When you combine two of my favorite things–movies and superb advertising–I cannot look away. This genius screening of Pixar’s Planes from Disney and a Dutch airline KLM is perfection. It shows that without an unforgettable experience, you don’t really have much to stand apart from everyone today. And why no detail should go overlooked (I mean, the outside atmosphere to this piece?!).
The fact it’s strictly for little kids is stellar. There is magic in the power of flight, even when you’re grounded.
When we spent weekends with my Dad growing up, I always remember two things: eating Beef & Broccoli and watching Rudy. That film was more than just a movie about football. It was a movie that reiterated the fact that whatever I wanted to do, I could do if I just had enough determination. And I’m pretty sure it was the first time a movie score ever really spoke to me. And moved me.
Well it’s finally come. Despite having friends that attended Notre Dame, I’ve never been. I’ve never seen the sight Rudy proclaims: “This is the most beautiful sight these eyes have ever seen!” And I’ve never seen the Grotto with all its candles.
Last month, when Notre Dame was in Chicago, I met up with an old friend from Oakville and Kansas, Ally, who works for the Athletic Department for Notre Dame. We rendezvoused, sang songs and enjoyed some long overdue dancing time. And I got a little taste of The Fighting Irish life. Needless to say, I wanted more.
Come Friday, I’ll be en route to South Bend via the train that only cost $11 (say whaaa??) to see The Golden Dome in person. And I’m 100% certain that I will be channeling Mr. Ruettiger the whole time while running around campus with uncontrollable glee.
Last night while watching Grey’s, a commercial for Beauty & the Beast 3D came on. My heart fluttered. My pulse quickened. And then I smelled chocolate chips burning.
Beauty & the Beast is the first movie I can vividly recall watching in a theater. Or rather, it’s my first memory of sitting in a theater with one of my parents (I couldn’t tell you if it was Mom, Dad or a family outing). As the opening credits began and the music swelled with Bonjour!, the projection reel went crazy, the film stopped working, frames froze and a smell of burnt chocolate chip cookies filled the air. As it turns out, the man who was manning the film canister was making cookies, burned them and freaked out trying to save them, thus, ensuring I remember being 7 and attempting to watch a movie.
Theater personnel moved us out of the theatre and, I can only assume/hope, handed us vouchers as we left. I don’t remember the first time I sat down and actually made it past the first minute of the film, but it didn’t harness my love for the film. Being a not-so girly-girl growing up, I never really related to any of the Disney princesses. I thought they were cool, but that was about it. Mainly, I just liked those movies for the songs. But Belle was the first one I could relate to. All because she walked around “with her nose stuck in a book.”
The story, the battle, the sidekicks and of course Mrs. Potts ensured this movie left a mark on me. And it’s why I cannot wait to see it in 3D. Here’s to hoping the projection rooms don’t have Easy Bake Ovens…
The Frisky had this article a few days back about 9 Easy Strategies for making a move on a guy. And yes, the act itself is daunting and I truly believe it should be something that a man must do just like fixing a toilet and killing bugs. But seeing as I grew up in a woman-run show, I learned how to plunge a toilet (sort of) and kill bugs with Midwest Living. So naturally, I have made a move instead of sitting back and waiting. I’m impatient at times and quite independent, so I just view chatting up a lad as a normal thing. But apparently it’s quite daunting.
I’m not sure if it’s the independent vibes from Mom, Amy Spencer‘s How to Meet Your Orange Half or the fact I’m just very confident, but I’ve never once shied away from striking up a conversation and/or proposing a date. Correct, at times, definitely doesn’t go as planned. But generally I’ve met some interesting people along the way and have had some hilarious tales to tell because of it. Cases of point so you yourself can muster up the strength to forge your own dating future:
1)New Zealand guys in the Galway pub. When Amber and I took an impromptu trip to Galway, we went into a local pub for some grub and met ourselves a table of New Zealand lads watching the All Blacks game. So I eagerly chatted with them asking the ins and outs of rugby. We went our separate ways after the game and would run into them in a pub later that night. Amber and I literally had the time of our lives that night with these enormous rugby playing guys. Lesson Learned: The rule of “I’ll never see them again” doesn’t work all the time. So be sure you don’t make a fool of yourself the first go-round.
2) RedEye Bachelor #1. The RedEye here has a “Bachelor of the Week” of a single dude in the city looking for love. While bored at work one day, I decided to email the guy. I enlisted the help of Jessica to steal a page from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and copied a note one of the characters in the show writes to Chase Utley. Needless to say RedEye #1 thought I was hysterical and sent loads of compliments my way. Went on one date, realized he really was better on paper and we went our separate ways. Lesson learned: Compliments last long after the relationship.
3) RedEye Bachelor #2. Naturally after some success, I decided to try again. This time, scored two dinner dates out of the matter. Didn’t work out (I ran home in part because Glee was starting and because I just wasn’t feeling it), but I learned things that I like and don’t like about guys. Lesson Learned #1: It’s hard to compete with someone who loves their college just as much as I do, so I need to find someone who went to a college without D-1 sports. Lesson Learned #2: I wear my emotions on my face, so I really need to adapt a poker face and stat.
4) Prince Ali. The latest one at the moment ,who’s still shockingly around despite all of my weirdness and quirks, I met while volunteering at an American Cancer Society walk/run. Chatted him up after the event and we exchanged numbers. We’ve hung out a few times and things are progressing nicely, though instead of magic carpet rides, we soar over the streets of Chicago via the L. Lesson Learned: Some guys are just a little shy to make the initial connection, but then they take over eventually.
As a huge proponent of paving your own path, making your own destiny and seizing the day; I think more gals should be comfortable heading out of their shell and making the initial contact. And it’s so refreshing to meet dudes outside of the bar scene, so start volunteering! Molly informs me she’s already signed up for the KC BBQ event in October. Excited to hear what kind of beefy men she finds there. But some things, as Monica Geller shows us, a boy just has to do.
Hanna (Non)Tana 
