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One Day More
Another Day, Another Destiny
07 September 2009 @ 08:54 pm
27 August 2009 @ 11:20 am
Felt like sharing this video - my best friend and I started a Time Lord Rock band and so we posted a Vlog. Next time we get together we'll probably make another video. Spoilers for Children of Earth on the video.
I just noticed my French Revolutionary sash in the background. Oh, we're nerds. XD
--
On another note, I just finished the first draft of my UC App. essay, question 1. Joy and rapture!
I just noticed my French Revolutionary sash in the background. Oh, we're nerds. XD
--
On another note, I just finished the first draft of my UC App. essay, question 1. Joy and rapture!
What's Playing: Russell Davies - Friends of the Ood
03 July 2009 @ 11:21 pm
Okay, so this story requires a bit of background.
The first time my mom and I took the tube in London, we saw the wide array of adverts for plays including Les Mis (LM) and La Cage Aux Folles(LCF), which caught my eye because it was starring one of my absolute favorite stage actors of all time: Philip Quast, known for playing Javert. So I turned to my mom on the tube and jokingly said we should see LCF. She agreed, seriously.
So we bought tickets for wednesday's show, went to the theatre and learned that he'd been out for several weeks with an injured knee. We saw the show wednesday anyways, but talked to the woman at the presales window and told her (just almost as small talk) how disappointed we were. So she gave us her number and told us to call her friday to check in about Quast. We thanked her and life went on.
Today, about midafternoon I remembered that we could call the woman to check in, so I did and learned that Quast had just come back! Excitedly, we asked her about tickets and she said to come round the theatre about 7 to get tickets. We arrived... And she gave them to us for free!!! And they were stall seats, too. SO SWEET, what a generous person. I wanted to kiss her.
The show today was like seeing it for the first time. It was such a beautiful show and Quast brought so much love, adoration and charisma to the relationship between Georges and Alban. Not to mention his version of 'songs on the sand' will ring in my memory forever, like John Owen Jones. It was such a dream come true.
Best of all, I met him afterwards, got a photo and autograph and got to talk with him. I told him how glad I was to hear that he was feeling better, that we'd been here wednesday (he apologized and I brushed it away) and that it was entirely worth it to come back again. He was really humble as he talked about what they cut from his dance number to protect his knee and how he felt rusty because he hadn't practised in 3 weeks. He asked where I was from so I told him LA and he seemed very surprised but gracious. He was so sweet and I kept thanking him for everything. He signed the playbill "best wishes, philip quast" which just about says everything.
To top it off, my mom and I walked across westminster bridge afterwards and just soaked in the London night. With "songs on the sand" echoing in my ears, my mom next to me and the thames, the london eye and big ben before me, I just cried tears for gratefulness and sheer joy. I've waited to come here for years and now I'm about to leave for Oxford. I want to cling to this magical city and all it's done for me these past 5 days. My trip is nowhere near over and already I've felt my life change. "Though the years travel by /, there is one thing that I will remember..." And that is the fact that today, I felt life come full circle.
The first time my mom and I took the tube in London, we saw the wide array of adverts for plays including Les Mis (LM) and La Cage Aux Folles(LCF), which caught my eye because it was starring one of my absolute favorite stage actors of all time: Philip Quast, known for playing Javert. So I turned to my mom on the tube and jokingly said we should see LCF. She agreed, seriously.
So we bought tickets for wednesday's show, went to the theatre and learned that he'd been out for several weeks with an injured knee. We saw the show wednesday anyways, but talked to the woman at the presales window and told her (just almost as small talk) how disappointed we were. So she gave us her number and told us to call her friday to check in about Quast. We thanked her and life went on.
Today, about midafternoon I remembered that we could call the woman to check in, so I did and learned that Quast had just come back! Excitedly, we asked her about tickets and she said to come round the theatre about 7 to get tickets. We arrived... And she gave them to us for free!!! And they were stall seats, too. SO SWEET, what a generous person. I wanted to kiss her.
The show today was like seeing it for the first time. It was such a beautiful show and Quast brought so much love, adoration and charisma to the relationship between Georges and Alban. Not to mention his version of 'songs on the sand' will ring in my memory forever, like John Owen Jones. It was such a dream come true.
Best of all, I met him afterwards, got a photo and autograph and got to talk with him. I told him how glad I was to hear that he was feeling better, that we'd been here wednesday (he apologized and I brushed it away) and that it was entirely worth it to come back again. He was really humble as he talked about what they cut from his dance number to protect his knee and how he felt rusty because he hadn't practised in 3 weeks. He asked where I was from so I told him LA and he seemed very surprised but gracious. He was so sweet and I kept thanking him for everything. He signed the playbill "best wishes, philip quast" which just about says everything.
To top it off, my mom and I walked across westminster bridge afterwards and just soaked in the London night. With "songs on the sand" echoing in my ears, my mom next to me and the thames, the london eye and big ben before me, I just cried tears for gratefulness and sheer joy. I've waited to come here for years and now I'm about to leave for Oxford. I want to cling to this magical city and all it's done for me these past 5 days. My trip is nowhere near over and already I've felt my life change. "Though the years travel by /, there is one thing that I will remember..." And that is the fact that today, I felt life come full circle.
Current Mood:: blissful
What's Playing: songs on the sand - philip quast
10 May 2009 @ 03:16 pm
One AP down, only AP Bio remaining, and my brain is absolutely fried. I've studied the most I can, and so now I just have to wait. Most of my nerves have subsided since I got APUSH out of the way on Friday. Whew. It'll be a party in my brain on Tuesday when I can just (basically) forget it all.
In the meantime, my creativity has been overflowing so I've been writing more Doctor Who songs. This is the part where I pimp Friends of the Ood: www.myspace.com/friendsoftheood We have three songs up and so many that are being re-recorded. I'm just glad to be writing something creative again. Being able to work with my best friend is just an added bonus, not to mention hearing my lyrics put to music. Feel free to add us if you have a myspace. :D
What's Playing: I'm Just Donna - Friends of the Ood
03 January 2009 @ 10:28 pm
Okay, so this is a reaction post/vent/rant about the casting of the 11th Doctor.
( As River Song would say: spoilers... )
( As River Song would say: spoilers... )
Current Mood:: 
shocked
shocked27 November 2008 @ 09:24 pm
So my boyfriend and I are trying to come up with a list of feministic characters from various books (or movies), including one example of feminism for each Harry Potter book. This is all because we complaining about the damsel-in-distress that is Bella from Twilight. If you have any to add, I'd like to know, and why!
HP
Hermione - that punch in the face for Malfoy in PoA
Ginny - Her fiery passion to stand up for herself shown relentlessly
Bellatrix - insanity is much better than being the damsel in distress
Mrs Weasley - "Not my daughter, you bitch!"
McGonagall - Shown relentlessly
Luna - Just because she's so unique in her own right
Angelina Johnson
Lily Evans
Non-HP
Lizzie Bennett (Pride and Prejudice)
Leia Organa (Star Wars)
Eowyn (LOTR) - "I am no man"
Capt. Holly Short (Artemis Fowl)
Lyra (Golden Compass)
Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Ugh, I know that there's more, but I'm completely blanking!
29 October 2008 @ 04:43 pm
David Tennant to Leave Doctor Who
My heart is completely broken. I mean, I knew this was going to happen eventually, but it doesn't ease the pain of it actually happening. And his reasoning of "cut it off at the high point because I'll never be able to let go otherwise" is the most noble decision ever. I wish some shows had the bravery to do that, let alone actors. It's the hardest sacrifice, but very honorable.
Gosh, I love this man and everything he's done for the show. It was sheer magic. Just sheer magic. Not to mention what Doctor Who has done for me - my friendships have gotten stronger with my best friends because of this show. Not anyone and anything can do that.
Thank you, David Tennant, for bringing such life to the show. I'm forever grateful. Good luck in the future.
What's Playing: Doctor Who Theme music
25 September 2008 @ 08:01 pm
Heh, I was looking back on my journal, and I noticed that all of my recent entries (as in, from this year) are all public, analytical reviews. I'm pleased at the way my journal has taken shape, since all of my entries from 2006 and back are my middle school years, and man were things insanely different and overly dramatic back then. Hormones... definitely those raging hormones... or something.
There's also large gaps of time where I fell off the face of LJ-dom, entered the Dark Ages (plague, everything!) and then re-emerged in the Renaissance and, even better, the Enlightenment of LJ-dom. It's fantastic, as the Doctor would say.
I'm trying to decide whether I should leave all of my writings from '07 to now as public, or switch wholesomely to "friends only", meaning both personal and analytical entries are for companions only. These are the challenges I face... alas. :P
On a different note, does anyone know of the Victor Hugo play Ruy Blas? My best friend got it for me while she was in Paris over the summer, and it's a beautifully old play that I'm trying to read. I don't really know the plot because there's no summary on the book. So background info would be nice before I dive in. All my French teacher would tell me is that "It's a classic".
Last mention: I've made a wonderful self-discovery: based on the fact that I love wearing my Les Miserables t-shirt because it sparks conversation, I've decided I love wearing shirts that say something about me, and make for great conversation. It's not about how it looks on me, but what it says and what we can say about it together. Yuuup. Same goes for my old "I DON'T trust Severus Snape" shirt, and my Hogwarts shirt. Ah, classics.
There's also large gaps of time where I fell off the face of LJ-dom, entered the Dark Ages (plague, everything!) and then re-emerged in the Renaissance and, even better, the Enlightenment of LJ-dom. It's fantastic, as the Doctor would say.
I'm trying to decide whether I should leave all of my writings from '07 to now as public, or switch wholesomely to "friends only", meaning both personal and analytical entries are for companions only. These are the challenges I face... alas. :P
On a different note, does anyone know of the Victor Hugo play Ruy Blas? My best friend got it for me while she was in Paris over the summer, and it's a beautifully old play that I'm trying to read. I don't really know the plot because there's no summary on the book. So background info would be nice before I dive in. All my French teacher would tell me is that "It's a classic".
Last mention: I've made a wonderful self-discovery: based on the fact that I love wearing my Les Miserables t-shirt because it sparks conversation, I've decided I love wearing shirts that say something about me, and make for great conversation. It's not about how it looks on me, but what it says and what we can say about it together. Yuuup. Same goes for my old "I DON'T trust Severus Snape" shirt, and my Hogwarts shirt. Ah, classics.
23 September 2008 @ 09:17 pm
House 5x02 Spoilery review
I actually really didn't like the PI all that much. I liked the parallels he made to Wilson with his naivete and easy ability to dissect House, but his character by itself was really just a fusion of Wilson and House combined, so there's nothing really unique about him.
As for the House/Wilson-ness. Basically, HOUSE IS PINING FOR WILSON. He flippin' hangs out in Wilson's office to think!
Basically, it's their breakup.
So DAMMIT, when's their MAKE-UP?! GAHH.
I actually really didn't like the PI all that much. I liked the parallels he made to Wilson with his naivete and easy ability to dissect House, but his character by itself was really just a fusion of Wilson and House combined, so there's nothing really unique about him.
As for the House/Wilson-ness. Basically, HOUSE IS PINING FOR WILSON. He flippin' hangs out in Wilson's office to think!
Here's my current House/Wilson logic within the episodes: As House hit on Dr. O'Sheaya or whatever his name was, it was a VERY thin disguise for House trying to replace Wilson. Ergo, with this doctor asking House if he was hitting on him/checking him out, House was therefore trying to move on from his past love by trying to find his new love. O'Sheaya knew it, and so does everyone else. Especially Foreman. Also, the fact that Wilson talks to everyone but House proves that Wilson does not want to talk to the person who has the power to (and will) bring him back. He pushes House away because he has the most powerful emotional tie to him and therefore the most to invest and the most he's trying to lose.
Basically, it's their breakup.
So DAMMIT, when's their MAKE-UP?! GAHH.
What's Playing: A Man's Gotta Do - Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog
16 September 2008 @ 09:19 pm
HOUSE SPOILERS
Okay besides for the H/W goodies that were throughout this entire episode in the most blatant form ever, this episode really wasn't that good - the patient of the week was rather pathetic, the medical mystery non-existant and not suspenseful, but there was great character development, at least.
I, as well as my friends who do not ship H/W on a regular basis, totally thought Wilson was going to say "I didn't want to leave because of Amber... I want to leave because I love you and I can't take it anymore" or something to that extent. They have the most twisted way of showing love, but it's honestly and truthfully there, it really is. Wilson wanted to protect House, which is why he didn't blame House for Amber's death - he cares for House, whether he wants to admit it or not. And everyone else recognizes that openly now, even House. I think that the ultimate resolution is for Wilson to accept his feelings, stop running away and confront it all. House is the problem and therefore part of the solution.
But really, the only way for them to fix everything is for them both to accept that they honestly and truthfully care, no beating about the bush, no suppression or denial - just pure realism and honesty. And everything would seriously fall into place; it's all there. I know it's rather ideal, but I can also see it forming as a typical House-Wilson confrontation in which they simply... talk. I can give multiple episode examples of where they've been able to do that, and it's awesome because it means it's all plausible/possible. If they recognize how twisted they've made the situation, they can fix it if they want to.
I need to find a bleedin' transcript of that last scene - so much subtext it makes me happy and sad at the same time.
BRING ON NEXT WEEK, DAMMIT.
Okay besides for the H/W goodies that were throughout this entire episode in the most blatant form ever, this episode really wasn't that good - the patient of the week was rather pathetic, the medical mystery non-existant and not suspenseful, but there was great character development, at least.
I, as well as my friends who do not ship H/W on a regular basis, totally thought Wilson was going to say "I didn't want to leave because of Amber... I want to leave because I love you and I can't take it anymore" or something to that extent. They have the most twisted way of showing love, but it's honestly and truthfully there, it really is. Wilson wanted to protect House, which is why he didn't blame House for Amber's death - he cares for House, whether he wants to admit it or not. And everyone else recognizes that openly now, even House. I think that the ultimate resolution is for Wilson to accept his feelings, stop running away and confront it all. House is the problem and therefore part of the solution.
But really, the only way for them to fix everything is for them both to accept that they honestly and truthfully care, no beating about the bush, no suppression or denial - just pure realism and honesty. And everything would seriously fall into place; it's all there. I know it's rather ideal, but I can also see it forming as a typical House-Wilson confrontation in which they simply... talk. I can give multiple episode examples of where they've been able to do that, and it's awesome because it means it's all plausible/possible. If they recognize how twisted they've made the situation, they can fix it if they want to.
I need to find a bleedin' transcript of that last scene - so much subtext it makes me happy and sad at the same time.
BRING ON NEXT WEEK, DAMMIT.
13 September 2008 @ 11:13 am
But one more time can't hurt.
So, for CORE (the humanities magnet program I attend for high school, just to fill some people in) this year, one of our four classes is sociology. We've been reading about the cycle of socialization and the oppression it places on us, and we watched Good Will Hunting to support our reading and Make The Connections (aka MTC; probably the only concept that's carried over from 10th grade, and I'm quite relieved that it did). I enjoyed Good Will Hunting as a film and as an example of socialization, although I admit I noticed some definitely subtext between Sean and Jerry Lambeau (for anyone who has seen the film). I could rant about those two, but that's not what this post is about.
Nay, this post is about the reading assignment I just completed and the beautiful process of MTC that I just faced only several minutes ago. We were supposed to read this book chapter: A Culture of Fear: Education and the Disconnected Life by ___ (unknown first name) Palmer. So, I did and while I did, I made a most extraordinary discovery. There are four things which Palmer says give us fear in educational or school situations: fear of live encounters with other people, fear of diversity and therefore fear of conflicting opinions which in turn leads to conflictiing self identity.
It's this concept of fear of losing the self that intrigues me the most, because it made me think of - yes, you guessed it - Javert. "Many of us are so deeply identified with our ideas that when we have a competitive encounter..." Jean Valjean, if you will, "we risk losing more than the debate:.." or in Javert's case, the confrontations galore, "we risk losing our sense of self."
In essence, Javert exemplifies every psychological and sociological concept known to man of struggling with the self. I think I made some post a year ago (while I was taking psych at Valley College) about how Javert is a perfect example of the super ego and how his entire foundation of life is based on the unrealistic aspects of super ego - doing what is right and what is rigidly written as what man is supposed to do. Religion then, as well as the law, acts as his source of socialization as he builds his entire life around these sources of structure, furthermore as an escape from the depths of jail. So of course when good ol Jean Valjean comes along and changes the definition of a good person - a convict being his benefactor?! How dare he?! - Javert is forced to wrestle with himself and his entire foundation of living. He cannot conquer this conflicting idea that Jean Valjean represents and so he befriends the lovely Seine river. As a result, he is totally the worst case senario of facing the fear of losing the self.
Thanks Javert, you're a textbook case for all of the science-ologies!
So, for CORE (the humanities magnet program I attend for high school, just to fill some people in) this year, one of our four classes is sociology. We've been reading about the cycle of socialization and the oppression it places on us, and we watched Good Will Hunting to support our reading and Make The Connections (aka MTC; probably the only concept that's carried over from 10th grade, and I'm quite relieved that it did). I enjoyed Good Will Hunting as a film and as an example of socialization, although I admit I noticed some definitely subtext between Sean and Jerry Lambeau (for anyone who has seen the film). I could rant about those two, but that's not what this post is about.
Nay, this post is about the reading assignment I just completed and the beautiful process of MTC that I just faced only several minutes ago. We were supposed to read this book chapter: A Culture of Fear: Education and the Disconnected Life by ___ (unknown first name) Palmer. So, I did and while I did, I made a most extraordinary discovery. There are four things which Palmer says give us fear in educational or school situations: fear of live encounters with other people, fear of diversity and therefore fear of conflicting opinions which in turn leads to conflictiing self identity.
It's this concept of fear of losing the self that intrigues me the most, because it made me think of - yes, you guessed it - Javert. "Many of us are so deeply identified with our ideas that when we have a competitive encounter..." Jean Valjean, if you will, "we risk losing more than the debate:.." or in Javert's case, the confrontations galore, "we risk losing our sense of self."
In essence, Javert exemplifies every psychological and sociological concept known to man of struggling with the self. I think I made some post a year ago (while I was taking psych at Valley College) about how Javert is a perfect example of the super ego and how his entire foundation of life is based on the unrealistic aspects of super ego - doing what is right and what is rigidly written as what man is supposed to do. Religion then, as well as the law, acts as his source of socialization as he builds his entire life around these sources of structure, furthermore as an escape from the depths of jail. So of course when good ol Jean Valjean comes along and changes the definition of a good person - a convict being his benefactor?! How dare he?! - Javert is forced to wrestle with himself and his entire foundation of living. He cannot conquer this conflicting idea that Jean Valjean represents and so he befriends the lovely Seine river. As a result, he is totally the worst case senario of facing the fear of losing the self.
Thanks Javert, you're a textbook case for all of the science-ologies!
11 August 2008 @ 12:45 am
Bwahaha, I saw Les Mis in concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Here's my review:
( Hollywood Bowl amazingness! )
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Oh, and I bought season 2 of Doctor Who yesterday in order to make my mom watch it. In exchange, I must watch Northern Exposure. It's pretty good. I'm just glad I own the Doctor now. :) It was ridiculously expensive though.
Oh and did you see the 4x100 men's relay?!?! Damn, we just out-touched the French by hundreths of a second. That was an amazing race... wow. All relays broke the world record, but obviously the first place US men set the record. But it just goes to show how amazingly fast the teams were.
( Hollywood Bowl amazingness! )
---
Oh, and I bought season 2 of Doctor Who yesterday in order to make my mom watch it. In exchange, I must watch Northern Exposure. It's pretty good. I'm just glad I own the Doctor now. :) It was ridiculously expensive though.
Oh and did you see the 4x100 men's relay?!?! Damn, we just out-touched the French by hundreths of a second. That was an amazing race... wow. All relays broke the world record, but obviously the first place US men set the record. But it just goes to show how amazingly fast the teams were.
29 July 2008 @ 11:49 am
Whew! That was a very intimidating minute or so - we just experienced an earthquake large enough to make the house shake and have me and my dad drop to the floor and get in a doorway and hang on tight. It probably was a 2 to 4 on the Richter scale around here, although it struck Downtown LA at a 5.8! It's already on the news! Friends and family are rather freaked, but it'll be okay.
Ah well, all is okay now and hopefully there won't be any aftershocks.
Off to buy some Thai food and then off to see Jacob. That was just a small break to the week's monotony; ah, California and its earthquakes. Oy.
Ah well, all is okay now and hopefully there won't be any aftershocks.
Off to buy some Thai food and then off to see Jacob. That was just a small break to the week's monotony; ah, California and its earthquakes. Oy.
Current Mood:: shaky
21 July 2008 @ 10:30 pm
Happy 1 Year Anniversary of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!
At about this time last year, I had finished the final book for the first time, and was beginning to enter my post-HP depression. I had stayed up most of the night with my best friend and read aloud with her. We then went to bed, although I awoke several hours earlier and snuck in some reading time. We read at her house all day until about 5pm when we came to my house and together, we finished the book.
I am still shocked that I never cried. I think I'm waiting for that day where I start sobbing for no reason and then realize it's because of Harry Potter.
Alas, I shall never forget the joys of the series, nor the joys of summer 2007 with the final build-up to the book release.
13 July 2008 @ 09:16 pm
So for those of you who read the LA Times, a critic named Reed Johnson wrote an interesting article about Wall-E in which he critiqued it for being a cute and cuddly sci-fi film. I was pretty annoyed at his analysis, and so I wrote an email to him. Not only did I get a reply, but high praise for my work. At any rate, I wanted to post my response here, juuuuust for the hell of it. Yeah, it's a lot of reading, I know. But it's fun! Typical me. *eyeroll* Also, spoilers for "Wall-E".
05 July 2008 @ 04:59 pm
A Chorus Line was simply as spectacular as I could expect, and I marveled at every aspect of it all.
03 July 2008 @ 08:43 pm
Okay, so I'm going to see this Saturday's matinee performance of A Chorus Line at the Ahmanson Theatre and it only now crossed my mind to research the cast.
http://www.centertheatregroup.org/ticket
The only name I'm familiar with is Michael Gruber, and the rest all sound like they're fresh to the scene. I'm very excited because I don't know what to expect from the musical as a whole, as well as the individual cast members. I read the LA Times' review a while ago that the production is very traditional, in an attempt to mimic (for lack of a better word) the original production. They liked it though, so I'm going in with high expectations.
Anyone seen A Chorus Line? Anything to mention?
I've listened to the Original Broadway Cast recording a lot, since I got the CD for my birthday in December, so I'm familiar with the music and whatnot.
I'm pretty sure I'll end up writing a review when I see it..
27 June 2008 @ 09:34 pm
I just got back from seeing Wall-E. It was such a magnificent movie. I've always been blown away by Pixar's all-around talent regarding animation, story and character, but this one effortlessly blew all of the other films out of the water. Their films have only gotten better with age, and Wall-E was no exception. (spoilers ahead)
01 May 2008 @ 08:49 pm
Thanks to Icicaille for the meme; I haven't done one of these in a long time!
22 April 2008 @ 09:37 pm
For a school project, my friend and I are planning on making a short, puppet-video which portrays the precursors leading up to the French Revolution. So, I have decided to post what I have written so far, just for the amusement of others. From all that I have learned about the revolution so far, it has become more than blatantly obvious that the era of Enlightenment and the French Revolution is the era I want to study in college, grad school and the rest of my life. It's simply amazing.
But before I get carried away, I present my highly campy, cheesy, tacky script (it's supposed to be that way). A few humorous warnings: It contains a Les MIserables reference, puppets, and a group of poor, French peasants who are going to speak with cockney accents. :)
EDIT:I forgot to mention, there's more to it, but I'm going to bed and I haven't finished the script yet. So yes, it's incomplete, and yes, I'll edit this post when I've finished the entire script.