A big part of adulthood seems to be disappointment.
Expectations that aren't met.
Goals that aren't achieved.
Beliefs that we've held from a young age being shattered through the revelations of time.
Joyful experiences of our childhood that we fail to recreate. Accepting that the past is gone.
Perhaps that's why they say intelligence can be a curse. The more we visualise, the more we imagine, the more we believe is possible, the greater the potential disappointment when we let ourselves down or the world fails to deliver on our expectations. Finding a way to live in the moment is the only way to deal with that disappointment. Goals are good. Hope is good. But if we're not happy right here, right now, then it's all for naught. The little joys in life are necessary to ensure the greater joys of life.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
My Browsing Habits
I regularly read a lot of sites. I also like generally browsing, which means I stumble across the occasional gem that tickles my fancy. In fact, sometimes I stumble across a fun site, follow it for a few weeks, somehow forget about it entirely, then get to experience the joy of checking it out again after a prolonged absence.
Here is my more 'regular' browsing history.
Each morning when I wake up I load the following sites on my phone:
www.notalwaysright.com
www.fmylife.com
They're light, they give me a laugh, and they overall provide a relaxed and obligation free start to the day.
There are other regularly sites that I've given up on following on my iPhone, but always keep up to date on (albeit only 2-3 times per week) on my computer:
www.failbook.com
www.lamebook.com
www.dyac.com
For a bit more detailed fun, I like to check out:
www.news.com.au
www.nzherald.com.au
www.dailymail.co.uk
And yes, I know that the daily mail is trash - but it is gossipy and fun. I don't believe everything that it says, but I enjoy it all the same. News.com.au I check out each morning, and in fact use as a default site whenever I'm not entirely sure where to go.
On the weekends I branch out further afield:
www.stfuparents.blog.com
pottersues.livejournal.com
They're sites you might love. You might hate. In fact, on potter sues I frequently hate myself and the world temporarily, as I realise how many stupid people exist on this planet. Then I see a story by a teenage girl who clearly has some talent. Who just needs to hone her skills. Who has the art of description, but needs to learn not to rush the storyline. And I go "Wow, I learnt a lot from reading this". And then the laugh - or lack thereof - doesn't matter. Because a person has give some info to this person.
Here is my more 'regular' browsing history.
Each morning when I wake up I load the following sites on my phone:
www.notalwaysright.com
www.fmylife.com
They're light, they give me a laugh, and they overall provide a relaxed and obligation free start to the day.
There are other regularly sites that I've given up on following on my iPhone, but always keep up to date on (albeit only 2-3 times per week) on my computer:
www.failbook.com
www.lamebook.com
www.dyac.com
For a bit more detailed fun, I like to check out:
www.news.com.au
www.nzherald.com.au
www.dailymail.co.uk
And yes, I know that the daily mail is trash - but it is gossipy and fun. I don't believe everything that it says, but I enjoy it all the same. News.com.au I check out each morning, and in fact use as a default site whenever I'm not entirely sure where to go.
On the weekends I branch out further afield:
www.stfuparents.blog.com
pottersues.livejournal.com
They're sites you might love. You might hate. In fact, on potter sues I frequently hate myself and the world temporarily, as I realise how many stupid people exist on this planet. Then I see a story by a teenage girl who clearly has some talent. Who just needs to hone her skills. Who has the art of description, but needs to learn not to rush the storyline. And I go "Wow, I learnt a lot from reading this". And then the laugh - or lack thereof - doesn't matter. Because a person has give some info to this person.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Black Days
Today is a black day, and it's one of those inexplicable and highly noticeable black days. For one thing, it's a Saturday.
If I wake up on a Tuesday feeling down, I just go about my daily routine. In fact, that's part of the reason my work routine is so set in stone - I have to get up and going quickly in the morning, or not at all. It's up, shower, clothes, and out the door to the train. At work there are a million priorities demanding my attention. Before I know it, the day passes. Varying degrees of blackness will impact on whether it's a good day or a bad day, but either way - it's a day
If I wake up on a Tuesday feeling down, I just go about my daily routine. In fact, that's part of the reason my work routine is so set in stone - I have to get up and going quickly in the morning, or not at all. It's up, shower, clothes, and out the door to the train. At work there are a million priorities demanding my attention. Before I know it, the day passes. Varying degrees of blackness will impact on whether it's a good day or a bad day, but either way - it's a day
On a weekend I have no external demands on my time. If I crack, I crack. If I struggle, I struggle. There's more time free to rationalise, to focus on the positives and the obvious fact that I have a particularly awesome life. But there's also more time to just 'feel'. Time to stress. Time to slip into the darkness. Today I got up early, because sleeping is hard in the blackness. By 11:30 I was in full meltdown at my beautiful husband and plans for the day were in disarray. I pulled myself together and we went out, had lunch, browsed the shops and took in a movie. It was nice. Yet the entire time, the black dog was hanging over my shoulder. This unshakeable feeling of something being wrong, of nothing being worth it, of life being a terrible, terrible tragic waste of effort.
But it's 7:56pm on Saturday, and the day is nearly done. I'm going to have a glass of wine and play my piano. Evenings are exciting, because the end of another day means the dawn of a new one. And no two days are exactly the same. Sure, I might feel the same way tomorrow. But some of those are Up days, where the world is the MostFantasticAwesomeExcitingPlaceEVER and ILOOOVEMyLife. I don't think I'd want to be stuck in that mode permanently either. Too unpredictable. So if I can't be in a balanced place, right in the middle, I'll just ride out the roller coaster. My Nana always said "This Too Shall Pass". And she was right.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Voting voting voting
The nice thing about elections is that they never matter as much as people think they do. My newsfeed is abuzz with angst tonight, as my NZ friends on FB breakdown the results of the NZ parliament elections.
But really, we (and by we I mean those of us in Australia, NZ, and any other Western democratic countries) are lucky to live in places we have the opportunity to vote. Where nobody is standing at the polling booth with gun in hand. Where we fear no prosecution or persecution based on our voting choices, and have complete freedom to exercise our preference as we please.
But really, we (and by we I mean those of us in Australia, NZ, and any other Western democratic countries) are lucky to live in places we have the opportunity to vote. Where nobody is standing at the polling booth with gun in hand. Where we fear no prosecution or persecution based on our voting choices, and have complete freedom to exercise our preference as we please.
I know that this whole "it could be worse argument" can be fallacious, and I don't attempt to minimise the frustration of those whose party loses in their estimation of things. But really, the differences between the parties in NZ are slim. We are not talking about women's rights vs. being forced to wear the burqa. We are talking about policy differences on selling economic assets, addressing poverty, climate change, etc. The type of policy that can be changed by whoever gets into office anyway - it's not specific enough that they commit to their course of action. Yes, they have different perspectives. But overall the rights of the everyday citizen will remain the same. It comes down to difference of opinion, rather than differences in rights and privileges. And we should consider ourselves fortunate to be in that position.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Let them Eat Pie
Tonight I baked an apple pie. The notable part is that today is a Monday, and the start of a 'long' work week. But I don't feel that way anymore. Instead, I come home from work and bake pie. Because yesterday I made Bacon & Egg Pie, and today I had leftover pastry to use. Once, it would have been forgotten in the fridge and ultimately thrown out. But not now. I know every item in the fridge, I have meals planned for the week. I have heightened awareness of every aspect of my daily life.
Suddenly, I'm not wasting anything, nor leaving mess in the house, nor pursuing my other lazy, confused, disorganised habits.
Living in the moment, the mundane becoming the sublime in it's own twisted way. Hmmm. I have pie to eat!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
When you reach October
There are three months missing from my blog. Often I say "I should blog everyday", and often I write blog posts in my head.
If I were to have blogged in the past few weeks it would have been about my pregnancy. Hopeful, optimistic, musing on impending parenthood. Maybe lighthearted debate on baby names. Maybe worries about balancing my priorities. Now, of course, I am no longer pregnant. A lot can happen in a week.
Really, it's an example of how much can happen in a short period of time. Last time I blogged, children were a hypoethetical in my future. Something I'd decided I wanted, but an experience I hadn't had. Now, I am once again a new person, shaped by a new experience. My relationship has stood through another test and come out stronger. My personality and my willpower are recharged. I will be better, stronger, renewed yet again.
But for right now, I will sleep. Because my body and my mind are shattered.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
A self-adjusting society
Is it just me, or is there no such thing as a "self-fulfilling prophecy" when general society is concerned? In fact, it seems that the opposite is true.
In response to women taking on a more equal role, you might hear both reasonable social commentators and some rabid traditionalists crying foul. "Men will be emancipated!" both groups proclaim. They will lose their manliness, become completely soft, there will be nothing left manly in this world. Of course, that doesn't happen. At all. Instead, we see a beautiful balance occurring between the genders.
Take pollution, or global warming - so far, not as bad as anybody predicted.
The question is, are the scaremonger folk really full of BS, or are they predicting events that have the potential to actually happen - but are moderated by the attention drawn to them by the very alarmists that the naysayers like to mock.
Are we avoiding harmful trends in society just by talking about them? Maybe. It's a thought.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
I Remember Me
When I was a little girl, I never knew who I was. I lived in a strange fantasy world in my head, avoiding the reality of my existence as much as possible. Despite that, tiny moments, a few months here and there, became etched on my reality as the things that made me happy.
Sometimes, I have those moments when I remember who I am.
It's weird, how
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Mary Poppins
I confess, like *99.9% of the population, I am more familiar with the 1964 film than the original Mary Poppins series of books. So while professing myself as a Mary Poppins expert, I was still pleasantly surprised and sufficiently diverted by the stage musical. The production is a delightful blend of the songs we all know and love, along with some of the more quirky elements of the books. And as with any good stage adaption there's also a unique edge of it's very own.
It was a lovely night at the Capitol Theatre, the crowd was noticeably more diverse than usual as everybody seemed to have brought a child or grandparent with them. I was sitting in between an elderly couple and a 90 year old gentleman accompanied by his twenty-something granddaughter. There was an entire row of children behind me. It was a chatty crowd, but well behaved during the performance.
Obviously they could never recreate the film onstage - nothing could ever be the same as the animation and special effects from what was truly a groundbreaking film (the technology was far ahead of it's time). But they have found other ways to make it exciting. There's some neat little bits in there that I'd *love* to spoil for everybody, but that would just be unfair. The vocals are strong. The new dance numbers and songs fit in seamlessly, and the adapted story flows nicely.
Verity Hunt-Ballard, in the title role, is suitably cocky and strict, yet endearing. The children are sweet and naughty, and Mr Banks was a strong, brusque character. Matt Lee was very impressive as Bert - I started off doubtful (major Dick van Dyke fan here!) but by the end was a fan of him too. He is clearly a passionate performer, and much more than just a dancer (you may remember him as the judge on the Australian version of "So You Think You Can Dance"). The biggest disappointment to me was Marina Prior in the role of Mrs Banks. For one thing, I don't like what they've done with the character - I can see what they are trying to achieve, but it's a role with much less impact than the film version. Here it's hard to see why her children are so rotten and her husband so boorish, and hard to blame anybody but her. In the film, Mrs Banks and Mr Banks are both likeable characters, but selfishly focused on their own endeavours, and the children are consequently neglected. In the stage show, Mrs Banks appears to do nothing but float around the house looking pathetic and feeling helpless. There's an attempt at a backstory about her past as an actress and how she is trying to live up to Mr Banks standards, but it really falls flat. Marina Prior plays it a bit silly, and it's hard to tell whether it's the fault of the actor or the directors.
It's important that you go along with an open mind. Some of my favourite bits from the film were missing, but there were other neat bits added in. Overall, it's a great show and well worth a look.
Suitable for all ages!
Pros: Lots of fun, and plenty of opportunities to clap along and get into it. A few "wow" moments where really cool special effects happen. They do a great job of the big dance numbers - I was waiting eagerly for "Step in Time" and they did not disappoint! They also sang again during the curtain call, which to me is extremely important. Give the audience a little something extra! :-)
Cons: The hideous, hideous accents. Most of the cast members need to open their mouths wider. They're so afraid of letting the Ocker accent come through that they're doing these tight, overemphasised British accents which don't sound authentic. While Verity is great in the role of Mary, she is the worst culprit for putting on a stupid voice instead of doing a proper accent. Hopefully they get better at this over time.
What: Mary Poppins
Where: Capital Theatre, Haymarket
Best seats: Don't go too far forward, this production really benefits from the full picture rather than the close-ups. I'd aim to be at least halfway back in the stalls.
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au/marypoppins
*Statistics represented on this blog are entirely fictional
It was a lovely night at the Capitol Theatre, the crowd was noticeably more diverse than usual as everybody seemed to have brought a child or grandparent with them. I was sitting in between an elderly couple and a 90 year old gentleman accompanied by his twenty-something granddaughter. There was an entire row of children behind me. It was a chatty crowd, but well behaved during the performance.
Obviously they could never recreate the film onstage - nothing could ever be the same as the animation and special effects from what was truly a groundbreaking film (the technology was far ahead of it's time). But they have found other ways to make it exciting. There's some neat little bits in there that I'd *love* to spoil for everybody, but that would just be unfair. The vocals are strong. The new dance numbers and songs fit in seamlessly, and the adapted story flows nicely.
Verity Hunt-Ballard, in the title role, is suitably cocky and strict, yet endearing. The children are sweet and naughty, and Mr Banks was a strong, brusque character. Matt Lee was very impressive as Bert - I started off doubtful (major Dick van Dyke fan here!) but by the end was a fan of him too. He is clearly a passionate performer, and much more than just a dancer (you may remember him as the judge on the Australian version of "So You Think You Can Dance"). The biggest disappointment to me was Marina Prior in the role of Mrs Banks. For one thing, I don't like what they've done with the character - I can see what they are trying to achieve, but it's a role with much less impact than the film version. Here it's hard to see why her children are so rotten and her husband so boorish, and hard to blame anybody but her. In the film, Mrs Banks and Mr Banks are both likeable characters, but selfishly focused on their own endeavours, and the children are consequently neglected. In the stage show, Mrs Banks appears to do nothing but float around the house looking pathetic and feeling helpless. There's an attempt at a backstory about her past as an actress and how she is trying to live up to Mr Banks standards, but it really falls flat. Marina Prior plays it a bit silly, and it's hard to tell whether it's the fault of the actor or the directors.
It's important that you go along with an open mind. Some of my favourite bits from the film were missing, but there were other neat bits added in. Overall, it's a great show and well worth a look.
Suitable for all ages!
Pros: Lots of fun, and plenty of opportunities to clap along and get into it. A few "wow" moments where really cool special effects happen. They do a great job of the big dance numbers - I was waiting eagerly for "Step in Time" and they did not disappoint! They also sang again during the curtain call, which to me is extremely important. Give the audience a little something extra! :-)
Cons: The hideous, hideous accents. Most of the cast members need to open their mouths wider. They're so afraid of letting the Ocker accent come through that they're doing these tight, overemphasised British accents which don't sound authentic. While Verity is great in the role of Mary, she is the worst culprit for putting on a stupid voice instead of doing a proper accent. Hopefully they get better at this over time.
What: Mary Poppins
Where: Capital Theatre, Haymarket
Best seats: Don't go too far forward, this production really benefits from the full picture rather than the close-ups. I'd aim to be at least halfway back in the stalls.
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au/marypoppins
*Statistics represented on this blog are entirely fictional
Super Power!
I really can't wait until studies of the human mind develop further. Perhaps that isn't surprising given my fascination with psychology and all things mental.
But what I'm really looking forward to is when we can record thoughts directly from our brains. Call it psychic, call it the equivalent to plugging a memory stick into your brain, call it whatever you like - but I spend a lot of time thinking, and I really, really want to be able to keep it all without the inconvenience of talking or writing. Don't get me wrong, I love both talking and writing, but there simply isn't enough hours in the day to do as much of either as I'd like.
In the past few weeks there have been a number of incredibly fabulous blog posts composed in my mind. Sadly these never managed to make it as far as my keyboard. Maybe one or two will materialize in the next few days, who knows. The rest are gone forever, a faded connection in my brain that are unlikely to ever resurface. They're lost in the crazy whirlwind of work, study, and keeping daily life ticking along.
So now I raise my glass, and propose a toast to thoughts of yesterday. Thoughts that were incredibly awesome (in my mind, at least), the memory of which can never be sullied by being brought to the light of day. They will never age. They will never be torn apart by the harshness of this world. May they rest in peace - or float off to wherever little random thoughts float off to. Maybe they fly away on the breeze, or via some crazy electronic brainwave connection, and eventually float through other people's minds. Perhaps we're all just regurgitating the same thoughts that somebody a few blocks away had yesterday, and marvelling at our own originality. By the way, this really is a rather nice drop of pinot gris.
But what I'm really looking forward to is when we can record thoughts directly from our brains. Call it psychic, call it the equivalent to plugging a memory stick into your brain, call it whatever you like - but I spend a lot of time thinking, and I really, really want to be able to keep it all without the inconvenience of talking or writing. Don't get me wrong, I love both talking and writing, but there simply isn't enough hours in the day to do as much of either as I'd like.
In the past few weeks there have been a number of incredibly fabulous blog posts composed in my mind. Sadly these never managed to make it as far as my keyboard. Maybe one or two will materialize in the next few days, who knows. The rest are gone forever, a faded connection in my brain that are unlikely to ever resurface. They're lost in the crazy whirlwind of work, study, and keeping daily life ticking along.
So now I raise my glass, and propose a toast to thoughts of yesterday. Thoughts that were incredibly awesome (in my mind, at least), the memory of which can never be sullied by being brought to the light of day. They will never age. They will never be torn apart by the harshness of this world. May they rest in peace - or float off to wherever little random thoughts float off to. Maybe they fly away on the breeze, or via some crazy electronic brainwave connection, and eventually float through other people's minds. Perhaps we're all just regurgitating the same thoughts that somebody a few blocks away had yesterday, and marvelling at our own originality. By the way, this really is a rather nice drop of pinot gris.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Prank
Some kids prank called us last night.
I hung up.
When the phone rang again I ran to the kitchen, and DH called out to me to leave it.
I picked up the phone, and this time the kid was putting on a gruff voice, trying to disguise his tone. I listened for a second or two and then called out to DH: "It's some 5yr old playing with the phone!"
Immediately the gruff voice stops, and an indignant kiddie voice says "Hey, are you calling me a 5 yr old!"
I laughed, hung up, and never heard from them again.
I hung up.
When the phone rang again I ran to the kitchen, and DH called out to me to leave it.
I picked up the phone, and this time the kid was putting on a gruff voice, trying to disguise his tone. I listened for a second or two and then called out to DH: "It's some 5yr old playing with the phone!"
Immediately the gruff voice stops, and an indignant kiddie voice says "Hey, are you calling me a 5 yr old!"
I laughed, hung up, and never heard from them again.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Codependent!
My husband just spent 2 weeks in Malaysia on a business trip.
I've always thought of myself as a particularly independent person. However, the past weeks have shown me to be the exact opposite. My routine was shaken. I missed meals. I was repeatedly late to work (unheard of!) and gradually spiralled into a minor breakdown. Clearly, his absence had a profound effect on me. Sure, I may do my own thing and we're not joined at the hip, but I like to know that he's around all the same!
Obviously, I am not codependent in the technical sense of the word. Codependency is actually a negative, harmful trait, more in line with excessive preoccupation with the happiness of others and self-sacrificing in a way that can actually be destructive to the relationship. I'm not like that. I am too selfish and have far too much self-esteem to sacrifice myself on the altar of servitude. Yes, I am considerate of his needs and try to be a loving, generous wife. But I also expect as much in return. I put my needs first, and pursue my own life as a balanced individual. So I think I'm ok. Maybe, just maybe, it's just *love* that made me miss him. (Combined with an easily triggered lifelong mental instability that requires routine and stability, as well as somebody to talk to, which resulted in the aforementioned minor breakdown).
Bruce Cameron has some interesting theories on what makes a happy marriage:
http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/humor/bruce-cameron/secrets-to-a-happy-marriage.html
If that's the case, we're heading in the right direction as I gradually shrink and DH slowly piles on the pounds.
But really, at the end of the day, I think a happy marriage is about wanting to be with the other person. That's what makes us willing to put the petty things behind us and choose to be happy together. Not sweat the small stuff. Support the other person. And if wanting to be together means I miss him when he's gone and get a bit crazy, then I don't think I should be complaining. There's worse things in this world than being in love.
I've always thought of myself as a particularly independent person. However, the past weeks have shown me to be the exact opposite. My routine was shaken. I missed meals. I was repeatedly late to work (unheard of!) and gradually spiralled into a minor breakdown. Clearly, his absence had a profound effect on me. Sure, I may do my own thing and we're not joined at the hip, but I like to know that he's around all the same!
Obviously, I am not codependent in the technical sense of the word. Codependency is actually a negative, harmful trait, more in line with excessive preoccupation with the happiness of others and self-sacrificing in a way that can actually be destructive to the relationship. I'm not like that. I am too selfish and have far too much self-esteem to sacrifice myself on the altar of servitude. Yes, I am considerate of his needs and try to be a loving, generous wife. But I also expect as much in return. I put my needs first, and pursue my own life as a balanced individual. So I think I'm ok. Maybe, just maybe, it's just *love* that made me miss him. (Combined with an easily triggered lifelong mental instability that requires routine and stability, as well as somebody to talk to, which resulted in the aforementioned minor breakdown).
Bruce Cameron has some interesting theories on what makes a happy marriage:
http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/humor/bruce-cameron/secrets-to-a-happy-marriage.html
If that's the case, we're heading in the right direction as I gradually shrink and DH slowly piles on the pounds.
But really, at the end of the day, I think a happy marriage is about wanting to be with the other person. That's what makes us willing to put the petty things behind us and choose to be happy together. Not sweat the small stuff. Support the other person. And if wanting to be together means I miss him when he's gone and get a bit crazy, then I don't think I should be complaining. There's worse things in this world than being in love.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Jersey Boys!
I finally made it!
First, let me say, I do love Franki Valli. Yet despite that I hadn't run out to see Jersey Boys. I just didn't know whether it would work or not. I like the music, sure, but what else is there?
The creators of Jersey Boys clearly know that people coming to the show won't know what to expect. A nice performance of a few Franki Valli and the Four Seasons songs, tied in with their storyling.... ok then. So they manage to shock us with the opening performance, which is the complete opposite of what anybody in the crowd expects. It's foreign, it's loud, it's crazy, boy do they have our attention! And then they launch into a funny story narrated in turn by each of the Four Seasons, who have a superb rapport with the audience in between delivering the hit songs with gusto in jaw-droppingly awesome vocals. Ok, I'm not overhyping this am I?
I knew I was at a great show mid-way through the first act when I realised we'd already stopped the show a couple of times with lengthy applause and cheering, with the actors having to wait to continue once we settled down. And this wasn't even a full house! And it wasn't even the end of an Act!
Be warned that the show contains very vulgar language. They play up the Jersey element a lot. There are bits that seem a bit silly, or a bit disjointed. But overall it's endearing, it's amusing, it's just great fun.
I wasn't sure whether Jersey Boys could make an interesting show. In retrospect I'm *still* not sure what it was exactly about it that made it so good.
Maybe it's just this:
Awesome, classic songs, performed by very talented and funny guys, who narrate their story to the audience with passion and wit.
Sydney was well and truly on it's feet for this one, myself included. And they gave us an encore! In truth, we would have happily waited for another encore, everybody was still primed to go. We were loving every minute of it.
If you're a fool like me and have put off seeing Jersey Boys, book your tickets now, before it's too late!!
What: Jersey Boys
Where: Theatre Royal
When: 9th March, but you can go now!
Tickets from http://www.ticketmaster.com.au
First, let me say, I do love Franki Valli. Yet despite that I hadn't run out to see Jersey Boys. I just didn't know whether it would work or not. I like the music, sure, but what else is there?
The creators of Jersey Boys clearly know that people coming to the show won't know what to expect. A nice performance of a few Franki Valli and the Four Seasons songs, tied in with their storyling.... ok then. So they manage to shock us with the opening performance, which is the complete opposite of what anybody in the crowd expects. It's foreign, it's loud, it's crazy, boy do they have our attention! And then they launch into a funny story narrated in turn by each of the Four Seasons, who have a superb rapport with the audience in between delivering the hit songs with gusto in jaw-droppingly awesome vocals. Ok, I'm not overhyping this am I?
I knew I was at a great show mid-way through the first act when I realised we'd already stopped the show a couple of times with lengthy applause and cheering, with the actors having to wait to continue once we settled down. And this wasn't even a full house! And it wasn't even the end of an Act!
Be warned that the show contains very vulgar language. They play up the Jersey element a lot. There are bits that seem a bit silly, or a bit disjointed. But overall it's endearing, it's amusing, it's just great fun.
I wasn't sure whether Jersey Boys could make an interesting show. In retrospect I'm *still* not sure what it was exactly about it that made it so good.
Maybe it's just this:
Awesome, classic songs, performed by very talented and funny guys, who narrate their story to the audience with passion and wit.
Sydney was well and truly on it's feet for this one, myself included. And they gave us an encore! In truth, we would have happily waited for another encore, everybody was still primed to go. We were loving every minute of it.
If you're a fool like me and have put off seeing Jersey Boys, book your tickets now, before it's too late!!
What: Jersey Boys
Where: Theatre Royal
When: 9th March, but you can go now!
Tickets from http://www.ticketmaster.com.au
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Speaking in Tongues
This was one of those fortuitous moments that I'm patting myself on the back for, although I really deserve no credit. I hadn't been to the theatre for awhile (ok, so I went to Dr. Zhivago, but it felt like awhile!) and Mandy mentioned this play was on. I didn't know what it was about or anything about it, but said to go ahead and book us tickets.
In the days to follow I learnt that this is in fact a hyped production of a beloved Aussie classic, and was now a fully sold-out season. And we had tickets!
Speaking in Tongues was written by Andrew Bovell and first premiered in 1996 at the Stables theatre. The screenplay was the inspiration for the 2001 film Lantana, and the play has won awards and made it's way around the world since then. This was it's homecoming to the Stables, and it didn't disappoint.
The writing is pure genius. The character's lines overlap with perfect symmetry, the emotion and poignancy in their voices hangs in the air during the carefully constructed pauses. The storyline is vague yet somehow crystal clear, because it's entirely character-driven. We see into the hearts and minds of the characters as they reveal the deepest, darkest, emotionally driven sides of themselves and their relationships. It's all about relationships, primarily about marriage, but for each character it's also about something more. There is basically no set to speak of, and I could count the props on one hand.
Because of this, the acting has to be superb, and it was. There is a cast of 4, who play numerous characters between them, yet at times I truly believed that I was watching an entirely new actor rather than the same one in a new role. If I had to describe this show in one word I would say "clever", but it's so much more than that. It's deep, it's sly, and it challenges certain things about ourselves that we'd rather not think about. Superb.
What: Speaking in Tongues
Where: SBW, Stables Theatre
http://www.griffintheatre.com.au
In the days to follow I learnt that this is in fact a hyped production of a beloved Aussie classic, and was now a fully sold-out season. And we had tickets!
Speaking in Tongues was written by Andrew Bovell and first premiered in 1996 at the Stables theatre. The screenplay was the inspiration for the 2001 film Lantana, and the play has won awards and made it's way around the world since then. This was it's homecoming to the Stables, and it didn't disappoint.
The writing is pure genius. The character's lines overlap with perfect symmetry, the emotion and poignancy in their voices hangs in the air during the carefully constructed pauses. The storyline is vague yet somehow crystal clear, because it's entirely character-driven. We see into the hearts and minds of the characters as they reveal the deepest, darkest, emotionally driven sides of themselves and their relationships. It's all about relationships, primarily about marriage, but for each character it's also about something more. There is basically no set to speak of, and I could count the props on one hand.
Because of this, the acting has to be superb, and it was. There is a cast of 4, who play numerous characters between them, yet at times I truly believed that I was watching an entirely new actor rather than the same one in a new role. If I had to describe this show in one word I would say "clever", but it's so much more than that. It's deep, it's sly, and it challenges certain things about ourselves that we'd rather not think about. Superb.
What: Speaking in Tongues
Where: SBW, Stables Theatre
http://www.griffintheatre.com.au
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Giggle of the Day
John Stamos:
"contrary to the rumors, I am not replacing charlie sheen on two and a half men. however, martin sheen has asked me to be his son."
"contrary to the rumors, I am not replacing charlie sheen on two and a half men. however, martin sheen has asked me to be his son."
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Dr. Zhivago
When I heard that there was a production of Dr Zhivago as a musical, I was skeptical. Honestly, if it weren't for Anthony Warlow I wouldn't have gone. The concept didn't interest me, and with new musicals I'm dubious as to the quality of the music. However, if it's good enough for Anthony Warlow - who has the pick of any project he desires - then it's good enough for me. Mandy and I had seats front and centre in the grand circle. They were fabulous seats, and the best part is that we got them half-price through http://www.lasttixs.com.au/. So yes, we somehow had two of the best seats in the house, and paid half of what everybody else around us had. Lucky us!
The production had it's clunky moments, that is to be expected from any new show. I felt that the sets were a little too sparse, they could have made better use of the space with the overall design and really given a "wow" factor. The feel of the production is sparse and gloomy, similar to Fiddler on the Roof or Les Miserables, which is understandable given the subject matter. However I think that those productions do a better job of creating a world on the stage. Dr Zhivago tied the scenes together with a table and chair that remained on the stage throughout. It came across as an after-thought, as though they had consciously realised they were lacking something and thrown a table in for a bit of consistency. I wasn't loving it.
But the music! Superb! The themes repeated with beautiful consistency throughout the show, tying the story together artlessly. The music is fantastic, and the lyrics of several songs stuck in my head. The worst part? The soundtrack for the production is not yet finished, therefore no CDs are available. Because it's a brand new musical there are no videos on YouTube, no covers on iTunes, no way to relive the magic of the night by listening to the songs that are stuck in my head. I can't even find the lyrics anywhere! So I resort to watching the same promotional song over and over again.
A strong performance from Anthony Warlow, and his female leads kept up admirably. Fellow male lead Martin Crewe as Pasha was an absolute standout from an acting perspective (as well as having a great voice!) and I'll him to my list of performers to keep an eye on.
Just a warning about the sound effects - the gunfire is LOUD. I almost jumped out of my seat everytime. There are a few aspects such as that which they did very, very well. So while I wasn't loving the sets the special effects were well done and they created some very powerful scenes. From a staging perspective they often had multiple scenes happening at once, and that usually worked effectively, with the odd exception where the crossovers were confusing as people perhaps did not move quickly enough.
Grand circle was perfect for this show as they used the full depth of the stage, and we had a great view straight down the middle. Not a single audience member in sight for us, just like watching a movie at home. If I went again I would probably try the stalls just to get a little closer to the performers now that I've experienced the full production.
They say that it's hard to get Sydney on it's feet, but they sure were tempted this time around. From my perspective this is a raging success and will be doing the rounds for many years to come.
What: Dr Zhivago
Where: Lyric Theatre, StarCity Casino
Open until 2nd April, tickets through http://www.ticketmaster.com.au, and you can also buy tickets for the Melbourne season through Ticketek. Scheduled to be in Brisbane from July.
Hot:
The vocals, the music, the lyrics. Powerful and passionate characters brought to life.
Anthony Warlow!! :-)
Not:
It's a BIG story to fit into one show. You really feel that you're only getting a small tasting platter. There is no way around that, and overall the producers have done a great job of condensing the story into a workable version for stage.
The production had it's clunky moments, that is to be expected from any new show. I felt that the sets were a little too sparse, they could have made better use of the space with the overall design and really given a "wow" factor. The feel of the production is sparse and gloomy, similar to Fiddler on the Roof or Les Miserables, which is understandable given the subject matter. However I think that those productions do a better job of creating a world on the stage. Dr Zhivago tied the scenes together with a table and chair that remained on the stage throughout. It came across as an after-thought, as though they had consciously realised they were lacking something and thrown a table in for a bit of consistency. I wasn't loving it.
But the music! Superb! The themes repeated with beautiful consistency throughout the show, tying the story together artlessly. The music is fantastic, and the lyrics of several songs stuck in my head. The worst part? The soundtrack for the production is not yet finished, therefore no CDs are available. Because it's a brand new musical there are no videos on YouTube, no covers on iTunes, no way to relive the magic of the night by listening to the songs that are stuck in my head. I can't even find the lyrics anywhere! So I resort to watching the same promotional song over and over again.
A strong performance from Anthony Warlow, and his female leads kept up admirably. Fellow male lead Martin Crewe as Pasha was an absolute standout from an acting perspective (as well as having a great voice!) and I'll him to my list of performers to keep an eye on.
Just a warning about the sound effects - the gunfire is LOUD. I almost jumped out of my seat everytime. There are a few aspects such as that which they did very, very well. So while I wasn't loving the sets the special effects were well done and they created some very powerful scenes. From a staging perspective they often had multiple scenes happening at once, and that usually worked effectively, with the odd exception where the crossovers were confusing as people perhaps did not move quickly enough.
Grand circle was perfect for this show as they used the full depth of the stage, and we had a great view straight down the middle. Not a single audience member in sight for us, just like watching a movie at home. If I went again I would probably try the stalls just to get a little closer to the performers now that I've experienced the full production.
They say that it's hard to get Sydney on it's feet, but they sure were tempted this time around. From my perspective this is a raging success and will be doing the rounds for many years to come.
What: Dr Zhivago
Where: Lyric Theatre, StarCity Casino
Open until 2nd April, tickets through http://www.ticketmaster.com.au, and you can also buy tickets for the Melbourne season through Ticketek. Scheduled to be in Brisbane from July.
Hot:
The vocals, the music, the lyrics. Powerful and passionate characters brought to life.
Anthony Warlow!! :-)
Not:
It's a BIG story to fit into one show. You really feel that you're only getting a small tasting platter. There is no way around that, and overall the producers have done a great job of condensing the story into a workable version for stage.
Don't miss this one!!!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Don McLean
When approaching the bar for a drink, there are a number of things I might expect. If there's no queue, the person might smile as they see me walk up. Or they might be busy talking to a colleague, or cleaning the counter. What I don't expect is for them to call out to me: "Congratulations! You're the youngest person here!"
Yes, I was in a noticeably geriatric crowd at the Enmore on Tuesday for one of two Don McLean performances in Sydney. Ok, so some of the crowd were only in their 50-60 age bracket, but there were plenty who could easily have been on a night out from the nursing home, complete with walking sticks and a 50-something companion to lean upon the arm of. Interestingly enough, this made it a very pleasant and civilised crowd to be part of. I was writing some notes in between acts and must have dropped my pen when I thought I'd slipped it back into my bag. A lovely gentlemen from a few rows back picked it up for me and returned it with a friendly comment. For this I was grateful, as it is one of my favourite Parker pens and could easily have either been overlooked or pocketed. It was just that kind of crowd.
Don McLean is a truly talented songwriter. He is a true musician, through and through. As well as his own classics he performed a number of covers, treating us to what was clearly a "jam session" with his band. His rendition of the Beatles "In my Life" was beautiful. In betwen numbers he spoke passionately about his music, the inspiration for his songs, and topics that interest him. Don commented on the "one-chord wonders" that we hear on the radio today, and marvelled drily at how they can make music with just one chord. He's an old-school musician, mourning the talent and climate of yesteryear where his brand of music was more widely appreciated. At the same time, there is a passion in him to continue to play, to perform, to create. He is doing what he loves. The guys in his band have impressive skills - guitar, bass, drums and piano.
My favourite song by far is "Crossroads". It captures the poignancy that runs through much of McLean's songwriting. It's hard not to have a shiver run down your spine, sitting in the dark hearing those words. Other clear crowd favourites were "Vincent" and "Castles in the Air". Often, all it took was an opening chord for the audience to recognise what was coming and begin to cheer.
At the end he had the whole crowd sing along to "American Pie", and sing along we did. In case you don't remember, it's a very long song when you include all of the verses. I know most of them, thanks to the hours I spent listening to my Dad's Don McLean album as a little girl. That's what brought me here. When I first saw the show advertised I emailed my husband immediately to buy me a ticket (being tapped out at the time). Honestly, I had barely realised that Don McLean was still alive, let alone touring. He's a blast from the past.
When Don and the band departed the stage the audience continued clapping - there would have been a standing ovation, however unfortunately most of the audience struggle with standing at the best of times, and by now it was well after bedtime. Still, they clapped on, and were rewarded by the boys returning for one last number. They appeared to be extremely tired. But happy to be there.
All in all, a memorable night out, and I'm very glad to be able to say that I've seen Don McLean perform live.
Who: Don McLean
Where: Enmore Theatre
Did you know? Don McLean is the inspiration behind the song "Killing Me Softly", ultimately made famous by Roberta Flack. He is the musician whose performance inspired such feeling.
Yes, I was in a noticeably geriatric crowd at the Enmore on Tuesday for one of two Don McLean performances in Sydney. Ok, so some of the crowd were only in their 50-60 age bracket, but there were plenty who could easily have been on a night out from the nursing home, complete with walking sticks and a 50-something companion to lean upon the arm of. Interestingly enough, this made it a very pleasant and civilised crowd to be part of. I was writing some notes in between acts and must have dropped my pen when I thought I'd slipped it back into my bag. A lovely gentlemen from a few rows back picked it up for me and returned it with a friendly comment. For this I was grateful, as it is one of my favourite Parker pens and could easily have either been overlooked or pocketed. It was just that kind of crowd.
Don McLean is a truly talented songwriter. He is a true musician, through and through. As well as his own classics he performed a number of covers, treating us to what was clearly a "jam session" with his band. His rendition of the Beatles "In my Life" was beautiful. In betwen numbers he spoke passionately about his music, the inspiration for his songs, and topics that interest him. Don commented on the "one-chord wonders" that we hear on the radio today, and marvelled drily at how they can make music with just one chord. He's an old-school musician, mourning the talent and climate of yesteryear where his brand of music was more widely appreciated. At the same time, there is a passion in him to continue to play, to perform, to create. He is doing what he loves. The guys in his band have impressive skills - guitar, bass, drums and piano.
My favourite song by far is "Crossroads". It captures the poignancy that runs through much of McLean's songwriting. It's hard not to have a shiver run down your spine, sitting in the dark hearing those words. Other clear crowd favourites were "Vincent" and "Castles in the Air". Often, all it took was an opening chord for the audience to recognise what was coming and begin to cheer.
At the end he had the whole crowd sing along to "American Pie", and sing along we did. In case you don't remember, it's a very long song when you include all of the verses. I know most of them, thanks to the hours I spent listening to my Dad's Don McLean album as a little girl. That's what brought me here. When I first saw the show advertised I emailed my husband immediately to buy me a ticket (being tapped out at the time). Honestly, I had barely realised that Don McLean was still alive, let alone touring. He's a blast from the past.
When Don and the band departed the stage the audience continued clapping - there would have been a standing ovation, however unfortunately most of the audience struggle with standing at the best of times, and by now it was well after bedtime. Still, they clapped on, and were rewarded by the boys returning for one last number. They appeared to be extremely tired. But happy to be there.
All in all, a memorable night out, and I'm very glad to be able to say that I've seen Don McLean perform live.
Who: Don McLean
Where: Enmore Theatre
Did you know? Don McLean is the inspiration behind the song "Killing Me Softly", ultimately made famous by Roberta Flack. He is the musician whose performance inspired such feeling.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Cost of Life
"helping others is the rent we pay for living on this earth"
How awesome is that?
"Service is the rent we pay for living" Marian Wright Edelman / Shirley Chisholm
Sunday, February 6, 2011
For years now there has been an outcry against judging a person for their appearance.
It's pure hypocrisy though, because in reality we continue to idolize the beautiful
Appearances *do* matter. That is evident in our society and the way we behave.
And, IMHO, this isn't necessarily wrong. Why shouldn't appearances matter?
A beautiful garden, a beautiful building, a beautiful
Friday, February 4, 2011
STFU!!!!
I love reading http://www.stfucouples.com
Ok, so 90% of the time it's just mocking the revoltingly OTT sugar-coated nonsense of the sickeningly in love. And that annoys me, because even the most pathetic of us deserve to express ourselves, even if I personally disagree with the weird public way they choose to do so.
But every so often she writes a post that is just inspiring, a la: http://www.stfucouples.com/post/3087141970/stfu-for-gay-marriage
Good stuff. I love reading succinct, intelligent posts that highlight the lack of logic in homophobia. It takes all kinds to make up this world, and I'm willing to tolerate her intolerance of the sickeningly in love because I support her support for gay rights. That makes sense... doesn't it? Meh, we're all intolerant in our own ways, who am I to judge? I'm highly intolerant of poor spellers (pot, meet kettle) and they make me want to scream. But I restrain myself. Because my boss hates it when I attack my coworkers for using "apart of" instead of "part of" and generally mixing up words in an appalling abuse of the English language. So I hope that people can respect my weakness and acknowledge that I am very tolerant and supportive on other issues. Yay for freedom!
Ok, so 90% of the time it's just mocking the revoltingly OTT sugar-coated nonsense of the sickeningly in love. And that annoys me, because even the most pathetic of us deserve to express ourselves, even if I personally disagree with the weird public way they choose to do so.
But every so often she writes a post that is just inspiring, a la: http://www.stfucouples.com/post/3087141970/stfu-for-gay-marriage
Good stuff. I love reading succinct, intelligent posts that highlight the lack of logic in homophobia. It takes all kinds to make up this world, and I'm willing to tolerate her intolerance of the sickeningly in love because I support her support for gay rights. That makes sense... doesn't it? Meh, we're all intolerant in our own ways, who am I to judge? I'm highly intolerant of poor spellers (pot, meet kettle) and they make me want to scream. But I restrain myself. Because my boss hates it when I attack my coworkers for using "apart of" instead of "part of" and generally mixing up words in an appalling abuse of the English language. So I hope that people can respect my weakness and acknowledge that I am very tolerant and supportive on other issues. Yay for freedom!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Couple aborting boys in search for girl
Ok, tell me that this doesn't represent what's wrong with the world today: http://www.news.com.au/national/desperate-couple-abort-twin-boys-in-desperate-bid-for-ivf-girl/story-e6frfkvr-1225983907853
We pander to every weakness in society today. In Real Life a person needs to learn to deal with their "psychological wellbeing" and their psychological distress. Technology has advanced to the point where instead of addressing their problems, we can give people everything they want and pander to their "needs". It's great that we've advanced to the point where we consider a person's weaknesses as legitimate, and people aren't ostracised for experiencing pain or trauma. But it is not ok that a person who is clearly suffering some kind of post-traumatic stress can simply create a designer baby to cure that.
1. Has our society really not advanced far enough to recognise that neither boys or girls are superior? Yes, I can accept having a preference, of course. But it doesn't have to make any difference to how you raise them or how they live their life.
2. They are clearly not looking to have another child to heal the pain of losing their daughter, they are looking to replace their daughter. Why else would the gender be relevant? So this poor child (if she eventuates) is expected to fulfill the role of the little girl that died. No pressure! Oh, and she will also be vital to her mother's "psychological health" due to her "obsession" with having a daughter. Great!
A couple of quotes from the article:
"After what we have been through we are due for a bit of luck." LUCK??? You are lucky enough to have three healthy children, and you CHOSE to destroy two other potential children, and then complain about it. Life is choices. Yes, losing a child is horrible, but this isn't the way to deal with it. (For the record, I am pro-choice, but there is a limit!)
"The couple said that it had been a traumatic decision to make but that they could not continue to have unlimited numbers of children." Then stop. Nobody is forcing you to have more children. Perhaps focus on loving and nurturing the three children that you have, rather than wasting time, money and energy on a court case. Or, as the article suggests, adopt a daughter. IMHO, adoption should be the only way of assuring that you have a child of a particular gender. Creating designer babies is a horrible idea. And the way this couple is going about it is particularly horrible.
We pander to every weakness in society today. In Real Life a person needs to learn to deal with their "psychological wellbeing" and their psychological distress. Technology has advanced to the point where instead of addressing their problems, we can give people everything they want and pander to their "needs". It's great that we've advanced to the point where we consider a person's weaknesses as legitimate, and people aren't ostracised for experiencing pain or trauma. But it is not ok that a person who is clearly suffering some kind of post-traumatic stress can simply create a designer baby to cure that.
1. Has our society really not advanced far enough to recognise that neither boys or girls are superior? Yes, I can accept having a preference, of course. But it doesn't have to make any difference to how you raise them or how they live their life.
2. They are clearly not looking to have another child to heal the pain of losing their daughter, they are looking to replace their daughter. Why else would the gender be relevant? So this poor child (if she eventuates) is expected to fulfill the role of the little girl that died. No pressure! Oh, and she will also be vital to her mother's "psychological health" due to her "obsession" with having a daughter. Great!
A couple of quotes from the article:
"After what we have been through we are due for a bit of luck." LUCK??? You are lucky enough to have three healthy children, and you CHOSE to destroy two other potential children, and then complain about it. Life is choices. Yes, losing a child is horrible, but this isn't the way to deal with it. (For the record, I am pro-choice, but there is a limit!)
"The couple said that it had been a traumatic decision to make but that they could not continue to have unlimited numbers of children." Then stop. Nobody is forcing you to have more children. Perhaps focus on loving and nurturing the three children that you have, rather than wasting time, money and energy on a court case. Or, as the article suggests, adopt a daughter. IMHO, adoption should be the only way of assuring that you have a child of a particular gender. Creating designer babies is a horrible idea. And the way this couple is going about it is particularly horrible.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Procrastination
In November I began a focused effort of telling everybody who would listen that I was going to finish my novel this summer. Why? Because I was ultimately trying to shame myself into actually putting more time into it, knowing that I frequently set goals and fail to deliver on them. To be fair, this is generally because my goals are unrealistic and unachievable - I aim far too high, and typically end up giving up entirely.
This time though it really really ISN'T my fault. I swear. Hehehe.
The first day of my vacation my laptop broke, hard-drive failure apparently. Everybody knows that you can't write a novel without a laptop, right? Wrong. I switched to pen-and-paper and typing on the desktop computer. This sort-of-kind-of worked, and then two days before I went back to work a full OS reinstall returned my laptop to my tender arms.
Still, I've made very little progress towards my goal. Sure, I'm writing semi-regularly, but not enough to actually finish in the timeframe I've specified. In February I start back at university so will need to devote some of my spare time to procrastinating/avoiding study, so it will be interesting to see what happens then. I've already started back at work fulltime as of this week, and am now procrastinating from work by updating my blogs. In a way, it's a good thing that I overcommit myself, because the more I have to do the more I actually get done (although, that also means there are more things that I don't finish at all...).
The problem with my novel is that I've almost planned it out too much. There are too many segments written, and it is hard to just sit down and write because I bump into something I've sort of done and then have to fit it in. That is not a good way to write a novel! It means I'm kind of editing at the same time... still, I love the concept and love the characters and I think it's a fun story. So I just have to get typing and fill in the blanks, then edit the crap out of it.
Watch this space. I'm sure I'll update when I'm trying to avoid doing something else.
This time though it really really ISN'T my fault. I swear. Hehehe.
The first day of my vacation my laptop broke, hard-drive failure apparently. Everybody knows that you can't write a novel without a laptop, right? Wrong. I switched to pen-and-paper and typing on the desktop computer. This sort-of-kind-of worked, and then two days before I went back to work a full OS reinstall returned my laptop to my tender arms.
Still, I've made very little progress towards my goal. Sure, I'm writing semi-regularly, but not enough to actually finish in the timeframe I've specified. In February I start back at university so will need to devote some of my spare time to procrastinating/avoiding study, so it will be interesting to see what happens then. I've already started back at work fulltime as of this week, and am now procrastinating from work by updating my blogs. In a way, it's a good thing that I overcommit myself, because the more I have to do the more I actually get done (although, that also means there are more things that I don't finish at all...).
The problem with my novel is that I've almost planned it out too much. There are too many segments written, and it is hard to just sit down and write because I bump into something I've sort of done and then have to fit it in. That is not a good way to write a novel! It means I'm kind of editing at the same time... still, I love the concept and love the characters and I think it's a fun story. So I just have to get typing and fill in the blanks, then edit the crap out of it.
Watch this space. I'm sure I'll update when I'm trying to avoid doing something else.
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