"Not what we say about our blessing, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." - W.T. Purkiser
A heartfelt Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope that you are able to enjoy the day with friends and family and that love and joy fill your heart, and turkey fills your belly.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Laugh until it hurts
"Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!" - Monty Python's - The Holy Grail & Spamalot
"Me and the judge have a special relationship... I don't wanna get too graphic but I sucked his d!@* for drugs. " - Role Models, the movie
In the past two days I got to laugh, a lot!
Sunday night D and I went to see Spamalot in Boston. It was a fun show and we laughed out loud. The actor who played Lancelot was brilliant - and eerily reminded D and I of our friend Ben - looks, facial expressions and tone and all. If you can see this show I highly recommend it. It was fun, bright, cheery, well written, staged and everything was splendid! What I would have given to see some of the original Broadway cast of Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce and Hank Azaria! Boy oh boy!
Before the show we went to Avila in Boston. The restaurant promotes itself as Mediterranean, but we were not overwhelmed with this theme. The food was good, but nothing spectacular. Nice basics. Ambience was nice, service was exceptional and food was solid. I enjoy the holes in the wall with surprise cuisine with strong ethnic flair. This was not it. But the meal was nice and company enjoyable - which always makes the meal.
Then last night, on a whim driving by the cinema en route to Trade Joe's on my way home I decided to screw my chores (sweeping & laundry) and go see Role Models. FUNNY! I put this up there with the funny of Talladega Nights & Wedding Crashers. I was laughing out loud, by myself, in the theatre. OK, the other 4 people there were laughing too. The one liners in this movie are what make it. The story is predictable but with some twists. If you LARP, you will enjoy this as the stereotypes represented are VERY funny and we all know 'that' guy. Though stereotypes, not insulting, in my opinion. I would see this again, and actually would like to take BB. I know he would love it.
Thinking of seeing a movie Thanksgiving Day eve as well - Quantum of Solace & Changeling are two I would like to catch. I am torn in wanting to see Twilight - think I would rather read the books first.
It's good movie season which I enjoy - Fred Claus is out in DVD too now. Have to grab that. Vince Vaughn makes me giggle.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
QoTD
"Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon their knees." - William Cowper (1731 - 1800)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Old Friends
"Are you upset little friend? Have you been lying awake worrying? Well, don't worry...I'm here. The flood waters will recede, the famine will end, the sun will shine tomorrow, and I will always be here to take care of you." - Charlie Brown to Snoopy
Amazing how getting back with old friends can make the clouds pull back and futures feel brighter. Last night I had dinner with two old friends from college - people who have seen me high, seen me low and everywhere in between. They know my theatre side, a part of my life that I have all but buried. This means a lot to me as it is a part of my soul and it does not feel completely gone beyond retrieval with knowing that someone else remembers too. We laughed and shared where life has brought us to date. We reminisced and laughed some more. No more Boones Farm and pizza though - it was pinot grigio and sushi. We have all had triumphs and losses and it was good to share those with each other and give/get support. Like a warm comfy shirt - it felt good to slide in for a little while and feel its warmth.
Amazing how getting back with old friends can make the clouds pull back and futures feel brighter. Last night I had dinner with two old friends from college - people who have seen me high, seen me low and everywhere in between. They know my theatre side, a part of my life that I have all but buried. This means a lot to me as it is a part of my soul and it does not feel completely gone beyond retrieval with knowing that someone else remembers too. We laughed and shared where life has brought us to date. We reminisced and laughed some more. No more Boones Farm and pizza though - it was pinot grigio and sushi. We have all had triumphs and losses and it was good to share those with each other and give/get support. Like a warm comfy shirt - it felt good to slide in for a little while and feel its warmth.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
QoTD
"The test of literature is, I suppose, whether we ourselves live more intensely for the reading of it" - Elizabeth Drew, (1935 - )
I feel this way after a good book. It resonates with me for years and I take away a piece of it to live and love in my life better.
I feel this way after a good book. It resonates with me for years and I take away a piece of it to live and love in my life better.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Full Monty
"Anti-wrinkle cream there may be, but anti-fat-bastard cream there is not." - The Full Monty
This past Sunday I went up to Waterville, ME to see an old friend from college perform in The Full Monty at the Waterville Opera House. It was a sheer joy!
The ride was about 3 hours, but it was nice and easy and BB came along to keep me company. He really had no idea what the show was about never having seen the movie. He was delighted and said he has not laughed that much in years. The story centers around laid off factory workers who decide to start a strip show, like Chippendales, to make some money and decide to go full monty as part of the marketing pitch. Their relationship, parenting, and self-esteem troubles play into the ensemble cast. Admittedly, I like the movie better than the stage production - but both tell a great story. Terrence McNally was part of the crew to bring the story to the stage, so I knew it would be good.
The cast of this production was strong, but I felt that some of the acting performances were weak. This could be because we saw the very last show of the run, and I understand how energy can fluctuate when you are doing a show. The guy playing the lead was a fantastic singer, but his acting felt inconsistent. He lost believability for me with that. My friend Todd played Dave, the 'fat bastard' of the group. He was a natural for the part - sarcastic, loving and loyal with a killer voice to boot. And I am not saying that because I am biased. The rest of the ensemble held their own and the women did a great job keeping up their end of the bargain. I am a huge fan of community theatre as it showcases local talent - and lots of talent there usually is, Waterville, ME is no exception. The sets were also well done as was the lighting. My only big disappointment was the sound for the final number - seemed that they lost some of the mics so it did not have the power behind it it could have. The cast was a little overwhelmed by the pit band on that one. But those men....they did...they did indeed go full monty! A bunch of older women were in the audience...I thought for sure we would have at least one coronary.
The Waterville Opera House is also a New England gem. Intimate and ornate. It is in the city hall so you can blink and miss it driving by (like we did). But it is sweet and I am looking forward to going back up with the kids to see Beauty & The Beast in the spring. Todd is co-directing.
This coming Sunday I going to see Spamalot in Boston with D. Should be fun. I have been looking forward to seeing that for a while now.
This past Sunday I went up to Waterville, ME to see an old friend from college perform in The Full Monty at the Waterville Opera House. It was a sheer joy!
The ride was about 3 hours, but it was nice and easy and BB came along to keep me company. He really had no idea what the show was about never having seen the movie. He was delighted and said he has not laughed that much in years. The story centers around laid off factory workers who decide to start a strip show, like Chippendales, to make some money and decide to go full monty as part of the marketing pitch. Their relationship, parenting, and self-esteem troubles play into the ensemble cast. Admittedly, I like the movie better than the stage production - but both tell a great story. Terrence McNally was part of the crew to bring the story to the stage, so I knew it would be good.
The cast of this production was strong, but I felt that some of the acting performances were weak. This could be because we saw the very last show of the run, and I understand how energy can fluctuate when you are doing a show. The guy playing the lead was a fantastic singer, but his acting felt inconsistent. He lost believability for me with that. My friend Todd played Dave, the 'fat bastard' of the group. He was a natural for the part - sarcastic, loving and loyal with a killer voice to boot. And I am not saying that because I am biased. The rest of the ensemble held their own and the women did a great job keeping up their end of the bargain. I am a huge fan of community theatre as it showcases local talent - and lots of talent there usually is, Waterville, ME is no exception. The sets were also well done as was the lighting. My only big disappointment was the sound for the final number - seemed that they lost some of the mics so it did not have the power behind it it could have. The cast was a little overwhelmed by the pit band on that one. But those men....they did...they did indeed go full monty! A bunch of older women were in the audience...I thought for sure we would have at least one coronary.
The Waterville Opera House is also a New England gem. Intimate and ornate. It is in the city hall so you can blink and miss it driving by (like we did). But it is sweet and I am looking forward to going back up with the kids to see Beauty & The Beast in the spring. Todd is co-directing.
This coming Sunday I going to see Spamalot in Boston with D. Should be fun. I have been looking forward to seeing that for a while now.
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