Drew: Oh.
Me: (thinking) Awww…that was cute.
Drew: R.
Me: (thinking) He’s clearly not talking to me at all.
Drew: 2.
Me: (thinking) Possibly he’s spelling out some kind of code?
Drew: So I guess… *sigh* He’s your enemy. (pause) Yeah.
Me: LOL
Drew: Hmm?
Adorable!
I’m just barely missing all my big milestones!
-2 years back in California (July 24th)
-200,000 miles on my car (I’m a couple hundred past it)
-15,000 blog views (15,146 now)
All good things to celebrate – all things I let sneak past me.
I am always the most motivated late at night. When I’m lying there waiting to fall asleep (which could take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour and a half), that’s when I think of all the things I am sure to accomplish. That’s where the Atkins idea was born (after many, many failed plans). That’s when I’m sure I’m going to get up early and hit the gym. That’s when I psych myself into thinking I can totally wear heels to work.
But the next morning is when I remember that Atkins sucks, I’m so tired and this bed is so warm and the gym is so far away through the fog, and who am I kidding? I totally have no skills for wearing heels, and I’ll probably fall down the stairs and that will be hella embarrassing.
Last week I made the late night decision to sign back up for Weight Watchers. I also made a late night decision to change my gym membership so I can go to any 24 Hour Fitness (for the last year I’ve just had access to one club).
So that’s my new plan. So far it’s going pretty well. Plus, I have the iPhone now so I can use the WW mobile app, which is helpful, I guess? Also the 24 HF app. I like the way those apps look sitting next to each other.
Tomorrow my friend Sam and I are going to a gym that’s near my work and her house. We’re going to try some class that I’ve never tried before. It’s sort of making me nervous. But I think it’ll be easier to go after work, and especially with a friend. And their class schedule is so much better than my home gym’s schedule! – now maybe I’ll be able to make it to a spin class, which I have still not accomplished.
Anyway, wish me luck. I have one wedding in 2 months, and then another one in 3 months, so my plan is to look awesome for both of them. Now that I’ve lined up the tools – I just have implement them.
I started reading the Alanna books recently, by Tamora Pierce.
I remember reading the first book when I was a tween (or so), and I remember liking it, but also, the only thing I could remember was that she was dressed like a boy, and couldn’t go swimming with the other boys, and also, when she “becomes a woman” things get awkward.
But I’m reading them again now on the insistence of a reader friend of mine, who recently handed me an oversized gift bag filled with Tamora Pierce books for 12-year-olds. But we like them because of their strong female protagonists, who make smart, level-headed decisions.
Anyway, I just wanted to point out that the illustrator for this edition of these books does a great job getting in the feeling of the book, the horse, the cat, the purple fog that is her magic, whatever – but CANNOT seem to capture a facial expression.
Behold:
This just cracks me up. I have to get Drew to make the face on the cover of the third book, and get a picture of it. It’s perfect.
I also noticed that they’ve redone the books (a couple times) with more badass covers. Like so:
Darker, and “cooler,” and possibly more representative of the actual feel of the books. I guess maybe I’m paying more attention to stuff like this, as I get more comfortable and familiar with my job.
Got a great YA novel recommendation? Leave it here for me! (It definitely doesn’t have to be fantasy.)
Yesterday afternoon I went with a couple co-workers to hang twinkle lights in the trees outside the theatre we perform in. Our New Works Festival is coming up in a week or so (eek) and twinkle lights are kind of a tradition. Anyway, hanging lights in the trees required ladders.
I kind of have a ladder phobia. These were relatively small ladders, and I was going up only a couple steps, so it was okay. But in general, I do not like ladders.
Ladders can fall over. Ladders could slip on the ground and slide out from under you. Ladders can be placed unsteadily on grass and tip you off.
Being a stage manager, I’ve been in contact with a lot of ladders. Usually I don’t have to be the one climbing them though – luckily that is normally someone else’s job – like the lighting people. God bless you, lighting people, and your CRAZY LONG ladders that you balance on unsteady rails in the air, and then scale like you have no fear. God bless you also with your scaffolding that you build as you climb it (I’m looking at you, Marin), and your genies. Ugh.
In New York I worked on a show where, to get to the booth, I had to climb a ladder affixed to the wall. I spent the entire 4-week run convinced I was going to slip one day and fall and die. Then someone told me that it wasn’t that high, and I probably wouldn’t die, which alleviated some of my stress. But I’m still grateful that I will never, ever have to set foot in that theatre again – it was one of the three worst spaces I’ve ever worked in.
I don’t mind being up in the air – as long as I’m on something sturdy, permanent, and preferably not see-through. I would definitely like to try out that glass walkway thing that goes out over the Grand Canyon, but I’m pretty sure it would scare the bejeezus out of me. But you know, in a fun way.
Maybe this fear came from my family’s infamous tree house story – my dad is probably rolling his eyes at the fact that I am bringing this up – but when my brother and I were kids, we were building this AWESOME tree house out in our back-backyard. For a little while, it was just a platform in the tree, and Robb and I used to climb up the ladder (see? no fear then) and spy on the neighbors while they lounged in their random hot tub. One day, as my dad, Robb and I were up there working on adding walls or something, the whole thing collapsed and dumped us out of the tree. We were all totally fine, and although we talked about rebuilding it, we never actually got around to it.
Possibly that’s when I started being wary of heights and ladders and genies and other things like that.
Anyway, I made it through yesterday afternoon:
working with the scary, scary 6′-ladder and the towering, monstrous pretty purple trees, and the muy peligroso twinkle lights. I stayed off the ladder as much as possible and just climbed around on the benches under the trees. No biggie.
And hopefully now the courtyard will be gorgeous and lure in many, many ticket buyers. I guess it’s all in a day’s work.
If you feel like commenting, tell me the ridiculous thing you’re afraid of! Backstory speculation is welcome, but not necessary.
I just noticed this comment in my spam filter:
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “England and America are two countries separated by the same language.” by George Bernard Shaw.
This person had googled “parachuting dogs” and found my 60s post. So I guess it might not be spam.
I don’t know what I’ve been doing lately, but it hasn’t been writing. Or going to the gym. But I definitely feel like I’ve been busy!
I did just finish The Help last night, and I loved it and would highly recommend it to all. Next up on my reading list is Bossypants by Tina Fey.
Last Friday we saw Tales of the City at ACT in San Francisco – I really enjoyed the show. But I think their marketing is bad. Based on the poster, I was picturing a 40s film noir, not a musical, and really boring. But the show reminds me of nothing more than The Wedding Singer – totally fun, funny, entertaining, and the 3 hours flies by. I’m really glad we went before it closes (this weekend). It definitely feels like a new musical – there is work they can do on it – but I had a great time.
On Saturday I got to go shopping for bridesmaid dresses for the second wedding I’m in this fall. It went well, and we picked a dress that all three bridesmaids can wear. So that feels like a good accomplishment.
On Sunday I went to Lakeport for the afternoon to hang out with my parents, and they bought me lunch, but then they tricked me and had me go through about seven boxes of Stuff From My Past. I thought that would be it, but apparently there is still more. Sheesh.
BUT, this means I am rife with poetry from middle school, and embarrassing adolescent pictures. Also plenty of pictures of cats. We had A LOT of cats. Anyway, there is blog fodder in there, I know it.
So, I never call into radio stations. But Sarah and Vinnie are doing this Vegas trip in August, and they’re taking a bunch of listeners, and even though I have no delusions about my chances, I like really want to go…so this morning when I heard the secret song, I called the radio station. Thirty-three times. Until the phone screener picked up and said, “We’ve already got our winner, sorry,” and I said, “Thank you!” and he said, “No, thank you.” Aww.
Maybe it’s worth it to keep trying. I mean, someone’s gotta win. Why shouldn’t it be me? I’ve never been to Vegas!
I also texted Sarah and Vinnie this morning and they read it on the air, making it my third email/text appearance on the show. Celebrity! I’m almost there!
This is a big year for weddings for me – I’ve never been in two in one year. But this October and then this November will find me standing up next to two of my BFFs as they each take major life steps. Feels good. It’s an honor to be asked. I guess they trust and like me!
So today I went with the November bride, and her other bridesmaid, to buy the wedding dress and to pick out our bridesmaid dresses. The other bridesmaid and I each tried on 5 dresses. We ended the trip by picking a wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses, which the bride is going to order from another store, where she got MUCH better customer service.
So now that’s done! OMG that feels awesome.
Then I came home and started paying bills online. Drew mentioned plane tickets, for the October wedding, which is in Connecticut. I checked JetBlue and panicked a little bit when I noticed that the tickets had gone up over the last two days, rather than going down, which I was holding out for them to do. Oh noes!
So I checked Orbitz, and tickets on Virgin America were actually down from two days ago. Not as low as I was holding out for, but I think I can recognize a sign when I see one, so we sat right down and booked SFO-JFK flights. I’ve never flown Virgin before – I’m a JetBlue girl – but I have heard good things, so I’m excited.
And now I can start dreaming about my best friends’ weddings and my New York trip! New York, I’ve missed you!
I’m kind of a snob about books made into movies. It’s not good to be a snob about anything, probably, but if it had to be something, I’m glad it’s book-to-movie adaptations, and not beer or cars or food, I guess.
(Although, that might be circular logic. If I really cared about beer or cars or food, then I’d be glad I did…etc.)
Anyway, here’s a list of good book-to-movie adaptations:
“Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” by Stephen King –> The Shawshank Redemption
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg –> Fried Green Tomatoes, in which the director had to mostly remove the lesbian subplot, although he has said that the food fight is supposed to symbolize their sexual relationship.
All three of the Lord of the Rings books by JRR Tolkein –> the Lord of the Rings trilogy
The Green Mile by Stephen King –> The Green Mile, starring Tom Hanks (looking all plastic and Polar Express-y), and look at that! Directed by Frank Darabont, who also directed The Shawshank Redemption
Little Children, by Tom Perrotta –> Little Children – hot movie poster, totally changed ending and all!
Rosemary’s Baby, by Ira Levin, one of the greatest writers ever –> Rosemary’s Baby, a horror movie I only recently watched on Netflix instant, and was totally pleasantly surprised
And here’s an example of a bad book-to-movie adaptation,
which is really my whole point here:
Every Harry Potter movie ever, but most recently, Deathly Hallows part 2.
Last night, after seeing it with Drew (who agrees with me) and my friend Molly (who really liked it), I posted on my Facebook saying that I thought the movie was disappointing, and asking if anyone felt the same way. I refrained from saying anything sweeping and vague, and obviously looking for trouble, like, “It was terrible.” But I got only comments from people saying they enjoyed it.
Luckily, these people are my friends, and I think we can agree to disagree on something on stupid as a Harry Potter movie. But I still wanted a response from someone who agreed with me. (I’m super grateful that Drew feels the same way as I do – otherwise it could’ve gotten tense around these parts last night.)
Even at work this morning I was met with someone saying, “Well, I really liked it, but then, I read all the books.” And I was like… “Um, so did I. That’s part of the problem.”
Since I don’t want to pick fights with anyone, but I still want to vent my feelings, and I’m due a blog post anyway…this is what you get. This is my platform to say that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was a bad representation of the second half of the book, as well as being not a good stand-alone movie.
My particular issues (POSSIBLE SPOILERS):
1. Why change things? What’s all this about a boathouse? What’s wrong with going to the Shrieking Shack?
2. What is this “Harry hears horcruxes” business? Don’t you wish now, WB, you had waited to start making the movies until JK Rowling had written all the books, so you could put in all the information you needed, so you didn’t have to make up some dumb ish about him “hearing” the horcruxes?
3. Does anyone who hasn’t read the books even know what a horcrux is? Someone who hasn’t read the books, please comment and tell me if you have any idea what horcruxes and hallows are. Can you name all of them? And describe their function in the story?
4. I felt like this movie was ALL ACTION. Which I guess makes sense, given it is the final 400 pages of a 4000-page (estimate) series. But it was too much action. I needed more story. Not just running and jumping and then apparently…flying around…with Voldemort? C’mon.
Okay. So I get that I was set up to dislike the movie. I mean, I haven’t really liked any of them, and I’ve been very focused on what was left out or changed from the books, as well as that familiar disappointment about characters and places not looking like how I pictured them. But still. Deathly Hallows part 1 was actually kind of impressive, and I guess that raised my hopes a little for part 2.
At any rate, I definitely wanted to see it in the theatre, it’s the end of an era, etc, etc. I just know there have to be more people out there who don’t feel like this movie should be getting a 97% on rottentomatoes.
Okay. I have probably said enough. But it’s like I have said before, it’s hard for me to keep quiet about certain things. Harry Potter movies, embarrassingly enough, are one of those things.
On a happy note…my favorite part of part 1 was the animation about the creation of the deathly hallows!
Everyone’s heard that horror story, about a friend of a friend, who was up for her dream job, but then her prospective employer checked out her Facebook page, and found some unsightly pictures there, and bye-bye dream job.
I’ve never had that happen to me. I’ve been diligent about keeping my Facebook clean, also partly due to the prevalence of family members there. Any rants or negative comments I make are directed only at faceless strangers (“that guy who cut me off today”) or things that everyone rants against (“injustice”). (Okay, not sure I’ve ever ranted about injustice, technically, but it’s just an example.)
When we moved back to California, I originally made the decision to not add work contacts on Facebook. I wanted the option to say something honest about my day, and not have to worry that I was FB friends with someone who had been in the room. Plus there’s the added issue of WordPress, which I frequently link to on my Facebook. (And WordPress links to Twitter…) Too many ways for someone to find me, and find me saying something I shouldn’t.
When I started my current job, it quickly became obvious that I was going to have to become FB friends with work people. Like, a lot of work people. It was partly strictly for work – part of my job is being one of the admins of the work FB page – and it was also partly for ease of access to people. Also, you want to be able to comment on your coworker’s funny status updates, especially when you get that in-joke.
I thought about starting a work-FB page, and just keeping that and my personal page segregated. But that seemed like a lot of unnecessary work. And then I’m going to have two pages. That sounds terrible. And for a little while at least, one page will be sadly sparse. So I decided against that, and directed everyone to my one page.
The lesson here is just not to say ANYTHING online that I wouldn’t say to EVERY single person in my life.
So now I just keep everything nice and clean and positive, and if I have to say anything bitchy or even questionable, I send a text.
The Cameraphone Diaries 