Mega Update
Hi, Livejournal! Long time, no post. I have many, many things to post about. I'll start with Christmas, then go onto New Years, movies, Crique du Soleil and other random stuff.
My list of Christmas Gifts
- World of Darkness necklace
- bed sheets
- Ovo Cirque tickets
- Two scrap book photo albums mom put together with photos from my child hood and baby hood
- Doctor Who mugs
- chocolate
- Pyrex trays
- Deli jar
- $100 (Which I will put towards Fringe tickets)
- Socks and underwear
- Tooth brush
- Deordorant
- 'scratchies' (didn't win any money.)
- sun screen
- lip balm
- nail polish
- skirt
- True Blood calender
- Big Bang Theory tablet case
- The Qi book of 1,227 Facts to Blow Your Socks Off
- Fantasia on blu-ray
- blu-ray player
- Tuscany bowls
- Recipe cards
- Wine
- fancy cooking oils
- can full of money
- Fish tank rock
- World of Darkness apron
- Mixing bowel
And I got Nick sweat pants, kitchen stuff, The Dark Knight Rises, Evangelion, and a card signed by one of Eva's voice actors.
Here is my photo album with photos from Christmas Eve at Mom's house and Christmas day with Nick's family.
As for the Doctor Who Christmas special... it didn't thrill me. It had a few good moments, but over all I'm getting frustrated by Moffat's mysteries. I haven't warmed up to the new TARDIS yet. I didn't love it instantly like I did the last one.
New years was fun. Gwen and Glyn had fixed up the gazebo in the yard with lights so we had the party out there with a BBQ. Gwen and I also made a giant "Pass the Parcel" and everyone got something.
Photo album
We went to see Les Mis with Lisa and Maddie. I enjoyed it over-all. I thought Anne Hathaway was the strongest and she deserves every award she gets for this film. I cried every time she was on screen from "I Dreamed a Dream" onwards. Hugh Jackman was also very good, and I approved of this version's Maruis. "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables" gave Nick manly tears.
As most others have said already, Russel Crow was the weakest, though he did have a few good moments of quiet intensity thay I enjoyed. I really wish they had included some bit of "Dog Eats Dog" and I didn't think the first "God on High" was very good because Hugh Jackman struggled some with the high notes. (Though the reprise of it was heart-achingly good.)
Here is a video by the Nostalgia Chick and Todd in the Shadows talking about the film. I agree with most of what they say.
I give it 4.5 out of 5
This was a long film, but a good one. I thought it was well-paced with a good balance of quiet moments and action scenes. I loved Sir Ian as Gandalf once again. His scene where they have the meeting with the elves was one of my favourites. However, above all my favourite scene was the game of riddles with Bilbo and Golum. That was so awesome, well-acted, a little scary and Andy Serkis at his best. I'm looking forward to getting this one on Blu-Ray, as well as seeing the other Hobbit movies. (Also, though I haven't read the book, I know what happens later, more or less.)
I give it 5 out of 5.
Nick and I enjoyed Ovo. It had an insect theme and I loved how they worked the insect types into the costumes. My favourite acts were a hand-balancing dragon fly and a slack wire spider. There were also crickets on trampolines/fast track with a rock wall (that was so cool) and foot juggling and contortionists. As souvenirs I got a CD, a book and a t-shirt.
There aren't really any great videos of it to post, sorry.
Other random stuff...
- I used the Spotlight card to get a big cross stitch project that I'm stitching for Nick's Mom. It says "New York" and in each letter there is a symbol of the city. I've finished the Y in 'York,' so that's good progress.
- I will post the end of the 50 Books list some time later. I've read the books, but I don't have their write-up ready yet.
- I've been offered another TAFE course to learn ASL. (Australian Sign Language) It's something I've been interested in for a while, and I think I can fit it in with my part-time work, so this will be good I think. :)
- I've sold 80 more snails, making my grand total over 200 so far. There's still more to go.
- For the Fringe this year, I think we're going to see Wil Anderson (as our big name act), Sound & Fury (who are doing three shows this year!) and a Shakespeare thing for sure. We might go to see AUCS sing. It sort of depends on how things go.
And I think that's me all caught up. If I missed anything, I can always post it later.
Random Quote:
From the Hobbit film
Galadriel: Mithrandir, why the halfling?
Gandalf the Grey: I don't know. Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay… small acts of kindness, and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid... and he gives me courage.
Galadriel: Do not be afraid, Mithrandir. You are not alone. If you ever need aid, I will come.
My list of Christmas Gifts
- World of Darkness necklace
- bed sheets
- Ovo Cirque tickets
- Two scrap book photo albums mom put together with photos from my child hood and baby hood
- Doctor Who mugs
- chocolate
- Pyrex trays
- Deli jar
- $100 (Which I will put towards Fringe tickets)
- Socks and underwear
- Tooth brush
- Deordorant
- 'scratchies' (didn't win any money.)
- sun screen
- lip balm
- nail polish
- skirt
- True Blood calender
- Big Bang Theory tablet case
- The Qi book of 1,227 Facts to Blow Your Socks Off
- Fantasia on blu-ray
- blu-ray player
- Tuscany bowls
- Recipe cards
- Wine
- fancy cooking oils
- can full of money
- Fish tank rock
- World of Darkness apron
- Mixing bowel
And I got Nick sweat pants, kitchen stuff, The Dark Knight Rises, Evangelion, and a card signed by one of Eva's voice actors.
Here is my photo album with photos from Christmas Eve at Mom's house and Christmas day with Nick's family.
As for the Doctor Who Christmas special... it didn't thrill me. It had a few good moments, but over all I'm getting frustrated by Moffat's mysteries. I haven't warmed up to the new TARDIS yet. I didn't love it instantly like I did the last one.
New years was fun. Gwen and Glyn had fixed up the gazebo in the yard with lights so we had the party out there with a BBQ. Gwen and I also made a giant "Pass the Parcel" and everyone got something.
Photo album
We went to see Les Mis with Lisa and Maddie. I enjoyed it over-all. I thought Anne Hathaway was the strongest and she deserves every award she gets for this film. I cried every time she was on screen from "I Dreamed a Dream" onwards. Hugh Jackman was also very good, and I approved of this version's Maruis. "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables" gave Nick manly tears.
As most others have said already, Russel Crow was the weakest, though he did have a few good moments of quiet intensity thay I enjoyed. I really wish they had included some bit of "Dog Eats Dog" and I didn't think the first "God on High" was very good because Hugh Jackman struggled some with the high notes. (Though the reprise of it was heart-achingly good.)
Here is a video by the Nostalgia Chick and Todd in the Shadows talking about the film. I agree with most of what they say.
Click to view
I give it 4.5 out of 5
This was a long film, but a good one. I thought it was well-paced with a good balance of quiet moments and action scenes. I loved Sir Ian as Gandalf once again. His scene where they have the meeting with the elves was one of my favourites. However, above all my favourite scene was the game of riddles with Bilbo and Golum. That was so awesome, well-acted, a little scary and Andy Serkis at his best. I'm looking forward to getting this one on Blu-Ray, as well as seeing the other Hobbit movies. (Also, though I haven't read the book, I know what happens later, more or less.)
I give it 5 out of 5.
Nick and I enjoyed Ovo. It had an insect theme and I loved how they worked the insect types into the costumes. My favourite acts were a hand-balancing dragon fly and a slack wire spider. There were also crickets on trampolines/fast track with a rock wall (that was so cool) and foot juggling and contortionists. As souvenirs I got a CD, a book and a t-shirt.
There aren't really any great videos of it to post, sorry.
Other random stuff...
- I used the Spotlight card to get a big cross stitch project that I'm stitching for Nick's Mom. It says "New York" and in each letter there is a symbol of the city. I've finished the Y in 'York,' so that's good progress.
- I will post the end of the 50 Books list some time later. I've read the books, but I don't have their write-up ready yet.
- I've been offered another TAFE course to learn ASL. (Australian Sign Language) It's something I've been interested in for a while, and I think I can fit it in with my part-time work, so this will be good I think. :)
- I've sold 80 more snails, making my grand total over 200 so far. There's still more to go.
- For the Fringe this year, I think we're going to see Wil Anderson (as our big name act), Sound & Fury (who are doing three shows this year!) and a Shakespeare thing for sure. We might go to see AUCS sing. It sort of depends on how things go.
And I think that's me all caught up. If I missed anything, I can always post it later.
Random Quote:
From the Hobbit film
Galadriel: Mithrandir, why the halfling?
Gandalf the Grey: I don't know. Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay… small acts of kindness, and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid... and he gives me courage.
Galadriel: Do not be afraid, Mithrandir. You are not alone. If you ever need aid, I will come.