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All safely back in New York!! Woohoo!! I'm sitting here in my apartment, waiting for the mail to come in hopes that it will contain my nook!! It's snowing out - very pretty. I mad the coffee that came in the gift basket from the landlord. It's actually YUM!
I guess now's as good a time as any to look back over the year. I know I listed my top 5s, but I'll do it again. :) Why not. (Hey, at least I'm not doing the year-end meme again!)
Theatre
Total shows seen: 102
Unique shows seen: 41 (Yes, before you ask, Next to Normal/next to normal counts as two because it IS a different show on Broadway than it was at Arena.)
1.next to normal
Really, is anyone surprised by this. THE most moving experience I've ever had in a theater. Over and over every time! (For more sharing, I'm counting them together in this top 5. It allows other shows a chance. :) Hee!)
2. Max Understood
Such a beautiful, honest, heartfelt portrait of one family's struggle with autism. I wish everyone could have seen this!!!
3. God of Carnage
Seeing this play the first time - and then again - just inspired me as a playwright. I can't wait to see it with the new cast!!
4. Hair
I know! Back in May, who'd have thunk this show would end up on my top 5??? But this is proof that you CAN revisit things and have a different experience the second (and third and fourth) time you see it. (For the opposite where there's no change, see my experience at Ragtime.)
5. Dirty Blonde at Signature in Shirlington, VA
I had no idea how this play would play out when I went to see it knowing only the barest of details about it and was utterly charmed by this whole play. Another on my inspiration shelf.
Books
Total books read: 61
Total pages read: 21,101
1. Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles
Just a beautiful telling of one woman's journey to faith and action. LOVE IT AND HER!!!
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Picked this up on the recommendation of a tweet from Jennifer Weiner. LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
3. Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant
Beautiful, haunting, transcendent. Just gorgeous. And not as predictable as I thought it was going to be.
4. At Least In The City Someone Would Hear Me Scream by Wade Rouse
Hysterical! I laughed out loud several times reading this! Which isn't always the best thing to do on the subway. (Though with a book in your hands you're slightly less batshit for doing that as when you're listening to, oh, say Emily and Alice's CDs with the hidden tracks...and the hidden tracks specifically. Then you just have things in your ears and yeah...you look batshit!)
5. Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
Something about this book just touched me. I guess it's how I feel like in a way some of what happens there could actually happen to me.
Movies
Total movies seen: 18
I clearly fail at movies this year. Maybe more in 2010? The top 5 are limited to those I saw in the movie theater.
1. A Single Man
HANDS DOWN THE BEST MOVIE I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE, NOT JUST THIS YEAR!!
2. Julie and Julia
Before seeing A Single Man this was my number one movie. I do still think it's great. But it pales in comparison to the beauty and perfection that is A Single Man.
3. Whip It
I didn't expect to like this movie, and I actually did. Would I like to see Ellen Page act in another style? Sure. Her broodiness or whatever you want to call it gets old really quickly, but the movie was quirky and fun.
4. The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
Another surprise package. While not as spectacular as the first one, it's charming and really well done. How to have a movie as close to the book as possible? Let the author write the screenplay AND direct.
5. The Princess and the Frog
A late addition (and one I suspected). Saw this with the parentals over Christmas and really enjoyed it. One of the stronger Disney movies I've seen lately.
Overall, it's been a good year.
* I took a writing class and loved it! Signed up for part 2 already!
* I changed populations I teach. The jury is still out on this completely - largely because of the principal - but so far it's a good move.
* I've gotten a little more involved in church. Not always sure how good the ushering thing is, especially when I really would rather stay home, but overall it' a good thing.
Nothing too earth shattering happened to me. I guess that's a good thing.
As we know, I don't "do" resolutions. That's asking for failure. Plus, if we want to get technical, EVERY DAY begins a new year. So there.
I think I will just put out there what my friend Tammy said...
Make a pledge to live the year 2010 with more passion, more love, more creativity, more kindness, more generosity, more laughter, more intention, more compassion, more grace, more forgiveness and especially more of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will make that pledge! :)
Be safe everyone!
I guess now's as good a time as any to look back over the year. I know I listed my top 5s, but I'll do it again. :) Why not. (Hey, at least I'm not doing the year-end meme again!)
Theatre
Total shows seen: 102
Unique shows seen: 41 (Yes, before you ask, Next to Normal/next to normal counts as two because it IS a different show on Broadway than it was at Arena.)
1.next to normal
Really, is anyone surprised by this. THE most moving experience I've ever had in a theater. Over and over every time! (For more sharing, I'm counting them together in this top 5. It allows other shows a chance. :) Hee!)
2. Max Understood
Such a beautiful, honest, heartfelt portrait of one family's struggle with autism. I wish everyone could have seen this!!!
3. God of Carnage
Seeing this play the first time - and then again - just inspired me as a playwright. I can't wait to see it with the new cast!!
4. Hair
I know! Back in May, who'd have thunk this show would end up on my top 5??? But this is proof that you CAN revisit things and have a different experience the second (and third and fourth) time you see it. (For the opposite where there's no change, see my experience at Ragtime.)
5. Dirty Blonde at Signature in Shirlington, VA
I had no idea how this play would play out when I went to see it knowing only the barest of details about it and was utterly charmed by this whole play. Another on my inspiration shelf.
Books
Total books read: 61
Total pages read: 21,101
1. Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles
Just a beautiful telling of one woman's journey to faith and action. LOVE IT AND HER!!!
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Picked this up on the recommendation of a tweet from Jennifer Weiner. LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
3. Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant
Beautiful, haunting, transcendent. Just gorgeous. And not as predictable as I thought it was going to be.
4. At Least In The City Someone Would Hear Me Scream by Wade Rouse
Hysterical! I laughed out loud several times reading this! Which isn't always the best thing to do on the subway. (Though with a book in your hands you're slightly less batshit for doing that as when you're listening to, oh, say Emily and Alice's CDs with the hidden tracks...and the hidden tracks specifically. Then you just have things in your ears and yeah...you look batshit!)
5. Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
Something about this book just touched me. I guess it's how I feel like in a way some of what happens there could actually happen to me.
Movies
Total movies seen: 18
I clearly fail at movies this year. Maybe more in 2010? The top 5 are limited to those I saw in the movie theater.
1. A Single Man
HANDS DOWN THE BEST MOVIE I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE, NOT JUST THIS YEAR!!
2. Julie and Julia
Before seeing A Single Man this was my number one movie. I do still think it's great. But it pales in comparison to the beauty and perfection that is A Single Man.
3. Whip It
I didn't expect to like this movie, and I actually did. Would I like to see Ellen Page act in another style? Sure. Her broodiness or whatever you want to call it gets old really quickly, but the movie was quirky and fun.
4. The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
Another surprise package. While not as spectacular as the first one, it's charming and really well done. How to have a movie as close to the book as possible? Let the author write the screenplay AND direct.
5. The Princess and the Frog
A late addition (and one I suspected). Saw this with the parentals over Christmas and really enjoyed it. One of the stronger Disney movies I've seen lately.
Overall, it's been a good year.
* I took a writing class and loved it! Signed up for part 2 already!
* I changed populations I teach. The jury is still out on this completely - largely because of the principal - but so far it's a good move.
* I've gotten a little more involved in church. Not always sure how good the ushering thing is, especially when I really would rather stay home, but overall it' a good thing.
Nothing too earth shattering happened to me. I guess that's a good thing.
As we know, I don't "do" resolutions. That's asking for failure. Plus, if we want to get technical, EVERY DAY begins a new year. So there.
I think I will just put out there what my friend Tammy said...
Make a pledge to live the year 2010 with more passion, more love, more creativity, more kindness, more generosity, more laughter, more intention, more compassion, more grace, more forgiveness and especially more of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will make that pledge! :)
Be safe everyone!
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