelson's (I spelled that wrong. I know it), but I don't see how he could be any better then Ledger. Every little mannerism was so well executed, every word delivered with unbalanced fervor. What makes him so disturbing is the unpredictability in which he goes about. You think he is going to do one thing, but he does the opposite. He makes blinking freaky.
Watch out for the pencil trick. Thats just wrong.
I would definitely recommend it and I am going to see it again. And buy the DVD.
We ordered tickets on Fandango, which was a good thing. There was a line about 30 people long inside the theatre, but we just walked right in (and then to the concession stand, where my friend got Muddy Bears - chocolate covered gummy bears. Ewwww). Sat through the commercials. The person reeling the commercials must have been sleeping through that bit because we got a commercial for, guess what? The Dark Knight.
Overall, the movie was very very good. It was pretty long, and about 2/3 through it seemed to stop then start again. I still loved it.
There was quite a bit of violence, and lots of pretty explosions. The violence was pretty crucial to the movie, but I bet they could have cut some out. Maybe not a lot, but some. The explosions were awesome though.
One of the saddest parts was when *********very very minor spoiler warning***************
he crashed his Lamborghini. There was a bit of angst (which I naysayed with perverse vigor) but it really worked in this.
Ah, the Joker. Psychotic and brilliant. I've never seen Nickelson's (I spelled that wrong. I know it), but I don't see how he could be any better then Ledger. Every little mannerism was so well executed, every word delivered with unbalanced fervor. What makes him so disturbing is the unpredictability in which he goes about. You think he is going to do one thing, but he does the opposite. He makes blinking freaky.
Watch out for the pencil trick. Thats just wrong.
I would definitely recommend it and I am going to see it again. And buy the DVD.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Dark Knight and White bug hybrids
Tomorrow, I go to see the Dark Knight. And I'm pretty excited. Super duper excited one might say.
I have a question. Can spiders and scorpions breed?
Because today under my desk, on my shoe (my feet were thankfully not in my shoes at this point) was a spider/scorpion thing. Its body was a little smaller then a credit card, and it had more then 4 legs. I can't tell you exactly how many because I sure has anything wasn't going to lean down and look. The weirdest thing was the color.
It was a smoky white-ish color. And if it hadn't been for the lack of a tail and possibly leg count (again, I didn't investigate very closely) it would have been one big spider. But it was built lower, more like a scorpion. I'm not sure as to whether it had pincers though.
I didn't have my camera, so I couldn't take a picture.
Is there any possibility that a medium sized spider and a medium sized scorpion had a love child?
Speaking of hybrids, Porsche is coming out with a hybrid 4 door. You can choose from a 3.6L V6, 4.8L V8 and 4.8L Turbo (with 300, 405 and 520 respective bhp). Porsche is also allowing you to outfit your Panamera with a 3.6L V6 engine, paired with a 110hp electric motor. Aesthetically, it looks like a 911 with 2 extra doors. More doors, but just as lovely.
Ya, its freakin awesome.
I have a question. Can spiders and scorpions breed?
Because today under my desk, on my shoe (my feet were thankfully not in my shoes at this point) was a spider/scorpion thing. Its body was a little smaller then a credit card, and it had more then 4 legs. I can't tell you exactly how many because I sure has anything wasn't going to lean down and look. The weirdest thing was the color.
It was a smoky white-ish color. And if it hadn't been for the lack of a tail and possibly leg count (again, I didn't investigate very closely) it would have been one big spider. But it was built lower, more like a scorpion. I'm not sure as to whether it had pincers though.
I didn't have my camera, so I couldn't take a picture.
Is there any possibility that a medium sized spider and a medium sized scorpion had a love child?
Speaking of hybrids, Porsche is coming out with a hybrid 4 door. You can choose from a 3.6L V6, 4.8L V8 and 4.8L Turbo (with 300, 405 and 520 respective bhp). Porsche is also allowing you to outfit your Panamera with a 3.6L V6 engine, paired with a 110hp electric motor. Aesthetically, it looks like a 911 with 2 extra doors. More doors, but just as lovely.
Ya, its freakin awesome.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
OMG!!
How could I have forgotten? It's just pitiful...
So You Think You Can Dance Season 4 has begun. Actually, it began a while back, but it just now occurred to me I should review like it did Dancing with the Stars. So, with no further adieu, your contestants!
THE GIRLS
Chelsea Hightower: If she is not in the finals, I will shoot my foot. Started as a ballroom dancer, is now doing everything and doing it very very well. Her hip hop routine gives me the chills. In the video, 3:06, 3:31, 4:06 and 4:12 are my favorite moments. Whats so intriguing about her is how she turns into a completely different person on stage. You see rehearsal/backstage footage and she is your average 18 year old. Put her on stage and she is on fire. Amazing talent.
Comfort Fedoke: A hip hop/popper. Coming from her style, with limited formal training she is good. At this point in the competition though, she just isn't consistent enough. She goes up and then down. I do enjoy watching her dance, but not enough to vote.
Courtney Galiano: Her audition was amazing, and most of her performances have been as well. Her solo last week seemed a little desperate and over done, but other then that a steady stream of good. Trained in contemporary, she has handled the other styles with success. Except for the disco. But nobody every does the disco good, so there you go.
Jessica King: Another contemporary dancer. On the fence about her. While I can see that she has the potential to be a great dancer, at this point she is only good. Psychologically, she needs to let go and just dance. I think the problem is her partner Will is always getting unreal praise (he is a good dancer) and because she is not on the same level she is having a hard time bringing herself up there. Alone, I believe she could do it. Since she has the added pressure of constantly being compared to Will, she is struggling. Which may or may not have made sense.
Katee Shean: Really unsure about her in the beginning. Her attitude just wasn't hitting me right. But now, so glad they kept her. A contemporary dancer (is anybody seeing a theme?) who has been killing every style thrown her way. Another fantastically versatile dancer.
Kherington Payne: LOVE her. Lovelovelovelove. Yet another contemporary dancer who can blow everybody away. Her personality is so well suited for dance/performing and she just lights the whole place up. Every week exceptional performances. Lovelovelove. To top it off, she has super cute hair.
THE BOYS
Gev Manoukian: A break dancer from Kazakhstan. Whats surprising about him is that his contemporary/Broadway dances were amazing, but his hip hop was only ok. I do really enjoy watching him though, which is something more technically skilled dancers don't always have.
Joshua Allen: Another break dancer who is good at contemporary. Unlike Gev however, this one has had formal training. Partnered with Katee, every week they deliver excellent performances. Will definitely go a loooong way.
Mark Kanemura: My one of my favorite male dancer's in this season. No, not just because he did his solo to "Bohemian Rhapsody". He's just so quirky and off the wall. I love it. A contemporary dancer who did an awesome jazz routine. Love him so much.
Thayne Jasperson: None of his performances have been particularly good or memorable for me. Which means I can't critique him, because I haven't watched him enough. He just blends in to well, nothing sets him apart. Sorry Thayne :-(
Twitch Boss: Auditioned last year, got beat out by Hok (who is amazing). Soooo happy he came back! His personality and talent are out of this world. My other favorite male dancer in this season. Absolutely breath taking.
Will Wingfield: Everybody just adores him. He is a very beautiful dancer, you can't deny it. But he doesn't reach me emotionally the same way Twitch and Mark do. He seems...closed off. Just not a huge fan of his. Like, not love him.
OVERALL
This is a great season, shaping up to be a fantastic finale. Can't wait to see who wins!! Very pleased with all of this years dancers who made it on, and absolutely adore the new choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon.
So You Think You Can Dance Season 4 has begun. Actually, it began a while back, but it just now occurred to me I should review like it did Dancing with the Stars. So, with no further adieu, your contestants!
THE GIRLS
Chelsea Hightower: If she is not in the finals, I will shoot my foot. Started as a ballroom dancer, is now doing everything and doing it very very well. Her hip hop routine gives me the chills. In the video, 3:06, 3:31, 4:06 and 4:12 are my favorite moments. Whats so intriguing about her is how she turns into a completely different person on stage. You see rehearsal/backstage footage and she is your average 18 year old. Put her on stage and she is on fire. Amazing talent.
Comfort Fedoke: A hip hop/popper. Coming from her style, with limited formal training she is good. At this point in the competition though, she just isn't consistent enough. She goes up and then down. I do enjoy watching her dance, but not enough to vote.
Courtney Galiano: Her audition was amazing, and most of her performances have been as well. Her solo last week seemed a little desperate and over done, but other then that a steady stream of good. Trained in contemporary, she has handled the other styles with success. Except for the disco. But nobody every does the disco good, so there you go.
Jessica King: Another contemporary dancer. On the fence about her. While I can see that she has the potential to be a great dancer, at this point she is only good. Psychologically, she needs to let go and just dance. I think the problem is her partner Will is always getting unreal praise (he is a good dancer) and because she is not on the same level she is having a hard time bringing herself up there. Alone, I believe she could do it. Since she has the added pressure of constantly being compared to Will, she is struggling. Which may or may not have made sense.
Katee Shean: Really unsure about her in the beginning. Her attitude just wasn't hitting me right. But now, so glad they kept her. A contemporary dancer (is anybody seeing a theme?) who has been killing every style thrown her way. Another fantastically versatile dancer.
Kherington Payne: LOVE her. Lovelovelovelove. Yet another contemporary dancer who can blow everybody away. Her personality is so well suited for dance/performing and she just lights the whole place up. Every week exceptional performances. Lovelovelove. To top it off, she has super cute hair.
THE BOYS
Gev Manoukian: A break dancer from Kazakhstan. Whats surprising about him is that his contemporary/Broadway dances were amazing, but his hip hop was only ok. I do really enjoy watching him though, which is something more technically skilled dancers don't always have.
Joshua Allen: Another break dancer who is good at contemporary. Unlike Gev however, this one has had formal training. Partnered with Katee, every week they deliver excellent performances. Will definitely go a loooong way.
Mark Kanemura: My one of my favorite male dancer's in this season. No, not just because he did his solo to "Bohemian Rhapsody". He's just so quirky and off the wall. I love it. A contemporary dancer who did an awesome jazz routine. Love him so much.
Thayne Jasperson: None of his performances have been particularly good or memorable for me. Which means I can't critique him, because I haven't watched him enough. He just blends in to well, nothing sets him apart. Sorry Thayne :-(
Twitch Boss: Auditioned last year, got beat out by Hok (who is amazing). Soooo happy he came back! His personality and talent are out of this world. My other favorite male dancer in this season. Absolutely breath taking.
Will Wingfield: Everybody just adores him. He is a very beautiful dancer, you can't deny it. But he doesn't reach me emotionally the same way Twitch and Mark do. He seems...closed off. Just not a huge fan of his. Like, not love him.
OVERALL
This is a great season, shaping up to be a fantastic finale. Can't wait to see who wins!! Very pleased with all of this years dancers who made it on, and absolutely adore the new choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon.
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