Yes...you heard that right. While I'm a huge musical theater fan, there are some musicals that just don't do it for me. This topic came up when I was talking to a friend about musicals and how there are certain ones that people either like or hate. I also thought about how Darwin Shrugged doesn't like Little Shop of Horrors and that we can still be friends. My husband doesn't like Joseph... or Rent (gasp!) much, but somehow we're going on 13 years of marriage. (And he was even in some of the below musicals in high school, so we're even.) So keep that in mind if you don't agree with me about anything on this list. I have some close friends who like some of these musicals and we can respect the other's choices.
Just for some balance, see a post I did a while back about musicals I love. (This was also prior to Hamilton.)
Without any further ado...
Cabaret: I saw it on stage when I was in high school, but it didn’t really do much for me. Then I saw the movie a few years later and found it really annoying and somewhat nauseating. Oddly enough, I love Chicago and that is also by Kander and Ebb.
The Phantom of the Opera: I saw it when I was 21 and was really hoping to like it after all the build-up. I was disappointed though. I even tried the movie and it had the same effect. I only like a few songs because most of them were overdone between chorus and voice lessons in high school.
The Sound of Music: I liked the movie as a kid, but mostly for the music. Now I don’t think I could sit through it at all.
Carousel: Another movie I watched all the time as a kid. Then I saw it again in college and the glass shattered. It’s about domestic abuse! Plus, the songs are pretty cheesy.
Camelot: I saw it at an outdoor theater when I was a pre-teen. It just bored me a lot. The songs aren’t even memorable for me.
The Music Man: I also saw this at the same outdoor theater when I was a pre-teen. It didn’t do anything for me either and I didn’t like the music much.
Cats: Weirdly, I get flack for not liking this one. I like some of the T.S. Eliot poems about cats and even performed one for speech tournaments in high school. However, Cats lacks the emotional quality I look for in musicals and really is just a bunch of people dressed as cats running around on stage. And yes, I gave it another chance as an adult. My husband felt the same way about it, so it’s not just me. One of the people we saw it with got mad when we said we didn’t like it. And then they told us they didn’t like the movie of Chicago, which was WAY better than this musical.
I'll be doing posts about other things I don't like from pop culture, so stay tuned...
What musicals are on your "least favorites" list?
Monday, November 14, 2016
Friday, November 11, 2016
Still hurting...
(To the tune of "Still Hurting" from The Last Five Years)
The election is over, voting is done.
Our candidate should have totally won.
We're now being told that it's time to move on.
But we're still hurting.
I've been mulling over my post-election feelings and trying to put things in perspective. There is still a lot to process. Instead of attacking his supporters, I asked them why they made the choice they did, and also asked them to not attack her in their responses. Some people can't seem to figure out why they voted for him other than to keep her from winning. Where have I heard that before?
Aaron Burr:
"How does Hamilton
An arrogant
Immigrant, orphan
Bastard, whore-son
Somehow endorse Thomas Jefferson, his enemy
A man he’s despised since the beginning
Just to keep me from winning?"
"Your Obedient Servant," Hamilton
Some people did not like either candidate, but still seemed to think that he was the "lesser of two evils." Somehow inciting hatred and planning to take away civil rights is less evil than sending non-threatening e-mails from a private server. *Rolling eyes*
In any case, I do respect those who voted for him because of some valid reasons they offered that have nothing to do with his behavior and words over the past year or to go against her for spite. They voted for him because they believe he can HELP them. I still have a hard time digesting all this, but I respect their reasons and don't count them amongst the people who voted for all the wrong reasons.
To his supporters: "If you'd like to help mend the divide, here are some things you can do to help: Be a vocal ally to your LGBT+ neighbors and friends. Reach out to your Hispanic neighbor, your Black neighbor, your Muslim neighbor and let them know they have nothing to fear from you - that you understand that they are equal to you in worth no matter what our President-Elect has said and what hurtful things people are doing right now in cities and towns across America in reaction to this election. If you aren't willing to do this, then you validate our fears." (This was taken from a friend's Facebook timeline and it is too perfect not to share.)
"The sun comes up and the world still spins."
-"What'd I Miss?," Hamilton
This line has been going through my head a lot. Time hasn't stopped since the election closed. We still have to go to bed every night and wake up every day. We have to soon face a new America with a different kind of President. Do you know how badly I want to act like a three year-old whose mommy is dropping them off at preschool and just cling to the almost-former President's leg and cry?
Are we ready to face what is ahead of us? Given how much hatred and violence has already occurred in the past couple of days, I doubt it. Either that, or we have a long way to go. I also am thinking of Dory's famous quote, "just keep swimming," in times like this. It's not going to make things easier just yet, and we probably have some heavier tides to swim through, but we have to stay strong and stand up for what we believe in, now more than ever!
However, that is not so easy to do with with half the country declaring "not our president," which will probably lead to "onarchy...how you say...anarchy?" I can relate to the level of fear and distress, but don't feel ranting is going to change the situation. I know a lot of us are traumatized by this election and outcome. I have definitely been feeling emotionally out-of-sorts. Trying to go on with my daily life, make sure the kids feel safe, not get too riled up by super upsetting posts on Facebook and Twitter, etc. (My best friend warned me not to look at the tweets that went up and I haven't even checked them out of morbid curiosity.) I know this feels like a death and we have to go through the stages of grief. However, we have to pick up the pieces and make things good again. Getting into fights with people on social media isn't the solution. And that goes for everyone who gloats about their candidate winning and still says mean things about the candidate who lost (or her supporters).
All I know is that unless he does something as bad as (or worse than) Watergate and gets himself impeached, or the Electoral College is overthrown and she is sworn in instead (a girl can dream!), we're stuck. I do feel like gagging when I have to say the word President before his name. It seems like such a joke! I don't trust him and don't respect him right now. I know we're told we need to respect our President, but he needs to undo a lot of the damage he's created before I can even try to trust, respect, or even forgive him. There are times when I think we can survive this and then I see something that completely raises my hackles and makes me anxious all over again.
I think of a lot of situations in music and recently had a Mary Poppins classic in my head, which I feel is so fitting for this new reality. "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." Right now, we're forced to take this 70 year-old orange medicine, which is bound to taste "nasty" and not do what it's intended to right away. However, if we are kind to others and exemplify goodness along the way, we can take down this "medicine" so that we can still come out healthy and strong when the next election rolls around.
When I went to my older son's parent-teacher conference today, his teacher told me how he is friendly to and supportive of every kid in his class, whether he likes them or not. He takes the time to listen to their ideas and encourages them to speak up, be creative, etc. I was thinking that he'd make a great President someday. (Although I don't know that I'd want him to go through so much stress and scrutiny!) Speaking of which, I did tell the kids about the outcome of the election and they were upset about it. I then explained that they should continue to treat people with kindness, no matter what examples are out there to do otherwise. I'm glad my older son can be a good role model, no matter what.
So...
Am I pretending this is not happening? No. Head and feet are well above the sand.
Did I vote for him? NO! #ImWithHer
Am I going to cause a riot over what happened? No.
Am I going to attack my friends and colleagues who voted differently? No, but I would appreciate them having the same respect for me.
Am I going to share articles and other thoughts I agree with, as well as petitions, ways to help our country, etc. on social media? You bet I am!
Do I support my friends and loved ones who are hurting the most and will be affected by this Presidency? Definitely. Without a doubt!
Am I amongst the vulnerable population? If being Jewish and female counts, then yes.
Am I leaving the country? While we have family and friends in Canada, the prospect of changing our lives so drastically is unrealistic. If we needed to escape in a rush, G-d forbid, we do have passports. In any case, many people have suggested that leaving the country would be a bad idea and would not be showing support for the people who need it most. And although I don't like that the President will live only 40 minutes away, I do like my home, friends, job, etc.
Another important thing to realize is that she won the popular vote (even if by a narrow margin). It gives me hope that we can have another woman candidate run for President in the future. Someone suggested the almost-former First Lady. That would be amazing! (Maybe down the road, we'll have TWO women candidates up for the role.)
I feel like a lot of what I'm thinking has been said already (sometimes even with more vitriol and anguish). This country is definitely hurting right now. Split down the middle. We're going to need some major Tikkun Olam to get back into the shape we were in prior to this election. I'm not denying that we haven't always had problems of some degree or another, but this election was the most stressful and most devastating to our country.
I'm ultimately hoping that this is similar to the story my brother-in-law tells at Hanukkah about the man who is walking with a strange limp and another man who comes up to him and breaks his leg to save it from needing amputation, citing that he is a surgeon and will fix it for free. Only by breaking the leg will he be able to make the necessary repair, as the limp was indicative of a rare disease. The story was compared to how Hashem put us at war (during the time when Hanukkah came about) when he saw we were trying to assimilate. Only by breaking us could he make us stronger in our Judaism. I feel like the same is happening for our country. There is a higher power seeing that people are still not treating each other well. Maybe they're weeding out the "bad guys" for another Noah's Ark. I'm just hoping that good will "rise up" against evil in as many ways as possible so that the country can be fixed again.
The election is over, voting is done.
Our candidate should have totally won.
We're now being told that it's time to move on.
But we're still hurting.
I've been mulling over my post-election feelings and trying to put things in perspective. There is still a lot to process. Instead of attacking his supporters, I asked them why they made the choice they did, and also asked them to not attack her in their responses. Some people can't seem to figure out why they voted for him other than to keep her from winning. Where have I heard that before?
Aaron Burr:
"How does Hamilton
An arrogant
Immigrant, orphan
Bastard, whore-son
Somehow endorse Thomas Jefferson, his enemy
A man he’s despised since the beginning
Just to keep me from winning?"
"Your Obedient Servant," Hamilton
Some people did not like either candidate, but still seemed to think that he was the "lesser of two evils." Somehow inciting hatred and planning to take away civil rights is less evil than sending non-threatening e-mails from a private server. *Rolling eyes*
In any case, I do respect those who voted for him because of some valid reasons they offered that have nothing to do with his behavior and words over the past year or to go against her for spite. They voted for him because they believe he can HELP them. I still have a hard time digesting all this, but I respect their reasons and don't count them amongst the people who voted for all the wrong reasons.
To his supporters: "If you'd like to help mend the divide, here are some things you can do to help: Be a vocal ally to your LGBT+ neighbors and friends. Reach out to your Hispanic neighbor, your Black neighbor, your Muslim neighbor and let them know they have nothing to fear from you - that you understand that they are equal to you in worth no matter what our President-Elect has said and what hurtful things people are doing right now in cities and towns across America in reaction to this election. If you aren't willing to do this, then you validate our fears." (This was taken from a friend's Facebook timeline and it is too perfect not to share.)
"The sun comes up and the world still spins."
-"What'd I Miss?," Hamilton
This line has been going through my head a lot. Time hasn't stopped since the election closed. We still have to go to bed every night and wake up every day. We have to soon face a new America with a different kind of President. Do you know how badly I want to act like a three year-old whose mommy is dropping them off at preschool and just cling to the almost-former President's leg and cry?
Are we ready to face what is ahead of us? Given how much hatred and violence has already occurred in the past couple of days, I doubt it. Either that, or we have a long way to go. I also am thinking of Dory's famous quote, "just keep swimming," in times like this. It's not going to make things easier just yet, and we probably have some heavier tides to swim through, but we have to stay strong and stand up for what we believe in, now more than ever!
However, that is not so easy to do with with half the country declaring "not our president," which will probably lead to "onarchy...how you say...anarchy?" I can relate to the level of fear and distress, but don't feel ranting is going to change the situation. I know a lot of us are traumatized by this election and outcome. I have definitely been feeling emotionally out-of-sorts. Trying to go on with my daily life, make sure the kids feel safe, not get too riled up by super upsetting posts on Facebook and Twitter, etc. (My best friend warned me not to look at the tweets that went up and I haven't even checked them out of morbid curiosity.) I know this feels like a death and we have to go through the stages of grief. However, we have to pick up the pieces and make things good again. Getting into fights with people on social media isn't the solution. And that goes for everyone who gloats about their candidate winning and still says mean things about the candidate who lost (or her supporters).
All I know is that unless he does something as bad as (or worse than) Watergate and gets himself impeached, or the Electoral College is overthrown and she is sworn in instead (a girl can dream!), we're stuck. I do feel like gagging when I have to say the word President before his name. It seems like such a joke! I don't trust him and don't respect him right now. I know we're told we need to respect our President, but he needs to undo a lot of the damage he's created before I can even try to trust, respect, or even forgive him. There are times when I think we can survive this and then I see something that completely raises my hackles and makes me anxious all over again.
I think of a lot of situations in music and recently had a Mary Poppins classic in my head, which I feel is so fitting for this new reality. "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." Right now, we're forced to take this 70 year-old orange medicine, which is bound to taste "nasty" and not do what it's intended to right away. However, if we are kind to others and exemplify goodness along the way, we can take down this "medicine" so that we can still come out healthy and strong when the next election rolls around.
When I went to my older son's parent-teacher conference today, his teacher told me how he is friendly to and supportive of every kid in his class, whether he likes them or not. He takes the time to listen to their ideas and encourages them to speak up, be creative, etc. I was thinking that he'd make a great President someday. (Although I don't know that I'd want him to go through so much stress and scrutiny!) Speaking of which, I did tell the kids about the outcome of the election and they were upset about it. I then explained that they should continue to treat people with kindness, no matter what examples are out there to do otherwise. I'm glad my older son can be a good role model, no matter what.
So...
Am I pretending this is not happening? No. Head and feet are well above the sand.
Did I vote for him? NO! #ImWithHer
Am I going to cause a riot over what happened? No.
Am I going to attack my friends and colleagues who voted differently? No, but I would appreciate them having the same respect for me.
Am I going to share articles and other thoughts I agree with, as well as petitions, ways to help our country, etc. on social media? You bet I am!
Do I support my friends and loved ones who are hurting the most and will be affected by this Presidency? Definitely. Without a doubt!
Am I amongst the vulnerable population? If being Jewish and female counts, then yes.
Am I leaving the country? While we have family and friends in Canada, the prospect of changing our lives so drastically is unrealistic. If we needed to escape in a rush, G-d forbid, we do have passports. In any case, many people have suggested that leaving the country would be a bad idea and would not be showing support for the people who need it most. And although I don't like that the President will live only 40 minutes away, I do like my home, friends, job, etc.
Another important thing to realize is that she won the popular vote (even if by a narrow margin). It gives me hope that we can have another woman candidate run for President in the future. Someone suggested the almost-former First Lady. That would be amazing! (Maybe down the road, we'll have TWO women candidates up for the role.)
I feel like a lot of what I'm thinking has been said already (sometimes even with more vitriol and anguish). This country is definitely hurting right now. Split down the middle. We're going to need some major Tikkun Olam to get back into the shape we were in prior to this election. I'm not denying that we haven't always had problems of some degree or another, but this election was the most stressful and most devastating to our country.
I'm ultimately hoping that this is similar to the story my brother-in-law tells at Hanukkah about the man who is walking with a strange limp and another man who comes up to him and breaks his leg to save it from needing amputation, citing that he is a surgeon and will fix it for free. Only by breaking the leg will he be able to make the necessary repair, as the limp was indicative of a rare disease. The story was compared to how Hashem put us at war (during the time when Hanukkah came about) when he saw we were trying to assimilate. Only by breaking us could he make us stronger in our Judaism. I feel like the same is happening for our country. There is a higher power seeing that people are still not treating each other well. Maybe they're weeding out the "bad guys" for another Noah's Ark. I'm just hoping that good will "rise up" against evil in as many ways as possible so that the country can be fixed again.
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…
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
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.
This time, I got to choose the topic: Write something fun/humorous about voting/elections, but do not mention anything about our upcoming election/candidates. This is meant to be stress-free and non-controversial.
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 decided to stray from discussing our current election as I am experiencing lots of anxiety every time I go online or look at a magazine cover or anything else. However, it's in less than two weeks and we can't avoid it. So why not have some fun in the meantime?!?
When my friends and I discuss our favorite shows, we usually choose between the two romantic leads and say we're on a specific team. So I thought I'd share my picks from those shows, as well as some other choices I've made, when it comes to things I'm obsessed with.
TV:
Josh vs. Charles (Younger)
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)
We will be posting bi-weekly as life keeps getting in the way.
This time, I got to choose the topic: Write something fun/humorous about voting/elections, but do not mention anything about our upcoming election/candidates. This is meant to be stress-free and non-controversial.
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 decided to stray from discussing our current election as I am experiencing lots of anxiety every time I go online or look at a magazine cover or anything else. However, it's in less than two weeks and we can't avoid it. So why not have some fun in the meantime?!?
When my friends and I discuss our favorite shows, we usually choose between the two romantic leads and say we're on a specific team. So I thought I'd share my picks from those shows, as well as some other choices I've made, when it comes to things I'm obsessed with.
TV:
Josh vs. Charles (Younger)
 |  |
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"?
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.
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...
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.
This week, Moma Rock chose the topic: Write a poem. It can be prose, haiku, sonnet. Whatever you desire, and whatever you'd like it to be about.
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
Since we're just coming off of Yom Kippur, which is the holiday of confessing our sins, I have another confession to make....my mind has a tendency to wander off during any religious service. This has happened ever since I was a kid. I try to focus on the prayer at hand, but then my mind will pick up on something and go on its own path. So I'm going a bit freestyle to talk about some of the things that pop into my head while I'm sitting (or standing) in Shul.
Side note: I have not written a poem since senior year of high school. So please bear with me!
Head (in) space
Why is the air conditioner only set to "Arctic" during the High Holy Days?
I mean, seriously. I'm frrrrrreeeeeeeeezing.
Even my sweater and jacket aren't helping.
Mental note: bring gloves next year.
And a scarf!
What does the Hebrew on top of the ark say?
How many pages left until the service is over?
Why do I always get seated where there isn't a place to rest my Siddur?
Mumbling while reading Hebrew aloud is not really helping anyone.
What page are we even on? (See the above sentence.)
Are we going to survive through Election Day?
How am I going to catch up on my shows
when more are coming back next week?
What do I need to get done at work?
What is going to happen next in my book?
What happened in a book I read three months ago?
Since half the Siddur is in Hebrew
and half in English,
we're only reading half the pages,
so divide the amount left by two.
Much more manageable.
We just skipped a bunch of pages.
Now there are even less to divide.
Other people's problems
that I somehow need to worry about
right now.
When everyone is kneeling
low to the ground
at the same time
it looks like simultaneous heart attacks.
When will they close the ark so I can sit again?
They closed it. Why are people still standing?
Are they actually going to collect the donation cards?
Hamilton.
Hamilton.
Hamilton.
HamiltonHamiltonHamiltonHamilton...
The speech was about putting yourself first.
Now I have "Put Yourself First"
from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
in my head.
I had weird dreams last night
and now seems like the perfect time
to analyze them.
Why did I even have those dreams?!?
Everyone else here has
better clothes
and hats
and shoes
than me.
That's a really cute baby.
Glad my kids aren't babies anymore.
Glad I can look at a baby and not want another.
What will my kids be like as teenagers?
Come on...concentrate
concentrate...
concentrate...
This part is important!
*Mind goes off again.*
Wait up!
Is it me or does anyone else's mind wander in Shul?
What is my husband thinking?
The people next to,
in front of,
behind
me?
I can't be the only one having these random thoughts.
Can I?
Only a few pages left.
I can do this.
Get back here, mind!
Time to get the kids.
We will be posting bi-weekly as life keeps getting in the way.
This week, Moma Rock chose the topic: Write a poem. It can be prose, haiku, sonnet. Whatever you desire, and whatever you'd like it to be about.
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
Since we're just coming off of Yom Kippur, which is the holiday of confessing our sins, I have another confession to make....my mind has a tendency to wander off during any religious service. This has happened ever since I was a kid. I try to focus on the prayer at hand, but then my mind will pick up on something and go on its own path. So I'm going a bit freestyle to talk about some of the things that pop into my head while I'm sitting (or standing) in Shul.
Side note: I have not written a poem since senior year of high school. So please bear with me!
Head (in) space
Why is the air conditioner only set to "Arctic" during the High Holy Days?
I mean, seriously. I'm frrrrrreeeeeeeeezing.
Even my sweater and jacket aren't helping.
Mental note: bring gloves next year.
And a scarf!
What does the Hebrew on top of the ark say?
How many pages left until the service is over?
Why do I always get seated where there isn't a place to rest my Siddur?
Mumbling while reading Hebrew aloud is not really helping anyone.
What page are we even on? (See the above sentence.)
Are we going to survive through Election Day?
How am I going to catch up on my shows
when more are coming back next week?
What do I need to get done at work?
What is going to happen next in my book?
What happened in a book I read three months ago?
Since half the Siddur is in Hebrew
and half in English,
we're only reading half the pages,
so divide the amount left by two.
Much more manageable.
We just skipped a bunch of pages.
Now there are even less to divide.
Other people's problems
that I somehow need to worry about
right now.
When everyone is kneeling
low to the ground
at the same time
it looks like simultaneous heart attacks.
When will they close the ark so I can sit again?
They closed it. Why are people still standing?
Are they actually going to collect the donation cards?
Hamilton.
Hamilton.
Hamilton.
HamiltonHamiltonHamiltonHamilton...
The speech was about putting yourself first.
Now I have "Put Yourself First"
from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
in my head.
I had weird dreams last night
and now seems like the perfect time
to analyze them.
Why did I even have those dreams?!?
Everyone else here has
better clothes
and hats
and shoes
than me.
That's a really cute baby.
Glad my kids aren't babies anymore.
Glad I can look at a baby and not want another.
What will my kids be like as teenagers?
Come on...concentrate
concentrate...
concentrate...
This part is important!
*Mind goes off again.*
Wait up!
Is it me or does anyone else's mind wander in Shul?
What is my husband thinking?
The people next to,
in front of,
behind
me?
I can't be the only one having these random thoughts.
Can I?
Only a few pages left.
I can do this.
Get back here, mind!
Time to get the kids.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Book Review: Small Great Things
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."
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