I just finished watching The Jane Austen Book Club, and I loved it. Say what you will if you think it's sappy or hokey, but I thought it was great. Of course, I'm sure no credit at all goes to the fact that I've been a reading nut lately (don't believe me? check out my progress!) and just finished two of the best books I've ever read. Anyways, the fact that these women identified so strongly with the characters and stories in Austen's books, as well as the fact that they were so invested in the stories, is something that hit home with me. That's one of the reasons I love to read. Identifying with and living vicariously through and wishing you were a part of it all. Hits the head of my nail dead on.
Not to mention the way they did their end credits was great. It sorta looked like a really finessed Power Point (in a good way, I mean), and was broken down by category (cast, electrics, sound, editing, direction, production, scenic, etc) and then had photos on each corresponding "slide". And the coolest part about these "slides" (if you will) was that they were all behind the scenes kind of photos...like you could see the crew and the rigging for lights and all that jazz. IMHO, that's way better than screen shots and stills.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
3.09.2009
3.02.2009
reading on the clock
We had our 10/12s for tech on Saturday and Sunday for my next show at The Theatre. It's a crazy French farce with more double entendre sex jokes than you think can be put into a 2 hour play. It's crazy hilarious.
Anyways, 10/12s (ten out of twelves) are 12 hour work days (usually from 10am to 10pm) with a 2 hour break for dinner (usually from 3-5). Stage management gets there a half hour early to make sure we're set up for top of show, and we stay after to have a production meeting/tech notes with the artistic team.
During tech, everyone steps through the show cue by cue building in all of the technical elements. For this show, there are extremely large expanses of time when we, the backstage crew (3 PAs and the deck manager), do absolutely nothing. Aside from 2 scene shifts, one of which is at intermission, it's an extremely low tech show, for us work-wise at least.
Usually, tech is our time to READ READ READ to pass the extreme down time. Mind you, it's still busy and tiring down time because we need to be constantly ready to do, fix, handle, etc anything.
Anyways, Friday evening I finally finished The Witches of Eastwick, so I was ready to start a fresh, new book at the top of the day Saturday. I got a birthday coupon from Borders, and bought 2 new books. Now, I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'm planning on it, but I started The Reader. Can I just say: No wonder Kate Winslet won the Oscar--what an incredible role. Needless to say, the book was amazing, and I can't wait to see the movie.
Anyways, 10/12s (ten out of twelves) are 12 hour work days (usually from 10am to 10pm) with a 2 hour break for dinner (usually from 3-5). Stage management gets there a half hour early to make sure we're set up for top of show, and we stay after to have a production meeting/tech notes with the artistic team.
During tech, everyone steps through the show cue by cue building in all of the technical elements. For this show, there are extremely large expanses of time when we, the backstage crew (3 PAs and the deck manager), do absolutely nothing. Aside from 2 scene shifts, one of which is at intermission, it's an extremely low tech show, for us work-wise at least.
Usually, tech is our time to READ READ READ to pass the extreme down time. Mind you, it's still busy and tiring down time because we need to be constantly ready to do, fix, handle, etc anything.
Anyways, Friday evening I finally finished The Witches of Eastwick, so I was ready to start a fresh, new book at the top of the day Saturday. I got a birthday coupon from Borders, and bought 2 new books. Now, I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'm planning on it, but I started The Reader. Can I just say: No wonder Kate Winslet won the Oscar--what an incredible role. Needless to say, the book was amazing, and I can't wait to see the movie.
2.18.2009
working on it
Yes...still feeling like shit. Had to bail on a good friend's much anticipated performance at a comedy club last night, and I still feel terribly about it. Whatever, I know he was amazing hilarious without the "pity laughs".
Maybe tomorrow I will feel better??
I just wanted to let anyone who was interested know that I've started that list of books I've read so far this year. A good friend of mine showed me his, and I thought it was pretty cool, so I started one. Check out the list of books I've read so far this year!
Maybe tomorrow I will feel better??
I just wanted to let anyone who was interested know that I've started that list of books I've read so far this year. A good friend of mine showed me his, and I thought it was pretty cool, so I started one. Check out the list of books I've read so far this year!
2.12.2009
wait for it--the hodgepodge edition
I've learned a lot about myself in the last week or so. Equal parts of the responsibility for this go to 1) the book I just finished (Eat, Pray, Love) and 2) the Summer Job Hunt.
One of the things I learned? Stepping back and letting things soak in is NOT a skill set that I in any way possess. Be the things good or bad, I tend to react with a sense of immediacy, no matter how unnecessary.
Something else I've learned? I will never, EVER be able to figure out why certain nine year old girls are so obscenely rude and hateful. Never. I have to accept this fact and continue working to make the impact of said rude/hatefulness on others as small as possible.
I watched Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist today after work. LOVED IT. Go and watch it.
In other news, did I mention I joined Twitter? Yes, I did. But I need to reiterate that I LOVE it.
Also, I think I'm going to keep a running log of the books I read. For some reason, this seems like a fun idea.
One of the things I learned? Stepping back and letting things soak in is NOT a skill set that I in any way possess. Be the things good or bad, I tend to react with a sense of immediacy, no matter how unnecessary.
Something else I've learned? I will never, EVER be able to figure out why certain nine year old girls are so obscenely rude and hateful. Never. I have to accept this fact and continue working to make the impact of said rude/hatefulness on others as small as possible.
I watched Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist today after work. LOVED IT. Go and watch it.
In other news, did I mention I joined Twitter? Yes, I did. But I need to reiterate that I LOVE it.
Also, I think I'm going to keep a running log of the books I read. For some reason, this seems like a fun idea.
2.08.2009
yes i Readmore
I'm currently reading Eat, Pray, Love. It's been on my list of books to read for about a year now...and my cousin's wife gave me a copy of it for Christmas. I already had a copy, so I gave one to T, my co-PA at The Theatre. We spend so much time together at work and while driving to work, that now we're even reading the same book (despite my waiting over a month after I gave it to her to start it myself). People think we're weird just because we can communicate non-verbally, finish each other's sentences, and speak in code. Most importantly on that list of why other people think we're strange (of course, we disagree) is that after 6 months of working together, we know each other well enough to call the other person out on certain obnoxious tendencies or obsessive-compulsive thoughts or other 'I know you THIS well' sort of things.
Our boss recently asked me if we got along well. I sort of laughed at the irony of this.
Anyways, I REALLY recommend this book. I'm halfway through the second section and LOVE it.
In addition to this, I just finished reading the book Dewey. I'm not really a "cat person", although I enjoy them, and I was crying like a 6 year old who's parents forgot them at the grocery store by the end of this book.
I'm not normally the memoir reader...so I also find it strange that I'm reading my second in a row.
Our boss recently asked me if we got along well. I sort of laughed at the irony of this.
Anyways, I REALLY recommend this book. I'm halfway through the second section and LOVE it.
In addition to this, I just finished reading the book Dewey. I'm not really a "cat person", although I enjoy them, and I was crying like a 6 year old who's parents forgot them at the grocery store by the end of this book.
I'm not normally the memoir reader...so I also find it strange that I'm reading my second in a row.
12.09.2008
books and booty songs
For those of you who were interested, I finished A Lion Among Men, and it was excellent. It read much more smoothly and easily than the other 2 books in the Wicked Series.
My next book craze? Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Seriously. One of the best books I've read all year. I lol'd AND col'd (cried out loud). Seriously. I've just started the sequel (and recently published), Knit Two.
As my co-PA and I were walking to the car one night last weekend, one of those street musicians (with a bucket, and a whistle, and a rattle, an dsomething else) started singing at us. Mind you, this is Indianapolis, not Chicago or New York or Another Big City where you can't get picked out of a crowd easily and where there are 5 of these guys on every corner. We just have 1 on every other corner. The song he sang to us as we walked past? "Left, Right, Left, Right, Shake It, Shake It, Shake It, Shake It." To which the co-PA said to me "he likes our bootys".
My next book craze? Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Seriously. One of the best books I've read all year. I lol'd AND col'd (cried out loud). Seriously. I've just started the sequel (and recently published), Knit Two.
As my co-PA and I were walking to the car one night last weekend, one of those street musicians (with a bucket, and a whistle, and a rattle, an dsomething else) started singing at us. Mind you, this is Indianapolis, not Chicago or New York or Another Big City where you can't get picked out of a crowd easily and where there are 5 of these guys on every corner. We just have 1 on every other corner. The song he sang to us as we walked past? "Left, Right, Left, Right, Shake It, Shake It, Shake It, Shake It." To which the co-PA said to me "he likes our bootys".
11.24.2008
booksy things
So I wish I were a part of a book club. Maybe like an online one...something. I read so much, and it would be cool to share thoughts and what not with other people. But I don't have time really to do the "going to other people's houses" part of it all.
In regards to books, I think I'm going to read Dickens' Christmas Carol. I think it will be cool to read and compare to The Carol. Maybe not. But it's a classic...and it's Holiday Time.
And there's now a third book in the Wicked series. I read Wicked a while ago. Then I read Son of a Witch as soon as it came out. Then, a few weeks ago (ironically a few hours after a library trip), I was at Target and saw a third book. A Lion Among Men. I jsut started, and haven't been feeling well so I haven't gotten too far yet. But I'm pretty excited to read it! Have you read it or heard of it???
In regards to books, I think I'm going to read Dickens' Christmas Carol. I think it will be cool to read and compare to The Carol. Maybe not. But it's a classic...and it's Holiday Time.
And there's now a third book in the Wicked series. I read Wicked a while ago. Then I read Son of a Witch as soon as it came out. Then, a few weeks ago (ironically a few hours after a library trip), I was at Target and saw a third book. A Lion Among Men. I jsut started, and haven't been feeling well so I haven't gotten too far yet. But I'm pretty excited to read it! Have you read it or heard of it???
9.15.2008
its just what i do
I've gotten into two nice, new habits.
One involves my days off. Going to the library, the grocery store, and target in one fell swoop. In the middle of the afternoon, it's quite nice. Not too many people to make it a hassle, and it can be (I know this sounds weird) peaceful.
The other involves my Netflix-ing and library-ing. Every time I'm at any store, and I see a book or a movie I'm interested in, I take a picture of the title (and author) with my phone to keep my list of movies to add to my queue or books to pick up at the 'brary.
Plus, I'm reallllly hoping that next week, once we get into the run of our show, I will get to go to the new Central Library downtown. It was under renovations for like (literally) 6 to 8 years, and finally opened up this spring. I was too much of a bum (plus working at my Aunt's) this summer to check it out, and I haven't had time after work to hit it up yet. It's supposed to be absolutely incredible, and I can't wait!!!
One involves my days off. Going to the library, the grocery store, and target in one fell swoop. In the middle of the afternoon, it's quite nice. Not too many people to make it a hassle, and it can be (I know this sounds weird) peaceful.
The other involves my Netflix-ing and library-ing. Every time I'm at any store, and I see a book or a movie I'm interested in, I take a picture of the title (and author) with my phone to keep my list of movies to add to my queue or books to pick up at the 'brary.
Plus, I'm reallllly hoping that next week, once we get into the run of our show, I will get to go to the new Central Library downtown. It was under renovations for like (literally) 6 to 8 years, and finally opened up this spring. I was too much of a bum (plus working at my Aunt's) this summer to check it out, and I haven't had time after work to hit it up yet. It's supposed to be absolutely incredible, and I can't wait!!!
7.01.2008
I cant really explain it
Here is a list of things that I consider to be facts:
1. Cake made with Diet Coke is Amazing. It seems that maybe I can be domesticated. Big Maybe still, though.
2. Funfetti icing is the best.
3. The fare for babysitting has soared since I was the neighborhood resident babysitter. For 2 girls (aged 3 and 5.5) from 6:30-11:30, who were incredibly easy to sit, I got $50 last weekend. When I was in junior high, or even early high school, I would have gotten no more than $30 for that. Probably $25. A few weeks ago, for 3 year old triplets, for 7 hours, I got $80. If people keep calling me to sit this summer, I will make a living off of it!
4. My dad is adorable. For many reasons. Most recently: Mom was cleaning the dining room and going through stuff on shelves. Dad found a "Class of 2008" photo album that matches my other photo albums that I prefer and gave it to me saying "Hey, I got this for you, and had planned on printing all the photos from graduation etc while you were still at the Civic, but we got really busy." It was super cute. Even cuter was tonight, while printing pictures to put in it he picked it up and said "I was gonna print pictures for you for when I gave it to you. I'm sorry." 5 minutes later, he says "You know I ordered this specially for you...from Target." It was funny. Trust me.
5. Also on my dad, there are many things he is and isn't. One of the things he is is incredibly protective of me. Which is awesome. It's like he loves me so much, he gets really heated when he hears of someone fucking with me, even slightly. We had a very to moderately minor event at our gym last week that brought that out in him.
6. Sitting on my porch at night, drinking wine, eating diet coke cake, talking about sex and sex toys with Ann and Frankie is the best.
7. Big production numbers in musicals make the world go round. This includes movie musicals, even bad ones.
8. The book The Emperor's Children was amazing. I highly suggest it, especially for transitioning adults/college students. Possible "review" to come.
9. I am going to Michigan for Fourth of July. We're going to visit my Aunt and Uncle/God Parents, their daughters, and their daughter's new baby Morgan. There is an outlet mall near them with, literally, 500+ stores. Hopefully we go.
10. My Aunt Kathy has this beautiful "secretary" (like the piece of furniture) that she is giving me. It used to belong to her Grandma Deeter, meaning my great grandma. How cool is that. Now I have much, much more incentive to get my rear in gear to finish redoing my room so I can put it in there. I saw it last week and its gorgeous. As soon as I get it, I will post a picture.
11. Who makes a list of 11 things? I do. Number 11? I miss my friends from school too much :(.
Update: 12. Getting a manicure from a 3 year old always makes you prettier. For reals.
13. Smiley and Snoop told me I was the strongest girl they know. Heckya!
ReUpdate: 14. My family and I are terrible at doing things on time. My mom and I finally stuffed and addressed my graduation announcements. I graduated on May 17. In case you didn't realize, today was June 30th. Yikes. Good news is I was able to include thank you notes in the envelopes. They turned out quite nicely.
15. I have a disgusting and embarrassing addiction to Living Lohan. Don't judge me. Yes, I realize it's a terrible, terrible show and that I'm only supporting them by watching, but I can't help it. (hey there terrible grammar/punctuation!) I hate myself for it. One of the upsides of watching? One of my fave blogs, Defamer, does an excellent mock write up of it each week giving the reader/watcher 3 lessons they should have learned from Mother of the Year Dina Lohan. These articles are hilarious.
1. Cake made with Diet Coke is Amazing. It seems that maybe I can be domesticated. Big Maybe still, though.
2. Funfetti icing is the best.
3. The fare for babysitting has soared since I was the neighborhood resident babysitter. For 2 girls (aged 3 and 5.5) from 6:30-11:30, who were incredibly easy to sit, I got $50 last weekend. When I was in junior high, or even early high school, I would have gotten no more than $30 for that. Probably $25. A few weeks ago, for 3 year old triplets, for 7 hours, I got $80. If people keep calling me to sit this summer, I will make a living off of it!
4. My dad is adorable. For many reasons. Most recently: Mom was cleaning the dining room and going through stuff on shelves. Dad found a "Class of 2008" photo album that matches my other photo albums that I prefer and gave it to me saying "Hey, I got this for you, and had planned on printing all the photos from graduation etc while you were still at the Civic, but we got really busy." It was super cute. Even cuter was tonight, while printing pictures to put in it he picked it up and said "I was gonna print pictures for you for when I gave it to you. I'm sorry." 5 minutes later, he says "You know I ordered this specially for you...from Target." It was funny. Trust me.
5. Also on my dad, there are many things he is and isn't. One of the things he is is incredibly protective of me. Which is awesome. It's like he loves me so much, he gets really heated when he hears of someone fucking with me, even slightly. We had a very to moderately minor event at our gym last week that brought that out in him.
6. Sitting on my porch at night, drinking wine, eating diet coke cake, talking about sex and sex toys with Ann and Frankie is the best.
7. Big production numbers in musicals make the world go round. This includes movie musicals, even bad ones.
8. The book The Emperor's Children was amazing. I highly suggest it, especially for transitioning adults/college students. Possible "review" to come.
9. I am going to Michigan for Fourth of July. We're going to visit my Aunt and Uncle/God Parents, their daughters, and their daughter's new baby Morgan. There is an outlet mall near them with, literally, 500+ stores. Hopefully we go.
10. My Aunt Kathy has this beautiful "secretary" (like the piece of furniture) that she is giving me. It used to belong to her Grandma Deeter, meaning my great grandma. How cool is that. Now I have much, much more incentive to get my rear in gear to finish redoing my room so I can put it in there. I saw it last week and its gorgeous. As soon as I get it, I will post a picture.
11. Who makes a list of 11 things? I do. Number 11? I miss my friends from school too much :(.
Update: 12. Getting a manicure from a 3 year old always makes you prettier. For reals.
13. Smiley and Snoop told me I was the strongest girl they know. Heckya!
ReUpdate: 14. My family and I are terrible at doing things on time. My mom and I finally stuffed and addressed my graduation announcements. I graduated on May 17. In case you didn't realize, today was June 30th. Yikes. Good news is I was able to include thank you notes in the envelopes. They turned out quite nicely.
15. I have a disgusting and embarrassing addiction to Living Lohan. Don't judge me. Yes, I realize it's a terrible, terrible show and that I'm only supporting them by watching, but I can't help it. (hey there terrible grammar/punctuation!) I hate myself for it. One of the upsides of watching? One of my fave blogs, Defamer, does an excellent mock write up of it each week giving the reader/watcher 3 lessons they should have learned from Mother of the Year Dina Lohan. These articles are hilarious.
6.16.2008
8 questions out of 10!
Just finished a new book. And by just finished, I mean finished this morning at 4:00am. I love the feeling of accomplishment, excitement mixed with I wish it went on, and wonder and what I'm gonna read next. I just finished The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips, a book about a woman from Harvard trying to finish her dissertation who goes to Venice to chaperone a young girl. Chapters alternate between telling about her and her research on the Spanish Conspiracy of Venice and the events that happened in the 17th century centered around a Venetian cortesan who wrote the Rossetti Letter to help bring down the conspiracy. It's fiction, but I love fiction that incorporates historical stuff like that, although most of the history in the book is fictional. If that makes sense...The writing wasn't the strongest I've read, but all in all it was a very enthralling story so I didn't mind too much.
The experience of finishing the book last night was weird. I climbed in bed to read after the Tonys ended. Around 1:00am I went downstairs to get a snack and some juice. I got the orange juice gallon out of the fridge and the glass off of the shelf. After I poured my OJ, I tried to put the juice back on the shelf instead of the fridge. Nice. I also heard some of the weirdest noises that sort of freaked me out. In order to fall asleep, I had to put on The Office to distract me.
Anyways, the books I'm considering for next are The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud which I bought a few months ago and didn't get a chance to start-and then by the time I had time to start it, I had already packed it and sent it home while I was still in South Bend, so I bought Rossetti and The Savage Garden to read instead. The script of August:Osage County the 20008 Pulitzer winner and Best Play Tony winner by Tracey Letts. And lastly, The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston with Mario Spezi--I saw it at Borders yesterday when I went to get the Sunday in the Park with George CD (which they didn't have, not even of ANY recording!) and fell in love. The inside of the jacket compares it to some of my favorite books ever: The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt (who also wrote Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil-one of my all time faves) and The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Naturally, I have to read this book.
Any opinions from my loyal readers?
The experience of finishing the book last night was weird. I climbed in bed to read after the Tonys ended. Around 1:00am I went downstairs to get a snack and some juice. I got the orange juice gallon out of the fridge and the glass off of the shelf. After I poured my OJ, I tried to put the juice back on the shelf instead of the fridge. Nice. I also heard some of the weirdest noises that sort of freaked me out. In order to fall asleep, I had to put on The Office to distract me.
Anyways, the books I'm considering for next are The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud which I bought a few months ago and didn't get a chance to start-and then by the time I had time to start it, I had already packed it and sent it home while I was still in South Bend, so I bought Rossetti and The Savage Garden to read instead. The script of August:Osage County the 20008 Pulitzer winner and Best Play Tony winner by Tracey Letts. And lastly, The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston with Mario Spezi--I saw it at Borders yesterday when I went to get the Sunday in the Park with George CD (which they didn't have, not even of ANY recording!) and fell in love. The inside of the jacket compares it to some of my favorite books ever: The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt (who also wrote Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil-one of my all time faves) and The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Naturally, I have to read this book.
Any opinions from my loyal readers?
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