I am on vacation in New Hampshire to see the fall foliage, so expect a couple of posts about my trip.
Today my mom and I went to the Lincoln Fall Craft Festival. It was a beautiful day, so it was nice to get outside without exerting ourselves too much (i.e. we were not in the mood for hiking). We saw many jewelers, but the one that stood out for me was a booth from Green Gem (their pieces were classier than the usual large hunks of colorful glass you tend to see at shows like this). We also tasted a couple of dips (eh), and there was a booth selling cotton candy in all sorts of flavors (like bacon and pumpkin pie). We saw some beautiful photographs of moose and loons, and bought a fun bird house in the shape of an acorn.
It was a fun trip, so if you're in New England in October and like that sort of thing, then I recommend it!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
McDonald's Happy Meal
The other day, after a long train ride home from New York City, I stopped by a McDonald's near BWI Airport to grab dinner. I was hoping for a Mighty Kids Meal with chicken strips, but alas, this location didn't serve those (who decides [and how does that special someone decide] which locations will carry which menu items?). So I settled for a chicken nuggets Happy Meal (I'm a small person, so I don't need much more than that).
But I was not happy with my Happy Meal. The nuggets were cold, with the crust extra crunchy because there wasn't enough meat on the inside to fill the crispy shell. The fries were mediocre, and for some reason tasted really weird with my Coke (but maybe that's because I'm used to eating my fries with a milkshake). Plus, I had to decline the offer to have a toy in my box because it wasn't a My Little Pony toy, and therefore was worthless to me.
However, I should qualify this post with the fact that I had one of their bagel breakfast sandwiches this morning, and it was delicious and exactly what I wanted. Maybe NH locations just do it better than those in MD?
PS: This post makes it sound like I eat at Micky Dee's all the time. I don't, though sometimes I swear there's a fat kid living inside my skinny-mini body.
But I was not happy with my Happy Meal. The nuggets were cold, with the crust extra crunchy because there wasn't enough meat on the inside to fill the crispy shell. The fries were mediocre, and for some reason tasted really weird with my Coke (but maybe that's because I'm used to eating my fries with a milkshake). Plus, I had to decline the offer to have a toy in my box because it wasn't a My Little Pony toy, and therefore was worthless to me.
However, I should qualify this post with the fact that I had one of their bagel breakfast sandwiches this morning, and it was delicious and exactly what I wanted. Maybe NH locations just do it better than those in MD?
PS: This post makes it sound like I eat at Micky Dee's all the time. I don't, though sometimes I swear there's a fat kid living inside my skinny-mini body.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Disney's "Hercules"
I already wrote a post about Disney's Pocahontas, so here's one on Hercules.
Growing up, I was always fascinated by the stories of Greek/Roman gods. In middle school I took Latin, and along with learning the language we also learned about these historic myths. I thought it was cool how each one represented something, like the sun or wisdom or war or what-have-you. I also found it interesting that the gods were used to explain natural phenomena, like seasons and thunder storms. So of course I like this movie!
Watching it again recently, I realized how many modern references there are. In the beginning, Hermes brings Hera flowers, which refers to the FTD logo; FTD would have chosen Hermes as their symbol because he is the god of speed. Later on, Philoctetes, played by Danny Devito, refers to the city of Thebes as "the Big Olive itself," just like New York City is "the Big Apple." That comparison continues as the movie shows Thebes' busy streets, the man on the street selling sun dials (rather than watches), the crazy man claiming the end is near, and Phil telling Hercules not to make eye contact with anyone. Once he's famous, there are Air-Herc shoes, just like Air-Jordans, and when his portrait is being painted, he is wearing a lion fur that is Scar from The Lion King. When Hercules is in training, there's even a Karate Kid moment:
I also picked up on a few details I had never noticed before. At the beginning of the movie, Narcissus is wearing a medallion that says "ME" on it, and Athena is holding an owl (since she's the goddess of wisdom). When Hercules saves Meg for the first time, she says, "I'm a big girl. I can tie my own sandals and everything" which I think is pretty cute. When Pain and Panic are disguised as little boys caught in a rock slide, they call out, "Somebody call IXII", which are the Roman numerals for 911. As Hercules becomes famous, he sends money to his parents, which you can tell from the short clip showing their huge new house behind their tiny hut, and a golden chariot sits in the front yard. Hades does skeet shooting with Hercules urns, and when Hercules is trying to get away from the mob of groupies, he uses "Escape Plan Beta," or Plan B. I don't know how I never caught these things before!
And since this is a Disney movie, I can't write about it without mentioning the soundtrack. The Muses who are telling the story are like The Supremes (although for accuracy's sake, there were 9 Muses, not 5), and I love their Gospel sound. Their "Zero to Hero" song is pretty catch, as is Meg's "I won't say I'm in love". But of course the star of the show when it comes to songs is "I can go the distance" by Michael Bolton. I could write an entire blog post about this song, but it would be similar to my previous posts: it's inspirational, it tells you to go after your dreams, that anything's possible, blah blah blah. So you see why I like it so much.
Yes, Hercules is one of my favorite Disney movies. And any time I think of bunnies, this quote comes into my mind:
Growing up, I was always fascinated by the stories of Greek/Roman gods. In middle school I took Latin, and along with learning the language we also learned about these historic myths. I thought it was cool how each one represented something, like the sun or wisdom or war or what-have-you. I also found it interesting that the gods were used to explain natural phenomena, like seasons and thunder storms. So of course I like this movie!
Watching it again recently, I realized how many modern references there are. In the beginning, Hermes brings Hera flowers, which refers to the FTD logo; FTD would have chosen Hermes as their symbol because he is the god of speed. Later on, Philoctetes, played by Danny Devito, refers to the city of Thebes as "the Big Olive itself," just like New York City is "the Big Apple." That comparison continues as the movie shows Thebes' busy streets, the man on the street selling sun dials (rather than watches), the crazy man claiming the end is near, and Phil telling Hercules not to make eye contact with anyone. Once he's famous, there are Air-Herc shoes, just like Air-Jordans, and when his portrait is being painted, he is wearing a lion fur that is Scar from The Lion King. When Hercules is in training, there's even a Karate Kid moment:
I also picked up on a few details I had never noticed before. At the beginning of the movie, Narcissus is wearing a medallion that says "ME" on it, and Athena is holding an owl (since she's the goddess of wisdom). When Hercules saves Meg for the first time, she says, "I'm a big girl. I can tie my own sandals and everything" which I think is pretty cute. When Pain and Panic are disguised as little boys caught in a rock slide, they call out, "Somebody call IXII", which are the Roman numerals for 911. As Hercules becomes famous, he sends money to his parents, which you can tell from the short clip showing their huge new house behind their tiny hut, and a golden chariot sits in the front yard. Hades does skeet shooting with Hercules urns, and when Hercules is trying to get away from the mob of groupies, he uses "Escape Plan Beta," or Plan B. I don't know how I never caught these things before!
And since this is a Disney movie, I can't write about it without mentioning the soundtrack. The Muses who are telling the story are like The Supremes (although for accuracy's sake, there were 9 Muses, not 5), and I love their Gospel sound. Their "Zero to Hero" song is pretty catch, as is Meg's "I won't say I'm in love". But of course the star of the show when it comes to songs is "I can go the distance" by Michael Bolton. I could write an entire blog post about this song, but it would be similar to my previous posts: it's inspirational, it tells you to go after your dreams, that anything's possible, blah blah blah. So you see why I like it so much.
Yes, Hercules is one of my favorite Disney movies. And any time I think of bunnies, this quote comes into my mind:
"I'm a bunny...And I'm his gopher!"
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Another Quote
“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” -Nora Ephron
Supermodel Anne Vyalitsyna (or "Anne V" as most people know her) posted this quote on her Twitter, and I love it. I feel like too many women today complain about their status in life, especially when it comes to the double standards society holds between men and women. But for me, life is all about playing the hand that you're dealt. Yes, there are negatives to being a woman in our society, but you can't look at them like that. Use them to your favor! Be the super-girl who can rise above that by using her brains as well as her feminine wily ways (legally!). Don't focus on the things that make your life hard: think about how you will overcome them. It's all about your attitude!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Enjoying nature quietly
Quiet chit chat doesn't bother me, but boisterous conversation and loud music are not appropriate for trying to enjoy nature.
*Photo is from the Potomac Gorge on the Maryland side. This is one of my favorite nature walks.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Concert: Chase Rice
Sam's bass player was very good looking, which never hurts a show. I was never able to get a good photo of the guitarist because he kept moving around so much, but he was so full of energy and fun to watch! This opening act was AWESOME.
Then came Chase Rice, the main star of the show. The first thing I noticed was just how HANDSOME this man is. Tall, broad shoulders, masculine facial features...Mmmhmm! I don't think any man has ever looked better in white jeans before. And he made this great homage to to Garth Brooks with his "American Honky-tonk Bar Association" T-shirt. 
Many songs were along the drinking/alcohol theme, like "PBJ's & PBR's," "Jack Daniel's & Jesus," and "Pop a Top Off." I think my favorite song of his was "Country as Me," and I loved that he called out to our MD/DC crowd, "You guys really are country up here!"
Chase had the crowd sing along with his song "Whoa" and he even pulled a little girl onstage to sing with him! She was so nervous, but so cute! He too sang some classic country songs, including Garth Brooks' "The Dance." I learned that Chase helped right the Florida Georgia Line hit "Cruise." I LOVE that song! And he sang the Nelly version, too (along with Nelly's "Country Grammar").
It was an amazing show. I'm definitely buying CDs from both of these artists!
Play Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray
I had seen A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Synetic Theater, so when I saw that they were performing The Picture of Dorian Gray, one of my favorite stories, I immediately bought tickets.
I have to say that I was put off before the show even begun. The house manager jumped onstage before the performance and tried to convince the audience to donate money in order for the company to find a new rehearsal space. This is a commendable cause, but trying to tempt me with ugly red t-shirts and cheap sweatpants is NOT the way to go.
Now onto the show. The performance started with several large frames hanging down from the ceiling with actors standing still within them, as if they were caught in paintings. They came alive as the artist started "painting" and were flowing around the stage in barely-there costumes (for the illusion of nudity). Philip Fletcher immediately stood out from the group of dancers: his perfect body and strong movements captivated my gaze the entire time. I liked this introduction to the story: it certainly wasn't part of the book, but was a cool take on things.
However, I did not like all of the modern additions to this tale. I think the main thing that bothered me was how overtly sexual the performance was. I understand that Dorian Gray became somewhat of a man-whore without morals, but that does not mean that the play had to be so explicit in portraying that. At one point two women (obviously playing prostitutes) were dancing on stage, and I thought, "Ah, these must be the women he sleeps with to erase the memory of Sybil Vane." I was right, but the play continues to rub the idea in my face: Dorian starts dancing with the women, then they start rolling on top of one another and gyrating together in a threesome. Later in the performance, Dorian visits something like a harem with Lord Henry, and both women and men dressed in cheap pleather S&M costumes are on stage smoking hookah, pulling the hookah lines/cords between their legs and pouring paint all over one another and rubbing against each other the entire time. There are just more subtle, tasteful ways to show Dorian's sins without giving a performance an NC-17 rating.
And more on the paint: The crew put up several large panes across the down stage to prevent the audience from getting splattered with paint. I can appreciate that kindness. However, the paint scene was just so over-the-top and nothing Oscar Wilde, the author of the story, would have envisioned. The women were wearing head pieces that had several long strands coming out of the top, which they whipped back and forth like, well, whips. The dancers pushed one another into the panels to portray the passion of love-making (or fucking in this case), and it was very grotesque. I felt uncomfortable during the entire scene.
The one modern thing that did impressed me was that the portrait was actually a character (played by Fletcher). I assumed the company would have just used several paintings to show the change in the portrait, but instead a live character changed throughout scenes to mirror Dorian's soul. I thought Fletcher was well-cast, and he danced well as a man damned to Hell. Joseph Carlson who played Lord Henry was quite believable as the older gentleman corrupting the naive Dorian, and Robert Bowen Smith was the perfect lovesick artist, Basil. I was apathetic towards the other actors. I usually picture Dorian Gray as a classic English gentleman, which Dallas Tolentino is not. And Rachael Jacobs doesn't truly capture the red-headed beauty of Sybil Vane. The rest of the ensemble did a fine job, but nothing note-worthy.
I suppose I like my art classic, in all forms: plays, ballets, paintings, sculptures, etc. I just don't get modern art. If it's not broken, why fix it? If the original story is so wonderful, why add all this rubbish to it? So, I'd give this performance 2 out of 5 stars.
Here is a blog about the theater if you're interested: http://synetictheater.wordpress.com/
I have to say that I was put off before the show even begun. The house manager jumped onstage before the performance and tried to convince the audience to donate money in order for the company to find a new rehearsal space. This is a commendable cause, but trying to tempt me with ugly red t-shirts and cheap sweatpants is NOT the way to go.
Now onto the show. The performance started with several large frames hanging down from the ceiling with actors standing still within them, as if they were caught in paintings. They came alive as the artist started "painting" and were flowing around the stage in barely-there costumes (for the illusion of nudity). Philip Fletcher immediately stood out from the group of dancers: his perfect body and strong movements captivated my gaze the entire time. I liked this introduction to the story: it certainly wasn't part of the book, but was a cool take on things.
However, I did not like all of the modern additions to this tale. I think the main thing that bothered me was how overtly sexual the performance was. I understand that Dorian Gray became somewhat of a man-whore without morals, but that does not mean that the play had to be so explicit in portraying that. At one point two women (obviously playing prostitutes) were dancing on stage, and I thought, "Ah, these must be the women he sleeps with to erase the memory of Sybil Vane." I was right, but the play continues to rub the idea in my face: Dorian starts dancing with the women, then they start rolling on top of one another and gyrating together in a threesome. Later in the performance, Dorian visits something like a harem with Lord Henry, and both women and men dressed in cheap pleather S&M costumes are on stage smoking hookah, pulling the hookah lines/cords between their legs and pouring paint all over one another and rubbing against each other the entire time. There are just more subtle, tasteful ways to show Dorian's sins without giving a performance an NC-17 rating.
And more on the paint: The crew put up several large panes across the down stage to prevent the audience from getting splattered with paint. I can appreciate that kindness. However, the paint scene was just so over-the-top and nothing Oscar Wilde, the author of the story, would have envisioned. The women were wearing head pieces that had several long strands coming out of the top, which they whipped back and forth like, well, whips. The dancers pushed one another into the panels to portray the passion of love-making (or fucking in this case), and it was very grotesque. I felt uncomfortable during the entire scene.
The one modern thing that did impressed me was that the portrait was actually a character (played by Fletcher). I assumed the company would have just used several paintings to show the change in the portrait, but instead a live character changed throughout scenes to mirror Dorian's soul. I thought Fletcher was well-cast, and he danced well as a man damned to Hell. Joseph Carlson who played Lord Henry was quite believable as the older gentleman corrupting the naive Dorian, and Robert Bowen Smith was the perfect lovesick artist, Basil. I was apathetic towards the other actors. I usually picture Dorian Gray as a classic English gentleman, which Dallas Tolentino is not. And Rachael Jacobs doesn't truly capture the red-headed beauty of Sybil Vane. The rest of the ensemble did a fine job, but nothing note-worthy.
I suppose I like my art classic, in all forms: plays, ballets, paintings, sculptures, etc. I just don't get modern art. If it's not broken, why fix it? If the original story is so wonderful, why add all this rubbish to it? So, I'd give this performance 2 out of 5 stars.
Here is a blog about the theater if you're interested: http://synetictheater.wordpress.com/
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