I got to take a break from work to watch the inauguration when it was on. I didn't see the whole thing, but I did catch the swearing in, Obama's speech, and the benediction. It was nice to watch it with a big crowd of people. It made me feel more Amercian somehow.
Although I liked the speech, I wasn't as impressed by it as I thought I was going to be. I expected there to be much more cheering throughout despite the solemn tone. Perhaps everyone was just too cold. He was overly idealistic about certain things (No more bickering between parties? Sadly, there is no way that will happen!). It also incorporated too many religious quotes and references for my taste although I did appreciate the acknowledgment that there are many types of religions in America and some of us are "nonbelievers".
I know it's nothing new, but I really wish a President would actually show the separation of church and state by refraining to add a lot of Christian and God references to every speech. When your speech emphasizes finding human connections, I think incorporating one specific religion only alienates other groups.
On the other hand, I thought he did a good job keeping the tone fairly solemn, but not letting it become depressing. He recognized that the challenges facing our country won't be overcome easily or quickly, but he also was resolute and encouraging. I liked the line about reaching out a hand to countries who rule with closed fists if the countries will open their fist. It won't happen, but it was a nice metaphor and I am glad that he seems more willing to try diplomacy than Bush.
I also liked the idea that rich countries have to take more responsibility for the world.
Overall, I'm just glad that Bush is gone!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Resolutions
I really should make writing in my blog more a resolution, but I consider that more of a goal. Here are my resolutions. I limited it to five in order to concentrate more on each one. They are not in any particular order.
1. Find and apply for publishing jobs. There haven't been many openings posted lately because of the economy and maybe the time of year, but I need to check more often and be less picky about where I apply.
2. Work out 150-160 minutes a week. One of my resolutions last year was to work out at least 4 days a week and I did do 30 minute workouts 4 days a week almost every week. Now I'm going to try to get up to the recommended amount of time (150-160) which will require me to either workout for 40 minutes on 4 days or 30 minutes on 5 days. It's totally possible as long as I don't make excuses and make it a routine.
3. Be more decisive. I'm going to try to just stick with my decisions about small choices instead of agonizing over them. For example, if I'm picking something to order at a restaurant, I'll just choose the first thing that appeals to me and not change my mind three times like usual.
4. Be more positive about my body image. I read in a magazine that if you said half the things you say to yourself (like my hair is so ugly today, I have no abs etc etc) to a friend, the friend would probably not agree with you. The friend would say "But you've lost weight!" or "You're exaggerating, you look really good in that shirt." Basically, you're supposed to be your own friend and think about things you like or feel good about instead of insulting yourself all the time.
5. Try new things. Nothing nuts, but I want to go new places, try new types of food, and generally be more open to doing something different than normal.
1. Find and apply for publishing jobs. There haven't been many openings posted lately because of the economy and maybe the time of year, but I need to check more often and be less picky about where I apply.
2. Work out 150-160 minutes a week. One of my resolutions last year was to work out at least 4 days a week and I did do 30 minute workouts 4 days a week almost every week. Now I'm going to try to get up to the recommended amount of time (150-160) which will require me to either workout for 40 minutes on 4 days or 30 minutes on 5 days. It's totally possible as long as I don't make excuses and make it a routine.
3. Be more decisive. I'm going to try to just stick with my decisions about small choices instead of agonizing over them. For example, if I'm picking something to order at a restaurant, I'll just choose the first thing that appeals to me and not change my mind three times like usual.
4. Be more positive about my body image. I read in a magazine that if you said half the things you say to yourself (like my hair is so ugly today, I have no abs etc etc) to a friend, the friend would probably not agree with you. The friend would say "But you've lost weight!" or "You're exaggerating, you look really good in that shirt." Basically, you're supposed to be your own friend and think about things you like or feel good about instead of insulting yourself all the time.
5. Try new things. Nothing nuts, but I want to go new places, try new types of food, and generally be more open to doing something different than normal.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thanksgiving recaps
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I haven't posted for awhile so here's a quick recap.
After complaining about work being boring for the first part of the semester, it has been crazy busy the last few weeks! I feel uninformed because I haven't been able to do my daily internet reading of the major newspapers. Whenever I do read something, however, it seems to be depressing. The world really sucks lately.
The Patriots are looking pretty good. I'm impressed that they've managed to compete with so many key players injured. I'm still hoping for the return of Lamont Jordan though. He looked good in those first few games and we could use a running back upgrade. I still have faith that we can make the playoffs as a wildcard if we can't catch up with the Jets. Frankly the defense is worrying me much more than Cassel and the offense. They really need to make some key stops.
I saw Legally Blonde with Nicki. I'm glad I went for free. The performances were fine (although not spectacular), but the show itself did not interest me at all. I did enjoy the movie, but the plot and character development was too nonexistent in this version and the music and lyrics were unmemorable.
I'm mad at ABC for canceling Pushing Daisies. It seems like the major networks are killing all the original programs to make room for more horrible reality shows or fifty more cop/medical drama spin-offs. I'm also annoyed that Dollhouse is going to air at the same time as Lost on Wednesday nights. That's going to take away a bunch of sci-fi viewers. That's not a good idea for a new show. I hope it will be awesome enough to overcome that.
In other random news, I stopped watching the Office and I haven't missed it at all! I haven't found it very funny or interesting for awhile and I was feeling obligated to watch it instead of excited to watch it. I only laughed a few times each episode. Now, I'm enjoying Ugly Betty instead.
I almost stopped watching Fringe too, but I'm still giving that a chance because I enjoy John Noble's character. I wish they had less gore in the episodes though. As everyone knows, I don't enjoy watching gross things. : )
After complaining about work being boring for the first part of the semester, it has been crazy busy the last few weeks! I feel uninformed because I haven't been able to do my daily internet reading of the major newspapers. Whenever I do read something, however, it seems to be depressing. The world really sucks lately.
The Patriots are looking pretty good. I'm impressed that they've managed to compete with so many key players injured. I'm still hoping for the return of Lamont Jordan though. He looked good in those first few games and we could use a running back upgrade. I still have faith that we can make the playoffs as a wildcard if we can't catch up with the Jets. Frankly the defense is worrying me much more than Cassel and the offense. They really need to make some key stops.
I saw Legally Blonde with Nicki. I'm glad I went for free. The performances were fine (although not spectacular), but the show itself did not interest me at all. I did enjoy the movie, but the plot and character development was too nonexistent in this version and the music and lyrics were unmemorable.
I'm mad at ABC for canceling Pushing Daisies. It seems like the major networks are killing all the original programs to make room for more horrible reality shows or fifty more cop/medical drama spin-offs. I'm also annoyed that Dollhouse is going to air at the same time as Lost on Wednesday nights. That's going to take away a bunch of sci-fi viewers. That's not a good idea for a new show. I hope it will be awesome enough to overcome that.
In other random news, I stopped watching the Office and I haven't missed it at all! I haven't found it very funny or interesting for awhile and I was feeling obligated to watch it instead of excited to watch it. I only laughed a few times each episode. Now, I'm enjoying Ugly Betty instead.
I almost stopped watching Fringe too, but I'm still giving that a chance because I enjoy John Noble's character. I wish they had less gore in the episodes though. As everyone knows, I don't enjoy watching gross things. : )
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sucks to Be Me
Well, I didn't get a new job and it does suck as much as I thought it would since I made it all the way to the final round. I did manage to limit my major crying yesterday to 5 minutes in the bathroom at work when I first found out, which I thought was commendable. Now, I'm just kind of depressed. I need to find something to look forward to. I wish they had told me sooner so I wouldn't have wasted a whole month being stressed out and worried about it and getting my hopes up.
Review: Rent Live
I went to see Rent: Live on Broadway this past weekend and it was very good. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the musical, and I thought it was better than the film version. The Sony reps who were at the screening giving out surveys said that it had been very positively reviewed and they would most likely be releasing it on DVD.
It was a little disconcerting to learn that it was the combination of two different performances, one performed mostly without an audience and then the last night of the production. Although you couldn't tell that it was two shows, I would have been happier with a slightly less film-like version of only the last performance. I think the energy of the show is different at a real performance and little mistakes in theater don't bother me. They are what makes theater more alive.
In addition, the film tended to use close ups of performers. Although it was cool to see the emotions of the actors up close in intimate scenes, the zooming in on chorus members in big group numbers was distracting. If you're going to film a live Broadway show, I think you need to keep in mind that the blocking and staging was done for a reason and the audience is intended to focus on a group scene as a whole and not each background chorus person.
The zooms were not usually horrible, but they were especially bad in What You Own when the camera kept switching back and forth to face Roger and then Mark directly instead of keeping a straight-on, from the audience view. When filmed that way, it was impossible to see that they were physically moving and switching places without directly addressing each other. I also did not need to be that close to Mimi's spandex clad legs and butt during Out Tonight or see that the soloist in Seasons of Love had fillings in her mouth (audience members actually laughed at this).
These complaints are minor, however. I love it, but Rent as a show is not perfect. Jonathan Larson intended to continue to revise the show before his unexpected death. When he died, it continued on as the version that existed at the time. The plot and character developments don't always make a lot of sense and if you see the wrong production, it can feel a bit tired and dated. The best casts are so emotionally involved and high energy that you forget about all that and just see it as snapshots of "a year in the life of friends." This was one of those casts.
Will Chase was the best Roger I have seen (beating Adam Pascal in the film version, but I may have to revise when I see Pascal live on stage in July). I enjoyed Will Chase in High Fidelity, but he really impressed me in this. Normally, I focus on my favorite character, Mark, but I was fascinated by Roger in this production. The close-ups certainly helped in that regard because Will Chase's subtle acting was superb and you could really follow his emotional journey.
As for the rest of the cast, Renee Elsie Goldberry, who played Mimi, was also the best I've seen in that role. She had the right balance of spunk and vulnerability and had an extremely powerful voice. Justin Johnston who played Angel was probably the funniest Angel I've seen and hit the right notes both vocally and in his interactions with the other cast members. While I love Idina Menzel, Eden Espinosa's performance of Maureen was on par with Idina's.
The other cast members weren't stand-outs, but they held their own. Adam Kantor was decent as Mark, but I've seen better. I adore Tracie Thoms, both in Wonderfalls and in the movie version of Rent, but her voice wasn't quite powerful enough to match Eden Espinosa's. Her acting was strong, but Take Me As I Am was a little disappointing on the Joanne verses. I really feel that Joanne and Maureen need to have equally strong voices. Michael McElroy as Collins was another strong actor with a mediocre voice. I appreciated the convincing love he had for Angel, but his I'll Cover You (reprise), which always makes me bawl, really was no comparison to Jesse L. Martin's great performance of that song in the film. Overall, the cast was very solid though. It was a great group to end the Broadway run and I'm grateful to Sony for letting fans around the country get a taste of what it was like during the final weeks.
It was a little disconcerting to learn that it was the combination of two different performances, one performed mostly without an audience and then the last night of the production. Although you couldn't tell that it was two shows, I would have been happier with a slightly less film-like version of only the last performance. I think the energy of the show is different at a real performance and little mistakes in theater don't bother me. They are what makes theater more alive.
In addition, the film tended to use close ups of performers. Although it was cool to see the emotions of the actors up close in intimate scenes, the zooming in on chorus members in big group numbers was distracting. If you're going to film a live Broadway show, I think you need to keep in mind that the blocking and staging was done for a reason and the audience is intended to focus on a group scene as a whole and not each background chorus person.
The zooms were not usually horrible, but they were especially bad in What You Own when the camera kept switching back and forth to face Roger and then Mark directly instead of keeping a straight-on, from the audience view. When filmed that way, it was impossible to see that they were physically moving and switching places without directly addressing each other. I also did not need to be that close to Mimi's spandex clad legs and butt during Out Tonight or see that the soloist in Seasons of Love had fillings in her mouth (audience members actually laughed at this).
These complaints are minor, however. I love it, but Rent as a show is not perfect. Jonathan Larson intended to continue to revise the show before his unexpected death. When he died, it continued on as the version that existed at the time. The plot and character developments don't always make a lot of sense and if you see the wrong production, it can feel a bit tired and dated. The best casts are so emotionally involved and high energy that you forget about all that and just see it as snapshots of "a year in the life of friends." This was one of those casts.
Will Chase was the best Roger I have seen (beating Adam Pascal in the film version, but I may have to revise when I see Pascal live on stage in July). I enjoyed Will Chase in High Fidelity, but he really impressed me in this. Normally, I focus on my favorite character, Mark, but I was fascinated by Roger in this production. The close-ups certainly helped in that regard because Will Chase's subtle acting was superb and you could really follow his emotional journey.
As for the rest of the cast, Renee Elsie Goldberry, who played Mimi, was also the best I've seen in that role. She had the right balance of spunk and vulnerability and had an extremely powerful voice. Justin Johnston who played Angel was probably the funniest Angel I've seen and hit the right notes both vocally and in his interactions with the other cast members. While I love Idina Menzel, Eden Espinosa's performance of Maureen was on par with Idina's.
The other cast members weren't stand-outs, but they held their own. Adam Kantor was decent as Mark, but I've seen better. I adore Tracie Thoms, both in Wonderfalls and in the movie version of Rent, but her voice wasn't quite powerful enough to match Eden Espinosa's. Her acting was strong, but Take Me As I Am was a little disappointing on the Joanne verses. I really feel that Joanne and Maureen need to have equally strong voices. Michael McElroy as Collins was another strong actor with a mediocre voice. I appreciated the convincing love he had for Angel, but his I'll Cover You (reprise), which always makes me bawl, really was no comparison to Jesse L. Martin's great performance of that song in the film. Overall, the cast was very solid though. It was a great group to end the Broadway run and I'm grateful to Sony for letting fans around the country get a taste of what it was like during the final weeks.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Waiting
Having to wait without being able to influence anything makes me stressed out. I know it shouldn’t, because there is nothing I can do, but that’s just my personality. I’ve been tense for about two weeks now because I’m waiting to hear back from a potential employer.
For those who haven’t heard the full story, I applied to one position at this company and went for an interview (which went very well), but didn’t get that position. The person who interviewed me passed my materials to her two colleagues in the same department, however. Next, I went in for what I thought was a single interview for one of the other two open positions in the same department and they had me interview for both. For an hour and a half, I was interviewed by three people, then another person, then another two people. (Each position served a group of editors.) Considering the fact that it was a marathon interview session, I think I did decently well.
That was two weeks ago and I got more and more stressed because I just wanted to know either way. Yesterday afternoon, a different editor called me last minute to ask if I could come in again this afternoon for yet another interview and a proofreading test. She also wanted my references. This was the one editor who was not around the day of the marathon interviewing. Obviously, I said yes, but I really just need this whole thing to be over so I can relax. It’s going to suck at this point if they don’t pick me for one of the positions. I’ve met with 8 people in this department! I guess that’s life though.
Think happy thoughts for me at 1:00. I’m nervous about the proofreading test because I don’t have a lot of experience proofreading.
For those who haven’t heard the full story, I applied to one position at this company and went for an interview (which went very well), but didn’t get that position. The person who interviewed me passed my materials to her two colleagues in the same department, however. Next, I went in for what I thought was a single interview for one of the other two open positions in the same department and they had me interview for both. For an hour and a half, I was interviewed by three people, then another person, then another two people. (Each position served a group of editors.) Considering the fact that it was a marathon interview session, I think I did decently well.
That was two weeks ago and I got more and more stressed because I just wanted to know either way. Yesterday afternoon, a different editor called me last minute to ask if I could come in again this afternoon for yet another interview and a proofreading test. She also wanted my references. This was the one editor who was not around the day of the marathon interviewing. Obviously, I said yes, but I really just need this whole thing to be over so I can relax. It’s going to suck at this point if they don’t pick me for one of the positions. I’ve met with 8 people in this department! I guess that’s life though.
Think happy thoughts for me at 1:00. I’m nervous about the proofreading test because I don’t have a lot of experience proofreading.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Review: Zocalo
I finally went to Zocalo on Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton. They serve Mexican food. I can't attest to its authenticness, but it is probably more authentic than chains like Anna's and Qdoba. Due to the closeness of the tables and the general cheery din of the waiters, upbeat music, and other patrons' conversations, it would be better for a dinner with friends than a romantic date. The candles on the table are nice though. If you can, get a seat near the floor to ceiling window that faces Commonwealth. It's great for people watching and makes you feel a bit more private.
The food was a bit pricey for what is was (it cost $6.50 for chips and guacamole!), but the service was quick and non-intrusive. Although the restaurant was busy, everything came out promptly. The waiters didn't ignore you, and they also didn't constantly ask you how you were doing. Instead, they seemed to know exactly when you were finished and promptly took the plates away without a long wait.
I got the carnitas. The meat was a bit dry, but it was still tasty. The portions here are not the oversized as they are in many places. If I liked black beans, it would have been the perfect size to eat all of it and not feel hungry or overfull. For dessert, I tried flan. Since I've never had it before, I can't say whether or not it was done well. It was, however, sweet and satisfying. I'm not sure if I'll get it again because the texture made me think of eating a vanilla flavored omelet, but I think that is a quality of flan in general and not this particular flan. Jason got the chocolate souffle, which I recommend if you like very rich and dense chocolaty flavor. My favorite aspect of the meal was the Mango Sangria. It was sweet, not too potent, and came with a delightful cinnamon stick stirrer. You couldn't taste the cinnamon, but it made the sangria smell great.
If you have some extra money, it's worth a visit. The service outshines the food, but the atmosphere is fun and the many flavors of sangria are worth sampling.
The food was a bit pricey for what is was (it cost $6.50 for chips and guacamole!), but the service was quick and non-intrusive. Although the restaurant was busy, everything came out promptly. The waiters didn't ignore you, and they also didn't constantly ask you how you were doing. Instead, they seemed to know exactly when you were finished and promptly took the plates away without a long wait.
I got the carnitas. The meat was a bit dry, but it was still tasty. The portions here are not the oversized as they are in many places. If I liked black beans, it would have been the perfect size to eat all of it and not feel hungry or overfull. For dessert, I tried flan. Since I've never had it before, I can't say whether or not it was done well. It was, however, sweet and satisfying. I'm not sure if I'll get it again because the texture made me think of eating a vanilla flavored omelet, but I think that is a quality of flan in general and not this particular flan. Jason got the chocolate souffle, which I recommend if you like very rich and dense chocolaty flavor. My favorite aspect of the meal was the Mango Sangria. It was sweet, not too potent, and came with a delightful cinnamon stick stirrer. You couldn't taste the cinnamon, but it made the sangria smell great.
If you have some extra money, it's worth a visit. The service outshines the food, but the atmosphere is fun and the many flavors of sangria are worth sampling.
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