The past few years I've started a tradition of going to the Boston Opera House to see Mikko Nissinen's version of The Nutcracker. My family never went when I was a kid so when I first moved to Boston I thought it would be cool to make it my thing. (Just read last year's post.)
Anyway, this year was the first year Boston Ballet used new sets, costumes and props. At first, I was hesitant. The intro was different, the living room scene felt a little off, and for much of the first act I felt gypped. What got everything back on course was when midnight hit and everything turned crazy. The Nutcracker is a man! The Rat King is a great swordsman! From that point on I was in like Flint.
Overall, I give it 2 thumbs up. Most of my early issues revolved around the new sets and trying to find everything in its new place. (The tree is in the center of the stage now instead of the left. The grandfather clock is in the front left instead of the back right.) Once you acclimate yourself though you will be happy as a clam. And for anyone who hasn't seen Boston Ballet's performance before this will be a complete non-issue. It is running through December 30 so make sure to check it out while you still have a chance!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Book Review: I Suck at Girls
by: Justin Halpern
Two things before I jump into this post. First, you may have noticed that I deleted the tab up top for "Recent Books." If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you will see why... Shelfari! Everyone likes visuals and I prefer this approach to showing off my reading collection. The second thing is, I still have love for Goodreads. I use that site to track what books I want to read, what I'm reading currently and to rate the books I've completed. That won't change but they didn't have a blog widget like Shelfari. Now, to the book!
I did not like Halpern's first effort, Shit My Dad Says. Why would I go back for more? Three reasons: 1) It was only 170 pages. 2) I read a preview chapter online that was funny. 3) I also suck at girls. And my leap of faith was greatly rewarded.
I loved this book. It was extremely funny, Halpern kept the story moving and he stayed out of his own way (which he wasn't able to do in his first book). His dad was in there -- of course -- but much more naturally and his comments actually fit and flowed. If you're a guy you have to read this. If you're a girl, well, I have no idea what you like. Halpern never quite figures that out either.
Two things before I jump into this post. First, you may have noticed that I deleted the tab up top for "Recent Books." If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you will see why... Shelfari! Everyone likes visuals and I prefer this approach to showing off my reading collection. The second thing is, I still have love for Goodreads. I use that site to track what books I want to read, what I'm reading currently and to rate the books I've completed. That won't change but they didn't have a blog widget like Shelfari. Now, to the book!
I did not like Halpern's first effort, Shit My Dad Says. Why would I go back for more? Three reasons: 1) It was only 170 pages. 2) I read a preview chapter online that was funny. 3) I also suck at girls. And my leap of faith was greatly rewarded.
I loved this book. It was extremely funny, Halpern kept the story moving and he stayed out of his own way (which he wasn't able to do in his first book). His dad was in there -- of course -- but much more naturally and his comments actually fit and flowed. If you're a guy you have to read this. If you're a girl, well, I have no idea what you like. Halpern never quite figures that out either.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Book Review: I Am a Pole (And So Can You!)
by: Stephen Colbert
I was at the library perusing the new book section (which I just found 18 months after I started going here. Really, no signage?) and came across this book:
I haven't read Colbert's first book but I think he's hilarious. Plus, this made me think it would be like a Go The Fuck To Sleep type of "adult" children's book. See, it's 32 pages long and the size of a Where's Waldo? book.
It's probably not giving too much away to say that this pole is trying to figure out what type of pole it is -- a ski pole? A barber's pole? A stripper pole? Yeah, so it's not exactly for kids and the illustration for that one I'll leave up to your imagination. But it's funny so spend the two and a half minutes it takes to read.
I was at the library perusing the new book section (which I just found 18 months after I started going here. Really, no signage?) and came across this book:
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I haven't read Colbert's first book but I think he's hilarious. Plus, this made me think it would be like a Go The Fuck To Sleep type of "adult" children's book. See, it's 32 pages long and the size of a Where's Waldo? book.
It's probably not giving too much away to say that this pole is trying to figure out what type of pole it is -- a ski pole? A barber's pole? A stripper pole? Yeah, so it's not exactly for kids and the illustration for that one I'll leave up to your imagination. But it's funny so spend the two and a half minutes it takes to read.
Book Review: Gone Girl
by: Gillian Flynn
Brig recommended this book to me and if it was already old news back when she read it, then 3 more months probably isn't a big deal.
Gone Girl is about a husband whose wife goes missing on their fifth anniversary. The chapters switch between the husband narrating what's happening in the present and the wife's diary entries. We learn quite a bit about their relationship and how their lives led up to that fateful day.
There are quite a few twists I didn't see coming and the story always kept me enrapt. It was a book I put down (multiple times) but that's only because in real life sometimes you have other things to do. I'm not one to indulge in large swaths of reading at once but here it was easy to knock out 70-100 pages in a sitting.
And the true sign of a good recommendation, I think I will be checking out Flynn's other books now with equally high hopes.
Brig recommended this book to me and if it was already old news back when she read it, then 3 more months probably isn't a big deal.
Gone Girl is about a husband whose wife goes missing on their fifth anniversary. The chapters switch between the husband narrating what's happening in the present and the wife's diary entries. We learn quite a bit about their relationship and how their lives led up to that fateful day.
There are quite a few twists I didn't see coming and the story always kept me enrapt. It was a book I put down (multiple times) but that's only because in real life sometimes you have other things to do. I'm not one to indulge in large swaths of reading at once but here it was easy to knock out 70-100 pages in a sitting.
And the true sign of a good recommendation, I think I will be checking out Flynn's other books now with equally high hopes.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Just keep swimming
Finding Nemo was released in 2003. Little Miss Sunshine came out in 2006. Both of these movies finally became mine in 2012. Why is this a big deal? Because I have had both of these DVDs on my birthday list and Christmas list since they became available.
I'll give each movie an extra year -- assuming that they didn't come out on home video until after Christmas of their release year. That means Little Miss Sunshine was on my lists 12 times and Finding Nemo 18 times before someone actually stepped up and got them for me.
It's not like these aren't well-known films. Finding Nemo may have been in and out of the Disney vault but Little Miss Sunshine was out there. I know because I got it for my sister one Christmas. But no retribution.
Luckily, I have a wonderful gal who cares about these things. She asked for Christmas gift ideas and I sent her my list. She posited, correctly, that I also sent this list to my family and that there was a chance someone would duplicate efforts. I pointed out these 2 movies and told her this tale... likely guaranteeing that someone else will also finally give in to my years of wanting. Oh well. Rejoice!
I'll give each movie an extra year -- assuming that they didn't come out on home video until after Christmas of their release year. That means Little Miss Sunshine was on my lists 12 times and Finding Nemo 18 times before someone actually stepped up and got them for me.
It's not like these aren't well-known films. Finding Nemo may have been in and out of the Disney vault but Little Miss Sunshine was out there. I know because I got it for my sister one Christmas. But no retribution.
Luckily, I have a wonderful gal who cares about these things. She asked for Christmas gift ideas and I sent her my list. She posited, correctly, that I also sent this list to my family and that there was a chance someone would duplicate efforts. I pointed out these 2 movies and told her this tale... likely guaranteeing that someone else will also finally give in to my years of wanting. Oh well. Rejoice!
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