Why do I vote? Well, it’s because my Mom bought me this book as my first chapter book when I was in first grade. I read They Led the Way religiously as it featured women who beat the odds and are to thank for today’s world. One of my favorite stories to read was Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s story. I’m not sure why I was so intrigued with her tale, but she’s someone who has stuck with me over the years and one I think of every four years as I go to vote.
And of course, this…
Fun fact: When trying out for the high school musical, I sang this song for my audition. I was casted.
My friend Katie recently made the plunge into the blogging world. She’s talking of fashion and home decorating and anything else that pops into her head on Ella Bella Bea & Flo. Needless to say, I was worried I wouldn’t “get” much of what she’s writing about. But I was wrong. Way wrong.
Last week she posted about making a “Leap List.” Instead of creating resolutions that take a year to accomplish, you make little goals that require a leap. Katie’s leap list focused on buying art. It got me thinking, what’s one thing I’ve always wanted to do, that takes one simple step to actually do? Then it hit me. Or rather, it tapped me.
Tap dancing is something I’ve wanted to take up for years. I blame one of my favorite movies, Singin’ in the Rain, for implanting this fixation. A few years ago, Tony Danza was on Oprah and talked about how he built a tap dancing studio in his basement as a way to just get away from it all. And frankly, I thought it was genius. Mom can attest, the best scene in the Mary Poppins: The Musical is definitely the chimney sweeps singing “Step in Time.”
Tap dancing just seems to exude a breath of fun. You flail your arms and legs around while stomping and creating a ruckus sounds like the perfect way to burn some steam and stress. I’m not sure why I’ve never scratched my tap dancing itch. All it takes is a simple phone call to find classes, buying the shoes and then going to class.
So I did it. I called, bought and now, I will dance.
During the years of my film obsession, I’ve developed deeper and more appreciation for things besides the actors’ performances. I’ll admit, I used acting performances to determine if I liked a film. That isn’t the case these days anymore. I find I’m more drawn to cinematography shots, a script with underlying humor and a musical score.
Today, I feel most everyone is plugged into some type of music. These notes and tunes and melodies serve as a way to soundtrack our workouts, ride to work, road trip with friends and sing us to sleep on the airplane. And our musical scores change with every season, every mood and every album release. It’s why so many of us just lost it during the musical score of UP. Music is more than just sound.
But this obsession and need for music is the sole reason everyone should rush out to see The Artist. This film, a silent film, shows how music moves us and carries us through emotions and storylines. The story follows a successful silent film actor, George Valentin and his struggle with conforming to the new demand of studios moving to “The Talkies.”
I’ll admit, I’ve never seen a silent film in its entirety; so I was anticipating art cards flashing up on the screen every 4 seconds to tell me what was going on. Not the case. It’s amazing what we can still pick up on through facial expressions as we use music for context clues.
The acting performances of this film are nothing but outstanding. They would have to be, seeing as the actors’ faces and body language are what carries viewers from scene to scene. And another perk of the film I wasn’t anticipating: hearing the audience’s reactions. Sitting in a room with strangers whom you could hear laughing, gasping and hoping aloud is something few films give us the chance to experience.
It’s no secret that I love volunteering. And I especially love volunteer events where I have a high potential of meeting a boy. Or ones that reap serious benefits, like partying with Edward Burns. Or ones that pertain to things I enjoy immensely.
Yea, you read that right. There’s an International Quidditch World Cup. And it’s in NYC. Which means that I could potentially catch the real Harry Potter in his Broadway show when I’m there.
I just became infinitely more excited for 2011. Despite the fact I’ll turn 26 (woof).
Found this in NYT last week, but just haven’t had time to write about it. I love bike riding, I love crowds of people enjoying themselves and I like music. So why not combine all three?
Reason #38743843 why I want to be in NYC this summer (the other has everything to do with the community pianos everywhere in the city called “Play Me, I’m Yours“): Joyride.
The concept is simple. The group picks songs, everyone loads up their iPods with the playlist and when they all start the ride, they all hit play. Everyone rides along at their own speeds. But the cool part is, what you’re hearing is what the person next to you is hearing. So you can rock out, and compare bike moves with your neighbors.
While I have yet to fully take the leap into the biking world of Chicago (I only ride on LSD), I think something like this would make me more apt to ride around town (should the roads be blocked of course). Biking can be a chore and something very stressful in a city full of buses, cars and people. This is a way to bring back the ease of bike riding days.
My favorite scene in Now & Then is the one where Thora Birch cues up her radio on her bike and they cruise down the road singing Knock Three Times. That and I would like to think it’s very easy to turn your everyday life into a musical sequence. Watch it and just try to tell me you don’t feel the same way.
Hanna (Non)Tana 