July 27, 2004

No one mourns the Wicked!

Now I must take a moment to thoughtfully appreciate the blessed inventions which are known to the masses as gift cards, but to myself, a golden token of beauty (or, as in the Fandango commercial which never fails to strike me as most amusing--"My happiness is a golden poem!"  "I'll get the popcorn.").  Shouts of appreciation must be blared to my lovely aunt and uncle (Jacque and Laurie) and to my wonderful student, Brianna Smith!  Yes, to many Smiths to thank, so little time . . .

Brianna gave me a gift card to Target on the last day of school, of which I was more than infinitely fond of.  I pored over the store one afternoon in the wee days of summer--prior to attaining summer employment.   I found a pair of sunglasses which I loved and reminded me of Audrey Hepburn.  This correlation instantly tugged at my heart, and I decided I must own them.  However I still had money left on my card.  So today, more than a month later, I made my second and final purchase on this card.  I am now the smitten owner of the De-Lovely soundtrack.  It is fun to listen to, and (for the most part) I was mildly surpised at how well the pop stars of today could sing these hits of yore.

I then traversed to Borders.  Jacque and Laurie gave me a gift card for house sitting for them.  I bought the book Wicked, which I have not yet read.  I'm completely thrilled about the prospect of indulging in this novel; particularly since I am now obsessed with the musical!  Kristin Chenowith is awesome as Galinda/Glinda (though she is no longer playing the role on Broadway.  Don't be sad, Kelsey!  She has been replaced by Jennifer Laura Thompson--the original Broadway Hope Cladwell!  Go Urinetown!).  Idina Menzel is one of my new favorites as Elphaba, my newest coveted role.  This is claiming a lot, since any exposed epidermus must be covered with green make up! ICK!

I had some money left on that card.  What did I do?  I purchased the DVD of the 1980 Broadway staging of The Pirates of Penzance!  OH YEAH!  Kevin Kline, Linda Rondstadt, Patricia Routledge and the fabulous Rex Smith.  The movie that Johanna Hamilton and I howled at in the days of NNU of this staging (replacing Routledge with Angela Lansbury) is not yet out on DVD.  I like my version, but since it's on an actual stage, the filming does some strange things.  Still hysterical, though.  What is my obsession with Pirates?  I love them all! In Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribean, Pirates of Penzance, etc.  Somewhat like my obsession with Vikings ever since Dr. Marshman's World History class my freshmen year.  I must need therapy.

The title clearly is the threaded theme throughout (how's that for a brief string of alliteration?) this post.  Cole Porter wrote some "wicked" music (yes, I have Boston on the brain ever since I've begun to look into Grad schools), and performed some truly atrocious acts of self indulgence.  The Wicked Witch of the West and her story.  The "wicked" reputation of any and all pirates, even the ones who let orphans go free!  :)

No one mourns the Wicked!  (Thank you to Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist of this awesome new musical!)

Fare thee well.

July 24, 2004

Well did you evah? What a swell party this is!

Hello those outside of Carson City! As I am a newspaper hog at work during my break (I'm starving for something to read during those precious 15 minutes and don't have anywhere to put my books while working!), I have become much more aware of what's been going on with the fire. Apparently, over 8,000 acres burned, and the fire became contained around 6 pm on Tuesday night.

So, just to prove how ridiculous the Americans can be, I want to share something with you all. I read that on Tuesday, around noon, there is going to be a local gathering to show Carson's appreciation for all those who worked on stopping the fire. Yes, at the lawn of the Capital building there is to be (I couldn't believe it) a BARBEQUE!!!!!!!!!!!! How sick are the pople around here? I'm not sure who gave birth to the "brilliant" idea, but clearly the irony escaped their notice.

Oh, congratulations are to be extended to Chris and Stephanie Tiner. The two recently gave birth to a girl--Kadee Joy Tiner. She is named after her aunt Kadee, and (I believe) Joy Lindner. However, Kara Lyons was convinced that Joy was for her! :) Okay, maybe not, but she did not fail to notice the Joy connection.

So, the title comes from a song called "Well Did You Evah?" by Cole Porter. This song was used in the musical "Dubarry Was a Lady," which starred Jimmy Durante and Ethel Merman. Fun fact: The agents got into an argument over who should get the top billing at the theatre. The producers came up with a solution that had never and has not since been used. The criss crossed the names above the title on the marquee. The things you learn! Anyway, it was also used in the movie "High Society" and sung by the "drunk" Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. The song is hilarious. I must admit, I was inspired after seeing the movie De-Lovely this evening. The theater was filled with older people and myself, but I had a grand time and frequently had to stifle my urges to sing along--especially with the songs from "Anything Goes." At the end of the movie, I did sing along with "It's De-Lovely" from "Red, Hot and Blue" which was later put in the version of "Anything Goes" which I was in 9 years ago. I used this title in reference to the Carson City and the fabulous idea of the barbeque!

July 21, 2004

On a clear day, you can see forever . . .

Things are much better out here in our significantly darker part of Nevada. It was so smoky that my roommate literally could not stay here for more than about 15 minutes to about an hour. Kristen developed a heart condition in junior high, and she could not breathe without severe difficulty.

I drove home one night and was mesmerized by the sight that met my eye. The time was about 10:30 pm and pitch black. There are hills that normally one cannot see during the night were sillouheted by a line of a bright red, orange, yellow brightness. I had a tough time driving home that night. I was torn between the horrific reality of what this light really was, and the sheer beauty of what I was seeing. At any rate, it was not the easiest thing to concentrate on the memorized road home. During the day, it was easier to watch the road, because the billowing masses of smoke. When I was out of my car, I kept seeing the flakes of ash meander through the air, as though they were snowflakes.

I was wheezing all weekend because of the contaminated air. It was so miserable to be in my area of Carson. I was advised by the news, other people and my own good instinct to keep the windows shut. This action did not really make life any better at the Brown/Joyner apartment with our lack of air conditioning. Last I heard, the fire was estimated to be contained by today. I haven't really heard anything since, but I feel safe opening my windows again. I can breathe deeply while out of doors now. Over 2,000 acres burned. The hills just behind Carson St. (Applebees, and the like) are completely blackened. Not that the dead grass was all that attractive, but it definitely is more depressing to see now.

I hope everyone reading is well. Take time to appreciate the things and security you have. I know that I will . . . nor will I take for granted the sheer wonderful blessing that is smoke-free CO2. This quote from the title number of the musical by the same name felt like the perfect description for my newfound appreciation.

July 14, 2004

Into the fire we go!

Quick note all, and not nearly as cool as the musical The Scarlet Pimpernel would lead us to believe. Pray for me right now. I'm at my parent's home. After work, I went to their house for dinner. I even forgot to go to my house to pick up the laundry I was planning on bringing. I cannot go back to my apartment tonight. If you've been paying attention to the news tonight, you'll realize that, basically, Carson City has become what the library announced a few years ago during the summer when the C fell off the sign (ARSON CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY). Yes, my town is ablaze, possibly begun by teenagers partying at 2 am. Our city is full of smoke, ash and flames. I literally cannot drive to my own house right now, as the roads are blocked off. I may not be able to go to work tomorrow. A family in my church just moved from Dayton to Carson City in the last month. Their house was apparently the first one that burned down. An auto shop was demolished and there are chemical fumes floating about in our densly polluted air at the moment. When my roommate was driving down Carson St. (which is also Hwy 395, and our main st.), she could not only see the flames from the opposite side of the road, she could feel the heat! Scary stuff. Pray for the people in the danger zones. Pray that our house remains. Pray for the evacuees staying at Carson High School.

Clearly, Carson is a hopping town now. What with our armed thief fleeing from the police yesterday to Tahoe and having the road from Carson to Tahoe closed for over 12 hours yesterday and our fires in Yosemite and Carson City today--we're a great place for tourism! Come and visit; I'm sure we're only going to be infiltrated by angry UFO's next!

July 12, 2004

Into the Woods/Wild Wild West

Yes, a strange blend of Sondheim and the old MGM musicals--however, both serve quite sufficiently for yesterday. Leigha is here and as crazy and moody as usual. I house-sat last weekend for Uncle Jacque and Aunt Laurie (they went to Fort Brag, Raven travelled down to So. Cali to visit fam, and Cody is still in Tennessee). Leigha spent Saturday night with me there. We watched the new Peter Pan twice (which we are both still obsessed with), had popcorn (I also had an artichoke. MMM!), IBC root beer from the bottle (Leigha thought it was the greatest thing ever), read Pamela's First Musical (Ooh dahling!), talked, sang, danced, played with Paas and both cats. One set of busy 12 hours!

Yesterday, my parents picked the both of us up after church. We bought ourselves some dandy picnicking foods and headed up to the Lake (Aunt Susan said people in Louisiana call it Lake Tahooie!). We had lunch at Spooner lake and hiked around a bit. Then, we headed where no Brown has gone before. Yes indeedy, folks, we headed to the Ponderosa Ranch, pardners; home of the famous Western television show and the first entirely filmed in color--BONANZA! Dunh dunh dunh dunh da da da DU! Dunh dunh dunh da du da da da!

We saw ourselves some fancy rope trickin', standin' right on a steed, whip lashin', a gunfight filled with comedy, the set of Bonanza, Stinky Pete's prison, the Ponderosa Bible Church (where you can git hitched), ole fasheoned automobeels, lyesince plates datin' back to the 1910s, and much much more. It's almost enough the make a rooster crow, fer a pig ta holler, and a grown man ta up and cry! All in all, it was a fun day.

Kudos to Nina who now has her driver's license--5 days shy of turning 20. Good job Janina! On her first try, too!

Figure out the title yet? "Into the Woods" is clearly from Stephen Sondheim's musical by the same name (an excellent and hilarious musical). "Wild Wild West?" Not the movie or the show. Nope! It's from an old MGM musical known as . . . The Harvey Girls (which I now own on DVD). Cheesy? Absolutely, yet it does have Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Cyd Charisse and a very young Angela Lansbury as a saloon girl. And the defining great moment of the film is Garland singing "The Atchins, the Topeka and the Santa Fe." Good times to be had. And now, a quote from the great Peter Pan movie, "To live is an awfully big adventure!"

July 01, 2004

Oh what a beautiful day!

Congratulations must be offered to my lovely parents. On this day, 26 years ago (1978 for all of you to lazy to do the math), my father and mother married. They remain married, still get a kick out of each other, and still enjoy kissing in front of their three daughters (who pretend to be disgusted, as opposed to 16 years ago, when it really was gross). May the two of you continually grow in your love for each other, family, and God.

That sentimental mushiness being done with, I would like to mention a rare find in Reno, Nevada today. Aunt Laurie called me up on Monday to invite me to go patio-furniture shopping with her yesterday (Wed). Seeing as she is an absolute hoot and Janina was coming along, I readily agreed. It was a very good day.

Together, the three of us searched to find Aunt Laurie's neighbor's furniture place. Alas, it was not to be found. We explored two rather posh places (next to the Audi/Porsche/$$$ car dealership) before throwing the towel in. Aunt Laurie and I were starved. We had lunch at the Macaroni Grill. MMM. Feed me Italian any day!

Aunt Laurie thought she had seen some thrift stores along 4th St. Janina and I laughed together as we "educated" Aunt Laurie. Now, I know 4th St. has many other "goods to sell," but it also happens to be the known (shall I say shopping center) for Prostitutes in the evenings. Laurie did not know this. She did not seem so keen on looking in the thrift stores then. We mutually agreed that Laurie must have been on another street when seeing this plethora of thrift stores, because we did not see many at all.

So, we headed down Virginia St. I now must pause and share my enthusiasm for serendipidious discoveries. By sheer luck (or Providence), we discovered a most amazing gem; a vintage clothing shop. This particular shop seemed to focus most on clothing from the 1920s-1960s. It was heavenly bliss. I tried on several terrific hats as I admired the clothing. Once again I questioned God as to why I was born in the 1980s. I was clearly meant to be born around 1935 or so. Perhaps this is a reason I love drama to the extent I do. It gives me a chance to "live" in another era, even for a little while.

We moved on to an Antique mall which was not far down the street. I pawed through the books, furniture,pictures and artifacts, wishing I had an unlimited well of money which would allow me to purchase some of the treasure I unearthed. Since this was not to be, I settled on a fun picture of the members of the Rat Pack and (I ask that the reader stands in reverence) a Playbill for the original company of Bye Bye Birdie! Yes, it's true. The 1960 musical which starred Chita Rivera, Susan Watson, and Dick Van Dyke prior to his famous show, Mary Poppins or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang performance. What are the odds? It is in mint condition and a pleasure to own.

The three of us headed to Sparks in order go to the Ben and Jerry's store afterwards. I had a Dublin Mudslide sundae which was amazing. Do try it; you will NOT regret it, and your tastebuds will thank you. We headed home after, and were able to talk to both Kelsey and Halley on the phone. I had to tease Halley on her Disneyland training. She is to be on the janitorial staff, just like Kelsey, at DCA (Disney California Adventure). Apparently, she has three weekends of training--the final being "Advance Sweeping!" I thought that was one of the most amusing things I'd heard in a long while!

In the evening, I went to see Spiderman 2 with Kristen, her four younger brothers, and two of their friends. It was great! I can't wait for the third to come out; although then they will be done! :(

Now, it is time to relax with a great novel and hope today will be as rewarding as yesterday. Oh, and if you're puzzled as to my title, just think of Oklahoma! Two quick fun facts about the movie: 1) They wanted to film it in Oklahoma, but it was impossible to find a great spot without oil machines to ruin the shots. It was filmed in Arizona, and the govenors of Oklahoma and Arizona agreed that for the duration of the filming, that bit of Arizona was an honorary section of Oklahoma! 2) Because Curly sings "The corn is as high as an elephant's eye," the director wanted tall stalks of corn. He turned to a particular group of science students at a nearby university for help. They managed to genetically enhance the corn, so that it was over 8 ft. tall! Not only did Gordan MacRae have to ride his horse, they had to have the horse walk on a platform to make it look natural!

Well, now that I have thoroughly entertained you (and wished my mother a happy birthday on the 5th if I don't blog until then), I hope you have a beautiful morning, a beautiful day, a beautiful feeling, and that everything is going your way!