But who will play me???

The Movie Of Your Life Is An Indie Flick

You do things your own way - and it's made for colorful times. Your life hasn't turned out how anyone expected, thank goodness! Your best movie matches: Clerks, Garden State, Napoleon Dynamite

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

Meowy new year

Ok, I was on a roll there - blogging away (not that anyone was reading) and then I hit a wall. So I'm taking a page from Courtney's , er, page and sharing Claudio's plans for the new year.

1. Start an advice column. Since he makes a point to be involved in all happenings already he's been pondering taking it to another level and giving criticism and directives on all that he observes. Surely there's a market. It will be much like Ladies Man on SNL and this will be his print ad.

2. Sleeping. He's feeling pretty confident about the 16 hours or so he spends doing this but he's thinking the quality could be improved. He's contemplating taking over the ENTIRE bed when his human is home. Better yet, if much of the sleeping can be done when the humans are not home perhaps he can work on number three in the wee hours of the night.

3. Playing Fetch. He's found his niche. Some felines might say it is undignified but he has a very cat-like way of playing this indeed. If there are lots of people in the room he will vary who he takes the toy to. And, while the humans have been trained to throw the toy immediately, he will still take his own time getting to it, perhaps grooming along the way, batting it under a table, only to pounce on it and bring it back to be dropped in a lap (or sleeping face) when least expected.

4. Loving the allergic. His snuggle skills are quite renown. In 2006 he plans to expand markets and focus on those allergic to him. He is convinced that a little extra exposure will cure them of any ailments and their attempts to sidestep him just show that they are shy and need guidance.

The Yankee, Killer...

It kills that he is now a Yankee that's for sure.

Just like in theatre there is drama in baseball and today's word is BETRAYAL. I can't even adequately deal with what has happened with Damon. Mostly because the feelings I have and the things I want to say are just plain not Yuletide appropriate. I'll just give you a transcript of the conversation I had with another baseball fan this evening:

Me: Did you hear about Johnny Damon?

Her: No, what?

Me: What's the worst thing I could tell you about Johnny Damon?

Her: My god. He's injured?

Me: Worse.

Her: He's dead?!?!?!

Me: Worse.

Her: He's...long pause...a YANKEE?!?!?!?!

Happy Solstice Everyone!

The Shortest Day
by Susan Cooper

So the shortest day came, and the year died,

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world

Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen;

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive,

And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, reveling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us - Listen!!

All the long echoes sing the same delight,

This shortest day,

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, feast, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

And hope for peace.

And so do we, here, now,

This year and every year.

Welcome Yule!!

The goal is elevation

So I had crappy seats this time. 300 level behind the stage. Given the experience in April I didn't mind, I just had to be there and I got the tickets Sunday morning (thanks for the help Julie) so no complaints. Right behind a young Neel look-alike that wouldn't dance and a skinny brunette that never stopped. It was an amazing night. The end of the tour. I'm not sure if Bono getting his lyrics back last year had anything to do with their new love for PDX or us getting the last show but he did mention it and I was looking forward to any surprises that might be in store. There were many...

Setlist:
City of Blinding Lights - with many references to Portland
Vertigo - "Good bye, Good-bye" and "Come back, Come back" lyric change
Elevation - thousands of 'Thank You' signs all over the stadium. Bono "No, thank YOU". Someone in the front row had been to see them 41 times!!!
I Will Follow - no Boy cover video like last time but it still rocked
Still Haven't Found - we're all still looking, a nice quieter version of this song still rocked
Beautiful Day - Pretty lights and much jumping around.
Original of the Species - I've recently bonded with this song since the new video. Very nice.
Sometimes you Can't Make it - It's about his father and Bono sang for him...sans sunglasses.
Love and Peace or Else - God I love this song! I love everything about it. Larry out on the ellipse banging his drum...he even let Bono take over.
Sunday Bloody Sunday - "this song is your song. It's for America now."An Irish and American flag found their way on stage.
Bullet The Blue Sky - The Coexist blindfold bit still going strong.
Miss Sarajevo - OH MY GOD! I never thought I would hear this live given that they kinda need Pavarotti and all - but Bono said he's been practicing his Italian and wanted to give it a shot. I think he wrecked his voice a bit in doing it but DAMN! I took an mpeg with my camera and let my jaw rest on the floor.
Pride in the Name of Love - Still powerful!
Where the Streets have No Name - I knew Jeanne was happy in her seats as it was the one she wanted to hear most.
One - Cell phones lit up the stadium "like a christmas tree" said Bono. Lots of "powerful little tools". The screens advised you to text your full name to the One campaign and the names rolled on the screen at the end. They had hoped to have 1 million supporters by 2005...so far they have 2 million. Soon to more members than the NRA, they joke.
Instant Karma - we've all been thinking about John Lennon these days. Another Oh My God moment.

They leave the stage calling out names of people in their crew they wish to thank before they "go downstairs and figure out what were going to do next." The crew knows what to do and they ALL (ok, the spot ops were kinda stuck but the rest were there) came onstage and stretched out around the ellipse wearing t-shirts, each with one letter, which together read "The U2 crew would like to thank Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam for a great 2005. " Yay techies.

Until the End of the World - Bono came back to celebrate...with champagne to shake over the audience.
Mysterious Ways - Two sisters are brought up on stage to dance with Bono.
With or Without You - He continues to hug them through the first verse of the song.

The boys left again to a deafening roar from the crowd who didn't want them to go.

Stuck in a Moment - I'll say, they didn't want to leave either.
All Because of You - Further thanks and another from the new album.
Yahweh - lryic change to take the people of Portland Oregon, take their hearts and keep them safe...nice!
40 - that ending will never get old for me. "How long to sing this song" Bono leaves, Adam leaves, Edge leaves, and we all sing for Larry before he departs leaving the single spotlight center stage. The fans still sing until the lights come up.

I need love and peace

Ok... 6 hours and counting. The snow and ice have all melted and while it will be damn cold tonight they don't think it will freeze. All is good on the concert front. So here I am, stuck in a cube, listening to all U2 all day...waiting.

I hate waiting.

tick, tock, tick, tock...

BRING ME MY BONO!!!

Oh, the weather outside it frightful

So the report said freezing rain sometime after 4 but the snow started just after 1. So after a blustery walk to Fred Meyers the cat and I are happily ensconced in the condo for a long winter's night. At least I'm hoping a long one and that a delay or (dare I dream) closure of the office will add to it. Some random cooped-up with myself comments to share so far:

1. Having a fireplace in the bedroom ROCKS! Upstairs is much warmer than down so I'm camping out up here. I probably won't be happy when I get my gas bill but now it's pretty freakin' awesome.

2. Oregonians, myself included, are just not prepared for blizzard type weather. My Canadian genetics told me that walking to the store would be fine. My slippy shoes and non-waterproof gloves told me it might be a little more uncomfortable than previously thought.

3. Even with cable there is nothing on...thank god for wireless internet. I see a game of Civ in my future.

4. Living alone has it's downside. Not that I'm unhappy right now (master of your domain is not to be sneezed at) but it would be a little more interesting to have company at this point.

5. My cat is the cutest thing ever! I tried to let him out on the balcony to see what he would do with snow and he gave me a pointed look that said "You have GOT to be kidding", turned tail, and curled up on the chair by the fire. Smart boy.

6. The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow is one of the greatest albums ever.

7. I've heard conflicting stories. That this is all supposed to be gone by tomorrow afternoon or it will last through wednesday... this BETTER not affect me seeing Bono and the boys tomorrow evening. I might have to walk to the Rose Garden.

8. I hate folding laundry. Doing it is fine. Folding it when done bugs me. I think it was working retail in the early 90's. To quote Reality Bites "People don't know. They don't know what it takes."

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

So I walked past the long lines for Brokeback Mountain at the "artsy" movie theater this weekend to see Kiss Kiss Bang Bang instead. Besides the initial pull that I should be in those lines filled with young women and gay men I'm ever so glad I did. I laughed, I cringed, I laughed some more. I might have even snorted at one point. It was damn funny stuff. For Robert Downey Jr. fans - which I am - it was a gem. The role was made for him and he ran with it. Armed with a deliciously noir setting and fast, precise dialogue he showed he's still got serious game. Best narration in a movie EVER. I'm not sure who I was impressed with more. Downey or Black...as it was one of the most original scripts to come out in a long time.

This is probably going down as one of the most underrated movies of 2005. Not enough people will see it. Don't allow yourself to be one of the masses. Go see this. You'll thank me later.

No, I have a mortgage...

Just saw RENT tonight.

Overall, I'm glad I went. I loved the play. But I feel almost the same way I did about Pride and Prejudice...moments were brilliant and others were painful. In P&P when they stuck to what was on the page for their lines it was great. In RENT when they stuck with what was on the stage for their blocking it was breathtaking. However, when you see people riding a bike, flipping around on poles, and dancing overly energetically and their vocals don't reflect any change it's just too wierd. And all the fashbacks and montages made me physically ill. I sobbed through the end of the play (and occasionally the soundtrack) and got goosebumpes the first time I saw the trailer...but alas, the movie did not come anywhere near that brilliance. There is magic in simple theatrical presentation that was missing. It choose to show you things instead of help you to feel them...oh well.

Whheeeeeee!

The silence is blamed on tech for The Christmas Revels and tomorrow is opening night. We've already sold out the entire run! No pressure.

So, for those that understand and can sympathize let me explain...no, sum up:

Tonight is the preview audience and I have:
- never run the opening cues of the show
- not met with the house manager regarding calls and timing
- no idea what the real running time of the show is.
- props that I'm told will "be here by tonight, really"
- a cast of 45 chorus members wandering off stage, in the dark, amongst 100 year-old drops that are insured for $6 Mil (although no one will tell me what the deductable is)

EEEEEEeeeeeeeek.

However I also have:
- assembled a crew that kicks butt
- the lighting designer in the booth with me (Julie, Drew says hi)
- 5 lbs of dry ice in my car

Aaaaand...

The final run through last night was a total train wreck!

So, all should be fine. It's going to be a wonderful show.

I'll write more once I've gotten some sleep. Which could be a while.