Reefer Madness

Saturday night I saw the play Reefer Madness performed by the Newline Theatre Company at the ArtLoft on Washington Ave. I�ve said before that Newline is my favorite theatre group in town. (Despite the fact that the last play I saw there was NOT good.) I had, actually, auditioned for and not been cast in Reefer Madness. It was disappointing, but I know it takes time to break into a solid group like this.

The show was spectacular. The ensemble was strong, but the best performances came from the lead male, Jimmy, and Ralph, played by my friend Nick. I am not just being biased about Nick, btw. Someone who went back me up here. He was stellar.

The performance was a musical spoof on the 1936 propaganda film that claimed reefer would instantaneously turn you into a bimbo or cannibal etc.

Don’t forget to click to continue…

Shame II (BTW…)

BTW- I did finish listening to Ransom by Julie Garwood. You know, that romance novel I accidentally got from the library. (NO REALLY- it WAS an accident!)

It wasn’t bad at all. I mean, there were still those couple of things about her writing that bothered me, but there was just as much that I liked. And I think it might be different actually reading it instead of listening to it. And while the kisses were steamy and abundant and the relationship between the two characters intense, it wasn’t scandalously dirty or anything. Just two “intimate” scenes in 16 hours of listening. And the story and the setting were really good. So in the end, yes, I think I may just give her a whirl again. If and when I have time. That’s a much bigger issue. So many books, so little time!

Fahrenheit 9/11

I don’t know where to start or end in discussing Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore. I will certainly keep it very general. In order to not give too much away. And to keep away from any political argument.

The best part was undoubtedly when the entire audience erupted in cheers about the “dead guy” beating John Ashcroft in the Missouri senate race. Other random audience cheering after different political statements created additional highlights.

I think certain parts could have been made better. Scenes that were too long or redundant made me wonder if Moore was trying too hard to stretch his idea to a feature-length film. Bringing the film from a heady political level to a personal level was nice, but possibly not done in the best way. Sometimes I wondered if the shorter personal interviews were effectively chosen. I expected even better editing and film tomfoolery with the news clips.

Still, it was a more than worthwhile excursion. I am terribly proud to live in a country that allows that type of film to be made and then wide-released in movie theatres across the country. WOW! Will Bush go down in the polls this week? Will Moore succeed? Well, one could argue that he already has.

He set out to make a fool of George W. Bush. There’s enough of a paper trail to create much more of a case on the Bush/Saudi money connection than Whitewater ever was. There’s enough to show that most everything post 9/11 has been a debacle, especially any inquiry into what went wrong. And there was more than enough make me feel that George W. Bush was, is and always will be, the spoiled brat son of a powerful man who has mucked up most everything in his life.

But I am only commenting on a film I saw this weekend. Obviously, you are all allowed to feel however you want about our president.

Randomness III

• All the rejection lately… getting VERY f**cking old.
• I am not f**cking sweet!
• I am lazy. I would rather read or sleep than clean up my apartment, do dishes or water my plants etc. I will, however, take out the cat litter, but only when absolutely necessary.
• One of my best friends from high school is in town this week doing music for a retreat. I should be able to see him a few times.
• My two oldest nieces are coming to St. Louis for a week the week after next. It’ll be loads of fun, but I have a lot of cleaning to do.
• I am slacking on the arrangement of several trips.
• I have had a very, VERY bad Monday morning.
• Work sucks unbelievably right now. Lied to my boss. Working on impossible project that is keeping me from doing anything else.
• I can cook a good meal when I want to.
• I actually DO try, but still suck at social etiquette.
• There’s no way I am going to get my CD done on time for my Quad City gig.
• I tried on a bunch of clothes this weekend that didn’t fit right anymore.
• My bottom left wisdom tooth is coming in and hurts like hell.
• Apparently, I don’t know how to say no.

Great Albums I

I want to briefly talk about some albums that I just find WONDERFUL. We all know that there are many mediocre albums out there. You know, with a few great songs but not at all solid as one piece. But when you do find those albums that are just spectacular from start to finish… well, it just rocks my world.

I labeled this entry Great Albums I because I was moved to write about one today, but there are many others I love and will want to write about in the future. Bear with me because I am sure this series will be riddled with music most of you are not interested in.

So let’s talk about Ani DiFranco’s album Not A Pretty Girl. I already know that I will be discussing other Ani albums. But this one happens to be in my CD player now and has spent quite a lot of time there in the last 6 months.

SHAME

I’m so ashamed of myself. I didn’t do it on purpose. It was an accident. Honest to God!

So last Friday I left work early in order to get on the road to Chicago sooner. First, I stopped at the library though. I knew I had to listen to my master, but thought I should have a book on CD just in case. I was in a hurry and grabbed something that looked good. It was set in the time if King John in England and Scotland. Considering my passion for this time period in Wales, it wasn’t much of a jump.

I was four CDs into Ransom by Julie Garwood before I started to wonder. “Man are those kissing scenes steamy. OH SHIT! Is this a romance novel?”

I’m not saying anything is wrong with romance novels. I just don’t normally read them. I am an avid reader and don’t want to be put into a romance-reader category just because I am a woman. It’s always weird to see piles of seedy romance novels at garage sales. I like a little romance as much as the next woman, but I stress a little. Admittedly, Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children series has some pretty hot scenes, but generally, I like a nice little love story mixed in with good action or history. Preferably both.

Garwood is a decent writer. Some things I like and some I don’t. Her attention to certain details is refreshing, but then sometimes the scenes move MUCH too slowly. Redundancy abounds. But then, since I looked up the book and read that she was a romance writer on amazon yesterday, I realized this slowness might have a specific purpose. Tension. She’s gonna make you wait for it. As I said, the kissing scenes have been steamy. I am on disc 9 now and no more than that has happened.

But here is where I am so ashamed. I listened to it almost non-stop last night from the time I got off work til the time I went to bed. Discman while watering flowers, repotting some plants for a neighbor, eating dinner, cleaning my apartment, doing dishes etc. Of course it was on and off a decent amount as I talked to my neighbor and answered the phone etc. But PUHLEASE! God HELP ME. I AM ADDICTED TO A ROMANCE NOVEL!

I’ll let you know how the rest of it goes… and if I plan to read any more of her books.