On Boxing Day, after much anticipation on Christmas Day, my sister and I did our chores like the good teenage daughters we are, and then we went to go and see the movie we had been waiting for: Les Misérables!!!
My sister and I are musical junkies: we have seen them live, acted in them, read the books some are adapted from, have most soundtracks on our iPods, and I plan to make a career out of it, if that tells you anything. Les Misérables is one of our absolute FAVORITES and when we heard there was going to be a movie adaptation earlier this year......well, of course we had to go!
Our original plan, before the opening days were changed for the film, was to go and see the midnight showing on the day it was originally supposed to open, December 7th. Then it got moved to December 14th, and our plans still didn't change, but then The Hobbit had to ruin our plans and Les Mis got pushed to Christmas Day. Now, of course we weren't going to see it on the holiday, that would be silly! So we settled for the next best thing, the day after.
We got to the movie theater forty minutes early, got our tickets, then had to wait in line to enter the theater as the previous showing was just leaving and there were TONS of people. Once we got into the actual theater, my sister and I headed to the back row, where we could quietly deal with our emotions as the movie went on, as to not distract other moviegoers. But, in typical fashion, the movie started and we were squished in next to a woman who was on her phone throughout the movie and a couple who was, shall we say, very affectionate with each other as the trailers started and the movie started.
Well, the movie started and my sister and I grabbed each other and started shrieking like the fangirls we are. We were just so excited!!
As to not ruin it for anyone, here are my pros and cons of the movie, based on my standards:
Pros
-Hugh Jackman (for the most part)
-Anne Hathaway
-Samantha Barks (I've always though she was a wonderful Éponine, since I saw her in the 25th Anniversary Concert)
-Amanda Seyfried (for the most part)
-Colm freakin' Wilkinson (as the Bishop of Digne!!!)
-EDDIE REDMAYNE
-EDDIE REDMAYNE
-EDDIE REDMAYNE
-Aaron Tveit (the quintessential Enjolras. He was literally perfect and acted the heck out of his role. My other two favorites are Ramin Karimloo and Jeremy Hays.)
-Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter (they were bawdy, crude, and perfect. Sacha Baron Cohen exceeded my expectations and went above and beyond).
-THE FRIENDS OF THE ABC (HOLY LORD SOMEBODY HOLD ME)
-Daniel Huttlestone (He embodies the word 'precious'. Aaron Tveit is quoted as saying, "I want to grow up and be like Daniel".)
-The sets and visual effects, they were amazing!!
-The finale!!!
-Hadley Fraser (the Easter egg of the movie. He shines bright like the diamond he is).
-Hadley Fraser's mustache. (what contributed to the whole Easter egg factor).
Cons
-Russell Crowe (it should have been Norm Lewis. SHOULD HAVE BEEN. However, his death was quite epic.)
-Hugh Jackman during Bring Him Home. He was definitely struggling.
-They decided to omit some parts of songs to have less screen time in the movie. I thought this was an entirely stupid decision on the whole.
As the movie ended and the lights went up, you would have thought I needed to be carted off to the mental ward, based on my actions. I was shaking and crying into my sleeve and my sister was a mess: sobbing into her hands and not being able to talk, so much that people were asking if she was okay.
As we walked out of the theater, all I could say was "Wow". The movie was really, really, really great. I don't really think I would have loved it any more than I do now if it had been done any other way. It exceeded expectations, thanks to the vision of Tom Hooper, and he did not disappoint the millions of Les Mis fans around the world.
Cheers to him, and hopefully, this movie will have a successful awards season. As it should!!!
Happy New Year! (one day more.....)
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Book List
Since I spent about two hours today in my local Barnes and Noble and I am a satisfied customer and member there (plus its closing. wah.), I decided to look back into the teen section on their website and give you guys a list of books that I REALLY want to read for the New Year!
1. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
2. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
3. The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
4. Matched by Ally Condie
5. Crossed by Ally Condie
6. Reached by Ally Condie
7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Funny how my sister has had this book since summer of 2012, but I can't read it yet and she finished with it in August. Humph.)
8. Amy And Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
9. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
10. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
11. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
12. We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
13. I Like Him, He Likes Her by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
14. It's Not Like I Planned It This Way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
15. Please Don't Be True by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
16. Alice In Charge by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
17. Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
18. Alice On Board by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
19. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
OK, so thats my list. If you guys have any recommendations for me, please comment in the actual post or on Google+.
Thanks, and in the words of Tyler Oakley, have a nice life!
1. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
2. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
3. The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
4. Matched by Ally Condie
5. Crossed by Ally Condie
6. Reached by Ally Condie
7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Funny how my sister has had this book since summer of 2012, but I can't read it yet and she finished with it in August. Humph.)
8. Amy And Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
9. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
10. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
11. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
12. We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
13. I Like Him, He Likes Her by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
14. It's Not Like I Planned It This Way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
15. Please Don't Be True by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
16. Alice In Charge by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
17. Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
18. Alice On Board by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
19. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
OK, so thats my list. If you guys have any recommendations for me, please comment in the actual post or on Google+.
Thanks, and in the words of Tyler Oakley, have a nice life!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Update, For the Time Being
Hello, Google plussers, blog readers, and people of the world who enjoy viewing this blog!
I know, I know, it has been a while since I posted something. But I was busy with my school's holiday concert and homework and finals start THIS WEEK and I was Christmas present shopping and baking my butt off. I swear, this new Hersey Kiss cookie recipe I found is so easy, I make them at least once a week and my jeans are not fitting because of them.
BUT ANYWAY, I thought I would just give you a little update on what's going on with moi.
As you know from my last post, I participated in my school's holiday concert called the Crystal Concert, and it was stressful and exhausting, but beautiful and joyful too. It was such an amazing sight, to see the auditorium of my school decked out in white and pretty lights and to sing and play for a packed house every night. I can not WAIT for the holiday season of the next two years to do this again! To commemorate the concert, I took a picture of myself in my concert wear, which you can see above.
In addition, I had several projects due in some of my classes and a test almost everyday for the past two weeks so I have been pulling my hair every night asking myself why I keep going to school. VERY stressful.
But, finals are this week. "Oh whoops, I said the F word!" as my math teacher would say. But yes, finals are this week and then they will be over Friday and I will have a glorious, social Christmas break with some rollerskating outings, movie nights, and, hopefully, trips into Chicago.
I will give another update once the burden that are finals are lifted from my shoulders.
Peace out, and see y'alls in a bit!
I know, I know, it has been a while since I posted something. But I was busy with my school's holiday concert and homework and finals start THIS WEEK and I was Christmas present shopping and baking my butt off. I swear, this new Hersey Kiss cookie recipe I found is so easy, I make them at least once a week and my jeans are not fitting because of them.
BUT ANYWAY, I thought I would just give you a little update on what's going on with moi.
As you know from my last post, I participated in my school's holiday concert called the Crystal Concert, and it was stressful and exhausting, but beautiful and joyful too. It was such an amazing sight, to see the auditorium of my school decked out in white and pretty lights and to sing and play for a packed house every night. I can not WAIT for the holiday season of the next two years to do this again! To commemorate the concert, I took a picture of myself in my concert wear, which you can see above.
In addition, I had several projects due in some of my classes and a test almost everyday for the past two weeks so I have been pulling my hair every night asking myself why I keep going to school. VERY stressful.
But, finals are this week. "Oh whoops, I said the F word!" as my math teacher would say. But yes, finals are this week and then they will be over Friday and I will have a glorious, social Christmas break with some rollerskating outings, movie nights, and, hopefully, trips into Chicago.
I will give another update once the burden that are finals are lifted from my shoulders.
Peace out, and see y'alls in a bit!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
The Holiday Season
So, Thanksgiving is definitely over, but I'm sure the leftovers are still in your refrigerators!
As you continue to pick at that leftover stuffing and pumpkin pie, you might start to get ready for the upcoming holiday season with your family and friends. My family started yesterday and finished today, decorating my house with various strands of garland, lights, decorative Santas and snowmen, and putting up our two Christmas trees. It was a TON of work, but lots of fun, as the Charlie Brown Christmas CD motivated my sister and I to continue decorating the huge tree in our family tree and continue to run up and down our stairs with boxes.
At my school, the holidays start this week and continue through December with the annual holiday Crystal Concerts on the 29th and the 30th. All curricular and extracurricular music groups come together and play a seamless concert of holiday music. I attended my first one last year and it was really quite impressive!
This year, my sister and I will both be performing in Chamber Singers, an extracurricular/co-curricular women's group and I will be performing in the Symphonic Bands performance, as well. The Crystal Concerts occur over two days, with two performances per day. Even though it will be a great experience and I can't wait, I'm sure I will be exhausted afterwards!
Throughout December, our school will hold a Holiday drive to help families in poorer parts of the United States to have gifts for Christmas. I participated last year and it gave me a really great feeling to be able to be helping someone have a great Christmas! I will definitely do it again this year, and I'm sure my sister will too!
Enjoy the last week of November, those few Thanksgiving leftovers, and the beginning of the upcoming holiday season!
As you continue to pick at that leftover stuffing and pumpkin pie, you might start to get ready for the upcoming holiday season with your family and friends. My family started yesterday and finished today, decorating my house with various strands of garland, lights, decorative Santas and snowmen, and putting up our two Christmas trees. It was a TON of work, but lots of fun, as the Charlie Brown Christmas CD motivated my sister and I to continue decorating the huge tree in our family tree and continue to run up and down our stairs with boxes.
At my school, the holidays start this week and continue through December with the annual holiday Crystal Concerts on the 29th and the 30th. All curricular and extracurricular music groups come together and play a seamless concert of holiday music. I attended my first one last year and it was really quite impressive!
This year, my sister and I will both be performing in Chamber Singers, an extracurricular/co-curricular women's group and I will be performing in the Symphonic Bands performance, as well. The Crystal Concerts occur over two days, with two performances per day. Even though it will be a great experience and I can't wait, I'm sure I will be exhausted afterwards!
Throughout December, our school will hold a Holiday drive to help families in poorer parts of the United States to have gifts for Christmas. I participated last year and it gave me a really great feeling to be able to be helping someone have a great Christmas! I will definitely do it again this year, and I'm sure my sister will too!
Enjoy the last week of November, those few Thanksgiving leftovers, and the beginning of the upcoming holiday season!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Appreciations
I love my family. But it's days like these that I really appreciate that they're MINE and no one else's.
Today was a day that we planned to have family portraits taken for our Christmas card and just to have. We dressed nicely, took our dogs to the park where we were taking pictures, and just started with our friend who was taking them for us.
As I watched my parents take pictures together and my sister take individual shots in the sunshine with that late afternoon shadow that is so unique to fall, I realized that I had a pretty awesome family: parents who care about me and push me to do whatever I want to, and a sister who is my best friend.
I can't wait to see how these pictures come out and see how great we look together. I will treasure them for years to come!
Today was a day that we planned to have family portraits taken for our Christmas card and just to have. We dressed nicely, took our dogs to the park where we were taking pictures, and just started with our friend who was taking them for us.
As I watched my parents take pictures together and my sister take individual shots in the sunshine with that late afternoon shadow that is so unique to fall, I realized that I had a pretty awesome family: parents who care about me and push me to do whatever I want to, and a sister who is my best friend.
I can't wait to see how these pictures come out and see how great we look together. I will treasure them for years to come!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
War Of 204....Part 2
Because Neuqua Valley High School is undefeated, 11-0 record, and the winner of their game last night, AND Waubonsie Valley High School has a 10-1 record (their one loss is to us), we will be playing them, our biggest rivals, in the football playoff quarterfinals this Friday at home. AGAIN.
Be prepared, because if you thought the first War of 204 was something.....you ain't seen nothing yet.
But personally, I wish we lost a while ago. I mean, it's awesome we have a great football team, but the music kids have this annual, private event called Swing Dance where the jazz groups play big band music and everyone is super classy and dances the night away and it's WAY too much fun.
Well, this year, it's scheduled for this Friday. From four to six pm. Then I have to go play in the freezing cold with the band.
I was so excited for this. I mean, doesn't it sound lame to hold it from four to six instead of, say, seven to ten? Like it's supposed to be?
Four to six is not classy. Because of the football team. That's all I'm saying.
Go Wildcats.
Be prepared, because if you thought the first War of 204 was something.....you ain't seen nothing yet.
But personally, I wish we lost a while ago. I mean, it's awesome we have a great football team, but the music kids have this annual, private event called Swing Dance where the jazz groups play big band music and everyone is super classy and dances the night away and it's WAY too much fun.
Well, this year, it's scheduled for this Friday. From four to six pm. Then I have to go play in the freezing cold with the band.
I was so excited for this. I mean, doesn't it sound lame to hold it from four to six instead of, say, seven to ten? Like it's supposed to be?
Four to six is not classy. Because of the football team. That's all I'm saying.
Go Wildcats.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Stress and Being Sick.
So marching band is over. I now get to come home four days a week and not have to worry about getting my homework done on time or going to bed too late. Hooray!
But, unfortunately, two of my most important grades are slipping: Geometry and AP European History. I am trying my hardest to keep up in these classes, but it has been a busy and stressful past two weeks with the season ending and football going into the playoffs. I failed two tests over the course of one week.
Now that I'm coming home more often, I am going to take the opportunity to focus all of my energy into my studies. I have set expectations for my self for this year and I am determined to fill them.....without worsening my cold.
One thing I've realized as I have started my high school career: being sick stinks and you just can't afford it. So, everyone, try to stay healthy and happy over the next few months so your health doesn't interfere with your own busy schedules!
But, unfortunately, two of my most important grades are slipping: Geometry and AP European History. I am trying my hardest to keep up in these classes, but it has been a busy and stressful past two weeks with the season ending and football going into the playoffs. I failed two tests over the course of one week.
Now that I'm coming home more often, I am going to take the opportunity to focus all of my energy into my studies. I have set expectations for my self for this year and I am determined to fill them.....without worsening my cold.
One thing I've realized as I have started my high school career: being sick stinks and you just can't afford it. So, everyone, try to stay healthy and happy over the next few months so your health doesn't interfere with your own busy schedules!
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