I just wrote a short play

Unlike many of my post titles this one isn't just an odd combination of words or a song lyric. This one is REAL! While I am proud of myself for finishing the project I have no illusions of becoming a playwright or ever writing another play (unless called upon to write one as an assignment, again.) This experience has reminded me of two other projects that I completed last year that were in an unfamiliar media. I wrote poetry last year. I'm not a poet, I don't claim to be one nor do I profess any expertise in the field. I was just fulfilling an assignment. Ironically the easiest project was probably the first poetry assignment where I was supposed to write two poems in French. How weird is that? I can't speak French, much less compose a poem of some quality. The second poetry assignment was really uncomfortable because

1) I didn't have a foreign language to hide behind


2) I had to write about myself


3) I had to wade through some old memories of some awkward moments.


Okay, who am I kidding? I have awkward moments just about everyday! You would think I would be used to it by now!

Actually, one of my most recent awkward moments involved getting my car jumped. Apparently the radio doesn't automatically shut off if it has been turned on when the car is off (even if the volume is off). Stretch that out for three days and voila! you have a worn out battery. All is well now.

Tessie, pre-accident and pre license plates days. I really love my car.

And on one final random point, does anyone else think there could be such a thing as store induced amnesia? Case in point, I went to Wal-Mart today and I could not remember for the life of me what I was going to buy. It was like the low prices and big box atmosphere had sucked my shopping list from my brain. It was ridiculous! I am SO making a list next month.

New Friends

This is from my first day of graduate school. Me, Brandee, Leslie, and Jared.
Yes, Leslie and I are wearing the same sweater on the same day. Not to worry, we have both have the same sweater in green and, you guessed it, we wore it on the same day AGAIN! It was mildly amusing :)
(thanks to Brandee for this picture!)

Desert Island DVDs

I'm taking a break from my homework to answer a tag from my friend Scott. It is kind of like the Desert Island Discs from a few months ago. Here are the rules, as laid out by Scott:
• Only one movie from a series
• Only one movie from a given director
• Limit the list to 10



And now, in no particular order, my top ten.

I can't remember exactly when I first saw "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner." It was probably in college on TCM. The acting in this movie is superb, the emotions are raw, and it is funny without insulting your intelligence. I also love that Spencer Tracy's character reminds me of my Grandpa Keller in an indirect way.



"An Ideal Husband" is taken from one of Oscar Wilde's plays. It is hilarious, also in a way that doesn't insult a person's intelligence. I think I really like movies like that. Also I really like Jeremy Northam even if he does have a mustache in this movie.




Aw "Penelope." I saw this in the theatre and then watched it A LOT during my time at the bank on my breaks. This movie is about a girl with a curse that can only be broken by love. Fortunately there is a twist. Combine that with fantastic visuals (costumes, sets, James McAvoy..) and you have a stupendous movie. I loved this movie so much that I dressed like Penelope for Halloween. It wasn't a readily recognizable character but it was worth it when people did know who I was dressed as.

There was a bit of struggle between this one and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Sean Connery was the tipping point in this one, he is SO funny! The bickering between Indy and Henry is probably my favorite in this movie. The back to back chair scene is one of the best.

This was another movie that almost didn't make the list due to my affinity for the movie "Emma." I chose not to include both because it was sort of like having two movies of the same series because they are both based on Jane Austen novels. The cast was the tipping point in this one, Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet are brilliant. I feel a lot like Elinore but I am probably more like Marianne.

Sword fights! Pirates! Mystery! Intrigue! Henry Cavill! (Jim Caviezel isn't too bad either but I noticed Henry Cavill when I saw it in the theatre.) Hey, it's really different than the book but for once that didn't seem to bug me. I love the action and adventure. It's so exciting!

Okay, so technically I have only seen this movie once but it made a pretty big impact on me. It's a mystery from the 1960's about a woman who moves to England with her daughter, Bunny. She goes to pick Bunny up from school the first day and they all claim Bunny was never there. I'm usually pretty good about figuring movies out but this one had me guessing until the end.

The Zombies play a part in the movie as well. I think "Tell Her No" is featured.

Speaking of great 60's music, "A Hard Day's Night" is full of it. It is toted as a day in the life of the Beatles but it's really just a comedy. I rented this A LOT from Cosmo's when I was growing up. Lariann and Christina can attest to that fact.

If there was any doubt to my nerdery, this movie is proof of it. I adore the original trilogy but I love this one most of all. There was excitement (the whole episode in the asteroid field,) personal growth (Luke hanging out with Yoda,) and reluctant romance (Han and Leia...) It is a movie that I love watching.

And rounding out the Top Ten is "Down With Love." I'm not a massive Renee Zellweger fan but I am a Ewan McGregor fan. He's such a smooth dog in this movie but dang he looks good! And he sings a bit too!

The movies that could have made the list if it were longer:

Robin Hood (the Disney version)

Mountain of the Lord (yes, the movie about the Salt Lake Temple. Remember, nerd???)

That Thing You Do!

Emma

You Only Live Twice

Funny Face

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Help!

Twilight (Just kidding!)

Four days down, one more to go

I just read two plays this evening after dinner. I watched an episode of 30 Rock. I am tired.
I have very nearly survived my first week of grad school.

I went on an adventure this morning to the grocery store. This adventure involved spending a half of an hour scraping ice and snow off my car and I still didn't get it all off. Fortunately the roads were passible and the sun was shining. I made it to Smith's without incident and I had my first independant trip to the grocery store. Granted, I shopped when I was a missionary and I have been to the store by myself to run errands but this was different. I didn't have a mission companion with me, contributing to the cart. I didn't have a list from my parents or a mostly complete knowledge of what was at home in the pantry, fridge, freezer, etc. It was sort of weird to shop by myself. I had the freedom to buy pretty much whatever I wanted which could have included all sorts of delicious crap but I chose not to.

I start graduate school on Monday and I'm sort of freaked out. Hopefully it will all work out. I shouldn't be so worried because I have had a lot of experience as college student (it took seven years to complete my undergraduate work, minus a year and a half for a mission.)

Oh well, another day, another adventure.