flippeed her lid

stream of consciousness while watching NBC comedy thursday on friday morning

2010-02-05T07:14:00.001-08:00

Community
-never wears shoes, never wears a shirt, why hasn't he died of lack of service
-cute bad movie secret handshake!
-annie's hand mistaken for abed [troy and abed-cutest couple]
-gimme some fivesies. two cool handshakes before the opening credits
-gateway douchebag
-don't get all upper east side on this shit
-clear your head:DONE
-and she's jewish?
-community college comedy troupe
-everything is connected. tarantulas and peeing in my pants.
-you KNOW babies are extra cute...whenn...."they're both really cute?"
-FINALLY a meta chevy chase joke!
-what is with Jeff's silly henley? looks better while sitting
-vonn has a matching henley.

Parks and Recreation
-as far as white leather suits go
-duck tokens
-plus-sized chunk monsters
-stop sidebarring! new action and corresponding catch phrase
-dave matthes played on a roomba, as it should be
-worst haunting ever: black eyed peas on continuous loop

The Office
-SCISSORS ME
-sabray?
-dunder mifflin is part of sabray
-CHRISTIAN SLATER
-ANDY AND ERIN=<33334ever style="font-weight: bold;">

30 Rock
-food baby! liz lemon, we are one
-who is playing Jenna's mom!?!?!?
-lady from old school snl???
-who keeps a frown in a pocket?
-sith lord and italian jesus.
-frank and tracy. no frank and liz in one apartment.
-different strokes proved irrevocably that smoking kills
-perfect-like a John Mayer song
-new nice outfit choice: white jeans and dan marino jerseys
-heigTHHHHH
-I've been a liar and a dental hygienist
-most perfect jenna-mom duet ever [and jenna has a microphone in her purse!]
-just like the ending of all movies
-thanks meat cat.

Merylathon: an update [and a digression about Barbra, and another about hats]

2010-02-04T23:04:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's resolutions was to watch every movie for which either Katharine Hepburn or Meryl Streep was nominated for an Oscar.

I decided to do Meryl first because I had seen less of her movies. I had already seen Music of the Heart through years of Orchestra classes. I've seen that movie/Mr. Holland's Opus way too many times, The Devil Wears Prada, and Julie & Julia. So I started with Kramer v. Kramer because it was her first Oscar win [and I was NOT watching The Deer Hunter by myself in my room (her first nomination)] and it is my dad's favorite Meryl movie. I won't give anything away, but I was especially excited with the ending because somehow in my dad's description of it I interpreted it ending the opposite way. And of course, Meryl is supporting in this role, but not out shined by Dustin Hoffman [whom I also adore, The Graduate is my favorite movie of all time]

Then I went to Doubt, simply because it was on Netflix instant watch. And holy moley, if Meryl can make me hate her, it just makes me love her more. Possibly her least fabulous role I've seen, she plays a nun, she is still Meryl through and through and doesn't let up until the credits role.

These were all preludes to my now favorite Meryl movie. I think Kramer v. Kramer is better and she is better in it. But five words: Robert Redford sans Barbra Streisand. I could go on and on about how much I hated Katie Morosky in The Way We Were as the only reason to watch that movie is the boat scene, but I digress.

Out of Africa was amazing. I don't think I can capture how much I loved this movie. But I can capture how much I loved Meryl's hats.

This is not the first time a movie has been ranked higher in my favorite simply for millinery. See His Girl Friday and A Room with a View

new blog.

2010-02-04T17:07:00.000-08:00

I just started a new blog: miss woodhouse: the english major.

I'm keeping this blog for my observations on books, films and culture in general. But I wanted to chronicle my college experience specifically!

in a previous life, I was from Kentucky

2010-01-31T21:36:00.000-08:00

first of all.

I love Georgia. I love Coca-Cola and kind of baby barf if I have to drink Pepsi. I think Waffle House is way classier than most people assume. And I don't even eatfried chicken unless it comes with a smiling "Welcome to Chic-fil-a."

But here is a list of reason I believe I am really from Kentucky. or at least half and half; Kentucky and Georgia.

I love Kentucky Basketball. My cousin played for them in the late nineties, so actually for a long time I associated Kentucky and the sport with a lot of family stress. But this season, I have realized how much I LOVE COLLEGE BASKETBALL. It also helps that Coach Cal is amazing and we're doing well this season. I bleed Blue, there's no way around it.
Patty Loveless' album "Mountain Soul" is probably in the top five albums that defines who I am. along with "Bookends," "Rubber Soul," "Ladies of the Canyon," and "Songs About Jane"
My favorite part of the movie The Last of the Mohicans is when Chingachook tells Hawkeye to go to "can-tuck-ee"
one time I met Ashely Judd at a Kentucky Basketball game. and she is just about the classiest Southern lady ever.

she [y]eats the apple.

2010-01-30T16:56:00.000-08:00

In Modern Poetry, we're a-reading some Yeats.

Coincidentally, my brother is reading Yeats in his Irish Literature class. Brother dear dislikes Yeats dear immensely. But I'm kind of in love with Yeats.

I hadn't read any of his poems before. Literally, nothing. My poetry reading is pretty strictly limited to school assignments and a passionate, unrequited love of Auden, Eliot and Heaney.

But in Modern Poetry, I've fallen in love with Yeats.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

I WILL arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,	5
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;	10
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

I really love how the images of community "hive for the honey bee" and "on the roadway" are contrasted with the idea of escaping to a world of solitude.

delicious=george emerson

2010-01-25T21:20:00.000-08:00

first I have to say. I generally hate Helena Bonham-Carter. I hate all celebrities that break up celebrity couples that I have deemed to be perfect for each other. Another example it Brangelina. I only enjoy Brad Pitt up until 2005. Though with HBC, I can stand Kenneth Branagh, the other offending party their love-affair because Emma Thompson has found the gorgeous, wonderful Greg Wise.
so until Jennifer Aniston finds love, Brad Pitt is dead to be post-2005. But Angelina, I don't care. you suck.
BUTTTTT, Helena Bonham-Carter, as much as I would want to slap her in real life, is kind of awesome. and I mean it all worked out...sort of. She is committed to creeper Tim Burton. And Kenneth is married to Lindsey Brunnock--who Bonham-Carter introduced him to?...!?

whatevs.point of post. just got over my HBC hating enough to watch A Room with a View all the way through and omg. some where between George, bustle, cool hat, George, Italian murder, Italian piazzas, George, Maggie Smith and another cool bustle I fell in love. with GEORGE EMERSON.
you are a beautiful eccentric.
and now I understand why this is the movie is my mom's favorite movie that she most wants to live in.

could I have one please? kthx. oh, and that hat. and that hair. and that Italy. that'd be nice.

happy birthday!

2010-01-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

today is one of my dearest friend's 19th birthday. so I've been scoping out etsy for the past week for some lovely b-day presents. here's what I found!

cupkozy

How cute is this!? It a reusable cozy for a coffee shop cup! and it rolls up so you can carry it on your keychain. I think this would be perfect for a coffee drinker. I think I'll buy one for myself.

5dollarshakershoppe

One of my favorite shops! I love the idea of giving/getting vintage salt and pepper shakers. I love this shop. They are super sweet and have great service!

johnnyvintage

Can't describe how much I love this little green apple ben franklin! I was thinking something like this for my friend would be perfec, she loves U.S. History.

also from johnnyvintage! I actually found this by searching for my friend's favorite color after selecting vintage. so when I typed in "aqua" I got this adorable deer!

help haiti and get guhguhguhgreat music.

2010-01-21T10:13:00.000-08:00

so I think I've talked about how much I LOVE Paste Magazine. If I haven't, well I do.

a lot.

and now they are doing this amazing thing where if you donate money through them (or even not through them, you can say you already did on the honor system) you get nearly 250 amazing tracks from artists who came together with the magazine to rock out and help out.

just click on the link above ^^^. and scroll down a bit and click on "SONGS FOR HAITI." after that is it is pretty easy to follow.

golden globe winners-a review

2010-01-17T22:10:00.000-08:00

Best Supporting Actress

Mo'Nique for Precious: I can see this fitting in the logic of the Golden Globes but I do not see Mo'Nique taking home the Oscar. Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars is my single favorite category in any award show ever. EVER. I'm very defensive and protective of it. and I'm saying Julianne Moore or Anna Kendrick will rock it out in February.

Best Actress in a Comedy or a Musical

Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia: Of course, Meryl always deserves the Globe. And snaps for surpassing Jack and Angela in total wins! This role definitely has the best chance for a comedic Best Actress this year.

Best Screenplay-Motion Picture

Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner for Up in the Air: Yay. This writing really was amazing and was executed quite well by the cast. I'm still surprised Precious didn't get nominated for this category. I think it will for the Oscars and may take the Oscar, but if the Academy knows better they will see the genius that is Jason Reitman. [more on that later]

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds: eh. I'm still thinking Stanley Tucci as creepy pedophile man in The Lovely Bones is going to take the Oscar. The preview alone made me hate Stanley. and I LOVE STANLEY.

Best Director-Motion Picture

James Cameron for Avatar: Bull...wait for it...shit. In 10, 20, 30 years, the world will look back at 2009 and say "why did anyone like Avatar?" because by then the graphics and 3-d effects will look dated and old and the acting, writing and directing will still suck, just then every one will be able to see it because they are no longer ooo and awwing over 3-d.

Jason Reitman had the right to looked pissed afterwards. He deserved the Globe and will win the Oscar.

Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy

The Hangover: Probably the funniest movie of the year. But not the best movie of the year that was in the category. That would be (500) Days of Summer or It's Complicated. Since the Academy has been in the mood for changing the rules lately I propose a new category. What is there were separate things for like "funny movies" and then "comedys." Because granted I laughed three times as much as The Hangover then either (500) or Complicated, which does require skill from the director, writers and actors but it does not make it the best movie. Maybe a sub category in screenplay. Like best comedic screenplay.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama

Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side: Prime globe material that probably won't even get nominated for an Oscar. Carey Mulligan is going to take ALL OF Y'ALL. so get ready.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy

Robert Downey, Jr. for Sherlock Holmes: Props for the best acceptance speech of the night. The only serious candidate from the comedy category to potentially have a nomination in February.

Best Actor in Motion Picture-Drama

Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart: Best Actor will literally be a race between George and Jeff at this point. My vote is with George. because my heart is with George. swoon. But yay for indie films!

Best Motion Picture-Drama

Avatar: I hate you, Hollywood Foreign Press. You just proved to the world that the Academy is way classier.

Ricky Gervais' hosting gets a C-, got us through the night without too many annoyances, but I didn't laugh at all.

goals and globes: a review.

2010-01-17T21:04:00.000-08:00

my new year's goals are coming along nicely. I'm running a lot and finished my first book on my list of books to read, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. review to come later. I might do january's together is one fabooklous post.

this post is dedicated to the 2010 Golden Globes, otherwise known as the blemish on the 2009-2010 awards season that was James Cameron winning [stealing] best director from Jason Reitman. But more on that later.

First. to FASHION.

So it seems like dresses were in reds, purples, neutrals and glitter this year. Some fabulous, some not so much.

all pictures either from the golden globes official website or justjared.com

chloe, dear. I know you are fashion forward thinking and love to look of the mark. but this dress looks like it was put on sideways. like the ruffles were all up near her face and kept hitting her face as she walked. but the color is lovely. her hair is way too severe however.

nicole kidman. My mother and I discussed the fact that she should be unable to wear this color. 1. because of her hair color 2. because of her skin tone 3. she still looks fabulous. Chloe, this is how you do funky draping and ruffles.

Penelope seems to be channels her grandmama of acting inspiration, Sophia Loren and looking exotic and distant. I like the shot with the umbrella too.

More Ruffles! Love Christina Hendricks. I feel the color would have been better had it been more yellow and less pink. Her red hair has so many warm undertones. This may be one of the only peplums I've ever liked. Though it is like a half-peplum.

one of my favorites of the night! Kristen Bell looked so youthful. I wish the asymmetrical hem had been a little bit shorter because she is so short that when shot from the front it really cut her legs in half and she looked nubby. But from this angle she looks wonderful!

wtf January Jones? ruffles gone wrong. headband gone wrong. she always seems to be distancing herself from Betty Draper. but she looks good as Betty Draper! Bring Betty Back!

like the color, can deal with the chinchilla on the shoulder, but do we need a twin on the hip? that answer, Drew, is no.

young hollywood take note, THIS is how to young, classy, refined and like you have a career ahead of you. Edgy but classic, the color and lines are simple but have the black lace overlay to add edge and youth.

Kate's dress looks like it should be half a foot shorter. And take those shoes off. my feet hurt.

Maybe because I hated Avatar, maybe because I hate grandmother's curtains, I kind of hate Zoe Saldana's dress. It doesn't even fit her. or does it? I can't tell. too many bows and ribbons and ruffles and drapes.

I love Tina and I love this dress. She usually just wears black but this simple and cute but fun with pattern.

Love the colored shoes with hunter green almost as a neutral. Go Pregnant Amy.

I really like this one shoulder rocked by Anna Kendrick. Somehow even with the whiteness, the beading and the train, it stays red carpet and doesn't look too bridal or something.

how to wear red on the red carpet: look adorable and sassy like amy poehler, preferably with tall, dark and funny arm candy

if Zoe Saldana's dress is grandmom's curtains, what is that? Grandma's tissues.

Cute couple again. And I like the sparkles, Anna Paquin. hate the clunky shoes.

one of my favorite dresses was from a date! idk her name, but Colin Farrel's lovely lady in navy is rocking the mermaid silhouette and sweetheart neckline.

again youth looking youthful! loves it.

lea michele's dress was huge! but so is her personality and awesomeness. I loved her hair by the way.

I like the pink tutu sort of thing going on, but Emily! your hair is so flat. and parted down the middle. Her hair looks like a seventh grade school photo, including at home curling job.

Jayma Mays looks super happy and super edgy. I really like the pattern that is an impact but subtle as well with the sheer layers and zoomed out view.

My ultimate dream: to be Miss Golden Globe.

Diane Kruger what are you doing? The dress isn't even steamed really, it looks like it has wrinkles in the bottom.

I usually love Julianne Moore's style, but the band across her collarbone of ruffles and then a column of gray? matronly.

Love the color, love the shape, but the thin layers didn't look good on camera with lights behind it.

My favorite fashion risk taker! Ginnifer Goodwin is so edgy with her cobalt blue dress and short hair.

Up in the Air-Review

2010-01-11T18:48:00.000-08:00

With all the Oscar Buzz and the promise of George Clooney's face, I knew I had to go see it.

Though I did not know that I would love it. George Clooney is playing his suave charming self, except more isolated that normal, in a job that requires him to fly around the country and fire people. He also has to take recent college grad Natalie under his wing to show her the ropes after she suggests that the company goes online which would prevent George Clooney's character from reaching his goal of 10 million frequent flyer miles.

all while he is having an affair with the beautiful Vera Farmiga, who I've never heard of but it lovable and hate inducing at the same time.

Anna Kendrick, was absolutely wonderful as Natalie, the girl who has planned her life to a T and sees it falling apart in front her well starched skirt-suit.

and SNAPS to JASON REITMAN. I love him. my vote for best director goes to him. It was shot beautifully and the way the travelling was portrayed as well as the familial relationships was so poignant.

The movie also captured the distance and effort of human connection that is so personified in airports. which I love about airports but not that many people understand.

George Clooney is charismatic and wonderful as always but this may be the best he's ever been. I'm calling Oscar right now.

New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-04T21:59:00.000-08:00

1. Read 24 books in 12 months

2. Watch every movie that Katharine Hepburn or Meryl Streep has been nominated for [NETFLIX]

3. Catch up on all HBO with Netflix that I am deprived of in my pre-18 y/o life

4. Make all A's in my five classes!

5. Get an internship

can i just be her? would that be okay with everyone? ilovehersheisfabulous

You're the moon over Mae West's shoulder [you're the top] pt. 4

2009-12-29T00:38:00.000-08:00

25 Best Movies of 2000's, according to flippee.

Chronologically

2000

High Fidelity

O, Brother Where Art Thou?

Almost Famous

For how little music I liked that was released in 2000, it was a great year for soundtracks! All three movies have some of my favorite soundtracks of all time. John Cusack is at his adult best in High Fidelity as a jerk who we fall in love with as he reminisces about girlfriends, music and what a lameo Jack Black is.

O Brother Where Art Thou? is probably one of the most creative/best adaptations ever, earning both a stop in our hearts and the 9th grade English curriculum.

Almost Famous, annoyingly pretentious and hipster or adorably endearing and indie? Critics are still arguing. But whatever. I love Kate Hudson and if-you-blink-you-will-miss-them Anna Paquin and Zooey Deschanel. I still listen to the vinyl Bookends so I can pretend that I am Zooey Deschanel. And I dream about a singalong in a bus of '"Tiny Dancer." But I think everyone does after watching that movie.

2001

Gosford Park

The Royal Tenebaums

Amelie

Altman's last great film that was his own doing as Prairie Home Companion was tainted by Lindsay Lohan. A great ensemble film, as all of Altman's best are, Gosford Park is really just so good. You have to watch it multiple times to get all the dialogue. The story line is great and Maggie Smith, Kristen Scott Thomas, Jeremy Northam, Helen Mirren, Derek Jacobi, Emily Watson, Sophie Thompson, Ryan Phillipe (a little random, but he is annoying and supposed to be so it works) and Clive Owen. They are all wonderful and it shows that Altman is an actors' director through and through.

Ah, Wes Anderson--you are amazing. He may be seen as pretentious and overrated. I don't care. I love his movies and The Royal Tenebaums is probably his best. It captures what he does best, showing a family in turmoil, with no actually likable characters but the viewer ends up falling in love with all of them. AND ANGELICA HUSTON! Could she be more perfect? I want to look like her now, much less when I'm 60.

Amelie is the best of what it is. What it is in a sweet, endearing movie that doesn't make much sense plotwise, or logicwise. But with Audrey Tautou's page boy hair-cut and knowing smile, the viewer willing gives up logic and stick her hand in the coffee beans.

2002

Chicago

The Hours

Chicago is one of the best movie musicals of our time. I love stage musicals, it's true. But I really love movie musicals, and that may offend the purists, but I love seeing how a director captures new things from the music and choreography. And this ones works the best. Except for maybe Oklahoma!

The Hours-I really am sucker Virgina Woolf, Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman. WHOA. This movie was made for me. One of the best adaptations of a novel I've seen.

2003

Finding Nemo

Lost in Translation

Pixar's best of the decade, Nemo is both visually engaging and so emotionally endearing! Marlin and Nemo and Dory are so sweet, and they are fish, but some of Pixar's most human.

Sofia Coppola return to sanity and good movie-making entered her into Hollywood's favorite circle of directors with a little indie whisper. ScarJo before her chest was more famous than her major acting chops. and Bill Murray is his best role to date.

2004

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I Heart Huckabees

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

The Motorcycle Diaries

Danny Deckchair

Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle

Three of my favorite surreal movies in one year! Sunshine, Huckabees, and Life Aquatic are in my cycle of fun indie films that make me feel like a little hipster. Of course these movies do have cinematic value as well. Jim Carrey when he isn't funny is at his sweetest and Kate Winslet! If I could two sets of movies to watch for the rest of my life it would Katharine Hepburn's canon and Kate Winslet's. she is just so wonderful. Huckabees is trippy, but really humane and fun, and Jason Schwartzman's character is one of my all time favorites. Then my favorite Wes Anderson film. Rushmore was more influential and Tenebaums was a better movie but Life Aquatic is so funny and quotable, Bill Murray in my 2nd favorite role of his is deadpan and hilarious.

2005

Walk the Line

Reese at her best and Joaquin before the crazy fully settled. I love June Carter and Johnny. They are so damn cute in the most destructive relationship way ever.

2006

Little Miss Sunshine

Stranger Than Fiction

Little Miss Sunshine- My first reaction was GRAPES OF WRATH. Which it totally is. And Steve Carell is so funny when he isn't being funny. Dwayne is the love of my indie life and I've adored Toni Collette ever since she portrayed Harriet Smith in Emma.

Stranger Than Fiction got a lot of crap about being too out there or whatever. But Emma Thompson is so serene as an actress in any role. And again features one of my favorite things, comedians not being funny. Maggie Gyllenhaal could be better. probably had her character been played by Zooey Deschanel. But Dustin Hoffman is sweet too.

2007

Juno

Once

Watching Juno now, I don't like it nearly as much as I thought I did when I was a junior in high school, but is changed what being a teenage protagonist meant. All of the sudden Juno was short, brunette, saucy and pregnant. She wasn't a fallen Christian girl, or a slut who needed to find the way. She was 16 and pregnant and herself. And that's why everyone took notice. Not to mention Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman's stellar performances as the yuppie adopters!

Just recently saw Once, and I felt like I had been punched in the stomach by the gods of music and love. or god of music and love; this movie makes it seem like they are the same. Again like Juno, Once is really real. Guy and Girl aren't perfect for each other, but perfect for each at that moment, which is a fact of humanity that is glazed over a lot in romances that create the idea of "the one." Once provides an alternative the cleanliness of that version, something truer and deeper and more congruent with the lives that we lead.

2008

Slumdog Millionaire

WALL-E

Another punch movie. Except Slumdog punched me in the face. Part Bollywood musical, part low-budget endearment, part sappy bildungsroman, Slumdog changed how I looked at movies. Before any indie movie I found was something I happened upon and liked in a little niche of my existence, like Wes Anderson films, that are rarely accepted into the wide canon of great movies, only to be praised by little hipsters. But Slumdog captured the country and made them love and not look away from the torture, game show or Bollywood dance number. Everybody loved to love Slumdog because it was just that good.

WALL-E will forever be known as the Best Picture that shoulda been. Oh well. Maybe it was the shout out to Hello! Dolly or the Fred-and-Ginger dance between WALL-E and EVE or the silence in which WALL-E commits all his actions, but WALL-E felt so retro, except of course it takes place in space and in the future. The retro and modernity gave Pixar their best film of the decade, and Toy Story a run for its money as the definitive Pixar film.

2009

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Two animations in one year and no live action movies. Granted I haven't seen my pick of Best Picture right now (Up in the Air) yet, but these were my two favorites of the year. Up and Fantastic Mr. Fox were the most humane movies of the year. They addressed human issues of family and loss and love and that's what I love most about movies. Identifying with the characters, or feeling pathos for them. I felt more connected to George Clooney as a fox than I have a character in a long time. and if you didn't cry during Up, I'd suggest you go back to your charger or home planet because you are obviously either a robot or an alien.

Still Haven't Seen

Up in the Air

An Education

A Single Man

Invictus

Sherlock Holmes

You're a Berlin ballad [you're the top] pt. 3

2009-12-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

2006

The Decemberists: The Crane Wife

Flight of the Conchords: Flight of the Conchords

Ryan Montbleau Band: One Fine Color

The Decemberists--I would say The Crane Wife is their best album. I love "O Valencia" [great running music]. The band most often described as "cerebral" this is a band that loves to kill off characters [Valencia dies in a gang fight] with the sweetest melodies ever.

For the love of novelty, I love "New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo" they are just adorable. And whoa they actually make good parody folk rap comedy songs. like songs I want to listen to again for musical value.

Ryan Montbleau Band, the as-of-yet undiscovered band that I adore. I've seen them live at least five times, going on six in January. Their first album is the most comprehensive which begs for comparison to Van Morrison. Really a guy with a guitar and his friends who play various instruments, they are as grassroots indie as it gets. and are just really really good.

2007

Amy Winehouse: Back To Black

Once: Music From The Motion Picture

Amy Winehouse, before all her cracked-out glory that was 2008, put out a great pop-blues-soul album.

I just recently watched Once and I loved loved loved it. The music was so touching and raw. An answer to all the break-up albums of the world, Once is a falling in love album, even if only for a moment or two.

2008

Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend

She & Him: Volume One

Taylor Swift: Fearless

Two great debuts and a coming-into-her-own of sorts.

Vampire Weekend-punk without scariness? Can't think of a better way to describe them. They are just adorably clean-cut. as is their music in the best way possible. Can't wait for their sophomore album in 2010!

She & Him's Volume One, Paste Magazine's number one album of 2008, with Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward was either loved or hated. I loved it. maybe because of my intense love of both Miss Deschanel and M. Ward in their other projects. But their weird folky-pop-indie vibe of music is just like fun to listen over and over and works really well as an album all together.

Taylor Swift, ah, I'm under the age of twenty and a girl. I LOVE TAYLOR SWIFT. I mean she seems like the kind of girl you want to be your best friend. And while this may not be one of the most musical, I will listen to it when I am older and think about this decade's music.

2009

The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You

Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion

Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Passion Pit: Manners

I loved this year in folk/indie/rock/dance music! All five of these albums could easily be some of my favorites of all time. The Avett Brothers' have been loved by Paste and NPR all year long. Animal Collective danceable as it is confusing but I loved what Bart Blasengame said about the goofy sounding lyrics "I have absolutely no idea what that means, and I don’t care—print it up, put it on a T-shirt and hand me that glow stick'' in his review from January. It seems I have an obsession with dance music this year, but Phoenix, in all their incomprehensible lyrics and chaotic beats, made music that I love to listen to.

And....

Passion Pit, possibly my favorite album over the year, except maybe Avett Brothers' which may be my favorite album of the decade, is so good. it is just so much fun to listen to over and over again.

whoo hooo. stayed tuned for best of movies.

and MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss [you're the top] pt 2.

2009-12-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

Best Albums of the Decade, according to flippee.

Chronologically

2000

Various artists: O Brother Where Art Thou?

released December 5, 2000
2000, as a year for music, was not a good one for me. Well first off, I was eight. And in love with George Gershwin. So I wasn't into the current music scene that much. But looking back on what was released in 2000...not much of a fan. But this compilation/soundtrack was one of my favorite albums then and is a now, and is considered one of the greatest soundtrack albums of all time. Seriously stick Emmylou and Gillian on a record and I will listen to it. Plus Alison Kraus! If I could sing, I would want to sing like Gillian Welch. In the spirit of country that isn't really country, the country music that escapes Nashville's commercialism and is marginalized as "Americana," O Brother sounds both old and new at the same time. And it is still very current as the country's fate looks more and more reminiscent of the time in which the movie is set.

Down to the River to Pray - Al...

2001

Gillian Welch: Time (the Revelator)

Jay-Z: The Blueprint

The Shins: Oh, Inverted World

2001 was a year that changed music for me. Out of these three albums, I think I only listen to Time (the Revelator) contemporaneously to the year. My dad bought the album and I fell in love Gillian's solo voice as much as I had with her duets and trios in O Brother.

Revelator - Gillian Welch

But I'm pretty sure I heard the Shins in 2004 and Jay-Z around the same time. And they were some of the first times I liked music my parents had never really listened to. The Shins really did change my life and Jay-Z showed me that rap wasn't "crap" like my suburban peers kept announcing. Rap could be music as much as the indie folk of The Shins could be.

New Slang - The Shins

Girls, Girls, Girls - Jay-Z

2002

Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Norah Jones: Come Away With Me

Maroon 5: Songs About Jane

Again this year, I listened to one of these albums contemporaneously. Norah Jones Come Away With Me was the first album I ever bought with my own money. I would say I got off to a pretty good start. Norah Jones was a young woman with a great voice, who had musical talent. whoa. That didn't seem to happen a lot in the early 00's.

Come Away With Me - Norah Jone...

Now, so many people hate on Coldplay. I really don't get it. I like them better than Radiohead. It seems when a band gets popular, they sell out. Whatevs. I love Coldplay. I feel like people who hate on Coldplay are the people who put in their facebook profiles under music "everythig (sic) except country and rap." They listen to Radiohead because someone who they thought was cool said Radiohead was cool. I like Radiohead too, but I always felt Coldplay was more accessible. And "Clocks" is probably one of my favorite songs of all time. I think this album works better as a whole than Parachutes, which is why I chose it as best of the decade.

Clocks - Coldplay

I didn't really listen to Wilco until this year, but this album is amazing and I can see why so many of my favorite artists cite Wilco as an influence.

Pot kettle black - Wilco

Maroon 5, I love you. One of the best pop groups of the decade, Songs About Jane was just a a great album. The whole thing was amazing. Every song, every harmony, every falsetto by Adam, incredible. I've seen them live at least three times and they are great in concert. And Songs About Jane is an album of what Adam Levine does best, sing about heartbreak and sex in a way that every 12-99 y/o woman in the United States falls in love with him.

This Love - Maroon 5

2003

Outkast: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow

Death Cab for Cutie: Transatlanticism

Yellowcard: Ocean Avenue

Fountains of Wayne: Welcome Interstate Managers

2003 was my year, for shizz. Outkast really was my first exposure to rap and I fell in love and by means of them I found Jay-Z and Kanye. I think "Hey Ya" could easily be one of the greatest songs ever written. I don't know anyone who doesn't like it. It is a little bit like "Twist and Shout" except dirtier, but I still listen to it and shake it when Andre tells me too.

Hey Ya! (Radio Mix/Club Mix) -...

Is it wrong that I put another Shins' album on here? Maybe. But I love them so much. And I would say Chutes Too Narrow is the best album of the Shins if not my favorite.

Young Pilgrims - The Shins

Death Cab brought indie pop/rock to middle school for me and once all the emo girls got over them and started to like Hawthorne Heights, little indie hipsters had them all to ourselves. whoo hoo!

The Sound of Settling - Death ...

Yellowcard's Ocean Avenue will probably not be remembered in 20 years as a great album. Because it isn't. But it was the first rock album I ever bought and I still listen to it. The melodies are a little weak and the vocals scream a lot. But for a 13 year old girl I loved rocking out to it. so it made my Best list, even if it was the experience that was the best, instead of the music.

Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard

Fountains of Wayne. They knew how to write a pop song. Sure "Stacy's Mom" had great novelty value, but the album as a whole is incredible. "Hey Julie" "Mexican Wine" "Supercollider" "Yours and Mine" all amazing, even if usually only musicians recognized it. See Robbie Fulks song "Fountains of Wayne Hotline"

Hey Julie - Fountains Of Wayne

2004

Iron & Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days

Kanye West: The College Dropout

The Killers: Hot Fuss

mmm, Kanye. Don't really care what he did to Taylor Swift [still love you Taylor!], his music is awesome, especially Dropout. "Jesus Walks" is one of my favorite songs of all time. It is great running music by the way. This album is a rap album through and through, but has the musicality of a rock-concept album without the cheese of R. Kelly (barf)

Jesus Walks (Live Version) - K...

Iron & Wine-one dude. and what a sweet dude he is. Iron & Wine is kind of like easy listening music for people care about music.

On Your Wings - Iron & Wine

The Killers: WElCOME TO MY EIGHT GRADE LIFE FOLKS. The Killers's first album and I are like this [make gesture to show closeness with fingers.] Another sign of me swinging into the indie scene, I anticipated the release of this record and raved about it. Then "Mr. Brightside" got ridiculously over-played. I didn't care. Brandon Flowers could do no wrong in my mind. Then of course, they released Sam's Town. Day and Age was a lot better than the scum of a sophomore concept album that was Sam's Town. But no album will ever replace Hot Fuss in my heart.

Mr. Brightside - The Killers

2005

Bright Eyes: I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning

Shakira: Oral Fixation, Vol. 2

I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning could also be called I'm Conor Oberst, I started listening to Mike Mogis and got over my emo self, now please listen to good music that will follow. I never thought I would see the day where I liked Conor Oberst. He was for girls who liked guyliner. no thank you. But Wide Awake is folky enough for me to like and signaled the change in where Bright Eyes was going [btw, that would be towards the glory that is Monsters of Folk]

Lua - Bright Eyes

^^^also check out Gillian Welch and Conor Oberst's duet of this song on Dark Was the Night. AMAZINGNESS

Shakira, Shakira, Shakira. I love her. She's a diva, first and foremost. But she also is super smart and just makes great music. Look past the single of "Hips Don't Lie" and Fixation is a flat out great crossover pop album.

Hips Don't Lie (featuring Wycl...

2006-2009 coming soon!

all music links from lala, a great website if you want to listen before you buy because you can listen to the whole album, not just a little snippet. but you can only listen to it once, so pay attention!

At words poetic, I'm so pathetic [you're the top!] pt. 1

2009-12-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

my favorites of 2000's...so far. you have 9 days to change my mind!

I'll be posting these in a series over the course of the next 9 days.

1. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

This book literally changed my life. I read it when I was 16, probably the most tumultuous year of my life so far. And Oscar's life was way more tempestuous that mine was, but I felt deeply connected to the black Dominican whose family was cursed by fuku.

Junot Diaz's way of writing was unlike anything I had read before. The narrator switched constantly and he used footnotes liberally. The entire book is in a weird Spanglish dialect that I couldn't understand half the time, but I don't think I really was supposed to. The diction was slightly different with each narrator, Oscar's sister's boyfriend sounding full of pathos and disgust simultaneously for the chubby nerd in his life. Oscar's sister, Lola, was always full of worry for her brother but bubblyness of someone who doesn't know or appreciate the troubles and curses of her parents. And Oscar, he always flows against the current, of his university, of expectations, of his family, with his words and actions.

The life that is wondrous in this novel is the family. I found Oscar's mother and sister's stories as compelling as his, and though the book is about Oscar, their stories are need because family interconnectivity is such a big theme in the novel and I believe Dominican life.

2. Persepolis

Um. Whoa. If you've only seen the movie, please read the book. I'm an advocative for great adaptations and I think this is one, but a lot is cut out and I found the movie a little hard to follow without knowing a lot of the history of the Iranian Revolution. But in the book, the reader literally learns with Marji because she has been presented with two differing realities, one from her teacher and one from her parents, about the justification of the Shah's power.

The book is a lot more powerful than a newscast about the situation in Iran could ever be because Marji, in all her little black-and-white panel glory, creates so much pathos for the reader towards her. It really led me to question both our country's past actions in Iran and our current policy there. And just like Marji, I sort of come up blank with answers for how I feel because just like Marji, I have been taught one thing my entire life and questioning it, no matter how logical it is, it seems too against the grain.

This voided feeling is unsatisfying, but the knowledge I gained from reading the book made up for it

Sadly, these really are the only good books that I've read from this decade. Not because the decade sucked. But because I suck!

really. c'mon I'm eighteen. I've spent all 10 of these years learning about old Literature to the point of exclusion of the good new stuff. I am ashamed.

but here are books from this decade I fully plan on reading by next december 22.

The Tipping Point-Malcolm Gladwell: my dad really liked this book, and read three Gladwell books in about three weeks. And this man does not read quickly. In 18 years I've known him, he's finished maybe three books for sure. He loves books, but tends to just stick receipts in them as book marks and buy new ones. So this one must be engaging.

Fast Food Nation-Eric Schlosser: Another finished Daddy book.

Atonement-Ian McEwan: Every girl I know read this after the movie came out. But I have neither seen the movie or read the book. So I'll read the book first so I can be cute and hipster and annoying and remark about how much better the book is than the movie.

Everything is Illuminated-Jonathan Safran Foer: My mom really loved Incredibly Close and Extremely Loud, which I am reading now, but Foer's debut is supposed to be phenomenal.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay-Michael Chabon: Paste Magazine's number one book of the decade and I LOVE PASTE. so yeah.

TRADITION! tradition...

2009-12-20T12:44:00.000-08:00

mmm. holidays are the perfect time for quirky traditions. Like that my family's viewing of Stalag 17? Not a "traditional" Christmas movie. It is does have a Christmas Tree, holiday cheer, snow and mention of, if not performance of "White Christmas." But of course, it also has spies, William Holden, Nazis, and a man dressed as Betty Grable. I really like this tradition because so few other people would celebrate with it.

Die Hard is probably the more mainstream non-Christmas movie; John McClain is crashing his wife's business' Christmas party. And that terrorist dressed up like Santa in the elevator? Screams Christmas joy.

Opening one present on Christmas Eve? I would say a little passe as far as uniqueness.

Reading The Gift of Magi? More literary, still a little mainstream. And at my house, we always strive for the quirky.

For about nine Christmases, my dad has read me two stories on Christmas Eve. "The Peterkin's Christmas Tree"by Lucretia P. Hale [which involves a family buying a too-tall Christmas Tree and raising the ceiling instead of cutting the stump] and Leo Rosten's "Mr. K*A*P*L*A*N and the Magi" which is the sweetest story about an English night school for immigrants and their teacher and present.

The Peterkin Papers, probably my favorite children's book of all time is in the public domain and available online here. Some of my favorite tales are "The Lady Who Put Salt in her Coffee," "About Elizabeth Eliza's Piano" and of course, "The Peterkins' Christmas Tree." They are all equally silly and wonderful.

If you do get to read them, I always imagined the Lady from Philadelphia to look like Katharine Hepburn.

pajamaspajamaspajamas

2009-12-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Could Claudette Colbert get cuter? She rocks the too-short bangs and pencil thin eyebrows harder than anyone could ever dream to. It Happened One Night is one of my favorite movies of all time. and I love the clothes. There are about two outfits in the whole thing though, so you wouldn't think I'd get inspo from it right? negativo, my friend.

I mean they are travelling from Miami to New York and she has a sweater and skirt and an adorable kid hat. plus her wedding dress. albeit fabulous, I can't just wear a wedding dress in homage to Claudette. but I do love those pjs!

Of course Clark is looking swanky. I adore him in this. I undercover hate Gone With the Wind. I know. I am a horrible southerner or whatever. But the women are annoying and the men are abusive and/or drips. But Clark is just wonderful in this movie. I'm am a sucker for newspaper men. (Cary Grant in His Girl Friday? yes please)

A recent viewing of this movie has me craving some mens-style pajamas a la these:

Pajama Gram

The Cat's Pajamas

aerie.com

some more adorable pjs for you. I LOVE THE BANANAS IN PYJAMAS. so cute

inspiration december09/january2010 [thinking of spring]

2009-12-17T18:24:00.001-08:00

went shopping today with my mom for christmas presents for the family. and I realized that I hate "fall colors." at least to wear. and idk why but they seem to bleeding into winter. reds and oranges and yellows. NOOOOO. give me jewel tones, pleaseeeeeeee. so I'm pining for spring right now.

anna sui's rtw spring 2010 collection looks like a peacock feather

primavesi by klimt, she looks like a model at the end of a runway no?

love the crinoline betsey johnson!

zooey deschanel and ben gibbard. my favorite indie couple.

behnaz sarafpour rtw spring 2010, reminds me of rosalind russell in his girl friday

behnaz sarafpour rtw spring 2010-love the asymmetry

behnaz sarafpour rtw spring 2010, mmm mustard, my favorite warm color

I WANT THESE BANGS.

anne hathaway at 2009 golden globes. love the color. I love purpley-navy in the spring

me, I cried out "God," you dared me in the dark

2009-12-17T16:47:00.000-08:00

happy birthday to myself

a little early, but I'm turning eighteen soon and I just bought myself Manners, Passion Pit's album.

it is amazing.

I've been hearing Paste Magazine's editors Josh Jackson and Nick Marino rave about this album for ages. I first heard "To Kingdom Come" on Paste Magazine's monthly sampler 55, and it easily became my favorite jam to study too. What I love about Passion Pit is that they are so folky, but what they are technically producing is dance music, killer beats, falsetto vocals and non-sensical lyrics. But their mentality and music could easily fit into my subversive indie folk/rock playlists of jenny owen youngs, she & him, animal collective, and wilco.

If you don't like folk music, check Passion Pit out. If you don't like dance music, check Passion Pit out. Manners refuses to fit into the boundaries of either genre and generally is just flat out good music.

golden globe nominations/oscar watch, pt. 2

2009-12-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

Best Motion Picture - Drama
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire
Up In The Air

I think this category may determine which movie (between Up in the Air and Precious) gets the most Oscar buzz. I don't know if Avatar are really even get nominated.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Emily Blunt – The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
Helen Mirren – The Last Station
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire
I think Gabourey may swing the Globe, but where is Penelope Cruz?

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
George Clooney – Up In The Air
Colin Firth – A Single Man
Morgan Freeman – Invictus
Tobey Maguire – Brothers

I'm going with Clooney on this one

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
(500) Days Of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Sandra Bullock – The Proposal
Marion Cotillard – Nine
Julia Roberts – Duplicity
Meryl Streep – It's Complicated
Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia

No Zooey! how sad.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Matt Damon – The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis – Nine
Robert Downey Jr. – Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – (500) Days Of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg – A Serious Man

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Penélope Cruz – Nine
Vera Farmiga – Up In The Air
Anna Kendrick – Up In The Air
Mo'nique – Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire
Julianne Moore – A Single Man

we'll see!

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Matt Damon – Invictus
Woody Harrelson – The Messenger
Christopher Plummer – The Last Station
Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

to read list

2009-12-13T21:56:00.000-08:00

I've review a few movies on here, with plans for more.

But in my soul I am a literature person. So in 2010, I'm going to read/write a review for a book twice a month. 24 books! goals! I love goals, no matter how unattainable they may be.

I've come up with a preliminary list, welcome to suggestions. These are all books that I've never read, or want a second look at for a different perspective.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close-Jonathan Safran Coer
Women in Love-D.H. Lawrence
A Good Man in Hard to Find-Flannery O'Connor
Selected Poems 1965-1975-Seamus Heaney
Middlemarch-George Eliot
Brooklyn-Colm Toibin
On the Road-Jack Kerouac
Atonement-Ian McEwan
Madame Bovary-Gustave Flaubert
Age of Anxiety-W.H. Auden
The Age of Innocence-Edith Wharton
The Golden Notebook-Doris Lessing
Brideshead Revisited-Evelyn Waugh
The Adventures of Augie March-Saul Bellow
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay-Michel Chabon
Mrs. Dalloway-Virginia Woolf (a reread)
The Hours-Michael Cunningham
Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror-John Ashbery
Shade of Grey-Jasper Fforde
The House of the Spirits-Isabel Allende
Don Quixote-Miguel de Cervantes
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland-Lewis Carroll
The Way We Live Now-Anthony Trollope
A Movable Feast-Ernest Hemingway

GOALS. any suggestions/substitutions?

I go to William McKinley High School on Wednesday @ 9/8c

2009-12-11T11:22:00.000-08:00

Glee Winter Finale

Okay, disclaimer: I love Glee. all the kids are adorable and Mr. Schue is so cute. I love the singing and the dancing. And spoilers.

But what is up with the plot inconsistencies?

1st It takes like a good 12 minutes after sectionals for the decision to be revealed. I understand the tension. but it was awkwardly placed.

2nd Quinn references giving the baby to Mrs. Schuester, but I thought the kids already knew that Will left his wife because of the non-baby?

3rd. Finn asks Mr. Schue if he's heard anything. Mr. Schue was there when you confronted Quinn and Puck! Understandable that he in a moment of distress, but Mr. Schue interacted with him at that point and even if Finn didn't remember the audience does and it seems silly.

4th. Will gives the list to Sue. But the kids act like he doesn't, and Brittany owns up to it. While she may have given Sue the set list, Sue has no reason for spies because she's co-director of the Glee club.

Small problems.

The focus is obviously on the singing and dancing.

but I'm not complaining too loudly.

awesome job Lea Michele. I've probably listened to her "Don't Rain on My Parade" probably a dozen times in the past three hours. I love when she said "I do have something that I've been working on since I was four." Of course! I also loved how Rachel sneaked back into the back a bit in the next song. she's come so far.

Amber Riley ["And I'm Telling You"] was wonderful too.

Cory Monteith, good job. I don't know if it was his acting or the writing, but his dramatic acting and "gung-ho" attitude when he comes to the rescue kind of annoyed me. But he pulled it off better in the finale.

"Can't Always Get What You Want"- as unrealistic that they could be that good in an hour, I liked how the dancing was little weak. they did look unrehearsed. good and realistic.

[Side note: how happy am I that Rachel got rid of the middle part? I hate middle parts. Unless You're Amanda Bynes, you don't look good.]

And I loved how "My Life Would Suck Without You" incorporated the best of choreography from the season

Mr. Schue and Emma are together!

now for Finn and Rachel...

birken gainsbourg family

2009-12-09T01:06:00.000-08:00

Jane Birken, Serge Gainsbourg and their progeny, Charlotte, are beautiful and have of hold on my interest. A few other people do this as being so supremely interesting; Katharine Hepburn, Angelica Huston, Buddy Holly. and I could very well write this post about the Rossellini-Bergman family.

my first exposure to birken-gainsbourg world was the birken bag reference on sex and the city.

which is funny because jane birken supposedly commented on how when her daugther would come to america people would ask her if she was the daughter of the bag.

later, in november of 2007, lisa robinson wrote this fascinating article about the home/world of Serge Gainsbourg for Vanity Fair. now as much as I regret it, I am not a regular Vanity Fair reader. whenever I read it I feel terribly bourgeois. And the text is really tiny. but this picture captured me:

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg on the set of the movie Slogan, June 1968. By Gilles Caron/Contact Press Images.

They look so supremely happy.

Of course, Serge was a raging alcoholic...but this is right when they were about to get married/just married.

I imagine Jane as sort of backwards Eleanor of Aquitaine. Eleanor was French best known for marrying an Englishman, but a formidable woman in her own right, and Jane was just this flipped. An Englishwoman so intertwined with French culture with a completely French daughter.

Charlotte! my favorite part of I'm Not There, a movie I found pretentious and annoying except for a few select parts. Well those select parts when the little boy obsessed with woody guthrie, heath ledger, cate blachett, and CHARLOTTE.

but seriously. check out that vanity fair article.

art is either plagiarism or revolution.

2009-12-07T21:56:00.001-08:00

the daughters of edward darley boit

This painting changed my life. I first saw in on television on a Sister Wendy special on PBS. This painting gets compared to Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, which I adore as well.

and while the subjects may mirror it, Las Meninas is about Velásquez controlling the situation that is so chaotic. In the painting his character is supposed to be painting the King and Queen. Infanta Margarita is being doted upon in the center, full of light, while Diegodear is hidden in the background. But he literally is still the more forceful figure, in his dark commanding garb, the only figure connected to the imposing canvas that slices the painting down the middle.

But

I like Daughters more. Las Meninas is generally considered one of the greatest paintings of all time, and I do enjoy it, but hey; I don't love the Stones either.

In Sargent's painting, which I discovered when I must have been about 12, he so well paint a portrait that isn't stiff or posed. The girls look as if they had just looked towards their father coming home. In a progression of light in parallel with age, the girls circle into darkness. But even in the light the youngest girl look so sad and disappointed. These girls are sisters, but they are isolated from each other. Even the two eldest and closest together are looking in completely different directions. Sister Wendy pointed out that girls grew up to live alone, those two eldest would grow apart from each other and from the world. From someone who lived for words, I realized that art like literature boiled down into just that singular moment. But that doesn't make the meaning singular.

sister wendy's notes

bloomsbury

2009-12-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

obsessed with bloomsbury, I am.

It's not catastrophes, murders, deaths, diseases, that age and kill us; it's the way people look and laugh, and run up the steps of omnibuses. - Virginia Woolf

some inspo for you

fashion photos from style.com dires von noten 2004 spring ready to wear collection

1. these violet flowers looks like it was taken directly from vanessa's painting; 2. this mustard is the color of vanessa's kitchen; 3. morbid but...this coat reminds me of how virginia woolf killed her self, [put stones in a long jacket and walked into a river] 4. more american inter-war period but still deco, this color reminds me of daisy buchanan from the great gastby.

1. Charleston House, home of Vanessa Bell and Clive Bell-photo from Tate Museum website, 2. Virginia Woolf-Tate 3. Bloomsbury-group 4.Vanessa Bell's cover of Mrs. Dalloway, her sister's, Virginia Woolf, book 5. interior by vanessa bell 5. first menu from the omega group's dinner

behr color palette: serene sky 540c-2

daylight lilac 660b-6

plum shade 100f-6

chamois cloth w-f-110

bloomsbury

Gift Guide

2009-12-06T18:09:00.000-08:00

1. Keep Calm and Carry On Water Bottle-Heliotrope 2.charming turquoise watch-fredflare 3. Gurgle Pots-Gurgle Pots 4. Clutch Purse-redrubyrose @ etsy 5. Rockin Guitar Cutting Board-tauntongreen @ etsy 6. Personal Library Kit-fredflare 7. Peacock Centerpiece Vase-Touch of Class 8. phreonlogy head jewelry stand-urbanoutfitters 9. Say Anything - Amazon

1. Wouldn't this be cute for the runner in your life? An inspirational message for just before the 2nd wind.

2. I love when people wear watches now a day; I love how something so everyday has become a throw back.

3. Saw these pitchers, they make an adorable gurgle noise when you pour water out of them! Hear a sample on the webpage. good hostess gift.

4. This etsy site makes really professional clutches is a variety of styles. Perfect for girlfriends, sisters, yourself :]

5. I thought this would be cute for my dad. He cooks a lot and loves music/guitar. It is kitsch and cute.

6. cute for all those english majors in your life. wait...does not every have one of those? because I have about twenty...

7. A. I love Peacocks. 2. this is perfectly tacky. 3. the store is Touch of Class, classy much?

8. Another statement piece for a table, windowsill or dresser.

9. To know Lloyd Dobbler is to love him. You are about to know Lloyd Dobler

Fantastic Mr. Anderson

2009-12-05T15:58:00.000-08:00

My love affair with Mr. Wes Anderson began when, in a fit of insomnia that plagued my early high school, I watched The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. As far as I can see, Anderson is best watched in a dream-like state because if you aren't there already, he will slowly nudge you until his oddly juxtaposed orchestration of a sixties pop song and denouement in the film finally lulls you completely in the fantasy worlds that he creates.

And creates he does in his new film Fantastic Mr. Fox. This movie is basically Life Aquatic, Tenenbaums, Ocean's 11 and Old Mother West Wind stories put together.

Once again Anderson focuses on what he does best and doesn't stray too much. At the center, a dysfunctional, albeit loving, family with a disillusioned patriarch who has seen better days. But in animation maybe Anderson had found the entry point to the mainstream that big name stars haven't been to give him.

In Fox, Anderson still has the wit and subversiveness that 20-somethings and up love, but the story of a child being misunderstood by his father would resonate with anyone one 12 and under.

Still even the patriarch is slightly more lovable than the abusive Royal Tenenbaum or distant Steve Zissou. That may be, of course, because Mr. Fox, is a fox. And fact: furry animals are just more lovable.

So the acid tongued wife and sassy adolescent get away with unlikeable nature that would be off putting in a children's movie, but perfect in an Anderson movie, simply because their red fur and awkwardly gangly legs that remind the viewer of Anderson's skinny chicken legs, are so darn cute.

With everyone Anderson archetype filled by his regulars of over-the-top actors, Fantastic Mr. Fox may be his first non live-action film, but I believe Mr. Anderson could find a long career in children's movies. For the past decade he's been making movies for adults for the neglected child within. I wish he would continue to work with Roald Dahl books because this is by far the best adaptation I've seen.

christmasssss wishinnggg.

2009-12-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

I sincerely love the holidays.

if only for Kearney family traditions, including watching Stalag 17, possibly the least festive Christmas movie ever. But it is set during Christmas.

I'm tellin' ya, Animal, these Nazis ain't kosher!

so in honor of Manfredi and Johnson, here is my christmas wish list.

North by Northwest: 50th Anniversary Edition-Hitchcock! Grant! Mt. Rushmore! I seriously love this movie. and I don't have it on DVD period. I want, I need.
Dark was the Night-seriously, check how this compilation/collaborations. Feist and Ben Gibbard, Bon Iver, The Decemberist, Iron and Wine, Sufjan, Sharon Jones, Cat Power, Andrew Bird, and my most anticipated track...Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch!
Monsters of Folk [Vinyl plus MP3]-M. Ward, Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Jim James. WHY IS THIS JUST NOW HAPPENING? This is like my dream supergroup. Except Gillian and Zooey aren't there. They should tag team.
The Avett Brothers-Can I have them to live in my pocket and sing to me when I am sad? The answer is...no. BUT, I can have them come to the Fox Theatre and I can go see them. [which I am doing!]
Paste Magazine-to survive another year
These shoes from Anthropologie

so damn kitsch

BTW. Just announced, Mark Ruffalo's directorial debut in the lineup for Sundance. Starring Ruffalo, Orlando Bloom, Laura Linney.

I want it to be awesome because I luff Ruffalo. and Laura Linney. Maybe she will be stupendous, garner an 2011 Oscar Nod in Best Supporting Actress and win. Because she's awesome.

Oscar Buzz

2009-11-26T12:28:00.000-08:00

K, so I know it is November, but I am so excited about award season! Golden Globes are less than two months away. and I'm so ready.
I get really competitive with Oscar Pools, so I've already started my research. Here my picks for nominees.

Best Picture
1. Inglourious Bastards-As much as I hate Tarentino and what he stands for [annoying loud, plot driven, but not really, movies] with 10 nominations this year, I don't think there is a way around this being nominated.
2. Precious-I've heard this film being called "this year's Slumdog." I'd like to remind everyone that Slumdog almost didn't get theatrical release. It almost went to straight to DVD. While not a huge star vehicle, Precious is still more mainstream then Slumdog. Nevertheless, it will no doubt garner a nomination, but may fall into the trap of indie movies winning Best Screenplay in lieu of Best Picture, i.e. American Beauty, Almost Famous, Gosford Park, Lost in Translation, Eternal Sunshine, Crash, Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Milk.
3. Up-Possibly my favorite movie this year. I'm biased. My experience seeing it was right around my graduation, and my entire family came to it with us. So we had a row a Kearneys looking up in headache inducing 3-d glasses and fogging them up as we cried our eyes out.
4. Nine-Star-studded cast. Let me rephrase that. Star-Studded cast of people who can actually act. Literally everyone is in this movie. It is like a modern day, coed, musical A Bridge Too Far. While musicals don't always fair well, Rob Marshall's name will probably prick the ears of voters.
5. Up in the Air-George Clooney and Jason Reitman team up. I adore both of them. Any time George Clooney falls in love is a good one.
6. The Lovely Bones. I'm pretty sure I'm the only girl my age who hasn't read this book. But Peter Jackson's project has piqued my interest.

7. A Serious Man-Coen Brothers always have something for us to watch. I don't usually get it. or know what I'm watching. But it is interesting.
8. It's Complicated-My favorite for a comedic live-action nod. Though I would still say Up is a drama. Blubbered like a baby. Meryl, Alec and Steve? Mention Meryl during Oscar season and swoons should occur. Alec has been getting more and more rave reviews about 30 Rock and Steve seems to have found his way out of campy, broad comedy [Why did you make Cheaper by the Dozen?]
9. Invictus-Nelson Mandela story with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Political, but not really? It's Academy gravy. Plus it is directed by Clint Eastwood, another recent Academy favorite.
10. In lieu of a tenth nomination, I am going to explain why I think 10 nominations is about as ridiculous as instant replay in baseball.

[Interlude:

How is the Academy going to pick 10 films?!?

My mind has been trained to pare down any given year of films into five best, most deserving. I don't care what people say, The Dark Knight, while awesome, was not the best film of the year in 2009 for the Academy. It wasn't. While the Academy has prestige, and the seemingly definite answer on what was the "Best Picture" of the year, remember these are the people who pickedShakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan or even Life is Beautiful.

I understand the Academy wants more people to watch the show or whatever. But I think what is going to happen is that more indie, obscure films will be nominated. I mean, of the five or so top box office hits this year, Up has the best change of getting a nod for Best Picture.Transformers? Here's hoping for a nod in Sound Editing. But with a Rob Marshall music out and Terminator? A win is still up for grabs]

Best Actress
1. Gabourey Sidibe-I haven't seen Precious yet, but I will. Maybe this weekend. And Gabourey is so sweet and personable in all of her interviews. Oscar voters will lap this up, and possibly make up for the snub of underdog movie stars of Slumdog last year.
2. Carey Mulligan-An Education, again, haven't seen it yet. But she's young and an ingenue, with acting chops.

3. Meryl Streep-Julie & Julia, first off. it is an amazing movie. And while it may have been the vehicle to remind everyone that Amy Adams is more than Princess Giselle, [did you see Junebug? she was awesome and earned her first Oscar nod], Meryl makes a movie, you nominate her. She is fabulous and wonderful and sassy and feisty.

4. Penelope Cruz-Broken Embraces, Almodovar helped her be nominated for Volver in 2006, so she'll definitely be considered again

5. I don't know. I can't decide between so many previous, recent winners who seem to be pulling out stellar performances again. As much as I wish Zooey Deschanel would get nominated, I think she'll have to settle for a Globe nomination. Maybe previous Oscar winner Marion Cotillard for musical Nine.

Best Actor

1. Matt Damon-The Informant!-the mustache should win him at least a nomination.

2. Daniel Day-Lewis-Nine. Could this man be any more fabulous? He sings, he dances, he makes his own shoes. Plus being a two-time Oscar winner, just recently enough, helps.
3. Morgan Freeman-Invictus.

4. George Clooney-Up in the Air. He is beloved by the Academy. And I don't think his turn from dramatics to dramedy will hurt him.

5. Could Colin Firth pull it off? I know quite a few high school English teachers who would rejoice in his first nomination. I'd say his role in A Single Man or Jeff Bridges' in Crazy Heart, which is generating the right amount of buzz, at the right time. Still even Johnny Depp from Public Enemies might have a chance.

Other nominations I'd bet on;

Best Supporting Actress: Julianne Moore-this year's Kate Winslet. How has she not won? She split her own vote in 2002 with The Hours and Far From Heaven. I would say she'll be at least nominated, but with Mo'Nique's out of nowhere performance in Precious, Julianne might have to wait a few more year for the win.

Original Score-Where the Wild Things Are-How cool would it be for Karen O in all over her blunt banged glory be nominated for an Oscar? Remember Three 6 Mafia won an Oscar BEFORE Martin Scorsese did.

Cinematography-Public Enemies-A combo of gun fights and costume drama plus weird lighting to contrast New York and Miami? This movie has got Cinematography in the bag as far as I'm concerned. Nine will probably get nominated because it is a musical and they tend to do well here.

Short Films/Oscars' Prep

2009-11-26T12:05:00.000-08:00

I'm a sucker for disenfranchised art forms. [I know art forms have no right to vote, but if feature length films did, you bet short films would have to fight for their own enfranchisement, and I am suffering for a lack of a better word]

It is probably genetic. My mom loves short films, and my dad likes cartoon a lot, especially the Droopy ones.

Also I probably enjoy them so much because short films tend to be poignant, sweet, and well, tear-jerking. and I love a good catharsis.

Last January/February, sometime between the Oscar Nominations were released and the Oscar's happened [HUGH JACKMAN!] I had the opportunity to see the five nominated animated short films, as well as other celebrated short animated films from that year.

This wasn't an entirely noble plan. I am very competitive when it comes to Oscar Pools. When I was little, my dad usually won, as he works on a newspaper and read a lot more about the movies [plus saw more of them] but ever since I was all of 15, I've done extensive research is all categories. So the ones we usually just guess at,[Best Sound Mixing anyone?] I could get. So right now I have a threepeat going.

Another one of my goals is to see every best nominated picture before the awards show, and then the more complicated goal of seeing every picture in theaters during its original release. I haven't achieved the first one yet, so I'll get there first, though it will be hard this year considering there are going to be 10 nominated films!

I am slowly improving my stats, in 2007 I saw Juno in theaters, and in 2008 I saw Slumdog [winner!] and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
I also saw Chicago in theaters in 2002, but that was pure chance because I never miss musicals. I wasn't going to see it because of the competitive edge.

Back to the origin of the post. I love short films.
I thought I would post some of my favorites.
The Dot and the Line-A Romance in Lower Mathematics
John and Karen
Lavatory Lovestory

The 1st is a classic, the 2nd I saw when I saw all the short films from 2008, but it wasn't nominated, and the 3rd, I wanted to win, but I didn't pick it because I knew the one that did win was better.

countdown

2009-11-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

TEN things about me:

1. I love pineapples.
2. Jane Austen is my obsession.
3. Peacocks are a close second.
4. I've seen every episode of M*A*S*H. twice.
5. when I grow up, I want to be a child
6. Literature is my passion.
7. I don't really care how much money I make.
8. when I was little I wanted to be a fairy. still kind of do
9. I don't like traditional christmas movies as much as Die Hard and Stalag 17.
10. Dresses are more fun.

NINE ways to win my heart:

1. Be well read.
2. Play Apples to Apples and hold your own in the Kearney house.
3. like my family, have my family like you
4. let me knit/bake you something.
5. Watch Wes Anderson movies with me. even if you don't get them. I don't either.
6. tell me I have pretty hair. it is both my favorite thing and my biggest insecurity.
7. know when you're wrong.
8. use effect/affect correctly
9. dance.

EIGHT things I wanna do before I die:

1. Write a book. even if it is a boring academic one.
2. serve a 27 course meal.
3. go to China.
4. eat the perfect banana split.
5. have a library in my own house inspired by bloomsbury.
6. see all Shakespeare's plays performed (PERICLES that means you too!)
7. have a j.crew wedding
8. Have children.

SEVEN things that annoy me:

1. myself
2. when someone is on tv, on two channels, at once.
3. beef.
4. Twilight. stupidest books ever.
5. people who think they are entitled to things not based on merit.
6. when people don't get jokes.
7. fox news.

SIX things I believe in:

1. Dancing
2. Lampshades
3. Knitting is the sincerest form of fibering.
4. Being blown away by your own original thought.
5. My family being the best.
6. Fleece.
FIVE things I'm afraid of:

1. Buttons.
2. Failure.
3. Khaki.
4. People putting plastic bags over their heads.
5. dead birds.

FOUR of my favorite items in my room:

1. My Brass Knuckle Pillowcases.
2. My copy of Emma.
3. My Buddhas.
4. My signing chair.

THREE things I do everyday:

1. Plan.
2. Read for leisure. I make sure of it.
3. Dance, if only for a second.

TWO people I want to see right now:

1. William. I MISS MY BROTHER.
2. I'm too distraught over William's absence.

ONE thing I want to do right now:

1.Go to sleep.

Official, no changes, last change, Schedule for Next Semester

2009-11-11T19:25:00.000-08:00

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Monday:
9-9:50-Eng-322, Women Question in Victorian Lit, Cozzens
1-1:50-Lat 202, MacEwan
4-5:15-Eng-350, Modern Poetry, Trousdale
5-8:30-Rel-233, Tibet Through Film and Lit, Zablocki

Tuesday
2-3:15-Art-150, Art History, Sadler
5:30-6:45-Rel-233, Tibet Through Film and Lit, Zablocki

Wednesday
9-9:50-Eng-322, Women Question in Victorian Lit, Cozzens
1-1:50-Lat 202, MacEwan
4-5:15-Eng-350, Modern Poetry, Trousdale

Thursday
2-3:15-Art-150, Art History, Sadler

Friday
9-9:50-Eng-322, Women Question in Victorian Lit, Cozzens
1-1:50-Lat 202, MacEwan

I'm more stressed then every third syllable in Dactylic Hexameter.

2009-11-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

And did you know Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds-written in heroic hexameter.

Picture your self in a boat on a river with

tangerine tree-ees and marmalade skii-ii-es.

Ah Wikipedia.

by the way. George is the best Beatle. no way around it.

Nevertheless. This week has made my brain explode. Postmodern poetry in English. Cicero Criticism is Latin. Floor Work in Modern. Thucydides in Greek Civ. And Mindfulness is always stressful [irony?]

But I am suffering through. Still enjoying my classes throughly. I just wish everything wasn't due/hard at the same time.

Plus I'm having trouble deciding between taking 2 English classes next semester/ 2 Classics classes/ or one of each plus Art History.

This weekend is going to be enjoyable, however. I'm seeing Ethan and John, my adorable, lovely, little brothers, at Ethan's concert. And i'm brunching with Christy "TT" Keyser, the best friend who gave me my nickname, flippee.!

Happy Halloween! and Something Weird about flippee.

2009-10-31T21:28:00.000-07:00

My post-modern peacock outfit. I love it. I wish I could dress this all the time.

I spent the night hanging out with Ethandear at the Williams residence. I do love that family. We watched The Shining. And omg, I remember seeing "REDRUM" when I was little and that moment scared me for life. But it was amazing. and not that scary. Much more Hitchcock like than I assumed. But I don't really get scared during scary movies and I get scared during movies I'm not supposed.

Here's a secret: My number one most scared moment while watching a movie was during...Breaking Away. Yes, you're thinking of the right one.

The bike movie.

When Dennis Quaid like jumps into the ravine with the lake and hides under the dumpster; I flipped out. I was convinced Dennis was a goner. But I think I saw this movie first when I hadn't completely separated fiction and reality.

Like during the period when I thought Mel Gibson actually was disembowled and racked and beheaded while directing Braveheart. I honestly just assumed that was the last scene that was shot.

Morocco: Where I plan on becoming like any other woman, only more so.

2009-10-31T00:07:00.000-07:00

Casablanca reference. Catch it.

[that building is a minaret apart of the largest mosque in the world outside of Mecca]

Meknes, Morocco. Hopefully my location for 6-12 weeks this summer!

This is a mausoleum in Meknes.

But I've always loved Morocco culture. I did a project on it in 7th grade. I had to make a "float" on like a wagon and it smelled like a kebab. Will did Algeria I think? Which is cute because they are right next each other.

But it had music. and obviously I chose...

back to this trip and Meknes.

I'm so excited. Even at the prospect of it. I have so much to do; before I can even apply I need to get a passport. So even if I don't do it, I'll get a passport.

I'd be staying with a host family, so I don't think I would take Arabic, at least I went for 6 weeks, because Moroccan Arabic is so different from Formal Arabic.

I would take the first three if I go 6 weeks, and all five if I go 12 weeks:

Gender Studies: A Case Study of Morocco
Exploration of Culture and History
Archeology in Morocco
Islamic Civilization and Artistic Expression
Beginning Arabic I

But what I am really excited about is: planning my soundtrack.

Kearney family tradition states that you HAVE to have a soundtrack of sorts for any trip. Whether it is planned meticulously on a series of mixtapes or if it is because you let Julianna pick out the music and she only picked one CD that every one likes.

And since I spent the greater part of senior year and this semester feeling like Zooey Deschanel in Almost Famous when she sneaks Bookends into her house under her coat by listening to Simon and Garfunkel by the gallon, and since Kate Hudson goes to Morocco at the end of the film, my soundtrack is going to be a lot of Simon & Garfunkel, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, The Who, The Allman Brothers and David Bowie.

That would probably be my soundtrack of my life anyway. Anyways Taylor Swift doesn't really fit a) in that group or b) in Morocco.

Updates will continue to come on all Morocco plans, but I can't really do anything until I get a passport, which I am planning to get over the Thanksgiving Break!

Happy Halloween everyone! Pictures of Peacock Flapper tonight!

A Tale of Two Majors—English and Classical Languages

2009-10-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

When asked what he looks for in a woman by the Proust Questionnaire at the back of Vanity Fair, Garrison Keillor said

High-spiritedness, wit, a love of repartee and wordplay and allusion and jokes—in other words,

an English major.

Well put, Mr. Keillor, who I actually had the oppurtunity to meet and chat with about golfcarts* at the Decatur Writing Festival this fall. And English Major [plus Classics] I will be. But here goes the rest of my academic plans that all point towards...becoming an academic.

Next semester I am planning on taking the following schedule (I'm registering in a week or so I believe)

Monday-Wednesday-Friday

Eng 322, The Woman Question in Victorian literature with [babuhdabum] Professor Cozzens! I've been waiting so long to have a class with her! My mom had her when she was at Agnes Scott for the M.A.T. program and I work with a lot of her current students in the Writing Center.

Lat 202, Intermediate Second Semester with Professor Jim Abbot!‡ I had Abbot this semester for History of Greek Civilization and I love him. This is the guy who makes me want to double major. I've never seen anyone get so excited by a 1/30th of a pediment.

Ant 101, I'm taking this in preparation for MOROCCO. [see next blog post] Plus it fulfills two graduation requirements. whoa. This class only meets on MW

Rel 232, Tibet in Film and Literature with Professor Zablocki. So everyone knows I love China. But the only country I love more than China, culturally, is Tibet! We just had a group of Tibetan monks on campus doing a sand painting. And it was very moving. Plus I love disenfranchised people. Could the Dalai Lama get cuter? And this class only meets twice a week from 5:30 to 8:30 on Mondays and 5:30-6:30 on Wednesday.

Tuesday-Thursday

CLL 212, Greek and Roman Heroes with Professor MacEwan, and I will have gotten the flush of Classics Professors! This is my only class on Tuesday-Thursday.

_________________________________________________________________

*Why is this my default topic of conversation? I love golfcarts and I love Peachtree City. I suppose it was appropriate to mention to Mr. Keillor the quirk of my small-town life. But golfcarts? C'mon Emma, this guy is one of your favorite Apples to Apples† cards

†A favorite game among Kearneys. I hope to meet someday my other favorite living Apples to Apples card—Sean Connery. Our other automatic win card is Carl Sagan. But unfortunately the Great One has passed on.

‡ I like to exclaim a lot. Especially about English and Latin!

Bamboo Needles

2009-10-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely long weekend with the Kearney girls, especially because of my awesome yarn purchases. (Thank you, momma)

But my best purchase by far was a set of 5.5 mm bamboo double-pointed knitting needles! They are absolutely the best set I've had and I am never buying an aluminum knitting needle again.

My main source of complaint with knitting against my fiber art of choice, crocheting, is that the wrist isn't used enough in the nature of the stiches, though it is obviously should be the joint of choice, as it is the closest.

*This may be my personal knitting style, but hey, I knit like a crocheter.

Aluminum, though slick, always catches the yarn and I have to do this weird elbow chicken moment to release it and by then I've usually dropped three stitches. BUT, that's where bamboo comes in!

They feel amazing in my hands and helped me finish a project I never thought possible for me, an inept round knitter.

A ribbed knitted hat!

Pictures will be up shortly when I finish a few other projects, including a scarf for my mom, and one for Mrs. Lovett, an infinity, mobius scarf that will be for sale on my etsy toppings, and possibly another hat, in yellow and gray stripes, now that I know how to do it! and knitting uses so much less yarn, so bits that I could never make a hat with while crocheting I can now!

Black Cat Formal

2009-10-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

dancing
the girls

the dresses

ASC 101 girls-Lamest Class Ever, but super sweet girls
Max was there! Middle School buddies reunited.

Black Cat was so much fun, I feel supremely sorry for anyone who does not attend Agnes Scott.

ACCOMPLISHMENT

2009-10-03T14:48:00.000-07:00

Finished a goal!
I watched Love Story. now I want it get cold and wear my trench the collar half popped around my neck.

and I went running, 3 miles. on my way to a marathonnnn.

ToDoWhooHoo

2009-10-02T21:05:00.000-07:00

I set goals a lot. and one of my surprisingly good qualities is that I usually obtain them. just my goals are usually oddly arbitrarily selected, not necessarily improving myself, just giving me a sense of accomplishment, which I suppose does improve my self-esteem. but example: becoming a vegetarian-just to see if I could do it. for 8 years. I love causes, but that is not a cause; that is stubborn eight-year being contrary. Well these are my goals, silly or not.

1. Clean my room on saturday. Small room, lots of stuff, equals big mess in college dorm room.

2. Go running. once my toe recovers from its massive splinter. that I got from a toothpick.

3. Finish Middlemarch

4. Watch Love Story

5. Get my costume ready for Halloween. still up in the air about what I'm going to be exactly. Mrs. Dalloway or Miss Woodhouse are front runners for Friday and peacock if I can find the stuff for Saturday.

And life wouldn't be very Emma-like if I didn't have a far fetched goal.

6. I'm going to run a marathon.

Like Homecoming, but with less sobriety and more fun

2009-09-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

Love me some Black Cat '09

Yellow Class-Valkyries '13

We ain't got no marching band
We ain't got a foot ball team
We ain't got a lot of things
Thank god that we've got Gold and Green!!!!

Crocheting Like Crazy

2009-09-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post my latest projects and newest inspo that is helping me become a complete knitting/crocheting fiend. This hat was based on bon-bons with little bobbles al lthe way around it and a stretchy brim. Buddha is helping out with the modeling.

I've been working on my first big cable knitting project. and dagnumit, it is hard to keep track off. But this pattern (below) is my inspo, with the ribbing base and the double weave of front crosses and back crosses. The ribbing actually makes it easier for anyone attempting to cable because you have to read your own stiches instead of attempting to continually count. It is a scarf I'm working on and it is in a lovely purple, and has 4 of these patterns across. But knowing my knitting speed it will probably be done next winter.

I've also reinstated my love of Love Story and Ali MacGraw wardrobe. Maybe it is because of the weather finally being autumnal and me being on a college campus, I just feel like a ingenue. Specifically I am obsessed with her hats! and just made myself one in warm peacock colors with a flower on the side.

As soon as I get suitable yarn, I am setting out ot make this kind-of amigurumi Buddha.

My latest amigurumi: a hedgehog for Megan Mits, my lovely best friend who just turned 19th and has a severe thing for hedgehogs. and you can slightly see my Ali MacGraw hat in the background. Sorry for no better picture yet of the hat, webcam doesn't do it justice.

Southern Women

2009-09-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

This week has been a blast of family Kearney fun. As normal, Kearneys usually have the most fun when together. We went to Taylor Swift and Julianna and I touched her hand! And Mommy and I attended "Celebrating Eudora," an amazing concert at Agnes Scott.

Here are my thoughts concerning both.

At Agnes over the past weeks, I've realized how much I love being from Georgia and identifying with Southern Tradition. These feelings culminated between these two concerts, even though Taylor is from Pennsylvania, her fan base is the modern Southern girl and Chapin Carpenter is from New Jersey, her Americana has always spoken on a specific level those below Maryland. I think one of the reasons Agnes is still thriving when other women's colleges are switching over to coed is because it is in the south. President Kiss is driving the college in the right direction, with the support of the surrounding community, striving for an institution that makes Southern women. Strong, sassy, independent, rooted in history, but growing towards a future.

The Southern woman in my mind that these women with guitars sung to was the one who called Welty "Miss Eudora" before she could read. Her favorite B-52 is Kate. Her family visited Rock City and she got a souvenir ceramic. She would rather have a wisteria covered wall at her home then attend an Ivy League school. April doesn't start for her until dogwoods bloom. Houses, in her mind, are supposed to have front porches. She sings both Gladys and the Pips' parts in "Midnight Train to Georgia" until she marries a man that will be gladly sing back up.

When I was little, I dreamed of escaping Georgia. I wanted to go to school and live anywhere but here. I wanted to go to Philadelphia and go to Bryn Mawr, alma mater of Katharine Hepburn. But Agnes is perfect for me. And I'm thinking because Bryn Mawr raises roses of women, with pretty petals and plenty of sassy thorns, but those thorns are on the outside of the flower. A southern magnolia keeps the thorns and sass to herself on the inside of the petals.

Work Study!

2009-09-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Last night was my first official job as a Writing Center Student Aide. and surprisingly it is a lot like what I did at the High when I volunteered there. Making sure people sign in, and avoiding conflict. At least so far. I work again tonight. Yay!

And my first American Lit. paper is due tomorrow. omg. it is going to be awesome.

First Week in Review

2009-08-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

So

I love it here. Agnes is absolutely amazing. I won't bore everyone with orientation overview because it was boring. But I will tell you some highlights!

The Food-Omg, best college food ever. Alice, my adorable roommate, has heard me rave about it. But they have these phenomenal soups. And one day foccacia, mozzarella, and arugela sandwichs! amazing

The people-I love the people I've met so much. They are all so different and quirky.

Frozen Yogurt-I forget what the place is called. But there is a delicious froyo place downtown that if I knew about before coming, Agnes would have number 1 a lot sooner.

Classes-Latin 201, American Lit Post 1700, History of Greek Civ, Modern Dance and Mindfulness 101, crazy hard, but crazy fun.

This week we'll be volunteering tomorrow together as a class. I'm starting my work study job as a Writing Center aide and my first paper on D.H. Lawrence's opinion of Benjamin Franklin is due on Wednesday!

I feel so collegiate. Like Ali McGraw in Love Story. Except without the unnamed fatal disease.

First Two Days: Report

2009-08-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

So I officially love Agnes Scott, but hate orientation. I want to go to class!

My roommate is like a cooler version of me. Alice is so sweet and nice and super smart. I haven't really met anyone else who I'm super close with, but I think that will change once classes start. I just hate the act of mingling, learning someone's name only to forget it.

The room is all decorated with polka dots and blues and green. My classes seem to be locking themselves into place. Latin 201 and Mindfulness 101 for sure still. Possibly American Lit survey, because I have to get it over with sometime or Lyric Poetry. and I really want this Greek Civ. class now after meeting the wonderful Classics Department.

I haven't had an official meal yet, only like continental breakfast and special meals for the orientation. That starts tomorrow if I manage to not sleep through breakfast. And tomorrow I am going to Tech! To see Megan, Christy and Katelyn, and possibly Jamie Wingo.

Musings on Musicals

2009-08-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

So I love musicals. Everyone knows this.

But I was thinking what makes me like a musical. I thought of a few concise things that should be included in case someone were to make the musical of all musicals. Take note.

1. Nuns-Nuns are hilarious. They just are. In Sound of Music, "(How Do You Solve A Problem Like) Maria" is crazy funny, and witty with the incorporation of their prayers as subtle choreography. When the nuns steal the car parts from the Nazis, good triumphs evil succinctly and humorously. And "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is oddly jocular, just because Mother Superior's mouth is so large.

2. Prostitutes/Underwear Scenes-Not in a kinky way. But these scenes, like The Ballet or "Many a New Day" in Oklahoma or "Lovely Ladies" in Les Miserables allow for really, really amazing costuming and choreography. And some cool minor key changes. Even wholesome Singin' In the Rain has Cyd Charisse in "Broadway Melody," who pretty much is the creepy gangster oddly flexible prostitute. Another good underwear scene is in An American in Paris when Gene Kelly first gets up and dances in his tiny apartment.

3. All Male Scenes-While I realize this is extremely difficult, I do tend to enjoy large dancing scenes with all men. Examples-"Barn Raising,"Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, 1776, "Kansas City," Oklahoma, and all the Jet and Shark scenes in West Side Story

4. Gangsters-Notably West Side Story, but "The Farmers and the Cowmen," Oklahoma, and Guys and Dolls. Gangs allow for more athletic dancing and fake fighting atypical of floofy musicals, or adorable scenes like "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from Kiss Me Kate.

5. Anything Bob Fosse or Stephan Sondheim related, or that doesn't smell of Andrew Lloyd Webber-As a self-respecting musical lover I cannot say I enjoy ALW. Phantom-sucked, Evita-sucked, and Cats was only good because T.S. Eliot wrote the lyrics.

Movie Review-Julie&Julia

2009-08-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

ohmygoodness, wonderful!

Two of my favorite actresses, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, and the adorable Stanley Tucci were amazing. Meryl Streep, in her eternal beauty and classiness, captured Julia Child's oooOOOOooooos and 6'2ness without making her into a caricature. And Amy Adams with her wonderfully crooked teeth and whole-hearted earnestness takes the viewer on the desperate journey from secretarial pool to cooking school.

In comparison to the book, the movie is a lot less political, at least in the Julie plot line. And the softening of the complete depth of despairs that in more gastronomical circles is known as aspics, upset me a little just because in the book, Julie Powell's journey is so miserable and triumphant in the end. But the movie is technically not just an adaptation of Julie & Julia, it is also an adaptation of My Life in France, by Julia Child, so this wonderful edition does call for some cuts from the nominal work. Paul and Julia are adorable together, and when she says that her cook book is his too, it shows how beautifully codependent they are on each other and the meals they share.

But the unsung hero of the these two women's lives, the books and the movies is the recipes. We are shown the direct link between the women and how it affected their husbands, friends and lives. But they also touched so many other people, which was beautifully shown in a scene from neither book where Judith Jones, Julia's book editor, cooks Boeuf Bourguignon. This woman, who is not a housewife, but instead a working woman, not in a kitchen, but a publishing house, cooks a stew and falls in love with the idea that she CAN cook. And that is what Julia has done and will continue to do for generations. The movie captures that better than Julia's accent or Julie's struggle and that's why I enjoyed it so insanely much.

Waffle House-they should call it Waffle Home

2009-08-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

I love these kids, and waffle house. This will be our last WaHo adventure for awhile, which is severely sad. Katy's face found another dimple! and Will loves his toast.

John and me. We're so cute, when we hang out I feel like I am 15. He's the best pretend little brother ever and a beast at eating eggs and waffles.

All About Agnes

2009-08-15T08:23:00.001-07:00

My future alma mater, Agnes Scott College, is a women's college in Decatur, GA. I'm planning on majoring in English Lit., and if I can swing it, Classic Languages, but my schedule may be too hard to fit another major in, so I may just minor in it.

I'm so excited about being in Decatur, right near Eddie's Attic, and near enough to Georgia Tech to be able to visit Christy, Megan and Katelyn. And anyone, please feel free to visit me; I love Decatur already and would love to adventure around with someone. Anyway, the above picture is of the library at Agnes Scott, one of the main reasons I picked Agnes. The lamps are so gorgeous! Even on a completely superficial level Agnes is perfect for me. I cannot imagine going anywhere else.

One Week

2009-08-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

As of today, I officially have one week until I move out to Decatur for college at Agnes Scott. I can't wait to be in Atlanta with Christy, Megan, Emily and Katelyn, and of course, everyone in Class of '13 at Agnes. I'll be working on packing, unpacking and re-packing all week until I get the right proportion of shoes to clothing to books ready for school. Class schedule is still completely up in the air, but I know I'll be taking Mindfulness 101 and hopefully Latin 201, which I placed into, I just have to register for it. And at least one English class and a requirement class, something like History or Philosophy or even Modern.