Wednesday, October 20, 2010

If I Could Save Time in a Bottle...

Apparently, I am on a 1970's singer-songwriter phase. First Dan Fogleberg, now Jim Croce.
But have you ever listened to his stuff?
It is so soothing, so friendly, so heartbreaking.
It makes you wonder what he could have done, had he lived longer.
He died in a plane accident, just when he was 30. It's that kind of tragedy that makes you grateful for what you have.

"If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day 'til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go through time with"

*there is no video of him performing this song, it was released posthumously. But it is a good, good song. Just like all the rest.

Friday, October 8, 2010

"No Juicy Tacos!"

If you follow this blog, you have probably already seen this stuff on Facebook, but I couldn't help myself. This movie needs to be known.
Here's the story:
There is this thing called the Lost Media Archive. I can't find the website right now, but I will update it when I can get to it.
Shannon goes sometimes because she is cool like that and has unique friends. So anyway, it's a group that collects old and out-of-print things. Like things that you have never, ever heard of. Last night was the showing of this movie, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit.
BEST. MOVIE. EVER.
Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451 and who is most well-known for his suspense/sci fi stuff, wrote this screenplay. It was actually a short story of his and it has actually been turned into a musical. A musical that still plays, like on stage. I am constantly amazed by what I don't know.
I can't believe I lived my whole life without this gem!
It was a slight shock to me to see someone who knew more obscure stuff than me. I'm usually the one showing people true film treasures. If The Shoe Fits, anyone? Who can forget Rob Lowe, Jennifer Grey, France, 80's fashion? It's the best. Apparently, it's hard to find online too, so I can't show you a picture. Boo. But if you are interested, give me a holler and we will watch it. I am only too happy to oblige (I have a VHS, yes, I am that cool).
Anyways, back to the Wonderful Ice Cream Suit!
It's about five Latino men in East LA who are down on their luck in various ways. They all come together and pitch in 20 bucks and buy a fantastic electric white suit.
Like, burn your retinas white.
...I can still see the suit dancing in front of my eyes...
Anyways, each of the men share the suit for one hour and each of their wildest dreams come true, thanks to the suit. Kind of like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but BETTER.
There is mariachi music, Latin accents (in various degrees of awfulness) and superb quotable lines, i.e. the title of this here post. It's like, gooood stuff. If you manage to get your hands on it, again, give me a holler and we will have a party. There is nothing like good Latin movies and 80's.
Gosh. I love the 80's.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

J'adore la culture de Tahiti

I have a delightful story for everyone.
...No, I did not suddenly learn French... (Thank Heaven for Google Translate.)
No, this story is about Tahiti.

They speak French there.
Yesterday, my History 202 professor invited us TA's over to her house because they were hosting a dozen Tahitians for the LDS General Conference. Apparently her son served his mission there awhile ago. Anyways, they made a ton of food, real Tahitian food, and were going to do a performance for everyone. Dr. Frederickson's philosophy is one of "the more, the merrier" so she invited us to go.
It was SO much fun!
We got there just as the girls were about to do their dance. There was this adorable little girl, around 11 or 12 and she was amazing. I definitely can't move like that. After the girls did a couple of dances, they pulled people from the audience and had a sort of "dance off", where they showed the audience members how to dance and everyone just danced together. One girl pulled me and my roommate up and we were laughing and dancing. Not everyone can shake their hips like that. Let me tell you, it was one heck of a workout. You are constantly moving your legs! And hips!
After the dancing, we had food. Real Tahitian food. There was sooooo much foooood. Seriously, so much. Mind you, I didn't eat everything. They like raw fish, so I avoided that. But everything else was really good. I had taro, and pork and curry and a soft, breadlike thing covered in coconut milk; and potatoes, and a noodle and shrimp salad. Not quite what I expected, but it was so good. It was real culture! And even though we couldn't communicate (again, that darn French language) it was such a neat experience to be there and be with them.
Bon Appetit!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Locked Out Again

So I am part of a little club called the Phi Alpha Theta. We are self-proclaimed history nerds. We have an office on the second floor of the JFSB. We help other history nerds find their niche. I cannot get into said office because the key is missing.
Who lost the key? You might ask.
Well, it wasn't me!
Alas, I am still locked out regardless.
Boo.
I hate being dependent upon others. You can get let down so easily, if you are not the one responsible for things. I have office hours. People could need me and I can't be where I said I will be!!! This kind of irresponsibility is killing me.
Also, I like having my own office. I am in control and I don't have to acknowledge other people's existence unless they come to me. In my office. Out here in the open, you have to say "Hello" to everyone who you made eye-contact with. It can be very exhausting, let me tell you.
Also, in other news, I just finished reading The Great Gatsby.
Can you believe that I had never read it before?
Which is silly, seeing as it isn't very long and it is widely considered a classic of American Literature. I mean, I have heard of it before, but I had never read it before. Somehow, I escaped high school without reading it. I got away with a lot of things in high school, apparently. Go figure.
Anyways, let discuss The Great Gatsby, shall we?

The original cover art was commissioned and finished before Fitzgerald actually finished the novel, so he sort of wrote the picture into the book. I really appreciate it when different formats of art are blended together. It provides such a deeper interpretation and meaning. Anyways, Fitzgerald has a beautiful use of the language. Seriously.
Also, the simple tragedy of it all. People trying to reach out to one another, albeit, without the best of intentions, but really, people just wanting to be loved, and then they get shot down, thrown aside. I am glad that Fitzgerald set the time period during the 1920's because you can imagine all sorts of awful things happening to the characters that you hated during the Great Depression. You wish that they get what they deserved, but they probably didn't.
The moral of the story is, just be nice to people. Don't be a jerk. No one likes jerks.
Also, don't obsess over people. It isn't attractive and it doesn't get you what you want in the end anyhow.
The End.
oh p.s. they opened my office! I am in control again. Woot!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Hallelujah, It's Friday

TGIF
The week is practically over and it couldn't have come at a better time.
I have decided that the next couple of goals shall include:
  • Whittling down the stuff I have to take to school to ONE bag.
  • Actually trying to get up at the right time.
  • Getting to bed at a decent time.
  • Looking pretty for school.
  • Staying on top of the schedule.
That is the plan.
Fortunately, I have the whole weekend to put it off.
Happy Friday, ya'll