Disney movies I don't like

A while back, I posted about my favorite Disney movies. At that time, I promised I'd post about the ones I didn't like. Well, the time has finally come...

In no particular order:

Pirates of the Caribbean: The first one was okay, but then they had to keep making sequels and the sequels were just annoying. That made me dislike the first one even more.



Pete's Dragon (original): I watched this with my older son a long time ago and thought it was just so disturbing (all the child abuse going on). It even ruined "Candle on the Water" for me. I liked the remake so much better, and I don't always say that about remakes.




The Fox and the Hound: I watched expecting to be emotionally impacted, but it just dragged for me and I felt nothing.




Robin Hood: I just found it boring.



Frozen: This says it all.




The Princess and the Frog: No memorable songs (I only know one line in "Almost There" and that's the first line of the chorus) and the villain gave me the creeps.



Pinocchio: I also found this one boring.



Tarzan: If the characters had actually sung (aside from Rosie O'Donnell singing nonsense words), I might have liked it.



The Good Dinosaur (Pixar): I was expecting so much more from this than I got and some parts involving villains felt disturbing to me.



Brave (Pixar): This one fell flat for me and it was basically Brother Bear meets Beauty and the Beast.



Runner up: Newsies. I love the music, but take that away and the story is so boring. Thankfully the stage musical gave it new life.

Fourteen years of laughter

Today is my fourteen-year anniversary with my husband. To celebrate, I want to share some of the many ways he makes me laugh.

*Making up songs and trying to find things that rhyme to get to what he wants to say.

*Changing the words in books when he reads to the kids, so that they sound Jewish. (My favorite was "Uncle Pinchas" in a Pink Panther book.)

*When I know he's about to make something up because he has a certain smile and tone of voice when he does it.

*His celebrity impressions, especially of Milton from Office Space. He also could rival Alec Baldwin with a certain impression.

*Referencing our inside jokes.

*When he calls me out on something I'm doing so that I'm hyper-aware of it afterward.

*When he laughs...since his laughter is contagious.

*When he sends me random videos or articles but includes a funny subject line.

*His fun with Photo Shop.

*When he reads my mind (or vice versa)

*When we makes personalized cards for me that usually involve our inside jokes, or when he writes funny things on a card he bought.

No matter what, my husband is always able to make me laugh and I always tell him that he missed his calling as a comedian. He tells me that I'd have to clone myself to be a good audience for him. I do feel that laughter is extremely important for a marriage to go the distance and I'm so thankful I've found someone who will make me laugh until I am doubled over and tears are streaming down my face.

http://www.inktastic.com

One Short Day in [the] New York City

A while back, I had heard about Kids' Night On Broadway, but I thought it would be too much of a hassle to take my kids to NYC. This past winter I changed my mind. My older son and daughter had been talking about wanting to see Wicked, so I decided to make it happen. I also got a ticket for my younger son, as I didn't want to leave him out. He was reluctant to see it at first, but then he still went along with us, as I promised him a visit to the National Museum of Mathematics (MO Math) before the show.

The morning of the trip, we took a Vamoose bus to NYC. It was a relatively smooth ride, but the sockets didn't work to charge our phones and other devices. That was rather annoying. After we arrived, we checked into our hotel (Hampton Times Square South) and then had a quick lunch and we were off to MO Math. I wasn't really sure what to expect when we got there. I had researched it online, but it was even more incredible in person. Everything was hands-on and interactive. The kids couldn't get enough of the place. Some highlights were the basketball machine, the painting screen, the floor that had different electronic puzzles, and the 15 game. I had a very hard time getting them to leave when it was time to head back to the hotel to change for dinner and the show.

Painting screen

Floor with electronic puzzles

A very frustrating challenge, but my son liked it.

After we had some time to rest and get ready, we met up with one of my friends at Mr. Broadway. I haven't seen this friend since 1990, but it was like no time had been lost. We had reconnected via Facebook a few years ago and it was really nice to meet up in person again!

After dinner, we made our way over to the Gershwin Theater. The streets were so busy and crowded, but well-lit thanks to all the electronic signs around Times Square. We just barely got to the theater on time and had maybe five minutes before the show started to find our seats. This was my third time seeing Wicked, but the first for my kids. However, it felt like the first time for me, since I last saw it in 2005. I didn't know any of the actors, but they all did an amazing job. Amanda Jane Cooper reminded me a lot of Kristin Chenoweth. We saw a standby for Elphaba (Mariand Torres), but she gave an emotional and powerful performance. The guy who played Fiyero (Ashley Parker Angel) was cute, but had too much of a boy band appeal to him (which is ironic since I first saw Joey McIntyre in the role). By the last quarter of act two, I was crying non-stop. I also never gave much thought to how politically relevant it is in this day and age. When I last saw it, that wouldn't have crossed my mind as much as it does now.

After the show, Mariand addressed all the kids there and told them how she first saw Wicked as a kid and her best friend told her she'd be on that stage someday. It was very inspiring for my older son, who wants to be on Broadway when he's an adult. My younger son gave the show a chance, which is all I could hope for. He even laughed a lot during some parts and actually got into the story. (He had a lot of questions!) My daughter loved it and was singing "Defying Gravity" afterward.

Younger son's pre-show face

After we made our way out of the theater, we waited with a small group to meet the cast. We got to meet Amanda, Mariand, Kristen Martin (Nessarose) and Isabel Keating (Madame Morrible). Everyone was so nice to the kids. My younger son wanted nothing to do with meeting the cast and was being impatient, but my older son was living it up. The actresses adored him and Mariand commented on how nicely he was dressed. My daughter was a bit shy about meeting everyone, but did get in one picture.

Kristen Martin

Isabel Keating

Amanda Jane Cooper

Mariand Torres

The hotel stay was fine. The room was about as tight as our room on the cruise last year, but the beds were comfortable and they had hot cocoa in the dining area, so that was a perk for the kids.

The next morning, I woke up a bit early and watched This is Us before we had to get ready. Then we all got ourselves together and went out for breakfast next to the bus stop. We met up with two of my close friends there (L.R. and A.S.). It was nice to catch up with them and they got along really well with each other. 

L.R. on the left, A.S. on the right

With the birthday girl (even though L.R.'s birthday was that week too)

After breakfast, we caught the bus back home (this time the sockets worked) and someone fell asleep for part of the trip. (I will admit I got in a tiny nap too.)

Yes, she's wearing a Greatest Showman shirt.

Overall, it was a great trip and one I'll be thinking back upon and smiling. If I decide to do this again, I'd probably find a show all three kids could agree on and also would see if my husband wanted to be a part of things. I would definitely recommend doing Kids Night On Broadway (kids see shows for free, so tickets end up being half-price) and just making the time to go out there for a day or so. And while you're there, go to MO Math. :)

You might be a "Showfan"

I'm sure you all know how obsessed I am with The Greatest Showman. I thought I'd make a fun list so that you could see if you are as much of a "Showfan" as I am.

You might be a "Showfan" if....

*You see a pink wig and think that it would be great for dressing up as Ann.

*You don't care that the story was totally changed around from real life.

*You sing the songs constantly and find ways to fit them into conversations.

*You entered your child into a Greatest Showfan contest because they are also a Showfan.

*You don't like circuses, but you are considering going to one again (if the price is reasonable and no animals are involved).

*You are planning to write Passover parodies of some of the songs.

*You want Randy Rainbow to do one of his fabulous parodies to one of the songs.

*You can't stop talking about The Greatest Showman and recommend it to everyone you know.

*Your friend made you a cool needlepoint with a line from your favorite song from the movie.

*You live vicariously through your friends who are seeing it for the first time.

*You are counting down the days until it is available on DVD.

*The only Oscar nomination you care about is for "This is Me" as Best Song, but then you are extremely disappointed that it didn't win. (Even if you're glad Coco won for Best Animated Feature Film, the main song doesn't hold a candle to "This is Me.") Check out Keala Settle's performance at the Oscars.

Did I miss anything? If so, feel free to share in the comments!

If you have not seen this amazing movie yet, check out the trailer to see why you shouldn't miss out!

Hey, it's okay!

I haven't done one of these in a while and decided to share a list. Hopefully it will also help me get back in the swing of things with blogging on here. (Aside from just posts about pop culture. I realize I haven't gotten personal in a while.)

www.airingmylaundry.com

Hey, it's okay...

*To have spent the evening of Valentine's Day meeting one of my favorite authors....Kristin Hannah

*To have no interest in the Winter Olympics.

*To have no idea what musicals my younger son does or does not want to see.

*To enter the Domino Sugar baking challenge.

First challenge: Red velvet cupcakes

*To be sad that season three of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is done until the fall.

*To be excited for the return of Younger this summer.

*To read the book written by Jane from Jane the Virgin. The cover is a bit smutty looking, but it got me some street cred at work!

*To feel sympathy toward a stalker/serial killer from Caroline Kepnes' novels. Santino Fontana makes Joe Goldberg sound like the good guy, even when he's bad.

*To be annoyed that some of my favorite celebrities will be in my neck of the woods when I am not available to see them.

*To have enjoyed Something Rotten. It was hilarious!

*To refuse to watch the director's cut of Little Shop of Horrors. I caught a glimpse of one of the scenes a while back, and was traumatized. Happy ending for me only. Seymour and Audrey belong together somewhere that's green!

*To be annoyed that my phone has a bunch of cracks in it and that it costs more than the phone is worth to get it repaired. #FirstWorldProblems

*To like my husband's banana bread even though I won't so much as touch a banana.

*To cry whenever the quiet nun sings really well in Sister Act.

*That the actress who plays Beverly Goldberg replied to my tweet!

*To have Greatest Showman-itis. My friend describes it as: "A maddening, yet wonderful syndrome whereby whenever one wakes up, a song from The Greatest Showman is invariably coarsing through one’s brain. Symptoms include refrains of “Never enough, never never” and the “oh oh oh oh oh” chant from the movie’s opening that cannot be removed at any time!

Sing along time! :)




*That my "baby" is turning seven soon and I'm letting her have a sleepover party with her friends to celebrate. (May my sanity stay intact by the time it is over...)

*To not have seen any of the Best Picture Oscar nominations. (I did see some of the best animated nominees...Coco had better win!) Not like I'll watch the Oscars anyway, unless the station is generous with live streaming.

*To have gone to a painting event in my neighborhood. No "sipping" was involved, but we did get pizza!

And on a more serious note, it's okay....

*To be dismayed over how adults are handling the Florida situation. I'm pleased to see all the teenagers who have been taking action after a traumatizing day. As the late Whitney Houston said: "I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way." Even so, it is horrible that kids and teenagers should have to go through any of this. That they should have to worry about standing up for their LIVES! I thought Columbine was a one-off, but things have become progressively worse since then. As a parent, this sickens me even more. It should sicken everyone, but some people blame and attack the victims. Thoughts and prayers aren't helping anyone anymore! (Not that they did to begin with.)

You do/you don't wanna be crazy: Thoughts on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend season 3 (with spoilers)

Season three of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has come and gone, along with a new theme song. This one is not as upbeat as the previous two, but it definitely gets stuck in my head a lot. In season three, not only is Rebecca going through a lot of changes, but her friends are too. There are some interesting twists and turns that I did not see coming this season. I like how they took some bold initiatives in talking about mental illness. There were also guest appearances by Josh Groban, Rory O'Malley (from Hamilton), Lyndon Smith (90210, Parenthood), and David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp/Ten Years Later).

I will be posting my favorite episodes and songs, so this will include spoilers. If you haven't watched this season (or the series), start at the beginning and then come back here when you're done. It's on Netflix and worth binge-watching. Enjoy the theme song, in the meantime...

Season 1 thoughts
Season 2 thoughts




Top 5 favorite episodes:
Episode 3: Josh is a Liar (I like how Rebecca goes out of her way to cover her own butt, even if it means discrediting Josh.)
Episode 5: I Never Want to See Josh Again (Naomi is back! And so is Audra Levine. I can't say I liked the ending, but it felt raw and honest.)
Episode 6: Josh is Irrelevant (a great follow-up to episode 5 and it reveals a lot about Rebecca and her friends).
Episode 11: Nathaniel and I are Just Friends (The time jump was so clever to move the story along. And it wasn't even that huge of one. I loved the Rent references. And it was nice to learn something new about Paula.)
Episode 12: Trent?! (As annoying as Trent is, it was a funny and entertaining episode overall. I also liked learning more about Valencia this time around.)


Top 10 favorite songs (links are to videos):
Let's Generalize About Men (If you like the 80's, you'll love this song. It's very fitting to what is going on in the world today.)
The End of the Movie (Josh Groban sings this one and it has some major spoilers for the season, but it is so funny. It's not on Spotify for some reason.)
Strip Away My Conscience (Very, very sexy. Video is NSFW.)
This is My Movement (Valencia indirectly singing about poop was so funny.)
A Diagnosis (An upbeat song about Rebecca finally getting some answers.)
Heinous Bitch (A 50's style song about Rebecca's mom.)
Buttload of Cats (Going all Avenue Q with this song.)
Get Your Ass Out of My House (Lourdes is so funny with this song and I hope I can remember it if my kids ever outstay their welcome. ;) )
Without Love You Can Save the World (Cute and fun song)
Horny Angry Tango (Another NSFW video. I love the chemistry between Rebecca and Nathaniel.)

I look forward to season four and will be interested to see which direction they take Rebecca's life and what the new theme song will be.

If you made it this far, tell me what your favorite episodes/songs were.

"Something Rotten" this way comes....

Originally, when I heard that Something Rotten was about Shakespeare, I had zero interest in seeing it. Then some friends told me they loved it and I found out Adam Pascal was playing the role of the famous bard, so I decided to see it when it came to my neck of the woods....and I'm so glad I did!

A few months ago, I talked about my experience seeing The Book of Mormon and how I had gone in expecting to laugh the entire time and was let down. Well, that did NOT happen this time! I didn't go in with huge expectations of the humor involved, just that it was going to be entertaining and fun. However, my embarrassingly loud laugh came out to play many, many times! There are so many clever lines and funny song and dance numbers. The innuendos are to die for (thankfully most of them went over my son's head). If you're a fan of musical theater, you will get most, if not all, of the references to Broadway shows. (Some are just way too obvious, so it's hard to miss them.)

I only really knew of two of the performers in this production. One is obviously Adam Pascal. He's just as gorgeous and talented as he was in 1996 when he premiered in Rent (not that I saw him in it, but I have seen pictures and he was in the movie). He's also great with comedic acting. I did not expect that from him. The other is Autumn Hurlbert, who I saw 10 years ago in Legally Blonde: The Search for the Next Elle Woods. I wanted her to win the coveted role on Broadway and was so disappointed when she didn't. And seeing her as Portia confirmed this for me. She was so cute and funny, with a great vocal range. She reminded me of a cross between Kristin Chenoweth and Laura Bell Bundy.

Other standout performances are awarded to Rob McClure, Maggie Lakis, Blake Hammond, and Jeff Brooks. Rob McClure played Nick Bottom and was a lot of fun to watch. He reminded me of Ed Helms in some ways. Maggie Lakis, who is Rob McClure's wife, played Nick's wife Bea. She had a strong singing voice and fabulous comedic talent. I enjoyed watching her. Blake Hammond played Nostradamus and he practically stole the show. He was hilarious! And Jeff Brooks played Shylock really well and had me cracking up with all the Jewish references.

The stage had a lot of great settings that were able to be pulled apart and moved around. I loved how it looked when Nick went to see Nostradamus. The stage was darker and the signs looked like they were glowing. The costumes were also great and fit well with the time period. Shakespeare's costume was very imaginative. The combination of stage and set design along with costumes made me want to go back to the Renaissance Faire.

As for the songs, here are my top favorites:
1. A Musical
2. Right Hand Man
3. Bottom's Gonna Be On Top
4. Hard To Be Bard
5. Something Rotten/Make An Omelette
6. G-d I Hate Shakespeare

Listen for yourself if you want to know way.... (links are to the songs from the original Broadway cast recording).

Overall, it was a fantastic, funny, fabulous, funny, flamboyant, funny production. If it comes to a town near you, definitely go and see it. I would say the right age for kids is around pre-teen. There are some grown-up references that you might not want little ones being privy to!

Due to the late hour and having to catch a train home to relieve our sitter, we did not stay after to meet the cast. While I'm a bit dismayed, I did get to meet Adam Pascal back in 2001, so there's that.

However, I'm happy that I got to enjoy the show with two (out of three) of my favorite guys!

And one of my favorite lines? "My religion is theater!" (Said by Shylock. I may have to use that one sometime, or see if I can find it on a shirt.)

Okay...that's all now. Go see Something Rotten for yourselves!