This is one of the best interviews I have EVER seen. I had no idea Sendak was such a grouchy old man, and gay at that.
Sendak- I didn't set out to make children happy or to make life better for them or easier for them.
Colbert- Do you like them?
S-I like them as few and far between as I do adults, maybe a bit more because I really don't like adults.
S-I'm a gay man.
C- I'm sorry, I must be mishearing you. You just said you're a gay man? Why are you allowed to write children's books? You're not allowed to head boy scout troops.
S on ebooks: $!$% them is what I say! I hate those e-books. They cannot be the future, they may well be, I will be dead and I won't give a $%!^.
Good clip overall, but I'm posting this for what happens at 3:40. I love him even more. Seriously- he's on my "list." Ryan Gosling and him have pretty much had the stop two spots for awhile now.
-Speaking of Ryan Gosling, Adam and I watched Drive last night. I can't get the trailer to embed, but here is the link. It was such a good movie. Suspenseful movie with an open ending. I don't always like open endings, but it works with this movie.
-I am reading John Green's new book The Fault in Our Stars. I mentioned his vlogs on YouTube to a friend and she had never seen them. Here's a funny one about honey badgers. Here's a somewhat more serious one about Kiva. His brother and him have also started doing crashcourse videos where they teach us stuff.
-I'll end with this one. Now, I'm crunchy in some ways (co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, delayed vaccination schedule) but very mainstream in other ways.
Books
When She Woke by Hilary Jordan
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Autobiography of an Execution by David R. Dow
Bossypants by Tina Fey
What Mothers Do by Naomi Stadlen
Movies
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Midnight in Paris
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Bridesmaids
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Musical performers
Mumford and Sons
Adele
Jack Johnson
Television
Modern Family
Portlandia
Parks & Rec
Community
Parenthood
1- I went to the Counterpoint Conference I mentioned last week. I really enjoyed it. It's nice to know I'm not alone in my beliefs and issues with the church.
2- I got to go to said conference with a new friend, Miri. We've been commenting on each other's blogs for awhile now. Many of our political beliefs are similar. At least 10+ books on my to-read or recently read lists are because of her. She's a kindred spirit.
3- Yes, I said kindred spirit. I have Anne of Green Gables on my mind. It all started when someone tweeted the quote "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers" by L.M. Montgomery. I decided I finally needed to see the movie. Adam and I watched it last night. Adam actually loved it! He called it a "feel good movie" at least three times and laughed hysterically a couple of times too.
4- I'm pretty annoyed we still celebrate Columbus Day. If you don't know why, this Huffington Post essay is a good place to start Really, though, if you don't know that Columbus was a bad guy, please read Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen.
7- Speaking of Ryan Gosling, I saw The Ides of March today. My wonderful husband could tell I needed a break today. It's a really good movie. Ryan Gosling is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors.
8- The theater aired a preview for a movie called Anonymous, another movie that alleges that Shakespeare didn't write the plays attributed to him. I don't know enough about those theories to have an opinion on them, but the movie looked interesting.
10- You know how you get in a routine and do things the same way every time, especially with driving? Well, I drive out to Tooele at least two times a month because my sister lives out there. She's lived there for just over 18 months and I have always driven I-80. Until this week, that is. I drive the 201 freeway out there now. It may take a few more minutes, but it is much more interesting and scenic.
We went to Mary Poppins on Sunday. It was so fun. I love both the music and the story of a family coming together. This was on my "30 before 30" list. In fact, I've crossed off a few:
3- Make at least one book for Brayden.
24- Buy or make a keepsake box for Brayden to hold trinkets like the hospital bracelets, coming home outfit, etc.
26- Go to a play.
29- Go to the midnight showing for Harry Potter this July.
-The Muppets movie (and this nail polish collection) I just watched the preview and yes, it looks cheesy, but I still want to see it. I want to get some of that nail polish too.
-Crossed by Ally Condie In fact, just thinking about Crossed makes me want to reread Matched!
-Ides of March Politics, George Clooney and Ryan Gosling? I am so in.
-Up All Night I love Will Arnett and Maya Rudolph. I have high hopes for this show even though he hasn't really had a successful show since Arrested Development. And Arrested Development achieved most of it's success after it went off the air.
-Bradley Cooper playing Lucifer Hollywood is making a film adaptation of Paradise Lost. This could go very wrong, but I do like the idea of Bradley Cooper playing Lucifer. He seems like a very smooth, sneaky guy.
-J. Edgar (directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Leonardo DiCaprio) J. Edgar Hoover is one of those historical figures I didn't learn much about in school history classes. I remember learning about McCarthy, but not Hoover and it seems like Hoover was just as bad. I know this shows how much of a nerd I am, but I cannot wait to see this.
-The Great Gatsby film (also with Leonardo DiCaprio) Leo as Jay Gatsby? Swoon. You have to understand that I was at a very impressionable age when Leo played the characters of Romeo and Jack (Titanic). I've had a bit of a crush on him ever since.
-Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien A dystopian novel involving reproductive choices- you know that's one I'll be reading.
I have to say that I am so glad the last movie came out when it did. Yes, I am sad that there aren't any more books and movies to look forward to. However, this movie's release timing was just perfect for me.
The week before the movie came out was the worst of the six week long flare-up. I was in so much pain. Honestly, being preoccupied with all things Harry Potter helped me get through it. I watched one movie a day leading up to seeing Deathly Hallows Part 2. I started rereading the book as well. I talked about it with friends. I started a Harry Potter board on Pinterest. Go take a look at it and come back. Here are my favorites:
Wouldn't a Harry Potter Guess Who? game be awesome? It looks like the link is a bit of a dead end and doesn't actually have the artwork download, but maybe someone else will do it.
I love this picture. The first movie may be cheesy, and these four actors needed time to grow into their role and learn stronger acting skills, but they sure succeeded. Chris Columbus did a terrific casting job.
Yes, I'm aware that I am a nerd. But at least I was a nerd not thinking as much about the pain she was in. Really, I can't put into words what the whole 10+ year span of Harry Potter books and movies movies have meant to me, but just in that week before the 21st it meant the world to me.
I knew I liked Pink. She seems so real. This is what the typical woman looks like days after birth. Other female entertainers need to follow her example, and not hide away for a month until they are back to their pre-baby body.
And don't you love pictures of dads babywearing? Love it.
This will be long, as I read 124 books and gave 20 of them 5 stars and 38 of them 4 stars. I'll break it up so I can include more. My favorite authors were Stieg Larsson (the Millenium trilogy), Roald Dahl (especially Matilda and Danny the Champion of the World), and Nancy Werlin (Extraordinary and Impossible). My favorite genres were dystopian literature (The Giver, Matched, Mockingjay, Birthmarked and 1984), and non-fiction (The Family Dinner, Earth, Half the Sky, White Like Me and Adventures in Gentle Discipline). Outside of those groupings, I also loved The Help, A Fine Balance, These Is My Words, and The Phantom Tollbooth. Note: I'm able to remember all this thanks to the wonderful website Goodreads.
Movies
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One, Easy A, The Social Network, Tangled, How to Train Your Dragon, The Town, Iron Man 2
Ones that would likely be on the list if I had had a chance to see them: Toy Story 3, Despicable Me, The Kids Are All Right, Black Swan
I have read countless blog posts, stories and articles on breastfeeding, but this one has to be one of the most heartwarming and inspiring.
And I'll end with this, one of my favorite clips of the year. PSA: If you don't know Colbert's schtick, don't get offended. He is a devout Catholic in real life and even teaches sunday school. This is just a character he plays.
(As long as power doesn't go out, you can expect multiple posts from me as I try to catch up on what's been going on.)
So.... Harry Potter. Was. Amazing! I should have expected it to be, but I didn't. Why?
Well, I had heard about the "nude" scene and I was worried about it. Not appropriate for one, not in the book for two, plus I had heard who it involved and I was just angry about that. It was so not a big deal. I should have known, since it was KSL that was reporting on it. Both Ann (Adam's sister) and I were worried about it until it happened, and for me it actually ruined a really touching scene where Harry and Hermoine dance because I thought it might happen then.
I also wasn't sure I could handle the midnight premiere. I am getting older, you know. I never even came close to dozing off, which I have been known to do before (but never during Harry Potter).
It was so good and I loved so many things about it. As I mentioned, I loved the dancing scene (and will appreciate it even more when I'm not worried about it turning into something else). I loved the animated telling of the tale of the three hallows. I loved the acting, as always. The kids have gotten better with each one and the adults (Alan Rickman and Helena Bonham Carter especially) have always done well.
I cannot wait for the next movie but at the same time I will be so sad when it is all over. I do have introducing Brayden to the wonder that is Harry Potter to look forward to though. And how I will love that. Ann and I have decided that we (Adam's siblings) will all go the Harry Potter theme park when that happens.
Warning: This video depicts domestic violence, so I wouldn't watch it with kids around.
[Chorus - Rihanna:] Just gonna stand there and watch me burn But that's alright because I like the way it hurts Just gonna stand there and hear me cry But that's alright because I love the way you lie I love the way you lie
[Eminem] I can't tell you what it really is I can only tell you what it feels like And right now it's a steel knife in my windpipe I can't breathe but I still fight while I can fight As long as the wrong feels right it's like I'm in flight High off of love, drunk from my hate, It's like I'm huffing paint and I love it the more I suffer, I suffocate And right before I'm about to drown, she resuscitates me She fucking hates me and I love it. Wait! Where you going? "I'm leaving you" No you ain't. Come back we're running right back. Here we go again It's so insane cause when it's going good, it's going great I'm Superman with the wind at his back, she's Lois Lane But when it's bad it's awful, I feel so ashamed I snapped Who's that dude? I don't even know his name I laid hands on her, I'll never stoop so low again I guess I don't know my own strength
[Chorus]
[Eminem] You ever love somebody so much you can barely breathe When you're with 'em You meet and neither one of you even know what hit 'em Got that warm fuzzy feeling Yeah, them those chills you used to get 'em Now you're getting fucking sick of looking at 'em You swore you'd never hit 'em; never do nothing to hurt 'em Now you're in each other's face spewing venom in your words when you spit them You push pull each other's hair, scratch claw hit 'em Throw 'em down pin 'em So lost in the moments when you're in them It's the rage that took over it controls you both So they say you're best to go your separate ways Guess if they don't know you 'cause today that was yesterday Yesterday is over, it's a different day Sound like broken records playing over but you promised her Next time you show restraint You don't get another chance Life is no Nintendo game But you lied again Now you get to watch her leave out the window Guess that's why they call it window pane
[Chorus]
[Eminem] Now I know we said things, did things that we didn't mean And we fall back into the same patterns, same routine But your temper's just as bad as mine is You're the same as me But when it comes to love you're just as blinded Baby, please come back It wasn't you, baby it was me Maybe our relationship isn't as crazy as it seems Maybe that's what happens when a tornado meets a volcano All I know is I love you too much to walk away though Come inside, pick up your bags off the sidewalk Don't you hear sincerity in my voice when I talk I told you this is my fault Look me in the eyeball Next time I'm pissed, I'll aim my fist at the drywall Next time. There won't be no next time I apologize even though I know its lies I'm tired of the games I just want her back I know I'm a liar If she ever tries to fucking leave again Im'a tie her to the bed and set this house on fire I'm just gonna
[Chorus]
I mentioned a few weeks ago in a post that I really liked this song. However, the more I hear it (and I hear it a lot on the radio), the more I wonder. I kept thinking about how troubling it is in so many ways and how it would have made a perfect topic for my Theories of Pop Culture final project.
First issue I have is that Rihanna was a part of this. Megan Fox was also in this, and that disappoints me as well but she hasn't been a victim of domestic violence as far as we know and she donated the money she made from the video to a shelter for abused women. Rihanna has been a very public victim. She was strong and left Chris Brown, but that scenario doesn't happen in this video. No, she's singing in front of the burning house mentioned at the end of the song.
Second, as I already mentioned, the video is very graphic. It worries me to think of how many young people have now seen this video on YouTube.
Third, what is the "message" of this song? It glorifies violence. They fight and passionately make up. She does not leave the relationship. The last words Eminem sings are about murder, which happens far too often to abused women. I'd like to know what Eminem's defense is to these complaints (a lot of other bloggers have also written about this).
Just a warning: this post is going to prove how much I over think things. At least in this instance, I'll blame it on the gender studies class I took on discrimination.
I did not want to see The Princess and the Frog. Why? I thought that the movie must be racist because the first black princess Disney features turns into a frog. Dumb, huh? I also didn't like what I heard about their stereotypical use of voodoo magic or about how she's a poor waitress.
I think you'll all realize where I am going with this. One, I need to calm down a bit. Disney is not out to make a political statement here. Two, Disney proved me wrong. They made Tiana out to be, in my opinion, one of the strongest princesses.
Spoilers possible from this point on, so beware if you haven't seen the movie yet:
At the beginning of the movie, I still thought I was right. Tiana was, of course low income, and her friend was rich. Then she's a waitress and still poor and her friend's still rich. I cannot tell you how much it pleases me that Tiana ends up achieving her dream of owning a restaurant plus gets to fall in love and her spoiled rotten (albeit still kinda sweet) friend doesn't. I also love that Tiana saves Naveen... usually the Disney price saves the princess. I just love that she works for what she wants and I think that makes her one of the strongest princesses yet. I also enjoyed the banter because normally Disney lacks in that aspect.
I know next to nothing about roller derby, but I still really enjoyed this movie. The cast is great- Ellen Page, Alia Shawkat (from Arrested Development), Drew Barrymore, Kristen Wiig, and Juliette Lewis (with an added bonus of Jimmy Fallon).
Ellen Page plays a girl in a small town who enters beauty paegants for her mother even though she doesn't want to. She really doesn't know what she wants to do with her life, until she attends a roller derby game in nearby Austin, Texas. When she tells the team leader named Maggie Mayhem of the Hurl Scouts that they are her new heroes, she tells her to put on some skates and become her own hero. And throughout the rest of the movie, she does just that. And not just by becoming a part of the time, although that's most of it.
I love movies with strong female characters, especially young ones. Plus, it's just fun to watch.
I have a conflicting relationship with this book. I've read it more than once, skimmed over it looking at what I've highlighted or noted multiple times. It inspires me so much but at the very same time it makes me insanely jealous. I have made peace though when I read it after having had Brayden. Because even though I can't travel the world (at least not right now), I have so many joys in my life that the author hasn't experienced. Anyways, the trailer for the movie came out today, and I am so excited to see it!
1- What's that you see? Could it be the boy is finally growing some hair? At this rate I'll be able to do a faux hawk in another 8 months!
2- Honey baked lentils.... yummy.
3- House, M.D.
4- Lullaby Renditions of The Beatles- It makes it so I can actually type without waking him up! And it's The Beatles music so you really can't go wrong.
5- Spring being just around the corner
6- "You are not a walking mistake. You are not a problem to be solved." --Adyashanti
7- Mint.com- This site has helped Adam and I finally make a budget (after nearly 7 years of marriage) and mostly keep to it
8- Fan-made music video of the song "Vanilla Twilight" by Owl City
9- My new living room color- Adam painted it "cafe au lait" this last weekend and I really like it. We're slowly trying to make our condo seem more homey and not so much like an apartment.
10- Adam's birthday is next week, and I am loving that I will be able to tease him about being old for the rest of our lives (he's 2 years older than me). I don't think I would like being the older one.
I know his last show was almost a week ago, but I keep thinking about this quote. I've been too cynical lately... cynical about myself and my future hopes and dreams. I needed to hear him say this, to know that I need to believe in myself again (and also to work really hard and be kind like he said).
And so winds down the best year of my life. Seriously, it will be hard to top. 2009 is the year I became a college graduate, a homeowner, and a mother (and all within 2 months of each other). This is the year I proved how strong I am and how much I could give of myself for someone else. I could keep going, but I think you all get the point. This was an awesome year.
I don't know why, but for some reason Adam and I have more original (you know, not from our families of origin) traditions linked to New Year's than any other holiday. We may have missed a year or so on them, but for the most part we: have chinese food, drink sparkling cider at midnight, and I make a year in review book. I think I'm adding one this year: to watch Up. I watched it tonight with my parents and Jackson (Adam's at work for another hour) and I was so inspired with its message and it being New Year's Eve. One of the things I do in my year in review book is my favorite books and movies of the year. So without further ado,
Books- I gave 9 books (out of the 104 I read this year) 5 stars. These books are:
The Hunger Games (and its sequel Catching Fire) by Suzanne Collins The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer Why We Can't Wait by Martin Luther King, Jr. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding by Ina May Gaskin A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Movies
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Up The Hangover I Love You, Man The Proposal Sunshine Cleaning
And I'm pretty sure these would have made the list had I gotten around to seeing them: Where the Wild Things Are, Sherlock Holmes, Whip It, Precious, and Star Trek.
I'm gonna be totally superficial today- I am thankful for awesome tv shows like Glee (and its wonderful soundtrack I am listening to right now), The Office, and Modern Family. Makes up for the loss of other shows I loved like Friends, Arrested Development, Pushing Daisies and Veronica Mars.
I don't claim to have read all of the classics she writes about, but it sure was a hilarious read for the ones I have read. For example, she writes what she thinks Jane Austen's facebook profile may look like. One part of the news feed is "Jane Austen created the group That's Nice You Made a Whole Movie About It, But I Hardly Knew Tom Lefroy." Now, I LOVE the movie Becoming Jane, but I also realize the whole love affair between her and Tom is likely fictional. James McAvoy was still worth it though. Anyways...
The Scarlet Letter is given a news feed, and it reads "Hester received Punishment Flair."
Holden Caulfield (from Catcher in the Rye) has a profile, and one of his status updates reads "Holden Caulfield thinks only morons write status updates."
Those are just a few of the ones I liked. It was an etertaining read, to say the least.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
I know this seems to be turning into a baby blog, but sometimes I just can't help it! My little man is 100 days old today. In the last 100 days, I have felt so much love, worry, happiness, fatigue, and gratitude. In short, it's been the best 100 days of my life.
I'm not sure if I mentioned The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins before, but you MUST read it! The second book in the trilogy came out last month, and I finally got it on hold at the library. It's called Catching Fire and it is just as good! I cannot wait for the third book. This trilogy has adventure, romance, and good old subversiveness (I know that's not technically a word, but that's how I see it, so I'm using it).
I've done pretty well on the cooking new things. In the past few weeks I have made: -tilapa (pre-seasoned, but it was still the first time I have ever cooked fish and I actually liked it) -Chicken Curry Soup (Harry and David mix, but I loved it and want to try it homemade) -Asian Peanut Butter Pork -Baba Ghanoush(Middle Eastern dip that is to die for- I may even like it more than hummus, even though it is a lot messier to make)
This last week on tv has been awesome! I loved watching Pam and Jim's wedding on The Office, the Glee mashups were great, and Jason Bateman confirmed on Ellen that there is going to be an Arrested Development movie. Now they just need to make a Friends movie. Well, and a Veronica Mars movie so that Veronica would end up with Logan like she was supposed to. I know I seem obsessed with tv, but in my defense, I read a lot too. Besides, I'm doing better. The only shows I am currently watching faithfully are The Office, Glee and The Biggest Loser. Although I have heard good things about Modern Family and Community and might give one or both of them a shot.
I am a sucker for this show! Season 5 started right as I started Weight Watchers last January, and I have been hooked ever since. I realize that the show is unrealistic, but I still find it so inspiring. Especially at the beginning, before all the game play begins.
Last night's episode was a tear jerker. One woman on the show lost her husband, 5 year old daughter, and 2 1/2 week old son in a car accident. I bawled the first time she told her story and then again when she talked about death on the weigh-in scale. I've always known that losing a child is typically one of the worst things that could happen to someone, but now that I am a mom... I cannot even imagine. I also cried when another contestant collapsed and had to go to the hospital during the first challenge.
Jillian, one of the trainers on the show, has a workout dvd called The 30 Day Shred. Some people at my work have been doing it, so I went out and bought it. I did it last Thursday, and I was sore all weekend. The point of the dvd is to do it every day... but with my job being so physical (shelving books) it would make work too hard. My plan is to do it at least twice a week on the weekends until I get better at it. I really recommend it. I've never felt so sore after only a 20 minute workout!
