Across the Universe

I finally got to see Across the Universe last night. I have mixed feelings about it--part of me loved it, and the other part of me was mildly disturbed. In any case, it's a beautiful and unique film. I loved the music, and how they found a way to incorporate so many Beatle's songs into the story. And visually it was very innovative. I just had a couple of issues:

1. Some of the scenes were excessively long and/or made little to no sense. Examples: The "I Am the Walrus" scene and the Eddie Izzard scene. Granted, many of the Beatles' songs were trippy, but these scenes felt a little conjured to me. "We want to do something really artistic here and we really like this song, so we're going to put in a pointless scene."

2. Random nudity. I get uncomfortable seeing boobs on screen, particularly in a PG-13 movie. I know they justify it because it's art and all that jazz, but is it really necessary? I dont think so. That must just be me, though. :-)

Those are just some of the things that bothered me. However, I did love lots of things about it: "Strawberry Fields Forever" was so cool, and the scene in the bowling alley was awesome as well, just to name a couple.

All in all, I'm glad I saw this. I won't buy it or anything, but it's worth seeing.

Lament of the Vocally-Impaired

So, I'm having another "I can't sing" week. It's very frustrating, to say the least, especially since I'm trying to go into choral conducting. I try to sing, but nothing comes out except air. Maybe it's a sign that I need to choose a different career...something with less talking, maybe? Charlie Chaplin did okay with the whole silent thing. Hmmm.... Oh well. I will get better. I just have to keep saying that to myself, because I don't think I can pull off the bowler hat and mustache look.

Catching up

Well, I officially have my first church calling that doesn't involve music. Yay! I'm a Gospel Doctrine teacher, which means I get to brainwash and teach as much false doctrine as I want. Mwhahahahahah. *Jules grins in an evil manner while tapping her fingers together.* Actually, I'm excited. It will be a nice change for me.

It's been a while since I've posted, so I just have to talk about the awesome concerts I went to! My fried got me into the Muse concert for free a couple of weeks ago, and it was amazing. I'm no longer terrified of GA, though I'm not a big fan of getting kicked in the shins and covered with everyone else's sweat. Ah well. It's all part of the experience. The moral of the story is, if you get the chance to see Muse in concert, do it. And bring ear plugs. They definitely know how to put on a good show.

The other show I went to was Guster. I liked them, but oddly enough I liked the opening band better. They were called Tally Hall, and they were amazing performers. I'm a fan.

In other news, I'm enjoying living away from home. It's nice to be able to meet people, instead of sitting at my house watching movies every day. However, I don't think I'm ever going to get any homework done. Oh well. I don't have much motivation anyway, seeing as how this is my last year. Whoohoo!! I can't wait. Speaking of homework, I think I'm going to do some. :-)

Quote of the Day: Things do not change; we change. --Henry David Thoreau

WHY AM I SICK AGAIN?!

I have strep. *Jules cries a little.* I've never had strep before, but I'm not a fan of Strepto and his band of Cocci's, as I've decided to call them. Here they are:



They just decided to move in and make themselves at home in my throat without permission. Normally, I'd try to find a way to put up with them first, and then lovingly kick them out, but right now I'm trying to find a way to plot my revenge--I want to make them suffer!! You see, I'm trying to move out this week while going to school and teaching piano lessons. I don't have time to be sick.

So, I'm hoping Strepto dies a horrible death and decides never to return. The good side to all of this: Now that I have a diagnosis for my illness, I feel justified in staying home from school until I feel better. That will help in the war against strep, for sure.

Quote of the Day: It's no longer a question of staying healthy. It's a question of finding a sickness you like. --Jackie Mason

Back from Burley

I hurt. Ha ha. I just got back from a trip to Idaho, and I injured my neck and back in an unfortunate incident involving Nick Kanno, the park, and jumping. It was actually really funny to watch as I flipped over these bungee cord things and landed on my head. I'm fine, besides being sore and having some cuts on my face from wood chips. You just feel stupid more than anything else: Here I am, 21 years old, and I manage to hurt myself while playing "Lava Monster" in the park. Oh dear. I wonder how I have made it through life without breaking a bone. I am seriously so accident prone!

Oh well, besides one minor accident, our road trip to Idaho was another success. Any road trip with Griff is going to be entertaining, I've decided. Highlights:

--Floating down the Snake River. It is in Beka's back yard, after all.
--Climbing up to Bath Rock at the City of Rocks.
--Playing at Lake Cleveland.
--The rodeo.
--Meeting Ana, the German exchange student living at Beka's house. Ha ha. I asked her what the stereotype of Americans is in Germany and she said, "Short skirts and lots of partying." Whoohoo!!
--Listening to Griff sing "Seasons of Love" from Rent.
--Rock Skipping Championship
--The movie "Stardust." It was awesome!


All in all, it was a fun swan song for the summer. I will miss you, Summer. Take care of yourself until next year.

Red!

I bought some very impractical high-heeled red shoes today, and I love them. :-) I used to always get red shoes when I was a little, and I guess I'm reverting back to my childhood or something. I keep getting more and more girly with time. Anyway, the shoes are ridiculously high and now I look like a monster, but I don't care. *Jules clicks her shoes together and says, "There's no place like home."*

Thoughts

Here are a couple of thoughts for today. First of all, I realized that I never wrote any tribute to my dear friend, Harry Potter. The 7th book is amazing, and if you haven't ever gotten in to the Harry Potter series, I suggest you read them. (And I mean, really read them. Don't just watch the movies because they aren't nearly as fun. ) And, if you really don't like reading, I will come and read them to you. Seriously! I've done it before.... So, if you need someone to read it to you, just give me a call and I'll come be the Story Lady for a little while...relatively free of charge. :-) Just give me some chocolate cake. :-)

Second thought: I am pretty glad to be moving out of my singles' ward. Once again this week I had the feeling that I'm not a part of the "cool" church group because a)I'm not a man and b) I'm not a returned missionary. Maybe this is a problem in every ward, but I hope not. I'm tired of feeling like a second class church citizen just because I happen to be a woman.

Alright, enough ranting.