The Odd Couple--Female Version

Back in December, I finally got up enough courage to try out for a part in a play, and I got one!  Rehearsals for The Odd Couple, Female Version, with the Town and Gown Theater in Stillwater, began January 3rd.  Today, we are only 5 rehearsals away from  opening night and I have butterflies the size of vultures in my stomach! Am I REALLY going to DO this? I can't believe how quickly it's gone by.

I have to admit, the biggest reason behind this adventure is that piano contest coming up on February 12th that I've mentioned before.  I had such a fear of playing for people, besides my family, that I thought maybe doing a play would help me overcome it.  I was right....I've been so busy with play practice that I'm not even WORRIED about the piano contest!  I have my music memorized and almost polished to perfection.  As for the play, I am having the best time!  It's been years since I've done this....and  I had forgotten how much fun it is to get wrapped up in another world and pretend to be someone else. :)  The play really is the thing!

Carpe' diem

Happy New Year

It's 2011, just in case you haven't been paying attention.  According to the Myan Calendar, we only have one year left before the world explodes.  Do you think Ben Affleck will save us?  Or should we put our money on Vin Diesel?

All kidding aside, I have some big plans for 2011.  I will be 47 in May, 3 years from 50, so I've decided it's time for me to have some fun!  I make my stage debut in February with the Town & Gown Theater's production of The Odd Couple, Female Version.  I am excited and scared to death!  It's been years since I've been in a play. Play practice began last night, and will pretty much rule my life until the production.  That's okay.  Also in February, I will play the piano at the Federation Music Festival in Ponca City.  I will play two memorized pieces for a judge.  I'm excited and scared to death about this, too!  We are also planning a family vacation to South Carolina in July.  We want to drive the coast of SC and see all that we can see!!  We will also have a new licensed driver in the house so she will get to drive along the coast, too!

 I can't see into the future, so I don't  know how 2011 is going to turn out.  I only know that I plan to make the most of it!  I hope you make the most out of your new year, also!!

Vampires Suck

Okay, my Twilight Girlfriends and I had talked about going to see this movie together, just to maybe help us get through the year until Breaking Dawn is released.  We never did get around to it, and it's a good thing we didn't.  My Twilight Daughter and I rented and watched it last night and I have to say, that was the worst movie either of us has EVER seen.  We expected comedy, but nothing was funny.  Dont waste your money or your time on this one, folks, no matter how big a Twihard you are.  I give it a minus 5 on the Melscale. Worthless.

The Tourist

Rated PG13

Everybody knows I LOVE Johnny Depp. (Sorry,Zac)  So I was very excited to go see The Tourist starring Johnny and that chick living with Brad Pitt and all those kids. ;)  Before I get into my review, I just need to say, that I'm wondering who all the "critics" are that said this movie wasn't very good.  I NEVER listen to the critics anymore, because I have learned that if they hate it, I'm going to love it.  And if they love it, it's going to suck rocks.  Again, the professional critics were wrong.  This was a GREAT movie!!!!

Johnny plays a "tourist" caught up in a mystery when he meets a beautiful (albeit VERY THIN who I SWEAR looks like she had her lips done bigger!) woman on a train.  She's using him as cover.  The movie is set in Italy and the scenery was beautiful!  It had some action, some romance and even a little bit of comedy.  I especially loved it when Johnny kept speaking in Spanish instead of Italian. There were a couple of twists I didn't see coming, and I won't go into details about those because I want you to experience it for yourself. The story was good, and the acting was great.  I give it a 5 on the Melscale.  (and NOT just because I've been a Depp fan since 21 Jump Street!!)

Merry Christmas

I woke up with Mary on my mind this morning.  I was wondering what she was thinking this week, all those years ago, before she delivered Jesus.  What was she thinking? Was she scared? Calm? Resigned? I kept thinking about how miserable I was the last couple of weeks before I had each of my kids, and I can't imagine riding on a donkey at that time!  Or giving birth in a dirty, drafty barn. How overwhelming to be chosen as the mother of our Savior!  To see the angels singing in the fields...to hold that baby in her arms!  That baby grew up and died for ME.  He died for YOU, too.  He is truly the greatest gift EVER.  Have fun this Christmas...buy gifts, sing carols, eat lots of sweets, watch all the classic holiday movies..but please, don't get so wrapped up in the tinsel that you forget the true reason we celebrate Christmas.  Happy Birthday, Jesus!  And thank you........  *turn up your speakers and take a minute to listen to the song

Epithany

I had an epithany today about my piano music.  More specifically, my fear of playing the piano in front of real, live people.  I've been taking lessons since January, and my teacher thinks I'm talented and that I play well.  (I have the email to prove it. ) My husband and kids love to hear me practice and I'm okay playing for them.  But I get crazy nervous about playing in front of other people.  My hands shake, I lose my place, I get hot and feel like I'm going to throw up.  So imagine my surprise when,  about a month ago,  my teacher asked me to play in a music festival in front of a judge and I said yes.  I'm terrified.  She KNOWS I'm terrified. Yet I'm practicing on my pieces daily.  I have to play 2 MEMORIZED pieces of music in front of a judge or two and that person or persons is going to JUDGE my playing.  They are going to tell me what I did wrong and how I sounded.  They are going to GRADE my performance.  Admittedly, I've been having second thoughts.  I had a hard time playing for my own mother when she was at my house. And she LOVES me!  And then, today, I had an epithany in the kitchen while I was making my lunch.  I was thinking about the contest, again, and getting ready to sit down to practice a little bit before I headed back to work.  Here is what occurred to me:   Do I REALLY care about what the judges say about my playing?  If I mess up, are they going to fire me?  Are they going to forbid me to ever take another piano lesson as long as I live? Are they going to shoot me for missing a note?  Am I going to let some strangers opinion distort my love of playing the piano?  Are they going to show up at my house and take my piano away from me?  Of course not!  I take piano lessons, not because I am forced too, but because I LOVE too!  I can make music and music is a gift to be given away!  So now, in the 2 and a half months I have left before the contest, I am going to perfect the pieces I am to play. I will walk into that room, sit down at that piano, and give those judges the best gift I can!  I'm going to make them cry!!

Robin Hood and Under the Mountain

I watched  two movies over the weekend.  AND I treated myself to another viewing of Charlie St. Cloud with Zac Efron.  YUMMY! Just sayin...

Robin Hood, starring Russel Crowe, seemed long and drawn out to me.  This version is supposed to be what happened BEFORE he was the famous bandit. Russel's character is fighting in the Crusades with the King when the King is killed in battle.  "Robin", along with a few of his friends,  also fighting with the Crusades, decide to leave then and there, since the King is dead.  They stumble upon the real Robin Hood in the woods, whose task is to take the crown back to Notingham. There was a brief battle before Russel's Robin arrived, where  the real Robin Hood is killed.  Russel's Robin assumes Hood's identity, and he and his men take the crown back. It's the only way they can get home. Maid Marrion, who in this version was already married to Robin Hood, knows he's an imposter, but she and Robin Hood's father play it off for the good of the kingdom.    The acting was good, there were some great battle scenes, but all in all, I didn't really care for it. It took me 3 days of starting and stopping it to get through it.  I prefer the Robin Hood starring Kevin Costner.  Maybe it's all about the eye candy?  :)

Under the Mountain was a gamble and a surprise.  I had rented it for the kids, not expecting much.  It's about twins who possess special powers and they need to work together to use those powers to save the world.  The special effects were great, as was the story line.  It was fast paced, well acted and well written. My kids liked it, too. 

I give Robin Hood a 2 and a half on the Melscale, and I give Under the Mountain a 3 and a half.  You can be your own judge!

Carpe' diem!