2013 Favorites

My Three Favorite Books of 2013

3. Someday, Someday Maybe, Lauren Graham

A sweet, simple charmer, Someday tells the story of Franny Banks, an aspiring twenty-something actress in mid-1990's New York. She was such a fun protagonist to spend time with, and I enjoyed all of the details of her less-than-perfect life. However, I think my overall experience of reading this book was elevated by the fact that I listened to it read by its author, Lauren Graham. Her performance here added such a sweetness and an extra layer of humor to Franny's story that I don't think I would have experienced without her.

"I must work harder to achieve my goal of not seeking approval from those whose approval I’m not even sure is important to me."

2. And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie

There is a reason that Agatha Christie is the queen of the mystery genre. Even though I've seen both a play as well as a movie adaptation of this story prior to reading And Then There Were None, I was still enthralled the entire time. Sometimes you just can't beat a classic whodunnit, and this one will keep you guessing. Each murder revolves around a line of a terrifying nursery rhyme, such as, "Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six." Clever, creepy, and a quick read. Put this one on your list!

"From now on, it is our task to suspect each and every one amongst us."

1. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy Kaling 

It's no wonder that everyone who reads this book comes away wanting to be Mindy Kaling's best friend. She is absolutely hilarious, an extremely intelligent writer, and nearly everything she says causes you to exclaim "ME TOO!" All I wanted to do was read excerpts of this book aloud to everyone I know and say "I thought I was the only one who did that!" Really I just need to own a copy so I can highlight my favorite parts (so basically the whole book) and sleep with it under my pillow, because it is just that wonderful.

"You should know I disagree with a lot of traditional advice. For instance, they say the best revenge is living well. I say it’s acid in the face—who will love them now?"

Two other books I read this year deserve special mention, if for nothing else than their density and the sheer amount of information I learned. The first was Dave Cullen's Columbine, which was an intensely in-depth look at the 1999 tragedy, focusing mostly on the shooters and the subsequent investigation. The second was Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler, one of the lengthiest, most detailed biographies I have ever attempted. I feel like I know a ton about him now, but overall it was probably a little too exhaustive.

My Three Favorite Movies of 2013

3. Catching Fire
I really surprised myself by giving this film one of my top spots. But it was so well-made, and stands as the most faithful book to movie adaptation that I've ever seen. Jennifer Lawrence is just fantastic to watch, and her work, along with a smart script, exciting new characters, and solid direction demanded a repeat viewing from me.

2. Frozen
What a fantastic movie. I don't remember being this taken with an animated film since 2009's "Up." The music is fantastic, the voice cast is brilliant, and it really is laugh-out-loud funny (not to sound like a cheap critic trying to get their name on the movie poster). But perhaps my favorite thing about "Frozen" is that it's a story that centers on two sisters and their relationship and abilities, not on trying to land a dude. Yes, there is a love story aspect, but it's incidental, and not the main storyline.

Also I saw it four times in theaters.



1. The Way, Way Back 
I absolutely LOVED this movie. My very favorite movie of the year, and quite possibly one of my all-time favorites ever. So sweet, funny, and well-written, with so many wonderful performances. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. Between "The Descendents" and now "The Way, Way Back," I can't wait to see what screenwriters Nat Faxon and Jim Rash pen next. You must watch this. If nothing else, see it for Sam Rockwell. He is The Best.

My Three Favorite Events of 2013

3. Ramin Karimloo has played many big roles in musical theater, including the Phantom in the 25th anniversary production of The Phantom of the Opera (which you can watch on Netflix!). I first learned about Ramin when he played Enjolras in the 25th anniversary performance of Les Miserables. He was the best part of that particular production—and that's saying something. He is also the nicest guy you've ever met.

I got the opportunity to see him in concert TWICE last spring, and besides being endlessly entertaining on stage, he is also incredibly kind, funny, and gracious. He signed my copy of the Les Mis DVD, posed for pictures, and even showed us how he put on his guyliner for the role of Enjolras (hilarious). Not to mention, of course, surprised my roommate at her school and sang Music of the Night for all her students! He has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard, and his concert is the BEST I've ever attended. No contest. The entire experience of meeting him and hearing him sing live—I just can't even fully express how wonderful that was.

2. Maddie's Adoption
John and Lori had been waiting for OVER A YEAR to adopt their daughter, and finally this September she officially became Madison Elise Redfearn! I love Maddie dearly, and am so beyond blessed to have her in my life. The Redfearns not only live down the street from us, but Maddie is my roommate's niece! So I get to see her quite a bit, and was privileged to go to the courthouse that day to witness Maddie getting her forever family. I am so thankful for this sweet, giggly girl who loves to dance and watch "Winnie the Pooh" and calls me "BAL." She's pretty awesome.

1. Norah Ann Ciminello
I almost can't put into words how special and amazing it is to be aunt to this squishy little bundle of cute. Norah came into the world on my brother's birthday, July 13th! (We are a family who loves to share birthdays—my dad and I have the same one too.) She instantly became everyone's favorite, and hardly a day goes by when I don't get a picture or video of her from my sister, who is thoughtful enough to keep everyone updated, since Norah is all the way in Arizona! I'm grateful for the time I've already gotten to spend with her, and can't wait to hug and squeeze her more in 2014!Love this kid. 

My #1 Girl

Spilled Songs

I can't stop listening to the Sufjan Stevens version of "Come Thou Fount" from the "Friday Night Lights" soundtrack. I love those sweet lyrics backed by such delicate and plucky music. And there are worse words than "Bind my wandering heart to Thee" to have stuck in your head.

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It bothers me that I have to type "yay" instead of the original "yea" because otherwise most people would read it as "yeah." Then I think to myself that I should probably be refraining from typing the word yay/yea at all. THEN I think that I should SHUT UP and stop being so persnickety and annoying about the word yay. Yea.

Crap.

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The iPod always warns you not to disconnect it from the computer while it's transferring data. I like to imagine that if you were to unplug the chord, all of your songs would spill out onto the floor. Just slide right on out of the iPod and before you know it there are sprinkles of Coldplay and Taylor Swift and Beethoven all over the place. Shouldn't have disconnected it- you were warned.

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Me: The Les Mis 25th Anniversary concert is four hours long! That's going to take up some crazy space on my DVR.
Friend: I thought you already saw that?
Me: [blank stare]
Me: Yeah, I'm so the type of person to only watch things once.

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Today I decided to write on my mom's Facebook wall and remind her of a family trip to Mexico. (Incidentally, my brother hadn't been able to come along on that particular vacation.)






Poor Clay....

Stray Thoughts

Person with a motorcycle in my apartment complex who constantly fakes me out and makes me think there’s an open spot by the front! Stop that! Or I am really going to… shake my fist at you!!!
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2011 is shaping up to be the year of the musical- it’s still December and I already have tickets to see TWO shows, and the possibility of a third on the horizon! First up is the touring company of West Side Story in Houston with my parents in January. When Dad called to see if I’d want to go with them, I paused and said, “Is this a trick question??” I’ve been listening to this version of “America” on repeat ever since. It’s going to be good.

Second will be Legally Blonde, which is coming to TYLER in April! Tickets to that one come courtesy of my fantastic sister and dashing brother-in-law, who know me OH SO WELL. I can hardly wait. Finally, my friends have been talking for ages about getting out to Dallas for their summer musical series, so I have a feeling this will be the year we will actually DO IT. Bring it on, Broadway.
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If there wasn’t enough evidence that Ginger and I are both turning into our Dad, lately I have been listening to more and more classical and pops music on my satellite radio. A lot of other music that’s currently playing ad nauseum on the radio just drives me crazy! Classical just tends to consistantly be a better option.
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This week in movie club we watched “Treasure Planet,” an animated film that has grown on me more and more since watching it when it first came out. Amazing score, incredible visuals, and an outstanding voice cast- what more could you want?? Read more of my thoughts here.
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Don’t forget to check out Ginger’s friend Carey’s blog. I subscribe through Google Reader and am always blown away by her creative craftiness. I am way too intimidated to try out most of this stuff (my Mom is the first to admit she didn’t have a crafty gene to pass on to us!), but I know several of you reading would get a kick out of her fun ideas like Christmas crayons and ornament wreaths. Click here to check out her holiday giveaway!
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And finally, apropos of nothing but Christmas, enjoy a little winter fairytale that my siblings and I have enjoyed every year in December for as long as I can remember!

You're a Mean One

I absolutely love Christmas music. It takes everything in me to wait until after Thanksgiving so I can start playing my hundreds of collected Christmas songs. But certain ones that cross my path on the radio or in department stores have no right to call themselves Christmas music- they are just that terrible.

These songs are somehow all the worse because they portend to be full of Christmas cheer, when in reality they really just make you want to stuff gingerbread in your ears so you never have to hear those songs (or really any sound at all) ever again. Quite the opposite of the Christmas spirit.

These songs are different for everyone. For me, the non-negotiable songs that I will not subject myself to at any time are as follows.

The Christmas Shoes: Just when you think this song can’t get any more sappy and insufferable, the children’s choir starts in. Shudder.

Wonderful Christmastime: The chorus tends to endlessly reverberate in my ear drums after I've heard this song… “Simply having a wonderful Christmastime! Simply having a wonderful Christmastime!” GAH!

Little Drummer Boy: Whenever I hear some pop star singing “pa rum pa pum pum” in a faux-sincere voice, my hand can’t hit the “off” button fast enough.

My Grown-Up Christmas List: "What is this illusion called the innocence of youth / Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth" Can’t… stop… gagging….

Where are You, Christmas?: You want to know where Christmas is? It's hiding from this terrible song.


Call me Grinch if you want to, but you know there's at least a few Christmas songs you absolutely can't stand. Let me know in the comments!

Don't fail me now...

I am running out of time and I need some serious music help. You were so wonderful to provide me with music for my 10K race that I determined to make another plea.

Needed: suggestions for a contemporary processional song for the wedding party. This will be played by a string quartet. The prelude will be classical, seating of the g'parents and mom "Time to Say Good-Bye" and then... (insert your amazing suggestion here). Right now it's a toss up... U2, Coldplay, Eric Clapton, West Side Story... we'd prefer this not be a toss up. (The bridal processional has already been selected.)

Help.

Also needed: a song for the bouquet toss that is not sung by Beyonce.

Thanks much.

Muchas Gracias! (85 days) *photo by carriefayphotography.com

What I'm [Double Stealing]

Dani stole this idea from Annie Blogs. Now I've stolen from the thief.

What I’m [reading] = At the moment I’m listening to Mary Higgins Clark’s “Where Are You Now?” I’ve never read anything by her, and it’s been an interesting experience thusfar.

What I’m [also reading] = Entertainment Weekly, per usual. One of the many reasons I look forward to Fridays!

What I’m [eating] = Eggs and toast. I keep having a craving for breakfast foods, and continue to fry up or omlette up some eggs and a piece of toast for dinners or weekend lunches.

What I’m [hearing] = The original Broadway cast recording of “Ragtime.” Heartwrenching, gorgeous, rich, full… I could go on and on. If you ask nicely, I’ll totally make you a copy.

What I’m [writing] = Uhh…this blog?

What I’m [missing] = My brother. Clay is in Houston for the summer and I am seriously missing having him around in Tyler. Without him I have no one to watch mindless videos with (“What is wrong with your FACE?!”), go eat dinner at the drop of a hat, or see the countless movies that no one else I know will see with me. He and I can also watch through seasons of television like champs- I never had more fun watching “Heroes” or “Freaks and Geeks.”

What I’m [loving] = Laughing so hard that I can neither see nor breathe at dinner with Stephen and Kyle, due to our endless quotations of “Arrested Development.” (Her?)

What I’m [googling] = More info about this guy’s incredible story. He worked with Invisible Children and was killed in the terrorist attacks in Uganda earlier this month.

What I’m [watching] = “Inception.” Okay, maybe not right now, but I saw it over the weekend and loved it and can’t stop thinking about it. Best movie I’ve seen this year, hands down. If you also dug it and are looking for more solid movies, I have two recommendations. “Brick,” which also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is a fascinating take on a film noir set in a present day high school. “The Prestige,” also by Christopher Nolan, if you somehow missed it when it first came out, is an astounding movie full of twists and mind tricks galore. I can’t recommend any of those three movies enough.

What I’m [surprised about] = How much I truly enjoy this song from Crazy/Heart. I'm not usually into country music (unless it's something by someone like Hank Williams that I've heard my dad play a hundred times), but "Fallin' & Flyin'" is just a great song! There’s something about the chorus that makes my heart swoop around a bit.

What I’m [wondering] = Why there was a lady yelling, “Help! My baby’s stuck in the pool!!!” outside my apartment the other morning, making me think I was hearing her in my dreams. Somehow she had ended up on one side of the gate to the pool, her toddler on the other side. Luckily someone came by and unlocked it for her so crisis averted, but still…. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN??

Straight up now tell me.

I found a gold mine tonight.  My tape library. I received my first cd player in 1995, so almost everything listed is probably from about '90 to '95.  Let's see what gems this treasure trove holds.

Eagles: One of these Nights (What every 4th grader wants for Christmas.)

Maverick: The Soundtrack (I purchased this with my own money in 6th grade.  Point of pride.)

Evita: The Soundtrack (The Madonna Edition.  No excuses.)

Big Time Recording Studios: Memory (A recording from Six Flags of me singing the hit from Cats.  It's as bad as you might guess.)

The next genre of tapes is my collection of "Studio Series Background Tracks". (For singing the offertory, of course.)

Go Light Your World by Kathy Troccoli (Way too low for my range, or the range of most women.)

Jesus Is The Answer by Point of Grace

Lamb of God by Twila Paris

How Beautiful by Twila Paris (Twila, Twila, Twila.)

Joy To The World by Anointed (Because I of ALL people should be singing stuff by Anointed)

And the tapes to which I could probably still sing every lyric if required:

Point of Grace: The Whole Truth

Susan Ashton, Margaret Becker, Christine Dente: Along the Road

Songs from the Loft (With just about every Christian Artist living in Nashville in 1993.)

Susan Ashton: Self Titled Release (Wanted to be her.  First and only fan letter ever written because of this tape.)

Michael W. Smith: The First Decade (Go West Young Man, Place in this World, Friends...)

Amy Grant: The Collection (First tape I ever owned that was not a blue singing songbook)

Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl (Second tape ever.  Straight Up was my favorite track)

Not sure if there's even a fraction of the population that would be able to identify with this "eclectic" mix of private school early 90's jams.  If that's the case, you are more than likely my sister (only instead of the Eagles you received Neil Diamond) or my cousin who lived by anything produced by Word Music (Michael W. Smith poster and all.)

Oh, one last thing.  Who jacked my Cindy Morgan tape?

Carryin' the Banner Tumpin' Tall!

I first saw “Newsies” when it came out in theaters in 1992. My best friend Meredith's mom took us to see it. The theater was completely packed, and we had to sit on the very edge of a row right by the wall. I’ve always remembered this detail, because for years whenever I mentioned “Newsies” as a favorite movie I got nothing but blank stares and furrowed brows. Weren’t the theaters packed when it came out? Where were all the people who had watched the movie with us that day? It wasn't until I got to college that people seemed to know the movie again, and to this day I find that nearly everyone has at least heard of it, if not seen it. So don't ask me what happened in that time period—I'm just happy that we as a society are moving toward more “Newsies” awareness every day.

Meredith and I loved that movie. We would always pick out our favorite newsie (she liked to pick Spot or Kid Blink, while I've always been a Jack girl). She gave me the cassette tape for my birthday and it was nearly destroyed when we played it over and over and over again. We would dance around the house for hours singing the songs and pretending that we could dance like the newsies. I can remember jumping around to “High Times, Hard Times,” and pretending to spin on a fan during “King of New York.”

We sang those songs a lot, even though I had no idea what the boys were really saying. I still remember the lyrics as I thought they were, so here now is a bit of my interpretation of a couple of the lyrics from "Carryin' the Banner":

Try Bridal Alley... (Try Border Alley)
Full of buck-an-eye! (For a buck I might)
Carryin' the banner tumpin' tall! (Carryin' the banner tough and tall)
Showbiz washin' dishes! (Sure beats washin' dishes)
It takes an orphan with a stunner! (It takes an orphan with a stutter)
I know Snowza! (I’m no snoozer)
Since you left me high and undone! (Since you left me I am undone)
We need a gooder sassination! (We need a good assassination)

I think that this early love of “Newsies” was just an early love of musicals for me. I love Broadway musicals, movie musicals, and even “High School Musicals.” “Newsies” was an introduction to the joy, spirit, and passion that musicals could bring. I still get lyrics from “Santa Fe” stuck in my head, and I still get excited when “The World Will Know” comes up on my iPod. Yes, it’s a kid’s movie, and Disney at that. But it means so much more to me. It's memories of dancing to those songs as a kid with my best friend (and, yes, doing the spit shake with her too). It's the freedom to roll down my car windows and sing "Once and For All" at the top of my lungs. It's the ability to have an instant bond with someone once I find out they're a fan too. It's the gateway to a world where people stop their lives and burst out into song because everything they are feeling is just too big for mere words; they need lyrics and orchestration and choreography and exclamation points!

“Newsies” has been on my mind especially this week because of Halloween. Some of the girls in my office decided to dress up as different decades. I couldn’t decide which decade was right for me. But then... inspiration! I decided to dress up as... the 1900’s. And I would be a newsie. Luckily I got some enthusiastic responses when I shared my idea, so I decided to go for it. One black newsie hat and a pair of pink suspenders later, I was set. Finally, my heart’s desire:

                                               Ain't it a fine life?

Ear Candy

I've spent the summer doing a lot of detective work on myspace. Previously all of my musical tastes were decided for me by very passionate friends who generously gave or made me Cd's of all kinds. This summer I got to be the one doing the sending and suggesting.


So here's my list after searching. My tastes would fall under a large and broad title of indie/acoustic/rock/pop/christian/folk/and jazz. Please enjoy the treats.


Colin Bates - www.myspace.com/colinbates
Friend and talented songwriter. His lyrics blow me away.


Ben Cooper - www.myspace.com/cooper
So far I love everything they've posted. Doesn't hurt that the drummer is a friend.

Patty Griffin - www.myspace.com/pattygriffin
She's the closest I come to country. She was just on a Prairie Home Companion tonight.


The Gabe Dixon Band - www.myspace.com/gabedixonband
I think I played "All Will Be Well" 100 times the first time I found their page.

Fernando Amaro - www.myspace.com/fernandoamaromusic

He wrote all of these songs for his new son and they are wonderful. (He also happens to lead worship for our children's services.)

The Ditty Bops - www.myspace.com/dittybops

I don't even know how to describe their music, but it makes me very happy.

I think all of my other favorites this summer have gotten radio play and lots of attention...but I will go ahead and throw out Jon McLaughlin, Brandi Carlile, Joshua Radin, The Weepies, and Jackson Waters just in case you missed the boat on any of them.

Hope you enjoy, and if you come across anything spectacular on your own musical explorations be sure to share the wealth.