Last weekend I visited Las Vegas for really the first time. Now, I've driven through Las Vegas a few times on my ways to & from California looking at the Strip from the freeway. Once, my family & I even stayed overnight at a hotel in Vegas--a normal, business-class, non-casino type of hotel far, far away from the Boulevard. When I flew to London back in '07, we flew out of the Las Vegas McCarron International Airport. But this was my first time staying on the Strip & enjoying Sin City, our "Cultural Capital" of excess & illusion.
The night before, we gathered to watch The Hangover, which I didn't particularly care for the first time I saw it. It was supposed to pump us up, but mostly I felt like it was a cautionary tale warning us away from Vegas. Anyway, early Friday morning we got up, got coffee, & got McDonald's. Then we drove, & drove, & drove. We took two cars--our car got a slightly late start, & Elise drove at the speed limit or thereabouts. The other car was driven by a speed-demon, who did get pulled over, but they still arrived long before us. We also stopped in Mesquite to get some "discount" liquor which seemed to basically be the same price as non-discount Utah liquor. It's just in Nevada they don't ID you (unless you use a credit card). & to get some smokes. We finally arrived in Fabulous Las Vegas in the afternoon & made our way to the Luxor which is where we were staying. The Luxor, for those who don't know, is the Egyptian-themed hotel in the shape of a giant pyramid at the southern-end of the Strip between Mandalay Bay (which I called Manderley) and the Excalibur. The first group to arrive was already fairly drunk by the time we arrived half-an-hour or so later. We were soon upgraded to a suite (sweet!) which was very nice since it gave the six of us a little more room to spread out, especially when tensions flared.
After showering & getting semi-fancy, which takes some time for five gay men (& lone woman), we went to Fat Tuesday to get yard glasses of boozy slushies & then wandered down the Boulevard. It's kind of awesome to be able to walk around in the open carrying a drink. We stopped at Miracle Mile to get something to eat. By this point, almost all of our group was completely drunk. Good times. =/ We made it to the Bellagio & watched the fountains which did not disappoint. It was a real highlight of the trip. (But then I'm the kind of guy who has been known to occasionally get emotional at firework displays.) At this point we decided to return back to our hotel.
The first half of Saturday was spent by most of the group sleeping. After I woke up, I spent a few hours reading until the rest of the group woke up around noon. & then it took a couple more hours for everyone to get ready. When my family goes on vacation & stays at hotels, there is no sleeping till noon or dilly-dallying. So while I enjoyed the leisurely pace to a certain extent, I was also impatient to get going. The group decided they wanted to go shopping at the Outlets. This being the Premium Outlets on the Boulevard (not the Fashion Outlets 30 minutes south of Vegas), so it was basically just a mall; I tend to think of "outlets" as special stores with amahzing discounts. We spent most of the time at H&M where nothing comes in my size. Sad. When we got back in the late afternoon, after refilling our Fat Tuesdays, Bryce, Elise, & I went to the pool to catch some sun--which did not last for long. The rest of the group went to get tickets to a show. They ended up seeing Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity which sounds like it was really good. I didn't quite have enough money to see a show this time. Instead we had a leisurely dinner at the hotel. After the rest of the group got back from the show, everyone decided to hit the Strip again & maybe go to a club. Because I hate clubs & didn't sleep in all day, I decided to stay at the hotel & go to bed early. Which didn't quite work out so well when everyone came back quite late (or early) very loud & drunk. When my sleep is disturbed during general sleeping hours, I can get quite pissy, though I generally forget all about it the next day.
Sunday morning we woke up & packed, & then decided to go to a Champagne Brunch at Cravings at the Mirage with endless mimosas! Sometime between driving the three blocks to the Mirage, the other car ditched us and headed to the Forum Shops at Caesars. So we had a lovely, leisurely brunch & the mimosas were very delicious. Here I gambled one whole dollar at the slot machines--& won 5 cents. Wahoo! Only, my "winnings" were printed on a receipt which I would have to cash in to claim, & I had no desire to claim my nickel. So that's on me, Mirage. You're welcome. & then we drove home, stopping only in Fillmore for food & fuel, & in Nephi to look at the solar eclipse (which we did through our regular sunglasses, so we may soon go blind).
All in all, it was a fun little trip focused more on relaxing than doing a whole lot. I do want to go back with a lot more money & a game plan to see & do more.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Summer Reading List '12
It's the middle of May! Which means it's kinda like summer now. If you attend most universities, classes are over & it's now summer break. If you attend a certain university in the Pacific Northwest, classes won't be out till the middle of June. (Of course, summer doesn't actually start in Seattle until July 5th.) Those in the K-12 system won't enjoy summer vacation until a week or so after Memorial Day which traditionally marks the beginning of summer for most working adults who receive no seasonal break. Memorial Day used to begin the summer blockbuster movie season. But as The Avengers & The Hunger Games busterblocking releases show, that marker seems less & less tenable. Soon there will only be two film seasons: the Oscars season from December to February & Blockbuster "Summer" season from March until November. The summer solstice will occur on June 20th which marks both the "first" day of summer as well as "midsummer." Which all means that summer is very confusing. What's not confusing is that with the warming seasonal temperatures (not to mention the warming climate) & the longer, bright sun-shiny days, I will be spending more time lounging poolside, reading books, & (hopefully) quenching my thirst with iced tea lemonade. *happy sigh*
A few years ago, one of my college professors started the 16 Books in 16 Weeks summer reading challenge. It just so happens that, including this week, there are 16 weeks until Labor Day, traditionally regarded as the end of the summer season. My list has 18 books, two of which may be considered alternates. or something. With my well-documented failure at actually ever completing a reading list (summer '09 being an historic exception), this list is to be regarded merely as aspirational.
The Tale of Telsharu by Valerie Mechling & Samuel Stubbs (currently reading)
I bought & started this book almost a year ago. I decided it was time to finish it as they are gettting ready to publish the sequel.
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (currently reading)
After I finish this second volume of the Song of Ice & Fire series, I plan on taking a nice, long break.
The Iliad by Homer
I started reading reading this epic in the summer of 2010. I got a little more than halfway through. I have about 10 books/chapters left. I am resolved to finish it this year. I may have to use Sparknotes to refresh my memory of what already happened.
Albus Unus by Elise Hanson
My high school friend Elise finally finished this book that she's been working on for 10 years. It hasn't been published (yet), but I have a copy of the manuscript.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book was a bit of a sensation last year & there are a million holds (or 19) at the public library. But the university library where I work has an available copy. Yay for access to multiple libraries & for college students who don't read for pleasure.
A Gay and Melancholy Sound by Merle Miller
The first of Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Rediscoveries. Lillian assures me that I will like it.
In One Person by John Irving.
Lillian got an advanced copy at PLA in March & told me I must read it. It was just published last week, but shockingly my public library has not purchased a copy. A public library not buying an Irving novel!? Could it be because the narrator is bisexual? I guess I will have to actually buy my own hardback copy.
Leaving the Saints by Martha Beck
The subtitle is "How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith." Kristyn O. recommended I check it out.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
I've always preferred The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings. & now is a good time to reread it before the movie comes out this Christmas. On a side note, I am horribly distressed that the film is being split into two parts. Harry Potter 7 Part 2, what hast thou wrought?
Engine Summer by John Crowley
Crowley's Little, Big is one of the best things I have ever read. ever. This short novel has been on my radar for a while.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
This is a YA book that Lillian told me about. I believe one of the characters is gay, so naturally it has been shelved in the adult section of my public library. Oh, Davis County, you'd be so cute if you weren't so terrifying. See also: In One Person.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark
This is a relatively recent fantasy book that's made some waves. Lev Grossman (The Magicians) placed it on his list of 10 Must-Read Fantasy Novels.
Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard
...who went on a weekend vacation to Paris & never came back. I realize that sounds kind of sinister like she was killed or kidnapped & Liam Neeson has save her. But really, she just fell in love--with a French man & French cuisine. This memoir sounds like a travelogue-cum-food-writing & thus perfect for summer.
The Stand by Stephen King
As a (hopefully soon-to-be) librarian, I feel it's important to have read at least one King novel. I've heard a bit about The Stand, so that's the one I'm choosing.
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
You should all know that I LOVE Wharton: The Age of Innocence, Ethan Frome, The Custom of the Country.
Batman: Knightfall by Doug Moenich & Chuck Dixon
I felt I should have a graphic novel on my summer list, & I like Batman, & I'm excited for the The Dark Knight Rises, & this one looked good. I'm slightly confused though because there's Batman: Knightfall, Part One: Broken Bat (1563891425) which is 272 pages & there's also Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1 (1401233791) which is 640 pages. I may have to do some information sleuthing to get down to the bottom of this.
The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn
This is another Paris memoir this time about an American corporate dropout studying at Le Cordon Bleu.
Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death by Kurt Vonnegut
This is the medium-length title which I've always loved. I also felt my list was lacking in satire & postmodernism. So, problem solved.
A few years ago, one of my college professors started the 16 Books in 16 Weeks summer reading challenge. It just so happens that, including this week, there are 16 weeks until Labor Day, traditionally regarded as the end of the summer season. My list has 18 books, two of which may be considered alternates. or something. With my well-documented failure at actually ever completing a reading list (summer '09 being an historic exception), this list is to be regarded merely as aspirational.
The Tale of Telsharu by Valerie Mechling & Samuel Stubbs (currently reading)
I bought & started this book almost a year ago. I decided it was time to finish it as they are gettting ready to publish the sequel.
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (currently reading)
After I finish this second volume of the Song of Ice & Fire series, I plan on taking a nice, long break.
The Iliad by Homer
I started reading reading this epic in the summer of 2010. I got a little more than halfway through. I have about 10 books/chapters left. I am resolved to finish it this year. I may have to use Sparknotes to refresh my memory of what already happened.
Albus Unus by Elise Hanson
My high school friend Elise finally finished this book that she's been working on for 10 years. It hasn't been published (yet), but I have a copy of the manuscript.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book was a bit of a sensation last year & there are a million holds (or 19) at the public library. But the university library where I work has an available copy. Yay for access to multiple libraries & for college students who don't read for pleasure.
A Gay and Melancholy Sound by Merle Miller
The first of Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Rediscoveries. Lillian assures me that I will like it.
In One Person by John Irving.
Lillian got an advanced copy at PLA in March & told me I must read it. It was just published last week, but shockingly my public library has not purchased a copy. A public library not buying an Irving novel!? Could it be because the narrator is bisexual? I guess I will have to actually buy my own hardback copy.
Leaving the Saints by Martha Beck
The subtitle is "How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith." Kristyn O. recommended I check it out.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
I've always preferred The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings. & now is a good time to reread it before the movie comes out this Christmas. On a side note, I am horribly distressed that the film is being split into two parts. Harry Potter 7 Part 2, what hast thou wrought?
Engine Summer by John Crowley
Crowley's Little, Big is one of the best things I have ever read. ever. This short novel has been on my radar for a while.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
This is a YA book that Lillian told me about. I believe one of the characters is gay, so naturally it has been shelved in the adult section of my public library. Oh, Davis County, you'd be so cute if you weren't so terrifying. See also: In One Person.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark
This is a relatively recent fantasy book that's made some waves. Lev Grossman (The Magicians) placed it on his list of 10 Must-Read Fantasy Novels.
Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard
...who went on a weekend vacation to Paris & never came back. I realize that sounds kind of sinister like she was killed or kidnapped & Liam Neeson has save her. But really, she just fell in love--with a French man & French cuisine. This memoir sounds like a travelogue-cum-food-writing & thus perfect for summer.
The Stand by Stephen King
As a (hopefully soon-to-be) librarian, I feel it's important to have read at least one King novel. I've heard a bit about The Stand, so that's the one I'm choosing.
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
You should all know that I LOVE Wharton: The Age of Innocence, Ethan Frome, The Custom of the Country.
Batman: Knightfall by Doug Moenich & Chuck Dixon
I felt I should have a graphic novel on my summer list, & I like Batman, & I'm excited for the The Dark Knight Rises, & this one looked good. I'm slightly confused though because there's Batman: Knightfall, Part One: Broken Bat (1563891425) which is 272 pages & there's also Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1 (1401233791) which is 640 pages. I may have to do some information sleuthing to get down to the bottom of this.
The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn
This is another Paris memoir this time about an American corporate dropout studying at Le Cordon Bleu.
Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death by Kurt Vonnegut
This is the medium-length title which I've always loved. I also felt my list was lacking in satire & postmodernism. So, problem solved.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Life & Stuff
So in the new Blogger makeover, I think my preferred font size has gone the way of the dodo. Tear. I haven't blogged about my life for a while, so ... word vomit!
So you all know that I got a job. Yay! Not like a real, professional, grown-up job that can pay for shit & stuff, but it will at least pay my bills like my credit cards & the occasional fun stuff. It's the job I had at the U before I left for Seattle & it has let me get back in touch with my podcast listening. Reunited & it feels so good. I'm listening to things like TBTL, Spilled Milk, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, This American Life, RadioWest, Fresh Air, & more. Aside from listening to my iPod, my job is mostly about looking up articles & scanning books. But I like it, & I like the people, & I like doing something, but I don't really care for the waking up early every morning part. I've taken a hiatus from looking for a real job, but I need to start looking again. Ugh.
My "n" key still doesn't work. My typing behavior has been altered so that even when I use a functional keyboard, I find myself using CTRL+V to paste an "n." But instead it just pastes the latest thing I copied which is usually not an "n." I'm also using ampersands to avoid typing "and" all of the time.
It's May so it's season finale time, & I really need to catch up on my TV watching. I'm behind on all my stories including Smash, Modern Family, Happy Endings, Revenge, Parks & Rec, 30 Rock, & The Daily Show. Thank goodness for the Internet. I blame most of this on Buffy. A month or so ago there was a Pajiba article 115 Reasons Why We Love Buffy. Because I done love Buffy. a lot. So less than a year after I watched all 7 seasons, I am rewatching it all. I'm halfway through season 5. See, I just went back and watched the pilot & the next episode & the episode after that, & I got carried away. Damn you Netflix Instant Watch!
I've been going to a lot of movies this year. Yay movies! Every week Brewvies shows a free older movie, usually something of a cult classic. & they still make money because most people still buy beer &/or food. Kristen Marie & I go most weeks. Last time it was V for Vendetta. The end gets me every time when Parliament is exploding & everyone takes off their masks & it's all the people who have died. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.
Last week I went to the midnight showing of The Avengers with Valerie, Miss Liss, Joseph & others. I mostly went for Joss Whedon because I'm not super into the Marvel universe, esp. The Avengers (but I am into the Whedonverse). I haven't even seen all the previous films. I saw Iron Man & Captain America, & I liked them & all, but I wasn't like OMG! SQUEEE!!! So I thought this film was alright. It was fun & funny. Lots of action. It was 2 1/2 hours of the Avengers assembling, beating each other up & exchanging wisecracks, & then destroying an alien invasion. Pretty standard stuff. It some ways it was the anti-Nolan--colorful, fantastic, & fun. Maybe Nolan ruined me, but I like my superhero movies dark, gritty, brooding, & deconstructed. Or maybe I just like Batman. My biggest problem with The Avengers is that it's pretty shallow. I felt it lacked depth, that none of the characters had much of an arc (I understand that's hard to do with six avengers & that character journey can be done better in their solo films), that the unifying event lacked the emotional depth for me to really believe it brought these characters together, & finally the story wasn't entirely coherent. There was a lot of floating on that giant ship thing & if you asked me to retell you plot, I could only give you the broad strokes.& maybe I'm not the target audience, but I was left wanting. But if you loved The Avengers, you can tell me how I got it all wrong in the comments. I did like the men. Downey Jr. does amazing line readings, but Stark's snark got a bit over obnoxious. Chris Evans did a lovely, subtle job as the earnest, lost-in-time Cap but was sadly clothed for the entire film. Mark Ruffalo was excellent as Bruce Banner doing that unshowy, regular shmoe playing it cool with a well of anxiety (and here anger) under the surface that he always does so well. I also think Joss handled the Hulk really well. I didn't see the last two Hulk films, but I heard they were terrible.
So maybe I'm not very nerdy. I geek out about some things (like making cocktails! & cooking!), & I consume a lot of cool (& sometimes less-cool) pop culture. But I guess I'm not a nerd. Still nerds are awesome, & I wanted to share these quotes by John Green, one of which was recently reposted by Wil Wheaton:
"Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan.'"
&
"Because nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff. We don't have to be like, 'Oh yeah that purse is okay' or like, 'Yeah, I like that band's early stuff.' Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can't-control-yourself-love it. Hank, when people call people nerds, mostly what they are saying is, 'You like stuff', which is just not a good insult at all, like 'You are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness'."
So (back to movies) yesterday I went to the Broadway & saw The Deep Blue Sea with Rachel Weisz because I looove her! The film is a period love story set in London just after WWII. It's kind of a mess. She's in a somewhat passionless marriage to an older man but carrying on an affair with the lovely Tom Hiddleston. The story is maddeningly fragmented & jumps around. We don't see Hester (Weisz) & Freddie (Hiddleston) fall in love, so I had a hard time caring about them. & I never fully understood why Hester attempts suicide (spoiler! not really--it's the central event & happens early in the film). However, I seem to be in the minority. of critics. Two people walked out of the showing I was at. It wasn't offensive; I think they were just bored.
There are several films playing now or coming soon that I am looking forward to: Damsels in Distress, The Five Year Engagement, Corialanus, Moonrise Kingdom, Snow White & the Huntsman, Prometheus, Your Sister's Sister (again!), To Rome with Love, Magic Mike, & Cosmopolis to name a few.
So I finally finished Great Expectations & Berlin Stories. I'm now really into The Tale of Telsharu. & I'm working on my summer reading list. Here are a few titles I'm feeling: The Night Circus, Engine Summer, A Gay & Melancholy Sound, In One Person, Will Grayson Will Grayson, & The House of Mirth. I also think this is the time to finally read a Stephen King novel. Any suggestions? I'm also thinking I need at least one graphic novel/comic on my list. Maybe a Batman one to get pumped up for The Dark Knight Rises.
Speaking of summer (how's that for a segue?), TBTL is all over its annual Song of the Summer competition, & it's time to start thinking of a summer playlist. Right now I'm all over Carly Rae Jepsen's Internet sensation hit "Call Me Maybe." It's a tween pop song & catchy as hell. What are listening to?
A couple of weeks ago I got a package from Maggie! She sent me a teapot from Germany. It's so cute! It was my Christmas/Valentine's/Easter present. I was all out of tea though, so I finally visited the Tea Grotto, one of SLC's tea houses. I had a delicious pot of black dragon pearl tea and bought a package of Assam and another of Ceylon to take home. Yay for tea!
So today my mom finally got the baby grand piano she's always wanted. It kind of makes me want to take up the piano again--maybe learn a few relatively easy/intermediate songs that are still impressive. Other than Fur Elise.
So North Carolina voted to approve the gay marriage ban today. One of my friend's linked to this on Facebook earlier this week. It's a blog post from a North Carolinian named Milton. It's a short post (unlike this one), & here's most of it:
"But fear is not an ultimate force. Love is.
"You l should know we will not allow you to devalue marriage by acting as though it has a mere legal definition, or determines who gets tax breaks. We will use it as a relational word and a theological word and we will gather to watch our friends get married and dance at their weddings until the walls of your fortresses crumble down around you.
"We will have the audacity to include everyone and love one another and bust through whatever ridiculous divisions you try to foster. We will march in the streets and sing on your steps, but more than that we will wear you down with the courage of our convictions and tenacity of our determination to include every last one -- including you.
"I pray we defeat the amendment because I don’t want any more damage done to my friends and to others in this state who already feel marginalized. I hope it goes down because it is immoral and wrong. But if it passes, don’t smile for long. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Love lives in North Carolina. Big-hearted, big-tent, all-ye-all-ye-oxen-free-you-can’t-keep-us-from-being-together, world-changing love.
"And it’s coming for you."
I love that so much! So that's a pretty good place to end. & I think I've shared a lot for one post. Congrats if you read it all---there was a lot of babbling. Till I write again! Peace.
So you all know that I got a job. Yay! Not like a real, professional, grown-up job that can pay for shit & stuff, but it will at least pay my bills like my credit cards & the occasional fun stuff. It's the job I had at the U before I left for Seattle & it has let me get back in touch with my podcast listening. Reunited & it feels so good. I'm listening to things like TBTL, Spilled Milk, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, This American Life, RadioWest, Fresh Air, & more. Aside from listening to my iPod, my job is mostly about looking up articles & scanning books. But I like it, & I like the people, & I like doing something, but I don't really care for the waking up early every morning part. I've taken a hiatus from looking for a real job, but I need to start looking again. Ugh.
My "n" key still doesn't work. My typing behavior has been altered so that even when I use a functional keyboard, I find myself using CTRL+V to paste an "n." But instead it just pastes the latest thing I copied which is usually not an "n." I'm also using ampersands to avoid typing "and" all of the time.
It's May so it's season finale time, & I really need to catch up on my TV watching. I'm behind on all my stories including Smash, Modern Family, Happy Endings, Revenge, Parks & Rec, 30 Rock, & The Daily Show. Thank goodness for the Internet. I blame most of this on Buffy. A month or so ago there was a Pajiba article 115 Reasons Why We Love Buffy. Because I done love Buffy. a lot. So less than a year after I watched all 7 seasons, I am rewatching it all. I'm halfway through season 5. See, I just went back and watched the pilot & the next episode & the episode after that, & I got carried away. Damn you Netflix Instant Watch!
I've been going to a lot of movies this year. Yay movies! Every week Brewvies shows a free older movie, usually something of a cult classic. & they still make money because most people still buy beer &/or food. Kristen Marie & I go most weeks. Last time it was V for Vendetta. The end gets me every time when Parliament is exploding & everyone takes off their masks & it's all the people who have died. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.
Last week I went to the midnight showing of The Avengers with Valerie, Miss Liss, Joseph & others. I mostly went for Joss Whedon because I'm not super into the Marvel universe, esp. The Avengers (but I am into the Whedonverse). I haven't even seen all the previous films. I saw Iron Man & Captain America, & I liked them & all, but I wasn't like OMG! SQUEEE!!! So I thought this film was alright. It was fun & funny. Lots of action. It was 2 1/2 hours of the Avengers assembling, beating each other up & exchanging wisecracks, & then destroying an alien invasion. Pretty standard stuff. It some ways it was the anti-Nolan--colorful, fantastic, & fun. Maybe Nolan ruined me, but I like my superhero movies dark, gritty, brooding, & deconstructed. Or maybe I just like Batman. My biggest problem with The Avengers is that it's pretty shallow. I felt it lacked depth, that none of the characters had much of an arc (I understand that's hard to do with six avengers & that character journey can be done better in their solo films), that the unifying event lacked the emotional depth for me to really believe it brought these characters together, & finally the story wasn't entirely coherent. There was a lot of floating on that giant ship thing & if you asked me to retell you plot, I could only give you the broad strokes.& maybe I'm not the target audience, but I was left wanting. But if you loved The Avengers, you can tell me how I got it all wrong in the comments. I did like the men. Downey Jr. does amazing line readings, but Stark's snark got a bit over obnoxious. Chris Evans did a lovely, subtle job as the earnest, lost-in-time Cap but was sadly clothed for the entire film. Mark Ruffalo was excellent as Bruce Banner doing that unshowy, regular shmoe playing it cool with a well of anxiety (and here anger) under the surface that he always does so well. I also think Joss handled the Hulk really well. I didn't see the last two Hulk films, but I heard they were terrible.
So maybe I'm not very nerdy. I geek out about some things (like making cocktails! & cooking!), & I consume a lot of cool (& sometimes less-cool) pop culture. But I guess I'm not a nerd. Still nerds are awesome, & I wanted to share these quotes by John Green, one of which was recently reposted by Wil Wheaton:
"Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan.'"
&
"Because nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff. We don't have to be like, 'Oh yeah that purse is okay' or like, 'Yeah, I like that band's early stuff.' Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can't-control-yourself-love it. Hank, when people call people nerds, mostly what they are saying is, 'You like stuff', which is just not a good insult at all, like 'You are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness'."
So (back to movies) yesterday I went to the Broadway & saw The Deep Blue Sea with Rachel Weisz because I looove her! The film is a period love story set in London just after WWII. It's kind of a mess. She's in a somewhat passionless marriage to an older man but carrying on an affair with the lovely Tom Hiddleston. The story is maddeningly fragmented & jumps around. We don't see Hester (Weisz) & Freddie (Hiddleston) fall in love, so I had a hard time caring about them. & I never fully understood why Hester attempts suicide (spoiler! not really--it's the central event & happens early in the film). However, I seem to be in the minority. of critics. Two people walked out of the showing I was at. It wasn't offensive; I think they were just bored.
There are several films playing now or coming soon that I am looking forward to: Damsels in Distress, The Five Year Engagement, Corialanus, Moonrise Kingdom, Snow White & the Huntsman, Prometheus, Your Sister's Sister (again!), To Rome with Love, Magic Mike, & Cosmopolis to name a few.
So I finally finished Great Expectations & Berlin Stories. I'm now really into The Tale of Telsharu. & I'm working on my summer reading list. Here are a few titles I'm feeling: The Night Circus, Engine Summer, A Gay & Melancholy Sound, In One Person, Will Grayson Will Grayson, & The House of Mirth. I also think this is the time to finally read a Stephen King novel. Any suggestions? I'm also thinking I need at least one graphic novel/comic on my list. Maybe a Batman one to get pumped up for The Dark Knight Rises.
Speaking of summer (how's that for a segue?), TBTL is all over its annual Song of the Summer competition, & it's time to start thinking of a summer playlist. Right now I'm all over Carly Rae Jepsen's Internet sensation hit "Call Me Maybe." It's a tween pop song & catchy as hell. What are listening to?
A couple of weeks ago I got a package from Maggie! She sent me a teapot from Germany. It's so cute! It was my Christmas/Valentine's/Easter present. I was all out of tea though, so I finally visited the Tea Grotto, one of SLC's tea houses. I had a delicious pot of black dragon pearl tea and bought a package of Assam and another of Ceylon to take home. Yay for tea!
So today my mom finally got the baby grand piano she's always wanted. It kind of makes me want to take up the piano again--maybe learn a few relatively easy/intermediate songs that are still impressive. Other than Fur Elise.
So North Carolina voted to approve the gay marriage ban today. One of my friend's linked to this on Facebook earlier this week. It's a blog post from a North Carolinian named Milton. It's a short post (unlike this one), & here's most of it:
"But fear is not an ultimate force. Love is.
"You l should know we will not allow you to devalue marriage by acting as though it has a mere legal definition, or determines who gets tax breaks. We will use it as a relational word and a theological word and we will gather to watch our friends get married and dance at their weddings until the walls of your fortresses crumble down around you.
"We will have the audacity to include everyone and love one another and bust through whatever ridiculous divisions you try to foster. We will march in the streets and sing on your steps, but more than that we will wear you down with the courage of our convictions and tenacity of our determination to include every last one -- including you.
"I pray we defeat the amendment because I don’t want any more damage done to my friends and to others in this state who already feel marginalized. I hope it goes down because it is immoral and wrong. But if it passes, don’t smile for long. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Love lives in North Carolina. Big-hearted, big-tent, all-ye-all-ye-oxen-free-you-can’t-keep-us-from-being-together, world-changing love.
"And it’s coming for you."
I love that so much! So that's a pretty good place to end. & I think I've shared a lot for one post. Congrats if you read it all---there was a lot of babbling. Till I write again! Peace.
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