The Ides of March Dream

So, I'm talking a literal dream here, so it doesn't make sense. (I fell asleep right after watching the Ides of March with Ryan Gosling and George Clooney.)

I'm sitting in the audience of an outdoor theater. It's a semi-thrust stage surrounded by stadium seating that would be more aptly described as high end diner seating than theater seating. Booths and tables are set at different heights of platforms; there was some neon pink, but mostly classy metals. The play (which was some new alternate ending of the Ides of March that I don't really remember but am relatively certain added some more Shakespearean tone) ends. Right after which, the outdoor theater clears out except for me, a 23 (or so) year old blonde woman, and Ryan Gosling, all sitting at different tables. The blonde quickly starts a conversation with RG and the two start flirting. I notice a jacket and overcoat that were a part of the play on the next stool over (I was sitting at a two person high top table) and give RG his jacket and overcoat saying, "I believe these are yours", which echoes how the other woman started talking to him. And then walk away.

I walk from my seat down the many platforms to the right side of the stage to get out of the theater, which takes me to the opposite side of where the parking is, but this is where the exit is, so I have a little ways to walk outside.  I know the ocean is nearby. To get back to my car, I must go up to the level of the parking lot. I see a set of stairs that I think will make the journey shorter, but which are folded up. They are white stairs with blue railings (they seem to be attached to a Culver's.) I start up the stairs and they expand, taking me closer to my car as I walk up. I get up about four flights, and then the expansion accelerates and suddenly they are going so fast that I have no choice but to just hold on wait until I get to my car. But they keep expanding to a size much bigger than they initially seemed and then I'm over the ocean and a giant wave comes and drenches me. Luckily, I'm up high enough that only the top of the wave hits me. I can see the next wave coming and wonder how far up and back toward land I can get before the next wave, when my alarm goes off.

I rarely remember dreams, but this one was really vivid. Ah, crazy dreams are fun.

As for the actual movie...I enjoyed watching it for the behind the scene atmosphere, but it left a bad aftertaste. Well acted and pretty well put together.

Fault x 2

Well, I inadvertently fell off the blogging (train, bandwagon, rail?) for awhile there. No one's fault but my own (I don't even have a good excuse.) Best just to dive back in, right? Just finished The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Great book. I have read a few other John Green books after the recommendation of a friend, who also suggested I check out his and his brother's vlog...and I finally did and wished I had earlier. Funny stuff. Back to the book...their are many things to take away in this book, but the thing that stands out most clearly for me is the treatment of the parents. So many children's and YA books find a way to kill off, vilify, or ignore the parents, and this one doesn't. And I found that refreshing. Biggest thought provoker: (spoiler here) this book is about childhood cancer, so a lot of the book discusses the meaning of life and facing death. And I found this discussion enlightening and disheartening. I have a very firm Christian belief about life after death, and I found it fascinating to be in the mind of people who don't who are having such honest discussions about it. But sad, too.

Side note: I'm obsessed with names and how people and things are named. And I watched one the vlogs where John Green answered questions about this book...and discussed the main character's name. The answer made my heart really happy. Well chosen, sir, well chosen.

30

It is the tail end of my 30th birthday. I freaked out about almost turning 30 last year, but over the past 365 days I've become okay with it. Today I enter a new decade. I just pray it is as blessed as the last 3. So far, so good...

Catching Up: Movies

Last 7 movies:
No Strings Attached
Salt
New York, I Love You
Love and Other Drugs
True Grit
Bright Star
A Star Is Born

Looking back on these movies, the main thing I wonder about is why the recent with sex-first relationships in movies? Seriously, it's disgusting. Second thing is I watched a little bit of the extras on Salt and the people interviewed kept talking about making Salt a vicious fighter and making her as tough as any man. But I kept wondering while watching the movie if any of it was at all realistic. I'm not a fighter, but I have hard time believing someone of Angelina Jolie's size and strength could beat up three (or more) people who are at least decently trained--no matter how awesome she is. But maybe I'm just ignorant.

word association:
No Strings Attached--seriously?
Salt--sequel-ready
New York, I Love You--next?
Love and Other Drugs--support
True Grit--revenge
Bright Star--nap
A Star Is Born--drugs

Books

The last 5 books I've read:
Bite Club by Rachel Caine
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
The Shack by William P. Young
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
What Can't Wait by Ashley Hope Perez

It was book club night--always a good time. The Shack was the book for this month. We even managed to discuss it for awhile. I was surprised by this book. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. And it was a great conversation starter.

Celebrating Independence

Today I'm celebrating Independence Day by doing exactly what I want to do. Which today boils down to very little. I'm enjoying the freedom to watch a little TV, cook some lunch, wash clothes, organize some of my living space, and write to you. Without anyone limiting me. It is fabulous.

The United States isn't perfect. But it is a great place to live. Today I'm going to forget about state shutdowns and sports team lockouts and the stagnant economy. And I'm going to be thankful for the many people that have made and do make my country great.

Thank you to the men and women who dreamed up our country and fought to make it happen. And thanks for all the women and men who fight to keep it free, and work to make it prosperous.

Happy Fourth of July!

Cinderella

I was in a fairy tale mood this week, so I reread a book from a kid lit class I took in college: Ella Enchanted. Very satisfying retelling of the Cinderella tale. Smart girl; realistic growing of a relationship, and some fairy godmothers who aren't perfect.

And now I'm watching the classic: Walt Disney's Cinderella. It's funny the things you notice when you rewatch a movie from your childhood. Here's the line in Cinderella that stood out to me: "Leave the sewing to the women." I'm pretty sure the outcry at such a line would stop it from being included now, no matter how well it fits the song. Of course, the entire outline of this movie follows along those same lines. But you know what? I still like it. Whether it is the nostalgia or the happily ever after, I'm a fan.