Me!!!

Thursday, November 10, 2016

My obsessions

Blog Project 3.0 has been going on for about three years, even though one of the group members changed after a few months. I love blogging with this group and I hope we can continue to inspire each other.

We will be posting bi-weekly as life keeps getting in the way.

Darwin Shrugged got to choose the topic: Remember me

First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic. I will be only posting links to posts on this same topic from my group. So check back if you were hoping to read their blogs and don't see a link yet.

Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock

I struggled with this topic in terms of how I would present it. I'm so much better with specific topics than general ones. However, I got to thinking about how I remember myself and what came up a lot were my obsessions over time. I feel that the things I have been obsessed with while growing up (and even now) have defined me in a lot of ways. I'm just going to list them all and share the age I was obsessed with them. If you knew me during any of these times, you'll probably have fun memories of how my obsessions played out in my life.

Links are to my blog posts about these topics.

*The Wizard of Oz (4 or 5): I think I watched it every day.
*Annie (5-6): My sister and I would act it out all the time. (I got to be Annie though!) I also had doll versions of the characters.
*The Parent Trap (8-9): Another movie my sister and I would act out. (I was Sharon and she was Susan.)
*Madonna (8-10): I remember making a project for science class and doing a parody of "Material Girl" to go along with it. I also did a project for art class about her.
*Moving Violations (8): Such a funny movie! I’d watch it almost every day when I was a kid. It’s even funnier to watch as an adult.
*Back to the Future (9): I even made coloring books about it.
*Punky Brewster (9): I couldn’t get enough of that show. I even had a Punky doll.

*Sweet Valley High and Baby-Sitters Club: I couldn't get enough of either series and loved when they had new books out. I'm even writing fan fiction for the latter.
*A Chorus Line (9-10): My sister and I named our cat Cassie for one of the characters.
*Rags to Riches (10-12): I didn't like '50s and '60s music until I saw this show. I also loved that Tisha Campbell was in Little Shop of Horrors around the same time.

*Dirty Dancing (11): Two words: Patrick Swayze. Also, I take pride in the fact that I look like Baby.
*Girls Just Want to Have Fun (10 to present): I still listen to the soundtrack and lament over why Lee Montgomery wasn't in anything else after this classic flick.

*Full House (11-present): I still get warm fuzzies from this show and love watching Fuller House with my kids nowadays.
*Sing! (13-present): One of the best underrated movies ever. If you’ve heard of it, please let me know. I once spent a day going to a bunch of record stores to find the soundtrack. I still love listening to it.

*V.C. Andrews books (13-25): They saved my sanity during my teen years and I even started an online fan club when I was in college.
*New Kids on the Block (13): Joey was my favorite and I got to meet him many years later.

*Ren and Stimpy (15-16): I used to watch this with my mom and we’d imitate Ren all the time. She even got Ren and Stimpy stuffed animals for my sister and me. I lost Ren though.

*Les Miserables (15): I saw it the first time when I was about 15 and then kept listening to the soundtrack.

I love this song:

*Beauty and the Beast (15): I bought a book of sheet music for all the songs, if that says anything about my obsession. I can’t wait for the live action version!
*Animaniacs (18): I got into this show right before college started and then would race back to my dorm after class to watch new episodes. I even went to the mall when the Warner Brothers Store had Animaniacs day. I didn’t get to meet the actors because the people working at the store were not being very fair, but I got a picture of Jess Harnell, who even smiled directly at the camera.

*Friends (18-25): I still love making references to this iconic TV series and playing Scene It trivia with my friends.

*Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (17-18): After first seeing it in high school, my sister and I would listen to the soundtrack every day and memorize the lyrics. Then we saw it again for my 18th birthday.
*The Rocky Horror Picture Show (18-25): Magenta. Need I say more?!?
*The Lion King (18-19): I lost count of how many times I saw it in the theater after it came out. I would listen to the music all the time too.
*Jewel (20-21): Her music saved my sanity after my first break-up and while working at a horrible summer job. I got to see her in concert too.
*Welcome to the Dollhouse (20): Another underrated film, but I could definitely relate to it. I wouldn’t have minded having Eric Mabius hang out in my house when I was 12 though. #JealousofDawn (And yes, I bought the soundtrack.)
*Rent (20-present): “There’s only us, there’s only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.” I could probably single-handedly perform the entire show….at least in my car!
*Wicked (27-29): I saw it on Broadway, but knew all the songs well before then. It still had some amazing surprises that packed a punch.
*Chick lit novels (23 to present): My blog says it all!
*How I Met Your Mother (34-38): I got into this series after my youngest child was born and then binge-watched. My husband was into it with me.
*Orphan Black: I wish more people would see this show. It’s so fantastic! I’m sad that it’s ending after next season.
*The Mindy Project (37-present): Such a fun show and Mindy always knows how to make me laugh. I won a cast-signed script from one of the episodes a couple of years ago.
*Hamilton (now): I listen to the soundtrack and/or quote from it “non-stop.”
*Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (now): I can’t get enough of this show! Especially the music. And Greg…

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Obsession Election

I am on #TeamCharles!

Josh vs. Greg (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)

#TeamGreg all the way!

Rafael vs. Michael (Jane the Virgin)

#TeamRaf...like you even had to ask!

Danny vs. Jody (The Mindy Project)

Definitely on #TeamDanny (although I'm not all that happy with him these days, he's still swoon-worthy)

Books:

Wally Lamb vs. Jodi Picoult

I love both authors as writers and as people. I wish Wally would produce more novels (not sure I like waiting so long between each one) and that all of Jodi's would be as amazing as her latest (there were some that didn't work for me as much as others, sorry to say). I'm undecided on this one. We may need to throw Khaled Hosseini into the mix, even though he has only three books.

Judy Blume vs. Beverly Cleary

They both wrote books I loved and re-read many times. However, I think Judy Blume had more favorites for me to cherish in my youth overall.

Sweet Valley High vs. The Baby-Sitters Club

I enjoyed the gossip and snark from the Sweet Valley teens, but the Baby-Sitters Club series was a comfort read for me and I even wrote fan fiction for it (and plan to write more soon).

Theater:

Hamilton vs. Rent

If I had to choose, if I had to choose...
It's like choosing between my kids. Even though I've never seen Hamilton (but listen to the soundtrack all the time) and have seen Rent countless times, it's still impossible to decide! Should we toss one of my other favorites into the mix to make things even more complex? Perhaps Wicked?

Cosette vs. Eponine (Les Miserables)

It has always been #TeamEponine for me.

If I had more time, I'd probably do more choices, but this will have to do for now. Maybe I'll do a Disney edition in the future...
Who/what are your choices, if you can relate to anything on this "ballot"?

Friday, October 14, 2016

Hamilton Envy

A while ago, this video was shared in the Hamilton fan group I run on Facebook. I found it hilarious at the time, but now I feel like the girl who rips apart the pillow (and I think that girl even saw Hamilton anyway).

I've come to realize that it's not only depressing to get on Facebook and see all these posts about how horrible people are (and let's face it, some people are truly horrible...and I'm not just talking about election stuff), but also to see how many people are going to be seeing Hamilton before I even get the chance. I feel like it's some sort of retribution for all the times I've posted about my relationship or my kids. I am happy for people who do get to see it now or in the near future. It's hard not to be jealous though.

Sure, I could just hop on over to New York and just see it on Broadway. The last time I searched for tickets, even with keeping options open, nothing was coming up. And I'm not going through other brokers who charge my child's college tuition to see it. I thought about getting tickets to see it in Chicago, but even that comes with a lot of extra costs, such as travel. (New York is around $50 on a bus, round trip vs. either the gas and hotel costs or the airfare to get to Chicago.) So it annoys me when people seem to think it's so damn easy for me to just go and see it. Unless they are paying my way, it's not easy at all. I'm also factoring in my family. There's no way I can just see it by myself. I guess it's the price I pay for getting my family hooked on Hamilton (minus my husband, who wants to see it anyway). It also annoys me when people think I'm somehow depriving my kids by not taking them to see it just yet. (Side note: If anyone knows of any great deals on tickets that don't involve sitting outside all day, please clue me in. I've entered every online giveaway known to me already. So far, no luck.)

However...it is coming to DC. I should think "how lucky I am" instead of "I can never be satisfied." It's coming here either late 2017 or early 2018. At that point, there is no way I'll be "throwing away my shot" to see it on stage. (My sons will be a little older by then, as well. Not ready for my daughter to see it yet, even though she loves the music. Too bad there isn't a child-friendly production available.) I sometimes worry that I'll either get sick of it by then or no one will care at that point since they all saw it. However, I listened to The Last Five Years for 10 years before seeing it on stage and was still in love with it. And people still care about Rent 20 years later. Also, I'm pacing myself with the soundtrack, by listening to other music and audio books on my rides to and from work. I listen to Hamilton in the car when I'm driving the kids somewhere though.

In any case, I should really try not to complain since my desire to see Hamilton is so minor in comparison with what some people have going on in their lives. In the grand scheme of things, I know I will get to see it within the next few years. "It's only a matter of time."

Who knew someone as disinterested in history and politics as I am would be so in love with this musical?!?

So, until I see Hamilton, I am making a list for myself of other things to look forward to between now and the time it comes to DC (unless I somehow get lucky and there's a great deal on tickets for the Broadway production).

*Crazy Ex-Girlfriend season two, which comes back in a week! (Also, Jane the Virgin, season three!!!)
*More mini-trips and vacations with my family (although the mini-trips are more likely)
*Birthdays...my husband's, my kids', my own
*My anniversary in March
*Hamilton's America on PBS (also coming next week)
*Lin-Manuel Miranda hosting Drunk History about Alexander Hamilton in late November
*More episodes of This is Us, which I am loving
*Hopefully a good outcome from the 2016 election (and surviving the intensity of that day)
*My sister's upcoming visit
*Fuller House, season two, coming in December!
*Moana (which has music from Lin-Manuel)
*Taking my kids to see Mary Poppins at my favorite local professional theater
*Hopefully seeing Wicked again if the price is right
*My daughter learning how to read (It will happen in due time. She's getting closer.)
*Season five of Orphan Black next spring (sadly, the last season)
*All the good books I still have waiting on my shelf to be read (along with the new Wally Lamb book coming next month)
*The Mary Poppins sequel featuring Lin-Manuel (not sure if that's before or after I will finally get to see Hamilton)
*Stranger Things, season two, coming next summer
*Live-action Beauty and the Beast, coming in March
*Seeing Avenue Q at a local college theater in February
*Getting my Hamilfun-ko Pop soon (I couldn't resist and had a little birthday money to play with)
*Going to Six Flags a lot next summer, as we got a great deal on season passes

This is just a short list. I'm sure other things will come up that I'll want to see or do, and those things will keep me entertained until the day I see Hamilton in all its glory.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

My first attempt at poetry in 22 years...

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Book Review: Small Great Things

I've always been a fan of Jodi Picoult's novels, but there are some that really stand out far above the others. Her latest, Small Great Things, falls into this category. Not only is it relevant to what is happening in the world right now, but also told in a honest, sensitive, and heart-wrenching way. Even when you put the book down (which is difficult to do) to get back to other things in your life, it will stick with you until you get back to reading it.

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years’ experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she’s been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy’s counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other’s trust, and come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn’t offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I only have good things to say about this novel. Jodi writes it in such a way that you feel like you're in her character's shoes. Even the ones you're not supposed to like. Everyone feels so real that it's like they're practically sitting in my house as I'm reading it. I feel Ruth's stress and hurt as if it were my own. I was able to relate to Kennedy a lot, as our personalities are similar. And although I was not supposed to like Turk, I still felt bad over what happened to his baby and still felt his wife's pain over the situation.

As always, Jodi seamlessly inserts gray area into the story, making the reader wonder whose side they should really be taking. Was Ruth right or wrong to do what she did? It's definitely a lot to think about and even discuss with others who have read the book.

Overall, this was an incredibly told and well researched novel. I enjoyed reading the author's notes at the end which detailed all the ways Jodi came about writing this story. It reminded me of The Help...someone on the outside telling the stories of women who have been in Ruth's situation, but not to the extent of where she takes the story.

I highly recommend reading this book prior to Election Day, if at all possible! I'm going to share some final thoughts that include SPOILERS below, but first I'll give my casting choices for the movie version, which I hope will happen (as long as they don't pull a My Sister's Keeper on it).

Ruth: Thandie Newton
Adisa: Taraji P. Henson
Kennedy: Mila Kunis
Turk: Alex Pettyfer

Thoughts with SPOILERS (keep in mind that the comment thread might also contain spoilers):

Last chance to turn back...

What I liked best about this book was that it had a happy ending, which is not typical of Jodi's other novels. I went into it expecting something tragic and ironic to happen at the end, when the most ironic thing was Turk becoming a decent human being. I know that realistically, the ending might have been a lot less happy. Not everyone gets a second chance the way Ruth did, especially after she spoke in court. I did enjoy the revelation of Brit's mother. That was one of the best ironies.

In terms of what happened to the baby, I felt that Ruth was in an impossible situation. I like that she did try to intervene even when her boss told her not to touch the baby and was annoyed that she didn't just admit to doing so. She clearly didn't kill the baby anyway, so admitting to try to save a life would have caused far less grief and her boss might have taken her side. I also am glad that race was addressed in the court room after all. It couldn't be shoved under the rug.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, if you made it this far.

Thanks to Ballantine for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Jodi Picoult:

Disclosure of Material Connection:
Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Thursday, September 29, 2016

"Doing lunch" with legends

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m [only just a little] fixated on Lin-Manuel Miranda. However, this started long before Hamilton came about. I first heard of him in 2008, when In the Heights came to Broadway and I couldn’t stop listening to the music. I was all excited to see him on the cover of a magazine on our Amtrak trip that fall. I didn’t get to see him in In the Heights, but it was still an amazing show and I was so blown away (“Blow us all away…”) by his music and script writing talent. (Side note, as I’m writing this, “Breathe” from ITH just came on Spotify. Darwin Shrugged is probably snickering right now. Of course, the title of the song is something I would not be able to do in Lin's presence!)

So when this topic came up, I immediately thought of Lin to be the living person with whom I’d want to dine. Heck, I’d be happy just to have a quick cup of coffee (café con leche, perhaps) or tea, in my case, with him. And along with that, the dead person I’d want “In the Room” with us is none other than Jonathan Larson, who is one of Lin’s incredible inspirations. Again, if you know me, you’ll know that Jonathan is the creator of Rent. Unfortunately, he died way too young (younger than I am now) 20 years ago, on the night before Rent was supposed to open off-Broadway. He made something truly amazing and was not around to see it, bask in the "[One Song:] Glory," or receive his much deserved Tony award. Social media wasn’t prevalent back then, so he didn’t miss the accolades on that end.

I’d love for Jonathan to come back to life (or perhaps as a ghost) for this opportunity to be surrounded by greatness. Once I am able to speak in coherent sentences, I’d want to ask both Jonathan and Lin what it was like to write such legendary musicals that have such a huge fan-base. I’d want to know about the highs and lows of the experience. What it was like to work with the talented actors in their shows. Why they chose to focus on certain aspects. What their favorite song is. So many things to ask in such little time!

After the meal, Lin would treat both Jonathan and me to a private performance of Hamilton. (A girl can dream!) Then we’d all head to Marie’s Crisis Café (can you tell that I love going there after only one visit?!?) for a late night sing-along to just songs from both their musicals.

"Hey, what a way to spend a day!"

In relation to this special experience, here are some fun treats.

A recent video of the “Schuyler Sisters” (Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lexi Lawson, and Jasmine Cephas Jones) performing “Out Tonight” from Rent:

A video from a while back of Lin, Karen Olivo (Vanessa from the Original Broadway Cast of In the Heights) and Leslie Odom, Jr. (Aaron Burr, sir) performing scenes from Tick…Tick…Boom:

Okieriete Onaodowan "Oak" (Mulligan/Madison) performing "Over the Moon":

Finally, my dream Rent cast starring actors from Hamilton:
Mimi: Jasmine Cephas Jones or Lexi Lawson
Roger: Lin (obviously!!!)
Mark: Jonathan Groff
Benny: Leslie Odom, Jr. or Christopher Jackson
Joanne: Renée Elise Goldsberry
Maureen: Phillipa Soo or Mandy Gonzalez
Collins: Daveed Diggs or Okieriete Onaodowan
Angel: Anthony Ramos

Thursday, September 22, 2016

The show I'm "crazy" about

I started watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend at the beginning of this month and was immediately hooked. Not only is it funny with a chick-flick feel, but it also has musical numbers. Rebecca (played by Rachel Bloom) is easy to relate to, whether or not you’ve done something drastic for love. Some things that have come up in her life have definitely struck a nerve. Not to mention that Rachel Bloom is my new girl crush, given that she’s cute, funny, and can sing really well. I can also relate to Paula, a mom who is looking for something interesting to do outside her home and finds that by investing way too much into Rebecca's quest to be with Josh. And of course, I adore Greg. He's like my replacement for Danny Castellano (from The Mindy Project), yet he is eerily similar to him. He's played by Santino Fontana, who also reminds me a bit of Christian Campbell, and who did the voice of this guy (so we know he can sing really well):

The character I both love to hate and hate to love is, of course, Valencia. Like when she's nice, she's so awesome and I would totally want to hang with her. When she's mean, watch out for the claws. She really knows how to go for the jugular. Then there are times when I really feel sorry for her. In second place for both categories is Naomi, Rebecca's mom. She can be totally overbearing and shallow, but other times she's proven herself to be caring and loving. Josh is a mixed bag too. I want to like him because Rebecca does, but it's hard to with Greg being a potential option. I like Josh best when he stands up for himself.

Finally, I really like Heather. She sounds so vapid, but she has a good heart underneath her "what do you want from me, I'm just a student" attitude.

I love how quirky the show is, even without trying too hard. It's just so naturally funny when done the right way. (Some of it reminds me of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but unlike season two of that show, this series is actually hilarious and I hope it has similar humor in season two.) Like at the end of each episode, there's something funny based on something that was said or that happened during the episode.

And, of course, there is the music. The songs are so funny and done in different musical styles. The theme song is catchy and reminds me of the one from The Nanny, especially since they have all the animation. I love that she tells the sun that "the situation is a lot more nuanced." I also love the way she says "West Covina, California."

Now that I’m finished with season one, I’m already going through withdrawal until season two starts next month. I'm sharing my favorite episodes and songs. There are spoilers, so don't read any further until you've watched the season in its entirety and can come back to see if you agree.

Here are my favorite episodes from the season (may contain SPOILERS):

Episode 4-I'm Going on a Date with Josh's Friend!: Because, well, Greg! I did enjoy the moment he and Rebecca had before she went and messed everything up.

Episode 8-My Mom, Greg's Mom and Josh's Sweet Dance Moves!:Paula as a British Jew, Naomi's song, Heather getting Greg to see that he's wrong about his mom and then kissing him and quitting her job on the spot, what Naomi thought Rebecca gave her as a gift, etc.

Episode 10-I'm Back at Camp with Josh!: Just a really cute episode. I loved the girls giving Rebecca a pep talk. I also like that Josh stood up to Valencia at the end.

Episode 11-That Text Was Not Meant for Josh!: The text situation itself (sooooooo mortifying); Paula and Scott bonding over Rebecca's love life, which included them talking out the theme song.

Episode 13-Josh and I Go to Los Angeles!: JAP Battle, Les Miz style song, B.J. Novak cameo, Greg realizing he really does like Rebecca, heightened drama at the end, Valencia getting shut down.

Episode 16-Josh's Sister Is Getting Married!: The ending was well worth it. Lots of cute and funny moments. I love how Greg had more face time this episode. It was cute how he helped Marty try to woo the girl at the store and how he learned something about himself in the process.

Episode 17-Why Is Josh in a Bad Mood?: Living vicariously through Rebecca's "relationship" with Greg. So many funny moments too.

Episode 18-Paula Needs to Get Over Josh!: Lea Salonga! Paula's Gypsy style song! feeling angry with and sad for Greg at the same time. The "crazy" ending.

Favorite songs (may contain SPOILERS):

In no particular order, other than alphabetical. I'm too lazy to link a video to each song, but they're all here. Just for fun, here's a ranking of all the songs.

"After Everything I Have Done For You": This Mama Rose number was perfect for Paula and she did it so well.

"Face Your Fears": Paula sings it really well and I love the background chorus

"Flooded with Justice": Definitely inspired by Les Miz and I love it for that reason.

"Getting Bi": Has a fun 80s feel and the words are so funny. I love how Daryl felt he needed to out himself at a work meeting.

"Group Hang": Fun song with a salsa feel. I love how she's questioning the authenticity of the restaurant.

"I Gave You a UTI": So funny and upbeat. *And Greg sings it! He's so cute how he sings it too.

"I Have Friends": Reminds me of something from Teen Witch. I love how people describe themselves instead of using names. I also love the duet with her younger self.

"I'm The Villain in My Own Story": Clever song and fun video to go along with it. Has a Disney feel.

"JAP Battle": Best line "Sheket b'vaka shut the hell up." I also love that this song was inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

"Oh My God I Think I Like You": I like how Rebecca is realizing her feelings for Greg and it also has an 80s feel.

"One Indescribable Instant": Reminds me of Enchanted.

"Put Yourself First": Fun girl power song, even though the message isn't totally clear.

"Settle For Me": Reminds me of the Big Band era music. Plus *Greg is singing it! The music video for it is cute.

"Textmergency": Has an 80s big hair band feel. I love how they're arguing about what the situation should be called. I like "textastrophe" better.

"West Covina": Has a Broadway opening number feel to it.

"What'll It Be": Sounds like "Piano Man" at first but then is all passionate and intense. And it's *Greg singing!

"Where's The Bathroom?": Tova Feldshuh is hilarious with this song. It's the ultimate nagging Jewish mother song. It reminds me of this thing I wrote in HS when I listed everything my mom would say to me all the time. (She saw it and said "you were listening!")

"Women Gotta Stick Together": This is a funny country-style song, regardless of the fact that Valencia sings it. I love how she's insulting everyone but they are all following her anyway.

"You Stupid B*tch": This self-berating ballad is so perfect for the show and I love how Rebecca sings it so convincingly and with all the shame in her voice.

*The only song I have to make an exception for, when it comes to Greg, is "I Could if I Wanted To." That song doesn't appeal to me, even though it was ranked high on the article I posted above.