I don’t cry easily, but there are always certain songs and scenes in movies that definitely bring tears to my eyes. Here are some YouTube links to those scenes/ songs:
“I Didn’t Know I’d Love You So Much” from Repo! The Genetic Opera (SPOILERS BUT STILL AMAZING. Embedding Disabled.) Here’s just the song:
The end of Phantom of the Opera when Christine says goodbye to the Erik (the Phantom).
“Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell (2000 version) Doesn’t make me cry, but I tear up a bit. Her voice seems haunted.
Any time Emma Thompson cries:
Any time Anthony Hopkins cries (this one’s a heartbreaker, you’ve been warned) :
If you could have dinner with 5 people, alive or dead, real or fictional, who would you choose?
Here’s who I’d pick, with some runners-up.
1. John Lennon- Why not? The man is a legend. Musically gifted, all about promoting peace, and just to speak to him would be an amazing experience.
People for Peace
2. J.K. Rowling- She wrote the books that made reading cool again. Screw Twilight.
JKR
3. Robin Williams- He’s interesting. He makes movies as different as “Good Will Hunting” and “Aladdin”. I’d love to have a chat sometime.
Cool Glasses, Dude!
4. Merlin- Fictional wizard… “Lived” during one of the greatest soap operas of all time. Here’s a picture of the current Merlin:
Colin Morgan plays Merlin on the BBC show of the same name.
5. Rupert “Ripper” Giles- Because I’m on an Anthony Stewart Head binge right now. But Giles= a sexy British librarian. Who has a dark side. How can you resist?
Love that smirk...
So those are my 5… Here are some runners-up though:
Anthony Stewart Head- Did I mention I’m on a high with this guy right now?
Tim Curry- How does such a fantastic actor get such crappy roles?
Mother Teresa- Why not?
King Arthur- Same reason as Merlin, except he was more of an idiot at times than Merlin.
Graham Chapman- Might be the most interesting (in my opinion) of the Monty Python group.
I never thought of myself as a writer until I started this blog. Even now, I feel like I’m a better reader and editor than writer. But my previous blog “Overactive Imagination” got a lot more views and positive feedback than I anticipated. It kind of gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling…
I figured I could write a bit more of the random stuff that comes from my imagination; I’ll just need to remember to jot that stuff down. My mind is always going a mile a minute, so I think organizing my thoughts will make it easier for you guys to read.
(I should make it clear though that I am not always the “main character” or “protagonist” in my ridiculous day dreams. I feel kind of weird making these day dreams known to the world, but I also find it funny, and it makes me laugh, so here we go!
Yesterday I posted a Facebook status that said “Elton John saved my life.” This isn’t really something to be taken literally (as I think that suicide is a selfish thing to do, and I’m also too much of a coward to attempt it) but it is quite figurative. During some of my lowest points I always end up listening to a lot of Elton John music. Don’t ask me why, because I’m not actually sure… Anyway, last year during my rough patch, I was super low. Songs like “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”, “Sorry Seems to Be The Hardest Word”, and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” always make me feel better. Even if they are slightly depressing songs. However, songs that will really lift your mood are songs like “Bennie and the Jets”, “Philadelphia Freedom”, “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting”, and “Bitch is Back”. He is a true musical artist, and a fantastic performer. (Though I have yet to see him live…)
A friend texted me after that Facebook post, and we got to talking about what it would be like to meet Sir Elton randomly one day. Because I have an overactive imagination, I actually did daydream about meeting him (because I’m a fangirl) and here’s what I came up with. ***This is in no way realistic, because Elton and David (Furnish, his partner) probably never have to walk anywhere, or eat in any sort of random London cafe. Don’t hate- I’m just being imaginative.***
I have plans to go to London this summer. I imagined that while I was there, just walking the streets with my friend, when we decide to pop into a small cafe to get a quick bite to eat before setting out on our next adventure. Before going in I see two people who look familiar, and get an anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach. We enter the cafe, and with our backs to the two gentlemen, I can’t make out who it is and why I recognize them. We receive our food, and turn around to find a place to sit. Upon sitting down, it hits me: It’s Elton John and David Furnish! Oh my God! Oh my God! AHHH! (I obviously freak out a bit.) I whisper to my friend who it is, and upon realizing it, we both have mini-strokes. How is this man who is so great eating in this small, badly lit cafe? We eat a few bites, but our stomachs are so unsettled.
It looks as though the two gentlemen are finished eating, and as they get up to leave I suddenly have a problem- Do I get up and ask him for a picture and autograph? Do I leave him alone, which is probably what he wants? If I ask him for anything will he be rude and say no, and leave me embarrassed? What a dilemma… Without a lot of thought, I decide that since he has no idea who I am, risking a bit of embarrassment might be worth it. I get up, say excuse me, introduce myself, my friend introduces herself, and we ask for an autograph and picture, if it wouldn’t be too inconvenient. He obliges us, thanks us for listening to his music, and asks if there is anything else he can do for us. In my mind I’m thinking, “Well… I’d like to see you in concert…” But I keep my mouth shut. As though he had read my mind, he asks us where we are from, and says he can arrange to fly us to see him live and hang out with him backstage.
A few months pass by, and I receive a phone call from Sir Elton’s agent. He says Elton is having a concert in St. Louis, and is personally inviting my friend, myself, and a guest each, to come see him perform. Of course we all go, have a good time, and from then on, Elton and I are BFFs.
This is an example of how my imagination works. There are always more of these stories around… Do you have any stories like this? Comment below and tell me!
A friend of mine sent me a text message last night asking me “Band or Orchestra? Which do you prefer?”
This made me think about my years in high school, playing my French horn in both bands and orchestras. There are plus sides to both groups, but I think I prefer playing in orchestras. This is just my opinion as a horn player. Horns tend to get better parts in orchestra pieces. Band pieces tend to favor either the highs or the lows. Horns, being in the middle, tend to have parts that repeat often, that are mundane, and that I wish I never had to play. There are exceptions though. One of my favorite songs I played in high school was done my junior year. Very horn heavy. It’s “An American Elegy” by Frank Ticheli (a good band composer.) Here’s an mp3 link (copy and paste to your browser): http://www.manhattanbeachmusic.com/audio/american-elegy-ms.mp3
However, in orchestra horns get “meatier” parts. Especially if the composer is someone like John Williams. (Composer of Star Wars film scores, etc.) My favorite song I’ve ever played in an orchestra is actually a song I’ve played in both orchestra AND band. Its “Overture to Candide” by Leonard Bernstein. I preferred playing it in orchestra though. Here’s a YouTube link, in which Bernstein himself is conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. (Audio and Video are a bit off. That’s okay, just listen. Copy and paste to your browser.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=422-yb8TXj8
Since I don’t really play anymore: I also usually prefer listening to orchestras instead of band. I’m not sure why, I think its probably just an aesthetic preference.
Things are looking up for me. I just found out I got the summer camp job. I am buying a great car for cheap. My Monty Python posters came in the mail today. And a great friend invited me on a trip with her family in England this summer. (I owe you Amy!)
I am still worried about money, but thats life. Whatever. I am feeling better than I have in a long time. Relient K has a song called “Up and Up” that I love. Here it is:
I’m doing a review of both the book and the movie. I’ll start with the book:
Written by Kazuo Ishiguro, its about a butler named Stevens who is totally devoted to his employer Lord Darlington, and sometimes his devotion is to a fault, because he misses the chance for love in the housekeeper, Miss Kenton. The story is written as a narrative of Stevens in the 1950′s. He reflects on the past, namely the 1930′s (pre World War II).
The story begins in the 50′s, with Stevens serving his new employer, Mr. Farraday. Farraday is a rich American who purchased Darlington Hall following Lord Darlington’s death. Farraday is a man with a sense of humor, and Stevens’ “sense of humor” (if you can call it that) does not match Farraday’s. So we see throughout the book Stevens trying to gain a sense of humor, and is constantly worrying about trying to match his employer’s sense of humor.
Farraday is taking a trip back to America to fetch his family, and suggests that Stevens take some time off while he is gone to see the country. Stevens is torn about leaving Darlington Hall, but his mind is made up when he receives a letter from Miss Kenton, where she gives some hint about wishing to return to service, because it seems that her marriage is not in a good state. Because Stevens is looking for a housekeeper, he decides to go and “see the country” and also see Miss Kenton, to see if she would like to work at Darlington Hall again.
On his trip he remnisces about the former “glory days” of Darlington Hall, and also of Miss Kenton. I won’t give all of the examples of his memories, but it is easy to see that though he has a cold demeanor, Stevens is in love with Miss Kenton. It is also easy to see that Miss Kenton most likely loves him too, however neither one of them actually voice their feelings. Miss Kenton is married to a man in the village, and she moves away to the West Country, leaving Stevens behind. The years pass, and they eventually lose most contact.
When Stevens gets to meet with Miss Kenton, she says that although she was thinking about returning to service, her marriage is not in such a bad state, and she has moved back in with her husband. While she is saying this, Stevens confesses that his heart was breaking.
In the end of the book there is a touching scene where Stevens confesses his feelings to a former butler he had just met on a pier. If you want to read this book, be warned that sometimes it seems like a bit much to take in sometimes. You need a stomach for reading this kind of literature, because it doesn’t have the “happy ending” or huge love scenes. Its very British.
The Movie:
Remains of the Day is a Merchant/ Ivory production (see Howard’s End, Room With a View). It stars Anthony Hopkins as Stevens and Emma Thompson as Miss Kenton.
The movie follows the book fairly well, although for brevity some characters have been changed or gotten rid of. Hopkins and Thompson do a wonderful job, as well as the supporting cast which includes James Fox, Christopher Reeve, and Hugh Grant. The music in this film is beautiful as well, with the woodwinds playing low, flowing music and the violins and flutes playing longer notes over the top. Its wonderful. I love this movie, it’s definitely one of my favorite movies. Here is the trailer:
I’ve been “diagnosed” with depression since I was 15. So 4 years after my initial diagnosis, I have found another low point. I am not happy. My sleep patterns are off, I am full of hate, I do not want to be alone, but I don’t want to be around just random people. My temper is much more worse than normal. I am full of hatred sometimes, that is uncommon, even for me… I am getting migraines more and more frequently, and my back and neck and eyes have been hurting as well. This sounds like I’m just complaining- I’m not. I have a healthy body for the most part, its my mental state that is making my physical state worse. I’m on my medication. It’s not doing a lot of good. My best “anti-depression tactic” is Monty Python, lame or stupid as it sounds. They make me forget everything that’s on my mind, they make me laugh when nothing else can. Even Python fans are great. I have befriended many of them in the last week. But once the show or movie or song by the Pythons is over- I’m back to my gloomy state.
People have told me that depression isn’t real. That it’s only a state of mind, and I have a choice to be happy or sad. They have never dealt with depression on a real scale. I have made the “choice” to have better days, to get out and do something, to really help myself, and to be happy, but it doesn’t work. I go out, end up getting pissed off by someone, or feel even more lonely than I already do. I go back to my room, and sleep or read. So when I see these people in the grips of a horrible depression, it’s hard to feel sorry for them. They see that it’s real, and it sucks. It’s not like I “chose” to be depressed in the first place!
I can’t sleep. I woke up feeling the worst weight on my mind. I just can’t stop crying, lots of things are on my mind right now. I feel like I have failed not only myself, but my family and friends as well. I have lost friends, lost important contacts.
Depression is a B****. I read Job, in the Bible, as well as other passages. This feeling will not go away though. I feel like OSU is a prison, some days I hardly see outside of my dorm building. I hate my life. I hate myself.
The people who I need to help me move out of this place will not help. I am stuck.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
JOB 4:5 But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed.
JOB 9:25 “My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’
28 I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29 Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
LUK 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Not many people have heard of Neil Innes. In fact, if you’re from the U.S. the only people who really know about him are Monty Python fans and a few others. Innes is one of the most underrated singer/ songwriters you’ve never heard of. To quote someone who left a comment on one of his videos, “Lennon is lucky Innes didn’t take himself more seriously.”
Innes is great at doing parodies, as well as singing his own “style” of music. He does songs that are “silly” but he also does “serious” ones. His lyrics are poignant, he can play a number of musical instruments, like piano, guitar, and ukelele very well. As a friend of the guys in Monty Python, he makes a few appearances in some of the last episodes of “Flying Circus”, as well as in their movies. If you’ve seen “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, you will remember him as the squire who gets crushed by both the cow and the wooden rabbit. Poor Neil. :-/ A documentary about him is out, titled “The Seventh Python.”
Anyway, here are a couple of videos of his, I would encourage you to look up the rest of his stuff on YouTube.
I know sometimes people say they wish they could hear what I was thinking. I don’t think they do. In the last week I’ve been writing down random thoughts that I have, and here are the best:
I wish this stupid wireless internet wasn’t so slow.
I am going to kill that guy. (My sociology professor.)
I hate sociology. Hardcore.
What is that girl doing?!
Oh my God, he’s wearing glasses like Anthony Hopkins did in “Change of Seasons”! Too bad he’s fat and ugly, whereas Hopkins was not. Thank God.
I wish murder was legal because those girls would be dead.
SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I should probably read this book before I buy another one…
Did that just happen? (I saw a guy fall down some stairs.)
If he keeps going on about Social Security I’m going to explode.
What the f***. Stop.
OH MY GOD THAT GUY LOOKED LIKE MICHAEL PALIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (A guy drove by and I freaked out a little. He looked like Michael Palin. )
Anyway, with stuff that random/ violent, you probably wouldn’t want to hear what I’m thinking. because either I’m thinking about how I wish you would stop talking, change the subject, etc. Or I’ve let my mind wander and I’m thinking about other things like Monty Python, a book, traveling, etc.
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