Today I experienced music in a whole new way. I am taking a music appreciation class and my instructor recommended watching the movie "Immortal Beloved." Never in my life, have I felt music the way I did when I watched this movie. The passion of Beethoven, the tragedy of his life, his genius, and his romantic idealism ripped my soul in two. I cried listening to his symphony #9, finally understanding the man in the music. I highly recommend seeing this movie, the trailer doesn't do it justice. It is beautiful. Period.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Live List
“To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice”
Kahlil Gibran
Alright...so here we go. I've tried this already once, last summer, when I was nine months pregnant and it didn't go so well; now that I'm not, I think I have a better chance at success.
1. Go to the zoo. I love the zoo and I think Joe and I will go tomorrow (we already talked about it).
2. Take dear Cosmo to the dog park at least three times a week. The exercise saves my life!
3. See an opera or a symphony, LIVE.
4. Show Ella the ocean.
5. Go to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
6. Visit the Halle Ford Art Museum.
7. See "Alice in Wonderland," at the IMAX theater.
8. Finally go to Joe's favorite German restaurant.
9. Play a Beethoven piece on the piano.
10. Hike Multnomah falls on a sunny day.
11. Run barefoot in the sand.
12. Have a picnic in the park, wearing a dress, with Joe in a suit and top hat-straight out of the early 1900's.
13. Read the Anne of Green Gables novels: the movies have been my favorite since I was a kid.
14. Go to a local poetry reading.
15. Find and join a book club.
16. Fall asleep in the sun (if Ella permits).
17. Take Ella on her first ride down a slide.
18. Walk around downtown in the early morning with the family and eat breakfast at a sidewalk cafe.
19. Take Ella to a field of flowers and take pictures of her with fairy wings.
20. Spend a day in bed with Joe (hah!)
21. Listen to live music in the park.
22. Go to a carnival and ride the rides.
23. Visit a petting zoo so Ella can ride the ponies.
24. Introduce Ella to as many animals as possible.
25. Read poetry every night.
26. Wake up early every morning so I can enjoy coffee and a cigarette with the bright morning sun.
27. Lay in the grass and stare up at the clouds.
28. Hug, kiss, and say I love you to Ella, Joe, and Cosmo every chance I get.
29. Take lots of walks with Ella and point out all the interesting sights.
30. Turn off the tv.
31. Take Ella to her first movie.
32. Pick wildflowers and make my own perfume.
33. Cook or experience a different authentic, ethnic meal every week.
34. Take Ella to a music store so she can hear lots of different instruments.
35. Fill the house with candle light and spend a whole night pretending we don't have power.
36. Start my fairy wand project.
37. Drive up into the mountains and show Ella the snow.
38. Laugh
39. Be ridiculously philosophical.
40. Cry at sappy, romantic movies.
41. Learn about my daughter.
42. Take Ella to a baby music class.
43. Spend a day with my mom, doing all the things she loves to do.
44. Spend a day with Joe, doing all the things he loves to do.
45. Let Cosmo take me on an adventure.
46. Give a card to my dad expressing how much he means to me.
47. Jam with Matt.
48. Sing silly songs.
49. Spend a whole hour talking only in rhymes.
50. Get my hands in the mud.
This is, of course, a live list for now until the end of summer. There are so many other things I'd love to do but it is important to be spontaneous, so I'll let them come naturally.
But most importantly: be with the ones I love.
Kahlil Gibran Alright...so here we go. I've tried this already once, last summer, when I was nine months pregnant and it didn't go so well; now that I'm not, I think I have a better chance at success.
1. Go to the zoo. I love the zoo and I think Joe and I will go tomorrow (we already talked about it).
2. Take dear Cosmo to the dog park at least three times a week. The exercise saves my life!
3. See an opera or a symphony, LIVE.
4. Show Ella the ocean.
5. Go to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
6. Visit the Halle Ford Art Museum.
7. See "Alice in Wonderland," at the IMAX theater.
8. Finally go to Joe's favorite German restaurant.
9. Play a Beethoven piece on the piano.
10. Hike Multnomah falls on a sunny day.
11. Run barefoot in the sand.
12. Have a picnic in the park, wearing a dress, with Joe in a suit and top hat-straight out of the early 1900's.
13. Read the Anne of Green Gables novels: the movies have been my favorite since I was a kid.
14. Go to a local poetry reading.
15. Find and join a book club.
16. Fall asleep in the sun (if Ella permits).
17. Take Ella on her first ride down a slide.
18. Walk around downtown in the early morning with the family and eat breakfast at a sidewalk cafe.
19. Take Ella to a field of flowers and take pictures of her with fairy wings.
20. Spend a day in bed with Joe (hah!)
21. Listen to live music in the park.
22. Go to a carnival and ride the rides.
23. Visit a petting zoo so Ella can ride the ponies.
24. Introduce Ella to as many animals as possible.
25. Read poetry every night.
26. Wake up early every morning so I can enjoy coffee and a cigarette with the bright morning sun.
27. Lay in the grass and stare up at the clouds.
28. Hug, kiss, and say I love you to Ella, Joe, and Cosmo every chance I get.
29. Take lots of walks with Ella and point out all the interesting sights.
30. Turn off the tv.
31. Take Ella to her first movie.
32. Pick wildflowers and make my own perfume.
33. Cook or experience a different authentic, ethnic meal every week.
34. Take Ella to a music store so she can hear lots of different instruments.
35. Fill the house with candle light and spend a whole night pretending we don't have power.
36. Start my fairy wand project.
37. Drive up into the mountains and show Ella the snow.
38. Laugh
39. Be ridiculously philosophical.
40. Cry at sappy, romantic movies.
41. Learn about my daughter.
42. Take Ella to a baby music class.
43. Spend a day with my mom, doing all the things she loves to do.
44. Spend a day with Joe, doing all the things he loves to do.
45. Let Cosmo take me on an adventure.
46. Give a card to my dad expressing how much he means to me.
47. Jam with Matt.
48. Sing silly songs.
49. Spend a whole hour talking only in rhymes.
50. Get my hands in the mud.
This is, of course, a live list for now until the end of summer. There are so many other things I'd love to do but it is important to be spontaneous, so I'll let them come naturally.
But most importantly: be with the ones I love.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Cause for alarm
A couple of days ago I was watching the Tyra Show, when I witnessed the most heart-breaking little girls in the world. The show was about young girls, aged nine to eleven, who hated what they saw in the mirror. One girl even said that she was as ugly as a monster. I could have cried (if I was pregnant, I would have). I couldn't help thinking about myself when I was young: was I under the same pressure to be beautiful as these girls? I had insecurities, as we all do, but I never looked in the mirror and hated what I saw. I didn't even think about how much I weighed until I gained a bunch of weight my freshmen year of high school. It makes me sick to think that instead of playing barbies, these girls are wishing for plastic surgery to fix their beautiful, amazing, unique selves. I hate what our society has done to women, and now, what it is doing to these perfect, enchanting little girls. It makes me want to throw out my television and shield Ella from pictures of retouched, anorexic models. What a terrible message we are sending to our young ladies. Beauty is not forever, it fades, it is fleeting, and it is really the least important part of any human being. What we should be teaching our young daughters is that cultivating their talents, reaching their goals, and being self-sufficient, intelligent, and loving is what will make them truly happy. That loving themselves and not focusing on the outside is what makes them and the world a better place. How ridiculous that so much of the focus is placed on the appearance, when the real true beauty of an individual lies in their heart and their mind. All I know, is that I am going to be very careful not to impress the idea of beauty as most important. Ella will know that being a strong, capable woman has nothing to do with looks and everything to do with spirit. We don't spend our lives in front of a mirror, but we do spend our lives with ourselves, and it is the internal reflection that really matters. I am thankful for the women who are willing to cast out the confines of society and be themselves and who don't answer to anyone.
Ani Difranco: feminist and all around, non -shaving, hairy pitted bad ass, singer, song-writer, and advocate for women.
Beyonce Knowles: Award winning singer who refused to "fit" into the standards of today's celebrities.
I think I'm ready for the jelly, bring it on sister.
Kate Winslet: Another award winning celebrity who refuses to be 100 pounds and she is damn classy doing it.
Tori Amos: who needs no introduction
“Pretty is something you're born with. But beautiful, that's an equal opportunity adjective.”
Ani Difranco: feminist and all around, non -shaving, hairy pitted bad ass, singer, song-writer, and advocate for women.
Kate Winslet: Another award winning celebrity who refuses to be 100 pounds and she is damn classy doing it.
and so many others:
Tyra Banks
Oprah (I know, I know)
Janis Joplin
all the lesbians in the world
there are really too many to mention here.
Any women who desires to be a woman and not a doll or a pinup girl but a real ass-kicking, man-eating, opinionated, independent, and empathizing woman.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Quote that I love
"If you give your son only one gift let it be enthusiasm."
- Bruce Barton
Or your daughter.
I just thought this was so true. Let them see you love life and they'll love life too.
- Bruce Barton
Or your daughter.
I just thought this was so true. Let them see you love life and they'll love life too.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
A Second Honeymoon
If Joe and I were to have a second honeymoon, this is what I would wish it to look like.
Two nights at Thornewood Castle Inn, in the Anna's Suite.
and these shoes:
with a matching shawl and earrings.
Dinner out on the town here:
Chez Shea
that brags entries like this:
The second day, I would want to just lay in bed, have a quick bite at a cute cafe, and spend the evening in front of the fire.
Of course, this won't be happening anytime soon, but one day, I'll have my romantic, elegant, second honeymoon.
Two nights at Thornewood Castle Inn, in the Anna's Suite.
Production: The Magic Flute, Mozart
Wearing this dress:
and these shoes:
with a matching shawl and earrings.
Dinner out on the town here:
Chez Shea
that brags entries like this:
The second day, I would want to just lay in bed, have a quick bite at a cute cafe, and spend the evening in front of the fire.
Of course, this won't be happening anytime soon, but one day, I'll have my romantic, elegant, second honeymoon.
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