I thought getting older meant there were certain things you didn't have to worry about anymore - you know, like curfew, having to listen to your parents, getting your own tax rebate! . . . .
. . . . acne.
BOOOO. Acne is embarrassing enough when you're young and trying to deal with middle or high school and just life in general. I thought all that was supposed to stop by the time you hit. . . i don't know . . .post puberty . . . and I would like to think 24 / 25 is definitely post-puberty! So frustrating!! And for the longest time I thought it was just me doing something wrong with my whole "washing of the face" regimen. I can't even begin to tell you how many different products and creams and gels and washes and masks and this and that and yada yada yada I've been through in the last 3 years! Walgreens and make-up counters alike should make me their spokeswoman!! (free face stuff for me!!) Seriously!
But, alas, no. Happy to announce I'm not actually doing anything wrong. Instead, my body just hates me. Apparently my hormones haven't quite caught up to 2010. They're still partying circa 1999. That . . . or they just hate me, but I like the way the former sounds. Either way, though, they are messing with my face! It's called a "party in your pants" not "party all over your face" people! Come on, hormones, get with the program.
Luckily, (*insert superhero music here*), my shiny-new dermatologist came to the rescue. Prescription antibiotics and Differin gel should apparently, in 1-3 months, do for my hormones what boot-camp does to new recruits. *yay!* I just needed to fill the prescription!
W-O-A-H. Hold the breaks. Can I tell you how much that prescription cost!! I nearly passed out right there in Walgreens. There were 5 numbers blinking back at me from the register (yes, decimal point included), but still! I'm sorry, you want me to pay how much?! I'd prefer to see those kinds of numbers added to my paycheck, not a 1-month's prescription bill!! But wait! Apparently I can go on their website and get a $5 coupon!
All I can say is this "boot-camp" better be amazing. My face better look "differin" in the next few months!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Blue-Leaf Clover
Imagine for a moment, St. Patrick's Day without the green. No Green beer, no green eggs, no green bread, no green beads or hats or t-shirts or facepaint. No green.
Imagine, instead, blue! That's right, The official St. Patrick's Day color was blue for centuries. St. Patrick is originally from Ireland, where he was told to have been enslaved by the British, taken there as a child, and escaped year later. He then grew to spend his life devoted to God, preaching and telling people about His wonders. However, all this occurred during the 400s AD, which means that Blue was a LONG standing color of St. Patrick's Day . . . until about the 1700s.
Unofficially, history credits the changing from blue to green because the people started carrying around 3-leaf clovers on March 17th (the day of his death), and in the 1798 rebellion the soldiers all wore green to make a statement. Guess it kinda just . . . well . . . stuck! Yay for government intervention. :-) However, as mentioned, the green initially came from the wearing of the 3-leaf clover, which legend suggests St. Patrick used to use to preach about the Trinity of God.
Fun stuff, although green definitely won the color battle then and continues to sparkle on nights like the last. So raise your glass high, do a little jig, listen to a great Irish band, and wear all the green you own! Just be sure to brush your teeth before bed. Green is a great staple of the day, but I don't think many people want to see your green-stained teeth the following morning!
Imagine, instead, blue! That's right, The official St. Patrick's Day color was blue for centuries. St. Patrick is originally from Ireland, where he was told to have been enslaved by the British, taken there as a child, and escaped year later. He then grew to spend his life devoted to God, preaching and telling people about His wonders. However, all this occurred during the 400s AD, which means that Blue was a LONG standing color of St. Patrick's Day . . . until about the 1700s.
Unofficially, history credits the changing from blue to green because the people started carrying around 3-leaf clovers on March 17th (the day of his death), and in the 1798 rebellion the soldiers all wore green to make a statement. Guess it kinda just . . . well . . . stuck! Yay for government intervention. :-) However, as mentioned, the green initially came from the wearing of the 3-leaf clover, which legend suggests St. Patrick used to use to preach about the Trinity of God.
Fun stuff, although green definitely won the color battle then and continues to sparkle on nights like the last. So raise your glass high, do a little jig, listen to a great Irish band, and wear all the green you own! Just be sure to brush your teeth before bed. Green is a great staple of the day, but I don't think many people want to see your green-stained teeth the following morning!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Il Divo - Il bello
You've probably seen their CDs even if you didn't realize it. For a while their CD was available at Starbucks. If you haven't heard them, I highly recommend youtube-ing them or finding a friend who has their CD and stealing a quick listen. Or to go this website and listen to their featured songs or interviews:
http://ildivo.com/exclusives/
Some of their songs last night included "Amazing Grace", "I did it my way", and my personal favorite, "Hallelujah" (although it's not their particular version, but the song has a momentary cameo in Shrek!). Some of the songs are in English, other in Italian, and some, like the televised show from Barcelona, Spain, are in Spanish. The men and truly beautiful (so you can watch them forever!), their voices make your heart flutter, and you feel completely transported - like you just snuck into a million dollar classic show for free or only a few dollars. There's nothing quite like warming the heart with the enveloping voices of truly talented male vocalists. Enjoy!!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Driving (In)visibility
The premise of my blog is "life created daily" - or the things that make life the amazing roller-coaster journey that it is: the fun, the bumpy-roads, and the parts that make you laugh or shake your head.
Today I drove home from work, and I found myself singing and dancing in the car like always. I am totally one of those people you drive by and go "what the ???" because I am totally jamming out to the latest hits on KISSFM or B96. I have a great time, and quite frankly, I could care less if someone sees me. They probably do, but too bad. :-)
However, today, the person driving next to me must have thought he was either invisible or, like me, didn't care. He looked at the car ahead of me on my right, I noticed a man holding something in his mouth. At first I thought he was just smoking, but then the object in his hand (a) didn't move and (b) was too big to be a cigarette. Then I thought cigar or joint or something, but he never moved it and no puff of smoke billowed from his mouth. I suddenly became incredibly intrigued. My insatiable curiosity insisted I needed to try to understand what on earth he was doing.
He slowed as the car ahead of him turned, so I found myself about to pass him. Just as I thought I would be left without answers, he pulled the "thing" out of his mouth. It tapered to what looked like a point, and then I watched him glance at it and shake it. He was taking his temperature! I have officially driven by someone who was taking his temperature while driving. I laughed as I realized that is something I never would have thought I'd see. I mean, really, how often do you see that?! You hear about people doing some crazy shit while driving, either because they're in a hurry or because they don't think people are watching, but this is a new one to me! Makes me wonder what other crazy shit people have seen other people doing while driving . . . or even better, what crazy shit people have done while driving that they hope no one sees! You just may be more (in)visible than you think!
Today I drove home from work, and I found myself singing and dancing in the car like always. I am totally one of those people you drive by and go "what the ???" because I am totally jamming out to the latest hits on KISSFM or B96. I have a great time, and quite frankly, I could care less if someone sees me. They probably do, but too bad. :-)
However, today, the person driving next to me must have thought he was either invisible or, like me, didn't care. He looked at the car ahead of me on my right, I noticed a man holding something in his mouth. At first I thought he was just smoking, but then the object in his hand (a) didn't move and (b) was too big to be a cigarette. Then I thought cigar or joint or something, but he never moved it and no puff of smoke billowed from his mouth. I suddenly became incredibly intrigued. My insatiable curiosity insisted I needed to try to understand what on earth he was doing.
He slowed as the car ahead of him turned, so I found myself about to pass him. Just as I thought I would be left without answers, he pulled the "thing" out of his mouth. It tapered to what looked like a point, and then I watched him glance at it and shake it. He was taking his temperature! I have officially driven by someone who was taking his temperature while driving. I laughed as I realized that is something I never would have thought I'd see. I mean, really, how often do you see that?! You hear about people doing some crazy shit while driving, either because they're in a hurry or because they don't think people are watching, but this is a new one to me! Makes me wonder what other crazy shit people have seen other people doing while driving . . . or even better, what crazy shit people have done while driving that they hope no one sees! You just may be more (in)visible than you think!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
When the ball rolls . . . in the right direction!
Balls. (stay above ground with me here, people). They are infamous. They have many different jobs: You can "Get the ball rolling", be "on the ball", have "too many balls up in the air at once", have "dropped the ball", or even have "the ball in your court". Yes, there are lots of different kinds of balls. All the above, however, suggest a direction. That means, depending on the ball you possess at the moment, you can either be going in the right direction . . . or the wrong one . . . and, trust me, when those balls pick up momentum, you do not want to be in possession of the "wrong" ball.
Sometimes, though, you work and work and work and work, seemingly towards an end, even though you can't always clearly see where the end is. It can get frustrating because instead of seeing results, you just see exhaustion. I felt that way recently. I tend to do 20 different things all at the same time (not literally, but I always have multiple things going on simultaneously). I actually ran the candle at both ends for so long I got sick. Now, although that's really not surprising, you can only go so long before your body makes you take a step back, it is still annoying. Don't get me wrong, I loved everything I was doing, but I was overworking myself. I overworked myself because I have a list of things I want to accomplish (that "list" I had brought up a few weeks back, with immediate and long-term goals). I needed to "get the ball rolling" on some of those items, so I have been working attempting to try to do just that. The cold, however, made me feel as though I regressed. Yet, to my surprise, today I realized that all my hard work might be finally paying off. The "right" ball might be finally gaining some momentum! What an amazing feeling!
Now, nothing holds definitive certainty, but still, sometimes you can just feel when things are starting to move in the right direction for you. When finally, after constantly feel like you're about to "drop the ball" because you have been juggling things for so long, something starts to go right, it is a complete relief and sense of accomplishment. You did it! You got the right ball moving and it's actually starting to pick up momentum on its own. Things might actually be falling into place. Now, you just need to keep it moving.
A word of warning, though. The right direction may pose as obstacles: more work, time conflicts, a required change of an otherwise already scheduled routine. Be careful. Learn to sift through the obstacles and see the opportunities. Opportunity often comes disguised as hard work, but recognize that it is, in fact, there. It's left the "ball" in your court, if you will, giving you the chance to make the next move. Don't go against fate when it has started the ball moving in the right direction for you. Embrace it and run with it. After all, you put in all the leg work prior to that point for a reason. Keep the ball rolling!!
Friday, March 5, 2010
a city's truth from a city lover
Chicago may not be the best city in the world. Or, to you, maybe it is. Either way, it is a city, and it is the one that I have lived by and called "my city" for the majority of my life. Granted, I live in the suburbs, but it's still "my" city. I own it. I'm okay with that fact. :-)
Ok not really. Actually, I don't often have a chance to get into the city with the way my schedule works, so I cherish moments when I do get to play "city-lite" . . . like last night. Initially, though, I cursed the city. They implemented these new Payboxes which means that you have to give half of your checking account in order to park for 20 minutes. YAY Chicago. However, I needed to be somewhere at 5, and that somewhere happened to be smack dab in the middle of the loop just south of the river. Silly me, I actually tried finding a parking spot on Clark before 5pm. Totally a horrid miscalculation on my part. Oh, don't get me wrong, you can park there, there are payboxes (needless to say therefore I was initially excited because I thought I had cheated the system and found a paybox!). However, it is a 100% tow zone before 6pm. Damn! 1 hour short. I actually tried putting my flashers on and running into the building trying to cheat "death by towing" part 2, and I got as far as the elevators before I realized that that was a horrifically bad idea. Ever been towed in the city? NOT FUN!!! It's $150 of pure "you took my car to what neighborhood?" or "Ok . . . WHERE exactly on lower Wacker?". I lived through that 4 years ago and have absolutely no intention of intentionally reliving that awesome-ness.
Therefore, I moved my car. Where exactly you wonder? AAAAALLL the way down to Roosevelt and Wabash, by the Columbia College, where there is one tiny little strip of paybox parking that actually is useable prior to 6pm. Still, $7.50 for three hours isn't bad, but it's not terribly cheap either, so I walked my way back up the 15-20 blocks to the building I was supposed to be in in the first place. I got in a workout AND kept a little more cash in my back account! Win-win!
On the way back to my car, just a little past Roosevelt College, I slowed my pace and allowed myself the joy of taking in my surroundings. People around me walked briskly with scarves and caps. Buildings suddenly looked more welcoming in the late night sun of early March (and by late night I really mean 5:45pm . . . which is "late" given the past few months!). Cars and cabs zipped by me, and I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of peace and enjoyment. I am truly a city girl at heart, and my walk back to my car reminded my how much I love the chaotic peacefulness of the city. If that makes perfect sense to you, then you are a city person too. If that doesn't, I understand. Either way, mishaps and all, last nights adventure was refreshing. Now. . . if I could just refresh my bank account . . . . :-)
Ok not really. Actually, I don't often have a chance to get into the city with the way my schedule works, so I cherish moments when I do get to play "city-lite" . . . like last night. Initially, though, I cursed the city. They implemented these new Payboxes which means that you have to give half of your checking account in order to park for 20 minutes. YAY Chicago. However, I needed to be somewhere at 5, and that somewhere happened to be smack dab in the middle of the loop just south of the river. Silly me, I actually tried finding a parking spot on Clark before 5pm. Totally a horrid miscalculation on my part. Oh, don't get me wrong, you can park there, there are payboxes (needless to say therefore I was initially excited because I thought I had cheated the system and found a paybox!). However, it is a 100% tow zone before 6pm. Damn! 1 hour short. I actually tried putting my flashers on and running into the building trying to cheat "death by towing" part 2, and I got as far as the elevators before I realized that that was a horrifically bad idea. Ever been towed in the city? NOT FUN!!! It's $150 of pure "you took my car to what neighborhood?" or "Ok . . . WHERE exactly on lower Wacker?". I lived through that 4 years ago and have absolutely no intention of intentionally reliving that awesome-ness.
Therefore, I moved my car. Where exactly you wonder? AAAAALLL the way down to Roosevelt and Wabash, by the Columbia College, where there is one tiny little strip of paybox parking that actually is useable prior to 6pm. Still, $7.50 for three hours isn't bad, but it's not terribly cheap either, so I walked my way back up the 15-20 blocks to the building I was supposed to be in in the first place. I got in a workout AND kept a little more cash in my back account! Win-win!
On the way back to my car, just a little past Roosevelt College, I slowed my pace and allowed myself the joy of taking in my surroundings. People around me walked briskly with scarves and caps. Buildings suddenly looked more welcoming in the late night sun of early March (and by late night I really mean 5:45pm . . . which is "late" given the past few months!). Cars and cabs zipped by me, and I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of peace and enjoyment. I am truly a city girl at heart, and my walk back to my car reminded my how much I love the chaotic peacefulness of the city. If that makes perfect sense to you, then you are a city person too. If that doesn't, I understand. Either way, mishaps and all, last nights adventure was refreshing. Now. . . if I could just refresh my bank account . . . . :-)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Dancing with the Stars, in real life
Dancing with the stars has truly brought a spotlight to the world of ballroom dance. I happened to start taking lessons in latin ballroom dancing about 6 months ago, and I am slowly learning the lingo - a third language if you will. Even though I've danced for years, ballroom dancing is a whole new beast, however, it is one I am coming to love.
This weekend was the Indiana Challenge, one of the biggest competitions for the midwest in ballroom dancing. It rivals with the Milwaukee challenge, but it is quite a sight to behold. While I did not compete myself, many students and all of the teacher at the studio did, so I had a first hand look at what competing entails. WOW - new found respect.
For one, they are all in seriously AMAZING condition. I'm just a starter ballroom dancer, but between the use of your core muscles and the blisters on your feet from your shoes, your body is definitely being used. And they have to be to fit into some of these costumes!
Not to mention, these dresses are anything but cheap. Think . . . bridal gown expensive. That's right, these dresses, from what I have seen, can run from $2500 - $6000+ . . . and that's just the dress! Then, (note picture above) there is all the required bedazzling: bracelets, necklaces, fake eyelashes, tanning, hair accessories, and professional shoes. My bank account hurt when I looked at the price tags. This is not a sport for the faint wallet-ed. However, it is extremely easy to get caught up in the hype and want to be a part of what is going on around you. I have enviously watched the dancers and dreamed of being able to dance around and look as beautiful as them. I mean, seriously, where else is it acceptable to be as bedazzled as these ladies?! Maybe in ice-skating, but personally I don't stand a chance against ice. No no. I'll stick to the floor, and hope that maybe someday I'll be able to perform in such beautiful attire . . . when my bank account gets an extra zero at the end. :-) .... anyone care to donate?!
This weekend was the Indiana Challenge, one of the biggest competitions for the midwest in ballroom dancing. It rivals with the Milwaukee challenge, but it is quite a sight to behold. While I did not compete myself, many students and all of the teacher at the studio did, so I had a first hand look at what competing entails. WOW - new found respect.
For one, they are all in seriously AMAZING condition. I'm just a starter ballroom dancer, but between the use of your core muscles and the blisters on your feet from your shoes, your body is definitely being used. And they have to be to fit into some of these costumes!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The "What-What"
Leave it to students. You know, if it weren't for them I probably wouldn't be teaching. They make my days worthwhile because they come up with some of the weirdest things to say. It probably doesn't help that I have foreign language as my subject, which means all of the words they see are new words which need pronunciation practice, but still, they manage to find some new way to create comedy.
For example, Meet "Ñ" (en-yay), or the "n" with a tilde over it. This is a famous Spanish character and is used in words like "niño" (little child), "baño" (bathroom), and montaña (mountain). However, I've learned students don't actually like saying "tilde" and are semi-okay with saying the letter "ñ" (en-yay). Sometimes I'll pull a Jeff Dunham and call the accent mark a "chik-a" and the tilde a "nya". They seem to enjoy a short laugh as a result.
However, my new favorite, is a gift from a student of mine the other day. When saying "ñ" as I was spelling out the word for him in Spanish, he said "What?" and then proceeded to say "ooooh", and as he drew the tilde over the "n" he said "the what what". Needless to say, I also said "What?" and furrowed my eyebrows and stared at him bewildered. He had no idea he said it based on his blank stare and when I repeated his words laughter ensued. Yay teenagers.
So, dear Jeff Dunham, if you could from now on insert the "what what" into your José Jalepeño on a Stick sketch it would be greatly appreciated. Just be sure to give credit to my student! :-) Thank you Spanish language for giving us the "what what".
For example, Meet "Ñ" (en-yay), or the "n" with a tilde over it. This is a famous Spanish character and is used in words like "niño" (little child), "baño" (bathroom), and montaña (mountain). However, I've learned students don't actually like saying "tilde" and are semi-okay with saying the letter "ñ" (en-yay). Sometimes I'll pull a Jeff Dunham and call the accent mark a "chik-a" and the tilde a "nya". They seem to enjoy a short laugh as a result.
However, my new favorite, is a gift from a student of mine the other day. When saying "ñ" as I was spelling out the word for him in Spanish, he said "What?" and then proceeded to say "ooooh", and as he drew the tilde over the "n" he said "the what what". Needless to say, I also said "What?" and furrowed my eyebrows and stared at him bewildered. He had no idea he said it based on his blank stare and when I repeated his words laughter ensued. Yay teenagers.
So, dear Jeff Dunham, if you could from now on insert the "what what" into your José Jalepeño on a Stick sketch it would be greatly appreciated. Just be sure to give credit to my student! :-) Thank you Spanish language for giving us the "what what".
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Dave and Busters Brilliance
I may be 24, but I prefer to think I'm "playing adult" every now and again. It's interesting, this whole getting-older thing. There are daily revelations, and, I will admit, they are not always everything they're cracked up to be. Yes, I have more freedoms (woo-hoo!). Yay for no more curfew! And here's to finally being able to be the director of my own life. Woot woot! However, these things that we, as children, look forward to having someday do come with equally weighted costs: Bills (boo), the work schedule (yay real life!), no more "safety net" (Mom?? Dad?? Can I have 20 buck??). Yup. Hello being an adult.
However, have faith. There is hope. It's called Dave and Busters. For those who had the pleasure of fully experiencing Chucky Cheese's, Enchanted Castle, or any of the plethora of arcades as a kid, fear not, there is an arcade for us children trapped in adult bodies. And it comes complete with arcade games, tickets, and prizes. And even dinner and a few drinks for those who find that part of adulthood well deserved and worthwhile. Or maybe even just for those who enjoy letting loose every so often. Either way, my past Friday "funday" was spent at this amazing Chicago temple.
Please note: Dave and Busters is not cheap nor does it pretend to be. I discovered that fact as I giddily touch-screened my way to a Dave and Busters game card. You can get really overly excited about very stupid stuff when the people you are with are also equally and stupidly excited about being kids all over again. But this touch screen machine is a shiny beacon of trickery! I love touch screen technology, but if I were drunk, this is a drunk's worst nightmare! Forget buying people free drinks, this thing just begs for drunk people to not read any of the words and happily hit the "yes" button over and over and over . . . .and over again! Every time you think you're closer to actually getting your card it tricks you by giving you a "would you like more tickets; it's only half of your life savings for 25 more tickets!" option. NO! NO! No I do not want more tickets! I just want my plastic orange card so I can swipe away my $20 into a night of useless arcade games! Just give me my game card!
However, once said plastic card is possessed, all inhibitions are to the winds. Games like skeet ball, Deal or No Deal, Basketball, Jurassic Park, horse racing, and token tossing call your name at every turn, making you incapable of saying "no" at all for the rest of the night! And the outpouring of tickets is like liquid cocaine to your soul. It's addicting! And you can't help but scream like an idiot when you and your best friend actually picked the 600 (top prized amount) Deal or No Deal case! The tickets just stream out of the machine and suddenly all you want is more tickets! More tickets to buy more of the useless crap that they have available to you at the end of the night. Just swipe your card like you're at your college dining hall all over again - immediate satisfaction - and you too can have a furry Fred Flinstone tie or Blue Dolphin at the end of the night for only 450 tickets! Pointless, useless crap has never been so fulfilling and meaningful, at least, not since you won the overstuffed dog at the carnival playing the ring toss! And do you know what the best part is? You end up having so much fun, competing with your friends for top score or who can win the most tickets, that you pass hours playing games you haven't played since you were a child. You suddenly get in touch with the "fun" side of you all over again, and all the other parts of being an adult are no longer relevant. All you need is you, your orange plastic swipe-y card, your friends, and the outpouring of tickets you might be lucky enough to win at every turn. Aaaah, adulthood. Who thought it would ever be this much fun!?
However, have faith. There is hope. It's called Dave and Busters. For those who had the pleasure of fully experiencing Chucky Cheese's, Enchanted Castle, or any of the plethora of arcades as a kid, fear not, there is an arcade for us children trapped in adult bodies. And it comes complete with arcade games, tickets, and prizes. And even dinner and a few drinks for those who find that part of adulthood well deserved and worthwhile. Or maybe even just for those who enjoy letting loose every so often. Either way, my past Friday "funday" was spent at this amazing Chicago temple.
However, once said plastic card is possessed, all inhibitions are to the winds. Games like skeet ball, Deal or No Deal, Basketball, Jurassic Park, horse racing, and token tossing call your name at every turn, making you incapable of saying "no" at all for the rest of the night! And the outpouring of tickets is like liquid cocaine to your soul. It's addicting! And you can't help but scream like an idiot when you and your best friend actually picked the 600 (top prized amount) Deal or No Deal case! The tickets just stream out of the machine and suddenly all you want is more tickets! More tickets to buy more of the useless crap that they have available to you at the end of the night. Just swipe your card like you're at your college dining hall all over again - immediate satisfaction - and you too can have a furry Fred Flinstone tie or Blue Dolphin at the end of the night for only 450 tickets! Pointless, useless crap has never been so fulfilling and meaningful, at least, not since you won the overstuffed dog at the carnival playing the ring toss! And do you know what the best part is? You end up having so much fun, competing with your friends for top score or who can win the most tickets, that you pass hours playing games you haven't played since you were a child. You suddenly get in touch with the "fun" side of you all over again, and all the other parts of being an adult are no longer relevant. All you need is you, your orange plastic swipe-y card, your friends, and the outpouring of tickets you might be lucky enough to win at every turn. Aaaah, adulthood. Who thought it would ever be this much fun!?
Monday, February 15, 2010
¡CARNAVAL!
Bienvenidos a una celebración loca y famosa del mundo. . . Welcome to a crazy and famous world celebration. Let the gluttony of the world begin.
Yes, this is "carnaval" - en español (Car-nah-vahl) - or, as many American's know it - Mardi Gras.
Carnaval is an incredible celebration not only for its history but also because if it's wide-spread reach around the world. For those of you who don't know, Mardi Gras is not the biggest festival. In fact, it is far from it. The biggest celebration is . . . drum roll please . . . Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Here, hundreds of thousands of people line the two-mile long strip to see two days worth of crazy celebrations and one of the biggest parades in the world. The stadium seating holds a plethora of people, and the sky lights up with flashing lights and fireworks.
And . . . everyone does a little "samba", as the music begins. Granted, it is all in Portuguese, but a little thing like a language barrier never stopped anyone from having a good time at a party (think, Oktoberfest). Dancers, musicians, and parade workers all bedazzle themselves before strutting down the parade's line. Even parade goers don't pass up the opportunity to throw their cares to the wind and put on a crazy costume or face paint, or just take a 2-day break from reality.
And the parade is a sight to behold. There are more colors and shiny objects than the inside of a confetti filled balloon or piñata. Although, I must admit, as much as I love dancing, I'm not sure I'd be too secure in one of those dancers' costumes. If you google carnaval dancers you will see there is often little besides two small bedazzled jewels up top and some string down below. . . . But there are a LOT of feathers and head-dresses / masks going on! And all of this before the 40 days of "oooh, I think I'm supposed to be giving up something" (aka Lent) starts. For some of these people, I imagine it takes 40 days just to detox from the experience! Although . . . come to think of it . . . ok, just kidding. :-)
Again, fabulous festival, and I hope you are all enjoying the festivities that embody Carnaval, whether you are christian or not. Every deserves a chance to party every now and again!
Yes, this is "carnaval" - en español (Car-nah-vahl) - or, as many American's know it - Mardi Gras.
Carnaval is an incredible celebration not only for its history but also because if it's wide-spread reach around the world. For those of you who don't know, Mardi Gras is not the biggest festival. In fact, it is far from it. The biggest celebration is . . . drum roll please . . . Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Here, hundreds of thousands of people line the two-mile long strip to see two days worth of crazy celebrations and one of the biggest parades in the world. The stadium seating holds a plethora of people, and the sky lights up with flashing lights and fireworks.
And . . . everyone does a little "samba", as the music begins. Granted, it is all in Portuguese, but a little thing like a language barrier never stopped anyone from having a good time at a party (think, Oktoberfest). Dancers, musicians, and parade workers all bedazzle themselves before strutting down the parade's line. Even parade goers don't pass up the opportunity to throw their cares to the wind and put on a crazy costume or face paint, or just take a 2-day break from reality.
And the parade is a sight to behold. There are more colors and shiny objects than the inside of a confetti filled balloon or piñata. Although, I must admit, as much as I love dancing, I'm not sure I'd be too secure in one of those dancers' costumes. If you google carnaval dancers you will see there is often little besides two small bedazzled jewels up top and some string down below. . . . But there are a LOT of feathers and head-dresses / masks going on! And all of this before the 40 days of "oooh, I think I'm supposed to be giving up something" (aka Lent) starts. For some of these people, I imagine it takes 40 days just to detox from the experience! Although . . . come to think of it . . . ok, just kidding. :-)
Again, fabulous festival, and I hope you are all enjoying the festivities that embody Carnaval, whether you are christian or not. Every deserves a chance to party every now and again!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
AVATAR
I finally jumped on the bandwagon. W-O-W
For those of you who still haven't seen the movie - shame on you. Movies like AVATAR shake the foundation on which we stand and force us to not only re-evaluate life and our perception therein. They also, however, redefine movies in general.
Yet, to address the good of the movie, you must also address the opposing viewpoints. Numerous critics have torn AVATAR apart for it's "anti-American", "treehugger", and "racist" themes. Having seen the movie, I can understand how and why those viewpoints are held by people, but I have to wonder of those critiques are short-sighted and overeager to make criticisms for the sake of criticisms. I'm not one to push my political or other beliefs on people, as I believe that beliefs are only stronger opinions, and opinions are the rights of every individual. However, I do think that the messages in this movie are not only important to understand, but also warranted, and that those critics are really just missing the point and the bigger picture. Self-reflection and criticism are necessary tools one must utilize to prevent the destruction of one's own self through ignorance and the failure to face reality. It seems like AVATAR is an intended message to us to tread softly in our advancement if it is only for the mere sake of "advancement".
Yet, to criticize Cameron so strongly isn't right either, as he is not, in fact, the first one to bring to light such commentary. Think: The Matrix or even something as seemingly innocent as Wall-E. The warnings are there. This movie was not the first, but it does make apparent the notion that there is a difference between advancement merely for the sake of advancement and advancement when it is necessary.
However, all the same, the visual affects of the movie push the boundaries of film-making. The 3-D experience (and IMAX!) jetted this movie's impact forward 10-fold. Who doesn't like seeing 3-D adventures and wearing those fun, hard-framed, oversized glasses? And the fact that a 3-hour movie didn't even seem like it was 3 hours made it even better. I won't say too much on the movie itself, as I dare not give anything away to those who really have not seen it yet, but it is no wonder AVATAR has broken the records it has.
So, therefore, I say: Congratulations, James Cameron, for beating your own record. You officially deserve every bit of your fame. Maybe someday we'll see the "trifecta"?
For those of you who still haven't seen the movie - shame on you. Movies like AVATAR shake the foundation on which we stand and force us to not only re-evaluate life and our perception therein. They also, however, redefine movies in general.
Yet, to address the good of the movie, you must also address the opposing viewpoints. Numerous critics have torn AVATAR apart for it's "anti-American", "treehugger", and "racist" themes. Having seen the movie, I can understand how and why those viewpoints are held by people, but I have to wonder of those critiques are short-sighted and overeager to make criticisms for the sake of criticisms. I'm not one to push my political or other beliefs on people, as I believe that beliefs are only stronger opinions, and opinions are the rights of every individual. However, I do think that the messages in this movie are not only important to understand, but also warranted, and that those critics are really just missing the point and the bigger picture. Self-reflection and criticism are necessary tools one must utilize to prevent the destruction of one's own self through ignorance and the failure to face reality. It seems like AVATAR is an intended message to us to tread softly in our advancement if it is only for the mere sake of "advancement".
Yet, to criticize Cameron so strongly isn't right either, as he is not, in fact, the first one to bring to light such commentary. Think: The Matrix or even something as seemingly innocent as Wall-E. The warnings are there. This movie was not the first, but it does make apparent the notion that there is a difference between advancement merely for the sake of advancement and advancement when it is necessary.
However, all the same, the visual affects of the movie push the boundaries of film-making. The 3-D experience (and IMAX!) jetted this movie's impact forward 10-fold. Who doesn't like seeing 3-D adventures and wearing those fun, hard-framed, oversized glasses? And the fact that a 3-hour movie didn't even seem like it was 3 hours made it even better. I won't say too much on the movie itself, as I dare not give anything away to those who really have not seen it yet, but it is no wonder AVATAR has broken the records it has.
So, therefore, I say: Congratulations, James Cameron, for beating your own record. You officially deserve every bit of your fame. Maybe someday we'll see the "trifecta"?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
"An arm and a -" . . . wait no. Just legs
It isn't often that I head into downtown Chicago on a weeknight, but tonight was an exception. During my endeavor, I stumbled across human statues missing an entire chunk of their bodies. I didn't I would ever see half-human statues, yet tonight, I stand corrected. Welcome to Grant Park, at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Michigan Avenue.
Quite honestly, initially, I was shocked and disturbed. I passed the installation in my car and seeing it from inside my car, only in passing, during the cold, snow-covered night, truly sent eerie chills through my spine. It probably doesn't help, granted, that there is a huge World War II / Holocaust unit encompassing everything "8th grade" where I teach, because I couldn't digest the images for quite some time. However, I must note, that true artists require and are excited by these responses. To observe a piece of art with indifference and not being somehow emotionally moved by it or even confused by it, is actually a bit of a slap-in-the-face to the artist, if you will. Ideally, artists wish to create some form of impact in the viewers - good or bad, pleasant or unsettling. A reaction means an emotional or intellectual response. It means a connection to the artwork and therefore an internalization of the artwork and possibly a conversation sometime thereafter about said artwork. Thus, this explains why I have been mulling over this installation for the past few hours.
Again, as mentioned, initially this disturbed me. However, the more I think about it, and learn about the artist and her intentions, the chosen site and the "why" for the artwork, the more ingenious the installation truly is. Think about it. How many times a day do you pass even just one person without acknowledging him or inquiring about his day, even if you do or do not know him? Now think about how many people you pass DAILY - whether it be on foot, on public transportation, during errand shopping, or even those people in the cars next to you. All these people that you encounter daily - DAILY - that you have no interactions with, that you cannot distinguish from the next, are the people represented by these statues. In fact, these people are nothing more than what her installation suggests - legs. They have no heart or identity, no mind or soul. They are two more countless feet that you pass on your way to where ever it is you are going.
This artwork forces you to interact with your "countless" encounters. It forces you to recognize the complexity of your day and yet the sheer, simple, undeniable fact that you not only create the "countless" around you because you fail to acknowledge them, but that you yourself fall into this category as a result because you are that same "countless" person in someone else's life.
Scary. But true. Much like the reflection of my responses to the art: Fear and confusion to understanding and agreement. And ultimately, appreciation.
So, next time you find yourself on an errand, or out living the next moment of your daily life, take a moment to notice the number of nameless feet that you pass. Think about the fact that you are and extremely important individual and yet utterly anonymous all at the same time. How much does the truth in Agora infiltrate your life, and is there anything that you can do to change the reality of its presence?
This is an installation created by Magdalena Abakanowicz. Agora is only one of this artist's many famous installations. Completed in 2006, it has a total of 106 pairs of walking legs spread throughout this southwest corner of Grant Park. Inspired by the notion of "the Countless", as she calls it, this particular installation attempts to spark recognition amongst viewers in the reality of those exact people - the "countless".
Quite honestly, initially, I was shocked and disturbed. I passed the installation in my car and seeing it from inside my car, only in passing, during the cold, snow-covered night, truly sent eerie chills through my spine. It probably doesn't help, granted, that there is a huge World War II / Holocaust unit encompassing everything "8th grade" where I teach, because I couldn't digest the images for quite some time. However, I must note, that true artists require and are excited by these responses. To observe a piece of art with indifference and not being somehow emotionally moved by it or even confused by it, is actually a bit of a slap-in-the-face to the artist, if you will. Ideally, artists wish to create some form of impact in the viewers - good or bad, pleasant or unsettling. A reaction means an emotional or intellectual response. It means a connection to the artwork and therefore an internalization of the artwork and possibly a conversation sometime thereafter about said artwork. Thus, this explains why I have been mulling over this installation for the past few hours.
Again, as mentioned, initially this disturbed me. However, the more I think about it, and learn about the artist and her intentions, the chosen site and the "why" for the artwork, the more ingenious the installation truly is. Think about it. How many times a day do you pass even just one person without acknowledging him or inquiring about his day, even if you do or do not know him? Now think about how many people you pass DAILY - whether it be on foot, on public transportation, during errand shopping, or even those people in the cars next to you. All these people that you encounter daily - DAILY - that you have no interactions with, that you cannot distinguish from the next, are the people represented by these statues. In fact, these people are nothing more than what her installation suggests - legs. They have no heart or identity, no mind or soul. They are two more countless feet that you pass on your way to where ever it is you are going.
This artwork forces you to interact with your "countless" encounters. It forces you to recognize the complexity of your day and yet the sheer, simple, undeniable fact that you not only create the "countless" around you because you fail to acknowledge them, but that you yourself fall into this category as a result because you are that same "countless" person in someone else's life.
Scary. But true. Much like the reflection of my responses to the art: Fear and confusion to understanding and agreement. And ultimately, appreciation.
So, next time you find yourself on an errand, or out living the next moment of your daily life, take a moment to notice the number of nameless feet that you pass. Think about the fact that you are and extremely important individual and yet utterly anonymous all at the same time. How much does the truth in Agora infiltrate your life, and is there anything that you can do to change the reality of its presence?
Monday, February 8, 2010
Thursday Night TV
I realize it's only Monday, but I truly count down the days to Thursday. Thursday night TV is my Mecca. Unfortunately all of my favorite shows are simultaneously on at 9pm, but that doesn't stop me from reveling in all of their amazing-ness at once.
Here's the line-up: America's Best Dance Crew, Project Runway, and Burn Notice. It's my life's trifecta. Everything I love embodied in 1 hour: Fashion, Dance, Music, Love, Shoot-em-ups, Drama, Intelligence, and Passion.
A-mazing. And it's even better because they are on "repeat" all week long, so I get double and triple doses whenever I need! My goal in life is to become all three of those shows wrapped into one - the Power House / Triple Threat woman. Mmmm.
Here's to ambitions and the TV shows that make us feel alive!
Here's the line-up: America's Best Dance Crew, Project Runway, and Burn Notice. It's my life's trifecta. Everything I love embodied in 1 hour: Fashion, Dance, Music, Love, Shoot-em-ups, Drama, Intelligence, and Passion.
A-mazing. And it's even better because they are on "repeat" all week long, so I get double and triple doses whenever I need! My goal in life is to become all three of those shows wrapped into one - the Power House / Triple Threat woman. Mmmm.
Here's to ambitions and the TV shows that make us feel alive!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
"Eat" the plank
No, no pirates here. You don't have to abandon ship or sing a dirge to experience this plank. Although, if it meant I got to meet Johnny Depp, I'd consider walking a plank.
But, no, this plank is different. It's the name of a new granola bar I discovered. Made by Honest Foods, Granola Planks are delicious, satisfying, and average only 190 calories for a large bar. Coming from a girl who loves Lara Bars, Luna Bars, and Odwalla Bars, these are a new favorite of mine, and I found them for a steal. Whole Foods sold them for only $.99 a piece last time I was there, so I stocked up with 6. So far, the Maple Almond Crunch and Pomegranate Walnut crisp are delicious. I imagine broken up over yogurt they are equally wonderful and satisfying. The best part? They're healthy! They're made basically from all natural foods with very few, if any, unpronounceable adjectives. It's great! I can actually say all of the words in the ingredient list!
Again, they are delicious and come highly recommended. So have a break, and enjoy this plank! Let me know if you meet any pirates!
But, no, this plank is different. It's the name of a new granola bar I discovered. Made by Honest Foods, Granola Planks are delicious, satisfying, and average only 190 calories for a large bar. Coming from a girl who loves Lara Bars, Luna Bars, and Odwalla Bars, these are a new favorite of mine, and I found them for a steal. Whole Foods sold them for only $.99 a piece last time I was there, so I stocked up with 6. So far, the Maple Almond Crunch and Pomegranate Walnut crisp are delicious. I imagine broken up over yogurt they are equally wonderful and satisfying. The best part? They're healthy! They're made basically from all natural foods with very few, if any, unpronounceable adjectives. It's great! I can actually say all of the words in the ingredient list!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
¡¡Taxes "Terminados"!!
Ready? . . . . . .
Taxes are done! Taxes are done! WOO HOO!!!!! Taxes are done!
Mmmm, what a great feeling. Between the personal little happy dance and the insanely large smile beaming across my face, there are truly only a few moments a year that surmount to the unmistakeable pleasure, joy, and sense of relief one has when he hits "send" or closes the mailbox door and officially files his taxes. Aaah. Take a moment. Think about it. Think about how absolutely refreshing it feels to know that April 15th is no longer a date of fear, worry, and last minute scrounging. Relish in how wonderful it is to know that you no longer have to drown in unreadable or senseless paperwork for another year. Even if you are that person (because we've probably all done it at least once) that runs to file his taxes at the last millisecond possible on the 15th, there is still a pause-able moment of sheer joy and relief that comes the instant they are filed. You think "I'm free!"
Unless of course you owe money. Then you probably think "%@(#!" and stomp around your house a few times. You might even cry a good 3 tears. All are totally understandable, and I doubt you are the only one having that reaction. The bright side, though, is that you're still done. The taxes are filed and they're done. YAY!
All the same: Tax Lesson 101: Always keep your receipts and paperwork! This is probably about the only time in life when being a pack rat = good. Keep it in a box, or a file, or a bottom dresser drawer. It doesn't really matter; the important part is that you learn to keep receipts and anything you might need for tax purposes next year. This is one area of life that should always been well recorded and searchable . . . at least for the next 7 years!
So, if you haven't finished your taxes yet, best of luck and keep going! For those of you that are finished, well done! I hope you all enjoy your own personal Taxes-are-Done "fiesta" this year. Good bye 2009!
Taxes are done! Taxes are done! WOO HOO!!!!! Taxes are done!
Mmmm, what a great feeling. Between the personal little happy dance and the insanely large smile beaming across my face, there are truly only a few moments a year that surmount to the unmistakeable pleasure, joy, and sense of relief one has when he hits "send" or closes the mailbox door and officially files his taxes. Aaah. Take a moment. Think about it. Think about how absolutely refreshing it feels to know that April 15th is no longer a date of fear, worry, and last minute scrounging. Relish in how wonderful it is to know that you no longer have to drown in unreadable or senseless paperwork for another year. Even if you are that person (because we've probably all done it at least once) that runs to file his taxes at the last millisecond possible on the 15th, there is still a pause-able moment of sheer joy and relief that comes the instant they are filed. You think "I'm free!"
Unless of course you owe money. Then you probably think "%@(#!" and stomp around your house a few times. You might even cry a good 3 tears. All are totally understandable, and I doubt you are the only one having that reaction. The bright side, though, is that you're still done. The taxes are filed and they're done. YAY!
All the same: Tax Lesson 101: Always keep your receipts and paperwork! This is probably about the only time in life when being a pack rat = good. Keep it in a box, or a file, or a bottom dresser drawer. It doesn't really matter; the important part is that you learn to keep receipts and anything you might need for tax purposes next year. This is one area of life that should always been well recorded and searchable . . . at least for the next 7 years!
So, if you haven't finished your taxes yet, best of luck and keep going! For those of you that are finished, well done! I hope you all enjoy your own personal Taxes-are-Done "fiesta" this year. Good bye 2009!
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