Categories
Miscellaneous

#024: Positively delightful!

Currently listening to: “Oxford Comma” – Vampire Weekend

THINGS THAT MADE ME SMILE TODAY (:

1. Crepe sale avec Le Club Français in MASS today- yummy!
With a queue stretching all the way past the doors, French music playing, and of course, a great amount of FOOD, t’was a great deal of fun indeed. Ah, the joys of spreading the Francophile love. You know you waaaaaaaant to.

2. The gorgeously bleak day sans rainfall. Waking up to the sight of the angular silhouette of a bare tree juxtaposed against a dusky grey sky gives me a thrill like no other. Sure, sunny days are relatively pleasant and all, but nothing quite compares to a beautifully gray and suitably cold day, accompanied with tea, a beret, and a good read. And yes, before you start your puzzled inquiries, as so many have previously done – yes, I do take the bus, and yes, despite it all, I love the weather. So there.

3. Finding Oliver James’ Affluenza and The Selfish Capitalist at the library today!!

God knows I’ve stood hovering around those books in Indigo during work, stroking the sleek covers and asking myself if it would be prudent to purchase them both. (And sneaking reads of chapters during break time, amongst various other things.) Patience wins out, and the library is made of win!

4. Feeling accomplished! I have actually studied for my French test. The less said about that, the better: elaboration will serve no purpose here aside from illustrating the extent of my procrastinating skills.

5. A text message from a friend whom I have not corresponded with in ages! ♥ Oh, trans-world-Canada-everywhere friendships. (Fully feeling an attack of the warm fuzzies coming on now.) I’m so glad, so, so so unbelievably glad that these marvellous people have all wandered into my life and chosen to stay and be part of it all, madness and larks and whatsits all included. (collective awwww)

6. Vampire Weekend !

Their quirky and upbeat songs never fail to make me smile. Check out their self-titled debut album, or listen to their songs on the new 90210 soundtrack and the Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist soundtrack. Oh, fusion pop-jazz-African-violin!-rock-even vague hints of samba?, the wonders you do!

7. THE HOPE THAT TOMORROW BRINGS. I will blog about this tomorrow (:

Till then, ta!

Categories
Miscellaneous

#015: Hannah Fury’s Oz cycle

Currently listening to: “It Was Her House That Killed Nessarose” – Hannah Fury

Before the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical (and rabid Idina Menzel/Kerry Ellis/Shoshana Bean fangirls), there was the Oz cycle written by Hannah Fury. Written around 1999 – 2000, it remains relatively unknown; I stumbled upon it completely by accident yesterday while digging around last.fm for more quirky music. Based on Gregory Maguire’s Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the Oz cycle comprises five songs (which you can find on YouTube):
I. Let It Show
II. I Can’t Let You In
III. All Is Not Well
IV. And Your Little Dog Too
V. It Was Her House That Killed Nessarose [right-click, “save file as” to download]

A quick summary: Wicked re-tells the classic tale of The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. This deconstructed political fable is a thought-provoking romp on good, evil and perspective. Class differences are highlighted; prejudice is brought into question. The oppressed animals of Oz are metaphors for the human condition. Elphaba and Glinda illustrate how history is written by the victors. Wicked is smart, biting, and yes, as such tales usually are, frequently quite depressing.

If you’re a die-hard fan of the book (or the musical), you would definitely want to check this out. As much as I absolutely adore the Stephen Schwartz musical adaptation, there’s something else here. Remaining much truer to the book than the musical, the Oz cycle is haunting, delicate and memorable. A little like Elphaba, really, as the sensation of being trapped in a neverending personal struggle is aptly captured. It is chilling, it is heart-wrenching, and it is beautiful. The piano accompaniment of the Oz cycle really does it for me – as much as For Good from the musical reduces me to a wibbling mess.

This is fantastic. I’m going to to read the book again now while listening to this – taking it to new dimensions – so ta for now!

Categories
Academic

#014: And so…

Currently listening to: “My Alcoholic Friends” – The Dresden Dolls

…let Round Two of the Arts One essay-writing begin.
I will keep you posted on the progress of this doubtlessly scintillating activity.

In other news, I have figured out how to play Viva la Vida on the guitar.

Life is good…
except someone has stolen my Green Party lawn sign!

hey, it’s October!

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